bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Consumer Health Information System Adoption Model
Authors: Monkman Helen  , Kushniruk Andre W.
Published: February 2025

Derived from overlapping concepts in consumer health, a consumer health information system refers to any of the broad range of applications, tools, and educational resources developed to empower consumers with knowledge, techniques, and strategies, to manage their own health. As consumer health information systems become increasingly popular, it is important to explore the factors that impact their adoption and success. Accumulating evidence indicates a relationship between usability and consumers' eHealth Literacy skills and the demands consumer HISs place on their skills. Here, we present a new model called the Consumer Health Information System Adoption Model, which depicts both consumer eHealth literacy skills and system demands on eHealth literacy as moderators with the potential to affect the strength of relationship between usefulness and usability (predictors of usage) and adoption, value, and successful use (actual usage outcomes). Strategies for aligning these two moderating factors are described.
A Windowing based GPU optimized strategy for the induction of Decision Trees in JaCa-DDM
Authors: Limón Xavier  , Guerra-Hernández Alejandro  , Cruz-Ramírez Nicandro  , Acosta-Mesa Héctor-Gabriel  , Grimaldo Francisco
Published: February 2025

When inducing Decision Trees, Windowing consists in selecting a random subset of the available training instances (the window) to induce a tree, and then enhance it by adding counter examples, i.e., instances not covered by the tree, to the window for inducing a new tree. The process iterates until all instances are well classified or no accuracy is gained. In favorable domains, the technique is known to speed up the induction process, and to enhance the accuracy of the induced tree; while reducing the number of training instances used. In this paper, a Windowing based strategy exploiting an optimized search of counter examples through the use of GPUs is introduced to cope with Distributed Data Mining (DDM) scenarios. The strategy is defined and implemented in JaCa-DDM, a novel system founded on the Agents & Artifacts paradigm. Our approach is well suited for DDM problems generating large amounts of training instances. Some experiments in diverse domains compare our strategy with the traditional centralized approach, including an exploratory case study on pixel-based segmentation for the detection of precancerous cervical lesions on colposcopic images.
Instructive Social Learning on Jason
Authors: González-Alarcón Carlos A.  , Grimaldo Francisco  , Guerra-Hernández Alejandro
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces three protocols that define Social Learning on Jason, the Java-based implementation of AgentSpeak(L). The implementation of these protocols is based on the Instructive stage of a classification correlated with the developmental stages of a child. Agents defined in these protocols are able to share both the inputs and the output of a learning algorithm in order to improve the Multi-Agent System (MAS) performance. Compared with environments without social interaction, the performance of the MAS improves when any of these protocols is implemented. The results shown in this paper open the door to Social Protocols based on Collaborative Learning.
A Data Mining Methodology for Event Analysis in Neurophysiological Signals
Authors: Béjar Javier  , Martín Mario  , Esposito Gennaro  , Contreras Enrique  , Chávez Diógenes  , Cortés Ulises  , Rudomín Pablo
Published: February 2025

Methodologies for pattern extraction and analysis from neural activity data captured by simultaneous sensors, are gaining major interest due to technological advances in sensor devices. From early Electroencephalography (EEG), able to capture a few simultaneous signals, to in-vivo spinal recording, Magneto Encephalograpy (MEG) or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), that capture up to hundreds of signals, the amount of data from neurophysiological experimentation to be analyzed multiplies every year.
Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis of Pavement Structures under Fatigue Loading
Authors: Deepthi Dilip  , Sivakumar Babu G.L.  , Lekshmi Suku
Published: February 2025

The premature failure of well-designed structures in the field is a problem commonly observed worldwide. These early failures and the deterioration in structural resistance of pavements can be attributed to the loading and external environmental factors, damage and improper maintenance during the design life among other factors. The time dependence of performance in the formulation of the reliability problem helps to include the effects of degradation of resistance and the variation of loading with time. In this study, the effect of degradation of the surface layer modulus on the fatigue reliability of pavements is analyzed, where the decrease in the modulus with time is considered as a function of the accumulated damage due to repeated loading. The pavement section considered in the study designed for a period of 15 years at a reliability level of 80%, is seen to have a probability of failure of around 50% after 8 years and 75% after 10 years, when strength degradation is considered. This emphasizes the need for capturing the temporal characteristics of the materials and loading in a time-dependent reliability analysis framework.
Incorporating Observations to Update the Piping Reliability Estimate of the Francis Levee
Authors: Kanning Willem  , Bocovich Carolyne  , Schweckendiek Timo  , Mooney Michael A.
Published: February 2025

Piping failure of levees is one of the main contributors to flood risk. Piping occurs when the head difference over a levee results in uplift of the inland blanket, followed by backward erosion in the aquifer due to high local flow velocities. Whether piping occurs highly depends on local geo-hydrological circumstances which are uncertain due to a combination of high soil variability and limited site investigation. Fragility curves, which show the failure probability as a function of water level, are increasingly used for risk assessment of levees to address this uncertainty. The objective of this paper is to show how pore water pressure measurements and visual field observations reduce or increase the calculated failure probability of a levee. The Francis levee in Mississippi (USA) is used to show the effects since this levee is historically known for being very piping sensitive. The first step is to construct fragility curves based on analytical piping models. The second step consists of using historic piezometer data to update knowledge about aquifer and blanket properties. The final step is to use historic seepage observations and sand boils to update the fragility curve. This paper shows that measurements and observations can significantly reduce the geo-hydrological uncertainties regarding a piping-sensitive subsoil. The failure probability of the Francis levees decreased with a factor 10 after incorporation of all the data. This increases the prediction accuracy of levee performance at high water levels and subsequently the estimation of whether it may require reinforcement or not.
Heterogeneous data fusion with multiple kernel growing self organizing maps
Authors: Wijewardena Maheshakya  , Kempitiya Thimal  , Rathnayake Thilina  , Rathnasekara Kevin  , Ganegedara Thushan  , Perera Amal S.  , Alahakoon Damminda
Published: February 2025

Recent research has been carried out along the line of multiple kernel methods for data fusion in self organizing maps and clustering, a vector quantization and a dimensionality reduction technique. However, the fixed grid size of Self-Organizing-Maps (SOM) knowing the nature of data in advance. This hinders the capabilities of SOM in various aspects (e.g. limits its applicability in complex data sets). This paper explores adaptation of multiple kernel methods for dynamically growing SOM, to adapt to variations in the distribution of the data. The primary focus has been application of kernel methods in the form of similarity measures while using the kernels in an optimal combination. This approach has been applied in the domain of road traffic visual information analysis. Several application specific video feature extraction techniques have been explored, based on recent research, to preprocess the video data in order to make it usable with the core algorithms. The inability to capture more useful knowledge from individual sources has been shown and successfully addressed by means of the fusion with multiple kernels. Individual performance of similar techniques in clustering are compared with the performance of this novel fusion approach. The experimental results convey the major improvements expected from the data fusion, including novelty detection and stability of results. Moreover, it signifies the necessity of heterogeneous data fusion in unsupervised learning to leverage complex real world data.
Trait and State Craving as Indicators of Validity of VR-based Software for Binge Eating Treatment
Authors: Pla-Sanjuanelo Joana  , Ferrer-Garcia Marta  , Gutiérrez-Maldonado José  , Vilalta-Abella Ferran  , Andreu-Gracia Alexis  , Dakanalis Antonios  , Fernandez-Aranda Fernando  , Fusté-Escolano Adela  , Ribas-Sabaté Joan  , Riva Giuseppe  , Saldaña Carmina  , Sánchez Isabel
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to establish whether virtual reality (VR) exposure to food cues is able to produce craving levels consistent with state-craving and trait-craving as assessed by the Spanish and Italian versions of the State and Trait Food Craving Questionnaires (FCQ-T/S). The results were compared in 40 patients with eating disorders (17 with binge eating disorder, 23 with bulimia nervosa) and 78 healthy control subjects without eating disorders. Controls and patients with higher levels of trait-craving and state-craving both showed a greater desire to eat during VR exposure. Results also showed that trait and state craving assessed by FCQ-T/S were able to predict the total mean craving experienced during exposure to the VR software in both clinical and control samples. These findings present preliminary evidence about the validity of a new virtual reality-based application for cue-exposure treatment in patients with eating disorders.
Aplicação de Ameaça Sísmica na Previsão da Resposta Dinâmica de uma Barragem de Terra
Authors: López Vásquez Jorge  , Romanel Celso
Published: February 2025

Os efeitos catastróficos dos sismos que acontecem frequentemente na costa ocidental da América do Sul motivaram a realização deste trabalho. A avaliação probabilística da ameaça sísmica constitui-se no primeiro passo da estimativa da resposta dinâmica da barragem de terra Callazas, localizada na região sul do Peru. Esta análise abrange o estudo das características da sismicidade local assim como a utilização de relações de atenuação específicas para a geologia regional, com as quais foi possível estimar as acelerações espectrais. Na investigação do comportamento dinâmico foi discutida a utilização do método linear equivalente para a deconvolução dos registros sísmicos. A análise da resposta sísmica da barragem foi obtida utilizando o programa computacional FLAC 2D v.7, determinando-se as acelerações horizontais durante o evento sísmico e os deslocamentos inelásticos finais sofridos pela estrutura.
Predicción de Asentamientos Debidos al Hundimiento Regional en la Zona del Antiguo Lago de Texcoco
Authors: Gonzalez Renata  , Ossa Alexandra  , Ovando Efraín
Published: February 2025

En este trabajo se presenta la calibración y aplicación del modelo elasto-viscoplástico para la estimación de asentamientos futuros por hundimiento regional en la zona del antiguo lago de Texcoco. El hundimiento regional originado por el incremento de esfuerzos efectivos, producto de la disminución de la presión de poro en el subsuelo, durante el bombeo de agua, se manifiesta de forma superficial en forma de asentamientos a lo largo de la zona lacustre de la cuenca del Valle de México. Los asentamientos que presenta la superficie son en su mayoría de tipo diferencial, y pueden ocasionar afectaciones en instalaciones, fachadas y en casos severos la pérdida de verticalidad de las estructuras. Por lo tanto, surge la necesidad de conocer de forma anticipada la magnitud de los asentamientos que por hundimiento regional pueden llegar a presentarse en una zona dada, y de esta forma optimizar el diseño del elemento de cimentación elegido para la construcción en cuestión. El Instituto de Ingeniería de la UNAM, implementó un modelo elasto-viscoplástico para estudiar la consolidación de los suelos debida al hundimiento regional que sufre la Ciudad de México, el cual permite predecir de forma aproximada la evolución de las condiciones piezométricas del sitio y los asentamientos en el tiempo.
In-Service Behavior of Soil Underlying Shallow Wind Turbine Generator Foundation
Authors: Yilmaz Mehmet  , Eun Jongwan  , Tinjum James M.  , Fratta Dante
Published: February 2025

On-shore wind turbine generators (WTG) are typically founded on massive, shallow, octagonal, gravity-based footings that are designed to transmit moderate vertical forces and large dynamic horizontal forces and overturning moments. Improved understanding of the foundation behavior for design and enhanced soil-structure interaction analysis is warranted for the performance of economical and sustainable WTG systems. In this study, in-service a WTG foundation was instrumented in the Midwest region of the United States to evaluate the foundation soil response. Pressure distribution in the soil below the foundation was highly variable both temporally and spatially, depending on the distance of the instrument from the centerline and eccentricity of load. Additionally, soil pressure changed as a function of the horizontal wind loading and followed relatively similar fluctuations and trends with the wind load. Soil strain was inversely related to soil depth, ranging from 0.002% to 0.007%, which is much less than the common level of 0.1% cyclic shear strain used for foundation design. After one year of in-service monitoring, the difference of soil deformation between maximum and minimum varied from 0.04 mm at the center of WTG foundation to 0.09 mm on the leeward side of the predominant wind direction.
Análisis de estabilidad sísmica del nuevo depósito de jales de la unidad minera Buenavista del Cobre. Cananea, Sonora
Authors: Botero Eduardo  , Flores Osvaldo  , Flores Mario
Published: February 2025

Para el proyecto del nuevo depósito de jales (residuos mineros) de la unidad minera Buenavista Del Cobre, en la Cd. de Cananea, Sonora, se realiza el estudio de estabilidad estática y símica para la construcción de una estructura de contención permeable con una extensión de 7300 m, aproximadamente, a lo largo del eje de la corona. La cortina alcanzará 175 m de altura en la sección máxima, con un crecimiento progresivo conforme al incremento programado del nivel de jales y las necesidades funcionales de la minera. El talud de la cortina será de 1.7:1 (H:V) y se planea su construcción en 8 etapas a lo largo de las siguientes décadas. Para este proyecto se realiza el análisis de respuesta ante cargas sostenida y sísmica de la presa en las etapas más representativas de su vida útil. Para esto, en la zona analizada (3.2 km) se incluye a la sección máxima y el principal cambio de dirección del eje. Los resultados obtenidos permiten predecir el posible comportamiento de la cortina en diferentes escenarios futuros.
Criterio Probabilistico para Denotar la Capacidad de Carga
Authors: Tupayachi Carlos
Published: February 2025

En Geotecnia la variabilidad del suelo y su representatividad de los resultados, dan espacio al enfoque probabilístico; se presenta el cálculo de la Capacidad de Carga de un suelo haciendo uso de la distribución Beta simplificada por el método PERT, con énfasis en la desigualdad de Chebyshev, para expresar los resultados en términos de porcentajes de probabilidad.
Cases and Stories, Dimensions and Scripts
Authors: Bench-Capon Trevor  , Bex Floris
Published: February 2025

Stories and legal cases have much in common, but there are also differences. Both can be seen as a sequence of events, but in a legal case the facts and events are legally qualified. Moreover, the point of a story is usually implicit, whereas the outcome of a legal case is explicitly explained. Stories have been mainly used in AI and Law to explore the evidence presented in legal cases, but here we will explore the relationship on the assumption the facts of the case have already been established, and so include legal qualification and the decision. We illustrate our approach the well known wild animals and Popov v Hayashi cases.
Event ontology specification based on the theory of verb-valency frames
Authors: Číhalová Martina
Published: February 2025

Linguistic theory of verb-valency frames is applied to the analysis of event and process ontology from the point of view of agents' reasoning. Since logical analysis presupposes full linguistic competency, it is suitable to make use of the results of linguistic analysis, in particular of verb-valency frames. Each process can be specified by a verb (what is to be done), possibly with parameters like the agent/actor of the process (who), the object to be operated on, resources, etc. In verb-valency frames each verb is characterized by the participants of an action denoted by the verb. Using verb-valency frames we can thus obtain a fine-grained specification of a process/procedure. The novel contribution of this paper is a proposal of a process ontology based on the results of linguistic analyses and classifications. Particular types of participants are then assigned to processes as their requisites or typical properties. The specification tool is Transparent Intensional Logic (TIL) with its procedural as opposed to denotational semantics.
Security and Privacy related Issues in the Internet of Things
Authors: Hölbl Marko  , Welzer Tatjana  , Nemec Zlatolas Lili
Published: February 2025

The Internet of Things (IoT) features a new paradigm, where smart devices will be interconnected through the internet. The concept is already in use today, but it is anticipated that over the next several years the number of devices will grow rapidly. However, there are still open problems and challenges which need to be adequately addressed before the concept can live to its full potential. These topics also include security and privacy, as well as related concepts. Since smart devices that are part of the IoT gather sensitive data (e.g. location data, patient data, etc.) both security and privacy are issues, which the research community tends to focus on. In this chapter we present an overview of the aspects of security and privacy related to IoT, but also highlight the challenges and open problems as well as related concepts and technologies.
Research on the Method of Generalized Regression Neural Network Based Optimization via Simulation
Authors: Wu Shi-Hui  , Liu Xiao-Dong  , He Bo  , He Ping
Published: February 2025

To improve the efficiency of optimization via simulation, a new method called the generalized regression neural network based optimization via simulation (GRNN-OvS) is put forward. This method takes advantage of GRNN's non-linear approximation, learning speed and network stability, which is promising for predicting the simulation output if the neural network is fully trained by samples obtained from simulations. By means of substituting GRNN prediction for simulation output, the time spent in simulation via optimization can be greatly reduced. To be detailed, a certain amount of representative samples were initially generated from the simulation model. Then, the GRNN was trained using these samples so that the GRNN model can form a regression surface that provides good approximation of the input-output relationship of the simulation, which is considered as black box. Based on the GRNN model, the optimization via simulation problem is transformed to optimizing the GRNN model, which is more efficient and time-saving. Numerical example shows that GRNN-OvS is effective and feasible, which is very helpful in optimization via simulation applications where the simulation task is time-consuming.
Simulation and Optimization of Airborne Training Process
Authors: Wang Hong  , Qu Wen-Jing  , Zhou Ya-Hong
Published: February 2025

Airborne training is an important way to improve airborne skill. Using transport aircraft, Parachuters go through the processes of lifting off, deplaning, controlling in the air and landing. There are three major stages in airborne training processes: preparation, enforcement and returning. Focusing on the processes of airborne training, we use ExtenSim platform to simulate and try to find ways to optimize the training process.
Data Mining Application in Smart Meter Quality Control
Authors: Zhu Yu-Nan  , Ji Feng  , Liu Jian  , Tian Zheng-Qi  , Zhou Chao  , Mahjoubfar Ata
Published: February 2025

This paper presents application of data mining in enhancement of smart meter quality control based on the observed life cycle data. Data mining techniques followed by machine learning methods efficaciously recognize intricate smart meter usage and failure patterns, generating unique insights, which lead to solutions for better quality control results.
A Multi-criteria Decision-making Approach Based on Convex Aggregation Operator within a Multi-hesitant Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Peng Juan-Juan  , Yang Li-Jun  , Wang Jian-Qiang
Published: February 2025

Multi-hesitant fuzzy sets (MHFSs) can deal effectively with cases where some values are repeated more than once in hesitant fuzzy sets (HFSs). In this paper, the novel convex combination of multi-hesitant fuzzy elements (MHFEs) is introduced. The generalized multi-hesitant fuzzy weighted average (GMHFWA) operator based on convex operation is developed, and corresponding property is discussed. Then, based on the proposed aggregation operator, a novel approach for multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems is proposed for ranking alternatives. Finally, an example is provided in order to verify the developed approach and demonstrate its validity and feasibility.
Automated Data Aggregation for Time-Series Analysis: Study Case on Anaesthesia Data Warehouse
Authors: Lamer Antoine  , Jeanne Mathieu  , Ficheur Grégoire  , Marcilly Romaric
Published: February 2025

Data stored in operational databases are not reusable directly. Aggregation modules are necessary to facilitate secondary use. They decrease volume of data while increasing the number of available information. In this paper, we present four automated engines of aggregation, integrated into an anaesthesia data warehouse. Four instances of clinical questions illustrate the use of those engines for various improvements of quality of care: duration of procedure, drug administration, assessment of hypotension and its related treatment.
Health Care Performance Indicators for Health Information Systems
Authors: Hyppönen Hannele  , Ronchi Elettra  , Adler-Milstein Julia
Published: February 2025

Health Information Systems (HISs) are expected to have a positive impact on quality and efficiency of health care. Rapid investment in and diffusion of HISs has increased the importance of monitoring the adoption and impacts of them in order to learn from the initiatives, and to provide decision makers evidence on the role of HISs in improving health care. However, reliable and comparable data across initiatives in various countries are rarely available. A four-phase approach is used to compare different HIS indicator methodologies in order to move ahead in defining HIS indicators for monitoring effects of HIS on health care performance. Assessed approaches are strong on different aspects, which provide some opportunities for learning across them but also some challenges. As yet, all of the approaches do not define goals for monitoring formally. Most focus on health care structural and process indicators (HIS availability and intensity of use). However, many approaches are generic in description of HIS functionalities and context as well as their impact mechanisms on health care for HIS benchmarking. The conclusion is that, though structural and process indicators of HIS interventions are prerequisites for monitoring HIS impacts on health care outputs and outcomes, more explicit definition is needed of HIS contexts, goals, functionalities and their impact mechanisms in order to move towards common process and outcome indicators. A bottom-up-approach (participation of users) could improve development and use of context-sensitive HIS indicators.
Domains of Health IT and Tailoring of Evaluation: Practicing Process Modeling for Multi-Stakeholder Benefits
Authors: Marceglia Sara  , Ferrante Simona  , Bonacina Stefano  , Pinciroli Francesco  , Lasorsa Irene  , Savino Chiara  , Pozzi Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

This contribution focuses on the heterogeneity and complexity of health information technology services and systems in a multi-stakeholder environment. We propose the perspective of process modeling as a method to break out complexity, represent heterogeneity, and provide tailored evaluation and optimization of health IT systems and services. Two case studies are presented to show how process modeling is needed to fully understand the information flow, thus identifying requirements and specifications for information system re-engineering and interoperability; detect process weaknesses thus designing corrective measures; define metrics as a mean to evaluate and ensure system quality; and optimize the use of resources.
Power Adaptive-Resampling based on Particle Filters for Wireless Patient Tracking in Health Care System
Authors: Tu-Ly Nga  , Le Tien Thuong  , Mai Linh
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we consider a typical health care system via the help of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) for wireless patient tracking. The wireless patient tracking module of this system performs localization out of samples of Received Signal Strength (RSS) variations and tracking through a Particle Filter (PF) for WSN assisted by multiple transmit-power information. However, during the course of transmission power control, localization based on the RSS is a challenging problem because of the inconsistent RSS indication (RSSI) measurements in WSN. Therefore, we propose an adaptive-resampling, i.e. Kullback-Leibler Distance (KLD)-resampling with adjusted variance and gradient data, based on PF to improve the wireless patient tracking via smoothing down the effect of RSS variations by generating a sample set near the high-likelihood region for different transmit-power information. The key issue of this method is to use an adjusted variance and gradient data for reducing the wireless patient tracking error lower than 2 meter in 80% of the cases. We conduct a number of simulations using the health care's data set which contains real measurements of RSS collected to evaluate the accurate wireless patient tracking. The average wireless patient position error of our technique improves about 3% that of Sampling Important Resampling (SIR) PF, around 0.5% that of KLD-resampling, and about 6% that of gradient descent (i.e., unused PF). More importantly, when setting up suitable transmit-power level of self-RSSI, the simulation results show that the proposed technique outperforms these above existing methods, especial in the whole error from 0 to 3m. Finally, the simulation results also show the impact of number of particles for SIR algorithm, or the maximum number of samples for KLD-resampling algorithms on the wireless patient tracking when compared these traditional strategies in real experiment.
Cardiovascular Dysautonomias Diagnosis Using Crisp and Fuzzy Decision Tree: A Comparative Study
Authors: Kadi Ilham  , Idri Ali
Published: February 2025

Decision trees (DTs) are one of the most popular techniques for learning classification systems, especially when it comes to learning from discrete examples. In real world, many data occurred in a fuzzy form. Hence a DT must be able to deal with such fuzzy data. In fact, integrating fuzzy logic when dealing with imprecise and uncertain data allows reducing uncertainty and providing the ability to model fine knowledge details. In this paper, a fuzzy decision tree (FDT) algorithm was applied on a dataset extracted from the ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) unit of the Moroccan university hospital Avicenne. This unit is specialized on performing several dynamic tests to diagnose patients with autonomic disorder and suggest them the appropriate treatment. A set of fuzzy classifiers were generated using FID 3.4. The error rates of the generated FDTs were calculated to measure their performances. Moreover, a comparison between the error rates obtained using crisp and FDTs was carried out and has proved that the results of FDTs were better than those obtained using crisp DTs.
Bridging the Gap between HL7 CDA and HL7 FHIR: A JSON Based Mapping
Authors: Rinner Christoph  , Duftschmid Georg
Published: February 2025

The Austrian electronic health record (EHR) system ELGA went live in December 2016. It is a document oriented EHR system and is based on the HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA). The HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is a relatively new standard that combines the advantages of HL7 messages and CDA Documents. In order to offer easier access to information stored in ELGA we present a method based on adapted FHIR resources to map CDA documents to FHIR resources. A proof-of-concept tool using Java, the open-source FHIR framework HAPI-FHIR and publicly available FHIR servers was created to evaluate the presented mapping. In contrast to other approaches the close resemblance of the mapping file to the FHIR specification allows existing FHIR infrastructure to be reused. In order to reduce information overload and facilitate the access to CDA documents, FHIR could offer a standardized way to query CDA data on a fine granular base in Austria.
Requirements for Workflow-Based EHR Systems – Results of a Qualitative Study
Authors: Schweitzer Marco  , Lasierra Nelia  , Hoerbst Alexander
Published: February 2025

Background: Today's high quality healthcare delivery strongly relies on efficient electronic health records (EHR). These EHR systems or in general healthcare IT-systems are usually developed in a static manner according to a given workflow. Hence, they are not flexible enough to enable access to EHR data and to execute individual actions within a consultation.
Identifying eHealth Opportunities to Support Medication Adherence – Findings of a Focus Group Study
Authors: Gu Yulong  , Kennely John  , Warren Jim  , Ahn Amelia Been  , Harwood Matire  , Neuwelt Pat
Published: February 2025

Background: The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among New Zealand (NZ) indigenous people (Māori) is well recognized. A major challenge to CVD risk management is to improve adherence to long-term medications.
KATIS: An eHealth System for Complementary Medicine
Authors: Ogultarhan Venus  , Shoshi Alban  , Magnucki Rico  , Kormeier Benjamin  , Hofestädt Ralf
Published: February 2025

Background: Much of the information on the complementary medicine is spread across literature and the internet. However, various literature and web resources provide information just of one specialist field. In addition, these resources do not allow users to search for suitable therapies based on patient-specific indications.
Increasing pullout resistance of offshore foundations in soft clays
Authors: Micic S.  , Lo K.Y.
Published: February 2025

The paper presents the results of the large-scale laboratory tests conducted on the electrokinetic strengthening of natural marine clay for offshore foundations. A steel cylinder, 200 mm in diameter and 400 mm in length, was adopted as the model of foundation element and it was equipped with eight electrodes equally spaced around the outside wall of the cylinder. Attaching the electrodes on the cylinder with the holding ring facilitated the one-pass installation procedure, so that the cylinder and electrodes could be installed simultaneously. A dc voltage of 5.2 V with polarity reversal was applied over a period of 28 days. A control test with identical configuration to that of the electrokinetic treatment test was also set up to provide baseline data. After the treatment pullout tests were performed on both cylinders and the effect of electrokinetics was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the pullout resistance of the foundation model embedded in natural marine clay increased up to 5 times, after the electrokinetic treatment, as compared with that of the control without treatment. The clay adhered strongly to the cylinder and electrodes, indicating bonding was developed between soil and steel after the treatment. The XRF analysis showed significant increase of iron oxide after the treatment, which is known as a cementation agent in soils. The electrokinetic treatment also accelerated the recovery of friction resistance of the foundation after subjected to failure.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam frost insulation boards in railway structures
Authors: Nurmikolu Antti  , Kolisoja Pauli
Published: February 2025

The use of extruded polystyrene foam boards in track structures requires that high thermal resistance is retained in the harsh loading environment of the track. To retain low thermal conductivity, the frost insulation board must be able to resist the absorption of water despite minor mechanical damage. The replacement of the blowing agent used in board production over the last 15 years, due to environmental concerns, has also decreased the thermal resistance of the board. This paper discusses the field and laboratory studies conducted to evaluate the sustained performance of XPS boards. As a result of the project, the dimensioning value for the thermal conductivity of XPS frost insulation boards was changed to 0.050 W/Km and stricter compressive strength requirements for the boards under high axle loads were introduced.
Inertial and spreading load combinations of soil-pile-structure system during liquefaction-induced lateral spreading in centrifuge tests
Authors: Chang D.  , Boulanger R.W.  , Kutter B.L.  , Brandenberg S.J.
Published: February 2025

Eight dynamic centrifuge model experiments were performed on the 9-m radius centrifuge at UC Davis to study the combinations of inertial and lateral spreading soil loads on piles in liquefied and laterally spreading ground. Two of the centrifuge models, which are the focus of this paper, consisted of a simple superstructure on a pile group in gently sloping ground. Scaled earthquake motions were applied to each of the models. Time histories of inertia and lateral spreading crust loads on the piles foundation were back calculated from the dense instrumentation arrays. The load transfer mechanism between the nonliquefied crust layer and the pile cap was also compared with results from prior centrifuge tests without superstructures and in different soil profiles (Boulanger et al. 2003, Brandenberg et al. 2004). The resulting insights regarding the loading mechanism of foundations in laterally spreading ground, timing of inertia and spreading crust loads throughout shaking and contribution of cap inertia are summarized.
Hydraulic compatibility of geotextile containers confining dredged sediments
Authors: Kutay M. Emin  , Aydilek Ahmet H.
Published: February 2025

Geotextile containers have been increasingly used in dewatering of high water content geomaterials. The hydraulic compatibility of a geotextile with the contact soil is an important issue and should be considered in geotextile container design. Clogging becomes especially important in their design, since the physical nature of fine-grained geomaterials that are in contact with these two-layer geotextile systems usually promotes clogging. This paper presents the results of a study conducted to investigate the long-term clogging of two-layer geotextile systems used in designing geotextile containers. The results indicated that the use of a two-layer nonwoven/woven geotextile rather than a single-woven geotextile significantly improved filtration performance of a geotextile container.
In situ permeability measurement of a contaminant containment wall
Authors: Soga K.  , Sutherland K.J.  , Kechavarzi C.  , Whittle R.W.
Published: February 2025

In order to assess the performance of contaminant containment systems, such as slurry cut-off walls, it is essential to quantify their engineering properties, in particular the permeability of the materials used for their construction. In-situ testing is a preferable alternative to laboratory testing as it allows for testing a substantial volume of material in as undisturbed a state as possible as well as the evolution of its properties over time. A series of in situ permeability tests were conducted in an eight year old cement-bentonite wall using a piezocone, a straddle packer system and a self-boring pressuremeter. The results suggest that not all of these methods are always suitable. The data also show that the permeability of the wall is often larger than the value typically obtained with laboratory scale samples. This difference is likely to be due to the heterogeneous nature of the wall at the field scale.
Real-time prediction of rainfall-induced instability in sandy slopes
Authors: Orense R.P.  , Shimoma S.  , Farooq K.
Published: February 2025

Landslides occur frequently during or following periods of heavy rainfall. In order to understand the mechanism and conditions leading to these slope failures, a comprehensive testing program consisting of constant shear stress drained triaxial tests and model slope experiments was performed using sandy material obtained from a former landslide site. Results of both element tests and model experiments clearly showed that slope failure is induced due to the development of pore-water pressure in slope. As soil moisture contents within the slope approach critical values, ground deformations are mobilized. Therefore, by properly selecting regions where the soil moisture contents must be monitored, possibly in areas where seepage forces will develop, failure initiation in slopes can be predicted. Based on this, a simple monitoring scheme to predict in real-time the occurrence of failures in critical slopes was proposed.
Structural damage in urban areas due to reservoir filling
Authors: de Ávila Gimenes Evandro  , Lemos Paulo A.
Published: February 2025

Reservoir filling operations in hydropower or irrigation projects induce changes in regional flow and groundwater conditions, which may cause geotechnical, hydrogeology and water quality impacts in engineering projects. In special, projects where reservoirs reach important urban areas, rising water table may change soil matric suction and cause soil collapse and structural damage. During design phase, this is a most important issue, for design, construction and owner engineers to evaluate the extension and magnitude of the impacts or damage that will be imposed to buildings, roadways and utilities. This paper presents the methodology that was used in a case history in mideastern Brazil, of a 20,000 people urban area, located at the border of a reservoir lake that will be filled after the rainy season of 2004-2005. The paper presents the geotechnical characterization of the soils in the area of the project and their collapse potential. Also is presented the methodology to estimate structural damage and repair costs for the dam owner, to prepare an action plan for the post filling period. It is estimated that 99% of the buildings will present slight damage and approximately 1% will present moderate damage. To evaluate the average individual construction value, homes were inspected in their construction standards and apparent age, to estimate the order of magnitude of repair costs due to angular distortions that would be caused by soil collapse. Based on preliminary inspections to evaluate home conditions, the relative average repair costs were estimated in the order of 2.4% to 5.0% of current construction value and total repair costs are expected to reach the range of US$ 300,000 to US$ 600,000.
Study on the geotechnical engineering problems at Three Gorges Project
Authors: Cheng Zhanlin  , Wu Aiqing  , Bao Chenggang
Published: February 2025

This paper presents briefly some research works involved in the field of soil mechanics and rock mechanics and some part of actual monitoring results on problems of the high earth-rock cofferdam in deepwater, the stability analyses of rock foundation of the gravity dam and the high rock excavated slope of ship lock, the most challenging works in the civil engineering construction at TGP.
Administrative report: TC1 – Offshore and nearshore geotechnical engineering
Authors: Koelewijn A.R.
Published: February 2025

This contribution comprises a report of the activities of Technical Committee 1 of the ISSMGE, on the subject of Offshore and Nearshore Geotechnical Engineering. The activities of the committee have been focussed mainly on producing a document on ‘Geotechnical investigations for offshore and nearshore developments’.
Physical modelling
Authors: Muir Wood David
Published: February 2025

A brief description is given of the state-of-the-art of physical modelling of geotechnical systems including comments on the role of single gravity modelling. Examples of the consequences of the decisions made in modelling geotechnical processes are presented. Some possibilities for site investigation and instrumentation at model scale are described. The potentials of modelling and testing are compared.
Liquefaction susceptibility and shear wave velocity
Authors: Roy Debasis
Published: February 2025

The influence of age and soil type on Cyclic Resistance Ratio (CRR) and normalized small strain shear wave velocity has been examined here using cyclic laboratory tests on frozen and high-quality undisturbed specimens of Pleistocene and Holocene non-cohesive soils comprised of silt to pebble size particles and in-situ shear wave velocity measurements. These data indicate that the relationships between normalized shear wave velocity and the CRR for Holocene deposits may not be remarkably different from the corresponding relationships for Pleistocene soils. This inference contradicts the general experience that Pleistocene deposits are remarkably more resistant to earthquake-related liquefaction. However, the relationship between the laboratory-based CRR and the normalized shear wave velocity was found to be consistent with observations of field-performance of non cohesive deposits during earthquakes although there was a considerable uncertainty in this regard.
Modélisation du comportement hydromécanique des sols gonflants non saturés sous fortes succions
Authors: Mrad M.  , Cuisinier O.  , Abdallah A.  , Masrouri F.
Published: February 2025

Le modèle élastoplastique BExM pour les sols gonflants non saturés a été implémenté dans un code de calcul aux éléments finis (Code_Bright). La validation du modèle et des procédures numériques sont ensuite vérifiées par les simulations numériques d'essais à succion contrôlée réalisés au laboratoire sur un mélange compacté de 60 % de bentonite et de 40 % de limon. Un bon accord entre la réponse du sol et les prédictions du modèle a été observé.
Strength of an unsaturated kaolinite clay under suction pressures
Authors: Vesga L.F.  , Vallejo L.E.
Published: February 2025

Unsaturated kaolinite clay specimens were subjected to constant moisture unconfined compression tests and Brazilian indirect tension tests. The levels of applied suction were obtained by drying the samples in a temperature and relative humidity controlled environment. The results show that there is an inverse linear relationship between the moisture content and the unconfined compression strength for high moisture contents when the soil is at or close to saturation (saturated and funicular states). The strength remained almost constant for intermediate values of water content (complete pendular state). A direct linear relationship between the strength and the moisture content was observed for the low water content tests (incomplete pendular state); the lower the moisture content the lower the unconfined strength. Using the results of the unconfined compression and tensile strength tests a failure envelope was obtained from which the internal friction angle of the clay was calculated.
Application of non-coaxial plasticity models in geotechnical analysis
Authors: Yu H.S.  , Yang Y.  , Yuan X.
Published: February 2025

This paper is concerned with the application of two non-coaxial plasticity models in soil modelling and geotechnical analysis. These non-coaxial models have been developed based on early work of Spencer (1982), Harris (1993) and Rudnicki & Rice (1975) among others. Simple shear behavior and footing settlement problems are analysed by using the finite element program ABAQUS incorporating these two models in its material subroutines. Numerical results suggest that non-coaxial models tend to give a softer response.
Barriers to Co-Designing Mobile Technology with Persons with Dementia and Their Carers
Authors: O'Connor Siobhan  , Bouamrane Matt-Mouley  , O'Donnell Catherine A.  , Mair Frances S.
Published: February 2025

Mobile applications can be used to help manage different aspects of long-term illnesses but many are not designed to meet the specific needs of people with dementia or their carers. This case study explores the barriers experienced when co-producing a memory and reminiscence app. A focus group and interviews were conducted with patient/carer dyads, an occupational therapist, project manager and software engineer involved in the design of the app. Data was analysed thematically using the framework approach. Several limitations such as poor technical knowledge and skills, negative attitudes and inaccurate perceptions of people with dementia slowed down or changed how the mobile app was developed. Compromises also had to be made over the final design of the app. More research to explore how mobile apps are co-designed with patients is needed.
Modeling a Mobile Health Management Business Model for Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Lee Ying-Li  , Chang Polun
Published: February 2025

In these decades, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global public health problem. Information technology (IT) tools have been used widely to empower the patients with chronic disease (e.g., diabetes and hypertension). It is also a potential application to advance the CKD care. In this project, we analyzed the requirements of a mobile health management system for healthcare workers, patients and their families to design a health management business model for CKD patients.
Specialty Task Force: A Strategic Component to Electronic Health Record (EHR) Optimization
Authors: Romero Mary Rachel  , Staub Allison
Published: February 2025

Post-implementation stage comes after an electronic health record (EHR) deployment. Analyst and end users deal with the reality that some of the concepts and designs initially planned and created may not be complementary to the workflow; creating anxiety, dissatisfaction, and failure with early adoption of system. Problems encountered during deployment are numerous and can vary from simple to complex. Redundant ticket submission creates backlog for Information Technology personnel resulting in delays in resolving concerns with EHR system.