Renal trace elements in barren-ground caribou subpopulations: Temporal trends and differing effects of sex, age and season

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are a culturally significant food resource for communities in northern Canada and Greenland. Many barren-ground caribou subpopulations are currently in decline, some dramatically; understanding the influence of stressors, such as toxic trace metals, is important. These contaminants enter Arctic terrestrial environments via atmospheric transport from industrialized areas and from local sources, accumulating there in the environment. Understanding how trace element concentrations interact and are influenced by caribou sex, age and season of collection is essential to evaluating trends in these elements over time and differences among subpopulations. We used path analysis to model the direct and indirect relationships between these variables in the Porcupine subpopulation and in barren-ground caribou from the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. Renal cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) varied significantly among subpopulations. Hg was positively correlated with Cd, Cu and selenium (Se) in female Porcupine caribou whereas Cd and Cu were negatively correlated in male Porcupine caribou. Age, season and sex influenced all three element concentrations and should be considered when comparing elements among caribou subpopulations or years. Renal Cd decreased slightly from the Canadian Western Arctic to Greenland and increased slightly over time, possibly reflecting patterns of atmospheric deposition. Renal Hg did not change significantly over time, and differences among subpopulations did not follow specific geographical patterns. Renal Cu declined over time, the changes being markedly different among subpopulations, sexes and seasons. This temporal decline is likely due to changes in diet, which could be driven by various environmental factors. Declining Cu concentrations in caribou is of concern as low levels could negatively affect reproductive success and therefore caribou at a population level. Continuing to monitor element concentrations in caribou is essential to better comprehend potential threats facing the species, and to promote food security in communities harvesting this important resource.

Developing clinical competency in crisis event management: an integrated simulation problem-based learning activity

This study aimed to evaluate the integration of a simulation based learning activity on nursing students' clinical crisis management performance in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum. It was hypothesized that the clinical performance of first year nursing students who participated in a simulated learning activity during the PBL session would be superior to those who completed the conventional problem-based session. The students were allocated into either simulation with problem-based discussion (SPBD) or problem-based discussion (PBD) for scenarios on respiratory and cardiac distress. Following completion of each scenario, students from both groups were invited to sit an optional individual test involving a systematic assessment and immediate management of a simulated patient facing a crisis event. A total of thirty students participated in the first post test related to a respiratory scenario and thirty-three participated in the second post test related to a cardiac scenario. Their clinical performances were scored using a checklist. Mean test scores for students completing the SPBD were significantly higher than those who completing the PBD for both the first post test (SPBD 20.08, PBD 18.19) and second post test (SPBD 27.56, PBD 23.07). Incorporation of simulation learning activities into problem-based discussion appeared to be an effective educational strategy for teaching nursing students to assess and manage crisis events.