identifier: Landman, Irina M  (2000) Asymptotic analysis of vibrations of thin cylindrical shells.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: An algorithm for the asymptotic solution of boundary value problems involving vibrations of thin cylindrical shells by means of symbolic computation is presented. The algorithm is based on the method of asymptotic integration of the vibration equations of thin shells, developed by Goldenveizer, Lidsky and Tovstik. A linear shell theory of the Kirchhoff-Love type is employed. The equations describing the vibrations of thin shells contain several parameters, the main of which is the small parameter of the shell thickness. Formal asymptotic solutions in different domains of the space of the parameters are obtained by using a computational geometry approach. Computer algebra methods are employed to study the characteristic equation that involves the construction of the convex hull of a set of points.  The study is limited to the cases for which the asymptotic representation of the solution is the same in the entire domain of integration, and solutions are linearly independent (no turning points, no multiple roots). Axisymmetric as well as non-axisymmetric vibrations are considered. The constructed solutions are used for studying the free vibration spectra of the shells.  The numerical results obtained by applying this algorithm to the particular problem of low frequency vibrations of thin cylindrical shells are in good agreement with the results obtained by finite element analysis, as well as with asymptotic results obtained by authors using other solution techniques.


identifier: Lapidus, Steven  (2000) Kitaigorod : a profile of a Jewish shtetl in the Ukraine.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract: This study is a profile of the Jewish community of the shtetl (rural market town) Kitaigorod in the Podolia region of the Ukraine. The project is based upon the personal memoirs of a former resident of Kitaigorod. In order to place the memoirs into their proper historical perspective, the history of the Jews of Russia is presented, followed by a detailed analysis of the particularities of life in the rural market towns of the Pale of Settlement. The third chapter presents a history and description of Kitaigorod. An analysis of the tensions that arise in the use of primary and secondary source literature in historical research is presented in the next chapter. The value of the memoirs and their contribution to the understanding of pre-World War I Jewish communal life in the Ukraine is addressed as well. Finally, the last chapter contains the memoirs, along with two unpublished oral histories, a translation of an archived deposition on the pogrom in Kitaigorod as well as a translation of a lengthy article on the history of Kitaigorod, written by a former resident. The issues and problems involved in documenting and verifying information on Kitaigorod is addressed in an appendix.


identifier: Lock, Adam  (2000) Fragments of a previous, grander, project.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Formally, this poem is constructed to discover what sorts of apparent meanings and resonances may be engendered by assembling fragmented and disjunctive units as parts of a whole, and also, if possible, to discover what's lost in the same process. The poem is assembled in one hundred and eight discrete units, some titled, others left untitled. Some names, ideas, and voices carry over from one unit to another, providing, however tenuous, connective tissue. In large part, however, this is not the case, and where it is not, the reader is left to his or her own devices to derive sense from one unit to the next. There is no coherent internal structure; rather, the poem depends on discord and fracture between sections for effect. Reflected in the title is the idea that a work which was previously whole, and perhaps the better for it, has somehow been shattered, and we are left to do what we can with the remnants. In terms of its content, it is a poem concerned with the quotidian, human dilemmas of day to day living: of love, friendship, and the struggle to find one's way in a world mediated in part through newspaper articles. Among the conflict of competing voices and visions, in a poem characterized to a great extent by the anxiety of its expression, several intimate and (I think) humorous perspectives emerge as well.


identifier: Neim, Sandy  (2000) Understanding disease through a post-modern art practice : (a collaboration of artistic and educational practice).  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The focus of this thesis is to reflect on my artistic practice from a post-modern way of thinking and seeing the world. This research examines the educational potential of my art production. I propose definitions for three phases of learning, which emerge from my artistic practice: self-learning, self-healing and collaborative learning. These experiences are discussed in relation to an analysis of five works of art. This learning process leads to the articulation of a philosophy for Art Education that emphasizes my two roles as artist and art educator.


identifier: Ramanathan, Ramaneetharan  (2000) Computerised scheduling and control of residential housing projects.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This research study presents a practical object-oriented model for scheduling and control of residential housing projects. The model is designed using an Object-Oriented modeling approach and incorporates 18 classes that are designed to facilitate the scheduling and control of residential housing projects. The model also includes two newly developed algorithms for scheduling the construction work of subcontractors in repetitive housing activities and for tracking and control of housing construction. The model considers a number of practical factors commonly encountered in scheduling and control process of these type of projects.  The scheduling algorithm complies with three major constraints namely, precedence relationships, availability period and crew work continuity and is applied in order to determine the start and finish date of the subcontractor in each housing unit. The tracking and control algorithm is designed to evaluate the cost and work performance of an on-going project at three levels: (1) entire project, (2) housing unit, and (3) subcontractor. The application of this algorithm facilitates the early detection of construction problems, if any, allowing timely corrective actions to be considered.  The developed model is implemented as a prototype software system named 'Residential Planner'. In addition to considering various practical aspects, Residential Planner can generate a number of specialized reports to address the diverse needs of the residential development firms. Residential Planner is an effective tool for scheduling and control of housing projects, and its application can lead to savings in project time and cost.


identifier: Reeve, Jeffrey Paul  (2000) Genetic constraints on the evolution of sexual size dimorphism.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In this thesis, I use an artificial selection experiment and multivariate simulation modelling to study some basic questions concerning the evolution of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Fecundity selection is often suggested as the main causal factor underlying the prevalence of female-biased SSD, but this assumption has not been empirically tested. I selected female Drosophila melanogaster for increased or decreased fecundity for 20 generations, and measured the effect on SSD in three morphological traits. SSD generally increased with selection for increased fecundity, but showed no consistent trend with selection for decreased fecundity. These results support the general hypothesis that SSD can evolve rapidly in response to selection for increased fecundity.  SSD can evolve for a number of reasons. The two main causes are thought to be sexual selection on males, and natural selection favouring different trait optima in the two sexes. Lande (1980a,b) has produced analytical models that can be used for predicting the change in SSD through either of these mechanisms. Although these models are often cited, they have never been adequately tested, either empirically or through simulation modelling. They rely on a large number of simplifying assumptions, and their robustness to violations of these assumptions is largely unknown. In this thesis, I present results from stochastic simulation models designed to test the effects of mutational variance assumptions, finite populations, and finite numbers of loci on the robustness of the analytical models predictions. The quality of the predictions depends on the nature of allelic distributions in the original population. If allelic effects are approximately normally distributed, the predictions can be very accurate. If, as is likely, allelic effects have a leptokurtic distribution, Lande's equations underestimate the rate of response and correlated response, and overestimate the time required for the trait means to reach their equilibrium values. Predictions for the magnitude of SSD at equilibrium can be very accurate for weak sexual selection. However, with stronger sexual selection the total response is greater than predicted. The results suggest that genetic correlations constrain both the short-term and long-term evolution of SSD less than predicted by the Lande model.


identifier: Rhéaume, Louis  (2000) Value creation in evolving information industries : the effects of U.S. mergers.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study investigates two main issues: (1) to what extent the level of relatedness among targets and bidders in the information industries affect the shareholder value of the bidders, and (2) what is the performance of related versus unrelated mergers in the information industries compared to what has been documented in the literature. We study the impact of diversification, whether related or not, in uncertain environments. We report interesting patterns by focusing on technologically converging industries for the three sectors comprising the information industries: information content, information appliances and information highways. Using a sample of 344 U.S. mergers for the period 1993 to 1997, we examine the stock market's response to these mergers in the information industries using the event study methodology. Thus, a short-term and long-term event study is undertaken to analyze the abnormal returns associated with those mergers. Inconsistent with the general literature, which found slightly negative or zero abnormal returns for the bidders in the short-term, we found some patterns of positive returns. However, consistent with prior research on the performance of related versus unrelated mergers, we found mixed results. Cross-sectional analysis shows that research and development expenditures on total assets (measure of technological uncertainty) are significantly negatively related in the short-run with abnormal returns, while they are positively related in the long-run with abnormal returns.


identifier: Siam, John J  (2000) Hedging Canadian short-term interest rates : the BAX market.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis adds to the body of literature seeking to improve the estimation of the optimal hedge ratio used in hedging money market and fixed income securities in Canada. A more accurate or improved depiction of the hedge ratio is of considerable importance and is the primary goal of this thesis.  The specific futures contract analyzed in this thesis is the Canadian Bankers' Acceptance Futures contract, the BAX, which was introduced on the Montreal Exchange in the early eighties as an instrument to manage interest-rate risk. Institutional features of the BAX market and the growth of this market, particularly in the second part of the 1990s, are described in Chapter 2. The efficiency of the BAX market is also addressed in this chapter where cointegration analysis is used to investigate the unbiasedness hypothesis.  Chapter 3 presents a univariate analysis of the BAX, and its underlying instrument the Canadian Bankers' Acceptance or BA, in a general framework that permits the statistical evaluation of myriad dynamic volatility models which have been used in such contexts. The successful estimation of these general models requires a considerable amount of data and necessitates the daily sampling frequency which is used in this thesis.  Chapter 4 presents a brief background and motivation for the hedge ratio, surveys early attempts at characterizing the hedge ratio and presents the bivariate models needed to estimate the hedge ratio. Most importantly, the general univariate framework used extensively in the previous chapter is extended to the bivariate case. The time-varying BA/BAX Hedge Ratio is then estimated. The hedging performance of these models is then evaluated. We also discuss whether there is any practical value in using daily data, versus weekly data, in the determination of the hedge ratio.


identifier: Small, Yvonne R  (2000) The role of private primary school education in Barbados : a case study of Vale Preparatory School.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This is a case study exploring the role of private primary education in Barbados in maintaining social inequality by offering better employment opportunities, higher income, social status and social mobility to some but not all people.  The development of an equitable and effective system of education in Barbados is constrained by a number of factors, some imposed by former colonial powers and now perpetuated, by the current government and some generated by economic, political and socio-cultural factors. Societies like Barbados, undergoing change and development, are often characterized by an interplay between the formerly dominant cultural patterns and emerging new ones, by shifting traditions as well as by change in the power relationships between different social classes.  Black leadership and independence became the active mechanism in promoting a sense of national harmony among the black population and promised expectations for a quality of life that was unheard of by their forefathers. However, continued control of private enterprise by the white minority guarantees its dominance in many prestigious occupations even within the confines of a black government. This control and ownership of capital by the white minority effectively guarantees inequality in the social structure which is subsequently nurtured in the education system, mirroring the class structure of the larger society.  Today, although the division is not based on racial lines, there is still a divide in the population based on class lines. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, conclusions are formulated in terms of further work to be accomplished in order to verify the effectiveness of the changes that are taking place.


identifier: Voss, Kirsten  (1999) Understanding adolescent antisocial behaviour from attachment theory and coercion theory perspectives.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study examined adolescent antisocial behaviour from two theoretical perspectives: attachment and coercion theories. Adolescents (N = 662, mean age: 15.8 years) completed measures of coping styles, attachment styles and coercive interactions (with mother and father), and rated their parents' use of hostile punishment and parental monitoring. They also reported involvement in delinquent activity and drug use, and sexual attitudes and behaviours.  According to attachment theory , insecurity may be related to behavioral maladjustment directly, or indirectly through dysfunctional ways of coping. Consistent with this view, two forms of insecure attachment (dismissing and fearful) were directly associated with more delinquency, experimentation with more drugs, and using drugs in response to strong emotions. Dismissing attachment was also related to riskier sexual attitudes. However, coping style did not mediate the attachment-antisocial behaviour link. Nonetheless, attachment styles were differentially related to ways of coping with stress. Secure teens used more constructive coping and less unhealthy strategies. Those who were more dismissing or preoccupied used more emotion avoidance, and those who were more fearful tended to be self-critical and to withdraw emotionally and behaviorally. A non-significant trend between fearful attachment and angry confrontation was also found.  According to coercion theory , ineffective parenting contributes to adolescent antisocial behaviour indirectly, through association with deviant peers. Consistent with this model, results from structural equation modeling showed that teens who are monitored more associate with less deviant peers, and engage in less antisocial activity. Those whose parents use hostile punishment are more antisocial.  The combination of both theoretical perspectives, using path analysis, allowed a more complete understanding of adolescent antisocial behaviour. Insecure attachment was indirectly related to delinquency and substance use, through a contentious home environment (characterized by hostile punishment, coercive interactions, and poor monitoring). The link between insecure attachment with father and antisocial outcomes was also mediated by more frequent coercive interactions and teens' use of more angry confrontation. These findings highlight the relevance of considering both affective and social learning processes for understanding adolescent risk behaviour.


identifier: Yang, Xianshu  (2000) Studies on the biosynthesis of oudenone and verucopeptin.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The biosynthesis of the fungal metabolite oudenone ( 67 ) was investigated. The Ì-diketone ( 70 ) was synthesized and shown to be the open-chain biosynthetic precursor of oudenone. Intact incorporation of 70 into 67 was achieved upon incubation of 2 H-labeled, N -acetylcysteamine thioester derivative of 70 with growing cultures of Oudemansiella radicata . The proposed mechanism for the cyclization of 70 into 67 is analogous to the "polyepoxide cascade" model, which has been previously implicated in the biosynthesis of polyether antibiotics.*  The antitumor metabolite verucopeptin ( 89 ) is structurally characterized by a polyketide-derived tetrahydropyranyl side chain and a 19-membered cyclodepsipeptide. A DNA fragment of 72.5 kb was isolated from a cosmid library of Actinomadura verrucosospora chromosomal DNA. Partial analysis and sequencing of this gene cluster revealed the presence of several open reading frames (ORFs) coding for modular polyketide synthase (PKS) type I enzymes and multifunctional, non-ribosomal peptide synthetase enzymes (NRPS). Based on the chemical structure of verucopeptin, the enzymatic motifs identified are consistent with those expected to be associated with its biosynthesis. A gene disruption experiment was performed with A. verrucosospora in order to demonstrate that the cloned 72.5 kb DNA fragment is associated with the biosynthesis of verucopeptin.*  *Please refer to dissertation for diagrams


identifier: Patton, Eric  (2000) Downsizing through the use of early retirement incentives : a case study.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: Plohman, Angela  (2000) Re-thinking contemporary aesthetic spaces : Diana Thorneycroft and the unacceptable sublime.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis is a case study of human responses in the space of the museum. I examine issues concerning behaviour education and training within this space and suggest possibilities for a sort of cultural, theoretical emancipation of the visitor, participant, or "viewer". But by taking the case of Diana Thorneycroft and particularly her last installation Monstrance , I hope to demonstrate that there is still a need to evaluate and rethink the permitted and accepted norms of human response to art both in and out of the museum. By examining Thorneycroft's career and trajectory towards performative spaces and dynamic, sensual artworks, it will be possible to note the biases and hegemony of the cultural space in which artists present their work. And finally, by linking these spaces to an alternative aesthetic, a sublime that horrifies, disgusts and frightens, and is situated outside of the sublime defined by Immanuel Kant and Edmund Burke, I hope to promote a new space in which the human body and its training can be challenged. The museum and art gallery can serve as a liberating and emancipatory space in which to explore human response.


identifier: Pondugala, Lakshmi Vara Prasad  (2000) Stochastic J-integral and realiability of composite laminates based on a computational methodology combining experimental investigation, stochastic finite element analysis and maximum entropy method.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The present thesis concerns itself with the stochastic fracture behavior and the reliability of laminated composites. A computational approach combining the Stochastic Finite Element Method (SFEM), the Maximum Entropy Method (MEM), and experimental investigation has been developed. Using this approach, the fracture parameters including the Stress Intensity Factor (SIF), the Energy Release Rate (ERR) and the J -Integral have been determined based on the experimental data for the properties of the composite material. The material parameters and the fracture parameters have been quantified in terms of the respective mean values, the standard deviations, the coefficients of variation, and the true analytical probability distributions. For this purpose, the analytical distributions are obtained using the maximum entropy method. The fracture behavior of laminates made of the NCT 301 graphite-epoxy composite material has been studied and further, a parametric study encompassing the effects of the laminate configuration, the number of stochastic simulations, the geometrical parameters of the laminate, and the crack length has been conducted. Relevant design aspects are synthesized based on the parametric study. The significance of the J -Integral in more accurately describing and quantifying the stochastic characteristics of fracture behavior than the ERR and the SIF is established. The formulation for the reliability analysis for the probabilistic design of laminates has been developed based on the interference theory of mechanical reliability. The formulation has been applied for the case of stress-based fracture criterion and demonstrated for the orthotropic laminates made of NCT 301 graphite-epoxy composite material. For this purpose, the fracture toughness values of the orthotropic laminate are obtained from the in-plane fracture toughness tests using Single Edge Notched (SEN) tension specimens of the laminate. Aspects related to the reliability-based probabilistic design are highlighted. Further, the effects of loading on the reliability of the orthotropic laminates are evaluated.


identifier: Poulsen, Catherine  (2000) Motivational modulation of on-line attention control processes.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis brings together two broad subdisciplines of psychology--cognition and motivation--in order to explore how motivational processes interact on-line with cognitive mechanisms in directing human behaviour and performance. A series of five experiments were conducted in which the Rogers and Monsell (1995) task switching paradigm was combined with motivational manipulations involving earned point incentives (Derryberry, 1993) to investigate the effects of prior and current motivation on task execution, attention switching, and inhibition. Using a left/right button press, participants alternated every second trial between vowel/consonant (letter task) and even/odd (digit task) judgments in response to target-foil stimulus pairs (e.g., A3, G#, ?6) presented on a computer monitor. Participants responded to the letter or digit target while inhibiting the competing (letter or digit) or neutral (symbol) foil. Task motivation was manipulated by assigning participants equal or differential incentives for letter and digit task performance during an initial training phase or during the switch task itself. Motivational incentives were found to have a large and selective influence on attention switching, evidenced by faster switching to the high-valued than low-valued task, but had no effect on either simple task execution processes or the inhibition of task-set cuing by a competing foil. In addition, prior motivational experience with differential task incentives during training had a greater and more reliable impact on attention switching than did current differential incentives applied during the switch task itself. These results reveal that motivation does not simply have a global facilitating influence on performance, but rather operates through highly specific mechanisms to bias goal-directed behaviour. Results are interpreted in terms of the apparent differential sensitivity to motivational input exhibited by attention control mechanisms versus automatic, stimulus-triggered processes. A further distinction is made between implicit motivational modulation of executive control mechanisms versus the engagement of an optional, incentive-based performance strategy. Also discussed are speculations regarding underlying neural mechanisms mediating these motivational influences on attention and the potential implications of these results for skill development and performance.


identifier: Ramachandran, Tanisha  (2000) Three tellings, four models and differing perceptions : the contruction of female sexuality in the Rāmāyaṇa.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The Ramayan[dotbelow]a has been used as a model for appropriate behavior for Hindus throughout the world. Hinduism, like many other religions, uses examples of morality derived from divine sources. The two epics, the Mahabharata, and Ramayan[dotbelow]a, occupy a unique position in the lives of Hindus. They serve, in effect, as a guide to appropriate conduct. The Ramayan[dotbelow]a is filled with tales, which depict, above all, dharma. Rama, the king of Ayodhya, is presented as the quintessence of ethical action. Although Sita, his wife, has been singled out as the representation of the pure woman, the Ramayan[dotbelow]a contains many characters that conform to or reject this notion of gender and sexuality. In this manner, ideal sexuality is not represented solely by Sita. To illustrate (speaking only in a prescriptive manner) a pan "Hindu" concept of sexuality, the focus of this research will be limited to four characters, Sita, Sabari, Surpan[dotbelow]akha and Ayomukhi in the Aran[dotbelow]yakan[dotbelow]d[dotbelow]a of Valmiki's Ramayan[dotbelow]a , Tulsidas' Ramacaritmanas and Kampa n 's Iramavataram . The purpose, is not simply to point out the subjugated position of women in this epic, rather it is also to illustrate the dependent and fluid nature of female sexuality.


identifier: Robichaud, Melisa  (2000) Gender differences in worry and associated cognitive-behavioural variables.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Research has shown that there is a significant gender difference in the worry report of women and men, with women consistently reporting more worry than men (Stavosky & Borkovec, 1988). This study investigated this phenomenon by looking at gender differences in cognitive variables associated with excessive worry. Intolerance of uncertainty, negative problem orientation, positive beliefs about worry, and cognitive avoidance have been linked with the generation and maintenance of worry (Dugas et al., 1998). Two-hundred and twenty-one female and 103 male university students completed six questionnaires assessing trait worry, intolerance of uncertainty, negative problem orientation, positive beliefs about worry, and cognitive avoidance. The results showed that women reported significantly more worry than men on two trait worry scales, as well as significantly more worries about lack of confidence issues. In relation to cognitive variables associated with worry, women also reported engaging in significantly more thought suppression and negative problem orientation than men. A non-significant trend emerged for a closer relationship between positive beliefs about worry and trait worry for men. It is postulated that thought suppression and negative problem orientation may account for women's increased reporting of worry, and that positive beliefs about worry may have a closer relationship to worry in men. Hypotheses accounting for the observed gender effects in the cognitive variables used in this study are discussed.


identifier: Rodriguez, Silvia  (2000) The post-deregulation impact on the Canadian financial services industry's mergers and acquisitions.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Financial services industries around the globe went through tremendous changes in the last decade, and deregulation was one of them In Canada, deregulation of the industry's four pillars; i.e., banks, insurance, trusts, and investment dealers, occurred on December 9, 1991. Since then, the Canadian government has allowed previously cross-ownership prohibited among the four pillars. The goal of this research is to study the act of the deregulation on two levels. First, to verify if the systematic risk of the pillars increased following deregulation, and secondly, to examine if mergers and acquisitions (M&As) following deregulation were creators of wealth. Results show that while the banks' systematic risk decreased following deregulation, the risk increased for the other three pillars. As for wealth creation, the bidders had significant positive abnormal returns, while the targets received significant negative returns.


identifier: Saidah, Edouard  (2000) The role of the graphing calculator in teaching and learning of the concept of function : observations in a mathematics classroom.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis, through research literature and a short study, explores the concept of function from didactic, pedagogical and psychological perspectives. The effects of recent curriculum reforms in Quebec, current mathematics textbooks, the implementation of the graphing calculator in the teaching and the learning of the concept of function will be studied. The research literature will set the theoretical basis for this paper and will be followed by a discussion of observations made in a graphing calculator complemented secondary 4 mathematics classroom of a local high school. Subsequent to these observations, an activity was designed and presented to the students as a test in the form of a questionnaire. For purposes of the study, this activity will provide an example of the role the graphing calculator plays when learning about function. Informal assessments were made concerning the role the graphing calculator when teaching and learning the function concept. One realization that was made concerned the necessary balance between traditional paper and pencil and graphing calculator methods needed in the classroom. Another dealt with the importance of the monitored integration of the graphing calculator in the classroom in order to be able to enhance the student's learning as well as to complement the teachers' methods.


identifier: Sarkar, Mekhala  (2000) Saute ça : the acquisition of the faire faire causative by first and second language learners of French.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Do young Bengali-speaking children learning French as a second language at preschool follow the same developmental path as French first language children with respect to the acquisition of the French faire faire causative? As an initial step toward answering this question, a flexible semi-structured play protocol was developed for the elicitation of the faire faire causative from both first and second language learners. In the first part of the study, longitudinal data were collected from eight monolingual children acquiring French as a first language in Montreal. The children were audio- and video-taped in their homes for 30 to 45 minutes every two to four weeks for at least six months, and their data were analyzed for occurrences of causative constructions, such as Je fais sauter la grenouille , and single-agent infinitival complement constructions such as Je veux jouer in which the same argument (agent or actor) applies to both modal and infinitive. Causative constructions are double-agent; the grammatical subject of the sentence (and semantic agent of the verb faire ) and the grammatical object of faire (and semantic agent of the following infinitive) are two distinct arguments. The argument structure of causative constructions is therefore more complex than that of single-agent infinitival complement constructions. Both kinds of constructions emerged at the same time in the speech of the French-L1 children, sometime between the second and fourth birthdays.  In the second part of the study, cross-sectional data from 24 Bengali-L1 children aged 5 and 6 were analyzed. A standardized measure of receptive vocabulary in French was taken from each L2 child, as well as a 30-minute naturalistic speech sample incorporating the causative elicitation procedure. The L2 children's receptive vocabulary and their ability to form single-agent infinitival complement constructions resembled that of the 2and 3-year-old French monolingual children, but their ability to form causative constructions lagged far behind. Some possible explanations for this finding are suggested. Differences in the input to the two groups, aspects of the syntax of causativization in French, and first language influence may all be implicated.


identifier: Setzer, Katharine Adrienne  (2000) Playing on-line : sexual subjectivity, gender play and the construction of the dyke SM fantasy.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This project explores the intersection of fantasy and mediation; the erotic interplay between the dyke SM fantasy, sexual and gender identity and the computer mediated communication practices of on-line chatting and email correspondence. The dyke SM fantasy, when toyed with in cyberspace produces a multiplicity and fluidity of sexual and gender perspectives and positionings. Through the creation and play of avatars and alternate personae within the chatroom space and in emailing, the performative nature of dyke SM subjectivity and identity(ies) is exposed and becomes erotically available for sexual/gender interrogations.  The dyke SM fantasy, as a narrative is introduced to set the scene for virtual travels through the sexually-based chatrooms of AOL and the erotic writing of emails. Once in cyberspace, a fictional character, the transgender cyborg is created for theoretical and erotic illustration of the power of such performances and to stand as a personal emblem for such on-line playings. Considering this character as an edge-dweller--existing only in the cyberfray and in the fantastic--the multiplicity of sexual and gender identity is further unveiled.  However, at the end of these travels what emerges is not only pleasingly productive, but problematic as well. As sites that compose an on-line dyke SM community, surveillance and monitoring of these sex/gender performances function to inspire a troubling degree of conformity within the cyber ranks. These limitations ultimately curb the productive potential of dyke SM play online.


identifier: Su, Zhihong  (2000) A neural network-based controller for a single-link flexible manipulator using the inverse dynamics approach.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis presents an intelligent strategy for controlling the tip position of a flexible-link manipulator. Motivated by the well-known inverse dynamics control approach for rigid-link manipulators, two multi-layer feedforward neural networks are developed to learn the nonlinearities of the system dynamics. The re-defined output scheme is used by feeding back this output to guarantee the minimum phase behavior of the resulting closed-loop system. No a priori knowledge about the nonlinearities of the system is needed where the payload mass is also assumed to be unknown. The weights of the networks are adjusted using a modified on-line error backpropagation algorithm that is based on the propagation of the redefined output error, derivative of this error and the tip deflection of the manipulator. Numerical simulations as well as real-time controller implementation on an experimental setup are carried out. The results achieved by the proposed neural network-based controller are compared in simulations and experimentally with conventional PD-type and inverse dynamics controls to substantiate and demonstrate the advantages and the promising potentials of this scheme.


identifier: Swarnamani, Seetharaman  (2000) Study of circularly symmetrical two-dimensional digital filters possessing separable denominator transfer functions.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The main objective of this Thesis has been to implement two-dimensional filter functions using simple design procedures and to study the presence of circular symmetry in such designed filters by parameter modifications. In keeping with the simple design criteria, the two-dimensional filters studied in this thesis have been designed starting from two one-dimensional filters as an independent product. Only IIR Filters have been considered for this purpose due to their capability of approximating the required response with low order filters and also their flexibility in terms of altering filter parameters to obtain new filters. The filters have been checked for stability before analysis. The design has made use of the fact that varying the feedback factor "k" in an IIR filter produces a near-circular symmetric response for certain values of "k" between specific magnitude ranges.  Algorithms have been obtained to check the extent of circular symmetry under specific magnitude ranges and to correct the feedback factor "k" in order to obtain the maximum proximity to circular symmetry


identifier: Tanguay, Kimberley Ellen  (2000) Sharing clinical wisdom : orienting new nurses to a tertiary care hospital center.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: Terzic, Marilyn  (2000) When education becomes entertainment : the effects of heavy viewing of content light programming on instructional television comprehension and recall.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Do the types of television programs we watch affect our comprehension and recall of events presented in another genre? If so, to what extent? Research evidence confirms that network and specialty channel programs are produced to reflect the audience's learning styles, in order to accommodate the individual differences in the ways in which people process audiovisual information. In light of these findings, this study examines the relationship between heavy viewing of content light television programs and an individual's comprehension and recall of events presented in a documentary. After watching a 10-minute documentary, content light and content heavy television viewers were given an intervening task and attitudinal survey, followed by two tests measuring their recall of the program's narrative and visual components. The results indicate that the content light group found concrete and readily visualized information easier to comprehend and recall, than semantically and acoustically complex details which were mastered by the content heavy group. As well, the content heavy group had a tendency to see the information presented in the documentary as a whole, and were able to have an overall perspective and appreciate its total context. By contrast, the subjects in the content light group viewed the program as a collection of parts, and often focussed on one aspect of a situation to the exclusion of the others. Suggestions pertaining to the use of advance organizers, attention attracting devices, embedded questions, music, repetition, and on-screen narrators in instructional television programs are discussed.


identifier: Vukov, Tamara  (2000) Imagining Canada, imagining the desirable immigrant : immigration spectacle as settler postcolonialism.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Using early Canadian immigration promotion as a point of departure, this thesis examines one historical and one contemporary site of what it proposes to call immigration spectacle (following Anne McClintock). It argues that immigration spectacle is a social practice of settler postcolonialism specific to the former British dominions, emerging from the settler need to imagine and people the nation through colonial settlement. The settler trajectory of immigration spectacle is traced through two contexts--early Canadian immigration promotion (1850-1930) and the 1999 reopening of Halifax's Pier 21. Chapter 1 theoretically situates immigration spectacle at the convergence of settler postcolonialism and imperial spectacle (McClintock). Chapter 2 examines how early immigration promotion constituted an institutional practice of nation (Anderson). Chapter 3 considers how the national memorialization of Pier 21 is enacted as much through settler forgetting and traumatic silences as it is through institutional memory (Renan). The memorialization of Pier 21 is framed as a contemporary actualisation of the colonial traces of early immigration promotion, particularly through the spectacle of the desirable immigrant that continues to inform immigration policy and politics.


identifier: Zhang, Lizhong  (2000) Implementing real-time reactive systems from object-oriented design specifications.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Real-time reactive systems are among the most difficult systems to design and implement because of their size and complex functional and timing requirements. TROMLAB is a framework for a rigorous development of consistent design that satisfy an authoritative specification of requirements, validate the design through simulation, and verify the design for safety properties through a formal verifier. This thesis adds one more significant component to TROMLAB by providing a methodology for automatic generation of code in real-time Java for reactive systems designed in TROMLAB framework. The correctness and efficiency of the implementation are illustrated on the implementation of the design for a generalized rail-road crossing problem, a bench-mark case study in the real-time systems community.


identifier: Zhang, Xiaomei  (2000) A performance analysis of wireless ATM multiplexing system.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In this thesis, we study the effects of channel error characteristics on a wireless ATM multiplexing system. The main characteristic of such a channel is that its error behavior is time-varying, with periods of low error rate ( Good ) transmission alternating with periods of high error rates ( Bad ) transmission. This variability is modeled as a two-state Markov chain with two states corresponding to Bad and Good states, respectively. The channel is modeled as being synchronous with the basic time unit being the slot. The transitions from Bad to Good states, and vice versa occur at the slot boundaries. We assume that during a Good state, the channel transmits a packet, while in a Bad state no packet is transmitted. The arrival process is modeled as the superposition of independent binary Markov sources, each source alternates between On and Off periods. In the source Off state, no data is emitted while, in the On state, the source generates a random number of packets in a slot each of which fits into a channel slot. We present a discrete-time queuing analysis of such a system.


identifier: Zhu, Hui  (2000) Plasticized lignin-PVC blends for flooring.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The present research, studies the feasibility of replacing part of the PVC in the formulation of flooring materials by lignin, an abundant and renewable natural polymer. The utilization of lignin, is aimed to develop more cost-effective flooring materials with appreciable mechanical properties, to decrease their susceptibility to microbial attack, to decrease the amount of VOC's release, and to explore a market for lignin.  To evaluate the role of lignin, a series of flooring materials with different proportions of lignin, are obtained, based on the investigation into the use of plasticizers for reducing the degree of association existing within lignin, macromolecules, The mechanical and thermal properties, as well as the processibility of the obtained materials are tested.  As a result of the present study, an alternative flooring material is attempted with appreciable properties, such as Young's modulus, tensile strength at break and at yield, elongation at break, as well as impact and hardness tests. In the meantime, the most suitable plasticizer for the specific formulation is determined. The economic advantage is also evaluated.


identifier: Zhu, Xiaoyu  (2000) Peter Railton's moral realism.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: Peter Railton's moral realism

abstract: This study is a critical examination of American philosopher Peter Railton's moral realism. The emphasis is placed on his synthetic naturalistic account. He holds that there are moral propositions which can be true or false; moral facts and properties are natural facts and properties; we can come to know or justify moral judgments through wide reflective equilibrium. I shall try to argue that his moral theory is a generally successful attempt to escape the Moorean charge of 'naturalistic fallacy' when advocating ethical naturalism. I will discuss both his reductionist and non-reductionist accounts and suggest that the latter is a better approach for a moral realist to justify moral beliefs. I will also critically discuss his arguments for instrumental rationality, ideal observer theory, internalism, justification of morality and his objections to non-cognitivism.


identifier: Lehmann, Jutta K  (1998) The influence of the theosophical movement on the revival of astrology in Great Britain and North America in the 20th century.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This dissertation traces the part played by the Theosophical Movement in the enrichment and popular revival of Western astrology in this century in Great Britain and North America, through an exploration of the philosophical and practical influences at work. In particular, we explore the extent to which the Theosophical teachings have affected the self-understanding and practice of modern astrology in the two countries.  Theosophical teachings claim to represent the common spiritual heritage of mankind that is found in all the major religious traditions of the world, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Neoplatonism, Hermeticism and early Christian and Jewish mysticism. This thesis proposes that modern astrology has, to a considerable degree, enriched and renewed itself by drawing upon these traditions through Theosophy, leading to enhanced interest and prestige for astrology in society at large. Four major themes in contemporary astrology were identified as having been inspired by Theosophy: the notions of the macrocosm and the microcosm, of karma and reincarnation, of planetary cycles, and of the psychology of the soul.  In addition this dissertation identifies the Theosophical channels through which these ideas were transmitted, and awes how they came to be incorporated by the mainstream astrological communities in these two countries. The most important source of Theosophical inspiration and insight for modern astrology is to be found in the writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, one of the founders of the Theosophical Society. After reviewing her ideas and attitudes towards astrology as given in particular in The Secret Doctrine as well as in her other works, this thesis traces their subsequent vicissitudes in the attitudes to astrology of major figures in the Theosophical Movement, astrologers and nonastrologers alike. A review of the Theosophical Movement and other literature about astrology, its history, and its merits as part of Theosophy, enables us to identify the contribution of the many local Lodges of the T.S. towards astrological education in the two countries, and hence their role in training succeeding generations of astrologers. The Astrological Lodge of the Theosophical Society in London, for example, is found to have played a particularly important role in preserving the Theosophical link to astrology. In addition, an archival search of Theosophical membership lists served to highlight the numerical importance of Theosophists among the founding members of The American Federation of Astrologers , the oldest, largest, and for decades the most influential astrological organization in the United States.  Finally, we trace the dissemination of Theosophical ideas in astrology through the lives and thought of four eminent authorities, recognized for their contributions to contemporary astrology in the two countries, all of whom were strongly influenced by their Theosophical background or affiliation. In a brief biography of their life and work, as well as a selected presentation of their type of astrology, we illustrate how each of these men have, in their own way, enriched astrology. They achieved this through the Theosophical content in their writings and their activities (e.g. lectures, classes), thereby promoting a renewed enthusiasm for its practical utility in the helping professions and a greater standing among the wider public


identifier: Van Velzen, Nicolas  (1997) Literature and existentialism : the case of Dostoyevsky.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This is an examination of the relationship between Literature and Existentialism, focussing on the major works of Dostoyevsky. It shows how these works are best suited for demonstrating the movements found in Existentialism. The concepts that are explored include: Contingency and its discovery, the collapse of Rationality and the ensuing emergence of Passion. The justification of Passion by such philosophers as Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, Passion in the Existential Roman a These, and the increase of Passion by Suspense, is also discussed.  This study shows how Dostoyevsky provides us with a grounding of experience which is necessary for a true account of existence, which other Existential authors cannot present. This study concentrates itself on Dostoyevsky's Notes From the Underground, The Idiot, and The Brothers Karamazov. The introduction considers the topic "Why the Case of Dostoyevsky", the first chapter focusses on "The Discovery of Contingency in Notes From the Underground", chapter two studies "The Collapse of Rationality and the Emergence of Passion", the last chapter examines "The Increase of Passion by the Suspense", followed by the conclusion which addresses "The End of Suspense"


identifier: Tucker, James R  (1998) The genetic basis of the trade-off between wing morph and fecundity in the sand cricket, Gryllus firmus (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) : correlated response in the proportion macropterous when selecting for a decrease in fecundity.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Optimal life histories are the result of fitness trade-offs that balance the costs and benefits of particular trait combinations. Trade-offs, represented by the genetic correlations between fitness characters, can constrain evolution by impeding the rate at which traits evolve independently. Wing dimorphisms, in which one morph (micropter) has reduced wings and cannot fly while the other (macropter) possesses fully developed wings and can fly, occur within several major orders of the Insecta (Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera). A substantial amount of evidence indicates that a phenotypic trade-off exists between morph and fecundity in wing-dimorphic insects. However, to have evolutionary significance trade-offs must be genetically based. A preceding study (Roff, 1994a) conducted on the sand cricket, Gryllus firmus, documented a negative correlated response in fecundity to selecting on the proportion macropterous. The present study demonstrates that direct selection for decreased fecundity in G. firmus produces a correlated increase in the proportion macropterous. The observed symmetrical correlated response indicates that the genetic constraint acts both ways. From the direct response, the realized heritability of fecundity was estimated to be 0.200 $\pm$ 0.0496. The demonstrated correlated response supports the hypothesis of a genetic basis for the phenotypic trade-off between migratory ability and reproduction commonly observed within wing dimorphic insects. Thus, fecundity is constrained from evolving independently of the proportion macropterous.


identifier: El-Sadi, Haifa  (1999) Efficiency of PAHs removal from clayey soil using supercritical fluid extraction.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The clay soil has specific properties that cause difficulty in the contaminated site assessment and the remediation process. The difficulty in extraction of HOC (hydrophobic organic compounds) from clay material was reported. Therefore, the SFE (supercritical fluid extraction) has a potential to substitute classical methods. The efficiency of using SFE (ISCO 200 model) for clay soil (illite) was investigated.  SFE tests were performed on various compositions of clayey soils. Phenanthrene was used to examine the extraction efficiency of PAHs from clayey soil. Phenanthrene concentration in soil specimen was determined by UV. Carbon dioxide was chosen as the supercritical fluid and 5% (mol) methanol was used as a modifier. The highest recovery (72%) from clay was obtained at a pressure of 55 kPa (8000 psi) and temperature of 150$\sp\circ$C with modifier when dynamic time of 30 min was applied. The impact of pressure (5000 to 8000 psi), temperature (50 to 150$\sp\circ$C) and time (static and dynamic) were discussed.  The extraction efficiency of phenanthrene from soil was modeled. The model accounts for effective diffusion of the phenanthrene in the solid pores, axial dispersion in the fluid phase and external mass transfer to the fluid phase from the particle surface. This model, involving partial differential equations, was solved using the finite difference. The model showed the relationship between diffusivity, mass transfer coefficient and properties of porous media (clay texture). Solubility of phenanthrene in carbon dioxide was calculated. The porous media analysis was reported by an electron microscopy and an image analysis. The developed model can be applied for more precise analysis necessary for contaminated site assessment as well as for evaluation of the remediation technology efficiency.


identifier: Dandenault, Edith Julie  (1997) Self-assessment of communicative ability : investigation of a novel tool for ESL learners.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis reports an investigation into the development and use of a self-assessment tool in the field of ESL.  The study involved a group of Francophones telling, in their own words, the story represented in a wordless cartoon storyboard. Segments lasting 30 seconds were taken from each of the recorded story tellings and played to a large group of native speakers of English. These English speakers rated the voices on a seven point scale where 7 = "can express ideas in English like a native speaker" and 1 = "cannot express ideas in English at all". From the ratings obtained we found voice samples that were statistically distanced from each other so that they lay on a seven point scale at approximately the 2, 4 and 6 points of the scale. A new stimulus tape was made up using two samples from the 2, 4 and 6 categories of speaker, as well as one speaker in the "2" category and one in the "7" category. This tape comprised the stimulus tape for the final part of the study. A group of French speaking students who were learning English as a second language rated themselves against these selected voices by indicating for each whether they could express themselves better than, as well as or worse than each sample voice.  The results were submitted to the Rasch model of measurement (item response theory) which demonstrated that the learners were extremely consistent in the way they rated themselves. Overall, the study indicated that this test, which is relatively simple to administer once the stimulus tape has been made, has strong face validity and strong internal consistency. The potential implications of these results for use of the tool in self-assessment as a placement test are also considered.


identifier: Fu, Tianku  (2000) Modeling and performance analysis of ABS systems with nonlinear control.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In this study, a new integrated Nonlinear Tracking Control (NTC) is developed that includes the dynamic analysis of the hydraulic braking systems. In the developed algorithm, the desired set points for the slip values are iterated from a nonlinear tire model based on the Magic Formula. Simulations of hard braking and steering maneuvers are conducted using the nonlinear Yaw-plane Four-wheel steering vehicle model with Limited Roll motion (YFLR) incorporating the nonlinear Magic Formula tire model (MF). Similar maneuvers are applied to the same vehicle model that is equipped with the conventional PID controller. Braking and vehicle stability performances are compared for the two implemented control systems to verify the reliability of the proposed control. In this study, Four-wheel Steering Control (4WSC) and Variable Slip-ratio Control (VSC) are also developed along with the NTC in the YFLR model to assess the cornering characteristics of the vehicle during braking and turning. Three controllers are independent but are coupled through the states of the longitudinal and lateral tire forces. Considering the tire friction ellipse, the control systems are designed using model matching control method to impose the vehicle braking performances following a desired dynamic model even during large decelerations or lateral accelerations.


identifier: Werry, Stephen  (1999) Whatever happened to the Jesuit Church of Old Havana?  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis examines the architectural and historical evolution of the Jesuit Church that was located in Havana (Cuba). It is a "hands on" study that deals with the building and the available archival material. Construction on the church started in 1749 and it was halted with the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Spanish overseas dominions in 1767. The unfinished building was given over in 1772 for use as the Parish Church of the city and work on the fabric of the building was resumed. Work was completed in 1777 and in 1793 the building was formally raised to the rank of Cathedral. The thesis then follows the development of the structure through the nineteenth century, on into the late 1940s when it underwent a major process of repair and restoration, and through to the end of the millennium.  The thesis also deals with the urbanistic interrelationships of the Plaza de la Catedral on which the Collegiate Church was located and with the empowered residences that surrounded the old square. It looks, as well, at the evolution of the Jesuit College (of which the church was an integral component) from its founding in 1727 through to the present. Comments have also been included on the precedence of the design and the architect of the original structure. The paper concludes with several suggestions for the conservation of the available archival material and to function as a guide to help further any future investigations. A timeline is also provided that links all of the available archival material into a chronological relationship of events.


identifier: Kalbfleisch, Elizabeth  (2000) Making history, picturing hysteria : archaeology, ficto-criticism, and the critical history of Nicole Jolicoeur's La vérité folle.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: For two decades, the work of Montréal artist Nicole Jolicoeur has been centred around medical photographs documenting the hysterical patients of Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot at the Salpêtrière hospital in late nineteenth century France. Jolicoeur's work is explored in the context of the constructed nature of both hysteria as an illness and the photograph for adeptly representing reality. Through her work, Jolicoeur performs a Foucauldian archaeology as she researches and re-assembles a visual history of hysteria. Using historical photographs, she proposes a new and critical history of hysteria that can be termed ficto-criticism. Both archaeology and ficto-criticism are explored as strategies for producing alternative histories. Archaeology and ficto-criticism allow for the artist to question the authority of Charcot and the medical establishment, and to tell the story of the oppression of the hysterical woman in a way that may be more truthful and satisfying than what has been offered by more traditional histories.


identifier: Kreiba, Ali  (2000) The rheological properties of aqueous polyacrylamide solutions.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Polyacrylamide solutions are extensively used as chemical additives or processing aids in the manufacturing of paper and paperboard products. In addition, they have been widely used in enhanced oil recovery. In this thesis, an experimental work has been carried out to provide a complete and comprehensive study of the rheological properties of polyacrylamide solutions using cone-and-plate rheometery. Polyacrylamide concentrations in the tested solutions ranged by weight from 2 to 5%. The scope of the study includes the measurements of steady-state behavior, transient shear stress and yield stress response, thixotropic, creep recovery, and dynamic responses for each concentration.  The findings resulted in several conclusions regarding the rheological properties of polyacrylamide solutions. They have shown a strong shear-thinning behavior for all concentrations. The dynamic viscosity showed two different behaviors--shear-thinning region and shear-thickening region. Significant transient behavior has been observed for all concentrations of polyacrylamide solutions. The yield stress of PAM solutions increased with increasing concentrations. Three different behaviors of thixotropy test have been observed--thixotropy, antithixotropy, and time dependent. Finally, the viscous part of PAM solutions was always higher than the elastic part.


identifier: Sahambi, Harkirat S  (2000) Appearance based object recognition using independent component analysis.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In recent years there has been a renewed interest in appearance based 3-dimensional object recognition. All possible views of an object define its workspace, known as visual workspace. This workspace is coarsely sampled and projected onto a lower-dimensional space and represented as workspace manifold. The dimensionality reduction is usually done using Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT), or principal component analysis (PCA). The lower dimensional space has been called the eigenspace. For recognition, the test image is projected likewise onto the eigenspace and its position on the appearance manifold is used for the recognition phase.  In object recognition, there are many situations in which features based on only second order statistics are not sufficient. To take into account higher order statistics, Independent Component Analysis (ICA) has been proposed.  This thesis presents results on appearance based 3-dimensional object recognition accomplished by using ICA. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Tomasic, Patricia  (2000) The (De)construction of 'Indianness' at Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis surveys the role which 'Indianness' has played at rock art sites in Canada. The emphasis is on how the generally negative colonial creation of 'the Indian,' especially after Confederation, has penetrated non-Native opinion in entertainment, which helped spread 'the Indian' image through the general public, and science, which helped to 'confirm' the image. By looking particularly at Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park in southern Alberta, some of the issues addressed are: why 'the Indian' was required in Canada, how this image became accepted, how Writing-On-Stone deals with this image in its interpretation and what changes have evolved in rock art research in the latter part of the twentieth century.


identifier: Siddiqui, Owais Mustafa  (2000) Dynamic analysis of a modern urban bus for assessment of ride quality and dynamic wheel loads.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Modern urban buses with low floor and considerable over hung design are known to cause poor ride quality and excessive pavement loads. Such performance is partly due to the present status of urban roads and their rapid deterioration. On the other hand, variations in the dynamic tire forces of such vehicles are known to be a cause for acceleration of road damage and are strongly related to vibration modes of the vehicle associated with vertical and pitch motion of the sprung and unsprung masses. The high levels of tire induced road damage has prompted a growing demand for the design of heavy vehicles that are both passenger- and road-friendly.  In this investigation, a six degrees-of-freedom pitch plane model of a modern urban bus is developed to study the ride and axle load performance under deterministic as well as measured urban road excitations. The validity of the model is demonstrated by comparing the response characteristics with available measured data. The ride quality of the vehicle is assessed in relation to the proposed guidelines upon applying the recommended frequency-weighting filters. An extensive list of performance measures for dynamic wheel loads and their pavement damage potentials are discussed and used for the assessment of road-friendliness performance.  The influence of variations in design and operating variables on the ride performance of the vehicle is investigated through a comprehensive parametric study. The variations in operating conditions include the speed, road roughness, tire inflation pressure and bus load. The parametric study on design variables includes the variations in suspension dampers and springs, geometry of the suspension and wheel base. The results of the study are discussed to highlight the contributions of these parameters on the ride quality and pavement load, and to identify most desirable design and operating conditions


identifier: Stimpson, Dennis  (2000) Beyond ethical reflections : neo-liberalism, idolatry and Canadian catholic social teaching.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Neo-liberalism is ideologically rooted in nineteenth-century laissez-faire capitalism, a form of economics that asserts the free market, unencumbered by government restraint, is the only path to human social and economic fulfillment. Canadian Catholic social teaching has approached neo-liberalism through the door of social ethics. However, some liberation and critical theologians believe that neo-liberalism contains a covert religious dimension complete with an absolutist dogma, a spirituality, a value system, a soteriology and embedded "God-concepts." These theologians maintain that when considered theologically, neo-liberalism is consistent with Scripture's perspective on idolatry. The study suggests that the theological theme of idolatry provides significant insight into the religious dimension that sustains neo-liberalism as an oppressive system of domination and a structure of social sin. The study includes recommendations for incorporating the theme of idolatry into Canadian Catholic social teaching so that the struggle for economic justice is presented as an issue of Christian faith as well an issue for social ethics.


identifier: De Lutis, Karen  (2000) Women and trousers : being a work on dual garnitures and a case study of the bifurcated movement in nineteenth-century clothing for women in North America.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis analyzes the trousered dress reform movement for women in North America and Britain in the latter half of the nineteenth century, by studying the environment in which trousers were promoted, and by using two art phenomenons of the mid-nineteenth century--the American sculptor Hiram Powers's Greek Slave (1843), and Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace, a glass structure designed for the Great Exhibition of the Industries of All Nations of 1851 in London, England.  Contrary to many modern accounts, archival evidence shows that once the concept of a trousered costume for women was introduced in North America, "...women all over the country [were] making inquiries about the dress and asking for patterns--showing how ready and anxious women were to throw off the burden of long, heavy skirts."  American women took their costume to Britain, where they planned to promote it at the Great Exhibition of 1851, which requested "suggestions for improvement from every civilised nation of the world." The women hoped that if the fashion caught on in London, it would be more readily accepted in North America. Analyzing the architectural environment and art surroundings in which it was promoted leads to what I believe to be a more accurate assessment of why dual garnitures for women were not ultimately part of women's everyday wardrobe for another half century at least. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Wise, Jonathan  (2000) Photographic memory : Inuit representation in the work of Peter Pitseolak.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis examines the photographs of Inuit historian, camp leader and pioneer artist Peter Pitseolak (1902-1973) whose work in and around the community of Cape Dorset on the southwest coast of Baffin Island dates from the early 1940's until his death. Pitseolak's work coincided with a period of great turmoil and cultural upheaval for the Inuit. He spent much of his life documenting elements of traditional culture--through drawings, paintings, sound recordings, and a significant collection of photographs. This thesis examines Pitseolak's work within a number of critical frameworks, contextualizing it within the development of Western formations of representing the Inuit, from first impressions in painting and drawing, to early conventions established in Arctic photography. Through a contemporary theoretical lens, I discuss ways in which Pitseolak's images may be read through these earlier paradigms, as cultural codes implicating the Inuit as Other . In this way, Pitseolak's photographs become complex configurations of self-identity, confronting models of representation as they disrupt a relationship between observer and subject. During his lifetime, Peter Pitseolak recognized the predicament of Inuit culture against the encroachments of Western influence, yet he transcended Eskimo stereotypes and strove to retain the important events of his own life and of those around him.


identifier: Cross, Carolyn Christina  (2000) Body marking within New France : a contemporary perspective.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study is an exploration of body markings and the culture surrounding them within New France during the French Regime dating from 1608-1763. The emphasis will be on early modern European writings, which have created the discourse that has been used to construct meanings for such body decorations. The approach comes from a contemporary perspective, giving contemporary interpretations of body markings within New France. Some of the issues to be addressed are: the prevalence of the practice among the First Nations peoples, the nature of the representations as well as interpretations of their meaning, European writers' understandings of the practice from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, and the appropriation of the practice by the early colonists. Conclusions are formulated by elaborating and assessing the terms in which a specific aspect of Amerindian history--body marking--has been written in order to trace the mutual historical implications of European and aboriginal cultures. The study gathers the widely dispersed information that surrounds this topic in order to lay a factual and interpretive groundwork on which subsequent studies may build.


identifier: Zhu, Yi  (2000) Mixed traffic in Chinese cities : bicycle and the intersection problems.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The mixed traffic (the traffic made up of bicycles and automobiles) is widely spread in Chinese cities. It is also greatly responsible for major traffic problems, such as the conflicts, low efficiency and safety problems. These problems are most evident at street intersections. However, they have never been investigated in Chinese cities. Therefore, it is the mixed traffic at intersections that requires detailed study. To predict types of transportation mode in Chinese cities, an investigation in Shanghai was performed. It is found that within a certain distance range, cycling is more efficient than other modes and it will still remain in future urban traffic system of China. Then, mixed traffic would require a new strategy of management. The mixed traffic conflict situation was studied in two major intersections of Chinese cities by analyzing digital video. The research showed that for constant number of automobile, the crossing time for mixed traffic increases with number of bicycles following a logarithmic equation. The crossing time of the mixed traffics with constant number of bicycle increases with number of automobiles following an exponential equation. The suggestions of traffic management strategies and intersection design are presented. It is anticipated that the new management strategies that consider severely the bicycle component can decrease the traffic impact on environment.


identifier: Kappos, Antonio  (2000) Organizational culture and the achievement of ERP strategic advantages and BPR performance improvements.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study looks at the relationship that organizational culture has with the achievement of strategic advantages from implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and the achievement of performance improvements from performing Business Process Reengineering (BPR). A sample of 22 organizations that implemented ERP and 31 organizations that performed BPR were used to test a number of hypotheses. A competing values approach to measuring organizational culture was used to quantitatively measure an organizations culture profile, and a modified version of the measurement instrument was used to measure the change in that profile due to ERP and/or BPR. Partial least squares (PLS) method of structural equation modeling was then used to determine the relationship that the organization's culture and culture change has with ERP and BPR success. The results show that the organization's culture and the change in that culture is significantly related to the achievement of strategic advantages from implementing ERP and the performance improvements from performing BPR.


identifier: Shannon, Kevin  (2000) Circumferential propagation of acoustic pulses in partially-filled cylindrical shells.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: We investigate the circumferential propagation of acoustic pulses in partially water-filled aluminum and stainless steel thin-walled cylindrical shells in the frequency x thickness (fd) region 0.64 MHz mm < fd < 0.96 MHz mm. In pulse-echo experiments, a multiplicity of periodic echoes were received when a single input pulse was applied to the outer surface of the shell. The periodic behaviour suggests that the pulses take different paths within the system, and that these paths depend upon the height of the liquid filler. Computer simulation and obstruction experiments are used to determine the nature of these paths, and identify, in particular, which modes propagate within the water-loaded portions of the shells. This work suggests that the A 0 Lamb-like wave predominates in the loaded shell. The application to liquid-level sensing is investigated.


identifier: Mondal, Prosanta Kumar  (2000) On the principle of MINQUE for the estimation of variance and covariance components.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In this thesis, we describe the method of MINQUE (C. R. Rao (1970)) and its various generalizations (C. R. Rao (1971, 1972), Chaubey (1977), P. S. R. S. Rao and Chaubey (1978)). This method can be used if some information about the variance components is available in the form of an a priori guess. Chaubey (1977) outlines the extension for estimating the elements of a covariance matrix using this principle. The method extends easily for the case when no a priori guess of the covariance matrix is assumed. However, for incorporating the a priori guess for estimating the distinct elements of a covariance matrix, we may need to consider a related but different minimization problem, whose solution is provided. A special case of the general model is considered for the numerical illustration.


identifier: Jacob, Benoy  (2000) Equity planning and community economic development : the case of Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The developed world has witnessed high levels of economic growth, however, the benefits of this growth have not been felt evenly across communities and nations. Moreover, despite the efforts of locally based community organisations, marginalised communities remain unable to access many mainstream social and economic resources. This thesis links the Equity Planning Model with Community Economic Development (CED) as a way for urban planners and CED practitioners to better meet the needs of marginalised groups and communities. This thesis provides an analysis of the district that identifies marginalised communities according to social and economic factors, within the district of Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce in Montreal, and provides an indication of the residents socio-economic needs and goals. From this, a framework for an economic development plan is articulated that uses small businesses for community development. This framework (1) identifies the marginal communities in the district, (2) identifies three development goals, and (3) provides recommendations, based on these goals, for the three small business start-up organisations in the district. The methods used in this thesis demonstrate how, by specifically identifying the needs of marginalised groups, economic development plans can ensure that such groups gain access to social and economic opportunities.


identifier: Dubé, Marie-Hélène  (2000) Un millénaire d'histoire canadienne pour une "poignée de 30 sous" : commémoration de la nation par le biais du concours "Faites Centsation!".  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Pour souligner le passage au nouveau millénaire, la Monnaie royale canadienne a lancé le concours de design de monnaie ±Faites Centsation!»; une initiative qui a mené à la production et à la diffusion de deux séries de pièces commémoratives de circulation, dont une, émise en 1999, axée sur le passé de la nation.  La commémoration est un outil promotionnel, politique, au service de l'État. Entre ses griffes, le passé de la nation est remanié en fonction des intentions de son producteur, mais également en fonction des préoccupations et des valeurs entretenues par ce dernier. Une commémoration du passé se doit donc d'être lue, non pas comme une juste représentation du passé qu'elle souligne, mais bien comme un texte révélateur des aspirations et des intérêts bien contemporains de son créateur. Ce mémoire propose donc l'étude de ±Faites Centsation!» à titre de projet commémoratif national et également l'étude du message spécifique dont sont ornées les pièces de 1999. Alors qu'ils sont présentés comme le résumé des derniers mille ans de la nation, les designs frappés sur les pièces de 1999 doivent plutôt être analysés comme le portrait déguisé de la vision idéalisée de la nation chérie par l'État en ce début de XXI e siècle.  Au fil d'analyses de la structure du concours et de son produit final, j'établis ce portrait utopique de la nation; vision diffusée partout au pays grâce à un médium dont on réalise que trop peu le potentiel de distribution de contenu symbolique: la monnaie nationale.


identifier: Lynch-Dalgleish, Tamara  (2000) The design, production and evaluation of a computer-based multimedia learning program.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This purpose of the thesis is to describe the design, production and evaluation of a computer-based multimedia learning program for 5-9 year olds. The first segment details project design, and production. The second segment examines a number of evaluation models available to the designers, and describes how formative evaluation contributed to the improvement of various project components. The third segment outlines the methodology and the results of summative evaluation which assessed the effectiveness of the electronic storybook portion of the program, as used in conjunction with an electronic glossary, on improved word comprehension and story recall in Grade 2 (7-9) year old students.  Sixty subjects were exposed to either the electronic storybook with an 'on-screen' glossary, or to the traditional printed book with a printed glossary. The experiment was conducted using a posttest only control group design. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in either improved comprehension or story recall. However, the research indicated a more vigorous use of the glossary and interest in word investigation by the children in the experimental (computer) group. Furthermore, comments from students and researcher observations indicated a greater degree of motivation and enjoyment from the students who read from the electronic storybook


identifier: Davidson, Miriam  (2000) "Catching time" : pathways to engagement in the elementary classroom through the visual arts.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Boredom and apathy are readily observable in many contemporary classrooms. In order to combat this prevalent condition, elementary students between the ages of eight and eleven years old in two different classes at Coronation Elementary School in Montreal, Canada, were offered a series of activities that provided them with opportunities to become active researchers of their own experience. In these efforts the camera played an integral role in enabling the children to bring their ideas, concerns and real world experience into the classroom in thoughtful and personal ways.  Conclusions drawn from this qualitative study support the view that by providing children with learning environments in which deep personal connections are fostered (through care, dialogue and pleasure in learning), they may be empowered to employ the technical or artistic skills they are taught to create texts that are representations of their individual and collective identities. Experienced together, this pedagogy of connection , along with explorations of identity through the visual arts, served to build a bridge between the children's experiences outside the school and their lives in the elementary classroom, which in turn brought them to increased engagement in their learning.


identifier: Guo, Ning  (2000) A systematic methodology to improve CMOS transductors for low power and wideband operation.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: A CMOS transconductor is a functional block which can transfer voltage signals to current signals. Thus, it is a commonly used interface between the physical world and the current signal processing systems. In order not to affect the performances of the main current signal processing system, high-performance transconductor structures need to be designed. The major concerns of modern analog systems include lower power dissipation and wider bandwidth in addition to the application related performances, such as, high gain, high linearity and so on.  Unlike most researches that have been conducted on improving the single performance of a transconductor structure, a systematic methodology which targets on the performance-power ratio of CMOS transconductors is proposed in this work. The objective function defined for optimizing the performance-power ratio is a transconductor's frequency versus power ratio. The significance of the frequency-power ratio is that it represents how much bandwidth a structure can achieve while consuming unit DC power. A transconductor structure with maximal frequency-power ratio provides wider bandwidth than the structure with non-maximal frequency-power ratio when both consume the same DC power; or on the other hand, the structure with maximal frequency-power ratio consumes less DC power than the non-maximized structure when both operate at the same bandwidth.  Theoretical derivations, numerical calculations as well as HSPICE simulations on various transconductor structures are conducted to prove the effectiveness of the proposed optimization methodology. Two test chips are also fabricated and measured to verify the analyses. A few transconductor-based analog systems are studied to illustrate the impact of the transconductor optimization on the system. Other important design issues, such as, environmental variations, are also discussed in the work


identifier: Baroudi, Uthman A  (2000) Performance of adaptive admission\congestion control policies on a hybrid MC-CDMA\TDMA integrated multimedia networks.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Future 3G CDMA networks are expected to have the ability to accommodate variety of users, each with its own transmission characteristics and quality of service (QoS) requirements to be maintained. Compatible multi-access system should provide the means to control (i.e. admission congestion) the flow of traffic and at the same time maintain the QoS requirements.  The essence of this work is to introduce an interaction between the physical layer and higher network layers, thus enabling more practical utilization of multi-user detection and supporting services with different QoS parameters. The traffic sources are classified according to their activities and QoS of parameters into two categories, namely stream and interactive traffic. As congestion arises, the interactive traffic users are granted higher priority than the stream traffic users. In this work, a new hybrid Multicode (MC)-CDMA/TDMA medium access control technique utilizing multi-user detection accompanied with a traffic flow control scheme is proposed and analyzed.  Secondly, the End-to-End performance criteria of the proposed MAC such as packet delay, channel utilization, etc. are investigated under new Window Measurement-Based admission/congestion control policy where the status of the buffer at the base station is estimated taking into consideration the physical limitations of the base station (i.e. the number of transmission and reception moderns), call and burst level traffic, channel impairment, etc.  Thirdly, the hybrid analysis/simulation routine is repeated to investigate and verify the performance of the above proposed MAC along with several versions of congestion policies. The whole system is studied under wide range of traffic load, and different system parameters. The results show that the QoS requirements have been effectively maintained and the proposed system is amenable to practical implementation.


identifier: Lieberman, Melissa  (2000) The association between peer relations, eating behaviors, and body esteem in adolescent girls.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study was designed to investigate the association between peer relations, eating behaviors, and body esteem in a sample of 876 adolescent girls ( M age = 14 years). Participants completed questionnaires assessing peer pressure about weight and appearance (i.e., social reinforcement & peer modeling), body esteem, dieting and bulimia, weight and appearance related teasing, self esteem and peer nominations of social rejection, popularity and teasing. Weight and height measurements were taken to calculate BMI. The Composite Social Map (CSM) procedure was used to determine clique membership and status.  Data were analyzed at the level of the clique, the friendship pair, and the individual. For cliques, results indicated that nuclear cliques were characterized by higher mean levels of peer pressure than secondary and peripheral cliques. Girls in cliques with higher social reinforcement, higher peer modeling, and an earlier average age of menarche, reported higher dietary restraint. For bulimia, higher reports of social reinforcement were associated with higher levels of bulimic behavior. Girls in high pressure cliques with low general self esteem, low body esteem, and high body-shape teasing were more likely to report problematic eating behaviors.  For best friend pairs, high between-pair associations were found for average popularity, social rejection, and age of first date, followed by perceptions of peer pressure. Further, dieting was a more common shared characteristic among best friend pairs than bulimic behavior. At the level of the individual, involvement in a close friendship, high opposite-sex relational esteem, severe weight and body-shape teasing, peer pressure about weight and appearance, externalized self-perceptions, and peer attributions about the importance of weight and appearance for popularity and dating were important predictors of problematic eating behaviors. A more complete relational model should also include family variables.  These data point to the need for developing and implementing multilevel interventions. Prevention should focus on decreasing pressure by peers to be thin, increasing self and body esteem, and combating weight and body-shape related teasing within the school system


identifier: Holm, Susan  (2000) Are gender differences status differences? : coping as a model case.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Men generally hold higher status than do women, and status has been shown to affect both expectations for and actual behaviour. The present research investigated the hypothesis that many gender differences in social behaviour may actually be status differences. Coping, which encapsulates several social behaviours, was used as the domain in which to investigate the hypothesis. The overall hypothesis was that perceptions of the coping of high and low status individuals would correspond to perceptions of the coping of men and women (i.e., gender stereotypes) and to self-perceptions of coping (i.e., self-report coping). In Study 1, men and women completed a self-report measure of coping behaviour constructed to assess specific coping strategies of interest in the literature on gender differences in coping. Validation of the coping instrument was also established. Study 2 was a social perception study. Using a minimal instantiation of status, perceptions of the coping of high and low status individuals were assessed. Study 3 was another social perception study, this time with the perception of the coping of men and women as the variable of interest. Overall, there was a correspondence between perceptions of the coping of high and low status individuals, gender stereotypes of coping, and self-reported coping of men and women. The results have implications for the understanding of gender differences and for the effect of other status characteristics on behaviour.


identifier: Guan, Zhong  (2000) Message passing interface implementation for Concordia parallel programming environment.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In this report, we present the design and implementation of a Message Passing interface (MPI) [1] for the Concordia Parallel Programming Environment (CPPE), an environment for parallel computing simulation. The purpose of this project is to provide Message Passing Interface (MPI) support for CPPE, so that user can get access to MPI programming with CPPE. Also the CPPE environment, which allows users to study impacts of the system and software factors on program performance and locate performance bottlenecks in parallel programming [2], in turn, benefits the developing of the MPI applications with all of its advanced features.  Parallel computing offers the potential to push the perfomance of computer systems into new dimensions. One of the main obstacles for a broad application of the parallel technology is the lack of parallel programming standards. The Message Passing Interface (MPI) is just such a portable message passing standard that facilitates the development of parallel applications and libraries. The goal of MPI is to achieve efficient communication, portability and rich functionality.  This report outlines the development and implementation of MPI for CPPE. As a development tool, this implementation enables MPI parallel software developing easy and inexpensive. As a learning tool, it provides a larger group of computer users with the opportunity to gain experience with MPI programming on their personal computers.  We also discuss the MPI standard in detail, and furthermore illustrate the MPI parallel programming with some example programs. We focus on design and implementation issues for MPI, as well as the simulation procedure under CPPE virtual parallel machine. Special consideration is given to confirm the correctness of this implementation by comparing the running of a series of MPI applications on CPPE with that of MPICH implementation on UNIX.


identifier: Juričević, Robert  (2000) Average lang-trotter conjecture for 2 elliptic curves.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Let E 1 and E 2 be two elliptic curves without complex multiplication over the rationals. For primes p of good reduction, let a p ( E 1 ) and a p ( E 2 ) be the traces of the Frobenius morphism of E 1 and E 2 respectively. By Hasse's theorem, we know that a p ( E i ), i = 1,2, are integers and satisfy the inequality


identifier: Daniele, Matteo  (1998) A single stage power factor corrected AC/DC converter.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Applications for AC/DC converters that require high input power factor has been traditionally implemented by two power stages. In order to provide a cost effective and high density solution for low power applications, this thesis proposes a single stage isolated converter topology designed to achieve a regulated dc output voltage having no low frequency components and a high input power factor. The topology is derived from the basic two switch forward converter, but incorporates an additional transformer winding, an inductor, and a few diodes. The proposed circuit inherently forces the input current to be discontinuous and ac modulated to achieve high input power factor. The converter's output is operated in discontinuous conduction mode to minimize the bulk capacitor's voltage variations with variations in the output load current. Analysis of the converter is presented and performance characteristics are given. Design guidelines to select critical components of the circuit are presented. Experimental results on a 150 W, 50 kHz, universal input (90-265 V), 54.75 V output AC/DC converter are given which confirm the predicted performance of the proposed topology.


identifier: Defence, Astrid  (1994) The readability of the mathematics textbook : with special reference to the mature student.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The readability of their mathematics textbook is of prime importance to the College or University level students. These students are no longer taught mathematics concepts as they were at school in a teacher-controlled environment. They must be able to confidently turn to their textbook for meaningful explanations of the mathematics they are learning. However many students find reading their mathematics textbook a fruitless task. They were never taught how to read mathematical text or indeed that reading such text needed special reading skills. Consequently they find that they do not understand the language it is written in and are constantly faced with vocabulary that is at the same time familiar yet has taken on a different meaning. Much research has been conducted into the problems with the ambiguities between Mathematical English and Ordinary English at the school level, but this study is an investigation into the ambiguities in language encountered by students who have returned to studies after several years in the work force. Do their added years of experience make their reading of mathematical text easier or harder? How much teacher input is still necessary? Can they learn the mathematics from the textbook alone? It is in an attempt to seek answers to these questions that this study was undertaken.


identifier: Eastwood, Peter  (1998) Here, now : stories.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: Here, now : stories

abstract: The four long stories in this collection focus on men struggling with questions of responsibility--personal, familial, moral--that characterize their relationships with others: the betrayal felt by a teenage theatre usher once he realizes the projectionist he admires is an unfaithful and abusive husband; the anxieties faced by a young man after his partially artificial teeth come loose just before he proposes to his girlfriend; the strange connection made between a displaced university instructor and an immigrant taxi driver; and the new hope found by a young father during the intrusive visit of his bizarre, born-again father-in-law. All of these men face significant and often unexpected dilemmas as they negotiate their ways through contemporary urban lives that are suddenly revealed to be different than the ones they envisioned themselves living. These stories reposition these characters on the precipice of new discoveries about their lives, wherein which their recognition of the realities of present time and place is a necessary first tentative step towards maturity.