GRi Simulations (Canada)

IntroductionIndigenous Peoples are not always engaged in setting health priorities and decry misapplication and misinterpretation of their data. Indigenous data governance and sovereignty can help overcome these issues, but they are variably implemented across Nations. Public health data governance is uniquely challenging, with implementation gaps presenting an exciting opportunity to define and remove barriers at all levels of government.MethodsWe sought to identify barriers (what) and facilitators (how) to implementing a local data governance plan with the goal of increasing Innu participation in public health. Working with two First Nations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and supported by strong relationships, 18 participants who work with Innu health data across federal, provincial and Innu jurisdictions were interviewed and participated in group discussions to produce rich qualitative data on the subject. The research plan was led by the First Nations.ResultsParticipants identified that size and organisation matter to data governance, and novel partnerships must be considered to achieve the economies of scale necessary for infrastructure. Public health data have multiple custodians and require governance across multiple jurisdictions. Creating a round table (a space for dialogue among equals) to guide the appropriate collection, use and reporting of locally relevant public health data has emerged as an actionable recommendation. In this model, public health data were viewed as co-created by all parties, while Innu led analysis and interpretation. Barriers to data governance included the complexity of accessing data, lack of space to meet as equals, lack of common goals, mistrust and racism. Facilitators included the recognised need for an adequately resourced Innu Health Data Office, communication, trust and good relationships.ConclusionFor Innu, data governance advances self-determination, potentially redressing the current inequitable distribution of power in public health planning. Describing the challenges Innu face in operationalising public health data governance and strategies to overcome them may be generalisable to other Indigenous Nations attempting to do the same, especially those with small populations.

In Canada, there has been an effort to address youth mental health through various initiatives and investments, although mental health struggles among young Canadians continue to increase. Despite these challenges, there is also recognition of the strength and resilience of youth, as well as the increasing empowerment and engagement of young people in shaping mental health support systems. In this article, the authors explore the role of leadership in facilitating the co-design and implementation of a comprehensive continuum of care, leveraging the Stepped Care 2.0 framework, to facilitate effective and sustainable youth mental health support systems.

Understanding how human infrastructure and other landscape attributes affect genetic differentiation in animals is an important step for identifying and maintaining dispersal corridors for these species. We built upon recent advances in the field of landscape genetics by using an individual-based and multiscale approach to predict landscape-level genetic connectivity for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) across ~100,000 km2 in Canada's southern Rocky Mountains. We used a genetic dataset with 1156 unique individuals genotyped at nine microsatellite loci to identify landscape characteristics that influence grizzly bear gene flow at multiple spatial scales and map predicted genetic connectivity through a matrix of rugged terrain, large protected areas, highways and a growing human footprint. Our corridor-based modelling approach used a machine learning algorithm that objectively parameterized landscape resistance, incorporated spatial cross validation and variable selection and explicitly accounted for isolation by distance. This approach avoided overfitting, discarded variables that did not improve model performance across withheld test datasets and spatial predictive capacity compared to random cross-validation. We found that across all spatial scales, geographic distance explained more variation in genetic differentiation in grizzly bears than landscape variables. Human footprint inhibited connectivity across all spatial scales, while open canopies inhibited connectivity at the broadest spatial scale. Our results highlight the negative effect of human footprint on genetic connectivity, provide strong evidence for using spatial cross-validation in landscape genetics analyses and show that multiscale analyses provide additional information on how landscape variables affect genetic differentiation.

AimsUsing a pragmatic approach, the LIRA‐PRIME trial aims to address a knowledge gap by comparing efficacy in controlling glycaemia with glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analog liraglutide vs oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) uncontrolled with metformin monotherapy in primary care practice. We report the study design and patient baseline characteristics.Materials and methodsThis 104‐week, two‐arm, open‐label, active‐controlled trial is active in 219 primary care practices across nine countries. At screening, eligible patients with T2D were at least 18 years of age, had been using a stable daily dose of metformin ≥1500 mg or the maximum tolerated dose for ≥60 days, and had a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.5% to 9.0%, measured ≤90 days before screening. Patients were randomized (1:1) to liraglutide or OAD, both in addition to pre‐trial metformin. Individual OADs were chosen by the treating physician based on local guidelines. The primary endpoint is time to inadequate glycaemic control, defined as HbA1c above 7.0% at two scheduled consecutive visits after the first 26 weeks of treatment.ResultsThe trial randomized 1997 patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 56.9 (10.8) years, T2D duration of 7.2 (5.9) years (range, <1‐47 years), and HbA1c of 8.2%. One‐fifth of patients had a history of diabetes complications, and most were overweight (24.8%) or had obesity (65.3%).ConclusionsThis pragmatically designed, large‐scale, multinational, randomized clinical trial will help guide treatment decisions for patients with T2D who are inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy and treated in primary care.

Abstract We present a virtual software simulation system for remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) operations in arctic and harsh environments particularly focused on subsea trenching. The system provides interactive, three-dimensional graphics and dynamics simulation with high fidelity. In addition to standard ROVs, the system can now simulate trenching and dredging vehicles such as jetters and ploughs. It also provides support for integration of data for visualization and analysis from a wide range of sources including sub-bottom imaging, seismic, bathymetry and sidescan sonar. Visualizations can be controlled to enhance features important for geological and geotechnical analysis.

Refracturing can be used to increase production in poorly fractured wells. A different application of this technology is to refracture wells with strong initial fractures. In this paper, we provide evidence of increased production due to refracturing two tight gas wells having deeply penetrating initial fractures. Surface tiltmeter measurements show refracture orientations at oblique angles to the azimuth of the initial fractures.

Abstract Technology developments for lowering gas treating and sulfur recovery costs for Permian basin gas have been underway for several years by GRI (formerly Gas Research Institute) and other technology development organizations. Several of these technologies are now nearing the point where commercial applications should be evaluated since significant cost savings and operational simplifications could be achieved by early adopters. After a cursory review of current technology in gas treating and sulfur recovery, this paper summarizes applicable new technology in this area developed by the author's company and others including advances in H2S scavenging, small-scale sulfur recovery up to 15-20 TPD and large-scale gas treating for high acid gas concentration applications.

Abstract The burst, collapse and axial load operating limits for Coiled Tubing (CT) are currently established using the Von Mises incipient yield criterion. This criterion has historically been used to calculate the limits for oil country tubular goods (OCTG), The limits according to this criterion are based on the point at which the pipe material reaches a load state in which it begins to yield. Because of the bending that occurs when the CT is spooled on and off the reel, and when it is bent over the guide arch, the CT is already far beyond the yield point before it enters a well. Thus, this criterion does not really apply to CT. This paper describes a research project currently in progress, The purpose of this project is to define a new set of CT limits based on criteria other than 'incipient yield'. This new approach to setting CT operating limits takes into account the internal residual stresses in the CT which are a consequence of repeated bending cycles and the accompanying change in material properties. Introduction The use of the Von Mises incipient yield criterion to establish CT limits is discussed in detail in Refs. I through 4. This criterion calculates the tri-axial stresses (axial, tangential and radial) caused by the forces applied on the CT due to the following:axial force (tensile or compressive),internal pressure,external pressure,bending due to helical buckling. The tri-axial stresses caused by these externally applied forces and pressures are combined using the Von Mises criterion to calculate the Von Mises stress, ?vme. This combined stress, ?vmeis then compared to the yield stress, ?ym CT, P, which is determined from a uni-axial pull test on a sample of the CT. When ?vme reaches ?ym, it is assumed that the CT material will begin to yield. This point of 'incipient yield' is currently used by the CT industry to determine the burst. collapse, tensile and compressive limits that the CT can be subjected to. However, this method ignores the internal residual stresses in the CT caused by the bending that occurs when the CT is bent on and off the reel and over the guide arch. These esidual stresses cause yielding to begin much earlier than predicted by this method. The material used to make CT has a well-defined yield point in the axial direction. However, beyond the yield point ?yp, the Bauschinger effect and work softening change ?yp and make it less well defined. Also, in the tangential or hoop direction may not be the same as ?yp in the axial direction. The Gas Research Institute (GRI) has funded a research project to understand and model the material characteristics and to develop an improved method for setting CT limits.