title: Online Anonymity and the Kantian Publicity Principle: Can the Internet Solve the Paradox of Tyranny?

subject: Kant technology internet communication anonymity

abstract: Immanuel Kant’s publicity maxim states that other-regarding actions are wrong if their maxim is not compatible with their being made public. This has the effect of forbidding dissent or rebellion against tyranny, since rebels cannot make their intentions and plans public. However, new internet technologies offer public speech from behind the “shield” of anonymity, allowing dissent to be public but preventing reprisals from tyrants. This thesis examines not only this possibility, but the value of internet-based discursive spaces for politics, their viability as a mode for political communication, and their implications for Classical and Enlightenment approaches to politics and intellectual virtue. Anonymous internet communications favour logos-based reasoning and discourse, which, in the liberal-democratic tradition, is preferable to phronesis and its attendant elitism and chauvinism. These technologies can open new vistas for liberal-democratic politics.


title: A Case Study of the "Who is NOBODY?" Project: A Character Development Program for Children with Learning Disabilities

subject:
"Who is NOBODY?" Program
Character Development
Self-Esteem
Children
Learning Disabilities

abstract: This research study explored a support system for children with learning disabilities. The Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region (LDANR) recently expanded its Better Emotional and Social Times (B.E.S.T.) program to incorporate an innovative, character education initiative called the “Who is NOBODY?” program. The objective of this qualitative case study was two-fold. First, the study aimed to support the LDANR in assessing the efficacy of the “Who is NOBODY?” program, providing the LDANR with empirical support for their programs. Second, the study enabled a more in-depth understanding of how to best support children with LD in regards to their social and emotional well-being. The study explored the “Who is NOBODY?” program through three lenses: design, implementation, and experiences of participating children. Three primary themes emerged from these three data lenses: positive character traits, prosocial behaviour, and strong self-efficacy – leading to the promotion of strong character development and self-esteem. Taken together, the “Who is NOBODY?” program was shown to be a successful remediation program for supporting vulnerable children with LD.


title: Bullying, cyberbullying & sexuality: “Everyone needs a good friend”

subject:
Bullying
Cyberbullying
Sexual Orientation Victimization
Support
LGBQ

abstract: Bullying is a pervasive social issue that occurs in numerous contexts and is particularly recognized in populations that are easily targeted. Individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning (LGBQ) are at an increased risk of victimization. Using mixed methodology involving 40 participants (N= 20) LGBQ and (N = 20) non-LGBQ and 10 subsequent in-depth interviews, this study examined prevalence rates of (cyber)bullying on the basis of sexual orientation. Results indicate a high frequency of direct and indirect bullying of LGBQ as compared to non-LGBQ youth. Ten interviews revealed themes that precipitate victimization such as the lack of understanding of LGBQ issues, educational shortfalls, societal and stereotypical beliefs. Results highlight the importance and need of formal and informal support (i.e. peer and online support).


title: New Contig Creation Algorithm for the de novo DNA Assembly Problem

subject:
DNA Assembly Problem
de-novo
Contig Creation Algorithm
Bioinformatics

abstract:
DNA assembly is among the most fundamental and difficult problems in
bioinformatics. Near optimal assembly solutions are available for bacterial
and small genomes, however assembling large and complex genomes especially
the human genome using Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS) technologies is
shown to be very difficult because of the highly repetitive and complex nature
of the human genome, short read lengths, uneven data coverage and tools that
are not specifically built for human genomes. Moreover, many algorithms are
not even scalable to human genome datasets containing hundreds of millions
of short reads. The DNA assembly problem is usually divided into several subproblems
including DNA data error detection and correction, contig creation,
scaffolding and contigs orientation; each can be seen as a distinct research area.
This thesis specifically focuses on creating contigs from the short reads and
combining them with outputs from other tools in order to obtain better results.
Three different assemblers including SOAPdenovo [Li09], Velvet [ZB08] and
Meraculous [CHS+11] are selected for comparative purposes in this thesis.
Obtained results show that this thesis’ work produces comparable results
to other assemblers and combining our contigs to outputs from other tools,
produces the best results outperforming all other investigated assemblers.


title: Teachers Without Borders: Exploring Experiences, Transitions, and Identities of Refugee Women Teachers from Yugoslavia

contributor: Department of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in Education

subject:
refugee women teachers
transnational teacher education
transnational feminist research
narrative inquiry
the multiple voices model

abstract: Prior to September 11 2011, Canada was recognized as a leading advocate of international refugee protection and the third largest settlement country in the world. University educated refugees were admitted to the country in part on the basis of their education, but once in Canada their credentials were often ignored. The purpose of this study was to explore, through a transnational feminist lens, immigrant and settlement experiences of refugee female teachers from Yugoslavia who immigrated to Canada during and after the Yugoslav wars; to document the ways in which socially constructed categories such as gender, race, and refugee status have influenced their post-exile experiences and identities; and to identify the government's role in creating conditions where the women were either able or unable to continue in their profession. In this study, I employed both a transnational feminist methodology and narrative inquiry. The analysis process included an emphasis on the storying stories model, poetic transcription, and concentric storying. The women’s voices are represented in various forms throughout the document including individual and collective narratives. Each narrative contributed to a detailed picture of immigration and settlement processes as women spoke of continuing their education, knowing or learning the official language, and contributing to Canadian society and the economy. The findings challenge the image of a victimized and submissive refugee woman, and bring to the centre of discourse the image of the refugee woman as a skilled professional who often remains un- or underemployed in her new country. The dissertation makes an important contribution to an underdeveloped area in the research literature, and has the potential to inform immigration, settlement, and teacher education policies and practices in Canada and elsewhere.


title: Properties and Algorithms of the KCube Graphs

subject: Algorithms, Properties, the KCube Graphs

abstract:
The KCube interconnection topology was  rst introduced in 2010. The KCube graph
is a compound graph of a Kautz digraph and hypercubes. Compared with the at-
tractive Kautz digraph and well known hypercube graph, the KCube graph could
accommodate as many nodes as possible for a given indegree (and outdegree) and the diameter of interconnection networks. However, there are few algorithms designed for the KCube graph. In this thesis, we will concentrate on  nding graph theoretical properties of the KCube graph and designing parallel algorithms that run on this network. We will explore several topological properties, such as bipartiteness, Hamiltonianicity, and symmetry property. These properties for the KCube graph are very useful to develop efficient algorithms on this network. We will then study the KCube network from the algorithmic point of view, and will give an improved routing algorithm. In addition, we will present two optimal broadcasting algorithms. They are fundamental algorithms to many applications. A literature review of the state of the art network designs in relation to the KCube network as well as some open problems in this field will also be given.


title: THE ACUTE EFFECTS OF A SINGLE SESSION OF PLYOMETRIC EXERCISE ON MARKERS OF BONE TURNOVER IN BOYS AND MEN

subject: bone, bone turnover, exercise

abstract: The study objective was to compare the response of bone markers to an exercise session consisting of high mechanical loading (144 jumps) between boys (n=12, 10.2 ± 0.4 years) and men (n=18, 22.5 ± 0.7 years). Blood samples were collected at pre-, 5, 60 minutes post-, and 24 hours post-exercise) to measure bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), amino-terminal cross-linking telopeptide (NTx), osteoprotegrin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kb ligand (RANKL). Boys had higher BAP levels at all time points, with an increase 24 hours post-exercise. No such increase was observed in men. Likewise, NTx levels were higher in boys, with a greater increase over time than in men. OPG and RANKL levels were similar in boys and men at all times. In summary, even one session of exercise stimulates bone turnover, as reflected in the increase in both BAP and NTx, in boys (but not men) within 24 hours.


title: Locating Intergenerational Sense of Self: Intersections of Genealogy with Leisure and Tourism

subject:
genealogy
leisure
tourism
identity
narratives
intergenerational sense of self

abstract: Situated at the intersection of leisure and tourism, there is currently a renewed interest and curiosity in ancestral lineages. Focusing on amateur genealogists who pursue, and travel for, a leisure engagement of genealogy, this qualitative research study endeavours to investigate their quests for personal identity and locations of an intergenerational sense of self. With the adoption of a narrative inquiry method, life story interviews were conducted with four amateur genealogists. Findings from an analysis of the narratives have been organized into five core themes, each of which contributes to our understanding of these amateur genealogists’ experiences of leisure and travel. While the amateur genealogists do not acknowledge their leisure engagements as a quest for personal identity, they make use of such engagements to locate an intergenerational sense of self and gain enriched self-understandings. Moreover, by facilitating intersections of genealogy, leisure, and tourism, several key insights are offered that may be of particular interest to scholars in both fields of study.


title: Becoming Peer Health Leaders: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Youth Leadership Camp Preparing Peer Leaders for Participation in a Health Promotion Initiative.

subject:
Youth Participation
Health Promotion
Peer Health Education
Agency
Mixed-methods Evaluation

abstract: Youth are critical partners in health promotion, but the process of training young people to become meaningfully involved is challenging. This mixed-methods evaluation considered the impact of a leadership camp in preparing 42 grade seven students to become peer health leaders in a ‘heart health’ initiative. The experiences of participants and their sense of agency were explored. Data were collected from pre and post camp surveys, focus groups, student journals and researcher observations. Findings indicate that relationships with peers and adults were key to agency development, and participants appeared to broaden their perspectives on the meanings of ‘health’ and ‘leadership.’ Significant changes on two sub-scales of the Harter Perceived Competence Scale for Children were also found. Suggestions for practice and further research are provided.


title: How are Girls' Attitudes Toward Cyberbullying Affected by Drama for Social Intervention?

subject: Cyberbullying Girls Drama Ethnodrama Arts

abstract: This is a study exploring teenaged girls’ understanding and experiences of cyberbullying as a contemporary social phenomenon. Participants included 4 Grade 11 and 12 girls from a medium-sized independent school in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The girls participated in 9 extracurricular study sessions from January to April 2013. During the sessions, they engaged with Drama for Social Intervention (Clark, 2009; Conrad, 2004; Lepp, 2011) activities with the intended goal of producing a collective creation. Qualitative data were collected throughout the sessions using fieldnotes, participant journals, interviews, and participant artefacts. The findings are presented as an ethnodrama (Campbell & Conrad, 2006; Denzin, 2003; Saldaña, 1999) with each thematic statement forming a title of a scene in the script (Rogers, Frellick, & Babinski, 2002). The study found that girl identity online consists of many disconnected avatars. It also suggested that distancing (Eriksson, 2011) techniques, used to engender safety in Drama for Social Intervention, might have contributed to participant disengagement with the study’s content. Implications for further research included the utility of arts-based methods to promote participants’ feelings of growth and reflection, and a reevaluation of cyberbullying discourses to better reflect girls’ multiple avatar identities. Implications for teachers and administrators encompassed a need for preventative approaches to cyberbullying education, incorporating affective empathy-building (Ang & Goh, 2010) and addressing girls’ feelings of safety in perceived anonymity online.


title: Non-pollen palynomorphs and thecamoebians as proxies of environmental and anthropogenic change: a case study from Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

subject: Lake Simcoe, non-pollen palynomorphs, thecamoebians, paleolimnology, Holocene

abstract:
The distribution of aquatic microfossils and pollen in the long core from
Lake Simcoe (LS07PC5) shows synchronous response since deglaciation,
highlighting the potential of little-known non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) as
paleolimnological indicators. Upcore variations in NPP, thecamoebians and
pollen reflect hydrological and climatic variations: onset of the Main Lake
Algonquin, the draining of Lake Algonquin, the early Holocene drought, the midto
late Holocene climate shifts including mid-Holocene drought and the Little Ice
Age, and human settlement. The distribution of microfossils in the short cores
(CB1 and SB1) shows the level of eutrophication decreasing gradually from
Cook’s Bay to the Atherley Narrows outflow due to differences in the extent of
anthropogenic impact and cumulative retention of phosphorous within sediments.
Changes in assemblages and concentration of NPP within the cores reflect the
history of settlement within Lake Simcoe basin, recording temporal differences in
eutrophication.


title: THE USE OF COGNITIVE INTERVIEWS TO EVALUATE THE LIVING CONDITIONS SURVEY

subject: cognitive interviews, World Bank, behavioural frequency, inter-subjective meaning, living conditions survey

abstract: Cognitive interviews were used to evaluate two draft versions of a financial survey in Jamaica.  The qualitative version used a few open-ended questions, and the quantitative version used numerous close-ended questions. A secondary analysis based on the cognitive interview literature was used to guide a content analysis of the aggregate data of both surveys.  The cognitive interview analysis found that the long survey had fewer respondent errors than the open-ended questions on the short survey.  A grounded theory analysis then examined the aggregate cognitive data, showing that the respondents attached complex meanings to their financial information.  The main limitation of this study was that the standard assessments of quantitative and qualitative reliability and validity were not utilized.  Further research should utilize statistical methods to compare and contrast aggregated cognitive interview probe responses on open and close ended surveys.


title: Design of Resistivity Instrumentation for a He3 Cryostat and its Application to the Charge Density Wave Superconductor CuxTiSe2

subject:
CuxTiSe2
Charge Density Waves
Resistivity Instrumentation
Electronic Noise
Magnetic Susceptibility

abstract: Fermi patches in quasi-two dimensional charge density waves (CDW) have not described the connection to superconductivity (SC) according to theory adequately at this point in time. The connection between CDW and SC in the quasi-two dimensional material CuxTiSe2 is an interesting one which might reveal mechanisms in unconventional superconductors. A previous Brock graduate student grew crystals of CuxTiSe2. The precise doping of the samples was not known. In order to determine the doping parameter x in CuxTiSe2, a sensitive resistivity measurement system was necessary. A new resistivity measurement system was designed and implemented utilizing an Infrared Labs HDL-10 He3 cryostat. By comparing with data from the literature, doping of two samples was investigated using the new measurement system and a Quantum Design Magnetic Property Measurement System (MPMS). Methods for determining the doping revealed that the old resistivity system would not be able to determine the CDW transition temperature of highly doped samples or doping for elongated samples due to electronic noise. Doping in one sample was found to be between x=0.06 and x=0.065. Values of doping in the second sample had a discrepancy but could be explained by incorrect sample orientation.


title: Influence of timing of milk consumption coupled with endurance training on body composition and endurance training adaptations in humans.

subject:
exercise
obesity
low fat milk
endurance training

abstract: Consumption of low-fat milk (LFM) after resistance training has been shown to have positive influences on body composition and training adaptations; however, little research has examined the effects of LFM consumption following endurance training. The purpose of the study was to look at the effects of combining additional servings of LFM following endurance exercise on body composition, bone health, and training adaptations. 40 healthy males were recruited. Individuals were randomized into 4 groups – DEI (750mL LFM immediately post exercise), DEA (750mL LFM 4 hrs prior to or 6 hrs post exercise), CEI (750mL carbohydrate beverage immediately post-exercise), and CEA (750mL carbohydrate beverage immediately post-exercise). Participants took part in a 12-week endurance training intervention (1 h/day, 3 d/wk, ~60% max HR). 22 participants completed the study. Analysis showed significant increases in lean mass, spinal bone mineral content, relative VO2peak, and a decrease in Trap 5β across all groups (p < 0.05).


title: A Masters Student’s Journey: Trying to Balance Two Eyes of Research

subject:
reflective
Indigenous research
storytelling
Non-Aboriginal researcher
two-eyed seeing

abstract: This project is about a reflective research journey taken by a Masters student in the Child and Youth Studies Department at Brock University in St. Catharines Ontario. This journey consisted of a mixed method approach using the qualitative method of autoethnography along with the Indigenous research method of storytelling. The research was done using the concept of two-eyed seeing which consisted of trying to balance the two eyes of research: Indigenous and Western. The Non-Aboriginal researcher not only reflected on her own learning journey but also the lessons she learned from the voices of 48 women from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Like the trickster character Coyote, the researcher struggled, stumbled and was transformed by this journey.


title: Job Demands and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Roles of Organizational Commitment and Social Interaction

subject:
organizational citizenship behavior
job demands
organizational commitment
social interaction

abstract: Drawing from the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and research on social exchange relationships, this study investigates the impact of three job demands (work overload, interpersonal conflict, and dissatisfaction with the organization’s current situation) on employees’ organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), the hitherto unexplored mediating role of organizational commitment in the link between job demands and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), as well as how this mediating effect might be moderated by social interaction. Using a multi-source, two-wave research design, surveys were administered to 707 employees and their supervisors in a Mexican-based organization. The hypotheses were tested with hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicate a direct negative relationship between interpersonal conflict and OCB, and a mediating effect of organizational commitment for interpersonal conflict and dissatisfaction with the organization’s current situation. Further, social interaction moderates the mediating effect of organizational commitment for each of the three job demands such that the mediating effect is weaker at higher levels of social interaction. The study suggests that organizations aiming to instill OCB among their employees should match the immediate work context surrounding their task execution with an internal environment that promotes informal relationship building.


title: Indigenous Language Reclamation: The Learners Perspective

contributor: Social Justice and Equity Studies Program

subject: Indigenous Language reclamation Learner methodology

abstract:
ABSTRACT
This study explored the link between learning an Indigenous language and the meanings second language learners attach to their language recovery experiences. The study delves into the factors that motivate, enhance and serve as barriers to individual language revitalization efforts. With the goal of reasserting an Indigenous world view, the traditional teachings of the Ojibwe medicine wheel were combined with the lessons of the seven Grandfathers to provide a methodological basis for conducting ethical research with and for the benefit of First Nations people. Within the context of our relationships with self, community, spirit and environment, the pairing of Indigenous theory with the practical community experiences of Indigenous second language learners, demonstrates how Indigenous systems of thought and ontology lend themselves well to the critical understanding necessary to enhance the recovery our own endangered languages.
These research findings indicate that there is a definite link between ancestral language
reclamation and increased levels of self-esteem, a sense of grounded cultural identity and resilience, an overall sense of healing and the social responsibility that comes with receiving the gift of language. The barriers associated with learning an ancestral language intersect on multiple and often simultaneous levels making it difficult for the language learners to discover their origin.This research found that it was important for language learners to identify that they often carry a collective sense of shame associated with an internalized attachment to the modality of Indigeneity. Once the origin of this shame was acknowledged – as resulting from settler/assimilation logics, it was often
possible for people to move forward in their language recovery journeys, while at the same time considering more broadly the structural barriers that make individual learning so difficult.


title: Investigation into the relationships between molecular chaperones, mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes, and endothermic vertebrate longevity

subject: longevity, protein homeostasis, heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes, mitochondria

abstract: The maximum lifespan (MLSP) of endothermic vertebrates can range from as little as a year to over two centuries, yet the underlying phenotype of aging is very similar amongst this group of organisms.  One organelle that may be important in the phenotype of aging is the mitochondrion. When damaged, this organelle is thought to contribute to many of the neurodegenerative diseases of aging.  For this thesis, mitochondria from brain tissues of 7 mammalian and 2 avian species were isolated to assess whether the antioxidant glutathione system and major molecular chaperone, HSP60, is correlated to species MLSP.  Furthermore, HSP60, and the major endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, GRP78, were measured under basal conditions, and following the introduction of an oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide) in cultured mammalian myoblasts from 10 different species. My results indicate that the enzymes involved in the glutathione defense system are not correlated to species MLSP in brain mitochondria; however HSP60 levels are indeed higher in the longer-lived species. HSP60 levels are also higher at the basal level in cultured mammalian myoblasts and after 1 hour of hydrogen peroxide exposure. GRP78 induction is not correlated to species MLSP at the basal level or following hydrogen peroxide exposure. Therefore, these results suggest that HSP60 is a correlate of longevity in endothermic vertebrate species, but neither the glutathione antioxidant defense system, nor GRP78, correlates to species longevity.


title: Exploring the Therapeutic Alliance in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Interpretative Phenomenological Approach

subject:
therapeutic alliance
autism
cognitive behaviour therapy
interpretative phenomenology
qualitative

abstract:
Abstract
The therapeutic alliance (TA) is the most studied process of adult psychotherapeutic change
(Zack et al., 2007) and has been found to have a moderate but robust relationship with
therapeutic outcome regardless of treatment modality (Horvath, 2001). The TA is loosely
described as the extent to which the therapist and the participant connect emotionally and work
together towards goals. Conceptualizations of the TA with children have relied on adult models,
even though it is widely acknowledged that the pediatric population will rarely willingly commit
to therapy, nor readily admit to any challenges that they may be experiencing (Keeley, Geffken,
McNamara & Storch, 2011). For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) the
therapeutic alliance may require an even greater retheorizing considering the communicative
and social difficulties of this particular population. Despite this need, research on children with
ASD and the therapeutic TA is almost non-existent. In this qualitative study, transcripts from
semi-structured interviews with mothers of children with ASD were analyzed using
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). IPA closely examines how individual people
make sense of their life experiences using a theme-by-theme approach. The three interviewees
were mothers whose children were participants in a nine-week Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
(CBT) group for obsessive-compulsive behaviours (OCB). A total of four superordinate themes
were identified: (i) Centralization and disremembering the TA, (ii) Qualities of the therapist,
(iii) TA and the importance of time, and (iv) Signs of a healthy TA. The mothers’ perspectives
on the TA suggest that, for them and their children, a strong TA was a required component of
the therapy. Implications for clinicians and researchers are discussed.


title: Bridging the Conceptualization of Youth with Intellectual Disabilities to  Sentencing under the YCJA

subject:
Intellectual Disabilities
Disability Discourse
Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)
Sentencing
Young Offenders

abstract: The current study examined how disability and the concepts of risk, need and responsivity are understood by criminal justice professionals and inform their perceptions of young offenders with ID at sentencing under the ‘different but equal’ philosophy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 lawyers and 8 mental health workers across 6 major urban areas in Ontario. Participants primarily perceived ID through a medical discourse, overlooking social and structural barriers that, in some cases, may hinder adherence to sentencing dispositions. Specifically, participants discussed balancing the reduced culpability of offenders (e.g., intent) – justifying lenient sentencing – with public safety concerns (i.e., ID viewed as a barrier to rehabilitation) – justifying increasing the severity of sentences. Participants assessed clients with ID and their risks, needs and responsivity within the context of other legal factors: criminal history, severity of the offence, and YCJA objectives. Participants articulated the importance of tailored courthouse identification programs, services/funding, and education/training.


title: A Mind of its Own: The Lived Experience of Adult Students who are ADHD

subject: ADHD disorder phenomenology autoethnography hermeneutics

abstract:
Despite the growing trend towards recognizing that attention deficit hyperactive disorder
occurs beyond childhood, the experience of adult students who are ADHD remains little
researched or understood. Given the losses in efficiency and productivity in academic
performance from adult ADHD, researching ADHD’s experiential aspects is significant for both
educators and students in its potential to develop better strategies for accommodating those with
the disorder. This study used hermeneutic phenomenology and existential psychology to describe
the lived experience of adult students who are ADHD. Five adult students participated in the
study, which involved two in-depth conversations with guiding questions such as: What is it like
to be ADHD?; and What led to your perception that you have ADHD? Conversations were
transcribed and thematic statements developed, using the life-world existentials of lived space,
lived time, lived relationships and lived corporeality to deepen considerations of meaning.


title: Anachronistic Me: An Autoethnographic Account of Recovery through Volunteerism

creator:
Penner, Joyce
Penner, Joyce

subject: autoethnography recovery volunteerism community realization

abstract:
The purpose of this autoethnography was to reflect upon the ways in which my
recovery was aided by the personal connections made while volunteering in a homeless
shelter. Congruent with autoethnographic best practice, data were collected through a
variety of means, including: journaling, field notes, participant observation, and
collection of artifacts. An autoethnographic narrative emerged out of the analysis of data
detailing my recuperative journey. Results indicated that my time spent volunteering at
the shelter: (a) fostered a sense of Community, (b) made me aware of Realizations that
broadened my perspective, and (c) aided in motivating me to be Intentional about
Improving my Life. These three themes proved to be important factors in my recovery
process.
This thesis will inform social science researchers and health advocates by making
a contribution to the growing body of literature regarding recovery.


title: Examining Predictors of Quality of Life of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities After Deinstitutionalization

subject:
Intellectual Disability
Quality of Life
QOL
Life Quality
Deinstitutionalization
Community Homes
Community Living
Disability
Developmental Disability
Multiple Regression

abstract: This study examined if a person’s quality of life could be predicted by six relevant factors in a sample of 114 individuals with intellectual disability who had moved from institutional settings to community living settings within Ontario. Further, two aspects of self-efficacy were tested to see if they moderated the relationship between the possible predictors and the quality of life indicator. The initial multiple regression model accounted for a very small amount of the variance in the outcome (r2 = .08). The second analysis included decision-making as a predictor (r2 = .35) but did not find it to be moderator. The third analysis used opportunities for change as a predictor (r2 = .28), and as a moderator with two significant interaction terms, health and years in an institutional setting (r2 = .35). These findings support the often-theorized influence of self-efficacy on quality of life for individuals with intellectual disability.


title: Finding and Implementing Relevant Resources in Adapted Physical Activity (APA): It's easier said than done...

subject: Adapted Physical Activity, Teaching, Inclusion, Resources, Physical Education

abstract:
The purpose of this research was to explore challenges to operationalizing and
implementing relevant resources for Adapted Physical Activity (APA) and to develop a framework on how resources should be developed and implemented to foster appropriate APA. An unobtrusive methodology was used to examine existing resources and training/learning opportunities for practitioners teaching APA. Data were collected via unobtrusive methods: documents, records, literature and feedback forms. After the findings were summarized, expert consultations were completed using a modified Delphi- technique to confirm the findings. A constructivist approach and phenomenological orientation was used to analyze the data and develop the “ideal” resource. Results indicate there are limited APA resources and teaching/learning opportunities for practitioners and there is a need for practitioner facilitation through professional development on finding and implementing resources. Future research should develop and evaluate the “ideal” resource and strive to improve the connection and consistency of resources in APA.


title: A Comparative Analysis of Community-Based Service Providers for "Extreme" Case ASD:  Exploring Activity Program Options

subject:
Autism
Case Study
Activity Programs
ASD

abstract: The purpose of my research was to examine how community-based organizations in the Niagara region provide programs for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who are considered to represent “extreme” or “severe” cases. A qualitative, comparative case study was conducted that focused on three organizations who provide summer recreation and activity programs, in order to examine the issues these organizations face when determining program structure and staff training; and to understand what the threshold for physical activity is in this type of setting, and how the unique needs surrounding these “severe” cases are met while attending the program. Purposeful sampling was employed to select a supervisor and senior staff member from each organization to discuss the training process, program development and implementation, and the resources and strategies used within their organization’s community-based program. A confirming comparative analysis was comparative analysis of a parents survey with six mothers whose children are considered “severe” indicated that camp staffs’ expectations are unrealistic where as the parents and supervisors have more realistic expectations within the “real world” of camp. There is no definition of “severe” or “extreme” and therefore severity is dependent upon the context.


title: Task-Dependent Oscillatory Brain Activity  During Oculomotor Delayed Response Task

subject:
Electrophysiology
Oculomotor delayed response task
Oscillations
Alpha frequency
Working memory

abstract: This study used three Oculomotor Delayed Response (ODR) tasks to investigate the unique cognitive demands during the delay period.  Changes in alpha power were used to index cognitive efforts during the delay period. Continuous EEGs from 25 healthy young adults (18-34 years) were recorded using dense electrode array. The data was analyzed by 6-cycle Morlet wavelet decompositions in the frequency range of 2-30 Hz to create time- frequency decompositions for four midline electrode sites. The 99% confidence intervals using the bootstrapped 20% trimmed mean of the 10 Hz frequency were used to examine the differences among conditions. Compared to two Memory conditions (Match and Non-Match), Control condition yielded significant differences in all frequencies over the entire trial period, suggesting a cognitive state difference. Compared to Match condition, the Non–Match condition had lower alpha activity during the delay period at each midline electrode site reflecting the higher cognitive effort required.


title: Greener Golf Operations: A Comparative Case Study of Ontario Golf Courses Engaged in Environmental Sustainability Initiatives

subject: Golf Environment Sustainability Operations Communication

abstract:
This research explored environmental sustainability (ES) initiatives at five top-ranked Ontario golf courses that were members of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf (ACSP). Research Questions: (1) How are golf courses adapting to safeguard the natural environment? (2) Why or why not are golf courses moving to ES? and (3) What are the arising barriers to ES in golf and how can they be overcome; what role does communication play?
 Overall, the research was framed with an adaptation of the dimensions of convergence by Houlihan (2012), including the motives, inputs, implementation, momentum, and impact. Additionally, impression management and message framing constructs were utilized to address the issue of communicating ES initiatives. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, observations, and unobtrusive document collection. Environmental aspects of the examination were guided by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Requirements and Guidance for Organizers of Sustainable Events and Sustainable Sport and Event Toolkit (SSET).


title: Macroeconomic News and Exchange Rates: Evidence of Unstable Effect

subject:
smooth transition regression model
breakpoints regression model
unstable macroeconomic news effects
high frequency data
exchange rate

abstract: Although the link between macroeconomic news announcements and exchange rates is well documented in recent literature, this connection may be unstable. By using a broad set of macroeconomic news announcements and high frequency forex data for the Euro/Dollar, Pound/Dollar and Yen/Dollar from Nov 1, 2004 to Mar 31, 2014, we obtain two major findings with regards to this instability. First, many macroeconomic news announcements exhibit unstable effects with certain patterns in foreign exchange rates. These news effects may change in magnitude and even in their sign over time, over business cycles and crises within distinctive contexts. This finding is robust because the results are obtained by applying a Two-Regime Smooth Transition Regression Model, a Breakpoints Regression Model, and an Efficient Test of Parameter Instability which are all consistent with each other. Second, when we explore the source of this instability, we find that global risks and the reaction by central bank monetary policy to these risks to be possible factors causing this instability.


title: Synthesis, Catalysis and Stoichiometric Reactivity of Mo Imido Complexes

subject: Imido Chemistry, Agostic Bonding, Silanimine Complex, Hydrosilylation, Phosphine Cyclometallation

abstract: The syntheses, catalytic reactivity and mechanistic investigations of novel Mo(IV) and Mo(VI) imido systems is presented. Attempts at preparing mixed bis(imido) Mo(IV) complexes of the type (RN)(R′N)Mo(PMe3)n (n = 2 or 3) derived from the mono(imido) complexes (RN)Mo(PMe3)3(X)2 (R = tBu (1) or Ar (2); X = Cl2 or HCl, Ar=2,6-iPr2C6H3) are also described. The addition of lithiated silylamides to 1 or 2 results in the unexpected formation of the C-H activated cyclometallated complexes (RN)Mo(PMe3)2(η2-CH2PMe2)(X) (R = Ar, X = H (3); R = tBu, X = Cl (4)). Complexes 3 and 4 were used in the activation of R′E-H bonds (E = Si, B, C, O, P; R′ = alkyl or aryl), which typically give products of addition across the M-C bond of the type (RN)Mo(PMe3)3(ER′)(X) (4). In the case of 2,6-dimethylphenol, subsequent heating of 4 (R = Ar, R′ = 2,6-Me2C6H3, E = O) to 50 °C results in C-H activation to give the cyclometallated complex (ArN)Mo(PMe3)3(κ2-O,C-OPh(Me)CH2) (5). An alternative approach was developed in synthesizing the mixed imido complex (ArN)(tBuN)Mo(PMe3)(η2-C2H4) (6) through EtMgBr reduction of (ArN)(tBuN)MoCl2(DME) in the presence of PMe3. Complex 6 reacts with various hydro- and chlorosilanes to give β-agostic silylamido complexes and in one case, when Me2SiHCl is the silane, leads to the silanimine complex (tBuN)Mo(η2-SiMe2-NAr)(Et)(η2-C2H4) (7). Mechanistic studies on the formation of the Mo(VI) tris(silyl) complex (tBuN)Mo(SiHPh)(H){(μ-NtBu)(SiHPh)}(PMe3)2 (8) were done from the addition of three equivalents of PhSiH3 to (tBuN)Mo(PMe3)(η2-C2H4), resulting in identification of β- and γ-agostic SiH…Mo intermediates. The reactivity of complex 8 towards ethylene and nitriles was studied. In both cases coupling of unsaturated substrates with the Mo-Si bond of the metalacycle was observed. In the case of nitriles, insertion into the 4-membered disilaazamolybdacycle results in complexes of the type (tBuN)Mo{(κ2-Si,C-SiHPh-NtBu-SiHPh-N=C(R)}(PMe3)2. Catalytic hydrosilylation of carbonyls mediated by the β-agostic silylamido complex (ArN)2Mo(η3-NtBu-SiMe2-H)(H) (9) was investigated. Stoichiometric reactions with organic substrates showed that catalysis with 9 does not proceed via the conventional insertion of substrate into the Mo-H bond.


title: Synthesis of unnatural analogues of pancratistatin and narciclasine

subject:
total synthesis
Amaryllidaceae
anticancer
Biotransformation

abstract: Described herein is the chemoenzymatic synthesis of several different types of unnatural analogues of Amaryllidaceae constituents. Development and refinement of existing and design and execution of new approaches towards the synthesis of C-1 analogues of pancratistatin and A-ring heterocyclic analogues of narciclasine are discussed. Evaluation of the new analogues as cancer growth inhibitory agents is also described


title: The Cenozoic Gonyaulacacean Dinoflagellate Genera Operculodinium Wall, 1967 and Protoceratium Bergh, 1881 and Their Phylogenetic Relationships

subject:
Dinoflagellate
Operculodinium bahamense
Protoceratium reticulatum
tabulation
phylogeny

abstract:
The palynology of Ocean Drilling Program Site 1007, leeward of the present Bahamas
Bank, provides insights into upper Oligocene–lower Pleistocene dinoflagellate cyst
associations in the tropical Americas. These associations are reviewed along with the
sedimentary paleoenvironment to provide context for a morphological study of the cystdefined
dinoflagellate Operculodinium bahamense and its comparison with the thecadefined
dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum which produces a cyst assignable to the
cyst-defined genus Operculodinium. Detailed reconstructions of the tabulation in both
species reveal strong similarities, having a sexiform hyposomal tabulation and L-type or
modified L-type ventral organization. Protoceratium reticulatum has dextral torsion of
the hypotheca, requiring assignation of the genus to the subfamily Cribroperidinioideae,
whereas Operculodinium bahamense has neutral torsion requiring assignation to the
subfamily Leptodinioideae. Results either imply polyphyletic origins for the genus
Operculodinium or that combinations of ventral organization and torsion cannot always
be applied rigidly to subdivide the family Gonyaulacaceae.


title: An Analysis of Minor Hockey Officials and Perceived Organizational Support

subject:
perceived organizational support
organizational support
hockey
officials

abstract: Recent research suggests organizational factors should be considered in order to better understand the attrition of minor hockey. Consequently, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the extent to which minor hockey officials perceive organizational support (POS) from the minor hockey system, and to compare POS among minor hockey officials according to demographics. A total of 261 minor hockey officials were surveyed with the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS). Results indicated significant differences according minor hockey official experience, certification level and extra-role performance. The findings are discussed in relation to POS and human resource management literature, and recommendations are made as to how administrators can better support these officials.


title: Adult Learning in the Transformational Environments of the Digital Revolution: Connecting Theory and Practice

subject: Net-Gen adult learners

subject: learning preferences

subject: knowledge economy workplace

subject: connected learning

abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the learning preferences and the post-secondary educational experiences of a group of Net-Gen adult learners, aged between 18 and 35, currently working in the knowledge economy workplace, and their assessment of how adequately they were prepared to meet the requirements of the knowledge economy workplace. This study utilized an explanatory mixed-method research design. Participants completed a questionnaire providing information on their self-reported learning style preferences, their use of digital tools for formal and informal learning, their use of digital technologies in postsecondary educational experiences, and their use of digital technologies in their workplace. Four volunteers from the questionnaire respondents were selected to participate in interviews based on the diversity of their experiences in higher education, including digital environments, and the diversity of their knowledge economy workplaces. Data collected from the questionnaire were analyzed for descriptive and demographic statistics, and categorized so that common patterns could be identified from information gathered from the online questionnaire and interviews. Findings based on this study indicated that these Net-Gen adult learners were fluent with all types of digital technologies in collaborative environments, expecting their educational experiences to provide a similar experience. Participants clearly expressed an understanding that digital/collaborative aptitudes are essential to successful employment in the knowledge economy workplace. The findings of this study indicated that the majority of participants felt that their post-secondary educational experiences did not adequately prepare them to meet the expectations of this type of working environment.


title: A DYNAMIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE RELATIONS BETWEEN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES, SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS

subject:
foreign exchange rate
savings
investment
OECD
vector auto regression

abstract:
The Meese-Rogoff forecasting puzzle states that foreign exchange (FX) rates are unpredictable. Since one country’s macroeconomic conditions could affect the price of its national currency, we study the dynamic relations between the FX rates and some macroeconomic accounts. Our research tests whether the predictability of the FX rates could be improved through the advanced econometrics. Improving the predictability of the FX rates has important implications for various groups including investors, business entities and the government. The present thesis examines the dynamic relations between the FX rates, savings and investments for a sample of 25 countries from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We apply quarterly data of FX rates, macroeconomic indices and accounts including the savings and the investments over three decades.
Through preliminary Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root tests and Johansen cointegration tests, we found that the savings rate and the investment rate are cointegrated with the vector (1,-1). This result is consistent with many previous studies on the savings-investment relations and therefore confirms the validity of the Feldstein-Horioka puzzle. Because of the special cointegrating relation between the savings rate and investment rate, we introduce the savings-investment rate differential (SID). Investigating each country through a vector autoregression (VAR) model, we observe extremely insignificant coefficient estimates of the historical SIDs upon the present FX rates. We also report similar findings through the panel VAR approach. We thus conclude that the historical SIDs are useless in forecasting the FX rate. Nonetheless, the coefficients of the past FX rates upon the current SIDs for both the country-specific and the panel VAR models are statistically significant. Therefore, we conclude that the historical FX rates can conversely predict the SID to some degree. Specifically, depreciation in the domestic currency would cause the increase in the SID.


title: Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Governance, And Managerial Risk-Taking

subject:
corporate social responsibility
corporate governance
managerial risk taking
panel regression

abstract: This dissertation investigates the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and managerial risk-taking, as well as the differences in governance structure that affect this association. Using a sample of US public firms from 1995 to 2009, we find that firms with strong CSR records engage in higher risk-taking. Furthermore, we find that this relationship is robust when accounting for differences in governance structure and correcting for endogeneity via simultaneous equations modeling. Additional testing indicates that performance in the employee relations dimension of CSR in particular increases with risk-taking, while high firm visibility dampens the association between CSR and the accounting-based measures of risk-taking. Prior literature establishes that high managerial risk-tolerance is necessary for the undertaking of risky yet value-enhancing investment decisions. Thus, the main findings suggest that CSR, rather than being a waste of scarce corporate resources, is instead an important aspect of shareholder value creation. They contribute to the debate on CSR by documenting that corporate risk-taking is one mechanism among others through which CSR maps into higher firm value.


title: Rethinking Fiscal Decentralization Policies in Developing Economies: A Case Study of Ghana

subject:
Fiscal decentralization
Ghana
Mixed Methods
Local government

abstract: This thesis invites geographers to pay more attention to public policy research by addressing the need to rethink fiscal decentralization policies in Ghana. By applying “Simandan’s wise stance in human geography” and “Grix’s building blocks of social research design”, I developed a conceptual framework that unites two incommensurable ontological and epistemological research positions in geography—the positive and normative positions. I used the framework to investigate two key research questions. First, does fiscal decentralization actually work in Ghana? Through quantitative analysis of empirical revenue and expenditure data (1994-2011) of local governments in Ghana, this study reveals significant issues of inefficiency, inequity, and unaccountability. Local governments generate less revenue, and therefore depend largely on central government transfers for developing their jurisdictions. Worse yet, these transfers are highly unpredictable in terms of amount and timing. Even though a multivariate regression analysis revealed that these transfers are apolitical, the actual disbursement formula tends to focus on equality instead of equity. Additionally, the unclear expenditure assignments in each locality make accountability difficult. In view of these problems, I addressed the question: why is fiscal decentralization held out as a good thing in Ghana? By drawing lessons from Foucault’s and Escobar’s critical discourse analysis, I traced a genealogy of Ghana’s fiscal decentralization.  I found that the policy is held out as a good thing in Ghana because of the triangular operation of multiplicities of power, knowledge, and truth regimes at the local, national and international scale. I concluded that although nation-states remains a necessary causal link in fiscal decentralization policy process in Ghana, direct and indirect international involvement have profound effect on these policies. Therefore, rethinking fiscal decentralization involves acknowledging the complex intermingling effects that global, national, and local territories produce.


title: The electromyographic threshold in children: Differences in neuromuscular activation during progressive exercise between boys and men

subject:
children
EMG
motor unit
threshold
exercise

abstract:
The electromyographic threshold (EMGTh), defined as an upward inflexion in the rising EMG signal during progressive exercise, is thought to reflect the onset of increased type-II MU recruitment. The study’s objective was to compare the relative exercise intensity at which the EMGTh occurs in boys vs. men.
Participants included 21 men (23.4±4.1 yrs) and 23 boys (11.1±1.1 yrs). Ramped cycle-ergometry was conducted to volitional exhaustion with surface EMG recorded from the vastus lateralis muscles. The EMGTh was mathematically determined using a composite of both legs.
EMGTh was detected in 95.2% of the men and in 78.3% of the boys (χ2(1, n=44) =2.69, p =.10). The boys’ EMGTh was significantly higher than the men’s (86.4±9.6 vs. 79.7±10.0% of peak power-output at exhaustion; p <.05).
These findings suggest that boys activate their type-II MUs to a lesser extent than men during progressive exercise and support the hypothesis of differential child–adult MU activation.


title: Phonon spectra and temperature variation of thermodynamic properties of fcc metals via Finnis-Sinclair type many body potentials: Sutton-Chen and improved Sutton-Chen models

subject:
phonon
potential
sutton-chen
embedded atom method
finnis-sinclair

abstract:
Volume(density)-independent pair-potentials cannot describe metallic cohesion adequately as the presence of the free electron gas renders the total energy strongly dependent on the electron density. The embedded atom method (EAM) addresses this issue by replacing part of the total energy with an explicitly density-dependent term called the embedding function. Finnis and Sinclair proposed a model where the embedding function is taken to be proportional to the square root of the electron density. Models of this type are known as Finnis-Sinclair many body potentials.

In this work we study a particular parametrization of the Finnis-Sinclair type potential, called the "Sutton-Chen" model, and a later version, called the "Quantum Sutton-Chen" model, to study the phonon spectra and the temperature variation thermodynamic properties of fcc metals. Both models give poor results for thermal expansion, which can be traced to rapid softening of transverse phonon frequencies with increasing lattice parameter. We identify the power law decay of the electron density with distance assumed by the model as the main cause of this behaviour and show that an exponentially decaying form of charge density improves the results significantly. Results for Sutton-Chen and our improved version of Sutton-Chen models are compared for four fcc metals: Cu, Ag, Au and Pt. The calculated properties are the phonon spectra, thermal expansion coefficient, isobaric heat capacity, adiabatic and isothermal bulk moduli, atomic root-mean-square displacement and Gr\"{u}neisen parameter. For the sake of comparison we have also considered two other models where the distance-dependence of the charge density is an exponential multiplied by polynomials. None of these models exhibits the instability against thermal expansion (premature melting) as shown by the Sutton-Chen model.

We also present results obtained via pure pair potential models, in order to identify advantages and disadvantages of methods used to obtain the parameters of these potentials.


title: A Study of Female Sport Fans with Respect to Fantasy Sport Participation

subject: fandom sport fantasy

abstract:
Female sport fans make up ~40% of all North American big league sport fans. However, female sport fans make up only 20% of all fantasy sport participants. This study asked: why is there an under-representation of female participation in fantasy sports?
In order to answer this question, 35 female sport fans who do not participate in fantasy sports were separated into five focus groups to provide the data necessary for this study.

Seven themes emerged to explain why there is an under-representation of female participation in fantasy sports: lack of time, their friends do not play, negative associations, control versus escape, sport statistics, team versus player allegiances, and males acting as gatekeepers. Finally, four recommendations were made for those marketing fantasy sports to female sport fans: increase the overall awareness of fantasy sports, promote the social aspects of fantasy sports, streamline fantasy sports, and promote the ease of use.


title: Alloparental care in a solitary bee

subject:
Ceratina
Sociality
Alloparental Care
Extended Parental Care

abstract: Research into the evolutionary origins of sociality in insect colonies is changing emphasis from understanding how eusociality is maintained to how insects transition from solitary to social lifestyles. The pygmy carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.) offer an excellent model for investigating such factors as they have been historically thought of as solitary but have recently been shown to be socially polymorphic, which may indicate that they are currently in a transitive phase. By utilizing behavioural observation and experimental removal protocols, I show that extended parental care, as well as sibling care in Ceratina calcarata plays an important role in offspring development. I found, upon removal of the mother, that specifically produced ‘dwarf’ female offspring take over parental care roles in the nest. The existence of alloparental care and generational overlap suggests that although they are classified as solitary bees, C. calcarata possess the prerequisite behavioural repertoire for sociality.


title: Diastereoselective Lithiation-Substitution of N-Silyl-Protected-(S)-Tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-3(2H)-ones and Applications of Their Derivatives

subject:
preparation
L-proline-derived
imidazolone protected
precursors
chiral guanidines
N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

abstract: This thesis describes a method involving the preparation of an L-proline-derived imidazolone protected with an N-triethylsilyl group that undergoes diastereoselective lithiation followed by electrophile quench to give C5-substituted products with syn stereochemistry. The N-silylated derivatives may be more easily N-deprotected as compared to previous N-t-Bu analogues to give secondary ureas. These may serve as precursors to N-phenyl chiral bicyclic guanidines or as NHC precursors for synthesis of corresponding complexes.


subject:
L-proline-derived
imidazolone protected
diastereoselective lithiation
chiral guanidines
N-heterocyclic carbene complexes


title: Synthesis of a 7-Membered Biaryl Guanidine Catalyst and its Use in the Vinylogous Aldol Reaction

subject: guanidine, Catalysis, Butenolides, Synthesis

abstract: The present thesis outlines the preparation of a 7-membered guanidine. Initial efforts to obtain this guanidine via 2-chloro-1,3-dimethylimidazolinium chloride induced ring forming chemistry failed to provide the target in a reproducible fashion. Changing strategies, we were able to obtain the desired guanidine through CuCl mediated amination of a 7-membered thiourea intermediate to arrive at the target. In addition, the catalytic activity of this compound was evaluated in a vinylogous aldol reaction of dibromofuranone and four aromatic aldehydes to generate chiral γ-butenolides with modest to good enantiomeric excess. It was found that electron-poor aldehydes resulted in higher, 81% ee, whereas electron rich aldehydes led to low, 41% ee, levels of enantiomeric excess.


title: Glacial stratigraphy and micromorphology of the Pine Point Pb-‐Zn mining district, Northwest Territories

subject: Micromorphology, Glacial Stratigraphy, Laurentide Ice Sheet, Northwest Territories, Pine Point

abstract:
This investigation aims to gain a better understanding of the glacial history of the Pine Point Mining district, Northwest Territories, by examining the sedimentological properties of the glacial sediments including, geochemical analysis, heavy mineral concentrate analysis, clast macro-‐fabrics, pebble lithologies, and micromorphological investigation. Four till units
were identified, and three were associated with identified erosional bedrock features and streamlined landforms in the area, indicating a minimum of three ice flow directions. Sedimentological properties suggest that these units were all Type-B tectomict/mélange
till, emplaced as part of a soft subglacial deformable bed. The lack of ice-‐marginal advance
and retreat sequences within the studied till, suggests the Middle Wisconsinan Laurentide
Ice margin was likely north and west of the Pine Point area, as opposed to along the margin
of the Canadian Shield and Western Sedimentary Basin where it has been suggested
to have existed.


title: Top-down and Bottom-up influences on ACC activation: Evaluation of a proposed model of the feedback-related negativity

subject: Feedback related negativity, ERP, gambling, reward

subject: ACC

abstract:
The Feedback-Related Negativity (FRN) is thought to reflect the dopaminergic prediction error signal from the subcortical areas to the ACC (i.e., a bottom-up signal). Two studies were conducted in order to test a new model of FRN generation, which includes direct modulating influences of medial PFC (i.e., top-down signals) on the ACC at the time of the FRN. Study 1 examined the effects of one’s sense of control (top-down) and of informative cues (bottom-up) on the FRN measures. In Study 2, sense of control and instruction-based (top-down) and probability-based expectations (bottom-up) were manipulated to test the proposed model. The results suggest that any influences of medial PFC on the activity of the ACC that occur in the context of incentive tasks are not direct. The FRN was shown to be sensitive to salient stimulus characteristics. The results of this dissertation partially support the reinforcement learning theory, in that the FRN is a marker for prediction error signal from subcortical areas. However, the pattern of results outlined here suggests that prediction errors are based on salient stimulus characteristics and are not reward specific.
A second goal of this dissertation was to examine whether ACC activity, measured through the FRN, is altered in individuals at-risk for problem-gambling behaviour (PG). Individuals in this group were more sensitive to the valence of the outcome in a gambling task compared to not at-risk individuals, suggesting that gambling contexts increase the sensitivity of the reward system to valence of the outcome in individuals at risk for PG. Furthermore, at-risk participants showed an increased sensitivity to reward characteristics and a decreased response to loss outcomes. This contrasts with those not at risk whose FRNs were sensitive to losses. As the results did not replicate previous research showing attenuated FRNs in pathological gamblers, it is likely that the size and time of the FRN does not change gradually with increasing risk of maladaptive behaviour. Instead, changes in ACC activity reflected by the FRN in general can be observed only after behaviour becomes clinically maladaptive or through comparison between different types of gain/loss outcomes.


title: Metaphorical Interpretation: Measuring and Facilitating Growth.

subject:
cognitive development
cognition and learning
direct instruction
teaching and learning
literacy and reading

abstract:
Abstract
A total of 378 grade 9 students participated in this study to address the problem that although metaphorical literacy and thought are expected and necessary for success in junior and senior high school and beyond, metaphorical concepts and thought are not required to be explicitly taught to these students. The students were from 20 different classes from 4 levels: English language learners (ELL), school to work (SSTW), applied, and academic. All were from 7 secondary schools within a board in southern Ontario. Nine classes made up the control group and 11 classes made up the treatment group. All classes were given 3 pretests and the posttest. The treatment group was given Socratic lessons and direct instruction on metaphorical thought and expressions during 1 semester and in conjunction with their other classroom material. The pretest scores (TOLD, Peabody, preproverbs concrete, and preproverbs abstract) did not reveal any effect of gender, but the academic students had higher scores than the applied students. The SSTW student results are more variable: (a) for the TOLD test, SSTW scores were between those of the academic and applied students; (b) for Peabody scores, SSTW students’ scores are the same as academic and are greater than applied; (c) for preproverbs concrete and preproverbs abstract, the SSTW scores are not different from the applied scores. The postproverbs concrete and postproverbs abstract scores for the treatment groups also showed no effect of gender but revealed that all students who received the treatment did better on their post scores. The positive changes of the treatment group illustrate a measured movement from literal understanding to abstract understanding using direct Socratic instruction and proverbs as a medium.


title: Novel glutathione disulfide transferase function of CC-glutaredoxins involved in disease resistance and flower development

subject: glutaredoxins, disease resistance, flower development, glutathionylation

abstract:
Glutaredoxins are oxidoreductases capable of reducing protein disulfide bridges and glutathione mixed disulfides through the process of deglutathionylation and glutathionylation. Lately, redox-mediated modifications of functional cysteine residues of TGA1 and TGA8 transcription factors have been postulated. Namely, GRX480 and ROXY1 glutaredoxins have been previously shown to interact with TGA proteins and have been suggested to regulate redox state of these proteins. TGA1, together with TGA2, is involved in systemic acquired resistance (SAR) establishment in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana through PR1 (Pathogenesis related 1) gene activation. They both form an enhanceosome complex with the NPR1 protein (non-expressor of pathogenesis related gene 1) which leads to PR1 transcription. Although TGA1 is capable of activating PR1 transcription, the ability of the TGA1 NPR1 enhanceosome complex to assembly is based on the redox status of TGA1.
	We identified GRX480 as a glutathionylating enzyme that catalyzes the TGA1 glutathione disulfide transferase reaction with a Km of around 20μM GSSG (oxidized glutathione). Out of four cysteine residues found within TGA1, C172 and C266 were found to be glutathionylated by this enzyme. We also confirmed TGA1 glutathionylation in vivo and showed that this modification takes place while TGA1 is associated with the PR1 promoter enzymatically via GRX480. Furthermore, we show that glutathionylation via GRX480 abolishes TGA1's interaction with NPR1 and consequently prevents the TGA1-NPR1 transcription activation of PR1. When glutathionylated, TGA1 is recruited to the PR1 promoter and acts as a repressor. Therefore, glutathionylation is a mechanism that prevents TGA1 NPR1 interaction, allowing TGA1 to function as a repressor of PR1 transcription. Surprisingly, GRX480 was not able to deglutathionylate proteins demonstrating the irreversible nature of the reaction.
	Moreover, we demonstrate that other members of CC-class glutaredoxins, namely ROXY1 and ROXY2, can also catalyze protein glutathionylation. The TGA8 protein was previously shown to interact with NPR1 analogs, BOP1 and BOP2 proteins. However, unlike the case of TGA1 NPR1 interaction, here we demonstrate that TGA8-BOP1 interaction is not redox regulated and that TGA8 glutathionylation by ROXY1 and ROXY2 enzymes does not abolish this interaction in vitro. However, TGA8 glutathionylation results in TGA8 oligomer disassembly into smaller complexes and monomers.
	Our results suggest that CC-Grxs are unable to reduce mixed disulfides, instead they efficiently catalyze the opposite reaction which distinguishes them from traditional glutaredoxins. Therefore, they should not be classified as glutaredoxins but as protein glutathione disulfide transferases.


title: Effects of social context on endocrine function and Zif268 expression in response to an acute stressor in adolescent and adult rats

subject:
Adolescent
Zif268
Social Context
Acute stress
Rats

abstract: There is a paucity of studies comparing social buffering in adolescents and adults, despite their marked differences in social behaviour. I investigated whether greater effects of social buffering on plasma corticosterone concentrations and expression of Zif268 in neural regions after an acute stressor would be found in adolescent compared with adult rats. Samples were obtained before and after one hour of isolation stress and after either one or three hours of recovery back in the colony with either a familiar or unfamiliar cage partner. Adolescent and adult rats did not differ in plasma concentrations of corticosterone at any time point. Corticosterone concentrations were higher after one hour isolation than at baseline (p < 0.001), and rats with a familiar partner during the recovery phase had lower corticosterone concentrations than did rats with an unfamiliar partner (p = 0.02). Zif268 immunoreactive cell counts were higher in the arcuate nucleus in both age groups after isolation (p = 0.007) and higher in the paraventricular nucleus of adolescents compared with adults during the recovery phase irrespective of partner familiarity. There was a significant decrease in immunoreactive cell counts after one hour isolation compared to baseline in the basolateral amygdala, central nucleus of the amygdala, and in the pyramidal layer of the hippocampus (all p < 0.05). An effect of partner familiarity on Zif268 immunoreactive cell counts was found in the granule layer of the dentate gyrus irrespective of age (higher in those with a familiar partner, p = 0.03) and in the medial prefrontal cortex in adolescents (higher with an unfamiliar partner, p = 0.02). Overall, the acute stress and partner familiarity produced a similar pattern of results in adolescents and adults, with both age groups sensitive to the social context.


title: The Molecular Consequences of CK2-mediated Phosphorylation of the TGA2 Transcription Factor within Systemic Acquired Resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana

subject: TGA2 phosphorylation, protein kinase CK2

abstract:
During infection, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana is capable of activating long lasting defence responses both in tissue directly affected by the pathogen and in more distal tissue. Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a type of systemic defence response deployed against biotrophic pathogens resulting in altered plant gene expression and production of antimicrobial compounds. One such gene involved in plant defence is called pathogenesis-related 1 (PR1) and is under the control of several protein regulators. TGA II-clade transcription factors (namely TGA2) repress PR1 activity prior to infection by forming large oligomeric complexes effectively blocking gene transcription. After pathogen detection, these complexes are dispersed by a mechanism unknown until now and free TGA molecules interact with the non-expressor of pathogenesis-related gene 1 (NPR1) protein forming an activating complex enabling PR1 transcription.
	This study elucidates the TGA2 dissociation mechanism by introducing protein kinase CK2 into this process. This enzyme efficiently phosphorylates TGA2 resulting in two crucial events. Firstly, the DNA-binding ability of this transcription factor is completely abolished explaining how the large TGA2 complexes are quickly evicted from the PR1 promoter. Secondly, a portion of TGA2 molecules dissociate from the complexes after phosphorylation which likely makes them available for the formation of the TGA2-NPR1 activating complex. We also show that phosphorylation of a multiserine motif found within TGA2’s N terminus is responsible for the change of affinity to DNA, while modification of a single threonine in the leucine zipper domain seems to be responsible for deoligomerization. Despite the substantial changes caused by phosphorylation, TGA2 is still capable of interacting with NPR1 and these proteins together form a complex on DNA promoting PR1 transcription. Therefore, we propose a change in the current model of how PR1 is regulated by adding CK2 which targets TGA2 displacing it’s complexes from the promoter and providing solitary TGA2 molecules for assembly of the activating complex.
	Amino acid sequences of regions targeted by CK2 in Arabidopsis TGA2 are similar to those found in TGA2 homologs in rice and tobacco. Therefore, the molecular mechanism that we have identified may be conserved among various plants, including important crop species, adding to the significance of our findings.


title: The Use of Ipso-dihydrodiols Enzymatically Derived from Benzoic Acid in Enantioselective Synthesis.  Appoaches to Total Synthesis of Vinca Alkaloids

subject: alkaloid synthesis chemoenzymatic organic chemistry

abstract: The present studies describe our recent progress in target oriented synthesis of complex organic molecules from aromatic precursors. The latest synthetic approaches toward vinca alkaloids are described and include the construction of model substrates for the investigation into Diels-Alder, radical cascade, and tandem Michael addition reactions as possible routes to the family of alkaloids. Also described are the chemoenzymatic syntheses of the natural product (-)-idesolide and unnatural polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines generated from the biotransformation of benzoic acid with Ralstonia eutropha B9.


title: Algal and protozoan response to Holocene climate change and anthropogenic impact: a case study from Sluice Pond, MA

subject: dinoflagellate thecamoebian Massachusetts eutrophication Holocene

abstract: Sluice Pond is a small (18 ha) and deep (Zmax 20.0 m) partially meromictic, pond in Lynn, Massachusetts that contains a diverse dinocyst record since the early Holocene.  High dinocyst concentrations, including morphotypes not previously described, as well as the preservation of several specimens of cellulosic thecae are attributed to low dissolved oxygen (DO) in the basin. The fossil protozoan record supports the interpretation- thecamoebians were unable to colonize the basin until the middle Holocene and only became abundant when the drought-induced lowstand oxygenated the bottom waters. Protozoans tolerant of low DO became abundant through the late Holocene as water levels rose and cultural eutrophication produced a sharp increase in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) beginning in the 17th century.  Recent sediments contain a dominance of Peridinium willei, indicating cultural eutrophication and the planktonic ciliate Codonella cratera and the thecamoebian Cucurbitella tricuspis in the deep basin. Above the chemocline however, a diverse difflugiid thecamoebian assemblage is present.


title: The Values of Community Curling:  A Case Study

subject:
curling
institutional theory
case study
institutional logics

abstract: This qualitative case study research shows that within the realm of curling, the professionalization of the sport, at the national level, has limited to no effect on the core values of respect, belonging, and giving back that the grassroots level of curling identify as important.   Through an interview process with twelve community level curlers, from four separate clubs within the Niagara region, data were collected and analyzed using traditional coding techniques.   Utilizing institutional theory, the research shows a growing gap between the national level of curling and the grassroots level.   Data also shows that value alterations, at the community level, are based on the changing Canadian environment in regards to legislation (smoking and drinking laws) and social behaviours (the busier Canadian lifestyle) rather than changes at the national level.   These findings have a profound effect on how sports are administered in the Canadian sport system


title: ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF EMERGING MARKET MUTUAL FUNDS IN CANADA

subject:
Bootstrap Methodology
Emerging Markets
Equity Funds
Fixed Income Funds
Mutual Funds

abstract: Emerging markets have received wide attention from investors around the globe because of their return potential and risk diversification. This research examines the selection and timing performance of Canadian mutual funds which invest in fixed-income and equity securities in emerging markets. We use (un)conditional two- and five-factor benchmark models that accommodate the dynamics of returns in emerging markets. We also adopt the cross-sectional bootstrap methodology to distinguish between ‘skill’ and ‘luck’ for individual funds. All the tests are conducted using a comprehensive data set of bond and equity emerging funds over the period of 1989-2011. The risk-adjusted measures of performance are estimated using the least squares method with the Newey-West adjustment for standard errors that are robust to conditional heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation. The performance statistics of the emerging funds before (after) management-related costs are insignificantly positive (significantly negative). They are sensitive to the chosen benchmark model and conditional information improves selection performance. The timing statistics are largely insignificant throughout the sample period and are not sensitive to the benchmark model. Evidence of timing and selecting abilities is obtained in a small number of funds which is not sensitive to the fees structure. We also find evidence that a majority of individual funds provide zero (very few provide positive) abnormal return before fees and a significantly negative return after fees. At the negative end of the tail of performance distribution, our resampling tests fail to reject the role of bad luck in the poor performance of funds and we conclude that most of them are merely ‘unlucky’.


title: Relationship between Socio-Demographic Factors and Familial and Partner Pressures to Conceive in HIV-Positive Women in Ontario

subject: HIV, Women, Children, Family Pressure, Partner Pressure

abstract: This study examined the relationship between socio-demographic factors and family and partner pressure to conceive in women living with HIV in Ontario, Canada. A total of 490 women, aged 18-52 years were included in the study. The HIV Pregnancy Planning Questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic, medical, and pressure variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggest that increased age, years lived in Canada, and living in Toronto were associated with lower odds, and being married and having 0-1 lifetime births were associated with higher odds of family pressure to conceive. Increased age was associated with lower odds, and being married and living in Toronto were associated with higher odds of partner pressure to conceive. Findings suggest that socio-demographic factors influence the fertility decision-making process. Health care providers should consider socio-demographic factors along with medical factors when assisting women living with HIV and their partners to make informed reproductive decisions.


title: Characterization of black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) silk proteins

subject:
chironomid
larva
pupa
silk gland
simuliid

abstract:
Black fly (Simuliidae) silk is produced by the larvae and pharate pupae and is used for anchorage and cocoon production. There exists limited information on simuliid silks, including protein composition and genetic sequences encoding such proteins. The present study aimed to expand what is known about simuliid silks by examining the silks of several simuliid species and by making comparisons to the silk of non-biting midges (Chironomidae).
Silk glands were dissected out of larval and pupal simuliids, and protein contents were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and visualized with silver stain. Protein contents were compared by mass in kilodaltons (kDa) between life stages and among species. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to expand upon known gene sequence information, and to determine the presence of genes homologous to chironomid silk. SDS-PAGE of cocoons revealed the presence of a 56 kDa and a 67 kDa protein.
Silk gland contained as many as 28 different proteins ranging from 319 kDa to 8 kDa. Protein profiles vary among species, and group into large (>200), intermediate(>100), and small (<100) protein classes as is found in chironomids.
It is likely that silk evolved in a common ancestor of simuliids and chironomids


title: A game-theoretic network formation model

subject: network formation, game theory

abstract:
We study the dynamics of a game-theoretic network formation
model that yields large-scale small-world networks. So far,
mostly stochastic frameworks have been utilized to explain
the emergence of these networks. On the other hand, it is
natural to seek for game-theoretic network formation models in
which links are formed due to strategic behaviors of individuals,
rather than based on probabilities. Inspired by Even-Dar and
Kearns (2007), we consider a more realistic model in which the
cost of establishing each link is dynamically determined during
the course of the game. Moreover, players are allowed to put
transfer payments on the formation of links. Also, they must
pay a maintenance cost to sustain their direct links during the
game. We show that there is a small diameter of at most 4 in
the general set of equilibrium networks in our model. Unlike
earlier model, not only the existence of equilibrium networks is
guaranteed in our model, but also these networks coincide with
the outcomes of pairwise Nash equilibrium in network formation.
Furthermore, we provide a network formation simulation that
generates small-world networks. We also analyze the impact of
locating players in a hierarchical structure by constructing a
strategic model, where a complete b-ary tree is the seed network.


title: SAVOURING ABILITIES SCALE (SAS): THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRENGTHS - BASED ASSESSMENT FOR THERAPEUTIC RECREATION PROFESSIONALS

subject:
savouring leisure
assessment development
assessment evaluation
therapeutic recreation
factor analysis

abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an assessment that measured savouring leisure.  The assessment items developed were reviewed for content validity by eight international therapeutic recreation (TR) educators and administrators as well as eleven TR practitioners.  An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine the most suitable items for the assessment.  The results suggest that the original three subscale design needed to be modified to five.  The reliability of the total assessment is α=.84.  Statistical analysis for construct validity reveal 58.52% of the variance explained, and a moderate correlation was found between this study and other savouring assessments.  The implications of the shift in conceptualization are reviewed through discussing factor analysis issues, the lived experience of savouring leisure, and the impact of the content validity process.  This study contributes to the ongoing dialog of savouring leisure.  Recommendations for future research are discussed.


title: DINOFLAGELLATE CYSTS FROM THE LATEST MIOCENE THROUGH MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA, ODP SITE 1000: BIOSTRATIGRAPHY, PALEOCEANOGRAPHY, AND SHOALING OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN SEAWAY

subject:
DINOFLAGELLATE CYSTS
MIOCENE
PLEISTOCENE
BIOSTRATIGRAPHY
SEAWAY

abstract: This is the first detailed study of organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) and acritarchs for the latest Miocene–Middle Pleistocene of Ocean Drilling Program Site 1000 in the Caribbean Sea. Well-preserved and moderately diverse dinocysts and other palynomorphs reflect the interplay between neritic (carbonate-platform sourced) and oceanic species. The dinocyst biostratigraphy is tied to an existing marine isotope stratigraphy for the interval 5.5–2.2 Ma. For the interval 5.5–3.8 Ma, palynological samples are coupled to published sea-surface temperature estimates based on planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca. Changes in dinocyst assemblage composition are noted at ca. 4.6 Ma when shoaling of the Central American Seaway caused a temperature rise in the Caribbean, ca. 3.8–3.6 Ma, during the cold Marine Isotope Stage M2 when pronounced warming occurred, at ca. 2.7 Ma where possible weak cooling may reflect the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation, and in the Middle Pleistocene presumably reflecting global cooling and sea-level fall.


title: In danger of jammed minds: A deconstructive discourse analysis of the criteria for early onset schizophrenia and imagination in children's literature

subject:
antipsychiatry
schizophrenia
imagination
discourse analysis
children's literature

abstract: The purpose of this research is to expose and complicate those discourses of childhood imagination as demonstrated in the diagnostic criteria for early onset schizophrenia by using an antipsychiatry perspective. This will be done by evaluating those discourses alongside those found in  popular children’s literature, specifically, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, Bridge to Terabithia, and A Wrinkle in Time. Once uncovered, the underlying power discourses were then exposed. This research will then employ a minor reading as provided by Deleuze and Guattari’s (1987) approach to minor literature to demonstrate the ways in which the child can subvert those dominant discourses. The potential of literature is evaluated for its ability to provide alternative modes of experience and lines of flight for the child subjected to the diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia.


title: Real-Time Automatic Object Classification and Tracking using Genetic Programming and NVIDIA R CUDA TM

subject:
Object Tracking
Genetic Programming
Parallel Computation
NVIDIA CUDA

abstract: Genetic Programming (GP) is a widely used methodology for solving various computational problems. GP's problem solving ability is usually hindered by its long execution times. In this thesis, GP is applied toward real-time computer vision. In particular, object classification and tracking using a parallel GP system is discussed. First, a study of suitable GP languages for object classification is presented. Two main GP approaches for visual pattern classification, namely the block-classifiers and the pixel-classifiers, were studied. Results showed that the pixel-classifiers generally performed better. Using these results, a suitable language was selected for the real-time implementation. Synthetic video data was used in the experiments. The goal of the experiments was to evolve a unique classifier for each texture pattern that existed in the video. The experiments revealed that the system was capable of correctly tracking the textures in the video. The performance of the system was on-par with real-time requirements.


title: Autonomy and Relatedness in Mainland Chinese Adolescents: Social or Personal? Accommodation or Distinctiveness?

subject:
Autonomy
Chinese adolescents
Culture
Relatedness
Social change

abstract: Three studies comprised the current research program, in which the major goals were to propose and validate empirically the proposed two-level (universal and culture-specific) model of both autonomy and relatedness, as well as to develop reliable and valid measures for these two constructs. In Study 1, 143 mainland Chinese adolescents were asked open-ended questions about their understanding of autonomy and relatedness in three social contexts (peer, family, school). Chinese youth’s responses captured universal and culturally distinctive forms of autonomy (personal vs. social) and relatedness (accommodation vs. distinctiveness), according to a priori criteria based on the theoretical frameworks. Also, scenarios designed to reflect culture-specific forms of autonomy and relatedness suggested their relevance to Chinese adolescents. With a second sample of 201 mainland Chinese youth, in Study 2, the obtained autonomy and relatedness descriptors were formulated into scale items. Those items were subject to refinement analyses to examine their psychometric properties and centrality to Chinese youth. The findings of Study 1 scenarios were replicated in Study 2. The primary goal of Study 3 was to test empirically the proposed two-level (universal and culture-specific) models of both autonomy and relatedness, using the measures derived from Studies 1 and 2. A third sample of 465 mainland Chinese youth completed a questionnaire booklet consisting of autonomy and relatedness scales and scenarios and achievement motivation orientations measures. A series of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) autonomy and relatedness measurement models (first-order and second-order), as well as structural models linking culture-specific forms of autonomy and relatedness and achievement motivation orientations, were conducted. The first-order measurement models based on scale and scenario scores consistently confirmed the distinction between personal autonomy and social autonomy, and that of accommodation and distinctiveness. Although the construct validity of the two culture-specific forms of autonomy gained additional support from the structural models, the associations between the two culture-specific forms of relatedness and achievement motivation orientations were relatively weak. In general, the two-level models of autonomy and relatedness were supported in two ways: conceptual analysis of scale items and second-order measurement models. In addition, across the three studies, I explored potential contextual and sex differences in Chinese youth’s endorsement of the diverse forms of autonomy and relatedness. Overall, no substantial contextual variability or sex differences were found. The current research makes an important theoretical contribution to the field of developmental psychology in general, and autonomy and relatedness in particular, by proposing and testing empirically both universal and culture-specific parts of autonomy and relatedness. The current findings have implications for the measurement of autonomy and relatedness across social contexts, as well as for socialization and education practice.


title: A Study of Ordered Gene Problems Featuring DNA Error Correction and DNA Fragment Assembly with a Variety of Heuristics, Genetic Algorithm Variations, and Dynamic Representations

subject:
DNA Error Correction
DNA Fragment Assembly
Dynamic Representations
Evolutionary Algorithms
Ordered Gene Problems

abstract:
Ordered gene problems are a very common classification of optimization problems.
Because of their popularity countless algorithms have been developed in an attempt
to find high quality solutions to the problems. It is also common to see many different
types of problems reduced to ordered gene style problems as there are many popular
heuristics and metaheuristics for them due to their popularity.
Multiple ordered gene problems are studied, namely, the travelling salesman problem,
bin packing problem, and graph colouring problem. In addition, two bioinformatics
problems not traditionally seen as ordered gene problems are studied: DNA error
correction and DNA fragment assembly. These problems are studied with multiple
variations and combinations of heuristics and metaheuristics with two distinct types
or representations. The majority of the algorithms are built around the Recentering-
Restarting Genetic Algorithm.
The algorithm variations were successful on all problems studied, and particularly
for the two bioinformatics problems. For DNA Error Correction multiple cases were
found with 100% of the codes being corrected. The algorithm variations were also
able to beat all other state-of-the-art DNA Fragment Assemblers on 13 out of 16
benchmark problem instances.


title: The Search for Scholarly Teaching in Elementary Education

subject:
Higher Learning
Elementary Education
Boyer, E.
Scholarly Teaching
Teaching Excellence

abstract: Elementary teachers are expected to prepare students to work efficiently with others, solve complex problems and self-regulate their own learning.  Considering the importance of a solid educational foundation in the early years, students would benefit if elementary teachers engaged in scholarly teaching. The purpose of this study was to investigate Boyer’s (1990) four dimensions of scholarship, application, integration, teaching and discovery, to better understand if there is scholarly teaching in elementary education. Four professional teaching documents were analyzed using a hermeneutic orientation. A deductive analysis suggests that we do have scholarly teaching in elementary education, with strong evidence that elementary teachers are scholars of application and integration. An inductive analysis of latent and manifest content suggests that underlying humanistic values run deeply through elementary education driving current curricular, instructional and pedagogical practices.


title: The meaning of multiple medication use in adults: A qualitative study

subject:
Medication
Chronic condition
Medication adherence
Qualitative
Grounded theory

abstract: Over half of prescribed medications are not taken as prescribed, resulting in health and economic consequences. Using constructivist grounded theory, 15 interviews were conducted to develop a theory on understanding the medication adherence choices of individuals, who were between the ages of 40 to 55, were diagnosed with a chronic condition, and taking three or more medications. The results indicate that participants are engaging in self-management strategies, with massive variance in adherence behaviours. Medications are sacrificed for personal and financial reasons, resonating with feelings of fear for the person’s current situation and future. Individuals are struggling with who they have become to who they once were, which becomes related to their medications. Finally, individuals are citing the impact of their physician; citing barriers to communication and Canada’s health care system. Participants’ experiences provided an understanding of the meanings individuals associate with their medications and how this impacts their decision-making.


title: One of Us or One of Them: A Generic Qualitative Study on the Efficacy of the Funds of Knowledge Strategy to Reduce Teacher Ethnocentrism

subject:
global and multicultural education
funds of knowledge
reducing teacher ethnocentrism
ESL instructors

abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine whether English a Second Language (ESL) instructors’ ethnocentrism could be reduced using multicultural education (MCE) principles.  There were three focus group discussions and a Likert scale questionnaire.  The findings demonstrated that while ESL instructors were conscious of systemic barriers, media stereotypes, and bullying, more diversity training is required in order to improve teachers’ attitudes, responses, and instructional strategies regarding integration issues due to the increasing diversity of learners present in classrooms today.  The findings of the study also demonstrated that MCE principles could be used to effectively raise the awareness of ESL instructors when dealing with integration and assimilation issues.  When immigration, human rights, and multicultural policies were examined critically, ESL instructors were able to improve their cross-cultural skills in the classroom to be more inclusive towards diverse ethnic groups by giving learners greater opportunities to express themselves.  As a result, learners’ knowledge, experience, and skills were validated in the classroom leading to a more meaningful learning experience.


title: Towards Equitable Access to Postsecondary Education: Learning From the Voices of First Generation Students

subject:
First Generation Students
Postsecondary Education
Equity
Access
Secondary School

abstract: This qualitative, phenomenological study investigated first generation students’ perceptions of the challenges they experienced in the process of accessing higher education and the type of school-based support that was received. Particular emphasis was placed on the impact of parental education level on access to postsecondary education (PSE) and how differences in support at the primary and secondary levels of schooling influenced access. Purposeful, homogenous sampling was used to select 6 first generation students attending a postsecondary institution located in Ontario. Analysis of the data revealed that several interrelated factors impact first generation students’ access to postsecondary education. These include familial experiences and expectations, school streaming practices, secondary school teachers’ and guidance counselors’ representations of postsecondary education, and the nature of school-based support that participants received. The implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed and recommendations for enhancing school-based support to ensure equitable access to postsecondary education for first generation students are provided.


title: Priming Prosocial Behavior to Augment Bystander Interventions in Bullying Situations

subject:
bullying
prosocial behavior
priming
empathy
civility

abstract: Bullying is a harmful phenomenon wherein victims have difficulty defending themselves. Bystanders have been identified as a potentially effective group for reducing bullying. The goal of this research is to determine whether prosocial primes (operationalized as empathy and civility) have an effect on increasing bystander interventions among youth. A total of 52 participants between the ages of 10-14 were randomly assigned to two experimental groups or one control group. Participants either received neutral control stories or they were primed twice with stories showing characters acting empathetically or civilly. Testing measures involve a short video and questionnaire assessing willingness to act as a bystander. Results reveal that prosocial training can augment willingness to engage in defending behaviors when compared to the control V = .19, F(2, 46) = 5.53, p < .01, ω2 = .19, correcting for the sphericity violation. This finding represents a relatively easy and non-invasive way to potentially change the bullying-related attitudes of adolescents, thereby potentially reducing bullying behaviors.