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Disrupting Ageism in “Active for Life” Research & Recreational Pursuits: A Professor’s Lived Experience of Leading and Following
No full textThis motion-sensing inquiry into ageist attitudes and beliefs in competitive partnered dance and active aging research offers new insight into to the phenomenon of being “active for life”. The dual positionality of the researcher as being both an emerging leader in active aging research and a follower in salsa dance adds a unique, embodied perspective to leadership scholarship. Her approach is vulnerable as she reveals her own ageist assumptions when studying physical activity in senior living communities. She also reflects upon the ways she experiences ageism in her recreational partnered dance pursuits. The aim in sharing lived experiences through first-person perspectivity is to inspire age-friendly practices in higher education and more positive perspectives about getting older – that optimal challenge, creative engagement, and joy may be inherent in active for life pursuits at any age
Tracing the undercurrents: a scoping review of the lifestyle drift concept
No full textAbstract Background Lifestyle drift refers to the tendency for health interventions that are initially intended to address upstream social determinants of health to shift focus toward downstream efforts targeting individual behaviours. Although increasingly cited in the literature, as far as we are aware, no scoping or systematic reviews that examine the concept of lifestyle drift exist. The objective of this scoping review is to summarize the existing literature on lifestyle drift, describe how it is defined in the literature, the causes or mechanisms of influence that lead to lifestyle drift and ways to address it. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was developed with guidance from a librarian and seven databases were searched. Title and abstract and full text screening was conducted in Covidence according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included documents were imported into NVivo, and data from articles were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results We identified 318 articles and 32 met the inclusion criteria with lifestyle drift as a focus or major theme. Definitions of lifestyle drift shared some common elements along with variability of concepts. Neoliberalism and the biomedical model were frequently identified as drivers of lifestyle drift across articles. While many strategies to counteract lifestyle drift were proposed, applying a health in all policies approach, and participation from priority populations were the most common strategies suggested. Conclusion While lifestyle drift is a recognized concern in public health, health promotion and chronic disease prevention, there remains a need for more empirical research on lifestyle drift, including mechanisms and mitigation. Strengthening understanding of how to identify, prevent, and address lifestyle drift may enhance the effectiveness of upstream interventions aimed at reducing health inequities
Virtual care as deployed to improve access to primary health care in three Canadian provinces: a policy focused qualitative study
No full textAbstract Background As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the uptake of virtual primary care (VPC) in Canada, debates over how it ought to be encouraged or discouraged, governed and paid for have intensified. Within these debates there has been little attention paid to the details of which technologies are being deployed to deliver VPC and how those technologies interact with non-technical factors to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. Methods The aims of the study included drawing out pragmatic considerations for policy makers by identifying the various constellations of VPC technology that are being deployed; characterizing how key informants see them working and to what purpose; and describing how those technologies are interacting with non-technical factors to shape success. 29 qualitative interviews were conducted with mid-level VPC experts from the provinces of Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Results Key informants saw a broad range of VPC technologies as improving access to primary care by increasing efficiency and coordination. They deployed VPC to improve the accessibility, availability, and accommodativeness of care. They described VPC technologies interacting with and relying on: human efforts, funding models, and the institutional contexts for their success. Conclusions Policy-makers seeking to optimize VPC will want to consider ways to support not just purchases of technology, but: the human effort required to choose and manage technology; the funding mechanisms that incentivize the efficient use technology; and the institutional contexts and cultures that underpin access improvements through technology
Optimizing Chemogenetic Ablation of Dopaminergic Neurons and Establishing Single-Cell Brain Dissociation Protocols for ScRNA-seq in Adult Zebrafish
No full textParkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, producing motor and non-motor symptoms. Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) offer unique advantages for studying both degeneration and regeneration, yet existing chemogenetic PD models are mostly larval and rely on immersion-based prodrug delivery, which yields incomplete or biased ablation.
This thesis aimed to establish an adult zebrafish PD model by combining nitroreductase (NTR)-activated prodrugs, metronidazole (MTZ), nifurpirinol (NFP), and ronidazole (RON) with cerebroventricular microinjection (CVMI) for brain-wide delivery. Dopaminergic neuron survival was quantified in the olfactory bulb, telencephalon, and diencephalon using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), the latter expressed under regulatory elements of the dopamine transporter (DAT) promoter. Behavioural assays assessed locomotor and olfactory function at 1 and 7 days post-treatment. No significant reductions in dopaminergic neuron counts or behavioural impairments were observed compared with vehicle controls. This outcome likely reflects multiple constraints: the low solubility and limited bioavailability of prodrugs, the modest catalytic efficiency of first-generation NTR, and possible rapid neuronal regeneration in adults. Technical factors such as autofluorescence and reliance on manual counts may also have masked subtle changes.
In parallel, this work piloted adult brain dissociation for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). While single-cell suspensions were obtained, viability assessment by microscopy proved insufficient, highlighting the need for quantitative approaches such as flow cytometry. Overall, this thesis identifies key methodological limitations and outlines strategies, including NTR 2.0 transgenics, refined prodrug delivery, and optimized cell dissociation, that will enable robust adult zebrafish PD models for regenerative studies
Value of Emerging and Existing Pre-prophylaxis and Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 in Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations
No full textAbstract Background High-risk populations, including transplant recipients, are at increased risk of severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Certain treatments and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have been approved to reduce the risk of severe illness. However, data on the cost effectiveness of currently approved COVID-19 therapeutics and preventative treatments are limited for those at high-risk of severe disease. Objective The aim of this study was to systematically review the cost effectiveness of COVID-19 treatments and PrEP in high-risk, immunocompromised, and transplant populations. Methods Electronic databases were searched from inception to September 2025 for studies comparing costs and effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies PrEP or COVID-19 therapeutics in high-risk, immunocompromised or transplant populations. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and critically appraised them using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for economic evaluations. Cost data are presented in 2025 US dollars. Results Of 8905 studies identified, 60 met inclusion criteria, with seven focused on or including transplant populations. Most studies were cost-utility analyses published between 2020 and 2025. Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, tixagevimab-cilgavimab, casirivimab-imdevimab, sotrovimab, remdesivir, molnupiravir, and fluvoxamine were compared with no prophylaxis or standard of care. Among transplant populations, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for tixagevimab-cilgavimab PrEP following vaccination was US440 to US$126,676 per QALY. Conclusion Cost effectiveness varied widely across studies due to differences in variant periods, population risk profiles, model assumptions, and healthcare systems. Future research should integrate variant-specific effectiveness, real-world vaccine responsiveness, long-term COVID-19 outcomes, and adverse events to better inform resource allocation for transplant and other high-risk populations
An Exploration Into the Pains of Women's Federal Imprisonment in Canada
No full textThe literature on women’s federal imprisonment in Canada is extensive and consistently highlights the Correctional Service of Canada’s (CSC) failure to adequately address the unique needs and experiences of federally sentenced women. Despite the formal adoption of a women-centred approach to imprisonment following the release of the “Creating Choices” task force report in 1990, federally sentenced women continue to face many of the same hardships and deprivations that have historically characterized their imprisonment. Mobilizing Sykes’ (2007/1958) conceptualization of the “pains of imprisonment”, this thesis examines the deprivations associated with prison life as experienced by federally sentenced women in Canada through examining their written publications. By conducting a thematic analysis of a sample of publications retrieved from the Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, Cell Count magazine and prisoner newsletters available on the Penal Press website, this master’s study found that federally sentenced women have not only continuously experienced an array of deprivations associated with Sykes’ framework such as the deprivations of liberty, goods and services, romantic and desired intimate relationships, autonomy and security, but have also experienced other pains of imprisonment, including dehumanization, inadequate institutional services, and a lack of cultural and spiritual resources. In taking these harms of imprisonment into account, this study concludes that CSC has consistently failed to meet the needs of federally sentenced women, depriving them of opportunities for rehabilitation and meaningful change
Impact de la crise climatique sur la santé mentale des jeunes adultes activistes de la région d'Ottawa : une recherche-action participative
No full textL’objectif de cette recherche-action participative est de comprendre les réponses émotionnelles et psychologiques de deux groupes : de jeunes adultes (activistes) et d’un groupe intergénérationnel (non-activistes) face à la détérioration progressive de l’environnement causée par le changement climatique. Cette étude est abordée sous l’angle critique de l’écoféminisme, qui met en évidence les interconnexions de l’oppression et de la domination dans les sociétés patriarcales, ainsi que l’importance de reconnaître l’interdépendance entre l’environnement et les humains. La collecte de données s’est déroulée en deux phases. La première phase consistait en la création d’histoires numériques (digital storytelling) par de jeunes adultes activistes décrivant l’effet du changement climatique sur leur bien-être mental. Ensuite, les créateur.ice.s ont pris part à une entrevue en groupe pour partager leur expérience. Dans la deuxième phase, un groupe intergénérationnel de non-activistes a visionné ces histoires avant de s’engager dans une conversation. L’analyse qualitative thématique a permis d’identifier les thèmes principaux.
Cette recherche démontre que le digital storytelling est un outil efficace pour aborder l’impact du changement climatique sur la santé mentale. Il a permis aux conteur.se.s de réfléchir sur leurs émotions et de les partager, de s’approcher de leur communauté et de la soutenir, et de montrer comment la crise climatique les a motivés à s’engager dans des groupes environnementaux. De plus, cette étude révèle que les activistes et les non-activistes partagent des émotions similaires liées au changement climatique, telles que l’inquiétude, l’anxiété, la tristesse et le chagrin. D’une part, les jeunes adultes activistes disent qu’ils ont été conscient.e.s et exposé.e.s à des messages négatifs et effrayants sur le changement climatique et ses impacts sur les humains et tous les êtres vivants depuis leur petite enfance. Ils décrivent la façon dont ils entendent continuellement ces messages au sein du mouvement climatique et comment cette accumulation les a affectés. D’autre part, les participant.e.s non-activistes du groupe intergénérationnel rapportent que le fait d’être témoin de l’aggravation des saisons des feux de forêt et des températures automnales chaudes a un impact sur eux. Comparativement aux non-activistes, les activistes rapportent ressentir fréquemment les émotions liées au climat, ce qui les incite à réfléchir à ce à quoi ressemblera leur avenir dans ce contexte et aux mesures qu'ils peuvent entreprendre dès maintenant. À l’inverse, les jeunes non-activistes se disent désespéré.e.s et démotivé.e.s pour agir, tandis que les non-activistes plus âgé.e.s restent optimistes face aux efforts climatiques ; cependant, ils manifestent peu d’intérêt pour agir eux-mêmes dans l’action collective. Malgré leurs expériences, les jeunes activistes restent optimistes et déterminé.e.s à lutter contre le changement climatique, motivé.e.s par le pouvoir rassembleur de l’activisme et de la communauté
An Exploration of Mental Health Practitioners’ Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Understanding the Physical, Psychological and Spiritual Implications
No full textThe exploration of the mental health practitioners’ (MHP) ability to be present with clients’ emotions, uncertainties, questions, and discomforts is not a new line of investigation. However, within the context of COVID-19, this precise moment in time offers not only a new lens through which to explore some of these factors but also provides a unique opportunity to delve more deeply into questions of coping while under collective and ongoing trauma, as well as meaning-making in the field of mental healthcare. This research endeavoured to offer a new glimpse into understanding the implications of COVID-19 on the physical, psychological, and spiritual lives of MHPs, while exploring how MHPs have worked to care for their well-being while facing a myriad of personal and professional uncertainties. The goal of this research is to gain an understanding of how MHPs have experienced the pandemic (both personally and professionally), and to understand if and how meaning can be made or found in the midst of uncertainty, and ongoing, collective, and shared trauma. This research shone a light on gaps in the research, and the resources, for those in the helping and health professions in times of collective or personal challenge, which may prove fruitful as areas for future research, development, and application
Studying the Function of Long-Range Projecting VIP-Expressing Neurons in the Facial Motor Nucleus
No full textThe vestibular system is critical for regulating balance and postural maintenance in many vertebrates. The medial vestibular nuclei (MVN) in the brainstem are known to serve as a hub for receiving and relaying sensory information that is important for vestibular function. While considerable research has been dedicated to understanding how MVN regulate gaze stabilization and spatial orientation/perception, little is known about its connections with other brainstem nuclei that play critical roles for fine-tuning posture and balance. In this thesis, we identified a population of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing neurons in the facial motor nucleus (FMN) of the brainstem that provide long-range inputs to MVN. Lower motoneurons in FMN have been shown to mediate specific orofacial and vibrissal muscle movements, but these FMN^VIP neurons have never been described. We employed advanced viral tracing methods, in vivo fiber photometry, and cell-type specific ablation and chemogenetic manipulations to study whether and how FMN^VIP neurons contribute to vestibular-mediated balance maintenance. Ablation or acute silencing of FMN^VIP neurons altered the animals' balance performance without affecting their gaze stabilization. Intriguingly, we found that these FMN^VIP neurons are cholinergic, rather than glutamatergic or GABAergic, and using anterograde monosynaptic labeling, we further identified that the major postsynaptic targets of FMN^VIP neurons are the GABAergic neurons in MVN. In vivo Ca²⁺ imaging of FMN^VIP neurons and ACh sensor recordings in MVN demonstrated that FMN^VIP neurons are activated only when the animal's balance is challenged, and they release ACh to modulate MVN neuronal activity and fine-tune body posture for balance maintenance. Lastly, cell-type specific rabies tracing revealed that the major input regions to FMN^VIP neurons arise from the reticular formation, a phylogenetically old brain structure that is known to regulate balance. Altogether, the work from this thesis unveils a new brainstem circuit pathway that bridge the reticular with vestibular nuclei to regulate balance and postural maintenance
Proteomics analysis of human mesenchymal stromal/stem cell sarcomagenesis model identifies ALDH1A3 and CD99 as potential targets in the transformation process
No full textAbstract Background Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) may represent the cell-of-origin for sarcoma development. A collection of human MSCs sequentially mutated with an increasing number of oncogenic hits served to recreate a step-wise process of sarcomagenesis. To identify potential protein targets of interest in the MSC-sarcoma transformation process, quantitative mass spectrometry-based (LC–MS/MS) proteomics was performed. Results Among the protein hits identified as significantly regulated in the transformation process, ALDH1A3 and CD99 were selected and further studied. Both ALDH1A3 abundance levels and activity were significantly upregulated in early-phase (immortalized) and fully transformed (sarcoma forming) cells as compared to normal MSCs. Inversely, CD99 total protein and cell-surface abundance levels were downregulated in immortalized and transformed MSCs. Downregulated CD99 was also identified in several human bone and soft tissue sarcoma subtypes. Conclusions Proteomics investigation of a MSC-transformation model of sarcoma has yielded ALDH1A3 and CD99 as potential targets for sarcomagenesis that may contribute to a greater understanding of the disease and the development of novel therapeutic approaches