3,072 research outputs found
Transition metal decorated soft nanomaterials through modular self-assembly of an asymmetric hybrid polyoxometalate
An asymmetrically functionalised WellsâDawson organicâinorganic hybrid polyoxometalate has been post-functionalised by Pt2+ coordination, and demonstrates self-assembly into surface-decorated micellar nanostructures. This multifunctional hybrid material is found to be a redox-active soft nanomaterial and demonstrates a new molecular design strategy with potential for applications in photo- or electro-catalysis
Mexican Banking Regulation: Evidence of the Appropriateness of Government Intervention
In this paper we investigate the validity of two assumptions frequently used to justify the transformation of the Mexican banking system through federal regulation. These assumptions are: (i) the alleged existence of economies of scale, and (ii) a homogeneous structure of the Mexican banking system. Econometric evidence from banking data over the period 1980 - 1982 suggests that neither of these assumptions are likely valid. The Mexican banking system is subject to constant rather than increasing returns to scale
Practitioner Feedback on Lung Cancer Practice Guidelines in Ontario
Purpose:Practitioner feedback (PF) surveys are sent to practitioners who care for lung cancer patients as each new practice guideline is completed. In this study, the PF was reviewed to assess the frequency of response to the surveys, the respondentsâ characteristics, the nature of the feedback, and the intention to adopt the guideline in practice.Methods:Fourteen practice guidelines (PGs) were sent to Ontario practitioners treating lung cancer, and feedback on the PGs was obtained through either an eight- or 21-item survey.Results:Between 1995 and 2002, 1198 surveys were sent to 223 practitioners. The overall response rate was 58.9% but varied by specialty (radiation and medical oncologists, 67%; thoracic surgeons, 46%; respirologists, 38%), by location of practice (cancer center, 65%; community-based practice, 55%), by geographic region of the province (highest, 72%; lowest, 42%), and by PG topic (chemotherapy, 60%; radiotherapy, 63%; combined modality therapy, 52%). The response rate to the PF surveys did not decline over time. Eighty-six percent of respondents agreed with the lung cancer guidelines and indicated that they were likely or very likely to use the PGs in their practice.Conclusion:The results suggest that practitioners view the guideline development process as credible and useful to guide practice. Whether the stated intention to use the guidelines will actually translate into practice requires further study
Transport of magnetic flux from the canopy to the internetwork
Recent observations have revealed that 8% of linear polarization patches in
the internetwork quiet Sun are fully embedded in downflows. These are not
easily explained with the typical scenarios for the source of internetwork
fields which rely on flux emergence from below. We explore using radiative MHD
simulations a scenario where magnetic flux is transported from the magnetic
canopy overlying the internetwork into the photosphere by means of downward
plumes associated with convective overshoot. We find that if a canopy-like
magnetic field is present in the simulation, the transport of flux from the
canopy is an important process for seeding the photospheric layers of the
internetwork with magnetic field. We propose that this mechanism is relevant
for the Sun as well, and it could naturally explain the observed internetwork
linear polarization patches entirely embedded in downflows.Comment: Accepted to Ap
Management Information Systems Education: A Systematic Review
Management information systems (MIS) programs were developed to prepare graduates to create innovative solutions to problems where business and technology intersect. As such, the curricula must change rapidly to stay current with industry standards, an accelerating moving target. This research presents the findings of a systematic literature review to identify and present trends in the scholarly literature on MIS education. The purpose of this approach was to understand how academia ensures students are prepared for industry and keeps pace with changing industry needs. Key findings from the literature are presented, as well as a compilation of areas for future research. Overwhelmingly, a lack of international perspective was identified as the vast majority of articles collected data in the US. Further, the direction of future research and exploration revolved around five themes of innovative pedagogical approaches, industry partnerships, subtopics of MIS education, new methods and metrics for measuring success in MIS education, and cross-disciplinary opportunities in fields such as mathematics, traditional business disciplines, and the hard sciences
Transcription Factor Competition Allows Embryonic Stem Cells to Distinguish Authentic Signals from Noise
Stem cells occupy variable environments where they must distinguish stochastic fluctuations from developmental cues. Here, we use optogenetics to investigate how the pluripotency network in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) achieves a robust response to differentiation cues but not to gene expression fluctuations. We engineered mouse ESCs to allow quantitative control over the endogenous mechanism of neural differentiation through a light-inducible Brn2 transgene and monitored differentiation status through a genome-integrated Nanog-GFP reporter. By exposing cells to pulses of Brn2, we find that the pluripotency network rejects Brn2 inputs that are below specific magnitude or duration thresholds, but allows rapid differentiation when both thresholds are satisfied. The filtering properties of the network arise through its positive feedback architecture and the intrinsic half-life of Nanog, which determines the duration threshold in the network. Together our results suggest that the dynamic properties of positive feedback networks might determine how inputs are classified as signal or noise by stem cells
Education in Process Systems Engineering: Why it matters more than ever and how it can be structured
This position paper is an outcome of discussions that took place at the third FIPSE Symposium in Rhodes, Greece, between June 20â22, 2016 (http://fi-in-pse.org). The FIPSE objective is to discuss open research challenges in topics of Process Systems Engineering (PSE). Here, we discuss the societal and industrial context in which systems thinking and Process Systems Engineering provide indispensable skills and tools for generating innovative solutions to complex problems. We further highlight the present and future challenges that require systems approaches and tools to address not only âgrandâ challenges but any complex socio-technical challenge. The current state of Process Systems Engineering (PSE) education in the area of chemical and biochemical engineering is considered. We discuss approaches and content at both the unit learning level and at the curriculum level that will enhance the graduatesâ capabilities to meet the future challenges they will be facing. PSE principles are important in their own right, but importantly they provide significant opportunities to aid the integration of learning in the basic and engineering sciences across the whole curriculum. This fact is crucial in curriculum design and implementation, such that our graduates benefit to the maximum extent from their learning
Decay of a simulated mixed-polarity magnetic field in the solar surface layers
Magnetic flux is continuously being removed and replenished on the solar
surface. To understand the removal process we carried out 3D radiative MHD
simulations of the evolution of patches of photospheric magnetic field with
equal amounts of positive and negative flux. We find that the flux is removed
at a rate corresponding to an effective turbulent diffusivity, of 100--340
km^2/s, depending on the boundary conditions. For average unsigned flux
densities above about 70 Gauss, the percentage of surface magnetic energy
coming from different field strengths is almost invariant. The overall process
is then one where magnetic elements are advected by the horizontal granular
motions and occasionally come into contact with opposite-polarity elements.
These reconnect above the photosphere on a comparatively short time scale after
which the U loops produced rapidly escape through the upper surface while the
downward retraction of inverse-U loops is significantly slower, because of the
higher inertia and lower plasma beta in the deeper layers.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures accepted in A&
The bright galaxy population of five medium redshift clusters. II. Quantitative Galaxy Morphology
Aims: Following the study already presented in our previous paper, based on
the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) sample, which consists of five clusters of
galaxies within the redshift range 0.18 z 0.25, imaged in the
central 0.5-2 Mpc in very good seeing conditions, we have studied the
quantitative morphology of their bright galaxy population
Methods: We have analyzed the surface brightness profiles of the galaxy
population in those clusters. Previously, we have performed simulations in
order to check the reliability of the fits. We have also derived a quantitative
morphological classification.
Results: The structural parameters derived from these analysis have been
analyzed. We have obtained that the structural parameters of E/S0 galaxies are
similar to those showed by galaxies in low redshift clusters. However, the disc
scales are different. In particular, the scales of the discs of galaxies at
medium redshift clusters are statistically different than those located in
similar galaxies in the Coma cluster. But, the scales of the discs of galaxies
in medium redshift clusters are similar to nearby field galaxies.
Conclusions: The results suggest that the evolution of the disc component of
galaxies in clusters is faster than in field ones. Mechanisms like galaxy
harassment showing timescales of Gyr could be the responsible of this
disc scale evolution. This indicates that spiral galaxies in clusters have
suffered a strong evolution in the last 2.5 Gyr or that Coma is in some way
anomalous.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in A&
CONDUCTANCE CATHETER DERIVED RIGHT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION IS EVIDENT AFTER BALLOON EXPANDABLE TRANSCUTANEOUS AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN HUMANS
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