‘WATER IS LIFE’: EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLACE IDENTITY, WATER AND ADAPTIVE CAPACITY IN FORT RESOLUTION, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA

Water is recognised as a fundamental human right in Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT). However, the current and potential effects of climate change coupled with resource development pressures are leading to concerns about maintaining the health and viability of freshwater in the NWT. These intersecting multiple exposures can have far-reaching impacts for NWT residents who rely on water for cultural, spiritual, economic and social purposes. Ongoing changes (e.g., to water quantity, water quality, weather, precipitation and ice dynamics, for example) will increasingly require NWT residents to adapt, seek ways to plan for the future, identify opportunities, and moderate the effects of current and potential future change related to water. Understanding the strategies people employ around adaptation and what shapes adaptive capacity has been a critical focus of the climate change literature, ranging from individual livelihood levels to national and international analyses. Adaptation and adaptive capacity are multi-dimensional concepts, and to date, the majority of adaptation assessment research has focused on objective dimensions of adaptation and adaptive capacity, including financial and human capital. Increasingly, calls are being made to include subjective dimensions in assessments of adaptation and adaptive capacity. Subjective dimensions are abstract, difficult to quantify, non-material and often relate to human characteristics such as perceptions, beliefs and values. Work on subjective dimensions has to date focused on perceptions of risk and capacity to adapt, but has generally been less emphasised in the climate change literature. There is a recognized need to expand understandings of subjective dimensions to include new literatures and adopt approaches that recognize the values and lived experiences of people in a place, including how values both shape and are shaped by experiences of climate-related change. Place identity, a concept rooted in human geography and environmental psychology, offers a novel avenue for exploring subjective dimensions of adaptation and adaptive capacity. The purpose of this dissertation was to address the above gap in the climate change literature, by examining the potential relationships between place identity and adaptation and adaptive capacity, in the context of water resources. This dissertation employed a single, exploratory case study undertaken in collaboration with the community of Fort Resolution, a Dene-Métis community in the southern NWT, located on the shores of Great Slave Lake and near the Slave River and Slave River Delta. Water has been identified as a fundamental aspect of life in Fort Resolution, and contributes to identity and livelihoods. A qualitative data collection strategy was used, consisting of participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participatory photography with community youth. Results revealed a bilateral, mutually reinforcing relationship between place identity and adaptation and adaptive capacity, and one that is influenced by community-identified changes to water. In Fort Resolution, connections and identification to water and place are mediated through several core place-value themes, including connections to heritage and the past, health and wellbeing, and social connections, among others. Participants are experiencing changing water conditions that are felt to be impacting use of, and relationship to, water or places mediated by water. Common experiences of water change coalesced around community-identified changes in water quantity and flow, concerns about water quality, and changes in weather, precipitation and ice. While climate change was recognized in some cases as a driver of related changes, attribution of cause was largely linked with resource development upstream of the community. These community-identified changes in water are impacting the place identity of residents, through impacts to places that support maintenance and function of place identity and related place-values. Participants described impacts to rootedness, sense of belonging, self-efficacy, security and continuity of place. In response to identified changes, a series of interrelated adaptation strategies emerged at individual livelihood and collective levels. These adaptation strategies are positively and negatively shaped both by reactions to changing continuity of places that support place identity and a desire to protect such places now and in the future. Study findings contribute to the growing body of work on subjective dimensions of adaptation and adaptive capacity, including consideration of place identity as a subjective dimension in adaptation assessments. In Fort Resolution, core dimensions of adaptation and adaptive capacity, including perceptions of capacity, equity and social capital, are in part shaped by place identity and vice versa. As such, understanding how people relate to and identify with places, and how these relationships influence adaptation and adaptive capacity, can help to identify opportunities for building place-based solutions and collective action situations to address current and future environmental change, particularly with respect to water

Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer in older adults:A retrospective cohort analysis

INTRODUCTION: Adults aged 70 years and over account for almost 60% of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses in the United Kingdom. Whilst emergency presentation of CRC is known to be associated with poorer outcomes across all ages, older adults are less likely to be treated with curative intent and have poorer overall survival (OS). We aimed to investigate whether presentation, management, or outcome differed in older (≥70 years) versus younger (&lt;70 years) adults in our population.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electronic records of patients diagnosed with CRC within the period 2016 to 2019 in National Health Service (NHS) Tayside, Scotland were retrospectively analysed. Patients were grouped by age (&lt;70 years and ≥70 years). Demographics were compared by Chi-squared or t-test, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression were used for survival analyses.RESULTS: In total, 1245 patients were diagnosed with CRC (median age 71 years, range 20-98). Of these, 215 patients (17.3%) presented emergently and were included in the analysis. Older adults accounted for 65.1% (n = 140) of emergency presentations. Older adults were less likely to present with classical symptoms of CRC (80.0% vs 90.7%, p = 0.04) and more likely to present via the medical assessment unit (46.4% vs 30.7%, p = 0.03). Additionally, older adults were less likely to receive a histological diagnosis of CRC (71.4% vs 97.3%, p &lt; 0.001) or have complete staging investigations performed (78.6% vs 96.0%, p &lt; 0.001). Fewer older adults underwent surgical management (55.0% vs 86.7%, p &lt; 0.001) and fewer were treated with chemotherapy (14.3% vs 69.3%, p &lt; 0.001). Whilst older adults had poorer median OS than those aged &lt;70 years (12.0 vs 34.4 months, p &lt; 0.001), multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression demonstrated that higher stage (stage III hazard ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-4.7, stage IV HR 16.7, 95% CI 9.7-28.8, incomplete HR 8.2, 95% CI 4.6-14.7) and not receiving chemotherapy (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-4.0) were associated with poorer survival, whereas age and sex were not.DISCUSSION: Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer was more common in older adults. Older adults were more likely to present atypically, less likely to have completed staging, and had lower rates of intervention, which were associated with poorer survival outcome.</p

Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer in older adults:A retrospective cohort analysis

Introduction: Adults aged 70 years and over account for almost 60% of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses in the United Kingdom. Whilst emergency presentation of CRC is known to be associated with poorer outcomes across all ages, older adults are less likely to be treated with curative intent and have poorer overall survival (OS). We aimed to investigate whether presentation, management, or outcome differed in older (≥70 years) versus younger (&lt;70 years) adults in our population.Materials and Methods: The electronic records of patients diagnosed with CRC within the period 2016 to 2019 in National Health Service (NHS) Tayside, Scotland were retrospectively analysed. Patients were grouped by age (&lt;70 years and ≥70 years). Demographics were compared by Chi-squared or t-test, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression were used for survival analyses.Results: In total, 1245 patients were diagnosed with CRC (median age 71 years, range 20–98). Of these, 215 patients (17.3%) presented emergently and were included in the analysis. Older adults accounted for 65.1% (n = 140) of emergency presentations. Older adults were less likely to present with classical symptoms of CRC (80.0% vs 90.7%, p = 0.04) and more likely to present via the medical assessment unit (46.4% vs 30.7%, p = 0.03). Additionally, older adults were less likely to receive a histological diagnosis of CRC (71.4% vs 97.3%, p &lt; 0.001) or have complete staging investigations performed (78.6% vs 96.0%, p &lt; 0.001). Fewer older adults underwent surgical management (55.0% vs 86.7%, p &lt; 0.001) and fewer were treated with chemotherapy (14.3% vs 69.3%, p &lt; 0.001). Whilst older adults had poorer median OS than those aged &lt;70 years (12.0 vs 34.4 months, p &lt; 0.001), multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression demonstrated that higher stage (stage III hazard ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6–4.7, stage IV HR 16.7, 95% CI 9.7–28.8, incomplete HR 8.2, 95% CI 4.6–14.7) and not receiving chemotherapy (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7–4.0) were associated with poorer survival, whereas age and sex were not.Discussion: Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer was more common in older adults. Older adults were more likely to present atypically, less likely to have completed staging, and had lower rates of intervention, which were associated with poorer survival outcome

Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer in older adults:A retrospective cohort analysis

INTRODUCTION: Adults aged 70 years and over account for almost 60% of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses in the United Kingdom. Whilst emergency presentation of CRC is known to be associated with poorer outcomes across all ages, older adults are less likely to be treated with curative intent and have poorer overall survival (OS). We aimed to investigate whether presentation, management, or outcome differed in older (≥70 years) versus younger (&lt;70 years) adults in our population.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electronic records of patients diagnosed with CRC within the period 2016 to 2019 in National Health Service (NHS) Tayside, Scotland were retrospectively analysed. Patients were grouped by age (&lt;70 years and ≥70 years). Demographics were compared by Chi-squared or t-test, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression were used for survival analyses.RESULTS: In total, 1245 patients were diagnosed with CRC (median age 71 years, range 20-98). Of these, 215 patients (17.3%) presented emergently and were included in the analysis. Older adults accounted for 65.1% (n = 140) of emergency presentations. Older adults were less likely to present with classical symptoms of CRC (80.0% vs 90.7%, p = 0.04) and more likely to present via the medical assessment unit (46.4% vs 30.7%, p = 0.03). Additionally, older adults were less likely to receive a histological diagnosis of CRC (71.4% vs 97.3%, p &lt; 0.001) or have complete staging investigations performed (78.6% vs 96.0%, p &lt; 0.001). Fewer older adults underwent surgical management (55.0% vs 86.7%, p &lt; 0.001) and fewer were treated with chemotherapy (14.3% vs 69.3%, p &lt; 0.001). Whilst older adults had poorer median OS than those aged &lt;70 years (12.0 vs 34.4 months, p &lt; 0.001), multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression demonstrated that higher stage (stage III hazard ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-4.7, stage IV HR 16.7, 95% CI 9.7-28.8, incomplete HR 8.2, 95% CI 4.6-14.7) and not receiving chemotherapy (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-4.0) were associated with poorer survival, whereas age and sex were not.DISCUSSION: Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer was more common in older adults. Older adults were more likely to present atypically, less likely to have completed staging, and had lower rates of intervention, which were associated with poorer survival outcome.</p

Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer in older adults:A retrospective cohort analysis

Introduction: Adults aged 70 years and over account for almost 60% of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses in the United Kingdom. Whilst emergency presentation of CRC is known to be associated with poorer outcomes across all ages, older adults are less likely to be treated with curative intent and have poorer overall survival (OS). We aimed to investigate whether presentation, management, or outcome differed in older (≥70 years) versus younger (&lt;70 years) adults in our population.Materials and Methods: The electronic records of patients diagnosed with CRC within the period 2016 to 2019 in National Health Service (NHS) Tayside, Scotland were retrospectively analysed. Patients were grouped by age (&lt;70 years and ≥70 years). Demographics were compared by Chi-squared or t-test, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression were used for survival analyses.Results: In total, 1245 patients were diagnosed with CRC (median age 71 years, range 20–98). Of these, 215 patients (17.3%) presented emergently and were included in the analysis. Older adults accounted for 65.1% (n = 140) of emergency presentations. Older adults were less likely to present with classical symptoms of CRC (80.0% vs 90.7%, p = 0.04) and more likely to present via the medical assessment unit (46.4% vs 30.7%, p = 0.03). Additionally, older adults were less likely to receive a histological diagnosis of CRC (71.4% vs 97.3%, p &lt; 0.001) or have complete staging investigations performed (78.6% vs 96.0%, p &lt; 0.001). Fewer older adults underwent surgical management (55.0% vs 86.7%, p &lt; 0.001) and fewer were treated with chemotherapy (14.3% vs 69.3%, p &lt; 0.001). Whilst older adults had poorer median OS than those aged &lt;70 years (12.0 vs 34.4 months, p &lt; 0.001), multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression demonstrated that higher stage (stage III hazard ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6–4.7, stage IV HR 16.7, 95% CI 9.7–28.8, incomplete HR 8.2, 95% CI 4.6–14.7) and not receiving chemotherapy (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7–4.0) were associated with poorer survival, whereas age and sex were not.Discussion: Emergency presentation of colorectal cancer was more common in older adults. Older adults were more likely to present atypically, less likely to have completed staging, and had lower rates of intervention, which were associated with poorer survival outcome

Supporting Catholic Education through Effective School/University Partnerships: Two Models from the 2012 Catholic Higher Education Collaborative Conference

The following article contains two essays based on presentations to the 2012 CHEC conference on Catholic school governance held at Marquette University in October 2012. The essays outline two models of deep collaboration between Catholic institutions of higher education and Catholic K-12 schools designed to support and foster improvements in Catholic education. The first essay, “Higher Education Working Together to Help Catholic Schools: The Greater Milwaukee Catholic Education Consortium,” written by William A. Henk and Jennifer A. Maney, provides an overview of the Greater Milwaukee Catholic Education Consortium (GMCEC), an ongoing collaborative effort between the archdiocese of Milwaukee and the region’s five Catholic colleges and universities. Building a strong partnership among multiple institutions has allowed the GMCEC to leverage the individual strengths of each member institution to provide a variety of supports to Catholic schools within the diocese. The essay outlines the early history of the collaboration, the key areas of engagement, and some emerging outcomes and ongoing challenges associated with efforts to scaffold supports for diocesan schools. Following this essay are excerpts from a panel discussion among the five presidents of the institutions of higher education that are part of the consortium

Modelling environmental factors correlated with podoconiosis: a geospatial study of non-filarial elephantiasis

Introduction The precise trigger of podoconiosis — endemic non-filarial elephantiasis of the lower legs — is unknown. Epidemiological and ecological studies have linked the disease with barefoot exposure to red clay soils of volcanic origin. Histopathology investigations have demonstrated that silicon, aluminium, magnesium and iron are present in the lower limb lymph node macrophages of both patients and non-patients living barefoot on these clays. We studied the spatial variation (variations across an area) in podoconiosis prevalence and the associated environmental factors with a goal to better understanding the pathogenesis of podoconiosis. Methods Fieldwork was conducted from June 2011 to February 2013 in 12 kebeles (administrative units) in northern Ethiopia. Geo-located prevalence data and soil samples were collected and analysed along with secondary geological, topographic, meteorological and elevation data. Soil data were analysed for chemical composition, mineralogy and particle size, and were interpolated to provide spatially continuous information. Exploratory, spatial, univariate and multivariate regression analyses of podoconiosis prevalence were conducted in relation to primary (soil) and secondary (elevation, precipitation, and geology) covariates. Results Podoconiosis distribution showed spatial correlation with variation in elevation and precipitation. Exploratory analysis identified that phyllosilicate minerals, particularly clay (smectite and kaolinite) and mica groups, quartz (crystalline silica), iron oxide, and zirconium were associated with podoconiosis prevalence. The final multivariate model showed that the quantities of smectite (RR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.35, 5.73; p = 0.007), quartz (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.26; p = 0.001) and mica (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.13; p < 0.001) in the soil had positive associations with podoconiosis prevalence. Conclusions More quantities of smectite, mica and quartz within the soil were associated with podoconiosis prevalence. Together with previous work indicating that these minerals may influence water absorption, potentiate infection and be toxic to human cells, the present findings suggest that these particles may play a role in the pathogenesis of podoconiosis and acute adenolymphangitis, a common cause of morbidity in podoconiosis patients

Measuring the socio-economic status of women across the life course

This article highlights findings from the 2014 study Socio-Economic Status of Women Across the Life Course in NSW, which examined the main measurement issues that arise when assessing the socio-economic status of women over the life course and determining the "best" indicators. This article reviews some of the issues and presents selected findings relating to women of low socio-economic status in different life-stage groups. The study was commissioned by Women NSW and conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of colleagues at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and of the members of the Expert Advisory Group on the Socio-Economic Status of Women in NSW, each of whom provided invaluable advice and guidance

Long Hours and Longings: Australian Children's Views of Fathers' Work and Family Time

Using two waves of paired data from a population sample of 10- to 13-year-old Australian children (5,711 father–child observations), the authors consider how the hours, schedules, intensity, and flexibility of fathers' jobs are associated with children's views about fathers' work and family time. A third of the children studied considered that their father works too much, one eighth wished that he did not work at all, and one third wanted more time with him or did not enjoy time together. Logistic regression modeling revealed that working on weekends, being time pressured, being unable to vary start and stop times, and working long hours generated negative views in children about fathers' jobs and time together. The time dilemmas generated by fathers' work devotions and demands are salient to and subjectively shared by their children.Lyndall Strazdins is supported by Australian Research Council Future Fellowship FT110100686, and this article was part of a visiting fellowship supported by the Berlin Social Science Center (Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung)

Designing an Innovative Ecosystem for Student Success: Kennesaw State University Wellstar College of Health and Human Services’ Conceptual Model

The Wellstar College of Health and Human Services (WCHSS) at Kennesaw State University developed a new theoretical model to understand and impact student success by combining two existing frameworks: Whole School, Whole Community, and Whole Child (WSCC) (Willgerodt and Maloy, 2021) and the Student Success Ecosystem (Millet et al, 2020). The WCHSS Student Success Model also appends novel constructs to produce an innovative holistic student success model with four key domains and two strategic initiatives. This model provides academics and practitioners with a framework to conceptualize student success, develop actionable interventions to drive improvement, and evaluate outcomes that continue the call to define student success more holistically