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For high school community service programs to have a positive impact on subsequent civic engagement, students must volunteer in a sustained manner and must evaluate their volunteering experiences positively. Using a survey with 1,293 respondents and 100 semistructured interviews with past participants of the mandatory community service program implemented by the Ontario provincial government in 1999, the authors identify how and why students generate positive evaluations of community service requirements and whether the diversity of implementation or the mandatory nature might account for negative reactions to volunteering. The authors discuss the significance of these findings for academic debates about community service and for discussions about the ways in which public policy can promote the civic engagement of young people.

One of the central problems in managing technological change and maintaining a competitive advantage in business is improving the skills of the workforce through investment in human capital and a variety of training practices. This paper explores the evidence on the impact of training investment on productivity in 14 Canadian industries from 1999 to 2005. Our productivity analysis demonstrates that in 12 out of 14 industries, training had a positive effect on productivity. However, when the analysis is put within a financial context, the return on investment was positive in only four industries. Faced with negative rates of return, why should managers in most of the industries in the study promote investment in training? Probably the best explanation is that new technology requires an investment in training. The investment in training is necessary just for the firm to maintain its current labour productivity. Employee turnover necessarily impedes the efficacy of training, because trained workers leave, and untrained workers arrive. Thus, training in this instance again is necessary just to maintain current labour productivity. (Contains 4 tables and 1 footnote.)

In 1999, the Ontario provincial government introduced into its high school curriculum a requirement that students complete 40 h of volunteer community service before graduation. At the same time, the high school curriculum was shortened from five years to four. Consequently, the 2003 graduating class of Ontario high school students contained two cohorts, the first of the 4-year cohorts that was compelled to complete a mandated community service requirement, and the last of the 5-year cohorts that was not. Using a quasi-experimental design, we surveyed 1768 first-year university students in terms of their perceptions and attitudes about the nature and amount of previous volunteering, attitudes towards community service, current service involvement and other measures of civic and political engagement. Comparisons of the two cohorts indicate that, while there were discernible differences between the two cohorts in terms of their past record of community service, there were no differences in current attitudes and civic engagement that might plausibly be attributed to participation in the mandatory service program. Results are discussed with relation to the current debate concerning the impact of mandatory volunteering policies on intrinsic motivation to volunteer.

Aim: Altitudinal and latitudinal treeline ecotones have not consistently responded to climate warming in the direction and/or magnitude predicted by climate alone, suggesting that non‐climatic mechanisms (e.g. biotic interactions) also mediate treeline range dynamics. Through a collaborative research approach, we assessed environmental conditions associated with pre‐dispersal insect cone granivory and how this biotic interaction may govern the reproductive potential, and therefore range dynamics, of spruce‐dominated treelines across northern Canada. Location: In all, 10 boreal forest treelines, tundra and alpine, from Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Taxa: White spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss), Black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.), Strobilomyia spp., Megastigmus spp. Methods: Treeline sites were assessed for presence and magnitude of pre‐dispersal seed granivory by insects along with viable seed availability. We quantified stand density metrics, organic layer depth and understorey vegetation composition at each location and, subsequently, incorporated those variables into generalized linear mixed models to establish predictors of granivory magnitude and viability of available seed. Results: Insect granivory was widespread across sites; however, site‐specific patterns of granivory were associated with increased moss cover and decreased shrub cover and stand density. While all black spruce‐dominated sites exhibited seed viability rates > 50%, the number of seeds produced per cone varied, suggesting that within‐site abiotic conditions and biotic interaction pressures limit successful colonization of novel environments in advance of seed dispersal. Main Conclusions: The modelled relationships between granivory, seed viability and environmental conditions represent an essential step towards generalizing how and when biotic interactions across subarctic treelines influence boreal tree range dynamics before seed dispersal. Connections between granivory magnitude and site‐level treeline characteristics (e.g. stand density, understorey vegetation) will provide a more comprehensive understanding of treeline range dynamics under continued climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Extensive blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage has been linked to cognitive impairment in SLE. This study aimed to examine the associations of brain functional connectivity (FC) with cognitive impairment and BBB dysfunction among patients with SLE. Methods Cognitive function was assessed by neuropsychological testing (n  = 77). Resting-state FC (rsFC) between brain regions, measured by functional MRI (n  = 78), assessed coordinated neural activation in 131 regions across five canonical brain networks. BBB permeability was measured by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (n  = 61). Differences in rsFC were compared between SLE patients with cognitive impairment (SLE-CI) and those with normal cognition (SLE-NC), between SLE patients with and without extensive BBB leakage, and with healthy controls. Results A whole-brain rsFC comparison found significant differences in intra-network and inter-network FC in SLE-CI vs SLE-NC patients. The affected connections showed a reduced negative rsFC in SLE-CI compared with SLE-NC and healthy controls. Similarly, a reduced number of brain-wide connections was found in SLE-CI patients compared with SLE-NC (P  = 0.030) and healthy controls (P  = 0.006). Specific brain regions had a lower total number of brain-wide connections in association with extensive BBB leakage (P  = 0.011). Causal mediation analysis revealed that 64% of the association between BBB leakage and cognitive impairment in SLE patients was mediated by alterations in FC. Conclusion SLE patients with cognitive impairment had abnormalities in brain rsFC which accounted for most of the association between extensive BBB leakage and cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses information agencies and issues that affect the dissemination and accessibility of Canadian government information, including the Canada Communication Group, depository libraries, the National Library, bibliographic control of government information, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, Statistics Canada, Reference Canada, the National Archives, machine-readable information, and future possibilities. (eight references) (LRW)

Aims: Phyllosphere bacteria play critical roles in plant growth promotion, disease suppression and global nutrient cycling but remain understudied. Methods: In this project, we examined the bacterial community on the phyllosphere of eight diverse lines of Brassica napus for ten weeks in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. Results: The bacterial community was shaped largely by plant growth stage with distinct communities present before and after flowering. Bacterial diversity before flowering had 111 core members with high functional potential, with the peak of diversity being reached during flowering. After flowering, bacterial diversity dropped quickly and sharply to 16 members of the core community, suggesting that the plant did not support the same functional potential anymore. B. napus line had little effect on the larger community, but appeared to have more of an effect on the rare bacteria. Conclusions: Our work suggests that the dominant bacterial community is driven by plant growth stage, whereas differences in plant line seemed to affect rare bacteria. The role of these rare bacteria in plant health remains unresolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple metal‐impacted soils are often realistic scenarios for risk assessments, but tools to address these are currently lacking. The objective of this work was to evaluate whether assuming concentration addition (CA) of metal mixture effects was conservative for prospective risk assessment of soils that were elevated mainly in Ni and Cu and somewhat with Co, Pb, or As. Observed whole mixture toxicity for field soils with aged metal mixtures was compared to the expected whole mixture toxicity, assuming additivity of prospective single‐metal thresholds ("toxic units") for the mixture components. Bioavailability‐adjusted single‐metal toxicity thresholds expected for those field soils were the median hazard concentration affecting 5% of species (HC5‐50) from the predicted no‐effect concentration (PNEC) calculator and calculated from the species‐specific dose–response multiple linear relationships (MLRs), all from the European Union Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EU REACH) dossiers for metals. Generic single‐metal toxicity thresholds were based on Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment soil quality guidelines (CCME SQGs) for agricultural soils. Observed toxicity thresholds were from the community‐based risk assessments conducted for Port Colborne and Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Mostly, prospective single‐metal toxicity thresholds were protective relative to the observed toxicity, although that was species or ecological process dependent. The bioavailability‐adjusted single‐metal thresholds were less conservative than the CCME SQG method, even though the former is based on site‐specific EC10 values, and the latter is based on generic EC25 values. When within‐site variability in soil properties was used to calculate the 5th and 95th CI for the HC5 sum of toxic units (∑TUs), CA was conservative for far fewer endpoints. In addition, the prospective ∑TUs were more conservative predictions of the observed whole mixture toxicities for Port Colborne soils than for Sudbury soils. The most appropriate balance of accuracy and conservatism for identifying low‐level risk of the whole mixtures in these soils appeared to be the bioavailability‐adjusted HC5‐50, which was applicable to many endpoints and 2 quite different exposure concentration ratios. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:753–766. © 2020 SETAC KEY POINTS: Observed whole mixture toxicity for field soils with aged Ni, Cu, Co, Pb, and As mixtures was mostly less than predicted by assuming additivity of prospective single‐metal thresholds (i.e., toxic units) for various receptors, including soil arthropods, plant communities, and microbial processes.The bioavailability‐adjusted single‐metal thresholds (from the European Union predicted no‐effect concentration [PNEC] calculator and its database) were less protective than Canada's Council of Ministers of the Environment soil quality guidelines, even though the former are site‐specific EC10 values and the latter are generic EC25 values.When the 5th and 95th CI for the bioavailability‐adjusted single‐metal thresholds were calculated using Monte Carlo analysis of within‐site variability in the soil properties used for the bioavailability‐adjusted single‐metal thresholds, assuming additivity protected fewer endpoints from the mixture.The most appropriate balance of accuracy and protection for identifying low‐level risk of the whole mixtures in these soils, with a wide variety of endpoints and 2 different soil Ni‐to‐Cu concentration ratios, was the bioavailability‐adjusted HC5‐50, which is derived from many organisms and endpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northwestern Canada's boreal forest has experienced rapid warming, drying, and changes to permafrost, yet the growth responses and mechanisms driving productivity have been under-studied at broad scales. Forest responses are largely driven by black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) — the region's most widespread and dominant tree. We collected tree ring samples from four black spruce-dominated sites across 15° of latitude, spanning gradients in climate and permafrost. We investigated (i) differences in growth patterns, (ii) variations in climatic drivers of growth, and (iii) trends in water use efficiency (WUE) through 13C isotope analysis from 1945 to 2006. We found positive growth trends at all sites except those at mid-latitude, where rapid permafrost thaw drove declines. Annual growth was lowest at the tree limit site and highest at the tree line. Climatic drivers of these growth patterns varied; positive growth responses at the northerly sites were associated with warmer winters, whereas Δ13C trends and climate-growth responses at mid-latitude sites indicated that growth was limited by moisture availability. Δ13C signatures indicated increased WUE at the southernmost site, with no significant trends at northern sites. These results suggest that warming will increase the growth of trees at the northern extent of black spruce, but southerly areas may face drought stress if precipitation does not balance evapotranspiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nixonite (IMA 2018-133), ideally Na2Ti6O13, is a new mineral found within a heavily metasomatized pyroxenite xenolith from the Darby kimberlite field, beneath the west-central Rae Craton, Canada. It occurs as microcrystalline aggregates, 15 to 40 mm in length. Nixonite is isostructural with jeppeite, K2Ti6O13, with a structure consisting of edge- and corner-shared titanium-centered octahedra that enclose alkali-metal ions. The Mohs hardness is estimated to be between 5 and 6 by comparison to jeppeite, and the calculated density is 3.51(1) g/cm3. Electron microprobe wavelength-dispersive spectroscopic analysis (average of 6 points) yielded: Na2O 6.87, K2O 5.67, CaO 0.57, TiO2 84.99, V2O3 0.31, Cr2O3 0.04, MnO 0.01, Fe2O3 0.26, SrO 0.07, total 98.79 wt%. The empirical formula, based on 13 O atoms, is: (Na1.24K0.67Ca0.06)S1.97(Ti5.96V0.023Fe0.018)S6.00O13 with minor amounts of Cr and Mn. Nixonite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, with unit-cell parameters a = 15.3632(26) Å, b = 3.7782(7) Å, c = 9.1266(15) Å, b = 99.35(15)°, and V = 522.72(1) Å3, Z = 2. Based on the average of seven integrated multi-grain diffraction images, the strongest diffraction lines are [dobs in Å (I in %) (hkl)]: 3.02 (100) (310), 3.66 (75) (110), 7.57 (73) (200), 6.31 (68) (201), 2.96 (63) (311), 2.96 (63) (203), and 2.71 (62) (402). The five main Raman peaks of nixonite, in order of decreasing intensity, are at 863, 280, 664, 135, and 113 cm–1. Nixonite is named after Peter H. Nixon, a renowned scientist in the field of kimberlites and mantle xenoliths. Nixonite occurs within a pyroxenite xenolith in a kimberlite, in association with rutile, priderite, perovskite, freudenbergite, and ilmenite. This complex Na-K-Ti-rich metasomatic mineral assemblage may have been produced by a fractionated Na-rich kimberlitic melt that infiltrated a mantle-derived garnet pyroxenite and reacted with rutile during kimberlite crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an algorithm for retrieving aerosol layer height (ALH) and aerosol optical depth (AOD) for smoke over vegetated land and water surfaces from measurements of the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) onboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). The algorithm uses Earth-reflected radiances in six EPIC bands in the visible and near-infrared and incorporates flexible spectral fitting that accounts for the specifics of land and water surface reflectivity. The fitting procedure first determines AOD using EPIC atmospheric window bands (443, 551, 680, and 780 nm), then uses oxygen (O2) A and B bands (688 and 764 nm) to derive ALH, which represents an optical centroid altitude. ALH retrieval over vegetated surface primarily takes advantage of measurements in the O2 B band. We applied the algorithm to EPIC observations of several biomass burning events over the United States and Canada in August 2017. We found that the algorithm can be used to obtain AOD and ALH multiple times daily over water and vegetated land surface. Validation is performed against aerosol extinction profiles detected by the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and against AOD observed at nine Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sites, showing, on average, an error of 0.58 km and a bias of -0.13 km in retrieved ALH and an error of 0.05 and a bias of 0.03 in retrieved AOD. Additionally, we show that the aerosol height information retrieved by the present algorithm can potentially benefit the retrieval of aerosol properties from EPIC's ultraviolet (UV) bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antifibrotics are recommended for the treatment of individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but treatment use remains at ∼60%. Objective: To investigate the views of individuals with IPF and pulmonologists on the diagnosis and management of IPF to understand treatment patterns. Methods: Interviews and/or online surveys were completed by patients and pulmonologists from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Responses from physicians were analyzed by time between diagnosis and treatment initiation in the majority of patients with IPF (group A, > 4 months; group B, ≤4 months). Statistical comparisons between physicians were undertaken using z tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The physicians in group A saw fewer patients, were less comfortable discussing the IPF prognosis with patients, and had less belief in the benefits of antifibrotic treatments than the physicians in group B. These physicians' attitudes contrasted with those of the patients, who wanted more information about the IPF prognosis and pharmacological treatment options at diagnosis and were more concerned about preventing disease progression than avoiding medication side effects. Differences between countries were found regarding physicians' comfort in discussing the prognosis at diagnosis and access to care. Conclusions: Several barriers to antifibrotic treatment, principally reflecting the differing views and values of patients and physicians, were identified in this study, suggesting a need for better patient-physician communication about pharmacological therapy for IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery® (FLS) certification exam assesses both cognitive and manual skills, and has been administered for over a decade. The purpose of this study is to report results over the past 9 years of testing in order to identify trends over time and evaluate the need to update scoring practices. This is a quality initiative of the SAGES FLS committee.Methods: A representative sample of FLS exam data from 2008 to 2016 was analyzed. The de-identified data included demographics and scores for the cognitive and manual tests. Standard descriptive statistics were used to compare trends over the years, training levels, and to assess the pass/fail rate.Results: A total of 7232 FLS tests were analyzed [64% male, 6.4% junior (postgraduate year-PGY1-2), 84% senior (PGY3-5), 2.8% fellows (PGY6), and 6.7% attending surgeons (PGY7)]. Specialties included 93% general surgery (GS), 6.2% gynecology, and 0.9% urology. The Pearson correlation between cognitive and manual scores was 0.09. For the cognitive exam, there was an increase in scores over the years, and the most junior residents scored the lowest. For the manual skills, there were marginal differences in scores over the years, and junior residents scored the highest. The odds ratio of PGY3+ passing was 1.8 (CI 1.2-2.8) times higher than that of a PGY1-2. The internal consistency between tasks on the manual skills exam was 0.73. If any one of the tasks was removed, the Cronbach's alpha dropped to between 0.65 and 0.71, depending on the task being removed.Conclusion: The cognitive and manual components of FLS test different aspects of laparoscopy and demonstrate evidence for reliability and validity. More experienced trainees have a higher likelihood of passing the exam and tend to perform better on the cognitive skills. Each component of the manual skills contributes to the exam and should continue to be part of the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils are a source of elemental mercury (Hg(0)) to the atmosphere, however the effects of soil temperature and moisture on Hg(0) formation is not well defined. This research quantifies the effect of varying soil temperature (278–303 K), moisture (15–80% water filled pore space (WFPS)) and sterilization on the kinetics of Hg(0) formation in forested soils of Nova Scotia, Canada. Both, the logarithm of cumulative mass of Hg(0) formed in soils and the reduction rate constants ( k values) increased with temperature and moisture respectively. Sterilizing soils significantly ( p < 0.05, n = 10) decreased the percent of total Hg reduced to Hg(0). We describe the fundamentals of Hg(0) formation in soils and our results highlight two key processes: (i) a fast abiotic process that peaks at 45% WFPS and depletes a small pool of Hg(0) and; (ii) a slower, rate limiting biotic process that generates a large pool of reducible Hg(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Site-independent review of subject eligibility for central nervous system (CNS) trials has been used as a surveillance method to enhance the integrity and precision of the subject selection process. We evaluated the utility of a customized review strategy that employs siteindependent review of audio-digital recordings of site-based screen interviews. Methods We applied a customized site-independent subject selection strategy in nine phase II doubleblind, placebo-controlled clinical trials across the CNS spectrum. The Clinical Validation Inventory for Study Admission (C-VISA™, Houston, TX, USA) was developed as a siteindependent review method that evaluates and confirms diagnoses, symptom severity, and subject validity prior to enrollment (randomization) into a clinical trial. The C-VISA™ method uses audio-digital recordings of actual site-based interviews conducted at the screening visit. The recordings of these interviews accompanied by digital notes are electronically submitted for independent review and 'dual' scoring of key rating instruments. A multi-tiered system of site-independent reviewers either affirms subject eligibility or identifies administrative and/or clinical issues that may preclude study eligibility (screen failure). Results In this meta-analysis, 404 of 2,515 submitted C-VISA™ eligibility reviews (16.1%) were challenged by tier 1 reviewers and escalated to a tier 2 reviewer. After telephone adjudication with the respective trial site investigator, 168 of these 404 tier 2 reviews (41.6%) were not approved yielding an overall screen fail rate of 6.7% for all C-VISA™ submissions. The primary reasons for screen failure were insufficient documentation to support the intended diagnosis, symptom severity that did not meet protocol criteria, the presence of excluded comorbid conditions, and potential confounding factors that might obscure assessment during the trial. Conclusion The C-VISA™ review process coupled with dual independent scoring of key rating instruments is a quality assurance strategy that provides a systematic site-independent eligibility filter to enhance the precision of subject selection and the integrity of study data. The C-VISA™ strategy has broad applicability across the CNS spectrum because it achieves the objective of confirmatory site-independent review without producing excessive site or subject burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the changes implemented regarding the international law developments in the aerospace and defense industries in 2012. It mentions the efforts taken by the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) eliminating counterfeit parts from the defense supply chain. It reflects on the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in 2011 and also discusses Canada's National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS).

Risk assessments often do not quantify the risk associated with soil inhalation. This pathway generally makes a negligible contribution to the cumulative risk, because soil ingestion is typically the dominant exposure pathway. Conditions in northern or rural centers in Canada characterized by large areas of exposed soil, including unpaved roads, favor the resuspension of soil particles, making soil inhalation a relevant risk pathway. The authors determined and compared human exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil ingestion and inhalation and analyzed the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks before and after roads were paved in a northern community. To determine the inhalation exposure, three size fractions of airborne particulate matter were collected (total suspended particulates [TSP], particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm [PM10], and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm [PM2.5]) before and after roads were paved. Road paving reduced the concentration of many airborne contaminants by 25 to 75%, thus reducing risk. For example, before paving, the carcinogenic risk associated with inhalation of Cr was 3.4 excess cancers per 100,000 people exposed, whereas after paving, this risk was reduced to 1.6 in 100,000. Paving roads reduced the concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSP; p < 0.1) and PM10 ( p < 0.05) but not PM25. Consequently, the ingestion of inhaled soil particles was substantially reduced. The authors conclude that resuspended soil is likely an important source of risk for many northern communities and that paving roads is an effective method of reducing risk from the inhalation of soil particles. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 2423-2430. © 2012 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naphthenic acids (NA) have been identified as harmful environmental contaminants that influence survival, growth and development of wildlife. Amphibian larvae are particularly susceptible to waterborne contaminants, but little information exists regarding exposure of amphibian embryos or tadpoles to NA. Our results demonstrate that embryos of Lithobates pipiens and Silurana tropicalis exposed to 2–4 mg/l of a commercial NA blend suffer significant reductions (32% and 25%, respectively) in growth and development upon hatching. Increased incidences of deformities were observed in exposed individuals of both species, but were only significant in L. pipiens. Embryos suffered 100% mortality following exposure to 6 mg/l NAs, and narcosis at lower concentrations. LC50 estimates were 4.10 mg/l for 72-h exposure in L. pipiens and 4.13, 3.51, and 2.95 mg/l for 24-, 48-, and 72-h exposure in S. tropicalis. These data suggest that exposure to NAs at environmentally realized concentrations may negatively affect tadpole populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify episodes of establishment and mortality of young and mature trees at several sites at the alpine tree line in the western Northwest Territories and the latitudinal tree line in northern Manitoba; (2) infer changes in the structure and location of the tree line from patterns of establishment; (3) evaluate any relationship between these changes and climate; and (4) investigate sources of variability between sampling sites and study areas. Location Taiga Cordillera of the western Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories, and the western Hudson Bay Lowlands in northern Manitoba, Canada. Methods Recent tree line dynamics were examined at six climatically similar sites: three in the western Mackenzie Mountains and three around Churchill, Manitoba. Dendroecological techniques were employed to construct static age distributions of species present at each site. Static age structures, residuals from modelled age distributions, and reconstructions of dynamic stand density were used to identify patterns of establishment and mortality and to compare these to changes in climate. Results Tree line locations advanced and stand density increased during the early-to-mid-20th century around Churchill, although responses were not uniform across sites or species. Results were less conclusive in the Mackenzie Mountains, although the tree line probably advanced during the late 18th century, and stand infilling occurred during the mid-20th century. Correlation analyses with temperature suggest that conditions during establishment and particularly during recruitment are crucial for controlling tree line dynamics. Main conclusions Tree line advance and stand infilling have continued to the present at Churchill, while the tree line has stagnated in the western Mackenzie Mountains. The results of this study indicate that site- and species-specific responses play a large role in determining the tree line response at multiple scales, illustrating the complexity of tree line dynamics in the context of a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) population is a good example of a demographic group that has been understudied because it is difficult to develop a subsample of sufficient size from typical national samples. Here we exploit the extraordinary size of a 2006 online election day survey (with about 35,000 respondents) to examine how the GLBT community behaves politically. While it will surprise no one that this community bestowed little support on Stephen Harper's Conservative party in the 2006 federal election, the factors behind such a consistent vote pattern are not adequately understood. In order to shed more light on the voting behaviour of the GLBT electorate, we develop a socio-demographic profile of the group, and explore three explanatory angles: 1) salience of issue campaign dynamics, given that the same-sex marriage issue was prominent in 2006; 2) ideological and attitudinal proclivities; and 3) strategic considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In 1999, the Canadian province of Ontario joined a number of other jurisdictions in requiring its high school students to complete volunteer service before graduating. The primary objective of this program, and others like it around the world, was to address declining civic engagement within society. Using a quasi-experimental design, we explore the impact of mandatory volunteering on its stated aims. Our findings suggest that volunteering in high school has positive impacts on the political dimensions of a student's subsequent civic engagement, measured here as political involvement, political activism, political interest, and political efficacy. However, those impacts are largely conditional on two features of the volunteering experience: sustained commitment to one placement and a positive experience as evaluated by the student. High school community service seems to be unrelated to social dimensions of civic engagement, measured here as involvement in a variety of social, cultural, and religious organizations. En 1999, la provincia canadiense de Ontario se sumó a otros distritos en requerir a sus alumnos de educación media completar un servicio voluntario antes de graduarse. El objetivo principal de este programa y otros similares alrededor del mundo fue para hacer frente a una caída en la participación cívica en la sociedad. Usamos un diseño cuasi-experimental para explorar el impacto del servicio social obligatorio de acuerdo a sus objetivos declarados. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que el trabajo comunitario durante la educación media tiene un impacto positivo en el compromiso cívico posterior del estudiante, medido como la participación política, activismo político, interés político y eficacia política, pero que esos impactos están condicionados por dos características en la experiencia del servicio social: mantener un compromiso sostenido a una labor y el tener una experiencia positiva de acuerdo con el estudiante. El servicio social durante la educación media parece no estar relacionado a dimensiones sociales de compromiso cívico, medido en este estudio como la participación en una variedad de organizaciones sociales, culturales y religiosas. Related Articles:'Public Service Motivation and Political Action,' (2011): 'Community Service Learning,' (2011): 'Promoting Civic Activism,' (2002): [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia oxidation is a major process in nitrogen cycling, and it plays a key role in nitrogen limited soil ecosystems such as those in the arctic. Although mm-scale spatial dependency of ammonia oxidizers has been investigated, little is known about the field-scale spatial dependency of aerobic ammonia oxidation processes and ammonia-oxidizing archaeal and bacterial communities, particularly in arctic soils. The purpose of this study was to explore the drivers of ammonia oxidation at the field scale in cryosols (soils with permafrost within 1 m of the surface). We measured aerobic ammonia oxidation potential (both autotrophic and heterotrophic) and functional gene abundance (bacterial amoA and archaeal amoA) in 279 soil samples collected from three arctic ecosystems. The variability associated with quantifying genes was substantially less than the spatial variability observed in these soils, suggesting that molecular methods can be used reliably evaluate spatial dependency in arctic ecosystems. Ammoniaoxidizing archaeal and bacterial communities and aerobic ammonia oxidation were spatially autocorrelated. Gene abundances were spatially structured within 4 m, whereas biochemical processes were structured within 40 m. Ammonia oxidation was driven at small scales (

Objective To determine whether Vancouver's Insite supervised injection facility and syringe exchange programs are cost-saving—that is, are the savings due to averted HIV-related medical care costs sufficient to offset Insite's operating costs? Methods The analyses examined the impact of Insite's programs for a single year. Mathematical models were used to calculate the number of additional HIV infections that would be expected if Insite were closed. The life-time HIV-related medical costs associated with these additional infections were compared to the annual operating costs of the Insite facility. Results If Insite were closed, the annual number of incident HIV infections among Vancouver IDU would be expected to increase from 179.3 to 262.8. These 83.5 preventable infections are associated with $17.6 million (Canadian) in life-time HIV-related medical care costs, greatly exceeding Insite's operating costs, which are approximately $3 million per year. Conclusions Insite's safe injection facility and syringe exchange program substantially reduce the incidence of HIV infection within Vancouver's IDU community. The associated savings in averted HIV-related medical care costs are more than sufficient to offset Insite's operating costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few soil invertebrate species are available for the toxic assessment of soils from boreal or other northern ecozones, yet these soils cover the majority of Canada's landmass as well as significant portions of Eurasia. Oppia nitens (C.L. Koch) is an herbivorous and fungivorous oribatid mite found in soil throughout Holarctic regions, including Canada. Soil tests using O. nitens were performed using 15 different forest soil types and horizons to investigate test variability in adult survival and reproduction. Adult survival (86.1 ± 1.1%) was consistent across soil types, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 15%. However, reproduction varied significantly, ranging from 2.9 (±1.1) to 86.2 (±11.7) individuals, with a corresponding CV of 118 and 30%, respectively. Of the soil factors assessed (NH3, NO3, pH, phosphorus [P], organic matter content (OM), carbon:nitrogen (C:N), sand, silt, clay, and sodium adsorption ratio), soil organic matter (OM) explained 68% of the variation observed for reproduction. Increasing the OM using Sphagnum sp. peat moss resulted in optimal reproduction at 7% OM (8% peat content) with the lowest variability (CV of 20%). When assessing the toxicity of a reference chemical, boric acid, the effect of peat amendment reduced lethality to adults with no observable difference on reproduction. The use an age-synchronized culture reduced the test variability for reproduction relative to the use of unsynchronized cultures. Oppia nitens is a good candidate species for a standardized test design, with adult survival easily assessed in a relatively simple design. A long-term reproduction test with O. nitens will require the use of a synchronized population and, on occasion, OM amendment when testing soils with low organic matter content. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:971–979. © 2009 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An invariant feature of constituency election campaigns is the literature mail drop, usually a one-page leaflet or card left at the door profiling the candidate and appealing for electoral support. In this article, we report on a field experiment designed to assess the effects of such mail drops. The experiment was conducted during the 2007 Ontario provincial election campaign in the constituency of Cambridge and entailed distributing literature for the Green party candidate in that constituency. After randomly assigning constituency polls to treatment and control groups, and delivering the Green candidate's partisan literature only to the selected treatment group polls, we compared the candidate's support levels in the treated polls with those in the control group. Our research detected a modest effect associated with the literature drop. The effect was largely limited to constituency neighbourhoods fitting at least part of the Green party's traditional demographic, that is, those with higher than average socio-economic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Arctic soils emit nitrous oxide, which is a potent greenhouse gas and also represents an important loss of nitrogen to oligotrophic Arctic ecosystems. However, little is known about the temperature sensitivity of nitrous oxide release in Arctic soils or the organisms mainly responsible for it. We investigated controls on nitrous oxide emissions in an Arctic soil across a typical temperature range (between 4 and 13°C) on Truelove Lowland, Devon Island, Canada (75°40′N 84°35′W) at two different moisture contents. When fertilized with ammonia or nitrate, nitrous oxide emissions and temperature dependence of nitrous oxide emissions were insensitive to soil moisture content but linked to nitrification rates. Stable isotope analysis revealed that nitrous oxide was predominantly released by nitrifiers. However, nitrous oxide emissions were not linked to nitrifier prevalence with an insignificant (P <0.219) increase in amoA genes and a (P <0.01) decrease in archaeal nitrifiers. In contrast, denitrifier nosZ prevalence was 10,000 times greater than that of nitrifiers and was related to nitrous oxide emission potential when soils were fertilized with nitrate. Manipulating water-filled pore space should have changed the pattern of N2O emissions. We used selective inhibitors to further explore why denitrification did not occur under field conditions when we manipulated water-filled pore space or when we used 15N analysis. When fungi were inhibited in the soil, nitrous oxide emissions from denitrifiers increased with no change in nitrous oxide released by nitrifiers. When fungi were active in the soil, there was little available nitrate but when fungi were inhibited, available soil nitrate increased over the incubation period. The dominance of nitrifiers in nitrous oxide emissions from Arctic soils under field conditions is linked to the competition for nitrate between fungi and denitrifiers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Through their diet, herbivores inhabiting contaminated sites may be chronically exposed to a variety of aryl hydrocarbons (e.g., dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]). However, little is known about how differences in morphology and physiology among plant species alter the environmental accumulation of aryl hydrocarbons or their release and subsequent activity in the gastrointestinal tract of herbivores after ingestion. In the present study, the activity of aryl hydrocarbons during digestion was examined using six Arctic plant species growing in impacted and reference sites near Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. The plant species studied were black spruce (Picea mariana), labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), bog birch (Betula glandulosa), green alder (Alnus crispa), water sedge (Carex aquatilis), and little-tree willow (Salix arbusculoides). Plants were digested using a simulator of the upper digestive tract, and aryl hydrocarbon release was evaluated using an aryl hydrocarbon-receptor assay. Bioaccessible aryl hydrocarbon activity varied among the plant species tested. The species with the greatest activity was green alder, and the species with the least activity was black spruce. Further investigation revealed that digested plant extracts may antagonize the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and prevent bioactivation of the aryl compound benzo[a]pyrene. Thus, PAH risk from the ingestion of vegetation varies among plant species and may depend on antagonists present in the vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the political preferences in Ontario, Canada, voter dealignment or campaign effects in particular. Its field of exit polls is also mentioned. In relation, it provides data that allowed the test assumptions about provincial voting behavior, which results suggest that provincial campaigns hold greater sway over voters than do federal campaigns. The information also explains why Ontarians backed a different party in 2003.

A damaging ice storm struck northern New England, NY, and adjacent Canada in January 1998, affecting nearly 7 million ha of forest lands. Although relatively rare at this scale, such natural disturbances provide a unique opportunity to study short- and long-term impacts on forest ecosystems and wildlife species. I investigated the storm’s short-term effects on breeding birds in a northern hardwood forest in central Vermont. Point counts (n=52) at six ice-damaged study sites in the Green Mountain National Forest were used to compare post-storm bird abundance with pre-storm samples collected at the same points in 1993 or 1994, and at five control sites (n=25) that were unaffected by the storm. In general, damage to canopy trees consisted of broken limbs and main stems, with lesser amounts of uprooted trees. This resulted in perforations, or small forest gaps. Overall, species richness and diversity increased only at ice storm sites, whereas total abundance increased at controls. Three forest-interior species declined in abundance (P≤0.046) following the storm, two canopy-foragers (Red-eyed Vireo and Blackburnian Warbler), and a ground-forager/nester normally associated with closed-canopy woodlands (Ovenbird). Another ground-forager/nester, Dark-eyed Junco, was the only species to increase in abundance (P=0.046) after the storm, although Winter Wren showed a marginal increase (P=0.075). Among habitat/foraging guilds, two forest-interior groups (canopy-foragers and ground/shrub foragers) declined significantly (P≤0.034), whereas open-edge ground/shrub feeders increased marginally (P=0.069). Results from this study are consistent with investigations of bird responses to selective forest management, particularly “group selection” and “single-tree selection”, suggesting that these management strategies may effectively emulate natural disturbance events such as ice storms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates the influence of bedrock lithology on methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in wetlands of Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada. Role of wetlands in the export of MeHg to the watershed; Determination of the chemistry of the surface water; Type of lithology present in the terrestrial landscape.

Presents a study, which examined the claim made by the newspaper 'National Post' prior to the 2000 Canadian election that Canadians have different views regarding creationism and evolution. Details of the mass media's concept of creationism; Distribution of student opinions regarding the age of the earth and the development of the human species; Analysis of the prevalence of creationism within the Canadian public.

Examines the importance of microbial mercury oxidation and reduction in regulating dissolved gaseous mercury patterns in freshwater lakes in Ontario. Calculation of the evasion rate of elemental mercury; Induction o microbial mercury oxidase and reductase activity; Role of sunlight on the transformations of divalent nad elemental mercury.

Examines on the surface complexion model of mercury (Hg) adsorption bacteria and its applications to shallow acidic lakes and wetlands in Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia. Distribution of mercury in environment; Presentation of mercury adsorption experiments; Effect of chloride on adsorption of Hg.

This study addresses the impact of feminism in Canada by examining levels of political activity over a twenty-year period. The data, however, showed little change in women's participation rate over time, whereas by contrast, the presence of children was significantly associated with male-female differences. Despite this finding, there was a significant increase in voters mentioning women's issues during the 1984 election. Moreover among the better educated there was a perception of the social democratic NDP as being most sympathetic to feminist issues, and for many of those supporting women's concerns that perception is translated into votes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the use of left/right reasons for identifying with the major federal and provincial political parties by respondents in the 1984 Canadian National Election Study (CNES). Only a minority of Canadians invoked such explanations and left-wing reasons greatly exceeded right-wing reasons. New Democrats were much more likely to offer leftist reasons, as expected, and this tendency varied directly with the intensity of their support for the NDP. The same pattern held for federal Progressive Conservatives tendency to give right-wing reasons. There was no such relationship for Liberal partisans whose use of left-wing and right-wing justifications placed them between New Democrats and Conservatives. The paper also tested hypotheses on the contributions of union membership, region, socio-economic status, and education to leftist thinking. The paper concludes with some speculation about the political and ideological significance of the NDPs elevated popularity in the public opinion polls in 1987.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Political Science / Revue Canadienne de Science Politique is the property of Cambridge University Press 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.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Political Science / Revue Canadienne de Science Politique is the property of Cambridge University Press 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.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Political Science / Revue Canadienne de Science Politique is the property of Cambridge University Press 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.)

Copyright of Canadian Public Administration is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Diurnal patterns for dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) concentration, mercury flux, several water variables (pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), water temperature), and meteorological variables (wind speed, air temperature, % relative humidity, solar radiation) were measured in two lakes with contrasting dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in Kejimkujik Park, Nova Scotia. A continuous analysis system made it possible to measure quick changes in DGM over time. Consistently higher DGM concentrations were found in the high DOC lake as compared to the low DOC lake. An examination of current mercury flux models using this quantitative data indicated some good correlations between the data and predicted flux (r ranging from 0.27 to 0.83) but generally poor fit (standard deviation of residuals ranging from 0.97 to 3.38). Crosscorrelation analysis indicated that DGM dynamics changed in response to solar radiation with lag-times of 65 and 90 min. This relationship with solar radiation was used to develop new predictive models of DGM and mercury flux dynamics for each lake. We suggest that a generalized approach using time-shifted solar radiation data to predict DGM can be incorporated into existing mercury flux models. It is clear from the work presented that DOC and wind speed may also play important roles in DGM and mercury flux dynamics, and these roles have not been adequately accounted for in current predictive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate alternative methods to calculate and/or attribute economic surplus in the cost-effectiveness analysis of single or short-term therapies.Methods: We performed a systematic literature review of articles describing alternative methods for cost-effectiveness analysis of potentially curative therapies whose assessment using traditional methods may suggest unaffordable valuations owing to the magnitude of estimated long-term quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gains or cost offsets. Through internal deliberation and discussion with staff at the Health Technology Assessment bodies in England and Canada, we developed the following 3 alternative methods for further evaluation: (1) capping annual costs in the comparator arm at $150 000 per year; (2) "sharing" the economic surplus with the health sector by apportioning only 50% of cost offsets or 50% of cost offsets and QALY gains to the value of the therapy; and (3) crediting the therapy with only 12 years of the average annual cost offsets or cost offsets and QALY gains over the lifetime horizon. The impact of each alternative method was evaluated by applying it in an economic model of 3 hypothetical condition-treatment scenarios meant to reflect a diversity of chronicity and background healthcare costs.Results: The alternative with greatest impact on threshold price for the fatal pediatric condition spinal muscular atrophy type 1 was the 12-year cutoff scenario. For a hypothetical one-time treatment for hemophilia A, capping cost offsets at $150 000 per year had the greatest impact. For chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, capping cost offsets or using 12-year threshold had little impact, whereas 50% sharing of surplus including QALY gains and cost offsets greatly reduced threshold pricing.Conclusions: Health Technology Assessment bodies and policy makers will wrestle with how to evaluate single or short-term potentially curative therapies and establish pricing and payment mechanisms to ensure sustainability. Scenario analyses using alternative methods for calculating and apportioning economic surplus can provide starkly different assessment results. These methods may stimulate important societal dialogue on fair pricing for these novel treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study sought to determine the incidence and predictors of recovery of normal echocardiographic function among children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Background: Most children with idiopathic DCM have poor outcomes; however, some improve. Methods: We studied children <18 years of age from the Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry who had both depressed left ventricular (LV) function (fractional shortening or ejection fraction z-score <–2) and LV dilation (end-diastolic dimension [LVEDD] z-score >2) at diagnosis and who had at least 1 follow-up echocardiogram 30 days to 2 years from the initial echocardiogram. We estimated the cumulative incidence and predictors of normalization. Results: Among 868 children who met the inclusion criteria, 741 (85%) had both echocardiograms. At 2 years, 22% had recovered normal LV function and size; 51% had died or undergone heart transplantation (median, 3.2 months), and 27% had persistently abnormal echocardiograms. Younger age (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88 to 0.97) and lower LVEDD z-score (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.87) independently predicted normalization. Nine children (9%) with normal LV function and size within 2 years of diagnosis later underwent heart transplantation or died. Conclusions: Despite marked LV dilation and depressed function initially, children with idiopathic DCM can recover normal LV size and function, particularly those younger and with less LV dilation at diagnosis. Investigations related to predictors of recovery, such as genetic associations, serum markers, and the impact of medical therapy or ventricular unloading with assist devices are important next steps. Longer follow-up after normalization is warranted as cardiac failure can recur. (Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry; NCT00005391) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) and volcanic-sediment-hosted massive sulfide (VSHMS; i.e., hosted by both volcanic and sedimentary rocks) deposits in the Finlayson Lake District, Yukon, Canada, provide a unique opportunity to study the influence of seafloor and sub-seafloor hydrothermal processes on the formation of Se-poor (GP4F VHMS deposit; 7ppm Se average), intermediate (Kudz Ze Kayah—KZK VHMS deposit; 200ppm Se average), and Se-enriched (Wolverine VSHMS deposit; 1100ppm Se average) mineralization. All three deposits are hosted by mid-Paleozoic (∼360–346Ma) felsic volcanic rocks, but only the Wolverine deposit has voluminous coeval carbonaceous argillites (black shales) in the host rock package. Here we report the first application of Se isotope analyses to ancient seafloor mineralization and use these data, in conjunction with Pb and S isotope analyses, to better understand the source(s) and depositional process(es) of Se within VHMS and VSHMS systems. The wide range of δ82Se (−10.2‰ to 1.3‰, relative to NIST 3149), δ34S (+2.0‰ to +12.8‰ CDT), and elevated Se contents (up to 5865ppm) within the Wolverine deposit contrast with the narrower range of δ82Se (−3.8‰ to −0.5‰), δ34S (9.8‰ to 13.0‰), and lower Se contents (200ppm average) of the KZK deposit. The Wolverine and KZK deposits have similar sulfide depositional histories (i.e., deposition at the seafloor, with concomitant zone refining). The Se in the KZK deposit is magmatic (leaching or degassing) in origin, whereas the Wolverine deposit requires an additional large isotopically negative Se source (i.e. ∼−15‰ δ82Se). The negative δ82Se values for the Wolverine deposit are at the extreme light end for measured terrestrial samples, and the lightest observed for hypogene sulfide minerals, but are within calculated equilibrium values of δ82Se relative to NIST 3149 (∼30‰ at 25°C between SeO4 and Se2−). We propose that the most negative Se isotope values at the Wolverine deposit record the δ82Se of the Se-source, and that the wide range in δ82Se values results from the combined effects of thermal and chemical degradation and Se-loss from the carbonaceous argillite source to a hydrothermal fluid (including magmatic Se i.e., leached and/or magmatic-hydrothermal) with deposition at or near the paleoseafloor. Pristine unaltered black shales show little variation in δ82Se relative to bulk earth; Se accumulation and fractionation to more negative isotopic values is interpreted to have been produced by post-sediment deposition, but pre-ore stage, reduction of seawater Se within the black shales. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Hyperphosphatemia is a common and potentially harmful condition in patients with end-stage kidney disease. In Canada, first-line treatment of hyperphosphatemia consists primarily of calcium carbonate (CC). Lanthanum carbonate (LC) and sevelamer hydrochloride (SH) are non–calcium phosphate binders that have been used as second-line therapy in patients intolerant of or not responsive to CC. Objectives: The primary objective of the present study was to assess the costs and clinical benefits of second-line use of LC after therapy failure with CC in patients receiving dialysis, from a Canadian payer perspective. The secondary objective was to perform an economic comparison between second-line LC therapy and second-line SH therapy, from a Canadian payer perspective. Short-term outcomes were treatment response and cost per additional responder, and long-term outcomes were survival, number of all-cause hospitalizations, and quality of life. Methods: A cost-effectiveness Markov model was populated with simulated cohorts of 1000 patients receiving incident dialysis, followed life-long. Patients not responsive to CC with a serum phosphate concentration >1.78 mmol/L (>5.5 mg/dL) received a trial regimen with LC. Patients not responsive to LC returned to CC therapy. Patient data from a randomized controlled trial of 800 patients receiving dialysis were used. Extensive (probabilistic) sensitivity analyses were performed. When available, model parameters were based on Canadian data or from a Canadian perspective. All costs are in 2010 Canadian dollars (C$). Results: Results of the model estimated that in patients responsive to second-line LC therapy, survival increased, on average, 0.44 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35–0.54) per patient when compared with continued CC therapy. The mean (range) costs per patient in the first year of treatment with LC was C$2600 (C$2400–C$2800). Over patients'' lifetimes, the second-line LC strategy resulted in a gain of 48.8 (37.1–61.3) life-years and 29.3 (21.4–38.1) quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). The cost-effectiveness of the second-line LC strategy was C$7900 (C$1800–C$14,600) per life-year and C$13,200 (C$3000–C$25,100) per QALY gained. Most sensitivity analyses did not change the cost-effectiveness outcomes; however, including unrelated future costs raised the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio to C$159,500 (95% confidence interval, C$133,300–C$191,600) per QALY gained. Compared with second-line SH therapy, second-line LC therapy had similar effectiveness and was 23% less expensive. Conclusions: Second-line treatment with LC is cost-effective in the treatment of end-stage kidney disease in patients with hyperphosphatemia, from a Canadian payer perspective. Second-line treatment with LC is less expensive, with similar effectiveness as second-line treatment with SH. The primary limitation of health economic evaluations of phosphate binders is the relative scarcity of clinical data on the association between phosphate concentration and long-term outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with comorbidities that contribute to poor health, impaired life quality, and mortality risk., Objective: To provide evidence-based screening recommendations for comorbidities linked to HS., Methods: Systematic reviews were performed to summarize evidence on the prevalence and incidence of 30 comorbidities in patients with HS relative to the general population. The screening recommendation for each comorbidity was informed by the consistency and quality of existing studies, disease prevalence, and magnitude of association, as well as benefits, harms, and feasibility of screening. The level of evidence and strength of corresponding screening recommendation were graded by using the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) criteria., Results: Screening is recommended for the following comorbidities: acne, dissecting cellulitis of the scalp, pilonidal disease, pyoderma gangrenosum, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, suicide, smoking, substance use disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, spondyloarthritis, and sexual dysfunction. It is also recommended to screen patients with Down syndrome for HS. The decision to screen for specific comorbidities may vary with patient risk factors. The role of the dermatologist in screening varies according to comorbidity., Limitations: Screening recommendations represent one component of a comprehensive care strategy., Conclusions: Dermatologists should support screening efforts to identify comorbid conditions in HS., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest Dr Garg has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Incyte, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, and Viela Bio; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Incyte, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, and Viela Bio; and has received grants: from AbbVie and the National Psoriasis Foundation. Dr Alavi has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Incyte, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB, Actelion, Celgene, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Kymera, Eli Lily, InflaRx, Sanofi, and Bausch; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Incyte, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB, Actelion, Celgene, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Genzyme, Kymera, Eli Lily, Sanofi, and Bausch; has received grants from AbbVie; and has received donations of medical equipment from Galderma and Swift. Dr Alhusayen has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Hidramed Solutions and has received honoraria from AbbVie, and Eli Lilly. Dr Daveluy has served as a consultant for AbbVie; has received honoraria from AbbVie; has served on the speakers bureau for AbbVie; and has received grants from AbbVie, InflaRx, Regeneron, and Pfizer. Dr Delorme has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and Sanofi-Genzyme; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Amgen, Avene, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and UCB Pharma; has served on the speakers bureau for AbbVie, Bausch Health, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and Sanofi Genzyme; and has received grants from AbbVie, InflaRx, Regeneron, and Pfizer. Dr Gulliver has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Bausch Health, Celgene, Cipher, Eli Lilly, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Novartis, PeerVoice, Pfizer, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, and Valeant; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Amgen, Bausch Health, Celgene, Cipher, Eli Lilly, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Novartis, PeerVoice, Pfizer, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, and Valeant; and has received grants from AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Pfizer. Dr Hamzavi has served as a consultant for Incyte, UCB, and Pfizer and has received grants from Lenicura and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Jaleel has served as a consultant for Eli Lilly and ChemoCentryx/IQVIA and has received grants from the Dermatology Foundation and Skin of Color Society. Dr Kimball has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, and Kymera; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, and Kymera; and has received royalties from Pfizer, Trifecta, and UCB. Dr Kirby has served as a consultant for AbbVie, ChemoCentryx, Incyte, Novartis, and UCB; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Incyte, and Viela Bio; and has served on the speakers bureau for AbbVie. Dr Kirchhof has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Sanofi-Genzyme; has served on the speakers bureau for AbbVie, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, and Sanofi-Genzyme; and has received grants from the Canadian Dermatology Foundation. Dr Lev-Tov has served as a consultant for Pfizer, Mölnlycke, and NextScience; has received honoraria from Essity; has received grants from NextScience and Essity; and has received donations of medical equipment from Essity, Mölnlycke, and NextScience. Dr Lowes has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Janssen, Viela Bio, Almirall, BSN, Incyte, Janssen, Kymera, and XBiotech. Dr Naik has served as a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, and 23andme and has received grants from AbbVie, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation. Dr Orenstein has received a Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation Danby Research Grant. Dr Piguet has served as a consultant for Pfizer, AbbVie, Janssen, UCB, Novartis, Almirall, and Celgene; has received honoraria from Kyowa Kirin Co Ltd, AbbVie, and Novartis; has received grants from AbbVie, Bausch Health, Celgene, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Lilly, NAOS, Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre-Fabre, and Sanofi; and has received a donation of medical equipment from La Roche-Posay. Dr Sayed has served as a consultant for UCB, InflaRx, and AbbVie; has received honoraria from UCB and AbbVie; and has served on the speakers bureau for AbbVie and Novartis. Dr Tan has served as a consultant for Almirall, Bausch, Boots/Walgreens, Botanix, Cipher, Galderma, Incyte, L’Oréal, Novartis, Pfizer, Promius, Sun, and UCB; has received honoraria from Almirall, Bausch, Boots/Walgreens, Botanix, Galderma, L’Oréal, Novartis, Pfizer, Promius, and Sun; has served on the speakers bureau for Galderma and L’Oréal; and has received grants from Incyte and UCB. Drs Alikhan and Goldfarb, Author Lester, Drs Malviya and Micheletti, and Authors Strunk and Wright have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)