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This paper examines the results of the repeated administration of the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) in a large introductory physics course at a midsize, metropolitan Canadian university. We compare the results to those obtained previously in comparable courses at the University of British Columbia (Canada) and the University of Colorado (U.S.). Atypically, students in this study exhibited a positive shift in their attitudes about science over the semester. The change in students' attitudes across the term appears to be moderated by their educational background--specifically, whether they had taken grade 12 physics or not. The correlation between students' attitudes and their conceptual knowledge also appears to be influenced by students' educational background. The results have pedagogical implications for instructors of introductory college and university physics and potentially for other science courses. (Contains 1 figure, 3 footnotes, and 4 tables.)

This paper examines the role of forests in national climate policies of two countries very rich in woods: Russia and Canada. Canada has made efforts to reduce direct CO2 emissions in the national economy, intensify forestry, and increase greenhouse gas sequestration by forests. Russia focuses on the verification and recalculation of the carbon sequestration capacity of its forests. Analysis of the Russian and Canadian stationary models used to assess the carbon sequestration capacity of forests (ROBUL and CBM-CFS, respectively) shows that both the Canadian model and the Russian one derived from it reflect the stationary dynamics of forest stands, which inevitably results in a downward CO2 absorption trend. Even if the forest inventory is updated on a regular basis, the predictive components of such models are unable to take into account the variability of forest ecosystems and their adaptation to climate change. Models that describe global carbon fluxes (e.g., ones using FLUXNET and remote sensing data) provide significantly higher net carbon sequestration values and indicate a nondecreasing net carbon accumulation trend in forests. It is concluded that stationary and remote sensing models should be used together to assess net carbon sequestration and formulate key principles of national climate policies in countries rich in forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chondrospheres fabricated from chondrocytes or human cartilage cells have been recently successfully used as novel tissue-based therapeutic modality for cartilage defects treatment. However, chondrospheres non-adhered immediately to the surface of cartilage defect could be detached. We hypothesize that bioprinting of tissue engineered cartilage construct using porcine viscous collagen as a bioink and support for chondrospheres will enable biofabrication of rapidly and better integrated tissue engineered construct suitable for implantation. Methods: Human chondrocytes have been isolated from human cartilage. Tissue spheroids have been fabricated using ultra-low attachment spheroid microplates (Corning, USA). The diameters of tissue spheroids have been estimated as well as their biomechanical properties ("Microsquisher", CellScale, Canada). Bioprinting was performed using porcine viscous collagen hydrogel, chondrospheres fabricated from human chondrocytes and original 3D bioprinter "Fabion" (3D Bioprinting Solutions, Russia). Bioprinted constructs have been implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. One month after implantation the isolated bioprinted construct has been evaluated by morphological, immunohistochemical and biomechanical methods. Results: It has been demonstrated that cartilage tissue-engineered constructs bioprinted from porcine collagen hydrogel and chondrospheres after heterotopic subcutaneous implantation into nude mice maintain its viability, shape and biomechanical, morphological and histochemical properties typical for cartilage. Conclusion: Taken together our data strongly suggest that bioprinted human cartilage tissue engineered construct is viable and it maintains its shape and biomechanical, morphological and immunohistochemical histotypical phenotypic properties after implantation in vivo. Implantation of bioprinted human cartilage tissue-engineered construct into nude mice is a valuable pre-clinical evaluation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrov A. N. Redrawing the margin: re-examining regional multichotomies and conditions of marginality in Canada, Russia and their Northern Frontiers, Regional Studies. This paper pursues four objectives: to conceptualize and identify organizational logics of space-economy and dimensions of regional differentiation; to identify regional conditions of marginality and group regions along the core–periphery–margin continuum; to examine regional differences within the Norths; and to compare marginal regions in the Canadian versus Russian North. The analysis is based on the multichotomic view of core–periphery–margin relationships that rests on multiscalar, multiscale, and multicentre interpretation of regional polarities. The regional structures of Canada and Russia are ‘remapped’ and it is shown that a great degree of resemblance is shared. The contemporary North is an economically marginalized and fractured, but also a strikingly similar, space. Petrov A. N. Redessiner les limites: réexaminer les multichotomies régionales et les conditions de la marginalité au Canada, en Russie et à leurs frontières septentrionales, Regional Studies. Cet article poursuit quatre objecifs: conceptualiser et identifier la logique organisationnelle de l'espace-économie et l'importance de la différenciation régionale; identifier les conditions de la marginalité et regrouper les régions le long du continuum centre–périphérie-limites; examiner les écarts régionaux au sein des zones septentrionales; et comparer les régions marginales des zones septentrionales canadiennes à celles des zones septentrionales russes. L'analyse est fondée sur le point de vue multichotomique des raports centre–périphérie-limites et qui dépend d'une interprétation de la polarsiation régionale à scalaires, à échelles et à centres multiples. On ‘refait’ la carte des structures régionales canadiennes et russes, et on montre qu'il existe un degré de similarité. La zone septentrionale contemporaine s'avère un espace économiquement marginalisé et fissuré, mais à la fois remarquablement similaire. Structure régionale?Périphérie?Russie?Canada?Forces de la différenciation régionale Petrov A. N. Neudefinition des Randes: eine erneute Überprüfung der regionalen Gegensätze und der Bedingungen der Marginalität in Kanada, Russland und deren nördlichen Grenzen, Regional Studies. Mit diesem Beitrag werden vier Ziele verfolgt: eine Konzeptualisierung und Identifizierung der organisationellen Logik der Raumwirtschaft und der Dimensionen der regionalen Differenzierung, eine Identifizierung der regionalen Bedingungen der Marginalität und Gruppierung der Regionen entlang dem Kontinuum Kern–Peripherie-Rand, eine Untersuchung der regionalen Unterschiede zwischen den nördlichen Regionen und ein Vergleich der marginalen Regionen im Norden Kanadas und Russlands. Die Analyse basiert auf einer gegensätzlichen Sicht der Beziehungen zwischen Kern, Peripherie und Rand, die auf einer multiskalaren bzw. auf mehreren Maßstäben und Zentren gründenden Interpretation der regionalen Polaritäten aufbaut. Die regionalen Strukturen in Kanada und Russland werden neu kartiert, wobei sich zahlreiche Ähnlichkeiten herausstellen. Der moderne Norden ist ein wirtschaftlich marginalisierter und frakturierter, aber auch überraschend ähnlicher Raum. Regionalstruktur?Peripherie?Russland?Kanada?Kräfte der regionalen Differenzierung Petrov A. N. Nueva definición de margen: un reexamen de las multicotomías regionales y las condiciones de marginalidad en Canadá, Rusia y las fronteras norteñas, Regional Studies. En este artículo perseguimos cuatro objetivos: conceptualizar e identificar las lógicas organizativas de la economía espacial y las dimensiones de la diferenciación regional; identificar las condiciones regionales de marginalidad y agrupar las regiones a lo largo de la secuencia de centro, periferia y margen; examinar las diferencias entre las regiones norteñas; y comparar las regiones marginales al norte de Canadá en comparación con el norte de Rusia. Este análisis se basa en la perspectiva multicotómica de las relaciones entre el centro, la periferia y el margen que se basa en la interpretación multiescalar, de varias escalas, y multicéntrica de las polaridades regionales. Tras reexaminar las estructuras regionales de Canadá y Rusia, se observa que comparten muchas características similares. El norte contemporáneo es una región con una economía marginalizada y fracturada pero también un espacio sorprendentemente similar. Estructura regional?Periferia?Rusia?Canadá?Fuerzas de diferenciación regional [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The concept of the creative economy provides an alternative perspective on regional development in the Canadian North. Most studies in the economic geography of talent and creativity have focused on large metropolitan centres, but from the path-creation perspective, the creative class is no less important in the northern frontier area, where it acts as the agent of economic transformation and revitalization. I used both traditional and newly developed creative class metrics based on the four-sector model of the creative class to analyze creative capital in northern towns. Although the creative class is weak in the Canadian North, I identify a group of six leading communities that constitute the creative core of the North (Yellowknife, NT; Whitehorse, YT; Inuvik, NT; Fort Smith, NT; Smithers, BC; and Iqaluit, NU). These communities have high levels of creative capital and can compete nationally in terms of quality of place to attract the creative labor force. A dozen others could be considered lesser centres of creativity. Not surprisingly, single-industry towns in the Canadian North have the weakest creative class and therefore much less potential for regional reinvention. Some characteristics of the creative class observed in northern communities are similar to those found in metropolitan areas, but others are distinctive. In the periphery, entrepreneurship and leadership appear to be more important elements than formal education. Creativity is found to be positively associated with the aboriginality of the population. Northern communities should consider adopting policies that will stimulate the growth of creative capital by developing the education and business skills, leadership ability, entrepreneurial competency, and artistic talent of their residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the bilateral relation between Russia and Canada. It states that one significant strategic area of their economic relationship is cooperation in geological prospecting and growth of uranium deposits. The important elements of economic ties are cited to be the bilateral cooperation in the agro-industrial sector. These become the contribution of Canada to the establishment of Russia's priority national project for the growth of its agricultural complex.

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Prevention of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by vaccination can potentially eliminate HBV-related diseases. PreHevbrio™/PreHevbri® is a 3-antigen (S, preS1, preS2) HBV vaccine (3A-HBV) recently licensed for adults in the US, EU and Canada. This study evaluated antibody persistence in a subset of fully vaccinated and seroprotected (anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/mL) Finnish participants from the phase 3 trial (PROTECT) of 3A-HBV versus single-antigen HBV vaccine (1A-HBV). 465/528 eligible subjects were enrolled (3A-HBV: 244; 1A-HBV: 221). Baseline characteristics were balanced. After 2.5 years, more 3A-HBV subjects remained seroprotected (88.1 % [95 %CI: 84.1,92.2]) versus 1A-HBV (72.4 % [95 %CI: 66.6,78.3)], p < 0.0001) and had higher mean anti-HBs [1382.9 mIU/mL (95 %CI: 1013.8,1751.9) versus 252.6 mIU/mL (95 %CI: 127.5,377.6), p < 0.0001]. In multiple variable logistic regression analysis including age, vaccine, initial vaccine response, sex and BMI, only higher post dose 3 (Day 196) antibody titers significantly reduced the odds of losing seroprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus of Arctic populations are increasing due to multiple reasons including a departure from traditional lifestyles and alcohol consumption patterns. These populations are also exposed to a variety of anthropogenic contaminants through consumption of contaminated country foods. We have previously shown that a Northern contaminant mixture (NCM), containing 22 organic and inorganic contaminants found in the blood of Canadian Arctic populations, induces endothelial cell dysfunction and exacerbates development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in experimental models. In order to determine if these contaminants affect pancreas function and physiology and if obesity and alcohol can influence contaminant toxicity and the development of diabetes, lean and obese JCR rats were orally treated with NCM at 0 (vehicle), 1.6 or 16 mg/kg BW for four weeks in the presence or absence of 10% (v/v) alcohol. NCM treatment altered islet morphology, increased iron deposit in pancreas, and reduced circulating and pancreatic insulin levels and circulating glucagon levels as a result of direct islet injury with β and α cell loss with or without exposure to alcohol. Studies conducted with cultured mouse insulin-secreting (MIN6) β cells further demonstrated that NCM inhibited insulin release and induced cell death through oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. 2,3,4,6-Tetrabromophenol, a minor component of the NCM, alone also inhibited insulin release from MIN6 cells after 10 min of exposure. These results suggest that Northern contaminants may contribute to pancreatic dysfunction, and possibly development of diabetes, in some of the highly exposed Arctic populations. The implications and relevance of these findings to Northern populations remains to be confirmed through epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]