bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Basin‐wide hydromorphological analysis of ephemeral streams using machine learning algorithms‡
Authors: Rabanaque Maria Pilar , Martínez‐Fernández Vanesa , Calle Mikel , Benito Gerardo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSustainable river management now encompasses a much wider concept that includes hydromorphological and fluvial habitat studies. In ephemeral streams, the geomorphological characterization of channels is complex due to episodic flows and riparian vegetation dynamics. Stream channel survey and classification at the watershed scale provide the basis for geomorphological conservation, process interpretation, assessing sensitivity to disturbance, and identifying reaches that supply and store sediment. Here, we present a stream classification based on a two‐step approach: (1) automatic river segmentation based on spatial variability in channel/valley morphology from topographic measurements (LiDAR, light, detection and ranging), and (2) fluvial landform and vegetation density mapping derived from multispectral open‐source satellite images (Sentinel‐2) using support vector machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms. These analyses provide continuous, quantitative spatial values of geometric (channel/valley width, slope gradient, and route distance), landform (active channel and gravel bars with five densities of vegetation cover), and hydraulic (specific stream power) variables. Four stream types were identified in the Rambla de la Viuda catchment (~1500 km2), an ephemeral gravel‐bed river in eastern Spain. The spatial distribution of channel types is explained by differences in geometry (active channel width, valley width, and slope gradient) and a hydraulic parameter (specific stream power). The landforms/vegetation patterns provided insight on causal relationships between erosion and deposition processes during high flow periods and the time since the most recent large disruptive flood event. Channel type distribution provided first‐order predictions about the location of reaches that supply and store sediment and thus information on sediment continuity along the river. Dam effects on downstream reaches resulted in geomorphological disequilibrium, producing narrowing of the active channel, slope reduction, and a decrease of gravel bar areal extension. The proposed catchment scale analysis provides a comprehensive and replicable methodology for environmental planning in Mediterranean ephemeral streams to guide further hydromorphological surveys at the reach scale.
Mobile‐fog‐cloud assisted deep reinforcement learning and blockchain‐enable IoMT system for healthcare workflows
Authors: Lakhan Abdullah , Mohammed Mazin Abed , Kozlov Sergei , Rodrigues Joel J. P. C. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is increasingly being used to secure blockchain technology to operate healthcare applications in a distributed network. The applications are mobile and can move from one place to another with different wireless connectivity. However, there are a lot of challenges that are investigated further. For instance, dynamic content values changed during mobile applications during any business goal. The workflow healthcare applications are complex as compared to coarse‐grained and fine‐grained workload in IoMT. In this article, the study analyzed offloading and scheduling problems for healthcare workflows in IoMT fog‐cloud network. Therefore, the study considered the problem as an offloading and scheduling problem formulated deep reinforcement learning as Markov problem. The study devises the novel deep reinforcement learning and blockchain‐enabled system, consisting of multi‐criteria offloading based on deep reinforcement learning policies and blockchain task scheduling with task sequencing and research matching methods for healthcare workloads in the IoMT system. The simulation results suggested strategies that reduced the communication and computation time for each application in the system.
Developing an artificial intelligent model for predicting combustion and flammability properties
Authors: Jiang Lin , Mensah Rhoda Afriyie , Asante‐Okyere Solomon , Försth Michael , Xu Qiang , Ziggah Yao Yevenyo , Restás Ágoston , Berto Filippo , Das Oisik 
Published: September 2021

SummaryWhile there have been various attempts in establishing a model that can predict the flammability characteristics of polymers based on their molecular structure, artificial intelligence (AI) presents a promising alternative in tackling this pressing issue. Therefore, a novel approach of adopting AI methods, extreme learning machines (ELMs) and group method of data handling (GMDH) in estimating heat release capacity, total heat release and char yield from thermophysical properties of polymers were addressed. GMDH showed a clear indication of overfitting whereby the models generated excellent training results but could not provide similar performance during testing. The superior generalisation performance of ELM during testing makes it the standout method. ELM produced HRC predictions having R and RRMSE of 0.86 and 0.405 for training, 0.94 and 0.356 for testing. For THR estimates from ELM, the R and RRMSE scores were 0.9 and 0.195 for training, 0.93 and 0.131 for testing. While char yield ELM model generated 0.88 and 0.795 for training, 0.93 and 0.383 for testing. The potential of ELM was demonstrated as it estimated the flammability parameters of 105 polymers having little or no empirical test results.
Using cross‐impact analysis for probabilistic risk assessment
Authors: Salo Ahti , Tosoni Edoardo , Roponen Juho , Bunn Derek W. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCross‐impact analysis is widely employed to inform management and policy decisions based on the formulation of scenarios, defined as combinations of outcomes of relevant uncertainty factors. In this paper, we argue that the use of nonprobabilistic variants of cross‐impact analysis is problematic in the context of risk assessment where the usual aim is to produce conservative risk estimates which may exceed but are not smaller than the actual risk level. Then, building on the characterization of probabilistic dependencies, we develop an approach to probabilistic cross‐impact analysis which (i) admits several kinds of probabilistic statements about the outcomes of relevant uncertainty factors and their dependencies; (ii) maps such statements into constraints on the joint probability distribution over all possible scenarios; (iii) provides support for preserving the consistency of elicited statements; and (iv) uses mathematical optimization to compute lower and upper bounds on the overall risk level. This approach—which is illustrated with an example from the context of nuclear waste repositories—is useful in that it retains the informativeness of cross‐impact statements while ensuring that these statements are interpreted within the coherent framework of probability theory.
The predictive power of serum vitamin D for poor outcomes in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Derakhshanian Hoda , Rastad Hadith , Ghosh Sanjoy , Zeinali Marjan , Ziaee Mahsa , Khoeini Tara , Farrokhpour Mohsen , Qorbani Mostafa , Ramezani Ghamsari Mona , Hasani Hossein , Mirzaasgari Zahra 
Published: September 2021

AbstractConsidering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide and its relationship with immune response to viral infections, this study attempted to identify the predictive power of serum vitamin D for poor outcomes among the COVID‐19 patients. This retrospective cohort study included all patients with confirmed COVID‐19 hospitalized between February 20, 2020, and April 20, 2020, at a designated COVID‐19 hospital, located in Tehran province, Iran. General characteristics, medical history and clinical symptoms were recorded by trained physicians. Blood parameters including complete blood count, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein and vitamin D were tested. This study included 290 hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 (the mean age [SD]: 61.6 [16.9], 56.6% males), of whom 142 had vitamin D concentrations less than 20 ng/ml, defined as vitamin D deficiency. COVID‐19 patients with vitamin D deficiency were more likely to die (Crude OR [95% CI]: 2.30 [1.25–4.26]), require ICU (2.06 [1.22–3.46]) and invasive mechanical ventilation (2.03 [1.04–3.93]) based on univariate logistic regression results. Although, after adjusting for potentials confounders such as gender and age, the association between vitamin D and need to invasive mechanical ventilation lost its significance, adjusted values for the risk of death and ICU requirement were still statistically significant. Vitamin D deficiency can be considered as a predictor of poor outcomes and mortality in COVID‐19 patients. Therefore, checking serum 25 (OH) D on admission and taking vitamin D supplements according to the prophylactic or treatment protocols is recommended for all COVID‐19 patients.
The anatomical measurements of vulva in Indian women: A cross‐sectional prospective study
Authors: Agrawal Neha , Singh Pratibha , Ghuman Navdeep Kaur , Sharma Charu , Yadav Garima , Gothwal Meenakshi , Jhirwal Manisha 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo measure the anatomical dimensions of the vulva in adult Indian women. To analyze their correlations with age, body mass index (BMI), parity, and mode of delivery.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care university hospital in India, among 400 women aged 18 years and above. Various vulval measurements were taken, and Pearson's correction was applied to variables like age, BMI, parity, and mode of delivery.ResultsMean length of glans of clitoris was 5.2 ± 1.43 mm, the labia minora width was 2.6 ± 0.74 cm, length of introitus was 1.3 ± 0.59 cm, and perineal body length was 2.3 ± 0.60 cm. The range of some measurements was extensive, for example labia minora width ranged from 0.7 to 4.9 cm. Normal centile curves were constructed for vulval measurements according to age groups. Statistically significant positive correlations of age, BMI, and obstetrical history were seen with labia minora width (r = 0.165, P = 0.001; r = 0.284, P < 0.001; r = 0.246, P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionThe centile curves can be used as a reference for the Indian population of different ages. These can be used when counseling women coming for female genital cosmetic surgery.
Non‐BCMA targeted CAR‐T cell therapies for multiple myeloma
Authors: Wang Xiangmin , Pan Bin , Huang He , Xu Kailin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDespite the emergence of new strategies in recent years, multiple myeloma (MM) is still an incurable disease with poor outcome. As a new treatment, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR‐) T cell therapy brought exciting news to patients with relapsed or refractory MM. B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is ubiquitously expressed on the surface of myeloma cells and is considered an “ideal” target of CAR‐T cell. BCMA‐targeted CAR‐T cell therapies achieved remarkable efficacy in relapsed or refractory MM patients in several clinical trials. However, some patients had no response or relapsed after BCMA targeted CAR‐T cell therapy. Myeloma cells also express other surface markers which might be used as targets for CAR‐T cell therapy. Encouragingly, CAR‐T cells targeting these non‐BCMA markers are being tested in clinical trials or under preclinical investigation, already showing some promising results. In this review, we summarized and provided an update of these advances.
Amelioration of takyric solonetz using drip irrigation with soil‐water‐redistribution medium*
Authors: Huang Pengfei , Kang Yaohu , Wan Shuqin , Li Xiaobin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractTakyric solonetz is a highly saline‐sodic soil with poor soil structure and a saturated hydraulic conductivity close to zero. Drip irrigation, soil‐water‐redistribution medium (RM), ridge planting and film mulching have been successfully used to ameliorate such soils. Here, we compared soil moisture and cation distribution during the amelioration with planting years of 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. A suitable root zone with low electrical conductivity, pH and sodium absorption ratio was quickly and continuously formed in the arid area. An irrigation regime with a decreasing soil matric potential threshold of −5 to −20 kPa in improving years 1–4 and stabilized at −20 kPa was feasible. The wetting front kept moving downward with time, and the dry soil layer in the middle of the profile gradually disappeared after 4 years. In the initial 4 years, the Na+ in the root zone leached mainly to the top layer of ridge slope and furrow. And then the Na+ leached downward. The spatial distribution of soil water and Na+ indicated that soil permeability improved with time, and significant changes occurred after the fifth year.
Model‐Based Systems Product Line Engineering of Physical Protection Systems
Authors: Tekinerdogan Bedir , Özcan Murat Kaan , Yakın İskender , Yağız Sevil 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA physical protection system (PPS) aims to protect a system against adversarial attacks by deterrence, detection, delay, and response. PPSs have targeted the protection of various systems, each of which has its specific requirements. On the other hand, PPSs also share a large set of features that are implemented for each system. To reduce the development cost, reduce time‐to‐market, and increase the quality of systems, a large‐scale systematic reuse approach as defined by systems product line engineering (SPLE) can be applied. So far, PPS methods have mainly considered the systems engineering of single PPSs. In this paper, we report on our industrial experiences and lessons learned for adopting SPLE for PPSs. An explicit model‐based systems engineering approach is adopted in which the focus is on the formalized application of models in the overall systems engineering life cycle. Hereby, the presented approach adopts and integrates model‐based systems engineering, product line engineering, and the PPS method to provide a systematic large‐scale reuse approach for systems engineering of PPSs. We discuss the detailed steps of the approach and report on the lessons learned for adopting model‐based systems product line engineering for PPS.
Using the Security Views in UAF
Authors: Hause Matthew , Kihlström Lars‐Olof 
Published: September 2021

AbstractArchitectures, systems, subsystems, and the data that they contain, are valuable assets. Systems engineers and architects must plan for system security from concept inception to retirement to ensure that security is embedded into every part of every process, procedure, system and component as well as in the mindset of the people in the enterprise. While the various DoDAF views contain attributes of security, there are no views for defining system security goals, threats, risks, mitigating elements, etc. and demonstrating how these are integrated and implemented into the operational, system, standards and services views. The Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) has integrated a set of security views that provide engineers a means of defining security goals and requirements and demonstrating how these are implemented throughout the architecture.
Experience in Designing for Cyber Resiliency in Embedded DoD Systems
Authors: Barzeele Jennifer , Siu Kit , Robinson Mike , Suantak Liana , Merems John , Durling Michael , Moitra Abha , Meng Baoluo , Williams Patrice , Prince Daniel 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn DoD systems, software component reuse is highly valued, and development is rarely started from scratch. Most embedded weapon systems are a heterogeneous mixture of new, modified, and legacy components. This mixture drives an increased impetus to improve upon the existing system's model, and also creates an opportunity to assess potential cyber vulnerabilities earlier in the lifecycle. In this paper, we describe our experience in developing an experimental platform, which is a representative testbed that incorporates legacy, modified, and new components, using a process where we address cyber resiliency early in development. We give accounts of where each of the parts of our representative testbed originated, what modeling decisions we made, and how we analyzed cyber vulnerabilities. We also propose a system engineering process, based on architectural modeling of the system, which introduces analysis early in the design for cyber resiliency. We are developing an approach to use advanced tools to find vulnerabilities and to develop cyber resiliency requirements to counter those vulnerabilities. The creation of the model and documentation of cyber resiliency requirements and design decisions provide a positive impact on the system lifecycle and future integration of the system.
A value‐driven, integrated approach to Model‐Based Product Line Engineering
Authors: Navas Juan , Bonnet Stéphane , Voirin Jean‐Luc , Chalé Gongora Hugo Guillermo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractPushed to the edge of their capabilities in a highly competitive world market, organizations everywhere look for efficient means to innovate and develop their products and services. This paper proposes and illustrates a holistic integration of Product Line Engineering (PLE) and Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to connect and align market and business analysis, architecting, design, and engineering. This value‐driven, integrated approach capitalizes on MBSE best practices to tackle the concrete challenges of product line engineering.
Agility in the Future of Systems Engineering (FuSE) ‐ A Roadmap of Foundational Concepts
Authors: Willett Keith D. , Dove Rick , Chudnow Alan , Eckman Rusty , Rosser Larri , Stevens Jennifer S. , Yeman Robin , Yokell Mike 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe Future of Systems Engineering (FuSE) is an INCOSE led multi‐organization collaborative activity focusing on many initiatives to identify and shape the future of systems engineering. The FuSE Agility collaboration identifies and elaborates a roadmap for an initial set of foundational concepts to further the integration of agility into the systems engineering lifecycle. This paper identifies four objectives for agility integration in people, process, technology, and environment and aligns nine foundational concepts to advance thinking and practice in agile‐systems engineering (solutions) and agile systems‐engineering (process).
A Systems Engineering Approach to the Design and Education of a Robotic Baby
Authors: Zhu Hanqing , Feron Eric 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn this paper, a novel architecture, Baby, for robotic babies is proposed with a systems engineering design approach. A robotic baby is an autonomous learning system with minimal structures at the beginning of its life, aiming to gradually learn languages and actions from interactions with human parents and the world. Throughout the paper, the philosophy and the reasoning behind a robotic baby with a systems engineering design approach is discussed. With the architecture, system verification and validation are conducted, which shows convincing language skills in parsing, similar to observed human cognitive behaviors. A proof of concept demonstration involving an integration with a 3D printer is also presented. With preliminary results, the roadmap for further development and the positioning of the architecture are presented.
An Assessment of the Adequacy of Common Definitions of the Concept of System
Authors: Salado Alejandro , Kulkarni Aditya U. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn all areas of scientific study, definitions are used to describe the meaning of terms. Thus, a good set of definitions aids the scientific process by enabling researchers to communicate in a common language. In this regard, the Systems Engineering community has allocated significant effort to understanding the nature and scope of common definitions of a system. However, less attention has been given to formally examining whether these common definitions of a system are adequate. In this paper, we argue that the common definitions of a system are limited in their ability to adequately define a system's boundary. Furthermore, we argue that the common definitions of a system rely on context and prior understanding to communicate the boundary of a system. Finally, by using concepts from philosophy and mathematical logic, we show that the common definitions of a system are nominal in their ability to define a system's boundary.
Dealing with COVID‐19 Pandemic in Complex Societal System for Resilience Study: A Systems Approach
Authors: Wang Bijun , Mansouri Mo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe continuing spread of COVID‐19 has triggered a global health crisis with raising a series of problems in healthcare, economics, policymaking and environment, which significantly affected the resilience of the whole societal system. We emphasize the societal system, as an adaptive and complex system, has a fundamental impact on the spread of the virus linked to individual behavior change and disaster governance system. This paper combined system thinking and resilience thinking to visualize the complexity and comprehend the governance system under global pandemic threats towards recovering the resilient society. We underline the societal system can be affected by the pandemic, and in turn, impinge on the individual behaviors and governance with a proposed multi‐stage and multi‐scalar framework dealt with the process from crisis to recovery. Meanwhile, a qualitative system dynamics model is proposed inspired by the general Susceptible‐Infected‐Recovery (SIR) model with multiple interactions and interdependency of intervention policies, human psychological factors and mobility‐related factors to explore the influence on the societal system with time effect. Through this perspective, we should enhance the sense of crisis and integrate resilience thinking into the current hazards and recovery process combined with the interconnectedness among societal system in the future.
Return on Investment in Model‐Based Systems Engineering Software Tools
Authors: Duffy James B. , Feng Jingyao , Combs Robert , Richardson James P. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis research paper describes a means of determining the return (benefits, or value) of an organization's investments in software tools to support their system engineering activities. The research considers a range of organizational attributes, including size of the system engineering labor force, type of engineering activities which must be performed, the level of difficulty of the activities and organizational objectives. The research considers three categories of software tools, starting with a benchmark of Microsoft Office products, and including modern SysML and LML engineering tools. The research develops a model of financial metrics based on the capabilities of each tool, its costs, and the engineering processes to which it can be applied. The research finds that considerable organization returns are realized with investments in such tools, most significantly the reduction in engineering labor needed to perform engineering tasks. Additional returns can be expected in terms of engineering project performance (success) and in the ability of an organization to pursue larger or more challenging engineering projects.