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Towards an integrated model of mindfulness at work : development of the mindfulness at work scale
Get PDFvi, 191 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cmIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-150).The application of mindfulness in organizations has been steadily rising. Despite the popularity of applying mindfulness to the workplace, the use of mindfulness techniques at work has outpaced scientific understanding of it. Although several measures exist that tap into general mindfulness, few work-specific measures of mindfulness existed prior to this set of studies. Therefore, the primary goal of this set of studies was the development of a measure of mindfulness at work (MaW). For the first study, the MaW scale was developed using the recommended stages of scale development, progressing through item generation, subject matter expert feedback, piloting, and psychometric testing (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis). At the end of the first study, the MaW reduced down to 29 items with two dimensions, individual and organizational mindfulness at work. In the second study, the MaW was then validated using a variety of convergent and discriminant measures. The MaW was further reduced down to 11 items following this study. For the third study, the effects of individual and organizational mindfulness at work on each other were tested using a cross-lagged panel design, including contextual factors of ethical leadership and perceived organizational support. The psychometric properties of the 11-item MaW were also re-tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Findings suggest that organizational mindfulness leads to stronger individual mindfulness, and that ethical leadership and perceived organizational support lead to stronger organizational mindfulness. Limitations of the studies, implications for training mindfulness at work, future research suggestions, and how to apply mindfulness to the research process are discussed
Extent of plasticity in the nuptial body coloration of the white ecotype of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Get PDF1 online resource (43 p.) : illustrations (chiefly colour)Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (p. 40-43).During mating, animals use both behavioural and morphological traits to compete for and attract mates. In some species, one of the sexes may exhibit nuptial colouration, a type of signal that is under sexual selection. This colouration may function in female choice to indicate mate quality, and/or male competition to assert possession of a territory to competitors. During their breeding season, male Threespine Stickleback build and
defend a nest from competitors and actively court females. They display red and blue colouration in combination with these mating behaviours. Male white Threespine Stickleback, an ecotype endemic to Nova Scotia, display red and blue colour, and also turn a pearlescent white. However, whether this colouration functions in female choice or male-male competition (or neither) is not well understood. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the association between the phase of the breeding cycle and nuptial colouration of the white ecotype. Males were exposed to experimental conditions that mimicked the three main phases of the breeding cycle: nest-building, territory defense, and mate acquisition. The nest-building condition was used as a baseline to quantify the males’ colouration before being exposed to a competitor or a potential mate. Male colouration was recorded and quantified to determine the influence of the different experimental conditions. The intensity of red, blue and white colouration was lower in the nest-building phase than the other phases; however, there was little difference between the male competition and female choice phase. These results suggest that the white Threespine Sticklebacks’ nuptial colouration may be associated with both male-male competition and female choice
De Chéticamp à K’jipuktuk : learning and living in translation
Get PDF1 online resource (iii, 20 pages)Includes abstract in English and French.Includes bibliographical references (page 20).The Third Space, a term coined by postcolonial critic Homi K. Bhabha, is a space in which binary conceptions of identity cease to exist. For a bilingual person, this space therefore offers the possibility of a hybrid conception of language and, consequently, of identity. Instead of demanding that a choice be made between English and French, for example, the Third Space makes it possible to embrace these two linguistic identities simultaneously. In this vein, Halifax is a Third Space which allows me to experience the triple paradox that is the anglo-franco-acadien and the corresponding aspects of culture and identity. My experiences as an Acadian, francophone and anglophone have profoundly influenced my conceptualization of language and, consequently, my translation practices. This led to the development of a feminist ethics of translation during the translation of the intercultural studies textbook. Like Bhabha’s Third Space, my translation rejected all binary conceptions of gender to instead use neutral terms. Some of these words and expressions are not often used in the target language, but it is only by using new innovative terminology that language can evolve and be more inclusive
Postfeminism and female friendship : a content analysis of Parks and recreation and Girls
Get PDF103 leaves ; 29 cmIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-103).This thesis explores how two popular TV shows, Girls and Parks and Recreation, portray and talk about female friendship, particularly as it relates to the notion of the postfeminist girlfriend as proposed by Alison Winch. Utilizing a combination of content analysis and critical discourse
analysis, it explores how these shows draw on discourses of feminism and postfeminism. It finds that Girls more than Parks and Recreation relies on discourses of postfeminism and replicates behaviors of the postfeminist girlfriend. It finds that both shows struggle to address issues of class difference and are guilty of post-race sentiments. Finally, it finds that Parks and Rec, more than Girls, reiterates feminist sentiments. Parks gives an overall feminist sentiment, while Girls walks the line between feminism and postfeminism
An in situ infrared spectroscopic investigation of the rh-catalyzed [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition reaction of vinylcyclopropanes, terminal alkynes, and carbon monoxide
Get PDF1 online resource (xi, 73 p.) : illustrations (some colour)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-66).In the [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition reaction, hydroxydihydroindanones can be synthesized from vinylcyclopropanes and alkynes under a carbon monoxide atmosphere to produce five new C-C bonds in a single step. Dihydroindanones are typically produced through reduction of indenones. However, since various multistep methods are used to obtain indenones, the single step [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition reaction provides an attractive, alternative synthetic route. The vinylcyclopropane (VCP) starting material has been successfully prepared through modification of a previously reported 3-step synthetic method. The [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition reaction reported by Wender et al. was tested and confirmed to work with the synthesized VCP, as crystals of the desired hydroxydihydroindanone cycloaddition product were obtained.
In situ infrared spectroscopic studies of the cycloaddition reaction were performed. Although these studies were unsuccessful in identifying reaction intermediates of the cycloaddition pathway, second derivative analysis of the spectroscopic data successfully resolved overlapping CO peaks. The experimentally obtained spectra of the reaction solution could not be compared to theoretical pure spectra of components believed to be in solution, as the IR frequency calculations (performed using the functional and basis set needed to apply a reported vibrational scaling factor) failed to converge to a minimum. Finally, a DFT investigation of the monometallic and bimetallic cycloaddition pathways was performed. This investigation suggested that the bimetallic pathway is both kinetically and thermodynamically favourable, which is inconsistent with previous experimental results
A dendrochronological analysis of black spruce productivity in wetlands and adjacent uplands of Nova Scotia, Canada
Get PDF1 online resource (41 p.) : illustrations (some colour), colour mapIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Coniferous forest uplands and wetlands are abundant in Nova Scotia. Tree growth in wetlands is known to be stunted compared to uplands. The objective of this study was to compare the growth of black spruce trees in wetlands and uplands of four Nova Scotia sites. Along a transect at each site, tree cores were taken from selected black spruce trees, for which tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) was also measured. Data on peat moss and soil moisture were collected to determine whether trees were in wetland or upland. Black spruce age and tree ring productivity were assessed by analyzing tree cores with Windendro software. The average width of the outermost ten tree rings of each tree core was used as a measure of recent growth and productivity. Black spruce age and growth were relatively consistent across all habitats. Spruce radial growth was not always greater in upland environments, but trees were taller in uplands than wetlands at two of the study sites. Favourable environmental factors for tree growth often resulted in taller trees in upland habitats because the soils are drier. More recent tree growth appears to be indifferent to soil moisture on forested wetland landscapes; I presume it is because of unmeasured effects such as climate change and competition
Shrinking land priority : Kenya’s implementation of conservation areas
Get PDF1 online resource (61 p.) : colour mapIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-61).While the world witnesses the overall warming of the globe and environmental destruction, due to human activity, conservation areas have become a popular model for environmental preservation and regeneration. This thesis takes an in-depth look at the empirical case of Kenya and how the Government has implemented conservation areas as a model of environmental protection. The Kenyan Government has both made environmental conservation a priority as well as prioritized the participation of local communities, in these conservation areas. However, private land encroachment and human-animal conflict threaten the success of these conservation projects. In particular, the stagnation of nomadic pastoralist groups and the lack of prioritization of conserved land can be accused as successors to the aforementioned issues. This thesis attempts to address these issues and how they can be modified through governmental legislation
The effect of manuka honey on two-spotted lady beetle larvae, Adalia bipunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), infected with a microsporidian pathogen
Get PDF1 online resource ( iii, 21 pages) : illustrationsIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 19-21).The full potential of biological control agents, such as the two-spotted lady beetle, Adalia bipunctata L., against insect pests greatly depends on the ability of the control agent to successfully mature to adulthood. Intracellular pathogens such as microsporidia, affect larval growth and development. Differences in food quality and quantity can also affect larval growth and development, as well as reproduction. The aim of this research is to determine whether the effects of the microsporidian pathogen, Nosema adaliae, is mitigated when its host, A. bipunctata, is reared on mixed diet of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) and antimicrobial manuka honey. Development and mortality of infected lady beetles were compared between four different treatment groups: the control group was provided aphids and water, whereas the three treatment groups were given aphids and three different dilutions of honey (5%, 10% and 15%), depending on the treatment. Larval development for the control was 15.9 ± 0.7 SE days, whereas larval development for the treatment groups was 13.8 ± 0.6, 13.8 ± 1.0, and 13.3 ± 0.9 days for larvae that were provided with 5%, 10% and 15% manuka honey, respectively. Our results indicated that the addition of manuka honey into the diet of infected A. bipunctata resulted in a decrease in larval development time while mortality and sex ratio were unaffected. This suggests that the addition of non-prey food such as manuka honey to an essential diet of M. persicae can shorten the larval development period. Further quantitative analysis would determine if there is a direct impact of manuka honey on the pathogen
Create or innovate? : can an innovation training program enhance the development of new ideas beyond creativity training?
Get PDF70 leaves : illustrations (some colour) ; 29 cmIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-50).The current study intended to answer the question of whether there is a difference between creativity-only training and innovation training in the quality of solutions generated by training participants. To answer this question, differences between three groups were examined to compare the quality of solutions generated by participants who completed the creativity training, the creativity plus innovation training, and a control group. The solutions generated by the three groups were evaluated for novelty, practicality, ease of implementation, and potential effectiveness. Pre- and post-test measures of creative self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and motivation to innovate were also examined. Results indicate that the creativity plus innovation training group and the creativity-only group generated ideas that were more novel, practical, easier to implement, and had higher potential effectiveness than the control group. Ideas produced by the creativity plus innovation group also had higher potential effectiveness than the creativity-only group