Kwantlen Polytechnic University

The paper focuses on the struggle for equal recognition within Canadian identity by non-charter citizens. These groups, by rejecting the idea of Canada as solely bilingual and bicultural, successfully challenged government efforts to replace Anglo-conformity with a bicultural model. As a compromise, Canada adopted the notion of "multiculturalism within a bilingual framework.” This approach helped promote a more inclusive national identity and contributed to the creation of a peaceful, tolerant, and unified society. For many ethnic communities, particularly visible minorities, it marked progress in removing barriers to full integration. The inclusive environment also supported advances in LGBTQ and Indigenous rights, including acknowledgment of the historical injustices faced by First Nations peoples. As a result, Canada has adopted an innovative approach to inclusivity by creating a new national identity that embraces both diversity and bilingualism.

En este artículo, buscaremos presentar un breve resumen sobre las violaciones de derechos humanos que ocurrieron durante la dictadura cívico-militar brasileña y que afectaron a las poblaciones rurales, a partir del trabajo realizado por la Comisión Campesina de la Verdad de Brasil. Buscaremos enfatizar aspectos relacionados con la responsabilidad empresarial por dichas violaciones, bien como la complicidad entre empresas y cuerpos represores. Específicamente, investigamos la responsabilidad de las empresas del grupo Joaquim Oliveira S. A. (Josapar) en la violación de los derechos de los campesinos en un conflicto por la tierra en Amazonía brasileña, entre 1981 y 1985. Esta investigación formó parte del Proyecto “La responsabilidad de las empresas por violaciones de derechos durante la dictadura”, coordinado por CAAF/UNIFESP. Este es un proyecto pionero en Brasil, ya que poco se ha dicho sobre la responsabilidad de las empresas en el golpe de 1964 y durante toda la dictadura.

This study aims to unravel the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Rwanda's agricultural cooperatives, concentrating on the nuanced dynamics within the Dukunde Umurimo cooperative. Its primary focus lies in assessing the extent of Covid-19's influence on the cooperative's members, exploring their adopted coping mechanisms, identifying post-pandemic challenges, and proposing strategies to alleviate these identified challenges. Employing a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative research designs, the study encompassed 755 members of Dukunde Umurimo Cooperative, with a sample of 88 derived through the Yamane formula utilizing simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data collection involved interviews, questionnaires, and documentation techniques. Utilizing descriptive statistics—frequency and percentage analysis—and comparative methods, the research evaluated cooperative productivity across pre-Covid, during, and post-Covid periods. Findings revealed a notable decrease in income and sales quantities during the Covid-19 period, followed by a significant post-pandemic increase. Concurrently, reductions in production, sales, and demand emerged as prominent challenges faced by Dukunde Umurimo cooperative members. Based on these findings, recommendations include strengthening resilience through diversification, and enhance the insurance risks management for the agricultural produce.

enjeux en ducation artistique demonstrate the complexity of art education in curriculum, pedagogy, and research.The authors in this issue have explored the well-being of visual art teachers, the potential of the arts and social media platforms in social justice activism and change, the role of charisma in the pedagogical relationship in the arts classroom, the storied lives of craft objects, and Visual Thinking Strategies and Theory of Mind in the cognitive and social/emotional development of elementary students.The book review highlights the research of the International Art Collaborations network (INTAC), offering a reflection on teaching methodologies and student artmaking strategies across cultures and languages.We hope that you find these works inspire and inform your research and teaching practices, in and through the arts.This issue begins with our Featured Art Work and Artist, Amy Atkinson's work, Blue Peony, selected from her article in this issue.The first article by Amy Atkinson studies the lived experiences of three secondary Visual Arts teachers educated in Canada to gain insights into the well-being of practicing art teachers.This article explores the complexity of being a Visual Art teacher, including the passion for artistic practice and the impact of the othering of the subject content within the larger school context offering crucial questions related to supporting Visual Art teachers.

ABSTRACT The paper analyzes the role of one of the largest Canadian corporations, Toronto-based Brazilian Traction Light and Power, in supporting the 1964 business-military coup in Brazil. It argues that Brazilian Traction partnered with other corporations and military personnel through the Institute for Social Research and Studies (IPES) to destabilize then-president João Goulart’s administration (1961–1964), paving the way for a military dictatorship amenable to foreign capital. As its guiding framework, the paper draws on the methodology developed by Argentine trailblazer scholars on corporate accountability related to their 1976–1983 dictatorship. It also uses Meta Stephen’s typologies of business-dictatorship collaboration and René Dreifuss’ analysis of the organic elite’s role in the 1964 coup. The study advances work undertaken by Brazil’s National Truth Commission, analyzing the support companies provided to the military dictatorship. The sources analyzed include existing accounts of the nature of the coup and the military regime, Brazilian Traction archives and various reports, editorials and analyses provided by newspapers and magazines.

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global crisis, causing 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths annually. Staphylococcus aureus is mainly responsible for causing these challenging infections through biofilm formation and the action of efflux pumps. A limited number of studies on Hop (Humulus lupulus) have shown its potential to inhibit quorum sensing in pathogenic bacteria. Objective Therefore, a novel treatment approach was used in this study, which investigated Hop’s β-acids, particularly the combination of colupulone and n+adlupulone, as well as in combination with fluoroquinolone antibiotics ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. As ciprofloxacin remains a highly effective antibiotic against Staphylococcus aureus but resistance can develop, and ofloxacin exhibits naturally higher resistance in S. aureus, this study hypothesized that combining Hop (containing colupulone & n+adlupulone) with the two antibiotics separately would result in a greater reduction in biofilm growth of S. aureus compared to their individual potency levels. Methods Antimicrobial activity was assessed using disk diffusion assays and minimum inhibitory concentration for biofilms at multiple concentrations through 2-fold serial dilutions. Results Our data demonstrate that Hop-derived β-acids possess direct antimicrobial activity and when combined with the fluoroquinolone antibiotics, exhibit additive or synergistic effects by acting on different targets in Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions This study provides insight into how natural products can potentially mitigate the development of resistance to antibiotics like ciprofloxacin in the highly pathogenic bacterium S. aureus. It also highlights how adding natural compounds could improve drug effectiveness. Therefore, this demonstrates the potential of natural compounds and antibiotics like ofloxacin, which are known to be ineffective against S. aureus. It offers a promising natural-conventional hybrid approach to addressing antimicrobial resistance.

Cannabis plants produce a spectrum of secondary metabolites, encompassing cannabinoids and more than 300 non‐cannabinoid compounds. Among these, anthocyanins have important functions in plants and also have well documented health benefits. Anthocyanins are largely responsible for the red/purple color phenotypes in plants. Although some well‐known Cannabis varieties display a wide range of red/purple pigmentation, the genetic underpinnings of anthocyanin biosynthesis have not been well characterized in Cannabis. This study unveils the genetic diversity of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes found in Cannabis, and we characterize the diversity of anthocyanins and related phenolics found in four differently pigmented Cannabis varieties. Our investigation revealed that the genes 4CL, CHS, F3H, F3′H, FLS, DFR, ANS, and OMT exhibited the strongest correlation with anthocyanin accumulation in Cannabis leaves. The results of this study enhance our understanding of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway and shed light on the molecular mechanisms governing Cannabis leaf pigmentation.

Abstract The Japanese term ki 氣/気 (Chinese qì) is a fundamental concept in East Asian religions, medicine, and martial arts. In Euro-American settings, the dominant way to understand ki is in terms of vital energy or life force. However, when the martial art aikido (aikidō 合氣道) was introduced to the United States following World War II, ki was not explained in terms of “energy,” but rather as “mind” or “spirit.” This article examines the transnational development of ki discourse in aikido from pre-war Japan to the post-war United States, including its entanglement with religion and state power. It also compares aikido’s development and circulation in the North Pacific with that of the healing practice of Reiki 靈氣/レイキ.