bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the Role of Protocol-Driven Resilience in Coupled Infrastructure and Natural System Resilience
Authors: Francis Royce , Amodeo Domenico 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Lifeline infrastructure systems have always been crucial to the social, economic, and military security of societies. Because lifeline systems are critical to societal coherence and economic operations, assessing and mitigating risks to lifeline system operations is crucial. However, attention has shifted from risk assessment to resilience assessment due to the exceptionally large adaptation and mitigation needs implied by the geographic and temporal scope of natural and man-made hazards. The goal of this commentary is to introduce the concept of protocol-driven resilience. Protocol-driven resilience refers to the way in which the network of human relationships, operating protocols, evolving objectives, and information sharing processes produces resilient system behavior. Protocols are the formal and informal rules, and formal and informal processes that govern the nature, quality, and quantity of connectivity and interaction between the coupled system's physical and human components. Protocols are crucial to resilience of coupled infrastructure and natural systems because although the physical components of the infrastructure are relatively static, the protocols are dynamic and decomposable. We assert that the resilience of a system should be assessed by studying the range or diversity of conditions under which a protocol set preserves relationships. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:578–580. © 2018 SETAC

Key Points
Resilience research must focus on adaptation to deal with the rapid changes to the environment and natural processes to which critical infrastructure is inherently coupled. Due to the fixed physical nature of complex critical infrastructure systems, significant gains in resilience are more likely to come from improved coordination among stakeholders than from improvements to the physical architecture. The coordination among stakeholders can be loosely called “protocols”—the dynamic and flexible components of systems architecture—and can be modified and improved to better facilitate responses to unforeseen challenges. We make the case for investigating the intersection between system architecture and resilience, particularly as it pertains to the protocols that dictate a system's governance.
Socio-Environmental Vulnerability Mapping for Environmental and Flood Resilience Assessment: The Case of Ageing and Poverty in the City of Wrocław, Poland
Authors: Szewrański Szymon , Świąder Małgorzata , Kazak Jan K. , Tokarczyk-Dorociak Katarzyna , van Hoof Joost 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

The phenomena of urbanization and climate change interact with the growing number of older people living in cities. One of the effects of climate change is an increased riverine flooding hazard, and when floods occur this has a severe impact on human lives and comes with vast economic losses. Flood resilience management procedures should be supported by a combination of complex social and environmental vulnerability assessments. Therefore, new methodologies and tools should be developed for this purpose. One way to achieve such inclusive procedures is by incorporating a social vulnerability evaluation methodology for environmental and flood resilience assessment. These are illustrated for application in the Polish city of Wrocław. Socio-environmental vulnerability mapping, based on spatial analyses using the poverty risk index, data on the ageing population, as well as the distribution of the areas vulnerable to floods, was conducted with use of a location intelligence system combining Geographic Information System (GIS) and Business Intelligence (BI) tools. The new methodology allows for the identification of areas populated by social groups that are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of flooding. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:592–597. © 2018 SETAC

Key Points
The socio-environmental vulnerability mapping (based on the calculation of the poverty risk index, distribution of the areas vulnerable to floods, and demographic pattern information) can be used within the framework of EA. Socio-environmental vulnerability mapping within an analytical work flow was carried out with the use of a location intelligence system combining Geographic Information System (GIS) and Business Intelligence (BI) software.
Advancing Alternatives Assessment for Safer Chemical Substitution: A Research and Practice Agenda
Authors: Tickner Joel , Jacobs Molly , Malloy Tim , Buck Topher , Stone Alex , Blake Ann , Edwards Sally 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Alternatives assessment has emerged as a science policy field that supports the evaluation and adoption of safer chemistries in manufacturing processes and consumer products. The recent surge in the development and practice of alternatives assessment has revealed notable methodological challenges. Spurred by this need, we convened an informal community of practice comprising industry experts, academics, and scientists within government and nongovernmental organizations to prioritize a research and practice agenda for the next 5 years that, if implemented, would significantly advance the field of alternatives assessment. With input from over 40 experts, the agenda outlines specific needs to advance methods, tools, and guidance in 5 critical areas: hazard assessment, comparative exposure characterization, life cycle considerations, decision making, and professional practice. Fifteen research and practice needs were identified, ranging from relatively simple efforts to define a minimum hazard data set to the development of more complex performance and decision-analytic methods and data integration tools. Some research needs involve adapting existing approaches to the alternatives assessment context, while others will require the development of entirely new methods and tools. The proposed research and practice agenda is ambitious. Implementing it will require expanding the current network of researchers from academia, government, and industry, as well as increased funding for methodological, application, and evaluation research. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;00:000–000. © 2018 SETAC
Professional Development of Student Engineers Using Design Thinking
Authors: Hahn Heidi Ann , Meirose Lia C. , Turman Haley B. , Lawdensky Valerie J. , Mohr Hannah D. , Zimmerman Sandra J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFuture Female Leaders in Engineering (FFLIE) Program participants at Los Alamos National Laboratory were tasked to provide a design solution that would help the Bradbury Science Museum meet its educational outreach mission, using the principles and practices of Design Thinking (DT). The DT project aimed to improve the students’ skills in the areas of project planning, problem definition, qualitative data collection and organization, problem solving, and product life cycle planning to prepare them for leadership roles on future technical projects. The instructional content used in the program is summarized at the outset of each section of the paper. How the students implemented the phases of Design Thinking and the resulting products are also described, using excerpts from the final project report they prepared. Throughout the project, the design team learned how to effectively brainstorm, communicate with others, gather needed information through interviews, analyze the information, and work as a team to finalize ideas. Prototyping and testing showed that the design solution they proposed is feasible and should help students in the targeted grade levels develop an interest in science.
Application of the Model Based Systems Engineering Approach for Modern Warship Design
Authors: Manfredi Massimiliano , Tirone Lucio 
Published: August 2018

AbstractModern surface combatants (hereafter considered as “systems‐of‐interest”) must accomplish a wide variety of missions, ranging from merely military, patrolling and constabulary roles to civil defense ones: the operational scenarios are much more complex than just a few years ago, and require that the whole warship is defined through deep configuration analyses, capable of simulating the effective theatres and leading towards the definition of the best fit for purpose solutions.This paper describes the Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach employed by Fincantieri for the definition and analysis of the whole warship level architecture, starting from mission analyses, and generating NATO Architecture Framework (NAF) based engineering views to describe the response provided by the system‐of‐interest, represented – in this specific case – by the new first line Anti‐Submarine Warfare (ASW) surface combat units for Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) SEA5000 program. Many benefits derive from the implementation of the MBSE/NAF approach (such as the continuous traceability among the different domains of the architecture, the optimization of communications between customer and supplier, and a solid support for the verification of the Whole Warship performance), as discussed in the following chapters, and summarized in the conclusions.The system offered to RAN strictly derives from a consolidated system of success, which is currently employed by the Italian Navy (Marina Militare Italiana – MMI) in inter‐forces NATO missions: Fincantieri has in fact identified the Italian FREMM (European Multi‐Mission Frigate; Italian: FRegata Europea Multi‐Missione) ASW class frigate as the optimal reference ship, which can be suitably tuned to achieve the goals intended by the customer in the new operational environment.
SE Technical Leadership ‐ A Model Based Framework
Authors: Garcia Emmanuelle , Kafle Subash , Tirone Lucio , Sahoo Udit Kumar , Boichon Lilian 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSystems engineering technical experience in conjunction with leadership skills have been considered as recipe for successful systems’ developments (Williams & Reyes, 2012). A technical leader shall be able to easily link up technical engineering professionals and management teams. Competencies such as strategic thinker, systems thinker, effective communicator, team members’ success enabler, project vision holder are necessary for someone to play a technical leader role. This paper attempts to introduce a model based systems engineering framework to define and articulate technical leader competencies. As a work product from the second cohort of the INCOSE Technical Leadership Institute (TLI), this paper leverages the technical leadership mind‐map developed by the first cohort of the TLI.
Discovering Career Patterns in Systems Engineering
Authors: Luna Sergio , Partacz Matthew , Hutchison Nicole 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSystems Engineering is a discipline where multiple roads merge. Individuals from different backgrounds and career starting points become systems engineers either by education or practice, however, their paths cross when implementing similar practices which are those of Systems Engineering. The Helix project seeks to understand what makes systems engineers effective and why. In order to achieve this objective, the team reviewed information from 364 systems engineers, peers of systems engineers and their leaders and managers. The data consists of more than 6000 pages of interview transcripts, 270 hours of audio, systems engineers’ resumes and curricula vitae (CVs). With such extensive data available, the team relied on statistical analysis and text mining techniques to discover patterns related to the growth and development of systems engineers in their careers. This article presents preliminary findings on Systems Engineering career paths, primarily focusing on position and education.
Systems Engineering Quick Check
Authors: Schulze Sven‐Olaf , Steffen Daniel 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIt is not possible to make a clear statement whether the ongoing globalisation in the context of system development holds more opportunities or more risks for companies. However, it is undisputed in this context that the system development projects have become and will continue to gain immense complexity in the context of increasing economic interdependencies. Considering the possibilities of the Internet of Things with the multitude of networked, autonomous systems, it quickly becomes clear that the complexity of system development will take on even greater dimensions in the future. The companies have recognized that they can only rise to this challenge with Systems Engineering and that they only can survive on the market of “Systems‐of‐Systems” by applying interdisciplinary development methods. For this reason the “SE Quick Check” was developed, a pragmatic instrument with which product development in companies can be analysed and tailored in order to lay the foundation for the introduction or targeted optimization of individually coordinated Systems Engineering. As shown in a variety of applications in companies, the approach can be used to determine an SE maturity level and an individual SE target in the shortest possible time. Based on this, measures can be defined and implemented directly to achieve the SE target image.
Communicating Requirements – Effectively!
Authors: Wheatcraft Louis S. , Ryan Michael J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractRequirements are the language we use to communicate stakeholder needs for a system of interest to developers, designers, builders, coders, testers, and other stakeholders. Increasingly, there is debate about which means (form and media) of communications is best for communicating requirements and sets of requirements. As part of this debate, one means of communication (such as diagrams, use cases, or text‐based) is often advocated (with a lot of passion in many cases) over the other means of communication. Which side is taken in the debate depends on the specific idea or concept being communicated together with the domain, culture, people, and processes used within the specific organization. Consequently, there is no single “best” means of communication that applies to all the various types of requirements. Each means of communication has its strengths and weaknesses depending on which message is being communicated, who the sender is, who the receiver is, the needs of the receiver, and the filters used by both the sender to encode the message and the receiver who must decode the message. This paper goes back to the basics of communication theory to address this debate and concludes that, while each means of communication has value, no single means is sufficient to clearly, completely, and consistently communicate all of the various types and categories of requirements. Each of the means advocated represent a visualization (graphic or text) of the system from a perspective based on the intent of the message being communicated. With this viewpoint, rather than focusing on a single type of visualization, a set of visualizations is needed to effectively communicate requirements. This set of visualizations needs to be based on an underlying, integrated data and information model of the system of interest.
Setting Priorities: Demonstrating Stakeholder Value Networks in SysML
Authors: Sease Matthew , Smith Brian , Selva Daniel , Hummell James 
Published: August 2018

AbstractGraph theory is used across systems science and engineering to obtain insights about the structure of complex systems. For example, in Stakeholder Value Networks (SVN), graphs are used to model stakeholders and their value exchanges. Centrality measures can thus be used to help the systems engineer prioritize among stakeholder needs. SVN have documented utility across multiple applications. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a relatively simple technique to codify an SVN within a Systems Modeling Language (SysML) based tool. Such a technique enables the prioritization of stakeholders to permeate the entire system model.The authors constructed a SysML model of a fictitious enterprise to demonstrate the SVN method. Stereotypes and tag values were used to visualize the data created during the SVN analysis. The output of the SVN was propagated to additional system elements such as Stakeholder Needs, System Goals and System Functions. These were created by stereotyping standard SysML elements. In addition to integrating SVN with SysML, the authors show how the SVN can provide input for a trade‐off analysis.
The Fundamental Nature of Resilience of Engineered Systems
Authors: Ferris Timothy L.J. , Specking Eric , Jackson Scott , Parnell Gregory , Pohl Edward 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe take the position that an engineered system is a means to enable user capability that provides value to stakeholders and address the question of the fundamental nature of resilience of engineered systems. Therefore, resilience is concerned with the behavior of the system in the face of a disruption, in particular emphasizing the management, through system design of the system behavior and operational capability under disruptive conditions, which include adverse events outside the operational envelope of the system and conditions in which parts of the system have been damaged. We provide a definition of engineered resilience and show an approach to measure engineered resilience. By taking a philosophical approach to the understanding of resilience, we are able to show where resilience fits in the overall task of engineering systems and how this view provides coherence across the various aspects of resilience which is not otherwise provided.
Systemic Intervention for Complex System Governance
Authors: Keating Charles B. , Katina Polinpapilinho F. , Bradley Joseph M. , Jaradat Ra'ed , Hodge Richard 
Published: August 2018

AbstractComplex System Governance (CSG) is an emerging field with potential to enhance capabilities for design, execution, and evolution of complex systems. CSG offers a theoretically grounded, model informed, and methodologically driven approach to more effectively deal with complex systems and their problems. However, initial CSG applications have identified multiple impediments to systemic intervention to deploy this new and novel field. In this paper we examine the nature, implications, and response strategies to more effectively deploy systemic intervention in support of CSG. Following a brief introduction to CSG, four primary objectives are pursued, including: (1) identification of major forms of systemic intervention for complex systems in general and a corresponding classification schema, (2) presentation of a dynamic and tailored approach (CSG‐Entry) to improve prospects for introductory systemic intervention for CSG, (3) results from an initial application of CSG‐Entry in a field setting, and (4) suggestion of lessons learned from initial applications of CSG‐Entry in relationship to systemic intervention. The paper concludes with examination of future development directions for systemic intervention to advance CSG performance.
Difficulty scoring system in laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy
Authors: Ohtsuka Takao , Ban Daisuke , Nakamura Yoshiharu , Nagakawa Yuichi , Tanabe Minoru , Gotoh Yoshitaka , Velasquez Vittoria Vanessa D. M. , Nakata Kohei , Sahara Yatsuka , Takaori Kyoichi , Honda Goro , Misawa Takeyuki , Kawai Manabu , Yamaue Hiroki , Morikawa Takanori , Kuroki Tamotsu , Mou Yiping , Lee Woo‐Jung , Shrikhande Shailesh V. , Tang Chung Ngai , Conrad Claudius , Han Ho‐Seong , Palanivelu Chinnusamy , Asbun Horacio J. , Kooby David A. , Wakabayashi Go , Takada Tadahiro , Yamamoto Masakazu , Nakamura Masafumi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundSeveral factors affect the level of difficulty of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP). The purpose of this study was to develop a difficulty scoring (DS) system to quantify the degree of difficulty in LDP.MethodsWe collected clinical data for 80 patients who underwent LDP. A 10‐level difficulty index was developed and subcategorized into a three‐level difficulty index; 1–3 as low, 4–6 as intermediate, and 7–10 as high index. The automatic linear modeling (LINEAR) statistical tool was used to identify factors that significantly increase level of difficulty in LDP.ResultsThe operator's 10‐level DS concordance between the 10‐level DS by the reviewers, LINEAR index DS, and clinical index DS systems were analyzed, and the weighted Cohen's kappa statistic were at 0.869, 0.729, and 0.648, respectively, showing good to excellent inter‐rater agreement. We identified five factors significantly affecting level of difficulty in LDP; type of operation, resection line, proximity of tumor to major vessel, tumor extension to peripancreatic tissue, and left‐sided portal hypertension/splenomegaly.ConclusionsThis novel DS for LDP adequately quantified the degree of difficulty, and can be useful for selecting patients for LDP, in conjunction with fitness for surgery and prognosis.
NCOR1—a new player on the field of T cell development
Authors: Müller Lena , Hainberger Daniela , Stolz Valentina , Ellmeier Wilfried 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCOR1) is a transcriptional corepressor that links chromatin-modifying enzymes with gene-specific transcription factors. Although identified more than 20 years ago as a corepressor of nuclear receptors, the role of NCOR1 in T cells remained only poorly understood. However, recent studies indicate that the survival of developing thymocytes is regulated by NCOR1, revealing an essential role for NCOR1 in the T cell lineage. In this review, we will briefly summarize basic facts about NCOR1 structure and functions. We will further summarize studies demonstrating an essential role for NCOR1 in controlling positive and negative selection of thymocytes during T cell development. Finally, we will discuss similarities and differences between the phenotypes of mice with a T cell-specific deletion of NCOR1 or histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), because HDAC3 is the predominant member of the HDAC family that interacts with NCOR1 corepressor complexes. With this review we aim to introduce NCOR1 as a new player in the team of transcriptional coregulators that control T cell development and thus the generation of the peripheral T cell pool.
Review on the role of the transcriptional corepressor NCOR1 during T cell development.
Quantifying the economic impact of soil constraints on Australian agriculture: A case‐study of wheat
Authors: Orton Thomas G. , Mallawaarachchi Thilak , Pringle Matthew J. , Menzies Neal W. , Dalal Ram C. , Kopittke Peter M. , Searle Ross , Hochman Zvi , Dang Yash P. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSoil sodicity, acidity, and salinity are important soil constraints to wheat production in many cropping regions across Australia, and the Australian agricultural industry needs accurate information on their economic impacts to guide investment decisions on remediation and minimize productivity losses. We present a modelling framework that maps the effects of soil constraints on wheat yield, quantifying forfeited wheat yields due to specific soil constraints at a broad spatial scale and assessing the economic benefit of managing these constraints. Of the three soil constraints considered (sodicity, acidity, and salinity), sodicity caused the largest magnitude of yield gaps across most of the wheat‐cropping areas of Australia, with an average yield gap of 0.13 t ha−1yr−1. Yield gaps due to acidity were more concentrated spatially in the high‐rainfall regions of Western Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, and averaged 0.04 t ha−1yr−1 across the wheat‐cropping areas of Australia, whereas the yield gap due to salinity was estimated to be 0.02 t ha−1yr−1. The lost opportunity associated with soil sodicity for wheat production was estimated to be worth A$1,300 million per annum, for soil acidity, A$400 million per annum, and for salinity, A$200 million per annum. The results of this work should prove useful to guide national investment decisions on the allocation of resources and to target areas where more detailed information would be required in order to reduce the yield gap associated with soil constraints on wheat yields in Australia.