bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Valproic acid stimulates proliferation of glial precursors during cortical gliogenesis in developing rat
Authors: Lee Hee Jae , Dreyfus Cheryl , DiCicco‐Bloom Emanuel 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTValproic acid (VPA) is a neurotherapeutic drug prescribed for seizures, bipolar disorder, and migraine, including women of reproductive age. VPA is a well‐known teratogen that produces congenital malformations in many organs including the nervous system, as well as later neurodevelopmental disorders, including mental retardation and autism. In developing brain, few studies have examined VPA effects on glial cells, particularly astrocytes. To investigate effects on primary glial precursors, we developed new cell culture and in vivo models using frontal cerebral cortex of postnatal day (P2) rat. In vitro, VPA exposure elicited dose‐dependent, biphasic effects on DNA synthesis and proliferation. In vivo VPA (300 mg/kg) exposure from P2 to P4 increased both DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, affecting primarily astrocyte precursors, as >75% of mitotic cells expressed brain lipid‐binding protein. Significantly, the consequence of early VPA exposure was increased astrocytes, as both S100‐β+ cells and glial fibrillary acidic protein were increased in adolescent brain. Molecularly, VPA served as an HDAC inhibitor in vitro and in vivo as enhanced proliferation was accompanied by increased histone acetylation, whereas it elicited changes in culture in cell‐cycle regulators, including cyclin D1 and E, and cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, p21 and p27. Collectively, these data suggest clinically relevant VPA exposures stimulate glial precursor proliferation, though at higher doses can elicit inhibition through differential regulation of CDK inhibitors. Because changes in glial cell functions are proposed as mechanisms contributing to neuropsychiatric disorders, these observations suggest that VPA teratogenic actions may be mediated through changes in astrocyte generation during development. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 780–798, 2016
Growth–climate relationships across topographic gradients in the northern Great Lakes
Authors: Dymond S. F. , D'Amato A. W. , Kolka R. K. , Bolstad P. V. , Sebestyen S. D. , Bradford J. B. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractClimatic conditions exert important control over the growth, productivity, and distribution of forests, and characterizing these relationships is essential for understanding how forest ecosystems will respond to climate change. We used dendrochronological methods to develop climate–growth relationships for two dominant species, Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) and Pinus resinosa (red pine), in the upper Great Lakes region to understand how climate and water availability influence annual forest productivity. Trees were sampled along a topographic gradient at the Marcell Experimental Forest (Minnesota, USA) to assess growth response to variations in temperature and different water availability metrics (precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), cumulative moisture index (CMI), and soil water storage). Climatic variables were able to explain 33–58% of the variation in annual growth (as measured by ring‐width increment) for quaking aspen and 37–74% of the variation for red pine. Climate–growth relationships were influenced by topography for quaking aspen but not for red pine. Annual ring growth for quaking aspen decreased with June CMI on ridges, decreased with temperature in the November prior to the growing season on sideslopes, and decreased with June PET on toeslopes. Red pine growth increased with increasing July PET across all topographic positions. These results indicate the sensitivity of both quaking aspen and red pine to local climate and show several vulnerabilities of these species to shifts in water supply and temperature because of climate change. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incidence of heart failure in 6083 elderly hypertensive patients: the Second Australian National Blood Pressure Study (ANBP2)
Authors: Sahle Berhe W. , Owen Alice J. , Krum Henry , Reid Christopher M. ,   on behalf of the Second Australian National Blood Pressure Study Management Committee
Published: October 2015

AimsHypertension is a known risk factor for the development of heart failure (HF); however, few data are available on the magnitude of short‐ and long‐term progression from hypertension to HF. The present study aims to determine the short‐ and long‐term incidence of HF, and identify factors associated with onset of HF in elderly hypertensive patients.Methods and resultsThe incidence of HF was measured in 6083 hypertensive patients, in the Second Australian National Blood Pressure Study (ANBP2), followed for a median of 10.8 years (4.1 years during the trial and 6.7 years during post‐trial follow‐up). A total of 373 cases of HF were identified over 59 581 person‐years of follow‐up (PY). The overall cumulative incidence of HF was 6.26 per 1000 PY; 5.33 per 1000 PY during the ANBP2 clinical trial and 7.04 per 1000 PY during the post‐trial follow‐up. HF was 63% higher among men [incidence rate ratios (IRR) 1.63, P < 0.01]. Older age, male sex, obesity, and history of cardiovascular disease independently predicted HF during both the short‐ and long‐term follow‐up. In addition, diabetes and smoking were associated with onset of HF in the short‐term follow‐up, and higher systolic blood pressure in the long‐term follow‐up. Median survival following diagnosis with HF was 3.94 years, and women (6.06 years) had a survival advantage over men (3.32 years).ConclusionHeart failure is a frequent long‐term outcome in treated elderly hypertensive patients. Development of HF was predicted by patient characteristics and co‐morbidities, with the effect of some predictors varying over the short‐ and long‐term follow‐up.
Convenient Synthesis of Functionalized 6‐Styryl‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyridines through a Domino [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reaction
Authors: Zhang Jing , Yang Wen‐Juan , Sun Jing , Yan Chao‐Guo 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe domino [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β‐unsaturated N‐arylaldimines, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and arylidenemalononitriles in dry acetonitrile at room temperature afforded polysubstituted 6‐styryl‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyridines in good yields with various cis/trans‐isomer ratios. The similar three‐component reaction that contains ethyl arylidenecyanoacetates or arylidenepivaloylacetonitriles also resulted in polysubstituted 6‐styryl‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyridines, which can be separated into pure cis‐ and trans‐isomers. The stereochemistry of the obtained polysubstituted 1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyridines is clearly elucidated on the basis of 1H NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal structures.
Self‐Assembly of n‐Alkyl‐ and Aryl‐Side Chain Ureas and Their Derivatives as Evidenced by SEM and X‐ray Analysis
Authors: Kulikov Oleg V. , Siriwardane Dumindika A. , McCandless Gregory T. , Barnes Charles , Sevryugina Yulia V. , DeSousa Joseph D. , Wu Jingbo , Sommer Roger , Novak Bruce M. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractA small library of ureas and related compounds was synthesized and examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, powder X‐ray (pXRD), and polarized optical microscopy (POM) techniques in order to elucidate the factors controlling their self‐assembly in the solid state. Inspection of the 12 solid‐state structures revealed that molecules in the crystal lattice are held together by intermolecular H‐bonding, π–π stacking as well as C‐H/π interactions. The same interactions are likely responsible for the formation of supramolecular aggregates (e.g. sheet‐like assemblies, micro‐ and nano‐fibers, and the porous networks easily identifiable by SEM technique) and in certain cases led to the small molecules gelation.
Application of a Monte‐Carlo simulation approach for the probabilistic assessment of seismic hazard for geographically distributed portfolio
Authors: Akkar Sinan , Cheng Yin 
Published: October 2015

SummaryThe conventional integral approach is very well established in probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA). However, Monte‐Carlo (MC) simulations can become an efficient and flexible alternative against conventional PSHA when more complicated factors (e.g. spatial correlation of ground shaking) are involved. This study aims at showing the implementation of MC simulation techniques for computing the annual exceedance rates of dynamic ground‐motion intensity measures (GMIMs) (e.g. peak ground acceleration and spectral acceleration). We use multi‐scale random field technique to incorporate spatial correlation and near‐fault directivity while generating MC simulations to assess the probabilistic seismic hazard of dynamic GMIMs. Our approach is capable of producing conditional hazard curves as well. We show various examples to illustrate the potential use of the proposed procedures in the hazard and risk assessment of geographically distributed structural systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using biofilms for monitoring metal contamination in lotic ecosystems: The protective effects of hardness and pH on metal bioaccumulation
Authors: Leguay Sébastien , Lavoie Isabelle , Levy Jacqueline L. , Fortin Claude 
Published: October 2015

Abstract

Biofilms can make good bioindicators and biomarkers, offering a convenient tool to monitor metal contamination in streams that results from mine tailing sites. Biofilm metal content (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) as well as diatom diversity and the presence of teratologies (diatom abnormalities) were determined for biofilms from rivers with a variety of physicochemical properties across a metal contamination gradient. The results of metal accumulation were highly consistent from year to year, with significant relationships between calculated free metal ion concentrations and biofilm metal contents for samples from different rivers. This indicates the “universal nature” of the metal accumulation process in biofilms. The authors observed that protons and major cations protected against metal accumulation. A very low number of diatom taxa were found at the most contaminated sites, and the highest proportions of deformities were observed at these sites. However, it was difficult to distinguish the effect of metal contamination from the effect of other parameters, especially pH. The results suggest that the development of biofilm-based proxies for metal bioavailability is useful and that incorporation of the effects of hardness and pH in this metal contamination monitoring tool is important. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1489–1501. © 2015 SETAC
Impacts of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid aquatic herbicide formulations on reproduction and development of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Authors: DeQuattro Zachary A. , Karasov William H. 
Published: October 2015

Abstract

The authors studied the effects of 2 formulations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, dimethylamine salt (2,4-D) herbicide on fathead minnow reproduction, embryonic development, and larval survival. Groups of reproductively mature fathead minnows were exposed for 28 d to 0.00 ppm, 0.05 ppm, 0.50 ppm, and 2.00 ppm 2,4-D (target) in a flow-through system. Weedestroy® AM40 significantly (p ≤ 0.05) depressed male tubercle presence and significantly increased female gonadosomatic index, and there were statistical trends (0.05 ≤ p ≤ 0.10) for effects on fecundity and hepatic vitellogenin mRNA expression in females and males. The herbicide DMA® 4 IVM also significantly depressed male tubercle presence. Gonads of females exposed to DMA 4 IVM exhibited significantly depressed stage of oocyte maturation, significantly increased severity of oocyte atresia, and a significant presence of an unidentified tissue type. Also, DMA 4 IVM significantly decreased larval survival. It had no impact on hepatic vitellogenin mRNA expression or gonadosomatic index. No significant effects on fertilization, hatchability, or embryonic development were observed in either trial. The formulations tested exhibited different toxicological profiles from pure 2,4-D. These data suggest that the formulations have the potential for endocrine disruption and can exert some degree of chronic toxicity. The present use of 2,4-D formulations in lake management practices and their permitting based on the toxicological profile of 2,4-D pure compound should be reconsidered. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1478–1488. © 2015 SETAC
A new smoothness indicator for third‐order WENO scheme
Authors: Wu Xiaoshuai , Liang Jianhan , Zhao Yuxin 
Published: October 2015

SummaryWe present a new reference smoothness indicator for third‐order weighted essentially non‐oscillatory scheme to recover its design‐order convergence at critical points. This reference smoothness indicator, which involves both the candidate and global smoothness indicators in the weighted essentially non‐oscillatory framework, is devised according to a sufficient condition on the weights for third‐order convergence. The recovery of design‐order is verified by standard tests. Meanwhile, numerical results demonstrate that the present reference smoothness indicator produces sharper representation of the discontinuity owing to the combined effects of larger weight assignment to the discontinuous stencils and convergence rate recovery. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A consistent incompressible SPH method for internal flows with fixed and moving boundaries
Authors: Mamouri S. Jahangiri , Fatehi R. , Manzari M. T. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryAn improved incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method is presented, which employs first‐order consistent discretization schemes both for the first‐order and second‐order spatial derivatives. A recently introduced wall boundary condition is implemented in the context of ISPH method, which does not rely on using dummy particles and, as a result, can be applied more efficiently and with less computational complexity. To assess the accuracy and computational efficiency of this improved ISPH method, a number of two‐dimensional incompressible laminar internal flow benchmark problems are solved and the results are compared with available analytical solutions and numerical data. It is shown that using smaller smoothing lengths, the proposed method can provide desirable accuracies with relatively less computational cost for two‐dimensional problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Semantic‐based representation, enrichment and computation of product breakdown structures
Authors: Alvarez‐Rodríguez Jose María , Llorens Juan , Alejandres Manuela , Fuentes Jose Miguel 
Published: October 2015

AbstractProduct breakdown structures (PBS) are considered a cornerstone in the development of safety critical systems. In this context, the dramatic increase of the amount of applications, management platforms or services imply a tangled environment of data formats, models or protocols that prevent a proper re‐use of data and information resources. Recent times have seen the development of the Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC) initiative to exchange domain‐based knowledge under a common and shared data model (RDF) and to access services under web‐based protocols. The present paper introduces a method and a model to represent a PBS applying a profile‐based approach using RDF‐based vocabularies. Moreover, a hybrid method to validate data, information and structure of a PBS is also introduced. Finally, a case study is conducted to compare traditional PBS management methods to a Linked Data based PBS using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Service Measurement Index (SMI).
Requirements Engineering for Control and Computing Systems at large research facilities: Process implementation and a case study
Authors: Friedrich Thilo , Reščič Miha , Törngren Martin 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper explores the comprehensive implementation of requirements engineering processes in the controls and computing domain at large research facilities, made concrete in a case study on the world‐leading, accelerator‐based research facility for neutron science, the European Spallation Source (ESS). The implementation of requirements engineering establishes views (e.g. functional, data, hardware, etc.), informational structures, activity patterns, tools and services suitable for this domain. Adequate views and patterns for information related to requirements engineering need to be derived from the characteristics of the organizational environment, domain‐specific best practices, and target systems’ characteristics. All this forms the foundation for the design and application of requirements engineering activity patterns, tools and support services. Our key message is: For the successful deployment and operation of control and computing systems, a research facility needs to implement requirements engineering to provide views, informational structures, activity patterns, tools and services suitable to the domain. The RE implementation effort benefits from being managed as a multi‐faceted project itself, and has properties which render an Agile management approach beneficial.
On the Dynamics of Design of Future‐proof Systems
Authors: Rehman Obaid Ur , Ryan Michael J. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe ability to cope with uncertainty in the operation of a system is accounted for through appropriate bounds on the parameters set for the non‐functional requirements for the system. The ability to cater for changes throughout a long life, perhaps in a number of life cycles, is generally referred to as future‐proofing—that is, taking account in the current design of some aspect of the future use of the system such that, when the anticipated need does arise, the system will be prepared to some degree. The principal difference between design for uncertainty in non‐functional requirements and for uncertainty in future use is the time at which the system must be able to account for the uncertainty: on deployment for non‐functional requirements and at some time in the future for future‐proof design. This paper provides a brief preliminary investigation into the dynamics of design for uncertainty in non‐functional requirements (using robustness as an example) and for uncertainty in future‐proof design. Based on a simple model of system design and a definition of sufficiency in design and the notion of minimum sufficiency, we use design for robustness as an example of the design considerations required to address uncertainty in the non‐functional requirements of a system. Having addressed design for uncertainty required immediately on deployment of the system, we then show how design for future‐proofing of a system accommodates changes in future operations and support.
The Education Background of INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional Certification Program Applicants
Authors: Lipizzi Carlo , Manchanda Shipra , Kamil Monis , Pyster Art , Henry Deva , Hutchison Nicole , Hutchison Nicole , Barboza Christina , Wright Courtney 
Published: October 2015

AbstractHelix is a multi‐year research project of the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) that is developing a theory of what makes those who perform systems engineering effective. To support that research, Helix is collecting data from a diverse set of systems engineers, others who perform some systems engineering activities but do not think of themselves as systems engineers, and those who work with systems engineers. Among the data sources available to Helix is the complete set of applications between 2004 and 2013 that were submitted to the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional Certification Program. This paper reports on the education background of 2504 applicants and includes the number and types of university degrees and how the most popular degrees of applicants have changed over time. The applicants are very well educated, with almost 70% having an advanced college degree. With nearly three‐quarters of the applicants coming from the US, education from US universities dominates. At the bachelor level, classical engineering degrees dominate, but computer‐related majors are becoming increasingly popular. Two of the most popular masters degrees earned since 2000 are the Master of System Engineering and the Master of Business Administration.
Open Source Systems Engineering Guides, Deployment Packages and Support Tools for Very Small Enterprises ‐‐ A Case Study
Authors: Laporte Claude Y. , Houde Ronald 
Published: October 2015

AbstractVery small entities (VSEs) play an increasingly important role in the global economy. The products they develop are often integrated into products made by larger enterprises. The “Big League” clients, furthermore, demand of the VSEs that they assume a much broader role, spanning the entire development life‐cycle of the product instead of being limited to a “build‐to‐print” approach. To address this new reality, to exploit the lean and efficient nature of VSEs and to adapt to their typical budget and resource constraints, the ISO/IEC 29110 systems engineering standards, management and engineering guides were developed from ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288. In addition, and by design, the standard is supported by Deployment Packages, software tools and training kits. The INCOSE VSE working group developed the deployment packages. A deployment package is a set of artefacts designed to facilitate the implementation of a standard or a set of practices in a VSE. In tune with the need for low cost and flexibility, Open Source software tools are emerging to complete “Big League” development life‐cycle toolsets, which are often out‐of‐reach to VSEs. Finally, to make the deployment of the standard possible in the VSE, training packages, supported by relevant pilot projects help VSE personnel learn how to apply all of the above.
A Set of Heuristics to Support Early Identification of Conflicting Requirements
Authors: Salado Alejandro , Nilchiani Roshanak 
Published: October 2015

AbstractConventional approaches to system design use requirements as boundary conditions against which the design activity occurs. Decisions at a given level of the architecture decomposition can result in the flowing down of conflicting requirements, which are easy to fulfill in isolation but extremely difficult when dealt with simultaneously. Designing against such sets of requirements considerably limits system affordability. Identification of such conflicts is usually performed in industry by subject matter experts. Such evaluations are primarily driven by experience. As a result, effectiveness in identifying conflicting requirements is strongly dependent on the person making the assessment. We propose in this paper a set of heuristics that supports identification of conflicting requirements by providing direction and focus in the identification effort. The heuristics have been derived from a combination of literature review and experience from practitioners. In particular, a set of practitioners was interviewed orally and through a questionnaire in order to abstract and generalize their individual experiences.
From initial investigations up to large‐scale rollout of an MBSE method and its supporting workbench: the Thales experience
Authors: Voirin Jean‐Luc , Bonnet Stéphane , Normand Véronique , Exertier Daniel 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThales is today in the process of rolling out field‐proven model‐based systems engineering method and workbench, on a large scale throughout its different business domains and countries. This article looks back at the past decade of coming of age, describes a few practical deployment cases in Thales entities and analyses success factors, both at people and organization level as well as at technical level. The close loop between operational users, solution experts and tooling development are identified as a key success factor.