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Lily of the valley shrub
No full textPressed specimen of Pieris japonicahttps://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/27244/Stapleton-Sheppard.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=
Carfentanil structural analogs found in street drugs by paper spray mass spectrometry and their characterization by high-resolution mass spectrometry
No full textThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Borden, S.A., Mercer, S.R., Saatchi, A., Wong, E., Stefan, C.M., Wiebe, H., Hore, D.K., Wallace, B., & Gill, C.G. (2023). Carfentanil structural analogs found in street drugs by paper spray mass spectrometry and their characterization by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Drug Testing and Analysis, 15(5), 484-494, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3431. This article maybe used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.Carfentanil is one of the most potent synthetic opioids ever developed, with an estimated analgesic potency approximately 20–100 times that of fentanyl and 10,000 times that of morphine. Carfentanil has been appearing in the illicit drug supply in many regions and has been linked to fatal overdose events. A subset of 59 street drug samples obtained in Victoria, B.C., that were confirmed to contain carfentanil were analyzed by mass spectrometry for this study. Carfentanil quantitation by paper spray mass spectrometry ranged from 0.05 to 2.95 w/w% (median = 0.32%) in the original drug sample. Paper spray mass spectrometry analysis also detected two unknown peaks at m/z 380.2 and 381.2 in 31 of these 59 samples (53%). Initial tandem mass spectrometry experiments revealed structural similarities between these unknown compounds and carfentanil, suggesting they were potential structural analogs, possibly arising from incomplete purification during synthesis. High-resolution mass spectrometry determined the chemical formulas of these compounds as C23H29N3O2 (m/z 380.2333) and C23H29N2O3 (m/z 381.2137). Literature and tandem mass spectrometry results were used to determine the identity of these potential new psychoactive substances, C23H29N3O2 as desmethylcarfentanil amide and C23H29N2O3 as desmethylcarfentanil acid. μ-Opioid receptor binding modeling determined that the binding poses of these analogs were nearly identical to that of carfentanil with relative binding energy calculations of 0.544 kJ/mol (desmethylcarfentanil amide) and −0.171 kJ/mol (desmethylcarfentanil acid); these data suggest they may share the toxic effects of carfentanil and have similar potencies.This work was supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant Program funding (RGPIN-2021-02981, RGPIN-2021-02916). The Vancouver Island Drug Checking Program is supported by Health Canada (SUAP: 1819-HQ-000042) and the Vancouver Foundation (VF: UNR17-0265).Accepted Manuscrip
Ignite your strengths: Resilience education for firefighters
Get PDFThis article was originally published as: Blaney, L., Spriggs, G., Lumley, J., Agyekum, E., Slonowsky, D., & Macdonald, A. (2023). Ignite your strengths: Resilience education for firefighters. Crisis, Stress, and Human Resilience: An International Journal, 5(2), 35-56.This study took an innovative approach to design, develop and test a health promoting resilience education workshop for paid-on-call (POC) firefighters and explored the following questions: (1) Is a resilience education workshop effective for building and maintaining resilience in volunteer firefighters? (2) How do firefighters define and experience resilience? (3) What are the strategies that firefighters use to build and maintain resilience? Firefighters attended a resilience education workshop, and mixed methods were used to explore the complexity of resilience and address the research questions. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires pre-education (Pre-Ed), immediately following the education (Post-Ed), and two months following the education (2 Month Post-Ed). We found that prior to education, firefighters are moderately resilient, as measured using the Resilience Scale (RS) and Resilience at Work (R@W) Scale. Resilience scores on both scales demonstrated statistically significant increases immediately following a resilience education workshop. Qualitative data indicates that firefighters have a wide array of health strategies for building and maintaining their resilience that were further enhanced through experiential education. The workshop introduced new resilience strategies that were integrated into the firefighters’ ‘toolbox’ of cognitive and behavioural skills and these strategies continued to be utilized over time. The results of this study indicate that resilience education should be integrated into organizational health and safety policies. The multiple tools and analyses used in this study support the overal findings that resilience education workshops are an effective tool to be used in a broader wellness context for firefighters.This research was supported with funds from WorkSafeBC through the Innovation at Work program, and an Explore grant from the Centre for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity - Vancouver Island University
The nature of creativity: Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES), placemaking, and community resilience in Prince Rupert, British Columbia
No full textCreative activity, such as the visual arts, performance arts, and literary arts, offers significant advantages to the social, cultural, environmental, and economic resiliency of local communities. While creative places were once considered exclusive to high-population, urban centres, there is increasing attention extended to the existence and undervaluation of creativity within smaller and remote places. These peripheral regions are characteristically abundant in natural amenities, and often exhibit a relationship between nature and local arts and culture. As a result, creative activity offers unique insights into how cultural ecosystem services (CES) exist and function in peripheral communities. The following investigation focuses on Prince Rupert, Canada; a small coastal city situated in northern British Columbia’s coastal temperate rainforest. The examination employs a qualitative case study approach to investigate how Prince Rupert’s creative and cultural sector and CES influence local placemaking and community resilience. Data for this study used a thematic analysis collected from two methods: 1) fourteen semi-structured interviews with Prince Rupert’s artists and makers, as well as creative and cultural sector leaders, and 2) eight textual documents that portray or describe activities or products related to Prince Rupert’s creative and cultural sector (e.g., visitor guide, provincial arts and culture report, planning documents). Together, findings support an integration of creative and cultural perspectives into community resilience dynamics, with place-embedded significance to human-nature relationships in Prince Rupert. Given the complex nature of the challenges faced by peripheral communities, and the rich conceptual tool that is offered by CES, this research presents a unique perspective on the role of the creative and cultural sector in a small, remote Canadian city.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/27482/Henderson.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=
The impact of life experiences on the expression of compassionate action in volunteers
No full textThis exploratory qualitative study considers the connection between life experience and compassion by conducting two virtual circle processes with volunteers located in Williams Lake, British Columbia. A network selection strategy was used to gather 10 participants, resulting in two circles with five volunteers each. The two virtual circle processes were recorded, then the dialogue was transcribed and analyzed for themes by means of narrative analysis. The definition of compassion used for this study is the ability to understand another’s suffering and the desire to relieve them of their suffering. The research conducted for this paper uses volunteers as participants to understand compassion in practical applications. Six themes were developed from the data and are as follows; connection, it feels good, volunteering modeled, religious anchor, common humanity and recognition of economic inequality. The six themes fit into three compassion cultivation domains, which I named self, soul and external
Assessing GBA+ as a tool for climate justice
No full textIn 2018, British Columbia’s (BC) provincial government released CleanBC, and in 2021 BC released the Roadmap to 2030, two cross-ministry efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a green economy. While governments worldwide are urged to contribute to climate change mitigation efforts, there are also increasing equity concerns about who benefits from and who bears the burden of these climate policies. Despite government initiatives including the use of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) – an analytical tool used to assess how people experience policies and to advance evidence-based decision-making, the efficacy of such tools is uncertain. It remains unclear whether BC’s climate policies adequately represent those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This study involved document analysis and interviews with eight key informants to understand the role of GBA+ and other governance practices in advancing climate justice (CJ). The research shows that the BC government does not adequately consider the needs of marginalized or vulnerable groups in its climate plans, and that GBA+ is beneficial as an introduction to intersectionality but is not sufficient for advancing CJ. Several actions are recommended to governments based on these findings, including being intentional about CJ, strengthening GBA+ implementation, fostering a culture of learning, and reimagining our systems. As the effects of climate change and the burdens of mitigation efforts are not evenly distributed, climate policies must emphasize community needs through a CJ lens
Minimum flows for sustaining summer water quality in constructed fish habitat in the lower mainland of British Columbia
No full textConstructed fish habitat is created to offset destroyed and degraded fish habitat. Reviews from government and research organizations indicate that constructed fish habitats often do not function as intended. To address this shortcoming, a summer survey of 26 constructed off-channel fish habitats in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia was conducted in 2019 to quantitatively assess design features of constructed fish habitats. Linear regression was used to estimate minimum turnover flows needed to sustain appropriate water quality for salmonids during rearing summer conditions. Model results suggest that flows of approximately 1 L/s are required to maintain water quality in 70 m3 of habitat volume and indicate that proximity to development increases the flows needed to sustain water temperatures. These findings are intended for use by biological practitioners and regulators to estimate minimum flow requirements for constructed fish habitat at the planning stage in advance of construction
An Examination of Metro Vancouver's Intentions to Perform Pro-Environmental Behaviours During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDF2023Global upheavals such as the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to disrupt society’s engagement in pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). This study aimed to determine if perceived health due to the pandemic significantly contributes to the prediction of PEB intentions across four domains, including (1) Energy conservation and efficiency, (2) Consumption and purchasing, (3) Waste segregation and management, and (4) Travel and transportation. Survey data was collected from Metro Vancouver households (N=75) and assessed using a modified Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Hierarchical multiple regression supports the use of the TPB in predicting the intention to perform PEBs, with subjective norms proven to be a significant predictor across all four domains. Simple slope analysis also provides evidence in support of the moderating role of perceived behavioural control on the subjective norms-intention relationship in both the waste and transit PEB domains. Finally, the proposed model shows that perceived health due to the pandemic does not contribute to the prediction of PEB intentions across any of the four domains
Knowledge, governance, and sustainability in the T'Sou-ke First Nation
No full textThis case-study explores the experience of the T’Sou-ke First Nation in their effort to implement their vision of self-sufficiency, sustainability, and cultural and environmental renewal using their traditional values and knowledge as well as contemporary science and technology. Specifically, this case-study considered some examples of how this blend of Indigenous knowledge and science has influenced some recent governing decisions as well as possible future decisions relating to the First Nation’s aspirations. The recent and possible future actions undertaken include the T’Sou-ke Nation’s solar project, its participation in a collaborative marine monitoring effort undertaken with neighbouring First Nations, the development of affordable passive solar housing on its reserve, and the possible future establishment of a tribal park. Lessons from the T’Sou-ke experience for other coastal communities seeking to build resiliency and sustainability into their planning for the future, especially in light of rapid climate change, are considered
Nanaimo residents’ sentiments study toward tourism: an exploration of perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs
No full textTourism is an important contributor to Canadian economic growth, as evidenced by the record-breaking 22.1 million visitors that Canada welcomed in 2019, leading to employment opportunities and service growth in all regions of the country (Destination Canada, 2019). However, the COVID-19 pandemic's global travel shutdown had severe consequences for the tourism industry and altered host communities' perceptions of visitors (Destination British Columbia, 2020). As a result, residents' views on tourism may have shifted since the pandemic, making it essential to study their attitudes and beliefs toward tourism in their community post-pandemic. Knowing residents’ sentiments towards tourism can offer destination management organizations (DMOs) and tourism stakeholders valuable insights, which they can use to enhance local tourism development by improving tourism planning and policies. Although previous studies have explored residents' sentiments toward tourism at the national or provincial level, less attention has been paid to the community level (Destination British Columbia, n.d.; Destination Canada, n.d.). This study investigated residents’ sentiments toward tourism in the Vancouver Island community of Nanaimo. Grounded in social exchange theory, this study used an online survey to measure participants' agreement with positive and negative statements about tourism in Nanaimo. Hypotheses were established according to involvement status in the tourism or hospitality industry, length of residency, areas of residency, age, and Net Promoters Score categories. Additionally, this research also explored how residents in different Net Promoter Score categories spoke about Nanaimo as a destination. To test the hypotheses and identify any significant differences between the groups, the data analysis employed SPSS software and a range of statistical tests, including T-tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), group comparison, Chi-square test, and Cronbach's alpha reliability test. Results revealed that Nanaimo residents generally had a positive attitude toward tourism. Participants who were employed in the tourism and hospitality industry were more positive than those who are not employed in the industry. Passives and Detractors had similar attitudes toward tourism and were less positive than Promoters. Tourism Nanaimo serves as the Destination Management Organization committed to enhancing Nanaimo's appeal as a tourism destination (Tourism Nanaimo, 2022). The study’s findings offered valuable insights and suggestions for Tourism Nanaimo and other tourism stakeholders, aimed at promoting the sustainable growth of tourism in Nanaimo.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/27443/Chen.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=