bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Dartevelle Philippe G.
Published: February 2025

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe disease that has been ignored for decades. However, there has been growing interest from respirologists, cardiologists, and thoracic surgeons due to development of new therapies that have improved the outcome and quality of life of patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension. Surgery has a major place among new therapies and consists of either transplanting the lungs in end-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension after failure or escape from pharmacotherapy or curing postembolic pulmonary hypertension by pulmonary endarterectomy. Other procedures, such as endarterectomy of angiosarcomas or Potts anastomoses as a palliative treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children, are less common.
Map-Merging-Free Connectivity Positioning for Distributed Robot Teams
Authors: Liemhetcharat Somchaya  , Veloso Manuela  , Melo Francisco  , Borrajo Daniel
Published: February 2025

We consider a set of static towers with communication capabilities, but not within range of each other due to distance and obstacles. The goal is to achieve connectivity among the towers through a set of robots positioned in a way to act as gateways among the towers. The autonomous mobile robots are initially randomly deployed without necessarily being within range of each other, nor of the static towers, and without any common global coordinates. As the robots move, they may come within range of other robots or towers and can share information. We discuss the challenges of such a multi-robot positioning task without the common referential. We contribute a representation for the connectivity information that allows for the robots to share connectivity information without the need to merge the individual maps that they acquire while they navigate the environment. We further present several heuristics to guide the robot motion to explore the environment in search of towers and other robots. The robots analyze their own accumulated map and communicated information from other robots, and can determine if a complete positioning exists to achieve the joint connectivity goal. We further introduce different exploration heuristics, illustrate our algorithm in simulation, and compare the efficiency of the proposed exploration heuristics. We show that our representation is sufficient for the robot team to achieve a connected configuration with the static towers, without the need for merging their individual maps.
An Intelligent Rock Mass Classification Method based on Support Vector Machines and the Development of Website for Classification
Authors: Niu Wen-lin  , Li Tian-bin
Published: February 2025

A new data mining method of Support Vector Machines (SVM) is applied on the classification of rock mass in tunnels. SVM is a novel powerful leaning method that based on Statistical Learning Theory. SVM can solve small-sample learning problems better than neural network. Eight qualitative indexes, such as rock layer thickness, rock mass structure, inlay condition, weathering condition, groundwater characteristic, joint condition, hammer knocking sound and ground stress, are chose as the judge factors. Twenty two data samples from Niba mountain tunnel are used to train the SVM with different kernels, such as linear, quadratic and polynomial kernel. Use the mapping relationship between judge factors and rock mass classes which the SVM provided class-unknown data samples of rock mass can be discriminated. Ten samples of test data are used to test the accuracy of SVM with different kernels. The result of the classification shows that SVM with polynomial kernel have a high accuracy when classify the rock mass. A website that based on ASP.NET and database has been developed to store the geological data from the tunnel, and using these data the background program which based on SVM can calculate the class that the surrounding rocks of the tunnel belong to, and the result can be show on the web page for engineers to use. So this is an intelligent classification of rock mass method that can be applied to classify rock mass in tunnels and is also a kind of information technologies in Geo-Engineering.
STEPP – Search Tool for Exploration of Petri net Paths: A New Tool for Petri Net-Based Path Analysis in Biochemical Networks
Authors: Koch Ina  , Schüler Markus  , Heiner Monika
Published: February 2025

To understand biochemical processes caused by, e.g., mutations or deletions in the genome, the knowledge of possible alternative paths between two arbitrary chemical compounds is of increasing interest for biotechnology, pharmacology, medicine, and drug design. With the steadily increasing amount of data from high-throughput experiments new biochemical networks can be constructed and existing ones can be extended, which results in many large metabolic, signal transduction, and gene regulatory networks. The search for alternative paths within these complex and large networks can provide a huge amount of solutions, which can not be handled manually. Moreover, not all of the alternative paths are generally of interest. Therefore, we have developed and implemented a method, which allows us to define constraints to reduce the set of all structurally possible paths to the truly interesting path set. The paper describes the search algorithm and the constraints definition language. We give examples for path searches using this dedicated special language for a Petri net model of the sucrose-to-starch breakdown in the potato tuber.
On Determining Firing Delay Time of Transitions for Petri Net Based Signaling Pathways by Introducing Stochastic Decision Rules
Authors: Miwa Yoshimasa  , Li Chen  , Ge Qi-Wei  , Matsuno Hiroshi  , Miyano Satoru
Published: February 2025

Parameter determination is important in modeling and simulating biological pathways including signaling pathways. Parameters are determined according to biological facts obtained from biological experiments and scientific publications. However, such reliable data describing detailed reactions are not reported in most cases. This prompted us to develop a general methodology of determining the parameters of a model in the case of that no information of the underlying biological facts is provided. In this study, we use the Petri net approach for modeling signaling pathways, and propose a method to determine firing delay times of transitions for Petri net models of signaling pathways by introducing stochastic decision rules. Petri net technology provides a powerful approach to modeling and simulating various concurrent systems, and recently have been widely accepted as a description method for biological pathways. Our method enables to determine the range of firing delay time which realizes smooth token flows in the Petri net model of a signaling pathway. The availability of this method has been confirmed by the results of an application to the interleukin-1 induced signaling pathway.
Role of mRNA Gestation and Senescence in Noise Reduction during the Cell Cycle
Authors: Csikász-Nagy Attila  , Mura Ivan
Published: February 2025

Recent innovations in experimental techniques on single molecule detection resulted in advances in the quantification of molecular noise in several systems, and provide suitable data for defining stochastic computational models of biological processes. Some of the latest stochastic models of cell cycle regulation analyzed the effect of noise on cell cycle variability. In their study, Kar et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106, 6471–6476, 2009) found that the observed variances of cell cycle time and cell division size distributions cannot be matched with the measured long half-lives of mRNAs. Here, we investigate through modeling and simulation how the noise created by the transcription and degradation processes of a key cell cycle controller mRNA affect the statistics of cell cycle time and cell size at division. Our model consists of an encoding of the model of Kar et al. into a stochastic Petri net, with the extensions necessary to represent multiple synthesis (gestation) and degradation (senescence) steps in the regulation of mRNAs. We found that few steps of gestation and senescence of mRNA are enough to give a good match for both the measured half-lives and variability of cell cycle-statistics. This result suggests that the complex process of transcription can be more accurately approximated by multi-step linear processes.
Practical Methods for Designing Medical Training Simulators
Authors: Knott Thomas  , Ullrich Sebastian  , Kuhlen Torsten
Published: February 2025

We reviewed several approaches in literature used in the design process of medical training simulators. We have collected a set of useful practical methods which should help to efficiently derive a well-founded design for a specific surgical intervention in a structured manner.
The Minnesota Pelvic Trainer: A Hybrid VR/Physical Pelvis for Providing Virtual Mentorship
Authors: Konchada Vamsi  , Shen Yunhe  , Burke Dan  , Argun Omer B.  , Weinhaus Anthony  , Erdman Arthur G.  , Sweet Robert M.
Published: February 2025

Obtaining accurate understanding of three dimensional structures and their relationships is important in learning human anatomy. To leverage the learning advantages of using both physical and virtual models, we built a hybrid platform consisting of virtual and mannequin pelvis, motion tracking interface, anatomy and pathology knowledge base. The virtual mentorship concept is to allow learners to conveniently manipulate and explore the virtual pelvic structures through the mannequin model and VR interface, and practice on anatomy identification tasks and pathology quizzes more intuitively and interactively than in a traditional self-study classroom, and to reduce the demands of access to dissection lab or wet lab.
Telemedicine Using Free Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Technology
Authors: Miller David J.  , Miljkovic Nikola  , Chiesa Chad  , Callahan Jr. John B.  , Webb Brad  , Boedeker Ben H.
Published: February 2025

Though dedicated videoteleconference (VTC) systems deliver high quality, low-latency audio and video for telemedical applications, they require expensive hardware and extensive infrastructure. The purpose of this study was to investigate free commercially available Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software as a low cost alternative for telemedicine.
Laser Induced Shockwaves on Flexible Polymers for Treatment of Bacterial Biofilms
Authors: Navarro Artemio  , Taylor Zachary D.  , Beenhouwer David  , Haake David A.  , Gupta Vijay  , Grundfest Warren S.
Published: February 2025

Bacterial biofilm-related infections are a burden on the healthcare industry. The effect of laser generated shockwaves through polycarbonate, a flexible polymer, is explored for its ability to generate high peak stresses, and also for its ability to conform to complex wound surfaces. Shockwave pulses in Al coated polycarbonate substrates and a resulting peak stress of greater than 60 MPa was measured which should provide sufficient pressure to kill bacteria.
Virtual Reality Image Applications for Treatment Planning in Prosthodontic Dentistry
Authors: Ogawa Takumi  , Ikawa Tomoko  , Shigeta Yuko  , Kasama Shintaro  , Ando Eriko  , Fukushima Shunji  , Hattori Asaki  , Suzuki Naoki
Published: February 2025

For successful occlusal reconstruction, the prosthodontists must take several points into consideration, such as those involving issues with functional and morphological findings and aesthetics. They then must unify this information into a coherent treatment plan. In this present study we focused on prosthodontic treatment and investigated how treatment planning and simulation could be applied to two cases. The personal occlusion condition can be reproduced on the virtual articulator in VR space. In addition, various simulations can be performed that involve prosthetesis design.
NeuroVR 2 – A Free Virtual Reality Platform for the Assessment and Treatment in Behavioral Health Care
Authors: Riva Giuseppe  , Gaggioli Andrea  , Grassi Alessandra  , Raspelli Simona  , Cipresso Pietro  , Pallavicini Federica  , Vigna Cinzia  , Gagliati Andrea  , Gasco Stefano  , Donvito Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

At MMVR 2007 we presented NeuroVR (http://www.neurovr.org) a free virtual reality platform based on open-source software. The software allows non-expert users to adapt the content of 14 pre-designed virtual environments to the specific needs of the clinical or experimental setting. Following the feedbacks of the 2000 users who downloaded the first versions (1 and 1.5), we developed a new version – NeuroVR 2 (http://www.neurovr2.org) – that improves the possibility for the therapist to enhance the patient's feeling of familiarity and intimacy with the virtual scene, by using external sounds, photos or videos. More, when running a simulation, the system offers a set of standard features that contribute to increase the realism of the simulated scene. These include collision detection to control movements in the environment, realistic walk-style motion, advanced lighting techniques for enhanced image quality, and streaming of video textures using alpha channel for transparency.
Toward a Comprehensive Hybrid Physical-Virtual Reality Simulator of Peripheral Anesthesia with Ultrasound and Neurostimulator Guidance
Authors: Samosky Joseph T.  , Allen Pete  , Boronyak Steve  , Branstetter Barton  , Hein Steven  , Juhas Mark  , Nelson Douglas A.  , Orebaugh Steven  , Pinto Rohan  , Smelko Adam  , Thompson Mitch  , Weaver Robert A.
Published: February 2025

We are developing a simulator of peripheral nerve block utilizing a mixed-reality approach: the combination of a physical model, an MRI-derived virtual model, mechatronics and spatial tracking. Our design uses tangible (physical) interfaces to simulate surface anatomy, haptic feedback during needle insertion, mechatronic display of muscle twitch corresponding to the specific nerve stimulated, and visual and haptic feedback for the injection syringe. The twitch response is calculated incorporating the sensed output of a real neurostimulator. The virtual model is isomorphic with the physical model and is derived from segmented MRI data. This model provides the subsurface anatomy and, combined with electromagnetic tracking of a sham ultrasound probe and a standard nerve block needle, supports simulated ultrasound display and measurement of needle location and proximity to nerves and vessels. The needle tracking and virtual model also support objective performance metrics of needle targeting technique.
An Adaptive Signal-Processing Approach to Online Adaptive Tutoring
Authors: Bergeron Bryan  , Cline Andrew
Published: February 2025

Conventional intelligent or adaptive tutoring online systems rely on domain-specific models of learner behavior based on rules, deep domain knowledge, and other resource-intensive methods. We have developed and studied a domain-independent methodology of adaptive tutoring based on domain-independent signal-processing approaches that obviate the need for the construction of explicit expert and student models. A key advantage of our method over conventional approaches is a lower barrier to entry for educators who want to develop adaptive online learning materials.
Computed Tomography as Ground Truth for Stereo Vision Measurements of Skin
Authors: Vanberlo Amy M.  , Campbell Aaron R.  , Ellis Randy E.
Published: February 2025

Although dysesthesia is a common surgical complication, there is no accepted method for quantitatively tracking its progression. To address this, two types of computer vision technologies were tested in a total of four configurations. Surface regions on plastic models of limbs were delineated with colored tape, imaged, and compared with computed tomography scans. The most accurate system used visually projected texture captured by a binocular stereo camera, capable of measuring areas to within 3.4% of the ground-truth areas. This simple, inexpensive technology shows promise for postoperative monitoring of dysesthesia surrounding surgical scars.
Online Predictive Tools for Intervention in Mental Illness: The OPTIMI Project
Authors: Botella Cristina  , Moragrega Inés  , Baños R.  , García-Palacios Azucena
Published: February 2025

Mental health care represents over a third of the cost of health care to all EU nations and in US is estimated to be around the 2'5% of the gross national product. It additionally results in further costs to the economy in lost productivity. Depression and Stress related disorders are the most common mental illnesses and the prevention of depression and suicide is one of the 5 central focus points in the European Pact for Mental Health and Well Being. While other mental illnesses may benefit in the long term, Depression and Stress will be the focal point mental illnesses mentioned in OPTIMI. Currently the main treatments for mental illness are pharmacological and evidence based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT comprises a set of therapist and patient processes whose format allows for the whole treatment process to be computerized and personalized, Computerised CBT (CCBT). OPTIMI will try to improve the state of the art by monitoring stress and poor coping behavior in high risk population, and by developing tools to perform prediction through early identification of the onset of depression. The main goal of OPTIMI is to improve CCBT programs in order to enhance both efficacy and therapeutic effectiveness. The presentation will outline the main goals the project is aiming and its clinical rationale.
Study of the Effects of Clinical Decision Support System's Incorrect Advice and Clinical Case Difficulty on Users' Decision Making Accuracy
Authors: Golchin Kamran  , Roudsari Abdul
Published: February 2025

Different Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are reported to have different effects on clinicians' performance and various factors have been shown to be responsible for that (e.g. system's advice correctness, case difficulty, users' expertise...). The aim of this study is to determine how “advice correctness” and “case difficulty” affect users accepting/rejecting the comments of the system and consequently making a right or wrong decision. It was shown that in difficult cases, users level of making mistakes in clinical decision making was significantly higher when the comments were wrong. But there was no statistically significant difference between easy and difficult cases in how users accepted/rejected correct advice.
National Patient Flow Framework: An Ontological Patient-Oriented Redesign
Authors: Papagiannis Fragoulis  , Roudsari Abdul  , Danas Konstantinos
Published: February 2025

This study introduces the necessary ontological redesign regarding patient-oriented frameworks. Different national healthcare frameworks around the world as well as semantic gaps have been discovered and demonstrate the need for a new healthcare management framework. This study's Patient-Oriented Management and Reporting framework (POMR framework) will introduce and measure the concept of value-added, patient-oriented flow. The ontological introduction of leading patient-oriented measures is also considered as a novel approach to solving problems. These measures are included in this POMR framework which introduces a unique ontological model redesign (POMR model) and its patient-oriented supporting information system (POMRS) adding value to the concept's implementation in CLIPS technology.
Situation Awareness and Risk Management Understanding the Notification Issues
Authors: Morita Plinio P.  , Burns Catherine M.
Published: February 2025

Healthcare institutions are known to be risky environments that still lag behind other industries in the development and application of risk management tools. Awareness of risk is an important aspect of a risk management program. People depend on high awareness to take precautions to manage risk. The Situation Awareness framework describes how a person perceives elements of the environment, comprehends and projects its actions into the future, and analyzes the cognitive process used. Consequently, it allows the integration of the cognitive model and the risk assessment model into one single framework, provides a means of examining if the risk awareness is calibrated to the true risk levels of the institutions, and a better understanding of the issues with adverse events notification systems. In this paper we discuss how the situation awareness model can be used in the assessment of risk awareness, for understanding risk awareness and safety culture, and finally, for designing more effective risk management systems. For the purpose of this paper, we focus on the adverse event notification system.
Teleoncology Uptake in British Columbia
Authors: Clarke Melissa  , Barnett Jeff
Published: February 2025

Telehealth enables the delivery of specialized health care to patients living in isolated and remote regions. The purpose of this analysis is to determine the current uptake of teleoncology in mainland British Columbia. Patient appointment data was extracted from the Cancer Agency Information System (CAIS) for the 2009 calendar year. Three types of practitioners used teleoncology in 2009: Medical Oncologists, Genetic Counsellors and Medical Geneticists. In total, 712 telehealth encounters were conducted; Medical Oncologists conducted 595 encounters (83.6%), Genetic Counsellors conducted 112 encounters (15.7%) and Medical Geneticists conducted 5 encounters (0.7%). The most common oncology appointments were Gastro-Intestinal (11.4%) and Lymphoma (11.0%) follow-up appointments with a Medical Oncologist. Telehealth encounters were conducted by 46 individual health care providers however, a single Medical Oncologist conducted 418 encounters and this accounts for more than half (58.7%) of all telehealth appointments in 2009. Radiation Oncologists on the mainland up to this point are not using the technology. The Local Health Areas with the highest number of oncology telehealth appointments were: Kamloops: 203 encounters (34.1%), Penticton: 84 encounters (14.1%), Cranbrook: 58 encounters (9.7%) and the Southern Okanagan: 33 encounter (5.5%). Use of telehealth in rural and remote areas of BC is limited and there is significant room for growth. Further research will be required to identify barriers and restrictions to the use of telehealth in order to increase teleoncology adoption in British Columbia.
Creating ISO/EN 13606 Archetypes Based on Clinical Information Needs
Authors: Rinner Christoph  , Kohler Michael  , Hübner-Bloder Gudrun  , Saboor Samrend  , Ammenwerth Elske  , Duftschmid Georg
Published: February 2025

Archetypes model individual EHR contents and build the basis of the dual-model approach used in the ISO/EN 13606 EHR architecture. We present an approach to create archetypes using an iterative development process. It includes automated generation of electronic case report forms from archetypes. We evaluated our approach by developing 128 archetypes which represent 446 clinical information items from the diabetes domain.
Accelerating Patient Safety through the Innovative Use of Information Technology
Authors: Lilja Beth  , Egebart Jonas
Published: February 2025

Numerous studies have confirmed that the patient safety challenge remains tangible. Innovative use of healthcare IT (Information Technology) could play a part in the solution, if the costs of development and implementation are weighed against the major potential savings by improving quality and safety. It is suggested through the “Safe Seven”-checklist, that the design of supporting eHealth solutions lends principles from the patient safety and physical design domains.
Completion of Structured Patient Descriptions by Semantic Mining
Authors: Tchraktchiev Dimitar  , Angelova Galia  , Boytcheva Svetla  , Angelov Zhivko  , Zacharieva Sabina
Published: February 2025

This paper presents experiments in automatic Information Extraction of medication events, diagnoses, and laboratory tests form hospital patient records, in order to increase the completeness of the description of the episode of care. Each patient record in our hospital information system contains structured data and text descriptions, including full discharge letters. From these letters, we extract automatically information about the medication just before and in the time of hospitalization, especially for the drugs prescribed to the patient, but not delivered by the hospital pharmacy; we also extract values of lab tests not performed and not registered in our laboratory as well as all non-encoded diagnoses described only in the free text of discharge letters. Thus we increase the availability of suitable and accurate information about the hospital stay and the outpatient segment of care before the hospitalization. Information Extraction also helps to understand the clinical and organizational decisions concerning the patient without increasing the complexity of the structured health record.
Structural and bonding features of Z@C
Authors: Slanina Zdeněk  , Uhlík Filip  , Lee Shyi-Long  , Nagase Shigeru
Published: February 2025

The paper reports computations for Al@C82, Sc@C82, Y@C82and La@C82based on encapsulation into the IPR (isolated pentagon rule) C2ν C82cage. Their structural and bonding features are also used for evaluations of the relative production yields, employing the encapsulation Gibbs-energy terms and saturated metal pressures. The results can be well related to the ionization potentials of the free metal atoms.
Use of Robotics Kits for the Enhancement of Metacognitive Skills of Mathematics: a Possible Approach
Authors: La Paglia Filippo  , Rizzo Rosalinda  , La Barbera Daniele
Published: February 2025

The present study is aimed at analyzing the process of building and programming robots as a metacognitive tool of mathematics. Quantitative data from a study performed on a sample of students attending an Italian secondary school are described. Results showed that robotics activities may be used as a new metacognitive environment allowing students to improve their attitude towards mathematics, and to increase their attitude to reflect on themselves and on their own learning, and their higher-level control components, such as forecasting, planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises and problems related to implementation.
Interpretations of Virtual Reality
Authors: Voiskounsky Alexander
Published: February 2025

University students were surveyed to learn what they know about virtual realities. The two studies were administered with a half-year interval in which the students (N=90, specializing either in mathematics and science, or in social science and humanities) were asked to name particular examples of virtual realities. The second, but not the first study, was administered after the participants had the chance to see the movie “Avatar” (no investigation was held into whether they really saw it). While the students in both studies widely believed that activities such as social networking and online gaming represent virtual realities, some other examples provided by the students in the two studies differ: in the second study the participants expressed a better understanding of the items related to virtual realities. At the same time, not a single participant reported particular psychological states (either regular or altered) as examples of virtual realities. Profound popularization efforts need to be done to acquaint the public, including college students, with virtual realities and let the public adequately understand how such systems work.
Contribution à l'Analyse du Comportement des Pieux sous Chargement Vertical – Analyse d'Une Base de Données Locale
Authors: Bouafia Ali  , Henniche Abderrahmane
Published: February 2025

La communication présente les résultats d'analyse d'une base de données locale relative au nord Algérien, constituée de 39 projets de fondations sur pieux dans lesquels 54 essais de chargement vertical statique ont été menés. Le premier volet comporte une interprétation des essais de chargement des pieux, à la base des courbes normalisées de chargement. Il a été constaté que la charge critique correspond à un tassement assez proche de celui du tassement de référence, défini comme étant le rapport de la charge limite et la pente initiale de la courbe de chargement. En deuxième partie, une étude comparative des méthodes courantes de dimensionnement à la base des essais in-situ a été menée, en l'occurrence les méthodes pressiométrique et pénétrostatique.
Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall Systems Reach New Heights in the Middle East
Authors: Wills Peter G.  , Doulala-Rigby Chaido
Published: February 2025

Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall (RSRW) Systems were first introduced into major civil engineering projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) around 2000. The project boosting this trend was the Dibba Idhn Tawaian Road, Dubai. With a total wall face area exceeding 40,000 m2, it established RSRW Systems in the UAE proving them well suited to construction through difficult mountainous terrain and under extreme climatic conditions. Since the completion of this project in 2003 more than 40 major projects have been successfully completed in the UAE region for major clients, with the total area of wall face completed to date exceeding 500,000 m2. The most impressive one, which is nearing completion now, is the The Dubai Fujairah Freeway Project for The Ministry of Public Works, which is the focus of this paper. The paper will discuss and illustrate the ERW system components as well as the design and construction techniques adopted by both designer and contractor for The Dubai Fujairah Freeway Project and highlight why SRW's are well suited to the logistical problems faced under such difficult conditions.
Effect of Geosynthetic on the Performance of Road Embankment on Algeria Sabkha Soils
Authors: Benmebarek Sadok  , Benmebarek Naima  , Belounar Lamine
Published: February 2025

With the help of geosynthetics innovative, economic and durable solutions can be offered to several situations where standard soil improvement techniques are still extensively used. This paper is interested by the design and the construction of the road with reinforced embankment crossing the sabkha flat of Chott El Hodna on 11 km length in the north middle of Algeria. Sabkha soils are associated with many geotechnical problems, due to the presence of salt crystals of different sizes, shapes and compositions; and the highly saline and shallow ground water table. Due to the poor bearing capacity of the present sabkha surface and the arising water table over the soil surface serious difficulties were faced during the investigation of the subsurface soil and the construction of the road embankment. After the project description and soil investigation, the need of reinforced embankment by geosynthetic was well highlighted by numerical modelling and confirmed by the difficulty reencountered in the placement of the two first embankment lift and the compaction performance. The in situ observation indicated also that the use of geotextile separation has a beneficial effect on sabkha soils, especially under wet conditions and shallow ground water table.
Hazard Assessment on Shallow Dolomite
Authors: A'Bear Tony  , Richer Lindi
Published: February 2025

Research comparing a number of sites where dolomite bedrock occurs close to surface indicates that not all such sites should automatically be considered highly hazardous. There is good cause to believe that shallow dolomite sites should be examined in detail, possibly involving additional techniques, and that they should then be classified on merit. The factors normally used to evaluate dolomitic sites should be used to derive the degree of hazard. It also appears that there may be merit in using a factor related to the variation in depth to bedrock within such a site to help characterise the degree of hazard. Shallow dolomite sites require a modified approach to the investigation and this requires a change in approach to the gravity survey, the positioning of boreholes and includes using trenching on a large scale.
Pit Slope Design near Tete, Mozambique, without the Benefit of Previous Slope Performance Experience
Authors: Clark Phil
Published: February 2025

One of the more important aspects of slope design is comparing a new slope design with any previous experience or performance of slopes in similar materials and environment. However, in environments such as the Moatize Coal Basin, Tete Provence, Mozambique, where no large scale open pit mining has occurred in the past, previous experience is non-existent. This paper focuses on the design of two large open pits in the Moatize Coal Basin and techniques that were employed to counteract the lack of previous experience or performance guidelines. Greater reliance is placed on the creation of an accurate geotechnical model of the mining environment.
Challenges to Geotechnical Engineering practice in the urbanization of the city of Accra, Ghana
Authors: Oddei J.K.
Published: February 2025

The city of Accra is the focal point of economic activity in Ghana and it is anticipated that recent discovery of oil in the country will increase the gross domestic product (GDP), which will bring about rapid infrastructural development. Further it has experienced rapid industrialization and expansion in the manufacturing and commercial sectors since 1960; the decline of agricultural activities in the rural areas coupled with the boom in the service sector in this primate city has propelled migration. The growth of Accra's population over a thirty year period has been phenomenal. This has led to the steady rate of overcrowding and business opportunities that has influenced demands on civil infrastructures. The implications of the urbanized status have given rise to five important engineering issues, which geotechnical engineering has key roles to play to provide the needed support for Accra's infrastructural growth. This paper seeks to identify the issues confronting the geotechnical industry in the wake of this urbanization with regards to infrastructural development based on the available logistical and other supports.
Estimation of UCS from PLT for sedimentary rocks, with emphasis to conglomerate and breccias
Authors: Antoniou A.A.
Published: February 2025

The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is one of the main parameter for rock mass characterization and classification, as well as in rock engineering practice. Although UCS testing has been standardized by the International Society for Rock Mechanics other parameters such as results from point load test, which is comparatively cheap and easy to apply, are most widely used. Various studies in the literature propose relationships between Is50(from point load test) and UCS, thus objective of this study is to determine conversion factors relating Is50and UCS for intact sedimentary rocks, as well as for conglomerates and breccias, since to those rocks, specimen with geometric characteristics for the USC test according to ISRM requirements can not be easily shaped.
Landslides triggered in hard soils and soft rocks in Romania
Authors: Rotaru A.
Published: February 2025

Romania, an Eastern European country, is severely affected by a variety of natural hazards: earthquakes, floods, landslides, soil erosion. All of these natural hazards have major social and economic impacts. Nevertheless, the typical natural hazard for Romania is landslide risk. In the rural environment, particularly in mountainous areas, landslides represent a critical hazard. The total estimated area of landslides covers about 800,000 ha, putting at risk 50,000 households, 250,000 people, agricultural land, public and private buildings, public utility networks, and roads. The areas of the highest landslide risk are located in the South Western portion of the Carpathian Mountains. These landslides are attributed to the precipitation, slope degree, soil condition, land use and management. Water pollution from mining, pollutants from erosion and catastrophic releases are also encountered in Romania. Both mountainous and hillside areas include weathered hard rocks, hard clays and soft sedimentary rocks like mudstones, claystones, marls, which are classified as hard soils and soft rocks. These are geological materials that exhibit an intermediate response between that of a rock and a soil. When exposed to mechanical or environmental actions, they are prone to lose their resistance and, thereby, to transform themselves into a soil-like material. This paper proposes a landslide analysis that combines a framework used for soils with another one intended for quasi-brittle materials. The paper also analyzes the main factors controlling landslides in Romania, taking into account especially the specificity of hard soils and soft rocks.
Soil nailed walls – a parametric study
Authors: Elkady T.Y.  , Elleboudy A.M.  , Mohamed A.A.
Published: February 2025

This research summarizes a finite element parametric study performed to investigate the factors affecting the behavior of a soil nail wall system. First, the reliability of the finite element model was assessed by analyzing a soil nailed wall system constructed in Egypt and considering different modeling approaches for the soil nailed wall system. Comparison of displacements from the finite element model with that recorded in the field identified the best approach to model a soil nailed wall system. Second, the soil-nail model obtained from the first stage was utilized in performing a finite element parametric study for soil nailed walls. This parametric study investigated the effect of nail length-to-wall height ratio, nail spacing, wall inclination, nail inclination, and soil properties on global factor of safety and horizontal displacement at the top of the soil nailed wall. Conclusions were drawn to outline the effect of parameters on global factor of safety and horizontal displacement at the top of the wall.
Effect of wall stiffness on ground deformations around deep excavations in stiff clay
Authors: Zdravkovic L.  , Potts D.M.  , Kontoe S.
Published: February 2025

The construction of underground infrastructure in urban environments requires careful assessment of ground movements and how these affect existing structures and services. The tendency in current industry practice is to perform, due to the complexity of soil-structure interaction, advanced numerical analysis for such an assessment. Increasingly three-dimensional finite element or finite difference analyses are applied in preference to two-dimensional analyses. This paper considers some of the issues related to the modelling of a retaining structure, used to support an excavation, in 3D finite element analysis. In particular, it is recognised that any form of a retaining structure (e.g. diaphragm wall) is not structurally continuous in its horizontal direction, as it is in its vertical direction. Using the example of a deep excavation in London this paper investigates how such a structural detail can be accounted for in a numerical analysis and the effects on the predictions of ground movements if such a detail is ignored.
Crossing of a Public Road in Tunnel across a Motorway Embankment, with Small Covering and without Disturbing Traffic
Authors: Müller M.  , Czap Z.  , Mahler A.
Published: February 2025

A public road tunnel of reinforced concrete structure has to be led through an appr. 13 m high embankment of an operating highway, without disturbing its traffic. The paper describes the temporary construction structures, the method and sequence of their execution, and the expected settlements in detail.
Reclamation of a slope of the solid waste landfill that rests its foot in the Ussury Bay, the Japanese Sea
Authors: Kudryavtsev S.A.  , Valtseva T.Y.  , Fedorenko E.V.  , Goncharova E.D.  , Berestyanyy Y.B.  , Mikhaylin R.G.  , Berestyanaya E.V.
Published: February 2025

When developing the variants of a protecting structure, the use of modern geotechnologies and geotechnical materials was considered reasonable. When projecting a range of reclamation measures of the current landfill, the strict environmental requirements were applied to the solid waste slope, the foot of which is connected with the bottom of the bay. A complex of engineering and designing research works was carried out in the framework of the objectives to be achieved. The researches allowed determining the designing parameters of the protective structure elements of the landfill slope.
Enhanced Geotechnologies for the protection of world heritage properties
Authors: Katzenbach R.  , Vogler M.  , Kurze S.  , Dunaevskiy R.
Published: February 2025

The increasing size and population density of metropolitan areas and the along going traffic demands lead to the construction of large infrastructure projects. In many cases these infrastructure projects are close to sensitive heritage properties. On the one hand the new infrastructure is needed for the development of growth and wealth of the society and on the other hand the society wants to protect historic and maybe ancient structures and sites. The interests and arguments for both have to be well-justified. By the application of enhanced geotechnical methods a combination of both targets can be achieved. Based on high-level soil investigations extensive analytical analyses and numerical simulations in combination with a qualified, comprehensive construction supervision and the consistent application of the observational method can guarantee for the safety and serviceability of the world heritage properties. This is described for two case studies in Barcelona.
Laboratory measurement of shear stiffness of decomposed granite
Authors: Gu X.Q.  , Yang J.
Published: February 2025

Decomposed granite soils, formed by weathering of the parent rock, exist widely in many areas of the world. The mechanical properties of this type of geomaterial, compared to clay and sand, are less extensively studied. In this study the small-strain shear modulus (G0) of a decomposed granite soil in Hong Kong was measured for a variety of packing densities and confining pressures, using the resonant column (RC) and bender element (BE) techniques, and the values of G0obtained by the RC and BE tests were compared to study the effect of test method. It is found that the small-strain shear modulus of the decomposed granite soil is considerably lower than that of a benchmark quartz sand. Furthermore, the G0values of the decomposed granite soil obtained by the bender element tests are significantly higher than those measured by the resonant column tests, whereas for quartz sand the two test methods are found to provide quite similar results.
Estimation of geotechnical properties and classification of geotechnical behaviour in tunnelling for flysch rock masses
Authors: Marinos V.  , Fortsakis P.  , Prountzopoulos G.
Published: February 2025

Flysch formations are generally characterised by diverse heterogeneity, presence of members with low strength and tectonically disturbed structures. The complexity of these geological materials demands a more specialized research and geological characterization, due to the special features of their rock mass types regarding both their structure and their lithological characteristics. The present paper proposes a standardization of the qualitative engineering geological characteristics, the geotechnical classification, the assessment of the behaviour in underground excavations and the qualitative instructions-guidelines for the primary support measures for flysch rock masses. In order to investigate flysch rock mass properties, 12 tunnels of Egnatia Highway, in Northern Greece, were examined taking into account data from their design and construction records. More specifically, flysch formations are classified here in 11 rock mass types (I to XI), according to the siltstone-sandstone participation and their tectonic disturbance. A modified GSI chart for heterogeneous rock masses such as flysch is presented, where a certain range of GSI values is proposed for every rock mass type. The engineering geological behaviour of flysch in tunnel excavation lies within a large spectrum. A further classification of every flysch rock mass type based on their geotechnical behaviour during tunnel excavation, in relation to categorised failure mechanisms (deformation due to overstressing, overbreaks or wedge failure, “chimney” type failure, ravelling ground) and in situ stresses, is presented. Finally, general principles and guidelines for the selection of the immediate support measures are proposed.
On the shear strength of weak rocks
Authors: Togrol E.  , Kıran F.
Published: February 2025

The study evaluates the value of the correlation factor between unconfined compressive strength and the point load index for five different rocks encountered in North Africa through statistically sufficient number of field and laboratory tests.
Offshore foundation engineering in extremelydense glacial tills West of the Shetland Islands
Authors: Jardine R.J.  , Aldridge T.R.  , Evans T.G.
Published: February 2025

The Clair 1 platform was the first fixed offshore structure installed on the UK's Atlantic Margin. The seabed soils comprise thick layers of boulder-rich glacial clays whose unit weights are comparable to those of concrete (24 kN/m3) and undrained shear strengths up to 2000 kPa. This paper summarises the site investigations undertaken, ground conditions encountered, soil properties explored, foundation design and field monitoring measures.
Pile Integrity Testing Developments
Authors: Schellingerhout A.J.G.  , van Rietschoten-Rietveld A.J.
Published: February 2025

Low strain integrity testing is a widely used method for the quality control of concrete piles. The detection of pile defects with this method strongly depends on the length of the generated stress wave. However, when the stress wave is too short the wave propagation will be a three dimensional wave propagation which is conflicting with the standard signal interpretation method that is based on the one dimensional wave theory.
Next Generation Neonatal Health Informatics with Artemis
Authors: McGregor Carolyn  , Catley Christina  , James Andrew  , Padbury James
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the deployment of a platform to enable processing of currently uncharted high frequency, high fidelity, synchronous data from medical devices. Such a platform would support the next generation of informatics solutions for neonatal intensive care. We present Artemis, a platform for real-time enactment of clinical knowledge as it relates to multidimensional data analysis and clinical research. Through specific deployment examples at two different neonatal intensive care units, we demonstrate that Artemis supports: 1) instantiation of clinical rules; 2) multidimensional analysis; 3) distribution of services for critical care via cloud computing; and 4) accomplishing 1 through 3 using current technology without a negative impact on patient care.
Review of Mobile Terminal-Based Tools for Diabetes Diet Management
Authors: Lee Eunji  , Tatara Naoe  , Årsand Eirik  , Hartvigsen Gunnar
Published: February 2025

Changing dietary habits is one of the most challenging tasks of diabetes self-management. Mobile terminals are increasingly used as platforms for tools to support diet management and health promotion. We present literature describing mobile terminal-based support tools for management of diabetes focused on diet. We also propose a summary of key success factors for designing such tools and discuss recommendations for future research.