The Work Disability Prevention CIHR Strategic Training Program: Program Performance After 5 Years of Implementation

Introduction The Work Disability Prevention (WDP) Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Strategic Training Program was developed in 2001 and is a unique program in the world. The main objective of this program is to help future researchers develop transdisciplinary knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding WDP. The purpose of this paper is to present a descriptive portrait of the program's performance over the past 5 years, as well as the trainees' and alumni's perspectives on the WDP CIHR Training Program. Methods Data on the program's performance were collected from documents in the program records. The trainees' opinions on the WDP training program were obtained through focus groups and telephone interviews. The data collected were compiled and divided into themes to summarize the qualitative findings pertaining to each question. Results From 2003 to 2007, five successive summer sessions have been offered, involving 44 high-caliber applicants from nine countries, 34 mentors and collaborators, 29 guest speakers and 15 stakeholders. Overall, trainees appreciated the networking, the opportunity to interact with people from different disciplines and countries, the openness, and the international perspective and uniqueness of the program. The least appreciated aspects concerned mainly the e-learning course, evaluations and information on optional courses. The coordination and logistics were judged appropriate and several topics were suggested to improve the program quality. Conclusion In general, the program implementation went well, with good participation from mentors, speakers and stakeholders; the program was appreciated by the trainees and alumni. This paper underscores the importance of the international perspective, the transdisciplinarity and the scientific networking established through the progra

Longevity Risk and Capital Markets: The 2015-16 Update

International audienc

Evidence for elevated emissions from high-latitude wetlands contributing to high atmospheric CH4 concentration in the early Holocene

The major increase in atmospheric methane (CH4) concentration during the last glacial-interglacial transition provides a useful example for understanding the interactions and feedbacks among Earth\u27s climate, biosphere carbon cycling, and atmospheric chemistry. However, the causes of CH4 doubling during the last deglaciation are still uncertain and debated. Although the ice-core data consistently suggest a dominant contribution from northern high-latitude wetlands in the early Holocene, identifying the actual sources from the ground-based data has been elusive. Here we present data syntheses and a case study from Alaska to demonstrate the importance of northern wetlands in contributing to high atmospheric CH4concentration in the early Holocene. Our data indicate that new peatland formation as well as peat accumulation in northern high-latitude regions increased more than threefold in the early Holocene in response to climate warming and the availability of new habitat as a result of deglaciation. Furthermore, we show that marshes and wet fens that represent early stages of wetland succession were likely more widespread in the early Holocene. These wetlands are associated with high CH4 emissions due to high primary productivity and the presence of emergent plant species that facilitate CH4 transport to the atmosphere. We argue that early wetland succession and rapid peat accumulation and expansion (not simply initiation) contributed to high CH4 emissions from northern regions, potentially contributing to the sharp rise in atmospheric CH4 at the onset of the Holocene

Place et rôle de quelques essences méconnues en Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Les auteurs précisent la répartition, les expériences écologiques et l'éventuelle utilisation de chênes divers, du charme, du frêne à fleurs, de l'érable duret et de divers fruitiers (pruniers, sorbiers, merisiers, pommiers) dans les reboisements

Water table fluctuations and carbon accumulation of a fen and a bog in the James Bay Lowlands of Quebec, Canada

An important work regarding northern hemisphere peatland modeling is currently being processed. One of the first steps of this work is to understand the relationship between different components of the peatland system and to analyse the way unspecific peatland systems react to water table fluctuations in terms of accumulation and decomposition that we present in this article. We chose distinct sampling sites within a large region including boreal and subarctic ecosystems in the Bay James lowlands, northern Québec, Canada. Two fens were selected in the subarctic region and two bogs in the boreal region. These sites have different geographical, climatological and ecological features (ex. pH, nutrient availability and species compositions). Fens and bogs behaviours in matter of decomposition and accumulation thus follow different patterns. The analyses of cores for theses sites allow the comparison and the quantification of the differences between subarctic and boreal sites. Five cores were analysed against Testate amoebae every 2cm for the short cores and every 4cm for the long core. These cores are also dated with 210 Pb and 14C. Loss on ignition analysis was performed with the resolution of 1cm for each core. The use of a transfer function with the results of the Testate amoebae analysis allowed reconstruction of water table fluctuations from 7500 years BP to the present. This reconstruction gives us an insight into the humidity regime of the system. This information is compared to the carbon accumulation sequences to evaluate the response of the system to changes in water table position. This research shows response range between sites and quantifies the range of the water table fluctuation inducing an imbalance of the system. This information will be of significant importance for the development of the peatland dynamics modeling

Les apports de la phytoécologie dans l'interprétation de changements et perturbations induits par l'homme sur les écosystèmes forestiers méditerranéens.

Présente une caractérisation structurale des modèles forestiers méditerranéens, les caractéristiques dynamiques de ces modèles (modèles expansionniste, de résistance et de stabilisation), un bilan et évolution des superficies forestières, les effets des perturbations humaines sur les principaux écosystèmes forestiers, et les effets des non-perturbations sur les écosystèmes forestiers du nord de la Méditerranée

Randomised controlled trial of integrated care to reduce disability from chronic low back pain in working and private life

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated care programme, combining a patient directed and a workplace directed intervention, for patients with chronic low back pain

Les reboisements en région méditerranéenne. Incidences biologiques et économiques

La forêt méditerranéenne se trouve en face de divers problèmes très graves qui sont liés essentiellement d une part aux modifications drastiques qui sont survenues dans son utilisation traditionnelle par l homme, et d autre part à sa faible productivité de la plupart des essences qui la constituent. La faible productivité des essences forestières méditerranéennes doit être discutée avant de proposer une généralisation des reboisements de conifères plus productifs, en définissant une sylviculture plus rationnelle et en utilisant des sclérophylles et des caducifoliés provenant en particulier de Méditerranée Orientale