Educational software reflecting two philosophical approaches to ethics education

Ethics education can vary considerably in its instructional strategies based on differences in the theoretical positions underlying the approach to moral development being stressed. Two such approaches are the 'justice' approach as exemplified by Kohlberg's six stages of moral development, and the 'care ethic' approach as exemplified by Gilligan's work on empathy as a base for moral decision-making. Each of these approaches can be demonstrated through different instructional strategies in the ethics education course, but each strategy is often difficult to execute in practice, given time and resource constraints

Optimal pacing strategy in competitive athletic performance

Daanen, H.A.M. [Promotor]Foster, C. [Promotor]Koning, J.J. de [Copromotor

Grave Images: A Faith Visualized in a Technological Age

Messiah College faculty scholarship papers : submitted by faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for promotion to the rank of professo

Mapping Danger: Canadian Resource-Based Projects Associated with Violence Against Indigenous Women

Natural resource-based projects represent an important sector in Canada’s economy, where the energy, mining, and forestry industries accounted for 17% of Canada’s gross domestic product in 2018 (Natural Resources Canada, 2019). Many projects are located on or near Indigenous lands, disproportionately impacting Indigenous peoples (Gibson et al., 2017). The negative environmental impacts of resource-based projects are well documented (Koutouki et al., 2018; Westman & Joly, 2019); however, the social consequences are often overlooked. Recently, numerous non-profit organizations have documented a connection between resource-based projects and increased numbers of violent offences against Indigenous women (Amnesty International, 2016b; Bond & Quinlan, 2018; Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, 2021;), but few academic articles have addressed this issue. Therefore, a non-systematic scoping review was conducted on available grey literature, news articles, and academic literature to examine key concepts and themes. This review demonstrates that colonization has placed Indigenous women in Canada at higher risk of violence. The introduction of resource-based projects exacerbates this issue through three key processes: the presence of “man camps,” economic changes, and changing family dynamics. In combination with an inadequate criminal justice system, the resulting violence against Indigenous women can be categorized into three overlapping groups: domestic violence, workplace violence, and sexual violence. An economic map was developed to illustrate the locations of resource-based projects associated with this issue (see Figure 1). This paper suggests potential solutions including addressing toxic workplace culture, updating policies and protocols, ensuring meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples, and increasing government protections

Arbitrary topology meshes in geometric design and vector graphics

Meshes are a powerful means to represent objects and shapes both in 2D and 3D, but the techniques based on meshes can only be used in certain regular settings and restrict their usage. Meshes with an arbitrary topology have many interesting applications in geometric design and (vector) graphics, and can give designers more freedom in designing complex objects. In the first part of the thesis we look at how these meshes can be used in computer aided design to represent objects that consist of multiple regular meshes that are constructed together. Then we extend the B-spline surface technique from the regular setting to work on extraordinary regions in meshes so that multisided B-spline patches are created. In addition, we show how to render multisided objects efficiently, through using the GPU and tessellation. In the second part of the thesis we look at how the gradient mesh vector graphics primitives can be combined with procedural noise functions to create expressive but sparsely defined vector graphic images. We also look at how the gradient mesh can be extended to arbitrary topology variants. Here, we compare existing work with two new formulations of a polygonal gradient mesh. Finally we show how we can turn any image into a vector graphics image in an efficient manner. This vectorisation process automatically extracts important image features and constructs a mesh around it. This automatic pipeline is very efficient and even facilitates interactive image vectorisation

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race: Performance, Pacing and Tactics Between 1890 and 2014

Background: Currently no studies have examined the historical performances of Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race crews in the context of performance, pacing and tactics which is surprising as the event has routinely taken place annually for over 150 years on the same course. Objectives: The purpose of this study was twofold, to firstly examine the historical development of performances and physical characteristics of crews over 124 years of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race between 1890 and 2014 and secondly to investigate the pacing and tactics employed by crews over that period. Methods: Linear regression modelling was applied to investigate the development of performance and body size for crews of eight male individuals over time from Boat Race archive data. Performance change over time was further assessed in 10-year clusters while four intra-race checkpoints were used to examine pacing and tactics. Results: Significant correlations were observed between performance and time (1890–2014) for both Oxford (r = −0.67; p < 0.01) and Cambridge (r = −0.64; p < 0.01). There was no difference in mean performance times for Oxford (1170 ± 88 s) and Cambridge (1168 ± 89.8 s) during 1890–2014. Crew performance times improved over time with significant gains from baseline achieved in the 1950s (Cambridge) and the 1960s (Oxford), which coincided with significant change in the physicality of the competing crews (p < 0.01). There was no tactical advantage from commencing on either the Surrey or Middlesex station beyond chance alone; however, all crews (n = 228) adopted a fast-start strategy, with 81 % of victories achieved by the crew leading the race at the first intra-race checkpoint (24 % of total distance). Crews leading the race at the final checkpoint (83 % of total distance; 1143 m) achieved victory on 94 % of occasions. Conclusion: Performances and physical characteristics of the crews have changed markedly since 1890, with faster heavier crews now common. Tactically, gaining the early lead position with a fast-start strategy seems particularly meaningful to success in the Boat Race throughout the years, and has been of greater importance to race outcome than factors such as the starting station

The development and evaluation of functional electrical stimulation rowing for health, exercise and sport for persons with spinal cord injury

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.At the beginning of this project it was known that functional electrical stimulation (FES) rowing was technically feasible, but no studies on health benefits had been conducted and it was unclear what levels of fitness could be reliably attained by spinal cord injured (SCI) users. This thesis shows that training with the first-generation of the FES-rowing system (RowStim II), seven paraplegics achieved high V02peak values (21.0 - 27.9 ml-kg-1-min-1) and a significant (10%) increase in V02peak. This was also found to significantly improve insulin sensitivity and leptin levels but it had no significant effect on lipid profiles or body composition, possibly caused by technological limitations of the RowStim 11. However, training volumes were positively correlated with improvements in lipid profile and body composition. This motivated further technical development of the RowStim to enable paraplegics to train harder and longer. The development included a more stable seat configuration with redesigned trunk retaining straps, a rigid low friction carriage/brake system, improved leg stabiliser, improved stimulation control and a gravity-assisted return phase. This RowStim III has enabled paraplegics to participate in the British (2004, 2005 and 2006) and World Indoor Rowing Championships (2006). The rowers have achieved higher exercise intensities (26.8 -31.0 ml. kg- I .min-1) and increased exercise volumes (1,150 kcal-week-1) with the RowStim III. Such levels of physical activity, which are difficult to achieve for paraplegics using traditional exercises, are correlated with significant health benefits in the able-bodied. Preliminary results suggest that perfusion of the quadriceps muscle during FES-rowing might limit the exercise time in novice rowers. Other preliminary data from pressure mapping indicate that there is a dynamic pattern during FES-rowing, which might reduce the risk for pressure sores during FES-rowing. This thesis shows that FES-rowing is now a rapidly developing exercise modality, which has been shown to enable safe and well-tolerated exercise for individuals with SCI. It can offer unprecedented levels of cardiovascular fitness, competitive challenges and potentially important health benefits

Expanding NLRA Protection of Employee Organizational Blogs: Non-Discriminatory Access and the Forum-Based Disloyalty Exception

As they fight for better working conditions both in the union and non-union context, employees increasingly use online web logs or blogs to better organize themselves. For organizational purposes, these blogs present numerous advantages over more traditional speech forms. This article adds to the growing voices calling for explicit protection of employee blogs under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act ( NLRA ), which protects concerted employee action taken for mutual aid and protection from employer retaliation, provided that such blogs otherwise comply with NLRA requirements. Furthermore, by analogizing to past NLRA jurisprudence concerning traditional organizational speech, this article argues that a non-discriminatory access rule should govern employee internet use; for example, if an employer allows employees to use the internet on their lunch breaks for non-work related reasons, that employer must also allow employees to access their organizational blogs. However, the NLRB has fashioned an important exception to NLRA protection that allows employers to punish otherwise-protected speech because it is openly disloyal. In order to properly protect employee organizational blogging, this article next discusses the uneven and subjective manner in which courts have applied this disloyalty exception to traditional organizational speech, and what impact this uneven application might have on blogs specifically. The article then isolates different factors courts consider when applying the exception, attempts to logically categorize traditional organizational speech into different forum categories (public, employee-sponsored, and employer-sponsored), and considers what differences or patterns in the exception\u27s application, if any, may be found when employee speech occurs in different fora. The article concludes by suggesting a means for courts and the NLRB to more equitably apply the disloyalty exception and ensure proper protection for employee blogs. Since blogs quite easily lend themselves to the forum categorizations described above, courts should first consider what forum category the organizational speech appears in; courts should then apply the exception\u27s factors with varying strength depending on that categorization

Expanding NLRA Protection of Employee Organizational Blogs: Non-Discriminatory Access and the Forum-Based Disloyalty Exception

As they fight for better working conditions both in the union and non-union context, employees increasingly use online web logs or blogs to better organize themselves. For organizational purposes, these blogs present numerous advantages over more traditional speech forms. This article adds to the growing voices calling for explicit protection of employee blogs under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act ( NLRA ), which protects concerted employee action taken for mutual aid and protection from employer retaliation, provided that such blogs otherwise comply with NLRA requirements. Furthermore, by analogizing to past NLRA jurisprudence concerning traditional organizational speech, this article argues that a non-discriminatory access rule should govern employee internet use; for example, if an employer allows employees to use the internet on their lunch breaks for non-work related reasons, that employer must also allow employees to access their organizational blogs. However, the NLRB has fashioned an important exception to NLRA protection that allows employers to punish otherwise-protected speech because it is openly disloyal. In order to properly protect employee organizational blogging, this article next discusses the uneven and subjective manner in which courts have applied this disloyalty exception to traditional organizational speech, and what impact this uneven application might have on blogs specifically. The article then isolates different factors courts consider when applying the exception, attempts to logically categorize traditional organizational speech into different forum categories (public, employee-sponsored, and employer-sponsored), and considers what differences or patterns in the exception\u27s application, if any, may be found when employee speech occurs in different fora. The article concludes by suggesting a means for courts and the NLRB to more equitably apply the disloyalty exception and ensure proper protection for employee blogs. Since blogs quite easily lend themselves to the forum categorizations described above, courts should first consider what forum category the organizational speech appears in; courts should then apply the exception\u27s factors with varying strength depending on that categorization