identifier: Barry, Lynn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Barry=3ALynn=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Social workers' knowledge of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): implications for assessment practices with mothers.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Some women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and its more severe
presentation as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which seriously limits their
coping ability in daily life, including their parenting ability. Social workers routinely
assess parenting ability, giving rise to the question, “How does the premenstrual
knowledge of social workers influence whether and what they ask in their assessment
practices with mothers?”
The heavily debated premenstrual literature rests on four approaches. After these
perspectives, an enhanced biopsychosocial framework (BPS-E) is used to examine the
premenstrual knowledge of social workers and their conversations about PMS/PMDD as
they assess women’s parenting. This exploratory study used a triangulated convergence
design, generating data from both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. In the first
phase, 521 social workers completed a Premenstrual Experience Knowledge
Questionnaire (PEKQ) created for this research. In the qualitative phase, inspired by an
interpretative phenomenological approach, 16 social workers described in interviews
their premenstrual knowledge and its impact, if any, on their assessment practices with
mothers.
Most social workers had limited knowledge of PMS/PMDD, most crucially a) the
PMDD DSM-V classification, b) increased suicide attempts during the premenstruum,
and c) the effectiveness of SSRI anti-depressants in moderating the symptoms of PMDD.
Also, the greater the interference of social workers’ own premenstrual symptoms on their
daily living and the more premenstrual training they had received, the higher their
premenstrual knowledge scores. Very few social workers in this study (5.1%) addressed premenstrual symptoms with their female clients. However, a statistically significant
relationship existed in this sample between asking female clients about PMS/PMDD and
social workers’ (a) age, (b) premenstrual knowledge scores, (c) premenstrual training,
and (d) the degree to which the premenstrual symptoms of female social workers
interfered in their own daily living.
These results can direct social work education and practice. Not asking about
PMS/PMDD symptoms could have negative outcomes, particularly in child protection,
where the safety needs of children could remain unaddressed. Conversely, women who
tell uninformed or disapproving social workers about their premenstrual symptoms might
be further subjected to mother-blame, stigmatization, or punitive interventions.


identifier: Diao, Yingzhong <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Diao=3AYingzhong=3A=3A.html>   (2016) A methodology for assessing the adaptive capacity of the forest sector in western Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract:
Climate change is and continue to be a major challenge that increases the adaptability
requirements of the industrial sector in the future. Determining how much adaptive capacity is
needed for sustainable development of the forest sector is a relatively new issue in Canada. This
thesis uses the forest sector in Western Newfoundland as a case study to determine an
appropriate method for adaptive capacity assessment. The case study used a modified Delphi
method to elicit the opinion of local forest sector experts. The result revealed that evaluating
adaptive capacity through the assessment of determinants is straightforward and feasible. This
methodology is considered to be applicable in the other resource sectors and regions once
determinants and data resources can be identified.


identifier: Dosu, Benjamin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dosu=3ABenjamin=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Resource grabbing in the global south: a comparative analysis of land, water and ocean grabbing.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of different types of resource grabbing, which refers to rapidly changing patterns of resource access and control occcuring around the world. This comparative analysis aims to identify key features and areas in resource grabbing that could be addressed for the pur[p]oses of policy formulation and implementation. Resource grabbing involving land, water and ocean resources has generated new debates in academic and policy literatures. This thesis uses theoretical insights from political economy and political ecology to advance these debates by identifying various actors, motives, institutions and effects of resource grabbing. Drawing on an extensive review of the literature that includes a range of examples from areas of the Global South, the research established that resource grabbing is propelled by the interests of various political and economic actors in a context of weak institutions and institutional frameworks. A political ecology analysis reveals that resource grabbing processes have invariably had negative effects on grabbees, those actors who had prior access to or control over resources grabbed by other actors. This thesis established that natural resources are controlled from prior resource holders with a stated purpose of conservation and efficiency but with hidden purpose to actually satisfy the interests investors and the powerful in society. This control of resources subjects prior holders to marginalization and puts them at risk in sustaining themselves. In some of the cases of resource grabbing as reviewed in this thesis, changing resource control patterns have resulted in environmental conflicts and violence. The thesis proposes that states and policy makers adopt meaningful human rights approaches to natural resource management as a major pathway towards curbing land, water and ocean grabbing. The thesis proposes that a political economy analysis of actors, their interests and institutional context is key not only for developing an understanding resource grabbing as a problem but also for establishing policies aimed at protecting natural resources and marginalized peoples from grabbing.


identifier: Edu, Banjo Afeez <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Edu=3ABanjo_Afeez=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Enhancing environmental regulations through public policies on corporate social responsibility (CSR): a case study of the offshore oil and gas industry in Eastern Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the public policy literature on the role that government policies can play in supporting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It does so through a case study of existing and potential relationships between government policy and CSR in enhancing environmental regulations in the offshore oil and gas industry of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The research analytically engages two concepts; environmental governance and CSR. Theoretically, a public-policy CSR classification model is developed, using a theoretical classification schemes on the role of government in CSR. The model is used to analyze the role government in NL can play in using CSR to enhance environmental regulation in the offshore oil and gas (OAG) industry of Eastern NL. The thesis adopts a mix of primary and secondary data for the case study. Primary data is gathered through key informant interviews, which are used to supplement findings in the literature. Data collected reveals that environmental regulatory regimes in NL‟s offshore OAG industry currently face numerous challenges; however, the study moves away from demanding more stringent regulations as an immediate solution, and concludes by recommending that the government of NL develop a public-policy CSR strategy. Such a strategy can incrementally strengthen environment regulations in the offshore OAG industry over time.


identifier: Mercer, Nicholas <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Mercer=3ANicholas=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Barriers to renewable energy development in Newfoundland and Labrador: a case study of wind energy applying the 'AKTESP' framework for analysis.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Despite vast research on the need to transition to renewable energy (RE), fossil fuels
remain the world’s primary energy source. This thesis contributes to the energy transition
(ET) literature by identifying barriers to RE development in Newfoundland and Labrador
(NL). Applying Trudgill’s ‘AKTESP’ analytical framework, the study asked: in a
provincial context, (1) what barriers exist to wind energy development (W.E.D), (2) what
are the potential benefits of W.E.D, (3) based on barriers identified, which policy
measures would facilitate ET? Seventeen expert interviews were conducted and content
analysis was applied using NVIVO software. A large majority of respondents (65%)
classified the current state of W.E.D in NL as ‘unfavourable’. The most frequently
reported barriers were political (71% of respondents), economic (65%), and knowledge-related
(53%). Potential benefits of W.E.D were economic, environmental, and societal in
nature. Based on the findings, an ET framework was developed, consisting of seven
policy recommendations which may help NL transition to RE.


identifier: Nwanguma, Ernest C. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Nwanguma=3AErnest_C=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2016) An analysis of the rationale for Canada's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol and the possible impacts on the Canadian oil and gas industry.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Under the Kyoto Protocol, Canada pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 6% below its 1990 levels, from 2008-2012. Unfortunately, Canada withdrew in December 2011, which was effective from December 2012. This thesis analyses the rationale for Canada’s withdrawal and how it might impact its oil and gas industry. The qualitative method used, deploys the case study approach for the entire study. From an extensive empirical review, the research questions are analyzed using the constructive and interpretative analytical method, under two theoretical frameworks – The Rational Choice Theory and Public Choice Theory. Results show Canada renounced the Protocol because of huge oil sand deposits, which it could not have exploited under the 6% reduction target. Canada aims to check its GHG emissions only through a Canadian made GHG mitigation strategy. Opinions of oil and gas industry experts were not sampled due to lack of interest in the central research question. The thesis recommends more transparent operations from oil and gas companies regarding environmental issues. The federal government should adopt long term emission reduction goals with strict considerations of national energy resources and economic interests.


identifier: Whyte-Jones, Kimberley <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Whyte-Jones=3AKimberley=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Public participation best practices in environmental decision-making in Newfoundland and Labrador - analyzing the forestry management planning process.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Public participation may improve the quality of environmental management decisions, however, the quality of such decisions depend on the quality of the participatory process. This research examines elements seen as essential for successful public participation in Newfoundland and Labrador. It also seeks to determine whether the 2014-2024 Provincial Sustainable Forest Management Strategy (PSFMS) consultation process met the best practices criteria emerging from the literature. The research used an exploratory case study strategy to consider the specified process, with data collection methods including formal semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The findings of this research revealed that although not all of the eight best practices outlined by Reed were present in the case analyzed, they are applicable guidelines for future forest management participation processes in Newfoundland and Labrador. Two additional best practices were also identified as important for successful public engagement in the province.


identifier: Rostami, Sina Khakzad <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Rostami=3ASina_Khakzad=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Risk-based life cycle assessment methodology for green and safe product selection.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is an effective technique widely used to estimate the emissions produced during the entire life-cycle of a fuel or a product. However, most of the conventional LCA methods consider the risk of voluntary releases such as emissions, discharges or energy use. In other words, involuntary risks such as accident risks associated with exploration, production, storage, process and transportation have been overlooked. For hazardous materials involuntary risks could be significant; thus, ignoring this may result in imprecise LCA. The present study aims to develop a methodology for risk-based life-cycle assessment (RBLCA) of fossil fuels by integrating both the voluntary and involuntary risks (risk associated with potential accidents) of hazardous materials. The risk associated with potential accidents is estimated using Bayesian network approach. This provides a robust probabilistic platform of LCA. The application of the developed methodology is demonstrated for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and heavy fuel oil (HFO) as fuels of a hypothetical power plant. The comparative analysis of two fuels based on RBLCA helps an analyst not only overcome data uncertainty but also identify holistically green and safer fuel option.


identifier: Careen, Christine <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Careen=3AChristine=3A=3A.html>   (2016) An exploration of teachers' use of assistive technology in inclusive classrooms within the context of universal design for learning and students' response to these methods and tools.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Teachers must employ instructional approaches and tools that assist all students in accessing the curriculum, engaging in learning activities, and demonstrating their achievements. Universal design for learning and assistive technology make the curriculum and instructional practices accessible and engaging for all students. As there is little research examining the use of assistive technology in inclusive environments, this exploratory study uses semi-structured interviews with teachers, focus groups with students, and classroom observations to examine how elementary teachers implement assistive technology in general education classrooms within the context of universal design for learning and the supports and challenges that influence these practices.


identifier: Ralph, Freeman E. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ralph=3AFreeman_E=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Design of ships and offshore structures: a probabilistic approach for multi-year ice and iceberg impact loads for decision-making with uncertainty.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Ice is a complex material that exhibits different failure properties depending on the loading rate, temperature and salinity. Under fast loading rates such as a ship ramming a multi-year (MY) ice, it fails as a brittle fracturing material. Fracture and spalling processes nonsimultaneously reshape the contact zone resulting in concentrated forces on localized contact areas. These localized High Pressure Zones (HPZs) are highly variable in time and space. The relationship between local and global processes is that the sum of n HPZs forces transferred into the structure at any point in time is the total global force transmitted to the structure. As with other fracturing materials, an inherent scale effect exists.
Global pressures result from the sum of n HPZ forces averaged over the nominal contact area (e.g. the imprint of a ship’s bow into the ice without correction for spalling effects). The maximum global force will generally occur at the end of a ram at the maximum nominal contact area. Due to the random occurrence of natural flaws in the ice, pressures will vary as fractures occur, continually changing the contact face. A global scale effect exists such that pressures on larger contact areas, including zones of low and zero pressure, average out to be smaller. Unlike global pressures, maximum local pressures may occur on any panel and at any point through the ram duration. Modeling exposure is important as design pressures will increase for increasing number of interaction events as well as increased penetration or duration. The scale effect for local pressures within the nominal contact area is more demanding than for global pressures such that pressures on smaller areas are considerably higher. While this is expected, given confinement can suppress damage and limit fracturing events, a force limit exists where microstructural damage occurs, softening the ice and causing HPZs to fail. Local pressures on varying panel areas were studied based on spatial HPZ density and HPZ
force. Building on earlier HPZ analysis using Louis S. St. Laurent data, in this thesis HPZ density and forces were derived from analysis of four Polar Sea data sets. The occurrence and intensity of HPZs on panel areas were simulated using a Poisson Process and an exponential distribution for HPZ force. The influence of modeling HPZ cutoff force on HPZ
density, HPZ force distribution as well as local pressure parameters were studied and appropriate combinations recommended. Building on the Polar Sea HPZ analysis, a new model was developed for this thesis that considers HPZ occurrence in time through a ramming event, modeling HPZ rate. This was further enhanced by correlating HPZ rate with ship speed. Such a model allows the designer to determine baseline ‘parent’ local pressure design parameters based on vessel size and expected operational speed. The faster a ship operates through an ice regime, the greater the HPZ rate. Larger and faster ships will penetrate further, having longer interaction durations
and hence a greater number of HPZs forming (unless, for example, the ship passes through a ridge). For design, we are interested in the maximum local pressure on a single panel area through the ram duration. Rates too will vary along the vessel being greater on the bow and least from mid-body to stern. For fixed structures designed for iceberg impacts, rate and duration based on iceberg size and drift can be used to model exposure in time. For floaters, modeling HPZ formation in time provides a means to estimate dynamic global forces and mooring loads illustrating benefit of compliance effects. Modeling of HPZ occurrence over a panel area is also very attractive for structure response analysis. The random placement of n HPZs over a structural panel gives a better basis to model stress localization, which is very important for limit states design. A preliminary review of the IACS Polar Class rules was carried out in this thesis. Global impact forces are estimated using a kinetic energy collision model. Consideration for modeling ice crushing strength assumes a pressure-area relationship that is proportional to A⁻⁰·¹ which is not consistent with experimental results demonstrating a scale effect proportional to A⁻⁰·⁴. The resultant design formulation models excessive semi-local pressures increasing with increasing semi-local contact area. While the intent is to model increasing pressures locally with increasing vessel displacement and subsequent penetration and contact area, justification for this trend suggests that there is no reason for traditional pressure area scale effects to exist and that with confinement, fracturing processes will be limited. But fracturing processes exist at all scales. The occurrence and behavior of HPZs either lead to very large stress localization that enhances fracture events or they undergo microstructure damage that softens the ice at the structure interface. While the design trend in the Polar Class rules may be okay, the background ice mechanics can be improved. An alternative collision model is developed in this thesis with an ice strength model based on data and an exposure algorithm to model pressures increasing locally with larger displacement vessels. In the mid 1990s as part of the Arctic Shipping Pollution Prevention Regulations (ASPPR) proposal reviews, a probabilistic time-step ship ram model was developed to estimate impact forces. Consistent with the ASPPR work, exposure based on annual number of collisions was mapped to each Polar Class (e.g. PC1, PC2, PC3 can expect on the order of 10000, 1000, 100 rams per year respectively). Using the MV Arctic as a test case and exercising extremal analysis, impact forces were estimated for each Polar Class. Characteristic 10⁻²
global forces were compared with Polar Class rule estimates. Probabilistic local pressures were also compared with rule based estimates. Assuming impacts with MY ice, preliminary results show that plating design pressures may be reasonable, with recommendation for adjustment to the Polar Class 1 coefficients to reduce conservatism, and possible increases
for lower classes. Analysis should be extended to other vessels and operating conditions. A probabilistic methodology for design of ships based on the principles of safety and consequences is important and necessary both for design and safety validation. Such approaches can consider the class of the vessel on the basis of expected number of annual interactions with extreme ice features. An example illustration of a design based on an arctic shipping route, ice conditions, design strategy, risk mitigation via detection and avoidance and resultant local pressures on the hull for structural design.


identifier: Gaalswyk, Kari <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Gaalswyk=3AKari=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Molecular simulation methods for conformational searches and diffusivity.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Computer modeling is a powerful technique to provide explanations and make predictions
in drug development using computational methods. Molecular conformations
affect drug binding and biological activity, so the preferred conformation of a drug
molecule plays an important role in design and synthesis of new drugs. We have
developed a conformational search method to automatically identify low energy conformations
of drug molecules in an explicit solvent. This method uses replica-exchange
molecular dynamics and clustering analysis to efficiently sample conformational space
and identify the most probable conformations. The method produces distinct primary
conformations for a molecule in explicit solvent, implicit solvent, and gas phase. Drug
development is also concerned with membrane permeation. Many drugs have intracellular
targets, and the rate and mechanism of membrane permeation affects their
biological behavior. Transmembrane diffusion coefficients can be calculated using
Generalized Langevin methods. We have compared the velocity autocorrelation and
the position autocorrelation methods using molecular dynamics simulations of various
solutes in homogeneous liquids, and of a water molecule harmonically restrained
at various points within a lipid bilayer. Our results indicate that known limitations
when using the position autocorrelation function can potentially be resolved using the
velocity autocorrelation function. The effects of the spring constant and the choice of
thermostat on both methods are also discussed.


identifier: Spies, Lukas <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Spies=3ALukas=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Structured-grid multigrid with Taylor-Hood finite elements.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Recent years have seen renewed interest in the numerical solution of the Stokes Equations.
At the same time, new computational architectures, such as GPUs and manycore
processors, naturally perform best with the regular data access and computation
patterns associated with structured-grid discretisations and algorithms. While many
preconditioning approaches ignore the underlying mesh geometry, our approach is to
develop a structured-grid implementation, taking advantage of the highly structured
data-access patterns and employing stencil-based calculations. This opens up many
opportunities for fine-grained parallelism, allowing us to take advantage of multicore
and accelerated architectures. In this thesis, we will consider an implementation of
a structured-grid monolithic Multigrid approach for Q2-Q1 finite-element discretisations,
comparing its efficiency to an unstructured grid solver implemented in Trilinos.
With the aim to eventually target large heterogeneous systems, we will discuss an
implementation for moving from a serial code to the GPU by means of OpenCL and
compare the efficiency of all three versions. Speedup factors of about 6.3x were observed
for the GPU implementation over a serial implementation in Trilinos for a
problem on a 768x768 mesh in 2D.


identifier: Xiao, Su <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Xiao=3ASu=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Home reading environment, maternal shared book reading styles, and dialogic reading intervention in China.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In the present study, three hundred and seventy-five middle class families with 3-
to 6-year-olds attending a public kindergarten in Wuhan, China participated in a survey
assessing demographic and shared reading related information. Ninety-six of these
families were selected for the purpose of identifying maternal shared reading styles and
evaluating the effectiveness of the dialogic intervention developed by Whitehurst and
colleagues (1988). Many of the results are similar to the data reported in Western studies.
First, the majority of mothers indicated that shared reading was a common and
longstanding practice. Second, two maternal reading styles were identified: story telling
and story collaborating. Middle-class Chinese mothers in the current study were more
likely to adopt the story-telling style compared to their middle-class Western counterparts.
Third, the behavioral changes in Chinese mothers that occurred after being trained in
dialogic techniques, coupled with the greater language gains demonstrated by children in
the intervention group as compared to the control group at both post- and follow-up-tests,
suggest that the Dialogic Reading intervention is effective. Fourth, the current results are
consistent with a model of shared reading that highlights reciprocal maternal and child
influences. Whereas mothers contribute to children’s language development by
establishing adequate home literacy practices and support, children are active agents within that context as evidenced by different levels of interest, which influences language
achievement.


identifier: Wakeford, Kim <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wakeford=3AKim=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Disavowing colonialism: the Canadian federal government on missing and murdered indigenous women.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
While many Indigenous, activist and human rights groups agree that the disproportionate
number of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) in Canada can be
attributed to the historical and ongoing discrimination that began with colonization
(LEAF, 2014), my research suggests that this consensus does not exist among reports
about the subject produced by the Government of Canada. Exploring how the Canadian
Federal Government has framed and responded to this crisis, I conduct an intersectional,
feminist, and Foucauldian critical discourse analysis of 15 federally-produced reports
purporting to account for the problem of MMIW, revealing several troubling discursive
trends. Among these is the narrative that the violence occurs exclusively in Indigenous
communities and at the hands of Indigenous men, a story that is contradicted by the
Government’s own statistical information. In this way, the reports elide the colonial
settler-state’s responsibility for the historical and ongoing colonization that creates the
conditions in which Indigenous women are killable. Noting that Indigenous women’s
vulnerability to murder and disappearance occurs within and is compounded by colonial,
racial, and gendered structures of oppression, I argue that understanding Canadian
colonization as an ongoing, rather than a past event, is essential to getting beyond these
narratives. By disavowing colonialism and not contextualizing the problem of MMIW
within current settler-colonialism, the Federal Government reinscribes oppressive
colonial structures and renders itself unable to effectively respond to this problem.


identifier: Doyle, Mario E. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Doyle=3AMario_E=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Metacognitive monitoring during category learning: how success affects future behaviour.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine how people’s perceptions of their own learning, during a category learning task, matched their performance. In two experiments, participants were asked to learn natural categories, of both high and low variability, and make category learning judgments (CLJs). Variability was manipulated by varying the number of exemplars and the number of times each exemplar was presented within each category. Experiment 1 showed that participants were generally overconfident in their knowledge of low variability families, suggesting that they considered repetition to be more useful for learning than it actually was. CLJs had the largest increase when a trial was correct following an incorrect trial and the largest decrease when an incorrect trial followed a correct trial. Experiment 2 replicated these results, but also demonstrated that global CLJ ratings showed the same bias toward repetition.


identifier: Kumar, Ranjeet <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kumar=3ARanjeet=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Composability of transactions using closed nesting in software transactional memory.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
With the boom in the development of multi-core machines and the development
of multi-threaded applications as such, concurrent programming has gained increasingly
more significance than ever before. However, concurrent programming using
traditional methods such as locks, mutex and monitors is not easy, as they require
a programmer to predetermine the lock management scheme for each case. This
approach is error-prone. Besides, it is very difficult to trace the bugs in such programs.
Software transactional memory (STM) is a new technology that solves this
problem by offering automatic management of locks. As such, in recent years STM
has gained a lot of attention in both industry and academia. However, most of the
work in STM is restricted to non-nested transactions, while the domain of nested
transactions remains largely unexplored.
One of the striking features of STM is its ability to support composability of transactions
through three types of nesting, namely
at nesting, closed nesting and open
nesting. In this thesis, we study the complexities involved in designing STM protocols
for closed nested transactions. To this end, we extend Imbs and Raynal's STM
protocol [1], which is designed for non-nested transactions, to closed nested transactions.
We propose several extensions, employing different modes of concurrency
for subtransactions in the transaction tree : (i) serial execution (no concurrency) of
subtransactions at each level; (ii) pessimistic concurrency control at all nodes; (iii)
optimistic concurrency control at all nodes; and (iv) a mixture of optimistic concurrency
control at some nodes while pessimistic concurrency control at other nodes in
the same transaction tree.


identifier: Ramalho, Candice A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ramalho=3ACandice_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2014) Active now: public policy legitimacy and the emergence of Idle No More.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Despite vast research on both policy reform and social movement emergence, their relationship is relatively understudied. This thesis helps to address this gap by using qualitative methodology to explore the relationship between a Canadian omnibus budget bill (Bill C-45) and the emergence of Idle No More movement (INM). Following Snow and Soule’s model of social movement emergence, Bill C-45 is identified as INM’s ‘mobilizing grievance’. In order to explain why, Bill C-45 is assessed against Wallner’s framework of policy legitimacy. Bill C-45—specifically its amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act and the Indian Act—is shown to lack substantive and procedural legitimacy. This legitimacy deficit provides an explanation for why the founders of INM deemed Bill C-45 serious enough to require grassroots mobilization. This thesis thus contributes to both public policy and social movement literature by explaining how INM’s emergence was the direct result of the questionable legitimacy of policy reforms.


identifier: Schuelke, Sanja Ramona <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Schuelke=3ASanja_Ramona=3A=3A.html>   (2014) The effects of the economic crisis on environmental policy-making.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The financial crisis in 2008 has severe effects and impact on governments and policy-making worldwide. Many studies have analysed the impacts of the financial crisis on pol-icy areas (e.g. Starke, 2013), but only little has been done in the field of environmental policy. This study analyses the question on what impact the crisis had on environmental policy-making in Germany and Ireland with the use of secondary quantitative and qualitative data analysis in a comparative research design.
It turned out that environmental policy-making did not suffer more than other policy areas from the crisis. Environmental policy-performance during and after the crisis is positively influenced by centralised decision-making and the absence of veto points. In Ireland, problem pressure of fiscal austerity, the EU-IMF-Programme, as well as EU regulations and frameworks were important factors for environmental policy-making. Compared to that, Germany has started its energy transition and is currently struggling to build a co-herent energy policy concept for renewables and make the transition affordable without neglecting industry interests. Due to exemptions for industry branches Germany seems to have lost its leading role in climate policy for now, but can still rely on a comprehensive environmental policy framework.


identifier: Smith, Stacy <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Smith=3AStacy=3A=3A.html>   (2016) The weight and shape checking inventory (WSCI): establishing the psychometric properties of a new measure of body checking.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder among young women. Anorexia nervosa is also very difficult to treat; sufferers often identify with the disorder and can be resistant to change. Body checking (ex: pinching for fatness, frequent weighing) has been proposed as a key mechanism in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa, and has been increasingly identified as an important target for treatment. With this has come the need for practical and effective ways to both assess and monitor this behaviour.
The current research presents the development and validation of a new measure of body checking: the 11-item Weight and Shape Checking Inventory (WSCI). This tool was designed to capture the type of body checking done by individuals with anorexia nervosa, and to facilitate monitoring and assessment of this behaviour.
In order to examine the psychometric properties of this new questionnaire, data were collected from two samples: (a) women with anorexia nervosa entering the Eating Disorders Program at the Toronto General Hospital (n=328), and (b) undergraduate women from Memorial University (n=110). Participants were administered a battery of questionnaires that included the WSCI along with established measures of related constructs, such as the Body Checking Questionnaire (BCQ), the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ), the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and the Eating Disorder Examination – Questionnaire (EDE-Q).
Evidence of reliability (test-retest and internal consistency) and of validity (construct, criterion, and discriminant) of the WSCI was found in both samples, and the measure was found to predict severity of eating disorder psychopathology. Individuals with the binge-eating/purging subtype of the disorder (AN-BP) reported significantly more body checking behaviours than did individuals with the restricting subtype (AN-R). The measure was found to reliably discriminate between anorexia nervosa cases and undergraduate controls, and was found to be much more effective than the existing Body Checking Questionnaire (BCQ) at discriminating the restricting subtype in particular.
This research thus contributes to knowledge of the role of body checking in anorexia nervosa. It also establishes the psychometric properties of the WSCI, and shows promise for its use as a new tool in both research and clinical practice.


identifier: Keeping, Zak <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Keeping=3AZak=3A=3A.html>   (2016) The effect of social influence tactics on information provision in witness interviews.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The effect of social influence tactics on information provision was examined. Participants (N = 174) watched a video depicting vandalism in a convenience store, then were assigned at random to one of six interview conditions that varied by social influence tactic (i.e., consistency, reciprocity, authority, social proof, standard rapport, baseline). Participants were then asked to provide a detailed account of what they could remember about the video. Participants exposed to the social proof condition provided a greater number of accurate details than participants in any other condition (Md = 0.93). The average effect size for accurate information provided in the consistency condition was medium (Md = 0.57). There was no corresponding increase in incorrect or confabulated information provided. The potential utility of social proof as a tool for increasing information provision in police interviews is discussed.


identifier: Porter, Michelle <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Porter=3AMichelle=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Moving home: narrating place, home, and rurality in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This dissertation explores interconnected narratives of home, place, and rurality in Newfoundland
and Labrador through three papers, each of which approaches the topic from a
different angle. Through an examination of curators’ stories of the design of two exhibits
in a provincial museum, the first paper argues that notions of home have excluded Indigenous
ways of living and suggests a decolonizing framework that focuses on the movements
through which home is made. The second paper examines rural Newfoundland
women’s narratives of residential choice and, in focusing on their narrated experiences of
movement, suggests that parenting is a life-stage during which place tensions are experienced,
and that women are responding to rural change through the use of parenting strategies
that include important narrative interventions. Closely connected to the idea of narrative
interventions, the third paper explores some of the changing meanings of rural childhood
that appear in women's narratives of home in rural Newfoundland and, in noting its
important role in rural retention, suggests that despite an aging population the rural is a
place narrated for the young. Focusing on movement, the papers together represent new
approaches to examining connections between movement and the ways in which home,
place, and the rural are lived and experienced in Newfoundland and Labrador.


identifier: Roddick, Jenna <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Roddick=3AJenna=3A=3A.html>   (2016) The attitudes and intentions of seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador related to falls prevention practices.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Falls are significant concern for the health and well-being of the ageing population, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) where the rate of ageing is the highest in the country. Many falls result in hospitalizations and subsequent therapy and treatments that can drastically change an individual’s quality of life. Many programs have been developed in efforts to reduce the occurrence of falls, however little research has been done to address what seniors’ personal views are on the topic of falls and falls prevention. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and intentions NL seniors have towards strength and balance activities and advice on specific falls prevention strategies. A survey, modified from Yardley et al. (2008), was used. Data analysis included sociodemographic descriptive statistics bivariate correlations of survey items and Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The results of this study suggest NL seniors understand the benefits of strength and balance activities and find they are personally relevant. Seniors expressed intentions to participate in programs either group-based or home-based and a likelihood of following advice on falls prevention strategies such as home modifications and proper footwear. These findings provide essential knowledge for future research and program development for the ageing population in NL.


identifier: Luomba, Joseph Onyango <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Luomba=3AJoseph_Onyango=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a governability problem: a case study of Lake Victoria, Tanzania.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis employs interactive governance theory and governability assessment framework to examine why illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is persistent in Lake Victoria, despite efforts to combat it. IUU fishing threatens sustainable management of fish stocks and livelihoods of fisheries dependent communities. At the same time, inadequacies of the technical and regulatory measures implemented to control it have resulted in calls for alternative approaches. This thesis takes a whole system approach to examine underlying governance issues that pose challenges to tackling IUU problems. The study involved two parts. First, it evaluated the extent to which the properties of the system-to-be-governed, the governing system and the governing interactions contribute to fisheries governance challenges. Second, a survey using paired comparison questionnaires was undertaken to determine fisheries stakeholders’ judgements about the level of damages associated with different fishing-related activities. The investigation reveals that diversity, complexity, dynamics and scale issues in the system-to-be-governed, the governing system and the governing interaction challenges efforts to tackle IUU fishing. In addition, the study shows that there are some inconsistencies in the way fishers and managers judge the impact of some fishing-related activities including those that are officially considered IUU fishing. For example, managers consider IUU fishing activities such as ‘fishing without license’ and ‘landing fish in non-gazetted site’ to be least damaging while fishers consider them to have higher impact. These mismatches between the system-to-be-governed and the governing system need to be addressed, before IUU fishing can be tackled. The thesis offers alternative explanations about why IUU problem persists in Lake Victoria, broadening thus the possibility on how to combat it. The methodological approach and findings of the thesis can be applied in other fisheries to help understand and address similar governance challenges.


identifier: Farahbod, Marissa Francisco <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Farahbod=3AMarissa_Francisco=3A=3A.html>   (2016) From hag to heroine: the evolution of the female villain in Disney's Frozen and Maleficent.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to subject Disney‘s Frozen (2013) and Maleficent (2014) to scrutiny, in order to achieve a better understanding of the company‘s more recent revisionist approaches to character and plot development. Both movies (especially Frozen) have enjoyed immense popularity among many fans and critics alike, who believe these films to be in alignment with contemporary feminist ideals. By employing both scholarly and popular views, this study offers detailed analyses, close observations and fruitful comparisons, in order to shed more light on the transformation of former fairy-tale villains into heroines and the reasons behind such alterations.


identifier: Monks, Michael R. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Monks=3AMichael_R=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Neuromuscular fatigue of the knee extensors does not differ following repeated maximal intensity leg cycling sprints interspersed with 30s and 180s of rest.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The objective of this thesis was to examine the development of neuromuscular fatigue
during a leg-cycling repeated sprint exercise interspersed with short and long duration
recovery times. Ten recreationally active males completed two sessions of ten 10s sprints,
interspersed with either 30s or 180s of recovery. Participants completed a knee extensor
maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with interpolated twitch technique (ITT) protocol
pre-, mid-, and post-repeated sprint exercise. Participant’s peak power was significantly
higher during sprint 5 and 10, but not sprint 1, when sprints were interspersed with 180s
of rest compared to 30s of rest. Post-sprint 5 there was a significant decreased in MVC
force and potentiated twitch force. Post-sprint 10 participant’s voluntary activation was
significantly decreased. There was no difference between groups for knee extensor MVC
force, potentiated twitch force or voluntary activation. Results indicate that a longer
recovery time may improve repeated sprint performance but not improve neuromuscular
function.


identifier: Smith, Jennifer <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Smith=3AJennifer=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Changing to stay the same: the paradox of place-based enterprise on Fogo Island.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.


identifier: Wei, Chen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wei=3AChen=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Spin correlations on the pyrochlore lattice.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Pyrochlores have the chemical formula A₂B₂O₇ with A, B, or both A and B magnetic.
It has corner-sharing tetrahedra in the structure, therefore, frustration phenomena
naturally occurs in these systems. Because of the frustration, pyrochlore have many
interesting properties, including the spin glass in Y₂Mo₂O₇, spin liquid in Tb₂Ti₂O₇,
disordered spin ice in Ho₂Ti₂O₇, and ordered spin ice in Tb₂Sn₂O₇.
In this thesis we will focus on Tb₂Ti₂O₇. Our goal is to find the spin correlation functions
between different sites of Tb ions. The Hamiltonian of Tb ions is an anisotropic
nearest neighbour exchange interaction. We apply perturbation theory to the Hamiltonian,
and it will separate the Hamiltonian into two parts. The unperturbed part
of Hamiltonian is the spin ice Hamiltonian, and other parts of the Hamiltonian are
perturbative. The perturbative parts of Hamiltonian can be written in the local coordinates
to give three different terms X₂, X₃, X₄. In order to find the spin correlation
function, we calculate time dependent spin operators in the interaction picture. Then
we apply them to the unperturbed and perturbed terms of Hamiltonian to calculate
the spin correlation functions. Finally, we discuss the neutron scattering experiment
and how to apply it to test our results.


identifier: Pollard, Megan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pollard=3AMegan=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Individual difference and task factors related to multitasking success.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Many aspects of one’s daily life require multitasking in order to accomplish tasks. This study investigated individuals’ multitasking success on two different types of task and the relationship between task performance and specified individual difference factors. The tasks were a study and recall of text task and a simulated making breakfast task. Three questions were addressed: (1) how well do students recall text material studied under different levels of distraction from a competing video; (2) how do individual differences in working memory, GPA, polychronicity, and perceived multitasking ability relate to performance on the study task and the simulated making breakfast task; (3) is there a relation between effective multitasking on the two tasks, and do successful multitaskers on each task share any individual difference characteristics? Results indicated that multitasking leads to performance decrements in the retention and recall of material. Examination of the individual difference factors revealed that working memory, specifically having a higher working memory capacity, was a key factor in successful performance during both experimental tasks.


identifier: Wakeham, Margaret <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wakeham=3AMargaret=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Boundary spanning leadership in families of schools in a school system.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Multiple types of boundaries affect how members of school systems interact and influence one another. The study of boundary spanning leadership is emerging as a new strand of literature in education (Akkerman & Bakker, 2011) related to the evolution of organizational and leadership models that distribute leadership, recognize and value diversity, respect identities, and honour multiple perspectives (Akkerman & Bakker, 2011; Ernst & Chrobot-Mason, 2011; Harris, 2009; Hogg, 2009; Hogg, van Kippenberg & Rast III, 2012; Robertson, 2009; Sheppard, Brown & Dibbon, 2009).
In my study, I explore the lived experiences of five central office leaders and eight principals in two families of schools in one urban school system. The eight schools accommodate children of elementary school age who represent an eclectic mix of socio-economic and socio-cultural backgrounds. I treat the school district as the overarching case, the two families of schools as sub-cases, and the eight schools as additional sub-cases in my multi-case study. Based on individual open-ended interviews with the thirteen educational leaders I develop themes related to their boundary spanning leadership practices. I also use the annual district and school reports to provide contextual information for the cases. As well, I report on the perceptions of teachers of their own schools as registered by the School Climate and Organizational Citizenship Index survey (DiPaola, & Tschannen-Moran, 2001; Tschannen-Moran, Parish, & DiPaola, 2006).
My study suggests that central office leaders and school principals employ boundary spanning leadership practices on a daily basis to make meaning, administer initiatives, create conditions for collaboration, and transform policies and events. Central office leaders and principals interact directly and indirectly with each other, with teachers and the public across multiple boundaries to share information, coordinate plans, develop relationships and improve schools.
With increased centralization of governance, school systems need boundary spanning leaders more than ever to lead and sustain systemic improvement and innovation. My study of the boundary spanning leadership practices of central office leaders and principals adds to our knowledge of leadership and organizational learning in school systems.


identifier: Law, Victoria G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Law=3AVictoria_G=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2016) The influence of religion and gender on physician and nurse HPV immunization recommendations in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) can have serious consequences for all genders.
Despite these risks, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has failed to include all individuals
in the provincially funded HPV vaccination program. The purpose of this instrumental
case study was to assess physicians’ and nurses’ intentions to recommend the HPV
vaccine for male youth through the lenses gender and religion, and to use that information
to strengthen their intentions to recommend. Data were collected using surveys and
individual interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic coding.
Findings were framed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour and revealed that there is
an imbalance in HPV recommendations across genders, that sexual health is viewed
primarily the responsibility of females, and that trans and non-female identifying
individuals are systematically marginalized by the current policy. These findings have
implications for policy and can raise the awareness of practitioners about systemic
barriers to recommending the vaccine.


identifier: White, Zaren Healey <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/White=3AZaren_Healey=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Surgical shape-shifting: transgender embodiments in Nina Arsenault's The Silicone Diaries.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
My project examines transgender embodiment through a case study of the life writing of Canadian transgender writer and performance artist Nina Arsenault. I focus on two texts, primarily, her one-woman autobiographical play The Silicone Diaries, as well as her “Manifesto of Living Self-portraiture (Identity, Transformation, and Performance),” both published in 2012. Reading Arsenault’s life writing through transgender studies and somatechnics discourses, I investigate the notion of transgender embodiment as a quest and a process of becoming.
I first explore Arsenault’s play through close reading sections of the text to analyze how she situates her experience of gender transition as a relentless pursuit of beauty and femininity. Secondly, I examine the diary entries to understand how Arsenault portrays her own changing embodiment in relation to her extensive use of plastic surgery to shape an idealized, hyperreal femininity, and how she enacts gendered embodiment through different forms of performance, including suffering. Arsenault’s artistic work reveals her gender transition to be a state of ongoing transformation rather than a straightforward path from one gender to another.


identifier: Dowdell, Josh <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dowdell=3AJosh=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Lab scale modelling of collision generated spray in the context of marine icing.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Marine icing is a form of ice accretion that affects vessels in harsh environmental
conditions. This type of ice accretion is primarily due to collision generated spray
icing. Consequences of marine icing range in severity from capsizing of small fishing
vessels to hazardous working conditions and reduced operational efficiency in larger
vessels and rigs. The understanding of icing effects are mainly limited to atmospheric
icing in the aircraft industry, while there is a limited amount of new literature and
industrial knowledge regarding marine spray icing. The objective of this project was
to understand the characteristics of collision generated spray at the lab scale. In this
effort, experiments were conducted with three fabricated models of varying geometries
in a tow tank that were subjected to oncoming waves. Wave probes measured the
wave characteristics while pressure sensors and a high speed camera recorded impact
pressure and spray generation imaging, respectively. The impact pressure and imaging
data files largely serve as validation data for follow on research. Trends were observed
and plotted that correlate increasing impact pressures with increasing wave steepness
values. A qualitative summary of the spray characteristics captured through imaging
found that higher instances of notable spray events occurred as wave impact pressure
increased.


identifier: Ibrahim, Ereny <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ibrahim=3AEreny=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Rural-urban disparities in diabetes diagnosis and outcomes in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Canada. Rural populations often lack adequate access to primary care services, which are critical for providing quality diabetes care. To assess diabetes diagnosis and outcomes among rural and urban populations, a population-based, retrospective cohort study of residents NL, Canada, with diagnosed diabetes aged ≥ 20 years old, was performed using an administrative database. The study population included was 17,796 subjects. Diabetes was classified as a complex case if comorbidities were already present at diagnosis. The provincial mortality database was used to determine mortality. The presence of complications/comorbidities was derived from patient billing data collected by the provincial medical care plan during the study period. Patients were geo-referenced using 6 digit postal code. Different levels of analysis were performed. Individual level analysis, including bivariate and multivariate analyses using STATA. Geospatial analysis inclduing visualization and community level analysis using ArcMap-GIS 10.2.. The individual-level model showed that complex cases (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.19-1.28) and mortality (OR: 1.11, 95%CI: 1.07-1.16) were more likely in rural areas. The community-level model found that complex cases were more likely in rural areas (b=18.09, p< .0.05), while no relation was found between mortality and living in remote areas (b=3.53, p= 0.531). This project identified higher prevalence of complex cases in rural areas. This study suggests geographic differences should be taken into account for making better health-related decisions in diabetes care and management.


identifier: Cober, Lucas <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Cober=3ALucas=3A=3A.html>   (2016) "The eyes of the blind shall be opened:" blindness in biblical discourse.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis is an examination of key texts in the Bible that feature blindness as a theme, and of the interpretation history of these texts. The aim of the thesis is to expose the manner in which the biblical texts have influenced contemporary thinking on blindness and disability more broadly, and how traditional methods of biblical interpretation have lent themselves to an oppressive and marginalizing reading of the blind characters in the biblical text that continues to be harmful for individuals who are blind into the present day. By re-reading the stories of Isaac, Samson and Saul, this thesis then argues for an alternative reading of the text that does not stigmatize the lack of sight and allows for blind characters to be active and powerful agents in their own right, rather than being reduced to the status of metaphor.


identifier: Teng, Wen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Teng=3AWen=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Algorithms for the evaluation of forecasts, filters and smoothers from a state-space model with the feature of time dependent dimension.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This thesis illustrates two approaches for the evaluation of forecasting, filtering and
smoothing from a
exible state-space model. Parameters of this model can be time
dependent and the dimension of its state or observed vectors can vary over time. The
first approach consists of establishing an algorithm based on the Kalman filter and
Kalman smoother as well as properties derived from the model. Another approach is
to reconstruct the model. In addition, an extension of the model is proposed.


identifier: Vasudevan, Chithran Vadaverkkot <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Vasudevan=3AChithran_Vadaverkkot=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Censored quantile regression with auxiliary information.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In Survival analysis, it is vital to understand the effect of the covariates on the survival
time. Commonly studied models are the Cox [1972] proportional hazards model and
the accelerated failure time model. These methods mainly focus on one characteristic
of the survival time. In reality, the association between the response and risk factors
is not homogeneous always. This leads to the use of quantile regression [Koenker and
Basset, 1978] models, which provide a global description of the association. In quantile
regression modeling of the survival data, the problem of estimating the regression
coefficients for extreme quantiles can be affected by severe censoring [Portnoy, 2003],
especially when the sample size is small. In epidemiological studies, however, there are
often times when only a subset of the whole study cohort is accurately observed. The
rest of the cohort has only some auxiliary covariate available. The naive use of the
auxiliary covariate in the model without the accurately measured covariate could lead
to biased estimates. To deal with this problem in censored quantile regression, we propose
a regression calibration based method when there is a linear relationship between
the auxiliary covariate and the accurately measured covariate. When the relationship
is non-linear, we propose a non-parametric kernel smoothing technique. We also
propose an empirical likelihood [Owen, 1998, 2001] based weighted censored quantile
regression to improve the efficiency of the censored quantile regression estimation by
utilizing the auxiliary information about the target population parameters available
through scientific facts/previous studies. The proposed estimators are consistent and
have asymptotically Gaussian distributions. The efficiency gain compared to the existing
methods is remarkable. These methods provide the possibilities of looking into
extreme quantiles of the survival distribution. We also applied our proposed methods
in real case examples.


identifier: Hasanzadehkiabi, Mohammad <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hasanzadehkiabi=3AMohammad=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Genome-wide association study to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with diabetic nephropathy and estimated glomerular filtration rate in FIND study.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Diabetes mellitus is characterized by a chronic increase in blood glucose levels due to a dysfunction of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, which in turn are the result of insulin resistance and/or insulin action disturbances. Its cardinal symptoms include polyuria, thirst and weight loss; its long term complications include neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. It is predicted that this rate will increase to 9.9% of the adult population by 2030. Although the rate of new cases of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in 2011 decreased 4.2% compared to the year 2010, nephropathy due to diabetes continued to be the most common cause of ESRD in the USA. In this study a genome-wide association approach has been performed to identify loci associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and variation in estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) value in three distinct ethnic groups, i.e. African American, Mexican American and European American; additionally, the effect of sex has also been studied to reveal potential sex dependency on the loci associated with DN and eGFR value. Dataset provided in "The Family Investigation of Nephropathy and Diabetes” (FIND) Study, contains genotype of 1454 individuals with DN and 1168 individuals without DN .After conducting genome-wide association analyses, in this study, the strongest association with DN and/or eGFR values have been detected on the regions located on the 2p, 2q, 3q, 4q, 5q, 7q, 8q, 9q, 12q, 14q, 15q and Xq chromosomes.


identifier: Chilaka, Charles <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Chilaka=3ACharles=3A=3A.html>   (2015) N-gram methods of analyzing DNA sequence.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
An DNA sequencing microarray experiment produces a 4 x N data matrix, comprising the signal strength of experimental DNA / reference oligonucleotide binding for
each of four possible bases (A,C,G,T) at each of N positions. The highest of the four
signals at each position is expected to result from the perfect match, and hence be the
correct base call. Variation in absolute and relative signal strength may interfere with
reliability of base calling. Variable base composition of the reference oligonucleotides
in
uences this in ways that are not fully understood.
I used an n-gram representation of oligonucleotides in a neural network analysis to
predict normalized signal intensities from an Affymetrix DNA sequencing experiment.
For a DNA oligonucleotide, an n-gram can take on 4n values, e.g., a 1-gram uses the
frequencies of each base, a 2-gram the di-nucleotide frequencies, and so on. Neural
networks use a variable number of neurons in the hidden layer to create a correspon-
dence between an input data set (divided into Training, Validation, and Test sets) and an output target set.
I used a data set reduced from a sequence of 15,392 bases to 594 lines. I used 1-
and 2-grams and their composite, with 20 to 40 neurons in the hidden layers of the
neural network. For all models, the base with normalized value of 1.0 (that with the
highest absolute value) was predicted for 100% of times. For 1-grams compared with
the composite, regression values increased from 0.9898 to 0.9918, and measures of
performance plots improved (decreased) from 3.195 x 10⁻³ to 2.525 x 10⁻³. For a 1-
and 2-gram composition with 30 neurons in the hidden layer of the neural network,
the diagonal of the confusion matrix had a high percentage value of 99.8%. Receiver
Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves showed points in the upper-left corner, a sign
of good test.
The analysis suggests that neural network analysis of oligonucleotides as higher-order
n-grams could be used to predict intensities in an Affymetrix or any other DNA
sequencing microarray experiment.


identifier: Sheppard, Amy <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sheppard=3AAmy=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Making up our own moves: exploring movement, dance and experiences of the body at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In this project report, I present my experience of offering a dance workshop to women living in prison. The purpose of the workshop was to provide women in prison with an opportunity to discuss body image, embodiment, and the impacts of prison on the body. Based on two workshops offered to two groups of 20 women and feedback from participants, I created a guide to assist others in offering similar workshops to women in prison. This paper explains the process of creating the workshop including theoretical and methodological influences that helped craft the idea for this research. Further, the paper details the learnings that came about as a result of discussing body image, embodiment, and participating in dance with women in prison. The results focus on relationships between myself and workshop participants, impacts of prison on the body, and sexuality within a women’s prison. I also explore the potential future work for working with women in prison around issues of the body and dance.


identifier: Bruce, Jonah Anthony Andrew <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Bruce=3AJonah_Anthony_Andrew=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Lonergan's early development in ethics: a study of archives notes on general ethics (a metaphysics of customs).  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In 1940, Bernard Lonergan was forced to flee Rome quickly. He took a few pages of an essay on
Newman, seven essays and sketches later found in File 713, a set of handwritten notes on his
reading of Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Customs, and a set of hand written
sketches titled “General Ethic [Metaphysics of Customs].” These sketches have gone relatively
untouched within the body of existing scholarship on Lonergan. First, this project establishes the
significance of these sketches, dates their composition, and discusses a context for understanding
their relevance. Secondly, using the functional specialization of research, it provides preliminary
research notes that will aid in a future interpretation of the text. Thirdly, it establishes the
sketches as an early outline of Lonergan’s understanding of the metaphysic of ethics found in
chapter 18 of Insight. The project highlights connections between the sketches and Lonergan’s
thoughts on Kant, the dialectic of history, and Ethics.


identifier: Judd, Patricia Emily <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Judd=3APatricia_Emily=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Two-phase response-dependent sampling designs for time-to-event analysis.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Measuring expensive covariates for all subjects within a cohort may not be a feasi-
ble option due to a study0s budgetary or logistical constraints. As a result of such
limitations, we need to consider sampling designs that account for subjects that have
missing data. To design a study allowing incomplete covariate data for some subjects,
it is better to employ a cost-efficient sampling design, which balances the efficiency of
parameter estimates and power of association tests with the sample size. Response-
dependent sampling is a cost-efficient sampling design. In this design a subset of
subjects is selected from a cohort, based on the response variable (and inexpensive
covariates), which has already been gathered for all subjects in the cohort. In our
study, we focus on response-dependent two-phase sampling designs. During phase I of
the sampling design, all members in a cohort are measured for the response variable
and the inexpensive covariates. In phase II, a subset of the cohort is selected, based on
the response variable obtained in phase I, and the expensive covariate(s) are measured
only for those selected. In our study, the response variable that determines which in-
dividuals are selected for phase II is a continuous time-to-event variable; wherein
this type of the response variable maybe subject to censoring. The most common
response-dependent sampling design for time-to-event data is the case-cohort sam-
pling design. We explore variations of the case-cohort design which give more efficient
association estimates for a given sample size. We stratify cases and non-cases based
on the observed time-to-event values and apply basic stratified sampling. Modify-
ing the proportion of observations selected from each strata changes the efficiency of
association estimates.


identifier: Gao, Xiaoli <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Gao=3AXiaoli=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Assessment of simulating underwater impact using the ICFD solver in LS-DYNA.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This thesis demonstrates that although the ICFD solver of LS-DYNA is a practical tool that can precisely model fluid and structure interaction, it is not effective for simulating the underwater impact of two objects. A numerical model was developed using the ICFD solver to simulate the submerged impact of a structure and ice at model scale. The numerical results were compared with physical experiments conducted in the laboratory. This thesis reveals that a water mesh exists between the structure and the ice model on contact, which leads to the incorrect calculation of pressure at the ice-structure contact points and causes incorrect impact force.
This thesis also proposes a method to verify that the peak impact force of two objects in the water equals the peak impact force of the same objects in air with equivalent artificial added mass and velocity.


identifier: Li, Xiaolei <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Li=3AXiaolei=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Polarizability as a single parameter to predict octanol-water partitioning coefficient and bioconcentration factor for persistent organic pollutants.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Surface microlayer (SML) is critical to various Earth system processes due to its unique physiochemical properties. One of main concerns regarding SML is regarding the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) partition. This process is vital in understanding air-sea exchange and, to a large extent, the global transportation of POPs. POPs have potential significant impacts on human health and on the aquatic environment, and their properties are critical to understanding and predicting the environmental fate of persistent chemicals. To study the partition properties of SML, it would be interesting to study two related properties of POPs, the octanol-water partitioning coefficient and the bioconcentration factor, both of which serve as criteria to determine the accumulation of a compound. Although numerous models have been previously published to predict Kow and/or BCF, the results are not statistically robust. The resulting linear free energy relationships obtained from poly-parameters on a strictly statistical basis, although they yield good results, may cause chance correlation and bear no physico-chemical meaning. Given that dispersion forces are the dominant inter-molecular interaction in non-polar compounds and that molecular polarizability can describe dispersion forces in condensed phase partitioning, we developed a method to predict Kow and BCF using molecular polarizability as a single parameter. The polarizabilities of non-polar compounds with available consistent measurement data were calculated using density functional theory with B3LYP functionals and the 6-311g(d, p) basis set in Gaussian program (09 version or 03 version); a single-parameter structure-activity relationship was then separately derived from the modeled compounds using a linear least-squares regression for Kow and BCF. We modelled BCF in the real world for a microorganism and a fish (Cyprinos Carpio). A comparison with data from other models showed that this is a simple but effective method to predict Kow and BCF for non-polar compounds. The prediction power for BCF using this method in microorganism shows that polarizability would be a good indication for partition SML due to the fact that both microorganism and SML can be seen as biofilms. Sampling POPs in the SML is a challenge to the scientist; a glass plate with a vacuum squeegee was developed to efficiently collect a freshwater SML sample from a local pond for GC-MS analysis of POPs.


identifier: Carney, Jeanette <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Carney=3AJeanette=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Asbestos Hill: Inuit experiences with Nunavik's first mine.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Over the past century, the Canadian north has experienced an economic, social, and environmental transformation due to mineral development projects. These new developments have contributed to the rapid modernization of Aboriginal and Inuit peoples. Research has shown that past mines in the North continue to play a role in northern communities, shaping community identity and leaving behind negative environmental and socio-cultural legacies. As of yet, little social science research has been undertaken on the impacts of mining in Nunavik (northern Québec) and this study is the first to be conducted on the Asbestos Hill mine (1972-1984), Nunavik’s first mine. Using oral history and archival research methods, this thesis examines past Inuit mine workers’ experiences at the mine, the communities of Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq’s encounters with this industrial operation, and the legacies it left behind.


identifier: Morgan, Aaron <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Morgan=3AAaron=3A=3A.html>   (2016) 'They're supposed to help people like me sort of fit into society': adolescent and parental perspectives following participation in a social thinking program.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Research has supported group based social skills interventions in improving the social skills of individuals with ASD. This study considered the perspectives of parents and their adolescent children who attended a Social Thinking group offered by the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. The purpose of the research study was to determine if the group was beneficial from the perspectives of adolescent participants in the program, and their parents. Qualitative data revealed a number of themes, including ‘Friendships / Fitting in’, ‘Social Opportunities’, ‘Social Gains’, ‘Self-Awareness’, ‘Program Expansion’, ‘Generalization’, ‘Past Involvement’, and ‘Program Characteristics and Limitations’. The themes revealed the benefits and weaknesses from the perspectives of the participants. More studies considering the perspectives of those availing of Social Thinking groups, and like social interventions, are required so that continued development and delivery of these services meet the needs and expectations of parents and individuals diagnosed with ASD / HFA.


identifier: Khatami, Mohammad Hassan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Khatami=3AMohammad_Hassan=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Membrane-active protein interactions with phospholipid bilayers.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Membrane-active proteins are a class of proteins that interact with lipid membranes
in the body. I study two kinds of membrane-active proteins, antimicrobial
peptides (AMPs) and lung surfactant (LS) proteins. In the first part of my PhD
project I did computer simulation studies with two AMPs, Gaduscidin-1 and -2
(GAD-1 and GAD-2). These peptides are histidine rich and thus expected to exhibit
pH-dependent activity. In this work I have performed molecular dynamics (MD)
simulations with the peptides in both histidine-charged and histidine-neutral forms,
along with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid molecules,
employing GROMACS software and an OPLS-AA force field. My results show a high
tendency for pairs of histidines to interact with pore regions in both histidine-charged
and histidine-neutral simulations. This work is published in Biophysica et Biochimica
Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes (2014).
In the second part of my PhD research I performed computational simulations on
lung surfactant protein B (SP-B) interacting with lipid bilayer. SP-B is a hydrophobic
protein with 79 residues, from the saposin superfamily. Because of the extreme
hydrophobicity of SP-B, the experimental structure of the protein is unknown. Thus,
I combined the Mini-B (a fragment of SP-B) experimental structure and homology
modelling based on proteins in saposin family to construct my initial model of SP-B.
I run MD (using OPLS-AA and PACE force fields) and replica-exchange MD (using
PACE force field) simulations with GROMACS software. I modelled SP-B in open
and bent (V-shaped) structures, placed within or near a POPC lipid bilayer. My
results demonstrate energetically feasible structures for SP-B, in which salt bridges Membrane-active proteins are a class of proteins that interact with lipid membranes
in the body. I study two kinds of membrane-active proteins, antimicrobial
peptides (AMPs) and lung surfactant (LS) proteins. In the first part of my PhD
project I did computer simulation studies with two AMPs, Gaduscidin-1 and -2
(GAD-1 and GAD-2). These peptides are histidine rich and thus expected to exhibit
pH-dependent activity. In this work I have performed molecular dynamics (MD)
simulations with the peptides in both histidine-charged and histidine-neutral forms,
along with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid molecules,
employing GROMACS software and an OPLS-AA force field. My results show a high
tendency for pairs of histidines to interact with pore regions in both histidine-charged
and histidine-neutral simulations. This work is published in Biophysica et Biochimica
Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes (2014).
In the second part of my PhD research I performed computational simulations on
lung surfactant protein B (SP-B) interacting with lipid bilayer. SP-B is a hydrophobic
protein with 79 residues, from the saposin superfamily. Because of the extreme
hydrophobicity of SP-B, the experimental structure of the protein is unknown. Thus,
I combined the Mini-B (a fragment of SP-B) experimental structure and homology
modelling based on proteins in saposin family to construct my initial model of SP-B.
I run MD (using OPLS-AA and PACE force fields) and replica-exchange MD (using
PACE force field) simulations with GROMACS software. I modelled SP-B in open
and bent (V-shaped) structures, placed within or near a POPC lipid bilayer. My
results demonstrate energetically feasible structures for SP-B, in which salt bridges Membrane-active proteins are a class of proteins that interact with lipid membranes
in the body. I study two kinds of membrane-active proteins, antimicrobial
peptides (AMPs) and lung surfactant (LS) proteins. In the first part of my PhD
project I did computer simulation studies with two AMPs, Gaduscidin-1 and -2
(GAD-1 and GAD-2). These peptides are histidine rich and thus expected to exhibit
pH-dependent activity. In this work I have performed molecular dynamics (MD)
simulations with the peptides in both histidine-charged and histidine-neutral forms,
along with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid molecules,
employing GROMACS software and an OPLS-AA force field. My results show a high
tendency for pairs of histidines to interact with pore regions in both histidine-charged
and histidine-neutral simulations. This work is published in Biophysica et Biochimica
Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes (2014).
In the second part of my PhD research I performed computational simulations on
lung surfactant protein B (SP-B) interacting with lipid bilayer. SP-B is a hydrophobic
protein with 79 residues, from the saposin superfamily. Because of the extreme
hydrophobicity of SP-B, the experimental structure of the protein is unknown. Thus,
I combined the Mini-B (a fragment of SP-B) experimental structure and homology
modelling based on proteins in saposin family to construct my initial model of SP-B.
I run MD (using OPLS-AA and PACE force fields) and replica-exchange MD (using
PACE force field) simulations with GROMACS software. I modelled SP-B in open
and bent (V-shaped) structures, placed within or near a POPC lipid bilayer. My
results demonstrate energetically feasible structures for SP-B, in which salt bridges play a significant role. My simulations provide hypotheses for how SP-B promotes
the rearrangement of planar lipid bilayers. Part of this work has been accepted for
publication in Biophysica et Biochimica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes (2016).
In the third part of my project I employed solid state nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) using ²H, ³¹P and ¹⁵N experiments, to study SP-B interacting with mechanically
oriented lipid bilayer. Here, I used full-length ¹⁵N-labelled SP-B, which was
recombinantly expressed in our lab, to find the orientation of protein with respect to
the bilayer. In this part of my thesis, the final goal was to compare the experimental
¹⁵N spectra with the spectra, predicted from the structures we got from computational
simulations to help define the protein’s structure. Since, I was not able to gain
¹⁵N NMR signals in my SP-B in lipid bilayer experiments, I did not fulfill the final
goal of this part of my project. However, I was able to predict ¹⁵N NMR spectra of
my computational SP-B structures. My NMR results indicate that more optimization
needs to be done to modify our SP-B preparation protocol to 1) increase the yields
of isotope-labelled protein and 2) increase the protein:lipid ratio when refolding into
lipids. My simulated ¹⁵N spectra indicate that uniform ¹⁵N-labelling is unlikely to
constrain SP-B’s structure and topology very much and it will likely be necessary to
use a more specifically labelled sample for these experiments.


identifier: Antiqua-Parlee, M.J. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Antiqua-Parlee=3AM=2EJ=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Crossroads at the linguistic market: Canadian raising and post-vocalic-R on Mount Desert Island.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Local identity practices are not as straight-forward as originally predicted
(Labov 1972a, 1963). In this thesis, I build on previous work on local identity
practices (e.g. Blake and Josey 2003), Josey (2004), Wolfram (1997) in an
investigation of local feature maintenance and local identity practice on Mount
Desert Island, a tourist-dependent community in Eastern New England.
Based on analysis of interviews with 12 native speakers, I find that a local
feature, the dropping of post-vocalic-R is moribund in the community. The r-less
variant is maintained among older speakers. A gender and age pattern with a
capital pattern (Bourdieu 1972, 1986, 1991) was found.
I also examine the community’s use of Canadian Raising (Chambers 1973).
I find that /aj/ and /aw/raising are introduced to the community with a great
range of social variation as found in other communities in the northern US where
raising is observed (e.g. Vance 1987, Dailey-O’Cain 1997).


identifier: Nizam, Md Shahriar <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Nizam=3AMd_Shahriar=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Optimization of ship hull based on wave making resistance.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
A numerical program is developed to optimize the ship hull based on wave making
resistance. Ship hull geometries are modified to optimize the hulls within a limit to
maintain the design criteria. In this work, a non-uniform rational b-spline (NURBS)
based hull surface is taken as the input for optimization. MAPS resistance is a
potential theory based program that uses a modified Dawson method to calculate
wave making resistance. An automatic hull discretization system is developed for
calculating wave making resistance by MAPS resistance. Two different algorithms,
Path of steepest descent (PSD) and Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) are
employed for optimization. At first the PSD is used for optimization. Later on a BFGS
algorithm is applied with the help of a Kriging technique to reduce the computational
time and expense. Three different kinds of hull modification methods are introduced
to optimize the ship hull. Multiple ship hulls are used for validating the optimization
technique. All the ship hulls produced satisfactory results by decreasing the wave
making resistance. The optimal hulls are further investigated for a series of Froude
numbers to compare their wave making resistance with published experimental data.


identifier: Raghunathan, Rakesh <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Raghunathan=3ARakesh=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Hierarchical structure of field pea starches and their impact on physicochemical properties.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the molecular structure and properties of newly released cultivars of field peas [CDC Golden (CDCG), Abarth (ABAR), CDC Patrick (CDCP) and CDC Amarillo (CDCA)] grown at different locations in Saskatchewan, Canada. Starch yield (on a whole seed basis), apparent amylose, total lipid and surface area were in the range 34-37%, 38.2-42.6%, 1.07–1.38% and 0.31-0.38 m², respectively. The proportion of short (DP 6-12) amylopectin chains, amylopectin branching density, molecular order, crystallinity, crystalline heterogeneity, gelatinization transition temperatures, pasting temperatures, peak viscosity, extent of acid hydrolysis, and resistant starch content were higher in CDCG and ABAR. However, amylopectin long chains (DP 13-26), average chain length and thermal stability were higher in CDCP and CDCA. The results of this study showed that differences in physicochemical properties among cultivars were mainly influenced by amylopectin chain length distribution, amylopectin branching density and co-crystallization of amylose with amylopectin.


identifier: Wu, Shihao <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wu=3AShihao=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Potential solution to strong CP violation: X±.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The strong charge parity (CP) violation has been an open problem for many years. Expanding
the current standard model (SM) to include new physics particles is a potential
approach to explain it. To do so, X± was introduced with X⁺ coupling to anti-ferimion
current and X⁻ to fermion current. As possible channels for searches for X±, we have
considered X⁺ in e⁺−e⁺ scattering and X⁻ in e⁻−e⁻ scattering. The difference between
the cross sections was calculated using Mathematica with packages FeynArts, FeynCalc,
Form and LoopTools at one loop level accuracy. The results were displayed in the form
of exclusion plots. In the exclusion plots, the possible range of physical parameters of the
new particles were tested, such as masses, couplings and phase factors.
Feynman rules, amplitude calculation and different renormalization methods at one loop
level were also discussed to demonstrate the algorithmic potential for cross section calculation.
In addition, new models for FeynArts and FormCalc were programmed to include
the new particles.
However, in order to further test the new physics particles influence on strong CP violation,
more research is needed. More specifically, one must test the hadronic interactions
for X±.


identifier: Hierlihy, Timothy <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hierlihy=3ATimothy=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Seizure response monitoring during electroconvulsive therapy.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is used to treat several mental illnesses. Seizure
duration is used to determine if the administered stimulus was adequate. Duration is
estimated by Electroencephalogram (EEG) interpretation and/or observing motor
response. Neither method is universally accepted, nor considered the gold standard;
hence both are employed. This study investigated the relationship between the methods.
The hypothesis tested was that they would have a strong positive correlation. Previous
research suggested that the two methods didn’t result in the same estimate. A case series
was carried out using recorded estimates prospectively obtained from 102 ECT
procedures on adult Psychiatric inpatients. A strong, consistent, predictable relationship
between the methods was not identified. However; using 15 seconds as the minimum for
an adequate seizure response, there was agreement in 77% of the cases. In conclusion,
this research has demonstrated that while the two methods differ, similar clinical results
can be obtained by applying a limiter to both measures.


identifier: Lecours, Vincent <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lecours=3AVincent=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Quantifying the effects of variable selection, spatial scale and spatial data quality in marine benthic habitat mapping.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Mapping benthic habitats has become critical in many contexts like conservation and
management. While marine habitat mapping methods strongly rely on tools and methods
from geography and geomatics, habitat mapping practitioners with a background outside
of these specialized areas do not always have a full understanding of the spatial concepts
behind these tools and methods. This phenomenon is amplified when marine
geomorphometry, the science used to quantify seafloor terrain characteristics, is
integrated into the marine habitat mapping workflow. This dissertation reviews the use of
spatial concepts in the field of marine benthic habitat mapping; many concepts are poorly
understood or poorly implemented in the habitat mapping workflow, among which spatial
scale and spatial data quality stand out as being of particular importance.
While geomorphometry is commonly used in marine benthic habitat mapping, no
framework existed to test which terrain attributes should be used as surrogates of species
distribution, leading to an inability to compare results from different studies. This
dissertation explores different options for terrain attribute selection and proposes an
optimal combination that can be used as standard in all habitat mapping studies. This
selection is then tested using two approaches to benthic habitat mapping and is shown to
perform better than others.
Bathymetric data, the primary input for marine geomorphometry analyses and one of
the main data inputs for habitat mapping, are commonly impacted by data acquisition
artefacts. Very little work has been done on trying to understand how these artefacts
propagate throughout the habitat mapping workflow. The impact of artefacts on the bathymetry and its derived terrain attributes is described, and it is shown that artefacts
modify the spatial and statistical distributions of depth and terrain attribute values.
However, when these affected data are used in habitat mapping, their impact is not always
predictable. Some artefacts were found to sometimes inflate measures of accuracy and
performance and sometimes decrease them.
Overall, habitat maps were shown to be very sensitive to the effects of variable
selection, spatial scale and data quality, and as such have serious implications when they
are used to inform decision-making, for instance in marine conservation and
management. This dissertation raises awareness about these issues and highlights the need
for careful integration of spatial data in habitat mapping practices.


identifier: Simms, Colleen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Simms=3AColleen=3A=3A.html>   (2016) The role of Patient Representative in the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The Mental Health Care and Treatment Act of Newfoundland and Labrador introduced new provisions for patient rights, including access to a Patient Representative of the patient's choosing. This thesis explores the experience of one Patient Representative and the author provides an autoethnographic narrative using her experiences as a mental health nurse, manager and policy maker during the same timeframe. Themes of lack of empathy and respect for both the Patient Representative and the client as well as the need for advocacy and management accountability were identified by the Patient Representative and supported by the author through her autoethnographic narrative.
Recommendations include providing a Patient Representative role that is a paid independent advocate and creating a separate provision for families/caregivers to be involved in the treatment plan. This would support caregivers in their already full roles and allow a better balancing of the patient’s right to autonomy with the duty of care.


identifier: Wringe, Brendan F.  <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wringe=3ABrendan_F=2E_=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Effects of exposure to culture in fishes: the existence of common morphological responses among species, and their impact on the interaction between escapee and wild Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A major concern regarding the impact of aquaculture is the alteration or reduction of the fitness of wild stocks through interbreeding with escapees. Cultured fishes develop morphologies and behaviours different than those of their wild counterparts, and the spawning success and fitness of cultured fish is frequently lower. However, successful interbreeding between wild and cultured fish is well documented and can lead to negative consequences for the wild population. In this thesis I examined how culture affects the phenotypes of fishes, and how these differences in phenotype in turn relate to reproductive success and offspring early growth and survival. I found that cultured Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) had relatively smaller fins, heads, eyes, and jaws, but greater condition factor and body depth than wild cod from the same ancestral population. This suite of morphological differences is often referred to as the “cultured phenotype”, and while commonly asserted to exist I was the first to formally test for it using a meta-analysis and a vote-counting analysis. These analyses confirmed that aspects of a general “cultured phenotype” exist. To evaluate the influence of morphology and behaviour on male spawning success, I studied the reproductive interactions of individual cultured and wild male cod in the presence of a cultured female. Despite phenotypic differences, the spawning success of cultured males did not differ from that of wild males. Finally, because the introgression of genetically differentiated escapees into wild populations can lead to fitness declines, I tested the effect of hybridization between two genetically distinct populations of cod. I found no evidence that the pure strain and F1 hybrids differed in their relative fitness, or of differential response to temperature. Finding equal reproductive success of cultured and wild male cod, at least in my experimental conditions, and no differences in early life history fitness between F1 hybrids and non-hybrids suggests that the potential for introgression may be higher than has been predicted by previous studies.