Higher-Order Process Modeling: Product-Lining, Variability Modeling and Beyond

We present a graphical and dynamic framework for binding and execution of business) process models. It is tailored to integrate 1) ad hoc processes modeled graphically, 2) third party services discovered in the (Inter)net, and 3) (dynamically) synthesized process chains that solve situation-specific tasks, with the synthesis taking place not only at design time, but also at runtime. Key to our approach is the introduction of type-safe stacked second-order execution contexts that allow for higher-order process modeling. Tamed by our underlying strict service-oriented notion of abstraction, this approach is tailored also to be used by application experts with little technical knowledge: users can select, modify, construct and then pass (component) processes during process execution as if they were data. We illustrate the impact and essence of our framework along a concrete, realistic (business) process modeling scenario: the development of Springer's browser-based Online Conference Service (OCS). The most advanced feature of our new framework allows one to combine online synthesis with the integration of the synthesized process into the running application. This ability leads to a particularly flexible way of implementing self-adaption, and to a particularly concise and powerful way of achieving variability not only at design time, but also at runtime.Comment: In Proceedings Festschrift for Dave Schmidt, arXiv:1309.455

Moderne Nano- und Nanohybridkomposite im werkstoffkundlichen Vergleich

Die rasanten Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Nanotechnologie halten seit einiger Zeit Einzug in die Zahnmedizin. Viele namhafte Hersteller verwenden bei ihren Kompositen Nanopartikel, um den Füllstoffanteil der Produkte zu erhöhen und somit die Materialeigenschaften zu optimieren. Die große Produktvielfalt sorgt jedoch für einen unübersichtlichen Markt, bei welchem fundiertes Informationsmaterial fehlt. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es daher, zehn aktuelle, nanopartikuläre Komposite auf ihre physiko-chemischen Materialeigenschaften hin vergleichend zu untersuchen. Hierbei wurden die Produkte Filtek Supreme XTE, Filtek Z500 (3M ESPE), Enamel plus HRI (GDF), Venus Diamond (Heraeus Kulzer), Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (Ivoclar Vivadent), Ceram x mono (Dentsply), Estelite Sigma Quick sowie Estelite Posterior (Tokuyama Dental) und Grandio SO (VOCO) werkstoffkundlich betrachtet. Sie wurden vor, und teilweise auch nach künstlicher Alterung (25.000 Temperaturlastwechsel), auf die Parameter Biegefestigkeit und Elastizitätsmodul, Härte, Wasseraufnahme, Druckfestigkeit, exogene Verfärbungsneigung, Abrasionsfestigkeit, Polierbarkeit, Röntgenopazität, Polymerisationsschrumpfung und Durchhärtetiefe geprüft. Mittels rasterelektronenmikroskopischer Untersuchungen wurde an Schliff- und Bruchflächen die Füllkörperzusammensetzung analysiert. Die Ergebnisse der einzelnen Versuchsreihen wurden als arithmetisches Mittel mit der zugehörigen Standardabweichung zusammengefasst und als Säulendiagramme veranschaulicht. Dabei stellte sich im Student’schen t-Test heraus, dass trotz des hohen Entwicklungsniveaus enorme Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Produkten bestehen und folglich der Einsatzort im Mund des Patienten bei der Wahl des entsprechenden Komposits zu berücksichtigen ist. Somit kann diese Arbeit Zahnärzten praktische Hinweise zu Auswahl und Verarbeitung der Füllungswerkstoffe geben und Dentalherstellern eine unabhängige Grundlage zur eigenen Standortbestimmung darlegen

Automated Transformation of Semi-Structured Text Elements

Interconnected systems, such as electronic health records (EHR), considerably improved the handling and processing of health information while keeping the costs at a controlled level. Since the EHR virtually stores all data in digitized form, personal medical documents are easily and swiftly available when needed. However, multiple formats and differences in the health documents managed by various health care providers severely reduce the efficiency of the data sharing process. This paper presents a rule-based transformation system that converts semi-structured (annotated) text into standardized formats, such as HL7 CDA. It identifies relevant information in the input document by analyzing its structure as well as its content and inserts the required elements into corresponding reusable CDA templates, where the templates are selected according to the CDA document type-specific requirements

Heterogeneously Catalysed Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Menthol in a Fixed-Bed Reactor in the Gas Phase

For the first time, the oxidative dehydrogenation of (−)-menthol to (−)-menthone and (+)-isomenthone in a marketable quality was carried out in a continuous gas phase reactor as a sustainable process using molecular oxygen as green oxidant and solid catalysts which do not contaminate the product mixture and which are easily to remove. The diastereomeric purity remained largely unchanged. Three types of catalysts were found to be very active and selective in the formation of menthone and isomenthone: AgSr/SiO2, CuO distributed on a basic support and RuMnCe/CeO2, where Ru, Mn and Ce exist in an oxidized state. The best overall yield of menthon/isomenthone obtained with an Ag-based catalyst was 58 % at 64 % selectivity, with a Cu-based catalyst 41 % at 51 % selectivity and with a Ru-based catalyst 68 % at 73 % selectivity. Reaction conditions were widely optimized. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Study protocol - efficacy of an attachment-based working alliance in the multimodal pain treatment

Background: The concept of attachment is relevant for the onset and development of chronic pain. Insecure attachment styles negatively affect therapeutic outcome. Insecurely attached patients seem to be less able to sustain positive effects of a multimodal treatment program. However, it has never been tested before if an attachment-oriented approach can improve treatment results of insecurely attached patients in a multimodal outpatient setting. To test this assumption, we compare the short- and long-term outcomes for pain patients who will receive multidisciplinary, attachment-oriented treatment with the outcomes for patients in a control group, who will receive the multidisciplinary state-of-the-art treatment. Methods: Two patient groups (baseline, attachment intervention) are assessed before treatment, after treatment, and at a 6 month follow-up. The study is conducted in a block design: After data collection of the first block (controls) and before as well as during data collection for the second block (treatment group), the health care personnel of the outpatient pain clinic receives training on attachment theory and its use in the therapeutic context. Pain intensity as measured with visual analogue scales and physical functioning will serve as the primary outcome measures. Discussion: The design of our study allows for a continuous exchange of experienced team members, which may help bring about concrete attachment related guidelines for the enhancement of therapeutic outcome. This would be the first attempt at an attachment-oriented improvement of multimodal pain programs. Conclusion: An attachment-based approach may be a promising way to enhance long-term treatment outcomes for insecurely attached pain patients. Trial registration: DRKS00008715 (registered on the 3rd of June 2015)

Quantitative analysis of the strength generating C-S-H-phase in concrete by IR-spectroscopy

The C-S-H-phase is the most important strength generating phase in concrete and other cementitious materials. The analysis of C-S-H is therefore an important instrument of innovations in the field of concrete and its durability and sustainability. The quantification and insights in C-S-H are hindered by the predominantly amorphous structure of C-S-H. Only the time consuming and expensive solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) gives a chance to get results, but is restricted to model substances. A new technique, based on the cheap and widespread infrared-spectroscopy (IR) was developed. The quantitative analysis is based on the silicon content in the different structural units of C-S-H and a calibration with natural and synthetic materials with known silicon content in these units. The technique allows to investigate specimens from real structures. Specimens with quartz or limestone aggregate can be analyzed directly. In other cases the aggregates must be separated, for example with heavy liquid separation. Tests with different mortars showed a good correspondence of measured and expected values of C-S-H concentration

A comprehensive evaluation of the activity and selectivity profile of ligands for RGD-binding integrins

Integrins, a diverse class of heterodimeric cell surface receptors, are key regulators of cell structure and behaviour, affecting cell morphology, proliferation, survival and differentiation. Consequently, mutations in specific integrins, or their deregulated expression, are associated with a variety of diseases. In the last decades, many integrin-specific ligands have been developed and used for modulation of integrin function in medical as well as biophysical studies. The IC50-values reported for these ligands strongly vary and are measured using different cell-based and cell-free systems. A systematic comparison of these values is of high importance for selecting the optimal ligands for given applications. In this study, we evaluate a wide range of ligands for their binding affinity towards the RGD-binding integrins avß3, avß5, avß6, avß8, a5ß1, aIIbß3, using homogenous ELISA-like solid phase binding assay.Postprint (published version

Mobility choices - an instrument for precise automatized travel behavior detection & analysis

Within the Mobility Choices (MC) project we have developed an app that allows users to record their travel behavior and encourages them to try out new means of transportation that may better fit their preferences. Tracks explicitly released by the users are anonymized and can be analyzed by authorized institutions. For recorded tracks, the freely available app automatically determines the segments with their transportation mode; analyzes the track according to the criteria environment, health, costs, and time; and indicates alternative connections that better fit the criteria, which can individually be configured by the user. In the second step, the users can edit their tracks and release them for further analysis by authorized institutions. The system is complemented by a Web-based analysis program that helps authorized institutions carry out specific evaluations of traffic flows based on the released tracks of the app users. The automatic transportation mode detection of the system reaches an accuracy of 97%. This requires only minimal corrections by the user, which can easily be done directly in the app before releasing a track. All this enables significantly more accurate surveys of transport behavior than the usual time-consuming manual (non-automated) approaches, based on questionnaires

Farm/IT - Mein Entscheidungshilfeassistent in der Fruchtfolgeplanung

Farm/IT ist ein Fruchtfolgeplanungstool. Es erstellt Fruchtfolgen unter Berücksichtigung der Nutzerpräferenzen und liefert ökonomische und agronomische Daten. Es eröffnet neue Denkansätze, um die eigenen Fruchtfolgen genauer unter die Lupe zu nehmen