19614 research outputs found
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Psychonomic Society publications: A participants’ account of the transition from self-publishing to partnering with Springer
No full textWe thank Donald Foss, Helene Intraub, Colin M. MacLeod, Daniel J. Simons, and John Wixted for helpful comments on prior versions of this manuscript. Remaining shortcomings are the authors’ responsibility. Thanks also to Monique Grenier, Science and Research Data Literacy Librarian at the University of Victoria, for information regarding subscription costs.The Psychonomic Society has a strong record as a publisher of scientific research. Dewsbury (1996) provided an engaging account of the Society’s first 30 years as a publisher. We begin with a brief re-cap of Dewsbury’s article and then share our views as to why and how the Society shifted from printing and distributing its own journals to partnering with a large commercial publisher. Our tale is based in part on our own experiences as members of the Governing Board of the Psychonomic Society during the transition. We also offer a subjective assessment of how the partnership with Springer has played out. Our perspective provides a complement to an account written by historians commissioned by the Psychonomic Society (Bazar & Vaughn-Johnson, 2023).FacultyUnreviewe
Addressing Data Scarcity with Computer Vision Methods
No full textData scarcity characterizes situations where the demand for abundant, quality data is greater than their availability. Lack of quality data is a significant issue when designing and implementing computer vision-based algorithms; more specifically, deep learning-based approaches require “large” amounts of curated data for training and validation. There are many scenarios, such as environmental monitoring, where gathering more data is not viable. This dissertation explores different methodologies and strategies for overcoming data scarcity in computer vision algorithms. While addressing all methods for handling data
scarcity would be an over-ambitious endeavour, this dissertation focuses on three primary strategies for working with small datasets: traditional computer vision, deep learning regularization functions, and synthetic datasets. Detailed objectives, solutions and insights from each are presented for diverse problem domains and case studies within the computer vision field.
The first strategy consists of developing traditional computer vision methods. We discuss this strategy for two case studies: estimating bird population and domain-independent video summarization. The first case study results in a method that integrates motion analysis and segmentation methods to cluster and count birds in large moving flocks, filmed using hand-held video devices by citizen scientists. The second case study addresses the high demand for automatic video summarization systems due to the dramatic increase in media streaming content and consumer-level video creation; our proposed method uses a
bottom-up approach for the automatic generation of dynamic video summaries by integrating motion and saliency analysis with temporal slicing.
The second strategy focuses on using regularization functions while training deep learning systems. We propose a novel custom loss function, Dense Loss, which was designed to use local region homogeneity regularization to promote contiguous and smooth segmentation predictions while also using an L1-norm loss to reconstruct dense-labelled annotation ground truth for a synthetic handwritten annotation mixed-media dataset. Regularization also helps when foreground and background classes are not well-represented; we thus propose a texture-based domain-specific data augmentation technique applicable when training on small datasets for deep learning image classification tasks.
The third strategy consists of generating synthetic datasets and evaluating the performance of state-of-the-art deep learning architectures when trained on them. We propose a mosaic texture dataset and an image-to-text table summarization dataset. Both address a lack of data in their corresponding application domains. Our research shows that each application domain affected by data scarcity needs to be thoroughly studied before proposing solutions to mitigate this problem.
Each of the projects developed in this dissertation supports the hypothesis that small datasets are viable sources for research and applications when their particularities are addressed during development and implementation. This dissertation concludes with a set of best practices for developing Computer Vision systems with small data as a contribution to the community.Graduat
A language survey to support language revitalization among the Kelabit
No full textThe Indigenous Kelabit of Sarawak are experiencing a language shift as we migrate to the cities from the interior pursuing education and employment. To understand this situation, I conducted a community-wide language survey of the Kelabit language as spoken in the village communities of Lung Napir and Lung Seridan. My main question was to discern the status and health of the Kelabit language in our communities. As a longtime cultural and environmental activist and having authored a dictionary on my language, I considered this survey would be helpful for planning and programming to reverse the current trend in Kelabit.
To frame my research design, I used Indigenous research methodologies combining quantitative and qualitative methods with indigenization of the research process. My research is largely informed by existing theories on language shift and ways of reversing it. The methods I used were conducting language forums, a survey and key informant interviews. The survey investigates the language status, participant's attitude to our language and how they perceive its usefulness into the future as well as the health of the language, with respect to its vitality. I conducted six language forums, attended by 157 people, and 108 who completed the survey.
Of significance to our language status is that our data indicates a large majority of the participants express a positive attitude to our language’s future, a clear reflection of the value we place on our Indigenous identity. This is despite an indication that the Kelabit language is ‘definitely endangered’, used mostly by the parental generation and up. Roughly, a third of the participants do not speak the language, and Elders expressed concern regarding its impacts on our language transmission in the context of mixed-marriages and increasing urbanization.
In terms of the language health, almost three quarters of our people continue to speak the language, giving us much hope in reversing the one third who are not. But an alarming development in our community is that two thirds of families do not speak Kelabit to their children, a clear sign of language endangerment. When language shift happens, it loses its function in a society. The work of reversing involves a community restoring those functions. This phenomenon will guide our future activities, in encouraging language use in our daily communications and social events. Recognizing also that our adet (cultural norms), the essence of our identity, and our connection to ancestral land is embedded in our language.Graduat
Meaning in Language: Representation, Structure, and Wittgenstein's Worksite
No full textMost philosophy of language has proceeded as though, in the important cases, language is meaningful in virtue of representing reality. It has seemed clear to the majority of philosophers who have worked in this field that the study of linguistic meaning is the study of how symbols relate to the things they signify, which either are, or determine, those symbols’ meanings. Up to the turn of the 20th century, in fact, this approach to meaning had enjoyed near-total ubiquity. However, in the later part of his career, the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein became utterly disaffected with this dominant paradigm (which I call “representationalist”) and sought a new approach to understanding meaning in language. This approach centers language’s status as a human activity, an activity that is therefore inextricable from our behaviour, our aims, our culture, and myriad other aspects of human existence. Briefly put, “to imagine a language means to imagine a form of life” (Philosophical Investigations, §19). My research consisted mostly of reading, and reading about, philosophy of language that has been done since Wittgenstein. Being very sympathetic to many of Wittgenstein’s views, I also explored ways of characterizing them, and ways of defending them and related views against common objections.Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA)UndergraduateReviewe
Celebratory Theatre: A student of colours experience with community based theatre for refugees and immigrants
No full text“The Salty Scent of Home” was a devised celebratory theater production created by faculty and students of the University of Victoria’s theater department. The project followed seven weeks of workshops with a diverse group of refugees and immigrants from across greater Victoria where they were given space to share their experiences of assimilation to Canadian society as well as the journey that led them here. Following the workshops, was a six week devising process to create a movement based theatrical show to respectfully and accurately share the participants stories on stage. The rehearsal process involved reflections on participants' stories, trial and error of potential forms of physical storytelling as well as approval and guidance from participants to ensure that they were happy with the ways in which their stories were being told. This project would not have been made possible if it were not for the team of diverse students and staff behind it.Valerie Kuehne Undergraduate Research AwardsUndergraduateReviewe
A comparison of bioelectric and biomechanical EMG normalization techniques in healthy older and young adults during walking gait
Full text linkThis study compares biomechanical and bioelectric electromyography (EMG) normalization techniques across disparate age cohorts during walking to assess the impact of normalization methods on the functional interpretation of EMG data. The biomechanical method involved scaling EMG to a target absolute torque (EMGTS) from a joint-specific task and the chosen bioelectric methods were peak and mean normalization taken from the EMG signal during gait, referred to as dynamic mean and dynamic peak normalization (EMGMean and EMGPeak). The effects of normalization on EMG amplitude, activation pattern, and inter-subject variability were compared between disparate cohorts, including OLD (76.6 yrs N = 12) and YOUNG (26.6 yrs N = 12), in five lower-limb muscles. EMGPeak normalization resulted in differences between YOUNG and OLD cohorts in Biceps Femoris (BF) and Medial Gastrocnemius (MG) that were not observed with EMGMean or EMGTS normalization. EMGPeak and EMGMean normalization also demonstrated interactions between age and the phase of gait in BF that were not seen with EMGTS. Correlations showed that activation patterns across the gait cycle were similar between all methods for both age groups and the coefficient of variation comparisons found that EMGTS produced the greatest inter-subject variability. We have shown that the normalization technique can influence the interpretation of findings when comparing disparate populations, highlighting the need to carefully interpret functional differences in EMG between disparate cohorts.FacultyReviewe
A case study of teachers’ beliefs in supporting grade four English language learners’ reading proficiency
Full text linkThe rising population of immigrants in Canada has increased the diversity of students enrolled in schools at all levels, and teachers have a critical role in guiding and supporting the language and literacy development of students. This dissertation used a qualitative case study methodology to investigate how the instructional practices of three teachers in public elementary schools in Victoria, British Columbia support grade four English language learners’ (ELLs) reading proficiency. The collected data includes interviews, classroom observations, and teachers’ journal responses. Findings from the three data collection methods were triangulated and show that the teachers’ personal histories influenced the development of their beliefs and, specifically, their beliefs about teaching reading. Their professional knowledge also played a significant role in their instructional practice because their teacher education programs did not sufficiently prepare them for the reality of teaching reading. Generally, a relationship was seen between the teachers’ beliefs and their instructional practices in designing a classroom that supports ELLs’ language and literacy development. The findings suggest that teachers should provide every opportunity for ELLs to connect with their language and cultural backgrounds to further support their reading proficiency. The teachers also believed that their students should become familiar with reading by exposing them to reading components such as phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary knowledge and comprehension, and using the students’ prior knowledge in their language and cultural backgrounds to facilitate their comprehension of text they encounter.Graduat
Coordinated hybrid approach based on firefly algorithm and particle swarm optimization for distributed secondary control and stability analysis of direct current microgrids
No full textStandalone DC microgrids can potentially influence intelligent energy systems in the future. They accomplish this by employing droop control to smoothly integrate various renewable energy sources (RESs) to satisfy energy demands. This method ensures equitable allocation of load current among RESs, promoting efficiency and smooth operation. Utilizing droop control typically leads to a reduction in the voltage of the DC bus. Hence, to uniformly distribute current among several RESs while simultaneously regulating the DC bus voltage, this research proposes a distributed secondary control technique. The proposed technique ensures fair distribution of current and eliminates bus voltage variations by integrating both current and voltage errors within the designed control loop. An innovative hybrid firefly and particle swarm optimization algorithm (FFA–PSO) is introduced to aid in parameter selection for the distributed control approach, facilitating the attainment of the intended control objectives. A DC microgrid state-space model was developed, which incorporates eigenvalue observation analysis to evaluate the impacts of the optimized secondary distributed control on the stability of the microgrid. A real-time testing setup is built using MATLAB/Simulink® R2022b software. and implemented on a Speedgoat™ real-time machine to verify the practical performance of the proposed approach in real-world applications. The results showcase the robustness of the proposed control technique in achieving voltage stabilization and even current allocation within the DC microgrid. This is evidenced by minimal oscillations and undershoots/overshoots and swift response times.FacultyReviewe
EkTb-9, Triquet Island, N̓úláw̓itx̌v Tribal Area, British Columbia, Canada: A Persistent Place of Human Occupation and Investment in Haíɫzaqv Territory
Full text linkArchaeological site EkTb-9, Triquet Island, is situated within the N̓úláw̓itx̌v Tribal area of Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation territory along the outer central coast of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Emerging from the Hakai Ancient Landscapes Archaeology Project, this dissertation explores the 14,000-year record of repeat human occupation and investment at the site. EkTb-9's early post-glacial record is an integral component of the historical ecology of the region as a similar relative sea level has been maintained since the late Pleistocene, supporting access to and repeat occupation of these same areas over millennia. Through collaboration with Haíɫzaqv Nation, oral narratives and language (Haíɫzaqvḷa) are combined with archaeological interpretations and Haíɫzaqv temporal phases are identified for past occupations of the site. This approach considers the intersections of Indigenous knowledge and Western science and the social and political embeddedness of archaeological practice. Collectively, the studies undertaken for this dissertation offer a unique opportunity to explore the theoretical and political importance of observed continuity at a single place of repeated human occupation and investment on the outer NWC of BC; a storied landscape of enduring cultural, economic, ecological, and political significance for Haíɫzaqv Nation.Graduat
Equity-driven best practices in climate adaptation guide
Full text linkThe purpose of this guide is to review existing climate adaptation plans to a) identify gaps in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, and b) identify best practices of integrating dimensions of equity in climate adaptions plans at the municipal level. The research questions include: 1. How can equity be effectively embedded in municipal climate adaptation planning and implementation? 2. How can best practices from other jurisdictions be replicated or tailored for the city of Victoria?
In this guide, climate adaptation is defined as the process of adjustment to current and anticipated climate change impacts and associated effects to minimize harm to human and natural systems, and capture benefits (IPCC, 2023). Canada’s National Adaptation Plan asserts that adaptation involves everyone, in all sectors of society, “protecting each other and the places we value... ensuring that we are all better able to prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from climate impacts today and in years to come” (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2024, 1). This establishes that although governments at all levels are expected to lead on climate adaptation, it is a whole-of-society responsibility. Climate change vulnerability describes how intensely people, assets and systems are likely to be affected by climate change and is a “function of compounding risks (i.e. conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics) and intersecting axes of social differences (i.e. gender, racial, socioeconomic inequalities) which can coexist and aggravate each other” (Amorim-Maia et al., 2022, 7). There are multiple factors that contribute to vulnerability, including socioeconomic status and geographical location; for example, living near a shoreline where sea level is rising and not having the financial or physical ability to move.
In the city of Victoria vulnerable populations include the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions, young children, those who are insufficiently or unhoused, low-income households, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, (BIPOC) and two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals (2SLGBTQ+) (Signer, Formosa and Seal-Jones, 2023, 120). Newcomers to Canada, especially those with English as a second or tertiary language, are also considered vulnerable due to greater barriers in accessing resources and decision-making processes, and other forms of discrimination. Renters, although they are less vulnerable than those who are unhoused, can experience housing precarity and may “have limited resources to control changes to their homes to reduce the impacts of climate change, such as cooling systems, air filtration, and insulation” (Laurent et al., 2022, 7). As 61% of residents in Victoria rent their homes, this is another important factor when considering vulnerability and adaptive capacity (City of Victoria, n.d.)
Equitable climate adaptation aims to reduce the vulnerability and increase the resilience of everyone, particularly marginalized people who currently have the least capacity to adapt due to lack of resources and exclusion from decision-making processes. This is what is referred to as low adaptive capacity. High adaptive capacity is associated with high resilience, a term that often appears in climate policies, research and discourse, and is often used interchangeably with adaptation (although there are important distinctions). Resilience is multi-layered, and can refer to people (individuals, families, communities), assets (buildings, powerlines, roads, community centres etc.), and systems (natural, economic, social, political etc.). The United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction defines resilience as the ability of people, assets and systems to predict, react, adapt and recover from the effects of climate change. When there is high resilience, they can do so in a timely, efficient and equitable way, that not only preserves basic structures’ conditions and functions, but also restores and enhances them (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015). This guide is concerned with physical, social and emotional components of climate resilience, ensuring that the burdens and benefits associated with climate change are equitably distributed, and harms are mitigated as much as possible.Community Social Planning Council of Greater VictoriaGraduat