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Dating apps have the potential to facilitate access to a large pool of potential partners. However, both popular press and sexual health experts suggest that this increased partner accessibility is [...]

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is officially recognized as a legitimate source of information when legislating on wildlife management at the federal level. This study assesses the extent to which this kind of information is mobilized by administrators when writing regulations. Analyzing the use of traditional knowledge in classifying endangered species shows that although Indigenous individuals and organizations are systematically consulted, traditional knowledge is rarely a factor in impact assessments. However, for scientific examinations conducted before these regulatory impact assessments, traditional ecological knowledge does appear to be considered a reliable source of information, even if it is not widely used. Lorsqu'il s'agit de legiferer sur la gestion de la faune au niveau federal, les connaissances ecologiques traditionnelles sont officiellement reconnues comme une source legitime d'information. Cette etude evalue dans quelle mesure ce type d'informations est utilise par les administrateurs lors de la redaction des reglements. L'analyse de l'utilisation des connaissances traditionnelles dans la classification des especes en voie de disparition demontre que, bien que des individus et des organisations autochtones soient systematiquement consultes, les connaissances traditionnelles sont rarement prises en compte dans les etudes d'impact. Neanmoins, en ce qui concerne les analyses scientifiques menees avant ces etudes d'impact reglementaires, les connaissances ecologiques traditionnelles semblent etre considerees comme une source d'information fiable, meme si elles sont peu utilisees., INTRODUCTION Top-down solutions to resource management problems are not always applicable in all contexts. This is particularly true when local institutions and management practices that have been in place for [...]

The development of a microcantilever (MCL) sensing device capable of simultaneously detecting several metal ionic species in aqueous media with low limits of detection requires a variety of sensing layers that are ion specific. Calix[4] arenes are robust molecules that can be easily modified and have been extensively studied for their ion binding properties. They are also capable of forming self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the gold layers of MCLs and are capable of detecting various metal ions with different anionic counterions in aqueous solutions. In this paper, we report on the effect of the alkoxy group in the narrow rim [0-(alkoxycarbonyl)methoxy] substituents of bimodal calix[4]arenes, which have been used as metal ion MCL sensing layers, using classical solution state experimental studies. A DFT computational study to compare the experimental results with several metal ions is also reported herein. Key words: calix[4]arenes, microcantilever sensors, host-guest complexation, supramolecular, DFT. La mise au point d'un dispositif de détection à base de micropoutres capable de détecter simultanément plusieurs espèces d'ions métalliques dans des milieux aqueux avec de faibles limites de détection nécessite diverses couches sensibles à chaque ion. Les calix[4]arènes sont des molécules robustes qui peuvent être facilement modifiées et qui ont été largement étudiées pour leurs propriétés de liaison à des ions. Ils sont également capables de former des monocouches auto as s emblée s (ou SAM pour self-assembled monolayers) sur les couches d'or recouvrant les micropoutres et de détecter divers ions métalliques associés à différents contre-ions anioniques dans des solutions aqueuses. Dans le présent article, nous décrivons, au moyen d'études expérimentales classiques en solution, l'effet du groupe alcoxy dans les substituants [O(alcoxycarbonyl) méthoxy] du bord étroit de calix[4]arènes bimodaux utilisés comme couches de détection d'ions métalliques sur des micropoutres. Nous présentons également une étude théorique de calculs DFT à laquelle nous comparons les résultats expérimentaux obtenus avec plusieurs ions métalliques. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : calix[4]arènes, capteurs à base de micropoutres, complexation hôte-invité, supramoléculaire, DFT., Introduction We have been interested in the development of sensing devices that could detect metal ions in situ in aqueous solutions and could be coupled to a transmitting device. Such [...]

Studies.sup.1,2 have shown that the remnants of destroyed planets and debris-disk planetesimals can survive the volatile evolution of their host stars into white dwarfs.sup.3,4, but few intact planetary bodies around white dwarfs have been detected.sup.5-8. Simulations predict.sup.9-11 that planets in Jupiter-like orbits around stars of [less-than or equivalent to]8 M.sub.â (solar mass) avoid being destroyed by the strong tidal forces of their stellar host, but as yet, there has been no observational confirmation of such a survivor. Here we report the non-detection of a main-sequence lens star in the microlensing event MOA-2010-BLG-477Lb.sup.12 using near-infrared observations from the Keck Observatory. We determine that this system contains a 0.53 [plus or minus] 0.11 M.sub.â white-dwarf host orbited by a 1.4 [plus or minus] 0.3 Jupiter-mass planet with a separation on the plane of the sky of 2.8 [plus or minus] 0.5 astronomical units, which implies a semi-major axis larger than this. This system is evidence that planets around white dwarfs can survive the giant and asymptotic giant phases of their host's evolution, and supports the prediction that more than half of white dwarfs have Jovian planetary companions.sup.13. Located at approximately 2.0 kiloparsecs towards the centre of our Galaxy, it is likely to represent an analogue to the end stages of the Sun and Jupiter in our own Solar System. The authors show not only that planetary bodies around white dwarfs can survive but also that more than half of white dwarfs might have Jovian planetary companions., Author(s): J. W. Blackman [sup.1] [sup.2] , J. P. Beaulieu [sup.1] [sup.2] , D. P. Bennett [sup.3] [sup.4] , C. Danielski [sup.2] [sup.5] [sup.6] , C. Alard [sup.2] , A. [...]

Background/objectives This controlled-feeding randomised controlled trial examined free-living appetite and physical activity (PA) on 'fast' and 'feed' days during intermittent energy restriction (IER), compared to continuous energy restriction (CER). Subjects/methods Forty-six women with overweight/obesity (age = 35 [plus or minus] 10 years, BMI = 29.1 [plus or minus] 2.3 kg/m.sup.2) were randomised to IER (n = 24; alternate fast days at 25% energy requirements and ad libitum feed days) or CER (n = 22; 75% energy requirements daily) to [greater than or equal to]5% weight loss (WL) or up to 12 weeks. Self-reported energy intake (EI; online food record), objectively measured PA (SenseWear Armband) and retrospective daily hunger and food cravings were measured over 7 days at baseline, week 2 and final week. Intent-to-treat analyses were performed using linear mixed models. Results Final WL (M.sub.[DELTA] = 4.7 [95% confidence interval 4.2, 5.2] kg, 5.9%) did not differ between IER and CER (interaction P = 0.307). During IER, feed-day EI did not differ from baseline and was lower in the final week compared to week 2 (M.sub.[DELTA] = 295 [81, 509] kcal, P = 0.004). Daily hunger was greater on fast compared to feed days (M.sub.[DELTA] = 15 [10, 21] mm, P < 0.001), but food cravings did not differ. Light PA was lower on fast relative to feed days (M.sub.[DELTA] = 18 [2, 34] min/day, P = 0.024), with no other differences in PA. Compared to CER, IER increased hunger and led to smaller improvements in craving control (both interactions P [less than or equal to] 0.034). Conclusions IER fast days were associated with increased free-living hunger and lower light PA compared to feed days, but had no impact on food cravings or self-reported ad libitum daily EI. IER may be less favourable than CER for the free-living day-to-day control of hunger and food cravings., Author(s): Kristine Beaulieu [sup.1] , Nuno Casanova [sup.2] , Pauline Oustric [sup.1] , Mark Hopkins [sup.2] , Krista Varady [sup.3] , Graham Finlayson [sup.1] , Catherine Gibbons [sup.1] Author Affiliations: [...]

Haiti experienced a large and lasting cholera epidemic that began in October 2010. The epidemic originated in Centre Department in a hamlet hosting a camp of United Nations peacekeepers, then [...]

Here we present the MI-CLAIM checklist, a tool intended to improve transparent reporting of AI algorithms in medicine., Author(s): Beau Norgeot [sup.1] , Giorgio Quer [sup.2] , Brett K. Beaulieu-Jones [sup.3] , Ali Torkamani [sup.2] , Raquel Dias [sup.2] , Milena Gianfrancesco [sup.4] , Rima Arnaout [sup.1] , [...]

The United Nations confirmed that privacy remains a human right in the digital age, but our daily digital experiences and seemingly ever-increasing amounts of data suggest that privacy is a mundane, distributed and technologically mediated concept. This article explores privacy by mapping out different legal and conceptual approaches to privacy protection in the context of datafication. It provides an essential starting point to explore the entwinement of technological, ethical and regulatory dynamics. It clarifies why each of the presented approaches emphasises particular aspects and analyses the tensions that arise. The resulting overview provides insight into the main strengths and limitations of the different approaches arising from specific traditions. This analytic overview therefore serves as a key resource to analyse the usefulness of the approaches in the context of the increasing datafication of both private and public spheres. Specifically, we contrast the approach focusing on data subjects whose data are being 'protected' with others, including Fair Information Practice Principles, the German right to 'informational self-determination', and the South American 'habeas data' doctrine. We also present and contrast emerging approaches to privacy (differential privacy, contextual integrity, group privacy) and discuss their intersection with datafication. In conclusion, we put forth that rather than aiming for one single solution that works worldwide and across all situations, it is essential to identify synergies and stumbling blocks between the various regulatory settings and newly emerging approaches., Author(s): Oskar J. Gstrein [sup.1], Anne Beaulieu [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.4830.f, 0000 0004 0407 1981, Data Research Centre, Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, , Leeuwarden, The Netherlands Living in [...]

Organic materials of woody plants are complex and show internal, structural, and morphological variations due to genetic and environmental influences. Variability can be observed in stems, branches, leaves, and roots. Nondestructive and noninvasive technologies have been proposed to assess this variability. Computed tomography (CT) scanning, originally designed for medical diagnostics, permits the measurement of wood properties in situ (e.g., wood density, moisture content, internal defects, annual growth) and crown traits that characterize branching pattern geometry and canopy space occupancy for small-sized trees. Since Wei et al.'s (2011, Can. J. For. Res. 41(11): 2120-2140, doi:10.1139/x11-111) review on the assessment of wood quality for optimized manufacturing processes using a CT scanner, several important developments have occurred, motivating the preparation of an update. We provide technical clarifications about the scales of observation and resolution; report on recent studies in which CT scanning was applied with research objectives beyond wood quality assessment for an optimized manufacturing of forest products; and stress the importance of analytical procedures for the graphical and quantitative analyses of CT scanning data (images and numbers) and the need for specialized algorithms and software. With this review, readers are expected to be well informed of the avenues offered by CT scanning technology in forest research in general. Key words: X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning, wood density, annual growth ring, moisture content, scale of resolution. Les materiaux organiques provenant des plantes ligneuses sont complexes et caracterises par une morphologie et une structure internes heterogenes attribuables a des facteurs genetiques et environnementaux. L'heterogeneite est presente dans la tige, les branches, les feuilles et les racines. Des techniques non destructives et non invasives ont ete proposees pour evaluer cette heterogeneite. La tomodensitometrie assistee par ordinateur (TAO), concue a l'origine pour les diagnostics medicaux, permet de mesurer les proprietes du bois in situ (p. ex., la densite du bois, la teneur en humidite, les defauts internes, la croissance annuelle) et les traits de la cime qui caracterisent la geometrie du patron de branchement et l'occupation de l'espace par lavoute forestiere dans le cas des arbres de petite taille. Depuis la revue de litterature de Weietal. (2011, Can. J. For. Res. 41(11): 2120-2140, doi:10.1139/x11-111) portant sur l'evaluation de la qualite du bois a l'aide de la TAO pour optimiser les procedes de fabrication, plusieurs developpements importants sont survenus, ce qui a motive la preparation d'une mise a jour. Nous apportons des clarifications techniques concernant les echelles d'observation et de resolution. Nous faisons etat des etudes recentes ou la TAO a ete utilisee avec des objectifs de recherche allant au-dela de l'evaluation de la qualite du bois pour optimiser la fabrication des produits forestiers. Nous soulignons l'importance des procedures analytiques pour l'analyse graphique et quantitative des donnees (images et nombres) de TAO ainsi que le besoin d'algorithmes et de logiciels specialises. Avec cette revue de litterature, nous souhaitons que les lecteurs soient bien informes des possibilites qu'offre la TAO en recherche forestiere en general. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : tomodensitometrie assistee par ordinateur, densite du bois, cerne d'accroissement annuel, teneur en humidite, echelle de resolution., Introduction Woody plants produce raw organic materials (cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin) that are highly variable in quantity and quality. Their properties are determined through a complex process controlled by internal [...]

Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children. Sitting Bull INTRODUCTION The focus of this study is on the per-pupil funding for [...], California introduced the local control funding formula (LCFF) in 2013-14 to provide more equitable educational funding for school districts that were historically underserved. LCFF established base, supplemental and concentration grants to replace the earlier streams of funding in communities that serve students who are English learners, qualify for free or reduced-priced school meals, live in foster care, or experience any combination of these factors. The goal of this study is to determine if California&apos;s LCFF is equitably funding public schools in California Indian communities, communities that historically suffered from inadequate educational funding. How does educational funding at schools that serve predominately California Indians compare to districts that serve predominately White students, and how does family wealth for the two groups compare? To answer these questions, the per-pupil funding of school districts with the highest percentage of California Indian students was compared against districts with the highest percentage of White students. Poverty rates, median family income and home values were also compared to assess relative family wealth. Results revealed no statistical difference in per-pupil allocations, both groups had higher than the state average, and both were situated in rural areas. Comparisons also revealed that California Indian families had twice the poverty rate than White families, and their median family income and median home value was about half as much. Findings show that the LCFF does not allocate more per-pupil funding to California Indian communities than predominantly White communities, despite having higher poverty rates, lower family income and lower home values. These findings contradict the findings by Richwine (2011) who claimed that people of color get more educational funding than White students.

It is well recognized that sidewalk networks provide multiple societal benefits and improve quality of life. Little research focuses on the infrastructure and inequities in sidewalk access, however. The relationship between sidewalk accessibility and quality within a college-town in the southeastern US and modern demographic patterns was examined by the authors to examine racial disparity in a novel valuable, way. There was no racial disparity in sidewalk access between Whites and non-Whites and Blacks and non-Blacks. However, there was a quality disparity between Whites and non-Whites, with 75 percent of Starkville's 'excellent' sidewalk segments within or adjacent to majority White blocks compared to 20.7 percent for majority Black blocks. There was also a significant correlation between the Black population andaccess to 'poor' sidewalks. This study demonstrated that sidewalks might serve as indicators of racial inequities in southern micropolitan cities. Se reconoce que las redes de aceras proporcionan rnuchos beneficias sociales y mejoran la calidad de vida. Sin embargo, no hay muchas investigaciones que se enfocan en la infraestructura y las desigualdades del acceso a las aceras. La relacion entre la accesibilidad y la calidad dentro de una ciudad universitaria en el sudeste de los Estados Unidos y tendencias demograficas fue examinada por los autores para examinar la disparidad racial de una manera novedosa y valiosa. No habia disparidad racial en acceso de aceras entre blancos y no-blancos y negros y no-negros. Sin embargo, existio una disparidad en la calidad entre los blancos y no-blancos, con el 75 percent de segmentes de andenes 'excelentes' adentro o al lado de cuadras mayormente blancos comparado al 20.7 percent para las cuadras mayormente negras. Tambien existio una correlacion significante entre la poblacion negra y acceso a aceras de en malas condiciones. Este estudio demostro que las aceras pueden servir como indicadores de las desigualdades raciales en las ciudades micropolitanas del sur estadounidense. KEYWORDS: Sidewalk access, sidewalk quality, racial disparity, GIS, hot spot analysis, ADA compliance PALABRAS CLAVE: Palabras claves: acceso a la acera, calidad de la acera, disparidad racial, SIG, analisis de Hot Spot, cumplimiento ADA, INTRODUCTION Sidewalk infrastructure is important to the communities that host them because sidewalks provide numerous benefits, yet research on access to demographic groups remains relatively thin. As Jacobs (1961) described [...]

Referring to the 1999 Joint Declaration of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, Phillip Cary ('Luther at 500,' November) optimistically notes its 'theological consensus that Luther's doctrine [...]

Relationships between victimization, termination of pregnancy (ToP), diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection (STI), and emergency contraceptive use were examined using data from a survey of university students in Montreal, Canada. [...]

AS HEALTHCARE shifts toward value-based platforms, many primary care practices are adding advanced practitioners such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to their rosters. As a result, medical [...]

Quebec community organizations which are indispensable to insure home support for seniors, are experiencing problems with recruitment and retention of volunteers. This is of crucial importance in the context of an aging population and of a restructuration of the State, which relies more and more on the tertiary sector. These organizations ' day to day activities essentially relies on volunteer work, at a time when its continuity is no longer assured. Indeed, Quebeckers are historically less likely to volunteer than residents from other Canadian provinces and territories. Quebec has the lowest volunteer rates in Canada and is the only province where the average of volunteer hours is below the national one. A lower rate of volunteerism in Quebec compared to other provinces could be explained by the welfare regime of public policies. What role does the sociopolitical context play in the rate of volunteer engagement for home support for seniors in Quebec? To answer this question, this article focuses a critical lens on the establishment of three social policies and one orientation framework which have marked the history of homecare in Quebec, particularly as it relates to volunteers and community organizations working in this field. This analysis will allow two recurring challenges to emerge, always relevant and which have a significant influence on volunteer engagement: funding and collaboration between stakeholders in home support for older adults today. Keywords: Social policies; home support; older adults; volunteering; non-profit organizations Les organismes communautaires quebecois, acteurs indispensables du soutien a domicile des aines, eprouvent un probleme de recrutement et de fidelisation des benevoles. Dans un contexte de vieillissement demographique et de reconfiguration de l'Etat oU l'on fait de plus en plus appel au tiers secteur, cette situation est critique. Le fonctionnement de ces organismes repose essentiellement sur l'action benevole, alors que la perennite de cette derniere fait l'objet d'une inquietude croissante. En effet, les Quebecois sont historiquement moins susceptibles de s'engager benevolement que les residents des autres provinces canadiennes. Le Quebec enregistre le taux de benevolat le plus faible au Canada et il s'agit de la seule province oU le nombre moyen d'heures de benevolat est inferieur a la moyenne nationale. Un engagement benevole moins eleve au Quebec en comparaison aux autres provinces canadiennes s'expliquerait en partie par le regime providentiel de politiques publiques. Or, de quelle facon le contexte sociopolitique influence-t-il l'engagement benevole dans le domaine du soutien a domicile des aines au Quebec? Pour repondre a cette question, cet article pose un regard critique sur l'implantation de trois politiques sociales et d'un cadre d'orientation qui ont marque l'histoire du soutien a domicile au Quebec, en mettant l'accent sur ce qui concerne les benevoles et les organismes communautaires oeuvrant dans ce domaine. Cette analyse permet ensuite de degager deux enjeux recurrents, toujours d'actualite et qui ont une influence importante sur l'engagement benevole : le financement et le partenariat entre les acteurs du soutien a domicile d'aujourd'hui. Mots-Clefs: Politiques sociales; Soutien a domicile; Personnes ainees; Benevolat; Organismes a but non lucratif, Introduction Au Quebec, les organismes communautaires constituent des acteurs indispensables dans le domaine du soutien a domicile des aines. Ils offrent divers types de soutien, tels que de la livraison [...]

Becoming a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) presents both opportunities and challenges for medical practices. If you're thinking of seeking PCMH recognition or recertification, take heed of the following lessons from [...]

The authors examined depression trajectories over two years among mothers exposed to Hurricane Katrina. Risk and protective factors for depression trajectories, as well as associations with child outcomes were analyzed. This study included 283 mothers (age at time 1, M = 39.20 years, SD = 7.21; 62 % African American). Mothers were assessed at four time points over two years following Hurricane Katrina. Mothers reported posttraumatic stress symptoms, hurricane exposure, traumatic life events, and social support at time 1. Depressive symptoms were modeled at times 2, 3, and 4. Youth reported their distress symptoms (posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety) at time 4. Latent class growth analyses identified three maternal depression trajectories among mothers exposed to Hurricane Katrina: low (61 %), resilient (29 %), and chronic (10 %). Social support was identified as a protective factor among mothers. Three main trajectories of maternal depression following Hurricane Katrina were identified. Social support was protective for mothers. Identified trajectories were not associated with children's distress outcomes. These results have implications for disaster responses, screening efforts, and interventions targeted towards families. Future studies warrant the investigation of additional risk and protective factors that can affect maternal and child outcomes., Author(s): Betty S. Lai [sup.1] , Ashwini Tiwari [sup.1] , Brooke A. Beaulieu [sup.1] , Shannon Self-Brown [sup.1] , Mary Lou Kelley [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Georgia State University, Atlanta, [...]

Maintaining healthy accounts receivable (AR) is essential to strong financial performance, but it's easy for practices to feel overwhelmed or become complacent when it comes to keeping this piece of [...]

You may be thinking you're doing everything possible to submit clean, accurate claims to payers--yet denials persist. And if it seems that every day insurers are sending back different types [...]

The global increase in cyanobacterial bloom reports heightens the need for a critical evaluation of models used for their prediction. In particular, it is unclear whether empirical cyanobacterial models vary regionally because of differences in environmental conditions and (or) community composition. To address this question, we applied linear and nonlinear models as well as mixed-effect models to a dataset of seasonally integrated environmental and cyanobacterial measurements collected from 149 lakes spread across three regions in Canada. Across all lakes, we found that linear models outperformed nonlinear approaches and that nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen) were the best predictors of cyanobacterial biomass. Importantly, there was no significant regional difference in predicted cyanobacterial responses to nutrients, even though the means for these variables were different among regions. From canonical correspondence analyses of taxonomic biomass data, temperature, water column stability, and forms of inorganic nitrogen were also important in explaining cyanobacterial community structure at the regional scale. Based on these analyses, we conclude that North American models are suitable for estimating total cyanobacterial biomass from any particular temperate region in Canada. L'augmentation mondiale du nombre de rapports d'efflorescences cyanobacteriennes renforce la necessite d'une evaluation critique des modeles utilises pour leur prediction. Il est particulierement difficile d'etablir si les modeles empiriques de cyanobacteries varient regionalement en raison des differences dans les conditions environnementales ou de la composition de la communaute. Pour repondre a cette question, nous avons applique des modeles lineaires et non lineaires ainsi que des modeles a effets mixtes sur un ensemble de donnees compose de mesures environnementales et de biomasses cyanobacteriennes integrees sur la saison de croissance provenant de 149 lacs repartis dans trois regions au Canada. Dans l'ensemble des lacs, nous avons constate que les modeles lineaires surpassaient les approches non lineaires et que les elements nutritifs (phosphore, azote) etaient les meilleurs predicteurs de la biomasse des cyanobacteries. Notablement, il n'y avait pas de difference significative entre les regions dans la reponse de la biomasse cyanobacterienne aux nutriments, bien que les moyennes de ces variables differaient entre les regions. L'analyse canonique de correspondance des donnees de biomasse par taxons demontra que la temperature, la stabilite de la colonne d'eau et les formes de l'azote inorganique etaient egalement importantes afin d'expliquer la structure des communautes de cyanobacteries a l'echelle regionale. Sur la base de ces analyses, nous concluons que les modeles nordamericains sont adequats pour l'estimation de la biomasse cyanobacterienne pour toute region temperee au Canada., Introduction Cyanobacterial blooms are a concern worldwide because they result in taste and odour problems, can produce toxins, and, in some cases, form unsightly surface scums, all of which prevent [...]

There is a growing interest in improving knowledge on wood quality of forest resources to allow for an end-product oriented supply for the wood-processing industry. We investigated the differences of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) wood traits from 13 ecological regions of the eastern Canadian province of Quebec and identified climatic and geographic variables and tree characteristics that may help predict wood traits in novel approaches to forest inventories. One hundred and eleven wood disks were used to determine wood traits that are related to wood anatomy and to mechanical use of wood. Our results indicate significant differences between ecological regions for most of the investigated wood traits. Samples from several coastal regions showed, for example, wood anatomy that is advantageous for some pulp and paper grades, but they offer comparatively weak estimates for mechanical applications. Ordination and projection to latent structures allowed us to identify maximum temperature, degree days, geographic location, tree height, and tree diameter as important predictor variables for wood traits. The quality of models was variable and [R.sup.2] values ranged from 0.13 to 0.59. Prediction errors in an independent sample were mostly below 10%, and bias was below 5%. Although the prediction of wood mechanics was less precise, the presented results are an encouraging step toward obtaining a wood trait signature for different environments. Key words: wood quality, ecological regions, climatic influences, tree growth, genetic structure. L'amelioration des connaissances sur la qualite du bois des ressources forestieres suscite de plus en plus d'interet pour que l'approvisionnement de l'industrie de transformation du bois puisse tenir compte du produit fini. Nous avons etudie les differences entre les caracteres du bois de l'epinette blanche (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) provenant de 13 regions ecologiques de la province de Quebec dans l'est du Canada et nous avons identifie les variables climatiques et geographiques ainsi que les caracteristiques des arbres qui pourraient aider a predire les caracteres du bois dans le cadre de nouvelles approches en inventaire forestier. Cent onze disques de bois ont ete utilises pour determiner les caracteres du bois relies a l'anatomie et a l'usage mecanique du bois. Nos resultats indiquent qu'il y a des differences significatives entre les regions ecologiques pour la plupart des caracteres du bois a l'etude. Les caracteristiques anatomiques du bois d'echantillons provenant de plusieurs regions cotieres par exemple presentaient un avantage pour certains grades de pates et papier, tout en se montrant peu favorables pour des applications mecaniques. L'ordination et la projection sur des structures latentes nous ont permis d'identifier d'importantes variables de prediction des caracteres du bois: la temperature maximum, les degres-jours et la position geographique ainsi que la hauteur et le diametre des arbres. La qualite des modeles etait variable et la valeur de [R.sup.2] variait de 0,13 a 0,59. Les erreurs de prediction dans un echantillon independant etaient la plupart du temps inferieures a 10% et le biais etait inferieur a 5%. Bien que la prediction des proprietes mecaniques du bois ait ete moins precise, les resultats presentes dans cet article constituent une etape encourageante vers l'obtention d'une signature des caracteres du bois associee a differents environnements. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: qualite du bois, regions ecologiques, influences climatiques, croissance des arbres, structure genetique., 1. Introduction Wood formation (xylogenesis) in trees takes place in the vascular cambium, a thin layer of meristematic cells located underneath the bark. Cambial activity and modification of the wood [...]

While its impossible to accurately predict the exact severity of each years cold and influenza season, there are a variety of steps primary care practices can take to prepare staff [...]

Apology laws aren't as important as you may think when it comes to situations in which physicians have to explain, or apologize for something unexpected. However, as healthcare becomes more [...]

Recent evidence demonstrates that exchange rate movements can affect firm survival and entry. However, there is little evidence on whether there are asymmetric effects of an appreciation versus depreciation. This [...]

Most adults can access their cash anywhere, and few banking customers would tolerate it any other way. Health information, however, is still largely walled off from one institution to another. [...]

In the present study, attenuation of the laser beam because of the induced plume during bead-on-plate welding of an austenitic stainless steel plate with a 15 kW fibre laser beam, was investigated to better understand laser welding phenomena. A high-speed video camera was used to monitor the plume and keyhole behaviour. Attenuation and refraction levels, due to the induced plume, were measured by different wavelengths laser probes. Finally, a high resolution spectrometer was used to analyze spectral emission from the induced plasma plume by the fibre laser beam. The Boltzmann plot method was used to estimate the temperature of laser-induced plasma plume and Saha's equation was applied to calculate the ionization degree. PACS No.: 42.62.Cf. Afin de mieux comprendre le mecanisme du soudage par laser, nous etudions ici l'attenuation d'un faisceau laser due au panache forme lors d'une soudure sur une plaque d'acier inoxydable austenitique a l'aide d'un laser a fibre de 15 kW. Une camera haute vitesse a enregistre le comportement du panache et du capillaire de vaporisation (keyhole). Nous avons mesure l'attenuation et la refraction engendrees par le panache a l'aide de sondes laser de differentes longueurs d'onde. Finalement, un spectrometre a haute resolution nous permet d'analyser le spectre d'emission du panache de plasma genere par le faisceau du laser a fibre. Nous utilisons la methode de Boltzmann pour determiner la temperature du plasma et l'equation de Saha pour estimer le degre d'ionisation. [Traduit par la Redaction], 1. Introduction When an infrared laser beam hits a solid metal target, the major part of the laser beam radiation is reflected at the target surface while the rest is [...]

Dana Gioia sharply expresses the sacramental vision proper to the Catholic ('The Catholic Writer Today,' December), but is this one that ever found worthy expression in the Catholic writers of [...]

Administering immunizations to patients in your practice is a service and a convenience. And for many primary care offices, it's a huge part of their business--albeit one fraught with economic [...]

Early flowering plants are thought to have been woody species restricted to warm habitats (1-3). This lineage has since radiated into almost every climate, with manifold growth forms (4). As angiosperms spread and climate changed, they evolved mechanisms to cope with episodic freezing. To explore the evolution of traits underpinning the ability to persist in freezing conditions, we assembled a large species-level database of growth habit (woody or herbaceous; 49,064 species), as well as leaf phenology (evergreen or deciduous), diameter of hydraulic conduits (that is, xylem vessels and tracheids) and climate occupancies (exposure to freezing). To model the evolution of species' traits and climate occupancies, we combined these data with an unparalleled dated molecular phylogeny (32,223 species) for land plants. Here we show that woody clades successfully moved into freezing-prone environments by either possessing transport networks of small safe conduits (5) and/or shutting down hydraulic function by dropping leaves during freezing. Herbaceous species largely avoided freezing periods by senescing cheaply constructed aboveground tissue. Growth habit has long been considered labile (6), but we find that growth habit was less labile than climate occupancy. Additionally, freezing environments were largely filled by lineages that had already become herbs or, when remaining woody, already had small conduits (that is, the trait evolved before the climate occupancy). By contrast, most deciduous woody lineages had an evolutionary shift to seasonally shedding their leaves only after exposure to freezing (that is, the climate occupancy evolved before the trait). For angiosperms to inhabit novel cold environments they had to gain new structural and functional trait solutions; our results suggest that many of these solutions were probably acquired before their foray into the cold., Flowering plants (angiosperms) today grow in a vast range of environmental conditions, with this breadth probably related to their diverse morphology and physiology (7). However, early angiosperms are generally thought [...]

The main objective of this article is to propose a methodology to evaluate and to study the mechanical performance of various hygroscopic, organic and synthetic dust suppressants and stabilization agents through field tests. Different road sections were treated for several years and many tests have been conducted. The impact on the mechanical performance of the treated granular material has been studied under field conditions by evaluating the deterioration of the road following the spreading of the product on the road. Field tests were conducted over three years in summers 2007, 2008, and 2009. The deterioration of the road is evaluated in terms of improper cross section, inadequate roadside drainage, corrugations, dust, potholes, ruts, and loose aggregates. To evaluate the influence of stabilization agents on the bearing capacity of the granular material on the road, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests have also been performed. Key words: unpaved road, dust suppressant, stabilization agent, bearing capacity, road deterioration. Le present article vise principalement a proposer une methode pour evaluer et etudier le performance mecanique de divers depoussierants et agents stabilisateurs hygroscopiques, organiques et synthetiques au moyen d'essais sur le terrain. Diverses sections de route ont ete traitees pendant plusieurs annees et de nombreux essais ont ete realises. L'impact du rendement mecanique du materiau granulaire traite a ete etudie sur le terrain en evaluant la deterioration de la route apres l'epandage du produit sur la route. Des essais sur le terrain ont ete realises durant les etes 2007, 2008 et 2009. La deterioration de la route est evaluee en termes de section transversale inadequate, de mauvais drainage en bordure de route, de planche a laver, de poussiere, de nids de poule, d'ornieres et d'agregats laches. Des essais au deflectometre a masse tombante ont ete realises pour evaluer l'influence des stabilisateurs sur la capacite portante du materiau granulaire de la route. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: route non revetue, abat-poussiere, produit stabilisant, capacite portante, deterioration de la route., Introduction Local roads, municipal paths, and natural resource access roads represent a large proportion of the Canadian road network. Only in Quebec, these roads count for about 150 000 km [...]

Predators are a threat to many ground-nesting shorebirds; however, nest exclosures are a tool used by managers to reduce nest predation. Others have found that nest exclosures increase hatching success, but there has been concern that they may also increase adult mortality and nest abandonment. We examined the effects of nest exclosures on the behaviour of incubating Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus melodus Ord, 1824) and their predators on nesting beaches in eastern Canada. Using a combination of field observations, video monitoring, and an artificial nest experiment, we found that adult incubation behaviour did not differ between exclosed and unexclosed nests. Predators, however, visited exclosed nests more often than unexclosed nests and spent more time in the vicinity of exclosed nests than unexclosed nests at one of our sites. These findings suggest that concerns over increased adult mortality and nest abandonment are plausible and require further study. Key words: Piping Plover, Charadrius melodus melodus, nest exclosure, predation, adult mortality, nest abandonment. Resume: Les predateurs sont une menace pour plusieurs especes de limicoles nichant au sol et sont souvent controles par des methodes de gestion comme les exclos. Les exclos agissent comme barrieres contre les predateurs sur les nids et augmentent le niveau d'eclosion. Par contre, ils sont aussi associes avec un tot plus eleve de mortalite chez les adultes et d'abandon des nids. Nous avons examine les effets des exclos sur le comportement du pluvier siffleur (Charadrius melodus melodus Ord, 1824) nicheur et de leurs predateurs sur les plages de nidification de l'Est du Canada. En combinant nos observations sur le terrain et la surveillance par video tout en faisant une experience de nids artificiels, nous avons trouve que le comportement du pluvier siffleur nichant n'est pas different entre les nids proteges par exclos et les non-proteges. Les predateurs ont cependant visite les nids proteges par exclos plus souvent que les nids non-proteges et ils ont aussi passe plus de temps pres des exclos que des nids sans exclos. Ces resultats pourraient aider a expliquer le lien entre la protection des nids par exclos et le tot plus eleve de mortalite chez les adultes et d'abandon de nids. Mots-cles: pluvier siffleur, Charadrius melodus melodus, exclos, predateurs, mortalite chez les adultes, abandon de nids., Introduction The loss of approximately 90% of the top predators (e.g., wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758), cougars (Puma concolor (L., 1771))) in North America has allowed mesopredator populations (e.g., red [...]

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee is the preferred method for diagnosing knee injuries. However, interpretation of knee MRI is time-intensive and subject to diagnostic error and variability. An automated system for interpreting knee MRI could prioritize high-risk patients and assist clinicians in making diagnoses. Deep learning methods, in being able to automatically learn layers of features, are well suited for modeling the complex relationships between medical images and their interpretations. In this study we developed a deep learning model for detecting general abnormalities and specific diagnoses (anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] tears and meniscal tears) on knee MRI exams. We then measured the effect of providing the model's predictions to clinical experts during interpretation. Methods and findings Our dataset consisted of 1,370 knee MRI exams performed at Stanford University Medical Center between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2012 (mean age 38.0 years; 569 [41.5%] female patients). The majority vote of 3 musculoskeletal radiologists established reference standard labels on an internal validation set of 120 exams. We developed MRNet, a convolutional neural network for classifying MRI series and combined predictions from 3 series per exam using logistic regression. In detecting abnormalities, ACL tears, and meniscal tears, this model achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.937 (95% CI 0.895, 0.980), 0.965 (95% CI 0.938, 0.993), and 0.847 (95% CI 0.780, 0.914), respectively, on the internal validation set. We also obtained a public dataset of 917 exams with sagittal T1-weighted series and labels for ACL injury from Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia. On the external validation set of 183 exams, the MRNet trained on Stanford sagittal T2-weighted series achieved an AUC of 0.824 (95% CI 0.757, 0.892) in the detection of ACL injuries with no additional training, while an MRNet trained on the rest of the external data achieved an AUC of 0.911 (95% CI 0.864, 0.958). We additionally measured the specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of 9 clinical experts (7 board-certified general radiologists and 2 orthopedic surgeons) on the internal validation set both with and without model assistance. Using a 2-sided Pearson's chi-squared test with adjustment for multiple comparisons, we found no significant differences between the performance of the model and that of unassisted general radiologists in detecting abnormalities. General radiologists achieved significantly higher sensitivity in detecting ACL tears (p-value = 0.002; q-value = 0.019) and significantly higher specificity in detecting meniscal tears (p-value = 0.003; q-value = 0.019). Using a 1-tailed t test on the change in performance metrics, we found that providing model predictions significantly increased clinical experts' specificity in identifying ACL tears (p-value < 0.001; q-value = 0.006). The primary limitations of our study include lack of surgical ground truth and the small size of the panel of clinical experts. Conclusions Our deep learning model can rapidly generate accurate clinical pathology classifications of knee MRI exams from both internal and external datasets. Moreover, our results support the assertion that deep learning models can improve the performance of clinical experts during medical imaging interpretation. Further research is needed to validate the model prospectively and to determine its utility in the clinical setting., Author(s): Nicholas Bien 1,*, Pranav Rajpurkar 1, Robyn L. Ball 2, Jeremy Irvin 1, Allison Park 1, Erik Jones 1, Michael Bereket 1, Bhavik N. Patel 3, Kristen W. Yeom [...]

For more than 6 weeks, the bloody pants Pierre Rouzier, MD, had worn on April 15, 2013, rested at the bottom of his closet. He'd looked at them two to [...]

This special edition on aging is timely, not only considering population changes and some recent global initiatives, but also given the current difficult context for social policy making at a [...]

Immigrants represent 28% of the Canadian population over 65, and older immigrants--more of them are women--now comprise the majority of the aging population in Canada's large metropolitan cities. Despite ample research about abuse of older adults in general, few Canadian studies have focused on abuse of older immigrant women. This paper reports policy-relevant findings from a project that aimed to develop a shared program of research to prevent abuse of older immigrant women in Canada. The project involved a review of the literature on elder abuse and immigrant women, local meetings with key stakeholders in seven provinces, a public event in Toronto, and a two-day interdisciplinary symposium with provincial stakeholders. Two significant themes emerged from these activities: the value of bringing together professionals representing multiple disciplines and service sectors as well as older immigrant women and the need for changes in social policies to reduce older immigrant women's vulnerability to abuse and support their resilience. This paper examines relevant social policy contexts and highlights the previously-over-looked implications of the ideology of familism within policies concerning prevention of abuse and the importance of intersectoral collaboration. Les immigrants constituent 28 % de la population canadienne de plus de 65 ans. Les immigrants ages, dont la plupart sont des femmes, representent desormais la majorite de la population vieillissante des grandes metropoles canadiennes. Malgre de multiples recherches sur les violences envers les personnes agees en general, peu d'etudes canadiennes se sont concentrees sur les violences envers les immigrantes agees. Ce document presente les conclusions d'un projet visant a elaborer un programme commun de recherche pour prevenir la violence envers les immigrantes agees au Canada. Ce projet comprenait l'examen des publications existantes sur les violences envers les atnes et les immigrantes, des reunions locales avec les intervenants cles de sept provinces, un evenement public a Toronto et un colloque interdisciplinaire de deux jours avec les intervenants provinciaux. Deux themes majeurs ont emerge au cours de ces activites : d'une part l'interet de rassembler des professionnels representant de multiples disciplines et secteurs de services, et d'autre part les immigrantes agees et la necessite de faire evoluer les politiques sociales afin de reduire la vulnerabilite des immigrantes a la violence et de soutenir leur resilience. Ce document etudie les contextes sociopolitiques pertinents et met en avant les implications auparavant negligees de l'ideologie de la famille dans les politiques relatives a la prevention de la violence, ainsi que l'importance de la collaboration intersectorielle., Introduction Canada's population is becoming older and more diverse. Presently, immigrants comprise 28% of the Canadian population aged 65 years or older, and the proportion of older immigrants is larger [...]

Les politiques publiques renferment des a priori sur le vieillissement de la population, d'ou 1'interet de mieux comprendre leurs roles sur les experiences individuelles et sociales du vieillissement. L'initiative Villes-amies des aines (VADA) de l'Organisation mondiale de la sante (OMS) interesse de plus en plus les gouvernements municipaux, provinciaux et pancanadiens depuis 2007 en incitant les communautes a s'adapter aux besoins des aines. Comment la consideration du milieu de vie des aines et leurs capacites d'action est-elle devenue une priorite dans l'elaboration de politiques publiques sur le vieillissement? Cet article vise a repondre a cette interrogation en inscrivant VADA dans une perspective historique par le biais d'une analyse de contenu de cinq documents internationaux dans l'evolution des politiques publiques : (1) Plan d'action international de Vienne sur le vieillissement; (2) Principes des Nations unies pour les personnes agees; (3) Plan d'action international de Madrid sur le vieillissement : (4) Cadre d'orientation << Vieillir en restant actif >>; et (5) Guide mondial des villes-amies des aines. Les resultats demontrent que l'ensemble des documents analyses font etat, a differentes proportions, de preoccupations visant a adapter les structures et les services a la population afin d'ameliorer la qualite de vie des aines. Neanmoins, VADA se demarque en se concentrant sur l'environnement bati et l'environnement social plutot que sur la sante. De plus, en interpellant la communaute, l'initiative de l'OMS ne preconise pas l'intervention unique de l'Etat, mais plutot une coordination des divers acteurs du milieu. Enfin, l'accent mis sur l'empowerment des aines et de la communaute constitue l'une des particularites majeures de VADA. Public policies contain a priori understanding on the aging of the population, which is why there is interest in gaining a better understanding of the roles in the individual and social experiences of aging. The Global Age-Friendly Cities (GAFC) initiative, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been attracting more and more interest on the part of municipal, provincial, and federal governments in Canada since 2007, spurring communities to adapt to the needs of seniors. How has consideration of seniors' living environment and abilities become a priority in developing public policy on aging? This article seeks to answer this question by situating GAFC in a historical context, through an analysis of five international documents in the evolution of public policy: (1) Vienna International Plan of Action on Aging; (2) United Nations Principles for Older Persons; (3) Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing; (4) Active Ageing: A Policy Framework; and (5) Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide. The study found that all these documents were concerned to varying degrees with adapting structures and service to the public in order to improve seniors' quality of life. However, GAFC sets itself apart by focusing on the built and the social environment rather than health. Moreover, by calling on the community, the WHO's initiative recommends not only government action, but also coordination between the various stakeholders. Finally, the emphasis on empowerment of seniors and of the community constitutes one of GAFC's major distinctive features., Introduction Depuis quelques annees, le vieillissement de la population attire l'attention des decideurs publics, ce qui a mene a de nouvelles initiatives afin d'adapter les milieux de vie aux besoins [...]

Acylsulfonamide and acylsulfamide as surrogates for the carboxylic acid function of N-acetamide-indole-6-carboxylic acids were evaluated as allosteric inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase. Several analogs displayed excellent antiviral potency against both 1a and 1b HCV genotypes in cell-based subgenomic replicon assays. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) are discussed in the context of the crystal structure of an inhibitor--NS5B polymerase complex. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion pharmacokinetic (ADME-PK) properties of this class of inhibitors are also described. Key words: hepatitis C virus (HCV), NS5B polymerase, allosteric inhibitors, antivirals, structure-activity relationship. On a evalue les acylsulfonamides et les acylsulfamides comme substituts de la fonction acide carboxylique des acides N-acetamide-indole-6-carboxylique comme inhibiteurs allosteriques de la polymerase du virus de l'hepatite C (VHC) NS5B. Plusieurs analogues presentent des activites antivirales excellentes contre les genotypes 1a et 1b du VHC dans les essais de replication sous-genomiques a base de cellules. On discute de relations structure-activite (RSA) dans le contexte de la structure cristalline d'un complexe inhibiteur--polymerase NS5B. On decrit aussi les proprietes pharmacocinetiques, telles les taux d'absorption, de distribution, de metabolisme et d'excretion (PC-ADME), de cette classe d'inhibiteurs. Mots-cles: virus de l'hepatite C (VHC), polymerase NS5B, inhibiteurs allosteriques, antiviraux, relation structure- activite. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that infects an estimated 170 million people worldwide and can cause severe liver damage such as cirrhosis [...]

There is a growing interest in predicting wood quality from tree morphology traits, which can be measured using remote sensing techniques such as LiDAR, to enhance forest inventory for operational planning. In this study, we investigated the correlation structure between these two categories of traits in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) using canonical and multiple regression analyses with the objective of identifying key morphology variables that are predictive of wood quality. For 495 trees from a 30-year-old plantation, we obtained measurements of tree height and dimensions of the living crown, as well as the number and diameter of live branches at selected whorls. Wood traits were assessed from wood cores with SilviScan technology. Morphological traits explained almost 29% of the overall variation observed in wood traits. However, the magnitude of the correlations and the ability of crown morphological traits to predict wood traits differed widely among the latter. Average ring width and radial cell diameter, both related to increment, were well correlated with tree morphology, whereas traits related to subcellular structure, for instance, microfibril angle, were poorly correlated. These results could guide the choice of wood traits to improve inventory techniques aiming to optimize the forest product value chain. Resume: L'interet va grandissant pour developper des modeles de prediction de la qualite du bois a partir des caracteres morphologiques des arbres, ces derniers pouvant etre estimes a l'aide de techniques de teledetection tel le LiDAR, de maniere a avoir acces a des inventaires forestiers ameliores pour la planification operationnelle. Dans cette etude, nous avons examine a l'aide d'analyses canoniques et de regressions multiples la structure des correlations qui existent entre ces deux classes de caracteres chez l'epinette blanche (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) en ayant pour objectif d'identifier les caracteres morphologiques cles predictifs de la qualite du bois. Nous avons obtenu d'une selection de 495 arbres situes dans une plantation agee de 30 ans des mesures de hauteur et de dimensions de houppier vivant, ainsi que des mesures du nombre et du diametre des branches vivantes pour un certain nombre de verticiles selectionnes. Les caracteres du bois ont ete evalues a l'aide de carottes de bois analysees avec le systeme SilviScan. La morphologie du houppier expliquait presque 29 % de la variation totale des proprietes du bois qui a ete observee. Cependant, l'intensite des correlations et l'aptitude des caracteristiques morphologiques du houppier a predire les proprietes du bois variaient considerablement parmi ces dernieres. La largeur des cernes et le diametre radial des cellules, les deux liees a la croissance, etaient bien correlees a la morphologie des arbres alors que des proprietes liees a la structure subcellulaire, comme l'angle des microfibrilles, l'etaient peu. Ces resultats pourraient nous guider dans le choix des proprietes du bois a inclure pour ameliorer les techniques d'inventaire necessaires a l'optimisation de la valeur des produits forestiers., Introduction In recent years, worldwide demand for high-value forest products has brought about a variety of strategies for the most efficient use of wood resources. Optimization of the product value [...]

This paper presents a systematic review, rating and synthesis of the empirical evidence for the use of psychotropic medications in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Thirty-three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in peer-reviewed journals qualified for inclusion and were coded and analyzed using a systematic evaluative method specific to autism research (Reichow et al. in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38:1311-1319, 2008). Results are presented by agent and primary target symptom(s). The findings suggest established evidence for relatively few agents, with preliminary and promising evidence for a larger group. Challenges and opportunities in the developing field of ASD psychopharmacology are identified, and recommendations for further research are provided. Keywords Autism * Evidence base * Pharmacology * Review * Trials, Introduction The population of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has increased significantly over the past decade with the prevalence of ASD now estimated at a rate as high as [...]