Carleton University

About: Carleton University is a education organization based out in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 15852 authors who have published 39650 publications receiving 1106610 citations.

Cascading effects of stressors and inflammatory immune system activation: Implications for major depressive disorder

Abstract: Activation of the inflammatory immune system provokes numerous neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter changes, many of which are similar to those provoked by physical or psychological stressors. These findings, among others, have led to the suggestion that the brain translates immune activation much as if it were a stressor. In this review, I provide synopses of the effects of traditional stressors on the release of corticotropin-releasing hormones at hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic sites, variations of serotonin and its receptors and changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These effects are similar to those elicited by activation of the inflammatory immune system, particularly the impact of the immune-signalling molecules interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α and interferon-α on neuroendocrine, neurotransmitter and BDNF function. In addition, it is reported that stressors and cytokines may synergistically influence biological and behavioural processes and that these treatments may have long-term ramifications through the sensitization of processes associated with stress responses. Finally, I present an overview of the depressogenic actions of these cytokines in rodent models and in humans, and I provide provisional suggestions (and caveats) about the mechanisms by which cytokines and stressors might culminate in major depressive disorder.

Variable-Rate Transmission for Rayleigh Fading Channels

Abstract: A modulation system is proposed that continuously adjusts its data rate in response to signal strength variations in a fading channel. The optimum variation of data rate with channel conditions is determined, and includes the effects of feedback channel time delay, the interval between rate changes, and restriction of the number of allowable rates. Application of these results to a full duplex situation allows determination of the optimum fraction of the data stream to be devoted to service information. Comparison of this scheme with diversity transmission on the basis of error probability and bandwidth utilization reveals a reduction on the order of 14 dB in transmitter power for a typical duplex link.

Neural Network Inverse Modeling and Applications to Microwave Filter Design

Abstract: In this paper, systematic neural network modeling techniques are presented for microwave modeling and design using the concept of inverse modeling where the inputs to the inverse model are electrical parameters and outputs are geometrical parameters. Training the neural network inverse model directly may become difficult due to the nonuniqueness of the input-output relationship in the inverse model. We propose a new method to solve such a problem by detecting multivalued solutions in training data. The data containing multivalued solutions are divided into groups according to derivative information using a neural network forward model such that individual groups do not have the problem of multivalued solutions. Multiple inverse models are built based on divided data groups, and are then combined to form a complete model. A comprehensive modeling methodology is proposed, which includes direct inverse modeling, segmentation, derivative division, and model combining techniques. The methodology is applied to waveguide filter modeling and more accurate results are achieved compared to the direct neural network inverse modeling method. Full electromagnetic simulation and measurement results of Ku-band circular waveguide dual-mode pseudoelliptic bandpass filters are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed neural network inverse modeling methodology.

Individual specialization in diet by a generalist marine predator reflects specialization in foraging behaviour

Abstract: Summary 1. We studied chick diet in a known-age, sexed population of a long-lived seabird, the Brunnich’s guillemot ( Uria lomvia ), over 15 years ( N = 136; 1993‐2007) and attached time‐depth‐temperature recorders to examine foraging behaviour in multiple years ( N = 36; 2004‐07). 2. Adults showed specialization in prey fed to offspring, described by multiple indices calculated over 15 years: 27% of diet diversity was attributable to among-individual variation (withinindividual component of total niche width = 0·73); average similarity of an individual’s diet to the overall diet was 65% (mean proportional similarity between individuals and population = 0·65); diet was significantly more specialized than expected for 70% of individuals (mean likelihood = 0.53). These indices suggest higher specialization than the average for an across-taxa comparison of 49 taxa. 3. Foraging behaviour varied along three axes: flight time, dive depth and dive shape. Individuals showed specialized individual foraging behaviour along each axis. These foraging strategies were reflected in the prey type delivered to their offspring and were maintained over scales of hours to years. 4. Specialization in foraging behaviour and diet was greater over short time spans (hours, days) than over long time spans (years). Regardless of sex or age, the main component of variation in foraging behaviour and chick diet was between individuals. 5. Plasma stable isotope values were similar across years, within a given individual, and variance was low relative to that expected from prey isotope values, suggesting adult diet specialized across years. Stable isotope values were similar among individuals that fed their nestlings similar prey items and there was no difference in trophic level between adults and chicks. We suggest that guillemots specialize on a single foraging strategy regardless of whether chick-provisioning and self-feeding. With little individual difference in body mass and physiology, specialization likely represents learning and memorizing optimal feeding locations and behaviours. 6. There was no difference in survival or reproductive success between specialists and generalists, suggesting these are largely equivalent strategies in terms of evolutionary fitness, presumably because different strategies were advantageous at different levels of prey abundance or predictability. The development of individual specialization may be an important precursor to diversification among seabirds.

Multiscale plasticity modeling: coupled atomistics and discrete dislocation mechanics

Abstract: A computational method (CADD) is presented whereby a continuum region containing dislocation defects is coupled to a fully atomistic region. The model is related to previous hybrid models in which continuum finite elements are coupled to a fully atomistic region, with two key advantages: the ability to accomodate discrete dislocations in the continuum region and an algorithm for automatically detecting dislocations as they move from the atomistic region to the continuum region and then correctly "converting" the atomistic dislocations into discrete dislocations, or vice-versa. The resulting CADD model allows for the study of 2d problems involving large numbers of defects where the system size is too big for fully atomistic simulation, and improves upon existing discrete dislocation techniques by preserving accurate atomistic details of dislocation nucleation and other atomic scale phenomena. Applications to nanoindentation, atomic scale void growth under tensile stress, and fracture are used to validate and demonstrate the capabilities of the model.