Recent Performance of the Canadian Economy: A Regional View

This article first outlines the activities of the Bank's regional offices and looks at how regional economic analysis fits into the Bank's decision-making process. The changing role of the regional offices in communications and in information gathering is examined, focusing on the quarterly surveys of industries and associations. The second section reviews, from a regional perspective, economic developments since the Asian crisis and future prospects.

Porphyre et les universaux dans les Communia logice du ms. Paris, BnF, lat. 16617

Cet article offre la première édition du début des Communia logice (et grammatice), une substantielle compilation didascalique issue de la Faculté des arts de l’Université de Paris au milieu du xiiie siècle et contenue dans un manuscrit légué par maître Pierre de Limoges († 1306) à l’ancienne bibliothèque de la Sorbonne. Après une présentation générale (section I) et avant des précisions sur la Ratio edendi (section III), l’étude doctrinale (section II) qui précède cette édition (section IV) montre comment l’auteur-compilateur des Communia logice répond — en le reformulant — au célèbre questionnaire porphyrien relatif aux universaux.This article offers the first edition of the beginning of the Communia logice (et grammatice), a substantial didascalical compilation emanating from the Arts faculty of the University of Paris during the first half of the thirteenth century and preserved in a manuscript bequeathed by master Peter of Limoges († 1306) to the old library of the Sorbonne. After a general presentation (section I) and before some clarifications on the Ratio edendi (section III), the doctrinal study (section II) which precedes this edition (section IV) shows how the author-compiler of the Communia logice answers — while reformulating it — to the well known porphyrian set of questions about the universals

Influence of afforestation on soil: The case of mineral weathering

Although concerns have been raised that increased nutrient demand by fast growing tree species could deplete soil nutrient pools, recent research suggests that some species are able to obtain nutrients via soil mineral weathering. Hybrid poplars, which are fast growing and nutrient demanding species, are increasingly used in intensive silvicultural settings. Understanding whether hybrid poplars have an effect on long term nutrient availability and can promote soil mineral weathering is therefore important. We investigated the levels of base cations (i.e. K, Ca, Mg, and Na) of surface soils (0–20 cm) in 13 hybrid poplar plantations in Quebec, and compared the results with those of adjacent abandoned agricultural fields. To evaluate whether exchangeable base cation pools and non-exchangeable pools (i.e. those in the crystal lattice of minerals) were being depleted, we used a sequential leach with diluted salt (BaCl2 for exchangeable) and weak acid solutions (HCl and HNO3 for non-exchangeable). Levels of exchangeable and non-exchangeable cations were not statistically different between land use types. Exploratory analyses, however, revealed trends toward a greater depletion of Ca, Mg and Na in non-exchangeable forms following afforestation. The depletion of these non-exchangeable base cations due to afforestation occurred at sites where greater levels were initially present in soil. The results suggest increased soil mineral weathering due to greater amounts of minerals susceptible to dissolution and, in part, high clay content. Based on Ca, Mg and K concentrations of the different leaches and their molar ratios (Ca/ΣAl + Fe, Mg/ΣAl + Fe and K/ΣAl + Fe), we propose a lesser role of soil mineral weathering on Ca cycling than Mg and K, which could lead to faster depletion of exchangeable Ca pools of the surface soil due to fast growth and high Ca demand by the poplars

Progress toward characterization of the atmospheric boundary layer over northern Alabama using observations by a vertically pointing, S-band profiling radar during VORTEX-Southeast

During spring 2016 and spring 2017, a vertically pointing, S-band FMCW radar (UMass FMCW) was deployed in northern Alabama under the auspices of the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) – Southeast. In total, ~14 weeks’ worth of data were collected, in conditions ranging from quiescent clear skies to severe thunderstorms. The principal objective of these deployments was to characterize the boundary layer evolution near the VORTEX-Southeast domain. In this paper, we describe intermediate results in service of this objective. Specifically, we describe updates to the UMass FMCW system, document its deployments for VORTEX-Southeast, and apply three automated algorithms: (1) an dealiasing algorithm to the Doppler velocities, (2) a fuzzy logic scatterer classification scheme to separate precipitation from non-precipitation observations, (3) a bright band / melting layer identification algorithm for stratiform precipitation, and (4) an extended Kalman filter-based convective boundary layer depth (mixing height) measurement algorithm for non-precipitation observations. Results from the latter two applications are qualitatively verified against retrieved soundings from a collocated thermodynamic profiling system.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Modification of pharmacokinetic and abuse-related effects of cocaine by human-derived cocaine hydrolase in monkeys

Although substantial research effort has focused on developing pharmacological treatments for cocaine abuse, no effective medications have been developed. Recent studies show that enzymes that metabolize cocaine in the periphery, forestalling its entry into the brain, can prevent cocaine toxicity and its behavioral effects in rodents. Here we report on effects of one such enzyme (Albu- CocH) on the pharmacokinetic and behavioral effects of cocaine in squirrel monkeys. Albu-CocH was developed from successive mutations of human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and has 1000- fold greater catalytic activity against cocaine than naturally occurring BChE. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that Albu-CocH (5 mg/kg) had a half-life of 56.6 hours in squirrel monkeys. In these studies, plasma levels of cocaine following i.v. 1 mg/kg cocaine were reduced two hours after administration of Albu-CocH, whereas plasma levels of the cocaine metabolite ecgonine methyl ester were increased. These effects were still evident 72 hrs following Albu-CocH administration. In behavioral experiments in monkeys, pretreatment with 5 mg/kg Albu-CocH dramatically decreased self-administration of a reinforcing dose of i.v. cocaine (30 μg/kg/ injection) for over 24 hours. Pretreatment with 5 mg/kg Albu-CocH also attenuated the reinstatement of extinguished cocaine self-administration by an i.v. priming injection of cocaine (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg) and, in separate studies, attenuated the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine. The ability of Albu-CocH to attenuate the abuse-related effects of cocaine in squirrel monkeys indicates that further investigation of BChE mutants as potential treatment for cocaine abuse and toxicity is warranted.This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute on Drug Abuse

Integration and Implementation Strategies for AI Algorithm Deployment with Smart Routing Rules and Workflow Management

This paper reviews the challenges hindering the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in the healthcare industry, focusing on computer vision applications for medical imaging, and how interoperability and enterprise-grade scalability can be used to address these challenges. The complex nature of healthcare workflows, intricacies in managing large and secure medical imaging data, and the absence of standardized frameworks for AI development pose significant barriers and require a new paradigm to address them. The role of interoperability is examined in this paper as a crucial factor in connecting disparate applications within healthcare workflows. Standards such as DICOM, Health Level 7 (HL7), and Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) are highlighted as foundational for common imaging workflows. A specific focus is placed on the role of DICOM gateways, with Smart Routing Rules and Workflow Management leading transformational efforts in this area. To drive enterprise scalability, new tools are needed. Project MONAI, established in 2019, is introduced as an initiative aiming to redefine the development of medical AI applications. The MONAI Deploy App SDK, a component of Project MONAI, is identified as a key tool in simplifying the packaging and deployment process, enabling repeatable, scalable, and standardized deployment patterns for AI applications. The abstract underscores the potential impact of successful AI adoption in healthcare, offering physicians both life-saving and time-saving insights and driving efficiencies in radiology department workflows. The collaborative efforts between academia and industry, are emphasized as essential for advancing the adoption of healthcare AI solutions.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Agricultural Land Use Planning and Groundwater Quality

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75123/1/j.1468-2257.1983.tb00394.x.pd

Employing machine learning to predict adverse acute post-surgical outcomes following elective ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction ameliorates valgus elbow instability in various patient populations, including overhead athletes, patients with acute UCL rupture following high energy trauma, and those with chronic, subclinical elbow laxity. This study aims to explore machine learning algorithms to identify risk factors in patients undergoing elective UCL reconstruction in the ambulatory setting to predict postoperative outcomes. Methods: RStudio was used to create a filtering code to identify adult patients who underwent elective UCL reconstruction from 2008 to 2018 in the American college of surgeons national surgical quality improvement program database. Patients were analyzed using six ML algorithms, which were trained to predict outcomes such as extended length of stay, non-home discharge, and adverse events based on various patient characteristics and surgical variables. Algorithmic performance was then assessed and top performing algorithms underwent further analysis to determine relative feature importance using a permutation feature importance method. Results: ML exhibited excellent performance in predicting LOS, with an average AUC of 0.953, similar to that of logistic regression. Regarding NHD, ML demonstrated a 60.8% increase in AUC compared to LR. In predicting AAE, ML achieved an average AUC that was 12.7% higher than LR. Conclusions: The highly predictive capability of ML indicates the possibility to represent a procedure-specific complementary tool for the preoperative risk stratification process. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of UCL reconstruction in the management and outcomes of any patient, regardless of age or activity level