Understanding diversity and interculturalism between Aboriginal peoples and Newcomers in Winnipeg

Indigeneity plays a central role in planning for diversity and creating inclusive cities in Canada. In the public domain, racism remains prominent in cities and presents challenges to the realization by urban Aboriginal peoples and Newcomers of their aspirations in urban society. In Winnipeg, an Aboriginal-led organisation has initiated partnerships with Newcomer settlement organisations to bring both groups together to build intercultural relationships. A case study of the United Against Racism/Aboriginal Youth Circle component of Ka Ni Kanichihk (KNK) provides the opportunity to examine the effects of its partnerships on the following matters: promoting cross-cultural understanding and friendships, changing negative perceptions and building confidence among Aboriginal peoples and Newcomers vis-a-vis each other, and help indirectly to facilitate Newcomer integration into neighbourhoods predominantly occupied by Aboriginal peoples in Winnipeg. An analysis of the data gathered on the partnership programs revealed that prior to participating in these programs there were negative preconceptions about one another based on false impressions. The programming has facilitated the sharing of cultures and ideas. This has also helped members of both groups to value their cultural differences and similar history of colonialism where they exist, develop a shared understanding of the racism that confronts Aboriginal peoples and racialized Newcomers, break down stereotypes, and build friendships. This thesis reveals that in the short term, the programs and partnerships of KNK are contributing to better cross-cultural understanding and relations within a multiculturalism framework, and that in the long term they have the potential to contribute to better cross-cultural understanding and relations within an intercultural framework. The cross-cultural networks being developed bode well for the potential of developing instrumental policy and advocacy partnerships in addressing common issues faced by Aboriginals and Newcomers through progressive urban policy in Canadian cities

Ultrathin films and interfacial phenomena - a comparison of different molecular organization processes

The objective of this thesis was to investigate what effect the method of preparing a monolayer had on its organization and electrical properties. Gold electrodes were modified with alkanethiols, n - hexadecanethiol (HDM) n-octadecanethiol (ODM), by (i) self-assembly (SA) from a dilute solution of the alkanethiols, and (ii) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition techniques from Langmuir films at the air-water interface, in order to compare the effects of each film-forming strategy on the resulting Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) and LB films. In addition to the alkanethiol SAMs, self-assembled 11­mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) was also studied so as to observe the effect of the terminal group. Prior to LB deposition, Langmuir films of HDM and ODM were studied at the air-water interface on a 0.01M ammonium chloride subphase between 8 and 20°C. The films were found to be more stable at lower temperatures. The modified electrodes were studied by Alternating Current ­Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (AC-EIS) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) in 3mM [Fe(CN)6]4-/3- / 0.1M KCI over a temperature range from 15°C to 65°C. A strong temperature dependence of the films' electrical features was observed for each film. Upon heating, all films show markedly different behaviour below and above a transition temperature (Ttr) that is characteristic for each film. From the impedance data, it was possible to model bare gold and the alkanethiol-modified electrodes with the Randles circuit over the whole temperature range examined, but a different equivalent circuit was required to describe the SAM of MUA-modified electrodes before heating above the Ttr. The results are interpreted in terms of a phase transition in these monolayers, and the possible nature of this two-dimensional (2D) phase transition is discussed. CV measurements exhibited the same transition temperatures for a given compound in each type of film (SAM and LB film). However, a comparison of the absolute electrical properties of the LB films and the SAMs suggests that the LB deposition process, in which molecular organization precedes chemisorption, produces films that are less permeable, and therefore more highly organized than those produced by the SA process, in which chemisorption precedes molecular organization. Surprisingly, in the SAMs of HDM, and ODM, there was a second inflexion (transition) at higher temperatures that was not observed in the LB films. In order to explain this temperature dependant phase transition, gold colloids capped with HDM and ODM, three-dimensional (3D) analogues of SAMs, were synthesized and studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). In general, DSC revealed the same temperature dependant phase behaviour that was observed in the 2D analogues by CV. However, in the 3D systems, the low temperature transition was observed only in the HDM system and not in the ODM system. It was thus concluded that this transition was less pronounced in the longer chain ODM system due to the curvature in the 3D system, which causes the end groups of ODM to be further apart than those of HDM in the colloid configuration. Thus the first or (lower temperature) transition was attributed to the disordering of the alkyl chains starting from the end closest to the terminal groups

Raising awareness of prostate cancer amongst black communities in the south of England

Background: Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men and may present with prostate cancer at a much later stage during the cancer journey. This could be due to a lower awareness of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, an unwillingness to report symptoms or a lack of trust in the healthcare system or a combination of these. Aim: The aims of this study were to raise awareness of prostate cancer in black communities in South of England and to evaluate the engagement and raising awareness campaigns. Method: This project involved two phases. The first phase focused on raising awareness of prostate cancer in black men and their families. The awareness was delivered using public facing activities such as stands and talks with participants. Additionally, online awareness activities were undertaken with either black men alone or black men and their families. The second phase of the project involved an evaluation of the raising awareness campaigns through interviews. A total of 320 black men and their families were involved in the awareness sessions and of these, 12 black men were interviewed. The interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Analysis of the data generated three main themes including: increased knowledge and mindset change regarding prostate cancer, empowered to take community and personal action, as well as strategies and tools to raise awareness of prostate cancer among black communities. Conclusion: The raising awareness campaigns had a positive effect in terms of increasing black men's awareness of the risk factors associated with prostate cancer. Moreover, the campaigns enabled them to make lifestyle adjustments that could help them to reduce their likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Additionally, the participant's knowledge had improved, and they were empowered and motivated to make a difference to their lives and that of their communities

Raising awareness of prostate cancer amongst black communities in the south of England

Background: Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men and may present with prostate cancer at a much later stage during the cancer journey. This could be due to a lower awareness of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, an unwillingness to report symptoms or a lack of trust in the healthcare system or a combination of these. Aim: The aims of this study were to raise awareness of prostate cancer in black communities in South of England and to evaluate the engagement and raising awareness campaigns. Method: This project involved two phases. The first phase focused on raising awareness of prostate cancer in black men and their families. The awareness was delivered using public facing activities such as stands and talks with participants. Additionally, online awareness activities were undertaken with either black men alone or black men and their families. The second phase of the project involved an evaluation of the raising awareness campaigns through interviews. A total of 320 black men and their families were involved in the awareness sessions and of these, 12 black men were interviewed. The interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Analysis of the data generated three main themes including: increased knowledge and mindset change regarding prostate cancer, empowered to take community and personal action, as well as strategies and tools to raise awareness of prostate cancer among black communities. Conclusion: The raising awareness campaigns had a positive effect in terms of increasing black men's awareness of the risk factors associated with prostate cancer. Moreover, the campaigns enabled them to make lifestyle adjustments that could help them to reduce their likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Additionally, the participant's knowledge had improved, and they were empowered and motivated to make a difference to their lives and that of their communities

Raising awareness of prostate cancer among Black communities

In the UK, prostate cancer disproportionately affects black men more than any other ethnic group. Black men have higher incidence and worse outcomes of prostate cancer compared to their white UK counterparts. They may present with prostate cancer at a much later stage during the cancer trajectory. This could be due to a lower awareness of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, an unwillingness to report symptoms or a lack of trust of the National Health Service [NHS] or a combination of these. Therefore the aims of this project were to raise awareness of prostate cancer in black communities in Basingstoke and to evaluate the engagement and raising awareness campaigns

Gerontological nurse teachers' abilities and influence on students' willingness in older people nursing: A cross-sectional, correlational survey

Background: Previous studies have focused on identifying the factors hindering nursing students' interest in gerontology careers, whereas others have suggested interventions to promote students' interest in older people nursing. However, the role of a teacher is equally vital in shaping students' career preference. Objective: This study therefore explored students' perspectives of their gerontological nurse teachers' abilities and its association with students' willingness to work in older people nursing. Design: A cross-sectional correlation study. Setting: Five Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland. Participants: Undergraduate nursing students (N = 243). Method: A self-administered survey using the Gerontological Nurse Teacher Scale (GeNTS) and the subscale (Willingness) of the Students' Interest in Nursing Older People Scale (SINOPS). Descriptive and inferential analysis were conducted using SPSS. Results: There was a moderate positive association (R = 0.25, N = 243, p = 0.000) between students' perspectives of their gerontological nurse teachers' abilities and students' willingness to work in older people nursing. The teachers' abilities to develop gerontological nursing course most influence students' willingness in older people nursing (r = 0.26, p = 0.001), whereas their knowledge and interest in gerontology, least influenced students' willingness in older people nursing (r = 0.14, p = 0.025). Also, the teachers abilities to address students' concerns about aging, promote gerontology careers, and demonstrate leadership skills in gerontology all had a similar statistically significant moderate positive association (r = 0.23, p = 0.001) with students' willingness to work in older people nursing. Conclusion: Faculty need to ensure that there is adequate personal with expertise in gerontological nursing to advocate for resources to establish a reputable gerontological nursing profile in nursing curriculum and to develop and sustain a positive attitude towards older people nursing among students and staff. A qualitative study is needed to understand the reasons behind students' ratings

Experiencia y satisfacción en el museo: papel moderador de la frecuencia de visitas en el museo nacional de Ghana

This research aims to investigate how tourist experience elicits satisfaction and contributes to loyalty and willingness to pay more for a museum destination. More specifically, this study also investigates the significant moderating role of visiting frequency on the relationship between satisfaction and willingness to pay more. Museums offer unique collections for tourists’ education and recreation while providing a better understanding of the cross‐cultural diversity of societies. The research was conducted with 285 tourists visiting the National Museum in Ghana, with questions relating to experience, satisfaction, loyalty and willingness to pay more. Structural equation modelling was used to test the effects of the museum experience, satisfaction and loyalty on willingness to pay more. Responses emanating from the questionnaire on the National Museum of Ghana was analysed and the study findings suggest the significant effects of tourist experience on satisfaction as well as the significant effects of satisfaction on loyalty and willingness to pay more. In addition, the significant moderating effect of visiting frequency was reported on the relationship between satisfaction and tourist willingness to pay more. In this regard managers should develop marketing strategies that promote museum tourism in the travelling experience and that guarantee greater satisgfaction on site.Esta investigación tiene como objetivo investigar cómo la experiencia del turista suscita satisfacción y contribuye a la lealtad y a la disposición a pagar más por un destino museístico. Más concretamente, también investiga el papel moderador significativo de la frecuencia de las visitas en la relación entre la satisfacción y la disposición a pagar más. Los museos ofrecen colecciones únicas para la educación y el ocio de los turistas, al tiempo que proporcionan una mejor comprensión de la diversidad transcultural de las sociedades. La investig‐ ación se llevó a cabo con 285 turistas que visitaron el Museo Nacional de Ghana, con preguntas relacionadas con la experiencia, la satisfacción, la fidelidad y la disposición a pagar más. Se utilizó un modelo de ecuaciones estruc‐ turales para comprobar los efectos de la experiencia en el museo, la satisfacción y la fidelidad en la disposición a pagar más. Se analizaron las respuestas del cuestionario sobre el Museo Nacional de Ghana y los resultados del estudio sugieren los efectos significativos de la experiencia turística sobre la satisfacción, así como los efectos significativos de la satisfacción sobre la lealtad y la disposición a pagar más. Además, se informó del efecto mod‐ erador significativo de la frecuencia de las visitas en la relación entre la satisfacción y la disposición del turista a pagar más. En este sentido, los gestores deberían desarrollar estrategias de marketing que promuevan el turismo de museos en la experiencia de viaje y que garanticen una mayor satisfacción en el lugar

Chemically bound gold nanoparticle arrays on silicon: assembly, properties and SERS study of protein interactions

A highly reproducible and facile method for formation of ordered 2 dimensional arrays of CTAB protected 50 nm gold nanoparticles bonded to silicon wafers is described. The silicon wafers have been chemically modified with long-chain silanes terminated with thiol that penetrate the CTAB bilayer and chemically bind to the underlying gold nanoparticle. The silicon wafer provides a reproducibly smooth, chemically functionalizable and non-fluorescent substrate with a silicon phonon mode which may provide a convenient internal frequency and intensity calibration for vibrational spectroscopy. The CTAB bilayer provides a potentially biomimetic environment for analyte, yet allows a sufficiently small nanoparticle separation to achieve a significant electric field enhancement. The arrays have been characterized using SEM and Raman spectroscopy. These studies reveal that the reproducibility of the arrays is excellent both between batches (< 10% RSD) and across a single batch (< 5% RSD). The arrays also exhibit good stability, and the effect of temperature on the arrays was also investigated. The interaction of protein and amino acid with the nanoparticle arrays was investigated using Raman microscopy to investigate their potential in bio-SERS spectroscopy. Raman of phenylalanine and the protein bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, BPTI were studied using 785 nm excitation, coincident with the surface plasmon absorbance of the array. The arrays exhibit SERS enhancements of the order of 2.6 x 104 for phenylalanine, the standard deviation on the relative intensity of the 1555 cm-1 mode of phenylalanine is less than 10% for 100 randomly distributed locations across a single substrate and less than 20% between different substrates. Significantly, comparisons of the Raman spectra of the protein and phenlyalanine in solution and immobilized on the nanoparticle arrays indicates that the protein is non-randomly orientated on the arrays. Selective SERS enhancements suggest that aromatic residues penetrate through the bilayer inducing conformational changes in the protein