30921 research outputs found
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Deconstructing the Provenances of P.Sapph.Obbink
Get PDFThe analysis of a recently surfaced Christie's brochure proposing P.Sapph.Obbink for private treaty sale calls into question the published accounts of the papyrus' provenance
Assessing the cross-reactivity of mumps antibody between the vaccine genotype A and the circulating genotype G
No full textRecent mumps outbreaks have been observed in vaccinated young adults due to MuV genotype G, whereas the current vaccine is a mixture of two genotype A strains. These outbreaks could be attributed to waning vaccine immunity or antigenic differences between the vaccine and circulating MuV, HN, and F glycoproteins. These glycoproteins are essential targets for the immune system, and antigenic variations may reduce the recognition of mumps antibodies, rendering the population susceptible to MuV.
We established stable cell lines expressing the MuV glycoproteins to study cross-reactivity between genotype A and genotype G. Cross-reactivity of antibodies between genotypes was assessed by IFA analysis using patient sera from vaccinated individuals without genotype G infection (vaccinated-only), unvaccinated individuals with a history of genotype G infection (infected-only), and vaccinated individuals with genotype G infection (vaccinated-infected). A limiting dilution assay was used to determine antibody titer, defined as the reciprocal of the last serum dilution at which fluorescence could be detected, and the geometric mean titer (GMT) was calculated. Titer ratios were calculated by dividing the genotype A titer by the genotype G titer, and the arithmetic mean was then calculated.
Titer ratios showed that the vaccinated-only individuals had a higher titer for genotype A than for genotype G. In contrast, the infected-only individuals had a lower titer for genotype A compared to genotype G. Notably, no difference in titer ratio was observed for individuals vaccinated and infected with mumps. Additionally, a comparison of GMT in different groups showed that vaccinated-only individuals had lower titers for genotype G than infected-only and vaccinated-infected individuals. These results show a differential antibody response to vaccine vs. wild-type strains of MuV, which may explain the increased susceptibility of mumps in vaccinated young adults. However, there is no correlation between protection for mumps infection, and therefore, it is difficult to conclude whether these titer differences make individuals susceptible to MuV. Nevertheless, contrary to the current assumption that the immune response to MuV genotypes is monotypic, these results show differences in antibody reactivity between MuV genotype A and genotype G.February 202
Severe distributive shock, neutrophilic dermatosis, and ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the setting of azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome
No full textBackground
Azathioprine is a purine synthesis inhibitor used as an immunosuppressive therapy for many immune-mediated diseases. Azathioprine hypersensitivity reaction is a rare, life-threatening adverse reaction characterized by a range of multisystem manifestations including fever, abdominal pain, arthralgias, erythematous cutaneous eruption, acute renal failure, neutrophilia, and more rarely, distributive shock. Although acute heart failure has been rarely described in association with azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome, myocardial infarction has, to our knowledge, never been associated with this entity.
Case Presentation
We describe a case of a 59-year-old male with Crohn’s disease who developed severe azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome that included distributive shock, neutrophilic dermatosis, and acute coronary syndrome with ST-elevation. Clinical improvement was seen after cessation of azathioprine and administration of glucocorticoid therapy.
Conclusion
Prompt recognition of azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome, which can manifest as shock and neutrophilic dermatosis, is key to ensure rapid azathioprine cessation
Adult learners’ and educators’ perceptions of how racialized habitus and cultural capital impact Indigenous students’ experiences in the field of one Winnipeg adult learning centre
No full textIndigenous learners are overrepresented in Manitoba adult learning centres (45% province-wide). Indigenous organizations like the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD), have introduced literacy and adult learning programs to meet the educational needs of their communities. According to Pierre Bourdieu’s (1984) social reproduction thesis, schools tend to preserve existing social inequity across generations. But could the opposite be true in an Indigenous-led adult learning centre (ALC) explicitly designed to achieve better outcomes for Indigenous learners?
This case study of Indigenous learner experiences at CAHRD’s Aboriginal Community Campus ALC draws primarily on data collected via semi-structured interviews of seven Indigenous adult learners and four adult educators, with the analysis of the interview transcripts applying a two-cycle coding process (Saldaña, 2016). The interview scripts and code list draw on neo-Bourdieusian and critical race theory scholarship.
The findings from this study suggest that a number of factors influence Indigenous adult learners’ ability to reach their educational goals at the ALC. The provision of critical resources such as daycare, nutrition programs, and counselling referrals are often key. Social structures in the school are also found to be effective in shifting learner habitus in tandem with the building up of educational and cultural capital. Because these act in opposition to those observed by Bourdieu, reducing rather than preserving inequity, I label them as emancipatory field structures.
This study’s findings also suggest significant opportunities for improvement in Manitoba adult education as a whole, with CAHRD’s ALC as a potential model. Implementing these improvements would require an expanded investment in adult learning by the provincial government, but this cost would be more than justified by the societal benefits.-The University of Manitoba: Faculty of Education Truth and Reconciliation Fellowship
-The University of Manitoba: Master’s Award for Indigenous Students
-Full Circle Indigenous Education: Sustaining Our Ways Award
-The Manitoba Metis Federation: Post-Secondary Education Support ProgramOctober 202
Complexity-based graph attention network for metamorphic malware detection
No full textThis thesis work presents a new approach to malware analysis by creating a specialized sandbox environment for executing and monitoring malware on a host operating system. Over 200 malware samples, along with benignware, were tested in this environment. Application Programming Interface (API) calls were traced of how these executable interacted with the host system, which including registry changes, file system access, and thread activity. Two new methods to measure complexity, Mass Radius and Radius of Gyration Fractal Dimension (FD), were developed and added to a Deep Learning model. These complexity methods helped the model converge faster. Tests showed that the Mass Radius FD measure improved convergence and accuracy over the Radius of Gyration FD in identifying malware. The complexity models performed better than standard models across different datasets. The study also found that shorter sequences of API calls and file events were more likely to indicate malicious behavior. Using GNNExplainer, linked API sequences were linked to specific malware techniques, providing deeper insights into the model’s predictions. The complexity models identified flaws in traditional methods and successfully flagged malware that other commercial sandbox methods were not able to identify, lending credence to the sophistication and applicability of this work.October 202
Exploring the perspectives of older adults who are pre-frail and frail to identify interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and improve mobility: a thematic content analysis
No full textOlder adults who are frail are one of the most sedentary and the least physically active age groups. Prolonged sedentary time is associated with increased risk of negative health outcomes. To help design effective and sustainable content and optimize the uptake of sedentary behaviour interventions, an in-depth understanding of older adults’ perceptions of sedentary behaviour is needed; however, most qualitative studies have been conducted in healthy older adults. The aim of this study was to explore perspectives of sedentary behaviour within the context of older adults who are pre-frail and frail after the winter and spring. We included participants if they: (1) spoke English or attended with a translator or caregiver, (2) were ≥ 60 years, and (3) were frail on the Morley Frail Scale. We utilized a qualitative description methodology including a semi-structured in-depth interview and thematic content analysis. Concepts from the COM-B (Capability Opportunity Motivation–Behaviour) model were used to guide the semi-structured interviews and analysis. To ensure credibility of the data, we used an audit trail and analyst triangulation. We recruited 21 older adults (72 ± 7.3 years, 13 females, 13 frail) from southwestern Ontario, Canada. Two individuals were lost to follow-up due to medical mistrust and worse health. We transcribed 39 audio recordings. We identified three salient themes: (1) older adults rationalize their sedentary behaviours through cognitive dissonance (reflective motivation), (2) urban cities in southwestern Ontario may not be “age-friendly” (physical opportunity), and (3) exercise is something people “have to do”, but hobbies are for enjoyment despite medical conditions (psychological capability). Perspectives of sedentary behaviour were different in the winter versus spring, with participants perceiving themselves to be less active in winter. Incorporating dissonance-based interventions as part of an educational program could be used to target the reflective motivation and psychological capability components. Future research should consider interdisciplinary collaborations with environmental gerontology to develop age-friendly communities that promote meaningful mobility to target physical opportunity
Volounteer readiness for emergency management at festivals
No full textFestivals, as a prominent sector within the tourism industry, are vulnerable to a growing number of disasters that pose threats to lives and properties. The significance of effective emergency management in the context of festivals has become increasingly apparent as prominent festivals have become integral components of global cultural celebrations. This study aims to investigate the potential insights gained from adopting a service ecosystem perspective in understanding and enhancing emergency management at festivals. The research explores how adopting a service ecosystem perspective provides insight into emergency management and investigates the resources volunteers bring to a festival ecosystem to achieve effective emergency response. The study employs a survey design, incorporating closed and open-ended questions.
The findings reveal that festival volunteers are aware of the diverse hazards present, including human, environmental, natural, and infrastructural. They express a desire to contribute to emergency management and exhibit confidence in responding during emergencies. The study also highlights the importance of festival provided emergency management training in enhancing volunteers' confidence and preparedness. Training specific to the festival context equips volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively respond to emergencies. Participants who received training demonstrated a higher level of confidence in their ability to contribute to emergency management. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of volunteers' familiarity with the festival emergency plan. While a substantial portion of volunteers reported being aware of the plan, many acknowledged their lack of familiarity with its details. This finding emphasizes the need to improve volunteers' knowledge and understanding of the emergency plan to ensure effective coordination and response during emergencies. This research sheds light on the crucial role of volunteers in emergency management at festivals.February 202
Loop-mediated isothermal nucleic acid amplification coupled with CRISPR-Cas12b for rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Nipah virus
No full textSARS-CoV-2 and Nipah virus are two zoonotic viruses responsible for global and local outbreaks of high consequence, respectively, putting a strain on capacity for rapid testing and diagnostic testing. Developed by Joung et al. 2020, STOPCovid.v2 combines chemical RNA extraction with loop-mediated isothermal amplification and Cas12b-mediated detection, capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. However, the assay sensitivity is not as good as the gold standard RT-qPCR. Moreover, an assay of this sort does not exist to detect Nipah virus. In this investigation, various RT-LAMP and Cas12b optimization strategies, based on extensive literature reviews, were employed to examine their effects on the assay to potentially improve kinetic and detection performance. It was found that substituting Tween-20 with Brij-35 in the reaction buffer, increasing the MgSO4 concentration, and adding dithiothreitol to the reaction only slightly improved assay characteristics. A rapid enrichment-extraction protocol using minimal commercially available reagents and resources was developed herein. Beyond this, a previously published Nipah virus RT-LAMP primer set combined with an in-house-designed sgRNA was developed and found to detect the Nipah virus N gene, improving the sensitivity 2000-fold compared to the published colorimetric RT-LAMP assay. These findings show that combining previously developed isothermal amplification with CRISPR-based detection can improve pathogen detection, paving the way for developing CRISPR-based point-of-care diagnostics.CIHR, https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000024February 202
A prospective and retrospective program evaluation of a community-based behaviour stabilization service
No full textAs many as 20% of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) display challenging behaviours such as self-injury or aggression, which may negatively impact quality-of-life, learning, employment, and social integration (Bowring et al., 2019; Emerson et al., 2001; Sheehan & Hassiotis, 2017). Without adequate intervention, disruptive challenging behaviours may lead to a behavioural crisis (McCombe et al., 2022; Weiss et al., 2009). A behavioural crisis occurs when an individual with ID engages in aggressive behaviour that results in imminent and significant threats to safety (their own, or safety of others) (McCombe et al., 2022; Rubin et al., 2007). In the context of behavioural crises, behavioural stabilization services can provide assistance through behavioural consultation and assessment to create a path for successful community integration (Rubin et al., 2007; Wieseler et al., 2002). Previous literature is lacking in guidance on the best way to structure a behaviour stabilization service (McCombe et al., 2022). A logic model framework to evaluate a behaviour stabilization program provides a consistent and systematic way to understand program components and compare programs. Prior evaluations of behaviour stabilization programs that performed outreach and capacity building did not use a logic model framework and lacked social validity information from multiple perspectives. The purposes of this research were to comprehensively evaluate St.Amant's Community Stabilization Service (CSS) through the use and co-construction of a logic model and social validity measures, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of CSS at St.Amant, and provide a list of recommendations to strengthen the program and improve service. Two studies were conducted that used anonymized retrospective data and prospective data. Retrospective data from CSS and two outside organizations were collected and analyzed from April 1, 2017-March 31, 2021, to characterize the program’s inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. The nine prospective survey respondents were generally satisfied with the program. This research contributes to the current, limited research in this area by providing a methodological improvement over prior work by using a logic model framework to evaluate a behaviour stabilization program.October 202
Optimizing the use of hybrid rye in swine diets
No full textA newly developed hybrid rye, promising for swine due to lower ergot alkaloid levels and higher yield, was evaluated for its nutritional value and any improvements via grain processing and enzyme supplementation. The first experiment determined the effects of particle size on digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and net energy (NE) contents of hybrid rye in growing pigs. Finely ground rye grain showed greater (P 0.10) in gain to feed ratio (G:F). Multi-carbohydrase supplementation of hybrid rye diets improved (P < 0.05) the ATTD of NDF and increased acetic acid, propionic acid, and total SCFA production, as well as the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. In conclusion, grain processing and enzyme supplementation could significantly enhance the nutritional value of hybrid rye for pigs.October 202