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Lithium titanium oxide (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 )-based cells are a promising technology for ultra-fast charge-discharge and long life-cycle batteries. However, the surface reactivity of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 and lack of electronic conductivity still remains problematic. One of the approaches toward mitigating these problems is the use of carbon-coated particles. In this study, we report the development of an economical, eco-friendly, and scalable method of making a homogenous 3D network coating of N-doped carbons. Our method makes it possible, for the first time, to fill the pores of secondary particles with carbons; we reveal that it is possible to cover each primary nanoparticle. This unique approach permits the creation of lithium-ion batteries with outstanding performances during ultra-fast charging (4C and 10C), and demonstrates an excellent ability to inhibit the degradation of cells over time at 1C and 45 °C. Furthermore, using this method, we can eliminate the addition of conductive carbons during electrode preparation, and significantly increase the energy density (by weight) of the anode.

Lithium titanium oxide (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 )-based cells are a very promising battery technology for ultrafast-charge-discharge and long-cycle-life batteries. However, the surface reactivity of lithium titanium oxide in the presence of organic electrolytes continues to be a problem that may cause expansion of pouch cells. In this study, we report on the development of a simple and economical grafting method for forming hybrid polymer-Li 4 Ti 15 O 12 nanoparticles, which can be successfully applied in lithium-ion batteries. This method utilizes a low-cost and scalable hydrophobic polymer that is applicable in industrial processes. The hybrid materials demonstrated exceptional capability for preventing the degradation of cells in accelerated aging and operating over 150 cycles at 1C and 45 °C.

This study examined how MTBI concomitants such as pain variables, depression, and anxiety were related to attentional functioning at different stages of recovery. Participants having sustained a MTBI who were in the earlier phase of recovery showed, compared to controls, slower reaction times and larger intra-individual variability on a Computerized Pictorial Stroop Task (CPST). They also reported more post-concussion symptoms, pain intensity and disability, whereas MTBI participants who were in the later phase of recovery presented a higher rate of post-concussive symptoms and somewhat higher pain intensity/disability. MTBI participants' scores on the cognitive items of the post-concussion symptoms scale were positively correlated with reaction times on the CPST, while pain intensity/disability levels were negatively correlated with standard attention measures. Results indicate that obtaining response times and intra-individual variability measures using tests such as the CPST represents an effective means for measuring recovery of attentional function, and that pain intensity/disability should be systematically assessed after a MTBI.

We investigated adults' voluntary control of 20 facial action units theoretically associated with 6 basic emotions (happiness, fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and disgust). Twenty young adults were shown video excerpts of facial action units and asked to reproduce them as accurately as possible. Facial Action Coding System (FACS; Ekman & Friesen, 1978a) coding of the facial productions showed that young adults succeeded in activating 18 of the 20 target actions units, although they often coactivated other action units. Voluntary control was clearly better for some action units than for others, with a pattern of differences between action units consistent with previous work in children and adolescents., (Copyright 2010 APA, all rights reserved.)

Objectives: Little information is available on the incidence and mortality of cancer among the Aboriginal population in the Province of Québec, Canada. Cancer was likely rare in this population historically, but recent life-style changes suggest that this may no longer be the case. The purpose of this study was to estimate incidence and mortality rates among Aboriginal people living on reserves and in northern villages in Québec during the period 1988-2004, and to compare these estimates with those of the general population., Study Design: Incidence and mortality data were extracted respectively from the provincial tumour registry and death file., Methods: Aboriginal people were identified based on geographic residence codes. Population data were taken from the Canadian census of 1991, 1996 and 2001. Incidence and mortality rates were calculated and age-standardized according to the World Standard Population., Results: The Aboriginal incidence and mortality rates for cancer, all sites combined, was 321.8 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval 304.5-339.2) and 160.3 per 100,000 (95% CI 147.8-172.8), respectively. These rates are not significantly different from those of the general population of Québec. However, there are differences according to cancer site and sex. Aboriginal men had a higher risk for liver, lung and kidney cancers and a lower risk for prostate, bladder, leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cancers, whereas Aboriginal women had a higher risk for colorectal, lung, cervix and kidney cancers, and a lower risk for breast, uterus, bladder, brain, leukemia, stomach and pancreas cancers., Conclusions: Aboriginal people in Québec now experience an overall cancer risk comparable to the general population. The observed differences in specific sites suggest exposure to unique environmental risk factors. Basic surveillance specific to this population is necessary for the planning and evaluation of cancer preventive and curative services.

Two studies provided direct support for a recently proposed dialect theory of communicating emotion, positing that expressive displays show cultural variations similar to linguistic dialects, thereby decreasing accurate recognition by out-group members. In Study 1, 60 participants from Quebec and Gabon posed facial expressions. Dialects, in the form of activating different muscles for the same expressions, emerged most clearly for serenity, shame, and contempt and also for anger, sadness, surprise, and happiness, but not for fear, disgust, or embarrassment. In Study 2, Quebecois and Gabonese participants judged these stimuli and stimuli standardized to erase cultural dialects. As predicted, an in-group advantage emerged for nonstandardized expressions only and most strongly for expressions with greater regional dialects, according to Study 1., ((c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved.)

Cancer prevalence is of prime interest in public health because of its use in estimating the disease's burden on the heath care system. This study's objective was to estimate five-year prevalence of tumours from 1989 to 1999 and ten-year prevalence of tumours from 1994 to 1999 in the Province of Quebec (Canada). Five-year prevalence was used to represent tumours for which people are more likely to obtain primary treatment; ten-year prevalence included those tumours in addition to tumours that can be considered cured but still need follow-up. Information was extracted from the Quebec Cancer Registry. Prostate cancer was the most prevalent malignancy among males (25 percent, five-year prevalent tumours), while breast cancer was most prevalent among females (38 percent, five-year prevalent tumours). For both sexes, the greatest observed prevalence increase was for endocrine glands. On average, five-year prevalence proportions were 16 percent higher in men than in women; those of ten year were 14 percent higher in men. Furthermore, the largest differences were observed for bladder and lung cancer. The change in cancer prevalence in Quebec was dependent on the tumour site.

The authors examined children's and adults' sensitivity to traces of anger in masking smiles by presenting participants with short video excerpts of smiles that differed by the intensity of an anger component. Fifty-two children, aged 6 to 12 years, and 26 adults were asked to judge whether a stimulus person was really happy or pretending to be happy. Six- and 7-year-old children were found to be sensitive to traces of anger, but less so than older children and adults. Researchers found evidence of explicit knowledge of the emotion hidden in masking smiles only in adult participants.

Basing our views on recent works of an Ontarian research group, we analyze the profiles of incidence of the main types of cancers observed in the province of Québec for the periods 1984-1986 and 1989-1991. Using the Québec Tumors Registry, we have calculated standardized incidence rates according to sex for each of the 32 departments of community health in the province. A geographical analysis of cancers was conducted via two methods of spatial autocorrelation (SA). Many cancer sites (i.e., breast, lung, stomach) show a positive SA (p < 0.05), indicating an aggregation of cases. Several aggregation schemes observed in Québec resemble those observed in Ontario. In women, the highest incidence rate increases are in leukemia and lung cancer; in men, prostate cancer and leukemia show the highest increase of rates (p < 0.01). The consistency of our observations with those of the Ontario group is discussed.

In Quebec, deceptively few patients who have successfully undergone coronary artery bypass have been returning to work. Those aged 55 to 64 years, blue collar workers or those who were off work for 13 weeks or more were likely not to return to work after surgery. From Jan. 1, 1983, all patients aged 64 years and younger, who successfully underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were invited to attend a 6-week rehabilitation program, starting 6 weeks after operation. The aim of the program was to improve the rate of return to work through a low-intensity physical activity course (60% to 70% maximal working capacity and calisthenics ). Up to Mar. 31, 1984, 68 patients had participated in the program. The proportion of patients returning to work was significantly (p less than 0.01) improved and the trend was observed in all age groups, and for all types of employment and length of time off work before operation.