Implementing an engineering data management system for the LHC accelerator and experiments: the CEDAR project

The huge quantities of data required for the design, building and operation of the LHC and its experiments require consistent management and storage. The CEDAR project aims at implementing an Engineering Data Management System (EDMS) at CERN. After having defined what is an EDMS and what are the expected benefits for the LHC we present the activities held in CEDAR, during the selection and pilot project phases. Lessons learned and conclusions reached through the pilot projects are then summarised

Relation entre le degré d'hétérozygotie, la croissance et la distribution écologique d'une population de pin gris (pinus banksiana Lamb.)

Cette étude vise à examiner la relation entre le degré d'hétérozygotie et des caractères reliés à la valeur sélective des individus (croissance radiale, variabilité de la croissance radiale, distribution des individus) d'une population de pin gris (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), tout en considérant le milieu de croissance. La population choisie est située au nord-ouest du Québec (lac Duparquet, Abitibi). La variabilité des individus a été détectée par la méthode de l'électrophorèse sur plaque d'acétate de cellulose. Sept systèmes enzymatiques ont été examinés (ACO, GOT, PGD, G-6PDH, NADP-ME, PGI et PGM), totalisant 13 loci dont 10 polymorphiques. L'accroissement annuel moyen à hauteur de poitrine (DHP/âge) et la variabilité de la croissance (écart type, variance et coefficient de variation) ont été utilisés comme indicateur de croissance. Les stations ont été stratifiées selon l'indice de la qualité des sites, établit à partir de la courbe de croissance en hauteur des individus dominants. Les résultats ne démontrent pas de relation significative entre le degré d'hétérozygotie et la croissance radiale. Par contre, on observe une variabilité de la croissance moins élevée chez les individus faiblement hétérozygotes, résultat déjà rencontré chez Pinus ponderosa et Populus tremuloides. D'autre part, on observe plus d'hétérozygotes qu'attendu selon une distribution aléatoire dans les stations à faible productivité. Il semble donc qu'un accès limité aux ressources (un stress de niveau abiotique) puisse favoriser les hétérozygotes. De plus, les individus hétérozygotes pour deux loci étudiés, PGD-1 et G6PDH- 2 semblent être relativement plus abondants dans les sites à croissance limitée. Ces résultats contribuent à nous faire mieux comprendre l'influence du degré d'héhétozygotie sur des caractères reliés à la valeur sélective des pins gris. Éventuellement, ceci pourrait nous permettre d'utiliser les marqueurs alloenzymatiques pour effectuer une meilleure sélection génétique des graines pour le reboisement

Foliar and wood traits covary along a vertical gradient within the crown of long-lived light-demanding species of the Congo Basin semi-deciduous forest

Plant functional traits have shown to be relevant predictors of forest functional responses to climate change. However, the trait-based approach to study plant performances and ecological strategies has mostly been focused on trait comparisons at the interspecific and intraspecific levels. In this study, we analyzed traits variation and association at the individual level. We measured wood and leaf traits at different height locations within the crown of five individuals of Pericopsis data (Harms) Meeuwen (Fabaceae) from the northern tropical forest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All traits varied between and within individuals. The between-individual variation was more important for leaf traits (23%-48%) than for wood traits (similar to 10%) where the within-individual variation showed to be more important (33%-39%). The sample location height within the crown was found to be the driving factor of this within-individual variation. In a gradient from the base to the top of the crown, theoretical specific hydraulic conductivity and specific leaf area decreased while the stomatal density increased. We found significant relationships among traits and between wood and leaf traits. However, these relationships varied with the position within the crown. The relationship between vessel size and vessel density was negative at the bottom part of the crown but positive upward. Also, the negative relationship between stomatal density and stomatal size became stronger with increasing height within the crown. Finally, the positive relationship between specific leaf area and theoretical specific hydraulic conductivity became stronger in higher parts of the crown, suggesting that P. data constantly adapts its water use with respect to its water supply, more strongly at the top of the crown where the environment is more extreme and less buffered against environmental fluctuations

Identification of rehabilitation needs after a stroke: an exploratory study

Affiliation: Jacqueline Rousseau : École de réadaptation, Faculté de médecine, Université de MontréalBACKGROUND:Services to meet adequate rehabilitation needs of elderly stroke survivors are not always provided. Indeed, since 1995, in the wake of the Quebec shift to ambulatory care, home care services, mainly those related to rehabilitation of the elderly, are either unavailable or incomplete. The aim of this study was to examine the rehabilitation needs of this clientele from their hospitalization to their reintegration into the community.METHODS:The "Handicap Production Process" conceptual approach was chosen to help identify the rehabilitation needs of persons affected by physical or cognitive disabilities due to the interactions between personal and environmental factors, and (activities of daily living, social roles). This qualitative exploratory study was performed in 2003. Data were collected among four groups of experts: patients, caregivers, health care providers and administrators. Data triangulation was used to ensure a rigorous analysis and validity of the results.RESULTS:Unfulfilled needs could be found in the categories of pertaining to residence, community living, psychological and emotional needs. Indeed, it appears that a psychological follow-up to discuss acceptance and consequences of non-acceptance would facilitate mid-to long-term rehabilitation.CONCLUSION:Improving accessibility to healthcare services, respecting priority parking spaces for the disabled as well as promoting public awareness would enable a better social reintegration and recovery of social roles, thus limiting the onset of handicap situations