A History of ARLIS/NA MOQ = Un historique d'ARLIS/NA MOQ

ARLIS/NA MOQ was founded in 1987 as the first Canadian chapter of ARLIS/NA (the Art Libraries Society of North America). The chapter is a non-profit, volunteer-run association of art librarians, archivists, curators, technicians, documentation specialists, and students in the regions of Montréal, Ottawa, and Québec City. Originally known variously as “ARLIS/MOQ,” “ARLIS M/O/Q,” or simply “M/O/Q,” the chapter officially changed its name to “ARLIS/NA MOQ” after 2006; although the more colloquial “MOQ” is often used by its members. The chapter’s founders recognized the benefits of coming together to build a professional community that straddles two provinces (Ontario and Québec), operates bilingually (in English and French), and comprises members associated with academic libraries, archives, museums, visual resource centres and other educational and cultural institutions. Drawing on archival sources from the ARLIS MOQ fonds and a close reading of the chapter’s publications, this history aims to document the origins and evolution of ARLIS/NA MOQ and draw attention to the association’s unique contributions to the field of art information specialists at the local, national, and international levels. This bilingual publication was produced as part of the author’s six-month sabbatical research carried out in 2024

Dextran-Gold Nanoparticle-Based Tablets and Swabs for Colorimetric Detection of Urinary H2O2

Diagnosis of oxidative stress is essential to avoiding serious life-threatening situations. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a potential biomarker of oxidative stress. Herein, we introduce a reagent-free, nanoscale approach for the colorimetric detection of urinary H2O2 utilizing dextran-gold nanoparticles (dAuNPs). The plasmonic properties of these nanoparticles are central to their function, leveraging their high surface area and tunable optical characteristics for sensitive detection. We transformed the colloidal dAuNPs solution into two formats: as a tablet (dAuNPs-Tablet) or impregnated on a cotton swab (dAuNPs-Swab). The assay generates hydroxyl radicle (•OH) from H2O2 via the Fenton reaction, followed by nanoscale-driven detection of H2O2 using a plasmonic tablet and swab sensors. In the presence of H2O2 in a sample, the red color of the tablet solution or plasmonic swab turns to blue color due to salt-induced nanoparticles aggregation. The transition in color is observed due to •OH-assisted degradation of the dextran layer around dAuNPs, leading to the loss of colloidal stability and subsequent aggregation of dAuNPs. Sodium chloride acts as the aggregating agent, enhancing the nanoscale interactions. The detection limit in artificial urine is found to be 50 µM for the tablet sensor and 100 µM for the swab sensor. The plasmonic tablet is more stable as compared to a plasmonic swab which gradually loses stability, after one month, with approximately 40% degradation within three months. Interference studies demonstrate the high selectivity of both platforms for H2O2 detection. Notably, we investigated the H2O2 levels in human urine samples from healthy volunteers (both female and male) before and after green tea consumption. The observed decrease in H2O2 level in urine post-green tea consumption suggests a potential role of green tea antioxidants in mitigating oxidative stress. The utilization of nanoprobes in our research not only enhances our understanding of oxidative stress dynamics but also drives advancements in point-of-care detection platforms, offering enhanced portability and ease of use of nanoprobes. These platforms open exciting avenues in healthcare diagnosis

Perceived Inclusivity in Mobility Aids Use: A Qualitative Study in Iran

Despite inclusive design focusing on improving environmental accessibility for mobility aid (MA) users, it often fails to ensure true inclusivity due to mismatches between interventions and user perceptions. Therefore, understanding MA users’ perceptions of inclusivity is essential for advancing disability studies and design, as it highlights key interventions for more effective practices. This study aims to explore perceived inclusivity in MAs’ usage and identifies gaps in users’ needs, classifying their needs and offering recommendations to meet them. First, the DARE-Inclusive Design Framework was used to develop interview guidelines and interpret results. Next, using a qualitative descriptive research, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 experienced physiotherapists in Iran. Finally, an inductive thematic analysis was applied to identify and present the emerging themes. Four themes were identified: 1. Perceived Financial Value: Assessing Worth, 2. Objective Enhancements: Optimizing Environments and MAs, 3. Subjective Enhancements: Trustworthiness, Support, and Hope, and 4. Contextual Factors: Interpretations and Representations. The four interconnected themes provide guidelines for inclusivity-oriented interventions, emphasizing financial assessment, high-tech integration, and aesthetic and symbolic considerations in MA design. Physiotherapists can also mediate emotional responses and enhance inclusion during rehabilitation. Additionally, social context and disability etiology impact users’ acceptance and use of MAs

Integrating user perceptions of socio-emotional aspects in wheelchair design: A pilot study using Kansei Engineering

Introduction Comfort in wheelchair use is influenced not only by ergonomic factors but also by socio-emotional aspects that shape the user's experience. This study aims to explore how socio-emotional factors can be integrated into the representational aspects of wheelchairs. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 37 wheelchair users using Kansei Engineering methods. Participants provided data on semantic and product spaces through a questionnaire covering demographics, aesthetic importance, symbolic importance, and social communication challenges. They also rated four distinct wheelchairs using Kansei words (KWs). Then, Quality Function Deployment (QFD) linked users' insights to specific wheelchair properties. Results Aesthetic (76%) and Symbolic (56%) importance, as well as age, were significantly associated with social communication challenges (57%) (p < 0.05). Age was significantly associated with both Aesthetic and Symbolic importance, while gender was only linked to Aesthetic importance (p < 0.05). Descriptive analysis indicated that advanced manual and powered wheelchair designs scored higher than conventional ones. Accordingly, three key components were identified for both categories, with the highest loadings of KW in each. QFD results prioritized adjustable frame design, with 8.61% for manual and 10.44% for powered models, as key to enhancing socio-emotional aspects. Conclusions Beyond analyzing the dynamics of aesthetics, symbolism, and social challenges, this study uncovers users' perceptions of wheelchair design characteristics. It proposes principal components to guide designers and includes computational analysis to connect these insights with wheelchair properties, aspects often overlooked in assistive device literature. However, redesign effectiveness also hinges on understanding social factors like stereotypes, and wheelchair-related metaphors

Can Near Death Narratives, Ontologies and Language Analysis with Natural Language Processing Help Us to Understand the Quantum Mind?

Altered states of consciousness (ASC) encompass phenomena such as near-death experiences (NDEs). NDEs are concise accounts of individuals who have undergone clinical death and subsequently been spontaneously resuscitated or revived, retaining recollection of their experiences during that interval. Numerous individuals who have undergone near-death experiences have recounted experiencing intense mental lucidity, extraordinary sensory images, and a distinct recollection of the event that surpasses the realism of their ordinary existence. The Quantum Hologram Theory of Physics and Consciousness (QHTC) elucidates the fundamental characteristics of our existence and the quantum properties of the human mind. QHTC proposes that the brain functions in a manner akin to a hologram, adhering to quantum principles. The QHTC proposes that during an ASC, cognitive processes accelerate and there is an enhanced level of perceptual lucidity. Natural language processing (NLP) refers to a collection of computer methods used to analyze and represent texts that occur naturally. Ontology is a firmly established theoretical field in the philosophy of language that focuses on conceptual frameworks for understanding reality. This study employs NLP to extract linguistic sequences from NDEs narratives stored in a database including 4267 records. It then utilizes ontology research approaches to establish a mapping between the QHTC ontology and human language. The research aims to verify some ontological components of the QHTC, including the notion that during ASC, cognitive processes accelerate and there is an enhanced level of perceptual lucidity

Ranking of AI-Based Criteria in Health Tourism Using Fuzzy SWARA Method

Health tourism, as a dynamic and rapidly growing sector of the tourism industry, plays a fundamental role in strengthening national economies, increasing international interactions and improving the quality of healthcare services. By integrating healthcare, wellness and recreational services, this field has become one of the key drivers for attracting foreign tourists. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative technology offers unparalleled potential to optimize health tourism services. Using AI in trip planning, improving user experience and predicting the needs of health tourists has gained significant importance. This study aims to identify and rank AI-based criteria in health tourism. By reviewing and analysing previous studies, key criteria in health tourism influenced by AI were identified. Subsequently, these criteria were evaluated and ranked using Fuzzy SWARA method. The ranking results indicate that “healthcare service quality (C11)”, “competence and reputation of physicians (C12)”, “hospital equipment and facilities (C13)”, “political stability and security (C41)” and “access to medical information (C14)” were ranked first to fifth, respectively. These findings highlight the crucial role of AI in enhancing service quality and improving the experience of health tourists. The results of this study can be beneficial for policymakers and stakeholders in the health tourism sector for better planning and attracting more tourists

Ideological Narratives in Contemporary Russian War Genre Cinema

This thesis titled “Ideological Narratives in Contemporary Russian War Genre Cinema” explores popular commercial films about the Second World War produced between 2018 and 2022. Through analyzing popular culture and media this study aims to build a framework of contemporary Russian war genre cinema as a tool for the promotion of Vladimir Putin’s government’s ideological rhetoric. This thesis will focus on three case studies: war genre films T-34 [T-34] (2019, dir. Alekseĭ Sidorov), Zoya [Zoi͡a] (2020, dir. Leonid Pli͡askin and Maksim Brius), and To Paris! [Na Parizh!] (2019, dir. Sergeĭ Sarkisov). Each case study will be put in conversation with other media, such as music, literature, and television, as well as genres, such as comedy, melodrama, and documentary. Building on the works of Denise J. Youngblood and Nancy Condee, I will explore how these films sponsored by the Russian government through organizations such as the Russian Military and Historical Society, Culture Fund, and state-owned TV channels represent the current imperial and nationalist ideology in the country that has contributed to the military invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The feeling of patriotism manifested through continuous reproduction of the Second World War military history and glorified representation of the Russian characters is capitalized upon in this political context. The goal of this research is to demonstrate how these films restructure the memory of the Second World War into a commercial enterprise that actively contributes to the construction of the new Russian identity and rapid militarization of Russian society prior to and after the invasion of Ukraine

Behavioural Consultation in Preschool Settings for Children with Behavioural Difficulties: Two Case Studies

Approximately 5%-20% of preschool children exhibit significant challenging behaviours within the classroom, stemming from underlying behavioural or emotional difficulties (Campbell, 1995; Charach et al., 2020). However, most early childhood educators do not feel supported or equipped to handle these challenging behaviours due to a lack of training and resources, low confidence, and a growing pressure to perform (Arnold et al., 2006; Moore et al., 2017). This qualitative research study investigated the impact of implementing Behavioural Consultation (Kratochwill & Bergan, 1990) in preschool classrooms to support educators who intervened with children with behaviour challenges. Collaborative meetings with educators over the course of 10 weeks were implemented to investigate changes in educators’ knowledge of children’s behavioural needs, educators’ knowledge of appropriate strategies, educators’ self-efficacy, and children’s display of challenging behaviours. Findings from pre- and post- intervention interviews, questionnaires, and child observations were analysed. Thematic coding revealed that preschool educators’ experiences with the consultation process partially improved their self-efficacy when they used more developmentally appropriate behaviour strategies that positively impacted the children’s behaviours. Educators’ use of positive behavioural strategies matched the children’s developmental and individual needs and served to improve the educators’ perceptions of the children. These findings have implications for designing professional development programs in preschool settings to support educators who intervene with children with behavioural difficulties