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Sorry, We Are Closed: The Impact Hurricane Sandy Had on Local Businesses
Get PDFThis study assesses the effects that Hurricane Sandy had on local businesses in the Rockaway Peninsula. Through observation and semi-structured interviews conducted in Rockaway Beach and Beach 67, the researchers analyze how business owners have responded to this natural disaster. The report seeks to suggest that Hurricane Sandy left businesses destroyed, having to build from the bottom up. The study concludes that local businesses suffered from massive flooding causing businesses to have to remodel and renovate their stores, a loss of revenue, and loss of product. However, Hurricane Sandy has also brought the community closer together through this horrific natural disaster
The Youth and Law Project
No full textAs children grow older, their birthdays not only mark the completion of another year of life, but can also deem them legally able to participate in certain aspects of society, such as voting or driving, according to Ontario’s age-based laws. In this project, I explore the views and perspectives of four children, aged 12-15, on some of the age-based laws in Ontario. In order to inform my research on children’s perspectives toward age-based laws, I have drawn on texts that discuss the origin of these laws, and differing perspectives toward the chosen ages for certain laws. Through informal interviews and discussions, I have gained an understanding as to whether the participants view these laws as a form of protection, or a denial of their participation in society, if a particular age-based law has more relevance to the participants, and whether they feel certain legal ages should be reassessed. The collected data have been analyzed using articles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in order to assess whether the participants feel age-based laws are a way for the government to protect or deny children of their rights. Ontario’s age-based laws may positively or negatively implicate the lives of children, and it is vital that such implications are analyzed through research with children
Uncertainty Management: Literature Review
No full textThe following literature review discusses social psychology theories of uncertainty management, namely the Uncertainty Management Model (UMM) proposed by Kees Van den Bos and the Uncertainty-Identity Theory (UIT) proposed by Michael Hogg. Van den Bos’s UMM argues that when individuals feel uncertain, they use fairness judgments to cope with their uncertainty. Conversely, Hogg’s UIT argues that when individuals feel uncertain, they identify with groups to manage their uncertainty. The purpose of this literature review is to effectively analyze UMM and UIT and find relevant research that provides explanation for whether UMM and UIT can in fact both be accurate. The research process consisted of gathering literature specifically surrounding UMM/UIT and then broadening the scope to include journal articles that cover topics of fairness judgments, types of uncertainty, and social identity theory. The literature research revealed that while there are fundamental differences between UMM and UIT, the core concepts of both models have been proven accurate thus far and hold under context-specific situations. This is empirically supported by studies conducted by Cremer, Brebels, and Sedikides that have found that under conditions of general uncertainty individuals use fairness judgments to manage uncertainty, while under conditions of belongingness uncertainty individuals use group identification. By asserting that different types of uncertainty account for different procedural effects, Cremer et al.’s work suggests that perhaps it is the type of uncertainty that actually dictates whether fairness judgments or group identification are utilized when managing uncertainty. This line of research suggests that both UMM and UIT can co-exist and the results of the studies are helping to better define the conditions under which each uncertainty management model prevails
The Downside of the Web: Compulsive Internet Use, Empathy, and Altruism
Get PDFReliance on the internet can become problematic, and can therefore be related to deficits in pro-social behaviours and the associated cognitive and emotional processes. This research examined the relationship between compulsive internet use, empathy, and altruistic behaviours. It was hypothesized that a positive correlation would exist between measures of empathy and altruism, and a negative correlation between compulsive internet use and both of the measures of pro-social behaviour. A survey study was conducted that compared scores on the Compulsive Internet Use Scale, The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, and the Self-Report Altruism Scale. Participants were 161 York University students with a mean age of 22; 65% were female. Results support the three hypotheses, indicating the existence of a significant correlation, as predicted. Implications regarding workplace practices and quality of life are discussed
Perspectives on the Physical: Signs of Aging in Later Life
No full textThis project explores how the physical signs of aging and current social pressures affect people’s self-image as they approach seniorhood. Receding hairlines, wrinkles, and grey hair are a few identifiers of aging. These physical traits often affect the way a person is treated in society and are associated with ageist stereotypes that suggest older people are less physically and mentally competent compared to younger citizens. I interview one male and one female participant of different generations on their outlooks towards aging. My interview questions include the following: How has your outlook towards looking older changed since your youth? Which aspects of your appearance would you alter and why? What pressures, if any, do you feel to look more youthful? In your opinion, are anti-aging products at fault for the social standards on aging, the media’s portrayal of the senior population, and/or peer pressure to look younger? I analyse the results through the sociological framework of life course perspectives, successful aging, and feminism. My findings differ significantly from my initial predictions in that the male participant felt more pressured by peers to mask the physical signs of aging more than the female participant. I attribute these conclusions to the generation gap between the participants and their individual upbringings. I also conclude that aging is an individual journey that does not necessarily follow theoretical trends
How Does Cutting Healthcare for Refugees Affect Refugees in Canada?: A Literature Review
No full textThis literature review examines the effects of Canada’s healthcare cuts on refugees by analyzing five case studies—with qualitative and quantitative data gathered through surveys and in-depth interviews—and discussing results. All five case studies suggest that cutting healthcare for refugees is detrimental to the refugees, and will ultimately cost the government more than what it claims to be saving through cuts. Healthcare is essential for all members of society. In Canada, refugees and immigrants are entitled to receive free healthcare provided by the Canadian government for a period of time. This comes at no cost to the beneficiaries, and helps alleviate some of the pressures felt by people who must grow accustomed to new surroundings. From a moral standpoint, not only are healthcare cuts to refugees inhumane, but they also “violate Canada’s international treaty obligations to be non-discriminatory in the provision of health services” (Stanbrook, 2014)
Forced to Flutter: The Cold War and Washington’s Policy of Containment
Get PDFThis research project outlines the causes of the Cold War and its philosophical, sociological, economic, and political foundations. The project sheds light on the leaders and thinkers who presided over that great glacial conflict, suggesting how their policies affected people around the world and how the conflict still defines our world today. I employ both primary and secondary sources: original works and memoirs of the leaders and thinkers of the time, and sociological, economic, and political works by historians. The project situates the Cold War in historical and philosophical context
French-Language Education Policy at York University’s Glendon College for Anglophone French-Specialist Students
No full textA large percentage of students enrolled in French-language programs at Toronto’s Glendon College (York University, Canada) are Anglophones, mastering the French language in order to use it in their professional lives. In order for these students to attain high proficiency in all aspects of the language—reading comprehension, writing, and oral communication—they take French second-language courses—specialized courses for Anglophones. The purpose of this study is to research different policy levels at Glendon College geared to administrators, students, and faculty, in order to understand their opinions and attitudes towards French second language learning, as well as language policy at the College. Key members of staff were interviewed, and student opinions were collected through an online survey distributed on social media. The bilingual policies of other colleges and the recommendations of the Canadian federal government were also analyzed. The study reveals current issues in French second-language education and proposes potential solutions. In general, results show that Glendon College students experience a lack of consistency in the progression of French second-language courses, and that courses lack a focus on oral production. The study outlines possible solutions for these issues, and proposes creating an official language policy for Glendon College programs
Multi-Layered Tissue Formation via Cell Surface Engineering and Liposome Fusion
Get PDFThe field of tissue engineering has grown in recent years as new uses for engineered tissues emerges These include model organ or organ substitutes, limited in quantity in our aging society with prevalent chronic diseases. Tissue engineering methods opens a door to the production and replacement of tissues and organs. Tissue engineering has always been done using scaffolds, but this is a slow process. The idea of my project was to create scaffold-free production of tissues based on cell sheets or cell aggregates. A bio-orthogonal approach was used for the agglutination of different cell populations into multilayers.Liposome fusion is used to introduce ketone and oxyamine functional groups to the extra cellular matrix of two different cell populations. The formation of oxime bonds allows for the production of thick monolayers, creating aggregates and 3D structures. Complex multilayered mechanical tissues are able to be assembled and scaled, with the addition of collagen.Collagen is incorporated in order to produce mechanically viable tissues. The ability to control the orientation of cells in collagen is extremely important in organ production because organs are a complex network of cells that work together while proliferating in their separate regions. The results of my project show great promise for the future of tissue assemblies. Using different types of skin cells, fabricating a skin graft would take no more than three days rather than weeks. Further research can include the creation of a liver chip for use in drug toxicity
Detection of Micro RNA-210 Using Optical Biosensing Platform Based on the Actuation of Discrete Gold Nanoparticle Dimers
Get PDFIn recent medical development and research, people have been challenged on detection of biomarker in diseases via a ready and cost-effective method at early stage of diseases. Micro RNA-210 (miRNA-210) is well known as a sensor for hypoxia as the level of miRNA-210 typically rises in response to low oxygen tension in various cell types. Detection of the level of miRNA-210 during pregnancy could potentially prevent pregnancy-related disorders, such as Pre-Eclampsia. The purpose of this project is to achieve a detection of miRNA-210 using a sensing platform based on the actuation of discrete gold nanoparticle dimers. This sensing platform has been established for the detection of short oligonucleotides, such as single-stranded DNA. The optical response is achieved via a geometrical extension of the dimers upon binding of analyte. The detection signal is a spectral blue shift in the hybridized plasmon mode as measured via single nanostructure scattering spectroscopy. We applied this optical biosensing mechanism to the detection of miRNA-210 in our project. Our experimental results show a spectral blue shift when the dimers were exposed to miRNA-210, which is evidence of successful detection of miRNA-210. The magnitude of this shift was gradually improved by optimizing experimental conditions, including changing salt concentration, buffer type, and incubation time of analyte. In addition, the calibration curve and detection limit of miRNA-210 were also studied. To conclude, our project demonstrates an optical biosensing platform for the detection of miRNA-210 with ultralow detection limits and ability to differentiate interfering molecules, which offers a promising future for prevention of pregnancy-related disorders