Seedling emergence from organic and mineral soil layers was measured for nine study sites at the Acadia Forest Experiment Station near Fredericton, New Brunswick. The number of viable seeds showed a decrease from deciduous-dominated forest, to conifer-dominated forest, to organic soil study sites. Viable seed number varied from 3400/m2 for a deciduous-dominated forest study site to zero for a bog study site. Most seeds germinated from the upper organic soil layers of all study sites and were predominantly Rubus strigosus Michx. After the germination experiment, ungerminated seeds, which showed no viability by the tetrazolium test, were separated from the soil. These seeds were almost entirely Betula spp. and seed numbers were as high as 4200–9400/m2 for a deciduous-dominated forest. The applicability of the results to differing types of postdisturbance revegetation is discussed.

BACKGROUND: The medication therapy management (MTM) program identified high-risk members in a large employer group and invited them to participate in an MTM program. The intervention consisted of at least 3 consultations with a clinical pharmacist to review and discuss drug therapy. The goal was to improve drug therapy adherence and clinical outcomes.

Adverse drug events and the challenges of clarifying and adhering to complex medication regimens are central drivers of hospital readmissions. Medication reconciliation programs can reduce the incidence of adverse drug events after discharge, but evidence regarding the impact of medication reconciliation on readmission rates and health care costs is less clear. We studied an insurer-initiated care transition program based on medication reconciliation delivered by pharmacists via home visits and telephone and explored its effects on high-risk patients. We examined whether voluntary program participation was associated with improved medication use, reduced readmissions, and savings net of program costs. Program participants had a 50 percent reduced relative risk of readmission within thirty days of discharge and an absolute risk reduction of 11.1 percent. The program saved $2 for every $1 spent. These results represent real-world evidence that insurer-initiated, pharmacist-led care transition programs, focused on but not limited to medication reconciliation, have the potential to both improve clinical outcomes and reduce total costs of care.

From an analysis of fire records in New Brunswick for the period of 1920–1975, the fire history and rotation patterns are presented. Mean and median annual burns have been 12 000 ha (0.15% of the province) and 2500 ha (0.03% of the province), respectively, but the fire rotations have been widely different for different vegetation types. The most extensively burned vegetation type of red spruce – hemlock – pine has had a fire rotation period of 230 years. Hardwood and high-elevation conifer vegetation types have had fire rotation periods of over 1000 years.

This pilot study tested a videotape intervention designed to improve patient self-management of heart failure (HF). Content of the video series (produced professionally under a federal grant) is based on national, scientifically validated guidelines for HF home management. Outcomes tested were HF knowledge, symptom reporting, and functional status. Participants were 10 newly diagnosed HF patients (mean age 67). After viewing the tapes, data indicated participants had a clinically relevant improvement in HF knowledge, and improved or maintained HF health status. None were rehospitalized during the 60-day follow-up period. One patient contacted his/her physician to report weight gain, as prompted by the videotapes. The cost data indicated that patients paid $177 out of pocket monthly for medications and all were low income. These results indicate the need for further testing of the videotape as a potentially cost-effective method of teaching about HF self-management and daily home self-monitoring.