Pressure letdown method and device for coal conversion systems

In combination with a reactor for a coal utilization system, a pressure letdown device accepts from a reactor, a polyphase fluid at an entrance pressure and an entrance velocity, and discharges the fluid from the device at a discharge pressure substantially lower than the entrance pressure and at a discharge temperature and a discharge velocity substantially equal to the entrance temperature and entrance velocity. The device is characterized by a series of pressure letdown stages including several symmetrical baffles, disposed in coaxially nested alignment. In each baffle several ports or apertures of uniform dimensions are defined. The number of ports or apertures for each baffle plate is unique with respect to the number of ports or apertures defined in each of the other baffles. The mass rate of flow for each port is a function of the area of the port, the pressure of the fluid as applied to the port, and a common pressure ratio established across the ports

Developing Queer Faith: Exploring Experiences of Cognitive Dissonance and Identity Integration For LGBQ Catholics Individuals

While religion may be meeting existential needs, it may, at the same time, be asking the LGBQ youth to be someone different than who they are (Longo et al., 2018). LGBQ individuals experience severe cognitive and emotional consequences because of oppressive religious doctrine, including guilt, shame, self-loathing, and suicidal ideation (Schuck & Liddle, 2001). When LGBQ individuals are involved with religious belief systems that cast rejecting or disapproving messages about LGBQ individuals, these individuals often experience more internalized negative self-messages, as well as more significant challenges in developing and accepting one’s sexual identity (Page et al., 2013). Therefore, this very faith that often helps these individuals find meaning, spiritual strength, and solace often, at some point, triggers a conflict when they begin to experience same-sex attraction and realize they might be LGBQ (Pietkiewicz & Kolodziejczk-Skrzypek, 2016). This inner battle between their religious beliefs and sexual orientation induces religious guilt and social pressure and forces these individuals to adapt to the heteronormative culture (Page et al., 2013). This tension from religious beliefs and a lack of strength and support from those beliefs are essential contributors to LGBQ identity challenges, above and beyond the impact of other types of stressors that LGBQ youth face (Page et al., 2013). Most existing studies focus on the result or final resolution of the tension between sexual identity and religious beliefs and focus on outcomes such as rejection of sexual identity, rejection of Catholic identity, integration of sexual and Catholic identities, and compartmentalization (Anderton et al., 2011; Mahaffy, 1996; Rodriguez & Ouellette, 2000). It is difficult for individuals to reconcile their sexual identity with their religious identity if they come from non-affirming faith traditions. In addition, mental health fields sometimes have discounted the importance of religious identity within the LGBQ population and underestimated the number of losses people might experience if asked to give up their religion (Kashubeck-West et al., 2017). Therefore, despite the incongruent messages received by LGBQ individuals within the Catholic religion and the tension many LGBQ Catholics are experiencing between these two possibly conflicting identities, many LGBQ Catholics refuse to sacrifice either of these identities (Rodriquez & Ouellette, 2000). Of those who decided to integrate these two possibly conflicting identities, research has consistently shown that people in the later stages of identity integration report lower levels of negative beliefs, more positive sexual orientation development, and feelings about LGBQ orientation (Lapinski & McKirnan, 2013). This integration of these identities has come to be understood as a process rather than simply a two-dimensional or bipolar construct (Rodriquez & Ouellette, 2000). Therefore, assessing integration as a process can potentially address the complexity of the phenomena more adequately (Anderton et al., 2011). This research aims to understand and explore more fully: How one integrates both conflicting selves, what effect dissonance has on identity development, and how to best support others working towards harmoniously incorporating both identities. Overall, the integration of LGBQ and Catholic identities appears to be a multifaceted process that requires further research

Role and Rationale for Hybrid Coronary Artery Revascularization

The optimal revascularization strategy for patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease remains controversial. The advent of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has challenged the superiority of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for multi-vessel disease. In the late 1990s, an integrated approach, now referred to as “hybrid coronary revascularization” (HCR), was pioneered combining CABG and PCI to offer appropriate patients a less invasive option for revascularization while still capitalizing on the superior patency rates of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery bypass . The operative techniques continue to evolve as well as the timing strategies for intervention and use of anti-platelet therapy. While more research is needed, current data supports hybrid coronary revascularization as a promising technique to optimize outcomes in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease

Leadership between decks: a synthesis and development of engagement and resistance theories of leadership based on evidence from practice in Royal Navy warships

Purpose To understand the role of interaction in the process of leadership. Interaction has been claimed to be a leadership competence in earlier research into leadership in the Royal Navy. The aim of this research is to define how interaction works within naval teams. Design/methodology/approach The research uses Grounded Theory. Following a series of leadership discussions in separate focus groups, discussion topics were coded and subjected to recursive qualitative analysis. The grounded approach is used to synthesise and develop existing leadership theory strands as well as to extend the trait-process approach to leadership. Findings The research discovers the key interaction behaviours of engagement, disengagement and levelling. Our findings support recent developments in follower-centric perceptions of leadership and in interaction specifically. We develop engagement theory by combining it with the less well researched area of leadership resistance. We then re-frame resistance as social levelling, a more comprehensive interaction mechanism. Research limitations/implications The research is highly contextual because of its qualitative approach. Some of the detailed reactions to leadership behaviours may not found in other naval or military teams and are unlikely to be generalizable to non-military environments. However, the mechanism described, that of engagement, disengagement and levelling is considered highly generalizable if not universal. Rather than develop new theory fragments in an already confusing research environment, we fuse engagement and resistance theory to extend trait-process theories of leadership. The result is a coherent and integrative model of leadership dynamics which frames leadership in the mundane interaction of leaders and followers. Practical implications Interaction as a competence is strongly supported as is the encouragement of cultures which promote interaction. Selection procedures for future leaders should include interaction skills. The use of subtle methods of resistance are highlighted. Such methods may indicate poor interaction long before more overt forms of resistance are apparent. Originality/value This research uniquely uses Grounded Theory to extend current theories (competence based leadership and trait-process theories of leadership), explaining the complexity of leadership-interaction. The research also synthesises and develops engagement and levelling (resistance to leadership) theories for the first time. As such the project suggests a full range model of follower response to leadership including subtle forms of resistance to power. The value of group-level analysis using focus groups is recommended, especially for other collective leader-follower approaches to leadership. The research is of interest to those studying leadership process theories, competencies, leader-follower traditions, engagement and power/resistance research

Testing differential use of payoff-biased social learning strategies in children and chimpanzees

Various non-human animal species have been shown to exhibit behavioural traditions. Importantly, this research has been guided by what we know of human culture, and the question of whether animal cultures may be homologous or analogous to our own culture. In this paper, we assess whether models of human cultural transmission are relevant to understanding biological fundamentals by investigating whether accounts of human payoff-biased social learning are relevant to chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). We submitted 4- and 5-year-old children (N = 90) and captive chimpanzees (N = 69) to a token–reward exchange task. The results revealed different forms of payoff-biased learning across species and contexts. Specifically, following personal and social exposure to different tokens, children's exchange behaviour was consistent with proportional imitation, where choice is affected by both prior personally acquired and socially demonstrated token–reward information. However, when the socially derived information regarding token value was novel, children's behaviour was consistent with proportional observation; paying attention to socially derived information and ignoring their prior personal experience. By contrast, chimpanzees' token choice was governed by their own prior experience only, with no effect of social demonstration on token choice, conforming to proportional reservation. We also find evidence for individual- and group-level differences in behaviour in both species. Despite the difference in payoff strategies used, both chimpanzees and children adopted beneficial traits when available. However, the strategies of the children are expected to be the most beneficial in promoting flexible behaviour by enabling existing behaviours to be updated or replaced with new and often superior ones

The Next Influenza Pandemic: Lessons from Hong Kong, 1997

The 1997 Hong Kong outbreak of an avian influenzalike virus, with 18 proven human cases, many severe or fatal, highlighted the challenges of novel influenza viruses. Lessons from this episode can improve international and national planning for influenza pandemics in seven areas: expanded international commitment to first responses to pandemic threats; surveillance for influenza in key densely populated areas with large live-animal markets; new, economical diagnostic tests not based on eggs; contingency procedures for diagnostic work with highly pathogenic viruses where biocontainment laboratories do not exist; ability of health facilities in developing nations to communicate electronically, nationally and internationally; licenses for new vaccine production methods; and improved equity in supply of pharmaceutical products, as well as availability of basic health services, during a global influenza crisis. The Hong Kong epidemic also underscores the need for national committees and country-specific pandemic plans.publishedVersio

Are Facebook “Friends” Helpful? Development of a Facebook-Based Measure of Social Support and Examination of Relationships Among Depression, Quality of Life, and Social Support

Greater social support is predictive of lower depression and higher quality of life (QOL). However, the way in which social support is provided has changed greatly with the expanding role of social networking sites (e.g., Facebook). While there are numerous anecdotal accounts of the benefits of Facebook-based social support, little empirical evidence exists to support these assertions, and there are no empirically validated measures designed to assess social support provided via this unique social networking medium. This study sought to develop an empirically sound measure of Facebook-based social support (Facebook Measure of Social Support [FMSS]) and to assess how this new measure relates to previously established measures of support and two outcome variables: depression and QOL. Following exploratory factor analysis, the FMSS was determined to assess four factors of social support on Facebook (Perceived, Emotional, Negative, Received/Instrumental). The Negative Support factor on the FMSS was most strongly related to both depression and QOL with magnitudes (and direction of relationships) comparable to a traditional measure of perceived social support. However, two FMSS factors (Received/Instrumental and Perceived) were unrelated to both mental health outcomes. Contrary to expectations, elevations in one FMSS factor (Emotional) was associated with worse symptoms of depression and poorer psychological QOL. When taken together, only the absence of negative social support on Facebook is significantly predictive of mental health functioning. Consequently, those hoping to use Facebook as a medium for reducing depression or improving QOL are unlikely to realize significant therapeutic benefits.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140349/1/cyber.2014.0538.pd

Two cases of monoclonal nodular pulmonary amyloidosis and review of the literature

Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis (NPA) is an uncommon pathology of insoluble protein depositing in pulmonary parenchyma. This localized pulmonary form of amyloidosis is most often found to contain combinations of kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chain and immunoglobulin heavy chain proteins with a polyclonal lymphoplasmacystic infiltrate. Herein we present two cases of NPA of the rarely reported monoclonal (light-chain restricted) form with review of the literature and discussion of the clinical, radiographic, and histologic features of NPA