Several standardization efforts for Smart Grids in US and Europe are currently gaining momentum. Even if there are different focuses in US and Europe on what is known as the smart grid, all agree on ...the fact, that standardization is a key issue for a proper technical interoperability. Hence, a lot of studies and roadmaps pick standardization in the context of smart grids out as a central theme. The various approaches are concentrating on different core areas, depending on the circumstances in which they were elaborated. However, no overview aligning these approaches exists. This contribution takes up on a previous paper where relevant approaches were described. In the meantime, new approaches from different countries and initiatives have come up which are shortly described in this addendum to part1.
Nowadays, research, politics, and utilities are on the move to create the new power distribution and transmission grid, the so called Smart Grid. Over the last years, various projects and initiatives ...have started to provide first results and the topic has changed form a research and development oriented one to being used in daily utility practice. But one particular aspect is that the focus most of the times lies with the electric side of the commodities and energy supply only. From a system point of view, it would be beneficial also to cover the aspects of gas and water in the Smart Grid, too. This paper discusses the idea of a holistic System-of-a-System (SoS) aspect with special regards to the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and automation concepts applied. It outlines the applicability of the existing electrotechnical and automation standards within the future critical infrastructure.
BACKGROUND: Cerebellar ataxia (CA) is a frequent and often disabling condition that impairs motor functioning and impacts on quality of life (QoL). No medication has yet been proven effective for the ...symptomatic or even causative treatment of hereditary or non-hereditary, non-acquired CA. So far, the only treatment recommendation is physiotherapy. Therefore, new therapeutic options are needed. Based on three observational studies, the primary objective of the acetyl-DL-leucine on ataxia (ALCAT) trial is to examine the efficacy and tolerability of a symptomatic therapy with acetyl-DL-leucine compared to placebo on motor function measured by the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) in patients with CA. METHODS/DESIGN: An investigator-initiated, multicenter, European, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-treatment 2-period crossover phase III trial will be carried out. In total, 108 adult patients who meet the clinical criteria of CA of different etiologies (hereditary or non-hereditary, non-acquired) presenting with a SARA total score of at least 3 points will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two different treatment sequences, either acetyl-DL-leucine (up to 5 g per day) followed by placebo or vice versa. Each sequence consists of two 6-week treatment periods, separated by a 4-week wash-out period. A follow-up examination is scheduled 4 weeks after the end of treatment. The primary efficacy outcome is the absolute change in the SARA total score. Secondary objectives are to demonstrate that acetyl-DL-leucine is effective in improving (1) motor function measured by the Spinocerebellar Ataxia Functional Index (SCAFI) and SARA subscore items and (2) QoL (EuroQoL 5 dimensions and 5 level version, EQ-5D-5 L), depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI-II) and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Score, FSS). Furthermore, the incidence of adverse events will be investigated. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will inform whether symptomatic treatment with the modified amino-acid acetyl-DL-leucine is a worthy candidate for a new drug therapy to relieve ataxia symptoms and to improve patient care. If superiority of the experimental drug to placebo can be established it will also be re-purposing of an agent that has been previously used for the symptomatic treatment of dizziness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was prospectively registered at www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu (EudraCT no. 2015-000460-34) and at https://www.germanctr.de (DRKS-ID: DRKS00009733 ).
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