bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Agile Model‐Based Approach for Managing Engineering Processes
Authors: Meier Erich 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis paper describes a new approach for managing engineering process. Based on proven system engineering and agile concepts, we created a model‐based process component concept for organizations to quickly define new existing engineering processes and adjust existing ones in an agile way. With our approach, engineering processes can be tailored in a program‐ or project‐specific way and executed in existing PLM or ALM engineering tools. Business‐critical compliance to standards like ISO 26262, DO‐178C, IEC 62304, or ISO 15288 can be assured through a mapping mechanism. We also describe how large engineering companies like General Motors, Honeywell Aerospace, or Siemens Diagnostics successfully applied our approach, became leaner and more agile, and could therefore efficiently react to disruptive engineering challenges.
An Analytic Model of Success for Information Technology Decision Making
Authors: Clemons T.M. , Chang KC , Tzeng Sean 
Published: August 2018

AbstractTo assist managers in monitoring the progress of their IT programs, we propose a Bayesian Network stochastic model, the IT Decision Management System (ITDMS), to simulate the program's evidence observations, complex interrelationships, and the dynamic/temporal relationships. Based on the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)®1 The model aligns the sub‐process of each ITIL Phase in a Bayesian structure measuring status to provide the decision maker a measurement of the likelihood of program success.
San Diego, We Do NOT Have a Problem! SE Leadership in the Construction Industry
Authors: Hoehne Oliver , Russell Jennifer 
Published: August 2018

AbstractProblem Statement. Construction holds the dubious honor of having the lowest productivity gains of any industry. The Economist reported recently that more than 90% of the world's infrastructure projects are either late or over‐budget. Even the sharpest of tech firms are not immune from this affliction. Apple's new headquarters in Silicon Valley, for instance, opened two years behind schedule and cost $2B more than budgeted (Economist, 2017). While many US sectors including agriculture and manufacturing have increased productivity ten to 15 times since the 1950s, the productivity of the construction industry remains stuck at the same level as 80 years ago, according to the McKinsey Global Institute (Barbosa, 2017).Root Cause(s). The construction industry has become less likely to reinvest in productivity. Volatility in demand for construction, extensive fragmentation of construction companies, and slim margins lead to a tendency to defer improvement investments. Often projects have more than a dozen subcontractors, each keen to maximize profit rather than collaborate to contain costs. The result is an industry that mostly ignores tools that might improve productivity (Barbosa, 2017). A variety of factors account for poor productivity and cost outcomes: poor organization, inadequate communication, contractual misunderstandings, poor short‐term planning. Contractors and suppliers identify misaligned contracts as the most important root cause of low productivity (Barbosa, 2017).Possible Solution(s). Examples of innovative firms and regions suggest that acting in several areas simultaneously could boost productivity by 50 to 60 percent. Many of these actions translate directly into Systems Engineering activities, including rewiring of the contractual framework, rethinking design and engineering processes, improving procurement and supply‐chain management, and introducing holistic project‐operating systems into infrastructure megaprojects (Barbosa, 2017).Systems Engineering Challenge(s): Most individual construction industry players lack both the incentives and the scale to change the system, resulting in industry that is literally not willing and not able to make changes to improve productivity. Systems engineering attempts are commonly met with a firm “San Diego, we do NOT have a problem, we have always done it this way!” The true systems engineering challenge is therefore to nudge industry players towards “being willing and able” to make changes by applying organizational change management skills while cautiously introducing systems engineering elements. This paper demonstrates how systems engineers – despite the identified obstacles – can be successful in identifying systems engineering opportunities, and using influence and leadership to drive change from within construction projects, as illustrated by two real world construction megaprojects.
What do we mean by “system”? – System Beliefs and Worldviews in the INCOSE Community
Authors: Sillitto Hillary , Griego Regina , Arnold Eileen , Dori Dov , Martin James , McKinney Dorothy , Godfrey Patrick , Krob Daniel , Jackson Scott 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe System Definition Survey issued to INCOSE Fellows in December 2016 revealed at least five radically distinct worldviews on Systems within a relatively small, but moderately representative, part of the INCOSE community. We describe and analyse the survey results, and comment on differences between the responses from the Fellows and the responses to a similar survey issued to the System Science Working Group a month later. Then we discuss how the different worldviews on “system” revealed by the surveys map onto different areas of the set of system definitions described in a previous paper. We conclude that all the worldviews identified offer useful perspectives for systems engineering, and that Systems Engineers need the flexibility to adopt different worldviews for different situations, or at least to act “as if” different worldviews are true in different situations.
Composing Complex Capability: The Stakeholder Driven Development Framework
Authors: Vencel Les , Sweetman Elizabeth , Lante Norman 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe National Security and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division (NSID) of the Defence Science and Technology Group (DST Group) is involved in the research, development and fielding of program strategies to grow complex capabilities in support of Integrated ISR. More recently, NSID has developed a framework of ideas, stratagems and methodologies aimed at composing complex capability. This framework, termed the Stakeholder Driven Development Framework (SDDF), allows incremental growth of complex capabilities in a measured and balanced manner; “measured” in terms of having a regard for progressive and stable growth of realisable aspects of the complex capability and “balanced” to reflect the risk based facilitation processes between stakeholder priorities and program complexities. It is based on a set of foundational principles that provide the rules of practice for complex capability development. The SDDF utilises systems thinking, is tightly coupled with stakeholder interaction and comprises progressive cycles of analysis, synthesis and assessment. It analyses the problem space from different worldviews, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding from which to select a mix of methodologies to synthesise solution options. The aim is to deliver stakeholder mediated and facilitated candidate solutions.
Version 1.0 of the New INCOSE Competency Framework
Authors: Gelosh Don S. , Heisey Mimi , Nidiffer Ken , Snoderly John R. , Beasley Richard 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe next major evolution of the INCOSE Competency Framework (ICF) is Version 1.0. This paper describes the major sections of the ICF Version 1.0 document. The main section of the document is the competency framework structure which has evolved into five competence groups and 36 core competence areas across five levels of proficiency. Because this is a role‐based competency framework, another major section is a guide to role definition that describes the typical roles systems engineers may assume. This paper also describes how the Competency Framework relates to the Systems Engineering processes as described in the INCOSE SE Handbook, 4th Ed. A subsequent section of the ICF Version 1.0 document provides use cases for the framework with a detailed look at recruitment, candidate assessment, education program improvement, resources for professional development, curriculum alignment, and career path development. The document also includes a section that explains how to tailor the competency framework to suit using organizations. The paper concludes by exploring the next steps to successfully publish and review Version 1.0 of the new INCOSE Competency Framework.
The vertebrate middle and inner ear: A short overview
Authors: Pfaff Cathrin , Schultz Julia A. , Schellhorn Rico 
Published: August 2018

The evolution of the various hearing adaptations is connected to major structural changes in nearly all groups of vertebrates. Besides hearing, the detection of acceleration and orientation in space are key functions of this mechanosensory system.The symposium “show me your ear – the inner and middle ear in vertebrates” held at the 11th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM) 2016 in Washington, DC (USA) intended to present current research addressing adaptation and evolution of the vertebrate otic region, auditory ossicles, vestibular system, and hearing physiology. The symposium aimed at an audience with interest in hearing research focusing on morphological, functional, and comparative studies. The presented talks and posters lead to the contributions of this virtual issue highlighting recent advances in the vertebrate balance and hearing system. This article serves as an introduction to the virtual issue contributions and intends to give a short overview of research papers focusing on vertebrate labyrinth and middle ear related structures in past and recent years.
Local delivery of a zoledronate solution improves osseointegration of titanium implants in a rat distal femur model
Authors: AbuMoussa Samuel , Ruppert David S. , Lindsay Christopher , Dahners Laurence , Weinhold Paul 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to determine whether locally applied anti‐resorptive agents acetazolamide or zoledronic acid would improve mechanical stability in implant osseointegration when applied as a solution within the medullary canal. Thirty‐three rats received titanium‐implants bilaterally in their intramedullary femoral canals. Prior to implantation, animals received 0.1 ml saline, 1 mM acetazolamide solution, or 0.7 mM zoledronic acid solution directly into the medullary cavity. The control group only received saline within the medullary canal while the treatment groups only received the respective treatment to which they were randomized. Animals were allowed to heal 4 weeks, at which time they were euthanized and femurs isolated for mechanical and radiographic evaluation. Push‐out force to failure increased 152% in the zoledronic acid group relative to the control. There was no significant difference in push‐out force with acetazolamide relative to control. Also, zoledronic acid increased metaphyseal bone volume fraction 46% and increased metaphyseal bone–implant contact 58% relative to the control. Recent research exploring local injection of medications to improve implant osseointegration and minimize systemic‐effects has failed to quantitatively evaluate implant fixation strength on non‐hydroxyapatite coated implants or implants without previous bone compaction. This study demonstrated that a simple injection of zoledronic acid into the medullary canal, rather than coatings or commercial gels, can increase fixation strength of an uncoated titanium‐implant. Our findings indicate simple injection of zoledronic acid in saline solution has the potential for improving fixation of uncemented joint implants. Clinical Significance: Intramedullary injection of local bisphosphonate solutions could be implemented to improve osseointegration in cementless arthroplasty. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:3294–3298, 2018.
OH‐ and NH2‐Terminated Hyperbranched Polysiloxanes: Controlled Synthesis, Characterization, Toughening, and Reinforcing Epoxy Resin
Authors: Chen Kelong , Zhang Tong , Cui Yi , Wang Zhiyong , Li Bin 
Published: August 2018

AbstractA new silicon‐containing hyperbranched polysiloxane (HAHBPs) is successfully synthesized via a one‐pot A2 + B3 strategy using diethylene glycol and (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (KH550) under solvent‐free and catalyst‐free conditions. Then, for the first time, the HAHBPs are used to modify epoxy resin E51. TGA results display significantly lower thermal stability compared with that of the neat epoxy resin. Experimental results also show that the addition of HAHBPs simultaneously improves flexural strength and impact strength. In particular, a great increase (2.48 times its original toughness) in the toughness of epoxy resin E51 is achieved with 20 wt% HAHBPs loading. More importantly, fracture morphology and DMA measurements show no obvious phase separation due to the strong interfacial bonds between the HAHBPs and epoxy matrix. These results indicate that the HAHBPs containing OH‐ and NH2‐ can be a potentially effective epoxy resin toughener.
Synthesis and Properties of Networks Based on Thiol‐ene Chemistry Using a CO2‐Based δ‐Lactone
Authors: Chen Lifeng , Ling Jun , Ni Xufeng , Shen Zhiquan 
Published: August 2018

Abstract3‐Ethylidene‐6‐vinyltetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, a divinyl δ‐lactone derived from CO2 and 1,3‐butadiene, is used for the synthesis of networks with various compositions through the thiol‐ene click reaction with di‐ and tri‐thiol compounds. Thermal, mechanical, and optical properties of the networks are characterized. The networks have sharp and uniform glass transitions and show good thermal stability with T
d from 287 to 332 °C. Mechanical properties of the networks can be adjusted by the cross‐link density; 6.18 MPa of tensile strength, 574% break elongation and 1.84 of tan δ at maximum are reached. Metal complexation makes the networks tougher due to additional cross‐links. The highly homogeneous networks are transparent with average 90% transmittance of visible light, and of decent refractive indices around 1.55. Swelling‐induced twist shape transformation and visible QR code under UV light is realized by pattern of the network.
Direct Observation of Bacterial Growth in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles: A Novel Tool for Bacterial Cultures
Authors: Morita Masamune , Katoh Kaoru , Noda Naohiro 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBacterial cultivation techniques are classic, basic, and common processes used to characterize the physiological activity of bacteria in their environment. Owing to recent advances in bacterial cultivation techniques, the physiological activity of bacteria can be elucidated at the single‐cell culture level. Here, we report a novel method to monitor the real‐time activity of bacterial growth at the single‐cell level inside giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). This method consists of two steps: 1) encapsulation of single bacteria in 1–33 pL scale GUVs and 2) immobilization of the GUVs on a planar lipid bilayer membrane on a glass surface. We directly observed single E. coli cells actively growing to a great number of cells inside GUVs. GUVs also protected the bacteria from external antibiotic compounds during prolonged cultivation for more than 24 h. This approach can be applied widely in the fields of biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, and synthetic biology.
Preparation and characterization of a self‐catalyzed fluorinated novolac‐phthalonitrile resin
Authors: Li Zheng , Guo Ying , Wang Guangxing , Xu Shuangshuang , Han Yue , Liu Xiang , Luo Zhenhua , Ye Li , Zhou Heng , Zhao Tong 
Published: August 2018

A self‐catalyzed fluorinated novolac‐phthalonitrile resin was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction between fluorinated novolac oligomer and 4‐nitrophthalonitrile. Structure of the final product was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. With the introduction of fluorine into the backbone, the fluorinated novolac‐phthalonitrile presented elevated performance. Compared with the analogous novolac‐phthalonitrile resin, the dielectric constant of the cured fluorinated resin decreased from 3.30 to 3.15, and the dielectric loss effectively decreased from 0.012 to 0.004 at the frequency of 1 MHz. Furthermore, the fluorinated novolac‐phthalonitrile resin possessed a broader processing window and higher thermo‐oxidative stability than the analogous novolac‐phthalonitrile resin. Consequently, the fluorinated novolac‐phthalonitrile resin may be a good candidate for matrix of high performance composite in electronic and aerospace industries.
Analysis of lanthionine ketimine ethyl ester in mouse serum, whole blood and tissues using ultrahigh‐pressure liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Muchiri Ruth N. , Kowal Katarzyna E. , Hensley Kenneth , Feinstein Douglas L. , van Breemen Richard B. 
Published: August 2018

RationalePreclinical studies in the search for treatments for several neurodegenerative diseases have identified lanthionine ketimine (LK) and its monoethyl ester derivative (LKE) as potential candidates. An ultrahigh‐pressure liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS/MS) assay was developed to evaluate bioavailability by measuring these compounds in mouse serum, whole blood and brain tissue.MethodsFollowing administration of LKE to mice for 3 days in chow at 300 ppm, the animals were sacrificed, and LKE was extracted from serum, whole blood and brain tissues through protein precipitation using cold methanol. To enhance chromatographic separation and electrospray ionization, LK was methylated using diazomethane. Separations were carried out using C18 reversed‐phase UHPLC, and quantitative measurements were obtained using on‐line triple‐quadruple mass spectrometry with positive ion electrospray ionization, collision‐induced dissociation and selected reaction monitoring. Tolbutamide was used as internal standard.ResultsLKE showed good recovery ranging from 77–90% in serum and 82–88% in brain tissue. An eight‐point standard curve ranging from 0.005 to 4.6 μM was linear (R2 0.998). The average LKE detected in mouse serum was 277.42 nM, while the concentration in whole blood was 38 nM. Neither LK nor LKE was detected in brain tissues.ConclusionsA rapid quantitative method to measure LKE in mouse serum, whole blood and brain tissues using UHPLC/MS/MS was developed and validated following FDA guidelines. This method is suitable for bioavailability and pharmacokinetic studies.
‐disturbance attenuation for LPV systems under sampled‐data control
Authors: Gomes da Silva Jr J.M. , Palmeira A.H.K. , Moraes V.M. , Flores J.V. 
Published: August 2018

SummaryThis paper focuses on the synthesis of sampled‐data linear parameter‐varying (LPV) control laws. In particular, the problem of
disturbance attenuation for continuous‐time LPV systems under aperiodic sampling is addressed. It is explicitly assumed that the LPV controller is updated only at the sampling instants while the plant parameter can evolve continuously between two sampling instants. The proposed approach is based on a polytopic model for the LPV system and the use of a parameter‐dependent looped‐functional to deal with the aperiodic sampling effects. From these ingredients, conditions in a quasi‐LMI form (ie, they are LMIs provided a scalar parameter is fixed) are derived to compute a stabilizing control law ensuring an upper bound on the closed‐loop system
‐gain. These conditions are then incorporated to convex optimization problems aiming at either minimizing the
‐gain upper bound or maximizing the allowable sampling interval for which stability is ensured. Numerical examples illustrate the proposed methodology.
Reliable M2M/IoT data delivery from FANETs via satellite
Authors: Bacco Manlio , Colucci Marco , Gotta Alberto , Kourogiorgas Charilaos , Panagopoulos Athanasios D. 
Published: August 2018

SummaryThe use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is rising in several application fields. This work deals with the communication challenges in UAV swarms, or flying ad hoc network (FANET), when taking into account non–line‐of‐sight scenarios. The use of satellites is a necessity in such operating conditions; thus, this work provides architectural considerations and performance assessments when several (FANETs) share an uplink random access satellite channel, fed with M2M/IoT traffic generated from on‐board sensors, to be reliably delivered to a remote ground destination.
Synthesis of Hollow Silica Particles Using Acid Dissolvable Resorcinol‐Formaldehyde Resin Particles as Template
Authors: Meng Qingnan , Wang Kai , Xu Xiaobo , Tang Yufei , Han Zhenhua , Zhao Kang , Zhang Guojun , Cui Juanni , Ji Yeye 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHollow silica particles (HSPs) were produced using acid dissolvable resorcinol‐formaldehyde resin (RF) particles as template. Since the RF particles synthesized in alkaline condition were thought to be highly cross‐linked, they were commonly removed by calcination. Apparently, the acid washing method was more facile and time saving. By conducting control experiments, it was proposed that the destruction of the RF template in acid solution was attributed to the large amount of hydrolyzable bonds in their structure. Moreover, Au nanoparticles loaded HSPs were successfully prepared with prefabricated Au nanoparticles as core materials. And thanks to the remained RF in the HSPs, Ag nanoparticles loaded HSPs had also be prepared via an in‐situ reduction route. These results demonstrated the flexibility and effectiveness of our method in synthesizing the hollow and rattle‐type materials.
Thermoelectric SnTe with Band Convergence, Dense Dislocations, and Interstitials through Sn Self‐Compensation and Mn Alloying
Authors: Guo Fengkai , Cui Bo , Liu Yuan , Meng Xianfu , Cao Jian , Zhang Yang , He Ran , Liu Weishu , Wu Haijun , Pennycook Stephen J. , Cai Wei , Sui Jiehe 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSnTe is known as an eco‐friendly analogue of PbTe without toxic elements. However, the application potentials of pure SnTe are limited because of its high hole carrier concentration derived from intrinsic Sn vacancies, which lead to a high electrical thermal conductivity and low Seebeck coefficient. In this study, Sn self‐compensation and Mn alloying could significantly improve the Seebeck coefficients in the whole temperature range through simultaneous carrier concentration optimization and band engineering, thereby leading to a large improvement of the power factors. Combining precipitates and atomic‐scale interstitials due to Mn alloying with dense dislocations induced by long time annealing, the lattice thermal conductivity is drastically reduced. As a result, an enhanced figure of merit (ZT) of 1.35 is achieved for the composition of Sn0.94Mn0.09Te at 873 K and the ZTave from 300 to 873 K is boosted to 0.78, which is of great significance for practical application. Hitherto, the ZTmax and ZTave of this work are the highest values among all single‐element‐doped SnTe systems.
The Dark Side of the (Preparedness) Moon: Why Promoting Public Preparedness Remains Challenging
Authors: Bodas Moran 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDespite best intentions and considerable effort, promoting households' preparedness to emergencies remains insufficiently low globally. It seems that, in some cases, particularly those in which populations are frequently exposed to any given threat, a more complex sociopsychological framework emerges – one in which classical motivators, such as threat perception cues, are no longer capable of turning salient belief into action. Recent studies suggest that this phenomenon, called victimization, has considerable implications on the efficacy of risk communication efforts and could jeopardize the success in promoting public readiness. Circumventing the psychological barriers caused by this phenomenon requires innovative approaches, such as using external incentives. The model and its implications are discussed (Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2019;13:593-595)