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The relocation experiences of aboriginal athletes pursuing sport in euro-canadian contexts: visual and narrative stories of acculturation
No full textResearchers have documented the importance of sport in the lives of Aboriginal people, emphasizing how it can improve health and wellness and reaffirm core cultural values and connections (Lavallee, 2007; Reading, 2009). However, there is a lack of knowledge about the experiences of Aboriginal people who are engaging in sport, as well as cultural issues that affect their participation. Addressing this dearth of information, the current project was aimed at exploring the relocation experiences of Aboriginal athletes (14 to 26 years old) who had relocated off reserves in Northeastern Ontario to pursue sport opportunities within “mainstream” (Euro-Canadian) communities. The project was developed with Aboriginal community members and was driven forward as a form of cultural sport psychology, aimed at challenging the culturally excluding processes of traditional sport psychology (Ryba, Stambulova, Si, & Schinke, 2013). Mandala drawings (circle drawings) and conversational interviews were employed as part of a decolonizing methodology that centralized local Aboriginal ways of knowing, and that enabled in-depth experiential accounts of relocation to be shared (Smith, 1999). A local Indigenous version of an inductive thematic analysis was used to organize the data around three overarching themes: (1) the benefits of relocation, (2) the challenges of relocation, and (3) strategies for helping relocation. The results provide novel insights into how the sport experiences of relocated Aboriginal athletes are shaped by the dynamics of acculturation (i.e., second-culture learning). Through the participants’ accounts, it is revealed how relocated athletes have to dynamically (re)construct a sense of identity and belonging from shifting positions in and between dual (Aboriginal and Euro-Canadian) cultural contexts. Moving towards action, this knowledge can now be used to facilitate more inclusive sport contexts that embrace (rather than
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marginalize) the cultural identities of Aboriginal participants. Local community change efforts have already been initiated within the Aboriginal community through the engagement of the athletes’ mandalas as visual stories. In an effort to encourage future CSP research that is meaningful within the lives of marginalized sport participants, some final implications are drawn from the research
Capital social et état de santé : une étude qualitative à propos de quelques immigrants africains de Sudbury (Canada)
No full textAfin de comprendre la dynamique des interactions entre le capital social et l’auto appréciation de la santé des immigrants francophones, une étude qualitative a été réalisée de janvier à avril 2014 auprès de 22 immigrants originaires d’Afrique vivant à Sudbury. L’analyse des résultats, inspirée de la « Grounded Theory », a identifié quatre principaux thèmes tels que le capital social, l’accès et l’utilisation des services, les habiletés personnelles et les attitudes de la population d’accueil. Le capital social est faible en général. La solitude, la dispersion de la famille, la faiblesse du réseau des amis et des connaissances, la faiblesse du réseau associatif, la méconnaissance des règles et des lois et les obstacles liés à l’emploi, à la communication, aux diverses formes d’exclusion, au choc culturel sont responsables de frustrations, d’inquiétudes, de privations génératrices de stress qui à la longue peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur la santé physique et surtout mentale. À ces facteurs, s’ajoute pour certaines personnes, la faible accessibilité/utilisation des services, les habiletés personnelles parfois limitées et les expériences négatives vécues devant les attitudes de la population d’accueil
The impact of emotional tone during shared reading experiences
No full textShared book reading is a pleasurable and educational activity between an adult and a child. The Ministry of Education of Ontario encourages parents to read aloud to their children in order to foster a love of reading and aid in the development of literacy skills. One Ministry recommendation is for the adult to “make it exciting: put some drama into your voice” (Ontario Ministry of Education, n.d.). The current study examined the effect of different emotional tones of voice on the eye movements of children during shared book reading and on the children’s comprehension for the material. Four storybooks were each recorded in four emotional tones of voice (neutral, angry, happy, and character), and presented on a computer screen. Each child was presented with each of the storybooks in one of the four conditions, with the combination of book and emotion randomized across participants. Eye-tracking technology followed each child’s eye movements during the presentation. The children were asked three comprehension questions related to each story immediately after, and two further questions at the end of all four presentations. Standardized tests of working memory capacity and basic academic skills were also administered to the children. Analyses showed that while the proportion of time the children spent on the text did not vary as a function of emotional tone, they made the most fixations and spent the most time on the text and images in the angry condition. Furthermore, the children made the fewest fixations and spent the least amount of time looking at the text and images in the happy condition. The children also scored the highest in regard to the comprehension questions in the angry condition. Finally, there were positive relationships between the children’s early reading skills and auditory working memory as per standardized tests, and their performance during the shared book reading and comprehension tasks
Investigating the immunomodulatory potential of metals present in Sudbury Particulate Matter (SPaM)
No full textThe incidence of allergic disease has risen dramatically over the last century. This increase cannot simply be attributed to genetics, and so environmental contributions to allergic disease must be considered. Airborne particulate matter is recognized as a contributing factor in the initiation and exacerbation of allergic respiratory diseases due to its ability to act as an adjuvant and irritant. Particulate matter is heterogeneous in composition, and different components contribute to its adjuvant effects, including metals. This thesis investigates whether metals contained in Sudbury Particulate Matter (SPaM) are potential immunomodulators. We investigated the ability of metals in SPaM to influence inflammation both in vivo and in vitro. We demonstrate that the metals are able to alter the inflammatory profile after physiologically relevant exposure levels, suggesting that some of the metals present in SPaM are immunomodulatory in nature and may influence allergic disease.
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Novel electromagnetic surveying and interpretation methods for improved near surface characterization and deep exploration
No full textInductive electromagnetic (EM) geophysical methods are often applied and their data processed
for two different purposes. One is to create images of the distribution of electrical conductivity of
the subsurface while the second is to derive simple robust physical estimates of the location, size
and attributes of discrete conductors. In order to improve both the ability to efficiently image the
subsurface and to derive simple robust physical properties of discrete conductors, several
surveying methods and interpretation algorithms have been developed.
To improve the lateral near-surface resolution of thin conductors, such as overburden, nickel
laterites and mine waste, two interpretation methods were developed which rely on the
measurement of the vertical spatial derivative of the time-varying magnetic field. The first
method does not require grid or line data, but, is less accurate than the second inversion method
when the spatial gradient of the resistance is strong and/or when the horizontal magnetic fields
are large. When applied to data collected over an old mine tailings pond, the two methods
produced similar high resolution maps of the conductance.
For both shallow and deep exploration a simple and robust conductance estimation method for
borehole EM data was developed. The method relies on the calculation of the vertical spatial
derivative of the magnitude of the magnetic field using adjacent down-hole stations. In a field
trial, a reliable conductance was calculated for two deep sulfide bodies.
To improve the resolution of EM surveying, a multi-transmitter surveying processing method
was developed. Individual targets are highlighted by calculating a weighted-sum of the multiple
transmitter data and the method is shown to produce high signal-to-noise ratio data for high
finesse surveys in complex conductor environments where many transmitter-to-target coupling
angles are required and/or for deep focused exploration. A field example over an offset dyke
located in the Sudbury Basin showcased the ability of the surveying and processing method to
determine the location and orientation of a sulfide body.
To provide geoscientists with low-cost and efficient interpretation tools, a fast approximate 3D
inversion for fixed-loop surface data was developed. The method solves for the causative
subsurface current system which is approximated with a 3D subsurface grid of 3D magnetic
(closed loop current) or electric (current element) dipoles. Ground data from a deep massive
sulfide body was inverted and the results were consistent with existing interpretation and a
second example over a near-surface mine tailings pond highlighted the strength of being able to
invert magnetic field data using either magnetic or electric dipoles
Personalilty characteristics, locus of control, and life stress as factors in relapse and recovery in a substance abuse sample.
No full textA set of psychometric tests were administered to a sample of individuals accessing addiction services. This study sought to 1) explore personality, locus of control, and life stress in relation to the duration of abstinence from substance abuse, and 2) determine if there were any aspects of personality that were common among those with either long or short bouts of achieved sobriety. Seventy-two chemically dependent men and women in a Northern Ontario, Canada sample participated in the study. Few differences were found between sobriety groups. Statistically significant gender differences were found on the MMPI-Repression scale and the MMPI-Masculine/Feminine scales. Significant personality differences were also found between individuals who were receiving mental health related prescription medication on the MMPI scales of Hypochondriasis, Depression, Hysteria, Psychopathic Deviant, and Psychasthenia. Further significant differences were found between individuals who had a mental health diagnosis on the MMPI scales of Hypochondriasis, Depression, Hysteria, Psychopathic Deviant, Paranoia, Psychasthenia, Schizophrenia, and Anxiety
"La compétence interculturelle : une nécessité incontournable en milieu scolaire franco-ontarien"
No full textDans un contexte multiculturel, les élèves immigrants francophones africains font face à plusieurs défis en milieu scolaire franco-ontarien.
En effet, ces élèves doivent se positionner à la fois par rapport à la société d’accueil et par rapport au milieu d’origine dans l’effort d’intégration positive ; c’est ainsi qu’ils sont tiraillés entre les valeurs du pays d’origine et celles du pays d’accueil.
De plus, il convient de noter que ces jeunes vivent une triple situation minoritaire ; issus de l’immigration, minorité visible, minorité linguistique, dans une province à majorité ‘blanche’ et anglophone. À cela s’ajoute le fait que certains de ces jeunes sont victimes de guerres civiles, de génocides et de violences de toutes sortes dans leur pays ; cela les met dans une situation plus vulnérable par rapport aux autres jeunes non-immigrants.
Plusieurs écrits consultés dans le cadre de notre recherche nous font remarquer que la crise d’identité est plus marquée chez ces jeunes que chez les autres jeunes, tout comme les conflits de valeurs et de cultures ; cela les met dans une situation de plus grande vulnérabilité par rapport aux autres jeunes non-immigrants, car tous ces facteurs peuvent être source d’une souffrance interne importante dont, entre autres, la dépendance au cannabis ou les tentatives de suicide, le décrochage, ce qui a un impact direct sur leur capacité à étudier et sur leur intégration scolaire.
L’objectif de cette recherche est de souligner les besoins et les défis auxquels font face les élèves immigrants francophones africains en milieu scolaire franco-ontarien, tout en sensibilisant les professionnels qui interviennent dans les écoles de la nécessité incontournable de développer des compétences interculturelles en milieu scolaire franco-ontarien.
Cette recherche théorique consiste en une recension des écrits relatifs à la nécessité de développer la compétence interculturelle en milieu scolaire, tout en soulignant les besoins et les défis auxquels font face à la fois les élèves immigrants et les professionnels qui travaillent dans les écoles.
Les résultats de notre recherche, nous permettent de confirmer que la compétence interculturelle en milieu scolaire est une nécessité incontournable en vue de faciliter l’intégration scolaire des élèves immigrants africains francophones qui fréquentent les écoles franco-ontariennes.
Plusieurs nouvelles pistes de recherche seraient à explorer, nous en suggérons quatre :
• Quels sont les besoins de formation ou les besoins formatifs liés à la prise en compte de la dimension interculturelle dans la formation des professionnels en milieu scolaire franco-ontarien ?
• Quel serait le contenu de la formation à l’interculturel et qui devrait être formé à l’approche interculturelle en milieu scolaire franco-ontarien ?
• Quelle est la relation entre la crise identitaire des jeunes immigrants et la compétence interculturelle ?
• Recherche à faire sur les parcours des élèves immigrants africains francophones victimes de génocide afin d’outiller les travailleurs sociaux.Master's These
The effects of early life stress on stress induced binge eating later in life
No full textResearch has shown that stress not only affects our food intake but early life stress can affect this stress/eating relationship later in life as well. To study this, rats were subjected to early life stressors beginning on postnatal day 28 which consist of the adolescent phase of the rats lives, stressors consisted of elevated platform, damp bedding and restraint. On postnatal day 50, when rats had become adults they were then subjected to a mild electrical foot shock, after which, their intake of high palatable food was measured. Results demonstrate that rats who received early life stress ate less after the shock ( ) than rats who had not received early life stress ( ). These results suggest that early life stress increases rats’ sensitivity to stressors, thus reducing their stress related binge eating tendencies. Results obtained in this study demonstrate a potential factor that causes rats to become stress under eaters or stress over eaters.Honours essa
Expression profile of plakin crosslinking proteins in denervated skeletal muscle of mice
No full textPlakin crosslinking proteins are important structural elements that are expressed in many animal tissues, especially those which require resistance to mechanical stress. The three plakin proteins most prevalent in skeletal muscle are plectin, dystonin and microtubule-actin crosslinking factor (MACF). Skeletal muscle atrophy linked to inactivity is a complex phenomenon involving widespread alteration of muscle physiology, often characterized by expression of normally repressed embryonic genes in adult muscle. We investigate the response of the plakins: plectin, dystonin and MACF to denervation-induced atrophy in mice. We found that MACF, which is expressed more abundantly during embryonic development, is upregulated following denervation both at the mRNA and protein level as assessed using qPCR and western blotting. Plectin and dystonin were both downregulated at the mRNA level but remained constant or even upregulated at the protein level, indicating their potential importance in the baseline preservation of the skeletal muscle structure following denervation-induced atrophy
Comparison of sibling relationships in families of children with autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
No full textEmploying a mixed methods approach, the purpose of this present study was to examine the lived experiences of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Participants participated in semi-structured interviews and completed two questionnaires. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts and five main themes were identified: Positive Transformational Outcomes, Sibling Demands, Caregiving Roles, Awareness of Developmental Disabilities, and Supports. Questionnaire data from the Sibling Daily Hassles and Uplifts Scale and the Sibling Inventory of Behaviour Scale were also utilized and comparison findings between sibling groups from these questionnaires will be analyzed and discussed.Honours essa