title: Communication and behavioral assessment of persons with developmental disabilities

subject: Developmental disabilities

subject: Behavioral assessment

subject: Developmentally disabled Means of communication

abstract:
Communication affects many areas of daily life. Therefore,
support programs to assist persons with developmental
disabilities should identify individuals who would especially
benefit from communication training. Forty individuals with
developmental disabilities were assessed on Vineland Adaptive
Behavioral Scales (VABS) (Sparrow, Balia, &Cicchetti, 1984),
the Assessment of Basic Learning Abilities (ABLA) test (Kerr,
Meyerson, & Flora, 1977), and a Communication Status Survey
developed for this study. ABLA level was correlated with all
VABS scales except gross motor skills and maladaptive
behaviors. These correlations validate the use of the ABLA as
a measure of cognitive ability. Ability to use formal
communication modes (speech, sign language, symbols) was
significantly (p= 0.001) related to ABLA level. Examination
of individual cases suggested that the ABLA may be predictive
of the ability to acquire formal communication. All persons
able to pass ABLA level 2 or higher who had received previous
communication training had some formal communication ability.
In contrast, five individuals who were able to pass ABLA
level 2 or 3 and lacked formal communication had not received
communication training. The importance of formal
communication is confirmed since persons without formal communication were unable to provide information about
immediate and external environments or request clarification.
Training in formal communication may be of benefit in
allowing clients to perform these skills.


title: A tunable multi-stable piezoelectric vibration energy harvester

subject:
Vibration energy harvester
Piezoelectricity

abstract:
The vibration energy harvester is intended to convert ambient environmental energy
into electrical energy. It has great potential to be an alternative to the conventional battery
in low-power electric devices. A traditional vibrating energy harvester consists of a linear
oscillator that operates in a narrow frequency band. Nonlinear energy harvesters provide a
promising solution to widen the operating bandwidth. Based on the system stability states,
the nonlinear vibration energy harvesters can be classified as mono-stable and multi-stable.
In this study, a tunable multi-stable piezoelectric energy harvester is proposed. The
apparatus can be manually tuned to achieve three states, namely tri-stable, bi-stable, and
mono-stable. It has a compact structure compared to the existing designs.  [...]


title: Relationship of pre-competition arousal assessments to self-perceived performance competencies in rowers

subject:
Rowing
Arousal (Psychology)
Self-perception

abstract:
This study used the technique of self-reporting to examine the
relationship of pre-competition arousal symptoms and assessments to
self-perceived performance competencies in rowers. A modified version
of Rushall's (1977) Pre-Competition Psychological Checklist was
employed allowing each subject to report pre-competition arousal
symptoms, estimate of excitedness, estimate of winning, importance of
event, and control over distractors. Post-race assessments of crew
and individual performances were also noted. The research design
selected was a number of replications of a single subject case study.
The data were analyzed to determine 1) the existence of arousal patterns
that were performance grade specific, 2) arousal (excitedness) -
performance relationships, 3) estimation of winning - performance relationships, 4) importance of event - performance level relationship,
5) control over distractors - performance relationship, 6) arousal -
estimation of winning relationships, 7) arousal - importance of event
relationships, and 8) arousal - control over distractors relationship.
All subjects exhibited grade specific arousal patterns. The arousal
estimate and performance relationships were idiosycratic, however,
when all subjects were considered together the relationship was positive
and linear. Linear relationships were evidenced between 1) arousal and estimation of winning, 2) arousal and importance of event, and 3) arousal
and control over distractors. The importance of event and control
over distractors variable were related to performance in a more
obvious manner than was arousal.


title: Relationships between timing of injury onset in the sport season and emotional response to injury

contributor:
Crossman, Jane
Montelpare, William
Jamieson, John

subject: Sports injuries (psychological aspects)

subject: Basketball injuries (psychological aspects)

abstract:
The relationship between the timing of injury onset in the sport season and athletes’ emotional
reaction to sport injury was investigated. Twenty (10 male and 10 female) varsity and
recreational athletes involved in the sport of basketball were interviewed by the researcher to
determine what variables athletes consider when faced with an injury at different times of the
season (pre, mid, end, post) and how these variables affect their emotional response. Interviews
were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed using the software program, NUD IST Variables
including importance of the season, length of season, time remaining in year, injury status,
circumstances of injury, previous experience, success of team, team involvement, goals, athlete
status, personal success, social influences, and external considerations were found to influence
athletes’ appraisal of the timing of injury onset which in turn, affected their emotional response to
the injury experience A model is presented to explain this appraisal.


title: Lateralization of the perception of emotional intonation in children with nonverbal learning disabilities

subject: Learning disabilities (testing)

subject: Nonverbal learning disabilities

subject: Learning disabilities and the assessment of lateralization

subject: Lateralization and emotional lateralization

abstract:
The purpose of the present study was to examine whether lateralization patterns for verbal and
nonverbal material and behavioral presentations differ between children categorized as having a
verbal (VLD) or nonverbal based learning disability (NLD). Based on their poor visual spatial skills
and reported difficulties in social perception it was predicted that NLD children would be less
lateralized with regards to nonverbal stimuli (emotional and musical) and more at risk for social
problems and internalizing disorders than the VLD group. In the present study the expected left ear
advantage (LEA) for nonverbal material was not found in any groups while a significant right ear
advantage (REA) for verbal material was found in all but the VLD group. Contrary to predictions,
NLD children demonstrated the highest lateralization scores for musical stimuli. No other
signiEcant differences in lateralization scores were found. W ith regards to behavior, a trend toward
lower social skills was reported in NLD as compared to the control children. Reasons for the lack
of expected ear advantages for nonverbal material and future directions for the study of social
behavior in NLD children are discussed.


title: Effects of KNO3 and NaH2PO4 on lipid synthesis and CaCO3 accumulation in pleurochrysis carterae and newly identified algal shell coccolith structure

contributor:
Qin, Wensheng
Ross, Brian
Mackereth, Rob

subject:
Pleurochrysis carterae
Lipid synthesis
Coccolith
Doornail structure

abstract: Due to the limited energy reserves and the increasing demand for energy, a large number of greenhouse gases such as CO2 have been released to the air. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new sources of energy and ways which can effectively fix carbon dioxide. Pleurochrysis carterae, a marine microalga is considered a potential biodiesel producer and and effective carbon dioxide fixer, due to its high lipid content (33% of dry weight) and a unique calcification process.


title: Fungi associated with the emerald ash borer on urban green ash

subject:
Agrilus planipennis
Emerald ash borer
Green ash
Insect-fungal associations
Urban forest

abstract: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive beetle recently introduced from Asia. It has quickly spread throughout much of eastern North America causing death of millions of ash (Fraxinus spp.) in both natural forests and in urban landscapes. Since 2016, this insect has been found in Thunder Bay, where approximately 25% of the urban street trees are ash. The larvae produce serpentine galleries beneath the bark which girdle the tree within a few years. It has always been assumed that death of the ash is due to this girdling and no studies to date have investigated fungi associated with the emerald ash borer. This study attempts to investigate whether such fungal associations exist, and whether the fungi, if present, are involved in the decline of the trees. During the autumn a total of three green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) infested with emerald ash borer were removed from a local park in Thunder Bay and cut into small logs, bagged and brought to Lakehead University. Isolations were made directly from galleries, and from larval frass found in these galleries. In addition, washings were made from larvae when these were found. A total of 178 fungal isolates were obtained, including species of Cytospora (26.9%), species of Phoma (10.6%), and species of Cladosporium (9.0%). All fungi found were either typical inhabitants of woody plants or else are cosmopolitan in their substrate preference. None of the species found are thought to be closely associated with the emerald ash borer, but rather have an accidental association with the insect. Further studies are needed to verify this finding.


title: Exploration of inflammasomes as targets for therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

contributor:
Ulanova, Marina
Khaper, Neelam
Qin, Wensheng
Leung, Kam

subject:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cystic fibrosis
Innate immunity
Host-pathogen interaction
NOD-like receptors
Caspase-1
Cytokines
Small molecule inhibitor

abstract:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common Gram-negative opportunistic bacterial
pathogen capable of infecting humans with compromised natural defenses and causing
severe pulmonary disease. It is the major cause of severe chronic pulmonary disease in
cystic fibrosis (CF) patients subsequently resulting in progressive deterioration of lung
function. Interaction between P. aeruginosa and host induces a number of marked
inflammatory responses and is associated with complex therapeutic problems. NOD-like
receptors (NLRs) can recognize a variety of endogenous and exogenous ligands and its
activation initiate inflammasome formation that induces maturation of the proinflammatory
cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β through activation of caspase-1. Through a
literature search, no prior research on mutant strains as well as clinical isolates of P.
aeruginosa from CF patients at different stages of infection has been conducted to
explore NLR-mediated innate immune responses to this bacterial infection. All the work
presented in this thesis focuses on the exploration of inflammasomes as targets for
therapy of P. aeruginosa infection. We hypothesized that genetic alterations of P.
aeruginosa affect the innate immune response of human monocytes. THP-1 human
monocytic cells were infected with clinical P. aeruginosa isolates from CF patients, or
with P. aeruginosa mutant strains lacking flagella, pili, lipopolysaccharide, or pyocyanin.
The overall involvement of NLRs in innate immune recognition of P. aeruginosa was
addressed through demonstrating of NLR-mediated caspase-1 activation or P.
aeruginosa-induced IL-1β secretion. Our findings suggest that P. aeruginosa, which lost
certain virulence factors during pulmonary infection, may fail to induce caspase-1 activation and secretion of IL-1β in the process of host-pathogen interactions. This may
reveal novel mechanism of the pathogen adaptation to avoid detection by NLR(s).
As P. aeruginosa infections are characterized by strong inflammation of infected
tissues anti-inflammatory therapies in combination with antibiotics have been considered
for the treatment of associated diseases. Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), a non-receptor
tyrosine kinase, is an important regulator of inflammatory responses. Several studies have
highlighted SYK as a key player in the pathogenesis of a multitude of diseases. Inhibition
of SYK activity was explored as a therapeutic option in several inflammatory conditions;
however, this has not been studied in bacterial infections. We used a model of an in vitro
infection of human monocytic cell line THP-1 and lung epithelial cell line H292 with
both wild type and flagella-deficient mutant of P. aeruginosa strain K, as well as with
clinical isolates from CF patients, to study the effect of a small molecule SYK inhibitor
R406 on inflammatory responses induced by this pathogen. The role of SYK in
regulation of inflammasome activation was also determined by evaluating the effect of
SYK inhibitor on innate immune responses in P. aeruginosa infected cells. The results
suggest that SYK is involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses to P.
aeruginosa, and R406 may potentially be useful in dampening the damage caused by
severe inflammation associated with this infection.


title: Testing British Columbia's water quality guidelines as a mixture of four important contaminants, hardness, exposure time, and species effects

contributor:
Malek, Ladislav
Lee, Peter
Hecnar, Stephen

subject:
Water quality
Provincial water quality guidelines
Freshwater pollutants
Water hardness and toxicity

abstract:
Provincial water quality guidelines are established in order to prevent detrimental effects
of a single toxicant from affecting the health of resident aquatic life. However, the
elevation of pollutants in freshwater can occur from many sources simultaneously and
interact to form mixtures. In this study, three common freshwater species, Daphnia
magna, Hyalella azteca and Oncorhynchus mykiss, were exposed to cadmium, selenium,
nitrates and sulphates as a mixture at concentrations the same as British Columbia’s
provincial water quality guidelines (BC WQG) for the protection of aquatic life with hard
(250 mg/L as CaCO3) and soft (50 mg/L as CaCO3) water conditions. For all three
organisms, both acute (48 hour) and chronic (21 day) exposures were used to examine the
four contaminants and their mixture at maximum and average BC WQG concentrations.
In the short term exposures, the only treatment that was harmful was cadmium, which
had a 43% (p = 0.115, n = 3) and 64% (p < 0.0001, n = 5) mortality for D. magna in soft
and hard water respectively. The toxicity of the four part mixture (including cadmium)
was reduced, due to the antagonistic effect of selenium on the toxicity of cadmium.
During a chronic exposure, the mixture was more (to D. magna) or less hazardous (to H.
azteca and O. mykiss) than single contaminants; leading to the conclusion that pollutants
can have a different overall effect when simultaneously exposed for longer periods of
time. Overall, the interactions between pollutants in a complex mixture should be
considered when deriving water quality guidelines. To provide appropriate protection of
the environment, these complex interactions should be further investigated with
representative species in the BC ecosystem.


title: Biomechanical characteristics of development age hockey players : determining the confounding effects of body size on the assessment of skating technique

contributor:
McPherson, Moira
Montelpare, William
McAuliffe, Jim

subject: Hockey ability testing

subject:
Biomechanical characteristics of minor
hockey players

subject: Skating technique assessment

abstract:
Skating ability, and more specifically the ability to accelerate from a stationary position
or change direction rapidly, is recognized as one of the most important skills in ice hockey.
While coaches may use drills to compare skating performance between individuals, especially
during player selection, few studies have identified the essential kinematic variables that
contribute to the ability of development age hockey players to accelerate over a specified
distance. Previous research reported that the determination of performance and ultimately
skating power can be related to specific biomechanical parameters, especially among developing
hockey players. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest considering the potential confounding
effects of height and weight in such biomechanical evaluations. Considering the range of
variability for the height and weight of ten-year old children, it may be appropriate to include
these as predictors of skating performance.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of minor
hockey players while performing an on-ice acceleration skill test. In addition, the study
evaluated the contribution of height and weight on the assessment of skating technique.
Participants were 30 male development age hockey players categorized by level of play. The
results of the evaluation were consistent with current coaching literature. Correlation analyses
identified the kinematic variables related to time to skate six metres. A regression analysis
identified the set of variables that best predicted time to skate six metres. The parameters
identified in the predictive equation were directly related to the amount of horizontal impulse
^plied into the ice surface and included the following six parameters: knee angle at push-off 1,
2; knee angle at touch down 1; take-off angle at push-off 1,2, 3; hip abduction angle at push-off
5; the range of motion of the forward lean angle 2; and player weight.
Overall, the development age hockey players in this study were very similar to their elite adult
counterparts in skating patterns with respect to stride characteristics. The differences that were
observed were attributed to the differences in size and strength. Comparing structural models
across studies further suggests the importance of body size on skating performance.


title: Long-term follow-up of a community-based treatment program for adolescent sex offenders

subject:
Teenage sex offenders (Rehabilitation)
Adolescent sex offender treatment
Recidivism

abstract:
The effectiveness of adolescent sex offender treatment has received relatively little study
when compared to the treatment outcome literature with adult sex offenders. Examined
even less are the factors associated with treatment success in sexually abusive
adolescents. The present study examined recidivism data on 89 youth convicted o f a
sexual offense between September 1985 and June 1998. The treatment group consisted of
41 youth who participated in at least 10 months of treatment in the Thunder Bay
Adolescent Sex Offender Program (TBASOP). Included in the comparison group were 23
treatment non-completers (less than 10 months of TBASOP) and 25 adolescent sex
offenders who did not receive sex offender specific treatment (assessment only group).
After an average follow-up period of 7 years, recidivism rates based on subsequent
criminal convictions were significantly higher for the treatment non-completers than the
treatment completers on measures of nonsexual and serious recidivism. Furthermore,
while not significant, the treatment completion group sexually re-offended at a lower rate
(2.4%) than the treatment non-completers (17.4%) and the assessment only group (4%).
These results suggest that adolescent sex offenders commit relatively few sexual re-offenses
compared to non-sexual re-offenses but that sex offender specific treatment may
be more beneficial in reducing sexual, nonsexual, and serious recidivism.


title: Study of two different tunable vibration absorbers : variable stiffness absorber and variable damping absorber

contributor:
Liu, Kefu
Tayebi, A.

subject:
Vibration control
Variable stiffness vibration absorber
Auto-tuning and simulation

abstract:
A structure or machine w ill vibrate at the frequency of excitation when excited by a
harmonic force. Vibration of the structure can be suppressed using a vibration absorber by
setting the absorber’s natural frequency equal to the exciting frequency. However, when the
exciting frequency varies, vibration of the structure attached with the vibration absorber
may increase significantly. A tunable vibration absorber is an adaptive-passive device that
can overcome the shortcoming of a traditional vibration absorber. Such a device is capable of
adjusting its parameter on-line based on a feedback loop. In this thesis, two different tunable
vibration absorbers are studied. The first one is a variable stiffness vibration absorber that
provides a means to vary the absorber stiffness to ensure that the absorber frequency follows
the exciting frequency. The second one is a variable damping vibration absorber that provides
a means to vary the absorber damping to ensure the best performance of the absorber. Both
the vibration absorbers are used to suppress vibration of a beam structure.
The developed variable stiffness absorber is a cantilever-beam attached by a mass at its
free end. The absorber stiffness is varied by changing the beam length through a DC motor
drive system. Various models of the beam-absorber system are derived. The proposed
tuning algorithm is based on the frequency information extracted from spectrum of the
response. Using a simplified 2-degree-of-freedom (D O F) model, the computer simulation
tests the tuning algorithm ’s ability to track a step change and a linear change in the exciting
frequency. Factors affecting the performance of the absorber are investigated. The developed
variable damping absorber is an electromagnetic damper th a t is based on the eddy current
principle. Analytical study shows that there exist two crossing frequencies which determine
whether damping should or should not be added to the absorber system. An on/off tuning
control strategy is developed. Using a 2-DO F system, the computer simulation tests the
tuning strategy when the exciting frequency experiences a multi-step change. For both the
absorber systems, the experiment study focuses on validation of the tuning algorithms and
addresses some practical issues encountered in implementation.


title: Optimizing the transfer of patient care information among nurses and members of the multidisciplinary team in a regional hospital in Northwestern Ontario / by Karina Gagalo.

contributor:
Jamieson, John
Steven, Darlene

subject:
Medical informatics
Communication in nursing
Nursing informatics

abstract:
This study was designed to examine the current methods and content of shift report at a hospital in Northwestern Ontario. It also examined the potential of a computer-generated method of shift report to improve communication and transfer of patient information in shift report. The objectives were to enhance standardized communication between nurses
and other members of the multidisciplinary team (MT), provide efficient and effective coordination of communication between nurses and other members of the MT, and examine factors that impact on patient safety through audits and personal observation.
Action-oriented research was the framework o f the study and the methodology.  Questionnaires were developed using evidence based-practice literature to obtain data about patient documentation and information transfer, and comments from the participants regarding shift report. Other data collection processes included focus group sessions as well as nonparticipatory observation, documentation audits and audiotaped
handover audits to assess the content transferred in shift report, along with content located in patient charts. The target population was 105 participants, an affiliation of registered nurse (RNs), registered practical nurses (RPNs), and members of the MT from three units at the hospital. Of the 105 potential participants, 62 nurses (RNs & RPNs) and 11 MT members participated in the study, providing a sample of 73 individuals. The
findings indicated that with the new computer-generated shift summaries, the transfer of patient care information has improved among nursing staff and the MT members. The findings showed that with the new system, there is a decrease in communication among nursing staff but an increase in communication between MT members and nursing staff. The findings indicated areas within the new system that can be enhanced to improve communication and patient information transfer. Recommendations to improve communication between nursing staff and members of the MT include use of wireless systems to replace current hard-standing computers which would increase the time spent with patients and decrease the number of errors with documentation through point-of-care documentation. As well, use of the phone system as a method of shift report would allow nurses to record their patient data when convenient for them, without having to be
at a stationary computer. It also would allow other members of the MT to access the patient reports through the phone system and levels of passwords.


title: Constraints on leisure activities participation among Chinese immigrants in Canada / by Feihuang Xiong.

contributor:
Payne, R. J.
McIntyre, Norm
Liu, Jianye

subject: Social participation

subject: Chinese Canadians - Social life and customs

subject: Leisure - Psychological aspects

subject: Acculturation

abstract:
Although leisure constraint studies and issues of leisure behaviour among racial minorities have been well documented over the past twenty years, very little systematic effort has been devoted to explore immigrants' perceptions of constraints on leisure. This study attempts to fill this gap by focusing on the largest immigrant group in Canada, Chinese immigrants, to examine the constraints associated with three types of leisure participation decisions, including constraints that caused people to reduce or cease leisure participation, constraints that intervened in people's desire to take part in new leisure activities, and constraints that hindered people from starting new leisure activities they desired to do.
Questionnaires were completed by 133 Chinese immigrants from Toronto and Thunder bay, Ontario, Canada.  Results reveal that for the past two years, 29 percent of respondents were quitters who had reduced at least one of their leisure participation and had not started participating in any new leisure activities, 20 percent were replacers who replaced leisure activities they had quitted with new ones, another 20 percent were
adders who had not quit any of their old leisure activities but had added at least one new leisure activity, and 30 percent were continuers who neither had stopped nor had started participating any leisure activities. And outdoor recreational activities were the most often started activities, exercise-orientated activities were both the most often ceased
and desired to take up activities. As well, typical Chinese activities were also the most often ceased leisure activities.
Four dimensions of leisure constraints (social-cultural constraints, personal
constraints, access constraints, and time constraint) emerged from a factor analysis.  The two most important constraint dimensions for Chinese immigrants were time constraint and access constraints. The intensity of personal constraints differed depending on the types of constrained leisure. Comparably, for those who desired to start new leisure activities, personal constraints were not important at all. However personal constraints still had impacts for those who did not desire to take up new
leisure activities.
Results also indicate that, for those who have reduced/ ceased leisure activity participation, there were no significant differences between highly acculturated respondents’ and lowly acculturated respondents’ perceptions o f leisure constraints.  However, for both the decision of not desiring new leisure activities and the decision of desired to start new leisure activities, the higher the acculturation level respondents hold the lower the level of importance for the social-cultural constraints. Moreover, among
various socio-demographic variables, education, financial status, age, length of residence and gender somewhat differentiated immigrants’ perception of leisure constraints according to different leisure participation decisions.


title: Amorphous selenium (a-Se) avalanche photodetector for applications in positron emission tomography (PET)

contributor:
Reznik, Alla
Das, Gautam
Rowlands, John

subject:
Avalanche amorphous selenium (a-Se)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Positron emission
Radioactive decay
Annihilation
Positron range

abstract: Although avalanche amorphous selenium (a-Se) is a very promising photoconductor for a variety of imaging applications, it is currently restricted to applications with electron beam readout. This is performed with a vacuum pick-up tube called a High-gain Avalanche Rushing Photoconductor (HARP) Vidicon. The electron beam readout is compatible with high definition television (HDTV) applications, but for use in medical imaging devices it should be replaced by an solid-state electronic readout with a two-dimensional array of metal pixel electrodes. However, due to the high electric field required for avalanche multiplication, it is a technological challenge to avoid dielectric breakdown at the edges, where electric field experiences local enhancement. We show that this problem can be overcome by the use of a Resistive Interface Layer (RIL) deposited between the uniform a-Se layer and the array of metal electrodes. By detailed analysis of charge transport properties we demonstrate that RIL enables stable avalanche operation in a-Se photoconductor without degradation in charge transport or avalanche multiplication gain. Our results showed that a stable gain of 200 is reached at 104 V/μm for a 15-μm thick a-Se layer, which is the maximum theoretical gain for this thickness. We conclude that RIL is an enabling technology for practical implementation of solid-state avalanche a-Se image sensors.


title: Women in leadership in health care and education

contributor:
Ruiperez, Raul
Wakewich, Pam
King, Ti

subject:
Leadership in women
Women in medicine
Women in education

abstract:
This phenomenological study is an examination of the
experiences of eight women from Northwestern Ontario working in
leadership positions in health care or education. The data was
obtained from two interviews with each participant. The focus of
the research is an exploration of the ways in which these women
perceive leadership and the development of leadership.
An analysis of the data reveals three main common themes:
"how a woman becomes a leader", "characteristics of a leader"
and "what a leader does". In the interviews, participants
revealed how life experience, family influence, mentors and
education had influenced the development of their leadership
abilities and personality attributes. Participants repeatedly
indicated that "caring" is a socially constructed characteristic
of leadership. They beheld sensitivity, empathy and nurturing as
caring attributes cultivated throughout their lives.
Additionally, they regarded communication skills and being
responsible as leadership characteristics developed from life
experience; and, they claimed that team work is a major element
of what a leader does.
The social construction of leadership from a woman's
perspective is still in a transition process, after having been
influenced by sex-role stereotyping for many years. Thus, to better comprehend how women's leadership identity is
constructed, a close examination of their perceptions of
leadership is required. This study shows how some women perceive
their involvement in the evolution of leadership development.


title: Treatment Utilization by Problem Gamblers in Northwestern Ontario

subject: Northwestern Ontario

abstract:
The Catalyst database, which is operated through the Ontario Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health, was used to explore factors that may be related to treatment non-
compliance and the number of admissions in the population of clients receiving addiction
treatment in Thunder Bay between 2003 and mid-2006. The distinction between Primary
and Secondary Gamblers identified by Nguyen (2007) was explored to determine
whether this distinction is useful in predicting if the two groups differ in treatment non-
compliance and the number of admissions. A total of 2,743 clients were examined.
Comparisons were made between those who presented for treatment of gambling as their
primary problem (N = 138), those who presented for a substance addiction (N = 280)
with gambling as a secondary problem, and those who had only a substance addiction (N
= 2,178). Non-compliant individuals are more likely to be gambling clients, younger,
female, have a higher education level, better income source, better employment, and no
legal problems. An individual with more admissions to treatment is more likely to be a
Secondary Gambler or Substance Problem Only client, older, have a poorer source of
employment and have legal problems. The distinction between primary and secondary
gamblers was not found to be useful for predicting treatment non-compliance but did
predict the number of admissions. It appears that these two outcome variables are
measuring different aspects of treatment utilization and that it is important to consider
each separately, as they both provide useful program planning information.


title: Pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of peat and pine sawdust for bio-ethanol production / by Wei Shi.

contributor:
Xu, C. Charles
Liao, Baoqiang

subject: Peat Pine Hydrolysis

abstract: This thesis includes three parts: 1.) effect of hydrogen peroxide on delignification of peat; 2.) pre-treatment of pine sawdust using various methods, including organosolv extraction, ultrasonic treatment, and sodium hydroxide treatment; and 3.) enzymatic hydrolysis of pre-treated pine sawdust for glucose production. The delignification efficiency (DE), pre-treatment efficiency (PE), and glucose yield, total sugar yield, and total weight loss were systematically quantified under different conditions. Effects of pretreatments on peat and pine sawdust structure were characterized using various analytical tools, such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV spectrometer.


title: Photosynthetic efficiency of frozen-stored Picea glauca seedlings in relation to root pruning, root growth, and shoot moisture stress / by S. J. Colombo. --

subject:
White spruce.
Seedlings Storage.
Roots (Botany)

abstract:
This study examines the influence of duration of frozen
storage (-2 C) and root pruning on photosynthetic efficiency,
shoot moisture stress and root growth of white spruce (Picea
glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings planted in a glasshouse.
Photosynthetic efficiency was measured using infra-red gas
analysis, and shoot moisture stress by the pressure chamber
technique. Root growth was determined using trees planted in
glass-faced root boxes.
Photosynthetic efficiency of root pruned and non-pruned
trees which were not frozen was significantly greater 2 and 4-
weeks after planting than that of stock frozen 92 days. Rates
of photosynthesis of trees which had been frozen for 50 days
were inexplicably lower than other storage treatments up to four weeks after planting. After six weeks photosynthetic
efficiency was high regardless of duration of storage. Shoot
moisture stress of seedlings stored 92 days remained significantly
greater than non-frozen stock throughout the experiment, in
spite of greater root growth by those frozen 92 days. Root
pruning had a detrimental influence on all aspects of seedling
physiology examined: photosynthetic efficiency was lower,
shoot moisture stress greater and root growth was slower than
in non-root pruned seedlings. Root growth was not strongly
correlated with photosynthetic efficiency.


title: Model reference adaptive control system using frequency domain performance specifications

subject:
Adaptive control systems
Self-tuning controllers
Control theory

abstract:
MRAS (Model Reference Adaptive System) to achieve frequency domain performance specifications
with different transfer function identification techniques are experimentally studied.
Standard open loop and closed loop recursive least squares (RLS) system identification
techniques are implemented along with methods based on bandpass filters and steady-state
Kalman filter. The behavior of the MRAS when combined with the different system identification
techniques is discussed.
Based on experimental work performed on MRAS using open loop system identification,
it was found that the system can achieve performance specifications in all process conditions.
It was noticed that the DC bias changes in process input when process changes, delays
the convergence of the system identification in open loop system identification. Closed
loop system identification was found inadequate for use in MRAS. The system identification
based on bandpass filter approach was found slow in convergence and so inefficient
for use in MRAS. The use of Kalman filter for system identification resulted in noisy gains
on adaptive PI controller. Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that MRAS to
achieve frequency domain performance specifications is practical and capable of being used
in industrial process control when coupled with open loop identification based on frequency
domain concepts. The proposed approach provides a better method for maintaining performance
robustness while guaranteeing stability margins in adaptive control than that
obtained from time domain adaptive control.


title: The Italian community in Fort William's East End in the early twentieth century

subject:
Italians
Fort William
Ontario

abstract: By the turn of the twentieth century in the midst of almost every significant urban centre of Canada and the United States, there existed a so-called "Little Italy" or "Italian Colony". These were sections of cities or towns where the recent Italian immigrants lived in overcrowded dwellings. The purpose of this study of Fort William's "Little Italy" is to present an analysis of the experience of Italian immigrants within the context of this particular Canadian setting from the beginning of the twentieth century to the Second World War.


title: The structure, stratigraphy and strain history of the Seine Group and related rocks near Mine Centre, Northwestern Ontario

subject:
Seine rock
Metavolcanic rocks
Stratigraphic geology
Petrography

abstract:
One or possibly two overlapping periods of deformation are responsible
for the structures observed in the rocks in the Seine River
area. This deformation has resulted in the formation of tight to isoclinal,
non-plane approximately cylindrical major F1 folds with steeply
dipping E-W striking axial surfaces. A late stage deformation has
resulted in the formation of a crenulation clsavage, kink bands and
minor faulting. There is also I imited evidence of a possible pre-F 1
folding event.
Two major I ithological groups are present in the study area:
shallow water metasedimentary rocks bf the Seine Group and metavolcanic
rocks. The Seine Group metasedimentary rocks are younger than the
metavolcanic rocks in the western part of the area but may be older
than similar metavolcanic rocks in the eastern part of the area. Two
ages of metavolcanic rocks therefore appear to be present: older metavolcanic
rocks in the west which under! ie the Seine Group, and younger
metavolcanic rocks in the east which overlie the Seine Group.
Regional metamorphism to the chlorite to biotite zone greenschist
facies was synkinematic with the deformation of the rocks but may have
outlasted the folding in plates.
Strain analysis from the metasedimentary rocks reveals that the
conglomeratic units are more intensely strained than arenite units,
although alI the strain elI lpsoids are of the flattened (K < 1) type. Average shortening in Z ranges from 52% for arenite units to 75% for
conglomerate units. A new empirical approach suggested by the writer and
Dr. Borradai le for assessing competence contrasts between strain markers
and matrix is outlined. This method uses the effects of competent markers
on cleavage traces in the matrix of conglomerates.


title: Biodiversity of ground beetles in young and old poplar stands

subject:
Boreal forest
Trembling aspen
Ground beetles
Coleoptera
Carabidae

abstract: Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are a useful bioindicator group in forests in almost every part of the world. This thesis studied the biodiversity of carabid beetles in old and young age trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands to determine if there was a difference in species abundance and individual abundance. Six sites (three young age and three old age) in the Kenora/Rainy River district north of Nestor Falls, Ontario with a primarily poplar species composition were selected, and five pitfall traps were dug and placed in a seventy-five metre transect at each site. Samples were collected every two weeks from May 11th to August 17th, 2018 and identified to estimate species accumulation and individual abundance over a longer sampling period using EstimateS, a biodiversity estimation software. A difference in species accumulation and individual abundance over time was found between the two stand types. There was also a measured difference in the biodiversity of carabids between the two stand types. It was found that large scale disturbances such as forest harvesting had an effect on the species abundance of carabid beetles in young age poplar stands while the accumulation of biomass and familiar habitat found in old age poplar stands had an effect on the individual abundance of carabids. This data has not been documented in the mentioned district before and would provide information for future research or environment-based operations occurring in the area. This research can be used to map the distribution of carabid beetles in northwestern Ontario, specifically in the Kenora/Rainy River district.


title: The effect of motivational interviewing training on knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, subjective norm, and intent to use by undergraduate nurses to support people with substance use: a comparison of two learning styles

subject:
Substance use disorders (SUDs)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Mental health
Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)

abstract:
Mental health and well-being are a worldwide concern, especially in the last couple of
years. From late 2020 to early 2022, high self-rated mental health decreased in Canadians aged 12
or older from 64% to 58% (Statistics Canada, 2022). Also, it was found that 25% of Canadians (18
or above) were found positive on at least one of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress
disorder in spring 2021, compared to 21% in fall 2020 (Statistics Canada, 2021). This indicates a
serious problem and a need for immediate interventions. Moreover, the close relationship between
MHD and substance use disorders (SUD) was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. One
in three Canadians with MHDs who also drink alcohol reported an increase of their drinking to
problematic levels (Mental Health Commission of Canada & Canadian Centre on Substance Use,
2020). Similarly, the prevalence of problematic alcohol use in 2021 was found to be 21% among
the general population and 39% among the low income population, compared to 38% and 52% of
problematic cannabis use, respectively (Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Canadian Centre on
Substance Use, 2021). SUDs have many harmful consequences on health and quality of life, like
road traffic accidents, domestic violence, child abuse, and various health problems (McLellan,
2017). A SUD-related crisis is one of the most common issues managed in the emergency
department; approximately 20% of emergency department cases involve substance use (Brubacher
et al., 2008). Northwestern Ontario, including Thunder Bay, has a high proportion of SUD-related
health problems, which puts a higher burden on the health care system (TBDHU, 2017).
Consequently, SUDs are also commonly found in the psychiatric and critical care wards, in
addition to the emergency department (personal communication with Thunder Bay Regional
Hospital’s nurses). [...]


title: Extraversion and external locus of control in a youthful offender population

subject:
Extraversion
Indians of North America Psychology
Criminal psychology

abstract:
A correlational study between extraversion as
measured by Eysenck’s Personality Inventory and external
locus of control as measured by Rotter’s Internal-External
Scale indicated no significant relationship in a sample
of youthful offenders from the Thunder Bay Correctional
Centre. Examination of Indian - white differences in
test scores revealed a significant difference between
groups in extraversion, no significant difference in
neuroticism and no significant difference in degree of
external control expectancy. The findings are discussed
with regard to problems of test construction and in terms
of factors or variables which might confound correlations
between the EPI and I-E scales.
A factor analysis of Rotter’s I-E scale generated
four factors, suggesting for the purposes of future research
that external locus of control be considered a heterogeneous personality variable and that it may be an especially
useful variable when related to previous research on the
personalities of delinquents.


title: Data preparation & model development for text simplification

subject:
Text simplification
Newsela dataset
Deep learning models
Lexical simplification

abstract:
Text simplification (TS), defined narrowly, is the process of reducing the linguistic complexity of a text, while still retaining the original information and meaning. More broadly, text
simplification encompasses other operations; for example, conceptual simplification to simplify content as well as form, elaborative modification, where redundancy and explicitness
are used to emphasize key points, and omission of peripheral or inappropriate information.
TS is a diverse field with a number of target audience, such as beginner and foreign language
learners, the dyslexic, the aphasic etc. This research provides a significant contribution towards the goal of building the first, fully automated and open-source system for TS. TS
originally involved simplification through hand-crafted rules of language, a process which is
not only extremely time-consuming, but also not applicable across languages. Most recent
techniques have automated the rules learning process by using deep neural networks and
language models. An extensive survey on TS was first conducted before starting system development, to identify current limitations and research obstacles. TS can be divided into two
major components: lexical simplification that involves substituting complex words/phrases
with simpler ones, and novel text generation, which generates new simplified version of the
input text. This thesis focuses on the latter, focusing on data and models involved. To
allow deep learning models to automatically learn simplification rules, a large amount of
data is needed, especially in the form of simple and complex sentence pairs, needed to train
sequence-to-sequence models. The lack of existing such data of particularly high quality
necessitated a focus on a dataset development first. There are only two sources available
to extract complex/simple sentence pairs from: Regular & Simple English Wikipedia and
the Newsela corpus. A Newsela dataset was extracted for this thesis, which is shown to
outperform models trained using any previous Newsela extraction. Also, for this research,
three deep learning models were developed, and used to benchmark most commonly used
datasets for training TS models, and the effect of using each dataset quantified. The models
were then used to set state-of-the-art benchmarks using the best training datasets available.
An initial version of the web application for TS application was developed, in conjunction
with other developers, which uses one of the three developed models. Having developed an
initial system, this research is expected to continue, with the next steps of focusing on lexical
simplification and multi-language simplification.


title: The Moderating role of depression in the relationship between coping strategies and significant others' reactions with the experience of chronic pain

contributor:
Tan, Josephine
Katzman, Martin A.

subject:
Adjustment (Psychology)
Depression, Mental
Chronic pain
Psychological aspects

abstract: Research shows a strong co-morbidity between pain and depression (Schatzberg, 2004). Individuals suffering with both chronic pain and depression exhibit greater pain intensity, greater interference due to pain and more pain behaviours (Haythornthwaite, Sieber & Kerns, 1991). A variety of coping strategies (Endler, Corace, Summerfeldt, Johnson, & Rothbart, 2003; Ramírez-Maestre, Esteve, & Lopez, 2008) and social support (Lopez-Martínez, Esteve-Zarazaga, & Ramírez-Maestre, 2008) have been found to be associated with the pain experience. Previous research on coping among pain patients has not considered the confounding effects of depression in the studies. This project investigates the moderating role of depression in the relationship between pain experiences with coping strategies and reactions from significant others in 201 chronic pain patients. The coping strategies examined include pain-related negative cognitions (pain rumination, pain magnification) and pain-related cognitive coping styles (catastrophizing, coping self-statements, ignoring sensation, distancing, distraction, praying). Reactions from significant others (punishing, solicitous, and distracting responses) were also examined. The various facets of the pain experience examined include pain severity, general interference with functioning, and sense of self-control. The results showed that rumination, catastrophizing, praying and distraction are associated with negative pain experiences, whereas ignoring painful sensations and the use of coping self-statements are associated with more positive pain experiences. Distracting patients from their pain is associated with greater self-efficacy in terms of control over pain. With the exception of the relationship between catastrophizing and work interference, depression was not found to be a moderator between the pain-related factors and pain experience. Instead, it was found to have direct relationship with the pain experience. Supplementary findings suggest that different coping strategies predict the pain experience in men and women.


title: Development of a protocol to profile the gonadal steroid intermediates of vitellogenic ovaries from fathead minnows, pimephales promelas

contributor:
Momot, Walter T.
Garver, T.

subject: Fathead minnow Effect of water pollution on

subject: Wood-pulp industry Environmental aspects

subject: Biochemical markers

abstract:
This research developed a protocol to extract, isolate, detect, and measure the intermediates
involved in ovarian steroid biosynthesis by Pimephales promelas to be used in bleached kraft mill
effluent chronic toxicity studies. Steroid extraction from ovarian tissue was accomplished by
sonication in methanol with 1:1 tissue:solvent. Four such extractions per sample successfully
increased percent recovery from <58% to >74%, depending on the steroid. Isolation of steroids
from the sample matrix was accomplished by C18 solid phase extraction columns. Adjustment of
sample matrix pH to 6.5, and polarity of eluant to 7:3 hexane/t-butyl ether successfully removed
free fatty acid interferences from the chromatographic analysis. The isolated steroids were
derivatized to produce methoxime-trimethylsilyl derivatives that were detected and measured using
selected ion recording - gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy. The finalized protocol had a
percent recovery ranging from 74% to 101%, and a reproducibility of <11%, depending on the
steroid. Detection limit standard curves were linear (0.9740<r<0.9994, depending on steroid).


title: Study of the activation of the inflammasome protein complex by Haemophilus influenzae Type a

contributor:
Ulanova, Marina
Khaper, Neelam
Leung, Kam

subject:
Haemophilus influenzae
Innate immune system
Inflammasome
Bacterial culture, inactivation and MOI

abstract:
Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) is a gram-negative bacterium capable of causing
severe invasive infection such as meningitis and is classified by the presence or absence
of polysaccharide capsule. The polysaccharide capsule is the most important virulence
factor for encapsulated strains. Hi serotype a (Hia) is an encapsulated form of Hi that is
recognized as an important emerging pathogen with incidence of invasive disease similar
to Hi serotype b (Hib) prior to the introduction of the Hib vaccination. Despite this, not
much is known about how Hia interacts with the innate immune system and how it
induces an inflammatory response. Non-typeable Hi (NTHi) (the unencapsulated form of
Hi) has recently been shown to activate the innate immune system through a multiprotein
complex known as inflammasome. As such, this study aimed to investigate if Hia
activates this innate immune complex and how this differs in encapsulated versus
unencapsulated strains and invasive versus non-invasive strains.


title: Defective cognitive inhibition in depression

subject:
Depression, Mental
Attentional inhibition

abstract:
This study examined attentional inhibition in depressed and nondepressed
individuals using a computerized negative priming task. Previous research has suggested
that defective inhibition may explain the selective attention deficits associated with
depression (Lemelin et al., 1996; Linville, 1994; MacQueen, Tipper, Young, Joffe, &
Levitt, 2000). This hypothesis was tested; in addition to testing the extent to which
defective inhibition is associated with the ruminative response styles shown to exist in
depressed individuals (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987; 1991). Two samples of participants (N =
46, N = 29) completed the negative priming task, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II;
Beck, Steer & Brown, 1996), a diagnostic interview (Structured Clinical Interview for the
DSM-IY Axis I Disorders; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, & Williams, 1996), the vocabulary
section of the Shipley Institute of Living Scale (Zachary, 1986), and the Response Style
Questionnaire (RSQ; Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987; 1991). These samples were analysed
separately, compared for differences on the dependant variables, and then pooled as one
sample. The resultant sample had 44 participants in the nondepressed group and 31
participants in the depressed group. The results failed to identify any differences between
the depressed and nondepressed group on distractor inhibition for depression-related
stimuli. Additionally, there were no negative priming effects in the overall sample.
Supplementary analyses revealed that differences existed between the depressed and
nondepressed group on the distractor portion of the negative priming task, indicating
possible interference effects. Furthermore, a self-report measure o f rumination was found
to be positively correlated with cognitive interference, while a self-report measure of
distraction was negatively correlated with cognitive interference.


title: Population genetics and phylogeography of aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum)

contributor:
Carney, Joseph
Hecnar, Stephen
Matheson, Carney

subject:
Population genetics
Phylogeography
Mitochondrial DNA
Aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum)
Glacial geography of North America

abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the population genetic and phylogeographic structure of Aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum) populations through analysis of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) region and the control region of mitochondrial DNA. Hypotheses were formed regarding genetic variation in freshwater drum, identification of regions where freshwater drum survived glaciation, and source populations and colonization routes. Primers specific to the ND2 and control regions of freshwater drum were developed and genetic analysis performed. Genetic data were analyzed to assess relationships within and between populations.


title: The negative impacts public opinion can have on wildlife management plans

subject:
Conservation
Public opinion (wildlife issues)
Spring bear hunt (Ontario)
Wildlife management
Preservation and control of habitat

abstract: Certain wildlife management plans are in place to balance overpopulated species. Years of scientific research and monitoring are done to come up with the most beneficial way of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Wildlife managers have a single goal of trying to maintain a balanced ecosystem to ensure the ecosystem is healthy. Some wildlife management plans are controversial, with annuals culls or extra hunting seasons needed to bring over-abundant populations back down to a sustainable number. This controversy is caused from strong public opinion not in favour of killing animals. In most cases, these opinions are from people that are not directly affected by the species in question or the wildlife management plan. This thesis looks at many different examples where a management plan either changed or received a lot of backlash because public opinion strongly disagreed with the wildlife management plan in place. This thesis will show the negative impacts that public opinion can have on wildlife management plans.


title: Photolysis of poly-acyl styrene polymers

subject: Polymers Styrene Photochemistry

abstract:
The following is a study of the long wave (wavelength >300 nm) photolysis
of a series of poly acyl styrenes, in particular, poly-p-acetyl-styrene (PPAS), polyp-
propionyl-styrene (PPPS), poly-o-acetyl-styrene (POAS), poly-o-proponylstyrene
(POPS).
All photoreactions are initiated from the carbonyl triplet. It is seen that in
the solid state, below Tg the main photoprocesses that take place in all systems are Norrish I cleavage and photoreduction. In addition, the ortho polymers have the
proper structure to allow for photoenolization. Gas product analysis of these ortho
polymers, in the solid state below Tg suggest evidence for ground state control.
Transient spectroscopy does indicate the presence of enol formation in these ortho
polymers. Viscosity studies on solutions showed that secondary reactions with
these polymers include competitive cross linking and chain scission. There is a
definite solvent effect observed for all of these systems and the solvent quality has
an effect on the balance of these secondary reactions. A detailed explanation of this
solvent effect is discussed.


title: Microwave interferometer for measuring dielectric properties of low-loss solids

subject: Dielectrics Interferometers

abstract:
An X-band microwave bridge-interferometer is constructed for measuring
the permittivity of solids. Using simple theory, the system is first tested
with several materials of known permittivity (e.g. ertalon, plexiglas and
teflon). It is found that the results agreed well with published data for
lossy materials only. Loss factors of very low-loss materials are irregular
rather than linear with the sample lengths as is expected. This is due
to the fact that the usual simple theory neglects internal multiple
reflections which are predominant inside low-loss materials. The problem
does not exist in lossy materials because the transmitted signal is
sufficiently dissipated through one traverse of the sample. Theoretical correction for low-loss materials is made but is found too tedious to be
used. On the other hand, multiple-reflection effects could be eliminated
if the samples are cut exactly to multiples of half-wavelengths. Samples of
arbitrary lengths have to be used first to obtain a preliminary measurement
of the real part of the permittivity which is related to the wavelength
of the sample by a simple equation. Fine adjustment of the klystron frequency is also made to ensure minimum reflections by the samples.
The precision method is then employed to study the dielectric properties
of pure polystyrene and polystyrene doped with diluted amounts (0.1~2.0%)
of polar molecules (viz. 8-Quinolinol) at various temperatures (20°-80°C).
It is anticipated that the new data obtained here will provide useful
information for the study of dielectric relaxation mechanisms in these
substances.


title: Male outdoor educators’ understandings of masculinity in practice: a North American case study

contributor:
Russell, Connie
Walton, Gerald
Greig, Chris

subject: Hegemonic masculinity (Outdoor education)

subject: Gender and masculinity

subject: Masculinity in outdoor education

abstract:
This exploratory, single embedded case study examined male outdoor educators’ understandings
of masculinity in the field and how such notions impact their practices. Data were collected via
interviews (n = 18), observations of outdoor leaders’ practice (n = 8), and artifactual data
provided by participants’ employers. Qualitative coding and analysis techniques were employed
within a framework shaped by hegemonic masculinity theory and informed by critical feminist
theory. Findings indicate that these male outdoor leaders were expanding their skills to include
non-traditional gender practices in response to professional demands. They also indicated a
willingness to confront sexist language and behaviour of their students. However, despite many
participants’ claims of progressive gender ideals, all demonstrated stereotypical masculine
performances, essentialist beliefs, and/or blinkered viewpoints. The apparent contradiction may
reflect that nearly all participants expressed confused or vague ideas about what it means to be a
man and a perception that the culture is changing rapidly, leading some to claim that they have
been vilified. Participants’ take on gender equity also largely dovetailed with their employers’
training and resourcing. It is recommended that outdoor organizations continue to enhance their
work on gender equity and that organizations and outdoor leaders consider collective, rather than
individualistic, approaches to promoting gender equity and cultivating space for diverse gender
performances.


title: Inuit youth migration from Iqaluit to Ottawa

contributor:
Southcott, Chris
Stone, Sharon Dale
Dowsley, Martha

subject:
Inuit youth
Canada
Nunavut
Iqaluit
Rural urban migration
Migration, Internal
Emigration and immigration

abstract: With a public perception that Inuit youth are leaving the North, it is important to improve our understanding of migration in the Circumpolar North. The purpose of this pilot study is to identify, investigate and critically evaluate the different motivations behind youth migration, interpreting the problems, opportunities and effects that these trends will have on the youth, focusing primarily on movement between Iqaluit, NU and Ottawa, ON.


title: The Education Data Issues Model : using a knowledge mobilization framework to examine teachers' engagement with large scale assessment data as a means to enhance student learning

contributor:
van Barneveld, Christina
Lawson, Alex
Bartley, Tony
Klinger, Don

subject:
Educational tests and measurements
Education
Research

abstract: The purpose of this research was to examine the Education Data Issues Model (EDIM), as a useful conceptual framework through which to study teachers' engagement with large scale assessment data as a means to enhance student learning. The ED1M framework was developed by myself and was based on knowledge mobilization theory, together with educational literature on data use, it was applied to the study and was revised based on the results. Eight Grade 3 and seven Grade 6 teachers volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews regarding their perceptions and experiences using data from large scale assessment to inform teaching practice and student learning. ATLAS.ti software was used to code and analyze the transcribed audio-recorded interviews. Analysis entailed the identification of themes and patterns across the data. The results supported the EDIM as a useful conceptual framework through which to explore teachers' engagement with data as a means of enhancing student learning. Modifications were made to the EDIM which represented the data from the interviews with teachers. Two main themes became apparent in the data: the importance of time and timing as it relates to a large-scale assessment (LSA) program and the importance of the social context in which teachers used LSA data. Implications of the findings for teachers, students and testing agencies are discussed.


title: Meeting the challenge of deaf and hard of hearing students transitioning to secondary school : parent and student perspectives / by Lisa Tropea.

contributor:
Grover, Sonja
Whitley, Jess

subject: Education of deaf students.

subject: Hearing impaired children - Education (Secondary)

subject: Deaf students - Education (Secondary) - Psychological aspects

abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perspectives of parents of deaf and hard of hearing students who were ready to make the transition from elementary school to secondary school or who had recently done so. In addition, the objective was to converse with the deaf and hard of hearing students themselves and the parents in order to determine what the parents and children believed to be the benefits and potential barriers of the children's educational placements.
Qualitative research methods were used, including the use of an interview guide (Patton, 2002) and field notes. Data was collected using two separate focus groups, one group of three parents and one group of six students in grades nine or ten. All of the participants were oral deaf (hearing impaired students who could communicate orally) or hard of hearing students who
attend the same school and who have all recently made the transition to secondary school. Both groups of participants reflected upon their past and present experiences regarding class placement, transition and learning in an inclusive environment. Data collection took place in a large urban centre in Northwestern Ontario. Throughout the research process, data analysis was continuous. Findings disclosed that students with hearing loss and their parents have similar concerns regarding inclusion, class placement and the transition of deaf and hard of hearing students from elementary to secondary school.


title: The Root dynamics of mixed and single species stands in the boreal forest of central and eastern Canada

subject:
Trees
Roots
Canada
Forest biomass
Boreal forest
Coarse root biomass

abstract: I examined trends of fine root biomass and necromass in different mixed- and single-species stands within the central and eastern regions of the North American boreal forest to determine how annual fine root production, mortality, and decomposition and seasonal patterns of fine root biomass, necromass, and spatial heterogeneity within the soil profile vary with stand species composition. I conducted root excavations in the central region of the North American boreal forest of mature trees of Abies balsamea L., Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP, Pinus banksiana Lamb., and Populus tremuloides Michx. to develop allometric equations relating stem diameter at breast-height and height to coarse root biomass. In the first fine root study, annual fine root production and total fine root biomass in July and October were higher in stands of P. tremuloides, P. mariana, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, and A. balsamea (mixed-species stands) than relatively pure stands of P. tremuloides (single-species stands). Furthermore, the mixed-species stands had lower horizontal and higher vertical fine root biomass heterogeneity, respectively, compared to the single-species stands. In the second fine root study, annual fine root production and total fine root biomass for most sampling dates (May to October) were higher in both mixed-species stand types (stands of P. banksiana, P. mariana, P. glauca, and A. balsamea (mixed conifer stands) and stands of P. banksiana and P. tremuloides (mixedwood stands)) than the single-species stands (relatively pure stands of P. banksiana (conifer stands)). Furthermore, horizontal fine root biomass heterogeneity was lower in the mixed- than single-species stands in July, August, and September, but similar among the three stand types for the other sampling dates. By contrast, vertical fine root biomass heterogeneity was higher in the mixed conifer than conifer stands from June to September, whereas mixedwood stands differed significantly from conifer stands for only a single sampling date. There were distinct temporal trends of fine root biomass, necromass, and spatial biomass heterogeneity in the second fine root study. Total fine root biomass followed an inverse U-shaped pattern with sampling date (i.e., highest in the summer and lower in spring and fall), while total fine root necromass followed a U-shaped pattern (i.e., lowest in the summer and higher in spring and fall) in all three stand types, respectively. In the two mixed,species stand types, horizontal fine root biomass heterogeneity followed a U-shaped trend with sampling date, while vertical fine root biomass heterogeneity had an inverse U-shaped trend in mixed conifer stands and a U-shaped trend in mixedwood stands, respectively. However, neither horizontal nor vertical fine root biomass heterogeneity differed with sampling date in the conifer stands. The findings of both fine root studies support the theory that the differences in crown structures and rooting traits between component species in the mixed-species and mixed conifer stands in the first and second fine root studies, respectively (niche differentiation), versus increased nutrient availability resulting from the P. tremuloides leaf litter in the mixedwood stands in the second fine root study (facilitation), were promoting greater soil space filling of fine root biomas and fine root productivity in the mixed- than single-species stands for both studies. All regressions for coarse root biomass using diameter at breast-height (DBH) or height alone, or both DBH and height as predictors were significant. The DBH - coarse root biomass models had higher R2 values than the height - coarse root biomass models for all four species, indicating that DBH was a better predictor for coarse root biomass than height. Furthermore, the DBH-height - coarse root biomass models did not have higher R 2 values than the DBH - coarse root biomass models. All but one DBH - coarse root biomass model from the published literature with similar DBH range underestimated or overestimated coarse root biomass using the data from this study. Coarse root biomass allometric equations, therefore, are probably site-specific as above- and below-ground biomass allocation differs with site condition.


title: Examining the impact of a short-term mindfulness intervention on resilience and symptoms of psychological distress in a first-year university classroom

contributor:
Pearson, Erin
Gotwals, John
Mushquash, Aislin
Sinden, Kathryn

subject: Mental health

subject: Psychological distress

subject: Depressive symptoms and university students

subject: Mindfulness

subject: Mindfulness intervention

subject: Mental health among students

abstract: Background: The high prevalence of poor mental health has become a serious concern in today’s global society. One adverse form of mental health is psychological distress which involves anxiety, depression, and/or stress related symptoms. University students have reported that their daily lives are significantly impacted by psychological distress and have attributed that distress to university and the associated lifestyle. In response to this issue, resilience is being researched increasingly with promising results as a method for decreasing symptoms of psychological distress in university students. Students with high resilience are better suited to handle academic demands when compared to their less resilient counterparts as university is a time of transition and can be especially challenging during the first-year. The university student age group, 18-24 years, is considered a transitional stage in development as students are moving from the end of adolescence into early adulthood. As a result, this time period can be accompanied by high levels of psychological distress due to the many changes associated with beginning university. A number of intervention strategies have been used to reduce symptoms of psychological distress in university students; however, they are often lengthy and require a substantial time commitment from participants. One strategy that can be integrated regularly throughout the day and adapted to personal schedules and commitments is mindfulness. Used increasingly in recent years to enhance resilience and reduce psychological distress, mindfulness involves being intentionally aware of what is happening in the present, not making judgements about the experience, and paying attention to the moment. By using mindfulness strategies to increase resilience, students may become more competent in managing the varying and complex demands associated with university life, and experience decreases in symptoms of psychological distress. While a growing body of mindfulness-focused intervention studies aimed at enhancing resilience and reducing psychological distress exist, they are typically eight weeks in length, which often leads to high attrition and low adherence to practice. A need for the development and implementation of mindfulness-based interventions that are shorter in duration in non-clinical settings exists. Additionally, most mindfulness interventions use a quantitative research design. No studies to date have used a mixed methods research design to examine the effects of short-term mindfulness interventions on resilience and symptoms of psychological in a first-year classroom setting, delivered in collaboration with a Canadian university’s health and wellness centre.


title: Assessment of hydrological drought in Northern Ontario using standardized streamflow index

subject:
Hydrological drought
Standardized Streamflow Index
Drought assessments

abstract:
Momentum is gaining for the use of a Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) for the assessment
of  hydrological  drought,  which  is  an  extension  of  the  well-established  and  popularly  used
meteorological drought index, Standardized Precipitation Index (McKee et al, (1993). Drought
characterization  using  SSI  consists  of  various  data  treatments  to  transform  streamflow  data  to
standard normal Z-score values, where the mean is zero and the standard deviation is one. The
underlying  assumption  when  using  Z-score  in  early  warning  systems  and  drought  monitoring
programs is that the scores associated probabilities may be represented by the normal (Gaussian)
distribution. Applying data treatments that fail to achieve the conditions of normal distribution
results  inaccurate  SSI  drought  assessments.  There  is  an  opportunity  in  Northern  Ontario  to
conduct  SSI  drought  assessments  in  early  warning  systems  and  drought  monitoring  programs
using  the  abundance  of  long  and continuous streamflow records; however, widespread
applications  would  only  be  achieved  if  the  resulting  assessments  are  accurate,  equitably  and
reliable. The data treatments investigated in the thesis include: Untreated and treated (i.e., Log
Normal Transformation, and the Fitted Gamma Distribution).
Monthly  assessments  for  a  total  of  40  rivers  from  across  Northern  Ontario  with  an
average  record  length  of  ≈ 45 years were utilized in the analysis. Historical droughts sample
periods 1976/77 and 1998 were used  in  evaluations  as  they  were  determined  to  pertain  to  the
well-defined  regional  drought  events  with  confirmation  of  historically  significant  impacts  in
addition to containing seasonal  influences. The Log Normal Transformation followed by the
Fitted Gamma Distribution exhibited the most consistency in not rejecting normality assumption
of the data set when using the Shapiro Wilks and the Anderson Darling tests. These tests also
show the best performance of the Fitted Gamma Distribution for the winter season (November to
May) and of the Log Normal  Transformation  for  the  summer  season  (June  to  October).  Using
these two data treatments for the respective seasons permitted the assumption of normality to be
rejected 15.7% of the time. The use of best performing data treatments and removal of data for
the month of March further reduced the assumption of normality being rejected only 12.0% of
the time. In evaluating the frequency of occurrence for the severe and extreme Z-score values (-
1.64 and -2.33), the Fitted Gamma Distribution followed by the Log Normal Transformation
demonstrated the most acceptable scoring distribution. Untreated data performed less efficiently.
All data treatments underperformed for the expected frequency at the extreme Z-score of -2.33
(i.e., the extreme drought).
The  threshold  level  Q80  was  determined  to  be  the  most  appropriate  trigger  of  monthly
assessments  for  Northern  Ontario  because  it  was  found  to  equitably  delineate  severe  regional
drought perceived by the respectively impacted sectors. The threshold level Q80 represents these
sectors demands by identifying the point where streamflows are exceeded 80% of time. Since it
is representative of the impacted sectors; it is used to assess the performance of SSI. Significant
differences  were  recorded  when  comparing  Q80  to  the  typical  moderate  drought  classification
with a Z-score equal to - 1. Untreated data tacitly refers to the assumption of the normal distribution of
the monthly flows and correspondingly of SSI values. Thus, the analysis based on the assumption of the
normality of the monthly SSI data turned out to be less reliable. All the data treatments underperformed
for  the  expected  frequency  at  extreme  Z-score  of  -2.33.  However,  when  applying  Q80  to  the
theoretical  equivalent  Z-Score  of  -  0.84;  identical  results  were  achieved  76%  and  66%  of  the
time, respectively for the Log Normal Transformation and the Fitted Gamma Distribution. For
the case of Q80, the average difference for the drought initiation, termination, and duration were found to range approximately 1.3 months with the Log Normal Distribution to 3.0 months for the
lesser performing data treatments, such as the Untreated data.


title: Factors determining the success of common loon (Gavia immer) nest platforms along the Aguasabon River, Ontario

subject:
Forest resource inventory
Hays Lake
Long Lake
Water levels

abstract:
When the Ministry of Mines, Northern Development, Natural Resources, and
Forestry in Nipigon, Ontario realized that loon nests in lakes surrounding the Aguasabon
River were being flooded, they built and placed multiple nesting platforms in Hays
Lake, Long Lake, and Aguasabon Lake. The six platforms on Long Lake were
monitored annually utilizing two boat surveys, one in June, and one approximately two
weeks later in July. Loon sightings were recorded using a handheld GPS unit. Using
ArcGIS Pro, I analyzed the area surrounding each recorded waypoint to the Ontario
Forest Resource Inventory data surrounding the lake. Land classification (MNRCODE)
attribute in FRI, stand tree height, tree species, and area were considered. The analysis
determined that loons most commonly nest when water level reaches a stable point
within the month of May. Loons are most likely to be sighted in areas surrounded by
productive forest dominated by black spruce, poplar, and balsam fir trees. The lack of
success observed on the installed platforms is largely based on poor placement and
anchoring. Additionally, it is suggested that platforms be placed in areas where loon
chicks have not previously been sighted, as loons may be struggling to find suitable
nesting habitat within their territory.


title: Habitat composition and spatial response of white-tailed deer to forestry treatments in moose range, Grand Portage Indian Reservation, Minnesota

subject: Brainworm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis D.)

subject: Forest management

subject: Wildlife management

subject: Moose Populations in Minnesota

subject: Habitat composition (deer and moose)

abstract: Moose (Alces alces L.) have long been an important subsistence species are of great cultural value to the Ojibwe peoples. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Z.) have been implicated in negatively impacting ecosystems as distribution shifts northward with changes in climate and land cover. In response, moose populations have shown declines due to transmission of brainworm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis D.) where ranges overlap spatially with deer. Brainworm was identified as a primary factor in moose mortalities in the Grand Portage Indian Reservation of northeastern Minnesota. Spatial data was collected over a nine-year period from GPS collared moose and deer captured within the reservation. Home and seasonal ranges were delineated from GPS locations using kernel density estimation (KDE). Outputs were evaluated in ArcMap to determine spatial and temporal overlap, habitat composition of moose relative to deer, and responses to forest harvest and silvicultural treatments. Hypotheses tested include 1) white-tailed deer habitats are different from those of moose, 2) deer range overlaps significantly with moose range during the summer months, 3) forest management treatments aimed at benefitting moose, do not encourage deer use, while 4) forest management treatments made in deer range are utilized by deer. Results for deer show larger ranges and seasonal movements, unlike moose. Deer habitat use differs from that of moose with the exception of cover types that are limiting or support browse communities that are used similarly by both species. Both moose and deer utilize all forestry treatments showing the same order of intensity in use, with the exception of Prescribed Fire treatments that are concentrated in core deer range and rarely visited by moose because they are not in moose range.


title: Lignin modification to produce hydrophobic products

contributor:
Fatehi, Pedram
Liao, Baoqiang
Kinrade, Stephen

subject:
Kraft lignin
Lignosulfonate properties

abstract: Kraft lignin is not widely utilized for industrial applications. In this MSc work, kraft lignin was modified by grafting hydrophobic groups to produce hydrophobic materials. The main objective was to study the grafting of lipophilic long alkyl chains on kraft lignin to improve its hydrophobicity. Dodecyl glycidyl ether was grafted at various molar ratios on kraft lignin in the presence of dimethyl benzyl amine catalyst. The influence of the grafting ratio of long alkyl chain to kraft lignin and methylated kraft lignin was comprehensively studied. The effect of grafting on the structure and thermal properties of lignin was investigated. The modified kraft lignin based products were characterised using a variety of methods including NMR, FTIR, TGA, DSC, GPC and elemental analysis, all of which demonstrated remarkable changes in the chemical and physical structure of kraft lignin after modification. The results showed that by increasing the grafting ratio, an increasing fraction of the phenolic hydroxy groups of lignin reacted with dodecyl glycidyl ether. Moreover, alterations in the surface tension of solvents and water containing modified kraft lignin as well as on the wettability of surfaces coated with modified kraft lignin were studied in detail.


title: Abstract model for measure and category

subject:
Measure theory
Topology

abstract:
This thesis is an attempt to establish an abstract model
for Lebesgue measure and Baire category.
In the introduction, we list several similarities between
Lebesgue measurable sets and sets having the property of Baire.
Then we abstract these similarities and use them as axioms.
In Chapter I, we introduce a generalized model and prove
some results that are well-known both in measure and category.
In Chapter II, we define kernels and covers. After proving
their existence for any set, we proceed to find some interesting
results.
It is very natural to consider the quotient algebra if
we have an algebra containing a proper ideal. Hence Chapter III
inevitably comes into the scene.
In Chapter IV we introduce analytic sets through A-operations.
This approach enables us to prove that every analytic set
belongs to our model.
In Chapter V we consider the local properties of sets
and prove some interesting results.
Chapter VI is taken from the work of J. C. Morgan II.
We include his work here for the completeness of the thesis. Also,
as we will see, it gives us a new insight into "negligible sets".
We conclude the thesis by setting up a list of questions
which, we think, are rather challenging.


title: Critical pedagogy as praxis / Mary Breunig. --

contributor:
Russell, Connie
Chambers, Lori
Lawson, Alex
Novak, John

subject:
Critical pedagogy
Education - Philosophy
Educational sociology

abstract:
While there is a body o f literature that considers the theory of critical pedagogy, there is significantly less literature that specifically addresses the ways in which professors attempt to apply this theory in practice. Indeed, some o f the best writings of critical theorists offer little in
reference to strategies that teachers might use in practice. Furthermore, many of these writings provide too little explication of what attempts are made within these educators’ own classrooms to implement the critical pedagogy that they espouse. My study was designed to address this gap.
I explored the successes and challenges that critical pedagogues encounter as they endeavour to turn the theories of critical pedagogy into post-secondary classroom practices in 17 interviews and one focus group session with self-identified critical pedagogues from the Critical Educators
for Social Justice Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association. I employed an Appreciative Inquiry framework as a means to examine several key objectives, including: 1) what are some of the ways in which professors who espouse critical pedagogy practice it within the classroom?; 2) what are some of the successes that critical pedagogues experience as they engage in forms of critical classroom praxis?; and 3) what are some of the challenges to engaging in the praxis of critical pedagogy within the post-secondary classroom?
The key findings from my study include: 1) Some of the “easy” claims related to purposes of critical pedagogy need to be troubled; 2) There exists a need for ongoing articulation of  “critical classroom practices” and how to implement these within the post-secondary classroom despite some of the challenges; 3) Some of the specific claims regarding participants’ success with critical praxis require further critical interrogation; 4) Approaches to research about/in/for critical pedagogy need to be troubled and complicated; and 5) Some of the critical questions that have arisen as a result of this study can serve to inform future studies.


title: Production of regional single-entry volume tables and development of raw wood product mix model for Ontario

subject:
Forests and forestry mensuration
Forestry mensuration computer programs
Single-entry volume equations
Height-diameter functions
Stem profile equations
Wood product mixes

abstract:
Regional single-entry volume equations for northern
Ontario were derived based on the standard volume equations
by Honer et al.  A site stratification methodology was
employed to derive localized regional height-diameter
equations. Using this method, the variation of height
prediction for a given species within a region was greatly
reduced. Thus, site specific equations were derived for each
species.
For stand data lacking tree height information, the
exponential function: Height = b1 x exp (b2/Dbh) proved best for
height prediction. This model was used to substitute height
in standard volume equations. In addition to the total volume
and gross merchantable volume based on top diameter and stump
height, the net merchantable volume based on age was also
derived.
Stem profile equations were also fitted and used to
model wood product mixes. The results showed that Max and
Burkhart's model was the most accurate and precise model in
predicting top diameters and section heights along the bole,
while the model by Demaerschalk performed better for volume
prediction. These stem profile equations demonstrated maximum
flexibility in dealing with the wood product mixes. By
combining the stem profile models and the single-entry volume
equations, a modelling system was developed to estimate wood
product mixes for stands based on dbh distributions. The wood
product mix model developed can be used at both the tree
level and stand level. A Fortran program was written to
facilitate the calculations for modelling the combinations of
wood product mixes at the stand level.


title: Violence and masculinity in Hollywood war films during World War II

subject:
Hollywood war films
Film violence
Film masculinity

abstract:
During World War II, the Hollywood studios produced an unprecedented number of war-themed films in order to help prepare American audiences for what was to come, as well as to profit from the popularity of anything pertaining to the war. As a result, soldiers were the predominant representation of masculinity from 1942 to 1945. The war's biggest influence on Hollywood, however, was the increasing freedom studios were given to portray violence onscreen in order to reflect the bloodshed of the war itself. Using the existing literature about Hollywood during the war, as well as primary sources from the period, this thesis examines the impact that the war had on violence in film with a focus on how Hollywood influenced the portrayal of masculinity through combat films. In order to illustrate how violence changed during the war years I begin my thesis by establishing the state of film censorship prior to the war. I make use of the gangster films as they were the most violent films produced during the 1930's and led directly to the censorship of film violence. The majority of my thesis focuses on film violence between 1942 and 1945, arguing that the war dramatically influenced censorship in the United States, and also that Hollywood helped to redefine masculinity through the combat films.
I finish my thesis with an examination of films released between 1946 and 1950 that prove film violence continued after the war had ended and in genres other than the combat films.


title: Relation between loneliness and behavioural disclosure : potential mediators and moderators

contributor:
Rotenberg, Ken
Mazmanian, Dwight

subject:
Loneliness
Loneliness Testing

abstract:
The purpose of the research was to examine the relation between loneliness and
behavioural disclosure, gender differences in the relation, as well as the potential
mediators of that relation (i.e., norm violation, trust, and rejection sensitivity).
Participants were 136 undergraduates enrolled in Introductory Psychology (68 dyads
including both same-sex and opposite-sex pairs), who were engaged in dyadic
conversations in a laboratory. Participants selected 6 topics each from a list of topics
varying in level of intimacy, and disclosed to their partner for 2 minutes per topic.
Intimacy levels of disclosure were rated. Following the interaction, the students were
administered the UCLA Loneliness Scale, an emotional trust scale (Johnson George &
Swap, 1982), a generalized trust scale (Rotter, 1967), and the Rejection Sensitivity Scale
(Feldman & Downey, 1994). As expected there were gender differences in behavioural
disclosure, in which females provided more intimate disclosures than did males. The
relation between loneliness and disclosure was also found to be stronger in females.
Furthermore, there was evidence to indicate that dyadic effects in disclosure were present.
The findings yielded by Solano et al. (1982) were replicated in the current study but only
partly. Loneliness was positively correlated with the intimacy of disclosure during the
first exchange, but that was not qualified by gender of partner. Also, loneliness was
negatively correlated with disclosure during the course of the conversations both at the
individual and dyadic level (the first speaker only). As anticipated, loneliness was
negatively correlated with the measures of trust and positively correlated with rejection
sensitivity, but neither of them were, however, correlated with behavioural disclosure.
Thus, neither trust nor rejection sensitivity were found to mediate the lonelinessdisclosure
relation. The fîndings also indicated that the lonely individuals’ norm violated
disclosure during the first exchange was not a mediator of the loneliness-disclosure
relation. The potential for other factors to serve as mediators was discussed.


title: Emotion recognition and empathy after brain injury

subject:
Brain damage Psychological aspects
Emotions
Brain Wounds and injuries

abstract: Study participants: 20 brain-injured individuals from Brain Injury Services of Northern Ontario (Control group: Lakehead University psychology undergrads.)  Tests administered: Victoria Emotion Recognition Test (VERT), Hogan's Empathy Scale (EM), and, the Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy (QMEE).

abstract:
Impairments of social behavior after cerebral damage are common. Studies suggest that in
some brain-injured individuals the fundamental mechanisms underlying emotion recognition
(Braun, Denault, Cohen & Rouleau, 1994; Jackson & Moffat, 1987) and empathy (Eslinger,
1998; Grattan, Bloomer, Archambault & Eslinger, 1994) are disturbed. To our knowledge,
there has been no published research on the interaction between emotion recognition and
empathy in brain-injured groups. The present study investigated how impairment in the
ability to recognize visual and verbal emotion covaries with the ability to empathize
(cognitively and emotionally). Specifically, it was hypothesized that poor ability to recognize
emotion would positively correlate with socially inadequate forms of empathy. A group of
individuals with brain injury and a normal control group were administered the Victoria
Emotion Recognition Test (VERT), Hogan’s Empathy Scale (EM) and the Questionnaire
Measure of Emotional Empathy (QMEE). Results indicate that overall, individuals with
brain injury had lower scores on all subscales of the VERT as well as on the EM. No
differences were found between groups on the QMEE. The scores for both groups were
found to correlate positively between the EM and VERT as well as between the EM and
QMEE.


title: Behavioural analysis of meadow jumping mice; Zapus Hudsonius

subject: Behavioural syndrome temperament

subject: Zapus hudsonius (behaviour)

subject: Quantifying behaviour through open field tests

abstract: Temperament studies of animals can provide unique insight on how behaviour, genetics and environmental factors interact to influence the evolution and dynamics of populations. This, in turn, can be used to predict how individuals may respond in a variety of situations such as manipulations to habitat and resources, as well as increased predation risks, all of which are likely to be modified by future climate change. This thesis explored the behaviours of meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius) from a sample of animals captured in Northwestern Ontario. The data were collected using open-field tests that quantified-sniffing, scanning, walking, running, rearing, jumping, grooming, stillness and inspecting objects within the arena. A single Principal Component described a cline of behaviour ranging from motionless ‘frightful’ animals at one end to highly active and agitated individuals at the other. The interpretation is consistent with the description of anti-predator adaptations used by jumping mice.


title: Macrophyte Community Dynamics in Lake Simcoe’s Fringe Wetlands: Potential use as Biological Indicators of Water Quality

contributor:
Kanavillil, Nandakumar
Kurissery, Sreekumari
Lee, Peter

subject:
Water quality
Wetlands an natural areas
Lake Simcoe watershed
Anthropogenic activities
Macrophytes

abstract:
Indices have been developed using macrophytes and water quality parameters to detect
the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes, but such an index
does not currently exist for Lake Simcoe. As wetland macrophytes are influenced by water quality,
any impairment in wetland quality should be reflected by taxonomic composition, biomass and
dynamics of the macrophyte community. This study investigates the potential use of macrophytes as a
tool for monitoring water quality by examining the dynamics (species richness, density, diversity,
and above-ground biomass) in emergent macrophyte communities in fringe wetlands around Lake Simcoe
exposed to contrasting degrees of disturbance.
Macrophytes and limnologic data were collected from six wetlands over four seasons from 2013 –
2014. The macrophytes were identified to species and limnologic data was quantified to reflect the
water quality, which was measured as a proxy for site disturbance.
Wetlands in this study correspond to a wide range of environmental conditions, ranging from very
clear and nutrient poor oligotrophic conditions (e.g., TP =11.25 µg/L, TN = 345.25 µg/L, CHL a
=1.37 mg·m-3) to turbid and eutrophic wetlands (e.g., TP = 47.25 µg/L, TN = 2285 µg/L, CHL a = 3.26
mg·m-3. Overall, the limnologic parameters indicated that water quality reflected the degree of
anthropogenic degradation influencing the wetland. Taxonomic composition and population dynamics
reflected the water quality. The least disturbed site was dominated by native Scirpus acutus and
Scirpus pungens, which are mostly intolerant of environmental degradation, as well as the
cosmopolitan Sparganium eurycarpum, found in all sites and tolerant of many different conditions.
The moderately disturbed sites were dominated by both intolerant
and tolerant species, including Scirpus acutus, Leersia oryzoides, Eleocharis smallii, Typha x
glauca, Typha angustifolia, and Sparganium eurycarpum. The highly disturbed sites were also
dominated by Sparganium eurycarpum, and species that are considered to be invasive, aggressive,
and/or very tolerant of degradation, including Typha x glauca, Typha angustifolia, Phragmites
australis, and Calamagrostis canadensis. These species are indicator species of wetland integrity
and their relationship with the limnologic parameters as determined by ordination demonstrated
responses that were consistent with the literature. Thus this study validates that macrophytes
could be used as an indicator of water quality changes in this study
area.