Use It or Lose It: Canadian Identity and the Construction of Arctic Security Policy

This dissertation investigates the specific factors that drive state action in Canadian Arctic security policy, particularly in relation to securitization of the Arctic region and historical factors that influence decision-making. The purpose of this research is to develop stronger linkages between securitization processes and actual policymaking. When studying the Arctic as a defined geographical space, we see considerable differences between Arctic states when it comes to how cultural and historical attachment to the Arctic region may serve as a selling point for the ability of national governments to justify allocation of defense resources to their respective publics. Using the Canadian case, this research illustrates the strength of identity factors when compared to day-to-day bureaucratic politics and the influence of public opinion. This dissertation does not follow the ideas of one particular theoretical paradigm, but instead utilizes eclecticism to better illustrate the depth of the various factors that may contribute to policymaking. Additionally, the effects of policymaking and securitization processes are measured through public opinion. The ultimate findings of this research support a hypothesis of linear identity factors as a major influence on Canadian Arctic security policy, but also suggest that research on securitization theory needs to better connect rhetorical v securitization processes to actual policymaking. Through this, the research not only provides value in using this case as a test for the strengths and limits of securitization theory, but also emboldens understandings of security policy as being driven by a combination of domestic policy, foreign policy, endemic historical factors, and government strategic communication practices

Career Pathways to Quality Jobs in Construction, Hospitality, and Healthcare

This report provides a description of the career pathway model and a definition of a quality job. It provides a description of Boston residents, mostly women and people of color, who are potential candidates for career pathways in construction, hospitality, and healthcare. An economic and labor market analysis is conducted for each industry, which is summarized as: Construction employment has been slow to grow since 2001 and it makes up a small percentage of employment in Boston, but it provides the highest average wages of the three industries. Union membership rates are high compared to the national average, but wages for Boston residents lag behind in-commuters in several occupations. Hospitality employment has been growing steadily since 2001, but it provides the lowest average wages of the three industries. There is a significant starting wage differential for union and non-union hotel workers (approx. $11/hour versus$18/hour, respectively). As with construction, median wages for Boston residents lag behind in-commuters. Healthcare employment has also grown steadily since 2001 and it currently constitutes just over one-fifth of total private sector employment in the City of Boston. Union membership rates are strong and median wages for Boston residents are mostly similar when compared to in-commuters

Introductory Module Unit 2: Study Skills for Adults Returning to Learning.

The broad aim of this Introductory Module is to help you to approach the study aspects of this course with confidence and to introduce you to learning strategies that can enhance your capacity to learn. It will look at some of the issues raised when returning to learning having spent some time out of the education system. Outcomes: On completion of this unit students will have: • Reflected on the challenges associated with returning to learning • Raised their awareness concerning the unique nature of adult learning • Reflected on the key aspects of effective learning • Developed a method of reading, writing, and using their time for learning

Effect of Ambient Air Temperature on Leaf Size in Raphanus sativus

Global warming is an increasing problem in today’s society. Thus, it is important to know how plants, specifically those that are cultivated for human consumption, react to rising average temperatures. This experiment tested how the leaf size of a common crop plant, Raphanus sativus (radish), is affected by two different temperatures. It is hypothesized that as temperature rises, the leaf size will increase, giving the leaf greater ability to cool via transpiration because of an larger surface area for stomatal conductance. This hypothesis was tested by growing two samples of plants in separate incubators. One sample was grown at a normal atmospheric temperature, and the other at a temperature 6 degrees Celsius higher. The average leaf area of each sample was measured using the Leaf Area Meter. Comparing the average leaf sizes of the group of radishes grown in warmer versus cooler temperatures showed a significant increase in both growth rates and final leaf sizes for the plants grown in the warmer incubator. Therefore, radishes clearly show phenotypic plasticity of their leaf sizes in response to changing temperatures. This morphological adaptation may increase the plant’s physiological fitness in its new environment, giving hope that common crop plants can make some adaptations to the world’s changing climate, mitigating some of the negative effects of global warming for those who rely on such crops for subsistence

Public Health Leadership In The 21st Century

Leadership in public health requires stretching the mind and soul in almost unimaginable ways. Living the dynamic tension of health as “part individual good served by medicine and part public good secured by public health activities” (Institute of Medicine, 2003a) represents a privilege and an awesome responsibility. Upholding the health of others requires complementing a foundation in science with skills in government, policy, media, economics, sociology, ethics and other dimensions. To survive and thrive, public health leaders must practice the “tactics of the transcendent” (Parks, 2005)

Competency-based assessment for the training of PhD students and early-career scientists.

The training of PhD students and early-career scientists is largely an apprenticeship in which the trainee associates with an expert to become an independent scientist. But when is a PhD student ready to graduate, a postdoctoral scholar ready for an independent position, or an early-career scientist ready for advanced responsibilities? Research training by apprenticeship does not uniformly include a framework to assess if the trainee is equipped with the complex knowledge, skills and attitudes required to be a successful scientist in the 21st century. To address this problem, we propose competency-based assessment throughout the continuum of training to evaluate more objectively the development of PhD students and early-career scientists. © 2018, Verderame et al

The biomechanical function of periodontal ligament fibres in orthodontic tooth movement

Orthodontic tooth movement occurs as a result of resorption and formation of the alveolar bone due to an applied load, but the stimulus responsible for triggering orthodontic tooth movement remains the subject of debate. It has been suggested that the periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a key role. However, the mechanical function of the PDL in orthodontic tooth movement is not well understood as most mechanical models of the PDL to date have ignored the fibrous structure of the PDL. In this study we use finite element (FE) analysis to investigate the strains in the alveolar bone due to occlusal and orthodontic loads when PDL is modelled as a fibrous structure as compared to modelling PDL as a layer of solid material. The results show that the tension-only nature of the fibres essentially suspends the tooth in the tooth socket and their inclusion in FE models makes a significant difference to both the magnitude and distribution of strains produced in the surrounding bone. The results indicate that the PDL fibres have a very important role in load transfer between the teeth and alveolar bone and should be considered in FE studies investigating the biomechanics of orthodontic tooth movement. © 2014 McCormack et al

Implementing a light-based seagrass management approach for a large scale dredging program

Seagrass has been highlighted as a key ecosystem component at risk from port developments and associated dredging activities on the central east coast of Queensland Australia. Fisheries Queensland has developed a light-based approach to manage impacts on seagrasses from turbidity plumes associated with a large-scale port dredging program. In situ and laboratory seagrass shading tolerance studies were conducted to simulate the effects of a dredge plume-related reduction in light from increased turbidity. A review of historical seagrass trends at permanent transect monitoring sites throughout the region and associated Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) data refined species-specific light requirements to develop a working light trigger value for a management intervention that would protect seagrasses from dredge plume impacts. This light-based approach is being trialed in parallel with turbidity management plans. The development, implementation and outcomes of this Light-Based Seagrass Management Approach will be presented

Impacts of a large-scale flood event on sub-tropical intertidal seagrass meadows

Long term monitoring of coastal seagrasses in the Port of Gladstone has provided the opportunity to better understand the impacts of extreme weather events on these marine plant communities. We studied the effects of a large-scale flood event in the summer of 2010-2011on seven intertidal seagrass meadows at Gladstone Harbour on the central east coast of Queensland. Significant declines in percent cover and above-ground biomass were recorded at several meadows following the weather event with some meadows yet to recover to pre-flood levels by early 2012. Seagrass condition, assessed quarterly and more recently monthly from November 2009 (and biannually from 2005 for some locations), was tested against potential drivers (rainfall, river flow, PAR, temperature and tidal exposure) using multiple linear regression analysis. We present the results from this analysis. We also present results of an investigation of the capacity for meadow recovery from a below ground seed bank

Implementing a light-based seagrass management approach for a large scale dredging program

Seagrass has been highlighted as a key ecosystem component at risk from port developments and associated dredging activities on the central east coast of Queensland Australia. Fisheries Queensland has developed a light-based approach to manage impacts on seagrasses from turbidity plumes associated with a large-scale port dredging program. In situ and laboratory seagrass shading tolerance studies were conducted to simulate the effects of a dredge plume-related reduction in light from increased turbidity. A review of historical seagrass trends at permanent transect monitoring sites throughout the region and associated Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) data refined species-specific light requirements to develop a working light trigger value for a management intervention that would protect seagrasses from dredge plume impacts. This light-based approach is being trialed in parallel with turbidity management plans. The development, implementation and outcomes of this Light-Based Seagrass Management Approach will be presented