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Examining predictive factors of relational aggression among adolescents
No full textRelational aggression is defined as the intentional harm inflicted upon peers through rumors, manipulation, and social exclusion (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). This behaviour peaks during adolescence, and is a pervasive and serious issue, generating social and emotional concerns, underscoring the need to understand the mechanisms underlying such behaviour. Although previous research has explored the link between parental attachment and adolescent relational aggression, investigations into the influence of peer attachment remain limited. Callous-unemotional traits have been consistently linked with aggressive behaviours, and popularity has been recently examined as a possible motivation for relational aggression. The present study investigated the role of peer attachment, callous-unemotional traits, popularity, and wellbeing, on relationally aggressive behaviour, both online and offline. The primary objective of this study is to present an integrated model for relationally aggressive behaviour in adolescents. Utilizing a community sample of 327 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, the current study employed self-report questionnaires to assess peer attachment, CU traits, perceived popularity, wellbeing, and tendency to engage in relationally aggressive behaviour, either in-person or online (e.g., social media). Results from this study reveal that the predictors account for a significant amount of variance in online and offline relational aggression. Additionally, it was observed that perceived popularity acts as a mediator in the relationship between CU traits and relational aggression, in online and offline and offline contexts. The study concludes with a comprehensive discussion of the findings and a critical appraisal is offered which highlights methodological considerations and clinical insights.
Keywords: Relational aggression (RA), adolescents, attachment, perceived popularity, callous-unemotional traits (CU traits)
Place Brand: a multi-case study on island brand processes
No full textOver the past decade, islands have increasingly become aware that the global market is shifting due to significant advancements in globalization, changed social trends, and the emergence of a smaller but more competitive economic market. These global changes are encouraging islands to view locality differently, to see and position their island differences as an attractive place for settlers, visitors, traders, and investors to do business and live, work, and play, and to embrace the relatively new phenomenon of place brand and branding as a competitive market position to achieve political, economic, or social goals and objectives; however, barriers exist, including a lack of theoretical understanding, inconsistent use of vocabulary, influence from corporate and even product or service brand theory, and the notable gap in academic research, especially from an island perspective. Despite lagging research and topical limitations, globally there has been a rise in nation, country, and place brand development, and many island policymakers around the world – despite their island’s variations in size, scale, and connectedness, are challenged to find ways to promote their island identity and market their locality. To survive, if not thrive, many island policymakers – such as those in Prince Edward Island and Tasmania – rethought their locality and market approach to draw upon their distinctive culture, history, and social structure to carve out a competitive market position to compete in the changed global economy through engagement of the place brand concept to improve and enhance their economic health. As such, this thesis proposes to compare the two unrelated island jurisdictions of Tasmania and Prince Edward Island to identify if similarities and/or differences exist between each island’s brand development process and to identify lessons learned from the case study islands that other island jurisdictions around the globe may consider when undertaking their island brand design process. The researcher collected data from semi-structured one-on-one open-ended interviews with key island stakeholders, reviewed existing literature published over the past 20 years, and reviewed professional reports to contribute to the island research. Despite the growing interest of academics and engagement from practitioners, the idea of creating a place brand and branding of a place remains controversial (Fan, 2010). The research showed that much attention is now being paid to the concept; however, most work is being conducted from a case study approach, with few theoretical studies being undertaken. In the case of Tasmania and Prince Edward Island, this study examined the two island brand journeys, and it was found that their processes were similar in that the objective was to grow and develop the local economy; however, they differed, most notably, in their approach to uncovering the brand voice, structure (governance), conceptual knowledge and understanding, and view on the value of having an island brand. Keywords: Place Brand, Island Brand, Island Brand Frameworks
Quick, effective screening tasks identify children with medical conditions or disabilities needing physical literacy support
No full textPurpose: This study evaluated screening tasks able to identify children with medical conditions or disabilities who may benefit from physical literacy. Method: Children completed ≤20 screening tasks during their clinic visit and then the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (2nd edition) at a separate visit. Total Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy scores 4.9 hours combined with Adequacy ≤6.15 had 88% to 10% sensitivity and 53% to 56% specificity. Conclusions: Activity adequacy, alone or with screen time, most effectively identified children likely to benefit from physical literacy support. Adequacy and screen time questionnaires are suitable for clinical use. Similar results regardless of diagnosis suggest physical competence deficits are not primary determinants of active lifestyles. Research to enhance screening specificity is required
Exploring intra-regional hydrogen production alternatives for fuel cell vehicles via greenhouse gas-based life cycle supply chain (GHG-LCSC) optimization
No full textHydrogen power and electric vehicle rollout are among the global mitigation efforts for net-zero emission targets. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) is a promising embodiment of these two climate-neutral levers. Nevertheless, insufficient investigation of the life cycle of hydrogen production pathways and supply-demand mismatching jeopardize the optimal implementation of HFCV. A novel integrated framework combining life cycle greenhouse gas assessment and intra-regional supply-demand optimization method is developed to (1) evaluate the emissions performance for six typical HFCV hydrogen production pathways and (2) map out the optimal intra-regional hydrogen supply-demand allocation based on the trade-off between resource flow and geographical proximity. As one of the world's largest HFCV producers and consumers, China is chosen as the case study. The life cycle emissions assessment reveals that the Natural Gas Steam Methane Reforming (NG_SMR) pathway emits the most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (i.e., 0.215 g CO2-eq/kJ H2) while the Clean Energy_Water Electrolysis (CE_WE) pathway emits the least GHG emissions (i.e., 0.02 g CO2-eq/kJ H2), stretching a 10-times emission difference. For intra-regional supply-demand optimization, provinces like Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Shandong act as the main suppliers (>50% of the total hydrogen source in China) to provinces like Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Sichuan, suggesting a north-to-south (N-S) regional hydrogen transmission. A sensitivity analysis is conducted based on the variation in production efficiency among different hydrogen production technologies in the HFCV value chain. The results inferred that the Coal Gasification & Carbon Capture and Storage (ClG & CCS) and CE_WE pathways are insensitive to efficiency improvement. In the scenario analysis, the outcome suggested urgently phasing out grey hydrogen pathways and accelerating the transition of grey-to-green hydrogen production pathways with the buffering of blue hydrogen pathways between 2015 and 2040 for the net-zero emission ambition by 2060. This study enlightens the decision-makers to endorse green hydrogen production for HFCV while securing hydrogen energy security
Full Participation: a progress report on Atlantic Canadian Universities institutional response to Indigenization
No full textSocial Sciences and Humanities Research CouncilNative Council of PEIUniversity of Prince Edward Islan
Planting the seeds of evidence based practice in a child protection clinical service
No full textClinical psychologists are increasingly called upon to provide leadership in the public sector, applying scientific and interpersonal competencies to the complex challenges faced in health and human services (Shullman, 2020; Baker et al, 2008; Chu et al, 2012). In response to one such opportunity, an invitation to identify evidence-based practices for an existing Child Protection clinical support service in Prince Edward Island, Canada, this research explored ways to strengthen a program for families involved in child maltreatment investigations. The Family Ties program has 7 clinicians providing individual and group supports for approximately 200 clients per year. Using elements of participatory action research, implementation science, and codesign methodology, a checklist process was developed and refined to summarize caseloads, and an assessment toolkit was created through the piloting of measures chosen from a catalogue developed for this purpose. Participating clinicians examined and critically appraised their existing practices, demonstrating reflexivity and flexibility. Framework Analysis of interview and meeting notes taken during this participatory process reveal additional program strengths and
areas for growth. Results will be of interest to three audiences. Child and family clinical service providers will find flexible, evidence-based ways to introduce assessment into existing practice. Clinical leaders seeking to foster program improvements in complex settings will find techniques for building interdisciplinary partnership to mobilize psychological knowledge incrementally and respectfully. And crucially, for clients of the Family Ties program, it is hoped that the seeds of practice change planted through this project will grow into program enhancements that complement existing strengths
Natural product discovery from marine-derived microorganisms and the investigation of metabolomic changes from in-situ fermentations of marine-derived Actinomycetota
No full textMarine microorganisms are well known for their unique and bioactive natural products and are thought to be the “true” source of many invertebrate-derived compounds.However, many natural products remain silent, locked behind transcriptional and translational regulation when grown under standard laboratory methods. This thesis describes two studies that use untargeted metabolomics as an approach for natural product discovery. The first study focused on a media study of 20 marine-derived bacteria with prior observed biological activity. Metabolomics and cross-referencing molecular weight with online databases assisted in prioritizing the discovery of a new sesterterpene from a coral-derived Streptomyces sp., guanahanolide A(13). Guanahanolide A(13) contains an unprecedented perhydrophenalene sesterterpene skeleton and showed moderate cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines MCF-7, HTB-26, and HCT-116. The second study implemented an in-situ fermentation within seawater, sediment, and a sponge in San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Mangrove fermentations containing sediment-derived Streptomyces sp. was found to increased natural product production when “incubated” in seawater compared to sediment. Whereas the sponge-derived Streptomyces sp. was observed to potentially increase natural product production when “incubated” in a giant barrel sponge, compared to seawater or sediment. In conclusion, this thesis provides evidence to support the notion that marine microorganisms remain an underexplored source of new chemistry and accentuates the knowledge gap in chemical ecology of marine microorganisms
A novel molecular class that recruits HDAC/MECP2 complexes to PU.1 motifs reduces neuroinflammation
No full textPervasive neuroinflammation occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). SPI1/PU.1 is a transcription factor located at a genome-wide significant AD-risk locus and its reduced expression is associated with delayed onset of AD. We analyzed single-cell transcriptomic datasets from microglia of human AD patients and found an enrichment of PU.1-binding motifs in the differentially expressed genes. In hippocampal tissues from transgenic mice with neurodegeneration, we found vastly increased genomic PU.1 binding. We then screened for PU.1 inhibitors using a PU.1 reporter cell line and discovered A11, a molecule with anti-inflammatory efficacy and nanomolar potency. A11 regulated genes putatively by recruiting a repressive complex containing MECP2, HDAC1, SIN3A, and DNMT3A to PU.1 motifs, thus representing a novel mechanism and class of molecules. In mouse models of AD, A11 ameliorated neuroinflammation, loss of neuronal integrity, AD pathology, and improved cognitive performance. This study uncovers a novel class of anti-inflammatory molecules with therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders
Coastal erosion and climate change: A review on coastal-change process and modeling
No full textCoastal erosion is a normal process of nature. However, the rate of coastal erosion, and the frequency and intensity of coastal flooding events, are now on the rise around the world due to the changing climate. Current responses to coastal erosion are primarily determined by site-specific factors, such as coastal elevation, coastal slope, coastal features, and historical coastline change rate, without a systematic understanding of the coastal-change processes in the context of climate change, including spatiotemporal changes in sea level, regional changes in wave climate, and sea ice coverage. In the absence of a clear understanding of the coastal-change processes, most of the current coastal responses have been built upon a risky assumption (i.e., the present-day coastal change will persist) and are not resilient to future climate change. Here, we conduct a literature review to summarize the latest scientific understanding of the coastal-change processes under climate change and the potential research gaps towards the prediction of future coastal erosion. Our review suggests that a coupled coastal simulation system with a nearshore wave model (e.g., SWAN, MIKE21, etc.) can play a critical role in both the short-term and long-term coastal risk assessment and protective measure development
Proposing a multi-stakeholder lens to examine global community-based design projects
No full textOne implementation of global, community-based, engineering-student design projects invites students to practice design from a distance. Though it may not be possible to bring an entire engineering design class to the international location for students and various stakeholders to interact, a meaningful global experience can be educational and beneficial for all stakeholders. Recognizing that the impact of community-based projects extends beyond the students to numerous stakeholders, this paper proposes a multi-stakeholder lens which examines the roles, interactions, motivations, and responsibilities of stakeholders in a global, community-based design project. The lens was developed in part by a case study of a global design project connecting a first-year Canadian engineering design course, a rural Kenyan preschool, a non-profit organization, and additional Kenyan and Canadian stakeholders. Written by three of the stakeholders in the case study, the course instructor, a Canada-based community partner, and a design student, this paper concludes with recommendations on how to incorporate global projects in a domestic setting. Ultimately, adopting a multi-stakeholder lens transitions a myopic student-centric focus to an inclusive experience for all stakeholders, creating partners in the design and achieving a greater set of objectives