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An Evaluation of Recruitment and Retention Factors in Past and Present Crisis Line Volunteers
Full text linkCanadian crisis line volunteers face challenges related to repeat and inappropriate
callers, the emotionally-charged nature of their work, and serving as paraprofessionals.
These factors impact volunteer well-being and result in high rates of turnover. This
study’s purpose was to evaluate factors related to the recruitment and retention of crisis
line volunteers. Seventy-nine participants completed a mixed-methods, online survey to
assess volunteer motivations and experiences, organizational resources, burnout, and
self-compassion. Fifty-six respondents were current volunteers, and 22 were past
volunteers. The majority of the sample (67%) was general volunteers working in a
helping capacity, and the remainder (33%) was crisis line volunteers. Correlational
analyses revealed consistencies with past literature and underlined the relevance of crisis
line volunteers’ personal characteristics. Higher motivation to gain career experience
and intended level of future education were associated with higher levels of burnout and
shorter lengths of service. Increased self-compassion was associated with greater age,
lower levels of burnout, and lower importance of career experience. Qualitative
responses revealed that the crisis line volunteers desired additional strategies for coping
with inappropriate callers and the non-interventional nature of crisis line work. This
research demonstrated the relevance of burnout for this population, the potential of
self-compassion in its mitigation, and the need to better support younger volunteers,
including university students. Future research is needed to explore the benefits of
fostering self-compassion in crisis line volunteers, for which an experimental design is
required. Continued research into strategies for supporting crisis line volunteers such as
opportunity for temporary leave remains crucial
Visual Literacy in Medical Education: Benefits, Uses, and Application
Full text linkText-based learning has been the dominant and most traditional form of learning
throughout history. As a result, the workforce is comprised of individuals who have been taught
primarily through textual means. Text-based learning perpetuates a cycle of information transfer
(i.e., students read what their teachers have read). This system has become outdated as we move
toward a society that is increasingly reliant on visual media and technology. Instead of sitting
down with a textbook, students need to be allowed the option of learning in a way that provides
them with information while simultaneously enhancing and teaching skills that lie outside the
realm of memorization.
Unlike text-based literacy, visual literacy allows students to learn effectively through
visual media by teaching them how to take meaning away from this media at a deeper cognitive
level. One way to update the standard curriculum that is followed in high schools, universities,
and post-graduate institutions is to implement a course or series of courses that teach students
about visual literacy. This would be especially beneficial for medical school where students
acquire the knowledge necessary to treat patients in a holistic manner. While student learning in
medical schools is rooted in textual sources, the real-world application of what students learn
must extend beyond their memorization of terms and treatments. In addition to the analyzing
and assessing of patient symptoms, the doctor-patient relationship is essential to medical care
and is known to impact a patient’s recovery. Therefore, doctor-patient interaction is rooted in
empathy and communication, not something that can be taught through a text but, as I will
demonstrate, something that can be imparted through visual means. Thus, this thesis addresses
the need for visual literacy training across multiple levels of schooling with a strong focus on
postgraduate medical studies.
A compulsory course on visual literacy is essential in both undergraduate studies and
medical schools because it would develop necessary and crucial skills desired in various fields,
particularly the medical field. These abilities include leadership, empathy, communication, and
critical analysis. Many of the ways in which these skills apply to future physicians are applicable
across a variety of fields. Proper training and teaching ensure that it is possible for everyone to
develop these traits that are crucial to the workforce. The compulsory course mentioned above
must cover several topics in the field of visual literacy and a proposed framework for this course
will be provided. This proposed framework includes several modules beginning with teaching
the principles of visual analysis and exemplifying this by providing images, paintings, and video
clips, asking students to create images of their own, analysis of images in closer relation
to students’ field of study, and multiple discussion periods. A course like this can be modified to
fit into any school or program's curriculum; however, in this thesis, the course proposition is
intended specifically for medical students. Prior to delving into the topic described above, it is
crucial to first lay down the foundations of what visual literacy is and how it is related to various
fields of study, particularly the medical profession
The relationship between the impostor phenomenon and mental health in undergraduate students: The moderating role of self-compassion
Full text linkThe impostor phenomenon (IP) refers to feelings of intellectual incompetence, despite repeated external evidence of achievement. Impostor experiences, which overlap with perfectionist tendencies, are common among university students, and have been linked to mental health. Despite these links, little research has examined how impostor feelings, perfectionism, and the negative outcomes associated with them, can be mitigated. Selfcompassion, which is associated with adaptive psychological functioning, may be a relevant coping skill that could act as a protective factor against IP and maladaptive perfectionism. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine whether selfcompassion acts as a moderator in the relationships between (1) IP and mental health, and (2) perfectionism and mental health. A sample of 181 undergraduates completed an online survey which included measures of IP, perfectionism, self-compassion, and mental health. Results provided mixed support for the hypotheses. First, consistent with past research, higher levels of IP and socially prescribed perfectionism were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Second, higher levels of self-compassion were associated with lower scores on IP, socially prescribed perfectionism, depression, anxiety and stress. Contrary to predictions, the strength of the relationship between IP and mental health and between socially prescribed perfectionism and mental health was the same regardless of self-compassion levels. Using longitudinal designs, future research should involve implementing and examining the effectiveness of self-compassion programs on university campuses. Overall, the present findings are consistent with past research which supports the potential protective role of self-compassion against IP, maladaptive perfectionism, and psychological distress in university students
B.C.’s War in the Woods: A case study comparison of Clayoquot Sound and Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek blockades
Full text linkBritish Columbia is a province that has been shaped by the forestry industry. Old growth
forests have provided a significant component of British Columbia’s economic growth
and stability. However, the value of these ancient forests is far beyond the price of
timber. Old growth forests hold some of the most environmentally significant and
valuable forests across the globe and represent an abundance of social values, cultural
significance, and sustainable economic opportunities. In response to the continued
logging of old growth, activist efforts have formed to challenge unsustainable forestry
practices and the lack of First Nations land rights. The Clayoquot Sound region is where
social action for old growth forests in Canada began, and Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek marks the
most recent action. As the remaining old growth becomes scarcer over time, the tensions
continue to escalate. This paper tells the story of the Clayoquot Sound and Ada’itsx
activism through the circumstances and policy leading to the activism efforts and the
events of the blockades. The exploration of the Clayoquot Sound case study highlights
the impacts of the social movement on policy, industry, and activism. These impacts lead
to the examination of the Ada’itsx case study and the current situation. The individual
analyses of the two case studies are then connected to address questions surrounding the
future of British Columbia’s old growth forests
Investigating methods of assessing the biological function of a novel sucralose receptor, GPR52
Full text linkThe effects of non-nutritive sweeteners are increasingly controversial, with research suggesting
harmful metabolic and physiological effects. Previous research found sucralose activates an
orphan GPCR, GPR52. Orphan GPCRs lack known functions and endogenous ligands and are
thus lacking research tools to establish their biological function. The aim of this study was to
develop tools to study the biological function of GPR52. GPR52 expression in metabolically
relevant organs in rats was first confirmed by PCR. Three research tools were then explored:
lentiviral gene knockdown, qPCR, and pharmacological tools. Gene knockdown can be achieved
via RNAi delivered through a lentiviral expression system. Lentiviral plasmid DNA was
transfected into cells with shRNA targeting GPR52. After optimizing plasmids and cell health,
the cells produced lentivirus expressing the shRNA, confirmed by the expression of GFP.
Functional lentivirus was transduced onto cells to knock down GPR52 expression, confirmed by
GFP expression. qPCR primers were designed and validated by determining primer efficiency.
The expression of GPR52 was measured in biologically relevant cell lines, as well as a control of
HEK293T cells transfected with GPR52 DNA. The qPCR showed off-target amplification and
the formation of primer dimers when visualized via agarose gel electrophoresis. Pharmacological
tools like agonists can be used to modulate ligand binding and receptor activation. A novel
GPR52 agonist, FTBMT, was used to activate GPR52, and was measured via the PRESTO-Tango assay.
FTBMT treated cells showed morphological changes consistent with cell death,
and the receptor was not activated. Cell viability when exposed to FTBMT was measured via
MTT assay, which showed no relationship between cell viability and FTBMT treatment. The
development of these tools is crucial to the study of the biological functions of GPR52 and could
provide insight on the effects of sucralose on metabolism mediated through the receptor
Namaste: The influence of meditation on attentional focus
Full text linkThe aim of this study was to examine whether meditation and meditative techniques alter attentional focus. To measure attentional focus, the two-target attentional blink task was used to examine the effects of meditation and meditative techniques on both temporal and spatial selective attention. In Experiment 1, it was hypothesized that experienced meditators would perform better than non-meditators. Moreover, two types of meditation—Focused Attention and Open Monitoring—were examined to determine whether type of meditation produces distinct patterns of performance in this task. In contrast to predictions, non-meditators performed better than meditators. Further, the meditators in the sample showed no preference for one meditation type over the other. In Experiment 2, at four points during the task participants were asked to close their eyes and focus their attention based on Open Monitoring meditative techniques or control instructions. It was hypothesized that meditative instructions would lead to improved performance in the two-target task. The results show a pattern in favour of the prediction, but did not reach significance. The current study provides insights into the questions of what type of meditation and what degree of meditative experience is required to alter one’s attentional focus
Contested terminology: Defining climate change displaced persons through mobility theory
Full text linkThe changing conditions of the world under climate change are estimated to contribute to an increased rate of migration. There is a lack of international legal and prescriptive agreements to support the populations that will experience displacement, primarily due to dispute over how to define the group. Several valuable attempts have been made to address this oversight in the past, but the evolving discussion surrounding climate migration requires a contemporary edition to reflect a multicausal conception of movement. In response to this gap, this thesis aims to provide a definition for those displaced by climate change related causes, herein referred to as Climate Change Displaced Persons (CCDP). It will be formulated through a lens of mobility theory and mobility justice and act in accordance with existing legal instruments. The resulting definition could serve as the basis for policy development on the local, regional, and international level to address the protection of CCDPs. The evident limitation of this definition is the contradiction between pursuing policy tools and the growing segment of mobility theorists that argue against the problematization of migration through policy. In response, it will be argued that the resulting product serves as a middle ground, providing a necessary policy tool to form the basis of problem-solving solutions to mitigate human harm while simultaneously integrating the more radical basis of mobility theory to provide inroads for a critical long-term approach
Molecular detection methods for Borrelia burgforferi in mammals
Full text linkBorrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi), a bacterial spirochete, is the causative agent for Lyme disease (LD). Exosomes contain fragmented DNA, nucleic acids and microRNAs (miRNA) and are present in numerous cell types across the body and in many bodily fluids, for these reasons they have gotten plenty of recognition as potential biomarkers (4–8). This work centers on a transcriptome analysis of the total RNA and the microRNA within exosomes to better understand the changing regulation at the genomic level. Another aspect of this study was molecular detection of B. burgdorferi by urine analysis to develop more non-invasive methods of detection to ease the diagnostic process. Therefore, canine urine analysis was complete to determine if a diagnosis of LD is possible. This study showed that the clustering phenomena had resulted from the exosome isolation procedure, showing that it was not specific enough to discern between other micro-vesicles and pulled some non-exosome bodies out of the solution. The RNA extracted from bovine exosomes demonstrated a low concentration and quality; therefore, the samples from mice were not used in the RNA extraction process. For the canine samples, it was seen that the melt curves showed DNA for a single species had amplified. Post PCR reamplification of the qPCR samples, positive bands for B. burgdorferi were produced, yet sequencing was unable to confirm the identity of all samples. Of the samples that were able to be sequenced, some did identify as B. burgdorferi. However, some amplicons were other species; further methodology optimization is needed. The detection techniques discussed in this study could be applied to veterinary care and perhaps in the future in human health care. Direction for future research in this field includes testing human urine for b. burgdorferi. With these resultsthe medical field could advance its testing strategies for Lyme Disease and be less invasive than previous testing methods
A GIS-based analysis of wildlife vehicle collisions in the Chignecto Isthmus
Full text linkThis study analyzed the geospatial clustering of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) on major roadways in the Chignecto Isthmus, with a focus on identifying important parameters influencing collision hotspots. The Chignecto Isthmus represents a major corridor for the movement of animals and people alike, with a well-documented pattern of wildlife-vehicle collisions, but many unanswered collisions about specific factors during WVCs remain. Ripley’s K analysis was used to determine the scale at which collision clusters occur. This analysis found a scale of 14km across five mobility-based functional groups, these were defined as Birds, Amphibians and Reptiles, Carnivores, Ungulates, and Small-Medium Vertebrates (SMV). The road parameters defined using GIS analysis included traffic volume and driver visibility, while land classification contained Agriculture, Forest, Urban, and Wetland/Water categories. There was insufficient data to test Amphibians and Reptiles, and Carnivores but generalized linear mixed modelling revealed that Ungulates were significantly predicted by topographic driver visibility, SMV by traffic volume and forest land classification, and birds by all land classification types except Water/Wetland. This paper has implications for the protection of the animal movement passages and habitat in the Chignecto Isthmus though increased species-specific management styles and future research may be required in this region. It is suggested that road ecology predictive models continue to use animal, road, and roadside parameters to help prioritize areas in need of collision mitigation