title: Development and evaluation of inductive and deductive models of elk (Cervus elaphus) summer resource suitability in Northwestern Ontario

subject: Elk (Summering, Ontario, Northwestern)

subject: Red deer (Summering, Ontario, Northwestern)

subject: Elk habitat suitability index models (Ontario, Northwestern)

subject: Elk restoration in Ontario

abstract:
Resource-selection modelling techniques take either a deductive or inductive approach.
Deductive methods take a “bottom-up” approach, where individual wildlife-resource
relationships are the building blocks that define the suitability of a landscape.
Conversely, inductive models imply a “top-down approach”; the suitability of a
landscape is predefined by animal use, and statistics are used to identify wildlife-resource
relationships. Current modelling caters towards the inductive approach even though a
formal comparison between inductive and deductive techniques has yet to identify the
superior method.
The Ontario Elk Restoration Project re-introduced 104 elk (Cervus elaphus) to the Lake
of the Woods (LOW) region in 2000 and 2001. The population diminished substantially
over the following four years bringing concern to the successful re-establishment of elk
in northwestern Ontario. At present, explanations for this decline are speculative in
nature, but one possibility is that the landscape does not contain the resources required to
support a viable population. To address this concern, I investigated the ability of the
landscape to support elk by creating a series of deductive (Habitat Suitability Index; HSI)
models for the summer season based on published elk-resource relationships. I also
created an inductive (Resource Utilization Function; RUE) model based on radiotelemetry
location data collected weekly throughout 2000-2005 in an effort to improve
upon the initial deductive model. Finally, I compared the two modelling approaches to
address the growing disparity between modelling methods. Models were validated by comparing model suitability to elk resource use using weighted overlap (WO) and
average overlap (AO) indices, and by comparing model suitability to elk space use
(utilization distributions; UDs) using the deviation from a ‘no selection’ pattern (DVI
Index); a modification of the Volume of Intersection (VI) Index. Comparison to a null
model was also used to benchmark each index. I also calculated the VI Index between
the predicted suitability’s of RUF and HSI models to compare their overall similarity.


title: Simulation-based modelling of the unpaved road deterioration and maintenance program in heavy construction and mining sectors

subject: Vehicle operating costs in earthmoving operations

subject: Road maintenance management strategy (construction & mining sectors)

subject: Heavy civil engineering

subject: Reduction of operating costs (heavy engineering)

abstract: Saving cost is a significant factor in the successful operation of heavy civil engineering, such as highway and dam construction, and mining projects, which can be achieved through the reduction of operating costs in large projects. In particular, earthmoving operations form a large portion of these projects, and some of the main components of the earthmoving operating cost are fuel, parts, and tires costs, which directly depend on the quality of the unpaved access roads in the field. This study aims at developing a simulation-based model which dynamically estimates the Roughness Defect Score (RDS) of the road (performance of the road condition) as the traffic increases and provides an optimal maintenance management program based on the affected cost factors using Simphony.Net modelling environment. Simhony.Net is a useful tool for the simulation because it provides an overview of the system’s performance in cyclic and long-term operations. This model uses a stochastic approach to calculate the road resistance and the frequency of maintenance, by considering the variations in nondeterministic variables, such as speed and hauled loads. Also, a Markov model-based algorithm is being incorporated in the system to provide more realistic modelling of the road deterioration over time. Markov modelling involves discrete-event transitions, which model’s road deterioration from a state to another state over time. Comparison of these three modelling methods (deterministic, stochastic- Monte Carlo and Stochastic- Markov chain modelling) is demonstrated in this study. Constant values were used for the deterministic modelling, probability distributions were used for the Monte Carlo Simulation, and transition matrices were used for the Markov chain modelling. Based on the results, the stochastic modelling was able to provide reliable vehicle operating cost (VOC), optimum frequency of maintenance, and road deterioration for ongoing or future cases.


title: Zooplankton community dynamics in the Trent Seven Waterway along Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching

contributor:
Kanavillil, Nandakumar
Kurissery, Sreekumari
Lee, Peter

subject:
Zooplankton
Aquatic ecosystems
Cladocerans
Copepods
Rotifers
Biotic & abiotic influences
Water quality

abstract:
The Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) is a 386km channel that connects Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay. There is a lack of information on the water quality in the nearshore region of the TSW specifically in regards to the planktonic communities. Zooplankton are key components of aquatic ecosystems since they graze on phytoplankton and are preyed upon by planktivorous fish. Therefore, changes to their community will have significant impacts to lower and upper trophic levels. The main objectives of this research are to (i) provide baseline data on zooplankton community dynamics in the nearshore region of the TSW; and (ii) determine if zooplankton can effectively be used as water quality indicators in this area.
Plankton and limnologic data sampling occurred at eight nearshore sites in Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching along the TSW over ten months from 2015-2016. A deepwater transect in Lake Couchiching was sampled over three seasons at varying depths. Environmental variables were collected to indicate water quality and included temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, pH, conductivity, total suspended load and nutrients (nitrate and total phosphorous). This study demonstrated that nearshore regions of the TSW exhibit a range of environmental conditions, varying from mesotrophic (N = 25.12 μg/L, TP = 10.83 μg/L, CHL a = 1.58 mg/m3) to mesoeutrophic conditions (N = 78.92 μg/L, TP = 31.31 μg/L, CHL a = 13.29 mg/m3).
Additionally, zooplankton community composition exhibited significant variation spatially and temporally and water quality reflected the degree of anthropogenic disturbance. The highly disturbed sites (TR, LC, MB, PO) experienced higher nutrient concentrations, conductivity, zooplankton biomass and density with lower dissolved oxygen concentrations characteristic of degraded water quality. Zooplankton density ranged from 1.11x107 – 1.43 x108/L among all sites. Biomass varied from 26.09 – 221.16 μg/L with richness varying from 6.2 – 9.4. Diversity did not differ substantially (1.23 – 1.69). RDA found some species level response to environmental variables although multiple regression explained more variance in the data. High abundance of Bosmina longirostris in highly disturbed sites indicates more eutrophic conditions which supports other research. Long term monitoring of zooplankton can provide baseline data that localized effects from specific anthropogenic stressors can be compared.


title: Permissioned blockchains for real world applications

subject:
Blockchain technology
Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin
Crypto tokens

abstract:
Blockchain technology, even though relatively new, has evolved rapidly in the past 12 years.
Bitcoin’s underlying technology - the first blockchain - was a public, permissionless, and
completely decentralized network that enabled transactions of a cryptocurrency between trustless
parties without the need of a trusted intermediary. Blockchain, as a technology, has evolved and
expanded far beyond these parameters. It has come so far from its starting point that recent
research has developed blockchain platforms that facilitate consortium networks that are private,
permissioned and consists of a governance model. Still this technology falls under the same
umbrella of “blockchain” or as more people in the field now address it using the broader term -
Distributed Ledger Technology. This thesis follows the evolution of the technology from
cryptocurrencies to Turing-completeness to consortium networks and beyond. The research takes
a look at some real-world use-cases that can be solved with blockchain systems. A distributed
network model is proposed that utilizes cryptotokens to create a micro-economy within an
educational institution and also facilitate seamless international transfer of money for the
convenience of International students in these institutions. The model interconnects and utilizes
the features of two modern blockchain platforms. The thesis also presents the partial draft of a
private blockchain ledger, developed for the convenience of the Canada Revenue Agency to
monitor sales and tax transactions in order to reduce the current GST/HST tax gap of Canada.


title: Present and future focal point seed zones for jack pine in Northwestern region of Ontario

subject: Jack pine Ontario, Northwestern Geographical distribution

subject: Jack pine Genetics Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Jack pine Seeds Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Focal point seed zone

abstract:
Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) is among the most widespread and most ecologically
and economically important species for planting and direct seeding in the Lake States
and throughout much of the boreal forest of Canada. Focal point seed zones for
northwestern Ontario jack pine were previously developed in the 1990’s but are in need
of revaluation and refinement based upon recent growth and mortality measurements
and more current climate models. Updated focal point seed zones created for both
present and predicted future climate conditions will provide forest managers with seed
transfer guidelines that avoid maladaptation between seed sources and planting sites
under a range of current and future climate conditions.
To update the existing focal point seed zones and develop future focal point seed zones
of jack pine in northwestern Ontario, the newest version o f the climate model OCM2
(1961-1990) was used to update the existing focal point seed zones, while four separate
climate change models (CGCM1, CGCM2, HADCM3, CSIRO) were used to develop
future focal point seed zones based on predicted future climate conditions. Data obtained
from a freezing trial conducted by Davradou (1992), as well as data for additional
growth and survival variables collected in recent years (1997, 2003 and 2004) were
incorporated when compared with the previous focal point seed zone studies of jack pine
in northcentral Ontario and northwestern regions of Ontario.
In total 23 and 47 biological variables including growth, phenological and freezing
variables were determined for each seed source in these two study areas. Principal
components analysis (PCA) was used to summarize the main components of variation
patterns. The first two PC axes represented growth potential and phenology, respectively,
for these two study areas. PCA axis factor scores for seed sources were regressed against
current climatic variables. The significant regression equations were used to model the
patterns of adaptive variation. Present and future focal point seed zones were produced
through intersecting the two contour maps by GIS. Future focal point seed zones include
where seed should go from a given location to best suit future climate conditions (Seed
To) and where seed should come from now to be best adapted in the future to its planting
location (Seed From).
Under these different predicted future climate models, by the middle of this century,
seeds will transfer to the north or northeast to match the future climate conditions and
seeds should come from areas lying to the south or southeast of the planting location to
be best adapted to the future site. By the end of this century, the northward or northeastward
shift gradually slows and seed zones will move back under some climate scenarios.


title: The relationship of behavioral responses to selected swimming performance classifications

subject:
Swimming
Personality tests

abstract:
This study investigated relationships between behavioral responses on the Psychological Inventories for Competitive Swimmers to selected performance classifications
at the 1977 Canadian Winter National Swimming Championships. The responses of 1976 male and female swimmers, aged 12 to 26 were obtained. At the conclusion of competition the responses were divided into four groups representing social behaviors, attitudinal behaviors, activity behaviors and motivational events.


title: Content analysis of Men's Health magazine : masculinity and health

subject:
Men Health and hygiene
Masculinity in popular culture

abstract: "Launched in 1987 as a health-oriented service magazine by founding editor Mark Bricklin, Men's Health has evolved into a lifestyle magazine for men, covering areas such as health, fitness, nutrition, relationships, travel, technology, fashion and finance."--Wikipedia, Nov.5, 2010.

abstract:
How men's health has become an individual project in early 21st century Western society
is an area that needs more research. My research looks at analyzing constructions of masculinity
in popular media, specifically in Men's Health, a men’s magazine. Issues I examine include body
ideals and discourses of men’s health in the social context, including a look at how neo-liberal
discourses of individualism impact on the construction of male identities. In the following
section, I introduce some of the concepts, theorists, and writings that I will be working with.
These materials are necessary for examining men’s health as an individual project, particularly
how ideologies of hegemonic masculinity are reproduced in Men's Health, the magazine that my
research project examines.
Since the 1980s, decreasing dependence on social institutions by making people
responsible for their own health became central to the neo-liberal ideologies that shape many of
the policies today that impact on health. Kerry Chamberlain (2004) writes: “With the rise of neoliberalism,
the creation of the health consumer and the promotion of personal responsibility for
health have characterized contemporary health concerns” (p. 471). Health has increasingly
become an individual consumer issue, not a social welfare issue. Neo-liberal ideologies affect
many aspects of everyday life for neo-liberalism is not just reduced to economics. Henri Giroux,
one of many contemporary scholars looking at the effects of neo-liberalism on people’s everyday
lives, states: “Neo-liberalism is not simply an economic policy designed to cut government
spending, pursue free trade policies, and free market forces from government regulations: it is
also a political philosophy and ideology that affects every dimension of social life” (2004, p.52).
The media plays an active role in constructing this trend towards individualism and
people taking personal responsibility for their health. Also, the media has become an increasingly important source of health information for consumers, who are encouraged to seek
out new information and choices. As an example, 56 percent of adults listed magazines as a key
source of gaining information about healthy eating (Goode et al., 1995, p.7). Magazines and
other media, through the discourses of science, health, beauty and morality that are encoded in
them, appeal to and position the consumer in potentially multiple ways (Madden & Chamberlain,
2004), and reader/consumers are encouraged to individualize and be agents in control of their
choices.


title: Simultaneous sensory stimulation, overinclusive and creative thinking

subject:
Creative thinking
Sensory stimulation


title: Depositional environments of the 3.0 Ga. Finlayson and Lumby Lake greenstone belts, Superior Province, Ontario, Canada

subject:
Greenstone belts
Sedimentation and deposition
Sedimentary rocks
Physical geology

abstract:
The Finlayson and Lumby Lake Greenstone BeHs are located approximately
200km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, nom of Atikokan, Ontario.
Within both the Finlayson Lake and Lumby Lake Grsenstom belts two distinct
sequences af sedimentary rocks are present. €a& of the belts contains an upper and a
lower sedimentary rocù sequence which differ in age and chernical composition-
The lower sequence of the Finlayson Lake Greenstone Belt is represented by
the Little Falls Lake metasedimentary rocks and the laterally equivalent lower Finlayson
Lake rnetasedimentary rocks. These rocks consist of coarse-grained sandstones,
conglomerates, and lesser interbedded mafic detritusiich metasedimentary rocks and
are Iaterally continwus with felsic volcanic rocks to the south. Deposition of these
sedimentary rocks was by highdensity turbidity ainent processes. Their chemical
composition is distinct from that of the upper Finlayson Lake metasedimentary rocks
and suggests a single felsic volcanic source with composition similar to that of the
Steep Rock Upper Felsic unit and the Old Tonalite unit.


title: Mycoparasites and decay fungi: a study of their ecological interactions on wood blocks of Betula papyrifera

subject:
Wood decay
Forest ecosystem
Mycoparasitism
Mycoparasitic predation
Mycology

abstract: Decay fungi are an extremely important part of the forest ecosystem and provide essential ecosystem services including the breakdown of complex organic compounds and nutrient release. However, this important group of fungi are predated upon by mycoparasites; fungi which feed on other fungi. This study was conducted to examine the ecological interactions between various mycoparasites on selected species of wood decay fungi in relation to the level of decay observed in birchwood blocks, Betula papyrifera. Four species of wood decay fungi were chosen: Trametes pubescens, Trichaptum biforme, Fomitopsis pinicola, and Piptoporus betulinus to be tested with four different mycoparasites: Gliocladium roseum, Verticillium tenerum, Trichothecium roseum, and Sesquicillium candalabrum. Trametes pubescens exhibited the greatest average percent (%) decay overall with 56.35%, and could only be reduced to 41.68% in combination with Gliocladium roseum. Verticillium tenerum reduced average percent (%) decay to 5.46% when paired with Fomitopsis pinicola, but Gliocladium roseum and Sesquicillium candalabrum were observed to be the most consistent and successful in wood decay mitigation across all treatment combinations. The presence of mycoparasites negatively affects the overall ability of wood decay fungi to breakdown woody compounds, however, some are more successful than others, and some species of decay fungi show great resilience when faced with predation. Both entities perform essential ecosystem services.


title: Assessment tool for athletes to judge coaching performance

subject: Coaching (Athletics)

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to provide an assessment
tool to judge coaching performance that was appropriate for
completion by athletes. The questionnaire underwent a
variety of developmental stages. In its final form it
contained 36 items. The tool was shown to be a valid, reliable,
readable, and standardized assessment tool. It demonstrated
discriminability and provoked honest, accurate responding in
subjects. The test was capable of providing immediate
feedback to coaches seeking feedback about athletes'
perceptions of their performance. Responses on the developed scale were weighted to reflect the desirability of the
coaching characteristics and behaviours of a good coach. It
provides a total score which can be interpreted by the coach
as a measure of how much of an '’ideal*' coach exists in
him/her.


title: Skiers' and snowboarders' perceptions of the quality of a ski resort in Japan : an application of importance performance analysis and recreation specialization / by Michael Scorgie.

contributor:
McIntyre, Norman
Johnston, Margaret
Yuan, Michael

subject:
Skiers
Ski resorts - Evaluation
Snowboarders
Hakuba (Japan)
Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA)

abstract:
Identifying customers' perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of a particular service is an important step in the process of providing good service quality. This insight will allow managers to prioritize and allocate resources necessary for continued success or remediation. The purpose of this research was to identify skiers' and snowboarders perceptions of ski resort quality in Hakuba, Japan. Since the early 1990s there has been a steady decline in visitation at Japanese ski resorts. The reduction in numbers has been attributed to mostly an aging ski population and an unstable economy over recent years. As a result, many of Japan's ski resorts have closed, and the ones that have managed to stay in business are looking for ways to maintain or increase participation rates.  One way to improve business is to better understand the current clients’ opinions on service quality. This was done by using a survey to undertake an importance performance measurement.
Heterogeneity of the sample was taken into account by segmenting skiers and snowboarders by levels of recreation specialization. Specialization was used as it has demonstrated empirically to be a key variable which affects preferences and levels of satisfaction in recreational activities.
Surveys were distributed at the Happo-One ski resort in Hakuba, Japan, asking participants to rank various attributes (services and infrastructure) according to perceptions of importance and satisfaction with company performance in this area. Data were then analysed using the importance-performance analysis (IPA). The respondents were divided into specialization groups using a cluster analysis method. The cluster analysis was preferred over an additive approach, as it accounts the unique contribution of different dimensions.
The results show that Happo-One is predominantly a skier resort with a smaller proportion of mostly “low” specialized snowboarders. The use of the IPA was an effective method to identify the resort’s strengths and weaknesses. Overall, the resort performed the best in the area of lessons, and results indicated that priorities for change included restaurants,
slopes services and slope characteristics. The areas of accommodations, equipment rentals, shops, and tourist information services were all considered areas of low priority for attention.
While there were some similarities between the skier and snowboarder results, more of the attributes for the snowboarders were located below the acceptable level of satisfaction with performance. Compared to the skier group, more issues need to be addressed for the snowboarders, in order to increase satisfaction. Understanding of data was enhanced by segmenting skiers and snowboarders by levels of specialization. Respondents who were lower in specialization were less satisfied overall, indicating Happo-One is more conducive for higher specialized participants.
This research demonstrated that skiers and snowboarders have different requirements that should be taken into account by managers of ski resorts. Furthermore, segmenting by recreation specialization was found to be a useful strategy in understanding the differing perceptions within both skier and snowboarder groups. This study showed that IPA is an effective and efficient approach to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of ski resorts and in prioritising areas of needed further research.


title: Synthesis and characterization of donor-acceptor oligothiophenes

contributor:
MacKinnon, Craig
Spivak, Greg
Chen, Aicheng

subject:
Organic conductors
Thiophene Synthesis
Oligomers Synthesis
Molecular conductors
Semiconducting devices

abstract:
The field of organic conductors is multidisciplinary in nature. This thesis
introduces and characterizes new conducting materials based on heterosubstituted
oligothiophenes. Substituted bithiophenes, terthiophenes, and quarterthiophenes are the
primary materials investigated in this thesis.
Variation of the end-groups (see document) can
dramatically influence the solid-state structure, giving highly conducting materials or
materials with interesting electronic properties, such as a field effect current.
We have synthesized a series of such oligothiophenes with a variety of functional groups,
R-Tn-R’ (T = C4 H2 S) with R being either Br, I, NH2, Hx or COOH, and R’ being NO2 or
Hx (CeHis). These heterosubstituted oligothiophenes contain end-groups that are
complimentary electronic donors and acceptors, which will generate push-pull
compounds.


title: The landscape used by eight bat species in the Nipigon District, Ontario

subject: Ontario bat species

subject: White nose syndrome

subject: Bat populations

subject: Acoustic monitoring

subject: Bat diversity hot spots (Nipigon District)

abstract: Emergent diseases such as white nose syndrome (WNS) and habitat loss are negatively affecting the populations of Ontario bat species. There are eight bat species native to Ontario: Estesicus fuscus, Lasiurus cinereus, L. borealis, Myotis leibii, M. lucifugus, M. septentrionalis, Perimyotis subflavus, and Lasionycteris noctivagans. Of the native species, M. lucifugus, M. septentrionalis, and P. subflavus are listed as endangered in 2014 by the federal Species at Risk Act due to sudden population declines. In order to prevent any further decline in bat populations, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry adopts acoustic monitoring as a non-invasive alternative to collect data on presence of native bats. Using data from this venture, I describe how presence of landscape features such as water, mature forest, and talus slopes to predict bat diversity hot spots in the Nipigon District.


title: Human trafficking in Canada crisis or confusion : an examination of Canada's trafficking legislation and the development of a social crisis

subject:
Human trafficking
Law and legislation
Canada
Human smuggling

abstract:
Since the implementation of Canada's domestic human trafficking
legislation in 2005, the media, police, and government agencies have paid
increasing attention to this issue. Using a social constructionist approach, this
thesis analyzes the role of the mass media and official reports by various
government agencies in the construction of human trafficking, demonstrating
the development of the issue as a "social crisis", despite lack of empirical
evidence to support it. This thesis also examines the development of Canada's anti-trafficking law, as well as its meaning, application and impact as evidenced in charges
and convictions under the new trafficking offence in Canada. Examining the
legislative defmition of human trafficking outlined in section 279.01 of the
Criminal Code of Canada, the thesis demonstrates that the defmition is highly
abstract, and fails to centralize key factors, such as transportation, which are
critical in the characterization of the human trafficking offence. The abstract
legislative definition has resulted in a lack of a real distinction between human
trafficking and procurement; or "pimping", covered under section 212(1) of
the Code. In light of these concerns, the thesis aims to provide
recommendations for the development of a more clear and consistent
defmition of trafficking, aligning it with the definition outlined in the Palermo
Protocol, and distinguishing it from other Criminal Code offences.


title: Psychological and physiological childbirth related variables affecting pain of labour

subject: Pain Childbirth Psychology


title: A novel framework for standardizing and digitizing clinical pathways in healthcare information systems

contributor:
Benlamri, Rachid
Yassine, Abdulsalam
Ikki, Salama

subject:
Clinical pathway
Health information systems
Electronic medical records
Data mining algorithms in healthcare
Automation of healthcare facilities

abstract:
Most healthcare institutions are reorganizing their healthcare delivery systems based on
Clinical Pathways (CPs). CPs are medical management plans designed to standardize
medical activities, reduce cost, optimize resource usage, and improve quality of service.
However, most CPs are still paper-based and not fully integrated with Health Information
Systems (HISs). More CP automation research is therefore required to fully benefit from
the practical potentials of CPs. The common theme of current research in this field is to
connect CPs with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems. Such view positions EMRs
at the centre of HISs. A major long-term objective of this research is the placement of CP
systems at the centre of HISs, because within CPs lies the very heart of medical planning,
treatment and impressions, including healthcare quality and cost factors. An important
contribution to the realization of this objective is to develop an international CP-specific
digital coding system, and to fully standardize and digitize CPs based on the Systematized
Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) medical terminology system.
This makes CPs digitally visible and machine-readable. In addition, to achieve semantic
interoperability of CPs, we propose a CP knowledge representation using ontology engineering and HL7 standard. Our proposed framework makes CP systems smoothly linkable
across various HISs. To show the feasibility and potential of the proposed framework,
we developed a prototype Clinical Pathway Management System (CPMS) based on CPs
currently in use at hospitals. The results show that CPs can be fully standardized and
digitized using SNOMED CT terms and codes, and the CPMS can work as an independent
healthcare system, performing novel CP-related functions including useful decision-support
tasks. Furthermore, CP data were captured without loss, which contributes to reducing
missing patient data and improving the results of data mining algorithms in healthcare.
Standardized CPs can also be easily compared for auditing and quality management. The
proposed framework is promising, and contributes toward solving major challenges related
to CP standardization, digitization, independence, and proper inclusion in today’s modern
computerized hospitals.


title: Integrating the cognitive-specificity and dual vulnerability hypotheses : implications for vegetative and cognitive/affective differences in seasonal, nonseasonal, and sub-syndromal seasonal depression / Jennine S. Rawana.

contributor:
Tan, Josephine
Davis, Ron
Wesner, Michael
Montelpare, William

subject:
Seasonal affective disorder
Food habits - Psychological aspects
Depression, Mental

abstract: This study compared seasonal affective disorder (SAD), nonseasonal depression, sub-syndromal SAD, and control groups on dysfunctional eating cognitions and behaviours, physical activity levels, cognitive content specificity to winter stimuli, interpersonal context-specificity, response styles to depressed mood, and general negative attitudes. Study participants : Lakehead University students and staff and residents of Thunder Bay, Northwestern Ontario, Canada.


title: Application of UASs to augment ground surveys in cranberry agriculture development: a proof of concept for the integration of UAS into the site identification and monitoring of cranberry farms in Newfoundland

subject:
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
Unmanned aerial system (UAS)
Remote sensing
Ground survey
Hydrology
Wetland

abstract: Assessing the potential for developing wetland environments into cranberry agricultural lands is time consuming and expensive. The addition of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to augment current ground survey techniques has the potential to increase assessment accuracy and cranberry production while reducing costs. Newfoundland’s extensive wetlands offer significant opportunities for the development of cranberry agricultural lands. Due to a large international demand for raw cranberries, there is great potential economic benefit in the rapid development of cranberry farms. This study focused on using UASs to assess wetland areas in Newfoundland by applying suitability criteria developed by the Newfoundland Government. This was done through the use of GIS, image classification, and photogrammetry to assess these criteria over three site locations. The viability of expanding UAS data collection over larger areas to develop a province-wide model was explored through an assessment of current fixed wing UAS technology. Given the novelty of this area of study, this research aimed to serve as a proof of concept where the validity of results was measured against real world applicability, not statistical analysis. The results showed that because UASs cannot assess all of the required wetland criteria, they are not a viable replacement for current ground surveys, but do have the potential to augment current techniques. UASs make it possible to survey larger areas, as well as reduce time and cost. The assessment of current fixed wing UAS technology concluded that given the continuously improving technology and further testing, there is the potential for these systems to collect comparable data over a larger area. Overall, the study concluded that through the strategic integration of the UAS techniques developed in this study with existing ground survey methods, Newfoundland has the potential to increase cranberry agricultural development and capitalize on the global demand for this crop.


title: Design of polarization reconfigurable beam-steerable and frequency tunable FPMS based SIW-slot antennas

subject: Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW)

subject: Slot antenna

subject: Field Programmable Microwave Substrate (FPMS)

subject: Linear Polarization (LP)

subject: Circular Polarization (CP)

abstract:
With the rapid evolution of modern and smart communication technologies such as 5th generation of
mobile network (5G), (internet of things) IoT, Autonomous Vehicles, Aviation Technology, etc., the
need for reconfigurable radio frequency (RF) components cannot be emphasized enough. Thus, the
rationale for plethora of research carried out in the design and development of
reconfigurable/tunable RF components and devices. This work focuses on the design of a polarization
reconfigurable and beam-steerable substrate integrated waveguide-slot (SIW-slot) antenna using a
novel technology, field programmable microwave substrate (FPMS). At first, the antenna is optimized
to operate at 4 GHz on a Duroid 5880 substrate with six slots rotated at 5° towards the center of
the waveguide. This follows the integration of optimized FPMS unit cells on the slot radiators.
While varying the capacitance values of the unit cells, close attention is paid to the impedance
and radiation performance of the antenna. Initial results presented here show a beam steering of
±40°. In addition, the antenna is also seen to provide gain modulation in maximum steered
direction. Interestingly, as the antenna radiation is steered, the polarization of the antenna
switches from E (maximum at 0) to Eθ (40). This makes the design an excellent candidate for
end-to-end secured communication with minimum interference in applications such as aircraft RADARs.
Thus, the antenna performance
metrics show the promise of the unique FPMS technology in designing of smart RF components.


title: Petrology, geochemistry, sulphide and platinum-group element mineralization of the Geordie Lake intrusion, Coldwell Complex, Ontario

subject:
Geology Ontario Geordie Lake Region
Geology Ontario, Northwestern
Mineralogy Ontario Geordie Lake Region

abstract: PGE-bearing Geordie Lake intrusion is located in the north-central region of the Coldwell comples near the town of Marathon.

abstract:
The Geordie Lake Intrusion (GLI) consists of alternating zones of
layering-free troctolite and olivine gabbro outcropping in the north-central
part of the Coldwell alkaline complex, northwestern Ontario. The troctolite
exhibits harrisitic texture in which dendritic olivine (F044-56), plagioclase
(An48-57), and skeletal magnetite are the main constituents. Small amounts
of clinopyroxene (Di36Hd60Ae4-Di30Hd66Ae4) are present in the troctolite.
The ophitic olivine gabbro consists of clinopyroxene (Di4iHd54Ae5
Di29Hd66Ae5), plagioclase (An46-54), altered olivine, and skeletal
magnetite. Some gabbros contain high-alumina clinopyroxenes
(Ti-Px4CATS48Ae48-Ti-PxgCATS42Ae5o). Mineral chemistry and
whole-rock geochemistry indicate that the troctolite and gabbro are not
related by differentiation and their parent magma is a relatively evolved
low-alumina tholeiite. The GLI is characterized by high Sr, Rb, Ba, Th, Ta and
light rare-earth element (LREE) content but low in Ni and Cr content.
Europium anomalies are absent. Fe-Ti oxide geothermometry and
geobarometry of the troctolite and olivine gabbro give an average
equilibration temperature of 603° ± 35°C and oxygen fugacity of bar.
Disseminated chalcopyrite is the dominant style of Cu-sulphide
mineralization in the GLI. Massive chalcopyrite aggregates are rare.


title: Differential response of two common human papillomavirus 16 E6 variants to small interfering RNA

contributor:
Zehbe, Ingeborg
Schraft, Heidi
Qin, Wensheng

subject:
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs)
HPV 16 genome
Cervical cancer
HPV 16 targeted treatments
RNA interference (RNAi)

abstract:
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), such as HPV16, are implicated in causing virtually all cases of cervical cancer. Molecular therapies capable of targeting HPV16 E6 oncoprotein expression can selectively eliminate infected cells without the unwanted side effects in healthy cells seen with traditional treatments. An efficient approach is the use of synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) to target and degrade E6 mRNA. Two common variants of the HPV16 E6 gene, European Prototype (EP E6) and Asian-American (AA E6), differ due to six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and AA E6 has been shown to have a greater oncogenic potential than EP E6. In silico modeling was used to
demonstrate that these AA E6 SNPs cause its mRNA to have a less compacted structure than that of EP E6. However, transfection of an E6 siRNA containing no base pair mismatches with either variant demonstrated that these structural changes did not result in AA E6 having a significantly different amount of E6 knockdown than EP E6, as determined using RT-qPCR. Interestingly, equivalent knockdown of E6 mRNA in both variants yielded differing responses in the restoration of downstream cellular process abrogated by E6. hTERT mRNA levels were equally restored to those of PHFKs in AA E6. There was a greater elevation of IFN B mRNA expression in EP compared to AA E6. AA E6 IFN K mRNA and p53 protein levels were elevated more following treatment with a lower dose of E6 siRNA than those of EP E6. These data add to the growing body of evidence that the AA E6 protein may have unique properties or disrupt cellular processes through different mechanisms compared to EP E6. These findings also have translational implications (e.g. different doses of E6 siRNA may be required to achieve the same therapeutic effect, depending on the variant involved).


title: Effects of manual, mechanical, and aerial herbicide conifer release on songbird numbers in regenerating spruce plantations in Northwestern Ontario

subject: Songbirds Effect of herbicides on Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Spruce Growth Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Bird populations Effect of herbicides on Ontario, Northwestern

abstract:
This study examined the effects of conifer release with
herbicides [Vision® (glyphosate) ], [Release® (triclopyr) ] , and
proposed alternatives to herbicides with manual brush saws and
mechanical brushsaws, on breeding songbird densities in
regenerating spruce plantations in northwestern Ontario. Pre-treatment
(1993) cind post-treatment (1994) densities of songbirds
were determined by territory mapping during June. In July and
August of both years, birds were captured in mist nets and colour
banded to document reproductive success and to determine whether
resident birds continued to use these areas after treatment.
Transects were walked during August and September of both years
to identify species using the plantations.
Post-treatment data revealed no changes between years in
breeding bird species richness in the plantations.
Overall mean songbird density decreased non-significantly
from approximately 69 pairs per 10 ha in the pre-treatment year
to approximately 63 pairs per 10 ha in the first post-treatment
year.
Analysis of variance revealed significant decreases in mean
density of Chestnut-sided Warblers (Dendroica pensylvanica)
between the brushsaw and Silvana treatments and the controls in
the post-treatment year. Paired t-tests showed that, for most of
the common species, there were significant year to year increases or decreases in mean densities in most areas where
treatments were applied. Sparrow densities increased and the
densities of foliage gleaning insectivores decreased.
Ten percent of the 826 birds banded in 1993 were recaptured
in 1994, 80% of these were within 100m of the point of initial
capture the previous year. Twenty individuals moved from treated
areas into adjacent areas with more typical breeding habitat.
More White-throated Sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis than warblers
(Dendroica sp.) were observed utilizing the plantations during
August and September in the post-treatment year compared to the
pre-treatment year when there were no differences.
Clumps of untreated vegetation (skips) remaining within the
brushsaw and Silvana treatments provided the only available
nesting sites for Alder Flycatchers Empidonax alnorum, Chestnut-sided
Warblers, and Mourning Warblers Oporonis Philadelphia.
Conifer release treatments had non-significant impacts on
the breeding densities of most songbird species. Evidence
suggests, however, that treatment effects were masked by other
confounding factors such as the presence of skips, male site
tenacity, and too few degrees of freedom in the MANOVA analyses.


title: A case study of moisture regime on Pinus banksiana across Ontario

subject:
Climate change
Boreal forest
Jack pine (Pinus banksiana)
Moisture regime
Assisted migration

abstract:
With climate change affecting the boreal forest there are many
consequences to plant species on different site types that can be detrimental to
their longevity and productivity, affecting ecosystem health. In this study
moisture regime effect on Pinus banksiana Lamb. (jack pine) productivity was
explored. This study shows that mean annual increment on the moisture
regimes 0-2 are the most productive annual with DBH growth and height growth.
The introduced climatic stressors such as raised temperature can negatively
impact these sites and allow for a major amount of drought stress to take place,
which will hinder the productivity of this widely used commercial species. There
will also be a shift in moisture regime for the regimes 3-7 causing these to
become drier. This could allow for the fresh (3) and the moist sites (4-7) to
become more productive as they dry out.


title: E/raced : aboriginal youth identities and schooling

contributor:
Courtland, Mary Clare
Wawia, Dolores
Richard, Merle
Agbo, Seth

subject:
Indigenous Peoples
Education
Indians of North America
Native Peoples
Racism in Education
High School Students
Native Students
Indian Students

abstract: This qualitative study investigates Aboriginal high school students' negotiation of identity and identifying with school and community in relation to other representations. Within the literature, cultural and racial discourses provide contrasting, essentialized theories for Aboriginal students' lack of schooling succes. Each of these discourses has conceptual limitations. Alternative conceptualizations illuminate diverse representations, engage complex articulations of identity, culture, class, and race with racialized students' agency and negotation of/engagement with/ and alienation from schooling as performative identity.


title: Women in mathematics education: pathways to participation

contributor:
Pluim, Gary
Ingram, Leigh-Anne

subject:
Mathematics education
Women and mathematics (participation)
Storytelling (mathematics)
Women mathematics educators

abstract:
Improving the participation of women in mathematics education at the post-secondary
level, requires a deeper understanding of how women orient themselves within two very distinct
domains: mathematics and education. Each domain holds competing ideas of the purpose of
mathematics, including who should participate, which further adds to the complexity of how
women position themselves at the intersection in the field of mathematics education. This
narrative inquiry highlights the personal pathways—including experiences, thoughts, and
stories—to becoming a woman mathematics educator at the post-secondary level. The research
questions guiding this inquiry are: Why do women decide to teach mathematics education at the
post-secondary level? What are the experiences of women mathematics educators who had
“overcome barriers”? What are the critical moments along their pathway to participation?
This inquiry brings together critical feminist theory, psychoanalytical perspectives, and
social constructivist theory to understand the perception of women, the complexity of their
gender identity, and how their experiences in mathematics education influence their participation
in mathematics. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 5 participants to examine the
lived experiences of women in mathematics education, followed by a critical self-reflection to
discuss the critical moments to becoming a mathematics educator. The data analysis consisted of
two phases. Within narrative analysis involved re-storying of lived experiences and across
narrative analysis identified major themes across the women’s experiences and their journey
towards mathematics education.
The study concludes by offering suggestions to improve the participation of women in
mathematics with a particular focus on the importance of storytelling.


title: Culture specific MMPI norms for a sample of Northern Ontario Indians

subject: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

subject: Indians of North America Ontario, Northern.

abstract:
The most recent controversy to arise in the area of ethnic
exceptions to normative data in the use of the MMPI centers on
the establishment of minority norms. Significant general profile
and specific scale elevations have been reported for a number of
ethnic groups and although research with American and Canadian
Indians is limited, consistent elevations have been reported for
both psychiatric and normal samples. In light of these findings,
arguments proposing the establishment of culture specific norms
for Indian populations have arisen in the literature. The
purpose of the present study therefore was to examine the
utility of compiling native norms for a primarily Ojibway and
Cree population in the region north of Lake Superior. The
sample consisted of 47 males and 56 females ranging in age from
18 to 58 years. Group Form MMPIs were administered and
demographic questionnaires accompanied the test. Two tailed
z-tests were performed on the 13 scales with and without K. All
means were found to be significantly different from the
population of Minnesota normals. In light of the recent
controversy surrounding the comparison of mean differences,
results are discussed in terms of proportions of individuals
scoring greater than T=70 on individual K corrected scales. In
view of the results, it was concluded that normal native scores
are extreme enough to result in the misclassification of 50% of the population on scales F, D, PD+K, PA, PT+K, SC+K, and MA+K.
With the exception of pathological groups, results from the
present study indicating extreme elevations differ from those of
previous studies in terms of the degree of deviation observed.
Disconcordance is thought to be reflective of variability
introduced by methodological, regional, socioeconomic, and
acculturation differences and is believed to be further evidence
for the establishment of regional ethnic norms. Since it was
determined that standard norms are inappropriate for use with
the Indian population in question, K corrected raw scores
obtained from the native sample were transformed to a
distribution having a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10
for each scale. Raw score conversion tables and profile sheets
were then derived for each sex. However, while the present
research demonstrated that the Minnesota norms are not valid for
use with the Indian population in northern Ontario, the clinical
utility of local norms in the diagnosis of pathological
individuals remains in question since it has not been
demonstrated that the usual interpretation of elevated scales
will be equally applicable to profiles plotted against local
norms. It is suggested that future research be directed at an
examination of the validity of the MMPI in the detection of
pathological Indian subgroups in the region for which these
norms have been developed.


title: Breast and cervical cancer screening : knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Vietnamese Canadian women living in Toronto, Ontario / by Tue Tran Nghi Nguyen.

type: Thesis Thesis

subject:
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Cervix uteri Cancer Diagnosis
Medical screening

abstract:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer, and cervical cancer is the second most
common cancer, among Vietnamese women in North America. This ranking replicates
the order of cancer prevalence among women residing in Vietnam. Unfortunately,
Unfortunately, Vietnamese women are less likely to report ever having had recommended
screening procedures for these cancers and are more likely to be overdue for them than
women in the general populations (Miller, Kolonel, & Bernstein, 1996). Many factors
have been highlighted from previous studies to shed light into this cancer prevalence.
These factors include but not limited to accessibility of service, lack of knowledge on
breast and cervical cancers, inadequate number of female physicians, language barrier,
etc. Therefore, the overall purpose of this project is to examine the knowledge, attitudes,
and practices of Vietnamese Canadian women ages 40 to 60 toward breast and cervical
cancer screenings.

Objectives of the Study:

1. To identify the possible barriers in race or ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic
status (SES) that Vietnamese Canadian women face in their efforts to take preventive
measures and participate in breast and cervical cancer screening.
2. To make recommendations and develop strategies for ethnic-focused breast and
cervical cancer health promotion.


title: Some properties of Eulerian family of polynomials

subject: Polynomials Combinations


title: Effects of timber management practices on the use of aquatic feeding areas by moose (Alces alces) in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and boreal transition forests of Central Ontario

contributor:
Rodgers, Art
Hughes, Janice
Lankester, Murray W.

subject:
Moose feeding and feeds Ontario
Moose (Effect of logging on, Ontario)

abstract:
During spring and summer in Ontario, moose are commonly observed at sites known as
moose aquatic feeding areas. Feeding on aquatic vegetation is thought to be an important source
of sodium for moose at this time of year. The effects of different timber harvesting systems on
the use of aquatic feeding areas by moose was studied in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence and
boreal transition forests of central Ontario. During June to September 2002,1 compared the use
of aquatic feeding sites by moose among selection cutting in the Algonquin Park Forest
Management Unit (FMU), uniform shelterwood cutting in the French-Sevem FMU, and clearcutting
in the Spanish FMU. At >50 sites within each harvesting system I studied the
relationships between moose use and age of forest stands adjacent to aquatic feeding areas,
proximity of timber harvest, and amount of shoreline affected. The locations of potential study
sites in the three FMUs were initially identified using GIS data (cut history and reserve widths),
moose aquatic feeding area survey data, and air photos. Sites were assessed for moose use by
recording the characteristics of trails, tracks, pellet-groups, and browsing. Physiographic and
vegetative attributes of the aquatic and terrestrial landscape were also measured. Overall, moose
use of aquatic feeding areas was greatest in areas harvested by selection cutting, followed by
shelterwood cutting, and clear-cutting, respectively. The reserve width and time since last cut
influenced the use of aquatic feeding areas by moose in all three silvicultural systems. Within
areas harvested by selection cutting, moose use was greatest adjacent to old cuts (>20 years) and
large reserve widths (>120m). The shelterwood areas showed more moose use of sites adjacent
to recent cuts (<5 years) with >120m reserves. The clear-cut areas showed more moose use
adjacent to cuts >10 years of age with >120m reserves. The results of stepwise multiple
regressions, indicated that habitat characteristics other than forest age and reserve width were
also important for moose when selecting a site. The length of aquatic vegetation along the shore
and midpoint basal area were important habitat variables within the selection cut system.
Endpoint basal area was the only habitat variable important for moose use within the
shelterwood system and there was no multiple regression model predicted in the clear-cut
system. Subsequent correlation analyses indicated that the length of aquatic vegetation along the
shore and reserve width were the only two variables related to moose use within all three
silvicultural systems. Moose demonstrated both random and non-random patterns of use within
reserves in all three systems. Random use was identified by an interconnection of moose trails
within reserves that were not used repeatedly, indicating that sites were used less frequently.
Non-random use was identified by a trail system heavily used within the reserve, indicating that
trails were used repeatedly.
Because aquatic plants are an important source of nutrients for moose in spring and
summer, forest management practices must ensure proper protection of these sites. This study
shows that the time since last cut and the type of silvicultural system being used must be
considered when applying a reserve around aquatic feeding areas, because the quality of the
habitat within the adjacent reserve is important for moose using these sites. Although moose
used aquatic feeding areas adjacent to narrow reserves (<60 m), the results of this study show
that sites adjacent to 120-m reserves, as recommended in the Timber Management Guidelines for
the Provision o f Moose Habitat, were used the most and have the greatest potential of meeting
the life history requisites of moose in all three silvicultural systems.


title: The effects of plantation spacing on Pinus resinosa wood density variation and managing for increased carbon sequestration

subject:
Pinus resinosa
Red pine
Carbon sequestration
Silviculture
Wood density

abstract:
Pinus resinosa is found throughout a large portion of eastern North America.
Dating back to the early settlement era, wood utilization has varied from solely
infrastructure to bioenergy and carbon sequestration. Although today’s Pinus resinosa
wood volume has increased, research shows that wood quality has decreased and the
potential for increased carbon sequestration has gone largely unnoticed. This can be
explained by the current silvicultural management of Pinus resinosa which encourages
quick growth and shorter harvest rotations. Wood density is not only important for
loadbearing, infrastructural purposes, but a higher density in wood is the basis for
increased carbon storage. The methodology for this thesis involved extracting ten
individual wood core samples: five from open-grown conditions in Pembroke, Ontario and
five from tightly-spaced conditions in L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, Quebec; however, the trees at
each site originated from the same seed source prior to being planted. Each core was
separated into juvenile and mature wood sections and were then weighed in green and dry
conditions. They were tested for wood density and with the use of the Thermogravimetric
Analyzer, the carbon content for each juvenile and mature sample was recovered. It was
found that although each tree was genetically alike, the stand spacing at each location
resulted in the respective trees having significantly different wood densities. The results
showed that the trees with increased wood densities also had a higher percent carbon
sequestered. These results show the importance of strategically managing the plantation
spacing of Pinus resinosa and how something as simple as increasing the stand density will
increase both wood density and carbon sequestration levels, while improving the structural
integrity of the wood at both the stem and stand scale. These findings could be used further
by forest professionals to assist in reaching Canada’s Greenhouse Gas emission targets,
and producing higher-value wood products to meet market demand.


title: Agglomeration, adsorption and polymerization of hydrolysate components

contributor:
Fatehi, Pedram
Liao, Baoqiang
Pakzad, Leila
Behzadfar, Ehsan

subject:
Autohydrolysis
Acid hydrolysis
Biomass utilization
Biomass conversion
Hydrolysates

abstract:
Biomass utilization has been drawn attention of governments and industries, as it is renewable
resource. Pulp and paper industry depend on woody biomass utilization system to get multiple
products. However, it is also featured by large energy consumption and low efficiency of using
raw material. It is crucial to integrate biorefinery concept into pulp mill to create a long-term
sustainable pathway. This research work trends to investigate the performance of autohydrolysis
of spruce wood at various parameters such as temperature, residence time, liquid to solid ratio.
The performance of self-aggregation of hydrolysates with different conditions and deposition of
hydrolysates on stainless steel surface were also studied. The hydrostats were characterized by gel
permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, zeta
potential analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle charge detector, quartz crystal
microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was noticed that the
hydrolysate with higher hydrophilicity and surface tension possessed higher affinity for adsorption
of its lignocelluloses on stainless steel. The image analysis and QCM results revealed that the
formation of agglomerates in hydrolysate and their deposition on stainless steel surface. The results
of this thesis provided insights into the fundamental knowledge on the autohydrolysis, selfassembly behavior of hydrolysates which have great influence for producing lignocellulose-based
coproducts.
In this thesis, the hydrolysates generated via autohydrolysis of spruce wood chips were directly
used as feedstock for producing coagulant. In-situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM) and
lignocellulose (LC) of hydrolysates in an aqueous solution in the presence of K2S2O8 as an initiator
was successfully conducted, and the reaction was optimized to generate LC-AM with the highest
molecular weight and charge density. In order to confirm the grafting of acrylamide on LC NMR
spectroscopy confirmed the grafting of acrylamide on LC. Other properties of product were
characterized by elemental analyzer, zeta potential analyzer, gel permeation chromatography
(GPC) and particle charge detector (PCD). The applications of the resultant copolymer as a
coagulant in dye suspensions were systematically assessed. LC-AM was combined with cationic
polyacrylamide and anionic polyacrylamide in dual-coagulant systems. These results confirmed
that the dual system of LC-AM and APAM led to a similar dye removal as the singular system of
APAM, which was due to the multibranch structure of LC-AM favoring bridging. In addition to
its reliable dye removal efficiency, other advantages of LC-AM were its biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive production costs compared with other oil-based
coagulants used in industry.


title: "A matter of principal": female involvement in politics and labour at the Lakehead, 1903-1918

contributor:
Stevenson, Michael
Harpelle, Ron

abstract:
"A Matter of Principal" : Female Involvement in Politics and Labour at the Lakehead,
1903-1918” is an analysis of the role women played in the social, political, and labouring
sphere at the Canadian Lakehead (comprised of the twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort
William, Ontario – present day Thunder Bay) during the early twentieth century.
Through an analysis of the involvement of women in the workforce, strikes, and political
organizations, it contends that a parallel narrative of female involvement in the
Lakehead’s labouring history exists between 1903 and 1918. During this period, women
were involved in advocating for, and giving a voice to, both themselves and their sex in
a largely male dominated area and era of influence.


title: Planting the seeds of local food capacity in Northern, Provincial Canada:  a case study of community and market gardening initiatives in Cumberland House, Saskatchewan

contributor:
Schiff, Rebecca
Levkoe, Charles
Moeller, Helle
Stroink, Mirella

subject: Food insecurity (Northern & Indigenous populations)

subject: Community food security

subject: Gardens in Indigenous communities

subject: Food sovereignty

subject: Sustainable food systems

abstract:
This thesis explores the impacts of two gardening initiatives – a community garden and a
market garden – in a municipality inhabited mostly by Indigenous people in Northern
Saskatchewan. This case study employed an asset-based, solution-focused approach in a broader
effort to understand community-level, self-determined food initiatives currently being pursued by
Indigenous Peoples in Northern Canada. It is widely recognized that food insecurity is
disproportionately experienced in Canada’s North and among Indigenous populations, which
threatens health and well-being; and that food insecurity results from a systemic and persistent
lack of agency and decision-making power among people in their food’s procurement (Martin &
Amos, 2016). Drawing from a food sovereignty framework and encouraged to focus on the
community-level by a community food security lens, this study focuses on the Cumberland House
market and community gardens to explore the role of self-determination in a food system. This
study investigates what community members deem to be opportunities for, impacts of, and barriers
to having more autonomy over their food. The primary research question for this study was: Have
the community-initiated Market and Community Gardens impacted Cumberland House and its
community members’ lives and well-being? If yes, how? If no, why not? In answering these
questions, this research highlights the ways food insecurity manifests in northern, rural
communities; the ways gardening can supplement peoples’ diets; the need for food sovereignty
work to interrogate market food sources and improve them; and the ways gardens can be sites
where a more equitable food system are imagined. This research supports this community’s claim
that building local food capacity – through and beyond gardening – and combatting the negative
ways settler colonialism has transformed Indigenous food systems needs to be prioritized and
supported to overcome current and future food security issues.


title: Toward a citizens' guide to sustainable forest management in Newfoundland and Labrador

subject: Forest management (Newfoundland and Labrador)

subject: Sustainable forest management

abstract:
The management of forests has dramatically changed in the past few decades.
Forest managers no longer can prepare and implement forest management plans in
isolation of other resource values and local citizens. Today, the economic, ecological
and social values are blended together into sustainable forest management. Finding a
balance among these values in Newfoundland and Labrador is done through local
district planning teams. The team participants need to understand the principles of
sustainable forest management and the overall planning process. To help them acquire
these skills and knowledge a citizens’ guide to sustainable forest management was
developed.
The requisite content of the guide was determined by searching the literature for
citizen-guide formats. Likewise, the literature was searched to evaluate the essential
components of sustainable forest management. The guide’s content was determined
from the results of these two searches. That content includes legislation and policy, a
primer for sustainable forest management, information requirements, the process to
establish a planning team, how to establish values, goals, indicators and objectives, how
forest forecasts are conducted, and the need to monitor during plan implementation.


title: An intelligent system for fault diagnosis in gearboxes

contributor:
Wang, Wilson
Tian, Zhigang (Will)
Deng, Jian
Liu, Kefu

subject: Gear systems

subject: Gearboxes

subject: Neuro-fuzzy classifier

subject: Gearbox system health condition monitoring

subject: Rotating machinery

abstract:
Gearboxes are commonly used in rotating machinery for power transmission. A gearbox consists
of shafts, gears, and bearings, each component having specific mechanical dynamics and fault
properties. Reliable gearbox fault detection and health monitoring techniques are critically
needed in industries for more efficient predictive maintenance applications. The objective of this
work is to develop a new technology for health monitoring of gearboxes. Firstly, a new wavelet
analysis method is technique for analysis of gear faults in a gearbox with demodulation from
other rotating components such as shaft and bearings. Secondly, a mode decomposition
technique is proposed to highlight bearing fault features in a gearbox. Thirdly, a new evolving
neuro-fuzzy (eNF) classifier is developed to integrate the merits of different fault detection
techniques for real-time health condition monitoring of gear systems. The effectiveness of the
proposed techniques is verified by simulation and experimental tests.


title: Self-assembly of dithiol monolayers on Au(III)

subject:
Monomolecular films
Gold Electric properties
Thin films

abstract:
This thesis compares the self-assembly of octanethiol, a representative
n-alkanethiol, with dithiothreitol (DTT) on Au (lll). Octanethiol is on
eight carbon n-alkanethiol while DTT is a four carbon Q ,(i) dithiol with
hydroxyl groups on the second and third carbons. We find that
octanethiol forms a densely packed c(4x2) superlattice of the
(/3*/3)R30deg. structure characteristic of n-alkanethiols. DTT forms a less
dense monolayer, possibly c(2/3x/3). Both monolayers exhibit pits 2.5 A
deep equivalent to the height of one gold layer. The time evolution of
pitting is investigated in both systems using scanning tunneling
microscopy (STM). The fraction of the surface that is covered by these
pits is found to be in the range of 0.05-0.10 for both systems and
consistent with previous n-alkanethiol studies. The mean pit radius
approaches an equilibrium value of ~19 A for both thiol species. It has
been observed that DTT modified systems do not reach this equilibrium
value as quickly as octanethiol modified systems. The nature of the
binding of DTT to gold is also investigated using STM and Auger electron
spectroscopy (AES) studies. AES studies involving Eliman's Reagent, a
marker species, suggest that a significant fraction of the DTT binds to
the gold surface via two Au-S bonds.


title: Differences in density measures between TreeAzin® injected and non-injected ash wood

subject:
Systemic insecticide
Mechanical wood properties
TreeAzin injections (Green Ash)
Impact of pesticide injection of wood

abstract:
This undergraduate thesis explores an observation made by the City of Thunder
Bay’s urban forestry department staff of TreeAzin injected Green Ash tree’s limbs and
branches failing shortly after being injected. The objective of the study was to determine
whether or not TreeAzin injections were directly causing new woody growth to be less
structural, resulting in failing limbs and branches. For this study, four Green Ash street
trees were removed from the Northwood neighborhood of Thunder Bay, two injected
and two not injected, to be tested for their mechanical properties. Due to COVID-19, and
the inability to access testing facilities, only density measures for each tree could be
obtained and tested. After statistical analysis of samples conditioned to 12% moisture
content, it was observed that injected samples all had higher density values than not
injected samples suggesting the failures were due to alternative factors. Alternative
factors including environmental factors and quality of injection were discussed and
concluded to be the likely cause of branch failures in Green Ash trees in the City of
Thunder Bay.


title: Small-scale disturbance and vegetation dynamics in trembling aspen dominated forests in northeastern Ontario

subject:
Forest dynamics (Ontario, Northeastern)
Forest canopy ecology
Plant succession
Trembling aspen
Boreal forest stand development

abstract:
The scientific understanding of boreal forest stand development and vegetation
dynamics has been well documented with respect to stand-initiating disturbances;
however, the role of subtler disturbance events has received less attention. Two scenarios
that warrant the study of small-scale disturbance in the boreal forest of Ontario include i)
forest management practices and changing climatic factors that range in spatial scale
from local to global are predicted to skew age class distribution of forests towards
mature, oldgrowth stages of development, and ii) during these stages of forest
development, small-scale disturbance is hypothesized to be the major disturbance
mechanism to influence vegetation dynamics. Many principles and methods of the
research that has been conducted on vegetation dynamics and small-scale disturbance in
deciduous temperate and tropical forests can be applied to the boreal forest as a study
system. This thesis attempts to understand vegetation dynamics during intermediate
stages of boreal forest development, with an emphasis on the role of small-scale
disturbance.
The thesis is presented in four chapters that, i) develop the rationale for studying
small-scale disturbances in boreal forests, ii) characterize the extent of small-scale
disturbance in trembling aspen forests, and ii) quantify the effect of small-scale
disturbance on understorey plant communities. Analyses varied considerably among
chapters. Multivariate ordination techniques and average basal area change
measurements were used to assess stand and species dynamics of 217 forests stands
sampled across northeastern Ontario. Relationships between small-scale disturbance with
time since stand initiation (60 - 120 years) of ten trembling aspen were assessed using linear models. Juvenile tree recruitment patterns and community changes (woody and
herbaceous plant species) in gaps and understorey environments of five trembling aspen
stands were assessed using general linear models and various multivariate methods.
Consistent patterns in boreal forest stand development include early dominance of
shade intolerant species such as Populus tremuloides and Pinus banksiana, followed by
increasing basal area of shade tolerant conifer species such as balsam fir, black spruce,
and white cedar. Important declines, between 80 and 100 years since stand initiation, in
the basal area of species that dominate the initial post-disturbance cohort point towards
the occurrence of small-scale disturbance (i.e. mortality of mature canopy trees). The
occurrence of such disturbance warrants the investigation of i) how important small-scale
disturbance actually is, and ii) the effect that it has on the vegetation dynamics of
understorey plant communities.
Results from chapter two clearly show that small-scale disturbances are an
important and conspicuous element of forest stand development when trembling aspen
are the dominant tree species. The most important factors that lead to tree mortality
include infection by wood decay pathogens and wind. The increasing number of gap
makers per gap, and number of gap maker decay classes per gap with time suggests that
gap expansion, resulting from punctuated disturbance events is an important mechanism
of gap formation. Snapped gap makers, followed by standing dead and uprooted gap
makers were the most important structural attributes of gaps, and their relative
importance remained similar with time.
Despite the importance of small-scale disturbance during 95-120 years since stand
initiation, juvenile tree recruitment patterns and plant community response to gap environments of different sizes and ages was negligible. There was no detectable
difference in stem density and growth of all important juvenile tree species (including
Abies balsamea, P. tremuloides, Picea mariana, Picea glauca, and Betula papyrifera)
when compared among gap environments and the closed canopy understorey condition.
Similarly, understorey plant communities showed no difference when compared among
different gap types. High across-stand variability in community composition limited the
ability to detect consistent compositional trends with respect to gap size and age.
However, regardless of gap type, slight increases in species richness and abundance were
detected for understorey woody species of heights between 2 and 5 m.
The effect of small-scale canopy tree mortality on understorey plant communities
in trembling aspen dominated forests is minimal. This is in contrast to predictions that
were made based on expectations from the role of small-scale disturbance dynamics in
temperate and tropical forests. Based on the results of this thesis, future studies of boreal
forest development and understorey vegetation dynamics should consider i) the
establishment mechanisms of shade tolerant conifer species such as A. balsamea during
early stages of forest development, ii) minimal gap sizes that facilitate growth of shade
intolerant tree species that are taller than two metres, and iii) appropriately replicate
different understorey community types.


title: One-step inactivation of rpoS to investigate its role on Escherichia coli O157:H7 biofilm formation and survival

contributor:
Leung, Kam Tin
Schraft, Heidi
Law, David

subject:
Escherichia coli
Genetics
RNA polymerases
Bacterial genetics
Transposons

abstract: Homologous linear recombination using the recombinogenic capabilites of phage red genes exo, bet and gam, has been used increasingly to generate targeted gene replacements in Gram-negative bacteria.


title: Support for, and success of, Indigenous students in access programs at four Canadian  universities: educators’ perspectives and practices

contributor:
Desmoulins, Leisa
Neckoway, Raymond

subject: Indigenous education

subject: Support and success for Indigenous students in access programs

subject: Lakehead University Native Access Program

abstract:
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada’s recent report on Indigenous Post-
Secondary Education reported that 10% of Indigenous peoples in Canada hold a
university degree, compared to 26% of non-Indigenous people. Yet, Indian and Northern
Affairs (2011) contend that education is key to future employment and income for
Indigenous peoples. To address this gap, some post-secondary institutions in Canada
provide access programs for Indigenous students. This thesis explored access programs
within four postsecondary institutions in Canada. I asked how educators viewed their
roles in providing academic, cultural, and personal support for Indigenous student
success in these programs. The methodology used was Indigenous Métissage (Donald,
2009) with a desire-based framework (Tuck, 2009). Methods were interviews with
educators using conversation method (Kovach, 2009). Four themes emerged: 1) Building
and maintaining relationships, 2) Responding to the whole student, 3) Empowering
students, and 4) Student success in access programs. The findings reflected educators’
multiple roles within access programs and evoked wise practices (Wesley-Esquimaux &
Calliou, 2010), which informed data analysis. Educators’ practices illuminated
relationality with students in access programs through locally and culturally responsive
practices that strove to balance student needs with university requirements. Conclusions
and recommendations follow. This study contributes educators’ perspectives on
relationality and success for Indigenous students in access programs in Canada.


title: Utilization of hydrodynamic modeling in predicting water quality and Brook Trout habitat: reclamation of a mine impacted Boreal Shield Lake

contributor:
Lee, Peter
Rennie, Michael
Leung, Kam
Conly, Andrew

subject:
Aquatic ecosystem
Brook Trout habitat
Heavy metals & freshwater fish

abstract:
Mining operations in Ontario are subject to regulatory limits on effluent release into
surrounding waterbodies designed to preserve aquatic life. However, said guidelines may not
always be enough to prevent damage to the local ecosystem. This study examined Cleaver Lake,
Ontario, an 18 m deep shield lake downstream of a copper/zinc mine active from 1987 – 1999.
Mine activity resulted in increased levels of chemical constituents that created density induced
stratification prohibitive of seasonal lake turnover (meromixis). This condition persisted for
more than a decade after closure. Resulting hypoxic conditions of deeper waters caused
extirpation of fish such as Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) that require cool water and high
dissolved oxygen (DO). The water quality and hydrodynamics of the effluent receiving lake were
modeled via CE-QUAL-W2 for the open water season of 2017. The model combined
bathymetrical data with inflow, outflow, and meteorological measurements, in-situ multiprobe
and data logger measurements of water quality characters like DO and temperature, chemical
concentrations of potentially problematic metals (zinc = (81 ± 23) μg/L & copper = (3.7 ± 0.63)
μg/L) and density altering compounds from samples collected on site to make real-time
predictions of Brook Trout habitat. The model has accurately represented the recently observed
recovery from a meromictic state. The objectives of this project were to: (1) assess current
Brook Trout habitat with CE-QUAL-W2; (2a) predict potential future habitat based on what-if
scenarios such as a return to elevated levels of chemical effluent received via industry activity
and (2b) elevated air temperatures due to climate change. Minimum survivable habitat
availability for Brook Trout was shown to be 69.97% in the unmodified model, reduced to
64.47% in the operational industry scenario, and 7.3% in the climate change scenario.


title: Examining the Role of Ascorbic Acid in Prevention of Heterotopic Ossification

subject:
Heterotopic ossification
Mesenchymal stem cells
Satellite cells
Absorbic acid

abstract:
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a condition in which mature bone forms in a non-osseous tissue
following extreme trauma such as injury or surgery (1]. It is thought that a particular cell type
known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the main contributor to this condition. Here we identify
muscle precursor cells (MPCs), a population of multipotent stem cells, as an alternative source of
HO. The present study confirms this potential of MPCs to be induced into an osteogenic lineage,
demonstrating significant increases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity when MPCs were treated
with 100ng/ml bone-morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), (p$0.05). These findings were used to develop
the model for this study. The main objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of vitamin C
(ascorbic acid) as a potential new prophylactic treatment for HO. Current prophylactic treatments
include radiation therapy and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Radiation
therapy works based on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which cause oxidative stress
in the individual, thereby disrupting the mechanisms associated with HO. These preventative
treatments however are either expensive and/or may result in non union of normal bone or other
harmful side-effects. As such, a new preventative treatment is needed for this condition. This
study demonstrates that at doses of 200µM ascorbic acid functions as a pro-oxidant by producing a
type of ROS; superoxide. When cells were treated with 200µM ascorbic acid in combination with
100ng/ml BMP-2, ALP activity did not increase. This suggests that ascorbic
acid is able to block BMP-2-induced osteogenesis of MPCs. When cells were treated further with an antioxidant, 1mM TEMPOL, in combination with 1OOng/m l BM P -2 and 200µM
ascorbic acid, alkaline phosphatase activity significantly increased. These data suggest that
ascorbic acid can act as a pro-oxidant to create oxidative stress and prevent osteogenesis in MPCs.
If administered at the appropriate dose, this treatment may function in a similar way to radiation
therapy, by disrupting mechanisms involvedwith HO via oxidative stress, without the negative
side-effectsor harmful risks. The results of this study indicate that ascorbic acid should be
further explored in animal models and clinical trials as a
potential prophylactic treatment for HO.


title: Terrestrial lichen abundance in relation to stand structure and silvicultural history

contributor:
Reid, Doug
Rodgers, Art
Luckai, Nancy

subject:
Woodland caribou
Terrestrial lichen
Stand structure
Prescribed burning
Mechanical site preparation

abstract:
Terrestrial lichen has been identified as an important factor contributing to suitable woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) winter habitat. Conservation efforts to maintain viable populations of woodland caribou in areas where forest management activities take place will require an understanding of the forest conditions that promote suitable habitat characteristics.
Two studies were conducted for this thesis. In the first study, terrestrial lichen abundance and stand structure of naturally disturbed and previously harvested forest stands in northwestern Ontario were measured. Terrestrial lichen abundance (% cover) was relatively low and highly variable, but significantly higher in conifer-dominated (4.28 ± 6.83%), than in deciduous (0.60 ± 1.51%) or mixedwood (0.62 ± 1.01%) stands. No significant difference in lichen abundance was found between naturally disturbed (3.14 ± 5.77%) and previously harvested stands (3.41 ± 6.53%). Lichen abundance was significantly greater in stands with non-organic (5.71 ± 7.75%), rather than organic (2.07 ± 4.14%) soil textures. Among non-organic conifer-dominated stands, negative relationships were observed between lichen abundance and canopy closure, basal area, tree height and crown height.
In the second study, terrestrial lichen abundance was compared in twenty-four 20 to 40 year-old stands, previously treated with prescribed burning (PB) or mechanical site preparation (MSP). T-test and Mann-Whitney U test results indicated no strong difference in terrestrial lichen abundance between PB (8.95 ± 8.45%) and MSP (2.37 ± 2.03%) treatments, though confounding effects of dominant tree species composition may have contributed to this result. Among the stand structural characteristics measured, canopy closure exhibited the strongest negative relationship with lichen abundance. Negative relationships were also observed between lichen abundance and crown height and basal area.
The results of this study indicate that terrestrial lichen abundance is difficult to predict in conifer-dominated stands of northern Ontario. Terrestrial lichen abundance is strongly correlated with overstory structural attributes, which suggests that forest management activities could potentially influence terrestrial lichen abundance by manipulating stand structure to create understory light conditions that are favourable to terrestrial lichen establishment and growth.


title: Individual differences related to stress

subject:
Stress (Psychology)
Personality

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences
in how people respond in a stressful situation might be related to
underlying differences in personality and cognitive functioning.
The four individual differences selected for study were conceptual
complexity, type A behaviour pattern, locus of control, and trdit
anxiety. The study consisted of two sessions^ one in which the
Subject completed the four questionnaires^ and the second in which he
participated in a stress experiment. During the second session the
subject was allowed to practise a difficult visual-motor task for
seven trials, and then on the eighth trial was required to compete
against another student who was actually a confederate of the experimenter and performed the task exceptionally fast. Heartrate was
recorded throughout the experlmeht as a physiological measure of stress,
pleasantness ratings were obtained as a more cognitive, evaluative
measure, and performance on the task was recorded as a behavioural
measure of stress.


title: Fictions of a settler-state: indigenous and iraqi peoples in canadian newspapers, 1990-2010

subject:
Ingigenous peoples
Iraqi peoples
Settler stories
Oka crisis
Iraqi insurgency
Canadian settler society

abstract:
This thesis interrogates canadian newspaper coverage of Indigenous and Iraqi peoples from 1990 to 2010. I engage in discourse analysis of these primary source materials in order to extricate from them racial sentiments and colonial mentalities, rather than historical truths. First, I compare the coverage of the canadian ‘oka crisis’ in 1990 to the american imperial invasion of Iraq in 2003; next, I retell the stories newspapers told
about northern First Nations reserves and a sanctioned Iraq. My goal is to show that newspapers sketched out the same Orientalist space and Other in each case, and that canadian settler-society understood the reality of its own colonial project in the exact same way as the american imperial project in Iraq. Towards this end, I structure my study around the theoretical concepts of taking place and making space. In reference to the
former, I propose that the coverage of ‘oka crisis’ and the ‘Iraqi insurgency’ spoke of a literal and symbolic taking of place, wherein white western masculinity was subsuming the Other. As to the latter, I argue that newspaper coverage of the northern reserve and a sanctioned Iraq referred to a making of space, wherein the bodies and spaces of
Indigenous and Iraqi peoples were literally and symbolically constructed. After showing that this wide array of newspaper coverage told the same essential story about Indigenous and Iraqi peoples, I conclude with a discussion on the ways in which colonial and imperial power and knowledge remain intimately and inextricably bound up within one
another.


title: Petrography, geochemistry and petrogenesis of alkaline dyke rocks from the Coldwell Alkaline Complex, Northwestern Ontario

subject: Dikes (Geology) Ontario Coldwell Alkaline Complex

subject: Geochemistry Ontario Coldwell Alkaline Complex

subject: Petrology Ontario Coldwell Alkaline Complex

abstract:
Dyke rocks occurring in the Coldwell alkaline instrusive complex, N. W. Ontario, were studied by various petrographic and geochemical means. The resulting observations indicate that 5 types of mafic alkaline lamprophyres, distinguished on the basis of chemistry and mineralogy according to the scheme of Rock (1977), and 1 type of felsic tinguaite occur in the complex (in approximate order of abundance):
a) ocellar camptonites
b) analcite tinguaites
c) quartz-bearing camptonites
e) amphibole camptonites
f) monchiquites
Lamprophyres are characterized mineralogically by phenocrysts of clinopyroxene and brown amphibole, and remnant phenocrysts of olivine...(see document for full abstract)


title: Explanatory style, coping style, and stress in seasonal affective disorder, subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder, and nonseasonal depression

subject:
Seasonal affective disorder
Stress (Psychology)
Depression, Mental

abstract:
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is characterized by the regular onset and remission of
depressive episodes that follow a seasonal pattern. The present study investigated
differences among SAD, S-SAD (subsyndromal SAD), nonseasonally depressed, and
nondepressed individuals on the severity of typical and atypical depressive symptoms,
and on cognitive variables including explanatory style, coping style and stress appraisal
of winter-related stimuli. Results indicated that SAD could be distinguished from other
groups in their negative reaction to winter-related stimuli. They experience more severe
atypical symptoms, find them to be more impairing, ruminate more about the winter, and
perceive themselves as less able to cope. Compared to depressed individuals, the SAD
persons had more severe atypical symptoms, higher degree of seasonality, and greater
focus on their depression. Compared to S-SAD, the SAD individuals reported more
typical and atypical symptoms, greater degree of seasonality, more use of rumination and
involvement in dangerous activities to cope with their depression, and more maladaptive
explanatory style (more global and stable attributions). The depressed group differed
from the S-SAD group in that they had more typical and atypical symptoms, less degree
of seasonality, ruminated more on their depression, and had more negative reactions to
winter. Except for their greater degree of seasonality, and their more unstable explanatory
style, the S-SAD was no different from the nondepressed group.


title: Assessment of hazard tree/snag detection using drone-based, multi-spectral sensors

subject:
Drones in forestry
Snags/hazard trees
Multi-spectral sensors
Vegetation indices

abstract:
Snags are an integral component of forest ecosystems as they provide
habitat for a number of different species and add complexity to vertical forest
structure. However, snags also may pose as potential hazards to people and
property. Efficient and effective methods to locate and assess snags/hazard
trees holds value to resource and conservation managers. This study aimed to
assess the feasibility of using drone-based, multi-spectral sensors for detecting
snags/hazard trees. The methods used in the study included an autonomous
drone flight over the study areas, orthomosaic processing, object-based image
analysis (OBIA), an accuracy assessment, and a field ground truth. The results
provided sufficient evidence of drone-based, multi-spectral sensors being
effective at detecting snags/hazard trees. However, the methods used in this
study were found to only be accurate at detecting high quality/hazard snags.
Segmentation parameters had a significant impact on the degree of
quality/hazard of snag that the algorithm could detect. The orthomosaic
classification was considered as highly accurate with an overall accuracy of
93.4%. Resource and conservation managers can effectively use the methods
from this study for a variety of applications that aim to promote biodiversity
and/or minimize public hazards.


title: Effects of cognitive strategies on ergometer performance of female rowers

subject:
Rowing
Sports Psychological aspects

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cognitive
strategies on the performance of four female rowers. The independent
variables were the three strategy conditions. The major dependent
variable was the total number of revolutions of the ergometer flywheel
per three minutes. The minor dependent variables were the total
number of strokes completed per three minutes and the stroke efficiency
for each trial. Several other variables were studied from information
collected on pretest, posttest, and postexperiment questionnaires. Four
replications of a single subject alternating treatments design were used.
The responses of the athletes to the utilization of the strategies was
very individual. Two of the four subjects performed best under the
task specific strategy. Higher stroke rating was linked to superior
performances. Three of the subjects had their highest stroke ratings with their most successful condition. Stroke efficiency did not appear
to be related to performance. The percentage of time the subject felt
she was able to concentrate on the stra.tegy, the degree of discomfort
perceived, and the perception of the trial as painful or non-painful
all appeared to have no relationship with performance. The subjects
generally performed best under their preferred condition, and generally
perceived that condition to be the most effective for improving their
rowing performance. The number of factors influencing each athlete’s
performance varied greatly.


title: Severity and gendered mental disorders: does perceived illness severity influence gendered stereotypes of mental health stigma?

contributor:
Maranzan, Amanda
Stroink, Mirella

subject:
Mental illness
Stigma
Gendered stereotypes (mental health)
Gendered mental illness stigma

abstract:
Compounding the already difficult nature of mental illness is the stigma attached to it, and
mental illness is highly stigmatized. Social scientists have begun to explore and find evidence
that stereotypes are not always unitary constructs, but they interact and influence one another.
Boysen (2017a; 2017b) and Boysen and colleagues (2014) have found evidence for “gendered
mental disorders”, the relation between gender stereotypes, mental disorder, and stigma, and
have found clear evidence for the existence of gendered stereotypes for mental disorders:
stereotypically “masculine” disorders elicit more stigma than stereotypically “feminine”
disorders. Perceived severity of the illness may also play a role and may interact with gendered
stereotypes. The current study supported previous findings that men are more stigmatized than
women and that men with masculine stereotyped mental health disorders (i.e. gambling disorder)
are significantly more stigmatized than men with feminine stereotyped mental health disorders
(i.e. bulimia nervosa) or women. Severity proved to be a significant factor in predicting stigma,
however, it was not found to be the only factor associated with increased stigma towards certain
disorders. Differences in stigma towards different disorders appear to be influenced by
interactions between target sex, disorder gender, and perceptions of severity.


title: First Nations student engagement in secondary school: enhancing student success in a northern Eeyou community

contributor:
Russell, Connie
Lawson, Alex
Berger, Paul
Richards, Merle

subject: Engagement/disengagement factors for high school students in a northern Eeyou community

subject: First Nations student engagement

subject: Cultural relevancy in curriculum

subject: Relationships between peers

subject: Teaching approaches

subject: Teachers' understanding and sensitivity towards Cree culture & language

subject: Community involvement

subject: Enhancing student engagement

subject: Relationships between students and teachers

abstract:
This study investigated engagement and disengagement factors for high school
students in a northern Eeyou community using a mixed methods participatory approach.
A quantitative survey, administered to a stratified sample of 60 students (representing
17% of the total population of 351), measured the presence of engagement factors
previously identified in First Nations student engagement, drop-out, and school-leaving
literature. Only descriptive statistics were used, as this part of the study was exploratory,
determining the presence of these factors among the student population. Quantitative
results showed a lack of cultural relevancy in the curriculum of the school, poor
relationships between peers and between students and adults in the school, and a lack of
perceived student empowerment. Qualitative methods were based in constructivist
grounded theory and included interviews and focus groups with five students, seven
school staff members, and eight members of the wider community. Qualitative data
served to elaborate upon quantitative results and identified similarities and differences
between Eeyou student engagement factors and mainstream student engagement factors.
Qualitative results showed a lack of respectful and caring relationships in the school,
areas for improvement in teaching approaches, problems with teachers’ understanding
and sensitivity towards Cree culture and language, curriculum issues related to culture, a
lack of community involvement, and a need to improve the school’s receptiveness to
student needs and perspectives. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for
enhancing student engagement by enhancing students’ abilities to attend school and
remain in school within the school studied. These recommendations may also be relevant
for enhancing First Nations on-reserve student engagement in general. Recommendations point to a need to increase the cultural content of the curriculum in authentic ways,
increase students’ sense of belonging in the school, provide a rigorous education
program, and support the creation of positive relationships between peers and between
students and teachers in the school. These changes can be made through changes to
classroom and school practices. It is also recommended that an instrument to assess onreserve
high school student engagement be created, and that further research include both
studies of the effects of in-school counseling and teacher absence on First Nations student
engagement.