Search

Introduction: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) are frequently used for fracture reduction in pediatric emergency departments (ED). Combining intranasal (IN) fentanyl with inhalation of nitrous oxide (N2O) allow for short recovery time and obviates painful and time-consuming IV access insertions.Methods: We performed a bicentric, prospective, observational cohort study. Patients aged 4-18years were included if they received combined PSA with IN fentanyl and N2O for the reduction of mildly/moderately displaced fracture or of dislocation. Facial Pain Scale Revised (FPS-R) and Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scores were used to evaluate pain and anxiety before, during and after procedure. University of Michigan Sedation Score (UMSS), adverse events, detailed side effects and satisfaction of patients, parents and medical staff were recorded at discharge. A follow up telephone call was made after 24-72h.Results: 90 patients were included. There was no difference in FPS-R during the procedure (median score 2 versus 2), but the FLACC score was significantly higher as compared to before (median score 4 versus 0, Δ 2, 95% CI 0, 2). Median UMSS was 1 (95% CI 1, 2). We recorded no serious adverse events. Rate of vomiting was 12% (11/84). Satisfaction was high among participants responding to this question 85/88 (97%) of parents, 74/83 (89%) of patients and 82/85 (96%) of physicians would want the same sedation again.Conclusion: PSA with IN fentanyl and N2O is effective and safe for the reduction of mildly/moderately displaced fracture or dislocation, and has a high satisfaction rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fact that Canada's working population is aging and will continue to do so is no surprise to anyone. What is surprising though is what many of these aging workers are experiencing in the late years of their career: They continue to be the target of negative stereotypes which in turn, reinforce discrimination and marginalization practices. The present study was aimed at understanding the consequences of differential treatment based on age (measured by relative deprivation) from the theoretical perspective of psychological disengagement. A total of 117 Canadian civil servants over the age of 45 participated in this study. According to hypotheses, it was found that feelings of relative deprivation were associated with discounting which in turn led to a decrease in self-esteem. This chain of reactions generated instabilities, fluctuations in self-esteem and through this, questioned the protective role of psychological disengagement. It is only by devaluing their non-prestigious domain of activity that participants seemed to regain stability of their self-esteem. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the work force is aging, views regarding older workers remain negative. As a result, complaints of discrimination on the basis of age have increased. This situation prompts the following questions: what leads aging workers to acknowledge disparities between younger workers and themselves, and what are the consequences for aging workers of integrating into their self-image some of the characteristics commonly associated with their cohort? These questions are examined in light of a new approach to the link between identity and relative deprivation. The following hypotheses were included in a predictive model: the more individuals include characteristics of their group into their self-descriptions, the more they experience personal deprivation when comparing their own situation to that of younger workers. These feelings, in turn, affect them during retirement in terms of lowered self-esteem and decreased satisfaction with their life. This model was tested among 149 young retirees. Hypotheses were confirmed, and it was shown that end-of-career experiences have an impact on the situation of young [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Li4Ti5O12 was obtained by solid-state reaction of a ternary precursor mixture, TiO2, Li2CO3 and carbon. The influences of the reaction time, temperature and mixing method on the electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12 were investigated. Electrochemical measurements and XRD diffraction characterization were used to determine the reversible capacity and TiO2 residue in the final powder, respectively. Between 1.2 and 2.0 V versus Li, a reversible capacity as high as 165 mAh/g at 7.3 mA/g was obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The neuroprotective properties of cystamine identified in pre-clinical studies have fast-tracked this compound to clinical trials in Huntington's disease, showing tolerability and benefits on motor symptoms. We tested whether cystamine could have such properties in a Parkinson's disease murine model and now provide evidence that it can not only prevent the neurodegenerative process but also can reverse motor impairments created by a 6-hydroxydopamine lesion 3 weeks post-surgery. Importantly, we report that cystamine has neurorestorative properties 5 weeks post-lesion as seen on the number of nigral dopaminergic neurons which is comparable with treatments of cysteamine, the reduced form of cystamine used in the clinic, as well as rasagiline, increasingly prescribed in early parkinsonism. All three compounds induced neurite arborization of the remaining dopaminergic cells which was further confirmed in ex vivo dopaminergic explants derived from Pitx3 -GFP mice. The disease-modifying effects displayed by cystamine/cysteamine would encourage clinical testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Negative electrodes containing SiO x were investigated as alternative negative electrodes to carbon for Li-ion batteries. The results obtained on the effect of binders and carbon additives on the electrochemical performance (i.e., reversible capacity, coulombic efficiency, charge–discharge rate capability) of the SiO x –graphite electrode and SiO x electrode are presented. SEM analysis that utilizes facilities for in situ and ex situ studies were applied to better understand the performance and cycle life of the SiO x -based electrodes. The SEM analysis clearly showed that the SiO x particles expand and contract during charge–discharge cycling, and that some of the particles undergo mechanical degradation during this process. The SiO x –graphite electrode with polyimide binder exhibited a stable capacity of 600mAhg−1 during high-rate charge–discharge from C/4 to 1C. These results suggest that the use of a flexible binder like polyimide and reasonably small SiO x particles (nano-particles) facilitates improved cycle life and higher rate capability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: LiFePO4 (LFP) particles were obtained by grinding ingot synthesized in the molten state. This process, followed by jet milling, and then wet milling, provides a simple way to obtain powders with controlled particle size in the range from macroscopic to 25nm. However, at this time, we find that these particles tend to agglomerate to form secondary particles of size ∼100nm. The particles obtained by this process are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). In situ and ex situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of milling was also investigated by analysis of physical properties using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and magnetic measurements. The electrochemical performance was evaluated in cells containing Li/1M LiPF6 in EC:DEC (1:1)/C-LiFePO4. After carbon coating, the LFP particles which are free of impurities, exhibit high-rate capability. Even with a limited amount of carbon (2wt.%) appropriate for commercial batteries, the capacity is 157mAhg−1 at 0.1C, 120mAhg−1 at 10C, without capacity fading after 60 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Physical and electrochemical characteristics of Li-ion battery systems based on LiFePO4 cathodes and graphite anodes with mixture electrolytes were investigated. The mixed electrolytes are based on an ionic liquid (IL), and organic solvents used in commercial batteries. We investigated a range of compositions to determine an optimum conductivity and non-flammability of the mixed electrolyte. This led us to examine mixtures of ILs with the organic electrolyte usually employed in commercial Li-ion batteries, i.e., ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethylene carbonate (DEC). The IL electrolyte consisted of (trifluoromethyl sulfonylimide) (TFSI) as anion and 1-ethyl-3-methyleimidazolium (EMI) as the cation. The physical and electrochemical properties of some of these mixtures showed an improvement characteristics compared to the constituents alone. The safety was improved with electrolyte mixtures; when IL content in the mixture is ≥40%, no flammability is observed. A stable SEI layer was obtained on the MCMB graphite anode in these mixed electrolytes, which is not obtained with IL containing the TFSI-anion. The high-rate capability of LiFePO4 is similar in the organic electrolyte and the mixture with a composition of 1:1. The interface resistance of the LiFePO4 cathode is stabilized when the IL is added to the electrolyte. A reversible capacity of 155mAhg−1 at C/12 is obtained with cells having at least some organic electrolyte compared to only 124mAhg−1 with pure IL. With increasing discharge rate, the capacity is maintained close to that in the organic solvent up to 2C rate. At higher rates, the results with mixture electrolytes start to deviate from the pure organic electrolyte cell. The evaluation of the Li-ion cells; LiFePO4//Li4Ti5O12 with organic and, 40% mixture electrolytes showed good 1st CE at 98.7 and 93.0%, respectively. The power performance of both cell configurations is comparable up to 2C rate. This study indicates that safety and electrochemical performance of the Li-ion battery can be improved by using mixed IL and organic solvents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background . The COVID-19 pandemic led to abrupt occupational disruption for all people. However, some populations, like older adults, were disproportionately impacted particularly in the earlier waves. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand how the occupational participation of community-dwelling older adults was experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the Canadian Model of Occupational Participation (CanMOP) to contextualize findings. Method. Sixty-seven older adults participated in semi-structured interviews from September 2020 to May 2021, 37 of which also participated in a follow-up interview one-year later. Findings. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four themes were generated: (1) experiences of loss are complex and layered for older adults, (2) technology as a medium for occupational participation, (3) risk perception influences return to occupation, and (4) age-related challenges for older adults resuming volunteer work. Conclusion. Increasing frequency and severity of influenza pandemics and other disasters are a global concern, and OTs can use their skillsets to foster participation and expand occupational possibilities for older adults. The CanMOP was a helpful tool to understand the nuances underlying the participation of older adults in this context.

Neonatal dysglycemia has been a longstanding interest of research in neonatology. Adverse outcomes from hypoglycemia were recognized early but are still being characterized. Premature infants additionally introduced and led the reflection on the importance of neonatal hyperglycemia. Cohorts of infants following neonatal encephalopathy provided further information about the impacts of hypoglycemia and, more recently, highlighted hyperglycemia as a central concern for this population. Innovative studies exposed the challenges of management of neonatal glycemic levels with a "u-shape" relationship between dysglycemia and adverse neurological outcomes. Lately, glycemic lability has been recognized as a key factor in adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Research and new technologies, such as MRI and continuous glucose monitoring, offered novel insight into neonatal dysglycemia. Combining clinical, physiological, and epidemiological data allowed the foundation of safe operational definitions, including initiation of treatment, to delineate neonatal hypoglycemia as ≤47 mg/dL, and >150-180 mg/dL for neonatal hyperglycemia. However, questions remain about the appropriate management of neonatal dysglycemia to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes. Research collaborations and clinical trials with long-term follow-up and advanced use of evolving technologies will be necessary to continue to progress the fascinating world of neonatal dysglycemia and neurodevelopment outcomes. IMPACT STATEMENT: Safe operational definitions guide the initiation of treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Innovative studies exposed the challenges of neonatal glycemia management with a "u-shaped" relationship between dysglycemia and adverse neurological outcomes. The importance of glycemic lability is also being recognized. However, questions remain about the optimal management of neonatal dysglycemia to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes. Research collaborations and clinical trials with long-term follow-up and advanced use of evolving technologies will be necessary to progress the fascinating world of neonatal dysglycemia and neurodevelopment outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.)

Neonatal jaundice is a frequent condition in newborns and is commonly treated with phototherapy. We describe the case of a neonate with hemolytic disease of the newborn who developed a rarely described purpuric eruption. Laboratory testing revealed elevated porphyrins., (© 2024 The Authors. Pediatric Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Age-related social biases - ageism - are developed at an early age. Interventions to counter ageism have been identified but little is known about their mechanisms, particularly in children. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of which interventions in youths are most effective, under which circumstances, how, and with what outcomes. Using 46 keywords in 6 databases, a realist review identified 24 studies published between 2000 and 2022 targeting youths under 18. A content analysis of these studies led to the construction of a Context-Mechanisms-Outcomes explanatory model. Contextual facilitators triggering mechanisms for changing stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination were: 1) enhancing knowledge about aging and older adults by providing nuanced information, 2) improving the quality of intergenerational contacts, 3) increasing opportunities to apply previously acquired knowledge in intergenerational interactions, and 4) promoting reflective thinking about experiences with older adults. However, stereotypes and prejudices appeared to be resistant and changes difficult to generalize. Insufficiently advanced cognitive development in children or viewing healthy and socially engaged older adults as unrepresentative of their age group were obstacles that reduced intervention effectiveness. Future studies should explore how advancing age influences interventions as well as the characteristics of older adults involved.

Background: Reactive granulomatous dermatitis (RGD) is a rare and misunderstood skin disorder. It includes interstitial granulomatous dermatitis and palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis: 2 entities of the same spectrum. Multiple associations are described with RGD in the literature, including autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and drugs., Objective: To report and describe the suspected associations with RGD at the time of diagnosis and in the following year., Methods: We retrieved and described cases of RGD confirmed by skin biopsy and clinicopathologic correlation. All patients were evaluated in the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval between January 2000 and December 2020. Collected data include the systemic diseases (autoimmune disease, malignancy) and suspected drugs, in addition to the clinical presentation and prescribed treatments., Results: Out of the 10 patients with RGD, 7 patients were known to have an autoimmune disease at the time of diagnosis. They either had inflammatory arthritis (3/10) or inflammatory bowel disease (4/10). There was a clinical suspicion of a possible association with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor in 2 of these 7 patients. Among the 3 patients with idiopathic RGD at the time of diagnosis, 1 patient developed a high-grade B-cell lymphoma 6 months later. There was no new association identified in the following year for patients with a known autoimmune condition., Conclusion: This descriptive study supports RGD and its previously described systemic associations, particularly autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and certain drugs (specifically TNF inhibitors). The majority of patients already had one of these associations identified at the time of histopathological diagnosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Zoonotic transition of Influenza A viruses is the cause of epidemics with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Predicting which viral strains are likely to transition from their genetic sequence could help in the prevention and response against these zoonotic strains. We hypothesized that features predictive of viral hosts could be leveraged to identify biomarkers of zoonotic viral transition. Methods: We trained deep learning models to predict viral hosts based on the virus mRNA or protein sequences. Our multi-host dataset contained 848,630 unique nucleotide sequences obtained from the NCBI Influenza Virus and Influenza Research Databases. Each sequence, representing one gene from one viral strain, was classified into one of the three host categories: Avian, Human, and Swine. Trained models were analyzed using various neural network interpretation methods to identify interesting candidates for zoonotic transition biomarkers. Results: Using mRNA sequences as input led to higher prediction accuracies than amino acids, suggesting that the codon sequence contains information relevant to viral hosts that is lost during protein translation. UMAP visualization of the latent space of our classifiers showed that viral sequences clustered according to their host of origin. Interestingly, sequences from pandemic zoonotic viral strains localized at the margins between hosts, while zoonotic sequences incapable of Human-to-Human transmission localized with non-zoonotic viruses from the same host. In addition, host prediction for pandemic zoonotic sequences had low prediction accuracy, which was not the case for the other zoonotic strains. This supports our hypothesis that ambiguously predicted viral sequences bear features associated with cross-species infectivity. Finally, we compared misclassified sequences to well-classified ones to extract interesting candidates for zoonotic transition biomarkers. While features varied significantly between pairs of species and viral genes, several codons were conserved in Swine-to-Human and Avian-to-Human misclassified sequences, and in particular in the NA, HA, and NP genes, suggesting their importance for zoonosis in Humans. Discussion: Analysis of viral sequences using neural network interpretation approaches revealed important genetic differences between zoonotic viruses with pandemic potential, compared to non-zoonotic viral strains or zoonotic viruses incapable of Human-to-Human transmission., Competing Interests: Author MD-L was employed by Piercing Star Technologies. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Hatibi, Dumont-Lagacé, Alouani, El Fatimy, Abik and Daouda.)

Ageism toward older workers is prevalent in the labor market. The present study aimed to understand psychosocial mechanisms that may counteract this form of discrimination and help retain workers in the labor force. Using a sample of 500 Canadian younger and older workers, this study tested a model hypothesizing that intergenerational contacts and knowledge sharing practices can reduce ageist views about older adults and age-based discrimination against one's own group, and in turn, enhance work engagement and intentions to remain in the workplace. The final model shows that knowledge sharing practices mediate the relationship between intergroup contacts and positive views about older workers as well as age-based discrimination. It also suggests that low levels of age-based discrimination increase work engagement and intentions to remain in the organization for workers of all ages. Practice and policy implications are discussed.

Pregnancy causes abrupt thymic atrophy. This atrophy is characterized by a severe decrease in the number of all thymocyte subsets and qualitative (but not quantitative) changes in thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Pregnancy-related thymic involution is triggered by progesterone-induced functional changes affecting mainly cortical TECs (cTECs). Remarkably, this severe involution is rapidly corrected following parturition. We postulated that understanding the mechanisms of pregnancy-related thymic changes could provide novel insights into signaling pathways regulating TEC function. When we analyzed genes whose expression in TECs was modified during late pregnancy, we found a strong enrichment in genes bearing KLF4 transcription factor binding motifs. We, therefore, engineered a Psmb11-iCre : Klf4 lox/lox mouse model to study the impact of TEC-specific Klf4 deletion in steady-state conditions and during late pregnancy. Under steady-state conditions, Klf4 deletion had a minimal effect on TEC subsets and did not affect thymic architecture. However, pregnancy-induced thymic involution was much more pronounced in pregnant females lacking Klf4 expression in TECs. These mice displayed a substantial ablation of TECs with a more pronounced loss of thymocytes. Transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses of Klf4 -/- TECs revealed that Klf4 maintains cTEC numbers by supporting cell survival and preventing epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity during late pregnancy. We conclude that Klf4 is essential for preserving TEC's integrity and mitigating thymic involution during late pregnancy., Competing Interests: Author MD-L was employed by the companies ExCell Thera, Inc. and Piercing Star Technologies. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Depoërs, Dumont-Lagacé, Trinh, Houques, Côté, Larouche, Brochu and Perreault.)

Using self-determination theory among a sample of student employees, the present cross-sectional study ( N = 358) examines how mentors' interpersonal behaviors relate to both motivation at work and motivation for a mentoring relationship and how these two contexts of motivation can differentially relate to mentees' work outcomes. Results revealed that mentors' need-supportive interpersonal behaviors were associated with greater autonomous motivation at work and in the mentoring relationship and, in turn, to greater well-being and work engagement, and to lower turnover intentions. In contrast, need-thwarting interpersonal behaviors were associated with greater controlled motivation at work and in the mentoring relationship and, in turn, to lower well-being and work engagement, and to greater turnover intentions. Overall, this study illustrates the impact of the mentor-mentee relationship on motivation for work and for the mentoring relationship and provided support for the contribution of both motivational contexts in the work-related outcomes of employees in the workplace., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2021.)

Background: This study's objective was to examine emergency department (ED) workers' perspectives during the Canadian COVID-19 first wave., Methods: This qualitative study included workers from nine Canadian EDs who participated in 3 monthly video focus groups between April and July 2020 to explore (1) personal/professional experiences, (2) patient care and ED work, (3) relationships with teams, institutions and governing bodies. Framework analysis informed data collection and analysis., Results: Thirty-six focus groups and 15 interviews were conducted with 53 participants (including 24 physicians, 16 nurses). Median age was 37.5 years, 51% were female, 79% had more than 5 years' experience. Three main themes emerged. (1) Early in this pandemic, participants felt a responsibility to provide care to patients and solidarity toward their ED colleagues and team, while balancing many risks with their personal protection. (2) ED teams wanted to be engaged in decision-making, based on the best available scientific knowledge. Institutional decisions and clinical guidelines needed to be adapted to the specificity of each ED environment. (3) Working during the pandemic created new sources of moral distress and fatigue, including difficult clinical practices, distance with patients and families, frequent changes in information and added sources of fatigue. Although participants quickly adapted to a "new normal", they were concerned about long-term burnout. Participants who experienced high numbers of patient deaths felt especially unprepared., Interpretation: ED workers believe they have a responsibility to provide care through a pandemic. Trust in leadership is supported by managers who are present and responsive, transparent in their communication, and involve ED staff in the development and practice of policies and procedures. Such practices will help protect from burnout and ensure the workforce's long-term sustainability., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP)/ Association Canadienne de Médecine d'Urgence (ACMU).)

Cord blood (CB) stem cell transplantation offers a greater tolerance to HLA mismatches compared to adult-derived stem cell transplants (i.e., bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells). Indeed, 4/6 or 5/8 HLA-matched CB transplantations are regularly performed for patients lacking a matched unrelated donor. Unfortunately, most banked CB units contain a stem cell dose that is too small to treat adult patients, resulting in only 4% to 5% of available CB units offering an adequate cell dose for prompt engraftment for adult patients. Ex vivo stem cell expansion appears to be an attractive strategy to circumvent this cell dose issue, while also enabling the selection of better HLA-matched CB units. In this study, we retrospectively performed HLA matching simulations to assess how the minimal cell content requirements associated with UM171 CB expansion may improve usability of existing CB unit inventories and donor availability for patients of different races and ethnicities. We analyzed a dataset of 58,971 adults for whom a donor search was initiated through the National Marrow Donor Program Be The Match registry against 142,942 CB units from major U.S. public CB banks listed on the Be The Match registry. Our results show that by enabling selection of smaller CB units, UM171-expanded CB transplantation increases donor availability from 72% to 84% for all patients compared to single unmanipulated CB transplantation. Furthermore, the low cell dose criteria for UM171-expanded CB also increases donor availability compared to double CB transplantation, while enabling better HLA matching between donor and recipient. UM171 expanded CB appears particularly beneficial for racial and ethnic minority patients as CB availability increases from 53% to 78% for African Americans, from 66% to 85% for Hispanics, and from 68% to 84% for Asians and Pacific Islanders, compared to single unmanipulated CB transplantation. In addition, UM171 expansion dramatically improves usability of CB units currently in inventories, as only 4.3% and 0.6% of banked CBs have sufficient cell doses for a 70 kg and 100 kg patient, respectively. UM171 raises this proportion to 53.8% and 20.2%, respectively, making CB banks potentially more cost effective. In conclusion, UM171 expansion allows the use of smaller CB units while also improving access to transplantation for racial and ethnic minorities., (Copyright © 2022 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Negative outcomes of ageism in the context of the Canadian labor market are well documented. Older workers remain the target of age-based stereotypes and attitudes on the part of employers. This study aims at assessing (1) the extent to which quality and quantity intergroup contacts between younger and older workers as well as knowledge-sharing practices reduce ageist attitudes, in turn (2) how a decrease in ageist attitudes increase the level of workers' engagement and intentions to remain in the organization. Data were collected from 603 Canadian workers (aged 18 to 68 years old) from private and public organizations using an online survey measuring concepts under study. Results of a path analysis suggest that intergroup contacts and knowledge-sharing practices are associated with positive attitudes about older workers. More so, positive attitudes about older workers generate higher levels of work engagement, which in turn are associated with stronger intentions to remain with the organization. However, positive attitudes about older workers had no effect on intentions to remain in the workplace. Results are discussed in light of the intergroup contact theory.

For almost two years, populations around the globe faced precariousness and uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults were highly affected by the virus, and the policies meant to protect them have often resulted in ageist stereotypes and discrimination. For example, the public discourse around older adults had a paternalistic tone framing all older adults as "vulnerable". This study aimed to measure the extent to which perceived age discrimination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the sense of loneliness and social isolation, fear and perception of COVID-19 risks, had a negative effect on older adults' mental illness. To do so, a self-report questionnaire was administered to 1301 participants (average age: 77.25 years old, SD = 5.46; 56.10% females, 43.90% males). Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed, along with structural equation modelling. Results showed that perceived age discrimination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic positively predicts loneliness and also indirectly predicts mental illness. In addition, loneliness is the strongest predictor of mental illness together with fear of COVID-19 and social isolation. Such results highlight the importance of implementing public policies and discourses that are non-discriminating, and that favour the inclusion of older people.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the 2016 Canadian cardiovascular society guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia. More specifically, we assessed the use of 1) alternate lipid targets when triglyceride (TG) levels are high; and 2) nonfasting lipid testing., Methods: Lipid profiles and pharmacy data were obtained from patients with a history of myocardial infarction and from patients ≥40 years of age with a diagnosis of diabetes., Results: As TG increased to >1.5 mmol/L, percent within target for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B 18 months after guideline release remained low in both patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (40%) and patients with diabetes in primary prevention (30%). Approximately 50% of patients were fasting when presenting for lipid testing. Use of high-intensity statin was suboptimal in both groups., Conclusions: The concept of alternate lipid targets may not be well understood by many physicians, leading to undertreatment of patients. Progress was made in the promotion of routine nonfasting lipid testing., (Copyright © 2021 Canadian Diabetes Association. All rights reserved.)

MHC-I associated peptides (MAPs) play a central role in the elimination of virus-infected and neoplastic cells by CD8 T cells. However, accurately predicting the MAP repertoire remains difficult, because only a fraction of the transcriptome generates MAPs. In this study, we investigated whether codon arrangement (usage and placement) regulates MAP biogenesis. We developed an artificial neural network called Codon Arrangement MAP Predictor (CAMAP), predicting MAP presentation solely from mRNA sequences flanking the MAP-coding codons (MCCs), while excluding the MCC per se. CAMAP predictions were significantly more accurate when using original codon sequences than shuffled codon sequences which reflect amino acid usage. Furthermore, predictions were independent of mRNA expression and MAP binding affinity to MHC-I molecules and applied to several cell types and species. Combining MAP ligand scores, transcript expression level and CAMAP scores was particularly useful to increase MAP prediction accuracy. Using an in vitro assay, we showed that varying the synonymous codons in the regions flanking the MCCs (without changing the amino acid sequence) resulted in significant modulation of MAP presentation at the cell surface. Taken together, our results demonstrate the role of codon arrangement in the regulation of MAP presentation and support integration of both translational and post-translational events in predictive algorithms to ameliorate modeling of the immunopeptidome., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been particularly difficult for older Canadians who have experienced age discrimination. As the media can provide a powerful channel for conveying stereotypes, the current study aimed to explore how Canadian Francophone older adults and the aging process were depicted by the media during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to examine if and how the media discourse contributed to ageist attitudes and behaviors. A content analysis of two French Canadian media op-eds and comment pieces ( n = 85) published over the course of the first wave of the pandemic was conducted. Findings reveal that the aging process was mainly associated with words of decline, loss, and vulnerability. More so, older people were quasi-absent if not silent in the media discourse. Older adults were positioned as people to fight for and not as people to fight along with in the face of the pandemic. The findings from this study enhance the understanding of theories and concepts of the Theory of Social Representations and the Stereotype Content Model while outlining the importance of providing older people with a voice and a place in the shaping of public discourse around aging. Results also illustrate the transversality and influence of ageism in this linguistic minority context., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Lagacé, Doucet, Dangoisse and Bergeron.)

Previous studies suggest that intergroup contact has a positive effect on older workers' perception of ageism and satisfaction. This study aims at assessing such relationships amongst Canadian younger workers. Precisely, in light of the intergroup contact theory (ICT), it was first hypothesized that a positive perception of intergenerational workplace climate (IWC) and knowledge sharing practices (KSP) increase younger workers' awareness of ageist behaviors targeting older peers. Second, it was hypothesized that such awareness has a positive effect on young workers' level of satisfaction. Relying on a cross-sectional design composed of 612 participants, path analysis was conducted. Findings suggest that whereas KSP increases younger workers' awareness of ageist behaviors towards older workers, this is not the case for IWC. On the other hand, both IWC and KSP have a direct and positive impact on younger workers' level of satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications of findings are discussed.

Background: Transitions in care can be stressful for an older adult. While communication protocols between health care professionals during transitions have been thoroughly studied, there is a need to better understand how older adults transitioning perceive interpersonal communication. Relying on Communication Accommodation Theory, the goal of this study is to explore Canadian older adults' perspectives of interpersonal communication during care transition from acute care in a hospital to a residence and assess if and how communication could improve health and well-being. Using a longitudinal exploratory design, 13 older adults (M Age  = 84 years) transitioning from acute hospital care to a residence were interviewed at three time points: (1) in the hospital, (2) upon arriving at the residence and (3) in the residence, 2-3 months later. A total of 30 interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Five main themes emerged from participants' descriptions of their transition and communication with health care professionals: (1) Interpersonal Communication or Information, (2) Gratefulness & Burden, (3) Acceptance & Resilience, (4) Maintaining Autonomy and (5), Level of satisfaction. Most participants described being informed rather than being an active participant during the transition process. Most also accepted the transition and tried to reduce the burden on family notably by finding ways to maintain autonomy. A major finding of this study is the lack of interpersonal communication taking place during the transition process, which increased older adults' feeling of uncertainty about the future. Many were unclear on why this move was taking place and where they were going. Providing a space for older adults to communicate their perspectives could attenuate the negative outcomes stemming from stressful care transitions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In February 2021, France had more than 76,000 deaths due to COVID-19 and older adults were heavily affected. Most measures taken to reduce the impact of COVID-19 (quarantine, visit ban in nursing home, etc.) significantly influenced the lives of older adults. Yet they were rarely consulted about their implementation. Exclusion of and discrimination against older adults has been accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many articles discussing COVID-19 also mention ageism, few actually incorporate the perspectives and opinions of older adults. Our research aims to assess the ageism experienced by older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted interviews with older adults (63-92 years, mean age = 76 years) in an urban area of France. Participants reported experiencing more ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic, including hostile and benevolent ageism from older adults' families. Despite reports of experiencing ageist attitudes and behaviors from others, however, older adults also identified positive signs of intergenerational solidarity during this COVID-19 crisis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Barth, Guyot, Fraser, Lagacé, Adam, Gouttefarde, Goethals, Bechard, Bongue, Fundenberger and Célarier.)

Rapid T cell reconstitution following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is essential for protection against infections and has been associated with lower incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), relapse, and transplant-related mortality (TRM). While cord blood (CB) transplants are associated with lower rates of cGVHD and relapse, their low stem cell content results in slower immune reconstitution and higher risk of graft failure, severe infections, and TRM. Recently, results of a phase I/II trial revealed that single UM171-expanded CB transplant allowed the use of smaller CB units without compromising engraftment (www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02668315). We assessed T cell reconstitution in patients who underwent transplantation with UM171-expanded CB grafts and retrospectively compared it to that of patients receiving unmanipulated CB transplants. While median T cell dose infused was at least 2 to 3 times lower than that of unmanipulated CB, numbers and phenotype of T cells at 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplant were similar between the 2 cohorts. T cell receptor sequencing analyses revealed that UM171 patients had greater T cell diversity and higher numbers of clonotypes at 12 months post-transplant. This was associated with higher counts of naive T cells and recent thymic emigrants, suggesting active thymopoiesis and correlating with the demonstration that UM171 expands common lymphoid progenitors in vitro. UM171 patients also showed rapid virus-specific T cell reactivity and significantly reduced incidence of severe infections. These results suggest that UM171 patients benefit from rapid T cell reconstitution, which likely contributes to the absence of moderate/severe cGVHD, infection-related mortality, and late TRM observed in this cohort., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)