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Contextualizing recent increases in Canadian boreal wildfire activity: decadal burn rates still within historical variability of the two past centuries
Get PDFWith approximately 15 million hectares burned, the 2023 wildfire season in Canada was exceptional. However, it remains unclear whether such recent increases in burned areas exceed the range of variability observed over past centuries. The objective of this study was to leverage available dendrochronological reconstructions of decadal burn rates to contextualize their recent increase within their historical variability over the past two centuries. We compared decadal burn rate reconstructions based on dendrochronological data (1800s–2023) for five large eastern and western Canadian boreal forest zones to those of recent decades up to 2023. The area burned in 2023 ranged from 0.76% to 32.5% among the five zones, which is unprecedented compared to the proportion recorded since 1972 for four of the five zones analyzed. In contrast, the burn rates of the decade ending in 2023 (i.e., 2014–2023) generally remained within the natural range of variability of the last two centuries. However, burn rates in two zones were close to the highest decadal burn rates observed since the 1800s and exceeded historical variability in one zone in western Canada. We discuss the historical and current trends in burn rates, their drivers and implications.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Characteristics of 9-1-1 Calls Associated with an Increased Risk of Violence Against Paramedics in a Single Canadian Site
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: Violence is a significant occupational health issue for paramedics, yet underreporting limits efforts to identify and mitigate risk. Leveraging a novel, point-of-event violence reporting system, we aimed to identify characteristics of 9-1-1 calls associated with an increased risk of violence in a single paramedic service in Ontario, Canada. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all electronic violence and patient care reports filed by paramedics in Peel Region and used logistic regression to identify call-level predictors of any violence and, more specifically, physical or sexual assault. Results: In total, 374 paramedics filed 974 violence reports, 40% of which documented an assault, corresponding to a rate of 4.18 violent encounters per 1000 9-1-1 calls. In adjusted models, the risk of violence was elevated for calls originating from non-residential locations (e.g., streets, hotels, bars), occurring during afternoon or overnight shifts, and involving young or working-age males. Presenting problems related to intoxication, mental health, or altered mental status were strongly associated with increased risk, with particularly high adjusted odds ratios for assault. Conclusions: These findings support the utility of near-miss and violence surveillance systems and highlight the need for multidisciplinary crisis response to high-risk calls, especially those involving mental health or substance use
The Relationship Between Role Stress and Creativity Among Entrepreneurship Centre Leaders in Canadian Postsecondary Institutions
Get PDFAs higher education institutions increasingly emphasize entrepreneurship and innovation, understanding the dynamics and challenges faced by entrepreneurship center (EC) leaders has become essential. EC leaders serve as critical connectors within entrepreneurial ecosystems, linking institutions, faculty, students, and external communities. This research investigates the multifaceted roles of EC leaders and examines how role stress—manifesting as role ambiguity and role conflict—impacts their performance, resourcefulness, innovation, and creativity.
Grounded in role theory and social learning theory, this study analyzes the interplay between role stress and creativity through a comprehensive theoretical framework. Role theory provides the foundation for exploring the constructs of role conflict and ambiguity, while social learning theory’s concept of self-efficacy highlights its mediating influence on creativity. A model of creativity further describes the factors that enhance or inhibit creative outputs within organizational contexts.
This qualitative study focused on administrative leaders within ECs in Canadian postsecondary institutions. Data were collected through 14 semi-structured interviews with EC directors and managers who play pivotal roles in decision-making and strategic operations. The findings revealed that EC leaders frequently experience both role ambiguity and role conflict due to the competing demands and expectations inherent in their roles. Despite these challenges, the leaders demonstrated a high level of creativity, leveraging role stress as an opportunity for innovation and problem-solving.
The study contributes to understanding the dynamics of creativity within complex and uncertain work environments in higher education. It highlights the resilience and resourcefulness of EC leaders and offers insights into how institutions can better support these leaders to foster entrepreneurial growth, innovation, and organizational success.M.A
Adsorption and Desorption of Mixtures of Chlorinated Benzenes, Anilines and Nitrobenzene on Coconut-Derived Husk, Biochar, and Activated Carbon
Get PDFChlorobenzenes, chloroanilines and chloronitrobenzenes are intermediates in the manufacture of pesticides. These compounds have been historically used in an industrial facility in Brazil and are now present in mixture and high concentrations in the site’s groundwater and soil. This work investigated the use of coconut-derived sorbents to remove these chemicals from water prepared to mimic the site’s groundwater. Coconut-derived biochar was pyrolyzed at 450 °C and 600 °C and H3PO4 activated carbon was pyrolyzed at 450 °C. Sorption experiments were carried out according to OECD Method No. 106 to determine adsorption and desorption coefficients and desorption hysteresis. The sorbents were then analyzed for BET surface area, porosity, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen mass percentages, mass fraction of organic carbon, composition of functional groups via 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and pH. The results of this work provide modelling parameters for the development of a treatment train for the mixture of chemicals present at the site.M.A.S
Reflections on Canada’s 2005 Wild Pacific Salmon Policy (WSP) With Suggestions Going Forward
Get PDFThis paper highlights the need for more integrated and strategic planning to conserve Canada’s wild Pacific salmon amidst climate change. Two decades after the release of the WSP, which shifted management focus away from fisheries to the restoration and maintenance of ecologically and/or genetically distinct units of diversity (i.e., Conservation Units (CUs)), salmon (including steelhead) populations continue to decline. Reasons are diverse but generally well-known. Of many suggestions going forward, the author highlights the need to: 1) expand the vision for domestic salmon management that maintains an overall focus on conservation while acknowledging that socioeconomic benefits sometimes take precedence; 2) set realistic goals for all Conservation and Stock Management Units recognizing the constraints imposed by a changing climate; 3) develop a structured decision-making process that defines measurable actions to achieve these goals while considering individual CU status; 4) strengthen Canadian leadership to build international consensus on density dependent effects of competition in the marine environment and appropriate responses; and 5) ensure adequate stable funding to monitor salmon populations and their ecosystems, with findings readily accessible.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
How scientific knowledge production is changing organizationally, technologically, and globally
Get PDFAcademic scientific research is undergoing significant transformations in its core processes. Technological advances, such as the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to solve scientific problems, promise to open new avenues for research and enhance scientists’ productivity. However, these advances also introduce new questions about the nature of scientific work, including how human expertise complements machine capabilities and how managers of scientific organizations adapt their hiring and retention practices. Institutional shifts, such as the global harmonization of patent systems to protect scientific intellectual property, are fostering the growth of universities and researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) while integrating them into the global scientific community, although differences persist based on initial levels of development. To analyze the impacts of these transformations, this dissertation presents three studies that examine how scientific knowledge production is changing organizationally, technologically, and globally. Chapter 2 investigates how principal investigators (PIs) in academic laboratories manage personnel in response to an AI advance that improves modeling solutions to a key problem in computational biology. The findings show that PIs’ academic backgrounds – whether as generalists or specialists – shape their personnel strategies. Chapter 3, co-authored with Professors Michael Blomfield, Anita M. McGahan, and Keyvan Vakili, examines how the gradual implementation of patent protections under the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement influenced biomedical research on locally relevant diseases in LMICs. The results reveal that TRIPS had distinct effects depending on countries’ income levels. Chapter 4 analyzes how scientists adjust their research output in response to an even more advanced AI tool. While AI provides cost-efficient visualizations of scientific phenomena, its “black box” nature limits verification of its alignment with real scientific mechanisms. The findings indicate that PIs specialized in investigating real-world biological mechanisms benefit the most from AI tools. By examining how AI influences personnel management in academic laboratories and research output based on managerial specialization, as well as how globally harmonized patent systems affect biomedical research across different national contexts, these studies highlight the essential role of human expertise and institutional structures in shaping scientific inquiry, with implications for both developed and emerging environments.Ph.D
Adaptive Optics: Control and Calibration
Get PDFThis thesis investigates control and calibration methodologies for astronomical Adaptive Optics (AO) systems, focusing on three primary contributions: the development of an open-source real-time control software, enhancements in next-generation AO systems, and improvements to control strategies through machine learning. The goal of this research is to increase the accessibility, performance, and efficiency of AO systems by introducing new control architectures, scalable real-time solutions, and advanced calibration methods.
The first contribution is pyRTC, an open-source software designed for kHz-speed real-time control in high actuator count AO systems. By leveraging Python for its high-level programmability, pyRTC demonstrates that real-time control tasks, traditionally confined to low-level environments, can be effectively managed within a flexible, high-level programming framework.
Key features include multi-processing to bypass Python’s GIL, just-in-time compilation, GPU acceleration, and shared memory-based data transfer pipelines. pyRTC also integrates with PyTorch, allowing the streamlined testing of AI-based controllers in real-time.
The second contribution focuses on the MMTO Adaptive exoPlanet characterization System (MAPS), in particular, the commissioning of a NIR PyWFS camera and the ESCAPE calibration protocol. ESCAPE, a hybrid approach combining empirical and pseudo-synthetic techniques, addresses calibration challenges unique to convex adaptive secondary mirrors, where internal light sources are inaccessible.
Laboratory results confirm the effectiveness of ESCAPE for interaction matrix generation, while initial on-sky tests reveal limitations related to pupil illumination and hardware imperfections, which continue to be investigated.
The final contribution explores AI-enhanced controllers, implemented on the RAZOR test bench, using a convolutional LSTM-based predictive controller. Initial results indicate that the controller significantly improves performance under high temporal error conditions.
pyRTC facilitates real-time integration of these AI-based control methods, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing machine learning techniques in AO control systems.
This thesis aligns with the projected needs of next-generation observatories as outlined in the Astro 2020 decadal survey, which anticipates an increased demand for AO instrumentation and a growing AO workforce. The findings contribute to the development of scalable, accessible AO solutions, aiming to support future observatories and foster advancements in astronomical AO research.Ph.D
Diversity of tet(L)-bearing plasmids found in Eastern Canadian Staphylococcus hyicus isolates from swine
Get PDFStaphylococcus hyicus is the etiological agent of exudative epidermitis (EE) in suckling and weaned piglets, which is an endemic disease of concern for animal health and welfare on swine farms. S. hyicus is not widely studied, and there is no recent scientific literature on Canadian strains. In a preliminary study, we presented an Eastern Canadian S. hyicus strain isolated from an EE case and bearing a plasmidic tet(L) gene conferring resistance to tetracyclines, one of the most commonly used antibiotics in Canadian swine farms. The current study characterized the tet(L)-bearing plasmids present in S. hyicus isolates from pigs in Eastern Canadian to better understand the potential vectors for this gene dissemination. Eleven S. hyicus isolates harboring tet(L) as the only tetracycline resistance gene were sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technology and analyzed. Eight different tet(L)-bearing plasmids were identified that share similarities with Staphylococcus aureus sequences available in NCBI. Only one of the plasmids was present in more than one isolate and two of the isolates carried tet(L) on their chromosome. This suggests a high diversity of tet(L)-bearing plasmids in S. hyicus and the possible need to analyze swine farm samples over time to understand the dynamics of tet(L) in S. hyicus.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Emotion regulation as a common and specific resilience factor for LGBTQ+ youth coping with adverse social experiences
Get PDFLGBTQ+ adults disproportionately experience mental health (MH) challenges and adversity compared to cisgender/heterosexual adults, and these disparities begin to emerge by adolescence. This dissertation focuses on disparities in contemporary LGBTQ+ adolescents and, given that developing adequate emotion regulation (ER) is essential for later adaptive functioning and well-being, explores on how ER may serve as a common or unique resilience factor for LGBTQ+ youth’s MH under different circumstances. As such, this dissertation aims to understand the interplay between stressful/adverse experiences, emotion regulation, and well-being in LGBTQ+ youth.Study 1 assessed whether MH disparities replicate in contemporary Canadian youth and found that LGBTQ+ youth experience higher internalizing symptoms and lower life satisfaction, which can be partially explained by elevated levels of concurrent peer and family adversity.
Study 2 explored how general ER capacities and the use of specific types of ER strategies might promote MH and buffer against adversity. Both better ER capacities and the use of engagement strategies were associated with better MH across sexual orientation and gender identity, but ER only had protective effects for cisgender/heterosexual youth.
Study 3 assessed how youth use ER strategies on a day-to-day basis and how variations in strategy use and context might affect regulatory success. LGBTQ+ youth used engagement strategies less often—despite finding them more effective for managing emotions—and reported more uncontrollable stressors compared to their peers. Contextual factors, such as stressor controllability and emotional intensity, influenced ER success similarly across sexual orientation and gender identity.
This dissertation emphasizes the complexity of LGBTQ+ youth’s social-emotional experiences. Specifically, these findings underscore the critical role of adversity in MH disparities and suggest that although ER may promote LGBTQ+ youth’s MH similarly to how it does for cisgender/ heterosexual youth, it may not protect LGBTQ+ youth from the MH consequences of adverse experiences. Additionally, this dissertation underscores the need to understand how LGBTQ+ youth’s specific contexts might influence their emotion regulation choices and regulatory success before we can leverage ER to improve LGBTQ+ youth’s MH.Ph.D
Factors Guiding Decisions Regarding Bathroom Modifications
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the factors influencing bathroom modification decisions and the extent to which safety, mobility, and accessibility-related factors are prioritized. 1,449 eligible participants completed an online survey. Results highlighted cost, aesthetics and comfort as leading factors considered in bathroom modifications. Our findings also indicated that women, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities (or have frequent visitors with disabilities) were more likely to prioritize safety, accessibility, and mobility-related factors in bathroom modifications. Results also highlight consultation of DIY/Social media resources, social connections, and building industry professionals for modification guidance. Despite their expertise, healthcare professionals appeared to be underutilized as an available resource to guide bathroom modifications. Several recommendations were generated from this research, to guide safer bathroom implementation, including the need for targeted campaigns, increase in public and professional education, policy changes to support safer bathrooms, and innovative product designs to promote safety and accessibility within bathroom features.M.Sc