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Attention-memory interactions in children and young adults
Get PDFAssociative memory (the ability to bind parts of an event into an integrated unit) is important for encoding episodic events. Critically, associative memory changes throughout the lifespan, such that memory shows protracted development into young adulthood, then declines in older adults. In this thesis, I propose that this developmental trajectory is a result of age-related changes to attentional control, which affects associative memory performance in children and older adults. To test this, I took two approaches: 1) I tested children 8-12 years old on two associative memory tasks that differed in the demands placed on attention, and related performance on these tasks to individual differences in attentional control, and 2) I tested young adults in an experiment that measured memory for target-target and target-distractor associations and explored whether individual differences in attentional control predicted the extent that participants encoded these two types of associative pairs. The erroneous encoding of target-distractor pairs (referred to as hyper-binding) has been previously described as an effect unique to older adulthood, and so here we tested whether even young adults with poor attentional control showed these effects and to establish whether deficits in attentional control drove this effect. Our results support the hypothesis that attentional control influences associative memory performance and may be a cause of the developmental changes that we see in associative memory throughout the lifespan
Athletes vs. Coaches: Perspectives on Social Media
Get PDFThis dissertation’s purpose was to understand the different perceptions of social media in athletes and coaches. Previous research has not given a thorough examination of social media’s effects on coaches, or the consequences of social media for meaningful relations between coach and athlete. Previous literature suggests that not only do athletes not understand the influences or implications of social media, but also that these influences and implications could alter an athlete’s mentality for performance. Previous research also recognized that athletes’ preoccupation with social media is a perceived challenge for coaches. Goffman’s (1959) Presentation of Self in Everyday Life and Sissela Bok’s (1978) Lying functioned as significant theoretical frameworks within this dissertation which was also guided by an existential phenomenological orientation to embodied experience. Methods used included 1) semi-structured interviews with 10 high-performance competitive athletes, from individual sports; 2) content analysis of 13 post submissions by athletes with an athlete reflection; and 3) semi-structured interviews with 6 high-performance competitive coaches. A phenomenological analysis sequence was applied to the data sets, which consisted of parsing the responses to the interview questions into units or phrases of meaning, maintaining horizontalization, and creating a rich description that represented the meanings discerned from the data analysis. Imaginative Free Variation (IFV), guided by the lifeworld existentials of Body, Space, Time and Relation (bstr), was also a strategy used to deepen the examination of themes and summary descriptions. A manifest and latent analysis was utilized on the posts (“phase 2”) to describe the post while suggesting a plausible interpretation that the athlete’s reflection could be compared against. The posts were also used within the coach interviews in order to gain the coaches’ perspectives of the selected posts. The study aimed to bridge the gap in understanding the relation between coaches and athletes and how the effects that social media has on athletes and their performance. The findings suggest that athletes are aware that people are viewing them, and that they are having a difficult time regulating information that they see on social media or how they are using social media. The findings from the “phase 2” analysis suggest that athletes believe that they have insider meaning that the average viewer does not when viewing certain social media posts. These findings also suggest that the coach-athlete relationship runs the risk of becoming less effective, because there is less value given to interactions within the physical environment
Memetic Algorithm for Large-Scale Real-World Vehicle Routing Problems with Simultaneous Pickup and Delivery with Time Windows
Get PDFThe vehicle routing problem is a combinatorial optimization problem which has many real-world applications from supply chain management to public transportation. Many variants of the vehicle routing problem (VRP) exist with different constraints to reflect a variety of transportation scenarios faced by different industries. In this thesis, we examine the VRP variant referred to as the vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and delivery with time windows (VRPSPDTW). In particular, we tackle a set of 20 recently released large-scale VRPSPDTW problem instances that were derived from the data of actual customers served by the transportation company known as JD Logistics. A memetic algorithm (MA) using an altered version of the Best-Cost-Route-Crossover is proposed and applied to this problem set.
The proposed MA is able to find new best known solutions and performs better on average for all 20 instances in comparison to previous efforts. Comparative experiments are performed with other state-of-the-art crossovers to validate the effectiveness of the altered BCRC when used in the proposed MA. In addition, the dynamic VRPSPDTW (DVRPSPTW) is introduced by providing a mathematical formulation of the problem and transforming existing VRPSPDTW instances into dynamic instances. We perform a preliminary study on these dynamic instances using the proposed MA in conjunction with a simple but effective vehicle loading strategy, and the results are provided to promote further research into this dynamic variant
Paper Parks or Protection: Evaluating Atlantic Canada's Marine Protected Areas
Get PDFReversing biodiversity loss is one of society’s most pressing challenges. In response, marine protected areas (MPAs) are arguably one of the most effective conservation solutions. Yet, the outcomes of MPAs are highly variable. Some deliver positive biodiversity outcomes while others are criticized for being “paper parks”; a term used to describe protected areas that are designated on paper but offer little contributions towards the conservation of nature. The current protection levels of Canada’s MPAs are largely unknown. In this major research paper (MRP), I evaluated the protection levels for eight MPAs located in Canada’s Atlantic Ocean. The analysis revealed that over half (62.5%) of Atlantic MPAs are incompatible with conservation due to the heavy presence of offshore oil, fishing, and shipping. These results suggest that enhancing the levels of protection in the MPAs on Canada’s east coast is required for MPAs to contribute effectively to biodiversity conservation and human well-being
Marginalized Students Relationships are the Heart of Learning
Get PDFBill 52, Education Amendment Act (Learning to Age 18) in the province ofOntario, Canada requires young people to remain in school until they graduate or turn eighteen. The Ontario Ministry ofEducation provides funding for innovating course options both inside and outside the classroom to support all students. Boards have limited discretion to provide programming for students who have experienced difficulties in traditional classrooms,are not on track to graduate and would benefit from a lower teacher-student ratio. Literature suggests that this population of students is viewed from two perspectives: the students have deficiencies in themselves and they need to changeorthe mannerin which education is provided to these students needs to change. This study examines an Alternative Education program in a secondary schoolthat is unique within its rural board and is populated with students who have had limited to minor success in the regular stream ofthe school. The report is presented as a narrative self-study with the research question: How do I improve mypractice to support student learning?. How the researcher’s values concerning the learning environment, learning, a democratic ethos, and relationships are lived within the classroom are examined. Data and feedback from personal observations, administrators, outside agency personnel, and anecdotal comments from students, were collected and analyzed. Results suggested that the complex relationships within the classroom impact mostother facets ofa learning environment. Unconditional positive regard and empathy are discussed and examinedascritical factors needed to create an environment where all students can succeed
Clinical Periodontal Outcomes and COVID-19
Get PDFThis thesis research investigated the impact of delays in periodontal maintenance appointments
during the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical periodontal outcomes (PD, BOP, PI) in a sample size
of 350 patients who either received (n=260) or had never received (n=90) sanative therapy. A
hierarchical multiple regression including 3 models was used to evaluate the effect of various
predictors on post-pandemic clinical outcomes in both groups for a total of 6 regression analyses.
The predictors of interest were a disruption due to COVID-19 (Model 1, 2, and 3), length of
delay (Model 2 and 3), pre-COVID-19 clinical measures (Model 2 and 3), sex (Model 3), and
smoking status (Model 3). The findings showed that a delay in appointment – regardless of
duration – predicted a worsened PD in patients who have received ST (Model 1). Moreover, a
longer delay and poorer pre-COVID-19 clinical measures predicted a worsening of all outcomes
in patients who have received ST (Model 2). These factors also predicted a greater PI in
individuals who have never received ST (Model 2). Smoking status and sex in combination
influenced all outcomes for patients who have received ST, wherein current smokers and female
sex were linked to a worsening of PD (Model 3). PI was the only clinical outcome significantly
affected by smoking status and sex in patients who have never received ST (Model 3). Results of
this study suggest that patients who have received sanative therapy to treat periodontal disease
are more clinically fragile than patients who have never received sanative therapy. Practically, these findings extend beyond the pandemic, offering insights into patient care strategies for
managing disruptions in periodontal maintenance
Drafts of an unpublished history of John E. Wool and the Battle of Queenston Heights, 1851-1866
Get PDFFrancis Baylies (1783-1852) served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was also a prolific historian who published several books, including A narrative of Major General Wool’s campaign in Mexico, in the years 1846, 1847, and 1848.
John Ellis Wool (1784-1869) was a United States army officer who served in the War of 1812, Mexican-American War, and American Civil War. He lived for many years in Troy, New York. Wool was a Captain in the 13th United States Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812. During the battle he led a team of men up the heights and successfully captured the enemy cannon, despite having been shot in his thighs. Although the cannon had been spiked by the British before being captured, the Americans were able to occupy the heights and remained largely sheltered by foliage. When Isaac Brock and his aide-de-camp John Macdonell arrived and charged the hill, the Americans were able to shoot and kill both men. The British later recaptured the heights. Wool was promoted to Major and led his regiment at the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814.
In the Mexican-American War Wool led an expedition that resulted in the capture of Saltillo and was at the Battle of Bueno Vista. General Zachary Taylor gave Wool credit for many of the successes during the war. When the American Civil War began in 1861 Wool commanded the Department of the East and helped secure control for the Union of Fort Monroe, Virginia. Wool was 77 when the Civil War began but was still in good health and able to serve. In 1862 he was promoted to Major General and retired in 1863.Contains three drafts of an unpublished history of John E. Wool and the Battle of Queenston Heights, as well as Wool’s notes. Some other miscellaneous material including correspondence and notes are also included
Leveraging Wikipedia in undergraduate health sciences education: a key tool for information literacy and knowledge translation
No full textAI & Academic Labour: How unions should strategize about AI
No full textPresentation material for a special talk delivered to the Association of Academic Staff, University of Alberta members meeting.
Generative AI threatens many different established ways work is performed. Academic work has not been exempt from this. How should generative AI be treated in the university environment? This presentation will consider this difficult question within the context of academic library work - often done ‘out in the open’, and potentially ripe for harvesting by A.I. for reuse in unsanctioned ways.
Our recent article in the CAUT Bulletin looks at some tension points created by this dynamic. We imagine future collective agreement language to protect academic library work in an AI world, inspired by the recent contract language won by the Writers’ and Screen Actors’ Guilds to protect the labour of writers in film and television
Lou Cahill interview transcripts by Peter Johansen, 1998
Get PDFLou Cahill began his career in communications as a sports writer for the St. Catharines Standard. In 1936 he founded the Niagara News Bureau, which provided news and features stories across North America. In 1946 the company was renamed the Niagara Editorial Bureau and in 1950 became the Ontario Editorial Bureau. The public relations company handled large accounts including the Victory Bonds program during the Second World War the royal visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. The company opened offices in Toronto and formed a national network organization known as Inside Canada Public Relations.
In 2006 the Canadian Public Relations Society gave Cahill its lifetime achievement award and renamed the award in his honour. Cahill was also involved in many community projects, including the founding of Brock University and the coordination of the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival.Two typewritten interview transcripts of an interview with Lou Cahill by Peter Johansen of Carleton University. The first transcript is 27 pages and is dated March 16, 1998. The second transcript is 20 pages and is dated May 1, 1998.
Also included is a copy of Peter Johansen’s article published in Journalism Studies and titled Professionalism, Building Respectability, and the Birth of the Canadian Public Relations Society. The abstract notes that the paper draws “upon selected aspects of Macdonald’s model of professionalism, this paper traces the emergence of public relations in Canada in the years following World War II and, in particular, the role of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) in that process. A brief sketch of pre-war public relations history is provided; selected explanations for post-war growth are advanced. The paper’s primary aim, however, is to outline some steps that CPRS took to establish the respectability of the emerging profession and its claims for expertise…