Over the past several decades, scholars have lamented the erosion of \"true\" public space through the rise of semi-public and private spaces where access is determined, and usage is increasingly regulated (e.g., through curfews and restrictions on use). Writing in the midst of the sixth wave of COVID-19, the importance of inclusive, open spaces in Canadian urban centres is evident: these are spaces that allow for movement and participation (ideally) across axes of identity and difference. Yet, public spaces are also bound up with the heightened regulation of bodies to supress contagion through social distancing and restrictions on use. While some bodies are in place (and take up space) in public in this context, other bodies face limitations pertaining to discrimination, surveillance, health, and access. This viewpoint highlights the importance of retaining and producing inclusive public spaces and the need to think critically about the urban experience under COVID-19.
Au cours des dernières décennies, les chercheurs ont déploré l\'érosion d\'un « véritable » espace public par la montée des espaces semi‐publics et privés dont l\'accès est déterminé et l\'usage de plus en plus réglementé (par exemple, par des couvre‐feux et des restrictions d\'utilisation). Au milieu de la sixième vague de COVID‐19, l\'importance des espaces ouverts et inclusifs dans les centres urbains canadiens paraît évidente: il s\'agit d\'espaces qui permettent le mouvement et la participation (idéalement) sous l\'angle de l\'identité et de la différence. Pourtant, les espaces publics sont également liés à la régulation accrue des individus afin de supprimer la contagion par la distance physique et des règles d\'usage contraignantes. Si certains individus sont présents (et occupent l\'espace) en public dans ce contexte, d\'autres individus sont confrontés à des limitations en matière de discrimination, de surveillance, de santé et d\'accès. Ce point de vue souligne l\'importance de conserver et d\'établir des espaces publics inclusifs et la nécessité de réfléchir de manière critique à l\'expérience urbaine dans le cadre de la COVID‐19.

Beavers are expanding into cities as they recolonize their historic range. While they increase the ecological functioning of urban green areas, human-beaver conflicts occur. Public support to deal with conflicts has shifted from population to forage control. Tree guards are becoming popular with management personnel in North America and Europe to reduce damage to valuable trees. The problem is that this management technique has not been studied. We inventoried the tree guard types in use in natural and manicured river parks in the City of Saskatoon, Canada, determined their adherence to an installation protocol by measuring guard dimensions, and assessed the relative effectiveness of guards in protecting trees from beaver cutting. The inventory revealed that four types of tree guards are in use, ranging from light gauge chicken wire to heavy gauge chain link fencing. Overall, 11% of the trees with guards that we inventoried were cut by beavers, but variation among guard types was observed. Less than 10% of trees with type i and ii guards were beaver cut whereas 17% of trees with types iii and iv guards were beaver cut. Fewer trees were cut when there was adherence to installation protocol, regardless of guard type. Cut trees with guard types i, iii and iv experienced both minor and major damage whereas cut trees with guard type ii experienced only minor damage. The study results have implications for developing effectiveness and implementation monitoring plans for tree guards as part of an overall beaver management plan.

Outbreaks and sporadic dengue virus infections continue to occur in Africa. Several reports of dengue among travellers returning from some African countries to Europe and North America have raised concerns about the epidemiological situation in Africa. We investigated recent dengue infections in febrile patients during the rainy season in various urban centres in the rainforest region of Nigeria, West Africa. This cross-sectional study was conducted for 8 months in 2014 with study participants from Adeoyo Hospital Yemetu - Ibadan, Nigeria. Plasma were collected from 274 febrile patients residing in 11 Local Government Areas of Oyo State. IgM antibodies were determined using semi-quantitative sandwich ELISA. Data was analyzed using Chi - Square and Fisher\'s exact test with SPSS 16.0. An overall prevalence of 23.4% dengue virus infection was found among study participants. Highest monthly prevalence of 40% was in April and August. The monthly distribution pattern of dengue virus infection indicates efficient virus transmission. Routine diagnosis will enhance dengue virus surveillance and improve patient care in West Africa.