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Estimating sea lice infestation pressure on salmon farms: Comparing different methods using multivariate state-space models
No full textSea lice are ectoparasites of salmonids, and are considered to be one of the main threats to Atlantic salmonfarming. Sea lice infestation on a farm is usually initiated by attachment of the free-living copepodid stagederived from the surrounding water, frequently originating from adult lice on the same farm or from neighboringsalmonid farms, referred to as internal and external sources, respectively. Various approaches have been pro-posed to quantify sea lice infestation pressure on farms to improve the management of this pest. Here, we reviewand comparefive of these methods based on sea lice data from 20 farms located near Grand Manan island in theBay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada.Internal and external infestation pressures (IIP and EIP, respectively) were estimated using different ap-proaches, and their effects were modeled either by a unique parameter for all production cycles or by differentparameters for each production cycle, using a multivariate state-space model. Predictive variables, such as watertemperature and sea lice treatments, were included in the model, and their effects across production cycles wereestimated along with those of other model parameters. Results showed that models with only EIP explained thevariation in the data better than models with only IIP, and that models with unique IIP and unique EIP for allcycles were generally associated with the best modelfit. The simplest,fixed lag method for calculating in-festation pressure had the best predictive performance in our models among the methods studied.Canada First Research Excellence Fun
Strategies for implementing group mental health interventions in a VA community living center [online ahead of print]
No full textObjectives: Group mental health interventions are difficult to implement into rehabilitation facilities, but no one has studied the specific barriers. This mixed-methods project systematically examined the implementation of a mental health (MH) group intervention in a VA community living center (CLC) for residents on subacute rehabilitation units, using the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) implementation framework.Methods: We implemented a group MH intervention, tracking team referrals, attendance rates, and reasons for declining to participate. We conducted qualitative interviews with attendees.Results: Individual barriers to attendance included acute illness (n = 67, 20%), attitudes toward MH (n = 50; 15%), and perceived busyness (n = 19; 6%). Facility barriers included competing appointments (n = 69; 21%). Interviews demonstrated challenges to implementation, including stigma toward mental health (Theme: Challenges and Supports to Implementation). Attendees found the group relatable, and noted that both positive and negative group dynamics contributed to their experience (Themes: Content Relevance and Group Dynamics).Conclusions: The results provide insight into implementing a group MH treatment into the CLC setting, with implications for the MH care of older adults residing in CLCs.Clinical Implications: 1) Group leaders should consider matching attendees for ability levels (physical or cognitive). 2) At the facility level, leaders may take steps to address stigma toward MH by adopting approaches (e.g., music) or framing MH issues (e.g., use of language) in a way that is approachable. 3) Modifiable barriers at the individual and facility level could be addressed to encourage ease of implementation
Crop yield prediction through proximal sensing and machine learning algorithms
No full textProximal sensing techniques can potentially survey soil and crop variables responsible for variations in crop yield. The full potential of these precision agriculture technologies may be exploited in combination with innovative methods of data processing such as machine learning (ML) algorithms for the extraction of useful information responsible for controlling crop yield. Four ML algorithms, namely linear regression (LR), elastic net (EN), k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), and support vector regression (SVR), were used to predict potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber yield from data of soil and crop properties collected through proximal sensing. Six fields in Atlantic Canada including three fields in Prince Edward Island (PE) and three fields in New Brunswick (NB) were sampled, over two (2017 and 2018) growing seasons, for soil electrical conductivity, soil moisture content, soil slope, normalized-difference vegetative index (NDVI), and soil chemistry. Data were collected from 39-40 30 × 30 m2 locations in each field, four times throughout the growing season, and yield samples were collected manually at the end of the growing season. Four datasets, namely PE-2017, PE-2018, NB-2017, and NB-2018, were then formed by combing data points from three fields to represent the province data for the respective years. Modeling techniques were employed to generate yield predictions assessed with different statistical parameters. The SVR models outperformed all other models for NB-2017, NB-2018, PE-2017, and PE-2018 dataset with RMSE of 5.97, 4.62, 6.60, and 6.17 t/ha, respectively. The performance of k-NN remained poor in three out of four datasets, namely NB-2017, NB-2018, and PE-2017 with RMSE of 6.93, 5.23, and 6.91 t/ha, respectively. The study also showed that large datasets are required to generate useful results using either model. This information is needed for creating site-specific management zones for potatoes, which form a significant component for food security initiatives across the globe
Evaluation in the provinces and territories: A cross-Canada snapshot and call to action
No full textEvidence-based decision-making and managing for results are terms often heard from politicians and senior government officials at both federal and provincial levels of government in Canada. But, while there is some level of understanding at the federal level in terms of the role and use of evaluation in measuring results, there is significantly less information readily available about the extent that evaluation is being used at other levels of government. This paper provides a cross-Canada synopsis on the capacity and use of systematic evaluation at the provincial and territorial levels of government. Authors from each of the ten provinces and two of the three territories provide a succinct analysis of the extent that evaluation is being used in their provincial government, as well as a description of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for evaluation. There is a paucity of published information on this subject, but the paper uses research conducted in 2001 as a benchmark to compare the state of affairs for evaluation within provincial/territorial governments. With limited progress over the past two decades, the paper offers an overview of findings and some proposed actions for the way ahead
Fathers’ first lived experiences of their female partners’ postpartum depression
No full textBecoming a parent is considered a major life event. Recently, in Western society, fathers are a more engaged partner in the rearing of a child than previous generations. Since new fathers may lack role models for this new way of parenting, a mother’s role may facilitate the mastering of this new fathering role. However, what is not well known is how fathers experience fatherhood when their female partners’ abilities to parent are influenced by postpartum depression (PPD). A mother’s PPD may affect her ability to properly parent and has potential negative effects on the mother, child, father, and family unit. To date, little research explores the fathers’ lived experience of their female partners’ PPD. The aim of this study was to describe the father’s first lived experience of living with a female partner with PPD. Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological psychological method was conducted using a purposive and snowball sampling strategy to recruit 6 participants when saturation was reached. Giorgi’s (2009) method of analysis was used to form a description of the meaning of the experiences as lived by the fathers. Six essential constituents were identified: (a) turbulent emotional journey; (b) loss of her; (c) life crisis which is overwhelming and burdensome; (d) a forced transformation of self, marriage, and family toward a new normal; (e) uncertainty and a guarded future; and (f) insufficient support and barriers to care. This new knowledge will enhance nurses’ and other health care providers’ awareness of the fathers’ experience of their female partners’ PPD and will enable nurses to be better able to meet the health needs of a new family
Development of 3D printed drug-eluting scaffolds for preventing piercing infection
No full textHerein, novel drug-eluting, bio-absorbable scaffold intended to cover piercing studs is introduced. This “biopierce” will stay in human tissue following piercing, and will slowly release an antimicrobial agent to prevent infection while the wound heals. Nearly 20% of all piercings lead to local infection. Therefore, it is imperative to develop alternative methods of piercing aftercare to prevent infection. Biopierces were made using mupirocin loaded poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) biomaterial ink, and a low-temperature 3D printing technique was used to fabricate the biopierces. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the complete removal of the solvent, and liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was used to confirm the structural integrity of mupirocin and to quantify the amount of the released drug over time. The efficacy of the biopierces against Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most common piercing-site pathogens, was confirmed over two weeks using in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testingNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaCanada Foundation for InnovationMitacsUniversity of Prince Edward Islan
Female faculty members at a Saudi public university: The effect of gender performativity on opportunities for leadership
No full textThere is a dearth of women in leadership positions in higher education institutions. Postsecondary institutions, such as public universities, shape and reinforce socially acceptable roles for both men and women. The aim of this study was to examine the gender performance of six female faculty members at a public university in Saudi Arabia with a goal to better understand how their gender identities affected their leadership opportunities, using a qualitative case study methodology that included interviews, observation, and relevant documentation review. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of women's gender identity performances and how these performances affected their opportunities to advance to senior positions within the university. I answered three questions: (1) How do female faculty members perform their gender at their workplace? (2) What are the implications of women’s gender performance regarding their leadership opportunities? And, (3) what are the challenges women have been facing that have hindered them from being in leadership positions? I sought to answer these questions through the theoretical lens of gender performativity. This study utilized a gender performativity framework— which suggests that gender is socially constructed through gendered performances— to examine how and why women faculty members form and maintain gender roles within the context of higher educational institutions. Also, this study aimed to unveil the effect of such performances on the job distribution and leadership opportunities available to women, along with the challenges that hindered women from occupying those leadership positions. The main findings were in the following areas: (1) identity; (2) agency; (3) power; (4) resistance and change; (5) the effect of gender performativity in terms of leadership opportunities and; (6) challenges to leadership. Findings indicate that the female faculty members perform a variety of stereotypical feminine gender roles. These gender roles lead to gender performance which has a significant influence with regard to job opportunities for women and also play a part in maintaining gender performance itself. Data also shed light on the challenges and barriers that delay and impede women from opportunities to obtain decision making positions
Contribution of climate extremes to variation in potato tuber yield in Prince Edward Island
No full textAgricultural management practices are responsible for almost two-thirds of the variations in potato tuber yield. In order to answer the research question about the remaining variability of the tuber yield, we hypothesized that climate extremes partly explain the missing component of variations of the tuber yield. Therefore, this research attempts to bridge this knowledge gap in order to generate a knowledge base for future strategies. A climate extreme dataset of the Prince Edward Island (PEI) was computed by averaging the data of five meteorological stations. In detail, changing patterns of 20 climate extreme indices were computed with ClimPACT2 software for 30 years (1989-2018) data of PEI. Statistical significance of the trends and their slope values were determined with the Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimates, respectively. Average of daily mean temperature (TMm), mean daily minimum temperature (TNm) and the occurrence of continuous dry days (CDD), significantly increased by 0.77 °C, 1.17 °C and 3.33 days., respectively, during the potato growing seasons (May-October) of the past three decades. For this period daily temperature range (DTR), frost days (FD), cold days (TX10p), cold nights (TN10p) and warmest days (TXx) showed decreasing trends of −1.01 °C, −3.75 days, −5.67 days, −11.40 nights, and −2.00 days, respectively. The principal component analysis showed that DTR, TXx, CDD, and TNm were the main factors affecting seasonal variations of tuber yield. The multiple regression model attributed ~39% of tuber yield variance to DTR, TXx, CDD, and TNm. However, these indices explained individually 21%, 19%, 16%, and 4% variation to the tuber yield, respectively. The remaining variation in the tuber yield explained by other yield affecting factors. The information generated from this study can be used for future planning about agricultural management strategies in the Island, for example, the provision of water resources for supplemental irrigation of crops during dry monthsNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Counci
Assessment of climate change impacts on energy capacity planning in Ontario, Canada using high-resolution regional climate model
No full textClimate change may alter energy demand as well as energy supply, thus posing a threat to energy security. This study investigates the long-term energy security responses to climate change for Ontario from a planning perspective. A regional climate model (RCM) is employed to assess the climate-driven changes in energy sectors at a 25 km × 25 km resolution. Reliable projections of changes in climatic variables are provided to assess their impacts on cooling degree days, heating degree days, and energy availability. Quantified sensitivities of residential and commercial energy consumptions to degree days are incorporated with future projections to estimate energy demand changes. We then estimate the impact of climate change on the primary power sources, including nuclear power, hydropower, gas, wind energy, and solar energy from a capacity planning perspective. Results indicate that winter warms more rapidly than summer in Ontario. This leads to heating degree days decreasing 2 times faster than cooling degree days increasing. Changes in degree days result in an increase in summer electricity demand and a reduction in winter gas consumption. We also find that efficiencies of hydropower and wind energy could be reduced in different scales because of decreased resource availability. The efficiency of nuclear power is sensitive to the temperature rise, but relatively less reduced compared to other energy sources. Solar energy production can benefit from climate change for the perspective of a decrease in rainy and cloudy days. With the increased electricity demand and decreased availability of water and wind resources, more green energy capacities are expected to build to ensure the long-term energy security for Ontario
Determinants and improvements of calf parasite load, growth and behaviour on smallholder dairy farms in Kenya
No full textThis thesis research involving 187 heifer calves on 150 zero-grazing smallholder dairy farms in two Kenyan counties was designed with the following specific objectives: 1) to describe and determine animal- and farm-level factors associated with time-to-onset and fecal counts of strongyle-type eggs and coccidia oocysts (prospective cohort study); 2) to evaluate the effects of practical and affordable calf housing improvements on average daily gain (ADG) in weight during pre- and post-weaning periods (randomized controlled trial); 3) to determine the effect of environmental and comfort improvement on lying and
sucking behaviours (randomized controlled trial); 4) to estimate the economic effects of implementing the low-cost housing enhancements and management changes in objectives 2-3 when raising a 15-month heifer (partial budget analysis). For objectives 2 and 3, intervention farms (n=75) received calf housing improvements that included: 1) filling of floor holes if on the ground or repairing wooden slats if on an elevated floor; 2) introduction of rubber mats on the lying area; 3) ensuring a floor gradient for drainage; 4) attaching a rubber nipple on the wall of the calf pen; and 5) patching leaking roofs, along
with training on youngstock management. Up to six bimonthly farm visits were used to collect animal- and farm-level data, such as accelerometer readings for lying behaviours, heart girth for ADG of weight, and rectal fecal samples for McMaster floatation. For objective 1, Incidence risks of strongyle-type and coccidia over the study period were 28.3% (53/187) and 87.7% (164/187), respectively. For infected calves, median time-to-onset for strongyles and coccidia was 78 (interquartile-range: IQR 38-117) and 43 (IQR 29-92) days, respectively. In the final Cox proportional hazard (PH) model for strongyles, breed (Ayrshires and Jerseys) and weaned calves had a greater hazard of infection than Friesians and preweaned calves, respectively. Calf tethering outside the pen sometimes was associated with a higher hazard of strongyle infection. In the final Cox PH model for coccidia, calves with watery and/or hemorrhagic diarrhea had a higher hazard compared with those with hard or soft feces. Weaning status and birth weight (kg) were time-varying covariates, leading to increased hazard over time. In the final mixed-effects negative binomial (MeNB) model for strongyles, weaned animals had higher counts than those still on milk. In an interaction variable, the predicted strongyletype egg counts increased with longer duration of farm operation when herd size was less than five cattle but decreased when herd size was more than five. In the final MeNB model for coccidia, calves sometimes tethered outside their pens had higher counts than those continuously enclosed in the pen. Calf pen floors with either scant manure or moderate slurry had higher predicted counts than those on a clean pen floor. Calves with watery or hemorrhagic diarrhea and fed fresh Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) had higher counts compared with soft or hard feces and those not given fresh Napier, respectively. In an interaction variable, calves experiencing diarrhea and raised on elevated slatted floors had lower oocyst counts compared with those having diarrhea but not on elevated floors. In conclusion, the identified management practices associated with onset and counts of gastrointestinal parasitism should be considered in control efforts. For objective 2, Median pre-weaning and post-weaning ADGs were 0.307 and 0.487 kg/d, respectively. In the final pre-weaning model (p<0.050), factors positively associated with ln ADG were calf age at first acaricide application, and total number of calf pens, while factors negatively associated with ln ADG included calf mortality risk over the last five years and calf age at first free access to water. In an interaction term, for calves from parity 3+ dams, ADG was lower when milk was fed twice/day than thrice/day, with no difference in calves of lower parity dams. In a second interaction term, ADG was similar by principal farmer gender at higher levels of education, but significantly lower for female than male principal farmers when only primary education was achieved. In the final post-weaning model, housing improvements increased ADG by 5.6%. Other factors positively associated with post-weaning ADG were feeding of calf pellets, wheat bran,
maize bran, and hay. Calf age at first introduction of concentrate, calf mortality risk over the last five years, and principal farmer age were negatively associated with ADG. In an interaction term, ADG was high when there were fecal coccidia oocysts and when calves had visual or physical contact with their dams, but low when fecal coccidia cysts were present, and these dam-calf connections were absent. In a second interaction term, ADG increased with more calf pens for female principal farmers, while remaining low for male principal farmers. In conclusion, while controlling for other factors of ADG, making affordable calf housing improvements enhanced ADG, particularly during the postweaning period. For objective 3, The daily lying times and lying bout durations, over the visits, averaged 12.6-16.9 hr/d and 67.9-86.7 min/bout, respectively, while the median for the frequency of lying bouts was between 30-46/day. Provision of rubber nipples for nonnutritive sucking lowered proportions of cross-sucking, self-sucking and object-sucking behaviours slightly but not significantly. In the final mixed-effects linear regression model on daily lying time, superficial lymph node enlargement, body condition score and use of
wood shaving/sawdust/crop waste as beddings had positive associations. In contrast, group housing and rubber mat use had negative associations. In an interaction term, lying time was significantly higher for calves on clean versus dirty floors if the age was <190 days but this difference diminished significantly in older animals. In a second interaction term, the daily lying time was lower for calves raised in pens with leaking roofs, regardless of the level of the calf-pen floor. However, when the roof was intact, daily lying time increased and was higher on elevated slatted floors compared with non-elevated floors. In the final mixed-effects linear regression model of the natural logarithm of frequency of lying bouts, the use of a rubber mat, number of years of experience in dairy farming, and calf body weight had negative associations. In contrast, body condition score had a positive association. In an interaction, the frequency of daily lying bouts was lower on clean floors than dirty floors, irrespective of tethering status, but when the floor was dirty, the lying bouts were higher for calves not tethered than those sometimes tethered. Increased lying time, the possibility to perform appropriate lying postures, and the ease to get up and lie down are desired indicators of positive welfare states and should be encouraged. We conclude that the comfort improvements enhanced the welfare and lying experience of heifer calves on smallholder dairy farms. For objective 4, the net financial return of undertaking the housing and
management improvements (objective 2) was positive at Ksh 6,594 (USD 65.94) per heifer, primarily based on having a larger heifer at 15 months, reduced bedding and medical care costs, and lower risk of death. Also, there was a reduction in age at first introduction of concentrate, rise in the amount of concentrate offered to calves at weaning, and increase in the age of calves at first deworming and acaricide application. We conclude that calf housing improvements and on-farm training on calf care are costeffective and improve management and animal welfare perceptions of farmers. Farmers and animal health personnel should reassess calf housing and other calf management activities including parasite control, and utilize improvements that should
cost-effectively enhance not only calf comfort but also productivity measures such as AD