Showing papers by "Université de Sherbrooke published in 2006"
TL;DR: The CASINO program as discussed by the authors is a single scattering Monte CArlo SImulation of electroN trajectory in sOlid specially designed for low-beam interaction in a bulk and thin foil.
Abstract: This paper is a guide to the ANSI standard C code of CASINO program which is a single scattering Monte CArlo SImulation of electroN trajectory in sOlid specially designed for low-beam interaction in a bulk and thin foil. CASINO can be used either on a DOS-based PC or on a UNIX-based workstation. This program uses tabulated Mott elastic cross sections and experimentally determined stopping powers. Function pointers are used for the most essential routine so that different physical models can easily be implemented. CASINO can be used to generate all of the recorded signals (x-rays, secondary, and backscattered) in a scanning electron microscope either as a point analysis, as a linescan, or as an image format, for all the accelerated voltages (0.1–30 kV). As an example of application, it was found that a 20 nm Guinier-Preston Mg2Si in a light aluminum matrix can, theoretically, be imaged with a microchannel backscattered detector at 5 keV with a beam spot size of 5 nm.
597 citations
TL;DR: A quantitative method, analogous to those used in statistical mechanics, to predict how biodiversity will vary across environments, which plant species from a species pool will be found in which relative abundances in a given environment, and which plant traits determine community assembly is developed.
Abstract: We developed a quantitative method, analogous to those used in statistical mechanics, to predict how biodiversity will vary across environments, which plant species from a species pool will be found in which relative abundances in a given environment, and which plant traits determine community assembly. This provides a scaling from plant traits to ecological communities while bypassing the complications of population dynamics. Our method treats community development as a sorting process involving species that are ecologically equivalent except with respect to particular functional traits, which leads to a constrained random assembly of species; the relative abundance of each species adheres to a general exponential distribution as a function of its traits. Using data for eight functional traits of 30 herbaceous species and community-aggregated values of these traits in 12 sites along a 42-year chronosequence of secondary succession, we predicted 94% of the variance in the relative abundances.
583 citations
TL;DR: Physical more than mental health deteriorated with increasing multimorbidity, and perceived social support and self-perception of economic status were significantly related to all scales of the SF-36, which adversely affected HRQOL in primary-care adult patients.
Abstract: Previous studies about the association of multimorbidity and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in primary-care patients are limited because of their reliance on simple counts of diseases from a limited list of diseases and their failure to assess the severity of disease. We evaluated the association while taking into account the severity of the medical conditions based on the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) score, and controlling for potential confounders (age, sex, household income, education, self-perception of economic status, number of people living in the same dwelling, and perceived social support). We randomly selected 238 patients to construct quintiles of increasing multimorbidity (CIRS). Patients completed the 36-item Medical Outcomes study questionnaire (SF-36) to evaluate their HRQOL. Applying bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses, we used the CIRS as either a continuous or a categorical (quintiles) variable. Use of the CIRS revealed a stronger association of HRQOL with multimorbidity than using a simple count of chronic conditions. Physical more than mental health deteriorated with increasing multimorbidity. Perceived social support and self-perception of economic status were significantly related to all scales of the SF-36 (p < 0.05). Increased multimorbidity adversely affected HRQOL in primary-care adult patients, even when confounding variables were controlled for.
505 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a meta-analysis was conducted to consolidate the results of studies presenting normative values for grip strength obtained with the Jamar dynamometer in accordance with the recommendations of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
498 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that the relationships among these variables can best be explained by assuming a necessary trade-off between allocation to structural tissues versus liquid phase processes and an evolutionary tradeoff between leaf photosynthetic rates, construction costs, and leaf longevity.
Abstract: Recent work has identified a worldwide ''economic'' spectrum of correlated leaf traits that affects global patterns of nutrient cycling and primary productivity and that is used to calibrate vegetation-climate models. The correlation patterns are displayed by species from the arctic to the tropics and are largely independent of growth form or phy- logeny. This generality suggests that unidentified fundamental constraints control the return of photosynthates on investments of nutrients and dry mass in leaves. Using novel graph theoretic methods and structural equation modeling, we show that the relationships among these variables can best be explained by assuming (1) a necessary trade-off between al- location to structural tissues versus liquid phase processes and (2) an evolutionary trade- off between leaf photosynthetic rates, construction costs, and leaf longevity.
456 citations
TL;DR: The Arabidopsis MAPK nomenclature appears sufficiently robust to allow it to be usefully extended to other well-characterized plant systems, and analysis of gene expression data for MPK and MKK genes in all three species allows further refinement of those families, based on functionality.
445 citations
TL;DR: Two studies of light-responsive micellar aggregates of small-molecule surfactants suggest that any chromophores whose photoinduced structural rearrangements gives rise to a significant change in dipole moment could be used in designing light-dissociable BCP micelles based on the same principle.
Abstract: Micellar aggregates (core -shell micelles, vesicles, etc.) formed by amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) are being actively investigated as a nanocarrier system for controlled delivery of drugs and other biological substances. 1 Generally speaking, a good nanocarrier of drugs would be (1) stable during the circulation in the blood, allowing no release of encapsulated hydrophobic drugs, (2) able to accumulate specifically in the target site (e.g., tumors), and (3) once on target, able to release the carried drug quickly or in a controlled fashion. Each of these requirements has prompted a great deal of research efforts in the design, synthesis and exploitation of new BCPs. As far as the control of release is concerned, BCP micelles that can be disrupted by external stimuli, thus triggering the release of entrapped agents, are of particular interest. The stimuli studied so far not only include changes that BCP micelles in the body can experience, such as increase or decrease in pH, 2 in temperature 3 and exposure to oxidation reaction, 4 but also include sound 5 and light6-8 that can be applied from outside of the body for remote activation of the disruption of micelles. If the interaction of BCP micelles with light lead to their dissociation, photocontrolled release of encapsulated agents is possible. One obvious, and attractive, feature of stable, lightresponsive polymer micelles is that the release of the carried guest (not limited to drugs) could be started at required time (when light is applied) and at required location (where light exposure is directed to). This offers new perspectives in controlled release that would be difficult to realize using other stimuli. To obtain usable BCP-based nanocarriers for photocontrolled delivery applications, the development of effective designs of BCP structures and fundamental studies of their photoinduced dissociation and release processes are necessary. There are many studies of light-responsive micellar aggregates of small-molecule surfactants, 9-16 but very few reports on lightdissociable polymer micelles. 6-8 We first studied amphiphilic BCPs whose hydrophobic block is an azobenzene-containing side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (Azo-SCLCP). 6,7 We found that their core-shell micelles and vesicles in solution can be dissociated by UV light irradiation and re-formed upon visible light exposure, as a result of the reversible trans -ci photoisomerization of azobenzene side groups of the hydrophobic block. From a study of the mechanism of the reversible micellar dissociation, a general design principle for azobenzene-based light-dissociable BCP micelles has been suggested. 7 The azobenzene moiety should have a small (near zero) dipole moment in the trans form and a high dipole moment in the cis form (determined by the substituents on the azobenzene unit); when this is conjugated with a weakly hydrophilic block (determined by the chemical nature and the length of the block), the increase in polarity of the azobenzene polymer block under UV light (trans-cis isomerization taking place) can alter the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance which results in dissociation of micelles, while the decrease in polarity upon visible light irradiation (reverse cis -trans isomerization occurring) shifts the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance in the opposite direction which brings back the micelles. More importantly, these studies suggest that any chromophores whose photoinduced structural rearrangements gives rise to a significant change in dipole moment could be used in designing light-dissociable BCP micelles based on the same principle. If the photoinduced process is reversible, the micellar dissociation is reversible. More recently, we have demonstrated the efficiency of a different, and more general, strategy for designing BCPs whose micelles can undergo irreversible light-induced dissociation. 8
373 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors theoretically study measurement-induced dephasing of a superconducting qubit in the circuit QED architecture and compare the results to those obtained experimentally by Schuster et al.
Abstract: We theoretically study measurement-induced dephasing of a superconducting qubit in the circuit QED architecture and compare the results to those obtained experimentally by Schuster et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 123602 (2005)]. Strong coupling of the qubit to the resonator leads to a significant ac Stark shift of the qubit transition frequency. As a result, quantum fluctuations in the photon number populating the resonator cause dephasing of the qubit. We find good agreement between the predicted line shape of the qubit spectrum and the experimental results. Furthermore, in the strongly dispersive limit, where the Stark shift per photon is large compared to the cavity decay rate and the qubit linewidth, we predict that the qubit spectrum will be split into multiple peaks, with each peak corresponding to a different number of photons in the cavity.
363 citations
TL;DR: The strong binding kinetics of the mesothelin-MUC16 interaction and the cell adhesion between ovarian tumor cells and A431-Meso+ even in the presence of peritoneal fluid strongly support the importance of these two glycoproteins in the peritoneale metastasis of ovarian tumors.
Abstract: The mucin MUC16 and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored glycoprotein mesothelin likely facilitate the peritoneal metastasis of ovarian tumors. The biochemical basis and the kinetics of the binding between these two glycoproteins are not clearly understood. Here we have addressed this deficit and provide further evidence supporting the role of the MUC16-mesothelin interaction in facilitating cell-cell binding under conditions that mimic the peritoneal environment. In this study we utilize recombinant-Fc tagged human mesothelin to measure the binding kinetics of this glycoprotein to MUC16 expressed on the ovarian tumor cell line OVCAR-3. OVCAR-3 derived sublines that did not express MUC16 showed no affinity for mesothelin. In a flow cytometry-based assay mesothelin binds with very high affinity to the MUC16 on the OVCAR-3 cells with an apparent Kd of 5–10 nM. Maximum interaction occurs within 5 mins of incubation of the recombinant mesothelin with the OVCAR-3 cells and significant binding is observed even after 10 sec. A five-fold molar excess of soluble MUC16 was unable to completely inhibit the binding of mesothelin to the OVCAR-3 cells. Oxidation of the MUC16 glycans, removal of its N-linked oligosaccharides, and treatment of the mucin with wheat germ agglutinin and erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin abrogates its binding to mesothelin. These observations suggest that at least a subset of the MUC16-asscociated N-glycans is required for binding to mesothelin. We also demonstrate that MUC16 positive ovarian tumor cells exhibit increased adherence to A431 cells transfected with mesothelin (A431-Meso+). Only minimal adhesion is observed between MUC16 knockdown cells and A431-Meso+ cells. The binding between the MUC16 expressing ovarian tumor cells and the A431-Meso+ cells occurs even in the presence of ascites from patients with ovarian cancer. The strong binding kinetics of the mesothelin-MUC16 interaction and the cell adhesion between ovarian tumor cells and A431-Meso+ even in the presence of peritoneal fluid strongly support the importance of these two glycoproteins in the peritoneal metastasis of ovarian tumors. The demonstration that N-linked glycans are essential for mediating mesothlein-MUC16 binding may lead to novel therapeutic targets to control the spread of ovarian carcinoma.
343 citations
TL;DR: The pbuE adenine riboswitch undergoes metal ion-dependent folding that involves a loop-loop interaction that strongly correlates with the ability of the loops to interact, and single-molecule FRET studies reveal that folding proceeds via a discrete intermediate.
302 citations
TL;DR: A novel mechanism by which a growth factor controls HIF-1 stability, and thereby drives the expression of specific genes, through the regulation of PHD2 levels is revealed.
TL;DR: Results from this study suggest that RCTs targeting a chronic medical condition such as hypertension could find that, in a sample taken from family practice, most eligible patients have comorbid conditions.
Abstract: PURPOSE Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exclude patients who have multiple comorbidities. The aim of this study was to illustrate the prevalence of comorbidities among patients followed up in primary care who would have met the inclusion criteria of selected RCTs focusing on treatment of a particular condition. We used hypertension as an example of a particular chronic condition.
METHODS We used an existing database of 980 patients (660 women) that was representative of a population consulting primary care family doctors and that contained information about all chronic conditions. We randomly selected 5 RCTs that focused on patients with hypertension. The inclusion and exclusion criteria used in each of the 5 RCTs were applied (1 study at a time) to the patients in our database. The patients from our data set who met the inclusion criteria of a given RCT were considered eligible for that RCT.
RESULTS Of the patients from our data set who were eligible for each of the RCTs, 89% to 100% had multiple chronic conditions. The mean number of chronic conditions of patients eligible for each RCT ranged from 5.5 ± 3.3 to 11.7 ± 5.3.
CONCLUSIONS Results from this study suggest that RCTs targeting a chronic medical condition such as hypertension could find that, in a sample taken from family practice, most eligible patients have comorbid conditions. Whether these patients are sampled or excluded should be reported. Research results intended to be applied in medical practice should take the complex reality of effective treatment of these patients into consideration.
TL;DR: In this article, the electrodeposition and surface morphology of aluminium on tungsten (W) and aluminium (Al) electrodes from 2 −: 1 molar ratio AlCl 3 -[EMIm]Cl ionic liquids were investigated.
Abstract: The electrodeposition and surface morphology of aluminium on tungsten (W) and aluminium (Al) electrodes from 2 : 1 molar ratio AlCl 3 –[EMIm]Cl ionic liquids were investigated. Analyses of the chronoamperograms indicate that the deposition process of aluminium on W substrates was controlled by instantaneous nucleation with diffusion-controlled growth, while the deposition processes of aluminium on Al electrodes were found to be associated with kinetic limitations. Constant potential deposition experiments showed that the electrodeposits obtained on both W and Al electrodes between − 0.10 and − 0.40 V (vs. Al(III)/Al) are dense, continuous and well adherent. Dense aluminium deposits were also obtained on Al substrates using constant current deposition between 10 and 70 mA/cm 2 , and the current efficiency was found to be dependent of the current density varying from 85% to 100%.
TL;DR: In this paper, a numerical method based on the control volume approach was used to solve the system of nonlinear and coupled governing equations of a turbulent flow of nanofluids, which are composed of saturated water and Al2O3 nanoparticles at various concentrations, flowing inside a tube submitted to uniform wall heat flux boundary condition.
Abstract: Purpose – To study the hydrodynamic and thermal behaviors of a turbulent flow of nanofluids, which are composed of saturated water and Al2O3 nanoparticles at various concentrations, flowing inside a tube submitted to a uniform wall heat flux boundary condition.Design/methodology/approach – A numerical method based on the “control‐volume” approach was used to solve the system of non‐linear and coupled governing equations. The classical κ‐e model was employed in order to model the turbulence, together with staggered non‐uniform grid system. The computer model, satisfactorily validated, was used to perform an extended parametric study covering wide ranges of the governing parameters. Information regarding the hydrodynamic and thermal behaviors of nanofluid flow are presented.Findings – Numerical results show that the inclusion of nanoparticles into the base fluid has produced an augmentation of the heat transfer coefficient, which has been found to increase appreciably with an increase of particles volume co...
TL;DR: In general, NAR was the best general predictor of variation in RGR, and the importance of SLA increased, with decreasing daily quantum input in experiments containing herbaceous species, and this did not occur in experiments involving woody species.
Abstract: Summary
1Data were compiled consisting of 1240 observations (614 species) from 83 different experiments published in 37 different studies, in order to quantify the relative importance of net assimilation rate (NAR, g cm−2 day−1), specific leaf area (SLA, cm2 g−1) and leaf mass ratio (LMR, g g−1) in determining relative growth rate (RGR, g g−1 day−1), and how these change with respect to daily quantum input (DQI, moles m−2 day−1) and growth form (herbaceous or woody).
2Each of ln(NAR), ln(SLA) and ln(LMR) were separately regressed on ln(RGR) using mixed model regressions in order to partition the between-experiment and within-experiment variation in slopes and intercepts. DQI and plant type were then added to these models to see if they could explain some of the between-experiment variation in the relative importance of each growth component.
3LMR was never strongly related to RGR. In general, NAR was the best general predictor of variation in RGR. However, for determining RGR the importance of NAR decreased, and the importance of SLA increased, with decreasing daily quantum input in experiments containing herbaceous species. This did not occur in experiments involving woody species.
TL;DR: Assessment of the effect of macropore size on the in vivo behavior of ceramic scaffolds found that a fast resorption was associated with a lower bone content and a higher soft tissue content at 6 weeks, but at 12 and 24 weeks, the latter differences had disappeared.
TL;DR: It is concluded that cigarette smoke decreases the expression of CFTR gene, protein, and function in vitro and that acquired CFTR deficiency occurs in the nasal respiratory epithelium of cigarette smokers, which may contribute to the physiopathology of cigarette-induced diseases such as chronic bronchitis.
Abstract: Rationale: Cigarette smoke extract inhibits chloride secretion in human bronchial epithelial cells. Oxidants decrease gene expression, protein expression, and function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR).Objectives: Because cigarette smoke is a rich source of oxidants, we verified the hypothesis that CFTR may be suppressed by exposure to cigarette smoke in vitro and in vivo.Methods: The effects of cigarette smoke exposure on Calu-3 and T84 cell CFTR expression and function were observed. Also studied were the nasal potential differences (PDs) in 26 men (9 smokers, 17 nonsmokers) who had no detectable CFTR gene mutations as determined during investigations for infertility. CFTR expression and function were determined by Northern blotting, Western blotting, and cAMP-dependent 125I efflux assays. Extensive CFTR genotyping was performed in each subject. Nasal PD measurements were made at baseline and during amiloride, chloride-free buffer, and isoproterenol perfusions.Main Result...
TL;DR: Metronidazole is not inferior to vancomycin for treatment of patients with a first recurrence ofCDAD, but the risk of complications with any treatment of CDAD may be higher than has previously been documented.
Abstract: Background. During an epidemic of Clostridium difficile–associated disease (CDAD) caused by a strain that is a hyper-producer of toxins A and B, the frequency of a first recurrence after metronidazole treatment of the initial episode doubled in 2003–2004, compared with 1991–2002. Methods. To examine whether administration of metronidazole as treatment for a first recurrence of CDAD remained appropriate, we reviewed data for patients with CDAD diagnosed in a hospital in Quebec, Canada, during 1991–2005, who experienced a first recurrence. The frequency of a second recurrence within 60 days after the first one was measured using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results. A total of 463 patients had a first recurrence of CDAD, of whom 154 (33.3%) experienced a second recurrence. Independent predictors of a second recurrence were age and duration of hospitalization after the first recurrence; this latter finding suggested that many such episodes were reinfections rather than relapses. Neither choice of treatment drug (metronidazole or vancomycin) nor use of the same drug for treatment of first recurrence, as had been used during the initial episode, was associated with increased risk of a second recurrence. However, 51 patients (11.0%) developed at least 1 complication (i.e., shock, need for colectomy, megacolon, perforation, or death within 30 days) during the first recurrence. Older age, a high leukocyte count, and renal failure at first recurrence were strongly associated with a complicated CDAD. Conclusions. Metronidazole is not inferior to vancomycin for treatment of patients with a first recurrence of CDAD, but the risk of complications with any treatment of CDAD may be higher than has previously been documented.
TL;DR: It is shown that intronic hnRNP A/B–binding sites (ABS) can stimulate the in vitro splicing of pre-mRNAs containing artificially enlarged introns, and a computational analysis of the configuration of putative FBS and ABS located at the ends of introns supports the view that these motifs have evolved to support cooperative interactions.
Abstract: hnRNP A/B proteins modulate the alternative splicing of several mammalian and viral pre-mRNAs, and are typically viewed as proteins that enforce the activity of splicing silencers. Here we show that intronic hnRNP A/B–binding sites (ABS) can stimulate the in vitro splicing of pre-mRNAs containing artificially enlarged introns. Stimulation of in vitro splicing could also be obtained by providing intronic ABS in trans through the use of antisense oligonucleotides containing a non-hybridizing ABS-carrying tail. ABS-tailed oligonucleotides also improved the in vivo inclusion of an alternative exon flanked by an enlarged intron. Notably, binding sites for hnRNP F/H proteins (FBS) replicate the activity of ABS by improving the splicing of an enlarged intron and by modulating 5′ splice-site selection. One hypothesis formulated to explain these effects is that bound hnRNP proteins self-interact to bring in closer proximity the external pair of splice sites. Consistent with this model, positioning FBS or ABS at both ends of an intron was required to stimulate splicing of some pre-mRNAs. In addition, a computational analysis of the configuration of putative FBS and ABS located at the ends of introns supports the view that these motifs have evolved to support cooperative interactions. Our results document a positive role for the hnRNP A/B and hnRNP F/H proteins in generic splicing, and suggest that these proteins may modulate the conformation of mammalian pre-mRNAs.
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of the empirical literature regarding the use and management of Intellectual Property rights (IPRs) is presented, focusing on the US, Canada, EU, Japan and Australia and the protection of IP in specific industry groups.
TL;DR: Psychological distress increased with multimorbidity when the authors accounted for disease severity, and Clinicians should be aware of the possible presence of psychological distress, which can further complicate the comprehensive management of these complex patients.
Abstract: PURPOSE Psychological distress may decrease adherence to medical treatments and lead to poorer health outcomes of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between psychological distress and multimorbidity among patients seen in family practice after controlling for potential confounding variables and taking into account the severity of diseases.
METHODS We evaluated 238 patients to construct quintiles of increasing multimorbidity based on the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), which is a comprehensive multimorbidity index that takes into account disease severity. Patients completed a psychiatric symptom questionnaire as a measurement of their psychological distress. In the first model of logistic regression analyses, we used the counted number of chronic diseases as the independent variable. In subsequent models, we used the quintiles of CIRS.
RESULTS After adjusting for confounding factors, multimorbidity measured by a simple count of chronic diseases was not related to psychological distress (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.97–1.29; P = .188), whereas multimorbidity measured by the CIRS remained significantly associated (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.19–2.37; P = .002). The estimate risk of psychological distress by quintile of CIRS was as follows: Q1/2 = 1.0; Q3 = OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 0.53–5.86; Q4 = OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.01–9.74; Q5 = OR, 4.67; 95% CI, 1.61–15.16.
CONCLUSIONS Psychological distress increased with multimorbidity when we accounted for disease severity. Clinicians should be aware of the possible presence of psychological distress, which can further complicate the comprehensive management of these complex patients.
TL;DR: Analysis of the results showed that web site quality had a positive impact on the cognitive appraisal of situational state, which influenced five of the six emotions of the proposed model: liking, joy, pride, dislike, and frustration.
TL;DR: This Letter map out experimentally the stability diagram of the few-electron triple dot system, the electron configuration map as a function of the external tuning parameters, and reveal experimentally for the first time the existence of quadruple points, a signature of the three dots being in resonance.
Abstract: Individual and coupled quantum dots containing one or two electrons have been realized and are regarded as components for future quantum information circuits. In this Letter we map out experimentally the stability diagram of the few-electron triple dot system, the electron configuration map as a function of the external tuning parameters, and reveal experimentally for the first time the existence of quadruple points, a signature of the three dots being in resonance. In the vicinity of these quadruple points we observe a duplication of charge transfer transitions related to charge and spin reconfigurations triggered by changes in the total electron occupation number. The experimental results are largely reproduced by equivalent circuit analysis and Hubbard models. Our results are relevant for future quantum mechanical engineering applications within both quantum information and quantum cellular automata architectures.
TL;DR: In this paper, the polarized Raman spectra of orthorhombic $R{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ series was studied at room temperature.
Abstract: The polarized Raman spectra of orthorhombic $R{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ series $(R=\mathrm{La},\mathrm{Pr},\mathrm{Nd},\mathrm{Sm},\mathrm{Eu},\mathrm{Gd},\mathrm{Tb},\mathrm{Dy},\mathrm{Ho},\mathrm{Y})$ were studied at room temperature. The variation of phonon frequencies with $R$ ionic radius ${r}_{R}$ as a whole confirms the commonly accepted Raman line assignments with two noticeable exceptions: (1) with decreasing ${r}_{R}$ the stretching ${A}_{g}(1)$ and bending ${A}_{g}(3)$ modes strongly mix for $R=\mathrm{Sm}$ to Tb, while for further decrease or ${r}_{R}$ $(R=\mathrm{Dy},\mathrm{Ho},\mathrm{Y})$ the ${A}_{g}(3)$ mode is observed at higher frequency than ${A}_{g}(1)$ mode; (2) similar distortion-dependent mode mixing takes place for the rotational ${A}_{g}(2)$ and $\mathrm{O}1(x)$ $[{A}_{g}(7)]$ modes. The mode mixing is particularly strong for the $R{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ compounds with ${r}_{R}$ values close to the transition from $A$ type to incommensurate sinusoidal antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperatures. The frequency of rotational ${A}_{g}(2)$ and ${A}_{g}(4)$ modes scales to the angles of ${\mathrm{MnO}}_{6}$ $[101]$ and $[010]$ rotations, respectively, and could be used as a measure of their value.
TL;DR: These results provide clear evidence of functional links between plant growth, leaf traits and litter decomposability, and LDMC appears as a pivotal trait of living leaves related to their structural properties.
Abstract: Summary
1A growing consensus is developing that the impact of species on ecosystem properties is mediated, at least partially, by the traits of their component species. A previous study demonstrated that the field decomposition of complex litters produced by different communities of a Mediterranean successional sere was related to the average trait value of these communities. Here we scale down to the species level, to test whether similar relationships are found for selected species from these communities. We also test whether litter decomposability can be considered as part of the suite of traits characterizing the fast–slow growth continuum in plants.
2We chose 12 of the most abundant herbaceous species characteristics of three stages of the old-field succession mentioned above. We investigated trait variation and covariation for the eight following traits: specific leaf area (SLA), leaf phosphorus (LPC), nitrogen (LNC) and carbon (LCC) concentrations, leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and leaf total phenols (TPh), all on material collected in the field; and litter decomposability (Kpot) and maximum relative growth rate (RGRmax), obtained under standardized conditions in the laboratory.
3Five of these traits were significantly lower in species from the advanced successional stage. These trends were similar when comparisons were conducted either with the 12 species, or on a subset incorporating taxonomic information. LDMC was the single trait best correlated with species RGRmax and Kpot; the two latter traits were also significantly correlated with one another.
4These results provide clear evidence of functional links between plant growth, leaf traits and litter decomposability. LDMC appears as a pivotal trait of living leaves related to their structural properties. It influences the quality of the litter produced, and hence species’ potential ‘after-life effects’ on ecosystem properties.
TL;DR: To estimate the contribution of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) to the costs of care, a large number of patients with mild to moderate dementia are diagnosed with BPSD.
Abstract: Objective
To estimate the contribution of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) to the costs of care.
Method
A one-year prospective study of resource utilization recorded monthly by 500 caregivers of community dwelling patients with dementia. The effect of behavior on total, direct and indirect costs of care was examined.
Results
The total cost of care was $1,298 per month and there was a significant independent relationship between costs and BPSD. The incremental cost of a one point increase in Neuropsychiatric Inventory score was $30 per month (95% CI: $19–$41).
Conclusion
BPSD contribute significantly to the overall costs of dementia care. Interventions targeted at BPSD may help to reduce the staggering societal costs of this illness. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: Age, comorbidity, affect and lower extremity coordination are the best predictors of participation after stroke at both measurement times and may be positively modified and thus warrant special attention in rehabilitation interventions.
Abstract: Purpose: (1) To explore factors that predict long-term participation after stroke (2 – 4 years after discharge from rehabilitation), and (2) to determine factors that predict both short- and long-term participation.Methods: Biopsychosocial data of people who had had a stroke were measured at discharge from an intensive rehabilitation unit using valid instruments. Six months later (n = 102) as well as 2 – 4 years later (n = 66), social participation of the survivors was measured in their living environments. Participation was estimated with the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H), which includes 12 categories of daily activities and social roles.Results: From mutivariate regression analyses, the best predictors of long-term participation after stroke appear to be age, comorbidity, motor coordination, upper extremity ability and affect. Age, comorbidity, affect and lower extremity coordination are the best predictors of participation after stroke at both measurement times.Conclusions: With the exception of a...
TL;DR: In this article, a typology was developed based on the three main contexts associated with school dropout risk, namely, the personal, family and school contexts, which enabled the clustering results enabled us to categorize at-risk students into four subgroups: (1) the Anti-Social Covert behavior type, (2) the Uninterested in school type,(3) the School and Social Adjustment Difficulties type, and (4) the Depressive type).
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the different subgroups of students at risk of dropping out of school. The typology was developed based on the three main contexts associated with school dropout risk, namely, the personal, family and school contexts. On the basis of these factors, the clustering results enabled us to categorize at-risk students into four subgroups: (1) the Anti-Social Covert behavior type, (2) the Uninterested in school type, (3) the School and Social Adjustment Difficulties type, and (4) the Depressive type. Moreover, considering all the contexts involved in school dropout, the clustering technique confirms the importance of behavior problems and learning difficulties, while emphasizing the significance of both depression and the family and classroom environments in the development of dropout risk. Students at risk of dropping out of school report many family organisational problems and that they obtain little emotional support from their parents. They also perceive little order or organisation in the classroom.
TL;DR: The analytical solutions can be used to assess the validity of the descriptive models for a given material to alleviate constraints on the Johnson et al. model.
Abstract: In this paper, the question of the acoustical determination of macroscopic thermal parameters used to describe heat exchanges in rigid open-cell porous media subjected to acoustical excitations is addressed. The proposed method is based on the measurement of the dynamic bulk modulus of the material, and analytical inverse solutions derived from different semiphenomenological models governing the thermal dissipation of acoustic waves in the material. Three models are considered: (1) Champoux–Allard model [J. Appl. Phys. 20, 1975–1979 (1991)] requiring knowledge of the porosity and thermal characteristic length, (2) Lafarge et al. model [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 102, 1995–2006 (1997)] using the same parameters and the thermal permeability, and (3) Wilson model [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 94, 1136–1145 (1993)] that requires two adjusted parameters. Except for the porosity that is obtained from direct measurement, all the other thermal parameters are derived from the analytical inversion of the models. The method is appl...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the evolution of a Mott-Hubbard insulator into a correlated metal upon doping in the two-dimensional Hubbard model using the cellular dynamical mean-field theory.
Abstract: We study the evolution of a Mott-Hubbard insulator into a correlated metal upon doping in the two-dimensional Hubbard model using the cellular dynamical mean-field theory. Short-range spin correlations create two additional bands apart from the familiar Hubbard bands in the spectral function. Even a tiny doping into this insulator causes a jump of the Fermi energy to one of these additional bands and an immediate momentum-dependent suppression of the spectral weight at this Fermi energy. The pseudogap is closely tied to the existence of these bands. This suggests a strong-coupling mechanism that arises from short-range spin correlations and large scattering rates for the pseudogap phenomenon seen in several cuprates.