Confronting Environmental Inequality: Assessing and Mitigating Students\u27 Exposure to Near Roadway Air Pollution in Silicon Valley

Near roadway vehicle emissions, such as particulate matter (PM), nitrous oxides, and other contaminants, are major sources of air pollution, which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.1 Chronic air and noise pollution exposures can also negatively influence cognitive function and student learning. Of greatest concern are concentrations within 500 feet of high traffic street edges, but concentrations can be harmful at distances up to 1320 ft.2 Vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, or those with impaired health are likely to suffer the greatest impacts. In 2003, the California legislature passed SB 352, prohibiting building new schools within 500 ft of high traffic roadways. However, SB 352 does not address what action should be taken to reduce the health risks for children at school sites already near high traffic roadways, and the Bill acknowledges that a disproportionate amount of low income students attend such schools. A recent report found that nationwide more than 8000 public schools or about one in every 11 public schools, serving roughly 4.4 million students is located within 500 ft. of a road with more than 30,000 vehicles per day, or at least 10,000 cars and 500 trucks per day. Many more head start and private schools are also exposed.3 An earlier study, found that 13.5% of students attended schools within 820 ft of a major roadway, concluding that minority and underprivileged children were disproportionately affected, although some results varied regionally.4 To better understand pollution patterns, environmental justice issues, and the community responses in Santa Clara County (SCC), we started field research in the Greater Washington Neighborhood of San Jose, CA. We started here because of the proximity of schools to high traffic roadways, and the support that Thriving Neighbors Initiative offered through partnerships with Washington Elementary School (WES) and a network of promotoras that are improving their community and interested in a community-based research

Endothelial Caspase-8 prevents fatal necroptotic hemorrhage caused by commensal bacteria

Caspase-8 transduces signals from death receptor ligands, such as tumor necrosis factor, to drive potent responses including inflammation, cell proliferation or cell death. This is a developmentally essential function because in utero deletion of endothelial Caspase-8 causes systemic circulatory collapse during embryogenesis. Whether endothelial Caspase-8 is also required for cardiovascular patency during adulthood was unknown. To address this question, we used an inducible Cre recombinase system to delete endothelial Casp8 in 6-week-old conditionally gene-targeted mice. Extensive whole body vascular gene targeting was confirmed, yet the dominant phenotype was fatal hemorrhagic lesions exclusively within the small intestine. The emergence of these intestinal lesions was not a maladaptive immune response to endothelial Caspase-8-deficiency, but instead relied upon aberrant Toll-like receptor sensing of microbial commensals and tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling. This lethal phenotype was prevented in compound mutant mice that lacked the necroptotic cell death effector, MLKL. Thus, distinct from its systemic role during embryogenesis, our data show that dysregulated microbial- and death receptor-signaling uniquely culminate in the adult mouse small intestine to unleash MLKL-dependent necroptotic hemorrhage after loss of endothelial Caspase-8. These data support a critical role for Caspase-8 in preserving gut vascular integrity in the face of microbial commensals.<br/

Exploring the Role of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the Context of the Professional Identities of Faculty, Graduate Students, and Staff in Higher Education

Developing an identity as a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) researcher is associated with tensions of expanding on one’s disciplinary identity and often traversing the liminal space between disciplines that result in a newfound perception of professional self. This study explores the differences that emerged in SoTL identity formation among three different groups of researchers. Focus groups of faculty, graduate students, and professional staff who identified as SoTL researchers were conducted at one comprehensive research institution. Using thematic analysis, the differences and similarities for each of these groups in terms of barriers to SoTL identity formation and motivations for developing a SoTL identity are shared. Reflecting on these barriers and opportunities, a variety of implications for practice for Educational Developers are suggested as they look to support the SoTL identity development of researchers at their institutions. Le développement d’une identité en tant que chercheur en avancement des connaissances en enseignement et en apprentissage (ACEA) est associé à des tensions d’expansion de l’identité disciplinaire et consiste souvent à traverser l’espace liminal entre les disciplines qui aboutit à une perception nouvelle de son soi professionnel. Cette étude explore les différences qui émergent lors de la formation de l’identité en ACEA parmi trois groupes différents de chercheurs. Des groupes de discussion de professeurs, d’étudiants de cycle supérieur et de personnel professionnel qui s’identifient comme chercheurs en ACEA ont été organisés dans un établissement de recherche complète. L’analyse thématique a permis de mettre à jour les différences et les similarités parmi chacun de ces groupes en termes d’entraves à la formation d’une identité en ACEA, ainsi que les motivations nécessaires au développement d’une identité en ACEA. La réflexion sur ces entraves et sur les opportunités permet de suggérer une variété d’implications pour la pratique des conseillers pédagogiques quand ceux-ci sont à la recherche de soutien pour le développement de l’identité en ACEA des chercheurs dans leurs établissements respectifs

Exploring the Role of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the Context of the Professional Identities of Faculty, Graduate Students, and Staff in Higher Education

Developing an identity as a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) researcher is associated with tensions of expanding on one’s disciplinary identity and often traversing the liminal space between disciplines that result in a newfound perception of professional self. This study explores the differences that emerged in SoTL identity formation among three different groups of researchers. Focus groups of faculty, graduate students, and professional staff who identified as SoTL researchers were conducted at one comprehensive research institution. Using thematic analysis, the differences and similarities for each of these groups in terms of barriers to SoTL identity formation and motivations for developing a SoTL identity are shared. Reflecting on these barriers and opportunities, a variety of implications for practice for Educational Developers are suggested as they look to support the SoTL identity development of researchers at their institutions. Le développement d’une identité en tant que chercheur en avancement des connaissances en enseignement et en apprentissage (ACEA) est associé à des tensions d’expansion de l’identité disciplinaire et consiste souvent à traverser l’espace liminal entre les disciplines qui aboutit à une perception nouvelle de son soi professionnel. Cette étude explore les différences qui émergent lors de la formation de l’identité en ACEA parmi trois groupes différents de chercheurs. Des groupes de discussion de professeurs, d’étudiants de cycle supérieur et de personnel professionnel qui s’identifient comme chercheurs en ACEA ont été organisés dans un établissement de recherche complète. L’analyse thématique a permis de mettre à jour les différences et les similarités parmi chacun de ces groupes en termes d’entraves à la formation d’une identité en ACEA, ainsi que les motivations nécessaires au développement d’une identité en ACEA. La réflexion sur ces entraves et sur les opportunités permet de suggérer une variété d’implications pour la pratique des conseillers pédagogiques quand ceux-ci sont à la recherche de soutien pour le développement de l’identité en ACEA des chercheurs dans leurs établissements respectifs

Isolation and multilocus sequence typing of Borrelia burgdorferi from Ixodes scapularis collected from dogs in Ontario, Canada

Abstract Objective To identify the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) sequence types of Borrelia burgdorferi from Ixodes scapularis in Ontario, Canada. Results One hundred and eighty-five I. scapularis ticks were submitted from 134 dogs via participating clinics from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. Seventeen MLST sequence types of B. burgdorferi were detected from fifty-eight cultured isolates from 21 ticks. The most common MLST sequence types were 12 and 16. Mixed infections of two MLST sequence types were detected in four ticks. Three sequence types (48, 317, 639) were new detections in Ontario

Rural Futures - Mobilizing Knowledge and Sustaining Partnerships at the University of Guelph

The future of rural places, people, and environments is critical to the province of Ontario. Launched in 2022, supported by the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, the Rural Futures initiative explores ways to amplify the knowledge mobilization of rural research conducted at the University of Guelph and rural-based organizations across Ontario. This poster shares insights collected from rural partners, an inventory of student and faculty-produced rural research generated at the University of Guelph, and plans for future knowledge mobilization activities. Dialogues with rural partners illuminated valuable insights into the barriers preventing rural knowledge from reaching its intended audiences. While their knowledge-related needs differ significantly, every respondent noted the need for deeper collaboration between rural actors and a resource to help identify and facilitate opportunities for rural Ontarians. The project team has also collected and analyzed thousands of rural-related research items generated at the University of Guelph since 2010, identifying 5,112 articles. As a centre for rural knowledge, the initiative intends to build on these insights from the University of Guelph by supporting new knowledge mobilization activities. As part of this process, the research team is currently constructing an online pathfinder site that will act as a repository of rural research and a tool to help connect rural partners across Ontario to knowledge-based resources. These initial projects will continue to build on each other, strengthening Ontario’s rural communities and the agri-food sector in the process

Cache a Killer: Cache Valley virus seropositivity and associated farm management risk factors in sheep in Ontario, Canada

Cache Valley virus (CVV) disease is a mosquito-borne zoonosis endemic to North America. CVV disease is reported most often in sheep, causing lethal congenital deformities. There are limited data on CVV in Ontario, which is the largest sheep producing province in Canada. This study aimed to determine CVV seroprevalence in Ontario sheep flocks and investigate farm management factors associated with CVV exposure. A cross-sectional study was performed including 364 mature ewes across 18 farms selected from the five largest sheep districts in the province. A questionnaire was administered at each farm to determine farm management practices pertinent to the flock and ewes specifically sampled. Mixed multivariable logistic regression with a random effect for farm was conducted to assess associations between CVV seropositivity (outcome variable) and farm management risk factors (predictor variables). CVV seroprevalence was 33.2% in individual ewes (95% CI: 28.4%-38.1%) as determined by a virus neutralization assay with a titre > 4. Sixteen of the eighteen flocks (88.9%) had at least one CVV seropositive ewe. Increased age, smaller flock size, and sheep housing near wetlands, lakes, or ponds were found to be significantly associated with higher odds of CVV seropositivity. These findings are valuable in guiding breeding practices and housing during mosquito season to minimize infection and, ultimately, CVV disease in the flock

Effect of caregiver age against type of relationship with cat, and factors relating to feeding.

Effect of caregiver age against type of relationship with cat, and factors relating to feeding.</p

Cat demographics (n = 337).

There is an abundance of research focusing on the nutritional needs of the cat, though aspects surrounding treat feeding have received far less attention. Feeding practices have the potential to cause nutrient imbalances and adverse health outcomes, including obesity. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the perceptions, motivations, and behaviours surrounding treats, and factors that influence treat feeding by cat caregivers. A 56-question online survey was disseminated to cat caregivers (n = 337) predominantly from Canada and the USA to collect data regarding caregiver and cat demographics, the pet-caregiver relationship, perceptions surrounding treats, and feeding practices and behaviours. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the survey data. Caregivers had varying interpretations of the term ‘treat’ and how treats relate to the primary diet, and these perceptions appeared to influence the quantity of treats provided. Aspects relating to the human-animal bond were highlighted as an important factor in decisions and behaviours surrounding treat feeding in our results. Though the majority (224/337, 66%) of respondents indicated they monitor their pet’s treat intake, using an eyeball estimate was the most frequent (139/337, 41%) method reported to measure treats. Multivariable logistic regression results revealed feeding jerky, bones, dental treats, and table scraps in select frequencies were predictive of caregivers perceiving their cat as overweight/obese. Results provide valuable new insights to cat caregiver feeding practices and perceptions of treats and can be used to inform veterinary nutrition support to caregivers. More research is warranted to further our understanding and ensure that cats receive optimal nutrition and care.</div

Final multivariable logistic regression models exploring the association between (1) whether cat caregivers monitor pet’s treat intake (yes/no outcome) and method of which they measure their pet’s treats (explanatory), and (2) caregiver-reported BCS as overweight/obese (yes/no outcome) and frequency of feeding different types of treats (explanatory) by cat caregivers (n = 337).

Final multivariable logistic regression models exploring the association between (1) whether cat caregivers monitor pet’s treat intake (yes/no outcome) and method of which they measure their pet’s treats (explanatory), and (2) caregiver-reported BCS as overweight/obese (yes/no outcome) and frequency of feeding different types of treats (explanatory) by cat caregivers (n = 337).</p