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OBJECTIVES: Pneumococcal infections constitute an important public health problem in Nordic regions of Canada. Nordic populations are not included in national and provincial immunization surveys and there is no centralized immunization registry in these regions. The objective of this study was to estimate pneumococcal vaccination coverage and delays in immunization of children in Nunavik, Quebec. METHODS: Immunization records of children born in 1994-2005 were collected in all villages. Children were classified into three groups: born in the period January 1, 1994 to April 30, 1997 and targeted by the 2002 mass campaign with the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23); born in the period May 1, 1997 to March 31, 2002 and targeted by the 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7) catch-up campaign; born in the period April 1, 2002 to December 31, 2005 and targeted by the PCV7 routine infant program. RESULTS: In the first group (n = 896), 86.8% (95% CI: 84.4%-89.0%) were vaccinated with PPSV23. In the second group (n = 1,252), 84.3% (95% CI: 82.1%-86.2%) received ≥1 PCV7 dose. In the third group, 90.4% (95% CI: 88.5%-92.1%) received 4 PCV7 doses. Delays >4 weeks in vaccine administration were observed for 26.3% of doses. There were substantial variations between villages for all indicators. CONCLUSIONS: In the challenging setting of a Nordic and remote region, uptake rates of pneumococcal vaccines in Nunavik were found to be similar to those measured in population surveys in Quebec. KEY WORDS: Streptococcus pneumoniae; pneumococcal vaccines; immunization; infectious diseases; Aboriginal health OBJECTIFS: Les infections pneumococciques representent un important probleme de sante publique dans les regions nordiques du Canada. Les populations nordiques ne sont pas incluses dans les enquetes de couverture vaccinale nationales et provinciales. Un registre centralise de couverture vaccinale n'existe pas dans ces regions. L'objectif de cette etude etait d'obtenir des estimes de couverture vaccinale pneumococcique et des retards vaccinaux chez les enfants du Nunavik, Quebec. METHODOLOGIE: Les donnees de couverture vaccinale des enfants nes entre 1994 et 2005 ont ete collectees dans tous les villages. Les enfants ont ete regroupes en trois cohortes: ceux nes dans la periode du 1er janvier 1994 au 30 avril 1997 et vises par la campagne d'immunisation de masse au VPP-23v de 2002; ceux nes dans la periode du 1er mai 1997 au 31 mars 2002 et eligibles au programme de rattrapage au VPC-7; ceux nes dans la periode du 1er avril 2002 au 31 decembre 2005 et eligibles au programme d'immunisation de routine au VPC-7. RESULTATS: Dans la 1ere cohorte (n = 896), 86,8% (95% IC: 84,4%-89,0%) ont ete vaccines au VPP-23v. Dans la 2e cohorte (n = 1252), 84,3% (95% IC: 82,1%-86,2%) ont recu une dose de VPC-7 ou plus. Dans la 3e cohorte, 90,4% (95% CI: 88,5%-92,1%) ont recu 4 doses de VPC-7. Un retard de plus de 4 semaines dans l'administration du VPC-7 a ete observe pour 26,3% de l'ensemble des doses administrees. Des variations substantielles ont ete observees entre les villages pour tous les indicateurs. CONCLUSION: Dans la configuration complexe d'une region nordique et isolee, les taux de couverture au VPC-7 au Nunavik sont similaires a ceux retrouves dans les enquetes populationnelles du Quebec. MOTS CLES: streptococcus pneumoniae; vaccins pneumococciques; immunisation; maladies infectieuses; sante des populations autochtones, Respiratory infections constitute a major public health problem in Nordic communities of Canada and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) is an important causal pathogen. (1,2) In 2000, an outbreak of severe pneumonia [...]

The purpose of this paper is to first provide relevant information about the historic seismicity of the island of Haiti, the tectonic setting and the identification of the unmapped Leogane fault which is now believed to have been the main cause of the 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake. The paper then focuses on the state of construction in Haiti, with particular emphasis given to engineered buildings. The lack of a building code and standards for the design of structures, as well as the fact that seismic forces were not considered in the design of most buildings explains the failure of so many engineered structures. Several examples are given and arranged according to building function. Since the earthquake has occurred, interim measures have been implemented to control construction of new buildings. Some recommendations are given to improve construction practice in Haiti for the reconstruction. Key words: Haiti, Caribbean, Leogane fault, seismicity, seismic design, earthquake, reinforced concrete, structures. L'objectif de cet article est en premier lieu de presenter des informations sur la sismicite historique de l'ile d'Haiti, les aspects tectoniques et l'identification de la faille de Leogane, inconnue jusque-la, et que l'on croie etre la source principale du tremblement de terre du 12 janvier 2012. L'etat des constructions en Haiti est ensuite presente avec une emphase particuliere sur les constructions issues de l'ingenierie. L'absence de code de construction et de normes de construction des structures et le fait que les forces sismiques sont rarement prises en consideration lors du dimensionnement de ces structures sont la cause principale de l'effondrement de tant de batiments. Plusieurs exemples sont presentes selon les fonctions des batiments. Depuis le tremblement de terre, des mesures interimaires ont ete adoptees afin de baliser les nouvelles constructions. Des recommandations sont donnees pour ameliorer la pratique du genie civil en Haiti pour la reconstruction. Mots-cles: Haiti, Caraibe, faille de leogane, sismicite, dimensionnement parasismique, tremblements de terre, beton arme, structures., 1. Introduction Though earthquake hazards may not have been on the minds of Haitians, the 12 January 2010, [M.sub.w] 7.0 earthquake came as little surprise to many geologists and geophysicists. [...]

Despite all the damages encountered during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 12-storey reinforced-concrete Digicel building behaved well, sustaining only reparable damages. Visual assessment to characterize the damages sustained and ambient vibration tests (AVT) were carried out to identify the building's key dynamics properties (natural vibration frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios). ETABS was used to generate finite element (FE) models before and after the AVT, to evaluate the capabilities of common modelling assumptions to predict the dynamic behaviour of structures. Nonautomated model updating was carried out to generate a model representing the building's actual dynamic behaviour in its damaged state. The study showed that the finite element method (FEM) is reliable for predicting the dynamic behaviour of structures, but is very sensitive to the modelling assumptions. The models could predict the vibration frequencies precisely, but an accurate representation of the mode shapes required careful model updating. Key words: ambient vibration, reinforced concrete building, structural dynamic, Haiti earthquake, mode shapes, frequencies, damping, FE modelling. Malgre la destruction massive survenue lors du seisme d'Haiti en 2010, le batiment de 12 etages en beton arme de Digicel a bien resiste, ne subissant que des dommages reparables. L'evaluation de sa structure ainsi qu'une serie d'essais sous vibrations ambiantes ont permis de caracteriser son comportement dynamique (frequences propres, modes propres et amortissement). Des modeles par elements finis sur ETABS, avant et apres les essais, ont permis d'evaluer la capacite de prediction des techniques de modelisation courantes. Une calibration du modele de base a ensuite permis d'elaborer un nouveau modele numerique representant bien le comportement reel du batiment. Cette etude a montre que la methode des elements finis permet de bien representer le comportement dynamique de structures, mais que la methode est sensible aux hypotheses considerees. Il a aussi ete observe qu'un modele peut predire les frequences propres sans pour autant representer fidelement le comportement dynamique (modes). Une calibration efficace a ete necessaire afin d'avoir un modele representant bien le comportement du batiment. Mots-cles: vibrations ambiantes, batiment en beton arme, dynamique des structures, seisme d'Haiti, modes propres, frequences, amortissement, elements finis., 1. Introduction Advances in earthquake engineering during the last few decades have been driven by experimental and theoretical research, and, more importantly, by the lessons learned from historical seismic events. [...]

Foodborne botulism, a notifiable disease in Canada, results from the ingestion of foods contaminated with preformed botulinum neurotoxin types A, B, E, or F, produced by Clostridium botulinum groups I [...]

Changes in the 2005 edition of the National building code of Canada resulted in an increase in earthquake hazard for some regions in Canada. This project studied the impact of this increase on a selected highway bridge. A seismic retrofit scheme, using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), was developed and applied to the selected highway bridge bent. The retrofitting technique is based on specific performance criteria under which the retrofitted structure must meet prescribed ductility levels corresponding to selected seismic events, and its design includes a new confinement model for reinforced-concrete columns wrapped with CFRP. Using this performance-based approach, the amount of required composite materials to achieve the specified criteria was found to be much more economical when compared with the ductility requirements in the 2000 edition of the Canadian highway bridge design code. The performance of the retrofitting technique was evaluated by pseudo-dynamic tests carried out on a 1:3 scale model of one of the bridge bents. Using the substructuring approach, the remainder of the structure was modeled, and the bridge bent was subjected to increasing levels of seismic loading, corresponding to various limit states of the bridge. The measured response of the test specimen compared well with the predictions of a three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear finite-element model calibrated with dynamic properties obtained from on-site ambient vibration tests. During the highest intensity test corresponding to a return period of 2500 years for a region of high seismieity, the CFRP retrofit showed no sign of distress, and the strain values measured on the fibers were very low, indicating that the performance-based design procedure is conservative. Key words: highway bridge, reinforced concrete, seismic retrofit, performance objectives, damage criteria, fiber- reinforced polymer, large-scale test, pseudo-dynamic test, substructuring test, nonlinear modeling. Les changements apportes dans la derniere edition du Code National du Bdiimem ont entralne une augmentation de l'alea sismique considere pour plusieurs regions. Une methode de di mens ion nement de rehabilitation sismique a l'aide de polymeres renforces de fibres de carbone (PRFC) a ete optimisee afin d'etudier l'impact de cette augmentation sur les appuis d'un pont d'etagement typique. La methode de rehabilitation est basee sur des criteres de performance specifiant les niveaux de ductilites correspondant a differents niveaux d'intensites sismiques. La methode inclut un nouveau modele de confinement des sections en beton arme a l'aide de PFRC. La quantite de PRFC calculee a l'aide de cette approche a la performance est beaucoup plus economique que la quantite qui serait requise afin de rencontrer le taux de confinement requis dans la zone de rotule plastique tel que present dans le Code canadien de calcul des ponts routiers, 2000. La rehabilitation a l'aide de PRFC a ete validee par la realisation d'essais pseudo-dynamiques par sous-structures sur un modele a echelle 1/3 du viaduc choisi. Selon l'approche par sous-structures, la superstructure a ete modelisee et un modele a echelle 1/3 de l'appui du pom a ete constant en laboraloire. L'ensemble a ete soumis a des niveaux croissants de chargemeni sismique, correspondant a differents etats-limiles du pont. La reponse mesuree du specimen a ele comparee aux previsions d'un modele 3D par elements finis non-lineaire lequel a ete prealablement calibre avec les proprietes dynamiques obtenues a partir d'essais dynamiques sous vibrations ambiantes realises in situ. Pendant l'essai d'intensite sismique la plus elevee correspondanl a une periode de retour de 2500 ans pour la region d'activite sismique elevee, le PRFC n'a montre aucun signe d'endommagement et les valeurs de deformations mesurees sur les fibres etaient tres basses, indiquant que la methode de rehabilitation des poteaux a l'aide de PRFC proposee est conservatrice. Mots-cles: viaduc, beton arme, refection parasismique, objectifs de performance, criteres d'endommagement, polymeres renforces de fibres, essais a grande echelle, essais pseudo-dynamiques, essais par sous-structures, modelisation nonlineaire., Introduction Transportation plays a key role in support of Canada's economic activity and in the day-to-day lives of Canadians. Throughout Canada's early development, measures were adopted to enhance transportation safety, [...]

Single-storey braced steel frame buildings (SSBSFs) are currently the most widely used commercial structures, which include strip malls, power centres, warehouses, small and medium-sized industrial plants. The lateral seismic or wind forces acting on such low-rise structures are usually transferred from a metal roof-deck diaphragm to a system of vertical bracing members. Because these flexible roof diaphragms have a considerable effect on the dynamic response of SSBSFs during an earthquake, they also play an important role in the evaluation of the fundamental vibration period, a key parameter in determining the magnitude of the design seismic forces. It is therefore of utmost importance to reliably predict the fundamental period of SSBSFs. This paper presents the results of a four-year field measurement research project on the dynamic behaviour of SSBSFs. The goal of the project was to create a reliable database for the dynamic characteristics of SSBSFs (periods, mode shapes, and damping) and to find a relationship between them and the geometric parameters (height and plan dimensions). The field tests are described, along with the selected buildings and experimental setup. The measured fundamental periods are then compared to the National building code of Canada (NBCC) empirical equations. A statistical analysis of the data, based on different regression models, yielded new proposed building geometric parameters to be used in simple equations for the prediction of the fundamental period of SSBSFs. Key words: ambient vibration, braced frame, dynamic, earthquake, flexible diaphragm, low-rise, seismic design, steel. Les batiments contreventes de faible hauteur en acier (BCFHA) sont presentement les structures commerciales les plus frequemment utilisees pour la construction de mails lineaires, de megacentres commerciaux, d'entrepots et d'usines industrielles de petites et moyennes dimensions. Les forces laterales, sismiques ou engendrees par le vent, agissant sur de telles structures de faible hauteur sont normalement transferees d'un diaphragme de la plate-forme de toit en metal a un systeme de contreventement vertical. Puisque ces diaphragmes de toit flexibles ont un effet considerable sur la reponse dynamique des BCFHA durant un seisme, ils jouent egalement un role de pointe dans l'evaluation de la periode fondamentale de vibration, un parametre cle pour determiner l'amplitude des forces sismiques servant a la conception. Il est donc tres important de predire avec exactitude la periode fondamentale des BCFHA. Cet article presente les resultants d'un projet de recherche de quatre ans de mesures sur le terrain concernant le comportement dynamique des BCFHA. L'objectif etait de creer une base de donnees fiable pour les caracteristiques dynamiques des BCFHA (frequences, formes de modes et amortissement) et de trouver une relation entre ces caracteristiques et les parametres geometriques (hauteur et empreinte). Les essais sur le terrain, les batiments selectionnes et le montage experimental sont decrits. Les periodes fondamentales mesurees sont ensuite comparees aux equations empiriques contenues dans le Code national du batiment du Canada (CNBC). Une analyse statistique des donnees, basee sur divers modeles de regression, a donne de nouveaux parame tres geometriques des batiments proposes qui seront utilises dans des equations simples afin de predire la periode fondamentale des BCFHA. Mots-cles : vibrations ambiantes, contreventement, dynamique, seisme, diaphragme flexible, immeuble de taille basse, conception sismique, acier. [Traduit par la Redaction], 1. Introduction Single-storey braced steel frame (SSBSF) buildings are currently the most widely used commercial structures, which include strip malls, power centres, warehouses, small and medium-sized industrial plants, etc. The [...]