GSTF Digital Library (GSTF-DL): Open Journal Systems (Global Science and Technology Forum)
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Transition Supports for IENs in Workplace: Perspectives of IENs in Ontario
Get PDFThere is a nation-wide concern about nursing shortages in Canada. The skills, expertise and experience brought by internationally educated nurses (IENs) are crucial for health human resources sustainability. However, there is a lack of consistency with transition/integration services in place for IENs. An online survey was sent through email to members enrolled in CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses’ bridge training program. The study findings revealed that the most recognized service offered to employed-IENs was ‘corporate orientation for all new staff’. IENs-specific orientation and buddy programs were the least recognized available initiatives. Majority of the respondents desire IEN-focused transition programs that can assist them with their professional growth and integration within the healthcare system. CARE Centre with more than ten years’ experience working with IENs is developing a two-pronged Workplace Transition Program to empower IENs and to partner with employers in knowledge transfer activities resulting in greater capacity to facilitate integration of IENs into workplace
Blind Signal Separation for Medical Data Recording Using Self-Organizing Neural Network
No full textThis paper present a study of signal processing in Blind Source Separation (BSS) application for medical field, especially during medical data recording. There are two main techniques that will be investigated; Natural Gradient Method (NGM) and Self-Organized Neural Network (SONN). The main source signals are Electrocardiograph (ECG), and Electroencephalograph (EEG) that linearly mixed with noise signal. This study related to doctor’s assistant for remote outpatient and their patients to communicate each other in separate places, as well as the doctor will be able to monitoring patient’s condition using a telephone/mobile phone that have been attached with an embedded system. Hopefully, while implementing BSS technique into an embedded system for signal processing application will increase the quality of medical outpatient system remotely. This investigation conclude that SONN provide about 80% effectively than NGM while separating mixed source signals of EEG, ECG, and noise Signal
Engine Emissions and Performance using WCO Biodiesel
No full textCombustion performance and exhaust emissions from the combustion of biodiesel made from waste cooking oil (WCO) are presented in this paper. Several solutions for alternative fuels particularly to substitute petroleum/fossil fuels in transport sector are available. Waste cooking oil (WCO) is one such option already used in certain ratios in the US, EU and other countries but there are still some issues relating to running diesel engines on WCO due to differences in the chemical composition between biodiesel and diesel. In order to gather more information of the overall performance in engines and emission formation, experimental tests were conducted and comparisons were made with the petroleum diesel. Elemental analysis of WCO biodiesel confirmed that different functional groups, lead to major differences in the combustion characteristics of the two fuel types. The biodiesel found to have 10% lower carbon content, almost no Sulphur content and up to 12%, more oxygen content compared with diesel. Higher oxygen content and double bonds in WCO biodiesel increase its susceptibility to oxidation and explains up to l8% lower caloric value and up to 9% lower engine torque compared with diesel. Using WCO blends ratio up to 75% in diesel showed a reduction in exhaust emissions compared with diesel. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increases as the biodiesel blend ratio in diesel increases due to greater mass of fuel being injected at a given injection pressure, compared with diesel. A common conclusion can be made in favor of the WCO biodiesel as being a greener alternative to petro-diesel when used in blend with diesel. Large variations in the feedstock used for biodiesel production would lead to variations in the physical and chemical properties of the WCO biodiesel produced. Stringent standards may need to be imposed for biodiesel quality in order to reduce the effect of variation in physiochemical properties on engine performance and emissions. However, experimental tests confirmed that biodiesel-diesel blends could be used in current diesel engines without loss of performance
Political Advertising in Nigeria’s Emergent Democratic Process: An Overview of the 2007 Presidential Election
No full textIn an evolving democracy like Nigeria it is doubtful how much political advertisements can impact on the outcome of elections. This study assesses the effect of political advertising on the voting pattern of Nigerians during the 2007 presidential election. This election is particularly worthy of scrutiny because it marked an unprecedented transition from one elected government to another in Nigeria after years of military dictatorship. Although judged as peaceful, the election is said to have been flawed by serious electoral malpractices by International Observers; and the country is once more neck-deep in preparations for a similar election in 2015. The study is limited to advertising in newspapers which carried mostly full page advertisements in full colours and employed the survey technique using a structured questionnaire to gather data from respondents. Three hundred and eighty-five copies of these were distributed across the six geopolitical zones of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, with 370 copies duly completed and returned. The study relied on two rhetorical theories – Muzafer Sherif’s Social Judgment theory and George Herbert Mead’s theory of Symbolic Interactionism. Frequency count and simple percentages were used for the presentation and analysis of findings. Descriptive statistics were used to address research questions and the hypotheses were tested with the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. The study is significant in that it has provided empirical evidence that during 2007 Presidential election in Nigeria, political advertisements in newspapers provided new and convincing information about the candidates; facilitated voters’ understanding of the issues canvassed; helped increase the approval rating of favoured candidates; and significantly reinforced their decision to vote for particular candidates but failed to influence changes in voting pattern. In view of its findings, the study recommends that although political advertising is highly beneficial in the political mobilization process, it cannot replace rallies and other forms of interpersonal communication in Nigeria
The Investigation of the Relationship between Drying and Restrained Shrinkage In View of the Development of Micro Cracks
No full textEspecially, the shrinkage has an essential role for the cement based materials. The shrinkage which is defined as volume change affects the strength and the characteristic properties of the materials and form the degradation mechanisms. Nowadays, according to some researches, the cracks of the restrained shrinkage has an important effect on the deformations of the materials. In laboratory researches, the crack width of the restrained shrinkage is measured by the electron microscope. On the other side, the amount of the shrinkage is measured for the drying shrinkage. The crack width of the drying shrinkage is not measured because it is no possible to measure the crack width accurately and the destructive methods are used to measure the development of the cracks of the drying shrinkage. In this study, the crack widths of the drying shrinkage are measured by the electron microscope used for the measurement of the crack widths of the restrained shrinkage. Therefore, the relationship between the amount of the drying shrinkage and the crack widths is determined. Also, the difference between the crack widths of the drying and restrained shrinkage is evaluated. Besides, there is a relationship between the drying shrinkage and restrained shrinkage. As a result of the microscopic observations of the crack widths of the drying and restrained shrinkage, if the dimensions of the ring samples and drying shrinkage samples are close each other and there are no different stresses, the drying shrinkage is just enough to determine the shrinkage behavior of the plain concrete. Especially, when the maximum aggregate grain size increases, the aggregate holds the cracks as the micro-cracks and supply the self-healing of the cement based materials because when the crack width is constant or develops less, the smaller widths become to close and forms self-healing of the cement based materials
Natty Bumppo: An Interpreter of the other’s Civilization in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Pioneers from the Perspective of Literary Anthropology
Get PDFIn the novel The Pioneers, James Fenimore Cooper shows the overwhelming conflicts between the civilized society built by the white pioneers and the primitive and barbarous life style of the native Indians. Meanwhile, he successfully constructs the image of “Leather Stocking,†Natty Bumppo, the ideal white hero who is white in the skin but “red†in the mind. In doing so, Cooper fully expresses his disappointment with the white pioneers’ arrogance and brutality in their dealing with the Indians as well as his longing for the ideal of simple living in harmony with nature. This ideal is invested in the characterization of Natty Bumppo, who embraces the culture of the Indian by demonstrating the noble qualities of loving freedom, upholding justice, being industrious and brave, and immersion with nature. He is an example of the “noble savage†that answers to the need of the 19th century white America
Regulating a Distributed Computing Model via Chomsky Hierarchy
No full textWe propose in this paper the regulated evolution ofisotonic arrays in P systems. Such an evolution of connectedarrays in P systems in a regulated manner is new to the areaof P systems and we call it as dependability of P system. ThisP system works in accepting mode. Several interesting examplesand properties are given
An Analysis of Evidence-Based Practice Curriculum Integration in Australian Undergraduate Nursing Programs
Get PDFEvidence-based practice (EBP) remains a relatively new concept to nursing, creating many challenges in relation to curriculum evaluation. Most of the available literature on EBP focuses to a great extent on clinical practice. There is limited literature available addressing the incorporation of EBP into nursing curricula, particularly at the undergraduate level. Existing literature highlights discrepancies in how EBP is implemented into nursing curricula, and reveals ambiguity in defining the concepts of EBP, appropriate place in the course in which to initiate EBP skills training, and in merging EBP with the research process. In the Australian context and internationally, EBP is variably addressed within undergraduate nursing education
How Well are We Teaching Students Programming? Perceptions of Students of Their Programming Experience
No full textThis paper describes a study aimed at investigating student perceptions’ of their computer programming experiences at the National University of Samoa (NUS). The objectives were to: i) gauge student opinions on interest and experience, level of mental engagement, motivation, with respect to their programming skills and experience; ii) identify perceived areas/topics of difficulty in the programming curriculum and iii) identify perceived deficiencies in learning support and the learning environment. Students in the 3 Java programming classes at the National University of Samoa were given questionnaires to complete. The results in this paper are limited to responses from one class, HCS286. The preliminary findings focusing on the first objective is the subject of an earlier paper [1] and focuses on findings on gauging student opinions on interest, experience, level of mental engagement and motivation with respect to their programming skills and experience. Findings from the current study provide useful feedback which can be used in improving the student learning environment for such a cognitively challenging subject
Using Wireless Technology for Quick Distribution of Wireless and Mobile Course Notes and Other Resources
No full textBluetooth is one of the most pervasive technologiesavailable on mobile phones. It is currently free and uses thesame spectrum as standard Wifi (802.11b and 802.11g).Harnessing the use of this free technology might be attractive toUniversity and other students as messages can be exchangedwithout cost (unlike SMS based systems). Key academicmaterials like notices, basic course notes and even quizzes canbe distributed via Bluetooth. The paper looks at client serverapplications that can be used by lecturers and students toexchange basic course information. Lecturers benefit becausethey can send useful information to students (which can bestaged). Students benefit by getting the materials withoutattending class. They just have to be within the wireless rangecoverage. The paper provides a base that can be used for furtherstudy into educational Bluetooth applications