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Clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics (PGx) into routine care will elevate the current paradigm of treatment decisions. However, while PGx tests are increasingly becoming reliable and affordable, several barriers have limited their widespread usage in Canada. Globally, over ninety successful PGx implementors can serve as models. The purpose of this paper is to outline the PGx implementation barriers documented in Quebec (Canada) to suggest efficient solutions based on existing PGx clinics and propose an adapted clinical implementation model. We conclude that the province of Quebec is ready to implement PGx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some data call into question the persistence of developmental language disorders (DLDs) identified during the preschool period. For this reason, speech–language pathologists (SLPs) often reassess children. However, it is unclear if the instability of the profiles documented in community sample studies is present in children referred to specialized clinics. Given the scarcity of SLP resources, is re‐evaluating the language skills of these children a good use of clinical time? Aim: To examine the stability of the findings from two SLP assessments in a sample of Canadian preschool children referred to a tertiary clinic between the ages of 2 and 6 years. It was hypothesized that children under the age of 4 years at first assessment and children with less severe initial deficits would show less stability of DLD diagnosis. Methods & Procedures: The clinical files of children referred to an early childhood psychiatric clinic in Canada were reviewed. For 149 children with two SLPs assessment reports, persistence of language deficits was documented and tested with McNemar's statistics. Differences between preschoolers under the age of 4 versus 4 years and over, as well as between mildly and severely impaired children, were examined. Outcomes & Results: High level of agreement (94%) and McNemar's test (p = 0.180) supported the stability of initial diagnosis. The stability for children assessed before the age of 4 (n = 64) was 100%, and was significantly different from older children's (n = 85) stability of 89% (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.01; bilateral). The stability for children with mild impairments (n = 18) was 78%, which was significantly lower than the stability (97%) in children with severe impairments (n = 114) (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.007; bilateral). Conclusions & Implications: No instability of language status was observed in children assessed before 4 years of age, which could be related to the significant severity of the difficulties that children in this age group presented and be specific to this type of clinical sample. The great stability of language status observed in preschoolers referred to a specialized clinic suggests that clinicians should limit reassessments to devote available resources to intervention efforts. What this paper adds: What is already known on this subject?: Previous research that has demonstrated important instability in the classification of language impairment before 4 years of age gathered data mainly by screening the general population or was not based on a comprehensive clinical assessment. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: This study investigated the classification stability of DLD between two comprehensive SLP assessments in a clinical sample of Canadian preschoolers. The results indicate great stability of language status assessed before 4 years old in this population, suggesting that severity of impairments may trump the age factor in this group. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: In the case of children referred to a specialized clinic, clinicians and policymakers should be aware that DLD diagnosis made before 4 years of age remains stable during preschool age, and that a best practice with this population would be to abandon unnecessary testing in favour of early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected care leavers in Quebec, a social group already facing obstacles to social integration. Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 48 participants and analysed through Castel's zones of vulnerability model. Results suggest that youth who entered the pandemic with more vulnerabilities were more affected by it in all dimensions of their lives. However, results also suggest that the presence of a strong social support network protects even the most vulnerable ones from being overly afflicted, highlighting the importance of interventions that reinforce care leaver's social support network during times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Responsive, integrated and sustainable health systems require that communities take an active role in service design and delivery. Much of the current literature focuses on provider‐led initiatives to gain community input, raising concerns about power imbalances inherent in invited forms of participation. This paper provides an alternate view, exploring how, in a period following reforms, community actors forge network alliances to (re)gain legitimacy and capacities to coproduce health services with system providers. Methods: A longitudinal case study traced the network‐building efforts over 3 years of a working group formed by citizens and community actors working with seniors, minorities, recent immigrants, youth and people with disabilities. The group came together over concerns about reforms that impacted access to health services and the ability of community groups to mediate access for vulnerable community residents. Data were collected from observation of the group's meetings and activities, documents circulated within and by the group, and semi‐directed interviews. The first stage of analysis used social network mapping to reveal the network development achieved by the working group; a second traced network maturation, based on actor–network theory. Results: Network mapping revealed how the working group mobilized existing links and created new links with health system actors to explore access issues. Problematization appeared as an especially important stage in network development in the context of reforms that disrupted existing collaborative relationships and introduced new structures and processes. Conclusion: Network‐building strategies enable community actors to enhance their capacity for coproduction. A key contribution lies in the creation of 'organizational infrastructure'. Patient or Public Contribution: The lead researcher was embedded over 3 years in the activities of the community groups and community residents. Several group members provided comments on an initial draft of this paper. To preserve the anonymity of the group, their names do not appear in the acknowledgements section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface water pCO2 and pCH4 measurements were made in Québec (Canada) during consecutive seasons from 2006 to 2008 in two boreal reservoirs and nearby lakes. The goal of this follow-up was to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from the water bodies studied, through flux calculations using the Thin Boundary Layer Model. Our measurements underscored the winter CO2 accumulation due to ice cover and the importance of a reliable estimation of spring diffusive emissions as the ice breaks up. We clearly demonstrated that in our systems, CH4 diffusive fluxes (in terms of CO2 equivalent) were of minor importance in the GHG emissions, with CO2 diffusive fluxes generally representing more than 95% of the annual diffusive fluxes. We also noted the extent of CO2 spring diffusive emissions (16% to 52%) in the annual budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the creation of the Ciba Specialty Chemicals Industrial Chair in Paper Chemicals by Université du Québec à Trois-Riviéres in Quebec and Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. The aim of the position is to optimize the possible uses of paper in printing. The holder of the chair is François Brouillette of the Department of Chemistry and Biology at the university.

Genetic counseling is a fast-growing profession worldwide, with genetic counselors taking on increasingly comprehensive and autonomous roles in the healthcare sector. However, the absence of appropriate legal frameworks could potentially create risks of harm to the public. Legal recognition serves to protect the public from risk of harm by regulating the safe and competent practice of healthcare professionals. Genetic counseling is not legally recognized in most world jurisdictions. Examination of the legal status of genetic counseling in different jurisdictions and whether existing legal mechanisms are adequate to address potential risks of harm is therefore timely. This paper examines the different roles of genetic counselors in the Canadian province of Quebec and the state of Qatar, the authors’ respective jurisdictions. It considers the types of harms that may be created where appropriate legal mechanisms are lacking, considering the socio-political and legal differences between the two jurisdictions. Moreover, it examines the legal status of genetic counseling in Quebec and Qatar to determine whether these statuses appropriately address the identified risks of harm. The authors argue that existing legal frameworks are inadequate to address these risks and recommend that additional regulatory mechanisms be implemented to properly protect the public from risks of harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortage of public service workers in northern Indigenous communities presents a twofold problem: how to rapidly hire professionals, often nonindigenous people from the South, and how to ensure that their integration overcomes systemic racism. This paper examines mechanisms that could provide better relationships between nonindigenous people from the South and Innu and Naskapi communities of Quebec's North Shore, especially in the workplace. Interviews were conducted with key figures in the education, health, and social services sectors to shed light on the dynamics of awareness, formation, integration, and retention at the individual, workplace, community, territory, and regional levels. The results highlight the importance of the processes of openness to the northern and Indigenous realities (northernization and indigenization) as an overall way of improving intercultural relationships in Indigenous working places. Messages clés: La pénurie de main‐d'œuvre en éducation, santé et services sociaux dans les communautés autochtones du Nord est criante et mène à l'embauche de professionnel·le·s provenant du Sud.La recherche soulève les besoins en matière de sensibilisation, d'intégration et d'intériorisation des réalités autochtones et nordiques, qui passent par l'autochtonisation et l'anordissement des professionnel·le·s.Les résultats énoncent qu'afin de créer un meilleur espace de rencontre interculturel, des mécanismes d'intégration des professionnel·le·s doivent être simultanément entrepris aux échelles individuelle, professionnelle, communautaire, territoriale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST). Searches were conducted in August 2021 on four electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible papers included cross-sectional validation studies evaluating the psychometric properties of all QUEST versions. Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient, and comparison tools were reported. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Nineteen studies were included in this systematic review. Results showed that the QUEST and QUEST 2.0 were available in 10 languages, and most validation studies analysed this tool in patients using mobility devices in various clinical conditions. One article analysed the child version (QUEST 2.1) in English. The most analysed psychometric property was Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency in 14 out of 19 studies, with values ranging between 0.74 and 0.79. Overall, 17 out of 19 studies were of adequate quality, though responsiveness was never studied. Our systematic review showed that the QUEST and its subsequent versions are reliable and valid measurement instruments to evaluate satisfaction in patients with different disabilities using various assistive technologies. This study provides useful information on the instrument's psychometric properties in different populations and cultures. This systematic review verify the appropriateness of the "Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology" (QUEST), as a measure of satisfaction; This systematic review allow clinicians to keep up to date with new versions of the tool, new countries of validation and population in which it can be used. This study supports clinicians in making informed decisions when choosing assessment tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind stability and design loads of long-span bridges are assessed applying experimental and theoretical methods. The commonly used approach entails the extraction of fundamental aerodynamic data of key structural elements such as the deck, towers, and cables, either experimentally or numerically, and the application of theoretical models for evaluation of structural responses to turbulent winds. This phenomenon called buffeting is extremely complex and, to date, there is no closed-form theoretical model to reproduce how the wind converts to structural responses and loads which the bridge must resist. The objective of this paper is to explore the base of the problem, namely the transformation of wind gusts to actual loads, and the response estimations. The time domain response approach has been adopted for solution of the generalized equations of motion allowing the exploration of details in the performance of various theoretical interpretations. Starting from the classic quasi-static linear model, theoretical simplifications are removed toward a more complete model of buffeting loads. Non-linear and aerodynamic coupling effects on response predictions are examined specifically aiming at improved buffeting load representations within the framework of the currently available experimental data. A new concept called stack state-space analysis has been introduced for the response solution to wind buffeting. Aerodynamic and structural data of Pierre-Laporte Bridge in Québec City, and the IABSE Working Group 10, long-span bridge validation example, are utilized as representative cases in this study. Avenues for further experimental and numerical validations of the presented new solution approach are suggested toward more accurate predictions of wind response and design loads of long-span bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Purpose: Clubfoot is a common disorder among newborns which impedes the patient's ability to walk normally if left untreated. There exists a debate on the most effective way to treat clubfoot; surgical methods, such as the posteromedial release and percutaneous achilles tenotomy, are preferred by some surgeons, while non-operative methods, including the Ponseti and French methods, are favored by others. One technique that has recently gained traction in the assessment of clubfoot treatment is gait analysis, which uses motion-capture technology to record several parameters of movement in patients with clubfoot to assess their function compared to healthy controls. In this study, we aim to analyze existing literature on motioncapture data to compare ankle power and walking speed in clubfoot patients who were treated operatively and non-operatively. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane publications to identify all available literature on clubfoot. Using PRISMA guidelines and a string of MeSH terms, all available articles on clubfoot were identified. The literature was then screened so that only articles containing more than three human subjects on pediatric patients with detailed gait analysis outcomes were selected. Initially, 26 papers on gait analysis were included, from which nine were excluded due to repeated papers and those on patients with secondary clubfoot. From the remaining papers, 11 had relevant outcome measures which were extracted including patient number, age, ankle power, and walking speed. All steps of screening were screened so that two authors independently verified that each paper met criteria for inclusion. Results: Initial search revealed 6469 articles. After review, 11 remained. Average age of surgical patients was 8.35, and the average age was 5.5 for non-surgical patients. In surgically treated clubfeet, the average ankle power was 1.591 W/kg (stdev = 0.702W/kg). In non-surgically treated clubfeet, the average ankle power was 2.334 W/kg (stdev = 0.792W/kg). Analysis via t-test revealed no significant difference between ankle power in surgically treated and non-surgically treated clubfeet (p = .125). When assessing walking speed, the average among surgically treated clubfeet was 0.721m/s (stdev = 0.136m/s), whereas in nonoperatively treated clubfeet, the average was 0.99m/s (stdev = 0.212m/s). This difference was not statistically significant (t-test, p=0.072). Conclusion: This systematic review of motion-capture data revealed that there is no significant difference in ankle power or walking speed between surgically treated and non-surgically treated clubfeet. This may have been affected by the age difference between the cohorts. The need for further research in this area is evident due to the low volume of material on gait analysis despite the detailed metrics provided by this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Purpose: Lisfranc injuries range from sprains to fracture-dislocations of the tarsometatarsal joints which include injury to the Lisfranc ligament complex. Most require surgical intervention. However, apparently stable injuries can be managed nonoperatively. The aims of the current study were to perform a systematic review of outcomes following nonoperative treatment of Lisfranc injuries. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines and PROSPERO registered, a review was performed of the literature (2000 - 2021) reporting Lisfranc injuries considered to be stable and initially managed nonoperatively. Following exclusions, 8 papers were identified; 1 prospective and 7 retrospective studies. A total of 220 patients were studied with a mean age of 39.8 years and mean follow up of 4.3 years. Outcomes included function, displacement, rates of surgery and secondary osteoarthritis. Results: Four papers reported good outcomes, with adjusted functional scores ranging from of 82.6 to 100 (out of 100). However, poor outcomes were frequently reported. One paper reported that late displacement occurred in 54% of patients. Surgical intervention was required in 12.2 to 55.6% of patients. Rates of secondary osteoarthritis were 4.9 to 37.5%. Two papers directly compared operative to non-operative treatment. In an injury matched cohort, superior outcomes were reported in the surgical arm. Numerous limitations were identified, including a lack of consensus on what constitutes a stable injury. Furthermore, wide heterogeneity was identified due to use of different classification systems, PROMS, investigation modalities and treatment protocols. Conclusion: Reported outcomes following nonoperative treatment of Lisfranc injuries vary widely, including high rates of conversion to surgery. There is no agreed definition of what a stable Lisfranc injury is, and no agreed treatment protocol. With the advantage of modern imaging techniques, prospective research is needed to determine which Lisfranc injuries can be safely treated nonoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routing regular and dangerous commodities in railway freights transportation is discussed in this paper. Based on a link-based modeling approach, a mixed integer nonlinear programing model is developed. The model takes into account weather stability conditions of urban and rural areas and spatial distribution of risk at yards and around links as it impacts these zones along the routes. This paper also discusses the advantages of using bifurcation of flows on risk-cost tradeoffs and route planning decisions. The widely used nonlinear risk function is linearized and then the problem was solved to optimality using a commercial software. Results of the experiments on two hypothetical networks and one based on the rail network of the Province of Québec in Canada are presented and analyzed. Routing decisions associated with both variants of the proposed model with bifurcation of the material flows are compared to obtain managerial insights on the model in solving hazmat freight routing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fifty-sixth annual conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) was held at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure in Montreal, Quebec on May 17 to 20, 2001. The conference theme was Making Connections. Some eight hundred public opinion researchers accepted the invitation to meet colleagues and friends and to participate in the interdisciplinary program. The special character of the annual conference clearly distinguishes it from other professional meetings. Despite steady growth in attendance over recent years, it is a relatively small conference. Its limited duration, its submission review process and its carefully variegated slate of paper session topics constrain the number of opportunities for being on the program. With the traditional meals and social events, the AAPOR conference presents a higher quality, more intimate and more interdisciplinary experience than can be found at many academic, governmental, or commercial meetings. The structure of the meeting limits, among other things, opportunities to attract new AAPOR members, the willingness of exhibitors and publishers to display their wares, the range of topics covered in the program and the conference revenue that AAPOR could employ for worthwhile purposes.

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The collaborative care model is a well‐known model to improve care quality for people with common mental disorders and physical conditions in primary care.The role of care manager is central to the collaborative care model, and primary care nurses are well‐positioned to play that role.Adopting the role of care manager by primary care nurses is challenging due to several contextual factors; however, few implementation studies examined the context and current practices before implementing the role of care manager and the collaborative care model. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: The paper contributes to the advancement of knowledge about the pre‐assessment of current practices before implementing the collaborative care model and the role of care manager.The paper offers a better understanding of the relationships between the context and the performance of care management activities by primary care nurses.The paper describes an innovative analysis technique to assess the gap between care management activities recommended in the collaborative care model and actual nursing activities. What are the implications for practice?: Primary care nurses would benefit from having timely access to clinical support from mental health nurse practitioners in order to build their competency.Determinants of practice and the analysis technique to assess current practices will help other researchers or quality improvement teams to develop their plan when implementing the role of care manager. Introduction: Few studies assessed current nursing practices before implementing the collaborative care model and the role of care manager for people with common mental disorders (CMDs) and physical conditions in primary care settings. Aim: Evaluate the main determinants of practice that influence the adoption of care management activities by primary care nurses for people with CMDs and physical conditions. Methods: A qualitative multiple case study was conducted in three primary care clinics. A total of 33 participants were recruited. Various data sources were combined: interviews (n = 32), nurse–patient encounters' observations (n = 7), documents and summaries of meetings with stakeholders (n = 8). Results: Seven determinants were identified (1) access to external mental health resources; (2) clarification of local CMD care trajectory; (3) compatibility between the coordination of nursing work and the role of care manager; (4) availability of mental health resources within the primary care clinic; (5) competency in care management and competency building; (6) responsibility sharing between the general practitioner and the primary care nurse; and (7) common understanding of the patient treatment plan. Implications for practice: To build their competency in care management for people with CMDs, primary care nurses would benefit from having clinical support from mental health nurse practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study that draws upon a collaborative research strategy and has two main objectives: 1) Translating and adapting into French the Measure of Victim Empowerment Related to Safety (MOVERS scale) (Goodman et al. Psychology of Violence, 5(4), 355-366, 2015a); 2) Validating the French version of the MOVERS scale in a population of French-Canadian women receiving shelter services. The French-Canadian MOVERS (FCM) was administered to 189 women receiving shelter services in the province of Québec (Canada). The factorial structure, reliability and validity of the FCM were tested. This paper highlights that the FCM replicates the three dimensions found in the original version (Goodman et al. Psychology of Violence, 5(4), 355-366, 2015a), displays significant correlations with measures of depression, anxiety and stress, self-esteem, perceived social support, satisfaction with life and self-efficacy, and has overall good reliability estimates. The FCM is a valid and reliable scale to assess safety-related empowerment among women receiving shelter services. Furthermore, the scale provides interesting opportunities to shelter workers, which will be discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital environments have expanded the forms of cultural participation. This paper has two aims: first, to elucidate the changing definitions of cultural participation in relation to digital environments; second, to examine the ways in which cultural policies respond to the new digital conditions of cultural participation. Focusing on Quebec (Canada), this paper is based on a critical review of grey literature in the public policy. We identified three main goals pursued by Quebec cultural policies regarding digital participation: 1) to produce and disseminate national cultural content; 2) to encourage cultural equity and diversity; 3) to encourage digital equity. The analysis shows that these goals partially exceed the scope of cultural policies to intersect with economic, educational, and youth policies. We also argue that policy frameworks and funding programs in support of cultural policies tend to legitimize an overlap of civic, commercial, and industrial logics of cultural participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major natural disasters have different impacts on our lives. There are the direct consequences of the event, but when the situation is under control and the damages under repair, it is time to review what we can improve to minimize the consequences of a future event. The present paper reviews the direct consequences of a natural flood that occurred in the province of Quebec and its impact on our approach to evaluate the risk of such an event and minimize the risks in the future. The paper is divided into two parts. The first part is an overview of the 1996 Saguenay Flood caused by a three-day intense rainstorm over the Saguenay and North Shore areas in Quebec, including a description of the area, the characteristics of this event and the main direct consequences of the flood, particularly on the reservoirs located in this area. The second part is a short discussion about the impact of this particular event on the legislative framework in the province of Quebec and on the dam safety aspect in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that Phoenix, Arizona-based Honeywell Inc. featured its products for the pulp and paper industry at EXFOR 2006 in Montreal, Quebec. The first product is Precision FotoForm Formation Sensor. It incorporates the web monitoring technology by recording the moving paper web and quickly processing and analyzing recorded images from inside the machine in real time. The second product is Quality OptiMISER for Quality Control System. It helps Honeywell Quality Control System customers make faster and more accurate production decisions.

Drawing on Bernstein's concept of recontextualization, this paper explores how mid-level actors interpret and translate curriculum policies in the context of growing concerns about the performance and accountability of education systems. Little is known about the work of recontextualization agents responsible for the professional development, support and control of teachers, uniquely positioned at the interface of policy and practice, and comparative perspectives are even scarcer. Based on empirical research in France and Canada (Quebec), this paper examines the work of pedagogic advisors and inspectors intervening at lower secondary school level. Data are drawn from interviews (n = 24) conducted in three mid-level school authorities. Our comparative analysis brings to the fore specific forms of recontextualization in each education system. In particular it shows important variations in the use of knowledge based on experience and observation and decontextualized knowledge drawing on research and statistical data. Agents also elaborate different discursive strategies projecting contrasting models of teaching. In both contexts, but to varying degrees, the rise of data and 'evidence' is reshaping the missions of mid-level actors, potentially eroding professional discretion and expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on social representations held by professional immigrants and on the notion of trust as a key factor in the integration process. Using a sample of 455 online surveys and focus groups with 29 people, this paper examines the role of trust in the socio-economic integration of Latino professionals belonging to Quebec's Latin American Chamber of Commerce. Placed on a socio-economic integration continuum, the data demonstrate a variety of processes regarding trust in institutions and networks. Positive and negative feelings of trust have a variable impact on the integration of individuals who self-identify as members of a specific cultural group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first wave of SARS-CoV-2 has deeply affected long term care facilities in the province of Quebec. In response, governmental officials took protective measures, such as suspending visits and activities and even requiring residents to self-isolate to their room. Consequently, residents with major cognitive impairments were cut from their routine as well as from significant social interactions, support, and stimulation essential to their well-being. This isolation negatively affected many residents. For some of them, the loss of bearings resulted in newly or deteriorated behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). These residents were then more at risk of contracting the virus or contaminating others. To face this challenge, hotels in the Greater Montreal area were transformed into temporary care facilities. As members of a multidisciplinary team specialized in the management of BPSD, we were asked to support the redeployed staff who had little experience in this domain. In this paper, we present the innovative tools implemented in this uncommon work setting. We also discuss factors identified as facilitating the care and treatment of people with BPSD. This experience leads us to propose avenues toward better BPSD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to study the impact of Walmart's entry on the survival of new and small retail businesses within non‐metropolitan areas in the province of Quebec. To do so, the study covers the years 1999–2007 and focuses on four non‐metropolitan cities. These include two Walmart entry cities, Rimouski and Salaberry‐de‐Valleyfield, and two other cities, where no Walmart was present during the study period, La Pocatière and Sorel‐Tracy. The results of a difference‐in‐differences analysis, conducted through a semi‐parametric Cox proportional hazards model, reveal that the entry of Walmart decreases the risk of closure of the new and small retail businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (IEEE MTT-S) International Microwave Symposium (IMS) was held in Montreal, QC, Canada, on June 17?22, 2012, and the conference Chair introduced several exciting ideas to stimulate paper submissions to the conference. First, the conference committee made a determined effort to increase publicity, especially in Asia. Second, and definitely more controversial, they reduced the paper length from the traditional four pages to three pages. The thought behind this was that it would make it easier for authors to write a journal paper based on the conference paper because the conference paper would not contain as much technical information. Thus, the authors would have an easier time meeting the IEEE MTT-S threshold that every paper, whether conference or journal, must present substantially new technical material. There were a record number of submissions to the IEEE MTT-S IMS, and there were a record number of submissions to this TRANSACTIONS' "Special Issue on the 2012 International Microwave Symposium." In fact, there were too many submissions for the reviewers, the Associate Editors, and me to complete all of the papers before the deadline for the December issue. Therefore, I have divided the IEEE MTT-S IMS "Special Issue on the 2012 International Microwave Symposium" into two parts, which will be published in this TRANSACTIONS' December 2012 and January 2013 issues. In the January 2013 Special Issue, the Editor-in-Chief will write a full editorial detailing the number of papers, the acceptance rate, and my opinion on the success or failure of the three-page experiment. In the meantime, please enjoy this Special Issue with 32 papers based on papers presented at the 2012 IEEE MTT-S IMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on Franciscan missionaries in California has traditionally either emphasized or excused their use of physical violence on indigenous people. This paper adopts a "boundaries" approach to highlight and explain how Franciscans were able to both advocate for and eschew physical coercion on the same target audience without any perceived contradiction. The paper argues that unidirectional group boundaries, often mundane and unproblematic, may, in some instances, validate a paradoxical combination of external voluntarism and internal coercion when employed institutionally. The study concludes with a discussion of the relevance of these theoretical concepts to religion and coercion in contemporary society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiences of nurses who blew the whistle during the COVID‐19 pandemic have exposed gaps and revealed an urgent need to revisit our understanding of whistleblowing. Aim: The aim was to develop a better understanding of whistleblowing during a pandemic by using the experiences and lessons learned of Quebec nurses who blew the whistle during the first wave of COVID‐19 as a case study. More specifically, to explore why and how nurses blew the whistle, what types of wrongdoing triggered their decision to do so and how context shaped the whistleblowing process as well as its consequences (including perceived consequences). Design: The study followed a single‐case study design with three embedded units of analysis. Methods: We used content analysis to analyse 83 news stories and 597 forms posted on a whistleblowing online platform. We also conducted 15 semi‐structured interviews with nurses and analysed this data using a thematic analysis approach. Finally, we triangulated the findings. Results: We identified five themes across the case study. (1) During the first wave of COVID‐19, Quebec nurses experienced a shifting sense of loyalty and relationship to workplace culture. (2) They witnessed exceedingly high numbers of intersecting wrongdoings amplified by mismanagement and long‐standing issues. (3) They reported a lack of trust and transparency; thus, a need for external whistleblowing. (4) They used whistleblowing to reclaim their rights (notably, the right to speak) and build collective solidarity. (5) Finally, they saw whistleblowing as an act of moral courage in the face of a system in crisis. Together, these themes elucidate why and how nurse whistleblowing is different in pandemic times. Conclusion: Our findings offer a more nuanced understanding of nurse whistleblowing and address important gaps in knowledge. They also highlight the need to rethink external whistleblowing, develop whistleblowing tools and advocate for whistleblowing protection. Impact In many ways, the COVID‐19 pandemic has challenged our foundational understanding of whistleblowing and, as a result, it has limited the usefulness of existing literature on the topic for reasons that will be brought to light in this paper. We believe that studying the uniqueness of whistleblowing during a pandemic can address this gap by describing why and how health care workers blow the whistle during a pandemic and situating this experience within a broader social, political, organizational context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the growing body of work on precarious labor, immigration, and social gerontology by examining the racialization of precarious employment across the life course. In particular, the authors examine the impact of precarious employment and discrimination among racialized older immigrants in Canada. Racialized older immigrants are more likely to be disadvantaged by the effects of lifelong intersections of economic and social discrimination rooted in racialization, gender, ageism, and socio-economic status. Drawing from a narrative-photovoice project that focused on the life stories of older immigrants living in Quebec and British Columbia, this paper presents the in-depth stories and photographs of four participants to highlight how intersections of race, gender, age, immigration status, and ability shape and structure experiences of aging, labor market participation and caregiving relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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