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Quantifying vegetation structure and fire fuels in montane pine forests impacted by mountain pine beetle using remotely piloted aircraft system multi-spectral, photogrammetric and lidar technologies
No full textJasper National Park, one of the oldest Canadian national parks, has a long history of fire suppression. This has increased the homogeneity of mature pine forests within the park over time, and in recent years has been severely affected by mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreak. Tree mortality associated with Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB), dry fuels, and the potential for fire in the Athabasca and Miette Valleys is of significant concern to the park. Measuring forest fire fuels in the field is difficult and time-consuming, and field plots do not measure all the spatial variability of fuel distribution (though field measurements are effective for measuring surface organic layers (e.g., duff layers), which are difficult to measure using remote sensing or other techniques). Remote sensing platforms, such as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), can be used to quantify 3D structures and fuels, however, RPAS platforms and sensors have not been fully explored as a tool for identifying fuels in MPB-affected stands. Therefore, the objectives of this thesis are to: 1) quantify and compare fuel attributes using RPAS-photogrammetric, lidar point clouds and 2D multispectral imagery; and 2) examine the distribution of fire fuels based on the proportion of proportion of tree mortality, likely associated with MPB outbreak phases. To answer these objectives, geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) was employed to identify vegetation species, MPB phases and map coarse woody debris. Then, 3D fuel attributes were quantified using RPAS-photogrammetric and -lidar point clouds (a single wavelength collected using the Zenmuse L1 sensor (as a comparison). The results indicated that GEOBIA effectively identified tree species and achieved an overall accuracy of approximately 90% compared to field-based validation. Photogrammetric point clouds were accurate for quantifying tree structures, including tree height (R2= 0.96, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE)= 1.22 m, Normal Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE)= 6% and Bias=-0.34 m). Crown base height estimated using a novel region-based approach was also identified when compared with field-based validation (R2= 0.76, RMSE= 2.29 m, NRMSE=17%, Bias= 0.73 m). RPAS-lidar point clouds demonstrate higher accuracy in measuring tree height (R2= 0.99, RMSE= 0.59 m, NRMSE=3% and Bias= -0.23) and crown base height (R2= 0.91, RMSE= 1.32 m, NRMSE= 8% and Bias= 0.16 m) compared with measured, illustrating the value of using lidar, especially in dense canopies. RPAS point clouds demonstrated moderate accuracy for estimating crown fuel load (R2 = 0.38, RMSE = 1.92 kg. tree-1, NRMSE=16% and Bias= 0.30 kg. tree-1) Lastly, fuel distribution was assessed by comparing foliage volume and canopy fuel load and bulk density across 16 plots, and a downward shift was observed in canopy fuels over the progression of MPB outbreaks from green to gray phases. Unaffected plots (e.g., plot 15 (V = 2600 m3) had greater foliage volume and canopy fuel load than affected plots (e.g., plot 11 (V = 515 m3)).Mitacs Accelerate (This work was supported by Mitacs through the Mitacs Accelerate Program)
fRI Research (Partial funding of field and lidar data collections and your salary, shared with Mitacs and NSERC Canada Wildfire)
Federal-Provincial MPB Research Partnership (Project 247.150, grant 21GRFMB04 — partial funding and project support)
NSERC/CFS Canada Wildfire Strategic Network (Support through wildfire research funding – NETGP 548629 - 19)
Canada Foundation for Innovation (Provided survey equipment used in this research)
Prairies Canada (Provided airborne lidar equipment and research vehicle
Democratic legitimacy through the lens of national identity: the Basque Country and Spain
No full textIn the decades emerging after the creation of the liberal multicultural thesis in the 1990s, it has become increasingly apparent that various obstacles have greatly obstructed the development of pluralist and multicultural policies with Western liberal democratic states. Such policies have largely stagnated or regressed, and there has been a noticeable reemergence of majority nationalism and what has been termed ‘majority backlash.’ On the other side, these issues have only increased the sense of illegitimacy of these states from the perspective of minority communities, especially national minorities in multinational states. This thesis utilizes poststructural and agonistic democracy theories to consider and theorize how liberalism’s insistence on impartiality and rationality makes it struggle to account for tensions which emerge symbolically around identity, primarily in this case, national identity. This thesis highlights how these tensions around identity manifest in the real world by conducting a discourse analysis on two distinct national groups within one nation-state – Spain and the minority Basque nation. Examining diverging narratives regarding the constitution of the demos and the characteristics assigned to it during this period underscores the problematic assertion of universality in liberal democratic theory by first outlining the significance of the symbolic dimension of democratic representation and legitimacy. It is thus argued that the role of majority nationalism in liberal democracies cannot be sidestepped or ignored in multicultural and pluralist theories of democracy due to its foundational role in legitimating liberal democratic order
What's happening with gym culture?: Exploring emerging adults' perceptions of public fitness facility users
No full textWithin an emerging adult population (ages 18-25), a crucial phase for establishing enduring health behaviours, a decline in PA has been reported despite the well-documented benefits of regular exercise. Public fitness facilities (PFFs) serve as important spaces for exercise, where social dynamics, including the presence of other patrons, can shape perceptions and significantly influence one’s exercise experience (e.g., psychological outcomes and behaviours). Guided by Social Cognitive Theory, the purpose of this study was to understand what factors contribute to the debilitative presence of others at the gym among emerging adult women. To be included in this study, individuals had to identify as women between the ages of 18 and 25, have exercised within a public fitness facility within the six months prior to recruitment and be fluent in English. All participants (n = 10) completed a brief eligibility survey before continuing to their own one-on-one semi-structured interview. During the interviews, participants were asked about their exercise habits, as well as their expectations, values, thoughts, and feelings related to experiences with others in a gym. AI-generated images of potential gym-goers were used to extend the conversation and help participants identify and explain factors they perceived to hinder their exercise experience. Through the lens of a critical realist, a thematic analysis of the interviews was conducted to inductively produce two key themes: (1) Personal Insecurities Triggered by Gym Patrons (sub-themes: Low Confidence in My Exercise Abilities Around Others, Negative Feelings Occur When I Compare Myself to Others, and Social Fears), and (2) Contextual Contributors to a Negative Experience (sub-themes: Too Many People, The Negative Influence of Gender and Physique, and Undesirable Behaviours). This study demonstrated that the debilitating presence of others in a gym environment is multifaceted, extending from one’s own internal biases and emotional capacity to external impacts of the social world. Moreover, the implications of this study include proposed adjustments to various aspects of the public gym environment (ex. gym staff, layout, resources, safety), potential personal strategies to support one’s exercise experience, suggested ways for gym patrons to be facilitative and not debilitative to other’s experiences, and future research directions.SSHRC, AGES, ULR
Data-sharing practices in publications funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research: implications for health sciences librarians
No full textOpen access article. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0) appliesObjective: Funding bodies such as Canada’s Tri-Agency have implemented requirements for grant recipients to encourage improved research data management (RDM) practices and data sharing. Consequently, RDM and data sharing have become a higher priority for researchers and stakeholders supporting the research process, including librarians. Health sciences research can present special challenges to those wishing to share and use research data, as access to sensitive data must be restricted. This study examines the data sharing practices of researchers funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in recent years.
Methods: We ran a search of PubMed Central to identify papers funded by CIHR that were published between 2020 and 2023 and had associated data. From the resulting records, we drew a sample of 368 articles. Using Qualtrics, for each article, we recorded if and how data was shared and what types of documentation were provided alongside the data. Results were exported to and analyzed using Microsoft Excel.
Results: We found that 69% of papers included a data availability statement. 34% of articles made at least some data readily accessible, while 31% indicated that some data was available via request or application. Only 9% of articles supplied the kinds of documentation that would support reuse of the data.
Conclusions: Those seeking to reuse Canadian health sciences research data continue to face significant hurdles. We offer ideas for health sciences librarians looking to support researchers in their efforts to make data available and usable while respecting restrictions required due to ethical considerations
Relation, exploitation, or function? Developing a measurement scale and assessing perceptions of non-profit/business partnerships
No full textOpen access article. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC 4.0) appliesThis research examines non-profit organizations’ (NPOs) attitudes and intentions for engaging in business partnerships for their first time. A randomly selected, nationally representative survey of NPOs in the United States (N = 533), Canada (N = 399), and France (N = 139) was conducted online. Scales were created to assess NPO perceptions along three dimensions: relational, avoiding exploitation, and functional. Scales created herein are shown to be a valid means of assessing partnership perceptions, and the research results replicated across these three developed countries. Results demonstrate that NPOs considering business partnerships for the first time are primarily seeking concrete, functional benefits. They approach business partnerships with optimism, expecting positive relationships with little fear of exploitation. This suggests an inclination to participate. It also suggests potential vulnerability at the hands of a stronger business partner.Ye
Bumble bees of Lethbridge, Alberta
No full textIdentifies and documents the different species of bumble bees present in Lethbridge, Alberta
Biophysical characterization of non-canonical viral nucleic acid interactions with human proteins
No full textViruses are a replicative, paradoxical genetic element that are critical to our survival, but are also a significant burden to public health. Viruses that cause disease in humans continuously evolve to avoid counteroffensive measures from our immune system. Both DNA and RNA viruses have developed various methods to optimize their replication and spread to a host, such as genomic mutations that renders host antibodies ineffective, or by possessing structure that confers an advantage for propagation of virions. Moreover, the structures that viruses possess within their genomes alone provide the virus with the ability to hijack host proteins for replicative and propagation purposes by hijacking and suppression of host cellular functions, altogether benefitting the viral lifecycle. This thesis focuses on the identification of the viral nucleic acid structures that DNA and RNA viruses possess that allow them to replicate and avoid host defenses, and as well, identify host proteins being hijacked by these structures. Specifically, I characterize conserved regions of Zika virus known as the terminal regions that regulate transcription and translation of the viral genome and perform immunoprecipitation pulldown assay to identify host binding partners interacting with them that are critical for viral replication. I also elucidated a non-canonical structure (G-quadruplex) in these terminal regions that interacts with host proteins that could be utilized as a potential anti-viral target, and further, show that G-quadruplexes are also present in DNA viruses such as Mpox virus. I show that TMPyP4, a G-quadruplex binding small molecule, interacts with the Mpox G-quadruplexes and reduces viral protein production
Sociodemographic factors in older adults’ gait speed decline: a gender disaggregate growth curve analysis of the Ibadan Longitudinal Study of Ageing
No full textOpen access article. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC 4.0) appliesBackground
Gait speed is an important predictor of older adults’ well-being. We estimated the influence of sociodemographic factors on the gait speed decline of community-dwelling older Nigerians.
Methods
Using the Ibadan Study of Ageing (2007, 2008, and 2009 cycles), we completed a gender disaggregate analysis of sociodemographic influences on participants’ gait speed trajectory using mixed-design ANOVA and growth curve analysis.
Results
At baseline, 53.2% of participants were female, 61.9% were married, with an average age of 75.5 ± 6.8 years and gait speed of 0.96 ± 0.32 m/s. Gender-specific models showed slower gait speed decline in men (β = −0.05, p < .001) compared to women (β = −0.09, p < .001). Widowhood (β = −0.07, p = .001) for women, high socioeconomic status (β = −0.01, p = .009) for men, and chronic disease burden for women (β = −0.02, p = .010) and men (β = −0.03, p = .008) were significant predictors of gait speed decline.
Conclusion
Addressing culture-related widowhood and women’s vulnerabilities, improving health coverage, and promoting lifestyle modifications may mitigate mobility decline among older Nigerians.Ye
Understanding Indigenous data governance when collaborating with post-secondary institutions
No full textBackground: The Blood Tribe Department of Health (BTDH), with support from the Blood Tribe’s Chief and Council, are moving toward self-determination by establishing a collaborative partnership with a local post-secondary institution to create sustainable models of governance. This thesis is a small but essential piece of the work being conducted to determine best practices for developing data collection tools to assess and evaluate the community needs of Kainai Nation while understanding the resources needed for BTDH to enact the Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) Principles of data storage and management.
Objective: This scoping review aimed to explore and describe what exists in the current literature on Indigenous Data Governance principles, and how the information is understood and utilized in collaborative health research initiatives. A goal and purpose for this review are to explore and understand the role that Indigenous populations or communities assume in collaborative research with academics and scholars.
Methodology: The search was conducted using nine databases from inception until May 2024. Two reviewers independently screened for inclusion and exclusion using the Arksey & O’Malley (2005) scoping review framework. The principal investigator conducted the final review for full-text articles, based on content and findings, with additional criteria added.
Results: Fifteen reports were included. Our included reports consisted of qualitative research (n=7), mixed methods approach (n=6), and quantitative studies (n=2). Findings are presented within a framework that discusses IDG in six areas: 1) study characteristics and demographics; 2) study objectives, designs and theoretical frameworks; 3) Indigenous data governance: an overview of community engagement; 4) ethical practices in research and data governance; 5) enacting community collaboration to guide and support Indigenous data governance; 6) limitations.
Conclusion: Themes identified related to Indigenous Data Governance (IDG), as well as challenges and barriers to implementing IDG in collaborative health research projects that are situated within universities. A collaborative approach involving stakeholders, culturally competent training and capacity building are approaches to move forward, but the establishment of Indigenous-led research institutes, a source of stable funding, and further collaborative research opportunities focusing on building and supporting IDG through building nation-specific data ecosystems are needed
Planetary health: a pragmatic theoretical framework to guide nursing education, research, and practice
No full textOpen access article. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) appliesThe term Planetary Health has been used in mainstream narrative in the past decades, but the term has only
recently gained traction in nursing literature. Nurses are highly trusted and well-positioned to play an integral
role in planetary health, by addressing the various challenges and health effects associated with planetary health
decline.
Issue: While the traditional scope of nursing practice includes health promotion, and illness, injury, and disease
prevention, planetary health incorporates broader issues such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss,
resource scarcity, and marine degradation. Nurses may lack knowledge and confidence regarding planetary
health issues, which may correlate to inadequate confidence and feelings of unpreparedness in practice.
Therefore, planetary health presents as a pragmatic theoretical framework for nursing education, practice, and
research.
Purpose: The purpose of this manuscript is to advocate for the applicability of planetary health for nursing
practice, education, and research, incorporating an example of a research study that examined nurses’ percep-
tions toward climate sensitive vector-borne diseases. Planetary health challenges are threatening human health
globally, and nurses must be prepared to preserve human and planetary health