Niagara College

Societal Impact Statement Characterizing variability in crop traits is key for understanding agroecosystem responses to environmental change. However, trait data are often time‐consuming to collect and therefore still limit our understanding and predictions of agriculture responses to environmental change. We tested the ability of reflectance spectroscopy—a high‐throughput technique—to rapidly amass trait data for multiple wine grape cultivars. Reflectance spectroscopy predicts important wine grape leaf traits including photosynthesis and biochemistry with a good degree accuracy, but in a fraction of the time compared to traditional techniques. Reflectance spectroscopy can therefore rapidly characterize wine grape phenotypes and, in doing so, inform predictions of how vines, clones and cultivars will respond to environmental change. Summary Reflectance spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for non‐destructive and high‐throughput phenotyping in plants. While the ability of reflectance spectroscopy to predict traits across diverse plant species and ecosystems has received considerable attention, whether or not this technique is able to quantify within species trait variation—especially physiological traits—has been less extensively explored. Quantifying intraspecific variation in traits through reflectance spectroscopy is especially appealing in agroecology, where it may present an approach for better understanding crop performance, fitness and trait‐based responses to environmental conditions. We tested if reflectance spectroscopy coupled with partial least square regression (PLSR) predicts photosynthetic carbon assimilation (A420), RuBisCO carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) rates, as well as leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf nitrogen (N) concentrations, across six wine grape (Vitis vinifera) cultivars (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot noir, Viognier, Sauvignon blanc). PLSR models showed good capability in predicting intraspecific trait variation in wine grapes, explaining up to 55%, 58%, 62% and 62% of the variation in observed Jmax, Vcmax, leaf N and LMA values, respectively. However, predictions of A420 were less strong, with reflectance spectra explaining only up to 29% of the variation in this trait. Our results indicate that trait variation within species and crops is less well‐predicted by reflectance spectroscopy, than trait variation that exists among species. However, our results indicate that reflectance spectroscopy still presents a viable technique for quantifying trait variation in wine grapes specifically, and agroecosystems more broadly.

The paper aims to examine the impact of innovation job requirements on expected positive performance outcomes through job crafting behaviours. It also examines how the level of technophilia moderates this relationship. The study uses survey data from 424 professional accountants in Canada. Data analysis was performed using structural equation analysis on AMOS v. 24. The results show that job crafting plays a mediating role between perceived innovation job requirements and expected positive performance outcomes. The study also finds that the level of technophilia moderates this relationship. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the importance of job crafting to fulfill the accountants' innovation job requirements with enhanced expected positive performance outcomes.

Background Globally, end-of-life care is vital for individuals in their final months or years, emphasizing comfort and dignity. However, the provision of palliative care in low-resource countries, such as Ghana, remains inadequately documented and poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the specific end-of-life care needs of patients and families and explore strategies to enhance end of life care practices among nurses in selected settings in Accra, Ghana. Methodology This qualitative research utilized in-depth, one-on-one interviews using semi-structured interviews in a sample of N = 32 nurses working in two selected hospitals in Ghana. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. Participants were purposively selected, with the sample size determined by data saturation. Results The analysis identified three main themes and eleven subthemes. The main themes were: providing dignity and comfort care, respecting ethical values, and perceptions of end-of-life care. The subthemes included: showing presence, demonstrating compassion, addressing challenges in end-of-life conversations, fostering autonomy and respect, managing gratitude and discontent, helping patients accept their condition, seeking additional training, building emotional connections, involving families, and respecting patients’ cultural, social, and religious beliefs. The participants had cared for or were currently caring for patients aged 50–75 years with cancer, organ failures, Advanced Heart diseases and cognitive disorders. Participants described their efforts to make the last days of their patients and families memorable as possible. Conclusions Nurses in Ghana provide compassionate care, addressing pain relief, ethical concerns, and patient expressions of gratitude and discontent, with their efforts influenced by religious and cultural factors. To enhance end of life care quality, policymakers should implement structured end-of-life care training for nurses and develop culturally aligned palliative care guidelines to meet the needs of patients receiving end of life care.

Resource‐acquisitive plant species are expected to show stronger trait integration versus resource‐conservative species, due to simultaneous selection for multiple resource requirements including light, water and nutrients. While this hypothesis has been invoked to predict interspecific differences in trait variation and integration, it has not been tested to explain intraspecific trait variation (ITV) and trait integration among varieties of crop species. We quantified nine leaf physiological, water‐use, chemical and morphological traits related to the acquisition and use of light, CO2, water and nutrients, across six varieties of wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.), in order to quantify the extent of ITV and trait integration among one of the world's most common and economically important perennial crops. This dataset was also used to test the hypothesis that, within a crop species, resource‐acquisitive varieties express stronger trait integration than resource‐conservative varieties. All leaf traits varied significantly across wine grape varieties and formed an intraspecific resource‐acquisitive–resource‐conservative axis of variation within wine grapes. Consistent with hypotheses on trait variation and integration, wine grape varieties expressing resource‐acquisitive trait syndromes were associated with stronger trait integration versus those expressing resource‐conservative trait syndromes. Specifically, varieties expressing greater values of light‐saturated photosynthesis (Asat), stomatal conductance (gs), maximum carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) rates, leaf nitrogen concentrations and leaf area expressed an ~45%–65% increase in the number of significant bivariate trait correlations compared to resource‐conservative varieties. However, within all varieties, we detected strong and consistent integration among leaf physiological traits, indicating a mechanistic physiological basis that governs an intraspecific leaf economics spectrum in wine grapes. Strong trait integration in resource‐acquisitive wine grape varieties supports the hypothesis that ‘fast trait’ plants have simultaneously been selected to optimize the multiple rates of resource uptake, through multiple suites of traits. Our work clarifies the mechanisms by which resource‐acquisitive species, particularly crops, are able to capture multiple limiting resources to enhance their growth performance. This study also addresses a gap in our knowledge regarding the magnitude of intraspecific variation in trait integration. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Understanding how functional traits and trait spectra vary and covary with one another is a primary goal in plant ecology, however, there remains debate surrounding whether functional trait spectra vary independently of one another. Relationships among trait spectra—referred to as “trait dimensionality”—have been tested in multiple studies, investigating the dimensionality among the most common trait spectra, such as those between the Leaf Economics Spectrum (LES) and other aspects of plant form and function. However, we know considerably less about plant hydraulic traits, and whether or not they form distinct axes of trait variation within plant species, and if a hydraulic trait dimensions covaries with, or is independent of, the LES. Using 12 varieties of grapevine (Vitis vinifera), we evaluated trait dimensionality among eight hydraulic traits derived from pressure–volume curves, to test if these traits form distinct a distinct trait axis, and if this axis covaries within an intraspecific LES in wine grapes. Our results indicate that wine grape cultivars and clones differ significantly in their hydraulic trait expression, with a single principal axis of variation explaining 58.3% of hydraulic trait variation in wine grapes. Along this axis, capacitance at full turgor (Cft) is especially important in defining hydraulic traits of wine grapes, with this trait trading off against the other hydraulic traits including turgor loss point, relative leaf water content at turgor loss point, modulus of elasticity, and the apoplastic water fraction. Multiple factor analysis further revealed orthogonal relationships between hydraulic traits and a LES in wine grapes, suggesting that these trait spectra vary independently of one another. Maintaining an understanding of hydraulic trait variation is increasingly important in economically significant crops such as V. vinifera, as drought becomes more prevalent, and our results here suggest that crop trait spectra represent independent axes of ecological variation among plants, varieties, and clones.

Background University students confront a wide range of issues during their pursuit of education. Understanding these issues is essential for developing effective treatments and support systems. Purpose This study aims to delineate the landscape of scholarly literature pertaining to psychosocial, academic, and psychological issues among university students. It further identifies key journals and publishing trends within the fields, thereby significantly contributing to this domain. Additionally, this study outlines the scientific field networks that offer theoretical and conceptual foundations for exploring the psychosocial, academic, and psychological challenges faced by university students. Furthermore, it also intends to systematically categorise various types of problems encountered by university students in India. Methods To systematically gather and investigate the problems encountered by students in higher education, this study utilises bibliometric analysis, highlighting topics related to mental health. Data were extracted from Scopus and Web of Sciences databases. Results The analysis of the literature yielded 12 overarching categories related to challenges faced by university students: stress, academic stress, depression, anxiety, internet/ smartphone addiction/ gaming disorder, low self-esteem, loneliness, insomnia, suicidal ideations, eating disorders, drug addiction, adjustment issues. Conclusion Academic institutions should prioritise student mental health, as it affects academic performance and can lead to psychological disorders. Universities need Guidance and Counselling Cells staffed with professionals to help students manage psychosocial, academic, and psychological challenges.

Quantifying drought tolerance in crops is critical for agriculture management under environmental change, and drought response traits in grape vine have long been the focus of viticultural research. Turgor loss point (πtlp) is gaining attention as an indicator of drought tolerance in plants, though estimating πtlp often requires the construction and analysis of pressure-volume (P-V) curves which are very time consuming. While P-V curves remain a valuable tool for assessing πtlp and related traits, there is considerable interest in developing high-throughput methods for rapidly estimating πtlp, especially in the context of crop screening. We tested the ability of a dewpoint hygrometer to quantify variation in πtlp across and within 12 clones of grape vine (Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera) and one wild relative (Vitis riparia), and compared these results to those derived from P-V curves. At the leaf-level, methodology explained only 4–5% of the variation in πtlp while clone/species identity accounted for 39% of the variation, indicating that both methods are sensitive to detecting intraspecific πtlp variation in grape vine. Also at the leaf level, πtlp measured using a dewpoint hygrometer approximated πtlp values (r² = 0.254) and conserved πtlp rankings from P-V curves (Spearman’s ρ = 0.459). While the leaf-level datasets differed statistically from one another (paired t-test p = 0.01), average difference in πtlp for a given pair of leaves was small (0.1 ± 0.2 MPa (s.d.)). At the species/clone level, estimates of πtlp measured by the two methods were also statistically correlated (r² = 0.304), did not deviate statistically from a 1:1 relationship, and conserved πtlp rankings across clones (Spearman’s ρ = 0.692). The dewpoint hygrometer (taking ∼ 10–15 min on average per measurement) captures fine-scale intraspecific variation in πtlp, with results that approximate those from P-V curves (taking 2–3 h on average per measurement). The dewpoint hygrometer represents a viable method for rapidly estimating intraspecific variation in πtlp, and potentially greatly increasing replication when estimating this drought tolerance trait in grape vine and other crops.

Objective This study aimed to better understand the mental health experiences of students as they prepared to transition out of university. Participants Participants included 18 recently graduated students from a Canadian university. Methods Virtual one‐on‐one semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed following the protocol for content analysis and using QSR NVivo. Results Four main themes were identified, including: distress and feelings of doubt, the importance of connections, the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and experiences with mental health service use. Participants discussed feeling pressured to succeed and a fear of failure, uncertainty and unpreparedness for next steps, the importance of connections to peers and professors, a lack of motivation and feeling ‘unfinished’ due to the COVID‐19 pandemic response, and the need for flexible and accessible mental health services to address immediate and longer‐term needs. Conclusion Results have implications for better support of students as they prepare for graduation.

Simple restaurant menu choices speak to more complex practices and processes. This study uses fast-food chicken sandwiches to understand the way in which capitalism reconciles apparent contradictions profitably. Capitalism has been conceptualized as a system riddled with contradictions, but it is also characterized by synthesis. There can be harmony – and capital accumulation – in juxtaposition. A qualitative analysis of trade journal articles is undertaken. Scholarly sources and journalistic exposés that examine industrial-scale chicken production are also examined. These publications feature information about specific products, restaurant chains and the fast-food industry overall. Thematic analysis and a contrapuntal reading of texts are used to identify patterns across the data. Fast-food chicken sandwiches, it is argued, are the outcome of a series of profitable reconciliations. These reconciliations encompass a series of seemingly contradictory tendencies that exist in tandem and in a manner conducive to making money. The disconnect that many North Americans experience with respect to the production of their food can be counterbalanced with the various connections addressed in this article. There is connection in the context of disconnection. Knowledge of the reconcilable qualities of capitalism enhances understanding of the crucial connections that structure the production, distribution and marketing of chicken sandwiches. Fluency with respect to capitalism and its complexities are helpful to those seeking to create economic value as well as promote more profound societal change. A single fast-food restaurant item can be emblematic of a series of connections. Through products of the commercial hospitality industry, one can achieve a deeper understanding of the functioning of capitalism. Comprehending hospitality contributes to efforts to comprehend the wider world.

4,6-Bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-N-phenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (PTA-1), N-(4-bromophenyl)-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (PTA-2) and 4,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (PTA-3) were synthesized and characterized. Their corrosion inhibition of carbon C-steel in 0.25 M H2SO4 was studied by electrochemical impedance. The inhibition efficiency (IE%) of triazine was superior due to the cumulative inhibition of triazine core structure and pyrazole motif. Potentiodynamic polarizations suggested that s-triazine derivatives behave as mixed type inhibitors. The IE% values were 96.5% and 93.4% at 120 ppm for inhibitor PTA-2 and PTA-3 bearing –Br and –OCH3 groups on aniline, respectively. While PTA-1 without an electron donating group showed only 79.0% inhibition at 175 ppm. The adsorption of triazine derivatives followed Langmuir and Frumkin models. The values of adsorption equilibrium constant K°ads and free energy change ΔG°ads revealed that adsorption of inhibitor onto steel surface was favoured. A corrosion inhibition mechanism was proposed suggesting the presence of physical and chemical interactions. Density functional theory computational investigation corroborated nicely with the experimental results. Monte Carlo simulation revealed that the energy associated with the metal/adsorbate arrangement dE ads/dN i, for both forms of PTA-2 and PTA-3 with electron donating groups (−439.73 and −436.62 kcal mol⁻¹) is higher than that of PTA-1 molecule (−428.73 kcal mol⁻¹). This aligned with experimental inhibition efficiency results.

Persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities have more than average health problems throughout their lifespan, and yet they experience significant barriers to healthcare that meets their needs. One of the surmountable barriers is medical and allied health clinician inexperience. The purpose of this chapter is to educate and empower clinicians to address the needs of aging individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Intellectual and developmental disabilities encompass a heterogeneous population. This chapter addresses age-related issues pertinent to those diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Changes in diagnostic criteria, terms, and trends over time have influenced how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been labeled and where they access care. Despite the heterogeneity of etiologies, presentations, comorbidities, and social contexts, there are common considerations for those aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Biopsychosocial models of care are particularly vital for individuals who present with complex presentations and backgrounds of varying physical, medical, and neuropsychiatric (including cognitive, depressive, anxiety, and language) concerns. A systematic approach with an emphasis on patient-centered management will be illustrated with two case examples (a woman with Down syndrome and a gentleman with an autism spectrum disorder). Tools and resources are provided to guide and augment practice for patients aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Quantifying drought tolerance in crops is critical for agricultural management under environmental change, and drought response traits in wine grapes have long been the focus of viticultural research. Turgor loss point ( π tlp ) is gaining attention as an indicator of drought tolerance in plants, though estimating π tlp often requires the construction and analysis of pressure-volume (P-V) curves which is time consuming. While P-V curves remain a valuable tool for assessing π tlp and related traits, there is considerable interest in developing high-throughput methods for rapidly estimating π tlp , especially in the context of crop screening. We tested the ability of a dewpoint hygrometer to quantify variation in π tlp across and within 12 varieties of wine grapes ( Vitis vinifera ) and one wild relative ( Vitis riparia ) and compared these results to those derived from P-V curves. At the leaf-level, methodology explained only 4–5% of the variation in π tlp while variety/species identity accounted for 39% of the variation, indicating that both methods are sensitive to detecting intraspecific π tlp variation in wine grapes. Also at the leaf level, π tlp measured using a dewpoint hygrometer significantly approximated π tlp values ( r ² = 0.254) and conserved π tlp rankings from P-V curves (Spearman’s ρ = 0.459). While the leaf-level datasets differed statistically from one another (paired t -test p = 0.01), average difference in π tlp for a given pair of leaves was small (0.1 ± 0.2 MPa (s.d.)). At the species/variety level, estimates of π tlp measured by the two methods were also statistically correlated ( r ² = 0.304), did not deviate statistically from a 1:1 relationship, and conserved π tlp rankings across varieties (Spearman’s ρ = 0.692). The dewpoint hygrometer (taking ~ 10–15 minutes on average per measurement) captures fine-scale intraspecific variation in π tlp , with results that approximate those from P-V curves (taking 2–3 hours on average per measurement). The dewpoint hygrometer represents a viable method for rapidly estimating intraspecific variation in π tlp , and potentially greatly increasing replication when estimating this drought tolerance trait in wine grapes and other crops.

Functional trait variation in plants of the same species or genotype are a critical determinant of ecosystem processes, especially in agroecosystems where single crop species or genotypes exist in very high abundances. Yet to date only a small number of studies have evaluated if, how, or why traits forming the Leaf Economics Spectrum (LES) vary within crops, despite such studies informing our understanding of: 1) the environmental factors that drive crop LES trait variation; and 2) how domestication has altered LES traits in crops vs. wild plants. We assess intragenotype variation in LES traits in wine grape variety ‘Chardonnay’ (Vitis vinifera)—among the world’s most commercially important crops, across a soil compaction gradient: one of the most prominent characteristics of agricultural soils that may drive crop trait variation. ‘Chardonnay’ traits covary along an intragenotype LES in patterns that were qualitatively similar to, though statistically distinguishable from, those observed among wild plants: resource acquiring vines expressed a combination of high mass-based photosynthesis (Amass), mass-based dark respiration (Rmass), leaf nitrogen concentrations (N), coupled with low leaf mass per area (LMA); the opposite set of trait values defined the resource conserving end of the ‘Chardonnay’ LES. Traits related to resource acquisition (Amass, Rmass, and leaf N) declined with greater bulk density, while traits related to investment in leaf construction costs (LMA) increased with greater bulk density. Compared to wild plants, ‘Chardonnay’ expressed lower Rmass for a given rate of Amass, and an unexpected positive covariation between leaf carbon (C) concentrations and Rmass, Amass, and leaf N. Our findings uncover a deeper understanding of both the domestication syndromes in grapevines, and expand our understanding of trait-based crop responses to environmental change and gradients.

Objective Paramedic assessment data have not been used for research on avoidable calls. Paramedic impression codes are designated by paramedics on responding to a 911/999 medical emergency after an assessment of the presenting condition. Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are non-acute health conditions not needing hospital admission when properly managed. This study aimed to map the paramedic impression codes to ACSCs and mental health conditions for use in future research on avoidable 911/999 calls. Design Mapping paramedic impression codes to existing definitions of ACSCs and mental health conditions. Setting East Midlands Region, UK and Southern Ontario, Canada. Participants Expert panel from the UK-Canada Emergency Calls Data analysis and GEospatial mapping (EDGE) Consortium. Results Mapping was iterative first identifying the common ACSCs shared between the two countries then identifying the respective clinical impression codes for each country that mapped to those shared ACSCs as well as to mental health conditions. Experts from the UK-Canada EDGE Consortium contributed to both phases and were able to independently match the codes and then compare results. Clinical impression codes for paramedics in the UK were more extensive than those in Ontario. The mapping revealed some interesting inconsistencies between paramedic impression codes but also demonstrated that it was possible. Conclusion This is an important first step in determining the number of ASCSs and mental health conditions that paramedics attend to, and in examining the clinical pathways of these individuals across the health system. This work lays the foundation for international comparative health services research on integrated pathways in primary care and emergency medical services.

International and global migration has risen over the last 50 years, and this trend is not expected to change. Immigrants and refugees make sociocultural and economic contributions to settlement states; however, this does not always mean that they feel included or welcomed. Social exclusion as a determinant of health reflects the social inequalities of some groups in a population over others. Immigrants and refugees are excluded from participating in social, economic, civic, and political domains within Western settlement countries; women experience greater social exclusion because of intersecting social identities and the interplay between sociostructural systems that create inequalities within host societies. To explore this phenomenon more fully, we conducted a critical review of how social exclusion and inclusion are experienced by women settling in Western contexts and the factors that impact daily life and health. Intersectionality was the lens with which we situated, examined, and analyzed the findings of the critical review to inform the development of a conceptual model. A five-stage process was used to comprehensively review the literature using six databases. Sixty papers were included in the review. The conceptual model highlighted two overarching themes that were further distinguished by micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors of exclusion and inclusion. The first theme considers the causes and outcomes of social exclusion represented as social determinants in the context of settlement and includes social environment, social supports, language ability, discrimination and racism, settlement and identity, income and employment, education and professional credentials, institutions, and government services. The second theme of social inclusionary processes consisted of social capital, social and civic participation, empowerment, and policies and settlement programs. The conceptual model advances knowledge of potential improvements required in formal settlement programs and the importance of informal programs that collectively may enhance inclusion for immigrant/refugee women and their families in Western contexts.

Athlete Development Pathways (ADP) are used worldwide as guides to optimal athlete development. Existing ADPs tend to center physical development and competition performance and fail to account for the complex interaction of social, emotional, psychological, cognitive-motor, and physical factors in human development. This article reimagines the ADP as a constraints-led, learning-based framework of lifetime periodization. Synthesizing contemporary multi-disciplinary research and theory it takes a holistic approach to the complex, multi-factor reality of athlete development. It is proposed that such a framework supports a more human-centred and engaging sport pedagogy and may be more effective at improving both athletic performance and retention of athletes in sport. An ADP based on these concepts is presented.

Background Paramedic assessment data have not been used for research on avoidable calls. Paramedic impression codes are designated by paramedics upon responding to a 911/999 medical emergency after an assessment of the presenting condition. Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) are non-acute health conditions not needing hospital admission when properly managed. Methods The current study focused on paramedic impression codes from the East Midlands Region, UK and from Southern Ontario, Canada and mapped them to existing definitions of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) and mental health conditions. Mapping was iterative first identifying the common ACSCs shared between the two countries then identifying the respective clinical impression codes for each country that mapped to those shared ACSCs as well as to mental health conditions. Results Experts from the UK-Canada Emergency Calls Data analysis and GEospatial mapping (EDGE) Consortium contributed to both phases and were able to independently match the codes and then compare results. Clinical impression codes for paramedics in the UK were more extensive than those in Ontario. The mapping revealed some interesting inconsistencies between paramedic impression codes, but also demonstrated that it was possible. Conclusion This is an important first step in determining the numbers of ASCSs and mental health conditions that paramedics attend to, and in examining the clinical pathways of these individuals across the health system. This work lays the foundation for international comparative health services research on integrated pathways in primary care and EMS.