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Despite evidence of people posting their consumption experiences to online social networks to fulfill the needs of social support, an understanding of how online social support affects post-consumption spending behaviors remains elusive. This research aims to examine how online social support from online social network friends and the firm influence perceptions of self-deservingness and spending pleasure. Across two studies, this research provides evidence that social support gained through online social networks influences consumers' spending pleasure through perceptions of their own deservingness. Notably, this study reveals that people obtain social support in online social networks from two sources: social networks friends and firms through receiving "Likes" and "Comments" on their post. This study also explores boundary conditions for when online social support is more effective on spending pleasure. The findings not only broaden the social support literature but also address the benefit to the service industry by understanding how social support can enhance spending pleasure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has been conducted on the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum chlorosome proteins. The characterization of these proteins has been carried out via gene cloning and sequencing, via protein reproduction in Escherichia coli and via raising polyclonal antisera to the purified proteins and the details are discussed.

Given the increasing global population, the world cannot support the current food production techniques and their detrimental effects on land use, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term sustainability issues. A key answer lies in the nature-based solution (NBS) of edible insects. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to explore the effects of regulator trust, perceived risk, and benefits on purchase activism and intent with relation to a new NBS to the food and sustainability crisis: edible insect foods. This research is grounded in the legitimacy process model. Results support the legitimacy process model and that customers use both risk and benefits in their analysis of supporting novel food products and purchase activism. The results of the study provide important theoretical support and managerial implications to this important NBS affecting the global population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the luxury consumption literature suggests that luxury consumption is a beneficial social signal for the actor which facilitates social interaction. However, a different stream of recent research suggests that luxury consumption bears social costs to the actor. In the employee–customer interaction context, wearing luxury brands can either benefit or backfire for the employee depending on the situation whether luxury status or warmth is necessary. Based on the gaps in the literature, this study examines the impact of employee conspicuous cues by utilizing luxury consumption and elitism attitude on employee–customer rapport and behavioral intentions. The study results show that employees wearing luxury brands increase customers' perceived impression management toward the employee. Such perception is strengthened when employees show an elitism attitude. In addition, when employees wear luxury brands, customers are more likely to build rapport with employees when they show a democratic attitude, as they perceive the employees are less likely to involve in impression management than showing an elitism attitude. The results build upon the luxury hospitality literature, aesthetic labor, impression management, and rapport literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore demographic and clinical characteristics of vaping-associated lung illness (VALI) cases reported in Canada from September 2019 to December 2020; compare the epidemiology of VALI cases in Canada to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases in the US; and examine possible explanations for differences between the two countries. Methods: A federal/provincial/territorial task group developed a national outbreak definition, minimum dataset and case report form for identification and surveillance of VALI cases in Canada. Descriptive analysis explored the characteristics and epidemiology of reported VALI cases. Results: Of the 20 VALI cases reported, none resulted in a death. Of all cases, 5 (25%) involved youth aged 15 to 19 years, 10 (50%) adults aged 20 to 49 years and 5 (25%) aged 50 years and older. Sixty percent of patients were men. Half (50%) required breathing assistance. Three-quarters (75%) reported using nicotine-containing vaping products, and 40% reported use of cannabis-containing vaping products; of those who reported frequency of vaping, most (71%) reported vaping daily. VALI cases were reported at a lower prevalence (0.9 per million) than EVALI (8.5 per million). Demographics and vaping behaviour also differed. Conclusion: VALI cases were reported in Canada between September 2019 and December 2020; however, there was a much lower prevalence and they may have been caused by different factors from the EVALI outbreak in the US. The factors influencing VALI in Canada are complex and multifactorial. Research is needed to understand the short- and long-term health effects of nicotine and cannabis vaping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus pandemic increased anxiety and stress and prevented access to health care worldwide; it is unclear how COVID‐19 affected adults with a multisystem genetic disorder such as neurofibromatosis (NF). An anonymous online survey was distributed through an international registry and foundations to adults with NF (June–August 2020) to assess the impact of the pandemic on mental health and NF health care. Six hundred and thirteen adults (18–81 years; M = 45.7) with NF1 (77.8%), NF2 (14.2%), and schwannomatosis (7.8%) provided complete responses. Respondents rated moderate‐to‐high amounts of worry about the impact of COVID‐19 on their emotional (46.3%) and physical health (46.7%), and 54.8% endorsed moderate‐to‐high pandemic‐related stress. Adults with diagnosed/suspected mental health disorders or moderate‐to‐severe NF symptom impact as well as females endorsed higher COVID‐19 stress (ps < 0.01). Less than half who missed a doctor's appointment for their NF care (43.4%) used telehealth. Of these, 33.3% and 46.2% reported that telehealth met their needs to a moderate or high degree, respectively. Results indicated that subgroups of adults with NF experience higher COVID‐19‐related worries and stress and may need additional support. Furthermore, telehealth is under‐utilized and could help NF providers connect with patients, although improved delivery and patient training may facilitate expanded use of these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Increased alcohol and cannabis consumption and related harms have been reported since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing evidence shows that substance use and related harms differ by gender. Yet, no Canadian study has applied a gendered lens to alcohol and cannabis consumption use during this time. Our objectives were to (1) provide gender-specific prevalence estimates of self-reported increased alcohol and cannabis use; and (2) examine gender-specific associations between sociodemographic and mental health variables and alcohol and cannabis use. Methods: Using data from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health, we calculated nationally representative, gender-specific prevalence estimates and disaggregated them by sociodemographic and mental health variables. Four logistic regression models were used to assess the likelihood of self-reported increased alcohol and cannabis use. Results: The prevalence of self-reported increase in alcohol use (16.2% women; 15.2% men) and cannabis use (4.9% women; 5.8% men) did not differ by gender. For both genders, income, racialized group membership, working in the past week, being a parent/legal guardian of a child aged under 18 and screening positive for depression and anxiety were associated with increased alcohol use. Men and women who were between the ages of 18 to 44, screened positive for depression, or both, were more likely to report increased cannabis use. For women, education was significantly associated with increased alcohol use. For men, being a parent/legal guardian was significantly associated with lower odds of increased cannabis use. Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors, as well as depression and anxiety, were similarly associated with increased alcohol and cannabis use for both men and women in the second wave of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents nationally representative estimates of self-reported changes in alcohol and cannabis consumption since the onset of COVID-19 in Canada. We used data from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (collected from September to December 2020) to calculate the prevalence of self-reported change in alcohol and cannabis consumption. We found that 15.7% of respondents self-reported an increase in alcohol consumption and 5.4% in cannabis consumption since the start of the pandemic. Sociodemographic disparities were also observed, indicating that increased alcohol and cannabis consumption may be more prevalent among certain populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) poses challenges for patients who decline blood products because of religious beliefs or other reasons. Despite potential curative prospects, many institutions refrain from offering alloHSCT to patients who decline blood products because of safety concerns associated with cytopenias. OBJECTIVES: This review focuses on one institution's experience of conducting alloHSCT without blood components, emphasizing preparation and supportive care. METHODS: The approach of conducting alloHSCT without blood components, which involves ABO-compatible donor matching, nonmyeloablative regimens, and pretransplantation optimization of red blood cell production, is discussed. FINDINGS: The clinical team can minimize transfusion needs by using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, thrombopoietin agonists, and peri- and post-transplantation management strategies. These recommendations can ensure patient safety and successful outcomes with bloodless medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the introduction that provides context for the Themed Issue of School-University Partnerships entitled The Response and Responsibility of School-University Partnerships in a Time of Crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reporting on alcohol use among women of reproductive age in Canada addresses a major gap in evidence. Methods: We assessed the prevalence of weekly and heavy alcohol consumption among women aged 15 to 54 years by sociodemographic characteristics, province of residence and concurrent use of other substance(s) using data from the 2019 Canadian Community Health Survey. Results: Of the target population, 30.5% reported weekly and 18.3% reported heavy alcohol consumption in the past year. Prevalence varied by sociodemographic characteristics, province and substance use. The most notable and significant differences were to do with cannabis use and smoking. Conclusion: This information can guide health care providers in assessing alcohol consumption and in promoting low-risk alcohol drinking to prevent alcohol exposure during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: Environmental interventions are more effective at changing nutrition behaviour than educational campaigns alone. As part of their health promotion efforts, the University of British Columbia (UBC) developed the Healthy Beverage Initiative (HBI) to ultimately reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) on campus. We describe the development, implementation, preliminary evaluation and future of the HBI.Design: Naturalistic observation of environmental changes to induce behaviour change.Setting: Large urban research university campus.Participants: University community members and campus visitors.Results: Three main activities have been implemented since the initiation of the UBC HBI: renegotiation of the cold beverage agreement, a media campaign to promote tap water consumption and the removal of SSB from select retail locations on campus (residence dining hall). No significant loss of revenue was observed following the removal of SSB from a residence dining hall compared with similar locations. Compensatory purchasing behaviour of SSB was not observed at the closest retail locations where they were still available. After the removal of SSB, ~75% of survey respondents were not aware that the beverages had been removed.Conclusions: The implementation of the HBI has met little resistance from the UBC community. The removal of SSB from residence dining locations did not result in any significant revenue loss or compensatory purchasing behaviour. This suggests that environmental intervention initiatives appear to be a viable option that may reduce SSB consumption on post-secondary campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]