bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Security Infrastructure Services for Electronic Archives and Electronic Health Records
Authors: Pharow Peter  , Blobel Bernd
Published: February 2025

Communication and co-operation in the domain of healthcare and welfare require a well-defined set of security services based on a Public Key Infrastructure and provided by a Trusted Third Party (TTP). These services describe both status and relation of communicating principals, corresponding keys and attributes, and the access rights to applications and data. Additional services are needed to provide trustworthy information about dynamic issues of communication and co-operation such as time and location of processes, workflow relations, and system behaviour. Legal, social, behavioural and ethical requirements demand securely stored patient information and well-established access tools and tokens. Electronic (and more specifically digital) signatures – as important means for securing the integrity of a message or file – along with certified time stamps or time signatures are especially important for purposes of data storage in electronic archives and electronic health records (EHR). While just mentioning technical storage problems (e.g. lifetime of the storage devices, interoperability of retrieval and presentation software), this paper identifies mechanisms of securing data items, files, messages, sets of archived items or documents, electronic archive structures, and life-long electronic health records. Other workshop contributions will demonstrate related aspects of policies, patient privacy, and privilege management.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Screening Strategies in Singapore: A Dynamic Decision Analytic Approach
Authors: Wong Swee Seong  , Leong Adrian Peng Kheong  , Leong Tze-Yun
Published: February 2025

A dynamic decision analytic framework using local statistics and expert's opinions is put to study the cost-effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening strategies in Singapore. It is demonstrated that any of the screening strategies, if implemented, would increase the life expectancy of the population of 50 to 70 years old. The model also determined the normal life expectancy of this population to be 76.32 years. Overall, Guaiac Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is most cost effective at SGD162.11 per life year saved per person. Our approach allowed us to model problem parameters that change over time and study the utility measures like cost and life expectancy for specific age within the range of 50- 69 through to 70 years old.
Numerical Model of a Nasal Septal Perforation
Authors: Grant Orla  , Bailie Neil  , Watterson John  , Cole Jonathan  , Gallagher Geraldine  , Hanna Brendan
Published: February 2025

This paper describes numerical simulation of airflow in a nose with a nasal septal perforation. Diseased airflow is compared to airflow in a healthy nasal model. The healthy model has been generated from CT scans from the Antrim Area Hospital ENT clinic and is close to being anatomically accurate. The nasal septal perforation has been superimposed on the healthy geometry using image manipulation software.
A Context-Adaptable Approach to Clinical Guidelines
Authors: Terenziani Paolo  , Montani Stefania  , Bottrighi Alessio  , Torchio Mauro  , Molino Gianpaolo  , Correndo Gianluca
Published: February 2025

One of the most relevant obstacles to the use and dissemination of clinical guidelines is the gap between the generality of guidelines (as defined, e.g., by physicians’ committees) and the peculiarities of the specific context of application. In particular, general guidelines do not take into account the fact that the tools needed for laboratory and instrumental investigations might be unavailable at a given hospital. Moreover, computer-based guideline managers must also be integrated with the Hospital Information System (HIS), and usually different DBMS are adopted by different hospitals. The GLARE (Guideline Acquisition, Representation and Execution) system addresses these issues by providing a facility for automatic resource-based adaptation of guidelines to the specific context of application, and by providing a modular architecture in which only limited and well-localised changes are needed to integrate the system with the HIS at hand.
Outcomes, Challenges and Benefits
Authors: Escudeiro Nuno  , Escudeiro Paula  , Costa Lobo Cristina  , Duarte Marina  , Van Assche Kristien  , Roth Hubert  , Sahm Stephanie
Published: February 2025

Soft skills are getting more and more valuable contributing to improve the employability of students. In the modern economy the need to work with people from different countries and cultures arises very frequently. In this scenario, team work and communication skills in an international environment become highly valuable assets. Nevertheless, despite their value, these skills are usually not trained in undergraduate degrees. MUTW courses fill in this gap without demanding for costly curricula changes. In this chapter we analyze the results from the first MUTW pilot edition. This edition of MUTW involved 21 final-year undergraduate students from 11 higher education institutions belonging to nine European countries. Students were organized in two teams, one with 9 and the other with 12 students, to develop their capstone project. The main outcomes confirm our hypothesis that MUTW improves team work and communication skills in an international setting. The main benefits of MUTW-like projects for the main stakeholders are discussed along with the challenges one is expected to face during such a course unit.
Students' Breakdown
Authors: Fernandes Gustavo  , Chapman Sophie  , Batista Sérgio  , Kougioumoutzi Maria
Published: February 2025

It is a general understanding that working within a team on our local university is sometimes difficult to manage; on a multicultural and distributed environment the same problem is undoubtedly much harder to solve. These added difficulties are the main engine placing MUTW students before challenges that they must face and solve in due time, thus contributing to improve their soft skills to an extent that is barely achieved by a local project course unit. This chapter gives a brief idea about what students think about the MUTW project and what they consider to have gained from it.
A 6 Degrees-of-Freedom Haptic Milling Simulator for Surgical Training of Vertebral Operations
Authors: Eriksson Magnus  , Wikander Jan
Published: February 2025

In the research presented here, the aim has been to develop a haptic milling simulator for surgical training of vertebral operations. One central goal has been to create a simulator that gives the user a realistic impression of contacts with, and milling of, a virtually represented bone tissue model. A new 6 degrees-of-freedom haptic algorithm for milling is implemented together with new 6 degrees-of-freedom haptic device.
Haptic Handles for Robotic Surgery
Authors: Bleuler Hannes  , Santos-Carreras Laura  , Sengül Ali  , Rognini Giulio
Published: February 2025

Robotic surgery, i.e. master-slave telemanipulators for surgery, is rapidly developing. One of the key components is the surgeon's console, and, within the console, especially the “handles” (the “joysticks”) for manipulation control. Two examples of haptic (force-feedback) handle designs developed and realized at the LSRO lab are briefly presented along with design considerations (ergonomics, usability). Incidence on patient safety and patient benefit and future trends in this field are hinted at, especially the possibilities offered VR in this context.
DNA methylation in early neoplasia
Authors: Carmona F. Javier  , Esteller Manel
Published: February 2025

Life expectancy rises steeply when a tumor is diagnosed at an early stage. Therefore, diagnosing cancer before it turns into an aggressive, barely curable disease is one of the main goals of oncological research in the 21st century. This is of vital importance for certain types of cancer for which survival rates drastically drop as primary tumors are detected by currently available screening procedures. Aberrant DNA methylation is a common hallmark of human cancer. This epigenetic mark is altered in instructive ways in the distinct stages of multistep tumorigenesis from the early onset of malignant transformation. Therefore, the possibility of detecting precise methylation signatures associated with particular cancers and the development of methodologies increasingly sensitive at detecting them, makes DNA methylation biomarkers attractive predictors for the development of effective diagnostic tests for the early detection of human neoplasia.
Early events during neoplastic progression in Barrett's esophagus
Authors: Reid Brian J.
Published: February 2025

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the stratified squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus is replaced by specialized intestinal metaplasia. Clinical management of Barrett's esophagus, like many other “premalignant” conditions, is characterized by overdiagnosis of benign early changes that will not cause death or suffering during the lifetime of an individual and underdiagnosis of life-threatening early disease. Recent studies of a number of different types of cancer have revealed much greater genomic complexity than was previously suspected. This genomic complexity could create challenges for early detection and prevention if it develops in premalignant epithelia prior to cancer. Neoplastic progression unfolds in space and time, and Barrett's esophagus provides one of the best models for rapid advances, including “gold standard” cohort studies, to distinguish individuals who do and do not progress to cancer. Specialized intestinal metaplasia has many properties that appear to be protective adaptations to the abnormal environment of gastroesophageal reflux. A large body of evidence accumulated over several decades implicates chromosome instability in neoplastic progression from Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Small, spatial scale studies have been used to infer the temporal order in which genomic abnormalities develop during neoplastic progression in Barrett's esophagus. These spatial studies have provided the basis for prospective cohort studies of biomarkers, including DNA content abnormalities (tetraploidy, aneuploidy) and a biomarker panel of 9p LOH, 17p LOH and DNA content abnormalities. Recent advances in SNP array technology provide a uniform platform to assess chromosome instability.
Two Lines Arup with David Chipperfield Architects
Authors: Weber Felix
Published: February 2025

For the 2011 London Design Festival, David Chipperfield Architects and Arup worked closely together to realise Two Lines, a free standing glass pavilion that showcases Sefar Architecture Vision, a metal coated fabric laminated between two glass panels. David Chipperfield Architects wanted the pavilion not only to be a landmark on London's South Bank next to the Royal Festival Hall, but also to invite the public to walk into it, interact and experience the unique appearance of the glass with the shimmering translucent mesh that constantly changes with orientation, view angle and light conditions. The design features two interlocking forms (“Lines”) that are similar in shape but with opposite orientation. One Line features copper and one aluminium coated mesh, each Line consists of fourteen free standing glass wall panels, orientated on a rectangular grid and supporting five glass roof panels. The different orientation of the glass walls not only creates an interesting space that guides the view of the visitor, the arrangement also stabilises the 3.6m tall structure. The glass panels are laminated with DuPont Sentry Glass that encloses a 50% open mesh that has a copper or aluminium coating on one side and is black from the other. The design of the connectors supports the Architectural concept: reduced linear stainless steel connectors where electrochemically coloured to match the colour of the mesh. The bonded connectors were factory bonded to the glass, this reduced the onsite installation time. The project was designed and realised within less than five months with the combined effort of the Architect, Engineer, the Material Suppliers and specialist contractor Bellapart.
Connecting Through Reinforcement – Experimental Analysis of a Glass Connection Using Perforated Steel Plates
Authors: Carvalho Paulo  , Cruz Paulo J.S.  , Veer Frederic
Published: February 2025

Reinforced glass comprising laminated glass with a steel perforated plate is a feasible way of increasing the residual strength of glass, counteracting its brittleness. This important feature may be expanded by extending the reinforcement outwards of the glass panels to create a connection. It is proposed connect it mechanically to another steel plate while remaining adhesively connected to the glass. Preliminary tests showed the validity of the concept, which depends on adequate bending stiffness, to prevent buckling on the compression zone until tensile strength is reached on the steel perforated plates mechanically connected.
Designing a Glass Bearing Connection with a Probability to EN1990 CC2
Authors: Kruijs Ron
Published: February 2025

Deutscher Ausschuss für Stahlbau (DAst) [1] published a report about steel-glass connections, Mascha Batinger [2] did her thesis about this subject. In both publications an analytic model for bearing hole connection is presented. To verify this analytic models experiments have been performed. The ultimate tensile strength at the holes in those experiments are usually (almost)lower than the residual stress from the tempering process. Analysing the design of the bearing hole connection of both publications several problems were highlighted. In contrast to the publication the load bearing capacity in this paper is designed from a stress point of view. The acceptable level of stress is related to probability of EN1990.
Glazing with Countersunk Point Fittings
Authors: Siebert Geralt  , Herrmann Tobias
Published: February 2025

In contrast to raised head point fittings the countersunk alternatives enable a flat and even surface. But there is an uncertainty amongst many engineers regarding the correct structural design of those systems. Present paper collects and arrays design influencing parameters. A lot of them are incorporated in an automated calculation tool using the programming interface of a multipurpose FEA software. Extensive calculations enable an estimation of sensitivity to respective parameters. Further material behavior of synthetic intermediate layers is described with remarks on hyperelasticity and viscoelasticity. Finally effects of the bolting torque are presented.
Strength of Flat Glass Subjected to Thermal and Mechanical Load
Authors: Zubkov Vladimir  , Kondratieva Nadezhda
Published: February 2025

The results of the experimental and theoretical research of flat glass resting upon its perimeter and subjected to distributed and point load are shown in the article. Recommendations are given to avoid flat glass fracture because of thermal loads. The stress distribution in glass subjected to distributed and point loads has been determined. The method for calculating ultimate strength of glass at lateral bending is offered. The method and program for calculating flat glass strength at designing glass translucent structures, coverings and floorings have been worked out.
Laminated Glass Panels in Combination with Timber Frame as a Shear Wall in Earthquake Resistant Building Design
Authors: Antolinc David  , Žarnić Roko  , Čepon Franci  , Rajčić Vlatka  , Stepinac Mislav
Published: February 2025

The idea of the present study is to determine the in-plane stiffness and load bearing capacity of timber frame with laminated glass infill which acts as a shear wall and finally to estimate the contribution of such wall to the overall behavior of the entire building. For this reason we conducted an in-plane cycling load-displacement experiment of above mentioned wall system. The shear wall is composed of cross laminated timber frame and heat strengthened laminated glass panels, which are connected just with friction without any adhesives. The consequence of this type of connection is that we get larger displacements at a certain applied load which means higher ductility of the whole wall. On the other hand we get the problem to achieve the serviceability limit state. The comparison of the experimental results obtained for different types of timber frame connection details is made. The numerical simulation using ABAQUS software has also been done which gave us inaccurate results due to the inadequate timber frame connection modeling. The plan for the improvement of numerical modeling is made based on the additional experimental analysis of the timber frame elements connections.
In-Plane Loaded Glass-Steel Elements
Authors: Siebert Geralt  , Haese Andreas
Published: February 2025

For this project one element is considered as a glass pane with a (small) edge beam on the vertical edges. In a first step different load-paths and boundary conditions were investigated. Even for very slender edge beams the load carrying capacity is far higher when introducing the loads into the steel instead of the glass. Accompanying to the numerical analysis experimental testing was done to verify the calculation model and outcome. In the second step multiple systems with different geometries, measures, stiffness and loads were examined determining deformations, stresses and stability-parameters. The analysis of the results showed some communality for all models that led to a surprisingly easy design and safety concept.
Building Design Might Soon Be Driven by Energy Requirements Only
Authors: Erban Christof
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with the near future constraints on energy consumption of buildings, their effect on the required accuracy of glass g values and the amount of photovoltaic required on buildings.
Weather Hazards for Aeronautics – How to Best Respond to This Challenge?
Authors: Dezitter Fabien
Published: February 2025

The European WEZARD project (acronym standing for Weather Hazards for Aeronautics) aims at preparing the future research community in the area of air transport system robustness when it is faced with weather hazards. Its precise objectives are to provide: (i) an interdisciplinary and cross-sector network comprising relevant experts; (ii) a state-of-the-art review of the on-going research actions; (iii) an analysis which will identify the shortcomings, areas for improvements and the type of activity needed to limit the effects of disruptive events; (iv) a set of recommendations and a roadmap validated by the main stakeholders of the aeronautics community.
Improved Material Exploitation of Composite Airframe Structures by Accurate Simulation of Collapse
Authors: Degenhardt Richard
Published: February 2025

European aircraft industry demands for reduced development and operating costs, by 20% and 50% in the short and long term, respectively. Supported by the European Comission, the research project called “COCOMAT” which started in January 2004 and finished in 2008 contributed to this aim. The objective was to allow for a structural weight reduction by exploiting considerable reserves in primary fibre composite fuselage structures through an accurate and reliable simulation of post-buckling and collapse. This paper, after having recalled the detailed objectives of the project, gives an overview about the major results obtained.
“CORAC”: The Concerted Approach of French National Council for Civil Aviation
Authors: Desvallées Patrice
Published: February 2025

The French Council “CORAC” has been created in the wake of the “Grenelle de l'Environnement”, France's environmental round table process, with a large consultation involving all sectors. It was launched in July 2007 and ended three months later, in October. Concerning aviation, it was recommended in particular to increase research and technology development efforts and support to innovation, key-drivers to the “greening” of future civil aviation.
The UK National Aeronautics Technology Strategy
Authors: Kingcombe Ray
Published: February 2025

The UK National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS) articulates the required technology development and technology demonstration programmes required to maintain UK competitiveness and position in the global industry. The UK's aims are entirely compatible with those stated in the European Vision 2020 “Meeting society's needs and winning global leadership”. NATS ensures that UK national and EU Framework funding is used in a fully complementary fashion. A UK Aerospace Technology Steering Group (ATSG) was formed and has coordinated this strategy to identify areas where the UK could compete globally: roadmaps of the major programmes required to meet future market needs have been produced, covering airframes, engines, equipment, rotorcraft, ATM and autonomy. Activity has taken place in all areas.
Trends in Educational Activities and Tools for Aeronautics – The Example of the von Karman Institute
Authors: Deconinck Herman
Published: February 2025

The recruitment of highly skilled engineering labour force will be a severe bottleneck for Aeronautical Industry, in order to meet the challenges resulting from the greening of air transportation (ACARE 2020 Vision and the Flightpath 2050). The author of this paper presents an approach drawn from the Belgian von Karman Institute experience, and which could contribute to overcome the obstacles.
Keynote Address by Siim Kallas
Authors: Kallas Siim
Published: February 2025

The European Commission has launched a demanding innovation process in air transport and aeronautics in Europe. It has to complete what it has been started and to look beyond immediate concerns and to build further on its commitments. The report ‘lightpath 2050 – Europe's Vision for Aviation’ was introduced, a basic document which has been established by a group of high-level representatives from the European aviation industry. The new White Paper ‘ransport Road Map’ was also presented. Technology and innovation are key-solutions for the future.
Estrogen receptor 2 expression in back muscles of girls with idiopathic scoliosis – relation to radiological parameters
Authors: Rusin Błażej  , Kotwicki Tomasz  , Głodek Aleksandra  , Andrusiewicz Miroslaw  , Urbaniak Paulina  , Kotwicka Małgorzata
Published: February 2025

Deep paravertebral muscles and female sex hormones are potential elements participating in idiopathic scoliosis development. Estrogen acts through estrogen receptors: ESR1 and ESR2. There are no studies describing ESR2 expression in back muscles in girls with idiopathic scoliosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate ESR2 expression levels in back muscles on both sides of the spinal curve and correlation between the expression level and scoliosis parameters. Asymmetrical ESR2 expression in deep paravertebral muscles was found: 11 girls had higher expression level on the convex side and 5 girls had higher expression level on the concave side of the curvature. Patients with ESR2 (convex/concave) ratio ≥ 1 presented positive correlation between ESR2 ratio and Cobb angle.
Considerations of electronic medications management systems in hospital setting
Authors: Joyce Philip
Published: February 2025

Electronic systems that support clinicians in the task of medication management are now being developed and implemented in the hospital setting. Electronic Medications Management Systems provide support to all the stakeholders within the process of medications and support for the patient centric care model. In this paper we discuss the key elements an electronic medications management systems should possess and what type of these key elements it should possess from a clinical/health information manager perspective. Moreover, the paper considers how it could integrate Electronic Medications Management Systems within the current health information architecture with an acute care hospital.
The Global Need for Education on Cancer Health
Authors: Perakslis Eric D  , Quintana Yuri
Published: February 2025

Non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, remain a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide resulting in more than 36 million deaths annually. Of primary importance in the reduction of this pain and suffering is the local use of education to eliminate misconception, enable prevention, reduce the associated social stigmas, and prepare a workforce that can care for its own people as well as feed an economic engine helping to combat the poverty that so often determines the availability and quality of care. The need to develop these local capabilities is especially acute for children, as 80% of pediatric cancer cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, places where the survival rates are lowest.
MRI image artifact ontology: A Proposed Method for Improved Recognition
Authors: Lasbleiz Jeremy  , Morelli John  , Schnel Nicolas  , Burgun Anita  , Duvauferrier Régis  , Saint Jalmes Hervé
Published: February 2025

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an essential diagnostic imaging technique. The complexity of interpreting MRI images is often compounded by the presence of a wide range of artifacts which are often challenging to identify and eliminate. Ontology permits the construction of a knowledge database with which users can interact given an appropriate interface. The goal of this work is to create an interactive tool for the ontology of MRI artifacts that will allow a radiologist to compare any given MRI artifact image with those contained in the ontology.
eHealth indicators: results of an expert workshop
Authors: Hyppönen Hannele  , Ammenwerth Elske  , Nohr Christian  , Faxvaag Arild  , Walldius Åke
Published: February 2025

eHealth indicators are needed to measure defined aspects of national eHealth implementations. However, until now, eHealth indicators are ambiguous or unclear. Therefore, an expert workshop “Towards an International Minimum Dataset for Monitoring National Health Information System Implementations” was organized. The objective was to develop ideas for a minimum eHealth indicator set. The proposed ideas for indicators were classified based on EUnetHTA and De-Lone & McClean, and classification was compared with health IT evaluation criteria classification by Ammenwerth & Keizer. Analysis of the workshop results emphasized the need for a common methodological framework for defining and classifying eHealth indicators. It also showed the importance of setting the indicators into context. The results will benefit policy makers, developers and researchers in pursuit of provision and use of evidence in management of eHealth systems.
Concept of Operations for Air Traffic Management by Managing Uncertainty through Multiple Metering Points
Authors: McDonald Greg  , Bronsvoort Jesper
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an operational concept for Air Traffic Management, and in particular arrival management, in which aircraft are permitted to operate in a manner consistent with current optimal aircraft operating techniques. The proposed concept allows aircraft to descend in the fuel efficient path managed mode and with arrival time not actively controlled. It will be demonstrated how the associated uncertainty in the time dimension of the trajectory can be managed through the application of multiple metering points strategically chosen along the trajectory. The proposed concept does not make assumptions on aircraft equipage (e.g. time of arrival control), but aims at handling mixed-equipage scenarios that most likely will remain far into the next decade and arguably beyond.
Airport Performance Modeling using an agent-based Approach
Authors: Bouarfa S.  , Blom H.A.P.  , Curran R.
Published: February 2025

Because of the many interacting elements at the airport, the uncertainty in system behavior, and the degree of human agency involved, the airport has become a highly complex system. Its overall behavior is influenced by dynamic interactions between distributed elements in a rapidly changing and unpredicted environment. Motivated by the need to understand such a complex system, this research explores an agent-based approach to model the airport airside behavior emerging from the interactions between various system elements both at the airport and TMA. Agent-Based Modeling is increasingly recognized as a powerful approach to simulate complex systems, because it can represent important phenomena resulting from the characteristics and behaviors of individual agents. These phenomena are usually referred to as emergence which is a key property of complex systems. Unlike existing models which tend to capture the impact on one Key Performance Area (KPA) without considering other KPAs, the objective of this research is to model and optimize the airport airside behavior in terms of multiple KPAs being safety, capacity, economy, and sustainability. This paper presents the results of the first step of this research which is about identifying the human agents relevant for airport modeling and mapping their goals in terms of the various KPAs.
Stall shield devices, an innovative approach to stall prevention?
Authors: Stoop J.A.  , de Kroes J.L.
Published: February 2025

Stall has been an inherent hazard since the beginning of flying. Despite numerous efforts and a very succesfull stall mitigation strategy, stall as a phenomenon still exists and occasionally leads to accidents, mostly of a serious nature. This contribution explores the nature and dynamics of stall and the remedies that have been developed over time.
Analysis of Online Social Networking Peer Health Educators
Authors: Young Sean D.
Published: February 2025

This study seeks to determine whether peer leaders can be recruited to deliver a community-based health intervention using social media. African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited as peer leaders for either an HIV prevention or general health intervention using social networking technologies. Peer leaders attended 3 training sessions on how to use social media for health behaviour change. Baseline and post-training questionnaires were given to ensure that peer leaders were qualified in using social media to communicate health information. Repeated measures ANOVA models and χ2tests assessed differences in peer leader knowledge and comfort using social networking technologies pre- and post-training. Post-training, peer leaders were significantly more comfortable using social media to discuss sexual positions. Almost all peer leaders reported being comfortable using social media. There were no significant pre- and post-training differences on other knowledge or comfort measures. Results suggest that peer leaders can be recruited to conduct health interventions using social networking technologies. The discussed training plan can be adapted to health domains to ensure that peer leaders are qualified to conduct health interventions using social media.
Long-term behaviour of prestressed permanent ground anchors and anchored structures
Authors: Brandl H.
Published: February 2025

The long-term behaviour of prestressed permanent ground anchors has been a prime question since decades. This paper summarizes the author's comprehensive experience of 45 years based on ground investigation, design, execution, testing and monitoring. It focuses on anchored retaining structures and bridges along roads, highways and railways in unstable or steep slopes. However, the findings and recommendations can be also applied to other anchorage systems. Pore water pressure, residual shear strength and creeping behaviour turned out to be the ground parameters with greatest influence on the long-term behaviour of an anchorage. Finally, the paper presents case histories and gives 20 recommendations based on long-term experience/monitoring.
Remarks on the behaviour of cuttings and natural slopes in tectonized clay shales
Authors: Picarelli L.
Published: February 2025

Hard soils and weak rocks present special features that make them basically different from either soils or rocks. In fact, the well known influence of the void ratio on hydraulic and mechanical properties of the soil is obscured by that of interparticle bonds and of fissures. On the other hand, since bonds can easily fail as a consequence of mechanical and/or environmental processes (weak bonds), time dependent changes in hydraulic and mechanical properties represent a peculiar issue that should be properly taken into account in all practical problems. The paper focuses on these points, often disregarded by researchers and professionals, suggesting that only a full development of a specific branch of Geosciences dedicated to hard soils and weak rocks would lead to advanced and structured approaches for the analysis of engineering problems.
Contribution of ERTC-12 Workshop on the evaluation of geotechnical aspects of EC8
Authors: Maugeri M.  , Papadimitriou A.
Published: February 2025

This paper outlines the contribution of the ERTC-12 Workshop on evaluation of geotechnical aspects of EC8 held at Athens, Greece, on September 11, 2011. It concludes with proposed additions and changes to provisions of the EC8.
A Review Of Healthcare Information System Usability & Safety
Authors: Minshall Simon
Published: February 2025

Healthcare information systems have been designed to increase the efficiency and safety of healthcare processes. Systems such as electronic health records and pervasive computing devices have been shown to improve the safety of healthcare. However, increasing research has indicated that the design of such systems, in particular the user interface, may be related to increased incidence of other types of error. In this review, the relationship between human factors and usability will be considered in the context of designing safe and effective healthcare applications, with a focus on hand-held computing devices. Medline was searched for the specific terms listed below and restricted to the date ranges 2006-01-01 through to 2011-03-03: (error AND technology AND human factors); (error AND (CPOE OR (Computerized AND provider AND order AND entry))); (Technology AND Induced AND Error). The returned list of papers was screened by examining titles and abstracts to select candidate papers for further review. The initial search yield was 239 papers. On reviewing the title and abstract, 186 were rejected and 51 papers remained for analysis. New technology, such as CPOE, offers improvements over traditional paper tools and it is shown to have a positive effect on patient safety. New technology also creates the opportunity for new errors to occur and lead to the coining of the term “technology-induced error”. The magnitude of the usability-testing needs is larger than it may seem.
A Framework for Leveling Informatics Content Across Four Years of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Curriculum
Authors: Frisch Noreen  , Borycki Elizabeth
Published: February 2025

While there are several published statements of nursing informatics competencies needed for the Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) graduate, faculty at schools of nursing has little guidance on how to incorporate the teaching of such competencies into curricula that are already overloaded with required content. The authors present a framework for addressing nursing informatics content within teaching plans that already exist in virtually all BSN programs. The framework is based on an organization of curriculum content that moves the learner from elementary to complex nursing concepts and ideas as a means to level the content. Further, the framework is organized around four broad content areas included in all curricula: professional responsibility, care delivery, community and population–based nursing, and leadership/management. Examples of informatics content to be addressed at each level and content area are provided. Lastly a practice-appraisal tool, the UVIC Informatics Practice Appraisal – BSN is presented as a means to track student learning and outcomes across the four years of a BSN program.
Towards Interactive Narrative Medicine
Authors: Cavazza Marc  , Charles Fred
Published: February 2025

Interactive Storytelling technologies have attracted significant interest in the field of simulation and serious gaming for their potential to provide a principled approach to improve user engagement in training scenarios. In this paper, we explore the use of Interactive Storytelling to support Narrative Medicine as a reflective practice. We describe a workflow for the generation of virtual narratives from high-level descriptions of patients' experiences as perceived by physicians, which can help to objectivize such perceptions and support various forms of analysis.
Progress in multiscale computational electromagnetics in time domain
Authors: Tobón Luis  , Chen Jiefu  , Lee Junho  , Yuan Mengqing  , Zhao Bo  , Liu Qing Huo
Published: February 2025

Many system-level electromagnetic design problems are multiscale and very challenging to solve. They remain a significant barrier to system design optimization for a foreseeable future. Such multiscale problems often contain three electrical scales, i.e., the fine scale (geometrical feature size much smaller than a wavelength), the coarse scale (geometrical feature size greater than a wavelength), and the intermediate scale between the two extremes. Existing computational tools are based on single methodologies (such as finite element method or finite-difference time-domain method), and are unable to solve large multiscale problems. We will present our recent progress in solving realistic multiscale system-level EM design simulation problems in time domain. The discontinuous Galerkin time domain method is used as the fundamental framework for interfacing multiple scales with finite-element method, spectral element method, and finite difference method. Numerical results demonstrate significant advantages of our multiscale method. A more detail discussion of the method is given in [1].
Proportional Mutual Reinsurance Optimization
Authors: Liu John  , Taksar Michael  , Yuan Jiguang
Published: February 2025

In this chapter, we investigate the optimization of mutual proportional reinsurance — a mutual reserve system that is intended for the collective reinsurance needs of homogeneous mutual members, such as P&I Clubs in marine mutual insurance and reserve banks in the U.S. Federal Reserve. Compared to general (non-mutual) insurance models, which involve one-sided impulse control (i.e., either downside or upside impulse) of the underlying insurance reserve process that is required to be positive, a mutual insurance differs in allowing two-sided impulse control (i.e., both downside and upside impulse), coupled with the classical proportional control of reinsurance. We prove that a special band-type impulse control (a,A,B,b) with a = 0 and a < A < B < b, coupled with a proportional reinsurance policy (classical control), is optimal when the objective is to minimize the total maintenance cost. That is, when the reserve position reaches a lower boundary of a = 0, the reserve should immediately be raised to level A; when the reserve reaches an upper boundary of b, it should immediately be reduced to a level B. An interesting finding produced by the study reported in this chapter is that there exists a situation such that if the upside fixed cost is relatively large in comparison to a finite threshold, then the optimal band control is reduced to a downside only (i.e., dividend payment only) control in the form of (0,0;B,b) with a = A = 0. In this case, it is optimal for the mutual insurance firm to go bankrupt as soon as its reserve level reaches zero, rather than to jump restart by calling for additional contingent funds. This finding partially explains why many mutual insurance companies, that were once quite popular in the financial markets, are either disappeared or converted to non-mutual ones.
Downside Risk Minimization: Large Deviation Estimates for Controlled Semimartingales
Authors: Nagai Hideo
Published: February 2025

We shall discuss on large deviation estimates of the probability of falling below a given target growth rate for controlled semimartingales, in relation to certain ergodic risk-sensitive stochastic control problems in the risk averse case. We present an expression of the limit value of the minimizing probability as the Legendre transform of the value of the stochastic control problem on infinite time horizon, which is characterized as the solution to the H-J-B equation of ergodic type. The problems discussed here are motivated by mathematical finance and they are called “downside risk minimization”. In this chapter, after reviewing the probabilistic meaning of the asymptotic analyses developed here and historical situation of the studies, we make an exposition about how we can obtain our duality theorem on the asymptotics.
Credit Risk Models: A Review
Authors: Ahn Cheonghee  , Sung Jaeyoung
Published: February 2025

We review methodological aspects of credit-risk models in the literature and their implications on credit-risk spreads. We have chosen five of representative structural models: Merton (1974), Longstaff and Schwartz (1995), Leland and Toft (1996), Collin-Dufresne and Goldstein (2001), and Chen, Collin-Dufresne and Goldstein (2009). Recent structural models suggest that credit risk spreads can be greatly influenced not only by the loss distribution of risky corporate securities but the representative investor's consumption habit formation, and by interaction between default losses and macroeconomic factors such as market prices of risk and stochastic interest rates.
Real Options and Risk Aversion
Authors: Hugonnier Julien  , Morellec Erwan
Published: February 2025

In the standard real options approach to investment under uncertainty, agents formulate optimal policies under the assumptions of risk neutrality or complete financial markets. Although these assumptions are crucial to the implications of the approach, they are not particularly relevant to most real world environments where agents face incomplete markets and are exposed to undiversifiable risks. In this chapter we extend the real options approach to incorporate risk aversion for a general class of utility functions. We show that risk aversion provides an incentive for the investor to delay investment and leads to a significant erosion in project values.
Real Options with Time and Scale Flexibility
Authors: Bensoussan Alain  , Chevalier-Roignant Benoît
Published: February 2025

The modeling of investment problems as being analogous to the exercise of perpetual American call options has become commonplace in economics and finance since [16]. By exploiting the analogy with traded options, management's flexibility to decide on scale at the time of investment is generally unaccounted for; this assumption is at odds with business practice. In this paper, we study a situation in which an incumbent firm has leeway in choosing when and by how much to raise capital. We consider a general setting and prove the unicity and optimality of a threshold policy under certain conditions. The literature on real options analysis typically considers the timing of lump-sum investments wherein the change in scale is known beforehand. In another stream of the economic literature, stochastic models of capital accumulation deal with situations where, at each instant, the firm decides on its optimal level of capital goods with the aim to maximize its expected discounted revenues netted of capital expenditures; fixed adjustment costs are ignored in this perspective. We consider fixed and variable adjustment costs and allow for the optimal time of investment and choice of scale. We thus reconciliate these two distinct approaches in a unified theory of investment under uncertainty with time and scale flexibility.
Optimal Stopping Rule meets Ambiguity
Authors: Chen Zengjing  , Tian Weidong  , Zhao Guoqing
Published: February 2025

This chapter is a survey to the recent developments on problems of optimal stopping under ambiguity. This chapter develops a theory of optimal stopping under ambiguity in a fairly general framework. The characterization of the value process and the optimal stopping rule are presented. Moreover, the value function is leaded to a free boundary problem in a Markov setting.
Can cost sharing measures improve the function of outpatient departments of public hospitals: The opinions of administrative directors
Authors: Tsirona Christina  , Siskou Olga  , Galanis Peter  , Kaitelidou Daphne  , Tsavalias Konstantinos  , Ragkousi Argyro  , Semertziadi Maria  , Anagnostopoulou Ioanna  , Vafiadis John  , Liaropoulos Lycourgos
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a study aiming to investigate the opinions of administrative personnel concerning the effectiveness of a cost sharing mechanism (of euro 5/visit) at public hospitals' outpatient departments. Data was derived through a structured questionnaire (developed by the researchers) which appealed to 112 administrative directors of public hospitals. Results highlighted a positive attitude concerning the function of the cost – sharing mechanism at public hospitals, a rather fair measure for the users (vulnerable groups are excluded) which probably is enhancing the monetary flow in public hospitals.
Priming to Induce Paranoid Thought in a Non Clinical Population
Authors: Isnanda Reza Giga  , Brinkman Willem-Paul  , Veling Wim  , van der Gaag Mark  , Neerincx Mark
Published: February 2025

Freeman et al. reported that a substantial minority of the general population has paranoid thoughts while exposed in a virtual environment. This suggested that in a development phase of a virtual reality exposure system for paranoid patients initially a non-clinical sample could be used to evaluate the system's ability to induce paranoid thoughts. To increase the efficiency of such an evaluation, this paper takes the position that when appropriately primed a larger group of a non-clinical sample will display paranoid thoughts. A 2-by-2 experiment was conducted with priming for insecurity and vigilance as a within-subject factor and prior-paranoid thoughts (low or high) as a between-subjects factor. Before exposure into the virtual world, participants (n = 24) were shown a video and read a text about violence or about mountain animals. While exposed, participants were asked to comment freely on their virtual environment. The results of the experiment confirmed that exposure in a virtual environment could induce paranoid thought. In addition, priming with an aim to create a feeling of insecurity and vigilance increased paranoid comments in the non-clinical group that otherwise would less often exhibit ideas of persecution.
Evaluation of Alerts for Potassium-Increasing Drug-Drug-Interactions
Authors: Eschmann Emmanuel  , Beeler Patrick E.  , Zünd Gregor  , Blaser Jürg
Published: February 2025

Electronic alerts for preventing hyperkalaemia during potassium-increasing drug-drug-interactions (DDIs) are often overridden due to their low specificity. Treatments of 76,467 inpatients were retrospectively analysed to establish more specific alerts. Alerting concepts for identifying DDIs that induced hyperkalaemia (serum potassium ≥5.5 mEq/l were compared. The positive predictive value (PPV) of alerts was 2.9% if they were triggered at onset of each potassium-increasing DDI. The PPV increased to 5.1% if alerts at onset were suppressed for serum potassium levels of <4.0 mEq/l. The PPV rose to 24.2% with a novel approach, triggering alerts whenever an elevated potassium level of >4.8 mEq/l was detected at onset or during the entire DDI period. Thus, triggering DDI alerts based on periodically monitored potassium levels may improve specificity of alerts and thereby reduce alert fatigue.