The purpose of this thesis is to explore the experiences of Black women regarding air pollution in Toronto. Specifically, it explores the experiences of Black women in Toronto in regard to air pollution and the connections to air pollution and other barriers that Black women may face in Toronto. The thesis used qualitative research alongside air pollution literature in Canada to explain these experiences. The thesis will use the definition of environmental racism and the main theoretical framework of racial capitalism. In Chapter 1, there is a general discussion on the impacts of air pollution, with mention of a ruling of the first death caused by air pollution in the world, in order to showcase the growing concern associated with exposure to air pollution. Furthermore, this chapter explains how air pollution affects population health and focuses on the impact of specific chemicals and compounds associated with air pollution. In Chapter 2, discusses why Black women and their experiences with air pollution are unique compared to the general population in Canada. Furthermore, this chapter explains air pollution and its effects in Toronto, Ontario, including the sources of traffic and industrial air pollution levels, while emphasising the unequal burden of air pollution affecting lower-income groups in Toronto. Chapter 4 explains the theoretical approaches. Chapter 5 will discuss the interview analysis, verbatim quotes from participants and connecting the theories mentioned in the literature review portion to what the participants have mentioned. Chapter 6 will conclude the thesis. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

In engineering and STEM, internships are upheld as "high impact" practices and recommended to students by faculty, staff, and peers. Furthermore, there is a significant amount of research focused on the positive outcomes and benefits of participating in internship programs. Due to the calls to increase the quality and quantity of internships for students, it is important to explore and deepen our understanding of students' experiences in such programs. Through this dissertation, I explored engineering undergraduate students' experiences in a particular research-focused internship program. Specifically, I explored the influence of programmatic elements on students' experiences, students' perceptions of situated learning, and students' perceptions of sense of belonging in relation to their intent to return. The overarching study and resulting manuscripts provide additional detail to underlying phenomena and mechanisms that contributed to students' experiences in one program. The two most salient findings from the overarching study were the importance of both social interaction and learning in students' experiences. This work suggests key questions for practitioners and those who work with STEM students or internship programs. Future work should be conducted to continue to explore students' experiences in engineering internships and to continue to increase our understanding of how to better educate and train our students. / Doctor of Philosophy / Internships provide an important hands-on and professional development opportunity for undergraduate students in STEM. There have been many studies focused on the positive impacts of doing internships, however, it is important to understand what leads to and supports positive impacts. This study focused on three different areas of an internship program. Specifically, I looked at how program design influenced students' experiences, students' perceptions of learning, and how sense of belonging influenced intent to return after the internship program. The results of this work added to our knowledge of how internships support students' experiences. Through conducting the three studies, social interaction and learning emerged as two important aspects in students' experiences. In the discussion, this study provides key questions for practitioners and people who work with STEM students or internship programs. Lastly, future work should be conducted to continue to explore students' experiences in engineering internships and to continue to increase our understanding of how to better educate and train students.

This study aims to explore the experiences of women students with non-European background of inclusiveness of teaching practices in higher education (HE) in Sweden, and the potential relationship with sense of belonging and mattering. This may inform how the unique challenges and needs of this group can be better met, subsequently facilitating related positive outcomes. This was achieved by conducting qualitative individual interviews with six woman student participants with non-European backgrounds. Their experiences were reviewed and depicted aligned with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to gain insight to each authentic individual account separately. This was followed by both individual as well as collective analysis, using Thematic Analysis, to go beyond personal experience, to additionally explore overarching patterns, similarities, and differences across cases, placing them in the specific context and factors that were of interest. Collective themes emerged, and findings from this inductive approach were consistent with the application of Critical Race Feminism as a theoretical framework to evaluate and interpret the meaning of the results. Common themes and factors were identified that may affect the inclusiveness of teaching practices, as well as affect sense of belonging and mattering. The themes and subthemes were; relationships (classmates, HE- and private-life separation), cultural differences (social differences, teaching practices differences), belonging and mattering, discrimination (language, microaggressions, reaction and coping), and inclusive teaching practices. Positive experiences of inclusive teaching practices seemed to be positively related to sense of belonging mainly, while mattering seemed to be dependent on specific situational factors, or meaningful relationships. Experiences of implicit racial and gendered discrimination in form of microaggressions were prevalent, and may influence experiences and perceptions of teaching practices. Additionally, participants may have adopted passive reactions and coping mechanisms that ignore, trivialise, or normalise this, which may create barriers from achieving equality, diversity, and inclusion as it allows implicit discrimination to remain concealed. Thus, this may potentially give the impression to majority groups that there is no apparent need to improve and implement inclusive teaching practices further. While in reality, the findings indicated that more active and conscious efforts to design and implement inclusive teaching practices that are underpinned by student-centred and relational pedagogies with additional aspects of culturally responsive, transformational, and anti-racist feminist pedagogies, are necessary to improve experiences of inclusion, sense of belonging, and mattering, while mitigating implicit forms of discrimination. Implications of the findings include that they may inform design and implementation of effective inclusive teaching practices that address the unique challenges and needs of this group in the Swedish HE context, and ultimately reduce the negative effects of discrimination. It was concluded that while most participants described overall positive experiences of inclusive teaching practices in Swedish HE, there were simply more implicit and concealed forms of discrimination, emphasising the importance of the institutions and teachers to take responsibility and actively design and implement inclusive teaching practices that also address implicit discrimination, since they have mainly been concerned with explicit forms so far. This may help remove barriers from improving sense of belonging and mattering further.

No / This paper investigates the subjective experiences of older women living alone with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular or mixed dementia. Eight women were interviewed to explore how they managed their identities and coped with day-to-day living, in the absence of a significant co-resident other who might reflect them back to themselves. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis themes emerged about loss, embodiment, adapting, awareness, safety, relationships, exclusion and loneliness. Memory loss had the most significant impact through loss of independence. However, the women were actively engaged in re-constructing their sense of self, using a variety of coping strategies. Relationships with friends, neighbours and attendance at memory clubs were important. A search for meaningful relationships was apparent, conflicting with feeling vulnerable and a consequent desire for self protection.

Uppsatsen handlar om tre verksamhetschefers och en behandlingsassistents uppfattningar om hur ungdomar som vistas på Hem för vård och boende (HVB)- eller Statens Institutionsstyrelse –hem (SiS, som kan använda låsbara avdelningar), påverkas av de omplaceringar som sker när ungdomen flyttar från SiS till HVB. I den här studien fokuserar vi på en specifik del i behandlingen, som kan påverka ungdomar som är vårdplacerade – omplaceringar mellan vårdboenden. Vi undersöker bland annat hur dessa omplaceringar går till/skulle kunna gå till, samt vilka anledningar som kan tänkas vara bakgrunden till att en ungdom omplaceras. Som underlag för vår studie har vi utöver litteratur och forskning inom området, genomfört fyra intervjuer med personal från HVB och SiS boenden. Vi använder anknytningsteorin och Sense of coherence modellen som teoretisk referensram. Resultatet visar att det finns brister gällande omplaceringar. Samtliga informanter önskade mer tid till förberedelserna i arbetet med ungdomen som ska flytta in. Ett önskemål vore att det från beslut till inflyttning skulle ta 3-6 månader, då det ger möjlighet för personalen på det nya boendet att besöka ungdomen och börja knyta band redan innan flytten ska genomföras. Slutsatsen blir att omplaceringen spelar roll för ungdomens behandling och vistelse på boendet. Samtidigt är det oroväckande att det saknas tydliga riktlinjer för hur dessa omplaceringar ska ske. Om mer resurser och tydligare riktlinjer kring omplaceringar gavs, kan det minska det antal omplaceringar där ungdomen tvingas flytta tillbaka till SiS. Idag får ungefär var fjärde ungdom flytta tillbaka igen. / This paper investigates the perspective of managers' and processing staffs concerning young people living on a Home for care or living(HVB)- or Institutional board of the states- home (SiS - they can use lockable departments), and how they think youths are affected by the transfer between SiS and HVB. This study focus on factors that can affect young people's health - replacing youths between different nursing homes. The paper investigates how these replacements are performed/could be performed, as well as the underlying factors that might explain why a youth is being relocated. As a basis for our study, in addition to the literature and research in the field, we have conducted four interviews with personnel from HVB- and SiS- accommodations. We use the attachment theory and the Sense of coherence theory as a theoretical frame. The results show that there are shortcomings in the process of redeployment. All informants wanted more time to prepare the work of a youth who is about to move. A proposal from the informants, was that the process from decision to the actual moving should take between 3-6 months. This would give the staff in the new accommodation a chance to visit the youth and begin to build ties, before the move is implemented. The conclusion is that the transfer has an important role in the treatment and the stay of the youth. At the same time, it is of great concern that there are no clear guidelines for how these replacements should be performed. If there would be more resources and clearer guidelines for how redeployments should be handled, it might perhaps reduce the number of shifts where young people are moving back to SiS. Today approximately one of four youth needs to move back.

The primary objective was to determine whether there is a relationship between emotional intelligence, locus of control and sense of coherence in a market research organisation. A secondary objective was to determine whether individuals from various biographical groups differed significantly in terms of emotional intelligence, locus of control and sense of coherence. A sample of 179 participants completed the Bar-On EQ-i, Locus of Control Inventory and Sense of Coherence Scale. There was a statistically significant relationship between emotional intelligence, locus of control and sense of coherence. No significant gender differences were found. Furthermore, the findings showed differences between occupational levels in terms of both internal locus of control and sense of coherence, but not for emotional intelligence. No significant differences were evident between education, work experience or age in terms of the three constructs. An emotional intelligence intervention programme was recommended, as well as the use of an emotional intelligence assessment instrument. Recommendations for future research included broadening the relevance of the results. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Abstrakt Bakgrund: Antonovskys sense of coherence (SOC)/känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) är ett globalt använt begrepp. Mätverktyget SOC-skalan som förekommer i minst 15 olika versioner används inom många olika vetenskapliga studier. Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att beskriva vilka perspektiv och huvudsakliga resultat som lyfts fram i samtida svensk vetenskaplig forskning kring stress som använder SOC-begreppet och SOC-skalan. Metod: Text- och innehållsanalys av forskningsfokus och perspektiv i de senaste fem årens vetenskapliga studier kring stress och sense of coherence i Sverige. Resultat: SOC-skalan används i studier med olika design inom många olika forskningsområden. Dominerande perspektiv i samtida svensk forskning med SOC-skalan som huvudsakligt eller kompletterande verktyg är det holistiska perspektivet, individperspektivet, genusperspektivet samt föräldraperspektivet. Diskussion: SOC-skalans vetenskapliga användning speglar dagens svenska samhälls- och diskussionsklimat. SOC-skalans validitet och reliabilitet förblir föremål för diskussion, då olika versioner av SOC-skalan ger olika resultat och olika möjligheter till analys. / Abstract Background: Antonovsky’s sense of coherence (SOC) is a globally used concept. The SOC scale tool exists in at least 15 different versions and is used in many different scientific studies. The aim of this literature review is to describe which perspectives and main results are highlighted in contemporary Swedish research concerning stress that uses the SOC concept and the SOC scale. Method: Text and content analysis concerning research focus and perspectives in scientific studies concerning stress and sense of coherence in Sweden in the last five years. Results: The SOC scale is used in studies of different designs within many different fields of research. Dominating perspectives in contemporary Swedish research using the SOC scale as a main or complementary tool are the holistic perspective, the individual perspective, the gender perspective and the parental perspective. Discussion: The scientific use of the SOC scale reflects the social discussion climate in Sweden of today. The validity and reliability of the SOC scale remain subjects of discussion, as different versions of the SOC scale give different results and different analyzing possibilities.

Cognitive Linguistics has been widely used to deal with the ambiguity generated by words in combination. Although this domain offers many solutions to address this challenge, not all of them can be implemented in a computational environment. The Dynamic Construal of Meaning framework is argued to have this ability because it describes an intrinsic degree of association of meanings, which in turn, can be translated into computational programs. A limitation towards a computational approach, however, has been the lack of syntactic parameters. This research argues that this limitation could be overcome with the aid of the Generative Lexicon Theory (GLT). Specifically, this dissertation formulated possible means to marry the GLT and Cognitive Linguistics in a novel rapprochement between the two. This bond between opposing theories provided the means to design a computational template (the AXEL System) by realising syntax and semantics at software levels. An instance of the AXEL system was created using a Design Research approach. Planned iterations were involved in the development to improve artefact performance. Such iterations boosted performance-improving, which accounted for the degree of association of meanings in three-noun compounds. This dissertation delivered three major contributions on the brink of a so-called turning point in Computational Linguistics (CL). First, the AXEL system was used to disclose hidden lexical patterns on ambiguity. These patterns are difficult, if not impossible, to be identified without automatic techniques. This research claimed that these patterns can assist audiences of linguists to review lexical knowledge on a software-based viewpoint. Following linguistic awareness, the second result advocated for the adoption of improved resources by decreasing electronic space of Sense Enumerative Lexicons (SELs). The AXEL system deployed the generation of “at the moment of use” interpretations, optimising the way the space is needed for lexical storage. Finally, this research introduced a subsystem of metrics to characterise an ambiguous degree of association of three-noun compounds enabling ranking methods. Weighing methods delivered mechanisms of classification of meanings towards Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD). Overall these results attempted to tackle difficulties in understanding studies of Lexical Semantics via software tools.

A ambiguidade lexical é considerada uma das principais barreiras para melhoria de aplicações do Processamento de Língua Natural (PLN). Neste contexto, tem-se a área de Desambiguação Lexical de Sentido (DLS), cujo objetivo é desenvolver e avaliar métodos que determinem o sentido correto de uma palavra em um determinado contexto por meio de um conjunto finito de possíveis significados. A DLS é empregada, principalmente, no intuito de prover recursos e ferramentas para diminuir problemas de ambiguidade e, consequentemente, contribuir para melhorias de resultados em outras áreas do PLN. Para o Português do Brasil, pouco se tem pesquisado nesta área, havendo alguns trabalhos bem específicos de domínio. Outro fator importante é que diversas áreas do PLN engajam-se no cenário multidocumento, onde a computação é efetuada sobre uma coleção de textos, todavia, não há relato de trabalhos de DLS direcionados a este cenário, tampouco experimentos de desambiguação neste domínio. Portanto, neste trabalho de mestrado, objetivou-se o desenvolvimento de métodos de DLS de domínio geral voltado à língua Portuguesa do Brasil e o desenvolvimento de algoritmos de desambiguação que façam uso de informações multidocumento, bem como a experimentação e avaliação destes no cenário multidocumento. Para tanto, a fim de subsidiar experimentos, desenvolvimento e avaliação deste projeto, anotou-se manualmente o córpus CSTNews, caracterizado como um córpus multidocumento, utilizando a WordNet de Princeton como repositório de sentidos, que organiza os significados por meio de conjuntos de sinônimos ( synsets) e relações linguísticas entre estes. Foram desenvolvidos quatro métodos de DLS e algumas variações, sendo: um método heurístico (para aferir valores de baseline); variações do algoritmo de Lesk (1986); adaptação do algoritmo de Mihalcea and Moldovan (1999); e uma variação do método de Lesk para o cenário multidocumento. Foram realizados três experimentos para avaliação dos métodos, cujos objetivos foram: determinar o desempenho geral dos algoritmos em todo o córpus; avaliar a qualidade de desambiguação de palavras mais ambíguas no córpus; e verificar o ganho de qualidade da desambiguação ao empregar informação multidocumento. Após estes experimentos, pôde-se observar que o método heurístico apresenta um melhor resultado geral. Contudo, é importante ressaltar que a maioria das palavras anotadas no córpus tiveram apenas um synset, que, normalmente, era o mais frequente, o que, consequentemente, apresenta um cenário mais propício ao método heurístico. Outro fato importante foi que, neste cenário, a diferença de desempenho entre o método de DLS multidocumento e o heurístico é estatisticamente irrelevante. Já para a desambiguação de palavras mais ambíguas, o método heurístico foi inferior, evidenciando que, para a desambiguação de palavras mais ambíguas, são necessários métodos mais sofisticados de DLS. Por fim, verificou-se que a utilização de informação multidocumento auxilia o processo de desambiguação. As contribuições deste trabalho podem ser agrupadas entre teóricas e técnicas. Nas teóricas, tem-se a investigação e análises da DLS no cenário multidocumento. Entre as contribuições técnicas, foram desenvolvidos métodos de DLS, um córpus anotado e uma ferramenta de anotação direcionados à língua Portuguesa do Brasil, que podem avançar as pesquisas em DLS para o idioma / The lexical ambiguity is considered one of the main barries to improving applications of Natural Language Processing (NLP). In this context, it has benn the area of Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD), whose goal is to develop and evaluate methods to determine the correct sense of a word in a give context by a nite set of possible meanings. The DLS is used mainly in order to provide resources and tools to reduce problems of ambiguity and thus contribute to improved results in other areas of NLP. In the Portuguese of Brazil, little has been researched in this area, with some work and specic domain. Another important factor is that many areas of NLP commit themselves in multidocument scenario, where the computation is performed on a collection of texts, however, there is no report of WSD work directed to this scenario, either disambiguation experiments in this eld. Therefore, this master thesis aimed to develop methods of WSD general domain facing the Portuguese language in Brazil and the development of algorithms that make use of disambiguation multidocument informations, as well as experimentation and evaluation of the multidocument scenario. Therefore, in order to support experiments, development and evaluation of this project, the corpus CSTNews with 50 document collections, was manually annotated by means of synsets of the WordNet Princeton. Four methods were developed: A heuristic method (to measure values fo baseline); variations of the Lesk (1986) algorithm; a adaptation of the Mihalcea and Moldovan (1999) algorithm; and a variation of the Lesk method for multidocument scenario. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the methods, whose objectives were to determine the general performance algorithms across the corpus; evaluate the quality of disambiguation of most ambiguous words in the corpus, and check the gain quality of disambiguation by employing information multidocumento. After these experiments, it was observed that the heuristic method presents a better overall result. However, it is important to note that most of the words in the annotated corpus had only one synset, which usually was the most frequent, which, in turn, presents a scenario more conducive to the heuristic method. Another important fact was that in this scenario, the performance dierence between the heuristic method and multidocument algorithm was statistically irrelevant. As for the disambiguation of most ambiguous words, the heuristic method was lower, indicating that, for the disambiguation of ambiguous words, more sophisticated WSD methods are needed. Finally, it has been found that the use of multidocument information assists the disambiguation process. The contributions of this work can be divided between theoretical and technical. In theory, there is the research and analysis of WSD in multidocument scenario. Among the techniques contributions, WSD methods have been developed an annotated corpus and annotation tool targeted to the Portuguese language in Brazil that can advance research in WSD for the language

The five stories in this collection are an exploration of realist fiction through a variety of narrative points of view and a diversity of characters. The stories explore issues of class, age, work and family, but in each piece, the characters struggle in their own way to discover a sense of belonging in their own lives. Central to each of these stories is a sense of place. All are set in the American west, most in rural California and the land and activities of place provide not only a specific landscape, but often a limitation, a narrative element against which the characters both resist and find their truest home.