title: Nature's Empire: Postcolonialism, Environmentalism, and Parti pris, 1963-1970

contributor:
Errington, Jane
History

subject:
Environmentalism
Postcolonialism
Quebec
Montreal
Parti pris
1960s

abstract: In 1963, the journal Parti pris was founded in response to the bombings perpetrated by the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ). The journal published on a monthly basis from 1963 till 1968. This period in Quebec coincided with the Quiet Revolution, protests and dissent in Montreal, and the “modernization” project that accompanied the construction projects planned for the 1967 World’s Fair held in Montreal. Also coinciding during this period was the decolonization movement and the rise of the environmental movement – typically pointed to having commenced in 1962, with the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Parti pris held an important position in Quebec during the 1960s, its team (the Partipristes) propagated and shaped the understanding of decolonization in the province. Parti pris was radical, taking inspiration from the FLQ, the Partipristes argued that Quebec was a colonized society afflicted by English Canadian and American colonialism. The Partipristes did so by emulating the arguments from the French poststructuralists and voices from the decolonizing French Empire. Recent historiography has made the argument that these same voices from the decolonizing world helped influence the ideas that led to and shaped the environmental movement (entrenched in 1970 with the first Earth Day). This thesis looks at how Parti pris appropriated arguments from African and Caribbean theoreticians in order to make arguments about Quebec. While in the process of doing so, the Partipristes also discussed the Quebec landscape, nature, and the exploitation of the province’s natural ressources. This led some of the Partipristes (namely the two editors, Paul Chamberland and Pierre Maheu) to later join the environmental movement in the 1970s. For them, and for the many who felt affiliated with Parti pris’ philosophy, the environmental movement represented in 1970 a new opportunity for “revolution.” This was an attractive idea to the many Quebeckers who felt frustrated by the events of May 1968 and by the October Crisis in 1970.

abstract: M.A.


title: Analysis of E3 ligases and identification of ubiquitination sites regulating turnover of the plant immune signaling kinase BIK1

contributor:
Monaghan, Jacqueline
Biology

rights: Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada

rights: ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement

rights: Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University

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

subject:
plant immune homeostasis
ubiquitination

abstract: Plants possess sophisticated mechanisms for responding to the threat of pathogens. Microbial patterns such as bacterial flagellin are perceived by receptor complexes located at the plant plasma membrane. This perception initiates a signaling cascade which culminates in a robust immune response including an influx of Ca2+ into the cytosol, an apoplastic burst of reactive oxygen species, and up-regulation of defence genes. The receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase BIK1 is activated by many different receptor complexes and is a key component of the immune system. Although necessary for survival, the plant immune response must be tightly regulated to avoid fitness costs and maintain normal growth and development. As an important component in several immune responses, BIK1 must be maintained at optimal levels; however, the mechanism for this is poorly understood. Previous work identified the calcium-dependent protein kinase CPK28 to be a negative regulator of immunity and of BIK1 accumulation. It also provided evidence for proteasome-mediated turnover. Our collaborators identified the plant U-box proteins PUB25 and PUB26 as E3 ligases responsible for destabilization of BIK1 through polyubiquitination. The major objectives of my thesis were to determine which residues on BIK1 were polyubiquitinated, and to determine how CPK28, PUB25 and PUB26 regulate BIK1 turnover. I found that PUB25 and PUB26 associate with CPK28 and used epistasis analysis to place CPK28 upstream of PUB25 and PUB26 in this immune signaling pathway. This thesis also presents work toward determining CPK28- and PUB25- or PUB26-mediated BIK1 ubiquitination sites, as well as providing a dataset of ubiquitinated plasma membrane proteins through generation of a ubiquitome. Overall, the work presented in this thesis provides insight into the regulation of BIK1 turnover and contributes to our understanding of plant immune homeostasis.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Determining the Impact of an Educational Intervention on Family Medicine Residents’ Social Cognitions and Behaviour for Discussing Physical Activity

contributor:
Tomasone, Jennifer
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Resident
Physical Activity
Intervention
Social cognitions

abstract: Primary care providers are failing to effectively promote physical activity (PA) to their patients. It has been shown that educational approaches promoting the uptake of strategies that are proven to increase patient PA levels are effective for improving primary care providers’ social cognitions and behaviour for discussing PA with patients. However, research on the effectiveness of such strategies among family medicine residents is limited. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), an interactive, educational intervention was developed to increase PA discussion between first year family medicine residents and their patients by focusing on effective PA promotion strategies (e.g., PA counselling). This thesis aimed to determine the impact of the intervention on the social cognitions and behaviour of residents discussing PA with patients. The intervention condition was comprised of 15 2017/2018 residents who received: (1) the full intervention, and (2) completed both the pre- and post- intervention TPB questionnaires assessing changes in PA discussion social cognitions, and (3) had their medical charts reviewed for PA discussion behaviour. Fifteen 2016/2017 residents who were randomly selected to have their medical charts reviewed for PA discussion behaviour comprised the non-intervention condition. A process evaluation confirmed the intervention was successfully delivered. The residents’ social cognitions for discussing PA with patients was not significantly changed by the intervention, however, the residents’ perceptions of feeling adequately trained to discuss PA did increase following the intervention (F(1,14) = 10.839, p = .005). The medical chart review indicated no changes in residents’ behaviour for discussing PA with patients from pre- to post-intervention within both conditions. A significant difference in post-behaviour between conditions was observed (t(28) = 2.778, p = .011), where PA was discussed at more patient visits within the intervention condition. In summary, the intervention did not increase, but did maintain the PA discussion behaviour of residents from pre- to post-intervention. An educational intervention may therefore be sufficient to prevent a decline in residents’ PA discussion behaviour. This research highlights the importance of educating and training residents to use strategies for PA discussion. Future interventions and research should be conducted to further improve these practices.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Phosphaamidines and Phosphaguanidines as Ligands: Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis

contributor:
Jessop, Philip
Chemistry

subject: Hemilabile Superbase Catalysis Phosphaamidine Phosphaguanidine Coordination

abstract:
Hemilabile ligands are useful because the activity at the metal centre can be manipulated and controlled by the labile groups. P,N donors are widely used hemilabile ligands in coordination and organometallic chemistry. Phosphorus is generally considered a soft donor and inert. Alternatively, nitrogen is considered a moderately hard donor and is labile. Late transition metals can complex with either the P or the N as a monodentate ligand or through both the P and the N as a bidentate ligand depending on the hardness of the metal centre and the ligand sterics.

         Phosphaamidines [RC(PR2)=NR] and phosphaguanidines [R2NC(PR2)=NR] are small bite angle bidentate ligands and promising hemilabile ligands. Having strongly basic sites near the metal centre should promote heterolytic cleavage of H2 or proton transfer that can assist in homogenous catalytic reactions like CO2 hydrogenation.

           A facile route is developed to prepare acyclic and aprotic phosphaamidine [PhC(PR2)=NR, R=Ph, iPr] and phosphaguanidine [Me2NC(PPh2)=NiPr] ligands that coordinate to Cu(I), Rh(I) and Ru(II) metal centres. Crystal structures are reported for all complexes. Coordination to Cu(I) occurs either through P in η1 mode or by both P or Nimine in a η2 mode. Coordination to Rh(I) occurs through η1or η2 modes while to Ru(II) occurs only through η2 mode.

         Tests of CO2 hydrogenation using phosphaamidine complexes showed that Ru(II) phosphaamidines are active precatalysts than Rh(I) phosphaamidines. Substitution of phenyl with isopropyl doesn’t have significant impact on the TON or the yield of formic acid in the presence of DBU. However, using Ru(II) phosphaguanidine instead of Ru(II) phosphaamidine increases the yield. A Ru(II) phosphaguanidine complex is also a potential precatalyst for the hydration of benzonitrile.

           It is also shown that a guanidine [Me2NC(NPh2)=NiPr] and a structurally analogous phosphaguanidine [Me2NC(PPh2)=NiPr] both act as Brønsted bases and have almost same basicity in acetonitrile solution.  The proton coordinated to [Me2NC(PPh2)=NHiPr]Cl and therefore the basicity of the neutral form are both retained once the P is coordinated to Cu(I). The retention of basicity upon coordination of this salt to a metal centre is also supported by the observation of π electron delocalization within the amidine unit by X-ray crystallography.

abstract: PhD


title: The Romantic Insomnia of John Keats and Samuel Taylor Coleridge

contributor:
Fanning, Christopher
English Language and Literature

subject:
Romanticism
Insomnia
Identity
Medical History

abstract: This dissertation seeks to reestablish insomnia as an essential category of consciousness in the Romantic period on both local and universal scales. First, I establish the medical and cultural history of the disorder in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries, showing that, during this period, insomnia not only emerged for the first time as a primary disorder with its own unique pathology and psychology, but was also consequently considered as a separate state of consciousness, situated liminally between sleeping and waking. Many poets of the period adopted this new conception into their poetry and, through this work, investigated both aesthetically and philosophically their creatively fulfilling negotiation of insomnia’s two conscious facets: sleep’s visionary potential and the waking poetic will. Second, I investigate insomnia’s creative capacity in the works of two of the period’s most important and medically-interested figures: John Keats and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Both poets and intellectuals, these two men navigated this new conception of insomnia in congruent and unique ways. Insomnia is figured in both of their works as an exaggerated analogy for the poetic and intellectual imagination, representing its capacity for both ideal poetic invention and unstable chaos, and for defining creative identity in general. Keats takes the experience of insomnia as an opportunity to revel in uncertainty. Coleridge seeks to reform that uncertainty into a unified selfhood. In both instances, however, insomnia shifts common readings of the established philosophies of these two great Romantic poets. This project will therefore provide new insight into some of the most recognizable Romantic thinkers. It will also establish insomnia as an important thematic preoccupation of the period that can and should be examined in the works of many Romantic writers in and outside of the canon.

abstract: PhD


title: Investigating dissolved organic matter cycling in High Arctic ponds and soils

contributor:
Lafrenière, Melissa
Geography and Planning

subject:
dissolved organic matter
biodegradable dissolved organic carbon
incubation
fluorescence
absorbance
lability
ponds
soils
Canadian High Arctic

abstract:
As the most bioavailable fraction of organic matter, dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in the carbon (C) cycle. Heterotrophic microorganisms degrade DOM and release it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2) under oxygenated conditions. However, some DOM may be more readily bioavailable (i.e., labile) to microorganisms than other DOM. In the past, lability has been defined mainly by DOM molecular structure, but more recent research suggests that environmental conditions such as nutrient availability may also control lability. DOM lability has been investigated extensively in Arctic lake and large river systems, however relatively little research has investigated the lability of DOM in systems with more fine scale spatial heterogeneity in environmental conditions, such as ponds and soils.

Chapter 2 presents a study of environmental conditions and molecular structure as controls on the lability of DOM in six High Arctic ponds at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory (CBAWO) through short-term incubation experiments, optical properties, and chemical analyses. Chapter 3 explores the role of soil DOM in soil C respiration at the beginning, middle, and end of the growing season across the five major land cover classes at the CBAWO: active layer detachment scar, mesic tundra, unvegetated polar desert, vegetated polar desert, and wet sedge. Soil CO2 emissions were measured over short-term soil incubation experiments and compared with the optical and chemical characteristics of soil water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) before and after incubation. Results indicate that pond DOM lability depends on both environmental conditions and DOM molecular structure, and is therefore dependent on geomorphic characteristics which determine subsurface water and nutrient delivery. The soils study confirms statistically significant variability in CO2 emissions between vegetation types. The study also indicates that WEOM is highly labile and makes an important contribution to total C respiration. Overall the results of this research contribute to the scientific understanding of DOM lability and, in turn, C cycling across relatively understudied media (pond water and soils) in the High Arctic.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Effects of Microstructure and Particle Population on Void Damage Evolution in Complex Phase Steel

contributor:
Boyd, Doug
Pilkey, A. Keith
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Complex Phase Steel
Microstructure
CCT Behaviour
Micro-computed Tomography
Sheet Forming
Stretch Flanging
Void Damage
TiN Particles

abstract:
This thesis aims to provide a detailed description of the microstructure and void
damage evolution in a grade of hot-rolled complex phase (CP) sheet steel produced by ArcelorMittal Dofasco (AMD). The evolution of microstructure was studied through a series of dilatometer experiments, and the effects of matrix microstructure and TiN particle population on void damage evolution were studied through interrupted hole tension testing and micro-computed tomographic (microCT) imaging of both commercially produced sheets and sheets heat treated to produce polygonal ferrite (PF) and granular bainite (GB) model microstructures.

Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams illustrate the phase transformations which produce PF, GB and lath bainite (B) in the grade of CP steel sheet under study. While the level of deformation achieved in industrial hot rolling processes is unattainable in laboratory-scale experiments, interpretation of CCT diagrams enables the understanding of how different microstructures develop in commercial CP steel sheets.

In the grade of CP steel under study, large 'primary' voids were found to nucleate
at TiN particles through either fracture of large (>100 µm) TiN particles or decohesion of the particle-matrix interface at smaller TiN particles. Voids develop ellipsoidal shapes in specimens deformed to moderate to high levels of plastic strain, with growth occurring primarily in the direction of tensile loading. A population of fewer, larger voids developed in deformed hole tension specimens is associated with a distribution of fewer, larger TiN particles or a high level of TiN particle clustering. In sheets containing large TiN particles, a GB model microstructure was found to result in a population of fewer, larger voids than those developed in PF sheets. The onset of coalescence was observed at high levels of plastic strain, with void damage development culminating in one or more large coalescence events. Coalescence mechanisms are dependent on void spacing and orientation with respect to the loading direction, both of which are influenced by the matrix microstructure and TiN particle population.

A microstructure consisting of PF and GB containing a uniform distribution of small TiN particles is proposed to produce a combination of high strength and stretch flangeability.

abstract: PhD


title: Identifying rockfall hazards in the Fraser Canyon, British Columbia: a semi-automated approach to the classification and assessment of topographic information from airborne LiDAR and orthoimagery

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
LiDAR
Rockfall
Geohazards
Remote Sensing
GIS
Landslide

abstract:
Rockfall hazards on railway corridors create risk of derailment which can result in
damage to property or the environment and cause injury or loss of life. There is interest
in understanding the location and severity of such hazards so that management
strategies can be implemented. Ongoing collection of high resolution 3D data from
terrestrial and airborne platforms has proven to be an effective medium for achieving a
better understanding of the spatial-temporal, geological and geomechanical properties
of rockfall hazards. The limiting factor is that such data is time consuming to collect and
process and needs to be specifically directed. This study aims to provide new officelevel
screening tools which can be used to identify areas where more refined data
collection may offer value.
Airborne LiDAR and orthoimagery for the CN Thompson Fraser Corridor is used to
develop new techniques for the classification and interpretation of topographic data for
the study of rockfall hazards in the area. In Chapter 3, spectral reflectance in the visible
range, extracted from orthoimagery, is used to classify colourized point cloud data in the
interest of identifying areas of exposed rock. In Chapter 4, this technique is paired with
existing techniques for the geomorphic classification of 3D information using slope
angle and use as the main input to a probabilistic rockfall hazard assessment.
Analysis of colour values, paired with conventional morphometric analysis using slope
angle, shows promise as a means of classifying topographic data into geomorphic
domains. The study successfully derives all inputs for the probabilistic assessment of
rockfall hazard from the above mentioned airborne LiDAR and orthoimagery dataset.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Essays on customer- and firm-side learning in pricing optimization and campaign management

contributor:
Nediak, Mikhail
Levin, Yuri
Business

subject:
Dynamic Pricing
Social Learning
Multichannel
State-space model
Banking
Conversion
Optimal Control
Customer Acquisition

abstract:
In the first essay, we study a firm's dynamic pricing problem in a continuous-time setting where multiple market segments learn the product quality from post-purchase customer opinions and exert heterogeneous levels of social influence on other segments. To represent segment belief evolution in a continuous-time model, we approximate individual-level interactions with statistical averages and propose a fluid Bayesian updating process, which allows one to circumvent an NP-Hard problem of pricing on social networks. We use optimal control theory to derive the optimality condition and demonstrate in numerical study how the firm can improve revenue by performing price differentiation according to segment influence and learning behaviour.

In the second essay, we modify the social leaning model proposed above and apply it to estimate the market belief evolution about a movie's quality for 157 movies that release between October 2013 and June 2015. We propose a two-step maximum likelihood estimation procedure to address the parameter identification problem. In the first step, we estimate each movie's true quality and initial population size along with seasonality effect by using each movie's daily sales and the number of theatres that play the movie. In the second step, we estimate market-level learning speed and belief evolution for each movie's quality by using tweets as a proxy for market opinions. Finally, the model that incorporates social learning achieves a better accuracy of forecast on the 7-day per-theatre sales than otherwise.

In the third essay, we study the effects of multi-channel marketing and customer borrowing activities on the conversion behaviour. We model the prospective customer's willingness to convert as a continuous latent variable, propose a state-space formulation, and address major heterogeneity and endogeneity concerns. The empirical findings show that there is a potential antagonistic effect between SMS and other channels, and a customer's existing borrowing relationships may not prevent her from establishing a new borrowing relationship. In the one-month ahead prediction, the model achieves a conversion rate of 17.6%, better than 9.55% achieved by the bank's targeting strategies. Finally, we demonstrate how the marketing department can potentially use Q-learning to identify the best action for each customer.

abstract: PhD


title: Lipid signalling modulates neuroendocrine cell excitability and cation channel function

contributor:
Magoski, Neil
Physiology

subject:
Aplysia
Electrophysiology
Cation channel
Neuroendocrine cells
TRP Channels

abstract: Ion channel function and modulation determine the strength and duration of periods of enhanced neuronal activity and excitability that control and shape behaviour.  The bag cell neurons of the hermaphroditic sea snail, Aplysia californica, provide a model to examine the regulation of ion channel function.  Reproduction is initiated when bag cell neurons secrete egg-laying hormone during a protracted depolarization and afterdischarge.  Early in the afterdischarge, phospholipase C (PLC) hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) into inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG).  In cultured bag cell neurons, activating PLC with N-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonamide (m-3M3FBS), or adding a DAG analogue, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), induced depolarization and spiking, mediated by a large, prolonged, Ca2+-permeable, inward current (IOAG) through a non-selective, voltage-independent cation channel that reversed near -20 mV and was enhanced by intracellular IP3.  Furthermore, IOAG required basal PKC activity prior to the current, though OAG failed to trigger PKC.  Molecular biology revealed a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel in bag cell neurons with secondary structure conserved in other TRPC5 channels.  Designated ApTRPC5, when expressed in HEK cells it was a voltage-independent, non-selective cation current gated by PLC-coupled receptors or OAG.  A separate source of depolarization for the afterdischarge is a voltage-gated, Ca2+-activated, non-selective cation channel.  The effect of exogenous OAG and IP3, as well as PLC activation via m-3M3FBS, was investigated at the single channel level.  OAG transiently elevated open probability (PO), and co-application of IP3 boosted and prolonged this response.  Exposure to OAG and IP3 also left-shifted channel voltage-dependence; moreover, PLC activation using m-3M3FBS increased PO in excised patches, suggesting PLC may be physically localized to the channel.  The Ca2+-activation of this channel desensitized during continued exposure to high Ca2+, which is reminiscent of PIP2-mediated desensitization seen in some TRPM channels.  Accordingly, addition of a PIP2 analogue, di-C8-PIP2, ablated Ca2+ desensitization, while inhibiting the hydrolysis of PIP2 by PLC, with U73122, mirrored that effect.  The phosphoinositol signalling cascade regulates multiple TRP-like channels during the afterdischarge, providing a means to facilitate prolonged depolarization and reproductive behaviour.  Because TRP channels are modulated by phosphoinositols in numerous organisms, these results have implications for neuroendocrine function throughout the animal kingdom.

abstract: PhD


title: A glycoform of the purple acid phosphatase AtPAP26 interacts with a GNA-apple domain lectin (AtGAL1) in cell walls of phosphate-starved Arabidopsis thaliana

contributor:
Plaxton, William
Biology

subject:
Purple acid phosphatase
Glycoforms
Lectin
Cell wall
Phosphate metabolism

abstract: Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) function in the acquisition and recycling of inorganic phosphate (Pi), a crucial but environmentally-limiting macronutrient for plant growth. Among 29 predicted PAPs of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, AtPAP26 (At5g34850) functions as the principal intra- and extracellular PAP isozyme that scavenges Pi during Pi-deprivation or leaf senescence. A pair of secreted, 55 kDa AtPAP26 ‘glycoforms’ (AtPAP26-S1 and AtPAP26-S2) were resolved during lectin-affinity chromatography of cell wall extracts from Pi-deprived Arabidopsis suspension cells and purified. High resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) demonstrated that their glycans were comparable at Asn103, whereas Asn365 and Asn422 glycosylation sites were extensively modified in AtPAP26-S2 by the addition of up to seven terminal mannose residues (to N-acetylglucosamine) to form high mannose glycans. A 55 kDa protein that co-purified with AtPAP26-S2 was identified by LC-MS/MS as Arabidopsis GNA and apple domain-containing lectin-1 (AtGAL1). AtGAL1 (At1g78850) belongs to Arabidopsis’ Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) lectin family, whose GNA domain binds high mannose N-glycans. AtGAL1 cross-reactivity with anti-AtGAL1-IgG was markedly attenuated when the lectin was incubated in the presence of a thiol-reducing reagent (consistent with three predicted disulfide bonds in AtGAL1’s apple domain). Reciprocal far western immunodot blotting demonstrated a specific interaction between purified AtGAL1 and AtPAP26-S2, but not AtPAP26-S1. Analytical gel filtration FPLC indicated that AtGAL1 and AtPAP26-S2 associate to form a 112 kDa heterodimer. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays established that like AtPAP26, AtGAL1 is also targeted to lytic vacuoles of Pi-starved Arabidopsis cells, and that both proteins interact in vivo. AtGAL1 pre-incubation significantly enhanced the acid phosphatase activity and thermal stability of AtPAP26-S2, but not AtPAP26-S1. Interestingly, LC-MS/MS also revealed that purified AtGAL1 was bisphosphorylated at Tyr38 and Thr39. Secreted AtGAL1 polypeptides were upregulated to a far greater extent than AtGAL1 transcripts during Pi deprivation, indicating post-transcriptional control of AtGAL1 expression. I hypothesize that AtGAL1 plays a key role during Pi deprivation through its interaction with high mannose glycans of AtPAP26-S2, and consequent positive impact on AtPAP26-S2 phosphatase activity and stability. The current study appears to provide the first definitive evidence for involvement of glycoforms, lectins, or a phosphotyrosylated protein in plant Pi starvation responses.

abstract: PhD


title: Winning At All Costs: Explaining Opposition Party Success and Failure in Hybrid Regimes

contributor:
Zsuzsa, Csergo
Political Studies

subject:
Regimes
Democratization
Party Politics
Russia
Myanmar
Cambodia

abstract: Why would anyone form or support an opposition political party in a country where this might land you in prison, in hospital, or even in the grave? And how is it that some of these parties become so powerful and successful, while others do not? Almost all governments today are controlled by a political party. This makes sense in democracies, because parties give meaning to the choices we make in election booths. But political parties really do not need democracy the way democracy needs them. Indeed, most authoritarian regimes are run by political parties, as well as challenged by them.  We understand comparatively little about parties in these contexts, despite much research on democratization putting a premium on the agency of oppositions in transitions from authoritarian rule.  In this dissertation I investigate why some opposition parties in undemocratic regimes become successful and others do not.  I find that successful opposition parties in hybrid regimes have successfully used pro forma legal multipartyism to carve out ideological space for themselves on advocating for democracy, have demonstrated their credibility to voters as occupants of this space by enduring repression, and have convinced (strategic) voters that they are viable challengers to their competitors and the incumbent.  I back these claims with in-depth, multi-method case studies, based on field research on the National League for Democracy in Burma/Myanmar, the Cambodia National Rescue Party in Cambodia, and the Russian Democratic Party Yabloko and Team Navalny in the Russian Federation.  These studies utilize interviews and focus groups with party candidates and members, an original survey, other primary and secondary source research, “big data” analysis, and the secondary analysis of existing data.

abstract: PhD


title: Behaviour of Concrete Sandwich Wall Panels in Flexure Using a Novel GFRP Shear Connector

contributor:
Fam, Amir
Civil Engineering

subject:
Sandwich Panels
Composite Action
Shear Connector
Concrete Wythe
Thermal Bridging
Pultruded Sections

abstract:
This thesis examines the structural effectiveness of a new concrete sandwich panel with a shear connector made of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) pultruded channel sections intended to enhance composite action and flexural rigidity while minimizing thermal bridging. The flanges of the channel section are embedded in either wythe. Five half-scale panels (610x280x3050 mm) were tested in four-point bending, varying the connector configuration and type as well as the wythe reinforcement ratio. The connectors investigated were a continuous GFRP channel, a discrete GFRP channel consisting of multiple segments spaced apart and a control conventional steel truss. Ancillary push-off single shear tests were conducted on 500 mm long wall segments to examine GFRP shear strength and bond strength by varying boundary conditions. The panels with continuous and discrete GFRP channels achieved 2.8 and 1.3 times, respectively, the ultimate strength of that with a steel truss. The continuous GFRP channel contributed 59% of the total flexural capacity of the wall. As the wythe steel reinforcement ratio increased from 0.17 to 0.68% the ultimate load of panels with continuous GFRP channels increased by 33%. Failure modes were compressive flange crushing for the panels with continuous GFRP channel, web shear for the panel with discrete channel, and rupture of bottom wythe reinforcement for the panel with steel truss.
An analytical model was developed in RESPONSE-2000 to evaluate the degree of composite action achieved by the GFRP shear connector. Both peak loads for theoretical fully composite and non-composite sections increased by 23%, as reinforcement ratio increased from 0.17 to 0.68%. Peak loads for specimens with discrete connector or truss connector were both only 45% and 20% of their fully composite and non-composite counterparts with a continuous connector. Specimens with continuous GFRP channel as shear connector exhibited higher degree of composite action (average of 38%) than the truss connector (32%). The GFRP-concrete bond strength was tested experimentally and was 0.28 MPa and the longitudinal shear strength of the channel was tested and found to be 39 MPa.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: A NMR Study of the Cellulosome Dockerin:Cohesin Dual Binding Mode

contributor:
Smith, Steven
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

subject: protein-protein interaction

abstract:
The recalcitrant nature of the carbon-rich plant cell wall is largely owed to its array of structural polysaccharides, which are efficiently hydrolyzed by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum via a multi-enzyme complex termed the cellulosome.  Cellulosome assembly requires various carbohydrate-active enzymes grafting onto a scaffoldin subunit through a high-affinity interaction between the enzyme-borne type-I dockerin modules and scaffoldin-borne type-I cohesin modules.  Type-I dockerins contain duplicated F-hand motifs that comprise a calcium binding loop and an adjacent helix, in which the sequential duplication is manifested into a near-perfect internal two-fold symmetry of the dockerin structure. X-ray crystallographic studies have revealed that cohesin binding can occur through either of its F-helices and a critical Ser/Thr pair, although substituting the second Ser/Thr sequence with alanine residues was required to observe the alternative conformation.  Thus, there has yet to be a direct structural observation of the type-I dockerin-cohesin dual binding mode in solution.
The type-I dockerin from Cel48S and the seventh type-I cohesin from the scaffoldin of C. thermocellum were recombinantly expressed in E. coli as uniformly 13C/15N-labeled and unlabeled forms, respectively. Alanine substitutions were introduced to the first and second set of critical Ser/Thr pairs of Cel48S dockerin via site-directed mutagenesis and were similarly expressed to serve as controls for the individual binding modes.  Wild-type and mutant Cel48S dockerin and type-I cohesin modules as separate entities and as 1:1 complexes were purified via Ni2+-affinity and size exclusion chromatography.  1H-15N HSQC NMR analyses indicated that although the bound wild-type Cel48S dockerin spectrum comprised fewer resonances than those of the dockerin variants fixated into a single orientation, the visible resonances were intermediate to those of the mutants.
These observations are consistent with an interaction undergoing chemical exchange on the intermediate to fast NMR time scale. Weaker signal intensity would also be consistent with the Cel48S dockerin construct existing in two orientations. Thus, these findings collectively indicate that Cel48S dockerin interacts with its cognate cohesin module in more than one orientation. The dockerin dual binding mode would overcome steric hindrance associated with neighbouring enzymatic subunits assembling onto the cellulosomal scaffoldin subunit.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Cultural Humility and Transgender Clients:  a Study Examining the Relationship Between Critical Reflection and Attitudes of Nurse Practitioners

contributor:
Wilson, Rosemary
Nursing

subject:
Transgender
Nurse Practitioner
Cultural Humility
Critical Reflection
Attitudes
Cultural Safety
Cultural Competence
Correlation
Survey
Autoethnography

abstract:
Background: Primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) in Ontario are central to care for transgender clients in Ontario regarding social and legal transition, medical transition and referrals for gender-affirming surgeries. Transgender people face discrimination in health care resulting in poorer health outcomes for this population. Health policy makers in Canada call for cultural safety as a client outcome without fully addressing how to achieve this goal. Cultural humility is a model that incorporates reflexivity by the practitioner of both their own actions with clients as well as on power and bias within the health care system. It offers a dynamic practice that is grounded in health equity that promotes culturally safe care environments.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a baseline understanding of Ontario NPs’ transgender health related attitudes and awareness from a cultural humility perspective.

Methods: A predominantly post-positivist approach was used that incorporated an autoethnobiographical narrative to frame the study context. Research questions address associations between critical self-reflection, and transgender health related attitudes, knowledge,  resource and policy awareness while controlling for confounding variables. Data was gathered using an exploratory, cross-sectional, online survey design. Interpretation included exploring alternative formats of the conceptual framework.

Results: Participants in this study were strongly self-reflective and had moderate to highly positive attitudes towards transgender people.  Awareness of clinically relevant and currently available resources was low even among a sample that was biased towards having positive regard for transgender clients and having had experience with transgender clients.  Exploratory analysis of the confounding variables suggest that life experience influences one’s reflexivity. These results also highlight the sharp learning curve that exists for NPs with the initial clients they treat with a new issue or condition.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the need for increased cultural humility and transgender health specific content in NP curricula, policy, research and practice. Future avenues of research include examining the relationships of self-reflection, rumination, and insight. The cultural humility model can also be modified to reflect new understandings of internal and external processes of clinical interactions.

abstract: MNSc.


title: Identity-Work Techniques Among Undergraduate  Students: Coping Strategies for Academic Setbacks

contributor:
Burfoot, Annette
Sytsma, Victoria
Sociology

subject:
Identity Work
Students
University
Academic Performance
Coping
Education
Identity Threat
Socio-Psychology

abstract: Identity and narrative work both refer to the internal and external efforts social actors actively and passively engage in to negotiate and reconcile their self-concepts and experiences, as well as to alleviate emotional disturbances when faced with inconsistency or disappointments. Situating psychological theories in a sociological framework, this thesis studies how undergraduate students emotionally appraise academic disappointments (as threats to their senses of self), how they cope with or react to these disappointments, and the factors that influence both. An online questionnaire was randomly distributed to 200 undergraduate students at a university located in Ontario—a province where students have reported the highest prevalence of elevated distress nationally. Univariate and bivariate results were obtained from 47 respondents. The results suggest students most commonly employ a mix of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Results posit the student behaviours/attitudes variables are the most widely associated with the frequency of using various coping strategies, followed by well-being/mental health and institutional factors. However, whether a student regularly uses these strategies was most strongly associated with well-being/mental health variables. Surprisingly, a slight majority of respondents found below average grades greatly to extremely upsetting, regardless of assessment type. The student behaviours/attitudes variables, as well as social influences variables were associated with all threat appraisals, while well-being/mental health variables were not. The univariate results replicate some of the forms of identity/narrative work found in the literature, namely those suggested by Snow and Anderson (1987) and Perinbanayagam (2000); while bivariate results partially support sociological and psychological literature, with some differences. Results substantiate the strength of socialization and institutional factors for the study of identity work. A few preliminary insights for university professors and support staff are offered and further courses of inquiry are suggested.

abstract: M.A.


title: Application and Development of Algebraic Reconstruction Algorithms for High Dose Rate Brachytherapy Gel Dosimetry with Optical Computed Tomography Readout

contributor: Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy

subject:
Radiation Therapy
Gel Dosimetry
Brachytherapy
Computed Tomography
Algebraic Reconstruction
Medical Physics
Medical Imaging

abstract:
Radiation therapy treatment techniques have become more complex to offer optimal tumour control while preserving patient quality of life by avoiding damage to healthy tissue. This increased complexity requires more thorough quality assurance (QA). External beam radiation therapy has seen an increase of QA of individual patients’ treatments for complex deliveries. This is known as patient specific quality assurance. High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatments have become more complex, but patient specific QA has not been adopted. One reason for this is the lack of inexpensive, simple to use, accurate, and complete dosimeters for brachytherapy. Radiochromic gel dosimeters with optical computed tomography (CT) readout would provide such a dosimeter, but the insertion of brachytherapy catheters into the gel cause streak artifacts in the reconstructed dose distributions, ruining the dosimeter’s accuracy.

The objective of this work was to investigate the feasibility of using radiochromic gel dosimeters for HDR brachytherapy dosimetry. This work focused on the initial step for making radiochromic gel dosimeters compatible with brachytherapy irradiations: the removal of the streak artifacts in the reconstructed dose distributions.

First the cause of the artifacts was investigated. It was found that photon starvation caused the streak artifacts present when using the standard Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) reconstruction algorithm. This work then investigated using the Ordered Subsets Convex algorithm with Total Variation minimization regularization (OSC-TV) instead of the FDK algorithm to suppress the artifacts. Three variants of the OSC-TV algorithm were also developed. These variants introduced reconstructing using flood field images (OSC-TV-FF), rejecting data from rays that passed through the catheters (OSC-TV-RR), or both (OSC-TV-FF-RR). Using controlled external beam irradiations, the OSC-TV and OSC-TV-RR algorithms were both found to remove the streak artifacts.

The OSC-TV and OSC-TV-RR algorithms were then used for a set of HDR brachytherapy dosimetry experiments. Both the OSC-TV and OSC-TV-RR algorithms produced artifact free dose distributions of gels with a single catheter inserted. The OSC-TV-RR algorithm also removed artifacts from gels with multiple catheters. Therefore it was concluded that the OSC-TV-RR algorithm could be used with radiochromic gels to provide a feasible method for patient specific HDR brachytherapy dosimetry.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Victor’s Justice, Victim’s Justice: The Role of ‘Class A’ War  Crimes in Shaping the Legacy of the Tokyo Tribunal

contributor:
Hill, Emily
History

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States

subject: Japanese War Crimes

subject: International Military Tribunal for the Far East

subject: War Crimes Trials

abstract: The Class A component of the International Military Proceedings for the Far East (IMTFE), also known as the Tokyo Trial, has had a central—and at times overbearing—presence within the legacy of the tribunal. Documents from the very beginning of the legal proceedings have established a clear prioritization by the Allied forces to target the ‘arch criminals’ accused of committing the newly coined charges of ‘crimes against peace’. Important historical figures involved in the trial, as well as subsequent historians and legal scholars, have continued to problematize and attack the trials for this focus. This criticism, while at times legitimate, has helped solidify the legacy of the Tokyo Trial as ‘victor’s justice’. Due to this focus, usually at best the Tokyo Trial is dismissed or devalued; at worst it has become a tool of Japanese war crimes apologists and deniers. The legal emphasis on Class A war crimes did have significant flaws and weaknesses which are important to highlight. However, historical analysis has become stuck in a ‘victor’s justice’ time loop, limiting the historical scope of the Tokyo Trials for too long. There is an urgent need to move beyond this concept within the scholarship of the IMTFE, while also understand the impact of this focus. The fixation with ‘victor’s justice’ has been seared into specific national narratives of remembrance, victimhood and trauma. While it will also touch upon the transnational factors that contributed to Japan’s process of silencing and remembering, this paper will explore the ways in which Class A war crimes have come to define and construct the legacy of the Tokyo Trial and its place in Japan’s national wartime narrative. Though there is a place within the historical discussion of the IMTFE for concepts such as ‘victor’s justice’ and criticism of crimes against peace, this paper will conclude with a discussion on how scholars can move beyond this limiting perspective and reach a more complex understanding of the Tokyo Trial and its legacy.

abstract: M.A.


title: Change on the Sacred Hill and Plains: Haudenosaunee Perspectives of Camp Mohawk and the Thunderwater Movement in Tyendinaga Territory, Ontario (1917-1918)

contributor:
Lovell, W. George
Geography and Planning

subject:
Indigenous Peoples
Haudenosaunee
Mohawk
Camp Mohawk
Tyendinaga
Eagle Hill
Clan System
Traditional Governance
Military History

abstract: The Camp Mohawk aerodrome (1917-1918) was situated on Tyendinaga Territory in Ontario during the First World War (1914-1918). In recognition of its 100th anniversary, researchers have been exploring the history of the aerodrome and its contributions to the war effort. What is missing in the research are Haudenosaunee perspectives of the origins of the aerodrome and events that shaped cultural revival in a Mohawk community subject to the oppressive realities of the Indian Act, 1876. This thesis furnishes an Indigenous context and addresses two gaps in research to date: (1) the relational events of people and place that shaped the period, especially the years 1917-1918; and (2) the effects of Indigenous empowerment to revive a traditional governance system that had long since been removed by Canadian government legislation. An Indigenous methodologies approach to data collection is adopted, including the use of oral storytelling. Research reveals two findings of significance: (1) a motion to grant land on the reserve for the establishment of an aerodrome was done so under duress and was a mere formality predetermined by Indian Affairs; and (2) the influence of the Thunderwater Movement in Tyendinaga was the catalyst to empowering Mohawk women to reclaim their matriarchal duties in defiance of the Indian Act. Much of the previous literature on the subject offers historical perspective, but through the lens of colonial bias, reflecting a time of Indian prejudice in Canada.

abstract: M.A.


title: Behaviour of Railway Bridge Transitions: New Insights From Digital Image Correlation And Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensing

contributor:
Take, W Andy
Hoult, Neil
Civil Engineering

subject:
railway track
fiber optic sensing
digital image correlation
railway monitoring
bridge transition

abstract:
Railway bridge transitions are locations of abrupt track support stiffness change arising from the difference in support stiffness between the relatively softer foundation materials of the track approaching the bridge and the relatively stiffer bridge structure. This phenomenon is believed to amplify dynamic train wheel loads, which contribute to the development of persistent problematic differential track settlements that are difficult to resolve despite major research efforts by the railway geotechnics community. Novel sensing technologies such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and distributed fiber optic strain sensing offer a unique opportunity to further understand railway bridge transition behaviour by providing the ability to obtain simultaneous field measurements of railway track displacements and loads applied to sleepers (i.e. “rail seat forces”) for reduced requirements in terms of rail surface preparation and sensor installation time relative to other sensing technologies.

This research involved the use of distributed fiber optic strain sensors to develop and evaluate a method of calculating rail seat forces applied to the track, using measurements obtained during static train load testing in a controlled environment. The experiment allowed the presence of vertical force equilibrium between the applied train wheel loads and the resultant rail seat forces to be verified, which subsequently permitted a method of evaluating the rail seat force calculations to be developed and tested.

DIC and distributed fiber optic strain sensors were then used to instrument a railway bridge transition that was experiencing differential track settlement. The collected monitoring data, including measurements of railway track displacements and rail seat forces, were used to interpret track defects observed during a visual site inspection and determine their relevance toward the behaviour of the railway bridge transition under loading. It was found that measurements of gaps between the rail and sleeper plates could be used to obtain first-order approximations of both the shape of the differential track settlement profile and maximum rail bending stresses. The limitations of this work are discussed and potential avenues for future research in this field are presented.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Estrogens in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis: State-dependent modulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in rats

contributor:
Dumont, Eric
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
estradiol
sexual dimorphism
neurophysiology
GABA
food restriction

abstract: Beyond their important role in reproduction, estrogens contribute in various adaptive and maladaptive physiological phenomena including, but not limited to, appetite, stress response, and the development of compulsive behaviours. There are estrogen receptors throughout the brain, including in regions and circuits contributing to maladaptive behaviours. Thus, pharmacological interventions targeting estrogens result in considerable undesirable side effects. Traditionally considered a female steroid hormone, estrogens are also potent neuromodulators in the male vertebrate brain. In comparison to female rats, peripherally administered estrogens have negligible effects as the male rat brain likely relies on brain-derived de novo estrogens synthesis. While the neurophysiological effects of estrogens are well characterized in the hippocampus of both sexes, nothing is known about their effects in the oval nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria-terminalis (ovBNST), a key region that integrates sensory information within the appetite, anxiety, and compulsion circuits. The ovBNST is rich in estrogen receptors and has the capability of synthesising estrogens in both sexes. Using brain slice voltage-clamp electrophysiology, we characterized the effects of estrogens on inhibitory synaptic transmission within the rat ovBNST. These studies will demonstrate that Estradiol (E2) had a potent, but sexually dimorphic effects on both inhibitory synaptic transmission and plasticity at GABA synapses within the ovBNST. These effects of E2 were sensitive to changes in the rats metabolic-state and intriguingly, a form of compulsive behaviours in rats was associated with a dysfunction in the endogenous estrogenic system within the ovBNST. This dysfunction appears to be caused by a weakening of the paraventricular thalamus circuit with the ovBNST that may cause changes in E2 synthesis.  Thus, we discovered that brain-derived estrogens are potent modulators of inhibitory synaptic transmission within the ovBNST and they gate a metabolic-state induced bi-directional plasticity that is associated with the development and maintenance of maladaptive compulsive behaviours in male rats. These studies lay the foundation in understanding how the endogenous estrogenic system within the male brain is integral in influencing state-dependent behaviour.

abstract: PhD


title: Multi-Year (2007-2017) Mercury (Hg) Concentration and Fluxes From Small High Arctic Rivers Impacted by Landscape Disturbance

contributor:
Lamoureux, Scott
Kirk, Jane
Geography and Planning

subject: Mercury Arctic Permafrost

abstract:
Arctic mercury (Hg) contamination is an ongoing threat to human populations and ecosystems alike. Compared to preindustrial levels, elevated concentrations of Hg in air and water samples have been observed across the high latitudes with recent estimates demonstrating substantial Hg storage in Arctic soils. Climate change is expected to have a strong impact on the stability of permafrost landscapes potentially releasing large quantities of Hg from thawed soils to surface waters. This study investigates multi-year, seasonal, and diel dynamics of total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations, particulate partitioning, and flux from two small High Arctic rivers, subject to permafrost disturbance, at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory, Nunavut, Canada. Water samples were collected from the outlet of the rivers during the melt season (2007-2017; excluding 2011, 2013-2015), and from several small hillslope tributaries with various levels of permafrost disturbance (2009, 2016, 2017). Results indicate that there are large diel and inter-annual variations in THg concentration and flux, in part due to climate-driven changes in discharge and the physical disturbance of active layer and permafrost soils. A large proportion of THg (30.5-72.5%) was particulate bound, and significant positive relationships were observed between THg, suspended sediment, discharge, and organic carbon concentrations in both rivers. MeHg concentrations were low for both rivers (0.05 ng L-1) and were poorly correlated with discharge, suspended sediment concentration or organic carbon. The timing and intensity of runoff was a dominant driver of THg flux in all years with the
majority of discharge and peak THg concentrations occurring during either the brief nival freshet or uncommon late season rainfall events. These results provide a critical link between Hg stored in Arctic soils, permafrost disturbance and fluvial Hg export, with important implications for Hg cycling in a changing Arctic.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Modeling and Analysis of Dynamic Computer Experiments

contributor:
Lin, Chunfang Devon
Ranjan, Pritam
Mathematics and Statistics

subject:
Computer Experiments
Gaussian Process
Inverse Problem
Singular Value Decomposition
Time Series

abstract:
Dynamic computer experiments which refer to computer experiments with
time series outputs have increasingly gained popularity in both
science and engineering. Analysis of dynamic computer experiments
through statistical emulators or surrogate models emerges as an
important topic in statistical literature. This thesis is devoted to
three research topics in modeling and analysis of dynamic computer
experiments. We propose new methodologies for (a) efficient inference
of Gaussian process models for large-scale dynamic computer
experiments; (b) the inverse problem for small-scale dynamic computer
experiments, that is, when a target response is available, we aim to
estimate the inputs of the computer simulator that produce a response
matching the target as closely as possible; (c) the inverse problem in
large-scale dynamic computer experiments, which requires fitting the
Gaussian process emulator efficiently given a large input data set to
obtain the estimated solution to the inverse problem.

For the large-scale dynamic computer experiments, we propose a local
approximate singular value decomposition based Gaussian process
(lasvdGP) model, which is shown to provide accurate and efficient
emulation for the dynamic computer simulator. For the small-scale
inverse problem, we introduce a sequential design approach which
selects follow-up design points as per a proposed expected improvement
criterion. The effectiveness of this approach is verified by both the
theoretical study of convergence and the empirical study compared with
existing alternative methods. For the inverse problem in large-scale
dynamic computer experiments, we propose an approximate Bayesian
inference algorithm using the proposed lasvdGP model. This approach
gives promising results to address the computational challenge of the
large input data set of the dynamic computer simulator.

abstract: PhD


title: The Response of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Pipe Subject to Longitudinal Bending in the Form of Vertical Ground Deformation

contributor:
Fam, Amir
Moore, Ian
Civil Engineering

subject:
Permanent Ground Deformation
Buried Pipeline
Pressurized Pipe
Normal Fault
Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer
Full Scale
GFRP Pipe

abstract: Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) pipe is a light weight alternative to steel pipe for oil and gas distribution pipelines that is corrosion resistant but whose material properties vary based on production technique and whose failure mechanisms are not well understood. These pipelines may cross through unstable terrain and be subject to flexural bending caused by ground motion causing split and leakage of their contents into the environment. This study examines the response of GFRP pipe to permanent ground deformation and the failure mechanisms exhibited by GFRP material. A series of full-scale tests were performed using the Split Box at the Queen’s University GeoEngineering Laboratory, a facility that can simulate a normal ground fault to mimic permanent ground deformation. Three 5.6 m long GFRP pipe segments were pressurized to zero, 300, and 1000 kPa respectively and subject to 120 mm of differential settlement, causing longitudinal bending at the crown and invert near the fault line. Fibre optic sensors installed longitudinally along the length of the buried samples reveal zones of peak strain and curvature. These zones located on either side of the fault line are shown to be asymmetrical with higher strains recorded on the stationary side of the fault line. The position and magnitude of peak curvature zones changed with increased pressure, shifting further away from the fault line with decreased curvature. The samples did not reach an ultimate limit state, however at 110 mm fault offset the buried pipe wall split resulting in water leaking at the peak curvature zones and pressure loss.  Three four-point bending tests were also performed on similar pipe segments 1.8 m long. The flexural tests were used to establish a relationship between curvature and moment for the GFRP pipe which was then used to estimate the lengthwise moment distribution of the buried samples.  Comparisons were also made to the flexural responses of the buried pipe.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Legality Matters: Crimes Against Humanity and the Legitimacy of the Las Through a Fullerian Lens

contributor:
Robinson, Darryl
Law

subject: International Criminal Law

abstract: The prohibition on retroactive law is a fundamental principle of international criminal law. It is also a fundamental principle in many domestic legal systems. The principle prohibits authorities from convicting individuals for acts (or omissions) which were not criminal at the time they were committed. In international law, the prohibition is stated in absolute terms. Crimes against humanity are undoubtedly crimes but, they began their life as retroactive criminal law. Currently, the crimes against humanity prohibition on unspecified “other inhumane acts” seems to invite the continued articulation and application of new types of crimes against humanity. If this is accepted, it calls into question our commitment to the absolute prohibition on retroactive criminal law. In this thesis, I use the theories of Lon L. Fuller and the crimes against humanity prohibition on other inhumane acts to explore the prohibition on retroactive law. The theories of Fuller and the example of crimes against humanity suggest that the prohibition on retroactive law is not as absolute as assumed. Equally, the prohibition and the theories of Fuller show problematic shortcomings in the current approach to the crimes against humanity prohibition on other inhumane acts. In this thesis, I explore how these two criminal law prohibitions can illuminate and inform each other and contribute to the legitimacy of international criminal law.

abstract: PhD


title: "It has to be more than exercise": Exploring optimal physical activity program delivery for breast cancer survivors across multiple stakeholder groups

contributor:
Tomasone, Jennifer R.
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Breast Cancer
Physical Activity
Knowledge Translation
PRECEDE-PROCEED

abstract: Physical activity is an effective strategy for mitigating the negative physical and psychosocial effects of breast cancer treatment. Accordingly, physical activity programs have been developed to enhance clinical cancer care; however, many communities in Ontario remain without such programs. Further, it is unclear what factors constitute an optimal physical activity program for breast cancer survivors. An integrated knowledge translation approach, defined as the involvement of knowledge users in the co-creation of knowledge, can assist in identifying optimal aspects of physical activity program delivery for breast cancer survivors. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to explore optimal physical activity program delivery for breast cancer survivors across multiple stakeholder groups in the cancer care community, and to develop specific recommendations that can be used to inform the development of physical activity programs for breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer survivors, health care professionals (e.g., oncologists, nurses, and allied health care professionals) and community-based physical activity program providers participated in four 60-minute heterogeneous focus group discussions. Broad discussions about an optimal program environment, program delivery team, and core program practices were encouraged. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to inductive thematic analysis. Participants recommended that physical activity programs for breast cancer survivors should improve cancer literacy, provide opportunities to participate with peers, and foster feelings of self-efficacy. Further, when possible, programs should be delivered in the community, accessible from an environmental and financial perspective, and integrated within the regional network of cancer care. These findings can be extended to provide a foundation for researchers and providers aiming to establish, deliver, and evaluate optimal physical activity interventions and programming for breast cancer survivors.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Multi-material topology optimization for lightweight design

contributor:
Kim, Il Yong
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Topology optimization
Multi-material
SIMP
SAMP
Lightweight design
Weight minimization
Stress constraints
Primal-dual interior-point method
Scaling mechanism

abstract:
Multi-material topology optimization remains an active research topic. This work enriches the key techniques of multi-material topology optimization, such as the multi-material property determination, topology optimization problem statements, stiffness constraints, sensitivity analysis, and optimization algorithms.

  Firstly, the multi-material updating (also known as material interpolation) scheme is established, which is the fundamental basis of multi-material topology optimization. The interpolated properties contain Young’s modulus, constitutive matrix, weight, and cost. To avoid the limitations of handling the various materials with the conventional material updating scheme, we enhance the element interpolation to update the material properties. The element interpolation method transforms a multi-material topology optimization problem into a single-material problem, which has no limitation on handling the various materials and is easy to solve according to the current research literature.

  Secondly, the multi-material topology optimization problem statements for practical lightweight design are defined. Compliance minimization is the typical problem statement in academic research.  However, in practical applications, compliance minimization is improper because compliance lacks clear physical meaning. Therefore, weight/cost minimization with stiffness constraints, which has clear physical meaning for product design, is proposed as the primary problem statement.

  Thirdly, sensitivity analysis based on the typical responses is provided. The typical responses in this thesis include compliance, weight, volume (or volume fraction), displacement, stress, and cost. The responses are generalized into one universal expression, and then their sensitivities are derived. The equations of the responses and sensitivities are summarized.

  Fourthly, the multi-material weight minimization considering stress constraints is discussed. The multi-material weight minimization considering stress constraints is addressed, with the transformation from the multi-material problem to the single-material problem using element interpolation.

  Finally, the Method of Moving Asymptotes is selected as the optimizer because of its stability and efficiency. Nevertheless, the traditional Method of Moving Asymptotes may fail when handling a high-resolution finite element model (i.e., the mesh size is small). The failure is caused by the null search direction due to the small sensitivities. Thus, I introduce the primal-dual interior-point method with a scaling mechanism into the Method of Moving Asymptotes to eliminate the small-sensitivity issue.

abstract: PhD


title: Monte Carlo modelling and optimisation of flattening filters for a novel Co-60 total body irradiation unit

subject:
Monte Carlo
Medical Physics
Total Body Irradiation
Radiation Therapy
Flattening Filter
First Scatter
Absorbed Dose
Radiation Dose
Filter Optimisation
EGSnrc
Dose Rate
Cobalt-60
Co-60
Radiation Transport

abstract:
Total body irradiation (TBI) is used in the treatment of certain types of blood cancers. It involves irradiating the whole body of the patient with high energy x-rays or gamma rays in order to kill cancer cells and suppress the immune system in preparation for a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. The challenge in TBI is delivering a uniform dose throughout the whole patient. Most conventional cancer treatment units are not able to provide a sufficiently large uniform radiation field to enable TBI without complex movement of the beam or the patient.

Recently, a dedicated Co-60 TBI unit was developed in Canada by BEST Theratronics (Kanata, ON). It uses gamma radiation from a Co-60 source housed in an extended gantry to irradiate a stationary patient lying on a couch below the source. The radiation beam of the source needs to be modified by a filter between the source and the patient to ensure uniform irradiation over the whole patient length as the distance from source varies considerably over the treatment volume. The amount of filtration required may also change over time to ensure an appropriate dose rate is maintained as the source decays.

To assist BEST Theratronics with filter design, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for the TBI unit were run to test the effectiveness of filter shapes that they had calculated by hand. This was a time consuming, trial-and-error process which required specialised training. It was the motivation for the development of a filter optimisation program which uses a radiation transport model based on primary and first scatter dose contributions that is quicker and easy to use. It was found that the relative dose distributions calculated by this program matched the MC-calculated distributions within about 3%. The absolute dose calculated was accurate for a small field and phantom, but for the TBI unit and a large phantom, the absolute dose was underestimated by 24-38% because of the missing higher order scatter. However, the amount of underestimation is predictable, so it is possible to use the program to calculate acceptable beam flattening filter shapes for a particular desired dose rate.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Task-based language teaching for Chinese as a second language: Teaching practice and teacher cognition

contributor:
Pyper, Jamie
Education

subject:
Chinese as a second language
teacher cognition
task-based language teaching

abstract:
Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT), an influential teaching approach used mostly for teaching English and other European languages as a second language, has been advocated for teaching Chinese as a second language (CSL) by policy makers and pedagogical theorists. To realize TBLT innovation, one group of critical stakeholders is classroom teachers because they put into practice the principles and procedures devised or mandated by textbook writers, pedagogical experts and educational officials. Therefore, this study aimed to understand how native Chinese-speaking teachers practise CSL teaching in relation to TBLT in university settings in China and to make sense of their teaching practice from the perspective of teacher cognition.

To better understand teachers’ teaching practice and teacher cognition, this study adopted Activity Theory as the conceptual framework. As a qualitative case study, the study was bounded in a Chinese university located in Sichuan Province. The participants of the study included 25 teachers (including 8 key teacher informants), 2 directors and 17 students. Data were collected through teacher questionnaires, interviews and classroom observations with the key teacher informants, and interviews with the directors and students. Questionnaire data was analysed using descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analysed first by a thematic analysis followed by an activity system analysis.

The findings revealed that the teachers adopted TBLT mainly to transfer declarative knowledge to procedural knowledge. Task-like activities and communicative activities were not peripheral in terms of the number of times they were observed and the time spent on them but took on complementary status in addition to the traditional classroom instruction. Teachers’ understanding of TBLT diverged from how TBLT has been described by theorists in the literature. The major differences pertained to what TBLT is, the perceived value of TBLT, and the applicable scope of TBLT. The teaching activity shaped teachers’ cognition about TBLT through direct and indirect mediations at the cultural-historical, ontogenetic and microgenetic layer of the context. To alleviate the challenges brought up by the tensions existed in the teachers’ activity systems, teachers adjusted and readjusted their teaching, resulting in the classroom practice of predominantly applying the traditional approach and supplementing it with TBLT.

abstract: PhD


title: Studying User-Developer Interactions Through the Updating and Reviewing Mechanisms of the Google Play Store

contributor:
Hassan, Ahmed E.
Computing

subject:
Android mobile apps
Google Play Store
Mobile app reviews
Updating Mechanism
Reviewing Mechanism
User-Developer Interactions
Emergency updates
Bad updates
User-developer dialogue
Mixed-effect model
Developer response
Developer reply

abstract:
Mobile app stores (such as the  Apple App Store and the Google Play Store) provide a unique updating mechanism that helps app developers to distribute their updates efficiently. In addition, after downloading a new update, users are able to review the latest update so other users could benefit from the posted reviews. Such unique reviewing and updating mechanisms enable users and developers to interact with each other through the store.

In this thesis, we study user-developer interactions through the updating and reviewing mechanisms of app stores. Our studies can help store owners to acquire a global view about user-developer interactions.  Such a global view about user-developer interactions can help store owners to improve the quality of the offered apps in their stores. For example, store owners can leverage our findings to identify the common release mistakes that are made by app developers and improve the app updating mechanism to prevent developers from making such mistakes in their updates. In particular, we study the user-developer interactions along three perspectives: (1) study the common developer mistakes that lead to emergency updates, (2) study how the reviewing mechanism can help spot good and bad updates, and (3) study the dialogue between users and developers to help design next-generation app reviewing mechanisms.

In this thesis, we identify eight patterns of emergency updates in two categories "Updates due to deployment issues" and "Updates due to source code changes". Our studies show that it can be worthwhile for app owners to respond to reviews, as responding may lead to an increase in the given rating. In addition, we identify four patterns of developer responses. Our work demonstrates the necessity of an update-level analysis of reviews to capture the impressions of an app's user-base about a particular update. An app-level analysis is not sufficient to capture these transient impressions.

abstract: PhD


title: Modelling and Transient Simulation of Solar-powered Hydrogen Energy Storage Systems

contributor:
Harrison, Stephen
Pharoah, Jon
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject: energy storage PV hydrogen PEM electrolyser modelling

abstract:
Practical energy storage systems are essential for matching the intermittent production of renewable power sources with the time dependent power demand of residences and businesses. This study assesses the technical viability of battery and hydrogen energy storage systems, scaled for a Canadian residential dwelling with low annual electric power consumption. The simulated consumption is an electric load, encompassing all major electricity demands within the house. The simulated load does not include space heating or cooling requirements. The conceptual dwelling uses a PV array to provide power to the load and storage system. System architectures were evaluated based on their ability to capture the maximum amount of energy from the PV array over the course of the simulated year.

Transient modelling was performed to thoroughly study two system architectures; an all-battery energy storage system, and a hybrid energy storage system, combining battery and hydrogen gas storage. The simulated systems were sized to meet a minimum load reliability of no greater than 15 load faults (no-power events) for the simulated year. Simulation of the all-battery storage system indicated that for a 10kWp PV array to meet the load demand with the required reliability, a 172.8kWh lead-acid battery bank was required. The battery system was capable of capturing 25% of every kWh of PV production, and had an overall electrical efficiency of 78%.

Simulation of the hybrid energy storage system indicated that the 10kWp PV array, combined with an 11kW PEM electrolyser, a 6 kW PEM fuel cell, a 20kWh lead acid battery bank, and a 10m3 hydrogen storage tank exceeded the reliability requirement, with only 6 load faults in the simulated year. The hybrid storage system was able to capture 58% of every kWh of PV production, and had an overall electrical efficiency of 48% (weighted average of battery and hydrogen efficiency).

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Physical Modelling of Retrogressive Landslides In Sensitive Clay

contributor:
Take, W. Andy
Siemens, Greg
Civil Engineering

subject:
Retrogressive Landslides
Sensitive Clay
Soil-Cement Mixtures
Physical Modelling
Centrifuge Modelling
Sensitivity

abstract: Sensitive clay landslides represent a significant geohazard in Eastern Canada and Scandinavia, often exhibiting complex lateral spreading or flow-like retrogressive behavior. The upslope extent of this hazard is represented by the retrogression distance, which can be upwards of hundreds of meters from the top of the original slope to the crown of the post-failure slope (e.g. the zone of depletion). The ability to estimate the retrogression distance is essential for risk management and effective risk communication concerning these types of landslides. To understand the site-specific risk, it would be desirable to estimate retrogression distance from soil properties and topological characteristics. Empirical correlations with Taylor’s stability number, Ns, have been developed, however, field data using these relationships shows considerable scatter, which could overestimate or underestimate retrogression distance. The large geotechnical centrifuge at C-CORE in Newfoundland, Canada, was used to conduct several physical model experiments aimed at investigating the relationship between stability number and the observed retrogression distance in a controlled laboratory environment. Before testing physical models, an artificially sensitive material was developed. A mixture of 12% cement and Speswhite kaolin with a design water content of two times the liquid limit was selected for the physical model experiments. Five centrifuge tests were conducted to investigate the change in retrogression behaviour of slopes of varying stability number and ease of flow of the remolded material. This was achieved through designing mixes to vary the peak undrained shear strength in the former, and the addition of a 5-degree slope angle for the remolded material for the latter. The addition of a 5-degree slope angle incited notably larger retrogression distances. Undrained stability analyses were performed for each observed failure stage. These analyses were remarkably accurate in representing the observed failure geometry and factor of safety. The relationship between Taylor’s stability number and the observed retrogression distance increased, as expected. The results of this research indicate that the geometric characteristics and material properties of a retrogressive landslide may be able to explain one component of the scatter when correlating the Taylor stability number with retrogression distance.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Emotional and Physical Child Abuse in the Aftermath of Natural Disasters: a Focus on Haiti

contributor:
Davison, Colleen
Bartels, Susan
Public Health Sciences

subject:
Haiti
Natural Disasters
Children
Child Abuse
Child Protection
Earthquake

abstract:
Background: Child abuse remains a public health and human rights issue with severe consequences. Natural disasters can cause physical, social, and psychological stressors, which may lead to an increase in child directed abuse.

Objective: The aim of this study was to i) investigate the social and living conditions of households in Haiti pre- and post 2010 Haiti earthquake, ii) to determine the household prevalence of emotional, physical, and severe physical abuse in children aged 2-14 post-earthquake, and iii) to explore the association between earthquake-related loss and experiences of emotional, physical, and severe physical child abuse in the household.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of Haitian households from the 2005/6 (n=9888) and 2012 (n=13181) cycle of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) was used. Descriptive analysis was  summarized using frequencies and measures of central tendency. Chi-squared and independent T-tests were used to compare data that was available pre-and post-earthquake. Associations between earthquake-related loss and emotional, physical, and severe physical child abuse was assessed using multivariate log-binomial regression models.

Results: Comparing pre-post-earthquake, noteworthy improvements were observed in the educational attainment of the household head (9.1% decrease in “no education” category) and in possession of the following household items: electricity, television, mobile-phone, and radio. The prevalence estimates of emotional, physical, and severe physical abuse, in the month prior to the 2012 survey, was 78.5%, 77.0%, and 15.4% respectively. Two years following the earthquake, death of a household member was associated with a higher likelihood of a child being victim to emotional (RR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.05-1.17) and severe physical abuse (RR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.14-1.94). Conversely, injury of a household member was associated with a lower likelihood of a child experiencing emotional abuse (RR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.87). Visual mapping revealed that the prevalence of severe physical abuse in settlement camps was notably higher (25.0%) compared to the overall prevalence in Haiti (15.4%).

Conclusions: Results of this study highlight a need to better protect children in Haiti from abuse. We found associations between some forms of earthquake related loss and child abuse patterns that would warrant further study and consideration in other contexts of natural disaster.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Time and Manner to Die: a Study of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada

contributor:
Baines, Beverley
Law

subject: medical assistance in dying

subject: physician-assisted dying

subject: dying with dignity

subject: medical aid in dying in Quebec

subject: Bill C-14

subject: Act Respecting End-of-Life Care (Quebec)

subject: Carter

subject: Rodriguez

subject: reasonably foreseeable natural death

subject: end of life care

subject: federalism

subject: Charter rights sections 7 and 15(1)

subject: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

abstract:
At the heart of one’s decision to seek medical assistance in dying lie a person’s autonomy and bodily integrity. In Carter v Canada (Attorney General), the Supreme Court of Canada applied this reasoning to hold that every adult person, who has a grievous and irremediable medical condition and is enduring intolerable suffering has the right to a physician-assisted death. I argue in this paper that if a life is no longer worth living due to the very high price to pay to live it, then a person should be permitted to “waive” his/her right to life. In my view, just bearing the grievous and irremediable medical condition that has the effect of causing enduring intolerable suffering to an individual constitutes a very high price to pay. Expecting that individual to have a reasonably foreseeable natural death as well is an affront to that person’s autonomy, bodily integrity and human dignity. I contend that this is the effect of Bill C-14, Parliament’s response to Carter, and Quebec’s Act Respecting End-of-Life Care. Both laws require a patient to prove the elements of a grievous and irremediable medical condition, as the condition is defined in each respective legislation, but in addition, this patient must prove that his/her natural death is reasonably foreseeable and, in Quebec, that he/she is at the end of life. I argue that both laws contravene the essence of Carter and the Canadian constitution on both grounds of federalism and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter).
As the notion of dialogue or Charter dialogue often surfaces to describe the relationship between the courts and a competent legislative body, this paper invokes this notion as the basis for its theoretical framework. This paper adopts a normative perspective in anticipation that the SCC will take another look at the issue of medical assistance in dying. It argues what Parliament should have done, or, perhaps, more accurately, what it should not have done in response to Carter. I raise similar arguments in the case of the Quebec legislation. In my opinion, the two laws could successfully be challenged in court.

abstract: LL.M.


title: Toward a Political Sociology of Blockchain

contributor:
Murakami Wood, David
Sociology

subject: Political Sociology

subject: Sociology

subject: Actor-Network Theory

subject: Risk Society Theory

subject: Prefigurative Politics

subject: Technology

subject: Blockchain

subject: Hacker Ethic

subject: Free and Open Source Software Development

subject: Alterglobalization

subject: Anarchism

subject: Bitcoin

subject: Ethereum

subject: Cryptocurrency

subject: Capitalism

subject: Crypto-Economics

subject: Digital Ethnography

subject: Ethnography

subject: Ideology

subject: Individual Liberty

subject: Libertarianism

subject: Liberalism

subject: Meritocracy

subject: Universal Basic Income

abstract:
This thesis project was intended to take an exploratory look at blockchain technology using an interdisciplinary social lens. Drawing on a variety of sources, including Actor-Network Theory, multiplicity, prefigurative politics, Marx’s early writings on technology, and ideological aspects of both hacker culture and free and open source software development, a complex but useful theoretical framework is proposed. Using a multiple methodological approach combining digital ethnography, semi-structured interviews, and content analysis, social aspects of the blockchain space are explored and an initial first description of demographics and characteristics of the blockchain community is proposed. The thesis finds that the utilization of blockchain technology is playing out in many ways, and there are widely varying positions taken from different groups on development and essential technological characteristics as well as potential motivations. The blockchain area is rapidly evolving, and interest from institutions has been growing. Given the potential prefigurative attributes of the space, there is the potential for institutional and capitalist interests to co-opt and integrate within the space, but this could stand to fundamentally change the uses of the technology. The thesis concludes that it is absolutely imperative that social scientists begin to think seriously about this technological development and its social characteristics and implications prior to widespread and institutional adoption.
tl;dr All aboard the blockchain social theory hype train.

abstract: M.A.


title: Study Examining Idealised Corrosion Pits in Metal Pipes Under Longitudinal Bending

contributor:
Moore, Ian
Hoult, Neil
Civil Engineering

subject:
Longitudinal Bending
Corrosion Pits
Metal Pipes
Ground Movement

abstract:
Cast iron represents one of the oldest materials used in water distribution networks across North America. However, aging cast iron water pipes breaking and/or leaking is an increasingly important issue as most are beyond their expected service life. One potential reason for these leaks is the presence of corrosion reducing the wall area. To explore the impact of corrosion and bending on pipe behaviour, a control specimen and a deteriorated specimen were exposed to differential ground motion in the split-box facility at Queen’s University. The data indicated that the curvature of the two specimens was not linearly related to the ground displacement and the effect of a simulated corrosion pit in the form of a hole was localized and had a negligible effect on the curvature on the moving side while causing an increase of 4.3% in the curvature and 61.0% in the maximum strain at the hole location on the stationary side. The axial strains along the neutral axis featured zones of compression and tension near the fault line where it was expected that zero strain would develop (i.e. pure bending was expected), requiring further investigation.
          Since the effects of deterioration appeared to be localized to the deteriorated area, a series of four-point bending tests were conducted on a control pipe with no deterioration and three other specimens with idealised deterioration. Distributed fibre optic strain measurements were used to explore both the behaviour of the pipe and the localized strain distribution in the vicinity of the simulated corrosion pits. The test results indicated that strain at the invert of the intact sample was higher than the calculated strain based on the beam theory, and the strain at the centroid (springline) of the pipes was non-zero contrary to what elastic beam theory would suggest. These deviations from the expected theoretical behaviour will require further study. A method of installing optical fibres inside and outside of the pits was developed. The measured strain distributions around each simulated corrosion pit were compared to the Kirsch solution. The Kirsch solution provided good visual agreement with the measured strains in the case of a full thickness hole but the overall agreement was not as good when the corrosion pit did not fully penetrate the wall section. However, the Kirsch solution did provide accurate estimates of the maximum strain in all cases suggesting that it could be used to estimate peak stresses if the corrosion geometry is known.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: The Journey Toward Engagement in Self-care Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study

contributor:
Tregunno, Deborah
Camargo Plazas, Pilar
Nursing

subject:
Patients' Engagement
Self-Management
Diabetic Foot
Diabetes Care

abstract:
Background: Worldwide, diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is the leading cause of emergency room admissions, long hospital stays, and long-term disability for individuals living with diabetes. Of all individuals with diabetes, 15–25 percent develop a DFU at some time in their lives; and 25 percent of these foot ulcers end in lower extremity amputation (LEA). While many investigators of DFU have been focused on pharmacological and technical approaches, little attention has been given to non-pharmacological approaches such as self-care management (SCM). The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a theory that explains the process of engagement in SCM for individuals with DFUs and to identify the contextual factors influencing their engagement.
Methods: A constructivist grounded theory, informed by Charmaz, was used to guide the study design. Theoretical sampling and intensive semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 individuals with active DFU attending a wound care clinic in southeastern Ontario, Canada, in August of 2017. Data analysis was conducted alongside data collection in a cyclic research process, which began with initial coding, and proceeded to focused coding or selective coding that resulted in a model representative of the theory.
Results: The study results draw attention to the complexity that exists for individuals seeking to balance life and manage diabetes and DFU. The categories and their set of concepts comprise the theory called “The Journey Toward Engagement in SCM”. The process involved five phases: 1) perception of illness, 2) noticing foot changes, 3) realizing seriousness, 4) beginning to learn about SCM, and 5) engaging in SCM. The process is influenced by multiple contextual factors, including aging and/or living with multiple chronic conditions, motivations, self-efficacy, SCM knowledge, SCM support, and access to services and resources.
Conclusion: The results of my doctoral study showed the pathway participants used to learn about SCM practices and how engagement in day-to-day management of DFU occurred. It has also helped to uncover inequities in accessing formal SCM education and specialized services and resources, which in turn contribute to inform nursing practice, education, and health policy.

abstract: PhD


title: Epistemic Disjunctivism:  A New Story about a Familiar Picture

contributor:
Bakhurst, David
Philosophy

subject: Disjunctivism Empiricism Epistemology McDowell Scepticism Skepticism

abstract:
The primary aim of this thesis is to evaluate the position known as ‘epistemic disjunctivism’ and its relation to the traditional epistemological framework it is meant to replace.
In particular, this will involve the investigation of the points at which John McDowell takes disjunctivism to conflict with traditional empiricist approaches to epistemology with an eye to whether or not any substantive conflicts necessarily arise between these two positions. In the course of this thesis, I shall explain the disjunctivist position, directly address McDowell’s arguments to the effect that traditional empiricism is in need of replacement by disjunctivism, and then draw my conclusions in light of the earlier discussion. In the course of arguing against the traditional approach, McDowell considers two positions which he takes to characterize empiricist accounts of epistemology. He calls these positions the ‘highest common factor’ conception and the ‘hybrid’ view, and argues that they are not only insufficient for a satisfying epistemological account, but undermine the possibility of any account constructed upon them to be satisfactory. These positions are both fundamentally motivated by familiar sceptical arguments and seem to lie at the heart of empiricism. As we shall see, however, should both of these characteristically empiricist positions be interpreted charitably, they need not conflict with disjunctivism, or at least not as McDowell defines it. Indeed, it would seem that the only direct conflicts between the two accounts in question are ultimately semantic, and that the epistemic stories told by the empiricist and the disjunctivist are fundamentally compatible.

abstract: M.A.


title: An Economic Analysis of the Treaty Right to Education

contributor:
Cotton, Christopher
Jaworski, Taylor
Economics

subject:
Education
Economics
Residential Schools
Post Secondary Student Support Program
Test Gap

abstract: This thesis is an economic analysis of two of the ways in which the Canadian government has fallen short of providing a treaty right to education.  Chapter 2 lays the foundation of the thesis by introducing the reader to contemporary differences in educational attainment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.  I focus on the results of a math test administered to a national sample of off-reserve students.  After establishing that a large gap in test scores exists on average, the chapter shows that accounting for both the level of and returns to observable characteristics eliminates this gap for low performing students, but a sizeable gap remains in the right tail of the test-score distributions.  The next chapter analyzes one of the largest national student aid programs in Canadian history.  The Post-Secondary Educational Assistance Program was implemented in 1977 to assist Status Indian and Inuit students with financing their post-secondary programs; however, financial constraints led to cutbacks in this program in the late 1980s.  I show that these cutbacks not only led to a reduction in community college completion, but also resulted in a large decline in high school graduation rates.  This finding highlights an important indirect effect associated with varying the costs of higher education.  The final chapter examines the intergenerational effects of Canada's residential school system.  From the late nineteenth century until the end of the twentieth century, the Canadian government, in collaboration with Christian churches, removed Indigenous children from their families and placed them in live-in boarding schools. While economists have shown the schools led to an increase in the educational attainment of those who attended, residential school attendance is negatively correlated with the educational attainment of subsequent generations. This is at odds with the literature on the intergenerational transmission of human capital. The fourth and final chapter explores this puzzle.

abstract: PhD


title: Can Rural Communities Support Aging Populations? A Case Study in South Frontenac Township, Ontario, Canada

contributor:
Rosenberg, Mark
Geography and Planning

subject:
Aging
Rural
Older Adults
Services
Geography
Health Geography
Community

abstract:
When planning for care for the aging population, the aging-in-place movement aims to keep older adults at home if possible – but how feasible is this method for the rural population? Previous research has shown that rural older adults tend to have poorer health, less access to health care, and be more isolated than their urban counterparts. The question arises as to whether small rural communities can work together to provide comprehensive programming and services to support their growing older adult population.
To understand how different demographic factors can relate to accessing senior services, 73 older adults in South Frontenac Township were surveyed, and 16 interviewed about their use of services, barriers to services, and desire to be involved in the planning of services within their communities. The most common utilized service among respondents was health services, followed by library services and physical recreation services. When interviewed, the most common concerns included lack of reliable transportation for those unable to drive, lack of awareness and confusion around what services were available, and concerns around funding needed to have free or low-cost services.
The most important barrier to accessing services in this sample was access to a personal vehicle. For rural communities to fully support the health of their aging residents, service providers will have to coordinate transportation efforts to reach those most isolated and in need. Further research should investigate how a more comprehensive rural transportation network might operate to bring isolated older adults to services offered in communities beyond their own.

abstract: M.A.