BC Innovation Council

Wearable ECG-enabled smartwatches have been validated for atrial fibrillation (AF) screening, but their accuracy for monitoring AF recurrence and quantifying AF burden after catheter ablation is uncertain. To evaluate the simulated performance of three commercial smartwatch algorithms for AF recurrence detection and AF burden estimation compared with implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs). Using continuous ICM data from 346 patients in the CIRCA-DOSE trial, we simulated three smartwatch algorithms, assuming daytime wear (8:00 AM-10:00 PM). We also simulated commonly-used non-invasive intermittent rhythm monitoring strategies. Primary endpoints were sensitivity for arrhythmia recurrence and correlation with ICM-derived AF burden. Analyses were stratified by daily wear time and patient activity. AF recurrence occurred in 47.1% of patients. Simulated detection sensitivities were 82.2% (Apple Watch AF Burden), 70.6% (Apple Watch IRN), and 64.4% (Fitbit IHRD), compared with 15.8%-64.6% for simulated intermittent AECG monitors. Wearables outperformed commonly-used Holter/patch monitoring strategies. AF burden correlation with ICM exceeded r = 0.97 for all algorithms. Among missed recurrences, median AF burden was <0.02%. Longer daily wear improved sensitivity (>90% with 24-hour use), whereas patient activity modestly reduced detection. Smartwatch-based AF detection algorithms demonstrate strong correlation with ICM-derived AF burden and clinically good sensitivity for recurrence detection, outperforming conventional non-invasive strategies. These findings support the integration of wearables as a scalable alternative for post-ablation rhythm monitoring.

Tenyears since the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Report, Canadian institutions-including public health systems-have yet to advance the Calls to Action in a sustained, transformative way. As public health leaders in the territory now known as British Columbia, we witness tension as colleagues grapple with, "What is the work of Truth & Reconciliation? Whose work is it?". Too often, truth and reconciliation is delegated to a small Indigenous team (or, individual) dangling, isolated off the side of an organizational chart. We offer a metaphor highlighting two interconnected, but distinct areas of work to advance truth and reconciliation in public health. One is the work of reclaiming and resurgence of languages, culture, medicines, and connection to territory, undertaken by and for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. The other is eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and white supremacy to advance cultural safety. It is not up to Indigenous people to eradicate racism; as it is constructed, maintained, and perpetuated by settlers, settlers are those with the power to eradicate it. As we move towards the anniversary of the TRC, we share a metaphor that helps our settler colleagues understand and claim their responsibility in truth, rights, and reconciliation in public health.

This study evaluated the cumulative effects of existing and proposed land use activities and climate change within a narrow and vital wildlife corridor considered of high value to Ktunaxa and non-Ktunaxa peoples. Cumulative alteration, degradation, and disturbance to habitat directly impacts Ktunaxa lands and waters on which the exercise of Ktunaxa rights depends. Increased access to backcountry areas are expected to substantially diminish habitat condition, increase wildlife displacement and mortality risk, and fragment wildlife populations with unavoidable population-level impacts. The effects of land use are likely to be exacerbated by accelerating climate change further limiting habitat suitability and creating additional human-wildlife interactions. This study is unique in that we applied Ktunaxa research methodology throughout all assessment stages. This iterative approach to knowledge gathering brings Ktunaxa and non-Ktunaxa together in concert with input from a diverse group of problem solvers. Further, we used this opportunity to refine our understanding of cumulative effects through a Ktunaxa linguistic perspective. Repeated interviews deepened research relationships and empowered use of Ktunaxa oral history in the evaluation of cumulative effects. Two species of key concern identified for this study were ʔaȼ̓pu (wolverine) and kɬawɬa (grizzly bear). We simulated current and future habitat condition for key values using a pre-contact baseline representing the Range of Natural Variability (RONV). The assessment presented herein considered past, current, and proposed future land use activities, with a focus on recreational interests. We found combined effects of proposed recreation developments with existing land use practices within the study area to substantially negatively impact both wolverine and grizzly bear habitat condition and population connectivity. We concluded that cumulative developments of past, current and any potential future land use that includes outdoor recreational activities in ʔamak̓is Ktunaxa must be informed by regional-scale and long-term land stewardship planning to prevent further adverse impacts and to ultimately improve the habitat conditions for ʔa·kxam̓is q̓api qapsin (All Living Things).

This study examines hydrogen permeation and trapping in three types of natural gas pipeline steels from different decades in Canada—modern, vintage, and legacy steels. Electrochemical permeation experiments were conducted to measure the diffusion coefficient, subsurface concentration, and trap density of hydrogen. The results were analyzed to evaluate the susceptibility of these steels to hydrogen embrittlement and to understand the effects of hydrogen on their mechanical properties. Vintage steel exhibited 50% higher steady-state permeation current and 97% greater effective diffusivity compared to modern steel, while legacy steel showed intermediate values. Hydrogen diffusion increased with grain size and pearlite content but decreased with dislocation density. Modern steel demonstrated the highest resistance to hydrogen permeation due to its finer grain structure and higher dislocation density. This study provides essential insights into the diffusion behavior and trapping mechanisms of hydrogen in natural gas pipeline steels, enhancing the understanding of material performance under hydrogen exposure.

Forest products in Canada contribute significantly to the Canadian trade balance. Canadian producers depend heavily on export markets raising the question: how do exchange rate fluctuations impact Canada’s competitiveness in foreign markets? The paper applies a fixed-effects model with individual slopes to investigate this question. Twenty years of monthly data are employed to study the pricing-to-market (PTM) behaviour of Canadian softwood log, lumber and pulp exports as the exchange rate changes. We find a great degree of incomplete exchange rate pass-through, with PTM being apparent for Canadian exporters, particularly in major markets. The export price adjustment tends to mitigate the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on foreign currency prices of Canadian products in most cases. This pricing behaviour reflects exporters’ desire to stabilize their share of the destination market.

The demand for green hydrogen has raised concerns over the availability of iridium used in oxygen evolution reaction catalysts. We identify catalysts with the aid of a machine learning-aided computational pipeline trained on more than 36,000 mixed metal oxides. The pipeline accurately predicts Pourbaix decomposition energy (Gpbx) from unrelaxed structures with a mean absolute error of 77 meV per atom, enabling us to screen 2070 new metallic oxides with respect to their prospective stability under acidic conditions. The search identifies Ru0.6Cr0.2Ti0.2O2 as a candidate having the promise of increased durability: experimentally, we find that it provides an overpotential of 267 mV at 100 mA cm-2 and that it operates at this current density for over 200 h and exhibits a rate of overpotential increase of 25 μV h-1. Surface density functional theory calculations reveal that Ti increases metal-oxygen covalency, a potential route to increased stability, while Cr lowers the energy barrier of the HOO* formation rate-determining step, increasing activity compared to RuO2 and reducing overpotential by 40 mV at 100 mA cm-2 while maintaining stability. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ex situ ptychography-scanning transmission X-ray microscopy show the evolution of a metastable structure during the reaction, slowing Ru mass dissolution by 20× and suppressing lattice oxygen participation by >60% compared to RuO2.

All-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) show promise as a long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology in grid applications. However, the continual performance fading over time poses a significant obstacle for VRFBs. This study systematically investigates the impact of increased upper limit voltage (1.6 V, 1.7 V, and 1.8 V) in the reliability and degradation of a scaled VRFB cell (49 cm2) over long-term testing (500+ cycles). The findings indicate that higher upper voltages significantly decrease capacity and voltage efficiencies. Although electrolyte remixing can restore the majority of the capacity, it only partially recovers voltage efficiency at 1.7 V and 1.8 V, suggesting substantial cell degradation. Analysis reveals that the overpotential increase induced degradation is mainly contributed by the anode during charging and the cathode during discharging. Increased upper voltage amplifies degradation, with the anode being more affected. As confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization curves, elevated voltages lead to significant resistance increases, driven by charge transfer resistance (mostly from the anode). Moreover, the morphological, surficial, and electrochemical characterization results of cycled electrodes suggest that the degree and mode of degradation were contingent upon the cutoff voltage. For instance, the cathode experienced severe surface degradation at the maximal upper voltage of 1.8 V. This work highlights the importance of optimizing voltage limits to improve the lifetime of VRFBs and offers valuable insights into the development of predictive models through using accelerated stressor lifetime testing (ASLT) protocols for VRFBs.

In this article, we present findings from a retrospective survey of 117 physician leadership development program graduates at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The survey was designed to assess how the program contributed to graduates' leadership development, specifically in terms of behaviour change and work-related changes. The themes resulting from the analysis of the open-ended questions reflected that the program led to changes in graduates' leadership behaviour and their ability to lead change in their respective organizations. The study highlighted the benefits of investment in training for physician leaders to advance transformation and improvement initiatives in a changing world.

&lt;p&gt;The landscape for the implementation of the right to development has undergone significant transformative shifts with the recent establishment of a new expert mechanism on the right to development by the UN Human Rights Council, and the finalisation of a draft treaty on the right to development. Yet, much more can clearly still be done to strengthen UN, state and non-state actors thinking on accountability in the implementation of the right to development, to add to the already considerable progress that has taken place. Our paper explores what can be done, focusing on the African and international context. We conclude that by reflecting on the benefits which a greater focus on accountability in UN development thinking post-2015 can bring to the table, the chances of success of the right to development is heightened. &lt;/p&gt;