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The use of mental representation to understand complex hands-on skills
No full textIn a novel study, we examine the cognitive basis of skilled performance in a complex industrial task by applying Structural Dimensional Analysis of Mental Representations (SDA-M) to a scenario common in the firefighting profession. Twenty?eight firefighters trained in the preparation and donning of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) were divided into a more-experienced group and a less-experienced group. We assessed differences in their mental representational structures for SCBA preparation and donning. Prior to applying SDA-M, the task was deconstructed, through work analysis, into fundamental units termed Basic Action Concepts (BACs). Participants rated the functional relationships among these BACs through a splitting procedure in the first step of SDA-M. Responses were then converted into standardized Z-scores, serving as the input for hierarchical clustering and dendrogram analysis. Our results reveal that the more-experienced group formed significantly more structured clusters of task-related BACs that closely align with efficient task execution, whereas the less-experienced group exhibited more fragmented, less functionally related groupings. Although further research is warranted, these findings support the applicability of SDA-M to complex, industry-relevant motor tasks and highlight its potential as a tool for developing targeted, cost-effective training interventions. Overall, this study underscores the importance of optimizing the cognitive components of training to enhance performance and safety in high-risk environments
‘A Fine Tourist Lure’: Canadian Nontheatrical Cinema and Tourism Promotion at the New York World’s Fair, 1939-1940
No full textUsing archival research, this essay examines the use of motion pictures as a nation branding strategy at international exhibitions, focusing on Canada’s participation at the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair (NYWF). At the time, corporations, industries, nations, and non-profits sponsored the production of ‘useful films’ as a storytelling device to create meaning without appearing as blatant advertising or propaganda. With their throngs of consumer- and travel-minded visitors, world’s fairs were key nontheatrical exhibition sites for these productions. The essay traces the evolution of the Dominion’s exhibition practices from displaying staple resources and recruiting British and American immigrants to tourism promotion. Meanwhile, Canada had become a pioneer in the use of film technology to publicise itself as a modern vacationland for American tourists. The combination of exhibition and film practice as tourism promotion converged at the NYWF. With the pressing need for US currency to succour Canada’s war effort, government officials wagered that adding a stand-alone film auditorium to the Canadian Pavilion in 1940, primarily screening tourism films, was the most effective way to construct a recognisable national brand aimed at fairgoers
'Mining the Rock': towards a benefit-sharing framework for human genetic research in Newfoundland and Labrador
No full textFor decades the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has been a hot spot for
genetic research, largely due to the presence of a genetic founder population. At the same time,
the province is well-known for its abundance of natural resources, including the historical fishery
and the more contemporary mining and oil and gas sectors. Beginning in the early 2000s, several
individuals began referring to the province’s unique genetic architecture as a “resource” –
language that resonates particularly well in a province whose economic outlook is intimately tied
to natural resource development.
This dissertation explores whether the descriptor of “resource” is aptly suited to define the
genetics of the province’s residents and if so, how this new resource can be most appropriately
harnessed and developed to truly benefit those residing in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a
result, this study provides an exploration and discussion of the comparison between genetic data
and the more traditional natural resources. It is clear that genes are not ore and their development
will require additional considerations. However, the language employed in natural resource
development, community development, and economics provides a valuable starting point for this
discussion and is the essential thread that runs throughout this dissertation
Small nucleolar RNA expression and NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS production in THP-1 macrophages treated with VLDL hydrolysis products
No full textOne of the fundamental pathogenetic processes of atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, is defined by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. An increase in ROS production and oxidative stress have been linked to the expression of some specific kinds of snoRNAs. NADPH oxidase (NOX) appears to play a role in regulating snoRNA expression and snoRNA accumulation in the cell cytosol. Our laboratory previously reported an upregulation of 63 snoRNA transcripts in macrophages incubated with lipoprotein (Lp) lipid hydrolysis products (HPs) generated by lipoprotein lipase (LPL). I hypothesized that Lp HPs produced by LPL lead to NOX-mediated oxidative stress within THP-1 macrophages that can be inhibited using the NADPH oxidase inhibitors (NOXi) apocynin or GKT136901. I further hypothesized that snoRNA expression would increase due to NOX activity in macrophages incubated with Lp hydrolysis products by LPL. My results show significant NOX-induced ROS production, using cellular ROS detection assay, in differentiated THP-1 macrophages treated with very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) HPs by LPL. The NOX-induced ROS production was inhibited by 20 μM of GKT136901, while 100 μM of apocynin had no inhibitory effect. The NOX-induced ROS did not induce lipid peroxidation in the macrophages. RNA integrity numbers (RIN) were analyzed using an RNA bioanalyzer, with no significant alteration in the RIN of the total RNA isolated from the THP-1 macrophages treated with 0.25 mM VLDL HPs. The NOX-induced ROS also did not alter the expression of SNORA56, SNORA60, and SNORA80E in the VLDL HP-treated macrophages. Overall, NOX-induced ROS production seems not to mediate the overexpression of SNORA56, SNORA60, and SNORA80E in PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages treated with 0.25 mM VLDL HPs by LPL.Includes bibliographical references (pages 86-94
Seafarers' perceptions and attitudes toward occupational noise exposure and its health impacts in Canada: a mixed methods study
No full textProlonged exposure to noise levels above 85 A-weighted decibels [dB (A)] poses significant health risks for the working population at sea. This mixed-methods study, employing an online survey and semi-structured online interviews, was conducted to explore noise risk perceptions and self-reported noise-induced health problems. It aims to identify barriers and challenges in preventing noise-related health problems among seafarers in Canada. This study found that seafarers’ workplaces are noisy, and they often adapt to these environments with fatalistic behaviors. It also showed that safety concerns lead to the underuse of hearing protection, which is seen as a communication barrier. Seafarers reported both auditory and non-auditory health issues, highlighting barriers such as limited noise control measures, uncomfortable hearing protection devices, and inadequate training. This study showed that seafarers have moderately positive perceptions toward noise reduction and hearing loss prevention. They dislike loud noise and feel highly susceptible to hearing loss based on Health Belief Model indicators. Our study showed that 40% of participants self-reported hearing difficulties, with 52% showing some degree of hearing loss and 16% experiencing severe hearing loss based on the hearing screening inventory questionnaire. Approximately 45% of seafarers reported tinnitus, and 40% experienced unexpected balance problems, in addition to anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, loss of concentration, and fatigue. This study highlights the need for improved occupational health and safety regulation implementation and collaborative efforts to initiate noise-specific education programs to reduce noise and enhance preventive measures in the Canadian maritime sector.Includes bibliographical references (pages 111-131
Storymaking Belonging: A Fairy’s Arc Through Cloth, Earth, and Self
No full textUnpublishedThis project began without a research question, design, or timeline. It began, simply, with my hands. One figure from scraps of cloth, raw fleece from my sheep, paint; and there lay a small being. A fairy, although she didn’t claim that name right away. Then came another, and another. My small, daily act of making to fight against the cynicism painting myself into a hard shell.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Counci
Self-assembly in metal-organic frameworks: monitoring the established and refining the novel
No full textMetal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly porous materials formed via the self-assembly of organic bridging ligands (linkers) to metallic nodes. The tunability and high surface areas of these crystalline materials provide them a wide range of possible applications, such as gas separation, catalysis, and drug delivery.
Despite the popularity of MOFs, the self-assembly process through which these materials form is underexplored, especially in the field of NMR spectroscopy. This is heavily owed to the high cost of the deuterated solvent found in most MOF syntheses making ¹H-NMR experiments expensive to prepare. In Chapter 2 of this work, the synthesis of a MOF called UiO-66 is followed via time-resolved in situ solution-phase ²H-NMR spectroscopy, allowing inexpensive protonated solvents to be used. This work examines the differences in the synthesis of UiO-66 under the influence of different acidic modulators – namely, acetic acid (AA), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and benzoic acid (BA). By utilizing and following either H₂BDC-d₄, for information regarding linker concentration, or D₂O, for information regarding acidity and chemical exchange, defining features of the synthesis were observed. It was found that the choice of modulator had a significant effect on the behaviour of the reaction mixture in the form of producing different rate constants, different lengths of induction periods and different changes to solution acidity. The solvent appeared to participate in some syntheses far more than others, as the HCl and BA syntheses showed evidence of DMF hydrolysis, while the AA synthesis did not. It was found that thermally conditioning the solvent and modulator before the addition of the linker caused significant changes to the synthesis; it caused the rate constants for all three
syntheses to drop, but it accelerates the formation of MOF as determined by visual check. Data regarding the porosimetry of these materials was used alongside the ²H-NMR data to create a proposed mechanism explaining this paradoxical behaviour.
New MOFs are always being developed, due in part to the ongoing invention of new organic bridging ligands. MOFs with linkers based on porphyrins are plentiful, but, despite their structural similarity to porphyrins, phthalocyanines are far less present in MOFs as linkers; this is largely due to the structural challenges associated with converting these macrocycles into symmetrical linkers. Previously in the Katz group, a new phthalocyanine linker that relied on benzimidazole groups to provide it symmetry was synthesized and incorporated into a MOF. In Chapter 3 of this work, various facets of the synthesis of a MOF with this phthalocyanine linker, called BzPcMOF in this work, are experimented with in order to enhance the replicability of the synthesis, as well as probe further the role of reagents in the synthesis. The concentration of HCl and metal salt used in the synthesis was found to have significant effects on the surface areas of MOF samples. The XRD, elemental composition, and surface area of BzPcMOF were obtained, and possible crystal structures of the MOF were explored. Investigations into the temporal and hydro stability of BzPcMOF produced intriguing results: Over time, the external surface area of samples of BzPcMOF increased significantly, with no penalty to total surface area. When one of these old samples of BzPcMOF was immersed in water, its external surface area decreased, again with no penalty to the total surface area.Includes bibliographical references (pages 162-174
Professional staff perspectives on their contributions to teaching and learning at Cape Breton University
No full textDespite the significant role professional staff play in supporting teaching and learning in higher education, research about their perspectives is limited. This research seeks to explore staff perspectives at a small university in Eastern Canada, with a focus on staff experiences engaging with teaching and learning and considering potential future opportunities for staff engagement.
Reflexive thematic analysis was used to construct themes based on data from presentation abstracts, a questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews. The document analysis, which outlines the many relevant topics relating to staff participation and/or interest at the most recent (2024) Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) conferences, gives national and international insight into current research, while the questionnaire and semi-structured interviews give voice to the staff within a specific university context.
Staff perspectives on their contributions to teaching and learning align with many of the topics emerging from those conferences, including student and faculty support, accessibility, and community-building. Additionally, navigating modern issues in education including artificial intelligence and the evolving demographics of the student population are areas of importance. This research finds that some staff desire deeper connection to teaching and learning alongside faculty and students, suggesting that there may be value in institutions supporting a more cohesive approach to supporting teaching and learning that takes into consideration the many individuals who care about student success
Influence of across-shelf food sources on subarctic benthic functioning and biodiversity
No full textLimited baseline information on the biodiversity and long-term diet of Arctic continental shelf invertebrate communities impedes establishment of effective conservation strategies in the face of anthropogenic disturbances, despite their contribution to global ecosystem functioning and services. Using taxonomy, bulk stable isotope, and fatty acid analyses of macro- and mega-faunal data collected with box cores and bottom trawls across the continental shelf near Nain, Nunatsiavut, Labrador in September 2019, our analyses suggest high taxonomic and functional diversity, and intermediate taxonomic evenness. Community composition and community-weighted means of functional traits differed spatially, driven by high gastropod abundances located mid-shelf. Large ranges in bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope values among taxa suggest extensive variation in diet, potentially driven by a range in basal food sources and trophic levels, which span four trophic positions. Despite relying on partly degraded, pelagic-origin food sources, dominant taxa exhibit dietary flexibility. Fatty acid results support isotope findings, except at two sites with higher bacterial- or terrestrial-origin food sources, potentially suggesting greater food web length. This research suggests some disturbance resiliency through high taxonomic and functional diversity and dietary flexibility.Includes bibliographical references (pages 125-181
The role of overvaluation of shape and weight in the relationship between weight bias internalization and disordered eating
No full textWeight bias internalization (WBI) occurs through believing negative weight-based stereotypes and applying them to oneself. WBI is often linked to negative physical and mental health consequences, in particular, disordered eating. However, research on underlying mechanisms to explain this relationship is limited. Overvaluation of shape and weight (OVSW) is the devaluation of a person's self-concept due to dissatisfaction with their body shape or weight. Self-compassion is defined as a nonjudgemental awareness of and kindness towards oneself and has been shown to act as a protective factor against negative psychological experiences, and as such may buffer against WBI and OVSW. The present thesis sought to examine the mediating role of OVSW and the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between WBI and disordered eating. Three hundred and thirty-eight participants aged 17 − 29 years completed an online survey that assessed disordered eating, WBI, OVSW, and self-compassion. Results showed that WBI accounted for significant unique variance in both OVSW and disordered eating, after controlling for body mass index (BMI). OVSW partially mediated the relationship between WBI and disordered eating. Self-compassion did not moderate the direct relationship between WBI and disordered eating, nor did it moderate the mediation. These results have important clinical implications for the prevention and treatment of body image concerns and disordered eating. Future research should examine these variables in larger, more diverse samples and use longitudinal study designs to clarify the nature and direction of these relationships