Telecommunications and economic development: A case study of the district of Algoma, northern Ontario

 The deployment of telecommunications infrastructure as a means of creating economic development opportunities and employment is a high priority for the Federal and Ontario governments, as well as the Algoma District Community Network (ADnet).  This paper intends to examine and analyze the policy goals of both Canada and Ontario with respect to telecommunications and economic development in the Algoma District. Through an examination of potential users of telecommunications infrastructure, policies at each level of government and funding programs this paper will examine the Algoma experience in relation to meeting their objectives, specifically the economic development objective.  The paper will conclude with recommendations with respect to this policy deficiency.Keywords: telecommunications, infrastructure, policy, Algoma District Community Network (ADnet

Fibrin D-dimer, markers of coagulation activation and the risk of major ischaemic heart disease in the Caerphilly Study

We have previously reported that plasma fibrin D-dimer (a marker of turnover of cross-linked Fibrin) showed a strong and independent association with incident ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in the Caerphilly Study cohort of 1,998 men a-ed 49-65. To establish the specificity of this finding, we assayed plasma samples from this cohort with a more specific assay for fibrin D-dimer: this showed an association with incident IHD which was at least as strong and independent as that for the original assay (odds ratio, OR for top fifth compared to bottom fifth 3.79; 95% CI 1.77-8.10; p lt 0.0001). To establish potential causes of the increased fibrin turnover. we also assayed several potential markers of coagulation activation or thrombotic tendency (prothrombin fragment F1+2, thrombin- antithrombin complexes, factor VIIc, activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT] and activated protein C resistance): none of these variables were associated with incident IHD in this cohort. We suggest that further studies are required to establish the causes of increased cross-linked fibrin turnover, which is associated with incident IHD in the general population when measured by a specific assay

Resonance-thrombography indices of the haemostatic process in relation to risk of incident coronary heart disease: 9 years follow-up in the Caerphilly Prospective Heart Disease Study

Global assays, such as resonance-thrombography (RTG), which measure the interaction between platelets, coagulation and fibrinolysis have been used as summary measures of risk for over two decades but have not been evaluated in epidemiological studies. We examined whether RTG indices are risk indicators for incident coronary heart disease (CHD). RTG indices, related haematological variables and other risk factors were measured between 1984 and 1988 in a cohort of 2398 British men. Reaction time (r) and amplitude of fibrin leg (AF) were associated with lifestyle risk factors. During 9 years of follow-up, 282 (12%) men developed a major new CHD event, as classified by World Health Organization criteria. On adjustment for age, only r and AF measured at baseline were related to risk of incident CHD. On multivariate adjustment in a multiple logistic regression model that included age, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lifestyle risk factors and use of prescribed medicine, these associations weakened but remained significant. Additional adjustment for fibrinogen, viscosity, white cell count and fibrin D-dimer either reduced these associations to non- significance (AF) or to borderline significance(r)

The effects of L1 and L2 group discussions on L2 reading comprehension

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of post-reading group discussions in both first (L1) and second (L2) languages on L2 reading comprehension. The participants were fifteen Japanese university students of intermediate-level English. Three cohorts read four English texts and produced individual written recalls. Group 1 (the control group) responded in writing without discussion; group 2 discussed the texts in their L2 (English) before producing written recalls, and group 3 discussed the texts in their L1 (Japanese) before writing their recalls. The findings show that participants in the L1 discussion group used a larger number of higher-order processing and reading strategies than did those in the other two groups, suggesting that L1 group discussions have a positive effect on learners’ reading comprehension. The authors make recommendations for teachers to use bilingual teaching strategies and to encourage the strategic use of the L1 in the L2 classroom