Residential proximity to conventional and unconventional wells and exposure to indoor air volatile organic compounds in the Exposures in the Peace River Valley (EXPERIVA) study.

Background: In a previous study located in Northeastern British Columbia (Canada), we observed associations between density and proximity of oil and gas wells and indoor air concentrations of certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Whether conventional or unconventional well types and phases of unconventional development contribute to these associations remains unknown.

Objective: To investigate the associations between proximity-based metrics for conventional and unconventional wells and measured indoor air VOC concentrations in the Exposures in the Peace River Valley (EXPERIVA) study samples.

Levels and trends of persistent organic pollutants in human populations living in the Arctic.

The Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP) is tasked with monitoring and assessing the status of environmental contaminants in the Arctic, documenting levels and trends, and producing science-based assessments. The objectives of this paper are to present the current levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) across the Arctic, and to identify trends and knowledge gaps as detailed in the most recent AMAP Human Health Assessment Report. Many Arctic populations continue to have elevated levels of these contaminants, and the highest levels of POPs were observed in populations from Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Nunavik (Canada), as well as populations in the coastal Chukotka district (Russia) for legacy POPs only.

Distribution and habitat use patterns of the endangered Central American clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides oncilla) in Costa Rica.

Montane cloud forests are highly threatened ecosystems that are vulnerable to climate change. These complex habitats harbor many species that suffer the negative consequences of this global phenomenon, such as shifts in their distribution and habitat use. The Central American clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides oncilla) is the smallest and most endangered wild cat in Mesoamerica and is primarily reported in cloud forests throughout its distribution.

pH Affects the Spontaneous Formation of HO at the Air-Water Interfaces.

Recent studies have shown that the air-water interface of aqueous microdroplets is a source of OH radicals and hydrogen peroxide in the atmosphere. Several parameters such as droplet size, salt, and organic content have been suggested to play key roles in the formation of these oxidants. In this study, we focus on the effect of acidity on the spontaneous interfacial hydrogen peroxide formation of salt-containing droplets.

Association between mass media exposure and HIV testing uptake in Cameroon.

In sub-Saharan African countries, mass media is critical in disseminating health information, including the need for HIV testing. Yet, in Cameroon, there is a dearth of studies examining how exposure to mass media is effective in the uptake of HIV testing. Using the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey, we examined the association between exposure to mass media and HIV testing among sexually active women (n = 12,619) and men (n = 5,607).

Connectome-constrained networks predict neural activity across the fly visual system.

We can now measure the connectivity of every neuron in a neural circuit, but we cannot measure other biological details, including the dynamical characteristics of each neuron. The degree to which measurements of connectivity alone can inform the understanding of neural computation is an open question. Here we show that with experimental measurements of only the connectivity of a biological neural network, we can predict the neural activity underlying a specified neural computation.

Cognitive Dysfunction in the Addictions (CDiA): A Neuron to Neighbourhood Collaborative Research Program on Executive Dysfunction and Functional Outcomes in Outpatients Seeking Treatment for Addiction.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are pressing global public health problems. Executive functions (EFs) are prominently featured in mechanistic models of addiction. However, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of EFs in SUDs, including the dimensional relationships of EFs to underlying neural circuits, molecular biomarkers, disorder heterogeneity, and functional ability.

Interface Engineering by Unsubstituted Pristine Nickel Phthalocyanine as Hole Transport Material for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been rapidly developed in the past decade. With the development of a PSC, interface engineering plays an increasingly important role in maximizing device performance and long-term stability. We report a simple and effective interface engineering method for achieving improvement of PSCs up to 20% by employing unsubstituted pristine nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc).

Three pathways to better recognize the expertise of Global South researchers.

It is widely perceived how research institutes have been adopting the discourse of champions of diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) in recent years. Despite progress in diversity and inclusion in the academic environment, we highlight here that nothing or, at very best, little work has been done to overcome the scientific labor division in academic research that promotes neocolonial practices in academic recognition and jeopardizes equity. In this piece, we bring secondary data that reinforce biased patterns in academic recognition between Global North and South (geographical markers and citation bias), and propose three actions that should be adopted by researchers, research institutes, journals, and scientific societies from the Global North that allows for a fairer recognition of the academic expertise produced by the Global South.

Getting to the root of root-microbe interactions.

Microbial relationships with roots influence many ecosystem functions and nutrient fluxes, including their sometimes-profound effects on plant health and productivity. Fine roots were often classified with a diameter less than 2 mm, but fine roots under that size perform distinct functional roles in the environment. Importantly, two broad functional categories of fine roots are and , with absorptive fine roots acting as metabolic hotspots for root activity.

Amazonian rivers are leaky barriers to gene flow in forest understory birds.

Ever since Alfred Russel Wallace's nineteenth-century observation that related terrestrial species are often separated on opposing riverbanks, major Amazonian rivers have been recognized as key drivers of speciation. However, rivers are dynamic entities whose widths and courses may vary through time. It thus remains unknown how effective rivers are at reducing gene flow and promoting speciation over long timescales.

Education level is associated with the occurrence and timing of hysterectomy: A cohort study of Canadian women.

Introduction: Hysterectomy is a common surgery with discernible practice variations that could be influenced by socioeconomic factors. We examined the association between level of educational attainment and the occurrence and timing of hysterectomy in Canadian women.

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 30 496 females in the Alberta's Tomorrow Project (2000-2015) followed approximately every 4 years using self-report questionnaires.

Isotope-based source assessment of water flowing from storm sewer systems to a receiving river during dry weather periods.

Urban stormwater management systems, particularly storm sewers, are critical for managing runoff in urban areas. These systems are designed to function during wet weather events; however, field-based observations of these systems suggest that they may also be active flow pathways in dry weather conditions, ultimately contributing to streamflow. Unlike dry weather flow in wastewater systems, storm sewer dry weather flow has not been thoroughly explored.

Association of parity with the timing and type of menopause: A longitudinal cohort study.

We investigated the time-varying association between parity and timing of natural menopause, surgical menopause, and premenopausal hysterectomy among 23,728 women aged 40-65 years at enrollment in the Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort study (2000-2022), using flexible parametric survival analysis. Overall, natural menopause was most common by study end (57.2%), followed by premenopausal hysterectomy (11.

Pregnancy complications and new-onset maternal autoimmune disease.

Background: Autoimmune diseases disproportionately impact women and female-specific aspects of reproduction are thought to play a role. We investigated the time-varying association between pregnancy complications and new-onset autoimmune disease in females during the reproductive and midlife years.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of 1 704 553 singleton births to 1 072 445 females in Ontario, Canada (2002-17) with no pre-existing autoimmune disease.

β-diketone accumulation in response to drought stress is weakened in modern bread wheat varieties ( L.).

Cuticular waxes coating leaf surfaces can help plants tolerate drought events by reducing non-stomatal water loss. Despite their role in drought tolerance, little is known about how cuticular wax composition has changed during breeding in Canadian bread wheat ( L.) varieties.

Resting vagally-mediated heart rate variability in the laboratory is associated with momentary negative affect and emotion regulation in daily life.

Vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is a physiological index reflecting parasympathetic activity that has been linked to emotion regulation (ER) capacity. However, very limited research has examined associations of physiological indices of regulation such as vmHRV with emotional functioning in daily life. The few studies that exist have small samples sizes and typically focus on only a narrow aspect of ER or emotional functioning.

Levels and trends of metals in human populations living in the Arctic.

The 2021 Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP)'s Human Health Assessment report presents a summary of the presence of contaminants in human populations across the circumpolar Arctic and provides an update to the previous assessment released in 2015. The primary objective of this paper is to summarise some of these findings by describing the current levels of metals across the Arctic, including key regional and temporal trends based on available national data and literature, and highlight knowledge gaps. Many Arctic populations continue to have elevated levels of these contaminants, and the highest levels of mercury (Hg) were observed in populations from Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Nunavik (Canada).

Voice from both sides: a molecular dialogue between transcriptional activators and repressors in seed-to-seedling transition and crop adaptation.

High-quality seeds provide valuable nutrients to human society and ensure successful seedling establishment. During maturation, seeds accumulate storage compounds that are required to sustain seedling growth during germination. This review focuses on the epigenetic repression of the embryonic and seed maturation programs in seedlings.

Resilience throughout COVID-19: Unmasking the realities of COVID-19 and vaccination facilitators, barriers, and attitudes among Black Canadians.

Black communities have suffered disproportionately higher numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Canada. Recognizing the significance of supporting targeted strategies with vulnerable populations extends beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, as it addresses longstanding health disparities and promotes equitable access to healthcare. The present study investigated 1) experiences with COVID-19, 2) COVID-19's impact, and 3) factors that have influenced COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake among stakeholders and partners from the Federation of Black Canadians' (FBC).

Serendipitous Pathways and Elusive Definitions: Leadership in Continuing Professional Development.

Introduction: Although the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) field has rapidly expanded in scope, breadth, and depth, there is a gap in how we understand CPD leadership and the role of the leader. Previous scholarship indicates that there is neither an agreed on set of competencies for CPD leadership roles nor a distinct pathway towards those roles. This study is aimed at answering the following question: How is leadership described or defined in CPD and what are the contextual issues that are and/or should be shaping its evolution?

Methods: Conducted between 2020 and 2022, CPD leadership program learners and CPD leaders with a range of leadership expertise were identified using convenience and purposive sampling and invited to participate in this study.

Choosing Suitable Color Palettes for Accessible and Accurate Science Figures.

In a scientific context, a suitable color choice is more than simple decoration. Color handling, as part of scientific visualization, is a scientific methodology that is one of the most widely used, given the importance of figures and images in conveying results. Yet, an expert-level understanding and application of proper scientific coloring is rare.