bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leaning the material management process of KLM Engineering & Maintenance
Authors: de Gier Erik  , van Blokland Wouter Beelaerts
Published: February 2025

This paper is meant to give guidelines on how to perform supply base rationalization at KLM Engineering & Maintenance. A methodology is written to help KLM Engineering & Maintenance to outsource the management of expendables to first tier suppliers. The desired level of outsourcing is determined by using the essentiality model of expendables. The essentiality of expendables identifies the strategic importance of the activity, which determines the preferred level of outsourcing. Outsourcing the management of expendables will create a leaner supply base. By using the essentiality model it is found that 35% of the expendables can be outsourced using some degree of hierarchical steering, 48% can be outsourcing using market steering and 17% do not need to be outsourced.
Enterprise Sustainability Risk Management Modeling as a Tool for Airline Strategic Planning
Authors: Flouris Triant  , Kucuk Yilmaz Ayse
Published: February 2025

The Enterprise Sustainability Risk Management (ESRM) conceptual model applied to the strategic management of the airline business offers a road map, which provides a contextual framework for those businesses serious about addressing the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. This study aims to make a contribution to the literature on strategic risk management by deploying an enterprise risk management based perspective and a systematic approach for airline businesses. The Enterprise Sustainability Risk Management Framework is designed to provide guidance to managers on how to establish a holistic and systematic sustainability risk management process that generates the risk indicators, risk sources, objectives, and reporting systems needed to ensure the effective handling of sustainability risks and improved overall organizational performance and value.
Aluminium and Double Skin Facades
Authors: Kilaire Aneel  , Oldfield Philip
Published: February 2025

This paper examines the carbon impact of double-skin facades in office buildings in the UK context. It establishes the initial carbon cost of double-skin facades through increased material quantities, and outlines the timeframe within which these are offset through reduced heating, cooling and ventilation requirements during operation. The paper also examines the role aluminium and recycled materials play in reducing the carbon impact of the facade.
The Effect of Reducing Molecular Weight of the Foam Pattern on the Porosity of al Alloy Castings in the Lost Foam Casting Process
Authors: Siavashi K.  , Topping C.  , Griffiths W.D.
Published: February 2025

Lost foam casting offers freedom of design. However the quality of the castings obtained is often reduced by entrapment of degradation byproducts from the foam pattern. These can be absorbed by the permeable pattern coating, once heat from the liquid metal reduces their molecular weight sufficiently, which suggests that starting with a low molecular weight pattern may lead to higher quality castings. The molecular weight of expanded polymethylmethacrylate-polystyrene copolymer foam patterns was reduced by exposure to γ-radiation, and then cast with an Al-7Si-0.3Mg alloy. The porosity of the castings was reduced by as much as 77%, compared to the porosity of castings produced with unirradiated foam patterns.
Experimental and numerical Studies on pure Aluminium Shear Panels for seismic Protection of framed Structures: an Overview
Authors: De Matteis G.  , Brando G.  , Mazzolani F.M.
Published: February 2025

The results of both numerical and experimental studies carried out on pure aluminium shear panels are summarized in the paper. Cyclic tests on different stiffened pure aluminium shear panels are described and FEM numerical models, which have been properly calibrated on the basis of the above tests, are presented. Then, the numerical models are used to develop parametrical analyses, considering several plate slenderness ratios, thus allowing the evaluation of the most influential factors on the cyclic performance of system.
On Admissibility in Timed Abstract Argumentation Frameworks
Authors: Cobo Ma. Laura  , Martínez Diego C.  , Simari Guillermo R.
Published: February 2025

In this work, we define Timed Abstract Argumentation Frameworks, a novel argumentation formalism where arguments are only valid for consideration in a given period of time, which is defined for every individual argument. Thus, the attainability of attacks and defenses is related to time, and the outcome of the framework may vary accordingly. We define a timed, interval-based notion of grounded extension as a skeptical semantics.
Learning to Author Text with textual CBR
Authors: Adeyanju Ibrahim  , Wiratunga Nirmalie  , Recio-García Juan A.  , Lothian Robert
Published: February 2025

Textual reuse is an integral part of textual case-based reasoning (TCBR) which deals with solving new problems by reusing previous similar problem-solving experiences documented as text. We investigate the role of text reuse for text authoring applications that involve feedback or review generation. Generally providing feedback in the form of assigning a rating from a likert scale is far easier compared to articulating explanatory feedback as text. When previous feedback generated about the same or similar objects are maintained as cases, there is opportunity for knowledge reuse. In this paper, we show how compositional and transformational adaptation techniques can be applied once sentences in a given case are aligned to relevant structured attribute values. Three text reuse algorithms are introduced and evaluated on a dataset gathered from online Hotel reviews from TripAdvisor. Here cases consists of both structured sub-rating attributes together with textual feedback. Generally, aligned sentences linked to similar sub-rating values are clustered together and prototypical sentences are then extracted to enable reuse across similar authors. Experiments show a close similarity between our proposed texts and actual human edited review text. We also found that problems with variability in vocabulary are best addressed when prototypes are formulated from larger sets of similar sentences in contrast to smaller sets from local neighbourhoods.
On Semantic Update Operators for Answer-Set Programs
Authors: Slota Martin  , Leite João
Published: February 2025

Logic programs under the stable models semantics, or answer-set programs, provide an expressive rule based knowledge representation framework, featuring formal, declarative and well-understood semantics. However, handling the evolution of rule bases is still a largely open problem. The AGM framework for belief change was shown to give inappropriate results when directly applied to logic programs under a nonmonotonic semantics such as the stable models. Most approaches to address this issue, developed so far, proposed update operators based on syntactic conditions for rule rejection.
Recognizing Nonverbal Affective Behavior in Humanoid Robots
Authors: Park Sunghyun  , Moshkina Lilia  , Arkin Ronald C.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the addition of nonverbal affective behaviors to a humanoid robot, as well as recognition of these behaviors based on an online survey. The expressive behaviors were implemented in the context of a framework for affective robot behavior (TAME) and span across three types of affective phenomena: traits, moods and emotions.
Improving Market-Based Task Allocation with Optimal Seed Schedules
Authors: Korsah G. Ayorkor  , Kannan Balajee  , Fanaswala Imran  , Dias M. Bernardine
Published: February 2025

Task allocation impacts the performance efficiency of agent teams in significant ways. Due to their efficient and proven performance, Market-based task allocation approaches have grown in popularity for many such multi-agent domains. In addition, market-based approaches are very well suited to dynamic domains such as emergency response, in which the set of the tasks or the environment changes in real time. However, market-based approaches are not guaranteed to produce optimal solutions and researchers have investigated many techniques for improving their performance in different scenarios. Since many application domains have a significant static component coupled with dynamic elements, we explore the option of enhancing team performance in these domains by seeding market-based task allocation with optimal schedules pre-computed for the static tasks. We compare the performance of the TraderBots market-based algorithm with and without the seeded optimal schedules in simulation and on a team of robots. Our results demonstrate that seeding market-based allocation with optimal schedules can improve team performance, particularly when the proportion of static tasks is high.
Development of Real-Time Soil Deformation Monitoring System (RSDMS)
Authors: Mohd Din M.A.  , Harun Z.  , Kang Wei L.
Published: February 2025

This research study has identified four contributing factors to the success of monitoring tasks activity by a Real-time Soil Deformation Monitoring System (RSDMS). The first factor is the ability to achieve highly accurate observation. Secondly, it is the maximum reliability of the system. Thirdly, the automatic measurement and computation factors and the least is RSDMS has emails alert function to alert undersign engineer with up to date deformation data. To meet this objective the RSDMS is being developed using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 which systematically measure and trace for any alteration in the coordinates of monitoring prisms which are potentially caused by soil movements. The RSDMS equipped with functions of logging measured values used for post processing, carry out deformation analysis, targets health checks and events triggering alarm thus will provide a simple, low cost and functional way to record the absolute 3-D displacements especially for a large number of monitoring points. The TM30 robotic total station is used as a geodetic measuring device in RSDMS. All the collected data are then transferred back to the server by using Files Transfer Protocol (FTP) method subsequently processed with STAR*NET, the program embedded in the system for data analysis by Least Squares Adjustment. Any adjusted coordinate differences from the initial survey data will be analyzed further by the targets health check function of the RSDMS thus sending alert emails with event details to the designated authority.
Information Monitoring on Surrounding Rock of Tunnel and Its Application
Authors: Wu Yankai  , Xi Xiaohua
Published: February 2025

As an important part of the New Austrian Tunneling Method construction (NATM), the processes of monitoring and measurement are important and indispensable in the tunnel construction, which effectively reflect the rock deformation and its mechanical behavior, and provide a suitable installation time for tunnel lining structure. Scientific analysis and forecast real-timely on monitoring data provide a precondition for supporting the strategic decisions of construction organization, as well as dynamic design. In this paper, the tunnel monitoring method and datum analysis are illustrated through an example of the port tunnel monitoring in Jing wuhuang (chang) highway, Jiangxi province china. Many items monitoring data (vault sinking, peripheral convergence, surface settlement, bolt axial force and drawing force, internal force of steel timbering, internal force of secondary lining) acquired from the field monitoring have been analyzed. The appropriate opportunity of surround rock stabilization after tunnel excavated and second lining are proposed by the analyzed the monitoring datum which can provide some lesson for the future tunnel construction.
Application of Asset Management Technique for Road Tunnel Maintenance Management
Authors: Li Bo  , Jiang Yujing
Published: February 2025

The number of tunnels in Japan is huge, since 60% of the land is covered by mountains. The maintenance of tunnels has become an increasingly important issue in Japan, where most of the tunnels have been used for more than 40 years. Maintenance helps a tunnel keep in healthy condition so as to have a long service life, which is beneficial for the public budget comparing to a new construction project. When and how to conduct maintenance to the tunnels synthetically taking into account the cost and the performance of tunnels require extensive studies. In this study, a road tunnel database is constructed by means of GIS utilizing the collected data for maintenance management of tunnels in Nagasaki prefecture, Japan. The approach of asset management is introduced into the database for accurately predicting the future conditions of tunnels and searching for the optimal maintenance management method. Using this system, evaluations of the tunnel performances and the maintenance cost for tunnels to reach the required performance level are conducted, which could be a helpful base for the future maintenance management.
A Discrete Numerical Approach for Modelling Face Stability in Slurry Shield Tunnelling
Authors: Hu X.Y.  , Scott Kieffer D.  , Zhang Z.X.
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a numerical simulation method for evaluating tunnelling-induced ground movement is presented. The method involves discrete element simulation of TBM slurry shield advancement and considers explicitly soil excavation from the face, effects of varying face support pressure, and the influence of tunnel cover depth. For the cases studied, it is found that for tunnel cover depths (C/D) between 0.7~2.1, ground deformations inducing by the tunnelling is negligible and tunnel face stability can ensured, provided the support pressure ratio (N) lies between 0.8~1.5.
Development and Evaluation of HAYST Method Tool (Software Testing)
Authors: Akiyama Kouichi  , Takagi Tomohiko  , Furukawa Zengo
Published: February 2025

Software test using HAYST method is a combination test method related to usage condition of software based on orthogonal array. Though the basic technique is already released, it is difficult to apply in manual procedure for large scale testing. Therefore, we developed HAYST method tool. In this study, design policy, features, algorithm of HAYST method tool is described, and in the end comparative evaluation with Pairwise (PICT) is described.
An Emotion-Oriented Image Search System with Cluster based Similarity Measurement using Pillar-Kmeans Algorithm
Authors: Barakbah Ali Ridho  , Kiyoki Yasushi
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an image search system with an emotion-oriented context recognition mechanism. Our motivation implementing an emotional context is to express user's impressions for retrieval process in the image search system. This emotional context recognizes the most important features by connecting the user's impressions to the image queries. The Mathematical Model of Meaning (MMM: [2], [4] and [5]) is applied for recognizing a series of emotional contexts for retrieving the most highly correlated impressions to the context. These impressions are then projected to a color impression metric to obtain the most significant colors for subspace feature selection. After applying subspace feature selection, the system then clusters the subspace color features of the image dataset using our proposed Pillar-Kmeans algorithm.
An introduction to spectral distances in networks
Authors: Jurman Giuseppe  , Visintainer Roberto  , Furlanello Cesare
Published: February 2025

Many functions have been recently defined to assess the similarity among networks as tools for quantitative comparison. They stem from very different frameworks - and they are tuned for dealing with different situations. Here we show an overview of the spectral distances, highlighting their behavior in some basic cases of static and dynamic synthetic and real networks. In particular, we show examples where spectral distances are more effective than classical methods in assessing network differences.
Theoretical study of the electronic structure of the alkaline earth BeLi
Authors: Farjallah M.  , Ghanmi C.  , Berriche H.
Published: February 2025

In this work, we present the structural and the spectroscopic properties of the alkaline earth BeLi2+ion for all the electronic states dissociating into Be+(2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 3d, 4s, 4p, and 4d) + Li+and Be2++ Li (2s and 2p). We have used an ab initio approach involving a non-empirical pseudopoential for the Li+and Be2+cores and core-core and core-valence correlation corrections. For our best knoweledge, the adiabatic potential energy curves and the spectroscopic constants for nearly 18 electronic states of2Σ+,2Π and2Δ symmetries are determined here for the first time. As neither experimental nor theoretical data are available for BeLi2+, our results are discussed and compared with similar systems such as BeH2+. Numerous avoided crossings between the electronic states of2[loc=pre]Σ+and2Π symmetries have been localised and analysed. Their existences are related to the interaction between the potential energy curves and the charge transfer process between the two ionic systems Be(2+)Li and Be+Li+. Furthermore, we have calculated the adiabatic transition dipole moments from X2Σ+, 22Σ+and 32Σ+states to the higher electronic states of the same symmetry. This study represents the necessary initial step towards the investigation of the charge transfer processes in collision between Be+-Li+and Be2+-Li.
Noble gas broadening calculation for fundamental bands of H
Authors: Ivanovich Starikov Vitaly
Published: February 2025

The results of calculations of He-, Ne-, Ar-, Kr-, and Xe- broadening coefficients of ν1, ν2 and ν3 ro-vibrational lines of H2S molecule are presented and discussed. The calculations were performed in the framework of the Robert-Bonamy method, in which the exact trajectory model was incorporated. Parameters of the interaction potentials, chosen in the form of atom-atom potentials, were optimized to give the best agreement with the existing experimental data. With the exception of the some data the agreement between the calculated and experimentally measured broadening coefficients γ is satisfactory for the ν1 and ν3 bands of H2S for all collisional partners. The measured strong J–dependence of helium broadening in the ν2 band did not appear in the calculation. Besides, it was found that an interaction potential for H2S- He system is ambiguously determined. The optimal set of the parameters for H2S- He interaction potential was used in the calculation of the helium broadening coefficients for the ν1 band of H2S (J ≤ 15, 100 K ≤ T ≤ 1000K) and then for their analytical representation.
Influence of the statistical and spatio-temporal features of laser pulse on its depolarization in a Kerr medium
Authors: Chernov V.E.  , Zon B.A.
Published: February 2025

Due to nonlinear rotation of polarization, the stochastic intensity and the spatio-temporal inhomogeneity of a multimode laser beam results to its depolarization when propagating in a nonlinear media. The ensemble and spatio-temporal averaging of Stokes parameters was performed analytically for an isotropic media and numerically for an anisotropic one. The experimentally measurable Stokes parameters show monotonic or oscillating decreasing dependence on the propagation distance; the characteristic depolarization length is evaluated. With respect to depolarization the anisotropic media is shown to behave like the isotropic one if the radiation intensity is sufficiently high. The measured value of depolarization agrees with the presented calculations.
Progressive failure and the strain localization problem
Authors: Murianni A.  , Federico A.  , di Prisco C.
Published: February 2025

In this paper progressive failure and activation of landslides in soils characterized by strain-softening mechanical behavior is numerically analyzed. As it is well known, the analysis of this phenomenon, from a computational point of view, presents many difficulties because the numerical procedures are often affected by lack of convergence, and because the solution may depend strongly on the mesh adopted. In order to overcome these numerical drawbacks, in the present study, finite numerical analyses of the stability of an ideal slope are performed by employing a non-local elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model. A yield function of the Mohr-Coulomb type is adopted, and the strain-softening behaviour of the soil is simulated by reducing the strength parameters at increasing deviatoric plastic strain. Four different versions of the same model are implemented, and the relative numerical results are critically compared.
Excess pore pressure during pile driving in soft sensitive clay
Authors: Tefera T.  , Tvedt G.  , Oset F.
Published: February 2025

During driving of displacement piles, soils within a few pile diameters can undergo large shear deformation. Furthermore driving of displacement piles strongly compresses adjoining soils and leads to build up of excess pore water pressure. This temporary build up of excess pore water pressure, coupled with the sensitivity of the clay, causes the soil to lose a good fraction of its shear strength in the short term. Dissipation of the excess pore pressure generated during pile driving may allow pore pressure to rise in the vicinity of a slope, thus leading to failure of the slope, even where the soil has not been remoulded. During the construction of the 148m long Øvre Sund Bridge in Drammen, south-eastern of Norway, on soft sensitive clay a strict construction control mechanisms were in placed. The follow up of the development of excess pore pressure during piling activity was one of the measures taken. Based on stability analyses of the slope along the river banks a criterion for excess pore pressure margins due to pile driving was established. This paper discusses the result of this strict pore pressure control due to piling activity. The result shows a systematic monitoring of the development of excess pore pressure during pile driving in sensitive clay helps to observe continuously the safety margins of the slopes, save waiting time and extra cost of the project due to the build up of excess pore pressure.
Impact de cycles hydriques sur le comportement hydromécanique d'un sol argileux gonflant traité à la chaux
Authors: Stoltz G.  , Cuisinier O.  , Masrouri F.
Published: February 2025

Le traitement à la chaux est une pratique courante d'amélioration des sols. Le traitement induit la création de composés cimentaires qui vont modifier le comportement mécanique du sol et réduire son potentiel de gonflement. Cette dernière propriété pourrait être exploitée pour permettre le réemploi des matériaux très argileux en les rendant insensibles vis-à-vis des fluctuations de teneur en eau. Il est cependant indispensable d'évaluer la pérennité des effets du traitement lorsque le sol gonflant traité est soumis à une succession de cycles hydriques, ce qui est l'objet principal de cette étude.
Properties of Danish Clay Tills determined from laboratory testing
Authors: Jessen S.B.
Published: February 2025

As a part of the soil investigations for the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link project (tunnel or bridge), a large series of more than 100 advanced laboratory tests has been executed on clay till by GEO (former Danish Geotechnical Institute) and partners. Likewise a large number of tests has been executed on Danish clay till for other projects, for example wind farms and the Great Belt Fixed link. The results from many of these tests have been collected in a database. Clay Till, which is one of the most common soil types in Denmark, is by nature a very mixed soil, due to its origin as a glacier deposit. At the Femern site, the underlying deposits consists of highly plastic Palaeogene Clay and Cretaceous chalk, thus the Clay Till consists of a mixture of these two, as it usually is in Denmark. Consequently, a large variability in the properties of Clay Till must be expected. In the laboratory, strength and deformation parameters have been determined as well as classification characteristics for each of the tested specimens. Due to the mixed geology of the Clay Till, a spread in the plasticity from non-plastic to very highly plastic and in the strength from weak to very competent has been measured. In this paper, the classification properties of the various Clay Till formations are presented and the strength and deformation properties are related to the classification characteristics for the Danish clay till in general, based on the database.
Hydraulic heave at the excavation walls with under-flow of small embedded depth and filter layers at the excavation side of the wall
Authors: Schober P.
Published: February 2025

Hydraulic heave safety in many cases is a relevant factor for designing the embedded length of excavation walls of deep excavation pits. To reduce the embedded depth, a surcharge filter can be placed on the bottom of the pit. Numerical based analyses show that the conventional design of excavation pit with installed surcharge filter according to Terzaghi/Peck and Baumgart/Davidenkoff is not valid. A theoretical approach, which considers the vertical flow forces below the base of the excavation wall was developed by the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute. To verify this theoretical approach, the Institute for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering of the Bundeswehr University carried out numerous laboratory tests in a specific box to simulate hydraulic heaves. During the series of experiments, the embedded depth of the wall and the thickness of the filter layers were varied. Moreover, the elevations on the excavation side of the wall were detected by displacement transducer, the water pressure around the end of the wall was detected by water pressure sensors and the figure of failure was mapped by Picture Image Velocimetry (PIV) Method and video camera. The Paper shows the results of the laboratory experiments and the consequences for the design of the filter layers on the excavation side of the wall by under-flown and small-embedded depth.
Case study on rainfall-induced behavior of unsaturated soils in natural slopes and reinforced-earth walls
Authors: Shibuya Satoru  , Hur Jinsuk  , Jung Minsu  , Kim Byeongsu
Published: February 2025

The mitigation of geo-hazards caused by heavy rainfall is a common issue in Asian community of geotechnical engineers. Such geo-hazards are often highlighted by the catastrophic failure of natural slopes and manmade fills comprising initially unsaturated soil. Despite that we can learn a lot from such case history, it is regrettable that the cause of failure is rarely pursued or disclosed. Moreover, the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil subjected to cycles of saturation/desaturation should be better understood so that much better idea for preventive works may be hinted. In this keynote paper, the small-strain stiffness and strength characteristics of unsaturated soils are, first, described by showing the results of laboratory tests recently performed in Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory at Kobe University. Second, engineering practices for evaluating the mechanical behavior of largely-deformed (or failed) natural slopes and reinforced earth walls are described by portraying a series of well-documented case studies in Japan. Finally, lessons learnt from each of these case studies are exposed.
Characterization and Identification of Compressibility of Soft Rock
Authors: Heibrock G.  , Kühne M.  , Ruderisch L.
Published: February 2025

Identification of compressibility of soft rock has been and is still a challenging task since the early days of geotechnical engineering. Numerous techniques and procedures exist to characterize the compressibility of soil-like material and of rock-like material. However if the site stratigraphy shows alternating layers of distinct almost completely weathered and more or less soil like material and layers of rock like material these techniques can no longer be applied to assess the overall rock mass compressibility. The paper proposes a field oriented method using a combination of known characterization methods (for rock and soil materials) to describe the soft rock profile with respect to identify its overall compressibility in terms of Young's moduli. The Moduli are calculated from an averaging scheme assuming that the soft rock layers can be described by mixtures of rock-like material and soil like material. An example application is presented including a first discussion of applicability and limitations of the method.
Laboratory stress-strain tests for developments in geotechnical engineering research and practice
Authors: Tatsuoka F.
Published: February 2025

Significant roles of laboratory stress-strain tests of geomaterial for developments in geotechnical engineering research and practice are shown by summarising several recent advances in our understanding and modelling of the following properties of geomaterial: 1) quasi-elastic stress-strain behaviour; 2) rate-dependent stress-strain behaviour due to elasto-viscoplastic properties; and 3) strength and pre-failure stiffness of compacted soil related to field fill compaction control and design values of strength and stiffness. Several related findings obtained from laboratory stress-strain tests are presented and related issues of Geotechnical Engineering practice are discussed.
Calibration of Taipei Silty Clay Using an Enhanced Anisotropic Elastoplastic Bounding Surface Model
Authors: Hung Ching  , Jiang Jianhong  , Ling Hoe I.  , Kaliakin Victor N.
Published: February 2025

Cohesive soils existing in the natural ground are anisotropic. The stiffness and strength of the soil are affected by anisotropy. The main objective of this paper is to calibrate the Taipei Silty Clay using an enhanced constitutive soil model, based on the anisotropic critical state theory and bounding surface plasticity. A series of published triaxial compression and extension test results are used in the calibration and simulation. The results show that most of the effects of stress anisotropy and over-consolidation of Taipei Silty Clay are well captured by this model. The model has great potential to describe the material behavior and is ready to be used for the analysis of boundary value problems under general stress paths.
Unconfined compression strength and elastic shear modulus of air-form treated lightweight soil
Authors: Kataoka S.  , Kawaguchi T.  , Horita T.  , Tanaka M.  , Sakaiya T.  , Shibuya S.
Published: February 2025

The air-foam treated soil is a mixture of soil and cement containing some amount of air-foam in it. This material is nicknamed as a super-geomaterial (SGM), since the dredged clay or industrial waste is usually employed for reducing not only the earth pressure but also the residual settlement when the SGM is used for earthworks in coastal area. In this paper, the unconfined compression strength, qu, together with the elastic shear modulus, G, from bender element (BE) test, was in detail examined in the laboratory in order to manifest engineering properties of the SGM ground. The variations of quand G with curing period, together with the spatial scatter of these properties, were elucidated. The G value from the BE test was also compared to that from in-situ seismic survey to estimate in-situ strength of SGM ground.
Spectral indexes of quality, diversity and stability in fuzzy clustering
Authors: Rovetta Stefano  , Masulli Francesco
Published: February 2025

Quality assessment in clustering is a long-standing problem. In this contribution we describe some indexes to measure properties of clusterings, taking advantage of the added flexibility provided by fuzzy paradigms. We first present an approach to evaluate some indicators of quality of an individual clustering, by analyzing the co-association matrix. Then we describe a technique to evaluate the similarity of pairs of clusterings by comparing their respective co-association matrices by means of generalizations of well-known indexes of partition comparisons. Finally, we illustrate how some indexes borrowed from spectral graph theory can be used to evaluate clustering stability and diversity in ensembles of several clusterings.
Groupware Platform for Team Communication and Management
Authors: De Winne Davy  , Gray Edwin  , Cheng Kafai
Published: February 2025

During the Multinational Undergraduate Team Work (MUTW) project a combination of online tools were used. The purpose of this chapter is to review the means by which the project teams communicated with each other in the first and second years of the MUTW project and to make recommendations for future phases of the MUTW project. This chapter is split into two parts. The first part reviews the various means of team communication used in the first and second years of the MUTW project. The shortcomings and areas where improvements can be made are then analyzed and addressed in the second part.
Translational pathology of neoplasia
Authors: Grizzle William E.  , Srivastava Sudhir  , Manne Upender
Published: February 2025

With the increasing use of individualized medical care (personalized medicine) in treating and managing patients with cancer, the utilization of biomarkers in selecting and tailoring such medical approaches also is increasing and becoming more important. Specifically, many therapies are effective against only a subgroup of a specific type of tumors and exposing patients with different non-responsive subgroups of the same tumor to ineffective therapies, not only exposes these patients needlessly to acute and chronic side effects of the therapy, but also adds to the costs of medical care. For example, the Oncotype Dx test for estrogen receptor positive tumors that are node negative has been used to identify low risk tumors for which surgery alone is an adequate therapy. Biomarkers may be used to aid in multiple aspects of medical care related to cancer, including early detection, diagnosis, risk assessment, as well as in predicting the aggressiveness of cancers (i.e., prognosis) and predicting the therapeutic efficacy of treatments (i.e., prediction). Biomarkers may be also used as surrogate endpoints to aid in evaluating therapies and preventive approaches. Types of biomarkers vary greatly and include histopathologic appearance, stage of the lesion, quantitative morphologic features, size of the lesion, metastatic pattern and extent of metastasis, as well as imaging and molecular features. The types of measurements of biomarkers also vary; for example, molecular features can be measured at the DNA, mRNA or protein levels as well as at regulatory levels (e.g., microRNA). The usefulness of each biomarker is limited by its sensitivity and specificity in fulfilling its role (e.g., in early detection) and the requirements of sensitivity and specificity to accomplish specific tasks are affected by multiple variables. For example, both very high specificity and sensitivity of a test are required to screen a population with a low prevalence of a specific tumor. The goal of this manuscript is to introduce the reader to how biomarkers may be used and the limitations on the uses of biomarkers in translational research.
A Study of Polishing Performance of Glass Using Fluid Jet Polishing
Authors: Jönsson Anders  , Lindahl Pia  , Fredin Johan  , Stålhandske Christina
Published: February 2025

The strength of glass designs are relying on good surfaces. Complex shapes and small holes calls for new polishing methods. Polishing of glass using fluid jet polishing is well known as a suitable method for acquiring high quality surfaces. In this study the combination of higher pressure and aluminum oxide as polishing material is tested in terms of higher polishing performance. A design of experiment study is done where important process parameters are varied. The results are compared to fluid jet polishing using cerium oxide. The polishing effect on the float glass is evaluated using visual grading and by using optical profilometry. In addition an analysis of sustainability aspects are done comparing the two different polishing materials. It is clearly shown that aluminum oxide is increasing the polishing performance.
SWIM-SUIT: The Baseline for the System Wide Information Management
Authors: D'Auria Giuliano  , Di Crescenzo Dario  , Strano Antonio
Published: February 2025

The management of different types of ATM (Air Traffic Management) information has until now evolved independently as each stakeholder gathers its own data independently and asynchronously. As a result of this bottom-up approach, today's ATM information systems are insufficiently integrated, resulting in organisational and institutional barriers which prevent the timely use of relevant information and the optimization of the entire system. It is in response to this fundamental challenge that the vision of SWIM (System Wide Information Management) has been identified as a fundamental enabler for the ATM system of the future. The need for SWIM is widely recognized and lies at the very heart of the future ATM defined within both the SESAR and NEXT Gen initiatives. The main objective of SWIM is to enable a seamless information sharing between the air transport stakeholders as, for example, airports, airlines, military air defence and air traffic control centres, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) etc. SWIM opens up a collaborative environment within a highly distributed system of systems including the most diverse ATM players, each with their own background and needs. It constitutes the future software infrastructure which will interconnect the multiplicity of stakeholder and systems which take part in the ATM domain.
The Greening of Aerostructures – Challenges Ahead
Authors: Castillo Acero Miguel Á.
Published: February 2025

Aernnova, as a consolidated aerostructures Tier 1 company, is constantly improving more eco- friendly design and manufacturing solutions for the Aerostructures Life Cycle. This is not only about the reduction of harmful chemical treatments or the efforts to provide better aircraft architecture features to reduce noise, emissions and increase efficiency, but also, the different research and development efforts to use materials in general, and composites in particular, to save weight and improve aerodynamics at their full capacity.
Sweden – Aeronautics RTD Programme and Research Agenda
Authors: Hult Gunnar  , Claesson Vilgot
Published: February 2025

The Aeronautics RTD programme in Sweden was in the past dominated by the needs for the development of military aircraft and this programme is still continued to support the Gripen but with a lower level of effort. The national Aeronautical Programme (NFFP) started in 1994 and is now in its fifth phase (2009-2012). Its objectives are to: (i) strengthen Swedish competitiveness; (ii) strengthen the capability to participate in international research cooperation; (iii) support Swedish Armed Forces.
Ontology-Based Search and Document Retrieval in a Digital Library with Folk Songs
Authors: Nisheva-Pavlova Maria  , Pavlov Pavel
Published: February 2025

The paper discusses some aspects of a work in progress aimed at the development of technologies for digitization of Bulgarian folk music and building a digital library with Bulgarian folk songs presented with their music, texts and notes. This library provides digital preservation of the sound recordings, lyrics and notations of more than 1000 Bulgarian folk songs and tools for various types of search and analysis of the available resources. The presentation is focused on the subject ontology especially developed for the occasion and its application in the implementation of a tool for semantics oriented search in the lyrics of songs.
Testing The DeLone-McLean Model of Information System Success in an E-Learning Context: Implications for Evaluating Mandatory Dss
Authors: Eom Sean
Published: February 2025

Evaluating DSS involves examining multi-dimensional attributes associated with the value of DSS though the analysis of costs and benefits, changes in the decision process, and the quality of decision support systems. In the early 1990s, DeLone and McLean presented the IS success model as a framework and model for conceptualizing and operationalizing IS (including DSS) success. The DM model is one of the widely recognized IS models based on a systematic review of 180 studies which investigated over 100 success measures. An important assumption of the DM model is that it is the model to explain IS success in a voluntary IS use context. Due to the voluntariness of IS use, the “use” of the system is in the center of the model. This paper empirically tests the validity of the DM model in an e-learning environment and found out that the DM model failed to support the positive relationships between system use and system outcome. Can the DM model of IS success be applied to evaluate the DSS success? The answer may be probably no. The future research is needed to construct a comprehensive model for evaluating DSS success. The “use” may no longer be a critical construct in evaluating DSS success in that a substantial portion of DSS published seem to be mandatory or semi-mandatory.
Designing a Decision Support System to Prevent Products Missing from the Shelf
Authors: Papakiriakopoulos Dimitrios  , Karagiannaki Angeliki  , Giovanis Apostolos  , Binioris Spiridon
Published: February 2025

The out-of-shelf problem is among the most important retail problems. An alerting mechanism that would suggest which products the store manager should consider in order to avoid out-of-shelf instances is considered to be of great value. In trying to encounter this problem, we considered the prevention of out-of-shelf as a classification problem. By utilizing the four different classification methods, we examined the predictive accuracy based on real life data sets. The comparison of the results has been facilitated by Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves and examined both at retail chain and to the store level. Based on the results obtained, we were able to draw brief remarks.
Coordinated Exploration with a Shared Goal in Costly Environments
Authors: Rochlin Igor  , Sarne David  , Laifenfeld Moshe
Published: February 2025

The paper studies distributed cooperative multi-agent exploration methods in settings where the overall benefit of an opportunity is the minimum of individual findings and the exploration is costly. The primary motivation for the model is the multi-channel cooperative sensing problem which draws from the inter-vehicular cognitive offload paradigm. Here, vehicles try to coordinate an offload channel through a dedicated common control channel, and the resulting quality of the channel eventually selected is constrained by the individual qualities. Similar settings may arise in other multi-agent settings where the exploration needs to be coordinated. The goal in such problems concerns the optimization of the process as a whole, considering the tradeoff between the quality of the solution obtained for the shared goal and the cost associated with the exploration and coordination process. The methods considered in this paper make use of parallel and sequential exploration. The first approach is more latency-efficient, and the latter is shown to be more cost-effective. The strategy structure in both schemes is threshold-based, and the thresholds which are analytically derived in this paper can be calculated offline, resulting in a very low online computational load. A comparative illustration of the methods' performance is given using a synthetic environment, emphasizing the cost-latency tradeoff.
Towards a Declarative Spatial Reasoning System
Authors: Schultz Carl  , Bhatt Mehul
Published: February 2025

We present early results on the development of a declarative spatial reasoning system within the context of the Constraint Logic Programming (CLP) framework. The system is capable of modelling and reasoning about qualitative spatial relations pertaining to multiple spatial domains, i.e., one or more aspects of space such as topology, and intrinsic and extrinsic orientation. It provides a seamless mechanism for combining formal qualitative spatial calculi within one framework, and provides a Prolog-based declarative interface for AI applications to abstract and reason about quantitative, geometric information in a qualitative manner. Based on previous work concerning the formalisation of the framework [2], we present ongoing work to develop the theoretical result into a comprehensive reasoning system (and Prolog-based library) which may be used independently, or as a logic-based module within hybrid intelligent systems.
WNtags: A Web-Based Tool For Image Labeling And Retrieval With Lexical Ontologies
Authors: Horvat Marko  , Grbin Anton  , Gledec Gordan
Published: February 2025

Ever growing number of image documents available on the Internet continuously motivates research in better annotation models and more efficient retrieval methods. Formal knowledge representation of objects and events in pictures, their interaction as well as context complexity becomes no longer an option for a quality image repository, but a necessity. We present an ontologybased online image annotation tool WNtags and demonstrate its usefulness in several typical multimedia retrieval tasks using International Affective Picture System emotionally annotated image database. WNtags is built around WordNet lexical ontology but considers Suggested Upper Merged Ontology as the preferred labeling formalism. WNtags uses sets of weighted WordNet synsets as high-level image semantic descriptors and query matching is performed with word stemming and node distance metrics. We also elaborate our near future plans to expand image content description with induced affect as in stimuli for research of human emotion and attention.
Air Traffic Control Complexity, Fatigue & Service Expectation: Results from a Preliminary Study
Authors: Nunes Ashley  , Crook Ian  , Borener Sherry
Published: February 2025

Air transport is an innovative industry that drives economic and social progress. Beyond the 32 million jobs annually that it maintains, air transportation is a major facilitator of global trade, with some estimates placing the total value of goods transported representing 35% of all international trade. Safety represents a cornerstone of the industry with billions being invested every year in new technologies aimed at making air transportation safer. While the utility of such technologies cannot be questioned, the issue how increasing complexity may impact the various services air traffic controllers are called to provide must be addressed. The present paper explores how the services of safety and efficiency may be impacted by changes in reported traffic complexity. Based on a preliminary study conducted at a busy terminal facility, we examine tradeoffs in the provision of safety and routing efficiency as a result of performance unpredictability that is linked to sustained and complexity and momentary traffic demands. The implications of our findings are discussed.
Analysis of Removal and Decomposition Pathways of Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) for Aircraft Decontamination Operation
Authors: Li Hu  , Gale William
Published: February 2025

In response to possible terrorist attacks and epidemic/pandemic diseases, there is a need for efficient infection control and sanitization of airliners. Use of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) is a promising method to achieve the goal. However, the impact of disposed VHP on atmospheric environment after decontamination operation needs to be fully understood to avoid any detrimental consequence caused by airliner decontamination. This paper analyzed the removal and decomposition pathways of VHP in the atmosphere, including physical and chemical pathways. Absorption by water droplets in atmosphere and photolytic decay mechanisms have been investigated. The results show that the uptake to water droplets in the air appears to be a major pathway for the removal of VHP.