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We studied whether 48 weeks of PEG‐IFN alfa‐2a add‐on increases HBsAg‐decline and clearance in HBeAg‐negative patients on long‐term nucleo(s)tide analogue (NA) therapy. In this investigator‐initiated, randomized, controlled trial conducted in Europe and Canada, HBeAg‐negative patients treated with NA > 12 months, with HBVDNA < 200 IU/mL, were enrolled. Patients were randomized 2:1 to 48 weeks of PEG‐IFN alfa‐2a add‐on (180 μg per week) or continued NA‐monotherapy with subsequent follow‐up to Week 72. Endpoints were HBsAg decline (≥1 log10 IU/mL) and HBsAg clearance at Week 48. Of the 86 patients in the modified‐intention‐to‐treat analysis, 58 patients received PEG‐IFN add‐on, and 28 continued NA monotherapy. At Week 48, 16(28%) patients achieved HBsAg decline ≥1 log10 in the add‐on arm versus none on NA‐monotherapy (p <.001), and HBsAg clearance was observed in 6 (10%) PEG‐IFN add‐on patients versus 0% NA‐monotherapy (p =.01). HBVRNA was only detected in 2% after PEG‐IFN treatment versus 19% in NA‐monotherapy (p =.002) at Week 48. PEG‐IFN add‐on therapy was well tolerated in majority of patients. Low baseline HBsAg levels (<10 IU/mL) identified patients most likely to achieve HBsAg loss with PEG‐IFN add‐on, whereas an HBsAg level > 200 IU/mL at on‐treatment Week 12 was highly predictive of non‐response (NPV = 100%). Addition of PEG‐IFN to long‐term NA enhanced HBsAg decline and increased the chance of HBsAg clearance in HBeAg‐negative patients on long‐term NA. On‐treatment HBsAg levels >200 IU/mL identify patients unlikely to benefit from PEG‐IFN add‐on and could be used as a potential stopping‐rule for PEG‐IFN therapy. Our findings support further exploration of immune modulation add‐on to antiviral therapy, preferably using response‐guided strategies, to increase functional cure rates in patients with CHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.--Because of restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical educators rapidly transitioned to an online curriculum for pathology resident education. The benefits and challenges of the shift to online learning, as well as strategies to maximize learning, are yet to be fully elucidated. Objective.--To assess learner perception and satisfaction with the move to online learning. Understanding the benefits of online learning will allow future curricular changes to most effectively incorporate online learning. Understanding the common challenges will allow our current learning strategies to rapidly adapt and ideally mitigate these challenges as online learning is incorporated into medical education. Design.--This was a survey-based study distributed by email to pathology residents nationwide in Canada in anatomic pathology, general pathology, neuropathology, and hematopathology. Thirty residents participated, from anatomic pathology (n = 23; 76%), from general pathology (n = 5; 16%), and 1 participant each from hematopathology and neuropathology. Results.--All participants indicated that their program had transitioned to online learning at least in part. The majority of participants (n = 16; 53%) did not feel their pathology education was negatively affected by the transition to online learning; however, a significant minority (n = 6; 20%) felt their education had been negatively affected. Convenience and less intimidation were rated as benefits of online learning. Negative effects included technical issues and decreased engagement; we identified a number of strategies used by programs and pathology residents to mitigate these negative effects. Conclusions.--Our survey points to a need to use adaptations and best-practice recommendations to maximize the benefits of online learning moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent results from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)'s grade 9 applied mathematics assessment found that students are experiencing difficulty with the Ontario curriculum, specifically with written communication. Action research was conducted during the second semester of 2003/04 in a grade 10 applied mathematics class to determine the effects of journal writing on students' learning of mathematics. Entries reveal that students' written expression improved and they were able to consolidate their learning through reflective writing. Further, this study supports Black and Wiliam's (1998) claim that formative feedback can improve student achievement. The paper concludes with the impact of action research on both researchers. (Contains 4 figures.)

The proportional size of the Canadian "echo generation"--baby-boomers' children born 1980-95--varies across the provinces and is largest in Ontario and the West. Effects on elementary, secondary, and postsecondary enrollments are discussed, as well as possible interprovincial agreements on provision of postsecondary education. (SV)

Presents evidence of a substantial decline in undergraduate degrees in economics from 1992 through 1996 in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United States. Finds no correlation between decline and degree cost, tightened grading standards, or degree requirements. Finds increased interest in business education to be the predominant cause. (RLH)

Background: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss is associated with improved clinical outcomes for individuals with chronic hepatitis B (CHB); however, the effects of varying HBsAg levels on clinical outcomes in diverse cohorts are understudied. Methods: In this cross-sectional, multicentre, retrospective study, the data on adult subjects enrolled in the Canadian HBV Network with CHB seen from 1 January 2012 to 30 January 2021 with the treatment and virologic data within 1 year of HBsAg testing were analyzed. Patients were tested for HBsAg using qualitative (for HBsAg-negative samples) and/or commercial quantitative assays. Fibrosis or hepatic necroinflammation was determined by the liver stiffness measurement (LSM). The baseline data were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared by using univariable/multivariable analyses. Results: This study included 844 CHB patients, with a median age of 49.6 years (IQR 40.1–60.5), and 37% were female. In total, 751 patients (78.6%) had known ethnicity data, and 76.7% self-reported as Asian, 11.4% as Black, 6.8% as White, and 4.8% as other. Among the 844 patients, 237 (28.0%) were HBsAg (−) (1000 IU/mL. Overall, 80% (682) had known HBeAg status at the last follow-up, and the majority (87.0%) were HBeAg-negative. In addition, 54% (461/844) had prior antiviral therapy, 19.7% of which (16.3, 23.7, n = 91) were HBsAg (−). The treated patients had a lower risk of cirrhosis (16.46, 95% CI 1.89–143.39, p = 0.01) or HCC (8.23, 95% CI 1.01–67.39, p = 0.05) than the untreated patients. A lower proportion of the HBsAg-loss group had cirrhosis (5.7% vs. 10.9%, p = 0.021) and HCC (0.9% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.001). Conclusion: In this retrospective, ethnically diverse cohort study, CHB patients who received antiviral therapy and/or had HBsAg loss were less likely to develop cirrhosis and HCC, confirming the results of the studies in less diverse cohorts. No association was found between the qHBsAg level and fibrosis determined with LSM. Individuals who achieved HBsAg loss had low-level qHBsAg within 1 year of seroclearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canadian politics in 2021 was far from boring. A federal election that resulted in very few changes, the resignation of the Governor General, the appointment of the first Indigenous Governor General, scandals in the military, the resolution of a dispute with the Chinese government, and ongoing issues relating to the COVID‐19 pandemic attracted substantial attention. But more striking was the discovery of unmarked graves on the site of former residential schools, a discovery challenging the views many Canadians had of their history and revealing the extent of work remaining to be done with respect to Indigenous issues and the continuing need for both truth and reconciliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to curb spread of COVID-19 has led to restrictive visitor policies in healthcare, which disrupt social connection between patients and their families at end of life. We interviewed 17 Canadian nurses providing palliative care, to solicit their descriptions of, and responses to, ethical issues experienced as a result of COVID-19 related circumstances. Our analysis was inductive and scaffolded on notions of nurses' moral agency, palliative care values, and our clinical practice in end-of-life care. Our findings reveal that while participants appreciated the need for pandemic measures, they found blanket policies separating patients and families to be antithetical to their philosophy of palliative care. In navigating this tension, nurses drew on the foundational values of their practice, engaging in ethical reasoning and action to integrate safety and humanity into their work. These findings underscore the epistemic agency of nurses and highlight the limits of a purely biomedical logic for guiding the nursing ethics of the pandemic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many regional multiple sclerosis (MS) databases existed in the United States and Canada, there was no single clinician-derived registry that examined this disease as a group across the North American continent. This distinction is important because information that results from such database can potentially give perspectives about MS that cannot be derived from any single regional registry. A partnership was forged between the pharmaceutical industry and the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) to create a registry of patients with MS from Canada and the United States, including Puerto Rico. Case report forms were created to collect physician-derived information, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was selected to capture patient-reported outcomes. As of November 2021, 754 of 1000 patients have been enrolled. Completion of recruitment is expected by the end of 2021. Twenty-five centers are participating, with an expected total of 30, including five centers from Canada. Clinical status, health economic outcomes, magnetic resonance images, and, soon, biomarkers relevant to understanding relapses and progression are collected. The short-term goal is to understand and better treat MS disease progression, and the long-term goal is its prevention. The North American Registry for Care and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (NARCRMS) is one of few clinician/patient-generated registries that examines MS across North America, including Puerto Rico. Information derived from the natural history studies should help physicians, the pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory bodies understand MS better and improve quality of life for patients with MS worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada’s vast geography, and centralized delivery of cancer care and clinical trials create barriers for trial participation for patients in remote and rural settings. The development and implementation of a framework that enables safe and regulatory compliant trial participation through local healthcare providers would benefit Canadian patients, clinicians, trial sponsors and the health care system. To address this issue, representatives of Canada’s cancer clinical trial community met to identify key challenges and develop recommendations for remote patient participation in trials. A structured literature review identified remote/rural trial delivery models. A panel of expert stakeholders reviewed the models and participated in a workshop to assess health system readiness, identify needed processes, tools and mechanisms, and develop recommendations for a Canadian framework for decentralized clinical trial conduct. The Canadian Remote Access Framework for clinical Trials (CRAFT) represents a risk-based approach used by site investigators to delegate responsibilities for a given trial to satellite health centres within a hub-and-spoke “trial cluster”. The Framework includes specific recommendations to ensure research experience, capacity, regulatory compliance and patient safety. Canada’s cancer care and telemedicine systems can be leveraged to enable broader access to clinical trials for patients who are geographically remote from cancer centres. CRAFT’s risk-based framework is based on other successful models of remote trial patient management and is in the pilot implementation phase in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Benzodiazepine receptor agonist (BZRA) use disorder among older adults is a relatively common and challenging clinical condition. Method The Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health, with financial support from Health Canada, has produced evidencebased guidelines on the prevention, identification, assessment, and management of this form of substance use disorder. Results Inappropriate use of BZRAs should be avoided by considering non-pharmacological approaches to the management of late life insomnia, anxiety, and other common indications for the use of BZRA. Older persons should only be prescribed BZRAs after they are fully informed of alternatives, benefits, and risks associated with their use. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for the presence of BZRA use disorders. The full version of these guidelines can be accessed at www.ccsmh.ca Conclusions A person-centred, stepped care approach utilizing gradual dose reductions should be used in the management of BZRA use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An advanced degree is found to have a positive effect on the earnings of Canadian lawyers in private practice, but a negative effect for lawyers in government service, after controlling for other employment and personal factors. (Author/TE)

The distribution of Moselia infuscata (Claassen, 1923) in Canada is examined based on the examination of specimens in the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, the University of Guelph Barcode of Life Data Systems, the Royal British Columbia Museum and distribution records presented in previously published research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of all available specimens of fossil fishes from the classic Pennsylvanian Joggins locality of Nova Scotia, Canada, reveals the existence of a diverse community of chondrichthyans (xenacanthids, ctenacanthids and the enigmatic Ageleodus), acanthodians (gyracanthids), sarcopterygians (rhizodontids, megalichthyids, rhizodopsids and dipnoans) and actinopterygians (haplolepids). Reassessment of supposed endemic species ( Ctenoptychius cristatus, Sagenodus plicatus, Gyracanthus duplicatus) indicates they are invalid, and overall, the assemblage comprises cosmopolitan taxa that were widespread around the coasts of tropical Pangaea. Strontium isotope analysis of fish remains and a critical study of their facies context suggest that these fish communities occupied bodies of water with salinities across the marine-freshwater spectrum. This preponderance of euryhaline forms implies a community structure quite distinct from that of today and might represent a transitory phase prior to the establishment of fully freshwater fish communities. Interpretation of fish ecology provides further evidence that the Joggins Formation was deposited in a paralic setting, and the recognition of one previously undetected brackish incursion strengthens the link between sedimentary cycles at Joggins and Milankovitch-induced glacio-eustatic change. Furthermore, interregional correlation of these marine transgressions supports palynostratigraphical arguments for an early Langsettian age for the Joggins Formation. This places tighter constraints on the age of the earliest known crown amniote, Hylonomus lyelli, an important calibration point used in phylogenomic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sex differences in Parkinson disease clinical features have been reported, but few studies have examined sex influences on use of dopaminergic medication in early Parkinson disease. The objective of this study was to test if there are differences in the type of dopaminergic medication used and levodopa equivalent daily dose between men and women with early Parkinson disease enrolled in a large multicenter study of Creatine as a potential disease modifying therapy – the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Exploratory Trials in Parkinson Disease Long-Term Study-1. Methods: Baseline data of 1,741 participants from 45 participating sites were analyzed. Participants from the United States and Canada were enrolled within five years of Parkinson Disease diagnosis. Two outcome variables were studied: type of dopaminergic medication used and levodopa equivalent daily dose at baseline in the Long-Term Study-1. Chi-square statistic and linear regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of use of different types of dopaminergic medications at baseline between men and women with Parkinson Disease. A small but statistically significant difference was observed in the median unadjusted levodopa equivalent daily dose at baseline between women (300 mg) and men (325 mg), but this was not observed after controlling for disease duration (years since Parkinson disease diagnosis), disease severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Motor and Activities of Daily Living Scores), and body weight. Conclusions: In this large multicenter study, we did not observe sex differences in the type and dose of dopaminergic medications used in early Parkinson Disease. Further research is needed to evaluate the influence of male or female sex on use of dopaminergic medication in mid- and late-stage Parkinson Disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analysis the upcoming election Alberta, Canada. The election in the province will be combined with sharp competition for the mantle of leadership that has been important in the politics. The Wildrose Alliance Party is attempting to present itself as more moderate than in the past with the message that would framed the Conservative Party as out of touch with core Alberta values.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Pathology is the property of Canadian Association of Pathologists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A freshwater Se guideline was developed for consideration based on concentrations in fish eggs or ovaries, with a focus on Canadian species, following the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment protocol for developing guideline values. When sufficient toxicity data are available, the protocol recommends deriving guidelines as the 5th percentile of the species sensitivity distribution (SSD). When toxicity data are limited, the protocol recommends a lowest value approach, where the lowest toxicity threshold is divided by a safety factor (e.g., 10). On the basis of a comprehensive review of the current literature and an assessment of the data therein, there are sufficient egg and ovary Se data available for freshwater fish to develop an SSD. For most fish species, Se EC10 values (10% effect concentrations) could be derived, but for some species, only no-observed-effect concentrations and/or lowest-observed-effect concentrations could be identified. The 5th percentile egg and ovary Se concentrations from the SSD were consistently 20 µg/g dry weight (dw) for the best-fitting distributions. In contrast, the lowest value approach using a safety factor of 10 would result in a Se egg and ovary guideline of 2 µg/g dw, which is unrealistically conservative, as this falls within the range of egg and ovary Se concentrations in laboratory control fish and fish collected from reference sites. An egg and ovary Se guideline of 20 µg/g dw should be considered a conservative, broadly applicable guideline, as no species mean toxicity thresholds lower than this value have been identified to date. When concentrations exceed this guideline, site-specific studies with local fish species, conducted using a risk-based approach, may result in higher egg and ovary Se toxicity thresholds. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012;8:6-12. © 2011 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We offer an alternative to the conventional measure of government redistribution that seeks to address problems of second-order effects whereby income guarantees arising from public pensions make it less necessary for people to save for their retirement, rendering the 'pregovernment' counterfactual to the observed postgovernment distribution unrealistic. We use household-level data from the Luxembourg Income Study to calculate an alternative measure of government redistribution that includes public-sector pensions in 'pregovernment' income alongside private-sector pensions, on the assumption that each represents a claim on future income. Employing the alternative method described in the article results in lower values for redistribution than the conventional measure. We suggest that our alternative method be used in addition to the conventional method in cross-national research, in an effort to achieve a more complete understanding of government redistribution in the developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Confederation, the electorate responsible for the selection of Canadian political party leaders has progressively widened; by the end of the twentieth century, most parties were employing some variant of the universal ballot (thereby giving all party members a voice in leadership selection). Nevertheless, the 42 person executive of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives rolled back this democratic tide by organizing a delegated convention to replace departing leader John Hamm. The Conservatives justified their decision by claiming that such a convention would be the most fair, the most equal, and the most exciting way to select their new leader. This article demonstrates, however, that these claims are difficult to substantiate. There was much drama on voting day, but the Conservatives were, in fact, very fortunate in that respect. Equality between constituencies was heightened, but only at the cost of introducing a substantial inequality between individual party members. As to fairness, it seemed entirely irrelevant to the proceedings. Ultimately, not even a majority of delegates approved of the change in process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we compare the experiences of male and female party leaders at the provincial and federal levels in Canada between 1980 and 2005 and test several hypotheses regarding gender and party leadership. The Canadian case provides an excellent case study given the relatively large number of women (21 in total) who held the position of party leader during the time period in question. The case study reveals that major parties are less likely to elect women as their leaders, while parties on the ideological left are more likely than other parties to select women. The leadership races won by women are as competitive, if not more so, than those won by men, although the mandate secured by women leaders is less overwhelming. Not surprisingly, then, men are found to enjoy longer tenures as leaders than women, and, moreover , to enjoy greater electoral success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Following publication of the first reports of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in patients receiving bisphosphonates in 2003, a call for national multidisciplinary guidelines based upon a systematic review of the current evidence was made by the Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (CAOMS) in association with national and international societies concerned with ONJ. The purpose of the guidelines is to provide recommendations regarding diagnosis, identification of at-risk patients, and prevention and management strategies, based on current evidence and consensus. These guidelines were developed for medical and dental practitioners as well as for oral pathologists and related specialists. Methods. The multidisciplinary task force established by the CAOMS reviewed all relevant areas of research relating to ON I associated with bisphosphonate use and completed a systematic review of current literature. These evidence-based guidelines were developed utilizing a structured development methodology. A modified Delphi consensus process enabled consensus among the multidisciplinary task force members. These guidelines have since been reviewed by external experts and endorsed by national and international medical, dental, oral surgery, and oral pathology societies. Results. Recommendations regarding diagnosis, prevention, and management of ONJ were made following analysis of all current data pertaining to this condition. ONJ has many etiologic factors including head and neck irradiation, trauma, periodontal disease, local malignancy, chemotherapy, and glucocorticoid therapy. High-dose intravenous bisphosphonates have been identified as a risk factor for ONJ in the oncology patient population. Low-dose bisphosphonate use in patients with osteoporosis or other metabolic bone disease has not been causally linked to the development of ONJ. Prevention, staging, and treatment recommendations are based upon collective expert opinion and current data, which has been limited to case reports, case series, surveys, retrospective studies, and two prospective observational studies. Recommendations: In all oncology patients, a thorough dental examination including radiographs should be completed prior to the initiation of intravenous bisphosphonate therapy. In this population, any invasive dental procedure is ideally completed prior to the initiation of high-dose bisphosphonate therapy. Non-urgent procedures are preferably delayed for three to six months following interruption of bisphosphonate therapy. Osteoporosts patients receiving oral or intravenous bisphosphonates do not require a dental examination prior to initiating therapy in the presence of appropriate dental care and good oral hygiene. Stopping smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and maintaining good oral hygiene should be emphasized for all patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy. Individuals with established ONJ are most appropriately managed with supportive care including pain control, treatment of secondary infection, removal of necrotic debris, and mobile sequestrate. Aggressive debridement is contraindicated. Conclusion. Our multidisciplinary guidelines, which provide a rational evidence-based approach to the diagnosis, prevention, and management of bisphosphonate-associated ONJ in Canada, are based on the best available published data and the opinion of national and international experts involved in the prevention and management of ONJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Surgery is the property of CMA Impact Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund (PBGF) was established in the province of Ontario in 1980, thus creating in Canada a rare opportunity for intranational empirical research on the impacts of governmental protection on private plans and their participants. This paper examines Canadian data on pension plans for effects attributable to Ontario's government guarantees for some plans. We find that significant variables related to an increase in the number of pension plans in Canada are higher interest rates, a larger labour market, and, consistent with the deferred compensation theory from labour economics, lower real disposable income of workers. The number of members in pension plans is related significantly to the same variables and also to tax rates and unemployment. The analyses show that the Ontario environment for pension plans is significantly different from the rest of Canada. Those plans covered by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Fund exhibit a lower degree of funding per participant than do the remainder of the plans in the sample, supporting the argument that a government guarantee is related to a moral hazard problem in Ontario pension financing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Otolith strontium:calcium ratios were used to trace lifetime movements of American eels ( Anguilla rostrata) captured in salt-water bays and adjoining freshwater ponds in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Eels were classified into migratory contingents based on their movement patterns. A pond with a pool-and-weir salmonid fishway and a pond drained by a low-gradient channel contained eels that had entered freshwater at all ages, but a pond with a 2.2 m vertical spillway contained only eels that had entered freshwater in the elver year. Salt-water residents were the dominant migratory contingent in salt-water bays (85% of 39), which overturns the paradigm of obligate catadromy for this species. Freshwater residency was the sole pattern found in the pond with the vertical spillway (100% of 12) and the majority contingent in the pond with the low-gradient channel (54% of 24). Inter-habitat shifting was the dominant migratory contingent in eels sampled from the pond with the pool-and-weir fishway (85% of 20). Resident eels were established in salt- and freshwater habitats by the year after their arrival in continental waters. Eels that shifted between habitats increased their rate of inter-habitat shifting with age. The high degree of plasticity in habitat use found in this study is consistent with worldwide Anguillid patterns as revealed by Sr:Ca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the attitudes and experiences of physicians in the U.S. and Canada in disclosing medical errors to patients. Accordingly, physicians' errors in medical practice are considered a major health problem. In the study, physicians in both countries were given letters in which they will answer questions about error disclosures. The study found that disclosure methods of physicians in both countries are similar despite the differences of the malpractice environments.

The article presents information on the Canadian Shield. The geological origin and formation of the Shield is discussed. The mineral deposits found at the Shield are highlighted. The history of the development of gold mining at the Canadian Shield is also detailed. The gold mines at the Shield are mentioned. INSET: Changes in Transportation.

An earlier study revealed that conflict over the issue of intergenerational equity (referring to equality in treatment for different generations) was apparent in the US media during the 1980s and early 1990s while attention to this issue was virtually non-existent in Canada. The focus for discussions on this issue is the distribution of the economic costs of an aging population. Specifically, with an aging population, the growth in elderly dependents is a significant concern for countries with pay-as-you-go public pension systems. This research analyzes public discussion of the intergenerational equity issue from 1993 to 1998 through content analysis of print media. The number of articles on this issue grew and peaked in 1996 with a sharp decline in 1997 and 1998. The issue of intergenerational equity surfaced in Canada during the mid-1990s with the fear that the Canada Pension Plan might run dry during the 2010s under then-current contribution rates. The pension issue serves as a flashpoint for recent concerns of intergenerational equity in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the Red Lake Mine, a gold mine in Balmertown, Ontario in Canada. History of the mine; Techniques used to separate the gold from the waste rock; Styles of gold emplacement; Analysis of the gold formations; Minerals found in the mine.

The mode of occurrence and chemical composition of five types of micas with Rb- or Cs-dominant populations of interlayer cations, collected from the Red Cross Lake rare-element pegmatites in north-central Manitoba, are described here. All five micas are candidates for new mineral species but crystal-structural data and Li contents could not be determined to date because of extremely small particle size, restricted to the margins of strongly zoned microcrystals. Based on electron-microprobe analyses, on Li contents estimated from Li/F (at.) = 1.0, and on bulk analysis of ferromagnesian micas for FeO and Fe[sub2]O[sub3], the micas correspond to Rb- and Cs-dominant polylithionite (with representative interlayer populations of Rb[sub0.82]K[sub0.12]Cs[sub0.07] and Cs[sub0.74]Rb[sub0.12]K[sub0.08] apfu, respectively), Rb-and Cs-dominant magnesian annite (Rb[sub45]K[sub0.37]Cs[sub0.20] and Cs[sub0.67]Rb[sub0.20]K[0.12] apfu, respectively), and Cs-dominant ferroan phlogopite (Cs[sub0.92]Rb[sub0.04]K[sub0.02] apfu). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fertilisation of land with processed sewage sludges, which often contain low levels of pathogens, endotoxins, and trace amounts of industrial and household chemicals, has become common practice in Western Europe, the US, and Canada. Local governments, however, are increasingly restricting or banning the practice in response to residents reporting adverse health effects. These self-reported illnesses have not been studied and methods for assessing exposures of residential communities to contaminants from processed sewage sludges need to be developed. Methods: To describe and document adverse effects reported by residents, 48 individuals at ten sites in the US and Canada were questioned about their environmental exposures and symptoms. Information was obtained on five additional cases where an outbreak of staphylococcal infections occurred near a land application site in Robesonia, PA. Medical records were reviewed in cases involving hospitalisation or other medical treatment. Since most complaints were associated with airborne contaminants, an air dispersion model was used as a means for potentially ruling out exposure to sludge as the cause of adverse effects. Results: Affected residents lived within approximately 1 km of land application sites and generally complained of irritation (e.g., skin rashes and burning of the eyes, throat, and lungs) after exposure to winds blowing from treated fields. A prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus infections of the skin and respiratory tract was found. Approximately 1 in 4 of 54 individuals were infected, including 2 mortalities (septicaemia, pneumonia). This result was consistent with the prevalence of S. aureus infections accompanying diaper rashes in which the organism, which is commonly found in the lower human colon, tends to invade irritated or inflamed tissue. Conclusions: When assessing public health risks from applying sewage sludges in residential areas, potential interactions of chemical contaminants with low levels of pathogens should be considered. An increased risk of infection may occur when allergic and non-allergic reactions to endotoxins and other chemical components irritate skin and mucus membranes and thereby compromise normal barriers to infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the status of populations of the common eider, Somateria mollissima, nesting in the Digges Sound Region, Nunavut in Canada. Background on the findings of previous surveys concerning the eggs per nest of the species; Assessment of the incubation and the hatching periods of eider eggs; Comparison of eider populations on Belcher Islands and the Digges region.

Background: A high prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes has been observed among the Cree of James Bay, Quebec. To address this problem, a diet and activity intervention during pregnancy, which was based on social learning theory, was initiated in 4 Cree communities.Methods: A prospective intervention compared dietary, weight and glycemic indicators for 107 control subjects and for 112 women who received the intervention during the course of their pregnancy. A control period in 4 communities (July 1995-March 1996) was followed by an intervention period (April 1996-January 1997) when subjects were offered regular, individual diet counselling, physical activity sessions and other activities related to nutrition.Results: The intervention and control groups did not differ at baseline regarding their mean age (24.3 years [SD 6.29] v. 23.8 years [SD 5.86]), mean prepregnancy weight (81.0 kg [SD 19.46] v. 78.9 kg [SD 17.54]) and mean gestational age at recruitment (17.1 weeks [SD 7.06] v. 18.5 weeks [SD 6.92]). The intervention did not result in differences in diet measured at 24-30 weeks' gestation, rate of weight gain over the second half of pregnancy (0.53 kg per week [SD 0.32] v. 0.53 kg per week [SD 0.27]) or plasma glucose level (50 g oral glucose screen) between 24 and 30 weeks (7.21 mmol/L [SD 2.09] v. 7.43 mmol/L [SD 2.10]). Mean birth weights were similar (3741 g [SD 523] v. 3686 g [SD 686]), as was maternal weight at 6 weeks post partum (88.1 kg [SD 16.8] v. 86.4 kg [SD 19.0]). The only changes in dietary intake were a reduction in caffeine (pregnancy) and an increase in folate (post partum).Interpretation: This intervention had only a minor impact on diet; finding ways of encouraging appropriate body weight and activity levels remains a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a crystal-structure refinement of a rubidian cesian phlogopite from the swarm of lepidolite-subtype pegmatites at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba. Sample provenance; Single-crystal diffraction and structure refinement; Electron-microprobe analysis; Discussion of chemical composition and site populations.

Focuses on the Progressive Conservative (PC) party of Canada. Contrasts in the orientation of four different sets of PC party workers; Revelation that federalism has had a disaggregative effect on Canadian political party ideology; Discussion on the differences between activists in different orders of government.

Discusses trends that bring changes and pose challenges to Canada's post-war labor force growth. Overview of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s; Lower source of population growth; Aging labor force; Need for shift of policy focus from linear to spiral career paths; Adult career development; General skill training; Work schedules; Reversal of early retirement trends; Changing management styles and practices.

Examines the 1992 Progressive Conservative leadership election in Alberta. Comparison between universal ballot electoriate and the traditional leadership electorate; Conservatives' utilization of the universal ballot; Mechanisms of representative democracy.

Tests the perception that a new leader will provide Canadian political parties with an electoral boost at a subsequent election. Impact of divisive contests; Relevance of a party's competitive position; Regional variance on any leadership convention electoral boost; Conclusion that the conventional wisdom is wrong.

Examines how people change their consumption behavior upon moving to a different cultural environment. Study of Hong Kong immigrants in Canada; Consumption habits; Adoption of value-free activities; Comparison to Anglo-Canadian families; Role of environmental influences; Implications of findings.

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The unprecedented rate of growth and changes in the composition of the legal profession in Canada during the 1970s were associated with a 17 per cent decline in the average real earnings for lawyers in private practice. The conventional methodology for decomposition of cross-sectional earnings differentials is extended to analyse this intertemporal differential. After taking account of compositional changes and an interactive effect, it is found that the principal factor in this decline was the greater growth in supply than in demand for lawyers' services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which determined presented evidence of the relationship between demand for money and macroeconomic variables in Canada. Review of related studies; Employment of the nested hypothesis testing; Discussion of the results.

The conventional methodology for decomposition of cross-sectional earnings differentials is extended to include a 'market effect' on intertemporal changes in earnings and to analyse the changes in gender differentials over time. The integrated cross-sectional and intertemporal methodology is illustrated by a decomposition of the change in the earnings differential that occurred during the 1970s between male and female lawyers in Canada. An unprecedented rate of growth in the supply of lawyers during the 1970s in Canada was associated with changes in the gender earnings differential in the legal profession. This rapid supply growth had an almost negligible net impact on female earnings, but a negative impact of 15% on the male earnings. This explains the narrowing of the earnings differential by almost 30% over the decade. Although three-fifths of the gender differential in 1970, and half of the differential in 1980, were attributable to the differences in the characteristics of the two groups, these changes in composition and an interaction effect had much smaller and offsetting impacts on changes in the gender differential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the relationship between Canada's National Research Council (NRC) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Expansion of the military's relationship with the council upon the completion of the Sussex Drive facilities; Appointment of the NRC as the official research arm of the navy; Problems associated with NRC-RCN cooperation; Separation of the NRC and RCN due to irreconcilable perspectives.

This study surveys 155 executives from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Hong Kong, and Canada to investigate whether norms for organizational design and management are subject to a process of globalization. The survey consisted of structured questionnaires using two different sets of Likert-like importance rating scales. One set of scales examined organizational design norms. The other set focused on the desired attributes of a good manager. The balance of the evidence from this study supports the hypothesis of globalization. However, the study also indicates that some norms of organizational design that reflect basic cultural values are resistant to change and convergence. Furthermore the study indicates that regulatory and political differences may be reflected in local adaptation of organizational and management design norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents comments of the author on the article "Continuity and Change in Canada's Unemployment-Immigration Linkage," by John W.P. Veugelers and Thomas R. Klassen. In their paper on Canada's postwar unemployment-immigration linkage, Veugelers and Klassen establish the stability of a negative association "despite changes in government, federal-provincial, relations, interest group representation and international migration patterns." They then, however, present evidence of a decisive uncoupling of unemployment and immigration after 1989 and conclude that both continuity and change in postwar Canadian immigration policy "must be explained." In their search for explanations in the literature, they reject the political, Marxist, corporatist and state-centred theories as not adequately explaining the change in immigration policy, while at the. same time noting that pluralist theories do not adequately explain the continuity in immigration policy. Unfortunately, theft review leaves a theoretical void that the authors admit "study cannot resolve," which leads them to the unsatisfying call for "further research" on the topic.

Explores the case of public decision-making by the Canada Anti-Inflation Board (AIB). Administrative procedures of the AIB; Potential economic models under such cases; Empirical analysis of the behavior of public agencies; Analysis of the compensation decisions of the AIB; Usefulness of analyzing the decision-making of a government agency in an institutional framework.