Reasoning with comparative moral judgements: an argument for Moral Bayesianism

The paper discusses the notion of reasoning with comparative moral judgements (i.e judgements of the form “act a is morally superior to act b”) from the point of view of several meta-ethical positions. Using a simple formal result, it is argued that only a version of moral cognitivism that is committed to the claim that moral beliefs come in degrees can give a normatively plausible account of such reasoning. Some implications of accepting such a version of moral cognitivism are discussed

Formation sur la spiritualité pour les étudiants en médecine canadiens : la perception des étudiants d’une séance de compétences cliniques portant sur l’anamnèse spirituelle

Implication Statement Spirituality involves one’s sense of purpose, connection with others, and ability to find meaning in life. We implemented a three-year pilot of a spiritual history taking (SHT) clinical skills session. In small groups, medical students discussed and practiced SHT with clinical scenarios and the FICA framework and received preceptor and peer feedback. Post-session focus groups and interviews demonstrated student perceptions of improved comfort, knowledge, and awareness of discussing spirituality with patients. This innovation may support improved clinical skills teaching across other health professions institutions to better prepare students to recognize patients’ spiritual needs and provide more holistic, culturally competent care.Énoncé des implications de la recherche La spiritualité touche au sentiment d’avoir un but, à la relation à l’autre et à la capacité de trouver un sens à la vie. Nous avons introduit, comme projet pilote de trois ans, une séance de compétences cliniques portant sur l’anamnèse spirituelle (AS). En petits groupes, les étudiants pratiquaient et discutaient de l’anamnèse spirituelle à l’aide de scénarios cliniques et du questionnaire d’anamnèse spirituelle FICA, et recevaient ensuite des commentaires de la part de leur précepteur et de leurs pairs. Les groupes de discussion et les entretiens après les séances ont montré que les étudiants se sentaient mieux informés, plus à l’aise et plus conscients de la nécessité de parler de spiritualité avec les patients. Cette initiative peut contribuer à améliorer l’enseignement des compétences cliniques dans d’autres professions de santé pour mieux préparer les étudiants à reconnaître les besoins spirituels des patients et à fournir des soins plus holistiques et culturellement adaptés

Enhanced performance of InAsP nanowires with ultra-thin passivation layer

Surface passivation with a higher band gap shell has been shown to successfully reduce the density of surface states at the surface of nanowires. The effect of ultra-thin InP passivation layers of thicknesses ∼ 3 -5 nm coated on InAsP nanowires is investigated and compared to bare InAsP nanowires. The ultra-thin passivation exhibited an improvement in carrier lifetime and mobility by approximately a factor of 3. Surface recombination velocity was decreased by at least a factor of 3

The Effects of Surfaces and Surface Passivation on the Electrical Properties of Nanowires and Other Nanostructures: Time-Resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy Studies

The electrical properties of nanomaterials are strongly influenced by their surfaces, which in turn are strongly influenced by device processing and passivation procedures. Optical pump-terahertz probe spectroscopy is ideal for measuring the native properties of these materials, determining the changes induced by device processing, and studying the effectiveness of surface passivation procedures. Here we study the electronic properties of III-V nanowires and other nanomaterials in both their native and encapsulated/integrated states, which is uniquely possible with terahertz spectroscopy

Tin(iv) dopant removal through anti-solvent engineering enabling tin based perovskite solar cells with high charge carrier mobilities

We report the need for careful selection of anti-solvents for Sn-based perovskite solar cells fabricated through the commonly used anti-solvent method, compared to their Pb-based counterparts.</p

Novel VPS13B Mutations in Three Large Pakistani Cohen Syndrome Families Suggests a Baloch Variant with Autistic-Like Features.

BackgroundCohen Syndrome (COH1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, principally identified by ocular, neural and muscular deficits. We identified three large consanguineous Pakistani families with intellectual disability and in some cases with autistic traits.MethodsClinical assessments were performed in order to allow comparison of clinical features with other VPS13B mutations. Homozygosity mapping followed by whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing strategies were used to identify disease-related mutations.ResultsWe identified two novel homozygous deletion mutations in VPS13B, firstly a 1 bp deletion, NM_017890.4:c.6879delT; p.Phe2293Leufs*24, and secondly a deletion of exons 37-40, which co-segregate with affected status. In addition to COH1-related traits, autistic features were reported in a number of family members, contrasting with the "friendly" demeanour often associated with COH1. The c.6879delT mutation is present in two families from different regions of the country, but both from the Baloch sub-ethnic group, and with a shared haplotype, indicating a founder effect among the Baloch population.ConclusionWe suspect that the c.6879delT mutation may be a common cause of COH1 and similar phenotypes among the Baloch population. Additionally, most of the individuals with the c.6879delT mutation in these two families also present with autistic like traits, and suggests that this variant may lead to a distinct autistic-like COH1 subgroup

A method for the prediction of the dose rate distribution in a primary containment vessel of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

We propose a method to predict the dose rate distribution in a primary containment vessel of Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F) using numerical calculations and measured data

Development of ROV system to explore fuel debris in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Instruments and Methods were developed to explore fuel debris at the bottom of the Primary Containment Vessel in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. A Remotely Operated Vehicle was designed to explore fuel debris and to investigate the distribution and surface profile of fuel debris at the bottom of the primary containment vessel using a sonar and a compact radiation detector. Several tests were carried out using various facilities to determined the capabilities of the sonar and gamma-ray detector to determine the feasibility of the devic

A Remote-operated System to Map Radiation Dose in the Fukushima Daiichi Primary Containment Vessel

This paper describes the development of a submersible system based on a remote-operated vehicle coupled with radiation detectors to map the interior of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. It has the aim oflocating fuel debris. The AVEXIS submersible vehicle used in this study has been designed as a low-cost, potentially disposable, inspection platform that is the smallest of its class and is capable of being deployed through a 150 mm diameter access pipe. To map the gamma-ray environment, a cerium bromide scintillator detector with a small form factor has been incorporated into the AVEXIS to identify radioactive isotopes via gamma-ray spectroscopy. This provides the combined system with the potential to map gamma-ray spectra and particle locations throughout submerged, contaminated facilities, such as Units 1, 2 and 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The hypothesis of this research is to determine the sensitivity of the combined system in a submerged environment that replicates the combination of gamma radiation and water submersion but at lower dose rates