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The relevance of understanding organic matter in agriculture includes its impact on soil texture, soil bulk density, water holding capacity, soil pH, cation exchange, and microbial biomass. . Currently organic matter is analyzed by the “Loss on Ignition” and “Walkley Black” methods. PDMI (Persistence Data Mining Inc.) is introducing the SoilyticsTM solution, our hyperspectral soil nutrient mapping technology. Hyperspectral technology allows for quick and easy soil organic matter testing at a cost-effective rate. This will dramatically improve the efficiency of soil labs, while reducing cost and response times. Not only will this be a huge breakthrough for the soil testing industry, it will serve the precision agricultural market by improving fertilizer application and efficiency. Our technology will help farmers increase crop yields, optimize input costs, and improve environmental protection. Organic matter hyperspectral results are well within the standard margin of error of loss on ignition organic matter analysis between different laboratories and is a cost-effective method to test and make prescriptions for fertilizers application in agriculture fields. Through the use of advanced algorithms SoilyticsTM is able to convert hyperspectral reflectance soil data into usable information to serve the agricultural industry. The Malvern Panalyticals ASD LabSpec is used to collect relevant data. Hyperspectral sensors allow us to visually see outside the range of human vision. Focusing on the SWIR (Short Wave Infrared), and VNIR (Visible-Near IR) spectrum have enabled a new advanced methodology to scan and collect data on nutrients and OM (organic matter) in soil. The data had to be analyzed for factors that could impact results based on texture, water content, and geology. The baselined data could then be processed into accurate information. Correlating these results to current lab methods resulted in the determination that the use of the full spectrum resulted in better results since limiting factors on confidence required additional spectral bands to properly baseline. LOI (Loss on Ignition) is the conventional method for organic matter analysis, cost constraints prevent more granular testing which impacts yields and costs. By remote sensing soil samples, we can take many more samples more quickly and efficiently. The sample data can then be uploaded directly to the laboratories, which eliminates the cost and delays of shipping samples.

There are ongoing economic pressures in production agriculture to increase crop yields. However, high grain yield production comes at a cost of applying significant quantities of various agricultural inputs, i.e. nutrients, pesticides and irrigation. In traditional farming systems, producers attempt to apply these inputs at a uniform rate across a given field. However, due to inherent spatial variability in fields, not all areas may require the same levels of input. Although the spatial and temporal variability of yield limiting factors discussed above has been recognized for a long time (Rennie and Clayton, 1960; Malo and Worcester, 1975; Robert et al., 1990), farmers continued to manage their fields uniformly because they lacked the technology to manage for variability. With the introduction of new precision farming technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and variable rate application technology (VRT) farmers now have the ability to manage their fields site specifically.

Past research has identified risk factors associated with incarceration among adult Aboriginal populations; however, less is known about incarceration among street-involved Aboriginal youth. Therefore, we undertook this study to longitudinally investigate recent reports of incarceration among a prospective cohort of street-involved youth in Vancouver, Canada.Prospective cohort study.Data were collected from a cohort of street-involved, drug-using youth from September 2005 to May 2013. Multivariate generalized estimating equation analyses were employed to examine the potential relationship between Aboriginal ancestry and recent incarceration.Among our sample of 1050 youth, 248 (24%) reported being of aboriginal ancestry, and 378 (36%) reported being incarcerated in the previous six months at some point during the study period. In multivariate analysis controlling for a range of potential confounders including drug use patterns and other risk factors, Aboriginal ancestry remained significantly associated with recent incarceration (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.86).Even after adjusting for drug use patterns and other risk factors associated with incarceration, this study found that Aboriginal street-involved youth were still significantly more likely to be incarcerated than their non-Aboriginal peers. Given the established harms associated with incarceration these findings underscore the pressing need for systematic reform including culturally appropriate interventions to prevent Aboriginal youth from becoming involved with the criminal justice system.

There is growing evidence that Aboriginal peoples often experience healthcare inequalities due to racism. However, research exploring the healthcare experiences of Aboriginal peoples who use illicit substances is limited, and research rarely accounts for how multiple accounts of stigma intersect and contribute to the experiences of marginalized populations. Our research aimed to explore the healthcare experiences of Aboriginal peoples who use illicit drugs and or illicit alcohol (APWUID/A) living in Vancouver's inner city. Using Indigenous methodologies, a community research team comprised of APWUID/A led the study design, data collection and analysis. Peer-facilitated talking circles explored community members' experiences accessing healthcare services and patient-provider encounters. Using an intersectionality framework, our research demonstrated how healthcare inequalities among Aboriginal peoples are perpetuated by systemic racism and discrimination. Stigmatizing racial stereotypes were perceived to negatively influence individual attitudes and clinical practice. Participants' experiences of medical dismissal often resulted in disengagement from care or delay in care. The findings suggest healthcare providers must understand the structural and historical forces that influence racial disparities in healthcare and personal attitudes in clinical practice. Adequate clinical protocols for pain management within the context of illicit substance use are urgently needed. The valuation of Aboriginal peoples and cultures within healthcare is paramount to addressing the health gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.