Measuring the Overall Complexity of Graphical and Textual IEC 61131-3 Control Software

Software implements a significant proportion of functionality in factory automation. Thus, efficient development and the reuse of software parts, so-called units, enhance competitiveness. Thereby, complex control software units are more difficult to understand, leading to increased development, testing and maintenance costs. However, measuring complexity is challenging due to many different, subjective views on the topic. This paper compares different complexity definitions from literature and considers with a qualitative questionnaire study the complexity perception of domain experts, who confirm the importance of objective measures to compare complexity. The paper proposes a set of metrics that measure various classes of software complexity to identify the most complex software units as a prerequisite for refactoring. The metrics include complexity caused by size, data structure, control flow, information flow and lexical structure. Unlike most literature approaches, the metrics are compliant with graphical and textual languages from the IEC 61131-3 standard. Further, a concept for interpreting the metric results is presented. A comprehensive evaluation with industrial software from two German plant manufacturers validates the metrics' suitability to measure complexity.Comment: 8 pages, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9444196

Evaluación preliminar de virus asociados a sistemas productivos de uchuva, gulupa y rosa

1 recurso en línea (páginas 390-396).Plant viruses may pose a threat to crops in Colombia. To evaluate the potential risk of yield losses due to plant virus infection, a literature analysis followed by a first field study was carried out focusing on purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims), cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), and ornamental rose (Rosa sp.), which are important Colombian exports. Over the past three years, plant material was collected from 21 farms in Cundinamarca and Boyacá, Colombia, two regions that are in close proximity to El Dorado International Airport, the country’s largest air freight terminal. Plants were visually inspected and subsequently tested by bioassay and serological methods. Overall, in the samples investigated by the two diagnostic methods, plant viruses were detected. Detected viruses belong to the genus Poty-, Tobamo-, Nepo-, Ilar-, and Tospovirus. The extent of the distribution and occurrence of these viruses in each crop has to be determined in a representative field study. Such a monitoring program could be supported by a standardized farmer interview. The development of suitable plant virus diagnostic and managements tools is the focus of a cooperation project between German and Colombian universities, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), the Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Investigation (AGROSAVIA) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).Los virus representan una amenaza para las plantas cultivadas en Colombia, y algunos estudios indican que las pérdidas económicas causadas por estos problemas fitosanitarios podrían evitarse mediante procedimientos preventivos estándar. Como objeto de estudio, se seleccionaron tres importantes productos de Colombia, como lo son: rosa ornamental (Rosa sp.), uchuva (Physalis peruviana L.) y gulupa (Passiflora edulis Sims). En el presente artículo, se muestran los primeros desarrollos resultantes del monitoreo de virus en estas plantas, para determinar el estado de las virosis en fincas colombianas. Se realizaron análisis serológicos de 21 fincas en Cundinamarca y Boyacá, Colombia, en 2016-18. El objetivo de esta investigación fue el desarrollo de un protocolo piloto para el diagnóstico rutinario, que se pueda aplicar en un programa de certificación de material vegetal para la determinación de la presencia de virus, en varios productos hortícolas colombianos. Con base en este protocolo, se pueden determinar los riesgos que representan ciertos virus y se puede considerar la necesidad de certificar el material de siembra evaluado según la presencia de virus. Se están desarrollando herramientas de diagnóstico confiables y prácticas, para la detección de los virus más relevantes, en un proyecto conjunto entre universidades alemanas y colombianas, el Instituto Colombiano de Agropecuario (ICA), la Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA) y el Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT).Bibliografía: páginas 395-39

Regionale Wertschöpfungsketten für ökologische Tier- und Fleischprodukte (REGINA): Abschlussbericht zur Machbarkeitsstudie

Die Broschüre beinhaltet eine Machbarkeitsstudie für eine digitale Plattform zur gemeinsamen regionalen Vermarktung im Ökolandbau. Eine solche Plattform ermöglicht eine bessere Direktvermarktung ökologisch erzeugter Produkte. Die Broschüre enthält eine ausführliche Anleitung, wie eine solche Vermarktungsplattform entwickelt und betrieben werden kann. Die Machbarkeitsstudie richtet sich an Landwirte, Verarbeiter und Vermarkter von Lebensmitteln sowie an Entwickler digitaler Plattformen. Redaktionsschluss: 31.05.202

Analysis of urinary erythropoietin concentrations in preterm infants after application of recombinant erythropoietin

Rekombinantes Erythropoietin (rEpo) wird beim Erwachsenen seit Jahrzehnten vorrangig zur Behandlung der renalen Anämie, aber auch in der Behandlung Tumor-assoziierter Anämien und seit kurzem auch im Rahmen von klinischen Studien als neuroprotektives Medikament verwendet. Bei Frühgeborenen ist rEpo zur Behandlung der Frühgeborenenanämie zugelassen. Während die Bedeutung von niedrigdosiertem rEpo in der Prävention und Therapie der Frühgeborenenanämie aufgrund mangelnder Effektivität in den letzten Jahren vermehrt hinterfragt wird, gibt es eine Anzahl neuer klinischer Studien zum Einsatz von hochdosiertem rEpo zur Neuroprotektion bei Frühgeborenen. Über die Ausscheidung von rEpo im Urin Frühgeborener herrscht noch Unklarheit. In zwei Projekten untersuchten wir die Epo-Ausscheidung im Urin Frühgeborener. Im ersten Teilprojekt wurde im Rahmen der Routinebehandlung mit rEpo zur Behandlung der Frühgeborenenanämie Urin von 20 Frühgeborenen vor sowie 4 und 8 Stunden nach i.v.- oder s.c.-Applikation von 250 U rEpo/kg (3 x wöchentlich) longitudinal gesammelt und mittels ELISA die Epo-Konzentration im Urin bestimmt. Es zeigten sich signifikant höhere rEpo-Konzentrationen nach 4 und 8 Stunden als vor rEpo-Applikation. Des Weiteren fand sich sowohl nach 4 als auch nach 8 Stunden eine signifikant höhere rEpo-Konzentration im Urin nach i.v.-Appliaktion als nach s.c. Applikation. Die Epo-Konzentrationen im Urin Frühgeborener mit einem Gestationsalter < 31 SSW waren nach i.v.-Applikation von rEpo signifikant höher als im Urin Frühgeborener ≥ 31+0 SSW. Der prozentuale Anteil der Epo-Ausscheidung innerhalb der ersten 8 h nach rEpo- Gabe betrug im Median nach erster i.v.-Applikation 0,4 % (Range 0 –2,8%) der verabreichten rEpo-Menge. Nach s.c.-Applikation betrug er 0,36 % (Range 0 – 0,74%). Im zweiten Teilprojekt wurden im Rahmen einer randomisierten, kontrollierten, doppel-blinden Studie zur Neuroprotektion bei 75 Frühgeborenen mit einem Gestationsalter von 25+6 bis 31+6 SSW jeweils 2 Urinproben nach Applikation von 3 x 3.000 U rEpo/kg bzw. NaCl 0,9 % als Plazebo (Applikationen 1-3 h, 12-18 h und 36-42 h nach Geburt) asserviert. Die Epo-Konzentration in den Urinen der rEpo-Gruppe war signifikant höher als in der Plazebo-Gruppe. Frühgeborene mit einem Gestationsalter < 29 SSW wiesen signifikant höhere Epo- Konzentrationen im Urin auf als Kinder mit einem Gestationsalter ≥ 29 SSW. Die prozentualen Verluste nach der ersten i.v.-Applikation beliefen sich bei Kindern unter 29 SSW im Median auf 2,8 % (Range 0,1 – 23%) und bei Kindern mit einem Gestationsalter ≥ 29 SSW auf 1,2 % (Range 0,3 – 9,4%). Die Epo- Konzentrationen im Urin nach i.v.-Applikation von 3.000 U rEpo/kg KG zur Neuroprotektion waren erheblich höher als nach i.v.-Applikation von 250 U rEpo/kg KG zur Anämiebehandlung. Die medianen prozentualen Verluste sind jedoch in beiden Fällen als gering anzusehen.In adults recombinant erythropoietin (rEpo) is used for the treatment of renal anemia, but also of tumour-associated anemia and recently in the course of clinical trials as a neuroprotective drug. For preterm infants rEpo is approved for the treatment of anemia of prematurity. While the impact of low dose rEpo in the treatment of anemia of prematurity has been questioned due to deficient effectivity there are a number of new clinical trials analyzing the neuroprotective effect of high dose rEpo in preterm infants. Studies that investigated the pharmacology of rEpo in preterm infants are rare. There is still ambiguity concerning the renal elemination of rEpo in preterm infants. Hence we analysed the urinary elimination of Epo in preterm infants in 2 subprojects. In the first project urine of 20 preterm infants was longitudinally collected before, 4 and 8 hours after i.v. or s.c. application of 250 U/kg rEpo (3 x/week) in the context of the therapy of anemia of prematurity. Urine Epo-concentrations were determined using ELISA technique. We found significantly higher Epo-concentrations in urine 4 and 8 hours after Epo-application than before administration. 4 and 8 hours after i.v.-application we found significantly higher Epo-concentrations in urine than after s.c.-application. The Epo-concentrations in urine after i.v.-administration of preterm infants with a gestational age < 31 weeks were significantly higher than in infants with > 31 weeks of gestation. The percentaged loss of Epo within the first 8 hours after first i.v.-application was 0,4 % (median, range 0 – 2,8 %) of the applicated amount of Epo. After s.c.-application it was 0,36 % (0 – 0,74 %). According to our results the s.c.-application with constantly low Epo-concentrations in urine appears to be the more physiological way of treating the anemia of prematurity. In the second project we analysed the urine of 75 preterm infants with a gestational age from 25+6 to 31+6 weeks in the context of a randomized controlled double- blind study that was designed to analyze the neuroprotective potential of high dose rEpo. rEpo (3 x 3000 U i.v.), or placebo (NaCl 0,9 % i.v.) was administered 1-3 hours, 12-18 hours and 36-42 hours after birth. After each application two urine samples were collected. Epo concentrations in urine samples of the rEpo-group were significantly higher than in the placebo-group. Preterm infants with a gestational age < 29 weeks of gestation showed significantly higher urinary Epo-concentrations than children > 29 weeks. The percentaged losses after i.v.-application were 2,8 % (0,1 – 23 %) in children 29 weeks. Epo- concentrations in urine after high-dose i.v.-application for neuroprotection were significantly higher than after i.v.-application of low dose rEpo for the prevention and therapy of the anemia of prematurity. In both cases the median Epo-losses may be considererd as minor

Application of biological early warning systems in wastewater treatment plants: Introducing a promising approach to monitor changing wastewater composition

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a major source of micropollutants to surface waters. Currently, their chemical or biological monitoring is realized by using grab or composite samples, which provides only snapshots of the current wastewater composition. Especially in WWTPs with industrial input, the wastewater composition can be highly variable and a continuous assessment would be advantageous, but very labor and cost intensive. A promising concept are automated real-time biological early warning systems (BEWS), where living organisms are constantly exposed to the water and an alarm is triggered if the organism's responses exceed a harmful threshold of acute toxicity. Currently, BEWS are established for drinking water and surface water but are seldom applied to monitor wastewater. This study demonstrates that a battery of BEWS using algae (Chlorella vulgaris in the Algae Toximeter, bbe Moldaenke), water flea (Daphnia magna in the DaphTox II, bbe Moldaenke) and gammarids (Gammarus pulex in the Sensaguard, REMONDIS Aqua) can be adapted for wastewater surveillance. For continuous low-maintenance operation, a back-washable membrane filtration system is indispensable for adequate preparation of treated wastewater. Only minor deviations in the reaction of the organisms towards treated and filtered wastewater compared to surface waters were detected. After spiking treated wastewater with two concentrations of the model compounds diuron, chlorpyrifos methyl, and sertraline, the organisms in the different BEWS showed clear responses depending on the respective compound, concentration and mode of action. Immediate effects on photosynthetic activity of algae were detected for diuron exposure, and strong behavioral changes in water flea and gammarids after exposure to chlorpyrifos methyl or sertraline were observed, which triggered automated alarms. Different types of data analysis were applied to extract more information out of the specific behavioral traits, than only provided by the vendors algorithms. To investigate, whether behavioral movement changes can be linked to impact other endpoints, the effects on feeding activity of G. pulex were evaluated and results indicated significant differences between the exposures. Overall, these findings provide an important basis indicating that BEWS have the potential to act as alarm systems for pollution events in the wastewater sector.ISSN:0301-4797ISSN:1095-863

VersKiK qualitative study design: actual follow-up needs of paediatric cancer survivors, their informal caregivers and follow-up stakeholder perceptions in Germany

Introduction This article presents the study design of the qualitative part of the VersKiK study (Long-term care, care needs and wellbeing of individuals after cancer in childhood or adolescence: study protocol of a large scale multi-methods non-interventional study) aiming to explore actual follow-up needs of childhood and adolescence cancer survivors and their informal caregivers, gaps in current follow-up care provision and trajectories of cancer survivors’ transition from paediatric to adult healthcare.Methods and analysis We will conduct up to 30 interviews with survivors of childhood and adolescence cancer and their informal caregivers with up to 20 participant observations of follow-up appointments. The results of these will be discussed in up to four focus groups with healthcare professionals and representatives of self-help groups. The study design aims to evaluate follow-up care after childhood cancer considering perspectives from survivors, their informal caregivers as well as healthcare providers. The combination of different data sources will allow us to get an in-depth understanding of the current state of follow-up care after paediatric cancer in Germany and to suggest recommendations for care improvement.Ethics and dissemination The VersKiK study was approved by the Ethics Committee Otto von Guericke University on 2 July 2021 (103/21), by the Ethics Committee of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz on 16 June 2021 (2021-16035), by the Ethics Committee University of Lübeck on 10 November 2021 (21-451), by the Ethics Committee University of Hospital Bonn on 28 February 2022 (05/22). For each part of the qualitative study, a separate written informed consent is prepared and approved accordingly by the ethics committees named above.Trial registration number Registered at German Clinical Trial Register, ID: DRKS00026092

A novel <em>badnavirus</em> discovered from <em>Betula sp.</em> affected by birch leaf-roll disease.

In declining birches (Betula sp.) from different European stands affected by the "birch leaf-roll disease" (BLRD) a novel virus is identified by means of RNA-Seq virome analysis. The virus represents a new member in the genus Badnavirus, family Caulimoviridae, tentatively named Birch leaf roll-associated virus (BLRaV) and it is the first badnavirus found to infect birch. Complete genome sequences (7,862-7,864 nucleotides) of three viral isolates of Finnish and German origin have been determined. The virus sequences show a typical badnavirus organization with three major open reading frames (ORFs) and a fourth potential ORF overlapping with the end of ORF3. ORFs 1-2-3 show low level of amino acid identity to the corresponding proteins encoded by other badnaviruses, reaching a maximum of 44% identity (ORF3). Grapevine vein-clearing virus appears as the closest badnavirus when considering the polymerase region. So far, we can exclude evidence for presence of endogenous BLRaV elements in the birch genome, while evidence for the episomal activity of BLRaV is provided. The viral population holds significant haplotype diversity, while co-infection by different BLRaV variants are observed in single hosts. BLRaV presence is associated with the BLRD in both silver (B. pendula) and downy birch (B. pubescens). These results challenge the earlier hypothesis of a causal role of Cherry leaf roll virus in BLRD. Further work is now needed to finally prove that BLRaV is the causal agent for the BLRD

High genetic diversity at the inter-/intra-host level of Cherry leaf roll virus population associated with the birch leaf-roll disease in Fennoscandia

201

Regionale Wertschöpfungsketten für ökologische Tier- und Fleischprodukte (REGINA): Abschlussbericht zur Machbarkeitsstudie

Die Broschüre beinhaltet eine Machbarkeitsstudie für eine digitale Plattform zur gemeinsamen regionalen Vermarktung im Ökolandbau. Eine solche Plattform ermöglicht eine bessere Direktvermarktung ökologisch erzeugter Produkte. Die Broschüre enthält eine ausführliche Anleitung, wie eine solche Vermarktungsplattform entwickelt und betrieben werden kann. Die Machbarkeitsstudie richtet sich an Landwirte, Verarbeiter und Vermarkter von Lebensmitteln sowie an Entwickler digitaler Plattformen. Redaktionsschluss: 31.05.202