Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

High-fidelity simulation (HFS) is a teaching innovation that is becoming a key component in nursing education programs. Nursing students are able to practice skills without fear of harm to themselves or to a patient, and nurse faculty can demonstrate techniques and critical scenarios in a way that may not be available to students or faculty in the clinical setting. However, nursing faculty are not utilizing this teaching innovation to its potential suggesting educational administrators could benefit from understanding the challenges that nurse faculty face when integrating HFS into their teaching practice. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of nurse faculty who were required to integrate HFS into their teaching practice. In this study, seventeen female nurse faculty who taught in the second year of the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Campus were interviewed about their experiences integrating HFS into their teaching practice. The transcripts were analyzed using Moustakas’ (1994) modified Van Kaam method. Six themes describing the essences of the participants’ experiences were identified: striving for self-efficacy, struggling to maintain autonomy, being part of a community of practice, adopting HFS as a teaching innovation, being an advocate, and being proud. An emerging theme, being an outsider, was discussed. An interpretation and synthesis of the results resulted in a conceptualization of the experience. This research has implications for integrating a new teaching innovation. The nurse faculty required support and resources, psychological safety while learning the new innovation, ongoing communication about the innovation, acknowledgement of their accomplishments, and a sense of pride in the institution. Recommendations for nurse faculty include becoming prepared, finding a mentor, participating in discussion forums, and advocating for time needed to learn. Recommendations for educational administrators include ensuring ongoing education and support, involving nurse faculty in discussions about the innovation from the beginning, providing a psychologically safe environment for learning, providing time to learn away from other teaching responsibilities, and fostering pride through acknowledgement of accomplishments.

In order to build any structure, a good supply of materials, accurate workers and quality control are needed. This is even the case when constructing DNA, the so-called “Code of Life.” For a species to continue to exist, this DNA code must be copied with incredibly high accuracy when each and every cell replicates. In fact, just one mistake in the 12 million bases that comprise the genome of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can be fatal. DNA is composed of a double strand helix made up of just four different bases repeated millions of times. The building blocks of DNA are the deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs); dCTP, dTTP, dATP and dGTP. Their production and balance are carefully controlled within each cell, largely by the key enzyme Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR). Here, we studied how the enzymes that copy DNA, the replicative polymerases α, δ and ε, cope with the effects of an altered dNTP pool balance. An introduced mutation in the allosteric specificity site of RNR in a strain of S. cerevisiae, rnr1-Y285A, leads to elevated dCTP and dTTP levels and has been shown to have a 14-fold increase in mutation rate compared to wild type. To ascertain the full effects of the dNTP pool imbalance upon the replicative polymerases, we disabled one of the major quality control systems in a cell that corrects replication errors, the post-replicative Mismatch Repair system. Using both the CAN1 reporter assay and whole genome sequencing, we found that, despite inherent differences between the polymerases, their replication fidelity was affected very similarly by this dNTP pool imbalance. Hence, the high dCTP and dTTP forced Pol ε and Pol α/δ to make the same mistakes. In addition, the mismatch repair machinery was found to correct replication errors driven by this dNTP pool imbalance with highly variable efficiencies. Another mechanism to protect cells from DNA damage during replication is a checkpoint that can be activated to delay the cell cycle and activate repair mechanisms. In yeast, Mec1 and Rad53 (human ATR and Chk1/Chk2) are two key S-phase checkpoint proteins. They are essential as they are also required for normal DNA replication and dNTP pool regulation. However the reason why they are essential is not well understood. We investigated this by mutating RAD53 and analyzing dNTP pools and gene interactions. We show that Rad53 is essential in S-phase due to its role in regulating basal dNTP levels by action in the Dun1 pathway that regulates RNR and Rad53’s compensatory kinase function if dNTP levels are perturbed. In conclusion we present further evidence of the importance of dNTP pools in the maintenance of genome integrity and shed more light on the complex regulation of dNTP levels.

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) and differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) are effective procedures in reducing problem behavior of children both in and out of the classroom. However, few studies have assessed which procedure is most socially acceptable among teachers. In addition, studies have not recorded data on fidelity of implementation among teachers. A non-concurrent multiple baseline across teachers design was used to (a) demonstrate the effect of NCR and DRO on the problem behaviors of school aged children with no identified developmental disability, and (b) assess implementation fidelity of each procedure by the teacher. This study further assessed which procedure was preferred by teachers by the addition of questionnaires and a choice phase in which teachers ultimately chose which procedure to implement. Results showed that both procedures significantly reduced problem behavior across all participants, with the DRO procedure having the greatest effect. The procedure that was preferred most by teachers varied across participants. One of the three participants preferred the NCR procedure, one preferred the DRO procedure and the last participant gave mixed results between the procedure she said she preferred in the surveys and the procedure she chose to implement in the final choice phase.

This research develops spatial-explicit methods to characterize the relationship between wildlife and habitat use and selection. Both home range analysis and resource selection function (RSF) models, two common methods of representing wildlife-habitat associations, are often summarized aspatially. I apply a novel method to home range analysis which quantifies the spatial-temporal patterns of site fidelity and range drift. As a result, the spatial structure of home ranges is described, thus building on current methods which summarize ranges as aspatial metrics, often mean area. Furthermore, I develop a new method to spatially assess the ability of RSF models to predict wildlife occurrence using conditional randomization. As opposed to summarizing RSF model accuracy as a single value, I produce spatially-explicit and mappable outputs. I also demonstrate how this spatial method may be used to improve RSF model results. I apply these two spatial-temporal methods to a case study on adult female grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Northeastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. Through describing the spatial-temporal pattern of grizzly bear home range change, I determine that offspring status and season impact the size and spatial configuration of a bear’s home range. By spatially evaluating the predictive success of a RSF model, I locate and quantify the spatial pattern of areas where the model is under-predicting bear occurrence using Local Moran’s I. Further, I evaluate landscape characteristics at these locations and suggest additions to the model which may increase accuracy. Both home range analysis methods and RSF evaluation techniques could assist in conservation by aiding in the delineation of critical grizzly bear habitat areas in both space and time.

The Kuwaiti government obliged firms to cover part of employee's risks through legislation in 1965 and 1977. Employers should cover risks as death or job injury due to or during work. This had affected the group life insurance (GLI) market. The thesis examines the economics of this market. Problem of choosing the right life table with respect to Kuwaiti mortality rates is tested. The efficiency of using English life tables to estimate mortality rates in Kuwait GLI market is examined. The effects of GLI underwriters on the market are investigated. The Social Security Services (SSS) are offered for Kuwaitis only, Non-Kuwaitis face more economical insecurity than Kuwaitis do. Therefore, the demand for employees' group investment plan to cover future security facing Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti workers, in particular, is also considered. The thesis suggests several methods to solve the problems facing the Kuwait GLI market. Kuwaiti Mortality rates are estimated using data from both the Social Security Association (SSA) and a sample of term group life insurees to be compared with English and American life tables. Methods of avoiding lack of information, adverse selection, and moral hazard in Kuwait GLI market are proposed. Finally, the advantages of introducing group investment plan are examined, and it was shown that these could alleviate SSS problems. Use of group investment plan should reduce the cost of the SSS for Kuwaitis, secure part of Non-Kuwaitis risks, and assist insurers to avoid or reduce their economic problems.

Many bird populations are known to show strong territoriality as well as high site fidelity during breeding. The Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) is one of many such migratory species that annually occupies the same favourable habitat. Especially dominant males prefer to breed in the same area every year, and high fidelity probably assures high breeding success. This study aims to investigate breeding biology, population size and spatial distribution of nightingales at a small area in Yalincak within the METU campus grounds (Ankara, Turkey). From 2003 to 2005, birds were captured and marked with metal or colour rings or radio tags for monitoring. Analyses were carried out on 77 individuals, including ringing data from the previous two years. Phenology of the study population was characterized by early arrival of males in late April, followed one week later by females. Nesting immediately followed and the first young fledged in early June. Second broods were also recorded. Most birds apparently left for the south within August. The population in the 2.65 ha large area was estimated to be about 20-25 individuals. However, only 2-4 breeding territories were present and a large proportion of floaters existed. Territory sizes were smaller than reported elsewhere. Annual survival rate was 0.424 &amp / #61617 / 0.121. Contrary to previous knowledge, taxonomically the Yalincak population belonged to subspecies africana although more westerly subspecies could be recorded during migration. This study revealed the importance of small but productive biotopes as important breeding habitats for passerines. It also showed that a few highly successful individuals may contribute out of proportion to the next generation.

The structural basis for the fidelity of translation was modeled using computational methods. The flexibility of tRNA was explored using molecular dynamics and making a database of all crystallographic structures for tRNA. The modes of flexibility were compared based upon several metrics. A method for fitting cryo-EM with crystallographic structures was developed (MdMD), and also, for finding pathways between cryo-EM states. Biasing methods in molecular dynamics were used to model the pathway for the proofreading step of ribosomal translation. Atomic models were made for the Pre- and Post- accommodation state of the ribosome. These results indicated a new hypothesis for the mechanism of proofreading. There was no evidence for an induced fit mechanism in the large or small subunit of the ribosome during this step. The tRNA has a differential deformation in the kink during decoding that is based upon whether the tRNA is cognate or near-cognate. This difference in stored energy affects the outcome of proofreading, and the simulations of this step show that the ribosome presents some barriers, which would reject tRNA with insufficient stored energy.

The current work reports on structural studies of ribonucleoprotein complexes, Escherichia coli and Thermomyces lanuginosus ribosomes, and Pariacoto virus (PaV) using molecular modeling. Molecular modeling is the integration and representation of the structural data of molecules as models. Integrating high-resolution crystal structures available for the E. coli ribosome and the cryo-EM density maps for the PRE- and POST- accommodation states of the translational cycle, I generated two all-atom models for the ribosome in two functional states of the cycle. A program for flexible fitting of the crystal structures into low-resolution maps, YUP.scx, was used to generate the models. Based on these models, we hypothesize that the kinking of the tRNA plays a major role in cognate tRNA selection during accommodation. Secondly, we proposed all-atom models for the eukaryotic ribosomal RNA. This is part of a collaboration between Joachim Frank, Andrej Sali, and our lab to generate an all-atom model for the eukaryotic ribosome based on a cryo-EM density map of T. lanuginosus available at 8.9Å resolution. Homology modeling and ab initio RNA modeling were used to generate the rRNA components. Finally, we propose a first-order model for a T=3, icosahedral, RNA virus called Pariacoto virus. We used the structure available from x-ray crystallography as the starting model and modeled all the unresolved RNA and protein residues. Only 35% of the total RNA genome and 88% of the protein were resolved in the crystal structure. The generated models for the virus helped us determine the location of the missing N-terminal protein tails. The models were used to propose a new viral assembly pathway for small RNA viruses. We propose that the basic N-terminal tails make contact with the RNA genome and neutralize the negative charges in RNA and subsequently collapse the RNA/protein complex into a mature virus. This process is reminiscent of DNA condensation by positively charged ions.

Modeling, simulation, and optimization play vital roles throughout the engineering design process; however, in many design disciplines the cost of simulation is high, and designers are faced with a tradeoff between the number of alternatives that can be evaluated and the accuracy with which they can be evaluated. In this thesis, a methodology is presented for using models of various levels of fidelity during the optimization process. The intent is to use inexpensive, low-fidelity models with limited accuracy to recognize poor design alternatives and reserve the high-fidelity, accurate, but also expensive models only to characterize the best alternatives. Specifically, by setting a user-defined performance threshold, the optimizer can explore the design space using a low-fidelity model by default, and switch to a higher fidelity model only if the performance threshold is attained. In this manner, the high fidelity model is used only to discern the best solution from the set of good solutions, so that computational resources are conserved until the optimizer is close to the solution. This makes the optimization process more efficient without sacrificing the quality of the solution. The method is illustrated by optimizing the trajectory of a hydraulic backhoe. To characterize the robustness and efficiency of the method, a design space exploration is performed using both the low and high fidelity models, and the optimization problem is solved multiple times using the variable fidelity framework.