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The purpose of this study is to outline a new approach to the comparative analysis of student finance systems based on social rights, an approach widely applied in other areas of social policy. It focuses on rights codified in national legislation and financed by central governments, and the collection of indicators measuring formal eligibility and entitlements using model family analyses techniques. We illustrate the usefulness of the approach by exploring the relationship between the generosity and the degree of low-income targeting of student support in 21 OECD countries. The results show that student support is less generous in countries that concentrate benefits on students from low-income families.

The single-stimulus (SS) preference assessment procedure has been described as more appropriate than the paired stimulus (PS) procedure for "lower functioning" individuals, but this guideline's vagueness limits its usefulness. We administered the SS and PS preference assessment procedures with food items to seven individuals with severe or profound developmental disabilities who scored at level 2 of the Assessment of Basic Learning Abilities (ABLA) and seven who scored at ABLA level 3. Thirteen of the 14 participants also received these assessments (PS and SS), with non-food items. The two procedures were about equally effective for both groups, and with both types of stimuli, although the PS procedure produced more refined preference hierarchies. Most participants showed moderate to high correlations in preference scores between the two procedures for both food and non-food items. These results suggest that, for individuals who score at either ABLA level 2 or ABLA level 3, the SS and the PS procedures are equally likely to identify preferred stimuli. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

Abstract: In the tidally influenced Fraser River, Canada, palynological and carbon isotope (δ13Corg) signatures of channel-margin sediments are compared to environmental parameters (e.g., grain size, water salinity) to establish how the signatures vary across the tidal–fluvial transition. Palynological assemblages in the Fraser River are dominated by tree pollen, which constitutes between 85% and 95% of all assemblages. Dinocyst abundances do not exceed 2% of the total palynological assemblage, and the number and diversity of dinocysts gradually decreases landward. The calculated landward limit for dinocysts is at approximately 83 river km, which is relatively close to the upstream limit of the tidal backwater (at ∼100 km). δ13Corg values show minimal variability across the tidal–fluvial transition, and the average value is approximately −26‰. The δ13Corg signature of river sediments indicates a dominance of terrestrially sourced organic matter regardless of brackish-water and tidal influence on sediment deposition. Six palynological and geochemical trends are identified as relevant to the rock record. 1) In deltaic environments, palynological and geochemical characteristics are less useful than sedimentological and ichnological characteristics for establishing depositional conditions. 2) In marginal-marine settings, low abundances and low species diversities of dinocysts, coupled with a “terrestrial” geochemical signature (δ13Corg < −25‰) do not necessarily indicate deposition in a terrestrial environment. 3) Dinocyst abundances above 1% of the total palynomorph population can indicate a significant marine influence on sediment deposition. 4) Mud beds, preferably bioturbated, should be preferentially sampled in order to maximize palynomorph recovery. 5) Marine palynomorphs can occur, albeit in very low concentrations, to the landward limit of the tidal–backwater zone. 6) Palynological and geochemical data should be compared across the paleo-depositional environment in order to establish general trends and remove local variations caused by biases such as grain size. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Populations of lesser scaup ( Aythya affinis), an abundant duck in the northwestern boreal forest of Canada, have declined markedly over the past few decades. The limnological characteristics of northern wetlands used by lesser scaup and other waterfowl are inadequately documented and the possible effects of habitat quality or other factors on the use of water bodies by scaup are poorly understood. Waterfowl and limnological data, collected on a 38 km2 area roadside study area near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, were used to describe the characteristics of ponds and evaluate potential variables influencing use of water bodies by lesser scaup (and might therefore limit the growth of the lesser scaup population). The specific objectives of this study were to (1) describe and compare the water quality of natural ponds and roadside borrow pits created during highway construction; and (2) evaluate habitat preferences of lesser scaup broods by comparing water quality, physical features and invertebrate abundance in natural ponds and borrow pits that were used or avoided by brood-rearing lesser scaup. Twenty eight water quality, physical and biotic characteristics of ponds were measured in the field or from water samples collected at 48 water bodies. Waters are weakly alkaline, hard, non-saline, and meso-eutrophic. Natural ponds and artificial borrow pits created during highway construction had statistically significant differences ( p<0.05) in ten water quality variables, many of which can be attributed to the origin of the water bodies. Water bodies used by brood-rearing lesser scaup had significantly higher particulate organic carbon ( p = 0.01), particulate organic nitrogen ( p = 0.01), dissolved potassium ( p = 0.04), and density of amphipod crustaceans ( p = 0.01) than those water bodies without lesser scaup. Multiple regression analysis indicated that pond area and depth had a dominant effect on the presence of scaup broods but the effects of other water quality or biotic variables were unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although randomized studies have shown optimal medical therapy (OMT) to be as efficacious as revascularization in stable coronary heart disease (CHD), the application of OMT in routine practice is suboptimal. We sought to understand the predictors of receiving OMT in stable CHD and its impact on clinical outcomes. All patients with stable CHD based on coronary angiography from October 2008 to September 2011 were identified in Ontario, Canada. OMT was defined as concurrent use of β blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, and statin. Aspirin use was not part of the OMT definition because of database limitations. Multivariable hierarchical logistic models identified predictors of OMT in the 12 months after angiography. Cox proportional hazard models with time-varying covariates for OMT and revascularization status examined differences in death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI). In these models, patients transitioned among 4 mutually exclusive treatment groups: no OMT and no revascularization, no OMT and revascularization, OMT and no revascularization, OMT and revascularization. Our cohort had 20,663 patients. Over a mean period of 2.5 years, 8.7% had died. Only 61% received OMT within 12 months. The strongest predictor of receiving OMT at 12 months was OMT before the angiogram (odds ratio 14.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.17 to 15.75, p <0.001). Relative to no OMT and nonrevascularized patients, patients on OMT and revascularized had the greatest reduction in mortality (hazard ratio 0.52, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.60, p <0.001) and nonfatal MI (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.84, p <0.001). In conclusion, our study highlights the low rate of OMT in stable CHD. Patients who received both OMT and revascularization achieved the greatest reduction in mortality and nonfatal MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We examine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients receiving various reperfusion therapies in 2 contemporary Canadian registries., Methods: Of 4045 STEMI patients, 2024 received reperfusion therapy and had complete data on invasive management. They were stratified by reperfusion strategy used: primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n = 716); fibrinolysis with rescue PCI (n = 177); fibrinolysis with urgent/elective PCI (n = 210); and fibrinolysis without PCI (n = 921). Data were collected on clinical and laboratory findings, and outcomes., Results: Compared with fibrinolytic-treated patients, patients treated with primary PCI were younger and had higher Killip class, had longer time to delivery of reperfusion therapy, and utilized more antiplatelet therapy but less heparin, β-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In-hospital death occurred in 2.7% of patients treated with primary PCI, 1.7% fibrinolysis-rescue PCI, 1.0% fibrinolysis-urgent/elective PCI, and 4.8% fibrinolysis-alone (P = 0.009); the rates of death/reinfarction were 3.9%, 4.0%, 4.3%, and 7.1% (P = 0.032), respectively. The rate of shock was highest in the primary PCI group. Rates of heart failure or major bleeding were similar in the 4 groups. In multivariable analysis, no PCI during hospitalization was associated with death and reinfarction (adjusted odds ratio = 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.70; P = 0.04)., Conclusions: Clinical features, time to reperfusion, and medication utilization differed with respect to the reperfusion strategy. While low rates of re-infarction/death were observed, these complications occurred more frequently in those who did not undergo PCI during index hospitalization., (Copyright © 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)