Adaptive governance for fire management planning : a case study on Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan

Fire is a natural ecological process in the boreal forest, but also a threat to human lives, properties and other values at risk. The challenge is to find a way to manage fire where both the positive and negative aspects of fire are effectively balanced. This is especially important since more frequent and intense wildfires are predicted in the future due to climate change. There is also a need for increased cooperation across jurisdictions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Canadian fire management. To address the current and future challenges of fire management, this thesis argues that an effective and adaptive governance approach is needed. The purpose of the study was to develop principles, criteria and indicators of adaptive governance and to apply this framework to fire management planning in Prince Albert National Park (PANP), Saskatchewan. Because of the need to include other agencies with fire responsibilities, the study also focused on the interagency cooperation with Saskatchewan Environment (SE), the provincial ministry responsible for wildfires. Principles, criteria and indicators of adaptive governance were identified based on literature on good governance, adaptive management, adaptive governance, and wildfire specific literature. A qualitative research approach was then used to collect data mainly through semi-structured interviews with representatives from Parks Canada (both from PANP and at the national level) and SE, and document analysis of fire plans and strategies. This study shows that many aspects of adaptive governance have already been implemented in PANP, so that principles and criteria of inclusiveness, legitimacy, foresight, leadership, and many aspects of performance-oriented and adaptiveness have been at least partially met. Yet, there is a need to improve information-sharing and communication, especially across jurisdictions. In terms of the interagency cooperation between PANP and SE, having different mandates is the biggest challenge, but it does not prevent cooperation. Throughout the years both agencies have worked out ways to deal with differences in their mandate and fire management strategies. Having a dialogue to try to understand each other�s mandate and respect each other has been and continues to be a key factor in the cooperation. Finally, maintaining and retaining social capital may be crucial to future success in fire management planning, both from an intra- and from an interagency perspective

Food and Mood: Investigating the Correlation Between Vitamin B12 Intake and Depression

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that metabolizes homocysteine, which is a potentially neurotoxic molecule when in excess. Studies show that a deficiency in vitamin B12, as well as folate, may be associated with mental health conditions. Additionally, the prevalence of depression is higher in college students than other demographic populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between vitamin B12 and folate intake with signs and symptoms of depression in college students. METHODS: This study was conducted by first providing participants with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to measure signs and symptoms of depression. Next, each participant documented their dietary intake in a 3-day diet record. The 3-day diet records were analyzed using Food Processor to determine nutritional values. For this study, the vitamin B12 and folate data sets were evaluated for relationships with the BDI data. RESULTS:This study showed no correlation between vitamin B12 intake and the BDI (r = -0.114, p = 0.257, n = 101). There was also no correlation between vitamin B12 and the Beck somatic subscale (r = -0.100, p = 0.452, n = 59), nor with the Beck affective subscale (r = -0.085, p = 0.399, n = 101). Correlations between folate intake and BDI showed no relationship (r = -0.078, p = 0.439, n = 101). There was a lack of association between folate intake and the Beck somatic subscale (r = 0.014, p = 0.914, n = 101) and the Beck affective subscale (r = -0.095, p = 0.344, n = 101). CONCLUSION: Though no correlations were found, participants’ had incredibly varied folate and vitamin B12 intakes, yielding high standard deviations, which may have prevented detection of relationships. The results of this study still suggest that many college students are not consuming the recommended daily values for vitamin B12 and folate

Food and Mood: Investigating the Correlation Between Vitamin B12 Intake and Depression

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that metabolizes homocysteine, which is a potentially neurotoxic molecule when in excess. Studies show that a deficiency in vitamin B12, as well as folate, may be associated with mental health conditions. Additionally, the prevalence of depression is higher in college students than other demographic populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between vitamin B12 and folate intake with signs and symptoms of depression in college students. METHODS: This study was conducted by first providing participants with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to measure signs and symptoms of depression. Next, each participant documented their dietary intake in a 3-day diet record. The 3-day diet records were analyzed using Food Processor to determine nutritional values. For this study, the vitamin B12 and folate data sets were evaluated for relationships with the BDI data. RESULTS:This study showed no correlation between vitamin B12 intake and the BDI (r = -0.114, p = 0.257, n = 101). There was also no correlation between vitamin B12 and the Beck somatic subscale (r = -0.100, p = 0.452, n = 59), nor with the Beck affective subscale (r = -0.085, p = 0.399, n = 101). Correlations between folate intake and BDI showed no relationship (r = -0.078, p = 0.439, n = 101). There was a lack of association between folate intake and the Beck somatic subscale (r = 0.014, p = 0.914, n = 101) and the Beck affective subscale (r = -0.095, p = 0.344, n = 101). CONCLUSION: Though no correlations were found, participants’ had incredibly varied folate and vitamin B12 intakes, yielding high standard deviations, which may have prevented detection of relationships. The results of this study still suggest that many college students are not consuming the recommended daily values for vitamin B12 and folate

Cardiometabolic health among cancer survivors: A 13-week pilot study of a combined aerobic and resistance training program

Purpose/Objectives: To explore the feasibility of combined aerobic and resistance training (CART) as a safe method of improving cardiometabolic health among cancer survivors. Design: Descriptive and longitudinal pilot study for exercise intervention. Setting: University campus in Los Angeles, California. Sample: A multiethnic population of cancer survivors (N = 11) was recruited by convenience sampling and physician referral. Methods: Consenting participants were prescribed CART for one hour per day, three days per week for 13 weeks. Main Research Variables: Components of cardiometabolic health were measured, including resting heart rate (HRrest), blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and android fat percentage at baseline and after 13 weeks of training. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and C-reactive protein (CRP) also were assessed at baseline and after 13 weeks of training. Findings: More than half of the participants reported living with at least two other chronic diseases or conditions in addition to a cancer diagnosis. Five of six African American and Hispanic participants reported the presence of at least two risk factors for metabolic syndrome, compared to one of five Caucasian participants. After 13 weeks of training, participants experienced an average decrease in waist circumference. Decrease in waist circumference was associated with a decrease in CRP. A relationship also was suggested between number of exercise sessions attended and improvement in HRrest. Conclusions: A CART intervention among cancer survivors should continue to be explored in a larger sample to establish efficacy and effectiveness at improving cardiometabolic health. Because of the higher risk of comorbidity among cancer survivors in comparison to cancer-free adults, improving cardiometabolic health is as important as monitoring cancer recurrence. A need exists for increased attention to the post-treatment cardiometabolic health of cancer survivors and also for examining potential cardiometabolic health disparities among non-Caucasian cancer survivors. Implications for Nursing: CART may be a plausible alternative to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and improve cardiometabolic health among cancer survivors. Additional studies that continue to explore the efficacy and effectiveness of CART may provide more information to help nurses and physicians determine whether the cancer survivorship care plan should include an exercise-based alternative to intervene on cardiometabolic health

Food and Mood: The Correlation Between Vitamin B12 and Folate Intake and Depression

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that metabolizes homocysteine, which is a potentially neurotoxic molecule when in excess. Folate is a B vitamin that is essential to the production of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain. Studies show that a deficiency in vitamin B12, as well as folate, may be associated with mental health conditions. Additionally, the prevalence of depression is higher in college students than other demographic populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between vitamin B12 and folate intake with signs and symptoms of depression in college students. METHODS: This study was conducted by first providing participants with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to measure signs and symptoms of depression. Next, each participant documented their dietary intake in a 3-day diet record. The 3-day diet records were analyzed using Food Processor to determine nutritional values. For this study, the vitamin B12 and folate data sets were evaluated for relationships with the BDI data. RESULTS: This study showed no correlation between vitamin B12 intake and the BDI (r = -0.114, p = 0.257, n = 101). There was also no correlation between vitamin B12 and the Beck somatic subscale (r = -0.100, p = 0.452, n = 59), nor with the Beck affective subscale (r = -0.085, p = 0.399, n = 101). Correlations between folate intake and BDI showed no relationship (r = -0.078, p = 0.439, n = 101). There was a lack of association between folate intake and the Beck somatic subscale (r = 0.014, p = 0.914, n = 101) and the Beck affective subscale (r = -0.095, p = 0.344, n = 101). CONCLUSION: Though no correlations were found, participants had incredibly varied folate and vitamin B12 intakes, yielding high standard deviations, which may have prevented detection of relationships. The results of this study still suggest that many college students are not consuming the recommended daily values for vitamin B12 and folate

Prognostic impact of CD4-positive T cell subsets in early breast cancer : a study based on the FinHer trial patient population

Background: The clinical importance of tumor-infiltrating cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) T cells is incompletely understood in early breast cancer. We investigated the clinical significance of CD4, forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), and B cell attracting chemokine leukocyte chemoattractant-ligand (C-X-C motif) 13 (CXCL13) in early breast cancer. Methods: The study is based on the patient population of the randomized FinHer trial, where 1010 patients with early breast cancer were randomly allocated to adjuvant chemotherapy containing either docetaxel or vinorelbine, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive patients were also allocated to trastuzumab or no trastuzumab. Breast cancer CD4, FOXP3, and CXCL13 contents were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and their influence on distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was examined using univariable and multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier estimates in the entire cohort and in selected molecular subgroups. Interactions between variables were analyzed using Cox regression. The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subset of the HE10/97 randomized trial was used for confirmation. Results: High CXCL13 was associated with favorable DDFS in univariable analysis, and independently in multivariable analysis (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29-0.67, P Conclusions: The results provide a high level of evidence that humoral immunity influences the survival outcomes of patients with early breast cancer, in particular of those with TNBC.Peer reviewe

Validity of a Dietary Calcium Questionnaire Modified to Include Supplement Use in Athletes

When conducting research in the area of bone health, accurate measurement of calcium intake is crucial. The rapid assessment method (RAM) is one technique that has frequently been used for its measurement of calcium intake. However, the RAM and other currently established questionnaires lack the assessment of dietary supplement use, which is common for athletes. Our objective was to evaluate the validity of a RAM questionnaire designed to assess daily calcium consumption which was further modified to meet the needs of athletes who frequently consume dietary supplements. Usefulness of the modified RAM for athletes and non-athletes was evaluated as well as utility among those who do and do not use supplements. The 47 volunteers (n = 31 women, 16 men) were between the ages of 18 and 25 including, 33 athletes and 14 controls. The population also contained 23 supplement users and 24 non-supplement users. Participants completed the modified RAM and were instructed to complete a three-day diet record (3DR), logging food intake for 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day. The data collected via the modified RAM was compared with the 3DR. Mean calcium intake was 935mg ± 420mg and 1085mg ± 573mg, for the modified RAM and 3DR respectively. A strong positive correlation (r) was found between calcium intake measured with the modified RAM and 3DRs (r(45) = 0.854, p \u3c 0.01). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) revealed that agreement between the two instruments was good (ICC = 0.76, df = 45, p \u3c 0.01) and much improved when compared to agreements without consideration of supplements (ICC = 0.05, df = 21, p \u3e 0.05). We have found the modified RAM to be a valid tool which can be used to estimate calcium intake in the athletes and controls we strive to study. The accuracy of this instrument improved by including assessment of dietary supplement sources of calcium

Velocity at maximal oxygen uptake best predicts 3 km race time in collegiate distance runners

Purpose: There is a lack of scientific investigation into the predictors of 3 km race performance in collegiate distance runners. The purpose of this investigation was to determine what physiological variables best predict 3 km race time in a group of collegiate distance runners. Methods: Twenty-one endurance trained runners (11 men, 10 women) volunteered for this investigation. Running economy (RE) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) testing were conducted within 9 ± 6 days of the race in a single session. All participants ran in a 3 km race at an NCAA sanctioned track meet. Pearson\u27s product moment correlations were performed between 3 km race time and velocity at VO2max (vVO2max), relative VO2max, RE at 9.7, 11.3, 12.9, and 14.5 km•hr-1 and percent of VO2max. A stepwise multiple regression was performed with 3 km race time as the dependent variable and independent variables of vVO2max, VO2max, RE9.7, RE11.3, RE12.9, RE14.5. Results: The results revealed that vVO2max was the best predictor of 3 km race performance in a heterogeneous group of collegiate distance runners (R2=0.90). For the men, vVO2max remained the best predictor of 3 km race performance (R2=0.49). For the women, the best predictors of 3 km performance were vVO2max and VO2max (R2=0.97). Conclusions: Distance coaches should consider emphasizing vVO2max as a primary factor in training to improve 3 km race performance and conversely, the pace achieved in a 3-km race is a good predictor of vVO2max