MS Berlin, State Library, Glaser 51: A Unique Manuscript from the Early 7th/13th-Century Bahšamite Milieu in Yemen

Jan Thiele would like to thank the Gerda Henkel Foundation for granting him an M4Human Fellowship during the preparation of this chapterPeer reviewe

Study of Biomass Bottom Ash Efficiency as Phosphate Sorbent Material

Excessive richness of nutrients in water bodies such as rivers, lakes and ponds lead into deterioration of aquatic life as a results of dense growth of algae. Phosphate is one of the main nutrients that should be controlled to prevent this serious issue. Utilizing low cost material as a phosphate sorbent is offering a treatment method characterized as a sustainable solution. In this study the efficiency of biomass bottom ash BBA as phosphate sorbent material from aqueous solution is investigated. Batch experiments were undertaken, in which a particular mass of BBA was brought into contact with the phosphate solution. The experiments studied the influence of pH (different phosphate solutions were prepared with pH range 4 to 8), temperature (adsorption capacity measured at the temperature range of 10 to 30 °C), and contact time. In addition, the adsorption isotherm models were also applied to better understand the mechanism of phosphate sorption by BBA. The results revealed that the bonding between the cations (BBA surface) and anions (phosphate solution) is significantly affected by the pH of the solution. BBA presents an excellent phosphate sorption, especially, at low pH value and temperature around 20 oC. The method of this research can be adopted as a followed strategy for examination the capability of selected material for phosphorus removal from wastewater

Realization of high-fidelity unitary operations on up to 64 frequency bins

The ability to apply user-chosen large-scale unitary operations with high fidelity to a quantum state is key to realizing future photonic quantum technologies. Here, we realize the implementation of programmable unitary operations on up to 64 frequency-bin modes. To benchmark the performance of our system, we probe different quantum walk unitary operations, in particular Grover walks on four-dimensional hypercubes with similarities exceeding 95\% and quantum walks with 400 steps on circles and finite lines with similarities of 98\%. Our results open a new path towards implementing high-quality unitary operations, which can form the basis for applications in complex tasks, such as Gaussian boson sampling

Suppression of piracy armed robbery against ships and maritime terrorism: global and regional perspectives

Safety of maritime navigation has been one of the major issues in the global arena for centuries. Despite the fact that piracy is one of the oldest international crimes. it recurs and seriously threatens the safety of international maritime navigation in present days. The suppression of maritime crimes should be regulated and implemented at both international and regional levels. In this book. entitled Suppression of Piracy, Armed Robbery Against Ships and Maritime Terrorism: Global and Regional Perspectives. The authors endeavour a rigorous effort to identify. examine and analyse the deficiencies or contemporary international law of the sea conventions. regional agreements and arrangements pertaining to the suppression of piracy. armed robbery against ships and maritime terrorism. The book offers numerous valuable suggestions for the improvements of the existing laws not only in ensuring the safety of maritime navigation all around the world but also in maintaining international peace and security. Policy makers, researchers. practitioners and students of international law, especially in the field of maritime security and national security. would certainly find this book as a useful guide. Readers would get insightful ideas on the suppression of piracy. armed robbery against ships and maritime terrorism without having to refer to several sources

A double-blind randomized controlled trial for the effects of dry needling on upper limb dysfunction in patients with stroke

Spasticity is one of the main complications of a stroke. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the result of three sessions of dry needling (DN) versus sham DN on the affected upper limbs in post-stroke survivors. We recruited 24 patients (age 57.0 ± 9.6 years; male 71%). Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: a DN group and a sham DN group. The primary outcome measures were the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) and the Box and Block Test (BBT). Secondary outcome measures included active and passive wrist range of motion (AROM and PROM). All assessments were measured at baseline, immediately after the last session of the intervention, and one month later. Patients in the DN group had improved upper limb spasticity and passive wrist range of motion compared to control group (P0.05). Dry needling is a useful method for improving muscle spasticity in the upper limbs of patients with stroke

The Effect of Dry Needling on Lower Limb Dysfunction in Poststroke Survivors

Background: Spasticity is one of the main complications in poststroke survivors leading to difficulties in walking and standing resulting in high levels of disability. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of deep dry needling on lower limb dysfunction in poststroke spastic patients. Methods: A randomized clinical trial conducted in poststroke survivors who were assigned to one of 2 groups: Deep dry needling (intervention group) and sham dry needling (control group). The primary outcome measures were Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) and functional tests (timed up and go test, 10-meter walk test). Secondary outcome measures were active ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (AROM), passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (PROM), single leg stance test, and Barthel index. All measurements were assessed at baseline (T0), immediately after the third session 1 week later (T1), and 1 month after the end of the intervention (T2). Results: We recruited 24 patients (71% male; mean age 57 ± 10 years; 26.4 ± 1.8 kg•m−2; time since event: 25.2 ± 12.5 months). There were significant improvements in MMAS, timed up and go test, 10-meter walk test, Barthel scale, and PROM (P . 05). Conclusions: Deep dry needling decreases muscle spasticity and improves lower limb function and gait speed in poststroke survivors

How to specify healthcare process improvements collaboratively using rapid, remote consensus-building: a framework and a case study of its application.

BackgroundPractical methods for facilitating process improvement are needed to support high quality, safe care. How best to specify (identify and define) process improvements - the changes that need to be made in a healthcare process - remains a key question. Methods for doing so collaboratively, rapidly and remotely offer much potential, but are under-developed. We propose an approach for engaging diverse stakeholders remotely in a consensus-building exercise to help specify improvements in a healthcare process, and we illustrate the approach in a case study.MethodsOrganised in a five-step framework, our proposed approach is informed by a participatory ethos, crowdsourcing and consensus-building methods: (1) define scope and objective of the process improvement; (2) produce a draft or prototype of the proposed process improvement specification; (3) identify participant recruitment strategy; (4) design and conduct a remote consensus-building exercise; (5) produce a final specification of the process improvement in light of learning from the exercise. We tested the approach in a case study that sought to specify process improvements for the management of obstetric emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a brief video showing a process for managing a post-partum haemorrhage in women with COVID-19 to elicit recommendations on how the process could be improved. Two Delphi rounds were then conducted to reach consensus.ResultsWe gathered views from 105 participants, with a background in maternity care (n = 36), infection prevention and control (n = 17), or human factors (n = 52). The participants initially generated 818 recommendations for how to improve the process illustrated in the video, which we synthesised into a set of 22 recommendations. The consensus-building exercise yielded a final set of 16 recommendations. These were used to inform the specification of process improvements for managing the obstetric emergency and develop supporting resources, including an updated video.ConclusionsThe proposed methodological approach enabled the expertise and ingenuity of diverse stakeholders to be captured and mobilised to specify process improvements in an area of pressing service need. This approach has the potential to address current challenges in process improvement, but will require further evaluation

Entomopathogenic Fungus as a Biological Control for an Important Vector of Livestock Disease: The Culicoides Biting Midge

BACKGROUND: The recent outbreak of bluetongue virus in northern Europe has led to an urgent need to identify control measures for the Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges that transmit it. Following successful use of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae against larval stages of biting midge Culicoides nubeculosus Meigen, we investigated the efficacy of this strain and other fungi (Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea and Lecanicillium longisporum) as biocontrol agents against adult C. nubeculosus in laboratory and greenhouse studies. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: Exposure of midges to 'dry' conidia of all fungal isolates caused significant reductions in survival compared to untreated controls. Metarhizium anisopliae strain V275 was the most virulent, causing a significantly decrease in midge survival compared to all other fungal strains tested. The LT(50) value for strain V275 was 1.42 days compared to 2.21-3.22 days for the other isolates. The virulence of this strain was then further evaluated by exposing C. nubeculosus to varying doses (10(8)-10(11) conidia m(-2)) using different substrates (horse manure, damp peat, leaf litter) as a resting site. All exposed adults were found to be infected with the strain V275 four days after exposure. A further study exposed C. nubeculosus adults to 'dry' conidia and 'wet' conidia (conidia suspended in 0.03% aq. Tween 80) of strain V275 applied to damp peat and leaf litter in cages within a greenhouse. 'Dry' conidia were more effective than 'wet' conidia, causing 100% mortality after 5 days. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study to demonstrate that entomopathogenic fungi are potential biocontrol agents against adult Culicoides, through the application of 'dry' conidia on surfaces (e.g., manure, leaf litter, livestock) where the midges tend to rest. Subsequent conidial transmission between males and females may cause an increased level of fungi-induced mortality in midges thus reducing the incidence of disease

Photoacoustic imaging of the human placental vasculature

Minimally invasive fetal interventions require accurate imaging from inside the uterine cavity. Twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition considered in this study, occurs from abnormal vascular anastomoses in the placenta that allow blood to flow unevenly between the fetuses. Currently, TTTS is treated fetoscopically by identifying the anastomosing vessels, and then performing laser photocoagulation. However, white light fetoscopy provides limited visibility of placental vasculature, which can lead to missed anastomoses or incomplete photocoagulation. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is an alternative imaging method that provides contrast for hemoglobin, and in this study, two PA systems were used to visualize chorionic (fetal) superficial and subsurface vasculature in human placentas. The first system comprised an optical parametric oscillator for PA excitation and a 2D Fabry‐Pérot cavity ultrasound sensor; the second, light emitting diode arrays and a 1D clinical linear‐array ultrasound imaging probe. Volumetric photoacoustic images were acquired from ex vivo normal term and TTTS‐treated placentas. It was shown that superficial and subsurface branching blood vessels could be visualized to depths of approximately 7 mm, and that ablated tissue yielded negative image contrast. This study demonstrated the strong potential of PA imaging to guide minimally invasive fetal therapies. [Image: see text