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Assessing the Impact of the Israel Palestine 2023 Conflict on the Financial Performance of Companies Listed in the Middle East
Get PDFThis study examines the financial impact of the 2023 armed conflict between Israel and Hamas which is a Palestinian militant group and political organization that governs the Gaza Strip on the stock markets and on specific industries in Israel, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. We analyze three key dates in 2023: October 7th, when hundreds of Hamas-led gunmen stormed Israel's Gaza perimeter fence and attacked several nearby Israeli communities, leading Israel to declare war and conduct retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza; November 21st, when the state of Israel and the organization of Hamas agreed to a four-day pause in armed hostilities; and December 1st, when the pause in armed hostilities ended, and hostilities resumed. We use event study methodology to assess stock price reactions in the Israeli, Palestinian, and Saudi Arabian stock markets, along with industry-specific effects, and our results show that all three markets experience negative abnormal returns around October 7th. Conversely, we observe positive abnormal returns across all three stock markets on November 21st. Notably, when the conflict resumed on December 1st, the Israeli and Saudi Arabian stock markets exhibited positive abnormal returns. Additionally, our findings reveal that different industries are affected to varying degrees on these three dates. We used cross-sectional regression analyses and found that publicly traded companies with strong profitability and high market valuation were significantly more affected by the armed conflict
Indoor Object Localization for Tracking and Progress Reporting in Construction
Get PDFThis research investigates the application of indoor object localization to enhance tracking and progress reporting in construction projects by automating the generation of onsite inspection reports and location identification of project components. In this study, “inspection reports” refers to the documents used to monitor and record the progress of installed project components and track their target locations. Indoor object tracking is challenging due to the complex nature of construction environments, which typically are congested and contain many obstacles. Moreover, translating object-tracking information into meaningful progress reports is inherently challenging. To address these challenges, this study explores the integrated use of advanced technologies, such as RTLS and LiDAR, for location identification of the target objects. The study includes four main streams: (1) developing an object localization method based on integrated RTLS technologies and using trilateration techniques for 2D and 3D localization in indoor spaces, (2) integrating the object tracking with the progress tracking introducing MSI and QSI indices, and employing a cloud-based BIM platform for data collection and visualization, (3) integrating RTLS with point cloud data to refine the 3D object detection and localization functions, and (4) developing a digital-twin platform for automated generation of onsite inspection reports and visualization of the location and status of the objects associated with indoor construction operations. These reports are visualized through a bi-directional construction twin dashboard, facilitating ready access to progress-related information for site managers. The methods developed are validated through laboratory experiments and a case study conducted at a job site. In the laboratory experiments, the RTLS demonstrates an accuracy of approximately 0.52 m and 1.15 m, respectively, for 2D and 3D object localization. The 3D localization accuracy for the integrated RTLS and point cloud data, meanwhile, is found to be 27 cm. The case study also validates the effectiveness of the introduced indices in reporting the progress of the installation of components in mechanical rooms as part of a swimming pool construction project
You Joking Me? or It's Really True: The Comedy of Asian Accents
Get PDFThe line between comedy and offence is often muddled. The funny and unfunny can appear identical to one another. This is especially the case when it comes to racial stereotype humour, which may sound very much like racist mockery. My thesis focuses on the comic value and harms of English spoken in an Asian accent, particularly East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) accents. Drawing on Elaine Chun’s work identifying “mock Asian” as a variety of English “that indexes a stereotypical Asian identity” (263), I analyze the use of mock Asian in fictional representations of East Asians on screen. Beginning with Gedde Watanabe’s (in)famous performance of Long Duk Dong in the film Sixteen Candles (1984), I also consider the vernacular and dialectic stand-up of Margaret Cho in Notorious C.H.O (2002) and Jimmy O. Yang in Good Deal (2020) before turning to the L.A.-based Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng and his accented alter-ego Uncle Roger. Finally, I propose that the relationship between Asian-accented English representations and modern Asian identity construction may be especially clearly illuminated in relation to the linguistic category of “Chinglish.
The Challenges and Enablers of Maker-Centered Learning Experiences in Formal Education
Get PDFMaker-centered education, inspired by the Maker Movement, has gained popularity in schools for its creative, hands-on approach, yet its integration into formal K-12 settings remains complex and underexplored. This thesis investigates key challenges and enablers for teachers in adopting maker-centered education by investigating the challenges reported in the current K-12 literature, the factors experienced maker-centered educators perceive influence teachers’ ability to integrate maker-centered education into K-12 formal education settings, and the potential learning outcomes of an interdisciplinary maker-centered learning experience in the context of higher education.
This thesis presents three manuscripts. Manuscript 1 reports the results of a scoping review that identified 105 studies reporting challenges in maker-centered education integration in 10 primary areas. Findings revealed that although one third of studies mentioned challenges, most lacked detailed explanations. Notably, challenges varied based on educators’ level of experience with maker-centered education; however, only a minority of studies that identified challenges involved experienced teachers in maker-centered education. These findings highlight the need for further research with experienced educators of maker-centered education to better understand these challenges.
Manuscript 2, a qualitative study involving 21 educators with maker-centered education experience, provided insights into both known and newly identified challenges, together with factors that facilitate integration. The findings highlighted the need for further research in each of the challenge areas, particularly regarding learning outcomes of maker-centered education as some remain unconvinced of its learning potential.
In manuscript 3, I document a maker-centered learning experience in which I participated during my doctoral program that resulted in publishable scientific findings, contributing valuable evidence toward the educational benefits of maker-centered education.
This thesis reveals numerous educator-perceived challenges when implementing maker-centered education, underscoring the need for a structured approach for successful integration of maker-centered education programs in formal education settings. With a greater understanding of these factors, the Guiding Questions Framework for Developing a Maker-Centered Education Program and a set of recommendations were developed to help education leaders and educators develop and implement maker-centered education programs in formal education settings so that students can benefit from its many affordances
Learning About Internationalization While Learning: Portraying the Discourses of “International Students” Through a Decolonial Lens
No full textThis study critically analyzes the transition from aspiring to study abroad to becoming an “international student,” uncovering the colonial structures shaping what is understood as international education. Using a decolonial framework, it shifts the focus from problematizing students to examining the structures and practices of internationalization. Rejecting deficit approaches that emphasize assimilation, it instead interrogates how colonial legacies in international education influence students’ motivations, experiences, and, ultimately, discourses while highlighting their agency in navigating the complexities of studying in Canada.
By employing qualitative methods, specifically critical discourse analysis, this study draws on semi-structured interviews with international engineering master’s students to explore their aspirations, preparations, and the challenges and surprises encountered upon arrival in their host country. The findings reveal the discrepancies between imagined expectations of Canada and lived experiences of international higher education in Quebec, shedding light on the dynamics of “othering” and the colonial structures embedded in international education. Furthermore, the results illuminate patterns of coloniality and emerging practices of decoloniality, providing a deeper understanding of international students’ agency, motivations, and experiences while offering valuable insights to inform future research with international students
A Novel Framework for Detecting Anomalies in Network Security using LLM and Deep Learning
Get PDFIn the rapidly evolving landscape of network security, the need for robust anomaly detection methods has become paramount. This study presents a novel framework that leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) in conjunction with deep learning methodologies to enhance the identification of anomalies in network security systems. The proposed framework integrates LLMs' advanced capabilities to process and analyze textual data associated with network traffic and events, enabling a nuanced understanding of typical versus atypical behaviors in real-time. The research employs a multi-faceted approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques to assess the efficacy of the proposed framework. We begin by collecting network traffic data from diverse sources, including intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewall logs, and other pertinent security feeds. The dataset was preprocessed to extract relevant features for analysis. For the model, we developed an ensemble of deep learning algorithms, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, to capture spatial and temporal patterns in the data. The integration of LLMs involves employing techniques such as tokenization and embedding to convert network event logs into a format suitable for deep learning analysis. We also conducted experiments using labeled datasets containing both normal and anomalous behavior. Metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score were utilized to evaluate the model's performance. The results indicate that the proposed framework significantly improves the detection of network anomalies compared to traditional methods. The integration of LLMs enhanced the contextual understanding of network events, leading to better classification and a reduction in false positives. The ensemble of deep learning models achieved an accuracy rate of over 95%, with a notable increase in recall, highlighting the system's ability to identify anomalies that may have gone undetected by conventional methods. Moreover, the use of LLMs allowed for real-time analysis, which is crucial for effective network security management. The study demonstrates that leveraging advanced language models in conjunction with deep learning not only improves detection rates but also facilitates a deeper understanding of the underlying patterns associated with network anomalies.In conclusion, this research contributes a significant advancement in the field of network security, offering a viable solution that harnesses the power of modern AI techniques to combat increasingly sophisticated security threats
Craft & Craftivism: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Ceramic, Fibre and Glass Artists in Canada: Volume 3: Glass
Get PDFContemporary work in ceramics, fibres and glass is commanding unprecedented attention in the visual arts world. Many Canadian artists have gained recognition for their aesthetic proficiency, conceptual relevance, and skill-based expertise in provincial, national, and international public institutions using these materials. The visual arts community in Canada and elsewhere seeks information concerning the historical importance and significance to contemporary Canadian craft artists of these materials and skills. Craft and Craftivism, edited by Loren Lerner, Janice Anderson, Shannon Stride, and Karine Antaki, is a biographical dictionary of artists working in these media, created as a free e-publication to fill this need. The material is readily available for both pedagogical purposes and the general public’s use. It aims to encourage scholarly interest while acknowledging the artists’ contributions to Canadian visual arts, a path currently encouraged in many Canadian post-secondary art education institutions. -- Introduction.
Volume Three of Craft & Craftivism is dedicated to Glass. It includes entries for 90 artists
Announcing Updates to Drift4: Integrated Gentle, Image Size Options, and More!
Get PDFMajor updates have arrived to Drift4 since its release in 2022 that improve ease of use for both future and current users. That being said, current users of Drift will not need to worry about learning a new interface or fiddling with settings. Core functionality remains the same and most of these updates function in the background
YOU WILL NOT WIN AND YOU MUST DIE, YOU CHURL: Re-Structuring Beowulf’s Polyvalence using Interactive Fiction
Get PDFThis research-creation thesis presents a game experience of close reading the Old English poem Beowulf that prioritizes a multivocal structure of the text. It builds upon existing scholarship, like Kevin Kiernan’s, addressing the interpretative potential of the Vitellius manuscript’s evidence of variance. The poem’s fifty-year temporal shift at its mid-point is used as a contextual offramp to highlight its fragmentary construction. A literary analysis of the various hegemonic structures Beowulf participates in and perpetuates problematizes his status as an immutable heroic figure. John D. Niles, Frederick Klaeber, Gale Owen-Crocker, and T.S Miller are amongst those cited as shaping the existing discourse on Beowulf’s identity outside of the confines of the poem’s hierarchical structure. By re-contextualizing his death and legacy in an interactive fiction game-world titled YOU WILL NOT WIN AND YOU MUST DIE, YOU CHURL, this thesis adapts sections of Beowulf as inter-connected pieces of a hypertextual system. The principal aims of the game’s designing processes are two-fold: prioritizing the voices and perspectives of Beowulf’s supporting cast of characters while stretching the limitations of narrative cohesion in the hypertext genre. To connect the thesis’ academic argument with this creative component, Nick Montfort’s Twisty Little Passages and Espen Aarseth’s Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature influence the approach towards IF that complements the act of close reading. By gamifying the interpretative textuality of Beowulf, the final build of the game encourages players to view ludic choice-making and literary analysis as similar repeatable acts leading to multiple points of (re-)entry to a text
Quilting the Memoir: The Cultural Imaginaries of Egyptian Jewry
Get PDFQuilting the Memoir: The Cultural Imaginary of Egyptian Jewry engages with three central research issues. First, it explores the role of digital storytelling and memory in articulating the cultural heritage of Egyptian Jewry. Second, it examines the relationships between individual memories, cultural memories, and the cultural imaginary of Egyptian Jewry. Finally, it seeks to understand how personal memoirs and memory objects might find alternative forms of artistic expression in a time-based media installation.
Quilting the Memoir is a research-creation journey that spans a decade, resulting in three separate components – a written dissertation, a WordPress site https://quiltingthememoir.wordpress.com/ and an exhibition of original digital artefacts. Focusing on the mid-20th century exodus of Jews from Egypt and turning to alternative and aesthetic sites of inquiry, this research-creation project aims to generate insight into the ways we remember and represent the past and imagine the future. As a research-creation thesis, Quilting the Memoir demonstrates the value of an engagement with public works, cultural imaginaries and modes of remembering that materialize in alternative research outcomes such as a time-based media installation comprised of digital memory quilts exhibited in a gallery