A System-of-Systems Approach to Enterprise Analytics Design: Acquisition Support in the Age of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Acquisition Research SymposiumSystem-of-Systems (SoS) capability emerges from the collaboration of multiple systems, which are acquired from independent organizations. Even though the systems contribute to and benefit from the larger SoS, the data analytics and decision-making about the independent system is rarely shared across the SoS stakeholders. The objective of the research presented in this paper is to identify how the sharing of datasets and the corresponding analytics among SoS stakeholders can lead to an improved SoS capability. Our objective is to characterize how appropriate use of data sets may lead to deployment of different predictive (predicting an outcome from data) and prescriptive (determining a preferred strategy) analytics and lead to better decision outcomes at the SoS level. We build and demonstrate a framework for this objective, based on extensive literature review, which utilizes appropriate predictive and prescriptive methodologies for SoS analysis. Additionally, we propose to utilize machine learning techniques to predict the achievable SoS capability and identify sources of uncertainty derived by sharing partial datasets. A case study demonstrates the use of the framework and prospects for future improvements.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

A System-of-Systems Approach to Enterprise Analytics Design: Acquisition Support in the Age of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Symposium PresentationApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

A System-of-Systems Approach to Enterprise Analytics Design: Acquisition Support in the Age of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Acquisition Research Program Sponsored Report SeriesSponsored Acquisition Research & Technical ReportsSystem-of-Systems (SoS) capability emerges from the collaboration of multiple systems, which are acquired from independent organizations. Even though the systems contribute to and benefit from the larger SoS, the data analytics and decision-making about the independent system is rarely shared across the SoS stakeholders. The objective of this work is to identify how the sharing of datasets and the corresponding analytics among SoS stakeholders can lead to an improved SoS capability. Our objective is to characterize how the sharing of connected data sets may lead to deployment of different predictive (predicting an outcome from data) and prescriptive (determining a preferred strategy) analytics and lead to better decision outcomes at the SoS level. We build and demonstrate a framework for this objective based on extensive literature review and generating appropriate predictive and prescriptive methodologies that can be used for SoS analysis: Additionally, we propose to utilize machine learning techniques to predict the SoS capability achievable by sharing pertinent datasets and to prescribe the information links between systems to enable this sharing. Two case studies demonstrate the use of the framework and prospects for meeting the objective. Highlights of our study are summarized next.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

A System-of-Systems Approach to Enterprise Analytics Design: Acquisition Support in the Age of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Acquisition Research SymposiumSystem-of-Systems (SoS) capability emerges from the collaboration of multiple systems, which are acquired from independent organizations. Even though the systems contribute to and benefit from the larger SoS, the data analytics and decision-making about the independent system is rarely shared across the SoS stakeholders. The objective of the research presented in this paper is to identify how the sharing of datasets and the corresponding analytics among SoS stakeholders can lead to an improved SoS capability. Our objective is to characterize how appropriate use of data sets may lead to deployment of different predictive (predicting an outcome from data) and prescriptive (determining a preferred strategy) analytics and lead to better decision outcomes at the SoS level. We build and demonstrate a framework for this objective, based on extensive literature review, which utilizes appropriate predictive and prescriptive methodologies for SoS analysis. Additionally, we propose to utilize machine learning techniques to predict the achievable SoS capability and identify sources of uncertainty derived by sharing partial datasets. A case study demonstrates the use of the framework and prospects for future improvements.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

System-of-Systems Tools for the Analysis of Technological Choices in Space Propulsion

Difficulties in space mission architecture design arise from many factors. Performance, cost, and risk constraints become less obvious due to complex interactions between the systems involved in the mission; decisions regarding long-term goals can heavily impact technological choices for short-term parts of the mission, while conversely decisions in the near future will impact the whole flexibility of long-term plans. Furthermore, the space community is broadening its borders, and space agencies from different countries are collaborating with industry and commercial partners towards large-scale endeavors. This paradigm shift is prompting the development of non-traditional approaches to the design of space missions. This paper reports the results of the first year of a continuing collaboration of the authors to develop and demonstrate System-of-System engineering methodologies for the deep analysis of dependencies and synthesis of robust architectures in exploration mission contexts. We present the procedure that we followed to develop and apply our methodology, obstacles found, steps taken to improve the methods based on the needs of experts and decision makers, required data for the analysis, and results produced by our holistic analysis. In particular, we focus on the analysis of technological choices for space propulsion for a generic cislunar mission, including both complex interactions between subsystems in different type of propulsion and availability of different providers. We identify critical systems and sets of systems based on cascading effects of performance degradation, assessment of the robustness of different designs in the operational domain, and simultaneous analysis of schedule dependencies between the constituent systems

Análisis de la fracción “no volátil” (flavonoides) y perfil de compuestos no polares de Achyrocline satureioides. Red marcela

Objetivo: Evaluar el contenido de flavonoides y determinar el perfil de compuestos no polares en inflorescencias cosechadas de plantas ex vitro provenientes de un genotipo selecto de marcela (Achyrocline satureioides) cultivado en tres ambientes: Río Cuarto, Merlo y Castelar.Instituto de GenéticaFil: Retta, Daiana S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Guariniello, Julian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Suárez, S. A. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físico-Químicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Galli, Maria Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Luis. Agencia de Extensión Rural Concarán; ArgentinaFil: Van Baren, Catalina Maria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Contenido de verbascósido en poblaciones de “Poleo” (LIPPIA TURBINATA GRISEB.) de la Región Central de la Argentina

PosterLippia Turbinata Griseb (Verbenaceae) "poleo", es una especie aromática y medicinal nativa de amplia distribución en el centro y oeste de la Argentina, muy utilizada como digestiva en infusiones y bebidas. El verbascósidoes un metabolito hidrosoluble farmacológicamente activo, común en muchas especies de Verbenaceae medicinales.Instituto de Recursos BiológicosFil: Guariniello, Julian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Risso, Oscar Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Luis. Agencia de Extensión Rural Concarán; ArgentinaFil: Galli, Maria Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Luis. Agencia de Extensión Rural Concarán; ArgentinaFil: Moscatelli, Valeria A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Di Leo Lira, Paola M. del R. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Marchetto, L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina.Fil: Dobrecky, Cecilia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Flor, Sabrina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: van Baren, Catalina M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Retta, Daiana S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentin

Pediatric trauma and emergency surgery: an international cross-sectional survey among WSES members

Background: In contrast to adults, the situation for pediatric trauma care from an international point of view and the global management of severely injured children remain rather unclear. The current study investigates structural management of pediatric trauma in centers of different trauma levels as well as experiences with pediatric trauma management around the world. Methods: A web-survey had been distributed to the global mailing list of the World Society of Emergency Surgery from 10/2021-03/2022, investigating characteristics of respondents and affiliated hospitals, case-load of pediatric trauma patients, capacities and infrastructure for critical care in children, trauma team composition, clinical work-up and individual experiences with pediatric trauma management in response to patients´ age. The collaboration group was subdivided regarding sizes of affiliated hospitals to allow comparisons concerning hospital volumes. Comparable results were conducted to statistical analysis. Results: A total of 133 participants from 34 countries, i.e. 5 continents responded to the survey. They were most commonly affiliated with larger hospitals (> 500 beds in 72.9%) and with level I or II trauma centers (82.0%), respectively. 74.4% of hospitals offer unrestricted pediatric medical care, but only 63.2% and 42.9% of the participants had sufficient experiences with trauma care in children ≤ 10 and ≤ 5 years of age (p = 0.0014). This situation is aggravated in participants from smaller hospitals (p < 0.01). With regard to hospital size (≤ 500 versus > 500 in-hospital beds), larger hospitals were more likely affiliated with advanced trauma centers, more elaborated pediatric intensive care infrastructure (p < 0.0001), treated children at all ages more frequently (p = 0.0938) and have higher case-loads of severely injured children < 12 years of age (p = 0.0009). Therefore, the majority of larger hospitals reserve either pediatric surgery departments or board-certified pediatric surgeons (p < 0.0001) and in-hospital trauma management is conducted more multi-disciplinarily. However, the majority of respondents does not feel prepared for treatment of severe pediatric trauma and call for special educational and practical training courses (overall: 80.2% and 64.3%, respectively). Conclusions: Multi-professional management of pediatric trauma and individual experiences with severely injured children depend on volumes, level of trauma centers and infrastructure of the hospital. However, respondents from hospitals at all levels of trauma care complain about an alarming lack of knowledge on pediatric trauma management

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: the SICE (Societ\ue0 Italiana di Chirurgia Endoscopica e Nuove Tecnologie) network prospective trial on 1225 cases comparing intra corporeal versus extra corporeal ileo-colic side-to-side anastomosis

Background: While laparoscopic approach for right hemicolectomy (LRH) is considered appropriate for the surgical treatment of both malignant and benign diseases of right colon, there is still debate about how to perform the ileo-colic anastomosis. The ColonDxItalianGroup (CoDIG) was designed as a cohort, observational, prospective, multi-center national study with the aims of evaluating the surgeons\u2019 attitude regarding the intracorporeal (ICA) or extra-corporeal (ECA) anastomotic technique and the related surgical outcomes. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five Surgical Units experienced in colorectal and advanced laparoscopic surgery were invited and 85 of them joined the study. Each center was asked not to change its surgical habits. Data about demographic characteristics, surgical technique and postoperative outcomes were collected through the official SICE website database. One thousand two hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled between March 2018 and September 2018. Results: ICA was performed in 70.4% of cases, ECA in 29.6%. Isoperistaltic anastomosis was completed in 85.6%, stapled in 87.9%. Hand-sewn enterotomy closure was adopted in 86%. Postoperative complications were reported in 35.4% for ICA and 50.7% for ECA; no significant difference was found according to patients\u2019 characteristics and technologies used. Median hospital stay was significantly shorter for ICA (7.3 vs. 9 POD). Postoperative pain in patients not prescribed opioids was significantly lower in ICA group. Conclusions: In our survey, a side-to-side isoperistaltic stapled ICA with hand-sewn enterotomy closure is the most frequently adopted technique to perform ileo-colic anastomosis after any indications for elective LRH. According to literature, our study confirmed better short-term outcomes for ICA, with reduction of hospital stay and postoperative pain. Trial registration: Clinical trial (Identifier: NCT03934151)

The weekend effect on the provision of Emergency Surgery before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: case–control analysis of a retrospective multicentre database

Introduction: The concept of “weekend effect”, that is, substandard healthcare during weekends, has never been fully demonstrated, and the different outcomes of emergency surgical patients admitted during weekends may be due to different conditions at admission and/or different therapeutic approaches. Aim of this international audit was to identify any change of pattern of emergency surgical admissions and treatments during weekends. Furthermore, we aimed at investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the alleged “weekend effect”. Methods: The database of the CovidICE-International Study was interrogated, and 6263 patients were selected for analysis. Non-trauma, 18+ yo patients admitted to 45 emergency surgery units in Europe in the months of March–April 2019 and March–April 2020 were included. Demographic and clinical data were anonymised by the referring centre and centrally collected and analysed with a statistical package. This study was endorsed by the Association of Italian Hospital Surgeons (ACOI) and the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). Results: Three-quarters of patients have been admitted during workdays and only 25.7% during weekends. There was no difference in the distribution of gender, age, ASA class and diagnosis during weekends with respect to workdays. The first wave of the COVID pandemic caused a one-third reduction of emergency surgical admission both during workdays and weekends but did not change the relation between workdays and weekends. The treatment was more often surgical for patients admitted during weekends, with no difference between 2019 and 2020, and procedures were more often performed by open surgery. However, patients admitted during weekends had a threefold increased risk of laparoscopy-to-laparotomy conversion (1% vs. 3.4%). Hospital stay was longer in patients admitted during weekends, but those patients had a lower risk of readmission. There was no difference of the rate of rescue surgery between weekends and workdays. Subgroup analysis revealed that interventional procedures for hot gallbladder were less frequently performed on patients admitted during weekends. Conclusions: Our analysis revealed that demographic and clinical profiles of patients admitted during weekends do not differ significantly from workdays, but the therapeutic strategy may be different probably due to lack of availability of services and skillsets during weekends. The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact on this difference