identifier: Colucci, Abigail <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Colucci=3AAbigail=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Information literacy instruction in Ontario middle grade classrooms.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This research study focused on the integration of information literacy instruction within a middle grade (grades 5-8) school setting based on the analysis and discussion of data gleaned from surveyed information professionals, research literature, and government, school, or library association guidelines. Although there is an abundance of research literature on the necessity of information literacy in a school setting, research and case studies often revolve around US schools and the common core curriculum and do not provide recommendations on the best practices of information literacy instruction based on Ontario or Canadian schools. First, this research examined a variety of literature focusing on information literacy within middle-grade classrooms, specifically looking at the suggestions of the current trends and future needs of information literacy instruction within an Ontario middle school environment (grades 5-8). Second, it analyzed data collected from a questionnaire of information professional’s current practices for information literacy instruction, then examined the pros and cons of each institution’s digital and information literacy curriculum. Last, it reviewed the recommendations and best practices of individual respondents. The study found that, while librarians felt that most administration and other educators recognized the importance of information literacy, the subject was often glossed over and librarians were not used for their expertise. To better implement information literacy, librarians saw the need for better support from administration, improved collaboration between librarians and teachers, and encouraged board-wide policies promoting information literacy as an essential element within the curriculum.


identifier: Ghariba, Bashir <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ghariba=3ABashir=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Visual saliency prediction based on deep learning.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract:
The Human Visual System (HVS) has the ability to focus on specific parts of a scene, rather than the whole image. Human eye movement is also one of the primary functions used in our daily lives that helps us understand our surroundings. This phenomenon is one of the most active research topics in the computer vision and neuroscience fields. The outcomes that have been achieved by neural network methods in a variety of tasks have highlighted their ability to predict visual saliency. In particular, deep learning models have been used for visual saliency prediction. In this thesis, a deep learning method based on a transfer learning strategy is proposed (Chapter 2), wherein visual features in the convolutional layers are extracted from raw images to predict visual saliency (e.g., saliency map). Specifically, the proposed model uses the VGG-16 network (i.e., Pre-trained CNN model) for semantic segmentation. The proposed model is applied to several datasets, including TORONTO, MIT300, MIT1003, and DUT-OMRON, to illustrate its efficiency. The results of the proposed model are then quantitatively and qualitatively compared to classic and state-of-the-art deep learning models.
In Chapter 3, I specifically investigate the performance of five state-of-the-art deep neural networks (VGG-16, ResNet-50, Xception, InceptionResNet-v2, and MobileNet-v2) for the task of visual saliency prediction. Five deep learning models were trained over the SALICON dataset and used to predict visual saliency maps using four standard datasets, namely TORONTO, MIT300, MIT1003, and DUT-OMRON. The results indicate that the ResNet-50 model outperforms the other four and provides a visual saliency map that is very close to human performance.
In Chapter 4, a novel deep learning model based on a Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) architecture is proposed. The proposed model is trained in an end-to-end style and designed to predict visual saliency. The model is based on the encoder-decoder structure and includes two types of modules. The first has three stages of inception modules to improve multi-scale derivation and enhance contextual information. The second module includes one stage of the residual module to provide a more accurate recovery of information and to simplify optimization. The entire proposed model is fully trained from scratch to extract distinguishing features and to use a data augmentation technique to create variations in the images. The proposed model is evaluated using several benchmark datasets, including MIT300, MIT1003, TORONTO, and DUT-OMRON. The quantitative and qualitative experiment analyses demonstrate that the proposed model achieves superior performance for predicting visual saliency.
In Chapter 5, I study the possibility of using deep learning techniques for Salient Object Detection (SOD) because this work is slightly related to the problem of Visual saliency prediction. Therefore, in this work, the capability of ten well-known pre-trained models for semantic segmentation, including FCNs, VGGs, ResNets, MobileNet-v2, Xception, and InceptionResNet-v2, are investigated. These models have been trained over an ImageNet dataset, fine-tuned on a MSRA-10K dataset, and evaluated using other public datasets, such as ECSSD, MSRA-B, DUTS, and THUR15k. The results illustrate the superiority of ResNet50 and ResNet18, which have Mean Absolute Errors (MAE) of approximately 0.93 and 0.92, respectively, compared to other well-known FCN models.
Finally, conclusions are drawn, and possible future works are discussed in chapter 6.


identifier: Datta, Aparajita <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Datta=3AAparajita=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Gender role identity and entrepreneurial intentions: a study with university students.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the association of gender role identity with the precursors (antecedents) of entrepreneurial intentions by empirically validating the relationship between gender role identity and entrepreneurial intentions. The theoretical frameworks used in the study are the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Social Role Theory (SRT) (Ajzen, 1991; Eagly,1987). The study investigates the mediating role of the constructs of TPB- attitude towards behavior (ATB), perceived behavioral control (PBC) and subjective social norms (SSN) in the relationship between gender role identity (GRI) and entrepreneurial intentions (EI). A survey was conducted with 149 undergraduate and graduate students of all departments from the Memorial University of Newfoundland located in St John’s city in Newfoundland and Labrador province, Canada. Results suggest that gender role identity is indirectly associated with entrepreneurial intentions through subjective social norms and attitude towards behavior and also through subjective social norms and perceived behavioral control. Findings also show that higher the level of femininity, lower are the subjective social norms. This study makes a significant contribution by investigating a conceptual model of gender role identity and entrepreneurial intentions. Limitations, future directions, and conclusion have been outlined.


identifier: Greenham, Andrew D. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Greenham=3AAndrew_D=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2020) An accelerometer-based approach to hull monitoring beyond the elastic regime.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
With the efficient shipping route offered by the Northwest Passage, and its rapidly
increasing availability to a wider range of ships in the coming years, the prevalence of ice
covered waters to ships will be greatly increased. An option for hull-monitoring is
explored which allows for damage detection beyond the elastic regime and deep into the
plastic regime. This method involves using an accelerometer placed on the inside of the
hull, and as an impact causing plastic damage is experienced, accelerometer readings are
used to determine the delivered force to the hull. In this thesis a proof of concept for the
suggested method is described and shown through a simplified example using finite
element analysis. In this proposed method, the accelerometer allows for the structure to
be examined from the point of view of the equation of motion. The proposition requires
numerical integration from the acceleration data to find the displacement of the damaged
area, and calibrations done in finite element analysis for both the stiffness and mass parts
of the equation of motion to calculate the delivered force to the hull. The average error at
which the proposed model determines force was found to be approximately 7%, which
was calculated within the range of plastic flow behavior of the structure during an impact.
Further development of this proposed method could have significant benefits such as
increased safety for those at sea, better operational awareness of a ship’s capabilities,
reduced dry-docking and inspection frequency, and the collection of realistic data from
significant ice collisions at sea.


identifier: Dicker, Jason K. M. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dicker=3AJason_K=2E_M=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Using integrated resource management and the public trust doctrine to examine wildlife management practices in northern Labrador: a case study on the George River caribou hunting ban.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The people of Labrador, especially the Inuit, rely on their surrounding resources to sustain themselves and their culture. In particular, the Labrador Inuit depended upon the George River Caribou Herd (GRCH), once one of the largest caribou herds in the world, to provide them with a staple food supply, nourishment, materials, and facilitate the intergenerational sharing of knowledge and important social and cultural norms, all of which are critical to life in Arctic and subarctic environments. This woodland caribou population, however, has declined by 99% over much of it range resulting in a hunting ban, and consequently, a cascade of impacts on the Inuit of northern Labrador. Examining and understanding these impacts is the focus of this thesis. As management of wildlife in North America is to follow the Public Trust Doctrine—to manage wildlife in the public trust—this thesis helps bring the information of Inuit impacts into the discussion to help inform future best practices for more accountable, responsible, and locally responsive wildlife management efforts in the North.


identifier: Hatefi, Fatemeh <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hatefi=3AFatemeh=3A=3A.html>   (2021) Spatiotemporal models to improve stock size abundance indices derived from stratified bottom-trawl surveys, with an application to witch flounder.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
A fundamental part of a fishery stock assessment is an abundance index that reflects
stock trends and changes across time. An abundance index is a measurement that is
proportional to stock size, and the constant of proportionality is assumed to be the same
over time and space. The abundance index can be obtained from the information provided
by research vessel surveys of fisheries resources. Changes in survey coverage are a common
problem in such surveys, and these changes create uncertainty in interpreting the trend
of abundance indices. This is because when there are changes in survey coverage, the
changes in survey abundance indices over time may partially reflect changes in the areas
surveyed in addition to changes in stock size. Thus, changes in survey coverage over time
may lead to errors in fish stock assessment.
This thesis provides improved survey indices of stock size using spatiotemporal models
that address changes in survey coverage for witch flounder on the east coast of Newfoundland
and Labrador. I first estimate the design-based abundance indices to use as a baseline
to compare the performance of indices derived from spatiotemporal models. Second, I
develop spatiotemporal models and select the best-fitting model via model comparison to
estimate the spatial variation of mean catches. These models can predict and interpolate
the abundance indices for missing areas and years. These models enable us to fill the data
gaps in some survey years to provide more reliable survey indices and longer time-series
for the witch flounder stock assessment.


identifier: Doozha, Amir Joorab <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Doozha=3AAmir_Joorab=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Exploring graphene oxide in environmentally altered graphite: a link between chemistry and archaeology.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Graphene oxide (GO) has drawn a great deal of attention, in a laboratory setting,
due to its ability to stay suspended in water more easily for solution processing of
graphene. In an outdoor setting, it is possible that GO is formed as graphite degrades
over time in charred carbon-rich materials such as archaeological charcoal. This GO
could be used as a valuable source for radiocarbon dating because its carbon would
have the same age as the graphitic carbon that is traditionally extracted for dating.
Before radiocarbon dating, graphitic samples are cleaned using a series of strong acid
and base treatments to remove contaminants. However, this cleaning procedure can
break down some graphite-based samples, leaving no graphite for ¹⁴C dating. In those
situations, we suspect that GO is cleaned away along with the unwanted contaminants.
Our studies are the first to consider whether GO exists in archaeological charcoal and
if it can be separated effectively from carbon-containing contaminants. These findings
will be particularly useful for chemists and environmental scientists who work with
natural sources of graphite in which oxidized graphenic materials may be present.
Here, we show that a mixture of oxidized graphenic material with different degrees
of oxidation, and fluorescent carbon-based materials, can be present in archaeological
charcoal. We also develop a straightforward protocol that separates a simple test
case of a lab-prepared mixture of these components. Our results help to explain
why a significant amount of archaeological charcoal is sometimes lost during aqueous
cleaning treatments at different pH values.
The fluorescent carbon-based materials described above could originate from either
the original graphite (in the form of highly oxidized pieces, called oxidative debris
(OD)) or from contaminants (such as humic acid (HA)). The fluorescent materials stay
suspended in alkaline aqueous solutions. Although UV-Vis data of base-treated archaeological
charcoal shows evidence of oxidized carbon, it is not informative enough
to study a mixture of oxidized graphite, OD, and HA. Therefore, we monitor UV
absorption at specific wavelengths as a function of retention time using size exclusion
chromatography (SEC). Our results demonstrate that distinguishing oxidized
graphite, OD, and HA from each other is very challenging. Based on SEC results,
we identify materials in archaeological charcoal that have similar UV excitation responses
and similar retention time (size) to a common HA standard, as well as other
components with similar UV excitation responses at longer retention times (smaller
sizes).


identifier: García García, Almudena <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Garc=EDa_Garc=EDa=3AAlmudena=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Land - atmosphere coupling in climate models over North America; understanding inter-model differences.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The interactions between the lower atmosphere and the land surface are associated
with weather and climate phenomena such as the duration, frequency and intensity
of extreme temperature and precipitation events. Thus, the representation of land-
atmosphere interactions in climate model simulations is crucial for projecting future
changes in the statistics of extreme events as realistically as possible. Given the importance of the land-atmosphere interaction, the purpose of the thesis is to evaluate
climate simulations performed by General Circulation Models (GCMs) and Regional
Climate Models (RCMs) and examine the role of the Land Surface Model (LSM)
component and the horizontal resolution over North America. For this purpose, I
analyze a large set of simulations from GCMs and RCMs used by the fifth assessment
report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as well as my own
simulations performed by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Results show that GCM simulations present large uncertainties in the representation of
land-atmosphere interactions in comparison with observations. This work also reveals
a dependence of the simulated land-atmosphere interactions on the LSM components
used in regional and global simulations. Additionally, the LSM component is identified
as an important source of uncertainty in the simulation of extreme temperature and
precipitation events. Increasing the horizontal resolution also affects the simulation of land-atmosphere interactions, which lead to the intensification of precipitation, evapotranspiration and soil moisture at low latitudes; that is increased latent heat flux,
soil moisture, and precipitation. The impact of both factors, horizontal resolution
and the LSM, is larger in summer in agreement with the summer intensification of
land-atmosphere interactions reported in the literature. The comparison of model
simulations and observations indicates that the use of the most comprehensive LSM
component available in WRF, the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4), leads
to a better representation of temperature climatologies. In contrast, finer horizontal
resolutions are associated with larger biases in the WRF simulation of precipitation
climatology, due to the overestimation of precipitation in the WRF model. Due to the
large effect of the LSM component on the simulation of near-surface conditions shown
in this dissertation, the use of simple version of LSM component in GCMs, RCMs
or reanalyses can be an important limitation in climate simulations and reanalysis
products.


identifier: McLeod, Anne <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/McLeod=3AAnne=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Environmental and ecological drivers of food web structure and dynamics.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Natural communities are undergoing accelerated changes due to human pressures such as habitat fragmentation, over-harvesting, and species invasions. Here, I use bioinformatics and mathematical models to examine the environmental and ecological drivers of food-web structure and dynamics. First, I use a spatially expansive food web to examine drivers of spatial turnover in food web interactions across an environmental gradient. I observe that there is a large amount of spatial turnover in food web interactions, however, the fundamental structure of these food webs stays constant. Further, I demonstrate that predicting local realizations of community structure is very difficult, but critical since environmental perturbations occur at the local scale. Then, I integrate empirical data and mathematical models to explore the consequences of omnivory on food-web stability and persistence. I demonstrate that the importance of omnivory depends on both the type of omnivory and the food web within which it appears. Moreover, scale matters - conclusions about the stabilizing effect of omnivory depend on the scale of the mathematical model (i.e. module vs whole food web model). Omnivory is just one repeated structure within food webs. Using a dynamic food web model, I examine the relationship between different network metrics and community, species, and interaction persistence in food webs. I demonstrate that network metrics are successful at predicting community and interaction persistence. They are not, however, the same metrics, and the relationship is dependent on the scale of persistence being examined (i.e community vs species vs interaction). Finally, I derive a novel multi-trophic metacommunity model which demonstrates how movement is a product of both a species’ ability to move and the landscape across which it moves. Treating patch connectivity as a species’ specific property can change our conclusions about multi-patch stability. Overall, my thesis integrates data and theory to test the impacts of environmental gradients and change on food webs and provide testable predictions to guide future research in spatial food web ecology.


identifier: Chaves, Arthur R. de A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Chaves=3AArthur_R=2E_de_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to study corticospinal excitability, provide biomarkers of disease progression and understand the effects of fitness and exercise training in Multiple Sclerosis.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory neurodegenerative disease, affecting both white and gray matter, leading to physical and cognitive dysfunction. Exacerbation of symptoms, caused by intensification of neuroinflammation, is characteristic of the relapsing-remitting type of MS while neurodegeneration is more typical of progressive stages. Because of the complexity of the disease, biomarkers are being sought to track progression and observe the benefits of treatments that aim to repair or protect the central nervous system. In my doctoral work, I used Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a tool that measures corticospinal excitability (CSE), to investigate biomarkers of MS progression, and to understand whether superior fitness and exercise training would positively impact these biomarkers.
In my first study, I demonstrated that people with MS have alarmingly low cardiorespiratory fitness which was associated with increasing intracortical inhibition, a biomarker of diminished neuroplasticity. Such inhibition was also associated with fatigue, one of the most troubling symptoms experienced by people with MS. In the second study, I investigated the patterns of how MS affected each brain hemisphere and revealed that early in the disease, people with MS seem to have paradoxically higher excitability in the hemisphere corresponding to the weaker hand. This suggested that the central nervous system may be in a state of hyperexcitability which I could detect using TMS. In the next two studies, I investigated the acute and long-term (12 weeks) effects of exercise on CSE among people with progressive MS. An acute bout of exercise was accompanied by increased excitation and reduction in inhibition but mainly in the hemisphere corresponding to the stronger hand. Those who were fitter had more robust benefits. After 12 weeks (3x/week) of walking exercise training, CSE enhanced bilaterally. Importantly, all CSE enhancements were short term and returned to baseline 3 months after cessation of the exercise training. The results of my doctoral work support the use of TMS to investigate CSE and provide biomarkers of central nervous system integrity in MS. More importantly, these results demonstrated that sedentarism can negatively affect the MS brain, and that performing exercise can potentiate cortical mechanisms related to enhanced neuroplasticity.


identifier: Shahrokhian, Anita <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Shahrokhian=3AAnita=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Approximation for response adaptive designs using Stein's method.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Stein's method introduced by Charles Stein (1972) is a powerful tool in distributional
approximation, especially in classes of random variables that are stochastically dependent.
In recent years, researchers have concentrated more on adaptive designs.
For the response adaptive randomization procedures, the patient's allocation depends
on the aggregated information that is acquired from the responses of the previously
treated patients. This design uses the information of patients' responses to modify
treatment allocation in order to assign more patients to a successful treatment,
thus introduce dependent structure in the data. In this thesis we investigate the
use of Stein's method in statistical inference for response adaptive design. We have
acquired asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimators for treatment
effects by deriving an upper bound for these estimators using Stein's method. We
examine the performance of three types of response adaptive designs under various
success probabilities through simulation studies. Since adaptive designs generate a
dependent sequence of random variables that are not exchangeable, we present the
advantage of using bootstrap re-sampling in adaptive designs and the efficiency of
this method. We compare bootstrap confidence intervals with the asymptotic confidence interval under different success rates of three allocation methods. Also, we
discuss the normal approximation based on the Wald's statistic in the numerical
studies.


identifier: Ahmed, A S Daiyan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ahmed=3AA_S_Daiyan=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Hole widening drilling penetration mechanism and performance evaluation in hard rock utilizing cutting analysis.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Mining by drilling technique, a revolutionary breakthrough which has already created a wind of change in the industry of ore excavation. Mineral production form the narrow veins is a matter of great challenge and mining by drilling technique is providing the unique solution for this type of excavation. Large diameter hole drilling is performed for accomplishment of excavation from narrow vein ore bodies. Conventional rotary drill rigs are used to drill a small pilot hole through the center of the vein and then the large diameter hole is drilled on the same hole where pilot bit works as a guide or stabilizer for large diameter bit. Pilot hole are drilled to understand the geology, geometry of the formation and the large diameter hole drilling works as the main production process of the ore.
Lab based Drill-Off Tests were conducted to evaluate the pilot hole drilling and hole widening drilling process. Drill cuttings were used as the main source of information and shape, size, volume of the particles were examined carefully for proper assessment of the drilling process. Performance of these two types of drilling process were estimated based on Rate of Penetration (ROP), Revolution Per Minute (RPM), Mechanical Specific Energy (MSE) and Drilling Efficiency (DE). Relationship between drill cuttings particle size parameters and drilling parameters were investigated for proper appraisal of hole widening drilling process. A detailed study was performed to assist field scale hole widening drilling operations that involves intensive analysis of cuttings, drilling parameters, and drilling performance.


identifier: Rauman, Peggy A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Rauman=3APeggy_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2020) The social organization of nursing practice in the hospital setting and the influence on the development of conflicting working relationships between registered nurse peers.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The term conflicting working relationships (CWRs) is used in this research to represent working relationships between nurse peers that are non-collegial, uncaring, and non-supportive. These types of relationships have been reported in the research literature using many different labels including incivility, horizontal violence, and bullying and are known to be a source of job dissatisfaction, disengagement, and burnout. Despite efforts to limit the occurrences of CWRs between nurse peers, incidents of CWRs continue to occur. Using institutional ethnography, this research explored and made visible the relationship between the social organization of professional nursing practice in the hospital setting and the development of CWRs between Registered Nurse (RN) peers. Three aspects of the social organization of professional nursing practice, should nursing, double domination, and the big picture were revealed as creating disjunctures, frustrations, and tensions for nurses that were significant in the development of CWRs. The findings of this research further illuminate how conflict has become institutionalized and how there is a need for strong nursing leadership to advocate for workplace processes and contexts that support healthy and productive working relationships between nurse peers. The results of this study offer important insights into the ways CWRs between RN peers are influenced by the extra-level processes and relations of ruling that govern professional nursing practice. Through increased clarity of these factors, it is hoped that this research can be used to open a dialogue for leaders to discuss how nursing practice could be organized in a way that supports more collegial practices between RNs.


identifier: Howell, Brittany <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Howell=3ABrittany=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Learning more than music: a community-based music program's impact on well-being in youth.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Participating in the arts has shown promise in improving physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Adverse mental health is one of the leading causes of disability and lowered quality of life worldwide and often begins at young ages. Since early life experiences have a strong influence on youth, it is vital to identify potential prevention methods that promote mental health and wellness in youth populations. Participation in community music programs may be one possible way to promote well-being in youth.
My thesis consisted of two separate but connected studies, a systematic review, and a qualitative study. The systematic review summarized relevant literature to explore the impact of community music instruction on social and emotional well-being in children and young adults aged 25 and under. The findings revealed that community-based music programs show potential in promoting social and emotional well-being outcomes. This review helped inform the qualitative study, which consisted of semi-structured interviews with students and their caregivers, and a focus group of instructors in a community-based music program. This study explored the perception of participation in the music program and its impact on students’ well-being. The interviews and focus group were analyzed for themes and the results were broken down into two categories: impact of the music program and environment of the music program. These categories include six broad themes: impact on feeling, impact on learning, opportunities for engagement, importance of accessibility, accepting and positive space, instructor influence. Overall, the community-based music program was perceived as beneficial to youth well-being.


identifier: Gregory, Calvin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Gregory=3ACalvin=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Design of a low-cost unmanned surface vehicle for swarm robotics research in laboratory environments.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Swarm robotics is the study of groups of simple, typically inexpensive agents working
collaboratively toward a common goal. Such systems offer several benefits over single-robot
solutions: they are flexible, scalable, and robust to the failure of individual
agents. The majority of existing work in this field has focused on robots operating in
terrestrial environments but the benefits of swarm systems extend to applications in
the marine domain as well. The current scarcity of marine robotics platforms suitable
for swarm research is detrimental to progress in this field. Of the few that exist, no
publicly available unmanned surface vehicles can operate in a laboratory environment;
an indoor tank of water where the vessels, temperature, lighting, etc. can be observed
and controlled at all times. Laboratory testing is a common intermediate step in the
hardware validation of algorithms. This thesis details the design of the microUSV: a
small, inexpensive, laboratory-based platform developed to fill this gap.
The microUSV system was validated by performing laboratory testing of two algorithms:
a waypoint-following controller and orbital retrieval. The waypoint-following
controller was a simple PI controller implementation which corrects a vessel's speed
and heading to seek predetermined goal positions. The orbital retrieval algorithm is
a novel method for a swarm of unmanned surface vehicles to gather floating marine
contaminants such as plastics. The vessels follow a circular path, orbiting around
a central collection location and veer outwards to retrieve contaminants they detect
outside the designated area. This method can potentially be used to cluster floating
plastics together from a large region to facilitate cleanup.


identifier: Robin, Cindy <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Robin=3ACindy=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Citizenship by investment programs in the Caribbean: an examination of the economic and political impacts.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: After Malta decided to offer its citizenship “for sale” in 2013, interest in the topic of citizenship by investment (CBI) programs suddenly peaked. However, long before Malta, Caribbean states have been “selling” their citizenship as well. Employing a case study methodology, which takes as its case a “family of nations” –i.e. the five Caribbean countries running CBI programs—, this paper unpacks the conditions which foster the implementation of CBI programs and discusses their ability to support economic development. It also examines how third parties (e.g. foreign governments) see citizens of CBI-granting countries, contending that external political costs, stemming from a concern of threats posed through possible misuse of these countries’ citizenship, may outweigh the economic benefit.


identifier: Nichols, Adam Harry Gerald <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Nichols=3AAdam_Harry_Gerald=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Clinical phenotype of endometrial carcinoma in Lynch Syndrome: MSH2 mutation carriers.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Objective
The purpose of this study is to compare histological and clinical variables of
individuals with Lynch Syndrome associated Endometrial Carcinoma with a cohort with
sporadic Endometrial Carcinomas derived from the general population with sporadic
Endometrial Carcinomas. The patients in the Lynch Syndrome cohort were genetically
confirmed carriers of MSH2 mismatch repair gene mutations all with previously
diagnosed Endometrial Carcinoma.
Methods
Clinical data was abstracted retrospectively from the medical charts of 46 women
with endometrial caner who had a known MSH2 mismatch repair mutation confirmed
through genetic sequencing. Clinical variables abstracted from the medical files of these
patients included (1) Age at diagnosis (2) International Federation of Gynecology and
Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage (3) International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Grade
and (4) Cell type of endometrial carcinoma. The characteristics of the MSH2 carriers
were subsequently compared to the clinically relevant variables of sporadic endometrial
cancers that were retrieved from the Newfoundland and Labrador Cancer Care Registry
(NLCCR) diagnosed between 2000 and 2010. The Newfoundland and Labrador Cancer
Care Registry is a provincial cancer care program and database operated by Eastern
Health that combines 5 core cancer programs and registries. The NLCCR includes the
provinces Colon, Breast and Cervical screening programs and the provincial tumour and
systemic therapy surveillance programs.
Results
The mean age at diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer (EC) in the MSH2 Lynch
syndrome mutation carriers was 46.3 years vs. 60.9 years in the sporadic cohort
(p=<0.001). The Lynch Syndrome ECs were diagnosed more frequently prior to 55 years
of age (p=<0.001). Comparing local and advanced stages of disease, the Lynch Syndrome
cohort had more advanced disease at diagnosis (p=0.047). The prevalence of papillary
serous cell type carcinomas in the Lynch Syndrome (23.7%) cohort was statistically more
frequent than in the sporadic cohort (3.6%) (p=< 0.001). Clear cell carcinomas were
observed more frequently in Lynch Syndrome related EC (7.9%) compared to the
sporadic cohort (0.8%) (p=<0.001). The prevalence of grade 3 tumours in the Lynch
Syndrome related EC cohort was higher compared to the sporadic cohort; 32.4% and
11.9% respectively (p=0.001). Merger of low-grade (1/2) tumours compared to high grade
(3) tumours observed the Lynch Syndrome cohort to present with higher-grade
tumours. In the Lynch Syndrome cohort 69.6% had endometrial carcinoma as a sentinel
cancer. Survival after diagnosis of EC was similar in each cohort (p=0.068). Logistic
regression models indicated that a diagnosis of EC prior to age 55 and a histological
diagnosis of papillary serous/clear cell carcinoma to were independently associated with
LS (p=<0.001 and p=<0.001 respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that grade,
stage of disease, age and cell type were independently associated with a diagnosis of LS.
Conclusion
This is a preliminary study focusing on the clinical features present in Lynch Syndrome
related endometrial carcinomas in women carrying MSH2 mismatch repair mutations.
This study serves as a pilot study for a larger, population-based study of the genetics and
epidemiology of endometrial carcinomas in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have
concluded that Lynch Syndrome associated endometrial cancers are diagnosed at a
younger age than the endometrial cancers in the general population, and that prevalence
of cell types with unfavorable prognosis was higher in Lynch Syndrome related
endometrial carcinomas. The stage of cancer in the Lynch syndrome related endometrial
carcinoma cohort at diagnosis was more advanced, and was associated with a higher
histological grade. Multivariate analysis found these characteristics to be predictive of
LS. Lynch Syndrome related EC patients demonstrated no difference in survival
(p=0.068) when compared to the sporadic cohort via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.


identifier: Lee, Dongjun <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lee=3ADongjun=3A=3A.html>   (2020) A fair distribution of oil and gas revenues for Newfoundland and Labrador: a feasibility study.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study aimed to investigate a way to a sustainable future of Newfoundland and Labrador through the introduction of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) using the province’s oil and gas resources. The theoretical frameworks for this study are the capital approach of weak sustainability, environmental justice, and resource curse. With these frameworks, a comparative case study analysis has been adopted to investigate cases of two jurisdictions that are already successfully operating SWFs funded by oil and gas revenue to build more sustainable societies by sustaining their economic, environmental, human, and social capitals. Based on the case studies, this feasibility study examined the following questions: 1) What impacts did the Norwegian SWF have on the sustainability of Norway? 2) What impacts did the Alaskan SWF have on the sustainability of Alaska? 3) How does the oil and gas industry affect Newfoundland and Labrador's sustainability and what improvements should be made? 4) Will Newfoundland and Labrador be able to ensure sustainability with their oil and gas revenue? The study concludes that introducing a SWF could help to ensure the sustainability of Newfoundland and Labrador, with several supporting policies, such as diversified funding sources, building a framework that can benefit local people, and achieving social consensus.


identifier: Maharjan, Dipesh <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Maharjan=3ADipesh=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Study of Belleville springs and bond graph analysis of passive vibration assisted rotary drilling tool.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Since 2008, the effect of active/passive sources of drilling vibration has been a topic of research at the Drilling Technology Laboratory of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Drill-off tests have been conducted in many different settings using fully instrumented lab-scale drill rigs (Small Drilling Simulator (SDS) and Large Drilling Simulator (LDS)) and through field trials in order to validate these effects and the researchers have been able to acquire substantially prominent results, which is evident from improved drilling rates and increased dynamic downhole weight on bit (DDWOB). One of the outcomes from those experiments is the development of novel passive Vibration assisted Rotary Drilling (p-VARD) Tool, which harnesses the vibration generated at bit-rock interface to improve the drilling rate and the measured DDWOB. The p-VARD tool uses different configuration of Belleville springs and elastomer to produce desired value of tool compliance and modify the damping. The research outcomes in this thesis explain the dynamic behaviour of the p-VARD tool and helps us understand the actual phenomenon inside the tool, which results in this behaviour. Mass-spring-damper schematics of the rigid and compliant drilling systems are analyzed with the help of bond graphs in 20-sim. Results show that the p-VARD can lower the drill string natural frequency significantly enabling it to resonate at the frequencies of the top drive.
In order to facilitate the p-VARD experiments in a more controlled environment, the tool has been designed for the LDS, which is more advanced than the SDS. The dynamic simulation of the Belleville springs is in itself, a separate area of research that is used for the dynamic analysis of the p-VARD tool design. The LDS offers a wide range of rotary speeds and weight on bit and can be operated fully automatically or manually. P-VARD experiments in LDS will enable us to characterize the tool properties in more depth. The LDS p-VARD tool is designed with a minimum safety factor of 3.4 against the maximum torque generated by the LDS. It utilizes a uniformly grooved sensor plates with five identical and one distinct cross-section, which is attached to the outer shell to track the axial movement of the tool. The tool is designed such that the torque is transmitted from the inner shaft to the outer shell through four uniformly spaced keys and for fluid transmission, a 13 mm through hole is made through the middle of the tool.


identifier: Robbins, Matthew Lee <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Robbins=3AMatthew_Lee=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Characterization of post-yield behavior of a warship grillage subject to repeated impacts.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis investigates the progressive accumulation of plastic strain in the response of a uniaxially-stiffened warship grillage repeatedly impacted by a smooth, rigid, spherical indenter. An explicit, nonlinear numerical model was developed, and five distinct indentation patterns were applied over an ultra-low cycle frequency range (<50 impacts) across a range of impact velocities to characterize the grillage response. The results were analyzed to assess whether a ship structure exhibits shakedown behaviors associated with small strain plasticity and fatigue behaviors, or whether sufficient evidence exists to suggest considerations for progressive plastic accumulation (ratcheting) be made when assessing damage capacity in ship structural analysis. Impact experimentation was conducted at full-scale using a double-pendulum style impact apparatus to validate the numerical model. The experimental observations show fair agreement with the numerical simulations. It was found that at increasing levels of impact energy, the grillage response transitioned from elastic shakedown to pseudo-shakedown or ratcheting responses.


identifier: MacRobert, Evelyn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/MacRobert=3AEvelyn=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Spatial risk: how predator distributions shape habitat use by age-0 cod.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The early life history stages of fish experience greater mortality rates than older conspecifics, primarily as a result of predation. Determining which habitats pose the highest predation “risk” can help in understanding habitat use by juvenile cod. In two field experiments, I examined spatial and temporal segregation of age-0 Atlantic (Gadus morhua) and Greenland (Gadus macrocephalus ogac) cod from piscivorous fishes. In Chapter 2, I used underwater video footage to construct a habitat map and locate age-0 Atlantic and Greenland cod in Newman Sound, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Age-0 cod significantly associated with uniform eelgrass habitat, as opposed to less use of kelp or bare substrates, with all individuals observed within 1 m of eelgrass patches. In Chapter 3, I tested seasonal and diel habitat associations of 37 individuals of four known piscivorous fish species – age-1+ Atlantic and Greenland cod, cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), and shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) – using passive acoustic telemetry. Habitat use differed significantly among species. Season significantly affected habitat use for Greenland cod, cunner, and sculpin, whereas diel period significantly influenced habitat use for cunner. Greenland cod and cunner preferred eelgrass in the spring, then transitioned to deeper water habitats (kelp, sparse vegetation, and bare substrates) during summer and fall. Overall, piscivores primarily occupied shallow habitats in spring, and transitioned to deeper water habitats during summer and fall, outside the eelgrass beds frequented by age-0 cod. My thesis demonstrates spatial and temporal segregation of age-0 cod into nursery eelgrass habitat, apart from their predators.


identifier: Nezhadhossein, Elahe <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Nezhadhossein=3AElahe=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Canadian and US mass media representation of Iranian women and their activities in social movements.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Media can display a stereotypical image of women to represent, produce, or reinforce an inequality system. In Western mass media, images of Iranian women as women of a Muslim, Middle Eastern country may not provide a comprehensive view of these women. To understand the dominant discourses in the US and Canada’s mass media, my research asks: How are Iranian women represented in US and Canadian media, and have there been any changes in this representation during the years since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and, more specifically, after 2001? Have women’s activities in social movements in Iran, specifically since 2009, had any effects on their representations in Canadian and US media?
Through a critical discourse analysis of four widely circulated national newspapers in Canada and the US, and using theories of hegemony and counter-hegemony, social movements and power of networks, and intersectionality, my research shows that women in Iran have gained attention from the Canadian and US mass media by means of their participation in street protests. The results show that media images of women and their activities since 2009 include more positive representations and are different, in the main, from the older images of women during the years immediately after the Islamic Revolution or stereotypical images of Middle Eastern women as victims of an oppressive Islamic system. In general, when women’s activities and their resistance take forms that are familiar to US and Canadian mass media, they receive greater visibility. The results also show that overall representations of Iranian women in the media vary more so with the orientation of newspapers than media geographies. However, in some respects, such as the images in which the hijab is featured, the dominant discourse has not changed; the hijab is represented as oppressive and negative in both time-periods. The focus of the newspapers remain on the hijab law in both time-periods, and women’s clothes are represented as mainly oppressive.


identifier: Almanea, Fawaz <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Almanea=3AFawaz=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Assessing occupational exposure to radiation in nuclear medicine laboratories in Newfoundland and Labrador's hospitals.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Among the health care workers, nuclear medicine staff are the highest in terms of
exposure to ionizing radiation [1][2]. In response to this and as a compliance with
the international and national standards, clinical sites have developed detailed procedures
to minimize and monitor the occupational exposure. Our study aims to assess
the feasibility of using available radiation dose data in the clinical settings in NL for
research purposes, and to assess the occupational radiation dose to nuclear medicine
staff in Newfoundland and Labrador’s hospitals for the period of 2007 to 2018. Furthermore,
our goal is to investigate the general trend of these doses and the effect of
technology change on occupational radiation dose. Our study found that the average
annual whole body and extremities doses were well below the 50 mSv for whole body
dose limit and the 500 mSv for extremities limit which are set by the Canadian Nuclear
Safety Commission (CNSC). The average annual whole-body doses in the Health
Science’s Centre and St. Clare’s Hospital were below the worldwide average annual
dose of 1.9 mSv that was reported by The United Nations Scientific Committee on
the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)[3]. Overall data showed that 78% of
the high value measurements were readings for experienced participants and 22% of
the high value readings were for new staff or less experienced participants. Technology
changes, such as installing a new imaging machine in HSC shows an impact on
the occupational radiation dose trend. Our currently available data is not enough to detect the correlation between the dose variations and (i) the number of procedures,
(ii) number of staff, or (iii) type of radiopharmaceuticals. This is establishing the
need to enhance the quality of the occupational radiation dose records.


identifier: Power, Gerard Michael James <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Power=3AGerard_Michael_James=3A=3A.html>   (2020) The potential for potentiation in the unconditioned quadriceps.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Post-activation potentiation has been studied in muscles since the 1930s. The phenomenon is related to an increase in force and rate of force production of the muscle following a conditioning stimulus. Studies have evolved over the years, starting with electrical stimuli and testing in muscles of small animals, and progressing to volitional stimuli and testing in trained humans. Phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chains has been the only well-established mechanism contributing to post-activation potentiation. Research has also found that post-activation potentiation coexists with fatigue in the muscle. Fatigue has been shown to elicit effects in unconditioned muscles. Therefore, the primary objective of this thesis was to investigate the possibility for a unilateral conditioning activity to cause enhancements in performance to an unconditioned, contralateral, homologous muscle group. The results of the study did not give any evidence at this time for post-activation potentiation effects in an unconditioned muscle. However, the results did demonstrate the complexity of the interaction between potentiation and fatigue, and how participant characteristics and timing can affect this.


identifier: Vasquez Solis De Ovando, Jose Ignacio <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Vasquez_Solis_De_Ovando=3AJose_Ignacio=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Comparative bacterial genomics and fish vaccinology: genomic and phenotypic analysis of Vibrio anguillarum isolated from lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) and vaccine evaluation in sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) against Aeromonas salmonicida.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Although aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing industry in the world, it is negatively impacted by parasites and infectious diseases. Bacterial infections are the most important diseases of emergent Canadian aquaculture species such as lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) and sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria). Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum, both Gram-negative pathogens, are the most prevalent infectious diseases agents affecting lumpfish aquaculture in the North Atlantic, meanwhile A. salmonicida is the most common pathogen in the sablefish aquaculture industry in the Pacific coast. Comparative genomic analysis of V. anguillarum and A. salmonicida isolates from lumpfish and sablefish outbreaks, respectively, can provide insights into bacterial evolution and virulence, and contribute to effective vaccine design programs. Currently, there are no commercial vaccines available specifically for lumpfish against V. anguillarum, and for sablefish against A. salmonicida. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: i) analyze the genome and phenotype of V. anguillarum strain J360 isolated from infected lumpfish (Chapter 2); and ii) develop an infection model for atypical A. salmonicida strain J410 in sablefish to evaluate commercial vaccines and an autogenous vaccine (Chapter 3).


identifier: Wood, Jessica Marie <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wood=3AJessica_Marie=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Keeping Arctic fisheries as happy as a clam: assessing the life history and density of truncated soft-shell clams (Mya truncata) of southern Baffin Island, Nunavut, to promote sustainable fishery development.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Fishery development is a priority for Arctic governments, Indigenous
organizations, and communities to promote Arctic economic development and food
security. The recreational truncated soft-shell clam (Mya truncata) fishery of southern
Baffin Island, Nunavut, is expected to undergo increased fishing pressure with northern
population expansion and potential commercial development in Frobisher Bay and on the
north shore of the Hudson Strait. Understanding aspects of the life history and population
density of M. truncata of southern Baffin Island is key to sustainable fishery
development. I first found the shell length at 50% sexual maturity to be 31 and 32mm in
male and female M. truncata, respectively. Based on the stage of gonadal development
observed in sexually mature clams collected from inner Frobisher Bay in late August 2018
and Hudson Strait in early September 2018, I suspect a late-summer or fall spawning event
may have taken place in 2018. I identified strong length-bias in calculated condition indices
for these populations, and so I used dry-body weight to shell length relationships to gauge
population condition over small and large spatial scales. I then implemented a drop-camera
set-up using the frame of a snow crab trap, a GoPro, lasers and a weight strung on a
monofilament line for scale to assess M. truncata density in the intertidal zone. By
comparing drop-camera density estimates with those obtained by manual excavations, I
determined that drop-camera deployments within the intertidal zone estimate significantly
less clams than excavation estimates across all sites. This difference was attributed to
smaller clam siphons not being visible in video, the retraction of siphons at low tide, and
fine sediment displacement with tidal flow covering siphons. This research is expected to help with community-based resource harvest plans and conservation measures and to
inform policy at regional, territorial, and national levels.


identifier: Someehneshin, Javad <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Someehneshin=3AJavad=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Investigation of cemented tailings backfill and wellbore stability for narrow vein mining by drilling.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In this thesis, a comprehensive investigation of using tailings in backfilling material and the percentage of Portland cement and binder composition (a combination of Portland cement and fly ash) with the proportion of (80:20) is studied. Curing time and curing strength of the backfilling material after 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days were the main objective of this thesis. The freestanding vertical face of the void space by inclined stope method was calculated. Specimens were made with Portland cement as the first binder, which was composed of 6%, 8%, and 10% of the solid content of the mixture and 20% water content of the backfilling mixture. The Curing time and curing strength of the specimens in this first binder were measured by Geo-mechanical Loading Frame in Drilling Technology Laboratory (DTL). The second series of the specimens were made with binder composed of regular Portland cement 80% type GU and fly ash 20% class C with 6%, 8%, and 10% of the solid content of the mixture and 20% water content of the backfilling mixture. Then the curing time and curing strength of the specimens were measured. Finally, the results were compared and the effect of binder dosage on Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), the effect of binder composition on UCS, the effect of curing time on UCS, and the stiffness of backfilling materials for both binders were presented.
In addition, an analytical study and Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulation were conducted to evaluate the wellbore stability of steeply mining using various wellbore failure criteria. Mining site data of surface and subsurface in-situ stress and rock mechanics properties was collected to support the study. The dimensions of the studied wellbore were 100m maximum depth, 1.3m maximum diameter, and 45 degrees inclination. The wellbore rock failure was analyzed, and the critical wellbore pressure after drilling in four essential azimuths (i.e. 0˚, 90˚, 180˚, and 270˚) using pure water was calculated. The results of the individual and the analytical-DEM coupled study demonstrated that the wellbore stability. The critical wellbore pressure is negative all along the wellbore; also, all applied stresses around the wellbore are between minimum wellbore pressure and maximum wellbore pressure, which indicates the stability of the well.


identifier: Som, Jayoti <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Som=3AJayoti=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Promotion of in vivo 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy efficacy by MEK inhibition.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), a heme precursor, is a photosensitizer that is selectively accumulated in cancer cells when pretreated with its precursor, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Exposure of PpIX accumulating-cancer cells to red light induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent stimulation of cancer cell death, which is known as 5-ALA-photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT). Previously, Dr. Hirasawa's lab discovered that inhibiting the oncogenic Ras/MEK pathway increases PpIX accumulation in cancer cells by suppressing PpIX efflux and PpIX conversion to heme. Here, we sought to determine whether the increase of PpIX accumulation by MEK inhibition promotes 5-ALA-PDT efficacy. First, we classified seven human cancer cell lines into three groups – sensitive, moderately sensitive, and least sensitive –based on their sensitivities to 5-ALA-PDT. Pretreating the moderately sensitive and least sensitive cell lines with a MEK inhibitor increased their sensitivities to 5-ALA-PDT, suggesting that MEK activity influences PDT sensitivity of cancer cells. MEK inhibition promoted 5-ALA-PDT induced generation of ROS and the subsequent programmed cell death. Furthermore, combined 5-ALA-PDT with a MEK inhibitor was significantly effective in inhibiting the growth of tumors in nude mice implanted with human colon cancer cells (DLD-1) and increased their overall survival. As the efficacy and safety of MEK inhibitors are clinically established, combined 5-ALA-PDT with MEK inhibition could directly impact 5-ALA-PDT applications in the clinic.


identifier: Hynes, Jaclyn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hynes=3AJaclyn=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Screening and prevention for inherited cancer: exploring the experiences of BRCA mutation carriers in Newfoundland Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Background Females with BRCA 1/2 gene mutations have increased lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA mutation carriers in NL are not engaging in cancer prevention and screening behaviors according to recommended guidelines.
Methods Qualitative interviews were combined with a provincial survey to conduct a comprehensive assessment of BRCA mutation carriers’ opinions towards risk management services.
Results Female BRCA mutation carriers’ risk management is influenced by numerous and varied factors including clinical and social influences, family and personal history of cancer, life stage, health system access, and family physicians’ BRCA knowledge and expertise. Individuals were overwhelmingly in support of a centralized and coordinated inherited cancer program.
Conclusion The current system of patient self-navigation and reliance on family doctors to coordinate screening and prevention services results in some patients struggling to access the ongoing management they require. An inherited cancer risk service must recognize the complexities that influences individuals’ behaviors towards risk reducing services.


identifier: Kahnamouei, Jalal Taheri <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kahnamouei=3AJalal_Taheri=3A=3A.html>   (2021) Nonlinear random vibration of planetary gear trains with elastic ring gear.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Planetary gear trains (PGT) are widely used in the field of renewable energy,
especially in wind turbines. A wind turbine uses planetary gearboxes to transfer
wind torque to a generator, and even though gearboxes are designed according to
sound engineering practices, they fail much sooner than their design life estimates.
Unexpected PGT failures are costly, and it is vital to detect these failures early. This
thesis proposes proper methods and analyses that help the wind turbine industry
to prevent future failure by enlightening the nonlinear dynamic behavior of PGT
under random force. This thesis will investigate one of the main factors in PGT
failure: random vibration caused by wind turbulence. In this thesis, a hybrid dynamic
model was proposed to model the stochastic nonlinear dynamics of a PGT with an
elastic ring gear, and then the statistical linearization method (SL) was introduced to
linearize the model. A new criterion of the SL is introduced to linearize the stochastic
nonlinear dynamic model of a gear pair. The stochastic response of a thin-walled ring
gear PGT under three equally-spaced random moving loads was also investigated. A
series of parametric studies was conducted, and the obtained results revealed that
the proposed model for the PGT accurately represented the dynamic behavior of
the PGT with an elastic ring gear, and the SL gave acceptable accuracy. Also, the
energy-based SL was enough accurate and valid to apply to stochastic nonlinear gear
pairs under heavy load conditions, and the accuracy of the SL decreased for light load
conditions. Finally, analysis on the effect of random moving loads on the ring gear showed that the mean of displacement was affected by the critical speeds, and random
loads' speed does not influence the standard deviation of displacement. Monte Carlo
simulations (MCS) were conducted to verify the proposed model and method, and
MCS proved the accuracy of the proposed model and process.


identifier: Vasanthan, Kieran <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Vasanthan=3AKieran=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Single centre analysis of revascularization strategy in Newfoundland and Labrador multivessel disease patients.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) can be managed with Percutaneous Coronary
Intervention (PCI) or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Management of subtypes of
CAD, including Multivessel Disease (MVD) and isolated Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA)
disease, continue to evolve in the literature. An observational registry may provide
implications for management of CAD.
Methods: All isolated LMCA and triple-vessel disease patients who received either PCI or
CABG in Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) were analyzed in two separate studies. The first study
evaluated isolated LMCA patients for freedom from Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE).
The second study evaluated triple vessel disease patients for in-hospital mortality post
revascularization.
Results: Firstly, 115 patients with isolated LMCA disease (n=7 PCI, n=99 CABG, n=9 medical
management) were identified from May 2006 to October 2015. The rate of MACE at 1 year was
5.1% in the CABG cohort. Secondly, a total of 1604 triple vessel disease patients (n=45 PCI,
n=1559 CABG) were analyzed with a median follow up of 5.4 years. The in-hospital mortality
rate was 2.2% and 1.2% in the PCI and CABG cohorts, respectively (p=0.533).
Conclusion: CABG represented the most common revascularization strategy for both study
populations. Freedom from MACE at one year in the CABG isolated LMCA patients was
comparable to the literature. Early survival rates were comparable in low-risk triple vessel
disease patients revascularized with either therapy and further evaluation is warranted to account
for an increasing number of this population being revascularized via PCI.


identifier: Mahon, Kaitlyn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Mahon=3AKaitlyn=3A=3A.html>   (2020) The financial impact of cancer in Canadian young adults.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Cancer may have greater financial consequences for young adults (YAs), defined as those
between 15 to 39, than older adults because of developmental stage. YA cancer survivors (N =
575) reported on out-of-pocket cancer costs and missed work. They were compared to age, sex,
and education-matched peers without cancer on income, debts and assets using data from the
2014 Canadian Financial Capability Survey and Canadian Community Health Survey. Almost
60% of YA survivors spent at least $100 per month on out-of-pocket cancer-related expenses,
and 49% missed at least one year of work. Groups did not differ in personal or household
income. Compared to non-cancer peers in both groups, YA survivors were more likely to have
outstanding credit card and line of credit balances. Regardless of current age or time since
diagnosis, YA survivors were also more likely to not own assets while their non-cancer peers
were more likely to be home owners. YAs face long-term financial impact due to cancer in assets
and debts, but not in income.


identifier: Vardy, Leah <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Vardy=3ALeah=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Theraband® CLX gold reduces knee-width index but increases gluteus medius activity during the barbell back squat.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Squatting with resistance bands around the distal portion of the thighs above the patella have grown in popularity. They have been thought to act as a proprioceptive aid by activating the gluteus muscles and therefore, preventing medial knee collapse. The objectives of this thesis were: 1) to determine how the resistance bands would affect lower body muscle activation and 2) to examine how the kinematics of the squat (i.e., knee width index (KWI) and knee angle) may change with the addition of the resistance bands. Twenty-three resistance trained individuals (twelve males and eleven females) completed one set of three repetitions of the barbell back squat (BBS) at 87% of their 1 repetition maximum (RM). This protocol was completed under four conditions; no band, a red band, black band and gold band in a randomized order. A significant difference in the gluteus medius (GME) was found in the gold band condition compared to all other conditions. The KWI was significantly lower with the gold band in comparison to the no band and red band conditions. Overall, males had significantly higher KWI values in comparison to their female counterparts in the band conditions. While placing a gold band may increase the muscle activation of the GME during the squat, the lower KWI values may lead to an increase in knee injuries.


identifier: Lamont, Matthew G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lamont=3AMatthew_G=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Cerebellar intracellular calcium signaling and proapoptotic/proinflammatory protein changes common to motor dysfunctions with divergent etiologies.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Introduction
Binge drinking among adolescents is an ongoing public health concern. Although binge drinking can also be harmful to adults, the adolescent population is more susceptible to aberrant neurological changes as their brains are still undergoing significant development. The waddles (wdl) mouse is characterized by a namesake waddling gait due to a homozygous mutation of the Car8 gene. Carbonic anhydrase type 8 (CAR8) controls the intracellular release of calcium (Ca²⁺) from internal stores. Both models display a similar cerebellar based ataxia which is why they were chosen for comparison.
Methods
Groups of pre-adolescent post-natal day (PND 26) and adolescent (PND 34) rats underwent a series of behavioral tests designed to assess memory, anxiety regulation, and motor function. Subjects were first exposed to either ethanol or plain air through a vapour chamber apparatus for five consecutive days (two hours per day). Rota-rod testing was conducted to characterize the wdl mutation and ethanol treatment effects on motor output. Acute cerebellar slices from wdl mice were subsequently utilized for fluorescent calcium imaging experiments. Western blotting was used for protein quantification in the homogenized cerebella of both models.
Results
Behavioral testing using the rota-rod, cage-hang, novel object recognition, light-dark box, and elevated plus maze apparatuses showed significantly decreased object memory and measures of anxiety-related behaviors in ethanol treated subjects. Western blotting indicated elevated levels of proinflammatory/proapoptotic proteins in the cerebella of ethanol treated and wdl animals. Younger homozygous wdl mice outperformed their older cohorts on the rota-rod. Heterozygotes, which were thought to be free of motor impairment, displayed motor learning deficiencies. Calcium imaging revealed significant attenuation of cerebellar granule cell somatic Ca²⁺ signaling in homozygous mice.
Conclusion
Differences on anxiety tests indicate a failure of behavioral inhibition in the ethanol treated group. There are also impairments to motor coordination and object memory, which involve the cerebellar and hippocampal brain regions, respectively. When taken together with work on the wdl mouse, these findings suggest disruptions in cerebellar circuitry hampering proper neuronal communication have drastic consequences for behavioral output of the cerebellum.


identifier: Li, Ming <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Li=3AMing=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Two-layer Heisenberg model of quasi-2D triangular lattice antiferromagnet and study of the magnetoelastic coupling in Ba₃CoSb₂O₉ using sound velocity measurements.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The magnetic field evolution of ground spin states of the stacked planar triangular
antiferromagnet with antiferromagnetic interlayer interaction Jc is explored using a
minimal 3D classical Heisenberg model (published in Ref. [1]). A bi-quadratic coupling
is also used to mimic the effect of spin fluctuations [2] which are known to stabilize the
magnetization plateau. A single ion anisotropy is included and states with a magnetic
field applied in the ab-plane and along the c-axis are determined. For H || ab-plane,
an additional state, in contrast to the 2D model [2], is obtained with weak interlayer
interaction. Meanwhile the magnetization plateau decreases with the increment of
Jc and vanishes at medium values of Jc. Moreover, two new states with a small z
components of spins emerge with large Jc. For H || c-axis, an extra state, compared
with the 2D model, is obtained with a weak interlayer interaction. When Jc is large
enough, only the state corresponding to the Umbrella phase in the 2D model exists.
High-resolution ultrasonic measurements are used to study magnetoelastic coupling
as a function of the inplane magnetic field orientation in the spin-1/2 triangular
lattice antiferromagnet Ba₃CoSb₂O₉ (published in Ref. [3]). Via these measurements,
the relevance of this coupling in stabilizing the 1/3 magnetization plateau (up-up-down
state) is explored. The analysis indicates that, while the magnetoelastic coupling in
Ba₃CoSb₂O₉ is large, in comparison to other triangular lattice antiferromagnets, the
strength of this coupling is still too small to fully account for the magnetization plateau width in Ba₃CoSb₂O₉. Spin fluctuations are therefore the dominant mechanism
inducing and stabilizing the magnetization plateau. Our results also show that
the amplitude of the spin fluctuations suddenly drops as the V phase is induced at
higher field. Furthermore, as the temperature approaches the uud phase boundary
from the paramagnetic state, the short range spin correlation, responsible for the softening
of the acoustic modes, are also observed. Comparing the experimental results
in ordered states at different temperatures, our results indicate that the effect of the
thermal fluctuations on the magnetoelastic coupling are negligible at low temperatures
in comparison to that of the quantum fluctuations.


identifier: Albarghot, Mohamed Musbah <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Albarghot=3AMohamed_Musbah=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Sizing, dynamic modeling and simulation of a solar-wind-hydrogen power system of the MUN explorer autonomous underwater vehicle.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In this doctoral research dissertation, sizing, dynamic modeling, and simulation of a solar, wind and hydrogen power system of the MUN Explorer Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) have been explored, integrating a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell into an existing power system which uses a lithium ion battery as the main source of its energy. Along with the batteries the integrated fuel cell was designed to power the MUN Explorer AUV to increase its hours of operation and reduce the number of batteries. The installation of hydrogen and oxygen gas tanks next to the batteries augmented the buoyancy force underwater. An electrolyzer powered by solar and wind energy, was used to produce hydrogen. The produced hydrogen was then stored in gas cylinders. A PEM fuel cell was used to consume the hydrogen gas inside the MUN Explorer AUV. The fuel cell was connected to a DC / DC Boost Converter to increase the output voltage from 24 to 48 V, as required by the battery and DC motor. It was proposed that the renewable excess energy be stored and used for recharging a battery. The system design is based on MUN Explorer data sheets and system dynamic simulation results. The system sizing was performed using Hybrid Optimization Model for Electrical Renewable (HOMER) software. The dynamic model was then built in MATLAB / Simulink environment to give a better understanding of the system’s behaviour. A PI controller was applied in the dynamic model to maintain the operating conditions such as motor speed, DC bus voltage and the load torque. The simulation of dynamic models and experiment results in hydrogen production and consumption were compared and found to have an acceptable error. The results from hydrogen production systems (solar and wind) were measured to be 7.0 ml/min. The PI controller provided satisfactory results in terms of maintaining the same operating conditions of the MUN Explorer AUV with a fuel cell.


identifier: Sullivan, Jennifer <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sullivan=3AJennifer=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Come from away: non-native plant establishment within the boreal forest region of Newfoundland, Canada.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The early movement of Western Europeans to the island of Newfoundland has caused it to have one of the longest North American histories of continuous plant species introductions; one measured in centuries. Yet, we know little about the invasiveness of Newfoundland’s non-native vascular flora, or of the ability of the island’s boreal forests to resist their establishment. Anthropogenic linear disturbances (i.e., recreational trails and forest roads), pervasive throughout North American boreal forests, are particularly vulnerable to the establishment of non-native plant species and may act as corridors of invasion. We examined presence of non-native plants along anthropogenic linear disturbances within boreal forests of Newfoundland, and assessed the resistance of adjacent boreal forests to non-native plant establishment. We found that non-native plants occurred on the majority of observed linear disturbances. Yet, non-native species have not yet established within adjacent forest stands. Additionally, we examined presence of non-native plants on natural linear disturbances, i.e., stream banks, and found that non-native species are pervasive along these corridors. Under ongoing global change, our findings show that the stage is set for non-native plant establishment within disturbed areas of the boreal forest of Newfoundland, as the increased pressures from climate change, globalization, and natural and anthropogenic disturbances continue to influence the distribution and establishment of these species.


identifier: Pallegar, Purvikalyan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pallegar=3APurvikalyan=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Regulation of gene transfer and motility in the bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus by the dinucleotide cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP).  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are bacteriophage-like particles produced by several bacterial and archaeal lineages that contain small pieces of the producing cells’ genomes that can be transferred to other cells in a process similar to transduction. One well-studied GTA is RcGTA, produced by the -proteobacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. RcGTA gene expression is regulated by several cellular regulatory systems, including the CckA-ChpT-CtrA phosphorelay. A previous study on CtrA, a DNA-binding response regulator protein, showed that transcription of multiple other regulator-encoding genes was affected by its loss. These included genes encoding proteins predicted to be involved in the synthesis and hydrolysis of the second messenger bis-(3’-5’)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP). In this thesis, I investigated these genes and found that disruption of four of them (rcc00620, rcc00645, rcc02629, rcc02857) affected RcGTA production and flagellar motility. I performed site-directed mutagenesis of key catalytic residues in the functional domains responsible for diguanylate cyclase (DGC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities involved in synthesizing and hydrolysing cyclic-di-GMP, respectively, and analysed the activities of the wild type and mutant proteins. Through this work, I demonstrated that c-di-GMP acts to inhibit RcGTA production and motility. I subsequently demonstrated that the enzymatic activity of one of the proteins, Rcc00620, is regulated through the phosphorylation status of its REC domain, which is controlled by a cognate histidine kinase protein, Rcc00621. In this system, the phosphorylated form of Rcc00620 is active as a PDE enzyme and stimulates gene transfer and motility. Interestingly, the rcc00620/rcc00621 genes were acquired via horizontal gene transfer from a distantly related α-proteobacterium. I also explored a potential mechanistic link between c-di-GMP and RcGTA regulation via the CckA-ChpT-CtrA phosphorelay and confirmed that c-di-GMP binds to CckA and this shifts its activity from kinase to phosphatase and thereby affects CtrA phosphorylation. All these results add c-di-GMP signaling to the collection of cellular regulatory systems controlling gene transfer in this bacterium and add gene transfer to the diverse list of activities affected by c-di-GMP in bacteria.


identifier: Huang, Qin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Huang=3AQin=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Quantum dynamics with classical noise.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Quantum dynamics with classical noise

abstract:
In this thesis, we study the evolution of qubits evolving according to the Schrödinger equation
with a Hamiltonian containing noise terms, modeled by random diagonal and off-diagonal matrix
elements. For a single qubit exposed to such noise, we show that the noise-averaged qubit density
matrix converges to a specific final state, in the limit of large time t. We find that the convergence
speed is polynomial in 1=t, with a power that depends on the regularity and the low frequency
behaviour of the noise probability density. We evaluate the final state explicitly in the regimes
of weak and strong off-diagonal noise. We show that the process implements the well-known
dephasing channel in the localized and delocalized basis, respectively.
Furthermore, we consider the evolution of the entanglement of two (or more) qubits subject
to Gaussian noises with varying means and variances. We consider two different cases: individual
noise where each qubit feels an independent noise, and common noise where all qubits are
subjected to the same noise. We find the following characteristics of entanglement, measured by
the concurrence of qubits. Initially entangled states lose their amount of entanglement in time
due to the presence of the noise. The decay of entanglement happens more quickly for common
noise than for individual noise. We also detect creation of entanglement due to the common
noise: for some initially disentangled states, entanglement is created for intermediate times and
then decays to zero in the long time again.


identifier: Mendis, Roshayne <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Mendis=3ARoshayne=3A=3A.html>   (2020) The application of the collective impact initiative model for effective public consultation in Bonne Bay: example - ocean conservation.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Marine and coastal environments are not only crucial to the stability of the oceans'
ecosystem but also to the socio-cultural, ecological, and economic well-being of their
communities. The involvement of communities is, therefore, considered essential to
generate innovative public policy to enhance the efficiency and long-lasting impact of the
decision-making process. The Collective Impact Initiative (CII) model provides a novel
framework to ensure cross-sector collaboration and effective public participation is in
place to support such complex decision-making process. This thesis adopted the
hypothetical case example of Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning for Bonne Bay in
Gros Morne National Park as a hypothetical example to help evaluate the merits of CII
application in support of natural resource planning and conservation in the region. Focus
groups, interviews, and surveys were used to gather information from regional
stakeholders. Through the information gathered, it was determined that the CII model
holds great potential for the area both in terms of addressing community engagement
challenges and providing a more effective structure for engagement in natural resource
conservation.


identifier: Marshall, Rachel C. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Marshall=3ARachel_C=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Multidisciplinary perspectives on Atlantic halibut spawning behavior and vulnerability in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Marine species’ distribution and reproduction is valuable information for fisheries management and conservation. In this thesis, spawning of Atlantic halibut, a commercially important flatfish showing increasing abundance in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is characterized using pop-up satellite archival tags, and potential ocean industry impacts to the halibut population are identified with fish harvesters’ knowledge. Halibut displayed extreme rises off the seafloor, interpreted as spawning behavior, from January to late April. The date of the first spawning rise was negatively correlated with December to mid-January water temperatures. The number of female spawning rises, assumed to represent egg batches, was independent of fish length. Halibut harvesters presented with findings of halibut spawning and migration identified industries that could impact the halibut population, at the forefront being a developing redfish trawl fishery. Harvesters participating in semi-structured interviews expressed concern that halibut bycatch in a redfish fishery would reduce the current halibut abundance, which they attributed to the reduction of Gulf trawling and halibut bycatch since the 1990s. The integration of electronic tagging and fish harvesters’ knowledge highlights these halibut population vulnerabilities for ocean managers to incorporate into future spatial planning and management of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.


identifier: Kennedy, Sean <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kennedy=3ASean=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Le cinéma militant au service d'un devoir de mémoire: l'exemple de René Vautier.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This thesis explores the possible role of Rene Vautier’s cinema in the establishment of a devoir de mémoire in France for the end of colonisation and the beginnings of the decolonisation process. A communist activist and relatively unknown filmmaker in the history of French cinema, Vautier made films in Africa and France that were heavily censored by the French state, while at the same time creating film production collectives to produce these works. Using four of his films, Peuple en marche (1963), Les Ajoncs (1970), Avoir 20 ans dans les Aurès (1972), and La Folle de Toujane (1974), we will analyze how Vautier prioritises the necessity to reflect the reality of the era. We will then consider how Vautier avails of this in order to evoke a reflection on three themes: between the colonised, linguistic decolonisation and French self-interrogations on the
colonial regime.


identifier: Saqib, Saima <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Saqib=3ASaima=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Practice patterns and parental attitudes with respect to hydration for infants admitted with bronchiolitis.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Objective: To characterize hydration practices for infants with bronchiolitis at the Janeway Children’s Hospital and to determine the acceptability of nasogastric (NG) hydration for children admitted with bronchiolitis.
Design: Retrospective chart reviews, parental and health care provider (HCP) surveys, and HCP interviews.
Methods: A sample of 101 eligible infants less than one year old at the time of admission hospitalized with bronchiolitis at the Janeway hospital was obtained. Parents of infants treated with intravenous (IV) hydration were surveyed to determine their acceptance of NG hydration. HCPs were surveyed and interviewed to examine their perspectives on NG hydration.
Results: The proportion of infants treated with NG hydration was 4%. The parental survey response rate was 31.5%. The HCPs survey response rate was 53.3%. Overall, 53% of the parental respondents and 50% of HCP respondents were ‘extremely likely’ or ‘very likely’ to be accepting NG hydration in infants with bronchiolitis and difficult IV access. A total of six HCPs were interviewed. The majority of the HCPs considered NG hydration as an appropriate alternative to IV hydration but felt clinical factors should influence the choice. Conclusion: NG hydration is seldom used but appears to be an acceptable alternative to parents and HCPs for infants with bronchiolitis.


identifier: Tacit, Sam <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Tacit=3ASam=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Joyful bodies, joyful minds: gender euphoria among transgender adults living in Canada.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Gender euphoria is a relatively recent term to describe positive experiences of transgender identity. There is very limited literature on this term and its implications, despite the impact it can have on positively affecting one’s self-esteem and pride. In this thesis I seek to understand how transgender adults living in Canada define and experience gender euphoria. 26 participants responded to an online survey that included a series of questions regarding their experiences with gender euphoria, and their definitions for the term. Their responses suggest that gender euphoria encompasses many emotional, psychological, and interpersonal factors. The participants described gender euphoria as a complex and emotion-driven experience, often brought about by both internal changes to one’s self-perception and the external validation of others.


identifier: Chisholm, Nora C. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Chisholm=3ANora_C=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2020) An evaluation of carotid artery ultrasound imaging at a testing facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, an design of an electronic test ordering solution to improve access to testing.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Objective
To determine volume, clinical characteristics, appropriateness of, and time-to-access carotid artery ultrasound (U/S) testing; and, to describe requirements for an electronic ordering solution.
Background
Carotid artery disease is a cause of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Carotid imaging is urgently required in patients with recent neurological symptoms arising from the carotid territory to diagnose critical stenosis and eligibility for carotid revascularization.
Methods
Utilization of carotid artery U/S testing in adults at the vascular laboratory operated by Eastern Health was evaluated. In phase I, data from 2007-19 were analyzed for incidence of testing, clinical characteristics of the tested cohort, appropriateness of testing, and time-to-access testing. Phase II interventions were aimed at improving access to testing. Phase III involved documentation of learnings into requirements for an electronic test-ordering solution.
Results
22,167 adults were tested. 35% of testing was for appropriate reasons and 29% resulted in a diagnosis of critical carotid disease. Prediction of clinically significant stenosis using referral data was poor. At baseline, time-to-access testing was prolonged and 85% of incoming requisitions were defective (unable to triage). Following interventions, mean time-to-access was reduced for highest priority referrals and referral quality improved to a 23% defect rate.
Conclusions
Although improved access to testing and referral quality were observed with enhancements to the ordering requisition, streamlined triage and scheduling processes, and knowledge translation initiatives, time-to-access was not optimal in patients with recent neurological events. Learnings informed the design of an electronic ordering solution aimed at improving access for highest priority patients.


identifier: Cassell, Taylor <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Cassell=3ATaylor=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Investigating the role of the food-entrainable oscillator and the effect of light manipulations on hippocampal-dependent and hippocampal-independent tasks.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Circadian rhythms are responsible for physiological processes necessary for survival. The presence of certain external cues (e.g., light, food) are necessary to maintain rhythmicity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. However, disruption of circadian rhythms occurs through irregular patterns in external cues (e.g., shift work). Circadian disruption impairs hippocampal-dependent memory. Two experiments were conducted that explored the influence of circadian disruption (i.e., light manipulations) on performance of hippocampal-dependent and -independent tasks. Additionally, food access was restricted to assess any benefit of consistent feeding schedules in performance on these tasks. Experiment 1 used a modified 30-day light manipulation and had rats on either single or multiple meal schedules. The results of Experiment 1 found an impairment in acquisition of the hippocampal-dependent Morris Water Maze task in the groups exposed to the light manipulation, but no effect of meal schedule. There were no differences between groups in performance of the hippocampal-independent tasks (i.e., Elevated-Plus Maze, and Stimulus-Response Task). Experiment 2 used a previously validated light manipulation, with the addition of rats placed on either a single of multiple meal regimen. The results of Experiment 2 found no differences between groups in retention of the Morris Water Maze task. Overall, the light manipulation in Experiment 1 resulted in an impairment in the acquisition phase of the Morris Water Maze task, but the impairment was not present in the probes or other phases of the task. Experiment 2 was incomplete due to COVID-19; It is expected that with the addition of a second cohort an effect of meal will be observed in retention of the Morris Water Maze Task.


identifier: Xiong, Xiao <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Xiong=3AXiao=3A=3A.html>   (2020) Computational fluid dynamics simulations of fully developed turbulent flows with Newtonian and non-Newtonian drag reduction fluids in the cylindrical geometry.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
While turbulent flows with the dynamic and sinuous flow pattern have a wide variety
of engineering applications in enhancing fluid mixing and heat/mass transfer, they
unfavorably lead to dramatic increases in friction drags that need to be eased.
The polymer induced drag reduction, first discovered by Toms in 1948, is one of the
most efficient techniques to achieve so, which has the capability of reducing the friction
drag in turbulent flows by up to 80%. As a result, it has been broadly used for anticorrosion in oil and gas conduits, energy loss prevention in irrigation, water
heating/cooling systems and sewer systems, improving hydraulic fracturing in reservoir
engineering, and enhancing cutting transport for extended-reach well in drilling
engineering.
Despite being studied for over 70 years, many problems in this research area are still
waiting to be solved. In particular, to accurately predict drag reduction numerically
remains challenging, especially in engineering problems where flows with large
Reynolds numbers in complex geometries widely exist.
Consequently, in this study, a reliable numerical approach has been proposed in the
computationally inexpensive Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) framework to
estimate polymer induced drag reduction in the cylindrical geometry, with the
rheological behavior of polymer solutions represented by the finitely-extensible nonlinear-elastic model with Peterlin’s function (FENE-P model) and the turbulent flow
field characterized by the k-e-v²-f model, both coded into the commercial software of
FLUENT using the User-Defined-Function (UDF).
ANSYS 14.0 is used to complete all the simulations, CFX for the base case
Newtonian flow and FLUENT for the drag reduction flow. By using the correlations
suggested in this study to determine the essential rheological parameters, simulation
results are validated successfully against experimental studies, showing the robust
performance of the proposed model to predict accurate drag reduction in the cylindrical
geometry for solutions with both rigid and non-rigid flexible polymers.
By comparing behaviors of the non-Newtonian drag reduction and the Newtonian
fluids in the concentric annulus, where the geometrical transverse curvature effect plays
a vital role in determining the flow field, polymers are found to behave differently close
to the inner and outer walls of the annulus, leading to more decay of turbulence at the
outer wall than the inner. Such a phenomenon has been explained by relating the
elongation of the polymer chains in the solution to the intensity of the flow field they
experience, which is also found in this study to be highly dependent on the inherent
rheological properties of themselves.
This thesis provides a benchmark study about how the polymer induced turbulent
drag reduction in the cylindrical geometry can be numerically estimated using RANS
modelling. Substantial progress has also been made in understanding the geometry-dependent behavior of polymers in the turbulent flow, which could inspire research on
broader applications of the polymer induced drag reduction in more complex
geometries.