14589 research outputs found
Sort by
Transfer in Vietnamese-English bilingualism : prosody effects in the interpretation of relative clauses
Get PDF1 online resource (31 pages) : graphs, chartsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 26-28).This thesis examined the interpretation of ambiguous sentences with relative clauses (RCs) in English as a second language (L2). In Jimmy met the brother of the engineer who has a smart dog, the RC who has a smart dog can refer to either the first noun phrase (NP1; the brother) or the second one (NP2; the engineer). Previous research has shown that, although L2 learners of English often transfer their interpretation for these sentences from their first language (L1), they can use prosodic cues, such as pauses, to infer their intended meaning. However, most of the previous studies focused on L1-L2 pairings with different default interpretation preferences. It is unclear what learners’ interpretations are when L1 and L2 have the same default interpretation preference.
This thesis addresses this gap by examining how Vietnamese learners of English interpret RCs, using a sentence interpretation task with auditory stimuli. In both Vietnamese and English, the default interpretation is the one where the RC refers to NP2. In the task, participants (16 English native speakers, 15 Vietnamese learners of English) were presented with ambiguous sentences containing RCs recorded in three ways: with no pauses, with a pause after NP1, or with a pause after NP2. While a pause after NP1 is more likely to yield the interpretation that the RC attaches to NP2, a pause after NP2 is more likely to yield the interpretation that the RC attaches to NP1. The results indicate that English native speakers and advanced learners, but not intermediate learners, showed sensitivity to the use of pauses for disambiguation. For sentences with no pauses, both native speakers and learners preferred the interpretation where the RC refers to NP2,
consistent with the literature
The histology of ossification in the caudal fin of Larval Zebrafish, Danio rerio
Get PDF1 online resource (59 unnumbered pages) : illustrations (some colour), charts (some colour), graphs (some colour)Includes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (unnumbered pages 45-50).Endochondral ossification is a bone developing process in which a cartilaginous template gets replaced by bone. Zebrafish, Danio rerio, are teleost fish that undergo this process throughout their skeletons. This thesis is focussed on their tail bones, specifically within the hypurals and parhypural of the caudal fin. The morphological changes in the cells of the hypurals and parhypural during ossification have not been recorded so the aim of this study is to investigate these changes taking a histological approach. To determine the morphological cellular changes Hall Brunt’s Quadruple staining was used to stain the bone and cartilage within zebrafish sized 4 to 9 mm standard length. Changes within the chondrocytes were measured and descriptions of the amount of ossification were made. It was found that all five hypurals and the parhypural begin ossifying around 5.0 mm SL, while the chondrocytes underwent hypertrophy by 7.0 mm SL there was a lower percentage of hypertrophied chondrocytes in 8.0 – 9.0 mm SL specimens for hypurals 2 and 3. Hypural 2 and 3 were the elements primarily focused on, that had an increase in total hypural length (µm). These results suggest that the hypurals share features of
both endochondral and perichondral ossification. Further studies are needed to further understand ossification within the zebrafish caudal fin
Corporate social responsibility, diversity, and corporate communication : natural language processing and machine learning approaches
Get PDF1 online resource (226 pages) : graphsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 27-36, 73-81, 128-136, 185-189, 226).In the second chapter, we rely on collaborative intelligence, which combines human and artificial intelligence (i.e., supervised machine learning), to construct a textual feature that measures firmlevel gender diversity talk (GDT), as reflected in the share of gender diversity discussion in the narrative of quarterly earnings conference calls. We show that the MeToo movement, an unequivocal social movement shock, led to a significant increase in GDT. We however document positive short-term stock market reaction to GDT during the first post-MeToo quarter, indicating that GDT is, on average, perceived by investors as value-relevant. We also show that post-MeToo, high-GDT firms engage in less substantive female-friendly initiatives, indicating that firms do not walk the talk of gender diversity. In the third chapter, using industry-relevant documents and the most-cited CSR/ESG papers to develop a new CSR dictionary, we show that the COVID-19 incentivized firms to engage in overselling of their CSR. We find that more CSR talk during COVID translates into value depression, indicating that investors, on average, do not perceive CSR overselling as value-relevant. Our evidence suggests that firms do not walk their CSR talk and that CSR Talk is positively (negatively) associated with the use of positive (negative) words. Our evidence suggests that ‘cheap talk is not cheap’.
In the fourth chapter, we use Natural Language Processing to measure supply chain risk
(SCR) faced by US firms, as expressed in narratives of quarterly earnings conference calls. We show that exposure to SCR reached unprecedented levels during COVID-19. The effect of COVID-19 on SCR is more pronounced in firms with a greater dispersion of analyst forecasts, increased complexity, and more financial constraints. We document a negative effect of SCR on conference call short-term returns and future profitability. High-SCR firms are also associated with longer cash conversion cycles and more ESG overselling
Understanding perceptions of social relationships with children among pedohebephilic individuals : a two-part study
Get PDF1 online resource (98 pages) : chartsIncludes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (pages 78-91).The current thesis comprises two studies examining social relationships with children
among pedohebephilic individuals. Study one quantitatively examined mediators (i.e.,
internalized stigma, loneliness, sexual fantasies) of the association between social relationships with children, suicide, and a history sexual offending. Study two qualitatively explored reasons pedohebephilic individuals seek social relationships with children, and how these social relationships are conceptualized. Study one results did not demonstrate either partial or full mediation. Despite this, the length of social relationships with children was associated with a history of sexual offending. Results from qualitative study two noted four themes that highlighted concerns of dynamic changes, emotional congruence with children, challenges and risk of relationships with children, and the role of social networks. Findings suggest emotional congruence with children, social isolation from adults, and one’s social network are likely to be contributing factors for pedohebephilic individuals developing social connections with children
Resilience in women survivors of intimate partner violence in Brazil
Get PDF1 online resource (180 pages) : colour maps, colour charts, colour graphsIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-180).My secondary analysis of qualitative data focuses on resilience in women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Brazil. This research addressed the structural, cultural, and social complexity of resilience and IPV. The study aimed to explore the experiences of women who have suffered from IPV; identify the systemic, institutional, and cultural factors contributing to resilience; and assess individual women’s responses. I selected, listened to, transcribed, translated into English, and coded 15 interviews. Using the social ecology model of resilience as my guiding framework, I analyzed the data from the interviews and identified eighteen subthemes along with eight key themes. The study found that women utilized resources that increased their resilience. Relevant socio-demographic information was accessed, while a feminist intersectional approach was adopted in the analysis. In conclusion, investigating how women reorganize their lives after experiencing IPV contributes to developing better empirically based policies and interventions in developing world contexts
Spatial and temporal changes in beach width and its effect on the condition of foredunes on Dune du Nord, Les Iles de la Madeleine
Get PDF1 online resource (72 pages) : colour illustrations, maps (some colour), charts (some colour), graphs (some colour)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (pages 66-68).Changes in coastal environments are a result of interacting hydrodynamic and
aerodynamic processes. Spatial and temporal changes in beach width and foredune
condition, some of which are influenced by climate change and (consequentially) sea level
rise, are documented throughout academic literature. Data was collected from Dune du
Nord on Iles-de-la-Madeleine to investigate: a relationship, or lack thereof, between beach
width and foredune condition, whether chance plays a role (and to what extent) on dune
scarping; and changes in foredune position between 2003 and 2018.
Both fieldwork and satellite image analysis were used to classify foredune condition and
measure beach width, and to gather complementary data to provide context for those
results. Satellite image analysis showed that between 2003 and 2018 there was significant change in foredune condition and beach width. The data shows that beach width is not a strong indicator of foredune condition on Dune du Nord. The literature shows that foredunes are more easily scarped when in front of a narrow beach, although a large enough storm may erode a foredune with a wider adjacent beach. Because beach width is continuously changing the location of foredune scarping along a beach is largely up to chance. Shifts in beach width were found to be rapid enough to change significantly before a scarped sand dune recovers to a “stable” state. This explains why scarped foredunes were found behind wide beaches. The mean beach width was found to increase from 32.30 meters in 2003 to 39.53 meters in 2018. Foredune position was found to retreat between 2003 and 2018; as 87 out of the 97 data points retreated landward
A microbe-derived treatment to help inhibit white-nose syndrome in hibernating North American bats
Get PDF1 online resource (85 pages) : illustrations (chiefly colour), charts (chiefly colour), graphsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-64).Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P. destructans) is known to be the causative agent of
White-Nose Syndrome in hibernating North American bats. To date, this disease has caused largescale mortality in bat populations present in 25 US states and 5 Canadian provinces. White Nose Syndrome is associated with a decrease in fat reserves and a substantial loss in water and electrolytes. This disturbance in normal metabolism leads to frequent arousal periods during hibernation. While fighting against the disease, exhaustion of compensatory mechanisms leads to mortality. Probiotics and microbe-derived treatments are the likely solution for managing White Nose Syndrome since introducing foreign antifungals can affect an already sensitive cave environment. This study examines the inhibitory effect of one Penicillium spp. isolate on P. destructans. Sanger sequencing and NCBI BLAST confirmed the identity of the Penicillium spp. The isolate was identified to be Penicillium herquei. Using pairwise testing plates, the fungus has been shown to
inhibit the growth of P. destructans over the course of two weeks. The growth curve of the isolate was tracked by measuring the dry mass and the absorbance of different liquid cultures over 10 days. The inhibition could either be due to resource or interference competition. The cell-free liquid culture was added to fresh media to make up plates that were subsequently inoculated with P. destructans. These plates had no to little growth which showed that the presence of the P. herquei is not crucial to the inhibition and that there is no resource competition between the two fungi. This indicates that the isolate probably secretes an inhibitory compound. Plates inoculated with the isolate were extracted with solvents of different polarities and then analyzed using a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer to determine the mass-to-charge ratio and the retention time of the inhibitory compound
Harvesting vibration energy by employing piezoelectricity and electromagnetism
Get PDF1 online resource (141,16 unnumbered pages) : colour illustrations, charts (some colour), graphs (some colour)Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 122-136).Many energy technologies have their environmental footprint. However, energy from renewable sources does not. Venturing into green ways of producing energy is the order of the day. This project aims at generating energy from vibrations created in pedestrian movement through the joint application of piezoelectricity and electro-magnetism. Harvesting vibration energy through these two methods would be to harness what would otherwise be a largely unharnessed energy source. Piezoelectricity offers an advantage over other generation schemes by generating electricity “intrinsically,” obviating the need for moving parts and mechanical complexity. Electro-magnetism, on the other hand, does involve moving parts but is much less complex compared to other renewable energy technologies. This project dwells deeply into weighing the pros and cons of employing these two technologies and assessing whether, together, they would be a good contender to other existing renewable energy sources in the context of being a feasible micro-power generator
Understanding the effects of managed realignment schemes on salt marsh recovery by assessing the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation colonization in the Bay of Fundy, Canada
Get PDF1 online resource (x, 93 pages) : colour illustrations, maps (some colour), colour charts, colour graphsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 80-87).As a coastal region, Atlantic Canada is highly susceptible to the impacts imposed by climate change. As hazards such as sea level rise, storm surge, and shoreline erosion are becoming more widely recognized, there is an increased need for communities to adapt to climate change to reduce their vulnerability. Nature-based solutions (NbS) have presented themselves as a more viable long-term solution to their hard engineering counterparts. Managed dyke realignment (MR), a form of NbS, is being used to restore critical salt marsh habitat which offers several ecological, economic, and social benefits through the provision of ecosystem services. This study aimed to determine the effects of MR schemes on estuarine morphodynamics and restoration trajectories by assessing the spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation colonization of a managed realignment site in the Bay of Fundy. The evolution of habitat community structure; the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation colonization; and the relationship between vegetation colonization and topographic features were analyzed using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Results demonstrate that the restoration trajectory is a highly successional process with initial dominance of vegetation colonization via seed and a shift toward clonal spread later in the trajectory. There was a stronger relationship between vegetation colonization and channel networks in Year 1 post-restoration than consecutive years and S. alterniflora and early colonizers coincided with higher accretion rates than other classes. These results provide insight regarding the trajectory of restored sites and key factors to facilitate successful MR design
Data on vegetation across forest edges from the FERN(Forest Edge Research Network)
Get PDFPublished versionMany studies have focused on vegetation across forest edges to study impacts of edges created by human activities on forest structure and composition, or patterns of vegetation at inherent natural edges. Our objective was to create a database of plant-related variables across different types of edges from various studies (mainly from across Canada, but also in Brazil and Belize) to facilitate edge research. We compiled data on vegetation along more than 300 transects perpendicular to forest edges adjacent to clear-cuts, burned areas, bogs, lakes, barrens, insect disturbances, and riparian areas from 24 studies conducted over the past three decades. Data were compiled for more than 400 plant species and forest structure variables (e.g., trees, logs, canopy cover). All data were collected with a similar sampling design of quadrats along transects perpendicular to forest edges, but with varying numbers of transects and quadrats, and distances from the edge. The purpose for most of the studies was either to determine the distance of edge influence (edge width) or to explore the pattern of vegetation along the edge to interior gradient. We provide data tables for the cover of plant species and functional groups, the species and size of live and dead trees, the density of saplings, maximum height of functional groups and shrub species, and the cover of functional groups at different heights (vertical distribution of vegetation). The Forest Edge Research Network (FERN) database provides extensive data on many variables that can be used for further study including meta-analyses and can assist in answering questions important to conservation efforts (e.g., how is distance of edge influence from created edges affected by different factors?). We plan to expand this database with subsequent studies from the authors and we invite others to contribute to make this a more global database. The data are released under a CC0 license. When using these data, we ask that you cite this data paper and any relevant publications listed in our metadata file. We also encourage you to contact the first author if you are planning to use or contribute to this database