A Dodecalogue of Basic Didactics from Applications of Abstract Differential Geometry to Quantum Gravity

We summarize the twelve most important in our view novel concepts that have arisen, based on results that have been obtained, from various applications of Abstract Differential Geometry (ADG) to Quantum Gravity (QG). The present document may be used as a concise, yet informal, discursive and peripatetic conceptual guide-cum-terminological glossary to the voluminous technical research literature on the subject. In a bonus section at the end, we dwell on the significance of introducing new conceptual terminology in future QG research by means of `poetic language'Comment: 16 pages, preliminary versio

An Evaluated Certification Services System for the German National Root CA - Legally Binding and Trustworthy Transactions in E-Business and E-Government

National Root CAs enable legally binding E-Business and E-Government transactions. This is a report about the development, the evaluation and the certification of the new certification services system for the German National Root CA. We illustrate why a new certification services system was necessary, and which requirements to the new system existed. Then we derive the tasks to be done from the mentioned requirements. After that we introduce the initial situation at the beginning of the project. We report about the very process and talk about some unfamiliar situations, special approaches and remarkable experiences. Finally we present the ready IT system and its impact to E-Business and E-Government.Comment: 6 pages; 1 figure; IEEE style; final versio

3D Printing Provides a Precise Approach in the Treatment of Tetralogy of Fallot, Pulmonary Atresia with Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries.

Patients with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and multiple aortopulmonary collateral arteries (Tet PA MAPCAs) have a wide spectrum of anatomy and disease severity. Management of these patients can be challenging and often require multiple high-risk surgical and interventional catheterization procedures. These interventions are made challenging by complex anatomy that require the proceduralist to mentally reconstruct three-dimensional anatomic relationships from two-dimensional images. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging medical technology that provides added benefits in the management of patients with Tet PA MAPCAs. When used in combination with current diagnostic modalities and procedures, 3D printing provides a precise approach to the management of these challenging, high-risk patients. Specifically, 3D printing enables detailed surgical and interventional planning prior to the procedure, which may improve procedural outcomes, decrease complications, and reduce procedure-related radiation dose and contrast load

Loop quantum black hole

In this paper we consider the Kantowski-Sachs space-time in Ashtekar variables and the quantization of this space-time starting from the complete loop quantum gravity theory. The Kanthowski-Sachs space-time coincides with the Schwarzschild black hole solution inside the horizon. By studying this model we can obtain information about the black hole singularity and about the dynamics across the point r=0. We studied this space-time in ADM variables in two previous papers where we showed that the classical black hole singularity disappears in quantum theory. In this work we study the same model in Ashtekar variables and we obtain a regular space-time inside the horizon region and that the dynamics can be extend further the classical singularity.Comment: 12 pages, latex. We introduce and we calculate the spectrum of the operator 1/|E

Design Details to Accommodate Fault Movement in a Dam Foundation

During planning for dam projects, good practice usually calls for appropriate investigations to help assure the development is not located on or immediately adjacent to active faults. There are examples of projects, however, where an active fault has been discovered in or close to a dam foundation and engineering solutions have been incorporated into design to enable satisfactory performance of the dam should fault displacement occur during project operation. In some cases, the existence of such hazards only becomes evident late in the design cycle when the dam site is considered fixed and hazard avoidance is not an easy option. The 960-MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project in Pakistan is being constructed within a geologically complex and seismo-tectonically active setting. During feasibility studies, a major thrust fault at the dam site was deemed inactive. However, during detailed design and after commitment to start construction with international contractors, the potentially active nature of the fault came to be understood. The dam is re-designed as a composite structure, with a zoned fill section overlying the fault and the remainder of the dam consisting of a concrete gravity feature with integral gated spillway. The fill section designed to accommodate the maximum amount of offset that could occur on the fault below. This concept has been adopted on other projects elsewhere, such as the approach dams leading to the new Pacific Locks Complex, which are intersected by segments of the active Pedro Miguel fault for the new Third Set of Locks of the Panama Canal. During construction of the Neelum-Jhelum dam, the actual fault trace was found unfortunately to be not entirely beneath the fill section and that some of the concrete super-structure would overlie the fault. Innovative subsurface foundation treatments have been developed to help direct any potential future fault movement into the fill and away from the concrete part of the dam. This paper describes these measures and the analytical methods used in design development

Hypertension and other morbidities with Cushing’s syndrome associated with corticosteroids: a review

Corticosteroids constitute an ideal treatment for various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions. However, corticosteroids have a considerable number of side effects, including hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders, sleep apnea, osteoporosis, myopathy, and disorders of coagulation and fibrinolysis, which are components of Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Corticosteroid-induced side effects are dependent on the formulation, route, dose, and time of exposure. However, the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms have not been clearly defined. A large body of evidence supports the role of an imbalance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation with possible links to nitric oxide, prostanoids, angiotensin II, arginine vasopressin, endothelins, catecholamines, neuropeptide Y, and atrial natriuretic peptide. Increased oxidative stress, renin–angiotensin system activation, increased pressor response, metabolic syndrome, and sleep apnea appear to be pathogenetically involved as well. The ideal treatment is the withdrawal of corticosteroids, which is most often impossible due to the exacerbation of the underlying disease. Alternatively, a careful plan, including the proper selection of the formulation, time, and route, should be made, and each side effect should be treated properly. The focus of the research should be to develop synthetic corticosteroids with anti-inflammatory effects but fewer metabolic effects, which so far has been unsuccessful

Gut dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis and the role of spinal cord involvement in the disease.

Bowel and bladder symptoms are highly prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Bladder dysfunction (affecting 75% of these patients) is caused by disease in the spinal cord, whilst the pathophysiology of bowel dysfunction is unknown. Pathways regulating both the organs lie in close proximity to the spinal cord, and coexistence of their dysfunction might be the result of a common pathophysiology. If so, the prevalence of bladder symptoms should be greater in patients with MS and bowel symptoms. This hypothesis is tested in the study. We also evaluated how patient-reported symptoms quantify bowel dysfunction