bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Humanmade Climate Change; A Study Utilizing The Systems Thinking Approach
Authors: Ekholdt Nicolas , Mansouri Mo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe emission due to the way human lifestyle have evolved over the centuries have led to one of the most complex and difficult issue the human species have ever met: Manmade climate change. The issue of global warming can ultimately lead to consequences which will significantly damage the world as we know it. The goal of this paper is to study the problem of global warming by utilizing tools from systems thinking, by applying analysis on the stakeholders connection to the issue and the relations existing inside the complex system, to enable the development of solutions which are applicable to negate the problem at hand.
Early Validation of Stakeholder Needs by Applying Co‐creation Sessions
Authors: Guntveit Malin , Kj⊘rstad Marianne , Sevaldson Birger 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis paper investigates the application of co‐creation sessions as a method in the early phases of development projects. The target is to do an early validation of stakeholder needs prior to project start. Co‐creation sessions engage key stakeholders to share knowledge in collaborative exercises to gain a mutual understanding of the problem and build a solution landscape. We study three co‐creation sessions in early phase development projects by using interviews and feedback surveys in an industry‐as‐laboratory approach. The co‐creation method is based on design thinking techniques, system oriented design and other visual tools. The sessions are facilitated to provide active participation of key stakeholders, achieved by using hands‐on activities. The results imply that co‐creation sessions contribute to anchor, align, and validate stakeholder needs, but do not necessarily elicit stakeholder needs. The study indicates that co‐creation sessions increase customer engagement and can potentially lead to new development projects.
Towards a semantic approach of MBSE frameworks specification
Authors: Duprez Jean , Ernadote Dominique 
Published: September 2020

AbstractFor decades, the use of models has been progressively extended to nearly all Systems Engineering activities and for a large variety of concerns and disciplines. It has resulted in the development of large modeling frameworks that involve many different tools and types of models. The goal of this paper is to propose an approach to specify such modeling frameworks in a way to ensure and manage the overall semantic consistency of modeled Systems Engineering assets. The proposed approach relies on the ISO/IEC/IEEE‐42010 principles, on the elicitation of an ontology of the system architecture, and on the definition of how the architecture description elements represent the elements of the ontology. By identifying resulting semantic correspondences and correspondence rules, it allows eliciting consistency rules and then, to define and specify advanced modeling services ensuring the semantic consistency of models.
Orchestrating Human Systems Integration Looking for the Right Mix for Human‐Machine Teaming
Authors: Boy Guy André 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHuman systems integration (HSI) is commonly thought as the association of human‐centered design (HCD) and systems engineering (SE). HCD relies on human‐in‐the‐loop simulation (HITLS) and artificial intelligence (AI). In addition, AI and SE terminologies, methods, and tools should be harmonized in the context of human‐machine teaming (HMT). Evolutions from singleagent to multi‐agent approaches in AI, and from isolated‐system to system‐of‐systems in SE are comparable. System and agent representations commonly apply to humans and machines. They are defined by their structures and functions. Based on research currently developed on HCD of increasingly‐autonomous complex systems, this paper uses the Orchestra metaphor model that supports HMT organization design and management, based on: domain ontology (music theory); tasks and designers (scores and composers); activity and performance coordination (conductors); human/machine operators (musicians); end‐users and consumers (audience). This approach requires elicitation, understanding and mastery of new interdependences, co‐adaptation, and integration of agents’ emerging functions using HITLS.
Applying Model‐Based Systems Architecture Processes (MBSAP) Methodology for Diversified MBSE Projects with Efficient Systems of Systems Accomplishments
Authors: Tsui Roy K. , Borky John M. , Bradley Thomas H. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis is a paper I will like to share with my Systems Engineering Development Life Cycles (SDLC) tactics by adapting to the MBSAP methodology from the text applicable to the real‐world MBSE tasks. These involved diversified MBSE developments and research according to my working projects scope aspects. The text introduces MBSE as the state of the practice in the dynamic Systems Engineering discipline that manages complexity and integrates technologies and design approaches to achieve effective, affordable, and balanced system solutions to the needs of all stakeholders within the systems development resources. All my successful accomplishments will be demonstrated that MBSAP is an effective MBSE and Systems Architectures research methodology for any future digital systems engineering development life cycles.
A Bibliometric Method for Analysis of Systems Engineering Research
Authors: Oosthuizen Rudolph , Pretorius Leon 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSince systems engineering is still a relatively young and growing discipline, it requires a periodic analysis, taking into account past research to derive the requirements for future growth. Published research provides a good indication on the progress and maturity of a scientific discipline. Bibliometric analysis is a valuable tool to assess published research. This paper establishes a method to determine the main research topics published in the Systems Engineering Journal (INCOSE) since its inception. The research and associated analysis method applies Natural Language Processing with Topic Modelling to extract the main topics from the abstracts of all the papers published in the journal. The analyzed data provides the trends in topic coverage over time.
Strategy for Implementing an Enterprise Systems Engineering Capability
Authors: Martin James N. , Minnichelli Robert J. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSystems are becoming increasingly interdependent and interconnected and the enterprise charged with developing such systems faces a challenge in ensuring that these dependencies are known and well understand such that the enterprise's portfolio of programs, projects and systems is balanced and robust. Enterprise Systems Engineering (ESE) is an emerging discipline that is designed to handle the challenges of helping to manage this portfolio and ensuring that the various mission and business systems are developed in a coherent, efficient and effective manner. This paper describes the desired features of an ESE capability that can help the enterprise manage its portfolio as well as addressing the various non‐system solutions that must be brought to bear. The strategy for realizing this ESE capability is described in terms of the goals and objectives that the enterprise should be expected to achieve.
Exploring Inherent Structural Knowledge in Mental Models through a Qualitative System Dynamics Approach
Authors: Plooy Corné du 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe purpose of the paper is to explore the inherent structural knowledge contained inside a mental model. Systems engineering and system dynamics share a common relative in the field of Cybernetics and systems thinking but have evolved into different areas of specialization. System dynamics has the ability to integrate more qualitative variables that are not conventionally used by systems engineering due to characteristically high levels of uncertainty or an unquantifiable nature. These qualitative variables are however part of the human mind's mental models of the world and strongly influence decision making. In this paper, qualitative structural understanding is explored through a system dynamics methodology to reveal the inherent knowledge captured in a structure. The structure that is explored is the limits‐to‐growth system archetype specifically developed into a population Causal Loop Diagram (CLD). The CLD is used as an initial mental model of structure and further expanded into a system dynamics model. The results show that population dynamics is driven by structure in the case of unique population groups such as China, Japan and Africa; but also provided insight into the global population boom in the 1900's. It also exposes that the structure of population has the ability to survive extremely harsh conditions which human tribal ancestors experienced. Results of this study confirm the value of gaining structural understanding and knowledge to support and influence decision making.
Towards a Unified Approach to System‐of‐Systems Risk Analysis Based on Systems Theory
Authors: Axelsson Jakob 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn systems‐of‐systems (SoS), trustworthiness is a key concern, which includes operational risks such as safety, security, and privacy. These are particularly challenging to achieve in an SoS, due to the shared responsibility among independent constituent systems. This paper investigates a unified approach based on systems thinking for analyzing risks in SoS. Having a common framework is important, since many risk areas are related and affect each other. The paper also discusses how traditional static risk analysis can be complemented by dynamic techniques that collect data over time to fuel SoS evolution with respect to risk reduction.
Understanding the complicated relationship between antioxidants and carcinogenesis
Authors: Majumder Debabrata , Nath Priyatosh , Debnath Rahul , Maiti Debasish 
Published: September 2020

AbstractReactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated as by‐product of cellular respiration and also due to the exposure of various xenobiotics, whereas mitochondrial electron transport chain is considered as the main source of ROS generation. The sequential addition to molecular oxygen gives rise to various forms of ROS like superoxide anion, peroxide, hydroxyl radical, hydroxyl ion, and so forth. However, the uncontrolled level of ROS generation and accumulation alters the body homeostasis. Excessive generation of ROS leads to oxidative stress and various kinds of diseases including cancer. To counteract ROS, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants' armory is available in our body. Apart from endogenous antioxidants, we are also consuming various exogenous antioxidants. Antioxidants protect us from ROS‐mediated damages and inhibit ROS‐induced carcinogenesis. Recent studies have revealed that antioxidants could also act as tumor‐promoting agents. Various anticancer drugs are used to kill the cancer cells through the generation of oxidative stress in them, but the cancer cells can counteract the effect with the help of various endogenous as well as exogenous antioxidants. Our review will summarize the multifaceted relationship between antioxidants and carcinogenesis, and it will help to create new directions in antioxidant‐based chemotherapy.
Risk factors for mortality in critically ill patients with COVID‐19 in Huanggang, China: A single‐center multivariate pattern analysis
Authors: Chen Yinyin , Linli Zeqiang , Lei Yuting , Yang Yiya , Liu Zhipeng , Xia Youchun , Liang Yumei , Zhu Huabo , Guo Shuixia 
Published: September 2020

AbstractTo date, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has a worldwide distribution. Risk factors for mortality in critically ill patients, especially detailed self‐evaluation indicators and laboratory‐examination indicators, have not been well described. In this paper, a total of 192 critically ill patients (142 were discharged and 50 died in the hospital) with COVID‐19 were included. Self‐evaluation indicators including demographics, baseline characteristics, and symptoms and detailed lab‐examination indicators were extracted. Data were first compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was performed to identify possible risk factors for mortality of COVID‐19 patients. MVPA achieved a relatively high classification accuracy of 93% when using both self‐evaluation indicators and laboratory‐examination indicators. Several self‐evaluation factors related to COVID‐19 were highly associated with mortality, including age, duration (time from illness onset to admission), and the Barthel index (BI) score. When the duration, age increased by 1 day, 1 year, BI decreased by 1 point, the mortality increased by 3.6%, 2.4%, and 0.9% respectively. Laboratory‐examination indicators including C‐reactive protein, white blood cell count, platelet count, fibrin degradation products, oxygenation index, lymphocyte count, and d‐dimer were also risk factors. Among them, duration was the strongest predictor of all‐cause mortality. Several self‐evaluation indicators that can simply be obtained by questionnaires and without clinical examination were the risk factors of all‐cause mortality in critically ill COVID‐19 patients. The prediction model can be used by individuals to improve health awareness, and by clinicians to identify high‐risk individuals.
Association of periodontitis with leukocyte telomere length in US adults: A cross‐sectional analysis of NHANES 1999 to 2002
Authors: Song Weihong , Yang Jianzhen , Niu Zhongzheng 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundThis study examines the association of periodontitis with telomere length (TL) and effect modification by population characteristics.MethodsWe analyzed data from 3,478 participants from the 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Probing depth, attachment loss, and bleed on probing (BOP, available for 1,973 participants only) were examined on the distal, mesial, or mid‐facial site of each tooth in two randomly selected quadrants. We defined periodontitis severity according to the Centers for Disease Control/American Academy of Periodontology guideline. TL from leukocytes was measured with qPCR. We used linear and logistic regression to examine the adjusted association of different severity of periodontitis and BOP with continuous TL (bp) and dichotomized short TL (<median), respectively. To assess effect modification, we stratified the analyses by a priori selected population characteristics including sex, age, body weight status, smoking, and cardiometabolic comorbidity.ResultsModerate BOP (<10% bleeding sites) was significantly associated with a shorter continuous TL (β = ‐89.0, SE = 37.8). Moderate to severe periodontitis was significantly associated with 47% (95% confidence interval [IL], 1.04 to 2.09) higher odds of shorter TL, compared with those with mild or no periodontitis. The association was stronger in those who were female (adjusted OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.83), overweight or obese (adjusted OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.41), or had cardiometabolic comorbidities (adjusted OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.38 to 3.29).ConclusionsPeriodontitis was associated with TL, a biomarker of cellular aging. The association was stronger in females, overweight or obese, or those with cardiometabolic diseases. Treatment on periodontitis could potentially protect individuals from aging‐related diseases.
Salting‐out assisted liquid–liquid extraction method optimized by design of experiments for the simultaneous high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of perampanel and stiripentol in mouse matrices
Authors: Meirinho Sara , Campos Gonçalo , Rodrigues Márcio , Fortuna Ana , Falcão Amílcar , Alves Gilberto 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWe report a high‐performance liquid chromatography method development able to simultaneously determine perampanel and stiripentol, two third‐generation antiepileptics whose therapeutic spectrum can potentially be extended, in several mouse matrices. A salting‐out assisted liquid–liquid extraction optimized by a design of experiments approach was adopted for sample preparations. Isopropanol and magnesium sulfate were the extraction solvent and salting‐out agent, respectively. Both drugs and internal standard (terbinafine) were separated using a LiChroCART® Purospher Star column (C18, 55 × 4 mm; 3 μm) isocratically pumped with mobile phase [1% triethylamine in water (pH 2.5) and acetonitrile (53:47, v/v)] at 1 mL/min. Stiripentol and terbinafine were detected by fluorescence at 254/372 nm and perampanel at 275/430 nm. Good linearity was demonstrated for perampanel at 1–500 ng/mL range in brain, 2–2000 ng/mL in liver and 1–2000 ng/mL in plasma and kidney (r2 ≥ 0.9922), and for stiripentol between 10 and 2000 ng/mL in brain and 10 and 20 000 ng/mL in the remaining matrices (r2 ≥ 0.9917). Precision (CV ≤ 15%) and accuracy (bias ±15%) were also verified, with obtained recovery values consistent with those predicted by the experimental design. This method was applied in preliminary pharmacokinetic studies to quantify perampanel or stiripentol after oral administration to mice, showing to be a promising bioanalytical tool to support future nonclinical in vivo pharmacokinetic studies.
Intraductal Lithotripsy in Sialolithiasis Using the Calculase III™ Ho:YAG Laser: First Experiences
Authors: Koch Michael , Schapher Mirco , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Iro Heinrich 
Published: September 2020

Background and ObjectivesTo report the first experiences with a newly available Ho:YAG laser system for the treatment of salivary stones.Study Design/Materials and MethodsA retrospective study in a tertiary referral center was conducted. Patients diagnosed with sialolithiasis were treated in Erlangen using the Calculase III™ Ho:YAG laser (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany). Preset parameters had a frequency of 4 Hz and energy of 0.8–1.2 J, resulting in 3.2–4.8 W. Following total fragmentation, one to two serial sialendoscopies were performed to achieve complete fragment clearance.ResultsA total of 55 stones in 49 patients were treated; 17 stones in 15 submandibular glands and 38 in 34 parotids. In total, 61 laser lithotripsies (range 1–3 per stone) were performed using various modes (long, short, and burst) and with preset parameters of 4 Hz and energy of 0.8–1.2 J, resulting in effective power of 3.2–4.8 W. Complete fragmentation was achieved in all the accessible stones. Sialendoscopes, fibers, or the mode used had no significant influence on success rates. A multimodal therapy concept was employed to treat stones in 12.24% of the cases; 95.92% of the patients were ultimately stone‐free, and all became symptom‐free. All glands were preserved.ConclusionsThe new Calculase III™ Ho:YAG laser was effective in the treatment of sialolithiasis with no increased risk of complications in the patients or damage to the sialendoscopes. Clinical factors such as the type of gland involved, or the location and size of stones had a greater impact on success rates than the technical or preset parameters. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC
Correlations between available primary amines, endospore coat thickness, and alkaline glutaraldehyde sensitivity for spores of select Bacillus species
Authors: Player Jacob Kent , Despain Justen Thalmus , Robison Richard A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAlkaline glutaraldehyde (GTA) is a high‐level chemical disinfectant/sterilant and has a broad microbial kill spectrum. The precise antimicrobial mechanism of GTA remains debated. GTA kill times are extremely variable across different organisms, illustrating the need for a better understanding of GTA kill mechanisms related to different organisms. A commonly proposed GTA kill mechanism suggests that it works by cross‐linking accessible primary amines on important surface proteins. If true, the antimicrobial activity of GTA may directly correlate to the number of these available functional groups. Bacillus species form highly resistant bacterial endospores that are commonly used as one of the most stringent test organisms for disinfection and sterilization. In this study, we compared the log reduction times of alkaline GTA on spores from 4 Bacillus species to fluorescent profiles generated using Alexa Fluor™ amine‐reactive dyes. GTA kill times were also compared to mean spore coat thicknesses as measured with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fluorescence values generated from bound amine‐reactive dye showed a strong, positive correlation to GTA susceptibility, as measured by GTA 6‐log10 reduction times. Spore coat thickness also showed a strong, positive correlation to reduction time values. Results support the hypothesis that GTA kill times are directly related to the number of available primary amines on bacterial endospores. Results also indicated that the killing efficacy of GTA may be influenced by its ability to penetrate the spore coat to reach additional targets, suggesting that damaging important biomolecules beyond surface proteins may be involved in GTA killing mechanisms.
Assessment of drought impacts on crop yields across Nepal during 1987–2017
Authors: Hamal Kalpana , Sharma Shankar , Khadka Nitesh , Haile Gebremedhin Gebremeskel , Joshi Bharat Badayar , Xu Tianli , Dawadi Binod 
Published: September 2020

AbstractDrought influences agriculture, hydrology, ecology and socio‐economic systems globally. As agriculture is the primary source for livelihoods and contributes to ~27% of Nepalʼs total gross domestic product, it is essential to understand the impact of drought on maize and wheat crop yields to minimize the drought‐related risks. This study presents insights about agricultural drought across Nepal during 1987–2017 using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). The temporal evolution of SPEI time series has revealed frequent occurrences of drought episodes during the cropping cycle of summer maize and winter wheat crops. Moreover, the turning point of the drought was detected in 2000 (1987–2000, 2001–2017) in different regions. The averaged frequency for the SPEIs (1, 3, 6 and 12) of drought years for summer maize (winter wheat) in the western, central and eastern regions increased by 13% (12.5%), 6% (7.5%) and 7% (8%), respectively, from 1987–2000 to 2001–2017. The relationship between Standardized Yield Residual Series, the detrended SPEI at 1–12 lags and soil moisture was observed for both crops. The most correlated crop growth period for summer maize and winter wheat was the sowing and growing period, respectively, indicating the sensitive period of water deficit. Besides, the correlation performed in the two sub‐periods (1987–2000 and 2001–2017) shows that drought impacts increased in the western and central regions, whereas they substantially decreased in the eastern region during the cropping period of summer maize. However, the drought sensitivity for winter wheat was decreased in the western region but significantly increased in the central and eastern regions of Nepal. The results of this study provide important information useful for policymakers in monitoring and mitigating the drought‐related risks on maize and wheat crops in Nepal.