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Showing papers by "University of Ottawa published in 2003"


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 2003-Ecology
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the relationship between climate and biodiversity and conclude that the interaction between water and energy, either directly or indirectly, provides a strong explanation for globally extensive plant and animal diversity gradients, but for animals there also is a latitudinal shift in the relative importance of ambient energy vs. water moving from the poles to the equator.
Abstract: It is often claimed that we do not understand the forces driving the global diversity gradient. However, an extensive literature suggests that contemporary climate constrains terrestrial taxonomic richness over broad geographic extents. Here, we review the empirical literature to examine the nature and form of the relationship between climate and richness. Our goals were to document the support for the climatically based energy hypothesis, and within the constraints imposed by correlative analyses, to evaluate two versions of the hypothesis: the productivity and ambient energy hypotheses. Focusing on studies extending over 800 km, we found that measures of energy, water, or water-energy balance explain spatial variation in richness better than other climatic and non-climatic variables in 82 of 85 cases. Even when considered individually and in isolation, water/ energy variables explain on average over 60% of the variation in the richness of a wide range of plant and animal groups. Further, water variables usually represent the strongest predictors in the tropics, subtropics, and warm temperate zones, whereas energy variables (for animals) or water-energy variables (for plants) dominate in high latitudes. We conclude that the interaction between water and energy, either directly or indirectly (via plant productivity), provides a strong explanation for globally extensive plant and animal diversity gradients, but for animals there also is a latitudinal shift in the relative importance of ambient energy vs. water moving from the poles to the equator. Although contemporary climate is not the only factor influencing species richness and may not explain the diversity pattern for all taxonomic groups, it is clear that understanding water-energy dynamics is critical to future biodiversity research. Analyses that do not include water-energy variables are missing a key component for explaining broad-scale patterns of diversity.

2,069 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The revised CONSORT statement is intended to improve the reporting of an RCT, enabling readers to understand a trial's conduct and to assess the validity of its results.
Abstract: To comprehend the results of a randomised controlled trial (RCT), readers must understand its design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation. That goal can be achieved only through total transparency from authors. Despite several decades of educational efforts, the reporting of RCTs needs improvement. Investigators and editors developed the original CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement to help authors improve reporting by use of a checklist and flow diagram. The revised CONSORT statement presented here incorporates new evidence and addresses some criticisms of the original statement. The checklist items pertain to the content of the Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. The revised checklist includes 22 items selected because empirical evidence indicates that not reporting this information is associated with biased estimates of treatment effect, or because the information is essential to judge the reliability or relevance of the findings. We intended the flow diagram to depict the passage of participants through an RCT. The revised flow diagram depicts information from four stages of a trial (enrollment, intervention allocation, follow- up, and analysis). The diagram explicitly shows the number of participants, for each intervention group, included in the primary data analysis. Inclusion of these numbers allows the reader to judge whether the authors have done an intention- to-treat analysis. In sum, the CONSORT statement is intended to improve the reporting of an RCT, enabling readers to understand a trial's conduct and to assess the validity of its results.

2,011 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The incidence and severity of adverse events affecting patients after discharge from the hospital to home were determined and two board-certified internists independently reviewed to determine whether medical management caused an injury and, if so, whether it was preventable or ameliorable.
Abstract: Among patients discharged home from a general medical service, adverse events occurred frequently in the peridischarge period. Many of these events might have been prevented or ameliorated with sim...

1,739 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results from four studies involving more than 900 participants from different populations supported the proposed conceptualization of two types of passion: obsessive and harmonious.
Abstract: Passion is defined as a strong inclination toward an activity that people like, that they find important, and in which they invest time and energy Two types of passion are proposed: obsessive and harmonious Obsessive passion (OP) refers to a controlled internalization of an activity in one's identity that creates an internal pressure to engage in the activity that the person likes Harmonious passion (HP) refers to an autonomous internalization that leads individuals to choose to engage in the activity that they like HP promotes healthy adaptation whereas OP thwarts it by causing negative affect and rigid persistence Results from four studies involving more than 900 participants from different populations supported the proposed conceptualization

1,726 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The acid-catalyzed process using waste cooking oil proved to be technically feasible with less complexity than the alkali-catalystzed process, thereby making it a competitive alternative to commercial biodiesel production by the alkaline-catalyszed process.

1,719 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new index to measure substitution saturation in a set of aligned nucleotide sequences based on the notion of entropy in information theory is introduced and illustrated by applying it to an analysis of the aligned sequences of the elongation factor-1alpha gene originally used to resolve the deep phylogeny of major arthropod groups.

1,319 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Deep-vein thrombosis can be ruled out in a patient who is judged clinically unlikely to have deep-veIn thromBosis and who has a negative D-dimer test, and ultrasound testing can be safely omitted in such patients.
Abstract: background Several diagnostic strategies using ultrasound imaging, measurement of d -dimer, and assessment of clinical probability of disease have proved safe in patients with suspected deep-vein thrombosis, but they have not been compared in randomized trials. methods Outpatients presenting with suspected lower-extremity deep-vein thrombosis were potentially eligible. Using a clinical model, physicians evaluated the patients and categorized them as likely or unlikely to have deep-vein thrombosis. The patients were then randomly assigned to undergo ultrasound imaging alone (control group) or to undergo d -dimer testing ( d -dimer group) followed by ultrasound imaging unless the d -dimer test was negative and the patient was considered clinically unlikely to have deep-vein thrombosis, in which case ultrasound imaging was not performed. results Five hundred thirty patients were randomly assigned to the control group, and 566 to the d -dimer group. The overall prevalence of deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism was 15.7 percent. Among patients for whom deep-vein thrombosis had been ruled out by the initial diagnostic strategy, there were two confirmed venous thromboembolic events in the d -dimer group (0.4 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.05 to 1.5 percent) and six events in the control group (1.4 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.5 to 2.9 percent; P=0.16) during three months of follow-up. The use of d -dimer testing resulted in a significant reduction in the use of ultrasonography, from a mean of 1.34 tests per patient in the control group to 0.78 in the d -dimer group (P=0.008). Two hundred eighteen patients (39 percent) in the d- dimer group did not require ultrasound imaging. conclusions Deep-vein thrombosis can be ruled out in a patient who is judged clinically unlikely to have deep-vein thrombosis and who has a negative d -dimer test. Ultrasound testing can be safely omitted in such patients.

1,303 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A variety of ecological applications require data from broad spatial extents that cannot be collected using field-based methods, such as identifying and detailing the biophysical characteristics of species' habitats, predicting the distribution of species and spatial variability in species richness.
Abstract: A variety of ecological applications require data from broad spatial extents that cannot be collected using field-based methods. Remote sensing data and techniques address these needs, which include identifying and detailing the biophysical characteristics of species' habitats, predicting the distribution of species and spatial variability in species richness, and detecting natural and human-caused change at scales ranging from individual landscapes to the entire world. Such measurements are subject to substantial errors that can be difficult to overcome, but corrected data are readily available and can be of sufficiently high resolution to be integrated into traditional field-based studies. Ecologists and conservation biologists are finding new ways to approach their research with the powerful suite of tools and data from remote sensing.

1,292 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Plant capacity and prices of feedstock oils and biodiesel were found to be the most significant factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacture.

1,190 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The A5- item scale is a useful indicator of health care decision regret at a given point in time and was greater among those who changed their decisions than those who did not.
Abstract: Background.As patients become more involved in health care decisions, there may be greater opportunity for decision regret. The authors could not find a validated, reliable tool for measuring regret after health care decisions.Methods.A5- item scale was administered to 4 patient groups making different health care decisions. Convergent validity was deter- mined by examining the scale's correlation with satisfaction measures, decisional conflict, and health outcome measures.Results.The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's = 0.81 to 0.92). It correlated strongly with decision satisfaction (r = -0.40 to -0.60), decisional conflict (r = 0.31 to 0.52), and overall rated quality of life (r = -0.25 to - 0.27). Groups differing on feelings about a decision also differed on rated regret: F(2, 190) = 31.1, P < 0.001. Regret was greater among those who changed their decisions than those who did not, t(175) = 16.11, P < 0.001.Conclusions.The scale is a useful indicator of health care decision regret at ...

968 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence is presented that the attenuated vesicular stomatitis strains, AV1 and AV2, embody all of the traits of an oncolytic virus, which will replicate preferentially in malignant cells, have the ability to treat disseminated metastases, and ultimately be cleared by the patient.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Resistance exercise reduces fatigue and improves quality of life and muscular fitness in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy and can be an important component of supportive care.
Abstract: Purpose: Androgen deprivation therapy is a common treatment in men with prostate cancer that may cause fatigue, functional decline, increased body fatness, and loss of lean body tissue These physical changes can negatively affect health-related quality of life Resistance exercise may help to counter some of these side effects by reducing fatigue, elevating mood, building muscle mass, and reducing body fat Methods: In a two-site study, 155 men with prostate cancer who were scheduled to receive androgen deprivation therapy for at least 3 months after recruitment were randomly assigned to an intervention group that participated in a resistance exercise program three times per week for 12 weeks (82 men) or to a waiting list control group (73 men) The primary outcomes were fatigue and disease-specific quality of life as assessed by self-reported questionnaires after 12 weeks Secondary outcomes were muscular fitness and body composition Results: Men assigned to resistance exercise had less interference fr

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data indicate that NUDR is a repressor of the 5-HT1A receptor in raphe cells the function of which is abrogated by a promoter polymorphism, suggesting a novel transcriptional model in which the G(-1019) allele derepresses 5- HT1A autoreceptor expression to reduce serotonergic neurotransmission, predisposing to depression and suicide.
Abstract: Inhibition of serotonergic raphe neurons is mediated by somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptors, which may be increased in depressed patients. We report an association of the C(-1019)G 5-HT1A promoter polymorphism with major depression and suicide in separate cohorts. In depressed patients, the homozygous G(-1019) allele was enriched twofold versus controls (p = 0.0017 and 0.0006 for G/G genotype and G allele distribution, respectively), and in completed suicide cases the G(-1019) allele was enriched fourfold (p = 0.002 and 0.00008 for G/G genotype and G allele distribution, respectively). The C(-1019) allele was part of a 26 bp imperfect palindrome that bound transcription factors nuclear NUDR [nuclear deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor (DEAF-1)]/suppressin and Hairy/Enhancer-of-split-5 (Drosophila) (Hes5) to repress 5-HT1A or heterologous promoters, whereas the G(-1019) allele abolished repression by NUDR, but only partially impaired Hes5-mediated repression. Recombinant NUDR bound specifically to the 26 bp palindrome, and endogenous NUDR was present in the major protein-DNA complex from raphe nuclear extracts. Stable expression of NUDR in raphe cells reduced levels of endogenous 5-HT1A protein and binding. NUDR protein was colocalized with 5-HT1A receptors in serotonergic raphe cells, hippocampal and cortical neurons, and adult brain regions including raphe nuclei, indicating a role in regulating 5-HT1A autoreceptor expression. Our data indicate that NUDR is a repressor of the 5-HT1A receptor in raphe cells the function of which is abrogated by a promoter polymorphism. We suggest a novel transcriptional model in which the G(-1019) allele derepresses 5-HT1A autoreceptor expression to reduce serotonergic neurotransmission, predisposing to depression and suicide.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jun 2003-Gut
TL;DR: There was a direct correlation between upregulation of M UC3 mucin mRNA expression and extracellular secretion of MUC3 muc in response to Lactobacillus strains.
Abstract: Background: Mucins are large complex glycoproteins that protect intestinal mucosal surfaces by limiting access of environmental matter to their epithelial cells. Several mucin genes have been described, including MUC3 that is a membrane associated mucin of the small intestine. Increased MUC3 mRNA transcription is induced by incubation of intestinal epithelial cells with a Lactobacillus strain known to be adherent to them. Aims: To determine whether increased epithelial cell MUC3 mucin expression in response to Lactobacillus strains results in increased extracellular secretion of MUC3 mucins and the importance of epithelial cell adherence in modulation of MUC3 mucin expression. Methods: HT29 cells grown to enhance expression of MUC3 mucins were incubated with selected Lactobacillus strains. Spent cell culture medium was collected for detection of secreted MUC3 mucins using dot blot immunoassay with a generated MUC3 antibody. Post-incubation HT29 cell RNA was collected for analysis of MUC3 expression by northern blot analysis using a MUC3 cDNA probe. In vitro binding studies using Lactobacillus strains incubated alone or coincubated with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain E2348/69 were used for adherence and inhibition of adherence studies, respectively. Results: Lactobacillus strains with minimal ability to adhere to HT29 cells failed to induce upregulation of mucin gene expression. There was a direct correlation between upregulation of MUC3 mucin mRNA expression and extracellular secretion of MUC3 mucin. The same Lactobacillus strains that increased extracellular secretion of MUC3 mucin led to reduced adherence of enteropathogen E coli E2348/69 during coincubation experiments. Conclusion: Probiotic microbes induce MUC3 mucin transcription and translation with extracellular secretion of the MUC3 mucins. Epithelial cell adherence enhances the effects of probiotics on eukaryotic mucin expression.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A framework for appraising ITS designs is illustrated, and more widespread adoption of this framework would strengthen reviews that use ITS designs.
Abstract: Objectives: In an interrupted time series (ITS) design, data are collected at multiple instances over time before and after an intervention to detect whether the intervention has an effect significantly greater than the underlying secular trend. We critically reviewed the methodological quality of ITS designs using studies included in two systematic reviews (a review of mass media interventions and a review of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies). Methods: Quality criteria were developed, and data were abstracted from each study. If the primary study analyzed the ITS design inappropriately, we reanalyzed the results by using time series regression. Results: Twenty mass media studies and thirty-eight guideline studies were included. A total of 66% of ITS studies did not rule out the threat that another event could have occurred at the point of intervention. Thirty-three studies were reanalyzed, of which eight had significant preintervention trends. All of the studies were considered “effective” in the original report, but approximately half of the reanalyzed studies showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: We demonstrated that ITS designs are often analyzed inappropriately, underpowered, and poorly reported in implementation research. We have illustrated a framework for appraising ITS designs, and more widespread adoption of this framework would strengthen reviews that use ITS designs.

Journal ArticleDOI
Ricardo Segurado1, Sevilla D. Detera-Wadleigh2, Douglas F. Levinson3, Cathryn M. Lewis4, Michael Gill, John I. Nurnberger5, Nicholas John Craddock6, J. Raymond DePaulo7, Miron Baron8, Elliot S. Gershon9, Jenny Ekholm10, Sven Cichon, Gustavo Turecki, Stephan Claes11, John R. Kelsoe12, Peter R. Schofield13, Renee F. Badenhop13, Renee F. Badenhop14, Jean Morissette15, Hilary Coon16, Douglas Blackwood17, L. Alison McInnes8, Tatiana Foroud5, Howard J. Edenberg5, Theodore Reich18, John P. Rice18, Alison Goate18, Melvin G. McInnis7, Francis J. McMahon2, Judith A. Badner9, Lynn R. Goldin2, Phil Bennett6, Virginia L. Willour7, Peter P. Zandi7, Jianjun Liu8, Conrad T. Gilliam8, S H Juo8, Wade H. Berrettini3, Takeo Yoshikawa, Leena Peltonen10, Leena Peltonen19, Jouko Lönnqvist, Markus M. Nöthen, Johannes Schumacher20, Christine Windemuth20, Marcella Rietschel, Peter Propping20, Wolfgang Maier20, Martin Alda21, Paul Grof22, Guy A. Rouleau23, Jurgen Del-Favero, Christine Van Broeckhoven, Julien Mendlewicz24, Rolf Adolfsson25, M. Anne Spence26, Hermann Luebbert, L. J. Adams13, Jennifer A. Donald27, Philip B. Mitchell14, Nicholas Barden15, Eric Shink15, William Byerley26, Walter J. Muir17, Peter M. Visscher17, Stuart MacGregor17, Hugh Gurling4, Gursharan Kalsi4, Andrew McQuillin4, Michael Escamilla28, Victor I. Reus29, Pedro León30, Nelson B. Freimer19, Henrik Ewald31, Torben A Kruse32, Ole Mors31, Uppala Radhakrishna33, Jean-Louis Blouin33, Stylianos E. Antonarakis33, Nurten A. Akarsu34 
TL;DR: The present results for the very narrow model are promising but suggest that more and larger data sets are needed to support linkage, as well as suggest that linkage might be detected in certain populations or subsets of pedigrees.
Abstract: Genome scans of bipolar disorder (BPD) have not produced consistent evidence for linkage. The rank-based genome scan meta-analysis (GSMA) method was applied to 18 BPD genome scan data sets in an effort to identify regions with significant support for linkage in the combined data. The two primary analyses considered available linkage data for "very narrow" (i.e., BP-I and schizoaffective disorder-BP) and "narrow" (i.e., adding BP-II disorder) disease models, with the ranks weighted for sample size. A "broad" model (i.e., adding recurrent major depression) and unweighted analyses were also performed. No region achieved genomewide statistical significance by several simulation-based criteria. The most significant P values (<.01) were observed on chromosomes 9p22.3-21.1 (very narrow), 10q11.21-22.1 (very narrow), and 14q24.1-32.12 (narrow). Nominally significant P values were observed in adjacent bins on chromosomes 9p and 18p-q, across all three disease models on chromosomes 14q and 18p-q, and across two models on chromosome 8q. Relatively few BPD pedigrees have been studied under narrow disease models relative to the schizophrenia GSMA data set, which produced more significant results. There was no overlap of the highest-ranked regions for the two disorders. The present results for the very narrow model are promising but suggest that more and larger data sets are needed. Alternatively, linkage might be detected in certain populations or subsets of pedigrees. The narrow and broad data sets had considerable power, according to simulation studies, but did not produce more highly significant evidence for linkage. We note that meta-analysis can sometimes provide support for linkage but cannot disprove linkage in any candidate region.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: No evidence for failure of gene silencing is found in sir2α null animals, suggesting that either SIR2α has a different role in mammals than it does in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or that its role in genesilencing in confined to a small subset of mammalian genes.
Abstract: The yeast Sir2p protein has an essential role in maintaining telomeric and mating type genes in their transcriptionally inactive state. Mammalian cells have a very large proportion of their genome inactive and also contain seven genes that have regions of homology with the yeast sir2 gene. One of these mammalian genes, sir2alpha, is the presumptive mammalian homologue of the yeast sir2 gene. We set out to determine if sir2alpha plays a role in mammalian gene silencing by creating a strain of mice carrying a null allele of sir2alpha. Animals carrying two null alleles of sir2alpha were smaller than normal at birth, and most died during the early postnatal period. In an outbred background, the sir2alpha null animals often survived to adulthood, but both sexes were sterile. We found no evidence for failure of gene silencing in sir2alpha null animals, suggesting that either SIR2alpha has a different role in mammals than it does in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or that its role in gene silencing in confined to a small subset of mammalian genes. The phenotype of the sir2alpha null animals suggests that the SIR2alpha protein is essential for normal embryogenesis and for normal reproduction in both sexes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: For alert patients with trauma who are in stable condition, the CCR is superior to the NLC with respect to sensitivity and specificity for cervical-spine injury, and its use would result in reduced rates of radiography.
Abstract: background The Canadian C-Spine (cervical-spine) Rule (CCR) and the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) Low-Risk Criteria (NLC) are decision rules to guide the use of cervical-spine radiography in patients with trauma. It is unclear how the two decision rules compare in terms of clinical performance. methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in nine Canadian emergency departments comparing the CCR and NLC as applied to alert patients with trauma who were in stable condition. The CCR and NLC were interpreted by 394 physicians for patients before radiography. results Among the 8283 patients, 169 (2.0 percent) had clinically important cervical-spine injuries. In 845 (10.2 percent) of the patients, physicians did not evaluate range of motion as required by the CCR algorithm. In analyses that excluded these indeterminate cases, the CCR was more sensitive than the NLC (99.4 percent vs. 90.7 percent, P<0.001) and more specific (45.1 percent vs. 36.8 percent, P<0.001) for injury, and its use would have resulted in lower radiography rates (55.9 percent vs. 66.6 percent, P<0.001). In secondary analyses that included all patients, the sensitivity and specificity of CCR, assuming that the indeterminate cases were all positive, were 99.4 percent and 40.4 percent, respectively (P<0.001 for both comparisons with the NLC). Assuming that the CCR was negative for all indeterminate cases, these rates were 95.3 percent (P=0.09 for the comparison with the NLC) and 50.7 percent (P=0.001). The CCR would have missed 1 patient and the NLC would have missed 16 patients with important injuries. conclusions For alert patients with trauma who are in stable condition, the CCR is superior to the NLC with respect to sensitivity and specificity for cervical-spine injury, and its use would result in reduced rates of radiography.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Regular exercise has a statistically and clinically significant effect on VO2max in Type 2 diabetic individuals and higher intensity exercise could have additional benefits on cardiorespiratory fitness and HbA1c.
Abstract: Low cardiorespiratory fitness is a powerful and independent predictor of mortality in people with diabetes. Several studies have examined the effects of exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness in Type 2 diabetic individuals. However, these studies had relatively small sample sizes and highly variable results. Therefore the aim of this study was to systematically review and quantify the effects of exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness in Type 2 diabetic individuals. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and four other databases were searched up to March 2002 for randomized, controlled trials evaluating effects of structured aerobic exercise interventions of 8 weeks or more on cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Cardiorespiratory fitness was defined as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) during a maximal exercise test. Seven studies, presenting data for nine randomized trials comparing exercise and control groups (overall n=266), met the inclusion criteria. Mean exercise characteristics were as follows: 3.4 sessions per week, 49 min per session for 20 weeks. Exercise intensity ranged from 50% to 75% of VO2max. There was an 11.8% increase in VO2max in the exercise group and a 1.0% decrease in the control group (post intervention standardized mean difference =0.53, p<0.003). Studies with higher exercise intensities tended to produce larger improvements in VO2max. Exercise intensity predicted post-intervention weighted mean difference in HbA1c (r=−0.91, p=0.002) to a larger extent than did exercise volume (r=−0.46, p=0.26). Regular exercise has a statistically and clinically significant effect on VO2max in Type 2 diabetic individuals. Higher intensity exercise could have additional benefits on cardiorespiratory fitness and HbA1c.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the complementary use of electrochemical capacitors (so-called supercapacitors) in hybrid electric power generation by rechargeable batteries and fuel cells was explored, where the authors proposed two types of hybrid battery/capacitor system: one based on combining an electrochemical capacitor cell with a rechargeable battery or a fuel cell in a load-leveling function, e.g. in an electric vehicle power train; and the other based on combination of a faradaic battery-type electrode coupled internally with a capacitative electrode in a two-electro
Abstract: The basis of the complementary use of electrochemical capacitors (so-called supercapacitors) in hybrid electric power generation by rechargeable batteries and fuel cells is explored. Electrochemical capacitors are of two types: one where the interfacial double-layer capacitance of high specific area carbon materials is the basis of electric charge storage (as ions and electrons); and the other where pseudocapacitance, associated with electrosorption and surface redox processes at high-area electrode materials, e.g. RuO2, or at conducting polymers, provides the basis of charge storage. The former, double-layer, type of capacitance stores charge non-faradaically while the latter type, pseudocapacitance, stores charge indirectly through faradaic chemical processes but its electrical behaviour is like that of a capacitor. Two types of hybrid battery/capacitor system are recognized: one based on combination of an electrochemical capacitor cell with a rechargeable battery or a fuel cell in a load-leveling function, e.g. in an electric vehicle power train; and the other based on combination of a faradaic battery-type electrode coupled internally with a capacitative electrode in a two-electrode hybrid module (termed an asymmetric capacitor). Optimization of operation of such systems in terms of balancing of active masses, of power and charge densities, and choice of maximum but limited states-of-discharge, is treated.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study investigated the global patterns of species and family richness of angiosperms in relation to climate and found that models relating angiosperm richness to mean annual temperature, annual water deficit, and their interaction or models relating richness to annual potential evapotranspiration and water deficit are both globally consistent and very strong.
Abstract: Species richness, the simplest index of biodiversity, varies greatly over broad spatial scales. Richness-climate relationships often account for >80% of the spatial variance in richness. However, it has been suggested that richness-climate relationships differ significantly among geographic regions and that there is no globally consistent relationship. This study investigated the global patterns of species and family richness of angiosperms in relation to climate. We found that models relating angiosperm richness to mean annual temperature, annual water deficit, and their interaction or models relating richness to annual potential evapotranspiration and water deficit are both globally consistent and very strong and are independent of the diverse evolutionary histories and functional assemblages of plants in different parts of the world. Thus, effects of other factors such as evolutionary history, postglacial dispersal, soil nutrients, topography, or other climatic variables either must be quite minor over broad scales (because there is little residual variation left to explain) or they must be strongly collinear with global patterns of climate. The correlations shown here must be predicted by any successful hypothesis of mechanisms controlling richness patterns.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined applicable research designs, including those to assess the incremental validity of test instruments, of test-informed clinical inferences, and of newly developed measures.
Abstract: There has been insufficient effort in most areas of applied psychology to evaluate incremental validity. To further this kind of validity research, the authors examined applicable research designs, including those to assess the incremental validity of test instruments, of test-informed clinical inferences, and of newly developed measures. The authors also considered key statistical and measurement issues that can influence incremental validity findings, including the entry order of predictor variables, how to interpret the size of a validity increment, and possible artifactual effects in the criteria selected for incremental validity research. The authors concluded by suggesting steps for building a cumulative research base concerning incremental validity and by describing challenges associated with applying nomothetic research findings to individual clinical cases.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A universal model for the firing-frequency dynamics of an adapting neuron that is independent of the specific adaptation process and spike generator is derived and the specific nature of high-pass filter properties caused by spike-frequency adaptation is elucidated.
Abstract: Spike-frequency adaptation is a prominent feature of neural dynamics. Among other mechanisms, various ionic currents modulating spike generation cause this type of neural adaptation. Prominent examples are voltage-gated potassium currents (M-type currents), the interplay of calcium currents and intracellular calcium dynamics with calcium-gated potassium channels (AHP-type currents), and the slow recovery from inactivation of the fast sodium current. While recent modeling studies have focused on the effects of specific adaptation currents, we derive a universal model for the firing-frequency dynamics of an adapting neuron that is independent of the specific adaptation process and spike generator. The model is completely defined by the neuron's onset f-I curve, the steady-state f-I curve, and the time constant of adaptation. For a specific neuron, these parameters can be easily determined from electrophysiological measurements without any pharmacological manipulations. At the same time, the simplicity of the model allows one to analyze mathematically how adaptation influences signal processing on the single-neuron level. In particular, we elucidate the specific nature of high-pass filter properties caused by spike-frequency adaptation. The model is limited to firing frequencies higher than the reciprocal adaptation time constant and to moderate fluctuations of the adaptation and the input current. As an extension of the model, we introduce a framework for combining an arbitrary spike generator with a generalized adaptation current.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper surveys and compares view planning techniques for automated 3D object reconstruction and inspection by means of active, triangulation-based range sensors and suggests adequate solutions to semiautomate the scan-register-integrate tasks.
Abstract: Laser scanning range sensors are widely used for high-precision, high-density three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and inspection of the surface of physical objects. The process typically involves planning a set of views, physically altering the relative object-sensor pose, taking scans, registering the acquired geometric data in a common coordinate frame of reference, and finally integrating range images into a nonredundant model. Efficiencies could be achieved by automating or semiautomating this process. While challenges remain, there are adequate solutions to semiautomate the scan-register-integrate tasks. On the other hand, view planning remains an open problem---that is, the task of finding a suitably small set of sensor poses and configurations for specified reconstruction or inspection goals. This paper surveys and compares view planning techniques for automated 3D object reconstruction and inspection by means of active, triangulation-based range sensors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the types of strategies used and the differences in strategy use by more skilled and less skilled listeners as revealed while these students listened to authentic texts in French, and conclude with a discussion of both an emerging model of the skilled listener and a pedagogic program for developing listening skills.
Abstract: This article reports on an investigation of listening strategy applications by grade 7 students learning French (N = 36). I examine the types of strategies used and the differences in strategy use by more skilled and less skilled listeners as revealed while these students listened to authentic texts in French. Think-aloud data were coded and analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Significant differences were found in the use of the category of metacognitive strategies as well as in individual strategies for comprehension monitoring, questioning for elaboration, and translation. These differences were reinforced by a qualitative analysis of representative protocols. The article concludes with a discussion of both an emerging model of the skilled listener and a pedagogic program for developing listening skills.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that excluding reports of RCTs in LOE from the analytical part of a systematic review is reasonable, and language inclusive/LOE systematic reviews appear to be a marker for a better quality systematic review.
Abstract: Objective To assemble a large dataset of language restricted and language inclusive systematic reviews, including both conventional medicinal (CM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions. To then assess the quality of these reports by considering and comparing different types of systematic reviews and their associated RCTs; CM and CAM interventions; the effect of language restrictions compared with language inclusions, and whether these results are influenced by other issues, including statistical heterogeneity and publication bias, in the systematic review process. Data sources MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Centralised Information Service for Complementary Medicine. Review methods Three types of systematic reviews were included: language restricted; language inclusive/English language (EL) reviews that searched RCTs in languages other than English (LOE) but did not find any and, hence, could not include any, in the quantitative data synthesis; and systematic reviews that searched for RCTs in LOE and included them in the quantitative data synthesis. Fisher's exact test was applied to compare the three different types of systematic reviews with respect to their reporting characteristics and the systematic review quality assessment tool. The odds ratio of LOE trials versus EL trials was computed for each review and this information was pooled across the reviews to examine the influence that language of publication and type of intervention (CM, CAM) have on the estimates of intervention effect. Several sensitivity analyses were performed. Results The LOE RCTs were predominantly in French and German. Language inclusive/LOE systematic reviews were of the highest quality compared with the other types of reviews. The CAM reviews were of higher quality compared with the CM reviews. There were only minor differences in the quality of reports of EL RCTs compared with the eight other languages considered. However, there are inconsistent differences in the quality of LOE reports depending on the intervention type. The results, and those reported previously, suggest that excluding reports of RCTs in LOE from the analytical part of a systematic review is reasonable. Because the present research and previous efforts have not included every type of CM RCT and the resulting possibility of the uncertainty as to when bias will be present by excluding LOE, it is always prudent to perform a comprehensive search for all evidence. This result only applies to reviews investigating the benefits of CM interventions. This does not imply that systematic reviewers should neglect reports in LOE. We recommend that systematic reviewers search for reports regardless of the language. There may be merit in including them in some aspects of the review process although this decision is likely to depend on several factors, including fiscal and other resources being available. Language restrictions significantly shift the estimates of an intervention's effectiveness when the intervention is CAM. Here, excluding trials reported in LOE, compared with their inclusion, resulted in a reduced intervention effect. The present results do not appear to be influenced by statistical heterogeneity and publication bias. Conclusions With the exception of CAM systematic reviews, the quality of recently published systematic reviews is less than optimal. Language inclusive/LOE systematic reviews appear to be a marker for a better quality systematic review. Language restrictions do not appear to bias the estimates of a conventional intervention's effectiveness. However, there is substantial bias in the results of a CAM systematic review if LOE reports are excluded from it.

Journal ArticleDOI
24 Nov 2003-Oncogene
TL;DR: IAP gene amplification and translocation events provide genetic evidence that further strengthens the case for classifying the IAPs as oncogenes, and surveys the available evidence for IAP dysregulation in cancer.
Abstract: The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) genes constitute a highly conserved family found in organisms as diverse as insects and mammals. These genes encode proteins that directly bind and inhibit caspases, and thus play a critical role in deciding cell fate. The IAPs are in turn regulated by endogenous proteins (second mitochondrial activator of caspases and Omi) that are released from the mitochondria during apoptosis. Overexpression of the IAPs, particularly the X-chromosome-linked IAP, has been shown to be protective in a variety of experimental animal models of human neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, overexpression of one or more of the IAPs in cancer cell lines and primary tumor samples appears to be a frequent event. IAP gene amplification and translocation events provide genetic evidence that further strengthens the case for classifying the IAPs as oncogenes. Therapeutic strategies that interfere with IAP expression or function are under investigation as an adjuvant to conventional chemotherapy- and radiation-based cancer therapy. This paper reviews the structure and function of the IAP family members and their inhibitors, and surveys the available evidence for IAP dysregulation in cancer.

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TL;DR: This paper focused on second language (L2) acquisition as a tool for promoting intercultural communication and used the social context model to emphasize the importance of contacategorical information for L2 acquisition.
Abstract: Past research has focused primarily on second language (L2) acquisition as a tool for promoting intercultural communication. The social context model, for example, stresses the importance of contac...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the equivalence of a well-known measuring instrument across two culturally diverse groups was tested using covariance structures and nonequivalent items to identify possible determinants of their non-invariance.
Abstract: The purposes of this study were twofold: (a) based on the analysis of covariance structures, to test for the equivalence of a well-known measuring instrument across two culturally diverse groups and (b) provided with findings of nonequivalent items, to identify possible determinants of their noninvariance; post hoc investigations included tests for evidence of item bias using an ANOVA-based approach and examination of graphical displays of item response and distributional patterns. Example data comprised item responses to the four nonacademic subscales of the Self Description Questionnaire I (SDQ-I) for Australian (N = 497) and Nigerian (N = 439) adolescents. Despite similarly specified and well-fitting factor structures for both cultural groups, findings revealed evidence of both measurement and structural noninvariance. Results underscore previous caveats regarding interpretation of instrument equivalence; they add also to the growing body of skepticism that queries whether measuring instruments can eve...