5,745 research outputs found
Letter to Editor: USDA and the Dog Breeding Industry, USDA Response
Brown critiques claims regarding improved regulation of the dog breeding industry with a response by Chaloux and Heppner of the USDA
Possible Stratification Mechanism in Granular Mixtures
We propose a mechanism to explain what occurs when a mixture of grains of
different sizes and different shapes (i.e. different repose angles) is poured
into a quasi-two-dimensional cell. Specifically, we develop a model that
displays spontaneous stratification of the large and small grains in
alternating layers. We find that the key requirement for stratification is a
difference in the repose angles of the two pure species, a prediction confirmed
by experimental findings. We also identify a kink mechanism that appears to
describe essential aspects of the dynamics of stratification.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, http://polymer.bu.edu/~hmakse/Home.htm
Risk factors for unplanned and crash dialysis starts: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Narrow bands and electrostatic interactions in graphene stacks
Superconducting and insulating phases are well-established in twisted
graphene bilayers, and they have also been reported in other arrangements of
graphene layers. We investigate three such situations, (untwisted) bilayer
graphene on hBN, two graphene bilayers twisted with respect to each other, and
a single ABC stacked graphene trilayer on hBN. In all these cases, narrow bands
emerge. The resulting high density of states enhances the role of interactions.
We study the effect of the long-range electron-electron interaction on these
narrow bands. A self consistent electrostatic potential does not modify
significantly the shape and width of the bands in the three cases considered
here, in contrast to the effect that such a potential has in twisted bilayer
graphene.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figure
A multi-wavelength survey of AGN in the XMM-LSS field: I. Quasar selection via the KX technique
AIMS: We present a sample of candidate quasars selected using the
KX-technique. The data cover 0.68 deg^2 of the X-ray Multi-Mirror (XMM)
Large-Scale Structure (LSS) survey area where overlapping multi-wavelength
imaging data permits an investigation of the physical nature of selected
sources. METHODS: The KX method identifies quasars on the basis of their
optical (R and z') to near-infrared (Ks) photometry and point-like morphology.
We combine these data with optical (u*,g'r',i',z') and mid-infrared (3.6-24
micron) wavebands to reconstruct the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of
candidate quasars. RESULTS: Of 93 sources selected as candidate quasars by the
KX method, 25 are classified as quasars by the subsequent SED analysis.
Spectroscopic observations are available for 12/25 of these sources and confirm
the quasar hypothesis in each case. Even more, 90% of the SED-classified
quasars show X-ray emission, a property not shared by any of the false
candidates in the KX-selected sample. Applying a photometric redshift analysis
to the sources without spectroscopy indicates that the 25 sources classified as
quasars occupy the interval 0.7 < z < 2.5. The remaining 68/93 sources are
classified as stars and unresolved galaxies.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, A&A 494, p. 579-589. Replaced with published
version. Fig. 9 in first astro-ph submission has been update
Surface Properties of the Half- and Full-Heusler Alloys
Using a full-potential \textit{ab-initio} technique I study the electronic
and magnetic properties of the (001) surfaces of the half-Heusler alloys,
NiMnSb, CoMnSb and PtMnSb and of the full-Heusler alloys CoMnGe, CoMnSi
and CoCrAl. The MnSb terminated surfaces of the half-Heusler compounds
present properties similar to the bulk compounds and, although the
half-metallicity is lost, an important spin-polarisation at the Fermi level. In
contrast to this the Ni terminated surface shows an almost zero net
spin-polarisation. While the bulk CoMnGe and CoMnSi are almost
half-ferromagnetic, their surfaces lose the half-metallic character and the net
spin-polarisation at the Fermi level is close to zero. Contrary to these
compounds the CrAl terminated (001) surface of CoCrAl shows a spin
polarisation of about 84%.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure
The Spectroscopic Orbit of the Planetary Companion Transiting HD209458
We report a spectroscopic orbit with period P = 3.52433 +/- 0.00027 days for
the planetary companion that transits the solar-type star HD209458. For the
metallicity, mass, and radius of the star we derive [Fe/H] = 0.00 +/- 0.02, M =
1.1 +/- 0.1 solar masses, and R = 1.3 +/- 0.1 solar radii. This is based on a
new analysis of the iron lines in our HIRES template spectrum, and also on the
absolute magnitude and color of the star, and uses isochrones from four
different sets of stellar evolution models. Using these values for the stellar
parameters we reanalyze the transit data and derive an orbital inclination of i
= 85.2 +/- 1.4 degrees. For the planet we derive a mass of Mp = 0.69 +/- 0.05
Jupiter masses, a radius of Rp = 1.54 +/- 0.18 Jupiter radii, and a density of
0.23 +/- 0.08 grams per cubic cm.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables, LaTex, aastex, accepted for publication
by ApJ Letter
Nephrologists' perceptions regarding dialysis withdrawal and palliative care in Europe: lessons from a European Renal Best Practice survey
Background There is a variation in dialysis withdrawal rates, but reasons for this variation across European countries are largely unknown. We therefore surveyed nephrologists' perceptions of factors concerning dialysis withdrawal and palliative care and explored relationships between these perceptions and reports of whether withdrawal actually occurred in practice. Methods We developed a 33-item electronic survey, disseminated via an email blast to all European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) members. In our data analyses, we distinguished those respondents who reported occurrence from those reporting no dialysis withdrawal in their unit. With multilevel logistic regression, we investigated the association between respondents' characteristics and perceptions and whether they reported occurrence of dialysis withdrawal or not. Results Five hundred and twenty-eight nephrologists from 45 countries completed the questionnaire; 42% reported occurrence of withdrawal in their unit in the past year, and 56% perceived that stopping life-prolonging treatment in terminally ill patients was allowed. Few respondents reported presence in their unit of protocols on withdrawal decision making (7%) or palliative care (10%) or the common involvement of a geriatrician in withdrawal decisions (10%). The majority stated that palliative care had not been part of their core curriculum (74%) and that they had not recently attended continuous medical education sessions on this topic (73%). Respondents from Eastern and Southern Europe had a 42 and 40% lower probability, respectively, of reporting withdrawal compared with those from North European countries. Working in a public centre [odds ratio (OR), 2.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.36-4.25] and respondents' perception that stopping life-prolonging treatment in terminally ill patients was allowed (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.23-3.12), that withdrawal decisions were commonly shared between doctor and patient (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.26-3.08) and that palliative care was reimbursed (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.16-2.83) increased the odds of reporting occurrence of withdrawal. Conclusion Reports of dialysis withdrawal occurrence varied between European countries. Occurrence reports were more likely if respondents worked in a public centre, if stopping life-prolonging treatments was perceived as allowed, if withdrawal decisions were considered shared between doctors and patients and if reimbursement of palliative care was believed to be in place. There is room for improvement regarding protocols on withdrawal and palliative care processes and regarding nephrologists' training and education on end-of-life car
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