bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complexity analysis of cortical surface detects changes in future Alzheimer's disease converters
Authors: Ruiz de Miras Juan , Costumero Víctor , Belloch Vicente , Escudero Joaquín , Ávila César , Sepulcre Jorge 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder that creates neurodegenerative changes at several structural and functional levels in human brain tissue. The fractal dimension (FD) is a quantitative parameter that characterizes the morphometric variability of the human brain. In this study, we investigate spherical harmonic‐based FD (SHFD), thickness, and local gyrification index (LGI) to assess whether they identify cortical surface abnormalities toward the conversion to AD. We study 33 AD patients, 122 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients (50 MCI converters and 29 MCI nonconverters), and 32 healthy controls (HC). SHFD, thickness, and LGI methodology allowed us to perform not only global level but also local level assessments in each cortical surface vertex. First, we found that global SHFD decreased in AD and future MCI converters compared to HC, and in MCI converters compared to MCI nonconverters. Second, we found that local white matter SHFD was reduced in AD compared to HC and MCI mainly in medial temporal lobe. Third, local white‐matter SHFD was significantly reduced in MCI converters compared to MCI nonconverters in distributed areas, including the medial frontal lobe. Thickness and LGI metrics presented a reduction in AD compared to HC. Thickness was significantly reduced in MCI converters compared to healthy controls in entorhinal cortex and lateral temporal. In summary, SHFD was the only surface measure showing differences between MCI individuals that will convert or remain stable in the next 4 years. We suggest that SHFD may be an optimal complement to thickness loss analysis in monitoring longitudinal changes in preclinical and clinical stages of AD.Hum Brain Mapp 38:5905–5918, 2017. ©2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A SoS Approach for Engineering Capability Programs
Authors: Cook Stephen C , Unewisse Mark H 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe Australian Defence Organisation is undergoing the most significant change in 40 years to deliver a more effective and agile defence force. One of the key changes is the introduction of a new capability life cycle that seeks to take a more holistic perspective on defence capability. This has included the introduction of Programs that are to be managed in a coordinated way to optimize capability outcomes across a group of Products and Projects. The paper opens by discussing the context in which Programs will be implemented and identifies the needs for their management and systems engineering. The needs analysis concluded that a system‐of‐systems engineering (SoSE) approach is needed and that this should be tested and refined using an initial test case. Building on recent review material of SoSE approaches, a modified wave model was selected for the test case as the preferred approach for Program SoSE. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations on how the initial test case should be implemented to provide a foundation for broader implementation across Programs.
Version 0.75 of the Proposed INCOSE Competency Framework
Authors: Gelosh Don S. , Heisey Mimi , Snoderly John R. , Nidiffer Ken 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe next evolution of the INCOSE Competency Framework is Version 0.75. This paper describes some of the major sections of the Version 0.75 document. One of the major sections describes the updated competency framework structure which has evolved into competence groups and core competence areas. Another section is a draft guide to role definition that describes the typical roles that systems engineers may assume. One major section discusses some use cases with a detailed look at recruitment, education program improvement and professional development. The document includes a section that explains how to tailor the competency framework to suit using organizations. This paper concludes by exploring all the remaining coordination activities and other actions required to successfully develop and publish Version 1.0 of the new INCOSE Competency Framework.
SE Simulation Experience Design: Infrastructure, Process, and Application
Authors: Turner Richard , Bodner Douglas , Kemp Duncan , Rodriguez Yvette , Wade Jon , Zhang Peizhu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe Systems Engineering Experience Accelerator (SEEA) is a new approach to developing the systems engineering and technical leadership workforce. The project is aimed at accelerating experience assimilation through immersive, simulated learning situations where learners solve realistic problems. A prototype of the technology infrastructure and experience content has been developed, piloted, and evaluated. While the prototype has proved useful, its ability to support a community of educators and developers is limited by the challenges in creating or changing experiences. This paper proposes an initial taxonomy of experience archetypes to help development and reuse of experiences, and describes the experience design and development process using the SEEA tool suite. This is followed by an application case study: an experience developed by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence to accelerate the maturity of reliability engineers and their role in identifying and resolving safety issues.
Where the big bucks (will) come from – Implementing Product Line Engineering for Railway Rolling Stock
Authors: Chalé Góngora Hugo Guillermo , Greugny François 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis paper presents a “mid‐term” return of experience form ALSTOM Rolling Stock on its implementation of Product Line Engineering (PLE). It describes the journey we have undertaken to implement PLE, the challenges we have had to face and the manner in which we are finding our way (most of the time deliberately, sometimes fortuitously) to define a profitable reuse strategy and to structure our approach on PLE. The paper also presents some encouraging intermediate results and concludes with the perspectives and the future challenges in our search for Product Line Systems Engineering excellence.
An MBSE Methodology for Capability Systems Definition
Authors: Do Quoc , Hartigan Daniel 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSystems Engineering provides a structured means to define, design, implement, integrate, sustain and manage numerous interdependencies throughout the Lifecycle of complex systems. This paper presents a Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodology that focuses on the early Concept stage of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2015 to define the systems capability in the operational domain, functional domain and solution‐independent physical domain. The methodology consists of systemic processes that are governed by an information‐centric schema as well as enabling systems language and tools. The schema focuses on the objective information required during the capability design process to inform key design decisions and achieve convergence from conflicting stakeholder viewpoints. The paper opens with an introduction to MBSE and systems capability definition. Then, the detail of the methodology is discussed followed by an application of this approach to the Battlespace Communication Support Centre (BCSC) capability as a case study – reporting on the efficacy, lessons learned and recommendations for future applications.
Warranting System Validity Through a Holistic Validation Framework: A Research Agenda
Authors: Stevens Jennifer Stenger 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe integrity of validation of launch systems produced in the United States is challenged by changes in launch vehicle acquisition policy. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) adopted the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) acquisition model in 2006. Affordability‐driven flexibility enabled by significant regulation reduction engenders the same loss of insight and control the USAF found unacceptable in the 1990's. COTS‐type acquisition accepts such risk, but amplifies concerns that validation criteria are not well justified. This paper describes sources of confusion over the selection and justification of validation criteria in systems engineering. A notional holistic validation framework orients research efforts towards engineering rational and defensible strategies. A specific research agenda to examine the role of validation in dialectic is stated. Argumentation in anticipation of system performance suggests that modeling relations from Rosen's anticipatory systems theory apply to the elements in Toulmin's model of argument. Theory produced will enable rational justification of validation criteria in launch system acquisition.
Test Strategy to detect Industrial Control Systems' common Cyber Weaknesses and Vulnerabilities
Authors: Rehman Obaid Ur , Joiner Keith F. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIndustrial control systems (ICSs) play a vital role in the operation and monitoring of a nation's critical infrastructure. These systems consist of software and hardware and use protocols which are not usually designed for secured transmissions, such that they become vulnerable targets for cyber attackers. In this paper, we propose to research the efficacy of statistically rigorous methods such as design of experiments (DOE) techniques in testing the cyber vulnerabilities of ICSs. DOE methods in modern software packages use advanced statistical and mathematical methods such as High Throughput Testing (HTT) combinatorial methods to allow for multifactor, multi‐response testing and analysis so as to create a probabilistic and static model of the response of a system that helps quickly focus (i.e., screen) on the more effective cyber threats and thus greatest vulnerabilities. These methods also help to determine optimum defensive settings for cyber‐resilience in the presence of the tested threats. The proposed research will have applicability to defense of complex systems more broadly than cybersecurity of ICSs, since it illustrates a structured technique for dealing with the very high numbers of test permutations that arise when considering complex system architectures exposed to a myriad, and forever changing, arsenal of possible malicious intent.
The role of Command‐and‐control Management and Governance in Systems Engineering
Authors: Gorod Alex , Hallo Leonie , Nguyen Tiep 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCommand‐and‐control management has traditionally been the primary methodology used in Systems Engineering (SE) to manage systems. However, even though command‐and‐control has a significant and important role in managing traditional systems, it lacks adaptability and flexibility in dealing with complex systems. A general understanding exists that systems differ in terms of their typology and several different typologies have been proposed in order to assist systems engineers to distinguish between various types of systems. Since different types of systems require different management approaches, the governance method has been recently introduced in SE as a potentially more effective management style for certain types of systems, especially complex adaptive systems. This paper addresses issues faced by systems engineers in choosing whether to apply command‐and‐control management or governance in a particular situation. Additionally, it includes information about different criteria and a profiling methodology. These can be used to help practitioners to differentiate between system types and suggest the appropriate type of management style to apply to a given system. Two cases are presented to illustrate the application of both management approaches under differing degrees of complexity.
Foundations for improved integration – Using Systems Engineering in Programme and Project Management
Authors: Gray Andrew , James Adrian , Nasser Helen , Richardson Ken , Rooke Kate 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe INCOSE UK/APM Joint Working Group (JWG) on Systems Engineering (SE) and Project/Programme Management (PM) Integration has been addressing the shared understanding of the two disciplines and how they work together. It seeks to promote the benefits of systems thinking across the wider decision‐making community, and to understand how to deliver these benefits.As part of its work, the JWG has compared and categorized life cycles and processes within the two disciplines; analysed subsequent theoretical touch points, overlaps and fusion areas; identified examples of actual large projects with integrated SE and PM approaches; and used all this information to generate a set of underlying Principles for improved integration. In addition, the JWG has identified a set of Top Tips to help establish the Principles.This information forms part of the expanding body of knowledge being developed by the JWG and helping to lay the foundation for improved integration.
Your Wish, My Command – Speeding up Projects in the Transportation Industry Using Ontologies
Authors: Chalé Góngora Hugo Guillermo , Llorens Juan , Gallego Elena 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis paper presents the results of an exploratory study conducted at ALSTOM on the application of knowledge‐centric approaches to the requirements definition process. The original scope of the study concerned the application of ontologies to analyze and improve the quality of specification documents in an industrial context. An additional idea quickly emerged as a collateral benefit of the study to extend the usage of the gathered knowledge base in order to perform computer‐assisted identification of requirements from structured and unstructured documents. The purpose of this new approach is to improve the execution of projects in railway transportation by accelerating the requirements management and development processes and, in particular, the stakeholder requirements capture and elicitation activities.
Conducting a Model Based Systems Engineering Tool Trade Study Using a Systems Engineering Approach
Authors: Friedland Brittany , Herrold John , Ferguson Glendora , Malone Robert 
Published: August 2017

AbstractEvaluating and choosing a comprehensive Commercial‐Off‐The‐Shelf (COTS) platform to serve as the basis for a deployable large scale Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tool suite is a challenging task with many factors to take into account. Applying a Systems Engineering approach to the problem gives a highly useful roadmap for choosing an effective solution. Boeing evaluated 25 candidate COTS platforms against end users processes and accompanying business requirements that were used to identify and specify the desired tool suite functionality, desired behavior, and design constraints. Design constraints included a range of considerations from scalability concerns to implementation specific needs. This paper outline the criteria against which the candidates solutions were evaluated and the results of the evaluations.
On the Use of the Terms Verification and Validation
Authors: Ryan Michael J. , Wheatcraft Louis S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWhile the concepts of verification and validation are commonplace, in practice the terms are often used interchangeably and the context of their use is not made clear, resulting in the meaning of the concepts frequently being misunderstood. This paper addresses the use of the terms verification and validation and identifies their various meanings in terms of the context in which they are used, particularly as defined in the relevant standards and literature, as well as everyday usage. In particular, it is identified that both terms are ambiguous unless a modifier is included in front of the word, clearly indicating to which context the term is referring. This paper illustrates that failing to use a modifier—thus assuming the reader understands the context in which the terms are used—is the most common reason for ambiguity and misunderstanding. The paper presents a simple model of the system design process to allow the nature of verification and validation to be understood better within a given context. Definitions are then proposed in order to disambiguate the various uses of the terms.
A Proposal for Standardized Use of the Term “Module” in Systems Engineering
Authors: Efatmaneshnik Mahmoud , Shoval Shraga , Ryan Michael J 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe terms “module” and “modularity” are used extensively in the Product Engineering literature. Today, modularity is an essential core competency of leading product designs, enabling organizations to maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace. However, these terms have very context‐specific definitions in System Engineering (SE) literature. “Module” is not part of the technical taxonomy in any of the SE standards, which do not regard a module as a part of the formal system breakdown structure. In this paper, we redefine “module,” as a unit composed of a set of components with an specific interface, which must also serve one or more purely non‐functional goals, such as flexibility, evolvability, manufacturability, and maintainability. A configuration item, a subsystem, an assembly, a subassembly or a component can all be regarded as modules because their creation could have served non‐functional goals such as design tractability, tradesapce searchability, assembility etc., however, the important assertion here is that a module's boundaries do not necessarily coincide with those dictated by the functional system decomposition and functional hierarchy.
Robotic Satellite Servicing Trade Space Down‐Selection
Authors: Knizhnik Jessica , Austin Mark , Carignan Craig 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAs remote robotic space satellite servicing technologies develop, each servicer satellite will need to account for a number of servicing scenarios and consider a variety of alternate design solutions to best meet the most servicing scenario requirements. This paper presents a graph transformation method for systematically down‐selecting the number of design options available, and highlighting trade‐offs in sets of design solutions which best meet satellite servicing task requirements while also reducing total mass, maximum power needed and servicing time. In the test case examined, the proposed method successfully identifies for further consideration, seven best design solutions from a set of over 100,000 potential solutions.
Reusable Modules to Support Rapid Model Building: A Case Study of Defence Force Design
Authors: Bowers Joshua , Elsawah Sondoss , Ryan Michael 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis work is motivated by the lack of research in the area of developing generic and domain‐specific system dynamics (SD) modules. Unlike traditional modelling approaches where an expert modeller builds the model from low‐level modelling constructs, modules allow for rapid construction of simulations by providing components that can be quickly parametrised and assembled to test different strategies. This approach has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of SD modelling by minimizing time and costs, sharing domain knowledge, and improving user involvement in the modelling process. This paper presents a working set of eight reusable modules in the domain of defence force planning and design. We illustrate the use of modules with a hypothetical scenario based on our experience with projects' clients. Finally, we conclude with suggestions for future work in the research areas related to the development, use, and evaluation of SD modules.
Control Theoretic Modeling and Simulation of Supply Chain Management System
Authors: Rehman Obaid Ur , Ryan Michael J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractControl theoretic modelling approaches are very effective in developing a dynamical model of a system. A supply chain system is a dynamical system which contains a number of lead times among supply nodes and is susceptible to demand variation. Control theoretic modelling approaches are proved to be very effective in developing ordering policies for such systems. In this work, we developed a linear discrete time model of a supply chain with multiple supply nodes and pure delays. The model presented here can be used to develop an optimal ordering and distribution policy so that the entire system remains stable. In addition to the mathematical model of the supply chain, a simulation model is also developed using Simulink® toolbox SimEvents®. The simulation model can be used to test various ordering policies to determine system stability. In this work the simulation model is used to test system stability and can be further used to find optimum ordering and optimum routing policies under uncertainty by running a Monte Carlo type simulation using the developed simulation model.
Tailoring a ConOps for NASA LSP Integrated Operations
Authors: Owens Clark V. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAn integral part of the Systems Engineering process is the creation of a Concept of Operations (ConOps) for a given system, with the ConOps initially established early in the system design process and evolved as the system definition and design matures. As Integration Engineers in NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), our job is to manage the interface requirements for all the robotic space missions that come to our Program for a Launch Service. LSP procures and manages a launch service from one of our many commercial Launch Vehicle Contractors (LVCs) and these commercial companies are then responsible for developing the Interface Control Document (ICD), the verification of the requirements in that document, and all the services pertaining to integrating the spacecraft and launching it into orbit. However, one of the systems engineering tools that have not been employed within LSP to date is a Concept of Operations. The goal of this paper is to research the format and content that goes into these various aerospace industry ConOps and tailor the format and content into template form, so the template may be used as an engineering tool for spacecraft integration with future LSP procured launch services. This tailoring effort was performed as the author's final Masters Project in the Spring of 2016 for the Stevens Institute of Technology and modified for publication with INCOSE (Owens, 2016).