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Effects of cross-fostering on behaviour and neural development in Octodon degus pups
Get PDFParental care is essential for social, behavioural, and neural development in offspring. In rodents, parental separation affects the amount of parental care and progression of offspring development. Work to date has focused on maternal and paternal deprivation, but it is unclear how cross-fostering, another form of parental-offspring instability, can affect offspring behaviour and brain development. Stress significantly suppresses neurogenesis and increases inflammation in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, but this can vary between sexes. Octodon degus are highly social rodents with precocial offspring that can receive care from both parents, allowing us to study the effect of early life stress on pup development. This study investigated the effect of cross-fostering on parental care, offspring behaviour and hippocampal development in female and male degus. At postnatal day 8, degus were assigned to either control (pups remained with parents and siblings), partial cross-foster (CF; one pup/litter was cross-fostered), or full CF (the entire litter was cross-fostered). At weaning (5-weeks-old), offspring brains were collected for immunohistochemistry to examine DG volume and expression of immature neurons (using doublecortin, DCX) and microglia (using Iba-1). Partial and full CF did not affect parental care provided by parents compared to controls. In offspring, play fighting behaviour was significantly higher in partial CF females compared to controls. Males initiated play fighting more often than female pups but were not affected by CF. Partial and full CF did not affect the DG volume and optical density of DCX compared to control pups. Full CF pups had fewer ameboid microglia in the dorsal DG compared to controls. In the ventral DG, full CF pups had more intermediate microglia than controls. Our study indicates partial CF affects play fighting behaviour in females, while full CF affects microglia morphology in both sexes suggesting potential changes in hippocampal inflammation and plasticity. This indicates that CF category affects females and males differently depending on the endpoint measured and that these effects do not seem to be associated with changes in parental care. This study contributes to our understanding of how early life environments affect offspring behaviour and brain development in both sexe
Moving through the system: The ruling relations of migration, mobility, and childhood disability
Get PDFThis thesis is about institutional interactions of young disabled children and families who have migrated or have travelled to access services. Through an institutional ethnography, I seek to understand these families’ everyday activities and to make the invisible work of these families visible, and ultimately to interrogate the systems connected to childhood disability and different forms of human movement. For this dissertation, I examined longitudinal data from the Inclusive Early Childhood Service System Project (IECSS; 2021). The IECSS project is an institutional ethnography, a methodology originally developed by the Canadian sociologist and feminist studies scholar, Dorothy Smith (2006). The central problematic of interest for this dissertation was the intersection of childhood disability and human movement in the form of transnational migration, internal migration, and travelling to access services. Through this institutional ethnography, I entered into the everyday experiences of disabled children and their families through the standpoint of the IECSS family informants from across Canada. An analysis of the institutional maps, interview transcripts, and attribute tables led to six (6) key findings: (1) Migration and travelling: What is the context of human movement and childhood disability?; (2) People move, texts stay still; (3) Duplication and replication of services across different communities; (4) Formal and informal support networks: making it work when you’re mobile; (5) The importance of gaining perceived and official citizenship status and; (6) Restarting the process: The added work on families and disabled children. The findings of this study are significant for research, policy, and practice in the area of early childhood, disability, and human movement
Coding as a Literacy Practice in Adult Learning Communities
Get PDFThis study considered how computing courses for adult learners might be customized to effectively address their reasons for learning to read and write computer code. The view of coding as a literacy practice is the key theme in this study. Street’s (2006) ideological model of literacy along with the perspective of computational participation, are theoretical models used to explore coding as a literacy practice (Kafai & Burke, 2017). Through the vehicle of action research, this study focused on analyzing the delivery of an introductory web languages coding course for female immigrants. This study drew from both the student and teacher perspectives. The study used student feedback collected from online class survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The study also incorporated the teacher’s field notes, a course summary report, and the Teaching Perspectives Inventory survey results (Collins & Pratt, 2011). Findings from this study include these areas of insights: 1) students’ views on the benefits of learning coding, 2) the language and communication challenges students faced, and 3) an overview of some effective teaching tools and approaches. Based on these findings, there is a discussion that considered possible issues related to student engagement in learning web language coding. Included are sections on implications for practice and future research
Diversity of cover crops in two organic vineyards in the Niagara Region, Canada, as an adaptation measure to climate change
Get PDFVineyards are agroecosystems of great importance in the Niagara Region, Ontario (Canada). Due
to its microclimate, this region is projected to be impacted by climate change with temperature
increases, changes in precipitation patterns in all seasons, and greater frequency of extreme
weather events. The aim of this thesis was to explore the projected changes for the weather in the
Niagara Region, Canada, summarize which seasonal changes are expected and assess how such
changes are likely to affect the key components of the vineyard ecosystem (i.e., soil, vines,
invertebrates, and pathogens). It is expected that by 2080 the region will experience an increase in
temperature in all four seasons; an increase in precipitation during the fall, winter, and spring; and
a decrease in precipitation during summer months. Impacts of the projected changes will likely
lead to vine water stress, yield loss, increases in incidents of diseases, increases in the spread of
new pests, and changes in grape quality ultimately resulting in lower wine quality and/or
production. Current management practices will need to be better understood and adaptive
strategies introduced to enhance grape growers’ ability to minimize these impacts. The research
also aimed to test the performance of four different cover crops in monoculture or in mixture in
two organic vineyards. Of the planted species, rye grass and hairy vetch showed a great
establishment, while pearl millet did not establish due to weed pressure. The ecological indexes
(Shannon, Simpson’s, and Evenness) values showed that there is significant difference in cover
crop diversity between growing seasons and collection months (June/September) in Vineyard #2,
and in richness in Vineyard #1, indicating fluctuations in community composition over time. These
results suggest a dynamic ecosystem response to seasonal and annual variations. These results may
be used to increase the knowledge about the expected future for the vineyards in the region in face
of climate change, and into one of the alternative management techniques that can help mitigate
the impacts of changes in temperature and rainfall increase of extreme events in the region
Uncovering millennia of wildfire occurrence during the Holocene at local and regional scales in the Northwest Territories, Canada
Get PDFNorthern ecosystems are experiencing disproportionate impacts of climate change compared to the rest of the globe, primarily due to Arctic amplification. Ongoing climate change is projected to lead to increases in the frequency and severity of wildfires in the boreal forest. Records of past wildfires in the Northwest Territories, Canada, are spatially limited and temporally short, making it difficult to assess the impacts of wildfires on a long-term basis. Using paleolimnological techniques, including the analysis of macroscopic charcoal, pollen, temperature reconstructions and solar insolation values, local and regional scale wildfire and vegetation histories were constructed for the Northwest Territories. For the local scale study, the charcoal record produced from lake 18-YK-16 (unofficial name) recorded 36 wildfire events during the past ~9,500 years before present (BP), and from lake 18-YK-20 (unofficial name), 62 wildfire events were recorded during the past ~10,300 years BP. For both lakes, wildfire events increased in frequency ~8,000 and ~5,500 years BP, corresponding to the presence of spruce (Picea spp.) and increasing temperatures. Additionally, for 18-YK-16, a third peak in wildfire activity coincided with the Medieval Climate Anomaly 800-1200 CE. Fire occurrence declined during the middle to late Holocene (~5,500-600 years BP) which is a period of climatic cooling. For the regional scale study, wildfire activity was limited during the Late Pleistocene to early Holocene, due to receding glaciers and a lack of vegetation on the landscape. Between ~7,000 years BP and ~5,500 years BP, wildfire activity in the North Slave Region was frequent due to the expansion of fire-prone Picea and higher temperatures. Regional wildfire activity declined throughout the Neoglacial period (~4,500 years BP); however, local-scale wildfires were occurring which can be attributed to the expansion of Pinus ~4,500 years BP in addition to local scale bottom-up and top-down controls. Wildfire activity remained low up until the late 20th century, which can be correlated to increasing temperatures and anthropogenic activities. Long term implications of wildfire activity suggest that with continued warming of the climate, wildfire frequency and severity will increase
Exploring the Coordination Chemistry of Hydroxy Alkyl Pyridine and Pyrazine Ligands in 3d Cluster Chemistry
Get PDFThree potentially chiral alkoxide ligands, α-methyl-2-pyridine-methanol (mpmH), dimethyl-2-pyridine-methanol (dmpmH) and methyl-2-pyrazine-methanol (mpzmH), are presented together with select 3d ions for the synthesis and study of three novel polynuclear clusters.
The first, a {Ni7} complex prepared from chiral-mpmH, has a unique capped trigonal prismatic topology. Magnetostructural studies reveal that at low temperature it has an S = 0 spin ground state and is not an SMM. The second two complexes are both prepared from rac-dmpmH under the same reaction conditions. Dark green, single crystals, of the kinetic product, a {Ni6} cluster were isolated after 2 weeks. This cluster has a structural topology, comprising four edge-sharing cubanes with missing vertices. Magnetostructual studies reveal the cluster is spin frustrated with an S = 2 ground state at low temperature. AC magnetic susceptibility studies are consistent with field induced SMM properties. After two months, blue plates of a {Ni8} cluster, the thermodynamic product, were obtained. The magnetic core of this cluster has a trapezoidal prismatic topology, containing bridging methyl tetrazolate (mtz−) ligands formed via the in situ, NiII-assisted click reaction between the N3− ions and the MeCN solvent. Reaction of mpzmH with Mn benzoate in the presence of azide ions afforded single crystals of a large mixed valence nanosized {Mn22} cluster which has a pyramidal like structural topology comprised of three layers of Mn4O4 and Mn3O4. DC studies are consistent with the presence of 10 MnII and 12 MnIII ions and the
presence of dominant antiferromagnetic interactions at low temperature. AC studies reveal an increase in the in-phase susceptibility (χ′) upon cooling, reaching a broad maximum around 4 K, and the emergence of an out-of-phase component (χ″) below 7 K. However, the sample shows very little frequency dependence to the position of the maximum in χ″. Below 2 K there is the beginnings of an uptick in χ″ suggesting the presence of two distinct relaxation processes. The ac data is complex, and not consistent with the slow relaxation behavior typically observed in polynuclear 3d-SMMs
A Comparative Study of Evolutionary Algorithms and Particle Swarm Optimization Approaches for Constrained Multi-Objective Optimization Problems
Get PDFMany real-world problems in the fields of science and engineering contain multiple conflicting objectives which need to optimized simultaneously, as well as additional problem constraints. These problems are referred to as constrained multi-objective optimization problems (CMOPs). CMOPs do not have a single optimal solution, but instead a set of optimal trade-off solutions where an improvement in one objective worsens another.
Recently, many constrained multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (CMOEAs) have been introduced for solving CMOPs. Each of these computational intelligence algorithms can be classified into one of four different approaches, which are the classic CMOEAs, co-evolutionary approaches, multi-stage approaches, and multi-tasking approaches. An extensive survey and comparative study of the aforementioned algorithms on a variety of benchmark test problems, including real-world CMOPs, is carried out in order to determine the current state-of-the-art CMOEAs.
Additionally, this work proposes a multi-guide particle swarm optimization (MGPSO) for the constrained multi-objective problems. MGPSO is a multi-swarm approach, which has previously been effectively applied to other challenging optimization problems in the literature. This work adapts MGPSO for solving CMOPs and compares its performance against the aforementioned existing computational intelligence techniques. The comparative study showed that the algorithmic performance was problem-dependent. Lastly, while the proposed MGPSO approach was likewise problem-dependent, it was found to perform best for some of the real-world problems, namely the process, design and synthesis problems, and had competitive performance in the power system optimization problems
Training in Trauma-Informed Positive Behaviour Support for Direct Support Professionals of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Get PDFPeople with disabilities are vulnerable to experiencing trauma due to a complex interaction of systemic and individual factors (McGilvery, 2018), urging for supports that promote safety and control, such as Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Behavioural Skills Training (BST) is a competency-based training procedure used to teach a wide selection of professionals work-related skills (Gormley et al., 2019). This study evaluated a multicomponent training package consisting of didactic and activity-based training plus BST implemented with 12 direct support professionals recruited from a community-based organization supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A pre-post- follow-up design was used to determine the effectiveness of didactic and activity-based training on knowledge and application of TIC and PBS. BST was used to increase skills related to trauma-informed PBS for a subset of six participants using a multiple probe within-participants single-case experimental design (Ledford & Gast, 2018). The three skills trained were providing opportunities for choice, multiple stimulus without replacement, and paired item preference assessments. Training resulted in increased knowledge and application of PBS and TIC on post- tests and at follow-up. BST was effective in training all skills to mastery, while maintenance and generalization were evident for most skills four to five weeks after training. Implications of the findings, strengths and limitations of the study, and future steps are discussed
Advancing Resilience and Equity in Canadian Municipal Climate Adaptation
Get PDFEffective climate adaptation must build resilience and advance social equity. Most municipalities now recognize the importance of furthering resilience and equity in their climate adaptation planning. To date, however, there has been limited attention to whether municipalities are currently incorporating resilience and equity into their planning and how to assess status and track progress towards resilience and equity in climate adaptation. Accordingly, this research responds to the need to better understand how principles of resilience and equity are articulated in Canadian municipal climate adaptation plans (Study One) and to develop a framework to strengthen resilience and equity in municipal climate adaptation (Study Two). Study One evaluates ten Canadian municipal adaptation plans through a content analysis. Plans were evaluated using a coding protocol consisting of 26 indicators based on 10 principles of resilience and equity. The analysis revealed three key findings that are important for policy and practice: (1) Canadian municipal adaptation plans prioritize resilience over equity, (2) complex theories of resilience were less commonly operationalized, and (3) distributional equity is insufficiently operationalized in Canadian municipal adaptation plans. Study Two conducts a literature review and survey with municipal practitioners (n=15) to develop an index to assess resilience and equity in municipal climate adaptation planning. The Climate Resilience and Equity (CRE) Index is comprised of 10 principles and 26 indicators. The index is a first step in advancing an approach to strengthen our understanding of how indicators of resilience and equity are integrated into municipal adaptation planning. The CRE Index could be used by researchers and practitioners to mainstream resilience and equity in municipal climate adaptation planning and decision-making. Overall findings have many implications for theory and practice including, but not limited to, improved climate adaptation, enhanced community well-being, and the fostering of more inclusive and sustainable urban development. This thesis highlights the value of centring
resilience and equity in adaptation planning, emphasizing that a comprehensive approach not only bolsters municipalities' capacity to navigate climate challenges but also contributes to broader societal goals, ensuring that no community is left vulnerable in the face of environmental change
Inquiry-Driven Transformation: Empowering Students by Mitigating Presentation Anxiety
No full textPresented at the International Conference on Literacy, Culture, and Language Education Research (ICLCLE) on October 26, 2024, at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.This inquiry examines the impact of using community circles as a strategy to reduce student presentation anxiety in K-12 classrooms. The presenters explored the question: How does having students present in a community circle affect their presentation anxiety? Data collection and analysis using a soft-operational model revealed how this approach enhances student confidence and well-being. The findings emphasize the benefits of community-centered practices in alleviating anxiety, improving oral communication skills, and fostering a more inclusive learning environment. The session will focus on empowering educators to implement inquiry-driven practices, offering practical strategies, real-world examples, and reflections on how teacher-led inquiry can transform literacy education