bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of glove type on wheelchair rugby sports performance
Authors: Lutgendorf M.  , Mason B.S.  , van der Woude L.H.V.  , Goosey-Tolfrey V.L.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of glove type upon skill performance in wheelchair rugby. Eleven able-bodied males performed three sport specific field tests in four glove conditions: building gloves (BLD), multipurpose gloves (MLP), American football gloves (NFL) and no gloves(NO). Timing gates and a velocometer sampling at 100Hz were used to objectively assess aspects of mobility performance. One-way ANOVA's with repeated measures revealed that acceleration performance was significantly quicker in NFL and BLD than MLP (p<0.01), as were the times taken to perform an agility drill (p<0.05). Subjectively, participants also valued the performance of NFL over MLP. To conclude, glove type had a significant bearing upon wheelchair handling skills in able bodied participants, with NFL and BLD shown to perform the best. Future testing would be advised using disabled participants from wheelchair rugby.
Wheel-assisted running training in children with cerebral palsy: a controlled clinical trial
Authors: Hutzler Y.  , Levin R.  , Carmeli E.  , Yizhar Z.
Published: February 2025

The purpose was to evaluate the effects of adding a wheel assisted running training (WART) to conventional mixed physical activity training (CT) program on function, and walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Thirty children with CP, GMFCS 2–4 were assigned to either WART or CT groups (15 in each group). Energy Expenditure Index (EEI), the Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM), and walking velocity using the 10-meter test were administered by a trained physical therapist. The intervention period was six months, with tone to two sessions per week. Results: No significant group and time differences were found, except for cadence, which was lower in the CT group Post test. Conclusion: Both types of intervention appear to conserve and buffer the trend of decreased motor performance and efficiency often observed in children with CP without training intervention.
Combining a dynamic balance protocol and statistical parametric mapping to better understand floor pedobarography in shod dynamic sports activities
Authors: Vanrenterghem J.  , Chambers S.  , Garcia R.  , Hawken M.  , Lake M.  , Pataky T.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the scientific potential of floor pedobarography to understand balance control mechanisms in dynamic sport activities. One participant underwent single-footed balance conditions of static standing, standing on medio-lateral sinewave perturbed surface (6 degrees roll, 0.5 Hz) and standing on medio-lateral suddenly perturbed surface (3 degrees roll either side), each in barefoot, standing on shoe sole and shod footwear conditions. The effects of balance and footwear conditions were evaluated from floor pedobarographic recordings (RSScan International, 100 Hz) using statistical parametric mapping, a label-free technique. Statistical significance was assessed using random field theory. Despite being smaller than expected, shifts in peak pressure patterns between footwear conditions indicated across balance conditions an increased balance control through heel motion in the shod condition; peak medial (p=0.014) and lateral (p<0.001) heel pressures were greater in shod than non-shod tasks. Loading and unloading rates were greater during dynamic balancing in all footwear conditions, especially along the medial (p<0.001) and lateral mid-/forefoot (p<0.001). Effects of footwear and balance conditions demonstrated strategic differences in balance control. Such findings indicate some potential of floor pedobarography in the growing scientific interest to understand balance control in dynamic sports activities.
Effect and process evaluation of implementing patient monitoring in spinal cord injury rehabilitation
Authors: de Groot S.  , Bevers G.  , Post M.W.M.  , Woldring F.  , Mulder G.A.  , van der Woude L.H.V.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of standardized physical and functional tests to individually monitor patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in 8 rehabilitation centers and to analyze enablers and barriers of the implementation process. A prospective effect- and process evaluation was performed. Team members responded to mailed questionnaires at the start (n=115) and end (n=82) of the one-year implementation period. Furthermore, a questionnaire was administered to managers (n=8), coordinators (n=8) and 32 persons with SCI in 4 centers. Outcome of the effect evaluation was the phase of implementation of standardized testing in each center. The process evaluation analyzed enablers and barriers of the implementation process. After a year of implementation, half of the centers shifted to higher implementation phases. None of the centers was classified in the highest phase. Enablers were the positive attitude of the team members regarding standardized testing and an encouraging local coordinator. Most important barrier was lack of time to implement standardized testing. It can be concluded that there is a large support for implementing standardized tests to monitor functioning of patients with SCI. During a year a positive shift was visible in the extent of implementation. Successful implementation of patient monitoring requires substantial amounts of time and effort of the rehabilitation centers involved.
Use of biomechanical analysis to classify basketball players in wheelchairs
Authors: Gil-Agudo A.  , del Ama-Espinosa A.  , Crespo-Ruiz B.  , Pérez-Nombela S.
Published: February 2025

The purpose was to applicate a methodology for the biomechanical analysis of wheelchair propulsion by wheelchair basketball players, which is one of the key elements for determining their functional classification. Ten basketball players of a high-performance basketball team with different functional classification scores were included in the study. A kinematic analysis system consisting of 4 camcorders (Kinescan-IBV) was used. Shoulder, elbow and wrist joint kinematics were obtained using an inverse dynamics model. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between player classification score and the time variables of push time, the ratio of the push phase/recovery phase duration, contact angle, the percentage of the cycle corresponding to hand off, and the percentage of the cycle corresponding to follow thru. The only statistically significant kinematic correlations were found between the player classification score and some carpal parameters. We propose a method for using techniques of biomechanical analysis to one of the elements used to classify wheelchairs basketball players.
30 year sportwheelchair innovation and its implications
Authors: van Breukelen K.
Published: February 2025

Historical overview of technical and ergonomic innovations used in the development of different types of sportswheelchairs throughout the years 1979-2009. In order to get a better understanding which innovations are relevant for performance-enhancement, injury-prevention and improving wheelchair-mobility in general.
Comparison of wheelchair wheels in terms of vibration and spasticity in people with spinal cord injury
Authors: Vorrink S.N.W.  , van der Woude L.H.V.  , Messenberg A.  , Cripton P.A.  , Hughes B.  , Sawatzky B.J.
Published: February 2025

A wheelchair undergoes vibrations while traveling over obstacles and uneven surfaces, resulting in whole body vibration of the person sitting in the wheelchair. According to clinicians, people with spinal cord injury (SCI) report that vibration evokes spasticity. The relatively new Spinergy wheelchair wheels (Spinergy, Inc; San Diego, California) are claimed to absorb more road shock then conventional steelspoked wheelchair wheels. If this claim is true, this wheel might also reduce spasticity in people with SCI. We hypothesized that Spinergy wheels would absorb vibration, reduce perceived spasticity, and improve comfort in individuals with SCI more than standard steel-spoked wheels. To test this hypothesis, 22 nondisabled subjects performed a passive ramp test so that we could more closely examine the dampening characteristics of the Spinergy versus traditional wheels. Furthermore, 13 subjects with SCI performed an obstacle test with both wheel types. Vibrations were measured with accelerometers, and spasticity and comfort were assessed with subject-reported visual analog scales. The results of the study showed that, within the current experimental setup, the Spinergy wheels neither reduced vibration or perceived spasticity nor improved comfort in people with SCI more than the conventional steelspoked wheels.
Adjustment of the subject-and-wheelchair fore-and-aft stability
Authors: Vaslin P.  , Faupin A.  , Lepoutre F.X.
Published: February 2025

A 2-D model has been designed for solving the problem of the subject-and-wheelchair fore-and-aft stability, and implemented into a simulation program, which computes the seat height and fore-and-aft position from the wheelchair dimensions, the subject's anthropometry, his sitting posture in the wheelchair, and a stability index chosen according to the subject's ability to control his equilibrium. This program should greatly help the medical staff for quickly and precisely choosing the wheelchair settings fitted to the patient's characteristics.
Propulsion effectiveness of synchronous handcycling
Authors: van Drongelen S.  , Arnet U.  , van der Woude L.H.V.  , Veeger H.E.J.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of force application during submaximal handcycling. In a laboratory subjects propelled a kinetics-instrumented handcycle on a treadmill at 3 different speeds, while power output was kept constant at 35 W by a pulley system. Mean fraction of effective force (FEF) was between 79 and 83% and significantly influenced by the velocity. For 6 subjects a pattern of FEF was found showing an average FEF above 80% between -7°and 100°and between 205°and 310°of the crank rotation, where at 0°the crank is pointing towards the subject. It still has to be studied whether FEF and mechanical efficiency are related. A linked segment model analysis will be necessary to study the effect of gravity on the applied forces and joint torques.
Uranium Enrichment: Guns or Butter?
Authors: Wood Houston G.
Published: February 2025

Uranium enrichment refers to a process to alter the isotopic composition of uranium. This is to produce fuel for nuclear power reactors, which requires a235U content of about 3–5%, and to produce material for a nuclear weapon, which requires a235U concentration of about 93%. A process that enriches reactor fuel can also enrich weapons material, which makes uranium enrichment a dual-use process. The line between civil and military purposes is very thin, and ways to broaden the line are being investigated. In this chapter, the fundamentals of uranium enrichment for these two purposes are discussed, the current Iranian nuclear situation assessed, and possible ways forward suggested for countries wanting to develop peaceful nuclear energy.
Nuclear Terrorism
Authors: Watson Christopher
Published: February 2025

There is growing international concern about the use of nuclear materials for the purposes of terrorism. This chapter examines the possible threats, the strengths and weaknesses of the current defences against these, and the steps which the international community needs to take to address these concerns.
The Role of Scientists in Verification
Authors: Kraatz-Wadsack Gabriele
Published: February 2025

This chapter illustrates the extent and limitations of inspections and verifications in Iraq and the role of scientists in these processes, especially in the biological weapons area. The unique mandate in Iraq established an intrusive inspection regime for all areas of weapons of mass destruction. Technical experts – in the broader context of the definition of a scientist – provided technical assessments for the United Nations Security Council.
Bioterrorism and Pandemics: A New World Order of Civil Defence
Authors: Alexander David
Published: February 2025

This chapter considers the process of preparing for a pandemic or major biological terrorism attack in terms of the organisational structure of civil defence and civil protection systems. The former are usually centralised at the national level and focus on security issues, while the latter tend to be devolved to the local level and to focus on public safety. Misconceptions about biological threats are discussed in the light of their potential impact upon preparedness. There are many incorrect or debatable assumptions about biological risks that need to be countered or at least fully discussed. For instance, anthrax is not a white powder, as is commonly supposed, panic is not a common reaction to threats, and at the world scale terrorism does not have a wildly fluctuating trend. The chapter ends with a modest classification of uncertainty and a discussion of its impact upon preparedness.
Behavior of Some Pathogenic and Genetically Modified Bacteria in Groundwater Samples
Authors: Filip Zdenek  , Demnerova Katerina
Published: February 2025

Different pathogenic bacteria appeared capable of survival in groundwater longer than 100 days, and perhaps, they can be transported for distances from the site of contamination. Their elimination by a predator such as Bdellovibrio sp., seems to fail under an ambient temperature of about 10 °C. Also in model groundwater microcosms, bacteria bearing either natural or recombinant plasmids appeared detectable for up to 150 days, and the expression of plasmids remained stable. The survival of all bacteria under testing, however, was evidently handicapped in non-autoclaved groundwater samples, i.e., those containing natural microbial population.
Mass Destruction Weapons and their Contribution to Pandemic Effects
Authors: Breccia Fratadocchi Alberto
Published: February 2025

The term ‘Mass Destruction Weapons’ encompasses any intentionally negative event caused by biological, chemical and nuclear agents. A more specific definition could be: all those harmful agents which cause death or injury to people in a non-conventional way and which damage, often irreversibly, the environment. There are similarities between non-conventional biological, chemical and nuclear agents and the spreading of pandemics. CBRN agents cause a psychological effect, such as fear and anxiety. The psychological impact gets a maximum after a terrorist attack or after the use the use of non-conventional weapons. For instance, the public opinion felt such sense of anxiety after the terrorist attack in the Japanese subway with the nerve agent, sarin, or in other occasions. Chemical toxic agents may have biological effects too and their dispersion in air could cause pandemic effects when they are in high concentration. The poor knowledge about Mass Destruction Weapons on population produces panic and a deep psychological impact. The defence actions against this kind of pandemics are prevention and education: prevention means informing population and organizing a national task force for rapid intervention and countermeasures; education means the organization of a proper information at School and in Academia about mass destruction weapons, their negative effects and the defence from them, with obligatory courses.
Cooperation between Civilian and Military Organizations during an Emergency: A Case Study Evaluation of the 2008 Reentry of an Uncontrolled U.S. Government Satellite Contaminated with Hydrazine
Authors: Tomljanovich Chuck  , Volz Conrad  , Quinn Sandra  , Trufanov Andrey  , Rossodivita Alessandra
Published: February 2025

Over a period of several weeks in February through March of 2008, a satellite operated and managed by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), became uncontrollable and began reentering Earth’s atmosphere. Normally, space debris reentering the atmosphere does not survive, or it is very likely to fall into either the world’s oceans or lightly populated regions of the Earth. In fact, no serious injuries or property damage has been confirmed as caused by debris reentering the Earth’s atmosphere. Under this emergency scenario however, specialists predicted that upon impact over 1,000 pounds of hydrazine could be released as a hazardous toxic gas, which could possibly endanger the public’s health and welfare wherever the satellite finally fell. In response to this potential crisis — even thought the likelihood of a significant adverse risk event was small — the Department of Defense (DoD), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) (OASD[PA]), developed a crisis and risk communication plan. The intent of the plan was to: engage multiple audiences (both domestic and international); inform the public with the appropriate information in order that they can respond to the risk; protect public health; demonstrate the U.S. Government’s commitment to responsible space operations; and, establish that the U.S. Government is very capable to respond to this crisis. The intent of this paper is to examine the satellite crisis communication event as a case study learning tool. Specifically, this paper is intended to identify: key messages, audiences and stakeholders, key communication channels, underlying theory, other pertinent factors (the role of trust, the importance of experienced professionals, the significance of leadership support, etc.,), and best practices in a manner that facilitates effective future emergency risk communication campaigns during biological threats and/or pandemics.
The Problem of Preventing Natural Foci Infections during the Development of New Territories
Authors: Shurygina Irina A.
Published: February 2025

This article deals about prophylaxis system for the prevention of natural foci infection. The main topics are related to prevention, tick-borne infections and helminthiasis.
Governance in Counteracting Natural and Man-Made Disasters: the LEFIS Network as Example
Authors: Galindo Fernando
Published: February 2025

The paper presents the most relevant characteristics, history and activities of the LEFIS network as possible model for the constitution of a network dedicated to counteract natural and man-made disasters.
Health “Security” Systems
Authors: Swienton Raymond E.  , Subbarao Italo  , Gursky Elin A.
Published: February 2025

Preserving health and medical care access during extreme demands on service delivery in a disaster or public health emergency is vital to the population and state, national and global security. Health security broadly encompasses the strategic, tactical, and operational infrastructure and hardening that ensures health system preparedness, the delivery of appropriate health and medical services, and swift recovery on behalf of impacted populations. This definition of heath security focuses on a measurable preparedness outcome by fostering resilience and meeting the critical and time-sensitive health and medical demands of affected communities. Health security as an inherent piece of quality health systems is a novel concept. Achieving health security in this manner requires a reengineered strategic approach. Responsibility and ownership for health security resides within the health care system. Like pieces of a puzzle, key health system components impacting disaster medicine and public health emergency readiness must be in place and include the following: planning, capacity & capability, public health preparedness, education & training, and scientific advancement. Utilization and integration of these components within the health system framework require excellence in the core tools of communication, collaboration and implementation. Health security, the often-missing piece of the health system, is now an inherent piece of the puzzle.
Transatlantic Relations and NATO's Future
Authors: Sloan Stanley R.
Published: February 2025

This essay discusses the factors that led to this most recent transatlantic crisis, its key components, and the way that all parties to the event moved toward and then away from the brink. It then addresses the question of how and why the alliance appears, at least until now, to have survived the crisis. The analysis concludes by deriving some lessons from this experience that might lead to a better understanding of NATO's potential and future and, more importantly, that might help NATO governments avoid or, if necessary, deal with future crisis environments as the new American administration led by President Barack Obama begins its first term.
Czech Republic
Authors: Karásek Tomáš
Published: February 2025

The author analyses changes in the international system after the end of the “Cold War” which allowed for the 1999 NATO enlargement; the changing Czech attitudes towards NATO; controversies related to NATO-led out-of-area operations, and to the anti-ballistic missile system. He concludes that the Czechs' “devoted Atlanticism” is today shakier than used to be in the 1990s.
Romania
Authors: Serban Alex
Published: February 2025

In less than a decade Romania has succeeded to accomplish the transition from a centralized command economy, communist dictatorship and an isolated country to a free market economy, functional democracy and an open society. In the next decade the country has gained both NATO and EU membership. Romania has not had any problem in terms of public opinion support due to strong pro-American and pro-Western feelings among the population.
2-Valued and 3-Valued Abstraction-Refinement in Model Checking
Authors: Grumberg Orna
Published: February 2025

This paper presents two frameworks for abstraction-refinement in model checking. The first is the CounterExample-Guided Abstraction-Refinement (CEGAR) which can verify universal fragments of temporal logics and is based on a 2-valued semantics of temporal logics. The other is the Three-valued Abstraction-Refinement (TVAR) and is based on a 3-valued semantics of these logics.
Modal Fixed Point Logics
Authors: Jäger Gerhard
Published: February 2025

The following notes are centered around multi-modal logics extended by the possibility to introduce least and greatest fixed points. We begin with discussing a range of traditional results and turn to more recent approaches dealing with finite and infinite derivations and explicit representations of proofs afterwards. Our focus is on foundational questions and a proof-theoretic perspective rather than practical applications.
Mechanized semantics
Authors: Leroy Xavier
Published: February 2025

The goal of this lecture is to show how modern theorem provers—in this case, the Coq proof assistant—can be used to mechanize the specification of programming languages and their semantics, and to reason over individual programs and over generic program transformations, as typically found in compilers. The topics covered include: operational semantics (small-step, big-step, definitional interpreters); a simple form of denotational semantics; axiomatic semantics and Hoare logic; generation of verification conditions, with application to program proof; compilation to virtual machine code and its proof of correctness; an example of an optimizing program transformation (dead code elimination) and its proof of correctness.
Models of Higher-Order Computation: Recursion Schemes and Collapsible Pushdown Automata
Authors: Ong C.-H.L.
Published: February 2025

We survey recent developments in a systematic approach to the verification of higher-order computation based on two models: (the respective higher-order hierarchies of) recursion schemes and pushdown automata. Higher-order recursion schemes are in essence the simply-typed lambda calculus with recursion, generated from uninterpreted first-order symbols. Higher-order pushdown automata are a generalisation of pushdown automata to higher-order stacks, which are iterations of stack of stacks. They are highly expressive definitional devices for word languages and such infinite structures as trees and graphs. We study the expressive power of the two models and the algorithmic properties of the infinite structures generated by them. As an algorithmic application of game semantics, we present recent results in the model checking of infinite trees generated by recursion schemes, and a machine characterisation of recursion schemes by a new variant of higher-order pushdown automata called collapsible pushdown automata. We survey recent advances in the solution of parity games over the configuration graphs of collapsible pushdown automata. We conclude with some remarks on an application to the verification of higher-order functional programs. A theme of the work is the fruitful interplay of ideas between the neighbouring fields of semantics and verification.
Newtonian Program Analysis — An Introduction
Authors: Esparza Javier  , Luttenberger Michael
Published: February 2025

We present a novel generic technique for solving dataflow equations in interprocedural dataflow analysis. The technique is obtained by generalizing Newton's method for computing a zero of a differentiable function to ω-continuous semirings. Complete semilattices, the common program analysis framework, are a special class of ω-continuous semirings. We show that our generalized method always converges to the solution, and requires at most as many iterations as current methods based on Kleene's fixed-point theorem. We also show that, contrary to Kleene's method, Newton's method always terminates for arbitrary idempotent and commutative semirings. Furthermore, the number of iterations required to solve a system of n equations is at most n.
Embedding Motivational Information into Daily Objects to Promote Daily Exercise
Authors: Fujinami Kaori
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we propose a persuasive ambient display to promote walking exercise. The display is originally a daily object like a mirror, and provides information about one's exercise level on the periphery of a line of sight. Four strategies for walking encouragement are specified as hypothetical motivational elements: 1) pleasurable interaction with information obtained through daily activity, 2) supporting reflection on each day's walking, 3) avoiding negative feeling while providing negative feedback and 4) facilitating inter-personal encouragement. A case study on information presentation is presented to see the feasibility and effectiveness and to explore further requirements, where a mirror is augmented.
Selected Aspects of Ambient Intelligence Development
Authors: Bureš Vladimír  , Čech Pavel
Published: February 2025

The future of Ambient Intelligence was outlined in two sets of scenarios. However, these scenarios tend to polarize stakeholders' thinking. The paper describes existing scenarios, identifies key stakeholders and depicts related issues such as self-fulfilling prophesy or areas where Ambient Intelligence can be successfully developed.
Cognitive Personal Software Assistants within AmI Environment
Authors: Mls Karel  , Salmeron Jose L.  , Olševičová Kamila  , Husáková Martina
Published: February 2025

Ambient intelligence is a new rapidly growing research area that tries to improve environment in which we live.This paper proposes ambient intelligent architecture that uses a concept of agent-based cognitive personal assistant for providing relevant information from different sources to the user. Fuzzy cognitive maps are discussed as a feasible structure for knowledge representation for agents.
Conceptual Models for Managerial Ambient Intelligence
Authors: Vrana Ivan  , Aly Shady
Published: February 2025

Ambient Intelligence (AmI) is a promising notion for improving the performance of managerial decision support function. This research attempts to achieve a considerable progress toward being able to assess the impact of the ambient intelligence tools and technologies on the performance managerial decision support function. This will be accomplished through developing a conceptual model for managerial AmI containing all relevant relationships involving: ICTs and key enabling technologies, key features and notions of ambient intelligence and performance measures of managerial decision support. The developed models will constitute the basis for further objective quantification of the impact of AmI on the performance of the managerial decision support function.
Classifying Posture Based on Location of Radio Tags
Authors: Mirčevska Violeta  , Luštrek Mitja  , Vélez Igone  , González Vega Narciso  , Gams Matjaž
Published: February 2025

CONFIDENCE FP7 project is developing a care system for the elderly based on measurements of locations of radio tags attached to a human body. Posture classification is the basis of reasoning in CONFIDENCE. We first applied a data mining approach to recordings of human behavior in order to develop classifier of posture. However, evaluations with separate training and test set scenario show over fitting. Therefore, we considered enriching classifier by human modification. Posture classifier was developed by human modification of induced decision trees. Besides the 5% improvement in accuracy compared to support vector machines and a significant 11% compared to decision trees, we also expect better robustness of this classifier in real-life tests.
INPERLYS – Independent Personal Location System
Authors: Ferreira Hélder  , Figueiredo Lino  , Meireles António
Published: February 2025

This article describes a state of art for location systems, and presents the INPERLYS (Independent Personal Location System). INPERLYS is an outdoor and indoor location system capable of give the user's position in places where GPS signal fails or is not accurate enough. For that, a dead reckoning method, using sensors like Micro Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) is used.
Role of the International Science and Technology Center in Countering the Threat of Bioterroism
Authors: Owsiacki Leo
Published: February 2025

This paper is a summary of a presentation. It discusses the purpose and structure of the International Science and Technology Center and some of its objectives and projects specifically designed to counter the threat of bioterrorism. Included are descriptions of some current as well as proposed activities as well as budget information.
An Approach for a Biological Threat Analysis
Authors: Lele Ajey
Published: February 2025

Existence of unexplained mass casualties and unnatural disease outbreaks are main indicators of chemical and biological attack. The threat from these agents should not only be considered a military issue, but also an act of terrorism. Therefore, it should be noted that civilians may also be exposed to these agents. There is an increasing concern around the possibility of terrorist use of biological agents including bacteria, viruses and toxins in recent times. Finally, the catastrophic September 2001 attacks intensified the interest of biological terrorism and the necessity of a multilateral cooperation regarding a chem-bio defense policy. Since the use of biological agents is not always initially evident contrary to chemical agents, outbreak of diseases may provide a first indication of an attack. Collaboration between the organizations and institutions against biological terrorism has to be taken into careful and extensive consideration.
Hospital Response to Terror: Implementing the Incident Command System and NIMS in US Hospitals
Authors: Parrillo Steven J.  , Baker Matt Dane
Published: February 2025

Existing measures employed by the United States hospital system for the response to terror attacks are detailed at length. The Philadelphia area hospital system is used as a prime example. Programs such as: ICS – the Incident Command System; NIMS – the National Incident Management; CHEMPACK; SNS – the Strategic National Stockpile; and DMM – the Disaster Medicine and Management Masters Program are thoroughly described. Conclusions are drawn about the strength of these programs in relation to the threat of terrorism.
The Military Trauma System in Iraq and the In-Hospital Management of Blast Injuries and Mass Casualties: Lessons for Civilian Hospitals
Authors: Rosenfeld Jeffrey V.
Published: February 2025

The trauma system in Iraq has evolved to deliver advanced pre-hospital care, rapid road or aero-medical evacuation (AME), early initial wound (damage control) surgery at a forward operating base and then secondary assessment, further resuscitation more specialised damage control surgery at the major field hospital. This is a Level 1 Trauma Centre and includes computed tomography (CT) scan, intensive care unit (ICU) and the full complement of surgical specialists including a head and neck team and consultant radiologists. When stabilized, the patients are transported with ongoing intensive care to Germany and then to the US. The mortality of battle injuries has reduced progressively since World War II (WWII) and is now approximately 10% in the Iraq war which is at the lowest level ever recorded; a remarkable achievement considering the severity of blast injuries. The reason for the reduction in mortality will be discussed. The management of severe blast injuries and mass casualties within the military hospital in Iraq is presented. Blast injury results in polytrauma with penetration from metal fragments and other foreign bodies, blast wave injury to internal organs and extremities and burns including respiratory burns. Blast lung injury is very common following blast exposure and increases the complexity of management in the operating room and ICU environment. This severe multiple trauma produces gross physiological compromise and requires trauma care of the highest order in order to save lives and reduce morbidity. These problems are infrequently encountered in the civilian sector. There are many lessons in how these casualties are managed in a military hospital which inform the management of blast injury and severe multi-trauma casualties in the civilian sector.
Bioterrorism: Examining American Legal and Policy Readiness
Authors: Addicott Jeffrey F.
Published: February 2025

Bioterrorism is defined and its function in the terrorist arsenal is explored. The US government’s response to the dangers posed by bioterrorism is chronicled historically and an assessment is made of the current level of preparedness within the United States.
UK Medical Responses to Terrorism
Authors: Cole Jennifer
Published: February 2025

This paper will consider the issues that affect UK medical responses to terrorism. It will place the medical response to terrorism in the context of the UK response to any major incident, and contrast responses to terrorist attacks with responses to other medical emergencies in the UK. In doing this, it will focus specifically on the elements within such responses that are unique to terrorism.
Emerging Technologies – Potential New Threats in the 21st Century
Authors: Sharan Yair
Published: February 2025

Trends in the proliferation of terrorism are examined and determined to point toward imminent escalation. Timetables for this projected escalation are provided. Current trends in science and technology are used to predict the forms this escalation of terrorism could take. A determination is made that there is a compelling likelihood that terrorists will be willing and able to obtain and employ these future technologies. It is concluded that safeguards are required in certain scientific and technological fields in order to avert the current risk.
Dimensions of Global Terrorism
Authors: Uğur Ersen M.
Published: February 2025

To facilitate a detailed analysis of the various dimensions of terrorism, it would be helpful to do a general threat assessment of terrorism and to discuss the leading global problems both today and in the future that may affect terrorism. Terrorism is currently a lethal, destructive phenomenon with the potential to cause massive casualties. Advances in counter-measures, however, have not progressed at the same pace. Concerns about cyberterrorism and terrorist access to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) are increasing. Accordingly, this paper will examine four key subjects: cyberterrorism, WMD, the media, and legal dimensions of terrorism.
Rules of Engagement for Counter-Terrorism and Crisis
Authors: Aytaç Osman
Published: February 2025

One of the best tools available to policy-makers to help manage armed forces during times of crisis is a set of orders known as rules of engagement (ROE). ROE are guidelines specifying under what conditions or circumstances force may be used to satisfy political and /or military demands. Tension inescapably exists in a system that subordinates armed forces under civilian control while retaining military command. Managing this tension by delineating the boundaries of military action in support of political objectives is another major role of ROE. There are vital links between the strategic and tactical levels of conflict. The strongest of these links are often ROE, as they enable mission accomplishment, force protection, and compliance with law and policy. ROE act as a kind of tool for politicians to control the level of “use of force” by the military. ROE are also a kind of tool for military commanders to command and control their units in order to fulfil the requirements of their mission. The ROE for counter-terrorist operations are different than war ROE in terms of applicable law and the political desire, which is less provocative in order to minimize the possibility of escalating the political situation.
Behind the Virtual Chador: Iran through Iranian Cyberspace
Authors: Raz Shai
Published: February 2025

Iranian cyberspace and specially the phenomenon of Iranian weblogs reflects the diverse nature of Iranian nation, society and politics. The rapid development of the Internet in Iran caught the regime largely off gourd but in response it implemented dualistic approach: severe restriction measures side by side with efforts to harness this new media to its advantage. While Iranian cyberspace views as a whole reflect the diversity of the global web, the use of the Internet by the Iranian regime is largely focusing with supporting its radical policies, which turns Iran into a “radicalism sponsoring state”.
Digital Hate: Terror, Anti-Semitism and Racism on the Internet
Authors: Hacohen Eli
Published: February 2025

Most of the antisemitic and extremist threats we face today are asymmetrical – a small group with often very little resources challenges state(s) and societies. No open war is declared, combatants do not meet in the field. A large portion of the war has been transferred to the virtual world – the internet is used to spread propaganda, coordinate, fundraise, gather intelligence, etc. or in some cases as an offensive weapon to launch attacks on critical infrastructure modern countries heavily depend upon. In this short introduction I will briefly address the underlying (technical) properties of the internet that make it so use- and powerful for extrem groups in asymmetrical conflicts. This shall also point out the immense challenges states are confronted with in the face of the internet as a decentralised, highly available and cheap operational mean. How can states extend their influence beyond their national borders in order to effectively meet these challenges and consequently how does national and international legislation have to be changed to allow for effective countermeasure while maintaining the ability to ensure fundamental civic rights?
Islamic Terrorism in Europe
Authors: Stan Mariana
Published: February 2025

The development of the Islamist-rooted home-grown terrorism in Europe requires an approach to that phenomenon in terms of favourable social and ideological factors. To understand the radicalisation process of young Muslims, descendants of second and/or third-generation immigrants and converts, we consider a series of phases and tools that can be applied to certain individuals identified in recruitment ground environments. From this perspective, we shall analyse the way the Internet and audio-visual mass media are used to indoctrinate not only Muslims in the Islamic states, but especially targets in the European countries, with a focus on the Balkan region.
Tradeoffs for reliable quantum information storage in 2D systems
Authors: Bravyi Sergey  , Poulin David  , Terhal Barbara
Published: February 2025

We ask whether there are fundamental limits on storing quantum information reliably in a bounded volume of space. To investigate this question, we study quantum error correcting codes specified by geometrically local commuting constraints on a 2D lattice of finite-dimensional quantum particles. For these 2D systems, we derive a tradeoff between the number of encoded qubits k, the distance of the code d, and the number of particles n. It is shown that kd2= O(n) where the coefficient in O(n) depends only on the locality of the constraints and dimension of the Hilbert spaces describing individual particles. We show that the analogous tradeoff for the classical information storage is k(√d) = O(n).
Multi-pixel sources of entangled light in the correlation measurements without homodyne detection
Authors: Golubev Yuri  , Golubeva Tania  , Samburskaya Ksenia
Published: February 2025

We present a procedure for the measurement of quadrature components of an electromagnetic field in the far-field as an alternative to the traditional approach based on the homodyne detection (HD) technique. For this we suggest to use coherent sources such as phase-locked lasers or optical parametric oscillators operating above threshold. Then we show how to arrange the detection procedure in the far field that is exactly or partly equivalent to the HD. Our scheme can be applied for both the classical and non-classical fields. The potential of the procedure is illustrated by an example which utilizes the pixellised sources of the non-classical light. As an integral part of our investigation we develop a theory of the pixellised source of the spatio-temporally squeezed light.
Nonmultiplicativity of probability of faithful teleportation in the Knill-Laflamme-Milburn scheme
Authors: Grudka Andrzej  , Modławska Joanna
Published: February 2025

We discuss linear optical quantum teleportation in the Knill-Laflamme-Milburn scheme. We calculate the probability of faithful teleportation when one uses nonmaximally entangled states. We show that for single teleportation maximally entangled state is optimal. On the other hand for a sequence of teleportations nonmaximally entangled state is optimal. Hence, probability of faithful teleportation is nonmultiplicative. We also introduce measure of nonmultiplicativity and show that nonmultiplicativity increases with the number of teleportations.
Observable measures of entanglement
Authors: Usenko Constantin V.
Published: February 2025

The complexity of quantum channel state determination problem for mono and paired quantum channels is considered. Result is in proportionality of complexity to dimension of space of quantum channel for Eva’s task, and independence for Bob’s task. New physical quantity, inseparability, is proposed as measure of entanglement of states. Application of inseparability to states of paired modes of quantum electromagnetic field shows dependence of entanglement on intensity of biphoton light.
QKD: a million signal task
Authors: Scarani Valerio
Published: February 2025

I review the ideas and main results in the derivation of security bounds in quantum key distribution for keys of finite length. In particular, all the detailed studies on specific protocols and implementations indicate that no secret key can be extracted if the number of processed signals per run is smaller than 105− 106. I show how these numbers can be recovered from very basic estimates.
Psychological Support for the Romanian Combat Troops Before, During and After Deployment
Authors: Prisacaru Adrian  , Macarenco Maria-Magdalena
Published: February 2025

Seven years of militaries operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, thousands of soldiers deployed, many of them wounded or killed, yet, just a few posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases. The Romanian Department of Military Psychology has developed a psychological support program for the troops, which starts three months prior to their deployment and ceases two months after they begin to work again in their back home units, which means almost an year of psychological presence among the soldiers, in their main military activities. The program begins with a psychological selection so only the determined and emotional stable soldiers are chosen for the mission. Before the deployment, the Romanian troops are psychological trained for the theater specific conditions and risks by giving them information about combat stress, PTSD, acute stress disorder, different ways of intervention and by gradually increasing the difficulty of the military exercises. The most important part of the program is the presence of the psychologist inside the deployment camp where he can immediately assist a soldier in order to decrease the tension of combat stress and to stop the symptoms from becoming chronicle. The last part is the post-mission psychological evaluation where the specialists could identify the presence of PTSD, anxiety and depression disorders. The importance of this psychological support program will be discussed; especially the crucial impact of the psychologist inside the deployment camp where early intervention is mandatory for decreasing the chances of PTSD debut.
Virtual Reality and Biofeedback to Help War Fighters Deal with Stress
Authors: Stetz Melba C.  , Ganz Michael B.  , Folen Raymond A.
Published: February 2025

Many individuals in the world suffer from stress. The United States military is no exception. In fact, many war fighters return from theater with combat stress symptoms. Sadly, they often worry about becoming stigmatized if they seek professional help. Fortunately, the new generation of war fighters seems to be very technologically-driven. Therefore, a new promising and less stigmatized way to reach out to service members could be via VR. The purpose of this article is to briefly discuss combat stress and how the virtual reality, along with biofeedback, may be use to help war fighters.
Acute Stress Reaction in Croatian Soldiers during 1991-1992 and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder as an Outcome Eight Years Later
Authors: Franˇišković Tanja  , Stevanović Aleksandra  , Šuković Zoran
Published: February 2025

During the war in Croatia, a number of soldiers were referred to psychiatrists for acute psychological disturbances due combat-related stress. The aim of this study was to determinate the clinical presentation and effect of applied treatment in soldiers who sought psychological help during the most intensive combat period 1991to 1992 and to investigate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence eight years later as a probable acute stress reaction (ASR) outcome. We analyzed the available medical data on the symptoms and course of treatment of 350 soldiers who visited psychiatrist during 1991 and 1992 due to acute psychological disturbances. Out of first pool, 96 persons took part in research eight years later. General demographic questionnaire, list of traumatic events from Harvard trauma questionnaire and Mississippi scale for combat-related PTSD were applied. Soldiers with ASR visited psychiatrist on average once or twice, 64.9% of them returned to the front, 16.5 % were demobilized and 4% remained in psychiatric treatment. Average duration of frontline service was 112 days. Group debriefing came out as a successful treatment technique for ASR in terms of shortening disability period but had no effects on preventing chronic psychological disturbances. Eight years later, 26% veterans suffered from PTSD. Those with and without PTSD did not differ in age, socioeconomic status, and length of military service, ASR treatment and return to the frontline.