bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Future of Systems Engineering
Authors: Watson Michael D. 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTSystems engineering has evolved as a practice‐based discipline with a matured set of processes covering the life cycle of the system. The engineering basis is however tenuous, as we cannot always ensure the system will be successful. All engineering disciplines start in practice and, over time, evolve with the discovery of the underlying scientific principles that provide a solid foundation for the discipline. Systems engineering is following a similar course, with the recognition that it is also a sociological endeavor integrating, coordinating, and facilitating all the engineering disciplines. As a direct step from the systems engineering heuristics, a set of systems engineering principles emerged that incorporate the engineering basis and the sociological basis and are broader than system principles, that is, principles that define how a system functions. Systems scientists researched the mathematical basis of systems engineering for some time. Recent work has begun to show that mathematical category theory is the basis for defining systems. The future of systems engineering intertwines the scientific/mathematical engineering basis, system modeling advances, and advancements in technological and sociological practices to advance the ability of systems engineering to define systems, shorten design analysis cycles, validate systems, and effectively operate and maintain systems.
Systems Principles, Systems Science, and the Future of Systems Engineering
Authors: Rousseau David , Calvo‐Amodio Javier 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTThe rise of complexity in engineered systems is radically increasing the risks in complex systems engineering projects. This rise is a challenge for systems engineering, which is still based on heuristics and not yet grounded in a general theory of systems. Such a theory is needed if systems engineering is to improve its methods, processes, and tools systematically. This article reviews ongoing initiatives to develop this foundation.
Value Engineering as a Specialty for Systems Engineering: Exploring Opportunities
Authors: de Graaf Robin , van der Linde Gido , de Jong Hein , Vogt Berber 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTValue Engineering is a so‐called specialty engineering activity within Systems Engineering according to the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook [INCOSE, 2015], but what makes Value Engineering a ‘specialty,’ and what can it offer Systems Engineers? In this article three Value Engineering concepts are described, which are the pillars of Value Engineering: 1) the definition of value, 2) the use of multi‐disciplinary workshops, and 3) the application of function diagramming with the FAST method. Each of these concepts is explained and ideas are put forward how to incorporate them in more commonly used Systems Engineering processes. Our findings show that Systems Engineering and Value Engineering are not mutually exclusive, but offer outstanding concepts to improve designers’ goals. With this article, we hope to inspire the Systems Engineering and Value Engineering communities to further explore and experiment together.
Label‐free multi‐parametric imaging of single cells: dual picosecond optoacoustic microscopy
Authors: Liu Liwang , Plawinski Laurent , Durrieu Marie‐Christine , Audoin Bertrand 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAdvances in microscopy with new visualization possibilities often bring dramatic progress to our understanding of the intriguing cellular machinery. Picosecond optoacoustic micro‐spectroscopy is an optical technique based on ultrafast pump‐probe generation and detection of hypersound on time durations of picoseconds and length scales of nanometers. It is experiencing a renaissance as a versatile imaging tool for cell biology research after a plethora of applications in solid‐state physics. In this emerging context, this work reports on a dual‐probe architecture to carry out real‐time parallel detection of the hypersound propagation inside a cell that is cultured on a metallic substrate, and of the hypersound reflection at the metal/cell adhesion interface. Using this optoacoustic modality, several biophysical properties of the cell can be measured in a noncontact and label‐free manner. Its abilities are demonstrated with the multiple imaging of a mitotic macrophage‐like cell in a single run experiment.
RNA‐Seq analysis and functional characterization revealed lncRNA NONRATT007560.2 regulated cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by high glucose
Authors: Yu Manli , Shan Xinghua , Liu Yu , Zhu Jiaqi , Cao Qingxin , Yang Fan , Liu Yang , Wang Guokun , Zhao Xianxian 
Published: May 2019

AbstractHyperglycemia in diabetic patients would cause cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis due to the excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, leading to progressive deterioration of cardiac structure and function. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles on controlling oxidative stress and apoptotic activity. In the present study, RNA sequencing was used to detect the differentially expressed lncRNAs during high glucose‐induced cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis. A total of 306/400 lncRNAs were identified as differentially expressed, including 156/198 lncRNAs with increased expression and 150/202 lncRNAs with decreased expression at 24 hours/48 hours after high‐glucose stimulation respectively. Among these dysregulated lncRNAs, 45 lncRNAs were consistently differentially expressed in cardiomyocytes at both two time points after high‐glucose stimulation. Twenty lncRNAs were upregulated and 25 lncRNAs were downregulated at both 24 hours and 48 hours, respectively. The top three upregulated lncRNAs, NONRATT029805.2, NONRATT007560.2, and NONRATT002486.2 were selected for functional studies to determine the role in oxidative stress‐related apoptosis. The results showed that inhibition of non‐ratt007560.2 could abate the formation of ROS and reduce apoptosis, suggesting NONRATT007560.2 might play critical roles in the development of cardiomyopathy. The dysregulated lncRNAs might participate in regulating cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings would be important theoretical and experimental basis for investigation on diabetic cardiomyopathy pathogenesis
Synthesis and characterization of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles using the hydrothermal method as magnetic catalysts for electrochemical detection of norepinephrine in the presence of folic acid
Authors: Safaei Mohadeseh , Beitollahi Hadi , Shishehbore Masoud Reza 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn this article, we present a simple and efficient method to synthesize a magnetic NiFe2O4 nanocatalyst under hydrothermal conditions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses confirmed the synthesis of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles. These nanoparticles showed satisfactory catalytic activity for determination of norepinephrine (NE) in the presence of folic acid (FA) using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. Differential pulse voltammetry peak currents of NE increased linearly with their concentrations in the range of 1.0 × 10−7–5.0 × 10−4 M, and the detection limit for NE was 2.3 × 10−8 M, respectively. The modified electrode displayed strong function for resolving the overlapping voltammetric responses of NE and FA into two well‐defined voltammetric peaks. In the mixture containing NE and FA, the two compounds can well separate from each other with a potential difference of 510 mV between NE and FA, which was large enough to determine NE and FA individually and simultaneously. Additionally, the prepared electrochemical sensor demonstrated a practical feasibility for real sample determination.
Autophagy and senescence: A new insight in selected human diseases
Authors: Rajendran Peramaiyan , Alzahrani Abdullah M , Hanieh Hamza N , Kumar Sekar Ashok , Ben Ammar Rebai , Rengarajan Thamaraiselavan , Alhoot Mohammed A 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSenescence and autophagy play important roles in homeostasis. Cellular senescence and autophagy commonly cause several degenerative processes, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, telomere shortening, and oncogenic stress; hence, both events are known to be interrelated. Autophagy is well known for its disruptive effect on human diseases, and it is currently proposed to have a direct effect on triggering senescence and quiescence. However, it is yet to be proven whether autophagy has a positive or negative impact on senescence. It is known that elevated levels of autophagy induce cell death, whereas inadequate autophagy can trigger cellular senescence. Both have important roles in human diseases such as aging, renal degeneration, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the relevance of senescence and autophagy in selected human ailments through a summary of recent findings on the connection and effects of autophagy and senescence in these diseases.
Is complete stone removal for choledocholithiasis always necessary in extremely elderly patients?
Authors: Okuda Naoko , Sugimoto Shinya , Nakamura Haruka , Hisada Hirohisa , Temma Taishi , Hashimoto Yuki , Hayashi Satoshi , Ito Tatsuya , Takami Mayuko , Oyamada Jun , Kamei Akira 
Published: May 2019

Background and AimEndoscopic stone removal has some complications. Although the life expectancy of elderly patients has increased dramatically worldwide, little information is available on the necessity of complete endoscopic stone removal in extremely elderly patients. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of complete endoscopic stone removal in extremely elderly patients.MethodsAll extremely elderly patients (>90 years) who underwent endoscopic stone removal for choledocholithiasis at our hospital between January 2012 and January 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. The included patients were divided into complete stone removal and incomplete stone removal groups. Complication rate, overall survival (OS), and disease‐specific survival (DSS) rates were compared between the two groups.ResultsOverall, 73 patients were included in this study. The median number of stones was one (range, 0–10) and two (range, 1–12) (P = 0.043), while the median diameter of the largest stones was 9 (range, 0–27) and 14 (range, 5–46) mm (P = 0.001) in the complete and incomplete stone removal groups, respectively. During the follow‐up period, OS was 60% and 39% and DSS was 95% and 97% in the complete and incomplete stone removal groups, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis found no significant difference in OS and DSS between the two groups (P = 0.052 and P = 0.646, respectively).ConclusionComplete stone removal might not always be necessary in extremely elderly patients aged ≥90 years.
Increased cerebral blood flow with increased amyloid burden in the preclinical phase of alzheimer's disease
Authors: Fazlollahi Amir , Calamante Fernando , Liang Xiaoyun , Bourgeat Pierrick , Raniga Parnesh , Dore Vincent , Fripp Jurgen , Ames David , Masters Colin L. , Rowe Christopher C. , Connelly Alan , Villemagne Victor L. , Salvado Olivier ,   for the Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Research Group
Published: May 2019

BackgroundArterial spin labeling (ASL) is an emerging MRI technique for noninvasive measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) that has been used to show hemodynamic changes in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). CBF changes have been measured using positron emission tomography (PET) across the AD spectrum, but ASL showed limited success in measuring CBF variations in the preclinical phase of AD, where amyloid β (Aβ) plaques accumulate in the decades prior to symptom onset.PurposeTo investigate the relationship between CBF measured by multiphase‐pseudocontinuous‐ASL (MP‐PCASL) and Aβ burden as measured by 11C‐PiB PET imaging in a study of cognitively normal (CN) subjects age over 65.Study TypeCross‐sectional.PopulationForty‐six CN subjects including 33 with low levels of Aβ burden and 13 with high levels of Aβ.Field Strength/Sequence3T/3D MP‐PCASL.AssessmentThe MP‐PCASL method was chosen because it has a high signal‐to‐noise ratio. Furthermore, the data were analyzed using an efficient processing pipeline consisting of motion correction, ASL motion correction imprecision removal, temporal and spatial filtering, and partial volume effect correction.Statistical TestsGeneral Linear Model.ResultsIn CN subjects positive for Aβ burden (n = 13), we observed a positive correlation between CBF and Aβ burden in the hippocampus, amygdala, caudate (P < 0.01), frontal, temporal, and insula (P < 0.05).Data ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using MP‐PCASL in the study of AD, and the results suggest a potential compensatory hemodynamic mechanism that protects against pathology in the early stages of AD.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 3J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:505–513.
Ion mobility‐mass spectrometry for the separation and analysis of procyanidins
Authors: Rue Emily A. , Glinski Jan A. , Glinski Vitold B. , van Breemen Richard B. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractProcyanidins are polymeric flavan‐3‐ones occurring in many plants with antioxidant and other beneficial bioactivities. They are composed of catechin and epicatechin monomeric units connected by single carbon‐carbon B‐type linkages or A‐type linkages containing both carbon‐carbon and carbon‐oxygen‐carbon bonds. Their polymeric structure makes analysis of procyanidin mixtures always difficult. Evaluation of procyanidins according to degree of polymerization (DP) using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is time‐consuming and at best has resolved polymeric families up to DP‐17. To expedite studies of procyanidins, the utility of positive ion electrospray ion mobility‐mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) was investigated for the rapid separation and characterization of procyanidins in mixtures. Applying IM‐MS to analyse structurally defined standards containing up to five subunits, procyanidins could be resolved in less than 6 ms not only by degree of polymerization but also by linkage type. A‐type procyanidins could be resolved from B‐type and both could be at least partially resolved from mixed‐type procyanidins of the same DP. IM‐MS separated higher order procyanidins with DP of at least 24 from extracts of cranberry. As DP increased, the abundances of multiply‐charged procyanidins also increased. During IM‐MS of ions of similar m/z, the ion drift times decreased inversely with increasing charge state. Therefore, IM‐MS was shown to separate mixtures of procyanidins containing at least 24 interconnected subunits in less than 16 ms, not only according to DP, but also according to linkage type between subunits and charge state.
Software for designing rigorous and replicable preclinical research: The Experimental Design Accelerator
Authors: Malin David H. , Hetherington Scott A. , Nghiem Duyen M. , Ward Christopher P. , Kelling Nicholas , Izygon Jonathan J. , Harrison‐Walker L. Jean , Campbell Joseph R. , Hughes Ryan , Buras William R. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn recent years, there have been concerns about research practices in basic and preclinical biomedical research. There have been problems with non‐replicable results, and experimental designs lacking internal validity or external or translational validity. The Experimental Design Accelerator (XDA) is Internet‐based, interactive software designed to help those trying to design, conduct and document rigorous, replicable and relevant experiments. It leads the investigator step‐by‐step through a series of decisions that will define the experimental design. It provides background regarding the significance of each decision and the advantages and disadvantages of each possible choice. For example, it leads the researcher to address issues such as choosing a research model, developing testable hypotheses, identifying extraneous variables, dealing with random and systematic error, picking appropriate sample size and picking appropriate statistical analyses. There are also sections to help conduct the experiment consistent with its design and to document the study to facilitate accurate replication. Helpful features include access to an online statistics book and provisions for rapid contact with consulting experts. A number of potential uses for such novel interactive software tools will be discussed.
The role of inflammation and the gut microbiome in depression and anxiety
Authors: Peirce Jason M. , Alviña Karina 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe study of the gut microbiome has increasingly revealed an important role in modulating brain function and mental health. In this review, we underscore specific pathways and mechanisms by which the gut microbiome can promote the development of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. First, we review the involvement of the stress response and immune system activation in the development of depression and anxiety. Then, we examine germ‐free murine models used to uncover the role of the gut microbiome in developing and modulating pertinent activity in the brain and the immune system. We also document multiple pathways by which stress‐induced inflammation harms brain function and ultimately affects mental health, and review how probiotic and prebiotic treatments have shown to be beneficial. Lastly, we provide an overview of gut microbiome‐derived compounds (short‐chain fatty acids, tryptophan catabolites, microbial pattern recognition) and related mechanisms (vagal nerve activity and fecal microbiota transplants) involved in mediating the influence of the gut microbiome to mental health. Overall, a picture of the gut microbiome playing a facilitating role between stress response, inflammation, and depression, and anxiety is emerging. Future research is needed to firmly establish the microbiome's causal role, to further elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbes influence brain function and mental health, and to possibly develop treatments that improve mental health through microbiotic targets.
Robust opposite‐changing tendency between the thermal advection damping by mean current and thermo‐dynamical damping of ENSO Feedback in a changing climate
Authors: An Soon‐Il , Heo Eun Sook 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe tropical Pacific climate state response to both the 21st‐century greenhouse gas forcing and orbital forcing on a glacial–interglacial timescale tends to resemble either an El Niño‐ or La Niña‐like pattern. This study reveals that so long as an El Niño‐ or La Niña‐like change in the tropical climate state occurs, changes in two important negative feedback components of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system, dynamical damping by mean thermal advection (MA) and thermo‐dynamical damping (TD), largely offset each other. For example, under the El Niño‐like condition, weaker trade winds due to a relaxed zonal sea surface temperature (SST) gradient reduce the mean zonal and meridional currents in the equatorial Pacific oceanic mixed layer, causing a reduction in MA, while wider expansion and enhanced activity of climatological convective clouds due to a warmer ocean surface intensifies negative SST‐cloud‐shortwave feedback. As a result, a change in ENSO activity in changing climate is mainly ruled out not by the change in negative feedback effect, but by the change in positive feedback effect.
A new homogenized daily data set for temperature variability assessment in Italy
Authors: Fioravanti Guido , Piervitali Emanuela , Desiato Franco 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe present a new data set of quality‐controlled and homogenized daily maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperature for Italy. The data set includes 144 Tmax and 139 Tmin long‐term series, covering the period 1961–2017. First, the paper provides a description of data sources and quality controls implemented for the detection of erroneous daily observations. Next, the temperature records used for this work are introduced. Following strict data continuity and completeness requirements, we identified more than 500 time series with at least 20 years of valid data (raw data set), which were spatially partitioned using a hierarchical clustering approach. For each cluster, the time series homogeneity was assessed using two different statistical automatic approaches: ACMANT and Climatol. The results of the homogenization process are illustrated only for the long‐term series subset. Both homogenization methods revealed the presence of non‐climatic discontinuities in most of the temperature series. Although Climatol detected a slightly lower number of breakpoints than ACMANT, the two methods are in good agreement with respect to the statistics which describe the number and timing of the breakpoints. Since no metadata are available, the plausibility of the homogenized time series was evaluated using different statistical measures: RMSE, Spearman correlation coefficient and trends estimation. Our results show that the homogenized data sets are more spatially coherent than the raw time series. In particular, the analysis of the annual temperature trends shows more realistic and reliable climatic patterns when the homogenized data sets are considered. For our data, the homogenization process only marginally changes the annual and seasonal warming trend values found for the area‐averaged anomaly raw series. The Tmax and Tmin homogenized data set will be regularly updated and is intended to be used for a variety of climate studies that require data at daily resolution, as the analysis of climate extremes.
The robustness of the skewness as an early warning signal for abrupt climate change
Authors: Xie Xiao‐Qiang , He Wen‐Ping , Gu Bin , Mei Ying , Wang Jinsong 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAs a dynamical system approaches its critical threshold, the probability density distribution of the system will change significantly. Therefore, it is possible to present an early warning signal based on the changing skewness before reaching the critical threshold. Based on a zero‐dimensional climate model and several typical fold models, this paper systematically studies the influence of noise and missing data on the performance of the skewness coefficient as an early warning signal of an abrupt climate change. The results in three types of fold models show that the skewness coefficient has anti‐noise ability to some extent, but strong noise will significantly reduce the magnitude of the skewness coefficient and the time for early warning will also be shortened. In some cases, strong noise even will lead to the result that the skewness does not work in warning an impending abrupt change. However, the influence of strong noise on skewness is insignificant in the zero‐dimensional climate model. Therefore, the influence of strong noise needs to be considered in the practical application of the skewness coefficient as an early warning signal of an abrupt change. In addition, the results of all the models also indicate that different degrees of the missing data have no statistically significant effect on the warning performance of the skewness coefficient, even when the length of the missing data is up to 20% of the total sample size used in the present paper.