Toronto Metropolitan University Open Journals
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An Experiment in Changing Ourselves and the World Through Pedagogy
No full textIn this paper, we explore how pedagogy conveys values and enacts ideologies, influencing what can be known, what is inherently cast as ir/relevant, and who is deemed a credible knowledge-bearer, by reflecting on a pedagogical intervention with a facilitator (Lucy) and two learners (Alison and Leo). The paper focuses on how teaching style can expose shortcomings in dominant conceptualizations of nutrition and health and knowledge-creation processes to catalyze new, liberatory understandings. We suggest that even a one-off 60-minute intervention using a liberatory pedagogy can have a meaningful impact on what is known and that this disruption can have, as here, an enduring impact. Findings are broadly relevant across (and beyond) nutrition and dietetics teaching, research, practice, activism and policy
Developing a conceptual family needs framework for newcomer immigrants and refugees: A community-based participatory research approach
No full textIntroduction: Family is a major driver of migration. However, the impact of migration on the family as a unit, and family-based service delivery, have not received significant attention in research, service delivery, and policy. The purpose of this project was to explore and develop an avenue to address this gap. Methods: This project used a community-based participatory research approach, encompassing a demographic analysis, a comprehensive literature review, four focus groups, a family survey, and a community seminar, whereby we explored the needs of newcomer families, their use of services, and barriers to resettlement. The demographic data and family survey were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. The focus group and community seminar data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Drawing together the findings and cross-cutting themes from the community project, as well as Family Services of Peel’s Framework on Equity, Anti-Oppression, and Anti-Racism; Bierman and colleagues’ gender, migration, and health framework; and Walsh’s family resilience framework, we developed a conceptual Family Needs Framework for service providers working with newcomer families in the Peel Region. Results: This paper discusses the findings from our community-based project. The data presented was collected between May 2022 and April 2023 in the Peel Region in Ontario, Canada. This data is presented as cross-cutting themes from the multiple data sources. We then present the framework developed, Migration and Health: A Systems Approach to Family Support. Our findings highlight that a collaborative, systems approach that view migrants in the context of their family ties and relationships and integrates “basic resettlement needs” and mental healthcare is imperative to holistically understand families’ needs and best support their mental health and well-being. Conclusion: Taking an equity-based, systems-informed, and strengths-based family approach, this framework has the potential to transform how settlement workers support the mental health and related needs of newcomer families
Exploration of student nurses’ perceptions towards individuals with opioid use disorders in Scotland: A mixed method investigation
No full textIntroduction: Worldwide, an opioid epidemic continues to escalate. While the scientific community has recognized substance use disorders as a biophysiological disease, society continues to view addiction as a social problem and not a medical one. Individuals with opioid use disorders have been stigmatized and negatively characterized as morally weak and defective. Previous studies reveal that these negative attitudes often prevail among nurses and that nurses report dissatisfaction and a lack of education preparation to care for this increasing worldwide population. While studies have been conducted in countries with high incidences of opioid deaths, Scotland, a country faced with significantly high opioid related deaths, has not investigated student nurses’ perceptions of individuals with opioid use disorders. Purpose and Design: This mixed-method explanatory sequential investigation sought to explore pre-registration nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and stigma towards individuals with opioid use disorders in Scotland. The objectives of this study were to measure pre-registration nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, and stigma towards individuals with opioid use disorders and explore relationships among any variables. Results/Conclusion: Study participants demonstrated the need for increased knowledge, and improved attitudes towards individuals with opioid use disorders. While stigma was evident, the qualitative findings showcased that participants were empathic, compassionate, non-judgmental and willing to care for individuals with opioid use disorders. Further inquiry should explore the role of empathy-based training and experience with individuals with opioid use disorders to reduce mortality and morbidity in this escalating population worldwide
Accelerating innovation by integrating artificial intelligence into a global surgery hackathon
No full textBackground: Investigating in AI’s utility in diverse learning environments can provide insights into its broader applicability in healthcare innovation. Objectives: This study aims to assess the impact on idea generation and implications of incorporating generative AI technology into the framework of a global surgery hackathon, focusing on its use with surgical care providers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Method: A 120-minute interdisciplinary hackathon in Kenya was organised. The event featured the use of ChatGPT, a large language AI model from OpenAI, to facilitate and guide team discussions and solution development. Data was collected through direct observations and discussions among participants. Results and Conclusions: The hackathon saw active participation from ninety attendees, who were divided into ten teams of 8-12 members each. These groups utilised AI to seek information, derive inspiration, and refine their ideas. Notable challenges identified included issues related to AI-generated biases and the accuracy of information provided. The study serves as a proof-of-concept that generative AI can effectively be integrated into hackathons to foster innovation, with the caveat that future implementations should focus on developing unbiased and accurate AI models. This approach has significant potential to improve educational strategies and operational efficiency in the healthcare and technology sectors
Exploring the application of the biopsychosocial model across hospitals in Nigeria: A mixed methods study
No full textBackground: Healthcare delivery models can have significant influence on patient-centred communication due to their influence on the thinking and behaviour of health workers about what constitute sickness and healthcare. While the extant knowledge shows many efforts at transforming Nigeria’s health sector towards sustainability, there are no clear facts on improvements in clinical communication, especially, the adoption of the biopsychosocial model (BPSM) for patient-centred communication (PCC) in the country. Aim: Researchers investigated the adoption of the BPSM for PCC in General Hospitals in Benue State. Methodology: Researchers adopted the pragmatic approach and convergent mixed methods design involving personal survey for 372 patients and in-depth interview for 67 clinicians from 21 of the 23 General Hospitals in the State. Results: Findings show that the BPSM has not been adequately adopted in clinical interactions, consequently, clinical communication is not patient-centred enough. Data analysis using the PCC model shows reasonable evidence of application of the BPSM in some areas, however, the contents of clinical communication largely fall short of the psychosocial and patient involvement characteristics. Inadequate adoption of the BPSM is linked to poor patient satisfaction with the usefulness of clinical interactions for patients’ psychosocial needs and home management of their conditions. Findings indicate a prevalence of systemic issues in the General Hospitals in Benue State interfering with the adoption of the BPSM for PCC. Researchers suggest a purposeful policy direction to enshrine the modern global philosophy of healthcare both in medical practice and education; a strong political will, and a commitment to proper staffing for enhancing the full integration of the BPSM, improving the PCC and clinical communication experience for both patients and clinicians
Immigrant older adults’ perceived acceptability of interventions for social isolation: A mixed methods study protocol
No full textIntroduction: Immigrant older adults in Canada face unique post-migration challenges and barriers that place them at significant risk of social isolation. Evidence-based interventions exist that address the determinants of social isolation, but it is unclear whether these are acceptable to immigrant older adults in Canada. Acceptability is known to influence the uptake and engagement of and adherence to interventions. This paper presents a protocol for a proposed study that will examine the acceptability of selected evidence-based interventions and explore modifications that may be required to enhance their cultural appropriateness. Methods: A mixed-method – concurrent quantitative and qualitative – design will be used. Immigrant older adults from nine Canadian cities will be recruited if they are 60 years of age or older, self-identify as belonging to the Arabic, Mandarin, and Punjabi-speaking immigrant communities, live in the community, and be able to provide informed consent. The total sample size will be 600 to 800. Participants will be informed of each intervention; asked to rate its acceptability using 5 items adapted from the Treatment Acceptability and Preference instrument; and invited to participate in a semi-structured interview to explore their perspectives on cultural appropriateness and possible modifications needed to enhance the acceptability of each intervention. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze acceptability ratings. Interviews will be audio-recorded with consent, translated into English when needed and transcribed, and content analyzed. Interventions with rating scores > 2 and qualitative comments indicating their fit with participants’ beliefs and values will be considered acceptable. Results: The project is in its initial stage of data collection. Conclusions: Results will help clarify which of the selected interventions are acceptable and what modifications they may require before evaluating them for their effectiveness in reducing social isolation, and fostering social connectedness among Arabic, Mandarin, and Punjabi-speaking immigrant older adults in Canada
Thermal Behaviour of an Aerogel Slab After Heat Treatment
No full textThe energy industry accounts for almost 75% of global energy use. Insulation may drastically reduce energy use in the building and automotive industries. Conventional insulation materials, such as polystyrene or wool sheets, are frequently no longer feasible. Instead, new materials and solutions are required, such as vacuum panels or aerogel thermal insulations and thermal insulation materials doped with graphite. "Super Insulation Materials" like vacuum insulation panels and aerogels are frequently used to describe these materials. Although most long-term thermal parameters are unknown, the aforementioned goods have far superior thermal insulating qualities. In the presentation, we will discuss the research on the thermal stability of several aerogel blanket samples as they mature through heat treatments. Various techniques will be used to monitor the changes in the thermal characteristics (specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity)
Combustion Tests of the Gas Mixture CH4 – H2 with Air Enriched in O2 by Ozone (O3) Injection
No full textEnriching the air with O2 is a solution for increasing the overall combustion performance. The research introduced an ozone generator, with admission into the air intake, considering the advantage of locally generating the conditions for enrichment in O2 of the air. The research included CH4 mixed with 20%, respectively 30% H2. The experimental study included a pilot burner for a flow rate of 1.2 mN^3/h, built on the principles of diffusive combustion of gaseous combustible, along with an air and ozone supply system introduced into the air intake. The burner was mounted on an experimental stand equipped with a fuel and air flow measurement system. In the flame, measurements were made of the core temperature and the emission of combustion gases, including CO2. The experiments demonstrated stable, shorter flames and higher temperatures by introducing ozone
Computational Fluid Dynamics-Based Evaluation of Intercooler Designs for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles
No full textThe global commitment to net-zero emission targets has accelerated the transition of the transportation sector toward alternative energy sources. In this context, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) have emerged as a low-carbon solution, particularly suitable for heavy-duty applications. Efficient and sustainable operation of these systems necessitates effective thermal management strategies. This study evaluates the energy efficiency of an intercooler specifically designed for hydrogen-powered vehicles. Two different configurations were investigated: Model 1 with a single-stage air inlet and Model 2 featuring a dual-stage air inlet with integrated 240 cm flow disrupters to enhance flow distribution and mixing. Both models were analyzed under five different air inlet velocities using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods to assess their thermal and flow characteristics. The simulation results indicate that Model 2 offers significant performance advantages over Model 1. Notably, at an inlet velocity of 1 m/s, the ratio of heat transfer performance to flow resistance (j/f) increased by 9.8%, while the pressure drop decreased by 27%. Furthermore, Model 2 demonstrated a more uniform temperature distribution at the outlet, with a clearer temperature reduction near the wall regions. These findings highlight the critical role of inlet geometry in enhancing the energy efficiency of intercooler design for hydrogen fuel cell systems
Computational Screening of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Carbon Capture: Insights from Flue Gas and Direct Air Capture Condition
No full textMetal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as highly promising materials for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, owing to their exceptional tunability, high surface areas, and versatile chemical properties. In this study, we employ Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations to systematically screen 1,670 experimentally synthesized MOFs from the CoRE database, focusing on their potential for carbon capture applications. The screening process prioritizes flue gas conditions (0.15 bar CO2, 298 K), identifying MOFs with CO2 adsorption capacities exceeding 0.16 g/g and heats of adsorption below 40 kJ/mol. Among the screened materials, 18 structures met these criteria, with the majority featuring open metal sites (OMS); a key structural feature that enhances CO₂ binding affinity. To further evaluate the versatility of MOFs, some MOFs were also selected from results of flue gas screening and tested under direct air capture (DAC) conditions (285 K, 400 ppm CO2). Remarkably, 18 out of the 20 MOFs demonstrated CO₂ adsorption capacities above 1 mmol/g, with some achieving capacities as high as 4 mmol/g. The study emphasizes the critical role of structural and chemical properties, particularly the presence of OMS and functional groups, in determining adsorption performance. By providing a rapid and efficient computational screening approach, this work offers valuable insights into identifying high-performing MOFs tailored to both flue gas and DAC applications