University of Saskatchewan

About: University of Saskatchewan is a education organization based out in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 25021 authors who have published 52579 publications receiving 1483049 citations. The organization is also known as: USask.

Considering ecological dynamics in resource selection functions

Abstract: Summary 1. Describing distribution and abundance is requisite to exploring interactions between organisms and their environment. Recently, the resource selection function (RSF) has emerged to replace many of the statistical procedures used to quantify resource selection by animals. 2. A RSF is defined by characteristics measured on resource units such that its value for a unit is proportional to the probability of that unit being used by an organism. It is solved using a variety of techniques, particularly the binomial generalized linear model. 3. Observing dynamics in a RSF – obtaining substantially different functions at different times or places for the same species – alerts us to the varying ecological processes that underlie resource selection. 4. We believe that there is a need for us to reacquaint ourselves with ecological theory when interpreting RSF models. We outline a suite of factors likely to govern ecologically based variation in a RSF. In particular, we draw attention to competition and density-dependent habitat selection, the role of predation, longitudinal changes in resource availability and functional responses in resource use. 5. How best to incorporate governing factors in a RSF is currently in a state of development; however, we see promise in the inclusion of random as well as fixed effects in resource selection models, and matched case–control logistic regression. 6. Investigating the basis of ecological dynamics in a RSF will allow us to develop more robust models when applied to forecasting the spatial distribution of animals. It may also further our understanding of the relative importance of ecological interactions on the distribution and abundance of species.

MorePower 6.0 for ANOVA with relational confidence intervals and Bayesian analysis

Abstract: MorePower 6.0 is a flexible freeware statistical calculator that computes sample size, effect size, and power statistics for factorial ANOVA designs. It also calculates relational confidence intervals for ANOVA effects based on formulas from Jarmasz and Hollands (Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology 63:124-138, 2009), as well as Bayesian posterior probabilities for the null and alternative hypotheses based on formulas in Masson (Behavior Research Methods 43:679-690, 2011). The program is unique in affording direct comparison of these three approaches to the interpretation of ANOVA tests. Its high numerical precision and ability to work with complex ANOVA designs could facilitate researchers' attention to issues of statistical power, Bayesian analysis, and the use of confidence intervals for data interpretation. MorePower 6.0 is available at https://wiki.usask.ca/pages/viewpageattachments.action?pageId=420413544 .

Reliability evaluation of generating systems containing wind power and energy storage

Abstract: Global environmental concerns associated with conventional energy generation have led to the rapid growth of wind energy in power systems. Many jurisdictions around the world have set high wind penetration targets in their energy generation mix. Wind speed is variable in nature, and power output from a wind farm is not readily controllable. High wind penetration can lead to high-risk levels in power system reliability and stability. In order to maintain the system stability, wind energy dispatch is usually restricted and energy storage is considered to smooth out the fluctuations and improve supply continuity. The benefits from using energy storage are highly dependent on the operating strategies associated with wind and storage in the power system. A simulation technique that can consider wind farm and energy storage operating strategies is presented. Different operating strategies are compared and the resulting benefits are evaluated. The system impacts of energy storage capacity and operating constraints, wind energy dispatch restrictions, wind penetration level and wind farm location on the reliability benefits from energy storage are illustrated.

Antioxidant activity of allicin, an active principle in garlic

Abstract: Garlic has been claimed to be effective against diseases, in the pathophysiology of which oxygen free radicals (OFRs) have been implicated. Effectiveness of garlic could be due to its ability to scavenge OFRs. However, its antioxidant activity is not known. We investigated the ability of allicin (active ingredient of garlic) contained in the commercial preparation Garlicin to scavenge hydroxyl radicals (·OH) using high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. ·OH was generated by photolysis of H2O2 (1.25–10 μmoles/ml) with ultraviolet light and was trapped with salicylic acid which is hydroxylated to produce ·OH adduct products 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). H2O2 produced a concentration-dependent ·OH as estimated by ·OH adduct products 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. Allicin equivalent in Garlicin (1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 14.4, 21.6, 28.8 and 36 μg) produced concentration-dependent decreases in the formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. The inhibition of formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA with 1.8 μg/ml was 32.36% and 43.2% respectively while with 36.0 μg/ml the inhibition was approximately 94.0% and 90.0% respectively. The decrease in ·OH adduct products was due to scavenging of ·OH and not by scavenging of formed ·OH adduct products. Allicin prevented the lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that allicin scavenges ·OH and Garlicin has antioxidant activity.