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The associations of shift work, sleep quality, and Incidence of hypertension in Ontario adults: A population-based study
No full textBackground
Relatively few population-based studies have explored the relationship and potential mechanisms between exposure to shift work and hypertension. The study objectives for this study were to determine 1) if history of shift work was associated with increased rates of hypertension among working adults, and 2) if sleep quality mediated this relationship.
Methods
We conducted a population-based cohort study using data from Ontario respondents (aged 35-69 y) in the 2000-2001 Canadian Community Health Survey, which was linked to administrative health data housed at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Our sample included survey participants who were employed with no previous diagnosis of hypertension (n = 7420). During a 12-year follow-up window, we determined the time of hypertension diagnosis based on a previously validated algorithm; and explored the mediating effect of sleep quality using marginal structural effect models.
Results
The study sample included 2079 shift workers and 5341 day workers. Shift workers reported less refreshing sleep, more trouble sleeping, and poorer sleep quality overall compared with day workers. In 12 years of follow-up, 31.3% of workers developed hypertension. History of shift work was associated with higher hypertension rates in both men (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.44) and women (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03-1.55). There was no evidence that these associations were mediated by past sleep quality.
Conclusions
History of shift work schedules is associated with increased rates of hypertension. Shift work disrupts sleep, but further longitudinal studies are needed to determine if sleep quality mediates the association between shift work and hypertension.Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC)Garfield Kelly Fund for Cardiovascular Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canad
Characterization of physical literacy in children with chronic medical conditions compared with healthy controls: A cross-sectional study
No full textTo determine the physical literacy, defined as the capability for a physically active lifestyle, of children with medical conditions compared with healthy peers, this multicenter cross-sectional study recruited children with medical conditions from cardiology, neurology (including concussion), rheumatology, mental health, respirology, oncology, hematology, and rehabilitation (including cerebral palsy) clinics. Participants aged 8–12 years (N = 130; mean age: 10.0 ± 1.44 years; 44% female) were randomly matched to 3 healthy peers from a normative database, based on age, gender, and month of testing. Total physical literacy was assessed by the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy, a validated assessment of physical literacy measuring physical competence, daily behaviour, knowledge/understanding, and motivation/confidence. Total physical literacy mean scores (/100) did not differ (t(498) = –0.67; p = 0.44) between participants (61.0 ± 14.2) and matched healthy peers (62.0 ± 10.7). Children with medical conditions had lower mean physical competence scores (/30; –6.5 [–7.44 to –5.51]; p < 0.001) but higher mean motivation/confidence scores (/30; 2.6 [1.67 to 3.63]; p < 0.001). Mean daily behaviour and knowledge/understanding scores did not differ from matches (/30; 1.8 [0.26 to 3.33]; p = 0.02;/10; –0.04 [–0.38 to 0.30]; p = 0.81; respectively). Children with medical conditions are motivated to be physically active but demonstrate impaired movement skills and fitness, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to improve their physical competence
Evaluating the sampling design of a long-term community-based estuary monitoring program
No full textCommunity-based monitoring programs (CBMPs) are a cost-effective option to collect the long-term data required to effectively monitor estuaries. Data quality concerns have caused some CBMP datasets, which could fill knowledge gaps for aquatic ecosystems, to go unused. The Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) is a CBMP that has collected littoral nekton assemblage data from estuaries in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 2003. Concerns with the CAMP sampling design (station placement and numbers) have prevented decision-makers from using the data to inform estuary health assessments. This study tested if CAMP's sampling design that accommodates volunteer participation provides similar information as a scientific sampling approach. Six CAMP stations and six stations selected using a stratified random design were sampled at ten estuaries. A permutational-MANOVA revealed nekton assemblages were generally not significantly different between the two sampling designs. The current six CAMP stations are sufficient to detect the larger differences in species abundances that may indicate differences in estuary condition. The predicted increase in precision (2%) with twelve stations is not substantive enough to warrant an increased sampling effort. CAMP's scientific utility is not limited by station selection bias or numbers. Furthermore, well-designed CBMPs can produce comparable data to scientific studies.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaCanadian Water Networ
Mining for gold and finding only nuggets: Attempting a rapid systematic review, on trust in higher education IBL classrooms
No full textIt is well-documented throughout the available literature that trust, or a leap of faith, plays a key role in facilitating success in student learning. In this study, we attempted a rapid systematic review of relevant databases looking for studies that addressed developing and maintaining trust among students, between students and their professors, within higher education institutions, paying particular attention to inquiry-based learning practices where taking intellectual risks is key. Our efforts revealed that there are currently no empirical studies that link risk and trust in early engagement in higher education IBL (i.e., IBL-HE) classrooms. Though the ‘gold mine’ remained out of reach, our secondary review uncovered several important nuggets which confirmed our belief that this is an important area of future inquiry and allowed us to identify barriers to trust and note student fears. Further research is required to examine the factors that promote risk-taking and trust development and the relationship with early engagement in IBL-HE courses
Folic acid enhances proinflammatory and antiviral molecular pathways in chicken B-lymphocytes infected with a mild infectious bursal disease virus
No full text1. This study evaluated the effect of folic acid (FA) supplementation on the proinflammatory and antiviral molecular pathways of B-lymphocytes infected with a modified live IBDV (ST-12) mild vaccine strain during a timed post-infection analysis.
2. A chicken B-lymphocytes (DT-40) cell line was cultured in triplicate at a concentration of 5 × 105 cells per well in 24-well plates; and was divided into three groups: 1: No virus, FA; 2: Virus, no FA; 3: Virus + FA at a concentration of 3.96 mM. The experiment was repeated three times.
3. Cells in groups 2 and 3 were infected with a modified live IBDV (ST-12) mild vaccine strain at one multiplicity of infection (MOI: 1). After 1 hour of virus adsorption, samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours post-infection (hpi).
4. The modified live IBDV (ST-12) mild vaccine strain triggered a B-lymphocyte specific immune response associated with the upregulation of genes involved in virus recognition (Igß), virus sensing (TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-4 and MDA5), signal transduction and regulation (TRIF, MyD88 and IRF7), and the antiviral effector molecules (IFN-α, OAS, PKR, and viperin).
5. FA supplementation modulated IBDV replication and regulated the proinflammatory and antiviral downstream molecular pathways.
6. In conclusion, the low virulent pathotype serotype I modified live IBDV (ST-12) mild vaccine strain was able to trigger and mount an immune response in chicken B-lymphocytes without affecting B-cell viability. FA supplementation modulated B lymphocytes response and improved their innate immune proinflammatory and antiviral response molecular pathways
A metabarcoding approach for detecting protozoan pathogens in wild oysters from Prince Edward Island, Canada
No full textFood and waterborne protozoan pathogens including Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia enterica and Toxoplasma gondii are a global concern for human public health. While all three pathogens have been detected in commercial shellfish, there is currently no standard approach for detecting protozoan parasites in shellfish. Common molecular and microscopic methods are limited in the number of pathogens they can simultaneously detect and are often targeted at one or two of these pathogens. Previously, we developed and validated a novel 18S amplicon-based next-generation sequencing assay for simultaneous detection of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and T. gondii in shellfish. In this study, we applied the assay for protozoan pathogen detection in wild oysters from Prince Edward Island (PEI). Oysters were harvested from restricted and prohibited areas, classified by the Canadian government according to fecal coliform counts in surrounding waters, and different fractions (whole tissue homogenate and hemolymph) were analyzed. Protozoan DNA was detected using metabarcoding in 28%, of oysters tested (N = 128), and the pathogen read counts in oyster homogenate were considerably higher than those in hemolymph. Protozoan read count thresholds were established for classifying probable oyster contamination with pathogens to account for low levels of background protozoan reads detected in negative controls. Assay results showed protozoan contamination was not associated with harvesting site classifications, suggesting that using fecal indicators for ensuring food safety may be insufficient. Due to the complex matrix, an oyster DNA reduction step may further improve the pathogen detection sensitivity of the assay. Results from this study affirm that novel metabarcoding is a promising screening tool for detection of protozoan pathogens in shellfish
Program outcomes of a voluntary Johne's Disease control program with a focus on adherence to management plan recommendations and veterinary communication skills
No full textThe Atlantic Johne’s Disease Initiative (AJDI) was a voluntary Johne’s disease (JD) control program with the goal of reducing the prevalence and impact of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in dairy cattle in Atlantic Canada. The aim of this research was to enhance JD prevention and management. The AJDI was launched in 2011 as a 3-year risk assessment-based program. Four hundred and sixty-three of the region's 664 herds (70%) enrolled in the AJDI. Environmental cultures (EC) were conducted annually for AJDI herds. The overall herd apparent prevalence of MAP infection was 26.5%. The mean apparent within-herd prevalence of MAP infection for the 42 EC-positive herds which conducted cow-level testing was 5.5%. Evaluation of factors associated with MAP infection revealed that herd risk of being EC-positive was significantly higher as the number of lactating cows, the number of bull calves, and the percentage of pneumonia in heifers increased. The herd risk was also significantly higher if the herd planned to purchase cattle in the next year and if the herd had more than 5% mortality in heifers that were one to four months of age. Furthermore, the herd risk was significantly higher in summer and was significantly higher if the herd was in Newfoundland and Labrador but significantly lower if the herd was in Nova Scotia. In this study, 894 RAMPs were conducted by AJDI-certified veterinarians on 457 dairy herds. JD risk assessment indicated that on average, existing management practices had moderate potential to spread MAP between and within farms. After one year of participation in the AJDI, JD risk assessment showed improvements in management practices that were statistically significant. However, producers’ self-assessed adherence rating indicated fair adherence to first RAMPs and certified veterinarians’ adherence rating indicated slight adherence. RAMP-specific satisfaction was high among 133 AJDI producers surveyed using a satisfaction questionnaire. This study used theory of planned behaviour framework to design a questionnaire to elicit and measure behavioural intent of cow managers. A total of 68 cow managers completed in-person questionnaires from June 2012 to September 2013. On average, cow managers had moderate positive intent to utilize strategies to prevent and control JD. Strengthening either behavioural beliefs or control beliefs towards JD were associated with increased likelihood that cow managers intended to utilize strategies to prevent and control JD. A communication training workshop was developed as an intervention to support the AJDI. Seventeen food animal production medicine (FAPM) veterinarians and three FAPM senior veterinary students participated in a pre-post intervention design. Study results showed that prior to training, communication skills of participants had significant limitations, including skill deficits in communication tasks associated with adherence to veterinary recommendations. Communication skills of participants significantly improved with the training provided. Rater training and experience was important to facilitate fair assessment of communication skills. This research, through evaluation of the AJDI, exploration of factors potentially affecting adherence to JD control measures, and implementation of communication skills training and assessment for FAPM veterinarians, offered new information to assist in JD prevention and control
Aquaculture health management: Design and operation approaches
No full textAquaculture Health Management: Design and Operation Approaches is an essential reference for the diverse aquaculture community. With the steadily increasing importance of healthy fish production and the expansion of the animal aquaculture industry to new geographic areas, new microbial and parasitic species with pathogenic potential continue to emerge. The book covers the broad spectrum of fish and shellfish health, the functional roles of pathogen emergence, and the impacts of nutrition and preventative medicine such as pre- and probiotics, as well as chemical treatments, relevant legislation and more
Symposium review: Considerations for the future of dairy cattle housing: An animal welfare perspective
No full textNumerous contemporary methods for the housing of dairy cattle contrast with society's perceptions of good animal welfare. Usually a part of the population (i.e. individuals unrelated to the dairy sector) tends to underline the importance of naturalness for dairy cattle, which according to them is expressed through, for example, the possibility of accessing grazing, the freedom to movement and the ability to interact socially with conspecifics. However, in the United States, most lactating dairy cows are housed in stables that do not provide access to grazing, and almost 39% of dairy farms have fixed-post stalls that limit movement and social interactions. . In addition to being in conflict with public expectations, the lack of outside access and restrictive housing systems also conflict with the needs of the animals themselves, which can adversely affect their welfare. For example, dairy cattle are highly motivated to access grazing and show a decrease in oral stereotypies when they are brought to us after periods of fixed housing. Calves housed without being able to have social contact show cognitive deficits and show greater fear of novelties (neophobia). We can say that the long-term sustainability of the dairy sector will depend on the extent to which housing systems reflect public concerns and animal priorities. The adoption of some technologies, like automatic feeders and remote monitoring systems, it could represent a useful means to promote the natural behavior of animals in practice and, at the same time, to improve the care of individual subjects. Although older generations may consider technological solutions as a further deviation from naturalness and a departure from dairy farming of dairy cattle, according to younger ones the definition of "natural life" could also include the use of various technologies. As purchasing power is in the hands of these younger generations
Limited visibility cops and robber
No full textWe consider a variation of the Cops and Robber game where the cops can only see the robber when the distance between them is at most a fixed parameter . We consider the basic consequences of this definition for some simple graph families, and show that this model is not monotonic, unlike common models where the robber is invisible. We see that cops’ strategy consists of a phase in which they need to “see” the robber (move within distance of the robber), followed by a phase in which they capture the robber. In some graphs the first phase is the most resource intensive phase (in terms of number of cops needed), while in other graphs, it is the second phase. Finally, we characterize those trees for which cops are sufficient to guarantee capture of the robber for all ℓ≥1