bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A national study of in-hospital preparedness for Mass Casualty Incidents and disasters
Authors: Ugelvik Kristina Stølen , Thomassen Øyvind , Braut Geir Sverre , Geisner Thomas , Sjøvold Janecke Engeberg , Montán Carl
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The current geopolitical situation and climate changes accentuate the importance of health preparedness. The aim was to examine the in-hospital preparedness for Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) and Major Incidents (MI) on a national level.

Method

A web-based, cross-sectional study of in-hospital preparedness for MCI/MI in Norway. All hospitals with trauma function were included with 3 defined representatives, excluding hospitals without trauma function. The survey consisted of 63 questions covering: MCI/MI organisation, education, plans, Surge Capacity, triage and supply management.

Results

The study had a response rate of 97/112 (87%), representing 35/38 (92%) of the included hospitals. Contingency responsible respondents (CRR) reported that 27/34 (80%) of the hospitals had a contingency responsible function/role and 29/34 (85%) had a Disaster Preparedness Committee. Among CRR, formal MCI/MI education 5/34 (15%) and MCI/MI training 9/34 (26%) was completed. Further, 87/97 (90%) had an all-hazard contingency plan. MCI/MI exercise within the last 2 years was reported by 63/97 (65%). Surge Capacity was assessed within the last 5 years at 6/35 (17%) of the hospitals. MCI/MI material storage was reported by 56/97 (58%).

Conclusion

Many key aspects of contingency work were found to be well-established. MCI/MI education and training for roles/functions was missing in most hospitals. Areas of improvement detected included Surge Capacity and emergency storage. The results suggest a need for national minimum standards and requirements. National in-hospital MCI/MI preparedness could be monitored by a web-based survey, providing information of pan-European relevance.
Return to work of major trauma survivors from a private level 1 trauma centre in South Africa
Authors: Bharath Francesca , Hanekom Susan , Estherhuizen Tonya , Lupton-Smith Alison
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Trauma is known as a leading cause of mortality and injury related disability globally. In South Africa (SA) the socioeconomic burden of trauma is magnified as the working age is most affected. The aim of this study was to describe the proportion of major trauma survivors who returned to work (RTW) during a 6-month period post hospital discharge and to identify the factors associated with the RTW outcome.

Methods

This was a prospective observational cohort study involving major trauma survivors from a private level 1 trauma centre intensive care unit in SA between January and September 2022. RTW status was assessed using the Employment Questionnaire. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used in analysis.

Results

Sixty-four of the 86 participants (74.4%) RTW at six months post hospital discharge. RTW had a median time of 16 weeks. After adjusting and backwards analysis, Chelsea Critical Care Physical assessment tool scores (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.10, p = 0.007), and not having applied/received any form of grants (AHR 2.26, 95% CI 1.35–3.77, p = 0.002) were the only factors that were associated with the RTW outcome.

Conclusion

The cumulative probability of no RTW was 25.6% among participants after 24 weeks. Higher physical function at ICU discharge and not seeking any form of compensation was associated with a higher probability of RTW. This study has highlighted the complexities of RTW and the socioeconomic burden following major trauma. There is therefore a need for further studies on RTW following major trauma in SA.
Das Konzept Gesundheitskompetenz im Wandel
Authors: De Gani Saskia Maria , Alder Elena , Beese Anna-Sophia
Published: January 2025

Gesundheitskompetenz ist eine zentrale Ressource für gesundheitsbezogene Entscheidungen. Seit den 1970er-Jahren veränderte sich das Verständnis des Begriffs jedoch auf vielfältige Weise. So wurde Gesundheitskompetenz zunächst lediglich unter dem Aspekt individueller Fähigkeiten betrachtet, in den letzten Jahrzehnten entwickelte sich ein stärker kontextabhängiges Verständnis. Trotz der Weiterentwicklung des Konzepts werden aktuelle gesellschaftliche und gesundheitliche Herausforderungen noch nicht ausreichend adressiert.

In diesem Beitrag werden die Veränderungen im Verständnis des Konzepts sowie die Bedeutung der Gesundheitskompetenz im Kontext der aktuellen Polykrise reflektiert. Dabei wird Bezug genommen auf ein von den Autorinnen erarbeitetes Konzeptpapier, das zeigt, dass Gesundheitskompetenz eine zentrale Ressource an der Schnittstelle zwischen Gesundheitsversorgung, Krankheitsprävention und Gesundheitsförderung darstellt, sich in unterschiedliche Ebenen unterteilen lässt und verschiedene Formen annimmt. Die Diskussion um Gesundheitskompetenz verdeutlicht, dass die Herausforderungen von Systemen, Organisationen und Lebenswelten berücksichtigt werden müssen, da in all diesen Kontexten Entscheidungen für die Gesundheit und das Wohlbefinden getroffen werden.

Gerade im Umgang mit den aktuellen gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen nimmt die Bedeutung der Gesundheitskompetenz als zentrale Ressource noch zu und gewinnt als soziale Gesundheitsdeterminante an zusätzlicher Relevanz. Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der Gesundheitskompetenz können nur dann effektiv entwickelt, implementiert und evaluiert werden, wenn ein gemeinsames Verständnis von Gesundheitskompetenz besteht, aktuelle Herausforderungen und Kontexte berücksichtigt werden sowie bei der Maßnahmenumsetzung zentrale Akteur:innen gemeinsam agieren.
Maximizing Rides Served for Dial-a-Ride on the Uniform Metric
Authors: Anthony Barbara M. , Birnbaum Ricky , Boyd Sara , Chung Christine , Das Ananya , Davis Patrick , Dhimar Jigar , Tran Duc , Yuen David
Published: January 2025

We study a variant of the offline Dial-a-Ride problem, where each request has a source and destination and the goal is to maximize the number of requests served within a specified time limit. We investigate this problem for the uniform metric space and show that the problem is NP-hard. We then present a 2/3 approximation algorithm called

$$\textsc {twochain}$$

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, which simply looks for pairs of requests that are “chained” together and serves those before serving requests that are not connected to any others. We also show that a natural generalization of this algorithm, k-chain, has an approximation ratio at most 7/9. We also analyze the longest-chain-first algorithm for the problem, characterizing graphs on which it is optimal, and showing that it has an approximation ratio no better than 5/6. Our experiments on all of these algorithms show that

$$\textsc {twochain}$$

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is a promising algorithm, performing nearly as well as more computationally intensive variants. We dedicate this article to the memory of Gerhard Woeginger, whose life and work greatly influenced our professional lives, as expanded upon in the Acknowledgments. Woeginger’s prolific research in scheduling, matching, bin-packing, TSP, and online algorithms in general, all served as important parts of the foundation on which our own scholarly pursuits were shaped and formed over the years. Woeginger also studied Dial-a-Ride (DARP) Problems, as DARP is a generalization both of scheduling problems and of TSP, which were two of his most active areas of research.
Lehrkonzept Hannover
Authors: Tode J. , Haar M. , Rauscher T. , Hufendiek K. , Hufendiek K. , Becker A.-L. , Framme C. , Mücke U.
Published: January 2025

Hintergrund

Die Herausforderungen an einen praxisorientierten Unterricht an Universitätskliniken steigen. Ressourcenknappheit steht einer wachsenden Studierendenzahl gegenüber. Digitale Vorlesungen, Seminare und „blended learning“-Konzepte ermöglichen einen ressourcensparenden und effektiven Unterricht in der Augenheilkunde.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Implementierung und Evaluation eines digitalen Lehrkonzepts aus Vorlesung, Seminar und Unterricht am Krankenbett an der Universitätsklinik für Augenheilkunde der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover (MHH).

Material und Methoden

Unter Berücksichtigung der Vorgaben des Nationalen Kompetenzbasierten Lernzielkatalogs Medizin (NKLM) wurden digitale Theorieeinheiten mit digital begleiteten Präsenzformaten kombiniert. Das Konzept umfasst: digitale On-Demand-Vorlesungen, ein 3‑tägiges digital vor- und nachbereitetes Präsenzseminar zu Basisuntersuchungen, einen digital begleiteten Unterricht am Krankenbett („blended learning“-Format). Das Konzept wurde in einer Kohorte getestet. Erfahrungen und Bewertungen der Studierenden wurden über das eLearning-System erfasst und mit denen des Vorjahres verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Das Konzept war gut umsetzbar, kommunizierbar und digital überprüfbar. Lehrende waren mit der Vorbereitung der Studierenden zufrieden. Lernende bewerteten das Konzept positiv, und das Fach Augenheilkunde stieg im Ranking der Medizinfächer an der MHH um 10 Plätze. Die Zufriedenheit mit der digitalen Lehre nahm signifikant zu.

Diskussion

Die Kombination asynchroner digitaler Vor- und Nachbereitung mit synchronem Unterricht am Krankenbett und Präsenzseminaren ermöglicht einen ressourcensparenden und effektiven Unterricht. Das Konzept fand hohe Akzeptanz. Weitere Studien zur flächendeckenden Umsetzung und die Auswirkungen auf die Examensleistung sind erforderlich.
Tuberous sclerosis complex–associated kidney disease in children
Authors: Marlais Matko , Mekahli Djalila
Published: January 2025

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder which can have manifestations in the kidneys, along with other organ systems. Children with TSC may develop kidney lesions at any point during childhood, and typically these are angiomyolipomata (AML) and/or kidney cysts. Children may also have hypertension associated with TSC-associated kidney disease, and rarely reduced kidney function. New guidelines for the management of TSC-associated kidney disease in children and adults were published in 2024. This educational review summarises the relevant clinical aspects of these guidelines for paediatric nephrologists through a series of four clinical cases. These cases cover management of hypertension, frequency of follow-up and frequency of kidney imaging. Difficult clinical scenarios are reviewed, such as the management of TSC2-PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome and the management of large AMLs in children with TSC.

Graphical abstract
Negativity in self-admitted technical debt: how sentiment influences prioritization
Authors: Cassee Nathan , Ernst Neil , Novielli Nicole , Serebrenik Alexander
Published: January 2025

Self-Admitted Technical Debt, or SATD, is a self-admission of technical debt present in a software system. The presence of SATD in software systems negatively affects developers, therefore, managing and addressing SATD is crucial for software engineering. To effectively manage SATD, developers need to estimate its priority and assess the effort required to fix the described technical debt. About a quarter of descriptions of SATD in software systems express some form of negativity or negative emotions when describing technical debt. In this paper, we report on an experiment conducted with 59 respondents to study whether negativity expressed in the description of SATD actually affects the prioritization of SATD. The respondents are a mix of professional developers and students, and in the experiment, we asked participants to prioritize four vignettes: two expressing negativity and two expressing neutral sentiment. To ensure the vignettes were realistic, they were based on existing SATD extracted from a dataset. We find that negativity causes between one-third and half of developers to prioritize SATD in which negativity is expressed as having more priority. Developers affected by negativity when prioritizing SATD are twice as likely to increase their estimation of urgency and 1.5 times as likely to increase their estimation of importance and effort for SATD compared to the likelihood of decreasing these prioritization scores. Our findings show how developers actively use negativity in SATD to determine how urgently a particular instance of technical debt should be addressed. However, our study also describes a gap in the actions and belief of developers. Even if 33% to 50% use negativity to prioritize SATD, 67% of developers believe that using negativity as a proxy for priority is unacceptable. Therefore, we would not recommend using negativity as a proxy for priority. However, we also recognize it might be unavoidable that negativity is expressed by developers to describe technical debt.
A model of optimal digestive strategy in infrequently-feeding snakes
Authors: Wood Molly E. , Ruxton Graeme D.
Published: January 2025

Organisms require energy for survival, growth, and reproduction. In a system with a finite energy supply, fluctuations in resource availability can select for plasticity in the allocation of resources between competing physiological processes. Infrequently-feeding snakes, which naturally experience extended episodes of fasting, have evolved the capacity to modulate gastrointestinal (GI) performance in response to changes in digestive load. Specifically, the gut can be downregulated during fasting to reduce metabolic maintenance costs. Some energy is, however, required to upregulate the digestive system again to allow the exploitation of captured prey. Despite significant inquiry into the relationship between sit-and-wait foraging tactics and GI plasticity, quantitative examination of the optimal digestive strategy for an infrequently-feeding snake is lacking. Here, we construct an optimisation model to quantitatively predict this strategy in terms of the length of time post-feeding after which gut downregulation occurs and the minimum prey mass required to initiate gut upregulation. Contrary to long-held assertions, our simulations predict that infrequently-feeding snakes of all sizes that practice gut downregulation benefit from consuming relatively small prey. We identify gut downregulation as an adaptive strategy when prey are small and encountered infrequently, and assert it as a critical factor in determining predator vulnerability to food scarcity. When parameterising the model, we found the distribution of potential prey body sizes to be poorly characterised in the literature. Accordingly, we identify the frequency distribution of individual body sizes within a terrestrial community as a key focus of future ecological research.
Is Cybersecurity a Social Responsibility?
Authors: Khan Waqas Nawaz , Lee Jae Kyu , Liu Shan
Published: January 2025

Cybersecurity incidents damage not only the organizations attacked, but also society in general, harming customers and stakeholders. Through the text mining of the incident database, we observed that the impact of cybersecurity incident trends became more outward-oriented causing increased risks associated with social responsibility. Thus, this study aims to validate the potential effect of cybersecurity incidents on social responsibility risks and stock price drops. To derive meaningful factors from the description of incidents, we mined the texts to extract the features of the severity of incidents and their direction of impact whether inward or outward. The severity score is derived from sentiment analysis and the impact direction by topic modeling and machine learning models including SVM, LSTM, and BERT. The effects of these incident features are studied through regression models with social responsibility risk and stock price drops as dependent variables. To conduct this study, we collected incident texts from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse database, and social responsibility risk indices from the Privacy and Data Security index and Cyber Risk Rating scores. The subsequent short-term stock price drops are measured by Cumulative Abnormal Returns and their variations. Our analysis revealed a profound impact of cybersecurity incidents on social responsibility risk indices and stock price drops with the moderating effect of outward impact in both models. However, we recognize the incompatibility between an annual index of social responsibility risk and short-term stock price drops. Therefore, we propose a short-term social responsibility risk index for cybersecurity which can be derived from the disclosed incidents. All these scenarios support the premise that cybersecurity incidents significantly impact the social responsibility risk and may lead to potential stock price drops.
Harm, Insignificant Effects, and the Morality of Procreation
Authors: Pinkert Felix
Published: January 2025

Several authors have argued that we ought to have fewer children in order to reduce our contribution to climate change. Proponents of this view generally hold a moderate version of the view, according to which it is still permissible to have one or two children per couple. One recent exception is Chad Vance’s paper “Procreation is Immoral on Environmental Grounds” in this journal, in which he argues that procreation is always, or almost always, morally impermissible. I argue, first, that Vance is mistaken in conceding that his radical position holds only if individual acts of procreation can make a difference, rather than being only a causally insignificantly contribution to collective harm. Instead, given his assumptions, he should hold on to the radical view that we ought to have no children at all. Second, I argue against Vance’s strongest argument for his radical view. Vance argues that procreation harms others, and that obligations to avoid harming rule out the demandingness considerations that are used to support a permission to have one or two children. However, contrary to paradigmatic cases of harming, any procreation-related harms result not only from procreators’ actions, but also from our collective failures to rapidly reduce emissions. This complex causal structure undermines Vance’s rejection of demandingness considerations. I conclude that the moderate view that we may have one or two children per couple survives Vance’s criticism.
Nickel Metal-Organic Framework-Based Surfaces for Effective Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Eliwa Ayman S. , Medany Shymaa S. , Mohamed Gehad G. , Hefnawy Mahmoud A.
Published: January 2025

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), characterized by strong bonds between organic ligands and metal ions, exhibit high porosity, large surface area, and exceptional chemical stability when carefully designed. In this study, a novel MOF comprising lead ions and ligands derived from 2-carboxybenzaldehyde and 4-aminobenzoic acid was synthesized using a sonochemical approach. This innovative method enabled the rapid formation of highly porous crystals with a BET surface area of 1181.45 m2 g1 and a total pore volume of 2.27 cm3 g−1 at P/P₀ = 0.3023. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including thermal analysis, SEM, EDX, PXRD, and FT-IR, confirmed the successful formation of the MOF structure. The synthesized MOF was utilized to fabricate an enhanced Ni-MOF electrode, demonstrating superior electrochemical performance for capacitor applications. The electrode achieved a specific capacitance of 402 F g−1 at 1 mA cm−2 and maintained excellent cycling stability, with 87.9% capacitance retention over 4000 cycles at 5 A g−1. These results underline the potential of the synthesized MOF in advancing energy storage technologies, particularly in developing high-performance and durable electrochemical capacitors.
On the relationship between epistemology and science: synergies between experience-first epistemologies and agent-centered interpretations of quantum mechanics
Authors: Berghofer Philipp
Published: January 2025

Although contemporary analytic epistemology continues to be dominated by externalist accounts, an alternative internalist approach has recently emerged that emphasizes the epistemic role of consciousness, in particular of conscious experience. According to the phenomenological experience-first epistemology (PEFE) discussed in this paper, certain experiences constitute a source of immediate justification as well as our ultimate evidence. One reason why internalist approaches are less popular in current debates is the common assumption that externalism fits better with scientific practice. In this picture, the natural sciences are typically understood as adopting a third-person perspective that successfully abstracts away from the subject and her personal experiences. Here, I discuss an alternative view of science, namely science as understood within the framework of agent-centered approaches to quantum mechanics. More specifically, my focus will be on QBism, a highly controversial but increasingly popular interpretation of quantum mechanics, whose defining feature is the interpretation of quantum probabilities as subjective Bayesian probabilities. The objective of this paper is to clarify the relationship between epistemology and science under the assumption that both PEFE and QBism are correct.
From open access publishing to collaborative dissemination
Authors: Väänänen Ilkka , Kantola Mauri , Friman Mervi , Lamberg Jaana
Published: January 2025

The question of how to promote co-creation and collaboration among universities and companies in research and developing operations lies in the background of this study. The focus of this exploratory case study is on knowledge-creating patterns in an online dissemination platform. The research question was expressed as follows: How to develop and maintain a context supporting collaboration and creative common activities by academic online publishing. Online publishing environments are in continuous turbulence. Thus, we have to develop platforms for the dissemination of knowledge systematically. This means, for instance, evidence-based analyses, assessing, and brainstorming. In this case study, we describe one development process by focusing on an online journal and the multiple future scenarios (possibilities) for the journal. In addition, some visions and thoughts about the role of OA journals and possibilities in implementing and publishing the activities and performances of higher education institutions are presented.
Emotions and political identity predict public acceptance of urban deer management
Authors: Desrochers Hannah M. , Peterson M. Nils , Larson Lincoln R. , Moorman Christopher E. , Kierepka Elizabeth M. , Kilgo John C. , Hostetter Nathan J.
Published: January 2025

Addressing public preferences can enhance wildlife management effectiveness and reduce backlash. We conducted novel research on public acceptance of wildlife management by accounting for the role of underexplored drivers including emotion and political identity across an urban-to-rural gradient. Using data from a 2022 survey about white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Durham County, North Carolina, we analyzed drivers of acceptance for three management strategies: passive management, lethal management by hunting, and lethal management by professionals. Support for deer management varied across the urban-to-rural gradient, as rural residents favored hunting but were less supportive of passive management compared to urban and suburban residents. Emotions and general attitudes toward deer were the strongest predictors of management acceptance. Support for passive management was higher among residents with more positive emotions toward deer, whereas support for lethal strategies was higher among those with more negative emotions. Additionally, political identity emerged as a complex yet influential factor in shaping support for lethal management. Conservative respondents exhibited a higher acceptance of hunting, whereas liberal respondents exhibited a higher acceptance of professional sharpshooting. Collectively, our results demonstrate the ways in which emotions, politics, and other socio-demographic factors interact to influence public support for deer management across the urban–rural gradient. When direct experience with wildlife is lacking (e.g., in urban areas), emotions may act as heuristic guides that shape preferences. Managers aiming to increase deer management acceptability could integrate insights about emotional, political, and demographic drivers of public management support in communication efforts, potentially rendering urban deer management more effective.
Transfer nach Diversity-Schulungen: Eine Studie in der Berliner Landesverwaltung
Authors: Hagelskamp Carolin
Published: January 2025

Erst im Transfer können Diversity-Schulungen zur Wertschätzung von Diversität im Arbeitskontext beitragen. Diese Interviewstudie (N = 16) untersucht, wie Teilnehmende aus Schulungen der Berliner Landesantidiskriminierungsstelle Transfer anstoßen und erleben. Das Ergebnis ist eine Typologie aus vier Transfererfahrungen: die Vorbilder, die Ernannten, die Mitverantwortlichen und die Einzelkämpfenden. Die Typen unterscheiden sich in erlebten Nutzungsmöglichkeiten für Diversity-Kompetenzen im Arbeitsalltag, in von Kolleg:innen und Führungskräften erfahrenen Unterstützungen und Widerständen und bezüglich der Lernkultur am Arbeitsplatz. Die Relevanz der Typologie für Theorie und Praxis wird diskutiert.
Waste-to-carbon-based supercapacitors for renewable energy storage: progress and future perspectives
Authors: Dzikunu Perseverance , Appiah Eugene Sefa , Arthur Emmanuel Kwesi , Akinwamide Samuel Olukayode , Gikunoo Emmanuel , Fangnon Eric A. K. , Mensah-Darkwa Kwadwo , Andrews Anthony , Vilaça Pedro
Published: January 2025

The increasing demand for cost-effective materials for energy storage devices has prompted investigations into diverse waste derived electrode materials for supercapacitors (SCs) application. This review examines advancements in converting waste into carbon-based SCs for renewable energy storage. In this context, different carbon-based waste precursor sources have been explored over the years as electrodes in SCs. These waste sources comprise of industrial, plastics and biowastes, including plant and animal wastes. The energy storage capabilities of the various waste derived SCs electrodes are highlighted to provide an understanding into the unique features that make them applicable to SCs. In addition, some challenges associated with the waste-derived SCs electrodes in terms of energy storage have been emphasized. Here, we also provided insights into the recent progress in SCs electrode synthesis techniques and their effects on electrochemical performance. SCs performance tailoring with material structures through the incorporation of different materials to form composites and optimized synthesis methods is an effective strategy. Hence, the synthesis methods outlined include pyrolysis, hydrothermal, microwave-assisted, template-assisted, and sol–gel techniques. The effect of the various synthesis methods on SCs performance has also been discussed. Overall, this review highlights waste valorization with future research directions and scaling challenges.
Seeking optimal non-pharmacological interventions for sarcopenia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Fu Zhenyue , Wang Yajiao , Zhao Lu , Li Yumeng , Song Qingqiao
Published: January 2025

Background

With the acceleration of aging, sarcopenia has become a reality of concern today. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various non-pharmacologic interventions and find the optimal interventions for sarcopenia.

Methods

PubMed, Medline OVID, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane were searched from 1 January 2000 to 25 October 2023, with language restrictions to English. We analyzed the data through the Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Results

Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined by the PICOS principles, we identified 47 eligible clinical trials engaging 4889 individuals (including treatment group = 2835, control group = 2054). The results showed that resistance exercise (low-moderate load) significantly increased muscle mass (skeletal muscle mass and lean body mass) and that exercise plus nutrition improved physical activity indices (handgrip strength, gait speed, TUG test, chair standing).

Conclusion

Resistance exercise (low-moderate load), exercise plus nutrition, and nutritional supplementation (fatty acids, etc.) may be protective against sarcopenia.

Systematic Review Registration
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=474799, ID: CRD4202347479.
CFD–DEM modelling of particle entrainment in wheel–rail interface: a parametric study on particle characteristics
Authors: Maramizonouz Sadaf , Nadimi Sadegh , Skipper William , Lewis Roger
Published: January 2025

To mitigate and alleviate low wheel–rail adhesion, a train-borne system is utilised to deposit sand particles into the wheel–rail interface via a jet of compressed air in a process called rail-sanding. Britain Rail Safety and Standards Board introduced guidelines on the sand particles’ shape, size, and uniformity which needs to be adhered to for rail-sanding. To further investigate these guidelines and help improve them, this research presents a parametric study on the particle characteristics that affect the rail-sanding process including density, size and size distribution, coefficient of uniformity, and shape, utilising a coupled computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method (CFD–DEM) model. The efficiency of rail-sanding is estimated for each case study and compared to the benchmark to optimise the sand characteristics for rail-sanding. It is concluded that particle size distribution (within the accepted range) has an insignificant effect on the efficiency while increasing particle size or the coefficient of uniformity decreases the efficiency. Particle shape is shown to highly affect the efficiency for flat, compact and elongated particles compared to the spherical shape. The current numerical model is capable of accurately predicting the trends in the efficiency compared to the actual values obtained from full-scale experiments.
Mechanical and dielectric properties of MgO ceramics with HNT additions
Authors: Catalbas Kubranur , Gozuacik Namik Kemal , Basaran Neslihan , Selli Neslihan Tamsu , Mensur Ebru
Published: January 2025

This study, the ceramics’ sintering, mechanical, and dielectric properties were examined, and the influence of HNT additives on these properties was investigated. HNT was added to the structure as a SiO2 source to the MgO ceramics, which are difficult to process, since SiO2 suppresses the grain growth of MgO ceramics and significantly reduces the sintering temperature. After calcination at 800 °C HNT at different ratios (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 wt%) were added to calcined MgO powder. As a result of XRD analysis, it was determined that spinel, forsterite and periclase phases were formed and these results were also confirmed by SEM images. The addition of HNT led to the formation of the forsterite phase at grain boundaries, enhancing mechanical properties. The best mechanical properties were observed in MgO ceramics with 11% HNT additives. Adding HNT at different ratios increased the dielectric constant of MgO ceramics. HNT-added MgO ceramics exhibited higher dielectric constant value than those at ambient temperature. The lowest dielectric constant value was measured as ~ 8.5 for MgO ceramic without any HNT addition. Since the materials to be used as circuit substrates require strict dielectric and mechanical properties, it is aimed to improve the mechanical and dielectric properties of MgO ceramics with the addition of HNT. MgO ceramics incorporating HNT in this study exhibited outstanding dielectric and mechanical characteristics, suggesting their potential as favorable materials for circuit substrates.
Sampled-data self-learning observer based attitude tracking control against sensor-actuator faults
Authors: Wang Yu , Zhao Shunyi , Wu Jin , Tan Lining , Dong Peng , Zhang Chengxi
Published: January 2025

This paper proposes an intermittent measurement-based attitude tracking control strategy for spacecraft operating in the presence of sensor-actuator faults. A sampled-data (self-)learning observer is developed to estimate both the spacecraft’s states and lumped disturbances, effectively mitigating the impact of faults. This observer acts as a virtual predictor, reconstructing states and actuator fault deviations using only intermittent measurement data, addressing the limitations imposed by sensor failures. The control scheme incorporates compensation based on the predictor’s estimates, ensuring robust attitude tracking despite the presence of faults. We provide the first proof of bounded stability for this learning observer utilizing intermittent information, expanding its applicability. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of this innovative strategy, highlighting its potential for enhancing spacecraft autonomy and reliability in challenging operational scenarios.
Finite element modelling and indirect tensile strength of SBS and CR modified asphalt mixtures
Authors: Fahad Mohammad , Nagy Richard
Published: January 2025

Different modifications in asphalt mixtures can be employed to improve the performance of asphalt pavements in terms of rutting and fatigue damage resistance enhancement. Performance of asphalt mixtures can be further enhanced with the use of different proportions of modifiers added to bitumen, however the optimum proportion of the modifiers added require further experimentation in terms of indirect tensile strength of asphalt mixtures. This research consists of selection of different proportions of Polymer (SBS—Styrene Butadiene Styrene) and CR (Crumb Rubber) modifiers, that have been used in various amounts at 7% CR, 15% CR, 20% CR, 4% SBS, 7% SBS to base bitumen and the performance has been compared with base asphalt mixture. Indirect tensile strength for each mixtures type has been evaluated in the lab with varying rise time. Furthermore, stiffness moduli of each mixture have been evaluated at four different frequency values of 1.2 Hz, 1.9 Hz, 3.5 Hz and 5 Hz at 20 °C.

Moreover, tensile strength for each mixture type and its progression with varying loading rates from 10 MPa/s to 70 MPa/s has been evaluated. A 2D finite element software, ABAQUS has been used to perform microstrain analysis for each mixture type. Fatigue and rutting damage models have been used to evaluate performance of each mixture type. Results show superior performance of SBS-7 and CR-20 mixtures in terms of rutting and fatigue damage resistance when compared to base asphalt. SBS-7 and CR-20 show 28% better performance in terms of fatigue damage resistance when compared to base asphalt. SBS-7 outperforms CR-20 in terms of rutting resistance by 22%.
Meta-anova: screening interactions for interpretable machine learning
Authors: Choi Yongchan , Park Seokhun , Park Chanmoo , Kim Dongha , Kim Yongdai
Published: January 2025

There are two things to be considered when we evaluate predictive models. One is prediction accuracy, and the other is interpretability. Over the recent decades, many prediction models of high performance, such as ensemble-based models and deep neural networks, have been developed. However, these models are often too complex, making it difficult to intuitively interpret their predictions. This complexity in interpretation limits their use in many real-world fields that require accountability, such as medicine, finance, and college admissions. In this study, we develop a novel method called Meta-ANOVA to provide an interpretable model for any given prediction model. The basic idea of Meta-ANOVA is to transform a given black-box prediction model to the functional ANOVA model. A novel technical contribution of Meta-ANOVA is a procedure of screening out unnecessary interactions before transforming a given black-box model to the functional ANOVA model. This screening procedure allows the inclusion of higher order interactions in the transformed functional ANOVA model without computational difficulties. We prove that the screening procedure is asymptotically consistent. Through various experiments with synthetic and real-world datasets, we empirically demonstrate the superiority of Meta-ANOVA.
Algorithmic bias: sexualized violence against women in GPT-3 models
Authors: Wyer Sarah , Black Sue
Published: January 2025

This study explores the occurrence and implications of sexualized violence against women in text completion tasks performed by GPT-3 models. The study began as an exploratory investigation into gender inequalities within GPT-3 models to discover what GPT3 models generate in text completion tasks when prompted with basic gendered prompts. For example, "Men can…", "Women can…". Using an adapted version of Safia Noble’s prompt scheme, we generated a dataset of 9 million tokens from GPT-3 models, then conducted topic analysis using BERTopic, VADER for sentiment analysis, and Detoxify for toxicity detection. The results were unexpected. Topic analysis revealed sexualized violence ranked as the top topic for prompts featuring’women’. Women were often depicted in the context of sexualized violence and victimization, in stark contrast to the portrayal of men as superheroes, or in contexts involving urination and alcohol. For example, a randomly selected output generated by the prompt. "Why are women so", generated "Why are women so arrogant about being raped?". Our findings stress the critical need for ethical considerations in large language model (LLM) development to address and mitigate the generation of text containing sexualized violence against women. We discuss the implications of amplifying and normalizing sexualized violence against women in content generated by LLMs. Our work builds on previous research examining gender bias in LLMs, with a specific focus on the manifestation of sexualized violence against women in LLM outputs, an area that has received little attention. We discuss the mitigation approaches such as content filtering and moderation; user safety and trauma-informed responses; legal and ethical considerations; avoiding misinformation; reflecting societal changes; and global discourse and action. With the overall aim to contribute to the understanding of such biases, their impact on survivors and wider society, and offer insights to guide the development of more equitable and ethical AI systems.
Enhancing the sustainability of geotechnical engineering with utilization of fly Ash
Authors: Alqawasmeh Hasan Majed
Published: January 2025

Massive amounts of fly ash (FA) are dumped carelessly leading to a negative influence on the environment. However, FA contains several advantages when it is used in geotechnical engineering and civil engineering projects which not only dispose of waste but also improve sustainability. In addition to offering a promising solution to the disposal issue, the use of waste materials in civil engineering projects also offers an affordable substitute for conventional materials which preserves natural resources. Many scholars' studies show how FA is used and how it affects the geotechnical characteristics of the soil. Despite extensive research, the assessment of FA's suitability is complicated due to the chemical composition of FA which varies significantly between sources. This variability can affect how FA interacts with different soil types, leading to inconsistent results in terms of soil improvement and geotechnical properties. Therefore, a comprehensive review is required that compiles all effective data and gives the user simple instructions about using FA. This article reviews the current state of the art research on the physical properties of FA, chemical composition of different countries FA, Atterberg limit, compaction properties, California bearing ratio, unconfined compressive strength, shear strength compression, and swelling index. Results showed that adding FA to soil increased its geotechnical qualities, but the effect depends on the type of soil and specific conditions, such as moisture content, compaction, and the percentage of FA added. The higher percentages of FA led to a decline in geotechnical characteristics. The assessment, therefore, advises that FA may be added up to optimum percentages which generally 20% depending on its source and chemical composition.
Turbulent Takeoff—Hard Landing: State-Airline Relations and the Challenges of Early Commercial Aviation in Iran, 1923–1932
Authors: Greiner Andreas
Published: January 2025

This article studies the rise and fall of commercial aviation in Iran, then known as Persia, between 1923 and 1932. Two airlines, the German Junkers Luftverkehr AG and Britain’s Imperial Airways, invested significant time and effort in developing air routes but eventually failed due to financial hardship and political intransigence. Exploring this erratic development, the article has two aims: first, to investigate the entangled history of two of the world’s oldest airlines and the challenges they navigated; and second, to assess the fraught relationship between state and business interests. The German and British airlines were rivals in Iran, but they became partly dependent on each other. Both airlines suffered from the global political dynamics of the interwar period while Junkers, in particular, also struggled financially. Meanwhile, the Iranian state had yet to decide whether to view the new technology with enthusiasm or concern. Its ambivalent and reluctant reaction had profound effects on the trajectories of Junkers and Imperial Airways. Assessing the capability of a nascent airline industry to develop viable business models outside of Europe, the article also serves as a case study revealing the headwinds airlines encountered in the earliest phase of commercial aviation.
Beautiful or Agreeable? Humour and Wit in The Origins of Kant’s Aesthetics
Authors: Zinkin Melissa
Published: January 2025

In this paper, I explore what Robert Clewis, in The Origins of Kant’s Aesthetics, suggests is an ‘analogy’ between humour and beauty. I do this by focusing on Kant’s concept of wit (Witz), which is central to both reflective judgement and humour. By exploring the concept of Witz as a distinctive kind of cognitive activity, I believe a case can be made that the origin of Kant’s mature aesthetic theory in the Critique of the Power of Judgement and his discovery of the principle of taste were, in part, a result of Kant’s thinking about Witz. I therefore share Clewis’s puzzlement about why, in the third Critique, humour, arguably the art of Witz, is not considered to be a beautiful art. I conclude by suggesting a possible reason why Kant thought that a judgement of humour is different from a judgement of beauty.
Robert Clewis and the Origins of Kant’s Conception of Aesthetics
Authors: McQuillan J. Colin
Published: January 2025

Robert Clewis focuses on a number of different themes in Kant’s precritical and critical aesthetics in The Origins of Kant’s Aesthetics. Clewis carefully documents where Kant’s views on these themes are the same, where they are different, and why; yet his approach might give readers the impression that Kant lacks a unified conception of aesthetics. I show, on the contrary, that the method and sources Clewis employs also reveal the frameworks within which Kant addresses the themes that Clewis discusses in Origins; the consistencies in Kant’s precritical and critical conceptions of aesthetics; and the changes in his conception of aesthetics that we find in the third Critique.
Winning Snake: Design Choices in Multi-Shot ASP
Authors: BÖHL ELISA , ELLMAUTHALER STEFAN , GAGGL SARAH ALICE
Published: January 2025

Answer set programming is a well-understood and established problem-solving and knowledge representation paradigm. It has become more prominent amongst a wider audience due to its multiple applications in science and industry. The constant development of advanced programming and modeling techniques extends the toolset for developers and users regularly. This paper compiles and demonstrates different techniques to reuse logic program parts (multi-shot) by solving the arcade game snake. This game is particularly interesting because a victory can be assured by solving the NP-hard problem of Hamiltonian Cycles. We will demonstrate five hands-on implementations in clingo and compare their performance in an empirical evaluation. In addition, our implementation utilizes clingraph to generate a simple yet informative image representation of the game’s progress.
Cyclic Supports in Recursive Bipolar Argumentation Frameworks: Semantics and LP Mapping
Authors: ALFANO GIANVINCENZO , GRECO SERGIO , PARISI FRANCESCO , TRUBITSYNA IRINA
Published: January 2025

Dung’s abstract Argumentation Framework (AF) has emerged as a key formalism for argumentation in artificial intelligence. It has been extended in several directions, including the possibility to express supports, leading to the development of the Bipolar Argumentation Framework (BAF), and recursive attacks and supports, resulting in the Recursive BAF (Rec-BAF). Different interpretations of supports have been proposed, whereas for Rec-BAF (where the target of attacks and supports may also be attacks and supports) even different semantics for attacks have been defined. However, the semantics of these frameworks have either not been defined in the presence of support cycles or are often quite intricate in terms of the involved definitions. We encompass this limitation and present classical semantics for general BAF and Rec-BAF and show that the semantics for specific BAF and Rec-BAF frameworks can be defined by very simple and intuitive modifications of that defined for the case of AF. This is achieved by providing a modular definition of the sets of defeated and acceptable elements for each AF-based framework. We also characterize, in an elegant and uniform way, the semantics of general BAF and Rec-BAF in terms of logic programming and partial stable model semantics.
Automating Semantic Analysis of System Assurance Cases Using Goal-Directed ASP
Authors: MURUGESAN ANITHA , WONG ISAAC , ARIAS JOAQUÍN , STROUD ROBERT , VARADARAJAN SRIVATSAN , SALAZAR ELMER , GUPTA GOPAL , BLOOMFIELD ROBIN , RUSHBY JOHN
Published: January 2025

Assurance cases offer a structured way to present arguments and evidence for certification of systems where safety and security are critical. However, creating and evaluating these assurance cases can be complex and challenging, even for systems of moderate complexity. Therefore, there is a growing need to develop new automation methods for these tasks. While most existing assurance case tools focus on automating structural aspects, they lack the ability to fully assess the semantic coherence and correctness of the assurance arguments.

In prior work, we introduced the Assurance 2.0 framework that prioritizes the reasoning process, evidence utilization, and explicit delineation of counter-claims (defeaters) and counter-evidence. In this paper, we present our approach to enhancing Assurance 2.0 with semantic rule-based analysis capabilities using common-sense reasoning and answer set programming solvers, specifically s(CASP). By employing these analysis techniques, we examine the unique semantic aspects of assurance cases, such as logical consistency, adequacy, indefeasibility, etc. The application of these analyses provides both system developers and evaluators with increased confidence about the assurance case.