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The 4th Generation of District Heating (4GDH) is a complex agglomeration of heat providers, distributors, and consume must be automatically, continuously managed and coordinated. It is a complex system of systems; a definition which we al Maier's architecting principles for systems-of-systems as collaborative systems. Wrapped in the idea of system of systems reality that the 4GDH systems' descriptions and specifications are not currently all known. Nonetheless, the transition 4GDH is actual. We propose the use of two frameworks to secure a smooth metamorphosis and assure systems' opei maintenance, and evolution. The two frameworks are the Arrowhead Framework and the OPTi Framework. The first one system integration through Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and the second one offers the overall system optimizatk respect to all stakeholders. This paper uses the Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tool SysML to model a heating complex's structures and behaviors from the concept level down to the sensors and actuators within a district substation where we apply the SOA technology based on the open Arrowhead Framework. We focus on the Arrow! Framework's core services, i.e. Service Registry, Authorization and Orchestration to clearly describe the interactions between the different service providers and consumers. Going back up from the sensors to the systems, it is clear that SOA is the architecture that will empower the 4GDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Several surgical techniques are available to treat drooling in neurologically disabled children and adolescents, with bilateral submandibular gland excision being the only transcervical procedure. External scars can be a reason to decline for this surgical approach. We investigated which factors influenced caregiver satisfaction by evaluating the long-term scar in relation to treatment outcome. Methods We identified a historical cohort, in which all neurologically disabled patients who underwent bilateral submandibular gland excision for drooling between January 2009 and December 2013 were identified (n = 41). The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was used to evaluate observer and clinician satisfaction. All included patients were contacted by telephone and completed a digital questionnaire that included digital images of the scars. Results Of the caregivers that responded the questionnaire 76% (19/25) were satisfied with the overall outcome. Twenty-four (96%) caregivers considered the scars acceptable. Caregiver satisfaction was not correlated to the appearance of scars, but was significantly correlated with the decrease in drooling severity on a visual analogue scale ( p = 0.035) and decrease in lower respiratory tract infections ( p = 0.042). Interpretation The appearance of scars does not influence satisfaction after bilateral submandibular gland excision for drooling. As expected, satisfaction is correlated to the treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses, based on an empirical study, what impact the use of recent complex business models, in particular, Functional Products, may have on production systems in terms of the explicit and tacit knowledge that is required. Requirements for new knowledge currently lacking or in the process of being acquired have been of specific interest for the study. The study focuses on the customer side, involving both manufacturing and process industry companies. A set of explicit and tacit knowledge aspects has been identified. The current set of knowledge aspects found during the literature review has largely been corroborated and the new specific knowledge identified is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid integration of physical systems with cyberspace infrastructure, the so-called Internet of Things, is likely to have a significant effect on how people interact with the physical environment and design information and communication systems. Internet-connected systems are expected to vastly outnumber people on the planet in the near future, leading to grand challenges in software engineering and automation in application domains involving complex and evolving systems. Several decades of artificial intelligence research suggests that conventional approaches to making such systems automatically interoperable using handcrafted “semantic” descriptions of services and information are difficult to apply. In this paper we outline a bioinspired learning approach to creating interoperable systems, which does not require handcrafted semantic descriptions and rules. Instead, the idea is that a functioning system (of systems) can emerge from an initial pseudorandom state through learning from examples, provided that each component conforms to a set of information coding rules. We combine a binary vector symbolic architecture (VSA) with an associative memory known as sparse distributed memory (SDM) to model context-dependent prediction by learning from examples. We present simulation results demonstrating that the proposed architecture can enable system interoperability by learning, for example by human demonstration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid integration of physical systems with cyberspace infrastructure, the so-called Internet of Things, is likely to have a significant effect on how people interact with the physical environment and design information and communication systems. Internet-connected systems are expected to vastly outnumber people on the planet in the near future, leading to grand challenges in software engineering and automation in application domains involving complex and evolving systems. Several decades of artificial intelligence research suggests that conventional approaches to making such systems automatically interoperable using handcrafted “semantic” descriptions of services and information are difficult to apply. In this paper we outline a bioinspired learning approach to creating interoperable systems, which does not require handcrafted semantic descriptions and rules. Instead, the idea is that a functioning system (of systems) can emerge from an initial pseudorandom state through learning from examples, provided that each component conforms to a set of information coding rules. We combine a binary vector symbolic architecture (VSA) with an associative memory known as sparse distributed memory (SDM) to model context-dependent prediction by learning from examples. We present simulation results demonstrating that the proposed architecture can enable system interoperability by learning, for example by human demonstration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: On the basis of the proven prebiotic effects of oligosaccharides in cow’s milk formula (CMF) in infants, CMFs are supplemented with oligosaccharides. Objective: We present a series of 5 cases of cow’s milk–tolerant but atopic patients with a history of respiratory allergies. All had anaphylaxis after the ingestion of CMF supplemented with short-chain galacto-oligosaccharide (scGOS). The allergen trigger was investigated. Methods: Clinical histories were collated. Skin prick tests (SPTs) and basophil activation tests (BATs) were carried out with the eliciting CMF that triggered anaphylaxis, with or without supplemented prebiotics (scGOS) and with scGOS fractions containing oligosaccharides of different chain lengths. Results: The median age of presentation was 6 years (range, 5-38 years). Anaphylaxis occurred within 30 minutes of the first known exposure to CMF supplemented with prebiotics in all patients. Only 1 patient was subjected to oral challenge, which resulted in an anaphylactic reaction. All patients demonstrated IgE sensitization through SPTs and BATs to scGOS and fractions of scGOS containing 3 sugar units or greater but not to cow’s milk or long-chain fructo-oligosaccharide. Eight child control subjects tolerant to regular ingestion of scGOS-supplemented CMF and 1 adult volunteer were found to have negative results to scGOS through SPTs and BATs. In addition, in vitro BATs with donor basophils sensitized with sera from 2 of the 3 reported cases showed reactions to scGOS. The scGOS-induced basophil activation was inhibited in the presence of wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor. Conclusions: This study describes an unusual form of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis triggered by low-molecular-weight oligosaccharides in scGOS. The primary sensitizer for this phenomenon requires further investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: A review was performed to determine clinical aspects and diagnostic tools for chronic Q fever. We present a Dutch guideline based on literature and clinical experience with chronic Q fever patients in The Netherlands so far. In this guideline diagnosis is categorized as proven, possible or probable chronic infection based on serology, PCR, clinical symptoms, risk factors and diagnostic imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chronic esophageal candidiasis is an infection that is mostly seen in immunocompromised conditions, among which is chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). Recently an association between CMC and esophageal carcinoma has been reported. Here we present two patients with chronic esophageal candidiasis who developed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and we discuss the etiologic role of Candida-induced nitrosamine production, the loss of STAT1 function and impaired tumor surveillance and T-lymphocyte function in the development of esophageal carcinoma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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