bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Practice over perfection; A case study in building an in‐house Systems Engineering Capability
Authors: Kemp Duncan , Shenton Megan , Adams Vince
Published: August 2018

This paper describes a case study in building an in‐house Systems Engineering capability from concept through to delivery within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). In a 21‐month period the capability grew from an idea to a team of 22 delivering £3M‐£4M of savings to the organisation. The paper describes the growth of the team over four phases: (1) problem understanding and approach; (2) proof of concept (initial recruitment, operation and benefits delivery), (3) establishing the team and franchising the model to other disciplines; (4) further growth and embedding the model into the organisation's make/buy model. We describe the factors that contributed to the achievement of the team success including: a clear understanding of the systemic barriers to building an in‐house SE capability; the use of Kotter's 8 step change process; a clear focus on delivering value to key stakeholders; the use of simple management processes and Systems Engineering tools; and the development of a suitable culture and selection of the right people. Finally, the authors identify some key lessons that might be applicable for others.
Towards Purpose to Function Transition: A systematic approach
Authors: Liu Zelin , Qian Zhongyan , Wu Busheng
Published: August 2018

In the initial stage of design, capturing user's purposes/needs and transforming them into functions is crucial for wider range selection of design solutions. However, few researchers have distinguished the concepts of purpose and function. The purpose to function transition is still largely an experience‐based process by designers in early design stage and there is still lack of formal approaches or any standard in this field. Therefore, this paper firstly provides a philosophical understanding of purpose and function, tries to clarify their differences, and then proposes a scenario‐based systematic approach to facilitate their transition. In this approach, the transition is conceptualized as a stepwise process and scenarios are integrated in such process for elaborating the initial needs. A case study will also be discussed to demonstrate the proposed approach.
System Lifecycle Handler — Spinning a Digital Thread for Manufacturing
Authors: Bajaj Manas , Hedberg Thomas
Published: August 2018

Transforming the manufacturing economy from paper‐based information flows to a seamless digital thread across geographically distributed supply chains has the potential to reduce cycle time by 75% and save manufacturers $30 billion annually. The “Digital Thread for Smart Manufacturing” project at NIST1 is developing methods and protocols for completing a digital thread running through design, manufacturing, and product support processes. In this paper, we present a proof‐of‐concept System Lifecycle Handler (SLH) software environment being developed for the digital thread initiative. The SLH provides services to build, manage, query, and visualize the digital thread by connecting heterogeneous artifacts ranging from requirements and system architecture to PLM/CAD/CAM and simulation models to machines and sensor data streams. The SLH software environment leverages the Syndeia platform, and exposes its capabilities via a web dashboard and standard REST/HTTP API.
Analysis of Results for the Systems Engineering Worldviews Survey (July 2017)
Authors: Arnold Eileen P. , Jackson Scott , Sillitto Hillary
Published: August 2018

In 2016, INCOSE leadership asked the INCOSE Fellows to initiate a study to compare the current INCOSE definition of Systems Engineering (SE) with the aspirations set out in the SE Vision 2025. The SE Fellows Definition Committee created a SE Worldviews survey to investigate current perceptions of INCOSE members. Analysis of Results for the Systems Engineering Worldviews Survey (July 2017) contains an analysis of the results summarized and aggregated into five broad questions as follows: 1. What is Systems Engineering (SE)? 2. What are the defining characteristics of SE? 3. What is the scope of SE? 4. Who should have knowledge of SE, and 5. What does the future of SE look like? The analysis contains comparisons of paired question responses and results with agreement percentages at 80% and above.
Implementation of A3 architectural overviews in Lean Product Development Teams; A case study in the Subsea Industry
Authors: Løndal Sindre , Flak Kristin
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a case study investigating the use of A3 Architectural Overviews (A3AOs) in lean product development teams. A3AOs is a tool used in product development and lean manufacturing to increase communication and knowledge sharing across the organization. We studied the implementation in an engineering department of a global oil and gas supplier, by performing a case study and extensive depth interviews. We also studied earlier implementation initiatives of A3s in a thorough literature review. A finding was that, although current and former research have shown clear benefits of utilizing this tool, the company rarely uses it today. We wanted to investigate challenges with creating and implementing A3AO in the organization. Our results show that A3AOs may be a well‐suited tool to improve the requirements handover process within the company. We also make an outline of challenges and benefits with using and implementing A3AOs in the researched engineering department, with the goal to successfully implement A3AOs in the future.
Making Future‐Proofing Design Decision under Uncertainty
Authors: Rehman Obaid Ur , Ryan Michael J.
Published: August 2018

The future‐proofing methodology is based on the fact that system design must focus on more than the acquisition of the system and must consider the whole‐of‐lifecycle issues early in system design to develop an efficient and long‐lasting sustainable design. For a sustainable design, the process such as design for sustainable future‐proofing (DfSFP) requires that the design must consider the impact of the design on system's sustainability element. Therefore impact on the system must be assessed by the designer which may require feedback from the stakeholders and system users. However, detailed design data and useful feedback from the stakeholders not always available during the conceptual stage. Thus decision for future‐proofing a system on the basis of early design and user data must consider the associated uncertainties. In this paper, we present a novel future‐proof design selection methodology which incorporates the data uncertainties and fuzziness in a systematic and an effective way. The methodology is based on the analytic hierarchy process which is modified to include a stochastic process to address data uncertainties and fuzziness in the future‐proofing decision‐making process. The proposed methodology provides a useful tool for the future‐proof system designer to visualize the impact of uncertainty and fuzziness in the data to make an effective future‐proofing decision. In order to demonstrate the application and effectiveness of the proposed approach, an example of the construction of the future‐proof house is presented. In the example, future‐proofing solutions are analyzed and the most sustainable solution is chosen.
Skin stiffness in ray‐finned fishes: Contrasting material properties between species and body regions
Authors: Kenaley Christopher P. , Sanin Andres , Ackerman Jeanelle , Yoo John , Alberts Anudeep
Published: August 2018

The skin of aquatic vertebrates surrounds all the mechanical lineages of the body and must, therefore, play an important role in locomotion. A cross‐woven collagenous dermal design has converged across several clades of vertebrates. Despite this intriguing pattern, the biomechanical role of skin in swimming fishes remains largely unknown. A direct force transmission role for fish skin has been proposed, a hypothesis that is supported by the arrangement of the connective tissues linking the skin to the axial musculature. To evaluate this direct force‐transmission hypothesis, we undertook hundreds of uniaxial tensile tests on skin samples from coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus), and red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). To do this, we developed highly precise, low‐cost, custom‐built material testing units. To augment our data, we also assembled a data set of skin stiffness of four additional species of actinopterygians fishes from previously published studies. We found that stiffness varies significantly between species and that the skin of our study species was increasingly stiff along a rostrocaudal gradient. Placing our results in the context of the limited body of previous work, we found that species with lower skin stiffness exhibit shorter propulsive wavelengths and low thrust production at the caudal fin and species with higher skin stiffness possess longer propulsive wavelengths and high thrust production at the caudal fin. In addition, we found that mean collagen fiber angle was close to 50° and that fiber angle was lower in posterior samples than in anterior and midlateral samples. Taken as a whole, our mechanical and morphological results support the hypothesis that the skin functions as an important direct force‐transmission device in actinopterygians whereby muscular force generated in anterior myotomes is transmitted to the posterior of the body through the increasingly stiff skin.
Improved biomechanics of two alternative kyphoplasty cementation methods limit vertebral recollapse
Authors: Alamin Todd , Kleimeyer John P. , Woodall James R. , Agarwal Vijay , Don Angus , Lindsey Derek
Published: August 2018

The clinical efficacy of vertebral cement augmentation for compression fractures (VCFs) remains undetermined. Recent studies have shown that refracture and progression of deformity may occur after augmentation with significant clinical consequences. Vertebral body height loss following kyphoplasty has also been observed with cyclic loading. We hypothesized that height loss is partly due to lack of cement fill past the margin of cancellous bone created by balloon expansion with subsequent failure under load. The biomechanical characteristics of two alternative cementation techniques were compared to standard kyphoplasty in cyclically loaded cadaveric VCF constructs. Sectioned osteoporotic thoracolumbar cadaveric spines were compressed to 75% of anterior vertebral height. Specimens were then allocated to standard kyphoplasty, balloon pressurization (BP), with reinflation of the balloon after 50% cement injection, or endplate post (EP), with perforation of the cavity rim using an articulating curette prior to injection. Following cementation, each specimen was preconditioned and loaded over 100,000 cycles. All techniques improved vertebral height (p's < 0.005). The EP and BP techniques provided greater cement fill than the standard technique (p's ≤ 0.01). Normalized vertebral height loss following 100,000 cycles was reduced with the EP technique versus standard kyphoplasty (p < 0.04). Height loss was inversely correlated with cement fill (p < 0.03). No vertebral recollapse occurred with the EP technique in blinded radiographic analysis. Statement of clinical significance: The EP technique demonstrated improved biomechanical characteristics versus the standard technique in cadaveric osteoporotic VCF constructs with decreased recollapse following cementation. This technique may have increased efficacy in cases when kyphoplasty more substantially improves vertebral body height. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:3225–3230, 2018.
Enhancement of Thermoelectric Performance of Sr0.9‐xNd0.1Ti0.9Nb0.1O3 Ceramics by Introducing Sr Vacancies
Authors: Chen Yufei , Liu Jian , Li Xin , Li Yi , Su Wenbin , Li Jichao , Zhao LanLing , Wang ChunLei , Lu Minghui
Published: August 2018

Thermoelectric properties of Sr‐deficient Sr0.9‐xNd0.1Ti0.9Nb0.1O3 ceramics are investigated in this work. Because of the significantly enhanced carrier mobility by introducing Sr vacancies, both of electrical conductivity and absolute Seebeck coefficient are enhanced, resulting in the improvement of power factor. Meanwhile, the lattice thermal conductivity decreases with the increasing content of Sr vacancies, indicating that Sr vacancies act as point defects and scatter phonons. Consequently, thermoelectric performance of Sr0.9‐xNd0.1Ti0.9Nb0.1O3 ceramics is enhanced obviously by introducing Sr vacancies, and the figure of merit ZT reaches a maximum of 0.32 at 1073 K in the sample x = 0.04, increasing by 60% as compared with that of the sample x = 0.
Sulforaphane absorption and histone deacetylase activity following single dosing of broccoli sprout supplement in normal dogs
Authors: Curran Kaitlin M. , Bracha Shay , Wong Carmen P. , Beaver Laura M. , Stevens Jan F. , Ho Emily
Published: August 2018

The role of epigenetic alterations during cancer has gained increasing attention and has resulted in a paradigm shift in our understanding of mechanisms leading to cancer susceptibility. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring isothiocyanate derived from the precursor glucosinolate, glucoraphanin (GFN), which is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli. Sulforaphane has been shown to suppress tumour growth by several mechanisms including inhibiting histone deacetylases. The objective of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of sulforaphane absorption following a single oral dose of a broccoli sprout supplement in normal dogs. A single dose of broccoli sprout supplement (with active myrosinase) was orally administered to 10 healthy adult dogs. Blood and urine samples were collected prior to dosing, and at various time points post‐dosing. Plasma total SFN metabolite levels peaked at 4 h post‐consumption and were cleared by 24 h post‐consumption. Urinary SFN metabolites peaked at 4 h post‐consumption, and remained detectable at 24 and 48 h post‐supplement consumption. A trend for decrease in histone deacetylase activity was observed at 1 h post‐consumption and a significant decrease was observed at 24 h post‐consumption. The data presented herein indicate that oral SFN is absorbed in dogs, SFN metabolites are detectable in plasma and urine post‐dosing, and SFN and its metabolites have some effect on histone deacetylase activity following a single dose.
A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
Authors: Sutphin Andrew L. , Maechtle Thomas L. , Kirol Christopher P. , Fedy Bradley C.
Published: August 2018

Capturing greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) using standard approaches can be challenging and inefficient, particularly in areas with relatively small populations and patchy habitat. In areas with low population densities, traditional trapping techniques such as drop‐netting and spotlighting have been largely ineffective. To increase trapping efficiency in such situations, we developed a new method to capture greater sage‐grouse in Wyoming, USA, during spring and autumn 2008–2011. We captured 92 sage‐grouse (30 adult females, 57 yearling females, 3 hatch‐year females, and 2 adult males) using a CODA net launcher modified to mount on a front receiver of a truck or all‐terrain vehicle. We had 71% success (82 successful captures of ≥ 1 grouse in 115 attempts). We captured grouse during spring on the periphery of leks, to reduce disturbance of lekking behavior, and during autumn along gravel roads. Capture mortality was <1.0%. We recorded low mortality (4.6%) up to 2 weeks postcapture that may have been attributed to capture and handling stress. This technique proved effective at capturing greater sage‐grouse and we believe this method can be effective at capturing other lekking species of prairie grouse with similar behavioral traits. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
$$ T\overline{T} $$ type deformation in the presence of a boundary
Authors: Babaro Juan Pablo , Foit Valentino F. , Giribet Gaston , Leoni Matias
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We continue the study of a recently proposed solvable irrelevant deformation of an AdS3/CFT2 correspondence that leads in the UV to a theory with Hagedorn spectrum. This can be thought of as a single trace analog of the

$$ T\overline{T} $$

T

T
¯

-deformation of the dual CFT2. Here we focus on the deformed worldsheet theory in presence of a conformal boundary. First, we compute the expectation value of a bulk primary operator on the disc geometry. We give a closed expression for such observable, from which we obtain the anomalous conformal dimension induced by the deformation. We compare the result with that coming from the computation of the 2-point correlation function on the sphere, finding exact agreement. We perform the computation using different techniques and making a comparative analysis of different regularization schemes to solve the logarithmically divergent integrals. This enables us to perform further consistency checks of our result by computing other observables of the deformed theory: we compute both the bulk-boundary 2-point and the boundary-boundary 2-point functions and are able to reproduce the anomalous dimensions of both boundary and bulk operators.
Identification of QTLs for tolerance to hypoxia during germination in rice
Authors: Kim Suk-Man , Reinke Russell F.
Published: August 2018

Direct seeding of rice as a method of crop establishment is increasingly being adopted by farmers as a means of saving labor and reducing costs. However, the method often results in a poor environment for germination as excessive water levels after seeding can cause poor seedling establishment and a concomitant reduction in yield potential, especially in submergence-prone areas. In this study, we discovered QTLs associated with tolerance of anaerobic germination (AG) in new genetic accessions using genotypic data derived from the Illumina 6K SNP chip. The mapping population developed for QTL analysis comprised 285 F2:3 plants derived from a cross between Tai Nguyen and Anda. In order to evaluate AG tolerance within the mapping population, phenotyping was carried out under anaerobic conditions for 21 days. Three QTLs associated with AG tolerance were identified in the population, qAG1a and qAG1b on chromosome 1 and qAG8 on chromosome 8 using composite interval mapping (CIM). The percentage of variance explained by these QTLs ranged from 5.49 to 14.14%. The lines with three QTLs (qAG1b + qAG1a + qAG8) demonstrated an approximate 50% survival rate under anaerobic conditions, while lines with two QTLs including qAG1b demonstrated survival rates of 36 and 32% after the treatment, respectively. The QTLs detected in this study may be used to improve AG tolerance during germination and may be combined with other QTLs for anaerobic germination to enhance adaptation to direct seeding and to broaden the understanding of the genetic control of tolerance of germination under anaerobic conditions.
CFA Models with a General Factor and Multiple Sets of Secondary Factors
Authors: Jeon Minjeong , Rijmen Frank , Rabe-Hesketh Sophia
Published: August 2018

We propose a class of confirmatory factor analysis models that include multiple sets of secondary or specific factors and a general factor. The general factor accounts for the common variance among manifest variables, whereas multiple sets of secondary factors account for the remaining source-specific dependency among subsets of manifest variables. A special case of the model is further proposed which constrains the specific factor loadings to be proportional to the general factor loadings. This proportional model substantially reduces the number of model parameters while preserving the essential structure of the general model. Furthermore, the proportional model allows for the interpretation of latent variables as the expected values of the observed manifest variables, decomposition of the variances, and the inclusion of interactions, similar to generalizability theory. We provide two applications to illustrate the utility of the proposed class of models.
A 1 Ma sea surface temperature record from the North Atlantic and its implications for the early human occupation of Britain
Authors: Candy Ian , Alonso-Garcia Montserrat
Published: August 2018

The British Quaternary sequence has an exceptionally rich record of Palaeolithic archaeology up to 1 Ma. In this study, we reinvestigate foraminifera-based sea surface temperature (SST) reconstructions from the two marine core records (Ocean Drilling Program Site 980 and M23414) that are most relevant to the climatic history of the British Isles, consequently allowing the evolution of SST over the past 1 Ma to be studied. This is then compared with long-term changes with the British archaeological record in order to understand in greater detail the changing patterns of climatic forcing and the major climatic transitions that were the background environmental drivers against which patterns of early human occupation occurred. These include the mid-Pleistocene revolution, the mid-Brunhes event, and changing patterns of isotopic substage complexity. Significantly, however, the SST record indicates that the Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 15–13 interval was characterised by the most prolonged period of consistently warm conditions of the entire 1 Ma interval in the northeast Atlantic. This unique climatic period correlates with the first major proliferation of archaeological sites in northwest Europe. The article concludes by discussing the significance of these climatic shifts for our understanding of early human occupation in this region.
Socio-economic differences in retirement timing and participation in post-retirement employment in a context of a flexible pension age
Authors: Leinonen Taina , Chandola Tarani , Laaksonen Mikko , Martikainen Pekka
Published: August 2018

Socio-economic circumstances influence later-life employment participation, which may take different forms as retirement processes are complex. We aimed to explore the diverse effects of various socio-economic sub-domains on pre- and post-retirement employment. We used Finnish register data to examine socio-economic predictors of time to retirement (i.e.receiving the statutory pension) using Cox regression analysis and on time spent in post-retirement employment using repeated negative binomial regression analysis over a follow-up between the ages of 63 and 68,i.e.the flexible pension age range. An average wage earner still employed at age 62 spent 13.5 months in pre-retirement employment (this corresponds to time to retirement) and 4.8 months in post-retirement employment. Those with tertiary education retired later, but the educational differences in the total time spent in employment were small when post-retirement employment was also considered. There was little variation in the timing of retirement by household income, but those in the highest quintile spent the longest time in post-retirement employment. Upper non-manual employees, home renters and those with high household debt retired later, and those with high household debt also spent a longer time in post-retirement employment. In a national flexible pension age system, high occupational class and household income thus appear to encourage either later retirement or participation in post-retirement employment. However, economic constraints also appear to necessitate continued employment.
The self-reported and observed competence of nursing staff in mobility care based on Kinaesthetics in nursing homes – A cross-sectional study
Authors: Gattinger Heidrun , Senn Beate , Hantikainen Virpi , Köpke Sascha , Ott Stefan , Leino-Kilpi Helena
Published: August 2018

Abstract. Background: The majority of care-dependent persons living in nursing homes have mobility impairment affecting the physical, psychological, and social aspects of the persons’ lives. Therefore, nursing staff needs competence to provide good mobility enhancing care. Aim: This study assesses the self-reported and observed competence of nursing home staff in mobility care based on Kinaesthetics in order to increase attention about nursing staff’s impact on nursing home residents’ mobility. Methods: A cross-sectional study design involving a survey and an observational study was employed. Survey data were collected using the Kinaesthetics Competence Self-Evaluation (KCSE) scale. For the observational study, data were collected with a video camera and rated using the Kinaesthetics Competence Observation (KCO) instrument. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation methods and a generalised linear model. Results: The majority of survey participants (n = 180) indicated their competence in mobility care based on Kinaesthetics as very good (mean score 13, SD 1.44, on a scale from 4 to 16). The observed competence of nursing staff (n = 40) was good (mean score 10.8, SD 2.44, out of a possible score from 4 to 16). Positive correlations were found between self-reported or observed competence in mobility care based on Kinaesthetics and employment rate, work experience in nursing home care and Kinaesthetics training. Conclusion: A combined assessment of self-evaluation and observation is recommended in order to get a comprehensive picture of knowledge, skills, attitude and dynamic state of nursing staffs’ competence in mobility care based on Kinaesthetics.
Using an Inverse Model to Reconcile Differences in Simulated and Observed Global Ethane Concentrations and Trends Between 2008 and 2014
Authors: Monks S. A. , Wilson C. , Emmons L. K. , Hannigan J. W. , Helmig D. , Blake N. J. , Blake D. R.
Published: August 2018

We use a global model, TOMCAT, and an inverse model, INVICAT, to estimate emissions of ethane (C2H6) between 2008 and 2014 by assimilating surface flask observations. We find that baseline global emissions in 2008 need to increase by a factor of 2.04–2.11 in order for the model to capture C2H6 observations, indicating large biases in current emission inventories. Most of this increase occurs over North America and Eurasia, with temperate North American emissions accounting for 23–26% of the total global emission increase and temperate Eurasian emissions accounting for 35–37%. Further to this, recent peer‐reviewed analysis of long‐term observational records shows an increase in C2H6 in the Northern Hemisphere since ~2009. Our results indicate that annual global emissions of C2H6 have increased at a rate of 0.27 ± 0.54–0.33 ± 0.44 Tg/yr2 between 2008 and 2014. A statistically significant positive trend of 0.20 ± 0.11–0.24 ± 0.13 Tg/yr2 (p ≤ 0.01) is found in temperate North America, resulting in emissions that are 31–32% larger in 2014 than in 2008. Our results corroborate previous studies' conclusions that a rapid increase in oil and natural gas production in United States over this time period is likely a large driver of the change in emissions.
Late Cenozoic Foreland‐to‐Hinterland Low‐Temperature Exhumation History of the Kashmir Himalaya
Authors: Gavillot Yann , Meigs Andrew J. , Sousa Francis J. , Stockli Daniel , Yule Doug , Malik Manzoor
Published: August 2018

New apatite and zircon (U‐Th)/He cooling ages quantify late Cenozoic exhumation patterns associated with fault activity across the Kashmir Himalaya. Apatite (U‐Th)/He (AHe) cooling ages of detrital grains from the Sub‐Himalayan foreland sediments indicate significant resetting. AHe data and thermal modeling reveal cooling and exhumation initiated by 4 Ma at the deformation front and by 2–4 Ma throughout other Sub‐Himalayan structures. Exhumation rates for Sub‐Himalayan structures are ≥1 mm/year. In the hinterland, thrust sheet samples from the Main Boundary thrust and Main Central thrust yield AHe cooling ages between 5.1 and 21.1 Ma. Published apatite fission track cooling ages (<3 Ma) and high exhumation rates (3.6–3.2 mm/year) across the Kishtwar window further to the north are consistent with AHe data from the Sub‐Himalayan structures. The pattern of cooling ages and rates indicates that exhumation occurs in association with changes in the Himalayan basal décollement ramp geometry. Hinterland zircon (U‐Th)/He (ZHe) data show a pronounced abundance and probability spike in cooling ages between 14 and 21 Ma, a period when Main Central thrust motion is well documented throughout the Himalaya. ZHe single‐grain ages from Sub‐Himalayan samples contain a nearly identical cluster from 16 to 23 Ma. Cooling patterns across the Kashmir Himalayas do not correlate spatially with modern monsoon precipitation, suggesting that climate‐related precipitation and exhumation are decoupled. Coeval translation over the basal décollement and distributed imbricate thrust deformation of the foreland in the upper plate characterizes fault‐related exhumation of the Sub‐Himalayan orogenic belt after 4 Ma.
Evidence for Surface Faulting Earthquakes on the Montereale Fault System (Abruzzi Apennines, Central Italy)
Authors: Cinti F. R. , Civico R. , Blumetti A. M. , Chiarini E. , La Posta E. , Pantosti D. , Papasodaro F. , Smedile A. , De Martini P. M. , Villani F. , Pinzi S. , Pucci S. , Brunori C. A.
Published: August 2018

We conducted paleoseismic studies along the Montereale fault system (MFS; central Italy). The MFS shows geomorphological evidence of Late Quaternary activity and falls within the highest seismic hazard zone of central Apennines, between the epicentral areas of two recent earthquake sequences: 2009 L'Aquila and 2016–2017 central Italy. We excavated two trenches along the San Giovanni fault splay of the system, one intercepting the N140° striking bedrock main fault plane and the other cutting two subparallel fault scarps on the colluvial/alluvial deposits on the fault hanging wall. Excavations revealed repeated fault reactivation with surface faulting in prehistorical and historical times. We recognized and dated seven events in the last 26 kyr. The most recent ground‐rupturing event (evb1) possibly occurred 650–1,820 AD, consistent with one of the three main shocks that struck the area in 1,703 AD. A previous event (evb2) occurred between 5,330 bcand 730 bc, while older events occurred at 6,590–5,440 bc(evb3), 9,770–6,630 bc(evb4), and 16,860–13,480 bc(evb5). We documented two older displacement events (evb7 and evb6) between 23,780 bcand 16,850 bc. The minimum vertical slip rate at the trench site in the last 28–24 kyr is 0.3–0.4 mm/year. The inferred average recurrence interval for surface‐faulting events along the MFS is no longer than ~4 kyr. Based on the surface fault length ranging between 12 and 20 km, earthquakes with ≥M6.0 are possible for the MFS. The MFS is an independent earthquake source, and its paleoseismic data are fully comparable with those known for faults in central Apennines.
A Robust Gauss‐Newton Algorithm for the Optimization of Hydrological Models: From Standard Gauss‐Newton to Robust Gauss‐Newton
Authors: Qin Youwei , Kavetski Dmitri , Kuczera George
Published: August 2018

Model calibration using optimization algorithms is a perennial challenge in hydrological modeling. This study explores opportunities to improve the efficiency of a Newton‐type method by making it more robust against problematic features in models' objective functions, including local optima and other noise. We introduce the robust Gauss‐Newton (RGN) algorithm for least squares optimization, which employs three heuristic schemes to enhance its exploratory abilities while keeping costs low. The large sampling scale (LSS) scheme is a central difference approximation with perturbation (sampling scale) made as large as possible to capture the overall objective function shape; the best‐sampling point (BSP) scheme exploits known function values to detect better parameter locations; and the null‐space jump (NSJ) scheme attempts to escape near‐flat regions. The RGN heuristics are evaluated using a case study comprising four hydrological models and three catchments. The heuristics make synergistic contributions to overall efficiency: the LSS scheme substantially improves reliability albeit at the expense of increased costs, and scenarios where LSS on its own is ineffective are bolstered by the BSP and NSJ schemes. In 11 of 12 modeling scenarios, RGN is 1.4–18 times more efficient in finding the global optimum than the standard Gauss‐Newton algorithm; similar gains are made in finding tolerable optima. Importantly, RGN offers its largest gains when working with difficult objective functions. The empirical analysis provides insights into tradeoffs between robustness versus cost, exploration versus exploitation, and how to manage these tradeoffs to maximize optimization efficiency. In the companion paper, the RGN algorithm is benchmarked against industry standard optimization algorithms.
A Robust Gauss‐Newton Algorithm for the Optimization of Hydrological Models: Benchmarking Against Industry‐Standard Algorithms
Authors: Qin Youwei , Kavetski Dmitri , Kuczera George
Published: August 2018

Optimization of model parameters is a ubiquitous task in hydrological and environmental modeling. Currently, the environmental modeling community tends to favor evolutionary techniques over classical Newton‐type methods, in the light of the geometrically problematic features of objective functions, such as multiple optima and general nonsmoothness. The companion paper (Qin et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017WR022488) introduced the robust Gauss‐Newton (RGN) algorithm, an enhanced version of the standard Gauss‐Newton algorithm that employs several heuristics to enhance its explorative abilities and perform robustly even for problematic objective functions. This paper focuses on benchmarking the RGN algorithm against three optimization algorithms generally accepted as “best practice” in the hydrological community, namely, the Levenberg‐Marquardt algorithm, the shuffled complex evolution (SCE) search (with 2 and 10 complexes), and the dynamically dimensioned search (DDS). The empirical case studies include four conceptual hydrological models and three catchments. Empirical results indicate that, on average, RGN is 2–3 times more efficient than SCE (2 complexes) by achieving comparable robustness at a lower cost, 7–9 times more efficient than SCE (10 complexes) by trading off some speed to more than compensate for a somewhat lower robustness, 5–7 times more efficient than Levenberg‐Marquardt by achieving higher robustness at a moderate additional cost, and 12–26 times more efficient than DDS in terms of robustness‐per‐fixed‐cost. A detailed analysis of performance in terms of reliability and cost is provided. Overall, the RGN algorithm is an attractive option for the calibration of hydrological models, and we recommend further investigation of its benefits for broader types of optimization problems.
Great American Eclipse Data May Fine-Tune Weather Forecasts
Authors: Lee Temple , Buban Michael , Palecki Michael , Leeper Ronald , Diamond Howard , Dumas Edward , Meyers Tilden , Baker C.
Published: August 2018

Measurements taken by an automated national meteorological monitoring network during the 2017 total solar eclipse illuminate how the land and atmosphere respond to a sudden loss of sunlight.
Statistical Relations Between Field‐Aligned Currents and Precipitating Electron Energy Flux
Authors: Robinson R. M. , Zhang Y. , Anderson B. J. , Zanetti L. J. , Korth H. , Fitzmaurice A.
Published: August 2018

Measurements of field‐aligned currents from the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment are combined with measurements of far ultraviolet emissions from the Global Ultraviolet Imager on the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite to examine the correlation between parallel currents and auroral electron energy flux. The energy flux is derived from the far ultraviolet emissions in the N2 Lyman‐Birge‐Hopfield bands. We find that energy flux correlates with field‐aligned currents in both upward and downward current regions. The correlations vary with magnetic local time with the strongest dependences near magnetic midnight. The data are binned and averaged to construct a model of precipitating particle energy flux as a function of field‐aligned current and magnetic local time. With Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment data as input, the model yields accurate estimates of the hemispheric power input from precipitating particles.
Extensional Polarity Change in Continental Rifts: Inferences From 3‐D Numerical Modeling and Observations
Authors: Balázs A. , Matenco L. , Vogt K. , Cloetingh S. , Gerya T.
Published: August 2018

Extensional basins often show along‐strike variability in terms of fault geometries, basement structures, subsidence, and thermal evolution. This is particularly pronounced when extension reactivates preexisting suture zones with opposing dip directions, that is, opposite polarities, which creates wide strike‐slip transfer zones. We have studied this extensional variability by means of thermomechanical lithospheric‐scale 3‐D numerical modeling. We conducted a series of experiments to model the extension of a thick lithosphere simulating a young orogenic area containing segmented suture zones inherited from former opposing subduction polarities, implemented as rheologically weak inclined layers with opposite dips. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the initial subduction sutures are reactivated by two long‐lived lithospheric‐scale detachment faults, which remain active until the onset of oceanic spreading. The opposite polarity of these faults causes their migration toward each other by asymmetric mantle lithosphere extension and thermal accretion. Crustal kinematics shows the formation of extensional detachment faults and high‐offset listric normal faults. These structures undergo gradual tilting during their footwall exhumation, while the rheological weak suture layers are redistributed beneath the crust. The results demonstrate an active interaction along the strike of the system between the two opposite dipping weak zones, where fault segments mechanically interact. During extension, the maximum horizontal fault offset switches the apparent sense of shear in the separating strike‐slip transfer zone. This kinematics explain the rapid change in the sense of shear in major strike‐slip transfer zones or transform faults, such as observed during the extension of the Pannonian back‐arc basin.
Source Apportionment and Secondary Transformation of Atmospheric Nonmethane Hydrocarbons in Chengdu, Southwest China
Authors: Song Mengdi , Tan Qinwen , Feng Miao , Qu Yu , Liu Xingang , An Junling , Zhang Yuanhang
Published: August 2018

Nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) have an important influence on the formation of photochemical smog and secondary organic aerosols in the atmosphere. We investigated 55 NMHCs in Chengdu from 27 October 2016 to 30 September 2017 to identify their sources, pollution levels, and secondary transformation potential. The average concentration of NMHCs in Chengdu was 41.8 ± 20.8 ppbv. Meteorological conditions play a vital role in the formation and dispersion of NMHCs, PM2.5, and O3. The photochemical conversion of NMHCs was inhibited by lower solar radiation, leading to low O3 concentrations and high NMHC concentrations. Aromatics and alkenes played a leading role in the secondary transformation, accounting for 60 ± 16% and 29 ± 11% of the total secondary formation potential, respectively. The southwest air mass trajectory was the most significant transportation path affecting the NMHC concentration in Chengdu. The results of the positive matrix factorization model indicated that there were seasonal differences in the sources of NMHCs in Chengdu. Four major emission sources were identified, namely, vehicle exhaust, industrial, paint solvents, and biogenic sources. Vehicle exhaust emissions were the greatest contributor to NMHCs in Chengdu, accounting for approximately 45% of the NMHCs. Overall, toluene, m/p‐xylene and ethylbenzene constitute a large fraction of the calculated ozone and secondary aerosol formation potential. Future studies should consider targeting these compounds when evaluating ozone and aerosol reduction strategies. However, in terms of total control of NMHC pollution, Chengdu should focus on effective control measures for traffic emissions.
Analytical Model to Detect Fault Permeability Alteration Induced by Fault Reactivation in Compartmentalized Reservoirs
Authors: Molina Oscar M. , Zeidouni Mehdi
Published: August 2018

Underground fluid injection induces changes in in situ stress condition of the target formation and local faults that can potentially lead to fault reactivation, which may result in the leakage of injected and/or native fluids into neighboring formations. In this paper, we introduce an analytical method to detect fault reactivation caused by fluid injection into deep faulted aquifers considering across‐fault leakage. The fundamental assumption made in our model is that fault permeability will be altered upon fault slip. Therefore, we model fault reactivation as a sudden change in fault permeability at the onset of fault slip. The fault is modeled as a linear interface between two permeable formations with equal rock and fluid properties. The governing equations are coupled through the fault interface and are solved using the Laplace‐Fourier integral transform technique. Based on the analytical solution, we find the characteristic bottomhole pressure and pressure derivative responses that enable detecting fault reactivation using diagnostic plots. We observe that pressure derivative undergoes a rapid change at the onset of fault slip followed by a late‐time trend to attain a new equilibrium governed by the altered fault permeability. Furthermore, we discuss the evolution of the across‐fault leakage rate upon and after fault slippage. Results from this study are presented in the form diagnostic plots and type curves that may be used for reservoir and fault characterization purposes.
Three-dimensional X-ray thermography using phase-contrast imaging
Authors: Yoneyama Akio , Iizuka Akiko , Fujii Tatsuo , Hyodo Kazuyuki , Hayakawa Jun
Published: August 2018

Thermal management is a key technology to desterilize unused energy sources for building sustainable societies. However, conventional temperature measurement methods such as infrared thermography can detect only the surface temperature of objects because they use infrared light. We thus present a novel three-dimensional X-ray thermography using a phase-contrast X-ray imaging technique, which enables non-destructive observations of the inner thermal distribution of samples. The sensitivity of phase-contrast X-ray imaging is about 1000 times higher than that of conventional X-ray imaging. Therefore, temperature changes can be detected by using density changes caused by thermal expansion. We applied X-ray interferometric imaging (XI) that detects phase-shift by using a crystal X-ray interferometer. The highest sensitivity of XI was utilized to successfully obtain the first three-dimensional image that visualizes the thermal distribution in heated water nondestructively. Additionally, projection images visualizing the dynamic thermal flow in heated water were also obtained, and their distribution and diffusion velocity agreed well with those of the calculated images obtained by computational fluid dynamics analysis. These results show that the novel thermography enables nondestructive observations of inner temperature and thermal flow and can provide solutions for optimum thermal design of electrical devices, motors, and engines.
Dynamic robustness of endoreversible Carnot refrigerator working in the maximum performance per cycle time
Authors: Lü Ke , Nie Wenjie , He Jizhou
Published: August 2018

In this work, we study the dynamic robustness of an endoreversible Carnot cycle working at the maximum per-unit-time performance regime, based on the linearization technique for dynamical systems and the local stability analysis. Our analysis is focused on the endoreversible Carnot refrigerator model, which works in the maximum per-unit-time coefficient of performance. At the steady-state of the maximum performance, the expressions of the relaxation times describing the stability of the system are derived. It is found that the relaxation times in the cycle condition are the function of thermal conductances σh and σc, the temperatures of the heat reservoirs Th and Tc, and the heat capacity C. The influence of the temperature ratio τ = Tc/Th and the thermal conductance ratio σr = σh/σc on the relaxation times is discussed in detail. The results obtained here are useful and provide a potential guidance for the design of an endoreversible Carnot refrigerator working in the maximum performance per cycle time optimization condition.
Preverbal infants utilize cross-modal semantic congruency in artificial grammar acquisition
Authors: Tseng Chia-huei , Chow Hiu Mei , Ma Yuen Ki , Ding Jie
Published: August 2018

Learning in a multisensory world is challenging as the information from different sensory dimensions may be inconsistent and confusing. By adulthood, learners optimally integrate bimodal (e.g. audio-visual, AV) stimulation by both low-level (e.g. temporal synchrony) and high-level (e.g. semantic congruency) properties of the stimuli to boost learning outcomes. However, it is unclear how this capacity emerges and develops. To approach this question, we examined whether preverbal infants were capable of utilizing high-level properties with grammar-like rule acquisition. In three experiments, we habituated pre-linguistic infants with an audio-visual (AV) temporal sequence that resembled a grammar-like rule (A-A-B). We varied the cross-modal semantic congruence of the AV stimuli (Exp 1: congruent syllables/faces; Exp 2: incongruent syllables/shapes; Exp 3: incongruent beeps/faces) while all the other low-level properties (e.g. temporal synchrony, sensory energy) were constant. Eight- to ten-month-old infants only learned the grammar-like rule from AV congruent stimuli pairs (Exp 1), not from incongruent AV pairs (Exp 2, 3). Our results show that similar to adults, preverbal infants’ learning is influenced by a high-level multisensory integration gating system, pointing to a perceptual origin of bimodal learning advantage that was not previously acknowledged.
Author Correction: Diversity and bioactive potential of culturable fungal endophytes of Dysosma versipellis; a rare medicinal plant endemic to China
Authors: Tan Xiao-ming , Zhou Ya-qin , Zhou Xiao-lei , Xia Xiang-hua , Wei Ying , He Li-li , Tang Hong-zhen , Yu Li-ying
Published: August 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Gas phase electrochemical analysis of amino acids and their fragments
Authors: Calleja Maria , Elahi Atif , Caruana Daren J.
Published: August 2018

All chemical reactions involve electron rearrangement within or between molecules. The changes are best studied by methods such as electrochemistry, but these have been developed mainly for liquids and solids rather than gases. This exclusion limits our understanding of electron transfer processes that are central in plasma systems, which are of high scientific, industrial, and environmental importance. Here we describe electrochemical measurements in the gas phase of small organic molecules contained in flame plasma, by probing the redox activity of the resulting chemical fragments using cyclic voltammetry. Unique current-voltage spectra are recorded for eight amino acids and their fragments, through specific electron transfer reactions at the solid/gas interface. We identify and assign Faradaic peaks in the current-voltage spectra to the fragments using stable analogues of the fragments and in situ mass spectroscopy. We show that this approach provides unambiguous identification of organic based molecules, with a sensitivity and power of speciation to rival mass spectrometry.
Detection of bacterial contamination in food matrices by integration of quorum sensing in a paper-strip test
Authors: Wynn Daniel , Raut Nilesh , Joel Smita , Pasini Patrizia , Deo Sapna K. , Daunert Sylvia
Published: August 2018

A rapid, portable, and low cost tool capable of identifying increased bacterial populations in commonly used food products.