Capability Based Communication for Green Buildings and Homes - a REST-like API within the conex.io Project -

Within the Kyoto protocol and the Paris agreement the world’s countries have agreed to limit global warming to a maximum of 2°C. The European Union has passed directives to mitigate emissions from buildings, as around 36% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions stem from them. To implement these directives, the use of home automation systems can be a significant contribution installed in existing, even renovated households. Looking to the global home automation market it becomes clear that none of the available vendors/solutions can cover a sufficient end-user scenario alone. And even with a multitude of technologies the integration of different systems is a tedious work as most of the systems are technically incompatible to each other. Tackling this challenge with open source software promises an easier integration but usually comes along with issues of heterogenic command syntaxes and parameter sets. This paper outlines a REST-like API and an abstraction mechanism, enabling user-interfaces and front-ends to communicate with smart home systems based on capabilities instead of protocols and technologies. The API decouples front-ends from specific smart home technologies and allows for a seamless integration of new protocols without touching the code of a front-end again

Introducing a Method of In Vitro Testing of Different Anchoring Systems Used for Female Incontinence and Prolapse Surgery

Aims. To develop a method for in vitro testing to compare different intracorporeal anchoring systems (AS) used, for example, in single-incision slings or vaginal meshes. Intracorporeal fixation needs reliable anchorage systems, which keep the implant in the operative and early postoperative phase in place. Up to now, the impact of the design of current anchor systems and their capability to provide sufficient retention forces is not known. Methods. Four AS (“PelFix”, “Surelift”, “TFS”, and “MiniArc”) were evaluated in an animal model and a ballistic gelatine model with pull-out tests. We performed ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni. Results were presented as mean values whereby a significance level of <0.05 was considered significant. Results. The four systems showed significantly different pull-out forces. Depending on mesh structure, size, and form of the AS, mechanical strain resulted in deformation with local peak stresses. Under the condition of form stability, relative differences of pull-out forces did not change in different tissues. Conclusions. Reliable testing of different AS in their ability to keep mesh implants in place can be done in animal models and in especially designed ballistic gelatine. These methods of testing will help to modify AS in novel pelvic floor implants