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When you use your TPMS tool to look up a vehicle, you might notice that some vehicles appear multiple times, each accompanied by additional information. These pieces of additional information [...]

Emerging technologies, evolving regulations and a talent shortage. You don't need to spend much time in the profession to recognize these, among other, challenges--or opportunities, depending on how you look [...]

There's been a lot of movement lately on the 'P' word related to the future of accounting--pipeline--and we can expect further movement this month. Along with the National Pipeline Advisory [...]

Once Upon a Time... There's something about a good story that captures our attention, our imagination and our emotions. Dr. Jennifer Aaker, author, speaker and professor at Stanford Graduate School [...]

In the world of finance women have been steadily claiming their place in the accounting profession, challenging stereotypes and reshaping the landscape of finance. Indeed, according to the Bureau of [...]

From personalized shopping experiences to your next binge-worthy TV show recommendations to virtual personal assistants like Siri and Alexa, there's really no escaping AI. While many of our interactions with [...]

Contexte : La pandemie de COVID-19 a affecte de maniere disproportionnee les travailleurs de la sante. Nous avons voulu mesurer la seroprevalence du SRAS-CoV-2 chez les travailleurs de la sante dans les hopitaux du Quebec, au Canada, apres la premiere vague de la pandemie, afin d'explorer les facteurs associes a la SRAS-CoV-2-seropositivite. Methodes : Entre le 6 juillet et le 24 septembre 2020, nous avons recrute des travailleurs de la sante de 10 hopitaux, dont 8 d'une region ou l'incidence de la COVID-19 etait elevee (region de Montreal) et 2 de regions du Quebec ou l'incidence etait faible. Les travailleurs de la sante admissibles etaient des medecins, des infirmieres, des preposees aux beneficiaires et des proposes a l'entretien menager travaillant dans 4 types d'unite de soins (urgences, soins intensifs, unite hospitaliere COVID-19 et unite hospitaliere non-COVID-19). Les participants ont repondu a un questionnaire et subi un depistage serologique du SRAS-CoV-2. Nous avons identifie les facteurs ayant un lien independant avec une seroprevalence plus elevee. Resultats : Parmi les 2056 travailleurs de la sante recrutes, 241 (11,7%) se sont reveles SRAS-CoV-2-positifs. Parmi eux, 171 (71,0%) avaient deja requ un diagnostic de COVID-19. La seroprevalence a varie d'un hopital a l'autre, de 2,4%-3,7% dans les regions ou l'incidence etait faible, a 17,9%-32,0% dans les hopitaux ayant connu des eclosions touchant 5 travailleurs de la sante ou plus. La seroprevalence plus elevee a ete associee au fait de travailler dans un hopital ou des eclosions sont survenues (rapport de prevalence ajuste 4,16, intervalle de confiance [IC] a 95% 2,63-6,57), au fait d'etre infirmiere ou auxiliaire (rapport de prevalence ajuste 1,34, IC a 95% 1,03-1,74), preposee aux beneficiaires (rapport de prevalence ajuste 1,49, IC a 95% 1,12-1,97) et d'ethnicite noire ou hispanique (rapport de prevalence ajuste 1,41, IC a 95% 1,131,76). La seroprevalence moindre a ete associee au fait de travailler dans une unite de soins intensifs (rapport de prevalence ajuste 0,47, IC a 95% 0,30-0,71) ou aux urgences (rapport de prevalence ajuste 0,61, IC a 95% 0,39-0,98). Interpretation : Les travailleurs de la sante des hopitaux du Quebec ont ete exposes a un risque eleve d'infection par le SRAS-CoV-2, particulierement lors des eclosions. Il faudra travailler a mieux comprendre la dynamique de la transmission du SRAS-CoV-2 dans les milieux de soins., La pandemie de COVID-19 a affecte de maniere disproportionnee les travailleurs de la sante. En France, en Espagne, en Italie, en Allemagne et aux Etats-Unis, au moins 10% des cas [...]

AbstractWe argue that the threat of automation weakens workers’ bargaining power in wage negotiations, dampening wage adjustments and amplifying unemployment fluctuations. We make this argument based on a business cycle model with labor market search frictions, generalized to incorporate automation decisions. In the model, procyclical automation threats create endogenous real wage rigidity that amplifies labor market fluctuations. The automation mechanism is consistent with empirical evidence. It is also quantitatively important for explaining the large volatilities of unemployment and vacancies relative to that of real wages, a puzzling observation through the lens of standard business cycle models. (JEL E13, E24, E32, J31, J63, J64)

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a slowly progressive disease caused by abnormal CTG repetitions on the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. Long mRNA from CTG repetitions stabilizes in nuclear foci and sequester muscleblind-like splicing regulator 1 (MBNL1). Cardinal signs of DM1 include muscle wasting and weakness. The impacts of DM1 progression on skeletal muscle are under-researched. Identifying physiopathological markers related to maximal strength loss over time in DM1. Twenty-two individuals with DM1 participated in two maximal isometric muscle strength (MIMS) evaluations of their knee extensors and two vastus lateralismuscle biopsies, 3 years apart. Muscle fiber typing, size (including minimal Feret’s diameter [MFD] and atrophy/hypertrophy factors [AF/HF]), and nuclear foci and MBNL1 colocalization (foci/MBNL1+) were evaluated. Immunoblotting was used to measure glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β), p62, LC3BI, LC3BII, and oxidative phosphorylation proteins. There are significant correlations between the fold changes of MIMS with type 1 fiber MFD (ρ= 0.483) and AF (ρ= –0.514). Regression analysis shows that baseline percentage of foci/MBNL1+ nuclei and strength training explain 44.1% of foci/MBNL1+ nuclei percentage variation over time. There are fair to excellent correlations between the fold changes of MIMS and GSK3β(ρ= 0.327), p62 (ρ= 0.473), LC3BI (ρ= 0.518), LC3BII (ρ= –0.391) and LC3BII/LC3BI (ρ= –0.773). Type 1 MFD decrease and AF increase are correlated with MIMS loss. There seems to be a plateau effect in foci/MBNL1+ nuclei accumulation and strength training helps decrease this accumulation. Autophagy marker LC3BII/LC3BI ratio has a good biomarker potential of MIMS loss, but more investigations are needed.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected health care workers. We sought to estimate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among hospital health care workers in Quebec, Canada, after the first wave of the pandemic and to explore factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Methods: Between July 6 and Sept. 24, 2020, we enrolled health care workers from 10 hospitals, including 8 from a region with a high incidence of COVID-19 (the Montreal area) and 2 from low-incidence regions of Quebec. Eligible health care workers were physicians, nurses, orderlies and cleaning staff working in 4 types of care units (emergency department, intensive care unit, COVID-19 inpatient unit and non-COVID-19 inpatient unit). Participants completed a questionnaire and underwent SARS-CoV-2 serology testing. We identified factors independently associated with higher seroprevalence. Results: Among 2056 enrolled health care workers, 241 (11.7%) had positive SARS-CoV-2 serology. Of these, 171 (71.0%) had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Seroprevalence varied among hospitals, from 2.4% to 3.7% in low-incidence regions to 17.9% to 32.0% in hospitals with outbreaks involving 5 or more health care workers. Higher seroprevalence was associated with working in a hospital where outbreaks occurred (adjusted prevalence ratio 4.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.63-6.57), being a nurse or nursing assistant (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.34, 95% CI 1.03-1.74) or an orderly (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.49, 95% CI 1.12-1.97), and Black or Hispanic ethnicity (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.41, 95% CI 1.13-1.76). Lower seroprevalence was associated with working in the intensive care unit (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.71) or the emergency department (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.98). Interpretation: Health care workers in Quebec hospitals were at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in outbreak settings. More work is needed to better understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in health care settings., The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected health care workers. In France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the United States, at least 10% of cases reported in spring 2020 were in health [...]

Étienne Guyon nous a quittés en juillet dernier. Au cours de sa carrière, il a eu une diversité impressionnante d’activités liées aux sciences comme aux lettres, à la recherche comme à l’enseignement et à la diffusion scientifique.

Due to their narrow band gap and compatibility with silicon processing, germanium-tin (Ge$_{1-x}$Sn$_{x}$) alloys are a versatile platform for scalable integrated mid-infrared photonics. These semiconductors are typically grown on silicon wafers using Ge as an interlayer. However, the large lattice mismatch in this heteroepitaxy protocol leads to the build-up of compressive strain in the grown layers. This compressive strain limits the material quality and its thermal stability besides expanding the band gap, thereby increasing the Sn content needed to cover a broader range in the mid-infrared. Released Ge$_{1-x}$Sn$_{x}$ membranes provide an effective way to mitigate these harmful effects of the epitaxial strain and control the band gap energy while enabling the hybrid integration onto different substrates. Nevertheless, the epitaxial strain is also known to affect the fabrication of membrane devices due to a significant bowing upon release from the growth substrate, especially in high Sn content structures. With this perspective, herein these limitations are discussed and addressed by introducing bow-free, strain-relaxed Ge$_{1-x}$Sn$_{x}$ membranes in the fabrication of mid-infrared devices. These devices are transfer-printed with metal contacts to create multiple photodetectors in a single transfer step. The resulting photodetectors exhibit an extended photodetection cutoff reaching a wavelength of $3.1 \,\mu$m for a Sn content of ${x=0.11}$ compared to as-grown photoconductive devices. The latter yields a reduced cutoff of $2.8 \,\mu$m due to the inherent compressive strain. Additionally, a significant reduction in the dark current of two orders of magnitude is observed, which could be related to the formation of a Schottky barrier or to a change in the contact resistivity during the processing steps of the membranes. Furthermore, the impact of chemical treatment and annealing on the device performance was also investigated showing a further reduction in the dark current. The demonstrated transfer printing, along with the use of an adhesive layer, allows the transfer of multiple GeSn membranes onto virtually any substrate. This approach paves the way for scalable fabrication of hybrid optoelectronic devices leveraging the tunable band gap of Ge$_{1-x}$Sn$_{x}$ in the mid-infrared range.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute of Diabetic, Digestive and Kidney Disorders now estimates that there are now over 34.2 million patients with diabetes in the United Sates, or over 10.2% of our population. Diabetic foot pathology leads to over 150,000 lower extremity amputations yearly in the United States alone. Many of these infections are initiated from externally applied shearing forces applied to deformities of the lesser toes.

TMPRSS6 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of iron overload due to its role in regulating levels of hepcidin. Although potent TMPRSS6 inhibitors have been previously developed, their lack of specificity requires optimization to avoid potential side effects before pursuing preclinical development with in vivomodels. Here, using computer-aided drug design based on a TMPRSS6 homology model, we reveal that the S2 position of TMPRSS6 offers a potential avenue to achieve selectivity against other members of the TTSP family. Accordingly, we synthesized novel peptidomimetic molecules containing lipophilic amino acids at the P2 position to exploit this unexplored pocket. This enabled us to identify TMPRSS6-selective small molecules with low nanomolar affinity. Finally, pharmacokinetic parameters were determined, and a compound was found to be potent in cellulotoward its primary target while retaining TTSP-subtype selectivity and showing no signs of alteration in in vitroTEER experiments.

This work presents a study of the thermal sensitivity of p-n short silicon diodes represented by the temperature coefficient of current (TCC) for thermal sensing applications. It proposes an analytical model (AM) of the TCC of p-n short silicon diodes under low-level injections and in the temperature range of 300–400 K. First, the TCC is studied at diffusion and recombination regimes and it is discriminated between different physical contributions. Then, it is followed by a discussion on the origins and influences of these contributions to provide a usable and simplified analytical expression of the TCC. Finally, the proposed AM is compared to technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations and experimental results at 300–400 K. It shows a strong correlation for different designs of p-n short diodes.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Investigate acute locomotor, internal (heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)) and neuromuscular responses to using wearable resistance loading for soccer-specific training. Methods: Twenty-six footballers from a French 5th division team completed a 9-week parallel-group training intervention (intervention group: n = 14, control: n = 12). The intervention group trained with wearable resistance (200-g on each posterior, distal-calf) for full-training sessions on Day + 2, D + 4 and unloaded on D + 5. Between-group differences in locomotor (GPS) and internal load were analyzed for full-training sessions and game simulation drills. Neuromuscular status was evaluated using pre- and post-training box-to-box runs. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-modelling, effect size ±90% confidence limits (ES ± 90%CL) and magnitude-based decisions. Results: Full-training sessions: Relative to the control, the wearable resistance group showed greater total distance (ES [lower, upper limits]: 0.25 [0.06, 0.44]), sprint distance (0.27 [0.08, 0.46]) and mechanical work (0.32 [0.13, 0.51]). Small game simulation (<190 m2/player): wearable resistance group showed small decreases in mechanical work (0.45 [0.14, 0.76]) and moderately lower average HR (0.68 [0.02, 1.34]). Large game simulation (>190 m2/player): no meaningful between-group differences were observed for all variables. Training induced small to moderate neuromuscular fatigue increases during post-training compared to pre-training box-to-box runs for both groups (Wearable resistance: 0.46 [0.31, 0.61], Control: 0.73 [0.53, 0.93]). Conclusion: For full training, wearable resistance induced higher locomotor responses, without affecting internal responses. Locomotor and internal outputs varied in response to game simulation size. Football-specific training with wearable resistance did not impact neuromuscular status differently than unloaded training.

AbstractRATIONALEAcute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) accelerate decline in lung function and are associated with hospitalization. Patients with COPD are at risk for community acquired pneumonia (CAP). There may be a benefit to distinguish between these entities.OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this research were to assess differences in initial presentation and short-term lung function and symptom recovery in patients with COPD hospitalized for AECOPD or CAP.METHODSA single center, non-interventional, prospective cohort study of patients with COPD hospitalized with AECOPD or CAP was used. Baseline characteristics were collected. Spirometry was obtained on admission, at discharge, and 6-wk post-discharge. The primary outcome was change in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) predicted over time. COPD Assessment Test (CAT) was used to assess symptom burden on admission and 6-wk post-discharge.MAIN RESULTSA total of 54 patients were recruited, all with at least moderate airflow obstruction. On admission, there were higher levels of CRP in COPD with CAP compared to AECOPD (86.4 [SD 81.9] vs 33.5 [35.4]). There was a statistically significant difference in FEV1% predicted (p = 0.0038) and CAT score (p = 0.0005) over time, after adjusting for presence of CAP. However, there was no difference in FEV1% predicted (p = 0.7184) or CAT score (p = 0.441), between those with an AECOPD and COPD with CAP, after adjusting for time. Average length of stay in hospital was longer in COPD with CAP than for AECOPD (11.0 [10.2] versus 6.9 [4.5] days).CONCLUSIONSTime is the principal factor in short term lung function and symptom recovery in patients with COPD hospitalized for acute respiratory decompensation.

Around the world, fire regimes are shifting due to changing climate, land use and management, and human populations and infrastructure. While fire is a healthy and necessary process for many ecosystems, altered fire regimes are increasing risk to both people and wildlife in many regions. Reducing risk requires a holistic approach with investment from many stakeholders. In this Voices, we ask: what aspects of fire hazard, vulnerability, and exposure can be mitigated, and what collaborations does this require?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the largest disruption to the manufacturing in modern history, causing even the largest global manufacturers to stop production. The pandemic forced factories to minimize or [...]

FIDELITY AND CONSTRAINT: HOW THE SUPREME COURT HAS READ THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION. By Lawrence Lessig. (*) New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. 2019. Pp. xii, 581. $29.95 (hardcover). "When I [...]

Leak testing is an essential part of the manufacturing process for a variety of products, ranging from cardiac pacemakers to automotive radiators. Compared with, say, screwdriving or ultrasonic welding, leak [...]

LIGHT-CURING ADHESIVES, ALSO REFERRED TO AS UV cure adhesives, offer many advantages for automated assembly. The speed at which the adhesives are cured, the ability to fit into an automated [...]

Gone are the days when CPAs were confined to ledgers and balance sheets. The profession has moved from simply tracking debits and credits to sustainability to cloud accounting, data analytics, [...]

Embracing a New Mindset Gone are the days when CPAs were confined to ledgers and balance sheets. As tech advancements reshape the profession and client expectations evolve, CPAs stand at [...]

Change. It's not just a word; it's something that pushes us forward, reshapes our world and renews our spirits. Buckle up and hold tight because the future is exciting and [...]

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the impact of administering probiotics to prevent Clostridioides difficileinfection (CDI) among patients receiving therapeutic antibiotics.Design:Stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial between September 1, 2016, and August 31, 2019.Setting:This study was conducted in 4 acute-care hospitals across an integrated health region.Patients:Hospitalized patients, aged ≥55 years.Methods:Patients were given 2 probiotic capsules daily (Bio-K+, Laval, Quebec, Canada), containing 50 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilusCL1285, L. caseiLBC80R, and L. rhamnosusCLR2. We measured hospital-acquired CDI (HA-CDI) and the number of positive C. difficiletests per 10,000 patient days as well as adherence to administration of Bio-K+ within 48 and 72 hours of antibiotic administration. Mixed-effects generalized linear models, adjusted for influenza admissions and facility characteristics, were used to evaluate the impact of the intervention on outcomes.Results:Overall adherence of Bio-K+ administration ranged from 76.9% to 84.6% when stratified by facility and periods. Rates of adherence to administration within 48 and 72 hours of antibiotic treatment were 60.2% –71.4% and 66.7%–75.8%, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, there was no change in HA-CDI (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68–1.23) or C. difficilepositivity rate (IRR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.89–1.24). Discharged patients may not have received a complete course of Bio-K+. Our hospitals had a low baseline incidence of HA-CDI. Patients who did not receive Bio-K+ may have differential risks of acquiring CDI, introducing selection bias.Conclusions:Hospitals considering probiotics as a primary prevention strategy should consider the baseline incidence of HA-CDI in their population and timing of probiotics relative to the start of antimicrobial administration.

This review analyzes the published evidence regarding maternal factors that influence the developmental programming of long-term adiposity in humans and animals via the central nervous system (CNS). We describe the physiological outcomes of perinatal underfeeding and overfeeding and explore potential mechanisms that may mediate the impact of such exposures on the development of feeding circuits within the CNS—including the influences of metabolic hormones and epigenetic changes. The perinatal environment, reflective of maternal nutritional status, contributes to the programming of offspring adiposity. The in utero and early postnatal periods represent critically sensitive developmental windows during which the hormonal and metabolic milieu affects the maturation of the hypothalamus. Maternal hyperglycemia is associated with increased transfer of glucose to the fetus driving fetal hyperinsulinemia. Elevated fetal insulin causes increased adiposity and consequently higher fetal circulating leptin concentration. Mechanistic studies in animal models indicate important roles of leptin and insulin in central and peripheral programming of adiposity, and suggest that optimal concentrations of these hormones are critical during early life. Additionally, the environmental milieu during development may be conveyed to progeny through epigenetic marks and these can potentially be vertically transmitted to subsequent generations. Thus, nutritional and metabolic/endocrine signals during perinatal development can have lifelong (and possibly multigenerational) impacts on offspring body weight regulation.Graphical Abstract

ABSTRACT Installation, calibration protocol and data analysis of multi-electrode sensors embedded in concrete are proposed in this study. Measurements of resistivity are performed in a port wharf and analyzed in [...]

I. INTRODUCTION 111 II. BACKGROUND 114 A. What Are Opioids? 115 1. Why Are They Harmful? 116 2. What Is Heroin, and Where Does it Come From? 116 3. Why [...]

Servant Ledership In today's rapidly evolving world, leadership styles have shifted from authoritative and hierarchical models to more collaborative, empathetic and people-centric approaches. One such leadership philosophy that is gaming [...]

The accounting profession, like many industries, is evolving, and we must embrace and lean into these changes. Everything from technology to remote work is having an impact on the way [...]

Of the many steps in the process of assembling a wire harness, testing the crimped terminal is a crucial one. If the terminal hasn't been properly attached to the end [...]

Pitolisant hydrochloride is used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy. The drug is formulated as a crystalline solid, and a monoclinic P21form has been claimed in patents, but little additional information about the structure and polymorphism of the compound has been published. No new forms were obtained when we grew crystals from solution under various conditions. Re-examination of the crystals revealed a disordered and partially hydrated structure that resembles the one reported earlier but is not identical. Further insight was obtained by synthesizing analogues of pitolisant with its Cl substituent replaced by Me, F, and Br, followed by structural analysis of the hydrochloride salts by X-ray diffraction. Pitolisant hydrochloride and its three analogues showed very similar solid-state behavior, and each compound yielded new metastable forms when crystallized from melts. The lifetime of metastable form III of pitolisant hydrochloride could be extended significantly by adding small amounts of the fluoro analogue, but none of the metastable forms could be obtained as single crystals suitable for structural analysis. Computational predictions of the polymorphic landscapes of pitolisant hydrochloride and its analogues identified possible structures of the metastable forms. Dual experimental and computational approaches are already widely used in polymorphic screening, but our work shows the value of broadening these searches to include sets of structural analogues.

We report a whispering gallery mode resonator on a pillar using inkjet printing combined with traditional microfabrication techniques. This approach enables several different polymers on the same chip for sensing applications. However, polymers inherently exhibit sensitivity to multiple stimuli. To mitigate temperature sensitivity, careful selection of design parameters is crucial. By precisely tuning the undercut-to-radius ratio of the resonator, a linear dependence in temperature sensitivity ranging from −41.5 pm/°C to 23.4 pm/°C, with a zero-crossing point at 47.6% is achieved. Consequently, it is feasible to fabricate sensing devices based on undercut microdroplets with minimal temperature sensitivity. The lowest measured temperature sensitivity obtained was 5.9 pm/°C, for a resonator with an undercut-to-radius ratio of 53%.