Niagara College

ABSTRACTQuantifying crop responses to increasing temperatures is critical for predicting the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems under environmental change. Physiological trait data associated with maximum Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax) and maximum electron transport (Jmax) rates are especially important predictors of crop response to elevated temperatures. However, when generating Vcmax and Jmax data, steady‐state methods of gas exchange measurements are time‐consuming; thus, non‐steady‐state methods have been developed to obtain these measurements faster, prospectively allowing for trait data collection of considerably more varieties of crops. Globally important and geographically widespread vineyards are of particular interest due to the high economic value and the susceptibility of these managed systems to climate warming, especially in Canada, where the annual rate of warming far exceeds global averages. In this study, we examined the efficacy of the high‐throughput, non‐steady‐state dynamic assimilation technique (DAT) for obtaining Vcmax and Jmax data from wine grapes. Specifically, we measured Vcmax and Jmax (alongside leaf nitrogen [N] concentrations and leaf mass per unit area [LMA]) across seven of the world's most common wine grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties, namely, Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, and Viognier. Our results show that Vcmax and Jmax estimates derived from the DAT were strongly correlated to those obtained through the steady‐state method (r2 = 0.748 and 0.908, respectively), and Jmax did not differ significantly between the two methods. Additionally, leaf N explained 43%–46% and 56%–58% of the variation in Vcmax and Jmax, respectively, across both methods. Our results suggest that the DAT represents a viable tool for rapidly estimating intraspecific variation in important physiological traits and allows for increased replication and the inclusion of additional varieties when evaluating the responses of wine grape and other crops to climate warming.

ABSTRACT In shifting the field of applied linguistics towards more dynamic and holistic language perspectives and practices, the concept of mediation has helped frame language use and users as part of social, agentive, collaborative communication processes within and across languages. While mediation is typically used in relation to language learners (Council of Europe, 2020), the concept can also be applied to language professionals. This collaborative autoethnographic study explores the mediation practices influencing the identities, teaching, and research of two pluri-lingual/cultural, transnational educators. Adopting a collaborative autoethnographic approach (Chang et al., 2013), we collected data through interview questions, tandem writing and written dialogic conversations. The collected data was analyzed through an inductive thematic approach (Braun et al., 2019) to capture the plurilingual, pluricultural, and transnational repertoire and mediation practices we engage in. We position ourselves as participants to co-explore our distinct and intersecting lived experiences as teachers and researchers in applied linguistics and language education. Our study suggests that mediation transcends the confines of a primarily pedagogical application, revealing to be a dynamic and fundamentally constitutive process for the negotiation of identities as individuals, educators, and researchers, as it actively molds the modalities individuals adopt to create new meaning.

Mitochondria can take on a wide range of forms, from spherical/ovoid structures to tubules to highly interconnected networks. In many cell types, mitochondria are highly malleable, capable of continually undergoing fusion and/or fission to form larger or smaller structures, respectively. In addition, mitochondria are motile, trafficked along the cytoskeleton by molecular motors to reach distant parts of the cell and then return. Computational biology can be usefully applied to understanding dynamical systems, sometimes revealing underlying relationships that are not otherwise apparent. For this purpose we developed Mitochondrio, an application that simulates mitochondrial network dynamics in a single cell. Mitochondrio is programmed in Unity, a platform specializing in creating 3D games. The application presents the user with an interface allowing them to enter parameter values for the following mitochondrial characteristics: starting density, fusion probability, fission probability, and speed. The user also defines a starting cytoskeleton, as mitochondria are tethered in silico to this cytoskeleton. When a simulation is then initiated, Mitochondrio will run continually under the specific parameters and eventually reach a steady state that can be analyzed by other platforms like MiNA. Here we will describe the development of Mitochondrio and its use to gain insight into mitochondrial dynamics that can inform experimental work. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2025 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.

Quantifying crop responses to increasing temperatures is critical for predicting the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems under environmental change. Physiological trait data associated with Rubisco carboxylation ( V cmax) and electron transport ( J max) rates are especially important predictors of crop response to elevated temperatures. However, when generating V cmax and J max data, steady-state methods of gas exchange measurements are time-consuming; thus, non-steady-state methods have been developed to obtain these measurements faster, prospectively allowing for trait data collection of considerably more varieties of crops. Globally important and geographically widespread vineyards are of particular interest due to the high economic value and the susceptibility of these managed systems to climate warming, especially in Canada, where the annual rate of warming far exceeds global averages. In this study, we examined the efficacy of the high-throughput, non-steady-state dynamic assimilation technique (DAT) for obtaining V cmax and J max data from wine grapes. Specifically, we measured V cmax and J max (alongside leaf nitrogen [N] concentrations and leaf mass per unit area [LMA]) across seven of the world’s most common wine grape ( Vitis vinifera L.) varieties, namely, Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, and Viognier. Our results show that V cmax and J max estimates derived from the DAT were strongly correlated to those obtained through steady-state methods ( r 2=0.748 and 0.908, respectively), and J max did not differ significantly between the two methods. Additionally, leaf N explained 43-46% and 56-58% of the variation in V cmax and J max, respectively, across both methods. Our results suggest the DAT represents a viable tool for rapidly estimating intraspecific variation in important physiological traits and allows for increased replication and the inclusion of additional varieties when evaluating the responses of wine grape and other crops to elevated temperatures.

This study investigated the causes and effects of crystal methamphetamine usage among undergraduates at public tertiary institutions in Anambra State. It examined its potential intervention and prevention strategies using emerging technological resources. The study was conducted using a descriptive survey research design. Three research questions guided the research. The researchers used two questionnaires to collect data, distributing 200 copies randomly among undergraduate students. The researchers designed the questionnaire and validated by experts specifically for this study. Respondents' personal information was analyzed using percentages, while mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the research questions. The findings revealed among others, that there are reasons behind crystal methamphetamine use among students at public tertiary institutions in Anambra State, Awka, and this use negatively impacts their academic performance and health. The findings also revealed that mobile applications, online counselling platforms and social media campaigns are the emerging technological resources for intervention and prevention. Recommendations were made, including that families should take the lead in combating drug abuse by collaborating with community organizations like town unions should work on preventing the production, sale, and use of methamphetamine within and outside the university environments. It was further recommended that educational institutions like public tertiary institutions in Anambra State could leverage emerging technologies such as mobile applications, online platforms, and social media campaigns to disseminate information about the harmful effects of drug use and provide resources for prevention and intervention. Keywords: Crystal Methamphetamine, Causes, Effects, Usage, Emerging, Technological Resources, Intervention, Prevention.

Postsecondary institutions across the world have rapidly adapted to the need for online teaching and learning modalities as a result of the global pandemic that began in early 2020. A new dynamic has emerged with technology being the platform of the new virtual classroom, providing significant opportunities to explore internationalization. This article explores a collaborative venture between two institutions, Niagara College in Canada and Munster Technological University in Ireland, who leveraged a strong binational partnership to deliver a digital learning experience through a series of workshops delivered to human resources students. Through an action research lens, it was found that this innovative approach to teaching and learning supported students’ development as human resources professionals, helped them to gain a deeper understanding of biases and how neuroscience influences decision-making, supported the development of cross-cultural competencies, and provided students with an opportunity for global mobility through a digital learning experience.

ABSTRACTPrevious research has examined postsecondary student mental health and transitions into university. However, research focused on the transition out of university is lacking. Challenges may be experienced differently among population subgroups. We examined the mental health and support access of university students approaching graduation and differences by various social positions. Survey data were collected from final-year undergraduate students that had registered to graduate at a Canadian university in 2021 and 2022. Chi-square and linear regression models analyzed relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and mental health outcomes. Open-ended questions assessed barriers to accessing support and desired supports. Sexual/gender diverse students reported greater depressive symptoms than cisgender heterosexual students. Students without stressful childhood or current financial situations had lower depression and anxiety scores than their peers that experienced stressful financial situations, respectively. Formal support was more commonly accessed off-campus than on-campus in the past year. Differences in past-year support access were found by gender/sexuality, financial stress, age and race/ethnicity. Availability/scheduling was the most reported barrier to accessing campus-based services. Financial concerns were a common challenge and area for desired support. Implementing developmentally specific mental health support catering to the demands of this life period is necessary.

This article describes the learning and teaching approach taken within a Masters level specialism in Literacy Education within the context of learning some basics of undertaking qualitative investigation. Participants working as members of self-selected teams kept informal records of their activity, talk, reading, artefact creation, and archiving of documents in the context of engaging in a craft activity intended to produce a meaningful gift for an intended recipient. This informal corpus of information was generated as a hands-on approach to learning about how empirical qualitative researchers collect good quality data. It was then used as a resource for learning in a hands-on way some basic elements of data analysis. The participants subsequently learned how to refer to a contrived purpose and relevant literature to make sense of the craft process they had engaged in, and to discuss what they think they had learned about their process. The focus is on the work of one team who engaged in knitting a set of fabric “alphabet coasters” for learners who respond to tactile resources. The first half of the article maps some broad contours of the teaching approach taken by the instructors, who also participated as peripheral members of the team by providing feedback and suggestions within its Google Doc. The second half recounts the main elements of what and how the students worked and learned, drawing on the content of their 6600 word report for the course and their Google Doc.

<p>This paper critically examines the parallels of devaluation encountered by early childhood educators and sessional faculty members in Ontario as reflective praxis. The three authors’ experiences are diverse and include a tenured professor and two sessional faculty members, both ofwhom have worked in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). The narratives of the authors inform the concerning trend of precarity and devaluation embedded within two polarizing spectrums of the Ontario educational landscape: Post-Secondary Education (PSE) and ECEC. Although these aforementioned areas of education rarely intersect, the authors centre them on the frontline of the neoliberal assault on education transpiring in Ontario today. The three authors self-identify as female settlers; two have doctoral degrees; one has an MA and is an early childhood educator (ECE). One author self-identifies as a racialized and white-coded cis-gendered woman, and two selfidentify as white, cis-gendered women. All of the authors have worked in Ontario’s post-secondary landscape, one as sessional faculty member and then a tenured professor, and two as sessional faculty members. The paper will problematize the neoliberal assault on higher education and ECEC through a Feminist Political Economy (FPE) conceptual framework in order to draw on the multifaceted ways feminized discourses devalue the work of ECEs and perpetuate the overrepresentation of women, particularly racialized women in precarious faculty positions.</p>