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In recent years, the use of microalgae as feedstock for many marketable products, such as animal/aqua feeds, bioplastics and fertilizers, has gained renewed interest due to their fast growth potential coupled with relatively high lipid, carbohydrate and nutrient content. An algal biorefinery at an industrial site has the potential to sustainably and profitably convert carbon dioxide emissions into microalgal biomass and concomitantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewaters. Industrial wastewaters are a potential alternative to traditional media used for large-scale microalgal cultivation. Pulp and paper mills are major consumers of water resources and discharge a huge amount of water to nearby lakes or rivers. This study investigated whether pulp and paper mill waste water is suitable for microalgal cultivation with the aim of achieving significant biomass production. Six different process waters from one Canadian pulp and paper mill were tested with two freshwater green microalgae. All of these waters were unable to support growth of microalgae due to inadequate nutrient concentrations, colour, turbidity and possible toxicity issues.

Copyright of Canadian Geographer is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Contaminated sediments at a pulp mill and former chor-alkali effluent treatment facility in Nova Scotia, Canada will undergo remediation. However, baseline studies assessing contaminants in marine biota in the marine receiving environment are lacking. Historical qualitative and quantitative contaminant data in biota from Boat Harbour (a former tidal lagoon which was used to treat industrial effluent since 1967), and surrounding marine environment were reviewed to establish baseline pollution from industrial effluent and contaminated sediments. Elevated metal, dioxins and furan concentrations previously measured in marine biota needs updating to help inform pre-remediation monitoring. Selection of species, contaminants of concern and sampling locations were ad hoc and often inconsistent with environmental effects monitoring requirements under Canadian federal Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations. These consolidated baseline data are required to determine historical impacts and to assist future monitoring during Boat Harbour sediment remediation to compare against. Unlabelled Image • Contaminated sediments from industrial effluents are poised for remediation. • Contaminant data in marine biota were reviewed to establish baseline conditions. • Metal, dioxin and furan concentrations in marine biota dated and inconsistently reported. • Historical studies of contaminants in marine biota are lacking. • New baseline data required to compare to future monitoring during remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the use of operational research techniques to analyze the wait list for the Division of General Surgery at the Capital District Health Authority in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. A discrete event simulation model was developed to aid capacity planning decisions and to analyze the performance of the division. The analysis examined the consequences of redistributing beds between sites, and achieving standard patient lengths of stay, while contrasting them to current and additional resource options. From the results, multiple independent and combined options for stabilizing and decreasing waits for elective procedures were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how neoliberal ideologies inform both social and political agendas that influence how social workers can provide support to trans and gender diverse people attempting to access gender-affirming healthcare, using an analysis of social workers' experiences working in mental health in Nova Scotia, Canada. Qualitative semi-structured interviews provide a perspective of the experiences of social workers in Nova Scotia and how their ability to provide mental health services to trans and gender diverse people is impacted by neoliberalism. Most social workers attributed the structural context of working within a bio-medical system as contributing to social workers being disempowered, undermined, and not able to practice according to the values of their profession thus limiting their ability to provide affirming mental health supports to trans and gender diverse people in ways that align with their social work professional ethics and values. Through examining how neoliberal ideologies create notions of ideal social citizens by controlling the body, the paper explores how lived experience of neoliberal practices in mental health social work reinforce transnormativity. This paper highlights the necessity for social workers to resist dominant neoliberal and medicalized discourses which serve as mechanisms of power and control. The paper concludes with recommendations for social work practice with trans and gender diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exchanges between sediment pore waters and the overlying water column play a significant role in the chemical budgets of many important chemical constituents. Quantification of such benthic fluxes requires explicit knowledge of the sediment properties and biogeochemistry. Alternatively, changes in water column properties near the sediment-water column interface can be exploited to gain insight into the sediment biogeochemistry and benthic fluxes. Here, we apply a 1-D diffusive mixing model to near-bottom water column profiles of 224Ra activity in order to yield vertical eddy diffusivities (KZ), based upon which we assess the diffusive exchange of inorganic carbon (DIC), nutrients and oxygen (O2), across the sediment-water interface in a coastal inlet, Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada. Near-bottom observations of DIC, O2 and nutrients provide flux ratios similar to Redfield values, suggesting that benthic respiration of primarily marine organic matter is the dominant driver. Furthermore, we did not observe any significant release of alkalinity (AT) from the sediments to the overlying water column, providing further insight into the dominant reactions taking place within sediments: the respiration of organic matter occurs largely under aerobic conditions or products of anaerobic processes are reoxidized quickly in oxygenated layers of the sediments. Finally, comparison with other carbon sources reveal the observed benthic DIC release as a significant contributor to the Bedford Basin carbon system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Sydney Steel Plant emitted toxic pollutants into the local area for almost 100 years. Although no paper record exists of the amount and spatial variability of the pollutants emitted, a natural record exists locked in the annual growth of native tree species in the region. Studies have shown that temperate trees can incorporate local metal pollution into their annual rings, creating a temporal and spatial record of the pollution. Two abundant species were sampled within a 5-km radius of the steel plant site. Using dendrochronology, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) on white birch, Betula papyrifera, and eastern larch, Larix laricina, a new methodology was developed to determine levels of pollutants in a given year. Atomic absorption spectroscopy did not produce accurate results with the small sample sizes we were able to process, but energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence determined that the hardwood birch better incorporated both lead and zinc into annual rings than the softwood larch. The technique provides an interesting area for further study, because it provides a time efficient and repeatable method of analyzing chemicals stored in wood tissue. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Pugwash Conferences have been a highly visible attempt to create profoundly important discussions on matters related to global safety and security at the highest levels, starting in 1957 at the height of the Cold War. This paper assesses, for the first time, the formal comments offered at this first Pugwash Conference by the Nobel Prize-winning radiation geneticist, Hermann J. Muller, on the effects of ionizing radiation on the human genome. This analysis shows that the presentation by Muller was highly biased and contained scientific errors and misrepresentations of the scientific record that resulted in seriously misleading the attendees. The presentation of Muller at Pugwash served to promote, on a very visible global scale, continued misrepresentations of the state of the science and had a significant impact on policies and practices internationally and both scientific and personal belief systems concerning the effects of low dose radiation on human health. These misrepresentations would come to affect the adoption and use of nuclear technologies and the science of radiological and chemical carcinogen health risk assessment, ultimately having a profound effect on global environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a system dynamics analysis of the 1992 Westray mine disaster in Nova Scotia, Canada. It examines the causal structure of the Westray system, including relationships that could have led to conditions that caused the fatal explosion at the mine. The value of simulation is its ability to capture a “mental model” of the safety system, which can stimulate discussion among safety experts as to the systemic causes of a disaster. By taking into account feedback loops and non-linear relationships, which is not possible with conventional root-cause analysis, a dynamic model of the system provides insights into the complex web of causes that can lead to disaster and valuable lessons for organizational learning. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care nurses were often redeployed to areas outside of primary care to mitigate staffing shortages. Despite this, there is a scarcity of literature describing their perceptions of and experiences with redeployment during the pandemic. Objectives: This paper aims to: 1) describe the perspectives of primary care nurses with respect to redeployment, 2) discuss the opportunities/challenges associated with redeployment of primary care nurses, and 3) examine the nature (e.g., settings, activities) of redeployment by primary care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with primary care nurses (i.e., Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Licensed/Registered Practical Nurses), from four regions in Canada. These include the Interior, Island, and Vancouver Coastal Health regions in British Columbia; Ontario Health West region in Ontario; the province of Nova Scotia; and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Data related to redeployment were analyzed thematically. Results: Three overarching themes related to redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified: (1) Call to redeployment, (2) Redeployment as an opportunity/challenge, and (3) Scope of practice during redeployment. Primary care nurses across all regulatory designations reported variation in the process of redeployment within their jurisdiction (e.g., communication, policies/legislation), different opportunities and challenges that resulted from redeployment (e.g., scheduling flexibility, workload implications), and scope of practice implications (e.g., perceived threat to nursing license). The majority of nurses discussed experiences with redeployment being voluntary in nature, rather than mandated. Conclusions: Redeployment is a useful workforce strategy during public health emergencies; however, it requires a structured process and a decision-making approach that explicitly involves healthcare providers affected by redeployment. Primary care nurses ought only to be redeployed after other options are considered and arrangements made for the care of patients in their original practice area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experiments conducted to test and calibrate two submersible oil detecting sensors: a UviLux and a laser-based hydrocarbon sniffer. The tests were conducted in the seawater tank at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, in Dartmouth, N.S., Canada. The results of the tests indicate that the sensors have reliable sensing capacity. The calibrating equation for the UviLux sensor was derived by comparing the sensor readings and the chemical analysis results. The hydrocarbons released from natural seeps in Scott Inlet are known to be in a mixed phase, consisting of a combination of liquid oil and gaseous hydrocarbons, and the experimental results indicate the need for a robust decision algorithm to deal with conflicting measurements obtained from the UviLux and CH4 (methane) sniffer. The collected data will be used to develop a sensor-based decision-making algorithm using Bayes filter. Ultimately, the goal is to enable an adaptive mission for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in Baffin Bay in September 2023, which will rely solely on real-time data sensed during the mission and adapt to changing conditions by continuously collecting and analyzing in-situ data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural dykelands in Nova Scotia rely heavily on a surface drainage technique called land forming, which is used to alter the topography of fields to improve drainage. The presence of land-formed fields provides useful information to better understand land utilization on these lands vulnerable to rising sea levels. Current field boundaries delineation and classification methods, such as manual digitalization and traditional segmentation techniques, are labour-intensive and often require manual and time-consuming parameter selection. In recent years, deep learning (DL) techniques, including convolutional neural networks and Mask R-CNN, have shown promising results in object recognition, image classification, and segmentation tasks. However, there is a gap in applying these techniques to detecting surface drainage patterns on agricultural fields. This paper develops and tests a Mask R-CNN model for detecting land-formed fields on agricultural dykelands using LiDAR-derived elevation data. Specifically, our approach focuses on identifying groups of pixels as cohesive objects within the imagery, a method that represents a significant advancement over pixel-by-pixel classification techniques. The DL model developed in this study demonstrated a strong overall performance, with a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 0.89 across Intersection over Union (IoU) thresholds from 0.5 to 0.95, indicating its effectiveness in detecting land-formed fields. Results also revealed that 53% of Nova Scotia's dykelands are being used for agricultural purposes and approximately 75% (6924 hectares) of these fields were land-formed. By applying deep learning techniques to LiDAR-derived elevation data, this study offers novel insights into surface drainage mapping, enhancing the capability for precise and efficient agricultural land management in regions vulnerable to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving equity and early access to palliative care for underserved populations in Canada is a priority. Little is known regarding access to palliative and end-of-life care in the Black population. Methods: We undertook a scoping review using the framework by Arksey and O'Malley to identify knowledge, access gaps, and experiences of palliative and end-of-life care among Blacks living with life-limiting illnesses in Canada. Primary studies, discussion papers, books, and reports were considered eligible. We followed a comprehensive search strategy developed by an information scientist. Searches were performed in the following bibliographic databases: Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO via OVID, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, Scopus and Cochrane Library via Wiley. The search strategy was derived from three main concepts: (1) Black people; (2) Canada and Canadian provinces; (3) Palliative, hospice, or end-of-life care. No publication date or language limits were applied. Titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility by one reviewer and full text by two independent reviewers. Results: The search yielded 233 articles. Nineteen articles were selected for full-text review, and 7 articles met the inclusion criteria. These studies were published between 2010 and 2021, and conducted in the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia only. Studies used both quantitative and qualitative methods and included cancer decedents, next of kin, family caregivers and religious leaders. Sample sizes in various studies ranged from 6 − 2,606 participants. Included studies reported a general lack of understanding about palliative and end-of-life care, positive and negative experiences, and limited access to palliative and end-of-life care for Blacks, across all care settings. Conclusion: Findings suggest limited knowledge of palliative care and inequities in access to palliative and end-of-life care for Blacks living with life-limiting illnesses in 2 Canadian provinces. There is an urgent need for research to inform tailored and culturally acceptable strategies to improve understanding and access to palliative care and end-of-life care among Blacks in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of global disasters per year is projected to increase 40% by 2030. In part, this increase can be tied to climate change which is exasperating existing hazards and contributing to new hazards. The specific type of hazard response that communities employ varies, dependent on demographics such as location, socioeconomic statis, governance quality, risk perception, and infrastructure, leading to a need to understand how specific communities, with their unique characteristics, respond to hazards. The main objective of this paper was to highlight hazards of concern to small coastal communities, and to determine what actions can be taken to alleviate concern. This study incorporates a hazard survey conducted across 20 coastal communities in Nova Scotia, Canada. For each community, municipal documents (bylaws/policies/plans) were compared with the lived experience of community representatives. Overall, four key insights were observed: (1) There was a general tendency that the more experience a community has had with a given hazard, the greater the concern, and the more likely the municipality was to have developed corresponding plans, policies or bylaws; (2) there were exceptions to the links between experience with hazards, concerns about them, and governmental response; (3) significant uncertainties and gaps in awareness need to be addressed in order for hazards to be dealt with effectively at community and municipal levels; (4) while municipalities engage in a certain level of responses to some specific hazards, there is a clear tendency to adopt a multi-hazard approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Rural & Community Development is the property of Brandon University, Rural Development Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we study the non‐Hermitian Yang–Mills (NHYM) bundles over compact Kähler manifolds. We show that the existence of harmonic metrics is equivalent to the semisimplicity of NHYM bundles, which confirms the Conjecture 8.7 in Kaledin and Verbitsky (Selecta Math. (N.S.) 4 (1998) 279–320). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geographer is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The 2019 MacKinnon report, commissioned by the Alberta government, recommended ending fee-for-service (FFS) as the model for paying primary care physicians because of its significant and inherent inefficiencies. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated the value of moving Alberta's family physicians to an alternative payment (APP) model. While the MacKinnon report was in favour of enacting legislation to change the compensation model, this paper instead recommends offering physicians a choice of alternative payment programs as an incentive to move on voluntarily from an FFS system. Other provinces have attempted to reform physicians' pay using a quadruple aim model for health-care improvement, which identifies the major points policy-makers must examine in instituting a replacement for FFS. The quadruple aim model is four-pronged and encompasses patient experience, population health, care team wellbeing and cost reductions. Alberta Health Services already uses the quadruple aim model to improve patient care and quality outcomes, although the MacKinnon report focused primarily on reducing costs. However, reforming doctors' compensation is not just about the amount they should be paid; it must also consider that the method of compensation has a profound impact on both cost and quality of care received. Meanwhile, the self-isolation and social distancing measures for both doctors and patients, established with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, have put Alberta's doctors on a policy roller-coaster. Applying the FFS compensation model during the pandemic has resulted in the use of virtual care codes such as telehealth billing and in-person limited assessment codes. However, these codes were immediately problematic because they do not adequately account for complex patient care that requires longer visits, after-hours premiums and the Rural Remote Northern Program. During a pandemic is not the right time to embark on physician compensation reform. This gives the government time to reconsider the controversial approach taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for compensation reform in Alberta is driven by the reality that Alberta has the highest proportion of physicians on FFS along with some of the highest FFS payments per physician in Canada. Meanwhile, family physicians in other provinces are now more likely to be covered by an APP rather than the former FFS system. The problem with FFS is that it tends to encourage physicians to create volume in number of patients seen per day, in order to increase compensation. Thus, it also encourages more diagnostic testing, which increases costs to the health-care system. In general, physicians compensated under FFS have much less incentive to consider costs when treating patients. The argument for legislating pay reform is poorly justified. No other province has legislated physicians out of the FFS system, and that is not a route Alberta should take, either. Nova Scotia has brought in a one-size-fits-all APP, while Ontario implemented a menu of higher paying APPs that produced greater downstream cost savings, making APPs an increasingly attractive payment option to family physicians. Ontario's approach would be better for Alberta because it improves patients' overall experience with primary care, their care outcomes and the wellbeing of those who care for the patients. Alberta should offer a menu of APP models tailored to primary care so that the family doctors themselves can choose the best model for their own practices. As this paper has demonstrated in its comparison of the experiences of other provinces, and as the COVID-19 affirms, the menu approach is the model most strongly aligned with the goals of quadruple aim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic gastrointestinal diseases that negatively affect the enjoyment of food and engagement in social and cultural gatherings. Such experiences may promote psychosocial challenges, an aspect of IBD often overlooked and under‐supported in clinical settings and research. Objectives: This study explored the psychosocial experiences that young adults with IBD have with food via a qualitative patient‐led research process. Methods: Trained patient researchers conducted this study by engaging peers via semi‐structured interviews and focus groups in a three‐step co‐design process. Participants (n = 9) identified the research topic (SET), explored the topic and identified emerging themes (COLLECT), refined themes and made recommendations for healthcare system change (REFLECT). Results: Themes that emerged included: 'Experimenting with Food', 'Evolution Over Time', 'Diet Changes are Emotional' and 'Role of Stigma'. Participants identified the significance and frustrations of repeated testing and experimenting with food compatibility, and noted nuances in food relationships as they gain knowledge and experience over time. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a sense of hope throughout and wished to impart this to newly diagnosed patients. Conclusion: Participants experience numerous psychosocial challenges as they strive to manage their diet, noting gaps in support available from IBD practitioners. Participants made practical recommendations for healthcare system change to improve patient outcomes, highlighting the importance of sharing stories and collaboratively including patients in the development of new services and protocols. Authors recommend further research in this area to build a body of knowledge and support that helps IBD patients maintain hope while navigating challenges with food. Patient or Public Contribution: The first four authors on this paper were the lead researchers in this study's design and analysis and identify as patients; they conducted the research with this identity at the forefront following a peer‐to‐peer research model. These authors were mentored by patient researchers who also contributed to the manuscript, and the research process itself was co‐lead and directed by other patient participants and consultants. Results and recommendations coming from this paper came directly from patient participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community Business Entrepreneurs are significant actors in many depleted communities – towns, cities and regions which have lost much of their rationale as economic spaces as a result of disinvestment by capital, resulting in job losses, high unemployment and a declining population as younger people leave, but which retains high social attachment to place. This paper reviews two books about Father Greg MacLeod, a catholic priest, professor and prominent community business entrepreneur in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, a region whose once thriving resource-based economy was devastated by the contraction and ultimate closure of its coal and steel industries in the final decades of the 20th century. Government initiatives to create replacement jobs were largely ineffective. MacLeod played a key role in establishing several community businesses, notably New Dawn and BCA Holdings, using what was at the time the innovative structure of the company limited by guarantee. The paper reviews his 'entrepreneurial experiments' – which he described as 'action research'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Like many places globally, the health and well-being of children and youth living in Canada were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restricted access to the outdoors, schools, and public green spaces impacted children's physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Restrictions changed throughout the pandemic, and children's and youth's movement behaviours may have been differentially affected based on time and place. This paper aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the movement behaviours of children and youth living in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada, over time and by geographic region using mixed methods. Methods: This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Secondary data from three repeated cross-sectional surveys of parent-reported demographic, movement, and geographic data of 291 children and youth aged 5–17 years were analyzed. Spatial cluster analyses were applied to identify geographic concentrations of children and youth who were more or less likely to meet the moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) guideline during the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Nova Scotian parents to understand their perspectives on their child's movement behaviours during the pandemic. Interviews were analyzed deductively based on quantitative results using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Our findings showed only 5.5% of children and youth were meeting all guidelines throughout the pandemic. Of the movement behaviours, screen time (ST) differed across the pandemic and by age and gender. Clusters of children and youth meeting the MVPA recommendation on fewer days were found in regions within NS's three largest population centres (Truro, Sydney, and the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)), and clusters of those meeting the MVPA recommendation on more days were also identified in the HRM. From semi-structured interviews, themes indicated: (1) escaping screens during early parts of the COVID-19 pandemic and when weather was colder was hard; (2) having access to spaces to be active near the home helped facilitate children's movement; and (3) higher socioeconomic status enabled more opportunities for movement. Conclusion: Overall, fewer public health restrictions led to more favourable movement behaviours and spatial and sociodemographic factors may have been at play. Decision-makers should consider these factors when identifying strategies to keep children active during future health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In June 2016, Canada legalized medical assistance in dying (MAiD). From the outset, some healthcare institutions (including faith-based and non-faith-based hospitals, hospices, and residential aged care facilities) have refused to allow aspects of MAiD onsite, resulting in patient transfers for MAiD assessments and provision. There have been media reports highlighting the negative consequences of these "institutional objections", however, very little research has examined their nature and impact. Methods: This study reports on findings from 48 semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with MAiD assessors and providers, MAiD team members (working to coordinate care and lead MAiD programs in institutions and health authorities), and family caregivers on their experiences with institutional objection. Participants were recruited from the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Themes identified were: (1) basis for institutional objection (with objections commonly rooted in religious values and a particular philosophy of palliative care); (2) scope of objection (demonstrating a wide range of practices objected to); (3) lack of transparency regarding institutional position; (4) impacts on patients; (5) impacts on health practitioners; and (6) catalysts for change. Participants reported that many institutions' objections had softened over time, lessening barriers to MAiD access and adverse impacts on patients and health practitioners. Participants attributed this positive change to a range of catalysts including advocacy by health practitioners and family members, policymaking by local health authorities, education, and relationship building. Nevertheless, some institutions, particularly faith-based ones, retained strong objections to MAiD, resulting in forced transfers and negative emotional and psychological impacts on patients, family members, and health practitioners. Conclusions: This paper adds to the limited evidence base about the impacts of institutional objection and can inform practical and regulatory solutions in Canada and abroad. Reform is needed to minimize the negative impacts on patients, their caregivers, and health practitioners involved in MAiD practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the labour behind local food in the Canadian Atlantic province of Nova Scotia. Based on surveys and interviews with farmers, migrant farmworkers, and farmers' market consumers in the province, we suggest that the celebration of local food by government and industry is a form of "local washing." Local washing hides key aspects of the social relations of production: in this case, it hides insufficient financial and policy supports for Nova Scotian farms and the increased reliance on migrant farmworkers via the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Our research found that a growing reliance on migrant farmworkers was not just the case for larger, industrial farms, but also for smaller farms participating in local and alternative food initiatives, like farmers' markets and fresh produce subscription boxes. Additionally, our surveys show that while farmers' market shoppers expressed an interest in supporting local foods, they reported knowing little about farm workers or working conditions. Our paper contributes to the literature on local and alternative food initiatives by connecting the relations of production to consumption. Rather than focusing solely on the nature of the relationships between farmers and consumers and the values embodied in direct agricultural markets, this research explores the central role of permanently temporary migrant workers in local agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to result in severe disruptions to food supply chains. In this research, we present a simulation study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply chains and their sustainability using the lobster industry in Nova Scotia, Canada, as an example. The main contributions of this paper are twofold. First, it analyzes how the pandemic has negatively disrupted lobster supply chains and their sustainability. Second, it demonstrates how a simulation-based methodology based on the software AnyLogistix can be applied to examine the effects of a pandemic on food supply chains. We show the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic from four perspectives: production-inventory dynamics, customer performance, financial performance, and lead-time performance. Our findings include the following. First, the pandemic has created a backlog problem for the live lobster industry. Second, it has significantly increased the lead time of the lobster supply chain. Overall, this research can help the government and trade organizations to devise appropriate policies to reduce the negative impacts of the pandemic on food supply chains and their sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, Hurricane Dorian wreaked widespread havoc across the Province of Nova Scotia, with significant, adverse impacts affecting citizens and government services for a protracted period. This paper describes the challenges faced by the provincial emergency management and business continuity response teams. It argues that storm response requires a flexible top-down approach, with senior leadership delegating responsibility and encouraging locally-driven decision-making. Using examples from Hurricane Dorian, the paper shows that as emergency response and business continuity overlap, response teams must find a balance between the protection of life and property and safeguarding the continuity of business. This can be accomplished through strategic support from senior leadership, the adoption of evolving best practices and competency development through training and realistic exercise scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that Alpharetta, Georgia-based Neenah Paper announced that its woodlands operations in both Ontario and in Nova Scotia have earned certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program.

Split incentives, in which the costs and benefits of energy efficiency upgrades are unevenly felt between landlords and tenants, are a powerful barrier that prevents retrofits from taking place. The problem is clearly playing out across the low-income, and inefficient homes of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada, where greenhouse emissions are high, and a large proportion of residents are burdened by energy poverty. To help solve the problem and facilitate home energy efficiency renovations, a project called Energize Bridgewater was developed. Guided by 10 semi-structured interviews with Energize Bridgewater team members (n = 4) and property managers (n = 6), we present a case study which sought to contextualize and better understand how Energize Bridgewater may incentivize owners of rental houses to participate in this clean energy transition. Our results focus on three main findings: i) the reality of the split incentive problem in Bridgewater; ii) barriers to landlord engagement; and iii) reactions to proposed programming. We close this paper with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of our work, including a set of recommendations for Energize Bridgewater and similar projects facing the split incentive problem while working toward a clean and cost-effective energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We resolve an open question posed by Nagpal, Sam and Snowden [Selecta. Math. (N.S.) 22 (2016), pp. 913–937] in 2015 concerning a Gröbner theoretic approach to the noetherianity of the twisted commutative algebra Sym(Sym^2(\mathbf {C}^\infty)). We provide a negative answer to their question by producing an explicit antichain. In doing so, we establish a connection to well-studied posets of graphs under the subgraph and induced subgraph relation. We then analyze this connection to suggest future paths of investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of available datasets in open government data are statistical. They are widely published by various governments to be used by the public and data consumers. However, most open government data portals do not provide the five-star Linked Data standard datasets. The published datasets are isolated from one another while conceptually connected. This paper constructs a knowledge graph for the disease-related datasets of a Canadian government data portal, Nova Scotia Open Data. We leveraged the Semantic Web technologies to transform the disease-related datasets into Resource Description Framework (RDF) and enriched them with semantic rules. An RDF data model using the RDF Cube vocabulary was designed in this work to develop a graph that adheres to best practices and standards, allowing for expansion, modification and flexible re-use. The study also discusses the lessons learned during the cross-dimensional knowledge graph construction and integration of open statistical datasets from multiple sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using environmental DNA (eDNA) to monitor biodiversity in aquatic environments is becoming an efficient and cost-effective alternative to other methods such as visual and acoustic identification. Until recently, eDNA sampling was accomplished primarily through manual sampling methods; however, with technological advances, automated samplers are being developed to make sampling easier and more accessible. This paper describes a new eDNA sampler capable of self-cleaning and multi-sample capture and preservation, all within a single unit capable of being deployed by a single person. The first in-field test of this sampler took place in the Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada alongside parallel samples taken using the typical Niskin bottle collection and post-collection filtration method. Both methods were able to capture the same aquatic microbial community and counts of representative DNA sequences were well correlated between methods with R 2 values ranging from 0.71–0.93. The two collection methods returned the same top 10 families in near identical relative abundance, demonstrating that the sampler was able to capture the same community composition of common microbes as the Niskin. The presented eDNA sampler provides a robust alternative to manual sampling methods, is amenable to autonomous vehicle payload constraints, and will facilitate persistent monitoring of remote and inaccessible sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers discussed at the 41st annual general meeting of the Canadian Economics Association (CEA) held on May 31, 2007 at the Dalhouse University in Halifax, Nova Scotia is presented. CEA president Gérard Gaudet reported on several issues including the association's solid financial situation, the search for a new secretary-treasurer to replace Frances Woolley, and the approval by the Executive Council of the next two annual meetings.

We develop a theory of Frobenius functors for symmetric tensor categories (STC) 𝒞 over a field 𝒌 of characteristic p, and give its applications to classification of such categories. Namely, we define a twisted-linear symmetric monoidal functor F : 𝒞 → 𝒞 ⊠ Verp , where Verp is the Verlinde category (the semisimplification of Rep𝐤(ℤ/p); a similar construction of the underlying additive functor appeared independently in [K. Coulembier, Tannakian categories in positive characteristic, preprint 2019]. This generalizes the usual Frobenius twist functor in modular representation theory and also the one defined in [V. Ostrik, On symmetric fusion categories in positive characteristic, Selecta Math. (N.S.) 26 2020, 3, Paper No. 36], where it is used to show that if 𝒞 is finite and semisimple, then it admits a fiber functor to Verp. The main new feature is that when 𝒞 is not semisimple, F need not be left or right exact, and in fact this lack of exactness is the main obstruction to the existence of a fiber functor 𝒞 → Verp. We show, however, that there is a 6-periodic long exact sequence which is a replacement for the exactness of F, and use it to show that for categories with finitely many simple objects F does not increase the Frobenius–Perron dimension. We also define the notion of a Frobenius exact category, which is a STC on which F is exact, and define the canonical maximal Frobenius exact subcategory 𝒞ex inside any STC 𝒞 with finitely many simple objects. Namely, this is the subcategory of all objects whose Frobenius–Perron dimension is preserved by F. One of our main results is that a finite STC is Frobenius exact if and only if it admits a (necessarily unique) fiber functor to Verp. This is the strongest currently available characteristic p version of Deligne's theorem (stating that a STC of moderate growth in characteristic zero is the representation category of a supergroup). We also show that a sufficiently large power of F lands in 𝒞ex. Also, in characteristic 2 we introduce a slightly weaker notion of an almost Frobenius exact category (namely, one having a fiber functor into the category of representations of the triangular Hopf algebra 𝒌 [d]/d2 with d primitive and R-matrix R = 1 ⊗ 1 + d ⊗ d), and show that a STC with Chevalley property is (almost) Frobenius exact. Finally, as a by-product, we resolve Question 2.15 of [P. Etingof and S. Gelaki, Exact sequences of tensor categories with respect to a module category, Adv. Math. 308 2017, 1187–1208]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a legal history methodology, this paper examines existing marine renewable energy law and policy in Nova Scotia with a focus on its application in the Bay of Fundy. This paper critically assesses the current approach to coastal management in light of recent recommendations summarized in the Fournier report. This paper argues that, despite clear calls to develop integrated ocean management and marine spatial planning in policies and regulations, Canada and Nova Scotia have failed to do so because of unclear federal-provincial boundaries. Ambiguous domestic borders in the Bay of Fundy have been at the source of an overly cautious, issue-driven and jurisdictionally uncertain approach to ocean governance which has permeated marine renewable energy law. This approach is unsuited for today's environmental objectives and does not hold promise for goals to reconcile competing interests in increasingly industrialised waters. Through a historical account of shifting limits in the Bay of Fundy, this paper connects existing doubts and frictions associated with domestic offshore boundaries to ineffective coastal management in an attempt to renew interest in federal-provincial maritime delimitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to unpack French-minority language teachers' perspectives on the impact of the pandemic on their teaching. In fall 2021, semistructured interviews were conducted virtually with 40 K-12 teachers of French as a minority language in Manitoba and Nova Scotia. While the pandemic has undoubtedly been challenging for language and literacy teachers, many have also developed adaptations and strategies. This paper focuses on those pedagogical accomplishments and teachers' self-reported moments of success. Three main themes explored were the integration of technology into language teaching, language teacher collaboration and linguistic community building with students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence of the benefits of integrated knowledge translation (IKT), yet there is limited research outlining the purpose of a knowledge broker (KB) within this approach. The Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit (MSSU) acts as a KB to support patient-oriented research across the Maritime provinces in Canada. The "Bridge Process" was developed by the Nova Scotia (NS) site as a strategy that involves work leading up to and following the Bridge Event. The process supports research addressing priority health topics discussed at the event by stakeholder groups. The objectives of this paper were to (1) describe the outputs/outcomes of this IKT approach; and (2) examine the role of the KB. Methods: Quantitative data were collected from registration and evaluation surveys. Outputs are described with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were collected through evaluation surveys and internal documents. Data related to KB tasks were categorized into three domains: (1) Knowledge Manager, (2) Linkage and Exchange Agent, and (3) Capacity Developer. Results: The Bridge Process was implemented four times. A total of 314 participants including government, health, patient/citizen, community, and research personnel attended the events. We identified 24 priority topics, with 7 led by teams receiving support to complete related projects. Participants reported improved understanding of the research gaps and policy needs and engaged with individuals they would not have otherwise. Although patients/citizens attended each Bridge Event, only 61% of participants who completed an evaluation survey indicated that they were 'actively engaged in group discussion.' The KB's role was identified in all three domains including Knowledge Manager (eg, defining questions), Linkage and Exchange Agent (eg, engaging stakeholders), and Capacity Builder (eg, research interpretation). Conclusion: The MSSU facilitated an IKT approach by acting as a KB throughout the Bridge Process. This deliberative and sequential process served as an effective strategy to increase collaborative health research in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the results of a detailed art technological investigation of the icon Last Supper from the Russian Memorial Church in Leipzig (Germany) are presented. The icons of the iconostasis of the church were made in the workshop of N.S. Emelyanov in Moscow in 1912. The investigation showed that the painter in principle technologically adhered to the traditional way of making icons. The panel is made of boards of lime wood with two crossbars on the reverse. The paint was applied to a chalk ground over a textile layer. The traditional iconographer's palette was expanded by a few contemporary pigments. The binding agent is classic egg tempera. Originally, the layers of paint had an oil varnish (olifa). The main aim of the project VirtEx, introduced in this paper, is to expand existing methods with numerical material and structural models to be able to predict quantitatively the behaviour of wooden artefacts under loads due to climate changes as well as mechanical loads. The detailed art technological investigation provides the required data for the computer models. The numerical data can then be validated with technologically exact copies and replicas. In the introduction to the article, the current state of research on icon painting techniques is also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green ammonia has potential as a zero-emissions energy vector in applications such as energy storage, transmission and distribution, and zero-emissions transportation. Renewable energy such as offshore wind energy has been proposed to power its production. This paper designed and analyzed an on-land small-scale power-to-ammonia (P2A) production system with a target nominal output of 15 tonnes of ammonia per day, which will use an 8 MW offshore turbine system off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada as the main power source. The P2A system consists of a reverse osmosis system, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser, a hydrogen storage tank, a nitrogen generator, a set of compressors and heat exchangers, an autothermal Haber-Bosch reactor, and an ammonia storage tank. The system uses an electrical grid as a back-up for when the wind energy is insufficient as the process assumes a steady state. Two scenarios were analyzed with Scenario 1 producing a steady state of 15 tonnes of ammonia per day, and Scenario 2 being one that switched production rates whenever wind speeds were low to 55% the nominal capacity. The results show that the grid connected P2A system has significant emissions for both scenarios, which is larger than the traditional fossil-fuel based ammonia production, when using the grid in provinces like Nova Scotia, even if it is just a back-up during low wind power generation. The levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) was calculated to be at least 2323 CAD tonne−1 for both scenarios which is not cost competitive in this small production scale. Scaling up the whole system, reducing the reliance on the electricity grid, increasing service life, and decreasing windfarm costs could reduce the LCOA and make this P2A process more cost competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nova Scotia has seen the most systematic growth of restorative justice (RJ) in Canada. Initially moving from a pilot RJ phase to province-wide implementation for young offenders, a similar model was used to implement RJ for adult offenders. Nova Scotia has received national and international attention for its innovations in RJ. Extensive articles and reports have been published about the RJ movement in Nova Scotia, focusing mainly on the impact of RJ practices. Few peer-reviewed journal articles document the factors that contributed to the actual growth of RJ in Nova Scotia. To address this research gap, this study employed 8 in-depth key informant interviews and a survey. Two distinct stages—Catalytic and Innovative—emerged as salient factors shaping the growth of RJ in Nova Scotia. This study also reveals contemporary discourses and issues prevalent among RJ visionaries and practitioners in Nova Scotia, such as relational theory of justice, the moratorium against the use RJ for gender-based violence, and the role of government. This research offers a comprehensive debate on the concept of a moratorium against gender-based violence and the role of government. The paper concludes by addressing limitations and areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present homogenization and corrector results for stochastic linear parabolic equations in periodically perforated domains with non-homogeneous Robin conditions on the holes. We use the periodic unfolding method and probabilistic compactness results. Homogenization results presented in this paper are stochastic counterparts of some fundamental work given in [Cioranescu, Donato and Zaki in Port. Math. (N.S.)63 (2006), 467–496]. We show that the sequence of solutions of the original problem converges in suitable topologies to the solution of a homogenized problem, which is a parabolic stochastic equation in fixed domain with Dirichlet condition on the boundary. In contrast to the two scale convergence method, the corrector results obtained in this paper are without any additional regularity assumptions on the solutions of the original problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complex syntax is affected by developmental language disorder (DLD) during the school years. Targeting areas of syntactic difficulty for children with DLD may yield useful assessment techniques. Aims: To determine whether wh‐movement can be measured in language samples from typically developing mono‐ and bilingual school‐aged children, and, if so, to provide preliminary evidence of validity by comparison with traditional measures of syntax in a cross‐sectional, known‐groups design. Methods & Procedures: Participants were 48 typically developing children recruited from the Canadian province of Nova Scotia in four groups: monolingual English and bilingual French–English children in early (7–8 years of age) and late (11–12 years of age) elementary school. Language samples were collected and analysed with mean use of wh‐movement, mean length of utterance and clausal density. These measures were compared for effects of age, bilingual development and elicitation task. Outcomes & Results: The results from all measures closely paralleled each other, providing preliminary evidence of validity. Wh‐movement‐based and traditional measures demonstrated similar age‐related and discourse genre effects. Neither demonstrated an effect of mono‐ versus bilingual development. Conclusions & Implications: The results confirm research interest in syntactic movement as an area of language assessment. Further research is required to understand its application to clinical populations. What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectComplex syntax is known to be an area of difficulty for children with DLD. Certain syntactic constructions appear to be particularly difficult for these children. Assessments targeting these areas of difficulty are emerging.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThe paper compares traditional measures of syntax with measures based on wh‐movement. It shows similar results for both types of measures, suggesting construct and convergent validity. Results suggest that syntactic movement is an age‐appropriate area of assessment for elementary school‐aged children's language.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?Language sample assessment measures based on wh‐movement appear promising. The impact of task effects of the discourse genre on assessing syntax must be carefully considered in research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics & Technology Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Economics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In his latest research paper the author explores the extent or degree to which the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court achieves its declared purpose of providing the citizens of the province with what can accurately be described as a "People's Court," that is, a legal agency that would allow ordinary citizens to pursue their legal claims expeditiously and at a reasonable cost with a process that involved lawyers/adjudicators rather than judges. After a review and analysis of several thousand decisions by Nova Scotia Adjudicators/lawyers, the author concluded that the creators of the court had been largely successful and its full vision as a "People's Court" had been substantially achieved, although as the reviewers cautioned, it is still a work in progress. The author further suggests that now, more than ever, with our increasingly litigious society pressing its' perceived legal claims, the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court is a Nova Scotia legal institution that needs and deserves to be supported by the Nova Scotia government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiology of mental disorders emerged in the post-1945 era at the intersections of different areas of knowledge. Given its ambitions, the Stirling County Study provides an instructive case study. It is also a good example of how the epidemiology applied methodological skills from social sciences. This paper aims, first, to reconstruct one of the first episodes in the development of psychiatric epidemiology. Its second purpose is to provide a detailed description of interdisciplinarity at work, and to examine its effects. After explaining some of the major features of the Stirling County Study, I emphasize the links between some of the first results, particularly regarding young people as a population at risk, and the job market after the Great Depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many family medicine residency graduates indicate a desire to provide obstetric care, but a low proportion of family physicians (FPs) provide obstetric care within their practice. This suggests personal preference alone may not account for the low proportion of FPs who ultimately provide full obstetric care. If decisionmakers plan to augment the number of FPs providing obstetric care, barriers to the provision of such care must first be identified. Within this paper, we explore the perspectives of both family practice residents and early-career FPs on the factors that shaped their decision to provide obstetric care.Methods: In this qualitative study, we analyzed a subset of interview data from three Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia (n = 18 family practice residents; n = 39 early-career FPs). We used thematic analysis to analyze data relevant to obstetric care practice, applying the socio-ecological model and comparing themes across participant types, gender, and province.Results: Participants described influences affecting their decision about providing obstetric care. Key influencing factors aligned with the levels of the socio-ecological model of public policy (i.e., liability), community (i.e., community needs), organizational (e.g., obstetric care trade-offs, working in teams, sufficient exposure in training), interpersonal practice preferences (i.e., impact on family life, negative interactions with other healthcare professionals), and individual factors (i.e., defining comprehensive care as "everything but obstetrics"). Many participants were interested in providing obstetric care within their practice but did not provide such care. Participants' decision-making around providing or not providing obstetric care included considerations of personal preferences and outside influences.Conclusions: Individual-level factors alone do not account for the decrease in the type and amount of obstetric care offered by FPs. Instead, FPs' choice to provide or not provide obstetric care is influenced by factors at higher levels of the socio-ecological model. Policymakers who want to encourage obstetric practice by FPs should implement interventions at the public policy, community, organizational, interpersonal, and individual levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-tropical cyclone Fiona made landfall in Nova Scotia, Canada, in September 2022 with the force of a Category 2 hurricane. Using 'risk society' as an analytical framework, and Thomas A. Birkland's 'focusing event' concept, this paper seeks to understand how publics construct risk in the context of climate change and how institutions engage with those narratives. A qualitative content analysis of 439 newspaper articles from across Canada reveals that most media provide a superficial description of hazard impacts. When media are critical, they connect Fiona to climate change, other extreme events, social vulnerability, and systemic inequality. In response to Fiona and industry trends, insurance representatives indicate a withdraw from covering low-probability, high-consequence events owing to ambiguity in risk analysis and financial interests, complicating hazard relief. Political actors' rhetoric is strong-delivering relief in unprecedented ways and offering new adaptive policy. However, a history of unfulfilled political promises to act on climate change elicits scepticism from media sources., (© 2024 ODI.)