The Common tern (Sterna hirundo) is considered a sentinel wildlife species for monitoring mercury (Hg) and other contaminants within the St. Lawrence River Cornwall/Massena Areas of Concern (AOC). Here, I investigate the relationship between Hg bioaccumulation and diet using stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in adult and chick Common terns from three colonies along a 160 km transect of the upper St. Lawrence River. The foraging range of the colony furthest downstream (EMC) includes both the Massena and Cornwall AOC’s while the two upstream colonies (213 and Ice) are more removed from known point sources of Hg. I also sampled winter- and summer-grown breast feathers to compare diet and Hg exposure on the terns’ breeding ground vs. the terns’ wintering grounds. Hg exposure in summer-grown feathers was significantly higher than Hg exposure in winter grown feathers. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes revealed a switch from a marine-based diet during the winter months to a freshwater-based diet on the breeding grounds. Among colonies in summer-grown and chick feathers, the only significant difference in total mercury (THg) exposure was found in chick feathers where Hg was significantly lower at 213 than Ice – both of which are upstream from the AOC’s. However, THg was negatively correlated with δ13C in both winter and summer feathers, and the most parsimonious multi-regression model for winter and summer feathers indicated that δ13C explains 24 and 25% of the variation in Hg exposure, respectively. This suggests terns foraging offshore bioaccumulate more Hg than individuals foraging inshore or in freshwater (winter feathers), and that during the breeding period, terns foraging in pelagic habitats bioaccumulate more Hg than terns foraging in littoral habitats (summer feathers). For the upper St. Lawrence River, these results provide strong evidence that foraging habitat is more important than colony location in determining Hg exposure in a top trophic consumer. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-06-01 19:35:59.665

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

Individuals who report better relationships with their mental health providers have better treatment outcomes. One element of the relationship is therapist empathy, or the therapist's ability to see the world from the client's point-of-view. Researchers have struggled to define, measure, and teach empathy. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether instruction in character analysis techniques, such as those used by actors, had an effect on cognitive empathy. A convenience sample of 20 adults enrolled in undergraduate or graduate-level coursework was recruited for participation in this study. Each individual provided demographic information and completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Literature Empathy Test (LET). The intervention group (n = 10) participated in a 45-minute character analysis training prior to completing the LET. The control group (n = 10) completed both assessments in a separate meeting with no intervention. A univariate analysis of covariance was used to discover the effect of character analysis training on LET scores in light of IRI scores. The data analysis revealed no significant relationship between the intervention and LET scores, but the findings provided several insights. Future research would benefit from modifications to the LET, inclusion of an additional empathy measure, and revisions to the sample size and inclusion criteria. Although the results of the present study were not significant, this area of research remains a promising means by which to promote social change by informing the pursuit of positive interpersonal relationships and prosocial behaviors

I proffer a defense Reid’s Philosophy of Common Sense. I address the initial implausibility that greets most all of us when we stop to consider the prospects for common sense as guide to knowledge and inquiry. I argue that this initial implausibility is based upon a misapprehension of what Reid understands by common sense. I address the justification of common sense. I argue that common sense is justified, even if we cannot give a reason for it. I present an expansion and refinement of Reid’s notion of common sense as what we must take for granted.

I proffer a defense Reid’s Philosophy of Common Sense. I address the initial implausibility that greets most all of us when we stop to consider the prospects for common sense as guide to knowledge and inquiry. I argue that this initial implausibility is based upon a misapprehension of what Reid understands by common sense. I address the justification of common sense. I argue that common sense is justified, even if we cannot give a reason for it. I present an expansion and refinement of Reid’s notion of common sense as what we must take for granted.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

published_or_final_version / Philosophy / Master / Master of Philosophy

Common Carp, (Cyprinus carpio), have long been associated with the degradation of wetlands worldwide. Through their feeding activities they resuspend sediments leading to reductions in the abundance and diversity of submerged macrophytes, and the alteration of water chemistry which can lead to the phytoplankton-dominated state. This study took in Delta Marsh, a freshwater coastal wetland of Lake Manitoba, in Manitoba, Canada. It was the second part of a four-year study in which baseline data were collected in 2001 from ten ponds (1-13 ha) with varying degrees of connectivity to the main marsh and carp-accessibility. I continued to monitor a subset of the control and altered ponds two and three years following their alteration (2003 and 2004); I included new ponds, including one large open bay (20.3 ha). The overall four-year study has shown that the presence of carp is at least partially responsible for the turbid, phytoplankton-dominated state that exists in Delta Marsh, and that carp abundance is an important factor. Ponds previously isolated then exposed to carp activity, particularly in the spring when they were gathered at high densities, shifted to the turbid, phytoplankton-dominated state with few macrophytes, and the removal of carp from ponds led to the clear-water state, though not necessarily an abundance of macrophytes. Due to the complexity of natural ecosystems, the effects of carp were not as predictable as smaller-scale studies would suggest. In my study, water quality, submerged vegetation biomass and algal growth varied both temporally and spatially in carp-accessible and carp-free ponds. Nutrient deficiency among periphyton assemblages was hypothesized to be alleviated by the presence of carp. Using nutrient diffusing substrata, I found that nutrient deficiencies varied from year to year among carp-free and carp-accessible ponds. In 2003 the hypothesis was supported, however, in 2004 two of the carp-free ponds exhibited no-nutrient limitations to periphyton assemblages while N and P co-limitation became prevalent in one carp-accessible pond. Parameters over which there was no control, such as the spatial and temporal distribution of carp, their density within a pond, water depth and unquantified top-down effects, including zooplankton grazing, may have contributed to the variability of the results.

As mobile devices manage more and more sensitive information they have become a more targeted platform to exploit. To maintain system integrity while providing a highly responsive product, platform developers have developed hardware as well as software solutions to improve security. Until recently however, it was only possible to devise hardware solutions to achieve the security requirements of EU’s Restricted VoIP protocol. This thesis investigates whether a software solution can provide the necessary levels of assurance to protect EU Restricted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications. The thesis covers a literature study over possible approaches to protect sensitive information, which was used in the risk analysis to derive five tests to evaluate the trusted execution environment. The tests show that the trusted execution environment does provide good protection but that the implementation and design greatly influence the robustness and level of assurance that can be expected from the trusted execution environment.