bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceived Reasons for High and Low Quality Observational HIV Research Data
Authors: Duda Stephany N.  , McGowan Catherine C.  , Gadd Cynthia S.
Published: February 2025

Audits of data quality in a Latin America HIV research network revealed that study sites collected weight measurements, laboratory results, and medication data of inconsistent quality. We surveyed site personnel about perceived drivers of their high or low quality data. Most sites reported their research teams contained no data specialists and that missing data stemmed primarily from incomplete patient assessments at the point of care rather than inconsistent data recording. The root causes of data errors resulted from limited clinic resources (e.g., broken scales, limited record storage space), workflow complications, or the indifference of external participants towards research activities. Understanding these factors supports targeted quality improvement processes.
Quality of Life Measurements in Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Authors: Parimbelli Enea  , Fizzotti Gabriella  , Pistarini Caterina  , Rognoni Carla  , Quaglini Silvana
Published: February 2025

We recently developed UceWeb, an application for direct elicitation of utility coefficients (UCs), i.e. a measure of health states quality perceived by patients. UceWeb was used to interview a sample of patients affected by spinal cord injury (SCI). A standard questionnaire for measuring quality of life (QoL) and another one for the system evaluation were also administered to the same patients. The aims of this work are to (i) evaluate UceWeb usability; (ii) investigate relationships among QoL values elicited with different methods, (iii) create a reference set of UCs for the health states experienced by SCI patients. We show preliminary results obtained with the first 20 patients. Despite great variability found among QoL values elicited with the different methods, interesting correlations with patients' condition and profile have been found.
Multiple ANN Recognizers for Adaptive Recognition of the Speech of Dysarthric Patients in AAL Systems
Authors: Nagy Gabriella  , Kutor Laszlo
Published: February 2025

People suffering from neuromuscular disorders are one of the main target groups of speech-controlled Ambient Assisted Living systems. However, the speech of these patients is often distorted because of the dysarthric symptoms of the disease. The dysarthria is known to become worse as the disease progresses. We propose a framework for an adaptive speech recognition system that may be able to follow the slow deterioration of speech quality without risking the accuracy of the system from incorrect data.
BrailleEasy: One-handed Braille Keyboard for Smartphones
Authors: Šepić Barbara  , Ghanem Abdurrahman  , Vogel Stephan
Published: February 2025

The evolution of mobile technology is moving at a very fast pace. Smartphones are currently considered a primary communication platform where people exchange voice calls, text messages and emails. The human-smartphone interaction, however, is generally optimized for sighted people through the use of visual cues on the touchscreen, e.g., typing text by tapping on a visual keyboard. Unfortunately, this interaction scheme renders smartphone technology largely inaccessible to visually impaired people as it results in slow typing and higher error rates. Apple and some third party applications provide solutions specific to blind people which enables them to use Braille on smartphones. These applications usually require both hands for typing. However, Brailling with both hands while holding the phone is not very comfortable. Furthermore, two-handed Brailling is not possible on smartwatches, which will be used more pervasively in the future. Therefore, we develop a platform for one-handed Brailing consisting of a custom keyboard called BrailleEasy to input Arabic or English Braille codes within any application, and a BrailleTutor application for practicing. Our platform currently supports Braille grade 1, and will be extended to support contractions, spelling correction, and more languages. Preliminary analysis of user studies for blind participants showed that after less than two hours of practice, participants were able to type significantly faster with the BrailleEasy keyboard than with the standard QWERTY keyboard.
Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers Using GPS
Authors: Øderud Tone  , Landmark Bjørg  , Eriksen Sissel  , Fossberg Anne Berit  , Aketun Sigrid  , Omland May  , Hem Karl-Gerhard  , Østensen Elisabeth  , Ausen Dag
Published: February 2025

The aim of the study is to generate knowledge on the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to support autonomy and independence for persons with dementia. By studying a larger cohort of persons with dementia (n=208) and their caregivers, this study provides essential knowledge for planning and implementing GPS technology as a part of public health care services. Commercially available GPS technology was provided to the cohort of 208 persons with dementia from nineteen different Norwegian municipalities. The participants used GPS when performing outdoor activities as part of their daily life during a period of time between 2012 and 2014. Their family caregivers were instructed on how to use the GPS technology for locating the participants. The study documents that using GPS for locating persons with dementia provide increased safety for the person with dementia, their family caregivers and their professional caregivers. Furthermore the results confirm that by using GPS, persons with dementia may maintain their autonomy, enjoy their freedom and continue their outdoor activities despite the progression of the disease. Preconditions for successful implementation are that health professionals are trained to assess the participant's needs, that ethical dilemmas are considered, that caregivers have adequate knowledge about using the technology and that procedures and routines for administrating the GPS and locating persons with dementia are established. Early intervention and close collaboration between persons with dementia, family caregivers and professional caregivers are important for successful implementation of GPS in public health care.
Creating healthy nursing home environment via lighting interventions: a theoretical approach
Authors: Huisman Emelieke R.C.M.  , Kort Helianthe S.M.
Published: February 2025

In the Netherlands long-term care facilities made investments in order to improve the well-being of their residents and to support healthcare professionals in their daily task. Light is one of the technical solutions that might be contribute to support the well-being of older residents in long-term care facilities. This study investigates which possibilities are available to enrich the current situation to support the well-being, activities of daily living, and quality of life of older residents from lighting perspective. The light measurements show that the conditions are low and the value of 750 lux mainly reached on measurements points close to the window area. In this field study the light conditions are improved through a static lighting system. Further research is needed in order to investigate how the new light plan affect the quality of life and to define light guidelines for long-term care facilities.
Operational Assistance for Elderly People by Using Audio Rhythms
Authors: Akatsu Hiroko  , Komatsubara Akinori
Published: February 2025

Recently, Information Technology (IT) machines with complicated function are requiring better user assistance, particularly for elderly people. It is necessary to reduce the psychological load such as a sense of insecurity and impatience in operation, as well as the cognitive load. One approach to reduce psychological load is voice guidance. However many elderly people may become confused due to the speed of guidance. Sometimes it is too fast or too slow. Ideally it must synchronize to the user's operational pace reflecting context of use. This research focuses on enhanced operational rhythm to reduce psychological load on the elderly when using a Multiple Function Printer (MFP), which requires the user to navigate between quite a few settings. Evaluation was carried out by observing elderly subjects using an MFP interface whilst hearing a metronome at a tempo of 40, 60 and 120 bpm (beats per minute). The number of operational errors and overall time taken were recorded along with subjective evaluation via interviews with the subjects. The results showed that providing audio rhythm is effective, however a rhythm which is too fast produces a negative effect.
SHARON: a Simulator of Human Activities, ROutines and Needs
Authors: Veronese Fabio  , Proserpio Daniele  , Comai Sara  , Matteucci Matteo  , Salice Fabio
Published: February 2025

In a few decades, requests for assistance to the elderly will increase the already high health care costs. Within this context, a possible solution is represented by smart environments where services help dwellers' life. The development of smart technologies requires large datasets for training, validation or testing. Since the data collection from real smart homes has high costs the authors developed SHARON – a Simulator of Human Activity, ROutines and Needs. This software aims to support such projects, virtually reproducing environments and behaviors of the dwellers. This work proposes and validates a behavioral model able reproduce decisions and human habits, starting from an available data set or an interview. Physiological parameters and habits are merged with a probabilistic approach, choosing the most likely activity. With respect to other behavioral simulators available in the literature, SHARON is focused on routines and activities generation, based on user defined high level parameters. Within the evaluation phase it was applied a cross-validation approach, by simulating 300 days starting from a training set of 23 days and testing with the remaining 7 days validation set. As expected, results prove the simulated data correctly reproduce the activities routine distributions, in particular the more regular ones.
Improving quality of life through ICT for the facilitation of daily activities and home medical monitoring
Authors: Klironomos Iosif  , Antona Margherita  , Stephanidis Constantine
Published: February 2025

The potential of Information and Communication Technologies to improve the overall quality of life of all citizens cannot be underestimated. In particular, in the context of Ambient Intelligent environments, technological developments provide a great opportunity for the integration and the improvement of quality of life of people from vulnerable groups (patients, elderly, people with disabilities). In this context, the paper presents the aims, objectives and preliminary results of a National research project in Greece, named KRIPIS “Quality of Life”, implemented by three research Institutes of FORTH, targeting post-heart attack elderly patients at their home environments.
Delivering beneficial impacts in Assistive Technology: Improving government's approach to innovation
Authors: Lane Joseph P.
Published: February 2025

Society typically relies on the industrial sector to supply product and service innovations through the free market system. In some areas of free market failure deemed important to society – such as Assistive Technology – governments intervene by applying alternative innovation systems. This paper contends that governments consistently and inappropriately support an exploratory grant approach led by academia which generates knowledge in conceptual and prototype states, and instead should shift to a procurement contract approach led by industry which designs, tests and deploys commercial products and services.
Cost-effectiveness of powered wheelchairs: findings of a study
Authors: Andrich Renzo  , Salatino Claudia  , Converti Rosa Maria  , Saruggia Maurizio
Published: February 2025

This study surveyed a sample of 79 wheelchair users who had obtained powered wheelchairs from the National Health Service in an Italian Region in the period 2008–2013. The wheelchair prescriptions had been done on the basis of an assessment protocol agreed with the Local Health Authority. Follow-up interviews were carried out at the users' homes, in order to collect information about the wheelchair use and its effectiveness, usefulness and economic impact. The instruments used in the interviews included an introductory questionnaire (describing the wheelchair use), the QUEST (measuring the user's satisfaction), the PIADS (measuring the psychosocial impact, in terms of perceived changes in ability, adaptability and self-esteem), the FABS/M (detecting environmental facilitators and barriers) and the SCAI (estimating the economic impact). Overall, positive outcomes were detected for most users, especially in relation to their satisfaction and the psychosocial impact. A number of barriers were identified in various settings (at home, in public places, in natural spaces, in public transportation) that sometimes restrict the user mobility and thus may claim for corrective actions. Several environmental factors acting as facilitators were also identified. In relation to the economic impact, the provision of a powered wheelchair generated remarkable savings in social costs for most of the users, on average about 36.000 Euros per person on a projected 5-years span. This estimate results from the comparison between the social cost of the intervention (sum of the costs of all material and human resources involved in the provision and usage of the wheelchair) and the cost of non-intervention (the presumed social cost incurred in case no powered wheelchair had been provided and the user had to carry on with just a manual wheelchair). The study was also an opportunity to develop and try out a follow-up method that proved applicable within service delivery practice.
Bioimpedance based monitoring system for people with neurogenic dysfunction of the urinary bladder
Authors: Palla Alessandro  , Rossi Stefano  , Fanucci Luca
Published: February 2025

Patients with impaired bladder volume sensation have the necessity to monitor bladder level in order to avoid urinary tract infections and urinary reflux that can lead to renal failure. In this paper the the effectiveness of an embedded and wearable solution for bladder volume monitoring using the bioimpedance measurement is tested. Data are streamed real-time using Bluetooth wireless technology. The bioimpedance measurements on a healthy subject prove the effectiveness of the proposed solution. In the future the system will be evaluated in real world scenarios with patients affected by spinal paralysis and bladder neurogenic dysfunction.
Comfort, Stability and Body Posture in Wheelchair Cushions: a preliminary study with able bodied subjects
Authors: Gonçalves Diego D.  , Franchini Ana E.  , Sardella Adrieli  , Bonfim Gabriel H.C.  , Medola Fausto O.  , Paschoarelli Luis C.
Published: February 2025

Long term wheelchair usage has been related to a number of problems, among which pressure ulcers are one of most concern. The design of wheelchair seat cushions has been of increasing interest among researchers, as it can influence seat interface pressure and user's comfort. The aim of this study was to investigate the subjects' perception comfort, stability and body posture of six different commercially available wheelchair cushions. The evaluation was through a questionnaire, where the subjects rate their perceptions on a ten point visual analog scale after staying seated in the cushion for two minutes. The results shows that the RohoTMaircell cushion was preferred by the users, while the least preferred one was the water cushion. Individuals' subjective perceptions may compliment objective data on seat interface pressure, thus contributing to a more complete view of the users' experience during wheelchair cushion usage.
Physician Experiences with Perceived Pressure to Order Diagnostic Imaging Services
Authors: Griffith Janessa  , Monkman Helen  , Borycki Elizabeth  , Kushniruk Andre
Published: February 2025

The overuse of diagnostic imaging (DI) services, which is estimated to be 30% in Canada, can expose patients to unnecessary radiation, and strain human and financial resources. This study explored the DI ordering practices of physicians in Canada through semi-structured interviews to gain a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to the overuse of DI services. The majority of participants (n=11; 91%) described feeling pressured by patients to order DI services in circumstances that were unwarranted. The results are followed by a discussion about ways technology (such as a decision support system) could aid in facilitating a dialogue between physicians and patients about when and when not to order DI.
Enhancing Healthcare Provider Feedback and Personal Health Literacy: Dual Use of a Decision Quality Measure
Authors: Kaltoft Mette Kjer  , Nielsen Jesper Bo  , Salkeld Glenn  , Dowie Jack
Published: February 2025

In this protocol for a pilot study we seek to establish the feasibility of using a web-based survey to simultaneously supply healthcare organisations and agencies with feedback on a key aspect of the care experience they provide and increase the generic health decision literacy of the individuals responding. The focus is on the person's involvement in decision making, an aspect of care which is seriously under-represented in current surveys if one adopts the perspective of person-centred care. By engaging with an instrument to assess decision quality the person can, in the one action, provide a retrospective evaluation of a past decision making experience in a specific provider context and enhance their competency in future decision making in any setting. We see this as an exercise in context-sensitive educational health informatics.
Speeding Up Neural Networks for Large Scale Classification using WTA Hashing
Authors: Bakhtiary Amir H.  , Lapedriza Agata  , Masip David
Published: February 2025

In this paper we propose to use the Winner Takes All hashing technique to speed up forward propagation and backward propagation in fully connected layers in convolutional neural networks. The proposed technique reduces significantly the computational complexity, which in turn, allows us to train layers with a large number of kernels without the associated time penalty.
Identifying Nutritional Patterns through Integrative Multiview Clustering
Authors: Sevilla-Villanueva B.  , Gibert K.  , Sànchez-Marrè M.
Published: February 2025

The main goal of this work is to develop a methodology for finding nutritional patterns based on a variety of subject characteristics which can contribute to better understand the interactions between nutrition and health, provided that the complexity of the phenomenon gives poor performance using classical approaches. An innovative methodology based on advanced clustering techniques is proposed in order to find more compact patterns or clusters. The Integrative Multiview Clustering (IMC) combines Multiview Clustering approach with crossing operations over the several partitions obtained. Comparison with other classical clustering techniques is provided to assess the performance of our approach. The Dunn-like cluster validity index proposed by Bezdek & Pal is used for the comparison from a structural point of view, as it is more robust than the original Dunn index. The performance of the IMC method is better than other popular clustering techniques based on the Dunn-like Index. Our findings suggest that the Integrative Multiview Clustering provides more compact and separated clusters. In addition, IMC helps to reduce the high dimensionality of the data based on multiview division of attributes and also, the resulting partition is easier to interpret. Using the Integrative Multiview Clustering approach, a good partition is obtained from a structural point of view. Also, the interpretation of the resulting partition is clearer than the one obtained by classical approaches.
Automatic Recognition of Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer in X-Ray images using Segmentation-based Fractal Texture Analysis
Authors: Torrents-Barrena Jordina  , Valls Aida  , Radeva Petia  , Arenas Meritxell  , Puig Domenec
Published: February 2025

Breast cancer disease has recently been classified into four subtypes regarding the molecular properties of the affected tumor region. For each patient, an accurate diagnosis of the specific type is vital to decide the most appropriate therapy in order to enhance life prospects. Nowadays, advanced therapeutic diagnosis research is focused on gene selection methods, which are not robust enough. Hence, we hypothesize that computer vision algorithms can offer benefits to address the problem of discriminating among them through X-Ray images. In this paper, we propose a novel approach driven by texture feature descriptors and machine learning techniques. First, we segment the tumour part through an active contour technique and then, we perform a complete fractal analysis to collect qualitative information of the region of interest in the feature extraction stage. Finally, several supervised and unsupervised classifiers are used to perform multiclass classification of the aforementioned data. The experimental results presented in this paper support that it is possible to establish a relation between each tumor subtype and the extracted features of the patterns revealed on mammograms.
Body Contours AAM: Automatic Landmarking for People Recognition
Authors: Trejo Karla  , Angulo Cecilio  , Aguado Juan Carlos
Published: February 2025

Active Appearance Model (AAM) is a computer vision procedure for statistical matching of object shape and appearance between images. An approach for automatic landmarking of body shapes on still images for AAMs training is introduced in this paper. We explore the possibility to extend current methods to full body contours. Our proposal represents a new research line in human body pose tracking with a single-view camera. Hence, implementation in real-time would lead to people being recognized by robots endowed with minimal vision resources, like a webcam, in human-robot interaction tasks.
Defining and solving the energy allocation problem with continuous prosumers
Authors: Cerquides Jesus  , Picard Gauthier  , Rodríguez-Aguilar Juan A.
Published: February 2025

Decentralized energy production is meant to reduce generation and distribution inefficiencies, leading to major economic and environmental benefits. This new model is meant to be supported by smart grids, electricity networks that can intelligently integrate the actions of all users connected to them —generators, consumers, and prosumers (those that do both)— to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies. A major research challenge is the design of markets for prosumers in smart grids that consider distribution grid constraints. Recently, a discrete market model has been presented that allows prosumers to trade electricity while satisfying the constraints of the grid. However, most of the times energy flow problems possess a continuous nature, and that discrete market model can only provide approximate solutions. In this paper we extend the market model to deal with continuous (piecewise linear) utility functions. We also provide a mapping that shows that the clearing of such a market can be done by means of integer linear programming.
Averaged Similarities Generable by Single Attributes
Authors: Boixader D.  , Recasens J.
Published: February 2025

In a theoretical setting, the Representation Theorem is used to generate T-indistinguishability operators (fuzzy similarity relations) from a given set of fuzzy criteria. In applied domains, though, other ways of generation are often used which involve quasi-arithmetic means. In this paper we study when one single fuzzy subset, obtained by averaging multiple fuzzy criteria, is able to generate the same T-indistinguishability operator obtained by all of them, either exactly or approximately.
On Free Models for Horn Clauses over Predicate Fuzzy Logics
Authors: Costa Vicent  , Dellunde Pilar
Published: February 2025

This paper is a preliminary study of the universal Horn fragment of Predicate Fuzzy Logics. We work in languages with a binary predicate symbol that is interpreted as a similarity. Using this similarity relation we define a term structure associated to a theory, and we prove that it is a free structure on the class of reduced models of the theory. Finally, we show that the substructure generated by the set of ground terms is a model of all universal Horn sentences that are logical consequences of the theory.
Parameter Identification of Consolidation Settlement Based on Multi-Objective Optimization
Authors: Zheng Ya Fei  , Zhang Lu Lu  , Zhang Jie
Published: February 2025

Due to the complexity of natural ground condition, consolidation settlement is usually difficult to predict. In this study, a Pareto multi-objective optimization based back analysis method for consolidation settlement is presented in this study. The model is a coupled flow and deformation model for unsaturated soil foundation which is implemented in the interactive multiphysics software environment COMSOL. A multi-objective optimization algorithm AMALGAM is adopted to identify soil parameters based on multiple types of measurements. A case history of a highway trial embankment is used to demonstrate the proposed back analysis method. The observed displacement and pore-water pressures are utilized simultaneously to estimate the mechanical and hydraulic parameters of the soil. The results show that the bi-objective Pareto front exhibits a sharp rectangular pattern. When only displacement is used in back analysis, the numerical model with optimized soil parameters cannot simulate pore-water pressure very well, and vice versa. However, the back analyzed soil parameters of the compromise solution from the bi-objective back analysis can reasonably simulate both the displacement and pore-water pressure and predict the settlement well.
Estimation of Probable Maximum Loss Index of Water Supply System
Authors: Maruyama Osamu
Published: February 2025

The numerous major earthquakes in Japan, such as the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, Tohoku Regional Pacific Coast earthquake caused substantial casualties and property damages. Private companies/public utility enterprises should provide disaster reduction investment as part of risk management and prepare a strategic Business Continuity Plan. The significance of the Business Continuity Plan has been increasingly important in the connection of corporate social responsibility. This study focuses on the seismic risk analysis of the existing water supply system. The probable maximum loss index is employed to evaluate the seismic risk. An alternative method is proposed to evaluate Probable Maximum Loss index of the high order water supply network system.
Incorporating Observations to Update the Piping Reliability Estimate of the Francis Levee
Authors: Kanning Willem  , Bocovich Carolyne  , Schweckendiek Timo  , Mooney Michael A.
Published: February 2025

Piping failure of levees is one of the main contributors to flood risk. Piping occurs when the head difference over a levee results in uplift of the inland blanket, followed by backward erosion in the aquifer due to high local flow velocities. Whether piping occurs, highly depends on local geo-hydrological circumstances which are uncertain due to a combination of high soil variability and limited site investigation. Fragility curves, which show the failure probability as a function of water level, are increasingly used for risk assessment of levees to address this uncertainty. The objective of this paper is to show how pore water pressure measurements and visual field observations reduce or increase the calculated failure probability of a levee. The Francis levee in Mississippi (USA) is used to show the effects since this levee is historically known for being very piping sensitive. The first step is to construct fragility curves based on analytical piping models. The second step consists of using historic piezometer data to update knowledge about aquifer and blanket properties. The final step is to use historic seepage observations and sand boils to update the fragility curve. This paper shows that measurements and observations can significantly reduce the geo-hydrological uncertainties regarding a piping-sensitive subsoil. The failure probability of the Francis levees increased with a factor 10 after incorporation of all the data. This increases the prediction accuracy of levee performance at high water levels and subsequently the estimation of whether it may require reinforcement or not.
Interfacing Agents to Real-Time Strategy Games
Authors: Jensen Andreas Schmidt  , Kaysø-Rørdam Christian  , Villadsen Jørgen
Published: February 2025

In real-time strategy games players make decisions and control their units simultaneously. Players are required to make decisions under time pressure and should be able to control multiple units at once in order to be successful. We present the design and implementation of a multi-agent interface for the real-time strategy game STARCRAFT: BROOD WAR. This makes it possible to build agents that control each of the units in a game. We make use of the Environment Interface Standard, thus enabling different agent programming languages to use our interface, and we show how agents can control the units in the game in the Jason and GOAL agent programming languages.
External Eating as a Predictor of Cue-reactivity to Food-related Virtual Environments
Authors: Ferrer-Garcia Marta  , Gutiérrez-Maldonado José  , Pla-Sanjuanelo Joana  , Vilalta-Abella Ferran  , Andreu-Gracia Alexis  , Dakanalis Antonios  , Fernandez-Aranda Fernando  , Fusté-Escolano Adela  , Ribas-Sabaté Joan  , Riva Giuseppe  , Saldaña Carmina  , Sánchez Isabel
Published: February 2025

The objective of this study was to assess the association between external eating style and food craving experienced during exposure to food cues in virtual reality (VR) environments in both clinical and non-clinical samples. According to the externality theory, people with external eating experience higher reactivity when exposed to food cues, which in turn increases the probability of overeating. Forty patients with eating disorders (23 with bulimia nervosa and 17 with binge eating disorder) and 78 undergraduate students were exposed to 10 different food cues in four VR environments (kitchen, dining room, bedroom, and café). After 30 seconds of exposure to each VR environment, food craving was assessed using a visual analog scale. External, emotional and restrictive eating styles were also assessed using the DEBQ. The results showed a strong association between external eating and cue-elicited food craving. After controlling for the presence of eating disorder diagnosis, external eating was the best predictor of reported food craving. The results lend support to the externality theory but highlight the need for further research in specific patterns of functioning in patients with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
Teaching-learning: stereoscopic 3D versus Traditional methods in Mexico City
Authors: Mendoza Oropeza Laura  , Ortiz Sánchez Ricardo  , Ojeda Villagómez Raúl
Published: February 2025

In the UNAM Faculty of Odontology, we use a stereoscopic 3D teaching method that has grown more common in the last year, which makes it important to know whether students can learn better with this strategy. The objective of the study is to know, if the 4th year students of the bachelor's degree in dentistry learn more effectively with the use of stereoscopic 3D than the traditional method in Orthodontics.
Virtual Reality to Train Diagnostic Skills in Eating Disorders. Comparison of two Low Cost Systems
Authors: Gutiérrez-Maldonado José  , Ferrer-García Marta  , Plasanjuanelo Joana  , Andrés-Pueyo Antonio  , Talarn-Caparrós Antoni
Published: February 2025

Enhancing the ability to perform differential diagnosis and psychopathological exploration is important for students who wish to work in the clinical field, as well as for professionals already working in this area. Virtual reality (VR) simulations can immerse students totally in educational experiences in a way that is not possible using other methods. Learning in a VR environment can also be more effective and motivating than usual classroom practices. Traditionally, immersion has been considered central to the quality of a VR system; immersive VR is considered a special and unique experience that cannot achieved by three-dimensional (3D) interactions on desktop PCs. However, some authors have suggested that if the content design is emotionally engaging, immersive systems are not always necessary.
Simulación númerica de placas ancladas en suelos residuales Misioneros
Authors: Orlando Bogado Gustavo  , Reinert Hugo Orlando  , Bressan Daniel Antonio  , Schmidgall Karen Paola
Published: February 2025

Los anclajes constituyen una solución útil para ocasiones donde es necesario soportar esfuerzos de tracción, originados por diferentes situaciones: anclado de muros, pantallas de sostenimiento, torres de transmisión, estabilización de terraplenes, cortes apuntalados, anclado de fundaciones excéntricas, entre otros. La Provincia de Misiones posee una topografía accidentada donde surge la necesidad de utilizar placas ancladas en muchos de los casos mencionados anteriormente, por lo tanto, el estudio de soluciones eficientes es un tema importante y de gran interés para la ingeniería geotécnica de la región. En este artículo se analiza la influencia de la variación en la geometría, la tapada y parámetros geotécnicos por medio del análisis de MEF, los que son comparados con fórmulas semiempíricas. Para ellos, se utilizó un código comercial Plaxis 2D, con el cual se simuló el arrancamiento de placas horizontales de chapa de hierro de 50 mm de espesor y con un ancho variable B dispuestas a diferentes profundidades H.
Interaction Behavior of the Bearing Members of Steel Grid Soil Reinforcement
Authors: Alam Md. Jahid Iftekhar  , Lo S.R.
Published: February 2025

Experimental investigations suggest that the bearing resistance against transverse members of grid-type soil reinforcement increases with the increase of spacing ratio, the ratio between transverse member's spacing and thickness. However, numerical modeling of the interaction behavior of bearing members of inextensible grid-type soil reinforcements is rather limited in the literature. In this study, an attempt was made to numerically investigate the interaction behavior of the bearing members of a steel grid reinforcement embedded in a silty sand. The pre-peak behavior of the soil was controlled by a non-linear elastic modulus and special routines were developed to represent the post-peak strain-softening behavior of the sandy soil. Local bearing stress in front of the transverse bars was explicitly modeled. The mobilization of the pull-out bearing stress was computed for different spacing ratios, numbers and diameters of the transverse bars. All the soil input parameters used in the analyses were obtained from independent laboratory triaxial testing. The computed results suggested that the effect of the spacing between the transverse bars on the pull-out bearing stress was negligible when the bars were placed at a spacing ratio close to 50. However, a significant influence of bar spacing was observed with the further reduction of the spacing ratio. The computed results also suggested that the effect of bar diameter had only a small influence on the bearing stress.
Mechanical characterization of a hydraulic fill sand and FEM simulation of cellular cofferdams at Carena project
Authors: Rellán Gonzalo  , García Mendive Iñaki  , Ezama Ignacio  , Paz Walther Federico  , Vernengo Lezica Ignacio  , Codevilla Mauro  , Manzanal Diego  , Sfriso Alejo Oscar
Published: February 2025

The Carena project is located at Puerto Belgrano Naval Base in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province in Argentina. The project consists of the temporary watertight closure of dry dock N°. 2 for maintenance and repair of the dock's infrastructure. The closure was effected by means of a cellular cofferdam composed of three main cells 21.8m in diameter linked by connecting arcs and two kidney-shaped cells that connect the cofferdam to the wharf wall. The structure was built with 20m-long driven sheet piles and filled with hydraulic sand which was densified by vibration after placement. The soils mechanics laboratory at the University of Buenos Aires performed the physical and mechanical characterization of the Carena sand by means of consolidated drained (CIDC) and undrained (CIUC) triaxial tests at different relative densities and effective confinement pressures. A desktop study was performed that included the calibration of the Hardening Soil Constitutive Model (HSM) for various relative densities and the execution of a finite element numerical model of the whole closure in Plaxis 3D.
Slopes Stabilization Using Mixture of Soil and Dimension Stone Waste Chemically Stabilized with Portland Cement
Authors: Dias Neemias  , Pires Patrício  , Yin Mateus  , Ribeiro Rômulo
Published: February 2025

The aim of this research is to reutilize waste originated from the dimension stones processing in soil-cement mixtures for earthworks. The soil where the samples were collected from was being used as material for road bases and subbases, and the stone waste samples from stone processing companies. At the specimen molding, part of the soil was substituted for 20% of waste and 10% of Portland cement. Based on the direct shear tests results, some reshaping of slopes were simulated, varying their heights and inclinations. The simulations resulted in a relevant database, proving the possibility of using the waste of dimension stones processing in soil cement mixtures for smooth slopes.
Volume evaluation due to wetting in a collapsible soil used in a housing development in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco State - Brazil
Authors: da Silva Veríssimo Klayde Janny  , Torres Moacy Silva  , Ferreira Rayanne Godê de Brito  , Freitas Marta Lúcia Rolim de Almendra  , Ferreira Silvio Romero de Melo
Published: February 2025

Natural collapsible soils in Brazil are generally found in aluvial, colluvial and residual soils that have suffered lixiviation in the superficial horizons, in regions where dry and wet seasons are clearly marked, and in arid or semi-arid regions with very low soil water content. There are known occurrences of collapsible soils in the States of Amazonas, Piaui, Ceará, Pernambuco, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District. In the last three decades, many public projects have been developed in areas where the occurrence of collapsible soil has been associated to geotechnical problems. This paper studies a collapsible soil in the State of Pernambuco; it is associated with large engineering projects such as housing. The geotechnical investigation program included test with a field apparatus, called - colapsometer, which allows the measurement of the field settlements of a small 0.08 m of diameter plate inserted at any depth inside auger holes, static and dynamic tests with penetrometer and reconnaissance borings with SPT (standard penetration test), investigation pits with undisturbed block sampling and disturbed samples for laboratory tests were also made in order to assess the type and characteristics of the soil. Laboratory work included double and simple oedometer tests with a controlled rate of water inflow of 1.0 mL/s. The soil is truly collapsible and potential collapse values increase with stress up to 160 kPa and decreases for higher values peaking behavior. The collapse values obtained with the Expanso-colapsometer are lower than those obtained in the laboratory and the collapse occurs more rapidly in the laboratory than in the field. The penetrometer DPL and Static are promising research techniques to assess the loss of a sandy soil resistance due to wetting.
Control de Calidad de Terraplenes en Uruguay
Authors: Hasard Daniel  , Gutiérrez Álvaro  , Chimenceji Pablo
Published: February 2025

Para asegurar el correcto comportamiento de un terraplén es necesario un conjunto de actividades que abarcan todas las etapas del proyecto y construcción: desde la investigación geotécnica, selección de materiales, diseño, procedimientos constructivos, la ejecución y el producto terminado. Dada la escasa normativa existente en Uruguay sobre controles de calidad en terraplenes, y en el entendido que no hay recetas aplicables a todos los casos, se realiza una propuesta con lineamientos generales de control de calidad de terraplenes aplicada a Uruguay y apropiada a sus condiciones tecnológicas.
Tube Suction Test to Evaluate Moisture Susceptibility of Lightly Stabilised Granular Materials
Authors: Theivakularatnam Mathanraj  , Gnanendran Carthigesu T.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the outcome of an experimental study on the moisture susceptibility of lightly stabilised granular materials. Granular materials from two sources, one from Canberra and the other from Queensland, stabilised with small percentage of two different binders, namely cement-flyash (CF) and slag-lime (SL), were used. Tube suction test (TST) was conducted on cylindrical samples which were moulded at different moisture contents and cured for 7 days. Drying temperature of 60°C was chosen to dry the specimens prior to TST. Two different experimental setups with and without a 20 mm high peripheral non-sealed surface in addition to the porous disk for water ingress at the bottom of the sample were used for the TST. Details of these experimental setups are discussed in the paper. Dielectric value (DV) measurements were taken on top of the specimen's surface for 10 days using Percometer equipped with a surface probe. At the end of TST test, specimens were tested for unconfined compressive strength (UCS). It was found that rate of moisture infiltration was very high in the first few days irrespective of the granular material or binder. The moulding moisture contents showed significant influence on DVs. Correlation between DVs and UCS for the lightly stabilised CM and QM were inferred from this study. Moreover, DVs from TST showed clear differences with changes in binder content, type of binder and type of material which makes TST a possible experimental procedure that could be used to study the moisture susceptibility of lightly stabilised granular materials.
Laboratory Testing of Clays to obtain Effective Strength Envelopes for IH-35E Design-Build Project in North Texas
Authors: Bravo Oswaldo  , Neupane Deepak K.  , Levorson Steven M.
Published: February 2025

The Interstate Highway 35 East (IH-35E) running through Dallas and Denton Counties in Texas, United States will undergo significant construction improvements for approximately 48 kms (30 miles). The 1.5 billion US dollars Design-Build project is expected to relieve traffic congestion in one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the North Texas region. In this project, over 120 Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Retaining Walls are planned to be constructed over the sandy lean and fat clay soils overlying the Eagle Ford Shale and Woodbine Sandstone. To characterize the engineering properties of the foundation soils, 13 consolidated-undrained triaxial compression tests and 13 stress-history controlled direct simple shear tests on reconstituted samples were conducted. The results were analyzed along with the database containing 17 laboratory shear test results from previous projects in the area. Historically, the soils derived from the Eagle Ford shale are known to be problematic resulting in stability issues when exposed to changes in moisture content. These soils usually have an overconsolidation ratio (OCR) between 1 and 6. Statistical analyses were performed to provide recommendations for Mohr-Coulomb effective (long term) strength parameters to be used in external stability analyses of the MSE walls. The analyses were performed on the basis of type of laboratory tests (difference in failure mechanism), index classification (liquid limit and percent sand content), and overconsolidation ratio to account for the desiccated soil layers. Based on the results from these analyses, there exist significant differences in soils engineering parameters in the lean (CL) and fat (CH) clays and the sandy lean (SC) clays and in relation to the sample degree of overconsolidation. The studied behavior and engineering used to propose five Mohr-Coulomb effective strength envelopes to be used in the external stability analyses of the MSE walls.
Conditional Permissions in Contracts
Authors: Pace Gordon J.  , Schapachnik Fernando  , Schneider Gerardo
Published: February 2025

Defining and characterising conditional permissions has never been easy. Part of the problem, we believe, comes from the fact that there is not one but a whole family of possible deontic operators, all of them distinct and reasonable, that can be labelled as conditional permissions. In this article, rather than disputing the correct interpretation, we revisit a number of different interpretations the term has received in the literature, and propose appropriate formalisations for these interpretations within the context of contract automata.
Abstract handling of Information and Knowledge
Authors: Tyugu Enn
Published: February 2025

We discuss main formalisations of information and knowledge available in literature. Knowledge is considered as a meaning of data for an actor who can understand and use it. The actor can be a computer, a robot, a human being or even a virus. We make an assumption that the usage of knowledge depends on material data carrier only as much as the latter allows one to perform operations and restricts knowledge processing through capacity and time. This permits one to consider knowledge abstractly. Knowledge handling requires some tools that are called knowledge systems. These systems have different forms and they can be connected in various ways as it follows from the analysed publications. A metrics of knowledge is discussed that reflects the capability of solving problems.
Evolving Database Conceptual Graph Partitioning
Authors: Locuratolo Elvira Immacolata
Published: February 2025

Algorithms of graph partitioning exploited in conceptual database design were reused to define a methodology of database concept preservation. An algorithm, the concept construction algorithm that relates concept theory to computer science was designed. This algorithm, however, is not suitable for implementation. In this paper, a relationship between conceptual graphs and concept generalization hierarchies is established at the boundary between concept theory and computer science. The algorithmic property of class/concept completeness is given and an algorithm designed to achieve this property is introduced. This algorithm, which has its own autonomy, can also be considered as a refinement step of the concept construction algorithm.
Deep Learning Algorithm and Applications in Location Big Data Mining
Authors: Gao Fa-Qin  , Xia Hai-Xia
Published: February 2025

Location big data (LBD) has become an important resource for building smart cities and intelligent transportation systems. LBD mining poses many serious challenges, including the determination of processes to efficiently mine high-order abstract data, which has gradually attracted the attention of many experts to address this problem. We introduce a deep learning algorithm (DLA) to LBD mining. First, we explore the current research on deep neural networks (DNN) and DLA. Then, we design a framework which utilizes DLA in LBD mining from a probability perspective. Finally, simulation results indicate that our method is efficacious.