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Sleep-wake and circadian disruption (SCD) is a core feature of delirium. It has been hypothesized that SCD contributes to delirium pathogenesis; therefore, interventions that prevent or reverse SCD represent an array of promising opportunities in relation to delirium. This review explores the relationship between sleep-wake/circadian physiology and delirium pathophysiology with a focus on neurotransmitter systems. Across potential targets aimed at preventing or treating delirium, three broad approaches are considered: 1. Pharmacological mechanisms that contribute to physiological sleep may preserve or restore next-day cognition in patients with or at risk for delirium (e.g. , alpha 2 agonists, dopamine 2 antagonists, serotonin 2 A antagonists, dual orexin receptor antagonists, or GHB agonists); 2. Pharmacological mechanisms that promote wakefulness during the day may combat hypoactive delirium (e.g. , adenosine 2 A antagonists, dopamine transporter antagonists, orexin agonists, histamine 3 antagonists); and 3. Melatonergic and other circadian interventions could strengthen the phase or amplitude of circadian rhythms and ensure appropriately entrained timing in patients with or at risk for delirium (e.g. , as informed by a person's preexisting circadian phase). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep problems and depressive symptoms, including suicidal ideation, are strongly associated among undergraduate students. Although upwards of 60% of college students report sleep problems, the mechanisms through which sleep might be linked with students' depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in particular, would benefit from further clarification. Drawing upon a contextual behavioral science perspective, the current study sought to examine how changes in psychological flexibility/inflexibility might act as potential mediators between changes in college students' sleep quality and depressive symptoms, including suicidal ideation. The longitudinal (baseline and 2-month follow-up) online sample of 385 undergraduates (M = 20.0, SD = 1.6) was collected through a multi-site study during the Spring semester of 2019. Analyses using the PROCESS macro to examine potential mediation mechanisms suggested that residual increases in sleep disturbance (assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were associated with residual increases in global psychological inflexibility (assessed with the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory), which, in turn, were associated with residual increases in both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) over the two months of the study. Subsequent analyses (i.e., secondary models) examining specific dimensions of inflexibility as possible mechanisms of change in depressive symptoms suggested that residual change in self-as-content, fusion, lack of contact with values, and inaction each helped to explain the links between changes in sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms. In contrast, only changes in fusion helped to explain the association between changes in sleep disturbance and suicidal ideation. Undergraduates' sleep disturbance was a significant predictor of their depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation via changes in their levels of psychological inflexibility. In addition to addressing students' sleep problems directly, it appears to be advantageous to decrease students' levels of psychological inflexibility to attenuate the potential association between mental health problems and sleep disturbances typically experienced during college. • Sleep problems predict increases in undergraduates' psychological inflexibility. • Sleep problems predict depressive symptoms in students via inflexibility. • Inflexibility mediates the association between sleep problems and suicidal ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Restoring seismic lines is a priority for caribou conservation efforts. • We linked seismic line characteristics to vegetation composition and growth. • Wet seismic lines adjacent to open stands had more cover of wildlife forage. • Maps of vegetation cover and growth could be used to target seismic line restoration. • Restoration should target the proximate and ultimate causes of caribou decline. Linear disturbances impact ecosystems and species worldwide. These impacts are perhaps most profound in forest ecosystems like the Canadian boreal forest which has been fragmented by an extensive network of seismic lines which affect a number of boreal species. Of particular concern are the impacts of seismic lines on boreal and mountain woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), which are declining across Canada primarily because of an increase in anthropogenic habitat disturbance including seismic lines, within their ranges. Restoring seismic lines is a focus of conservation efforts for caribou, however their extensive footprint implies that restoration efforts will need to be prioritized to target the ultimate (habitat disturbance, early seral stage vegetation), and proximate (wolf predation) causes of caribou declines. To help inform restoration efforts we used field data collected in 2014 and 2015 from 291 seismic lines in west-central and north-western Alberta, Canada, and GIS-derived and remote sensing (LiDAR) data to model and map vegetation recovery (growth, structure, and composition) on seismic lines and along seismic line edges. Although we found differences among regions and taxa, generally we found that wet seismic lines and seismic lines adjacent to open forest stands were more likely to have more early seral stage vegetation that is attractive wildlife forage. We also found that in west-central Alberta, wet seismic lines had less vegetation growth and cover, while in north-western Alberta, wet seismic lines were more likely to have more vegetation cover, but there was no relationship between vegetation growth on seismic lines and seismic line wetness. Using field data we predicted that vegetation on seismic lines within our study area had grown between 1 and 2 m between 2007 and 2015; however as our models of vegetation growth did not validate well other techniques (e.g. UAVs) and studies focused at smaller scales are likely to provide accurate data on current vegetation height and cover on seismic lines. Our results combined with results from previous research provide further evidence that seismic lines, particularly wet seismic lines, need active restoration to re-establish natural vegetation trajectories. Overall, targeting seismic line restoration treatments to change vegetation composition, as well as structure and height, will likely help to restore ecosystem function for caribou and other boreal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Veterans Health Administration data, we assessed the extent to which mean past-year (365 days) pain intensity scores were associated with suicide attempts in the year after the initiation of pain specialty services in fiscal years 2012 to 2014 (N = 221,817). Suicide attempts in the year after initiating Veterans Health Administration pain specialty services (ie, index visit) were identified using medical records and a suicide surveillance sources. Adjusted hazard models accounted for key covariates (eg, demographics, comorbidities). Subgroup analyses were also conducted on veterans without and with a suicide attempt in the year before the index visit to examine risk for first attempt and reattempts. Adjusted analyses revealed that pain intensity scores were significantly associated suicide attempts after the index visit. Specifically, veterans with severe and moderate pain had a hazards ratio of 1.41 (95% confidence interval = 1.21-1.63) and 1.29 (95% confidence interval = 1.13-1.47), respectively. These results were consistent for those without a past-year attempt and for those with a past-year attempt. The results suggest that moderate to severe pain intensity in the year before initiating pain specialty services may be a useful indicator of suicide risk, even when considered in the context of key factors. PERSPECTIVE: This study used national administrative and suicide surveillance data to assess the relationship between pain intensity and suicide attempts after an initial visit for pain specialty services among veterans. These findings highlight the potential usefulness of assessing pain intensity as an indicator for suicide risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of the current study were to characterize veterans who used a complementary and integrative health (CIH) service in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and to assess the extent to which using a CIH-related service was associated with receiving an opioid analgesic prescription following the initiation of specialty pain service, a time at which higher intensity care is needed for patients experiencing greater psychiatric and medical complexity.Design: This study utilized a retrospective cohort design of veterans using specialty pain services. The index visit was defined as the first specialty pain visit in Fiscal Years 2012-2015. Demographics, opioid analgesic prescriptions, psychiatric disorder diagnoses, medical comorbidity, pain severity scores, and pain conditions were extracted from VHA administrative data.Setting: The cohort was comprised of veterans who had at least one visit with a specialty pain service as identified by a billing code.Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were use of a CIH-related service in the 365 days prior to the index visit and opioid analgesic prescription within 365 days after the index visit. Adjusted logistic regression analyses accounted for key covariate and potential confounding variables.Results: Use of CIH-related services was relatively low across the cohort (1.9%). Veterans who used a CIH-related service in the 365 days prior to the index visit were more likely to be female, be younger, have less medical comorbidity, have less severe pain, and were less likely to have received an opioid prescription in the 365 days prior to the index visit. After accounting for key covariates and potential confounders, veterans who used a CIH-related service were less likely to receive an opioid analgesic prescription in the 365 days following the index visit.Conclusion: CIH-related services were not commonly used among Veterans initiating specialty pain services. Engaging in CIH-related services prior to specialty pain services is associated with decreased opioid analgesic and non-opioid analgesic prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergency Department (ED) providers' disposition decision impacts patient care and safety. The objective of this brief report is to gain a better understanding of ED providers' disposition decision and risk tolerance of associated outcomes.Methods: We synthesized qualitative and quantitative methods including decision mapping, survey research, statistical analysis, and word clouds. Between July 2017 and August 2017, a 10-item survey was developed and conducted at the study hospital. Descriptive and statistical analyses were used to assess the relationship between the participant characteristics (age, gender, years of experience in the ED, and level of expertise) and risk tolerance of outcomes (72-h return and negative outcome) associated with disposition decision. Word clouds facilitated prioritization of qualitative responses regarding information impacting and supporting the disposition decision.Results: Total of 46 participants completed the survey. The mean age was 39.5 (standard deviation (SD) 10years), and mean years of experience was 9.6years (SD 8.7years). Decision map highlighted the connections between patient-, provider-, and system-related factors. Survey results showed that negative outcome resulted in less risk tolerance compared to 72-h return. Chi-square tests did not provide sufficient evidence to indicate that the responses are independent of participants characteristics - except age and the risk of 72-h return (p=0.046).Conclusion: Discharge decision making in the ED is complex as it involves interconnected patient, provider, and system factors. Synthesizing qualitative and quantitative methods promise enhanced understanding of how providers arrive to disposition decision, as well as safety and quality of care in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic lines are one of the most pervasive disturbances across the boreal forest of western Canada, with densities in Alberta as high as 10 km/km 2 . The effect of seismic lines and associated habitat fragmentation on boreal wildlife is generally well understood, and most recently seismic lines have been focus of habitat restoration efforts to conserve declining woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) populations. However, despite decades of research assessing wildlife response to seismic lines, little is known about the effects of seismic line clearing on the quality of understory forage for wildlife, or about the resilience of boreal understory communities to seismic line clearing. Using field data collected from 351 seismic lines across west-central and north-western Alberta, Canada, and focusing on forage taxa preferred by moose and bears, we (1) investigated whether understory forage taxa composition differed among seismic lines, seismic line edges, and the interior forest, and (2) assessed how this relationship changed as a function of seismic line attributes (ecosite, orientation, level of motorized human use, regeneration). Although we found regional differences and differences among ecosites, generally disturbance-tolerant forbs and graminoids were more abundant on seismic lines, Rhododendron spp. and Vaccinium vitis-idaea were more abundant on edges, and Alnus, Salix and Betula spp. were more abundant on edges and seismic lines. Attributes of seismic lines did not explain patterns of understory forage abundance, although we found positive relationships between motorized human use and abundance of Chamerion spp. and non-target graminoids. With habitat restoration for caribou in mind, this study increases understanding of patterns of understory forage availability on seismic lines, which could help prioritize seismic line restoration efforts to reduce forage attractive to primary wolf prey (moose), and bears, and decrease the spatial overlap between caribou and predators. Overall, our results reveal that even decades after construction, understory forage on seismic lines is different from the interior forest, and is similar to that of harvest blocks. Silviculture and reforestation are recognized as key components for the recovery of harvested areas, and our results suggest that the same treatments may be needed to re-establish or maintain natural successional trajectories on seismic lines. By focusing on habitat changes that influence wildlife responses, such as changes in the presence and abundance of forage used by moose and bears, this study provides valuable insight into the need for active restoration of seismic lines to restore boreal forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The «Seine Waterway Axis » is located along the Seine river from Le Havre to Paris. A high density of manufacturing and heavy industry chararcterizes the area's economic activities. Regarding ecological transition objectives both reducing industry sector CO 2 emissions and maintaining local employment are two majors challenges for local stakeholders of this spatial area. In 2010, the Seine Waterway Axis’ energy production's sector gathers 32% of the French total emissions of this sector. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) appears to be a relevant technology in such a context. In 2007/2008 the idea of using CCS grew in some of the Seine Waterway Axis’ stakeholders mind. But since, only few industrial scale's projects came to reality. How consider the future of this technology in this spatial area? How carbon capture and storage could contribute to mitigate CO 2 emissions in the Seine Waterway Axis? In this paper we will answer these question in analysing both spatial dynamics of this territories and expectations linkec with CCS by various stakeholders of the Seine Waterway Axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) and MPB control methods affect the abundance of plant-foods important to threatened caribou and grizzly bear populations in Alberta, Canada. • Many plant-food taxa had positive responses to MPB and/or fire, indicating adaptation to these natural disturbances. • Less-intensive MPB control and prescribed fires might be effective management options which balance the threat of MPB to forestry operations while maintaining food resources for threatened grizzly bear and caribou populations. In Alberta, Canada, mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestations overlap with threatened caribou and grizzly bear ranges. While MPB is a natural part of the ecosystem, increased intensity of infestation due to fire suppression and a changing climate has required mitigating actions in the form of MPB control treatments, including accelerated forest harvesting, prescribed burns, and single-tree cut and burn. However, little is known on how MPB and MPB treatments affect understory shrub and forb forage taxa important to threatened caribou and grizzly bear populations. Using data collected in west-central and north-west Alberta, we investigated how the occurrence and abundance of 25 shrub and forb taxa varied among MPB kill, MPB treatments: single-tree cut and burn, harvesting, fire, and uncut forest strata. We determined that MPB kill and MPB treatments impacted 13 forage taxa preferred by threatened caribou and grizzly bear populations. These caribou and grizzly bear forage taxa generally had a positive response to MPB kill and single-tree cut and burn, a positive response to fire, or a positive response to MPB kill, single-tree cut and burn, and fire. Our results suggest that less-intensive MPB treatments like single-tree cut and burn might balance the threat of MPB against maintaining food resources and habitat for threatened species. As MPB continues to be a significant problem in Alberta and across the boreal forest, the results from our study, combined with ongoing assessments on the impact of MPB on wildlife species will provide essential information for evidence-based landscape management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral injury represents an emerging clinical construct recognized as a source of morbidity in current and former military personnel. Finding effective ways to support those affected by moral injury remains a challenge for both biomedical and complementary and alternative medicine. This paper introduces the concept of moral injury and suggests two complementary and alternative medicine, pastoral care and mindfulness, which may prove useful in supporting military personnel thought to be dealing with moral injury. Research strategies for developing an evidence-base for applying these, and other, complementary and alternative medicine modalities to moral injury are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Sleep restriction therapy is routinely used within cognitive behavioral therapy to treat chronic insomnia. However, the efficacy for sleep restriction therapy as a standalone intervention has yet to be comprehensively reviewed. This review evaluates the evidence for the use of sleep restriction therapy in the treatment of chronic insomnia. The literature was searched using web-based databases, finding 1344 studies. Twenty-one were accessed in full (1323 were deemed irrelevant to this review). Nine were considered relevant and evaluated in relation to study design using a standardized study checklist and levels of evidence. Four trials met adequate methodological strength to examine the efficacy of therapy for chronic insomnia. Weighted effect sizes for self-reported sleep diary measures of sleep onset latency, wake time after sleep onset, and sleep efficiency were moderate-to-large after therapy. Total sleep time indicated a small improvement. Standalone sleep restriction therapy is efficacious for the treatment of chronic insomnia for sleep diary continuity variables. Studies are insufficient to evaluate the full impact on objective sleep variables. Measures of daytime functioning in response to therapy are lacking. Variability in the sleep restriction therapy implementation methods precludes any strong conclusions regarding the true impact of therapy. A future research agenda is outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Primary care is often the place where patients with depression and comorbid insomnia seek treatment. The experience of comorbid insomnia with depression can have a significant impact on the efficacy of other depression treatments and exacerbate depressive symptoms. Using the empirically based Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I) to target the comorbid experience of insomnia in patients with depression can help improve sleep and potentially modify some depressive symptoms. Additional rationale for such an approach includes that a positive therapeutic experience may enhance engagement with or adherence to other psychotherapeutic interventions. Although other brief CBT-I interventions have been developed for primary care, none of them were actually delivered to depressed patients or implemented in primary care. Therefore, this paper describes a brief CBT-I intervention that was designed to be delivered in 4 sessions lasting from 15 to 45minutes each within a primary care setting to depressed veterans. A case study is provided along with sample materials used in this intervention. In addition, we share implementation tips based on our experiences and feedback from eight veterans who have completed the intervention to date. Overall, the intervention was generally well received and suggests that the intervention may be feasibly delivered in a primary care setting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Urban metabolism considers a city as a system with flows of energy and material between it and the environment. Recent advances in bio-physical sciences provide methods and models to estimate local scale energy, water, carbon and pollutant fluxes. However, good communication is required to provide this new knowledge and its implications to endusers (such as urban planners, architects and engineers). The FP7 project BRIDGE (sustainaBle uRban plannIng Decision support accountinG for urban mEtabolism) aimed to address this gap by illustrating the advantages of considering these issues in urban planning. The BRIDGE Decision Support System (DSS) aids the evaluation of the sustainability of urban planning interventions. The Multi Criteria Analysis approach adopted provides a method to cope with the complexity of urban metabolism. In consultation with targeted end-users, objectives were defined in relation to the interactions between the environmental elements (fluxes of energy, water, carbon and pollutants) and socioeconomic components (investment costs, housing, employment, etc.) of urban sustainability. The tool was tested in five case study cities: Helsinki, Athens, London, Florence and Gliwice; and sub-models were evaluated using flux data selected. This overview of the BRIDGE project covers the methods and tools used to measure and model the physical flows, the selected set of sustainability indicators, the methodological framework for evaluating urban planning alternatives and the resulting DSS prototype. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Poor sleep diminishes mental and physical health. The objective of this study was to examine associations between sleep disturbance and interleukin-6 (IL-6) responses to acute mental stress in older adults. Design: Observational study of community-dwelling, healthy older adults. Setting: Participants completed the study in a clinical research laboratory of a mid-sized university. Participants: Generally healthy, community-dwelling men and women age 50 and older. Measurements: IL-6 and negative affect at rest and following a series of challenging cognitive tests; sleep quality; depressive symptoms; perceived stress; loneliness. Results: Participants categorized as poor sleepers on the basis of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores had significantly larger IL-6 responses to the cognitive stressors than good sleepers. The association between poor sleep and heightened IL-6 response to acute stress was not explained by other psychosocial factors previously linked to immune dysregulation, including depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and loneliness. Conclusions: Findings add to the growing evidence for poor sleep as an independent risk factor for poor mental and physical health. Older adults may be particularly vulnerable to effects of sleep disturbance due to significant age-related changes in both sleep and inflammatory regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents an urban canopy and building energy model based on a thermal network of constant resistances and capacitances. The RC model represents the fundamental physical relations that govern the energy interactions between buildings and their urban environment, retaining the sensitivity to the design parameters typically used in building energy and urban climate studies. The benefits of the RC model are its simplicity and computational efficiency. It allows for better understanding the physics of the problem and makes it possible to easily evaluate modelling hypotheses and the sensitivity of different parameters. In this study, the RC model is evaluated against advanced simulation tools that are well accepted and evaluated within their individual scientific communities. The model is then used in a series of parametric analyses to investigate the impact of the Urban Heat Island effect on the energy consumption of buildings in configurations that are parameterized in terms of internal heat gains, construction, geometry, glazing ratio, and infiltration level. The RC model is also used to investigate the dominant mechanisms by which the indoor environment affects outdoor air temperatures. Parameters such as indoor air temperatures, exfiltration heat, and waste heat from HVAC systems are analysed. The conclusions obtained by this study can be applied to a wide range of urban configurations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Facing the concern of the population to its environment and to climatic change, city planners are now considering the urban climate in their choices of planning. The use of climatic maps, such Urban Climate Zone‑UCZ, is adapted for this kind of application. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the UCZ classification, integrated in the World Meteorological Organization guidelines, first can be automatically determined for sample areas and second is meaningful according to climatic variables. The analysis presented is applied on Toulouse urban area (France). Results show first that UCZ differentiate according to air and surface temperature. It has been possible to determine the membership of sample areas to an UCZ using landscape descriptors automatically computed with GIS and remote sensed data. It also emphasizes that climate behavior and magnitude of UCZ may vary from winter to summer. Finally we discuss the influence of climate data and scale of observation on UCZ mapping and climate characterization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of tunnel sprayers should be encouraged because they can potentially reduce pesticide input and drift in orchards. They could also allow smaller plot size in multifactorial trials in which fully randomized or randomized block designs are recommended. However, the effectiveness of plant protection products applied with tunnel sprayers cannot be reliably assessed without a thorough investigation into spray distribution in tree canopies. A set of three experiments was undertaken in an apple orchard to compare a new type of recycling tunnel sprayer with a standard axial fan sprayer, both of them fitted with either conventional hydraulic hollow cone nozzles (ATR) or drift-mitigating air induction cone nozzles (TVI). Its performance was assessed in terms of 1) spray deposit and coverage in the canopy, 2) sedimentation drift (spray drift to the ground) and 3) collection and recycling rate of the liquid sprayed in the tunnel. Artificial targets composed of cellulose papers and water-sensitive papers were used to evaluate the spray deposit and coverage at similar target positions for each treatment. A fluorescent dye was used as the spray tracer. The study showed that, when using the ATR nozzles, the spray deposit, at each sampling point in the tree canopy, produced by the tunnel sprayer was not significantly different from that produced by the standard sprayer. The spray deposited on the top of the trees when using the TVI nozzles, however, was significantly less than with the standard sprayer. At the same spray deposit level, the spray cover on the canopy, estimated by image analysis, was relatively better with the standard sprayer than with the tunnel sprayer. At the same spray deposit level, the TVI nozzles resulted in significantly poorer spray cover of the canopy than the ATR nozzles. At low wind speeds, the sedimentation drift varied on average from 5.8 to 9.1% of the total sprayer output, irrespective of the type of sprayer or nozzle. The overall mean of the sedimentation drift was not significantly different for the two types of sprayers. The recovery system, which included a continuous recycling process in the tunnel sprayer, led to average savings of 28 and 32% of the applied spray mixtures for the ATR and TVI nozzles, respectively. The tunnel sprayer might therefore be suitable for small-scale apple orchards when fitted with traditional ATR nozzles rather than with air-induced TVI nozzles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Three main factors, hyperarousal, circadian dysrhythmia, and homeostatic dysregulation, are thought to underlie chronic insomnia. To date, most of the empirical work has focused on the issue of hyperarousal and very little work has been undertaken on the issue of sleep homeostasis. In the present paper, we review the five lines of evidence which may be used to support the proposition that sleep homeostasis is altered in Primary Insomnia. These include findings pertaining to Slow Wave Sleep density, level of daytime sleepiness, sleepiness following sleep deprivation, recovery sleep following sleep deprivation, and response to sleep restriction therapy. In addition, we provide a discussion regarding how hyperarousal and circadian factors may interact with altered sleep homeostasis, and suggestions for further inquiry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Placebo effects are commonly observed in insomnia clinical trials. With the advent of longer-term trials, such effects appear to be remarkably robust and durable. In this paper we review the classic factors that are believed to contribute to placebo effects and how these factors operate in insomnia randomized clinical trials. Beyond this we suggest that the episodic nature of insomnia may interact with patient preferences for intermittent dosing in such a way as to sustain placebo effects in the long term. An appreciation of the latter phenomenon may provide increased power to detect therapeutic outcomes and may be used to potentiate clinical gains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Five recent cases of regulatory capture in Europe are investigated. • Important forms of corporate penetration are based on a strategic use of the image and legitimacy of science. • Lobbyists present themselves as upholders of science and of evidence-based policy to advance their agenda. • The strategy follows an 'epistemic ladder', from questioning the evidence to questioning its legitimacy, to acting as to create a worldview. In this paper we explore five recent cases of regulatory capture in Europe and zoom in on a form of corporate penetration which is based on a strategic use of the image and legitimacy of science. We examine cases in which lobbyists present themselves as upholders of science and of evidence-based policy, intervene directly in the methodological and ethical aspects of science for policy-making, thus imprinting their own agenda on the societal functions of science. We propose the existence of a process whereby private interest ascend an ideal 'epistemic ladder'. In this vision, lobbying intervention moves from questioning the evidence to questioning its legitimacy, all the way to acting as to create a worldview where not only the evidence, but the very idea of regulation, become irrelevant or undesirable, other than as a vehicle for the pursuit of private interest. Caught in this project, science and its future appear vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Self-confidence and trust are important life-skills in a rapidly changing world. • Adolescence is a sensitive phase needing positive pedagogical interventions. • In a creative storytelling workshop, adolescents gain self-confidence and trust. • Confidence raises through self-disclosure and progressive creative risk-taking. • Succeeding collectively in an unfamiliar, challenging setting increases their trust. In a constantly changing world facing important challenges, educational activities need to be aimed at empowering the young generation to take an active part in shaping both their lives and society. The empowerment process builds on the development of self-confidence and trust. Specifically, self-confidence as generalised self-efficacy, confidence in speaking, confidence in one's ability to learn and the resulting persistence seem crucial in today's society. Relevant components of trust, in turn, concern the ability to rely on others in group settings and to cooperate in challenging situations. Adolescence itself is a phase of uncertainty and rapid changes, which makes it sensitive to drops in self-confidence and trust. It is recommendable to go beyond a problem oriented focus and to address protective factors through positive interventions. This paper presents the design of a creative storytelling workshop building on psychological mechanisms promoting self-confidence and trust. In three consecutive half-day sessions, adolescent participants are given the opportunity to invent stories based on their self-reflection and self-expression, to audio-record them and to create a finalized podcast. By presenting the relevant elements of the intervention design, this paper provides guidance to practitioners for creating and implementing life skill enhancing workshops, particularly those aiming to develop self-confidence and trust. Besides creativity and storytelling, relevant elements of the workshop were a framework of positive psychology, the cooperative experience of small successes towards a shared goal, experiential learning, a balance between task types including mouvement, the creation of a safe and immersive space and an encouraging posture of the facilitators. A pilot study was carried out with twelve teenagers in order to gain first evidence on the effects of the intervention on the above mentioned components of self-confidence and trust. Results from self-report data indicate several components of self-confidence and trust can be positively impacted by the experience provided through the workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Context for pipeline corridors as potential ecological sinks for wildlife populations. • Quantitative analysis of plant taxa foraged by woodland caribou and grizzly bear. • Species composition and cover varied between pipelines versus adjacent forest. • High cover of graminoids on pipeline corridors as compared to adjacent forest. • Prioritizing ecosites within caribou ranges may be a beneficial restoration strategy. The construction of pipeline rights-of-way (ROWs, hereafter 'pipeline') involves mechanical site clearing, which impacts soil and ground cover vegetation and has implications for forage availability and predation risk for threatened wildlife, including woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). However, there has been no quantitative evaluation of vegetation communities on open pipelines as compared to the adjacent intact forest. We compared the cover of ground vegetation by vegetation type, and the cover and composition for plant taxa known for their importance as woodland caribou and grizzly bear forage, between plots located on pipeline corridors, near the edge of the pipeline corridor, and in the adjacent undisturbed forest across six different boreal forest ecosite types in west-central and north-western Alberta, Canada. Pipeline corridors were characterized by higher total ground vegetation cover, and cover of low shrubs, lichens, bryophyte and of targeted forage species of low shrubs, bryophytes, and lichens. In contrast, pipelines had higher graminoid cover and cover of target forage species of tall shrubs and graminoids, as compared to adjacent forest. Despite the substantive differences in cover and composition of ground vegetation among the ecosite types, differences between pipelines and the adjacent forest were quite consistent, with a few exceptions. For instance, forb cover was higher in the adjacent forest compared with pipelines in shrubby ecosite types, but was similar across plot locations in other ecosites. Species composition also varied among ecosites and differed between the adjacent forest and on pipelines; with pipelines dominated by graminoids, particularly Carex species. Our results demonstrate that pipelines influence ground vegetation communities, and cover and composition of wildlife forage species, across the boreal forest landscapes of Alberta; we suggest this results in pipelines being a potential ecological sink for wildlife populations, including threatened caribou. To ensure pipelines can recover, restoration strategies that promote natural recovery or purposeful re-planting may be required to accelerate forest re-establishment and put inactive pipeline corridors within caribou ranges on a recovery trajectory. Our results suggest that ecosites can be used to prioritize pipelines where restoration or management actions may be the most beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]