Simon Fraser University

To provide insights into the potential impacts of release of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) into the environment, chronic toxicity tests on early life stage rainbow trout (ELS-RBT) were conducted. The objective of the testing was to better characterize the effects of OSPW from the Alberta Oil sands on swim-up fry mortality, development (fish length and width, yolk sac development), and deformities (skeletal, craniofacial, finfold, and edemas) as a function of OSPW dilution (%) and ∑O2-naphthenic acid (NA) concentrations. More than 95% mortality in ELS-RBT was observed in the range of 22% to 100% OSPW. Lethal concentrations of 50% of the test population (LC50) values expressed in terms of OSPW dilutions were 13.7 (SE 0.7), 10.6 (SE 0.5), and 12.7 (SE 0.5) % for OSPW collected in 2019, 2021, and 2022, respectively. Corresponding LC50 values for ∑O2-NAs concentrations were 2.8 (SE 0.14), 2.0 (SE 0.11), and 2.2 (SE 0.09) mg/L, respectively. Primary sublethal effects included delayed development, craniofacial defects, and evidence of cardiovascular toxicity, including pericardial and yolk sac edema and hemorrhaging. Evidence of sublethal developmental effects was observed at OSPW dilutions above 10% and corresponding ∑O2-NA concentrations above 1.69 mg/L. The only exception was for 17.1 (SE 3.3) % craniofacial deformities at OSPW concentrations of 3.2% and corresponding ∑O2-NA concentrations of 0.66 mg/L, but only for OSPW collected in 2019. The results from this indicate that a 20-fold or greater dilution (or a corresponding removal of OSPW) of the tested OSPW from the Kearl site is sufficient to negate the chronic toxicity in rainbow trout investigated in this study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is known as one of the most common types of cancer in the world, and its early detection plays a decisive role in the success of treatment and preventing the spread of tumors in the body. Early detection is usually done through the identification of biomarkers, and the use of new sensing technologies can significantly improve the detection process. In recent years, the development and application of various biosensors, including electrical, optical, mechanical, and electrochemical sensors, for CRC detection has attracted considerable attention from researchers. Among them, electrochemical biosensors are considered a very suitable option for CRC detection due to their features such as short detection time, high sensitivity, and the ability to detect very small amounts of biomarkers. In general, combining these sensors with various nanostructures can significantly increase their sensitivity and stability. Among these nanomaterials, graphene and its derivatives, including graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), have attracted significant attention due to their unique electrical properties, high specific surface area, excellent conductivity, and superior mechanical properties, making them ideal candidates for the fabrication of electrochemical biosensors. This review focuses on graphene-based electrochemical biosensors for CRC detection over the past five years, analyzing key biomarkers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA 19–9), and microRNAs (miRNAs), which are commonly used for CRC diagnosis. In addition, indicators such as the linear performance range (LR), typically ranging from nanomolar (nM) to micromolar (μM), and the limit of detection (LOD), ranging from femtomolar (fM) to nanomolar (nM) concentrations, have been discussed. Finally, alongside outlining the challenges associated with the development of this category of biosensors, future prospects and strategies aimed at enhancing efficiency, selectivity, reproducibility, and broadening the clinical applications of graphene-based electrochemical biosensors have also been discussed. Overall, this study demonstrates that combining graphene with advanced sensing technologies could pave the way for the development of rapid, accurate, and reliable diagnostic tools, contributing to significant progress in the early detection of CRC. • Overview of current biosensor technologies applied for colorectal cancer detection. • Focus on recent advances in graphene-based electrochemical biosensors. • Graphene nanostructures enhance sensitivity, conductivity, and biomarker detection. • Comparison of graphene-derived materials for CRC-related biomarker sensing. • Identification of challenges, limitations, and future directions for clinical translation.

People and communities in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC) have been profoundly impacted by the toxic drug crisis, which has driven a province-wide public health emergency since 2016. In 2023, BC implemented a "Decriminalization Pilot," which temporarily removed criminal sanctions for the possession of small amounts of certain substances. In May 2024, the Decriminalization Pilot was amended to exclude its application in almost any urban outdoor space; a reform colloquially referred to as "Recriminalization." This study sought to address gaps in understanding how law enforcement practices towards people who use criminalized drugs may have changed during the Decriminalization Pilot and subsequent Recriminalization periods. We undertook a community-based, qualitative study. We conducted 21 interviews with people who use criminalized drugs and who interacted with law enforcement in Vancouver between January and May 2025. We employed combined reflexive thematic and interpretative phenomenological analyses. We derived five main themes: 1) confusion over the Decriminalization Pilot; 2) selective enforcement and pervasiveness of policing; 3) police interference with overdose response and other public health interventions; 4) seizures of belongings, including government-supplied resources; and 5) displacement from public space. Our findings illustrate how harmful law enforcement practices that target people who use criminalized drugs, particularly those relying on public spaces for survival, persisted during the evolving drug policy periods. Together, these law enforcement practices along with the lack of understanding regarding the shifting Decriminalization Pilot, may have undermined the potential success of a policy dedicated to decriminalizing drug possession in BC.

Our systematic and comprehensive genomic and spatially resolved profiling of Hodgkin lymphoma revealed a paradigmatic link between a genetic disease subtype and TME composition and function. Insights into mutation-driven mechanisms of deregulated cytokine signaling will pave the way for therapeutic interventions that interfere with oncogenic signaling and cellular ecosystems in cancer.