Shifting Focus: Connecting Public Space with Everday Life

If public art is to emerge beyond its present constraints it must include a new approach by adventuresome artists and public art agencies to include an embrace of the ubiquitous unmapped, and un-claimed territories which possess permeable borders found in our vulnerable communities and peripheral public spaces which are typically rooted on the edge of artistic heritage. The history of public art has shifted focus; it’s no longer about monuments or large scale projects with big budgets but about footnotes. The big events have been commemorated, now the little ones wait to shape our understanding of public space design. This new conception of public space design fills in spaces where stories haven’t been told, it’s more accessible to our daily uses and about anonymous people and communities who worked hard to build our communities from within. Moreover, it is the theoretical implications of how this is articulated in the context of communities in constant flux, subject to the effects of social dislocations, economic decay and misguided strategies for designing and engaging public space for an overly stimulated and distracted public. More importantly, and perhaps the more interesting question could become, and the subsequent discussion of a presumed predictability must include the recognition that the future of public art is dependent on an overdue reexamination, and redefinition of meaning of the clichéd and over used term “site responsiveness” as the empirical definition of what constitutes “good public art.

Neue Dibenz[d,g]azecine als hochaffine Liganden an humanen Dopaminrezeptoren

The purpose of this thesis was, based on the highly potent dopamine receptor ligand LE 404 (3-hydroxy-7-methyl-5,6,7,8,9,14-hexahydrodibenz[d,g]azecine), to synthesize novel substituted dibenz[d,g]azecine derivatives and parts of this structure, in order to determine the binding properties of these compounds by radioligand binding studies and a functional Ca2+-assay. This should lead to structure activity relationships (SAR) of this new class of dopamine receptor antagonists, to novel tools in dopamine receptor research and to novel potential antipsychotic drugs with fewer side effects by realizing new receptor binding profiles at the different dopamine receptor subtypes. Dibenz[d,g]azecines without substituents at the aromatic rings were prepared out of 1-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline by quaternisation with bromoethanol and reduction - or reduction and treatment with 2-ethyloxirane, respectively -, cyclisation with polyphosphoric acid, quaternisation of the resulting dibenzo[a,h]quinolizines with alkylhalides or m-CPBA, and finally reductive ring cleavage by using Birch conditions. Substituted derivatives were prepared via hydroxyethyl-benzamides by protection of the alcohol (if necessary), followed by a multistep procedure applying a Bischler-Napieralski-cyclisation using POCl3, yielding the corresponding dibenzo[a,h]quinolizines, quaternisation by alkylhalides and subsequent ring cleavage of the central C-N-bond under Birch conditions or by hydrogenolysis of the quaternary quinolizinium salts by H2/PtO2. Also treatment with ethyl-chloroformate and conversion into a urethane by NaBH3CN, followed by reduction leads to further azecines. Cleavage of quaternary quinolizinium salts performed with NaH/DMSO leads to novel azecines with a ketone moiety in position 14. Compound C could be obtained by reduction of the corresponding lactame derivatives. Evaluation of MS-data of all the novel dibenz[d,g]azecines synthesized and their relevant precursors yielded in a "dibenz[d,g]azecine-database" which showed to be very helpful in monitoring the synthesis and identification of actual and future target compounds. Competitive radioligand binding studies and functional assays were performed at human cloned dopamine receptors (hD1, hD2L, hD3 and hD5), stably expressed in HEK or CHO cell lines, respectively and resulted in the identification of numerous new potent antidopaminergic ligands with a strong correlation of affinities and substitution patterns. The most promising compound is the 4-chlorinated LE 404 with subnanomolar affinities at the hD1- and picomolar affinities at the hD5-receptor subtype

Gesellschaftlicher Wandel und personale Identität in der Spätmoderne: von den Schwierigkeiten Veränderung und Persistenz gleichermaßen zu erfassen

Dieser Artikel zeichnet kritisch nach, wie soziologische Identitätstheorien in Anlehnung an Becks Individualisierungsthese die Folgen des gesellschaftlichen Wandels für die Konstruktionsbedingungen personaler Identität beschreiben. Wir argumentieren jedoch dafür, den Blick auf Ambivalenzen im gesellschaftlichen Wandel zu richten und plädieren für eine systematische Einbeziehung soziale Ungleichheitskategorien in aktuelle Konzeptionen personaler Identität.This paper highlights how current sociological theories of identity discuss social change of individualization and its relevance for the conditions constituting individual identity. We would, however, propose an approach that goes beyond the focus on individualization but includes ambivalent and contradictory tendencies and a systematic comprehension of social inequalities

RD50-MPW3: A fully monolithic digital CMOS sensor for future tracking detectors

The CERN-RD50 CMOS working group develops the RD50-MPWseries of monolithic high-voltage CMOS pixel sensors for potential use in future high luminosity experiments such as the HL-LHC and FCC-hh. In this contribution, the design of the latest prototype in this series, RD50-MPW3, is presented. An overview of its pixel matrix and digital readout periphery is given, with discussion of the new structures implemented in the chip and the problems they aim to solve. The main analog and digital features of the sensor are already tested and initial laboratory characterisation of the chip is presented

Indexation et recherche d'images

Cet article présente les problèmes et les amorces de solutions posés par la recherche d'images dans des bases d'images dès lors que l'on souhaite une indexation automatique, comme c'est le cas pour des documents écrits. Les outils utilisés pour caractériser des images et permettre une recherche de ce type sont actuellement frustes, et souvent reposent sur des caractéristiques globales utilisant largement l'information de luminance. Nous plaidons pour l'usage de caractéristiques locales bien qu'ils aient l'inconvénient de se heurter à des problèmes de segmentation. Nous montrons, par un exemple détaillé, que des éléments de solution existent et qu'ils peuvent indiquer la voie pour des recherches futures. Cet article illustre aussi l'intérêt que présentent les déjà anciennes recherches en reconnaissance des formes pour ce genre de problèmes

Risk Profile and 3-Year Outcomes From the SYNTAX Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Nested Registries

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in “real-world” patients unsuitable for the alternative treatment.BackgroundNo data are available on the risk profile and outcomes of patients that can only undergo PCI or CABG.MethodsIn the SYNTAX (Synergy between PCI with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery) trial, a multidisciplinary Heart Team reached a consensus on whether PCI and CABG could result in clinical equipoise; if so, the patient was randomized. If not, the patient was enrolled in a CABG-ineligible PCI registry or PCI-ineligible CABG registry. A proportion (60%) of patients in the CABG registry was randomly assigned to be followed up for 5 years. No statistical comparisons were performed between randomized and registry patients. Major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular event (MACCE) rates are presented as observational only.ResultsA total of 3,075 patients were treated in the SYNTAX trial; 198 (6.4%) and 1,077 (35.0%) patients were included in PCI and CABG registries, respectively. The main reason for inclusion in the CABG registry was too complex coronary anatomy (70.9%), and the main reason for inclusion in the PCI registry was too high-risk for surgery (70.7%). Three-year MACCE was 38.0% after PCI and 16.4% after CABG. Stratification by SYNTAX score terciles demonstrated a step-wise increase of MACCE rates in both PCI and CABG registries.ConclusionsThe SYNTAX Heart Team concluded that PCI and CABG remained the only treatment options for 6.4% and 35.0% of patients, respectively. Inoperable patients with major comorbidities that underwent PCI had high MACCE rates. In patients not suitable for PCI, surgical results were excellent. (SYNTAX Study: TAXUS Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for the Treatment of Narrowed Arteries, NCT00114972

Utilisation de la couleur pour l'appariement et l'indexation d'images.

De nombreux travaux récents ont montré que l'utilisation directe du signal des images en niveaux de gris permet de développer des systèmes puissants d'appariement, d'indexation et de reconnaissance d'images. Le présent document explore l'utilisation d'images en couleur pour ces mêmes objectifs. Les principaux points en sont le choix du modèle de variation de la couleur, l'utilisation d'invariants colorimétriques, et la normalisation des images

Causes of Death Following PCI Versus CABG in Complex CAD 5-Year Follow-Up of SYNTAX

AbstractBackgroundThere are no data available on specific causes of death from randomized trials that have compared coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate specific causes of death, and its predictors, after revascularization for complex coronary disease in patients.MethodsAn independent Clinical Events Committee consisting of expert physicians who were blinded to the study treatment subclassified causes of death as cardiovascular (cardiac and vascular), noncardiovascular, or undetermined according to the trial protocol. Cardiac deaths were classified as sudden cardiac, related to myocardial infarction (MI), and other cardiac deaths.ResultsIn the randomized cohort, there were 97 deaths after CABG and 123 deaths after PCI during a 5-year follow-up. After CABG, 49.4% of deaths were cardiovascular, with the greatest cause being heart failure, arrhythmia, or other causes (24.6%), whereas after PCI, the majority of deaths were cardiovascular (67.5%) and as a result of MI (29.3%). The cumulative incidence rates of all-cause death were not significantly different between CABG and PCI (11.4% vs. 13.9%, respectively; p = 0.10), whereas there were significant differences in terms of cardiovascular (5.8% vs. 9.6%, respectively; p = 0.008) and cardiac death (5.3% vs. 9.0%, respectively; p = 0.003), which were caused primarily by a reduction in MI-related death with CABG compared with PCI (0.4% vs. 4.1%, respectively; p <0.0001). Treatment with PCI versus CABG was an independent predictor of cardiac death (hazard ratio: 1.55; 95% confidence interval: 1.09 to 2.33; p = 0.045). The difference in MI-related death was seen largely in patients with diabetes, 3-vessel disease, or high SYNTAX (TAXUS Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for the Treatment of Narrowed Arteries) trial scores.ConclusionsDuring a 5-year follow-up, CABG in comparison with PCI was associated with a significantly reduced rate of MI-related death, which was the leading cause of death after PCI. Treatments following PCI should target reducing post-revascularization spontaneous MI. Furthermore, secondary preventive medication remains essential in reducing events post-revascularization. (TAXUS Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for the Treatment of Narrowed Arteries [SYNTAX]; NCT00114972

Opioid use is associated with increased out-of-hospital cardiac arrest risk among 40,000-cases across two countries

AIMS: Opioid use has substantially increased in the last decade and is associated with overdose mortality, but also with increased mortality from cardiovascular causes. This finding may partly reflect an association between opioids and out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Therefore, we aimed to investigate OHCA‐risk of opioids in the community. METHODS: We conducted 2 population‐based case–control studies separately in the Netherlands (2009–2018) and Denmark (2001–2015). Cases were individuals who experienced OHCA of presumed cardiac cause. Each case was matched with up to 5 non‐OHCA‐controls according to age, sex and OHCA‐date. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: We included 5473 OHCA‐cases matched with 21 866 non‐OHCA‐controls in the Netherlands, and 35 017 OHCA‐cases matched with 175 085 non‐OHCA‐controls in Denmark. We found that use of opioids (the Netherlands: cases: 5.4%, controls: 1.8%; Denmark: cases: 11.9%, controls: 4.4%) was associated with increased OHCA‐risk in both regions (the Netherlands: OR 2.1 [95% CI 1.8–2.5]; Denmark: OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.5–2.1]). The association was observed in both sexes, and in individuals with cardiovascular disease (the Netherlands: OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.5–2.1]; Denmark: OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.5–1.7]) or without (the Netherlands: OR 3.4 [95% CI: 2.4–4.8], P (interaction) < .0001; Denmark: OR 2.3 [95% CI: 2.0–2.5], P (interaction) < .0001). CONCLUSION: Use of opioids is associated with increased OHCA‐risk in both sexes, independently of concomitant cardiovascular disease. These findings should be considered when evaluating the harms and benefits of treatment with opioids