bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defect Identification using Eddy Current Sweep Frequency Technique
Authors: Strapacova Tatiana  , Capova Klara  , Janousek Ladislav  , Smetana Milan
Published: February 2025

The paper proposes utilization of the sweep frequency technique in eddy current inspection. Detection and possible identification of defects in conductive materials are concerned here. Numerical calculations are performed in order to evaluate the detection capability of the technique and the sensitivity of response signal to dimensional parameters of a crack. A plate specimen having the electromagnetic characteristics of SUS316L is inspected with a standard pancake probe. A non-conductive notch with rectangular shape models the crack and its dimensions are varied. The probe is positioned above the centre of crack and the frequency of exciting signal is changed in a wide range. The amplitude and the phase characteristics of the response signal are compared for various scenarios. Experimental measurements are carried out under similar conditions as the numerical investigations. The presented results, especially the experimental ones, clearly demonstrate that the sweep frequency technique can enhance eddy current inspection of defects especially in areas where scanning over a surface is not possible and a sensor needs to be fixed in a certain position.
Design and Experimental Testing of a Thermographic Nondestructive System with Induction Heating
Authors: Giovinco Gaspare  , Rubinacci Guglielmo  , Russi Aldo  , Tamburrino Antonello  , Ventre Salvatore
Published: February 2025

Among non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) techniques, infrared thermography is widely used because of its great advantage to allow fast inspection of large surfaces. In the present paper active infrared thermography is adopted to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed induction heating system. Induction heating by eddy currents is very interesting because of: (i) the possibility of controlling the internal generation from a volumetric distribution to an almost surface distribution and (ii) the possibility of modulating almost arbitrarily the waveform of the internal generation. Here we consider lock-in (or modulated) thermography in transmission mode where the analysis of the time-domain thermograms is carried out through Fourier transform. At our knowledge, the scientific community paid minimal attention to the design of the inductor for induction heating systems. In this framework, this contribution proposes the design criteria to optimize the induction heating system. Moreover, these criteria have been applied to realize a first experimental prototype of an induction heating system for infrared thermography for the testing of conductive materials. Preliminary experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the system.
Innovative technique for detection of Garter Springs with PECT using Time Frequency Analysis for Fresh Zr-2.5% Nb Pressure Tubes of PHWR's
Authors: Shyam T.V.  , Sharma B.S.V.G.  , Kayal J.N.
Published: February 2025

During en-masse coolant channel replacement operation in one of the 220 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), synonymous garter spring signals were observed by using conventional eddy current technique (ECT) at the locations where no garter springs were present. The synonymous signals observed were attributed to localized zones of oxygen rich α-grain zone which exhibit high resistivity. With conventional eddy current technique it is quite formidable to distinguish such features. In the backdrop, Pulsed Eddy Current Technique was proposed to be used for the inspection. By virtue of broad band technique, it has the capability to probe with infinite continuum band of frequencies into the test object. This paper describes the development of Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) probe and PEC system. The signal analysis is carried out by time frequency analysis using wigner ville distribution to extract and disseminate the information about presence or absence of garter spring locations.
Advances in Electromagnetic NDE Techniques for Characterization of Metallic Materials
Authors: Jayakumar T.  , Rao B.P.C.  , Mukhopadhyay C.K.  , Viswanath A.  , Vaidyanathan S.
Published: February 2025

NDE techniques that use some form of electromagnetic excitation are termed as electromagnetic NDE techniques and these include eddy current, magnetic flux leakage, Barkhausen emission, micromagnetic, potential drop, microwave etc. techniques. The concurrent advances in sensors, signal processing, instrumentation, modeling etc. have enhanced the capabilities of the traditional electromagnetic NDE techniques enabling detection and characterization of incipient defects, changes in microstructures and accumulated plastic deformation or damage prior to crack formation. This paper discusses some recent advances in electromagnetic NDE techniques for detection of defects, corrosion damage and microstructure changesin both ferrous and non-ferrous materials with the help of example case studies and applications.
Infiltration of Non-European Terrorist Groups in Europe and Antiterrorist Responses in Western and Eastern Europe (1969-1991)
Authors: Baev Jordan
Published: February 2025

This paper is based on newly declassified Bulgarian State Security operational records from the last two Cold War decades on “Combating Terrorism”. It aims to reveal the organization of antiterrorist coordination in a “close monistic society”, which was the Warsaw Pact area, and to give some new evidences for the still not well known confidential contacts between the two adversary blocs' secret services before the downfall of the Berlin Wall. The Western countries antiterrorist approaches and regional cooperation served as impressive practical examples to the East European Security services on how to organize joint antiterrorist operations. Despite of the ideological and cultural division of Europe in a bi-polar world, the International Terrorism threat became a serious security challenge to both West and East European political systems.
Scaling-up Remote Care in the United Kingdom: Lessons from a Decade of Policy Intervention
Authors: Barlow James  , Hendy Jane  , Chrysanthaki Theopisti
Published: February 2025

Since 2006 a series of government sponsored initiatives in the United Kingdom have sought to increase the adoption of remote care – telehealth and telecare. These aim to address the increased demand on health and social care services caused by an ageing population and rise in the number of people with long term chronic conditions. The scale of activity, including the world's largest randomised controlled trial, have made the UK a test bed for learning about the potential of remote care, as well as the challenges in deploying it as a mainstreadkm part of health and social care. The chapter discusses the scope of this activity and the lessons that can be learnt.
The One that Got Away: Why Haven't More Telehomecare Products Made it to Market?
Authors: Riley Victor
Published: February 2025

Telehomecare research has been going on for many years now, but few significant products have made it to market. Researchers, both outside of and within the companies that would productize telehomecare solutions, may not fully understand the challenges of moving technologies from the lab to the store shelf. In this chapter, I examine some of these challenges, including the relative costs of research vs. productization, how that difference affects the separate attitudes and expectations of researchers and product managers, and what the opportunities are for innovation in this area in today's technology landscape.
New Approaches and Initiatives for Addressing the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
Authors: Marcon Federico  , Srivastava Anupam  , Betti Stefano
Published: February 2025

The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute has a very specific mandate: to develop innovative ideas to assist states in crime prevention and criminal justice. Federico Marcon elaborates on UNICRI, which is currently working in applied research to provide technical assistance to member states in fighting illicit trafficking of CBRN material. Furthermore, the institution seeks to promote a comprehensive CBRN program to improve state capabilities. The fundamental role of the Proliferation Security Initiative, as presented by Anupam Srivastava, is coordinating enforcement policy when nonproliferation itself as a preventative tool has failed. Srivastava shows examples from recent history to provide justification for interdiction – an activity, he stresses, open to any state that agrees with the principle of interdiction. He cites issues that have arisen from PSI, including the necessity of information sharing and public diplomacy, at which states are not particularly successful. Also, there is little time to respond to illicit shipping, and so countries must work together quickly. These challenges notwithstanding, PSI advances states' capacity to engage in value-added trade while at the same time helping members meet their national maritime security goals. The PSI is not alone. The Suppression of Unlawful Acts Convention and the 2005 Protocol to it are the first documents to recognize the new threat of nuclear terrorism and its relation to maritime law. The convention wants all state parties to criminalize transport of radioactive material knowingly onboard intended for harm. The protocol is significant in that concepts from the nonproliferation world migrated to the world of criminal law. Stefano Betti maintains that because of this, implementing this instrument is a multidisciplinary task that requires involvement of actors from varying fields of expertise.
The application of Raman spectroscopy to human cancer diagnostics
Authors: Harris Andrew T.  , Fisher Sheila E.
Published: February 2025

Cancer poses a massive global health burden with rates set to double over the next decade. In the UK, it is estimated that 42% of the population will experience a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime and for 64% of these, cancer will cause their death. Surgical excision holds the greatest chance of cure for solid tumours yet once spread beyond the primary site has occurred survival rates decrease rapidly. Early detection of cancer allows early intervention with, potentially, the greatest chance of cure. Raman spectroscopy has the ability to detect biochemical alterations in cells prior to any morphological changes a pathologist would identify. Cancer is believed to have genetic and environmental components to its aetiology. These factors depend on site and cancer biology. Many authors have explored the potential of Raman spectroscopy to discriminate between cancerous, non-cancerous and dysplastic (precancerous) cells. Such work has been undertaken using live cells, formalin-fixed cells, pellets and scaffolds as well as whole tissues and body fluids. Raman based technologies can be used as a screening tool for at risk populations. Another avenue for Raman would be in surgical theatre assessing margins at the time of an operation thus optimsing conservation of normal tissue whilst removing all the cancer. A further breakthrough would be the ability of Raman spectroscopy to diagnose cancer through a blood sample. The advantage this would confer would be greatly enhanced if the biological properties of the cancer could be recognized, it may be then possible to offer bespoke treatment, thus keeping some patients under surveillance whilst others have graded treatment ranging from surgery, radiotherapy to chemotherapy and combination therapies.
Commodities and Information: Black Holes in the Information Shearing System
Authors: Tvalchrelidze Alexander G.
Published: February 2025

We are presenting the new approach of novel information based control and management of commodities markets and their properties. Good management and intelligent capitalization of natural resources and corresponding commodities at international commodity markets are the most efficient measures for accelerated economic development of the Newly Independent States. Hence, the black holes in the legislation and, generally, in the philosophy of commodities are an insuperable obstacle towards international commodity markets. Without solving the problems discussed in this article, direct access to commodity and mercantile exchange for national mining companies from Newly Independent States would be banned.
Advances in Probabilistic Model Checking
Authors: Kwiatkowska Marta  , Parker David
Published: February 2025

Probabilistic model checking is an automated verification method that aims to establish the correctness of probabilistic systems. Probability may arise, for example, due to failures of unreliable components, communication across lossy media, or through the use of randomisation in distributed protocols. Probabilistic model checking enables a range of exhaustive, quantitative analyses of properties such as “the probability of a message being delivered within 5ms is at least 0.89”.
A Perspective on Information-Flow Control
Authors: Hedin Daniel  , Sabelfeld Andrei
Published: February 2025

Information-flow control tracks how information propagates through the program during execution to make sure that the program handles the information securely. Secure information flow is comprised of two related aspects: information confidentiality and information integrity — intuitively pertaining to the reading and writing of the information. The prevailing basic semantic notion of secure information flow is noninterference, demanding independence of public (or, in the case of integrity, trusted) output from secret (or, in the case of integrity, untrusted) input. This document gives an account of the state-of-the-art in confidentiality and integrity policies and their enforcement with a systematic formalization of four dominant formulations of noninterference: termination-insensitive, termination-sensitive, progress-insensitive, and progress-sensitive, cast in the setting of two minimal while languages.
Future Trends in Terrorism
Authors: Sütalan Zeynep  , Güngör Uğur
Published: February 2025

This article discusses the future trends in terrorism by looking at the changing profile of terrorism through ideology, organization and structure as well as the means and methods used in terrorism. First, the article examines how the ideologies used by terrorist organizations, together with their goals and motivations, have changed. Second, it elaborates how the organizational structure of terrorist organizations has changed with reference to the network and hierarchical structures of terrorist organizations. Third, the article is dedicated to look at the means and methods of terrorist organizations with special attention to the weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombing. Other features of terrorism like cyberterrorism, the growing interconnectedness and interdependency between organized crime and terrorism, and the nexus between piracy and terrorism is also addressed. The article argues that there is both change and continuity in terrorism since it is a historical phenomenon and intends to contribute to the discussions on the future of terrorism.
Safety of Tailings Dams and Related Problems in Armenia
Authors: Sahakyan Kristine S.
Published: February 2025

Environmental protection against mining tailings is one of the most active problems of modern society. At present the estimated reserves of Armenia's non-ferrous metallurgy on the world market scale have reached USD 20 billion. There are abundant resources of molybdenum, copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc, and special elements (such as rhenium, selenium tellurium, bismuth cadmium, and vanadium) in the territory of Armenia. Currently, the non-ferrous metallurgical industry is the only branch in the Republic, which realizes its production goals abroad. The most significant enterprises in this sector are copper-molybdenum, gold and multi-metal mines. At present there are more than 10 tailings dams in Armenia, all of which, with the exception of Ararat gold processing plant's tailings dam, are located in areas with complex geographical and topographic conditions, and are classified as being stream-type tailings dams. 75% of the tailings dams present in Armenia are located in the Syuniq region. Some of these have been ranked as the largest tailings dams in the world, thanks to the complexity of their geographical location, structural parameters and architectural solutions.
Urban Planning and Land Management: A Tool for the Prevention of Natural Disasters
Authors: Paskaleva Ivanka
Published: February 2025

The common understanding is that catastrophes are always human-provoked and are more social rather than physical phenomena. A catastrophe happens when a high-intensity or extreme natural event, like an earthquake, meets a vulnerable population with an unprepared decision-making authority. Environmental disasters in many cases are affected by human usage of natural resources, e.g. over-exploitation can cause man-made disasters.
Parallel Likelihood Function Evaluation on Heterogeneous Many-core Systems
Authors: Jarp Sverre  , Lazzaro Alfio  , Leduc Julien  , Nowak Andrzej  , Sneen Lindal Yngve
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a parallel implementation that allows the evaluations of the likelihood function for data analysis methods to run cooperatively on heterogeneous computational devices (i.e. CPU and GPU) belonging to a single computational node. The implementation is able to split and balance the workload needed for the evaluation of the likelihood function in corresponding subworkloads to be executed in parallel on each computational device. The CPU parallelization is implemented using OpenMP, while the GPU implementation is based on OpenCL. The comparison of the performance of these implementations for different configurations and different hardware systems are reported. Tests are based on a real data analysis carried out in the high energy physics community.
A Model-Based Software Generation Approach Qualified for Heterogeneous GPGPU-Enabled Platforms
Authors: Endt Holger  , Stolz Lothar  , Wechs Martin  , Stechele Walter
Published: February 2025

An approach for model-based programming is presented supporting automated software generation for Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). As General Purpose Computing on GPUs (GPGPU) has evolved from a very special niche of software technology to an established grade, it is ready now to be adressed from the perspective of automated software generation. This allows to achieve a more flexible, more reliable and faster development process. We present a software generation framework covering the complete design flow from model-based system specification to actual code for heterogeneous CPU and GPU platforms. Good mappings to highly parallel GPU architecture are achieved as inherent parallelism of signal processing algorithms is treated within code translation. First results will be given for an example design from the automotive driver assistance domain.
The Future of High Performance Computing in Europe
Authors: Fabianek Bernhard  , Cuciniello Christian
Published: February 2025

Society nowadays faces grand challenges in competitiveness of industry and science where High-Performance Computing (HPC) is a key asset building European innovation capacity. HPC has been applied to increase discoveries and innovation in industry and academia, to decrease time to production and market and to lower costs in many industrial sectors. Even more it is needed to address societal challenges in understanding, curing, and preventing diseases to increase the quality of life: forecast the impact of climate change or help locating fuel are only some of the processes facilitated by the HPC. A reinforced and coordinated effort in Europe will ensure an independent access to HPC systems and services, an advance in computing technologies and software in a transition period from peta- to exa-flop technology. This will generate benefits for the ICT industry in computing and software in general. Thus, high-performance computing is crucial for Europe's industrial capabilities as well as for every individual citizen.
The PEPPHER Approach to Programmability and Performance Portability for Heterogeneous many-core Architectures
Authors: Benkner Siegfried  , Pllana Sabri  , Larsson Träff Jesper  , Tsigas Philippas  , Richards Andrew  , Namyst Raymond  , Bachmayer Beverly  , Kessler Christoph  , Moloney David  , Sanders Peter
Published: February 2025

The European FP7 project PEPPHER is addressing programmability and performance portability for current and emerging heterogeneous many-core architectures. As its main idea, the project proposes a multi-level parallel execution model comprised of potentially parallelized components existing in variants suitable for different types of cores, memory configurations, input characteristics, optimization criteria, and couples this with dynamic and static resource and architecture aware scheduling mechanisms. Crucial to PEPPHER is that components can be made performance aware, allowing for more efficient dynamic and static scheduling on the concrete, available resources. The flexibility provided in the software model, combined with a customizable, heterogeneous, memory and topology aware run-time system is key to efficiently exploiting the resources of each concrete hardware configuration. The project takes a holistic approach, relying on existing paradigms, interfaces, and languages for the parallelization of components, and develops a prototype framework, a methodology for extending the framework, and guidelines for constructing performance portable software and systems – including paths to migration of existing software – for heterogeneous many-core processors. This paper gives a high-level project overview, and presents a specific example showing how the PEPPHER component variant model and resource-aware run-time system enable performance portability of a numerical kernel.
An efficient parallel set container for multicore architectures
Authors: de Vega Álvaro  , Andrade Diego  , Fraguela Basilio B.
Published: February 2025

Multicores are now the norm and new generations of software must take advantage of the presence of several cores in a given architecture. Parallel programming requires specific skills beyond from those required for the development of traditional sequential programs. The usage of parallel libraries is one of the best ways to facilitate parallel programming, as they does not require new compilers and they allow to parallelize sequential codes without big efforts by the programmer. This paper presents an efficient and portable parallel set container. This container has been used to program parallel versions of several algorithms. The experimental results show that the container facilitates the programmability and achieves a good performance on multicore systems.
Cray's Approach to Heterogeneous Computing
Authors: Ansaloni Roberto  , Hart Alistair
Published: February 2025

Heterogeneous architectures, combining traditional multicore CPUs with energy-efficient accelerators, can provide a viable approach to exascale computing. Such hybrid architectures are, however, difficult to program, requiring specific low-level rewriting of application codes. Here we describe Cray's approach to heterogeneous computing and the first Cray hybrid supercomputing system, the Cray XK6, with its unified x86/GPU programming environment. We also describe how the proposed standard for OpenMP accelerator directives offers a high-level programming model, and develop a GPU version of the Himeno benchmark on an early Cray XK6 prototype.
A Dynamically Reconfigurable Pattern Matcher for Regular Expressions on FPGA
Authors: Davidson Tom  , Merlier Mattias  , Bruneel Karel  , Stroobandt Dirk
Published: February 2025

In this article we describe how to expand a partially dynamic reconfigurable pattern matcher for regular expressions presented in previous work by Divyasree and Rajashekar [2]. The resulting, extended, pattern matcher is fully dynamically reconfigurable. First, the design is adapted for use with parameterisable configurations, a method for Dynamic Circuit Specialization. Using parameterisable configurations allows us to achieve the same area gains as the hand crafted reconfigurable design, with the benefit that parameterisable configurations can be applied automatically. This results in a design that is more easily adaptable to specific applications and allows for an easier design exploration. Additionally, the parameterisable configuration implementation is also generated automatically, which greatly reduces the design overhead of using dynamic reconfiguration. Secondly, we propose a number of expansions to the original design to overcome several limitations in the original design that constrain the dynamic reconfigurability of the pattern matcher. We propose two different solutions to dynamically change the character that is matched in a certain block. The resulting pattern matcher, after these changes, is fully dynamically reconfigurable, all aspects of the implemented regular expression can be changed at run-time.
TEMANEJO – a debugger for task based parallel programming models
Authors: Brinkmann Steffen  , Gracia José  , Niethammer Christoph  , Keller Rainer
Published: February 2025

We present the program TEMANEJO, a debugger for task based parallelisation models such as StarSs. The challenge in debugging StarSs applications lies in the fact that tasks are scheduled at runtime, i.e dynamically in accordance to the data dependencies between them. Our tool assists the programmer in the debugging process by visualising the task dependency graph and allowing to control the scheduling of tasks.
Characterizing I/O Performance Using the TAU Performance System
Authors: Shende Sameer  , Malony Allen D.  , Spear Wyatt  , Schuchardt Karen
Published: February 2025

TAU is an integrated toolkit for performance instrumentation, measurement, and analysis. It provides a flexible, portable, and scalable set of technologies for performance evaluation on extreme-scale HPC systems. This paper describes alternatives for I/O instrumentation provided by TAU and the design and implementation of a new tool, tau_gen_wrapper, to wrap external libraries. It describes three instrumentation techniques – preprocessor based substitution, linker based instrumentation, and library preloading based replacement of routines. It demonstrates this wrapping technology in the context of intercepting the POSIX I/O library and its application to profiling I/O calls for the Global Cloud Resolution Model (GCRM) application on the Cray XE6 system. This scheme allows TAU to track I/O using linker level instrumentation for statically linked executables and attribute the I/O to specific code regions. It also addresses issues encountered in collecting the performance data from large core counts and representing this data to correctly identify sources of poor I/O performance.
Ambient Intelligence Implies Responsibility
Authors: Detweiler Christian A.  , Dechesne Francien  , Hindriks Koen V.  , Jonker Catholijn M.
Published: February 2025

Ambient Intelligence Systems are complex, knowledge providing systems. The group of intended users typically comprises both various kinds of professionals and of laymen. In this chapter we address responsibility issues associated with the use and design of AmISs. We explain the connection between knowledge and responsibility, and use that connection to show that the usage of Ambient Intelligence Systems leads to moral responsibilities for all types of users (professionals and otherwise). It follows from the same reasoning scheme applied to the role of the AmIS developer, that she is responsible to design the system for responsible use. We give some initial criteria for such design for responsibility of AmISs.
Applications of Vibrational Spectroscopy in Diagnosis and Screening of Dental Tissues
Authors: Haman Bayari Sevgi
Published: February 2025

Fourier Transform infrared/Raman spectroscopy and microscopy are highly valuable for conducting research on dental applications. In this chapter, the structural characterization of dentin and enamel, the biophysical and biochemical changes induced by diseases, diagnosis of dental caries, dentin-enamel junction (DEJ), effects of dental etchants on teeth and adhesive/dentin interface are reviewed.
Cognitive Service Robots
Authors: Tellez Ricardo
Published: February 2025

Current approaches to intelligent service robots follow an idea borrowed from Good-Old-Fashioned Artificial Intelligence (GOFAI): very complex planning algorithms will produce artificial intelligence. Hence is basically a matter of CPU power to have an operative artificial intelligence for a robot. An example of this belief is the current trend in robotics that uses the cloud as the brain of the robots. It is assumed that the cloud will have CPU power enough to handle object recognition, speech recognition, or grasping. However, current experiments in speech recognition indicate that despite the increase in CPU power along the last years, the speech recognition rate has reached a plateau (not good enough for a real life system).
Development of Means for Support of Comfortable Conditions for Human-Robot Interaction in Domestic Environments
Authors: Ronzhin Andrey  , Prischepa Maria  , Budkov Viktor
Published: February 2025

Humanoid shape and style of communication became more popular and possible for state-of-the-art social robot due to rapid development of the embedded systems and the methods for audiovisual processing of natural modalities. The detection of psychologically comfortable conditions for communication is a one of fundamental problems at the development of user interfaces for domestic robots. In this paper the modern works devoted to the psychological aspects of user-robot interaction, issues of the proximity and appearance of robot are considered. The heterogeneous sensors used for detection and tracking user as well as techniques for registration of audio-visual data used for extraction of user preferences, which are applied in the developed information mobile robot, are presented.
Recognition of Static Gestures using Three-Dimensional Chain Codes using Dominant Direction Vectors
Authors: Figueroa Jose  , Savage Jesus  , Bribiesca Ernesto  , Succar Enrique
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a novel method for static gesture recognition based on three-dimensional chain codes which are computed from three-dimensional skeletons acquired by three-dimensional vision sensors, such as Microsoft KinectTM. The method has two stages: a digitization stage and a recognition stage. The digitization stage is based on the orthogonal direction change chain code, which represents the changes of direction on segments of a three-dimensional curve which was fitted in a three-dimensional grid; these changes of direction are invariant to rotation and translation. The recognition stage is based in the detection of dominant changes of direction on segments of a three-dimensional curve which was fitted in a three-dimensional grid. The experiments for testing this method of static gesture recognition involved recording the pose of the arms of a subject who was standing at increasing distances and the body was oriented in frontal and three-quarters angles; the poses were matched against a set of reference arm poses which were taken from a frontal body pose at an specific distance. The results show that the generation and matching of three-dimensional chain codes of arm poses captured on varying configurations are reliable enough for being used for gesture recognition. The gesture recognition system will be used on the robots of the Robocup@Home teams Markovito and Pumas from Mexico.
FollowMe: A Bigraphical Approach
Authors: Henson Martin  , Dooley James  , Whittington Luke  , Al Malaise Al Ghamdi Abdullah
Published: February 2025

In this paper we illustrate the use of modelling techniques using bigraphs to specify and refine elementary aspects of the FollowMe framework. This framework provides the seamless migration of bi-directional user interfaces for users as they navigate between zones within an intelligent environment.
Lessons Learned by the Japanese Navy and Coast Guard from Maritime Security Operations
Authors: Ota Fumio
Published: February 2025

The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Coast Guard have learned a great deal from maritime security operations, particularly with regards to the ability to coordinate efforts at many levels.. This article details these lessons; although some are known from the past, some are unique to this environment and must be brought into our training schemes.
Information Visualization in Intelligent Navigation for Multiple Mobile Robots
Authors: Kubota Naoyuki  , Toda Yuichiro
Published: February 2025

Recently, multiple mobile robots have been used for exploration and remote monitoring in unknown areas. The required functions for human-friendly remote monitoring and control are (1) Extraction of human intention, (2) Semi-autonomous tele-operation, (3) Multi-robot formation behaviors, (4) Sensor fusion for information extraction, (5) Perception of situation, (6) Decision support based on information visualization and (7) Extraction of human interest. We proposed an intelligent navigation system for human-friendly remote monitoring and control. The intelligent navigation system for multiple mobile robots is composed of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), intelligent path planning based on multi-resolution map, 3D information visualization system, and human navigation system based on touch interface. In this chapter, we focus on the information visualization and map building for remote monitoring and control of multiple mobile robots, and show several experimental results of the proposed methods.
Monitoring Method for Underground Condition
Authors: Usami Teruo  , Kojima Fumio
Published: February 2025

This study reports the development of monitoring method and system for underground condition. The method and the system have been developed to test industrial fields by their microwave signals. In this system, microwaves are transmitted from an antenna on the ground surface into the ground. The echo signals returned from underground targets are analyzed by using signal processing methods such as the synthetic aperture processing. The images of underground condition are reproduced. The results of testing using this method and system are attained the horizontal resolution 30 cm for a diameter of 5cm iron pipes buried at a depth of 1.5m.This underground condition monitoring system has been tested in our fields and can be also applied to underground exploration for not only industrial fields but other kinds of fields such as fields for the remains of ancient.
Forward and inverse simulations of pipe wall thinning using pulsed eddy current signals
Authors: Xie Shejuan  , Takagi Toshiyuki  , Uchimoto Tetsuya  , Chen Zhenmao  , Wang Li
Published: February 2025

In this paper, an efficient forward numerical simulation solver for pulsed eddy current testing (PECT) signals has been proposed and developed based on the Fourier series method combined with an interpolation strategy and the database approach. Initially, the PECT signal simulation method based on the Fourier series scheme and an interpolation approach is described. Second, the database type fast numerical solver for single frequency ECT problem is introduced to the Fourier-series-based PECT simulation to enhance its simulation efficiency. In addition, an inversion algorithm of PECT has also been proposed and validated, based on the developed efficient simulator of PECT signals and a deterministic optimization strategy, for the profile reconstruction of wall thinning in pipes of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Through inverse analysis using the simulated PECT signals and signals with random noise, the efficiency and the robustness of the proposed PECT inversion algorithm have been demonstrated.
Criminal Groups, Terrorist Organizations and Drug Trade and Trafficking in Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Ergueshev Zairbek
Published: February 2025

This paper is about criminal groups, terrorist organizations and drug trade and trafficking in Kyrgyzstan. It shows the results of the field work stage of a two year project carried out by the author. The main hypothesis is that in Central Asia, the bases of cooperation are settled among these three biggest players in the region's criminal market.
5. Personalised Ambient Monitoring: Supporting Mental Health at Home
Authors: Magill Evan  , Blum Jesse
Published: February 2025

Many who suffer from Bipolar Disorder are keen to control their disease with as little external medical intervention as possible. Self help through websites, meetings, and questionnaires are commonly employed approaches. The PAM project has worked to help this process. It has endeavoured to form an ambient system of monitoring to provide objective feedback to bipolar sufferers. Particular effort has been made to allow the system network of sensors to be personalised and ambient, and operate without the need for a centralised resource. So a sensor system that embeds the processing of the sensor data has been developed. It allows the processing to be changed at run-time to allow personalisation and for changes in behaviour over time. This chapter describes the current status of the project; in particular it describes the rule-based system that the project developed, and an initial technical trial and its outcomes. The rule-based approach and the trial description should be of general interest to both technical developers and practitioners. The latter part of the chapter however is aimed more at the technical developer and focuses on the technical outcomes from the trial with a focus on the programmability aspects and addresses consistency issues that arise with such a flexible programming environment.
Controlling security risks with the MMO method
Authors: Van Gulijk Coen  , Andriessen Hinke  , Kluin Marieke  , Ale Ben
Published: February 2025

A fundamental analysis of crime and the juridical systems to punish crime has yielded a starting point for quantitative risk analysis of security risks. This method is called the MMO concept as a generic concept for the design of security barriers and their evaluation by quantitative risk analysis methods. It is based on a simplification of the basic elements for proving criminal liability that a defendant committed a crime under US law: motive, means and opportunity. These three elements form the preconditions that are needed to let an ill meaning person to develop into a hazard or threat. The MMO concept also forms the key to the development of successful barriers against the completion of the actual act. Taking one of these three away would render the hazard ineffective. This enables the development of a model for security threats along the same lines as safety threats and opens the possibility for similar qualitative and quantitative analysis. The MMO concept may seem relatively straightforward but the derivation of the theoretical foundation is not simple.
Just-in-Time Information
Authors: Shubnikov Eugene  , Trufanov Andrey  , Linkov Faina  , Padilla Nicolas  , Laporte Ronald
Published: February 2025

Just-in-time (JIT) information is highly relevant to a person's current interest. It is educational information and may be widely used before, during, and after disasters. JIT educational information may be distributed by different ways, including the Internet and mobile Internet. It is important to distribute scientific JIT knowledge on disasters rapidly, within hours. JIT lectures, created by scientists, public health professionals, are one of the “Supercourse” special Internet applications created and distributed when major disasters happen around the world. These cutting-edge PowerPoint lectures aim to reduce fear and save lives by providing the best possible knowledge as soon as possible. The model of JIT lectures includes the development of lecture templates describing the scientific basis of the particular disaster, distributed through email and the website, updating the lecture regularly if needed. We started to build JIT lectures in 2002 shortly after 9/11. This paper describes our 10 years' experience of targeting educators, the public, and officials with timely and appropriate JIT lectures.
Architecture of R&D Project Management Systems at Medical Institutions
Authors: Govorkov Andrey  , Rossodivita Alessandra  , Trufanov Andrey
Published: February 2025

The increasing volume and number of ongoing projects at a medical institution require prompt management of the overall projects at all stages. The work described in this article attempts to build an effective and robust system architecture for managing research projects, with these requirements formulated for project management: creation of multidisciplinary teams with a specific research project; context development of the project; identification of the criteria of novelty; creation of space for action (time, financial, infrastructure); building and maintaining a comprehensive network of communications and interactions with peers; attachment to search process alternatives and options (if necessary, to organize a parallel project with the same formulation of the problem); promotion of spontaneity and creativity in a project team; and active transfer of knowledge during the project and its distribution to all project participants.
Cross-Disciplinary Competency and Professionalization in Disaster Medicine and Public Health
Authors: Burkle Jr. Frederick M.  , Lyznicki James M.  , James James J.
Published: February 2025

Unfortunately, the response to humanitarian crises and large-scale natural disasters worldwide has shown consistent failures in coordination, intervention, and documentation of impact outcomes. The response to the Haitian earthquake of 2010 prompted the international community to address these shortcomings and requirements for greater accountability, stringent quality performance oversights, documentation and reporting, and a recognized process leading to professionalization of the humanitarian community. Evidenced-based studies indicate the need to use a cross- or multi-disciplinary approach to developing competencies leading to curricula and course development and to eventual certification and registry of providers. This chapter discusses the current processes by which these issues are being addressed.
Application of Computational Limit Analysis in Ultimate Limit State Design
Authors: Smith Colin
Published: February 2025

Computational Limit Analysis is a numerical tool that allows the user to rapidly and directly determine the ultimate limit state for a general problem geometry without the need to iterate or timestep to a solution. This paper summarises recent work placing Computational Limit Analysis within a rigorous theoretical framework that can be used in the context of modern limit state design codes such as Eurocode 7. It then illustrates how a Computational Limit Analysis approach may be carried out for a range of example foundation and retaining wall problems within the Eurocode 7 context.
Can We Do Better Than the Constant Partial Factor Design Format?
Authors: Phoon Kok-Kwang  , Ching Jianye
Published: February 2025

A partial factor format involves multiplying a nominal resistance such as the mean bearing capacity by a resistance factor or dividing a characteristic strength such as the lower 5% undrained shear strength by a partial factor. The purpose of a partial factor format is to implement reliability-based design without requiring the engineer to perform reliability analysis. Hence, the performance of a partial factor format must be measured by its ability to produce designs achieving a desired target reliability index within an acceptable error margin. It is an article of faith that it is possible to achieve an approximately consistent reliability index by recommending a single numerical value for a single resistance factor. This practice is widely adopted in the form of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach. Based on the examples studied in this paper (pile installed in homogeneous clay and pile installed in clay and sand), it is demonstrated numerically that the deviation from the target reliability index can be so large, particularly on the unconservative side, that the purpose of reliability calibration becomes nearly meaningless. In other words, the partial factor format may not perform significantly better than an uncalibrated format in achieving the prescribed target reliability index. In our opinion, it is difficult to provide a compelling reason to engineers to go through the hassle of changing a code format in this case. If a design guide is insistent on recommending a single numerical value in association with a partial factor format, it is more sensible to recommend a constant quantile value, rather than a constant resistance factor.
Implementation and evolution of Eurocode 7
Authors: Bond Andrew
Published: February 2025

The paper describes the ways in which Eurocode 7 has been implemented by National Standards Bodies in Europe. It identifies key differences between the 33 countries involved in their choice of Design Approach for different foundation types and the introduction of different factors based on the design situation being considered and the consequences of failure. Finally, the paper gives details about the plans that are in place to develop the Eurocodes as a whole and Eurocode 7 in particular.
Implementation of Eurocode 7 in French practice by means of national additional standards
Authors: Magnan Jean-Pierre  , Burlon Sébastien
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with the implementation of Eurocode 7 in French practice by means of national additional standards. The architecture of French geotechnical design standards is presented. In particular, principles of safety management and of determination of characteristic value are explained. Then, for each geotechnical structure type, the values of the partial factors used are summarized and the methodology of their calibration is briefly discussed.
Raman microspectroscopy of the yeast vacuoles
Authors: Bednárová Lucie  , Palacký Jan  , Bauerová Václava  , Hrušková-Heidingsfeldová Olga  , Pichová Iva  , Mojzeš Peter
Published: February 2025

In the present work, real ability of a confocal Raman microspectroscopy to monitor chemical composition of the vacuoles within living yeast cells was investigated and critically assessed. Simple, economical and practical protocols of the yeast immobilization suitable for less laborious, high-throughput and spatially-resolved Raman measurements were tested for their possible impacts on physiological states and viability of the cells. We have demonstrated that acquiring Raman spectra from statistically sound sets of immobilized cells and employing advanced multivariate methods for spectral analysis, the chemical composition of the yeast vacuoles can be reliably studied. The most easily and accurately quantifiable seems to be the concentration of polyphosphates which can be unambiguously identified due to unmistakable Raman features. Our approach can be useful for routine, label-free and non-invasive monitoring of the chemical composition of the vacuoles of living yeasts exposed to various stress factors, the information important in biomedical research of pathogens.