bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Applying Model‐based SE Techniques for Dependable Land Systems
Authors: Payne Richard , Fitzgerald John , Bryans Jeremy , Winthorpe Elspeth 
Published: September 2016

AbstractA System of Systems (SoS) is a group of independent constituent systems that by their interactions together deliver an emerging capability on which reliance is placed. In the UK Ministry of Defence Land domain, the appetite for uncertainty caused by SoS dependencies is particularly low. Dependability and assurance are therefore vital, both in the integration and interoperability of individual constituent systems, and at the level of the SoS as a whole. This paper presents the findings from a study, asking whether model‐based engineering technologies could potentially deliver a pragmatic method for Land Open Systems Architecture (LOSA) SoS verification and assurance. We conclude that existing model‐based SoS and Cyber‐Physical Systems engineering techniques could potentially deliver a basis for LOSA SoS requirement engineering, design, verification and assurance. However, the techniques studied are at varying levels of maturity and therefore we identify areas of future work that could inform the ongoing research and experimentation programmes for LOSA and others across defence.
SPOTing best approaches to enable SE in Enterprises
Authors: Beasley Richard , Nolan Andy J. , Pickard Andrew C. , Hull Frank M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSystems Engineering is an enabler of better project outcomes and more successful products. It is an interdisciplinary approach that helps integrate disciplines to make sure that the complete problem situation is understood by all, and then applies that understanding to drive engineering activities, utilising an appropriate process.INCOSE has led the way in defining appropriate Systems Engineering process and practice, and developing individuals into certified Systems Engineers. However, engineering, and especially Systems Engineering, is a team sport – performed in organisations / enterprises. There is a strong argument that better results can be achieved by better application of Systems Engineering. Therefore the issue of how an organisation improves its Systems Engineering capability. There are many recommended, complementary good practices that an organisation should seek to apply – but what is the priority? Which should it develop first? And then which should it do next? INCOSE has little to guide on this.This paper introduces a set of good practices, which whilst from outside INCOSE / Systems Engineering has significant synergy with Systems Engineering. The Comparative Organization Data Archive, also known as the SPOT databank (from the Concurrent Engineering User Group) does have significant correlations from application (to various standards) to project performance for very many (>1000) projects. From these correlations recommendations can be made regarding the most “impactful” improvement for an organisation to make in their Systems Engineering practice.The purpose of this paper is to introduce this data, and show the synergy of its practices to good Systems Engineering, and makes recommendations of detailed work INCOSE could support to integrate the data into the canon of Systems Engineering guidance for Systems Engineering.
The Path to Version 0.75 of the Proposed INCOSE Systems Engineering Competency Framework
Authors: Gelosh Don S. , Heisey Mimi , Snoderly John R. , Nidiffer Ken 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper describes the efforts and results so far to evolve the INCOSE Competency Framework to the next stage: Version 0.75. This paper describes how the proposed framework has been aligned with a number of other frameworks, competency models, bodies of knowledge and initiatives. These include but are not limited to the DoD's Better Buying Power 3.0 Implementation Plan, the Defense Acquisition University Competency Model, the US Navy's Systems Engineering Competency Career Model, the new INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook Fourth Edition and the Systems Engineering Professional Certification Program. This paper also describes current efforts to develop an initial draft Role Definition Guide that will describe the typical roles that systems engineers may assume. The paper concludes by exploring all the remaining coordination activities and other actions required to successfully develop and publish Version 0.75 and eventually Version 1.0.
Engineering Lifecycle Management. What A Bunch Of Rhetoric
Authors: VanZandt Lonnie 
Published: September 2016

AbstractParaphrasing Charlton and Adras, management is a process by which managers reflectively model and share a representation of their own processes to enable themselves to perform their eponymous information‐processing activities of monitoring, evaluating, predicting, and controlling their enterprise and its systems. (Charlton & Andras, 2003) Furthermore, managers manage for particular purposes. Purpose‐driven, they acquire systems to address the needs of the enterprise and they manage their stakeholders, engineering lifecycle tools, and artifacts during the acquisition processes to attain certain goals. Modern model‐based systems engineering tools are effective for modeling a single time the adequately stable compositions of sufficiently static units of structure and behavior. However, today, systems engineers and managers struggle to use these tools to specify, analyse, present, and manage these models as stakeholders and architects incrementally evolve those models over time and across space. Therefore, the management of engineering lifecycle models involves more than reliably storing and retrieving in a timely manner the usual collections of related, versioned artifacts. Rather, because all selections and deployments of the enterprise depend on some responsible actor making a choice, management includes the more formidable service of providing to decision‐making stakeholders arguments that demonstrate the adequacy of contextually‐specific solutions to the enterprise's problems. These decision‐making stakeholders need dialectical (i.e. logical) arguments for a proposed system's satisfaction of constraints such as those that are available from adequately formal modeling notations, solvers, and practices. In addition, they need rhetorical (i.e. persuasive) arguments that convince those stakeholders of the aptness of proposals through trust of the proponents and through warrants which appeal to generally accepted grounds.
A Mission Assurance Framework for R&D Organizations
Authors: Hahn Heidi Ann 
Published: September 2016

AbstractResearch and development (R&D) organizations such as the National Nuclear Security Administration's national security laboratories span a spectrum of R&D from basic scientific research to demonstration of actual system prototypes in an operational environment. Application of systems engineering (SE), engineering quality and rigor, and project management is often critical to successful R&D outcomes, but a graded approach is key – neither the type of project being performed nor the funding profile provided by the customer may support the application of very formal processes. To address these challenges, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has developed and is implementing a Mission Assurance Framework that applies the concepts of systems engineering, project management, and engineering quality and rigor using a risk‐based graded approach. This paper describes the LANL approach to developing and implementing the Mission Assurance Framework and discusses the policies, tools, and training that support the diverse set of projects performed across the Laboratory's mission space. Emphasis is placed on the SE and engineering quality aspects of the Framework.
Defining an Architecture Trade off Management Capability
Authors: Monceaux Anne , Arnold Alexandre , Gendre Pascal 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe architect role is becoming a key role in the context of civil aircraft development. In the past years Airbus has launched several projects to better define the architect's mission, understand the architecture convergence process and needs, and develop the relevant supporting methods and tools. The term “Multidisciplinary Trade‐off Capability” was introduced to designate a general framework that can instrument the architecture definition multidisciplinary process. As a part of this framework, the “Architect Cockpit” more specifically designates a workbench dedicated to the architects. The present contribution deals with the development of the Architect Cockpit capability devoted to the specification and the steering of the trade‐off studies. It presents a prototype tool, provisionally called ArchiManager, which has been incrementally developed to help maturing and illustrating the taken approach.
Adaptability Metric Analysis for Multi‐Mission Design of Manufactured Products and Systems
Authors: Zhu Haifeng , Murray Brian , de Weck Oliver , Skelding Randy , Shougarian Narek , Zeidner Lawrence , Arnold Eileen 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAdaptability in manufacturing is becoming increasingly important, as it provides flexibility without requiring significant up‐front investment. In this paper, we review the history of this concept, indicate issues with prior work and advance our knowledge of this topic. We provide an explanation and analysis on the concept of mission‐based adaptability that adopts a similar definition as the adaptability in ecosystems, which describes a system's adaptive capability relative to on‐going changes. Our analysis shows the mission‐based adaptability's empirical mathematical properties and indicates this formulation is able to resolve previous approaches’ issues at an optimal level of abstraction. We employ extensive tools and analysis on an airplane engine design example case and demonstrate the importance and usefulness of the adaptability metric for decision makers in the manufacturing industry.
Recommendations for Framing Multi‐Stakeholder Tradespace Exploration
Authors: Fitzgerald Matthew E. , Ross Adam M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTradespace exploration is a rapidly advancing design and decision support paradigm that is particularly applicable to complex systems with many value‐driving dimensions. These systems commonly have multiple stakeholders that can exert critical influence on the system's conceptual design, necessitating the satisfaction of their needs, and often requiring negotiation. Previous research has suggested that classic tradespace exploration activities may reinforce negative negotiation behaviors through their framing of the multi‐stakeholder problem. This paper presents active research in recommendations for supporting inter‐stakeholder and stakeholder‐data interaction. These recommendations include the reframing of standard tradespace activities and visualizations using the combined insights of the negotiation, framing, and TSE literature and extend from problem formulation through exploration of the data.
Program and Portfolio Affordability Tradeoffs Under Uncertainty Using Epoch‐Era Analysis
Authors: Vascik Parker D. , Ross Adam M. , Rhodes Donna H. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe design, acquisition and stewardship of large scale, sociotechnical programs and portfolios faces new challenges as constituent systems evolve in sophistication and interconnectedness, all while exogenous factors become more volatile. However, advances in computational capabilities and uncertainty modeling better enable systems engineers to evaluate value tradeoffs in early phase conceptual design. This paper extends prior work that explored system design tradespaces for affordability under uncertainty to the program and portfolio level. Time‐varying exogenous factors, such as resource availability, stakeholder needs, or technology obsolescence may influence value contribution of constituent systems over the lifecycle of a portfolio, potentially making an initially attractive design less attractive over time. This paper introduces a method to conduct portfolio design for affordability by leveraging Epoch‐Era Analysis with aspects of Modern Portfolio Theory. The method is demonstrated through the design of a carrier strike group portfolio involving the integration of multiple legacy systems and newly acquired vessels.
Middle and High School Teacher Responses to an Authentic Argument Writing Seminar
Authors: Kohnen Angela M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis qualitative study examined a five‐day summer professional development workshop for English language arts teachers on argument writing. Fourteen teacher participants learned from five different professionals who discussed the role of argument in their fields. Teacher blog posts were coded to understand what teacher participants perceived as important to or different from their previous understandings. Findings include (a) authentic argument is as much about an attitude or state of mind as it is about a product on paper; (b) in schools, argument instruction is very focused on structure; (c) research and data are essential to argument outside of schools; and (d) authentic argument has consequences. These findings have implications for those teaching argument writing as an authentic act.
Association of type II secretory phospholipase A2 and surfactant protein D with the pulmonary oxygenation potential in patients with septic shock during polymyxin‐B immobilized fiber‐direct hemoperfusion
Authors: Ishibe Yoriko , Shibata Shigehiro , Takahashi Gaku , Suzuki Yasushi , Inoue Yoshihiro , Endo Shigeatsu 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis study was undertaken to analyze the association of type II secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2‐II) and surfactant protein D (SP‐D) with the pulmonary oxygenation potential in patients with septic shock during polymyxin‐B immobilized fiber‐direct hemoperfusion (PMX‐DHP). The study was conducted in 25 patients with acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). PMX‐DHP lowered the blood endotoxin level in all patients. Following PMX‐DHP, there were decreases from day 0 → day 1 → day 2 in both the mean plasma sPLA2‐II level (340 → 260 → 189 ng/mL) and plasma SP‐D level (483 → 363 → 252 ng/mL). The PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F ratio) rose (210 → 237 → 262) in all patients. Upon the onset of ALI or ARDS, there was a significant negative correlation between the sPLA2‐II level and the P/F ratio. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the sPLA2‐II and TNF‐α levels. The results suggest that as the blood endotoxin levels were lowered by the PMX‐DHP, the inflammatory reactions were suppressed, with suppressed formation of sPLA2‐II and improved pulmonary oxygenation potential. The results also suggested possible involvement of TNF‐α in the production of sPLA2‐II.
Longitudinal analysis of head and somatic growth in fetuses with congenital heart defects
Authors: Turan Sifa , Rosenbloom Joshua I. , Hussein Mostafa , Berg Christoph , Gembruch Ulrich , Baschat Ahmet A , Turan Ozhan M. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTPurposeFetal head and somatic growth dynamics differs in fetuses with congenital heart defects (CHD). We longitudinally characterized fetal head and somatic growth in relation to the type of CHD.MethodsFour hundred eleven exams from isolated CHD were compared with 1,219 controls. Head and somatic growth was assessed using head circumference (HC), brain volume (BrV = 1/6 × π × (HC/π)3)/2), fetal cephalization index (FCI = BrV/[estimated fetal weight]), and growth percentile. Umbilical and middle cerebral artery Doppler indices were obtained. CHD were grouped as: (1) d‐transposition of great arteries (n = 11); (2) left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with retrograde isthmic flow (n = 18); (3) left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with antegrade isthmic flow (n = 16); (4) pulmonary outflow tract obstructions (n = 22).ResultsThe smallest head size was seen in group 1. Growth asymmetry was diagnosed in group 2. Brain sparing was seen in groups 2 and 4 (p < 0.0001). HC and BrV percentiles decreased with advancing gestational age (p < 0.001) in group 2, and a significant drop was observed around 28 weeks.Conclusionsd‐Transposition of great arteries and left‐sided CHD leading to isthmic blood flow reversal are associated with delayed head growth. Prenatal evaluation of central hemodynamics in CHD may be contributive for predicting neurodevelopmental risks in CHD and help directing prenatal interventions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:96–104, 2017;
Sonographic monitoring of endoscopic carpal tunnel release
Authors: Ohno Katsunori , Hirofuji Shinji , Fujino Keitaro , Ishidu Tsunehiko , Kira Sadamasa , Neo Masashi 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTWe evaluated the effectiveness of sonographic monitoring of endoscopic carpal tunnel release for the prevention of median nerve or arterial injury and incomplete release of the flexor retinaculum (FR). When the outer tube (OT) was inserted, we used sonography to confirm the relationship of the OT, median nerve, ulnar artery, and superficial palmar arch. Under real‐time US monitoring, the OT was lifted up before and after FR release, the so‐called lift‐up test, to evaluate its mobility under sonography and confirm complete FR release. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:597–599, 2016
Scaling up zinc treatment for childhood diarrhoea in the developing country setting: a before‐ and after‐intervention study
Authors: Nunan Michael , Horoto William , Manea Timmy , Duncan Greg , Duke Trevor 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIntroductionZinc sulphate is an important intervention for the treatment of diarrhoea in children in developing countries. We undertook a series of interventions to increase the availability and usage of zinc sulphate at primary healthcare facilities in the Solomon Islands.MethodologyA 12 month before‐and‐after intervention effectiveness trial in 80 randomly selected clinics. Data was collected on whether children <5 years old with diarrhoea had received zinc. Data was also collected on other medications received, the availability of zinc and staff comprehension. A series of interventions was implemented by the National Pharmacy Services Division.ResultsThe mean usage of zinc sulphate increased by 191.2% over baseline; from 106/771 (13.7%) at baseline to 283/710 (39.9%) (p < 0.05, χ2) at follow‐up; the use of oral rehydration salts (ORS) did not decrease. The availability of zinc sulphate increased from 3/77 clinics (3.9%) to 61/69 clinics (88.4%) (p < 0.05).SummaryLow‐cost interventions can improve the usage of zinc sulphate in the Pacific island setting. This paper provides a model for other countries to increase uptake of zinc sulphate and other interventions at the primary healthcare level.
The structural properties and antigenicity of soybean glycinin by glycation with xylose
Authors: Bu Guanhao , Zhu Tingwei , Chen Fusheng 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDSoybean glycinin is considered a major allergenic protein, and glycation is widely used to reduce the allergenic potential of present allergens. Glycation of soybean glycinin with xylose at 55 °C for different lengths of time was investigated. The extent of Maillard reaction was reflected through the content changing of free amino groups, color analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Alteration in the structural properties of glycinin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and antigenicity was evaluated by indirect competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTSThe changes in the color of glycinin–xylose samples and the reduction of free amino group content in proteins indicated that the Maillard reaction occurred. The degree of glycation increased in glycated samples with the increase in reaction time. Glycation induced the changes in the secondary structure of glycinin and the ordered structure of proteins increased during the glycation reaction. The antigenicity of glycinin was reduced with the increase in reaction time. After glycation for 12 h, the antigenicity of glycinin declined about 18% compared with native glycinin.CONCLUSIONThe application of glycation may be an efficient method to reduce the antigenicity of soybean glycinin. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Systems biology integration of proteomic data in rodent models of depression reveals involvement of the immune response and glutamatergic signaling
Authors: Carboni Lucia , Nguyen Thanh‐Phuong , Caberlotto Laura 
Published: September 2016

PurposeThe pathophysiological basis of major depression is incompletely understood. Recently, numerous proteomic studies have been performed in rodent models of depression to investigate the molecular underpinnings of depressive‐like behaviours with an unbiased approach. The objective of the study is to integrate the results of these proteomic studies in depression models to shed light on the most relevant molecular pathways involved in the disease.Experimental designNetwork analysis is performed integrating preexisting proteomic data from rodent models of depression. The IntAct mouse and the HRPD are used as reference protein–protein interaction databases. The functionality analyses of the networks are then performed by testing overrepresented GO biological process terms and pathways.ResultsFunctional enrichment analyses of the networks revealed an association with molecular processes related to depression in humans, such as those involved in the immune response. Pathways impacted by clinically effective antidepressants are modulated, including glutamatergic signaling and neurotrophic responses. Moreover, dysregulations of proteins regulating energy metabolism and circadian rhythms are implicated. The comparison with protein pathways modulated in depressive patients revealed significant overlapping.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThis systems biology study supports the notion that animal models can contribute to the research into the biology and therapeutics of depression.
Secondary indium production from end‐of‐life liquid crystal displays
Authors: Amato Alessia , Rocchetti Laura , Fonti Viviana , Ruello Maria Letizia , Beolchini Francesca 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIn 2014, the European Union identified 20 raw materials critical for economic importance and high supply risk. Indium, used in several innovative technologies, is among such critical raw materials. Generally, it is mined as a by‐product of zinc from a mineral named sphalerite, with a concentration between 1 and 100 ppm. Currently, the largest producer of indium is China and about 84% of the worldwide indium consumption is used for liquid crystal display (LCD) production, in particular to form an indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO) film with transparent conductor properties. The fast evolution of LCD technologies caused a double effect: the growth of indium demand and an increase of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Considering these two factors, the aim of this study is to make the end‐of‐life LCDs a secondary indium resource. With this purpose, an indium recovery process was developed carrying out an acidic leaching, followed by a zinc cementation. The first step allowed a complete indium extraction using 2M sulfuric acid at 80 °C for 10 min. The problem of low indium concentration in the scraps (around 150 ppm) was overcome using a cross‐current configuration in the leaching phase that allowed an increase of metal concentration and a decrease of reagents consumption. An indium recovery higher than 90% was obtained in the final cementation step, using 5 g/L of zinc powder at pH 3 and 55 °C for 10 min. Considering its high efficiency, this process is promising in a context of circular economy, where a waste becomes a resource. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)