Don't Tie Yourself to an Onion: Don’t Tie Yourself to Assumptions of Normality

A structural measurement model (Adams, Wilson, & Wu, 1997) consists of an item response theory model for responses conditional on ability and a structural model that describes the distribution of ability in the population. As a rule, ability is assumed to be normally distributed in the population. However, there are situations where there is reason to assume that the distribution of ability is nonnormal. In this paper, we show that nonnormal ability distributions are easily modeled in a Bayesian framewor

The multiferroic phase of DyFeO3_{3}:an ab--initio study

By performing accurate ab-initio density functional theory calculations, we study the role of $4f$ electrons in stabilizing the magnetic-field-induced ferroelectric state of DyFeO$_{3}$. We confirm that the ferroelectric polarization is driven by an exchange-strictive mechanism, working between adjacent spin-polarized Fe and Dy layers, as suggested by Y. Tokunaga [Phys. Rev. Lett, \textbf{101}, 097205 (2008)]. A careful electronic structure analysis suggests that coupling between Dy and Fe spin sublattices is mediated by Dy-$d$ and O-$2p$ hybridization. Our results are robust with respect to the different computational schemes used for $d$ and $f$ localized states, such as the DFT+$U$ method, the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE) hybrid functional and the GW approach. Our findings indicate that the interaction between the $f$ and $d$ sublattice might be used to tailor ferroelectric and magnetic properties of multiferroic compounds.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures-Revised versio

Redressing the Past to Repair the Present: The Role of Property Law in Creating and Exacerbating Racial Disparities in Wealth and Poverty in Nova Scotia

For over 200 years African Nova Scotians have been fighting to confirm legal title to the land on which their ancestors were settled. In 2020, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court remarked “the lack of clear title and the segregated nature of their land triggered a cycle of poverty for black families that persisted for generations.” Nova Scotia has a long history of obscure land titles; however, the ensuing cycle of poverty appears to have disproportionately impacted African Nova Scotians. This thesis reframes the African Nova Scotian land titles discourse into a broader understanding about systemic anti-Black racism and White supremacist ideology embedded within the origins of property law in this province, revealing the land titles issue as merely the tip of the iceberg

On the growth of ammonium nitrate(III) crystals

The growth rate of NH4NO3 phase III crystals is measured and interpreted using two models. The first is a standard crystal growth model based on a spiral growth mechanism, the second outlines the concept of kinetical roughening. As the crystal becomes rough a critical supersaturation can be determined and from this the step free energy. The step free energy versus temperature turns out to be well represented by a Kosterlitz¿Thouless type model. Further a phenomenological treatment of some peculiar growth observations is given

Beyond dis-ease and dis-order:exploring the long-lasting impact of childhood adversity in relation to mental health

The central aim of this dissertation was to investigate underlying mechanisms that may contribute to the emergence of mental illness, specifically focusing on the trajectory from childhood adversity to mental ill-health later in life. For this purpose, the contribution of both genetic and environmental factors in relation to mental health was explored, emphasizing the role of childhood adversity by examining its long-lasting impact at the cognitive, psychological, and psychophysiological level. The detrimental impact of childhood adversity was demonstrated on all levels. Results of this dissertation are supportive for the notion that childhood adversity does not directly impact (mental) health but involves an indirect effect that operates through various pathways that may be biological, psychological and/or social. Finally, it is argued that the body – and all the biological processes it embodies – plays a fundamental role that requires further understanding, addressing, and acknowledging within mental health care