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Recent research has revealed child care settings and providers to be important influences on children's developing behaviors. Yet most research on children's nutritional development has focused on home settings and parents. Thus, through semistructured interviews with child care providers, this study aimed to develop a better understanding of the strategies they perceive to encourage healthy eating in child care settings. Results revealed that providers employ a range of strategies, many of which focus on short-term goals that do not promote the development of healthy long-term nutritional behaviors. By using a social ecological lens, the authors found providers use these strategies due to a combination of pressures from the personal and societal levels of influence. Furthermore, the method of semistructured interviewing allowed for a better understanding of child care settings not achieved through quantitative research. These findings can be used to improve nutritional information sources aimed at providers by considering the challenges specific to child care settings. (Contains 1 table.)

To better understand and promote healthy nutritional behaviour development in children, research suggests the need to develop a stronger comprehension of influences from their social environment. Yet research has favoured studying parents, with little attention being paid to other important individuals in children's lives, especially from a qualitative research approach. Thus, the goal of this study was to understand the factors influencing childcare providers' decisions regarding nutrition in childcare settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 home-based and centre-based childcare providers in the Ottawa region. Through use of the social ecological model, results revealed a comprehensive understanding of different personal, community, and societal factors that influence providers in their decisions regarding food and mealtimes. To promote healthy nutritional behaviours in children, the variety of factors that influence nutritional decisions by providers need to be addressed, given the amount of time Canadian children spend in early childcare settings.

Objective: To identify factors influencing Black immigrant mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight and to compare children's diet quality according to these perceptions and concerns. Design: Mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight were assessed with sex-specific figure rating scales and the Child Feeding Questionnaire, respectively. Participants' weights and heights were measured and characterised using WHO references. Children's dietary intakes were estimated using a 24-h dietary recall. Children's diet quality was evaluated using the relative proportion of their energy intake provided by ultra-processed products, which were identified with the NOVA classification. χ2 tests, multivariate logistic regressions and t tests were performed. Setting: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Participants: Black immigrant mothers of Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean origin (n 186) and their 6–12-year-old children. Results: Among mothers, 32·4 % perceived their child as having overweight while 48·4 % expressed concerns about child weight. Girls and children with overweight or obesity were significantly more likely to be perceived as having overweight by their mothers than boys and normal-weight children, respectively. Mothers of children living with obesity, but not overweight, were significantly more likely to be concerned about their child's weight than mothers of normal-weight children. Children's diet quality did not differ according to mothers' perceptions and concerns. Conclusions: Children's gender and weight status were major determinants of perceptions and concerns about child weight among Black immigrant mothers. Including knowledge about mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight will help nutrition professionals develop interventions tailored to specific family needs within the context of their cultural backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many things stirring within a given community music event. As practitioners, how do we look beyond our planned outcomes to access the unplanned, the unexpected or, as Lee Higgins terms it, the impossible? Understanding affect theory as the social, cultural and psychological manifestation of reactions and emotions arising from encounters between subjects and people, and between people and objects in the environment, this article discusses the value of this theoretical framework to uncover a deeper understanding of the interactions and responses from participants in a community music event. Using a case study of the organization KW Junk Music, I interviewed participants of three junk music events in Kitchener, ON, Canada. The lens of affective atmosphere, described as the atmosphere produced as a result of the intermingling of affects, emotions and sensations within a given space, provides an informative perspective through which to acknowledge the complexities surrounding all stages of a community music event. I argue that the affective atmosphere that emerges out of each event, both by design and by happenstance, has the potential for change, agency and transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an overview of a process of optimizing concrete mixture for tall buildings, culminating in the design of the Iconic Tower, the key component of the Central Business District of the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. The structural behavior of 76 high-rise towers was compiled and analyzed. A relationship was established between the total concrete thickness for both horizontal and vertical elements and the tower height. The formulae can be used to estimate the total concrete cost of the towers at preliminary and concept stages with sufficient accuracy. The across-wind accelerations for different towers were calculated as per National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) 2005 requirements and compared to measured wind tunnel accelerations. The results showed that code provisions overestimated the measured accelerations by around 60 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the real-world prognostic significance of lymph node ratio (LNR) and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LOPLN) in patients with non-metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients diagnosed with early-stage small bowel adenocarcinoma between January 2007 and December 2018 from a large Canadian province were identified. We calculated the LNR by dividing positive over total lymph nodes examined and the LOPLN as log ([positive lymph nodes + 0.5]/[negative lymph nodes + 0.5]). The LNR and LOPLN were categorized at cut-offs of 0.4 and −1.1, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were constructed for each nodal stage, LNR and LOPLN, adjusting for measured confounding factors. Harrell's C-index and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) were used to calculate the prognostic discriminatory abilities of the different models. Results: We identified 141 patients. The median age was 67 years and 54.6% were men. The 5-year overall survival rates for patients with stage I, II and III small bowel adenocarcinoma were 50.0%, 56.6% and 47.5%, respectively. The discriminatory ability was generally comparable for LOPLN, LNR and nodal stage in the prognostication of all patients. However, LOPLN had higher discriminatory ability among patients with at least one lymph node involvement (Harrell's C-index, 0.75, 0.77 and 0.82, and AIC, 122.91, 119.68 and 110.69 for nodal stage, LNR and LOPLN, respectively). Conclusion: The LOPLN may provide better prognostic information when compared to LNR and nodal stage in specific patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing 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.)

Purpose: This study has two aims: first, propose the use of the driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework to expand the normal focus of impact pathways in social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) on endpoint impacts to a systematic analysis to find links between the main sources of social issues and impacts; second, develop a new impact assessment method to quantify the lifetime health and economic outcomes associated with social subcategories, for the first time, using decision analytic models. Methods: The DPSIR framework is mapped to the corresponding elements of the S-LCA context in relation to the social subcategories defined in the UNEP/SETAC methodological sheets. Next, a more robust approach is developed for cause-impact chains between social subcategories and impacts on human well-being based on decision-analytic models (decision trees and Markov models) using healthcare approaches and data. Finally, the health and economic consequences associated with social subcategories are quantified by using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and costs based on medical literature and healthcare studies. Results and discussion: The method was applied to the "working hours" social subcategory in Canada. The cause-effect chain is built using DPSIR framework in relation to the current social issue in Canada of working more than standard hours. Results of the decision analytic model show that working standard hours is more effective and cost-saving than working more than standard hours from the Canadian healthcare perspective. Working standard hours compared to more than standard hours led to an increase of 0.73 QALY and decrease in cost of $6702 per worker. Based on an estimated 2.4 million Canadian workers working more than standard hours, this resulted in a total gain of 1.7 million QALYs and saving of $16 billion overall. Using cost-effectiveness analysis, possible interventions at multiple entry points of the cause-effect chain within DPSIR framework are proposed to reduce the negative health impacts and associated costs of working more than standard hours in Canada. Conclusions: Applying the method on other subcategories could help decision-makers establish the cause-effect aspects of the social performance of their product systems using a quantitative systematic analysis from a life cycle perspective. This approach supports corporate decision-makers to quantify social impacts associated with their product supply chains by calculating QALYs and healthcare costs of their socio-economic conditions enabling them to identify possible interventions to improve the social performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity is also experienced at a higher rate in adults living in households with children, with parents reporting lower food insecurity for the children themselves, indicating an attempt at sheltering the children from food insecurity(6,21). Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.2, Nutrition (2004): A Guide to Accessing and Interpreting the Data. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-nutrition-surveillance/health-nutrition-surveys/canadian-community-health-survey-cchs/canadian-community-health-survey-cycle-2-2-nutrition-2004-guide-accessing-interpreting-data-health-canada-2006.html (accessed July 2021). Canada is a prosperous country and member of the G7, with an enviable track record in public safety nets, including child support and public medical care(1). [Extracted from the article]

The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides an accurate navigation solution in the open sky. However, in some environments such as urban areas or in the presence of signal jamming, GPS signals cannot be easily tracked since they could be harshly attenuated or entirely blocked. This often requires the GPS receiver to go into a signal re-acquisition phase for the corresponding satellite. To avoid the intensive computations necessary for the signal re-lock in a GPS receiver, a robust signal-tracking mechanism that can hold and/or rapidly re-lock on the signals and keep track of their dynamics becomes a necessity. This paper augments a vector-based GPS signal tracking system with a Reduced Inertial Sensor System (RISS) to produce a new ultra-tight GPS/INS integrated system that enhances receivers' tracking robustness and sensitivity in challenging navigation environments. The introduced system is simple, efficient, reliable, yet inexpensive. To challenge the proposed method with real jamming conditions, real experiment work was conducted inside the Anechoic Chamber room at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). The Spirent GSS6700 signal simulator was used to generate GPS signals, and an INS Simulator is used for simulating the inertial measurement unit (IMU) to generate the corresponding trajectory raw data. The NEAT jammer, by NovAtel, was used to generate real jamming signals. Results show a good performance of the proposed method under real signal jamming conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing 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.)

Indigenous populations in Canada are heavily affected by the burden of obesity, and certain communities, such as First Nations on reserve, are not included in the sampling framework of large national health surveys. A scoping review of ever published original research reporting obesity rates (body mass index ≥ 30), among adult Indigenous peoples in Canada, was conducted to identify studies that help close the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data gap for obesity prevalence in Indigenous populations in Canada and to make comparisons based on ethnicity, sex, time, and geography. First Nations on reserve with self-reported height and weight had higher rates of obesity (30%–51%) than First Nations off reserve (21%–42%) and non-Indigenous populations (12%–31%) in their respective province or territory, with the exception of Alberta, where rates in First Nations on reserve (30% and 36%) were lower or similar to those reported in First Nations off reserve (38%). First Nations on reserve with predominantly measured height and weight (42%–66%) had higher rates of obesity compared to Inuit in Quebec (28%), Nunavut (33%), and Newfoundland and Labrador (41%), while the rates were similar to those in Inuit in Northwest Territories (49%). Obesity in these large studies conducted among Inuit was based solely on measured height and weight. Studies in First Nations and Inuit alike showed higher prevalence of obesity in women, as well as an increase with time. No recent studies measured the obesity rates for First Nations in Yukon and Northwest Territories and for Métis living in settlements of Northern Alberta. Researchers are encouraged to conduct total diet studies in these regions, and to use existing data to analyze the associations between obesity, road access, latitude, food environment, and traditional food intake, to further inform community planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The National Association of Psychometrists (NAP) conducted a salary survey to collect data regarding common practices and income of individuals employed as psychometrists. Methods: An email with a survey link was sent to NAP members and posted on the NAP website. There were 118 responses; most from the United States. Results: Canadian data was excluded from compensation analysis due to imprecision in the survey/exchange rates. Most respondents reported full time employment. Respondents' educations were equally split between bachelor's and master's degrees. More than half reported hourly compensation. Most psychometrists see one patient a day and the most frequent age range was adults between 17-59 years old. Administration times ranged from 3-5 h, except in young pediatric populations. Two hours was the most commonly reported amount of time needed to score a test battery. The average hourly wage was $23.00 ± 4.96. Certified psychometrists reported higher average hourly wages (M = 24.57, SD = 4.73) compared to those who are not certified (M = 21.53, SD = 4.76). This difference was statistically significant (p < .001) with a medium effect size (d = .64). Results of the survey also showed a significant increase in income based on years of experience as a psychometrist. Conclusions: The current survey may be used as a baseline for further study of the income and practices of psychometrists in the United States and Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the food types consumed by 3276 First Nations citizens from the First Nations Food Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES) living on-reserve in Canada. Data from 24-h dietary recalls were classified into NOVA categories: fresh or minimally processed foods (MPF), processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods (UPF). Individuals were classified as traditional food (TF) eaters if they ate MPF of their First Nations culture. UPF accounted for 54.0% of energy intake; 23% of participants ate TF. Increasing age and household size, living in British Columbia and TF eating were associated with a lower intake of energy from UPF. Eating TF appeared to be protective against intake of UPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the dietary acculturation process among first-generation immigrant families from sub-Saharan Africa or the Caribbean living in Ottawa (Canada). In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 mothers. The interaction between accelerating factors and other mediating factors resulted in a spiral of dietary changes triggered by immigration. The spiral evolved at different paces from traditional to acculturated and toward healthy or unhealthy diets and was hard to stop or to change in its direction once it started. Findings call for enhancing immigrant mothers’ food access, food literacy and nutrition-related parenting skills, and their children’s school food environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Food insecurity (FI) is an important social determinant of health and is linked with higher health care costs. There is a high prevalence of FI among recent migrant households in Canada. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the prevalence of FI in Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean migrants in Ottawa, and to explore determinants of FI in that population.Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted among 190 mothers born in Sub-Saharan Africa or the Caribbean living in Ottawa and having a child between 6 and 12 years old. Health Canada’s Household Food Security Survey Module was used to evaluate participants’ food security in the past 12 months. χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to measure determinants of FI (n=182).Findings A very high rate of FI (45.1 percent) was found among participants. When numerous determinants of FI were included in a multivariate model, household FI was associated with Caribbean origin, low education attainment, lone motherhood, living in Canada for five years or less and reliance on social assistance.Originality/value These findings highlight the need for FI to be explicitly addressed in migrant integration strategies in order to improve their financial power to purchase sufficient, nutritious and culturally acceptable foods. Enhancing migrants’ access to affordable child care and well-paid jobs, improving social assistance programs and providing more affordable subsidized housing programs could be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canada legalized assisted dying with the passing of Bill C-14, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), in June 2016. This legislation has implications for health care professionals participating in MAiD. This research aims to understand the effect that MAiD has on pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Canada. Methods: We conducted a thematic document analysis of pharmacy guidelines, position statements and standards of practice from pharmacy regulatory authorities across Canada. In addition, the Ontario Pharmacists Association surveyed its members (including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students) about their perceptions of MAiD. Results: Our thematic analysis of the reviewed documents resulted in 3 major themes: pharmacists’ role in quality assurance, practice considerations when implementing MAiD and resources for pharmacy staff involved in MAiD. Survey responses illustrated that most (68%) pharmacy staff would dispense MAiD medications. Nonetheless, many respondents perceived that they lacked knowledge or comfort with different aspects of the MAiD process. Overall, 80% of participants reported a desire for professional development about MAiD. Conclusion: Despite the rapidly changing landscape surrounding medical assistance in dying within the past year, most pharmacy regulatory authorities have provided direction and resources to their pharmacists. Ontario pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are willing to dispense MAiD medications; however, additional support in the form of professional development may be necessary based on participants’ desire for education coupled with their perceived lack of knowledge. Future research may focus on the efficacy of provincial guidelines in supporting pharmacists’ participation in MAiD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada has recently invested in the large-scale exploitation of scandium oxide. However, there are no studies available to date to understand its toxicokinetics in the animal or human body, which is necessary to assess exposure and health risks. The aim of this research was to investigate the toxicokinetics of absorbed scandium oxide (Sc 2 O 3) using the rat as an experimental model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously with 0.3 or 1 mg Sc 2 O 3 /kg body weight (bw). Blood and excreta (urine and feces) were collected sequentially during a 21-day period, and main organs (liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, brain) were withdrawn at sacrifice on day 21. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for the measurement of Sc element in the different samples. The mean residence time (MRT IV) calculated from the blood profile was 19.7 ± 5.9 h and 43.4 ± 24.6 h at the lower and higher doses, respectively. Highest tissue levels of Sc were found in the lungs and liver; respective lung values of 10.6 ± 6.2% and 3.4 ± 2.3% of the Sc dose were observed at the time of sacrifice while liver levels represented 8.9 ± 6.4% and 4.6 ± 1.1%. Elimination of Sc from the body was not complete after 21 days. Cumulative fecal excretion over the 21-day collection period represented 12.3 ± 1.3% and 5.9 ± 1.0% of the lower and higher Sc doses, respectively, and showed a significant effect of the dose on the excretion; only a small fraction of the Sc dose was recovered in urine (0.025 ± 0.016% and 0.011 ± 0.004% in total, respectively). In addition to an effect of the dose on the toxicokinetics, results highlight the importance of the lung as a site of accumulation and retention of Sc 2 O 3 , which raises the question of the risks of effects related to respiratory exposure in workers. The results also question the relevance of urine as a matrix for biological exposure monitoring. A more in-depth inhalation toxicokinetic study would be necessary. • Intravenously injected scandium oxide accumulates in lungs and liver mainly. • Excretion occurs mainly in feces and little is found in urine. • The dose impacts the toxicokinetics of scandium oxide. • Higher scandium oxide dose resulted in lower cumulative excretion rates. • Lung retention raises the question of risks related to respiratory exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a crippling condition that affects individuals who have experienced severe traumatic event(s). Cannabis is emerging as a treatment option for patients experiencing PTSD. The objective of this study is to determine which varieties of cannabis PTSD patients perceive to be most effective for relieving their symptoms. PTSD patients using medical cannabis from a Canadian licensed provider voluntarily completed an online survey at baseline, 4 and 10 months, which collected information pertaining to their medical conditions, symptoms, and use of medical cannabis. The majority of PTSD patients reported improvement in all most commonly reported symptoms, including depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and pain, following the use of medical cannabis (p < 0.0001). SedamenMR was reported to be effective in relieving overall PTSD at 4 and 10 months, and also helped manage each of the four common symptoms. LuminariumMR was also reported to be beneficial for PTSD at 4 and 10 months, as well as for depression, anxiety, and pain. AlaskaMR was reported beneficial for PTSD after 4 months as well as for depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. MidnightMR was reported to be effective in relieving PTSD after 10 months, and also was reportedly beneficial for all four common symptoms. Study results demonstrated that PTSD patients perceived notable differences in the effectiveness of cannabis varieties for managing their symptoms. Further research in a controlled clinical setting to determine which varieties manage PTSD symptoms most effectively will help clinicians make better recommendations to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include re-experiencing and avoiding trauma-related situations, negative cognitions and mood, and arousal. Early clinical research studies have shown that medical cannabis may minimize these debilitating symptoms. The present study analyzed patient-reported outcomes in patients using medical cannabis for PTSD in Canada. A voluntary online survey was completed by PTSD patients using medical cannabis at baseline, 4-months, and 10-months after initiating use of cannabis from a single medical cannabis provider. Patients reported on outcomes including present symptoms and medical conditions, quality of life (QOL), and side effects experienced from cannabis use. A total of 588 patients with PTSD, predominantly Caucasian (84.4%) males (77.7%) with an average age of 43 years, completed the survey at baseline. There were 58.3% and 48.3% of PTSD patients that reported also having depression and anxiety disorders, respectively. Seventy-eight of 139 (56.1%) patients reported experiencing severe pain at baseline, compared to only 15 (10.8%) patients after 4-months (p < 0.0001). Significant improvements were also seen in patients' ability to cope with pain after 4 and 10 months of cannabis use (n = 100, p < 0.0001). Patients reported significant improvements in overall QOL (n = 39, p = 0.03) and general mood (n = 37, p = 0.0005), as well as experience with sleep (n = 31, p = 0.002) and concentration (n = 30, p = 0.006) after 4 and 10 months. Patients suffering from PTSD reported significant improvements in a variety symptoms and QOL indicators after 4 months of cannabis use. Cannabis use in this population should be further studied and considered as an alternative treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical cannabis has been prescribed by physicians to treat a variety of symptoms including pain, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in patients with severe or chronic illnesses. This paper presents the baseline demographics and characteristics of patients using medical cannabis in Canada. Patients were invited to complete a voluntary online survey after registering with a single medical cannabis provider. The survey included questions on demographics, medical history, current medical conditions and symptoms, and their corresponding severities. A total of 2,753 patients completed the survey (average age of 43.0 years old, SD = 13.7). Patients were predominantly male (68.4%, n = 1,882) and Caucasian (80.3%, n = 2,089). Most patients were employed (49.4%, n = 1133), while 18.7% (n = 428) were retired, and 3.9% (n = 89) were students. Of the surveyed patients, 25.1% (n = 580) smoked tobacco cigarettes, and 74.9% (n = 1782) reported having previous experience with cannabis. The most frequently reported conditions were anxiety disorder (31.7%, n = 723), depression (31.6%, n = 729), pain (29.5%, n = 681), and sleep disorder (25.5%, n = 589). The most frequently reported symptoms included pain (73.0%, n = 2011), anxiety (72.6%, n = 1998), and sleep problems (69.8%, n = 1922). These findings are consistent with results from other North American studies, suggesting their generalizability in defining patient populations that may benefit from medical cannabis use. Understanding patient characteristics will be useful in informing the design of future clinical research initiatives and identifying the needs of patients using medical cannabis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to identify barriers to participation as well as recruitment strategies to engage minority parents of young children in health-oriented research. This paper offers insights on strategies and challenges in recruiting black immigrant mothers living in Ottawa (Canada) for a community-based health-oriented research project among 6-to-12-year-old children. We recruited 259 mother-child dyads. Most participants were recruited by team members during community events, fairs, religious gatherings, etc. Other successful strategies included referral from participants, community partners, and through research team members' networks. Mass media strategies were mostly ineffective. Instant and meaningful incentives, developing community partnerships, building and ensuring study legitimacy and trust, placing convenience of participants ahead of that of research team members, doing community outreach, and taking contact information on the spot, as well as using word-of-mouth were essential to recruiting. This study clearly indicates the importance of adopting multiple recruitment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine whether immune phenotypes associated with immunosenescence are predictive of frailty and mortality within 1-year in elderly nursing home residents. Design Cross sectional study of frailty; prospective cohort study of mortality. Setting Thirty-two nursing homes in four Canadian cities between September 2009 and October 2011. Participants Nursing home residents aged 65 and older (N = 1,072, median age 86, 72% female). Measurements After enrollment, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained and analyzed using flow cytometry for CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets (naïve, memory (central, effector, terminally differentiated, senescent), and regulatory T-cells) and cytomegalovirus ( CMV)-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Multilevel linear regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between immune phenotypes and frailty; frailty was measured at the time of enrollment using the Frailty Index. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the relationship between immune phenotypes and time to death (within 1 year). Results Mean Frailty Index was 0.44 ± 0.13. Multilevel regression analysis showed that higher percentages of naïve CD4+ T-cells ( P = .001) and effector memory CD8+ T-cells ( P = .02) were associated with a lower mean Frailty Index, whereas a higher percentage of CD8+ central memory T-cells was associated with a higher mean Frailty Index score ( P = .02). One hundred fifty one (14%) members of the cohort died within 1 year. Multivariable analysis showed a significant negative multiplicative interaction between age and percentage of CMV-reactive CD4+ T-cells (hazard ratio = 0.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.79-0.96). No other significant factors were identified. Conclusion Immune phenotypes found to be predictive of frailty and mortality in this study can help further understanding of immunosenescence and may provide a rationale for future intervention studies designed to modulate immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Doping in sport has become an increasingly prominent topic. The decision to take part in doping practices is multifactorial and often based on many different information sources of varying reliability. This study sought to determine the attitudes of athletes at a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) university toward doping and to discover if pharmacists are perceived to be a valid information source on medication usage for these athletes. Methods: CIS athletes competing in at least 1 of 8 sports were asked to complete a questionnaire. Participants were asked various questions regarding their perceptions of doping, medication use, information available to them regarding doping and the role of pharmacists in providing advice on medication usage. Results: In total, 92.7% (307/331) of questionnaires were at least partially completed. Generally, these athletes did not feel pressured to dope or that it was prevalent or necessary. The fear of doping violations largely did not alter the use of medications and supplements. The online doping education program administered by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport was the most used information source (74.5%); pharmacists were used 37.7% of the time. Pharmacists were perceived to be a good source of information about banned substances by 75.6% (223/295) of participants, although only 35% (104/297) consulted a pharmacist each time they purchased a nonprescription medication. Conclusions: It appears that doping is neither prevalent nor worth the risk for these CIS athletes. There also appears to be an opportunity for pharmacists to play a more prominent role in providing advice on medication use to high-performance athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Little is understood about the economic factors that have influenced the nutrition transition from traditional to store-bought foods that are typically high in fat and sugar amongst people living in the Canadian Arctic. This study aims to determine the pattern of household food expenditure in the Canadian Arctic. Method Local food prices were collected over 12 months in six communities in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Dietary intake data were collected from 441 adults using a validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Money spent on six food groups was calculated along with the cost of energy and selected nutrients per person. Results Participants spent approximately 10% of total food expenditure on each of the food groups of fruit/vegetables, grains and potatoes, and dairy, 17% on traditional meats (e.g. caribou, goose, char, and seal liver), and 20% on non-traditional meats (e.g. beef, pork, chicken, fish, and processed meats). Non-nutrient-dense foods (NNDF) accounted for 34% of food expenditure. Younger participants (<30 years) spent more on NNDF and less on traditional meats compared with the older age groups. Participants with higher levels of formal education spent more on fruit and vegetables and less on traditional meats, when compared with participants with lower levels of formal education. Conclusions Participants spent most household income on NNDF, a possible consequence of generation discrepancy between younger and older participants. The tendency toward NNDF, particularly among youth, should be addressed with an assessment of predictive factors and the development of targeted approaches to population-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although recent immigrants to Canada are healthier than Canadian born (i.e., the Healthy Immigrant Effect), they experience a deterioration in their health status which is partly due to transitions in dietary habits. Since pathways to these transitions are under-documented, this scoping review aims to identify knowledge gaps and research priorities related to immigrant nutritional health. A total of 49 articles were retrieved and reviewed using electronic databases and a stakeholder consultation was undertaken to consolidate findings. Overall, research tends to confirm the Healthy Immigrant Effect and suggests that significant knowledge gaps in nutritional health persist, thereby creating a barrier to the advancement of health promotion and the achievement of maximum health equity. Five research priorities were identified including (1) risks and benefits associated with traditional/ethnic foods; (2) access and outreach to immigrants; (3) mechanisms and coping strategies for food security; (4) mechanisms of food choice in immigrant families; and (5) health promotion strategies that work for immigrant populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the determinants of patenting and spin-off creation using survey data of 479 researchers in engineering and 449 researchers in life sciences funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The results show that research novelty and laboratory size are the only two variables significantly explaining patenting and spin-off formation in both engineering and life sciences. Network capital explains spin-off formation in engineering and in life sciences as well as patenting in life sciences, but not in engineering. Furthermore, the results suggest that many categories of resources explain patenting and spin-off formation in engineering and in life sciences, but that the combinations of resources required differ for patenting and spin-off formation and between engineering and life sciences. The results of this paper suggest that customized policies would be required to accommodate differences between spin-off formation and patenting as well as between engineering and life sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. This article examines two basic aspects of the exchange risk policies of a sample of Canadian firms under floating rates, namely the extent of risk coverage and the means of coverage. The analysis shows that whereas the 1970 floating of the Canadian dollar had relatively limited impact, the subsequent and more general floating of key currencies (from early 1973 on) has had widespread and pronounced effects on the firms' exchange risk policies with respect to both extent and means of coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Most robot-assisted surgery (RAS) systems in Canada are donor-funded, with constraints on implementation and access due to significant costs, among other factors. Herein, we evaluated the impact of the growing multispecialty use of RAS on urologic RAS access and outcomes in the past decade. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all RAS performed by different surgical specialties in two high-volume academic hospitals between 2010 and 2019 (prior to the COVID pandemic). The assessed outcomes included the effect of increased robot access over the years on annual robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) volumes, surgical waiting times (SWT), and pathologically positive surgical margins (PSM). Data were collected and analyzed from the robotic system and hospital databases. RESULTS: In total, six specialties (urology, gynecology, general, cardiac, thoracic, and otorhinolaryngologic surgery) were included over the study period. RAS access by specialty doubled since 2010 (from three to six). The number of active robotic surgeons tripled from seven surgeons in 2010 to 20 surgeons in 2019. Moreover, there was a significant drop in average case volume, from a peak of 40 cases in 2014 to 25 cases in 2019 (p=0.02). RARP annual case volume followed a similar pattern, reaching a maximum of 166 cases in 2014, then declining to 137 cases in 2019. The mean SWT was substantially increased from 52 days in 2014 to 73 days in 2019; however, PSM rates were not affected by the reduction in surgical volumes (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Over the last decade, RAS access by specialty has increased at two Canadian academic centers due to growing multispecialty use. As there was a fixed, single-robotic system at each of the hospital centers, there was a substantial reduction in the number of RAS performed per surgeon over time, as well as a gradual increase in the SWT. The current low number of available robots and unsustainable funding resources may hinder universal patient access to RAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Explore immigrant children's lived experience of dietary acculturation. Design Draw and tell qualitative research. Participants A total of 167 school-aged children living in Ottawa, Canada, who had a mother born in sub-Saharan Africa or the Caribbean. Methods Children made 2 drawings about foods, 1 related to Canada and the other to their home country, and explained their drawings and what they meant to them. These discussions were recorded and transcribed. Analysis Foods were counted for each region (Canada/Afritaca/Caribbean). Thematic analysis was performed. Results Most children drew different foods for Canada and their home country. Apples were the most frequently mentioned food for Canada. Pizza, juice and sugar-sweetened beverages, fries/poutine, and hamburgers were among the 10 most frequently mentioned foods for Canada, whereas none of the top 10 foods for African and Caribbean countries were highly processed. Rice, chicken, meat, and leafy vegetables were in the top 10 foods mentioned for the 3 regions. Emerging themes were food availability and variety, mothers' lack of time and fatigue, and the school eating environment. Conclusion and Implications It seems that these black immigrant children experienced dietary acculturation and that changes in dietary habits have had mostly a negative impact on their diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Canada, Black immigrant women and their children are at higher risk of developing obesity. Factors that could influence children's weight status include parental feeding practices. Feeding practices such as monitoring, restriction and pressure to eat, are well studied among non-Hispanic White and Latinos groups, however, little is known about the feeding practices of Black immigrant parents of African and Caribbean origin. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with feeding practices of Black immigrant mothers in Ottawa, Canada. The sample includes 188 Black mothers of African and Caribbean origin and their 6-12-year-old children. The Child Feeding Questionnaire was used to assess mothers' feeding practices. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected using questionnaires. All participants' weight status was determined from measured weight and height. Pearson Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. Results showed that mothers who felt responsible for feeding their children were more likely to monitor their children's food intake (p < 0.05). While mothers of children with underweight or normal weight were more like to use pressure to eat (p < 0.01), mothers of children with overweight or obesity were more like to use restriction (P < 0.05). Recent immigrant mothers were also more likely to use pressure to eat (P < 0.05). This study also provides evidence for associations between maternal feeding practices and mothers' weight status, household income and food security status. Findings build on previous research suggesting that parental feeding practices vary based on parents' and children's characteristics. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the directionality of the association between mothers' feeding practices, and children's weight, diet quality and health in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the context of COVID-19 has received considerable attention for its propensity to affect patients of all ages. We aimed to evaluate the effect of age on functional outcome and mortality following an acute ischemic event. Methods and Results A prospectively maintained database from comprehensive stroke centers in Canada and the United States was analyzed for patients with AIS from March 14 to September 30, 2020 who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The primary outcome was Modified Rankin Scale score at discharge, and the secondary outcome was mortality. Baseline characteristics, laboratory values, imaging, and thrombectomy workflow process times were assessed. Among all 126 patients with COVID-19 who were diagnosed with AIS, the median age was 63 years (range, 27-94). There were 35 (27.8%) patients with AIS in the aged ≤55 years group, 47 (37.3%) in the aged 56 to 70 group, and 44 (34.9%) in the aged >70 group. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and thrombectomy rates were comparable across these groups, ( P =0.331 and 0.212, respectively). There was a significantly lower rate of mortality between each group favoring younger age (21.9% versus 45.0% versus 48.8%, P =0.047). After multivariable adjustment for possible confounders, a 1-year increase in age was significantly associated with fewer instances of a favorable outcome of Modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2 (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95 CI%, 0.90-0.99; P =0.048) and higher mortality (OR, 1.06; 95 CI%, 1.02-1.10; P =0.007). Conclusions AIS in the context of COVID-19 affects young patients at much greater rates than pre-pandemic controls. Nevertheless, instances of poor functional outcome and mortality are closely tied to increasing age.