bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social-support buffers the effect of internalized homonegativity on intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors
Authors: Skakoon-Sparling Shayna , Chow Susan , Palma Paolo Aldrin , Adam Barry , Elkington Nicole , Dvorakova Milada , Hanes Douglas W. , Zhang Terri , Grace Daniel , Jollimore Jody , Tan Darell H.S. , Hart Trevor A.
Published: February 2025

Objective: Among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors (i.e., distress about one’s sexual urges or behaviors) are associated with depression and engagement in behavior that increases the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The present study examines the association between internalized homonegativity and intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors, the intervening effect of depression symptoms, and the potential buffering effect of social support. Furthermore, we establish the subsequent link with physical health outcomes by examining the association between intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors and recent bacterial STI diagnosis. Method: Using participant data (n = 1,046) from three time points, we conducted a moderated mediation analysis and logistic regression. Results: Higher internalized homonegativity scores conditionally predicted greater intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors 1 year later: participants with higher internalized homonegativity scores reported more severe intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors if they also had lower social support, β = .08, SE = 0.02, p < .001, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.04, 0.13]. More severe depression symptoms were also directly associated with greater intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors (β = .02, SE = 0.01, p = .011, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03]). Finally, there was a significant association between intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors and recent bacterial STI diagnosis (OR = 1.68, p < .001, 95% CI [1.30, 2.16]). Conclusion: Given that social support mitigated the impact of internalized homonegativity on intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors, ultimately indirectly reducing the occurrence of bacterial STIs in this population, these findings demonstrate the utility of psychosocial factors as potential intervention targets for improving the health of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Why Native Language Secrecy No Longer Works in Modern Warfare: The Case of North Koreans in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Authors: Araz Kamo
Published: February 2025

The historical use of native languages for secure military communication, often referred to as code talking, has provided tactical advantages in warfare. However, this paper argues that such methods, like those employed by the Navajo code talkers of World War II, are no longer effective in modern warfare. A recent case is Russia's deployment of North Korean soldiers in the Russo-Ukrainian War, which raised the question of whether their language could provide a linguistic advantage. This paper examines why native language secrecy, including the potential use of North Korean as a code language, has lost its effectiveness. Factors such as advancements in AI-driven linguistic analysis, extensive international intelligence monitoring, and the well-documented nature of the North Korean language have significantly reduced the viability of native language ciphers. Additionally, the logistical challenges associated with deploying large numbers of North Korean soldiers without sufficient language support have further undermined their strategic value. While such methods may still hold limited utility in small-scale operations, reinforcing psychological cohesion, and confusing the enemy, they are no longer a significant asset in the modern, highly interconnected intelligence landscape.
Perceptions and Practices of English and Nepali Medium Instruction
Authors: Khadka Bishnu Kumar
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of key stakeholders—students, teachers, school management committee (SMC) chairs, and parents—regarding the use of Nepali Medium Instruction (NMI) and English Medium Instruction (EMI) in government-funded community schools. A quantitative research design was employed, with a structured questionnaire distributed to 200 participants, including students (N = 100), teachers (N = 50), SMC chairs (N = 20), and parents (N = 30) from four government-funded community schools across Nepal. The schools were selected through purposive sampling to ensure representation from both NMI- and EMI-based instruction. The study findings revealed a strong parental preference for English Medium Instruction (EMI), with 70% of parents considering it important or very important. However, teachers expressed a more balanced view, with 70% recognizing the significance of Nepali Medium Instruction (NMI) and 68% acknowledging the importance of EMI. Teachers perceived EMI as beneficial for improving students' English language proficiency (48%) and enhancing career prospects, while also noting that NMI fosters a better understanding of academic concepts (58%) due to language familiarity. Both parents and teachers observed that EMI can hinder students' confidence, with 32% of parents and 37% of teachers reporting that language barriers in EMI reduce students' self-esteem and classroom participation. Additionally, limited access to educational resources in Nepali was highlighted by 33% of parents and 35% of students. While the highest percentage of teachers (40%) and students (47%) preferred NMI, a majority of parents (52%) favored EMI. The findings contribute to the ongoing discussion on the medium of instruction in Nepal’s education system, particularly regarding the balance between preserving cultural identity and improving future educational and career opportunities for students.
A Systematic Review on Current Research Trends on Student-Centered Pedagogies in English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
Authors: Thapa Deepak
Published: February 2025

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA is a research method that involves systematically collecting, evaluating, and synthesizing all relevant studies on a specific topic using pre-defined criteria. Following PRISMA guideline, this article examines the current trends and research focus of the researchers on student-centered teaching strategies in English Language Teaching (ELT) from 2020 to 2024. It investigates four main themes: active learning strategies, student engagement in EFL classrooms, participatory teaching and learning, and task-based teaching and learning (TBLT). The findings reveal that task-based teaching and learning as the most extensively researched theme, indicating a notable interest in its effectiveness for enhancing language proficiency among EFL learners. Similarly, there was relatively lesser researches on participatory teaching and learning method compared to TBLT in EFL contexts during the designated period. Furthermore, while active learning strategies and student engagement in EFL classrooms were acknowledged, they did not receive as much research focus as task-based approaches. This study contributes to discussions on effective teaching practices in EFL education by highlighting the distribution of research attention across different student-centered teaching themes. The findings offer valuable guidance for policymakers, educators, and researchers to develop teaching strategies prioritizing active learning and students’ engagement strategies, ultimately leading to improvements in language education and more fulfilling learning experiences for EFL learners.
नेपाली विषय शिक्षकको शिक्षणमा तालिमको प्रभाव
Authors: बुढा Budha चन्द्र बहादुर Chandra Bahadur
Published: February 2025

तालिम सिकाइसँग सम्बन्धित विषय हो । शिक्षणमा प्रभावकारिता ल्याउन शिक्षकलाई तालिमको आवश्यकता पर्छ । शिक्षकले तालिम लिएपछि यसको शिक्षणमा प्रभावकारिता भए नभएको खोजी यस लेखमा गरिएको छ । शोध विषयशिक्षणमा तालिमको प्रभावकारिताको अध्ययनमा केन्द्रित छ । प्रस्तुत शोधलेख कक्षाकोठा व्यवस्थापनमा शिक्षकको शिक्षणमा तालिम प्रभावकारिता र विद्यार्थीको सिकाइ उपलब्धिमा स्तरमा पारेको प्रभावको मूल्याङ्कन गर्न प्रत्यक्ष अन्तर्वार्ता र क्षेत्रीय अध्ययन विधिलाई अपनाइएको छ । प्रस्तुत शोधमा मूलतः गुणात्मक अनुसन्धान विधि प्रयोग गरिएको छ । सामग्री सङ्कलनका सन्दर्भमा भने सम्बन्धित विद्यालयका प्रधानाध्यापक, शिक्षक र विद्यार्थीहरूसँगको प्रत्यक्ष सहभागिताका आधारमा अध्ययन गरिएको छ । त्यसैगरी तथ्याङ्क सङ्कलनको तथ्यका आधारमा अवलोकन, अन्तर्वार्ता, प्रश्नावली र छलफल रहेका छन् । यस सन्दर्भमा तालिमलाई शिक्षकको े पेसागत दक्षता विकासको आधार र सिकाइको प्रभावकारी एवम् अर्थपूर्ण माध्यमका रूपमा लिइएको छ । कक्षाकोठामा तालिमको प्रभावकारी प्रयोगबाट विद्यालय नमुना छनोटमा परेका माध्यमिक तहका नेपाली विषयशिक्षक र विद्यार्थीहरूलाई नमुना जनसङ्ख्याका रूपमा लिएको छ । वर्तमान समयमा भने समाजको बदलिँदो स्वरूप र विज्ञानको तीव्र   विकासका कारण सिकाइ वा शिक्षण प्रक्रियामा पनि परिवर्तन आएको छ, जसका लागि शिक्षकलाई नवीन प्रविधिको प्रयोगमा आधारित तालिमको आवश्यकता भएको निष्कर्ष निकालिएको छ ।
EVALUATION OF SOME ACTIONS OF THE RURAL RENEWAL PROGRAM CARRIED OUTFOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT - CASE OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ZEBOUDJA (THE PREFECTURE OF CHLEF, ALGERIA)
Authors: Nadia Zekri  , Fatima Zohra Bekouassa
Published: February 2025

In order to ensure sustainable agricultural development in the country, food security for the population, and thus minimize imports, the Algerian government has since 2008 adopted a new strategy for agricultural renewal. This is called “rural renewal”, and its main objective is to improve the living conditions of the population, to slow down rural exodus, and thus prevent the abandonment of agricultural land.This new strategy has been implemented since 2009 through Integrated Rural Development Proximity Projects (IRDPP), particularly in poor and marginalized areas. After more than a decade since the launch of these projects at the national level, we deemed it useful to conduct an evaluation of the status of the actions carried out and their impact on the population and the rural environment in the Municipality of Zeboudja (the Prefecture of Chlef). To do this, data collection was carried out at the level of specialized administrations and field visits were conducted. The results obtained show a certain improvement in the living conditions of the population, particularly at the infrastructure level (access roads for isolation and mobilization of water). Collective and individual actions have shown a satisfactory success rate.
Study of thermal behavior of phase change material based on fatty acid encapsulated PLA for wall application
Authors: Aidy Nurhanifa , Teuku Rihayat  , Lindawati  , Iqbal  , Mahyuddin
Published: February 2025

Phase Change Material is one form of renewable energy utilization that can be applied to the walls of a house to support the work of the AC to be more efficient. This material works by absorbing solar heat energy, storing it, then releasing it out so that the wall does not conduct heat into the room which will affect the workload of the AC. Lauric and stearic fatty acids are one of the superior PCM forming materials. In this study, PCM was made using a mixture of eutectic fatty acids modified with lactic acid. The method used is the direct mix method (direct mixing). PCM fatty acid materials (Laurate-Stearate) are combined into a binary mixture of eutectic fatty acids  at a composition of 86%: 14% w/w. Furthermore, modifications are carried out with poly lactic acid (P) in three composition variations (L-S):P, namely (0.5: 1), (0.7: 1.0), (0.9: 1.0). Samples will be prepared in a laboratory scale model and their energy analysis will be carried out. Based on DSC testing, it was concluded that the highest latent heat was achieved by sample  LSPb with a value of 101.53 J/g. The second place was taken by sample LSPc, followed by  LSPa and the lowest latent heat was sample  GLSP0. In line with this, the lowest melting point as an indication that PCM can withstand hot air temperatures is also found in sample  LSPb . Among the four test samples, TGA data showed that sample  LSPb was the sample that had the best thermal stability among the other samples with the furthest onset and endset values and the smallest % weight loss with values of 154.60 oC, 191.11 oC and 3.87% weight loss, respectively. The use of 0.7 times the amount of poly lactic acid to the eutectic mixture can absorb heat best. However, the excessive amount of poly lactic acid added actually causes a decrease in the absorption capacity and the ability to maintain heat in the PCM sample. The eutectic mixture of lauric and stearic fatty acids and the addition of poly lactic acid in the gypsum matrix successfully formed PCM which can be a candidate for room temperature control material in energy-efficient building wall applications.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions; Evaluation of Correlation with Prognostic Factors and Survival analysis
Authors: Tahmasebi Fard Zahra
Published: February 2025

Studies have suggested a dose dependent biphasic role for nitric oxide (NO) in tumorigenesis. The present study aimed to conduct further investigations on this subject by comparing inducible NOS (iNOS) expression between normal breast tissues, benign lesions and malignant tumors. The obtained tissue specimens were prepared and underwent immunohistochemical analyses to evaluate the expression of iNOS, HER2, ER and PR. A total of 110 participants were included in this survey. iNOS expression showed a negative correlation with ER (p=0.008) and PR (p=0.016) and a positive association with HER2 expression (p=0.007). Strong staining had a significant correlation with the patients’ diagnosis (p=0.034) and lymph node involvement (p=0.023). Univariate analyses found negative ER (HR=17.7, p<0.001), negative PR (HR=16.0, p<0.001), grade-3 tumors (HR=4.0, p=0.011) and triple negativity (HR=26.1, p<0.001) to be associated with lower survivals. Multivariate analysis showed that the lesion being triple negative had the worst effect on survival of patients (HR=47.4, p=0.003), followed by positive iNOS expression (HR=7.9, p=0.007) and grade-3 lesions (HR=7.5, p=0.020). This study showed that iNOS is expressed to a greater intensity in malignant breast lesions, compared to normal breast tissue and benign lesions. Its expression was also found to negatively affect survival of the patients.
Comparison of the kyphosis angle evaluated by video rasterstereography (VRS) with x-ray measurements
Authors: Weiss H.-R.  , Elobeidi N.
Published: February 2025

Surface topography evaluations are prone to technical errors due to postural sway of the patients measured. The technical error of lateral deviation (rms) and surface rotation (rms) may vary between 15 and 20%, while the kyphosis angle (IP-ITL) has a technical error of only 5% (2,5 degrees), which is comparable to the x-ray measurement. Purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that video rasterstereography can be used for prognostication of a kyphosis patient.
Volumetric thoracic growth in children with moderate and severe scoliosis compared to subjects without spinal deformity
Authors: Charles Y.P.  , Dimeglio A.  , Marcoul M.  , Bourgin J.-F.  , Marcoul A.  , Bozonnat M.-C.
Published: February 2025

Idiopathic scoliosis leads to a three-dimensional thoracic deformity. The purpose of this study is to measure thoracic dimensions and volume related to growth and to verify the influence of moderate and severe scoliosis. 176 children (36 boys, 140 girls; 4–16 years) with scoliosis <45 degrees and 17 patients (2 boys, 15 girls) with scoliosis >65 degrees were compared to 239 children without spinal deformity (97 boys, 142 girls) using an optical system. Thoracic volume, perimeter, anterior-posterior and transversal diameters, T1–T12 and sternal lengths were calculated. These measurements were related to age and sitting height. Thoracic volume (3–16 dm3) did not differ significantly over growth between reference and moderate scoliosis groups. At 4 years, it represents 33%, at 10 years it represents 55% of its volume compared with age 16. It triples from 4–16 years and doubles during puberty. In severe scoliosis, the age related thoracic volume was always lower than volumes in reference and moderate scoliosis groups. During growth, the transversal diameter corresponds to 30%, the anterior-posterior diameter represents 20% and the thoracic perimeter 100% of sitting height. In severe lordoscoliosis the anterior-posterior diameter represents less than 20%. Scoliosis <45 degrees does not influence thoracic volume significantly. Severe deformities seem to inhibit volumetric growth. Thoracic parameters should be related to growth parameters such as sitting height rather than age because of possible height variations in one age section. The established relationships offer a reliable orientation of thoracic proportions. They help to understand the global deformity and represent a baseline for surgical treatment using vertical expandable prosthetic titanium ribs.
FBN3 gene polymorphisms in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients
Authors: Cao Xing-Bing  , Qiu Yong  , Qiu Xu-Sheng  , Chen Zhi-Jun  , Chen Hai-Ou  , Chen Wen-Jun
Published: February 2025

Previous studies have shown that genetic factors are important in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis. In view of the important role of fibrillin family in connective disorder with scoliosis and the recent linkage study on familial idiopathic scoliosis. FBN3 may be a candidate predisposing gene for AIS and a putative disease-modifying gene. However, to our knowledge, the relationship of FBN3 gene polymorphisms and the individual susceptibility to idiopathic scoliosis has not been studied.
Investigation on the association between estrogen β receptor gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Chen Hai-Ou  , Chen Zhi-Jun  , Qiu Yong  , Qiu Xu-Sheng  , Cao Xing-Bing  , Liu Zhen  , Li Wei-Guo
Published: February 2025

It has been detected that the ER α XbaI polymorphism might be associated with the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). And, some literatures reported that ER β polymorphism is associated with bone mineral density. It remained unclear whether ER β polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility of AIS patients. Blood samples were obtained from 288 patients with AIS and 232 healthy adolescent. Anthropometric parameters of AIS group including age, body height, weight, arm span, age of menarche, Cobb angle and Risser sign were all recorded. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used to detect and analyze ER β gene distributions of AIS group and control group. The frequency ER β genotype was no significantly difference between AIS patients and control group. In AIS patients, the expression of Rr genotype in patients whose menarche age was ≥12 years was higher than those whose menarche age was <12 years (P<0.05), but there were no significant association of the genotype distribution with regards to body height, BMI, arm span, Cobb angle and Risser sign. There was no significantly association between ER β gene and the susceptibility of AIS. Rr genotype maybe play a important role in the progression of AIS patients.
The relationship between pelvic balance and a dome-shaped sacrum in developmental spondylolisthesis
Authors: Labelle H.  , Roussouly P.  , Berthonnaud É.  , Hu S.  , Brown C.
Published: February 2025

In order to analyze the differences in spino-pelvic alignment between flat and dome-shaped sacrum in high grade spondylolisthesis (HGS), the lateral standing X-rays of the spine and pelvis of 582 subjects with grade 1 to 5 developmental L5-S1 spondylolisthesis were analysed with acustom software allowing the calculation of spino-pelvic parameters. Three sub-groups were analysed: flat sacrum with slipping <35% (N=293) and HGS with slipping >35% with flat (N=215) or dome shaped sacrum (N=74). In addition, each HGS was classified as balanced or unbalanced pelvis, using the criteria of Hresko et al.
Effects of in vivo Mechanical loading on extracellular matrix components of the growth plate
Authors: Cancel M.  , Villemure I.  , Moldovan F.  , Grimard G.
Published: February 2025

Clinical evidence demonstrates that mechanical loads are essential to normal longitudinal bone growth, yet if too important these loads can lead to progressive deformities such as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The controlled synthesis/degradation of growth plate extracellular matrix is essential to regulate normal longitudinal bone growth. A loading device was developed to precisely control a stress of 0.2 MPa applied for two weeks on the seventh caudal vertebra of rats (male, 28 days-old). Three groups were studied: baseline control, sham (loading apparatus installed but no load applied) and loaded groups. Growth modulation was quantified with calcein labeling and three main components of the extracellular matrix were assessed with safranin O coloration (proteoglycans) and immunohistochemistry (type II and X collagens). Average growth rates for C7 vertebra were 39, 33 and 28 μm/day for the control, sham and loaded groups. Compression modulated C7 growth by 29% (p<0.001) and 15% (p<0.05) as compared to controls and shams respectively. At the extracellular matrix level, no change was observed in the proteoglycans. Nevertheless, the expression of type X and II collagens was reduced in 66% and 83% respectively of the loaded rats. Static compression loading reduces bone growth rate. In vivo, this growth modulation involves remodeling of the extracellular matrix, which could in turn lead to changes in surrounding cellular activities.
Constrained Intensity-based Image Registration: Application to Aligning Human Back Images
Authors: Elsafi A.S.  , Durdle N.G.  , Raso J.V.
Published: February 2025

In this work, an accurate method to register multi-view images of the human torso is developed. In particular, a new framework that incorporates prior statistical knowledge about the registration is developed and tested. This framework leads to a computationally efficient procedure to accurately align images of the human torso. An intensity based image registration procedure is used to obtain the deformation fields by modelling them as both locally affine and globally smooth. Next, the estimated geometric deformation fields are analyzed in order to construct a prior deformation model. Two subspace analysis projection techniques are used to construct the subspaces of plausible deformations, namely principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA). Accurate deformations are now guaranteed by projecting the locally computed geometric transformations onto the subspaces of plausible deformations. The proposed registration method was validated using high resolution images of the human torso. In order to handle the high resolution images, a multi-resolution framework was employed in the registration process. Experiments demonstrate promising performance in terms of mean square error and in the computational complexity. The main contribution of this work is the development of image registration method that uses subspace constraints to align images of the human torso. This method did not use the intra and inter image constraints used in most intensity based image registration algorithms in the literature.
An Analysis of Support Vector Machines for Credit Risk Modeling
Authors: Kaya Murat Emre  , Gurgen Fikret  , Okay Nesrin
Published: February 2025

In this study, we analyze the ability of support vector machines (SVM) for credit risk modeling from two different aspects: credit classification and estimation of probability of default values. Firstly, we compare the credit classification performance of SVM with the widely used technique of logistic regression. Then we propose a cascaded model based on SVM in order to obtain a better credit classification accuracy. Finally, we propose a methodology for SVM to estimate the probability of default values for borrowers. We furthermore discuss the advantages and disadvantages of SVM for credit risk modeling.
Automatic Recurrent ANN development for signal classification: detection of seizures in EEGs
Authors: Rivero Daniel  , Dorado Julian  , Rabuñal Juan  , Pazos Alejandro
Published: February 2025

Biomedical signal processing is one of the research fields that has received more research in the recent years or decades. Inside it, signal classification has shown to be one of the most important aspects. One of the most used tools for doing this analysis are Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), which have proven their utility in modeling almost any input/output system. However, their application is not easy, because it involves some design and training stages in which the expert has to do much effort to develop a good network, which is even harder when working with time series, in which recurrent networks are needed. This paper describes a new technique for automatically developing Recurrent ANNs (RANNs) for signal processing, in which the expert does not have to take part on their development. These networks are obtained by means of Evolutionary Computacion (EC) tools, and are applied to the classification of electroencephalogram (EEGs) signals in epileptic patients. The objective is to discriminate those EEG signals in which an epileptic patient is having a seizure.
Coupling Continuous and Discrete Event System Techniques for Hybrid System Diagnosability Analysis
Authors: Bayoudh Mehdi  , Travé-Massuyès Louise  , Olive Xavier
Published: February 2025

In this paper we propose a hybrid system modeling framework aimed at analyzing diagnosability. In this framework, the hybrid system is seen as the composition of an underlying discrete event and an underlying continuous systems. Diagnosability of these two underlying systems are fully analyzed and new results are provided for the underlying continuous system (called the multimode system). Based on these results, a hybrid language that contains ‘natural’ discrete events and discrete events capturing the continuous dynamics, is defined. On the basis of this language the diagnosability definition of hybrid systems is provided. With respect to this definition, we prove that the diagnosability of the underlying continuous or the discrete event system is only a sufficient condition. Diagnosability of hybrid systems must be decided by coupling both discrete event and continuous informations. Finally, the necessary and sufficient condition of hybrid diagnosability is given.
Talking Points in Metaphor: A Concise Usage-based Representation for Figurative Processing
Authors: Veale Tony  , Hao Yanfen
Published: February 2025

An effective speaker can use metaphor to communicate a wealth of propositions and affective attitudes with a single juxtaposition of ideas [12,8,6,10,7,3,15]. But as such, an effective metaphor requires effective communication, which in turn requires that the speaker has a clear idea of the content to be communicated, and an equally clear understanding of which conceptual vehicles best communicate this content. We present here a concise corpusderived meaning representation for metaphor processing that captures the most widely-used talking points that are evoked in everyday metaphors and similes. We illustrate how these talking points can be acquired by harvesting the web, and further show how comparable but discretely different talking points can be reconciled during metaphor processing. Finally, by replicating the clustering experiments of [1], we show that talking points yield an especially concise representation of concepts in general.
Coalition Structures in Weighted Voting Games
Authors: Elkind Edith  , Chalkiadakis Georgios  , Jennings Nicholas R.
Published: February 2025

Weighted voting games are a popular model of collaboration in multiagent systems. In such games, each agent has a weight (intuitively corresponding to resources he can contribute), and a coalition of agents wins if its total weight meets or exceeds a given threshold. Even though coalitional stability in such games is important, existing research has nonetheless only considered the stability of the grand coalition. In this paper, we introduce a model for weighted voting games with coalition structures. This is a natural extension in the context of multiagent systems, as several groups of agents may be simultaneously at work, each serving a different task. We then proceed to study stability in this context. First, we define the CS-core, a notion of the core for such settings, discuss its non-emptiness, and relate it to the traditional notion of the core in weighted voting games. We then investigate its computational properties. We show that, in contrast with the traditional setting, it is computationally hard to decide whether a game has a non-empty CS-core, or whether a given outcome is in the CS-core. However, we then provide an efficient algorithm that verifies whether an outcome is in the CS-core if all weights are small (polynomially bounded). Finally, we also suggest heuristic algorithms for checking the non-emptiness of the CS-core.
IAMwildCAT: The Winning Strategy for the TAC Market Design Competition
Authors: Vytelingum Perukrishnen  , Vetsikas Ioannis A.  , Shi Bing  , Jennings Nicholas R.
Published: February 2025

In this paper we describe the IAMwildCAT agent, designed for the TAC Market Design game which is part of the International Trading Agent Competition. The objective of an agent in this competition is to effectively manage and operate a market that attracts traders to compete for resources in it. This market, in turn, competes against markets operated by other competition entrants and the aim is to maximise the market and profit share of the agent, as well as its transaction success rate. To do this, the agent needs to continually monitor and adapt, in response to the competing marketplaces, the rules it uses to accept offers, clear the market, price the transactions and charge the traders. Given this context, this paper details IAMwildCAT's strategic behaviour and describes the wide techniques we developed to operationalise this. Finally, we empirically analyse our agent in different environments, including the 2007 competition where it ranked first.
Norm Defeasibility in an Institutional Normative Framework
Authors: Lopes Cardoso Henrique  , Oliveira Eugénio
Published: February 2025

Normative environments have been proposed to regulate agent interaction in open multi-agent systems. However, most approaches rely on pre-imposed regulations that agents are subject to. Taking a different stance, we focus on a normative framework that assists agents in establishing by themselves their own commitment norms. With that aim in mind, a model of norm defeasibility is presented that enables exploiting and adapting a normative background to different extents. We formalize the normative state using first-order logic and define rules and norms operating on that state. A suitable semantics regarding the use of norms within a hierarchical context structure is given, based on norm activation conflict and defeasibility.
Vivifying Propositional Clausal Formulae
Authors: Piette Cédric  , Hamadi Youssef  , Saïs Lakhdar
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we present a new way to preprocess Boolean formulae in Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF). In contrast to most of the current pre-processing techniques, our approach aims at improving the filtering power of the original clauses while producing a small number of additional and relevant clauses. More precisely, an incomplete redundancy check is performed on each original clauses through unit propagation, leading to either a sub-clause or to a new relevant one generated by the clause learning scheme. This preprocessor is empirically compared to the best existing one in terms of size reduction and the ability to improve a state-of-the-art satisfiability solver.
CTRNN Parameter Learning using Differential Evolution
Authors: De Falco Ivanoe  , Della Cioppa Antonio  , Donnarumma Francesco  , Maisto Domenico  , Prevete Roberto  , Tarantino Ernesto
Published: February 2025

Target behaviours can be achieved by finding suitable parameters for Continuous Time Recurrent Neural Networks (CTRNNs) used as agent control systems. Differential Evolution (DE) has been deployed to search parameter space of CTRNNs and overcome granularity, boundedness and blocking limitations. In this paper we provide initial support for DE in the context of two sample learning problems.
Combining Abduction with Conflict-based Diagnosis
Authors: Flesch Ildikó  , Lucas Peter J.F.
Published: February 2025

Conflict-based diagnosis is a recently proposed probabilistic method for model-based diagnosis, inspired by consistencybased diagnosis, that uses a measure of data conflict, called the diagnostic conflict measure, to rank diagnoses. In this paper, this method is refined using an abductive method that reuses part of the computation of the diagnostic conflict measure.
Personal Experience Acquisition Support from Blogs using Event-Depicting Images
Authors: Sato Keita  , Nishihara Yoko  , Sunayama Wataru
Published: February 2025

Internet users write blogs related to their personal experience, daily news, and so on. We can obtain blogs about personal experience using search engines on the Web. However, the search engines also output blogs about other topics unrelated to personal experience. Therefore, it is necessary for us to read all blogs to obtain those about personal experiences. It takes too much time.
ContextAggregator: A heuristic-based approach for automated feature construction and selection
Authors: Lokaiczyk Robert  , Goertz Manuel
Published: February 2025

Our research goal is to work towards a personal contextaware assistance and retrieval of relevant resources to computer users during a certain work task. This paper presents a general-purpose, algorithmic approach for automated context aggregation by heuristic-based feature construction. Our implementation of the context reasoning layer combines lower-level context features to new aggregated higher-level context features. Our approach allows – in contrast to most other approaches – an automated feature combination to achieve a high prediction accuracy of the user's work task.
Author Identification Using a Tensor Space Representation
Authors: Plakias Spyridon  , Stamatatos Efstathios
Published: February 2025

Author identification is a text categorization task with applications in intelligence, criminal law, computer forensics, etc. Usually, in such cases there is shortage of training texts. In this paper, we propose the use of second order tensors for representing texts for this problem, in contrast to the traditional vector space model. Based on a generalization of the SVM algorithm that can handle tensors, we explore various methods for filling the matrix of features taking into account that similar features should be placed in the same neighborhood. To this end, we propose a frequency-based metric. Experiments on a corpus controlled for genre and topic and variable amount of training texts show that the proposed approach is more effective than traditional vector-based SVM when only limited amount of training texts is used.
Detection of unsolvable temporal planning problems through the use of landmarks
Authors: Marzal E.  , Sebastia L.  , Onaindia E.
Published: February 2025

Deadline constraints have been recently introduced in PDDL3.0. The results obtained in the constraints domains in the last Planning Competition show that planners are not yet fully competitive. When dealing with deadline constraints the number of feasible solutions for a problem is reduced and thus it is specially relevant the ability to detect unsolvability. In this paper we present a new approach, based on the use of temporal landmarks, for the detection of unsolvable temporal planning problems.
An Assertion Mechanism for Software Unit Testing to Remain Unaffected by Program Modification
Authors: Sakakibara Masanori  , Sakurai Kohei  , Komiya Seiichi
Published: February 2025

Assertions are used for unit testing in Object-Oriented Programming. With assertions, a test programmer compares with an expected value the result of a test execution which is obtained by referring to the object containing its result in the object being tested. Therefore, there is a problem that test classes described as testing code depend strongly on the unnecessary objects which are not of concern to unit testing. In this work we developed an assertion mechanism which traverses objects automatically in order to eliminate the dependency from/to such unnecessary objects. Furthermore, we performed experiments on open source products, and confirmed that using this assertion mechanism decreases the coupling between a test class and other classes.
Accessibility Evaluation for GUI Software Using Source Programs
Authors: Shirogane Junko  , Mori Takashi  , Iwata Hajime  , Fukazawa Yoshiaki
Published: February 2025

Computers and software are now widely used in human society. With their dissemination, it becomes necessary for disabled and elderly people to use software. However, it is difficult to develop accessible software for them. Also, there are many guidelines and support tools for developing accessible web sites. However, for software, such guidelines and support tools are few. In our research, to develop accessible software easily, we propose a method of evaluating the accessibility of Graphical User Interface (GUI) software. In our method, source programs of GUI software are analyzed, the accessibility of the GUI software is evaluated along with the accessibility guidelines, and the list of unsatisfactory codes for accessibility and indications on how to modify them are shown.
Workflow Diagrams Based on Evidence Life Cycles
Authors: Takaki Osamu  , Seino Takahiro  , Takeuti Izumi  , Izumi Noriaki  , Takahashi Koichi
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we introduce a new language AWL of workflow diagrams for requirement analysis in large scale information system developments. AWL has a merit that one can describe concrete and accurate life cycles of evidences (evidence documents) in workflow diagrams in the language. We also introduce a tool AWDE that supports users to compose consistent workflow diagrams in AWL, by visualizing life cycles of evidences in the workflow diagrams and verifying consistency of the life cycles. As a validation of AWL and AWDE, we report an experiential result in requirement analysis in real large scale information system developments with and without AWDE.
Autonomous Evolutionary Information Systems and Active Database Systems: A Comparative Study
Authors: Cheng Jingde
Published: February 2025

Both active database systems and autonomous evolutionary information systems are motivated by improving the passive characteristic of traditional database and/or knowledge-base systems; but they were independently developed until now. To investigate the difference between active database systems and autonomous evolutionary information systems and to find some complementary development methodologies for the both, this paper presents a comparative study of active database systems and autonomous evolutionary information systems. We comparatively discuss motivations, purposes, capabilities, logical foundations of active database systems and autonomous evolutionary information systems. We show that some facilities and their implementation techniques independently developed in active database systems and autonomous evolutionary information systems separately can be complementarily used each other and this will certainly result in progress of the both.
Capturing Knowledge Worker Behavior Based on Information Diffusion Theory
Authors: Ishikawa Masayuki  , Geczy Peter  , Izumi Noriaki  , Yamaguchi Takahira
Published: February 2025

By analyzing the information diffusion in a studied large scale corporate portal, we discovered that only small population of users is sufficient to initiate the widespread of innovation. Applying these findings, we conducted analytic experiment for novel recommendation algorithm based on the browsing features of identified selected users and discovered that the first 10 users accessing a particular page play the key role in the information spread.
Requirements Engineering Education for Professional Engineers
Authors: Nakatani Takako
Published: February 2025

We have developed an educational course for professional engineers to improve their abilities in requirements engineering, especially, the ability to fully grasp problems of the real world in order to elicit requirements. This is essential for engineers to establish valid software requirements specifications (SRS). In order to improve their abilities, we teach multiple methods on RE: e.g. SSM, problem flames and goal-oriented analysis methods, as well as object-oriented modeling methods with UML. In this article, we outline the course and the results of our experiences. The course is evaluated qualitatively.
User Stereotypes for Student Modelling in Collaborative Learning: Adaptive Advice to Trainers
Authors: Tourtoglou Kalliopi  , Virvou Maria
Published: February 2025

Software engineering usually involves the collaboration of team members in a team. One important issue of project leaders or software engineering trainers is to form teams that will collaborate efficiently. In view of this, in this paper we describe how we have adapted the stereotype-based theory for building individual user models in a collaborative learning environment in order to provide intelligent help to trainers of UML. In this work, we describe the user characteristics included in the user models and the type of advice offered to the human trainer of the system. The user characteristics are related not only to the knowledge state of the users, but also to their personality and performance types. The advice concerns the most effective organization of the users into groups taking into consideration their level of expertise, their personality characteristics and their performance types. Furthermore, we present an empirical study among experienced trainers on the combinations of stereotypes that are considered to be the most appropriate matching of the users.
Formal Reasoning for Security Protocol Correctness
Authors: Adi Kamel  , Pene Liviu
Published: February 2025

A security protocol is a distributed program that can be executed by several actors. Since several runs of the protocol within the same execution are allowed, the protocol models are often infinite and very hard to analyze. In this paper we present a formal reasoning for evaluating security protocol correctness with respect to secrecy and authentication. We build a bounding model for multi-session cryptoprotocol attacks and prove that this model is appropriate for the analysis of the intruder's possible behavior and for demonstrating protocol correctness with respect to both secrecy and authentication. The result allows us to evaluate accurately the intruder's knowledge and his potential actions for building winning strategies during an attack.
Knowledge driven Health – Microsoft vision for future health care
Authors: Purcarea Octavian
Published: February 2025

Today's healthcare systems are facing huge challenges related to the aging of population, availability of resources, development and availability of new technology and individual empowerment. A Microsoft Healthcare belief is that people are the key to success, whether success is measured by healthy patients or a healthy bottom line, that knowledge is a strong enabler of transformation of healthcare delivery, that IT is an agent of change and last, but equally important, Health IT needs to be available to many, not just some. The article will provide some arguments about heath IT contribution and Microsoft vision regarding the future of delivery of health care.
Privacy Protection through Pseudonymisation in eHealth
Authors: De Meyer F.  , De Moor G.  , Reed-Fourquet L.
Published: February 2025

The ISO TC215 WG4 pseudonymisation task group has produced in 2008 a first version of a technical specification for the application of pseudonymisation in Healthcare Informatics 0. This paper investigates the principles set out in the technical specification as well as its implications in eHealth. The technical specification starts out with a conceptual model and evolves from a theoretical model to a real life model by adding assumptions on the observability of personal data.
Formal Aspects of Legislative Meta-Drafting
Authors: Biagioli Carlo  , Grossi Davide
Published: February 2025

The paper presents a logic-based approach to legislative meta-drafting. A class of meta-data, corresponding to specific classes of legal provisions, is introduced and discussed. Such meta-data are then formalized using a simple and tractable Description Logic, and the reasoning tasks available in the formalism are described.
Finding Case Law on a European Scale – Current Practice and Future Work
Authors: van Opijnen Marc
Published: February 2025

There is a growing awareness that the national judge plays a vital role in the European legal system, as is illustrated by the emergence of various initiatives for the cross-border access of national (EU-related) case law. Because these and various national systems all use their own identifiers, findability and citability are seriously hampered. This paper assesses current developments and tries to define a solution for remaining problems. A European Case Law Identifier and a central index are fundamental elements in this solution.
On Reducing Relationships to Property Ascriptions
Authors: Fischer Nilsson Jørgen
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses whether relationships can preferably be reduced to properties in conceptual modelling and formal ontology engineering. The discussion takes as point of departure the subject-predicate form of logic supporting a monadistic view.
Information System in Security Area Using Semantic Approach
Authors: Buřita Ladislav  , Ondryhal Vojtěch
Published: February 2025

The article presents results of an international project in the semantic approach to the information system development in security area. The aim of the project is the verification of semantic possibilities based on commercial software. The thesauri design and verification using document base and analytical SW is described, as well as UML applied to an ontology modelling. An ontology was implemented in ITM and IS was verified.
The Reproduction of High Precision 3D Maxillofacial Reconstruction Models
Authors: Ikawa T.  , Ogawa T.  , Shigeta Y.  , Fukushima S.  , Hattori A.  , Suzuki N.
Published: February 2025

A Multiple Simulation System can provide useful insight to clinical diagnosis and treatment. However, when metal prostheses are present in the patient, the quality of the CT is greatly reduced, resulting in an image that is distorted and thus provides little understanding on extraction and form of dentition. In order to circumvent this, we scanned the surface of a plaster dental model with a 3-D scanner. Subsequently, this model was digitally combined with the CT reconstruction model, and used as a guide to remove any disturbances that were due to the presence of metal artifacts. The VR and physical occlusal contacts were accorded about 55%. Subsequently, we were able to reproduce a skull model specific to the patient occlusal contacts. This was verified via color mapping. In addition, this system was able to provide a quantitative clinical and dental evaluation of the teeth adjustment configuration.
Cyborg Mini-Trainer
Authors: Mosso José L.  , Nieto Jesus J.  , Carbajal Manuel F.  , Marmolejo Jorge  , Ochoa Enrique  , De La Fuente Mireya  , Almazan Andrew  , Obrador Tomas
Published: February 2025

We present the smallest surgical trainer with a total weight of 400 gr, built in aluminum of 25 cm large and 24 cm wide, and 23 cm high. It's a system integrated by a small and open module, a lamp and a microcamera connected to a Head Mounted display. It holds two endoscopic instruments, and items to make knots or sutures and enhance visual-motor coordination. The vision we got is by a small microcamera displayed to a Head Mounted Display HMD. This surgical trainer is the smallest in the worldwide, easy to install, and easy to carry.