Background: Considerable resources have been invested in low and high fidelity simulators in surgical training. The purpose of this study was to establish construct and predictive validity for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS, low fidelity box trainer) and LapVR (high fidelity virtually reality) training systems and to establish construct validity for two operative ratings scales (GOALS and OSATS) in our center. Methods: 26 participants performed tasks from the FLS program and the LapVR simulator as well as a human laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Performance was evaluated using FLS and LapVR metrics, and the previously validated global rating scales. Results: GOALS and OSATS demonstrated construct validity. Construct and predictive validity was also strongly demonstrated for FLS tasks but only indeterminately for LapVR. Conclusions: The high cost LapVR remains experimental in resource constrained training programs. Efforts should be focused on utilizing the well-validated, lower cost FLS video trainer for assessment of laparoscopic skills.

This thesis investigates methods of assessing students' mathematical ability by using the computer. It starts by reviewing the general types of assessment within mathematics educational software and then describes some different ways of presenting the assessment on the computer by the use of varying types of questions. In Chapter 2 there is a review of the literature and research conducted in the area of computer assessment of mathematics. In particular, the most prevalent dilemmas of computer aided learning and computer aided assessment are highlighted whilst looking forward at how the contents of further chapters in the thesis can help in addressing some of these difficulties. The following chapter gives an historical account of how the CALM(1) software has addressed some of the inherent difficulties of assessment and highlights the ways in which some of these hurdles have been overcome. The shortfalls of CALM are described and, where relevant, pointers to the parts of thesis which tackle these shortfalls are given. In particular, the work in Chapter 4 undertakes an improvement in the way simple mathematical expressions(2) can be handled as it shows how binary tree constructions can be utilised within an educational environment. Chapter 5 tests out two applications of the binary tree structures with the creation of a tool to aid student-computer communication of mathematics and by providing a method of comparing student-set questions against a true answer. The following chapter describes an educational experiment which set out to show how a computer can be used to assess students' mathematical ability during a formal university examination. It deals with very important educational issues which arise when performing such examinations and gives conclusions as to their educational validity. In particular, issues of student input, partial credit, objectivity, consistency, flexibility and efficiency are considered along with the impact that this research could have for future testing of mathematics. The final chapter describes how the thesis has been instrumental in further research and development within the field of computer assessment of mathematics. (1)CALM is the acronym for the Computer Aided Learning in Mathematics project at the Department of Mathematics, Heriot- Watt University. (2)in this thesis, the word expression is taken to be a mathematical entity which does not contain any comparison operators.

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This research involves conducting a resilience assessment on the Town of Caledon in southern Ontario, Canada, through the use of the Resilience Assessment Workbook authored by the Resilience Alliance. The purpose of the research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of Caledon, and identify ways to enhance its resilience as a linked social-ecological system in the context of urban growth. Urban growth pressures have brought multiple challenges to Caledon in land use, infrastructure maintenance, farmland preservation and watersheds conservation. Urban growth management in Caledon is situated in the provincial growth strategy for the Greater Golden Horseshoe areas in Ontario. Provincial legislation including the Places to Grow Act (2005), the Greenbelt Act (2005), the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act (2001) and the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) aim to reconcile the needs for population increase, economic growth and environmental protection. The results of the resilience assessment of Caledon consist mainly of a cross-scalar study and interviews with twenty-six community members. The cross-scalar study examines Caledon in its social, ecological and economic domains on the provincial, regional and municipal levels. The study also identifies potential resilience threats and assets of Caledon in the context of urban growth. Interviews have been conducted to verify and complement findings of the cross-scalar study. Interviewees include Caledon municipal staff, residents, environmental group leaders, politicians, an aggregates industry representative, a social services representative and a local property developer. The results of this research reveal resilience threats and assets in Caledon, and identify ways for the town to enhance resilience against urban growth pressures. Threats to resilience are found to be associated with urbanization, agricultural land loss, aggregates mining and a lack of affordable housing. Assets of resilience in Caledon are found to be related to civic engagement, participatory planning and agricultural diversification. Based on the cross-scalar study and interview results, emerging themes of resilience and recommendations are developed. Recommendations for Caledon to enhance its resilience include: promoting continual learning and adaptive governance; diversifying agriculture; providing affordable housing; treating urbanization as an opportunity; and developing trade-off principles for the implementation of an integrated plan for resilience.

In British Columbia harvested forests are manually replanted by seasonal workers. Fertilizers contained in perforated paper sachets are often planted with seedlings. There have been anecdotal reports of skin and respiratory illness associated with fertilizer exposure and due to potential metal content in fertilizer source material they may contain metals as contaminants. Workers may also be exposed to pesticide residues on seedlings. This study aimed to characterize fertilizer, metal and pesticide exposure among a sample of B.C. tree planters, and to examine worker respiratory and dermal health. Between May 2006 and April 2007 223 tree planters were interviewed about their respiratory and dermal health, and the exposures of 54 tree planters at five geographically-disperse worksites were monitored. Four worksites were using fertilizer and one was not. The health questionnaire was a modification of the American Thoracic Society standardized questionnaire with questions on dermal health taken from a previous UBC study. Workers were grouped in exposure categories and symptoms analysed using logistic regression. Metals were measured by ICP/MS on post shift hand wipes, full shift air sample filters, in whole blood, bulk soil, seedling root balls, and fertilizer samples. Pesticides were measured on post shift hand wipes and on bulk seedling samples. Using nursery pesticide application records, analyses focused on known pesticides applied to the seedlings at the study sites. Carbamate pesticides were analyzed by HPLC/MS and other pesticides by GC/MS. No evidence was found that tree planters who work with fertilizer are at an elevated risk of exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel relative to other tree planters. Pesticide residues were found on seedlings taken from coastal work sites in April 2007. At coastal worksites the fungicides chlorothalonil and iprodione were found on the skin of workers at low levels (range 0.37 – 106.3 ng.cm² and 0.48 – 15.9 ng/cm² respectively). Work with fertilizer was linked with an increased risk of cough, phlegm, nasal symptoms, nose bleed, and skin irritation. Hygiene conditions at tree planting work sites are very poor. Although measured exposures were low, hygiene conditions should improve to reduce the risk of health symptoms among tree planters.

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No description available.