def is_fringe(self, connections=None):
        """true if this edge has no incoming or no outgoing connections (except turnarounds)
           If connections is given, only those connections are considered"""
        if connections is None:
            return self.is_fringe(self._incoming) or self.is_fringe(self._outgoing)
        else:
            cons = sum([c for c in connections.values()], [])
            return len([c for c in cons if c._direction != Connection.LINKDIR_TURN]) == 0