“A Great Investment in Our Communities”: Strengthening Nunavut’s Whole-of-Society Search and Rescue Capabilities

Community-based organizations along with territorial, provincial, and federal agencies are responsible for search and rescue (SAR) in the Canadian Arctic. In delivering response capabilities at all hours of the day and for 365 days a year, the community-based organizations face a wide array of challenges. Using the data collected through the Kitikmeot Search and Rescue Project and the Kitikmeot Roundtable on SAR, coupled with academic and non-government organization literature, this article explores the major challenges facing community SAR organizations in Nunavut and builds a case for how targeted investment can best bolster community-based capabilities. We suggest novel, practical, and holistic solutions that have been proposed by or co-devised with community partners, are rooted in the unique context of Nunavut’s communities, and are reflective of a community resilience-building approach. One set of recommendations involves strengthening current programming, including the expansion of Nunavut Emergency Management’s inReach program, continued support for the enlargement of the CCGA, streamlining the process to activate Canadian Ranger patrols, and encouraging greater cooperation in the provision of training by federal and territorial agencies. We also propose new approaches, including a whole-of-society preventative SAR program centred on educational and youth programming, the adoption of a SAR equipment usage rate model, and the launch of a Community Public Safety Officer program in Nunavut. Finally, to justify greater investment at the community level, we argue that policymakers must change how they conceptualize community-based SAR capabilities in Nunavut. An effective SAR system is about more than the ability to respond to emergency events. It is a critical enabler to broader objectives and goals prioritized in the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework and other federal, territorial, and Inuit strategies. Dans l’Arctique canadien, les activités de recherche et sauvetage (SAR) relèvent des organisations communautaires ainsi que des organismes territoriaux, provinciaux et fédéraux. Les organisations communautaires doivent fournir ces services 24 heures sur 24, 365 jours par année et ce faisant, elles éprouvent toutes sortes de difficultés. S’appuyant sur les données du projet de recherche et sauvetage de Kitikmeot et de la table ronde de Kitikmeot sur les activités de SAR, ainsi que sur la documentation des organisations non gouvernementales et universitaires, cet article explore les principales difficultés auxquelles les organisations de SAR font face au Nunavut et démontre comment un investissement ciblé peut rehausser les capacités communautaires. Nous suggérons des solutions pratiques, nouvelles et holistiques proposées ou conçues en collaboration avec des partenaires communautaires, enracinées dans le contexte unique des collectivités du Nunavut et axées sur une approche communautaire visant le renforcement de la résilience. Un ensemble de recommandations consiste à solidifier les programmes actuels, dont l’expansion du programme inReach de gestion des urgences du Nunavut et de la Garde côtière auxiliaire canadienne, à rationaliser le processus d’activation des patrouilles des Rangers canadiens, et à favoriser une plus grande collaboration en ce qui a trait à la formation dispensée par les organismes fédéraux et territoriaux. Nous proposons aussi de nouvelles approches, dont un programme de SAR préventif pour l’ensemble de la société axé sur la programmation destinée aux jeunes et sur la sensibilisation, l’adoption d’un modèle du taux d’utilisation de l’équipement de SAR, et le lancement d’un programme d’agents de la sécurité publique communautaire au Nunavut. Pour conclure, afin de justifier un plus grand investissement au niveau communautaire, nous soutenons que les décideurs politiques doivent modifier leur façon de conceptualiser les capacités communautaires de SAR au Nunavut. L’efficacité d’un système de SAR ne réside pas seulement dans la capacité à intervenir en cas d’urgence. Il s’agit aussi d’un instrument critique permettant d’élargir les buts et les objectifs priorisés dans le cadre de référence des politiques de l’Arctique et du Nord et d’autres stratégies fédérales, territoriales et inuites.

High-efficiency biolistic co-transformation and regeneration of 'Chardonnay' ( Vitis vinifera L.) containing npt-II and antimicrobial peptide genes

A reliable and efficient system for transformation and regeneration of 'Chardonnay' (Vitis vinifera L.) plants via microprojectile bombardment was developed. Improvements over the previous biolistic transformation system included: (1) the use of gold particles for bombardment; (2) step-wise selection at 10 then 15mg/l kanamycin; and (3) embryo induction at 27°C. Embryogenic cell cultures were either bombarded with pBI426, which contains the reporter gene gus (uidA) coding for β-glucuronidase (GUS), or were co-bombarded with pSAN237 carrying the npt-II (neomycin phosphotransferase II) selectable marker gene, and a second plasmid with an antimicrobial peptide gene. A large number of transient (7,883±1,928) and stable (46±32) blue spots per plate at 2 and 95days after bombardment, respectively, were obtained according to GUS expression analyses. A total of 447 putative transgenic embryos was harvested from 84 bombarded plates. From these embryos, 242 (54%) were regenerated into plants within the first year of the experiment. Southern blot analyses confirmed integration of the transgenes into the grape genome. Co-transformation was tested with four separate antimicrobial constructs. The co-transformation frequency of unlinked genes was 48% as measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 56% as estimated by dot blot hybridization. Expression of the gus gene, and PCR and Southern blot analyses of npt-II and antimicrobial genes from regenerated plants document stable transformation of 'Chardonnay' and establish the parameters for highly-efficient biolistic transformation in V. vinifer

Finger somatotopy is preserved after tetraplegia but deteriorates over time

Previous studies showed reorganised and/or altered activity in the primary sensorimotor cortex after a spinal cord injury (SCI), suggested to reflect abnormal processing. However, little is known about whether somatotopically specific representations can be activated despite reduced or absent afferent hand inputs. In this observational study, we used functional MRI and a (attempted) finger movement task in tetraplegic patients to characterise the somatotopic hand layout in primary somatosensory cortex. We further used structural MRI to assess spared spinal tissue bridges. We found that somatotopic hand representations can be activated through attempted finger movements in the absence of sensory and motor hand functioning, and no spared spinal tissue bridges. Such preserved hand somatotopy could be exploited by rehabilitation approaches that aim to establish new hand-brain functional connections after SCI (e.g. neuroprosthetics). However, over years since SCI the hand representation somatotopy deteriorated, suggesting that somatotopic hand representations are more easily targeted within the first years after SCI

Growth Manipulation of Slicer Carrots by Foliar-applied Gibberellic Acid in New York

New York, USA, is a regional hub for processing carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) production and Nantes-type cultivars are preferred for slicing. Diameter is critical in carrots for slicing, with roots larger than 1 5/8 inch being rejected. The potential to manipulate carrot root diameter and hence suitability for slicing by foliar-applied gibberellic acid (GA3) was tested in four small plot replicated field trials over 3 years (2020, 2021, and 2022). In the most efficacious treatments, GA3 resulted in a 23.1% to 135.4% increase in foliar biomass at the expense of root weight and diameter. Increases in foliar biomass are beneficial to facilitate top-pulling harvest. Reductions in root diameter from GA3 ranged from 9.5% to 19.6%, and in 2020 and 2022, increased the proportion of roots suitable for slicing. GA3 did not significantly affect root length and number. In two 2021 trials, GA3 increased color intensity quantified by a colorimeter, but this change was not noticeable to the naked eye. The optimal number of GA3 applications was seasonally dependent, ranging from a single application at 107 to 108 days after planting (DAP) in 2021, to two applications at 74 + 92 DAP in 2022. Three GA3 applications per season or late applications (up to 14 days prior to harvest) were not beneficial

Cost-effectiveness of adherence therapy versus health education for people with schizophrenia: randomised controlled trial in four European countries.

BACKGROUND: Non-adherence to anti-psychotics is common, expensive and affects recovery. We therefore examine the cost-effectiveness of adherence therapy for people with schizophrenia by multi-centre randomised trial in Amsterdam, London, Leipzig and Verona. METHODS: Participants received 8 sessions of adherence therapy or health education. We measured lost productivity and use of health/social care, criminal justice system and informal care at baseline and one year to estimate and compare mean total costs from health/social care and societal perspectives. Outcomes were the Short Form 36 (SF-36) mental component score (MCS) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained (SF-36 and EuroQoL 5 dimension (EQ5D)). Cost-effectiveness was examined for all cost and outcome combinations using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEACs). RESULTS: 409 participants were recruited. There were no cost or outcome differences between adherence therapy and health education. The probability of adherence therapy being cost-effective compared to health education was between 0.3 and 0.6 for the six cost-outcome combinations at the willingness to pay thresholds we examined. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence therapy appears equivalent to health education. It is unclear whether it would have performed differently against a treatment as usual control, whether such an intervention can impact on quality of life in the short-term, or whether it is likely to be cost-effective in some sites but not others. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN01816159.Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme of the European Union (grant number QLG4-CT-2001-01734

Anticholinergic and Sedative Medications and Dynamic Gait Parameters in Older Patients

BACKGROUND: Anticholinergic and sedative medications are associated with poorer physical function in older age. Gait and physical function have traditionally been assessed with the time needed to execute objective function tests. Accelerometer-based gait parameters provide a precise capturing of gait dynamics and patterns and as such have added value. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the associations between cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications and gait dimensions as assessed with accelerometer-based dynamic gait parameters. METHODS: Data were collected from outpatients of a diagnostic geriatric day clinic who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was quantified with the Drug Burden Index (DBI), a linear additive pharmacological dose-response model. From a total of 22 dynamic gait parameters, the gait dimensions 'Regularity', 'Complexity', 'Stability', 'Pace', and 'Postural Control' were derived using factor analysis (and standardized total scores for these dimensions were calculated accordingly). Data were analyzed with multivariable linear regression analysis, in which adjustment was made for the covariates age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) including dementia, and number of medications not included in the DBI. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients participated, whose mean age was 79.8 years (± SD 5.8), of whom 110 (60%) were women and of whom 88 (48%) had polypharmacy (i.e., received treatment with ≥5 medications). Of the 893 medications that were prescribed in total, 157 medications (17.6%) had anticholinergic and/or sedative properties. Of the patients, 100 (54%) had no exposure (DBI = 0), 42 (23%) had moderate exposure (0 > DBI ≤ 1), while another 42 (23%) had high exposure (DBI >1) to anticholinergic and sedative medications. Findings showed that high cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was related with poorer function on the Regularity and Pace dimensions. Furthermore, moderate and high exposure were associated with poorer function on the Complexity dimension. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that in older patients with comorbidities, cumulative anticholinergic and sedative exposure is associated with poorer function on multiple gait dimensions

Maritime search and rescue in Nunavut, Canada : strengthening the system from the bottom up

Due to the impacts of climate change, maritime search and rescue requirements are increasing across Nunavut. The region’s vast size and cold climate combine to make time the enemy of all responders. The substantial distances involved in responding with Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) icebreakers or Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft based in the South mean that the arrival of federal resources on scene can take significant time. There are few vessels of opportunity in the region. Historically, however, there has been little sustained investment in community-based marine Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities in the territory. This started to change in 2015 with the launch of the CCG’s Arctic SAR Project and, in 2018, with the creation of the Coast Guard’s new Arctic Region. This poster outlines the status of the community-based marine SAR system in Nunavut, assess efforts by the Coast Guard and its partners to strengthen the system, and suggest broadly applicable best practices

Malleability of the cortical hand map following a finger nerve block

Electrophysiological studies in monkeys show that finger amputation triggers local remapping within the deprived primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Human neuroimaging research, however, shows persistent S1 representation of the missing hand's fingers, even decades after amputation. Here, we explore whether this apparent contradiction stems from underestimating the distributed peripheral and central representation of fingers in the hand map. Using pharmacological single-finger nerve block and 7-tesla neuroimaging, we first replicated previous accounts (electrophysiological and other) of local S1 remapping. Local blocking also triggered activity changes to nonblocked fingers across the entire hand area. Using methods exploiting interfinger representational overlap, however, we also show that the blocked finger representation remained persistent despite input loss. Computational modeling suggests that both local stability and global reorganization are driven by distributed processing underlying the topographic map, combined with homeostatic mechanisms. Our findings reveal complex interfinger representational features that play a key role in brain (re)organization, beyond (re)mapping