Controlling the electronic structure of graphene using surface-adsorbate interactions

We show that strong coupling between graphene and the substrate is mitigated when 0.8 monolayer of Na is adsorbed and consolidated on top graphene-on-Ni(111). Specifically, the {\pi} state is partially restored near the K-point and the energy gap between the {\pi} and {\pi}* states reduced to 1.3 eV after adsorption, as measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We show that this change is not caused by intercalation of Na to underneath graphene but it is caused by an electronic coupling between Na on top and graphene. We show further that graphene can be decoupled to a much higher extent when Na is intercalated to underneath graphene. After intercalation, the energy gap between the {\pi} and {\pi}* states is reduced to 0 eV and these states are identical as in freestanding and n-doped graphene. We conclude thus that two mechanisms of decoupling exist: a strong decoupling through intercalation, which is the same as one found using noble metals, and a weak decoupling caused by electronic interaction with the adsorbate on top

Carina the Comic vs. The Lit Review

In this comic, the student reflects on the process of writing a “literature review,” a requirement for a course taught by Dean Scheibel called “Introduction of Research in Communication Studies.” The comics were created by students as a final course assignment. Students were instructed to create comics using photographs, drawings, or a computer program called Comic Life 3. The idea of reflection is important in education. These comics could be viewed as a response to reflective learning (or metacognition) about the idea of the literature review, or “research as inquiry.” Through reflection on what we do, we learn more deeply about our everyday experiences of life, death, love, God, and even literature reviews. Although “comix” have been the objects of critique by academics, these comics subject the work of the academy—the faculty member as teacher—to critique. Research is a process, and by having students reflect on the fears, errors, or mistakes made during that process they will experience new insights and discoveries

Differential marker expression by cultures rich in mesenchymal stem cells

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells have properties that make them amenable to therapeutic use. However, the acceptance of mesenchymal stem cells in clinical practice requires standardized techniques for their specific isolation. To date, there are no conclusive marker (s) for the exclusive isolation of mesenchymal stem cells. Our aim was to identify markers differentially expressed between mesenchymal stem cell and non-stem cell mesenchymal cell cultures. We compared and contrasted the phenotype of tissue cultures in which mesenchymal stem cells are rich and rare. By initially assessing mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, we established that bone marrow and breast adipose cultures are rich in mesenchymal stem cells while, in our hands, foreskin fibroblast and olfactory tissue cultures contain rare mesenchymal stem cells. In particular, olfactory tissue cells represent non-stem cell mesenchymal cells. Subsequently, the phenotype of the tissue cultures were thoroughly assessed using immuno-fluorescence, flow-cytometry, proteomics, antibody arrays and qPCR. Results: Our analysis revealed that all tissue cultures, regardless of differentiation potential, demonstrated remarkably similar phenotypes. Importantly, it was also observed that common mesenchymal stem cell markers, and fibroblast-associated markers, do not discriminate between mesenchymal stem cell and non-stem cell mesenchymal cell cultures. Examination and comparison of the phenotypes of mesenchymal stem cell and non-stem cell mesenchymal cell cultures revealed three differentially expressed markers – CD24, CD108 and CD40. Conclusion: We indicate the importance of establishing differential marker expression between mesenchymal stem cells and non-stem cell mesenchymal cells in order to determine stem cell specific markers

Making decisions when outcomes are irreducible: shackle's imagination and virtual reality

This paper addresses the challenge of navigating irreducible outcomes, where predicting future patterns proves futile despite understanding the underlying rules. It advocates for G.L.S. Shackle's imagination-focused decision approach as a partial solution. Integrating the concept of the extended mind, I argue that modern technological advances such as Virtual Reality (VR) further enhance Shackle's approach, rather than compromising its subjective nature. In light of the challenges in applying reductivist tools to the outcomes of VR, I propose Shackle's framework as a promising framework for integrating such outcomes into decision-making processes. Via this framework, decision-makers capitalize on large` gains and hedge against large losses, despite not fully overcoming irreducibility

Hepatitis B antibody titers in Indonesian adolescents who received the primary hepatitis B vaccine during infancy

Backgi-ound Hepatitis B (HB) has been classified as moderate-tohighly endemic in Indonesia. HB vaccination, the most effective method to prevent HB viral transmission, induces protective antibodies against HB surface antigen (anti-HBs). However, these antibodies decline in titer over time. Studies on the duration of protection and the prevalence of n on-responders in Indonesian adolescents have been limited. Objectives To determine anti-HBs titers in 15-17-year old Indonesian adolescents given primary HB vaccine during infancy and the prevalence of non-responders after a HB vaccine booster dosage. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed from February to September 2008 on adolescents aged 15-17 years in three senior high schools in Jakarta who received complete primary HB vaccines during infancy, based on parents' recall. Investigations included HB vaccination history, anthropometric measurements, and blood tests for anti-HBs before and 4-6 weeks after a booster dose ofHB vaccine. Results Of 94 subjects, 35 had protective anti-HBs and 59 had undetectable anti-HBs. A booster dose was administered to 5 8 of the n on-protected subjects, of which 33 showed anamnestic responses. However, 25 subjects failed to generate protective anti-HBs. Taking into consideration the adolescents with protective anti-HBs before and after the booster dose, serologic protection was demonstrated in 73%. Non-responder prevalence was 27%. The high prevalence of non-responders may indicate bias of parents' recall. Conclusion Protective anti-HBs is detected in less than half of Indonesian adolescents given primary HB vaccine during infancy. Following booster dosage, anamnestic responses are n oted in onethird of subjects. The prevalence of non-responders is 27%, but confirmation with further study is needed

The informational consequences of good and bad mergers

We study the information production dynamics in financial markets in response to Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) announcements. We find that acquirers with low levels of pre-announcement stock price informativeness experience a substantial increase in their corresponding post-announcement stock price informativeness in response to positive Cumulative Abnormal Returns (CAR). We show that this increase is due to the enhanced prospect of deal completion. By contrast, high levels of acquirer pre-announcement stock price informativeness limit traders' incentives to search for, and acquire, new information. We also find that similar dynamics apply to the changes in acquirers' analyst coverage. Emphasizing the important role of information acquisition costs in influencing informed trading, a positive acquirer CAR increases the acquiring firm's post-announcement stock price informativeness in M&As involving public rather than private and subsidiary targets. Overall, we show that M&As have important informational consequences beyond their immediate effects on stock prices

The valuation effects of investor attention in stock-financed acquisitions

Limited investor attention allows overvalued companies to engage in stock-financed acquisitions of listed target firms without experiencing significant reductions in existing valuations. Our robust findings show that overvalued stock-paying acquirers that are subject to limited investor attention do not experience significant announcement period wealth losses. However, the overvaluation of these acquirers is corrected in the post-announcement period. By contrast, the overvalued acquirers that receive high investor attention and use stock as the payment method in their listed target acquisitions experience negative announcement period abnormal returns. The widely documented evidence that stock-financed acquisitions are associated with significant announcement period wealth losses is primarily driven by deals in which the acquirers are subject to high investor attention

Do corporations learn from mispricing? Evidence from takeovers and corporate performance

In this article we form the simple prediction that mispricing encourages traders to collect costly information that guides managerial decisions at corporate level. Our findings support this prediction based on evidence derived from both the US market for corporate control and the overall variation in aggregate corporate profits. The trading activity in response to the temporary mispricing of the merging companies provides useful information that leads to the design of high-synergy deals. Such synergies are reflected in an increase in the announcement period acquirer abnormal returns and are not reversed in the long-run. At the market-wide level, our results suggest that the growth in the overall stock trading volume in response to market mispricing is associated with high future corporate profit growth. Overall, after controlling for several economic and financial conditions, the temporary mispricing in a developed and generally efficient stock market stimulates informative trading, ultimately leading to value- and performance-enhancing corporate decisions

The impact of monetary policy on M&A outcomes

Monetary policy influences a wide range of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) outcomes. First, an increase in the federal funds rate predicts a negative market reaction to M&A announcements, an increase in the likelihood of deal withdrawal, and significant financing challenges for the acquirer in the post-acquisition phase. Second, M&As announced during periods of high monetary policy uncertainty are associated with significant declines in acquirer value. This negative market reaction reflects a unique discount to compensate for the high riskiness of M&As in an uncertain monetary environment. Finally, we show that monetary contraction, rather than monetary policy uncertainty, is a key contributor to the decline in the aggregate M&A activity

Macroeconomic news and acquirer returns in M&As : the impact of investor alertness

We investigate the extent to which the scheduled release of macroeconomic indicators affects the acquirer's value in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As). We find that M&As announced on days of the release of key macroeconomic indicators (i.e. indicator days) realize higher announcement period risk-adjusted returns compared to counterparts announced on non-indicator days. The positive wealth effect is due to the higher market attention on indicator days, which is particularly relevant for smaller M&As that are not usually exposed to significant investor scrutiny. The results hold after addressing self-selection bias concerns. We also find that firms announcing M&As on indicator days are more likely to “listen” to the market's feedback