ethicalabs/Research-Intent-Collab huggingface dataset:
A non-queue-based paradigm in Discrete-Event-Simulation modelling for construction operations

Abstract   Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) is an event-driven simulation approach in which a real dynamic process is imitated as it progresses over time. It has been recognized as a powerful technique for the quantitative analysis of complex construction operations. However, current DES modelling strategies/frameworks implicitly rely on queuing structures which are too rigid to easily describe systems with complex behaviour common in construction, e.g., multi-tasking resources and/or role changes of entities. Queuing networks are one of the most common elements of DES systems and have been used to model a wide range of problems, but they lack the generality to easily model the complex decision mechanisms required to, e.g., efficiently multi-task or dynamically determine the best role for an entity. This research proposes a new modelling approach for construction that replaces Queue-Based (QB) DES, with its implicit queuing network control, with Non-Queue-Based (NQB) DES that explicitly defines the decision mechanisms of a model. It utilises a new conceptual modelling paradigm for simulation, Hierarchical Control Conceptual Modelling, which was developed to address similar issues with control mechanisms in health care simulation. This new approach is especially beneficial for the construction industry where determining effective decision making mechanisms is of significant importance for optimising, e.g., logistics and resource utilisation. This research investigates the benefits of the proposed approach for DES models in construction by investigating three earthmoving case studies. Although the scope of this research is limited to DES modelling in construction, the outcomes of the proposed NQB paradigm in construction translate to other domains that utilise DES for solving complex problems.
Melting curves of ice polymorphs in the vicinity of the liquid-liquid critical point

The possible existence of a liquid-liquid critical point in deeply supercooled water has been a subject of debate in part due to the challenges associated with providing definitive experimental evidence. Pioneering work by Mishima and Stanley [Nature 392, 164 (1998) and Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 334 (2000)] sought to shed light on this problem by studying the melting curves of different ice polymorphs and their metastable continuation in the vicinity of the expected location of the liquid-liquid transition and its associated critical point. Based on the continuous or discontinuous changes in slope of the melting curves, Mishima suggested that the liquid-liquid critical point lies between the melting curves of ice III and ice V. Here, we explore this conjecture using molecular dynamics simulations with a purely-predictive machine learning model based on ab initio quantum-mechanical calculations. We study the melting curves of ices III, IV, V, VI, and XIII using this model and find that the melting lines of all the studied ice polymorphs are supercritical and do not intersect the liquid-liquid transition locus. We also find a pronounced, yet continuous, change in slope of the melting lines upon crossing of the locus of maximum compressibility of the liquid. Finally, we analyze critically the literature in light of our findings, and conclude that the scenario in which melting curves are supercritical is favored by the most recent computational and experimental evidence. Thus, although the preponderance of experimental and computational evidence is consistent with the existence of a second critical point in water, the behavior of the melting lines of ice polymorphs does not provide strong evidence in support of this viewpoint, according to our calculations.
Privacy in Federated Learning

Federated learning (FL) represents a significant advancement in distributed machine learning, enabling multiple participants to collaboratively train models without sharing raw data. This decentralized approach enhances privacy by keeping data on local devices. However, FL introduces new privacy challenges, as model updates shared during training can inadvertently leak sensitive information. This chapter delves into the core privacy concerns within FL, including the risks of data reconstruction, model inversion attacks, and membership inference. It explores various privacy-preserving techniques, such as differential privacy (DP) and secure multi-party computation (SMPC), which are designed to mitigate these risks. The chapter also examines the trade-offs between model accuracy and privacy, emphasizing the importance of balancing these factors in practical implementations. Furthermore, it discusses the role of regulatory frameworks, such as GDPR, in shaping the privacy standards for FL. By providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of privacy in FL, this chapter aims to equip researchers and practitioners with the knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of secure federated learning environments. The discussion highlights both the potential and limitations of existing privacy-enhancing techniques, offering insights into future research directions and the development of more robust solutions.
Protection of Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Lands and Exploitation of Natural Resources: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ Safeguards

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (I-ACtHR) has developed remarkable jurisprudence for the protection of the right to communal property of indigenous and tribal communities with respect to the ancestral lands that they possess and traditionally used-natural resources, in order to guarantee their cultural and economic survival in the Americas. This article critically analyses the legal regime applicable for the protection of the right to traditional communal property of indigenous and tribal peoples in the Americas, its connection with their right to cultural identity, and the right to a dignified life. In particular, it pays specific attention to the right to effective participation and consultation of the indigenous communities affected; the obligation to share reasonable benefits with these communities; and the elaboration of a prior environmental and social impact assessment of any development investments, exploration or extraction plans.
Patient reported and clinical outcomes in paediatric end stage renal disease: Understanding factors affecting quality of life, access to transplantation and mortality

This thesis addresses to what extent end stage renal disease (ESRD) and its treatment affects quality of life and social functioning in paediatric patients. Special emphasis is placed on the role of demographic and medical factors. Secondly, we studied the very long-term psychosocial outcomes of almost 30 years of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in adult patients with paediatric onset of ESRD. Finally, this thesis describes the influence of racial background on medical outcomes among children with ESRD in Europe.We aimed:1. to provide an overview of the current knowledge on health related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with ESRD and to evaluate different methods used to measure HRQoL in this specific patient group.2. to assess the impact of ESRD and its treatment on the lives of children with ESRD, using different questionnaires (i.e. utility based questionnaires and generic instruments). Special emphasis was put on the role of demographic and medical factors associated with HRQoL.3. to study the impact of 30 years of RRT since childhood on HRQoL and socioprofessional functioning in adulthood.4. to investigate the association between ethnic background and important treatment outcomes among European children with ESRD.
No Man's Land. The Long Struggle for Property Rights of Australian Indigenous People

The paper explores current position of the Aboriginal Australians in the Australian society, recalling decline of their rights and culture after the English invaders declared that the land they embarked was "terra nullius" (no man's land) and caused that the population of about one million Aborigines declined to 300, 000 in two hunderd years.
Advice without Consent?: Assessing the Advisory Jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

ABSTRACT: Despite enduring prolonged skepticism, Africa’s regional human rights has a complex architecture of institutions, norms, procedures, and jurisprudence. A major entity among these institutions is the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In existence for over one and a half decades, the Court remains an institution in transition. With an identity defined mostly by its contentious jurisdiction, the significance of its advisory jurisdiction has been neglected. Three hundred eight cases (95.36 percent) of the 323  cases received by the court in its first fifteen years were contentious. The remaining fifteen (less than 5 percent) were advisory. Notwithstanding its relative rarity, the initial evidence suggests that advisory jurisdiction of the African Court could potentially play a significant role in shaping the trajectory of human rights norms in Africa. This article explores the mechanics and potential impact of the advisory jurisdiction of the African Court for the future of human rights in Africa.
Exploring the legal complexities of the reparations mandate of the International Criminal Court under Article 75(1) and (2) of the Rome Statute: a jurisprudential critique

LLD (International Aspects of Law), North-West University, Mahikeng Campus
Res judicata and the Admissibility of Applications before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: a Fresh Look at Dexter Eddie Johnson v. Republic of Ghana

Abstract In Dexter Eddie Johnson v. Republic of Ghana, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court), for only the second time in its history, applied Article 56(7) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter) to declare a case inadmissible. The Court reasoned that the case was inadmissible since the applicant had first approached, and obtained a determination, from the United Nations Human Rights Committee before lodging his case with the Court. This article analyses the Court’s decision and attempts to unpack the Court’s interpretation and application of the doctrine of res judicata, which is the essence of the requirement in Article 56(7) of the Charter.
Anti-measurement Matrix Uncertainty Sparse Signal Recovery for Compressive Sensing

Compressive sensing (CS) is a technique for estimating a sparse signal from the random measurements and the measurement matrix. Traditional sparse signal recovery methods have seriously degeneration with the measurement matrix uncertainty (MMU). Here the MMU is modeled as a bounded additive error. An anti-uncertainty constraint in the form of a mixed L2 and L1 norm is deduced from the sparse signal model with MMU. Then we combine the sparse constraint with the anti-uncertainty constraint to get an anti-uncertainty sparse signal recovery operator. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed operator has a better reconstructing performance with the MMU than traditional methods.
Content Validity of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Developed for Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus:a Systematic Review

Purpose of review: We aimed to systematically evaluate the content validity of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) specifically developed to measure (aspects of) health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with type 2 diabetes. A systematic review was performed in PubMed and Embase of PROMs measuring perceived symptoms, physical function, mental function, social function/participation, and general health perceptions, and that were validated to at least some extent. Content validity (relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility) was evaluated using COSMIN methodology. Recent findings: We identified 54 (different versions of) PROMs, containing 150 subscales. We found evidence for sufficient content validity for only 41/150 (27%) (subscales of) PROMs. The quality of evidence was generally very low. We found 66 out of 150 (44%) (subscales of) PROMs with evidence for either insufficient relevance, insufficient comprehensiveness, or insufficient comprehensibility. For measuring diabetes-specific symptoms, physical function, mental function, social function/participation, and general health perceptions, we identified one to 11 (subscales of) PROMs with sufficient content validity, although quality of the evidence was generally low. For measuring depressive symptoms, no PROM with sufficient content validity was identified. Summary: For each aspect of HRQL, we found at least one PROM with sufficient content validity, except for depressive symptoms. The quality of the evidence was mostly very low.
Pharmacokinetics of KA2237, a novel selective inhibitor of PI3K-β and PI3K-δ, in patients: A first-in-human study using PK modelling to predict drug concentrations during dose escalation

Aims: KA2237, an oral, potent and selective, inhibitor of the PI3K β and δ isoforms, was evaluated for safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients with B-cell lymphoma. KA2237 is metabolised by CYP3A4/5 but also demonstrated mechanism-based inhibition (MBI) of CYP3A4/5. An MBI mechanistic dynamic model was used to predict drug accumulation after repeat dosing of KA2237. This model, along with clinical safety data, was used to guide safe dose escalation. Methods: An open-label, single arm, dose escalation study was carried out in patients, dosed orally with KA2237 at 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg once daily. Complete plasma profiles were obtained on Day 1 and Day 14 of dosing and pre-dose (Cmin) samples were obtained on Days 2-7. The MBI model was validated and used to calculate drug levels and predict potential drug accumulation during dose escalation. Results: KA2237 elimination half-life was around 20-30 h, compatible with once daily dosing regimens. The accumulation of KA2237 was around 4-fold after the highest dose of 400 mg and around 3-fold after administration of 200 mg, which is considered the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The MBI model accurately predicted this accumulation. Conclusions: Drugs that demonstrate MBI and potential auto-inhibition can be successfully developed, provided that models are developed to assess the extent of accumulation prior to the start of FIH clinical studies. This, along with the close monitoring of drug levels and clinical safety data can be used to guide dose escalation and lead to the safe conduct of clinical studies.
SU‐FF‐T‐281: Variation of Beam Characteristics for Physical and Enhanced Dynamic Wedge From a Dual Energy Accelerator

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare few of the dosimetric characteristics of a physical and enhanced dynamic wedge from a dual energy (6 and 18 MV) linear accelerator. Materials and Methods: This study used the Varian Clinac‐DHX (S.No.3172) linear accelerator which is equipped with three different type of wedges. To compare the change in beam quality with physical and enhanced dynamic wedge half value layer (HVL) was measured using a 0.14 cc ion chamber covered with brass build up cap positioned at 2 meter distance from the source and the distance from the target to absorber distance was maintained as 1 meter. Transmission measurements were made for varying thickness of white polystyrene phantom placed on the couch. The surface dose with physical and enhanced dynamic wedges were measured using a parallel plate chamber at 85 and 100 cm source to surface distance (SSD), for 6 and 18 MV photons. Results: The HVL was estimated for 6 and 18 MV photons along the central axis and at off‐axis points for the field size of 20 × 20 cm2 with 45° upper physical wedge and compared with that of the enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW). For physical wedged field, at heel edge side HVL value was high compared with the measured that of EDW. It was noticed that, the HVL variation across the beam was significantly high for 6 MV X‐rays than for 18 MV X‐rays. The measured surface dose was found to be more at 85 cm FSD for all the fields. The lower energy photons (6 MV) were found to result in higher surface dose than the higher energy photons (18 MV). Conclusion: The three wedge systems produce significantly different surface doses that should be considered in properly choosing a wedge system for clinical use.
Qualitative Analysis of State/Event Fault Trees Based on Interface Automata

State/Event Fault Tree (SEFT) can be used for safety modeling and assessment. However, SEFT does not provide adequate semantics for analyzing the minimal scenarios leading to system failures. In this paper, we propose a novel qualitative analysis method for SEFT based on interface automata. Firstly, we propose the concept of guarded interface automata by adding guards on interface automata transitions. Based on this model, we can describe the triggers and guards of SEFT simultaneously. Then, a weak bisimilarity operation is defined to alleviate the state space explosion problem. Based on the proposed guarded interface automata and the weak bisimilarity operation, the semantics of SEFT can be precisely determined. After that, a qualitative analysis process is presented on the basis of the formal semantics of SEFT, and the analyzing result is the minimal cut sequence set representing the causes of system failures. Finally, a fire protection system case study is illustrated step by step to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
The effects of dashboard design form on driving information reading performance under different time pressures

In scenarios where driving decisions must be made rapidly, an optimally designed dashboard is crucial for maintaining driver concentration and facilitating precise decision-making. This study examines the influence of four principal aspects of dashboard design—graphical form, scale precision, indicator type, and external time pressure—on users' performance in reading information. Thirty postgraduate students engaged in a visual information recognition task comprising 288 trials, during which reaction time (RT) and absolute error (AE) were documented as dependent variables. Results showed that under both stringent (2,000 ms) and moderate (4,000 ms) time constraints, dashboards incorporating a semicircular or horizontal bar design, along with a progress-bar-type indicator and low scale precision (10), resulted in significantly faster RT and reduced AE. Conversely, circular dashboards generally exhibited subpar performance, particularly under increased time pressure. Additionally, a notable interaction between graphical form and time pressure was observed, indicating that circular dashboards were particularly susceptible when time was restricted. These findings provide practical guidance for designing driver-machine interfaces in safety-critical environments and concurrently contribute to theoretical developments in visual perception, human-computer interaction, and applied design methodologies.
A study on the relationship between the existence of workplace risk factors and the occurrence of industrial accidents: Focused on the 9th Occupational Safety and Health Survey Data

In this study, focusing on the 'Focused on the 9th Occupational Safety and Health Survey Data', the existence of risk factors in the workplace and the relevance of the occurrence of industrial accidents are confirmed, and based on this, the existence of risk factors is identified in advance and safety and health management measures to reduce occupational accidents. It was carried out for the purpose of use as basic data for establishment. Among the raw data of ‘Focused on the 9th Occupational Safety and Health Survey Data’, 5,108 workplaces were selected for final analysis. The data are divided by industry, and the size of the workplace (number of workers), the occurrence of industrial accidents (as of 2017), mental/psychological, chemical substances, physical, ergonomics, presence of dangerous machinery/equipment, and the presence or absence of risk factors for work in hazardous places are 6 Statistical analysis was performed using the items. As a result, the occurrence of industrial accidents by industry was highest in the construction industry, manufacturing industry, and service industry. In the manufacturing and service industries, the larger the workplace, the higher the occurrence of industrial accidents, and in the construction industry, the occurrence of workplaces with 100 or more workers was higher. In the relationship between companies, in the manufacturing and service industries, the occurrence of industrial accidents among in-house subcontractors of the prime contractor was high, and in the construction industry, the occurrence of industrial accidents was high in the workplaces other than the principal and subcontractors. As for the presence of risk factors in the workplace, the presence of hazardous machinery and equipment risk factors in the manufacturing industry, mental and psychological risk factors in the service industry, and the presence of risk factors in dangerous places in the construction industry were found to be the highest. difference in existence. Occupational accidents were found to be highly correlated when risk factors were present. Through this study, it was confirmed that the relationship between the business type, size, and company of the workplace is related to the occurrence of industrial accidents. In addition, although the presence of risk factors in the workplace is highly related to the occurrence of industrial accidents, there are differences according to the industry. The safety and health system of the workplace should be established after identifying the characteristics of the workplace and the existence of risk factors in advance, and improvement and countermeasures should be prepared by identifying harmful risk factors through the search for accidents occurring at the workplace and discovering potential risk factors.
Evaluating 21st-Century Newspaper Race Reporting Projects: From Social Responsibility to Corporate Responsibility to Race

By juxtaposing social responsibility theory with the theory of corporate responsibility to race, this study examines how newspapers combined text and visuals to address the issue of race in the first quarter of the 21st century. Fifteen race reporting projects have been produced since 2015, with most initiated after the death of George Floyd. Our textual and visual analysis shows how education-related reporting projects, apologies for past wrongdoings, and racial reconciliation stories can spotlight racial issues. When analyzing these 15 race reporting projects and 745 photographs, both social responsibility theory and corporate responsibility to race theory help explain the strategies that newspapers use to discuss race in the 21st century.