title: Functional genomics of O-glucosyltransferases from Concord grape (Vitis labrusca)

subject:
Concord grape.
Glycosyltransferases.

abstract:
Grape (Vitis spp.) is a culturally and economically important crop plant that has
been cultivated for thousands of years, primarily for the production of wine. Grape
berries accumulate a myriad of phenylpropanoid secondary metabolites, many of which
are glucosylated in plantae More than 90 O-glucosyltransferases have been cloned and
biochemically characterized from plants, only two of which have been isolated from Vitis
spp. The world-wide economic importance of grapes as a crop plant, the human health
benefits associated with increased consumption of grape-derived metabolites, the
biological relevance of glucosylation, and the lack of information about Vitis
glucosyltransferases has inspired the identification, cloning and biochemical
characterization of five novel "family 1" O-glucosyltransferases from Concord grape
(Vitis labrusca cv. Concord).
Protein purification and associated protein sequencIng led to the molecular
cloning of UDP-glucose: resveratrollhydroxycinnamic acid O-glucosyltransferase
(VLRSGT) from Vitis labrusca berry mesocarp tissue. In addition to being the first
glucosyltransferase which accepts trans-resveratrol as a substrate to be characterized in
vitro, the recombinant VLRSGT preferentially produces the glucose esters of
hydroxycinnamic acids at pH 6.0, and the glucosides of trans-resveratrol and flavonols at
'pH 9.0; the first demonstration of pH-dependent bifunctional glucosylation for this class
of enzymes. Gene expression and metabolite profiling support a role for this enzyme in
the bifuncitonal glucosylation ofstilbenes and hydroxycinnamic acids in plantae
A homology-based approach to cloning was used to identify three enzymes from
the Vitis vinifera TIGR grape gene index which had high levels of protein sequence
iii
identity to previously characterized UDP-glucose: anthocyanin 5-0-glucosyltransferases.
Molecular cloning and biochemical characterization demonstrated that these enzymes
(rVLOGTl, rVLOGT2, rVLOGT3) glucosylate the 7-0-position of flavonols and the
xenobiotic 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP), but not anthocyanins. Variable gene expression
throughout grape berry development and enzyme assays with native grape berry protein
are consistent with a role for these enzymes in the glucosylation of flavonols; while the
broad substrate specificity, the ability of these enzymes to glucosylate TCP and
expression of these genes in tissues which are subject to pathogen attack (berry, flower,
bud) is consistent with a role for these genes in the plant defense response.
Additionally, the Vitis labrusca UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-0-glucosyltransferase
(VL3GT) was identified, cloned and characterized. VL3GT has 96 % protein sequence
identity to the previously characterized Vitis vinifera flavonoid 3-0-glucosyltransferase
(VV3GT); and glucosylates the 3-0-position of anthocyanidins and flavonols in vitro.
Despite high levels of protein sequence identity, VL3GT has distinct biochemical
characteristics (as compared to VV3GT), including a preference for B-ring methylated
flavonoids and the inability to use UDP-galactose as a donor substrate. RT-PCR analysis
of VL3GT gene expression and enzyme assays with native grape protein is consistent
with an in planta role for this enzyme in the glucosylation of anthocyanidins,but not
flavonols.
These studies reveal the power of combining several biochemistry- and
molecular biology-based tools to identify, clone, biochemically characterize and elucidate
the in planta function of several biologically relevant O-glucosyltransferases from Vitis
spp.


title: From the ground up : understanding how teachers and administrators make sense of tension

contributor: Department of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in Education

subject: Educational change--Psychological aspects.

subject: Job stress.

subject: School management and organization.

subject: Educational leadership.

abstract:
Strategies designed to improve educational systems have created tensions in
school personnel as they struggle to respond to competing demands of ongoing
change within their daily realities. The purpose of this case study was to investigate
how teachers and administrators in one elementary school made sense ofthese
tensions and to explore the factors that constrained or shaped their responses.
A constructive interpretative case study using a grounded theory approach was
used. Qualitative data were collected through document analysis, semi-structured
interviews, and participant observation. In-depth information about teachers' and
administrators' experiences and a contextual understanding oftension was generated
from inductive analysis of the data.
The study found that tension was a phenomenon situated in the context in
which it arose. A contextual understanding of tension revealed the interactions
between the institutional, personal, and emotional domains that continually shaped
individual and group behavioural responses. This contextual understanding of tension
provided the means to reinterpret resistance to change. It also helped to show how
teachers and administrators reconstructed identities and made sense in context.. Of
particular note was the crucial nature of the conditions under which teachers and
adlninistrators shaped meaning and understood change. This study sheds light on the
contextual intricacies of tension that may help leaders with the complex design and
implementation of educational change..


title: Enantiodivergent chemoenzymatic synthesis of codeine

subject: Codeine--Synthesis.

abstract:
The present thesis describes our latest results in the chemistry of morphine alkaloids.
An enantiodivergent synthesis of codeine utilizing a cis-cyclohexadiene diol derived
from microbial whole cell oxidation of ~-bromoethylbenzene,as starting material is
discussed. The total synthesis of (+)-codeine in 14 steps featuring a Mitsunobu
inversion and two intramolecular Heck cyclizations is presented. Investigation of a
regioselective nucleophilic opening of a homochiral vinyl oxirane, which led to a
total synthesis of the natural isomer of codeine, is detailed.
Furthermore, described herein are novel methodologies designed for the
transformation of naturally occurring opiates into medicinally relevant derivatives.
Two studies on the conversion of thebaine into the commercially available analgesic
hydrocodone, two novel ·transition metal catalyzed N-demethylation procedures for
opioids, and the development of a catalytic protocol for N-demethylation and Nacylation
of morphine and tropane alkaloids are presented.
In addition, reactions of a menthol-based version of the Burgess reagent with
epoxides are discussed. The synthetic utility of this novel chiral derivative of the
Burgess reagent was demonstrated by an enantiodivergent formal total synthesis of
balanol.
ii


title: Electrophysiological correlates of performance monitoring in middle and late adolescence

subject: Risk-taking (Psychology) in adolescence--Physiological

subject: Empathy in children--Physiological aspects.

subject: Adolescent psychology.

abstract:
The ability to monitor and evaluate the consequences of ongoing behaviors and
coordinate behavioral adjustments seems to rely on networks including the anterior
cingulate cortex (ACC) and phasic changes in dopamine activity. Activity (and
presumably functional maturation) of the ACC may be indirectly measured using the
error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related potential (ERP) component that is
hypothesized to reflect activity of the automatic response monitoring system. To date, no
studies have examined the measurement reliability of the ERN as a trait-like measure of
response monitoring, its development in mid- and late- adolescence as well as its relation
to risk-taking and empathic ability, two traits linked to dopaminergic and ACC activity.
Utilizing a large sample of 15- and 18-year-old males, the present study examined the
test-retest reliability of the ERN, age-related changes in the ERN and other components
of the ERP associated with error monitoring (the Pe and CRN), and the relations of the
error-related ERP components to personality traits of risk propensity and empathy.
Results indicated good test-retest reliability of the ERN providing important validation of
the ERN as a stable and possibly trait-like electrophysiological correlate of performance
monitoring. Ofthe three components, only the ERN was of greater amplitude for the
older adolescents suggesting that its ACC network is functionally late to mature, due to
either structural or neurochemical changes with age. Finally, the ERN was smaller for
those with high risk propensity and low empathy, while other components associated with
error monitoring were not, which suggests that poor ACe function may be associated
with the desire to engage in risky behaviors and the ERN may be influenced by the extent
of individuals' concern with the outcome of events.


title: Educating for love of wisdom : John Dewey and Simone Weil

subject: Wisdom

abstract:
The writings of John Dewey (1859-1952) and Simone Weil (1909-1943) were
analyzed with a view to answering 3 main questions: What is wisdom? How is wisdom
connected to experience? How does one educate for a love of wisdom? Using a
dialectical method whereby Dewey (a pragmatist) was critiqued by Weil (a Christian
Platonist) and vice versa, commonalities and differences were identified and clarified.
For both, wisdom involved the application of thought to specific, concrete
problems in order to secure a better way of life. For Weil, wisdom was centered on a
love of truth that involved a certain way of applying one's attention to a concrete or
theoretical problem. Weil believed that nature was subject to a divine wisdom and that a
truly democratic society had supernatural roots. Dewey believed that any attempt to
move beyond nature would stunt the growth of wisdom. For him, wisdom could be
nourished only by natural streams-even if some ofthem were given a divine designation.
For both, wisdom emerged through the discipline of work understood as
intelligent activity, a coherent relationship between thinking and acting. Although Weil
and Dewey differed on how they distinguished these 2 activities, they both advocated a
type of education which involved practical experience and confronted concrete problems.
Whereas Dewey viewed each problem optimistically with the hope of solving it, Weil
saw wisdom in, contemplating insoluble contradictions. For both, educating for a love of
wisdom meant cultivating a student's desire to keep thinking in line with acting-wanting
to test ideas in action and striving to make sense of actions observed.


title: Development of a bacteriophage-based biopesticide for fire blight

subject: Fire-blight--Treatment. Bacteriophages.

abstract:
Fire blight is an economically important disease of apples and pears that is caused by the
bacterium Erwinia amylovora. Control of the disease depends on limiting primaly blosson1
infection in the spring, and rapidly removing infected tissue. The possibility of using phages to
control E.amylovora populations has been suggested, but previous studies have. failed to show
high treatment efficacies. This work describes the development of a phage-based biopesticide
that controls E. amylovora populations under field conditions, and significantly reduces the
incidence of fire blight.
This work reports the first use ofPantoea agglomerans, a non-pathogenic relative ofE.
amylovora, as a carrier for E. amylovora.phages. Its role is to support a replicating population of
these phages on blossom surfaces during the period when the flowers are most susceptible to
infection. Seven phages and one carrier isolate were selected for field trials from existing
collections of 56 E. amylovora phages and 249 epiphytic orchard bacteria. Selection of the .
/'
phages and carrier was based on characteristics relevant to the production and field perfonnance
of a biopesticide: host range, genetic diversity, growth under the conditions of large-scale
production, and the ability to prevent E. amylovora from infecting pear blossoms. In planta
assays showed that both the phages and the carrier make significant contributions to reducirig the
development of fire blight symptoms in pear blossoms.
Field-scale phage production and purification methods were developed based on the
growth characteristics of the phages and bacteria in liquid culture, and on the survival of phages
in various liquid media.
Six of twelve phage-carrier biopesticide treatments caused statistically signiflcant reductions in disease incidence during orchard trials. Multiplex real-time PCR was used to
simultaneously monitor the phage, carrier, and pathogen populations over the course of selected
treatments. In all cases. the observed population dynamics of the biocontrol agents and the
pathogen were consistent with the success or failure of each treatment to control disease
incidence. In treatments exhibiting a significantly reduced incidel1ce of fire blight, the average
blossom population ofE.amylovora had been reduced to pre-experiment epiphytic levels. In
successful treatments the phages grew on the P. agglomerans carrier for 2 to 3 d after treatment
application. The phages then grew preferentially on the pathogen, once it was introduced into this
blossom ecosystem. The efficacy of the successful phage-based treatnlents was statistically
similar to that of streptomycin, which is the most effective bactericide currently available for fire
blight prevention.
The in planta behaviour ofE. amylovora was compared to that ofErwinia pyrifoliae, a
closely related species that causes fire blight-like synlptoms on pears in southeast Asia. Duplex
real-time PCR was used to monitor the population dynamics of both species on single blossonls.
E. amylovora exhibited a greater competitive fitness on Bartlett pear blossoms than E. pyrifoliae.
The genome ofErwinia phage <l>Ea21-4 was sequenced and annotated. Most of the 8-4.7
kB genome is substantially different from previously described sequences, though some regions
are notably similar to Salmonella phage Felix 01 . Putative functions were assigned to
approximately 30% of the predicted open reading frames based on amino acid sequence
comparisons and N-terminal sequencing of structural proteins.


title: Design, development and assessment of the Java Intelligent Tutoring System

subject: Intelligent tutoring systems.

subject: Java (Computer program language)--Computer-assisted

subject: Java (Computer program language)--Study and teaching

abstract:
The "Java Intelligent Tutoring System" (JITS) research project focused on designing, constructing, and determining the effectiveness of an Intelligent Tutoring System for beginner Java programming students at the postsecondary level. The participants in this research were students in the School of Applied Computing and Engineering Sciences at Sheridan College. This research involved consistently gathering input from students and instructors using JITS as it developed. The cyclic
process involving designing, developing, testing, and refinement was used for the construction of JITS to ensure that it adequately meets the needs of students and instructors. The second objective in this dissertation determined the effectiveness of learning within this environment.
The main findings indicate that JITS is a richly interactive ITS that engages students on Java programming problems. JITS is equipped with a sophisticated personalized feedback mechanism that models and supports each student in his/her
learning style. The assessment component involved 2 main quantitative experiments
to determine the effectiveness of JITS in terms of student performance. In both
experiments it was determined that a statistically significant difference was achieved between the control group and the experimental group (i.e., JITS group). The main effect for Test (i.e., pre- and postiest), F( l , 35) == 119.43,p < .001, was qualified by a
Test by Group interaction, F( l , 35) == 4.98,p < .05, and a Test by Time interaction,
F( l , 35) == 43.82, p < .001. Similar findings were found for the second experiment;
Test by Group interaction revealed F( 1 , 92) == 5.36, p < .025. In both experiments the
JITS groups outperformed the corresponding control groups at posttest.


title: Behaviour and life history of a large carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) in the northern extent of its range

subject: Xylocopa--Behavior.

abstract:
Large carpenter bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopa) have traditionally been
thought of as exhibiting solitary or occasionally communal colony social organization.
However, studies have demonstrated more complex fonns of social behaviour in this
genus. In this document, I examine elements ofbehaviour and life history in a North
American species at the northern extreme of its range. Xylocopa virginica was found to
be socially polymorphic with both solitary and meta-social or semi-social nests in the
same population. In social nests, there is no apparent benefit from additional females
which do not perfonn significant work or guarding. I found that the timing of life-history
events varies between years, yet foraging effort only differed in the coldest and wettest
year of2004 the study. Finally, I that male X virginica exhibit female defence polygyny,
with resident and satellite males. Resident males maintain their territories through
greater aggression relative to satellites.


title: Autonomic and electrocortical indices of performance monitoring and source memory discrimination in older and younger adults

subject:
Autonomic nervous system.
Cognition--Physiological aspects.
Neuropsychology.

abstract:
Reduced capacity for executive cognitive function and for the autonomic control
of cardiac responsivity are both concomitants of the aging process. These may be linked
through their mutual dependence on medial prefrontal function, but the specifics ofthat
linkage have not been well explored. Executive functions associated with medial
prefrontal cortex involve various aspects ofperformance monitoring, whereas centrally
mediated autonomic functions can be observed as heart rate variability (HRV), i.e.,
variability in the length of intervals between heart beats. The focus for this thesis was to
examine the degree to which the capacity for phasic autonomic adjustments to heart rate
relates to performance monitoring in younger and older adults, using measures of
electrocortical and autonomic activity.
Behavioural performance and attention allocation during two age-sensitive tasks
could be predicted by various aspects of autonomic control. For young adults, greater
influence of the parasympathetic system on HRV was beneficial for learning unfamiliar
maze paths; for older adults, greater sympathetic influence was detrimental to these
functions. Further, these relationships were primarily evoked when the task required the
construction and use of internalized representations of mazes rather than passive
responses to feedback. When memory for source was required, older adults made three
times as many source errors as young adults. However, greater parasympathetic influence
on HRV in the older group was conducive to avoiding source errors and to reduced
electrocortical responses to irrelevant information. Higher sympathetic predominance, in
contrast, was associated with higher rates of source error and greater electrocortical
responses tq non-target information in both groups. These relations were not seen for
11
errors associated with a speeded perceptual task, irrespective of its difficulty level.
Overall, autonomic modulation of cardiac activity was associated with higher levels of
performance monitoring, but differentially across tasks and age groups. With respect to
age, those older adults who had maintained higher levels of autonomic cardiac regulation
appeared to have also maintained higher levels of executive control over task
performance.


title: Aspergillus flavus infections in Galleria mellonella : a pathogen-host model system for the study of emerging diseases

subject:
Host-parasite relationships.
Viruses--Evolution.

abstract:
To study emerging diseases, I employed a model pathogen-host system involving
infections of insect larvae with the opportunistic fungus Aspergillus flavus, providing insight into
three mechanisms ofpathogen evolution namely de novo mutation, genome decay, and virulence
factoracquisition In Chapter 2 as a foundational experiment, A. flavus was serially propagated
through insects to study the evolution of an opportunistic pathogen during repeated exposure to a
single host. While A. flavus displayed de novo phenotypic alterations, namely decreased
saprobic capacity, analysis of genotypic variation in Chapter 3 signified a host-imposed
bottleneck on the pathogen population, emphasizing the host's role in shaping pathogen
population structure. Described in Chapter 4, the serial passage scheme enabled the isolation of
an A. flavus cysteine/methionine auxotroph with characteristics reminiscent of an obligate insect
pathogen, suggesting that lost biosynthetic capacity may restrict host range based on nutrient
availability and provide selection pressure for further evolution. As outlined in Chapter 6,
cysteine/methionine auxotrophy had the pleiotrophic effect of increasing virulence factor
production, affording the slow-growing auxotroph with a modified pathogenic strategy such that
virulence was not reduced. Moreover in Chapter 7, transformation with a virulence factor from a
facultative insect pathogen failed to increase virulence, demonstrating the necessity of an
appropriate genetic background for virulence factor acquisition to instigate pathogen evolution.


title: Applications of dihydroarenediols to chemoenzymatic synthesis : approaches to total synthesis of morphine alkaloids

subject:
Morphine--Synthesis.
Aromatic compounds--Oxidation.

abstract:
The present studies describe, as a primary goal, our recent progess toward the
synthesis of morphine alkaloids from aromatic precursors. Model substrates were
synthesized which allowed investigation into Diels-Alder, radical cascade, and
palladium-catalyzed bond-forming reactions as possible routes to the morphine alkaloid
skeleton. As a secondary objective, three separate series of aromatic substrates were
subjected to whole-cell oxidation with Escherichia coli JM 109 (pDTG601), a
recombinant organism over-expressing the enzyme toluene dioxygenase. Included in
this study were bromothioanisoles, dibromobenzenes, and cyclopropylbenzene
derivatives. The products of oxidation were characterized by chemical conversion to
known intermediates. The synthetic utility of one of these bacterial metabolites, derived
from oxidation of o-dibromobenezene, was demonstrated by chemical conversion to (-)conduritol
E.


title: Analysis of the feeding behaviour of the mosquito Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) in relation to West Nile virus

subject:
West Nile virus.
Mosquitoes as carriers of disease.

abstract:
The goal ofthis literature review is to inform the reader on several aspects of
West Nile Virus (WNV) transmission by its mosquito vector, Culex pipiens and to
elucidate how Cx. pipiens and WNV are intertwined. The first few sections of the
literature review describe the life cycle and blood feeding behaviours ofmosquitoes so
that baseline data ofmosquito biology are established. In addition to explaining how and
why a mosquito blood feeds, the section on "Blood Meal Analysis" describes the
different methods for determining the vertebrate source of mosquito blood meals and a
brief history of these testing methods. Since this thesis looks at the feeding behaviour of
Cx. pipiens, it is important to know how to determine what they are feeding upon.
Discussion on other mosquito-borne diseases related to WNV gives a broader perspective
to the thesis, and examines other diseases that have occurred in Ontario in the past. This
is followed by background information on WNV and theories on how this virus came to
North America and how it relates to Cx. pipiens. The final sections discuss Cx. pipiens
and give background information to how this species of mosquito exists and behaves
within North America.


title: An after-school literacy program : investigating the experiences of students with literacy difficulties, their volunteer tutors, and the tutors' transition into the teaching profession

subject: Literacy--Study and teaching--Ontario.

subject: Literacy programs--Ontario.

subject: Learning disabled children--Education--Ontario.

subject: After-school programs--Ontario.

subject: Tutors and tutoring--Ontario.

subject: Teachers--Training of--Ontario.

abstract:
This research responds to a pervasive call for our educational institutions to
provide students with literacy skills, and teachers with the instructional supports
necessary to facilitate this skill acquisition. Questions were posed to gain information
concerning the efficacy ofteaching literacy strategies to students with learning
difficulties, the impact of this training on their volunteer tutors, and the influence of this
experience on these tutors' ensuing instructional practice as teacher candidates in a preservice
education program.
Study #1 compared a nontreatment group of students with literacy difficulties
who participated in the program and found that program participants were superior at
reading letter patterns and at comprehending the elements of story grammar.
Concurrently, the second study explored the experiences of 19 volunteer tutors and
uncovered that they acquired instructional skills as they established a knowledge base in
teaching reading and writing, and they affirmed personal goals to become future teachers.
Study #3 tracked 6 volunteer tutors into their pre-service year and identified their
constructions, and beliefs about literacy instruction. These teacher candidates discussed
how they had intended to teach reading and writing strategies based on their position that
effective teaching ofthese skills in the primary grades is integral to academic success.
The teacher candidates emphasized the need to build rapport with students, and the need
to exercise flexibility in lesson plan delivery while including activities to meet emotional
and developmental requirements of students.
The teacher candidates entered their pre-service education with an initial
cognition set based on the limited teaching context of tutoring. This foundational
ii
perception represented their prior knowledge of literacy instruction, a perception that
appeared untenable once they were immersed in a regular instructional setting. This
disparity provoked some of the teacher candidates to denounce their teacher mentors for
not consistently employing literacy strategies and individualized instruction. This critical
perspective could have been a demonstration of cognitive dissonance. In the end, when
the teacher candidates began to look toward the future and how they would manage the
demands of an inclusive classroom, they recognized the differences in the contexts. With
an appreciation for the need for balance between prior and present knowledge, the teacher
candidates remained committed to implementing their tutoring strategies in future
teaching positions. This document highlights the need for teacher candidates with
instructional experience prior to teacher education, to engage in cognitive negotiations to
assimilate newly acquired pedagogies into existing pedagogies.


title: A comprehensive examination of adolescent gambling

subject:
Gambling.
Teenagers.
Adolescent psychology.

abstract:
The purposes of this study were: a) to examine the prevalence and
consequences associated with adolescent gambling, b) to examine the factors which
influence adolescent gambling,. c) to detennine what factors discriminate among four
groups of gamblers (no-risk/non-gamblers, low-risk gamblers, at-risk gamblers, and
high-risk/problematic gamblers), and d) to examine the relation of gambling to nine
other risk behaviours (i.e., alcohol use, smoking, marijuana use, hard drug use, sexual
activity, minor delinquency, major delinquency, direct aggression, and indirect
aggression). Adolescents (N = 3,767) from 25 secondary schools completed a twohour
survey that assessed involvement in risk be~aviours as well as potential
predictors from a wide range of contexts (school, neighbourhood, family, peer, and
intrapersonal). The majority of adolescents reported gambling, although the
frequency of gambling participation was low. The strongest predictors/discriminators
of gambling involvement were gender, unstructured activities, structured activities,
and risk attitudes/perceptions. In addition, the examination of the co-occurrence of
gambling with other risk behaviours revealed that for high-risk/problem gamblers, the
top three most frequent co-occurring high-risk behaviours were direct aggression,
minor delinquency and alcohol. This study was the first to examine the continuum of
gambling involvement (i.e., non-gambling to high risk/problematic gambling) using a
comprehensive set ofpotential predictors with a large sample of secondary school
students. The findings of this study support past research and theories (e.g., Theory of
Triadic Influence) which suggest the importance ofproximal variables in predicting
risk behaviors. The next step, however, will be to examine the direct and indirect
1
effects of the ultimate (e.g., temperament), distal (e.g., parental relationship), and
proximal variables (e.g., risk attitudes/perceptions) on gambling involvement in a
longitudinal study.


title: Bridging the gap between post-secondary students with disabilities and faculty members with their perceptions of access and accommodation

subject:
People with disabilities
College students with disabilities
Attitude (Psychology)
Academic achievement.

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to successful university
course completion for students with disAbilities including the knowledge that faculty
members and students with disAbilities have about accommodation issues; the
accommodations that students with disAbilities and faculty use and find effective in the
university setting; faculty members' perceptions of and attitudes toward students with
disAbilities; and the attitudes that students with disAbilities have toward faculty. Fiftyseven
participants were involved in the research, eight students with disabilities and
forty-nine faculty members.
The main objective of the research was to describe how the skills, knowledge, and
attitudes of students and faculty members, and organizational supports interact to support
students' academic success. The utilization and effectiveness of accommodations to
overcome barriers associated with disAbility in a post-secondary setting are described in
relation to students' and faculty members' perceptions of academic success.


title: Quaternary geology of the Campbellford, Trenton, Consecon, Tweed, Belleville, Wellington, Sydenham, Bath, and Yorkshire Island map-areas, Ontario /

subject:
Geology
Geology, Stratigraphic

abstract:
Sediment relationships observed during geological mapping
in southeastern Ontario indicate a relatively simple deglaciation
history for the area during late Wisconsin time. The
ice from the north (part of the Lake Simcoe lobe) and the
Lake Ontario ice lobe, which were coalesced during most of late
Wisconsin time, initially separated along the crest of the
Oak Ridges Moraine. Available data indicate that the Oak
Ridges Moraine is composed primarily of sediments pre-late
Wisconsin in age capped by late Wisconsin till and interlobate
deposits.
Retreat of the northern ice was relatively steady and
resulted in the deposition of the Dummer Moraines, a facies
of the drumlinized till to the south. Retreat of the Lake
Ontario ice lobe into the Lake Ontario basin was interrupted
by a re-advance which covered the southeastern half of the map
area. The northern ice had already retreated from the area
by this time. The Lake Ontario lobe was fed through the
St. Lawrence Valley, indicating that the Ottawa Valley was
ice filled at this time.
High level glacial lakes fronted the ice during deglaciation.
These waters quickly fell to low levels as the ice
retreated from the St. Lawrence Valley, opening lower outlets.


title: Armor coats, inverse grading, and streambed scour in selected streams of Southern Ontario and Western New York /

subject:
Rivers
Rivers
Stream ecology
Stream ecology
Sediment transport
Sediment transport

abstract:
Surface size analyses of Twenty and Sixteen Mile
Creeks, the Grand and Genesee Rivers and Cazenovia
Creek show three distinct types of bed-surface
sediment: 1) a "continuous" armor coat which has a
mean size of -6.5 phi and coarser, 2) a
"discontinuous" armor coat which has a mean size of
approximately -6.0 phi and 3) a bed with no armor coat
which has a mean surface size of -5.0 phi and finer.
The continuous armor coat completely covers and
protects the subsurface from the flow. The
discontinuous armor coat is composed of
intermittently-spaced surface clasts, which provide
the subsurface with only limited protection from the
flow. The bed with no armor coat allows complete
exposure of the subsurface to the flow.
The subsurface beneath the continuous armor coats
of Twenty and Sixteen Mile Creeks is possibly modified
by a "vertical winnowing" process when the armor coat
is p«natrat«d. This process results in a welld
«v«loped inversely graded sediment sequence.vertical winnowing is reduced beneath the
discontinuous armor coats of the Grand and Genesee
Rivers. The reduction of vertical winnowing results
in a more poorly-developed inverse grading than that
found in Twenty and sixteen Mile Creeks. The
streambed of Cazenovia Creek normally is not armored
resulting in a homogeneous subsurface which shows no
modification by vertical winnowing. This streambed
forms during waning or moderate flows, suggesting it
does not represent the maximum competence of the
stream.
Each population of grains in the subsurface layers
of Twenty and sixteen Mile Creeks has been modified by
vertical winnowing and does not represent a mode of
transport. Each population in the subsurface layers
beneath a discontinuous armor coat may partially
reflect a transport mode. These layers are still
inversely graded suggesting that each population is
affected to some degree by vertical winnowing. The
populations for sediment beneath a surface which is
not armored are probably indicative of transport modes
because such sediment has not been modified by
vertical winnowing.
Bed photographs taken in each of the five streams
before and after the 1982-83 snow-melt show that the
probability of movement for the surface clasts is a function of grain size. The greatest probability of
of clast movement and scour depth of this study were
recorded on Cazenovia Creek in areas where no armor
coat is present. The scour depth in the armored beds
of Twenty and Sixteen Mile Creeks is related to the
probability of movement for a given mean surface
size.


title: Contributing factors to women's sustained participation on varsity athletic teams /

subject:
Women athletes.
College athletes.
College sports for women.
Sports for women.

abstract:
This study explores the factors contributing to female athletes' sustained
participation on varsity athletic teams. Ten open-ended interviews were conducted with
female varsity athletes to investigate what contributes to their sustained involvement in
sport until and throughout university. Each interview was transcribed and then coded for
emergent themes and categories. Grounded in the data were themes such as socialization,
support systems, motivational factors, passion, opportunity to play, and physical ability.
The results demonstrate that for women to continue to participate in sport, a positive
learning environment must be created in which the women may share and grow in their
experiences as a collective whole. Relationships are a dominant factor for sustained
participation in athletics. There are a number of questions presented that may lead to
further research, specifically in regard to what physical educators and coaches may
implement in an educational, athletic, or practice setting to enhance females' positive
experiences.


title: Making it "click": collaborative perceptions of creative practice in art education /

subject:
Art teachers
Art teachers
Art
Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)

abstract:
Making it "Click": Collaborative Perceptions ofCreative Practice in Art Education
examined the teaching practice of 6 art educators who conducted their work through the
Niagara Falls Art Gallery's (NFAG) in-schools and Children's Museum programmes.
These community resources service the elementary levels of participatory Public,
Catholic and French schools in the Niagara Peninsula.
The goal of this research was to find ways in which these teachers could explore
their creative potential as art educators. The "click," a term introduced by participants
indicating the coming together of all positive factors towards creativity, became the
central theme behind this study. Research revealed that the effective creative process was
not merely a singular phase, but rather a series of 4 processes: 1 , gathering knowledge; 2,
intuitive and experiential; 3, the informal presentation of information in which creativity
as a process was explored; and 4, formal presentation that took the analysis of
information to a deeper, holistic level.
To examine the ways in which experience and knowledge could be shared and
brought together through a collaborative process, this study employed data collection that
used literature research, interviews, focus group discussions, and personal journal entries.
Follow-up discussions that assessed the effectiveness of action research, took place VA
months after the initial meetings.
It is hoped that this study might assist in creative educational practices, for myself
as a member of the NFAG teaching team, for colleagues in the art programmes, art
educators, and other teachers in the broader disciplines of education.


title: Learning English as an adult: a narrative of women's improvised and empowered lives /

subject:
English language
Adult education of women.
Psychology

abstract:
This thesis is a narrative inquiry of learning English as an adult. It stories the
journey of 7 women, including me, and unravels lived experiences that serve as learning
models.
Learning English as an adult presents challenges and results in lifelong implications
both in personal and professional life. Every learner's experience is imique and, when
reflected upon, each experience is a valuable source of knowledge for constructing
meanings and forging new identities. The stories are testimony to the participants' lives:
interrupted yet improvised, silenced yet roused, dependent yet independent, intimidated yet
courageous, vulnerable yet empowered. The personal experiences elucidate the passion,
the inner voices, the dreams, and the rewards that compel persistence in learning a new
language and releaming new social roles. The stories provide encouragement and hope to
other women who are learning or will learn English in their adult years, and the lived
experiences will offer insights for English language teachers.
This thesis employs the phenomenology methodology of research with heuristic
(discovery) and hermeneutical (interpretative) approaches using the reflective-responsivereflexive
writing and interviewing methods for data gathering and unravelling. The
narrative inquiry approach reaffirms that storytelling is an important tool in conducting
research and constructing new knowledge. This thesis narrates a new story about sharing
experiences, interconnecting, and continuing to learn.


title: Transforming curriculum leadership: vice principals in independent Christian elementary schools /

subject:
Elementary school principals
Assistant school principals
Curriculum planning
Education
Church schools
Educational leadership.

abstract:
The literature on the vice principalship characterizes the position as one
filled with clerical record keeping and student discipline and paints a picture of role
conflict and general discontent. Research suggests that vice principals desire to
take on a more significant role, specifically a role in curriculum leadership. Using
open-ended interviews, a focus group interview, document analysis, and my
research journal, I have explored the work ofa group of vice principals who have
taken on the role of curriculum leader in independent Christian elementary schools
in Ontario.
When asked to explain their understanding of curriculum, the participants
referred to written programs of study. However, their leadership activities reveal a
broader understanding of curriculum as something that is in fact dynamic in nature.
This leadership is enabled and shaped by their middle position on staff that
combines the authority of an administrator and the credibility of a teacher.
Although this dual identity creates tension, it also provides opportunities for
genuine curriculum leadership.
As middle leaders, the participants in this study often pull together or
connect elements of the curriculum (teachers, principals, and programs) that have
become separated. Such connective leadership is characterized by transformational
(Van Brummelen, 2002) tendencies. This research suggests that the further along
the continuum one goes from the understanding of curriculum as planned (Eisner,
1994) to acknowledging a lived curriculum (Aoki, 1993), the more
transformational one's leadership style becomes.


title: Exploring the personal and professional lives of teachers in the search for authenticity /

subject:
Reflective teaching.
Teachers
Teaching

abstract:
"We teach who we are" (Palmer, 1998, p. 2). This simple, yet profound, statement
was the catalyst that began my thesis journey. Using a combination of self-study and
participant narratives, Palmer's idea was explored as search for authenticity.
The self-study component of this narrative was enhanced by the stories of two
other teachers, both women. I chose to use narrative methodology to uncover and
discover the relationship between the personal and professional lives of being a teacher.
Do teachers express themselves daily in their classrooms? Do any lessons from the
classroom translate into teachers' personal lives? The themes of reflection, authenticity,
truth, and professional development thread themselves throughout this narrative study.
In order to be true to myself as a teacher/researcher, arts-based interpretations
accompany my own and each participant's profile. Our conversations about our pasts, our
growth as teachers and journeys as individuals were captured in poetry and photographic
mosaics.
Through rich and detailed stories we explored who we are as teachers and how we
became this way. The symbiotic relationship between our personal and professional lives
was illustrated by tales of bravery, self-discovery, and reflection. The revelations
uncovered illustrate the powerful role our past plays in shaping the present and
potentially the friture.
It may seem indulgent to spend time exploring who we are as teachers in a time
that is increasingly focused on improving student test scores. Yet, the truth remains that,
"Knowing myself is as crucial to good teaching as knowing my students and my subject"
(Palmer, 1998, p. 2).


title: ESL students' perceptions of web-based prewriting activities /

subject:
English language
English language
Academic writing
Online chat groups.
Electronic discussion groups.

abstract:
Although much research has explored computer mediated communication for its
application in second language instruction, there still exists a need for empirical results
from research to guide practitioners who wish to introduce web-based activities into their
instruction. This study was undertaken to explore collaborative online task-based
activities for the instruction of ESL academic writing. Nine ESL students in their midtwenties,
enrolled at a community college in Ontario, engaged in two separate online
prewriting activities in both a synchronous and an asynchronous environment. The
students were interviewed in order to explore their perceptions of how the activities
affected the generation and organization of ideas for academic essays. These interviews
were triangulated with examples of the students' online writing, nonparticipatory
observations of the students' interactions, and a discussion with the course instructor.
The results of the study reveal that a small majority of students felt that
brainstorming in writing with their peers in an asynchronous online discussion created a
grammatical and lexical framework that supported idea generation and organization. The
students did not feel that the synchronous chat activity was as successful. Although they
felt that this activity also contributed to the generation of ideas, synchronous chat
introduced a level of difficulty in communication that hindered the students' engagement
in the task and failed to assist them with the organization of their ideas. The students also
noted positive aspects of the web-based activities that were not related to prewriting
tasks, for example, improved typing and word processing skills. Directions for future
research could explore whether online prewriting activities can assist students in the
creation of essays that are syntactically or lexically complex.


title: Exploring the use of effective learning strategies to increase students' reading comprehension and test taking skills /

subject:
Reading comprehension
Test-taking skills
Learning strategies
Implicit learning.
Learning, Psychology of.

abstract:
This study examined the effects of providing students with explicit instruction in
how to use a repertoire of reading comprehension strategies and test taking skills when
reading and responding to three types of questions (direct, inferential, critical).
Specifically, the study examined whether providing students with a "model" of how to
read and respond to the text and to the comprehension questions improved their reading
comprehension relative to providing them with implicit instruction on reading
comprehension strategies and test taking skills. Students' reading comprehension and
test taking performance scores were compared as a function of instructional condition.
Students from 2 grade 8 classes participated in this study. The reading component
of the Canadian Achievement Tests, Third Edition (CAT/3) was used to identify
students' level of reading comprehension prior to the formal instructional sessions.
Students received either explicit instruction, which involved modelling, or implicit
instruction, which consisted of review and discussion of the strategies to be used.
Comprehension was measured through the administration of formative tests after
each instructional session. The formative tests consisted of reading comprehension
questions pertaining to a specific form of text (narrative, informational, graphic). In
addition, students completed 3 summative tests and a delayed comprehension test which
consisted of the alternative version of the CAT/3 standardized reading assessment. These
data served as a posttest measure to determine whether students had shown an
improvement in their reading comprehension skills as a result of the program delivery.
There were significant differences in students' Canadian Achievement Test
performance scores prior to the onset of the study. Students in the implicit group attained significantly higher comprehension scores than did students in the explicit group. The
results from the program sessions indicated no significant differences in reading
comprehension between the implicit and explicit conditions, with the exception of the 6th
session involving the reading and interpreting of graphic text. Students in the explicit
group performed significantly better when reading and interpreting graphic text than
those in the implicit group. No significant differences were evident between the two
study conditions across the three summative tests.
Upon completion of the study, the results from the Canadian Achievement Test
indicated no significant differences in performance between the two study conditions.
The findings from this study reveal the effectiveness of providing students with explicit
strategy instruction when reading and responding to various forms of text. Modelling the
appropriate reading comprehension strategies and test taking skills enabled students to
apply the same thought processes to their own independent work. This form of
instruction enabled students in the explicit group to improve in their abilities to
comprehend and respond to text and therefore should be incorporated as an effective
form of classroom teaching.


title: The motivation of vocational students in a college setting /

subject:
Motivation in education.
Vocational school students.

abstract:
This qualitative study explores the motivation of College Vocational Program
(CVP) students at one campus of a large College of Applied Arts and Technology
(CAAT a) in urban southern Ontario. The study is in response to my close involvement
with the CVP students as an instructor for five years, and my observation that a greater
understanding of the motivational influences affecting the students' involvement in the
program would strengthen teaching and learning, and enhance the CVP educational
experience for students and instructors. This study was limited to one CVP program,
and a small sample of convenience of 9 CVP male and female students and 6
instructors selected from two classes. The students were chosen based on their verbal
abilities to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in regard to
answering the research questions posed. Through interviews with students, instructors,
and ajob coach, this study addressed four main questions relevant to college vocational
students and motivation: defining student success, encouragement, discouragement,
and perceptions about academic and vocationalleaming. The interview questions for
both students and instructors were designed by me and were based on themes derived
from the literature and from my experience in the program. The findings identify that
the students and instructors see success in the program in a slightly different way, the
importance of relationships and structure, the hindering effect of disabilities and the
importance of accommodation, and the strong aspiration of the students wanting to
learn in a supportive accepting environment. The study concludes with implications
for further research and theory development.


title: The storying of an educator: the power of living legacy /

subject: Teachers Psychology Self-perception.

abstract:
"I began these pages for myself, in order to think out my own particular
pattern of living, my own individual balance of life, work and human relationships."
Lindbergh (1983) p.9.
In this thesis, I use self-study research as I focus on the topic of living legacy.
This is a personal story, using narrative methodology and method as a means of
uncovering and naming life lessons learned. I write to gain insight into my
interpretation of the concept of living legacy - what living legacy means to me and
why this concept is significant to me - and how living legacy impacts the person that I
am in the present.
Using a narrative lens, I inquire into stories that connect me to my spirit, my
gender, education and theology, through my living legacy lessons, and I seek the
impact these stories hold for me in my life today. I utilize a variety of methods
including personal journals, course work, and arts-based research experiences as I
explore the connections to my emerging perceptions ofmy living legacy lessons.
This thesis represents the beginning of a continuing journey of self-discovery.
I take the journey in order to uncover hidden and ongoing lessons of living legacy and
the impact they have on the student and educator that I am.


title: Gender bias in the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study 2003 (TIMMS) for Canadian students /

subject: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study.

subject: Mathematics

subject: Sex discrimination in education.

subject: Mathematical ability

subject: Educational equalization.

abstract:
This study is a secondary data analysis of the Trends
in Mathematics and Science Study 2003 (TIMSS) to determine
if there is a gender bias, unbalanced number of items
suited to the cognitive skill of one gender, and to compare
performance by location. Results of the Grade 8, math
portion of the test were examined.
Items were coded as verbal, spatial, verbal /spatial or
neither and as conventional or unconventional. A Kruskal-
Wallis was completed for each category, comparing
performance of students from Ontario, Quebec, and
Singapore. A Factor Analysis was completed to determine if
there were item categories with similar characteristics.
Gender differences favouring males were found in the
verbal conventional category for Canadian students and in
the spatial conventional category for students in Quebec.
The greatest differences were by location, as students in
Singapore outperformed students from Canada in all areas
except for the spatial unconventional category. Finally,
whether an item is conventional or unconventional is more
important than whether the item is verbal or spatial.
Results show the importance of fair assessment for the
genders in both the classroom and on standardized tests.


title: Words on wisdom: perspective transformation in a "learning in retirement institute" /

subject: Learning Wisdom.

abstract:
In this study, 7 men and women with an average age of 77 were interviewed
regarding their experience of attending courses at a Learning in Retirement Institute
(LRI) in southern Ontario. The purpose was to explore the role of wisdom in the learning
of these retirees. Explicit theories of wisdom developed by selected philosophers,
psychologists, and religious thinkers were compared to the implicit theories of wisdom
that respondents expressed. Further comparisons were drawn between these implicit
theories of wisdom and the act of perspective transformation in transformative learning.
Some evidence was found that the development of wisdom compares favourably to
perspective transformation, especially with regards to the behavioural changes associated
with critical self-reflection. Among all the respondents, those 3 LRI stude.its who had
also moderated courses indicated that they had experienced the most opportunities for
critical self-reflection. These 3 also expressed deep satisfaction in having been able to put
their learnings to use as teachers. A recommendation of this study is that opportunities for
sharing and acting upon the results of discourse within Learning in Retirement Institutes
should be implemented. In the absence of evaluation, opportunities for praxis (such as coop
placements) must be developed so that students can measure their success against
objective criteria and hence attach meaning to their studies.


title: Quality time: exploring meaningful mandatory community involvement programs in secondary schools /

subject:
Student volunteers in social service
Community and school
Voluntarism

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of 5 stakeholder
groups—students, parents, community organization representatives, guidance
counsellors, and secondary school principals—in dealing with a mandatory secondary
school graduation requirement in Ontario. The requirement is that students must
complete 40 hours of eligible community involvement activities during their high
school years in order to graduate. Ten stakeholders were interviewed regarding the
nature of the community involvement program, what makes it work, and suggestions
for improvement. The study found that although this program has the potential to
provide a meaningful experience for students, and students are seen to gain from their
experience in multiple ways, it depends substantially on the commitment of students,
educators, and community organizations to make it worthwhile. Stakeholders
recommended changes to the current program, which included making it a more
structured process that would increase the consistency ofhow this program is
implemented, finding ways to curb cheating and to reduce the administrative burden
on schools, having more support from the Ontario provincial government and Ontario
Ministry of Education and Training in the promotion and communication of this
program, and developing partnerships between community organizations and schools
to enrich the application of this program.
This study concludes with a recommendation that the Ontario Ministry of
Education and Training consider introducing Service-Learning, a curriculum-based
experiential service and learning process, as an enhancement to the current
community involvement program.


title: The dual role of students with behavioural problems: an analysis of their experiences as bullies and victims /

subject:
Children with social disabilities
Bullying in schools
Problem youth
Problem children

abstract:
The present study examined the bullying experiences of a group of students, age
10-14 years, identified as having behaviour problems. A total often students participated
in a series of mixed methodology activities, including self-report questionnaires, story
telling exercises, and interview style joumaling. The main research questions were related
to the prevalence of bully/victims and the type of bullying experiences in this population.
Questionnaires gathered information about their involvement in bullying, as well as about
psychological risk factors including normative beliefs about antisocial acts, impulsivity,
problem solving, and coping strategies. Journal questions expanded on these themes and
allowed students to explain their personal experiences as bullies and victims as well as
provide suggestions for intervention. The overall results indicated that all of the ten
students in this sample have participated in bullying as both a bully and a victim. This
high prevalence of bully/victim involvement in students from behavioural classrooms is
in sharp contrast with the general population where the prevalence is about 33%. In
addition, a common thread was found that indicated that these students who participated
in this study demonstrate characteristics of emotionally dysregulated reactive bullies.
Theoretical implication and educational practices are discussed.


title: Transition into the teaching profession: induction and mentoring issues surrounding secondary music teachers /

subject:
Mentoring in education
Music teachers
First year teachers

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the issues surrounding the transition
into the teaching profession by specifically focusing on teacher induction and mentoring
issues while explicitly addressing matters of concern by secondary music teachers in a
large suburban school board in southern Ontario. Participants included beginning
teachers with fewer than 5 years of teaching, mid career teachers with between 6 and 15
years of instruction, and experienced teachers with more than 16 years of practice. The '
processes of mentoring and inducting new teachers within the board were examined,
along with their relationships between proteges, mentors, and administrators. Further,
internal and external programs specifically designed and implemented for newer music
teachers were scrutinized and discussed. An analysis of key documents and literature on
the subject was performed, and data were collected through 16 personal interviews. The
findings suggest that although the necessity of mentoring and induction processes has
begun to be recognized, there exists a fundamental relationship between mentoring and
induction and the effect of the professional attachments to mentoring; the institutional
and administrative supports that are enabled; and essential processes and practices
between mentors and proteges. Together these three arms combine to support successfiil
induction and mentoring initiatives that will help ease the transition into teaching.


title: Anomalous carbonate preservation in the abyssal North Pacific, ODP sites 882 and 1179: planktonic foraminiferal analysis, climate change and palaeogeomagnetism /

subject:
Foraminifera, Fossil
Carbonate minerals
Plankton, Fossil
Climatic changes
Paleogeophysics.
Geomagnetic reversals.
Paleoclimatology
Paleoclimatology

abstract:
Samples for this study were obtained from the abyssal western North Pacific Ocean at
Ocean Drilling Project Sites 882 (50°21.797'N, 167°35.999^E) and 1179 (41°4.787^N,
159°58.786'E). Despite their depth below the present day calcite compensation depth, ~250m
and ~ 1.5km respectively, these late Pliocene-Pleistocene cores contained large quantities of carbonate, a small proportion of which is composed of well-preserved foraminiferal tests with minor to no signs of dissolution. This excellent preservation is unusual in light of their positions below the current calcite compensation depth. Globigerina bulloides, Globigerina quinqueloba, and Neogloboquadrina pachyderma are the dominant species at the more northerly Site 882, whereas A^. pachyderma, Globorotalia inflata, and G. bulloides dominate Site 1179. This species distribution is a direct reflection of their respective ambient oceanographic conditions. Cluster analysis of the identified foraminifera reveals four groups within Site 882, which are largely temperature and dissolution-controlled, documenting a fluctuating calcite compensation depth and lysocline as well as indicating a switch to cooler conditions at about 2 Ma. The ODP fauna, although similar to those collected in nearby sediment traps, have a slightly lower diversity, and are enriched in thick walled, non-spinose taxa.
Abundance peaks of foraminifera throughout the cores agree well with the timing of
brief suppression of the calcite compensation depth. These suppressions of the calcite
compensation depth are related to increased surface water productivity commensurate with
terrestrial fertilization of otherwise nutrient-poor gyre areas. Furthermore, these events
sequestered CO2 from the atmosphere, contributing to late Cenozoic global cooling. The
majority of the peaks correlate with times of incursions of cold deep Pacific water and rapid
declines of continental ice volume, suggesting that North Atlantic Deep Water interference
may change the source dominance of Pacific deepwater, leading to less acidic, saltier water
conditions, requiring less CaC03 to reach saturation. Several foraminiferal carbonate peaks
also correlate with geomagnetic reversals inferring some climatic control, perhaps through enhanced cosmic ray bombardment and subsequent increased cloud cover, and species selection.


title: Investigation of the mechanism of transfer of a-tocopherol by the human a-tocopherol transfer protein (H-a-TTP) /

subject:
Vitamin E.
Carrier Proteins.

abstract:
The human a-tocopherol transfer protein (h-a-TTP) is understood to be the entity
responsible for the specific retention of a-tocopherol (a-toc) in human tissues over all
other forms of vitamin E obtained from the diet. a-Tocopherol is the most biologically
active form of vitamin E, and to date has been studied extensively with regard to its
antioxidant properties and its role of terminating membrane lipid peroxidation chain
reactions. However, information surrounding the distribution of a-tocopherol,
specifically its delivery to intracellular membranes by a-TTP, is still unclear and the
molecular factors influencing transfer remain elusive. To investigate the mechanism of
ligand transfer by the h-a-TTP, a fluorescent analogue of a-toc has been used in the
development of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay.
(/?)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[9-(7-nitro-benzo[l,2,5]oxdiazol-4-ylamino)-nonyl]-
chroman-6-ol (NBD-toc) has allowed for the development of the FRET-based ligand
transfer assay. This ligand has been utilized in a series of experiments where changes
were made to acceptor lipid membrane concentration and composition, as well as to the
ionic strength and viscosity of the buffer medium. Such changes have yielded evidence
supporting a collisional mechanism of ligand transfer by a-TTP, and have brought to
light a new line of inquiry pertaining to the nature of the forces governing the collisional
transfer interaction.
Through elucidation of the transfer mechanism type, a deeper understanding of
the transfer event and the in vivo fate of a-tocopherol have been obtained. Furthermore,
the results presented here allow for a deeper investigation of the forces controlling the
collisional protein-membrane interaction and their effect on the transfer of a-toc to
membranes. Future investigation in this direction will raise the possibility of a complete
understanding of the molecular events surrounding the distribution of a-toc within the
cell and to the body's tissues.


title: Phonon spectra and thermodynamic properties of rare gas solids based on empirical and semi-empirical (ab initio) two-body potentials : a comparative study /

subject: Phonons

abstract:
We study the phonon dispersion, cohesive and thermal properties of raxe gas solids Ne, Ar,
Kr, and Xe, using a variety of potentials obtained from different approaches; such as, fitting
to crystal properties, purely ab initio calculations for molecules and dimers or ab initio
calculations for solid crystalline phase, a combination of ab initio calculations and fitting to
either gas phase data or sohd state properties. We explore whether potentials derived with
a certain approaxih have any obvious benefit over the others in reproducing the solid state
properties.
In particular, we study phonon dispersion, isothermal ajid adiabatic bulk moduli, thermal
expansion, and elastic (shear) constants as a function of temperatiue. Anharmonic effects on
thermal expansion, specific heat, and bulk moduli have been studied using A^ perturbation
theory in the high temperature limit using the neaxest-neighbor central force (nncf) model
as developed by Shukla and MacDonald [4].
In our study, we find that potentials based on fitting to the crystal properties have some
advantage, particularly for Kr and Xe, in terms of reproducing the thermodynamic properties
over an extended range of temperatiures, but agreement with the phonon frequencies with
the measured values is not guaranteed. For the lighter element Ne, the LJ potential which is
based on fitting to the gas phase data produces best results for the thermodynamic properties;
however, the Eggenberger potential for Ne, where the potential is based on combining ab
initio quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, produces results
that have better agreement with the measured dispersion, and elastic (shear) values. For At, the Morse-type potential, which is based on M0ller-Plesset perturbation theory to fourth
order (MP4) ab initio calculations, yields the best results for the thermodynamic properties,
elastic (shear) constants, and the phonon dispersion curves.


title: The influence of skeletal muscle cell volume on the regulation of carbohydrate uptake and muscle metabolism

subject: Carbohydrates Glucose Muscles

abstract:
This study investigated the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and glucose
uptake through changes in skeletal muscle cell volume. Using an established invitro
isolated whole muscle model, soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus
(EDL) muscles were dissected from male rats and incubated in an organ bath
containing Sigma medium-199 with 8 mM D-glucose altered to target osmolality
(hypo-osmotic: HYPO, iso-osmotic: ISO, hyper-osmotic: HYPER; 190, 290, 400
mmol/kg). Muscles were divided into two groups; metabolite (MM) and uptake
(MU). MM (N=48) were incubated for 60 minutes and were then immediately
flash frozen. MU (N=24) were incubated for 30 minutes and then the extracellular
fluid was exchanged for media containing ^H-glucose and ^'*C-mannitol and
incubated for another 30 minutes. After the incubation, the muscles were freeze
clamped. Results demonstrated a relative water decrease and increase in
HYPER and HYPO, respectively. EDL and SOL glucose uptakes were found to
be significantly greater in HYPER conditions. The HYPER condition resulted in
significant alterations in muscle metabolite concentrations (lower glycogen,
elevated lactate, and G-6-P) suggesting a catabolic cell state, and an increase in
glycogen synthase transformation when compared to the HYPO group. In
conclusion, skeletal muscle cell volume alters rates of glucose uptake with further
alterations in muscle metabolites and glycogen synthase transformation.


title: Irrigation scheduling for Sovereign Coronation grapevine based upon evapotranspiration calculations and crop coefficients /

subject: Grapes Grapes Grapes Viticulture

abstract:
Several irrigation treatments were evaluated on Sovereign Coronation table grapes at two
sites over a 3-year period in the cool humid Niagara Peninsula of Ontario. Trials were conducted
in the Hippie (Beamsville, ON) and the Lambert Vineyards (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON) in 2003
to 2005 with the objective of assessing the usefulness of the modified Penman-Monteith equation
to accurately schedule vine irrigation needs. Data (relative humidity, windspeed, solar radiation,
and temperature) required to precisely calculate evapotranspiration (ETq) were downloaded from
the Ontario Weather Network. One of two ETq values (either 100 or 150%) were used in
combination with one of two crop coefficients (Kc; either fixed at 0.75 or 0.2 to 0.8 based upon
increasing canopy volume) to calculate the amount of irrigation water required. Five irrigation
treatments were: un irrigated control; (lOOET) X Kc =0.75; 150ET X Kc =0.75; lOOET X Kc
=0.2-0.8; 150ET X Kc =0.2-0.8. Transpiration, water potential (v|/), and soil moisture data were
collected each growing seasons. Yield component data was collected and berries from each
treatment were analyzed for soluble solids (Brix), pH, titratable acidity (TA), anthocyanins,
methyl anthranilate (MA), and total volatile esters (TVE). Irrigation showed a substantial
positive effect on transpiration rate and soil moisture; the control treatment showed consistently
lower transpiration and soil moisture over the 3 seasons. Transpiration appeared accurately
reflect Sovereign Coronation grapevines water status. Soil moisture also accurately reflected
level of irrigation. Moreover, irrigation showed impact of leaf \|/, which was more negative
throughout the 3 seasons for vines that were not irrigated. Irrigation had a substantial positive
effect on yield (kg/vine) and its various components (clusters/vine, cluster weight, and
berries/cluster) in 2003 and 2005. Berry weights were higher under the irrigated treatments at
both sites. Berry weight consistently appeared to be the main factor leading to these increased
yields, as inconsistent responses were noted for some yield variables. Soluble solids was highest under the ET150 and ET100 treatments both with Kc at 0.75. Both pH and TA were highest
under control treatments in 2003 and 2004, but highest under irrigated treatments in 2005.
Anthocyanins and phenols were highest under the control treatments in 2003 and 2004, but
highest under irrigated treatments in 2005. MA and TVE were highest under the ET150
treatments. Vine and soil water status measurements (soil moisture, leaf \|/, and transpiration)
confirmed that irrigation was required for the summers of 2003 and 2005 due to dry weather in
those years. They also partially supported the hypothesis that the Penman-Monteith equation is
useful for calculating vineyard water needs. Both ET treatments gave clear evidence that
irrigation could be effective in reducing water stress and for improving vine performance, yield
and fruit composition. Use of properly scheduled irrigation was beneficial for Sovereign
Coronation table grapes in the Niagara region. Findings herein should give growers some strong
guidehnes on when, how and how much to irrigate their vineyards.


title: The effect of moisture on decomposition processes in the disturbed peatlands of the Wainfleet bog /

subject:
Biodegradation
Soil moisture.
Bogs.

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of increased soil moisture levels on
the decomposition processes in a peat-extracted bog. Field experiments, in which soil
moisture levels were manipulated, were conducted using 320 microcosms in the
Wainfleet Bog from May 2002 to November 2004. Decomposition was measured using
litter bags and monitoring the abundance of macro invertebrate decomposers known as
Collembola. Litter bags containing wooden toothpicks (n=2240), filter paper (n=480)
and Betula pendula leaves (n=40) were buried in the soil and removed at regular time
intervals up to one year. The results of the litter bag studies demonstrated a significant
reduction of the decomposition of toothpicks (p<0.001), filter paper (p<0.001), and
Betula pendula leaves (p<O.OO I) when soil moisture levels were increased to levels
approaching those of natural conditions. These conditions significantly reduced the mean
mass loss of toothpicks by 30 %, filter paper by 20 % and Betula pendula leaves by 18 %
over one year when compared to the control. The abundance of Collembola was
monitored using a non-destructive method in the microcosms. By contrast the effect of
increased moisture levels on the abundance of Collembola was more variable and
difficult to interpret. The conclusions of this study indicate that the Wainfleet Bog is a
highly disturbed peatland and that the greatest reductions in decomposition can be
obtained by restoring the soil moisture levels near those of undisturbed conditions.


title: Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 CpcB lyase null mutations alter phycocyanin chromophore function and, consequently, affect the redistribution of excitation energy via the light state transition /

subject: Phycobilisomes. Cyanobacteria.

abstract:
Phycobilisomes are the major light harvesting complexes for cyanobacteria and
phycocyanin is the primary phycobiliprotein of the phycobilisome rod. The
phycocyanobilin lyases responsible for chromophorylating the phycocyanin p subunit
(CpcB) have been recently identified in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC
7002. Surprisingly, mutants missing the CpcB lyases were nevertheless capable of
producing pigmented phycocyanin. 10K absorbance measurements revealed that the
energy states of the p phycocyanin chromophores were only subtly shifted; however, 77K
steady state fluorescence emission spectroscopy showed excitation energy transfer
involving the targeted chromophores to be highly disrupted. Such evidence suggests that
phycobilin orientation within the binding domain is specifically modified. We
hypothesized that alternate, less specific lyases are able to act on the p binding sites. A
phycocyanin linker-polypeptide deficient mutant was similarly characterized. The light
state transition, a short term adaptation of the photosynthetic light harvesting apparatus
resulting in the redistribution of excitation energy among the photo systems, was shown to
be dominated by the reallocation of phycocyanin-absorbed excitation energy. Treatment
with a high M phosphate buffer effectively prevented the redistribution of both
chlorophyll a- and phycobilisome- absorbed excitation energy, suggesting that the two
effects are not strictly independent. The mutant strains required a larger redistribution of
excitation energy between light states, perhaps to compensate for their loss in
phycobilisome antenna function.


title: Level and precision of behavioural thermoregulation in the bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps : effects of hypoxia and environmental thermal quality /

subject:
Bearded dragons (Reptiles)
Body temperature

abstract:
Most metabolic functions are optimized within a narrow range of body
temperatures, which is why thermoregulation is of great importance for the survival and
overall fitness of an animal. It has been proposed that lizards will thermoregulate less
precisely in low thermal quality environments, where the costs associated with
thermoregulation are high; in the case of lizards, whose thermoregulation is mainly
behavioural, the primary costs ofthermoregulation are those derived from locomotion.
Decreasing thermoregulatory precision in costly situations is a strategy that enhances
fitness by allowing lizards to be more flexible to changing environmental conditions. It
allows animals to maximize the benefits of maintaining a relatively high body temperature
while minimizing energy expenditure. In situations where oxygen concentration is low, the
costs of thermoregulation are relatively high (i.e. in relation to the amount of oxygen
available for metabolic functions). As a result, it is likely that exposures to hypoxic
conditions induce a decrease in the precision of thermoregulation. This study evaluated the
effects of hypoxia and low environmental thermal quality, two energetically costly
conditions, on the precision and level of thermoregulation in the bearded dragon, Pogona
vitticeps, in an electronic temperature-choice shuttle box.
Four levels of hypoxia (1O, 7, 5 and 4% 02) were tested. Environmental thermal
quality was manipulated by varying the rate of temperature change (oTa) in an electronic
temperature-choice shuttle box. Higher oT a's translate into more thermally challenging
environments, since under these conditions the animals are forced to move a greater
number of times (and hence invest more energy in locomotion) to maintain similar
temperatures than at lower oTa's. In addition, lizards were tested in an "extreme temperatures" treatment during which air temperatures of the hot and cold compartments of
the shuttle box were maintained at a constant 50 and 15°C respectively. This was
considered the most thermally challenging environment. The selected ambient (T a) and
internal body temperatures (Tb) of bearded dragons, as well as the thermoregulatory
precision (measured by the central 68% ofthe Ta and T b distribution) were evaluated. The
thermoregulatory response was similar to both conditions. A significant increase in the size
of the Tb range, reflecting a decrease in thermoregulatory precision, and a drop in preferred
body temperature of ~2 °C, were observed at both 4% oxygen and at the environment of
lowest thermal quality. The present study suggests that in energetically costly situations,
such as the ones tested in this study, the bearded dragon reduces energy expenditure by
decreasing preferred body temperature and minimizing locomotion, at the expense of
precise behavioural thermoregulation. The close similarity of the behavioural
thermoregulatory response to two very different stimuli suggests a possible common
mechanism and neuronal pathway to the thermoregulatory response.


title: Infrared spectroscopy of Mg-doped SrRuO3 thin films /

subject:
Thin films
Infrared spectroscopy.
Magnesium.

abstract:
The reflectance of thin films of magnesium doped SrRu03(Mg-SR0) produced by
pulsed laser deposition on SrTiOa (100) substrates has been measured at room temperature
between 100 and 7500 cm~^. The films were chosen to have wide range of
thickness, stoichiometry and electrical properties. As the films were very thin (less
than 300 nm), and some were insulating the reflectance data shows structures due to
both the film and the substrate. Hence, the data was analyzed using Kramers-Kronig
constrained variational fitting (VDF) method to extract the real optical conductivity
of the Mg-SRO films. Although the VDF technique is flexible enough to fit all features
of the reflectance spectra, it seems that VDF could not eliminate the substrate's
contribution from fllm conductivity results. Also the comparison of the two different
programs implementing VDF fltting shows that this technique has a uniqueness
problem.
The optical properties are discussed in light of the measured structural and transport
properties of the fllms which vary with preparation conditions and can be correlated
with differences in stoichiometry. This investigation was aimed at checking the
VDF technique and also getting answer to the question whether Mg^"*" substitutes in
to Ru or Sr site. Analysis of our data suggests that Mg^+ goes to Ru site.


title: Effects of reflection and social isolation on crayfish behaviour /

subject: Crayfish. Curiosity. Socialization.

abstract:
Visual stimuli and socialization influence exploratory behaviour in crayfish.
The predominant components of spontaneous exploratory behaviour were determined by
observing the activity of solitary adult crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in a glass aquarium
containing fresh water and no objects. Five distinct behaviours were observed: rearing up
(climbing on the wall), turning around, cornering (facing the comer), backward walking, and
crossing (crossing the midline of the aquarium). The frequency of rearing up, cornering and
turning around decreased when reflection from the glass wall was blocked with black
cardboard, black paint or non-reflective transparent plastic. In a tank containing mirrors on
one side and non-reflective plastic on the other, crayfish cornered, reared up, and turned
around more in front of the mirrors. Socialization was necessary for crayfish to respond to
the reflection. Crayfish that were housed in pairs for two weeks exhibited more rearing up,
turning around and cornering in front of the mirrors than in the non-reflective side. Crayfish
isolated for two weeks did not show these differences. Socialized crayfish also exhibited
more rearing up, turning around and cornering than did isolated crayfish. Thus, crayfish
respond to visual stimuli provided by a glass tank, but the responds depends on socialization.


title: A discursive analysis of children's recreational adult-organized sport : when do children get to play?

subject:
Sports for children.
Play.

abstract:
Adult-organized children's sport attracts millions of participants in Canada and the
United States each year. Though there is a great deal of research that considers children's
sport, little of it focuses on recreational or house league sport and less of it offers a deep
examination of children's experience of their participation. Using observations,
interviews, and focus groups involving ten participants in mixed-gender recreational
basketball, this qualitative research project examined their experiences. With Foucault's
concepts of correct training and the panoptic gaze in mind, I used discourse and
deconstruction analyses to consider the children's descriptions along with my observations
of their basketball experience. I was particularly looking for prevalent discourses on sport,
childhood, and gender and how they affected their experiences. Despite the league's
discursive emphasis on fun, participation, fairness, and respect, that was not necessarily
what the children experienced. While most stated they enjoyed their season many also
expressed serious disappointments. Size and particularly skill very much determined who
was most involved in the action and thus actually played baskethaW. Gender also played a
significant role in their sport experiences. My findings invite questions about what
genuine sport participation actually is and how it might be alternatively imagined.


title: Teamwork and leadership : competitive youth soccer as a context for positive youth development

subject:
Teamwork (Sports)
Leadership.
Soccer
Sports for children

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine processes and interactions that characterized
positive developmental experiences in sport. A highly competitive and reputable U-17
girls' soccer team was chosen for the study through purposeful sampling, providing an
information rich case from which data could be derived (Patton, 2002). Seventeen players
and three coaches participated in this study. Based on an ethnographic methodology data
were collected via observations and both informal and formal semi-structured interviews.
Tlie data were coded according to the three procedures outlined by Seidel and Kelle
(1995): a) noticing relevant phenomena, b) collecting examples of those phenomena, and
c) analyzing those phenomena in order to find commonalities, differences, patterns and
structures. Significant events and underlying themes were recounted chronologically
through a collection of vignettes, aimed to provide a contextual lens for the reader.
Results revolved around two prominent themes: Teamwork and leadership. These were
closely related concepts that required players to demonstrate a wide range of
developmental skills for the team to move collectively towards their end goal.
Furthermore, teamwork and leadership experiences took both desirable and undesirable
forms. For example, at the beginning of the season competition existed amongst the
players at the expense of teamwork and leadership. As the season progressed the pursuit
of a shared goal allowed the players to view each other as collaborators and teamwork
and leadership skills became increasingly evident. At times, however, success on the field
was prioritized above maintaining relationships off the field, requiring the coaches to
intervene and re-establish equilibrium.


title: What happens in the first 200 ms of word reading : ERP studies on visual word recognition with top-down and bottom-up approaches /

subject:
Lexicology
Reading, Psychology of.
Written communication
Evoked potentials (Electrophysiology)

abstract:
In this thesis, three main questions were addressed using event-related potentials
(ERPs): (1) the timing of lexical semantic access, (2) the influence of "top-down"
processes on visual word processing, and (3) the influence of "bottom-up" factors on
visual word processing. The timing of lexical semantic access was investigated in two
studies using different designs. In Study 1,14 participants completed two tasks: a
standard lexical decision (LD) task which required a word/nonword decision to each
target stimulus, and a semantically primed version (LS) of it using the same category of
words (e.g., animal) within each block following which participants made a category
judgment. In Study 2, another 12 participants performed a standard semantic priming
task, where target stimulus words (e.g., nurse) could be either semantically related or
unrelated to their primes (e.g., doctor, tree) but the order of presentation was randomized.
We found evidence in both ERP studies that lexical semantic access might occur early
within the first 200 ms (at about 170 ms for Study 1 and at about 160 ms for Study 2).
Our results were consistent with more recent ERP and eye-tracking studies and are in
contrast with the traditional research focus on the N400 component.
"Top-down" processes, such as a person's expectation and strategic decisions,
were possible in Study 1 because of the blocked design, but they were not for Study 2
with a randomized design. Comparing results from two studies, we found that visual
word processing could be affected by a person's expectation and the effect occurred early
at a sensory/perceptual stage: a semantic task effect in the PI component at about 100 ms
in the ERP was found in Study 1 , but not in Study 2. Furthermore, we found that such "top-down" influence on visual word processing might be mediated through separate
mechanisms depending on whether the stimulus was a word or a nonword.
"Bottom-up" factors involve inherent characteristics of particular words, such as
bigram frequency (the total frequency of two-letter combinations of a word), word
frequency (the frequency of the written form of a word), and neighborhood density (the
number of words that can be generated by changing one letter of an original word or
nonword). A bigram frequency effect was found when comparing the results from
Studies 1 and 2, but it was examined more closely in Study 3. Fourteen participants
performed a similar standard lexical decision task but the words and nonwords were
selected systematically to provide a greater range in the aforementioned factors. As a
result, a total of 18 word conditions were created with 18 nonword conditions matched on
neighborhood density and neighborhood frequency. Using multiple regression analyses,
we foimd that the PI amplitude was significantly related to bigram frequency for both
words and nonwords, consistent with results from Studies 1 and 2. In addition, word
frequency and neighborhood frequency were also able to influence the PI amplitude
separately for words and for nonwords and there appeared to be a spatial dissociation
between the two effects: for words, the word frequency effect in PI was found at the left
electrode site; for nonwords, the neighborhood frequency effect in PI was fovind at the
right elecfrode site. The implications of otir findings are discussed.


title: The social consequences of mild head injury and executive dysfunction /

subject:
Brain damage
Brain damage
Neuropsychology.

abstract:
Mild head injury (MHI) is a serious cause of neurological impairment as is evident by the
substantial percentage (15%) of individuals who remain symptomatic at least 1-year
following "mild" head trauma. However, there is a paucity of research investigating the
social consequences following a MHI. The first objective of this study was to examine
whether measures of executive functioning were predictive of specific forms of antisocial
behaviour, such as reactive aggression, impulsive antisocial behaviour, behavioural
disinhibition, and deficits in social awareness after controlling for the variance accounted
for by sex differences. The second objective was to investigate whether a history of MHI
was predictive of these same social consequences after controlling for both sex
differences and executive functioning. Ninety university students participated in
neuropsychological testing and filled out self-report questionnaires. Fifty-two percent of
the sample self-reported experiencing a MHI. As expected, men were more reactively
aggressive and antisocial than women. Furthermore, executive dysfunction predicted
reactive aggression and impulsive antisocial behaviour after controlling for sex
differences. Finally, as expected, MHI status predicted reactive aggression, impulsive
antisocial behaviour, and behavioural disinhibition after controlling for sex and executive
fimctioning. MHI status and executive functioning did not predict social awareness or
sensitivity to reward or punishment. These results suggest that incurring a MHI has
serious social consequences that mirror the neurobehavioural profile following severe
cases of brain injury. Therefore, the social sequelae after MHI imply a continuum of
behavioural deficits between MHI and more severe forms of brain injury.


title: The evolution, experience and drivers of collaboration in two non-profit river based organizations in New Brunswick, Canada

subject:
Environmental management
Cooperation.
Rivers


title: Drumming toward communitas : a case study of facilitated recreational music making and the Arthurian method

subject:
Community development
Percussion music
Leisure

abstract:
The phenomenon of communitas has been described as a moment 'in and out of
time' in which a collective of individuals may be experienced by one as equal and
individuated in an environment stripped of structural attributes (Turner, 1 969). In these
moments, emotional bonds form and an experience of perceived 'oneness' and synergy
may be described. As a result of the perceived value of these experiences, it has been
suggested by Sharpe (2005) that more clearly understanding how this phenomenon may
be purposefully facilitated would be beneficial for leisure service providers.
Consequently, the purpose of this research endeavor was to examine the ways in which a
particular leisure service provider systematically employs specific methods and sets
specific parameters with the intention of guiding participants toward experiences
associated with communitas or "shared spirit" as described by the organization. A
qualitative case study taking a phenomenological approach was employed in order to
capture the depth and complexity of both the phenomenon and the purposefiil negotiation
of experiences in guiding participants toward this phenomenon. The means through
which these experiences were intentionally facilitated was recreational music making in a
group drumming context. As such, an organization which employs specific methods of
rhythm circle facilitation as well as trains other facilitators all over the world was chosen
purposely for their recognition as the most respectable and credible in this field. The
specific facilitator was chosen based on high recommendation by the organization due to
her level of experience and expertise. Two rhythm circles were held, and participants
were chosen randomly by the facilitator. Data was collected through observation in the
first circle and participant- observation in the second, as well as through focus groups
with circle participants. Interviews with the facilitator were held both initially to gain
broad understanding of concepts and phenomenon as well as after each circle to reflect on
each circle specifically. Data was read repeatedly to drawn out patterns which emerged
and were coded and organized accordingly. It was found that this specific process or
system of implementation lead to experiences associated with communitas by
participants. In order to more clearly understand this process and the ways in which
experiences associated with communitas manifest as a result of deliberate facilitator
actions, these objective facilitator actions were plotted along a continuum relating to
subjective participant experiences. These findings were then linked to the literature with
regards to specific characteristics of communitas. In so doing, the intentional
manifestation of these experiences may be more clearly understood for ftiture facilitators
in many contexts. Beyond this, findings summarized important considerations with
regards to specific technical and communication competencies which were found to be
essential to fostering these experiences for participants within each group. Findings
surrounding the maintenance of a fluid negotiation of certain transition points within a
group rhythm event overall were also highlighted, and this fluidity was found to be
essential to the experience of absorption and engagement in the activity and experience.
Emergent themes of structure, control, and consciousness have been presented as they
manifested and were found to affect experiences within this study. Discussions
surrounding the ethics and authenticity of these particular methods and their
implementation has also been generated throughout. In conclusion, there was a breadth as
well as depth of knowledge found in unpacking this complex process of guiding
individuals toward experiences associated with communitas. The implications of these
findings contribute in broadening the current theoretical as well as practical
understanding as to how certain intentional parameters may be set and methods employed
which may lead to experiences of communitas, and as well contribute a greater
knowledge to conceptualizing the manifestation of these experiences when broken down.


title: Fade to black : picturing mortality in contemporary popular film /

subject: Death in motion pictures.

abstract:
This thesis attempts to understand representations of death in contemporary
popular film within a framework that posits mortality as a category of particular social
and political importance for the way we understand both individual subjectivity and
social responsibility in the postmodern cultural moment. It addresses concerns over the
social organizing categories of time and space, and performs a sustained consideration of
predominant themes related to the popular representation of death, such as contingency,
existential.meaning, and temporal finitude. Death consciousness and social consciousness
are shown to be not just intertwined, but also vitally dependent on one another, and the
analyses undertaken are ultimately aimed at making these intersections explicit in order
• l
to think through their potential implications for challenging consumer capitalist
hegemony and envisioning the possibility of progressive social change through the lens
of our mortality.


title: The backwoods of our backyards : Ontario pioneers and the crisis of ecology /

subject:
Human behavior.
Human ecology
Pioneers
Frontier and pioneer life

abstract:
Early in his landmark ecocritical book The Comedy of Survival, Joseph Meeker
develops an intriguing hypothesis about human behaviour. He remarks the species Homo
sapiens tend to behave like an invasive or pioneering organism, entering a bio-geographical
region and aggressively outcompeting all other species for space and resources. Moreover,
he suggests, human cultural traditions, at least in the West, have reinforced such behaviour,
continually insisting that the impulses he describes are both necessary and right. While
Meeker's work goes on to assess a number of literary works in both the tragic and comic
modes, his work never fully explores this hypothesis in the context of human pioneers; that
is, there is no ~xploration o( how these themes manifest themselves within our culture and
what role they might play in the culture of specific pioneering groups.
This project is an attempt at just such an analysis, examining the validity of Meeker's
hypothesis through a case study of settler literature in Upper Canada/Ontario between the .
years 1800-1867. It explores Meeker's work within three main areas: first, Chapter Two
situates his book historically within the field of ecocriticism, showing what came before
and the explosion of ecocritical inquiry that followed its release. This chapter also delves
into the rift between the natural sciences and humanities, arguing that a move towards
deeper interdisciplinarity is r:tecessary for the future. Chapter Three examines the
biological and ecological ground on which Meeker rests his hypothesis through exploring
evolutionary biology as well as invasive and pioneer species behaviour. Lastly, Chapter
Four examines how these ecological principles are manifested in the writings of early
Canadian settlers, suggesting that Meeker's hypothesis indeed finds itself on stable footing.