title: Characterization of Problematic Graphical Structures of LDPC Codes and the Corresponding Efficient Search Algorithms

abstract:
In this thesis, we study all the problematic graphical structures which play important roles in the error floor performance and error correction capability of LDPC codes. These graphical structures are: LETSs, ETSs, NETSs, stopping sets and codewords. First, we complement LSS characterization by demonstrating how the remaining structures of LETSs can be characterized. Then, we propose a new characterization for LETSs of variable-regular LDPC codes. Compared to the LSS-based characterization, which is based on a single LSS expansion technique, the new characterization involves two additional expansion techniques. The introduction of the new techniques mitigates the search efficiency problem that LSS-based characterization/search suffers from.
Moreover, we generalize the proposed approach of variable-regular to irregular LDPC codes. We explain how the characterization of LETS structures in variable-regular graphs can be used to characterize the LETS structures of irregular graphs. Also, we propose a graph based approach to find all ETSs.
In addition, we derive a lower bound on the size of the smallest ETSs and NETSs in variable-regular LDPC codes. The derived lower bound demonstrates that the size of the smallest possible NETS is, in general, larger than that of an ETS with the same b value. This provides a theoretical justification as to why NETSs are often not among the most harmful trapping sets. Moreover, we propose an efficient search algorithm to provide a list of NETSs in an interest range. Also, we derive tight lower and upper bounds on the minimum distance and stopping distance of LDPC codes. The bounds, which are established using a combination of analytical results and search techniques, are applicable to both regular and irregular LDPC codes with a wide range of rates and block lengths. The search algorithms to find codewords and stopping sets are based on the ETSs and NETSs search algorithms provided in this thesis. Extensive simulation results on several LDPC codes demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithms. In particular, the algorithms are significantly faster than the existing search algorithms in the literature.


title: Nunavut, Uqausivut, Piqqusivullu Najuqsittiarlavu (Caring for our Land, Language and Culture):  The use of land camps in Inuit knowledge renewal and research

abstract:
Sharing stories in Inuit culture has been the foundation of knowledge transfer for generations. This is my story of learning, of research, learning through relationships, and learning from the land through the stories of Elders and youth of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, during Elder-youth land camps to learn about caribou in 2011/2012. Using the Qaggiq model, I explore how nuna (land) connects us with Iliqqusiq (culture), Uqausiq (language), and Unipkaat (living histories). The land camps are a place for knowledge renewal, to build and strengthen the connections between generations, and a place for communities and researchers to connect.
Learning on the land provides the place for strengthening Inuuqatigiittiarniq (relationships), Inuusiqaqttiarniq (living a good life) and allows the youth to experience how the land provides Niqiqainnarniq (sustenance). Storytelling connects us with others and by listening carefully there are many lessons that can guide youth in living a good life.


title: Three Essays in Macroeconomics with a Focus on Economic Growth, Monetary Policy and Knowlege Dissemination

abstract:
This thesis includes three essays on empirical macroeconomics. The first chapter applies modern ideas-oriented growth accounting, based on the semi-endogenous growth theory of Jones (2002), to compare the sources of Canadian and U.S. economic growth between 1981-2014. Two features stand out in comparison to the U.S. growth experience over the same period. First, over a full percentage point of the average U.S. growth of 1.64 percent is due to excess ideas growth. Second, the constant growth view' that reconciles large sources of transitional growth with relatively stable average growth is not supported in Canada.
The second chapter of this thesis examines the empirical link between movements in interest rates and capacity utilization, using 2SLS fixed effects estimations in a panel setting of 21 U.S. manufacturing industries between 1975-2011. The study arrives at three main findings: (a) In most industries a cut in the interest rate does not simultaneously stimulate capacity utilization; (b) in contrast to previous studies, the results do not show evidence that durable-goods industries are more sensitive to interest rate changes than other industries are; and (c) in many industries, the interest rate and capacity utilization move in the same direction. This suggests that manufacturers initially respond to interest-rate shocks by adjusting the utilization of their current capital stock.
The final chapter of this thesis investigates the impact of the home country's levels of income, civil liberties and political rights on the spillover effects of technical and managerial innovation using pooled mean group estimations in a dynamic heterogeneous panel setting of 60 countries between 1996--2014. The findings show that, for high-income countries, domestic innovations in management are a significant source of change in productivity. In contrast, the results do not support the role of the domestic development of management innovation in middle-income countries. Regardless of which metric is utilized in the analysis, national spillovers of management ideas increase the productivity of countries with the most-liberal democratic regimes. In democratic countries where the regime is only partially liberal, domestic management innovations have a depressing effect on productivity.


title: Shaping or Making Policy in a Melting Arctic: Examining the Institutional Effectiveness of the Arctic Council

abstract: The Arctic Council has achieved a position of prominence in the environmental management and sustainable development of the circumpolar region. And yet, as the Arctic continues to experience dramatic environmental changes, the number and diversity of opinions about the role the Council should play in the governance of the region have grown. However, how the Council works and what has made it effective in the past remains poorly understood. In this dissertation, I introduce a new analytical framework to support an in-depth and systematic analysis of the Arctic Council and its governance model. I use the concept of institutional effectiveness as a foundation and incorporate the concepts of network governance, boundary work and institutional logics. Through the application of these concepts, this dissertation conceives new lenses for examining and understanding the recent history of Arctic governance and the Arctic Council’s place within it: How does the Arctic Council work? And to what extent has it been effective? What factors explain the effectiveness of the Arctic Council? What criteria should be used to assess its effectiveness? To what extent can we attribute the effectiveness of the Council to its governance model? And could the governance model that contributed to the Council’s effectiveness also presage its failure? I demonstrate that the Arctic Council’s effectiveness as an international institution has been inconsistent, the product of a complex mix of endogenous and exogenous factors. This dissertation concludes that the governance model that originally contributed to the Arctic Council’s effectiveness, as an institution that generated knowledge and provided policy advice (i.e. policy shaping), has not evolved to support an effective policymaking role. This dissertation does not prescribe a particular path for the Council; however, I conclude that its future effectiveness depends on an alignment between the role it is assigned to play and its governance model. The analytical framework that I have developed to support an analysis of the Arctic Council yields new tools that I propose may be useful in studying the effectiveness of other institutions that are confronting an array of policy issues in different geographical settings.


title: An Exploration of Consumer Expectations in Video-Based Online Reviews

abstract: Online consumer reviews (OCR) influence the consumer purchase decision-making process. Video-based OCR presents potential capabilities over traditional text- or image-based OCR; however, the video presentation format has not been extensively studied. We aim to address this research gap by asking: how do we leverage the capabilities of video-based OCR and make these videos more useful to consumers in making their purchase decisions? When compared to text- or image-based OCR, the video presentation format can provide improved: 1) peripheral cues, 2) cognitive fit, 3) media richness, and 4) reviewer realism. We present the findings of a user study exploring consumer expectations of video-based OCR. We find that consumers expect high quality video that leverages all four of these capabilities, else there may be no perceived advantage to watching a video-based OCR over viewing text- or image-based OCR.


title: Evaluation of Acoustic Frequency Methods Coupled to Blade Element Momentum Theory for the Prediction of Propeller Noise

abstract: The accuracy of several computationally-inexpensive acoustic frequency methods is evaluated across a range of propeller geometries and operational conditions. The acoustic models considered do not require chord-wise aerodynamic data and therefore do not need to be coupled to a panel or grid-based aerodynamic solver. Each implemented method is compared to fourteen test cases originating from nine separate published acoustic experiments. The experimental data considered encapsulates a range of propeller geometries, blade numbers, microphone locations, tip speeds, and forward Mach speeds. The implemented acoustic models demonstrate good agreement with the experimental data, particularly for the prediction of the maximum tonal noise for which the model based on Hanson's helicoidal surface theory of propellers has an average error of 7.2 dB. The presented results suggest that the implemented acoustic methods remain a valuable resource for propeller noise prediction, especially for design and optimization studies, where a low runtime is important.


title: Conservation of Historic Timber Trusses with Case Study of the Governor General's Pavilion Roof, East Block of Parliament, Ottawa

abstract: Timber is found in many structures around the world and has been an important building material for centuries. As buildings and structures continue to age and are adapted for changing needs, steps to conserve associated heritage values and the physical aspects need to be taken. An investigation into current methodologies and resources to aid in the conservation of historic heavy timber structures was conducted. A proposed methodology is applied to case study of the roof structure of the Governor General’s Pavilion on East Block. Site visits, truss frame analysis and traditional timber connections assessment identify challenges of code applicability and the need for better resources. Parametric analysis comparing support conditions and material grade demonstrate behavior and capacity changes in the structure. Retrofit strategies are discussed.


title: The Selection of DNA Aptamers for the Prevention of Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation as a Therapeutic Tool in Parkinson's Disease

abstract: Alpha-synuclein misfolding and aggregation are hallmarks for the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Aptamer based treatments could be well suited to the prevention of this aggregation. Aptamers are single stranded oligonucleotides which bind to a specific chemical target with high affinity and specificity. Aptamer sequences are discovered through a process known as SELEX (the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment). Here, starting pools of aptamer candidates are derived from a 2010 SELEX by Tsukakoshi et al. These pools, coupled with a novel SELEX method which employs the aggregation of alpha-synuclein, has yielded promising results towards the use of aptamers for the prevention of alpha-synuclein aggregation. Based on the combination of sequencing data, the probability of forming a G-quadruplex structure, and preliminary in vitro aggregation prevention assays, the aptamer ASYN2 has been selected as an introductory candidate for in vivo testing.


title: A Methodology to Explore Empirical Evidence for a Macro Cognitive Architecture of Expertise

abstract: The thesis investigated if the SGOMS architecture is the default structure for processing expert knowledge. We compared an SGOMS model implemented in ACT-R to a model using ACT-R alone. The task had no interruptions but the SGOMS/ACT-R model had processes to deal with interruptions. As result, the SGOMS/ACT-R model predicted slower processing times than the ACT-R alone model, which did not have these extra processes. The task was a well-practiced memory game. The results showed that, although the perceptual motor strategies of the two participants were very different, their cognitive processing for most of the task was virtually identical and in line with the SGOMS predictions. Overall, the results suggest that people use the SGOMS mechanisms by default but can deliberately train themselves to avoid some SGOMS mechanisms for at least some parts of the task.


title: Occupant monitoring, modelling, and simulation to improve office design and operation

abstract: Building engineers and managers often treat occupants as passive agents despite their important role in building energy performance. Meanwhile, neglecting occupants' preferences may lead to poor implementations of building controls. The overall goal of this research is to improve buildings’ energy performance and occupants’ satisfaction by considering occupant-building interactions. This research first assessed the impact of static and dynamic occupant modelling approaches in a simulation-based analysis using the existing occupant models. The results showed the discrepancies between these two approaches in predicting the energy performance. The analysis emphasized the importance of using dynamic modelling approach. Given that the existing occupant models are context-specific, the next steps of this research focused on conducting a monitoring campaign. Therefore, the various monitoring methods exist in the literature and the anecdotal evidence were critically reviewed. Among the methods, environmental conditions are more controllable as well as configuring building designs and control systems are more flexible with laboratories and virtual environments. However, researchers can achieve valuable information on the natural occupants' presence and behaviour by in-situ monitoring on a relatively large sample size at a lower cost in long-term studies. This research adopted the in-situ method in a case study. A monitoring campaign was conducted in an office building in Ottawa, Canada. The monitoring study aimed to: (1) extract lessons beneficial for buildings' operation and design, and (2) improve the existing building's operation and occupants' satisfaction. Among the various domains covered in the exploratory analysis, the occupancy-based lighting control was found not to reduce the lighting energy use and satisfy occupants. Therefore, the control system was adjusted to the manual-on/vacancy-off. The results indicated a reduction in the lighting use by a factor of seven. The exploration of several fundamental occupant modelling issues revealed that start date and duration of a study are influential factors on the reliability of models. The findings of this research indicate the great potential of considering occupant-building interactions for the betterment of buildings’ energy performance and occupants’ satisfaction.


title: Mao in the Land of Nehru: State and Insurgent Space in India's Hinterlands

abstract:
This dissertation examines the contemporary Maoist insurgency in the hills and forests of eastern and central India, situating it within longer-term processes of state interaction and expansion in the indigenous-populated region going back to the colonial period. It develops a framework of analysis from Henri Lefebvre’s theories of space, the state and capitalism. The empirical examination of the insurgent zones is then grounded in a conceptualization of the insurgent zones which draws on James C. Scott and Willem van Schendel’s work on Zomia.
Specifically, the insurgency in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region and the Chotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand are seen as a contemporary manifestation of hostility to state expansion in the region dating back to the defeat of the Moghul state by the British East India Company. By drawing attention to the changing interactions between local pre-state spatial practices and an expansionist state geography, we are able to more effectively identify the sources of differing conflict dynamics in two demographically and geographically similar places. State expansion in Chotanagpur has produced a fragmented space in which industrial spaces of hyper-modernity exist alongside special ‘protected’ spaces constituted around a simulacrum of pre-capitalist social and economic relations. In southern Chhattisgarh the state is notable in its absence. Both of these spaces are in the process of being destabilized as a consequence of neo-liberal capitalism and the expansion of natural resource extraction. In Chotanagpur, this has led to the breakdown of fragmented space and the emergence of overlapping networks of power bringing together a variety of local actors including the insurgents. In Bastar, what has emerged is a particularly virulent form of state-making driven by counter-insurgency and rooted in violence and displacement.
The dissertation contributes to studies on space, capitalism and conflict in peripheral areas existing on the fringes of historical and contemporary state projects. Specifically, it adds to the literature on India’s Maoist conflict, making the case that we must recognize that contemporary events are, in part, the consequence of longer-term processes of state expansion into a peripheral ‘frontier’ zone


title: Spacecraft Formation Flying Using L1 Adaptive Control Techniques

abstract: Spacecraft formation flying is a fast improving technology for space missions and while a lot of work has been conducted on spacecraft formation flying control, very few of these algorithms have been validated on flight hardware or through hardware experiments. The L1 adaptive control algorithm is a promising algorithm that can deal with various model uncertainties in real time. As such, this work focuses on the design, simulation, implementation and validation of the L1 adaptive controller for spacecraft formation flying. The L1 adaptive controller is designed and the projection type and piecewise-constant adaptive laws are investigated. The on-orbit simulations are conducted for three dynamics models and the results are discussed. The L1 adaptive controller is shown to have superior performance with significantly lower control forces when compared to a PD controller. The L1 adaptive controller is then experimentally validated using Carleton's SPOT facility.


title: The Usual Suspects and Invisible Victims: Exploring Homeless Youths’ Experiences with Policing in Ottawa

abstract: This study prioritizes the experiences of homeless youth themselves, to examine how they make sense of and respond to policing in Ottawa. Using a phenomenological design, the study’s analysis is informed by focus groups and walking interviews conducted with homeless youth between 16 and 25 who utilize services at a drop-in-center in Ottawa. The analysis revealed two findings. First, young people felt paradoxically over-controlled and under-served in their encounters with police because of their intersecting identities as young and homeless in the city. Second, when responding to their encounters young people resisted and accepted the disciplinary and regulatory practices attached to policing in the city. To make sense of their responses I draw upon the concepts of subjective-reflexivity, affect and symbolic violence. This study adds knowledge to how young people make sense of and respond to policing in their everyday lives.


title: Towards Understanding What Factors Affect Pull Request Merges

abstract: In Open Source Software (OSS), most of the contributions come from the user community than the project's core developers. Pull-based development model has become a recent trend in distributed projects development where contributions are submitted as pull requests. These pull requests are reviewed, and if accepted, merged into the project’s main repository. In this thesis, we perform two empirical studies which investigates pull request (PR) merges of Shopify projects available in its public repository, Active Merchant. In the quantitative study, we performed data mining on the repository to understand the types of merges followed by Shopify developers and different factors contributing to PR merge time and outcome. We performed a qualitative analysis of the results by performing a survey on the Shopify developers who contributed to Active Merchant. This helped in understanding developers’ perception of the factors affecting the time and outcome of PR merges.


title: Impact of a MTHFR-Deficiency on Focal Ischemic Damage to the Sensorimotor Cortex in Aged Mice

abstract: Excess plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for stroke and the B-vitamin, folate, helps reduce plasma homocysteine. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) metabolizes folate to help reduce homocysteine and could modify stroke outcome. A prevalent polymorphism for Mthfr within the human population induces a MTHFR deficiency and elevated plasma homocysteine. The present study investigates the impact of a MTHFR deficiency on stroke outcome using an aged mouse model mimicking this polymorphism. 18-month-old male C57BL/6N mice were subjected to photothrombosis to the sensorimotor cortex. After damage, motor function, lesion volume and immunofluorescence of neurodegenerative pathways were assessed. MTHFR deficient mice show significant motor impairments for up to 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, Caspase-3 expression was significantly elevated at the ischemic core of MTHFR deficient mice. MTHFR deficient mice showed elevated plasma homocysteine. This study is the first to demonstrate in vivo exacerbation of stroke outcome in a MTHFR deficient animal model.


title: Assessing the potential of interferometric SAR for monitoring linear transportation infrastructure: case studies from Eastern Ontario

abstract: Two RADARSAT-2 Spotlight (SLA24 and SLA74), and one Sentinel-1A (IW) SAR datasets are used to assess the potential of InSAR for monitoring linear transportation infrastructure subject to geohazards. A variety of case studies in Cornwall, Ontario are examined. An InSAR processing sequence was established for the RADARSAT-2 datasets; 19 SLA24 and 15 SLA74 images were used to create time-series deformation maps of Cornwall spanning March 2015 to September 2016. The noise floors were ± 1.5 cm and ± 1.0 cm, respectively. Phase unwrapping errors, atmospheric path delay, and limited SAR data were identified as the largest contributors to noise. The InSAR processing sequence was adapted to the Sentinel-1A dataset, and used to create unwrapped differential interferograms. A discussion of the phase components of these interferograms is presented. Large SAR datasets, small incidence angles, moderate image resolution, and 6-12 day revisit periods are recommended for monitoring linear transportation infrastructure.


title: A Quantitative Model-Based Fault Detection & Diagnostics (FDD) System for Zone-Level Inefficiencies

abstract: Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems account for a significant portion of energy consumption in buildings. The majority of fault detection research has neglected zone-level faults. In this study, the methodology of a quantitative model-based fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) system for the zone-level is presented. The creation of a basic model was completed using Matlab. Analyses were conducted, identifying five zone-level inefficiencies. The severity of these inefficiencies was analyzed and an excessive amount of air handling unit (AHU) fan energy consumption was detected. The redundancy of these faults in the building force the AHU to expend an unwarranted amount of energy, highlighting the importance of utilizing FDD. Benefits of this methodology include the detection of pre-existing faults originating from initial design, as well as the ability to apply this to new or existing buildings when sufficient sensing and metering infrastructure is available, improving the efficiency of the building.


title: Using INMDB for the Semantic Web

abstract: Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a data model that represents information about web resources using triples. Triples represent data at the atomic level using three components: subject, predicate and object. The structure of RDF data is defined by a schema language RDFS. RDF data storage can be classified into five categories: Native, Relational, Object-Oriented, Object-Relational and Expert System. Of these, Native and Relational have been the dominant approaches. The problem with all current RDF storage approaches is that none adequately represent the semantics of the RDFS with their underlying storage architecture. In this thesis, a more semantic storage approach is introduced using Information Network Model Database (INMDB) which addresses this problem. To support our claim, we store the English version of the DBPedia RDF dataset in INMDB. The results show that INMDB offers a more semantic way to store and query structured RDF data.


title: Bridging the Immersion Gap Between Tabletop RPGs and Online RPGs

abstract: The improvement of online tools has led to a resurgence in Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPGs). Previous work in board-game and video-game research states that co-located games are ranked far more enjoyable than their digital counterparts, discovering an existing gap between the experiences. Is it possible to close the current experience gap between online and offline versions of TRPGs? We explore an augmented digital approach, using real-time responsive technology. We attempt to bring the benefits of digital avatar communication, into the world of online TRPGs, by implementing real-time face recognition avatars that react live to players’ emotions and facial expressions during gameplay. Leveraging previous game experience research tools and data visualization, we discovered the importance of player agency as the most important factor of immersion and enjoyment. We found that players’ satisfaction in-game is determined not by the level of immersion, but by the user’s ability to impact the world.


title: Cybersecurity in Consumer Adoption of Smart Home Technology

abstract: The highly anticipated smart home technology for everyday life has been growing over the past quarter century. Using standard technology adoption models, previous research produced conflicting results that did not reflect the market accurately. Amongst the indicated challenges for the future of smart home technology is the commonly overlooked barrier cybersecurity. To better understand the market’s expectation we conducted consumer interviews that produced a modified model for smart home adoption in the Canadian market. The resulting adapted model proposes a link between cybersecurity and the behavioral intent of potential consumers. Components of the cybersecurity determinant are identified as trust, safety, and privacy which are moderated by the consumer's level of technical knowledge. Implications of our findings could improve the performance of smart home technology in the market and inspire the creation of innovative solutions that increase the security of the IoT industry.


title: The Perception of Psychology as Unscientific: The Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying The Perception That Psychology Is Not A Science

abstract: While psychology can be straightforwardly shown to be scientific, many do not perceive it to be a science. Although researchers have examined this phenomenon (e.g., Lilienfeld, 2011), they have yet to empirically identify the cognitive mechanisms responsible for it. One possibility is that a dual-process account of cognition might explain the paradox; that is, while individuals may understand that psychology is a science, they may not implicitly associate psychology with science. The goal of this thesis is to explore this possibility using a discrete free association task (Nelson et al., 2004) for academic disciplines that included the natural sciences and psychology. The results demonstrated that psychology was found to be conceptually different from science and the natural sciences. Based on the results, suggestions are provided to assist in improving the perception of psychology as genuinely scientific.


title: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: Identifying Policy and Regulatory Barriers in Microgrid Adoption

abstract: The electricity sector is poised to be a powerful enabler towards creating a low carbon economy. The Ontario government began instituting policies to achieve emissions reductions through programs like the Feed in Tariff. Initial policy framework advocated for a specific tool to achieve its inferred mandate of reducing emissions and codified these programs in legislation. As more technologies evolved additional policy prescriptions were created to integrate them. The environmental objectives of reducing emissions were not mentioned in the creation of these policies. Ontario is now faced with a patchwork of policy tools that cannot value disruptive technologies like microgrids because the current electricity markets are compartmentalized and do not value emissions reductions. While the Ontario government has invested in creating tools to deploy some new technologies, without thoughtful reform it will be unable to effectively realize an environmental return on its investments.


title: Documentation for the Conservation of Built Heritage: Analysis of Recording Methodologies

abstract: The concept of resource management in relation to cultural heritage relies on the keeping of records as its fundamental core. A consistent approach to record keeping is necessary for the further analysis of any heritage conservation project, because without these baseline records, no direction can be taken. This Master’s thesis is focused on exploring digital heritage recording techniques and data processing workflows to aid in the conservation of built heritage sites. Three sites of varying scale, scope of work, and heritage value have been chosen to illustrate how heritage documentation practices are approached from local, national, and international perspectives, and the results that can be obtained from each. The Log Farm in Nepean, Ontario, Prince of Wales Fort in Churchill, Manitoba, and QV66: Tomb of Nefertari and KV62: Tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor, Egypt, serve as case studies to further examine heritage recording in practice.


title: An Examination of the Construct Overlap of Positive and Negative Leadership Styles

abstract: The current research examines the conceptual overlap of established leadership styles. Study 1 investigates six positive leadership styles: transformational, charismatic, ethical, servant, authentic, and LMX. Analyses suggest that charismatic leadership has the potential to encompass the others, except servant leadership, which seems to measure a different concept. Study 2 examines five negative leadership styles: petty tyranny, abusive supervision, despotic leadership, supervisor undermining, and laissez-faire. Analyses suggest that abusive supervision and supervisor undermining have the potential to encompass petty tyranny and despotic leadership, and could be integrated into one broader active leadership construct. Laissez-faire leadership stands on its own as a result of its passive nature. Overall, results confirm there is significant overlap between leadership styles, and that these may not be measuring different concepts as they are defined in the literature. The results of this research suggest revisiting the conceptual and measurement perspectives of both positive and negative leadership styles.


title: Psychological Need Satisfaction and the Importance of Variety-Novelty

abstract: The present study investigates the plausibility of novelty-variety as a potential basic psychological need in a series of three studies. We followed set criteria proposed by Baumeister and Leary (1995) on the requirements of basic needs and explored novelty-variety within its framework. More specifically, we examined whether novelty-variety is distinct from other established needs, whether it predicts well-being outcomes, and if its absence results in adverse effects. In study 1, participants (N=202) rated novelty-variety and 10 other candidate needs (competence, autonomy, relatedness, self-esteem, self-actualization, physical thriving, security, pleasure-stimulation, popularity-influence, and money-luxury) to measure the degree to which novelty-variety uniquely predicts domain well-being. In study 2 (N=399), the fulfillment of novelty-variety and two other Self-Determination Theory (SDT) needs was experimentally manipulated in work-related vignettes and it was hypothesized that unsatisfied novelty-variety would reduce well-being. Finally, the third study (N=414) aimed to replicate the findings in study 2. All three studies provide support towards novelty-variety as a potential basic psychological need.


title: Architecture Against Global Warming:  A Research Institute for Sustainable Agriculture

abstract:
Global greenhouse gas emissions are a serious threat to the environment. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have exponentially released gasses and chemicals into the atmosphere which have resulted in the warming of the earth. One major source stems from agriculture and the indirect processes surrounding it. Current methods of unsustainable agricultural production including intensive monoculture crop cultivation, industrial animal agriculture and extensive food miles.
This thesis proposes a Research Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, a facility which allows for the research of alternative methods of sustainable food production, praxis of such ideas and a forum for public awareness and education. The institute will be located on Granville Island, British Columbia. The institute will house innovative agricultural practices, including hydroponics and Clean Meat production. It is hoped that the architecture envisioned will assist in developing more innovative agricultural solutions and raise public awareness and interest surrounding current methods of food production.


title: Synthesis and Characterizations of Linear and Ladder Conjugated Polymers

abstract:
Semiconducting polymers have gained tremendous attention in the past decades as a potential alternative over Si-based semiconductors. The research on tuning the band gap of semiconducting polymers has mainly focused on the development of new electron donor and acceptor building blocks. Post-polymerization such as annulations and modification of functional groups is considered as an effective approach to the band-gap tuning for semiconducting polymers.
The first part of this thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of ladder and linear-ladder polymers by post-polymerization annulations. 8-Octylnaphtho[2,3-c]thiophene-4,9-dione (NTDO) having the two keto groups was incorporated into conjugated linear polymers, which were then treated with Lawesson's Reagent (LR) for post-polymerization annulation. The obtained ladder and linear-ladder polymers had a lower energy band gap and absorption at a longer wavelength in comparison with their precursor polymers. The linear-ladder polymers containing of the electron-donating thiophene units and electron-withdrawing benzothiadiazole units had the absorption onset in the NIR region, e.g., at 1300 nm and 1000 nm, respectively.
The second part discusses chemical transformations of the NTDO-containing conjugated polymers. The transformation by sequential reduction, dehydration, and esterification on the NTDO homopolymer was successful. The energy band gap decreased, absorption maxima were red-shifted and the absorption spectrum was broadened after chemical transformation. The transformation of the keto group of NTDO-based D-A polymers to the corresponding dicyanovinylene group unexpectedly resulted in an increase of the LUMO energy level and therefore an increase in energy band gap. In the third part of this thesis, the building block of thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) was incorporated into conjugated linear polymers. Treatment of TPD-containing polymers with LR led to conversion of the keto group to thio-keto instead of annulation by intramolecular coupling. The obtained polymer displayed a hypsochromic shift and a higher energy band gap.
In the final part of this thesis, fluorene-based conjugated polymers containing the AIE-active tetraphenylethene and dicarboxylate pseudocrown as an ion receptor were synthesized and the optical sensing for lead ion was investigated. The study showed that polymer structure, solvent polarity, and nature of probe-analyte complex play collective roles in the dual-mode fluorescence detection for lead ion.


title: Individual and combined use of ultraviolet (UV) light with hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and ferrate(VI) for wastewater disinfection

abstract:
This work explores the use of chlorine-free chemicals hydrogen peroxide (HP), peracetic acid (PAA), and ferrate(VI) as well as physical disinfection method, ultraviolet light (UV), alone and combination for wastewater disinfection. To evaluate treatments the culturability of indicator-organism Escherichia coli was compared to that of spore-forming Bacillus subtilis and C. perfringens. Remaining culturable and viable E. coli were studied using a method combining propidium monoazide (PMA) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Changes to culturability were monitored for up to 48 hours after treatment to evaluate regrowth, reactivation and resuscitation levels.
In Chapter 4 culturable and viable E. coli were studied following disinfection with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), HP, PAA, ferrate(VI), and ultraviolet light (UV). All methods reduced culturable E. coli to below 2 log CFU/mL but 3-6 log CCE/mL of E. coli remained viable following chemical treatments. The largest reduction of viable cells was achieved with Ferrate(VI) followed by PAA, NaClO, and HP.
In Chapters 5 and 6 the use of UV and ferrate(VI) both alone and in combination was studied. The combination of 40 mJ/cm2 UV and 9 mg/L ferrate(VI) provided an additional 80% reduction in coliform bacteria compared to the use of UV alone. The use of ferrate(VI) increased turbidity by up to 95.6%. UV fluence of 40 mJ/cm2 reduced C. perfringens 95.5% but neither ferrate(VI) nor combining UV and ferrate(VI) offered further reductions. A concentration of 9mg/L of ferrate(VI) reduced viable E. coli by 0.9 log CCE/mL and by 2 logs CCE/mL when combined with 40 mJ/cm2. No regrowth following ferrate(VI) was observed, however regrowth and reactivation were observed after 40 mJ/cm2 UV as well as following combined treatment.
In Chapter 7 the use of UV and PAA were studied. Combining 40 mJ/cm2 UV and 2.3 mg/L PAA allowed for an additional 1.7 log reduction in culturable E. coli but no additional reduction in B. subtilis was observed when compared to the use of UV alone. The combined treatment offered an additional 0.8 log reduction in viable E. coli. Regrowth was observed after a lag period between 6 and 24 hours without additional nutrient supplementation.


title: Does Pop-up Message Content Matter? An Examination of the Effectiveness of Informing Gamblers about their Monetary Losses on Player Limit Adherence

abstract: The current research tested whether monetary limit adherence is upregulated by informing gamblers who reach their limit how much money and credits they have lost gambling. In Study 1, players (n = 124) were given a monetary limit and gambled on an Electronic Gaming Machine. Some players were informed (via pop-up message) when their limit had been reached, while other players were also informed about credits and money lost. Limit adherence did not vary by condition. Informatively, half of the participants could not recall the content of the message. Study 2 (n = 109) replicated these findings. Not only did half of the players fail to recall the content of the limit reminder message, recall was not improved by including a delay that did not permit the player to immediately discard the message. The results suggest pop-up messages may not be an effective tool for conveying nuanced information to players.


title: More Fats, More Femmes, and No Whites: A Critical Examination of Fatphobia, Femmephobia and Racism on Grindr

abstract: This is a research project about the pervasive intersections of fatphobia, femmephobia and racism that exists within queer communities. Specifically, I examine the now-popularized expression: “No fats, no femmes, no Asians or Blacks”. I argue that this phrase is perpetuating homonormative ideologies that are furthering a marginalization of fat, femme and/or racialized queer identities and bodies within queer communities. This project aims to deconstruct what I call the “corporate queer man”—that is, the white, masculine and muscular queer man who is often represented as being the “right” kind of queer. This research project employs a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of Grindr, the first and largest online queer social networking application targeted specifically towards queer men. The research surrounding the politics of personal advertisements on online queer social networking applications is limited and therefore, this project contributes to the paucity of literature that is aiming to fill this gap.


title: Three Essays on How Migrant Remittances Respond to Natural Disasters in their Home Countries

abstract:
The home countries of many migrants frequently suffer from both low income and an exposure to natural disasters. Disasters are particularly devastating for lower income families, and can adversely affect their incomes and well-being. The New Economics of Labour Migration theory suggests that migration and the resulting remittances can be a critical risk-mitigation strategy adopted by households in the face of natural disasters. This thesis explores the extent to which remittances are sensitive to natural disasters in the migrant’s home country. Three separate chapters use different datasets to examine this main research question. The key finding of all three chapters is unequivocal: remittance inflows are consistently and positively related to the presence of natural disasters in the home country.
Chapter 2 uses large-scale data on recent Canadian immigrants and finds compelling evidence that they remit significantly more in the aftermath of natural disasters affecting their home countries. In addition to examining other personal and family characteristics associated with remitting behaviour, the study found that the administrative category under which they entered Canada also influenced their remitting patterns.
Chapter 3 examines a unique dataset based on primary data collected through 118 in-depth interviews from two migration-prone villages in Bangladesh. It explores how migrants and their families use migration and remittances as a coping mechanism in the face of frequent flooding. The role of gender appears as particularly important. While men tend to send more money home, they also tend to earn more as migrants. By contrast women remit a larger share of their income generally, and send almost all their residual income in the event of a natural disaster.
Finally, using aggregate monthly remittances, Chapter 4 examines the responsiveness of remittances into Pakistan in the aftermath of natural disasters. The response is significant, with total remittances increasing on average more than US$9,666 per fatality. Few other factors were also analyzed to investigate their influence on remittances. While religious festivities are associated with higher remittances, remittance inflows appear largely non-responsive to terrorist events in the country, with weak evidence that remittances are actually deterred in the aftermath of these events.


title: Control of selective mRNA translation over the torpor-arousal cycle of thirteen-lined ground squirrels

abstract: Mammalian hibernation is an interesting adaptation that allows many capable animals like the thirteen-lined ground squirrel to endure the winter months on a low or absent food supply. Metabolic suppression during hibernation is facilitated by diverse biochemical mechanisms including the global shut-down of energy expensive processes like transcription and translation, the use of post-translational modifications to regulate protein activity, and differential gene/protein expression of essential protein products. Differential protein expression can occur during hibernation, but it remains incompletely understood how transcripts are “chosen” to be translated instead of stored or degraded. This thesis explores two mechanisms that may regulate differential gene and protein expression during hibernation, including RNA-binding protein (RBP) stabilization and transport of transcripts, and translation machinery activation. Notably, RBPs and cap-dependent translation factors were upregulated over the torpor-arousal cycle. These results suggest a vital role for proteins that regulate mRNA stability and enhance translation during metabolic suppression.


title: Instrumentation and application of unmanned ground vehicles for magnetic surveying

abstract: With the recent proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for geophysical surveying a novel opportunity exists to develop unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) in parallel. This research presents a pilot study to integrate two UGVs, the Kapvik planetary micro-rover and a Husky A200 robotic development platform, with a GSMP 35U magnetometer that has recently been developed for the UAV market. Magnetic noise levels generated by the UGVs in laboratory and field conditions are estimated using the fourth difference method and, at a magnetometer-UGV separation distance of 121 cm, the Kapvik micro-rover was found to generate a noise envelope ± 0.04 nT whereas the noisier Husky UGV generated an envelope of ± 3.94 nT. The UGVs were assessed over a series of successful robotic mapping missions which demonstrated their capability for magnetic mapping, and their productivity and versatility in field conditions.


title: Syntheses and Characterizations of Cysteine-Derived Compounds and Polymers

abstract:
Driven by the increasing concerns on sustainability, environmental pollution and the advances in processing technology, research on new chemicals is gradually shifting from petroleum feedstock towards viable and renewable alternatives. L-cysteine is naturally abundant and has a great potential of becoming a valuable building block. In this thesis work, we intend to utilize the thiol group of L-cysteine in the thiol-ene click reaction or the reaction with aldehydes for functionalization. In addition, dimerization through the amino-acid group of L-cysteine leads to the formation of diketopiperazines (DKP). The structurally rigid DKPs are a class of naturally occurring cyclic amino acids and are explored as a new cyclic building block for various functional compounds and polymers is this thesis research.
The thesis outlines several synthetic routes to multifunctional compounds and polymers derived from L-cysteine. First, a series of cysteine-based DKP and DKP-containing polymers were synthesized from S-alkylated compounds under mild conditions and in high yields. The chiroptical activity of the obtained diastereomers was detected and present great potential as a high-selective, sensitive sensor for sensing silver ion in aqua system. Next, a series of DKP-containing difunctional monomers were synthesized from 4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid derivatives. Based on the type of imported functional group, DKP-containing polymers including polyesters and polycarbonates were produced with high molecular weights. Last, linear and star-shaped macromolecules containing L-cysteine at the chain ends were prepared. Their surface tension, pH-sensitivity and self-assembling behaviors were studied. In addition, cyclodextrins and polysaccharides were functionalized with L-cysteine and their potential uses for detection and separation of chiral acids were investigated.


title: Early Predictors of Work Life Quality: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Transition from School to Work

abstract: The goal of the current study was to explore the early antecedents of three facets of work life quality: job satisfaction, income satisfaction, and leadership emergence. Using Statistics Canada’s Youth in Transition Survey (YITS), the role of early leadership experiences, nurturing parenting, and parental work experiences on quality of work life was examined in two samples of Canadian youth followed between the ages of 15-25: (1) youth whose highest level of education was high-school or below, and (2) youth who pursued education at the post-secondary level. Overall, results supported the notion that early experiences and educational pathways play a role in shaping work life quality across the lifespan. While exposure to leadership in adolescence was associated with a young adult’s later emergence into leadership roles, nurturing parenting and social support held distinct implications for a young person’s entry to the world of work. Results have implications for research and practice.


title: Should the Squeaky Wheel Get the Grease? The Organizational Impact of Rewarding Entitled or Proactive Employees

abstract: Two studies were conducted to understand the role of rewards in workplace entitlement and employee proactivity. In Study 1, contrary to expectations, rewards did not affect counterproductive work behaviour or organizational citizenship behaviour, although it is likely that the manipulation was not strong enough. However, in general, entitled people were more likely to report negative and positive organizational behaviours. In Study 2, managers were more likely to reward proactive employees with a desirable project but some also rewarded entitled employees as a way to reduce conflict. Further research is needed to understand how to administer rewards without encouraging entitled behaviour.


title: Children's Use of Trait Information in Their Intention Ascription and Moral Judgments of Others

abstract: Research into young children’s moral reasoning typically employs stories that utilize characters with no background information. The current study addressed this limitation by examining 4- and 5-year-old children’s use of trait information in their ascriptions of intention and moral judgments of characters who have identical, neutral intentions who produce either a positive or negative outcome. Children in the Trait-Present conditions heard stories in which a character was described with a trait (either nice or mean) along with three behavioural examples that are consistent with the trait. In order to determine the effect of providing trait information, children in the Trait-Absent condition were presented with the same stories, but without trait information. Results showed that children incorporated trait information into their judgments of others. Specifically, children judged ‘nice’ characters more leniently than the ‘mean’ characters. Performance on the main task was also examined in relation to Theory of Mind understanding.


title: Electrochemical Study of Corrosion Behavior of Stellite 6 Alloy and 17-4PH Stainless Steel in Amine Solutions

abstract: To provide the power generation industry with scientific evidence, the corrosion behavior of Stellite 6 alloy and 17-4PH stainless steel is studied in morpholine, cyclohexylamine and sodium hydroxide solutions at the same pH around 9.5 using electrochemical test methods such as potentiodynamic polarization, cyclic polarization, and EIS in this research. The microstructures of the tested materials and corroded surfaces are analyzed using SEM/EDX. Stellite 6 alloy and 17-4PH stainless steel are resistant to corrosion in amine solutions by forming oxide films on their surfaces. The oxide film of 17-4PH stainless steel is more resistant to electron transferring than that of Stellite 6 alloy, thus has better resistance to corrosion. However, the oxide film of 17 4PH stainless steel has less durability and it works well only within a certain potential range. Otherwise, Stellite 6 alloy has better overall corrosion and pitting corrosion resistance than 17-4PH stainless steel in amine environments.


title: Sex Differences in Cortical Astroglia Throughout Postnatal Development

abstract: Sexual differentiation is a well characterized phenomena of the mammalian central nervous system. There are many structural and functional sex differences characterized throughout the brain and have been well studied. Unfortunately, less well understood is the sexually dimorphic prevalence of psychiatric, neurological, and mood and anxiety disorders in the human population. Many of which have developmental etiologies coinciding with organization of the neocortex. The developmental trajectory of the neocortex has a distinct and well understood temporal and mechanistic patterns. Astroglial cells are fundamental in neocortical development by facilitating radial neuron migration, synaptic maturation and pruning in addition to their neurogenic potential. Sexual dimorphism of astroglial and cells in the neocortex has not been studied. This study examines the phenotypic changes of cortical astroglial cells in postnatal development of both sexes. Although our study yields mixed results, the neurogenic potential of cortical astroglia is sexually dimorphic in the perinatal period.


title: Comics and Literature: A Love Story

abstract: This dissertation investigates the conjunction of comics, literature, prestige, and narratives of development and deviance. Drawing on case studies from the forty-year history of alternative comics, I argue that comics creators and publishers referenced literary figures and characters as a means of developing their ideas of artistic autonomy and development. This tangle of ideas stems from the suspicion and censorship of comics in the 1950s, when the young medium was accused of promoting deviance and maladjustment. Early figures in alternative comics such as Harvey Pekar, Dave Sim, and the critics of The Comics Journal fought this idea by drawing on the prestige of literature to present a vision of comics that adhered to conventional ideas of autonomous elite culture. In doing so, these writers sought to create a new form of comic that could help the medium and its readers out of the maladjustment it found itself in. Later, the writers of "groundlevel" comics referenced canonical literary authors in ways that both reaffirmed and, in the case of Alan Moore, questioned their canonical light. It is here that we begin to see total rejection of the developmental narrative, and a celebration of comics' low cultural status. Finally, I argue that the work of Ariel Schrag and Alison Bechdel takes a step forward in developing a queer idea of reading and writing that disrupt the narrative upheld by earlier authors. By shifting the focus of the developmental narrative to their personal queer journeys, Schrag and Bechdel call into question the heteronormative premises of the discourse around the status of comics. By focusing on how these comics present the literary, this dissertation aims to demonstrate how such representations are always entangled in questions of status and normativity, and how the world of alternative comics' attitude towards these questions changed during their period of cultural ascendance.


title: The Yao Dai: Connecting Hangzhou's Past, Pesent and Future with a Tramline Promenade

abstract: 1200 years ago, the Song dynasty poet Shu Dong Po composed a beautiful poetry expressing his love for Hangzhou’s West Lake. Since then, the themes of water, the West Lake, and the strong Chinese identity it embodies, have deeply influenced the development of the culture, politics and urban communities of Hangzhou. The city’s identity is inextricably bound to water and the West Lake. A thousand years later, however -- and given the violent historical events of the past century -- what kind of value and identity should be given to Hangzhou in today’s contemporary globalized world? Among all these environmental and social challenges, what is needed in Hangzhou in the 21st century? This thesis will introduce a platform that connects Hangzhou to a confident future.


title: An Investigation of Spoken Lexical Bundles in Interactive Academic Contexts

abstract: This study investigates the presence of spoken four-word lexical bundles in university seminars, study groups and discussion groups in the humanities and social sciences. Transcripts of these speech events were gathered from the Michigan Corpus of Academic Spoken English (MICASE) and analyzed using corpus software. A list of lexical bundles was created, based on frequency and range criteria, and assigned functions according to Biber, Conrad and Cortes’ (2004) taxonomy of lexical bundle functions. The most frequent of these bundles were further analyzed to determine their structural characteristics, with the goal of a creating a list of useful bundles for potential use in English for Academic Purposes teaching.


title: The Effect of Attachment on the Association Between Familial Dysfunction and Recidivism and Aggression in a Sample of Adolescent Offenders: Testing a Moderated-Mediation Effect

abstract: The main purpose of this study was to determine if familial dysfunction exerts gendered and indirect effects on general recidivism or aggression (relationally-driven aggression and indirect aggression) through attachment style. This question was tested using a cross- sectional and longitudinal design with a sample of justice-involved youth (211 males, 101 females). Overall, results indicated that attachment did not mediate the effect of familial dysfunction on general recidivism or relationally-driven aggression and that gender did not moderate this relationship. Interestingly, there was evidence to support the indirect effect of familial dysfunction on indirect aggression through preoccupied attachment but only for males. If future research replicates these results, preoccupied attachment should be implemented as a male-specific treatment target for practitioners and as a screening tool for risk assessment developers.


title: Development of the Institutional Structure of the Economy of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada: Inuit Strategic Participation in Commercial Opportunities.

abstract: This dissertation aims to provide insight into the development of the institutional structure of the economy of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut from its inception (1953) to post-1999 period. Prior to the entry of Europeans to the Kivalliq Region, Inuit economic activity was non-commercial. Based on resource harvesting, it was governed by societal institutions, principally the extended family. As non-indigenous people entered the region in the early 1700s, opportunities arose for Inuit to participate in commercial activity. Inuit adjusted their participation in these opportunities for the next 200 years, in a way that largely maintained the primacy of non-commercial productive capacities and institutions. Rankin Inlet was founded in 1953 when several Inuit families settled to participate in wage employment at a nickel mine. Since its closing in 1962, Rankin Inlet’s Inuit residents have participated in a combination of traditional harvesting, cash-based and other informal economic activities, a dynamic referred to as a “mixed economy” which exists in most Nunavut communities. While the nickel mine was in operation, the company which operated it yielded significant power in influencing Inuit economic choices. Following its closure, much of this power shifted to state organs. Rankin Inlet’s present-day “mixed economy” represents the latest phase of a centuries-long process of considered involvement in changing economic opportunities. It is founded on (at least) two major, co-existing institutions - family structures and the state. From the 1960s to the 1990s, the nascent economic dynamic - found in Rankin Inlet and across the Eastern Arctic - was exposed to private sector interests aiming to extract the Arctic’s non-renewable resources. In response, Inuit across the Eastern Arctic sought political powers similar to those of Canada’s provinces. Inuit efforts in this regard led to tangible results, including the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) in 1993 and the creation of the Territory of Nunavut in 1999. Inuit have obtained a measure of sovereign control over how commercial, state, and traditional economic activity occurs its territory, including the power to shape and/or reject projects which could affect this balance.


title: Regenerating the Heart of Rural Ontario:  New Life for Old Mills

abstract:
Old mills are at the heart of most towns in Ontario, and mark the start of the industrial boom which provided good middle class jobs for nearly everyone for over a century. However, from 2002-2012, Ontario lost over 300,000 manufacturing jobs, equivalent to 30% of the industry.* Typical of many rural industrial communities, Smiths Falls is left with the challenges of a shrinking population and underused industrial buildings.
This thesis explores innovative ways to adaptively reuse the Wood’s Mill Complex in Smiths Falls in a way that positively impacts the region by reconnecting the community with their industrial heritage. The project investigates the role of social equity, cultural vitality, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability in the rehabilitation process and how this contributes to community resilience.
This study of the Wood’s Mill Complex could serve as a case study for the rehabilitation of other industrial sites in rural Canada. *Rubin, 2013.


title: "As It Flows Down from the North":  Confluences of Water Stewardship Emerging from the Ottawa River Watershed

abstract: Flowing through the political centre of Canada, the Ottawa River is an invaluable source of potable water, industrial sustenance, recreational mediation and aesthetic prestige. Inseparable from un-ceded Algonquin lands, the river divides two provinces and is governed by multiple political bureaucracies which take different approaches to water stewardship. The river may be healthier than it once was, but emerging Anthropocene threats like microplastics, low water levels during record breaking summer heat and neocolonial developments are enhancing regional water insecurity. Based on fieldwork conducted during the summer of 2016, this research describes how localized confluences of people, institutions, technology and non-human species are responding to assembling ecological pressures by configuring new approaches to Ottawa River watershed stewardship. I explore how such confluences constitute the citizen-science labour of the Ottawa Riverkeeper Riverwatcher monitoring program, the political activism of First Nations and allied resistance to the Energy East oil pipeline.


title: The Rotting Heart of Gatineau Park: How and Why the Kingsmere-Meech Lake Privatopia Prevented a National Park Near Canada’s Capital

abstract:
First proposed in 1913, Gatineau Park could have been the first national park east of the Rocky Mountains, the first in Quebec, and the first near-urban national park in Canada. Ultimately, the Quebec government proved unwilling to cede territory to the federal government, and the park proposal was shelved. In 1938, the Mackenzie King government responded to a public campaign organized by local cottagers and the Ottawa Ski Club by establishing the “Gatineau Park.” Newspapers announced the creation of a national park, and the first expropriations were carried out under this pretense.
This study shows that federal authorities not only proceeded to establish a park without the consent of the Quebec government, they also failed to consolidate territorial control. My analysis addresses the question of how and why this national park failed, and documents the influence of the Meech Lake Association and Kingsmere Property Owners’ Association on the park’s creation, development, and management. I argue that the park’s status as a “mixed-use/ownership area” represents a provisional achievement of these property owners’ associations. Further, I argue that the park is a key component of the Kingsmere-Meech Lake privatopia, with the MLA and KPOA exercising territoriality over adjacent park areas.
This study also explores the implications of the lack of legal status for the park’s management by the National Capital Commission (NCC). It documents several examples where this fragmented territory seriously hindered NCC park management. It reveals that NCC officials encountered considerable resistance from property owner associations when opening Meech Lake to public use (and Kingsmere Lake remains off-limits). The NCC has also had to expropriate, at great expense, several residential subdivisions and commercial developments.
I offer four recommendations to bring the park’s administration closer in line with Canada’s national parks: 1) legislated boundaries; 2) consultations with, and consent of the Algonquin; 3) consultations between provincial and federal governments; and, 4) consolidated control of the park’s territory. The NCC should exercise zoning powers, impose a moratorium on new development, and have right of first refusal over all property sales within park boundaries.


title: Large-Scale Network Dynamics of Visual Working Memory

abstract:
A core set of fronto-parietal brain regions is implicated in a wealth of cognitive functions. Researchers have suggested that working memory, a fundamental element in many higher-order processes, is the underlying mechanism supported by this network. However, the idea that the same fronto-parietal network underlies the qualitatively different tasks employed throughout visual working memory research is contentious. Instead, systems neuroscience has adopted the view that cognition arises out of the dynamic interaction of several large-scale networks. A hierarchical split divides these networks into an extrinsic system, which governs attention to the external environment, and an intrinsic system, which guides internally-directed processes. Given visual working memory involves a two-way connection between perceptual input and internal representations, the current dissertation uses converging methodologies to explore whether tasks that vary in their exogenous and endogenous attentional demands are likely supported by different network dynamics.
A quantitative meta-analysis used stress as a paradigm to investigate the differential effects of exogenous and endogenous distraction on visual working memory task performance. This analysis was followed by a controlled stress study that examined whether endogenous distraction, instigated by a psychosocial stressor, differentially influenced visual maintenance versus mental rotation. Finally, an electroencephalographic study was conducted where participants were required to store visual information despite an ongoing external distractor. Taken together, the data presented from these three studies suggest key differences between maintenance and manipulation that may reflect the variable interplay between extrinsic and intrinsic networks. These data support the idea that the maintenance of visual information depends on right-lateralized regions of the dorsal attention network, while mental rotation recruits additional regions of the default mode and central executive networks. This work emphasizes the importance of implementing synergistic protocols while investigating cognitive function, and supports the view that the human brain consists of multiple interacting networks. It also corroborates the idea that the functional connectivity patterns accompanying cognitive state changes can impose processing constraints, and that understanding these constraints can allow us to predict behavioural impairments likely to arise in various circumstances. Similar investigations of large-scale network dynamics can provide a framework for understanding fundamental aspects of cognitive function.


title: The Epigenetics of a Cereal Killer: The Role of DNA Methylation in Pathogenicity and Development of Fusarium graminearum

abstract: Epigenetics is an emerging field in the regulation of biological processes in fungi. This study examines the role of one such epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation, in development and pathogenicity of the fungal phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum. Two DNA methyltransferase genes were identified, and disruption of these genes resulted in growth, reproduction and pathogenicity related phenotypes. Deletion mutants displayed changes in growth, and were impaired in their ability to produce ascospores and infect susceptible wheat. Secondary metabolism was also affected, including deoxynivalenol toxin production, pigmentation, and the expression of novel unknown metabolites. Bisulfite sequencing resulted in the first DNA methylome of any Fusarium species, and analysis indicated DNA methylation is present on 0.1% of genomic cytosines, consistent with related fungi. Methylation sites were identified in genes related to cellular processes including development and pathogenicity. Altogether, our analysis shed light on the important epigenetic process of DNA methylation in a fungal plant pathogen.


title: “Can you hear me?” Investigating the acoustic communication signals and receptor organs of bark beetles

abstract: Many bark beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) species have been documented to produce acoustic signals, yet our knowledge of their acoustic ecology is limited. In this thesis, three aspects of bark beetle acoustic communication were examined: the distribution of sound production in the subfamily based on the most recent literature; the characteristics of signals and the possibility of context dependent signalling using a model species: Ips pini; and the acoustic reception of bark beetles through neurophysiological studies on Dendroctonus valens. It was found that currently there are 107 species known to stridulate using a wide diversity of mechanisms for stridulation. Ips pini was shown to exhibit variation in certain chirp characteristics, including the duration and amplitude modulation, between behavioural contexts. Neurophysiological recordings were conducted on several body regions, and vibratory responses were reported in the metathoracic leg and the antennae.


title: The effect of dietary folic acid intake on somatic and germ cell mutations in the transgenic MutaMouse model

abstract: Folate is an essential water soluble B-vitamin required for DNA synthesis and methylation. Folate deficiency has been associated with some cancers, male subfertility, and causes megaloblastic anemia and neural tube defects. Using a transgenic mouse model (MutaMouse), we investigated the effects of folic acid (FA) deficient, control and supplemented diets on somatic and germline DNA mutation frequency and genome instability in male mice. Inadequate FA intake induced micronuclei formation in RBCs and DNA mutations in bone marrow. In contrast to previous studies, deficient FA intake had no effect on sperm counts or mutations in sperm DNA. Supplemental FA intake had no effect on somatic or germ cell mutations or the induction of mutations by ENU. This study highlights the importance of having an adequate FA intake to ensure DNA integrity and prevent chromosomal damage and also alleviates hypothetical concerns related to high intakes of FA in the Canadian population.


title: Genome Assembly of Camelina microcarpa Andrz. Ex DC, A step towards understanding genome evolution in Camelina

abstract: Understanding how genomes evolve can help us disentangle the evolutionary history of species, which has practical applications in agriculture. The Camelina genus contains nine species including the emerging oilseed crop, Camelina sativa, and its wild relative, Camelina microcarpa. Hexaploid C. microcarpa is sexually compatible with C. sativa, and diploid C. microcarpa is a potential descendant of one of C. sativa’s progenitors. Thus, these species are likely to have a history of hybridization and polyploidy that is unexplored. We have sequenced and assembled diploid C. microcarpa into 1036 scaffolds covering 73% of the 264Mb estimated genome size, and evaluated its evolutionary relationship with the chromosomes of C. sativa by constructing phylogenies for each conserved ancestral crucifer karyotype (ACK) block. Based on these phylogenies, that C. microcarpa is most closely related to subgenome 2 of C. sativa. Sequencing C. microcarpa is the key step to understand genome evolution in the Camelina genus.


title: Marks You Cannot Erase: Exploring the Impacts of False Positive Ion Scanner Hits on Families of Canadian Prisoners

abstract: This study explores the experiences of individuals who visit their loved ones in Canadian federal prisons, with a focus on the impacts of the ion scanner, a drug-detection technology used to scan visitors to prisons for drugs. This machine produces frequent false positives, negatively impacting the lives of prisoners and their families in various ways. I conducted eight open-focused interviews with individuals who have experienced false positive indications on the ion scanner upon visiting their incarcerated loved ones. I argue that the ion scanner is a risk technology used to further stigmatize and punish the families of prisoners. While the scanner is presented as objective, the way it is used is shaped by hidden moral judgments about the individuals visiting their loved ones. This research contributes to the literature on the collateral consequences of incarceration, and adds to literature on the impacts of risk and surveillance technologies in carceral settings.


title: The Indirect Effect of Employee Entitlement: A Career Stage Perspective

abstract: The moderating role of career stage on employee entitlement and the mediating role of organizational justice on the relationship between employee entitlement and outcomes of work engagement and counterproductive work behaviours were examined with a sample of 624 Canadian government and North America employees. Contrary to expectations, career stage did not significantly impact levels of employee entitlement. Likewise, full scale organizational justice was not found to be a significant mediator; however, some of the subscales were. Distributive, procedural, and interpersonal justice demonstrated a significant mediation of the effect of employee entitlement on work engagement; procedural and interpersonal justice demonstrated a significant mediation of the effect of employee entitlement on counterproductive work behaviour. Findings suggest the importance of facets of organizational justice in mediating the effect of employee entitlement and career stage plays no significant role in the development of employee entitlement.


title: Isolation and Characterization of Biologically Active Secondary Metabolites Produced by Foliar Endophytes of Red and Black Spruce from the Acadian Forest

abstract: The spruce budworm is the most economically important destructive insect pest affecting North American forests. Some endophytes isolated from the Acadian forest produce secondary metabolites, toxic to the spruce budworm in planta. The aim of this study was to investigate the biologically active extracts of endophytes of red (Picea rubens) and black spruce (P. mariana). This was hypothesized to result in the isolation of antifungal and antiinsectan metabolites with structural similarities to related pathogenic toxins. From this investigation, 13 secondary metabolites were isolated. Three macrocyclic lactones (1-3) were characterized from Nectria dacryocarpa. Six aromatic metabolites (4-9) were isolated from two unique species of Penicillium cf. glaucoalbidum belonging to the Thysanophora sect. Four lachnellulone related compounds (10-13) were isolated from Lachnellula cf. calyciformis including new compounds (12, 13). Most purified secondary metabolites inhibited the growth of test microorganisms in vitro, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Microbotryum violaceum.


title: Reinforcing the Legitimacy of the State following a Conflict: Assessing the Institution-building - Legitimacy Paradox

abstract:
The end of conflict is believed to represent a critical juncture when new and better processes and systems can be introduced. The building of post-conflict state institutions is considered as the main means through which the state can gain legitimacy. The academic and soft literature brims with suggestions on how a state could earn its legitimacy and build a more prosperous and advanced society. These suggestions often follow the following logic: Improving state institutions leads to improved governance, which in turn leads to improved process legitimacy and thus development.
However, as my research results demonstrate, the state institution-building process introduces complications to this presumed causal pathway. Not only does performance legitimacy, the legitimacy earned through the delivery of basic goods and services, have an impact on the kind of state-society relationship that develops, but also on the outcomes of state institution-building processes. It does so through its significant impact on the relationship between the leaders and the state and on the leaders’ intentions and motivations vis-à-vis the state’s institutions. Unfortunately, the current theories and their frameworks seem to ignore the impact of performance legitimacy on state institution-building and public policy processes. I argue that it is only by understanding the local context and the manner in which performance legitimacy influences the actions of leaders that one can better understand whether state legitimacy-enhancing measures have led to increased or decreased levels of state legitimacy. Moreover, it is only by better understanding the role of performance legitimacy that a system can be built that limits the ability of leaders to abuse state resources and usurp the state’s legitimacy.
Overall, this dissertation offers an innovative and alternative approach that assess the institutional, social, and historical factors that have a significant influence on the building of the legitimacy of post-conflict states. It builds a framework that accounts for performance legitimacy and the distinction between the legitimacy of leaders and that of the state. It is hoped that with the new framework and the questions that it raises, post-conflict development processes can be improved to become more effective in establishing successful systems and development trajectories.


title: Investigating Saporin-Conjugated Quantum Dots as a Microglia Depletion Strategy in the Substantia Nigra

abstract: To study the relationship between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease, we employed a relatively new biological assay using saporin-conjugated quantum dots. Conjugation of saporin, a type I ribosomal inhibitor protein, to quantum dots, which are fluorescent nanocrystals, generates a microglia-specific toxin (QD-SAP) which has been shown to selectively ablate microglia in vitro. Administration of QD-SAP in our studies shows the same microglial depletion observed in vitro, but in our in vivo studies, also shows neuronal loss. This effect in not localized to the SNc; administration of QD-SAP in the hippocampus (HPC) shows the same result. Interestingly, administration of QD-SAP in the HPC caused dopamine cell loss in the SNc. The reverse effect was not found. We suggest that it is an initial increase in inflammation, followed by a subsequent loss of homeostatic regulation upon microglial depletion, that causes neurons to die.


title: A High Resolution of MCML-Based Time-to-Digital Converter Implementation

abstract: A new high-resolution time-to-digital converter (TDC) architecture based on MOS Current-Mode-Logic (MCML) was described. Aiming at high resolution and large dynamic range, the prototype was designed using Virtuoso Cadence Analog Design Environment (ADE) and implemented with 0.13 µm CMOS technology. A minimum time domain resolution of 8.24 pS and a dynamic range of 9 bits were achieved. The capability of operating with variable resolutions was described. With the novel multi-step switchable conﬁguration, the TDC is able to operate with four speciﬁc resolutions which are 8.24 pS, 10.83 pS, 12.98 pS and 14.3 pS. Each operation mode corresponds to a diﬀerent power consumption, which makes the new TDC architecture suitable for being embedded in various systems. For instance, a LIDAR is one of the feasible applications. The design and implementation were veriﬁed through simulation results.


title: Volunteered Geographic Information:  A Review of the OpenStreetMap.org Project and Factors Relating to its Reliability

abstract: In the field of Volunteered Geographic Information usage, understanding the historical background from which it came can be just as important as the information and data it currently provides. This study reviews the development of the OpenStreetMap.org dataset and its potential temporal utility following natural disasters. First, a review of the related studies into the use of this type of geographic information and description of the types and motivations of contributors is conducted. Second, contribution activity surrounding 4 major earthquake events and the community’s response is reviewed. A process workflow is derived for analyzing the spatial variance of OpenStreetMap.org data to that of a trusted dataset with the further goal of supporting the data’s use in operations. A scenario is then used to test the workflow with the final output of cartographic products geared towards indicating the temporal use of OpenStreetMap.org data in prioritizing data collection during ongoing operations.


title: WiFi and LAA Coexistence: Improvements for WiFi's Performance

abstract: As the demand for mobile data traffic increased significantly in the past few years, the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are considering different solutions to increase the network capacity. Since the licensed spectrum is scarce and expensive, deploying LTE in the unlicensed band can be a promising method to accommodate the market need for mobile data. However, LTE has to coexist with other heterogeneous network, especially WiFi, preexisting in the unlicensed medium. This coexistence can introduce a significant performance degradation for currently deployed WiFi networks. In this study, emphasis is given in analyzing the performance of WiFi and LTE coexistence scenario both analytically and through simulation. To this end, a number of solutions are proposed to increase the performance of WiFi.


title: "Middle-Earth Soundscapes: An Exploration of the Sonic Adaptation of Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings' Through the Lens of Dialogue, Music, Sound, and Silence"

abstract: This thesis examines the complete soundtrack within Peter Jackson’s film trilogy The Lord of the Rings and discusses the sonic adaptation between the films and the original source material, J.R.R. Tolkien’s written trilogy by the same name. Adapted films are a popular avenue for filmmakers, and consequently theoretical film scholarship has been undertaken to study the components unique to cinematic adaptations. However, one component of adaptations has been neglected within film studies: the sonic adaptation. This thesis will focus specifically on the sonic adaptation in the popular fantasy film franchise The Lord of the Rings by discussing the dialogue, music, sound effects and silence. Through an examination of these components, the importance of each towards creating authenticity will become clear. This thesis will argue that the study of the sonic adaptation is a necessary future direction for film studies, and particularly studies that examine dialogue and sound.


title: Effect of Electrode Reversal on Induced Nonlinearity in Specialized Silicon Structures

abstract: This research analyzes the properties of the nonlinearity profile that emerge in specialized silicon glass due to alterations in the poling conditions. The alterations are introduced in two steps. First, a set of two identical samples are poled with a positive voltage, but one of the samples is oriented in the opposite orientation inside the poling setup. One can alternatively think of this as a reversal of the electrodes. Next, another identical set of samples is poled in the same manner, but with a negative poling voltage. Thus, four glass samples are produced that possess unique nonlinearity profiles. The samples are analyzed for the second harmonic generated power, input pump power dependence, room temperature aging, effect of a different dopant type and most importantly, widths and locations of the nonlinear regions. A MATLAB simulation model is used to propose a hypothesis regarding the nonlinearity profiles of these glass structures.


title: The impacts of temperature and thermal properties on municipal solid waste stabilization

abstract: Instrument bundles placed within the Ste. Sophie landfill have been collecting temperature, settlement, and oxygen data since 2009. The temperature and settlement of the landfill were modelled. The COMSOL optimization module was utilized to determine the thermal conductivity and specific heat of the waste as a function of time and depth. An anaerobic heat generation coefficient was employed to decrease the overall heat generated in the domain and a new latent heat value was assumed. The concept of total expended energy was used to replace the time-dependent biodegradation-induced settlement term with a temperature-dependent biodegradation-induced settlement term. The new term better accounts for the delayed biodegradation process observed in cold climate wastes. A simulation was run to study the effects of placement conditions on waste settlement and stabilization. It was found that by strategically placing waste throughout the year, more waste can be placed during the filling stages of the landfill.


title: Effects of Short-Term Environmental Enrichment on Cognition and Neurogenic Potential: Juvenile Versus Adult Mice

abstract: Adult neurogenesis is limited to specific niches in the brain: the dentate gyrus (DG) and the subventricular zone (SVZ). The proliferation potential of these neural stem cells is plastic and responds to environmental manipulations. It has previously been shown that short-term environmental enrichment is sufficient to increase the proliferation of the GFAP+ stem cells in the DG of juvenile mice in vivo (Salmaso, 2012). Using male C57 wild-type mice, we examined the potential of SVZ and DG NSCs in vitro following short-term enrichment using neurosphere assays in both juvenile and adult mice. We also examined the effect of enrichment on cognitive abilities such as learning and memory as well as anxiety behaviour. As expected, we saw a trend that indicated that enrichment increased NSC proliferation in the SVZ in juvenile but not adult mice. We also observed an effect of enrichment on the cognitive abilities of both age groups.


title: Examining Lineup Identification as a Function of Foil Similarity and Lineup Procedure

abstract: The current study examined the effect of lineup procedure and foil similarity on identification accuracy. This study presented adults (N = 287) with either a modified lineup procedure, referred to as the elimination-plus procedure, or the simultaneous procedure. The level of similarity between the foil photographs and the target photo was manipulated (i.e., high similarity or low similarity) in addition to whether the target was present or absent in the lineup. Results from the current study indicate higher rates of correct identification for the simultaneous rather than the elimination-plus procedure and comparable rates of correct rejection across the two lineups. Additionally, similar to previous research, identification accuracy was highest in low similarity conditions compared to high similarity conditions. No interactions were found. The elimination-plus procedure is beneficial as it provides an additional confidence rating, taken after judgment 1. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.


title: The Language Dimension of Psychopathy: From Signal Analysis to Social Perception

abstract: Psychopaths have long been associated with a unique ability to manipulate others (Hare, 1999). To shed more light on language production in psychopathy two studies of language production were performed comparing content and fluency under different motivational and difficulty conditions. It was observed that individuals high in psychopathy (HP) were less fluent but maintained a more complex lexicon, than their low psychopathy counterparts, when under high cognitive load and low motivation. Yet when the HP individuals were under low cognitive load and high motivation, they were more fluent, but produced less complex lexicon. Furthermore, it was found that the HP group produced more emotional language in both conditions. The results suggest that HP individuals’ linguistic abilities are inherently related to motivation. Results are discussed in terms of Theory of Mind and emotion perception processes.


title: Exploring the Relationship Between Childhood Adversity, Self-Worth, and Criminal Identification in a Mixed Gender Sample of Adolescent Offenders

abstract: Research regarding the impact that childhood adversity and criminal identification has on self-worth, and how that relationship may ultimately lead to criminal activity differently in female youth versus male youth is scarce (Bonta & Andrews, 2017; Van Voorhis, 2012). This study examined if childhood adversity influences self-worth, which in turn leads to recidivism and higher levels of self-reported aggression and whether self-worth strengthens or weakens the relationship between criminal identification and recidivism. Archival data involving 312 justice involved youths found that self-worth did not mediate the relationship between childhood adversity and externalizing behaviour. However, an interesting three-way interaction emerged between gender, self-worth and criminal attitudes. Specifically, while self-worth buffered the relationship between criminal attitudes and recidivism among females, self-worth magnified the relationship between criminal attitudes and recidivism among males.


title: Little Green Men: The Growth of Sustainable Warfare in the United States of America

abstract: Since the first days of President Barack Obama’s administration, the U.S military has embarked on an ambitious plan to change the way its fighting forces—Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force—fight and fuel wars. Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense has taken great strides to incorporate renewable energy technology into its infrastructure and operations. It has also made significant gains in improving the efficiency with which fossil fuels are still used. As the most technologically advanced military in the world, the armed forces of the United States are well ahead of all other nations when it comes to adopting and advancing renewable energy in warfare.


title: Mimicking Desirable Intimate Partners: Adaptationism Applied to an Evolutionary Hypothesis of Psychopathy

abstract: Evolutionary and disorder perspectives of psychopathy are examined by testing for a proposed function. Reviewing literature on female mate preference, psychopathic deception and sexuality, and extreme phenotypic expression in males, a proposed function is formalised and tested—the sexual exploitation hypothesis—against two competing hypotheses. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 had male students assessed on psychopathy tell deceptive stories involving emotion and engage in a dating scenario while being video recorded. Study 2 had male and female students assess the deceptive videos on genuineness and trustworthiness. Female students also gave ratings of desirability after watching dating videos and provided voicemail messages to assess voice pitch. Supporting the proposed function, psychopathy showed differential effects on ratings of females compared to males as well as within females. Desirability was also related to psychopathy. The combined studies provide support for the proposed function of psychopathy underlying the sexual exploitation hypothesis.


title: Creativity, Community, and Memory Building:  Interned Jewish Refugees in Canada During and After World War II

abstract: In May of 1940, a wartime British government arrested those deemed “enemy aliens” and transferred them to safe areas of the country. Over 2000 of these “enemy aliens” were Jewish German and Austrian men. On June 29, 1940, the first group of Jewish refugees was sent to internment camps in Canada. This thesis explores three different examples of memory and community to illustrate the development of the internees’ search for meaning during and post-internment. Artwork created in the camps, a series of letters between ex-internees, and several issues of the Ex-Internees Newsletter are the focus of this study. Social network analysis tools are used to visualize the post-internment internee network. By looking at diverse aspects of the internment narrative, this thesis provides a unique lens into the conversation on memory and history.


title: Effects of Weight Teasing on Body Esteem in Youth with Overweight and Obesity: A Longitudinal Investigation of Protective Factors

abstract: The stigma associated with obesity puts youth at risk for weight-based teasing. However, not all youth who are weight-teased develop body dissatisfaction. This study examined whether secure attachment and social support are protective factors that may buffer the negative effects of weight teasing on body esteem. Participants were overweight and obese youth (N = 277 at T1, 54% female; M age = 13.43) who completed surveys annually for 4 years. Multilevel modeling showed that weight teasing negatively predicted body esteem. A peer teasing by attachment interaction was also found such that those with a secure attachment reported higher weight esteem than those with an insecure attachment. Contrary to our hypothesis, peer teasing was more strongly and negatively related to weight esteem for those securely attached compared to insecurely attached. Findings suggest that attachment style and weight teasing should be considered in body dissatisfaction treatment and prevention strategies in overweight/obese youth.


title: Perceived Excessiveness of Compensation Demands from Victimized Groups and its Consequences for Collective Guilt and Ingroup Forgiveness

abstract: This series of studies examined the consequences of perceived excessiveness in demands for compensation on ingroup forgiveness, via reductions in collective guilt. It was hypothesized that when Canadian Aboriginals were perceived as making demands that were excessive relative to the past harms they endured at the hands of Non-Aboriginal Canadians, it would result in reduced collective guilt on the part of the offender group (Non-Aboriginal Canadians), allowing them to grant greater ingroup forgiveness. It was expected that this relationship would occur as a function of political orientation; specifically, that increased excessiveness of the demands would undermine the collective guilt liberals typically experience. Two pilot studies and one main study were conducted to test this model. Results revealed a non-significant moderated mediation, but found evidence that excessive demands may promote collective guilt in conservatives who typically do not report feeling collective guilt. These findings have positive implications for promoting intergroup reconciliation.


title: Techniques for Enhancing the Computational Speed of Multiple Object Tracking

abstract: A massive amount of video data is recorded daily for forensic post analysis and computer vision applications that are used for the analysis of this video data, often perform Multiple Object Tracking (MOT). Advancements in image analysis algorithms and global optimization techniques have improved the accuracy of MOT, often at the cost of slow processing speed which limits its applications to small video datasets. With a focus on fast MOT, this thesis introduces a greedy data association technique (GDA) for MOT, which finds a locally optimum solution with a low computational overhead. To further enhance the computational speed of MOT for large video datasets, three MapReduce-based parallel techniques are introduced. The performance analysis using a set of benchmark video datasets with system prototypes shows that the proposed techniques are significantly faster than the existing state-of-the-art methods.


title: Old wine in a new bottle? Re-examining speeded performance in mental arithmetic using linear mixed models

abstract: Theory construction in cognitive psychology relies on choosing a suitable statistical model for data analyses. I hypothesized that the general linear model (GLM), which is currently used for analyzing data in the field of mental arithmetic by most researchers, is not suitable for analyzing data that is typical in this field. In particular, mental arithmetic data have three features that make them unsuitable for GLM analyses: repeated measurements from individual participants, a mixture of categorical and continuous predictors, and unevenly distributed observations across levels of predictors. I proposed an alternative approach using linear mixed models (LMM), as a better candidate. I tested the hypothesis by applying GLM and LMM to three archival datasets typical in the field of mental arithmetic. Across the re-analyses, LMM consistently showed advantages over GLM. LMM was used successfully on unbalanced designs (Chapter 5) and better preserved the continuous nature of independent variables (Chapters 3, 4, and 5). I discussed the findings and provided advice for researchers who want to adopt LMM in their studies.