220 research outputs found
The Knowledge of Good
This book presents Robert S. Hartmanâs formal theory of value and critically examines many other twentieth century value theorists in its light, including A.J. Ayer, Kurt Baier, Brand Blanshard, Paul Edwards, Albert Einstein, William K. Frankena, R.M. Hare, Nicolai Hartmann, Martin Heidegger, G.E. Moore, P.H. Nowell-Smith, Jose Ortega y Gasset, Charles Stevenson, Paul W. Taylor, Stephen E. Toulmin, and J.O. Urmson
The Knowledge of Good: Critique of Axiological Reason
This book presents Robert S. Hartmanâs formal theory of value and critically examines many other twentieth century value theorists in its light, including A.J. Ayer, Kurt Baier, Brand Blanshard, Paul Edwards, Albert Einstein, William K. Frankena, R.M. Hare, Nicolai Hartmann, Martin Heidegger, G.E. Moore, P.H. Nowell-Smith, Jose Ortega y Gasset, Charles Stevenson, Paul W. Taylor, Stephen E. Toulmin, and J.O. Urmso
Modeling Supply Networks and Business Cycles as Unstable Transport Phenomena
Physical concepts developed to describe instabilities in traffic flows can be
generalized in a way that allows one to understand the well-known instability
of supply chains (the so-called ``bullwhip effect''). That is, small variations
in the consumption rate can cause large variations in the production rate of
companies generating the requested product. Interestingly, the resulting
oscillations have characteristic frequencies which are considerably lower than
the variations in the consumption rate. This suggests that instabilities of
supply chains may be the reason for the existence of business cycles. At the
same time, we establish some link to queuing theory and between micro- and
macroeconomics.Comment: For related work see http://www.helbing.or
Correlating electroconvulsive therapy response to electroencephalographic markers: Study protocol
INTRODUCTION: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective intervention for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite longstanding use, the underlying mechanisms of ECT are unknown, and there are no objective prognostic biomarkers that are routinely used for ECT response. Two electroencephalographic (EEG) markers, sleep slow waves and sleep spindles, could address these needs. Both sleep microstructure EEG markers are associated with synaptic plasticity, implicated in memory consolidation, and have reduced expression in depressed individuals. We hypothesize that ECT alleviates depression through enhanced expression of sleep slow waves and sleep spindles, thereby facilitating synaptic reconfiguration in pathologic neural circuits.
METHODS: Correlating ECT Response to EEG Markers (CET-REM) is a single-center, prospective, observational investigation. Wireless wearable headbands with dry EEG electrodes will be utilized for at-home unattended sleep studies to allow calculation of quantitative measures of sleep slow waves (EEG SWA, 0.5-4 Hz power) and sleep spindles (density in number/minute). High-density EEG data will be acquired during ECT to quantify seizure markers.
DISCUSSION: This innovative study focuses on the longitudinal relationships of sleep microstructure and ECT seizure markers over the treatment course. We anticipate that the results from this study will improve our understanding of ECT
Effects of spoilage on nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes signatures of the clam Ruditapes decussatus
Fish and seafood products are highly susceptible to post-mortem
spoilage due to autolytic reactions at start, then microbiological activity and
eventually oxidative reactions. Chemical and microbiological parameters are
usually used to assess quality and make decisions for protecting public health,
but they lack precision in defining which spoilage pathway is occurring at each
moment. The objective of this work was to assess the effects of spoilage reactions
on nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes in the grooved carpet shell clam,
Ruditapes decussatus, and compare them to biochemical indicators of seafood
deterioration, in order to better understand the relations between the different
spoilage pathways during commercial storage conditions. Clams were kept in a
refrigerator at 5 ÂșC, to simulate normal commercial storage conditions, and
sampled in the beginning of the experiment, and after eight, ten and twelve
days. Moisture, condition index, percentage edibility, total volatile basic nitrogen
(TVB-N), pH, nitrogen and carbon percentages and stable isotopes were determined
for each sampling moment. Stable isotope analyses were performed
using a Costech Elemental Analyzer (ECS 4010) coupled to a ThermoFinnigan
Delta V Advantage. Stable isotopes analysis, especially for nitrogen, proved to
be a good tool for the study of clam deterioration. Nitrogen stable isotopes results
showed a relation with other spoilage indicators, such as pH and TVB-N,
and allowed identifying spoilage specific pathways, such as amino acids decarboxylation
and production of volatile nitrogen compounds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Length of carotid stenosis predicts peri-procedural stroke or death and restenosis in patients randomized to endovascular treatment or endarterectomy.
BACKGROUND: The anatomy of carotid stenosis may influence the outcome of endovascular treatment or carotid endarterectomy. Whether anatomy favors one treatment over the other in terms of safety or efficacy has not been investigated in randomized trials.
METHODS: In 414 patients with mostly symptomatic carotid stenosis randomized to endovascular treatment (angioplasty or stenting; nâ=â213) or carotid endarterectomy (nâ=â211) in the Carotid and Vertebral Artery Transluminal Angioplasty Study (CAVATAS), the degree and length of stenosis and plaque surface irregularity were assessed on baseline intraarterial angiography. Outcome measures were stroke or death occurring between randomization and 30 days after treatment, and ipsilateral stroke and restenosis â„50% during follow-up. RESULTS: Carotid stenosis longer than 0.65 times the common carotid artery diameter was associated with increased risk of peri-procedural stroke or death after both endovascular treatment [odds ratio 2.79 (1.17-6.65), Pâ=â0.02] and carotid endarterectomy [2.43 (1.03-5.73), Pâ=â0.04], and with increased long-term risk of restenosis in endovascular treatment [hazard ratio 1.68 (1.12-2.53), Pâ=â0.01]. The excess in restenosis after endovascular treatment compared with carotid endarterectomy was significantly greater in patients with long stenosis than with short stenosis at baseline (interaction Pâ=â0.003). Results remained significant after multivariate adjustment. No associations were found for degree of stenosis and plaque surface.
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing stenosis length is an independent risk factor for peri-procedural stroke or death in endovascular treatment and carotid endarterectomy, without favoring one treatment over the other. However, the excess restenosis rate after endovascular treatment compared with carotid endarterectomy increases with longer stenosis at baseline. Stenosis length merits further investigation in carotid revascularisation trials
Integrating isotopes and documentary evidence : dietary patterns in a late medieval and early modern mining community, Sweden
We would like to thank the Archaeological Research Laboratory, Stockholm University, Sweden and the Tandem Laboratory (Ă
ngström Laboratory), Uppsala University, Sweden, for undertaking the analyses of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in both human and animal collagen samples. Also, thanks to Elin Ahlin Sundman for providing the ÎŽ13C and ÎŽ15N values for animal references from VĂ€sterĂ„s. This research (BĂ€ckströmâs PhD employment at Lund University, Sweden) was supported by the Berit Wallenberg Foundation (BWS 2010.0176) and Jakob and Johan Söderbergâs foundation. The âSala projectâ (excavations and analyses) has been funded by Riksens Clenodium, Jernkontoret, Birgit and Gad Rausingâs Foundation, SAUâs Research Foundation, the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund, Berit Wallenbergs Foundation, Ă
ke Wibergs Foundation, Lars Hiertas Memory, Helge Ax:son Johnsonâs Foundation and The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
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