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This article is about the multidisciplinary Community of Practice (CoP) initiative that was implemented in the summer of 2020- summer of the pivot- at a Canadian post-secondary institution to prepare faculty, staff, and students for remote teaching and learning while navigating pandemic conditions created by COVID-19. The CoP as a case study using Critical Theory as a theoretical framework examines the experiences of a collective group of faculty and staff from different disciplines leading a multidisciplinary university-wide initiative and the implications of the approach for promoting effective pedagogies for teaching and learning remotely. Findings based on feedback from workshop attendees, reflections from the CoP facilitators, and comments forwarded to senior administrators about the impact and the effectiveness of the program indicate positive results. It is recommended that although the CoP initiative was originally conceived as a response to the summer of the pivot, it should become an integral approach to promoting dialogue and innovative strategies to advance equitable practices in higher education by cultivating community networks. The findings serve to continue constructive dialogues and discussions about how universities can transition, pivot, and mobilize innovatively and creatively to prioritize equitable teaching and learning conditions that challenge the status quo. This requires a long-term commitment by higher education institutions to break away from historically normalized practices and invest in innovative ways to identify and meet the needs of various stakeholders.

The inclusion of First Nations health curricula in programs is critical for the development of culturally safe graduates, however, less is known about how to embed content into curriculum in ways that reflect best practice and pedagogy. The aim of this scoping review was to describe methods and processes of First Nations health curriculum development in nursing, medical, dentistry, and allied health entry-level programs in international peer-reviewed journals. Systematic searches of databases were completed including CINAHL, Proquest, Medline, and Informit; with additional searches in Google Scholar and First Nations-led journals. A total of 104 articles met inclusion criteria; the majority relating to medicine (n = 38) and nursing/midwifery (n = 17) student cohorts. Methods and processes for embedding First Nations health content are described, including First Nations-led development and co-leadership, resulting in a suggested model for curriculum development. Evidence-informed curriculum development is critical to ensure effective methods and processes are adopted and cultural safety learning outcomes are achieved.

The Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL), along with the St. Lawrence Estuary, is the largest estuarine system in North America. It is a biologically productive sea and an important fishing ground in Canada. The objectives of this study are to determine how climate changes will affect primary production in the GSL and on the eastern Scotian Shelf, and to determine the drivers of the changes. We use a regional ocean model forced with downscaled output of the Max-Planck Institute Earth System Model to study the changes in net primary production under the climate change scenario of Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5). Results reveal a projected 13.4% decrease in annual primary production across the GSL system over the next 70 years. This decline primarily stems from reduced nutrient concentrations in the upper layer, despite the increase in nutrients supplied by rivers. Enhanced freshwater influx and ocean surface warming contribute to heightened stratification, that in turn reduce the vertical nutrient fluxes from deeper layers. This mechanism affects the upwelling of nutrient-rich water at the head of the Laurentian Channel in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary, leading to a 22% reduction in the vertical nitrate flux in the future. Additionally, nutrient concentrations in the water masses entering the GSL at the Strait of Belle Isle and at Cabot Strait are also reduced. Due to declining sea-ice concentration, the phytoplankton bloom is expected to occur between 9 and 23 days earlier under a warmer climate, and last for up to 24 days longer, depending on the GSL subregions, compared to the historical period (2001-2020). Biological productivity at higher trophic levels, and thus fisheries productivity, could be negatively impacted under the RCP8.5 climate change scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fetal and neonatal exposure to lead is associated with irreversible adverse effects on neural development. There is no reliable threshold for lead effect, so limiting exposure is recommended. A significant correlation has been reported between post‐transfusion blood lead level (BLL) in infants and lead levels in transfused RBC units. We measured levels of lead, mercury, and cadmium, in Canadian donor blood to investigate if concerning levels for neonatal transfusion exist. Study Design and Methods: Whole blood samples from blood donors (n = 2529) were shipped cold within 7 days of donation. All permanent blood donation clinics across Canada were sampled. Twelve of these permanent clinics and 8 mobile clinics with a greater potential for having higher lead or mercury levels were oversampled. Heavy metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: Of all donations, 2.2% (lead) and 0.4% (mercury) had levels higher than the recommended thresholds for safe neonatal transfusion. BLLs were higher in males but there was no significant difference in the blood mercury levels of males versus females. Cadmium levels were higher in females. There was a positive correlation between donor age and levels of heavy metals, with lead having the strongest correlation (r = 0.47, p <.0001). Three clinics in close proximity to two lead‐producing mines were among the clinics with the highest BLLs. Significantly higher blood mercury levels were observed in coastal clinics. Conclusion: Our data on donor blood heavy metal levels supports considering blood transfusion as an exposure source to heavy metals and encourages informed selection of blood units for transfusion to vulnerable groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a course, as part of our institution's core program, which provides students with a foundation in academic literacy in the social sciences: how to find, read, critically assess, and communicate about social science research. It is not a research methods course; rather, it is intended to introduce students to the social sciences and be better consumers of social science research. In this article, we describe the key learning objectives of this course, the basic content areas, and some of the innovative teaching and learning strategies used in the course. We also provide empirical evidence of the effectiveness of the course in meeting its learning objectives and of student responses to the course. Finally, we discuss some of the challenges in developing interdisciplinary core courses and offer suggestions for best practices for teaching social science literacy as part of the core curriculum.

Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is a key component of tuberculosis elimination. To improve completion and reduce the burden for people and health systems, short, safe, and effective TPT regimens are needed. We aimed to compare safety and treatment completion of various doses and durations of rifampicin in people who were recommended to receive TPT. This partially blinded, parallel-arm, non-inferiority, randomised, controlled, phase 2b trial was done at seven university-affiliated clinics in Canada, Indonesia, and Viet Nam. Participants aged 10 years or older were included if they had an indication for TPT according to WHO guidelines for Indonesia and Viet Nam, or Canadian guidelines for Canadian sites, and a positive tuberculin skin test or interferon-γ release assay. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive oral rifampicin at 10 mg/kg once daily for 4 months (standard-dose group), 20 mg/kg daily for 2 months (20 mg/kg group), or 30 mg/kg daily for 2 months (30 mg/kg group). The randomisation sequence was computer generated with blocks of variable size (three, six, and nine) and stratified by country for Indonesia and Viet Nam, and by city within Canada. Participants and investigators were masked to dose in high-dose groups, but unmasked to duration in all groups. The two co-primary outcomes were safety (in the safety population, in which participants received at least one dose of the study drug) and treatment completion (in the modified intention-to-treat [mITT] population, excluding those ineligible after randomisation). Protocol-defined adverse events were defined as grade 3 or worse, or rash or allergy of any grade, judged by an independent and masked panel as possibly or probably related to the study. A margin of 4% was used to assess non-inferiority. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03988933 (active). Between Sept 1, 2019, and Sept 30, 2022, 1692 people were assessed for eligibility, 1376 were randomly assigned, and eight were excluded after randomisation. 1368 participants were included in the mITT population (454 in the standard group, 461 in the 20 mg/kg group, and 453 in the 30 mg/kg group). 589 (43%) participants were male and 779 (57%) were female. 372 (82%) in the standard-dose group, 329 (71%) in the 20 mg/kg group, and 293 (65%) in the 30 mg/kg group completed treatment. No participants in the standard-dose group, one (<1%) of 441 participants in the 20 mg/kg group, and four (1%) of 423 in the 30 mg/kg group developed grade 3 hepatotoxicity. Risk of protocol-defined adverse events was higher in the 30 mg/kg group than in the standard-dose group (adjusted risk difference 4·6% [95% CI 1·8 to 7·4]) or the 20 mg/kg group (5·1% [2·3 to 7·8]). There was no difference in the risk of adverse events between the 20 mg/kg and standard-dose groups (–0·5% [95% CI –2·4 to 1·5]; non-inferiority met). Completion was lower in the 20 mg/kg group (–7·8% [95% CI –13·6 to –2·0]) and the 30 mg/kg group (–15·4% [–21·4 to –9·4]) than in the standard-dose group. In this trial, 2 months of 30 mg/kg daily rifampicin had significantly worse safety and completion than 4 months of 10 mg/kg daily and 2 months of 20 mg/kg daily (the latter, a fully blinded comparison); we do not consider 30 mg/kg to be a good option for TPT. Rifampicin at 20 mg/kg daily for 2 months was as safe as standard treatment, but with lower completion. This difference remains unexplained. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Disability Studies is the property of Canadian Disability Studies Association 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.)

Schools often need to implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in contexts and with client populations that differ from those present during intervention development and validation. Due to the differences in intervention conditions, schools inevitably make adaptations to interventions to be responsive or to operate within present constraints. This need to adapt creates a significant dilemma for schools, as a large body of evidence indicates that treatment integrity, or the extent to which an intervention is implemented as prescribed (Gresham, 1989, 2009), is essential to intervention effectiveness. Thus, a conflict is created between strict adherence to interventions in the way they were designed and tested and the necessity for being responsive and making appropriate adaptations. In this article, the authors will help the reader resolve this apparent conflict. First, they make a case for intervention adaptation. Next, they use a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI; the MindUP curriculum) to illustrate the adaptation process, while simultaneously maximizing treatment integrity. Finally, the authors conclude with a discussion of the lessons learned from their project.

Early career teacher attrition has most often been conceptualized as either a problem associated with individual factors (e.g. burnout) or a problem associated with contextual factors (e.g. support and salary). This study considered early career teacher attrition as an identity making process that involves a complex negotiation between individual and contextual factors. Forty second- and third-year teachers in rural, urban, and suburban boards across Alberta, Canada, who taught at different grade levels, were interviewed about their experiences with attention to their future intentions. The semi-structured interviews were analyzed in two ways: simple descriptive statistics on demographic data and thematic analysis of the interviews. The seven themes, developed inductively, were: (1) support; (2) an identity thread of belonging; (3) tensions around contracts; (4) new teachers will do anything; (5) balancing composing a life: Working hours; (6) the struggle to not allow teaching to consume them; and (7) can I keep doing this? Is this teaching? The results of the study prompted questions about how beginning teachers might be sustained by considering each person's storied life, as well as about how teachers might be sustained on both their personal and professional knowledge landscapes.

Emerging terms in the literature such as climate anxiety describe heightened concern, fear, and anxiety related to the climate crisis. Recent efforts have attempted to develop and validate scales to measure climate anxiety; however, extant research is largely focused on adults. Consequently, it is unclear whether developed measures are appropriate for adolescent populations, despite disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis experienced by this age group. The purpose of this study was two‐fold; first, we aimed to assess levels of climate concern among Canadian adolescents using the Youth Development Instrument (YDI), a population‐level youth well‐being survey administered in schools with students (ages 15–18). Secondly, we collaborated with adolescents to adapt an existing climate anxiety scale to be included in the YDI survey. We used survey results to validate the adapted scale for use with adolescents and assessed levels of climate anxiety within our sample. In consultation with adolescents, the 13‐item Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) was adapted to create the Climate Change Anxiety Scale – Short‐form (CCAS‐S) which consists of four‐items adapted from the original CCAS. A total of 2306 respondents were included in analyses. Most adolescents reported feeling climate change concern (75.8%). A smaller proportion reported experiences of climate anxiety (48.7%). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a one‐factor structure for the CCAS‐S, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95) and good model fit with error co‐variance. Findings from this study provide construct validity evidence and reliability for the use of the CCAS‐S in adolescent populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Silver Chub Macrhybopsis storeriana, a predominately riverine species throughout its native range, exists within Lake Erie as the only known lake population. Its population declined in the 1950s and never fully recovered. Canada has listed Silver Chub in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River as endangered and has initiated a recovery plan that recognized the identification of spawning areas as a critical component to inform Silver Chub's recovery potential. Methods: We investigated potential spawning locations of Silver Chub using capture records, otolith microchemistry, and daily age analysis. Lapillus otolith Sr:Ca ratios from 27 age‐0 Silver Chub were used to identify potential spawning areas. Daily ages estimated from lapilli were used to calculate hatch dates, which then were compared with capture data of adults and river flows to further inform potential spawning areas. Result: The Detroit River (and its nearshore area) was all but ruled out as a potential spawning location. The Maumee, Portage, and Sandusky rivers or their nearshore areas were all possible spawning locations. Projected hatch dates spanned the end of May through the end of June and occurred across a wide range of flows, although some peaks in hatch dates corresponded to flow peaks, indicating recruitment is potentially enhanced by high flows. Conclusion: Silver Chub spawning period and hypothesized spawning rivers or lacustuaries overlap those of invasive Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, creating a need to jointly consider Grass Carp control efforts with conservation of Silver Chub when assessing management alternatives. Further research on spawning guild and the use of rivers themselves or nearshore areas influenced by rivers as spawning areas are required to maximize potential for conservation and recovery of Silver Chub. Impact statementConserving the Silver Chub is vital; it's an indicator of water quality, a food source for aquatic organisms, and preserves biodiversity. Identifying both locations and mode of spawning enhances the conservation of biodiversity in fish communities, ensuring ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examined the usefulness of systematically accounting for acceptable physician variations in guideline application. Review of 141 cases of treatment of acute myocardial infarction in a Canadian hospital show that even seemingly noncontentious guideline protocols do not offer a threshold of variation similar to conventional Continuous Quality Improvement assessment methods. (SLD)

The genesis of this article was a request from the "Journal of Geography in Higher Education" to provide a reflection piece about our article 'Dear Diary: Early Career Geographers Collectively Reflect on their Qualitative Field Research Experiences' (2011) that won the journal's biennial award for 2009-2011. This request has afforded us the opportunity to reconnect as a team and, through self-directed interviews, to reflect upon how writing "Dear Diary" continues to influences our current perceptions of journaling in qualitative research. More specifically, we focus here on the relationships between journaling and our approach to research, team-based collaboration, and our current teaching and mentoring practices. We all continue to keep fieldwork journals and perceive reflexive journaling as a crucial tool for qualitative methods and other collaborative ventures.

Gambling self-exclusion agreements enable a person to have themselves prevented from gambling for some future period. In light of evidence of their effectiveness in helping problem gamblers manage their addiction, these agreements enjoy growing popularity. In particular, several jurisdictions now oblige gambling operators to offer self-exclusion to their clientele. If self-exclusion has a unique value that is distinct from paternalistic measures, such as forced exclusion, it is surely because it prizes the gambler's autonomy. In this article, however, I will argue that self-exclusion's theoretical basis cannot, in fact, be found in a procedural theory of autonomy that only regards agents' own values and decisions. Rather, I will contend that if agents may bind their future selves in only some ways—for example, by preventing themselves from gambling but not preventing themselves from self-excluding or selling themselves into slavery—it can only be because of a normative, substantive claim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international development sector has witnessed an increasing shift towards programming focused on feminist goals and Indigenous inclusion over the past decade. In this context, the government of Canada under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership has branded itself a feminist and progressive leader in the sector. Canada launched its Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), as well as pledged 100 million dollars to small and medium-sized civil society organisations over five years to renew the government's relationship with Indigenous peoples at home and abroad. These commitments contextualise Canada's International Aboriginal Youth Internship (IAYI) initiative, where eight organisations have been funded to offer Indigenous Canadian youth professional experience in the international development sector. Indigenous youth, as the programme's objectives make clear, are expected to act as good 'Canadian global citizens' and, in so doing, gain labour market experience that prepares them for employment or education post-internship. This article is sceptical of the IAYI's objectives, ones that seek to include Indigenous peoples into a historically colonial field without regard for Indigenous peoples' well-being and knowledge before, during, and after the programme. Drawing on decolonial, Indigenous, and feminist theoretical frameworks, this article undertakes a disruptive discursive analysis of the IAYI. We illuminate how the programme engages in the instrumentalisation of Indigenous youth, superficially celebrating their potential as global citizens, but ultimately leveraging this inclusion to bolster Canada's international image abroad. Nevertheless, through previous interns' experiences with the programme, we aim to humbly suggest transformative possibilities for the IAYI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Canada the time deferral for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) was progressively shortened (lifetime, 5 years, 1 year, 3 months). Here we describe trends in syphilis rates (a potential sexual risk marker) and risk behaviors from blood donors in the past 12 years. Study Design and Methods: Syphilis positivity in 10,288,322 whole blood donations (January 1, 2010–September 10, 2022) and gbMSM deferral time periods, donation status, age, and sex were analyzed with logistic regression. Overall, 26.9% syphilis positive and 42.2% controls (matched 1:4) participated in risk factor interviews analyzed by logistic regression. Results: Syphilis rates were higher in first‐time donors (OR 27.0, 95% CI 22.1–33.0), in males (OR 2.3, 1.9–2.8) and with the 3‐month deferral (OR 3.4, 2.6–4.3) during which the increase was greater for first‐time males (p <.001) but similar for male and female repeat donors (p >.05). Among first‐time donors, histories of intravenous drug use (OR 11.7, 2.0–69.5), male‐to‐male sex 7.8 (2.0–30.2) and birth in a high prevalence country (OR 7.6, 4.4–13.0) predicted syphilis positivity; among repeat donors, history of male‐to‐male sex (OR 33.5, CI 3.5–317.0). All but 1 gbMSM syphilis‐positive donors were noncompliant with the gbMSM deferral. About a quarter of first‐time interviewed case donors had history of syphilis; 44% were born in a high‐prevalence country. Conclusion: Rising syphilis rates in donors correlates with the general population epidemic. Recent infection rates rose similarly in males and females. GbMSM history may contribute to donor syphilis rates but shortening time deferrals appears unrelated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this study was to (1) Describe the patient population of a newly implemented addiction medicine consult service (AMCS); (2) Evaluate referrals to community-based addiction support services and acute health service use, over time; (3) Provide lessons learned. Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was conducted at Health Sciences North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, with a newly implemented AMCS from November 2018 and July 2021. Data were collected using the hospital's electronic medical records. The outcomes measured included the number of emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, and re-visits over time. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed to measure the effect of AMCS implementation on acute health service use at Health Sciences North. Results: A total of 833 unique patients were assessed through the AMCS. A total of 1,294 referrals were made to community-based addiction support services, with the highest proportion of referrals between August and October 2020. The post-intervention trend for ED visits, ED re-visits, ED length of stay, inpatient visits, re-visits, and inpatient length of stay did not significantly differ from the pre-intervention period. Conclusion: Implementation of an AMCS provides a focused service for patients using with substance use disorders. The service resulted in a high referral rate to community-based addiction support services and limited changes in health service usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the feasibility of conducting counseling or therapy that involves image making via the Internet, and seeks to identify new issues to consider when implementing online counseling services. Content analysis yielded the following significant issues: concerns about technical failure, relevance for people with disabilities, the need for clinical procedures and communication guidelines, and lack of shared physical presence. (Contains 47 references.) (GCP)

The Canadian Evaluation Society explored the benefits that can be attributed to program evaluation, the outputs necessary to achieve those benefits, and the knowledge and skills needed to produce outputs. Findings, which articulate benefits, outputs, and skills, can be used by evaluation organizations to support advocacy and professional development initiatives. (SLD)

Building structures are prone to cracking, leakage, and corrosion under complex loads and harsh marine environments, which seriously affect their durability performance. To design cementitious composites with excellent mechanical and impermeability properties, Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs) doped with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene short-cut fibers (PE-ECCs) were used as the reference group. Different types (XYPEX-type from Canada, SY1000-type from China) and doses (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%) of Cementitious Capillary Crystalline Waterproofing materials (CCCWs) were incorporated. The effect of CCCWs on the mechanical and impermeability properties of PE-ECCs, and the microscopic changes, were investigated to determine the best type of CCCW to use and the best amount of doping. The results showed that with increasing the CCCW dosage, the effects of both CCCWs on the mechanical and impermeability properties of PE-ECC increased and then decreased, and that the best mechanical and impermeability properties of PE-ECC were achieved when the CCCW dosing was 1.0%. The mechanical properties of the PE-ECC were more obviously improved by XYPEX-type CCCW, with a compressive strength of 53.8 MPa, flexural strength of 11.8 MPa, an ultimate tensile stress of 5.56 MPa, and an ultimate tensile strain of 7.53 MPa, which were 37.95%, 53.25%, 14.17%, and 21.65% higher than those of the reference group, respectively. The effects of the two CCCWs on impermeability were comparable. CCCW-PE-ECC(X1.0%) and CCCW-PE-ECC(S1.0%) showed the smallest permeation heights, 2.6 mm and 2.8 mm, respectively. The chloride ion diffusion coefficients of CCCW-PE-ECC(X1.0%) and CCCW-PE-ECC(S1.0%) exhibited the smallest values, 0.15 × 10−12 m2/s and 0.10 × 10−12 m2/s, respectively. Micromorphological tests showed that the particle size of the XYPEX-type CCCW was finer, and the intensity of the diffraction peaks of C-S-H and CaCO3 of PE-ECC increased after doping with two suitable doping amounts of CCCW. The pore structure was improved, the surface of the matrix was smoother, and the degree of erosion of hydration products on the fiber surface was reduced after chloride ion penetration. XYPEX-type CCCW demonstrated a more obvious improvement in the PE-ECC pore structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is an essential component for TB elimination. In order to be successfully implemented on a large scale, TPT needs to be safe, affordable and widely available in all settings. Short TPT regimens, that are less burdensome than longer regimens, to patients and health systems, are needed. Doses of rifampin higher than the standard 10mg/kg/day were tolerated in studies to reduce duration of treatment for tuberculosis disease (TBD). The objective of this trial is to test the safety of high dose rifampin monotherapy to shorten the duration of the currently recommended TPT of 4 months rifampin. Methods and analysis: This is a phase 2b, randomised, controlled, parallel group, superiority, partially-blind trial. Primary outcomes are completion of treatment (as a proxy measure of tolerability) and safety. The two experimental arms comprise 60 days of (i) 20mg/kg/day or (ii) 30mg/kg/day rifampin; the control arm comprises 120 days of 10mg/kg/day rifampin as TPT. Participants are adults and children 10 years or older, eligible for TPT. Completion is the primary outcome, measured by pill count and is defined as taking minimum of 80% of treatment in 120% of allowed time; it will be tested for superiority by logistic regression. Safety outcome comprises proportion of grade 3–5 adverse events and grade 1–2 rash, adjudicated related to study drug, and resulting in permanent drug discontinuation; compared for non-inferiority between each of the two high dose arms and the standard arm, using Poisson regression. A sample size of 1,359 participants will give 80% power to detect a 10% difference in completion rates and a 1% difference in the safety outcome. The study is conducted in Canada, Indonesia and Vietnam. Enrolment is ongoing at all sites. Ethics and dissemination: Approvals from a local research ethics board (REB) have been obtained at all participating sites and by the trial coordinating centre. Approval has been given by drug regulatory agencies in Canada and Indonesia and by Ministry of Health in Vietnam; participants give written informed consent before participation. All data collected are non-nominal. Primary results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal when all participants have completed treatment; results of secondary outcomes will be submitted for publication at the end of study; all sites will receive the final data of participants from their sites. Trial registration: Trial registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03988933). Coordinating center is the study team working at McGill University Health Center-Research Institute (MUHC-RI); sponsor is the MUHC-RI; funding has been granted by Canadian Institute of Health Research (FDN-143350). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B surveillance is essential to achieving Canada's goal of eliminating hepatitis B by 2030. Hepatitis B rates, association of infection with vaccine age-eligibility, and risk factors were analyzed among 1,401,603 first-time Canadian blood donors from 2005 to 2020. Donors were classified as having likely chronic or likely resolved/occult infections based on hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis B core antigen, and hepatitis B nucleic acid test results. Likely chronically infected and control donors (ratio 1:4) participated in risk-factor interviews. The 2019 rate of likely chronic infection was 61.9 per 100,000 (95% CI 46.5–80.86) and 1449.5 per 100,000 for likely resolved/occult infections (95% CI 1370.7–1531.7). Likely chronic infections were higher in males (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.7–3.7) and the vaccine-ineligible birth cohort (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.6–2.2). The main risk factors were living with someone who had hepatitis (OR 12.5; 95% CI 5.2–30.0) and ethnic origin from a high-prevalence country (OR 8.4; 95% CI 5.9–11.9). Undiagnosed chronic hepatitis B may be more prevalent in Canada than currently determined by traditional passive hepatitis B reporting. Blood donor data can be useful in informing hepatitis B rates and evaluating vaccination programs in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports findings from a large mixed-method study exploring the migration to the United Kingdom (UK) of social workers trained in Australia, Canada, India, Romania, South Africa, the US, and Zimbabwe, and the migration of British trained social workers to Australia. The project aimed at exploring the motivations for migration, the experiences of integration, and the impact of culture on these. This article focuses on the quantitative findings and will use some of the qualitative data to further explain and interrogate the differences between these groups based on their country of origin. The findings show the greater challenges migrants from developing countries have experienced, including lack of recognition of their qualifications and experience, and discrimination. The findings also show that contrary to common assumptions, the migration experiences of social workers coming from Australia, Canada and the US are not as easy as expected. American social workers who migrated to the UK turned out to be the group least professionally satisfied. The British in Australia on the other hand, were the most satisfied. Implications for practice and future research are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Tested model of managerial women's (n=249) stress. Model was developed from Lazarus's theoretical framework of stress/coping and incorporated causal antecedent constructs (demographics, sex role attitudes, agentic traits), mediating constructs (environment, appraisals, engagement coping, disengagement coping), and outcomes (work performance, distress, satisfaction). Final model accounted for 56 percent of total variance among constructs. (Author/NB)

Background/aims: Despite evidence that preferential use of balanced/buffered fluids may improve outcomes compared with chloride-rich 0.9% saline, saline remains the most commonly used fluid for children with septic shock. We aim to determine if resuscitation with balanced/buffered fluids as part of usual care will improve outcomes, in part through reduced kidney injury and without an increase in adverse effects, compared to 0.9% saline for children with septic shock.Methods: The Pragmatic Pediatric Trial of Balanced versus Normal Saline Fluid in Sepsis (PRoMPT BOLUS) study is an international, open-label pragmatic interventional trial being conducted at > 40 sites in the USA, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand starting on August 25, 2020, and continuing for 5 years. Children > 6 months to < 18 years treated for suspected septic shock with abnormal perfusion in an emergency department will be randomized to receive either balanced/buffered crystalloids (intervention) or 0.9% saline (control) for initial resuscitation and maintenance fluids for up to 48 h. Eligible patients are enrolled and randomized using serially numbered, opaque envelopes concurrent with clinical care. Given the life-threatening nature of septic shock and narrow therapeutic window to start fluid resuscitation, patients may be enrolled under "exception from informed consent" in the USA or "deferred consent" in Canada and Australia/New Zealand. Other than fluid type, all decisions about timing, volume, and rate of fluid administration remain at the discretion of the treating clinicians. For pragmatic reasons, clinicians will not be blinded to study fluid type. Anticipated enrollment is 8800 patients. The primary outcome will be major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30), a composite of death, renal replacement therapy, and persistent kidney dysfunction. Additional effectiveness, safety, and biologic outcomes will also be analyzed.Discussion: PRoMPT BOLUS will provide high-quality evidence for the comparative effectiveness of buffered/balanced crystalloids versus 0.9% saline for the initial fluid management of children with suspected septic shock in emergency settings.Trial Registration: PRoMPT BOLUS was first registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04102371 ) on September 25, 2019. Enrollment started on August 25, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examined sex-typed traits (instrumentality and expressiveness), the work environment (demands and interpersonal resources), and importance of stressor episodes as predictors of measures of coping (avoidance, problem reappraisal, and active problem solving) with 132 managers. Found women more likely to use avoidance and problem-reappraisal coping, but no gender differences in regard to active problem-solving coping. (Author/PVV)

Findings from 89 human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) homosexual men revealed that greater homophobia and less self-esteem predicted avoidant coping, whereas less homophobia and less time since diagnosis predicted proactive coping. Greater time since diagnosis, less avoidant coping, less homophobia, and greater self-esteem predicted better mood state and accounted for 50 percent of total variance. (Author/NB)

Background: Colonially imposed jurisdictional boundaries that have little meaning to Indigenous peoples in Canada may confound tuberculosis (TB) prevention and care activities. This study explores how inter-jurisdictional mobility and the current accommodation of mobility through policies and programming sustain a regional TB epidemic in northwestern Saskatchewan, and northeastern Alberta. Methods: A qualitative instrumental case study was performed using a community based participatory approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with First Nations peoples from a high-incidence community in Canada including community-based healthcare workers. These interview data are presented in the context of a multi-level document analysis of TB program guidelines. Results: The location of the community, and related lack of access to employment, services and care, necessitates mobility across jurisdictional boundaries. There are currently no formal federal or provincial guidelines in place to accommodate highly mobile patients and clients within and across provincial TB prevention and care programs. As a result, locally developed community-based protocols, and related ad-hoc strategies ensure continuity of care. Conclusion: Indigenous peoples living in remote communities face unique push/pull factors that motivate mobility. When these motivations exist in communities with increased risk of contagion by communicable infectious diseases such as TB, public health risks extend into increasingly large areas with competing jurisdictional authority. Such mobility poses several threats to TB elimination. We have identified a gap in TB services to systematically accommodate mobility, with specific implications for Indigenous peoples and reconciliation. We recommend clearly defined communication paths and inter-jurisdictional coordination to ensure maintenance of care for mobile populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantially elevated distress in pregnant individuals, which has the potential to affect the developing infant brain. Our main objective was to understand how prenatal distress was related to infant brain structure and function and whether social support moderated the associations. The Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic (PdP) cohort study collected Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Anxiety scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Social Support Effectiveness Questionnaire data from a population-based sample of pregnant individuals living in Canada (N = 8602). For a subsample of participants, their infants (n = 75) underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 3 months of age to examine whether prenatal maternal distress was associated with infant brain architecture, including the role of social support as a potential protective factor. Overall, 33.4% of participants demonstrated clinically elevated depression symptoms and 47.1% of participants demonstrated clinically elevated anxiety symptoms. We identified lower social support as a significant predictor of clinically elevated prenatal maternal distress (t 8598 = −22.3, p <.001). Fifty-eight diffusion image datasets (20 female/38 male, 92 ± 14 days old) and 41 functional datasets (13 female/28 male, 92 ± 14 days old) were included in our analysis after removal of poor-quality images and infants without postpartum maternal distress scores. We found significant relationships between prenatal maternal distress and infant amygdala-prefrontal microstructural and functional connectivity measures, and we demonstrate for the first time that social support moderates these relationships. Our findings suggest a potentially long-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and show that social support acts as a possible mediator not just for pregnant individuals but also developing infants. These findings provide timely evidence to inform clinical practice and policy surrounding the care of pregnant individuals and highlight the importance of social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in late 2021, Canadian public health case/contact testing was scaled back due to high infection rates with milder symptoms in a highly vaccinated population. We monitored the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (anti-N) and spike protein (anti-S) antibodies in blood donors across Canada from September 2021 to June 2022 in 202,123 randomly selected samples. Multivariable logistic regression of anti-N positivity with month, age, sex, racialization, region, material and social deprivation (based on postal code) identified as independent predictors. Piece-wise logistic regression analysed the association between anti-S concentration and month, and anti-N/anti-S positivity. Infection-related seroprevalence (anti-N positive) was 4.38% (95% CI: 3.96, 4.81) in September reaching 50.70% (50.15, 52.16) in June; nearly 100% were anti-S positive throughout. Anti-N positivity was associated with younger age, male sex, the Alberta and Prairies regions, greater material deprivation and less social deprivation (p < 0.001). Anti-S concentration was high initially (3306 U/mL, IQR 4280 U/mL), increased to (13,659 U/mL, IQR 28,224 U/mL) by June (p < 0.001), following the pattern of deployment of the third and fourth vaccine doses and was higher in those that were anti-N positive (p < 0.001). Despite already high vaccination-related seroprevalence, infection-related seroprevalence increased dramatically with the emergence of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measurement of care quality and safety mainly relies on abstracted administrative data. However, it is well studied that administrative data-based adverse event (AE) detection methods are suboptimal due to lack of clinical information. Electronic medical records (EMR) have been widely implemented and contain detailed and comprehensive information regarding all aspects of patient care, offering a valuable complement to administrative data. Harnessing the rich clinical data in EMRs offers a unique opportunity to improve detection, identify possible risk factors of AE and enhance surveillance. However, the methodological tools for detection of AEs within EMR need to be developed and validated. The objectives of this study are to develop EMR-based AE algorithms from hospital EMR data and assess AE algorithm's validity in Canadian EMR data. Methods: Patient EMR structured and text data from acute care hospitals in Calgary, Alberta, Canada will be linked with discharge abstract data (DAD) between 2010 and 2020 (n~1.5 million). AE algorithms development. First, a comprehensive list of AEs will be generated through a systematic literature review and expert recommendations. Second, these AEs will be mapped to EMR free texts using Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies. Finally, an expert panel will assess the clinical relevance of the developed NLP algorithms. AE algorithms validation: We will test the newly developed AE algorithms on 10,000 randomly selected EMRs between 2010 to 2020 from Calgary, Alberta. Trained reviewers will review the selected 10,000 EMR charts to identify AEs that had occurred during hospitalization. Performance indicators (e.g., sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, F1 score, etc.) of the developed AE algorithms will be assessed using chart review data as the reference standard. Discussion: The results of this project can be widely implemented in EMR based healthcare system to accurately and timely detect in-hospital AEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a recently described intermediate state of great interest, but about which little is known. This study sought to describe and compare the frequency of key radiologic features of subclinical PTB on chest radiograph (CXR) versus computed tomographic scan (CT), and to interpret the clinical and public health relevance of the differences. Diagnostic CXRs and CT scans of the thorax and neck in a 16-year cohort of subclinical PTB patients in Canada were re-acquired and read by two independent readers and arbitrated by a third reader. Logistic regression models were fit to determine how likely CXR features can be detected by CT scan versus CXR after adjustment for age and sex. Among 296 subclinical patients, CXRs were available in 286 (96.6%) and CT scans in 94 (32.9%). CXR features in patients with and without CT scans were comparable. Lung cavitation was 4.77 times (95% CI 1.95–11.66), endobronchial spread 19.36 times (95% CI 8.05–46.52), and moderate/far-advanced parenchymal disease 3.23 times (95% CI 1.66–6.30), more common on CT scan than CXR. We conclude that the extent to which CXRs under-detect key radiologic features in subclinical PTB is substantial. This may have public health and treatment implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper explores integration experiences of immigrants in the Canadian workplace from the perspective of immigrants themselves, focusing on cultural capital and cultural judgments as factors influencing workplace entry, advancement and social integration in an increasingly diverse work environment. Design/methodology/approach: An interpretive approach that involved thematic analysis of in-depth interview data was employed. Findings: The findings reveal that the official two-way multiculturalism policy of Canada is not reflected in the Canadian workplace and that structural forces of assimilation are evident. Cultural judgments and immigrants' cultural capital create barriers for integration. Research limitations/implications: While highlighting important aspects of immigrant experiences within the Canadian workplace, the study findings cannot generate a fully representative theorization of immigrant employment experiences in Canada. Further studies with diverse migrant groups in different parts of the country would shed more light on the issues faced by immigrants. Practical implications: The barriers to social integration identified by this study can be largely overcome by improving intercultural skills and cultural intelligence of employers and employees through training and incorporating values of diversity and inclusion into the corporate culture. Social implications: The factors that foster and hinder workplace integration identified by this study can inform workplace integration strategies and related policies. Originality/value: Much of the literature concerning immigrants' position in Canada address the economic integration and economic well-being of immigrants, focusing on quantitative, macro level analyses of earnings disparity and labor market segmentation. There is a lack of qualitative research that explores the integration process through the lens of immigrants. Informed by the theories of cultural capital, cultural judgment and integration, the study sheds light on the everyday workplace experiences of skilled migrants and perceived barriers to workplace entry, advancement and social integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Very little is known about subclinical pulmonary TB (PTB), a recently described intermediate state, in high-income countries.Research Question: What is the prevalence of subclinical PTB in Canada? What are its diagnostic chest radiography features? What is the relationship between those features and time to culture positivity, and what is the association between DNA fingerprint clustering, a measure of local transmission, and radiographic or other features in the foreign-born?Study Design and Methods: We used primary source data to identify a 16-year retrospective cohort of patients with PTB. Demographic and mycobacteriologic features in patients with subclinical and clinical disease were compared, and the reason for assessment of patients with subclinical disease was described. Diagnostic chest radiographs in patients with subclinical disease were read by two independent readers and were arbitrated by a third reader. Linear regression was used to compute time to culture positivity (in days) in relationship to the change in chest radiograph findings from normal or minimally abnormal to moderately or far advanced, adjusted for age and sex and stratified by reason for assessment. Multivariate logistic regression was used in foreign-born patients with subclinical disease to determine associations between DNA fingerprint clustering of Mycobacterium TB isolates and age, sex, chest radiograph features, and time since arrival.Results: We identified 1,656 patients with PTB, 347 of whom (21%) were subclinical. Compared with patients with clinical disease, patients with subclinical disease were more likely to be foreign-born (90.2% vs 79.6%) and to demonstrate negative smear results (88.2% vs 43.5%). The median time to culture-positivity was 18 days (interquartile range [IQR], 14-25 days) vs 12 days (IQR, 7-17 days). Most patients with PTB (75.2%) were identified during active case finding. Parenchymal disease was absent or minimal on chest radiography in 86.4% of patients. More advanced disease on chest radiography was associated with shorter times to culture positivity in nonstratified (by 3.3 days) and stratified (by 4.5-5.8 days) analysis (active case-finding groups). DNA fingerprint clustering was associated with male sex and a longer time between arrival and diagnosis.Interpretation: Subclinical patients with PTB constitute a substantial and heterogeneous minority of patients with PTB in high-income countries. DNA fingerprint clustering is consistent with some, albeit limited, local transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]