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This phenomenographic study explores the intentions, ideals, and practices that shape educational leaders' conceptions of curriculum integration. The study uses documents and interviews to analyse the integrative elements of three of Quebec's key educational reform documents: The final report from the commissioners of the Estates General on Education; Reaffirming the mission of our schools: Report of the task force on curriculum reform ; and the Quebec Education Program. Fifteen curriculum reform leaders who participated in the process of drafting these documents were interviewed about their conceptions of curriculum integration. The conceptual framework used to study Quebec's conceptions of curriculum integration stemmed from the review of the research literature. This study's revised framework may provide curriculum developers and other educational leaders with a template for exploring integrative intents, ideals, and practices coherent with their conceptions.

I studied two aspects of the ecology of amphibians in southwestern Quebec, an area characterized by a mosaic of small forests interspersed by cultivated land and by the presence of rare species at the northern limits of their distribution. One aim was to determine how forest age after clearcutting affected woodland amphibians. Path analysis was used to compare different causal effects of forest age on Plethodon cinereus density in 22 deciduous forests of 30, 60 and $>$90 years old. Repopulation of Plethodon followed forest litter recovery, 30 to 60 years after clearcutting. However, the effect of forest age was overridden by that of microtopography and soil texture. Rana sylvatica seemed also sensitive to clearcutting while Bufo americanus, Ambystoma maculatum and A. laterale seemed much less sensitive. / A second aim was to determine the status and habitat of stream salamanders at the northern edge of the Adirondacks. Sixty stream sections were sampled. Eurycea bislineata was widespread (in 47 sites) and abundant, especially where rocks were numerous on the shore. The distributions of Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (8 sites) and, to a lesser extent, of Desmognathus fuscus (11 sites) were positively correlated with altitude and the presence of forest. It is proposed that these locations might offer the temperate and oxygenated waters needed by these species during winter and summer. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Over the years the demand for butter in Canada has decreased resulting in a surplus of butter. In 1965 the per capita consumption of butter in Canada was 8.23 Kg which decreased by about 70% to 2.66 Kg in 1994. Previous research indicates that consumers are switching from butter to margarine due to concerns about heart disease and high cholesterol levels in butter. Therefore, a market study was conducted in Montreal to estimate the potential demand for a new product called "modified" butter which would create 50% less cholesterol in the body than regular butter. When the concept of "modified" butter was introduced, out of 157 respondents about 80% of the respondents indicated that they would buy "modified" butter. Also, the total quantity of margarine demanded in a month decreased by 47% and the regular butter demand decreased by 85%. The market share of "modified" butter comes to about 67%. The average of the price that the consumers are willing to pay for a kilogram of "modified" butter is $7.50. A detailed cost analysis shows that the production cost of ``modified'' butter at the experimental level is high, but the average costs show a decreasing trend when the scale of production is increased. If the economies of scale were to continue along the derived cost curves, 7 tons of "modified" butter would have to be produced to reach the break-even point of $7.50/Kg cost of production. This shows the industrial potential of producing large quantities of ``modified'' butter by taking advantage of the economies of scale. Furthermore, the overall sales of butter (regular butter plus ``modified'' butter) would increase by about 25 % which would boost the consumption of butter in Canada.

Despite discrimination in mainstream Canadian society, local Muslim communities are a significant resource for immigrants. Recruited by friendship and kin networks, some families chose to educate their children in private full-time Muslim schools which provide academic/economic credentials and social support. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, this research depicts a Muslim school in Montreal which both reflects Quebec society and nurtures minority ethnic/religious identity. For many parents, Arabic language classes, academic standards, and behavioral norms were as important as the school's religious affiliation. Rejecting the hypothesis that emphasizing religious and cultural identities distanced children from mainstream society, some felt that the psychological and social effects of affirming a child's background were vital to integration and participation in mainstream society. In addition, the school also provided entry into social networks which offered parents an important support system.