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Objectives There is a lack of consensus regarding what constitutes cognitively normal performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) based on demographic characteristics. Further, research regarding normative data on the MoCA for middle‐aged individuals is relatively limited. The current study sought to provide age‐ and education‐corrected normative data for the MoCA in a large epidemiological cohort of cognitively healthy middle‐aged and older adults with characteristics similar to the original validation sample of the MoCA. Methods Participants were from Generation 3 and Omni 2 cohorts of the Framingham Heart Study (n = 2637; 91.43% non‐Hispanic White) who were determined to be cognitively unimpaired at the time of MoCA assessment (Mean age = 53.56 years, age range = 32–83 years, 63.71% ≥ college‐educated). Normative data were generated by age in 10‐year intervals and education (≤ high school, some college, or ≥ college degree). Analysis of variance was used to examine the relationship between MoCA performance, age, and education. Results The average MoCA score across all participants was close to the revised MCI cutoff of 23 (M = 24.69, SD = 3.03). The average MoCA score for individuals over the age of 60 was below the recently suggested MCI cutoff score of 23 points. Similarly, individuals above the age of 70 scored below the revised cutoff score of 23 points, irrespective of level of education. Further, performance of participants below the age of 40 who were college educated was similar to the frequently used original MCI cutoff score of 26 (M = 26.28, SD = 2.41). Conclusions Results are consistent with previous literature suggesting that the original MoCA cutoff score of 26 may result in a high rate of false positives. Findings indicate that the recently suggested MCI cutoff score of 23 on the MoCA may also be artificially high. Using inappropriate normative data for the MoCA can impact diagnostic accuracy as well as misclassification in research settings. These findings highlight the need for the use of demographically appropriate, population‐based normative data for the MoCA in clinical and research settings.

ANTWERP - Even as technical problems and environmental concerns are raising questions about the economics of developing Snap Lake in the Northwest Territories into a profitable diamond mine, De Beers remains publicly committed to what could be its first mine outside Africa. De Beers made its surprise offer for all outstanding common shares of Winspear in a cash transaction valued at around $259- million, a 77% premium on the shares. Subsequently, De Beers paid an even higher premium to Aber Diamond Corporation for the 33% balance in the project to get full control. This also counts for the Victor mine at Attawapiskat in the James Bay Lowlands in Ontario. Here, too, De Beers will have to agree to local demands and, as one local official said, \"They are facing the same problem, even though Ontario's economy does not necessarily need them the way the NWT needed a mine when Ekati was discovered.\"

Joseph Gutnick, chairman, CEO and president of Tahera, said: \"[The deal] is an important milestone because a boutique diamond company recognizes the quality of our diamonds. For us, we get paid immediately for our diamonds and have the option to polish the diamonds, thus we will be able to enhance the value of the diamonds and increase revenues.\" Tahera said it plans to finance the project through a combination of debt and equity, in which Lazare Kaplan would invest US$4- million and receive warrants for common shares of Tahera at a price of $0.22 per share, giving the New-York based company a 10% stake in Tahera. Black & White Photo: Carlo Allegri, National Post / Joseph Gutnick, president and CEO of Tahera, calls the agreement with boutique diamond company Lazare Kaplan \"an important milestone.\"

Bob Gannicott, president and chief executive of Aber, linked up with the doyen of luxury brands Tiffany & Co. in July 1999, when Tiffany bought 15% of Aber for $104-million and agreed to buy a minimum of $50-million worth each year of Aber's share of Diavik's diamonds. The move triggered criticism in the diamond trade, but earned Aber a solid name in the banking community that would later help it finance its stake in the Diavik mine in what was the first time a group of banks helped to debt finance a diamond company in the development of a diamond mine.

Australia's Argyle mine, the world's largest single diamond producer by volume, has decided to stockpile its output for the first time since it broke ranks with De Beers and ceased using the Central Selling Organisation in 1996. \"We are taking pressure off our customers because we want them to be in good shape when the market improves,\" said Peter Topen, head of Argyle's sales office in Antwerp.

New technology has made the Aalsmeer Flower Auction (VBA), near Schiphol airport in the Netherlands, the Wall Street of the flower trade - with indices, futures and remote buying facilities over the internet. What started 90 years ago on the billiards table of a cafe in the Dutch city of Aalsmeer is now the largest plant and flower auction in the world in terms of supply and volumes, handling 19m flowers and 2m plants a day. Annual turnover is nearly Fl 3.2bn ({XEU}1.45bn.) It also developed the index to set the international prices. The VBA is now the price-setter for flora products throughout the world and is keen to maintain its position with new technology for its trading platform, and for trade outside the traditional Dutch auction clock, through which the bulk of its goods are sold.

Concern is mounting over liquidity problems in the diamond trade. ABN Amro, the biggest diamond financing bank, and the Antwerp Diamond Bank (ADB) have taken steps to monitor purchases of rough diamonds by De Beers customers. Antwerp-based members of the De Beers rough diamond cartel, now De Beers Investments (DBI), have been asked to give details of the rough diamonds that they request from DBI and also to inform the banks about their rough purchases.