bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting Core Members in Terrorist Networks: A Case Study
Authors: Memon Nasrullah  , Hicks David L.
Published: February 2025

This chapter focuses on the study and development of recently introduced new measures, theories, mathematical models and algorithms to support the detection of core members in terrorist networks. Specific techniques and tools are described to demonstrate their applicability to the area.
IAEA Verification of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Commitments: the Next Fifty Years
Authors: Ribeiro Bernardo
Published: February 2025

While the current outlook for nuclear power remains mixed, rising expectations with regard to the contribution of nuclear technology to human welfare suggest the possible advent of what many have called a nuclear renaissance. These expectations are driven by nuclear power's good performance record, by growing energy needs around the world coupled with rising oil and natural gas prices, by environmental constraints, by concerns about energy supply security in a number of countries, and by ambitious expansion plans in several countries.
South Asian Sub-Continent Outside the NPT: Pluses and Minuses of Dealing with India and Pakistan as Recognized Nuclear Powers
Authors: Karamat Jehangir
Published: February 2025

The reality in South Asia is that the two biggest countries, India and Pakistan are de facto nuclear powers. These neighboring countries with a long land border have a history of hostility, conflict and wars because of unresolved territorial and border issues. They are self declared nuclear weapon states and have evolving nuclear programs that involve progressive improvement in nuclear and technical facilities, systems and delivery means. India set the tone for this in her draft nuclear doctrine by stating an intention to develop a triad of strategic forces. Both countries have stated that their development strategy is based on the concept of a ‘minimum credible deterrence’ but the minimum for credibility has never been defined. It can be assumed that both have growing stockpiles as they have never considered capping production nor have they bilaterally discussed such a possibility. The fact that India seeks to deter or match China while Pakistan focuses on India further complicates the problem by making it a tri-state issue. As the Carnegie report on Universal Compliance noted china would look at its imbalance with Russia who in turn would consider its own imbalance with the US. Thus the nuclear capability in the group of three - India, Pakistan and Israel cannot be undone. It is there to stay.
ICT for Independent Living Services
Authors: Cabrera Marcelino  , Özcivelek Rukiye
Published: February 2025

In order to maximise the potential of Independent Living Services (ILS) for active ageing, it is expected that innovative organizational models will be needed to support their implementation. For example, closer co-ordination between all service providers and stakeholders of independent living services is essential, such as health and social services providers' coordination for early detection of risks and preventive interventions. ICT have a central role to play in new models of healthcare, since they allow the networking and sharing of citizen information among all stakeholders that underpin a more integrated care provision. New models also allow continuity of care, avoiding unnecessary hospitalization or intrusive surgery, minimizing the disruptive effect of healthcare interventions on patients' daily lives. Specific research to better understand how ICT can contribute to enabling independent living through new models of care would be needed. Current models and solutions for care provision need to take better account of user-contexts. There is a need for research into methods on how to integrate users into the research and development process generally, i.e. not only the older citizens but also all the other actors in the ILS area, including formal and informal carers. Awareness about ILS its opportunities is limited among potential users professional organisations and policy makers alike. Outreach strategies that familiarize all stakeholders with technological options already available and under development are required.
Future ICTs for Active Ageing: Brain-machine and Brain-computer Interfaces
Authors: Compañó Ramón
Published: February 2025

This chapter aims to exemplify the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the case of brain-machine (BMI) and brain-computer (BCI) interfaces. Applications at the crossroads of ICT and cognitive science have been identified as one of the most promising application areas of the future by both the US National Science Foundation and by the European Commission. Both R&D funding agencies consider that the cross-fertilisation between information and communication technologies and cognitive sciences becomes a co-evolutionary process, where progress in one area accelerates progress in the other. Applications arising from this co-evolutionary process hold the promise of a large economic benefit. Recent bibliometric research does confirm these findings and pinpoint BMI/BCI as particularly impacting to society and economy. Generally speaking, however, the prospects of technologies with a long-term time horizon of a couple of decades are seldom discussed in the frame of active ageing. Brain-machine (BMI) and brain-computer (BCI) interfaces are no exception. However, discussing the potential challenges, opportunities and risks of emerging technologies and relating them to active ageing polices in a quite early stage of innovation can be a useful exercise in order to achieve a sustainable innovation process.
Credit Risk Decreasing By Usage Of Electronic Platforms
Authors: Vejačka Martin  , Vincová Kristína
Published: February 2025

Banks (financial services providers in general) are taking risk with process of lending funds to small and medium sized enterprises. It is necessary for them to decrease risk resulting from issuing loans in any possible way. This article deals with options of decreasing risk by gaining and analyzing information from electronic platforms and environment. Electronic systems supporting enterprises and banks and integrating supply and demand of products and money on its platform can contain valuable information which can be used by banks to classify client's ability to repay a loan. It is even more necessary to have real time information when loans are short-termed and financial service provider needs to rate clients quickly and more flexibly.
Environmental Protection Measure Assessment in Affected Area of Ponds Collecting Waste Mine-water in Western Donbass
Authors: Yevgrashkina Galyna P.  , Rudakov Dmytro V.  , Kharytonov Mykola M.
Published: February 2025

The main factors determining groundwater pollution in Western Donbass are analyzed and estimated quantitatively. The developed 2-D unsteady transport model with the un-ordered macro-dispersion scheme was proved to be effective in modelling solute transport in aquifers. The proposed complex of protective measures based on carried-out research makes it possible to reduce mineralization of groundwater and surface waters.
Economic and Legal Aspects Related to the Prevention and Mitigation of Flood Risks and their consequences for Tirlisua (Bistrita-Nasaud): A Case Study from Northern Romania
Authors: Petrescu-Mag Ruxandra Malina  , Petrescu Dacinia Crina  , Petri Doina  , Ozunu Alexandru
Published: February 2025

Water is becoming more and more a scarce commodity in many parts of the world where they are also facing tremendous extreme events such floods. In all these areas, due to the inefficient use of water, water pollution caused by the human intervention and by changes of the human habits, the water becomes an important issue of debates, making the sustainable use of water a mandatory requirement. In the last decade, Europe suffered major floods, causing fatalities, economic losses, displacement of population and, last but not least, a huge impact on nature. The paper raises the reader's awareness of the fact that floods have always existed and will continue to exist - they are part of the nature; as United Nations and Economic Commission for Europe Guidelines on Sustainable Flood Prevention pointed out, as far as feasible human interference in the processes of nature should be reversed, compensated and prevented. The “lesson” from Tirlisua (Northern Romania) remains in the collective memory, strengthening the necessity of approaching a new paradigm of humans and nature living together.
Hybrid Machine Translation for Low- and Middle-Density Languages
Authors: Markantonatou Stella  , Sofianopoulos Sokratis  , Giannoutsou Olga  , Vassiliou Marina
Published: February 2025

The main aim of this article is to present the prototype hybrid Machine Translation (MT) system METIS. METIS is interesting in two ways. As regards MT for low and middle density languages, METIS relies on relatively cheap resources: monolingual corpora of the target language (TL), flat bilingual lexica and basic NLP tools (taggers, lemmatizers, chunkers). In terms of research, METIS uses pattern matching algorithms and patterns in an innovative way. In order to put the discussion of METIS in context and define the niche that this research prototype fills, the landscape of state-of-the-art Machine Translation, especially as regards low and middle-density languages, is briefly described.
Russia's Black Sea Military Bases
Authors: Pikayev Alexander A.
Published: February 2025

Apart from the few years following its defeat in the Crimean War, the Russian Empire, which gained control of the northern coast of the Black Sea during the 18th century, has enjoyed dominance over the other littoral states. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 has radically altered the traditional balance of forces in the Black Sea basin with Russia losing a major part of its Black Sea coastline. This geographical loss was accompanied by a severe economic crisis that disrupted routine military activity and prevented force modernisation for more than a decade.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet and Ukraine's Security Strategy: Agenda 2017
Authors: Glebov Sergiy
Published: February 2025

The chapter focuses on one of the most acute issues affecting contemporary Russian-Ukrainian relations: the Crimean perspectives of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and current political speculations as to whether or not it is to remain in Sevastopol after 2017. The author examines the problems of Russia's navy base located in and around Sevastopol and argues that the unwillingness of Moscow to accept 2017 as a deadline for the Black Sea Fleet to be removed from Ukrainian territory has been directly linked to the Ukraine's intentions to join NATO. Therefore, Ukraine's top priorities are to secure its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and reassure Russia with respect to them in such a way as to ensure that Russia's Black Sea Fleet is an opportunity for all three—Ukraine, Russia and NATO—rather than an obstacle.
The Global Defence Posture Restructuring: the Case Of Romania
Authors: Mitrache Sebastian
Published: February 2025

A restructuring of both NATO and US defence posture appears as a direct consequence of the evolution of the international security framework, given the diversification both of the nature and of the geographical distribution of the sources of the risks and challenges. Situated at the eastern border of NATO (and of the EU), Romania represents a natural outpost in the efforts to combat potential threats coming from various regions, such as the Middle East or central Asia. The agreement concluded between Romania and the US in 2005 that allows American troops to use military facilities on Romanian territory appears, therefore, as a decision based on the necessity to be closer to the potential threats in order to be able to combat them more effectively. The decision to sign the bilateral agreement should be assessed in connection with both the process of NATO transformation and the adaptation of Romanian defence sector to the requirements of the country's status as a NATO member on the Alliance's border.
The Opening of the Maghreb also Passes by the Culture
Authors: Benlyazid Farida
Published: February 2025

Culture is the expression of the human being's dignity. And the imposed culture is felt as an aggression which results in the identical fold. In this period of globalization, the opening of the world crosses the culture and not only the North African one. The ignorance is the mother of all the troubles, it incites to the fear of the other one, to the refusal and to the hatred.
Les Maghrébins sont-ils des extra-terrestres ?
Authors: Ksikes Driss
Published: February 2025

Les Maghrébins sont-ils perçus comme des extra-terrestres ? Qui sont-ils ? Le Maghreb rêvé existe-t-il ? Driss Ksikes décortique cette problématique et dresse ici le portrait des Maghrébins de façon ironique et pertinente à la fois. Il établit un bilan controversé et contrasté du concept d'appartenance Maghrébine.
Sample Preparation and Good Practice in Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy
Authors: Kelly Sharon M.  , Price Nicholas C.
Published: February 2025

This chapter aims to set out the guidelines for obtaining reliable CD data when studying molecules of biological interest. The main focus will be on the study of protein samples, but the points about sample purity and characterisation, attention to the solvent system employed, the proper use of the instrument and appropriate methods of data handling apply to all samples, whether they are small molecules, such as drugs or other ligands or macromolecules such as nucleic acids or their fragments. More details on most of these aspects are given in the review by Kelly et al. [1].
On the Equivalence of Nonlinear Functions
Authors: Edel Yves  , Pott Alexander
Published: February 2025

Recently, many new almost perfect nonlinear (APN) and almost bent (AB) functions have been constructed. These functionsn2→n2
Turkey's Counter Terrorism Policies Against The PKK: The “Fish” or the “Water”?
Authors: Gergin Nadir  , Balci Fatih  , Eldivan I. Sevki
Published: February 2025

Turkey has suffered from ethno-nationalist terrorism of the PKK since 1984. This paper contains a description of counter terrorism policies implemented by the Turkish government from 1985 to 2008, and further demonstrates that during the post-2000 period, Turkey's counter terrorism procedures changed significantly from counterinsurgency-based coercive policies to cohesive policies that seek to win the hearts and minds of the Kurds through economic investments, financial education, health and other non-military policies. These cohesive policies helped the government regain the support of the Kurds; hence, the PKK lost a considerable amount of its popularity. The paper concludes that in the long term, non-military based cohesive policies represent the best policies against the PKK.
The Creation of a Terrorist: A Look into Social Environments Involved
Authors: Ciotti Galletti Silvia  , Huggins Sarah M.
Published: February 2025

In this work, we conduct an examination of the sociological, demographical and political environments in relation to the origin of terrorist groups and similar illegal activities. Principally considering the significance of critical issues in the genesis and support of terrorist attacks, we attempt to suggest how these weaknesses can be transformed into strong elements devoted not only to prevent the development of terrorist organizations but also in support of the victims involved in these attacks. We will explore current and past terrorist activities in Morocco that will support theories suggesting that socio-economical despair and political instability amongst densely populated areas create a breeding ground for terrorist infiltration and extremist development.
The Impact of Law Enforcement Practices on Terrorism
Authors: Ekici Ahmet  , Erdem Orhan
Published: February 2025

Law enforcement response to terrorism is argued to be defining the factor in that will be successful – the terrorist organizations or law enforcement agencies. This study used a sample of confitents in Turkey, examined law enforcement practices, focusing on militaristic and traditional policing methods, in responding to terrorism in order assess the impact on the individual's decisions to join a terrorist organization. The study also looked into participants' perceptions about Community Oriented Policing (COP); and if it implemented in Turkey, how it would affect the individuals' decisions to join terrorist organizations. More than 25% of the respondents reported the influence of law enforcement practices on their decision to join the organizations. A significant relationship was found to exist between brutality and law enforcement's influence and reliance on militaristic tactics in an individual's decision to join a terrorist organization.
Analysis of Eddy Current Array Probe Signals According to Arrangement of Transmit-Receive Coil
Authors: Lim Geon-Gyu  , Kim Ji-Ho  , Lee Hyang-Beom
Published: February 2025

Eddy current array probe is consisted of several transmit coils and receive coils. The magnetic fields are generated by transmit coil and the eddy current is generated in the conducting materials by the time-varying magnetic field. Using the receive coil the magnetic field generated by source current of transmit coil and eddy current is caught. In this paper the eddy current signals of array probe according to arrangement of transmit coil and receive coil are analyzed. The type of defect is FBH and the depth of defects are 40[%], 60[%] and 100[%] of thickness of INCONEL 600 steam generator tubes in nuclear power plant. As the distance and bearings of transmit coil and receive coil are changed, the eddy current signals are obtained. To obtain these signals, three-dimensional electromagnetic analysis based on Maxwell's equation is performed using OPERA-3D. Analysis domain is discredited by tetrahedral mesh and the number of nodes is 1,014,467. The signal difference can be seen according to the arrangement of transmit-receive coil. The results in this paper can be helpful when the ECT signals from EC array probe are evaluated and analyzed.
Nonlinearized Mapping of Volumetric Defects Affecting a Metal Tube
Authors: Abascal J.F.  , Lambert M.  , Lesselier D.  , Dorn O.
Published: February 2025

The retrieval of a volumetric defect (singly- or multiply-connected) affecting the wall of a hollow metal tube is investigated from measurements of variations of impedances of an inner probe. Both non-ferromagnetic and ferromagnetic materials are taken into account in view of potential applications. This inverse problem is modeled as the estimation of the shape of a volumetric void defect and then becomes a binary one, solved by properly adapted techniques, two of them analyzed herein: a conjugate-gradient-type one, and a level-set-type one, the performances of which are illustrated by simulations in various configurations.
Crack Profiles Identification using Reduced Order Computational Method Based on ECT Signals
Authors: Kojima Fumio  , Nguyen Thanh Duong
Published: February 2025

This paper is concerned with a method for optimizing forward analysis in identification crack profiles arising in eddy current testing by employing reduced order Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) techniques. In the proposed method, an “optimal” ordered basis of simulation data is created in the sense that information captured in the first few basis elements is maximized. Then, in forward algorithm, a fixed number of the first few basis elements, called the reduced POD basis, are used for computing relevant information with the variation of parameters. Since only a small number of basis elements are used, it is able to create an optimized forward algorithm in terms of calculation speed and usage of system resource.
Evaluation of Deformation-Induced Martensite Phase in Austenitic Stainless Steel Using Magnetic Minor Hysteresis Loops
Authors: Kobayashi Satoru  , Saito Atsushi  , Kikuchi Nobuhiro  , Takahashi Seiki  , Kamada Yasuhiro  , Kikuchi Hiroaki  , Ara Katsuyuki
Published: February 2025

Scaling power-law rules in magnetic minor hysteresis loops for deformed SUS304 stainless steels have been examined in order to characterize ferromagnetic α′martensites embedded in a paramagnetic austenitic matrix. The scaling power law between the hysteresis loss and remanence is found to be universal, being independent of volume fraction of strain-induced α′martensites. A coefficient of the power law largely decreases with volume fraction, reflecting a change in the size and morphology of martensites. The present method is highly effective for integrity assessment of austenitic stainless steels because of the sensitivity and low measurement field, typically less than 4kA/m.
Application of Model-Based Inversion to Eddy-Current NDE of Heat-Exchanger Tubing
Authors: Sabbagh Harold A.  , Aldrin John C.  , Murphy R. Kim  , Sabbagh Elias H.
Published: February 2025

We apply model-based inversion to problems of relevance to the nuclear power industry. We have acquired laboratory data for round-bottom, inner-diameter (ID) pit standards for heat-exchanger tubes from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and have then developed model-based standards for the inversion of these data using our proprietary volume-integral code, VIC-3D©. Results of the inversion process that show excellent agreement with the measured data will be presented.
Electromagnetic Nondestructive Evaluation in Korean Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Song Myungho  , Kim Kyungcho  , Shin Hosang  , Kang Sungsik
Published: February 2025

Since the application of electromagnetic induction or eddy current techniques to materials evaluation problems such as detecting surface or near surface cracks and measuring the thickness of thin plate and coatings was begun by many investigators in the late 1930s and early 1940s, commercial instruments based on this NDE method were used extensively during World War II. Eddy current transducers and electronic instrumentation have been greatly improved, and automated systems have been developed for material property determination and flaw detection applications. Nowadays eddy current techniques were applied to automobile, aerospace, metal-forming and nuclear industry etc. Especially fast inspection speed and automatic signal-collecting technique are available to implement the inspection of steam generator tube in nuclear power plant.
Development of Strong Magnetizer and Robust Sensor Mount System to Increase Performance in Detecting Defects on Pipeline
Authors: Cho S.H.  , Yoo H.Y.  , Kim D.K.  , Park D.J.  , Rho Y.W.  , Seo K.  , Park G.S.
Published: February 2025

In-Line Inspection (ILI) with MFL tool and Ultrasonics tool is the best and prevailed technology to inspect integrity of buried pipelines. KOGAS developed MFL tool named KogasMFL (ver 1.0) consists of MFC (Magnetic Flux Circuit) module, DAS (Data Acquisition System) module connected by universal joint in 2004, and data analysis system through the field experiments using artificial defects to implement ILI on pipeline owned by KOGAS. But we decided to develop an alternative design to increase performance in piggability and robustness, grow up magnetic flux strength applied to pipe wall, and made a robust sensor mount system against pig rolling before doing field application in 2007. In this paper, we will describe the structure of advanced magnetizer, which introduces magnetic flux stronger than previous version by adopting card type brushes and circular array of permanent magnets and compare results of field experiments and FEM analysis of the different types magnetizer respectively. As a conclusion, we could see that developed magnetizer and urethane sensor mount system worked very well when pig ran through the pipeline for long itinerary and a very high speed more than 6[m/sec]. This system showed more enhanced performance in detecting defects than the previous system.
Meeting Steam Generator Tube Inspection Needs in Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Udpa Lalita  , Ramuhalli Pradeep  , Benson James  , Udpa Satish
Published: February 2025

Accurate and consistent characterization of flawed regions in steam generator tubing is becoming increasingly important as nuclear power plants age and repair costs increase. The general problem of assessing the structural integrity of steam generator tubing using eddy current inspection techniques is rather complex due to the presence of noise and interfering signals under different inspection conditions. Additional difficulties in the data analysis task arise due to the fact that unwanted signals from support structures, probe wobble and geometry variations result are often similar to defect signals, thereby frustrating the characterization process. Automated analysis of eddy current inspection data can help in enhancing the accuracy and consistency of signal interpretation. This, in turn, offers significant benefits to utilities, including cost savings by reducing manpower needs, time savings by reducing the impact of analyst shortages during peak outage periods, providing analysis results at rates equal to or less than the rates for data acquisition, and reliability improvements by providing consistent, repeatable and accurate inspection results.
Characterization of Matrices and Graphite Forms of Cast Irons by Electromagnetic Nondestructive Evaluation
Authors: Uchimoto Tetsuya  , Takagi Toshiyuki
Published: February 2025

Mechanical properties of cast irons are mainly determined by two factors of microstructures, graphite morphology and type of matrices. Both graphite morphology and matrices affect electromagnetic properties very complicatedly. The authors have investigated electromagnetic properties of flake graphite cast irons and ductile cast irons focusing on the their microstructures, and applied electromagnetic nondestructive evaluation method such as eddy current method, nonlinear eddy current method and DC potential drop method to characterize microstructures of various kind of cast irons. In this presentation, we review relationship between electromagnetic properties and microstructures. Issues discussed include graphite forms in fake graphite cast irons which is important to estimate damping and wear properties of flake graphite cast irons, ferrite and pearlite ratio in ductile cast irons which decides the hardness, and chill contents of both flake graphite cast irons and ductile cast irons. Finally, we discuss feasibilities of some applications of electromagnetic nondestructive evaluation methods to characterize graphite forms and matrices of cast irons.
Eddy-Current NDE of Combustion Turbine Blade Coatings. Determination of Conductivity Profiles in the Presence of a Diffusion Process
Authors: Nouguier Frédéric  , Lambert Marc  , Zorgati Riadh
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with the estimation of conductivity profiles using Eddy-Current measurements over combustion turbine blade coatings affected by depletion of aluminium. First, we model the response of an Eddy-Current coil over a layered metallic structure with a top over-aluminized coating by extending the analytical Uzal-Rose's model for one hyperbolic tangent conductivity profile to a conductivity profile using two hyperbolic tangents for taking inward and outward depletion of aluminum inside the coating into account. Results obtained with this model are similar to those obtained with a numerical multi-layer model with a reduced computing time.
Implementation of Error Detection into the Graz-Brain-Computer Interface, the Interaction Error Potential
Authors: Kreilinger Alex  , Neuper Christa  , Pfurtscheller Gert  , Müller-Putz Gernot R.
Published: February 2025

A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) represents the ultimate means of communication for people with severe paralyses or who are in a locked-in state. However, the usage of BCI is still severely limited in terms of accuracy and performance speed. One possible way to overcome these restrictions would be the detection of errors after incorrect events in the electroencephalogram (EEG). In this study 13 subjects participated in a first experiment to provide data for offline analysis of interaction error potentials (ErrPs) which were recorded after observation of falsely interpreted user-commands by an interface. These characteristic waveforms were later used to classify errors in online experiments combined with motor imagery (MI). Here, the detection of false movements could improve the accuracy significantly.
An On-Line System Supporting the Provision of Assistive Technology Products to Individual Users through the National Health Service
Authors: Andrich Renzo  , Gower Valerio  , Caracciolo Antonio  , Carbone Alessandro  , Agnoletto Andrea
Published: February 2025

A on-line tool was developed to assist rehabilitation teams in choosing the appropriate assistive devices meeting the clients' individual needs and compiling the prescription package for provision through the National Health Service. Such tool is implemented on the Italian national Assistive Technology Information Portal; it provides the following facilities 1) browsing the National List of categories of assistive equipment eligible for prescription, with guidance in compiling all the components of the prescription package 2) comparative analysis of products available on the market that meet the selected categories 3) detailed analysis of possible configurations of each product, in order to find out prices and prescription codes of the specific configuration meeting each client's individual needs. The tool was finalised through various validation rounds that involved assistive technology prescribers (medical doctors from the national Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) and manufacturers/suppliers (who checked how effectively information can be constantly kept updated). The tool is now publicly available on www.portale.siva.it.
Designing an Internet Search Engine on Disability Issues: Results of a Survey of the Users' Information Needs
Authors: Andrich Renzo  , Tutino Serafino
Published: February 2025

In the latest years, the Internet has been playing a growing role as information source on disability-related issues. According to the ICF model, access to information is a contextual factor that may act as facilitator in helping the person's functioning in society. In this view, we developed a specialized search engine named Bussola, expanding the possibility for persons with disabilities and their care-givers to find relevant and reliable information, and to better exploit the opportunities provided by the Web. The work involved first a survey of the users' information needs (based on interviews), then the creation of a documents analysis tool based on semantic processing technology, and eventually the development of the search engine.
Internet-based Home Monitoring and Control
Authors: Grossi Ferdinando  , Bianchi Valentina  , Matrella Guido  , De Munari Ilaria  , Ciampolini Paolo
Published: February 2025

A home control and monitoring system is discussed, fully based on standard internet communication techniques. Its main features include wide interoperability, flexibility and low costs. Special care has been devoted to the system reliability as well. The system is fully accessible from remote locations, enabling telecare and surveillance services. Field trials are being carried out in the Parma province, to evaluate the system actual functionality and usefulness.
Use and Prescription of Powered Electronic Wheelchairs for Patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injury
Authors: De Tanti Antonio  , Saviola Donatella  , Fochi Francesco
Published: February 2025

A The purpose of this study is to evaluate the modifications of the patient's quality of life as well as their caregivers' following the improvement of the patient's mobility due to a powered wheelchair use; this study has been carried out with 17 patients affected by severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Referring to assistive devices with a higher technology, the carriers of severe ABI sequences are a particular users group, from the technical point of view of the rehabilitation team. In fact, an appropriate prescription should take in consideration not only a reliable prognostic definition but above all a precise balanced evaluation of remaining cognitive abilities, taking in consideration also probable interferences of behavioural disorders. In our study the multidisciplinary evaluation protocol provides for ca. 15 hours work of both patient and caregiver, assisted by a team of rehabilitation operators. Results: 15 out of 17 enrolled subjects have been deemed suitable for the device; due to improper behaviour during street training 2 out of 17 have been deemed non suitable for the device. Conclusions: since high-tech devices are expensive and above all potentially dangerous in case of improper use, the necessary rigorous methodology imposes that the devices are tested by an experts team, capable of expressing all the skills necessary to a comprehensive analysis. This analysis must contain quantifiable data that can be monitored during the years. We believe that this evaluation protocol we have worked out, is an effective tool able to guarantee an appropriate prescription of a power wheelchair for the severe ABI patients.
Study on Illuminance Dependency of Color Identification Characteristics for Persons with Low Visual Capacity
Authors: Mitani Seiji  , Yoshida Toshiaki  , Kobayashi Sei  , Fujisawa Shoichiro  , Sueda Osamu  , Tauchi Masaki
Published: February 2025

It is very much beneficial to create visually suitable environment for persons with low visual capacity. And it would improve the quality of life (QOL) for them. Therefore, we were trying to study some aspects of color perception of those people by measuring color hue recognizability by illuminance difference. As a result, we confirmed that yellowish colors are highly recognizable regardless of illuminance level.
Increased User Involvement Through Free Choice of Assistive Technology
Authors: Estreen Martina
Published: February 2025

The project Free Choice of Assistive Technology aims to increase user involvement in the assistive technology process. The project will investigate the possibility to increase freedom of choice of assistive technology in Sweden and is ongoing to the end of 2009. The practical part of the project started in May 2008 and is carried out in three county councils. The Free Choice is for those users who have been prescribed assistive technology by health care professionals. The Free Choice of Assistive Technology is to be seen as a complement to the general distribution system.
Visual Impaired Students in the Portuguese Higher Education
Authors: Espadinha Cristina  , Moniz Pereira Leonor
Published: February 2025

This work will be the starting point to understand the big picture of the needs and experiences of the visual impaired students in the Portuguese Higher Education (HE). To accomplish this we inquired the visual impaired students or graduates in order to gather information about their academic path in the HE. The presented data is preliminary and our work is still ongoing. The final data will be used in the near future to produce guiding principles to facilitate the establishment of support centers to visual impaired students in Portuguese HE.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Methodological Consequences for Economic Analyses
Authors: Schraner Ingrid  , Sidoti Chris
Published: February 2025

This paper looks at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the tension between ‘reasonable accommodation’ for persons with disabilities and ‘disproportionate or undue burden’ for those who need to provide the accommodation. The paper does so through the lens of experiences with Australian legislation, which includes similar terms; ‘different accommodation or services’ and ‘unjustifiable hardship’ respectively. The paper examines a landmark decision in Australia to identify the consequences that result for the kind of economic analyses that are able to identify what accommodation is ‘reasonable’ and what burden is ‘disproportionate or undue’.
Quantum Mechanical Calculations of Peptide Vibrational Force Fields and Spectral Intensities
Authors: Kubelka Jan  , Bour Petr  , Keiderling Timothy A.
Published: February 2025

Vibrational spectra are frequently used for studies of the structure and dynamics of peptides and proteins. Structural interpretation of the experimental data, however, requires theoretical simulation of the spectra for model peptide geometries. Quantum mechanical, in particular density functional theory (DFT), methods have proven exceptionally valuable for calculations of the vibrational force fields and both IR and Raman intensities. A brief review of some recent trends in computation of molecular force fields and spectral intensities is presented. Particular attention is paid to experiments involving circularly polarized light, as these provide enhanced structural information for chiral molecules. Following a historical overview of common approaches, the fundamental theoretical aspects of the calculations of the molecular vibrational spectra are summarized. Special emphasis is given to the problem of simulating spectra for biological molecules (oligo-peptides and nucleotides, proteins and nucleic acids) using DFT methods. The methodology for simulations of large biopolymers with DFT level force fields and intensity parameters abstracted from smaller molecules is reviewed. Several examples with the discussion of successes and difficulties of the vibrational spectra simulations for model peptides are presented. Finally, methods for incorporating the solvent in the spectral simulations are reviewed and discussed.
Social Impact Assessment for Environmental Disaster Management
Authors: Sairinen Rauno
Published: February 2025

The problem which often lays over the disaster management practices is that social and community dimension of disasters are badly identified and assessed. This article discusses this problem and offers social impact assessment (SIA) as a tool for the uses of environmental disaster management. Here, the main questions concern the following: How can we understand and anticipate the consequences of environmental disasters and changes in the social and community level? What are suitable analytical concepts and methods for social impact assessment? This article introduces the concepts of social vulnerability, social resilience and community adaptation as central concepts in understanding the social nature of disaster. In addition, the article describes the kind of assessment experiences we have in this field.
Dynamics, Predictability and Risk Assessment of Natural Hazards
Authors: Matcharashvili Teimuraz  , Chelidze Tamaz  , Javakhishvili Zurab
Published: February 2025

Predicting singular/extremal phenomena exceeding certain spatial, temporal, or energetic scales remains as a main scientific and practical challenge. The question is: does modern geophysics - based on recent progress in theories of complex systems and nonlinear dynamics - provide useful scientific insights to mechanisms underlying disastrous extreme events? The question is of primary importance, because providing more reliable disaster prediction methodologies is closely tied with scientific understanding of the hazardous process. From the point of view of dynamics, hazardous natural phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, or landslides are recognized as complex and high-dimensional processes. For such randomlike processes with no (or weak) inherent determinism, there are major, perhaps fundamental, difficulties in creating a comprehensiv physical/mathematical theory to describe and predict their evolution in spatial, temporal or energetic domains. At the same time, the weakness of deterministic relations in high dimensional processes does not imply an absence of order in governing rules. This is why for complex natural systems very large deviations from the mean (catastrophic extreme events) are not negligible and originate from system's inherent rules, not from chance. The most important features of complex systems are their ability to self-organize and the fractal distributions. For commonly limited natural scales it reveals itself in the form of memory or long-range dependence. According to the present understanding almost all important natural hazards are associated with such memory, scale invariant, close-to-critical state models, e.g. landslides with the sand-pile model, earthquakes with the slider-block model, and forest fires with the forest-fire model. In spite of present difficulties related to the correct dynamical analysis of complex systems, it is accepted that predictability of natural disasters can be considered as a well-posed task. Thus, developing dynamical methods together with quantitative models needed to evaluate probabilistic hazard assessment is within our reach. This will require a combined effort of earth scientists, physicists, statisticians, and practitioners. In this chapter we present a short review of dynamics and predictability of complex processes as well as some results of seismic hazard assessment in Georgia.
Improvements in Supply Chain tracking using a three-levels RFID System
Authors: Abarca Antonio  , G.-Escribano Javier  , De Dios Juan J.  , García Andrés
Published: February 2025

Monitoring of environmental conditions of products in Supply Chains is commonly demanded by users in distribution and manufacturing processes. This information is also required by customers and authorities at final stages. Sometimes is difficult to collect this information, but especially when products are mixed within the same pallet. The process of mixing products in pallets is called “picking” and is a usual practice when customers require small quantities of each item. The number of resources used and the amount of mistakes involving this process suppose and important drawback for distribution companies. To tackle this lack of competiveness created, this work proposes a three-levels based RFID System. This system tries to improve the process of identification and monitoring of condition of products by means of passive and active tags, and the necessary RFID readers. The three different RFID components are connected to three different levels which Supply Chain has been divided in. RFID readers are actually in the third level, the highest one, are wirelessly connected using ZigBee networks. GPRS modules are also used here to provided real-time global localization of products (RTLS) in the moment of being accessed by readers.
Cyberspace Control: How to Avert a Cyber World War
Authors: Sanfelice di Monteforte Ferdinando
Published: February 2025

Just as with the air and maritime domain – namely those geostrategic spaces where police authorities are unable to carry out law enforcement activities independently without military assistance – cyberspace could also become the object of military attention, from the moment that, like the other two, it is an environment where adversarial activities can be carried out by state or state-sponsored actors within the framework of international controversies among states. Due to the fact that the military was the first public sector to take serious steps toward ensuring adequate levels of security on its IT systems, and therefore holds an advantage in this field, military participation in questions of cyber security at the national and international levels could potentially be beneficial for all state agencies concerned with security issues of this nature.
The effects of proprioceptive reinforcement on the dynamic balance performance and Cobb angle of patients with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Namdar Tajari S.  , Farahpour N.
Published: February 2025

It is reported that idiopathic scoliosis is associated with the deficits on the proprioceptive performance. The main purpose of this study was evaluate the effects of balance proprioceptive reinforcement on the scoliotic deformity in mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In conclusion, this study showed that the balance training has a significant effect on the treatment of the scoliotic deformity and proprioceptive performance.
Lung volumes in spinal cord injury – a distinct restrictive pattern
Authors: Mueller G.  , Perret C.  , Michel F.
Published: February 2025

Purpose: Functioning of the respiratory pump is an important determinant of physical exercise in spinal cord injury (SCI). The higher respiratory limitations are the more exercise capacity and general health may be affected. The purpose of this study was to analyze lesion specific lung volumes in order to better understand individual difficulties of breathing in SCI. Methods: Routine lung volume measurements by bodyplethysmography. Individuals aged between 18 and 70 years with chronic (> 1 year), traumatic, motor complete (ASIA A+B) SCI. Results: 146 SCI individuals with lesion levels between C4 and L4 met the inclusion criteria. Their mean age was 46±12y, height 1.75±0.08m, weight 72±13kg and they were 15.4±11.7y post injury. Compared to the able-bodied population, all lesion levels showed increased residual volumes (RV) and reduced expiratory reserve volumes (ERV). As a consequence, functional residual capacity (FRC) was around normal values. Nevertheless, relative to total lung capacity, FRC increased with higher lesion levels. Conclusion: Due to the loss of innervated inspiratory muscle mass, most lung volume parameters of individuals with SCI show a distinct restrictive breathing pattern. The additional loss of innervated expiratory muscle mass leads to lesion dependent increases in RV and decreases in ERV. This fact seems to cause the rapid shallow breathing pattern during exercise tasks in SCI.
Quality measure in service delivery of mobility devices
Authors: Kardam S.  , Cooper R.  , Dicianno B.E.  , Cooper R.A.  , Bobish T.
Published: February 2025

The goal of this project is to analyze data from the tracking sheets of therapists of the Center for Assistive Technology (CAT) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to determine how much time is taken for delivery of manual or power wheelchairs and scooters. Executing the process in a timely manner is a necessary part of client satisfaction and quality of service. The average total days taken for delivering the mobility device were calculated as 110.00 +/- 70.11 days, which conforms to the goal of 100 days set by CAT. A total of 257 out of 549 (46.8%) devices delivered in 2007 and 2008 were delivered in 51-100 days. The longest time period in the delivery process was the period between when the report was completed and final delivery of the device which consisted heavily of insurance review. Therapists seemed to be able to facilitate delivery time by shortening the time for report writing as well as shortening times of vendor responsibilities. Manual wheelchairs had the longest delivery time, likely due to the need for customization and fitting. More research is needed to determine how diagnosis, insurance type, and vendors may influence delivery time.
Evoked EMG and muscle fatigue during isokinetic FES cycling in individuals with SCI
Authors: Estigoni E.H.  , Fornusek C.  , Song T.  , Tanhoffer R.A.  , Smith R.  , Davis G.M.
Published: February 2025

Purpose – To determine if FES-evoked electromyographic signals (eEMG), collected from paralysed quadriceps muscles, could be used as a proxy of fatigue during FES-induced cycling. Methods – Five subjects with SCI performed one FES-cycling session over 30 min, with the quadriceps muscles being electrically stimulated as the prime agonist. The pedal torques and surface eEMG signals were synchronously recorded for offline analysis. Results – Eight parameters were extracted from eEMG m-waves and processed using Matlab. While pedal torque decayed exponentially over 30-min for all individuals, none of the eEMG parameters followed the same characteristic pattern. A clear change in most of the eEMG curves was detected around the 7thminute of exercise. After analysing data from the onset of exercise until the 7thminute, time variables from the m-waves seem to inversely reflect the decay of torque. From the 7thminute onwards, amplitude and frequency variables showed a moderate correlation with pedal torque. Conclusion – eEMG parameters reflected muscle fatigue only to a limited extent. A high instability period for most of the parameters was observed during the first 7 minutes of exercise.