Soliton transmission at 10 Gbit/s over 2022 km of standard fibre with dispersion compensation

We present experimental results of 10 Gbit/s, 20 ps soliton data transmission over standard fibre, dispersion compensated to 0.5 ps/nm/km. Acceptable Q values were measured to a distance of 2022 km.

Stable propagation of solitons with increased energy through the combined action of dispersion management and periodic saturable absorption

It is shown, through numerical simulations, that by using a combination of dispersion management and periodic saturable absorption it is possible to transmit solitonlike pulses with greatly increased energy near to the zero net dispersion wavelength. This system is shown to support the stable propagation of solitons over transoceanic distances for a wide range of input powers.

Personal Storytelling : Using Natural Language Generation for Children with Complex Communication Needs, in the Wild...

Acknowledgements The authors thank the children, their parents and school staff, who participated in this research, and who so willingly gave us their time, help and support. They also thank Steven Knox and Alan Clelland for their work on programming the mobile phone application. Additional thanks to DynaVox Inc. for supplying the Vmax communication devices to run our system on and Sensory Software Ltd for supplying us with their AAC software. This research was supported by the Research Council UKs Digittal Economy Programme and EPSRC (Grant numbers EP/F067151/1, EP/F066880/1, EP/E011764/1, EP/H022376/1, and EP/H022570 /1).

Notas lexicogr��ficas: extensi��n sem��ntica de algunos derivados en -�������� y -��������

Cuatro derivados en -�������� y -�������� se refieren no a un objeto, sino a una persona. Analizo ���������������� y ������������������, con especial atenci��n al pasaje de la Paz de Arist��fanes, y �������������������� y el plural ����������������, documentados en Herodas.

"Per aurem intrat Christus in Mariam". Aproximaci��n iconogr��fica a la "conceptio per aurem" en la pintura italiana del Trecento desde fuentes patr��sticas y teol��gicas

La tesis mariol��gica de la conceptio per aurem, seg��n la cual la Virgen Mar��a habr��a concebido a Jesucristo por el o��do en el momento de escuchar del ��ngel el mensaje celestial anunci��ndole que, sin perder su virginidad, ser��a madre del Hijo de Dios encarnado, ha merecido hasta ahora muy pocos estudios acad��micos rigurosamente fundados en fuentes primarias. De hecho, en la literatura especializada son muy escasas las referencias a tal teor��a y, cuando alg��n estudioso la evoca, casi siempre se contenta con aludir a ella, sin aportar pruebas documentales. Sin embargo, tal como lo revelan las nueve pinturas italianas aqu�� analizadas, esa teor��a fue ilustrada mediante sutiles met��foras visuales en muchas obras pict��ricas medievales, las cuales se inspiraron en una s��lida tradici��n literaria. Adem��s una pl��yade de Padres de la Iglesia y te��logos medievales testimonia, mediante afirmaciones expl��citas, que semejante teor��a goz�� de notable aceptaci��n entre los maestros del pensamiento cristiano. Bas��ndose en numerosos textos patr��sticos y teol��gicos, este art��culo intenta dos objetivos esenciales: exponer, ante todo, las distintas formulaciones te��ricas propuestas por esos pensadores; y adem��s, tratar de poner en luz los significados dogm��ticos que subyacen bajo esa sorprendente tesis.

Bacteriophage Can Prevent Encrustation and Blockage of Urinary Catheters by Proteus mirabilis.

Proteus mirabilis forms dense crystalline biofilms on catheter surfaces that occlude urine flow, leading to serious clinical complications in long-term catheterized patients, but there are presently no truly effective approaches to control catheter blockage by this organism. This study evaluated the potential for bacteriophage therapy to control P. mirabilis infection and prevent catheter blockage. Representative in vitro models of the catheterized urinary tract, simulating a complete closed drainage system as used in clinical practice, were employed to evaluate the performance of phage therapy in preventing blockage. Models mimicking either an established infection or early colonization of the catheterized urinary tract were treated with a single dose of a 3-phage cocktail, and the impact on time taken for catheters to block, as well as levels of crystalline biofilm formation, was measured. In models of established infection, phage treatment significantly increased time taken for catheters to block (��� 3-fold) compared to untreated controls. However, in models simulating early-stage infection, phage treatment eradicated P. mirabilis and prevented blockage entirely. Analysis of catheters from models of established infection 10 h after phage application demonstrated that phage significantly reduced crystalline biofilm formation but did not significantly reduce the level of planktonic cells in the residual bladder urine. Taken together, these results show that bacteriophage constitute a promising strategy for the prevention of catheter blockage but that methods to deliver phage in sufficient numbers and within a key therapeutic window (early infection) will also be important to the successful application of phage to this problem.

Making personalised nutrition the easy choice: Creating policies to break down the barriers and reap the benefits

Personalised diets based on people���s existing food choices, and/or phenotypic, and/or genetic information hold potential to improve public dietary-related health. The aim of this analysis, therefore, has been to examine the degree to which factors which determine uptake of personalised nutrition vary between EU countries to better target policies to encourage uptake, and optimise the health benefits of personalised nutrition technology. A questionnaire developed from previous qualitative research was used to survey nationally representative samples from 9 EU countries (N = 9381). Perceived barriers to the uptake of personalised nutrition comprised three factors (data protection; the eating context; and, societal acceptance). Trust in sources of information comprised four factors (commerce and media; practitioners; government; family and, friends). Benefits comprised a single factor. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed to compare differences in responses between the United Kingdom; Ireland; Portugal; Poland; Norway; the Netherlands; Germany; and, Spain. The results indicated that respondents in Greece, Poland, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, rated the benefits of personalised nutrition highest, suggesting a particular readiness in these countries to adopt personalised nutrition interventions. Greek participants were more likely to perceive the social context of eating as a barrier to adoption of personalised nutrition, implying a need for support in negotiating social situations while on a prescribed diet. Those in Spain, Germany, Portugal and Poland scored highest on perceived barriers related to data protection. Government was more trusted than commerce to deliver and provide information on personalised nutrition overall. This was particularly the case in Ireland, Portugal and Greece, indicating an imperative to build trust, particularly in the ability of commercial service providers to deliver personalised dietary regimes effectively in these countries. These findings, obtained from a nationally representative sample of EU citizens, imply that a parallel, integrated, public-private delivery system would capture the needs of most potential consumers.

��tude des strat��gies favorisant le transfert des apprentissages chez les adultes ayant suivi une formation intensive

Certaines sources affirment que les apprenants adultes ne retiennent que 10% des apprentissages faits lors d'une session de formation. Le but vis�� par cette recherche est donc d'identifier les strat��gies favorisant le transfert des apprentissages chez les adultes. Pour ce faire, le chercheur a d'abord consult�� les auteurs Malcolm Knowles, Alan B. Knox, Patricia K. Cross et Claudette Montpetit entre autres, pour ��tablir les caract��ristiques des adultes. Ces derniers ont une exp��rience de vie et de travail, des attentes et des connaissances qui les distinguent des jeunes ��tudiants, ce qui exige des strat��gies d'enseignement diff��rentes, qui tiennent compte de ces ��l��ments. Ceci ��tant pos��, les recherches effectu��es par Jean-Marc Pilon et R. R. Haccoun, C. Jeanrie, A. Bernard, D. Desjardins et N. Murtada du groupe GRAFT ont ��t�� d��terminantes pour le chercheur. Ces derniers ont recommand�� l'application de certaines strat��gies avant, pendant et apr��s la formation, dans le but d'augmenter le transfert des apprentissages chez les adultes. Le devis de recherche montre que cette ��tude de cas s'est faite en appliquant ces strat��gies aupr��s de trois groupes d'apprenants adultes s'inscrivant �� une session intensive de perfectionnement suite �� un changement technologique survenant dans leur milieu de travail. Les r��sultats de la recherche ont d��montr�� par ailleurs que ces strat��gies pouvaient effectivement favoriser le transfert des apprentissages surtout celles mises en place apr��s la formation et qui, dans certains cas peuvent m��me ��tre l'ultime ��l��ment d��clencheur dans la d��cision de transf��rer les apprentis sages. En conclusion, le lecteur pourra constater que la phase �� pendant l'activit�� de formation �� est la seule sur laquelle le formateur a une emprise. Pour les autres, soit celles avant et apr��s le perfectionnement, il revient au conseiller p��dagogique de convaincre les gestionnaires de l'importance de ces activit��s. Mais en-a-t-il le pouvoir, le loisir et surtout est-il lui-m��me conscient de l'importance de cette d��marche?

Carlyle on heroes, hero-worship : and the heroic in history /

Six lectures.

Factors affecting fertility in frozen-thawed boar sperm

Frozen-thawed boar sperm holds the potential to have an impact on the future of the swine industry. Utilization of this technology could improve a swine producer���s ability to access top-tier genetics from around the world, to improve efficiency, profitability, and the quality of product to meet consumer demands. Effective application of frozen-thawed sperm can help reduce the potential risk associated with devastating economic loss due to the spread of disease. Frozen storage of boar sperm also provides a safeguard in the event of disease outbreaks, as genetic material from paternal lines can be preserved and banked for repopulation purposes. Historically these benefits have been masked by reduction in fertility measures such as litter size. The reduced fertility results from the damage sustained by the sperm cell during cryopreservation. However, increased understanding of this damage has lead to improved cryopreservation methods, ultimately increasing post-thaw viability and fertility. Enhancements in breeding technology have also resulted in a better understanding of the AI methods required to achieve acceptable farrowing rates and litter size. Fertility following AI with frozen-thawed sperm is approaching that of liquid stored sperm, and producers may soon reap the benefits of this technology. This thesis will outline the current swine industry, opportunities for utilizing frozen-thawed sperm, the main components of sperm, why they are susceptible to damage, and current freezing and breeding practices. Objective 1 was to develop a cryopreservation protocol for our lab that resulted in consistent post-thaw motility ( ��� 40%) that would eventually be used by Illinois boar studs for domestic and international sale of frozen sperm. Evaluation with both manual microscopy and CASA methods were conducted to verify quality. A preliminary breeding trial was then conducted to test the fertility of sperm frozen with this method. There were 41 ejaculates from 23 boars used for freezing. Sperm were frozen at 1.4x109 sperm/mL, averaging 55.6���1.1% (mean���SE) motility, following thaw. The samples assessed were not different (P>0.05) in motility when compared with manual or CASA systems, and results were most reliable at a 1:40 sperm dilution. In the preliminary breeding trial, gilts (n=14) were inseminated with either a single (n=10) or double (n=4) AI using 1, 2, or 4x109 motile, frozen-thawed sperm. Overall, the resulting pregnancy rates averaged 71.4% and numbers of normal fetuses per litter averaged 15.5���1.3 per litter. A feasibility study for freezing cost per ejaculate was estimated at $275/ejaculate or $11/dose of frozen-thawed semen at standard doses of 5x109 total frozen-thawed sperm. This cost estimate did not include genetic value, fixed equipment costs, depreciation, or variable lab space fees. Objective 2 focused on the proper methods for breeding with frozen-thawed boar sperm to achieve fertility. Our hypothesis was that increased numbers of inseminations and increased numbers of motile frozen-thawed sperm would improve pregnancy rate and litter size. Results showed acceptable fertility at high sperm numbers, but also the optimal method for insemination with the lowest dose tested. Gilts (n=111) responded to synchronization methods and were bred with 1, 2, or 4x109 motile frozen-thawed sperm from six boars using a single AI at 32 h, or a double AI, with the first AI at 24 and 32 h following estrus. Ultrasound was conducted at 12 h intervals to estimate the time of ovulation. On day 32 of gestation, overall pregnancy rate (73%) and number of normal fetuses per litter (10.8���0.5) across all treatments did not differ, and were not affected by number of motile sperm, or the interaction of number of motile sperm and number of inseminations. However, the number of inseminations tended to affect (P=0.14) the number of normal fetuses. Litter size increased with a double AI compared to single AI. Multiple inseminations helped to allow insemination to occur close to ovulation in response to variation in the time of ovulation. Both pregnancy rate and number of normal fetuses were greater when the time of the AI at 32 h occurred closer to the estimated time of ovulation (P<0.05). In addition, other factors such as presence of an abnormal ovary at day 30 decreased (P<0.001) pregnancy rate, while boar affected number of normal fetuses (P<0.01). Analysis of our data using a fertility index revealed doses of 2x109 motile sperm with multiple AI can achieve acceptable fertility with use of less sperm, when compared to AI using 4x109 motile sperm. The methods described here will investigate the potential for improved fertility when using frozen-thawed sperm, while accounting for variation in time of ovulation.