title: Intensity-based Fluoroscopy and Ultrasound Registration for Prostate Brachytherapy

contributor:
Abolmaesumi, Purang
Fichtinger, Gabor
Electrical and Computer Engineering

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subject:
Prostate brachytherapy
Brachytherapy seeds
Transrectal ultrasound
Mutual information
Registration
Prostate cancer
Fluoroscopy

abstract: Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-27 12:35:16.691

abstract: Prostate cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men. Brachytherapy has emerged as one of the definitive treatment options for early stage prostate cancer which entails permanent implantation of radioactive seeds into the prostate to eradicate the cancer with ionizing radiation. Successful brachytherapy requires the ability to perform dosimetry -which requires seed localization- during the procedure but such function is not available today. If dosimetry could be performed intraoperatively, physicians could implant additional seeds into the under-dosed portions of the prostate while the patient is still on the operating table. This thesis addresses the brachytherapy seed localization problem with introducing intensity based registration between transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) that shows only the prostate and a 3D seed model drawn from fluoroscopy that shows only the implanted seeds. The TRUS images are first filtered and compounded, and then registered to the seed model by using mutual information. A training phantom was implanted with 48 seeds and imaged. Various ultrasound filtering techniques were analyzed. The effect of false positives and false negatives in ultrasound was investigated by randomly masking seeds from the fluoroscopy volume or adding seeds to that in random locations. Furthermore, the effect of sparse and dense ultrasound data was analyzed by running the registration for ultrasound data with different spacing. The registration error remained consistently below clinical threshold and capture range was significantly larger than the initial guess guaranteed by the clinical workflow. This fully automated method provided excellent registration accuracy and robustness in phantom studies and promises to demonstrate clinically adequate performance on human data.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Case-based reasoning - An effective paradigm for providing diagnostic support for stroke patients

contributor:
Glasgow, Janice I.
Computing

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

subject:
Case-based reasoning
Stroke diagnosis
KINARM
Health informatics
TA-3
Context-based similarity

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-27 11:14:04.85

abstract:
A Stroke can affect different parts of the human body depending on the area of brain effected; our research focuses on upper limb motor dysfunction for stroke patients. In current practice, ordinal scale systems are used for conducting physical assessment of upper limb impairment. The reliability of these assessments is questionable, since their coarse ratings cannot reliably distinguish between the different levels of performance. This thesis describes the design, implementation and evaluation of a novel system to facilitate stroke diagnosis which relies on data collected with an innovative KINARM robotic tool. This robotic tool allows for an objective quantification of motor function and performance assessment for stroke patients.
The main methodology for the research is Case Based Reasoning (CBR) - an effective paradigm of artificial intelligence that relies on the principle that a new problem is solved by observing similar, previously encountered problems and adapting their known solutions. A CBR system was designed and implemented for a repository of stroke subjects who had an explicit diagnosis and prognosis. For a new stroke patient, whose diagnosis was yet to be confirmed and who had an indefinite prognosis, the CBR model was effectively used to retrieve analogous cases of previous stroke patients. These similar cases provide useful information to the clinicians, facilitating them in reaching a potential solution for stroke diagnosis and also a means to validate other imaging tests and clinical assessments to confirm the diagnosis and prognosis.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Perspectives of Educated Expatriate Bangladeshi Women About Post-Secondary Education: The Barriers Encountered and the Strategies They Have Employed

contributor:
Rees, Ruth
Education

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subject: Women's Post-Secondary Education

subject: Bangladesh and Developing Countries

subject: Women's Education Barriers

subject: Women Employing Strategies for Higher Education

subject: Open Systems Theory on Women's Education

subject: Bangladeshi Women's Education

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-28 14:18:40.578

abstract:
ABSTRACT
Using a qualitative methodology, I conducted this study to identify the barriers to women’s post-secondary education in Bangladesh and to investigate the possible strategies to remove those barriers, from the perspectives of three Bangladeshi women who received post-secondary education in Bangladesh and who are currently living in Canada. To explore participants’ perceptions, I used open-ended structured interviews. I then analyzed data using the conceptual framework of subsystems within an open systems theory.
The study revealed that the barriers Bangladeshi women encounter when pursuing a post-secondary education are vast and complex. The findings from this study indicated that Bangladeshi women face barriers from multi-level social subsystems such as family, financial, educational, socio-cultural, political, and governmental subsystems. Six broad themes of major barriers emerged from participants’ reports: (a) financial constraints; (b) socio-cultural practices and attitudes; (c) male domination; (d) inadequate education facilities; (e) student politics and unstable political situations; and (f) corrupt government and inconsistent implementation of law and punishment. Within these six themes, the study identified various factors that hamper women’s post-secondary education in Bangladesh.
The participants suggested strategies that may help those who make and implement policy find ways to minimize barriers to women’s post-secondary education in Bangladesh and beyond. The results showed that since the barriers are multifaceted, positive collaboration between the various levels of social subsystems in Bangladesh can reduce the difficulties and may profoundly change the overall Bangladeshi attitude towards women and their education. The family or the government systems alone are not enough to remove the deeply-rooted barriers to Bangladeshi women’s higher learning. Future research might explore the perceptions of a larger sample of Bangladeshi women who are in Bangladesh but could not obtain post-secondary education.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: The characterization of the olfactory ensheathing cell phenotype by protein analysis

contributor:
Kawaja, Michael D.
Neuroscience Studies

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subject:
olfactory ensheathing cells
glial cells

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-29 09:50:09.869

abstract:
Over the recent years, olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have gained world-wide attention due to their reputed potential in promoting spinal cord regeneration and repair.  In order to isolate, identify, and characterize OECs in vitro and following implantation, researchers have used three OEC markers: p75NTR, GFAP, and S100.  The downfall with using these specific proteins is that Schwann cells, which are located within the olfactory system, as well as migrate into the damaged spinal cord, also express these proteins.  It is therefore impossible to distinguish OECs from phenotypically similar Schwann cells using these molecular markers.
Recently proteomic analyses have revealed that OECs (derived from embryonic rat olfactory bulbs), but not Schwann cells (derived from adult rat sciatic nerves) express a variety of proteins.  The main aim of this project is to determine if heat shock protein-27 (Hsp27), carbonic anhydrase-III (CA-III), and annexin-A3 (Anx3) markers label OECs but not Schwann cells, both in vivo and in vitro.  Additional analyses were also done to determine if smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) and calponin (two smooth muscle-related markers previously shown to label mucosal OECs of adult rats) label bulbar OECs of adult rats and OECs of adult cats.
Using immunohistochemistry we found that SMA labeled olfactory mucosal and bulbar OECs of adult rats and adult cats, Hsp27 labeled olfactory mucosal and bulbar OECs of adult rats and olfactory mucosal OECs of adult cats, while calponin labeled only olfactory mucosal OECs of adult rats.  In addition, calponin and SMA did not label Schwann cells (in vivo and in vitro), while Hsp27 labeled this peripheral glial cell.  Finally, CA-III did not label OECs of adult rats or adult cats, in vivo or in vitro, and Anx3 did not label OECs in vivo, but showed immunopositive labeling of OECs and Schwann cells in vitro.  In conclusion, Hsp27, CA-III, and Anx3 cannot be used as OECs markers either because of their expression in both OECs and Schwann cells or their lack of expression in OECs.  Discovering new molecular markers expressed only by OECs is essential in order to determine the properties, fate, and overall potential of OECs in promoting spinal cord regeneration.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Covalent Lipoprotein(A) Assembly: Characterization of Oxidase Activity Responsible for Catalyzing Covalent Lipoprotein(a) Assembly

contributor:
Koschinsky, Marlys
Biochemistry

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subject: Lipoprotein(a) Enzyme

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biochemistry) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-29 12:13:24.786

abstract: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has been identified as an emerging risk factor for the development of vascular diseases. The Lp(a) particle is assembled in a 2-step process upon secretion of the LDL and apo(a) components from hepatocytes. Work done by the Koschinsky group has identified an oxidase-like activity present in the conditioned medium (CM) harvested from human hepatoma (HepG2), as well as HEK 293 (human endothelian kidney) cells that catalyzes the rate of covalent Lp(a) formation.  We have taken a candidate enzyme approach to identifying this oxidase activity. Specifically, we have proposed that the QSOX (Quiescin/sulfhydryl oxidase) is responsible for catalysis of covalent Lp(a) assembly. An oxidase activity assay developed by Dr. Thorpe (University of Delaware) was used to detect QSOX1 in CM harvested from cultured cell lines that catalyze covalent Lp(a) assembly. In addition, the QSOX1 transcript was identified in each cell line and quantified with the use of Real-Time RT-PCR. Quantitative assays of covalent Lp(a) assembly were performed to study some characteristics of the unkwown oxidase activity. First, conditioned medium was dialyzed through a 5 kDa cutoff, as this has previously been shown to reduce the aforementioned oxidase activity.  Purified QSOX was then added back to the reaction and the rate of catalysis was observed. The addition of QSOX appeared to enhance the rate of covalent Lp(a) assembly in a dose-dependent manner. Additional covalent Lp(a) assembly assays were performed where various chemicals were added to determine whether Lp(a) assembly was affected. The addition of EDTA did not affect covalent assembly, suggesting that the oxidase activity may not be metallo-dependent. Moreover, dose-dependent addition of Calcium, DTT, Copper and glutathione to dialyzed medium also did not affect the rate of Lp(a) assembly. Taken together, these studies will aid in identifying the nature of the oxidase activity that catalyzes covalent Lp(a) assembly. This will provide us with valuable information on how Lp(a) particles are assembled, and may lead to the development of drugs inhibiting Lp(a) formation.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Biomechanical Analysis of a Specialized Load Carriage Technique and the Development of an Assistive Load Carriage Device

contributor:
Stevenson, Joan M.
Kinesiology and Health Studies

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subject:
Load Carriage
Manual Material Handling
Professional Moving
Movers

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-29 16:58:19.305

abstract:
During field observations of professional movers, it was noticed that some experienced movers carried loads posterior to their pelvis.  The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to assess the biomechanical differences between hand-held load carriage anterior (AC) and posterior (PC) to the pelvis; and, (2) to determine if an assistive load carriage device could reduce muscle effort while carrying loads either anterior or posterior to the pelvis.
	In the first laboratory study, an electromyographic (EMG) analysis was conducted while participants carried a load on a treadmill using AC and PC techniques.    The subjects conducted three trials of AC and PC techniques while EMG data were being collected. All trial data were normalized to their respective iMVE values.  An amplitude probability distribution function (APDF) was used to compare EMG amplitudes between carrying techniques.
	Results indicated that PC reduced EMG activity of the erector spinae (>50% reduction), trapezius, and anterior deltoid (p<0.05) as well as increasing EMG activity in the posterior deltoid (p<0.05).  Eighty percent of the subjects reported that the PC method felt awkward.  Due to its awkwardness, many individuals may not use the PC technique; thus, the second purpose of the study was to design an assistive movers’ pack to aid in AC and PC techniques and make the PC method easier to perform.
	In the second study, subjects were asked to walk unloaded while EMG was recorded.  The subjects then performed the AC and PC methods with and without the assistive device.  All EMG signals were normalized to unloaded gait followed by EMG APDF analyses.
	Findings from the first study were confirmed, in that PC, compared to AC significantly reduced erector spinae activity (p<0.05) and focused shoulder activity to the posterior deltoid.  Secondly, the assistive device effectively reduced flexor digitorum activity (>40% reduction, p<0.03) and anterior deltoid activity (>75% reduction, p=0.5) in both AC and PC.  Erector spinae EMG remained similar to their respective unassisted conditions.  The assistive load carriage device may be an effective ergonomic tool in both AC and PC techniques.  Subjective surveys indicate that the assistive device decreased the awkwardness in performing the PC technique.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Getting Clear on the Problem of Consciousness

contributor:
Knight, Deborah
Philosophy

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subject:
philosophy of mind
consciousness

abstract: Thesis (Master, Philosophy) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-29 15:55:54.312

abstract:
A new name for an old problem, the “hard problem of consciousness” is perhaps the most controversial issue in the contemporary philosophy of mind. The problem, posed by non-reductivists like Chalmers, is: how do the phenomenal qualities of our conscious
experience stand in relation to a physical world that seems logically compatible with their absence? But there is no agreement over what precisely this question is asking about (viz., “phenomenal qualities”), or whether the apparently non-physical explanandum is a real one. At the root of the intractability is the particular way that we have come to think about the question, presupposing i) that the conscious explanandum is an ontological one and thus ii) that the sense in which it exists (as an inner entity) should be straightforward.
These assumptions are overturned in the following account in which I argue that the
qualitative contents of our experience are in the world, not the ontological mind. I argue that neither the non-reductivist nor the eliminitivist, on analysis, need disagree about this. In Chapter Two, I argue that what the non-reductivist really wants to preserve are the qualities of the world that are invisible to an ontological picture made in terms of scientific unobservables, or trans-experiential physical structures and processes. The eliminitivist, on the other hand, is merely interested in denying the ontologization of these qualities as properties of the ontological mind. On this interpretation, non-reductivists and eliminitivists can be seen to mutually support a solution to the traditional mind-body problem in the form of the non-reductive, non-ontological account of consciousness that I will offer in this thesis: non-reductive, because the properties of our experience are not illegitimately denied (or reduced), and non-ontological because they are not thereby
hypostatized (or ontologized). Rather, they are left in the “neutral” public realm where—from a Wittgensteinian perspective—the meanings of the problematic terms of mind-body discourse are fixed.

abstract: M.A.


title: Role of Activated Macrophages and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Placental Trophoblast Invasion and Fetal Outcome

contributor:
Graham, Charles H.
Anatomy and Cell Biology

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subject: Trophoblast Macrophage

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-29 16:32:00.845

abstract: The invasion of trophoblast cells into the uterine wall is an essential component of normal human pregnancy. These trophoblast cells transform the uterine spiral arterioles into high-flow, low-resistance vessels that supply the placenta to support fetal growth and development. Inadequate trophoblast invasion and spiral arteriole remodelling may result in excessive placental pathology leading to pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), which are major causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. These pregnancy complications have also been linked to an increased presence of pro-inflammatory cytokine-secreting (activated) macrophages at the fetal-maternal interface. In particular, increased production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) by activated macrophages has been implicated as a causative factor mediating various pregnancy complications. Results from this thesis showed that macrophage-derived TNF decreased the invasiveness of trophoblast cells, primarily by affecting the urokinase system of plasminogen activators, a network of proteases that promotes cellular invasion. TNF also stimulated the production of macrophage chemoattractants by trophoblast cells, providing a putative mechanism for the aberrant recruitment and localization of macrophages in complicated pregnancies. Administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent stimulator of macrophage activation and TNF production, to pregnant rats resulted in IUGR and fetal death correlating with significant placental pathology, including displaced endovascular trophoblast cells and increased fibrinoid and macrophage accumulation at the fetal-maternal interface. The immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin-10, which inhibited TNF production from macrophages after LPS-exposure, completely prevented the adverse effects of TNF in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings show that the aberrant presence and localization of TNF-secreting macrophages may be involved in the etiology and pathophysiology of various pregnancy-related complications.

abstract: PhD


title: Distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic sources of arsenic in soils from the Giant mine, Northwest Territories and the North Brookfield mine, Nova Scotia

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

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subject:
Soils
Arsenic
Giant mine, Northwest Territories
North Brookfield mine, Nova Scotia
arsenic trioxide
gold roasting

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-29 17:21:50.73

abstract:
Anthropogenic and geogenic sources of arsenic (As) have been identified in mining-impacted soils from the Giant mine (1948-1999), NT and the North Brookfield mine (1886-1906), NS.  Both used roasting to extract gold from the arsenopyrite ore, decomposing it to As-bearing iron oxides (roaster oxides or RO) containing As, and releasing As3+-bearing arsenic trioxide (As2O3). Arsenic trioxide is considered highly soluble with the dissolved As3+ species being more mobile and toxic than other oxidation states.
Soil profiles from the Giant mine show elevated As and antimony (Sb) at the surface (As=140-3300ppm) and decreasing concentrations with depth (As=22-600ppm).  Surface soils contain anthropogenically-derived As2O3 identified using synchrotron methods (µXRD, µXANES) and environmental SEM.  The persistence of As2O3 is attributed to Sb in As2O3 grains, dry climate and high organics in the soils. Anthropogenically-derived RO of maghemite (containing both As3+ and As5+) and natural arsenopyrite were observed.  Sequential selective extractions (SSE) from surface soils show between 20% and 75% of As extracted in the crystalline iron-oxide phase is attributed to As2O3 and RO, while at depth As is bound by organics in the weaker leaches.
North Brookfield mine soils show lower total As (2ppm to 45ppm) except near the roaster (4300ppm).  No As2O3 was identified, probably due to the smaller scale and age of the mine, lower organic content and the lack of Sb.  As-bearing phases include RO of hematite (As5+), As-rich rims on titanium-oxides, and As associated with clays and goethite.  Adjacent to the roaster, SSE show As was also in the amorphous iron-oxide phase, also shown by As in arsenopyrite weathering rims.

There are many differences between the North Brookfield and Giant mine soils including roasting techniques which produced different RO mineralogy, the scale of mining, climate, soil type, and the presence of As2O3.  Currently, the Giant property is not publically accessible but may become so in the future while the North Brookfield property is accessible.  Understanding the form and distribution of As phases is critical because of the potential risk to human and ecosystem health associated with ingestion of soil particles and their control on the total dissolved As in surface and groundwater.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Countermanding in Rats as an Animal Model of Inhibition of Action: Validation of the Race Model

contributor:
Paré, Martin
Beninger, Richard J.
Neuroscience Studies

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subject:
Rat
Stop Task
Race Model
Behavioural Inhibition

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-30 11:35:44.713

abstract: Executive function, the cognitive processes that allow the voluntary control of goal-directed behaviour, can be studied through the examination of inhibition of action. The countermanding paradigm has been shown to be a powerful tool to examine a subject’s ability to withhold responses to a go stimulus when a stop signal is presented occasionally. Logan and Cowan (1984) developed a race model to account for countermanding performance in humans, proposing that independent go and stop process initiated by the go and stop signals respectively, race toward a finish line whereby the first process to cross its finish line determines the behavioural outcome. The model allows estimation of the stop signal response time, a variable that is not directly observable. The race model has yet to be validated for countermanding performance in rats. Using a new rodent countermanding task inspired directly from human studies, male Wistar rats were trained to respond to a visual stimulus (go signal) by pressing a lever below an illuminated light for food reward, but to countermand lever the press (25% of trials) subsequent to an auditory tone (stop signal) presented after a variable delay. The ability to cancel a response decreased as stop signal delay increased. The stop signal response time for rats was estimated to be 157 ms, a value within the range of human estimates. Predictions of countermanding performance made by the race model were generally respected. Response times of movements that escape inhibition: 1) were shorter than those of movements made in the absence of a stop signal; 2) gradually lengthened with increasing stop signal delay; and most importantly, 3) were predicted by the race model. These findings demonstrate that the countermanding performance of rodents can be accounted for by a simple race model, which has been applied successfully in human studies and nonhuman primate models. This new animal model will permit complementary invasive investigations of brain mechanisms underlying inhibitory control and refine the existing rodent models of neurological disease and impulsivity.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Enantioselective Mechanism of the Whelk-O1 Chiral Stationary Phase: A Molecular Dynamics Study

contributor:
Cann, Natalie M.
Chemistry

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subject:
Enantioselective Mechanism
Chiral Stationary Phase
Molecular Dynamics
Whelk-O 1

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-08 11:54:20.249

abstract:
The Whelk-O1 chiral stationary phase is widely used in liquid and supercritical chromatography for the separation of enantiomers. The enantioselective mechanism of the Whelk-O1 chiral stationary phase is the main focus of this thesis. Semi-flexible models are developed based on ab initio calculations for the Whelk-O1 selector and a series of chiral analytes. Extensive molecular dynamics simulations are then applied to study the solvation, selectivity and in silico optimization of the chiral stationary phase.
          The solvation of the Whelk-O1 chiral stationary phase has been explored in a normal phase n-hexane/2-propanol solvent, a reversed phase water/methanol solvent, and a supercritical CO2/methanol solvent. We found that, in all three solvents, the Whelk-O1 selectors are open to the bulk, indicating readiness for docking of analyte. Significant solvent partitioning at the interfaces was noticed, which generates a polarity gradient between the stationary phase and the bulk, and may encourage a high analyte concentration at the interface. Hydrogen bonding activities on the amide hydrogen, amide oxygen, and nitro oxygen of the Whelk selector have also been analyzed.
          The selectivity of the Whelk selector was studied by molecular dynamics simulations of analyte docking on the chiral stationary phase. The elution orders and the separation factors for a series of analytes were predicted successfully.  We found that hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions are essential for the enantioselectivity as they are strong and specific, and they hold analytes to the cleft region of the Whelk selector. Other interactions, both stabilizing interactions such as the CH-π interaction and the edge-to-face π-π interaction, and destabilizing interactions such as steric hindrance and unfavorable conformational changes also contribute to the enantioselectivity.
          We identified a dominant docking arrangement for the most retained enantiomers. Other docking arrangements were found to be more frequent for the least retained enantiomers and these involve interactions with alternative selector sites. Based on the identified enantioselective mechanism obtained from the study, an optimization of the Whelk-O1 chiral stationary phase was undertaken and in silico evaluation of the modified chiral stationary phases was carried out. It was demonstrated that restriction of the alternative docking arrangements for the least retained enantiomers could possibly improve the enantioselectivity of the chiral stationary phase.

abstract: PhD


title: Application of a Methanotrophic Immobilized Soil Bioreactor to Trichloroethylene Degradation

contributor:
Ramsay, Bruce A.
Ramsay, Juliana A.
Chemical Engineering

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subject: Trichloroethylene Fermentation Biodegradation Methanotroph

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-30 14:51:26.59

abstract: Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a major groundwater contaminant and is a cause of serious health concern. Methanotrophic TCE degradation is very promising compared with other treatments.  Methanotrophs produce methane monooxygenases (MMOs) which catalyze methane oxidation and cometabolize chlorinated and aromatic compounds. High rate of TCE degradation is attributed to only soluble MMO (sMMO) expressed mainly by type II methanotrophs under copper-deficient conditions. To make methanotrophic TCE degradation practical, high density methanotrophic biomass with high sMMO activity is required. Methane is the primary substrate for methanotrophs and sufficient quantities must be supplied to support biomass growth. Because of the poor water solubility of methane, mass transfer limitation essentially restricts high biomass production. When methanol was used as the growth substrate, biomass concentration of 7.4 g l-1 Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b was achieved in a 160-h fermentation using an exponential feeding strategy based on pre-determined . Even higher biomass density of 19 and 29 g l-1 biomass were obtained by a modified feeding strategy based on carbon dioxide production. It is concluded that methanol is a promising substrate for the production of large amounts of M. trichosporium OB3bbiomass. In addition, allylthiourea was applied to methanotrophs growth medium to circumvent the inhibitory effect of copper, which inhibits sMMO activity but not particulate MMO (pMMO). We successfully retained sMMO activity by supplementing allylthiourea.  Even when M. trichosporium OB3b was grown with 4.5 M copper, which would completely block sMMO expression, addition of 15 M allylthiourea preserved half of the sMMO activity.  It was also observed that switching the growth substrate from methane to methanol did not significantly affect sMMO activity. An immobilized soil bioreactor was developed to examine the efficiency of methanotrophic TCE degradation by combining the knowledge obtained on high biomass production and applying allylthiourea for sMMO expression. In a batch TCE degradation experiment, about 63% of TCE was removed in 5.75 h. The maximal TCE degradation rate of 1.40 mg l-1 h-1 was obtained in a continuous TCE degradation at a dilution rate of 0.15 h-1. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a novel bioreactor system for methanotrophic TCE degradation.

abstract: PhD


title: A Finite Element Model for Ejection of Green Parts After PM Compaction

contributor:
Jeswiet, Jack
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
Powder Metallurgy
Finite Element Analysis
Ejection

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-02 13:53:50.789

abstract: The present study describes the development of an FE model of tooling during production of a transmission gear. Results of the simulation at the puck/die interface during ejection examine the behavior of friction. Machine component deflections under pressure and areas of wear/binding are also predicted. The tooling was developed and modeled in Abaqus, an FE pre- and post-processor. A metal PM (Powder Metallurgy) puck is simulated from the point at the end of compaction, and then at several positions during ejection. A test setup was designed and built. The apparatus will be used to create iron powder compacts, and experimental results will be used to evaluate future models. Experiments with the new design will enable future studies of friction at the puck/die interface. The current design is for a simple puck and an increase in part geometry complexity is proposed with preliminary design requirements.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Kinetic And Kinematic Adaptations To Use Of A Personal Lift Assist Device

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subject: Biomechanics Ergonomics

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-02 15:07:22.11

abstract:
The purpose of this work was to quantify the effect of the personal lift assist device (PLAD) on kinetic and kinematic variables commonly indentified as risk factors for low back pain (LBP).  As such, three investigations were undertaken to document adaptations that occur as a consequence of wearing the PLAD.
The first study involved an investigation of the effects of the PLAD on intervertebral compression and shear, using an EMG-assisted biomechanical model across a range of trunk flexion.  Muscle activation (EMG), trunk posture, and PLAD support data were input into a biomechanical model that estimated L4/L5 joint loads.  Use of the PLAD significantly reduced joint compression across the range of trunk flexion.  Significant changes in shear were also found, although this was varied across conditions.
The second study was conducted to quantify differences in lifting posture, lifting kinematics, and co-ordination attributable to use of the PLAD.  Over two testing sessions, subjects completed a repetitive lifting task with and without use of the PLAD.  Kinematic data describing lumbar spine, hip and knee motion were used to quantify lifting posture, lifting velocities, and co-ordination.  The results of the study suggest that the PLAD causes users to lift with significantly less lumbar flexion and greater hip flexion.  Significant changes in co-ordination were also observed, reflective of motor adaptation to the assistance provided by the PLAD.
The final study was conducted to investigate the effect of the PLAD on active trunk stiffness.  Subjects were required to assume a series of static, symmetrical flexed postures.  Muscle activation (EMG), trunk posture, and PLAD stiffness data were input into a stability model that estimated active trunk stiffness.  Up to 15 degrees of flexion, the PLAD increased the overall stiffness of the trunk.  However, use of the PLAD significantly reduced the active stiffness of the trunk as flexion increased.  This effect was consistent across PLAD conditions. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and evaluate a potential redesign.  In general, the results of these studies illustrate the potential for the PLAD to be used as an ergonomic intervention for industrial tasks requiring lifting and/or flexed static postures.

abstract: PhD


title: Imagining an Ecopolitical Space

contributor:
Smith, Mick
Environmental Studies

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subject: Environment Politics Nature Arendt Place Phenomenology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-03 10:40:41.455

abstract:
There exist at present a broad range of environmental challenges, and there are strong and varied movements seeking to take action on these issues in a range of ways. What is deeply contested, however, is how these environmental problems should be framed, and through what means solutions ought to be developed. At the heart of these questions is the need to critically evaluate dominant political framings that seek to contain and manage, rather than engage, these ecological challenges. What is required instead is the development of viable ecopolitical practices that are able to generate practicable solutions while retaining the capacity to grow, develop, and sustain life.
In addressing the challenge of theorizing such a viable ecopolitics, I work to productively combine phenomenologically-informed understandings of place with an Arendtian formulation of the conditions of political life in a way that can help to create inhabited ecological spaces of appearance. Such spaces can offer the potential to respectfully include ecological considerations in political decision-making, to foster an acknowledgement and valuing of the situatedness of particular political actions, and to open up discursive and interpretive possibilities while maintaining this openness through sustained political negotiation.
In order to explore the possibilities and potential implications of such an ecopolitical space, I begin by outlining what I understand to be the current ecopolitical challenge and its associated problematic inclusive and exclusive dynamics. I move on to offer a possible response to this ecopolitical challenge through an exploration of particular characteristics of place experience and the potential for phenomenological views of place to gather various elements of the more-than-human world into an arena of common engagement or appearance. Critically examining current state-centric political framings, and their inability to adequately meet this ecopolitical challenge, I appeal instead to a richer and more dynamic Arendtian formulation of political life. Finally I work to develop an understanding of how this expanded conception of the political can be combined with phenomenological understandings of place to begin to create vibrant and creative ecopolitical spaces in practice.

abstract: M.E.S.


title: Fabrication and Properties of Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3 Based Ferroelectric Ceramics with Low Levels of B-site Additives

contributor:
Krstic, Vladimir
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
Lead-free ferroelectric
perovskite
BNT
ceramics

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-03 15:13:24.791

abstract:
Three different B-site additives, Mg1/3Nb2/3, Zr4+, and Cu1/2W1/2, were added to BNT ceramics in varying concentrations.  These were abbreviated as BNMN, BNZ, and BNCW, respectively.  The compositions were calcined to form a perovskite structure, ground to a fine powder, pressed into tablets and sintered to form dense ceramics.  XRD analysis confirmed the formation of the perovskite phase.  The electro-mechanical properties of the ceramics were evaluated.

There were improvements in the low-field room temperature dielectric constant of 30% with 25% BNMN, 13% with 10% BNZ, and 16% with 2% BNCW. Higher concentrations of the additives degraded the dielectric performance.

The conductivity of the BNT ceramics was reduced with very small concentrations (0.25 to 0.5%) of each of the additives. This reduction was maintained at the higher concentrations of the additives, which allowed for higher electric fields to be applied during both the poling process and the strain measurements.  Improvements of approximately 30% in the d33 values were found at concentrations of 0.5% of each of the additives, but higher concentrations of the additives degraded the d33 values.

The coercive field was affected by the additions to BNT.  Increasing concentrations of BNMN reduced the coercive field in bipolar strain measurements. This was accompanied by a reduction in the remanent strain.  Small additions (0.5 to 1.5%) of BNZ resulted in an increase in the coercive field by about 12%, followed by a 25% decrease at 5% BNZ.  The remanent strain followed the same pattern. All concentrations of BNCW studied reduced the coercive field by about 12%. The remanent strain increased by 25% at 0.5% BNCW, and decreased by 42% at 2.5% BNCW.

The electro-mechanical results for the BNMN and BNZ additives were compared to the behaviours of their lead-based counterparts, PMN and PZ.  There was no consistent trend in the response of the electromechanical properties to the additions between the current lead-free and the lead-based systems.

abstract: PhD


title: The Role of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 in Nitrate Tolerance

contributor:
Bennett, Brian M.
Pharmacology and Toxicology

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subject:
Nitrate Tolerance
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2

abstract: Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-03 16:14:49.313

abstract: Organic nitrates such as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) are commonly used to treat myocardial ischemia and congestive heart failure. GTN is proposed to act as a prodrug that requires bioactivation for pharmacological activity. However, continuous administration results in tolerance development, limiting its clinical usefulness. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) has been proposed to be the primary enzyme responsible for GTN bioactivation, and ALDH2 inactivation has been proposed as the sole basis of nitrate tolerance. In the present study, we utilized an in vivo GTN tolerance model to investigate the role of ALDH2 in GTN bioactivation and tolerance. We assessed changes in ALDH2 protein, mRNA and activity levels in rat blood vessels during chronic GTN exposure (0.4 mg/hr for 6, 12, 24 and 48 hr) in relation to changes in vasodilator responses to GTN. A time-dependent decrease in both ALDH2 expression and activity occurred (80% in tolerant veins and 30% in tolerant arteries after 48 hrs exposure to GTN), concomitant with decreased vasodilator responses to GTN. However, after a 24 hr drug-free period following 48 hr GTN exposure, the vasodilator responses to GTN had returned to control values, whereas ALDH2 expression and activity were still markedly depressed.  The dissociation between reduced ALDH2 activity and expression, and the duration of the impaired vasodilator responses to GTN in nitrate-tolerant blood vessels, suggest factors other than changes in ALDH2-mediated GTN bioactivation contribute to nitrate tolerance.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Hydrodynamic Modelling of Lake Ontario

contributor:
Hall, Kevin
Boegman, Leon
Civil Engineering

format:
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subject:
3D Hydrodynamics Model
Lake Ontario

abstract: Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-07 10:08:44.145

abstract:
The 2006 Clean Water Act requires each municipality to come up with science-based plans to protect the quality and quantity of their drinking water. A literature review concerning applicable processes in Lake Ontario along with previous modelling of the lake is presented.

The three dimensional Estuary, Lake and Coastal Oceans Model (ELCOM) is used to model Lake Ontario on a 2×2km grid scale. The model is forced using meteorological data from the 2006 summer season, inflows and outflows. The lake-wide model is evaluated using field data from thermistor chains and ADCPs as well as historical water level data. Simulated and observed temperature profiles compared well. However, modelled temperature profiles were slightly cooler than observed. Current results were more variable than temperature profile results but compared better to observed data in the offshore regions. Simulating Lake Ontario water levels proved to be problematic because an accurate water balance is difficult to force with a large drainage basin.

A 300×300m nearshore model of the eastern portion of Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River is also presented. The open boundary is forced using temperature data which is (A) varied with depth, (B) constant with depth and (C) spatially varied over the length of the open boundary and varied with depth. Both spatially varied and non-varied water level data forcing the open boundary is also compared. Spatially varied temperature and water level data is computed from the coarse grid lake-wide model. Lake-wide coarse grid model error appears to propagate through the open boundary negatively affecting nearshore modelled current when coupling the models. It was concluded that lake-wide model results should not be used to force the open boundary for the nearshore model. Nearshore model results using constant temperature with depth forcing files and non-spatially varied water level data agree well with observed temperature profiles, but further analysis is required for better confidence in the model's ability to properly reproduce currents at a 300×300m grid scale.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Heat Transfer Modelling and Thermal Imaging Experiments in Laser Transmission Welding of Thermoplastics

contributor:
Birk, Michael A.
Bates, Philip J.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject: Laser Transmission Welding of Thermoplastics (LTW)

subject: FEM Thermal Modelling

subject: Thermal Imaging

subject: Scattering

subject: Absorption

subject: Diode Laser

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-08 10:39:30.952

abstract:
This thesis presents a comprehensive study on the thermal modelling aspects of laser transmission welding of thermoplastics (LTW), a technology for joining of plastic parts.  In the LTW technique, a laser beam passes through the laser-transmitting part and is absorbed within a thin layer in the laser-absorbing part.  The heat generated at the interface of the two parts melts a thin layer of the plastic and, with applying appropriate clamping pressure, joining occurs.  Transient thermal models for the LTW process were developed and solved by the finite element method (FEM).  Input to the models included temperature-dependent thermo-physical properties that were adopted from well-known sources, material suppliers, or obtained by conducting experiments.  In addition, experimental and theoretical studies were conducted to estimate the optical properties of the materials such as the absorption coefficient of the laser-absorbing part and light scattering by the laser-transmitting part.  Lap-joint geometry was modelled for semi crystalline (polyamide - PA6) and amorphous (polycarbonate - PC) materials.
The thermal models addressed the heating and cooling stages in a laser welding process with a stationary and moving laser beam.  An automated ANSYS® script and MATLAB® codes made it possible to input a three-dimensional (3D), time-varying volumetric heat-generation term to model the absorption of a moving diode-laser beam.  The result was a 3D time-transient, model of the laser transmission welding process implemented in the ANSYS® FEM environment.
In the thermal imaging experiments, a stationary or moving laser beam was located in the proximity of the side surface of the two parts being joined in a lap-joint configuration.  The side surface was then observed by the thermal imaging camera.  For the case of the stationary beam, the laser was activated for 10 s while operating at a low power setting.  For the case of the moving beam, the beam was translated parallel to the surface observed by the camera.  The temperature distribution of a lap joint geometry exposed to a stationary and moving diode-laser beam, obtained from 3D thermal modelling was then compared with the thermal imaging observations.  The predicted temperature distribution on the surface of the laser-absorbing part observed by the thermal camera agreed within 3C with that of the experimental results.  Predicted temperatures on the laser-transmitting part surface were generally higher by 15C  to 20C.  This was attributed to absorption coefficient being set too high in the model for this part.  Thermal imaging of the soot-coated laser-transmitting part surface indicated that significantly more scattering and less absorption takes place in this part than originally assumed.  For the moving laser beam, good model match with the experiments (peak temperatures predicted within 1C) was obtained for some of the process conditions modelled for PA6 parts.  In addition, a novel methodology was developed to extract the scattered laser beam power distribution from the thermal imaging observations of the moving laser beam.

abstract: PhD


title: Sub Quercu Felicitas: Place, Knowledge, and Victoria's Garry Oaks, 1843-2008

contributor:
Cameron, Laura
Geography

format:
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subject:
Garry oaks
Victoria, British Columbia
Place
Environmental knowledges
Identity

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-08 13:47:50.049

abstract:
The Garry oak (Quercus garryana) is a species of oak tree native to North America’s Pacific coast. Its range in Canada is limited to the east coast of Vancouver Island, the southern Gulf Islands, and two isolated groves in the Fraser River valley. It is most widespread and conspicuous in Greater Victoria, the urban area centred around the city of Victoria, British Columbia. Garry oaks themselves and areas of relatively undisturbed land containing Garry oaks are threatened in Victoria by a number of factors including land development, the tree’s unpopularity as an ornamental species, and fire suppression. The Garry oak’s predicament provides rationale for the central goal of this thesis, which is to explore how people have known these trees in the 165 years since Fort Victoria was established. Using a range of print sources, I identify five prominent areas of knowledge about the tree, or Garry oak cultures. These are: Garry oaks as significant of Britishness, Garry oaks as known through science, Garry oaks as significant individual trees, Garry oaks as remnants of pre-colonial landscapes, and Garry oaks as advocated for by conservationists. From these, I draw three key themes. First, many people have found Victoria’s Garry oaks valuable or important and expressed that sense of value in a variety of ways. Second, people have used Garry oaks in narratives of national identity, though in divergent ways: for some Garry oaks have been symbolic of Britain and Victoria’s supposed connection with the mother country, and for others Garry oaks are to be regarded only as a native species. Third, scientific language and concepts have been used to understand Garry oaks with increasing popularity over the past few decades, especially as public awareness grows of the oaks’ ecological crisis. Following recent work in cultural geography, I contend that people negotiate connections to place through trees
such as Garry oaks. Though these findings must be understood to be preliminary, they can help to explain the plight of the Garry oak by casting light on ambiguities and dissonances in the ways that Victoria’s diverse citizenry relates to the places they inhabit.

abstract: M.A.


title: The Dark Triad and Faking Ability on Self-Report Personality Inventories and Autobiographical Accounts

contributor:
Holden, Ronald R.
Psychology

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subject:
Faking
Dark Triad
Personality
Psychopathy
Machiavellianism
Narcissism

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-14 11:24:45.946

abstract: Three studies were undertaken to examine the relationship between the Dark Triad (i.e., psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) and faking ability. Study 1 examined the relationship between psychopathy and the ability to fake good and fake bad on self-report personality inventories in a sample of 84 male federal offenders. Results showed that when faking good, successful fakers scored significantly higher than unsuccessful fakers on carefree nonplanfulness, and significantly lower on stress immunity. When faking bad, successful and unsuccessful fakers did not differ significantly on psychopathy total or subscale scores. Study 2 examined the effect of the Dark Triad on the ability to fake good and fake bad on self-report personality inventories in a sample of 166 undergraduates. Results indicated that when faking good, total psychopathy significantly predicted successful faking for 1 of 3 methods of evaluation, while Machiavellianism significantly predicted success at faking good for 2 of 3 methods of evaluation. Narcissism was unrelated to success at faking good. In addition, the Dark Triad constructs did not predict success at faking bad. Study 3 examined the relationship between the Dark Triad constructs and the ability to fake good interpersonally.  In this study, 32 undergraduates comprising four groups (i.e., controls, and individuals high in psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) provided videotaped self-presentations. A separate group of 134 university students subsequently rated the veracity of these presentations. Results indicated that when faking good, psychopathy and narcissism groups were rated as more believable than the control group. Conversely, the Machiavellianism group was less successful at faking good than the control group. Contributions of this research to the fields of personality assessment and self-presentation are discussed.

abstract: PhD


title: Physical Modelling of Flowslide Mobility

contributor:
Take, W. Andy
Civil Engineering

format:
4752993 bytes
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subject:
Static Liqurfaction
Flowslide
Physical Modelling
Centrifuge

abstract: Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-15 08:45:05.783

abstract:
Static liquefaction is a sudden decrease of soil shear strength due to the rapid development of pore pressures generated during the collapse of loose, saturated soil deposits. If this type of failure occurs in sloping soils, a flowslide can result. Viscous debris moving down a slope with high velocity could cover a vast area and cause significant loss of life and property.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the triggering factors of liquefaction in shallow slopes through the physical modeling technique of centrifuge testing. A flowslide simulator was developed to investigate the factors that lead to the liquefaction of soil slopes. This simulator was capable of replicating groundwater regimes and intense rainfalls with pore pressure transducers to monitor the pore pressure changes in the model slope and digital cameras to calculate the resultant slope deformation, velocity, and acceleration using the Particle Image Velocimetry method (PIV) of digital image correlation.

In the course of this research, four centrifuge tests have been performed to evaluate the triggering mechanisms of fast landslides in shallow slopes. A seepage induced failure was simulated in the first test. The second and third tests were conducted applying different groundwater regimes in combination with intense rainfall to bring the slope to failure. The last test was a rainfall induced failure in the absence of a pre-existing groundwater table. The results from these experiments illustrate that the initial groundwater level has a considerable effect on the mobility of flowslides.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The effects of habitat connectivity and regional heterogeneity on artificial pond metacommunities

contributor:
Arnott, Shelley E.
Biology

format:
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subject:
Metacommunity
Dispersal
Biodiversity
Zooplankton
Heterogeneity
Community Ecology
Habitat Connectivity

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-16 09:06:33.103

abstract:
While much evidence suggests that ecosystem functioning is closely related to biodiversity, present rates of biodiversity loss are high. With the emergence of the metacommunity concept ecologists have become increasingly aware that both local processes (e.g. competition, predation), and regional processes (e.g. dispersal and regional heterogeneity) affect ecological communities at multiple spatial scales. I experimentally investigated the effects of habitat connectivity and regional heterogeneity on biodiversity, community composition, and ecosystem functioning of artificial pond metacommunities of freshwater invertebrates at the local (α), among-community (β), and regional (γ) spatial levels.
	There was a significant effect of habitat connectivity on mean local richness, but mean local Simpson diversity, mean local functional diversity (FD), and all the three indices of ecosystem functioning investigated (regional abundance, invertebrate biomass, and chlorophyll a concentration) were unaffected by connectivity levels. Regional heterogeneity had no effect on local diversity, but enhanced both among-community richness and among-community Simpson diversity. Conversely, connectivity reduced among-community Simpson diversity. All indices of regional diversity were unaffected by either connectivity or heterogeneity. Despite expectations that there would be strong interactions between the effects of connectivity and heterogeneity on species richness, there were no interactions for any index of biodiversity at any spatial scale. Invertebrate community composition was unaffected by either connectivity or heterogeneity, though there was a significant effect of heterogeneity on its variance. Neither connectivity nor heterogeneity had significant effects on any index of ecosystem functioning, nor among-community coefficients of variation of ecosystem functioning.
	Connectivity appears to act mainly as a force homogenizing habitat patches in a region, as opposed to having strong effects in and of itself on communities. Conversely, heterogeneity acts largely as a diversifying force, maintaining differences between communities within a region, but, similar to connectivity, it does not have clear effects on communities at the local scale. Despite the different processes expected to act in homogeneous and heterogeneous regions, it does not appear that connectivity and heterogeneity interact strongly.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Adaptive Cryptographic Access Control for Dynamic Data Sharing Environments

contributor:
Martin, Patrick
Akl, Selim
Computing

format:
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subject:
Access Control
Database Security
Autonomic Computing
Cryptographic Key Management
Dynamic Data Sharing

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-16 16:19:46.617

abstract:
Distributed systems, characterized by their ability to ensure the execution of multiple
transactions across a myriad of applications, constitute a prime platform for
building Web applications. However, Web application interactions raise issues pertaining to security and performance that make manual security management both
time-consuming and challenging. This thesis is a testimony to the security and performance enhancements afforded by using the autonomic computing paradigm to design an adaptive cryptographic access control framework for dynamic data sharing environments. One of the methods of enforcing cryptographic access control in these environments is to classify users into one of several groups interconnected in the form of a partially ordered set. Each group is assigned a single cryptographic key that is used for encryption/decryption. Access to data is granted only if a user holds the "correct" key, or can derive the required key from the one in their possession. This approach to access control is a good example of one that provides good security but has the drawback of reacting to changes in group membership by replacing keys, and re-encrypting the associated data, throughout the entire hierarchy. Data re-encryption is time-consuming, so, rekeying creates delays that impede performance. In order to support our argument in favor of adaptive security, we begin by presenting two cryptographic key management (CKM) schemes in which key updates
affect only the class concerned or those in its sub-poset. These extensions enhance
performance, but handling scenarios that require adaptability remain a challenge.
Our framework addresses this issue by allowing the CKM scheme to monitor the rate
at which key updates occur and to adjust resource (keys and encrypted data versions) allocations to handle future changes by anticipation rather than on demand. Therefore, in comparison to quasi-static approaches, the adaptive CKM scheme minimizes the long-term cost of key updates. Finally, since self-protecting CKM requires a lesser degree of physical intervention by a human security administrator, we consider the case of "collusion attacks" and propose two algorithms to detect as well as prevent
such attacks. A complexity and security analysis show the theoretical improvements
our schemes offer. Each algorithm presented is supported by a proof of concept
implementation, and experimental results to show the performance improvements.

abstract: PhD


title: Physiological and Behavioural Responses of Largemouth Bass Yearlings (Micropterus salmoides) to Hypoxia at Summer and Winter Temperatures

contributor:
Tufts, Bruce L.
Biology

format:
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subject: Fish Biology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-16 16:27:56.732

abstract:
The main objective of this thesis was to determine the metabolic and behavioural outcomes from hypoxia exposure to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) yearlings when acclimated to either winter (5°C) or summer (20°C) temperatures.  This was achieved by exposing largemouth bass to varying levels of hypoxia and subsequently quantifying metabolites, in addition to observing behavioural patterns.  The critical partial pressure of oxygen was also determined for fish at both temperatures.
	Hypoxia experiments revealed that metabolite concentrations increased or decreased significantly compared to control values as hypoxia levels intensified at 20°C, however there were minimal changes for fish at 5°C.  More specifically, end product concentrations of lactate increased, while substrate concentrations of ATP, PCr and  glycogen decreased and glucose concentrations did not change significantly at 20°C.  It was also found that the magnitude of change was greater for fish at 20°C, indicating the impact of hypoxia is greater at warmer temperatures.  In addition, it was noted that hypoxia experiments performed at either identical percent oxygen saturation (%) or identical dissolved oxygen (mg/L) resulted in very similar metabolite trends at both temperatures.
	In terms of behaviour, ventilation rates increased significantly and peaked at 2mg/L for largemouth bass at 20°C, however there was no change for fish at 5°C.  There were also more instances of aquatic surface respiration with increasing hypoxia for fish at 20°C, but nearly no attempts at 5°C.
Critical partial pressure of oxygen (Pcrit) values were calculated to be 1.36 ± 0.02 mg/L (16% oxygen saturation) for 20°C and 0.77 ± 0.04 mg/L (5% oxygen saturation) for 5°C fish respectively.  The Pcrit levels corresponded to the hypoxia levels that initiated changes in metabolite concentrations at each temperature, thus indicating that largemouth bass undergo anaerobic metabolism.
	This study shows that the overall impact of hypoxia on largemouth bass yearlings was much greater in warmer water.  These results indicate that hypoxia may become a very important physiological stress on younger life stages of fish as water temperatures increase with climate change.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Roles of Theory of Mind and Empathy in the Relationship between Dysphoria and Poor Social Functioning

contributor:
Jacobson, Jill A.
Psychology

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subject:
Dysphoria
Depression
Social Functioning
Social Cognition
Theory of Mind
Empathy
Attribution Style
Emotion Regulation

abstract: Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-22 15:25:33.573

abstract:
The current research, across three studies, examined two social practices that involve processing and responding to others’ emotions, theory of mind (ToM) and empathy, and how they relate to dysphoria and the social impairments associated with dysphoria over time.
Mildly depressed, or dysphoric, individuals, have been found to have heightened ToM when identifying others’ emotions, despite reporting widespread social impairments (Harkness et al., 2005). The first study (Chapter 2) examined if and how ToM is a mediator in the relationship between dysphoria and social functioning. Attribution style, specifically the internalizing attribution bias, was hypothesized to play a role. The interaction between ToM and internalizing attribution bias was independently associated with social functioning. For internalizing attributors, higher ToM was related to better social functioning, but no relationship was observed between ToM and social functioning among non-internalizing attributors.
The second study (Chapter 3) examined the relationship between ToM and empathy, addressing the debate surrounding cognitive and affective aspects of ToM and empathy. Affective ToM and cognitive empathy both have been described as processes involving cognitive inferences about others’ emotions. Current results supported this link, showing that a specific component of empathy, perspective-taking, was related to ToM. Although ToM was associated with some aspects of empathy, empathy remained a separate construct that includes both cognitive and emotional responding to others’ emotions.
Chapter 4 shifted focus to empathy to examine how this social practice relates to dysphoria and social functioning. The last study first examined how empathy relates to dysphoria. Results showed that only personal distress, one component of empathy, was associated with greater dysphoria.
The final study also examined if the empathy x emotion regulation interaction mediates the relationship between dysphoria and social functioning. Different patterns were observed for different emotion regulation types. The interaction between maladaptive, but not adaptive, emotion regulation strategies and empathy was correlated directly with social functioning. For individuals with negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies, greater empathy was associated with better social functioning, a relationship not present for individuals who do not use negative cognitive emotion regulation. Finally maladaptive, but not adaptive, emotion regulation significantly predicted social functioning after controlling for dysphoria.

abstract: I am preparing several papers for publication based on the data I have presented in my thesis. I would like to request a restriction period of two years, as I will require time to prepare and submit the manuscripts.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The effect of contraction type and intensity, mass loading and visual feedback on wrist tremor in individuals with essential tremor

contributor:
Norman, Kathleen
Rehabilitation Science

subject:
essential tremor
inertial loading
electromyography
coherence
mechanical reflex
postural tremor
force fluctuations

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-24 11:18:57.537

abstract: Objectives: Determine the effect of contraction type and intensity, inertial loading, and visual feedback on various measures of hand tremor in subjects with essential tremor.  Methods: Study 1.   Twenty-three ET subjects and 22 controls held their hand in an outstretched position while supporting various submaximal loads (no-load, 5%, 15% and 25% 1-repetition maximum). Hand postural tremor and wrist extensor neuromuscular activity (EMG) were recorded.  Study 2. Twenty-one ET subjects and 22 controls applied isometric wrist extension contractions with and without visual feedback. Various submaximal contraction intensities were evaluated (5%, 10%, 20% and 30% MVC). Force production and EMG were recorded. Study 3. Twenty-one ET subjects and 22 healthy controls performed slow wrist extension-flexion movements while supporting various submaximal loads (no-load, 5%, 15% and 25% 1-repetition maximum). Angular displacement and EMG were recorded.  Results: Study 1. Inertial loading resulted in a reduction in postural tremor in ET subjects. The largest reduction in tremor amplitude occurred at the 15% load, which was associated with spectral separation of the mechanical reflex and central tremor component. Despite an increase in overall neuromuscular activity with inertial loading, EMG tremor power did not increase with loading.  Study 2. Higher contraction intensities were associated with larger amplitude force fluctuations and greater EMG amplitudes. Tremor spectral power of force and EMG remained constant at all target intensities, resulting in a reduction in relative tremor power at higher contraction intensities. Visual feedback affected subjects in the control and ET groups similarly. Study 3. Subjects with more pronounced tremor spectral peaks had larger amplitude kinetic tremor, which was reduced with inertial loading. Despite an increase in overall neuromuscular activity with inertial loading, EMG tremor spectral power was only slightly increased with loading, which resulted in a large reduction in relative EMG tremor power. Conclusions: The effect of inertial loading on postural and kinetic tremor amplitude appears to be mediated in large part by its effect on the interaction between the mechanical reflex and central tremor components. The level of motor unit entrainment remains relatively constant in subjects with ET despite increasing contraction intensities.

abstract: The material contained in my thesis, particularly Chapters 2 to 4, are manuscripts that have not yet been submitted for publication. We will be submitting these manuscripts to peer reviewed journals within the next few months and would like like for this thesis to be restricted until the articles are accepted and in press. Thus we are asking for a period of restriction of 1 year.

abstract: PhD


title: Apoptosis and Aging in Drosophila

contributor:
Seroude, Laurent
Biology

format:
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subject: Apoptosis Aging Drosophila Caspase

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-27 00:24:02.204

abstract: Several genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis can influence longevity. Although observations in several different systems imply that apoptosis and aging are closely linked, the relationship between the two remains largely unknown. In this study, Drosophila melanogaster was used as a model organism to explore the relationship between aging and apoptosis regulation. Apoptosis was investigated using two apoptotic hallmarks: caspase activity and DNA fragmentation. The results showed that apoptosis occured in adult flies at all ages and the changes in apoptosis associated with aging were linked to physiological age and were tissue-specific. During normal fly aging, apoptosis increased gradually within the muscle and was activated in the fat of old flies. However, neither of the two apoptotic signs were shown in the nervous system. The analysis of the apoptotic response to starvation and oxidative stress suggested that the increased apoptosis in muscle resulted from the accumulation of oxidative damage associated with aging. Once the presence of apoptosis during Drosophila aging was confirmed, the expression of anti-apoptotic genes was manipulated in specific tissues to examine the impact of a localized alternation of apoptosis on aging. The overexpression of anti-apoptotic genes in muscle extended Drosophila mean and maximum life span up to 99% and 65%, respectively. This extension was mediated by apoptosis inhibition using the detection of caspase activity and DNA fragmentation. In addition, the long-lived animals exhibited increased resistance to oxidative stress and preserved flight ability. Overall this study establishes that muscle apoptosis limits life span and participates in sarcopenia. This finding may have applications in the development of interventions to improve the life quality of elderly human.

abstract: PhD


title: Business Process Recovery Using UI Design Patterns and Clone Detection in Business Processes

contributor:
Zou, Ying
Computing

format:
1597320 bytes
application/pdf

subject:
Business Processes
Clone Detection
Business Applications
UI Design Patterns

abstract: Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-28 11:06:31.41

abstract:
A business application automates a collection of business processes. A business process describes how a set of logically related tasks are executed, ordered and managed by following business rules to achieve business objectives. An “online book purchase” business process contains several tasks such as buying a book, ordering a book, and sending out promotions. In this ever changing business environment, both of business applications and business processes are modified to accommodate changed business requirements and improve the performance of the organization. These continuous modifications introduce problems in the following two aspects:
1) Business process definitions are rarely updated to reflect the current business processes deployed in business applications. 2) Business processes may be cloned (e.g., copied and slightly modified) to handle special circumstances or promotions. Identifying these clones and removing them help improve the efficiency of an organization. However, business processes are defined with textual languages that cannot be automatically understood.
To maintain business process definitions up to date, we present our techniques that automatically recover business processes from UIs of business applications and identify clones in the recovered business processes. We leverage UI design patterns, which present the best practices of UI designs, to capture business processes from UIs. To refine the recovered business processes and mark the functionally equivalent tasks, we use existing code clone detection tools, such as CCFinder and CloneDR, to detect clones in business applications, and lift clones from code level to business process level. The effectiveness of our techniques is demonstrated through a case study on 15 large open source business applications.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Simultaneous Recordings of Head and Hand Tremor in Subjects With Essential Tremor: an Investigation of Coherence

contributor:
Norman, Kathleen
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Essential Tremor
Frequency Coherence
Central Oscillator

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-29 10:03:22.354

abstract:
The pathophysiology of essential tremor (ET) is not clearly understood but is thought to involve multiple brain regions. The purpose of this study was to describe in greater detail head tremor in ET and to investigate the possible relationship between head and hand tremor.
Ten ET subjects were recruited (1 male, 9 female) and compared to three control subjects (1 male, 2 female). Head and hand tremors were recorded simultaneously with surface electromyography (EMG) of the wrist extensors and various neck muscles, laser displacement sensors (hand tremor), a load cell (hand tremor) and an accelerometer (head tremor). While seated, subjects performed four tasks: 1) constant force (10% maximum) wrist extensions (with and without visual feedback);  maintenance of the hands in a horizontal posture against gravity while 2) seated upright in a chair, 3) seated in a reclined chair (20° backward, head not supported);  and 4) seated upright in a chair and producing steady submaximal hip adduction forces.
Head tremor spectral peaks were found between 3.5 and 7 Hz in neck muscle EMG and the accelerometer signal. Wrist tremor (EMG and kinematic data) was slightly higher in frequency with a range of 4 -10 Hz. Of the ten ET subjects recruited for this study, 60% (n = 6) demonstrated significant levels of coherence (p < 0.05) in at least one neck-wrist muscle comparison at the fundamental frequency of their tremor. The results demonstrated an obvious bias of the trapezius descendens (TD) muscles over the more axial neck muscles to demonstrate significant coherence with the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscles. Of the six neck muscles investigated, the SPLs and the SCMs were commonly driven at the same frequencies (change in frequency < 0.5), although this seldom resulted in coherence. There is indication that the oscillatory activity driving more distal muscles is different from that in the SPL and the SCM. Due to the multifunctional nature of the TD, it may be the recipient of two descending neural commands. These commands may each be of a different oscillatory frequency originating from different central oscillators.

abstract: For future publication of this data, the publishing journal may require "restricted access" to the data prior to publication.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Organizations of Immaterial Labour: Knowledge Worker Resistance in Post-Fordism

contributor:
Day, Richard J. F.
Burfoot, Annette J.
Mosco, Vincent
Sociology

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subject:
Knowledge Work
Immaterial Labour
Trade Unions
Social Movements
Post-Fordism

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2008-06-11 13:37:24.045

abstract: Liberal-democratic theories of knowledge work suggest that labour and capital are no longer at odds in the information society.  This dissertation critiques such a position, proposing that knowledge worker professions, or ones it describes as involving forms of immaterial labour, are subject to new regimes of exploitation and emergent modes of resistance within post-Fordism.  The study begins by surveying competing theoretical perspectives on knowledge work, and moves on to consider the ethical questions, epistemological foundations, and methodological choices involved in carrying out engaged inquiries into collective organization by immaterial labourers.  The dissertation’s empirical contribution is comprised of three case studies of labour organization by knowledge workers.  The first is the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers, an “open-source” union formed in 1998 by contract workers at Microsoft.  The second is the Aliant clerical/call-centre workers in Moncton, New Brunswick, who certified a bargaining unit through the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union in 2001.  The third is the Collettivo PrecariAtesia, a self-organized group of Roman workers formed at Atesia, Europe’s largest call centre, in 2004.  Drawing on these and other contemporary examples, the dissertation suggests that, in its most promising articulations, the organization of immaterial labour is occurring at the intersection of spontaneous struggles by workers and a process of union renewal underway within certain sectors of the established labour movement.  These cases also point to the potential of collective organizing occurring around precarity, or the increasing financial and existential insecurity arising from the flexibilization of labour.  Both of these processes, the dissertation concludes, involve a process of adaptation to post-Fordism, in which new forms of organization, new subjectivities, and new social demands are being produced.

abstract: PhD


title: Use of a Hill-Based Muscle Model in the Fast Orthogonal Search Method to Estimate Wrist Force and Upper Arm Physiological Parameters

contributor:
Hashtrudi-Zaad, Keyvan
Morin, Evelyn
Electrical and Computer Engineering

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subject:
Fast Orthogonal Search
sEMG
Surface Electromyography
Hill-Based Model
Optimal Joint Angle
Elbow Flexion/Extension

abstract: Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-30 01:32:01.606

abstract:
Modelling of human motion is used in a wide range of applications.
An important aspect of accurate representation of human movement is
the ability to customize models to account for individual
differences. The following work proposes a methodology using
Hill-based candidate functions in the Fast Orthogonal Search (FOS)
method to predict translational force at the wrist from flexion and
extension torque at the elbow.  Within this force estimation
framework, it is possible to implicitly estimate subject-specific
physiological parameters of Hill-based models of upper arm muscles.
Surface EMG data from three muscles of the upper arm (biceps
brachii, brachioradialis and triceps brachii) were recorded from 10
subjects as they performed isometric contractions at varying elbow
joint angles. Estimated muscle activation level and joint kinematic
data (joint angle and angular velocity) were utilized as inputs to
the FOS model.  The resulting wrist force estimations were found to
be more accurate for models utilizing Hill-based candidate
functions, than models utilizing candidate functions that were not
physiologically relevant. Subject-specific estimates of optimal
joint angle were determined via frequency analysis of the selected
FOS candidate functions. Subject-specific optimal joint angle
estimates demonstrated low variability and fell within the range of
angles presented in the literature.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Qualitative Study of the Implementation of a Community College Hybrid Course

contributor:
Roulet, Geoffrey
Education

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subject: Education Technology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-30 11:50:28.051

abstract: Educators in many jurisdictions have moved to incorporate the Web as a mode of delivery through the creation of hybrid courses enabled by commerically available course management software. Corporate expectations, the experience of the teacher, and the experience of the students are examined in the transition of a course from a traditional to a hybrid mode of delivery. It is a qualitative phenomenological study based on observation of the classroom and online sessions supplemented by interviews with the teacher, students, and an instructional leader within the institution. The findings show that corporate expectations were inconsistent with support for implementation. Senior management established little policy on the implementation of the technology. In the absence of policy, the instructional leadership within the institution provided what little direction there was to faculty. The vision held by these instructional leaders emanates from the literature that asserts the superiority of hybrid delivery over other modes. Corporate expectations were not borne out. The teacher replicated the existing design of the traditional course, something that is noted in the literature as a general tendency by teachers in similar situations (Cuban, Kirkpatrick, & Peck, 2001). The experience of the students was the exact reverse of what the instructional leadership intended. Students monitored the progress of the course online and avoided attending class. The hybrid mode of delivery rather than enabling a richer learning experience than that found in the traditional classroom permitted students to use the technology to avoid engagement in the course.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Synthetic Methods and Application Based on Directed ortho Metalation and Suzuki Cross Coupling Strategies

contributor:
Snieckus, Victor A.
Chemistry

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subject:
Directed ortho-Metalation
pyridines
phosphorodiamidate
isoprekinamycin
Directed remote Metalation
cross coupling
Suzuki
azabiaryls

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-16 14:15:09.695

abstract:
The Directed ortho Metalation reaction is described in Chapter 1 of this thesis with particular emphasis on its mechanism and synthetic potential.  Chapter 2 contains a review of the DoM (Directed ortho Metalation) of pyridine systems and describes the conditions that allow the one-pot DoM (Directed ortho-Metalation)-Boronation-Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling of pyridines 2.263a-c, 2.351-2.53 (Table 2.9) bearing several DMGs (Directed Metalation Groups) including the synthetically versatile diethyl amide functionality without incurring into commonly observed self-condensation processes.  The method avoids the tedious and uncertain isolation of the intermediate boronic acids while offering rapid access to synthetically valuable arylpyridines (2.354a-s, Table 2.9).  Selected aryl pyridine carboxamides were used to demonstrate the DoM-DreM (Directed remote Metalation) nexus that furnishes substituted and isomerically diverse azafluorenones 2.380a-d (Table 2.11) with high regioselectivity.
The previous discovery of the anionic O→C -vinyl carbamoyl migration of carbamoyl stilbenes stimulated its application in the total synthesis of natural product isoprekinamycin, bearing the unusual diazo group.  Chapter 3 of this thesis describes the efficient synthesis of the key stilbene derivative 3.113 and its structural variations whose conversion to the desired naphthols 3.143, 3.144, 3.153 and 3.169 (Table 3.3) is accompanied by extensive decomposition, thus terminating this approach to isoprekinamycin.  A modified approach via Z-3.271 (Scheme 3.54) gave the desired naphthyl carbamate intermediates 3.274 and 3.278 (Schemes 3.55 and 3.56, respectively) whose complex DreM reactions prevented the completion of the synthesis but remain under active investigation in our laboratories.
Previous studies of the DoM reaction of aryl tetramethyl phosphorodiamidate have shown that unpractical experimental conditions are necessary, thus limiting synthetic application.  Chapter 4 of this thesis describes the results concerning the performance of the tetraethyl phosphorodiamidate DMG under standard DoM and DreM conditions, anionic phospha-Fries rearrangement, 1,4 lateral migration, and Suzuki cross coupling which demonstrate synthetic utility and application in synthetic aromatic chemistry.

abstract: PhD


title: Finger Movement Classification Using Forearm EMG Signals

contributor:
Morin, Evelyn
McLean, Linda
Electrical and Computer Engineering

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subject:
EMG
myoelectric
classification
pattern recognition
prediction
finger
typing
prosthesis

abstract: Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-31 14:59:43.151

abstract:
To a person with an upper limb amputation or congenital defect, a well-functioning prosthesis can open the door to many work and life opportunities.  A fundamental component of many modern prostheses is the myoelectric control system, which uses the myoelectric signals from an individual's muscles to control prosthetic movements.  Though much research has been done involving the myoelectric control of arm and gross hand movements, more dexterous finger control has not received the same attention.  Consequently, the goal of this study was to determine an optimal approach to the myoelectric signal classification of a set of typing motions.  Two different movement sets involving the fingers of the right hand were tested:  one involving digits two through five (4F - "four finger"), and the other involving digits one and two (FT - "finger/thumb").

Myoelectric data were collected from the forearm muscles of twelve normally-limbed subjects as they performed a set of typing tasks.  These data were then used to test a series of classification systems, each comprising a different combination of system element choices.  The best classification system over all subjects and the best classification system for each subject were determined for both movement sets.

The optimal subject-specific classification systems yielded classification accuracies of 92.8 ± 2.7% for the 4F movement set and 93.6 ± 6.1% for the FT movement set, whereas the optimal overall classification systems yielded significantly lower performance (p<0.05): 89.6 ± 3.4% for the 4F movement set and 89.8 ± 8.5% for the FT movement set.  No significant difference in classification accuracy was found between movement sets (p=0.802).  A two-way repeated measures ANOVA (α=0.05) was used to determine both significance results.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The optical properties of metamaterial waveguide structures

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subject: Metamaterials Optics

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-31 14:47:47.054

abstract:
Metamaterials, artificially engineered structures with negative average relative permittivity and permeability, provide a route to creating potential devices with exciting electromagnetic properties that cannot be obtained with natural materials. One particularly interesting metamaterial device, is a planar metamaterial waveguide structure (MWS) that has potentially exciting applications. In this thesis, the properties and potential applications of metamaterial waveguide structures are explored. In particular, we examine the properties of metamaterial waveguides when the limitations arise from fabrication techniques and physical principles are taken into account.

First, we study the basic properties of dispersion curves of an idealized (without loss and dispersion) metamaterial waveguide structure. We show that there are a rich variety of modes, such as the bound modes, the surface polariton modes, and the complex leaky modes, that are supported in MWS and have entirely different properties than the modes of a conventional waveguide structure. These novel modes provide more control over the electromagnetic fields and consequently lead to potential applications ranging from waveguide miniaturization to the slowing down of the light.

Next, we study the effects of dispersion and loss, which are the inherent features of metamaterials, on the properties of MWS. We numerically show that the characteristic modes of the MWS are significantly changed particularly near the slow-light-modes when the intrinsic loss is introduced into the system. In particular we show that the stopped-light-modes disappear even in the presence of an arbitrarily small amount of loss. Moreover, we find several novel properties such as a splitting of complex leaky modes in a lossy MWS.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Multitaper Higher-Order Spectral Analysis of Nonlinear Multivariate Random Processes

contributor:
Thomson, David J.
Mathematics and Statistics

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subject:
Canonical Bicoherence (CBC)
Canonical Biphase (CBP)
Quadratic Phase Coupling (QPC)
Multitaper Methods (MTM)
Weighted Jackknife
Geomagnetic Field
Solar p-modes
EEG
Nonlinear Multivariate Random Process

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mathematics & Statistics) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-31 15:03:57.596

abstract: In this work, I will describe a new statistical tool: the canonical bicoherence, which is a combination of the canonical coherence and the bicoherence. I will provide its definitions, properties, estimation by multitaper methods and statistics, and estimate the variance of the estimates by the weighted jackknife method. I will discuss its applicability and usefulness in nonlinear quadratic phase coupling detection and analysis for multivariate random processes. Furthermore, I will develop the time-varying canonical bicoherence for the nonlinear analysis of non-stationary random processes. In this thesis, the canonical bicoherence is mainly applied in two types of data: a) three-component geomagnetic field data, and b) high-dimensional brain electroencephalogram data. Both results obtained will be linked with physical or physiological interpretations. In particular, this thesis is the first work where the novel method of ``canonical bicoherence'' is introduced and applied to the nonlinear quadratic phase coupling detection and analysis for multivariate random processes.

abstract: PhD


title: Numerical and Experimental Characterisation of Convective Transport in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

contributor:
Pharoah, Jon G.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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subject:
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Pressure Effects
SOFC
Convection
Permeability
Model
CFD
Klinkenberg
Knudsen
Electrode

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-04 13:54:35.743

abstract:
In this work, numerical and experimental methods are used to characterise the effects of convective transport in an anode-supported tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).  To that end, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to compare a full transport model to one that assumes convection is negligible.  Between these two approaches, the variations of mass, temperature, and electrochemical performance are compared.  Preliminary findings show that convection serves to reduce the penetration of hydrogen into the anode, and becomes more important as the thickness of the anode increases.
The importance of the permeability of SOFC electrodes on the characterization of convection is also investigated.  Experiments performed on Ni-YSZ anodes reveal that permeability is a function of the cell operating conditions, and increases with increasing Knudsen number.  An empirical Klinkenberg relation is validated and proposed to more accurately represent the permeability of electrodes in a CFD model.  This is a departure from an assumption of constant permeability that is often seen in the literature.  It is found that a varying permeability has significant effects on pressure variation in the cell, although according to the electrochemical model developed in this work, variation in permeability is only found to have minor effects on the predicted performance.
Furthermore, it is revealed that an electrochemical model which makes the simplifying assumption of constant overpotential is in error when predicting current and temperature variation.  In this work, this is found to predict an unrealistic spatial variation of the current.  It is suggested that this approach be abandoned for the solution of a transport equation for potential which couples the anodic and cathodic currents.  This will lead to a more realistic prediction of temperature and performance.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Integration of Satellite Remote Sensing and Ground-based Measurement for Modelling the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Fine Particulate Matter at a Regional Scale

contributor:
Chen, Dongmei
Geography

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subject:
Remote Sensing
Particulate Matter
Air Quality
Spatiotemporal Distribution
Modelling

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2009-01-08 14:43:49.333

abstract:
Accurate information on the spatial-temporal distributions of air pollution at a regional scale is crucial for effective air quality control, as well as to impact studies on local climate and public health. The current practice of mapping air quality relies heavily on data from monitoring stations, which are often quite sparse and irregularly spaced. The research presented in this dissertation seeks to advance the methodologies involved in spatiotemporal analysis of air quality that integrates remotely-sensed data and in situ measurement. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is analyzed to estimate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations as the target air pollutant.
		   The spatial-temporal distribution of columnar aerosol loading is investigated through mapping MODIS AOD in southern Ontario, Canada throughout 2004. Clear distribution patterns and strong seasonality are found for the study area. There is a detectable relationship between an AOD level and underlying land use structure and topography on the ground. MODIS AOD was correlated with the ground-level PM2.5 concentration (GL-[PM2.5]) at various wavelengths. The AOD-PM2.5 correlation is found to be sensitive to spatial-temporal scale changes. Further, a semi-empirical model has been developed for a more accurate prediction of GL-[PM2.5]. The model employs MODIS AOD data, assimilated meteorological fields, and ground-based meteorological measurements and is able to explain 65% of the variability in GL-[PM2.5]. To achieve a more accurate and informative spatiotemporal modelling of GL-[PM2.5], a method is proposed that integrates the model-predictions and in situ measurements in the framework of Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) analysis. A case study of southern Ontario demonstrates the procedures of the method and support for its advantages by comparison with conventional geostatistical approaches. The BME estimation, coupled with BME posterior variance, can be used to depict GL-[PM2.5] distribution in a stochastic context. The methodologies covered in this work are expected to be applicable to the modelling or analysis of other types of air pollutant concentrations.

abstract: The thesis contains manuscripts that will be submitted to scientific journals for publication. The research described in the manuscripts are currently confidential.

abstract: PhD


title: Effect of Colchicine on Endosperm Development in Helianthus Annuus.

contributor:
Newcomb, William
Biology

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subject: Cytoskeleton Embryogenesis

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2008-11-03 10:18:50.557

abstract: Embryogenesis was observed through light and transmission electron microscopy to elucidate the role of the cytoskeleton in the cellularization of the coenocytic endosperm in Helianthus annuus. Microtubules were not seen throughout the development of the endosperm despite the fact that nuclear division occurred frequently. The positioning of organelles in the cytoplasm in close proximity to the developing cell plate as well as the crooked appearance of the growing endosperm cell wall suggests that a traditional microtubular system, in which a phragmoplast controls wall formation, is not present in this species. The growth patterns exhibited by endosperm walls, similar to that of tip growing cells, may indicate that actin filaments are controlling the cellularization of the endosperm. To further investigate the role of microtubules in the development of the endosperm of H. annuus, inhibitory studies using 100 µM, 300 µM and 1 mM colchicine were conducted on ovules both in-vivo and in-vitro.  Enlarged nuclei, partial collapse of the integumentary tapetum, and loss of organelles were observed in colchicine treated cells which indicates that colchicine affected the development of the endosperm. However, since little difference was seen between the various concentrations of colchicine and the cellularization of the endosperm was still observed in treated cell, this may indicate that either colchicine did not affect the cytoskeleton controlling endosperm development or that it did not successfully penetrate the embryo sacs. The minor effect seen by the application of colchicine may support the idea that actin plays a role in the cellularization of endosperm in H. annuus.

abstract: M.Sc.