Special Case Research Articles

Normalistas-Teachers and Coloniality of Power in Mexico

This paper examines how the work of normalista-teachers in Mexico illuminates what Lucio Cabañas Barrientos termed the ‘new colonial system’ in 1972. There exists an ideological hegemony which asserts that colonialism ended in most Latin American nations, including Mexico, by the first decade of the nineteenth century. However, as this paper argues, the experiences of normalista-teachers demonstrate that colonialism is far from a relic of the past. Drawing upon the concepts of hegemony and coloniality of power, this study explores how normalista-teachers challenge the notion of ‘modernity’ and the myth of a bygone colonial era. It focuses primarily on the specific cases of teachers Margarita Chávez, Salvador Hernández, Antonio Gaytán, María Mendoza, José Lundez Martínez, Hernández, Ibarra, Elena Torres, Del Palacio, and Montiel. Additionally, it examines the social movements and guerrilla groups led by Genaro Vásquez Rojas and Lucio Cabañas Barrientos. This holds significant weight for critical pedagogy. If, through their lives and work, normalista-teachers are able to reveal how material and symbolic inequalities rooted in colonialism continue to shape Mexico, then this suggests they are not merely educators, but rather epistemic providers of critical pedagogy from a Latin American perspective.

GDP growth in Brazil after the liberalising reforms

ABSTRACT The Brazilian economy implemented the trade and financial liberalisation reforms in the first half of the 1990s as a new development strategy. Since then, Brazilian GDP has been unstable and much lower compared to the previous period. Despite this, there was a short period of relatively higher economic growth rate from 2004 to 2008, but the Brazilian economic growth decelerated after 2011; the country entered a recession between 2014 and 2016, and then in a stagnation period from 2017 onwards. The aim of this article is to analyse the Brazilian economic performance after the liberalising reforms and evaluate the reasons the Brazilian economy decelerated after 2010. To do so, we consider the importance of manufacturing production to a country’s economic performance and analyse this relationship for the specific case of Brazil, checking the contribution of the manufacturing production growth to the country’s GDP growth in circumstances of increases and decreases in GDP growth. To complement this analysis, we also evaluate the existence of increasing returns to scale. The results show that manufacturing production growth is still important for the Brazilian economic performance, especially to explain the moments when the country’s GDP decreases.

Dutch multidisciplinary guideline on anterior knee pain: Patellofemoral pain and patellar tendinopathy.

The purpose of this study was to develop a multidisciplinary guideline for patellofemoral pain (PFP) and patellar tendinopathy (PT) to facilitate clinical decision-making in primary and secondary care. A multidisciplinary expert panel identified questions in clinical decision-making. Based on a systematic literature search, the strength of the scientific evidence was determined according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) method and the weight assigned to the considerations by the expert panel together determined the strength of the recommendations. After confirming PFP or PT as a clinical diagnosis, patients should start with exercise therapy. Additional conservative treatments are indicated only when exercise therapy does not result in clinically relevant changes after six (PFP) or 12 (PT) weeks. Pain medications should be reserved for cases of severe pain. The additional value of imaging assessments for PT is limited. Open surgery is reserved for very specific cases of nonresponders to exercise therapy and those requiring additional conservative treatments. Although the certainty of evidence regarding exercise therapy for PFP and PT had to be downgraded ('very low GRADE' and 'low GRADE'), the expert panel advocates its use as the primary treatment strategy. The panel further formulated weaker recommendations regarding additional conservative treatments, pain medications, imaging assessments and open surgery ('very low GRADE' to 'low GRADE' assessment or absence of scientific evidence). This guideline recommends starting with exercise therapy for PFP and PT. The recommendations facilitate clinical decision-making, and thereby optimizing treatment and preventing unnecessary burdens, risks and costs to patients and society. Level V, clinical practice guideline.

Experimental and analytical investigation of intensive cooling of local distributed heat sources by means of forced flow of liquid

In this work a two-phase forced flow in channels of small geometric dimensions is analyzed. The Navier-Stokes equation was used to create a theoretical model describing the phenomenon of a evaporation of a flowing vapor and the Maxwell equation was used to describe the flow of a thin liquid layer. Both equations are coupled and overall create an original theoretical model describing the phenomenon of the evaporation of a liquid layer. This model of a liquid forced convection cooling the flat element with distributed internal heat sources is theoretically and experimentally analyzed. A flow of the cooling and evaporating liquid is forced by a suction of the vacuum pump. The cooling process is investigated theoretically for two specific cases with both, a constant and a cyclic heat emission. The impact of the liquid layer thickness on the cooling intensity is analyzed for both cases.

Knowledge and attitude towards current Ethiopian abortion law and its associated factors by abortion seeker women in Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia: Hospital-based cross-sectional study

IntroductionHuman rights laws defend the right to abortion. In Ethiopia, the 2005 abortion law permits termination in specific cases. Unsafe abortions account for 19.6 % of maternal deaths. ObjectiveAssessing knowledge and attitudes towards the current Ethiopian abortion law for women in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. MethodologyA cross-sectional study was undertaken in an institutional setting. We entered the data into Epi-Data version 4.6.0.2 and then exported it to SPSS Windows version 25. In bivariate logistic regression analysis, we included explanatory variables with a p-value < 0.25. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, we considered a p-value of 0.05, along with a 95 % CI, to be significant. A p-value of 0.05 and a 95 % CI are considered significant in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. The study employed AOR to establish the statistical association. ResultA study involving 398 individuals revealed that 61.3 % had good knowledge and 52.3 % favourable attitude toward the law. Married women were 3.91 times more likely to have good knowledge, can read and write were 8.29 times more likely to have a positive attitude. Housewives were 94 % less likely to have a good attitude. Women who recognized abortion complications were 3.11 times more likely to have a positive attitude, and sources of information were 2.62 times more likely to have a positive attitude. ConclusionRespondents show good knowledge and a positive attitude toward the current abortion law. However, there is still a need for further education and support for safe and legal abortion services.

Do All Paths Lead to Rome? How Reliable is Umbrella Sampling Along a Single Path?

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are widely applied to estimate absolute binding free energies of protein-ligand and protein-protein complexes. A routinely used method for binding free energy calculations with MD is umbrella sampling (US), which calculates the potential of mean force (PMF) along a single reaction coordinate. Surprisingly, in spite of its widespread use, few validation studies have focused on the convergence of the free energy computed along a single path for specific cases, not addressing the reproducibility of such calculations in general. In this work, we therefore investigate the reproducibility and convergence of US along a standard distance-based reaction coordinate for various protein-protein and protein-ligand complexes, following commonly used guidelines for the setup. We show that repeating the complete US workflow can lead to differences of 2-20 kcal/mol in computed binding free energies. We attribute those discrepancies to small differences in the binding pathways. While these differences are unavoidable in the established US protocol, the popularity of the latter could hint at a lack of awareness of such reproducibility problems. To test if the convergence of PMF profiles can be improved if multiple pathways are sampled simultaneously, we performed additional simulations with an adaptive-biasing method, here the accelerated weight histogram (AWH) approach. Indeed, the PMFs obtained from AHW simulations are consistent and reproducible for the systems tested. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first to attempt a systematic assessment of the pitfalls in one the most widely used protocols for computing binding affinities. We anticipate therefore that our results will provide an incentive for a critical reassessment of the validity of PMFs computed with US, and make a strong case to further benchmark the performance of adaptive-biasing methods for computing binding affinities.

Review: The Economics Landscape for Building Decarbonization

As efforts to mitigate climate change become increasingly urgent, the need to address the environmental impact of the built environment has gained significant attention. Buildings, as major contributors to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, have a substantial embodied and operational carbon footprint resulting from their construction materials, practices, and lifetime operation. This paper examines the economic landscape of strategies and policies aimed at reducing the embodied and operational carbon footprint of buildings on a global scale, with specific case studies from various national contexts. It delves into various innovative approaches, including economic analysis techniques, market instruments, market demands, and the role of government incentives to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. The study highlights the crucial role of government policies, financial incentives, and market forces in promoting sustainable practices and fostering the adoption of low-carbon alternatives. By shedding light on the economic dimensions of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings, this research aims to facilitate informed decision-making by policymakers, engineers, and other stakeholders, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and climate-resilient built environment.

Parameter optimisation using Bayesian inference for spallation models

The accuracy and precision of high-energy spallation models are key issues for the design and development of new applications and experiments. We present a method to estimate model parameters and associated uncertainties by leveraging the Bayesian version of the Generalised Least Squares method, which enables us to incorporate prior knowledge on the parameter values. This approach is designed to adjust parameters based on experimental data, accounting for experimental uncertainty information, and providing uncertainties for all adjusted parameters. This approach is designed in order both to improve the accuracy of models through the modification of free parameters of these models, which results in a better reproduction of experimental data, and to estimate the uncertainties of these parameters and, by extension, their impacts on the model output. We aim at demonstrating the Generalised Least Square method can be applied in the case of Monte Carlo models. We present a proof-of-concept for Monte Carlo models in the specific case of nuclear physics with the model combination INCL/ABLA. We discuss the challenges in the application of this method to high-energy spallation models, notably the large runtime and the stochasticity of the models. Our results indicate this framework can also be applied to analogous situations where parameters of a computationally expensive Monte Carlo code should be inferred/improved.

Co-design with parents and designers: developing packaging concepts for children

ABSTRACT Co-design enables relevant stakeholders to participate in the design process and has been employed to examine social issues. Although most previous studies have identified the benefits and characteristics of collaborative work with specific case studies, there is a dearth of research on the topic of how co-design can influence children’s snacking behaviour. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore how co-design that involves parents and designers can be beneficial in the context of children’s unhealthy snack products. The primary data collection method involved a co-design workshop, followed by semi-structured interviews two months later. The findings show that one of the benefits of co-design is educating consumers on snack packaging that designers create to persuade them to buy unhealthy products. This study also suggests four packaging design strategies (information, affordance, fun and storytelling) that guide designers on how to make snack packaging for children. Furthermore, co-design with parents and designers has two characteristics: active consumer engagement and positive emotion creation. This study contributes to the co-design literature by providing insights into the benefits of collaboration between parents and designers and determining the attributes for healthy packaging for children.

Extinction of solid diffusion flame in microgravity: Details of quenching and blowoff processes

Long duration microgravity experiments aboard the International Space Station determine diffusion flame extinction limits of PMMA spheres. Upon ignition from an electrically-heated coil, the 4-cm-diameter samples are exposed to forced flows ranging from 0.2 to 80 cm/s and an oxygen ranging from 13 to 28 % in one atmosphere total pressure. Extinction is reached as oxygen concentration gradually decreases by natural depletion. Five extinction tests are presented at different flow velocities and oxygen concentrations. Quenching at low velocity is observed with the flame tip shrinking upstream and blowoff is observed when a hole forms in the flame at the forward flow stagnation point. However, these processes are not quasistatic. The quenching motion involves periodic flame tip pulsating toward downstream and shrinking upstream with a continually decreasing flame size at the end of each cycle. In blowoff, the flame base pulsates between the flame hole and the downstream location, although with far fewer cycles compared to quenching. The pulsations appear to be the result of a premixed flame front spreading into a combustible mixture. Two specific cases are discussed in more details. In the first, at very low flow velocity (∼ 0.4 cm/s) and elevated oxygen, self-sustained flame tip cyclic pulsations are observed for a lengthy period (∼15 min). In the second case with a higher flow velocity (50 cm/s), the diffusion flame is stabilized at the shoulder of the spherical sample after local stagnation point blowoff. With steady decrease in ambient oxygen due to depletion, spinning flamelets are formed. The long-duration microgravity environment makes it possible to observe these interesting and detailed extinction processes.

Integrity at stake: confronting “publish or perish” in the developing world and emerging economies

The scientific community faces significant ethical challenges due to the “publish or perish” culture, particularly in developing and emerging economies. This paper explores the widespread unethical practices in scientific publishing, including the sale of authorships, the proliferation of “paper mills,” and the misuse of artificial intelligence to produce fraudulent research. These practices undermine the integrity of scientific research, skew publication metrics, and distort academic rankings. This study examines various instances of academic fraud, emphasizing the impact on low-income countries, with specific cases from Latin America. Recommendations include stricter verification of authorship, disciplinary measures for scientific fraud, and policies promoting transparency and accountability in research. Addressing these challenges is crucial for maintaining the integrity and credibility of scientific endeavors globally.

Generation of squeezed high-order harmonics

For decades, most research of high harmonic generation (HHG) considered matter as quantum but light as classical. Recently, HHG driven by quantum states of light such as bright squeezed vacuum was predicted to reach beyond the classical HHG cutoff. Moreover, in squeezed coherent illumination, it was shown that the underlying dynamics are significantly modified by the photon statistics effective force. Here we show that HHG driven by quantum light results in quantum high harmonics. We derive a formula for the quantum state of the high harmonics, when driven by arbitrary quantum light states, and then explore specific cases of experimental relevance. Specifically, for a moderately squeezed pump, HHG driven by squeezed coherent light results in squeezed high harmonics. Harmonic squeezing is optimized by syncing ionization times with the pump's squeezing phase. Beyond this regime, as pump squeezing is increased, the harmonics initially acquire squeezed thermal photon statistics, and then occupy an intricate quantum state which strongly depends on the semiclassical nonlinear response function of the interacting system. Our results pave the way for generation of squeezed extreme-ultraviolet ultrashort pulses, and more generally, quantum frequency conversion into previously inaccessible spectral ranges, which may enable ultrasensitive attosecond metrology. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Optimising synthetic datasets for machine learning-based prediction of building damage due to tunnelling

Assessment of tunnelling-induced building damage is a complex Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) probelm, influenced by numerous geometric and material parameters of both the soil and structures, and is characterised by strong non-linear behaviour. Currently, there is a trend towards developing data-driven models using Machine Learning (ML) to capture this complex behaviour. Given the scarcity of real data, which typically comes from specific case studies, many researchers have turned to creating extensive synthetic datasets via sophisticated and validated numerical models like Finite Element Method (FEM). However, the development of these datasets and the training of advanced ML algorithms present significant challenges. poses significant challenges. Reliance solely on parameter domains and ranges derived from case studies can lead to imbalanced data distributions and subsequently poor performance of models in less populated regions. In this paper, we introduce a strategy for designing optimal high-confidence datasets through an iterative procedure. This process begins with a systematic literature review to determine the importance of parameters, their ranges, and dependencies as they pertain to building damage induced by SSI. Starting with several hundred FEM simulations, we generate an initial dataset and assess its quality and impact through Sensitivity Analysis (SA) studies, statistical modelling, and re-sampling in statistically significant regions. This evaluation allows us to refine the model’s input space, seeking scenarios that mitigate output distribution imbalances. The procedure is repeated until the datasets achieve a satisfactory balance for training metamodels, minimising bias effectively. Our findings highlight the success of this approach in identifying an optimal and feasible input space that significantly reduces imbalanced distributions of output features. This approach not only proves effective in our study but also offers a versatile methodology that could be adapted to other disciplines aiming to generate high-quality synthetic datasets.

Urban Color Plan: The case study of the Ledro Valley (Italy)

AbstractThis research delves into the development of the Urban Color Plan for Ledro Valley, in Italy. Urban color, encompassing both natural and built elements, plays a crucial role in spatial perception, impacting an individual's cognitive and sensory experiences. This study aims to address the complexity of color planning by an operational method grounded in scientific research. Through the analysis of existing color plans and the study of this specific case, the paper proposes a methodology which emphasizes scientific scrutiny by encompassing factors like historical context, social aspects, environmental influences and a chromatic and material facade survey. The research outlines the multifaceted scales of intervention, ranging from urban mapping to material quality considerations. The Ledro Valley case study exemplifies the application of this methodology, revealing the challenge in harmonizing the diverse historical‐political realities of this Valley. The results showcase a flexible color plan that unifies the territory while still preserving the distinct identities of individual previous municipalities, demonstrating the plan's adaptability and potential for enhancing the overall urban environment.

What is the origin of slow relaxation modes in highly viscous ionic liquids?

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are molten salts consisting entirely of ions and have over the past decades gained increased interest due to their high potential in applications. These structurally complex systems often display multiple relaxation modes in the response functions at lower frequencies, hinting to complex underlying mechanisms. While the existence of these multimodal spectra in the shear mechanical, dielectric, and light scattering response of RTILs has been confirmed multiple times, controversy still surrounds the origin. This paper, therefore, aims to provide additional insights into the multimodal spectra seen in RTILs by presenting new shear mechanical results on seven different RTILs: Pyr1n-TFSI with n = 4, 6, and 8; Pyr18-TFSI mixed with Li-TFSI in two high concentrations; and Cn-mim-BF4 with n = 3 and 8. Dynamic depolarized light scattering was also measured on one of the Pyr18-TFSI Li-salt mixtures. These specific cases were analyzed in detail and put into a bigger perspective together with an overview of the literature. Recent literature offers two specific explanations for the origin of the multimodal shear mechanical spectra: (1) cation-anion time scale separation or (2) combined cation-anion relaxation in addition to a dynamic signal from mesoscale aggregates at lower frequencies. However, neither of these two pictures can consistently explain all the results on different ionic liquids. Instead, we conclude that the origin of the multimodal spectrum is system specific. This underlines the complexity of this class of liquids and shows that great care must be taken when making general conclusions based on specific cases.

Building on Successful Mechanical and Passive Environmental Controls for Preventive Conservation Through Data Analysis at National Museum Cardiff, Wales

ABSTRACT Amgueddfa Cymru’s National Museum Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales, houses fine arts, natural science, and archaeological collections in a Grade I-listed historic building. With over 50 individual air handling units in addition to the original building-wide ventilation system, critical examination of how to create sustainable spaces and reduce energy consumption has been a goal of the museum for two decades. This paper will present the evolution of two techniques, and discuss their successes and limitations. The first – system shutdowns – has been successful, and has been taken further by switching some spaces entirely to passive control by blocking ductwork; preventing inappropriate conditions from entering the room via HVAC has led to an improvement in these specific cases. The second technique of seasonal set points required regular manual programming of the set points and was not responsive to short-term varying conditions, often resulting in high RH; a set of four basic guidelines was then developed to change the HVAC programming to better address this risk throughout the year. The impact of both techniques was analyzed using the widely available Microsoft Power BI™ program, whose focus on data visualization makes generating and modifying graphs easier than in Microsoft Excel. Following some of the tenets of sustainable environmental management including the value of a cross-disciplinary team, commitment to an ongoing process, and thorough data analysis, this work has allowed for preservation and energy efficiency beyond initial gains.

Substitution of Conventional Vehicles in Municipal Mobility

Among the economic sectors, mobility is showing significant environmental impacts, especially in the use phase of vehicles. By substituting fossil-fuelled propelling systems, environmental impacts such as the Global Warming Potential (GWP) can be reduced. The use of properly designed light electric vehicles (LEVs) significantly reduces further environmental impacts, as well as maintenance costs, which are relevant for a circular economy. For example, the use of low-voltage (42 V) propelling systems enables the maintenance of LEVs in a broader range of existing bicycle workshops. Regarding the environmental impacts, the described LCA results indicate the advantage of LEVs compared with EVs and ICVs, e.g., vehicle weight is found to be a main factor related to environmental impact for each type of vehicle. This implies a reduced need for battery capacity and lower emissions of particulate matter from tire and break abrasion. This study aims to present the application potential of LEVs and the related reduction in environmental impacts. Anonymised inventory lists of municipal vehicle fleets are analysed for quantifying the substitution potential of LEVs in specific use cases. For this purpose, the use phase of vehicles is analysed with a focus on product design for repair and recycling and supplemented by the results of a comparative environmental impact assessment of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and LEVs. The comparison is made on the premise of similar application requirements. These specifications are the ability of each of the vehicles to transport a maximum of three persons (driver included) or one driver and 250 kg of cargo in 3 m3 over a daily distance of 100 km in urban areas. On this basis, the municipal environmental benefits derived from substituting small vehicles in the form of ICEVs and EVs with LEVs are assessed. The results show that in the field of municipal mobility, a relevant number of conventional small vehicles can be substituted with LEVs. The environmental impacts in categories of the highest robustness level, RL I, that is, Global Warming Potential, fine dust emissions, and Ozone Depletion Potential, can be reduced by LEVs by 50% compared with EVs and by over 50% compared with ICEVs. The strong influence of vehicle weight on the abrasive conditions of tires and brakes is considerable, as shown by reduced fine dust emissions.

Ecosystem Service Trade-Offs in Peri-Urban Landscapes: Drivers, Governance Obstacles and Improvements

Trade-offs in ecosystem services (ESs) manifest when the enhancement of one service leads to the diminishment of another. These trade-offs pose a notable challenge, impacting the sustainability of particular socioecological system peri-urban landscapes (PULs). This issue arises from the dynamic processes associated with peri-urbanization, which threaten natural ecosystems and their services in peri-urban areas. Additionally, the escalating demand for ecosystem services in PULs contributes to these trade-offs. Policymaking and planning concerning ES trade-offs in PULs should prioritize promoting a balance between conflicting services and fostering synergies among them. However, it is noteworthy that ES trade-offs in PULs are not given high priority in policy and planning agendas. Knowledge regarding policy development and planning for ES trade-offs in PULs often remains concealed within specific country and regional case studies. Consequently, this research seeks to characterize the ES trade-offs in selected PUL case studies, with the objective of identifying potential commonalities among them. Furthermore, this study aims to identify (i) the factors driving ES trade-offs, (ii) challenges related to how policymaking and planning address ES trade-offs in PULs, and (iii) recommendations for enhancing governance practices to better manage peri-urban ES trade-offs. We designed a semi-quantitative survey and collected information about 24 case studies located across the world. The answers from this survey were analyzed using principal component analysis. The results showed that the most common trade-offs occurred between “cultural and provisioning” and “regulating and provisioning” ESs. It was found that urban development is the primary driver behind the emergence of the examined trade-offs. To address this issue at the governance level, this study recommends establishing mechanisms to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders. This should be accompanied by robust dissemination efforts and the promotion of awareness among actors regarding the fundamental concepts of ESs and PULs.

The transition between the collision-dominated and ballistic electron transport regimes as the device length is reduced: A continuum analysis

Noting that the conventional collision-dominated electron transport perspective is only relevant when the length scale over which the transit occurs is greater than the electron’s mean free path, one can conceptually partition the electron transport “space” into collision-dominated and ballistic electron transport regimes. As the boundaries between these regimes are quite porous, in this analysis, we devise a means of quantitatively examining the transition between electron transport regimes as the length scale is reduced on a continuum basis. Our approach introduces a collision-dominated fractional scattering parameter, this parameter quantifying the fraction of the total scattering rate that arises purely from bulk scattering processes, contact scattering also contributing to the total scattering rate. We pursue this analysis for two conventional semiconductors of interest, silicon and gallium arsenide. A determination of the dependence of the results on both the length scale and the crystal temperature is pursued. Finally, for the specific case of room temperature, a comparison with the results of experiment is performed.

Detection of Cliff Top Erosion Drivers through Machine Learning Algorithms between Portonovo and Trave Cliffs (Ancona, Italy)

Rocky coastlines are characterised by steep cliffs, which frequently experience a variety of natural processes that often exhibit intricate interdependencies, such as rainfall, ice and water run-off, and marine actions. The advent of high temporal and spatial resolution data, that can be acquired through remote sensing and geomatics techniques, has facilitated the safe exploration of otherwise inaccessible areas. The datasets that can be gathered from these techniques, typically combined with data from fieldwork, can subsequently undergo analyses employing/applying machine learning algorithms and/or numerical modeling, in order to identify/discern the predominant influencing factors affecting cliff top erosion. This study focuses on a specific case situated at the Conero promontory of the Adriatic Sea in the Marche region. The research methodology entails several steps. Initially, the morphological, geological and geomechanical characteristics of the areas were determined through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and conventional geological/geomechanical surveys. Subsequently, cliff top retreat was determined within a GIS environment by comparing orthophotos taken in 1978 and 2022 using the DSAS tool (Digital Shoreline Analysis System), highlighting cliff top retreat up to 50 m in some sectors. Further analysis was conducted via the use of two Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, namely Random Forest (RF) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB). The Mean Decrease in Impurity (MDI) methodology was employed to assess the significance of each factor. Both algorithms yielded congruent results, emphasising that cliff top erosion rates are primarily influenced by slope height. Finally, a validation of the ML algorithm results was conducted using 2D Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) codes. Ten sections extracted from the sector experiencing the most substantial cliff top retreat, as identified by DSAS, were utilised for 2D LEM analysis. Factor of Safety (FS) values were identified and compared with the cliff height of each section. The results from the 2D LEM analyses corroborated the outputs of the ML algorithms, showing a strong correlation between the slope instability and slope height (R2 of 0.84), with FS decreasing with slope height.