title: The Evolving Role of Music in Theodor Storm's Novellas

contributor:
Arndt, Christiane
German

subject:
German Literature
Music in Literature
Novella
Realism

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, German) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-24 14:26:25.248

abstract:
The texts of Theodor Storm (1817-88) engage with the role of the artist and works of art in society during the latter half of the nineteenth century. While the role of painting and writing has already been analyzed in this regard, the function of music in Storm’s work has not been hitherto researched to any great degree. Musicians, however, feature prominently among the artists he portrays. They encounter various artistic and personal difficulties that this dissertation analyzes both through close readings and from a literary-historical perspective.
The analysis focuses on three novellas entitled Ein stiller Musikant (1875), Zur “Wald- und Wasserfreude” (1879), and Es waren zwei Königskinder (1884), which illustrate the changing role of music in the lives of the protagonists. In order to show the development of economic and social changes that took place after the 1848 Revolution and during the Gründerzeit, the texts are analyzed in chronological order. This thematic study argues that the reflection on music can be interpreted as a specialized reflection on the topic of the artist in general, which, in itself, is a prominent theme in Romanticism. Taking into account how Romantic notions of life and art lost their appeal both during and as a result of the forces of industrialization, the study shows how music, first presented as a nurturing and comforting force in the Biedermeier era, becomes progressively less important, and, in the end, loses its appeal as artistic salvation.
The novellas use music as a literary technique in order to comment on education, both musical and academic, with particular emphasis on girls’ education. In addition to transcending gender and social barriers, as well as establishing a continuity of sorts between the past and the present, music also serve as a psychological tool to suggest or express feelings or a state of mind. In the same vein, physical features and instruments are used in the characterization of the protagonists, while also reflecting ethnic stereotypes common to both literature and greater society at the time.

abstract: I don't want it to be publicly accessible yet.

abstract: PhD


title: Three Essays on Earnings Dynamics

contributor:
Imai, Susumu
Lapham, Beverly
Economics

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

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

rights: Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University

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

subject:
Earning Process
Earning Mobility
Labor Economics
Earning Dynamics

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Economics) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-26 11:33:27.012

abstract:
This thesis consists of three essays that use modern econometric methods to empirically study earnings dynamics in the United States using samples drawn from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID).
In Chapter 2, I study a non-linear parametric model that allows an agent's future earning to depend on the earning quantile he occupies in the current period. Such dynamics reflect a different set of opportunities opened up to an agent once he changes position in the earning distribution. Chapter 3 extends the model presented in Chapter 2 to take into account the accumulation of agents' past experiences by allowing an agent's earning process to depend on both his current quantile position and the average of his previous quantiles. The current quantile position represents an agent's current opportunity or luck whereas the average of his previous quantiles assumes the role of his past experiences.
I estimate the models using a method of indirect inference called simulated minimum distance. I find that the underlying process differs across the earning distribution. In particular, individuals in the bottom quantile have a unit root process whereas individuals in upper quantiles have a stationary process with the top quantile workers having the lowest autoregressive coefficients.
Chapter 3 shows that a model specification with a higher weight assigned to luck, the current quantile position, has better predictions for the earning mobility presented from the data. This result implies that luck certainly plays a role in the earning process.
In Chapter 4, I study the earning mobility of US households using nonparametric quantile regressions. I estimate future earning quantiles for individuals from every initial earning level. I find that earning mobility tends to improve in more recent years or over a longer time span. Moreover, the substantial non-linearity found in upper earning distribution suggests that relatively higher earners face more earning uncertainty than others. In addition, the slopes of quantiles as a function of initial earnings are flatter in the long run. Therefore, more than half of high earners experience an earning decline whereas the majority of low earners experience an earning increase in the long run.

abstract: PhD


title: Markers of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Pregnancies Complicated by Pre-Eclampsia

contributor:
Smith, Graeme N.
Anatomy and Cell Biology

rights: Creative Commons - Attribution-Non-commercial-Share Alike - CC BY-NC-SA

subject:
Pre-Eclampsia
Cardiovascular Disease
Risk Screening
Cardiovascular Risk

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-27 10:31:02.106

abstract:
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by maternal systemic endothelial dysfunction. While the clinical manifestations resolve soon after delivery, a large body of epidemiological evidence indicates significant long-term maternal risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) after PE. The mechanisms by which PE and future CVD are associated are unclear, although shared constitutional risk factors likely contribute to the features of endothelial dysfunction characteristic to both. We postulate that PE offers a window of opportunity for the identification of unique markers of dysfunction in the earliest stages of disease that may be used to validate cardiovascular risk screening in the early postpartum period.
The studies presented in this thesis provide evidence of changes in circulating factors in women with a recent history of PE. Using blood samples collected within the first year of pregnancy, unique patterns of microRNA expression, enrichment of coagulation system proteins and endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction were described. Many of the described changes appear to be independent of cardiovascular risk. In addition to alterations in circulating factors however, longitudinal postpartum assessments demonstrated that microvascular and cardiac abnormalities were evident in the early periods postpartum after a pre-eclamptic pregnancy.
Collectively, the data presented in this thesis reveal that physiological alterations in women with a recent history of PE are not necessarily dependent on clinical parameters of cardiovascular risk, and that resulting dysfunction may be demonstrated within the first year postpartum. Importantly, the biomarkers presented herein are all demonstrated elsewhere in the literature to benefit from lifestyle modification and risk reduction. In closing, the findings of this thesis support a need for cardiovascular risk screening based on obstetrical history, namely after pregnancies complicated by PE.

abstract: PhD


title: An Investigation of Selective Galena Recovery Following Its Depression

contributor:
Kelebek, Sadan
Mining Engineering

subject:
TETA
Chelating Agents
Galena
Sulphide Ore
Copper-lead-zinc ore
Flotation

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-27 14:20:49.441

abstract:
It is challenging to obtain a final lead concentrate from copper-lead-zinc ores due to the complex mineralogy of the ore and the similar flotation behaviour of minerals within the ore. This study was carried out to investigate a new method of separating lead, found in the form of galena, through the use of the polyamine chelating agent triethylenetetramine (TETA).
Fundamental micro-flotation, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and leaching tests were conducted on pure galena to investigate the ability of TETA to reactivate galena previously depressed using sulphite or dichromate ions. From the micro-flotation and XPS experiments it was found that when galena was depressed using sulphite ions, the addition of TETA resulted in the reactivation of galena and an increase in recovery. However when galena was depressed using dichromate ions, the addition of TETA caused a further decrease in recovery. Leaching experiments showed that lead dichromate is not easily leached by TETA.
Bench scale studies were conducted to verify whether TETA could be used to reactivate galena from complex copper-lead-zinc ores. Results for the bench scale experiments were consistent with the fundamental studies. When sulphite ions were used to depress galena, TETA was able to effectively reactivate the galena. However when dichromate was used as the depressant, the addition of TETA did not result in the reactivation and flotation of galena. These findings further suggested that the addition of TETA in the sulphite system resulted in the removal of lead sulphite from the mineral surface. It is believed that this is lead xanthate, being more stable than lead sulphite, remained on the mineral surface, resulting in an increase in hydrophobicity and a subsequent increase in recovery. In the dichromate system, TETA did not remove the lead dichromate bearing hydrophilic product, which is believed to act as a barrier for required xanthate interaction. Interestingly, action of TETA at this stage caused reactivation of other sulphides co-existing with galena. Residual xanthate, which cannot be utilized by depressed galena, promoted stage flotation of sphalerite, pyrite and copper bearing minerals. Removal of these minerals was helpful for further upgrading of galena in the tailings fraction.

abstract: This thesis is to be restricted for a year and a half.  This is restriction is required as a patent for the process described in this thesis is being pursued.  My supervisor is going to conduct additional studies and file a patent in the next year and a half, and as such we ask that this thesis be restricted.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Maternal Cardiovascular Adaptations in Rodent Models of Pregnancy Complications

contributor:
Ozolins, Terence R. S.
Adams, Michael A.
Anatomy and Cell Biology

subject:
Pregnancy
Cardiac Adaptations
Cardiovascular System

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-27 16:56:49.526

abstract:
Pregnancy induces a myriad of time-dependent changes to the maternal cardiovascular (CV) system and correct orchestration of these adaptations is vital for pregnancy success and future health of both mother and offspring. Complications in human pregnancy such as preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes are associated with aberrant gestation-induced adaptations of the maternal CV system and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This thesis explores how several pre-existing conditions affect pregnancy. It is hypothesized that the response of the rodent maternal CV system to the burden of pregnancy will be impaired when challenged with preexisting metabolic distress, impaired angiogenesis or underlying, subclinical congenital heart defects, and these stressors will compromise fetal health.
To study the effects of metabolic distress on pregnancy, the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse was used as a model of human diabetes. Diabetic mice exhibited a blunted maternal cardiac response to pregnancy with concomitant renal pathologies. Offspring were afflicted with CV abnormalities and decreased body weight. The link between PE and reduced maternal serum levels of placental growth factor (PGF) prompted the study of Pgf-/- mice. Knockout mice exhibited altered gestation-induced hemodynamic and CV responses, suggestive of a cardioprotective role of PGF during pregnancy. This altered maternal phenotype did not affect fetal blood flow but resulted in decreased fetal weights. Although congenital heart defects are the most common birth anomaly, their impact on postnatal adaptation to pregnancy is unknown. To investigate this, dimethadione (DMO), the N-demethylated metabolite of the anticonvulsant trimethadione, was administered to pregnant rats to produce offspring with ventricular septal defects. These deficits resolved as animals matured, reflecting a similar clinical phenomenon. Despite absence of persistent structural or functional abnormalities, treated rats exhibited altered CV and hemodynamic responses to pregnancy, suggesting latent CV dysfunction. Offspring of
these previously treated dams presented with increased body and placental weight. ii
Together, work performed in this thesis emphasizes the importance of maternal CV adaptions not only for pregnancy success but health of the offspring. Results also underscore the role of PGF in gestational CV adaptations and the impact of in utero chemical exposures on the postnatal capacity to adapt to pregnancy.

abstract: One chapter is in the submission phase for peer-review publication.

abstract: PhD


title: A Study of the Development of the Ability of the Archives Department of the Hudson's Bay Company to Carry Out Document Repairs

contributor:
Hill, Rosaleen
Art Conservation

subject:
Document Repair
Conservation History
Hudson's Bay Company Archives

abstract: Thesis (Master, Art Conservation) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-29 20:04:04.389

abstract: The objective of this thesis was to determine whether the establishment and operation of an archives services by the Hudson's Bay Company had an effect on the company's ability to carry out document repairs. Data collection methods included reviews of published material, archival records of the Hudson's Bay Company, and semi-structured interviews. The study found that the Hudson's Bay Company's commitment to operating a modern archives service in accordance with accepted archive administration practices had a substantial effect on its ability to carry out document repairs. The principled approach to repair, as practiced by the Public Record Office, was a major influence. A review of secondary sources placed this development squarely within the context of archival developments in 20th century England. Overall, the thesis findings add to the growing conversation about conservation history in England, in particular, archive conservation history as it occurred outside of the Public Record Office in the 20th century, by discussing how some methods of repair that were devised, adopted and extended by the Public Record Office in the 19th and 20th centuries were adopted and applied in the 20th century by a well-established business corporation.

abstract: M.A.C.


title: Till Geochemical and Heavy Mineral Signatures of the Kiggavik Uranium Deposit, Nunavut, Canada

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
Uranium
Drift Prospecting

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-28 09:35:07.019

abstract:
Mineral exploration in glaciated terrain has successfully utilized till geochemistry and indicator mineral methods for diamonds and gold. More recently, methods for base metals and other commodities have been developed, however, few published cased studies have documented the glacial dispersal from uranium (U) deposits using indicator minerals and till geochemistry. In response to the need to develop surficial exploration methods to help discover drift covered U deposits, this study was conducted to document and interpret the mineralogical and geochemical signature of the Kiggavik U deposit and its glacial dispersal.
			The study area is within the zone affected by the migration of the Keewatin Ice Divide of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Surface till samples (n=71) were collected directly overlying, up-ice and down-ice from the deposit with respect to the dominant north-northwest, northwest, and west ice flow directions. Till samples containing the highest metal contents were located directly to the west of the deposit in locally derived, basement-dominated grey till. Till geochemistry exhibits a polymetallic dispersal signature down-ice of the Kiggavik Main Zone (KMZ) outcrop. Uranium, Bi, Mo, Au, Ag, Co, Cs, Pb and W range from elevated to anomalously high concentrations up to 1 km down-ice of the KMZ and thus can be utilized as pathfinder elements. These pathfinder elements are also present down-ice from other U deposits within the Kiggavik camp, demonstrating their broad applicability to U exploration in basement rocks near the Thelon Basin. Laboratory gamma-ray spectrometry and Pb isotopic analysis were conducted on the till samples and show that eU and Pb isotope ratios in the till matrix share a strong correlation with U content in till.

Heavy mineral picking of the sand-sized till fraction did not return any U bearing minerals as they are not physically and chemically resistant to post glacial weathering. However, elevated gold grains counts were encountered and can be used as an indicator for U mineralization. Lead rich apatites grains (up to 8% Pb) were discovered in mineralized bedrock and these are of particular interest due to their rarity and potential to be a an indicator mineral for such deposits, provided that new techniques to quantitatively separate and analyze the finer fraction of the HMC be can be developed.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Diatoms as Indicators of Climate Change on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska

subject:
diatoms
indicators
St. Lawrence Island
Alaska
climate change
sediment

abstract: A thesis submitted to the School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours)

abstract:
The Alaskan and Bering Sea region has warmed twice as fast as the rest of the United
States over the past 60 years. St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, the most northern large island in the
Bering Sea, has had some recent monitoring of climate; however, these data are of fairly short
duration and thus long-term environmental change is relatively unknown. To develop a more
complete assessment of anthropogenic climate change in the region, I applied paleolimnological
techniques to assess changes over the past ~150 years in diatom assemblages and primary
production estimates for two sites located on St. Lawrence Island. Sediment cores were obtained
from Reindeer Pond and Atuk Lake in July of 2012. Examining these two different waterbodies
provides the opportunity to assess the ecological variability in the region and compare how a
lake and a pond differ in their response to warming. Diatom assemblages in both Atuk Lake and
Reindeer Pond showed a response to anthropogenic climate change beginning in the late 19th and
early 20th century. Shifts towards more diverse assemblages of benthic diatoms at both sites
suggest greater benthic habitat availability, which is most likely due to the increased growing
season allowing for the development of greater substrate complexity. The diatom change is
accompanied by a corresponding increase in sedimentary chlorophyll-a, a change likely driven
by a longer-ice free season allowing for increased phytoplankton and periphyton production.
Cluster analyses on the diatom assemblages also detected a primary split around the 1970s for
the Atuk Lake profile, which is consistent with a known period of marked warming in the Bering
Sea region. This study provides important ecological information and a longer-term perspective
on recent climate changes for this under-studied region and for the vulnerable subsistence
communities that live in the on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska.

abstract: School of Environmental Studies


title: An Investigation of the Influence of Various Experimental Parameters on Electron Bombardment Matrix Isolation Experiments

contributor:
Parnis, Mark J.
Chemistry

subject:
Matrix Isolation
Dissociative Recombination
Ion Chemistry
Decomposition
Ethane Cation
Fragmentation
Infrared Spectroscopy
Charge-Transfer Ionization

abstract: Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-28 12:49:41.306

abstract:
The products of d6-ethane decomposition following charge-transfer ionization by Ar+ are studied in the present thesis to understand the reaction mechanisms that occur in the electron bombardment matrix isolation apparatus.  Gas mixtures of 1:1600 d6-ethane:Ar were electron bombarded and the resulting ionization products, as well as  remaining reagent molecules, were collected in a condensed matrix of argon.  The products of ionization include the neutral dehydrogenation products C2D5, C2D4, C2D3, C2D2, and C2D.  These products are all observed in other studies completed at the same energy of 15.8 eV, save C2D, but differ in their relative yields.  Experimental parameters were explored in the present work, including relative flux of electrons, as well as relative density of electrons in the reaction zone.
	Using two anodes of differing geometries, the density of electrons in the reaction zone was changed, creating either a low or high ion-density environment.  Altering this parameter changed the observed product distributions.  C2D4 and C2D2, were the sole two products observed under low ion-density conditions, whereas all of the products listed previously were observed under the high ion-density conditions, most notably the C2D product.  It is discussed that the observation of C2D, following ionization of ethane at 15.8 eV, is indicative of the occurrence of dissociative recombination processes.  The other reaction processes that occur from dissociative recombination are discussed.  Under low ion-density conditions, where dissociative recombination does not occur, the distribution of products is more similar to other research at an ionization energy of 15.8 eV, however differ in the relative product ratios.  This is justified based on differences in reaction timescales between the present experimental work and other work on the ionization of ethane.
 	Another experimental parameter, electron-flux, is investigated here and found to have a similar effect whether in low or high ion-density experimental conditions.  The general trend is that as electron-flux increases, the extent of d6-ethane precursor consumption increases as well.  Increasing the electron-flux parameter under the high ion-density conditions causes a more significant increase in reagent consumption, as compared to the same increase in the same experiment completed using low ion-density conditions.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Estimating Forest Structure from LiDAR and High Spatial Resolution Imagery for the Prediction of Succession and Species Composition

contributor:
Treitz, Paul
Scott, Neal
Geography

subject:
Forestry
Succession
LiDAR
Tree species composition
Remote Sensing

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-28 14:52:52.006

abstract:
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and high spatial resolution data combined with advanced statistical techniques have, within the last decade, contributed significantly to advances in the development of enhanced Forest Resource Inventories (FRI). The goal of this research was to explore how these data sources and statistical techniques could be utilized for predicting successional stages and species composition within a complex temperate forest ecosystem in Ontario.  This research also explored the possibility of generating tree lists from these same data sources that would forecast equivalent future forest conditions compared to in situ collected FRI data.
For the characterization of vertical structure within forest stands a new LiDAR metric was developed, i.e., the Vertical Complexity Index (VCI). Logistic regressions were then applied to predict successional stages while boosted regression trees were adopted for the quantification of relative abundance of upper canopy species using LiDAR and high spatial resolution data. k-Nearest Neighbor imputation was used for generating individual juvenile tree information from LiDAR whereas adult tree information was generated from: i) an individual tree crown (ITC) classification; and ii) from predicted stem density and species’ relative abundance. Successional stages were well predicted using LiDAR variables (i.e., VCI, Lorey’s height and standard deviation of height) with a classification accuracy (Khat) of 86%. Average prediction accuracy was 0.71 when LiDAR variables related to biotic and disturbance processes were included. Correlations between in situ and imputed juvenile tree information were moderate, ranging from 0.50 to 0.69. Stem density model fit (adj. R2) was 0.51 for conifer and 0.74 for hardwood stands. As for generating adult tree lists, ITC significantly underestimated stem density while both approaches underestimated species composition.
This research clearly demonstrated that LIDAR variables that capture structural forest attributes can successfully be used to characterize structurally distinct successional stages and upper canopy species’ abundances in landscapes with limited topographical variation. Juvenile trees were more difficult to characterize with LiDAR variables as was the ability to generate tree lists. However, this research provides insights how to advance the characterization of juvenile trees and develop tree lists from LiDAR and high spatial resolution data.

abstract: PhD


title: Apulian Warrior-Heroes and Greek Citizens: Mortuary Constructions of Identity in Ruvo di Puglia and Metaponto

contributor:
Colivicchi, Fabio
Classics

subject: Pottery Classics Greek Colonization Archaeology Metaponto Warrior Apulia

abstract: Thesis (Master, Classics) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-28 18:43:44.923

abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to shed light on the socio-political ideology of the warrior-aristocracy of Ruvo di Puglia and the inhabitants of the Greek polis of Metaponto through observation of the motifs on the figured vessels placed in wealthy tombs. By examining the mortuary deposits of the Ruvo tombs alongside those from Metaponto, we will be able to see some similarities between the two cities. While these similarities imply a level of cultural sharing, they more succinctly show that the indigenous inhabitants of Ruvo were quite selective in borrowing from the Greeks. However, the differences provide the best insight into the fascinating practices of the Apulians. I show that the Apulian chieftains coveted a warrior-hero status and were not hesitant to liken themselves to the legendary Achilles or Herakles, while the Greeks saw such practices as a breach of the fundamental principles of their polis-centered egalitarianism. This is significant for the understanding of the cultural environment of Magna Graecia since only little remains in terms of primary sources on the subject.

abstract: M.A.


title: Reimagining Two-Spirit Community: Critically Centering Narratives of Urban Two-Spirit Youth

contributor:
Morgensen, Scott Lauria
Gender Studies

subject:
Indigenous LGBTQ
Youth
Community
Sharing circles
Indigenous methodology
Two-Spirit

abstract: Thesis (Master, Gender Studies) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-29 14:38:35.887

abstract: Since its inception in the early 1990s, Two-Spirit has become an identity category that many Indigenous LGBTQ people have taken up as a way to signal both their Indigeneity and their queerness. In the emerging field of Queer Indigenous Studies, Two-Spirit people have become increasingly visible, however, the engagement with youth has been limited and largely confined to the social service sector. Stepping outside of these narrow confines, my research has sought to document how Two-Spirit youth envision their day-to-day lives in relation to their communities. Using an Indigenous methodology to guide the research, I conducted sharing circles in conjunction with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network in order to engage Two-Spirit youth living in Toronto. The sharing circles revealed the limits of Two-Spirit youth’s connections to the idea of Two-Spirit community. Two-Spirit youth called for an end to homophobia and transphobia within their Indigenous communities and expressed their desire to directly participate in nation-building activities as guided by their communities’ elders. The thesis analyzes the ways that Two-Spirit identity gets used in both oppressive and decolonial ways in the context of non-profit and Two-Spirit organizations to show how cultures are built around Two-Spirit identity. However, Two-Spirit youth resist narratives of victimhood created through racist ideas about Indigenous people in their stories as they search for spaces that open up dialogue about the radical ways in which Two-Spirit people can manifest their own futures rooted in Indigenous principles.

abstract: M.A.


title: Euripides' 'Antiope' and the Theban Trilogy

contributor:
Griffith, R. Drew
Storey, Ian
Classics

subject:
Euripides
Amphion
Zethus
Antiope
Lycus
Dirce
trilogy
Suppliant Women

abstract: Thesis (Master, Classics) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-29 20:35:42.027

abstract: This thesis is a discussion, reconstruction, and analysis of Euripides’ lost Antiope. Based on metrical studies which suggest a date much earlier than its usual date of 410 or 408 B.C., I specifically focus on the possibility that Antiope might be part of a larger Theban trilogy, produced together with Suppliant Women and one other play. I begin with a thorough look at the mythological material existing before Euripides’ version of the story, as well as the tragedy’s effect on later versions. From there I provide a translation of the existing fragments arranged in the order I believe they were written for the tragedy, and a reconstruction with discussion. The latter half of the thesis I devote to reading Antiope as part of a trilogy. I compare the similarities between the proposed Theban trilogy with the more firmly established Trojan trilogy, and I provide a discussion on Antiope and Suppliant Women, commenting on how reading the two plays together can drastically change an analysis of either. I conclude that even if Euripides did not have “trilogy” in mind when he wrote Antiope and Suppliant Women, the connection between the two tragedies is both too important and too subtle for them to have been produced in separate years and still have been appreciated by an ancient audience.

abstract: M.A.


title: Perceptions of Physicians on the Adoption of a Palliative Care Approach in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

contributor:
Klinger, Don A.
Education

subject:
Palliative Care
Physicians
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-29 21:57:36.816

abstract:
Models of care released over a decade ago advocate for an early and concurrent adoption of disease-modifying and palliative care approaches to address the needs of patients with a life-limiting illness, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, research suggests patients with COPD continue to receive insufficient palliative care. While endorsing these models of care is justified, no study has demonstrated their adoption by physicians caring for patients with COPD. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which resident and attending physicians adopt a palliative care approach in patients with COPD.
A qualitative design with an exploratory approach was used. Semi-structured interviews conducted over a 5-month period involved 7 residents and 7 attending physicians from internal medicine, respirology, emergency medicine and family medicine. Following verbatim transcription and member checking, the data were inductively analyzed with the aid of the computer software Atlas.ti to identify recurrent themes.
Results showed that interviewed physicians unknowingly practice some elements of a palliative care approach with their patients with COPD. Residents repeatedly describe influences from attending physicians’ practices. Physicians’ misperceptions of palliative care and its role in COPD limit their full adoption of this approach, creating disparity on its timely introduction.
In conclusion, physicians delay the adoption of palliative care simultaneously with disease-modifying therapies, largely due to three barriers: 1) physicians misperceive palliative care as an approach focused on comfort, 2) physicians fear the negative perceptions held by patients about palliative care; and 3) physicians use a reactive approach to palliative care rather than a proactive approach. However, they hold a propensity to concurrently adopt a palliative care approach with disease-modifying therapies, albeit delayed, suggesting a shift in medical culture.
Residency education about the role of palliative care in the management of patients with COPD is lacking. This should be complemented by providing targeted education for attending physicians to meet the needs of patients with COPD.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Data Quality of Fleet Management Systems in Open Pit Mining: Issues and Impacts on Key Performance Indicators for Haul Truck Fleets

contributor:
Daneshmend, Laeeque K.
Mining Engineering

subject:
Key Performance Indicators
Open Pit Mining
Haul Truck Fleets
Data Quality

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-29 22:26:55.519

abstract:
Open pit mining operations typically rely upon data from a Fleet Management Systems (FMS) in order to calculate Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). For production and maintenance planning and reporting purposes, these KPI’s typically include Mechanical Availability, Physical Availability, Utilization, Production Utilization, Effective Utilization, and Capital Effectiveness, as well as Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR).
This thesis examined the datasets from FMS’s from two different software vendors. For each FMS, haul truck fleet data from a separate mine site was analyzed. Both mine sites had similar haul trucks, and similar fleet sizes. From a qualitative perspective, it was observed that inconsistent labelling (assignment) of activities to time categories is a major impediment to FMS data quality. From a quantitative perspective, it was observed that the datasets from both FMS vendors contained a surprisingly high proportion of very short duration states, which are indicative of either data corruption (software / hardware issues) or human error (operator input issues) – which further compromised data quality.
In addition, the datasets exhibited a mismatch (i.e. lack of one-to-one correspondence) between Repair events and Unscheduled Maintenance Down Time states, as well between Functional-Failure events and Production states. A technique for processing FMS data, to yield valid Functional Failure events and valid Repair events was developed, to enable accurate calculation of MTBF and MTTR.
A concept for identifying data quality issues in FMS data, based upon an examination of feasible durations for Production states (TBF’s) and Unscheduled Maintenance states (TTR’s), was developed and implemented through the duration-based filtering of both these categories of state. The sensitivity of the KPI’s in question to duration based filtering was thoroughly investigated, for both TBF and TTR filtering, and the consistent trends in the behavior of these KPI’s in response to the filtering were demonstrated. These results have direct relevance to continuous improvement processes applied to haul truck fleets.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: The Examination and Comparison between Reverse and Forward Osmosis: Which Is the Solution for the Future?

abstract: Water shortages are becoming a global problem which is further aggravated by rapid population and economic growth. Owing to the scarce amount of fresh water available, various water desalination and purification methods have been developed over the past decades to mitigate the scarcity of fresh water. Reverse osmosis (RO) emerged as one of the most viable techniques due to its reduced energy cost compared to distillation, which requires massive amount of heat. RO uses hydraulic pressure to push the flow of water across a semi-permeable membrane to separate water from the salt it dissolves. The past few decades have seen the development of RO membranes, through which optimized materials and compositions have been synthesized for excellent water flux and salt rejection. Recently, forward osmosis (FO) has been gaining attention because no hydraulic pressure needs to be applied. By using a draw solution, a spontaneous flow of water occurs in a FO system, allowing for much lower energy consumption compared to RO. In addition, RO suffers from severe membrane fouling that is intensified by the pressure applied. In contrast, FO membranes show less fouling. However, internal polarization of FO is a major obstacle that causes a severe flux decline. In addition, FO lacks truly optimized membranes since the majority of FO membranes are modified RO membranes. Furthermore, FO needs an optimized draw agent that is easily removable and non-toxic. Hence, a literature review addressing the advantages and limitations of FO with regard to membranes, energy cost, draw agents and fouling problems has been conducted. A comparison between FO and RO in each aspect has been drawn, and the challenges as well as future research directions for FO have been highlighted.


title: Long Term Monitoring of a Retrogressive Landslide in Sensitive Clay Using Low Altitude Digital Photogrammetry

contributor:
Take, W. Andy
Civil Engineering

subject:
Landslide
Photogrammetry
Sensitive Clay
Slope Monitoring

abstract: Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 12:36:35.366

abstract: Champlain Sea Clay, also known as Leda Clay, is a glaciomarine clay that was deposited between 12,500 and 10,000 BP within the limits of the Champlain Sea transgression during the retreat of the Laurentide ice sheet.  Isostatic rebounding of the region raised the deposits above sea level, leading to the development of deep river valleys throughout watersheds in the Ottawa region.  The river banks comprised of Champlain Sea Clay have been shown to be highly susceptible to retrogressive failures due to the soil’s sensitivity.  A long term monitoring campaign was conducted to quantify slope deformation prior to the  initial failure and successive retrogressive failures of a slope in the Ottawa region.  Digital photogrammetry (DPG) was selected to create five 3D models of the site with varying temporal resolutions.  A helium filled blimp unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) followed by a Cinestar8 octocopter UAV were used as low altitude camera platforms to carry a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera for image acquisition of the slope. A total station was used for the collection of ground control point (GCP) coordinate information.  A unique dataset detailing the evolution of a retrogressive failure was obtained and orthographic images, site cross sections, GCP displacements and digital elevation models were created.  The results displayed how monitoring methods capable of accurately capturing sub 10cm ground surface movements can be used to capture the onset of progressive failure in sensitive soils such as Champlain Sea Clays.  With the addition of subsurface soil layering geometry, soil layer properties and hydrogeological monitoring data to the DPG data, a full investigation into slope failure can be conducted to further understand the development of retrogressive landslides in Champlain Sea Clay slopes.

abstract: Waiting for Journal paper publication

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Mathematics Problems and Thinking Mathematically in Undergraduate Mathematics

contributor:
Jonker, Leo
Wehlau, David
Mathematics and Statistics

subject:
problem design
ill-structured
mathematics education
Creative
thinking mathematically
mathematical thinking

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mathematics & Statistics) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 11:28:32.416

abstract: Mathematics is much more than a formal system of procedures and formulae; it is also a way of thinking built on creativity, precision, reasoning, and representation.  I present a model for framing the process of doing mathematics within a constructivist ideology, and I discuss two fundamental parts to this process: mathematical thinking and the design of undergraduate mathematics problems.  I highlight the mathematical content and the structuredness of the problem statement and I explain why the initial work of re-formulating an ill-structured problem is especially important in learning mathematics as a mental activity.  Furthermore, I propose three fundamental processes of mathematical thinking: Discovery (acts of creation), Structuring (acts of arranging), and Justification (acts of reflection).  In the empirical portion of the study, pairs of university students, initially characterized by certain affective variables, were observed working on carefully constructed problems.  Their physical and verbal actions, considered as proxies of their mental processes, were recorded and analyzed using a combination of qualitative and quantitative measurement.  The results of this research indicate that ill-structured problems provide opportunities for a concentration of Discovery and Structuring.  Though all of the identified processes of mathematical thinking were observed, students who are highly metacognitive appear to engage in more frequent and advanced mathematical thinking than their less metacognitive peers.  This study highlights pedagogical opportunities, for both highly metacognitive students as well as for those who demonstrate fewer metacognitive actions, arising from the activity of doing ill-structured problems.  The implications of this work are both theoretical, providing insight into the relationship between metacognition and student “performance,” and practical, by providing a simple tool for identifying processes of mathematical thinking.

abstract: PhD


title: Examining the Teaching and Learning of English  in an Immersion Program in Honduras

contributor:
Cheng, Liying
Education

subject:
Bilingual education
Latin America
Second language teaching
Second language learning
Applied linguistics
Immersion education
Honduras
Central America

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 14:43:06.956

abstract:
Research in bilingual education, including immersion education, has received increasing attention; yet such research does not have an empirical grounding in Central America, a geographic area of the world with an increasing number of schools employing a Spanish-English immersion model. In Honduras, students in bilingual schools typically outperform their monolingual peers on national university admission examinations, yet there are identified issues within these programs pertaining to English achievement. This study was conducted at The Pines Bilingual School (TPBS) and explored the relationships between mediating variables, including TPBS’ program, teacher and learner characteristics, and the process of teaching and learning English within the TPBS immersion program from both teachers’ and students’ perspectives. This study was guided by Lapkin, Swain and Shapson’s (1990) and Genesee’s (2004) frameworks drawing from research on French immersion programs in Canada, as well as studies from the developing field of elite bilingual education in South America. Four types of data were gathered for this study: 1) student reflections, 2) student focus group interviews, 3) teacher focus group and individual interviews, and 4) classroom observations. The data were then analyzed inductively by assigning codes and establishing themes. Four themes emerged from the data: 1) teacher and student characteristics, 2) program characteristics, 3) classroom practice, and 4) use of Spanish and English, which were used to answer the research questions.
To summarize the major findings, first, teachers were inexperienced and untrained which led to a sense of professional incompetence. Second, students were highly motivated to learn English, but lacked engagement in class. Third, the English program lacked clear goals which led to doubts regarding the current immersion model and uncertainty regarding student achievement. Finally, while instructional practices included some key elements of an immersion program, the approach was primarily teacher-centred and included little integration of content and language and limited opportunities for comprehensible input and extended output. This study is crucial because it addresses essential issues faced by TPBS and similar immersion schools in Honduras. It also contributes to an important research gap in the field of immersion education in Central America.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Cognition in Large Scale Information-Centric Sensor Networks: Novel Deployment and Data Delivery Solutions

contributor:
Al-Turjman, Fadi
Surgenor, Brian W.
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
Data Delivery
Information-Centric Sensor Networks
Cognition

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 14:10:02.241

abstract:
Smart Cities, enabled by Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), have emerged as one of the most promising applications of the Internet of Things (IoT). These Smart City environments require that the underlying sensor network infrastructure be enriched with smart devices, so that the network can understand and respond to requests from multiple users with diverse information requirements. Now, the use of artificial intelligence has enabled some amount of user-requirement awareness in sensor networks. However, there is no architectural framework around how cognition is incorporated in the network, or where the smart decision making is implemented. In addition, WSN implementations are mostly address-centric, where users must specify the location from where data must be gathered. But this is counter-intuitive to how users would like to access information in a smart city environment, especially in applications such as smart parking, where the network needs to provide the location of free parking spots to the user. Moreover, managing the large IP address space becomes problematic as the network size expands to vast counts of sensor nodes.
In this thesis, we propose an architectural framework called Cognitive Information Centric Sensor Network (CICSN), to introduce cognition in WSNs. Cognitive nodes, capable of knowledge representation, learning, and reasoning, along with an information-centric approach to data delivery, are central to the idea of the CICSN. We propose a deployment strategy for cognitive nodes in the network such that connectivity of sensor nodes with the sink is maintained, and the number of cognitive nodes is minimized as well. Knowledge representation is done using attribute-value pairs. In addition, a Quality of Information (QoI) aware data delivery strategy, with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as the reasoning technique, is used to identify data delivery paths that dynamically adapt to changing network conditions and user requirements. Latency, reliability, and throughput are the attributes used to identify the QoI along the delivery path. Further, heuristic learning techniques are explored to improve the success rate of data delivery to the sink. Simulation results show that the proposed architecture significantly improves the QoI as well as the success rate of data delivered by the network.

abstract: PhD


title: Does the goldfish COX4-1 gene promoter possess cold-responsive elements?

contributor:
Moyes, Christopher D.
Biology

subject:
COX
Goldfish
Mitochondria Biogenesis
Temperature

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 14:19:36.64

abstract: Mitochondrial biogenesis permits tissues to increase mitochondrial content in response to environmental and physiological stressors. In many species of fish mitochondrial biogenesis is triggered by cold exposure. The greater capacity to produce ATP may compensate for energy shortages when body temperature decreases. In goldfish, cold acclimation increases COX activity (and content), paralleled by increases in COX4-1 transcript levels. These transcriptional changes are accompanied by increases in nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) mRNA and nuclear protein levels. Since NRF-1 regulates mitochondrial biogenesis in mammals, my thesis explored whether the increase in NRF-1 caused the change in COX4-1 mRNA that is associated with mitochondrial biogenesis. I used reporter genes under the control of the goldfish COX4-1 proximal promoter to characterize the COX4-1 gene in an effort to identify cold responsive elements. Preliminary analysis of the promoter sequence suggested that there was a putative NRF-1 site at -444/-414 on the proximal promoter, and a second putative NRF-1 element in the 5’UTR. I created a series of reporters that differed in length and analyzed these promoters in several cell types. In mouse myoblasts (C2C12), a decrement in promoter activity was seen when a critical region from 230 bp to 159 bp was deleted. In C2C12 myotubes, deletion of a region of the promoter from -452 to -312 led to a 30% loss in activity. The 1592bp reporter gene transfected into rainbow trout gonad (RTG-2) cells was unaffected by deletions until shortened to 114 bp, and promoter activity was not affected by temperature. When plasmids were transfected into goldfish white muscle, no increase in luciferase expression was seen in cold-acclimated fish that showed a 6.5-fold increase in COX4-1 mRNA. This goldfish in vivo model also created an opportunity to determine if species that differ in thermal tolerance possessed promoters that differed in thermal sensitivity. COX4-1 promoters from the eurythermal goldfish and the stenothermal zebrafish showed the same magnitude of change in promoter activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis was conducted on goldfish white muscle to assess if acclimation affected the amount of NRF-1 bound to the COX4-1 promoter. I saw no significant change in binding of NRF-1 to the promoter. While I found no evidence of NRF-1 binding to the proximal promoter of COX4-1, it remains possible that the up-regulation of COX4-1 transcript is a result of NRF-1 binding to an upstream distal promoter region or in an indirect manner through regulating other transcription factors.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Comparing the Responsiveness of two Health-Related Quality of Life Instruments in a Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial of Men With Prostate Cancer (NCIC CTG PR.3): the EORTC QLQ-C30+3 With PR17 Trial Specific Checklist Versus the FACT-P

contributor:
Brundage, Michael D.
Richardson, Harriet
Community Health and Epidemiology

subject:
Quality of Life
HRQL

abstract: Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 14:29:23.85

abstract:
Background:  The EORTC QLQ-C30 and the FACT are two commonly used Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) instruments in cancer clinical trials, but there is limited data comparing them. The NCIC CTG PR.3 clinical trial compared Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) alone with ADT plus radiation therapy (ADT + RT) in prostate cancer patients. In a PR.3 sub-study, we conducted a comparison of the EORTC QLQ-C30+3 and prostate module (PR17) to FACT-P by employing a cluster randomization of 29 participating North American centers to HRQL instrument used on the PR.3 clinical trial.

Purpose:  To compare the responsiveness of two HRQL instruments to short-term radiation effects and long-term hormone effects in men treated for locally advanced prostate cancer on a clinical trial.

Methods:  311 patients randomized to the PR.3 sub-study were included for analysis. HRQL was assessed at baseline, 6 monthly (for 2 years), then annually; compliance exceeded 85% to three years.  The ability of each HRQL instrument to detect RT toxicity was determined by comparing mean change scores (ADT vs. ADT + RT arms) at 6 months by HRQL instrument (Wilcoxon rank-sum). The ability of each instrument to detect proportions changed (at 6 or 36 months) was determined by calculating proportions (clinically meaningful change defined as 10% change from baseline) then comparing between instrument groups (chi-square).  Finally, we compared instruments on time to clinically meaningful worsening of HRQL using Kaplan-Meier survival curves/Cox regression.

Results:  The FACT-P detected significant between-treatment arm differences in urinary symptom change scores at 6 months. The EORTC QLQ-C30+3/PR17 detected significant between-treatment arm differences in diarrhea and bowel/rectum symptom changes at 6 months. For functional domains and fatigue, no significant between-instrument differences were observed in proportions of patients improved/stable and worsened at and up to 36 months. However, the FACT-P reported a faster rate of clinically meaningful HRQL decline for physical and role/functional domains.

Conclusions:  When randomly assigned to patients participating in a clinical trial, the FACT-P and EORTC QLQ-C30+3/PR17 instruments differed in responsiveness to changes in urinary and bowel symptoms attributable to radiotherapy.  The FACT-P was more responsive to change in physical and role function over time.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Inline Coherent Imaging of Laser Keyhole Welding

subject:
Inline Coherent Imaging
Laser Process Monitoring
Laser Keyhole Welding
Laser Materials Processing

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 16:01:35.23

abstract: Laser keyhole welding is an emerging materials processing technique offering many advantages over more conventional joining methods. High intensity laser light is applied to a sample, melting and evaporating the metal in its path. The resulting recoil pressure drives a narrow capillary (a 'keyhole') of vapour into the metal, allowing delivery of laser energy deep beneath the surface. The resulting weld seams are deep, narrow, precisely positioned, and often require no filler material. However, the process is inherently unstable and its underlying physics are not straightforward. The keyhole has traditionally proven difficult to measure, which hinders efforts to model, understand, and control this process. Inline coherent imaging (ICI), a laser-based ranging technique, has previously been demonstrated as an effective tool for in-situ measurement of the keyhole depth. In this work, I seek to improve our understanding of ICI's measurement of the keyhole, and enhance its utility. A new algorithm that tracks keyhole depth with zero resolution loss is demonstrated. Mechanisms responsible for signal losses in the weld image are explored, and a modified ICI system producing doubled line-rates near 600 kHz is realized. Active imaging beam scanning is implemented, increasing the resolving capability of the ICI system to three spatial dimensions. With this new capability, I measure keyhole morphology in-situ--an entirely novel way of observing this elusive and volatile physical system.

abstract: Research related to commercially relevant knowledge and practices of industrial collaborators.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Accessing English Language Education in Urban Immigrant Gateways: The Case of Ottawa

contributor:
Donald, J. Betsy
Geography

subject:
Immigration Policy - Canada
Education
Immigration
Accessibility
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Urban Geography - Canada, Ottawa

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-01 10:47:53.413

abstract: Immigration to Canadian cities is a growing phenomenon. While much previous international migration research has focused on states and borders, cities are receiving increasing attention as a scale at which the lived experiences of international migrants can be better understood. Three Canadian cities – Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver – serve as Canada’s top destinations and receive a disproportionate number of Canada’s newcomers. In recent decades, flows of newcomers have diverted to other cities such as Ottawa, which is now home to the fifth largest concentration of foreign-born individuals in Canadian cities. Cities like Ottawa wherein increasing immigration rates are a relatively recent phenomenon can lack settlement services such as language training in comparison to more established gateway cities. With an increasing number of newcomers from countries where English is not an official language, there is growing concern over newcomers’ abilities to integrate both economically and socially. This research uses a mixed methods approach to combine census data, fourteen semi-structured interviews, and GIS analyses to provide a quantitative needs assessment without neglecting the qualitative aspects of service accessibility. English programs in Ottawa range from federally funded language classes to community-run conversation groups. Changing settlement patterns and growing numbers of newcomers in Ottawa raise the question whether these programs are accessible to the very groups they are intended to reach. This research assesses how English language instruction is provided for and accessed by the foreign-born population in Ottawa. Moreover, it asserts the importance of the language classroom as a space in which international migrants negotiate their identities and find their place within mainstream Canadian society. This thesis concludes by making recommendations for future action, discussing the limitations of this study, and exploring areas of future research.

abstract: M.A.


title: Integrative Network Analysis for Understanding Human Complex Traits

contributor:
Mousavi, Parvin
Jurisica, Igor
Computing

subject:
Human Complex Traits
Complex Diseases
Biological Network
Biological Data
Integrative
Network Analysis

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 16:46:59.906

abstract:
Over the last decade, high throughput biological data, have been accumulating at rapidly increasing rates, providing the opportunity to gain insight into various fundamental biological processes. Such large-scale data have been explored using network representation and graph theory to study biological relationships. Meanwhile, a great amount of effort has also been dedicated to integrate diverse biological data types in order to build networks and apply computational analysis to distill meaningful information for specific biological problems. As a result, network-based analysis has become a powerful paradigm to model and study large-scale biological data. The goal of network-based analysis of human complex traits is to annotate or predict new relationships between biological entities, such as proteins, drugs and phenotypes. Furthermore, such analysis can facilitate the diagnosis and prognosis of common complex diseases.

This thesis comprises three contributions. First, heterogeneous biological data are integrated and a novel tool has been developed to easily construct and navigate networks representing the large scale data. In addition the resulting networks can be analyzed using computational methods to solve specific biological problems. Second, an integrative network-based pathway analysis for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has been proposed to take advantage of the large scale network to combine topological connectivity with signals from GWAS in order to detect enriched pathways. Third,  an integrative strategy combines multiple quantitative profiles with a large scale network to assist the biomarker selection for ovarian cancer using two different computational methods: (A) an aggregate ranking to score the candidate proteins and (B) pathway analysis to find enriched sub-networks.

These three contributions demonstrate a pipeline to model large heterogeneous biological data in terms of networks and conduct network-based analysis for understanding the molecular basis of human diseases.

abstract: PhD


title: Field-Scale Monitoring and Laboratory Simulation of Geosynthetic Liners During Construction and After Placement of Waste

contributor:
Brachman, Richard W. I.
Civil Engineering

subject: Liners Wrinkles Geomembranes Landfills

abstract: Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-04-30 18:25:11.376

abstract:
Two physical issues of geomembrane wrinkle deformations and downslope shear deformations – that need to be considered to obtain good long-term geomembrane liner performance – are examined.
First, field-scale monitoring of geomembrane wrinkles in a 1.5-mm-thick, black high-density polyethylene geomembrane during placement of cover soil is reported from three field investigations with an emphasis on the effects of cover soil placement techniques, construction equipment and geomembrane temperature on the fate of geomembrane wrinkles. In many cases, wrinkles were found to exist after placement of cover soil and were smaller in size than previously reported dimensions for uncovered geomembrane wrinkles. Post-backfill wrinkle heights between 10 to 50 mm and widths between 70 to 120 mm were measured for wrinkles that did not experience construction equipment loading, while post-backfill wrinkle heights between 10 to 60 mm and widths between 50 to 80 mm were measured for wrinkles that experienced equipment loading
Second, post-backfill wrinkle geometries attained from field measurements were used in short-term physical experiments to examine the fate of geomembrane wrinkles when subjected to additional overburden pressures. The influence of the field cover soil placement technique, applied pressure, and subgrade material on wrinkle deformations and the fate of the gap beneath the wrinkle were examined. Increasing the applied vertical pressure produced relatively small wrinkle deformations, even at pressures of 3000 kPa due to the high degree of stiffness sustained in the small and narrow wrinkles tested. The gap beneath a 10-mm-high and 55-mm-wide wrinkle was eliminated from downward wrinkle deflection and upward foundation displacement for a hydrated geosynthetic clay liner beneath the wrinkle.
Displacements along a 66-m-long, 3H:1V geosynthetic lined landfill side slope are reported during installation of a gravel drainage layer and subsequent waste placement. During construction of the gravel drainage layer, large downslope displacements were detected in the gravel, geogrid, and geotextile (up to 420 mm), with only minor movements in the geomembrane (less than 35 mm). Placement of waste (to-date 2/3rd up slope) has generated only small (1-2 mm) relative displacements between the gravel and geomembrane and the maximum geomembrane tensile strain was measured to be under 0.2% after 1.6 years of monitoring.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Recovery of Arthroscope Head Rotation From the Arthroscope Image

contributor:
Stewart, James
Computing

subject:
arthroscope camera rotation
computer vision

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-02 01:22:17.107

abstract:
An arthroscope consists of a shaft which is inserted into the patient and a camera
head which can rotate about the shaft axis. In computer-assisted surgery that uses the
tracked arthroscope, the angle of the camera head with respect to the arthroscope
shaft must be known. This thesis investigates three methods which use computer
vision techniques to recover the shaft rotation angle from the live arthroscope video
feed. Five different trials were preformed using each method, and the computed
angles were compared to a gold standard using a rotary magnetic encoder. The best
method provided RSME of 1.7 degrees.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: N-Heterocyclic and Mesoionic Carbene Complexes of Rhodium and Palladium: Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis

contributor:
Crudden, Cathleen M.
Chemistry

subject: Organometallic Inorganic Organic Catalysis

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-01 18:13:38.967

abstract:
Dimeric rhodium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes [Rh(NHC)(C2H4)Cl]2 react with a variety of other neutral donors to form heteroleptic complexes [(L)Rh(NHC)(C2H4)Cl] (L = phosphine, pyridine) or [(L)Rh(NHC)Cl] (L = 2,2’-bipyridine (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen)). The reactivity of the resulting complexes towards O2 was investigated. In particular, [(bipy)Rh(NHC)Cl] and [(phen)Rh(NHC)Cl] resulted in RhIII peroxo complexes. In contrast, [Rh(NHC)2(O2)Cl] display particularly short O-O bond lengths and are described as singlet oxygen species. Interestingly, the mode in which O2 binds is associated with the coordination number about the transition metal complex, which is related to its reducing power.
[Rh(IPr)(C2H4)Cl]2 reacts with phenyl pyridine derivatives at room temperature resulting in formal C-H activations. Upon the treatment of phenyl pyridine with pinacol borane (HBPin) in the presence of a weak base and a catalytic amount of [Rh(IPr)(C2H4)Cl]2, C-H borylated products were obtained in high yield and selectivity. The borylated products can then be used as substrates in the palladium catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling with aryl halides.
1,2,3-Triazole mesoionic carbene (tMIC) ligands were generated upon treatment of corresponding triazolium salts with strong bases, and can be trapped in the presence of a transition metal. The synthesis of Ag-tMIC complexes proceeds by a facile and mild route upon treatment of the triazolium salt with Ag2O. The resulting Ag-tMIC complexes undergo facile transmetallation to both Pd and Rh under very mild conditions resulting in air and moisture stable metal complexes. Triazolium salts can further be metallated to Pd in the presence of weak bases, and the resulting Pd-tMIC complexes are active catalysts in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction with aryl iodides.
Benzylic trifluoromethyl sulfones are competent electrophilic substrates in palladium catalyzed cross coupling reactions, resulting in the formation of triarylmethanes in high yields under mild conditions. These substrates are conveniently synthesized and are highly reactive starting materials with phenyl boronic acids in the presence of a Pd-NHC catalyst. The structure of the Pd-NHC precatalyst is crucial, as only [(NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl] type complexes appear to be effective. These complexes can be conveniently synthesized upon the treatment of the corresponding imidazolium salt with a strong base and [Pd(allyl)Cl]2.

abstract: PhD


title: An Investigation of Diggability and Other Digging Effort Related Metrics for Cable Shovels at Multiple Mines

subject:
Diggability
Dig Effort
Open Pit Mining
Performance Monitoring

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-02 15:24:15.057

abstract:
A performance monitoring study was conducted aboard electric cable shovels at three different open-pit mines for the purposes of quantifying digging effort.  A comparative analysis of public domain diggability metrics was conducted to look at the influence of rock types, fragmentation distribution, blasting practices, excavator capabilities and other factors on calculated values.  Results showed that fragmentation size distribution and excavator capabilities (power and size) influenced shovel behaviour significantly, resulting in public domain diggability metrics to be non-representative of digging conditions at some sites.  Further analysis of performance monitoring data demonstrated that energy consumption monitoring was representative of digging conditions at sites where public domain diggability metrics failed.  All shovels in this study were excavating in blasted, hard rock environments.
Concurrent research analyzed the sensitivity of the calculated metrics to dig cycle timing inaccuracies and the degree to which these timing inaccuracies affected the calculated values of each performance metric.  The importance of accurately identifying the dig state and all other possible shovel states is discussed for the purpose of data set integrity and accurate productivity monitoring.  The main focus for this aspect of the research is the positive identification of the clean-up actions which were found to be infrequent at some sites and commonplace at other sites.  These clean-up actions were analyzed for their energy consumption and were discovered to be a non-trivial component of total energy use.  Operator influence on calculated metrics was observed and analyzed for each mine site with particular attention paid to unique operator joystick behaviour.
A guideline for the application of diggability metrics is given and focuses on fragmentation distribution and blast performance as well as excavator power and size as the determining factors between the use of energy consumption as a metric and the use of the previously established ‘diggability indices’ for the representation of digging conditions.  New methods for visualization of metrics as well as data averaging and smoothing techniques are presented to interpret performance monitoring results in various ways and to help identify trends in the data.

abstract: This is required by the companies that helped provide information for the thesis.

abstract: PhD


title: High Resolution Jamming Detection in Global Navigation Satellite Systems

contributor:
Noureldin, Aboelmagd
Korenberg, Michael J.
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject: Jamming Interference GPS

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-05 22:52:14.394

abstract: Global Positioning System (GPS) is increasingly threatened by interference and especially jamming. They are substantial threats to the functions that rely on the GPS position velocity and time solutions. The ultimate objective of this thesis is to enhance GPS receivers’ anti-jamming abilities. Particular focus is given to the detection of Continuous Wave (CW) jamming signals that are close-by in frequency and in space.  To tackle the challenge, two high resolution signal processing methods are proposed for single antenna receivers and for antenna array receivers. The first method operates in the frequency domain and targets accurate and efficient detection and frequency estimation of single and multiple in-band CW jammers that lie between two FFT frequency lines. This is achieved by utilizing high resolution spectral estimation that is based on orthogonal search. On the other hand, the second method operates in the space domain to estimate the Direction of Arrivals (DoA) of the jamming signals

abstract: PhD


title: Large-Eddy Simulations of Plane and Radial Wall-Jets over Smooth and Rough Surfaces

contributor:
Piomelli, Ugo
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
plane wall-jet
immersed boundary method
large-eddy simulation
inner/outer layer interaction
roughness
radial wall-jet
logarithmic law of the wall

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-11 16:36:25.557

abstract: Large-eddy simulations were carried out to investigate the flow dynamics of wall jets over smooth and rough surfaces. Results were validated against data in the literature. A sand-grain roughness model is used, based on an immersed boundary method. To understand the extent to which the outer/inner layer modifies the inner/outer layer and the extent to which the effect of roughness spreads away from the wall, instantaneous and mean flow fields were investigated. For the Reynolds numbers and roughness heights considered in this study, the effect of roughness is mostly confined to the near-wall region in both plane and radial configurations. There is no structural difference between the outer layer over smooth and rough surfaces. Roughness does not affect either the size of the outer-layer structures or the scaling of the profiles of Reynolds stresses in the outer layer. However, in the inner layer, roughness redistributes stresses from streamwise to wall-normal and spanwise directions. Contours of joint probability-density function of the streamwise and wall-normal velocity fluctuations at the bottom of the logarithmic region match those of the turbulent boundary layer at the same height; traces of the outer-layer structures were detected at the top of the logarithmic region, indicating that they do not affect the flow very close to the wall, but still modify a major portion of the inner layer. Simulations of plane and radial wall-jets at several Re numbers were then investigated to, first, compare the plane and radial wall-jets and, second, to quantify the interaction of inner and outer layers. In both cases, the local Reynolds number is an important determining factor in characterization of the flow. The joint probability density function analysis shows that the local Reynolds number determines the level of intrusion of the outer layer into the inner layer. As the local Reynolds number increases, the thickness of the overlap layer becomes smaller, and the inner layer of the wall jet becomes more similar to the conventional turbulent boundary layer, i.e., the extent of the logarithmic region of the wall jets increases and its slope gets closer to the universal law of the wall.

abstract: PhD


title: Towards the Development of Transgenic Reporter Lines for Assessing and Characterizing a LAC-Regulated UAS-GAL4 System

subject:
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Biology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-18 22:54:06.049

abstract: I designed and prepared the components of an inducible gene expression system based on the mouse lac system to address limitations in conventional Drosophila melanogaster inducible gene expression systems that preclude their use from some aging studies. Based on both the D. melanogaster UAS/GAL4 system (adapted from yeast) and the mouse lac system (adapted from Escherichia coli), this system would ostensibly allow for precise control of the location, timing, and amount of a transgene’s expression. Previously, flies capable of expressing the lac repressor (lacI) in a GAL4-dependent manner were reported. Here, I report the remaining components needed to characterize the utility of these tools Two promoters incorporating two or three lac operator sequences into the conventional UAS promoter were also produced. Here, I generated promoter-reporter constructs to test the viability of this system. I prepared true-breeding transgenic flies and mapped the chromosome of transgene insertion in flies carrying the genes for pro-apoptotic reporter grim or the enzyme ß-galactosidase (lacZ) under the control of each chimeric UAS-lacO promoter. I prepared a total of 28 lines (eight 2-operator grim lines, five 3- operator grim lines, twelve 2-operator lacZ lines, and three 3-operator lacZ lines). Preliminary experiments to assess the baseline (unrepressed) expression of these reporters indicated weak expression relative to the conventional GAL4-UAS promoter, however as no appropriate benchmark for characterization of these lines existed at the time, these results were inconclusive. To assess the feasibility of this system in aging studies, preliminary longevity analyses in the presence of the inducers IPTG and lactose were performed. The presence of lactose was not shown to affect survival in a statistically significant manner. Survival was inconsistent when IPTG was present in the food. All the components of this system have been prepared, however further characterization is needed to confirm its utility in aging studies.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Influence of Novel Zwitterionic Grafts on the Properties of Polypropylene, Ethylene-Propylene Rubber and their Blends

contributor:
Kontopoulou, Marianna
Chemical Engineering

subject:
Impact modification
Ionomer
Zwitterionomer
Compatibilization
Polymers
Ethylene-propylene copolymer
Blend
Polypropylene

abstract: Thesis (Master, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-21 08:11:09.044

abstract:
Polyampholyte derivatives of ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR-g-PA) and polypropylene (PP-g-PA) were prepared through the reaction a tertiary amino alcohol, 2- [2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol (DMAEE), with maleated ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR-g-MAn) and maleated polypropylene (PP-g-MAn) respectively, forming zwitterionic grafts.  The resulting zwitterionomers contained grafted ammonium and carboxylate functionality.
Conversion of EPR-g-MAn to EPR-g-PA substantially increased viscoelasticity and tensile modulus due to the presence of ionic associations between the polymer chains.  EPR-g-PA showed similar viscoelastic properties to an EPR lightly cross-linked using dicumyl peroxide but with greater strain hardening and tensile elongation. Relative to its precursor material, EPR-g-MAn, EPR-g-PA exhibited equivalent adhesion to metals and improved adhesion to other ionomers, which was believed to relate to the presence of ionic associations at the substrate interface.  The in-situ reaction of EPR-g-MAn with DMAEE during blending with PP produced a blend with superior impact properties compared to the thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) blend of peroxide cross-linked EPR and PP due to the elimination of peroxide induced degradation of the PP phase.
Conversion of PP-g-MAn to PP-g-PA had a negligible effect on its viscoelastic and mechanical properties.  This was believed to relate to its low graft content, containing only 0.13 mol% grafted subunits.  Despite its low graft content PP-g-PA was capable of forming strong associations with EPR-g-PA. Immiscible blends of EPR-g-PA and PP-g-PA exhibited improvements in droplet dispersion, tensile elongation and impact strength relative to their precursor blends of EPR-g-MAn and PP-g-MAn.  Similarly, the addition of 7.5 wt% PP-g-PA to blends of 25/75 EPR-g-PA/PP was found to substantially improve droplet dispersion, impact strength and tensile elongation.  These results suggest the preferential localization of PP-g-PA at the interface and the interaction of zwitterionic functionality across the phase interface, improving the compatibility between PP and EPR-g-PA.  This conclusion was further supported by the frequency dependent viscoelasticity of blends containing both PP-g-PA and EPR-g-PA which was found to deviate substantially from conventional immiscible blend behavior, exhibiting properties consistent with reactively compatibilized blends.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Cryogenic Scintillators for Rare-Event Searches

subject:
Dark matter
Cryogenic detectors
NaI
Scintillators
CsI
Scintillating calorimeters
Crystals
Alkali halides

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-22 09:41:06.306

abstract: Rare-event searches, such as the direct detection of dark matter, of neutrinoless double beta decay and of the decay of long-lived radioisotopes, require highly-sensitive radio-pure detectors to measure extremely rare interactions amidst a sea of background events coming from natural radioactivity. The DAMA/LIBRA dark matter experiment has a long-standing claim of detecting event excesses inconsistent with known background and attributes these to the annual modulation signature expected from dark matter interactions on Earth. The DAMA/LIBRA detector array is composed of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors, which do not possess event-by-event background rejection capabilities. Scintillating calorimeters, cryogenic detectors based on scintillating crystals that produce simultaneous heat and light signals, are a promising detector technology capable of a powerful level of background rejection. Rare-event searches employing scintillating calorimeters are on the look-out for crystals with favourable low-temperature properties. This dissertation will describe the optical cryostat that our group has designed, commissioned, tested and is now operating at Queen's University for the purpose of studying samples of scintillating crystals and measuring their properties as a function of temperature. In particular, it details measurements of the light yields of the alkali halides NaI, CsI and NaI(Tl) under alpha- and gamma-excitation down to 3.4 K. The temperature response of the alpha/gamma quenching factors of these scintillators is also presented, along with surface-dependent systematics. Informed by these low-temperature scintillation results, a scintillating calorimeter based on alkali halides is proposed and its expected sensitivity to dark matter is studied. The technical feasibility of such a detector is also discussed. It is demonstrated that if technical challenges can be surmounted and the phonon performance of the alkali halides can be improved to the level of other materials, a short exposure of 10 kg-days would have a good chance of being able to fully test the DAMA/LIBRA claim under standard astrophysical assumptions.

abstract: PhD


title: Agape and Emancipation: The Common Good in Recent Postcolonial Fiction

contributor:
Varadharajan, Asha
English

subject:
English Literature
social critique
liberalism
postcolonial studies

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, English) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-25 10:43:40.823

abstract:
In this dissertation, I argue that there is a tendency in postcolonial studies
to equate injustice with a lack of knowledge. The political task for postcolonial
studies is then framed in pedagogical terms: to provide the missing or
invisible knowledge that is the catalyst for political change, or the critical
element that makes redress for injustice possible. This tendency is a part of
a Marxist tradition of social critique that aims to expose and thus undo the
hidden workings of domination, but it also has something in common with
liberal thought, which assumes that education will improve those who are
not already free to participate in market relations. For both these liberal
and Marxist traditions, ignorance is tantamount to un-freedom, and ignorant
people, though they may have the capacity for autonomy and critical
thought, are un-emancipated.
The literary works that I consider here are Jhumpa Lahiri's \Hema and
Kaushik" (2009), Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss (2008), Mohsin
Hamid's How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (2014), Wayne Macauley's
The Cook (2012), Indra Sinha's Animal's People (2009), and Richard Flanagan's
Gould's Book of Fish (2001). Though their authors may be interested
to some degree in making injustice visible, these texts do not lend themselves
in a fully satisfying way to the aims of either social critique or liberal political
reason. They show that education can perpetuate injustice and inequality.
They suggest that knowledge alone is not su cient to ameliorate injustice,
and that representing injustice may compound as well as mitigate it. They
contain characters who knowingly perpetuate injustice. These literary works
show that knowledge is not the only factor required for political change at a
societal level or for the development of free, autonomous individuals.
Through my readings of these works of literature, I develop a multifaceted
understanding of the problem of the political. I argue that politics is
an on-going project without end, rather than a decisive moment of transformation.
Similarly, freedom is not an ontological state, but a process which is
always possible but never guaranteed, and individuality itself is constitutively
relational. Beyond knowledge of injustice, individuals need universalisable
principles and a reason to work with others to secure their rights in common.
These writers suggest agape as this motivating reason, and foster a sense of
agape in their readers.

abstract: I intend to publish the thesis as a monograph, and this will be difficult to do if it's already publicly available.

abstract: PhD


title: Rapid Eye Movement Sleep, Punishment Structure and Decision-Making of the Iowa Gambling Task

contributor:
Beninger, Richard J.
Smith, Carlyle T.
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Neuroeconomics
Sleep
Skew
Decision-Making
Iowa Gambling Task
REM Sleep
vmPFC
Variance

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-26 09:37:41.621

abstract:
The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is a widely used decision-making task often used to assess decision-making impairment in clinical populations. During learning of the task, individuals receive consistent monetary rewards and inconsistent monetary punishments of different frequencies and magnitudes. Learning relies on in part the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) which integrates reward and loss information to identify the decks with the highest expected value (EV). Currently, little is known about factors that might influence this unique process. This thesis uses experimental techniques to investigate how sleep and punishment structures can influence learning of the IGT.
In Chapter 2 we show evidence that a period of post-learning sleep enhances IGT learning, specifically via reduced choice from deck B. Deck B is an initially preferred “bad” deck that requires integrating a large infrequent $1250 punishment to discover its negative EV. In Chapter 3 we link this improvement to increased theta (4-8 Hz) activity in the vmPFC and left prefrontal cortex. We also show evidence that pre-sleep anticipatory emotions correlate to heightened theta activity in the right vmPFC during post acquisition REM. Finally, chapter 4 provides the first evidence that higher-order punishment structures can influence learning of the task. We provide the first evidence that punishment structures with high variance/skew may cause risk-aversion and that IGT decision-making may not be driven by EV alone.
Collectively, the work presented provides much needed knowledge on factors that can influence IGT learning. We are the first to show evidence that IGT learning may be enhanced with post learning REM sleep and suggest that similar areas that are involved in online learning (i.e., vmPFC) may be involved. We are also the first to show that performance can be influenced by higher-order punishment structures. Taken together, this body of work reveals that integrating punishments into value estimates may be enhanced by post learning REM sleep and influenced by higher-order punishment structures. These results have widespread implications for how punishment structures in our day-to-day life may influence online and offline decision processes and provides a strong foundation for continued work to understand decision-making in healthy and clinical groups.

abstract: PhD


title: Homework: How can it be 'Applied?'

contributor:
Klinger, Don A.
Education

subject:
Applied Mathematics
Learning
Mathematics
Homework

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-27 10:49:06.446

abstract:
Homework provides an opportunity for practice and learning to occur outside the classroom, and research has consistently shown that it can have a positive influence on achievement. However, the preponderance of this research in high schools has been in higher-level Academic classrooms. The purpose of this study is to compare the perspectives of students and teachers with respect to homework, and student learning in Applied math classrooms in Ontario. It builds on recent research by Pang and Rogers (2013) who found that while homework completion was a strong predictor of achievement in Academic math classes, it was a weak predictor in Applied math classes. This result suggests that the current model of homework may not provide strong support for learning in Applied math classes.
	This study employed a multiple-method, non-experimental design. The sample consisted of 165 students and 21 teachers in Grade 9 and Grade 10 Applied math classes in Ontario. Students completed surveys, and teachers completed surveys and in-depth interviews. After the data were collected, students were separated into two groups (high achieving and not-high achieving) based on average EQAO math achievement in their schools. An exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the factor structure of the student survey. Independent sample t-tests were subsequently conducted to examine between group differences among students in high achieving vs. not-high achieving classrooms. Teachers’ perspectives were explored by conducting a thematic analysis of their qualitative interview and survey data. Matching items on the student and teacher surveys and interviews were compared to determine the alignment between students and teachers with respect to homework and student learning. Descriptive statistics were also used to gain overall pictures of the distributions of students and teachers who took part in the study.
	Significant differences were found between students in high achieving vs. not-high achieving classrooms with respect to the assignment and completion of homework. The analysis of teacher perspectives, and the comparison of teacher and student data, resulted in implications for research and practice that highlight the need for more conversation, examination and exploration of the complex issues surrounding homework and student learning in Applied classrooms.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: L'esthétique du métissage dans l'oeuvre romanesque d'Henri Lopes

contributor:
Semujanga, Josias
Bénard, Johanne
French

subject:
Intertextualité
Henri Lopes
Hybridité
Intergénéricité
Littérature

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, French) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-27 11:44:06.486

abstract:
Literary critical discourse nowadays tends to classify African texts within global literature by drawing links among works through writing. Therefore, to achieve this purpose, African writers use forms and poetics of hybridity, intertextuality, and intergenericity.
Besides the multilingualism analysis, this dissertation is intended to approach the corpus by analyzing themes pertaining to a mixed writing style (métissage) and formal study of intertextuality and intergenericity, which are hypothesized to be specific characteristics of Lopes’ writing. This study looked into intertextuality as a formal intermingled writing to the extent that intertextuality is understood as a process that puts together two or multiple texts through diverse writing mechanics. Thus, in addition to scrutinizing the theme of blended writing («métissage de l’écriture»),  the study pointed out that Lopes’ literary practices greatly hinge on the integration and transformation of other texts from various origins, including the Bible; antique and contemporary philosophical theories; works and dissertations of famous Afro-Caribbean writers (Senghor, Oyono, Fanon etc.); French literature texts, mostly those dating back to the Middle Ages, Renaissance, classical century (intertextuality); and other genres such as tales, proverbs, songs, biographies, letters, testimonies (intergenericity). How does this double principle play out, and what are its inherent techniques? We attempted to answer this question by drawing mainly on Lopes’ four novels characterized by the blended writing, more specifically Le chercheur d’Afriques (1990), Le lys et le flamboyant (1997), Dossier classé (2002), and Une enfant de Poto-Poto (2013). The four novels uniquely echo the Bakhtinian dialogic principle from which intertextuality and intergenericity practices derive.
We primarily used, among other frameworks, Gerard Genette’s transtextuality and hypertextuality theories to identify and analyze transformation and integration mechanics of other texts, which Lopes utilized. Josias Semujanga’s works on the African novel specifically helped demonstrate transcultural and transgeneric dimension of the works under study. Such tools and information enabled us to reach the level of understanding that Lopes’ literary art aims at deconstructing the traditional novel logic and placing his works in the aesthetics movement of heterogeneity and universality that is advocated by global literature and postmodernism.

abstract: PhD


title: Numerical tools for interpreting rock surface roughness

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
LiDAR
Point Clouds
Geology
Classification

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-28 11:52:33.971

abstract:
Visual recognition of the irregular shapes of natural objects and surfaces is crucial to the study of geology. Field geologists are aided by a learned ability to, at a glance, differentiate cohesive outcropping rock from talus, pick out fossils from loose clasts on the ground, judge fault displacement and perform any number of other discriminative tasks on the basis of morphology. Interpretation of geology depends upon identifying subtle and ambiguous natural forms that may be widely variable in response to diverse conditions of formation, preservation and weathering. Applying numerical models to these morphological cues empowers geologists to support or refute hypotheses with enhanced objectivity.
With the growing prevalence and quality of remotely sensed spatial data in the geosciences, accurate modeling of diagnostic aspects of Earth surface morphology becomes more feasible while its potential benefits increase greatly. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in particular is valued for collecting dense point clouds which enable precise, non-contact measurement of structures in outcrop. Unfortunately, the process of interpreting irregular shapes and textures in point-cloud data is labor intensive and its results subject to user bias. Automated point-cloud classification tools promise improved objectivity in scene interpretation, though their application to natural surface geometry has not yet been studied in depth. The objective of this research is to investigate, apply and refine automated point-cloud classification methodology for geological targets, with discriminating the erosive styles of sedimentary rocks in outcrop as the central theme.
To accomplish this goal, three studies investigate range measurement biases in TLS data collection, the scale dependence of rock surface roughness, and 3D multiscale classification methodology. The findings of this research have implications in particular for studies using TLS to measure statistics of target morphology close to the instrument resolution limits. The multiscale classification methodology investigated is immediately applicable to a range of identification and discrimination tasks encountered in the geosciences. Overall, this research will contribute to increased productivity and objectivity of interpretations for the growing population of geoscientists working with remotely sensed spatial data through improved automation of a wider range of interpretive tasks.

abstract: PhD


title: Assessing the Role of Declining Calcium in Biological Recovery on Zooplankton in Historically Acidified Lakes

contributor:
Arnott, Shelley E.
Biology

subject:
Acidification
Recovery
Freshwater Ecology
Calcium
Zooplankton

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2015-05-27 14:13:33.47

abstract:
Throughout much of the 20th century, industrial emissions caused the widespread acidification of thousands of lakes in North America and Europe. Acidification has led to unprecedented damage on zooplankton communities, with reductions in species richness, and in extreme cases, local extirpations. Although lake pH is recovering due to emission control policies, many acid-sensitive species (e.g. large Daphnia) have failed to re-establish in lakes, despite their occasional detection in plankton records. Coincidently, calcium, a critical component of cladoceran exoskeletons, has declined precipitously in many historically acidified lakes over the last few decades, and may be approaching ecologically concerning concentrations. Studies suggest that crustaceous zooplankton are likely vulnerable to calcium decline because of their fully aquatic lifecycle, calcified exoskeleton, and inherent reliance on available aqueous calcium. However, disentangling biological impacts of low calcium in acidic, and chemically recovered (pH>6.0) lakes is difficult because of a strong correlation between pH and calcium concentration.
To investigate the impact of low calcium concentration on zooplankton recovery in acid-damaged lakes, lake mesocosms were stocked with zooplankton from the regional species pool and four treatments were applied in a factorial design: pH (5.7 and 6.3) and calcium (0.9mg L-1 and 2.3mg L-1). A comparison between the effects of calcium and pH indicates that impacts from declining calcium are likely to be similar to those of acidification. Total community metrics (i.e. abundance, richness, evenness, size-structure) remained similar across treatments; however, low calcium and low pH each resulted in lower abundance of Daphnia pulex/pulicaria – a large acid-sensitive, and heavily calcified cladoceran.  In contrast, the abundance of small cladocerans, including smaller, acid-tolerant daphniids (Daphnia catawba, Daphnia ambigua), was higher in low calcium treatments. When both stressors were combined, changes largely reflected the effect of the most severe independent stressor. By prohibiting recovery of acid-sensitive species, and promoting establishment of zooplankton already common to acid-structured communities, our results suggest that declining calcium is likely a barrier to biological recovery in historically acidified lakes.

abstract: M.Sc.