TRA-928: FISH BARRIER MITIGATION OF AN OVERSTEEPENED CULVERT WITHIN SAUGEEN FIRST NATION RESERVE

A deteriorated concrete box culvert conveying a tributary of the Saugeen River under Highway 21 in Ontario had reached the end of its lifespan and was in need of replacement. The tributary supports a diverse range of coldwater fish species such as Rainbow Trout; however, fish passage, particularly upstream migration, has been cut off since the culvert and highway were constructed over seventy-five years ago. Specifically, fish passage has been hindered by shallow sheet flow along the sixty metre flat bottom, excessive velocities associated with the smooth, seven percent gradient, and a perched barrier at the downstream outlet. A key component of the culvert replacement was an effort to improve the overall condition of the tributary’s natural environment, including the promotion of fish passage and migration opportunities. The culvert replacement project undertaken by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and MMM Group, coupled resources with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) Environment office, Parsons biologists, and Aquafor geomorphologists. The most ecologically sensitive replacement methodology of an open bottom structure was not viable for this project as it would have required a full closure of the Highway for approximately four months. A circular steel pipe culvert installed through tunneling was designed to by-pass and replace the existing concrete box culvert. In an effort to mitigate the current barriers to fish with the new pipe culvert, a prefabricated corrugated steel slip liner with engineered baffle arrangement was integrated into the design. The baffle configuration and geometry was designed by Jason Duguay (Université de Sherbrooke) and Ken Hannaford (Gov. NFLD), and the slip liner construction by the Corrugated Steel Pipe Institute. Construction of the new culvert and slip liner was completed in December, 2015, and a two year monitoring program will be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of barrier mitigation and geomorphic stability of the tributary

Employer Responses to Dementia in the Workplace in Scotland

The reported study investigated how Scottish-based employers from different sectors respond to staff with dementia. Dementia is, and will increasingly be, a workplace issue as populations’ age, working lives extend and there is better recognition of early onset dementias and earlier diagnoses. To date, however, there is a little research on the workplace experiences of people with dementia and the policies, practices and attitudes of their employers. The requirement to support employees with dementia in the workplace has, amongst other things, a solid legal and human rights foundation. Dementia may be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 requiring employers to therefore make ‘reasonable adjustments’. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006, in turn, reinforces this.Using mixed-methods to interrogate workplace policies, practices and attitudes towards employees with dementia the study sought to: •discover the extent to which employers are currently meeting their legal, equality and human rights duties; •identify examples of good practice; and •make recommendations for possible adaptions so that legal and human rights standards can be met

Employer Responses to Dementia in the Workplace in Scotland

The reported study investigated how Scottish-based employers from different sectors respond to staff with dementia. Dementia is, and will increasingly be, a workplace issue as populations’ age, working lives extend and there is better recognition of early onset dementias and earlier diagnoses. To date, however, there is a little research on the workplace experiences of people with dementia and the policies, practices and attitudes of their employers. The requirement to support employees with dementia in the workplace has, amongst other things, a solid legal and human rights foundation. Dementia may be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 requiring employers to therefore make ‘reasonable adjustments’. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006, in turn, reinforces this.Using mixed-methods to interrogate workplace policies, practices and attitudes towards employees with dementia the study sought to: •discover the extent to which employers are currently meeting their legal, equality and human rights duties; •identify examples of good practice; and •make recommendations for possible adaptions so that legal and human rights standards can be met

Dementia in the workplace: are employers supporting employees living with dementia?

ObjectivesAs working lives extend and there is better recognition of early-onset dementias, employers need to consider dementia as a workplace concern. With suitable support, people living with dementia can continue employment – although this is not appropriate for all. The requirement for employers to support employees living with dementia has human rights and legal foundations. This paper considers whether employers consider dementia as a workplace concern; and the policies and/or practices available to support employees living with dementia. Thus, it develops understanding of whether employers are meeting their human rights/legislative obligations.MethodA sequential mixed-methods approach was employed, with data collection undertaken in Scotland (United Kingdom). An online survey was sent to employers across Scotland, with 331 participating. 30 employer interviews were conducted, with the survey results informing the interview approach.ResultsThe survey and interview data were analyzed separately and then combined and presented thematically. The themes identified were 1) Dementia as a workplace concern 2) Support for employees living with dementia and 3) Employer policy development and awareness raising. The findings demonstrate dementia awareness, but this knowledge is not applied to employment situations. There was little evidence suggesting that the rights of employees living with dementia are consistently upheld.ConclusionThis research sends out strong messages about the rights and legal position of person living with dementia which cannot be ignored. The continuing potential of employees living with dementia and their legal rights are not consistently recognized. This highlights the need for robust training interventions for employers

Dementia, Work and Employability: Using the Capability Approach to Understand the Employability Potential for People Living with Dementia

The importance of remaining in, or re-entering, the labour market is emphasised by governments internationally. While this may bring benefits, progressive disabilities such as dementia affect an individual’s employability. Although employers have legal obligations to support employees with disabilities, research suggests that employers are not providing this support to employees living with dementia and are undermining their capabilities. Drawing on interview data from 38 key informants collected over two studies, we explore the potential for supporting and promoting the employability of people living with dementia. A model of sustainable employability based on the Capability Approach is used as a lens to explore this issue. The findings demonstrate the implications of progressive disabilities for employability when the worker and their family are faced with dealing with a disability in a period of uncertainty with a lack of public and workplace understanding

Dementia, Work and Employability: Using the Capability Approach to Understand the Employability Potential for People Living with Dementia

The importance of remaining in, or re-entering, the labour market is emphasised by governments internationally. While this may bring benefits, progressive disabilities such as dementia affect an individual’s employability. Although employers have legal obligations to support employees with disabilities, research suggests that employers are not providing this support to employees living with dementia and are undermining their capabilities. Drawing on interview data from 38 key informants collected over two studies, we explore the potential for supporting and promoting the employability of people living with dementia. A model of sustainable employability based on the Capability Approach is used as a lens to explore this issue. The findings demonstrate the implications of progressive disabilities for employability when the worker and their family are faced with dealing with a disability in a period of uncertainty with a lack of public and workplace understanding

Clinical Study Individual-, Family-, Community-, and Policy-Level Impact of a School-Based Cardiovascular Risk Detection Screening Program for Children in Underserved, Rural Areas: The CARDIAC Project

The Coronary Artery Risk Detection In Appalachian Communities (CARDIAC) Project has screened more than 80,000 children (10-12 years) for cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors over the past 15 years. Simultaneous referral and intervention efforts have also contributed to the overall program impact. In this study, we examined evidence of programmatic impact in the past decade at the individual, family, community, and policy levels from child screening outcomes, referral rates, participation in subsequent services, and policies that embed the activities of the project as a significant element. Within this period of time, fifth-grade overweight and obesity rates were maintained at a time when rates elsewhere increased. 107 children were referred for additional screening and treatment for probable familial hypercholesterolemia (FH); 82 family members were subsequently screened in family-based screening efforts. 58 grants were distributed throughout the state for community-appropriate obesity intervention. A state wellness policy embedded CARDIAC as the method of assessment and national child cholesterol screening guidelines were impacted by CARDIAC findings. The sustainability and successful impact of this school-based program within a largely underserved, rural Appalachian state are also discussed

Bacterial Acquisition in Juveniles of Several Broadcast Spawning Coral Species

Coral animals harbor diverse microorganisms in their tissues, including archaea, bacteria, viruses, and zooxanthellae. The extent to which coral-bacterial associations are specific and the mechanisms for their maintenance across generations in the environment are unknown. The high diversity of bacteria in adult coral colonies has made it challenging to identify species-specific patterns. Localization of bacteria in gametes and larvae of corals presents an opportunity for determining when bacterial-coral associations are initiated and whether they are dynamic throughout early development. This study focuses on the early onset of bacterial associations in the mass spawning corals Montastraea annularis, M. franksi, M. faveolata, Acropora palmata, A. cervicornis, Diploria strigosa, and A. humilis. The presence of bacteria and timing of bacterial colonization was evaluated in gametes, swimming planulae, and newly settled polyps by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using general eubacterial probes and laser-scanning confocal microscopy. The coral species investigated in this study do not appear to transmit bacteria via their gametes, and bacteria are not detectable in or on the corals until after settlement and metamorphosis. This study suggests that mass-spawning corals do not acquire, or are not colonized by, detectable numbers of bacteria until after larval settlement and development of the juvenile polyp. This timing lays the groundwork for developing and testing new hypotheses regarding general regulatory mechanisms that control bacterial colonization and infection of corals, and how interactions among bacteria and juvenile polyps influence the structure of bacterial assemblages in corals