Brewing Up Community: Exploring the Potential of Cooperative Breweries for Community Development

This report considers a simple question: Can a cooperatively-owned brewery help build local social infrastructure and contribute to economic resiliency? As microbreweries continue to grow in popularity and take an increasing total market share of the beer industry in the U.S., more communities are seeking to attract this amenity, not just for the economic boost, but because breweries serve as symbols for vital communities both large and small. Rural communities enjoy substantial benefits from breweries, which provide a basis for tourism and a desirable amenity that helps to attract potential residents. The cooperative model offers the potential for more rural communities to have a brewery and for local breweries to share wealth, become invested, expand their economic resiliency. Cooperative breweries are community-based and social enterprises. This report investigates two cooperative breweries and in doing so, explores the motivations for choosing the cooperative model, the process and challenges of forming a cooperative brewery, and the intended and perceived effects of their formation for the members and communities in which they serve. Using Flora and Flora’s theory of entrepreneurial social infrastructure, I make sense of the preconditions, challenges, and consequent social benefits of this model in their successful development. The goal of this report is to provide insight for other community developers, local officials, and residents who want to consider whether this model is a good fit for their own town

Brewing Up Community: Exploring the Potential of Cooperative Breweries for Community Development

This report considers a simple question: Can a cooperatively-owned brewery help build local social infrastructure and contribute to economic resiliency? As microbreweries continue to grow in popularity and take an increasing total market share of the beer industry in the U.S., more communities are seeking to attract this amenity, not just for the economic boost, but because breweries serve as symbols for vital communities both large and small. Rural communities enjoy substantial benefits from breweries, which provide a basis for tourism and a desirable amenity that helps to attract potential residents. The cooperative model offers the potential for more rural communities to have a brewery and for local breweries to share wealth, become invested, expand their economic resiliency. Cooperative breweries are community-based and social enterprises. This report investigates two cooperative breweries and in doing so, explores the motivations for choosing the cooperative model, the process and challenges of forming a cooperative brewery, and the intended and perceived effects of their formation for the members and communities in which they serve. Using Flora and Flora’s theory of entrepreneurial social infrastructure, I make sense of the preconditions, challenges, and consequent social benefits of this model in their successful development. The goal of this report is to provide insight for other community developers, local officials, and residents who want to consider whether this model is a good fit for their own town.</p

Tracking the dynamic nature of learner individual differences: Initial results from a longitudinal study

Individual differences (IDs) have long been considered one of the most important factors explaining variable rates and outcomes in second language acquisition (Dewaele, 2013). While traditional operationalizations of IDs have, explicitly or implicitly, assumed that IDs are static traits that are stable through time, more recent research inspired by complex dynamic systems theory (Larsen-Freeman, 1997, 2020) demonstrates that many IDs are dynamic and variable through time and across contexts, a theme echoed throughout the current issue. This study reports the initial semester of a diachronic project investigating the dynamicity of four learner IDs: motivation, personality, learning and cognitive styles, and working memory. In the initial semester, data from 323 participants in their first year of university-level Spanish were collected and analyzed to determine what type of variability may be present across learners with respect to the four IDs studied at one time point and to discern possible learner profiles in the data or patterns via which the data may be otherwise meaningfully described. The results revealed four types of learner profiles present in the dataset

Identifying obstacles preventing the uptake of tunnel handling methods for laboratory mice: An international thematic survey

Handling of laboratory mice is essential for experiments and husbandry, but handling can increase anxiety in mice, compromising their welfare and potentially reducing replicability between studies. The use of non-aversive handling (e.g., tunnel handling or cupping), rather than the standard method of picking mice up by the tail, has been shown to enhance interaction with a handler, reduce anxiety-like behaviours, and increase exploration and performance in standard behavioural tests. Despite this, some labs continue to use tail handling for routine husbandry, and the extent to which non-aversive methods are being used is currently unknown. Here we conducted an international online survey targeting individuals that work with and/or conduct research using laboratory mice. The survey aimed to identify the handling methods currently being used, and to determine common obstacles that may be preventing the wider uptake of non-aversive handling. We also surveyed opinions concerning the current data in support of non-aversive handling for mouse welfare and scientific outcomes. 390 complete responses were received and analysed quantitatively and thematically. We found that 35% report using tail handling only, and 43% use a combination of tail and non-aversive methods. 18% of respondents reported exclusively using non-aversive methods. The vast majority of participants were convinced that non-aversive handling improves animal welfare and scientific outcomes. However, the survey indicated that researchers were significantly less likely to have heard of non-aversive handling and more likely to use tail handling compared with animal care staff. Thematic analysis revealed there were concerns regarding the time required for non-aversive methods compared with tail handling, and that there was a perceived incompatibility of tunnel handling with restraint, health checks and other routine procedures. Respondents also highlighted a need for additional research into the impact of handling method that is representative of experimental protocols and physiological indicators used in the biomedical fields. This survey highlights where targeted research, outreach, training and funding may have the greatest impact on increasing uptake of non-aversive handling methods for laboratory mice

The causes and consequences of inter-individual variation in corticosterone in the blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus

Corticosterone (CORT), the main glucocorticoid in birds, plays a fundamental role in maintaining homeostasis and energy-balance, and is therefore tightly linked to an individual’s energetic state and the prevalent environmental conditions. CORT also has pleiotropic effects, ranging from reproductive function, the regulation of behaviour, morphology and immune function. Thus, inter-individual variation in CORT can potentially underpin a range of life-history traits, and through its pleiotropic effects act as a physiological mediator of reproductive decisions, causing birds to direct resources towards reproduction or self-maintenance dependent upon energetic condition and/or environmental quality. In turn, the role of CORT as a mediator of life-history traits has lead to the suggestion that inter-individual variation in CORT may be associated with individual differences in fitness. Despite this, the causes and consequences of large inter-individual variation in baseline CORT, specifically during reproduction, remain relatively unknown. The main aim of this thesis was to address these knowledge gaps by monitoring a nest-box population of blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus, breeding on the east banks of Loch Lomond, UK over three years (2008-2010), and measuring baseline CORT concentrations in both adult and nestling birds at a standard stage of breeding in each year. Although environmental quality is often linked to variation in baseline CORT in breeding birds, this has rarely been investigated at the individual level. Chapter 2 focuses on the relationship between foraging conditions measured at the territory-scale and baseline CORT in adult and nestlings in 2008-2010. Synchrony with the peak in caterpillar abundance was the only factor to influence nestling CORT, and only in 2008. However, I found that synchrony between breeding and the peak in caterpillar abundance, weather variables and the density of oak trees influenced baseline CORT in adult birds. Importantly, the relationships between adult baseline CORT and these foraging conditions were only evident in some years; when conditions were most demanding. In addition, the effects of the foraging conditions measured upon adult baseline CORT appear to be synergetic and/or additive in nature. As inclement environmental conditions are often associated with elevated baseline CORT and reduced fitness in birds, it has been suggested that elevated baseline CORT should also be associated with reduced fitness (the ‘CORT-Fitness’ Hypothesis). However, this may not be the case, as modulation of CORT in the face of environmental challenges can adaptively influence physiology and behaviour to improve breeding performance and/or survival. In Chapter 3, I tested these assumptions and my results indicate that the foraging conditions linked to maternal baseline CORT differ to those associated with a proxy of fitness i.e. reproductive success. Specifically, maternal baseline CORT appears to be linked with factors that affect energetic demand, i.e. movement between trees, rather than reproductive success, i.e. total number of prey provided to offspring. In addition, in 2009 only, maternal baseline CORT was positively correlated with fledging number. In Chapter 4, I investigate whether there is a link between maternal baseline CORT and brood sex ratio adjustment over three years. I discovered that maternal baseline CORT was not correlated with brood sex ratio in any year. Maternal body condition, however, was linked to brood sex ratio adjustment in one year. Furthermore, experimental manipulation of maternal CORT during egg laying did not result in brood sex ratio adjustment or affect maternal condition, hatching success or chick development. Chapter 5 investigates the role of maternal baseline CORT in reproductive trade-offs. I reduced the costs of egg laying through supplemental feeding and compared maternal baseline CORT, brood care and maternal return rates between manipulated and control mothers. Reducing costs negated the physiological stress associated with provisioning effort in manipulated mothers and improved their return rates the following year compared with controls. Therefore, maternal CORT may mediate reproductive trade-offs in this species. As baseline CORT is often linked with energetic status and environmental conditions, and there is some evidence that CORT affects feather growth, I hypothesised that it may be linked to the expression of UV colouration in the crown feathers of female birds (Chapter 6). The results show that baseline CORT was indeed negatively correlated with UV colouration, and that UV colouration was positively correlated with reproductive success consistently over the three years, thus suggesting this trait signals maternal quality. Finally, Chapter 7 summarizes the main findings and considers how my results add to our knowledge base and discusses pertinent avenues of future research. This thesis presents compelling evidence that inter-individual variation in baseline CORT is significant, as the results show that it is associated with foraging conditions, reproductive success and may also influence reproductive trade-offs and UV plumage colouration. However, the results do not support a role for baseline CORT in brood sex ratio adjustments in blue tits. The results also reveal the complexity of the relationships between inter-individual variation in baseline CORT, environmental conditions and reproductive success. Specifically, both foraging conditions and proxies of fitness, i.e. reproductive success were linked to baseline CORT differently between years, most likely due to the contrasting conditions experienced in those years. Therefore, although inter-individual variation in CORT is linked to life-history traits in breeding birds, relating this variation to individual fitness is challenging. Furthermore, there remains a lack of knowledge concerning the repeatability of baseline CORT concentrations in blue tits. Ultimately, my thesis suggests that in order to achieve a full understanding of how inter-individual variation in baseline CORT is linked to fitness, single year or short-term studies are inadequate; instead, researchers must relate individual differences to long-term measures of fitness

Perch, Perca fluviatilis show a directional preference for, but do not increase attacks toward, prey in response to water-borne cortisol

In freshwater environments, chemosensory cues play an important role in predatorprey interactions. Prey use a variety of chemosensory cues to detect and avoid predators. However, whether predators use the chemical cues released by disturbed or stressed prey has received less attention. Here we tested the hypothesis that the disturbance cue cortisol, in conjunction with visual cues of prey, elevates predatory behavior. We presented predators (perch, Perca fluviatilis) with three chemosensory choice tests and recorded their location, orientation, and aggressive behavior. We compared the responses of predators when provided with (i) visual cues of prey only (two adjacent tanks containing sticklebacks); (ii) visual and natural chemical cues of prey vs. visual cues only; and (iii) visual cues of prey with cortisol vs. visual cues only. Perch spent a significantly higher proportion of time in proximity to prey, and orientated toward prey more, when presented with a cortisol stimulus plus visual cues, relative to presentations of visual and natural chemical cues of prey, or visual cues of prey only. There was a trend that perch directed a higher proportion of predatory behaviors (number of lunges) toward sticklebacks when presented with a cortisol stimulus plus visual cues, relative to the other chemosensory conditions. But they did not show a significant increase in total predatory behavior in response to cortisol. Therefore, it is not clear whether water-borne cortisol, in conjunction with visual cues of prey, affects predatory behavior. Our results provide evidence that cortisol could be a source of public information about prey state and/or disturbance, but further work is required to confirm this

Maintaining access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in a pandemic: a service evaluation of telephone-based pre-exposure prophylaxis provision

Objectives: The objective was to perform a survey-based service evaluation of our telephone PrEP clinic (Tele-PrEP), which was instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic, to inform future service delivery. // Methods: We administered parallel, web-based, anonymous surveys to PrEP-users who had a Tele-PrEP appointment between 13.11.2020 and 17.12.2020 and all healthcare professionals (HCPs) conducting Tele-PrEP clinics. We used descriptive statistics to summarise demographic and qualitative data, and thematically categorised free text responses using the Framework for a Systems Approach to Healthcare Delivery. // Results: 62/117 (53%) PrEP-users and 8/9 (89%) HCPs completed the surveys. Tele-PrEP was rated ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ by 61/62 (98%) PrEP-users. All HCPs felt that Tele-PrEP allowed them to assess patients safely and confidently. 10/62 (16%) PrEP-users and 1 (11%) HCP expressed a preference for face-to-face care. Using the Framework for a Systems Approach to Healthcare Delivery we identified key areas important to respondents who highlighted the rapid changes as a result of COVID-19, which required an increase in dedicated resources. HCPs valued teamwork, support/supervision and convenience in achieving quality care for the patient, who in turn, valued convenient, holistic and individualised management to meet their sexual healthcare needs. // Conclusion: Tele-PrEP is feasible and acceptable. While most respondents rated the service highly, others identified a need/preference for face-to-face appointments

Un modèle d’admission axé sur l’équité pour le recrutement des étudiants autochtones

Background: With the 2015 publication of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action, health professional schools are left grappling with how to increase the recruitment and success of Indigenous learners. Efforts to diversify trainee pools have long looked to quota-based approaches to recruit students from underserved communities, though such approaches pose dilemmas around meaningfully dismantling structural barriers to health professional education. Lessons shared here from developing one multi-layered admissions strategy highlight the importance of equity—rather than equality—in any recruitment for learners from medically underserved communities.&nbsp;&nbsp; Summary: The promotion of fairness in the recruitment of future practitioners is not just a question of equalizing access to, in this case, medical school; it involves recognizing the wider social and structural mechanisms that enable privileged access to the medical profession by members of dominant society. This recognition compels a shift in focus beyond merely giving the disadvantaged increased access to an unfair system, towards building tools to address deeper questions about what is meant by the kind of excellence expected of applicants, how it is to be measured, and to what extent these recruits may contribute to improved care for the communities from which they come.&nbsp; Conclusion:&nbsp;Equity-based approaches to student recruitment move health professional schools beyond the dilemma of recruiting students from marginalized backgrounds who happen to be most similar to the dominant student population. Achieving this requires a complex view of the target population, recognizing that disadvantage is experienced in many diverse ways, that barriers are encountered along a spectrum of access, and that equity may only emerge when a critically, socially conscious approach is embedded throughout institutional practices.Background: Depuis la publication en 2015 d’un appel à l’action de la Commission de vérité et réconciliation du Canada, les établissements de formation en sciences de la santé sont à la recherche de moyens d’accroître le recrutement et la réussite des apprenants autochtones. Les efforts visant à diversifier le bassin d’apprenant sont longtemps été axés sur la mise en place de quotas pour les étudiants issus de communautés mal desservies, mais de telles approches entraînent des choix difficiles quant au démantèlement approprié des obstacles structurels à la formation professionnelle dans le domaine de la santé. Les leçons tirées de l’élaboration d’une stratégie d’admission à plusieurs niveaux montrent l’importance de l’équité – plutôt que de l’égalité – dans tout recrutement d’apprenants issus de communautés défavorisées. Corps du texte&nbsp;: La promotion de l’équité dans le recrutement des futurs praticiens va bien au-delà de la garantie d’un accès égal, dans ce cas, à l’école de médecine; elle passe par la reconnaissance des mécanismes sociaux et structurels plus larges qui donnent aux membres des couches dominantes de la société un accès privilégié à la profession médicale. Cette reconnaissance exige de ne plus se contenter de donner aux personnes défavorisées un meilleur accès à un système injuste, mais à mettre en place des outils permettant de s’attaquer aux problématiques sous-jacentes liées au type d’excellence attendu des candidats, à la manière dont elle doit être mesurée et à la contribution que ces recrues peuvent apporter à l’amélioration des soins pour les communautés dont elles sont issues. Conclusion&nbsp;: Les approches fondées sur l’équité permettent aux écoles professionnelles de santé de dépasser le dilemme du recrutement d’étudiants issus de milieux marginalisés qui se trouvent être les plus semblables à la population étudiante dominante. Pour y parvenir, il faut adopter une vision complexe de la population cible et reconnaître que les désavantages sont vécus de nombreuses manières différentes, qu’il y a tout un éventail d’obstacles à l’accès, et, enfin, que l’équité ne sera pas établie tant qu’on n’aura pas intégré une approche critique et socialement consciente à l’ensemble des pratiques institutionnelles