Abstract: Introduction: To explore the information seeking behavior of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) and to investigate their exposure to libraries and library training in both their home countries and after being hired in Saskatchewan. Methods: This two-phase multi-method project was carried out in Saskatchewan, Canada. A questionnaire was developed based on survey instruments used in previously conducted studies on the topic. Librarians in two academic institutions assisted with validation of the survey. In Phase 1, data were collected via an online questionnaire from IENs in three health regions: Saskatoon, Regina, and Sunrise. In Phase 2, the study was expanded to IENs in all the health regions in the province. The same questionnaire from Phase 1 was used during telephone interviews with participants. Results: A total of 17 IENs responded (Phase 1, n = 9, Phase 2, n = 8). Results show that IENs, although interested in looking for information for their practice, are hindered by a lack of knowledge of how and where to seek relevant clinical information as well as a lack of library training. As a result, their main source of information is the Internet (Google). Discusion: Despite barriers such as time to information seeking, results revealed that given the opportunity IENs would like to receive library training to enhance their information seeking skills.

Generally, immigrants face different challenges adapting to their new environment while starting a new life in the new environment. One of these problems is related to employment as they find it difficult finding jobs in their host countries. A number of them are often jobless or having jobs that do not correspond with their educational qualification. This is one of the factors that influence the earnings of immigrants in the Swedish labour market. This study focused on the factors influencing the underutilization of immigrant’s foreign educational credentials in the Swedish labour market. The study is based on human capital theory, cultural shock theory and discrimination theory. Through qualitative research design, rich detailed data about the phenomenon was collected from participants that participated in the study. Findings of the study revealed that the two major factors that influence the underutilization of immigrant’s foreign educational credential in the Swedish labour market are structural factors and individual factors (lack of social network with Swedish natives, inability to fluently communicate in Swedish, and loss of professional knowledge due to lack of practice).

Background: Breast and endometrial cancers are the most common gynaecological cancers in women in the UK. Early detection of tumours is crucial for improving patient survival rates. In breast cancer, mammography is the most reliable screening method for asymptomatic patients; however, its sensitivity is limited by breast density. Currently, there are no early screening assays for endometrial cancer. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify clinical biomarkers for improved non-invasive diagnosis of breast and endometrial cancer. Macrophages are abundant in the tumour microenvironment and their density has been associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer and decreased survival in endometrial cancer. Monocytes are precursors of macrophages and recent studies have shown an association with pro-tumoral functions. The aim of this study has been to examine the transcriptional profiles of human circulating monocytes and tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) in order to investigate their biological relevance and potential as biomarkers for cancer detection and prognosis. Methods: RNA-sequencing was performed on purified monocytes (22 healthy individuals, 21 breast cancer, 16 endometrial cancer samples), as well as purified normal macrophages, TAMs from breast tissue (4 breast cancer, 4 healthy breast) and endometrium tissue (5 endometrial cancer, 9 healthy endometrium). Results: A shift in the transcriptional profile of monocytes in cancer compared to controls was observed. Given these cancer-associated alterations circulating monocytes from cancer patients were called “Tumour Educated Monocytes” (TEMo). A TEMo-derived 13-gene signature was extracted that detected cancer, yielding an accuracy of 94%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 92% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97%. External validation confirmed the ability of the signature to accurately identify cancer patients with perfect accuracy. Transcriptome profiling of TAMs revealed a significantly altered gene expression profile when compared to normal tissue resident macrophages. Furthermore, comparison of TAMs between breast and endometrial cancer also revealed differences suggesting that different tumour microenvironments induce different gene expression profiles in TAMs. Functional analysis of significant genes in breast cancer revealed similar biological pathways to those of murine studies suggesting that TAMs in humans and mice may have similar functions. A gene list of transmembrane receptors has been extracted by comparing breast cancer TAMs with publicly available datasets that could serve as markers for their identification. Finally, exploratory analysis identified a subset of 49 genes associated with recurrence-free and overall survival in publicly available datasets. Conclusion: To my knowledge this is the first genome-wide profiling study of human circulating monocytes and TAMs in breast and endometrial cancer. It provides evidence that monocytes and TAMs can alter their expression profile in the presence of cancer and, using bioinformatics tools I was able to identify biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of breast and endometrial cancer.

Social science research has been slow to incorporate the international migration of skilled and educated women, and the impacts of their return migration. At the same time, Turkish female migrants have been negatively stereotyped in the literature. This exploratory and descriptive study aims to address these gaps by examining the impacts of emigration and return migration on the social and work lives of educated Turkish women who have returned to Turkey from Canada. Oral history interviews were conducted with six working-age, educated female returnees in Istanbul and Ankara between February and April 2007. Aside from some common features, the six women in this study differ greatly in terms of age, marital status, field of study and work, length of time in Canada and Turkey, and the opportunities and resources available to them throughout their migrations. From the interpretive examination of the women&amp / #8217 / s narratives, patterns in their subjective social and work life experiences emerged. The issue of gender was found to pervade all aspects of the women&amp / #8217 / s lives at all stages of their migrations as they negotiated their often contradictory social roles as mothers, wives, daughters, and professionals. This study also reveals that none of the women migrated as an individual actor. Rather, contextual and stratification factors such as marital status, family configuration, language skills, prior exposure to different cultures, socio-economic background, education and labour force participation were found to shape and influence their initial potential for migration, as well as the processes and outcomes of their migrations.

Labor market projections indicate a shortage of health care workers across Canada and around the world. The shortage of healthcare workers is more acute in developing nations, which grapple with weak health systems unable to address high disease burdens. This situation is made worse by the movement of health personnel in search of a better standard of living, access to advanced technology and more stable political conditions in developed countries such as Canada - a process known as ‘brain drain’. Brain drain has been described as ‘a perverse subsidy’ by scholars and identified as disconcerting by the World Health Organization, which calls for the ethical recruitment of internationally educated health professionals. Significant research on the migration and recertification experiences of internationally trained physicians and nurses exists but very little has been written on internationally educated midwives (IEMs). This study uses a social equity framework and insights from Foucauldian and post-colonial feminist research to explore practices of assessment and bridging programs for IEMs; the factors that impede IEM recertification; and the ways Canadian midwifery stakeholders mitigate international migration (brain drain) and poor labor integration (brain waste) of IEMs. Data collection was primarily through key informant interviews and document analysis. The study data - gathered and analyzed in 2011/12 – is reflective of the situation of midwifery during that period. Findings from the study indicate several inequities in the recertification process of IEMs, primarily in the application process to assessment and bridging programs and in financial and geographical constraints. The study also suggests a lack of discernment by midwifery stakeholders between active and passive recruitment, and tacit support of the passive recruitment of IEMs. Questions are also raised regarding the inclusivity of the Canadian midwifery model of practice and illustrate that further research is needed.

This research investigates internationally educated teachers' (IETs) motivations to become teachers in Canada, learning in the initial teacher education programs, employment seeking experiences, as well as stress and coping strategies during their transition from the teacher education programs to the workplace. Twenty IETs from 12 different countries and areas participated in the study. Research data includes semi-structured interviews, field notes, short questionnaires, email, online chat records, and participants' writings. Narrative approaches (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000; Polkinghorne, 1995) were used to analyze interview and other qualitative data. In addition, I conducted descriptive analysis upon the questionnaires to triangulate the research findings. Research findings show that a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors motivated IETs to take up or return to the teaching profession in Canada. All of the IETs in the study considered their studies in the teacher education programs useful, but a number of them expressed the wish that the programs should include more practical aspects. Some IETs experienced difficulties during their practicum due to their language and accents, heavy workload, classroom management issues, as well as balance between work and life. A few IETs also experienced conflicts and tension with their mentor teachers. Due to the challenging teaching job market in Ontario, and the disadvantaged situation for IETs, finding a teaching position was not easy for IETs. The main challenge was to obtain eligibility for teaching positions with school boards. IETs were frustrated with their employment, underemployment and unemployment. Research data from the IET Stress Scale showed that the top five stress factors for IETs in transition included finding a teaching position, teacher identity construction, balance between work and family, being observed and assessed, and heavy workload. Similar themes emerged from the interview data. IETs utilized various strategies to cope with their difficulties and stress. Most of the IETs expressed their desire to stay in the teaching profession in Canada. However, two IETs were reluctant to look for teaching positions due to their frustrating experiences with their mentor teachers. Two other IETs stayed in nonteaching or looked for jobs in other professions due to their difficult job seeking experiences.

This research investigates internationally educated teachers' (IETs) motivations to become teachers in Canada, learning in the initial teacher education programs, employment seeking experiences, as well as stress and coping strategies during their transition from the teacher education programs to the workplace. Twenty IETs from 12 different countries and areas participated in the study. Research data includes semi-structured interviews, field notes, short questionnaires, email, online chat records, and participants' writings. Narrative approaches (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000; Polkinghorne, 1995) were used to analyze interview and other qualitative data. In addition, I conducted descriptive analysis upon the questionnaires to triangulate the research findings. Research findings show that a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors motivated IETs to take up or return to the teaching profession in Canada. All of the IETs in the study considered their studies in the teacher education programs useful, but a number of them expressed the wish that the programs should include more practical aspects. Some IETs experienced difficulties during their practicum due to their language and accents, heavy workload, classroom management issues, as well as balance between work and life. A few IETs also experienced conflicts and tension with their mentor teachers. Due to the challenging teaching job market in Ontario, and the disadvantaged situation for IETs, finding a teaching position was not easy for IETs. The main challenge was to obtain eligibility for teaching positions with school boards. IETs were frustrated with their employment, underemployment and unemployment. Research data from the IET Stress Scale showed that the top five stress factors for IETs in transition included finding a teaching position, teacher identity construction, balance between work and family, being observed and assessed, and heavy workload. Similar themes emerged from the interview data. IETs utilized various strategies to cope with their difficulties and stress. Most of the IETs expressed their desire to stay in the teaching profession in Canada. However, two IETs were reluctant to look for teaching positions due to their frustrating experiences with their mentor teachers. Two other IETs stayed in nonteaching or looked for jobs in other professions due to their difficult job seeking experiences.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Georgia Southern University, 2006. / "A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education" ETD. Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-105)

The thesis of a theoretical character deals with the cultivation of humanity as a task of education. The work summarizes the areas affecting the topic of humanity and education. Firstly, the work describes the meaning of humanity which is present in one of modern philosophical disciplines called philosophy of education. It also introduces the educational process forming an integrated system of precise rules. Within the process, factors forming the process are described. These are: educator who is a guide in the educational process; the educated person who is not only the object but also the subject of the process; environment which plays a significant role in education and involves a variety of participants. The last part of the thesis deals with education as a process of humanization and describes various aspects affecting the process of humanization.

abstract: Smoking prevalence has been a significant issue in China. This present study investigates family influences on the smoking behaviors of highly-educated Chinese youths (HECY) and explores whether family factors work as distal factors in the revised framework of the theory of planned behavior. Convenience sampling and snow-ball sampling have been utilized to select participants from highly-educated Chinese youth population who are students studying in colleges or universities and people who recently graduated from Chinese colleges or universities with Bachelor's and/or Master' degrees. This study relies on quantitative methodologies to analyze the data from the participants' responses to online cross sectional surveys with SPSS. This present study has determined that family influences do contribute to the smoking behaviors of highly-educated Chinese youths. In addition to examining the proximal factors (highly-educated Chinese youths' attitudes toward smoking, self-efficacy and social norms of smoking) in the model of the theory of planned behavior, this current study has examined the following distal factors: (1) parental communication about smoking, (2) communication about smoking among siblings, (3) parents, siblings and/or cousins' attitudes toward smoking, and (4) smoking behaviors of parents, siblings and/or cousins. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Communication Studies 2014