title: "It's Just a Sport. It's Just a Sport, Right?": The Reproduction of Class Privilege in Ultimate

contributor:
Adams, Mary Louise
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Ultimate
Class Privilege
Race and Sport
Gender and Sport

abstract: Invented in 1968, Ultimate is a self-officiating, non-contact, team sport played with a flying disc. Over the course of the past 50 years, Ultimate has rapidly gained popularity and is often cited as being among the fastest growing sports in the world (World Flying Disc Federation, 2015; USA Ultimate, 2015). Interestingly, because it requires no referees, is usually played mixed (co-ed), and can be inexpensive to play, proponents of the sport portray Ultimate as being a more accessible and equitable alternative to “mainstream” sports (Walters, 2008). However, despite these distinctive traits and this progressive rhetoric, as a committed member of the Ultimate community for the last decade, I’ve noticed a problem: Ultimate tends to be played only by an incredibly homogenous and privileged group of people. Further, Ultimate has only been studied by a handful of people (Hamish Crocket, Gerald Griggs, Lindsay Pattison, Andrew Thornton, and Kirsten Walters), none of whom have substantively addressed the Ultimate community’s apparent homogeneity and affluence. In this thesis, I address this issue by employing Pierre Bourdieu’s conceptual schema to analyse my five-month long ethnographic research project as a member of the Ultimate community in Kingston, Ontario. Specifically, I use Bourdieu’s notion of social class and his concepts of capital, habitus, and taste to analyse the seven interviews that I conducted with mixed Ultimate players and the field notes I took during several hundred hours of participant observation.  In doing so, I develop the argument that active participation in the Kingston Ultimate community functions to systematically maintain and reproduce the structural advantages of an already privileged group of people. I suggest, therefore, that Ultimate, a purportedly progressive form of recreation, is, in fact, a mechanism through which players distinguish themselves from “lower class” groups, thus (re)producing a particular social class identity that locates them at the top of the social hierarchy. I conclude this thesis by offering my recommendations for how individual Ultimate players and the entire Ultimate community might improve the accessibility and equity of our sport.

abstract: M.A.


title: Polymeric Ionic Liquid Compositions for In-Situ Product Removal Bioreactor Applications

contributor:
Parent, J. Scott
Chemical Engineering

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

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

rights: Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University

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

subject:
Polymeric Ionic Liquids
Two-phase partitioning bioreactors
In-situ product removal

abstract:
Although the biosynthesis of n-butanol and succinic acid can afford renewable fuels, solvents, and chemical intermediates, these bioprocesses suffer from the cytotoxicity of their end products, leading to reduced production rates. In-situ product removal using a two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) can alleviate this problem by sequestering reaction products in a secondary, non-aqueous phase. Effective sorbents for TPPB applications are biocompatible materials with a high thermodynamic affinity for the product, as quantified by partition coefficient (PC), and a preference for solute over water, as measured by selectivity (α).
In this work, the absorptive capacity of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) are combined with the attractive physical properties of polymeric sorbents by synthesizing a range of polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) compositions. Careful measurements of PIL molecular weight, glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallinity were followed by systematic studies of the effect of imidazolium cation substituents and counter-anions on PC and α for the n-butanol-water system. P[(VC12-linIm)(Br)] was identified as the most promising PIL n-butanol absorbent by virtue of a PCBuOH = 7.4 ± 0.3, and αb/w = 97 ± 7. An expanded study of the ternary PIL/water/n-butanol phase diagram was integrated with material balance equations for a solute recovery process to gain insight into the impact of polymer phase fraction, PC, α, feed concentration, and Tg on the recovery of n-butanol from dilute fermentation media.
The final phase of the project exploited experience gained on the preparation and phase behavior of P[(VC12-linIm)(Br)] to prepare a hydroxide-functionalized PIL. The utility of this base-functionalized material to chemisorb succinic acid from dilute aqueous solution was demonstrated along with its resilience toward repeated regeneration and reuse.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Neural Processing in Primary Motor Cortex and its Relationship to Contralateral and Ipsilateral Motor Actions

contributor:
Scott, Stephen H
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
neurons
bimanual
neural processing
primary motor cortex
M1
motor activity
arms
upper limb

abstract: The role of primary motor cortex (M1) in controlling movements has been a long-debated subject because M1 neurons have been shown to relate to many different aspects of motor control. A confounding issue is that different features of movement are inter-correlated so M1 activity related to one aspect of movement will correlate with other aspects of movement. In our first experiment, we circumvented this problem by recording from M1 neurons in monkeys across two different tasks with different kinematics and kinetics. In the first task, we applied forces to the arms in a postural task, and classified neurons into muscle-like groups based on their force preference. In the second task, the monkey reached to spatial targets and we found that the activity of each group of M1 neurons predicted the reaching directional preferences and activity patterns of their associated muscles. This suggests that M1 contributes to producing these patterns of muscle activity. The last projects explored how M1 activity can reflect information unrelated to motor patterns for the contralateral limb, such as motor patterns of the ipsilateral limb. Why does this ipsilateral-related activity not lead to contralateral limb motion? In our second experiment, we recorded from M1 neurons while we applied forces to each arm separately. We found that the torque preferences of M1 neurons were commonly different for ipsilateral and contralateral torque. The result is that M1 activity when generating ipsilateral shoulder flexor activity, would not lead to any increase in activity of any muscle group in the contralateral limb. In our third experiment, we recorded from M1 neurons while applying contralateral and ipsilateral forces at the same time. The resultant activity in M1 could be predicted by the response of the neuron during contralateral or ipsilateral torques alone, albeit scaled down in magnitude particularly related to the ipsilateral limb. The results of this thesis show that M1 is capable of producing patterns of muscle activity during voluntary motor tasks of the contralateral limb, but that other information can be simultaneously represented across the neural population.

abstract: PhD


title: Is Daoism Green? Engaging Daoist Responses to Environmental Challenges in China

contributor:
Miller, James
Cultural Studies

subject:
Daoism
Ecology
Environmental Activism
China
Chinese Religion

abstract: This paper seeks to examine the role that Daoism is playing in environmental activism in China. It analyzes a variety of sources including academic literature, primary source material from Daoist groups and my own research from interviews and visits to Daoist sites. The research demonstrates that Daoism’s interaction with ecology in China can be understood in three specific ways. The first interaction is through Daoism’s relationship with physical space; specifically, the quality of the environment of surrounding temple spaces and the relationship that Daoists have to space and place. The second way to think about the interaction of Daoism and ecology is through the global environmental movement that aims to connect religious issues with environmental issues; we see this aspect most prominently in the CDA’s relationship with ARC. Finally, the third way to think about the relationship of Daoism and ecology is through the concept of the body, and Daoism’s unique understanding of the role the body plays in relationship to the natural world. Analysis of Daoism along these three modes of analysis highlights the complex and varied approach to ecology found throughout the Daoist community in China and emphasizes the multifaceted nature of the Daoist tradition while revealing the limitations of evaluating a religious tradition through the lens of the modern ecological standards. This analysis has implications for both environmentalism in China and Daoism as a living tradition.

abstract: PhD


title: Page or Stage: Reading Shakespeare Comics as Performance

contributor:
Straznicky, Marta
English Language and Literature

subject: Shakespeare Comics

abstract: While previous scholarship concerning Shakespeare comics has considered their pedagogical function as teaching tools to make Shakespeare more accessible or their role in preserving Shakespeare’s place within the popular culture, this dissertation argues that there is much to be gained by looking at Shakespeare comics through the lens of performance studies. This dissertation considers Shakespeare comics as “players in ongoing relationships” and examines the behavior of the adaptors, illustrators, and readers of Shakespeare comics as analogous to that of actors and audience members. In doing so, it illustrates the various ways in which Shakespeare comics engage both creatively and critically with the playwright’s work. It presents the Manga Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet as an example of a Shakespeare comic which offers an extensive character study that challenges its audience to question conventional readings of the playwright’s protagonists. It then considers the Manga Shakespeare Twelfth Night as an example of a Shakespeare comic which incorporates the reader into the narrative in a way that uses the play as an entry point into a broader commentary upon the social structure which the reader inhabits. And finally, it presents the issue of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series entitled A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Kill Shakespeare series by Antony Del Col and Conor McCreery as examples of Shakespeare comics which speak to the place of the playwright and his dramatic works within the modern world and use the comic form to comment upon the exercise of adapting these works into new media. Through an examination of these works, this dissertation situates Shakespeare comics within four distinct but related traditions: the literary tradition to which Shakespeare belongs, the tradition of adaptation of Shakespeare’s dramatic works, the comics tradition, and the performance tradition.

abstract: PhD


title: A Secure Keyless Entry System Based on Contextual Information

contributor:
Zulkernine, Mohammad
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
Bluetooth Low Energy
Keyless Entry
proximity verification
vehicle security
relay attacks

abstract:
Proximity identification has been widely used in access control systems. These systems, in particular Passive Keyless Entry and Start systems (PKES) for high-end automobiles, allow drivers to unlock their vehicles by standing within one meter of the vehicle while carrying a legitimate key fob in their pockets. The PKES systems re¬quire zero interaction from a user since the vehicle is able to detect the presence of the key fob and verify its proximity, thereby allowing the user to have further access to the vehicle. However, due to the restricted processing capacity of the key fobs and the vulnerabilities of RFID technology, these systems may be prone to relay attacks. Some security videos show that thieves executed relay attacks to steal a luxury car in less than one minute. Previous literature findings also demonstrate that conventional PKES systems are vulnerable to attacks that exploit cryptographic techniques such as rolling code scheme and challenge-response scheme.

In this thesis, we propose a Context-based Secure Keyless Entry System (CSKES) that adopts Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 4.0) wireless communication technology and utilizes a wide range of contextual information including round-trip time, RSSI (Receiving Signal Strength Indicator), GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates, and Jaccard similarity of WiFi APs (Access Points) in order to precisely identify the close proximity of a car to its corresponding key. This multi-feature proximity identification system is highly efficient to mitigate classic relay attacks. We first evaluate each security feature individually to demonstrate their reliability, stability, and rigidity in identifying the characteristics of the environment. Then we implement the proposed system in two parts: an app on iPhone and a simulation application on the laptop. We evaluate the system performance based on three classification models with a dataset collected from normal and abnormal use cases. The results show that the proposed Context-based Secure Keyless Entry System demonstrates great efficiency in identifying physical proximity and preventing classic relay attacks.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Characterization of Strain Rate Sensitivity, Plastic Anisotropy, and Dislocation Content in Zircaloy-2

contributor:
Daymond, Mark
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Zirconium
Plasticity
Diffraction
HCP metals
EBSD

abstract:
Zirconium alloys are used broadly throughout the nuclear industry due to a combination of its mechanical properties, low neutron absorption cross section, and resistance to corrosion. Understanding the process of plastic deformation in these alloys is important both for predicting in-service behaviour in operating and accident conditions, as well as for optimizing the manufacturing of components.  This thesis presents a body of work based around using advanced materials characterization techniques to study the deformation properties of Zircaloy-2, and how those properties are dependent on the rate of deformation and the history of previously imparted deformation.

This thesis is presented in a manuscript format, composed of four manuscript chapters.  Chapter 3 presents a series of experiments using x-ray diffraction to investigate the effect of changes in the direction of applied strain on the deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of Zircaloy-2.    Chapter 4 introduces a technique for extending the analysis of conventional stress relaxation experiments to incorporate in situ x-ray diffraction data.  The technique is applied to Zircaloy-2 to demonstrate a dependence of the strain rate sensitivity and activation volume on crystallographic orientation.  Chapter 5 presents a newly developed Matlab computer code for calculating geometrically necessary dislocation density from electron backscattering diffraction data.  The code is applied to measurements performed on the samples from Chapter 3, and validated against an established state of the art technique for measuring dislocation density via x-ray diffraction.  Chapter 6 applies a polycrystalline plasticity model to the experimental data from Chapter 3 to quantify the dislocation density of the material and the work hardening parameters of the individual deformation mechanisms (the former of which is compared with experimental measurements performed in Chapter 5). Following the manuscript chapters, is Chapter 7, which summarizes the main conclusions of the manuscript chapters, discusses how they relate to one another, and provides suggestions for future work.

abstract: PhD


title: Exploring Epigenetic Drug Discovery Using Computational Approaches

contributor:
Akl, Selim
Winn, Louise
Computing

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States

subject:
Epigenetic
Drug Discovery
Support Vector Machines
Machine Learning
Regulatory Networks
Bioinformatics

abstract: The misregulation of epigenetic mechanisms has been linked to disease. Current drugs that treat these dysfunctions have had some success, however many have variable potency, instability in vivo and lack target specificity. This may be due to the limited knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms, especially at the molecular level, and their association with gene expression and its link to disease. Computational approaches, specifically in molecular modeling, have begun to address these issues by complementing phases of drug discovery and development, however, more research is needed on the relationship between genetic mutation and epigenetics and their roles in disease. Gene regulatory network models have been used to better understand diseases, however inferring these networks poses several challenges. To address some of these issues, a multi-label classification technique to infer regulatory networks (MInR), supplemented by semi-supervised, learning is presented. MInR's performance was found to be comparable to other methods that infer regulatory networks when evaluated on a benchmark E. coli dataset. In order to better understand the association of epigenetics with gene expression and its link with disease, MInR was used to infer a regulatory network from a Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC) dataset and was supplemented with gene expression and methylation analysis. Gene expression and methylation analysis revealed a correlation between 5 differentially methylated CpGs and their matched differentially expressed transcripts. Incorporating this information into a network allowed for the visualization of potential systems that may be involved in KIRC. Future analysis of these systems alongside the drug discovery and development process may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutics.

abstract: PhD


title: Effect of Chemical and Physical Ageing on the Longevity of Smooth and Textured Geomembranes in Geoenvironmental Applications

contributor:
Rowe, R. Kerry
Civil Engineering

subject:
Geomembrane
HDPE
LLDPE
Blended Polyolefin
Physical Ageing
Nominal Failure
Textured
MSW Landfills
Heap Leach Pads
Antioxidant Depletion
Longevity
Stress Crack Resistance
Oxidative Degradation
HALS
Chlorinated Water

abstract: Degradation of physical and mechanical properties of geomembrane (GMB) base liners in various geoenvironmental applications is investigated. This involved conducting immersion tests to simulate the ageing of GMBs on exposure to chemical solutions simulating field applications. The reduction in stress crack-resistance (SCR) due to physical ageing is examined. It is shown that a reduction in SCR was observed for a 1.5 mm smooth high density polyethylene (HDPE) GMB incubated in municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate and deionized water shortly after immersion to a value designated as SCRm and then stabilized until the end of the ~10-year study. The same GMB is incubated in air, high pH pregnant leach solution, and brine, and a similar reduction is observed in SCR to SCRm estimated by 50% of the initial SCR (SCRo). This early-time reduction in SCR is observed for other ten smooth HDPE GMBs and the mean magnitude of SCRm/SCRo is 0.37. A new definition for time to nominal failure (tNF) is introduced and assessed based on the time at which SCR=0.5·SCRm.This study investigates also the effect of texturing on the longevity of a GMB when immersed in a MSW leachate over a period ~3 years. The comparison of the textured/smooth portions of the HDPE GMB shows that texturing accelerated the OIT depletion by 40% (Std-OIT), but it does not affect the tNF assessed based on SCR. Finally, this study investigates the performance of 13 smooth GMBs when immersed in chlorinated water with concentration simulant to that in potable water reservoirs. A new degradation trend for GMBs stabilized with hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and immersed in chlorinated water is introduced. In this new trend, the degradation occurs in two stages. In the first stage, degradation of mechanical properties occurs before the depletion of antioxidants, then the mechanical properties stabilize for a lag time followed by a second stage of degradation until brittleness is reached. The comparison between the longevity of the 13 GMBs shows that the resin type and HALS contribute to a better resistance to degradation.

abstract: PhD


title: Hepatitis C antibody and RNA tests for adults in provincial and federal correctional facilities in Ontario, Canada: a population-based study

contributor:
Wobeser, Wendy
Peng, Yingwei Paul
Public Health Sciences

subject:
Hepatitis C
HCV
HCV RNA
HCV antibody test
Correctional institutions

abstract:
BACKGROUND: Prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been shown to be high in correctional facilities. Testing for HCV begins with a blood test for antibodies followed by an HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) test to establish active infection. Receiving the RNA test is a required step in the cascade of care for HCV management.
PURPOSE: This thesis had two main objectives. The first was to determine an association between the facility of first testing positive for HCV antibodies and the time to receiving the RNA test. The facilities of interest were community medical facilities, provincial correctional institutions, and federal correctional institutions. The second objective sought to describe the number of duplicate antibody tests performed at Public Health Ontario Laboratories (PHOL). Once an individual tests positive for HCV antibodies, subsequent antibody tests are considered redundant.
METHODS: Both objectives used a subset of PHOL data that included all HCV tests performed at PHOL from 1999-2014. A Cox’s proportional hazards model was used to determine an association between the facility of first antibody test and time to receiving the RNA test while controlling for other variables. The second objective counted the number of antibody tests performed at PHOL after an individual had demonstrated HCV positivity.
RESULTS: Individuals who first tested HCV-positive in a provincial facility took longer to receive an RNA test when compared to those first tested in the community or federal prison; females were longer to receive the test when compared to males (hazard ratio [HR]=0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.37, 0.49 provincial vs. community for females in 2009-2014; HR=0.56; 95%CI=0.51, 0.62 provincial vs. community for males in 2009-2014).

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Multi-Material and Multi-Joint Topology Optimization of 3D Structures

contributor:
Kim, Il Yong
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Multi-Material Topology Optimization
Topology Optimization
Multi-Joint Topology Optimization
Structural Design Optimization

abstract:
In recent years, topology optimization has become a popular tool in automotive, aerospace and defense industries to generate novel clean slate designs. The most modern of these tools is multi-material topology optimization which is capable of simultaneously distributing material and selecting the optimum material within a design domain. However, a shortcoming of this method is that it cannot consider the practical joining of the inherently multi-component solutions. Since optimal joint design is dependent on optimal component design (and vice versa), it is argued that these aspects must be considered together to generate truly optimum multi-material designs. This limitation is addressed through multi- material and multi-joint topology optimization (MM/MJ  TO) which can generate optimal joint distribution and selection at the boundary of dissimilar materials. Two different gradient-based topology optimization methods will be presented which allow for 3D MM/MJ TO structural design. These are included in the form of two manuscripts.
The first manuscript expands on the current state-of- the-art MM/MJ TO algorithm and investigates its efficacy in solving 3D problems. A new concept of tooling accessibility constraints will be introduced that has yet to be discussed in literature. This constraint limits the existence of welded joints in tooling inaccessible regions to ensure manufacturability. The capabilities of the algorithm were demonstrated with three academic complexity 3D numerical examples. Through this work, it was found that the algorithm required prohibitively large computational cost while producing sub-optimal solutions. While this method was the first to achieve MM/MJ TO, it was found to have limited scalability to complex industry-driven design problems.
The second manuscript introduces a novel interpolation scheme for performing coupled MM/MJ TO which addresses previous limitations. By removing the need to decouple MM and MJ TO, the algorithm can solve a new set of physically meaningful problem statements while also reducing computational time. Unlike the previous method, the new interpolation scheme enables the material interface to morph, thus capturing the mutual dependency of component and joint design. Through four numerical examples, these capabilities are demonstrated on both academic and high complexity 3D problems.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Daphnia vertical position and implications for the impact of the invasive zooplankton predator, Bythotrephes longimanus, on plankton communities in south-central Ontario

contributor:
Arnott, Shelley
Day, Troy
Biology

subject:
Bythotrephes longimanus
Daphnia
Daphnia mendotae
Zooplankton
Invasive Species
Introduced Predator
Daytime Vertical Position
Vertical Distribution
Intraspecific Trait Variation
Dispersal
Trophic Cascade
Food Web
Freshwater ecosystems
Limnology
Predator Density
Anti-predator response
Phytoplankton
Algae

abstract: Species diversity and identity play an important role in determining community structure and regulating ecosystem processes. However, species interactions are often characterized by the mean effect or response, often ignoring intraspecific variation in trait expression. In this thesis, I examined the ecological consequences of intraspecific trait variation in Daphnia vertical position in plankton communities invaded by the presence of the invasive zooplankton predator, Spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus). In the first chapter, I assessed the factors influencing Daphnia vertical position response to Bythotrephes presence using a field survey of invaded and uninvaded lakes across a gradient of abiotic variables in south-central Ontario. In the second chapter, I examined the influence of Daphnia vertical position on Bythotrephes impacts on plankton communities using mesocosm experiments where I manipulated Bythotrephes presence and Daphnia vertical position. In the final chapter, I used mesocosm experiments to determine if differences in the vertical position of dispersing Daphnia influenced recovery in Daphnia populations invaded by Bythotrephes. Results from my field survey show that Daphnia vertical position response to Bythotrephes is species specific, with only D. mendotae and D. longiremis vertical position influenced by Bythotrephes presence. In invaded lakes, D. mendotae vertical position in dependent on water clarity and Bythotrephes density. Results from my mesocosms experiment suggest that Daphnia vertical position influences the type and magnitude of Bythotrephes impacts on Daphnia populations, resulting in indirect impacts on small cladocerans, large cladocerans and copepodids. Furthermore, differences in Daphnia vertical position in invaded mesocosms influenced algal densities, resulting in trophic cascades in mesocosms where more Daphnia were hypolimnetic. There was no effect of differences in vertical position of dispersing Daphnia on Daphnia populations invaded by Bythotrephes. Taken together, these results suggest that Daphnia vertical position response to Bythotrephes is species specific and that differences in Daphnia vertical position result in differences in Bythotrephes impacts on plankton communities in invaded lakes.

abstract: PhD


title: Evidence-informed policy development and enactment: A policy content evaluation of a provincial policy for improving the educational outcomes of youth in out-of-home care in Ontario

contributor:
Cooper, Amanda
Education

subject:
evidence-informed
policy
policy content evaluation
Joint Protocol for Student Achievement
partnership working agreement
child welfare
school-community partnership
out-of-home care

abstract:
The dissertation explores the Joint Protocol for Student Achievement (JPSA) through a series of four interrelated papers.  First, education data of 4,109 students were analyzed to understand the educational experiences of students living in out-of-home care (OHC) throughout Ontario during the year (2015–2016) the JPSA was released.  Analyses revealed that students in OHC had higher short-term absentee rates, suspension and expulsion rates, special education placement, and rates of school transfers compared to their peers in the general population.

Second, a scoping review of scholarly and gray literature (N=69) was conducted to uncover the common components that support partnership working between youth-serving organizations.  The scoping review identified four key themes (strategic planning, institutional structures, client-level supports, and implementation and evaluation) that were further disaggregated into 16 common components which may support partnerships.

Third, a jurisdictional scan was completed to identify and compare partnership working agreements between education and child welfare sectors located across Canada using the common components of partnerships uncovered during the scoping review.  Including Ontario, five partnership protocols were uncovered. On average, protocols scored highly on factors related to strategic planning (80%), institutional structures (85%), and client-level supports (90%).  However, protocols fell short on factors relating to implementation and evaluation (50%).

Finally, interviews (N=21) were performed with education and child welfare partners in order to understand the perspectives and experiences of developing and implementing the JPSA.  Analysis of the qualitative data gathered from the interviews with education and child welfare stakeholders suggest that provincial working group played a critical role in designing the JPSA provincial template.  At the local level, participants found that designing regional JPSA’s helped to develop new relationships between sectors or formalize already occurring partnership practices.  Issues related to information sharing, implementation, and evaluation were also uncovered.

Recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers cover five key themes: (a) creation of new JPSA sections, (b) provision of implementation support, (c) development of information and data sharing structures, (b) development of capacity surrounding trauma-informed practice, (c) creation of common evaluation and performance measurement system.

abstract: PhD


contributor:
Purda, Lynnette
Business

subject:
Lenders' Monitoring of Debt
Bond IPO
Loan Covenants
Credit Default Swap

abstract: In this thesis I present three papers on "Implications of Firms' Interactions with Debt Markets".  Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the thesis.  Chapter 2 presents the paper "Does a Firm's Bond IPO have Implications for the Degree of Monitoring by Private Lenders?".  This paper looks at whether private lenders change their degree of monitoring of loans granted to a firm after the firm goes through a bond IPO.  I find that the degree of monitoring on private loans increases after a firm issues public debt for the first time.  Chapter 3 presents the paper "Is Cost of Equity a Function of Leverage?  The Case of Bond IPOs", a co-authored paper with Paul Dion.  In this paper, we investigate whether the changes that a bond IPO brings to the environment of the firm impact the riskiness of the equity of the firm.   We find that the changes in the information, monitoring and agency environment brought about by a bond IPO indeed influence the direction and magnitude of the change of its cost of equity.  Chapter 4 presents "Do Credit Default Swaps Impact Lenders' Monitoring on Loans?".  In this paper, I build on my examination of monitoring of loans by investigating whether lenders change the comprehensiveness and intensity of loan covenants after the firm's Credit Default Swap (CDS) starts trading.  The results provide solid evidence that lenders decrease their degree of monitoring on loans after the inception of a firm's CDS.  Chapter 5 concludes the thesis, summarizing the results of the core papers.

abstract: PhD


title: A Case Study Exploring How Professional Education Programs at a Mid-sized Canadian University are Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Entry-to-practice Competence Frameworks

contributor:
Klinger, Don
Education

subject:
entry-to-practice
competence
competency-based education
competence frameworks
professional education
assessment

abstract:
Entry-to-practice competence frameworks and competency-based approaches to professional education are becoming increasingly popular in Canada and on a global scale. Although competency-based medical education has the potential to inform approaches to the development and assessment of competence across professional disciplines, there are contextual factors which make medical education unique. To date, few studies have compared how university-based professional education programs are using competence frameworks to guide teaching/learning and assessment in their own professional contexts. Consequently, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how professional education programs at a mid-sized Canadian university are conceptualizing and operationalizing entry-to-practice competence frameworks.

In Study 1, theoretical tensions between behavioural and integrated conceptions of competence were explored by comparing similarities/differences across ten professions’ entry-to-practice competence frameworks. In Study 2, an in-depth interpretive case study approach was used to explore how the assessment of competence is being operationalized in a highly resourced and work-integrated professional education program. Finally, in Study 3, an embedded case study was used to explore how nine different professional programs, with potentially fewer-resources and work-integrated learning opportunities, are approaching and perhaps problematizing the development and assessment of competence.

Taken altogether, the findings of Studies 1, 2, and 3 suggest that how competence is conceptualized and represented matters and has the potential to shape how competence is developed and assessed at the program level. While limited in scope given the use of a single university, the findings highlight: (1) diversity in the approaches to operationalization being used across programs; (2) common attributes which can be used to classify the manner in which these programs operationalize the development and assessment competence; and (3) challenges with supporting academic faculty, who have academic freedom, to buy in to competence as a construct informing pedagogy and assessment. These findings can be used to inform policy and practice decisions about: (1) the role professional programs play in determining competence for entry-to-practice along professional pathways to licensure, and (2) programs’ intents for and approaches to operationalizing entry-to-practice competence frameworks in practice.

abstract: PhD


title: The role of PPARg-dependent microRNA expression during breast tumour metastasis

contributor:
Nicol, Christopher
Pathology and Molecular Medicine

subject:
PPARg
Breast Cancer
MicroRNA
DMBA
Rosiglitazone
Invasion
Metastasis

abstract: Previous studies by Dr. Nicol showed the first direct in vivo evidence that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ normally suppresses environmental chemical 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-mediated breast tumour progression. Our lab also used mice with targeted knockout (KO) of PPARγ in mammary secretory epithelial (MSE) cells (PPARγMSE-KO mice) and their wildtype (PPARγWT) controls to show DMBA-treated PPARγMSE-KOs had significantly worse breast tumourigenic outcomes versus PPARγWTs; whereas, co-treatment with the PPARγ activating, antidiabetic drug rosiglitazone (ROSI) significantly improves tumourigenic outcomes in PPARγWT but not PPARγMSE-KO mice. I hypothesized activation of MSE-specific PPARγ signaling alters microRNA (miR) expressions to protect against breast tumour metastasis. My aims were to: 1) use enhanced PPARγMSE-KO mice strains to evaluate MSE-specific PPARγ-dependent miR changes in mammary tumours and correlate findings with metastatic events in vivo; and 2) identify PPARγ-dependent miRs that correlate with human breast cancer cell metastatic potential in vitro. To address aim one, PPARγMSE-KO or PPARγMSE-WT mice were crossed onto an enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) reporter mouse background to generate PPARγMSE-KO;EYFP+ and control PPARγMSE-WT;EYFP+ strains respectively, allowing for easy detection of MSE cells for miR profiling. PPARγMSE-WT;EYFP+ mice were treated with DMBA Only or DMBA+ROSI as previously described, and no significant difference was observed in overall survival (OS). Mammary tumours were collected from each treated group for evaluation of miR expressions. To address aim two, the human metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line was transduced to stably express PPARγ and generate both parental (MDA-MB-231parental) and PPARγ expressing (MDA-MB-231PPARγWT) cell lines. Metastatic potential was significantly decreased in MDA-MB-231PPARγWT versus MDA-MB-231parental cells, and following ROSI treatment. qRT-PCR expression changes of five miR targets implicated in tumourigenesis were selected for assessment, and revealed no significant differential expression between the treatment groups in either cell line for any of the miRs. Future studies assessing global expression changes will be critical to determine whether activation of PPARγ alters miR profiles to prevent breast cancer metastasis.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Influence of Oxidative Aging on the Chemistry and Rheology of Asphalt Cement From Bolivian, Canadian and Costa Rican Sources

contributor:
Hesp, Simon
Chemistry

subject:
Asphalt Oxidation
Pressure Aging Vessel
Accelerated Aging
Bitumen
Specification Grading
Cracking
Field Validation

abstract:
The objective of this thesis is to validate existing specification protocols, to monitor the chemical and rheological properties of Bolivian, Canadian and Costa Rican samples after being environmentally exposed for a year and compare these with samples subjected to standard and modified protocols that simulate long-term aging in the material. The project focuses on the chemical changes obtained in the material after exposure to rigorous oxidation processes and its relation with the deterioration in the ability to release the distresses at low temperatures causing premature cracking and loss of pavement integrity. Within the chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to quantify the degree of oxidation and corroborate the presence of metals originating from recycled engine oil bottoms, respectively. Rheologically, the samples were analyzed in the dynamic shear rheometer, the regular bending beam rheometer (BBR), and the Extended BBR (EBBR), to obtain information related to fatigue and rutting resistance, rheological behavior at low, intermediate and high temperatures, and measure the stiffness at low temperatures after prolonged conditioning times. The ductile failure analysis was carried out using the double-edge-notched tension protocol which provides information about the critical crack tip opening displacement parameter, which is related to fatigue resistance. Finally, using modulated differential scanning calorimetry, the change of the glass transition with the different aging states and different cooling rates is studied.
The appearance of unsaturation and increases in oxygen content in the environmentally aged samples lack correlation with the methods that simulate long term aging in laboratory making it impossible to validate the standard protocols. It is necessary to correlate the changes in the chemical structure of asphalt, the susceptibility to the oxidation of its molecules and the performance in service of the material. Besides, it was found that the modification of the binder with REOB and subjecting the asphalt to blowing processes to comply with the specification causes the asphalt to accelerate its oxidation and directly affect its performance in service. Modifications of the existing protocols generated great benefits when it comes to correlating and conditioning the samples more realistically to their state in service.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Marginal Voices: Conflicted Dialogism and the Responsive Readers of Utopia, Beware the Cat, and Arcadia

subject:
Prose Fiction
Marginalia
Dialogism
English Literature
Media
Reading
Book Culture
Annotation
Reader Response
Thomas More
William Baldwin
Philip Sidney
Arcadia
Utopia
Beware the Cat
Renaissance
Bibliography
Communication
Print History
Early Modern Literature
Paratext

abstract:
This dissertation analyzes the construction of discursive communities amongst authors, editors, and readers of early modern prose fiction through language, material texts, and reader response. It analyzes Thomas More’s Utopia (1516), William Baldwin’s Beware the Cat (ca. 1553), and Philip Sidney’s Old and New Arcadia (ca. 1582-1586) as examples of significant early modern English prose fiction texts, and studies tensions between fiction and non-fiction, and theories of various communication media. The study considers the ways in which these texts invite (or discourage) open-ended interpretation from the reader, and foster dialogic interaction between the reader and the text. By studying Thomas More’s Utopia and its English translation, the dissertation begins with an exploration of how the physical book can serve as a site for ideal discussion between texts, authors, and readers through the form of annotation. With William Baldwin’s Beware the Cat, the study looks at the potential negative implications of free-ranging discussion and interpretation, as Baldwin paints the spread of misinformation through conversation, and provides solutions through the form of critical reading of print. Lastly, the dissertation studies Philip Sidney’s consideration of these humanist dialogic structures in the two versions of the Arcadia, arguing that though initially Sidney was attracted to the potential of prose fiction in fostering communal discursive explorations of political and philosophical considerations, he ultimately revised the Arcadia to decrease its dialogism to avoid a perceived riot of voices. My research contrasts these authors’ theoretical approaches to dialogism with the practical ways in which stationers and editors encouraged and discouraged dialogic reading through the print elements of these books. In its final analysis, the dissertation considers how readers responded to these various textual and material framings in their annotations and studies the readers’ dialogical engagements. Overall, the dissertation delivers a three-pronged approach,
focusing on literary analysis, material culture, and reader response through annotation, and traces invited and performed debates amongst writers, producers, and readers of texts and the conflicted ways in which early modern prose fiction grappled with questions of truth, dissemination of information, and civic discussion.

abstract: PhD


title: High-performance Communication in MPI through Message Matching and Neighborhood Collective Design

contributor:
Afsahi, Ahmad
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
Message Passing Interface
Message Matching
Neighborhood Collectives

abstract:
Message Passing Interface (MPI) is the de facto standard for communication in High Performance Computing (HPC). MPI Processes compute on their local data while extensively communicating with each other. Communication is therefore the major bottleneck for performance. This dissertation presents several proposals for improving the communication
performance in MPI.

Message matching is in the critical path of communications in MPI. Therefore, it has to be optimized given the scalability requirements of the HPC applications. We propose clustering-based message matching mechanisms as well as a partner/non-partner message queue design that consider the behavior of the applications to categorize the communicating
peers into some groups, and assign dedicated queues to each group. The experimental evaluations show that the proposed approaches improve the queue search time and application runtime by up to 28x and 5x, respectively.

We also propose a unified message matching mechanism that improves the message queue search time by distinguishing messages coming from point-to-point and collective communications. For collective elements, it dynamically profiles the impact of each collective call on message queues and uses this information to adapt the queue data structure. For
point-to-point elements, it uses partner/non-partner queue design. The evaluation results show that we can improve the queue search time and application runtime by up to 80x and 5.5x, respectively.

Furthermore, we consider the vectorization capabilities of used in new HPC systems many-core processors/coprocessors to improve the message matching performance. The evaluation results show that we can improve the queue search time and application runtime by up to 4.5x and 2.92x, respectively.

Finally, we propose a collaborative communication mechanism based on common neighborhoods that might exist among groups of k processes. Such common neighborhoods are used to decrease the number of communication stages through message combining. We consider two design alternatives: topology-agnostic and topology-aware. The former ignores
the physical topology of the system and the mapping of processes, whereas the latter takes them into account to further optimize the communication pattern. Our experimental results show that we can gain up to 8x and 5.2x improvement for various process topologies and a sparse matrix-matrix multiplication kernel, respectively.

abstract: PhD


title: Taste and Ambition: Dutch Artists and Their Collections of Works on Paper

contributor:
Dickey, Stephanie S.
Art History

subject:
History of Collections
Prints
Drawings
Seventeenth Century

abstract:
This dissertation is a study of Dutch artists as collectors of prints and drawings in the seventeenth century. The presence of works on paper in artists’ workshops and their use as visual reference tools and objects for inspiration is generally accepted, but the individual character of these collections is worth deeper consideration. In order to explore the maintenance of and motivations for artists’ collections of works on paper, my thesis draws on the history of collecting as broadly understood, and the often distinct fields of the history of print collections and drawing collections.

The collecting of graphic arts was integral to the artistic process. In this thesis, I consider the historical context of this practice through a series of case studies that reconstruct the collections of Christoffel van Sichem the Elder (1546–1624), Adriaen van Nieulandt (1587–1658), Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), and Peter Lely (1618–1680). These four artists’ practices varied dramatically from producing books and woodcuts made for wide circulation to royal patronage meant for the few, but they are united by their cultivation of works on paper collections. Their collections can be reconstructed with the help of inventories, sale records, the objects they owned, and their respective oeuvres. This thesis explores the different shapes and uses Dutch artists’ collections took in the seventeenth century, and how their content reflects both the tastes of the individual artists and the impact of the collecting and study of graphic art on the work they produced. By considering artists who were active at different points throughout the century, I demonstrate the continuation of collecting practices and provide insights into how artists’ collections changed over time. In doing so, I reveal the diverse ways in which these collections were built and used. Further, I argue that artists’ collections are reflective not only of professional practice, but also of individual taste, interests, and ambitions.

abstract: PhD


title: When and Where We Enter:  Situating the Absented Presence of Black Canadian Art

contributor:
McKittrick, Katherine
Gender Studies

subject:
Black Studies
Black Canadian studies
Black history
Art
Art history
Art criticism
Gender studies

abstract: My thesis situates recent black visual arts practices in the context of exhibition practices and art history. I undertake a content analysis of 10 years of black visual arts reviews in FUSE Magazine and perform a close read of Tau Lewis’ 2017 exhibition cyphers, tissues, blizzards, exile. Through the FUSE content analysis, I am able to explore how an artist’s gender and race influence if and how black arts are discussed in a Canadian context. In my exploration of Lewis, I find that in the exhibition, she—a black woman artist—uses opacity as an aesthetic strategy to avoid presenting her work in a traditional, consumable way. In both of these chapters, the ongoing absented presence of blackness in Canada frames my approach to the case studies.

abstract: M.A.


title: The effect of initial arteriolar transmural pressure on vasodilation at the onset of muscle contraction

contributor:
Tschakovsky, Michael
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
forearm blood flow
myogenic vasodilation
rapid onset vasodilation
single contraction
transmural pressure

abstract: Muscle contraction initiates a rapid vasodilation (widening) of small blood vessels in the skeletal muscle called arterioles, increasing muscle blood flow, which is greater when the contracting muscle is below, compared to above heart level. The mechanisms responsible for this effect of arm position on blood flow are unclear. Below the heart, blood pressure is larger in the arterial system due to gravity (called transmural pressure). Arterioles vasodilate in response to a reduction in transmural pressure, termed myogenic vasodilation. During muscle contraction, transmural pressure is reduced. This thesis tested the hypothesis that there is an increased myogenic vasodilation and corresponding blood flow after release of forearm contraction if precontraction transmural pressure was higher, as it is below vs. above heart level. To test this hypothesis, participants laid supine with their arm placed ~20cm either above (low transmural pressure condition; L) or below (high transmural pressure condition; H) heart level. During a 2s forearm contraction of a handheld force transducer, the arm position was either maintained or changed to the opposite limb position. This was repeated for all four possible starting-ending position combinations (L-L, H-L, L-H, H-H). Comparing different starting position effects by measuring the response in the same ending position ensured that only differences in active vasodilation could contribute to differences in post-contraction blood flow. As expected, postcontraction blood flow response was greater when measured below vs. above the heart. However, within the same ending position, starting arm position did not affect the magnitude of blood flow during either the first or peak cardiac cycle post-contraction (i.e. LL vs. HL, or LH vs. HH; P = 1.00). Similarly, there were no differences in dilation of the arterioles (calculated as; forearm vascular conductance = blood flow ÷ local forearm arterial blood pressure). These findings REFUTE the hypothesis that a greater transmural pressure environment upon contraction would result in increased vasodilation. Secondary analysis determined that the higher post-contraction blood flow below vs. above the heart could be explained by greater local arterial blood pressure and/or greater mechanical distension of arterioles due to greater transmural pressure below the heart.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Evaluating the Surficial Geochemical Expressions in Soil, and Tree Cores Surrounding an LCT Pegmatite at Pakeagama Lake, Ontario

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
Geology
Geochemistry
Pegmatite
Pakeagama Lake

abstract:
The Pakeagama Lake Pegmatite is a complex type, petalite subtype Li-Cs-Ta (LCT)
pegmatite, located in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, at the border of the Berens River and
Sachigo subprovinces of the Archean Superior Province. In order to quantify the surface
expression produced by the pegmatite, A and B horizon soils and tree cores of black spruce
(Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) were collected throughout the Pakeagama Lake
property. The < 63 μm fraction of the soils were separated, digested, and measured using two
different methods, a near total digest using HCl, HF, HNO3, and H2O2 (3-acid digest) and a weak
acid leach (WAL) technique designed to leach adsorbed ions.
For A and B horizon soils that have undergone the 3-acid digest, there is a poor
relationship between the chemistry of the underlying lithologies, and the chemistry of the soil,
indicating that the soil is primarily sourced from till. Locations with greater concentrations of Li
and Cs, two pathfinder elements associated with LCT pegmatites, are correlated with greater Fe
and Mg concentrations and lower Na and K concentrations. This suggests that Li and Cs
concentrations are also controlled by the dominate clay mineral and will be greatest in areas
with the most illite or vermiculite. Concentrations of pathfinder elements (Li, Rb, Cs, Nb) in B
horizon samples that underwent a WAL are not significantly elevated in samples taken adjacent
to the pegmatite relative to background values.
Both black spruce and jack pine were sampled during the survey, based on availability.
At nine sites, both species were sampled for comparison. In all elements but Cs and Nb, the
chemistry of the two species were poorly correlated, even when Ca normalized, so tree species
were considered as independent media for analysis. No relationships between the chemistry of
the underlying bedrock and either of the tree species is noted, and Li/Ca, Rb/Ca, and K/Ca do
not exceed background values, even when taken directly adjacent to the pegmatite.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Evolutionary Constraints: Phenology and elevational range limits in an annual plant

contributor:
Eckert, Christopher G.
Biology

rights: Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States

subject:
Rhinanthus minor
Phenology
Range limit
Elevation
Season length
Growing degree day
Reciprocal transplant experiment
Ecology
Evolution
Population genomics

abstract: All species have limits to their geographic distributions and many range limits are stable over centuries, indicating a failure to adapt to conditions beyond the range edge. This simple observation contradicts copious evidence for the rapid and near limitless response to selection in single traits across diverse species. Phenology, the timing of life history events like mating and offspring development, is likely a strong determinant of species’ ranges on gradients of season length. Species colonising shorter growing seasons (increasing elevation, latitude) require earlier reproduction and more rapid offspring development. Range margins could then occur where phenological adaptation cannot keep pace with declining season length, or where doing so results in negative population growth rates. Despite its importance, we have a poor understanding of how phenology varies and whether it is locally adaptive towards range limits. I tested how phenology contributes to range limitation in Rhinanthus minor L. (Orobanchaceae), an annual plant, with a distinct elevational distribution in the Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada. I quantified clines in phenology, morphology, and fitness for three generations in naturally occurring populations across elevation to the upper range limit. I then tested whether observed clines in phenology were the result of differentiation by source season length or plasticity with a replicated reciprocal transplant experiment over two generations. Next, I quantified how local adaptation and population genomic variation and differentiation support competing hypotheses of range limitation. Finally, I quantified the extent to which selection shapes phenological traits across the gradient. I found substantial natural clines in phenology that arise primarily from strong co-gradient plasticity. Minimal differentiation by source season length for phenology, and limited local adaptation, was reinforced by low genomic diversity, and genomic differentiation patterns that did not follow the gradient. Controlling for individual quality, selection analyses on natural and enhanced phenotypic variation confirmed consistent and strong selection for early reproduction regardless of elevation. Together, my results suggest that a lack of genetic variation for phenology constrains elevational range expansion in Rhinanthus minor. Combining these diverse avenues of research, I provide one of the most complete assessments yet of phenology as a range limiting trait.

abstract: PhD


title: Application of Optical CT to Estimate the Mass of Macroalgae in a Tank of Water

contributor:
Stewart, James
Computing

subject:
macroalgae
optical CT
mass estimation

abstract:
This thesis develops and tests a mass estimation system for macroalgae using optical computed tomography. The system consists of a table with a fixed camera and backlighting, which rotates around a container of macroalgae to collect images from various points.

The images capture the translucency along various light paths through the container. From the translucency measurements, computed tomography techniques are used to reconstruct the optical density at points on the interior of the container. The mass of the macroalgae is determined as a function of the total optical density.

The system was evaluated in several tests which controlled optical densities using "mock algae" consisting of a number of paper strips within the container.

Experiments found a linear relationship between the total optical density and the number of mock algae strips. However, the relationship was inconsistent across experimental trials, and the reconstructed volumes were blurry and inaccurate. Despite several tests and analyses, these difficulties remain unexplained at this time.

While the system has some potential due to the strong linearity within sets, the inconsistencies and inaccuracies must be resolved before it can be considered a viable tool for estimating the mass of real algae in an acrylic hollow cylinder.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: "Ma vie est vraiment différente de ce que je pensais":  A life-story analysis of geographies and gendered subjectivities of Francophone mothers in Kingston

contributor:
Godlewska, Anne
Geography and Planning

subject:
mothering
linguistic minority
migration
intersectionality
place
everyday life
gender
feminist geography
social reproduction

abstract:
This dissertation is about migrant Francophone mothers’ experiences of mothering in Kingston, Ontario. It exposes how elements of these women’s life-stories, namely mothering, migration, and minority language, intersect with experiences of places to orient their subjectivities, their material conditions and practices, and their future possibilities in various ways. These intersections of life stories and places shape particular configurations of identification, affiliations, marginalization, power, and powerlessness, and define how patriarchal and heteronormative notions of gender assert themselves in each mother’s life. Kingston is a mid-sized city with a vast Anglophone majority where Francophones comprise less than 5% of the population. Francophone presence is largely invisible and marginal except in designated French-language institutions (e.g. French-language schools). Most Francophones in Kingston are economic migrants and their family members, including military families, from Québec, elsewhere in Canada or abroad. I conducted life-story interviews with thirty-two Francophone mothers living in Kingston in 2016. I also interviewed fifteen women holding key positions in French-language services organizations from 2016-18 while sitting on two planning and advocacy committees for French-language services.
Significant planes of differences that emerge from Francophone mothers’ stories are whether they came to Kingston as primary or as secondary migrants, their degree of fluency in English, and their affiliation with the military. These differences define each mother’s social power and inclusion, and her experiences of the institution of motherhood and its gendered imperatives. These differences also shape the degree to which the dominant structures of place in Kingston constrain mothers’ everyday geographies. Mothers ‘make do’ and ‘make with’ relationships and structures non-conducive to their mothering and linguistic needs, and they experience places as passages that facilitate or hinder the continuity of their particular projects and forms of being. Francophone institutions, although they can foster smoother passages for some mothers, also reinforce gendered roles around feminized social reproduction and cultural labour. Francophone mothers’ experiences of difference in Kingston, as migrants, mothers, and Francophones, shape the articulations of gendered norms and stories of motherhood, care and social reproduction, and cultural transmission in their lives, and how these norms and stories channel their subjectivities and possibilities.

abstract: PhD


title: Fabrication, Photoluminescence, and Electrical Measurements of Molybdenum DiSulphide Films and Heterostructures

contributor: Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy

subject:
2D Materials
Nanomaterials
Nanophotonics
Optoelectronic devices
Nanofabrication

abstract: Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit unique optical and electronic properties that make them highly appealing to the scientific community. Like graphene, they have strong in-plane bonds allowing for easy fabrication of complex single layer structures or molecular heterostructures. In particular, MoS2 is a TMD semiconductor that displays emerging photoluminescence (PL) as it transitions from an indirect band gap with a bulk thickness to a direct band gap at few- to mono-layer thickness. Its potential to be used in novel nanoelectronics and optical devices necessitate a better understanding of its excitonic properties. One issue is the reported variability of PL and electron mobility in MoS2;  we aimed to investigate influential factors affecting our 2D material and to optimize our devices. We also study the effects of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) encapsulation on MoS2 membranes as they are reported to mitigate surface roughness, increase PL, and protect against degradation. In the current work, we report our exfoliation and membrane transfer technique: a modified mask aligner and dry PDMS transfer for assembly of heterostructures. We developed simple optical methods to quantify layer number, which we correlated with Raman spectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy, and PL spectrum analysis. We then compared layer number, h-BN encapsulated samples, and exfoliated vs. grown MoS2 via chemical vapour deposition (CVD). We found red shifted PL peaks with increasing layer number and in CVD-grown MoS2, indicative of fewer defects in exfoliated devices. Also, PL intensity increased with decreasing layer number. We further discuss the lithographic process used to integrate monolayer samples into a bottom-gated field effect transistor, followed by their field effect mobility and resistance trends.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: An Evaluation of Spatial Lyme Disease Risk at Regional and Health Unit Scales Using Remotely Sensed Surface Temperature, GIS-Based Habitat Suitability Data and Population Modelling

contributor:
Chen, Dongmei
Geography and Planning

subject:
Remote Sensing
Lyme Disease
Geographic Information Systems
Population Modelling
Health Geography

abstract: The spread of Lyme disease continues to be a severe public health concern in Ontario, Canada due to rising temperatures. Several previous studies have modelled the extent and rate of risk increase at provincial and national scales using climate-based population modelling of the black-legged tick. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of this approach at a regional and health unit scale with high-resolution remotely sensed (RS) temperature data and GIS-based habitat suitability data. These data are input into a tick population model to calculate the basic reproductive number (R0), an indicator of reproductive success in a given environment. Monthly average RS land surface temperature data from 2008 to 2017 are used as model inputs to evaluate R0 values in eastern Ontario, and 8-day average RS land surface temperature data from 2016 to 2017 are used to evaluate R0 values in the Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington health unit region. It is found that there was an overall increase in R0 over eastern Ontario, up to a maximum rate of change of 0.28 ticks which survive to reproductive age per tick per year. The rate of change of R0 is not significantly impacted by elevation based upon local regression analysis, but is impacted by land cover type. Model outputs are validated using Lyme disease exposure information collected by Public Health Ontario. At the health unit scale, tick host density is varied according to habitat suitability to evaluate its impact relative to temperature. When host density is accounted for, urban areas become less suitable and forested areas become more suitable. This study provides increased insight into Lyme disease risk modelling at the regional and health unit scales, and the impact of tick host dynamics on habitat suitability at the health unit scale.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: An Empirical Analysis of Java Language Use in Open Source Applications

contributor:
Cordy, James R.
Computing

subject:
Java
Open Source
Feature Analysis
Empirical Analysis
Language Use

abstract: Java is one of the most popular programming languages currently in use, and many modern applications and websites are programmed using Java. In this work, we examine how Java language features are actually used by programmers in a large set of open source Java applications. The analysis is carried out on a dataset of fifty-one open source Java applications, consisting of 64,557 files. We analyze our dataset using a parser written in the TXL source transformation language, which extracts and counts the use of both syntactic features and public Java library classes and interfaces in Java applications. Our study is designed to assist language designers in understanding how to evolve Java by concentrating on improving the most frequently used features, removing the most rarely used features, and identifying opportunities to improve Java public libraries to better serve programmers. As a side effect, our results can also help to improve language artifacts such as grammar and documentation.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Three Essays in Corporate Finance

contributor:
Johnson, Lewis
Business

subject: Finance

abstract: In this thesis I present three papers on the implications of corporate finance and credit markets.  Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the thesis. Chapter 2 presents the paper "Do investors value bond granularity?". It studies the impact of firm’s bond maturity dispersion on its cost of equity. Chapter 3 presents the paper "US political corruption and loan pricing". The paper discusses how does US political corruption affect the company’s loan pricing. Lastly, chapter 4 presents "Board interlock and fraud restatement spillover". It investigates corporate fraud spillover effect through the channel of board interlock.

abstract: PhD


title: The Relationship Among Attachment, Empathy, and Caring in Baccalaureate Nursing Students

contributor:
Woo, Kevin
Woo, Kevin
Nursing

subject:
Attachment theory
Empathy
Caring
Baccalaureate nursing students
Integrative Review
Structural Equation Model
Mediator testing
Theoretical model

abstract:
Empathy and caring are the foundations upon which the fundamentals and principles of nursing practice are grounded, and help to delicately balance scientific knowledge and humanistic behaviours. Three nursing organizations in Canada: 1) the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), 2) College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), and 3) Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), through a code of ethics, professional practice standards, and best practice guidelines, advocate for the delivery of safe, ethical and empathetic nursing care. Caring relationships in nursing, based on trust, respect, professional intimacy, and evidence contribute to therapeutic nurse-patient relationships.
	Unfortunately, many nursing students are unable to develop therapeutic relationships based upon their internal working models (IWM) formed in childhood. Depending on the consistency of care received in childhood especially during times of stress a relatively stable pattern of low attachment avoidance and low attachment anxiety develops. Whereas, inconsistent care can lead to high attachment avoidance where individuals present as uncaring, emotionally distant, and self-reliant, while individuals with high attachment anxiety fear rejection, abandonment, and worry others will be unavailable or unresponsive to them.  The purpose of this study was the testing of a theoretical model linking attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety to empathy, the mediator variable, and caring.
	This cross-sectional survey of 192 baccalaureate nursing students in a collaborative nursing program in Ontario were sampled and a theoretical model was tested using latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The final analysis revealed a relatively good fit of the data to the hypothesized model (X2 =129.30; p <.01; df = 57; X2/df = 2.26), high GFI (.92), high TLI (.92), high CFI (.94), and an acceptable RMSEA (.07).  Higher caring was significantly correlated with empathy while attachment avoidance was negatively correlated with empathy. The model demonstrated there was no direct effect between attachment avoidance and caring while empathy fully mediated the relationship between these constructs. These findings suggest new evidence in understanding attachment avoidance indirectly affects nursing students’ caring abilities through empathy. From these results, nurse educators’ empathy and caring toward nursing students may have an impact on students’ IWM, empathy, caring and therapeutic relationships.

abstract: PhD


title: The BEST Trials: Examining Brief Executive Skills Training for Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders

contributor:
Bowie, Christopher
Psychology

subject:
schizophrenia
psychosis
cognitive remediation
functioning
EEG
cognitive training

abstract: Cognitive remediation is an efficacious treatment for schizophrenia that focuses on enhancing neurocognitive abilities and improving community functioning. However, there is currently no gold-standard cognitive remediation therapy and different approaches have produced varying results on cognitive and functional outcomes. One of the major barriers preventing cognitive remediation from being recommended in treatment guidelines has been limited generalization of cognitive improvement to functional improvement. Although results have been inconsistent, executive functioning may be more closely related to community functioning than other domains of neurocognition. The objective of the current dissertation was to examine the efficacy of cognitive training that specifically targets executive functioning for individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. In Chapter 2 data are presented from a randomized, double blind trial examining a brief two-week executive functioning intervention compared to a sham training condition. Compared to sham training, executive training significantly improved EEG alpha and theta band synchronization during working memory tasks, and neuropsychological measures of working memory and executive functioning. In Chapter 3 data are presented from a randomized, double-blind trial examining brief executive function training compared to training of perceptual abilities on measures of neurophysiology, neurocognition, and functioning. Perceptual training improved the EEG mismatch negativity more than executive training immediately post-treatment however, the effect did not persist 12-weeks post-treatment. At 12-week follow-up, executive training significantly improved EEG theta power, neurocognition, functional competence, and case manager rated community functioning to a greater extent than perceptual training. Executive training may be a more efficient cognitive enhancing treatment than other cognitive remediation techniques, and treatment effects generalize to community functioning better than alternative cognitive training approaches.

abstract: PhD


title: Queer Muslims: Identity & Sexuality in the Contemporary

contributor:
Husain, Adnan
Lauria Morgensen, Scott
Cultural Studies

subject:
Islam
queer Muslims
Middle Eastern studies
Decolonization
Social Movements
Arab Spring
Transnational queer studies
queer Black studies
queer Indigenous studies

abstract:
This Ph.D. is an ethnographic-activist-based project. It first examines the genealogy of popular nationalist-statist and religious enforcements of postcolonial cisheteronormativity in Egypt through the examination of two case studies, the Cairo 52 case in 2001 and the transgendered case of Sally Abd Allah in 1982. It then presents my fieldwork, which documents my ethnographic narrators’ resistance to these narratives. Specifically, my fieldwork investigates the neocolonial/neoimperial conditions that inform the circulatory geopolitical relationship between Islam and queerness in non-Western societies such as franchise-colonial Egypt and settler-colonial U.S./Canada, in an age where sexual and gender diversity is a hallmark of neoliberal ‘secular’ modernity, whose advent historically exposed Arabs, North Africans, and Muslims, if not all non-Europeans, to a plethora of false competing dualisms, such as secular/religious and heterogeneity/homogeneity, as well as discourses such as homonationalism (al-qawmiyyat al-mīthlīyat) and pinkwashing (al-ghaseel al-banafsajiy). My fieldwork participants offer decolonial, gender-based, readings and formulations of queerness through their diverse and complex experiences, which evade the apparent tidiness of European feminist and narrow LGBTIQA categories that characterizes most Western/non-Western political queer scholarship. While the spiritual initiatives of diasporic queer Muslims clarifies the urgent need for a radical, decolonial, reinterpretation of Islam, the revolutionary participation of queer Egyptians in the so-called ‘Arab Spring/Islamist Winter’ offers crucial challenges to both discourses on gender/sexuality in the Middle East and academic and activist literatures on radical and revolutionary social action. In this dissertation, queer Egyptians, and queer Muslims in particular, appear as single theorists of radical political activity, not the co-opted and duped, colonized pawns of the ‘Gay Empire’. This exploration of queer interventions in revolutionary Egypt will force
iii
radical social theorists to consider postcolonial/decolonial queer politics as a primary basis for determining the shape and course of future revolutionary theory and praxis in this current xenophobic and Islamophobic geopolitical moment. Utilizing intersectional/assemblage based theories, I argue that strictly adopting sexual discourses, in the absence of accounting for colonialism/imperialism as well as engaging postcolonial, critical race and feminist discourses, is insufficient to narratively/analytically understand the dynamic nature of Arab and Muslim gender and sexualities in these Islamophobic conditions.

abstract: PhD


title: Degradation and Crystallization Studies of Branched PLA Prepared by Reactive Extrusion

contributor:
Kontopoulou, Marianna
Chemical Engineering

subject:
poly(lactic acid)
hydrolytic degradation
branching
nucleation
annealing
controlled crystallization
mechanical properties

abstract:
This thesis proposes strategies to improve the crystallinity and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and investigates the effects of these modifications on hydrolytic degradation. The effect of long-chain branching (LCB) on the hydrolytic degradation at 60°C was monitored through the mass loss, molar mass distributions, and thermal properties of degraded specimens. A three-week induction period prior to the onset of mass loss coupled with an immediate loss in molar mass of over 80% in the same timeframe pointed to a bulk erosion mechanism. The highest loss in molar mass was observed in the z-average molar mass (Mz) of LCB PLA, exceeding 90% in the first three-weeks, and was attributed to the cleavage of the LCB segments from the polymer chain. Degradation-induced crystallinity resulted from the enhanced chain mobility at the experimental conditions, owing to the combined influence of annealing and the plasticizing effect of water. Although the hydrolysis profile differed between the linear and branched PLAs, branching did not affect negatively the extent of degradation over a 12-week period.
Increases in the crystallinity of PLA from 5% to 20% were achieved through reactive extrusion and the addition of biofiller (BF), a novel type of cross-linked PLA-based nucleating agent. The crystallinity of the nucleated formulations was further increased to over 50% by annealing at temperatures between 80 and 120C. The BF additive was particularly effective in improving the crystallinity due to its PLA-based nature, which provided good compatibility with the matrix material. Owing to the improved crystallinities, the annealed materials demonstrated over 30% increases in flexural moduli compared to the neat material, while impact strength was maintained. Annealing of the modified PLA also resulted in 10°C increases in the glass transition temperatures followed by improvements in the heat deflection temperature (HDT) by as much as 7°C. An annealing temperature of 100C was selected as optimum, due to evidence of thermal degradation taking place above this temperature. When subjected to hydrolysis over a 12-week period, the nucleated and annealed PLA degraded to the same extent as the untreated PLA, with over 30% loss in mass and 90% loss in molar mass.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Participation of Persons with Deafblindness in India

contributor:
Aldersey, Dr. Heather
Finlayson, Dr. Marcia
Rehabilitation Science

subject:
participation
deafblindness
dual sensory loss
ICF
India
multi-sensory impairment
dual sensory impairment
factors
environment
rehabilitation

abstract: Worldwide research on deafblindness is sparse, particularly in low and middle-income countries such as India. Persons with deafblindness often experience participation barriers. Yet little is known about their lived experience of participation, influencing factors, and ways to enhance it. To address this evidence gap, this phased study aimed to synthesize evidence on the participation experiences of persons with deafblindness (Phase 1); to understand what participation means to persons with deafblindness in India (Phase 2); and to describe the contextual factors that influence the participation of persons with deafblindness from the perspectives of those with deafblindness and their service providers (Phase 3). To fulfill the aims, I conducted scoping review in Phase 1, and qualitative interviews with 16 persons with deafblindness and two focus group discussions with 16 professionals in Phases 2 and 3. Interviews and group discussions were guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. The understanding of participation experiences and influencing contextual factors suggest ways to enhance the participation of persons with deafblindness. Findings indicate participation as a dynamic, individualized construct that is not just an end outcome. Rather, it is a means to achieve other goals important to the participants such as gaining respect, autonomy, independence, support and relationships, to fulfil aspirations and responsibilities, and to feel included and recognized in society. Life domains that persons with deafblindness value for participation were access to information, communication, mobility, relationships, education and productivity, and recreation and leisure. Resources, such as deafblind-specific rehabilitation services, alternative communication modes, and technology/aids (e.g., hearing aids, cochlear implants, refreshable braille displays, and magnifiers) were helpful in improving access to information, communication and social interactions, and thus important for enhancing participation. Results suggest that rehabilitation services and policies must be designed to focus on life domains that persons with deafblindness value. It is also important to address environmental barriers such as lack of awareness about deafblindness among the public, negative societal attitudes, and limited resources to support the participation of those with deafblindness.

abstract: PhD


title: Augmented Reality Training Platform for Placement of Neurosurgical Burr Holes

contributor:
Fichtinger, Gabor
Computing

subject:
Augmented Reality
Competency-Based Medical Education
Holography
Neurosurgery
Microsoft HoloLens
Surgical Planning
Visualization

abstract:
Augmented reality has been used in neurosurgery to aid in the visualization of lesions, though it has not been widely adopted for simulation-based neurosurgical training. This work aims to determine if augmented reality can improve identification of drill location and drill angle for neurosurgical procedures and to define objective metrics for assessing trainee performance.

An augmented reality visualization system was developed using the Microsoft HoloLens. Trainee performance metrics were defined and validated intra-operatively in fifteen neurosurgical cases by attending neurosurgeons and trainees. Trainee performance in localization of drill location and angle tasks was assessed in a simulated training with augmented reality visualization and compared with two other visualization methods.

The proposed metrics allowed us to significantly differentiate levels of competence between attending neurosurgeons and trainees in identification of drill location with (p = 0.011) and without (p = 0.001) the HoloLens and drill angle with (p = 0.032) the HoloLens. Augmented reality visualization significantly improved trainee performance in localization of drill location (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008) and angle (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) in comparison to two other visualization methods. Trainees rated augmented reality visualization equally or more helpful compared to the two other visualization methods.

Trainee performance assessment with augmented reality visualization and the proposed performance metrics stands to add practical value to neurosurgical training curricula. This work represents a necessary step in curriculum development in neurosurgical training for the task of drill location and angle localization in a variety of neurosurgical procedures.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Breast Reconstruction Planning and Assessment Using Three-Dimensional Surface Scans

subject:
Breast Reconstruction
Open-Source Software
Surface Scan

abstract:
Purpose: Breast-conserving therapy can result in significant breast deformity in up to 40 percent of patients. Breast reconstruction to correct these deformities is considered an integral part of breast cancer care. Monitoring the differences in breast volume and visualizing shape differences during the reconstruction process could help optimize surgical planning and efficiency of procedures, such as autologous fat grafting. The purpose of this thesis was to develop and validate a clinical workflow and accompanying software to compute breast volume differences and visualize shape differences in post-breast-conserving therapy patients.
Methods: A workflow to efficiently capture a three-dimensional surface scan of a patient’s torso during a clinical visit was designed. Custom software was developed to compute differences in breast volume and visualize breast shape differences using the three-dimensional surface scans. The workflow and accompanying software were validated in a study conducted with fourteen patients. Each patient was scanned five times to assess the reproducibility of the computation of breast volume differences across all the scans. The breast shape visualizations were also computed and then validated by the breast reconstruction surgeon.
Results: The average coefficient of variance for the same breast volume differences was 1.49%. The average normalized standard deviation for the left-right breast volume differences was 1.17%.  The breast shape visualizations qualitatively reflected the expected dissimilarities in breast shape for all patients.
Conclusion: A workflow and software to compute the breast volume differences and visualize the shape dissimilarities of post-breast-conserving therapy patients were created. The reproducibility of our results suggests the methods are ready to be used in the clinical setting to assist in surgical planning of fat grafting for reconstruction of breast deformities.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Carotid Ultrasound Imaging as Biomarkers to Determine the Severity of Atherosclerosis

contributor:
Pang, Stephen
Johri, Amer
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

subject:
single nucleotide polymorphism
SNP
natriuretic peptide
BNP
carotid ultrasound
ultrasound imaging
atherosclerosis
coronary artery disease
cardiovascular disease

abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the number one cause of death in the world for several decades and will continue to worsen as a global epidemic. The underlying cause of CVD is atherosclerosis: most myocardial infarctions are caused by atherosclerotic plaque build-up in the coronary arteries, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD). Even though the exact mechanism is unknown, hemodynamic disturbance is a potential precursor for atherosclerotic development. The natriuretic peptide system, especially B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), plays an important role in hemodynamic regulation. Genetic variants, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of the BNP gene affect its expression and correlate with increased circulating BNP levels. The goal of this thesis research is to determine if SNPs of the natriuretic peptide system contributes to atherosclerotic development, and if these genetic variants can help predict CVD.
We recruited 513 patients from Kingston General Hospital, who were undergoing coronary angiography, the clinical standard for detecting CAD. Blood sample was collected from each patient for genetic analysis. BNP gene SNP, rs198389, was significantly associated with severe CAD in women but not in men. It suggests that the mechanism of atherosclerosis development may differ between the sexes.
In the second portion of the thesis, we investigated the role of genetic mutation in atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, major arteries in the neck. Ultrasound was used to reveal and quantify carotid plaques, which correlated with the severity of plaques in coronary arteries. BNP genetic variant, rs198389, was associated with the extend of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery.
In the final part of the thesis, we evaluated major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death. The SNP rs198389 was found to be a significant predictor for early cardiovascular events, as well as recurrent events.
In summary, this thesis demonstrates that the BNP genetic variant rs198389 may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in different arterial beds across the body, and it has the potential to be an important tool to predict adverse cardiovascular events.

abstract: PhD


title: Automated Generation of Language Use Vector Extractors from TXL Grammars

subject: LUV

subject: RCLUV

subject: Rich-Contextualized Language Use Vectors

subject: Language Use Vectors

subject: language feature

subject: Static Analysis

subject: TXL

abstract:
Software development continues to demand advanced features which current programming languages do not offer.  Language developers constantly evolve their languages to simplify common tasks, make the language more natural to use, and extend its features in response to the demands of software development. Language features are often not utilized efficiently in software development due to various obstacles.  Existing software source code provides vital information on programming language use and the frequency with which the developers utilize language features. This has encouraged many researchers to examine the use of language features.

TXL is a domain-specific language used in research focused on software analysis. TXL has proven to be an excellent option for constructing language parsers with which researchers can efficiently extract information on language use.  Language use vectors, which encode language use data, can be a crucial feature in language use studies and software analysis, because they precisely represent language use statistics in compact mathematical form.  Language use vectors can be derived directly from the grammar of the target programming language, which gives them an edge over other metrics employed in language use studies.  In all the prior studies, researchers have manually constructed TXL feature analyzers for each target language, a process that significantly delays analysis projects.

This thesis explores the possibility of automating the construction of TXL language use extractors from a given language grammar.  In this way, language feature analyzers for new programming lanuguages can be rapidly and accurately built with little or no manual effort.  We present an automated process for generating TXL-based extractors directly from programming language grammars, and demonstrate its use in analyzing language use in large corpora of three programming languages, Java, Ruby and C.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Understanding and Supporting Student Thriving in the Ontario Kindergarten Classroom

contributor:
Bolden, Benjamin
Freeman, John
Education

subject:
Kindergarten
Full-Day Kindergarten
Early Childhood Education
Ontario
Thriving
Well-Being

abstract:
Human thriving is often counterposed to survival and perceived as the ultimate achievable goal on a spectrum of human development and positive functioning. However, few researchers have attempted to directly tackle thriving within the educational context. Furthermore, student thriving has been largely overlooked within the literature on Kindergarten and early childhood education. Given that children’s early experiences lay the foundation for lifelong learning, development, health, and well-being, the importance of supporting children to thrive within the early years of life and school should not be overlooked.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how student thriving is conceptualized and can be supported within the context of the Ontario Kindergarten classroom from the perspective of three key stakeholders (students, educators, and parents). Through this understanding, a theory grounded in the data was developed. Six Kindergarten students, three educators (early childhood educator, Kindergarten teacher, and head administrator), and seven parents provided a rich understanding of Kindergarten student thriving and its supports. Although the language used to convey these ideas differed among the stakeholder groups, numerous commonalities and consistencies were observed across the three perspectives. These consistent themes included: positive relationships; in[ter]dependence; value of play; holistic development; and individualized experiences and diverse trajectories of thriving.
Findings from this study illustrate that thriving is a complex and multi-dimensional construct, and that supporting student thriving in the Kindergarten classroom requires a multi-faceted, integrated approach. Because no prior research has endeavoured to explore thriving within this context, and early childhood more generally, this research provides an essential starting point from which to better understand human thriving at this early stage of life and across the lifespan. Furthermore, the findings from this study offer insight into the indicators and supports of student thriving within the Kindergarten classroom, which have implications for both research and practice.

abstract: PhD


title: Painting a Portrait of Organizational Evaluation Capacity in the Canadian Art Museum sector

contributor:
DeLuca, Christopher
Education

subject:
program evaluation
evaluation capacity
art museum education

abstract: Not only is research on program evaluation practice and capacity in art museums largely absent, but also the actual dimensions of evaluation capacity as they could be observed in these unique professional settings have heretofore neither been conceptualized or defined based on empirical data. This study sought to (a) develop a framework that conceptualized what evaluation capacity might look like in art museums and (b) examine how such capacity manifested itself across the framework’s various dimensions both sector-wide and in those Canadian art museums that were most active in conducting a wide range of research and evaluation studies. A two-phase multiple method qualitative research design was used to address the purposes of this research. Phase One involved conducting an interview study to establish an initial knowledge base on Canadian art museum educators’ program evaluation practices and capacities and test the degree to which the initial conceptual framework that was developed to guide this study could be considered an accurate and complete description of evaluation capacity in the Canadian art museum context. Phase Two involved conducting qualitative case studies of two art museums that, based on the interview findings, were identified as operating at the highest level of capacity for evaluation in the country. The study provided the evidence necessary to finalize the initial conceptual framework and concluded that evaluation capacity in Canadian art museums could be described through six central sub-divided dimensions. The study results likewise both painted a portrait of moderate capacity for evaluation across the sector (with smaller pockets of high capacity) and shed empirical light on the phenomenon of developed capacity in selected Canadian art museums. In, demarcating the dimensions that comprise evaluation capacity in art museums, this research makes a significant theoretical contribution to the evaluation literature. Several key recommendations that outline what could be done to strengthen the evaluation capacity of art museums in Canada, meanwhile, represent the main practical implication of this study. These recommendations are likely to be useful not only to the growing number of art museums seeking to integrate evaluation into their organizational cultures but also to several other sectors and organizational types.

abstract: PhD


title: Traces of (Un-) Sustainability: Towards a Materially Engaged Ecology of Mind

contributor:
Graham, Peter
Environmental Studies

subject:
Sustainability
Material Engagement Theory
Ecology of Mind
Extended Mind
Distributed Agency

abstract: Discussions of sustainability are usually framed within a dominant Cartesian dualistic paradigm as something that requires material changes in the world, for example, a new technological invention, or alternatively, new ideas guiding human behaviours. Yet many environmental philosophers have long recognized that this same Cartesian inheritance also underlies the ecological problems that beset us. The need to recognize the cultural specificity and delusional nature of this divide was, for example, the core argument of Bateson’s Steps to an Ecology of Mind. Here the claim is that our thoughts are themselves always part of, and party to, the material ecologies of the world we inhabit. This thesis draws on Bateson’s insights, together with approaches derived from phenomenology, theories of materially extended mind (Clarke) and notions of ‘mediated action’ in sociocultural analysis (Wertsch) and social psychology, to offer an alternative model of the conditions of (un)sustainability. In particular, it argues for the novel employment of what has come to be known (following Malafouris) as Material Engagement Theory (MET). As the term suggests, MET, originally developed in archaeological accounts of the emergence of human minds through tool use, emphasizes that thought is not separable from its material context and the tools deployed in its operations. Thought and agency are materially distributed. Through detailed examples, such as the mown lawn, this approach is also shown to apply to our current environmental predicament, where the material qualities of environments co-constitute the collective perceptual, emotional, and cognitive processes we employ to bring forth an entire world as an unsustainable artifact. Important implications of this approach for enacting sustainability are discussed.

abstract: PhD