évaluation de la validité théorique de l'Inventaire de l'organisation de la personnalité.

Studied the psychometric properties and the theoretical validity of the French translation of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO; O. F. Kernberg and J. F. Clarkin, 1995). The IPO was administered to 845 males and females from a Quebec university and from the general Quebec population. Separate exploratory and 1st-level confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The results indicate a good level of conformity between IPO items and the tridimensional primary constructs of O. F. Kernberg's theoretical model of personality organization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new integrated front-end for a noninvasive brain imaging system based on near-infrared spectroreflectometry

In this paper, we present a fully integrated front-end of a portable spectroreflectometry-based brain imaging system dedicated for acquisition of modulated optical signals at a frequency of 1 Hz to 25 kHz. The proposed front-end preamplifier is composed of a photodetector, a transimpedance preamplifier, a two-stage voltage amplifier and a mixer. Strict constraints regarding noise thus have to be considered. The preamplifier consists of a transimpedance block featuring a 95-dB/spl Omega/ gain and an average input current noise density at the frequency of interest of approximately 3 pA//spl radic/Hz. Each of the two subsequent voltage amplifiers allows the user to obtain an additional 25-dB gain. Considering the tuning capabilities and the losses due to the filters and the nonideal buffers, the proposed front-end allows us to obtain a total gain up to 145 dB. The back-end of the amplification chain is composed of a mixer which is used to produce a continuous voltage proportional to the amplitude of the input optical signals. All those features were integrated using CMOS 0.18-/spl mu/m technology and the experimental results are in agreement with the initial design requirements.     

Estimation of the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure from transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography of pulmonary venous flow: influence of the respiratory cycle during mechanical ventilation

AIM: Endothelial Dysfunction (ED) is an early functional marker and Intima-Media-Thickness (IMT) an early morphological parameter of atherogenesis. Is there a simple, non-invasive routine method for the identification of atherosclerosis including the detection of the early functional endothelial impairment seen for example in Type 2 diabetic patients? METHODS: Using high resolution ultrasound we studied peripheral endothelial function expressed as flow-associated dilation (FAD %) and endothelial independent vasodilation after administration of 400 micrograms glycerol trinitrate (postnitro %) of the brachial artery as well as IMT of the common carotid artery in 25 Type 2 diabetic patients and their matched controls. RESULTS: (mean +/- SD): The diabetic patients showed a remarkable ED (FAD%: 3.8 +/- 3.3 vs. 6.9 +/- 4.4%, p = 0.01) and an already increased IMT (0.72 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.10 mm, p < 0.01). The similar postnitro % in diabetic patients and controls suggests normal dilating capacity of the studied vessels in the diabetic patients (postnitro %: 14.3 +/- 9.4 vs. 14.9 +/- 8.5%, p = ns). CONCLUSION: With a combination of these three sonomorphological parameters it is possible to document the stage of atherosclerosis including endothelial dysfunction in Type 2 diabetic patients.     

Countertransference as the therapist's mental activity: Experience and gender differences among psychoanalytically oriented psychologists.

Compared the spontaneous written reactions to 2 clinical vignettes of 20 beginning (less than 1 yr) and 20 experienced (10 yrs or more) psychoanalytically oriented psychologists, using a countertransference rating scale (CRS). The Ss comprised equal numbers of women and men. The CRS distinguishes 3 major mental states: objective/rational countertransference is a detached, nonparticipating, observing position; reactive countertransference is an unconscious defensive reaction, in which the therapist is an unaware participant–subject; reflective countertransference is an aware, preconscious–conscious subjectively transparent participating state. Results indicate that beginning therapists were more reflective and that experienced therapists were more reactive. As for gender differences, female therapists were more reflective, and males were more objective/rational. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In situ performance evaluation of spray polyurethane foam in the exterior insulation basement system (EIBS)

In 1995, a joint research project¹ with the Institute for Research in Construction was initiated to assess the in situ thermal performance of a number of insulation products used as exterior basement insulation in contact with the ground.     

Resilience Factors Reconciled with Complexity: The Dynamics of Order and Disorder

One of the main challenges in crisis management is to assess, ahead of time, the resilience of a system before a crisis erupts (pandemic, computer bug with large‐scale effects, cascade effects in critical infrastructure, etc.). In this article, we propose to reconcile the multiple and sometimes divergent definition of resilience by explaining the complementarity of stability and adaptability inherent to the concept. Also, we integrate a new dimension to the assessment of resilience by analysing the dynamics of negentropy (order, stability) and entropy (disorder, change) between factors. Until now, the evaluation of organizational and interorganizational resilience focused on analysing the presence or absence of resilience factors. With this new dimension, we show the complementarity and interdependence of resilience factors. Finally, we demonstrate how resilience is based on both favourable order and favourable disorder which create diversity and conformity in the system, while vulnerability relies on unfavourable order and unfavourable disorder.