bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Relationship between System Testability and Modularity
Authors: Efatmaneshnik Mahmoud , Ryan Michael 
Published: September 2016

AbstractModularity is one approach to design that, amongst other design attributes, facilitates testability. However, the relationship between the type of modularization and system testability is under‐researched. In this paper we present a probabilistic model of testability that enables us to study the relationship between modularity and testability. In particular, we focus on the costs and benefits associated with the particular modularizations selected for the sole purpose of system testability. We show that adopting and appropriate testing architecture through careful modularization can greatly enhance efficiency and effectiveness of system testing.
From Common Strategies and Approaches to Virtual Integration
Authors: Frank Moti , Broodney Henry , Orion Uzi , Kordova Sigal K. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper deals with the integration process in multidisciplinary technical systems projects. The paper reviews the objectives of the integration process, planning and managing principles, as well as the pitfalls and difficulties associated with this process. Various integration approaches are described and analyzed. A method for comparing integration approaches in systems projects is suggested. The paper then introduces the Model‐Based methods for virtual integration and examines how initial steps in that direction impact the conventional integration practices.
Defensibility: Legal Liabilities of Acts and Omissions in the Practice of Systems Engineering
Authors: Walden David D. , Scott Zane 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSystems Engineers assigned to projects spend a majority of their time on technical and technical management processes. In order to produce balanced system solutions, systems engineers rely on specialty engineering activities (informally known as the “ilities” because many of them end in “ilty”) to trade performance requirements with non‐functional requirements (also known as quality attributes). The INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook Fourth Edition (INCOSE, 2015) lists 14 “ilities” including affordability, reliability, and usability.This paper introduces defensibility, an additional “ility” that attempts to balance the legal aspects of the system and its development effort. Professional legal liabilities stem from two primary sources: acts and omissions. Breaches of acts arise when an activity has been done, but it was done poorly or an improper action was taken based on the situation. Breaches of omissions arise when an activity was not done that should have reasonably been done under the circumstances. This paper explores both of these liabilities in the context of systems engineering and provides practical advice on how individuals and companies can better protect themselves. This paper is an attempt to show practitioners how defensibility may play a role in their designs and how they may be drawn into the adjudicatory process around disputes over their work or the work of others.
Effective and Efficient Preparation for the Unforeseeable
Authors: Hinsley S.W. , Henshaw M.J , Siemieniuch C.E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper hypothesizes that a System‐of‐Systems (SoS) that is not fit‐for‐purpose is so because it cannot implement the correct, timely and complete transfers of Material, Energy and/or Information (MEI) between its constituents and with its external environment that are necessary to achieve a particular result. This research addresses the problem of maintaining a SoS fit‐for‐purpose after unpredictable changes in operation, composition or external factors by creating a method, implemented as an engineering process and supported by an analysis technique to enhance the affordance {“Features that provide the potential for interaction by “Affording the ability to do something” [1]} of SoS constituents for MEI transfer and reveal potential undesirable transfers.
Investigating structural gender inequality in the Norwegian pension system: An example of using MBSE in the evaluation of social systems
Authors: Palmer Erika 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThere is an increasing interest in expanding the capacity of model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) to include the evaluation and design of social systems. System dynamics modeling can easily be utilized for such a purpose. This study investigates gender equality in the Norwegian pension system using system dynamics modeling and serves as an example of how MBSE can be used to evaluate social systems. Many women often do not work or work part time in their childbearing/rearing years, which affects their pension amount. In countries that implement policies to equalize the pension level between the genders, national policies center on enabling women to increase their lifetime working hours (e.g. national childcare policies for daycare). One country that is rather advanced in this policy area is Norway. Using system dynamics modeling, this paper explores how women are disadvantaged structurally in the Norwegian pension system in the context of social investment strategy and the dual earner/ caregiver relationship.
The enabling role of Configuration Management for the Systems Engineering of tomorrow's complex Systems and Systems of Systems
Authors: D'Souza Adriana , Kossmann Mario , Watts Stephen 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTimes to market for complex Systems and Systems of Systems(SoS) in the aerospace and defence industries shall be reduced, whereas both customer expectations and technology evolutions are increasing at an exponential rate. As the total life cycle of complex Systems and SoS frequently spans across several decades, the customer expectations and market conditions are highly likely to evolve, thus their development needs to be kept in line with evolving business cases. Systems Engineering(SE) and Configuration Management(CM) need to work even more closely together in order to address this. CM as a discipline is essential for this as the key discipline for establishing traceability and controlling baseline evolutions and iterations between all the relevant pieces of information resulting from the related system lifecycle processes. This paper provides an outlook on how CM may enable SE of tomorrow's complex Systems and SoS, including some key recommendations and related challenges.
MB‐PLE to Plan and Track Submarine Configurations
Authors: Hause Matthew , Hallett Jon 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe life of a class of submarines can be measured in decades. As such the operational demands and expectations change both strategically and tactically over its lifetime. Coupling this adaptability with the length of time submarines take to design, build, and maintain, no two “as built” submarines in a class will ever be the same even when constructed/maintained to the same “build to” design. Traditionally this has been accepted as the case and in most cases the full information set has been managed via the configuration management team at a class or batch level but not at an individual submarine level. The configuration of an individual submarine has been managed in terms of agreed changes against the class or batch baseline. Advances in technology (hardware performance, software tools and standards) now give us the opportunity to not only manage the full information set related to individual submarine system configuration baselines as they change over time but also undertake rigorous model based trade‐off studies to plan the manner in which a class, a batch, an individual submarine (variant), or any combination thereof can be modified over time. This paper will explore the use of Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) coupled with recent developments of Product Line Engineering (PLE) / Orthogonal Variability Modelling (OVM) to provide a means to plan, track, manage and evaluate an individual submarine's configuration over time in the context of the class, whilst simultaneously highlighting the wider application in the submarine enterprise and beyond.
Value based System Architecting: Illustrated by Designing a Task Automation System
Authors: Kumar Anand , Lokku Doji Samson , Zope Nikhil , Natarajan Swaminathan 
Published: September 2016

AbstractArchitecture is both a design activity (process) as well as the schema of fundamental things about a system (work product). As a design activity, architecture is the act of creating a representation of an unknown and original object whose properties (like technical aspects, formal and spatial structures) must be well enough understood in advance. As a work product, architecture is the structure of the components of a system, their interrelationships, externally visible properties of those components and principles and guidelines governing their design and evolution over time. In this paper, a systems architecting approach that is based on value viewpoint is discussed. This approach is illustrated for a task automation system.
Got Phenomena? Science‐Based Disciplines for Emerging Systems Challenges
Authors: Schindel Bill 
Published: September 2016

AbstractEngineering disciplines (ME, EE, CE, ChE) sometimes argue their fields have “real physical phenomena”, “hard science” based laws, and first principles, claiming Systems Engineering lacks equivalent phenomenological foundation. We argue the opposite, and how replanting systems engineering in MBSE/PBSE supports emergence of new hard sciences and phenomena‐based domain disciplines.Supporting this perspective is the System Phenomenon, wellspring of engineering opportunities and challenges. Governed by Hamilton's Principle, it is a traditional path for derivation of equations of motion or physical laws of so‐called “fundamental” physical phenomena of mechanics, electromagnetics, chemistry, and thermodynamics.We argue that laws and phenomena of traditional disciplines are less fundamental than the System Phenomenon from which they spring. This is a practical reminder of emerging higher disciplines, with phenomena, first principles, and physical laws. Contemporary examples include ground vehicles, aircraft, marine vessels, and biochemical networks; ahead are health care, distribution networks, market systems, ecologies, and the IoT.
Effective System Architecture Description using a Presentational Data Schema
Authors: Hicks Paul , Rabbets Tim 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper considers what system architecture is and what is involved in architecting. Two different approaches are summarised, and their key strengths and drawbacks identified.The first of these is the approach advocated principally by Dori, which is to address the issues of devising and communicating architectures primarily by the use of a comprehensive notation to which elaboration detail can be progressively added. The second approach is that taken by UML practitioners, which is to develop a number of distinct aspects of an architecture, underpinned by a formal meta model.The authors propose an approach which combines elements of both of these approaches, but which emphasises the need for, and benefits of, a more intuitive (yet still rigorous) approach. It offers comprehensive and integrated coverage of architecture aspects together with ease of communication and encouragement for disciplined architecture description. Architecting is a creative activity, and the essence is to capture and communicate the resulting products in a manner that is easy to understand and appreciate.
A Graph Theoretic Framework for Integrated and Co‐optimized Power System Planning
Authors: Khiyami Abdulaziz , Ishimatsu Takuto , Alfaris Anas , de Weck Olivier L. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIncreased interest in renewable generation has made siting constraints more prominent in power system planning. In addition the power system is increasingly being considered as one of many coupled critical infrastructure systems in nexus’ such as the food‐energy‐water nexus and the gas‐electricity nexus. This paper describes a power system planning approach within a graph theoretic framework that allows for the handling of the geographical aspects of electricity production and distribution as well as the interaction of electricity network with other critical infrastructures.
Evaluation of illustrative ConOps and Decision Matrix as tools in concept selection
Authors: Solli Herman , Muller Gerrit 
Published: September 2016

AbstractLow oil prices and cost reduction initiatives are currently affecting the oil and gas domain. At the same time, the industry struggles with budget and schedule overruns. The high focus on generic requirements tends to overshadow the operational needs for the system. Previous research points out insufficient acquisition of operational needs as a main contributor to costly late design changes. This paper explores the use of an illustrative Concept of Operation and Pugh matrix as tools when evaluating concepts in the subsea domain. We apply the tools to a conceptual study of an interdisciplinary system expansion to encourage an unbiased holistic mindset of the decision makers. We also aim to answer if the project engineers can use these tools to expose showstoppers and opportunities at an early stage of the system development process. The result of our research indicates that an illustrative ConOps supported by a high‐level Pugh matrix can serve as a trigger for discovering opportunities and constraints not initially considered. An Illustrative Concept of Operation and Pugh Matrix show potential when used as tools in communicating qualities of conceptual solutions between project members and stakeholders.
Towards Industrial Integration of MBSE into PLM for Mission‐Critical Systems
Authors: Pavalkis Saulius 
Published: September 2016

AbstractModel‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is a natural choice for engineering complex systems of systems that involve hardware and software components, deal with a huge number of heterogeneous requirements, and require solid verification and validation at multiple levels. However, industrial MBSE adoption requires solving multiple problems. Most of them originate when MBSE is incorporated into the production environment. For enterprise‐level industrial solutions, this means integration into the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tool chain. This integration covers requirements, product line, variability, design, simulation, BOM, configuration, version, and CAD drawings management. The problem is that there is no clear path for integration. Due to the various types of data that can be interchanged between PLM and MBSE, the existing integration solutions are patchy and driven by clients use cases only. There is not enough information about recommended MBSE – PLM integration practices, use cases, and methods. This is a huge problem in the context of large‐scale partnerships working on mission‐critical systems, where engineering data has to be processed and managed in the most consistent way so as to be used by all the partners and through the different PLM activities. In this paper we will overview real‐world PLM and MBSE integration cases from our company experience. We will map a path toward the right solution, and will dive deep into the practical side of Product Line Engineering (PLE) and MBSE integration.
Integration of Specialty Engineering Activities
Authors: Endler David 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSpecialty engineering activities are key to realization of successful systems. At the same time, the specialty engineering assessment are complicated and in most cases complex. In real life projects, very often the integration of specialty engineering activities is difficult. In some cases there is a lack of understanding the importance of those activities and sometimes there are organizational barriers. To overcome those barriers an approach is proposed that is based on widely accepted standards. The difficulty is that existing systems engineering standards poorly describe specialty engineering activities and how they are integrated with traditional engineering activities. This paper provides an approach to successfully accomplish this integration. It is extremely important that specialty engineers are involved in every life cycle phase. At the same time, a common understanding of the integrated approach needs to be achieved.
TET3 Mediates Alterations in the Epigenetic Marker 5hmC and Akt pathway in Steroid-Associated Osteonecrosis
Authors: Zhao Jie , Ma Xin-long , Ma Jian-xiong , Sun Lei , Lu Bin , Wang Ying , Xing Guo-sheng , Wang Yan , Dong Ben-chao , Xu Li-yan , Kuang Ming-Jie , Fu Lin , Bai Hao-hao , Ma Yue , Jin Wei-lin 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

Steroid-associated osteonecrosis (SAON) is one of the common complications of clinical glucocorticoid (GC) administration, with osteocyte apoptosis appearing as the primary histopathological lesion. However, the precise mechanism underlying SAON remains unknown. Epigenetic modification may be a major cause of SAON. Recently, cumulative research revealed that Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) proteins can catalyze the conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and then alter the epigenetic state of DNA. Here, we report that TET3-5hmC was upregulated in the femoral head tissues of SAON patients and MLO-Y4 cells with dexamethasone (Dex) treatment. Knockdown of TET3 in MLO-Y4 cells decreased 5hmC enrichment and rescued Dex-induced apoptosis. Meanwhile, the local intramedullary injection of TET3 siRNA in Sprague-Dawley rats abrogated GC-induced osteocyte apoptosis, histopathological changes, abnormal MRI signals, and bone microstructure declines in the femoral head in vivo. Moreover, a hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation (hMeDIP)-chip analysis of Dex-treated osteocytes revealed 456 different 5hmC-enriched genes. The Akt pathway was found to mediate the functional effect of Dex-induced dynamic 5hmC change; this was further verified in clinical samples. The loss of TET3 in MLO-Y4 cells abrogated Dex-induced Akt signaling pathway inhibition. Therefore, our data for the first time identify the effect of TET3-5hmC on the Akt pathway and the necessity of this signaling cascade in SAON, identifying a new potential therapeutic target. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
LC‐PDA‐ESI‐MSn analysis of phenolic and iridoid compounds from Globularia spp.
Authors: Friščić Maja , Bucar Franz , Hazler Pilepić Kroata 
Published: September 2016

Plants produce a great number of metabolites with potentially useful biological activities. Species from the genus Globularia (Plantaginaceae) are known as sources of different phenolic and iridoid compounds. Globularia alypum L. is a medicinal plant used as a healing agent in many Mediterranean countries. Similarities in phytochemical composition are often observed for related species. For Globularia spp., such findings were mostly based on identification of several isolated compounds from distinct species. To our knowledge, this is the first study that enables simultaneous comparison of phytochemical profiles from several members of the genus Globularia.Liquid chromatography‐photodiode array detection‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of methanolic extracts of aerial parts obtained from four Globularia species (G. alypum, G. punctata, G. cordifolia and G. meridionalis). In total, 85 compounds were identified or tentatively identified based on comparison of their retention time, UV and MSn (up to MS4) spectra to those of standard compounds and/or to literature data. Among these, high relative amounts of bioactive molecules such as globularin, globularifolin, asperuloside and verbascoside (acteoside) were found. Apart from providing new insights into the phytochemistry and chemotaxonomy of selected Globularia species, results of this study complement existing MS/MS spectral data and could enable easier mass spectrometric profiling of certain bioactive compounds such as iridoids and phenylethanoids in related plant species, genera and families. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exposure to Childhood Abuse and Later Substance Use: Indirect Effects of Emotion Dysregulation and Exposure to Trauma
Authors: Mandavia Amar , Robinson Gabriella G. N. , Bradley Bekh , Ressler Kerry J. , Powers Abigail 
Published: September 2016

AbstractLittle is known about how emotion dysregulation (ED) and trauma exposure differentially affect the relationship between abuse in childhood and adult substance use. We examined associations between child abuse, trauma exposure, ED, and current substance use in an already existing dataset. Participants (N = 2,014 adults, 90% African American) had been recruited from an urban hospital for a parent study. Analyses showed that drug and alcohol use was significantly positively correlated with child abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual), later trauma exposure, and ED (all ps < .001). Linear regression showed that exposure to abuse when older than a child was significantly associated with drug and alcohol use independent of child abuse and demographic variables (R2Δ = .08, p < .001; R2Δ = .04, p < .001). ED was significantly associated with drug and alcohol use independently of child abuse, nonabuse trauma, and demographic variables (R2Δ = .02, p < .001; R2Δ = .04, p < .001). Multiple mediation analyses showed that ED and later trauma exposure accounted for variance in the association between emotional abuse and substance use (p < .001). A better understanding of vulnerabilities to additional traumatization and emotion‐regulation deficits in individuals who have been exposed to child abuse and in addition have comorbid substance use problems may inform treatments that lead to improved outcomes.
Lysosomal trafficking defects link Parkinson's disease with Gaucher's disease
Authors: Wong Yvette C. , Krainc Dimitri 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTLysosomal dysfunction has been implicated in multiple diseases, including lysosomal storage disorders such as Gaucher's disease, in which loss‐of‐function mutations in the GBA1 gene encoding the lysosomal hydrolase β‐glucocerebrosidase result in lipid substrate accumulation. In Parkinson's disease, α‐synuclein accumulates in Lewy bodies and neurites contributing to neuronal death. Previous clinical and genetic evidence has demonstrated an important link between Parkinson's and Gaucher's disease, as GBA1 mutations and variants increase the risk of Parkinson's and Parkinson's patients exhibit decreased β‐glucocerebrosidase activity. Using human midbrain neuron cultures, we have found that loss of β‐glucocerebrosidase activity promotes α‐synuclein accumulation and toxicity, whereas α‐synuclein accumulation further contributes to decreased lysosomal β‐glucocerebrosidase activity by disrupting β‐glucocerebrosidase trafficking to lysosomes. Moreover, α‐synuclein accumulation disrupts trafficking of additional lysosomal hydrolases, further contributing to lysosomal dysfunction and neuronal dyshomeostasis. Importantly, promoting β‐glucocerebrosidase activity reduces α‐synuclein accumulation and rescues lysosomal and neuronal dysfunction, suggesting that β‐glucocerebrosidase may be an important therapeutic target for advancing drug discovery in synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.