Generischer Steuerungs-Algorithmus zur Erstellung von Modulen für die Steuerungssoftware von ortsfesten Materialflusssystemen

Automated material handling systems are increasingly used in industry due to short process times and high throughputs. These systems have to be custom-built in order to utilize their full potential and therefore require individually created control software. To create this individual control software extensive manual programming is required, since a modular structure of the control algorithm with predefined modules is often missing. We fill this gap and describe such a modular control structure, which is based upon a two-layer architecture separating the hardware control from the material flow control. Our control structure uses a five-phase generic control algorithm, which represents a template by which the modules can be worked out. We describe this five-phase generic control algorithm, implement it for a demonstrator scenario and show its proper functionality. We show that with our two-layer architecture and the generic control algorithm predefined modules for the conveyor hardware and material flow elements can be created and then assembled in the needed configuration. Therefore, the presented method allows to create the control software for a custom-built material handling system by arranging predefined modules, thus without manual programming.     

Adsorption and Diffusion of 4d and 5d Transition Metal Adatoms on Graphene/Ru(0001) and the Implications for Cluster Nucleation

To explore the possibility of using the graphene moiré superstructure formed on Ru(0001) (g/Ru(0001)) as a template to self-assemble super-lattices of metal nanoparticles as model catalysts, it is desirable to know the minimum-energy adsorption sites, adsorption energies, and diffusion properties of small metal species on this surface. Toward that end, density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the adsorption and diffusion of 18 4d (Y–Ag) and 5d (La–Au) transition metal adatoms on g/Ru(0001), using small surface models representing different regions of the g/Ru(0001) surface. For each adatom, adsorption is the strongest in the fcc region and the weakest in the mound region of the moiré. Diffusion within the fcc region is facile for most adatoms, but an additional barrier is imposed by the corrugation of the graphene moiré for traversing between neighboring fcc regions. Overall, the earlier 4d and 5d metal adatoms have stronger adsorption energies and higher diffusion barriers on g/Ru(0001) than the later ones. The results are then interpreted to provide a better understanding of the conditions necessary to achieve dense super-lattices of monodisperse metal clusters on g/Ru(0001).     

Quality assurance of psychiatric consultations in somatic hospitals

Research has shown great variety in the clinical practice of consultation-liaison psychiatry in and between different countries. This paper presents the Norwegian experiences from a European collaborative study of quality management in consultation-liaison psychiatry. We describe a dynamic model for total quality management based on regular registration of some clinical data and the subsequent feed-back on changes of these. We discuss our experiences with this model and obstacles met in everyday work. Finally we point to different ways of implementing this method on a broader base in consultation-liaison psychiatry.     

The evolutionary relationship among Caucasian MS patients and controls

Previous observations suggest that the mitochondrial (mt)DNA may confer susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the proportion of affected individuals and the range of contributing mtDNA abnormalities are unknown. To help clarify this question, we analyzed the first hypervariable D-loop sequences of the mtDNA in a group of randomly selected Caucasian MS patients, in MS patients with prominent optic neuritis (PON) and in controls. Phylogenetic analysis of these D-loop sequences revealed that individuals in both groups of patients are generally scattered in the Caucasian phylogeny. However, a small cluster of unrelated MS patients identified by this analysis suggests that a maternal lineage with MS relevant mtDNA sequences may exist, and merits a more comprehensive study.     

Fenfluramine and idiopathic pain: a serotonergic study in non-psychiatric patients with functional gastrointestinal disorder

BACKGROUND: We investigated prolactin and cortisol response to fenfluramine in non-psychiatric patients with chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGD). METHODS: Sixty milligrams fenfluramine was given orally to 55 subjects without any DSM-III axis-1 psychopathology and 29 healthy control subjects matched for sex and age. Serum cortisol and prolactin levels were analysed at base line and after 120, 180, and 240 min. RESULTS: Fenfluramine challenge induced an increase in mean prolactin and cortisol serum values in both patients and controls. Female patients showed lower base-line values of prolactin and higher delta values of cortisol than controls. Male patients and controls showed very uniform values for all variables. Length of illness history influenced delta cortisol values in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: The cortisol and prolactin responses to fenfluramine suggest a psychobiologic gender difference with a possible stress-induced central serotonergic dysfunction in female patients but not in male patients. The close relationship between length of illness and delta cortisol may also suggest an increased state of distress in females with chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder.     

Stool bacterial aerobic overgrowth in the small intestine of children with acute diarrhoea

The aerobic flora of 2 groups of children (normal and with malnutrition) with acute diarrhoea was studied, by intubation of the upper and middle small intestine and by stool culture. All the 27 children studied presented bacterial concentrations of 10(5) germs/ml at one or both levels studied. In 9 cases enteropathogen bacteria e were isolated from stools, and in 6 of these they were also found in the small intestine. The results show the elevated incidence of overgrowth of the small intestinal aerobic flora in children with acute diarrhoea. This fact is mentioned as another etiological factor to be taken into consideration in this pathology.