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The reliability and factorial validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Fifth Edition: Canadian (WISC-V[superscript CDN]) was investigated. The higher-order model preferred by Wechsler (2014b) contained five group factors but lacked discriminant validity. An alternative bifactor model with four group factors and one general factor, akin to the traditional Wechsler model, exhibited the best global fit. The general factor accounted for 33.8% of the total variance and 67.6% of the common variance, but none of the group factors accounted for substantial portions of variance. All together, the general and group factors accounted for 50% of the total variance. Omega reliability coefficients demonstrated that reliable variance of WISC-V[superscript CDN] factor index scores was primarily due to the general factor, not the group factors. It was concluded that the cumulative weight of reliability and validity evidence suggests that psychologists should focus their interpretive efforts at the general factor level and exercise extreme caution when using group factor scores to make decisions about individuals.

The outcomes of youth accessing residential treatment or intensive home-based treatment are varied. Understanding youth's perceptions of their well-being may inform service. The purpose of this report was to explore perceptions of youth's mental health, life satisfaction, and outlook for the future. Youth reported ongoing struggles with mental health disorders, depression in particular, though youth also reported a sense of well-being and a positive outlook for the future. Many youth were able to articulate the improvements in their mental health and functioning after accessing intensive mental health treatment. Youth also divulged perceptions of their treatment and care. Implications are discussed. (Contains 1 note.)

Monogenic, high penetrance syndromes, conferring an increased risk of malignancies in multiple organs, are important contributors to the hereditary burden of cancer. Early detection and risk reduction strategies in patients with a cancer predisposition syndrome can save their lives. However, despite evidence supporting the benefits of early detection and risk reduction strategies, most Canadian jurisdictions have not implemented programmatic follow up of these patients. In our study site in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada, there is no centralized, provincial registry of high-risk individuals. There is no continuity or coordination of care providing cancer genetics expertise and no process to ensure that patients are referred to the appropriate specialists or risk management interventions. This paper describes a study protocol to test the feasibility of obtaining and analyzing patient risk management data, specifically patients affected by hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC; BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes) and Lynch syndrome (LS; MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 genes). Through a retrospective cohort study, we will describe these patients' adherence to risk management guidelines and test its relationship to health outcomes, including cancer incidence and stage. Through a qualitative interviews, we will determine the priorities and preferences of patients with any inherited cancer mutation for a follow up navigation model of risk management. Study data will inform a subsequent funding application focused on creating and evaluating a research registry and follow up nurse navigation model. It is not currently known what proportion of cancer mutation carriers are receiving care according to guidelines. Data collected in this study will provide clinical uptake and health outcome information so gaps in care can be identified. Data will also provide patient preference information to inform ongoing and planned research with cancer mutation carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concerns have been raised that the COVID-19 pandemic could increase risk for adverse mental health outcomes, especially in young adults, a vulnerable age group. We investigated changes in depression and anxiety symptoms (overall and severe) from before to during the pandemic, as well as whether these changes are linked to COVID-19-related stressors and pre-existing vulnerabilities in young adults followed in the context of a population-based cohort. Method: Participants (n = 1039) from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development reported on their depression (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, short form) and anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale) symptoms and completed a COVID-19 questionnaire during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020 (age 22 years). Assessments at age 20 (2018) were used to estimate pre-pandemic depression and anxiety symptom severity. Results: While mean levels of depression and anxiety symptoms did not change from before to during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., the mean of depressive symptoms was 9.30 in 2018 and 9.59 in 2020), we observed a slight increase in rates of severe depression (scores ≥ 21) from before (6.1%) to during (8.2%) the pandemic. Most COVID-19-related variables (e.g., loss of education/occupation, frequent news-seeking) – except living alone – and most pre-existing vulnerabilities (e.g., low SES, low social support) were not associated with changes in depression or anxiety symptoms. However, results varied as a function of pre-pandemic levels of depression and anxiety: depression and anxiety symptoms increased among adults with the lowest levels of symptoms before the pandemic, while they decreased among those with the highest levels of symptoms, possibly reflecting a regression to the mean. Conclusions: Depression and anxiety symptoms in young adults from Québec in Summer 2020 were mostly comparable to symptoms reported in 2018. Most COVID-19-related stressors and pre-existing vulnerabilities were not associated with changes in symptoms, except living alone and pre-existing symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the increased rate of severe depression warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing temperatures associated with climate change will be the next challenge for crop improvement, especially for turfgrass species that are often grown in urban green spaces. Previous research on turfgrass heat stress tolerance has been limited to a small number of species and cultivars with different heat stress conditions between studies; therefore, we assessed heat stress tolerance of 34 turfgrasses representing 14 species. Four replicates of each entry were established for at least 12 wk and then subjected to 49 d of heat stress (35/25 °C day/night) followed by a 4 wk recovery period (25/15 °C day/night). Turfgrass entries were assessed using the normalized difference vegetative index, the percentage of green obtained with digital image analysis, and membrane stability estimated by electrolyte leakage. Buffalograss [Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus], Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort], and slender creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra ssp. littoralis) were more tolerant of heat stress than the other species. The Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa L.), blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth.) Lag. ex Griffiths], and smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) cultivars were all tolerant of heat stress; however, only one cultivar for these three species was tested, making species‐wide generalizations difficult. In some cases, the cultivars and/or selections within a given species differed in heat stress response. Almost all entries were able to recover from the heat stress by the end of the recovery period. Altogether, we were able to identify turfgrasses that should perform adequately in high‐temperature urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 at the start of Canada's epidemic from January 1 to March 12, 2020, before governments at all levels implemented aggressive community based public health measures. During this time, 153 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in Canada. Due to delays inherent in the diagnosis and reporting process, these cases represented a small subset of the 1,360 confirmed cases subsequently reported, whose symptom onset occurred on or before March 12. More than half (57.8%) of these 1,360 cases had a history of international travel or were linked to a case that had travelled, most commonly from countries where few cases had been reported at that time. Community transmission, marked by cases that could not be traced back to another case, was first noted on February 20 and increased steadily thereafter. This descriptive analysis indicates that COVID-19 was spreading internationally and in Canada more broadly than was initially detected by surveillance systems from January to mid-March 2020. To limit the impact of future waves, an expanded surveillance system is now being implemented with multiple data streams to provide a more complete picture of the epidemic, including early signals of cases and clusters. Improved access to laboratory testing and expanded contact tracing are critical elements to detect and isolate cases early, including those with mild symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Canada in 2015, the pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) were considerably lower than pass rates on the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) causing nurse educators to express concern regarding the NCLEX-RN. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between candidate variables (e. g. academic performance, demographics) on their NCLEX-RN outcome (pass/fail). A cross-sectional data linkage design was employed using multiple sources of data on nursing graduates who wrote the NCLEX-RN in 2015, 2016 and 2017 (n = 259). Results showed that fewer questions answered on the NCLEX-RN and higher grades in various nursing courses (e. g. Introduction to Nursing, Statistics) predicted higher odds of passing the NCLEX-RN. To improve pass rates, nurse educators must integrate diverse methods of testing into existing curricula that mimic the NCLEX-RN exam, specifically computer adaptive exams. Further research is needed to determine other possible challenges for countries considering adopting the NCLEX-RN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

HIV-infected individuals are 28 times more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with anal cancer. An integrative review of recommendations and guidelines for anal cancer screening was performed to provide a succinct guide to inform healthcare clinicians. The review excluded studies that were of non-HIV populations, redundant articles or publications, non-English manuscripts, or nonclinical trials. The review found no formal national or international guidelines exist for routine screening of anal cancer for HIV-infected individuals. To date, no randomized control trial provides strong evidence supporting efficaciousness and effectiveness of an anal cancer screening program. The screening recommendations from seven international-, national-, and state-based reports were reviewed and synthesized in this review. These guidelines suggest anal cancer screening, albeit unproven, may be beneficial at decreasing the incidence of anal cancer. This review highlights the paucity of screening-related research and is an area of need to provide clear direction and to define standard of care for anal cancer screening in HIV-infected persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canadian contributions to International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 were designed to improve the understanding of climate change impacts and adaptation and to gain insight into issues surrounding community health and well-being in Canada's arctic. Fifty-two research projects, involving scientists, northern partners and communities, focused on the arctic atmosphere and climate, cryosphere, oceans, sea ice, marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife as well as human health and community well-being. Key research findings on these topics are presented in this special issue of Climatic Change. This introductory paper presents an overview of the international and Canadian IPY programs and a summary of Canadian IPY results, including progress made in data management and capacity building. The legacy of IPY in Canada includes expanded international scientific cooperation, meaningful partnerships with northern communities, and more northern residents with research training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a male cougar (Puma concolor) with Taenia omissa parasite found in the gastrointestinal tract of a Cougar from Manitoba, Canada. The cougar was skinned and his carcass was examined for helminth (parasitic worm) infection. Fifteen adult cestodes (tapeworms) were found and their rostellum was sliced off to observe the hooks using microscope. Seven nematodes were also found having digitiform tails with spicules.

Benthic invertebrates are important trophic links in aquatic food webs and serve as useful bioindicators of environmental conditions because their responses integrate the effects of both water and sediment qualities. However, long‐term data sets for benthic invertebrate assemblages across broad geographic areas are rare and, even if collected, historic data sets are often not readily accessible. This data set provides densities of benthic macroinvertebrates for all taxa collected during lake‐wide surveys in Lake Ontario, a Laurentian Great Lake, from 1964 to 2018. This information resulted from surveys funded by the governments of the United States and Canada to investigate the status and changes of Lake Ontario benthic community. Of the 13 lake‐wide benthic surveys conducted in Lake Ontario over the course of 54 yr, we were able to acquire taxonomic data to the species level for 11 of the surveys and data to the group level for the other two surveys. Density data are provided for taxa representing the Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Cnidaria, Nemertea, and Platyhelminthes phyla. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the compositional structure of Lake Ontario invertebrate assemblages differed markedly by depth and were also significantly altered by the Dreissena spp. invasion in early 1990s. The introduction of invasive dreissenids has changed the community historically dominated by Diporeia, Oligochaeta, and Sphaeriidae, to a community dominated by quagga mussels and Oligochaeta. Considering the rarity of long‐term benthic data of high taxonomic resolution in lake ecosystems, this data set could be useful to explore broader aspects of ecological theory, including effects of different environmental factors and invasive species on community organization, functional and phylogenetic diversity, and spatial scale of variation in community structure. The data set could also be useful for studies on individual species including abundance and distribution, species co‐occurrence, and how the patterns of dominance and rarity change over space and time. Use of this data set for academic or educational purposes is encouraged as long as the data source is properly cited using the title of this Data Paper, the names of the authors, the year of publication, the journal name, and the article number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main sources of government revenue from petroleum in Alberta has been monies obtained from the sale of leases and reservations under a competitive bidding system. The efficiency of this system depends on the intensity of competition and the accuracy of predictions used to determine bids. To reflect this, we can distinguish between foreseeable rent and potential rent. Foreseeable rent is that reasonably predictable at the time a bid was formulated. Potential rent arises through unanticipated changes in economic conditions. The degree of competition in the bidding process is indicated by the degree to which foreseeable rent is captured by accepted bids, subject to the Alberta land regulations. In the latter half of the 1960s much of the exploration interest in Alberta centred in northern areas (the Rainbow play). We can estimate the intensity of competition by examining accepted bids for leases in this area in relation to the estimated economic rent. In turn, this will be indicative of the degree of competition in the industry at the lease acquisition stage in the latter half of the 1960s. For the three principal leases considered in the Rainbow area, all, or at least a significant portion, of the foreseeable economic rent was obtained under the system of competitive bidding. It follows that actual or potential lease competition was at high levels for these tracts. This suggests that competition in the industry for acquiring leases was generally keen during this period. However, it does not mean that the Government of Alberta necessarily obtained the bulk of the economic rent from industry, since the ability which the Alberta land regulations afforded for companies to retain productive acreage on which they were not required to bid limited the proportion of total economic rent which would accrue to the Government, even if perfect competition held in bidding for leases. The bidding system allows the government to acquire a high proportion of the foreseeable economic rent for leases on which bids are invited if competition is intense. However, it does not enable the government to participate in potential rents attributable to unanticipated changes in economic conditions. Such changes are manifest in recent and pending changes in oil prices. The Government of Alberta's new legislation enforcing sliding scale royalties will enable it increasingly to participate in what we have referred to as potential economic rents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comment on the primary products and economic growth in Canada. Effects of wheat boom on per capita income; Correlation between population change and international migrations of labor; Impact of gadget industry on economic growth.

Nine faculty associations in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and the United States have approved the preliminary draft of an International Statement on Academic Freedom and Tenure. The statement was developed in response to "existing and potential threats to higher education and to principles which are fundamental to the universities." (MLW)

Describes the composition and shadings of the nationalistic reaction against United States investment among various sectors of Canadian society. Nature of Canadian worries; Degree of concern about the loss of control of national affairs resulting from large scale foreign ownership of industry; Image of U.S. business and society; Control of Canadian industrial decisions by headquarters of firms in the U.S.

Background: Transplant surgery fellowship has evolved over the years and today there are 66 accredited training programs in the US and Canada. There is growing concern, however, about the number of US-trained general surgery residents pursuing transplant surgery. In this study, we examined the transplant surgery pipeline, comparing it with other surgical subspecialty fellowships, and characterized the resident transplantation experience.Methods: Datasets were compiled and analyzed from surgical fellowship match data obtained from the National Resident Matching Program and ACGME reports and relative fellowship competitiveness was assessed. The surgical resident training experience in transplantation was evaluated.Results: From 2006 to 2018, a total of 1,094 applicants have applied for 946 transplant surgery fellowship positions; 299 (27.3%) were US graduates. During this period, there was a 0.8% decrease per year in US-trained surgical residents matching into transplant surgery (p = 0.042). In addition, transplant surgery was one of the least competitive fellowships compared with other National Resident Matching Program surgical subspeciality fellowships, as measured by the number of US applicants per available fellowship position, average number of fellowship programs listed on each applicant's rank list, and proportion of unfilled fellowship positions (each, p < 0.05). Finally, from 2015 to 2017, there were 57 general surgery residency programs that produced 77 transplant surgery fellows, but nearly one-half of the fellows (n = 36 [46.8%]) came from 16 (28.1%) programs.Conclusions: Transplant surgery is one of the least competitive and sought after surgical fellowships for US-trained residents. These findings highlight the need for dedicated efforts to increase exposure, mentorship, and interest in transplantation to recruit strong US graduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public and patients are primary contributors and beneficiaries of pandemic-relevant clinical research. However, their views on research participation during a pandemic have not been systematically studied. We aimed to understand public views regarding participation in clinical research during a hypothetical influenza pandemic. This is an international cross-sectional survey. We surveyed the views of nationally representative samples of people in Belgium, Poland, Spain, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, using a scenario-based instrument during the 2017 regional influenza season. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted. Of the 6804 respondents, 5572 (81.8%) thought pandemic-relevant research was important, and 5089 (74.8%) thought 'special rules' should be applied to make this research feasible. The respondents indicated willingness to take part in lower risk (4715, 69.3%) and higher risk (3585, 52.7%) primary care and lower risk (4780, 70.3%) and higher risk (4113, 60.4%) intensive care unit (ICU) study scenarios. For primary care studies, most (3972, 58.4%) participants preferred standard enrolment procedures such as prospective written informed consent, but 2327 (34.2%) thought simplified procedures would be acceptable. For ICU studies, 2800 (41.2%) preferred deferred consent, and 2623 (38.6%) preferred prospective third-party consent. Greater knowledge about pandemics, trust in a health professional, trust in the government, therapeutic misconception and having had ICU experience as a patient or carer predicted increased willingness to participate in pandemic-relevant research. Our study indicates current public support for pandemic-relevant clinical research. Tailored information and initiatives to advance research literacy and maintain trust are required to support pandemic-relevant research participation and engagement. • There is strong public support for pandemic-relevant clinical research initiatives. • Willingness to take part and to sign up under permissive approaches depends on type of research and key participant factors. • Knowledge of pandemics, trust in doctors and government, and experience of critical illness influence research participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]