IODA - an Interactive Open Document Architecture

AbstractObjective of the proposed architecture is to enable representing an electronic document as a multi-layered structure of executable digital objects, which is extensible and without a need to support any particular formats or user interfaces. IODA layers are intended to reflect document content organization levels rather then system abstraction or functional levels, as in software architecture models

Distance Digital Algorithm Immune to Saturation of Current Transformer

Saturation of current transformers due to slowly decaying primary current D.C. components cause errors in reproduction of the current fundamental harmonic. Most of the relays are more or less sensitive to the errors. If the saturation occures before the given relay operated. the operation may be delayed up to about 2 time constants of the D.C.component. In some, although rare cases, transient CT errors may cause unselective operation of the relay. Whether the current transformer saturates and when it occures depend mainly on the accuracy limit factor and on the residual flux in the transformer core. However bearing in mind the very high expected values of short circuit currents and the long D.C. time constants one may conclude, that the design of CT-s which never saturate would end in bulky and expensive units. Therefore most of the protective CT-s which are in service saturate during severe transients. It is a duty of protection engineers to design the relays in such a way, that the errors caused by the saturation neither cause maloperation, nor bring about excessive delay

Evidence for distinct coastal and offshore communities of bottlenose dolphins in the north east Atlantic.

Bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the northeast Atlantic remains poorly understood. However, fine scale photo-id data have shown that populations can comprise multiple overlapping social communities. These social communities form structural elements of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) [corrected] populations, reflecting specific ecological and behavioural adaptations to local habitats. We investigated the social structure of bottlenose dolphins in the waters of northwest Ireland and present evidence for distinct inshore and offshore social communities. Individuals of the inshore community had a coastal distribution restricted to waters within 3 km from shore. These animals exhibited a cohesive, fission-fusion social organisation, with repeated resightings within the research area, within a larger coastal home range. The offshore community comprised one or more distinct groups, found significantly further offshore (>4 km) than the inshore animals. In addition, dorsal fin scarring patterns differed significantly between inshore and offshore communities with individuals of the offshore community having more distinctly marked dorsal fins. Specifically, almost half of the individuals in the offshore community (48%) had characteristic stereotyped damage to the tip of the dorsal fin, rarely recorded in the inshore community (7%). We propose that this characteristic is likely due to interactions with pelagic fisheries. Social segregation and scarring differences found here indicate that the distinct communities are likely to be spatially and behaviourally segregated. Together with recent genetic evidence of distinct offshore and coastal population structures, this provides evidence for bottlenose dolphin inshore/offshore community differentiation in the northeast Atlantic. We recommend that social communities should be considered as fundamental units for the management and conservation of bottlenose dolphins and their habitat specialisations

Long-term and age-dependent restoration of visual function in a mouse model of CNGB3-associated achromatopsia following gene therapy

Mutations in the CNGB3 gene account for >50% of all known cases of achromatopsia. Although of early onset, its stationary character and the potential for rapid assessment of restoration of retinal function following therapy renders achromatopsia a very attractive candidate for gene therapy. Here we tested the efficacy of an rAAV2/8 vector containing a human cone arrestin promoter and a human CNGB3 cDNA in CNGB3 deficient mice. Following subretinal delivery of the vector, CNGB3 was detected in both M- and S-cones and resulted in increased levels of CNGA3, increased cone density and survival, improved cone outer segment structure and normal subcellular compartmentalization of cone opsins. Therapy also resulted in long-term improvement of retinal function, with restoration of cone ERG amplitudes of up to 90% of wild-type and a significant improvement in visual acuity. Remarkably, successful restoration of cone function was observed even when treatment was initiated at 6 months of age; however, restoration of normal visual acuity was only possible in younger animals (e.g. 2–4 weeks old). This study represents achievement of the most substantial restoration of visual function reported to date in an animal model of achromatopsia using a human gene construct, which has the potential to be utilized in clinical trials

Oral HPV infection and MHC class II deficiency (A study of two cases with atypical outcome)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Major histocompatibility complex class II deficiency, also referred to as bare lymphocyte syndrome is a rare primary Immunodeficiency disorder characterized by a profondly deficient human leukocyte antigen class II expression and a lack of cellular and humoral immune responses to foreign antigens. Clinical manifestations include extreme susceptibility to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. The infections begin in the first year of life and involve usually the respiratory system and the gastrointestinal tract. Severe malabsorption with failure to thrive ensues, often leading to death in early childhood. Bone marrow transplantation is the curative treatment.</p> <p>Case reports</p> <p>Here we report two cases with a late outcome MHC class II deficiency. They had a long term history of recurrent bronchopulmonary and gastrointestinal infections. Bone marrow transplantation could not be performed because no compatible donor had been identified. At the age of 12 years, they developed oral papillomatous lesions related to HPV (human papillomavirus). The diagnosis of HPV infection was done by histological examination. HPV typing performed on the tissue obtained at biopsy showed HPV type 6. The lesions were partially removed after two months of laser treatment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Viral infections are common in patients with MHC class II and remain the main cause of death. Besides warts caused by HPV infection do not exhibit a propensity for malignant transformation; they can cause great psychosocial morbidity.</p

Athens by Sound

Architecture is not only that which is built. Architecture is made up of different aspects, both material and immaterial. The atmosphere, the sounds, the smells, the possibility of interaction between human bodies: these all constitute characteristics of space, characteristics that are assuming an increasing importance within architectural research worldwide. Within this field of thought about “Architecture Beyond Building”, we focus on one particular non-material spatial phenomenon that lies ‘beyond the built’: sound. We have created, thus, an interactive sonic map of Athens, which presents, in an unexpected way, fragments of the atmosphere of the city. What would a non-visual map look like? What would it feel like if you wandered within a forest of headphones, playing sounds from different places in Athens? How would it feel if you found yourself in a ‘map’ that only appeared when you walked in it? What would it be like if the map only appeared when you invited one more person to be with you? The Greek pavilion addresses these questions through an atmospheric interactive ‘game’, presenting fragments of sounds and visual sequences of Athens. The visitor recreates the space around him through his own presence and movement. The map appears only where he walks, and/or when he invites one more person to sit next to him. The bodies of the visitors react with one another and with the space itself, creating a dynamic, changing field. This walk in the pavilion takes you “out there”, through invisible Athens. The pavilion brings forth the aspects of architecture that are ‘beyond the material’: the ‘beyond the built’, the almost unreachable, elusive aspects of space, such as sound, non-visual senses, atmosphere. It challenges, thus, the limits of architecture, the limits of what can be mapped and re-located and what cannot. An edited collection by A. Karandinou, C. Achtypi, S. Giamarelos, including texts by: Ιntothepill, Katie Lloyd Thomas, Martin Parker, Panayiotis Tournikiotis, Mark Wigley, Dorian Wiszniewski, Leslie Kavanaugh, Stephen Cairns, Jonathan Hill, Vassilis Ganiatsas, Anastasios Kotsiopoulos, Constance Classen, Stavros Stavrides, Ole Bouman, William Mitchell, Richard Coyne, Neil Spiller, Kas Oosterhuis, Nora Schueler, Zissis Kotionis, Stelarc, Andreas Angelidakis, Aristide Antonas, Slavoj Žižek, Nikolaos Laskaris, Argyris Rokas, Andreas Kourkoulas, John Peponis, Yorgos Ioannou, Yorgos Tzirtzilakis, Konstantinos Vita, Dionyssis Kapsalis, United Visual Artists, Platon Rivellis, and Dimitris Filippidis. Contributors to the Greek National Participation to the 11th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia "Out there. Architecture beyond building" (2008) Organised by: Hellenic Ministry of Culture [yppo.gr] General Directorate of Modern Culture Directorate of Visual Arts Department for the Promotion of Contemporary Art Curators: Anastasia Karandinou Christina Achtypi Stylianos Giamarelos Video works by Intothepill net [intothepill.net] Artists: Yiannis Grigoriadis Yiannis Isidorou Lina Theodorou Sound Recording / Sound Design Dimitris Miyakis [movement.gr] Vangelis Lympouridis Exhibition Graphics / Catalogue Design Company [company-london.com] Design and Implementation of interactive environment 2monochannels [2monochannels.com] Audiovisual and interactive systems design / acoustic design / construction supervision Iraklis Lampropoulos Giorgos Lampropoulos Software programming Vassilis Boukis Electronic subsystem design Michail Kritsotakis Electrical Design Giorgos Satolias Interconnection of interactive elements Vangelis Lympouridis [inter-axions.com] Dimitris Miyakis Light design L+DG lighting architects [lightingdg.com] Thomas Gravanis Christina Frangeti Construction Gavrilos Michalis [gavrilos.gr] Digital printing Polichromo [polichromo.com] Translations Rachel Howard Nikos Masourides Catalogue photographs Intothepill – Internet video platform Catalogue published by futura publications Marketing communication Chryssa Vrouzi Communication associate Katerina Stamidi Photographer Cathy Cunliffe [cathycunliffeΑΤgmail.com] For their financial and material support for the Greek participation at the 11th International Exhibition of Architecture, La Biennale di Venezia, we express our deepest thanks to the sponsors: Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation [onassis.gr] Akzonobel [akzonobel.com] Carteco - Architectural Materials & Design [carteco.gr] L+DG Lighting Architects [lightingdg.com] Plaisio [plaisio.gr] Polichromo Advertising Applications [polichromo.com] iGuzzini illuminazione [iguzzini.com] Diathlasis Architectural Lighting [diathlasis.gr

Widespread impact of horizontal gene transfer on plant colonization of land

In complex multicellular eukaryotes such as animals and plants, horizontal gene transfer is commonly considered rare with very limited evolutionary significance. Here we show that horizontal gene transfer is a dynamic process occurring frequently in the early evolution of land plants. Our genome analyses of the moss Physcomitrella patens identified 57 families of nuclear genes that were acquired from prokaryotes, fungi or viruses. Many of these gene families were transferred to the ancestors of green or land plants. Available experimental evidence shows that these anciently acquired genes are involved in some essential or plant-specific activities such as xylem formation, plant defence, nitrogen recycling as well as the biosynthesis of starch, polyamines, hormones and glutathione. These findings suggest that horizontal gene transfer had a critical role in the transition of plants from aquatic to terrestrial environments. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model of horizontal gene transfer mechanism in nonvascular and seedless vascular plants

Predation Risk Shapes Social Networks in Fission-Fusion Populations

Predation risk is often associated with group formation in prey, but recent advances in methods for analysing the social structure of animal societies make it possible to quantify the effects of risk on the complex dynamics of spatial and temporal organisation. In this paper we use social network analysis to investigate the impact of variation in predation risk on the social structure of guppy shoals and the frequency and duration of shoal splitting (fission) and merging (fusion) events. Our analyses revealed that variation in the level of predation risk was associated with divergent social dynamics, with fish in high-risk populations displaying a greater number of associations with overall greater strength and connectedness than those from low-risk sites. Temporal patterns of organisation also differed according to predation risk, with fission events more likely to occur over two short time periods (5 minutes and 20 minutes) in low-predation fish and over longer time scales (>1.5 hours) in high-predation fish. Our findings suggest that predation risk influences the fine-scale social structure of prey populations and that the temporal aspects of organisation play a key role in defining social systems

Further evidence for a parent-of-origin effect at the NOP9 locus on language-related phenotypes

Background - Specific language impairment (SLI) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, observed in 5–10 % of children. Family and twin studies suggest a strong genetic component, but relatively few candidate genes have been reported to date. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) described the first statistically significant association specifically for a SLI cohort between a missense variant (rs4280164) in the NOP9 gene and language-related phenotypes under a parent-of-origin model. Replications of these findings are particularly challenging because the availability of parental DNA is required. Methods - We used two independent family-based cohorts characterised with reading- and language-related traits: a longitudinal cohort (n = 106 informative families) including children with language and reading difficulties and a nuclear family cohort (n = 264 families) selected for dyslexia. Results - We observed association with language-related measures when modelling for parent-of-origin effects at the NOP9 locus in both cohorts: minimum P = 0.001 for phonological awareness with a paternal effect in the first cohort and minimum P = 0.0004 for irregular word reading with a maternal effect in the second cohort. Allelic and parental trends were not consistent when compared to the original study. Conclusions - A parent-of-origin effect at this locus was detected in both cohorts, albeit with different trends. These findings contribute in interpreting the original GWAS report and support further investigations of the NOP9 locus and its role in language-related traits. A systematic evaluation of parent-of-origin effects in genetic association studies has the potential to reveal novel mechanisms underlying complex traits