title: Supercritical aqueous solutions of sodium chloride: Classical insights into nucleation and reactivity

contributor:
Svishchev, Igor M.
Chemistry

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subject:
Supercritical water
Molecular Dynamics
Particle electrostatics
Order parameter

abstract: Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-03 13:54:56.021

abstract:
In recent years, technologies using supercritical water have gained considerable attention, mainly due to versatility and uniqueness of water at elevated temperatures and pressures. The physical conditions required to generate supercritical water also make it prone to large intrinsic thermal and density fluctuations, exacerbated if there are impurities present in the system. These fluctuations induce nucleation, the initial stage of a first-order phase transition, and subsequent mixing of the new phase within the original phase. When this new phase reaches its critical size it grows irreversibly to macroscopic proportions, otherwise, tending to disintegrate. The presence of a polydispersed solid phase within the supercritical phase is responsible for unfavorable phenomena such as particle deposition and corrosion of structural components, both of which result in decreased efficiency and reliability of the supercritical water employing process.
Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation method has been the primary tool of investigation. Molecular motions are tracked on the femto and picosecond time-scales which are particularly important for the study of nucleation. Sodium chloride has been chosen in this research since it is computationally tractable and is unavoidably involved in most industrial water based applications. Cluster size distributions, the size of critical nuclei and cluster life-times are reported. The size distribution of emerging clusters shows a very strong dependence on the system’s density, with larger clusters preferentially formed at lower densities.
Also, a materials science application is presented where the rapid quenching of hydrothermally formed sodium chloride clusters leads to a variety of nanostructures, characterizable by prominent vibrational modes. And lastly, during the conditions prior to crystallization, water is not only physically adsorbed to the cluster’s surface but also exists in a “confined” state within subsurface regions for several picoseconds during the nucleation process. A mechanism for the sodium chloride hydrolysis reaction is presented as well as showing that asymmetric electrostatic fields generated by the coalescing ions are on the order of 1010 V/m, sufficient to drive the hydrolysis of confined water molecules. The HCl molecule and hydroxide ions are formed, with the latter segregating preferentially to sub-surface regions in the amorphous NaCl particles. Both HCl and hydroxide are implicated in corrosion.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: An ergonomic evaluation of Speed Fastening work rates

contributor:
Stevenson, Joan M.
Kinesiology and Health Studies

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rights: This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.

subject:
Work Rate
Speed Fastening
Hand Tool
Electromyography
Kinematics
Perceived Exertion

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-02 00:01:36.701

abstract:
Present day manufacturing assembly relies extensively on a variety of fasteners for the assembly of sub-systems, components and trim. Speed Fastening (SF) is one commonly used non-structural assembly fastening method. The primary limitation of SF is the lack of continuously fed rivets. One path to productivity improvement for SF is the development of a continuously feed tool that would eliminate the non-value added time currently scheduled for reloading in the work cycle. In preparation for the design of a new tool, a proactive ergonomic investigation was carried out to examine differences in muscular effort, upper-body posture, as well as subjective ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort across three different work rates for a simulated SF task conducted in a laboratory setting. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the ergonomic consequences that an increase in work rate would have on SF operators.
Twelve healthy female subjects participated in simulated SF work over four test-sessions. The first test session familiarized subjects with the SF tasks as well as the data collection protocol. Subsequent test days, which were scheduled 24 hours apart, were block randomized to one of three work rates (7, 14 and 21 fasteners/min.) with subjects required to complete 120 minutes of a simulated SF task at both waist and shoulder height using a 50% work to rest duty cycle.
The results of this study show significant increases in the amount of muscular activity required to complete the simulated SF, particularly for the 21 fasteners per minute work rate, with increases in peak sEMG amplitudes ranging from 3-12% MVIC. Specifically these increases were most marked in the forearm extensor muscles. In addition, significantly deviated postures were found in upper-limb joint ROM data, particularly when SF work was completed at shoulder height.
Overall, based on the increased exposure to risk factors known to be precursors for workplace injury (i.e. repetition and awkward posture), it is inferred that an increase in work rate will put SF operators at an elevated risk of musculoskeletal injury. It is expected that this risk would be even more pronounced for work completed at shoulder height.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Liquid Photography? Narrative and Technology in Digital Photographic Practices

contributor:
Hand, Martin
Sociology

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subject:
Sociology
Digital Photography

abstract: Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-09 11:01:58.955

abstract:
This thesis is about emerging changes in photography and imaging related to digitization and how we might approach and understand them, particularly in terms of their impact upon how narratives are constructed. By focusing on the accounts of Queen’s University students this thesis examines the new ways of making, storing, distributing, and viewing images that have emerged with digital photography. Additionally, it looks at the cultural conventions of photography (particularly in relation to the documenting and organization of memory) that remain intact and have important implications for the reception of use of new digital technologies and how these are used to construct narratives.
This thesis also looks at the digitization of photography in relation to broader theoretical debates about the dynamics and shifts associated with modernity, postmodernity and ‘global information culture’. Contemporary society is often seen as more capitalist, and in many ways, this is an era of increasing uncertainty, fluidity, and fragmentation. This thesis examines the affinity between the supposed ‘death of narrative’ in social theory and the ‘death of photography’ in terms of how they relate to the ordinary practices of amateur digital photographers.
Specific focus is given to Bauman’s (2000) theory of ‘liquid modernity’ and how it offers a compelling account of contemporary society, specifically in terms of changes in narrative and how many individuals are faced with developing ‘biographical solutions’ to systemic problems of increasing uncertainty and fragmentation in the context of globalization and informationalization. In doing so, this thesis aims to address gaps in existing research on digitization that fails to capture the subtleties encountered in the everyday experiences of those engaged in taking the digital turn.

abstract: M.A.


title: One Teacher’s Focus on Reading in a Grade 9 Mathematics Classroom: A case study

contributor:
Colgan, Lynda
Education

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subject:
reading text
mathematics classroom

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-06 13:51:42.326

abstract:
This thesis reports on a qualitative study that documented one teacher’s research-based practice of teaching students to read in a Grade 9 ESL Academic mathematics course. Specifically, this thesis focuses on the description of the range of strategies and reading-based activities that the teacher used; the experiences and influences that led him to include reading strategies in his regular instructional practice; and, the challenges that he faced when integrating these strategies routinely as part of his daily mathematics program. The complexity of simultaneously teaching mathematics and reading strategies in the context of a Grade 9 ESL Academic course is also discussed.
The study was conducted early in the second semester of the 2007-2008 school year. A variety of data collection methods were used: interview, classroom observation, and document collection. The findings of the study provide concrete examples of designing lessons that embed the use of reading strategies (e.g., vocabulary development, reading supplementary text, and reflection) to teach or inform mathematics concepts. The large number of ESL students in the observed class underscored the importance of incorporating reading strategies into the mathematics program in order to facilitate ESL students’ language learning processes. The teacher under study focused on using additional literature as an aid to develop students’ deeper understanding of mathematics concepts and introduced reading strategies as a means to improve students’ reading comprehension of supplementary text; however, he did not apply these strategies to lessons directed at the comprehension of specific mathematics text. The conclusions suggest that mathematics teachers require substantive classroom-based evidence and support from Ministry of Education personnel, subject specialists, school administrators, and peers in order to be convinced of the value of reading in mathematics class and to embark on their own program for implementing reading strategies and reading-based activities into regular mathematics learning activities.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Regulation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 by the caveolae protein, caveolin-1

contributor:
Raptis, Leda
Microbiology and Immunology

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subject:
signal transduction
cell and molecular biology
cell adhesion
Stat3
caveolin 1
confluence

abstract: Thesis (Master, Microbiology & Immunology) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-09 20:53:54.787

abstract:
The signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat3) is a latent cytoplasmic protein that is activated through phosphorylation of tyrosine-705 by a number of receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases. This leads to Stat3 dimerization by reciprocal SH2-ptyr interactions, followed by translocation to the nucleus to initiate transcription of genes involved in cell growth, survival, and differentiation. Many of these signaling molecules known to activate Stat3 concentrate in specialized plasma membrane microdomains called caveolae, and are sequestered in an inactive state to the caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD) of the main caveolae resident protein, caveolin-1 (cav1). Since many of these signaling molecules are known, potent Stat3 stimulators, we set out to examine the effect of cav1 upon Stat3 activity.
To this effect, cav1 was downregulated using a cholesterol chelator (methylcyclodextrin), or an antisense approach. Since we previously found that cell density can dramatically activate Stat3, all experiments were conducted at several densities. The results show that cav1 downregulation causes an increase in Stat3-tyr705 phosphorylation at all densities examined. We next examined the effect of cav1 upregulation upon Stat3 activity by transfecting an EGFP-cav1 construct. The results revealed that cav1 overexpression using this construct reduces Stat3 activity and induces apoptosis, which can be overcome by expression of a constitutively active form of Stat3. Finally, by expressing a Stat3 shRNA with an adenovirus vector, we demonstrated that Stat3 downregulation leads to an increase in cav1 levels. These results reveal the presence of a potent, negative regulatory relationship between cav1 and Stat3 phosphorylation.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Biotransformation and DNA Repair in 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-Induced Pulmonary Carcinogenesis

contributor:
Massey, Thomas E.
Pharmacology and Toxicology

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subject: Biotransformation

subject: Cytochromes P450

subject: DNA repair

subject: Nucleotide excision repair

subject: Pulmonary carcinogenesis

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-13 14:10:01.603

abstract:
Studies described in this thesis were at aimed at characterizing the mechanisms involved in the pulmonary carcinogenicity of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), by addressing two critical determinants of carcinogenicity; biotransformation and DNA repair.
The contributions of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2A13 and CYP2A6 to NNK biotransformation in human lung microsomes were investigated.  Based on total bioactivation and detoxification of NNK and its keto-reduced metabolite, 4 (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), subjects could be classified as either high or low bioactivators and detoxifiers.  Data from all of 29 individuals revealed no correlations between levels of CYP2A mRNA, enzyme activity or immunoinhibition and the degree of total NNK bioactivation or detoxification.  However, subgroups were identified for whom CYP2A13 mRNA correlated with total NNK and NNAL bioactivation (n=4) and NNAL detoxification (n=5).  Although results do not support CYP2A13 or CYP2A6 as predominant contributors to NNK metabolism in lung of all individuals, CYP2A13 appears to be important in some.
The involvement of nucleotide excision repair (NER) in the repair of NNK-induced DNA pyridyloxobutylation was assessed.  Extracts from NER-deficient cells were less active at repairing pyridyloxobutyl (POB) adducts on plasmid DNA than were extracts from normal cells, and NER-deficient cells were more susceptible to 4-(acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc)-induced cytotoxicity, demonstrating the participation of NER in the repair of POB-DNA adducts.
The role of DNA repair in contributing to inter-organ susceptibility to NNK-induced carcinogenesis was investigated.  POB adduct repair was greater in extracts from mouse liver than lung, and activities in lungs of NNK-treated mice were lower than those of saline-treated mice, while repair was 3 times higher in livers of NNK-treated mice relative to control.  NNK treatment decreased incision of POB adducts by 92 % in lung extracts and increased incision by 169 % in liver extracts.  In addition, NNK altered the levels and binding to POB damage of key incision proteins.  These results suggest that lower NER incision activity and NNK-mediated alterations in levels and activities of incision proteins contribute to the relative susceptibility of mouse lung to NNK-induced carcinogenesis.

abstract: PhD


title: A Sensor-Based Approach to Monitoring Web Service

contributor:
Martin, Patrick
Computing

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subject:
Web Service
Monitoring
Autonomic Computing
Complex Event Processing
Policy
Event
SOA
EDA

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-12 16:20:13.738

abstract:
As the use of Web expands, Web Service is gradually becoming the basic system infrastructure. However, as it matures and a large number of Web Service becomes available, the focus will shift from service development to service management. One key component in management systems is monitoring. The growing complexity of Web Service platforms and their dynamically varying workloads make manually monitoring them a demanding task. Therefore monitoring tools are required to support the management efforts.
Our approach, Web Service Monitoring System (WSMS), utilizes Autonomic Computing technology to monitor Web Service for an automated manager. WSMS correlates lower level events into a meaningful diagnosed symptom which provides higher level information for problem determination. It also gains the ability to take autonomic actions and solve the original problem using corrective actions. In this thesis, a complete design of WSMS is presented along with a practical implementation showing viability and proof of concept of WSMS.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Paleolimnological assessment of Holocene climatic and environmental change in two lakes located in different regions of the Canadian Arctic tundra

contributor:
Smol, John P.
Biology

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subject:
paleolimnology
Arctic
diatoms
climate change
Holocene
saline
8.2k event

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-12 16:46:47.174

abstract:
Paleoclimatic research in the Canadian Arctic has increased in recent decades; however, there is still much to learn about the nature and extent of past climate change in this vast, environmentally sensitive region.  This thesis uses diatom assemblages in dated lake sediment cores as proxy indicators to infer how climate has changed over the Holocene in two very different lakes in the central Canadian Arctic: one located in a poorly-studied geographical region, and another possessing limnological characteristics that are unusual in an Arctic context.
Lake TK-2 is located in the low Arctic tundra.  Paleolimnological studies from this region are lacking, as most have centered on sites in the High Arctic Archipelago or around Subarctic treeline.  Marked changes in the diatom assemblages in TK-2 throughout the Holocene included potential evidence for the 8.2k cooling event, which has not been previously reported from other Canadian Arctic paleolimnological studies.  In addition, diatom shifts occurring ~7000 and ~3500 cal yr BP are indicative of mid-Holocene warming and subsequent Neoglacial cooling, respectively, the timings of which agree with those from other studies farther south.  Finally, shifts in the diatom assemblages in the upper sediment layers, beginning in the early-to-mid 19th century, are consistent with reduced ice cover, related to recent warming.
Stygge Nunatak Pond, a small, closed-basin pond located on a nunatak in the High Arctic on Ellesmere Island, is characterized by unusually high ionic concentrations for an inland Arctic pond.  As in TK-2, Stygge’s diatom assemblages changed substantially throughout the Holocene, but especially in the most recent sediments.  Diatom shifts near ~10,500 cal yr BP suggest an early onset for the Holocene Thermal Maximum (and for the successive Neoglacial cooling trend) in this region, consistent with previous studies from the High Arctic.  Marked diatom assemblage changes occurred in the most recent sediments, and are indicative of climate warming and reduced ice cover, as well as increased ionic concentration due to enhanced evaporative concentration.  The dynamic nature of the diatom assemblage changes at the Stygge site suggests that sediments from these rare athalassic ponds represent an especially sensitive archive of Arctic climatic and environmental change.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Using Economic Models to Tune Resource Allocations in Database Management Systems

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subject:
Database Management Systems
Computer Science

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-17 15:35:50.303

abstract:
Resource allocation in a database management system (DBMS) is a performance management process in which an autonomic DBMS makes resource allocation decisions based on properties like workload business importance. We propose the use of economic models in a DBMS to guide the resource allocation decisions. An economic model is described in terms of business trades and concepts, and it has been successfully applied in some computer system resource allocation problems.
In this thesis, we present approaches that use economic models to allocate single and multiple DBMS resources, such as main memory buffer pool space and system CPU shares, to workloads running concurrently on a DBMS based on the workloads’ business importance policies. We first illustrate how economic models can be used to allocate single DBMS resources, namely system CPU shares, to competing workloads on a DBMS.  We then extend this approach to using economic models to simultaneously allocate multiple DBMS resources, namely buffer pool memory space and system CPU shares, to competing workloads on a DBMS based on the workload business importance policy in order to achieve their service level agreements. Experiments are conducted using IBM® DB2® databases to verify the effectiveness of our approach.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Status, Relatively Speaking: Extending the Organizational Focus on Status and Status Inequality

contributor:
Barling, Julian
Management

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subject:
Status
Status Inequality

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Management) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-25 11:12:46.526

abstract:
This dissertation explores the role of status and status hierarchies in organizations, with considerable attention devoted to status-based health disparities. Manuscript 1 extends the current work stress literature by proposing a dynamic model relating individual-level socio-economic status (SES) to workplace stressors, psychological resources, and health. The model is tested using three-wave longitudinal data gathered across four years from employed Canadians.  The results show an escalating relationship between personal control and work stressors, which indirectly links SES to physical health outcomes.

The second study of the dissertation elaborates on the definition of status, acknowledging and embracing its relational nature. In doing so, Manuscript 2 advances Manuscript 1 in numerous ways: (1) it conceptualizes status at the team-level of analysis by introducing the construct of status inequality, or the degree to which status is dispersed within teams; (2) it shifts focus from macro indicators of SES to organizational indicators of status within small, face-to-face teams, asking whether status in these teams influences health; (3) it explores performance-related outcomes in addition to health outcomes at both the individual- and team-level of analysis. Archival data from National Basketball Association players and teams were obtained to test the hypotheses set forth in Manuscript 2.  The results of the study suggest that both status and status inequality (and their interaction) are related to the focal individual- and team-level outcomes.

The final chapter comprising this dissertation resides largely at the team-level of analysis. Manuscript 3 is a conceptual exploration into the mechanisms that relate status inequality to team-level health and performance, proposing that status inequality influences social cognition, from which emerges a team’s social structure. Furthermore, it places boundary conditions on the effects of status inequality by arguing that shared cultural values will determine how status inequality is perceived and enacted. The dissertation closes with a general discussion of the studies and recommendations for future research.

abstract: PhD


title: The effects of small molecule heme oxygenase inhibitors on rat cytochromes P450 2E1 and 3A1/2

contributor:
Nakatsu, Kanji
Pharmacology and Toxicology

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subject:
Heme oxygenase
Small molecule inhibitors
Cytochrome P450 2E1
Cytochrome P450 3A1/2

abstract: Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-20 11:19:48.841

abstract: Heme oxygenases (HO) catalyze the degradation of heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide (CO) and free iron.  The two major isoforms, HO-2 (constitutive) and HO-1 (inducible by various stressors such as heavy metals and reactive oxygen species) are involved in a variety of physiological functions, including anti-inflammation, antiapoptosis, neuromodulation, and vascular regulation. Major tools used in exploring these actions have been metalloporphyrin analogs of heme that inhibit the HOs.  However, these tools are limited by their lack of selectivity; they affect other heme-dependent enzymes, such as cytochromes P450 (CYPs), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS).  Our laboratory has been able to successfully synthesize a series of small molecule non-porphyrin HO inhibitors (QC-xx) that have had little or no effect against sGC and NOS; however, their effects on various CYP isoforms has yet to be fully elucidated.  In order to determine the effects on CYP enzyme activity, microsomal preparations of two CYP isoforms (2E1 and 3A1/3A2) were incubated with varying concentrations of HO inhibitor and the activity was determined via spectrophotometric analysis. Results indicated that some QC compounds demonstrated little to no inhibition of CYP2E1 and/or CYP3A1/2, while some others did inhibit these CYP isoforms.  Four regions of interest were analyzed further and several structural changes were identified as conferring increased HO inhibition and decreased effect on both CYP2E1 and 3A1/2.  Based on the information obtained, three putative compounds were designed and it is hypothesized that these compounds will be selective inhibitors for HO-1 over HO-2 and will display little effect on either CYP2E1 or 3A1/2 activities.

abstract: The chemical structures discussed are intellectual property whose synthesis has not yet been formally published.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Health Related Quality of Life in Children with Osteoporosis: Utility of the DOCC scale and the PODCI

contributor:
Medves, Jennifer M.
Nursing

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subject: Osteoporosis Pediatric

abstract: Thesis (Master, Nursing) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-20 12:49:49.4

abstract:
Purpose
Clinical care providers today are more aware and have a better understanding of how osteoporosis affects a child’s quality of life and their ability to function. Fractures result in pain and suffering for children with this chronic illness and there is often a further reduction in mobility, independence, hospitalization, time out of school, and considerable stress upon the family (Caulton, Ward, Alsop, Dunn, Adams, & Mughal, 2004). No published data could be found on the health related quality of life (HRQoL) for children who have been diagnosed or are receiving treatment for osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to report on the HRQoL of children with osteoporosis using two validated questionnaires.

Methods
An exploratory cohort study was conducted with a small convenience sample of 31 children with secondary osteoporosis receiving medical care from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) participated. Data were collected using a generic questionnaire, the Dimension of Childhood Chronicity (DOCC) scale, and a disease specific questionnaire, the Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), both of which measure HRQoL.

Results
The total score for the DOCC scale was a mean of 59 out of a total possible score of 92. This result was not statistically different when compared with mean of children with disabilities. On the PODCI questionnaire, participants scored the lowest, with scores less than 68, in the areas of sports and physical functioning, pain and comfort, and happiness. Their overall Global Functioning score was 75. These results were statistically significant when compared to a healthy population.  Based on the HBSC study question, 70% of study participants rated their health as good or excellent.

Conclusions
Despite low study numbers, it is evident that their disease has a substantial effect on the day to day life.  However, parents do not view their child as unhealthy as they are seeing improvements in their physical functioning and their children are happy and enjoying life.

abstract: MNSc.


title: Debunking Endogenous Ozone & Towards Tert-Butylated 3-Pyridinols and 5-Pyrimidinols

contributor:
Pratt, Derek A.
Chemistry

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subject: Autoxidation Cholesterol Pyridinol Pyrimidinol Antioxidants

abstract: Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-21 14:30:19.24

abstract:
Hydrocarbon autoxidation, a free radical chain reaction, is one of the most important chemical processes, and is ubiquitous in biological systems and industry. While it is vital to maintaining cellular homeostasis and plays central roles in the immune and inflammatory responses, it is also believed to play a role in the onset and development of diseases and degenerative disorders when not kept in check. In vivo, this process is generally initiated by the reduction of O2 to superoxide (O2•-), which can then afford various reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as HOO•, H2O2, HO•, and 1O2. Recently, it was suggested that antibodies, as part of the immune system, produce another ROS: ozone. The evidence for endogenous ozone formation was based largely on the isolation of the known cholesterol ozonolysis products in extracts of arterial plaque and brain tissue. Identification was accomplished by derivatization and subsequent HPLC-MS analysis. Herein, an alternative, more likely explanation for the appearance of these two compounds and their derivatized forms is given, via acid-catalyzed Hock cleavage of cholesterol 5-hydroperoxide.
Radical-trapping chain-breaking antioxidants inhibit hydrocarbon autoxidation; in Nature and as additives in industrial materials, formulations, etc. Nature typically employs phenols in this context, and it is well documented that their potency is based largely on the lability of their phenolic O-H bond. While their reactivity can be improved by making the phenol more electron-rich by introducing electron-donating groups on the aromatic ring, this increases their air (oxygen) sensitivity, leading them to decompose in air and generate ROS themselves! To prevent this, nitrogen(s) can be introduced in the aromatic ring to make 3-pyridinols and 5-pyrimidinols; the most effective air-stable radical-trapping antioxidants reported to date. Unfortunately, introduction of nitrogen in the phenolic ring leads to a concomitant increase in the acidity of the O-H bond, leading to stronger interactions with H-bond accepting solvents. This interaction reduces the efficacy of these compounds as antioxidants in polar and heterogeneous media. Herein we describe our efforts to minimize the effect of this interaction, thereby maintaining the strong antioxidant activities of 3-pyridinols and 5-pyrimidinols, by introducing two tert-butyl moieties flanking the reactive hydroxyl group.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Mapping Vulnerability, Picturing Place: Negotiating safety in the post-immigration phase

contributor:
Kobayashi, Audrey
Geography

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subject:
Immigration
Gender
Race
Racism
Discrimination
Emotional Geographies
Photovoice
Place
Smaller Cities

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-24 16:07:56.728

abstract:
This thesis examines the experiences and interpretations of place of immigrant women in Kingston and Peterborough, Ontario. Immigrant women in smaller Canadian cities contend with a varied and unique set of circumstances that are specific to their geographic positioning. Kingston and Peterborough, with populations of under 150,000 residents, are cities with particular racial discourses. Racialized discourses in Kingston and Peterborough identify each of these places as white cities. As a result, racialized inhabitants who reside in these cities are subsequently rendered invisible or out of place. Participants of my research, most of whom are racialized visible minorities, have all had to contend with oppressive effects of negotiating a white, and oftentimes unwelcoming landscape.
There are three main objectives to my research. First, my desire was to learn about immigrant women’s lived realities and to better understand how the experience of migration and racialization had affected their lives. Second, I wanted to facilitate opportunities for women to share their stories with each other in the hopes of perhaps creating the types of learning experiences that would empower participants. Facilitating social interactions in which women could voice their experiences and share their emotional geographies became the most meaningful aspect of this research project at the level of the individual. Finally, I wanted our collaborative research experience to reach the wider public with the intention of creating transformative social change. The voices of immigrant women in smaller cities are often ignored or overlooked, and this gap in knowledge, I believed, was in need of exploring. Previous studies with immigrant women have focused primarily on immigrant women who live in larger Canadian cities. Little research has been directed at smaller cities such as Kingston and Peterborough and my thesis seeks to begin to remedy this oversight.

abstract: M.A.


title: A Case Study Examining the Experiences of Grade 7-12 Teachers in a Job-Embedded Professional Development Initiative

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subject:
Teacher Professional Development
Job-Embedded Learning
Literacy Professional Development

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2009-04-24 21:26:10.355

abstract:
Traditional models of professional development for teachers are often characterized by formats intended to transmit information for transfer to classroom practice. But it can be argued that one-size-fits-all models do not adequately meet the professional needs of teachers or respect the view of teachers as learners (Hall & Loucks, 1978; Stigler & Hiebert, 1999). More recently, school districts have explored job-embedded approaches to professional development. However, little or no program evaluation has been utilized to gather evidence of their value to practitioners (Guskey, 2000).
This study examined the perceived transformative value of an alternate professional development (PD) experience on teacher practice. The study aimed to:

1. Describe teachers' conceptualizations of "teacher practice".
2. Describe the ways teachers perceive their professional development experiences as having impacted their teaching practice.
3. Report teachers' perceptions of effective and ineffective professional development.
4. Identify institutional practices that influence teachers' perceptions of meaningful professional development.
5. Describe the intrinsic and extrinsic factors valued by teachers in a professional development experience.
Qualitative research methodology was utilized for this case study. I invited participants from the District Literacy Committee (DLC) to participate in this research, and conducted a cross-case analysis to analyze the experiences of Practicing Teachers (PTs) and Observing Teachers (OTs). My data collection included web-based surveys, artifacts, and two focus group discussions. Results indicated a strong perception that the job-embedded lesson study model had significant impact on teaching practice. My analysis of the data analysis elicited many similarities and some key differences between the two groups. While the OT and PT were similar in their conceptions of effective and ineffective PD, they differed in their conception of teacher practice and what they valued in a PD experience. Both groups believed PD had tremendous potential to impact teaching behaviours. The findings suggest that differentiated learning opportunities are necessary to meet the needs of teachers, and that alternative models of PD such as lesson study deserve consideration. This study has significant implications for those who facilitate PD and those who develop it.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Freedom and Process

contributor:
Johnston, James Scott
Philosophy

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subject:
free will
process

abstract: Thesis (Master, Philosophy) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-18 12:30:30.758

abstract:
Both Hilary Bok, in “Freedom and Practical Reason,” and Robert Kane, in “Responsibility, Luck, and Chance:  Reflections on Free Will and Indeterminism,” make at least implicit use of process-based accounts of deliberation to establish their positions.  But Bok is a compatibilist while Kane is a libertarian—the usefulness of the notion of process to opposing sides of the contemporary free will debate suggests that it might be this notion that is doing the work for Bok and Kane rather than elements specific to their separate doctrines.  At the very least it suggests that an exploration of process will offer a better understanding of the interplay between compatibilism and libertarianism in the free will debate.
In this thesis, I discuss the process-based accounts of John Dewey and A. N. Whitehead—primarily from Dewey’s Human Nature and Conduct and Whitehead’s Process and Reality—in an effort to bring out features of such accounts that are relevant to the issues of free will and human action.  Following focused discussions of Dewey and Whitehead I explore how their specific accounts bear upon the positions of Bok and Kane in their aforementioned articles, and conclude that Dewey and Whitehead would reject both the compatibilist and libertarian positions, taking up something of a middle ground between the two views.  I then end the thesis by exploring how a more general process account of human action bears upon Bok and Kane, concluding that it is possible to reconcile their views with such a general account with only some reinterpretation and restriction of their positions.  In general, I conclude that process-based accounts of human action favour neither compatibilist nor libertarian positions, but rather a mixture or middle ground between the two.

abstract: M.A.


title: Link Adaptation for Energy Constrained Networks

contributor:
Ibnkahla, Mohamed
Electrical and Computer Engineering

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subject:
Electrical Engineering
Wireless Communications
Link Adaptation

abstract: Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-26 14:52:27.65

abstract:
Relay terminals are often used in tandem in sensor networks to lessen nodal communication burden. In this light we investigate the problem of power allocation amongst nodes in a relay network in order to maximize the overall achievable rate using link adaptive transmission protocols. We focus on the physical layer characteristics and implementation issues of link adaptation in order to develop a bit-level simulator needed to accurately model the rate performance of such a system.

Optimal power allocation values, power adaptation policies, and switching levels for several link adaptive policies over a broad class of Rician fading channels are calculated.

Furthermore, the maximum achievable rate for two and three link relay networks using our bit-level simulator and optimal power allocation values for collocated channel distributions is simulated. An overall achievable rate comparison between several link adaptive protocols is also investigated.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Identification and Characterization of an Inner Acrosomal Membrane Associated Protein, IAM38, Responsible for Secondary Sperm-Zona Binding During Fertilization

contributor:
Oko, Richard
Anatomy and Cell Biology

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subject:
Spermiogenesis
Sperm
Acrosome
Acrosomal Biogenesis
Inner Acrosomal Membrane (IAM)
Inner Acrosomal Membrane Coat (IAMC)
IAM38
Zona Pellucida
Sperm-Zona Secondary Binding
Zona Penetration
Fertilization

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-27 15:33:50.226

abstract: During mammalian fertilization, the exposure of the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM) after acrosomal exocytosis is essential for the secondary binding between sperm and zona pellucida (ZP) of the oocyte, a prerequisite for sperm penetration through the ZP. The identification of the sperm protein(s) responsible for secondary binding has posed a challenge for researchers. We were able to isolate a sperm head fraction in which the IAM was exposed. Attached to the IAM was an electon dense layer, which we termed the IAM extracellular coat (IAMC). The IAMC was also observable in acrosome reacted sperm. High salt extraction removed the IAMC including a prominent 38 kDa polypeptide, referred to as IAM38. Antibodies raised against IAM38 confirmed its presence in the IAMC of intact, sonicated, and acrosome-reacted sperm. Sequencing of IAM38 revealed it as the ortholog of porcine SP38, a protein that was found to bind specifically to ZP2 but whose intra-acrosomal location was not known. We showed that IAM38 occupied the leading edge of sperm contact with the zona pellucida during fertilization, and that secondary binding and fertilization were inhibited in vitro by antibodies directed against IAM38. As for the mechanism of secondary sperm-zona binding by IAM38, we provided evidence that the synthetic peptide derived from the ZP2-binding motif of IAM38 had a competitive inhibitory effect on both sperm-zona binding and fertilization while its mutant form was ineffective. In summary, our study provides a novel approach to obtain direct information on the peripheral and integral protein composition of the IAM and consolidates IAM38 as a genuine secondary sperm-zona binding protein. In addition, our investigation also provides an ultrastructural description of the origin, expression and assembly of IAM38 during spermatogenesis. It shows that IAM38 is originally secreted by the Golgi apparatus as part of the dense contents of the proacrosomic granules but later, during acrosome capping phase of spermiogenesis, is redistributed to the inner periphery of the acrosomal membrane. This relocation occurs at the time of acrosomal compaction, an obligatory structural change that fails to occur in Zpbp1-/- knockout mice, which do not express IAM38 and are infertile.

abstract: PhD


title: An Excitonic Approach to the Ultrafast Optical Response of Semiconductor Nano-Structures

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subject:
Condensed Matter Theory
Exciton
Semiconductor Nanostructures
Ultrafast Processes
Computational Physics

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-01 18:21:17.181

abstract:
In this thesis, I present an excitonic approach to treating the coherent dynamics of optically generated charge carriers in semiconductor nanostructures. The main feature of this approach is that it includes exchange interactions and phase space filling effects, which have generally been omitted in previous excitonic treatments of coherent dynamics, so that it can go beyond the low excitation limit.  In contrast to the well-known semiconductor Bloch equations, this approach treats intraband correlations without factorization.  The excitonic formalism and the obtained excitonic equations are shown to be particularly advantageous in systems where bound excitons dominate the optical response and where intraband correlations play a central role.

To demonstrate the application of the excitonic approach, we simulate the coherent carrier dynamics of an optically-excited, updoped AlGaAs superlattice in the presence of a terahertz pulse, where 1s excitonic states as well as higher in-plane excited states are included. We find that gain coefficients greater than 20/cm can be achieved over a tuning range of 3-11THz and that due to the coherent cascading of the carriers down the excitonic Wannier-Stark ladder, the gain coefficients have much higher gain saturation fields than comparable two-level  systems.

To investigate the effects of phase space filling and exchange interaction on exciton dynamics, we then apply the excitonic formalism to a simple model of a quantum ring as well as a realistic model of a quantum well. For the quantum ring, we have obtained numerical results regarding exciton population and interband polarization. We also compared our excitonic approach to the semiconductor Bloch equations in detail using this simple model. For the quantum well, in addition to the investigation of exciton dynamics, we propose and examine several approximations that can make our excitonic dynamic equations very efficient.

The excitonic formalism presented in this thesis is an efficient approach that can be applied in a wide range of systems, which makes it a potential alternative to the standard  miconductor Bloch equations for many systems where the intraband correlations are crucial.

abstract: PhD


title: Conflicted Selves: Women, Art, & Paris 1880-1914

contributor:
Mah, Harold
History

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subject:
French History
Cultural History
Fin-de-siècle Paris
Women Artists
Women Writers

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, History) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-28 10:48:28.537

abstract:
Scholars describe fin-de-siècle Paris as a city of dualities, and examine its past as a series of crises or a tale of burgeoning optimism and opportunity.  Historians of women and gender have noted the limitations of this dualistic approach, and have explored new avenues of interpretation.  Specifically, they have shown how the combination of positive and negative impulses created a dynamic space in which women could re-imagine and re-articulate themselves.  While this approach illuminates the possibilities that existed for women in a complex urban landscape, it also indicates that fin-de-siècle Paris was a contested city, one fraught with challenges for women living in the French capital.  If the mingling of crises and belle époque culture had stimulating results for women’s emergence into urban spaces, it had confusing and conflicting effects as well.

My thesis shows how fin-de-siècle Paris was a contradictory city for women artists, at a time when both opportunities and constraints in their profession were at a premium.  I examine the ways in which several notable women in the arts – painters Gwen John, Suzanne Valadon, and Romaine Brooks, sculptor Camille Claudel, and writer Rachilde – traversed this unsettling path, and evaluated their experiences through artistic representations of private life.  Far from portraying the traditional sphere of domesticity, however, which was considered an important form of artistic expression among women at this time, I argue that their depictions of intimate spaces, bodies, children, and female selfhood, were complex and often ambiguous, and part of a larger attempt to grapple with the shifting nature of identity, both as women, and as professionals.  John and Claudel created interiors that were signs of independence and artistic innovation, but also reflections of hardship; Valadon and Brooks invested images of the female and child’s body with strength and power, but also with pain and suffering; and Rachilde developed heroines who were unsuccessful in their attempts to create a unique sense of self.  Taken together, these representations demonstrate that women artists did not easily articulate a vision of modern female identity at the turn of twentieth century, but rather, highlighted the inconsistencies of this experience.

abstract: PhD


title: Minimum Perimeter Convex Hull of a Set of Line Segments: An Approximation

contributor:
Rappaport, David
Computing

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subject:
Computational Geometry
Convex Hull
Imprecise Points
Approximation Algorithm

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-28 14:47:15.169

abstract: The problem of finding the convex hull of a set of points in the plane is one of the fundamental and well-studied problems in Computational Geometry. However, for a set of imprecise points, the convex hull problem has not been thoroughly investigated. By imprecise points, we refer to a region in the plane inside which one point may lie. We are particularly interested in finding a minimum perimeter convex hull of a set of imprecise points, where the imprecise points are modelled as line segments. Currently, the best known algorithm that solves the minimum perimeter convex hull problem has an exponential running time in the worst case. It is still unknown whether this problem is NP-hard. We explore several approximation algorithms for this problem. Finally we propose a constant factor approximation algorithm that runs in O(nlogn) time.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Constructing Democratic Space: Inclusion, Efficacy, and Protest in Deliberative Democratic Theory

contributor:
Moore, Margaret
Political Studies

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subject:
Deliberative Democracy
Protest
Democratic Theory
Inclusion

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Political Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-01 14:58:51.95

abstract:
This dissertation looks at the challenges that deliberative democratic theory encounters when it tries to offer a rich account of inclusion yet refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of external protest.  While sympathetic to deliberative democracy’s goals, I challenge this focus upon the deliberative group as the theory tries to satisfy requirements of inclusion and legitimacy.  In response I offer a normative account of protest within a larger deliberative framework – one that offers a more comprehensive account of democratic inclusion.  I look at critiques of deliberative democracy, particularly in terms of the theory’s ability to account for pluralism, and I argue that in order to meet this challenge we need to offer a normative justification of protest.  Moreover, we need to do this not only to achieve full and effective inclusion but also to deal with the lack of efficacy that marginalized deliberants may encounter even when requirements of formal and effective inclusion are met.
As I address these challenges I offer a theory of protest-as-deliberation in which I develop a normative justification of protest and set out the conceptual changes that allow this justification to be normatively and practically viable.  My account takes protest, as something outside of and in opposition to the deliberative group, seriously and extends the deliberative framework to include protest; importantly, it does this without co-opting protestors.  Drawing from previous critiques, I develop the normative and practical links that are necessary in order to facilitate a deliberative dialogue between protestors and the deliberative group.  The conceptual changes that are necessary in order to realize protest-as-deliberation require that we re-evaluate the impact that deliberative criteria of reason-giving has upon effective inclusion and people’s efficacy and that we change these criteria accordingly.  Additionally, we need to revisit the democratic capacity of the public sphere, reconceptualized as the deliberative polity in which the process of protest-as-deliberation takes place.  When we do this we ought to place a greater emphasis upon available public spaces, both physical and conceptual, that deliberants and protestors need in order for effective deliberation and contestation to occur.

abstract: PhD


title: Using High-Resolution Spectroscopy To Improve The Determination Of Effective Temperatures OF Pre-Main Sequence Stars

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subject:
stars
high-resolution spectroscopy
pre-main sequence stars
Herbig stars
HAeBe stars
effective temperature

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2009-02-13 10:23:04.9

abstract:
Herbig Ae/Be (HAeBe) stars are the pre-main sequence progenitors of main sequence A and B stars, and are characterized observationally by strong emission in spectral lines and significant infra-red excess that results from their presence in dust-obscured regions. These stars are usually surrounded by a complex environment composed of gas and dust and often a significant stellar wind and a circumstellar disc. This complex circumstellar environment can have a significant affect on their spectral energy distributions, leading to large systematic uncertainties in determinations of their effective temperatures from photometric methods.

In an attempt to improve temperature determinations for HAeBe stars, we have conducted an experiment to evaluate the potential of high-resolution spectra to constrain their atmospheric parameters. To this end, high-resolution (R~68 000) and low-resolution (R~1500) spectra obtained using the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter (at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope) and the FORS1 spectropolarimeter (at the Very Large Telescope) have been used with an automatic spectrum fitting procedure. This procedure compares spectroscopic data to a grid of synthetic LTE, solar abundance spectra, spanning a range in effective temperature, surface gravity, and micro-turbulence.

This analysis was applied to the spectra of a sample of twelve previously well-studied HAeBe stars. Our temperatures were found to be consistent with previously published values, while providing much lower uncertainties - in some cases about 5 times smaller. Numerous methods were investigated to obtain these quantitative uncertainties (chi-squared statistics, Bayesian analysis, Monte Carlo bootstrap method, individual temperature sensitive line region analysis). We conclude that our method can be used to efficiently and effectively obtain temperatures of HAeBe stars in addition to providing us with a characterization of the degree of departure of the spectrum from solar abundance, LTE photospheric models.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Belonging in a Grade 6 Inclusive Classroom: Three Multiple Perspective Case Studies of Students with Mild Disabilities

contributor:
Hutchinson, Nancy L.
Education

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subject:
Sense of Belonging
Disabilities
Inclusive Classrooms

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-01 08:35:33.991

abstract:
This study describes the experiences of belonging of three Grade 6 students with mild disabilities, Jacob, Leah, and Andy, educated in an inclusive classroom. In addition, I gained the perspective of the classroom teacher, Linda, who described her approaches to facilitating belonging in an inclusive environment. Data collection included field observations and interviews with the classroom teacher and with the three focal participants. After completing data collection, analysis of the classroom data and the data of the three individual students was conducted using standard methods of qualitative analysis. Themes that emerged from the classroom data included: developing a trust culture, developing trusting relationships, teaching pro-social behaviours, building competence, and fostering autonomy. The classroom teacher fostered a supportive community environment that encouraged the development of interpersonal relationships, and she actively supported the social-emotional needs and the academic needs of all her students.
Each student participant presented a unique case; therefore, the themes for the three student participants varied. Common themes included: sense of belonging, interpersonal relationships, and peer victimization. Themes that varied were sense of academic and social competence and fostering autonomy. For each individual student, belonging was fostered slightly differently and yet to fill this need, relatedness with others and a sense of academic or social competence was necessary. This study emphasizes that a sense of belonging is complex and multidimensional.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Developing and Characterizing New Materials Based on Natural Fibres and Waste Plastic

contributor:
Baillie, Caroline
Chemical Engineering

format:
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subject:
Natural Fibre Composites
Life Cycle Assessment

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-03 12:32:23.095

abstract:
Natural Fibre Composites (NFCs) offer new opportunities to mitigate negative impact of engineering activities on the environment. Due to their lost cost, light weight and environmental benefits, they find applications in building, furniture and automotive industry. This study seeks to improve mechanical properties of composites made from waste recyclable plastics and natural fibres from agricultural byproduct sources such as Agave americana leaves, corn, wheat and seed flax straws. The approach used is a holistic one which includes investigating the availability and properties of natural fibres and their composites with waste plastic for use in Canada and Lesotho, a small country in Southern Africa. The social and environmental implications of using these materials are also investigated.

In both Lesotho and Canada, there are enough raw materials which can be used in NFCs if the necessary environment is developed. The unique microstructural and interfacial behaviour of Agave americana fibres were investigated and their possible impact on the composites forecasted. Composites made with a variety of underutilized natural fibres: Agave americana, corn, seed flax and wheat were also manufactured and tested. The addition of natural fibres and milled straw to the waste plastic improved mainly the tensile and flexural moduli of the composites. The environmental properties of NFCs were also analyzed through a case study using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as tool. The results suggest that NFCs could be seen as a more environmentally friendly alternative than conventional composites.

abstract: PhD


title: Social Structure in Tagging Practices: Reality or Myth?

contributor:
Skillicorn, B. David
Computing

format:
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subject:
Tagging
Social Structure
Folksonomy
Social Computing

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-04 14:34:37.537

abstract:
Tagging is widely adopted in so-called "collaborative-tagging" systems which are one
of the Web 2.0 applications that have achieved lots of attention lately. They provide
services for users to store, manage and search web resources with the help of freely
chosen keywords, called "tags". Because of the high-volume usage of these systems
and the annotations that users provide by their tags, these systems are regarded as
good targets for disciplines like knowledge discovery. Roughly, two lines of research
have been pursued so far on collaborative tagging: to study the structure of tags and
to study their functionality in web search. In this research we investigated tagging
structures in a popular collaborative-tagging system, called del.icio.us, by focusing on
the relations of "tags", "users" and "web resources", three main components of any
collaborative-tagging system. Particularly we are interested in finding whether there
are social structures that could be used to increase the usability of these systems
for content retrieval and navigation. Our results show that people mainly use tags
for their own informational needs which are personal rather than social. Any social
structure or communities around tags and users is rare and weak which suggests that
collaborative tagging has not added much to personal bookmarking. However, we
show some regularities in tagging behavior that could be utilized for user experience
improvement.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Characterization of the Zr-polymeryl Species Present during Ethylene and Propylene Polymerizations by Homogeneous Zirconocene Catalysts

contributor:
Cann, Natalie M.
Chemistry

subject:
olefin polymerization
propene polymerization
alkene polymerization
ethene polymerization
metallocene catalysts
nonmetallocene catalysts
zirconocene
Ziegler-Natta catalysts
Zr-polymeryl intermediates
active species
dormant species
mechanism
metal alkyl
metal(alkyl)(olefin)
metal allyl
single-site
Zr(alkyl)(olefin)

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-04 19:26:27.564

abstract:
A detailed investigation of Zr-polymeryl intermediates, present during ethylene and propylene polymerization by metallocene and non-metallocene catalysts, is presented. In this regard, the potential use of bromine as a quenching agent to give polymers with brominated end groups is investigated. Using NMR spectroscopy, these groups can be identified as primary or secondary and quantified, thus providing information on the nature of the Zr-polymeryl linkage(s) and their relative concentration(s). Bromine quenching was examined for ethylene polymerization by Cp2ZrMe2/B(C6F5)3, and for propylene polymerization by Cp2ZrMe2/B(C6F5)3, (indenyl)2ZrMe2/B(C6F5)3, and rac-{C2H4(1-indenyl)2}ZrMe2/B(C6F5)3. Polymers with primary alkyl bromide end groups were obtained. In the case of propylene polymerization by [ONNO]Zr(CH2C6H5)2/MAO/2,6-di-tbutylphenol, both primary and secondary alkyl bromide end groups were detected. Primary alkyl bromide end groups result from the cleavage by bromine of primary Zr-CH2~polymeryl linkages while secondary alkyl bromides are the result of the cleavage by bromine of secondary Zr-CH(Me)CH2~polymeryl linkages. The concentration of Zr-CH2~polymeryl intermediates was found to be low, suggesting that the catalyst deactivates during the polymerization.
A second objective of this research is to investigate the formation of Cp2Zr+-allyl complexes as these species are proposed to arise during the polymerization and deactivate the catalyst. Compounds of type [Cp2ZrMe]+ were found to react with vinylidene compounds of type CH2=C(Me)R, (R = CH2CHMe2 and CH2CH(Me)C3H7), to form methane and Cp2Zr+-allyl complexes. The reaction of Cp2ZrMe2/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] with CH2=C(Me)CH2CHMe2 involves the unprecedented [Cp2Zr(Me)(CH2CMeCH2CHMe2)]+ intermediate, detected by low temperature one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The observation of this intermediate represents the first direct experimental evidence for a d0 metal-alkyl-olefin complex. The dynamic behavior and the kinetics of formation of Cp2Zr+-allyl complexes were also investigated by NMR spectroscopy. In situ propylene polymerization studies indicate that Cp2Zr+-allyl polymeryl intermediates form under catalytic conditions when either Cp2ZrMe2/B(C6F5)3 or Cp2ZrMe2/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] are used. Formation of Zr-allyl species occurs in the early stages of the polymerization process, even before the [Cp2ZrMe]+ catalyst is completely consumed, by recoordination of the polypropylene-containing vinylidene end groups, which are the normal products of chain transfer reactions via -H elimination, to the active catalyst.

abstract: PhD


title: Selling Government: The Evolution of Government Public Relations In Alberta From 1971-2006

contributor:
Rose, Jonathan
Political Studies

format:
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subject:
Alberta
Political Communication
Government Communications

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Political Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-06 11:35:00.169

abstract: The public relations practices of the government of Alberta have elicited substantial controversy, particularly under the administration of Premier Klein.  However existing analyses have been insufficiently comparative.  This dissertation is a within-case comparison of the evolution of government public relations practices under the three Progressive Conservative administrations of Premiers Lougheed, Getty and Klein.  The theoretical framework rejects democratic justifications for government public relations, but accepts an “administrative imperative” that recognizes the use of government public relations techniques to accomplish particular policy goals.  At the same time, it recognizes that these practices are often linked to important transformations in the broader political economy.  A model of incentives and opportunities of why politicians use public relations strategies to accomplish their goals is introduced to examine the particular evolution in the Alberta case.  Premier Lougheed’s administration created a new public relations agency dedicated to improving the administrative efficiency of the government’s public relations function.  It was marked by restrained forms of government advertising and a documented commitment to a distinct space for government public relations, insulated from the political demands of the elected level of government.  Periodic television appearances by the premier appear to be the most aggressive forms of public relations activities.  Premier Getty adopted this model, despite a substantially transformed political environment and despite documented advice to change his government’s practices.  Premier Klein recognized this transformed political landscape and substantially reformed government public relations, increasing public opinion research, adopting manipulative and aggressive news management tactics, politicizing and centralizing the public relations staff and integrating the entire range of public relations techniques into regular politically contentious advertising campaigns. These reforms help to explain some of Premier Klein’s political and policy successes.  The dissertation concludes with some of the deleterious consequences of extensive public relations practices by governments in Canada and some recommendations as to how to mitigate against those consequences.

abstract: PhD


title: Associations of the Limb Fat to Trunk Fat Ratio With Markers of Cardiometabolic Risk in Elderly Men and Women

contributor:
Ross, Robert
Kinesiology and Health Studies

format:
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subject:
Limb Fat
Trunk Fat
Adiponectin
Cardiometabolic Risk
Elderly

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-05 16:08:10.868

abstract:
Background:  It has been reported that the ratio of limb fat to trunk fat (LF/TF) is associated with markers of cardiometabolic risk in elderly men and women.  However, it is unknown if LF/TF is associated with cardiometabolic risk beyond that explained by LF and TF independently.

Objective:  To determine if LF/TF is associated with markers of cardiometabolic risk in elderly men and women after control for LF and TF.  A secondary objective was to examine the independent associations of LF and TF with markers of cardiometabolic risk.

Methods:  Subjects included abdominally obese men (n=58) and women (n=78) between 60 and 80 years of age.  Regional adiposity was quantified using magnetic resonance imaging.  Insulin resistance, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, plasma triglycerides and adiponectin were determined.  Regression analyses and partial correlations were used to assess the independent associations between variables.

Results:  After control for potential confounders, TF was positively associated with fasting glucose, insulin resistance and plasma triglycerides, and negatively associated with HDL-cholesterol (p<0.05).  These associations were strengthened after further control for LF (p<0.05).  LF was not associated with any marker of cardiometabolic risk after control for potential confounders (p>0.05).  However, after further control for TF, LF was positively associated with HDL-cholesterol and negatively associated with plasma triglycerides (p<0.05).  Plasma adiponectin was independently associated with both LF and TF in elderly women (p<0.05) but was not independently associated with either depot in elderly men (p>0.05).  LF/TF was not associated with any marker of cardiometabolic risk after control for LF and TF.

Conclusions:  These results suggest that it is the absolute, rather than relative amounts of LF and TF which have the greatest influence on cardiometabolic risk in elderly men and women.  Further, these results suggest that the associations between plasma adiponectin and regional adiposity are significantly influenced by sex in elderly men and women.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Studies In the Optimization of the Suzuki-Miyaura Reaction

contributor:
Baird, Michael C.
Chemistry

format:
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subject: palladium catalysis cross-coupling bisphosphinepalladium(0)

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-08 13:24:50.825

abstract:
Enormous efforts have been made to optimize the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, but there is to date no generally useful protocol and forcing conditions are often required. One reaction variable that has often been neglected is the extent to which the supposed catalysts, bisphosphinepalladium(0) complexes, are actually formed from the variety of popular precatalysts used.  There is in fact little evidence that these precursors produce bis-ligated Pd(0) complexes and it is possible that the rate limiting factor may be catalyst formation. If so, then the development of an optimized method for forming these catalytic species would be a significant contribution to this field.  The following work describes research efforts to determine the optimum conditions to generate PdL2 (L = PCy3, PMeBut2, PBut3) cleanly and quantitatively from Pd(3-C3H5)(5-C5H5) and Pd(3-1-Ph-C3H5)(5-C5H5).
Furthermore, the conditions under which PdL3 species may exist in equilibrium with the PdL2 species are defined.  NMR studies indicate that while Pd(PBut3)2 shows no inclination to increase its coordination number, Pd(PCy3)2 and Pd(PMeBut2)2 react with added phosphine to form 3:1 compounds. Equilibrium constants for dissociation of the PdL3 compounds were measured over a range of temperatures, yielding the thermodynamic parameters of dissociation and estimated Pd-P bond dissociation energies.  Additionally, the generation of heteroleptic species serve to confirm the existence of 3:1 compounds.
A kinetic study of the oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PCy3)2 was also performed.  It was found that oxidative addition was first order in palladium, but that added bromide had no effect on the rate of oxidative addition.  Added PCy3 inhibited oxidative addition, possibly due to the conversion of palladium(0) into the less active 3:1 compound.
The formation of the catalytically less active 3:1 compounds has serious implications for many catalytic cross-coupling processes which involve catalyst formation via the slow reduction of palladium(II) in the presence of excess phosphine; for many systems, relatively little of the added palladium may actually be present as the active bisphosphinepalladium(0) compound.

abstract: PhD


title: Linear Programming Decoding for Non-Uniform Sources and for Binary Channels With Memory

contributor:
Alajaji, Fady
Kashyap, Navin
Takahara, Glen
Mathematics and Statistics

format:
490608 bytes
application/pdf

subject:
Channel Coding
Linear Programming Decoding
LP decoding
Polya Channel
Joint Source-Channel Coding
Non-Uniform Sources
Channels With Memory

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mathematics & Statistics) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-08 16:24:43.358

abstract: Linear programming (LP) decoding of low-density parity-check codes was introduced by Feldman et al. in [1]. In his formulation it is assumed that communication takes place over a memoryless channel and that the source is uniform.  Here, we extend the LP decoding paradigm by studying its application to scenarios with source non-uniformity and to decoding over channels with memory. We develop two decoders for the scenario of non-uniform memoryless sources transmitted over memoryless channels. The first decoder uses a modified linear cost function which incorporates the a-priori source information and works with systematic codes. The second decoder differs by using non-systematic codes obtained by puncturing lower rate systematic codes and using an “extended decoding polytope.” Simulations show that the modified decoders yield gains over the standard LP decoder. Next, LP decoding is considered for two channels with memory: the binary additive Markov noise channel and the infinite-memory non-ergodic Polya-contagion channel. For the Markov channel, no linear cost function corresponding to maximum likelihood (ML) decoding could be obtained and hence it is unclear how to proceed. For the Polya channel, two LP-based decoders are developed. The first is derived in a straightforward manner from the ML decoding rule of [2]. The second decoder relies on a simplification of the same ML decoding rule which holds for codes containing the all-ones codeword. Simulations are performed for both decoders with regular and irregular LDPC codes and demonstrate relatively good performance with respect to the channel epsilon-capacity.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Biochemical Characterization of Nucleotide and Protein Interactions of Human Multidrug Resistance Protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1)

contributor:
Cole, Susan P. C.
Pathology and Molecular Medicine

format:
2196524 bytes
application/pdf

subject:
protein interaction
multidrug resistance

abstract: Thesis (Master, Pathology & Molecular Medicine) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-08 17:44:52.767

abstract: Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) is an integral membrane protein belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily that utilizes ATP binding and hydrolysis to transport various endogenous substrates and/or xenobiotics across membranes against a concentration gradient.  The overall goal of my research was to examine the nucleotide and protein interactions of MRP1 using various biochemical methods.  In the first study,  Cu2+(Ph)3 which promotes cross-linking of two nearby Cys residues and limited proteolysis were used to study conformational changes of MRP1 at different stages of ATP binding and hydrolysis at the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs).  The limited trypsin digestion patterns indicated that some Cys residues of MRP1 could be cross-linked in the nucleotide-free state and that the Cys cross-linked MRP1 was more susceptible to trypsinolysis.  Furthermore, binding of ATP, AMP-PNP, and trapping of ADP by MRP1 prevented the cross-linking events from occurring, but binding of ATPγS did not.  However, the ATPγS-bound MRP1, like nucleotide-free MRP1, showed enhanced sensitivity towards trypsinolysis.  These studies show that the two ATP analogs, AMP-PNP and ATPγS, interact with MRP1 in different ways.  In the second study, the interaction of MRP1 with other cellular proteins was examined.  An in vivo chemical cross-linking approach combined with affinity purification and MS analysis was initially used to identify protein partners directly interacting with MRP1.  When this approach proved unsuccessful, a second approach involving immunoaffinity purification of MRP1-containing complexes followed by MS analysis was adopted.  Six potential candidate interacting protein partners of MRP1 were identified via this approach and two of them, FUS and drebrin, were further characterized by co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization experiments.  FUS seems unlikely to be an important binding partner of MRP1 since confocal and subcellular fractionation studies showed it to be exclusively localized in the nucleus.  On the other hand, drebrin depletion by siRNA knock-down resulted in a moderate decrease in MRP1 overall expression levels although the membrane localization of MRP1 remained unchanged.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Bioenergy Systems in Canada: Towards Energy Security and Climate Change Solutions

contributor:
McLellan, P. James
Layzell, David
Environmental Studies

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subject:
Energy security
Climate change
Greenhouse gas
Biomass
Bioenergy
Systems analysis
Great Lakes
Synthetic natural gas
Green diesel
Energy policy

abstract: Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-09 15:24:18.389

abstract:
The energy security and climate change risks of fossil fuel consumption have stimulated interest in developing renewable energy sources. Canada’s vast biomass potential is an attractive local resource but high transportation costs are a barrier to implementation. This study assesses how transformative systems can enable large-scale bioenergy production through integration with existing transportation corridors and fossil fuel infrastructure. Potential bioenergy corridors include the network of natural gas pipelines and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS).
Sustainable lignocellulosic biomass production integrated with traditional food and fibre production was assumed to occur on 196 Mha of land within 100 km of pipelines. Conservative (81 Mt of dry biomass per year) and aggressive (209 Mt) scenarios were investigated for converting biomass to synthetic natural gas (SNG) via gasification, methanation, and upgrading, yielding enough pipeline-quality gas to meet 20% to 60% of Canada’s current needs. A systems analysis approach was used to calculate bioSNG life-cycle emissions of 15 to 18 kgCO2e GJ-1, compared to 68 or 87 for conventional or liquefied natural gas, respectively. Production costs ranged from $16 to $20 GJ-1, which were high compared to regional gas prices ($5 to $10 GJ-1).
The biomass potential on 125 Mha of land area within 100 km of the Canadian portion of the GLSLS and railway lines ranged from 36 to 80 Mt(dry) per year, which was enough to displace coal-fired power in Ontario plus produce 1.6 to 11 billion L of green diesel that could offset 14% to 96% of fossil diesel in GLSLS provinces. Life-cycle emissions ranged from 110 to 130 gCO2e kWh-1 for biopower (compared to 1030 for coal) and 20 to 22 kgCO2e GJ-1 for green diesel (compared to 84 for conventional diesel). Cost estimates ranged from $130 MWh-1 for biopower (compared to an average market power price of $54 MWh-1) and $28 to $36 GJ-1 for green diesel (compared to $16 to $24 GJ-1 for diesel). The auxiliary benefits (energy security, climate change, air quality, and rural development) were seen as justification for supportive bioenergy policies.

abstract: M.E.S.


title: Bidding for the Future: Toronto's 2008 Olympic Bid and the Regulation of Waterfront Land

contributor:
Goheen, Peter
Geography

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subject:
Public Space
Olympics
Symbols
Geography
Waterfront
Toronto

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-11 09:50:52.953

abstract: This research examines the process by which rights to public resources, including public land, were negotiated during the Olympic bidding process in one modern western city. Toronto’s 2008 Olympic bid involved not only the framing of an important public symbol but also the shaping of symbolically significant space, the city’s waterfront. Toronto’s waterfront has always reflected a negotiation between large institutional interests and the voice of the local citizenry. The nature of this space and the implied right of the public to define and use this space has made the representation of urban public interest a matter of crucial significance. To examine the relationships between sport, space and symbols during the bidding process for the Olympic Games is to expose an ongoing ideological battle over the ownership of public land. When the development of a particular parcel of public land is said to be in the public interest, it suggests that city residents from a wide variety of publics have collaborated and developed a shared and agreed upon position about how that development should proceed. The process of adjudication that serves to legitimate the production of space and symbols is important because it has crucial implications for the production of urban order. This research demonstrates that the Olympic bidding process can be understood as a moment that fosters an articulation of social and cultural claims, that offers an opportunity for masses of citizens to mobilize, and that facilitates visions of progress. On the other hand, it can also be the occasion for the defeat of public interest.

abstract: PhD


title: Investigation of the Role of Oxidative DNA Damage in Aflatoxin B1-Induced Pulmonary Carcinogenesis

contributor:
Massey, Thomas E.
Pharmacology and Toxicology

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subject:
Aflatoxin B1
Oxidative DNA Damage
Catalase
Base Excision Repair
8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase 1
Pulmonary Carcinogenesis

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-12 10:00:44.81

abstract:
Studies described in this thesis were aimed at characterizing the mechanism(s) of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) pulmonary carcinogenesis by addressing the formation, prevention, and repair of AFB1-induced oxidative DNA damage.
	The ability of AFB1 to cause oxidative DNA damage in different lung cell types of the A/J mouse was examined.  The formation of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in freshly isolated mouse lung alveolar macrophages, alveolar type II cells, and nonciliated bronchial epithelial (Clara) cells, was assessed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.  An increase in 8-OHdG formation occurred in macrophage and Clara cell preparations isolated from A/J mice two hours following in vivo treatment with a single tumourigenic dose of AFB1.  Prior treatment with polyethylene glycol-conjugated catalase (PEG-CAT) prevented the AFB1-induced increase in 8-OHdG levels in all mouse lung cell preparations.  These results support the possibility that oxidative DNA damage in mouse lung cells contributes to AFB1 carcinogenicity.
	Mouse lung tumourigenesis was assessed following treatment of A/J mice with PEG-CAT and/or AFB1.  Unexpectedly, the mean number of tumours per mouse and tumour size in the PEG-CAT + AFB1 group were greater than those of the group treated with AFB1 alone.  There was no difference in K-ras exon 1 mutation spectrum or in the histological diagnosis of tumours between treatment groups.  In vitro incubation with mouse liver catalase (CAT) resulted in conversion of [3H]AFB1 into a DNA-binding species, a possible explanation for the results observed in vivo.  These results demonstrate that PEG-CAT is not protective against AFB1 carcinogenicity in mouse lung despite preventing DNA oxidation.
	The effect of in vivo treatment of mice with AFB1 on pulmonary and hepatic base excision repair (BER) activities and levels of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) was investigated.  AFB1 treatment increased 8-OHdG levels and BER activity in mouse lung, but did not significantly affect either in liver.  Levels of OGG1 immunoreactive protein were increased in both mouse lung and liver.  These results indicate that oxidative DNA damage may be an important mechanism in the carcinogenicity of AFB1.  However, BER activity is increased by AFB1 treatment, possibly representing a compensatory response to the production of oxidative DNA damage.

abstract: PhD


title: Characterizing the Functional Domains of the Baculovirus Late Expression Factor 3 (LEF-3) Involved in Nuclear Localization and DNA Replication

contributor:
Carstens, Eric
Microbiology and Immunology

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subject:
Virology
Baculovirus
DNA Replication

abstract: Thesis (Master, Microbiology & Immunology) -- Queen's University, 2009-01-04 18:25:23.7

abstract: Transient replication assays have identified a late expression factor 3, LEF-3, to be essential for DNA replication and late gene expression in the baculovirus species, AcMNPV. Although its specific role in these two processes has not been determined, this single-stranded DNA binding protein is multi-functional. LEF-3 forms a homo-oligomer, binds single-stranded DNA, interacts with components of the viral replication complex and is required to transport the helicase protein P143 into the nucleus of infected cells. Various regions within LEF-3 were deleted to determine the domain essential to its function and the N-terminal amino acids 1-125 were found to be sufficient for late gene expression. This N-terminal region includes the 56 amino acid region of LEF-3 required for nuclear transport. In order to define this domain, the effect of site-specific mutagenesis of LEF-3 on its intracellular distribution was determined. Fluorescence microscopy of expression plasmid transfected cells demonstrated that amino acids 14 to 37 formed the core nuclear localization signal (NLS), but the flanking amino acids may act as regulatory elements. Comparison with other group 1 Alphabaculoviruses suggested that this core region contained a functionally duplicated NLS. The AcMNPV LEF-3 also functioned in mammalian cells indicating that the protein nuclear import systems in insect and mammalian cells are conserved. Mutagenesis of two conserved cysteine residues located at amino acids 82 and 106 were not essential for nuclear localization or for interaction with P143. However, by using a modified construct of P143 that localized on its own to the nucleus, it was demonstrated that a functional nuclear localization domain on LEF-3 was required for an interaction between LEF-3 and P143.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Health in Children and Youth

contributor:
Janssen, Ian
Kinesiology and Health Studies

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subject:
Physical activity
Health
Sedentary behaviour
Children
Youth

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-13 15:44:07.654

abstract:
There is currently a dearth of information suitable for the development of evidence-based physical activity and screen time guidelines for children and youth.  The overarching purpose of this thesis was to generate findings that could be used to inform public health recommendations for physical activity and screen time.  A series of six manuscripts were completed to explore the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and health in youth.
The first manuscript examined the dose-response relation between objectively measured total and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with blood pressure and hypertension.  Participating in 30 and 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day decreased the odds of hypertension in youth by 50% and 63%, respectively.
The second manuscript explored the influence of intensity of physical activity and incidental movement on total and trunk adiposity.  Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity was found to predict total and trunk adiposity beyond other intensities and incidental movement.
The third manuscript sought to determine whether or not physical activity accrued in bouts was more beneficial than total physical activity with relation to being overweight.  The inclusion of short and medium-to-long bouts of physical activity decreased the odds of overweight above and beyond total physical activity level.
The fourth manuscript included a detailed examination of the relation between physical activity and screen time by considering different forms of physical activity, different physical activity environments, and various screen time behaviours.  By and large, physical activity and screen time were not related.
The fifth manuscript determined the proportion of Canadian youth meeting screen time guidelines.  Only 18% of girls and 14% of boys in grades 6 to 10 met screen time guidelines of no more than 2 hours per day.
The final manuscript examined the relationship between screen time and metabolic syndrome.  A dose-response relation was observed between screen time and metabolic syndrome independent of physical activity level.
It is hoped that the findings from this thesis will provide useful information that will be considered in developing and modifying physical activity and screen time recommendations for the paediatric population.

abstract: PhD


title: The cultural relevance of diabetes supportive care for Aboriginal peoples offered through Ontario Diabetes Education Centres

contributor:
Lévesque, Lucie L.
Kinesiology and Health Studies

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subject:
diabetes education
Aboriginal
cultural relevance

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-15 09:31:12.102

abstract:
BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects Aboriginal peoples in Canada.  Supportive care, comprised of services, resources or support designed to improve the quality of life for persons with diabetes is an important part of the diabetes management system.  Diabetes Education Centres (DECs) provide support and education to patients diagnosed with diabetes. There is currently no comprehensive description of diabetes supportive care programs available to Aboriginal populations through DECs, nor is there information about the cultural relevance of such programs.
PURPOSE: To document and describe the nature, scope, variation and cultural content in diabetes supportive care services and resources available to Aboriginal persons through Diabetes Education Centres (DECs) in Ontario.  Findings from this project will be used to develop recommendations for government agencies that fund DECs and DEC program managers and employees.
METHODS: Diabetes care providers (n=56) identified as serving Aboriginal clients were systematically surveyed by telephone in order to document and describe the nature and variation of diabetes supportive care services available to Aboriginal persons with diabetes.  Quantitative and qualitative questionnaire items were used to examine strategies used to enhance cultural relevance of diabetes programs, services, and resources.  Quantitative results were analyzed in SPSS and Microsoft Excel, while qualitative responses were recorded, transcribed, and imported into NVivo 8 where inductive and deductive content analysis was performed.
RESULTS: Findings from the quantitative analyses revealed that the use of cultural strategies varied according to client place of residence and DEC client volume.  Integration of cultural strategies was more common for (a) DECs serving an on-reserve clientele, compared to DECs serving an off-reserve clientele; and (b) DECs serving a higher volume of Aboriginal clients.  Qualitative analyses revealed differences in (a) program delivery methods for Aboriginal clients, and (b) perceived barriers to providing Aboriginal clients with effective diabetes care.
CONCLUSION: Now that we know many Ontario DECs are trying to integrate cultural strategies to various degrees, research efforts can attempt to connect culturally relevant diabetes programs to client outcomes. A positive relationship would have important policy and practice implications.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: An Adaptive Control Algorithm For Maximum Power Point Tracking for Wind Energy Conversion Systems

contributor:
Bakhshai, Alireza
Electrical and Computer Engineering

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subject:
Wind Energy
Renewable Energy

abstract: Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-15 20:47:44.884

abstract:
Wind energy systems are being closely studied because of its benefits as an environmentally friendly and renewable source of energy.  Because of its unpredictable availability, power management concepts are essential to extract as much power as possible from the wind when it becomes available.
The purpose of this thesis is to presents a new adaptive control algorithm for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in wind energy systems.  The proposed control algorithm allows the generator to track the optimal operation points of the wind turbine system under fluctuating wind conditions and the tracking process speeds up over time.  This algorithm does not require the knowledge of intangible turbine mechanical characteristics such as its power coefficient curve, power characteristic or torque characteristic.  The algorithm uses its memory feature to adapt to any given wind turbine and to infer the optimum rotor speeds for wind speeds that have not occurred before.  The proposed algorithm uses a modified version of Hill Climb Search (HCS) and intelligent memory to implement its power management scheme. This algorithm is most suitable for smaller grid or battery connected wind energy systems.  PSIM simulation studies have been done to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Computer Language Transformation System Capable of Generalized Context-Dependent Parsing

contributor:
Cordy, James R.
Computing

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subject:
parsing
transformation
programming language
computer language
generalized parsing
context-dependent parsing

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-15 21:01:24.236

abstract:
Source transformation systems are special-purpose programming languages, or in some cases suites of languages, that are designed for the analysis and transformation of computer languages. They enable rapid prototyping of programming languages, source code renovation, language-to-language translation, design recovery, and other custom analysis techniques. With the emergence of these systems a serious problem is evident: expressing a parser for common computer languages is sometimes very difficult. Source transformation systems employ generalized parsing algorithms, and while these are well suited for the kind of agile parsing techniques in use by transformation practitioners, they are not well suited for parsing languages that are context-dependent. Traditional deterministic parser generators do not stumble in this area, but they sacrifice the generalized parsing abilities that transformation systems depend on. When it is hard to get the input into the system as a correct and accurate parse tree the utility of the unified transformation environment is degraded and more ad hoc approaches become attractive for processing input.

This thesis is about the design of a new computer language transformation system with a focus on enhancing the parsing system to support generalized context-dependent parsing. We argue for the use of backtracking LR as the generalized parsing algorithm. We present an enhancement to backtracking LR that allows us to control the parsing of an ambiguous grammar by ordering the productions of the grammar definitions. We add a grammar-dependent lexical solution and integrate it with our ordered choice parsing strategy. We design a transformation language that is closer to general-purpose programming languages, yet enables common transformation techniques. We add semantic actions to our backtracking LR parsing engine and encourage the modification of global state in support of context-dependent parsing. We introduce semantic undo actions for reverting changes to global state during backtracking, thereby enabling generalized context-dependent parsing. Finally, we free the user from having to write undo actions by employing automatic reverse execution. The resulting system allows a wider variety of computer languages to be analyzed. By focusing on improving parsing abilities and moving to a transformation language that resembles general-purpose languages, we aim to extend the transformation paradigm to allow greater use by practitioners who face an immediate need to parse, analyze and transform computer languages.

abstract: PhD


title: Author of Prodigies: Representing the Female Letter-Writer in English Renaissance Literature

contributor:
Hanson, Elizabeth
English

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subject:
Epistolarity
Gender
Subjectivity
Pre-history of the epistolary novel

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, English) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-15 21:08:25.539

abstract: This dissertation seeks to show that the figure of the female letter-writer in English Renaissance literature, rather than reflecting the culture’s desire to contain, undermine, or destroy the notion of women’s textual production, in fact represents the culture’s desire to imagine and see women as writers.  The image of the female letter-writer was sufficiently pervasive both to normalize the idea that real women might properly engage in textual production, and to function as a literary trope which was used to investigate issues beyond gender ideology.  “Author of Prodigies” explores representations of women’s epistolary creation in a broad selection of fictional texts, primarily drama.  Based on these representations, I argue that the figure of the female letter-writer functioned as a means through which the fragile and epistemologically fraught relationship between the subject and the writing in which she engages was explored.  In Chapter One, I focus primarily on the history of early feminist criticism, issues of how letters are related to non-epistolary texts, Renaissance notions of subjectivity and its relationship to gender, and how subjectivity was understood to adhere in epistolary writing.  In Chapter Two, I examine texts in which female characters pen letters in their own blood.  Blood letters figure the fragility, marginality, and vulnerability associated with self revelation in a context in which female subjectivity was not comfortably acknowledged.  Chapter Three features texts that contemplate the fantasy of female characters wooing their beaux by merging epistolary production and metadramatic performances of femininity.  These characters use gendered social constraints to their advantage, revealing themselves to be sufficiently skillful to manipulate social and material signs of their marginalized position in order to achieve their personal desires.  Chapter Four focuses on male fetishization of women’s intellectual labour through letter-writing, and the ways in which women writers anticipate and manipulate this response.  These depictions of women’s mental work are infused with mystery, which is integral to the pleasure of imagining women engaged in letter-writing.  However, as the terms of the fetish are being established in these texts they are also in the process of being normalized.

abstract: PhD