Type In Canada Research Articles

Use of disposable e-cigarettes among youth who vape in Canada, England and the United States: Repeat cross-sectional surveys, 2017-2023.

To measure changes over time (between 2017 and 2023) in disposable e-cigarette use and popular brands among youth in Canada, England and the United States (US) who vaped. Nine waves of repeat cross-sectional data from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC) Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey. Online surveys conducted in Canada, England and the US between 2017 and 2023. Youth aged 16 to 19 years who had vaped in the past 30 days (n = 19710). Usual type (disposable, cartridge/pod, tank) and brand of e-cigarette used; covariates sex at birth, age, race/ethnicity, cigarette smoking status, vaping on ≥20 of the past 30 days. In 2017, the majority of youth who vaped in the past 30 days reported using refillable tank e-cigarettes, whereas disposable e-cigarettes were the least commonly used product type in Canada (10.0%), England (8.6%) and the US (14.4%). Cartridge/pods overtook tank devices in Canada and the US by 2020; however, by 2023, disposables were the leading type of e-cigarette used by youth who vaped in all three countries (Canada = 58.5%; England = 83.2%; US = 67.3%). The shift to disposables occurred among all socio-demographic groups, with few differences by vaping and smoking status. The percentage of youth who vaped that reported 'no usual' brand also decreased substantially from 2017 (29% to 42%) to 2023 (11% to 17%). The rise of disposable e-cigarettes appeared to be driven primarily by individual brands in the US (Puff Bar in 2020/2021, Elf Bar in 2022/2023) and England (Elf Bar in 2022/2023). The e-cigarette market has evolved rapidly with notable shifts in the types of e-cigarettes used by youth who vape in Canada, England and the United States. Although the timing differed across countries, major shifts in device types appear to be driven by individual brands and were often accompanied by increases in vaping prevalence among youth.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada, 2021.

In Canada, gonorrhea is the second most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection. The Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (GASP - Canada), a passive surveillance system monitoring antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada since 1985, is the source for this summary of demographics, antimicrobial resistance and N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) of gonococcal isolates collected in Canada in 2021. Provincial and territorial public health laboratories submitted N. gonorrhoeae cultures and data to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg as part of the surveillance system. The antimicrobial resistance and molecular type of each isolate received were determined. In total, 3,439 N. gonorrhoeae cultures were received from laboratories across Canada in 2021, a 9.9% increase since 2020 (n=3,130). Decreased susceptibility to cefixime increased significantly (p<0.001) in 2021 (1.5%) compared to 2017 (0.6%). No significant change in decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone was detected between 2017 and 2021 (0.6%) (p>0.001); however, one ceftriaxone-resistant isolate was identified. Azithromycin resistance decreased significantly (p<0.001) in 2021 (7.6%) compared to 2017 (11.7%); however, there was a significant increase (p<0.001) in the proportion of cultures with an azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentration of at least 1 mg/L (2017=22.2% to 2021=28.1%). In 2021, NG-MAST-19875 (15.3%) was the most prevalent sequence type in Canada; 20.3% of isolates with this sequence type were resistant to azithromycin. The spread of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea is a significant public health concern. The continued regional and national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae is essential in ensuring effective treatment therapies are recommended.

Winter is Coming? Zombie Firms and Ownership Type in Canada

Winter is Coming? Zombie Firms and Ownership Type in Canada

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada, 2020.

The Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme is a passive surveillance system that has monitored antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada since the 1980s. This article summarizes the demographics, antimicrobial resistances and NG-MAST (N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing) for cultures collected in 2020. The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg received resistant N. gonorrhoeae cultures from provincial and territorial public health laboratories. Agar dilution was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations to ten antimicrobials for all cultures received at NML, according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The NG-MAST typing was also determined for each culture. A total of 3,130 N. gonorrhoeae cases were cultured across Canada in 2020; a 36% decrease from 2019 (n=4,859). The level of decreased susceptibility to cefixime increased significantly between 2016 and 2020 to 2.8% (p=0.0054). Decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone declined significantly between 2016 (1.8%) and 2020 to 0.9% (p=0.001), and there was no significant change with azithromycin between 2016 (7.2%) and 2020 (6.1%). The proportion of cultures with an azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentrations of ≥1 mg/L increased significantly from 11.6% in 2016 to 15.3% in 2020 (p=0.0017). The most common NG-MAST type in Canada for 2020 was sequence type (ST)-11461, while ST-12302 was most commonly associated with azithromycin resistance and ST-16639 with cephalosporin decreased susceptibility. Antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae remains an important public health concern and continued surveillance is imperative to monitor trends to ensure the recommended therapies will be the most effective.

Literacy Skills as an Explanation for Labor Market Imbalances by Occupational Type in Canada: Microsimulation Projections for 2014–2024

In Canada, the immigration selection process gives great importance to education level. However, studies find that given an equivalent level of education, immigrants have significantly lower literacy skills than their Canadian-born counterparts. This research shows the importance of accounting for literacy skills in the analysis of labor supplies. Made possible by survey data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and a microsimulation model (LSD-C), the Canadian workforce (labor supply) is projected by many socio-economic variables, including literacy skill proficiency. The projected workforce is then distinguished according to the five major occupational types as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) of Canada. The parameters used for this distribution derive from multinomial logistic regressions stratified by education level and immigration status. These regressions first account for a slough of socio-demographic variables including level of literacy (N = 15,180). The procedure is then repeated omitting literacy. A comparison of the two breakdowns shows that by factoring literacy skills into the analysis, the projected supply of labor (and skills) is more conservative. In analyzing this refined reflection of labor force supply, we show how it is more balanced and how it better matches the labor demand. This paper highlights how traditional projections and analyses of labor supply and demand, which only account for education level, overestimate the number of workers who have a proper skillset for holding professional or managerial positions. Policy implications in terms of immigrants’ selection and economic integration are discussed.

Atmospheric circulation amplifies shift of winter streamflow in southern Ontario

Flooding is a major concern for Canadian society as it is the costliest natural disaster type in Canada. Southern Ontario, which houses one-third of the Canadian population, is located in an area of high vulnerability for floods. The most significant floods in the region have historically occurred during the months of March and April due to snowmelt coupled with extreme rain events. However, during the last three decades, there has been a shift of flooding events to earlier months. The aim of this study was to understand the impacts of atmospheric circulation on the temporal shift of streamflow and high flow events observed in southern Ontario over 1957–2013 period. Predominant weather regimes over North America, corresponding to recurrent meteorological situations, were identified using a discretization of daily geopotential height at 500HpA level (Z500). A regime-normalized hypothetical temperature and precipitation dataset was constructed to quantify the contribution of atmospheric circulation on streamflow response. The hypothetical dataset was used as input in the Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), a rainfall-runoff semi-distributed hydrological model, and applied to four watersheds in southern Ontario. The results showed an increase in the temporal frequency of the regime identified here as High Pressure (HP) close to eight occurrences per decade. Regime HP, characterized by a northern position of the polar vortex, is correlated with a positive phase of the NAO and is associated with warm and wet conditions over southern Ontario during winter. The temporal increase in HP contributed more than 40% of the increase in streamflow in winter and 30–45% decrease in streamflow in April. This atmospheric situation also contributed to increase the number of high flows by 25–50% in January. These results are important to improve the seasonal forecasting of high flows and to assess the uncertainty in the temporal evolution of streamflow in the Great Lakes region.

A β-lactamase-producing plasmid from Neisseria gonorrhoeae carrying a unique 6 bp deletion in blaTEM-1 encoding a truncated 24 kDa TEM-1 penicillinase that hydrolyses ampicillin slowly.

Seven structurally related β-lactamase-producing plasmids have been characterized in penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) isolates. We characterized a variant (i.e. pJRD20, Canada type) of the Africa-type (pJD5) plasmid isolated from N. gonorrhoeae strain 8903. To compare the DNA sequence of pJRD20 with that of pJD5 and pJD4 (Asia-type) and their TEM-1 β-lactamases. N. gonorrhoeae 8903 was identified as part of the Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program in Canada. β-Lactamase production was assessed using nitrocefin. MICs were determined by agar dilution and Etest methods (CLSI). The DNA sequences of pJRD20, pJD5 and pJD4 were assembled and annotated. The structure of TEM-1 and its penicillin-binding properties were determined by in silico molecular modelling and docking. TEM-1 proteins were characterized by western blot, mass spectrometry and ampicillin hydrolysis assays. N. gonorrhoeae 8903 exhibited intermediate susceptibility to penicillin with slow β-lactamase activity (i.e. 35 min to hydrolyse nitrocefin). Except for a novel 6 bp deletion starting at the G of the ATG start codon of blaTEM-1, the DNA sequence of pJRD20 was identical to that of pJD5. The TEM-1 β-lactamase produced by pJRD20 is 24 kDa and hydrolyses ampicillin only after several hours. This unusual PPNG isolate might have been characterized as a non-PPNG owing to its low MIC of penicillin and its very slow hydrolysis of nitrocefin. Given the unusual nature of its TEM-1 β-lactamase, laboratories might consider extending the duration of nitrocefin hydrolysis assays.

Small Business and Social Enterprise: To Thrive Not Fail

&lt;p&gt;Small businesses (those with up to 99 employees) are the most common business type in Canada – comprising 97.9 per cent of businesses, and contributing close to one-third of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). Yet a significant number of these businesses fail, with only about 50 per cent lasting at least five years, according to Industry Canada. Social enterprises – businesses that provide valuable products or services while delivering social and sometime environmental returns – struggle even more than small businesses to attract finance, grow, and sustain. What are the similarities and differences between these two groups’ needs, and how can Canada’s three levels of government and the broader business ecosystem better support small businesses and social enterprises to thrive? This paper takes a comprehensive look at key business needs, barriers to success, enabling factors, and policy incentives, drawing upon academic literature, studies and reports from the government, non-profit, and social enterprise sectors, as well as recommendations from business advocacy groups primarily from Canada and the United States. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keywords: &lt;/strong&gt;Small business, social enterprise, business financing, business growth, business ecosystem, procurement policy&lt;/p&gt;

Occupational exposures and lung cancer risk by histological type in Canada

ObjectivesTo examine the associations between self-reported occupational exposures and lung cancer risk by histological type in Canada.MethodsWe utilise the lung cancer component of the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System, which...

Cloud type observations and trends in Canada, 1953–2003

The monitoring of cloud amount and type in Canada is discussed in detail, including observing, archiving, data transmission procedures and practices, and automation. There have been some major monitoring challenges since 1953. In 1977, the network‐wide replacement of detailed cloud layer amounts and obscuring phenomena by broad sky conditions, based on summation amounts, imposed analysis of frequency of occurrence of mainly cloudy conditions rather than actual amounts. Partial automation with Automated Weather Observing Systems resulted in the cessation of observations of higher clouds and cloud types, as well as the incompatibility of sky coverage with human observations at eight percent of stations. For every hourly report from eighty‐four airport stations from 1953 to 2003, each layer is classified according to cloud type and related standard base height into three levels of low, middle, and high clouds. Trends in occurrence of summation amounts of mainly cloudy conditions at each of these three levels are computed on annual, seasonal, daytime and nighttime scales, together with annual trends in occurrence of selected convective and stratiform clouds. Based on annual anomalies averaged over the country and provinces, no major network‐wide systematic discontinuities were noted; on average, on an annual basis over the entire network, slight decreasing trends are noted for summation amounts of mainly cloudy conditions at low and middle levels, and increasing trends at high levels. The increasing trend at high levels is indeed remarkable. The rate of increase, especially rapid until 1974, has been shown to be caused by a prominent increase in cirrus cloud reports. The link between this rise and the increase in air traffic was established by others in the United States.. This link may also apply in Canada, which experienced a similar expansion in aviation. Notably, the largest increase in high nighttime cloudiness and decrease in low‐middle cloudiness is evident in western Canada, possibly contributing to the recently observed warming of daily minimum and maximum temperatures there. The occurrence of stratiform clouds at all levels exhibits significant decreasing trends across the country, except for southern Ontario. Clouds of intense convection show pronounced decreasing trends in western Canada, while not much change is evident elsewhere. Similar to cirrus, stratocumulus is notable as it shows strong positive trends everywhere in the country. On the other hand combined stratus and stratus fractus clouds exhibit decreasing trends, except over British Columbia where the opposite occurs. The findings concerning stratocumulus, stratus and stratus fractus clouds in Canada are similar to the findings in the United States.

Honours education: releasing leadership potential.

There is debate within the nursing profession in regard to determining the best approach to Leadership development for the new millennium. Should nursing adopt career pathways Like other disciplines that enable individuals to develop leadership potential in a timely fashion? St. Francis Xavier University (StFXU), the number one ranked undergraduate school in the country (DeMont 2002), has established an innovative strategy that promotes Leadership development at the undergraduate level. It has launched a special stream of its BScN program that culminates in an honours degree. The program, the first of its type in Canada, is designed to produce nursing leaders and scholars who will possess the core competencies required for leadership in diverse environments. This paper discusses the role of honours education in nursing, describes the curriculum and related Learning activities in the StFXU honours program and explores the benefits and challenges that an honours program has to offer. The findings will benefit nurse leaders in educational and practice settings, professional organizations and policy arenas who are interested in influencing the development of leadership in nursing.

IL-10 inhibits allergen-specific TH2 cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with ragweed allergies

~ A IL-10 Inhibits Allergen-Specific TH2 Cytokine Production by 1 ~jl-lr Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From Patients With Ragweed Allergies J Sun, Susanna Goncharova, M Conway, A Dalrymple, Elizabeth C Cates, Martin R Stampfli, B Wong, Susan Waserman, Manel Jordana McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada Type 2 polarized T cells and their effector cytokines play a central role in allergic diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate whether ILl0, a cytokine with powerful immuno-suppressive activities, inhibits Th2 cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with ragweed allergies. The patients were assessed by skin prick test and clinical history, and PBMC were isolated from these ragweed allergic individuals and non-atopic controls prior to pollen season. PBMC were stimulated with a ragweed pollen extract and cytokine synthesis was measured in culture supematants. Spontaneous production of IL-5 and IL-13 varied with each individual and was not significantly different between the atopic and non-atopic group. In ragweed allergic patients, addition of ragweed extract to the cell culture markedly enhanced levels of IL-5 and IL-13. In contrast, PBMC from non-atopic controls did not respond to ragweed stimulation. Both spontaneous and allergen-induced IL-5 and IL13 production were significantly inhibited by recombinant human IL10. IL10 also suppressed Th2 cytokine production induced by PMA, a T cell polyclonal stimulator. Interestingly, IL-4 synthesis could not be detected in any of the samples tested. We are currently assessing the impact of IL-10 on chemokine production. We also extracted RNA from cultured cells at 3h, 6h, 12h, 24 h, 72h, and 5 days and are assessing the expression of chemokine receptors and co-stimulatory molecules using real time quantitative PCR. Our findings in samples collected prior to pollen season will be compared to samples being generated during pollen season. In summary, PBMC from ragweed allergic individuals produce significant levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in response to ragweed stimulation. This response is inhibited by exogenous IL-10. Thus, our results further the notion that IL10 has therapeutic potential in allergic diseases.

The application of a 3500 HP variable frequency drive for pipeline pump control

AEC Pipelines has expanded the capacity of its bitumen blend Cold Lake pipeline from 130000 barrels/day (bpd) to 185000 bpd by the installation of a new midpoint booster pump station utilizing a 3500 HP adjustable speed drive. The unit is a variable frequency induction motor drive (VFD) utilizing gate turn-off thyristors (GTOs). It was the first of its type in Canada and was the largest induction motor variable frequency drive in a crude oil pipeline application in North America. The authors justify the use of the VFD, describe the equipment, and address application complications.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Mobile Data Access Terminals and Their Implications for Policing

Mobile data terminals, a relatively recent computer development, allow police officers immediate access to crime‐relevant data bases from within their patrol vehicles. This article summarizes the results of an investigation of the first system of this type in Canada. Through a multimethodological approach involving interviews, questionnaires, observations of the system in use, and analysis of archival data, the evaluation focused on attitudes of officers toward the system, their subjective evaluation of the system's advantages and limitations, the comparative role a system of this type plays vis‐à‐vis their other primary mode of communication, i.e., radio, and on the implications of such a system for policing. Officers were generally enthused about the system and reported increased job satisfaction as a function of its introduction, but exhibited some collective ambivalence regarding implications of the system, particularly in terms of police safety and its impact on police‐community interaction.

Laboratory exercises in noise control engineering

In the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Western Ontario, noise control engineering courses are taught to final year undergraduates and to graduate students in our Master of Engineering program. The M.Eng program is a one‐year course work masters in noise control engineering and is the only program of this type in Canada. Laboratory exercises are seen to be an essential enhancement to lectures in noise control engineering, and are intended to not only reinforce concepts learned in lectures but also to give a better appreciation of the gaps between theory and the real world. Because of the applied nature of the subject most laboratory exercises have been planned so that they demonstrate the various fundamentals, but in realistic situations. A wide range of conventional acoustical instrumentation is used as well as several purpose build pieces of equipment. Physical measurements have been enhanced by a number of interactive computer programs that allow students to make more extensive measurements as well as to explore various relationships via the computer programs. A number of laboratory exercises are discussed with respect to their special features and purposes.

The Role of Lichens in Boreal Tundra Transition Areas

The importance and distribution of spruce-lichen in northern Canada is described and fire is documented as being centrally im- portant to the ecology of these woodlands. Thus the cladonia (C. stellaris (Opiz) Pouz. & Vezda) woodland simply represents a long-term phase during the recovery sequence following fire, leading ultimately, although rarely, to a closed canopy spruce woodland. The existence of a second lichen type in Canada is described and the possible widespread occurrence of this stereocaulon (S. paschale (L.) Hoffm.) woodland north of latitude 600N in the Northwest Territories is discussed. Excessive grazing by caribou is thought not to be an important factor in the ecology of this type. The slow development of the Stereocaulon paschale surface is correlated with the very extreme surface microclimate of burned at this latitude. Although the pattern of net photosynthesis activity in Stereocaulon is closely adapted to the less stressful microclimate of the developing woodland, soil nutrients, pH and snow depth interactions are probably also involved in the ecology of this species.

Apomixis and Polyembryony in Hierochloe odorata

Norstog, Knut. (Wittenberg U., Springfield, Ohio.) Apomixis and polyembryony in Hierochloe odorata. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(8): 815–821. Illus. 1963.—Hierochloë odorata from Michigan, having 2n = 56 chromosomes, was found to reproduce by pseudogamous fertilization of diploid aposporous embryo sacs. Diploid embryos, 2n= 56, and 5n = 140 ± endosperm occurred together. Megasporogenesis was incomplete, and aposporous embryo sac initials developed directly into 8-nucleate Polygonum type embryo sacs. Microsporogenesis was irregular with univalent, bivalent and multivalent chromosomes in meiosis-I. Dyads and microspores varied between n = 24 and n = 32, and less than 50% of the pollen grains stained with acetocarmine. Two other races of H. odorata are known to occur in North America. They are an apparently infertile type in Canada with 2n = 28, and a perfectly fertile race from coastal Connecticut also with 2n = 28. It is suggested that the H. odorata with 2n = 56 is a derivative of the sterile Canadian race.

APOMIXIS AND POLYEMBRYONY IN HIEROCHLOË ODORATA

Norstog, Knut. (Wittenberg U., Springfield, Ohio.) Apomixis and polyembryony in Hierochloe odorata. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(8): 815–821. Illus. 1963.—Hierochloë odorata from Michigan, having 2n = 56 chromosomes, was found to reproduce by pseudogamous fertilization of diploid aposporous embryo sacs. Diploid embryos, 2n= 56, and 5n = 140 ± endosperm occurred together. Megasporogenesis was incomplete, and aposporous embryo sac initials developed directly into 8‐nucleate Polygonum type embryo sacs. Microsporogenesis was irregular with univalent, bivalent and multivalent chromosomes in meiosis‐I. Dyads and microspores varied between n = 24 and n = 32, and less than 50% of the pollen grains stained with acetocarmine. Two other races of H. odorata are known to occur in North America. They are an apparently infertile type in Canada with 2n = 28, and a perfectly fertile race from coastal Connecticut also with 2n = 28. It is suggested that the H. odorata with 2n = 56 is a derivative of the sterile Canadian race.