title: Target Tracking in Multi-Static Active Sonar Systems Using Dynamic Programming and Hough Transform

contributor:
Noureldin, Aboelmagd
Electrical and Computer Engineering

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subject:
Target Tracking
Dynamic Programming
Hough Transform

abstract: Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-07 13:21:06.869

abstract: Tracking multiple targets in a high cluttered environment where multiple receivers are used is a challenging task due to the high level of false alarms and uncertainty in the track hypothesis. The multi-static active sonar scenario is an example for such systems where multiple source-receiver combinations are deployed. Due to the nature of the underwater environment and sound propagation characteristics, tracking targets in the underwater environment becomes a complex operation. Conventional tracking approaches (such as the Kalman and particle filter) require a predetermined kinematic model of the target. Moreover, tracking an unknown and changing number of targets within a certain search area requires complex mathematical association filters to identify the number of targets and associate measurements to different target tracks. As the number of false detections increases, the computational complexity of conventional tracking system grows introducing further challenges for real-time target tracking situations. The methodology presented in this thesis provides a rapid and reliable tracking system capable of tracking multiple targets without depending on a kinematic model of the target movement. In this algorithm, Self Organizing Maps, Dynamic Programming and the Hough transform are combined to produce tracks of possible targets’ paths and estimate of targets’ locations. Evaluation of the performance of the tracking algorithm is performed using three types of simulations and a set of real data obtained from a sea trial. This research documents the results of experimental testing and analysis of the tracking system.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Comparative Study of Machine Vision Classification Techniques for the Detection of Missing Clips

contributor:
Surgenor, Brian W.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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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:
Machine Vision
Image Processing

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-07 17:03:10.422

abstract:
This thesis provides a comparative study of machine vision (MV) classification techniques for the detection of missing clips on an automotive part known as a cross car beam.  This is a difficult application for an automated MV system because the inspection is conducted in an open manufacturing environment with variable lighting conditions.

A laboratory test cell was first used to investigate the effect of lighting.  QVision, a software program originally developed at Queen’s University, was used to perform a representative inspection task.  Solutions with different light sources and camera settings were investigated in order to determine the best possible set up to acquire an image of the part.  Feature selection was applied to improve the results of this classification.

The MV system was then installed on an industrial assembly line.  QVision was modified to detect the presence or absence of four clips and communicate this information to the computer controlling the manufacturing cell.  Features were extracted from the image and then a neuro fuzzy (ANFIS) system was trained to perform the inspection.   A performance goal of 0% False Positives and less than 2% False Negatives was achieved with the feature based ANFIS classifier.  In addition, the problem of a rusty clip was examined and a radial hole algorithm was used to improve performance in this case.   In this case, the system required hours to train.

Five new classifiers were then compared to the original feature based ANFIS classifier: 1) feature based with a Neural Network, 2) feature based with principle component analysis (PCA) applied and ANFIS, 3) feature based with PCA applied and a Neural Network, 4) Eigenimage based with ANFIS and 5) Eigenimage based with a Neural Network.  The effect of adding a Hough rectangle feature and a principle component colour feature was also studied.  It was found that the Neural Network classifier performed better than the ANFIS classifier.  When PCA was applied the results improved still further.  Overall, feature based classifiers had better performance than Eigenimage based classifiers.  Finally, it should be noted that these six classifiers required only minutes to train.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Education as a Political Act: Dewey, Freire and the (International Baccalaureate) Theory of Knowledge Curriculum

contributor:
Johnston, James Scott
Education

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subject:
Dewey
Freire
Education
Pedagogy
Active Learning
TOK

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-07 17:56:13.739

abstract:
Active learning should be the ultimate aim of education. I argue that it is a three interrelated-step model of curriculum: one which promotes critical thinking, involves dialogue and ultimately indicates growth. It is a model intertwined in an intricate web of ideas borrowed from John Dewey and Paulo Freire.
	In this thesis, I analyze the International Baccalaureate (IB) Theory of Knowledge (TOK) curriculum as an example of a document that seeks to foster active learning. To be able to analyze whether the IB TOK curriculum promotes active learning, I dissect the curriculum in terms of its philosophy and objectives.
	Curriculum theorists do not agree on a universal definition of curriculum. Therefore, I explore four distinctive theories of curriculum and theory in order to find a definition that best fits the IB TOK curriculum and philosophy: 1) curriculum as a body of knowledge to be deposited, 2) curriculum as a product theory, 3) curriculum as a process, and 4) curriculum as praxis.
	I argue that in order for active learning to take place, the three components of active learning need to exist together. Active learning needs to promote critical thinking as a means to understanding one’s self and others. And, active learning needs to involve dialogue to enable people to become fully aware of their own position within the community and the world, and that of others. Critical thinking and dialogue in turn ensure growth. Growth is defined in terms of conscientização and Praxis; this is premised on two conditions: 1) to become aware of the realities in one’s life; and, 2) to take informed and practical actions to change these assumptions. It is then, I argue, that learning becomes active. It is indeed, as Freire would say, breaking away from ‘silence’ imposed on us by oppressors and attaining “the freedom of the learner” in Dewey’s words.
	It is only through active learning that individuals can critically think, enter a meaningful dialogue with others, and ultimately have the courage to act, and as a result create a life which is meaningful—not just for themselves but for everyone.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: A Population-Based Study of Factors Affecting Access to Radiotherapy for Endometrial Cancer in Ontario

contributor:
Mackillop, William J.
Richardson, Harriet
Peng, Paul Yingwei
Community Health and Epidemiology

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subject:
Endometrial Cancer
Access
Radiation Therapy
Health Services Eesearch
Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection
Ontario

abstract: Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-07 22:02:37.308

abstract:
Aims: To describe use of post-operative radiation for endometrial cancer in Ontario. To identify system-related and patient-related factors affecting access to this treatment.

Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective population-based cohort study of patients with surgically resected endometrial cancer in the Canadian province of Ontario between 1992-2003. Patients with evidence of incurable cancer at diagnosis or previous cancer diagnosis were excluded. We used multiple logistic regression to assess patient and system factors affecting radiation use. We controlled for disease-related and treatment-related factors: histology, surgical staging, type of hysterectomy and peritoneal biopsy. We applied a mixed model to account for clustering of data by operating hospital.

Results:  9,411 women comprised the study cohort. The median age was 63 years. 26.2% received adjuvant radiation. The proportion of patients receiving radiation varied between cancer centre catchment areas from 18.0% to 34.3% (median 26.3%). In multivariate analysis, older patients were more likely to receive radiation up to the age of 80 (p<.0001). Patients who lived further from regional cancer centres were less likely to receive radiation (p=.0210). Patients who had their surgery during longer prevailing wait times at regional cancer centres were less likely to receive radiation (p=.0441). There was a 2.7-fold variation in the odds of radiation use between cancer centre catchments (p<.0001). Management at a comprehensive gynecologic oncology centre was associated with use of radiation for patients who had surgical staging of lymph nodes. Year of diagnosis and neighborhood income quintile did not significantly affect the use of radiation.

Conclusions: There is wide variation in use of radiation for endometrial cancer in Ontario. There is evidence that system factors unrelated to patient’s needs affect use of adjuvant radiation for endometrial cancer in Ontario. Age is a key patient-related factor affecting radiation use.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Matrix Isolation Spectroscopic Investigation Into the Reaction Products of Vanadium Metal Atoms With Propene

contributor:
Parnis, Mark J.
Chemistry

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subject:
Matrix Isolation
Infrared
Propene
Vanadium
C-H Insertion

abstract: Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-10 11:15:55.312

abstract:
The products of vanadium metal atom reactions with propene and some propene isotopomers (propene-d6 and propene-3,3,3-d3) are investigated using FT-IR matrix isolation. The major product from the condensation of V atoms with propene at elevated mole ratios is found to be propane (C3H8), the production of which is seen to increase as concentration of propene increases. Additionally a matrix isolated product formed after metal atom insertion into the C-H bond of propene at low propene mole ratios is isolated and identified.
The location of the insertion site is identified as one of the methyl hydrogen carbon bonds. The structure of the product is identified as an allyl vanadium hydride complex, through a FT-IR matrix isolation study of propene isotopomers. It is also shown that this primary product acts as an intermediate in the formation of propane.  A full mechanism for the proposed formation of propane from sacrificial hydrogenation is proposed and compared with the reported mechanism for the similar reaction involving ethene. The mechanistic identification of the hydrogenation of propene is shown as a generalization of the previous reaction involving ethene.
Photochemistry of reactants and intermediates trapped in the matrix are investigated. Irradiation of matrices with several different UV-visible wavelength ranges indicate that no further chemistry occurs after formation of the matrix and further irradiation has no effect on intermediates or reactants.  Additionally the reactivity of water with vanadium and propene under low propene concentration conditions is also studied. Results from this study show that under all conditions studied no incorporation of water into the propene molecule is found.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: An Investigation of Neutral Hydrogen in Three Edge-on Spiral Galaxies

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subject:
Galaxy
Hydrogen
Rotation-Curves
Halo
ISM
Spiral
Bubbles
Lagging Halo
Density Distribution

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-03 19:47:31.786

abstract: We present the results of a new and high sensitivity study of the neutral hydrogen (HI) gas in three early type edge-on spiral galaxies, NGC 4157, NGC 3600 and NGC 2683. All three galaxies reveal HI disks that extend nearly or more than twice the length of the optical disk, which ubiquitously reveal asymmetries and warps. We model each galaxy using a three-dimensional kinematic model to derive the empirical parameters of the density distribution functions and rotation curves. A Gaussian function is unanimously found to best represent the density distribution in the plane of the galaxies. We also find that there is in fact a thick HI disk extending into the halo of two of three of these galaxies with scale heights on kpc. scales. This gas suggests the existence of two separate widespread components: a thin, high intensity disk component, normally rotating, and a vast, low intensity halo component, rotating at slower velocities with respect to the disk. This vertical velocity gradient is perhaps our most significant finding in addition to the discovery of the two new HI halos. We also find an unevenly distributed small-scale component of the gas in the form of shell-like and filamentary structures that extend from the disk into the halo. In all three systems we find unique kinematic and structural peculiarities including an HI disk extending four times the optical disk, a declining rotation curve, a companion, expanding bubbles, disk warps, etc. Several physical parameters are derived such as neutral hydrogen and dynamic masses, systemic velocities, HI radii, HI halo masses, etc.  All of our findings are investigated and discussed in depth for each of the three galaxies.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Multiobjective Optimization Algorithm Benchmarking and Design Under Parameter Uncertainty

contributor:
Kim, Il-Yong
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
Multiobjective Optimization
Benchmarking
Uncertainty
Robust Design
Pareto Front

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-10 21:59:13.795

abstract:
This research aims to improve our understanding of multiobjective optimization, by comparing the performance of five multiobjective optimization algorithms, and by proposing a new formulation to consider input uncertainty in multiobjective optimization problems. Four deterministic multiobjective optimization algorithms and one probabilistic algorithm were compared: the Weighted Sum, the Adaptive Weighted Sum, the Normal Constraint, the Normal Boundary Intersection methods, and the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II).
The algorithms were compared using six test problems, which included a wide range of optimization problem types (bounded vs. unbounded, constrained vs. unconstrained). Performance metrics used for quantitative comparison were the total run (CPU) time, number of function evaluations, variance in solution distribution, and numbers of dominated and non-optimal solutions. Graphical representations of the resulting Pareto fronts were also presented.
No single method outperformed the others for all performance metrics, and the two different classes of algorithms were effective for different types of problems. NSGA-II did not effectively solve problems involving unbounded design variables or equality constraints. On the other hand, the deterministic algorithms could not solve a problem with a non-continuous objective function.
In the second phase of this research, design under uncertainty was considered in multiobjective optimization. The effects of input uncertainty on a Pareto front were quantitatively investigated by developing a multiobjective robust optimization framework. Two possible effects on a Pareto front were identified: a shift away from the Utopia point, and a shrinking of the Pareto curve. A set of Pareto fronts were obtained in which the optimum solutions have different levels of insensitivity or robustness.
Four test problems were used to examine the Pareto front change. Increasing the insensitivity requirement of the objective function with regard to input variations moved the Pareto front away from the Utopia point or reduced the length of the Pareto front. These changes were quantified, and the effects of changing robustness requirements were discussed. The approach would provide designers with not only the choice of optimal solutions on a Pareto front in traditional multiobjective optimization, but also an additional choice of a suitable Pareto front according to the acceptable level of performance variation.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Feasibility Assessment of Compliant Polymers in TKR

contributor:
Wyss, Urs P.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
Finite Element Analysis
Total Knee Replacement
Compliant Polymer

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-11 14:59:50.801

abstract:
Total knee joint replacements (TKRs) are a commonly used treatment when joint pain becomes a major issue and the function of activities of daily living is impaired.  TKRs may last for up to 20 years; however, younger and physically more active patients are receiving TKRs, necessitating increased prosthesis life-time.  There has been considerable interest in more cartilage-like materials for the tibial inlay of a TKR.  Compliant, rubbery polymers may be a first step towards such a material.

In this thesis, finite element analysis (FEA) was utilized to assess the feasibility of polycarbonate urethane (PCU) in a TKR application.  Mechanical characterisation of PCU55D and PCU80A was performed in order to better understand the deformation behaviour of these materials.  Mechanical test data was then used to tune and validate a hyperelastic material model.  In a last step, the material model was applied to a static FE knee model which was used to simulate five discrete loading cases: three gait cycle events, stair climbing and squatting.  Contact pressure, contact area and von Mises stress of the PCU inlay were compared to literature and to a standard ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) inlay.

The contact area of the articulating implant surfaces was on average 345% greater in PCU than in UHMWPE and contact pressure was on average 77% lower in PCU than in UHMWPE.  The difference between TKRs simulated with a PCU tibial inlay and those simulated with a UHMWPE inlay increased with increasing flexion angle.  The contact pressures measured in TKRs simulated with a PCU tibial inlay were well below values that are expected to cause damage to the polymer, possibly reducing the risk of wear. The contact areas found in TKRs simulated with a PCU tibial inlay were close to what has been reported for the natural knee.

Considering the low contact pressures even at high flexion angles, where initial congruency is limited, it may be feasible to design less conforming knee prostheses that still exhibit low contact pressures, allowing for a greater range of motion.  The reported results strongly indicate that compliant polymers may offer an opportunity to improve current TKRs.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Host Communication Competence and Mass Media Use among a Sample of Chinese ESL Students

contributor:
Krugly-Smolska, Eva
Education

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subject:
host communication competence
mass media

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Education) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-11 04:01:28.763

abstract:
This qualitative study investigated Chinese ESL students’ use of host mass media and how such use enabled them to acquire host communication competence and acculturation from their perspective. It was grounded on Kim’s theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation and the uses and gratifications theory, and employed a phenomenography approach. Nine participants at a university in Ontario were involved in this study. Data obtained from media use logs, think-aloud protocols, and follow-up interviews provided a fairly far-reaching and detailed description of the participants’ uses, reasoning, and effects of using host mass media.
The analysis of data illustrated that these students used a variety of media as sources of information, language acquisition, culture learning, entertainment, and communication. Findings suggest that host mass media were the major influence on these students’ acquisition of host communication competence, perceptions of and acculturation to Canada. Their reliance on mass communication went into the later years of their acculturation process, and complemented their language and culture learning, which was somewhat limited through insufficient or reluctant participation in host interpersonal communication. Host communication competence was a primary factor that influenced their selection and use of host mass media, but it was not the only decisive factor relevant to their degree of acculturation. Individual characteristics, the social and cultural environment in Canada were also found to have significant impact on their acculturation process and outcomes. It is expected that the findings can assist colleges and universities in designing effective programs based on these students’ needs and characteristics, thus enabling them to achieve their academic and professional goals.

abstract: PhD


title: Anoxia-Induced Changes in Action Potential Propagation in a Non-Myelinated Axon

contributor:
Robertson, Mel
Neuroscience Studies

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subject:
Energy stress
DCMD
Locust
Action potential
Sodium azide
Heat shock

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-11 08:36:26.571

abstract: Processing information in the nervous system is energetically expensive, constraining the ability of the system to survive disturbances caused by stress. While some organisms compensate for extreme changes in the abiotic features of their environment, the mechanisms underlying this are poorly understood. We used the locust Descending Contralateral Movement Detector (DCMD) neuron to study how the propagation characteristics of action potentials (APs) change following an acute energy stress in control and heat shock (HS) pre-treated animals. We also attempted to determine if Ca2+ is involved in the DCMD AP and the possible changes indicated above. Conduction velocity decreased over an hour of recording in all groups, except those with minimal dissections, and we observed an increase in AP half-width and a decrease in the slope of the rising phase of the AP over time. After HS pre-treatment the response to a standard looming stimulus was delayed, showed significantly fewer APs and a lower peak frequency compared to controls. Brief application of sodium azide (NaN3) as an acute metabolic inhibitor did not subsequently affect DCMD’s conduction velocity or ability to fire at high frequencies during the recording period. There were no significant differences from control animals with extracellular Ca2+ manipulations; however we cannot conclude that Ca2+ does not contribute to DCMD’s AP because Na+ could have flowed through Ca2+ channels in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Furthermore, examination of possible performance impairments with decreased Ca2+ currents, to indicate if Ca2+ current manipulation may account for the performance impairment, could not be conducted because no differences in AP characteristics were observed with Ca2+ manipulations. We suggest that the slowing of propagation in all groups represents a response to energetic stress and that HS modifies neuronal properties in ways that can be interpreted as saving energy in case of future stressors.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Exploring Factors Associated With ESL/ELD Students’ Performance on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

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subject: English as Second Language (ESL) students

abstract:
The study explored factors associated with English as Second Language (ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD) students’ performance on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) from three different yet interrelated aspects. These aspects were the relationship between test performance and the characteristics of ESL/ELD students; the relationship between ESL/ELD students’ aggregated school performance and their school-level socio-economic status; and a comparison of ESL/ELD and non-ESL/ELD students’ performance on three test formats in the reading component of the OSSLT (multiple-choice questions, constructed-response questions, and constructed-response questions with explanations). The study was conducted based on 4,311 ESL/ELD students’ test data, their responses to the Educational Quality and Accountability Office’s (EQAO) Student Questionnaire, and the test results of 5,003 non-ESL/ELD students. School-level socio-economic status data from the Education Quality and Indicators Program (EQUIP) were merged with the OSSLT test data. These data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, multiple regression and discriminant analysis.

The results indicated that e-literacy activities, literature literacy activities,
non-fiction literacy activities, newspaper and magazine literacy activities, and literacy hours were positive predictors of ESL/ELD students’ performance on the OSSLT. Letter reading and writing, song and poetry literacy activities were two negative predictors. In terms of home language patterns, whether English was the first language of the test-takers, and what language(s) they spoke at home were both influential variables in differentiating ESL and ELD students’ literacy performance. The results also revealed that a higher parental education index positively predicted a school’s average OSSLT performance. In ii
addition, ESL/ELD students demonstrated substantial performance gaps in all of the three test formats in reading as compared to non-ESL/ELD students. Only multiple-choice
questions obtained a significant discriminant coefficient with a weak discriminating function. The results of this study offered some insights about identifying and understanding factors that were associated with ESL/ELD students’ OSSLT performance from the perspective of the test-takers and the test itself. The results also provide directions for future research and instructional support in relation to ESL/ ELD students in the context of the accountability framework in Ontario.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: The Calmodulin-Like Protein CML42 is Involved in Trichome Branching in Arabidopsis

contributor:
Snedden, Wayne A.
Biology

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subject: Calcium Trichome CML KIC KCBP

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-11 14:00:06.008

abstract: The Snedden lab has been studying a family of Ca2+-binding proteins from Arabidopsis that are related to the prototypical Ca2+ sensor calmodulin (CaM) and are termed CMLs (CaM-like proteins). Previous work on CML42 demonstrated that it displays biochemical properties typical of Ca2+ sensors and interacts in vitro with KIC (KCBP-interacting Ca2+-binding protein), a protein known to function in trichome branching. In the present study, I investigated whether CML42 is also involved in trichome branching. I examined a CML42 T-DNA insertion knockout line (cml42) and found that it exhibits a mutant trichome phenotype with increased branch numbers compared to wildtype plants. All other aspects of cml42 growth and morphology, including root hairs, appeared normal relative to wildtype plants. kic knockout plants did not show any discernible trichome phenotype when compared to wildtype plants, nor did transgenic lines overexpressing CML42. Transgenic plants lacking both CML42 and KIC expression (cml42kic) displayed a cml42 mutant phenotype. The genetic studies suggest that CML42 is a negative regulator of trichome branching. Biochemical analysis on recombinant full-length CML42, C-terminal, and N-terminal fragments, using the fluorescent probe 8-Anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS), demonstrated that Ca2+-binding results in a conformational change in CML42 and the exposure of hydrophobic regions, particularly within the C-terminal lobe. Collectively, data from the Snedden Lab  support the important role of Ca2+ signalling in trichome branching and morphology.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Raptor: Sketching Video Games With a Tabletop Computer

contributor:
Graham, Nicholas
Computing

format:
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subject:
computer science
software engineering
human-computer interaction
video game design
tabletop computer

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-12 14:06:34.363

abstract:
Game sketching is used to identify enjoyable designs for digital games without the expense of fully implementing them. This thesis presents Raptor, a novel tool for
sketching games. Raptor shows how tabletop interaction can effectively support the
ideation phase of interaction design by permitting small collocated groups to participate in the design and testing process together. Raptor relies heavily on efficient gesture-based interaction, mixed-reality interaction involving physical props and digital artifacts, Wizard-of-Oz demonstration gameplay sketching, and fluid change of roles between designer and tester. An evaluation of Raptor using seven groups of three people showed that a sketching tool based on a tabletop computer indeed supports ideation and collaboration among collocated groups better than a more traditional PC-based tool.

abstract: PhD


title: Forecasting Hospital Emergency Department Visits for Respiratory Illness Using Ontario's Telehealth System:  An Application of Real-Time Syndromic Surveillance to Forecasting Health Services Demand

contributor:
Pickett, William
Moore, Kieran
Korenberg, Michael J.
Community Health and Epidemiology

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subject:
Forecasting
Health Services
Respiratory Illness
Surveillance
Telehealth
Syndromic Surveillance
Health Services Demand
Influenza
Parallel Cascade Identification
Fast Orthgonal Search
Subspace Identification
N4SID
State Space Models
System Identification

abstract: Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-11 16:20:44.553

abstract:
Background: Respiratory illnesses can have a substantial impact on population health and burden hospitals in terms of patient load. Advance warnings of the spread of such illness could inform public health interventions and help hospitals manage patient services. Previous research showed that calls for respiratory complaints to Telehealth Ontario are correlated up to two weeks in advance with emergency department visits for respiratory illness at the provincial level.
Objectives: This thesis examined whether Telehealth Ontario calls for respiratory complaints could be used to accurately forecast the daily and weekly number of emergency department visits for respiratory illness at the health unit level for each of the 36 health units in Ontario up to 14 days in advance in the context of a real-time syndromic surveillance system. The forecasting abilities of three different time series modeling techniques were compared.
Methods: The thesis used hospital emergency department visit data from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database and Telehealth Ontario call data and from June 1, 2004 to March 31, 2006. Parallel Cascade Identification (PCI), Fast Orthogonal Search (FOS), and Numerical Methods for Subspace State Space System Identification (N4SID) algorithms were used to create prediction models for the daily number of emergency department visits using Telehealth call counts and holiday/weekends as predictors. Prediction models were constructed using the first year of the study data and their accuracy was measured over the second year of data. Factors associated with prediction accuracy were examined.
Results: Forecast error varied widely across health units. Prediction error increased with lead time and lower call-to-visits ratio. Compared with N4SID, PCI and FOS had significantly lower forecast error. Forecasts of the weekly aggregate number of visits showed little evidence of ability to accurately flag corresponding actual increases. However, when visits were aggregated over a four day period, increases could be flagged more accurately than chance in six of the 36 health units accounting for approximately half of the Ontario population.
Conclusions: This thesis suggests that Telehealth Ontario data collected by a real-time syndromic surveillance system could play a role in forecasting health services demand for respiratory illness.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Effects of In-Situ Stimulation of Natural Biofilm on Groundwater Flow and Back Diffusion in a Fractured Rock Aquifer

contributor:
Novakowski, Kent S.
Civil Engineering

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subject:
Tracer Test
Pulse Interference
Biofilm
Numerical Model

abstract: Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-11 19:27:44.232

abstract:
Remediation of DNAPL contaminated sites in fractured rock has proven to be very difficult. No current technology can be used to remediate such sites in a timely and economic manner due to the inherent heterogeneity of fractured rock and back diffusion of contaminants stored in the rock matrix. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the viability of biostimulation of native biofilm as a means to control flow and back diffusion at fractured rock sites.
A field trial was conducted at an uncontaminated site in southern Ontario. The site is underlain by dolomites of the Lockport formation. Three major fracture zones have been identified in the study area. Two closely spaced (5.04 m) boreholes were used to isolate a fracture zone at a depth of 17 m with straddle packers. These boreholes were used to create an injection-withdrawal system with recirculation, which was used for tracer injection in order to load the rock matrix with a conservative dye tracer and to inject nutrients for 21 days in order to stimulate the growth of biofilm in the fracture.
Evaluation of the ability of the biofilm to control flow through the fracture was conducted through pulse interference tests. Pulse interference tests were conducted before and after the injection of nutrients. The results from the pulse interference tests showed a maximum 65% reduction in transmissivity, which is equivalent to a 28% reduction in fracture aperture shortly after the cessation of biostimulation.
	In order to investigate the effect of the biofilm stimulation on matrix diffusion the rock matrix was loaded with Lissamine, a conservative fluorescent dye tracer prior to biostimulation and its concentration was monitored at injection and withdrawal wells. The effect that biostimulation had on matrix diffusion was determined by comparing field concentration measurements with a model that simulates a system unaffected by biofilm stimulation. The biostimulation lowered the concentration of tracer attributable to back diffusion at the withdrawal well by about 20% for approximately 30 days following the cessation of biostimulation. It is also thought that large amounts of tracer might have been trapped in the biofilm as it formed and was then released back into the fracture as the biofilm deteriorated.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Characterization of Valproic Acid-Initiated Homologous Recombination

contributor:
Winn, Louise M.
Pharmacology and Toxicology

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subject:
Valproic acid
homologous recombination
DNA damage
DNA repair

abstract: Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-12 14:27:16.327

abstract:
Oxidative stress and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition has been implicated as potential mechanisms in valproic acid (VPA) teratogenicity.  Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can target DNA to cause oxidative DNA damage and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) which can be repaired through homologous recombination (HR).  HR is not an error free process and can result in detrimental genetic changes.    In this present study we evaluated the role of HDAC inhibition in VPA-initiated HR.  HDAC inhibition may indirectly alter repair activity as a result of increased expression of genes involved in HR or indirectly by causing DNA damage which initiates repair.
The first objective was to investigate the ability of VPA to cause HDAC inhibition in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) 33 cell line. Using immunblotting, an increase in acetylated histone H3 and H4 protein levels was observed throughout 24 hr exposure to 5 mM VPA.
Secondly, to investigate whether VPA affects the activity of DNA DSB repair,  CHO 33 cells were transfected with either the endonuclease I-SceI plasmid to induce a site specific DSB or the empty plasmid, pGem.   However, no increase in the difference in HR between VPA and media exposed I-Sce1 transfected cells compared to cells transfected with pGem was observed, which suggests that VPA does not affect DNA repair activity.
Thirdly, to determine if VPA-induced HDAC inhibition increases susceptibility to DNA damage, immunocytochemistry revealed an increase in the number of γ-H2AX foci throughout 24 hr exposure to 5 mM VPA.  To determine if oxidative stress may play a role in mediating VPA-induced DNA DSBs, another recombination study was carried out in which cells were pretreated with 400 U/ml of PEG-catalase prior to VPA treatment.  The observed protective effect of PEG-catalase against VPA-induced HR and the generation of intracellular ROS by VPA suggest ROS may also play a role in VPA-initiated HR. However, in our DNA oxidation study, no increase in the oxidized nucleosides, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and 5-hydroxycytosine was observed after VPA treatment.  These studies suggest that HDAC inhibition and ROS signalling may play other roles in DNA maintenance and cell cycle arrest in initiating DNA DSBs and HR repair.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Secretion and Antifibrinolytic Function of TAFI from Human Platelets

contributor:
Boffa, Michael
Koschinsky, Marlys
Biochemistry

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subject:
Haemostasis
Thrombosis and Vascular Biology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biochemistry) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-24 14:22:42.5

abstract: Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a human plasma-derived zymogen that is activated through proteolytic cleavage by thrombin, thrombin in complex with thrombomodulin, or plasmin. Active TAFI attenuates fibrinolysis by removing carboxyl-terminal lysine residues from partially degraded fibrin, thereby inhibiting a potent positive feedback loop in the fibrinolytic cascade. In addition to the plasma pool of TAFI arising from expression in the liver, a distinct pool of TAFI has been reported to be present in platelets. While the antifibrinolytic effect of plasma-derived TAFI has been well-documented by in vitro and in vivo clot lysis assays, characterization of the platelet-derived form has been limited. Here, we not only confirm the presence of TAFI in the medium of washed, thrombin-stimulated platelets, but also that platelet-derived TAFI is capable of attenuating platelet-rich thrombus lysis in vitro independently of plasma TAFI using a novel thrombus lysis assay. Fluorescent thrombi were generated by suspending washed human platelets in plasma immunodepleted of TAFI containing fluorescently-labeled human fibrinogen such that the only TAFI present in the system was of platelet origin. Following platelet activation and clot retraction induced by thrombin, t-PA-dependent platelet-rich thrombus lysis was observed by removal of timed aliquots from the medium of retracted thrombi followed by measurement of fluorescence. When supplementary thrombomodulin was added to the thrombus medium, a 2.3-fold reduction in lysis rate was observed, indicating platelet-derived TAFI could attenuate the fibrinolytic cascade in vitro. Furthermore, when supplementary recombinant TAFI (rTAFI) was included in the medium, platelet-derived TAFI and rTAFI were observed to combine for greater inhibition of fibrinolysis. Taken together, these observations indicate that the secretion of platelet-derived TAFI can augment concentrations of TAFI already present in plasma to enhance attenuation of the fibrinolytic cascade. This could be significant at sites of vascular damage or regions of pathological thrombosis, where activated platelets are known to accumulate and secrete the contents of their granules. Finally, we have purified platelet-derived TAFI from platelet releasates for future characterization studies and mass spectrometry.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Cultural Differences in Expectations of a Correspondence in Magnitude between Events and their Causes

contributor:
Ji, Li-Jun
Psychology

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subject: Culture Attributions Heuristics

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-12 15:41:47.804

abstract: Based on previous research on cultural differences in analytic and holistic reasoning, I hypothesized that when explaining events, North Americans would be more likely than East Asians to expect causes to resemble events with respect to magnitude (i.e., big events stem from big causes and small events stem from small causes). In addition, I hypothesized that these differences would be explained by cultural differences in the tendency to reason analytically or holistically. In a series of studies, Canadian and Chinese participants judged the likelihood that high or low magnitude events were caused by high or low magnitude causes. Events included a disease outbreak, a delay in a business negotiation, and damage caused by a tornado moving through a city. In two studies, participants from both cultural groups expected events and their causes to correspond in magnitude. More importantly, as hypothesized, Canadians expected events and their causes to correspond in magnitude to a greater degree than did Chinese. In a third study, I ruled out a potential alternative explanation that Chinese may have simply been exhibiting a response bias. In a fourth study, in support of my hypothesis that these cultural differences were due to differences in the reasoning styles of Canadians and Chinese, I found that Canadians primed to reason holistically expected less cause-effect magnitude correspondence than did those primed to reason analytically. These findings have important theoretical implications for the research literature on attributions and on cultural and social cognition, as well as practical implications in the context of judgment and decision making.

abstract: PhD


title: Laser Welding of Nylon Tubes to Plates Using Conical Mirrors

contributor:
Zak, Gene
Bates, Philip J.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
laser welding of polymers
mirror

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-14 23:12:18.491

abstract:
Laser transmission welding of polymers is a relatively new joining technique. It is based on the fact that the majority of thermoplastics are transparent to infrared radiation. A laser beam passes through the transparent part, and is then absorbed by a part rendered absorbent by additives such as carbon black. Absorbed laser energy is transformed into heat that melts the polymer at the interface between two parts, thus forming a weld.
	Many industrial applications have quite a complex geometry. This may often make it impossible to irradiate small elements of the joint interface directly. One of the possible solutions for this problem is to employ an oblique mirror to redirect a laser beam to the desired direction. In present work, transparent nylon tubes were welded to absorbing nylon plaques using a conical mirror inserted in the tube. The effects of the laser power, the angular motion speed, and the number of cycles on the joint shear strength were examined. Additionally, a two–dimensional axi-symmetric transient finite element heat transfer model was developed and evaluated. It simulated the temperature developed in the specimen during the welding cycle; the model was validated with the welding and mechanical testing results.
The experimental results demonstrated good joint strength, confirming the feasibility of this technique. It was also found that welding at a lower laser beam power and a higher rotational speed allowed higher maximum weld strengths to be achieved at the expense of longer cycle time and higher energy consumption. Simulation of the temperature demonstrated that varying of the rotational speed at constant laser power does not change the overall temperature rise trend.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Current Account Deficits, Sudden Stops, and International Reserves Accumulation

contributor:
Lloyd-Ellis, Huw
Koeppl, Thorsten V.
Economics

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subject:
Exogenous Shocks
International Reserves,
Adequacy
Optimal Reserves
Sudden Stops

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Economics) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-13 22:52:26.219

abstract:
This dissertation addresses the causes of
and policy responses to the 1990s current account crises. The first chapter explores the relative importance of external shocks as key determinants of the significant increase of foreign reserves accumulated in many emerging market economies, and provides a comprehensive framework to assess the adequacy of reserve holdings. Using the case of Mexico, I find that more than two thirds of the increase in international reserves can be replicated by a linear combination of external shocks, without an abrupt regime shift after the Tequila crisis. I also find that Mexico has historically adopted an appropriate reserves policy, with 1994 being an exception. However, under the current reserves policy, there is a positive probability of a current account crisis in the near future. In chapter Two, I investigate the optimal reserves policy. The analysis predicts an optimal level of
reserves in Mexico that is considerably higher than the actual level. When I account for the possibility of a bailout by the outside world in case of a crisis, Mexico's current reserves policy is in the range of my
model's predictions.

The final chapter proposes a new explanation for the existence and nature of sudden stops. In my model, a sudden stop forms a necessary solution to the moral hazard problem in investment and can be rationalized as part of an optimal lending strategy in the face of asymmetric
information.

abstract: PhD


title: Spatial and Temporal Performance Characteristics in a Two-Dimensional Human Motion Analysis System Using Digital Video Capture

contributor:
Bryant, J. Tim
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
Digital Video Capture
Spatial
Temporal
Calibration
Human Motion Analysis

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-14 10:54:58.685

abstract:
A testing framework was developed to address system spatial and temporal performance characteristics in a two-dimensional (2D) human motion analysis system using commercially available digital video capture.
The first testing protocol involved developing a method to evaluate system spatial performance characteristics with respect to accuracy, precision, and resolution. A physical model comprising a calibration frame was constructed with phantom postures selected to represent joint angles and off-plane movement typical of the activities of interest.  This provided reference angles to which angles measured from digitally captured images were compared using the Bland and Altman method. Validation experiments confirmed that the principal sources of error were due to off-plane motion and pixel resolution in the video capture and analysis systems.  In these analyses, it was verified that simulated experimental conditions could be corrected using the direct linear transform (DLT); however, the removal of parallax still resulted in 2 degrees of error in measured joint angles.  The main source of error was resolution of the data acquisition system verified through Monte Carlo simulations.
The second testing protocol involved developing a simple method to determine the temporal accuracy of motion analysis systems incorporating digital video cameras and a pendulum.  A planar column pendulum with a natural frequency of 0.872 Hz was used to analyse five systems incorporating commercially available cameras and a single codec.  The frame rate for each camera was measured to be within 3% of the US National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) broadcasting digital video standard of 29.97 fps.; however some cameras produced a frame duplication artefact.  Least squares curve-fitting using a sinusoidal function revealed RMS differences between 3-5% for angular position and 5-15% for angular speed compared to the captured motion data.  It was shown that some digital-video cameras and computer playback software contain data compression technology that may produce substantial temporal frame inaccuracies in recovered video sequences and that temporal accuracy should be evaluated in digital-based human motion analysis systems prior to their use in experimentation.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Effect of Texture on Anisotropic Thermal Creep of Pressurized Zr-2.5Nb Tubes

contributor:
Holt, Richard A.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
Zr-2.5Nb
Anisotropic creep
Texture

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-14 11:16:08.67

abstract:
Zr-2.5Nb is used as pressure-tube material in CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) reactors.  Under reactor operating conditions, pressure tubes undergo anisotropic dimensional changes, and thermal creep contributes to this deformation.  In a previous study, the limited textures available to Zr-2.5Nb significantly restricted the understanding of the relationship between texture and creep anisotropy.  Moreover, there has been no research performed to investigate textures and stress states simultaneously for this material, which would provide a valuable resource for developing creep anisotropy models and optimizing textures to improve creep resistance.

Cold-worked Zr-2.5Nb fuel sheathing (FS) and micro pressure tubes (MPT) with various textures and microstructures were used as experimental materials.  The tubes were machined as thin-wall standard (ratio of axial to transverse stress  0.5) and end-loaded (ratio of axial to transverse stress = 0.25~0.75) capsules and were internally pressurized and sealed.  Stress and temperature dependence tests were performed on standard capsules under transverse stresses of 100~325MPa at 300~400°C to establish a regime in which dislocation glide is the likely strain producing mechanism.  An average stress exponent vaule of 6.4 was obtained, indicating that dislcation creep is the likely dominant mechanism.  Texture and stress state dependence tests were performed on standard and end-loaded capsules under a nominal transverse stress of 300MPa at 350°C.  It was evident that creep anisotropy strongly correlates with textures under different stress states.

A self-consistent polycrystalline model SELFPOLY7 based only upon crystallographic texture was employed to simulate the creep anisotropy of the tubes.  However, the model cannot fit all the experimental data well by using a uniform critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) ratio of the operating slip systems.  A modification was made, by taking into account the pre-existing dislocation distributions generated during cold work, and an improvement was achieved.

This work provides a valuable resource for understanding the effect of texture, stress states and microstructure on anisotropic creep of cold-worked Zr-2.5Nb tubes.  The current research also provides a strategic direction to improve creep anisotropy predictions.  The large sets of experimental data supply a database to evaluate and develop improved models.

abstract: PhD


title: Trunk Lean in Control and Osteoarthritic Gait

contributor:
Deluzio, Kevin J.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
gait
trunk lean
knee osteoarthritis

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-14 14:43:53.127

abstract:
Trunk lean over the stance limb during gait has been linked to a reduction in the knee adduction moment, which is associated with joint loading. Differences were examined in knee adduction moments and frontal plane trunk lean during gait between subjects with knee osteoarthritis and a control group of healthy adults. Additionally, subject variability in human motion data presents a challenge to researchers when trying to detect differences between subject groups. The individual differences in neutral posture between subjects is a source of variation in joint angles. A method was developed using principal component analysis (PCA) to objectively reduce this inter subject variability.
Gait analysis was performed on 80 subjects (40 osteoarthritis). Models were developed to define lateral thoracic tilt, as well as pelvic tilt. The trunk and pelvis frontal plane angles were used to describe trunk lean and pelvic tilt. Angles were calculated across the stance phase of gait. We analyzed the data, (i) by extracting discrete parameters (mean and peak) waveform values, and (ii) using principal component analysis (PCA) to extract shape and magnitude differences between the waveforms.
Osteoarthritis (OA) subjects had a higher knee adduction moment than the control group (α=0.05). Although the discrete parameters for trunk lean did not show differences between groups, PCA did detect characteristic waveform differences between the control and osteoarthritis groups. The data show that subjects display similar waveform shapes, however waveforms vary in magnitude, suggesting a variation in posture between subjects. The results from the PCA reveal that the first PC, which captures the most variation in the data, represents this variation in magnitude. The second PC describes a significant difference in range of motion between the subject groups.
Subjects with knee OA were found to have a different range of motion of their pelvis and trunk than control subjects. These changes are consistent with a strategy to lower the knee adduction moment. As an alternative to conventional subjective methods, PCA should be employed to reduce inter subject variability in order to ensure objective analysis in human motion waveform data.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Die Detektivfunktion in "Berlin Alexanderplatz" - eine erzähltheoretische Analyse der Ver- und Enthüllungsstrategien in Alfred Döblins Roman.

contributor:
Nell, Werner
Fachinger, Petra
German

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subject:
Berlin Alexanderplatz
German Literature
Narratology
Modernism
Detective Story
Cities in Literature

abstract: Thesis (Master, German) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-17 10:47:07.25

abstract: This thesis analyses the function of the detective in Alfred Döblin’s Berlin Alexanderplatz. I argue that the modernist metropolis Berlin challenges the way in which crimes are solved by complicating the process of identifying those responsible for them.  The ambivalence of life makes it impossible to get to the truth of crime. This ambivalence, partly created by the urban context, leads to the reinvention of the role of the detective. No longer located in the individual, the function of the detective is shared among author, narrator, protagonist, reader, and the city, whereby the protagonist Franz Biberkopf (on the intra-textual level) and the reader (on the extra-textual level) are the major players. However, neither Biberkopf nor the reader succeeds in this process, but are forced to accept the solution suggested by the text.  The thesis adopts a narratological approach in analysing the narrative processes of veiling and unveiling facts and circumstances. It demonstrates how Biberkopf’s specific perception of urban space and his attempt to give it a particular shape in his imagination, as well as the complex relationship of story and discourse in the novel, contribute to the obfuscation of fact and fiction.

abstract: M.A.


title: A System For Computer-Assisted Surgery With Intraoperative CT Imaging

contributor:
Ellis, Randy E.
Computing

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subject:
Computer-Assisted Surgery
Intraoperative Imaging

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-17 11:14:03.275

abstract:
Image-guided interventions using intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) imaging can be
less cumbersome than systems dependent on preoperative images, especially by needing
neither image-to-patient registration nor a lengthy process of segmenting and generating
a 3D model. In this dissertation, a method for computer-assisted surgery using direct
navigation on intraoperative images is presented. In this system the registration step of
a navigated procedure was divided into two stages: preoperative calibration of images to
a ceiling-mounted optical tracking system, and intraoperative tracking during acquisition
of the 3D image. The preoperative stage used a custom-made multi-modal calibrator that
could be optically tracked and also contained fiducial spheres for radiological detection; a
robust registration algorithm was used to compensate for the high false-detection rate that
arose from the optical light-emitting diodes. Intraoperatively, a tracking device was at-
tached to bone models that were also instrumented with radio-opaque spheres; a calibrated
pointer was used to contact the latter spheres as a validation. The fiducial registration error
of the calibration stage was approximately 0.1 mm with the Innova 3D X-ray fluoroscope
and 0.7 mm with the mobile-gantry CT scanner. The target registration error in the valida-
tion stage was approximately 1.2 mm with the Innova 3D X-ray fluoroscope and 1.8 mm
with the mobile-gantry CT scanner. These findings suggest that direct registration can be a
highly accurate means of performing image-guided interventions in a fast, simple manner.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Combined Directed Metalation Cross-Coupling Route to a New Smectic Liquid Crystal With a Phenanthrene Core

contributor:
Lemieux, Robert P.
Snieckus, Victor A.
Chemistry

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subject:
Directed Metalation
Liquid Crystal

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-17 15:52:54.612

abstract:
A series of phenanthrene and oxidized phenanthrene derivatives with typical substitution patterns, 1.31, 1.32, 2.30a-f, 3.1a,b and (-)-4.1 have been synthesized as liquid crystal cores by a combined Directed ortho Metalation (DoM), cross coupling and Directed Remote Metalation (DreM) strategy. The synthetic methodology employed allowed variation of the tail and core structures, for the preparation of a new smectic liquid crystal compound (1.32), a homologous series of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-9,10-diones (2.30a-f), a diastereomeric trans-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-9,10-diol (1.31), two enantiomeric 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-9,10-diones (R)-3.1a-b) and an enantiomeric 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dimethylphenanthrene-9,10-diol ((-)-4.1).
Polarized microscopic and differential scanning calorimetric measurements suggest that 1.31 forms a large range of SmC phase, ca. 100 ºC, followed by a small range of nematic phase, ca. 10 ºC; the 2.30a-f series show similar mesogenic properties, but with the extension of the length of a side chain from six carbons to eleven carbons, the nematic phase has disappeared (in the cases of 2.30a-c).
Although (R)-3.1a-b and (-)-4.1 are not liquid crystals, they show ferroelectric induction by doping, in the amount of ca. 5 mol%, into unchiral liquid crystal hosts PhB, DFT, PhP1, NCB76 and 2.30f. However, due to the detection limit of the instrument, i.e., ca. 0.5 nC/cm2, the spontaneous polarizations (Ps) induced could not be measured.

abstract: PhD


title: The Area Postrema: A Potential Site for Circadian Regulation by Prokineticin 2

contributor:
Ferguson, Alastair V.
Physiology

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subject:
Enkephalin
Circumventricular
Patch Clamp
Single Cell RT-PCR
Neuropeptide
Action Potential

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physiology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-18 11:18:05.977

abstract:
Little is known regarding the neurophysiological mechanisms by which the neuropeptide prokineticin 2 (PK2) regulates circadian rhythms. Using whole-cell electrophysiology, we have investigated a potential role for regulation of neuronal excitability by PK2 on neurons of the area postrema (AP), a medullary structure known to influence autonomic processes in the central nervous system.

In current-clamp recordings, focal application of 1µM PK2 reversibly influenced the excitability of the majority of dissociated AP cells tested, producing both depolarizations (38%) and hyperpolarizations (28%) in a concentration-dependent manner. Slow voltage ramps and ion substitution experiments revealed a PK2-induced Cl- current was responsible for membrane depolarization, while hyperpolarizations were the result of inhibition of an inwardly rectifying non-selective cation current. In contrast to these differential effects on membrane potential, nearly all neurons that displayed spontaneous activity responded to PK2 with a decrease in spike frequency. These observations are in accordance with voltage-clamp experiments showing that PK2 caused a leftward shift in Na+ channel activation and inactivation gating.

Lastly, using post hoc single cell RT-PCR technology, we have shown that 7 out of 10 AP neurons depolarized by PK2 were enkephalin-expressing cells. The observed actions on enkephalin neurons indicate PK2 may have specific inhibitory actions on this population of neurons in the AP acting to reduce their sensitivity to incoming signals. These data suggest that PK2 regulates the level of AP neuronal excitability and may impart a circadian influence on AP autonomic control.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Attachment Anxiety and Intentions to Use Condoms: the Moderating Effects of Interpersonal Rejection

contributor:
MacDonald, Tara K.
Psychology

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subject:
Attachment Anxiety
Condoms
Rejection

abstract: Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-18 11:55:36.243

abstract: The purpose of this research program was to examine how attachment anxiety and rejection interact to influence intentions and attitudes toward having unprotected sexual intercourse. I hypothesized that women who were high in attachment anxiety would hold weaker intentions to use a condom and would have more negative attitudes toward condoms than would women who were low in attachment anxiety. Moreover, I predicted that these expected main effects of anxiety on intentions and attitudes would interact with rejection, such that the association between high anxiety and both weak intentions and negative attitudes would be exacerbated among women that were exposed to a rejection-salient condition. I explored the interaction of interest in the context of specific romantic partner rejection (Study One) as well as general social rejection from peers (Study Two). In Study One, I manipulated potential partner rejection and found that attachment anxiety and rejection condition interacted to influence intentions to engage in unprotected sex. In the rejection condition, attachment anxiety was marginally positively related to intentions whereas in the non-rejection condition, attachment anxiety was marginally negatively related to intentions. Upon further investigation of this same interaction, I found that among women who were high in attachment anxiety, rejection condition did not significantly impact intention ratings. However, among women who were low in attachment anxiety, those who were rejected reported significantly weaker intentions to engage in unprotected sex than those who were not rejected. Attitudes toward condoms were not influenced by the interaction between attachment anxiety and rejection condition. In Study Two, I manipulated general social rejection and found that the intentions results from Study One were not replicated, as general social rejection and attachment anxiety did not interact to influence intentions to engage in unprotected sex. Once again, attitudes toward condoms were not influenced by this interaction. Explanations for the findings of Study One and Study Two are explored and implications of both studies’ findings for the literature on condom use and for sexual health promotion are discussed.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The mexCD-oprJ multidrug efflux operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: regulation by the NfxB-like novel regulator PA4596 and envelope stress

contributor:
Poole, R. Keith
Microbiology and Immunology

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subject:
Multidrug Efflux
Antimicrobial Resistance
Pseudomonas aeruginosa

abstract: Thesis (Master, Microbiology & Immunology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-18 14:25:18.107

abstract: Expression of the mexCD-oprJ multidrug efflux operon is enhanced by the presence of membrane damaging agents [e.g., the biocide chlorhexidine (Chx)] or mutations in the nfxB gene encoding a repressor of efflux gene expression, both dependent on the AlgU envelope stress response sigma factor. Details of mexCD-oprJ regulation are, however, lacking. In examining the mexCD-oprJ locus, a gene, PA4596, encoding a homologue of NfxB (61% identity) was identified downstream of oprJ, a location conserved in all sequenced Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and in Pseudomonas putida. Opposite to mexCD-oprJ, PA4596 expression was reduced by Chx exposure, as assessed using RT-PCR; although like mexCD-oprJ, this was AlgU-dependent (i.e., lost in a ΔalgU strain). Deletion of PA4596 had no impact on Chx resistance indicating that it is not required for Chx-inducible mexCD-oprJ expression/ MexCD-OprJ-dependent Chx resistance. In contrast, mexCD-oprJ expression and the attendant multidrug resistance of nfxB deletion mutants were compromised upon deletion of PA4596, indicating that PA4596 plays a positive role in mexCD-oprJ expression in such mutants. Consistent with this, PA4596 expression increased in nfxB deletion and missense mutants in parallel with mexCD-oprJ. Intriguingly, mexCD-oprJ expression and multidrug resistance were observed in a mutant lacking an nfxB mutation (demonstrating an NfxB-like phenotype) and in an nfxB missense mutant and these were not compromised upon deletion of PA4596. Thus, mexCD-oprJ hyperexpression can be both PA4596-dependent and -independent. A bacterial 2-hybrid assay revealed a PA4596-PA4596 interaction, consistent with the protein forming dimers as NfxB has been shown to do. Two-hybrid assays also demonstrated that NfxB and PA4596 interact. While the functional significance of this remains to be elucidated, it is consistent with their common role in regulating mexCD-oprJ expression and is suggestive of a complex and possibly novel regulatory mechanism. These data highlight the complexity of mexCD-oprJ regulation and the apparently multiple pathways to efflux gene expression, suggestive of multiple roles for this efflux system in P. aeruginosa independent of antimicrobial efflux.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Sexual Scripts and Structured Action: Exploring Gendered Language in Cases of Female Sexual Offending

contributor:
Kay, Fiona
Sociology

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subject:
Sexual Scripts
Sturctured Action
Female Sexual Offenders
Gender

abstract: Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-18 15:35:49.686

abstract:
Few research studies have examined female sexual offending. Furthermore, most of what we know about sexual offending is based on male perpetrators. Our conceptions of female criminals who act outside their designated sexual scripts are formed by prevailing stereotypes of femininity. This research expands the available literature in the field of sexual offending, while examining how women are constituted when it comes to female child sexual offending. I conduct a critical discourse analysis of court transcripts and electronic news articles of cases involving women as child sexual perpetrators. Three criminal cases are examined from Wisconsin, U.S.

The goal is to examine whether, and through what processes, traditional sexual scripts are discursively reproduced in court proceedings and media reporting of female sexual offending. Two cases reveal that women who adhere to their expected sexual scripts despite having committed a sexual offense receive sympathetic responses from legal officials and news journalists. The legal and media responses also ensure these women are able to continue their expected roles as women during and following sentencing. On the other hand, one case reveals that women who overtly contravene their expected gender scripts are legally and morally condemned. The call for strict punishment centred upon removing the female offender’s ability to participate in motherhood, because of the offender’s contravention of expected gender scripts by sexually offending against her own children. Furthermore, the male co-offender in this latter case was not deemed to have contravened his sexual scripts, resulting in less social condemnation. Overall, this thesis demonstrates discursive maneuvering that occurs in female sexual offender cases, in which legal officials and news journalists justify offenses based on prevailing notions of femininity.

abstract: M.A.


title: The Treatment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and o-Xylene Using Two-Phase Partitioning Bioscrubbers

contributor:
Daugulis, Andrew J.
Chemical Engineering

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subject:
Biodegradation
BTEX
Two-Phase Partitioining Bioscrubber
Airlift Bioreactor
Oxygen Mass Transfer
Hydrodynamics
Microbial Kinetics
Bacterial Consortium
Mathematical Modeling
Estimability Analysis

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-18 16:16:22.598

abstract:
This thesis examined the biological treatment of gas streams containing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene (BTEX) using solid-liquid two-phase partitioning bioscrubbers (SL-TPPBs).  SL-TPPBs consist of a cell containing aqueous phase and a polymeric solid phase that sequesters poorly water soluble and/or toxic substrates, mitigating substrate toxicity in the aqueous phase and improving the gas mass transfer during treatment of VOC contaminated gases.
An initial investigation of oxygen transport determined that the polymers in a stirred-tank SL-TPPB enhance gas-liquid mass transfer.  In addition, a study on biodegradation kinetics of BTEX by a bacterial consortium identified and quantified substrate interactions such as inhibition, enhancement and cometabolism.  The stirred-tank SL-TPPB was then experimentally investigated for treatment of BTEX gas streams during steady-state and dynamic step-change operation to determine performance of the system relative to other biotreatment methods.  A mathematical model was developed to predict system performance, which included the microbial kinetic model structure and parameters estimated during kinetic and oxygen mass transfer studies.
As a less energy intensive alternative, an airlift SL-TPPB was operated and characterized.  The airlift SL-TPPB was compared to an airlift liquid-liquid TPPB (silicone oil as sequestering phase) and a single phase airlift over dynamic step-change loadings, which showed that the airlift SL-TPPB outperformed the single phase airlift by >30% and had similar performance to the liquid-liquid airlift.  However, the airlift SL-TPPB performance was lower relative to the stirred-tank SL-TPPB by >15%.  Steady-state operation of the airlift SL-TPPB identified a range of operating conditions that provided maximum performance and conditions that were not oxygen limited.  This prompted a study of oxygen mass transfer and hydrodynamics in the airlift system, which identified that the addition of polymers to an airlift does not cause physical enhancement of the gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient, but improves aqueous phase mixing and enhances overall oxygen transfer rate.  A tanks-in-series mathematical model was formulated to predict performance of the airlift SL-TPPB, wherein the number of tanks-in-series to describe mixing in the airlift was obtained from a residence time distribution analysis of the airlift system completed during the hydrodynamic investigation.  This thesis contributes a low-energy solution for the effective treatment of gases contaminated with BTEX.

abstract: PhD


title: The Book of Life in the Double Helix: Cultural Differences in Biological Beliefs

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subject:
Culture
Biological
Genetics
Cultural Differeces

abstract: Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-19 15:41:59.041

abstract: Biological beliefs posit that biological predispositions can sufficiently explain and predict human characteristics, behaviors, or other phenomena (e.g., Paul carries a gene for athletic abilities; he will become good at sports when he grows up.) In two studies consisting scenarios on a variety of developmental domains, participants from Canada and China evaluated the likelihood that a specific trait would develop in a character after reading about the genetic background of that individual. Results showed that, compared to Chinese, Canadians were more likely to rely on biological information in their developmental predictions. Some correlational evidence was found between participants’ biological beliefs and their scores on the Belief in Genetic Determinism Scale. These findings were consistent with past cultural research on causal attributions, perception of change, and beliefs in effort and persistence.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Association of Sport Confidence and Drop Vertical Jump Performance Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

contributor:
Costigan, Patrick
Kinesiology and Health Studies

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subject:
performance
confidence
anterior cruciate ligament
drop vertical jump
power

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-19 16:08:52.13

abstract:
Determining if an athlete, who has had Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery, is ready to return to sport is a difficult clinical decision, partially due to the lack of standardized evaluation protocols. Since there is a risk of re-injury post-surgery, medical teams need to be cautious. However, athletes who are perceived to be ready to return to sport do not necessarily do so. Some leave sport altogether while others return to a lower competition level. As psychological thoughts and emotions are relevant to athletes’ injury experiences, a psychological component, such as sport confidence, needs to be thoughtfully considered during the return to sport process. Our objectives were to develop the relationship between drop vertical jump (DVJ) performance and physical attributes in young healthy adults and to then apply this relationship to ACL participants. Another objective was to see if the relationship is improved by including confidence (determined from a survey). It was hypothesized that including confidence will predict the ACL participants’ DVJ performance more precisely.
Thirty-five participants were in the control group with thirteen participants in the ACL group. All were recreationally active and all had the following anthropometric and performance measurements recorded: height, weight, calf and thigh girth, knee angle, leg dominance, percent body fat, skeletal muscle mass, anaerobic power, balance, and drop vertical jump height. The ACL group also completed a confidence survey. Regression analyses were performed.
The results showed that anaerobic power and relative skeletal muscle mass were significant predictors of DVJ performance; however, DVJ performance could not be predicted precisely. The analysis was also carried out by gender. No significant predictors for male’s DVJ performance were found while the significant predictors for female’s DVJ performance were weight, power and knee extension angle. Once again, DVJ performance could not be precisely predicted. On the other hand, results showed that power could be more precisely predicted by body weight than could DVJ performance.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Natural History and Prognostic Factors in Soft Tissue Injuries of the Shoulder: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study

contributor:
Brison, Robert
King, Will D.
Community Health and Epidemiology

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subject:
shoulder
soft tissue injury
prognosis
natural history

abstract: Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-31 12:12:22.113

abstract:
Introduction:  Soft Tissue Injuries (STIs) of the shoulder are common presentations to the Emergency Department but very little is known about the natural history, long-term disability or prognostic factors associated with these injuries.  The goals of this pilot study are to describe the three-month outcome of these injuries, to begin to identify prognostic factors associated with poor outcome and to determine the feasibility of a future study aimed at predicting poor outcome.
Methods:  A cohort of 117 working-age adults presenting to the Emergency Department with acute STIs of the shoulder were prospectively recruited.  Patients were interviewed by phone at one week, one month and three months.  During the calls, patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm and Shoulder (DASH) questionnaire and provided information about treatments and follow-up that had occurred.
Results:  Of the 117 subjects, 72.3% had pain and disability above the population norm at one month and that number only decreased to 38.7% at three months.  A substantial effect was also seen on Work and Leisure activities.  The following prognostic factors were identified as having some association with poor three-month outcome: age, mechanism of injury, ability to rotate arm and abduct arm in ED, pain at one week, whether the injury was work-related, visit with family physician in first week and DASH score (disability) at one week.
Conclusions:  At the present time, the emergency physician must treat patients with STIs of the shoulder without any substantial knowledge of the morbidity that these injuries cause, which patients are at high risk of poor outcome or what would constitute optimum management.  This study has determined that poor outcome is common and it has begun to identify factors that can help predict which patients will have a more complicated course.  As it is now felt that the transition from acute to chronic pain begins well before three months, it will be important for future studies to develop a method of early identification of patients at high risk of poor outcome and to determine effective management in an attempt to prevent that transition.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Role of hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in tumour immune escape

contributor:
Graham, Charles H.
Anatomy and Cell Biology

subject: HIF-1

subject: Immune Escape

abstract: Thesis (Master, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-19 21:09:13.707

abstract: Previous studies revealed that, upon exposure to hypoxia, tumour cells acquire resistance to the cytolytic activity of IL-2-activated lymphocytes. The MHC class I chain-related (MIC) molecules – comprised of MICA and MICB – are ligands for the activating NKG2D receptor on Natural Killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells. MIC-NKG2D interactions lead to the activation of NK and CD8+ T cells and the subsequent lysis of the tumour cells. The study also showed that the mechanism of the hypoxia-mediated immune escape involves the shedding of MIC, specifically MICA, from the tumour cell surface. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the shedding of MICA requires the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a transcription factor that regulates cellular adaptations to hypoxia. Exposure to hypoxia (0.5% O2 vs. 20% O2) led to the shedding of MIC from the surface of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and DU-145 human prostate cancer cells as determined by flow cytometry. Knockdown of HIF-1α mRNA using siRNA technology resulted in inhibition of HIF-1α accumulation under hypoxic conditions as determined by Western blot analysis. Parallel study revealed that knockdown of HIF-1α also blocked the shedding of MICA from the surface of MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to hypoxia. These results indicate that HIF-1 is required for the hypoxia-mediated shedding of MICA and, consequently, that HIF-1 may play an important role in tumour immune escape. Ongoing studies aim to determine the HIF-1 target genes involved in the shedding of MICA under hypoxia.

abstract: publication reasons

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Characterization of Monstrous Femininity in the Testament of Cresseid and the Awnytrs off Arthure

contributor:
Straker, Scott-Morgan
English

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subject:
English
Medieval
Monstrous Femininity
Psychoanalysis

abstract: Thesis (Master, English) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-20 03:15:54.674

abstract: This dissertation uses psychoanalytic theory to examine the similar portrayals of monstrous femininity in two Middle English poems, Robert Henryson’s the Testament of Cresseid and the Awntyrs off Arthure. In the Testament, Cresseid’s leprosy is interpreted through Julia Kristeva’s theory of abjection, suggesting that Cresseid experiences the abject to create a new identity as a leper. Rather than view Cresseid’s dream as an assembly of very real divinities who pass judgment over her sleeping body, I interpret the dream in a strictly physiological sense, arguing that Cresseid not only creates the judgment from her own conflicted psychology, but actively shapes her own destiny. Cresseid’s disease does not annihilate her identity, but gives her a significant position in society, because her status as a leper facilitates the economy of salvation. I continue with Kristeva’s theory to understand the characterization of the grotesque corpse of Gaynour’s mother in the Awntyrs off Arthure. Her rotting body is doubly abject, both as a corpse and a mother. While abjection provides a useful opening for discussing the portraits of Gaynour and her mother, Kristeva’s theory does not consider all women in the text, and only confirms misogynist stereotypes. To supplement Kristeva, I use Slavoj Žižek’s interpretation of Jacques Lacan’s theory of desire to illuminate the text as a whole, and explain the role of the corpse in shaping the narrative.

abstract: M.A.


title: Integrating theory and experimentation in the study of malaria

contributor:
Day, Troy
Biology

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subject:
evolution
ecology
mathematical biology
infectious disease
malaria
Plasmodium
disease dynamics
epidemiology

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-20 06:41:14.198

abstract:
Malaria poses a serious threat to much of the developing world and an enormous effort is under way to design vaccines and other novel interventions. Nevertheless, we understand very little about the ecology and evolution of malaria parasites. For instance, while scientists have had considerable success identifying factors involved in regulating parasite growth within hosts, it is extremely hard to disentangle the relative inﬂuences of host immunity and other within-host factors on infection dynamics. Many mathematical models have been directed at understanding the dynamics of malaria infections, and these have provided valuable insights. However, these models have also been criticized, most notably for lacking any statistical analysis of the goodness of ﬁt of model predictions to data. Here, we develop a new modeling approach that improves on previous work, and apply it
to a novel data set from a simpliﬁed rodent malaria system. We ﬁnd that resource availability and competition are important drivers of dynamics, and we identify a number of parasite traits that may underlie differences in virulence between parasite strains. These include the number of progeny parasites produced per infected cell (burst size) and the invasion rates of target cells. We test these predictions with further experiments and ﬁnd broad support for the role of burst sizes in determining virulence, but the role of invasion rates is less certain. We also ﬁnd evidence of potential plasticity in these parasite traits in response to within-host environmental factors. These within-host interactions between parasites and hosts have effects that will scale up to between-host processes; we discuss the growing body of theory that seeks to combine these levels (‘embedded models’). Using between-host and embedded models, we test the plausibility of various hypotheses to explain why there are so few transmissible malaria parasite forms, yet vast numbers of host-damaging asexual forms are produced. We show that a speciﬁc form of density-dependent transmission-blocking immunity and the occurrence of multiple infections can each generate selection for this pattern. Overall, this thesis contributes to a better under-
standing of malaria parasites, while providing a framework for addressing unanswered questions in disease biology, and offering interesting paths for future empirical work.

abstract: PhD


title: Reclaiming the Red River: Creating Metis Cultural Spaces in Winnipeg

contributor:
Day, Richard J. F.
Sociology

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subject:
Metis
Indigenous Governance

abstract: Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-20 19:43:50.279

abstract:
Urban spaces are an increasingly common indigenous reality, and while urban spaces often
involve great social and geographic distances from traditional communities, many urban
populations have built vibrant communities in cities. This thesis will examine the creation of
Métis cultural spaces in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as a community building strategy. It is situated in
thirteen in-depth interviews with Métis community builders conducted in Winnipeg over the
Summer of 2008. The Winnipeg Metis community is rhizomatic in makeup, situated not in
geographic locations, but in the networks of instantaneous and spontaneous social interaction of
community members and institutions—elders, political organizations and governance structures.
Rhizomatic space is a form of social organization, which emerges out of everyday social life, and
because it is only observable during the brief instances of human interaction, it is nearly invisible
to outsiders and thus difficult to colonize. It is also a primary means by which Métis people are
reclaiming space in their traditional homeland on the Red River. This paper theorizes an
alternative tactic to resistance through a decentered form of political organization, grounded in
the community and its organic institutions. It proposes that the everyday creation of social and
cultural spaces in urban centres is an effective way to build urban indigenous communities with
minimal interference or involvement of the State, and that this develops more or less organically
without the need for bureaucratic oversight. The paper concludes that the everyday creation of
rhizomatic space is a highly effective means of community building and resistance.

abstract: M.A.


title: Second to Fourth Century Structures from Hawara's Vicus: Interim Report on Field E121 at Humayma

contributor:
Reeves, M. B.
Classics

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subject: Classics Archaeology Roman

abstract: Thesis (Master, Classics) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-25 20:30:40.954

abstract:
After over 20 years of excavation at Humayma, ancient Hawara, in southern Jordan, an immense spectrum of occupation has become evident, particularly from the Nabataean period in the first century BCE to the early Islamic period in the eighth century CE.  This study of Field E121 focuses on three structures uncovered in the Roman period vicus, the civilian settlement adjacent to the Roman fort: a built platform, a stone structure and an animal pen.  These structures suggest occupation from the second to fourth century CE, north of the known vicus center and west of the Roman fort.
Prior to this study, E121 had not been published although excavation was conducted on it in 1995.  As a result, this study is the presentation and interpretation of all material relating to the previous excavation as well as the recently conducted 2008 excavation season.  This thesis is a discussion of the excavation, phasing and possible functions of each structure and of how they fit into the greater local vicus context.  E121 was chosen for excavation after a 13 year hiatus because numismatic and ceramic evidence all pointed to a later construction in this northern sector of the vicus, which made it unique among the known vicus structures.  The fourth century CE has been largely unrepresented in the vicus’ archaeological record making E121 important for gathering data concerning civilian and military interactions during the Early Byzantine period.
	Excavations at E121, despite heavy deterioration, reuse and robbing of its structures, have produced a wide array of cultural material relating to fourth century CE as well as the earlier vicus occupation.  This evidence partially fills in the gap of fourth century CE occupation at the site and has provided new direction for future fourth century CE vicus excavation efforts.  More specifically, E121 produced evidence for Roman construction in the vicus through the platform, stone architecture through the adjacent structure and a possible first indication of site orientation related to the Nabataean period.

abstract: M.A.


title: An Investigation of Copper Recovery from a Sulphide-Oxide Ore with a Mixed Collector System

contributor:
Kelebek, Sadan
Mining Engineering

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subject: Copper Recovery

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-20 13:07:15.794

abstract:
Current copper deposits contain significant amounts of secondary non-sulphide minerals and newly discovered deposits are increasingly complex.  As a result, research into the improvement of sulphide-oxide copper ores processing through the use of mixed collector systems has surged. The flotation of a natural porphyry copper ore with bornite and malachite was investigated via fundamental work with pure minerals and a bench-scale testing regime. The processing of the test ore was problematic due to a mineral assemblage that caused prevalent slime generation.
Fundamental adsorption, micro-flotation and Eh-pH tests were conducted on pure minerals to investigate mineral-collector behaviours. PAX and hydroxamate form multiple collector layers on malachite and bornite, with malachite and hydroxamate exhibiting the highest adsorption density. The effective pH range of the collectors was pH 8-10 where the collector species, according to equilibrium species distribution diagrams, were Cu(HXM)2 (aq) and CuEX (s) for hydroxamate and xanthate respectively.
 A Box-Behnken response surface design was used to determine collector dosages that provide an optimum flotation response for the natural ore. The collectors were: potassium amyl xanthate (PAX), Cytec Promoter 6494 hydroxamate and DETA. The copper recovery, malachite recovery, minor copper recovery and copper grade responses were optimized using JMP statistical software. Indicators of model inadequacies were noted but since the models predicted sensible solutions, inaccurate test ratios and un-modeled effects were hypothesized to be the source of the inadequacies. The model predicted 98 % copper recovery using 202.7g/t PAX, 674.99 g/t hydroxamate and 61.9 g/t DETA. The copper grade model predicted an the overall copper grade of 19% using  with 0 g/t PAX, 167 g/t hydroxamate and 101 g/t DETA.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Social Consequences of Obesity Among Canadian Youth

contributor:
Pickett, William
Craig, Wendy M.
Community Health and Epidemiology

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subject:
Adiposity
Adolescence
Physical bullying
Relational bullying
Violence
Interpersonal violence
Youth
Delinquency
Obesity

abstract: Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-20 14:56:57.616

abstract:
Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in all segments of our society. While research exists on the physical consequences of obesity, the social implications of childhood obesity require study. Those who are obese are visibly different from their peers and are more likely to experience physical and verbal abuse when compared with their normal weight peers.

Objectives: The objectives of the two studies comprising this thesis were to examine, 1) the temporal sequence between adiposity class and bullying involvement, and, 2) to determine whether the relationship between adiposity class and weapon carrying is mediated by bullying.

Methods: Objective 1. Participants were administered the Health Behaviour in School-Age Children Survey (HBSC) in 2006 and 2007. Study outcomes were self reports of: 1) physical bullying victimization and perpetration, and 2) relational bullying victimization and perpetration. Relationships between adiposity and the four forms of bullying were investigated in separate analyses using a repeated measures design. Objective 2. A cross-sectional analysis of the health experiences of 7877 Canadian children (11-15 years) using the 2006 HBSC survey was conducted. Relationships between adiposity status and weapon carrying were evaluated using multi-level logistic regression. Mediation by bullying involvement was assessed using standard methods.

Results: Objective 1. Adiposity class was shown to precede bullying involvement, with obese males reporting 2-fold increases in both physical and relational victimization, while obese females reported 3-fold increases in perpetration of relational bullying. Objective 2. Results suggest that overweight and obese males report increased odds of weapon carrying compared to their normal weight peers. Among obese males, partial mediation of this relationship was observed by acts of: physical victimization, relational victimization and physical perpetration. No such relationships were observed among female students.

Conclusions: Objective 1. Our study demonstrates the importance of adiposity status as a determinant of poor interpersonal relationships. These findings are congruent with previous cross-sectional studies, and confirm that obese youths are at increased risk of social consequences attributable to their appearance. Objective 2. Overweight and obese male students appear to be more likely to carry weapons for defensive and offensive purposes, a behavior mediated in part by bullying involvement.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Inquiry in the classroom: Peer observation as a form of job-embedded professional learning

contributor:
Shulha, Lyn
Education

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subject:
peer observation
professional development
professional learning
teaching
reflection
teacher inquiry
collaboration
secondary

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-21 16:22:15.25

abstract:
Professional development has been recognized as one of the most promising and powerful routes to teachers’ professional growth and job satisfaction, yet current research challenges many of the traditional approaches widely used today. As an alternative, research has advocated for contextually anchored and collaborative models of professional development. Before any judgments on the relative power and usefulness of these approaches can be made, descriptions of how and where these models might work are necessary. In this thesis I describe a study that examines the viability of peer observation as a form of job-embedded professional learning for secondary teachers.
A qualitative design was employed to capture and communicate the experiences of five teachers as they participated in peer observation of teaching. Data collection techniques included: (a) individual interviews before and after participation in the study, (b) group interviews during the peer observation cycles (pre- and post-observation meetings and debriefing sessions), and (c) written artifacts in the form of participant observation records and a researcher log.
Most of the previous research investigating the effectiveness of peer observation as a form of professional development has been conducted at the post-secondary level. The experiences of the teachers in this study support those findings and extend them to the secondary level. Although the approach taken by the two groups were significantly different, peer observation was found to promote professional growth by promoting: (a) pedagogical knowledge; (b) professional dialogue; (c) skill development, specifically inquiry skills and reflective practice; (d) contextualized learning; and (e) collegiality and collaboration.
This study contributes to our understanding of the potential for professional growth resulting from participation in peer observation. It also contributes to the body of Canadian educational research on professional development while providing empirical research relating to the effectiveness of peer observation at the secondary level. Finally, this study makes recommendations for future research addressing the role of the facilitator and some of the challenges and barriers teachers may experience during the peer observation process.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Conceptual design of discrete-event systems using templates

contributor:
Rudie, Karen
Computing

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subject:
discrete-event systems
templates
usability

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-21 17:11:14.991

abstract: This work describes the research conducted in the quest for designing better software for discrete-event system (DES) control. The think-aloud data from an exploratory observational study of solving DES control problems contributed to the formulation of a list of recommendations on how to design and improve DES software. These observations, together with other relevant research, led to the proposal of a novel approach to DES problem solving, namely, the template design methodology. This methodology does not require the introduction of new control theory; it is rather an reinterpretation of the existing modelling framework. Software supporting this methodology was implemented and subsequently evaluated using twelve subjects. Significant improvements in the speed of problem solving as well as positive evaluations by the subjects were observed. The usability data do not show any drawbacks to applying the methodology.

abstract: PhD