Octonic Electrodynamics

In this paper we present eight-component values "octons", generating associative noncommutative algebra. It is shown that the electromagnetic field in a vacuum can be described by a generalized octonic equation, which leads both to the wave equations for potentials and fields and to the system of Maxwell's equations. The octonic algebra allows one to perform compact combined calculations simultaneously with scalars, vectors, pseudoscalars and pseudovectors. Examples of such calculations are demonstrated by deriving the relations for energy, momentum and Lorentz invariants of the electromagnetic field. The generalized octonic equation for electromagnetic field in a matter is formulated.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur

GINA - A Polarized Neutron Reflectometer at the Budapest Neutron Centre

The setup, capabilities and operation parameters of the neutron reflectometer GINA, the recently installed "Grazing Incidence Neutron Apparatus" at the Budapest Neutron Centre, are introduced. GINA, a dance-floor-type, constant-energy, angle-dispersive reflectometer is equipped with a 2D position-sensitive detector to study specular and off-specular scattering. Wavelength options between 3.2 and 5.7 {\AA} are available for unpolarized and polarized neutrons. Spin polarization and analysis are achieved by magnetized transmission supermirrors and radio-frequency adiabatic spin flippers. As a result of vertical focusing by the five-element (pyrolytic graphite) monochromator the reflected intensity from a 20x20 mm sample has doubled. GINA is dedicated to studies of magnetic films and heterostructures, but unpolarized options for non-magnetic films, membranes and other surfaces are also provided. Shortly after its startup, reflectivity values as low as 3x10-5 have been measured on the instrument. The facility is now open for the international user community, but its development is continuing mainly to establish new sample environment options, the spin analysis of off-specularly scattered radiation and further decrease of the background

Forward and backward recall: Different visuospatial processes when you know what’s coming

In an immediate memory task, when participants are asked to recall list items in reverse order, benchmark memory phenomena found with more typical forward recall are not consistently reproduced. These inconsistencies have been attributed to the greater involvement of visuospatial representations in backward than in forward recall at the point of retrieval. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis with a dual-task paradigm in which manual-spatial tapping and dynamic visual noise were used as the interfering tasks. The interference task was performed during list presentation or at recall. In the first four experiments, recall direction was only communicated at the point of recall. In Experiments 1 and 2, fewer words were recalled with manual tapping than in the control condition. However, the detrimental effect of manual tapping did not vary as a function of recall direction or processing stage. In Experiment 3, dynamic visual noise did not influence recall performance. In Experiment 4, articulatory suppression was performed on all trials and manual tapping was added on half of them. As in the first two experiments, manual tapping disputed forward and backward recall to the same extent. In Experiment 5, recall direction was known before list presentation. As predicted by the visuospatial hypothesis, when manual tapping was performed during recall, its detrimental effect was limited to backward recall. Overall, results can be explained by calling upon a modified version of the visuospatial hypothesis

The first joint ESGAR/ ESPR consensus statement on the technical performance of cross-sectional small bowel and colonic imaging

Objectives: To develop guidelines describing a standardised approach to patient preparation and acquisition protocols for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) of the small bowel and colon, with an emphasis on imaging inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: An expert consensus committee of 13 members from the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) and European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) undertook a six-stage modified Delphi process, including a detailed literature review, to create a series of consensus statements concerning patient preparation, imaging hardware and image acquisition protocols. Results: One hundred and fifty-seven statements were scored for agreement by the panel of which 129 statements (82 %) achieved immediate consensus with a further 19 (12 %) achieving consensus after appropriate modification. Nine (6 %) statements were rejected as consensus could not be reached. Conclusions: These expert consensus recommendations can be used to help guide cross-sectional radiological practice for imaging the small bowel and colon. Key points: • Cross-sectional imaging is increasingly used to evaluate the bowel • Image quality is paramount to achieving high diagnostic accuracy • Guidelines concerning patient preparation and image acquisition protocols are provided

Person-Centred Therapists Call on SCoPEd Partners to Offer PSA-Backed Membership Home for those Opposed to Framework

A group of prominent practitioners, writers, trainers and academics from the Person-Centred community in the UK, along with two organisations, have published an open letter calling on the SCoPEd organisations to provide a professional home on their PSA-backed registers for members who do not wish to be aligned with SCoPEd’s divisive and hierarchical framework

Les débats entre État, Église catholique et Églises réformées autour de l’édit de tolérance de 1787

Un siècle après l’édit de Fontainebleau de 1685 qui révoque l’édit de Nantes, et à la suite de nombreux débats, Louis XVI accorde en novembre 1787 aux non-catholiques du royaume, protestants et juifs, un édit que l’on appelle couramment l’édit de tolérance ou l’édit de Breteuil, du nom du secrétaire d’État qui a participé à sa rédaction. Ce texte ne donne en aucune façon une quelconque liberté de culte aux non-catholiques, mais uniquement un état civil. En effet, désormais, ils peuvent faire enregistrer les naissances, mariages et décès de leurs communautés, réhabiliter les unions illégales contractées avant l’édit et faire légitimer les enfants nés de ces unions auprès d’un juge ou d’un curé, ce dernier n’ayant aucun rôle religieux mais devenant seulement un officier d’état civil . Depuis la fin du XVIIe siècle, les protestants français, car ce sont principalement eux qui sont concernés par cette loi, refusent la plupart du temps de faire célébrer leur union par un curé, se contentant de la signature d’un contrat notarié et de la bénédiction éventuelle d’un pasteur du Désert, comme ils renoncent également à faire baptiser les enfants nés de ces unions et à demander une sépulture au curé dans le cimetière catholique ; ces comportements, variables selon les provinces, se trouvent confortées par le synode national du Désert de 1744 qui exhorte les réformés à n’accepter aucune compromission avec la confession adverse . Ainsi, tout au long du siècle des Lumières, une partie de la population française vit sans état civil. Ce ne sont pas les mesures répressives prises contre les réformés, que ce soit les nombreuses lois, les enfermements, les enlèvements d’enfants, les procès contre les cadavres ou les campagnes de rebaptisations des enfants réformés, sur le modèle des dragonnades des années 1680, qui changent la situation . À partir du milieu du XVIIIe siècle un débat tripartite s’instaure entre l’État, les Églises réformées et l’Église catholique, chacun avec ses propositions, avant même l’affaire Calas  qui éclate en 1761, et les négociations aboutissent à un accord en 1787 entre l’État et les Églises réformées, contre l’avis de l’Église catholique. L’objectif de cette communication est d’une part d’essayer de comprendre l’évolution de la position de l’État à l’égard des protestants, alors que les persécutions sont nombreuses jusqu’au début des années 1760, mais aussi d’étudier les arguments des trois partenaires pour obtenir une solution en s’intéressant à des écrits publiés durant cette période , principalement des pamphlets et des mémoires. Je m’appuierai pour comprendre les trois points de vue sur un texte publié anonymement en 1788 et intitulé Conférence entre le frère Pancrace, Capucin, le docteur Hoth-Man, ministre protestant, & M. Robino, avocat au Parlement de Paris

Observer agreement for small bowel ultrasound in Crohn's disease: results from the METRIC trial

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate interobserver agreement for small bowel ultrasound (SBUS) in newly diagnosed and relapsing Crohn's disease. METHODS: A subset of patients recruited to a prospective trial comparing the diagnostic accuracy of MR enterography and SBUS underwent a second SBUS performed by one of a pool of six practitioners, who recorded the presence, activity and location of small bowel and colonic disease. Detailed segmental mural and extra-mural observations were also scored. Interobserver variability was expressed as percentage agreement with a construct reference standard, split by patient cohort, grouping disease as present or absent. Prevalence adjusted bias adjusted kappa (PABAK), and simple percentage agreement between practitioners, irrespective of the reference standard, were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (11 new diagnosis, 27 relapse) were recruited from two sites. Overall percentage agreement for small bowel disease presence against the consensus reference was 82% (52-95% (95%CI)), kappa coefficient (κ) 0.64, (substantial agreement) for new diagnosis and 81%, κ 0.63 (substantial agreement) for the relapsing cohort. Agreement for colonic disease presence was 64%, κ 0.27 (fair agreement) in new diagnosis and 78%,κ 0.56 (moderate agreement) in the relapsing cohort. Simple agreement between practitioners was 84% and 87% for small bowel and colonic disease presence respectively. Practitioners agreed on small bowel disease activity in 24/27 (89%) where both identified disease. Kappa agreement for detailed mural observations ranged from κ 0.00 to 1.00. CONCLUSION: There is substantial practitioner agreement for small bowel disease presence in newly diagnosed and relapsing CD patients, supporting wider dissemination of enteric US

IntAct:intra-operative fluorescence angiography to prevent anastomotic leak in rectal cancer surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Aim Anastomotic leak (AL) is a major complication of rectal cancer surgery. Despite advances in surgical practice, the rates of AL have remained static, at around 10–15%. The aetiology of AL is multifactorial, but one of the most crucial risk factors, which is mostly under the control of the surgeon, is blood supply to the anastomosis. The MRC/NIHR IntAct study will determine whether assessment of anastomotic perfusion using a fluorescent dye (indocyanine green) and near‐infrared laparoscopy can minimize the rate of AL leak compared with conventional white‐light laparoscopy. Two mechanistic sub‐studies will explore the role of the rectal microbiome in AL and the predictive value of CT angiography/perfusion studies. Method IntAct is a prospective, unblinded, parallel‐group, multicentre, European, randomized controlled trial comparing surgery with intra‐operative fluorescence angiography (IFA) against standard care (surgery with no IFA). The primary end‐point is rate of clinical AL at 90 days following surgery. Secondary end‐points include all AL (clinical and radiological), change in planned anastomosis, complications and re‐interventions, use of stoma, cost‐effectiveness of the intervention and quality of life. Patients should have a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rectum suitable for potentially curative surgery by anterior resection. Over 3 years, 880 patients from 25 European centres will be recruited and followed up for 90 days. Discussion IntAct will rigorously evaluate the use of IFA in rectal cancer surgery and explore the role of the microbiome in AL and the predictive value of preoperative CT angiography/perfusion scanning