Modeling and nonlinear predictive control of solar thermal systems in district heating.

This study presents data-driven modeling and nonlinear model predictive control of solar thermal plants in district heating, for the purpose of operation optimization. The study considers the efficient operation of a solar thermal plant in Hillerød, Denmark. A dynamic model is estimated as a system of stochastic differential equations using grey-box modeling and real-world data.

[Cystic fibrosis--review].

The purpose of this paper is to give a brief overview of cystic fibrosis; its pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder, which is caused by a mutation in the CFTR protein, a chloride channel in epithelial cell membranes. More than 1500 mutations are known.

[Hyponatremia in very low birth weight infants].

Aim: Hyponatremia can potentially have serious effects in the premature infant, Therefore, it is important to recognize its causes and prevent it if possible. The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of hyponatremia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants cared for at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Children's Hospital Iceland.

Subjects And Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of 20 VLBW infants at the NICU of Children's Hospital Iceland, born after <30 weeks gestation with birth weight of < or =1250 g.

[Respiratory dysfunction in infants born by elective cesarean section without labor].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of gestational age at the timing of elective caesarean section (ECS) on the incidence of respiratory dysfunction in the newborn.

Study Group And Methods: This was a retrospective study. All infants born by ECS at the Landspitali-University Hospital Iceland over a 10 years period (1996-2005) at >or=37 weeks gestation and diagnosed with transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN) or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were included in the study.

[The efficacy of high frequency ventilation in severe neonatal respiratory failure].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of high frequency ventilation (HFV) in infants failing conventional ventilator therapy at our institution.

Study Group And Methods: Medical records of all infants managed on HFV after having failed conventional ventilator management from 1994-2004 were reviewed. Ventilatory settings, blood gases and pH just prior to starting HFV, and two and four hours after starting HFV were recorded.

[The ΔF508 mutation in cystic fibrosis patients].

Cystic fibrosis is a serious autosomal recessive disorder. It is commonest among the white Caucasian populations in North and Western Europe. However, no information is available on this disease in Iceland.

alpha-Fetoprotein and cystic fibrosis.

Because of unconfirmed reports that the serum level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is high in children with cystic fibrosis and intermediate in their siblings and parents, this level was measured in 25 children with cystic fibrosis, 26 of their siblings, 42 of their parents and 31 age-matched children without cystic fibrosis who were attending outpatient clinics of the Montreal Children's Hospital. Liver function tests were performed at the same time since patients with liver disease may have unusually high serum AFP levels and patients with cystic fibrosis often have liver involvement. AFP was not detected in any of the serum samples, and the results of the liver function tests were normal in all but 1 individual, a control subject.

Long-term pulmonary sequelae of the Wilson-Mikity syndrome.

Five children born prematurely, eight to ten years ago, who survived the Wilson-Mikity syndrome were compared with six apparently normal prematurely born children and eight normal children born at term, by means of flow volume curves obtained while breathing air and while breathing a mixture of 80% helium and 20% oxygen. The flow rates in air of the group who survived the Wilson-Mikity syndrome were significantly lower than those of the prematurely born normal children (P less than 0.01), and than those of the eight normal children (P less than 0.

Long-term pulmonary sequelae of premature birth with and without idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome.

Seven children born prematurely who survived the respiratory distress syndrome, seven children born prematurely who had no neonatal lung disease, and seven normal children born at term were studied by comparison of flow volume curves obtained while breathing air to those obtained while breathing 80% helium and 20% oxygen. Expiratory flow rates in air both groups of prematurely born children were lower than flow rates of the children born at term, and the volumes of iso-flow were higher in the survivors of RDS than those of the children born at term. The differences in flow rates in air suggest an increase in large airway resistance in both groups of prematurely born children.

Efficacy of caffeine in treatment of apnea in the low-birth-weight infant.

The efficacy of caffeine citrate in the management of apnea in the newborn infant was evaluated. Caffeine citrate was given to 18 preterm neonates with recurrent apneic spells. Mean (+/- SE) birth weight and gestational age were 1,065.