Best Selling Books by Jennifer Thomas

The processing of human speech requires the integration of brief auditory stimuli that enter the central nervous system in rapid succession. This ability has been termed rapid auditory processing (RAP). RAP skills are believed to underlie successful language acquisition, and deficits in RAP have been consistently observed in individuals with developmental language impairments (LI). These disorders and the role of RAP in language development have been the focus of much research over the past several decades. However, many questions remain regarding the etiology and remediation of developmental LIs, as well as the normal maturational mechanisms involved in language acquisition, including the role of attention in the modification of neural sound representations. The series of experiments described here investigate the relations among RAP, attention, and language ability in several populations: normal adults, children diagnosed with an LI, and children with typical language development (TLD) using the mismatch negativity response (MMN), a component of the auditory ERP waveform that reflects an automatic auditory change detection process. The impact of an auditory discrimination training program (Fast ForWord-Language?) was also investigated. Results show that in TLD children, developmental MMN components (early and late MMN) are modulated by rate and attention in a manner similar to adults. Attention enhances auditory discrimination in TLD children, increasing auditory processing to a level that is similar to adults. The MMN components in LI children differ from TLD children, particularly in the latency of the responses, consistent with the idea of a RAP deficit underlying developmental LI. In the LI children who completed FFWD, immediate and significant gains in oral language and auditory temporal processing abilities, as well as changes in MMN responses were observed. Further, significant associations are found between behavioral and MMN measures, with the most robust and persistent relations found between behavior and MMN components elicited by paired complex tones presented at a rate in the time range that is essential for accurate speech processing (70 ms). Together, these findings facilitate a better understanding of the role of RAP in language processing, specifically with regard to maturation, attentional mechanisms, and neural plasticity.

Kate, the plantation owner's daughter, and Adamina "Addie," the recently freed slave girl form a beautiful friendship during a treacherous time of havoc. It is 1869, the Civil War is over, and Savannah, GA is looking to be restored again after considerable mayhem. Kate's relatives are as opposed to this friendship as Addie's are encouraging. Together, and through unimaginable tragedy, they take life one day at a time being the best of friends and determined not to let tensions tear them apart. Some girls go through a lifetime and do not find this bond within a friendship. Meet Kate and Addie, the girls who defied the odds

This Juristat summarizes data and trends related to correctional services in Canada, collected from the Adult Correctional Services (ACS) Survey, for the 1998-99 fiscal year. Information is presented on the composition of the correctional system, the number and characteristics of offenders admitted to supervision in custody or the community, and the costs associated with the administration of the correctional system. More detailed data are available in the data table product Adult Correctional Services in Canada, Data Tables, 1998-99 (Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 2000).

My original contribution to knowledge is the assessment of two ballistics analysis systems using the same bullets and cartridge cases to assess interoperability potential. The results are discussed in the context of policing issues representing a multidisciplinary approach to combating gun crime. Microscopic comparison of bullets and cartridge cases allows inferences to be made that objects bear marks from the same weapon. Parts of this process have been automated. Digital images of objects are stored in a database and correlations undertaken to find potential matches. An expert will decide on the most probable match based upon a range of potential candidates. All evidence should be utilised to the fullest extent, including data from ballistics systems. The success rate of the most widely used system has been quoted at between 50% and 95% suggesting that links to other crimes remain undiscovered. There are different ballistics systems available but research has only been conducted on one. There is no interoperability between systems. Data cannot be shared between different systems. An essential pre-requisite to any work on interoperability, is an understanding of the different systems and the data produced. The research aims were to design a methodology to enable the assessment of systems and to produce ammunition that can be used repeatedly as required. The aim was to conduct an experiment with two of the currently available systems. The results show variance between systems and their accuracy needs improvement. An error rate has been defined and applied to each system. The results suggest that complete interoperability of systems will only be possible with the full cooperation of the manufacturers. A limited form of interoperability focussing on data sharing may be possible. The results have implications for experts using the systems and suggest that a matching standard should be developed to make forensic ballistics analysis an objective discipline.

"An author who employs the same character in a number of novels has the tantalizing opportunity to round out and develop that character over time and in a number of situations. In this paper I will examine how two imitators of the Sayers method, Ngio Marsh and Margery Allingham, dealt with the problems and used the opportunities inherent in the detective story form." Student paper.

This series of reports provides detailed statistics and analysis on a variety of topics and issues concerning Canada's justice system. The annual Juristat, Youth Court Statistics, 2003-2004, summarizes trends from provincial/territorial youth courts across Canada, which provide data to the Youth Court Survey (YCS). In this Juristat, information is presented on the characteristics of cases and accused youth, conviction rates, sentencing and related issues. As well, statistics are presented for the thirteen year period from 1991-1992, the first year for which national data are available for the YCS, to the current year, 2003-2004.

This series of reports provides detailed statistics and analysis on a variety of topics and issues concerning Canada's justice system. The annual Juristat, Youth Court Statistics summarizes trends from provincial and territorial youth courts across Canada, which provide data to the Youth Court Survey (YCS). In the 2001/02 Juristat, information is presented on the characteristics of cases and accused youth, conviction rates, sentencing trends and related issues. As well, statistics are presented for a 10-year period (1992/93 through 2001/02).

Showing empathy is fast emerging as a leadership superpower. At a time of overstretched teams, fast-paced change and high organizational ambitions, companies need project professionals with the ability to truly understand what a team member is feeling and experiencing -- and manage how that affects their project work. Fostering an empathetic culture can lead to stronger collaboration, less stress, fewer conflicts and faster recovery from burnout.

The Slow Beginning of a Winding Tale" begins Jennifer Thomas-Mitchell's much-anticipated Quincy York Trilogy.When Quincy, the ten-year-old child of a mentally ill widow, is falsely demonized by his stepfather as a compound of sin, his "monster" uncle sends him off on an unexpected journey. As Quincy wanders, he meets a diverse group of acquaintances and lands himself at the hub of numerous conjoined mysteries.Thomas-Mitchell invokes a great deal of candor and a twist of folklore into an inspiring work of art. Vehement and poetic, the Quincy York trilogy questions the nature of family, culture, and authority in an intensely diverse society and serves as an urgent plea from those who have been swept to the fringes, but refuse to be ignored.