Annual Variation in Bee Community Structure in the Context of Disturbance (Niagara Region, South-Western Ontario)

This study examined annual variation in phenology, abundance and diversity of a bee community during 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008 in recovered landscapes at the southern end of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Overall, 8139 individuals were collected from 26 genera and sub-genera and at least 57 species. These individuals belonged to the 5 families found in eastern North America (Andrenidae, Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae and Megachilidae). The bee community was characterized by three distinct periods of flight activity over the four years studied (early spring, late spring/early summer, and late summer). The number of bees collected in spring was significantly higher than those collected in summer. In 2003 and 2006 abundance was higher, seasons started earlier and lasted longer than in 2004 and 2008, as a result of annual rainfall fluctuations. Differences in abundance for low and high disturbance sites decreased with years. Annual trends of generic richness resembled those detected for species. Likewise, similarity in genus and species composition decreased with time. Abundant and common taxa (13 genera and 18 species) were more persistent than rarer taxa being largely responsible for the annual fluctuations of the overall community. Numerous species were sporadic or newly introduced. The invasive species Anthidium oblongatum was first recorded in Niagara in 2006 and 2008. Previously detected seasonal variation patterns were confirmed. Furthermore, this study contributed to improve our knowledge of temporal dynamics of bee communities. Understanding temporal variation in bee communities is relevant to assessing impacts caused on their habitats by diverse disturbances.

A Home at School: Building Stronger Indigenous People through Cultural Resurgence in an Urban Ontario Public School Context.

In this thesis, I work through the educational narratives of young Aboriginal women and men as I explore the relationship between cultural programming and student engagement. My analysis is structured through a collaborative Indigenous research project. My overarching task is to explore how a cultural support program, the Native Youth Advancement with Education Hamilton (NYA WEH) Program, offered at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School, located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, attempts to re-imagine Aboriginal education in ways that directly challenge the residential school legacy. In particular, I work to illuminate how particular forms of Aboriginal education are connected to the graduation rates of Aboriginal youth. I argue that the ways in which the NYA WEH Program navigates Native Studies curriculum, relationships, and notions of culture and tradition are significant to the engagement of Aboriginal youth. This research develops theoretical connections between the contemporary experience of Aboriginal social inequality and educational initiatives which attempt to reverse that legacy. By placing the NYA WEH Program narratives side-by-side with literature supporting Aboriginal education for Self-determination, I work to learn how to best support and encourage Aboriginal student engagement in secondary schools across Ontario.

Restoration and succession of a bee community in southern St. Catharines, Ontario, within a ten-year study period

A wild bee community in southern St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, was studied from 2003 to 2012 to analyze the effects of primary succession on abundance and diversity. At a former landfill site near Brock University, which previously contained no bees, the number of bees and bee species was expected to increase rapidly following measures to restore the site to grassy meadow habitat. The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) states that over time, succession occurs. Abundance and diversity increase initially and peak when pioneers coexist with specialized species, then decline because of competitive exclusion. Alternatively, abundance and diversity may continue to increase and stabilize without declining. Bees were sampled repeatedly among years from newer restoration sites (revegetated in 2003), older restoration sites on the periphery of the former landfill (revegetated in 2000), and nearby low disturbance grassy field (i.e. control) sites. In the newer sites, bee abundance and diversity increased then decreased while in older restoration and control sites mainly decreased. This pattern of succession matches the general predictions of the IDH, although declines were at least partially related to drought. By 2006, total bee abundance levels converged among all sites, indicating rapid colonization and succession, and by 2012 diversity levels were similar among sites as well, suggesting that the bee community was fully restored or nearly so within the ten-year study period.

Relationship between Socio-Demographic Factors and Familial and Partner Pressures to Conceive in HIV-Positive Women in Ontario

This study examined the relationship between socio-demographic factors and family and partner pressure to conceive in women living with HIV in Ontario, Canada. A total of 490 women, aged 18-52 years were included in the study. The HIV Pregnancy Planning Questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic, medical, and pressure variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggest that increased age, years lived in Canada, and living in Toronto were associated with lower odds, and being married and having 0-1 lifetime births were associated with higher odds of family pressure to conceive. Increased age was associated with lower odds, and being married and living in Toronto were associated with higher odds of partner pressure to conceive. Findings suggest that socio-demographic factors influence the fertility decision-making process. Health care providers should consider socio-demographic factors along with medical factors when assisting women living with HIV and their partners to make informed reproductive decisions.

Creating and Enabling a Sustainable Livelihood for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities: A Comparative Case Study of Ghana and Canada.

Abstract Despite the plethora of published studies on rights, including employment rights, for persons with intellectual disabilities (Hatton, 2002; Tarulli, et al., 2004; Ward & Stewart, 2008), relatively few have discussed their applicability to individuals with intellectual disabilities to facilitate their full involvement in socio-economic development. This study explored the mechanisms facilitating and inhibiting the full participation of persons with intellectual disabilities in the area of employment through a comparative case analysis of policies and practices in Ontario, Canada (a developed country) and in Ghana (a developing country) both of which are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The study employed targeted recruitment based on the nature of the research which is a combination of policy and practice investigation.

Perfil de mercado de las provincias de Canadá a 2012

El proyecto Perfiles de Mercado de las Provincias de Canadá a 2012 busca actualizar las cifras del comercio bilateral presentes en el proyecto que lleva el mismo nombre y que adicionalmente cuenta con estadísticas, variaciones, perfiles demográficos, políticos y económicos de cada una de las provincias canadienses. Los análisis realizados y las conclusiones derivadas de este proyecto fueron suministrados luego de una priorización de los 10 principales productos demandados por cada provincia y a su vez los 10 principales productos exportados por Colombia a cada una de las provincias. Asimismo, verificando coincidencias entre la oferta y la demanda de bienes entre las provincias y Colombia. El potencial que los exportadores encontrarán en este archivo ha sido determinado en base en los productos más comercializados entre los dos países. La información proveída es considerada como una herramienta muy útil tanto para exportadores, empresarios y diferentes agentes de mercado que deseen empezar a hacer negocios con Canadá. Este documento contiene la introducción de cada provincia de Canadá así como los productos que más se destacan en el comercio bilateral y las oportunidades que sobresalen luego de la entrada en vigencia del TLC entre las partes. Adicionalmente, un ranking de los productos que a opinión de los autores (basados en la cifra comercializada de cada uno de los productos entre los países), tienen más oportunidades de entrar fácilmente al mercado canadiense, sea por acción de su bajo arancel o por acción de la demanda por parte de las provincias.

Evaluación de hipermedia en la enseñanza.

Integrar la tecnología hipermedia en la enseñanza no universitaria a partir de la evaluación sobre el uso y el impacto de hipermedia en el proceso de enseñanza. La población o universo de la investigación está constituida por el conjunto de centros docentes, alumnos y profesorado que lo componen, con cuatro subpoblaciones: A) Centros docentes de la región implicados en el proyecto EDUSI situados en el triángulo Cieza, Lorca y Molina de Segura, B) Profesores que trabajan en dichos centros y que elaboran materiales en formato electrónico, C) Unidades didácticas en formato electrónico elaboradas por la subpoblación B, y D) Alumnado que hace uso de C. Se trata de una población jerarquizada. La muestra es incidental y es necesario diferenciar entre muestra invitada y muestra productora de datos. La muestra invitada está compuesta por: 4 centros, 14 profesores, 122 alumnos, 5 asignaturas en formato electrónico, 42 alumnos y 64 alumnos y la muestra productora de datos está formada por: 3 centros, 9 profesores, 85 alumnos, 5 asignaturas, 4 hipermedia y 1 no hipermedia, 18 observadores y 64 alumnos. La experiencia de implementación de materiales en soporte informático se plantea siendo el docente el que construye el material didáctico. En total se elaboraron 5 unidades didácticas en formato electrónico. A excepción de los ejercicios de ortografía de la asignatura de lengua y literatura, todos los materiales presentaban características hipermedia. Análisis descriptivo y comparado de las unidades didácticas. En la fase de observación de cada grupo-clase se eligieron por cada asignatura a seis alumnos distintos para ser observados generando un total de 42 observaciones. Se cumplimentaron 145 cuestionarios, cada uno de ellos corresponde a la evaluación por parte de un alumno, 15 de éstos utilizaron la unidad didáctica de ecología y 19 ejercicios de ortografía dentro de la asignatura de lengua y literatura, 38 alumnos utilizaron la asignatura de música, 24 de sociales y 49 de inglés. Diario (entrevista que recoge información de las sesiones realizadas) Cuestionario (entrevista formal sin entrevistador ni investigador) Un total de cuatro cuestionarios han sido utilizados: Cuestionario de identificación y valoración del contexto (dirigido a profesores, de elaboración propia) Cuestionario de actitudes y conocimiento del medio informático (dirigido a alumnos y adaptado de los de Cabero y Márquez, 1999 y GITE Universidad de Murcia, 2000) Cuestionario de evaluación tras el uso de hipermedia, dirigido a alumnos (EVALALU, que parte de la Herramienta de evaluación de multimedia didáctico EDUTEC'99 y GITE, 2002) Cuestionario acerca del hadware y software para la elaboración e implementación de materiales docentes dirigidos a coordinadores EDUSI (Proyecto EDUSI 1998- 2000 que forma parte del proyecto Ciezanet de la Consejería de Economía y Hacienda de la CARM, proyecto de creación de una intranet educativa regional entre centros docentes de tres municipios: Cieza, Lorca y Molina) que recaba información sobre el equipamiento informático utilizado en los centros docentes. Guía de requerimientos y funcionalidades didácticas en el diseño y creación de sistemas interactivos multimedia (C. Dorado, Universidad Autónoma de Cataluña) Protocolo de observación (REGICOB de Martínez, 1994) dirigido a la observación de aspectos comunicacionales interpersonales, elaborado por encargo de ERITEL. Mapas, elaboración de mapas sociales, espaciales y temporales como proceso complementario al vagabundeo (Rodríguez, Gil y García, 1996) Análisis de contenido, Escalas (diferencial semántico de Osgood y de actitudes de Lickert) matrices (procedimiento cualitativo de tipo textual) Mapas conceptuales y diagramas de flujos. Obtención de un modelo de evaluación con hipermedia que se expone a un grupo de discusión formado por alumnos de segundo ciclo de licenciatura de Pedagogía que, a su vez, incluye a miembros del Grupo de Investigación de Tecnología Educativa (GITE) de la Universidad de Murcia. Las tres dimensiones de evaluación son: seguimiento del medio en sí mismo (evaluación del medio) seguimiento de los elementos curriculares durante el proceso de enseñanza y seguimiento del proceso de aprendizaje (evaluación del aprendizaje). En el estudio se ha trabajado con materiales asincrónicos e interactivos (unidad didáctica en formato electrónico y acceso a páginas web) no obstante, la red ofrece otras posibilidades favorecedoras del trabajo colaborativo entre el profesorado y el alumnado (foros de discusión) correo electrónico o teleconferencia que pueden modificar la concepción del medio haciendo posible el intercambio y la colaboración.

Explorant la jove pagesia: camins, pràctiques i actituds en el marc d'un nou paradigma agrosocial. Estudi comparatiu entre el sud-oest de la província d'Ontario i les comarques gironines

The research has explored the reality of generational renewal in agriculture in order to understand the entry process, the agricultural practices of young people and their attitudes toward a new agrosocial paradigm. The methodology combined qualitative and quantitative techniques based on a comparative analysis between Southern Ontario (Canada) and Catalonia (Spain). The first result is that the pathway to become a farmer is a process consisting of different phases where each profile shows different needs and abilities. The second result verifies how the practices and attitudes of young people vary depending on the family origin. The thesis also analyzes the most relevant results in policy terms. Finally the research shows the reality of an emerging group of young farmers who put in practice a new agrosocial paradigm. This group is made up by continuers and newcomers and we have called them "New peasantry".

Environmental health, indigenous identity, cultural representations and the production of ecological consciousness in Northern Ontario

The primary goal of this research is to document local perspectives by presenting a set of commentaries and meanings, in the form of narratives, related to environmental health conceptions on an Oji-Cree reserve in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Through an ethnographic case study, this research explores how the modern-day production of a sociocentric and ecocentric self, as ethnic marker and moral category, is contributing to environmental/community health and well-being on Native reserves. Cultural representations of personhood and community based on the Medicine Wheel model, as a cognitive model, create an ontological paradigm that promotes a holistic foundation for human behaviour and interaction, as well as healthy, sustainable communities.

(Table 1, page 605) Chemistry of concretions from Grand Lake (GL) and Ship Harbour Lake (SH), Nova Scotia and Mosque Lake (ML), Ontario

Studies by optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and electron probe techniques of ferromanganese concretions from three Canadian lakes reveal chemical banding of amorphous hydrated iron and manganese oxides. The average ratio of iron to manganese in concretions from these lakes varies from 0.43 to 2.56. The concentrations of cobalt, nickel, copper, and lead are one to two orders of magnitude below those reported for oceanic ferromanganese concretions.

(Table 3, page 309) Mercury content of concretions from Grand Lake (GL) and Ship Harbour Lake (SH), Nova Scotia and Mosque Lake (ML), Ontario

Ferromanganese concretions from Grand Lake and Ship Harbour Lake in Nova Scotia and Mosque Lake in Ontario are most common in water 0.5 to 2 m deep. X-ray diffraction studies show the ferromanganese portions of the concretions to he amorphous. Petrographic and electron probe studies of the ferromanganese material reveal chemical banding of iron and manganese. Bulk chemical analyses indicate that the Fe:Mn ratios of concretions from different sites within a single lake are similar, whereas concretions from different lakes have characteristic Fe:Mn ratios. Trace element concs are different in different lakes and are generally several orders of magnitude less than those of oceanic nodules.

Damage detection for truss bridge structures using correlation-based structural modal strain energy

This paper presents the feasibility of using structural modal strain energy as a parameter employed in correlation- based damage detection method for truss bridge structures. It is an extension of the damage detection method adopting multiple damage location assurance criterion. In this paper, the sensitivity of modal strain energy to damage obtained from the analytical model is incorporated into the correlation objective function. Firstly, the sensitivity matrix of modal strain energy to damage is conducted offline, and for an arbitrary damage case, the correlation coefficient (objective function) is calculated by multiplying the sensitivity matrix and damage vector. Then, a genetic algorithm is used to iteratively search the damage vector maximising the correlation between the corresponding modal strain energy change (hypothesised) and its counterpart in measurement. The proposed method is simulated and compared with the conventional methods, e.g. frequency-error method, coordinate modal assurance criterion and multiple damage location assurance criterion using mode shapes on a numerical truss bridge structure. The result demonstrates the modal strain energy correlation method is able to yield acceptable damage detection outcomes with less computing efforts, even in a noise contaminated condition.

Using reputation management in participatory sensing for data classification

Participatory sensing enables collection, processing, dissemination and analysis of environmental sensory data by ordinary citizens, through mobile devices. Researchers have recognized the potential of participatory sensing and attempted applying it to many areas. However, participants may submit low quality, misleading, inaccurate, or even malicious data. Therefore, finding a way to improve the data quality has become a significant issue. This study proposes using reputation management to classify the gathered data and provide useful information for campaign organizers and data analysts to facilitate their decisions.

Young people, children and their social and spatial citizenship rights

The use of public space by young people and children is a major issue in a number of countries and a range of measures are deployed to to control public space which restrict their social and spatial citizenship rights.