Beyond More Houses: A Multimethod Secondary Analysis of Federal Housing Programs, Household Crowding, and Health in First Nations Communities in Saskatchewan

Housing is a social determinant of health and specific equity concern for First Nations Peoples living on-reserve in Canada. Lasting results of discriminatory colonial structures and federal government control on-reserve include challenges with housing quality and quantity. Some First Nations face distressing levels of housing shortages and household crowding. This study was a multimethod secondary analysis of data collected in two community-based research studies with First Nations in Saskatchewan. The main research question was “What relationships exist between federal housing programs, household crowding, and health among First Nations Peoples living on-reserve in Saskatchewan?” Specific sub-questions were “How do First Nations Peoples in two communities in Saskatchewan describe challenges and solutions related to household crowding on-reserve?” and “What is the relationship between household crowding and (a) overall physical health, (b) overall mental health, and (c) chronic and infectious respiratory diseases among First Nations Peoples living on-reserve in two communities in Saskatchewan?” I undertook a qualitative secondary analysis of 34 interviews with First Nations adults living on-reserve to answer the first sub-question, where I identified four themes: (1) designing for kinship, (2) relieving system pressure, (3) planning instead of reacting, and (4) renovating alongside building. I completed a quantitative secondary analysis of interviewer-administered surveys from 831 First Nations adults living on-reserve to answer the second sub-question, where I identified the household crowding measure was significantly associated with chronic bronchitis diagnosis. Integration of findings to answer the overarching research question emphasized that federal housing systems need to change to improve housing status and related health outcomes on-reserve. Suggested federal-level changes include the provision of sufficient and sustained funding and support of First Nations’ control

A New Look at Family Migration and Women's Employment Status

Family migration has a negative impact on women’s employment status. Using longitudinal data from the British Household Panel Survey (3,617 women; 22,354 women/wave observations) we consider two neglected issues. First, instead of relying on the distance moved to distinguish employment-related migrations, we use information on the reason for moving, allowing us to separate employment-related moves, stimulated by the man or the woman, from other moves. Second, we consider selection effects and the role of state dependence in relation to women’s employment status prior to moving. Moving for the sake of the man’s job has a significant negative effect on subsequent employment status for previously employed women. Women who were not employed previously benefited only slightly from family migration

Convergent genetic and expression data implicate immunity in Alzheimer's disease

Background Late–onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is heritable with 20 genes showing genome wide association in the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project (IGAP). To identify the biology underlying the disease we extended these genetic data in a pathway analysis. Methods The ALIGATOR and GSEA algorithms were used in the IGAP data to identify associated functional pathways and correlated gene expression networks in human brain. Results ALIGATOR identified an excess of curated biological pathways showing enrichment of association. Enriched areas of biology included the immune response (p = 3.27×10-12 after multiple testing correction for pathways), regulation of endocytosis (p = 1.31×10-11), cholesterol transport (p = 2.96 × 10-9) and proteasome-ubiquitin activity (p = 1.34×10-6). Correlated gene expression analysis identified four significant network modules, all related to the immune response (corrected p 0.002 – 0.05). Conclusions The immune response, regulation of endocytosis, cholesterol transport and protein ubiquitination represent prime targets for AD therapeutics

The rumen microbial metagenome associated with high methane production in cattle

Acknowledgements The Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health and SRUC are funded by the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) of the Scottish Government. The project was supported by Defra and the DA funded Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research Platform, the Technology Strategy Board (Project No: TP 5903–40240) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC; BB/J004243/1, BB/J004235/1). Our thanks are due to the excellent support staff at the SRUC Beef and Sheep Research Centre, Edinburgh, and to Silvia Ramos Garcia for help in interrogating the data. MW and RR contributed equally to the paper and should be considered as joint last authors.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Biological and trophic consequences of genetic introgression between endemic and invasive Barbus fishes.

Genetic introgression with native species is recognized as a detrimental impact resulting from biological invasions involving taxonomically similar invaders. Whilst the underlying genetic mechanisms are increasingly understood, the ecological consequences of introgression are relatively less studied, despite their utility for increasing knowledge on how invasion impacts can manifest. Here, the ecological consequences of genetic introgression from an invasive congener were tested using the endemic barbel populations of central Italy, where the invader was the European barbel Barbus barbus. Four populations of native Barbus species (B. plebejus and B. tyberinus) were studied: two purebred and two completely introgressed with alien B. barbus. Across the four populations, differences in their biological traits (growth, body condition and population demographic structure) and trophic ecology (gut content analysis and stable isotope analysis) were tested. While all populations had similar body condition and were dominated by fish up to 2 years of age, the introgressed fish had substantially greater lengths at the same age, with maximum lengths 410-460 mm in hybrids versus 340-360 mm in native purebred barbel. The population characterized by the highest number of introgressed B. barbus alleles (81 %) had the largest trophic niche and a substantially lower trophic position than the other populations through its exploitation of a wider range of resources (e.g. small fishes and plants). These results attest that the genetic introgression of an invasive congener with native species can result in substantial ecological consequences, including the potential for cascading effects. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-021-02577-6

Preventing type 2 diabetes among Indigenous youth: A systematic review of community-based interventions

ABSTRACTA systematic review was conducted to assess evidence on effectiveness of community-based interventions promoting wellbeing and prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among Indigenous youth. A convergent, segregated, mixed methods approach was used, with six databases and four grey literature sites searched from inception to May 2022. Articles selected for inclusion were about community-based interventions related to T2D prevention with Indigenous youth that evaluated effectiveness or youth experience published in English. Reference lists were also searched for relevant sources. Seven quantitative research articles met the inclusion and quality assessment criteria. No qualitative articles were identified. The results were synthesised through narrative analysis, while meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogenous study designs. Common foci across interventions included promoting physical wellness, improving physical activity and healthy eating patterns, enhancing knowledge, and psychosocial wellness. Interventions deemed effective addressed multiple areas, were school-based, and operated for at least a year. Findings support multi-strategy, community-based interventions implemented over longer periods of time. However, gaps in research and reporting included the extent to which interventions are culturally informed and based on community-driven priorities. Future research should include Indigenous, mixed and qualitative methods and Indigenous-driven measures of success to better understand effectiveness in alignment with Indigenous worldviews

Development of mini-SSPedi for children 4–7 years of age receiving cancer treatments

Abstract Background The Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) is valid for assessing symptoms in children aged 8–18 years receiving cancer treatments. The objective was to develop a new self-report symptom screening tool for children receiving cancer treatments who are 4–7 years of age (mini-SSPedi), based on SSPedi. Methods Respondents were children with cancer or pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients who were 4–7 years of age. We included the same 15 symptoms contained in SSPedi. Using cognitive interviewing, we developed mini-SSPedi in three phases and made decisions based upon respondent understanding. First, we developed questionnaire structure regarding recall period, concept of bother and response option format. Second, we determined wording of each symptom. Third, we evaluated the entire mini-SSPedi instrument for understanding and ease of completion. Results We enrolled 100 participants in total and included 30, 40 and 30 in each of the three phases. Questionnaire structure was satisfactory with a recall period of “today” and a faces-based 3-point Likert scale. Bother was well-understood. Five symptoms required modification to achieve satisfactory understanding while the remaining 10 SSPedi symptoms did not require modification. Among the last 10 children enrolled, all understood each mini-SSPedi item and none thought mini-SSPedi was hard to complete. Conclusion We developed a symptom screening tool for children with cancer and pediatric HSCT recipients between 4 and 7 years of age that is understandable and easy to complete. Future work will evaluate the psychometric properties of mini-SSPedi and develop an electronic version of the instrument

Community structure and feeding ecology of mesopelagic fishes in the slope waters of King-George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica)

The role of mesopelagic fishes in the Southern Ocean ecosystem and more particular their trophic effect on the standing stock of mesozooplankton is at present poorly understood. To get a deeper insight in the Antarctic mid-water ecosystem the mesopelagic fish community of the King George Island slope (South Shetland Islands) was sampled with a pelagic trawl in 1996. The community structure was analysed and the feeding ecology was studied of the five most abundant species. A total of 18 mesopelagic fish species in 10 families was identified. Of these, the Myctophidae was the most important family by species number (9 species), individual number (98.5% of all individuals)and fish wet weight (87.3% of the total weight). The assemblage was numerically dominated by four myctophids (Electrona antarctica, Gymnoscopelus braueri, Gymnoscopelus nicholsi,Protomyctophum bolini) and one gempilyd (Paradiplospinus gracilis). Multivariate statisticalanalysis of the mesopelagic fish data reveals two major groups of stations according to the sampleddepth: a shallow group of stations (295â450 m depth) and a deeper group of stations (440â825 mdepth). The change in relative abundance of mesopelagic fish species at 440â450 m coincides withthe presence of warmer and denser Circumpolar Deep Water at and below these depths. Deeperstations were characterized by a higher density and increased diversity of mesopelagic fish species.The community patterns identified correlated well with the vertical depth distribution of the mostabundant species. Dietary analysis reveals that myctophids are mostly zooplanktivorous, while thegempilyd P. gracilis is classified as a piscivorous predator. The small P. bolini feed mainly oncopepods of the species Metridia gerlachei, while the most important prey item of the largermyctophids E. antarctica, G. braueri, and G. nicholsi were various species of euphausiids.Investigation of feeding chronology showed that G. nicholsi and P. bolini were feeding day andnight. Daily ration estimates for myctophid species ranged from 0.28% to 3.3% of dry body weight(0.5â5.94% of wet body weight). Krill (Euphausia superba) were the most important food of E.antarctica and G. nicholsi, accounting for 53.1% and 58.3% of the total food weight, respectively.The annual removal from the krill stock by both species was estimated to amount to 11.1â26.7% inthe South Shetland Islands region. This estimate emphasizes the important role of mesopelagic fish inthe Antarctic ecosystem as a prevalent consumer of krill

Initial development of Supportive care Assessment, Prioritization and Recommendations for Kids (SPARK), a symptom screening and management application

Abstract Background We developed Supportive care Prioritization, Assessment and Recommendations for Kids (SPARK), a web-based application designed to facilitate symptom screening by children receiving cancer treatments and access to supportive care clinical practice guidelines primarily by healthcare providers. The objective was to describe the initial development and evaluation of SPARK from the perspective of children. Implementation Development and evaluation occurred in three phases: (1) low fidelity focused on functionality, (2) design focused on “look and feel” and (3) high fidelity confirmed functionality and design. Cognitive interviews were conducted with children receiving cancer treatments 8–18 years of age. Evaluation occurred after every five interviews and changes were guided by a Review Panel. Quantitative evaluation included SPARK ease of use and understandability of SPARK reports. Results The number of children included by phase were: low fidelity (n = 30), design (n = 30) and high fidelity (n = 30). Across phases, the median age was 13.2 (range 8.5 to 18.4) years. During low-fidelity and design phases, iterative refinements to SPARK improved website navigation, usability and likability from the perspective of children and established symptom report design. Among the last 10 children enrolled to high-fidelity testing, all (100%) understood how to complete symptom screening, access reports and interpret reports. Among these 10 respondents, all (100%) found SPARK easy to use and 9 (90%) found SPARK reports were easy to understand. Conclusions SPARK is a web-based application which is usable and understandable, and it is now appropriate to use for research. Future efforts will focus on clinical implementation of SPARK