Working Papers, Reports, and Preprints

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10294/16750

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Open Access
The polyketide pathway in sporopollenin biosynthesis is specific to land plants (Embryophyta)
(BioRxiv, 2024-10-19) Sraan, Damanpreet K.; Ashton, Neil W.; Suh, Dae-Yeon
Background and Aims: Sporopollenin (SP) is a complex biopolymer in the outer wall of spores and pollen and provides protection from environmental stresses. Its extraordinary chemical resistance, especially to acetolysis, was widely used to identify SP in biological specimens. This broad definition of SP led to claims for its widespread occurrence among diverse embryophyte and non-embryophyte taxa. We previously proposed a biochemical definition that can be used to distinguish genuine SP from other chemically resistant cell wall materials. The definition was centred on ASCL (Anther-Specific Chalcone synthase-Like), an embryophyte-specific enzyme of the polyketide pathway that provides precursors for SP biosynthesis. Herein, we examine the evolution and distribution of all five enzymes (CYP703A, CYP704B, ACOS, ASCL and TKPR) of the polyketide pathway and propose a new, more comprehensive definition of SP. Methods: We performed BLASTp searches, phylogenetic tree construction, protein modeling and sequence analysis to determine the presence or absence of ACOS and TKPR in embryophytes and streptophytic algae. Key Results: We found evidence that all five enzymes of the polyketide pathway evolved from ancestral enzymes of primary metabolism and ACOS, ASCL and TKPR were co-selected during evolution. The dosage of all five genes has been subjected to strict evolutionary control and, in some taxa, synteny has provided a selective advantage. All five enzymes are present in embryophytes but absent in green algae, indicating that the polyketide pathway and therefore SP is embryophyte-specific. Conclusions: The addition of the polyketide pathway in the definition of genuine SP will allow separation of SP from algaenans and other chemically resistant ‘SP-like’ algal spore wall substances. This study further signifies SP as an evolutionary innovation unique to the embryophyte lineage and encourages research on possible evolutionary relationship between algal spore wall ‘SP-like materials’ and embryophyte SP. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
Open Access
Possibilities and Challenges of Learning English through Virtual Speaking Clubs
(2023-09) Fuhrmann, Lucrécia Raquel; Sterzuk, Andrea; de Melo, Ana Beatriz Ruiz
The COVID-19 pandemic has made online language learning and interaction more prevalent. In this paper, we investigate English language learners' experiences in a virtual speaking club hosted by one of the co-authors. The main objective is to explore English learners' experience in speaking clubs. The study uses online focus groups to explore learner experiences, focusing on feelings accompanying the language learning process. Findings suggest that virtual speaking clubs are cost-saving and time- efficient options for learners. Furthermore, the clubs provide opportunities for greater learner participation and interaction than traditional spaces, as they are a way to share social resources, benefits, and power.
Open Access
Job Demands and Leader Well-Being in the Community Social Services Sector
(Faculty of Business Administration, University of Regina, 2024) Steenburgh, Dan
Background: Mental well-being has become an increasing concern in Canadian workplaces. However, there is a lack of studies that focus on the well-being of leaders. This is particularly evident in the community social services sector where leaders may face high mental and emotional demands on a daily basis. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether psychological fatigue mediate the relationship between job demands and work outcomes, including affective commitment and turnover intention. Furthermore, this study looked at whether workplace supports, including supports from one’s organization, supervisor, and colleagues, moderate the mediated relationship between psychological fatigue and work outcomes.
Open Access
The current state of healthcare in rural Saskatchewan: Final report.
(Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), 2024-04-01) Novik, Nuelle; McIntosh, Tom; Jeffery, Bonnie; Camillo, Cheryl A.; Ly, May
Open Access
Exploring Gender-Based Violence in Canadian Prisons: A Scoping Review
(2023-06-13) Gacek, James; Lemoine, Jocelyne; Phillips, Breeann; Langlois, Julianne; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Spencer, Dale C.
Background In Canada, prison policies, programs, and practices have been shaped by the historical influences of sex-segregated prisons (i.e., not gender segregated; see Ricciardelli and Bartlett, 2022). Nevertheless, sex segregation has not “stopped” gender-based violence from occurring in prisons. There continues to be risk and security concerns for gender-based violence, including but not limited to 2SLGBTQIA+ people who experience such violence from other prisoners and other correctional staff. As such, our purpose was to review the literature on gender-based violence in Canadian prisons, with an eye to policy, to offer suggested considerations for pathways forward. Objectives We sought to map the existing literature on gender-based violence in Canadian prisons. Our guiding research question is: What is the existing literature on prison policies, programs, and practices that have contributed (and continue to contribute) to the historical and contemporary exclusion, marginalization, and gender-based violence of people of diverse gender identifications? Results Forty-seven articles (n = 47) met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Most articles included in the review originate from the USA (n=34). The remaining articles originate from Canada (n=6), Australia (n=3), the United Kingdom (n=3), and Israel (n=1). Key messages Violence against female and gender diverse persons in prison contexts remain an ongoing issue. Historically, prison policies denied transgender (herein ‘trans’) people who are incarcerated access to proper healthcare and overlooked gender identity. Today, gender identity and lived experience are important factors to consider in the placement of trans people who are incarcerated. Rehabilitative programming and services for female and gender diverse people in prison contexts should remain accessible. Methodology The Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) methodological framework for scoping reviews is used to identify, describe, and summarize the literature. Several databases were searched for relevant literature including Policy Commons Open Access; Canadian Electronic Library from Canada Commons; HeinOnline Government, Politics & Law in Canada; PsycINFO; Criminal Justice Abstracts; Sociological Abstracts, JSTOR, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and the Government of Canada website. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist (Tricco et al., 2018) for complete and transparent reporting on the conduct of the literature review.
Open Access
Controls of Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Natural and Constructed Agricultural Waterbodies on the Northern Great Plains
(2022-11-21) Jensen, Sydney; Webb, Jackie; Simpson, Gavin; Baulch, Helen Margaret; Finlay, Kerri
Inland waters are hotspots of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and small water bodies are now well known to be particularly active in the production and consumption of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). High variability in physical, chemical, and environmental parameters affect the production of these GHG, but currently the mechanistic underpinnings are unclear, leading to high uncertainty in scaling up these fluxes. Here, we compare the relative magnitudes and controls of emissions of all three major GHG in twenty pairs of natural wetland ponds and constructed reservoirs in Canada’s largest agricultural region. While gaseous fluxes of CO2 and CH4 were comparable between the two waterbody types, CH4 ebullition was greater in wetland ponds. Carbon dioxide levels were associated primarily with metabolic indicators in both water body types, with primary productivity paramount in agricultural reservoirs, and heterotrophic metabolism a stronger correlate in wetland ponds. Methane emissions were positively driven by eutrophication in the reservoirs, while competitive inhibition by sulfur-reducing bacteria may have limited CH4 in both waterbody types. Contrary to expectations, N2O was undersaturated in both water body types, with wetlands a significantly stronger and more widespread N2O sink than were reservoirs. These results support the need for natural and constructed water bodies for regional GHG budgets and identification of GHG processing hotspots.
Open Access
Wellbeing in Saskatchewan Communities
(2022-12-13) Khovrenkov, Iryna; Mann, Tracey; Wreakes, Joanna; Ortynsky, Stephanie; Camacho, Gabriela
Open Access
Increasing prosocial behaviour in community-dwelling older adults through phone visiting programs: A systematic review
(2022-11-08) Nelson, Heather; Langman, Erin; Ziefflie, Beverlee; Page, Susan; Wingerak, Nicholas; Mayer, Paula; Hubbard Murdoch, Natasha; Fuchs-Lacelle, Shannon
Older adults represent 17.5% of the Canadian population and experience high rates of loneliness and social isolation. Loneliness impacts quality of life, mental health, physical health, and mortality rates. There is a need to examine ways to reduce loneliness and social isolation. Phone visiting programs may provide partial solutions. Several organizations provide phone visiting programs for older adults yet little research has been done to evaluate the effectiveness of phone visiting on loneliness and /or mood or to study the optimal implementation of phone visiting programs. Objectives The objectives of this systematic review were to explore information pertaining to the optimal implementation of phone call programs for community-dwelling older adults and synthesize existing studies that examined the impact of phone visiting programs on mood and/or loneliness. Methods The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for mixed methods systematic review. A peer reviewed search strategy was created by the librarian team member. Selection Criteria All original qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods published articles, theses, and dissertations were included in any language. Population- Older adults 60 years and over living in the community. Studies were excluded for those older adults in hospital or receiving 24-hour care. Intervention/Phenomenon of Interest- The particular research being addressed was one-on-one voice-only phone visiting programs for socialization. Outcomes- The research specifically addressed the experience of participating in a phone visiting program and/or loneliness, and/or mood. Study Selection After duplicate articles were removed each title and abstract was reviewed by two team members for inclusion/exclusion. All included articles at title and abstract screening were read in full by two team members to determine inclusion/exclusion. Results A total of 8741 records were found resulting in 11 articles being included after exclusion criteria were applied. Quantitative Meta-analysis Upon meta-analysis a statistically significant reduction in loneliness was found. Positive observed effects of phone programs on reducing depression were found. However, true effects were inconclusive. There were not enough studies that examined stress or anxiety to show any significant results. Qualitative Meta-Aggregation Three qualitative studies were found all showed positive findings which resulted in three themes: 1) Makes You Feel Better, 2) Needing Connection (Knowing Someone is Out There, Need for Relationships), and 3) Beyond the Phone Call (Getting Over a Hurdle, Finding Meaning). Implications More research is needed to strengthen the findings of this systematic review. There is a need to expand phone visiting programs and create best practice documents and orientation packages to optimize existing phone visiting programs and establish new ones. Further, we need to establish an information sharing platform to connect researchers and leaders to put research into practice. Conclusion There is evidence to support the use of phone visiting programs to reduce loneliness, make older adults feel better and more connected, and this continues into other aspects of their lives. More research is needed to strengthen the findings.
Open Access
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Final Report
(University of Regina, Sociology and Social Studies, 2021-12) Hanson, Cindy; Jaffe, Joann; Varley, Emma; Alhassan, Jacob; Tanaka, Momo; Krajewski, Maegan; Nkhata, Tamikani Jessie; Wastasecoot, Brenda; Acker-Verney, Julianne
This knowledge synthesis (KS) project explored how remote and rural (RR) places face a complex array of social, political and economic obstacles in their access to sustainable, accessible, and appropriate transportation, and in exercising mobility rights. Growing vulnerability and inequality between these places contribute to growing vulnerabilities and inequalities among RR residents and the rest of Canada. The pattern of, and access to, public transportation in Canada, reflects the history of natural resource development and seldom considers the effects of the lack of transportation on health and welfare, human capabilities, education, climate change, and sustainable development. Mobility, however, shapes the conditions and lived experiences of gender, poverty, disabilities, and older-age; it either restricts or enables citizen participation.
Open Access
Emerging Digital Technologies in Virtual Care in Clinical Nursing Practice: An Integrative Review of Ethical Considerations and Strategies
(2021-08-04) Arries-Kleyenstuber, Ebin
Background. Leveraging the potential practical benefits of emerging digital technologies (EDTs) like robots, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and 3D printing to provide and improve nursing care outcomes in ethical, sustainable ways requires an understanding of the ethical considerations regarding EDTs in clinical practice to inform research, practice, and policy. Objectives. To map and discuss the nature and scope of ethical considerations regarding EDTs in clinical nursing practice from published literature, and identify ethical approaches and strategies deemed effective to address such challenges. Results. Three main categories of ethical considerations that comprised 12 key emerging themes of ethical concerns were identified: Ethical Concerns related to Meaningful Understandings in the local Moral Horizon of Significance in Nursing Practice; the Organizational Imaginary; and Societal Imaginary. The twelve identified emerging key themes of ethical concerns regarding EDTs in clinical nursing practice comprised: (i) the nurse-patient relationship and inauthentic care interaction; (ii) patient dignity, autonomy and [self]deception; (iii) privacy, confidentiality, trust and integrity; (iv) patient safety; and (v) [social] justice, bias, discrimination, and stigmatization; (vi) Informed Consent, Transparency, and Data management; (vii) [Dis]Trust in the Healthcare System; (viii) Job displacement, Losses, and Fading in Professional Competencies; (ix) Liability, Accountability, Interpretability (Explainability); (x) Social isolation and Depersonalization of Human-beings and Care; (xi) Surveillance: Disciplining, Exploitation, and Manipulation of Human-beings and Society; and (xii) Vulnerability and Moral Fading: Human, Moral Authority and Agency and Future. Key messages. Emerging digital technologies offering promising benefits to help address disparities in care and improve the effectiveness of services. However, this requires a keen understanding of the nature and scope of ethical considerations with using emerging digital technologies such as robots, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and three-dimensional (3D)-printing in clinical nursing practice. Understanding the identified ethical concerns and best-practice ethical strategies regarding EDT may help guide robust research, practice, and policy initiatives to generate, validate, and translate evidence on EDTs before use in virtual care. Moreover, evidence might be helpful to ensure the ethical design, applications, implementation, and evaluation of emerging digital tools and techniques for use in virtual nursing care in clinical practice to benefit and improve the health of vulnerable clients, nurses, and health systems in ethical and sustainable ways. Additionally, key ethical considerations regarding EDTs might be also help inform curriculum innovations to build capacity, cultivate ethical competency and responsiveness among nurses and other health professionals transitioning to a workplace amid digital ethics and technological disruptions to sustain good care and practice. Methodology. We conducted an integrative review using a comprehensive three-step sequential search strategy to search and retrieve published English language, peer-reviewed articles and grey literature documents from databases like CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and Philosopher’s Index and relevant, reputable platforms. For this review, our team used COVIDENCE (Extraction 2.0 version) as a gold standard process and workflow platform to streamline our title and abstract screening, conduct a full-text review, data extraction, quality appraisal, data abstraction, evidence synthesis and interpretation to create high-quality systematic reviews. Following the removal of duplicate articles, the remaining articles were screened for eligibility using a two-step process: (i) title and abstract screening and (ii) full-text review against a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. All included articles were read thoroughly to gain an understanding of the material. Following the title and abstract screening and full-text review process, a final sample of (n = 64) documents were selected that met all our inclusion criteria. We used an electronic data extraction form and a combination of quality appraisal tools from the Johanna Briggs Institute and the Centre for Children’s Health Ethics and Law (CCHEL) to extract essential methodological information and appraise the evidence from sampled documents. We used a five-stage Framework Analysis approach to abstract and synthesized evidence. This analysis provided a schematic diagram of ethical considerations related to using EDTs in virtual care, thus guiding the final interpretation of the data set while remaining mindful of the objectives of this review. The results of the review are presented both narratively and in a tabular format. A detailed discussion of ethical concerns and best-practice strategies, along with implications for health policy, education, clinical practice, and future research, is presented.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 12
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-08-15) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 11
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-07-17) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 10
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-05-28) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 9
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-05-15) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 8
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-04-30) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 7
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-04-16) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 6
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-04-02) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 5
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-03-12) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 4
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-02-28) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.
Open Access
Western Policy Analyst Bi-Weekly Briefs Volume 3 Issue 3
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-02-14) Elliott, Doug
The Western Policy Analyst was a unique, online publication intended to provide policy makers and those interested in policy formation with useful, empirical analysis of western Canadian trends and issues. Provincial and federal government departments, business groups, academics, non-governmental organizations and municipalities were among the stakeholders who found the information beneficial in gaining a further understanding of public policy. The publication provided policy insights from a evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada.