title: Does self-referent cognition act as a mediator between mood and body image

subject:
Mood (Psychology)
Self-perception
Body image

abstract:
Depression and dysphoria have often been cited as emotional states that
exacerbate both body size distortion and body dissatisfaction. The specific cause of this
association has recently been the subject of empirical investigation. In fact, recent
research suggests that women induced into a negative mood state report increased
concern about their body image. The role of cognition, however, has not yet been
specifically addressed by these investigations. The present study tested whether self-referent
cognition acts as a mediator between subjective mood and body image
evaluations. Eighty women were induced into either a positive or negative mood through
brief exposure to either a self-referent or a non self-referent mood induction procedure
(MIP). Self-evaluations for attitudinal and perceptual body image were examined for
differential effects related to these MIPs. Results indicated that attitudinal body image
self-evaluations and perceptual estimates of actual body size became more derogatory
only after exposure to the negative MIP that was self-referent. Participants exposed to
the positive self-referent MIP, as well as the negative non self-referent MIP, showed an
overall unexpected trend toward improved self-evaluations on these measures.
Participants who initially reported high self-esteem also showed a decrease in self-esteem
after exposure to the negative self-referent MIP. These collective results support the
cognitive priming perspective, which posits that cognitive sets, and not subjective mood
per se, are responsible for the more negative self-evaluations reported after exposure to
negative MIPs. The implications of the study’s findings for cognitive theories are
discussed.


title: An improved multi-variate empirical mode decomposition method towards system identification of structures

contributor:
Sadhu, Ayan
Deng, Jian
Zerpa, Carlos

subject: Structural health monitoring

subject: Large-scale civil infrastructure

subject: Vibration-based monitoring system

subject: Vibration measurements

abstract:
Structural health monitoring (SHM) plays a key role towards condition assessment of
large-scale civil structures using modern sensing technology. Once the rich vibration
data is collected, important system information is extracted from the data and sub-
sequently such information is used for necessary decision making including adopting
maintenance, retro tting or control strategies. System identi cation is one of the key
steps in SHM where unknown system information of the structures is estimated based
on the response measurements. However, depending on excitation characteristics
or system behavior, vibration measurements become complicated where traditional
methods are unable to accurately analyze the data.
In this thesis, Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition (MEMD) method is ex-
plored to undertake ambient system identi cation of structures using the multi-sensor
vibration data. Due to inherent sifting operation of EMD, the traditional MEMD re-
sults into mode-mixing that causes signi cant inaccuracy in structural modal identi -
cation. In this research, Independent Component Analysis (ICA) method is integrated
with the MEMD to alleviate mode mixing in the resulting modal responses. The pro-
posed hybrid MEMD method is veri ed using a suite of numerical, experimental and
full-scale studies (e.g., a high-rise tower in China and a long-span bridge in Canada)
considering several practical applications including low energy modes, closely spaced
frequencies and measurement noise in real-life buildings and bridges. The results
show signi cantly improved performance of the proposed method compared to the
standard EMD method and therefore, the proposed method can be considered as a
robust ambient modal identi cation method for
exible structures.


title: Advanced separation and anaerobic digestion technologies for value-added bioproducts and biofuel from pulp and paper mill wastes

contributor:
Liao, Baoqiang
Leitch, Mathew
Mohamedelhassan, Eltayeb

subject:
Biogas production
Thermomechanical pulping
Primary sludge
Anaerobic digestion
Membrane bioreactor
Pulp and paper mill sludge

abstract:
In the first research project, the extraction of hemicellulose from the process water and synthetic
hydrolyzate using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) was examined. Specifically, the effects of the main
experimental variables (the type of solvent, hydrolyzate to solvent volume ratio, and pH) on extraction
performance were explored. The tested solvents showed varying affinity and selectivity to recover
hemicellulose. It was found that the hemicellulose extraction efficiency of n-hexane (71.03%) and tributyl
phosphate (TBP) (72.34%) was higher than that of 1-butanol (62.36%), and toluene (67.03%) at a solvent:
hydrolyzate volume ratio of 1:3. A pH value of 4.3, a phase ratio of 1:3 mL/mL, and an extraction time of
30 min were considered optimal conditions for hemicellulose extraction.
In the second study, the thermophilic submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (ThSAnMBR) technology
was used for pulp and paper primary sludge treatment, and both biological and membrane performance
were evaluated. The biological performance was studied in terms of biogas production, solids reduction,
chemical and structural changes of the digestate, and permeate quality under various operating conditions.
While the effect of primary sludge on the membrane performance and fouling was systematically
investigated. Several experimental parameters were investigated including solids retention time (SRT) (32-
55 days), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (3-8 days), organic loading rates (OLRs) (2.5-6.8 kg-COD/m3d),
temperature (50±1°C), membrane fouling and cleaning frequency. Membrane performance was evaluated
by monitoring its flux and corresponding transmembrane pressure as well as changes in its chemical and
physical properties resulting from operating conditions using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning
electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX), contact angle, and pore size
measurement. [...]


title: Object-oriented implementation of Prolog

subject: Object-oriented programming (Computer science)

subject: Prolog (Computer program language)

subject: Logic programming

abstract:
Logic programming is a discipline of describing problems in high-level abstraction
by separating logic from control. Conventional Prolog interpretation or compilation
models take a procedural view of Prolog programs. A description of interpretation
models was summarized by Bruynooghe[Bru82] and a well-known compilation model
was introduced by Warren[War83].
The goal of this study is to present an alternative approach to construct Prolog
execution model to tackle the complexities caused by conventional Prolog execution
models. By taking the advantage of object-oriented techniques, a new model - object-oriented
model is proposed. Instead of decomposing a given Prolog program into a
set of procedures, the model translates it into a collection of coordinated objects
which simulate components of the problem to be solved.
First, the object-oriented model is described in terms of the object base and
inference engine. The object base represents the components of Prolog programs
naturally with corresponding objects in terms of AND/OR network. The inference
engine, which specifies the operational behaviour of the objects, is embedded in the
object base and independent of any specific Prolog program.
Secondly, implementation issues of a Prolog system based on the object-oriented
model are presented. A transformation program is developed to translate any given
Prolog program into a set of objects and assign the corresponding relations among
them. The implementation of the inference engine adopts Robinson’s resolution
[Rob79] which consists of two major algorithms; unification and backtracking.
Finally, the first parameter hashing optimization and a uniform interface to adopt new built-in predicates are addressed to show the extensibility of proposed Prolog
system.
An experimental object-oriented Prolog system, LU-Prolog, has been developed
based on the proposed model. An evaluation of the performance of LU-Prolog and
its future directions are also presented in this thesis.


title: Submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment and membrane fouling characterization and control

contributor:
Liao, Baoqiang
Leung, Kam Tin
Schraft, Heidi

subject:
Submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor
ph shock
Biogas production
Sludge properties
Micro-tome slicing
Pulp and paper effluent

abstract:
This thesis focused on effects of transient conditions (pH shocks, temperature
variation and temperature shocks) on the performance and membrane fouling
characterization and control of submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAnMBR)
for pulp and paper effluent treatment (thermomechanical whitewater and pressate). A
comprehensive characterization of cake layer formed on membrane surfaces was
conducted using various techniques.
Results show that a pH 8.0 shock had a minor impact, while pH 9.1 and 10.0
shocks exerted significant long-lasting negative impacts on performance of the SAnMBR.
The SAnMBR system was highly resilient and could successfully tolerate the 5 °C/10 °C
temperatures shocks at 37 °C and the temperature variations from 37 to 45 °C. The
temperature shock of 5 °C and 10 °C at 45 °C led to slight disturbance and significant
disturbance of the performance, respectively.


title: Eutrophication in Northwestern Ontario? The unique case study of Cloud Lake

subject: Freshwater lake classification in Northwestern Ontario

subject: Cloud Lake

subject: Eutrophication

subject: Human & natural aspects of eutrophication

subject: Eutrophication management in freshwater lakes

subject: Cloud River watershed

abstract:
This thesis investigates freshwater lake classification in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The research is based on a case study of Cloud Lake, 40km south of Thunder Bay Ontario, Canada. Complaints of decreasing water quality brought attention to the need for a detailed assessment of the current conditions on Cloud Lake. The purpose of this thesis was to determine Cloud Lake’s present trophic state based on two currently implemented trophic state indexing (TSI) methods, (Carlson’s TSI, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Changes).
This thesis provides biological, chemical, and physical evidence that Cloud Lake’s water quality is a serious concern. Cloud Lake is a mesotrophic lake with confirmed occurrences of toxin producing cyanobacteria. The results underlie a misconception within current monitoring of inland lakes located within Northwestern Ontario that environmental conditions are pristine. Therefore, lakes in the geographic region should all be oligotrophic. Despite the absence of significant anthropogenic inputs (i.e. agricultural or urban development) Cloud Lake demonstrates a number of symptoms associated with eutrophication in larger, more developed lakes that relate to internal loading being a dynamic factor. The thesis provides recommendations for future monitoring and research to better understand the complex causes of eutrophication in Cloud Lake.


title: Evaluation of stormwater remediation options on McVicar Creek, Thunder Bay, Ontario / by Kestrel Wraggett

type: Thesis Thesis

subject: Stormwater infiltration Ontario Thunder Bay Region

subject: Urban runoff Management Ontario Thunder Bay Region

subject: Water Pollution Ontario Thunder Bay Region

subject: Integrated stormwater management

subject: Water quality

abstract:
Stormwater discharge has been shown to impair aquatic ecosystems through the
transportation of nitrogen, nitrate, ammonium, phosphorus, orthophosphate, organic carbon,
fecal coli form bacteria, biochemical oxygen, metals and grease and oil from urban environments
(Mallin et al., 2009). Stormwater is generally considered a non-point source of pollution which
can cause difficulty in managing habitat and ecosystem degradation. Current municipal
stormwater management is often focused on the deployment of end of pipe solutions in the form
of detention or retention basins (Roy et al, 2008). There is however a growing recognition that
the public needs to be involved and aware of urban drainage planning ifwe are to move away
from strictly engineered solutions and shift to integrated stormwater management (Rauch et al.,
2005).
In 2002, the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) recognized that McVicar
Creek, one of Thunder Bay’s major tributaries to Lake Superior, was potentially contributing
significant sources of stormwater related pollutants to the Thunder Bay Area of Concern. The
lower reaches of the creek are highly developed putting the water system at high risk of
excessive urban runoff causing ecosystem impairments.
This thesis is aimed at providing stormwater remediation recommendations along McVicar
Creek through quantitative and qualitative research techniques. McVicar Creek was the selected
location due to the urbanized environment surrounding the creek and the initial recognition from
the LRCA. Three representative sites were selected that best characterized stormwater impacts
along the creek. The sites were chosen based on previous research completed on the creek by
Lakehead University and the Northshore Remedial Action Plans (RAP). Ofthe three sites
selected, one site was further studied as a case study site in order to complete a multi-decision
making workshop with stakeholders. All three sites had in-depth subwatershed catchment
assessments and water quality data. In addition, soil texture and composition, soil nutrients, soil
organic matter, infiltration rates and upstream and downstream water quality were examined.
These parameters were evaluated to determine the efficacy of Low Impact Development (LID)
best management practices on the site.
In relation to the literature, the quantitative data show the case study site is a suitable
option for LID remediation. The areas within the case study site that have less than ideal LID soil
conditions could be altered through engineering practices and designs to achieve successful
implementation. The water quality results show excess amounts of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite
phosphate and chloride exceeding specified guidelines outlined by the provincial and federal
governments. The stakeholder group concludes that a watershed-wide education and outreach
campaign is a more valued stormwater remediation option in Thunder Bay.


title: Study of the effect of gamma irradiation on cellular metabolism by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

contributor:
Gottardo, Christine
Rapley, Patrick

subject:
Cancer research (Ontario Thunder Bay)
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Cancer radiotherapy research
Cancer treatment

abstract:
The phenomenon of NMR plays an important role in a number of different
scientific and medical fields. Nuclear magnetic resonance has the ability to detect
changes in tumour, and cell metabolism caused by both chemotherapy and radiation
therapy treatments. This project determined the feasibility of NMR spectroscopy for
quantifying the effect of radiation therapy on the cellular metabolite levels o f the MCF-7
cancer cell line. The metabolites were extracted using a freeze-thaw procedure developed
for this study, and analyzed by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Phosphorous spectra were
normalized to the inorganic phosphate peak height, and relative peak height ratios were
calculated for all phosphorous metabolites present. The standard deviations found for
peak height ratios were determined by performing a control reproducibility study. It was
found that the reproducibility of intra-batch samples was much higher than that of inter-batch
samples. The percent error values for intra-batch samples ranged from 2.53 % to
7.98 % throughout the different relative metabolite ratios, and for inter-batch samples, the
values ranged from 38.61 % to 49.90 %. The post-irradiation times of 2, 24 and 48 hrs
were chosen, and the time of 48 hrs was determined to yield the greatest quantitative
change. Considering this, a range of doses (4 to 12Gy) was examined at 48 hrs post-irradiation.
Through the qualitative examination of the peak ratios for all of the
phosphorous metabolites found in MCF-7 extracts, it was found that a direct correlation
exists between the amount of irradiation delivered, and the changes in metabolite
intensities for the MCF-7 cell line. Therefore, based on these preliminary results, it has
been shown that 31P NMR can be used to monitor the effects of radiation therapy, and
potentially, can be used to quantify a dose-response relationship.


title: Functional niche differentiation in co-occurring congeneric plants / by Md Saiful Islam Khan.

subject: Niche (Ecology) Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Plants Habitat Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Resource partitioning (Ecology) Ontario, Northwestern

abstract: "Niche differentiation is argued as one of the mechanisms explaining species coexistence. Despite their sessile nature, similar resource needs and traits to acquire and utilize resources closely related plant species coexist. I hypothesized that i) spatial distribution of congeneric species would be similar because they are closely related with similar traits and resource needs and ii) each species will perform different biological functions (growth vs. reproduction) optimally at different points along a resource gradient and thereby differentiate their functional niche to ensure coexistence by complementary resource use. I collected data on two congeneric wild blueberry species, Vaccinium angustifolium and V. myrtilloides on occurrence from 13,500 20 x 20 cm quadrates, their growth and reproductive response to light and microhabitat parameters from 360 1 x 1 m quadrates along 90 30 m transects from 5 regions of NW Ontario [Northwestern Ontario]. I also grew these two species in a common garden experiment (CGE) under a shade gradient to test their response to light in competition-free environment. A chi-square test confirmed that V. angustifolium and V. myrtilloides are co-occurring species. Variance partitioning analysis revealed that light is the most important microsite variable. Frequency of occurrence showed their abundance gradually increase from low to high light with high niche overlaps. Regression model fitting of cover (indicating growth) and berry yield (indicating reproduction) along the light gradient provided species functional response curves.


title: Living landscapes of Granville Lake, Manitoba

contributor:
Hamilton, Scott
Robson, Robert
Dowsley, Martha
Hanna, Margaret

subject:
Boreal forest
Ethnograhic studies
Cultural landscape
Granville lake
Indigenous knowledge

abstract:
This thesis addresses aspects of indigenous knowledge held by members of the community of Pickerel Narrows, located on Granville Lake, Manitoba as part of a larger community-based heritage research project led by Kevin Brownlee of the Manitoba Museum. Consistent with other Cree communities in Subarctic Canada, indigenous knowledge has been the primary means of inter-generational transmission of cultural knowledge. Over the past 150 years this cultural system has been increasingly challenged by acculturation, and such transformation has accelerated in recent decades through exposure to mass-media, more regular and pervasive contact with non-Aboriginal Canada, and modern development projects within northern Manitoba. Of great concern for community members is the documentation of elements of the Cree
cultural landscape in anticipation of future development. The objectives of this research are to explore the dynamics of the cultural landscapes of Granville Lake; identify what makes Pickerel Narrows and surrounding areas on Granville Lake a meaningful place for community members; and to explore patterned variation in stories and story-telling,
to help uncover the root of variations among shared indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge acts as a oral recitation of a community’s history, used to maintain community identity and ensure cultural continuity over generations. The integration of indigenous knowledge and landscape studies can help to facilitate the cultural survival
of a particular group over time. In the case of Pickerel Narrows, oral traditions have aided in the transmission and preservation of the socio-cultural and spiritual basis of their culturally important landscapes.


title: Supporting injured professional football players : the role of significant others

subject: Football injuries (Psychological aspects)

subject: Sports psychology

subject: Football players (Psychology)

subject: Social support during athletic injury

abstract:
The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of professional football players
regarding the social support provided by family, friends and partners during injury. A
sample of professional football players [N=15] competing in the Canadian Football
League (CFL) were interviewed using qualitative and quantitative measures to determine
which type of social support they found most beneficial and from whom. The players felt
they were supported emotionally in the initial phases of injury from family and partners.
None of the participants required motivational support, many athletes reported not
requiring external motivation to heal and resume play. Very few required tangible
support, although the need for tangible support varied with type of injury and timing of
injury. The players received valuable informational support concerning their injury
primarily from their friends who were also athletes, many players received to the
importance of understanding injury and its workings. Family members and partners were
not believed to have a sound understanding of what the athletes were dealing with.
Future research could evaluate the perspectives of family, friends and partners with
respect to athletic injury.


title: Verbal content and affective response in an interview : as a function of experimenter gaze direction

subject:
Social interaction
Affect (Psychology)

abstract: This study was designed to investigate the effects of one's looking or not looking at another's eyes upon the content of the other's speech and his affective response to the encounter. The relationships between experimenter gaze direction and subjects' verbal content and affective response to an interview were investigated by having 20 male and 20 female subjects participate in an interview in which experimenter gaze, problems discussed, and sex of subjects were varied in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design. The independent variables were experimenter gaze direction (High versus Low Looking), problems discussed (Big versus Small), and sex of subjects. The dependent variables were the subjects' verbal content of speech (usage of self-references) and affective response to the interview (favourable or unfavourable).


title: Applications of satellite remote sensing to develop forest inventory for strategic-level planning

subject:
Forest surveys (Remote sensing)
Artificial satellites in forestry
Aerial photography in forestry
Indian remote sensing
Landsat 7 enhanced thematic mapper

abstract:
Forest inventory is the fundamental base information for most decision making
processes in today’s forest management planning. Recently in Ontario,
with increasing industrial involvement, new environmental and multiple use
issues, and rapidly developing technology, the requirement and opportunity for
investigation into new inventory methods has increased. The method developed
in this thesis focuses on the inventory requirements for large scale, strategic-level
forest management for the boreal forest region. With recent improvement in
satellite sensors and computer tools, the process of acquiring the imagery and
analyzing the information has become significantly cheaper and faster. A multisource
approach is used in this project to improve upon current forest
classification attempts using satellite imagery. By merging the superior
multispectral properties of Landsat 7 ETM+ (30 m multispectral) with the spatially
detailed IRS-1 D panchromatic (5 m) imagery, an attempt is made to derive a
species-level classification scheme. Image data merging techniques are
explored and the utilization of image segmentation procedures is evaluated.
Principle component substitution is used to integrate the imagery, and a nearest
neighbour algorithm is used in an object-based classification system. Areabased
accuracy assessment is used to test the success of the methods with
reference derived from interpreted aerial photography. Accuracy assessments
show satisfactory agreement between the thematic product and reference data,
with overall accuracies reaching 72%. Pure species groups such as black
spruce, jack pine and trembling aspen exhibited producer’s accuracies of 90%,
83%, and 87%, respectively, with user’s accuracies as high as 73%, 75%, and
61% respectively.


title: Carbon bio-sequestration by anhydrase enzyme extracted from spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

subject:
Carbonic Anhydrase
Climate change
Carbon dioxide sequestration methods
Greenhouse gases
Fossil energy

abstract: Demand for sustainable and new technologies striving for sequestration of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, is an area of considerable focus. In recent years there has been an increased interest in using an enzyme biocatalyst, Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) for this purpose. CA is an ubiquitous metalloenzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydration of CO2 in aqueous biological systems. In this study, Carbonic Anhydrase was extracted and partially purified from a plant source which is spinach leaves. The extracted enzyme was immobilized on different materials for increased stability, recyclability and cost-effectiveness. Immobilization of Carbonic Anhydrase was done on alginate beads, chitosan beads and chitosan film. After immobilization the activities for alginate beads, chitosan beads and chitosan film were found to be 23.37, 20.96 and 17.58 U/mg respectively. Optimum pH for alginate beads and free enzyme was 8, while for chitosan beads and film it was 8.5 and 7.5 respectively. The optimum temperature for free enzyme was 30°C, while for alginate beads, chitosan beads and chitosan film it was 40°C, 35°C and 35°C respectively. For both free and immobilized enzyme, calcium carbonate precipitation was approximately same per unit of enzyme activity. The recyclability of immobilized enzyme was tested up till four cycles. The immobilized enzyme showed better stability than the free enzyme. Alginate beads, chitosan beads and chitosan film retained 76.59, 80.75 and 83% of their activities over a period of 4 weeks. It was concluded that carbonic anhydrase obtained from plant source can be used for CO2 sequestration purposes. On immobilization, the enzyme has better storage stability, recyclability and can be used in industrial process.


title: The effect of tree size on the delivered wood cost in Northern Ontario

subject: Delivered wood cost

subject: Intensive silviculture

subject: Extensive silviculture

subject: Wood transport

subject: Economics (forestry)

subject: Logging operations (cost)

subject: Forest management (Ontario)

subject: Harvesting costs and profitability (Ontario forests)

abstract: To determine the effects that tree size has on the delivered wood cost, data was collected from existing literature on: average tree size (m3), average off road transport distance, volume per hectare (m3/ha), logging chance volume (m3) and average long-distance transport of wood in Northern Ontario. These variables were used to create three different modeled scenarios: Current (Extensive) Practices, Natural Regeneration with Thinning and Intensive Plantations. Of the three scenarios the Intensive Plantation had the lowest cost of wood at $39.18/ m3. While the Current (Extensive) scenario was the highest at $49.19/m3. For each a sensitivity analysis was performed on each variable to determine the variable with the most significant impact on the delivered wood cost. Through this it was found that the average long-distance transport distance played the most significant role and was capable of altering the final price by up to $12.04/m3. The average tree size was the second most significant contributing factor and was capable of altering the delivered wood cost by up to $3.82/m3. These results help define the effect intensive silvculture has on tree size and therefore on delivered wood cost.


title: Localized harmonic motion imaging

subject:
Localized Harmonic Motion (LHM) Imaging
Ultrasound imaging

abstract: Localized Harmonic Motion (LHM) Imaging is a new technique of ultrasound imaging which uses the localized stimulus of the oscillatory ultrasonic radiation force as produced by a modulated signal, and estimates the resulting harmonic displacement in the tissue in order to assess its underlying mechanical properties. This method can be highly localized and is considered as a non-invasive modality. In this thesis we first present the background information for LHM imaging and we compare this technique to other tissue mechanical properties imaging techniques. We then describe a setup for LHM induction and how the data is acquired and processed. We first focus on the transducer configuration, its characteristics and the housing built to combine the transducers, then the alignment of these transducers so they are confocal and can induce and detect motion in tissues, and finally we describe the local harmonic motion experiment setup including a supporting system and the induction/detection module. One of the most critical stages is the acquisition of the signal, since signals acquired by the imaging transducer always contain different sources of noise such as acoustic (standing waves, reflection from the tank, mechanical cross-talk between the transducers) and electric noise (electric cross-talk, noise of the high power amplifier) that we need to filter. Electronic filters were designed and implemented into our LHM experiment system. Additionally, digital filters were designed to further improve the performance of the system. We applied several kinds of digital notch filters (finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) classes) and conduct analysis on the performance when obtaining LHM displacement information. After finishing the filtering and the setup, we performed LHM displacement experiments. We analyzed the obtained displacements as well as the noise observed in the final displacement waveforms, and the influence of analog and digital filters on the displacement detection. We finally measured the displacements induced by LHM on samples with different Young modulus and were able to differentiate them by the amplitude of the motion. Finally, we performed optimizations on the algorithm for LHM displacement calculations. Due to the large amount (462) of RF signals, it will typically take around 1h for a 41x41 points image. It was found that the digital filter was the most time consuming part of the processing and it was parallelized using graphics processing unit (GPU).


title: Online sequential learning with non-iterative strategy for feature extraction, classification and data augmentation

subject:
Neural networks
Network training algorithm
Machine learning
Online sequential learning
Autoencoder

abstract:
Network aims to optimize for minimizing the cost function and provide better
performance. This experimental optimization procedure is widely recognized as gradient descent, which is a form of iterative learning that starts from a random point
on a function and travels down its slope, in steps, until it reaches to the steepest
point which is time-consuming and slow to converge. Over the last couple of decades,
several variations of the non-iterative neural network training algorithms have been
proposed, such as Random Forest and Quicknet. However, the non-iterative neural
network training algorithms do not support online training that given a very largesized training data, one needs enormous computing resources to train neural network.
In this thesis, a non-iterative learning strategy with online sequential has been exploited. In Chapter 3, a single layer Online Sequential Sub-Network node (OS-SN)
classifier has been proposed that can provide competitive accuracy by pulling the
residual network error and feeding it back into hidden layers. In Chapter 4, a multilayer network is proposed where the first portion built by transforming multi-layer
autoencoder into an Online Sequential Auto-Encoder(OS-AE) and use OS-SN for
classification. In Chapter 5, OS-AE is utilized as a generative model that can construct new data based on subspace features and perform better than conventional
data augmentation techniques on real-world image and tabular datasets.


title: Genetic variation in the frost hardiness of Pinus banksiana Lamb. (jack pine) in Northwestern Ontario

subject: Jack pine Frost resistance Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Forest genetics Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Frost hardiness

subject: Genetic variation

subject: Provenance variation

subject: Symptoms of frost injury

abstract:
To estimate the level and pattern of variation in frost hardiness,
artificial freezing tests of 64 provenances of jack pine were conducted.
The provenances originated from northern Ontario. Seedlings of the
provenances were grown in a uniform environment in a shade house.
Current-growth needles were collected in fall during three consecutive
years , 1988 to 1990, and in mid-summer in 1990. Three test temperatures
and a control were used for all freezing trials. Temperatures ranged from -
19° C to -1° C and duration varied from three to one hours. Freezing injury
was evaluated visually. Two way ANOVA indicated statistically significant
provenance and provenance x temperature interactions. These results
suggested that the tested jack pine provenances exhibited genetic
variation in their development of frost hardiness and implied a certain risk
in transferring seed from one environment to another. Differentiation
among provenances could not be detected during early August 1990.
Regression analyses examined the associations between various degrees of
injury and climatic gradients. These analyses suggested that several
selective forces, including precipitation and temperature, were partially
responsible for differentiation among the tested provenances. Principal
component analysis (PCA) of the data generated three significant principal
components which accounted for approximately 60% of the total variation.
Regression of PCA scores against climatic gradients also reflected
adaptive variation. However, a number of provenances which originated
from regions with low temperatures and very short frost-free periods
showed no higher levels of frost hardiness than provenances from areas
with longer frost-free periods and higher temperatures. Low levels of
consistency were found among the different trials. Possible reasons for
the observed inconsistencies were assumed to be i) weaknesses of the
scoring technique, ii) the random effect of supercooling and, iii) the uneven
distribution of temperature in the freezer.


title: Rethinking elder abuse : words and actions

subject:
Elder abuse
Elder neglect

abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to determine the quality and impact of various
presentations of elder abuse information to establish the most effective ways to educate
the public about elder abuse. Secondary to this purpose was to explore aspects of
restorative justice interventions for elder abuse cases. The first experiment involved three
pamphlets with similar content that were presented with titles reflecting different
conceptual frameworks; elder abuse, conflict resolution, and empowerment. The
pamphlets were simultaneously made available at a seniors centre to determine any
differences in frequency of pamphlet selection. Elder abuse was the least selected
pamphlet, offering empirical evidence to the claim that people avoid materials with the
words elder abuse on them. The second experiment involved students reading one of 6
pamphlets with similar content but with the wording varied on two dimensions; type of
conceptual framework, and tone (emotional versus neutral wording). The student
participants rated the quality and impact of the information, answered items about their
knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about elder abuse, and provided some basic
demographic information. Elder abuse pamphlets were rated to have higher impact than
other messages. It appears that although elder abuse messages have the most impact for
students, the seniors are less likely to pick up educational material using this language; so
alternate wordings may be the best solution to deliver the message about elder abuse to
the most people.


title: Adapting the Ontario teacher performance appraisal manual to video-based teacher assessment / by Eric Fredrickson.

subject:
Teacher evaluation
Teaching - Evaluation.
Teacher effectiveness
Video-based teaching evaluation

abstract:
This study asks if a teacher appraisal tool, the Ontario "Teacher Performance Appraisal Manual" (TPAM) can be modified toward the assessment of pre-service teacher competencies as viewed in archived videoconference lessons. Seven pre-service teachers worked in small groups to deliver the same lesson two times (six lessons were delivered in total) from a Education to six groups of two or three grade seven and eight Science students in a regular classroom. The lessons were archived to video compact disc (VCD). The researcher worked with two Education professors to develop an initial modification of the TPAM, a modification that they felt was suited to video-based assessment. The modified scale was provided to a group of five principals along with a VCD of one of the videoconference lessons.  Feedback provided by the principals was used to confirm the suitability o f the scale and to modify it further.
A re-modified scale was sent to the same group of principals along with five VCD lessons. The principals’ feedback regarding the re-modified scale suggested that further modification was not required.
Three lines of evidence are presented to support the argument that
modification of the TPAM was successfully accomplished; the nature of the
indicators of the modified scale conforms to expectations derived from the
literature review, principals (experts in the use of the TPAM for teacher
performance assessment) rated the utility of each of the scale’s indicators as being suited or highly-suited to video-based assessment, the principals were able to use the modified scale to assess performance in archived videoconference lessons.


title: Sex and death in modern America : media as a haven for taboo transgression

subject:
Taboo
Necrophilia
Death in mass media
Sex in mass media
Pornography

abstract: This study examines popular media representations of sex and death, using examples from television, film and the internet, and frames them using Bakhtin's [Mikhail Bakhtin] theory of carnivalization and Foltyn's [Jacque L. Foltyn]  theory of corpse pornography. The goal is to show that taboos surrounding sexualized death still exist in contemporary society and are reinforced by popular media.  It is argued that taboos continue to play a role in contemporary society and that popular media plays on its trademark illusory qualities to allow taboos to be broken in a safe venue, throwing into relief by contrast the consequences of transgression outside that space. This work increases the complexity of the understanding of how media work to reinforce social norms in contemporary society.


title: Protective factors among peer harassed adolescent girls : implications for body dissatisfaction and eating problems / by Jennifer M. McFarlane.

subject:
Body image in adolescence
Sexual harassment in education
Eating disorders in adolescence
Adolescent girls.

abstract:
The first goal of the present study was to examine two forms of peer harassment, appearance teasing and sexual harassment, by male and female peers, as they relate to body dissatisfaction and eating problems in young adolescent girls. The second goal was to assess whether social
support, intelligence and coping style functioned as protective variables (moderators) in the relationship between peer harassment and both body dissatisfaction and eating problems. The Peer Harassment Inventory and the Coping with Peer Harassment Inventory, both developed for
this study, along with questionnaires that assessed body dissatisfaction, eating problems, selfesteem, depression, social support, and intelligence were administered to 383 females in grades 6, 7, and 8. Questionnaires were completed during regular class periods and took approximately 60 minutes. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that after accounting for the effects of physical characteristics, appearance teasing by both male and female peers was predictive of body dissatisfaction, accounting for 28% of the variance. A combination of physical characteristics, peer harassment, and protective variables accounted for 62% of the variance in body dissatisfaction. In the prediction of eating problems, appearance teasing and sexual harassment by male peers accounted for 30% of the variance beyond the effects of physical characteristics. A combination of physical characteristics, peer harassment, protective variables, body dissatisfaction, and psychological distress accounted for 55% of the variance in eating problems. Social support appeared to moderate the negative impact of boy harassment on eating problems, whereas a tendency to appraise boy harassment more negatively was associated with increased eating problems. These findings are discussed in terms of implications for prevention strategies.


title: Mirror presentation and playback of species-specific aggressive vocalizations as reinforcers in adult domestic chickens (Gallus gallus)

subject:
Poultry
Behavior
Aggressive behavior in animals

abstract: The present three experiments, designated as I, II, and III, attempted to establish the positive reinforcinig effects of mirror and audio (the playback of recorded crows) presentation, alone and combined, for adult Domestic Chickens. The study also sought to determine if the reinforcing effects of mirror and audio presentation combined are additive.


title: Experimental determination of the residual compressive strength of concrete columns subjected to different fire durations and load ratios

subject: Concrete (construction)

subject: Fire performance of reinforced concrete columns

subject: Behaviour of concrete at high temperatures

subject: Residual strength of fire-exposed concrete columns

subject: Fire resistance testing

abstract:
The superior thermal property of concrete associated to its great capability of thermally insulating the embedded reinforcing steel rebar is the main reason for the good behavior of reinforced concrete structural elements in fire condition, compared to other construction materials. However, at elevated temperatures, concrete still undergoes changes in its mechanical and thermal properties, which mainly cause degradation of strength and may lead to the failure of the structure. Retrofitting is a desirable alternative to rehabilitate post-fire concrete structures. However, in order to ensure safe reuse of fire-exposed buildings and to adopt proper retrofitting methods, it is essential to evaluate the residual strength capacity of fire-damaged reinforced concrete structural elements.
The focus of this experimental research study is to investigate the fire performance of reinforced concrete columns exposed to elevated temperatures that followed CAN/ULC-S101 standard fire, and then evaluate their residual compressive strengths after fire exposure. In order to effectively study the fire performance of such columns, eight identical 200 x 200 x 1500mm high reinforced-concrete column test specimens were subjected to two different durations of standard fire exposure (1 hour and 2 hours) while being loaded with two different axial load ratios (20% and 40% of the column ultimate design axial compressive load capacity). In a subsequent stage and after complete cooling down, residual compressive strength capacity tests were performed on the fire-exposed columns. Experimental results showed that the residual compressive strength capacity dropped to almost 50% and 30% of its ambient temperature capacity for the columns exposed to 1- and 2-hour fire durations, respectively. It was also noticed that the applied load ratio has less effect on the column’s residual compressive strength compared to that of the fire duration.


title: Electrochemical oscillations during the anodic oxidation of sulfide

contributor:
Chen, Aicheng
Kinrade, Stephen
Rappon, M.

subject:
Sulphide oxidation
Electrodes, Platinum
Electrolytic oxidation
Electrochemical oscillators

abstract:
Sulfide is most often encountered as a waste product of the pulp and paper,
petroleum, and mining industries. Organic decomposition is another major source of
sulfide. During my M. Sc. program, I have studied electrochemical oxidation o f aqueous
sulfide on Pt electrodes as well as on IrO2-based electrodes using a number of
electrochemical methods (e.g., cyclic voltammetry, cyclic and linear galvanic voltammetry,
differential capacitance, chronoamperommetry, chronopotentiommetry, galvanostatic
technique, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) and surface analytical
techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy (EDS).
Investigating electrochemical oscillations plays an important role in nonlinear
dynamic studies. During the oxidation of sulfide on a platinum electrode we observed
current oscillations and two distinct potential oscillations (Oscillation a and Oscillation P)
as well as bistability features. Two peaks are observed in the CV curve when scanning the
potential from -0.8 to +1.8 V. The small peak is located in the potential range between
-0.5 and 0.0 V, while the large one is located between 0.6 and 1.4 V. The current
oscillations occur within the large peak potential range and are likely caused by the
periodic formation and removal of platinum oxide and sulfur deposits. Our EIS studies
show that both Oscillation a and Oscillation p can be classified as hidden negative
differential resistance (HNDR) oscillators. The formation and removal of sulfur on the Pt
surface, switching the direct oxidation of S2-/HS~ to polysulfides off and on, are
responsible for Oscillation a , which occurs at low current densities (below 10 mA/cm2).
Oscillation P appears at high current densities and it may be due to the synergic effect of sulfur formation/removal combined with oxygen evolution on the Pt oxide surface. The
well-defined bistability features are caused by the change of the electrode surface states; in
the low potential region sulfide is oxidized on a platinum surface, while in the high
potential region platinum oxides are formed and sulfide is oxidized on a platinum oxide
surface.


title: Kama Creek culvert restoration: an assessment of long-term remediation success

subject:
Habitat assessment
Kama Creek
Brook trout (habitat)
Aquatic ecosystem
Stream restoration

abstract:
The purpose of studying the long term remediation success of Kama Creek, Nipigon Bay, Lake Superior, was to follow up on past remediation research with special attention to emerging concerns and the importance of continued monitoring – particularly on small nursery streams. Monitoring is an important part of ecosystem management that provides decision makers with current conditions and possibly more valuable, historical conditions. In the case of Kama Creek, there have been many alterations to the natural stream from railway and road crossings, channel realignment (1960’s), and remediation (October-November 2011). The Kama Creek remediation was initiated because of noted declines in Brook Trout (Savelinus fontinalis) populations throughout Lake Superior and Kama Creek’s own reaches.
Since being recognized as an area of concern, assessments have been completed to establish pre-remediation conditions (2011), post-remediation conditions (2012), and remediation success (2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018). Individually, the research projects indicate the conditions and health of Kama Creek at one point in time, but combined together the studies directly show the re-establishment of ecological components, stream health over time, and success or failure of the remediation techniques. Indirectly, the continued study of Kama Creek illustrates the importance of monitoring remediation projects, ecosystems, and any ecological element.
This habitat assessment of Kama Creek occurred that seven years after the 2011 restoration and continues to demonstrate that the remediation project was successful at increasing the abundance of high quality brook trout habitat. Sediment deposition continues to raise concerns about the long-term changes to the river’s morphology and potential impacts on the restored habitat features. However, the current condition of habitat features is maintained and ongoing monitoring s needed to better understand the long-term implications of fluvial geomorphological process on the overall stream habitat quality to decline. The habitat assessment method developed by Kaurin (2015) was an easy-to-follow system encompassing brook trout habitat characteristics and factors influencing such habitat components. This method is susceptible to assessor bias due to the qualitative nature of the assessment and descriptors used for each habitat condition, leaving the accuracy of this method variable between assessors.


title: Exploring the perspectives of experienced healthy older adults participating in a community-based tai-chi program

contributor:
Pearson, Erin
Gotwals, John

subject: Physical activity (older adults)

subject: Tai chi (physical and psychological health benefits)

subject: Group-based exercise

abstract: Only 13% of older Canadian adults, often identified as individuals between the ages of 50 and 65, participate in the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Tai chi has been promoted as a form of physical activity that can help address this issue as it is a martial art that is gentle on the body and accessible to this population. Research has demonstrated tai chi’s ability to enhance well-being among older adults who have chronic conditions and who are new to tai chi; however, no studies have investigated the perspectives of older adults who are healthy and experienced in practice. This is important because tai chi requires a sequence of movements that may be dependent on long-term participation, and the positive effects of practicing may increase with more experience. In an effort to provide information on potential strategies for promoting adherence to physical activity in older adults, the purpose of this study was to use qualitative inquiry to broadly explore the perspectives of experienced, healthy older adult tai chi practitioners' participating in a community-based program. Eleven participants (M age= 64.9 years; male n= 8) who self-identified as healthy and had been practicing tai chi for at least 1 year were recruited from a tai chi program in Thunder Bay, Ontario. One-on-one interviews were conducted and inductive content analysis was used to analyze the data. Five overarching themes were identified, along with associated subthemes: reasons for joining tai chi (e.g., becoming more physically active); principles related to tai chi and aging (e.g., being kind to an aging body); challenges to practice (e.g., personal barriers); facilitators for practice (e.g., physical and psychological health benefits), and group dynamics (e.g., group format). The findings of this research suggest that among healthy older adults, tai chi is a form of physical activity that is gentle and holistic, and the facilitators associated with practice outweigh the challenges, thus promoting long-term adherence. Future community-based programs should attempt to adopt similar program characteristics (e.g., group format, supportive instructors, facilitating expanding social network) to promote adherence to physical activity in older adults.


title: Poetizing disability : arts-informed reflections

contributor:
Blaikie, Fiona
Reynolds, Karen

subject:
Cerebral palsy
Dyslexia
Case Studies
Education
Special Education

abstract: Through arts-informed educational research, I engaged in poetic exploration of the lived experience of disability. Theorizing and creating through poetry helped me to reflect and deepen my understanding of my own disability, cerebral palsy, as well as my adolescent participant's struggles and joys with dyslexia. I discovered that a person with dyslexia, an invisible disability, can have similar emotional experiences to those I had as an adolescent female with cerebral palsy, including some difficulty relating to peers. My participant revealed that while she accepts the diagnosis of dyslexia, she does not consider dyslexia a disability. Thus far, both my own and my participant's diverse schooling experiences have helped us to do well. Our success is due largely to the emotional and academic supports we enjoy at home and at school.


title: Molecular and intramolecular relaxation processes of small molecules

subject:
Molecular relaxation
Dielectric relaxation

abstract:
The dielectric relaxation method was used to determine
the activation parameters of some ethane derivatives and simple
amides. A General Radio 1615-A capacitance bridge was utilized to
obtain the energy barriers of the relaxation processes associated
with the polar solute of a compound dissolved in the atactic
polystyrene matrix. The experimental data obtained from the
measurement of the bridge was fed into the computer by means
of a series of APL language programmes and the results of the
analysis came as an output.
This thesis investigates mainly the molecular and intramolecular
relaxation processes of some simple amides and some simple
ethane derivatives. Since these compounds are small in size, the
energy barrier of the corresponding relaxation processes were
compared. The molecular relaxation process of ethane derivatives was
used as a reference for the investigation of the molecular relaxation
process of simple amides of similar size. Similarly, the relaxation
parameters of intramolecular process of the simple amides was compared
with those of the simple ethane derivatives.


title: A script for the automatic delineation of canopy gaps from raster images and incorporation of analysis with Ontario’s FRI datasets

contributor:
Meyer, Lense
Crowe, Kevin

subject:
Forest canopy gaps
Boreal forest
Forest structure
Forest ecosystem

abstract: This thesis project serves as a tool for resource managers looking to delineate gaps in the forest canopy, where a Canopy Height Model raster is available. Once identified, analysis is performed in order to assess the prevalence and distribution of canopy gaps within a forest stands. Results are written to Ontario FRI data of the corresponding area.


title: Dual-modality image guided high intensity focused ultrasound device design for prostate cancer : a numerical study

subject:
Prostate
Cancer
Research
Treatment
Magnetic resonance imaging
Ultrasonic imaging

abstract:
In this study we established the feasibility of designing a multi-element high intensity focused
ultrasound (HIFU) device for Magnetic Resonance and an ultrasound imaging-guided transrectal
treatment of prostate cancer. An initial geometry was specified based on a clinical transrectal
HIFU device with a central open space to lodge an independent ultrasound imaging probe
for guidance. A parametric study was performed to determine the optimal focal length (L ),
operating frequency (j), element size (a) and central opening radius (r) of a device that would be
capable of treating cancerous tissue within the prostate, spare the surrounding organs and
minimize the number of elements. Images from the Visible Human Project were used to
determine the organ sizes and treatment locations for simulation. Six virtual ellipsoidal tumors
were located throughout a simulated prostate and their lateral and axial limit locations were
selected as test locations. Using Tesla 1060(NVIDIA) graphics processors, the Bio-Heat Transfer
Equation was implemented to simulate the heating produced during treatment at the test
locations. L, f a and r were varied from 45 to 75mm, 2.25 to 3.00MHz, 1.5 to 8 times A,
where A= f speed of sound , and 9 to 12.5mm respectively. Results indicated that a combination of
L,f, a and r of 68mm, 2.75MHz, 2.05A. and 9mm respectively could safely ablate tumors within
the prostate and spare the surrounding organs. The number of therapeutic elements required for
this device was 761.


title: Determining the accuracy of terrestrial LiDAR on red pine

subject:
Terrestrial LiDAR
Forest inventory and data collection
Stem analysis
Tree volume

abstract:
This paper reviews the capabilities of the FARO Terrestrial LiDAR technology
to produce accurate forest measurements. The study was conducted on single Red Pine
trees in Northern Ontario. Field measurements were compared to scanned terrestrial
LiDAR data. Results found that the FARO was accurate in producing tree heights.
When determining diameter at breast height (DBH) and volume, there is still research
that needs to be done. There was error due to target placement which distorted diameter
at breast height measurements. With the proper training, better results could be omitted
using terrestrial LiDAR. Terrestrial LiDAR has the potential to replace traditional field
methods and technology is advancing very quickly. This study is important in order to
update current forest measurement methods and produce faster, more accurate results. It
is hoped that this study will inform foresters and researchers about the potential uses for
terrestrial LiDAR in the forest stand environment.


title: Fear of death and physical illness : a personal construct approach

subject: Death (Psychological aspects)


title: Lichen detectability under varying canopy closure

subject:
Boreal forest
Caribou (habitat)
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Woodland caribou
Lichen detection
Remote sensing
Aerial photography

abstract: Monitoring lichen distribution is of increasing concern as mapping is critical in characterizing habitat for woodland caribou. Aerial photography collected using drones, the method used for this study, is a common method of lichen detection and is usually paired with field data collection. It employs cameras that provide images with red green blue (RGB) and near-infrared (NIR) bands. Low accuracies obtained from aerial drone imagery have been attributed to stand and site features restricting accurate readings. Thus, before lichen mapping can be utilized on a broad scale, it is important to identify the amount of canopy closure under which classification accuracy is negatively affected. This was determined by classifying seven sites with varying canopy closure, resulting in classification accuracies corresponding to each plot. This report provides a current analysis of lichen detection under varying canopy closure. The objective of this study is to determine the crown closure percentage, as calculated by the winSCANOPY program, and its effect on lichen detection using drone imagery. The study was conducted in Dryden, Ontario, where the correlation between canopy closure and lichen detection was made. It was found that below 88% canopy closure, lichen classification accuracy significantly decreases and below 77% canopy closure, overall image classification is affected. The findings in this study support the hypothesis that canopy closure is directly correlated to the classification efficiency of UAV imagery, however further investigation into improving classification is required. Further investigation into the effects of bare ground and rock outcrop misclassification should also be conducted, as this played a significant role in lichen classification.


title: Androgyny in feminist utopian literature : fictional challenges to stereotypic gender constructions

subject:
Feminist literature
Utopias in literature
Androgyny (Psychology) in literature

abstract:
One emphasis in feminism has been the issue of gender stereotypes, particularly
concerning their role in the construction of what are thought to be normative male and female
traits and sex roles. The supposed naturalness of these traits has helped allow for and perpetuate
gender inequalities. Prevailing views in Western society, primarily based on reproductive roles,
can be traced back to Aristotle, and support the idea that women and men are inherently
different, men are inherently dominant and superior, and these differences are natural (Bern,
1993, 1). Science supports these positions by offering ‘evidence’ that sex and gender differences
are innate in males and females. Feminists challenge these views claiming that women are
subordinated by nurture not nature (Schiebinger, 1989, 273-274). Simone de Beauvoir summed
up this viewpoint succinctly when she wrote, “one is not born, but rather becomes a woman” (deBeauvoir, 1952, 267). Today many feminists and sociologists concur with de Beauvoir’s
position and conceptualize perceived masculine and feminine traits as constructed and assigned
to males or females (Vetterling-Braggin, 1982, 152). This perception is an important step toward
understanding and challenging the foundations of gender oppression.


title: Stratigraphy, structure and metamorphism of Archean rocks at Rainy Lake, Ontario

contributor:
Kehlenbeck, Manfred
Borradaile, Graham J.

subject:
Geology, Stratigraphic Archaean
Geology Ontario Rainy Lake Region

abstract:
The rocks of the Rainy Lake area have been deformed
during three distinctive episodes. Minor structures provide
the geometry which characterizes each episode. The youngest
structures include regional faults, a crenulation cleavage,
kink bands and minor F[subscript 3] folds. These D[subscript 3] structures are superimposed on structures of the D[subscript 2] episode. These include dominant F[subscript 2] folds having axes lying in a penetrative cleavage which parallels the axial surfaces of the folds. Some F[subscript 2]
folds have a downward structural facing which is evidence that the stratigraphic succession at Rainy Lake is overturned
at a regional scale. It is proposed that this inversion took
place during a D[subscript 1] deformation by the formation of large F[subscript1] fold nappes. Minor D[subscript1] structures are difficult to document.
The rocks of the region were metamorphosed simultaneously
with much of the deformation. The distribution of
index minerals defines the boundaries of the biotite,
staurolite-cordierite and sillimanite-muscovite zones. The
non-parallel distribution of metamorphic minerals may be
explained by the non-parallelism of isotherms and isobars
during medium grade metamorphism.
These new data support the view that the Coutchiching
biotite schists at Rainy Lake are stratigraphically
younger than metavolcanic rocks of the Keewatin Group although
they presently underlie the Keewatin structurally. This
observation resolves a part of the historically important
”Seine-Coutchiching problem”.


title: Heterosexual romantic preferences : the importance of physical attractiveness and humour

subject: Sexual attraction (Psychological aspects)

subject: Sex (Psychology)

subject: Mate selection Psychological aspects

abstract:
Previous research on human mate preferences has found
that individuals, especially males, regard physical
attractiveness as a very important attribute in
potential mates. In contrast, humour, which has also
been found to be important, has received scant
attention. This study looked at the effects of
physical attractiveness and humour on the desire for
future interaction in increasingly intimate
heterosexual relationships. Physical attractiveness
and humour were manipulated using photos of oppositesex
stimulus persons and interview transcripts,
respectively. Given that physical attractiveness has
been associated with other desirable traits, and that
humour may be associated with positive traits such as
intelligence and social confidence, subjects'
perceptions of the stimulus persons were also assessed
through a person-perception questionnaire of socially
desirable and undesirable personality traits. Males
were found to emphasize high physical attractiveness
more than females for sex, dating, and a serious
relationship. Humorous individuals were rated as more
desirable than nonhumorous individuals for a serious
relationship and marriage, but only when these
individuals were physically attractive; Physically
attractive individuals were perceived to be more Virtuous (loyal, loving, sincere, passionate, and
forgiving) than physically unattractive individuals,
and humorous individuals were perceived to be less
Ornery (humourless, noncheerful, prejudiced, narrowminded,
cold, and hostile) than nonhumorous
individuals.


title: The geology, petrology, geochemistry, sulphide and platinum-group mineralization of the Quetico intrusions, northwestern Ontario

format: application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf

subject: Intrusions (Geology) Ontario Atikokan Region

subject: Quetico intrusions

subject: Geology and mineralization

abstract:
The Quetico Intrusions are a group of small,
geochemically primitive, locally Cu-Ni-PGE-rich, mafic to
ultramafic intrusions closely associated with the margins of
the Quetico Batholithic Complex. They are composed of
distinctively textured, sometimes layered, hornblende-rich,
cumulate rocks that range from hornblende wehrlite to quartz
diorite. The ultramafic rocks characteristically contain
numerous large, interstitial, poikilitic hornblendes up to 3
cm in diameter. The mafic lithologies are often coarsely
hornblende-phyric. All rock types contain texturally
distinct intermediate to mafic patches and veins that
exhibit large, ragged, cored, prismatic to acicular
hornblendes referred to as appinites. This study examined
fifteen of the Quetico Intrusions, concentrating on those
containing mineralized zones. Three intrusions were mapped
in detail.
Petrographic examination suggests a crystallization
order of: olivine, olivine + clinopyroxene, clinopyroxene
(locally orthopyroxene), clinopyroxene + hornblende,
hornblende, hornblende + plagioclase. Biotite, apatite and
titanite are present within most rock types.
Alteration and the cumulus nature of the rocks
precludes the use of whole rock data to show definitive
fractionation trends. Instead, emphasis was placed on the
quantitative mineral chemistry of olivine and clinopyroxene.
Olivine is rich in MgO and exhibits a narrow forsterite
range of Fo77.55-80.89  Clinopyroxene is generally diopsidic
with a compositional range of Wo44.60-50.53' En39.03-49.02' Fs5.35-
11.31. Mineral chemistry data, plus the presence of
myrmekitic intergrowths of magnetite with clinopyroxene,
suggests that the Quetico clinopyroxenes crystallized from a
magma of sub-alkaline, possibly calc-alkaline, affinity.
Nine intrusions host mineralized zones containing
copper, nickel and platinum-group element mineralization.
This mineralization consists of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite,
pentlandite, and magnetite with accessory pyrite and
nickeliferous cobaltite, minor cubanite, altaite,
empressite, breithauptite, and rare bismuthinite. Violarite
and covellite occur as minor alteration products of
pentlandite and chalcopyrite, respectively. The major
sulphide and accessory phases probably crystallized from a
PGM-bearing Ni- and Cu-rich monosulphide phase trapped
interstitially to surrounding silicates. The presently
observed textures are mainly due to subsolidus
reequilibration and to the formation of lower temperature
phases as the intrusions slowly cooled.
The platinum-group minerals (PGM) were identified using
semi-quantitative EDS techniques and are generally less than
5µm in diameter. They include michenerite, hollingworthite, froodite, sobolevskite, and sperrylite.
Complex PGM intergrowths are common. Palladian gold is the only PGE bearing alloy observed. A few
PGM are interstitial to, or contained within, silicate minerals, suggesting some form of late-stage
remobilization.
A comparison of the Quetico lithologic, textural, petrographic, whole rock, and mineral chemistry
data with that of the appinite suite and the Alaskan-type Complexes suggests that the Quetico
Intrusions are Archean equivalents of the Caledonian-age appinite suite of Great Britain, Ireland,
and elsewhere. They may have crystallized from a water-rich sub-alkaline olivine basalt liquid,
possibly of calc-alkaline affinity, at a relatively high PHW and P . They must have crystallized
under a relatively high PHW in order for hornblende to remain stable over such a wide range of
magmatic conditions. Assimilation of metasedimentary wall-rock may have resulted in the
hybridization of some of
the magma.


title: Impacts of storage, season, duration and steaming on physical properties and extractive content of aspen chips

subject:
Wood chips storage
Populus tremuloides
Aspen

abstract:
An investigation  was made into the rates of  moisture content,  extractives  and
basic wood density losses that occur when  trembling  aspen (Populus  tremuloides Michx.) wood
chips are stored during different seasons of the year, in a chip pile. Seasoning is required for
the pulping of  trembling  aspen in order to reduce the  extractive content to a level that will
minimize the occurrences of pitch build-up and problems  in  the kraft  pulping  process.   The
hypothesis for  this study  was that  there are significant differences in losses of extractives,
moisture content and basic density within a chip pile·and that the extractives losses in the pile
centre would match extractives  losses in  roundwood  in a  much  shorter  time.   The change of
extractives can  be achieved  in  normal outside chip storage periods  by  using chips from  the
interior of a chip pile or in shorter periods through steaming chips under controlled conditions.
Time was a very significant  factor during  the storage.   The study found  that  the closer  to
the middle of  the pile,  the hotter the temperatures  became.  The largest rate of heat build-up
was found in the first 12 days.  The middle of  the pile showed the lowest average moisture content
after 4  months (i.e.,  38.2%),  whereas  the top of the pile showed the highest moisture content
after 4 months (i.e., 45.2%). The absolute rate of extractives loss was, on average, 0.3%/month for
the 4 month study period.   However,  for  the first  month,  the absolute  rate  was 1.0%/month
(i.e.,  31% of the original)  and  for the second  month it dropped  down  to 0.6%/month  (i.e.,
39 % of the original).  There were no significant  changes in  the extractive content from   month
2  to month 4.   The bottom  middle of  the chip pile resulted  in  the largest loss  of
extractives (i.e.,  final extractive content  of  1.8%  after 4  months).  No comparison was made
between the aspen chip pile built in the summer with the one built in the  winter since the winter
pile remained frozen for the duration of the study. It was calculated  that the extractive content
after 1.5 weeks in the summer  pile would equal   the extractive  content  (i.e.,  2.5%) of  the
aged  roundwood  (i.e.,  for  1 year).  A minimum of emphasis should be placed on  this since the
sample size used to calculate  the extractive  content  of  the aged  roundwood  was small.   The
rate of  basic density loss in  the summer  chip pile was 2.4%/month  for the 4 month  study
period.   The
average moisture content of the fresh arriving chips was 47.9% as compared with the moisture
content of the digester  chips (i.e.,  40.2%).  The extractive  content of  the fresh arriving
chips was 3. 6 %, as compared with 2.9% for the digester chips. There were no significant
differences  between  the average basic densities for the   fresh
arriving chips and  the digester  chips (i.e., 0.41 g/cm3)  .     The study  showed   that
steaming does not accelerate the loss of extractives in aspen chips. A method of chip reclaim is
presented that collects, with  the aid of an auger  travelling  underneath  the chip pile, only the
bottom middle chips. As these chips are collected, chips from the other regions of the pile fill in
the gaps.  A continuous chip seasoning  period  of 2  weeks is recommended to allow for the maximum
amount of seasoning in the shortest time period. A chip pile inventory of 42 308 m3 would be
sufficient to allow for a 2  week inventory, however, a chip inventory  of 3  weeks is recommended
(i.e.,  63 462 m3 to allow for an extra weeks buffer). It is also recommended that Avenor consider
continuous monitoring of the digester extractive contents to know that they are sufficiently  low,
as well as to try and correlate any operating  problems  in  the  mill
with  the extractive content of  the chips that had  entered.


title: Northern exposure: a comparison study of Alaska and Yukon models of measuring community wellbeing

subject: Community wellbeing

subject: Models of measuring community wellbeing in Alaska and Yukon

subject: Community input

subject: Mainstream and Indigenous definitions of wellbeing

abstract:
The main objective of this study is to examine models of measuring community wellbeing in Alaska and Yukon to determine if they were developed with the input of residents and if these models reflect local living conditions. Research suggests communities that establish an agreed upon model of measuring community wellbeing will benefit by having an increase in public involvement in local decision-making, and larger capture of material wealth and empowerment over resource management (Varghese et al. 2006). A core problem is that while many communities have started to develop ways to evaluate wellbeing, there is a lack of research on the various models in the Arctic. There are several unique challenges to developing a model in Arctic communities such as the clash between mainstream and Indigenous definitions of wellbeing, the lack of data and small population sizes (Taylor 2008 & Bobbitt et al. 2005).
For this study I conducted an in-depth search for publically available models in Alaska and Yukon and conducted semi-structured interviews with experts. Part one of the analysis was searching through records of each model to document community outreach methods, part two was an experimental content analysis to identify themes across models in both regions, and part three was a content analysis of the interviews.
I did not find any significant difference in the design frame, content or consultation with local residents between the models in Alaska and Yukon.


title: Expression of T4 lysozyme gene in escherichia coli and trichoderma reesei

contributor:
Qin, Wensheng
Leung, Kam
Jiang, Zi-Hua (Justin)

subject:
Lysozyme
T4 lysozyme (T4L)
Trichoderma reesei

abstract:
The T4 lysozyme, from bacteriophage T4, has the ability to lyse bacterial cell walls; thus it has attracted immense attention as an antimicrobial agent. Nonetheless, the production of T4L cannot meet our needs. All of the work presented here in this thesis, focuses on the potential exploitation of synthetic gene-coding T4L protein to improve the economic feasibility of antimicrobial agent production by producing a natural antimicrobial agent. Synthetic t4l was constructed to enhance the production of recombinant T4L for industrialization purposes after its successful expression in the two hosts. Therefore, comparing the wild type and synthetic t4l from nucleotide sequences until protein 3D structure was unavoidable. Two T4L genes that have been studied are the wild type and the synthetic one. The later, new synthetic (t4l) gene was produced by using codon-based modification with alternation of triplet nucleotides that encodes two specific amino acid residues at position 6 and 12 in a polypeptide chain of T4L protein. Wild type and synthetic t4l have variants in the size of nucleotides, 459 bp and 491 bp, respectively, but both have equal amino acids size, 164 a.a. The comparison of 3D protein structure
showed us how both protein structures have structural similarity by calculating RSMD; 0.17 for backbone coordinate and 0.14 for carbon alpha coordinate. Also, structure sequence identity was 98.87% by using the alignment of editor Jalview. Additionally, developed T4L gene with codon-based modification has been cloned into three vectors with different promoters in order to be expressed in selected strain of E. coli then T. reesei. Expression of a synthetic t4l by using E. coli system was by transforming of the three plasmids-bearing-synthetic t4l separately, into two strains of E. coli, JM109 and BL21(DE3)pLysS. The later had been tested for its sensitivity and/or resistance to the lysis action of lysozyme enzyme before the transformation-taking place by using agar halo assay. Resistance of BL21(DE3)pLysS strain to lysozyme activity has been confirmed with our halo assays, which keep this strain to be a good choice for expression of this lysis enzyme. Also, the results of both enzyme digestion and PCR showed that the synthetic t4l had successfully transformed into selected E. coli strain. Furthermore, the expression of that gene had been showed on SDS-PAGE assay with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 18 kDa. However, determine and measure the recombinant T4L production is still needs more research to work on it. Additionally, T. reesei has the capacity to produce extracellular enzymes in very large amounts. Invention relates method for efficiently expressing and producing recombinant protein of T4L from T. reesei QM6a by using protoplast-based transformation method. T4 lysozyme synthesis operon (t4l) cloned in three different plasmids was successfully integrated in T. reesei QM6a genome, to form recombinant strains, termed as ST4L1, ST4L2, and ST4L3. T4 lysozyme encoded by the t4l was successfully expressed in two of our recombinant strains, which are ST4L2 and ST4L3, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE. We successfully
constructed a recombinant T. reesei strain expressing exogenous gene, specifically t4l that originated from phage T4 and integrated into the genome. Recombinant T4L was stably produced by those strains with a selected antibiotic supplementation. We develop a novel system by which foreign gene can be successfully inserted into the chromosome of T. reesei, where transcription can be driven by cbhI promoter, with the need for addition of inducer that is carbon source. T4 lysozyme production by this system was stable and the system may be useful in biotechnological fermentation processes. Success of such a technology will facilitate production of T4L for industrialization and medical purposes.


title: Utilization of alternative testing methods in the evaluation of pulp and paper mill effluent toxicity

contributor:
Lee, Peter
Leung, Kam
Law, David

subject:
Pulp and paper mill effluents
Aquatic toxicology
Environmental toxicity testing

abstract:
Pulp mills are required to perform routine regulatory testing to ensure the effluent they release
from their water treatment plants is not harmful to humans and the environment. The key components
within the effluent that cause toxicity include factors such as total suspended solids, chemical oxygen
demand, concentration of resin and fatty acids and the colour of the effluent. In December 2013 a pulp
mill in Terrace Bay, ON experienced three failures when their effluent caused 90 to 100% mortality to
tested rainbow trout. In this study, the objective was to determine the potential cause of this failure.
Prior to this failure, mechanical issues resulted in an increase in pulp fibre with in the mills secondary
treatment system. Since mortality was observed in trout tests and not Daphnia tests, the increase in
fibre was suggested as a likely cause. Acute toxicity screenings were conducted using effluent that had
been spiked with sludge obtained from the primary clarifier, mimicking concentrations observed during
the failure. There was 10% mortality in one of the untreated samples and no mortality occurred in any
of the spiked samples. The lack of fibre induced mortality combined with increased levels of sulphur
suggested volatile sulphur compounds as a potential cause for the failure. Given their volatile nature,
current test methods are not suitable for testing these compounds especially at low concentrations.
Another objective of this study was to determine if the toxicity of effluent could be measured using a
crystal violet staining (CVS) assay applied to piscine cell lines as an alternative to in vivo methods. [...]


title: Ecologically-based taper equations for major tree species in Manitoba

contributor:
Wang, Geoff
Dang, Qing-Lai
Wang, J.
Brown, K.

subject: Forests and forestry mensuration (Manitoba)

subject: Forest ecosystems

subject: Jack pine

subject: Black spruce

subject: White spruce

subject: Trembling aspen

subject: Balsam poplar

subject: Ecologically-based management models

abstract:
Kozak's variable exponent taper equation was fitted for balsam poplar (Populus
balsamifera L.), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), white spruce (Picea
glauca (Moench) Voss), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and jack pine
(Pinus banksiana Lamb.) in Manitoba. Stem analysis data were collected from a total of
37 balsam poplar, 71 trembling aspen, 97 white spruce, 300 black spruce and 298 jack
pine trees. The data were collected within the Boreal Shield and Boreal Plain ecozones
in Manitoba. Four ecoregions were sampled within the Boreal Shield ecozone including
the Churchill River Upland, Hayes River Upland, Lac Seul Upland, and Lake of the
Woods ecoregions. Three ecoregions were sampled within the Boreal Plain ecozone
including the Mid Boreal Lowland, Mid Boreal Uplands and the Interlake Plain
ecoregions. Stem taper variability between ecozones and ecoregions were tested using
the F-test as the data permitted. Stem variability between site types were also tested for
black spruce and jack pine. Ecozone-specific, ecoregion-specific, site type-specific and
provincial taper equations were constructed corresponding to the results of the F-tests.
A taper equation was developed for balsam poplar ecoregion 152-154. Ecozone-specific
equations were derived for trembling aspen and white spruce. Provincial and site typespecific
equations were derived for black spruce. Ecoregion-specific and site typespecific
equations were derived for jack pine. Regional differences of stem taper were
the result of geographic, climate and site differences. The results indicated that all the
models performed quite well in predicting diameter inside bark. The residual plots of
the balsam poplar and trembling aspen taper equations showed increasing variance and a
non-normal distribution of residuals. However, the coefficients can still be considered
appropriate and the predictive ability of the models. 'Yas not affected. For each species,
the diameter inside bark ( dib) predictions of the Manitoba provincial models were
plotted with the corresponding dib predictions of the Alberta provincial equation
developed by Huang (1994). The plots indicated that the Manitoba equations performed
well and were similar to the Alberta equations. For each species, dib predictions of the
ecozone-specific, ecoregion-specific or site type-specific models were plotted with the
dib predictions of the provincial model to display the differences indicated from the Ftests.
Some of the equations were. derived with less than the minimum 60 trees
recommended by Kozak. Therefore, it is suggested that data be continually accumulated
and used to update the equations developed in this study and to further determine if
ecoregion-specific and site type-specific equations are required. Data should be
collected outside the current range of diameter at breast height (dbh) and total tree height
measurements to expand the application of the equations.


title: Does mental illness stigma differ across disorders? An investigation of public stigma and attribution theory in social anxiety disorder, depression & schizophrenia

subject:
Mental illness stigma
Attribution theory
Social anxiety disorder
Depression
Schizophrenia

abstract:
Individuals experiencing mental illness face numerous negative social, economic, and personal
outcomes, partly due to the public stigma around mental illness. Attribution theory posits that
stigma occurs when publicly held stereotypes of individuals with mental illness elicit negative
emotions, eventually resulting in discriminatory behaviours. The stigma associated with common
mental disorders is not well understood, especially in the context of attribution theory. The
current study aimed to address these gaps through an online survey of undergraduate students’ (n
= 302) perceptions of the public’s stigmatizing attitudes, emotions, and behaviours towards an
individual depicted as having social anxiety disorder (SAD), depression (DEP) or schizophrenia
(SCH). Differences were identified in how strongly specific stigma components were endorsed:
SAD and DEP were associated with greater Weak-not-Sick (WNS) attitudes and intentions to
help compared to SCH; DEP had the highest blame ratings; SCH had the highest pity ratings;
SAD had the lowest avoidance ratings and SCH had the highest. Further, hierarchical multiple
regressions revealed that WNS and blame attitudes were a unique predictor of negative affective
reactions for SAD and DEP respectively. Dangerousness predicted negative affect for all three
disorders. Fear and anger predicted discriminatory behaviours for SAD and DEP, while fear and
pity were predictors for SCH. These findings partially supported study hypotheses. Additional
exploratory regressions were conducted to identify predictors of pity, help and avoidance.
Results from this research suggests that the stigma associated with mental illness is best
understood by examining disorder categories individually. Findings can inform the development
of effective anti-stigma strategies to improve outcomes for those living with mental illness.


title: Investigating the potential for hazard tree identification using thermal imagery from the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual

subject: Drones

subject: Hazard trees

subject: Aerial imagery

subject: Thermal imagery for hazard tree identification

abstract:
The Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual was recently released by DJI in December of 2018. It is a
small compact device with enormous potential for field work in a variety of industries, one of
which has been investigated in this undergraduate thesis report. Public parks and recreation
areas are becoming an important part of our health and well-being during an increasingly
technological and urban time. However, safety is always a concern with public participation in
any activity, and one which wardens and managers are constantly trying to improve upon.
Approximately 11% of deaths or injuries that occur during outdoor recreational activities have
been the result of falling trees or tree branches (Brookes 2007). Trail inspections, in an attempt
to identify hazard trees that are dead or rotting before causing issue, can be infeasible due to a
number of conditions, making the rise in remote sensing and drone technology potentially
revolutionary to this field.
The Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual is equipped with dual thermal and visual cameras.
Thermal imagery is incredibly useful for identifying objects that are less visible with traditional
imagery by using different heat signatures. Thermography has been used across a range of
disciplines including engineering, medicine and perhaps most relevant, arboriculture. Although
not thoroughly researched, numerous case studies have shown that zones of decay can be seen
inside standing trees using thermal imagery at ground level (Catena & Catena 2008). Assessing
individual trees in this manner may not be particularly useful for identifying hazard trees in large
public parks but it begs the question of whether aerial thermal imagery could potentially be
implemented in the same manner and if so, would the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual be an appropriate
tool for the task.


title: Reading native literature from a traditional indigenous perspective : contemporary novels in a Windigo society

subject: Canadian literature Native authors History and criticism

subject: Indians of North America Cultural assimilation

subject: Canadian literature Indian authors History and criticism

abstract:
In this thesis I explore three novels by Aboriginal authors, using a perspective that evolves
from traditional Anishnabe teachings about the “Windigo" character. In the Introduction, I
elaborate upon the reasons why a n interdisciplinary study is necessary for the advancement of
Aboriginal education.
In Chapter One, “Literary Colonization," I formulate an Aboriginal literary criticism through
“inside” perspectives of Aboriginal social reality and community. I propose that through Aboriginal
literary self-determination which includes youth. Elders, community, and Indigenous traditions and
stories, one may find an escape from literary colonization. In Chapter Two, “The Windigo,” I focus
on the Windigo not only as a character but also as a metaphor. I use the Windigo to explain
humanity though a traditional Indigenous, multi-layered perspective of human reality.
In Chapter Three, “Silent Words and the Tradition of Respect,” I study the novel Silent Words
by Ruby Slipperjack for its rejection of Windigo domination and its establishment of respect for
community. This chapter promotes Aboriginal pedagogy and traditional teachings through a study
of the protagonist’s journeys under the guidance of traditional teachers, from whom he learns
about balanced, reciprocal relationships.
In Chapter Four, “Ravensong and the Them e of Transformation,” I study the novel Ravensong
by Lee Maracle in terms of resistance to assimilation and Windigo infection, noting the necessity
for and possibility of transformation. Emphasizing the importance of Indigenous community to
Indigenous life and identity, this chapter explicates the protagonist's role as a potential “bridge”
between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal cultures.
In Chapter Five, “Slash. Assimilation, and Cultural Survival,” I study the novel Slash by
Jeannette Armstrong as a challenge to Windigo, opposing assimilation and assisting cultural
survival. The protagonist’s journeys include political activist events as well as an inner exploration
where he must realize internalized oppression in himself as well as Windigo disease in his
community and in the greater Canadian society.
In the conclusion and recommendations, I suggest that the Windigo can be overcome through
creative acts of literature and through informed reading of Indigenous literature from an insider perspective. I also recommend that Indigenous perspectives, such as those expressed in this
thesis, be accommodated by literary studies as a whole.


title: Semantic similarity measurement of construction projects using WBS-based similarity metrics

subject: Work breakdown structure

subject: Natural language processing

subject: Case-based reasoning (construction industry)

subject: Semantic web and ontology

abstract:
Lessons learned and the knowledge gained from previous projects could save a considerable amount of time and budget in planning and construction of future projects. In the process of knowledge and experiment reuse, finding the most similar case(s) to the current project is critical and therefore, a number of methods have been developed which use different variables to represent each specific sub-area of knowledge and also to measure the similarity of the documented cases to the current project.
It is hypothesized that the hierarchy of project activities, which is represented as Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) of the project, encompasses the entire scope of the project and contains the necessary information to measure the semantic similarity of construction projects. Thus, WBS could be used as an appropriate representative of the projects. In this research project, a novel method is proposed to assess the semantic similarity of projects by means of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. In this method, the current project is compared with the documented as-built projects based on their WBS and the most similar ones to the current project are retrieved.
The proposed WBS similarity measurement is implemented using two metrics, (1) node similarity that compares the semantics of elements in two WBSs; (2) structural similarity which compares the topology of Work Breakdown Structures. The proposed processes to estimate each of these two metrics produce a similarity score between 0 and 1. The average of these two scores provides the final similarity score between two WBSs. The method was tested using nine WBS test samples with promising results in compliance with similarity properties. Finally, the metrics were experimentally evaluated in terms of precision and recall. The results showed that the structural similarity slightly outperformed the other metric.


title: Using portfolio theory to evaluate the regional deployment of transferring tree seeds under uncertain future climates

subject:
Climate changes
Great Lakes Region
Trees
Seeds
Climate factors
Reforestation

abstract: In this study, the problem of deploying seed from multiple tree improvement orchards to multiple sites in an environment of uncertain climate change is addressed. A modeling approach is designed and applied with the objective providing a robust solution, i.e., transferred seed sources perform well across multiple climatic scenarios. The approach involves two steps. First, the focal point seed zone method is employed to predict seed deployment zones under multiple future climate scenarios. Next, a portfolio model is applied to minimize the risk of maladaptation of the transferred seed under multiple climatic scenarios. The method was applied using black spruce (Picea mariana ) field data from 7 sites using 24 seed sources from the Great Lakes area. The focal point seed zone method generated deployment zones for 24 seed sources over three 30-years periods under 12 predicted future climate scenarios. Next, the optimization procedure searched for eligible sites that can receive improved seed sources from 7 provenances considering 12 different climatic scenarios. The portfolio model also produced the optimal composition of candidate seed sources at each eligible site. Sensitivity of the solutions to different emission scenarios is compared. Finally, geographic representations of results were illustrated in Geographic Information System. It was concluded that this modeling framework provides a useful approach for decision-makers to address the problem of deploying seed at regional scale, such that the risk of climatic maladaptation is minimized.


title: Foraging time activity study of breeding songbirds in a successional white spruce community

contributor:
Macdonald, Alastair D.
Lankester, Murray W.
Tripp, P.

subject:
Songbirds Food Ontario Thunder Bay
Songbirds Breeding Ontario Thunder Bay
Songbirds Habitat Ontario Thunder Bay

abstract:
I investigated the amount of time spent on foraging by birds in a successional white
spruce community, during semi-monthly time blocks, in the context of flying, singing and other
activities. Five hypotheses were tested: 1) cumulative amounts of time spent on foraging and
other activities by birds vary throughout the breeding season and among species; 2) bird species
differ in the mean amount of time spent per event on different activities; 3) birds spend more
cumulative time in the study area foraging on spruce than on other plants; 4) birds capture more
prey on spruce than on other substrates; and 5) prey capture rates differ among species. All bird
actions on the study area that were observed with binoculars were counted, timed and recorded.
Data for White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Clay-coloured Sparrow and
Savannah Sparrow were analysed. Cumulative foraging times among periods were not
significantly different in 1991, but differed for White-throated Sparrow in 1992. Mean foraging
times differed only in late July 1992 for White-throated Sparrow and Clay-coloured Sparrow.
Foraging, except for Savannah Sparrow, occurred mostly on white spruce, but use of tree species
differed among periods in both years. Spruce budworms were most commonly taken between 15
June and 15 July in 1991 and 1992. Prey capture rates differed significantly among bird species
in late June 1991, in late June 1992 and early July 1992. Therefore, each hypothesis was
supported, but not in each time period. Such variations in bird activities during the breeding
season reflect breeding stage and changing ecological conditions. 1 concluded that sparrows
foraged similarly when spruce budworm was most easily obtained. These results were obtained
only by the method of dividing the breeding season into time blocks, and by recording time
durations rather than counts of events. I recommend that including variables in time as well as
space be the new norm in studies o f avian life history dynamics.