Bimetallic PtSn/C catalysts obtained via SOMC/M for glycerol steam reforming

A detailed study on the preparation of bimetallic PtSn/C catalysts using surfacecontrolled synthesis methods, and on their catalytic performance in the glycerol steam reforming reaction has been carried out. In order to obtain these well-defined bimetallic phases, techniques derived from Surface Organometallic Chemistry of Metals (SOMC/M) were used. The preparation process involved the reaction between an organometallic compound ((C4H9)4Sn) and a supported transition metal (Pt) in a H2 atmosphere. Catalysts with Sn/Pt atomic ratios of 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 were obtained, and characterized using several techniques: ICP, H2 chemisorption, TEM and XPS. These systems were tested in the glycerol steam reforming varying the reaction conditions (glycerol concentration and reaction temperature). The best performance was observed for the catalysts with the lowest tin contents (PtSn0.2/C and PtSn0.3/C). It was observed that the presence of tin increased the catalysts’ stability when working under more severe reaction conditions.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada

Characterization of airborne particulate matter and its toxic and proarrhythmic effects: A case study in Aburrá Valley, Colombia

Particle matter (PM) is a complex mixture of particles suspended in the air, mainly caused by fuel combustion from vehicles and industry, and has been related to pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. The Metropolitan Area of Aburrá Valley in Colombia is the second most populous urban agglomeration in the country and the third densest in the world, composed of ten municipalities. Examining the physicochemical properties of PM is crucial in comprehending its composition and its effects on human health, as it varies based on the socioeconomic dynamics specific to each city. This study characterized the PM collected from the north, south, and central zones to evaluate its chemical composition and morphology. Different elements such as silicon, carbon, aluminum, potassium, calcium, sodium, iron, magnesium, and copper and the presence of unburned fuel, motor oil, and silicon fibers were identified. In vitro and in silico studies were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of the PM, and it was found that the PM collected from the central zone had the greatest impact on cell viability and caused DNA damage. The in silico study demonstrated that PM has concentration-dependent proarrhythmic effects, reflected in an action potential duration shortening and an increased number of reentries, which may contribute to the development of cardiac arrhythmias. Overall, the results suggest that the size and chemical composition of ambient PM can induce toxicity and play an important role in the generation of arrhythmiasThis work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación (MINCIENCIAS) from Colombia, through grant No. 120677757994 and by the Dirección General de Política Científica de la Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEO/2020/043. The work of Palacio was supported by the “Programa de excelencia doctoral del Bicentenario 2019” of MINCIENCIAS. The work of Durango-Giraldo and Zapata-Hernandez was supported by the “Convocatoria para el fortalecimiento de proyectos en ejecución de CTeI en ciencias de la salud con talento joven e impacto regional” of MINCIENCIASPostprint (published version

Advance Care Planning as a Shared Endeavor: Completion of ACP Documents in a Multidisciplinary Cancer Program

Objective—We examined the roles of oncology providers in advance care planning (ACP) delivery in the context of a multidisciplinary cancer program. Methods—Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 200 women with recurrent and/or metastatic breast or gynecologic cancer. Participants were asked to name providers they deemed important in their cancer care and whether they had discussed and/or completed ACP documentation. Evidence of ACP documentation was obtained from chart reviews. Results—Fifty percent of participants self-reported completing an advance directive (AD) and 48.5% had named a healthcare power of attorney (HPA), 38.5% had completed both, and 39.0% had completed neither document. Among women who self-reported completion of the documents, only 24.0% and 14.4% of women respectively had documentation of an AD and HPA in their chart. Completion of an AD was associated with number (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.49) and percentage (AOR = 6.58) of providers with whom the participant had a conversation about end-of-life decisions. Participants who named a social worker or nurse practitioner were more likely to report having completed an AD. Participants who named at least one provider in common (e.g., named the same oncologist) were more likely to have comparable behaviors related to naming a HPA (AOR = 1.13, p = 0.011) and completion of an AD (AOR = 1.06, p = 0.114). Conclusions—Despite the important role of physicians in facilitating ACP discussions, involvement of other staff was associated with a greater likelihood of completion of ACP documentation. Patients may benefit from opportunities to discuss ACP with multiple members of their cancer care team

Atrial proarrhythmic effect of lead as one of the PM10 metal components of air pollution. An in-silico study

[EN] Particulate matter (PM) is considered the most severe environmental pollution problem due to its serious effects on human health associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this work, a physicochemical characterization of PM10 from the city of Medellin was developed. The results evince that lead (Pb) is one of the most abundant elements since it is present in all analyzed samples. Therefore, Pb was chosen to perform an in-silico study to assess its effects on atrial arrhythmias generation. For this purpose, we developed a model representing the Pb2+ blocking effect on the L-type calcium channel. This formulation was incorporated in a human atrial cell mathematical model and in 2D and 3D models of human atria. The simulations showed a proarrhythmic effect at high Pb2+ concentrations, through shortening of action potential duration inducing the generation of reentrant activity and atrial flutter. The results contribute to the knowledge about the cardiac physiopathological processes, triggered by lead as one of the main PM10 metal components of air pollution, that yields the generation of arrhythmias.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnologi a e Innovacion MINCIENCIAS from Colombia, through grant No. 120677757994; and by the Direccion General de Politica Cientifica de la Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEO/2020/043.Palacio, LC.; Pachajoa, DC.; Durango-Giraldo, G.; Zapata-Hernández, C.; Ugarte, JP.; Saiz Rodríguez, FJ.; Buitrago-Sierra, R.... (2021). Atrial proarrhythmic effect of lead as one of the PM10 metal components of air pollution. An in-silico study. PLoS ONE. 16(10):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258313S117161

Cost-Benefit Analysis of the COPE Program for Persons Living With Dementia: Toward a Payment Model

Background and objectives: There is a critical need for effective interventions to support quality of life for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. Growing evidence supports nonpharmacologic programs that provide care management, disease education, skills training, and support. This cost-benefit analysis examined whether the Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) program achieves cost savings when incorporated into Connecticut\u27s home- and community-based services (HCBS), which are state- and Medicaid-funded. Research design and methods: Findings are based on a pragmatic trial where persons living with dementia and their caregiver dyads were randomly assigned to COPE with HCBS, or HCBS alone. Cost measures included those relevant to HCBS decision makers: intervention delivery, health care utilization, caregiver time, formal care, and social services. Data sources included care management records and caregiver report. Results: Per-dyad mean cost savings at 12 months were $2 354 for those who received COPE with a mean difference-in-difference of -$6 667 versus HCBS alone (95% CI: -$15 473,$2 734; not statistically significant). COPE costs would consume 5.6%-11.3% of Connecticut\u27s HCBS annual spending limit, and HCBS cost-sharing requirements align with participants\u27 willingness to pay for COPE. Discussion and implications: COPE represents a potentially cost-saving dementia care service that could be financed through existing Connecticut HCBS. HCBS programs represent an important, sustainable payment model for delivering nonpharmacological dementia interventions such as COPE

Income in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the impact of childhood cancer on the personal income of survivors. We compared income between survivors and siblings, and determined factors associated with income. METHODS: As part of the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (SCCSS), a questionnaire was sent to survivors, aged ≥18 years, registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry (SCCR), diagnosed at age 4'500 CHF), even after we adjusted for socio-demographic and educational factors (OR = 0.46, p<0.001). Older age, male sex, personal and parental education, and number of working hours were associated with high income. Survivors of leukemia (OR = 0.40, p<0.001), lymphoma (OR = 0.63, p = 0.040), CNS tumors (OR = 0.22, p<0.001), bone tumors (OR = 0.24, p = 0.003) had a lower income than siblings. Survivors who had cranial irradiation, had a lower income than survivors who had no cranial irradiation (OR = 0.48, p = 0.006). DISCUSSION: Even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, education and working hours, survivors of various diagnostic groups have lower incomes than siblings. Further research needs to identify the underlying causes

A test of federally threatened water howellia (Howellia aquatilis Gray) presence as an indicator of unfavorable environmental conditions for invasive reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.)

Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is an invasive perennial grass in North American temperate wetlands. It is an effective competitor due to tall, dense growth that creates deep shade, high responsiveness to eutrophication, and broad ecological amplitude. Attempts to control the species have been unsuccessful. Reed canarygrass dominates wetland habitats in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, near Cheney, Washington. At Turnbull, reed canarygrass occurs in wetlands that also support the federally-listed threatened plant Howellia aquatilis Gray. Studies show that reed canarygrass adversely impacts water howellia populations. We hypothesized that water howellia persists in certain wetlands because habitat conditions are less favorable to reed canarygrass than in other wetlands. To test this hypothesis we located seven wetlands with water howellia and six without howellia that had dominant reed canarygrass stands. We mapped vegetation association and standing crop changes along a hydrological gradient, and recorded site characteristics including soils, aspect, tree and shrub canopy, and coarse woody debris. We also recorded reed canarygrass seed head density, native plant standing crop, and aboveground rooting behavior of reed canarygrass. Wetlands with water howellia had significantly shorter (P = 0.0423) upland-to-wetland gradients, consistent with their smaller average size. In both wetland types, mid-gradient vegetation zones were longer and had higher reed canarygrass biomass than zones nearer the ends of the gradient. Reed canarygrass biomass was not significantly different (P > 0.34) between wetland types in any zones, and seed head density was significantly different (P = 0.0339) in only one vegetation zone. Wetlands with water howellia had a significantly greater (P = 0.0226) proportion of zones where reed canarygrass production was impaired, most often by coarse woody debris or shrubs. Soil profiles of wetlands with howellia also had significantly (P < 0.03) more coarse organic soil on the wetland end of the gradient. Our results did not support the hypothesis, though there were some differences in reed canarygrass performance between wetland types. The persistence of water howellia in some wetlands may be due to more shade-generating canopies and coarse woody debris, or to different ecological or historical characteristics in the smaller basins where it occurs

A TEST OF FEDERALLY THREATENED WATER HOWELLIA (Howellia aquatilis Gray) PRESENCE AS AN INDICATOR OF UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR INVASIVE REED CANARYGRASS (Phalaris arundinacea L.) By

The two years of my Masters degree program have been an amazing journey. Along the way, the help from many people made the completion of this thesis possible. I would first like to thank my advisor, Dr. Linda Hardesty, for her invaluable guidance in learning the demanding discipline of scientific research. Her insights led me to my thesis topic, and helped me to form my own questions, and discover answers. My committee members, Dr. Richard Gill, Dr. Rodney Sayler, and Dr. Flash Gibson also provided wonderful insights on the mass of data that I retrieved from the field. Susanne Canwell provided terrific field assistance and good cheer that withstood even hours of cold, wind, and rain. Dr. Richard Alldredge of the WSU statistics department helped me to navigate the jungle of my data analysis. Mike Rule of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge provided insights to local ecology, field sites, and support for the project. I would also like to thank the Lane family for awarding me a Lane Graduate Fellowship in Environmental Science, which funded much of my research. I am very grateful to my fiancé Eric Darnell for his unfailing emotional support in these past two years, and for inspiring me to explore a new part of the country. My experience i

Concurrent Session 3B

Finding Ethical Issues in Cases: How Kant Fails Us / Wade Robison, Rochester Institute of Technology Kant argues that rules of skill can have no ethical content because one end of such rules may be bad. As he puts it, “The prescriptions for the physician thoroughly to cure his man, and for a poisoner reliably to kill him, are of equal worth, in so far as each serves to effect its purpose perfectly.” So no rule of skill can have ethical content. The underlying premise seems to be that the form of a proposition matters ethically. Only a categorical imperative has the right form. But if we examine cases which raise ethical issues and let them speak for themselves, we find that rules of skill can be ethical and that if we approach cases with Kant’s theory in hand, we will misunderstand and miss the ethical issues. Rules of skill are a profession’s norms, what a professional ought to in order to be a competent professional. There are rules of skill for lawyers making out wills, and a failure to do it in accordance with those rules will invalidate the will and leave the heirs without what they would have received. “Applied ethics” is thus a misnomer, leading us to believe that all we need to do to understand the ethical issues in cases is to “apply” an ethical theory. Approaching Social Justice Topics through the Use of Social Norms / Laura Engel, University of Minnesota Duluth When teaching topics related to social justice, instructors are frequently faced with significant pushback from their students. If they take an individualist approach, which typically focuses on people’s mental states when explaining injustice (e.g., explicit or implicit biases), they are frequently met with defensiveness or denial (“I’m not racist!”). If they take a structuralist approach, students may find the topic difficult to grasp or be overwhelmed (“how can one person possibly make a difference?”). These responses not only produce a barrier to learning, but also serve to deflect responsibility for combating injustice. This paper argues that a promising method for avoiding these problematic responses is to discuss the relationship between social justice and social norms. Social norms (SNs), the often unspoken rules regarding which behaviors are acceptable, required, or forbidden for different people in a society, are typically learned and followed automatically by members of the relevant community. Since they are often seen as “natural,” learning about SNs helps students understand why they may fail to recognize instances or patterns of injustice. Moreover, while discussing the social context of injustices can minimize defensiveness, individual responsibility is maintained given that SNs are perpetuated by individuals. Research on SNs also provides us with a promising avenue for change. Finally, learning about human psychology is not only fascinating, but provides students with empirical work to draw on as they discuss theories of injustice and oppression. I therefore maintain that teaching students about SNs is a promising way to begin discussions regarding social justice. Session Chair: Brian Birch, Utah Valley Universit