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Longitudinal Shifts in the Migratory Routes of Western and Eastern, but not Mountain Bluebirds
No full textBoth spatial and temporal shifts to the migrations of birds have become more common as climate change and habitat alterations have continued to impact habitats and the species dependent on them. Our ability to track these changes for individual species is limited by costs associated with current tracking technologies such as GPS and Geolocator technology. Our approach for this paper is to use eBird citizen science data collected over ten years to ask population level questions of three species of birds; Eastern (S. sialis), Western (S. mexicana) and Mountain (S. currucoides) bluebirds. Using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) we were able to predict the mean centroid of all three species for each Julian date from 2009 to 2018. We looked at the timing of both spring and fall migration, maximum breeding ground latitude as well as longitude of each species for each year. Using a regression analysis, we determined if there was a significant species year interaction for the response variable. From our analysis our most significant trend was that Eastern Bluebirds are shifting their longitude westward, Western Bluebirds are shifting their longitude eastward, while Mountain Bluebirds did not have any significant shift to their longitude
The Impact of Sympathetic Nervous System Activity on Longitudinal Movements in the Carotid Artery of Young Healthy People
No full textArterial stiffness is a historically well-studied and reliable measurement used to assess vascular health and disease. However, recent research has emerged suggesting that arterial longitudinal wall motion is another key predictor in assessing cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors. Arterial longitudinal wall motion is the oscillatory movement of the arterial wall in the anterograde (with blood flow) and retrograde (against blood flow) directions. Given its newly discovered application, it is imperative to understand the factors which contribute to the motion and their respective implications. One way to assess such factors is through activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), also known as the “fight or flight” reflex. The physiological responses are varied and often involve changes in blood vessel wall dynamics. In this study, we acutely manipulate SNS activity using a cold pressor and a post-exercise circulatory occlusion test and monitor various parameters like blood pressure and artery stiffness, which may influence the longitudinal motion. The goal of this study is to gain further insight into the determinants of arterial longitudinal wall motion and under what conditions its measurement might be compromised. In doing so, its potential use as a clinical tool in predicting vascular disease may be improved
Asynchronous: Lessons from Teaching an Online Human Sexuality Course
No full text2021 TPC Proposal by Shari Caputo Lessons from Teaching an Online Human Sexuality Course The theme of my presentation is how the COVID pandemic pushed education to an online environment, which resulst in originality in online teaching and assignment creation. In the summer of 2020, I taught Human Sexuality for Health Professionals. It was my first time designing a course from scratch, and I unexpectedly had to teach online, which was new to me. This presentation will address two topics: first is the online techniques and practices that I found beneficial as an online instructor and as well as based on student feedback. I had some preparation for online teaching through a CELT course, however there was still much practicing ahead of time, learning ‘on the fly’ as well as re-evaluating the things that did not go well! The second topic that I will discuss is about the course assignment, which had four parts, all of which built upon the previous and replaced exams that I would normally have utilized. A key outcome of this course was to conduct a sexual health interview and the assignment was designed with this outcome in mind; required students to incorporate significant theory and concepts learned in the course. Methods to engage participants would be to bring in evidence that highlights the challenges that people face when discussing their sexual health issues with health professionals. These facts highlight the importance of having health professionals comfortable discussing human sexuality in a non-biased manner and open manner, and therefore the importance of this course
Turning Back the Clock: Dying Young at an Old Age
Full text linkAging, which impacts living organisms from yeast to humans, is characterized by the progressive decline in physiological integrity and function over time. This decline results in increased susceptibility to age-related diseases, and ultimately death. Researchers have identified nine molecular and cellular hallmarks of aging that contribute to the aging phenotype: Genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication. In addition to characterizing the aging process, researchers have also discovered manipulations of these hallmarks that introduce the possibility of living not just living longer, but living healthier for longer. The purpose of this literature review is to explore some of these possibilities, such as dietary restriction and several pharmaceutical interventions, in addition to examining the genetic aspects of aging.
Research in aging and longevity is an exciting new field. Humans are currently living longer than ever before. This increased lifespan, however, does not necessarily correspond to an increased healthspan. An aging population is one of the most significant challenges facing our healthcare system. Although there are ethical considerations, by increasing healthspan, illness in old age could be reduced, thereby improving individual quality of life while simultaneously alleviating strain on both the economy and healthcare system
The Neighbourhood Watch: Does the Promixity to Neighbours Influence Nest Success in Tree Swallows \u3ci\u3e(Tachycineta bicolor)\u3c/i\u3e?
Full text linkDue to the nature of their habitat, tree swallows live in close proximity to other secondary cavity nesters, such as the mountain bluebird. While they do not compete for food or territory while brooding, neighbouring relationships can greatly impact the success of both birds. Literature suggests that neighbours can increase success through processes of reciprocal altruism in nest defence or decrease success through density-dependent competition. The goal of this study is to understand the impact that conspecific and heterospecific neighbours have on tree swallow reproductive success. The findings can be applied to habitat management to promote the highest possible success for tree swallows. For this study, I am using a series of bird boxes, inhabited by tree swallows and mountain bluebirds, throughout the Kamloops, BC area. I have compiled data on approximately 650 tree swallow nests and their neighbours over an 8 year period. Using a negative binomial linear mixed model analysis, I analyzed factors that related to reproductive success, such as the proportion of the nest that fledged, the number of eggs, nestlings, and fledgeling, and the occurrence of a fledged nest, in relation to the distance to the nearest conspecific and heterospecific neighbour and concentration of each type of neighbour in an area. The findings from these analyses may reveal changes in success due to neighbour proximity
The Role of Coaches, Institutions, and Clinicians in Addressing Athlete Mental Health
Full text linkMental health, defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community,” is an important concern for athletes. In 2018, research findings showed that the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders among current elite athletes ranged from 19% for alcohol misuse to 34% for anxiety/depression, and from 16% for distress to 26% for anxiety/depression for former elite athletes.2 Research suggests that while athletes have overall better physical health than their non-athlete counterparts, they experience similar rates of mental health symptoms and disorders.https://digitalcommons.library.tru.ca/emergingdiscourses/1001/thumbnail.jp
Understanding Multilingual Identities
No full textIn a world with 6500 languages and only 195 countries it is almost impossible to have been exposed to only one language. In some way most people have heard or seen languages other than their native language, whether that is through work, school, global news, a subtitled movie, borrowed words, online friends, tourism, or food. Inherent to this exposure is knowledge of other cultures, which can have an impact on identity. Understanding Multilingual Identities is about the intersection of language, culture and identity. This study collected original data on university students who spoke more than one language, at any level, who had also lived in the culture of their second language. Students were asked to self-identify any area of change to their identity or language use due to living in another culture and using another language. They were also asked to identify whether, and under what circumstances, those changes persisted after their return to their home country and main language. Data was collected through interview methodology which will be supplemented with survey data
Self-study of Teacher Education Practices (S-STEP) and the Critical Friend
Full text linkOver the past 30 years my teaching strategies have evolved but I continue to use many pedagogies that have proven effective over the years (or so I think). Now, I am teaching a graduate course focused on comparative and international education (CIE). From my teaching experience abroad, I came to be fascinated by CIE. Will these students become engaged and immersed in the subject area as I have become? What can I do to facilitate their learning? How can self-study of teacher education practices (S-STEP) and a critical friend help me to improve my teaching of CIE? These are the research questions framing this self-study. I enlisted the help of an S-STEP critical friend also teaching in our graduate program. In this research, I critically analyze my teaching of graduate students through S-STEP with the help of a critical friend. In addition, I explore Comparative Ethnographic Narrative (CEN), a blend of reflexive ethnography and narrative inquiry, as another way of knowing within the S-STEP space. With ERB approval, I have collected data on my teaching September ~December 2019. I wrote detailed weekly reflections on my teaching in an e-journal. In addition, I included reflections on feedback received from my students. Students provided written feedback at the end of each class and at the end of term through course evaluation. I shared my e-journal reflections with my critical friend via email and in person bi-weekly. Then, together we made meaning from them. The research text evolves from our teacher-to-teacher conversations
Photo voice as a Pedagogical and Authentic Assessment tool: Insights from teaching International Social Work at Thompson Rivers University
No full textApplication of Arts-based approaches to social work education is gaining prominence as social workers and their service users are both influenced by the visual cultures. Bala Nikku and Terryl Atkins explored use of Photo Voice as a pedagogical and authentic assessment tool in the International Social Work Course (SOCW4800) taught by Nikku during the fall semester of 2019. Photo Voice provides a, qualitative method with participatory features that is built on the theoretical foundations of reflexivity, awareness and critical consciousness. In this presentation, we explore and share insights from a classroom project in which seventeen social work students chose diverse international social work issues and presented their results using Photo Voice as part of their learning assessments. Atkins gave a brief orientation on the use of visuals and how to choose and read visuals during the fifth week of the semester. Students were provided with reading materials on the diverse uses of Photo Voice as well as a rubric and assessment guide as part of the preparation to use Photo Voice as a tool to analyze international social work issues. During week twelve students presented their work to their peers and faculty provided comments. We reason that providing learning opportunities for self-awareness and self-reflection of personal and professional values in the social work classroom is crucial in the socialization of social work students to the profession. We conclude that the use of Photo Voice as a pedagogical tool provided faculty with an authentic assessment strategy and enriched over-all learning outcomes of the course. Incorporating visual tools in the classroom has the potential for offering new ways of conceptualizing international social work issues simply not possible through linear language and sage on the stage teaching models