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Racisme anti-Noir dans la profession infirmière: Comprendre l'expérience des infirmières Noires exerçant dans la région de la capitale nationale (Ottawa-Gatineau)
No full textDepuis près d'une trentaine d'années, plusieurs auteur.rice.s se sont penché.e.s sur la question du racisme dans la profession infirmière et plus largement dans le domaine de la santé canadien. Certain.e.s d'entre iels se sont particulièrement intéressé.e.s à l'expérience des infirmières Noires (IN). Néanmoins aucune étude à ce jour ne s'est intéressée à l'expérience des IN francophones. L'objectif premier de cette recherche est de parvenir à une compréhension éclairée de l'expérience du racisme vécue par les IN dans un espace de soin hiérarchisé et multi-relationnel. Un tel objectif vise à identifier sous le prisme de leurs récits expérientiels, comment opère le racisme ; quelles sont ses formes, de quelles manières il agit sur le parcours professionnel et de formation ; et enfin quelles sont les stratégies mises en œuvre à l'échelle individuelle, organisationnelle et systémique pour pallier la perpétuation du racisme dans la profession infirmière.
Cette thèse s'inscrit dans une perspective féministe intersectionnelle informée par les épistémologies et théories Black feminist permettant de saisir les oppressions multiples dont les femmes Noires sont à l'aune et comment ces dernières façonnent leurs conditions d'existence, économiques, politiques et sociales. Afin de saisir ces dynamiques tant sur le plan macro-systémique que micro-expérientiel, le cadre théorique élaboré permet de saisir les éléments qui constituent l'identité professionnelle - infirmière - et sociale - Noire. La présente recherche s'appuie sur une méthodologie qualitative soutenue par une approche phénoménologique critique du genre et de la race. La période de collecte des données s'est étendue de septembre 2022 à février 2023. Les entrevues ont majoritairement été menées en ligne et en personne. Les données recueillies ont été générées par le biais d'entrevues semi-dirigées (N = 15) avec des IN Afro-Canadiennes exerçants dans la région de la capitale nationale (Ottawa-Gatineau).
Au niveau micro-expérientiel, les résultats ont démontré que les IN subissent le racisme tant sur le plan organisationnel et qu'interpersonnel. Ce racisme s'introduit dans et a une incidence sur les rapports soignant.e-soignant.e et soignant.e-soigné.e dans l'espace de soin. Au niveau macro-systémique, le racisme vécu au niveau expérientiel et organisationnel fonde et alimente la structuration globale du travail infirmier qui reste profondément genré et racisé. Les IN sont surreprésentées dans les domaines et les grades en soins infirmiers les moins prestigieux et sous-représentées dans les domaines et les grades en soins infirmiers plus prestigieux. Le racisme impact de manière significative leur parcours professionnel et les opportunités auxquelles elles ont accès.
Les conclusions de cette thèse reposent sur le postulat que dans la promotion de l'équité dans l'espace de soin et la diversité dans la profession infirmière, il est essentiel de développer des stratégies organisationnelles afin de lutter effectivement contre le racisme dans les milieux d'emploi et de formation. Cela implique de soutenir le développement des politiques d'équité, diversité et inclusion (EDI), mais également des pratiques pédagogiques anti-oppressives et antiracistes basées sur une décolonisation tangible des curriculums en sciences infirmières. Ces transformations nécessitent l'inclusion de cours sur la compétence culturelle visant à cultiver l'humilité raciale. La concrétisation de ces actions favoriserait la création et la transformation de milieux d'emploi et de formation psychologiquement sécuritaire orientées vers une pratique, mais aussi une compétence infirmière efficiente et performante
Simulation and Experimental Analysis of Optical Frequency Comb Generation Methods and its Application in High-Capacity Optical Communication Systems
No full textThe exponential growth of data usage is reshaping optical communications networks and driving us to look for innovative technologies. Increased bandwidth, faster speeds, scalability are the needs for today's telecommunication field. These needs can be met, and the transmission ability can be increased by adopting advanced modulation formats, increased data rate and increasing the number of optical carriers. Increasing the number of optical carriers seem to be a captivating technology as the well-established dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is being used to multiplex several optical carriers in an optical communication system. High-capacity optical communication systems can be implemented using DWDM technique, which allows the transmission of separate wavelengths over a single optical channel. One of the challenges of DWDM is precise wavelength control to avoid crosstalk. Also, the use of discrete single wavelength lasers consumes lot of energy and make the system expensive. Replacing multiple laser sources with a single laser with multiple carriers in a DWDM system is a novel technique leading to reduced energy consumption, system complexity and cost. Optical frequency comb (OFC) is a multi carrier single laser source which can be integrated with the DWDM system. OFC is a promising technology which find its application in communication system as they offer many advantages such as high repetition rates, low noise, high stability covering multiple communication bands. This makes them ideal for advanced communication system.
In this thesis we shall see the OFC generation using passive mode locked Quantum Dash laser and electro-optic modulation technique. Experimental results and analysis for varying temperatures for Quantum Dash laser are presented and their effect is studied. The fundamental mode locking characteristics are studied and experiments are carried out to find the repetition rate and results of RF spectra measurement are presented. Experimental results to measure the dispersion of the laser cavity are also presented. OFC generation with good flatness is obtained using electro-optic modulator called the fibre loop modulation technique. Experimental results for OFC generation are presented and compared with the simulation results. Simulation is performed using the commercially available simulation software - OptiSystem. Comb line characteristics of OFC is analysed with respect to the amplitude of the RF signal used in fibre loop modulation technique. A direct relation between the amplitude of RF signal and the number of comb lines is obtained and the simulation results of the same is presented in this work.
A system is modelled integrating OFC in DWDM communication system in which the transmission medium considered is free-space. Simulation results are presented showing the potential of OFC to support high-capacity optical communication. Performance analysis of the system in terms of bit error rate and range of the optical transmission is presented which show that the modelled system is capable of high-capacity communication system
Communication in Shared Print at Academic Libraries: Report of Findings
No full textThis report focuses on communication practices in and across shared print programs and their member libraries. It explores how member libraries communicate shared print initiatives to stakeholders and whether a communication and change management plan could enhance the successful integration and normalization of shared print efforts within a library's collection strategy and practice.
This project emerged from two key factors: (1) the recognition of the need for high-level and often complex communication within the shared print landscape, and (2) the limited understanding of existing communication challenges among shared print stakeholders. A series of interviews, surveys, and focus groups were conducted with members of shared print programs from Canada and the USA.
The findings of this project underscore that effective communication is essential for the success and sustainability of shared print initiatives in academic libraries. Despite notable progress in the development of shared print programs, significant challenges remain in conveying the purpose and benefits of these initiatives to a range of stakeholders, both internal and external. Obstacles such as gaps in communication pathways, a lack of common understanding, and resistance to change—particularly regarding weeding and the shift from ownership to access—continue to hinder broader adoption.
The evolution of shared print must continue to be communicated with a focus on its sustainability, the collective value it offers, and the long-term vision for library collections. By addressing these communication challenges, libraries can strengthen their shared print efforts, foster collaboration, and better position themselves to navigate future challenges in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing information landscape
Toward Improving General Quantum Imaging Algorithms and the Realization of Quantum Recording
No full textVarious quantum imaging techniques have been shown to be effective at imaging through some aspects of traditionally difficult free-space channels, including ghost imaging through turbulent channels, or quantum illumination through channels with noisy backgrounds. For quantum illumination through channels with noisy background, a full rigorous theoretical framework has never been given. This thesis begins by providing such a theoretical framework for a version of quantum illumination which relies on spatial correlations. While these techniques have only ever been shown to work independently, real-world free-space channels are often both turbulent and noisy simultaneously. This thesis then goes on to describe and experimentally demonstrate a quantum correlated imaging method which uses an SPDC source and a time-tagging camera which be made robust against both turbulent media and a noisy background in free-space channels by implementing filtering based on the temporal and spatial correlations of paired photons. Furthermore, the filtering reduces accidental coincidence counts between uncorrelated photons, allowing the pair source to operate at high brightness which, in turn, leads to video-rate integration times. These quantum correlated recordings allow for improved object tracking, while the longer integration time images improve image fidelity over turbulent and noisy channels. This demonstration could allow for new improvements in communication, measurement, and sensing through turbulent and noisy free-space channels
Into the wild: a mixed-methods pilot study of the mental health benefits of a nature summer camp for urban children with psychological needs
No full textAbstract Research suggests that nature promotes psychological and behavioral health among children. However, children living in low-income urban communities often have less access to green spaces compared to their counterparts living in high-income neighborhoods, and limited research has investigated the impact of nature on well-being and social connectedness in children experiencing marginalization. To address this gap, this mixed-methods study examined the impact of a one-week immersive nature camp on the well-being and social connectedness of 27 children aged 6–12 years referred to a community hub in Ottawa, Canada, for complex psychosocial difficulties. One week prior to and one week after the camp, caregivers completed a survey inquiring about their child’s personal well-being, social contact, loneliness, positive emotional state, and positive outlook. On the first and last days of the camp, children completed the same survey. Children also engaged in an audio-recorded focus group about their experience in the camp to inform the quantitative findings. Quantitative and qualitative responses were analyzed using paired samples t-tests and thematic analysis, respectively. Although not statistically significant, small to medium effect sizes for improved positive emotional state and positive outlook were reported by children (p =.26, d = 0.24; p =.14, d = 0.31) and their caregivers (p =.12, d = 0.37; p =.89, d = 0.03). Qualitative thematic analyses of focus groups revealed nine themes including making friends, acquiring new skills, and connecting with nature. Within the Canadian child health context, exposure to green spaces for children with complex psychological difficulties living in low-income urban communities may be associated with perceived enhancements in social connections and skills. Future research with larger sample sizes is needed
Decolonizing Counterterrorism? Exploration of Political Possibility = Décoloniser la lutte contre le terrorisme? Exploration des possibilités politiques
No full textThis dissertation investigates the applicability of decoloniality for decolonizing contemporary security and counterterrorism frameworks. By introducing the "Triangulation of Policy Dispersion" model, I demonstrate how counterterrorism policies have been crafted and adapted primarily by the UK, France, and the US and disseminated globally through international organizations. Supporting this model, I use a genealogical approach to dissect the historical evolution of terrorism and counterterrorism, tracing the colonial antecedents of counterinsurgency in the UK, France, and the US to their modern policy and practice iterations. Based on this interrogation as well as a thorough policy analysis, the dissertation presents a decolonial critique that addresses the oppressive "targeting-alienation-radicalization cycle," revealing aspects of xenophobia, racism, and othering that have carried forward from the Western Civilizing Mission. Advancing decolonial theory, this dissertation proposes that the Plurality of Liberation serves as an important step of strategic engagement, smashing these oppressive dynamics on the path toward reconstitution. It also explores the importance of axiological reconstitution beyond epistemological and ontological reconstitution to reshape not only what is known and perceived, but also what is valued. To this end, the dissertation explores how the decolonial critique can address the root causes of oppression, radicalization and terrorism through reshaping international relations and security collaborations by interrupting the triangulation and reframing security narratives toward valuing human security and facilitating sustainable peace through integrated social, economic, and political initiatives. --
Cette dissertation examine l'applicabilité de la décolonialité pour décoloniser les cadres contemporains de sécurité et de lutte contre le terrorisme. En introduisant le modèle de la « Triangulation de la Dispersion des Politiques », je démontre comment les politiques antiterroristes ont été principalement conçues et adaptées par le Royaume-Uni, la France et les États-Unis, puis diffusées via des organisations internationales. Pour appuyer ce modèle, j'utilise une approche généalogique afin de disséquer l'évolution historique du terrorisme et de la lutte antiterroriste, en retraçant les antécédents coloniaux de la contre-insurrection dans ces pays et leurs adaptations modernes en matière de politiques et de pratiques. À partir de cette analyse, la dissertation propose une critique décoloniale qui aborde le cycle oppressif de « ciblage-alienation-radicalisation », révélant des aspects de xénophobie, de racisme et d'altérisation hérités de la mission civilisatrice occidentale. Avançant la théorie décoloniale, cette dissertation suggère que la Pluralité de la Libération constitue une étape stratégique vers l'engagement, en brisant ces dynamiques oppressives pour aller vers la reconstitution. Elle explore également l'importance de la reconstitution axiologique, au-delà des reconstitutions épistémologique et ontologique, afin de remodeler non seulement ce qui est connu et perçu, mais aussi ce qui est valorisé. À cet effet, la dissertation examine comment la critique décoloniale peut s'attaquer aux causes profondes de l'oppression, de la radicalisation et du terrorisme, en restructurant les relations internationales et les collaborations en matière de sécurité, en interrompant la triangulation et en reconfigurant les discours de sécurité pour valoriser la sécurité humaine et promouvoir une paix durable par des initiatives intégrées sur les plans social, économique et politique
PhyloFunc: phylogeny-informed functional distance as a new ecological metric for metaproteomic data analysis
No full textAbstract Background Beta-diversity is a fundamental ecological metric for exploring dissimilarities between microbial communities. On the functional dimension, metaproteomics data can be used to quantify beta-diversity to understand how microbial community functional profiles vary under different environmental conditions. Conventional approaches to metaproteomic functional beta-diversity often treat protein functions as independent features, ignoring the evolutionary relationships among microbial taxa from which different proteins originate. A more informative functional distance metric that incorporates evolutionary relatedness is needed to better understand microbiome functional dissimilarities. Results Here, we introduce PhyloFunc, a novel functional beta-diversity metric that incorporates microbiome phylogeny to inform on metaproteomic functional distance. Leveraging the phylogenetic framework of weighted UniFrac distance, PhyloFunc innovatively utilizes branch lengths to weigh between-sample functional distances for each taxon, rather than differences in taxonomic abundance as in weighted UniFrac. Proof of concept using a simulated toy dataset and a real dataset from mouse inoculated with a synthetic gut microbiome and fed different diets show that PhyloFunc successfully captured functional compensatory effects between phylogenetically related taxa. We further tested a third dataset of complex human gut microbiomes treated with five different drugs to compare PhyloFunc’s performance with other traditional distance methods. PCoA and machine learning-based classification algorithms revealed higher sensitivity of PhyloFunc in microbiome responses to paracetamol. We provide PhyloFunc as an open-source Python package (available at https://pypi.org/project/phylofunc/ ), enabling efficient calculation of functional beta-diversity distances between a pair of samples or the generation of a distance matrix for all samples within a dataset. Conclusions Unlike traditional approaches that consider metaproteomics features as independent and unrelated, PhyloFunc acknowledges the role of phylogenetic context in shaping the functional landscape in metaproteomes. In particular, we report that PhyloFunc accounts for the functional compensatory effect of taxonomically related species. Its effectiveness, ecological relevance, and enhanced sensitivity in distinguishing group variations are demonstrated through the specific applications presented in this study. Video Abstrac
Next-Generation Enzyme Design: Incorporation of Multiple Conformational and Chemical States
No full textThe design of tailor-made enzymes for new-to-nature reactions holds significant industrial potential. Despite advancements in de novo enzyme design, designed enzymes often exhibit catalytic efficiencies far lower than their natural counterparts, necessitating directed evolution to enhance their activities. This thesis aims to improve enzyme design methods to enable the creation of efficient enzymes without reliance on directed evolution by addressing key challenges in current approaches. Firstly, existing methods focus solely on the active site and do not include distal sites, whose contribution to catalysis is not well understood. In Chapter 2, we demonstrate that while active-site mutations alone can create ordered, efficient active sites, distal mutations can reorganize surface loops and widen tunnels to the active site, facilitating substrate binding and product release. The second key challenge is the availability of suitable scaffolds for enzyme design. In Chapter 3, we investigate minimal, de novo, and functionless TIM barrels as versatile templates customizable for any reaction. Using physics-based and machine-learning tools, we modified a simple TIM barrel and introduced structural segments to enclose the active site, creating a functional Kemp eliminase. The third challenge we address is the design of efficient enzymes for multistep reactions, which requires stabilizing multiple states along the reaction pathway. In Chapter 4, we present the first instance of multistate enzyme design, where we stabilized multiple chemical and conformation states to create de novo Michaelases. Our results suggest that to design efficient artificial enzymes, a holistic approach is required wherein the design procedure includes the whole reaction coordinate. This thesis advances computational enzyme design by unravelling the impact of distal mutations, evaluating the utility of machine-learning tools for enzyme design, and incorporating multistate approaches to design enzymes for multistep reactions. Our work lays the foundation for the design of highly efficient enzymes for diverse applications
Políticas culturales del patrimonio en América Latina : Las obras murales de las vanguardias latinoamericanas ante la patrimonialización en Argentina, Chile y Uruguay : El caso de las obras de David Alfaro Siqueiros y Otros, Joaquín Torres García y, Roberto Matta y la Brigada Ramona Parra
No full textThis thesis examines three murals by renowned artists from the Latin American avant-garde of the 20th century, all of which have undergone processes of patrimonialization. This mechanism is understood as the transition of material and immaterial goods into local, glocal, or global cultural heritage. Therefore, the objective is to analyze these mechanisms and the impact they have on the recovered works. I argue that these processes recreate and re-signify the works, meaning they substantially transform them. The corpus consists of the following murals: Ejercicio Plástico, created in 1933 in Buenos Aires, Argentina by the Equipo Poligráfico composed of David Alfaro Siqueiros, Antonio Berni, Lino Enea Spilimbergo, and Juan Carlos Castagnino; Pax in Lucem by artist Joaquín Torres García, created in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1944; and El primer gol del pueblo chileno, created by artist Roberto Matta together with the Brigada artística Ramona Parra in 1971 in Santiago, Chile. The research aims to demonstrate how current patrimonialization processes modify the works through the intervention and interconnection of the community, cultural agents, and institutions that frame them within a series of governmental regulations that protect and transfigure them. In this sense, the study cross-examines the original creations and their patrimonialized representations within a multidisciplinary analytical framework; at the same time, the research - the primary sources and documentation - is referenced with an online visualization system utilizing Digital Humanities tools. Therefore, throughout the thesis, there will be references pointing to the digital component of the research; this device allows for the visualization of the analyzed elements and also provides material evidence supporting the arguments put forward. Since the research focuses on works of art and their transformations, this dual format also facilitates dissemination, visibility, and accessibility to all components, both textual and visual
Robustly Hyperbolic 1D Closures for Classical and Quantum Hydrodynamics
No full textThe use of moment-closure methods for the prediction of non-equilibrium gas flows offers many modelling and numerical advantages over traditional methods. In particular, the maximum-entropy family of moment closures has been found to be very successful, offering models described by hyperbolic systems of balance laws. Unfortunately, most maximum- entropy closures cannot be expressed in closed form. The only affordable option is to propose approximations which are presently only available for a limited number of moments. Other Grad-based moment closures have been proposed. However, almost all of them suffer from questionable modelling assumption or numerical difficulties. Fortunately quadrature-based moment methods have been shown to produce accurate, globally hyperbolic models. The resulting moment systems maintain balance-law form and can be constructed to be Galilean invariant for arbitrarily large number of moments, making them an excellent alternative. The present work starts by reviewing key concepts of kinetic theory and moment closure, followed by a non-exhaustive litterature review of the main ideas developped in the last decades. Then three journal articles, constituting this thesis by contribution, are included. The first article shows the potential of moment closures to produce reliable quantum hydro- dynamic models. As an initial investigation, a maximum-entropy approximation was used to predict the time evolution of a Gaussian wave packet in phase space, allowing for a better understanding of the advantages and drawbacks of the method for situation where quantum effects are significant. The second paper investigates a new technique for the construction of globally hyperbolic closures. A new orthogonal-polynomial-based moment closure hierarchy (OPMC) covering the even-order closures is also presented. The accuracy of the new hierarchy is accessed using numerical solutions of Riemann problems along with strong shock-wave calculations. Finally, the applicability of this novel hierarchy to plasma physics is investigated in the third paper. Discretized solutions of the Vlasov-Poisson-BGK system of equations are compared against solutions of the moment systems for two canonical plasma problems featuring both the collisional and collisionless regimes