title: Sustainable happiness in an ecovillage: exploring the impacts of sustainable living on individual happiness

contributor:
Russell, Connie
Chambers, Joan

subject: Happiness

subject: Environmental and sustainability education

subject: Connecting psychological and ecological well-being

subject: Sustainability and sustainable living

abstract:
While there has been substantial growth in scholarly attention to negative emotional
responses to environmental issues such as climate change, limited research has been conducted
on the converse, such as how environmentally sustainable lifestyles might influence and impact
individual happiness. Happiness is commonly considered a subjective and situational emotion;
however, research has shown that individuals who practice a number of mindful exercises are
capable of improving and increasing their overall sense of well-being. Drawing on the emergent
field of “sustainable happiness,” this ethnographic case study examined the lived experiences of
individuals who lead environmentally sustainable lifestyles, specifically focusing on their
understandings and perceptions of happiness. Twelve interviews were conducted with an
environmentally focused intentional community in British Columbia, Canada. Data analysis
revealed that although happiness exercises were not explicitly practiced, participants nonetheless
engaged in authentic daily activities that enabled them to explore how gratitude, the pursuit of
money, the influence of media and news, and sense of community impacted their health and
happiness. Further, the longer participants had lived in this intentional community and increased
their knowledge of sustainable living, the more able they were to recognize the negative impacts
current mainstream lifestyles had on their health and happiness. Given these findings and
increased awareness of the importance of attending to mental health in formal educational
settings, it is recommended that curricula grounded in sustainable happiness research be
developed to offer students opportunities to explicitly learn about well-being and the potential
impacts different practices and lifestyles have on their happiness.


title: A qualitative examination of the lived experiences of men identified as perpetrators of intimate partner violence

contributor:
Murphy-Oikonen, Jodie
Chambers, Lori

subject:
Intimate parnter violence
Male perpetrators
Lived experiences
Qualitative methods
Descriptive phenomenology
Masculinities

abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of males identified as perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV is a complex social problem that has many damaging consequences for individuals and families (Devaney & Lazenbatt, 2016; Johnson, 2016). The intent of this research is not to emphasize the rights of men over women but to provide the opportunity for men identified as perpetrators (MIAP) to discuss their perspectives on IPV. Understanding the complexity of IPV directly from male perpetrators is one step to address violence prevention, and interventions for both men and women. Thus, the goal of this research project was to gain a more thorough understanding of men’s experiences with IPV, specifically in Thunder Bay. This study was completed with qualitative methods of descriptive phenomenology through semi-structured interviews with thirteen men in the community of Thunder Bay. The results from participants highlight the complexity of relationships and challenges dominant narratives of IPV. The key themes revealed were: 1) Complexity in Intimate Relationships and IPV; 2) Precipitating Factors to IPV; 3) Disconnected Experience with the Legal System; 4) Ripple Effect of IPV on Life; 5) Impact of Support Systems; and 6) Hope for the Future & Social Change. These key themes uncovered the essence of the data which was an Altered Sense of Self. Exploring IPV could broaden understandings of IPV and subsequently improve the quality of life for all individuals impacted by it to better inform the systems that address IPV. Such research implies a need for more diverse methods to assist men and their families struggling with IPV. This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC): Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program.


title: Employing persons with a developmental disability : effects of previous experience / by Lori Ann Blessing.

subject:
Developmentally disabled Employment
Employer attitude surveys


title: Effects of feed and operating conditions on the performance and membrane fouling of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor

contributor:
Liao, Baoqiang
Xu, C. Charles
Elyasi, Siamak
Leung, Kam

subject:
Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs)
Membrane fouling
Industrial wastewater treatments
Sludge
Biogas

abstract:
Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) have been recognized as an effective method for enhanced wastewater treatment and re-use. However, the loss of the membrane performances due to membrane fouling remains a major obstacle in the extensive application of membrane bioreactors. In this study, a hollow fiber submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) was developed for biorefining effluent and industrial wastewater treatment, and membrane fouling was controlled during the operation period. Subsequently, the effects of wastewater characteristics and mixed liquor properties on membrane fouling in an SAnMBR and a thermophilic submerged aerobic membrane bioreactor (TSAMBR) were studied with four different types of industrial wastewaters.
In the first part of this thesis, a laboratory-scale hollow fiber SAnMBR was operated for over 5 months to assess its performance for biorefining effluent treatment and the effect of organic loading rate (OLR) on the membrane performance, sludge properties and membrane fouling of the SAnMBR. The results showed that the SAnMBR is not ideally feasible for the treatment of the synthetic biorefining effluent due to the relatively low chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency (40-70%), the reduction in biogas production rate and the intolerability of the high OLR. A higher OLR resulted in a higher EPS concentration and smaller sludge particles, thus leading to faster membrane fouling. The study showed that too high OLR should be avoided for the operation of SAnMBR.


title: Taxonomic revision of the subfamily Schistorophinae (Nematoda: Acuaroidea) and its North American distribution in waders belonging to the families Charadriidae, Scoloacidae and Recurvirostridae (Aves)

subject:
Nematoda
Acuaroidea
Zoology Classification

abstract:
The subfamily Schistorophinae Travassos, 1918 is
revised. Five species of Schistorophus Railliet, 1916 are
recognized: (1) longicornis (Hemprich and Ehrenberg in
Schneider, 1866) with S. indica (Sanwal, 1952) and S.
limosae Mawson, 1968 as its new synonyms; (2) S. skrjabini
(Vassilkova, 1926); (3) S. cirripedesmi Rhzhikov and
Khokhlova, 1964 with S. brygooi Petter, 1967 and S. lii
Daiya, Bondarenko and Gubanov, 1971 as its new synonyms;
(4) S. cornutus Sobolev, 1943a and (5) S. guschanskoi
Ablasov and Chibichenko, 1962. Redescriptions of S.
longicornis, S. skrjabini and S. cirripedesmi are provided.
Schistorophus bicuspis (Rudolphi, 1819), S. laciniatus
(Molin, 1860b) Strongylus ambiguus Rudolphi, 1802 and
Spiroptera sternae-hirundinis Deslongchamps, 1824 are
regarded as species inquirendae. One species,
S. acanthocephalica (Molin, 1860a) is considered a synonym of
Paracuaria adunca (Creplin, 1846). Four species are
transferred to the following genera: (1) Viktorocara
capillaris (Molin, 1860c) n. comb. (2) Viktorocara
aulieatina (Skrjabin, 1916) n. comb. (3) Stellocaronema
spinulosus (Molin, 1860c) n. comb. and (4) Sciadiocara bihamata (Mueller, 1897) n. comb.


title: Shigometer and electrical resistance studies of paper birch

subject:
Shigometer
Paper birch
Electric resistance

abstract:
The Shigometer was evaluated as an instrument for detecting
red heart of paper birch. The Shigometer accurately detected the
presence of red heart at a 50% decrease from the maximum reading
rule but sometimes failed to precisely define its outer limits.
Although it did not always correctly detect the presence or precise
location of discoloured wood, it was able to correctly detect the
presence of discoloured wood within a few centimetres in
approximately 85% of attempts. There was a general increase in ion
concentrations in the red heart as compared to the clear wood. The
ions appear to accumulate in vessels along the clear wood to
discoloured wood transition zone, in the ray parenchyma in the
transition zone and in the discoloured wood. Following wounding
there was an increase in soluble and insoluble potassium. The
Shigometer readings were found to be correlated with mobile ion
concentrations of potassium and magnesium. Because few
microorganisms were found in association with the red heart, it is
felt that the initial accumulation of ions may be a wound response by
the tree.


title: How forests and forest management messaging was disseminated in governmental promotional material in Ontario, 1800–1959

contributor:
Beaulieu, Michel
Harpelle, Ron
Southcott, Chris

subject: Governmental forestry promotional publications (Ontario)

subject: Representations of sustainable forestry

subject: Forest management (Ontario)

abstract:
This dissertation studies governmental forestry promotional publications issued in Ontario, to
examine how messaging of forests and forest management was disseminated in promotional
publications released by government departments. The study adds to the literature that examines
the shifting purpose of forested lands in Ontario. It complements recent studies on
representations of sustainable forestry by drawing attention to various mediums that have been
utilized in bolstering government sustainable mandates, which has been overlooked by many
scholars. Based on an examination of numerous films, trade publications, children’s literature,
and archival records on promotional publications, this dissertation argues both streams of
government depicted a carefully constructed narrative that lacked transparency as to the actual
state of forestry in the province. This portrayal of forests reflected the Dominion Forestry
Branch’s and the Department of Lands and Forests’ own ideas regarding the purpose and use of
the areas. This narrative, created for the public, was transformed over time. Illustrated is the
contentious relationship that the public shared with forests due largely to the propaganda issued
by governmental and industrial agencies, further demonstrating how government agencies
continually re-envisioned forests to respond to its own evolving views of forests and society’s
aspirations for the land. The changing perception of forests altered the government’s stance and
guiding themes in forestry promotion shifted between utilization and conservation.


title: Applying criteria and indicators to assess ecological integrity of a boreal national park and adjoining forest management units / by Andrew James Promaine.

subject: Forest ecology Ontario Pukaskwa National Park Region

subject: Forest management Ontario Pukaskwa National Park Region

subject: Sustainable forestry Ontario Pukaskwa National Park Region

abstract:
Assessing and evaluating ecological integrity is a complex and often  subjective task. However, recent legislative changes have forced ecosystem managers to develop more
quantitative techniques to measure ecological integrity, particularly in Canada's national parks.
Using a combination of measures for forest sustainability (Canadian Council of Forest Ministers
Criteria and Indicators, 1995) and existing regional data sets,  a suite of indicators have been
structured into a hierarchical framework for  monitoring
broad-scale, ecological forces  (referred to as "drivers of change 11        as well as ecosystem, habitat and species dynamics for the Pukaskwa National Park ecosystem. The project's focus is on
gaining a measurable understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of the ecological integrity
of the park and its broader ecosystem.
The indicators reveal that: (1) Pukaskwa National Park may be more unique than representative of
the central boreal uplands, and (2) increasing human demand for natural resources, particularly
timber, is playing a significant role in the ability of park management to maintain the park's
ecological integrity. Road construction in the greater park ecosystem may play a significant role.
These are important results that shape the park's management approach and priorities.
Continued use of this structural framework for ecological integrity will allow Pukaskwa National
Park to be used as a benchmark for environmental change  and
contribute to the understanding required for mitigating such  changes.


title: Hasta manana...teacher : perspectives of cultural identity infusion on a group of youth in Arequipa, Peru / Maija Lamminmaki.

contributor:
Gardner, Ethel
Buker, Laura

subject:
Education - Peru.
Students - Cultural identity
Peru

abstract:
This intrinsic ethnographic case study examines the group identity of youth attending the Villa Chachani Community School, in Arequipa, Peru. Considering the colonial, historical and current contextual factors, this study examined if the youth at this school were struggling with their identity or, alternatively, if they expressed a strong sense of identity. The data was collected from interviews with four adult participants associated with the Villa Chachani Community School and researcher field notes. Participants were asked to share their perspectives on the expressed identity of this youth cultural sub-group, while focusing on the unique contexts encasing the students.
Three major themes emerged from an analysis of the data: (1) environments; (2) people; and (3) culture and society. Within each of these themes, critical data supporting the overall strength of a youth sub-cultural identity emerged. Specifically, the environments of the Flora Tristan community, the Villa Chachani Community School, and the city of Arequipa impacted the students’ group identity formation. The people surrounding and supporting the students, including their families, role models, peers and volunteer teachers, were also important factors. Finally, the role of culture
and society; clothing, technology, and youth culture in general, were seen to contribute to the overall strength of the group identity, or sub-culture, expressed by these Villa Chachani youth. In conclusion, despite the lack of an obviously expressed Indigenous identity, the students exhibit a
strong and unique Peruvian youth sub-culture.


title: Does Canada lynx trapper harvest track population cycles? A review of data from 1973 to 2016 in Ontario's sixteen northern forest districts

subject:
Canada lynx
Boreal forest
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest
Snowshoe hare
Lynx-hare population cycles
Wildlife conservation and management

abstract:
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) has been widely studied for its strong
interaction with the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), and the lynx exhibits a slightly
lagged, 10-year population cycle dependent on the hare cycle. Trapper return data from
1973 to 2016 was obtained from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
sorted by return year and district, corresponding to 16 northern forest districts. The
objectives of this study were: 1) to organize trapper return data to show the number of
Canada lynx caught and reported in each district from 1973 to 2016; 2) to quantify and
qualify the cycles inherent in the database; and 3) to discuss biases in the trapper return
database in terms of its ability to reflect peaks in lynx abundance. Numbers of pelt
returns do not suggest synchrony of the lynx cycle across Northern Ontario, but modal
peak years were identified, which consistently had larger returns of lynx pelts than
corresponding low years at the midpoint from the previous peak year. This trend was
significant across all forest districts. Return data does provide support for the refugium
model that predicts for more southerly forest districts, where the snowshoe hare occurs
at lower densities than in more northerly forest districts, dampened cycle peaks.
However, behaviour of trappers and other biases may have an influence on
interpretations in this thesis.


title: Adverse childhood experiences, executive functions, and substance use in an Indigenous residential treatment program

subject:
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Mental health
Executive functions and substance use
Social determinants of health

abstract:
Intergenerational trauma among Indigenous peoples in Canada is identified as an ongoing
detrimental outcome of Canadian colonialism. Both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and
substance use problems appear to be difficulties perpetuating intergenerational trauma among
this population. While it is known that ACEs increase risk for a multitude of poor mental and
physical health outcomes, the underlying mechanisms are less clear. Executive functions (EFs)
may be one plausible mechanism linking ACEs to substance use difficulties, as EFs are both
affected by chronic stress during childhood and are associated with poor outcomes later in life.
This community-based research project was driven by Indigenous partnership who wanted to
better understand how ACEs are implicated in the substance use difficulties their clients are
facing. With this in mind, the goal of this study was to examine the interrelationships between
ACEs, EF, and substance use outcomes among clients at an Indigenous substance use treatment
program in Northwestern Ontario. To do this, 80 participants completed self-report
questionnaires at two time points while in treatment. [...]


title: Citizenship perspectives of Mainland Chinese students in a Canadian international school

subject:
Chinese citizenship
International education
British Columbia offshore schools
Socialist core values

abstract:
Ever since the opening of the Chinese market in the late 20th century, international
educational programs started to blossom. British Columbia Offshore Schools (BCOS) started to
emerge in the mid-90s with their first opening from Maple Leaf Educational Systems in Dalian.
Their student population continued to see growth in many educational companies; however, in
recent years, its population started to decline, and the program has been criticized for being
culturally based on the curriculum in the West and not taking the perspectives of Chinese culture.
This qualitative research study explored the citizenship perspectives of five students in
Grades 11 and 12 enrolled in BCOS in Mainland China. The data were collected using semi-structured Zoom interviews. Guided questions were prepared and adjusted during the interview
based on participants’ English language comprehension.
The results of this research suggest participants believed in Personally-responsible,
Participatory, or Patriotic citizenship with Chinese core values guiding their perspectives and
the emergence of Justice-oriented citizens. Their inner circle and outer circle impacted their
citizenship engagement and perception. Each participant expressed different benefits and
challenges to engage in citizenship, including financial resources, family contributions,
curriculum implementation, and personal interests. Overall, Chinese BCOS students are keen and
eager to engage in citizenship development opportunities, and further support is needed by the
student body, school community, and BC Ministry of Education to shape their citizenship.


title: Does mortality salience play a role in homophobia?

subject:
Homophobia
Mortality
Death
Psychological aspects

abstract:
Mortality salience (MS) occurs when a person experiences greater access to thoughts of
his/her own eventual death causing fear; it is said that worldview defence structures are activated
in an attempt to alleviate this fear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of
mortality salience and viewing one of three sets of images (control, romantic or erotic gay
imagery), on levels of homophobia. Eighty-nine male Lakehead University students were
randomly assigned to one of six conditions (a 2 X 3 factorial design) and completed a
questionnaire package. Neither M S nor image type had significant effects on homophobia
scores. However, the MS manipulation also failed to affect the manipulation check (word
completion task). While the gay images did not affect homophobia, they elicited strong negative
emotional responses, particularly the erotic images, and the responses were strongly correlated
with levels of homophobia. Also, religious fundamentalism and need for cognition were found
to have significant independent relationships to homophobia.


title: Microscopic modeling of high-field charge transport in amorphous selenium

contributor:
Rubel, Oleg
de Guise, Hubert
Gallagher, Mark

subject:
Crystalline solids
Non-crystalline solids
Avalanche multiplication
Amorphous selenium

abstract:
Avalanche multiplication of charge carriers as a result of successive impact ionization has led to the development of solid state avalanche photo-detectors. Crystalline based avalanche photodiodes have found a variety of applications including laser range finders and fiber optic telecommunications. Recently, there is a growing interest to employ amorphous semiconductors due to their economically favourbale costs and capability to be readily prepared in the desired size and structure with high efficiency. Selenium is the only material that has been reported to clearly feature the avalanche phenomenon in the amorphous phase in a practical electric field. Selenium based avalanche photo-diodes motivated commercialization of TV camera tubes which are capable of capturing images at extremely low light intensities. In addition, amorphous Selenium exhibits a high potential for development of x−ray and γ−ray detectors for medical imaging devices. Hence, studying the electronic properties of Selenium is worthwhile for advancement
of functional amorphous materials that feature impact ionization.
The energy loss mechanism that prevents the carriers from gaining sufficient kinetic energy to initiate impact ionization is inelastic scattering of electrons and holes with optical phonons. The latter interaction in Selenium is analyzed in this work. To overcome the computational difficulties, a crystalline structure of Selenium was studied, however it is of interest to extend the outcomes to amorphous phase. Here, we assume that the calculated results based on trigonal Selenium structure can be also translated into the amorphous structure. This assumption is supported by further studies of density of states and phonon density of states in both amorphous and crystalline phases of Selenium. In addition, validity of our assumption is further confirmed by simulating an amorphous Selenium structure. Volume deformation potential was studied for both trigonal and the simulated amorphous selenium.


title: Peak load ensemble prediction and multi-agent reinforcement learning for DER demand response management in smart grids

subject: Energy management systems

subject: Energy forecasting

subject: Energy consumption data

subject: Multivariate Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average

subject: Distributed energy resource management

abstract:
The increasing number of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), such as home batteries and Electrical Vehicles (EVs), provides an opportunity for utility companies to
develop demand response mechanisms to balance the demand and supply of energy during peak times. However, it is challenging to shave the grid’s peak load efficiently and
effectively as it requires accurate energy forecasting and coordinated management of
DERs. To address this challenge, this thesis proposes a system consisting of an imagebased ensemble prediction model and a Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL)
mechanism for Demand Response (DR) management in smart grids. For the imagebased prediction model, we hypothesize that the approximate curve of the daily power
consumption graph has some specific patterns that can be used to separate each day
into different groups based on the pattern of the energy consumption curve. To this
end, we use a convolution neural network model to classify and extract the features
of the curve image. Then, we apply the k-means mechanism for image clustering to
select better training sets and optimize the forecasting mechanism. Our results show
an overall improvement in prediction during the season-changing period. The proposed
MARL mechanism takes the prediction results as input to the agents to coordinate the
discharging time of DERs to maximize the peak shaving performance. This mechanism
requires centralized training and allows distributed execution. The system’s evaluations
and experiments are conducted on a real-life dataset, and our results show the proposed
system’s effectiveness.


title: An assessment of the utility of an unmanned aerial vehicle for measuring tree heights in a jack pine provenance trial

contributor:
Thomson, Ashley
Bilyk, Alex

subject:
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Jack pine
Hypsometer
Focal point seed zone
Remote sensing

abstract:
This independent study is an assessment of the utility of an unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) for measuring the heights of jack pine (Pinus banksiana)
trees in a provenance trial. An electronic hypsometer, the Haglöf Vertex IV, was
used in the field to measure tree heights, and an UAV, the DJI Mavic Pro 1, was
used to collect a point cloud of the provenance trial. Agisoft PhotoScan was the
cloud-processing engine used for image processing and ArcMap was used for
estimating tree heights. Tree height measurements were recorded for 256 jack
pine in the study area. Measurements taken using the Haglöf Vertex IV
displayed greater heights in comparison to the heights derived from the UAV
imagery. The mean difference between the two datasets was 1.1 m with a
standard deviation of 0.8 m. A correlation between the two datasets was
observed when mean tree height per provenance was compared; a value of 0.9
was calculated using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. This
value of 0.9 indicated a positive association between the two datasets, however,
ranking provenance means from highest to lowest indicated the two datasets
differed. Although the UAV was capable of measuring tree heights, this study
demonstrates that further understanding of measurement error is important for
producing accurate results.


title: Immigrant university faculty members' perception of their experiences in post-secondary employment in Canada

contributor:
O'Meara, John
Brady, Patrick

subject: Universities and colleges (Canada, Faculty)

subject: Discrimination in higher education

subject: Minority college teachers (Canada, Attitudes)

subject: Immigrant teachers in education

abstract: Includes comments on : academic environment and activities, social life, isolation, independence, traditional cultural values, cultural issues, language as a barrier, stereotyping, racism, gender prejudice, support within the institution, expectation to adapt culturally, history of immigrants, immigration policy, visible minorities in teaching, economic gaps, attitudes towards immigrants, struggles for integration, etc.

abstract:
The purpose of this research was to explore immigrant university teachers’
perceptions o f their experiences in post-secondary employment. A non-emergent research
design was used by conducting a series of open-ended interviews with immigrant
teachers who were employed in a comprehensive university in Canada. Purposeful
sampling identified certain immigrants as post-secondary faculty members, who were
interviewed. After the interviews, the data were transcribed and analyzed using ATLAS,
ti.
Three main areas emerged from the interviews. These are (a) immigrant faculty
members’ experiences in post-secondary employment; (b) immigrant faculty members’
perceptions o f their experiences; and (c) immigrant faculty members’ expectations and
suggestions. All participants described their working experience and perceptions of their
experience with other faculty members, students and school administrators in the
university. Based on experiences living in Canada and working in the university sector,
they gave valuable suggestions to would-be immigrant faculty members to help them
adapt well and also made significant recommendations for school administrators to create
a more positive and harmonious atmosphere for all faculty members and students.


title: Annie off my mind: heterosexist censorship of adolescent literature in intermediate/senior language arts curricula

contributor:
Walton, Gerald
Kerr, Don

subject:
Censorship of LGBTQ content
Critical pedagogy
Heteronormative-hidden curriculum
Heteronormativity & heterosexism
Heterosexist censorship
Language arts curricula

abstract:
This qualitative study analyzes the censorship of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
and Queer (LGBTQ) literature in intermediate and senior schools. This research identifies
implicit heteronormativity in language arts curricula and analyzes the discursive contexts within
which LGBTQ literature is censored. A focus on such contexts facilitated the proposal of
recommendations to enhance LGBTQ representation in schools. Critical Discourse Analysis was
conducted on a selection of eight controversial novels and news reports that were subjected to
censorship based on LGBTQ content. The eight novels incorporated into this analysis are
Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999), Timothy Findley's The Wars
(1977), Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl (1947), Nancy Garden's Annie on My Mind
(1982), Bette Greene's The Drowning of Stephan Jones (1991), Khaled Hosseini's The Kite
Runner (2003), J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye (1951), and Alice Walker's The Color
Purple (1982).
In my analysis, I first analyze the content of the novels and then move to the news articles
reporting on their censorship. My analysis of the eight novels indicates an overwhelmingly
positive representation in lesbian relationships while depictions of gay males are often negative,
and almost always associated with failure or tragedy. The analysis of the news reports and
censorship examples reveals tendencies on the part of the censors to misrepresent LGBTQ
content as pornographic and to misinterpret the LGBTQ novels as promoting a "gay lifestyle" (a
term that is often used but never explained in the reports). The findings support the assertion that
heterosexist censorship patterns must be arrested and policies for LGBTQ-inclusion in
curriculum need to be adopted to foster school environments that are welcoming of LGBTQ
students.


title: Biology of "peak" and "late" nesting Ring-billed gulls, Granite Island, Lake Superior

subject:
Ring-billed gull
Birds Ontario Granite Island
Birds Eggs

abstract:
Late-nesting Ring-billed Gulls in this study laid fewer
and smaller eggs and hatched fewer young than earlier nesting
pairs. Birds nesting late in the season appeared to lack
sufficient stimuli for incubation, as indicated by their
increased restlessness on the nest and higher desertion rates.
Factors affecting their behavior include physical condition
and social and environmental stimuli. Late-nesting gulls had
a lower body weight and condition index than peak-nesting
gulls. Their smaller egg size was attributable to decreased
amounts of albumen. Analyses of blood metabolites and
hormones were inconclusive. It is suggested that the low
reproductive success experienced by "late"-nesting Ring-billed
Gulls in this study results predominantly from factors during the incubation period.


title: Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the paleoproterozoic Rove and Virginia formations, southwest Superior Province

subject:
Geology (Stratigraphic Proterozoic)
Lithofacies
Geology (Ontario, Northwestern)

abstract:
The Paleoproterozoic Rove and Virginia Formations are lithostratigraphically and
chronostratigraphically correlative units which comprise the upper sedimentary strata in
the Animikie basin. They sharply overlie an intensely altered zone within the upper
Gunflint and Biwabik iron formations which was subaerially exposed by compressional
forces during the Penokean Orogeny. Dating of volcaniclastic zircons from the upper
Gunflint yielded a pre-Penokean age of 1878 Ma. Tuffaceous layers very near the base
of the Rove and Virginia Formations provided U-Pb zircon ages of approximately 1835
Ma placing commencement of sedimentation into the newly resubmerged basin during
the final stages o f Penokean igneous activity.
This study involved examination of 3200 m of drill core from eleven continuously
drilled holes and one twiced drilled hole extending over 424 km from south of Duluth to
south of Thunder Bay. Observation of the lithofacies present and their stratigraphie
relationships provided insight into the depositional environment as well as the tectonic
regime operating at the time.
The basal Rove and Virginia Formations were deposited as transgression
progressed across the depressed basinal area. They consist of black, carbonaceous shale
with thin interbeds of siltstone, very-fine grained sandstone and friable green tuffaceous
layers, possibly contributed by volcanic activity within the Penokean terrain. From
approximately 5 m above the base, siltstone and sandstone layers gradually diminish in
frequency upward, until the succession is almost completely dominated by
approximately 100 to 150 m of fissile black shale. Microscopic examination of thin
sections of this unit revealed the presence of very thin shale laminae and other laminae
composed of angular silt grains or microlayers consisting of carbon. This sediment-starved,
condensed sequence developed with increasing water depth, and with anoxic
conditions probably caused by high organic loading in the bottom sediments. A siltstone
and very-fine grained sandstone-rich unit traceable across the basin occurs midway
through the shale-dominated succession. This coarser unit thickens near both the northern
and southern margins of the basin. Above it another coarser-grained interval within the
shale-dominated succession is observed in the southern third of the basin, probably
representing sediment contributed by Penokean sources to the south. A gradational
transition between the shale and an overlying sandstone-shale unit occurs over 80 m in
the north, thinning to the south. The upper sandstone-shale unit varies in thickness, with a
maximum of 350 m, and consists of over one hundred individual coarsening upwards
parasequences. The individual packages are composed of graded, commonly massive,
fine-grained sandstones separated by shale layers millimetres to centimetres thick. Shale
units separating the parasequences are decimeters to one or two meters in thickness. The
sandstone-shale assemblage fines to the south. Approximately 500 m above the base of
the section the uppermost unit is dominated by lenticular bedding of fine-grained
sandstones in the black shale, with both current and wave ripples present. The entire
succession represents the transition from a sediment-starved basin, with exceedingly slow
deposition rates, to active deltaic progradation with sediment probably derived from the
Trans-Hudson orogenic zone to the north.


title: Production ecology of the amphipod Hyalella azteca (Saussure) in a Northern Ontario lake

subject:
Amphipoda Ontario Dock Lake.
Hyalella azteca (Saussure)

abstract:
Annual production of the amphipod Hyalella azteca was
estimated in the upper littoral zone of Dock Lake, Ontario, over
a 2 year period (1980-1981). Population density (negligible below
1 meter) differed among the three habitats sampled. Cohort production by the size frequency method was 1.39 g/m[superscript 2] (dry weight),
mean annual biomass was 0.36 g/m[superscript 2] , and the P/B ratio was 3.9 for the 1980 year class. Six other methods for estimating production
were applied to this cohort, providing comparable estimates ranging
from 1.21 (instantaneous growth) to 1.65 (cohort G) g/m[superscript 2] . Size frequency estimates of annual production for 1980 and 1981 were
1.24 and 1.40 g/m[superscript 2] respectively. The annual P/B ratios of 3.9
and 4.0 for these two years agree with the cohort value. A comparison
of production estimates for Hyalella azteca in the literature
shows a gradient of production correlating with habitat temperature regime.


title: The impact of equal sharing and multiple groups problems on students' understanding of fractions

subject:
Fractions
Equal sharing problems
Multiple groups problems
Learning and teaching fractions
Mathematics instruction

abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the impact of division and
multiplication word problems, namely Equal Sharing and Multiple Groups problems, on
students’ understanding of fractions. Thirteen middle school students, from two different middle
schools, participated in this case study. Following a reform oriented approach to instruction,
students were introduced to a series of Equal Sharing and Multiple Groups problems to solve and
discuss. In addition, each student was given a preassessment, midassessment and postassessment.
The data from these assessments along with the recordings of students’ discussions were
carefully analysed to determine the impact of Equal Sharing and Multiple Groups problems on
students’ understanding of fractions. Students’ understanding of fractions was assessed through
their ability to solve word problems related to the five different constructs of fractions: partwhole, measure, ratio, quotient and operator constructs. The results indicated that, for the most
part, students’ understanding of fractions did improve through the use of Equal Sharing and
Multiple Groups word problems. The study also highlighted the need for further research in the
area of naming fractions, in particular, the when and how to introduce the naming of fractions in
order for students to have a deeper understanding of the multiplicative relationship between the
numerator and denominator.


title: Theory and Production of Hyperpolarized Xenon Gas

subject:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Hyperpolarized gas
Xenon gas

abstract:
Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modality is based on the magnetization
that is formed by the influence of a strong polarizing magnetic field on the spin of protons,
typically those of water molecules within the body. In Hyperpolarized (HP) gas MRI, a dramatic increase in spin polarization is achieved using spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP), which allows images to be obtained with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Batch-mode custom-built polarizers can serve to produce the HP gas, however, such custom-built systems require optimization in terms of pressure and temperature parameters. This study is comprised of three objectives: i) Gaining understanding regarding the physics of the nuclear polarization process of 129Xe; ii) Examining experimentally the pressure and temperature dependences of the polarization, similarly to the way it was done in previous studies; iii) Exploiting this knowledge for the benefit of the optimization of the custom-built polarizer in our lab.


title: Development of a language model and opinion extraction for text analysis of online platforms

subject:
Language model
Deep learning
Transformer-based language models
TweetBERT
ONSET

abstract:
Language models are one of the fundamental components in a wide variety of natural language processing tasks. The proliferation of text data over the last two decades and the
developments in the field of deep learning have encouraged researchers to explore ways to
build language models that have achieved results at par with human intelligence. An extensive survey is presented in Chapter 2 exploring the types of language models, with a focus
on transformer-based language models owing to the state-of-the-art results achieved and the
popularity gained by these models. This survey helped to identify existing shortcomings and
research needs. With the advancements of deep learning in the domain of natural language
processing, extracting meaningful information from social media platforms, especially Twitter, has become a growing interest among natural language researchers. However, applying
existing language representation models to extract information from Twitter does not often
produce good results. To address this issue, Chapter 3 introduces two TweetBERT models
which are domain specific language presentation models pre-trained on millions of tweets.
TweetBERT models significantly outperform the traditional BERT models in Twitter text
mining tasks. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis is presented by evaluating 12 BERT models on 31 different datasets. The results validate our hypothesis that continuously training
language models on Twitter corpus helps to achieve better performance on Twitter datasets.
Finally, in Chapter 4, a novel opinion mining system called ONSET is presented. ONSET is
mainly proposed to address the need for large amounts of quality data to fine-tune state-of-the-art pre-trained language models. Fine-tuning language models can only produce good
results if trained with a large amount of relevant data. ONSET is a technique that can fine-tune language models for opinion extractions using unlabelled training data. This system is
developed through a fine-tuned language model using an unsupervised learning approach to
label aspects using topic modeling and then using semi-supervised learning with data augmentation. With extensive experiments performed during this research, the proposed model
can achieve similar results as some state-of-the-art models produce with a high quantity of
labelled training data.


title: Reliability and Validity of a New Test of Agility in Male Soccer Players

contributor:
Kivi, Derek
Przysucha, Eryk
Paterson, Glen

subject:
Agility
Agility testing

abstract:
Agility testing is an important aspect of soccer and to the author’s knowledge, no soccerspecific
agility assessment tool has been created. Agility is the process of coordinating
appropriate parts of the body in a rapid and functional manner in the face of environmental
constraints. Based on this definition and the physical requirements of soccer, a new soccer
agility test (NSAT) was developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and
validity of the new agility testing protocol designed to measure agility in competitive male
soccer players.


title: The Decline of a Northern Lake Superior marsh : a study of the cause and effect

contributor:
Lee, Peter
Hughes, Janice
Tripp, Peggy
Momot, Walter T.

subject:
Wetland conservation
Ontario
Thunder Bay region
Wetland ecology
Marshes
Eutrophication

abstract: This study quantified the loss of vegetation in Mission Marsh located within the city limits of Thunder Bay on the northern shore of Lake Superior, suggested the most likely cause of this vegetation  loss, and examined in detail the source of nutrients in the water column along the Thunder Bay waterfront.


title: Deformation of layered rocks near the Wawa-Quetico subprovince boundary / by David Lawrence Nicol

subject:
Rock deformation
Petrology Ontario, Northwestern
Petrology Ontario Faries Lake Region
Metasedimentary rocks
Metavolcanic rocks
Meta-intrusive rocks

abstract:
A supracrustal sequence of rocks near Manitouwadge, Ontario
consists of metavolcanlc rocks, Including pillow lavas, banded iron
formation, amphibolite, and a quartzofe1dspathic hornblende-blotite
gneiss. This rock has been given the name bladed gneiss to reflect
the blade-like appearance of its mafic components. Results of a
detailed geological investigation of the entire supracrustal
sequence suggests that the apparent fragmental appearance of the
gneiss, and to a lesser degree the other rock types, is not a
primary feature, but rather, the product of deformation. The rocks
were initially part of a layered sequence which became variably
fragmented. The blades are in part the result of the transposition
of layers and the variations in blade morphology are attributable
to the response of the layers to strain during folding.
Individual layers deform by the development of cuspate-1obate
folds, buckle folds, and boudinage. The extent of fragmentation
during deformation is controlled by competency contrasts between
adjacent layers, absolute and relative layer thickness, and layer
orientation with respect to principal finite strain directions.
Planar and linear structural elements in the metasedimentary
and metavolcanic rocks suggest a defomational history which
Includes two episodes of folding accompanied by medium grade
metamorphism and recrystallization. Similarities in lithology and
structural elements between the rocks of the study area and those
of the nearby Manitouwadge synform suggest that parent rock
assemblages were closely related and that structures present in both locations developed contemporaneously in response to regional
tectonic activity. "Mobilist" tectonic models for the development
of the Superior Province entail northward directed subduction and
accretion, and are popular with many workers. The recumbent nature
of Fi folds, the shallow plunging hinge lines of Fa folds, and
their coaxial relationship may be related to low angle thrust
faults and nappe structures which would be likely consequences in
the proposed subduction model.
Many workers have attempted to map subprovince boundaries. In
the region of the present study, the boundary between the Wawa and
Quetico Subprovinces is traditionally placed a few miles north of
Man 11ouwadge. If this is correct, the rocks studied form part of
the Wawa Subprovince. Results of this Investigation suggest that,
on the basis of lithology and structure, such a placement of the
boundary is inappropriate. It appears more appropriate to suggest
that the terrain discussed in this thesis, as well as the rocks of
the Manitouwadge synform, is best considered to form a zone of
transition between the two subprovinces.


title: Differentiable and rough norms

subject:
Normed linear spaces
Banach spaces

abstract:
The principal question discussed in this dissertation is the
problem of characterizing the existence of admissible Frechet differentiable
norms on Banach spaces.
In the first chapter the basic concepts of normed linear spaces
are introduced and a summary of differential calculus on Banach spaces
is given.
The following three chapters of the paper are concerned with the
existence of an admissible Frechet differentiable norm on a separable
Banach space. A construction of such a norm is given for a separable
space which has a separable dual. Also, it is shown that if such a
norm exists on a Banach space, then the density character of the space
equals the density character of its dual.
In Chapter V, it is shown that if the density characters of a
space and its dual are not equal, then the space admits a rough norm.
As a consequence of this, there is no Frechet differentiable function
on this space with bounded non-empty support. This implies that the
space does not admit a Frechet differentiable norm.


title: Restructuring the Lawrence image : dismissing misogyny and accepting feminism

subject:
Misogyny in literature
Feminism in literature

abstract:
There have been various attacks upon Lawrence's literary
reputation. Lawrence's representation of women is perhaps the most
criticised aspect of his work, with formal criticism beginning as
early as 1953 with Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex. Some
critics even recognize John Middleton Murry's disparaging comments
about Lawrence and women in Son of Woman as early feminist
criticism (Balbert,4). However, the point of integration between
feminist criticism and the Lawrence text is not nearly so important
as the intense debate that has arisen concerning Lawrence and
feminism. Lawrence criticism up until the 1980's has generally
represented him as a misogynist writer. Only within the last few
years has there been a resurgence of Lawrence philosophy through
complimentary readings of Lawrence texts. I believe that some of
the critics mentioned in this study--Blanchard, Simpson, MacLeod,
Paglia--fall into this category, which is one of compassion and
respect. Blanchard's "Love and Power: A Reconsideration of Sexual
Politics in Lawrence", Simpson's D.H. Lawrence and Feminism,
MacLeod's Lawrence's Men and Women and Paglia's Vamps and Tramps
are included in this study. It should be noted that this
resurgence is not a complete return to the values of the fifties,
when male and female roles were clearly defined, a fact most
notably demonstrated by Graham Hough in The Dark Sun. The readings
are, instead, an acknowledgement of the male position, while yet
retaining a level of faithfulness to feminism.


title: Baby boomers : will they age successfully?

subject:
Baby boom generation
Aging Economic aspects
Aging
Successful aging and lifestyle

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine factors considered likely to predict whether or
not baby boomers are likely to age successfully. Data were obtained from a secondary
analysis of selected items from a healthy aging questionnaire. Baby boomer responses
were compared with those of the current generation of seniors. Significant differences
were found in regards to exercise, life satisfaction and financial preparation for
retirement. The study suggests that baby boomers will age successfully in part because of
their tendency to score higher on measures of education and health.


title: Consequences of the British model of education in colonized third world nations with special reference to India

subject:
Education, Colonial
Education India
Education Great Britain Colonies

abstract:
The central proposition of this study was to examine the
consequences of the British Model of Education in colonized Third
World countries. One of the causes of underdevelopment is the
dominance of industrialized nations over less developed countries.
It is the structure of the colonial metropolis that was the cause
of dependency of Third World nations. The dependency theory
explains the process of national economic development in
underdeveloped nations, emphasizing the structural dissimilarities
between Western economic development and the contemporary situation
of Third World countries. Economic resources of Third World
countries, once under the British colonial policy, were exploited.
In keeping with this policy, formal education was left to be
developed by the missionaries with the active encouragement and
support of the colonial government. The education of Indian elites
was supported by, as well as, dominated by the colonial government.
This thesis sought to illustrate the theoretical and practical
consequences of the British Model of Education in colonized Third
World nations. This was completed through an analysis of the
educational structure in India that produced particular types of
behaviour that maintained colonial dominance. Consequences of
colonial education for India were discussed.


title: Effects of forest fire on watershed ecosystem

subject:
Forest fire
Watershed
Hydrologic ecosystem
Soil water storage capacity
Runoff
Climate change

abstract:
Global warming has increased the frequency of forest fires and droughts, which have had a number of
effects on the hydrologic ecosystems of watersheds`. Therefore, the influence of forest fires on forest watersheds
and the problem of late restoration are worth studying. The case studies from different regions of the world about
how forest fires affect the hydrological process by consuming plant canopy and waste, affecting soil porosity
and affecting organic matter of the soil are discussed in this paper. The effects of forest fire on soil permeability
and soil water storage are studied by observing soil moisture and matrix potential. A rainfall-runoff model is
established to analyze the comprehensive effect of forest fire and climate change on flooding. The results show
that forest fires have an obvious regulating effect on watershed. Mineralization and deposition of soil organic
matter, interruption of vegetation root absorption and loss of crown shade will further affect water quality.
Additionally climate change will aggravate the erosion of watersheds by forest fires. At the same time, managing
forest fires can increase landscape heterogeneity. The study concludes that forest fire is a key factor affecting
water resources. At the same time, the impact of forest fires on watersheds varies with the degree of burning. It
can be seen that forest fires play a crucial role in guiding the hydrological regulation and restoration of the
watershed.


title: Program planning and evaluation framework for a community based food project in Mwanza, Tanzania / by Ellena Andoniou.

subject:
Food security Africa, Sub-Saharan
Food supply Africa, Sub-Saharan
Nutrition Africa, Sub-Saharan

abstract:
The ravaging effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa are well known.
Countries in the region are facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions further compounded by
poverty, malnutrition and social inequalities. This is especially true in Tanzania, one of the
world’s poorest countries - where the majority of the population lives in absolute poverty; there
is a disproportionately high level of food insecurity and poor nutritional standards are extensive.
Initiated in 2003, The University of Western Ontario (UWO) in partnership with the National
Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), the Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization (KWRO)
and a local women’s group, the Tukwamuane, launched a probiotic food based community
project in Mwanza, Tanzania - a high-need area as defined by the Canadian International
Development Agency. The Western Heads East (WHE) probiotic yoghurt project is an
international collaboration fostering community health and development. The project is a microenterprise
initiative which aims to improve health and nutrition, while alleviating suffering from
malnutrition, diarrhoeal diseases, and urogenital disorders in vulnerable social groups in the
context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Women with little or no formal education are trained to
produce probiotic yoghurt for sale and subsidized distribution to People Living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHAs) at the community level. The project has the potential to foster health improvement,
as well as empowerment, advocacy skills among women and promote knowledge transfer to
future generations.
However, at the inception of WHE, the necessary steps to develop key planning and
evaluation frameworks were not taken. As such, the purpose of this project is to prepare a
program planning and evaluation framework which will enable project planners, stakeholders,
and researchers to evaluate project outcomes, the health impacts and improvements in quality of
life for the women making the yoghurt, their families and the broader community; as well as to
explore women’s perceptions (if any) of empowerment, and how the project is enabling them to
achieve their everyday life objectives.


title: Stock price crash risk and insider trading : evidence from China

subject:
Stock price crash risk
Insider trading
Corporate governance
State-owned enterprises
Chinese A-share market

abstract:
This paper examines the impact of prior crash risk on insider trading behaviour using a
sample of Chinese A-share firms for the 2010-2015 period. Prior crash risk is publicly available
information yet represents a source of informational advantage for insiders due to their unique
capacity to assess its impact on stock price. Consistent with this assertion, we find a positive
correlation between prior crash risk and insider sales value scaled by firm value. This result is
robust to market sentiment and contrarian strategy. The result still holds after accounting for
possible endogeneity issues using a two-stage least squares estimation. Additionally, we find the
relationship is attenuated in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), where corporate governance affects
insider motivation and creates administrative restrictions. Our study contributes to the growing
literature on crash risk consequences by examining its association with insider trading behaviour.
Our results are economically meaningful and feature important implications for investors, boards
of directors, and policymakers.


title: Restructuring education in Ghana : a case for reconceptualizing educational aims

contributor:
Ford, Maureen
McLeod, Roderick W.

subject:
Education Ghana
Education Aims and objectives Ghana
Educational change Ghana

abstract:
This thesis examines three decades of educational reform in Ghana between
1970 and the present. Government reports and secondary literature reveal that Ghanaian
reformers sought to democratize and transform education but largely failed in their
efforts. I argue that this failure stems from their adoption of development and
implementation strategies that did not encourage democratic negotiation.
Drawing upon Miller, Freire, and Dewey, I present a conceptual analysis of
democratic and transformative educational aims. I argue that reforms which are
imposed externally and do not encourage genuine democratic participation among all
actors do not lead to meaningful change. Democratic negotiations require that
environments conducive to dialogue be created for all actors, that discourse reflects the
characteristics and conditions of the participants' lives, and that all system actors be full
participants to the process of change.
Aims talk, the alternative discourse that I advocate as the basis of future
educational reform in Ghana, would facilitate democratic negotiations by requiring that
educational reforms become educational projects in the Freirean sense. As educational
projects, reforms would encourage critical dialogue during which participants would
problematize their socio-economic and political realities. Aims talk would connect
democratic means with democratic ends. Aims generated as part of such projects
would be seen as tentative; they would reflect the characteristics and conditions of the participants, and they would provide the grounds and foresight for periodic review.
Finally, aims talk would require that participants commit to dialogue that is moral and
transformative.


title: Reactivity and mechanistic study of the Sonogashira coupling and Grignard-Sonogashira coupling reactions

subject:
Grignard reagents
Enediynes

abstract:
The interest in studying enediyne systems was stimulated by the discovery of anti-cancer
agents containing enediyne functionalities, such as esperamicin and dynemicin. These
compounds have potential for use as anti-tumour antibiotics, however, they are not sufficiently
selective to he used clinically. Many attempts to synthesize analogs of the natural enediynes with
improved selectivity and reduced toxicity have been made. A number of synthetic
methodologies have been employed toward the synthesis of the analogs, including Stephens-
Castro Coupling and Sonogashira Coupling. In this thesis, a reactivity study involving coupling
reactions using Pd(PPh3)4 and a series of electron donating and electron withdrawing substituted
aryl halides is presented. The positions of these substituents relative to the coupled alkyne (i.e.,
ortho, meta, para) were studied and the changes these substituents had on reactivity (i.e.,
electronic and steric effects) were investigated. All of the substituted alkynyl benzenes were
successfully synthesized in all positions and fully characterized. High yields were obtained for
both electron withdrawing and electron donating substituents. In competitive reactions electron withdrawing groups in the para position reacted preferentially over electron donating groups. In
general, substituents in the ortho position decreased the rate of reaction. When the starting
halides were converted to Grignard reagents, high yields were obtained for electron donating
groups as well as some hindered electron withdrawing groups. Mechanistic studies for the
Grignard coupling reaction reveal that a transmetallation reaction occurs, and the same catalytic
intermediate that is present in the standard Sonogashira coupling reaction also exists in the
modified Grignard coupling process.


title: Congestion and admission control in WDM optical networks

contributor:
Tayebi, Abdelhamid
Shami, Abdallah

subject:
Wavelength division multiplexing
Automatic control
Fuzzy logic

abstract:
The demand for more communication bandwidth and network resources, has pushed
researchers to find faster and more reliable data communication networks. Wavelength
division multiplexing (WDM) is a promising technology to meet such increasing demands.
To make use of the WDM networks, some issues need to be dealt with. This
thesis discusses three problems, constraint-based path selection. Congestion Control
and Admission Control.
When selecting a path between the source and destination, in which some constraints
are present, the choice of the path can have dramatic effects on the Quality of Service
(QoS). Three path selection algorithms are compared in order to achieve optimum
path selection. These algorithms are presented and analyzed in this thesis. The algorithms
do not just deal with one path selection constraint but k-constraints.
Two controllers are presented: A proposed congestion controller and the second is a
call admission controller in circuit switched networks. The proposed congestion control
algorithm is based on the fuzzy logic technique and aims to control the congestion
in a WDM network through an adequate adjustment of the delay on the calls that are
in the queue of the server. The adaptive admission controller for circuit switched networks
is based on the optimization of resources in the network. Numerous Simulation
results are presented which show the performance of each controller.


title: Using TV programs as a source of input to acquire idioms/idiomatic expressions for intermediate learners of English as a second language

subject: Television in education

subject: English language Idioms

subject: English language Study and teaching Foreign speakers

abstract:
For intermediate and advanced learners of English as a second
language (ESL), language improvement lies mainly in the expansion of
vocabulary (Alexander, 1984). The command of idioms/idiomatic
expressions is an important part of this vocabulary expansion. Hammerly
(1982) notes that ESL learners can never become real communicators if
they do not understand the colloquial and Idiomatic speech of native
speakers. Television programs, such as soap operas and situation
comedies are rich in this aspect of the language (Lafford, 1987). These
programs present the language in simulated "real life" situations, and this
cannot be achieved with conventional textbooks (Els, Bongaerts, Extra,
Os & Dieten, 1986).
This study explored the potential of television programs in
promoting awareness and acquisition of idioms/idiomatic expressions
with intermediate ESL learners. The theoretical framework was based on
Krashen's (1985; 1987) second language acquisition theory, and
focused particularly on two critical hypotheses: the input and affective
hypotheses. Krashen (1985, 1987) contends that second language
acquisition is achieved through receiving ample and comprehensible
input in an anxiety-free environment, rather than conscious learning of
the grammar and practicing of the structures. Apart from Krashen's
hypotheses, the study was also based on the theory that activities which
involve real communication promote language acquisition (Lafford, 1987;
Rosenbaum, 1971; Tompkins & Hoskisson, 1991; Long & Porter, 1985;
Irujo, 1986; & Berwald, 1985).
The participants in this study acquired idioms/idiomatic
expressions through exposure to television programs and engagement
in activities that were intended to increase their awareness of and
familiarity with idioms/idiomatic expressions.
The research design was qualitative. The methods included a
pretest and posttest to assess comprehension of the stories and of
idioms/idiomatic expressions, participant observation, ongoing interviews
and document analysis of the participants' journals. The participants
were five Chinese students attending postsecondary institutions in
Thunder Bay, who volunteered to attend a six-week course designed by
the researcher who acted as instructor and participant observer.


title: An integrated ultrasound transducer driver for HIFU applications

subject: Ultrasound transducer

subject: Amplifier topologies

subject: High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)

abstract:
This thesis proposes an MRI-compatible integrated CMOS ampli er that is capable of di-
rectly driving an ultrasound transducer for HIFU applications. The output stage of the integrated amplifier operates in class DE mode with its output directly connected to a shunt capacitor and an ultrasound transducer without the need for an inductor. This design was simulated with Spectre simulator using the 0:8  m 5/20 V CMOS process data available from Teledyne-DALSA Semiconductor. The proposed integrated ampli er has an e ciency of 80% with 1 W of output power at 1 MHz and achieves an acceptable level of third harmonic. A layout of the integrated ampli er was prepared. The integrated ampli er occupies a die area of approximately 2:5 mm by 1:6 mm including input-output pads.


title: Examination of actualization and its degree of relationship to death concern

subject:
Death Psychological aspects
Self-actualization (Psychology)

abstract:
The Threat Index (Tl) is purported to tap the cognitive
dimensions of an individuals personal meaning of death.
Viewed by many researchers as the best validated measurement
of death orientation in the literature today, the test
yields an "integration" score, determining the extent that
an individual can anticipate death as a personal reality.
Recently, research on the TI has included an "actualization"
score (ACT) based on the discrepancy between an individual's
ratings of self and preferred self on a sample of personal
constructs. Although researchers have been investigating
the utility of such a measure, it has not been clearly
established that this is in fact measuring actualization.
Traditionally, the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) is
considered by many to be the most widely used and best
measure of actualization.
This study investigated the relationship of
actualization to an individual's death concerns.
Specifically, actualization as measured by the TI was
compared to actualization as measured by the POI.
Questionnaire packages were distributed to 176 introductory
Psychology students. Various analyses were conducted to
investigate the role of actualization in an individual's
concerns over death. The results of these analyses revealed
that the POI was a more sensitive measure of actualization
than the measure of ACT.


title: Health status and needs of Aboriginal people assessed for home care in Ontario

subject:
Home care services Ontario
Native peoples Home care Ontario

abstract:
The health disparities experienced by Aboriginal populations in Canada have been an
important topic for provincial and national health care. In general, the health status and
resource utilization of Aboriginal groups have been lower than that of the Canadian
population. Recently, an assessment tool called the Resident Assessment Instrument
(RAI) was mandated for use in home care settings. This dissertation examined the
health status (as measured by the RAI) of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clients
assessed for home care in Ontario by analyzing client demographics, health status
indicators, and summary scale scores. Sequential multilevel linear modeling analyzed
the summary scale scores with respect to ancestry, sex, age, and socio-economic
status; regional differences in outcome scores were observed. Aboriginal ancestry had
a significant effect on depression, cognitive status, and activities of daily living scores
when control variables were not considered. Once age, sex, and socio-economic status
were accounted for, Aboriginal ancestry did not have an effect on these outcome
measures. Aboriginal ancestry did have a significant effect on pain scores. Qualitative
data obtained through key informant interviews identified several challenges to providing
home care to Aboriginal peoples, including language, infrequent access to services in
rural areas, and client transience. These findings support the recognition of individual
demographic as well as regional factors as contributors to disease prevalence within the
home care population. Further validation of the RAI-HC and development of an
Aboriginal RAI tool would increase the utility of the RAI with Aboriginal clients and
provide a higher quality of data with which to direct policy and funding.


title: Quest for identity : defining the "self" in two novels by Annie Proulx

abstract:
The idea of the “self’ as an autonomous whole is no longer sufficient in
contemporary discussions of identity. Individuals are “subjects,” defining themselves
against and through other subjects and their environments. A definitive self is impossible
to achieve—the process is ongoing, fluid, and relational, without a final destination. The
focus of this thesis is an examination of the quest for identity in two novels by Annie
Proulx— The Shipping News and Accordion Crimes.
To facilitate this discussion of the quest for identity, I employ the writings of
Mikhail Bakhtin, and of the dialogic critics that he has influenced. The notion of
“dialogue,” in its broadest sense, reveals that the quest for identity is not a solitary quest.
Each questor is a product o f his or her surroundings, and these surroundings shape the
quest. The quest for identity is a dialogue with place, including both the environment and
the people within it. The situatedness o f the quest for identity is also compounded by
time. Bakhtin’s notion of the “chronotope” (“time-place”) further extends the
interconnectedness of the quests for identity. Characters are dialogically related to each
other through time, as past, present, and future quests intersect. All o f these aspects
illustrate the inconclusivity of the quest for identity.
Chapter 1, “Introducing the Quest,” outlines the critical framework that I use
throughout my thesis. I explore Bakhtin’s notions of “polyphony,” “dialogue,”
“carnivalesque,” and “chronotope,” and explain their relevance both to Proulx’s novels
and to the quest for identity.
Chapter 2, “Untying the Knots: The Shipping News,” applies this framework to
The Shipping News. I focus primarily on Quoyle’s quest for identity, though the quests of the other characters in the novel are important in the dialogic model I employ. To
structure this chapter, the “knots of narrative”—structure, place, and relationships—are
shown to be central to defining the quest for identity.
Chapter 3, “Listen to the Music: Accordion Crimes,” discusses Proulx’s depiction
of the immigrant experience in America. This novel is different from The Shipping News
in that the protagonist is not a human questor but a green button accordion. As the
accordion moves through its various owners, many perspectives of the quest for identity
are presented. I use the metaphor of the “unfinished symphony” to examine this novel,
emphasizing the polyphony of the text, as well as the unfinalizability of the subject.
Chapter 4, “Colouring the Quest,” brings these two novels together and
summarizes their similarities and differences by comparing the major symbols of each
novel—the green house in The Shipping News and the green button accordion in
Accordion Crimes.


title: Impact of depression and antidepressant pharmacotherapy on early stage visual functioning in the magno-, parvo-, and koniocellular pathways / by Joy J. Harrison.

subject:
Visual perception
Contrast sensitivity (Vision)
Visual pathways
Effects of drugs

abstract: Examines the fundamental processes of photopic visual functioning associated with the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant medication.  Measures isoluminant "red-green" and "blue-yellow" chromatic contrast sensitivity & S-cone sensitivity assessed by short-wavelength perimetry."--from abstract.


title: Sociotropy and perception of own and close friend's dieting behaviours and body image

subject:
Sociotropy
Dieting & body image
Eating disorders
Dieting & peers
Body image dissatisfaction

abstract:
A woman’s physical appearance has been strongly associated with her sense of self-worth and success. Moreover, through family, media and one’s friends, messages of an unrealistically thin ideal body have been perpetuated, creating feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s physical appearance. While the effects of family and the media on one’s body image satisfaction have been well studied, the effects of one’s friendship group have been less often studied, and within the adult population, such literature is almost non-existent. Moreover, body image dissatisfaction can lead to dieting behaviours, which have been associated with negative consequences for one’s health; however this too, within the context of one’s friendship group within adults has not been studied. Sociotropy, how sensitive one is to interpersonal interactions, has been connected to the development of eating disorders, however its use in research in this area is limited. Thus, the
current study aimed to investigate the role of sociotropy in the relationship between a woman and her closest friend’s body image satisfaction and eating behaviour. Analyses suggested that sociotropy plays a mediating role between these thoughts and behaviours, such that it partially accounts for the relationship between a person and her closest friend’s body image satisfaction, and their dieting behaviour. Qualitative data analyses demonstrated that many women are affected by their closest friend’s eating behaviours, and less directly affected by their closest friend’s body image satisfaction. The implications of these results are discussed within the paper.


title: Improved data compression techniques to analyze big data in structural health monitoring

contributor:
Sadhu, Ayan
Azar, Ehsan Rezazadeh
Zerpa, Carlos

subject:
Structural health monitoring
Modern sensing and big data
Data compression techniques
Wireless sensor network

abstract:
With growing number of complex and slender structures worldwide, long-term structural
health monitoring (SHM) has been intensively pursued to retrofit and control
these structures under extreme climatic events. Modern sensing technology including
wireless sensors and high quality data acquisitions have improved the capability of
SHM where a relatively enormous amount of data could be measured remotely and
sent wirelessly for a longer period of time. Unlike wired vibration sensors, wireless
sensors are inexpensive and easier to install with less labour-intensive process, thereby
leading to a significant cost-saving to the infrastructure owner. However, the modern
sensing technology and remote data acquisition has some several limitations due to
their limited bandwidth, time synchronization and inadequate sampling issues. The
large amount of data collected from the structural systems often causes missing data,
network jam or packet loss while transmitting the big data.
In this research, the theory of compressive sampling (CS) is implemented as a
promising data compression technique that can recover undersampled vibration signals
of dynamical systems, thereby reducing overall burden of analyzing big data in
SHM. The l1-norm minimization (LNM) and discrete cosine transform (DCT) are
exploited to perform data compression and enhance data recovery of the compressed
big data. A novel time-frequency blind source separation is integrated with the data
compression technique to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method in modal
identification. The results of the proposed data compression techniques are verified
using a suite of numerical, experimental and full-scale studies. The results reveal that DCT could be considered as a powerful data compression tool even for the vibration
data containing damage signatures, low energy modes and low signal-to-noise ratio.


title: Single-Session Counselling in Mental Health Services: Evaluation of a New Program

contributor:
Mushquash, Christopher
Mushquash, Aislin

subject:
Mental health services
Single-session counselling

abstract: Organizations offering mental health services are in need of innovative solutions to address a lack of accessibility and availability in service provision. Waitlists for counselling services are long, often forcing those experiencing mental health difficulties to rely on acute care services in the interim. One option, single-session counselling, allows consumers to access services when they need it, as often as they need it. This service model can be integrated into current services to contend with difficulties related to efficiency and accessibility. The current study evaluated a new single-session counselling program offered in an outpatient community mental health clinic in Northwestern Ontario. The majority of participants rated the service favourably, and experienced a decrease in mental health difficulties and associated impairment. Single-session counselling reduced difficulties associated with the presenting problem, and allowed access to services sooner. Continued implementation of this model of care is supported by the current findings. Dissemination of information describing the nature of single-session counselling, as well as outcomes of program evaluations such as the current study, may help to increase acceptance of its integration into ongoing mental health services.


title: Transfer of learning in the field of recreation

subject:
Transfer of training
Recreation leadership

abstract:
The intent of the study Transfer of Learning in the Field
of Recreation was to determine if the students in the
Recreation Leadership program at Confederation College could
transfer the skills and principles learned in the classroom to
practical applications in the field.
Through qualitative research methods the researcher set
out to determine: (1) if the curriculum taught in the
classroom was applicable to the field; (2) if the students
demonstrated, with confidence, the skills, strategies and
concepts taught in the classroom out in the field; and (3)
what gaps existed between the practices occurring in the field
and the curriculum taught in the course.
In Phase I course outlines were analyzed and a list of
the skills, strategies and concepts recommended as intended
course outcomes was developed. This list was compared with
the DACUM, a chart developed by the Ministry of Colleges and
Universities, to identify intended program outcomes for
graduating students.
In Phase II the researcher collected data on seven
students out on internship to determine the skills, concepts
and strategies demonstrated in the field. Methods of data
collection included observations, interviews and document
analysis of journals and monthly reports.
During Phase III the researcher used comparative analysis
to determine if the actual outcomes demonstrated by the
students in the field were the same as the skills, strategies
and concepts identified in the course outlines and in the
DACUM. The intent of the researcher was to determine the link
between the intended program outcomes and the actual program
outcomes.
The findings focused on three key areas: internship and
the value of field placements to increase student confidence
levels; curriculum revision based on the findings from Phase
I and Phase III of the study; and, using the research design
and methodologies outlined in this study as a viable model for
curriculum evaluation and development.
The study provided the researcher with an opportunity to
look at the existing curriculum practices and compare them to
what is happening in the field of recreation. The findings
and recommendations could have a positive impact on both the
Recreation Leadership program at Confederation College and the
field of recreation.


title: Saproxylic beetle species associations with structural composition of red pine coarse woody debris at Hogarth plantation

subject:
Beetles
Coarse woody debris
Decay
Decomposition
Ground deadwood
Hogarth Plantation
Biodiversity of saproxylic insects

abstract:
How forest management practices affect the biodiversity of saproxylic insects is currently
poorly understood. Since these insects play a role in nutrient cycling, failure to properly
manage for saproxylic insects could lead to their local extirpation, resulting in cascading
effects on site productivity and nutrient cycling. We must take action to better understand
these communities, their roles and niches, and how to best preserve them. In this study,
the associations of saproxylic beetle assemblages with two different spatial orientations
of coarse red pine woody debris at Hogarth plantation were examined. Flight interception
traps were used to sample saproxylic beetle assemblages based on their association with
either standing dead wood or dead wood lying on the ground. The insect samples were
sorted, pinned and identified to morphospecies. Biodiversity analyses were conducted to
better understand beetle diversity associated with dead wood orientation. A greater species
richness of saproxylic beetles associated with dead ground wood was estimated than what
was sampled, indicating that sampling effort was not sufficient. This highlights the need
for additional studies that use more intensive sampling to improve understanding of
Saproxylic insect species diversity at the Hogarth Plantation.


title: Salmonid thermal habitats in Lake Superior tributaries

contributor:
Mackereth, Rob
Rennie, Michael
Hecnar, Stephen

subject:
Aquatic ecosystem
Salmonid populations (Lake Superior)
Stream water temperatures
Salmonid thermoregulatory behaviour
Salmonid distribution and movements

abstract:
For some potamodromous salmonid species, such as the Brook Trout, streams are a critical
spawning habitat but also habitat for juveniles and stream residents to grow. Salmonids are coldwater fishes and cooler stream water temperatures are essential for individuals to avoid
temperature stress and in some cases death. My goal was to study relationships between salmonid
relative abundance and stream thermal habitat characteristics observed at multiple spatial scales
within Lake Superior tributary streams. These spatial scales included the microhabitat (~1 m2
),
reach (50 m) and segment (2 km) spatial scale. At the microhabitat scale, the ability of unbaited
underwater cameras to obtain estimates of relative abundance comparable to the estimates of
relative abundance obtained through electrofishing surveys was evaluated. The estimates of
relative abundance obtained using visual surveys and electrofishing surveys were found to be
comparable, and thus microhabitat relative abundance and reach catch-per-minute were the
measurements of relative abundance used to study salmonid ecology at the three spatial scales.
Results showed that salmonid relative abundance at the microhabitat scale was lower when
surface water temperature was higher, higher when the temperature variation observed within a
reach was higher and was higher stream segments had a higher density of predicted flow
pathways. However, at all spatial scales, these temperature variables did not explain variations in
salmonid relative abundance to the same degree as certain random variables such as stream, date
and year sampled. Use of landscape spatial scale analyses generally performed well in locating
areas of thermal refugia within a stream network. Most reaches containing predicted flow
pathways exhibited a greater range in water temperatures than non-flow pathway reaches with
multiple reaches contributing cold water to localized regions of a stream throughout the entire
summer. Though patterns of salmonid distribution and abundance within a stream network cannot
be solely explained using thermal habitat characteristics, sustainable land use practices that
maintain the thermal integrity of streams should allow Lake Superior and its tributary streams to
continue supporting healthy salmonid populations.


title: Detecting depression and malingering using response times on the Personality Assessment Inventory

subject:
Depression, Mental Testing
Personality Assessment Inventory
Malingering and test construction

abstract:
The detection of individuals who are malingering psychological dysfunction has proven
to be a difficult task (Rogers, 1997). This study was conducted to investigate whether
response times on the Personality Assessment Inventory could differentiate among
asymptomatic controls (n = 15), clinically depressed individuals (n = 12), and a group
instructed to malinger depression (n = 19). Conventional responses and item response
latencies were recorded for the Negative Impression, Positive Impression, Depression -
Affective, Depression — Cognitive, and Depression - Physiological scales. Discriminant
function analyses revealed that conventional scores correctly classified 100% of the
controls, 91.7% o f the depressed, and 73.7% of the malingerers. Standardized response
latencies correctly classified 73.3% of controls, 58.3% of depressed, and 84.2% of
malingerers. Classification rates for raw response latencies were 73.3%, 50.0%, and
78.9% respectively. Finally, a new scale composed of items from the above subscales
maxim ally discrim inating malingerers from depressed individuals could correctly
classify 100% o f depressed and 91.7% of malingerers. These findings are consistent
with other research (Fekken & Holden, 1994) suggesting that response latencies might
provide meaningful information.


title: Hemodialysis prescription : dose adequacy by continuous monitoring of fresh and spent dialysate conductivity

subject: Hemodialysis evaluation

abstract:
Measurement of hemodialysis treatment adequacy is essential to monitor quality
assurance for today’s growing dialysis population. The universally accepted measure of
hemodialysis dose is Kt/V. Kt/V above 1.2 has been shown to reduce patient morbidity and
mortality. Currently, Kt/V is calculated from urea kinetic modelling using predialysis and
postdialysis blood samples. This blood-based approach, as well as being costly and invasive, is
typically performed once a month providing only periodic snapshots of dialysis adequacy.
Methods to provide more frequent feedback to attending doctors have been developed based on
urea concentration sensors in the spent dialysate stream. More recently, monitoring of dialysate
conductivity in the spent dialysate stream has been proposed as an alternative to urea monitoring
— ionic dialysance has been found to be highly correlated to urea clearance. The subject of this
thesis is the kinetic modelling o f spent dialysate conductivity.
The following single pool equation was developed to describe the kinetics of the spent
dialysate conductivity during periods of constant inlet dialysate conductivity: (see document)


title: Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie : a study of transformation and change in the artistic feminine psyche

abstract:
Theodore Dreiser's novel SISTER CARRIE is almost untouched by
modern literary criticism in spite of the fact that it has been in
print for ninety years. This unique situation has resulted because
the original novel, published in 1900 by Doubleday, was intrusively
censored and heavily edited to the point where the characters are
significantly altered. The Pennsylvania Edition, published in
1981, is the first to restore original materials and make possible
a more accurate study of the novel.
This study, incorporating Jungian and archetypal concepts,
examines the character of Carrie Meeber in light of that new
edition. Chapter I compares the Doubleday and Pennsylvania
editions to show that intrusive editing did indeed alter Carrie's
character into a facsimile of her original self. It shows how the
power of Dreiser's language was diminished, and how the balance
between characters in the novel was affected.
Chapter II concentrates on the difficulties Dreiser
encountered in attempting to publish SISTER CARRIE — difficulties
that led to some of the editing problems discussed in Chapter I.^
Criticism of the original Doubleday edition is also examined,
showing how it is often inconsistent with Dreiser's restored text
and thus presents an inadequate and sometimes distorted view of
Carrie. Chapter III portrays Carrie's emerging artistic psyche and the
beginning of her transformation from an unsophisticated country
girl to a perceptive, intelligent, and talented actress. Barriers
of class structure that stand in her way are dissolved as she
struggles for a place in a material world. Her audacious
participation in the relationship with Charles Drouet eventually
results in her introduction to the theatre and the world of acting,
but the social and moral balance for which she longs remains
unsatisfied. In her dissatisfaction she then leaves Drouet for the
sophisticated and more devious George Hurstwood.
Chapter IV takes Carrie from Chicago to New York and from her
apprenticeship in the theatre to an apprenticeship in human nature.
Hurstwood takes over from Drouet as Carrie's mentor, deceiving the
unsuspecting Carrie, who must learn to perceive truth through the
illusion of appearances. Mrs. Vance enters, serving as a guide,
reintroducing Carrie to the world of theatre and to Robert Ames.
As Hurstwood fails completely, Carrie calls on her acting
experience for support. She learns new and needed skills; her
disillusionment with Hurstwood is balanced by her growing selfconfidence
as an actress.
While the glitter of the theatre world now pulls at Carrie,
her compassionate awareness of Hurstwood's failure grooms her for
the reappearance of Ames. Ames then assumes the role of mentor,
directing Carrie to the meaning of her calling and the true
significance of art. The Coda speculates on a future relationship between Carrie and Ames, considering this relationship as a symbol of artistic and
spiritual wholeness. Carrie's personal experience has prepared her
to be a medium of artistic expression for the world.


title: Effects of prescribed burning on mycorrhizal fungi in a pinus banksiana stand

subject: Effects of fire on soil fungal populations

subject: Ectomycorrhizal fungi

subject: Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of fire on mycorrhizal fungi
in a Pinus banksiana stand. It was hypothesized that an optimal fire intensity leads to
an increase in ectomycorrhizal colonization of crop species and to a decrease in
vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of competition species.
Pinus resinosa seedlings grown in the greenhouse on soil from burned plots had
significantly higher ectomycorrhizal colonization. There was no significant correlation
between fire intensity and ectomycorrhizal colonization of the greenhouse P. resinosa
or Pinus strobus.
The P. strobus out-planted on the Clearcut and scarification and the Scarified
and Prescribe Burned Treatments had significantly higher colonization than both the P.
strobus out-planted in the Clearcut Treatment and the P. resinosa at all Treatment
levels. There were significant levels of interactions in all of the ectomycorrhizal studies.
Neither the field planted P. resinosa nor the P. strobus had a significant correlation
with fire intensity.
The relationship between fire intensity and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal
(VAM) colonization in Trifolium repens and Agrostis palustris grown and germinated
on soil from a P. banksiana stand was inconclusive because the seeds from the four
non-bumed plots failed to germinate. There was no significant relationship between fire intensity and VAM colonization.
Burned and non-bumed field plots were examined for fungal carpophores one
year after the prescribed fires. Thirty-seven fungi species were found: of these, 11
mycorrhizal fungi, nine saprophytic fungi, and two pathogenic fungi were identified.
All of the pathogenic and saprophytic fungi were found on the burned plots while only
two of them occurred on the non-bumed plots. Five of the mycorrhizal fungi occurred
on both the burned and non-bumed plots, and two of them occurred exclusively on the
non-burned plots.


title: Influence of fire, logging, and overstory composition on understory abundance, diversity, and composition in boreal forests, Ontario Canada

contributor:
Chen, Han
Parker, Bill
Mallik, Azim
Poschmann, Paul

subject: Bryophytes and lichens

subject: Understory vegetation

subject: Vascular plants

subject: Timber harvesting

subject: Boreal forest

subject: Effect of fires on forest ecology  (Ontario, Northwestern)

abstract: Study area : Northwestern Ontario

abstract:
Understory vegetation is the most diverse and least understood component of
North American boreal forests and are important as they influence overstory succession
and nutrient cycling. The objectives of this thesis were to (1) review the current
understanding of boreal understory vegetation dynamics in the literature and (2) examine
the effect of stand age, overstory composition, and logging versus fire on understory
vegetation communities in northwestern Ontario, Canada.
Understory vegetation abundance and diversity increase rapidly after fire, in
response to abundant resources and an influx of disturbance adapted species. The highest
diversity occurs within the first 40 years after fire, and declines indefinitely thereafter as
a result of decreasing productivity and increased dominance of a small number of late
successional pleurocarpous mosses and woody plant species. Vascular plant and
bryophyte/lichen communities undergo very different successional changes. Vascular
plant communities are dynamic and change more dramatically with time since fire,
whereas bryophyte and lichen communities are much slower to establish and change over
time. Considerable variations exists depending on canopy composition, site condition,
regional climate, and frequently occurring non-stand-replacing disturbances. Forest
management practices represent a unique disturbance process and can result in different
understory vegetation communities from those observed for natural processes, with
potential implications for overstory succession and long-term productivity. Because of
the importance of understory vegetation on nutrient cycling and overstory composition,
post-harvest treatments emulating stand-replacing fire are required to maintain understory
diversity, composition, and promote stand productivity in boreal forests.


title: Perceived stress among Alzheimer support group members : a broader perspective

contributor:
Nelson, Connie
Stones, Michael
Kelley, Mary Lou
Neilson-Clayton, Heather

subject:
Stress (Psychological)
Caregivers (Psychology)
Alzheimer caregivers

abstract:
This study examines the experience of Alzheimer caregiver support group members in relation to
their perceived levels of stress. Thirty-three participants from the six Alzheimer Society sites in
the jurisdiction of Northern Ontario participate in the study. The research tool consists of a 26-
item self designed survey assessing characteristics of the support group, the caregiver, the care
receiver, and outside assistance. These independent variables are examined to outline their
probable influence on a caregiver’s perceived stress. The survey incorporates Cohen’s 4-item
Perceived Stress Scale along with a question measuring self-identified caregiver stress which
collectively created the dependent variable perceived stress. Additionally, these caregivers are
given the opportunity to express through open-ended survey questions how they view their role
as a caregiver, what contributes to their stress and service ideas that they have for the future.
Significant relationships are found between the independent variables of self-care, gender,
marital status, and difficulty asking for help with the dependent variable perceived stress. No
significant relationships are found between perceived stress and the independent variables, length
of support group attendance, employment status, living arrangements, stage of disease, use of
respite, barriers to respite, and regular help from family and friends. This may be a result of the
sample size of this study. Through a Structural Functional, Feminist, and Contextual Fluidity
framework, caregiving is discussed in relation to the influence of political and sociological
forces.


title: Adapting modular structures for healthcare applications

subject: Modular construction

subject: Ventilation system performance

subject: Computational fluid dynamics

subject: Ventilation systems & aerosols modelling

subject: Wind load evaluation

abstract:
COVID-19 has highlighted many vital factors to consider when it comes to the healthcare systems.
Some challenges such as personnel, equipment, and space demands. Personnel demand can be met
by calling retired doctors and nurses and doctors from different specializations to participate in
administering to COVID-19 patients. As for the equipment, more equipment can be purchased to
accommodate the increasing number of patients. While for the space demand, this requires
adapting innovative solutions in healthcare applications to ensure faster delivery and better
infection control. Modular Construction (MC) can offer an adequate solution to this arising
challenge. MC relies on using componentized, panelized, or volumetric units produced off-site
and then transported to the site to form various configurations. They can utilize different materials
(e.g., steel, concrete, composites) as they have significant advantages in project adaptability. Since
healthcare space requires prompt delivery, modular structures can excel in this aspect since they
provide a safer working environment, less material wastage, and sustainability. However, using
such modular structures as isolation rooms alone is insufficient, as the ventilation system plays a
crucial role in infection control. Another factor to consider when designing a layout of the modular
structure is the load development on various surfaces within the layout and how this can impact
the overall structural performance and cost of the project. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is
to assess the ventilation system performance by altering the flow rates (i.e., air change per hour
(ACH)) and the placements of the inlet and outlet of the ventilation system, using numerical
modelling (e.g., computational fluid dynamics (CFD)). [...]