title:
Municipal High Modernism and “Negotiation”: Toronto’s Post-War Governance and
Expressway Arrangement c. 1943 - 1971

contributor:
Brison, Jeffrey
History

subject:
Toronto
Post-War
Development
Expressway
Protest
Spadina
Automobile
Car
Suburbs
Metropolitan
Urban
Pedestrian
Modern
Negotiation
High Modernism
Governance

abstract:
This essay examines the history of urban planning and governance, urban- suburban infrastructure development, and city-community negotiation in post-war Toronto. A specific emphasis is placed on the downtown community’s push-back against a centrally planned highway grid during the late 1960s. The role of the automobile is a central element to the study, as it was the primary impetus for Toronto planners who sought to deliberately model post-war infrastructure after auto-centric U.S. cities. The history engages with the expansion of an expressway-tethered stretch of urban and suburban space now known as the “Golden Horseshoe”: surveying the location of automobile plants in cities along the rail lines; capital flight from Quebec; and suburban developer’s encroachment upon agricultural space in their search for cheaper land to build middle-class subdivisions.

The paper reviews the existing literature on Canadian and North American urban transportation and economic history, whilst also drawing on a primary research base of municipal and provincial master planning documents, policy deliberations, newspaper accounts, activist materials and interpretations from key actors throughout the period of the study. Toronto is placed in a broader transnational theoretical framework through an exploration of two key concepts; “high modernism” and “negotiation”. These two ideas are used to demonstrate how a centralized bureaucratic urban vision was challenged by organized residents of Toronto’s core who were determined to preserve the human scale, architectural distinctiveness and civic involvement in urban life.

The thesis’ vital case study is the protest against the proposed Spadina Expressway, the success of which led to the cancellation of not just that highway, but the abandonment of other municipal highway plans across the city. This political shift is an important chapter in Toronto’s urban governance as a formerly top-down, provincially controlled process was democratized into a new municipal authority that valued greater community engagement. The logic animating the city’s greater built environment is discussed to make sense of the sprawling suburban form that was manifest and became dominant in the post-war period.

abstract: M.A.


title: Per/forming Memoration: Integrative  Artistic Strategies for Unsettling From a White Settler Perspective

contributor:
Naaman, Dorit
Robinson, Dylan
Cultural Studies

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

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

rights: Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University

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

subject:
Decolonization
Settler Colonial Studies
Research-Creation
Social Practice
Critical Race Studies
Intermedia Art
Performance Art/Studies
Public Space Intervention

abstract: “Memoration” is an integrative and adaptable artistic methodology that has emerged from my practice as an artist and scholar.  I characterize it as an evolving set of theoretical and aesthetic provocations directed at destabilizing white settler dominance as it is entrenched in the landscape of everyday Canadian life.  This dissertation traces the formation and enactment of memoration by examining pivotal artworks from a ten year period of my inter-media art practice, and contextualizing them in relation to historical and contemporary facets of Canadian nation-building, and movements of Indigenous and non-Indigenous resistance.  In order to construct a coherent story of memoration’s development—one that highlights its salient features—this text includes the artwork I created as part of my PhD research, oh-oh Canada, as well as artworks that were undertaken outside of my doctoral studies, Imprint, (official denial) trade value in progress and memoration #2: constituent parts.  Carrying out this retrospective analysis also situates memoration’s development in relation to the changing discourses with which it intersects and positions it as operating in parallel and conversation with projects of Indigenous sovereignty, resurgence and decolonization. The discussions within this dissertation highlight the imperative and potential of the white settler being activated in this manner, while also attending to the challenges and limitations of such endeavours. As a research-creation project comprised of artistic and textual components, this dissertation acts as a vehicle for enacting, scrutinizing, and theorizing strategies through which the white settler artist, and by extension the white settler citizen, might engage in unsettling the settler colonial status quo in ways that exercise responsibility, accountability, and an ethic of being-in-relation.

abstract: PhD


title: Peroxide-initiated Modification of Polylactic acid (PLA) and Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) in the Presence of Allylic and Acrylic Coagents

contributor:
Kontopoulou, Marianna
Parent, J Scott
Chemical Engineering

subject:
Polymer
Reactive modification
Polylactic acid (PLA)
Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs)
Coagents

abstract:
This thesis investigates the fundamentals of modification of polylactic acid (PLA) and                                poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs), focusing on improving the understanding of the reactivity of these polymers in the presence of peroxide and multifunctional coagents.  The first objective was to examine the effects these modifications had on PLA and to compare them to a well understood polyolefin system, ethylene octene copolymer (EOC).  The linear viscoelastic (LVE) properties and molecular weight distributions showed that in the presence of peroxide and coagent these systems were able to produce     long-chain branched structures, with allylic coagents being more effective at altering the chain architecture.  These reactions were found to proceed through a radical mechanism as oppose to other forms of ionic chemistry.  Evaluation of the abstraction efficiencies (AE) and graft propagation of monofunctional coagents showed that PLA is a poor hydrogen donor and the effectiveness of the allylic coagents is likely a result of solubility between the polymer and coagent in the melt.
The second objective was to investigate the chemical modification of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs), with different lengths of side chains.  Medium-chain-length PHAs (MCL-PHAs) showed an affinity for both allylic and acrylic coagents with increases in viscosity, the appearance of shear thinning, and bimodal molecular weight distributions.  On the other hand, the short-chain-length PHAs (SCL-PHAs),              poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) PHB, preformed very similar to what was observed with PLA, where allylic coagents out preformed the acrylate coagents.  The AE of these materials gave significant insight into the reactivity.  As the alkane side chain length was increased from SCL-PHAs to MCL-PHAs, the number of methylene group increased and as a result more hydrogen abstraction sites became available, thus resulting in higher AE.  This implies there is a greater probability for coagents to graft onto the polymer backbone and therefore the promotion of branched structures.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: The Role of Algae in Disinfection Processes in Wastewater Stabilization Ponds

contributor:
Hall, Geof
Champagne, Pascale
Civil Engineering

subject:
Disinfection
Indicator Organisms
Pathogen Removal
Algal Blooms
Wastewater Stabilization Ponds

abstract:
This thesis is an investigation of pathogen removal in wastewater stabilization ponds (WSPs). WSPs are sustainable alternatives to conventional wastewater treatment, requiring minimal energy input and low costs. They have the capability to effectively attenuate nutrients as well as pathogenic microorganisms. Disinfection in WSPs is a complex process, which can be influenced by a number of mechanisms and environmental factors, such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature. Due to long retention time in these systems, algal activities are often expected during warm seasons. Their presence may have effects on the complex interaction between biological communities and water chemistry. This thesis aimed to assess the role of algae in disinfection in WSP systems.

Two algae (Mougeotia sp. and Hydrodicty sp.) that were collected from the Amherstview WSP were noted to increase both pH and DO when cultivated under laboratory conditions. This finding was corroborated by the multivariate statistical analysis where the correlation relationships between a wide range of water quality parameters (pH, DO, temperature, chlorophyll, phycocyanin, Escherichia coli (E. coli), total coliforms (TC), Enterococci, Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), ammonium, nitrate, total nitrogen, phosphate total phosphorus and COD) were investigated. As such, the presence of algae is believed to contribute to the high pH and DO levels in the WSP system.

The inactivation of E. coli and total coliforms were found to increase with increasing pH. Intermediate DO level (8.6 mg/L) appeared to support the survival of both E. coli and total coliforms, while both high and low DO levels (20 mg/L and 1 mg/L, respectively) could facilitate their removal and inactivation. This would suggest that the presence of algae leading to high pH and DO could potentially promote the removal of E. coli, total coliforms and Enterococci. Two additional indicator organisms (Enterococci and C. perfringens) showed different inactivation trends compared to traditional indicator organisms (E. coli, fecal coliforms or TC). C. perfringens were tolerant to the pH, DO and temperature ranges investigated. They exhibited weaker correlations with both E. coli and TC. This finding suggested that Enterococci and C. perfringens can be proposed as potential indicator organisms.

abstract: PhD


title: Aquatic community response to Zequanox®: a mesocosm experiment

contributor:
Arnott, Shelley
Johnson, Timothy
Biology

subject:
Zebra Mussels
Dreissena
Community
Mesocosm
Zequanox
Pseudomonas fluorescens
Invasive Species

abstract:
Zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.) are European freshwater molluscs that have invaded
most major inland water systems across North America, resulting in billions of dollars in damages and
losses to fisheries, recreational water use, infrastructure, and industry each year. Zequanox®, a
biopesticide made from soil bacteria, has been advertised as dreissenid-selective and environmentally
safe. Health Canada has approved the use of Zequanox® in hydroelectric facilities, which may indicate
movement toward open-water use in Canada, as has occurred in the USA and Ireland. Data from singlespecies
assays indicate that exposure to Zequanox® concentrations near or below those recommended for
open-water applications can cause mortality (often ≥50%) in fish and invertebrates. However, little is
known about the non-target impacts of applying Zequanox® in an open-water setting, given that toxicants
can behave differently in natural versus laboratory environments and because single-species tests are
unable to characterize indirect effects such as pesticide-mediated changes to inter-species interactions like
competition and predation.
Using a six-week-long replicated aquatic mesocosm experiment, I simulated open-water
applications of Zequanox® (100 mg/L of the active ingredient) to determine the responses of primary
producers, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrates to Zequanox® exposure in a complex aquatic
environment. Short-term increases occurred in phytoplankton and periphyton biomass (250–350% of
controls), abundance of large cladoceran grazers (700% of controls), and insect emergence (490% of
controls). Large declines initially occurred among small cladoceran zooplankton (88–94% reductions in
Chydorus sphaericus, Ceriodaphnia lacustris, and Scapheloberis mucronata), but abundances generally
rebounded within three weeks. Declines also occurred in amphipods Hyalella azteca (mean abundance
77% less than controls) and gastropods Viviparus georgianus (survival 73 ±16%), which did not recover
during the experiment. Short-term impacts to water quality included a decrease in dissolved oxygen
(minimum 1.2 mg/L), despite aeration of the mesocosms.
This research may assist regulators and managers in assessing the ecological risks of using
Zequanox® in open-water systems and support informed decision-making about dreissenid control,
including for established infestations, rapid response to new invasions, and efforts under the Species at
Risk Act to protect and restore native mussel habitats that have been threatened and damaged by
dreissenid invasion.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Role of Chironomids as Paleoecological Indicators of Eutrophication in Shallow Lakes Across a Broad Latitudinal Gradient

contributor:
Smol, John
Biology

subject:
Paleolimnology
Eutrophication
Chironomid
Diatom
Shallow Lake

abstract: The aquatic larvae of chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) were historically classified according to lake trophic status, and taxa classified as “eutrophic” were labeled as such because of adaptations for surviving hypoxic or anoxic conditions in the hypolimnion of stratified eutrophic lakes. As such, sedimentary chironomid assemblages have been used to reconstruct production-related variables (nutrients, chlorophyll-a), though this has been problematic, especially in shallow systems, because the response of chironomids to eutrophication is mediated through secondary environmental gradients including oxygen concentration, habitat, and food quality/quantity. In this thesis, eutrophic sewage ponds in the Canadian High Arctic were used to demonstrate that oxygen, not nutrients, is the primary control of chironomid species assemblages. The ability to explicitly test the influence of oxygen versus nutrients on chironomid distributions was made possible by the 24-hr daylight (continuous photosynthesis) and shallow, wind-mixed water column that resulted in oxygen concentrations that were decoupled from the effects of elevated nutrients and production. The subfossil chironomid assemblages were complacent during historical eutrophication, in contrast to marked changes in diatom assemblages, which have a direct physiological relationship with nutrients. Similarly, in shallow eutrophic ponds on islands in Lake Ontario, chironomid assemblages did not appear to be governed by the large gradient in total phosphorus due to the presence or absence of waterbird nesting colonies, but rather by habitat and possible bird-mediated heavy metal pollution. In a subarctic lake that was formerly used for sewage disposal, chironomid assemblages were relatively unresponsive to eutrophication in comparison with the larger turnover in diatom species. However, periods of low oxygen observed in the temperate and subarctic sites may explain the higher (but still low) relative abundances of hypoxia-tolerant Chironomus species at these sites compared to the High Arctic ponds. Together, this research demonstrates the problems associated with classifying chironomids based on nutrient levels. Since it is uncommon to examine chironomid responses to eutrophication across latitude, this thesis offers a relatively unstudied perspective of chironomid ecology, emphasizing that some of the assumptions of temperate chironomid ecology (with regards to eutrophication) may not necessarily hold true when applied at higher latitudes.

abstract: PhD


title: Art and Nature at the Court of Francesco I de’ Medici: Coral, Rock Crystal, Lapis Lazuli, and Shells

contributor:
D'Elia, Una
Art History

subject:
Francesco I de' Medici
Coral
Rock Crystal
Lapis Lazuli
Shells
Art and Nature

abstract: This dissertation considers the relationship between art and nature in Florence under Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici (1541-87) through an investigation of four materials: coral, rock crystal, lapis lazuli, and shells. The use and representation of these natural materials in spaces and objects associated with Francesco reveals the complexity of the art/nature duality at the time and place in which art was taking shape as an academic practice in the form of the Accademia del Disegno and the writing of art history by Giorgio Vasari (1511-74) and others. Further, attitudes towards the natural world were shifting as a result of the work of naturalists such as Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605), a long-time correspondent of Francesco, and European explorations into the wider world. These case studies have broader implications for such issues as Medici heritage, the legacy of Michelangelo, the style sometimes called “Mannerism,” natural history, and global expansion. Under Francesco, the generative forces of art and nature were united, as suggested in his Studiolo, the gardens of Pratolino, in objects such as mounted branches of coral, rock crystal vessels, sculptures encrusted with shells, and paintings filled with ultramarine, and, most explicitly, in the operation of artists’ workshops next to alchemical and other “scientific” laboratories within the Casino di San Marco, the activities of which Francesco actively participated, satisfying his own intellectual curiosity into the workings of nature and its transformations at the hands of skilled artists. This dissertation will demonstrate that the relationship between art and nature not only played out in realm of style, as espoused in art theoretical texts, but in the materiality of the arts, placing those irregular natural substances of Mother Nature as central to the culture of Francesco’s Florence.

abstract: PhD


title: Method Development for the Systematic Separation of the <63 µm Heavy Mineral Fraction from Bulk Till Samples

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
Hydroseparator
Bulk Till
Indicator Minerals
Heavy Minerals

abstract: Undiscovered ore bodies have become increasingly more difficult to target, requiring new exploration techniques to pinpoint the undercover location. Sedimentary overburden in regions of intense glaciation have made exploration difficult, relying on dispersal-trains for evidence of mineralization. The focus of this study is on the silt-clay sized material as significant proportions of indicators of mineralization found in dispersal-trains could be contained within that fraction. This smaller size-fraction could improve spatial distances associated with ore body’s dispersal-trains and decrease exploration costs/time. This research examines the physical processes of mineral dispersal in the <63 µm size-fraction of till, analyzing individual fractions from 45-63, 20-45 and <20 µm. The laboratory research and field orientation case-study, was investigated by Queen’s University in collaboration with the GSC, to develop novel methods to examine and characterize the <63µm heavy mineral fraction of till. The research is broken down into 3 parts: 1) development of methods for separation of the <63µm size-fraction of HMC by experimenting with settings (mode/oscillation and flow-rate) using HydroseparatorTM technology based on different mineral densities and grain size 2) development of methods for the representative sampling of the <63 µm size-fraction of sperrylite in blank light-fraction till using controlled and real separation techniques; and 3) application of methods to real till samples collected from the southern Core Zone (Northern Québec, Labrador, Newfoundland). Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy used in conjunction with Mineral Liberation Analysis was used to characterize the modal mineralogy of each sample. A comparative study analyzed the difference between the <63µm fraction (Queen’s University) and the >63 µm fraction (ODM). Many indicator minerals in bedrock sources are <0.25 mm and are rarely characterized in glacial sediments because of our inability to separate, visualize, and chemically analyze these small mineral grains. Using the <63 µm size-fraction, along with glacial history, dispersal-trains can be detected from distal regions aiding in exploration targeting below surface deposits. Past studies have begun to examine grains of similar size however, the approach used in this study differs from techniques previously used and could expand the usefulness of HMC for exploring mineral deposits within glaciated terrain.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Low Power Communication RFIC Design For Applications In Biotelemetry

contributor:
Saavedra, Carlos
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
Biotelemetry
Low power
RFIC
Low Noise
CMOS
FM-UWB

abstract:
This thesis explores low power communication blocks for applications in biotelemetry. As wireless networks become more prevalent and demand for sensor networks increases, so does the need for low power wireless communication.

First, a microwave wake-up receiver (WuRx) for biotelemetry applications is presented using 130 nm CMOS technology.   The receiver is designed to operate at 7.6 GHz and measured results show that it has a sensitivity of -40 dBm while drawing just 3 uA from a 0.5 V supply. The presented work has the smallest known area and exhibits a competitive trade off between DC power, sensitivity, and bit rate.

Second, a Frequency Modulated Ultra-Wideband (FM-UWB) receiver optimized for low power and fast start-up is also presented in 130nm CMOS. The receiver consists of a front end amplifier converting a frequency modulated (FM) signal to an amplitude modulated (AM) signal which is applied to an envelope detector. The receiver front end is for 500 MHz channels in the 3-4.5 GHz range. The Amplifier uses passive gain and four cascaded gain stages to achieve high RF gain without the need for super-regeneration and simplify the architecture this way, the front end has a 5 us wake-up time to enable efficient duty-cycling. The measured front end receives a signal at -68 dBm while consuming 600 uW of power (excluding a test buffer) from a 1 V supply.

Last, a Frequency Modulated Ultra-Wideband (FM-UWB) transmitter optimised for low power consumption is presented.  The chip includes a sub oscillator tunable from 0.1 to 4 MHz, a radio frequency oscillator tunable from 3.0 to 4.5 GHz, and an output power amplifier with matching network. Depending on channel selected, the measured transmitter consumes between 440 uW and 640 uW of power to produce - 14 dBm continuously to a 50 Ohm load, which is the lowest reported power. Two power supplies are used to reduce the effect of wasted voltage headroom between circuit blocks. Fabrication was done using the IBM 130 nm CMOS technology on a 1mm x 1mm loose die, the the circuit occupies 0.2 mm2 which is a tie for the smallest area.

abstract: PhD


title: A Heuristic-based Dynamic Spectrum Sharing Framework in Cognitive Radio Networks

contributor:
Hassanein, Hossam
Nasser, Nidal
Computing

subject:
CRN
Dynamic Spectrum Sharing
Spectrum Assignment
Spectrum Migration

abstract:
The inefficient use of the limited spectrum resources caused by the widely used static spectrum assignment policy has inspired the conception of the cognitive radio network (CRN). A CRN enables mobile users to optimally adapt their operating parameters according to the interactions with the surrounding radio environment. However, existing dynamic spectrum assignment approaches, a key component in CRN, suffer from their complexity, inflexibility, and lack of support for different classes of users.

In this thesis, we address the above issues by developing a heuristic-based dynamic spectrum sharing framework that can improve spectrum utilization efficiency and throughput in a CRN. Our framework consists of three parts. The first part addresses spectrum assignment that allocates new users to vacant spectrum bands without impeding existing users, for which a customized genetic algorithm is introduced. The second part focuses on the migration option where sometimes it might be beneficial for an existing user to move to a different spectrum band or disconnect to make room for a new user. This problem is solved by using a simulated annealing (SA) approach. In addition, we construct a migration cost model and study the impact of different traffic classes that are defined based on transmission rate requirements. The third part of our framework builds on the migration model and develops a round-based assignment approach that employs a prediction model to estimate when admitted users are likely to leave the network and uses the information to improve the migration decision. The prediction model relies on three newly constructed prediction methods to forecast user call duration, the fixation approach, the convergence approach, and the window-shopping approach, with each requiring less and less knowledge about user call preferences. Additionally, a price-based classification of user call characteristics is introduced.

Compared to other dynamic assignment approaches, our framework considers both overlay and underlay cases, offers a bounded response time and can work with different objective functions. It also considers user call characteristics and can accurately predict migration probability under various traffic conditions. Our simulation results show significant performance improvement in throughput and network utilization.

abstract: PhD


title: Matuto, Magbasa, Maglaro: Learning to Read Braille Through Play

contributor:
Davies, Claire
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Assistive Device
Braille
Co-Design
End-Users
Philippines

abstract:
In 2016, Digital Learning for Development and All Children Reading released a “Grand Challenge for Development” urging researchers to explore the barriers that children with sensory disabilities in the Philippines face regarding learning how to read. Close to half a million people are blind and many more have low vision in the Philippines. The primary goal of this study was to engage in the co-design process to create a device to help children in the Philippines and Canada with visual impairments learn braille.

Questionnaires that aimed to identify the barriers of using existing devices for reading were released to participants in the Philippines and Canada. Results showed that problems with existing devices were associated with device accessibility, portability, durability, usability and function. Participant feedback was further analyzed and incorporated in the brainstorming of a device that could help teach braille to children with visual impairments in the Philippines and Canada. Using results from a weighted evaluation matrix analysis and feedback from partners in the Philippines and Canada who taught reading to persons with visual impairments, a design was selected to prototype. Two prototypes were created. The most current prototype was an interactive pegboard that mimicked four braille cells. The device asked the user to form a letter or spell a four-letter word in braille using pegs, then either congratulated or corrected the user depending on the user’s performance. Usability testing showed that participants liked the device and found it easy to use and interactive. Suggestions for improvement included adding various modes for users of varying reading levels, reducing the size, weight and cost of the device and adding a headphone port.

Results from this study highlight advantages of engaging in the co-design process and provide important data for other researchers developing devices for persons with visual impairments.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Modelling of Dynamic Computer Experiments with Both Qualitative and Quantitative Variables

contributor:
Lin, C. Devon
Glen, Takahara
Mathematics and Statistics

subject:
Computer Experiment
Additive Model
Singular Value Decomposition
Statistical Emulator
Time Series Output
Dynamic  Linear Model

abstract:
Computer experiments are utilized as a popular tool of studying the relationship between responses and the factors that affect them. They are widely used in scientific researches and applications. Dynamic computer experiments refer to computer experiments with time-series responses. Different dynamic computer models have been proposed to emulate the relationship between the time-series responses and the corresponding quantitative factors. Qualitative factors are also widely used and show important effects in many scientific problems. Different models have been proposed for one-dimensional outputs and both quantitative and qualitative factors.

In this thesis, we have reviewed some popular dynamic computer models with only quantitative factors. We make empirical comparisons of the prediction accuracy of three existing dynamic computer models with only quantitative factors. Among the three models, the dynamic linear Gaussian process model and the singular value decomposition based Gaussian process model outperform. Based on these two models, we incorporate the qualitative factors utilizing the additive correlation structure and propose two new modelling methods for dynamic computer experiments with both quantitative and qualitative factors. We also explored the different choices of the prior distributions for the unknown parameters in these two models. The prediction accuracy of the two proposed modelling approaches is tested by a limited simulation study.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: History in the Making: Case Study of a Makerspace in a Historical Institution

contributor:
Reeve, Richard
Education

subject:
Museum Education
Makerspace
Constructionism
Collaboration

abstract: Makerspaces exist in public and private institutions as informal spaces where participants create tools to solve problems. Generally, makerspaces focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and as a result, tend to be installed more frequently in science-related institutions (e.g. science centres). Historical institutions on the other hand, have not been afforded the same opportunity. The purpose of this case study was to describe how a makerspace functions as a learning space in a historical institution. To develop a holistic understanding of the participants’ experiences within the makerspace, a descriptive explanatory single case study is presented in this paper. This addresses the research questions: 1) How do participants describe their experiences with the program?; 2) When participants partake in the makerspace environment, what does their behaviour look like?; and 3) What do participants describe as their learning gains? The findings suggest that makerspaces in historical institutions allow for positive social behaviours, and learning gains, but they do not show significant historical learning gains. These findings are discussed by comparing what the literature suggested would occur when a makerspace was brought into a museum to the results from the study. Future research needs to explore what program elements would be beneficial in creating a stronger tie between history through making activities.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Android App Protection through Anti-tampering and Anti-debugging Techniques

contributor:
Zulkernine, Mohammad
Computing

subject:
Android
ART
Anti-tampering
Anti-debugging
Android Application

abstract:
Android devices remain an attractive mobile malware target in recent years. Android applications (or simply apps) in the device are vulnerable to diﬀerent attacks which can tamper with the execution of an app to change app behavior so that it performs harm to users or can debug an app to steal private data (source code, user data and behavior). Android app protection is necessary to defend app behavior integrity and protect app privacy.

The app cache, where the app actually runs, is vulnerable to being tampered with. Cache tampering allows for the same behavioral changes as piggybacking. Piggybacking an app is to repackage an legitimate app with extra code that can perform malicious acts after installation, such as stealing user sensitive data or displaying unsolicited advertisements. The cache loading process of Android Runtime (ART) can be exploited by cache tampering attacks without rebooting the device.
Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) full enforcement has been deployed in the Android platform since Android 5, which enhances the security of Android platform and decreases the security concerns apps should take care of at the same time. Therefore, apps are vulnerable to being debugged in an insecure Android environment such as an emulator or a device with a rooted Android ROM.

We present a comprehensive app protection approach using anti-tampering and anti-debugging techniques. We implement separate solutions in terms of two protections against tampering and debugging. We maintain the integrity of app cache
and implement a lightweight cache protection solution for anti-tampering. We collect debugging points of ART and protect them at runtime from being tampered with. Our solution can be deployed easily across diﬀerent Android ART-based platforms with little eﬀort. App developers are able to use our techniques to protect their apps.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: "No es facil” / It’s not easy: Neoliberalism, precarity, and food insecurity in Kingston, Ontario and Havana, Cuba

contributor:
Power, Elaine
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Food Security
Poverty
Precariousness
Social Capital
Canada
Cuba
Food Insecurity

abstract:
Food insecurity, the limited or uncertain ability to access sufficient and acceptable foods, remains a persistent problem. Societal responses have been based on partial understandings of the causes and dimensions of food insecurity. In this research I seek to examine how neoliberalism shapes individual and societal responses to food insecurity, to help to identify underlying causes that could guide effective policy.
	This research begins with people’s lived experiences of and self-reported strategies for navigating among personal, private sector, charitable and state resources for managing food insecurity. Through an ethnographic approach that includes participant observation and 51 semi-structured interviews, I investigate how individuals at risk for food insecurity in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Havana, Cuba manage the day-to-day work of putting food on the table. Using a Bourdieuian logic of practice framework, this research explores the strategies people use to avoid and to manage food insecurity in countries that sit in different relationships to global neoliberalism.
	I advance several findings based on this research. First and foremost, the experience of food insecurity is inextricably linked to other aspects of poverty and deprivation. Second, precariousness appears to be a significant determinant and dimension of food insecurity. Finally, while socially networked strategies for managing food insecurity have some benefits, they do not provide sufficient protection against episodic food insecurity, and in fact may exacerbate unequal access to resources for managing and avoiding food insecurity.
	This research supports existing recommendations that policy addressing food insecurity be a joined-up policy that combats multiple dimensions of poverty and inequality. This research also suggests that policy to address food insecurity must counter the effects of precariousness that characterizes both the neoliberal state in Canada and the neoliberalizing state in Cuba. A guarantee of adequate income will be a fundamental step in addressing this. People at risk for food insecurity should be supported in continuing to exercise the effective skills they already use for avoiding food insecurity and managing the work of putting food on the table.
	Further qualitative research is needed to understand the multiple dimensions of food insecurity and its specific manifestations in different countries.

abstract: PhD


title: Should I Stay or Should I Go? Alternative migratory strategies in partially migratory western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana)

contributor:
Ratcliffe, Laurene
Biology

subject:
partial migration
birds
animal personality
stable isotopes

abstract:
Partial migration, which occurs when only some animals in a population migrate, is ubiquitous.  However, despite numerous studies investigating how partially migratory systems are controlled, we know relatively little about what determines whether an individual migrates.  In this thesis, I investigate ecological factors and individual characteristics shaping alternative migratory strategies in a partially migratory population of western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana).

First, I ask whether sex, age, or body size are related to variation in migration behaviour.  Using hydrogen isotopes in claw tissue to infer migratory strategy, I show that young bluebirds, particularly young females, are less likely to migrate than older birds, and that bluebirds mate assortatively by migratory strategy.  I also demonstrate that some bluebirds switch strategies between years, indicating that migratory behaviour is not under strict genetic control.  Second, I ask whether individual differences in diet could lead to variation in migratory strategy.  Using nitrogen and carbon isotopes in feathers, I show that the diet of resident males during fall moult differs from that of resident females and migrants of both sexes.  Responses to experimentally presented novel foods suggest this variation could be due to differences in behaviour: resident males are less hesitant to eat novel insects than migrant males, but the opposite is true of females.  Finally, I ask whether two personality traits, boldness and aggression, differ with migratory strategy.  I show that residents are bolder than migrants, but there is no difference between groups in aggression.  However, resident bluebirds from BC are more aggressive than resident bluebirds from California.

My results indicate that social influences, variation in diet, and personality traits may all play a role in determining whether bluebirds migrate.  They also imply that different factors may shape migratory strategies in males and females.  Overall, my research emphasizes the necessity of examining a wide variety of ecological factors and individual characteristics when attempting to determine how partially migratory systems are controlled.  The flexibility of these systems suggests they are likely to shift as a result of global environmental change.  To better predict their responses, an understanding of factors driving variation in migratory strategy is essential.

abstract: PhD


title: Exploring soil nutrient additions: Evaluating effects of long-term fertilization on low-Arctic tundra microbiomes and assessment of nano-phosphate fertilizer on soybean (Glycine max)

contributor:
Walker, Virginia K
Biology

subject:
Arctic Tundra
Hydroxyapatite
Nanoparticles
Soybeans
Nutrient Fertilizer Amendments
Nano-phosphate Fertilizer
Plant and Soil Microbiomes

abstract:
Out of necessity, plant nutrient requirements must be locally met, which explains the importance of soil fertility and soil microbial community structure. It is thus vital to understand the impact of climate change and technological breakthroughs on the microbes associated with natural vegetation and our crops. This thesis attempts to address these questions with two distinct investigations.
 In the first investigation, soil communities were examined in long-term maintained fertilizer and warming treatments in the Arctic tundra. The microbiomes associated with Arctic birch (Betula glandulosa) within the 5 treatment plots (control, high nitrogen (N), high phosphate (P), high N+P, and warming) near Daring Lake, NWT were sampled. Microbiome analysis of bacterial and fungal communities, using 16s rRNA and ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) analysis respectively, showed differences in bacterial communities with an increase in the family Xanthomonadaceae present in the N plus P treatment, while control and warming treatments showed similar soil and rhizosphere microbiome structures. There was an increase in Thelephora fungi in the high P treatment.
In the second chapter, microbial communities and plant growth were monitored after treatment with nano-phosphate fertilizer. Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) has been cited as more environmentally friendly and efficient than traditional fertilization with inorganic phosphate (P2O5). The needle-like nHA was used to evaluate the impact on early microbiome establishment in soybean (Glycine max) and in the soil, in an agriculturally realistic manner, utilizing 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Little difference was found in the soil structure and rhizosphere microbiomes between controls and nHA treatments. Growth experiments implementing nHA at agricultural recommended levels of P2O5, added to soil at the time of planting, did not show a significant increase in growth, biomass, or yield compared with P-deprived controls, suggesting that the nHA used here did not function as an effective fertilizer. The effectiveness of nano-fertilizers is likely influenced by their physicochemical properties (i.e. shape and surface) and their interactions with the soil matrix, making it important to evaluate these factors when designing new nano-phosphate fertilizers. Traditional P fertilization as used in the Daring Lake plots, was more effective, with a higher impact on the associated microbial community structure.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Integrating Petrophysical and Geophysical Data in Forward and Inversion Modelling of Zone 5-8, Raglan Mine, Quebec, Canada

subject:
Forward Modelling
Geophysics
Mineral Exploration
Inversion

abstract:
Raglan Mine is located on the Ungava peninsula, Québec, Canada. It’s a Ni-Cu-PGE magmatic sulphide deposit undergoing brownfield exploration. Given the available data from Raglan Mine and the underutilization of geophysical data integration in mineral exploration, this thesis’ purpose is to investigate the utility of data integration. Specifically, four objectives are set to integrate petrophysical and geophysical data in forward and inversion modelling of Zone 5-8 at Raglan Mine. The first two objectives are met through forward modelling a 3D geological model. Magnetic and gravity forward models are compared to observed data. The major outcome establishes a macro-magnetic susceptibility maximum for the ultramafic of 0.31 SI. Vertical gravity modelling shows lows over sediments, and highs over basalts and an intermediate high over the ultramafic. Additionally, the resolvability of ore targets is investigated, showing that these targets are unresolvable using airborne and terrestrial magnetic and gravity methods. These results are incorporated in inversion modelling. Inversion modelling is an optimization problem, which is non-unique, meaning many solutions could fit. This issue is mitigated through constraints from input data and reference models (cooperative inversion). Objectives 3 and 4 are met by running single parameter and cooperative inversions. Outcomes of single parameter inversions show that magnetic inversions are effective in outlining the UM unit to a depth of ~1000-1250m with a cut off of 0.05 SI. Single parameter gravity gradient inversions outline lower density sediments and higher density basalts. The ultramafic is outlined to depths of ~560-910m (cut off 0-0.3 g/cm3) after which ambiguity exists due to density overlap with basalt. Gravity gradient inversions are enhanced through the cooperative magnetic isosurface reference model, which also balances out the impact of the surface geology constraint. The gravity gradient isosurface constraint on the cooperative magnetic inversion causes the ultramafic limbs to diverge. Overall, forward modelling is able to approximate observed data, and single parameter and cooperative inversion modelling are able to position the magnetic ultramafic and higher and lower density sediments and basalts in geologically and geophysically logical
locations. This approach has promising applications in other zones.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: A Step in the Right Direction: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Customized Stepping Game Software and Nintendo Wii Balance Boards for Balance Rehabilitation Therapy and Measurement

subject:
Balance Measurement
Balance Rehabilitation
Balance Therapy
Falls Risk
Voluntary Stepping
Customized Gaming Software
Nintendo Wii Balance Boards

abstract:
Falling is a serious issue among adults over the age of 65 as the incidence and impact of falls rapidly increases with age. Traditionally, exercise interventions have proven to be effective in improving balance and strength, and in reducing the number and risk of falls. More recently, the use of gaming and virtual reality technologies have been shown to be more engaging and effective than typical exercises alone. Using the Nintendo  Wii Balance Board  and customized software, a stepping game was developed that has previously been able to identify difference in performance between healthy participants and participants with conditions that affect balance, but the game has not been tested longitudinally.
The objectives of this study were to investigate the stepping game system for its efficacy as a supplemental balance therapy by evaluating functional outcomes and participant satisfaction; to further evaluate the stepping game as a measurement tool to quantify longitudinal changes in balance by identifying trends in performance; and to examine the presence of a possible learning effect with the technology. The stepping game was integrated into two older adult exercise classes and functional outcomes were compared between control groups, who participated in the weekly exercise class, and test groups, who received supplemental therapy with the stepping game system. It was then integrated into two additional exercise programs to analyse trends in game performance over an 8 or 10-week period.
The results of the pre-post study regarding using the stepping game as a therapy were inconclusive. The game was able to identify statistically significant changes in performance measures (response time, reaction time and step time) for some participants over the span of the exercise program; however, a larger same size and a stricter protocol is necessary to evaluate the clinical significance. One participant's improvement in balance was reflected in both game performance and change in Berg Balance Scale score, highlighting the potential usefulness of the game as an assessment tool. A learning effect with the technology was also identified for some participants. Lastly, there were mixed responses regarding engagement as using the game every week became repetitive and boring.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Using Free Water Surface Constructed Wetland for the Mitigation of High PH Secondary Effluent From Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

contributor:
Champagne, Pascale
Hall, Geof
Civil Engineering

subject:
Constructed Wetland
pH
Secondary Effluent
Substrate
Wastewater Stabilization Pond

abstract:
Wastewater stabilization ponds (WSPs) are considered to be the most sustainable technology for small, rural and remote communities in North America. However, due to the configuration of WSPs and limited control over these systems, performance concerns during certain parts of the year may arise, as elevated temperature and extended hydraulic retention time (HRT) could stimulate excessive algal growth that results in sustained high pH levels in the system and effluent. Amherstview Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) in Amherstview, Ontario frequently experiences high pH effluent during the summer and is assessing the potential of a constructed wetland (CW) system to mitigate these
operational issues. In order to design a CW, a bench-scale experiment was conducted to identify the best available substrates and operational conditions in the laboratory. A short-term assessment of four substrates followed by long-term monitoring of the two most promising substrates was undertaken under different HRTs and organic loading rates (OLRs). The results showed that peat exhibited the best pH attenuation capacity, and the pH attenuation performance could be substantially improved when the OLR was increased over 70 mg/L COD with a HRT longer than 4 days. The feasibility of this CW system was further tested in the field over the span of a year to investigate the nutrients removal efficiencies, as well as to evaluate the effects ofsubstrate and vegetation on the wetland system using authentic secondary effluents from
the Amherstview WPCP. The results showed that all treatment systems could attenuate the pH level during both the start-up and operational periods, while significant nutrient removal performance could only be observed during the operational period. The results of the bench-scale and small-scale studies provided useful information for the design of the pilot-scale CW. The pilot-scale CW was successfully designed and established at the Amherstview WPCP. Overall, this newly designed free water surface (FWS) CW was highly effective at retaining phosphate (PO4-P) and total phosphorus (TP), and fairly effective at removing nitrate (NO3-N) and total nitrogen (TN). It is anticipated that the treatment performance of this CW could further improve when the CW becomes more mature.

abstract: PhD


title: Studies on the Effects of External Budgetary Controls and Accountability Reporting Demands on First Nations Communities in Canada

contributor:
Salterio, Steven
Business

subject:
Indigenous
Accounting
Funding Agreements
First Nations
Budgeting
Accountability Reporting

abstract: This dissertation is organized into four chapters; an introduction, two distinct empirical research studies, and a reflection piece on the research process. The first empirical study (Chapter 2) examines the effects of external government demands for accountability reporting, as witnessed by Indigenous individuals who work and live in First Nations communities. The chapter sheds light on the personal interpretive schemes that individuals employ to make-sense of accountability and reporting in their social context. The findings indicate that individual perceptions about accountability vary according to the participant’s personal background and their role in the community (i.e. administrative manager vs political leader). The attitudes of managers about their political leaders were found to contain commonalities to the attitudes expressed in the historic accounts of former government agents (i.e. Indian Agents) who had once managed First Nations communities on behalf of the “Indian Department”. The second study (Chapter 3) examines how budgets and budgeting in the Canadian government’s Grants and Contributions Program govern financial transfer payments to Indigenous recipient groups. The study indicates how budgeting practices allow government agencies to reinforce the dominant-subordinate social relationship that has long existed between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in colonial settings. The budgeting structure retains characteristics of historic colonial forms, originally intended to contain, control and assimilate the Indigenous population of Canada. Two key outcomes of the chapter are that Indigenous populations have little choice but to cooperate with government imposed funding requirements and that they retain a sense of agency through small acts of resistance against government funding agencies. Finally, Chapter 4 reflects on my experiences as an Indigenous field researcher while investigating the accountability relationships between First Nations populations and government agencies. The chapter shows how reflexive strategies were employed to ensure quality control over the collection and analysis of qualitative information. The chapter suggests strategies for future qualitative research projects, conducted in Indigenous contexts, that may benefit from reflexive practices. Overall, the dissertation extends accounting and Indigenous research streams and informs contextual accounting and Indigenous research on the potential of reflexivity as a strategy for conducting qualitative inquiry and in the construction of knowledge.

abstract: PhD


title: The Relative Importance of Population Size, Colonist Quality, and Colonist Arrival Frequency for Population Success

contributor:
Arnott, Shelley
Biology

subject:
Colonization
Population Size
Propagule Pressure
Quality
Arrival Frequency
Condition
Propagule Size
Propagule Number
Establishment
Extinction
Founding
Small Population
Invasion
Non Native
Human-Mediated Dispersal
Allee Effect
Colonist
Daphnia
Zooplankton
Framework
Synthesis
Movement Ecology
Genetic Diversity
Identity
Sampling Effect

abstract: Successful population establishment, subsequent population dynamics, and extinction have all repeatedly been shown to be affected by the quantity of initial colonists. However, there are other, less studied factors that could determine population success, including the physiological condition in which colonists arrive (‘quality’), and the frequency with which they arrive (‘arrival frequency’). While all of these factors can individually drive the dynamics and extinction of new populations, we do not understand which has the strongest influence, nor the circumstances under which their relative importance may change. In this thesis, I examined the importance of different combinations of colonizer characteristics for population success, and how their importance varied between species and individuals. In my first experiment, I showed that population size, not arrival frequency, was the primary factor determining the survival and performance of introduced populations of Hemimysis anomala. In my second experiment, I found that the population dynamics of Daphnia pulicaria were only influenced by colonist quality, while the establishment of Skistodiaptomus oregonensis was more strongly influenced by arrival frequency. Finally, I showed that the benefits of increasing colonist quantity and genetic diversity can change based on colonist identity. For some Daphnia pulex colonists, higher quantities or genetic diversities improved their success, while in others there was little effect. I also conducted an additional project that examined the mechanisms driving human-mediated dispersal. Colonization is a shared and integral process across ecological disciplines, and our current understanding of the mechanisms involved is founded on research of both ‘natural’ and ‘human-mediated’ colonization. This project integrates the biological- and human-based processes involved in human-mediated dispersal, and develops a general framework outlining the mechanisms that determine which individuals enter, survive, and exit from human vectors. Overall, my work highlights the necessity of considering multiple colonist characteristics, and pre-arrival processes, to understand, predict, and control colonization, and that the value of particular characteristics is not necessarily consistent across species and individuals.

abstract: PhD


title: A Combined Method for Vegetation Classification Based on Visible Bands from UAV Images: A Case Study for Invasive Wild Parsnip Plants

contributor:
Chen, Dongmei
Environmental Studies

subject:
UAV
Wild Parsnip
Random Forest
Image Classification

abstract: Wild parsnip is an invasive plant that has serious health risks to humans due to the toxin in its sap. Monitoring its presence and spread has been challenging for conservation authorities due to its small size and irregular shape. On traditional remotely-sensed images acquired by satellites or airplanes, wild parsnip cannot be distinguished from other vegetation due to low spatial resolution of the imagery. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) can obtain ultra-high resolution (UHR) imagery and have been used for vegetation-related monitoring in both environmental and agricultural applications in recent years. In this study, UAV images captured at Lemoine Point Conservation Area in Kingston, Ontario, are used to test a methodology for distinguishing wild parsnip. The objective of this study is to develop an efficient invasive wild parsnip classification workflow based on UHR digital UAV imagery. The challenge is that all processing options are based only on visible bands information (RGB) of the digital cameras on UAV, which means there is no infrared spectral information to use. The UAV image processing flow included image orientation, digital elevation model (DEM) and digital surface model (DSM) extractions, individual orthophoto production, and orthomosaic generation processing using Simactive’s software. Three vegetation indices and three texture features are calculated and the first two significant features are added to the mosaicked images. The Random Forest algorithm with relevant variables is used as the classifier to distinguish wild parsnip plants from other vegetation types. The optimal image resolution in parsnip analyses are undertaken by comparing accuracy assessments. The results provide an executable workflow to distinguish wild parsnip and show that UAV images, with a simple digital-light camera, are an appropriate and economic resource for small and irregular vegetation detection. The combined method yields reliable and valid outcomes in detecting wild parsnip plants and shows good performance in mapping vegetation.

abstract: M.E.S.


title: On the Road to Rome: Ephemera and Experience in Queen Christina's Italy

contributor:
Bailey, Gauvin Alexander
Art History

subject:
Queen Christina of Sweden
Ephemera
Baroque Art
Seventeenth-Century
Italy
Sugar Sculptures
Food History

abstract: In the Fall of 1655, Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689)-the former ruler of a Lutheran nation-crossed into the Papal States as Pope Alexander VII Chigi's (1599-1667) most important Catholic convert. Her arrival was his personal victory over the Protestant Reformation (1517-1521), giving rise to a series of elaborate celebrations that lasted weeks. On the road to Rome, status, prestige, respect and hospitality were expressed through extravagant performances of power, which included ephemera, art objects, music, dance, poetry, and food. They played a central role in introducing the queen to the riches of her new homeland while also allowing the queen to carve out a unique position of importance at Pope Alexander VII's court. This dissertation explores ephemera's role in shaping Queen Christina's first journey to Rome, a short period of time filled with festivities that were as opulent as they were political. Printed treatises, drawings, and never-before published records of these sumptuous gatherings reveal how such seemingly frivolous and indulgent celebrations in fact helped establish a new social hierarchy, which inserted the queen into the competitive world of seventeenth-century Rome. Decorative objects set new rules of decorum into motion and mediated social relationships like props on a stage. Imbued with the power to reflect the social statuses of those present, Pope Alexander VII spent exorbitant sums of money on staging these elaborate performances. Procuring only the highest quality materials, provisions and hiring skilled servants as well as actors, artisans and artists of the highest calibre to participate in her grand welcome, ephemera left a powerful mark on nearly all aspects of urban life. The most important palazzi (palaces) and piazze (public squares) were transformed into monumental stages where every citizen of Rome-men and women, rich and poor, young and old-participated. From Ferrara to the tiny town of Terni, ephemeral artworks were hand crafted, and displayed as tools the court of Rome used to perform their statuses. They were used to transform Queen Christina of Sweden into Rome's "regina" (its "pseudo-queen").

abstract: PhD


title: A Paleolimnological and Modeling Investigation of Water Quality and Biological Changes in Algonquin Park Lakes in Response to Multiple Stressors

contributor:
Smol, John P
Paterson, Andrew M
Biology

subject:
Paleolimnology
Algonquin Park
Lakeshore Capacity Model
Diatoms
Ontario
Climate Change

abstract: Algonquin Park (herein called the “Park”) is one of only two parks in Ontario that allows private cottages, with the first leases offered in 1905. In total, 22 lakes in the Park have a total of 303 cottage lots in their catchments, with 326 cottages holding commercial leases. In addition to the cottages, the Park has 12 campgrounds that are accessible by car, with over 1200 campsites. With the recent decision to extend leases until December 31st 2038, the provincial government is gathering information to determine if water quality has been adversely affected by current shoreline development. Furthermore, long-term data on cumulative impacts from multiple stressors are scarce in the Park, and so paleolimnological data and modeling are used here to provide information on: 1) how these lakes have changed since pre-industrial times, relative to a set of reference lakes; and 2) the sensitivity of the lakes to increased nutrient loading. This thesis has two separate but related research chapters. The first chapter focuses on diatom assemblages preserved in the modern (surface) and pre-industrial (bottom) sediment intervals of the 53 study lakes (i.e. 22 lakes that support shoreline cottages, and 31 lakes that are used as reference sites) to help determine whether the present-day limnological conditions differ from pre-industrial conditions, and if so, to examine the nature and magnitude of these diatom changes. This study tracks increases in the relative abundance of Asterionella formosa and Discostella diatom taxa since pre-industrial (ca. A.D. 1850) times in both cottage and reference lakes in Algonquin Park, that are likely due to climatically-induced limnological changes associated with longer ice-free periods and/or longer periods of thermal stratification. No clear signal linked to the cottages could be determined. The second chapter uses the Lakeshore Capacity Model (LCM), developed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, to calculate total phosphorus (TP) budgets for the 53 Algonquin Park study lakes, and assesses the relative sensitivity of these lakes to increased phosphorus loading. When applied to the study lakes, the LCM suggests that current TP concentrations in the lakes are below the Provincial Water Quality Objective (PWQO) for TP for lakes within the Precambrian Shield, with the majority of lakes showing low to moderate sensitivity to TP loading. Collectively, my studies show that cottages do not appear to have significantly altered the lakes in Algonquin Park; however, with the prevalence of multiple environmental stressors in a warming climate, a precautionary approach should be taken when considering the management of these lakes.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Role of Agency in the Design and Play of Exercise Video Games

contributor:
Graham, T.C. Nicholas
Rhodes, Ryan
Computing

subject:
Games
Exergames
Agency
Exercise
Active Video Games
Exercise Video Games
Muscle-Strengthening
Cardiorespiratory
Strength Training
Physical Rehabilitation
Human-Computer Interaction
Public Health
HCI

abstract:
A major problem in public health is low participation in physical activity. Games incorporating physical activity, exergames, have potential to combat this issue because they are engaging. A primary quality that makes games engaging is agency, the ability to make choices. Agency poses challenges to the design and play of exergames. First, exercise can be so rigid that it is challenging to design exergames that provide agency. Second, people have a fundamental agency to choose to play an exergame or not, and how long, how often, and how vigorously to play them. It is challenging to motivate people to play and keep playing exergames to reap health benefits.
	This research explores these challenges through two studies. In the first study, we developed game design techniques to balance agency with the constraints of rigid exercises. We illustrated these techniques through a novel game we developed for muscle-strengthening, Brains & Brawn. Results from the study demonstrated that players experienced agency during gameplay, were incented to exercise with correct form, and showed favourable attitude toward the game.
	To address the second challenge, we conducted a six-week nonrandomized control trial that examined adherence behaviours. The study showed that our exergame promoted high adherence levels compared to past interventions. A core motivator that might influence adherence is the potential for social interaction. Thus, we additionally examined agency through the lens of social play by comparing adherence between a single-player and multi-player condition. Social play did not augment adherence. However, players in the multi-player condition who actively engaged in social play (Groupers) had significantly higher adherence than those who did not (Loners). Opposing situations between the multi-player (high Grouper adherence; low Loner adherence) and single-player (low Grouper adherence; high Loner adherence) conditions were a possible reason social play did not augment adherence. The two groups in the multi-player condition differed solely in program belonging, which suggests that forming social groups is important to adherence. Results from the two studies showed that agency can be provided for rigid exercises, exergames can promote high adherence, and fostering a sense of belonging might aid adherence in future studies.

abstract: PhD


title: Catcalls or Compliments: Men's Attitudes on Street and Sexual Harassment in Relation to Their Personality

contributor:
Fekken, G. Cynthia
Psychology

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States

subject:
Street Harassment
Sexual Harassment
Personality
HEXACO
Dark Triad

abstract: Street harassment, also known as public harassment, sexual harassment in the public, and stranger harassment, is defined as physical and verbal unwanted behaviours done by a stranger in the public sphere. Sexual harassment in the workplace is defined as unwanted verbal or physical sexual advances and requests for sexual favours that impact an individual's employment or academic performance and create a hostile or offensive environment. Street harassment stands apart from sexual harassment in the workplace because street harassment is usually done in the public sphere by a stranger. In addition, the general public has normalized street harassment where some men perceive it as positive and complimentary. Yet, sexual harassment is perceived as socially unacceptable and illegal. How can these two types of harassment be seen so differently? Moreover, there is limited knowledge on the impact of personality traits on one's attitudes to street harassment. The current study aimed to investigate the definition of street harassment and create an empirical street harassment measure, which currently does not exist in the literature. Furthermore, the relationship of normal personality traits, measured by the HEXACO personality inventory, and of sub-clinical Dark Triad personality traits to men's attitudes of street harassment and sexual harassment was examined. The pilot studies illustrated that a unique set of street harassment behaviours characterized by perpetrator identity and context could not be created; however, a range of harassing behavioural items was created. The main study revealed that Conscientiousness, Openness, Agreeableness, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy personality traits are significant predictors of men's attitudes on a range of harassing behaviours. The findings of this research give rise to some conceptual questions about the street harassment construct and how to better measure the construct. Furthermore, the study informs the discourse surrounding men's attitudes on a range of harassing behaviours by situating the behaviours within the context of both normal personality and a set of socially malevolent traits. These findings provide a greater understanding of the psychological profile of men at risk for engaging in a range of harassing behaviours.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Dynamic Observation in Discrete-Event Systems

contributor:
Rudie, Karen
Computing

subject:
Discrete-Event Systems
Partial Observation
Sensor Activation
Communication

abstract:
This dissertation studies problems of dynamic observation in discrete-event systems.
In discrete-event systems, agents exist that observe events generated by a system.
The agents have some task to fulfill that requires observing the behaviour of the system, such as control of the system or diagnosis of failures in the system.
Traditionally in discrete-event systems, agents observe all occurrences of a given event, or no occurrences of that event.

In problems of dynamic observation, certain occurrences of a given event may be observed whereas other occurrences may not be observed.
An example scenario of dynamic observation is when an agent uses sensors for observing events which the agent may turn on or off at its leisure.
Another example scenario is when the agent receives messages from another agent indicating that certain events in the system have occurred.

This dissertation studies problems related to the above two scenarios, as well as more general scenarios where dynamic observation occurs.
First, we study the problem of computing a finite-state representation of how an agent uses its sensors for making event observations.
We show that such a representation may be computed in polynomial-time when certain restrictions on how an agent may use its event sensors are imposed.
We show that a simple generalization of these restrictions results in the problem of computing the representation being PSPACE-complete.

Second, we study the problem of computing indistinguishable state pairs of finite-state automata.
Indistinguishable state pairs are used in the verification of properties involved in solutions to problems of dynamic observation.
We demonstrate how indistinguishable state pairs may be computed and how they may be used to verify such properties.

Third, we study cases in dynamic observation where observing more event occurrences permits agents to more precisely estimate the state of the system.
We apply these results in the solution to a problem where two agents must accomplish their tasks while communicating as little as possible to one another.

Note that this dissertation is presented in a manuscript-style.

abstract: PhD


title: Reducing the Tension in the Application of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law to Asymmetric Warfare

contributor:
Robinson, Darryl
Law

subject:
International Human Rights
International Humanitarian Law
Asymmetric Warfare
Armed Conflict

abstract:
Abstract
There are two similar but competing legal regimes in the international domain that protect people: human rights law and humanitarian law. Currently, the two regimes are in tension. In the last four decades, international human rights norms have expanded to occupy the field previously dominated by humanitarian law and have become the primary legal regime for governing the use of force in non-international armed conflict. The reasons are the changing nature of warfare and its participants and slow modernization of humanitarian law conventions. The tension has created divergent standards of interpretation of the two regimes, which has led to the inconsistent application of human rights and humanitarian law norms.  Proponents of international human rights law maintain that it is the only regime capable of adequately protecting the victims of violence in non-international armed conflict. They state that the humanitarian law conventions developed to mitigate the deleterious effects of conventional international armed conflict are ineffective in controlling the consequences of contemporary asymmetric warfare. Human rights conventions have much more rigorous protections for those victims, and access to accountability mechanisms. However, the continuing expansion of human rights norms into the realm of armed conflict is ineffective. While humanitarian law norms applicable to non-international armed conflict lack density in topics such the use of lethal force and the treatment of detainees, rejuvenation of humanitarian law would be a more effective solution. Humanitarian norms were specifically developed to moderate the application of lethal means, to protect the victims of armed conflict, and to govern the treatment of detainees. The key to reducing the tension lies in leveraging the fundamental principle of humanity, though the creation of a universal framework for the use of force based on the unifying principle of humanity that would apply to every person, at all times, irrespective of characterization of the conflict. Such a framework must reflect the highest norms of precautions and protection found in both regimes, and must be simple understand and apply.

abstract: PhD


title: The Andromeda Optical and Infrared Disk Survey

contributor: Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy

rights: Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States

subject:
Astronomy
Stellar Populations
Extragalactic Astronomy

abstract: The spectral energy distributions of galaxies inform us about a galaxy’s stellar populations and interstellar medium, revealing stories of galaxy formation and evolution. How we interpret this light depends in part on our proximity to the galaxy. For nearby galaxies, detailed star formation histories can be extracted from the resolved stellar populations, while more distant galaxies feature the contributions of entire stellar populations within their integrated spectral energy distribution (SED). This thesis aims to resolve whether the techniques used to investigate stellar populations in distant galaxies are consistent with those available for nearby galaxies. As the nearest spiral galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the ideal testbed for the joint study of resolved stellar populations and panchromatic SEDs. We present the Andromeda Optical and Infrared Disk Survey (ANDROIDS), which adds new near-UV to near-IR (ugriJKs) imaging using the MegaCam and WIRCam cameras at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope to the available M31 panchromatic dataset. To accurately subtract photometric background from our extremely wide-field (14 square degree) mosaics, we present observing and data reduction techniques with sky-target nodding, optimization of image-to-image surface brightness, and a novel hierarchical Bayesian model to trace the background signal while modelling the astrophysical SED. We model the spectral energy distributions of M31 pixels with MAGPHYS (da Cunha et al. 2008) and compare those results to resolved stellar population models of the same pixels from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) survey (Williams et al. 2017). We find substantial (0.3 dex) differences in stellar mass estimates despite a common use of the Chabrier (2003) initial mass function. Stellar mass estimated from the resolved stellar population is larger than any mass estimate from SED models or colour-M/L relations (CMLRs). There is also considerable diversity among CMLR estimators, largely driven by differences in the star formation history prior distribution. We find broad consistency between the star formation history estimated by integrated spectral energy distributions and resolved stars. Generally, spectral energy distribution models yield a stronger inside-out radial metallicity gradient and bias towards younger mean ages than resolved stellar population models.

abstract: PhD


title: Larval Crowding Effects on Drosophila Melanogaster populations selected for Early and late life fertility

contributor:
Chippindale, Adam
Biology

subject:
evolution
development
larval crowding
trade-offs
drosophila melanogaster

abstract: Life history theory seeks to explain how organisms optimize their fitness in the presence of extrinsic and intrinsic challenges. Like many organisms with complex life cycles, holometabolous insects often face different environments and uncertain future conditions as they differentiate and grow. These extrinsic factors interact with tradeoffs within stages, such as the rate of growth and size at each transition point. Here, I study the effects of larval crowding on populations selected for rapid development and extreme early life fertility (FAST) and relaxed development rate and late life fertility (SLOW) during larval and pupal (pre-adult), and adult stages of Drosophila melanogaster. I do so by quantifying pre-adult developmental time and viability, as well as adult size at eclosion and reproductive success. Additionally, I tease apart sex differences in terms of sex ratio at eclosion and weight changes with increased larval crowding. I found the following: larval development time increased for both selection regimes, but this change was more pronounced in the SLOW selected populations. Additionally, the SLOW selected populations exhibited prolonged pupal development at high larval densities of 200 and 400 per vial. The most significant decrease in pre-adult viability was predominantly during larval development for both selection regimes. Size at eclosion decreases as larval density increases, and is closely correlated with a decrease in fecundity. Yet, there were few differences in the response to crowding between the males and females for both selection regimes in terms of eclosion time or weight loss due to density. My results support other studies on the effects of larval crowding, as well as offering new insights into the physiological plasticity and trade-offs that the two selection regimes exhibit.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Characterization of the UDP-Glc/GlcNAc 4-epimerase AglW from the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis using glycosyltransferase coupled assays

contributor:
Brockhausen, Inka
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

subject:
UDP-hexose 4-epimerase
Methanococcus maripaludis
AglW

abstract: Archaea are ubiquitous single-celled microorganisms that have often adapted to harsh conditions and play important roles in biogeochemical cycles with potential applications in biotechnology. Methanococcus maripaludis, a methane-producing archaeon, is motile through multiple archaella on its cell surface. The major structural proteins (archaellins) of the archaellum are glycoproteins, modified with the N-linked tetrasaccharide: 4-deoxy-5-O-Me-ManNAc β1-4 ManNAc3NAmA6Thr β1-4 GlcNAc3NAcA β1-3 GalNAc β-Asn, where the sugar 4-deoxy-5-O-Me-ManNAc is found exclusively in this species. The attachment of the N-linked tetrasaccharide to archaellins is required for proper motility of M. maripaludis. The aglW gene encoding the putative UDP-Glc/GlcNAc 4-epimerase AglW plays a key role in the biosynthesis of the unique terminal sugar residue found in the N-linked tetrasaccharide. The goal of this study was to biochemically demonstrate the 4-epimerase activity of AglW, and to develop glycosyltransferase (GT) coupled assays to determine its substrate specificity and properties. We carried out coupled assays using UDP-Gal, UDP-Glc, UDP-GlcNAc, UDP-GalNAc and GlcNAc/GalNAc-diphosphate – lipid as substrates. We established that AglW is active without the addition of divalent metal ions or NAD+ and has a broad specificity towards UDP-sugars. We also showed that tyrosine-151 within a conserved YxxxK sequon is essential for the 4-epimerase function of AglW. The GT-coupled assays are generally useful for the identification and specificity studies of novel 4-epimerases. The results of this work provide insight into the synthesis of complex N-glycans in M. maripaludis.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Interindividual Differences in Oxygen Delivery Demand Matching and its Impact on Exercise Fatigability

contributor:
Tschakovsky, Michael
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Forearm Exercise
Fatiguability
Oxygen Delivery
Oxygen Demand

abstract:
Background: At the start of exercise, the energy demand of the muscle increases. To meet this demand, energy production using oxygen increases. More oxygen is brought to the muscle mainly by a widening of the blood vessels. In small muscle mass exercise, it is generally accepted that oxygen delivery is tightly coupled to the demand of the muscle (Wagner, 2012, Wajner & Goodman, 2011). Recently however, individual differences in oxygen delivery demand matching have been revealed, and these differences predict performance. (Kellawan et al., 2014; Bentley et al., 2014; Bentley et al., 2017).
Objectives: 1) Quantify an individual’s oxygen delivery (O2D) to oxygen consumption (V̇ O2) ratio using a range of exercise intensities 2) Quantify the association between the oxygen delivery to oxygen consumption ratio and exercise fatigability.
Methods: 10 participants performed multiple incremental rhythmic forearm handgrip exercise tests until exhaustion to quantify individual oxygen delivery to oxygen consumption ratio. These participants were divided into high and low responder groups, where ‘high responders’ were defined as having higher oxygen delivery relative to oxygen consumption and ‘low responders’ had lower oxygen delivery relative to oxygen consumption. A fatiguing exercise test, using intermittent maximal contractions, was used to quantify fatigability. Oxygen delivery was determined by measuring forearm blood flow with ultrasound and by estimating the oxygen content of the blood through venous blood sampling. Forearm oxygen consumption was calculated as the product of forearm blood flow and arterial-venous oxygen content difference.
Results: High responders experienced less fatigability than the low responders. High responders had greater absolute change in O2D (p < 0.01), forearm blood flow (FBF) (p<0.05) and in forearm vascular conductance (FVC) (p<0.05), reflecting a greater widening of the blood vessels.
Conclusions: In forearm handgrip exercise, the high responders demonstrated less exercise fatigability. High responders had greater widening of the blood vessels, suggesting the potential for relative enhancement of the blood vessel response to the same exercise demand.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Beyond the Geometrical Method: Nature, Necessity, and Nihilism in Spinoza's Philosophy

contributor:
Miller, Jon
Philosophy

subject:
Spinoza
Method
Geometrical Method
Philosophical Method
Philosophical  Methodology
Nature
Necessity
Nihilism
Necessitarianism
Determinism
Fatalism
Method of Demonstration

abstract:
This dissertation is a study of Spinoza’s method.

I begin with Spinoza’s own views on method. I show that he begins with a largely Cartesian outlook, while acknowledging a debt to Bacon, and adopts a monistic framework which consists of three parts: distinguishing true perceptions from false ones, prioritizing the whole over the parts, and avoiding wearying the mind with useless things.

In Chapter 2 I argue for two theses: First, that there is no clear understanding of what Spinoza’s method is, nor of how precisely it fits together with its antecedents. Second, I argue that, while prior accounts have often rightly noted the philosophical debts Spinoza owes to Bacon, Descartes, Hobbes, and others, Spinoza’s own view has not been, and indeed cannot be, clearly understood through these previous methodologies.

In Chapter 3 I argue that Spinoza is committed to two interpretive principles: Meaning Requires Use (MRU), and Meaning Requires Knowledge (MRK). I suggest that these principles can usefully be applied to our interpretation of Spinoza himself. Next, I employ a database-driven reconstruction of the structure of the Ethics to argue in Chapter 4 that uncited elements constitute a problem for the logical interpretation of Spinoza’s method, which holds that the geometrical order of the text is intended to represent the order of nature. I also argue that even if we do not hold to a strictly logical interpretation of the geometrical order, there is still a problem of interpretation of Spinoza’s Ethics that arises precisely because of his use of that order.

Chapter 5 develops the data-driven approach I have taken in the analysis of the geometrical order to arrive at a rather exhaustive account of what appear to be intentional philosophical endpoints of Spinoza’s system, and which can thereby be analyzed for consistency and cogency, and thereby illuminate the core doctrines of Spinoza’s philosophy.

In light of the foregoing analysis, in Chapter 6, I consider the threat of nihilism that falls out of Spinoza’s necessitarianism, which underlies his method, and try to determine how Spinoza’s Ethics can be an ethics after all.

abstract: PhD


title: Agent-Based Modelling as a Decision Support Tool for Water Resources Planning and Management

contributor:
Filion, Yves
Civil Engineering

subject:
Water Distribution Networks
Agent Based Model
Energy Use

abstract: The research presented in this thesis focuses on developing a water-use forecasting method using an agent-based model. The novelty of this method is that it allows for a given population to be represented heterogeneously and that the household are connected amongst themselves and can transmit information and modify their behaviours. The model is showcased using a case study in Kingston, Ontario where households are modeled at the individual level as agents that separate water use into 6 household fixtures. Agents are given a set of attributes that enable them to make decisions and adapt behaviour based on social-networks and communication. Available data from Statistics Canada is used to characterize 40 neighbourhoods within Kingston, Ontario. The modelling framework is utilized to test population responses and potential water savings achieved through conservation campaigns. The research consists of evaluating the change in water demand using the model and running the results into a pipe-network hydraulic solver (EPANET 2.0) to calculate the change in energy use from the distribution system associated with conservation programs. The model and the case study are used to answer a series of research questions concerning the sensitivity of the ABM to social communication parameters, the potential water and energy savings that are achievable in the Kingston distribution system and finally, how the spatial distribution of water savings affects energy savings in the Kingston system.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Forests, Beetles, and Climates in British Columbia's Central Interior: Historical Geographies of Paradigm Change in Forest Science and Management, 1945 - Present

contributor:
Cameron, Laura
Mabee, Warren
Geography and Planning

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States

subject:
Historical Geography
Forestry
British Columbia
Ecosystem
Climate Change
Paradigm
Relational Ontologies

abstract: This dissertation explores forest science and management issues in the Central Interior of British Columbia through a historical-geographical lens. I gather evidence that illustrates the combined socio-ecological nature of forest loss, degradation and industrial (i.e., timber supply) crises in the province, and use the most recent mountain pine beetle outbreak as an exposition of several managerial failings. Contra ahistorical and apolitical approaches to resource management, I show how the politics of nature have been at play over the last seventy-three years (1945-present), and make the case that current landscapes can be read as material histories of past management decisions. As a case study, I focus on the Thompson Rivers Forest District in traditional Secwépemc territory as an ideal place to investigate how forest values have changed over time, and employ a mixed-methodological approach including qualitative interviews, data collected via public consultation, archival research, and review of government documents. I suggest several findings based on my research. I propose that BC’s forest management history since WWII is characterized by three paradigms: (1) maximum sustainable yield forestry; (2) ecosystem-based management; and (3) an in-the-making management regime in the era of anthropogenic climate change. I document how different scientific models have been used to legitimate sustainable management practices in different time periods, but argue that the appropriation of nature and the capitalist imperative have remained entrenched as the core drivers of management decisions. This has led to the (re)production of anthropocentric cultures of management even as new ecological monikers have been employed by industry and government in the name of sustainability. The research highlights major historical shifts in management that can be used to inform current transitions within the context of climate change and uncertain, unpredictable forest dynamics. Forest history, politics, philosophy and policy are fused in this project, generating cross-disciplinary geographical scholarship that is useful within contemporary resource management and policy decisions.

abstract: PhD


title: Geography, Geographers, and the Geographies of Antiracism

contributor:
Kobayashi, Audrey
Geography and Planning

subject:
Racism in Geography
Critical Race Theory
Genealogy

abstract:
This research builds upon contemporary understandings of the roles of race, whiteness, and antiracism within the practice and profession of geography in North America. A Foucauldian approach to intellectual genealogy, Critical Race Theory, and the experiences of geographers of colour are used to trace the development of antiracist thought within dominant approaches in human geography. The biographies, personal narratives, and professional genealogies of antiracist geographers of colour in the United States and Canada reveal the connections between personal experiences of racism and a relentless push for antiracist research and practice. An in-depth analysis of the scholarly contributions of three prominent antiracist geographers of colour further highlights the relationship between identity and personal experiences in the advancement of geographic theory. In identifying geographers as geographic subjects, an emphasis is placed on the hierarchy of racial knowledge and the importance of the location from where, and by whom, geographic knowledges are produced.
	While efforts to attract more people of colour into the profession of geography have been made since the 1960s, the practice and production of geography in the United States and Canada remains deeply racialized. The consistently small number of geographers of colour in North America geography departments and geography’s limited engagement with critical race research points to the continued power of whiteness in shaping the production of both geographers and geographic knowledge. Despite the more than 50-year age span between the youngest and oldest geographers interviewed, troubling thematic trends of experiences of racism as geography graduate students and as faculty members emerged. Whiteness and racism continue to pervade the discipline of geography in North America and the barriers discouraging the practice and development of antiracist geographies remain strong.

abstract: PhD


title: Effect of Foot Shells on Mechanical Properties of Prosthetic Foot Systems

contributor:
Bryant, Tim
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Prosthetics
Prosthetic Foot System
Foot Shells
Mechanical  Characterization
Mechanical Testing
Biomechanics
Midstance
Stiffness
Deformation
Mechanical Properties

abstract:
Prosthetic foot systems are typically composed of both structural keel and foot shell components. The interaction between these components is considered by the prosthetic device industry with respect to designing higher performance systems with strategically paired components. However, the influence of foot shells on prosthetic foot system mechanical performance is limited in academic literature.

The overall goal of this study was to inform future prescription guidelines and design practices of prosthetic foot components by quantifying the effects of foot shells on mechanical properties of prosthetic foot systems. A methodology was proposed enabling characterization of midstance properties that was adapted from a protocol used to predict continuous deformation characteristics of prosthetic feet throughout stance. The proposed method was validated against previous results, and successfully detected differences related to foot design during midstance loading. Specifically, increased deformation corresponded to earlier double-keel loading initiation and later transition into single-keel forefoot loading.

The new protocol was implemented to quantify effects of various foot shell designs on predicted deformation and stiffness characteristics of prosthetic foot systems. Observed effects on the system included path-dependent changes to the force-displacement curves, instances of both decreased and increased stiffness up to 73% and 49%, respectively, and up to 13% increased durations of double-keel loading. Varied effects were observed depending on keel and foot shell design, and phase of stance.

In a final study, effects of isolated foot shell design features on mechanical performance of prosthetic foot systems were investigated.  Results indicate a complex interaction likely exists between keel and foot shell components, and should therefore be taken into further consideration in the evaluation, design, and prescription of prosthetic foot systems.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Manipulation of Cognitive Load in Simulation-Based Medical Education

contributor:
Kirby, John
Education

subject:
Cognitive Load
Simulation Based Medical Education
Galvanic Skin Response

abstract: In order to maximize the educational benefits of simulation based medical education (SBME) on an individual level, medical educators can manipulate simulation scenarios in real time, using the fundamentals of cognitive load theory.  This approach requires accurate measurement of cognitive load.  In this study, we investigate whether self-reported assessment of cognitive load using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and measurement of the galvanic skin response (GSR) are able to reliably and accurately measure cognitive load during SBME.  Five separate experimental conditions are reported, and self-reported VAS and GSR measurements of cognitive load are compared before and after interventions designed to either increase or decrease cognitive load. Twenty-one junior postgraduate medical trainees participated in this study.  Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANCOVA.  VAS and GSR were highly correlated with each other, and with increasing numbers of recall items in a standard visual spatial memory task.  While VAS was more sensitive for discriminating between varying levels of cognitive load during the visual spatial memory task, both VAS and GSR were able to do so. In two simulation scenarios designed to increase cognitive load, increases in VAS measures of cognitive load were statistically significant, while GSR measures were not.  GSR decreased significantly in an exercise designed to decrease cognitive load, while VAS did not.  Introduction of the worked examples effect in final simulation exercise resulted in statistically significant reductions in both VAS and GSR measures of cognitive load.  Limitations and applications of the results are discussed.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Environmental Monitoring of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms Using Small Unmanned Aerial Systems

contributor:
Lefebvre, Daniel
Wang, Yuxiang
Biology

subject:
Microcystis
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria Monitoring
Unmanned Aerial System
Harmful Algal Blooms

abstract:
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) degrade water quality and may produce toxins. The distribution of CHABs can change rapidly due to variations in population dynamics and environmental conditions. Biological and ecological aspects of CHABs were studied in order to better understand CHABs dynamics. Field experiments were conducted near Hartington, Ontario, Canada, in ponds dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa during the summers of 2015 and 2016. Mixing of the water column followed by calm conditions resulted in over 90% of the Microcystis floating on the surface.  Microcystis surface appearance formed four different assemblages: aggregate, ribbons, patches, and mats.
 Presence of CHABs on the water surface also depends on environmental influences such as direct and indirect wind effects. Surface coverage of CHABs was found to be reduced to half within an hour at wind speeds of 0.5 m/s.
Our findings indicated that blooming involves surface display of cyanobacteria, therefore using surface imagery to quantify CHABs was justified. Traditional detection methods do not provide accurate distribution information, nor do they portray CHABs events in a real-time manner due to limitations in on-demand surveillance and delays between sample time and analyzed results. Therefore, a new CHAB detection method using small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) with consumer-grade cameras was developed. When cyanobacteria were floating on the surface, CHABs detection through RGB band cameras and spectral enhancement techniques was efficient and accurate.  sUAS were capable of providing coverage up to 1 km2 per mission and the short intervals between sampling and results (approx. 2 h) allowed for the rapid analysis of data and for implementing follow-up monitoring or treatments. sUAS were able to measure growth and decline curves of CHABs throughout 2016 which were then compared to water chemistry results. sUAS were cost-effective (estimated $50 CAD per mission) with an average cyanobacterial detection accuracy of 86% (8% of the error were false negatives, and 6% were false positives). Thus, it is a good candidate method to fill the urgent need for CHABs detection, providing cost effective, rapid, and accurate information to improve risk management at a local level and to help quickly allocate resources for mitigation.

abstract: M.Sc.