identifier: Seshadri, Jagan N. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Seshadri=3AJagan_N=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Design of a mobile robotic platform for research in group robotics.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis presents the design and development of the SAMBUCA (Semi Autonomous Mobile Base and Utile Control Architecture) mobile robot base for the purpose of advancement of research in group robotics. The base is intended to be used as part of a multi-robot system whereby a number of robotic vehicles, including ones derived from this design, will be deployed and coordinated to perform tasks semi-autonomously in order to reach a goal. -- Research in group robotics is being conducted at Memorial University of Newfoundland, in the Intelligent Systems laboratory of C-CORE, and the outcomes of these endeavors will be applied to industrial problems in harsh environments. The initial application of this research will be toward the mining industry, and specifically toward the automation of underground ore mines in Canada. Future applications include, but are not limited to, space exploration, toxic waste management, and automated farming. -- The work done to date in the Intelligent Systems laboratory has included the initial development of a vehicle route planner and a discrete-event based traffic controller that has been successfully interfaced with groups of robotic vehicles to carry out specified tasks in relatively structured, static environments. Currently, these systems break down goals into tasks that are coordinated and dispatched to toy robots that operate in a model mine. While the use of toys is sufficient for proof- of-concept demonstrations of the discrete-event control and planning systems, toys must be adapted and coerced to work under conditions that they were not intended to experience. These adaptation efforts are not central to the research goals, and not only demand unnecessary efforts from the research group, but indeed limit the progress that can be made in developing an automated system. -- While it is too early to incorporate the current research results into full-sized industrial robotic vehicles, specially designed small-scale robotic vehicles can be used in mock system trials instead of toy-based robots, thereby providing more accurate representations of the challenges encountered by full-sized robotic automation systems. -- This thesis presents the development of an indoor/outdoor mobile platform that will be used to advance the group's research in automated mining by providing a more realistic experience of tele-operation, remote sensing, and semi-autonomous robot behavior than what currently exists in the Intelligent System laboratory. -- The work completed to date acts as a starting point from which improvements and extensions can be easily made and incorporated. In this regard, suggestions for future work are also presented.


identifier: MacDonald, Johanna Alexena <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/MacDonald=3AJohanna_Alexena=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Delivering legal aid in Newfoundland : an exploration of decision making, emotional labour and time management.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

format: application/pdf application/pdf

abstract: This thesis explores the delivery of services to clients requiring legal representation in the Newfoundland Legal Aid System. Generally, the aim of legal aid is the provision of legal representation to persons that are unable to afford these services. A qualitative methodological approach, using semi-structured questionnaires, was used to collect data for this study. Twenty-four organizational members were interviewed including: thirteen staff lawyers, two intake workers, two receptionists, six legal secretaries and the Director of Legal Aid for Newfoundland. Because the Newfoundland Legal Aid System was intentionally sought as a research site, a non-probability sampling technique, known as purposive sampling, was used. In order to provide a varied perspective on service delivery to clients, a cross-sectional view of various work roles and practices was examined in conjunction with the organizational environment of legal aid. To facilitate this exploration the following three concepts were used: the decision making process, emotional labour (known as the management of client emotions) and the element of time.  -- While organizational rules govern and structure the decision making process in an effort to dispense uniform delivery of services, research findings indicate that organizational members across various occupational categories have the capability to influence the determination of client eligibility for legal aid funding. Though a lack of uniformity with regard to service delivery could suggest unfairness, findings indicate that the acceptance of some cases requires the consideration of extenuating factors that may be particular to a case. Emotional labour, engendered by clients and accompanied by organizational pressures to provide services with limited budgets and voluminous caseloads, has the capacity to negatively influence the work roles of organizational members by usurping a valuable and limited commodity - work time. Also, the computer system, recently installed for administrative purposes within the Newfoundland Legal Aid Organization, is generally regarded as slowing down the production of work tasks. Consequently, the ensuant provision of services to clients can, at times, be negatively affected.


identifier: Kottilil, Shyamasundaran <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kottilil=3AShyamasundaran=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Defective cytotoxic T lymphocyte function in HIV infection.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The primary objective of this thesis is to determine whether cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) detectable against CD4⁻ lymphocytes in vitro act in vivo to promote CD4⁻ depletion and thereby contributing to immune dysfunction and disease progression in HIV-I infected individuals. During this study, the relationship between the level of CTL activity against CD4 lymphocytes and disease progression was assessed by carrying out a series of in vitro experiments in a HIV-positive cohort of ∼70 individuals. -- It is well established that CTL use clonotypic T cell receptors (TCR) associated with the invariant CD3 signalling complex, to recognize antigenic peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the target cells. Since P815 cells express an FcR and Fas antigen, IgG anti-CD3 antibodies can trigger non-specific killing of P815 cells by a variety of effector cells. Comparable inhibition of cellular cytotoxicity against P815 cells by Jo-2 or by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor preventing Fas ligand induction, confirmed that the different levels of killing of Jo-2 treated and untreated P815s reflected the extent that perforin and Fas ligand, respectively, were utilized in target cell killing. -- Abnormally high numbers of T cells from HIV-infected individuals undergo spontaneous and activation-induced cell death (AICD), and also are especially sensitive to Fas-mediated apoptosis, suggesting that Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interactions might contribute to AICD in HIV infection. We used treatment with PMA and ionomycin to investigate the possible role of Fas/FasL interactions in AICD in HIV infection. PMA/ionomycin-induced AICD measured using Cr release, DNA analysis and electron microscopy, demonstrated that PMA and ionomycin acted synergistically to induce up to 70% release of incorporated Cr from fresh PBMC of HIV-infected individuals compared with up to 26% release by healthy volunteers. Cell death required cell-cell contact and extracellular calcium, while it did not involve Fas/FasL interactions or DNA fragmentation, but showed plasma membrane disruption with intact nuclear membranes of damaged cell. We describe a novel form of AICD in T lymphocytes from HIV-infected individuals. -- The presence, number and proportion of activated CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of HIV-infected individuals correlates with disease progression. We examined the associations between autoreactive CTL in the peripheral blood of HIV-infected individuals and disease progression. A significant percentage of HIV-seropositive persons (>50%) in our study cohort, in contrast to healthy individuls showed cytolysis of PHA-activated uninfected lymphocytes. These autoreactive CTL were found to be CD28⁻ CD8⁺ T cells which expanded with disease progression. A high proportion of CD28⁻ CD8⁺ T cells was seen in all HIV-infected individuals with demonstrable levels of circulating CTL. -- We have shown direct association between the autoreactivity and other markers of disease progression such as plasma viral load, CD4⁺ T-cell count, CD8⁺ T cell count, and plasma levels of β₂ microglobulin. The data is in agreement with the proposed hypothesis that these CTL actually contribute to immunodeficiency and clinical progression to AIDS. Based on our data, CTL appear to be a major contributor to disease progression. Further studies based on longitudinal follow-up of these patients may help uncover the functional significance of autoreactive CTL.


identifier: Butler, E. Derek <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Butler=3AE=2E_Derek=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Legislative development in new democracies : going the next step.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The spread of democracy around the world in the eighties and nineties has given rise to a new industry of development, known as political or democratic development. International organizations, aid agencies, public institutes and private consultants have increasingly turned to the support of elections, political parties, civil society and legislatures. Their work is conducted through technical/material programmes, skills transfers, and conceptual training and education. Academic interest has in turn expanded beyond traditional questions of democratic transition and consolidation to consider this new field of democratic development, but the literature remains limited. -- This thesis is an examination of that literature, specifically regarding legislative strengthening in new democracies. The review is enhanced by my practical experience managing political development programmes in transitional legislatures in a number of countries, but focusing specifically on Yemen and Morocco. -- In my experience, legislative development does not adequately consider the academic literature. The work is conducted without proper study or reflection. The literature is itself insufficient, but is growing. Nonetheless the work is done despite this gap in knowledge, and is further debilitated by a poor grasp on the internal politics and prospects for democratization in a given country. The conclusion of this thesis is that legislative development, having successfully entrenched itself as a form of development aid, must now go the next step and 'educate' itself to ensure success in achieving its ambitious objectives. In closing, I make particular 'policy' recommendations in this respect.


identifier: Code, Lexie <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Code=3ALexie=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Lifelong learning in Master's education.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Lifelong learning in Master's education

abstract: This study examines earning a Canadian Master's degree as a lifelong learning pursuit. Data from Statistics Canada's, national, 1997 Survey of 1995 Graduates are used to profile 1995 Master's graduates by graduation age and gender using the age groups, under 25, 25 - 29, 30 - 34, 35 - 39, 40 - 44, 45 - 49 and, 50 and over. Cross-tabulations and chi-square tests are utilized to identify significant relationships and trends. Research questions addressed are: how did the study profiles of Master's graduates by age group and their gender subgroups, differ by region, discipline, reasons for enrolling, study mode (part-time, full-time or combination) and/or educational funding sources? Additionally: how did the post-graduation profiles of Master's graduates by age group and their gender sub-groups, differ by accumulated debt, job search experiences, job characteristics, job- education match, income and/or plans to pursue a Ph.D.? -- It was found that as age increased, so did the percentage of graduates who were female, studied part-time, had no difficulty in the job search, supervised the work of other employees, and earned $50,000 or more per year. The percentage of graduates who said the chance to earn a good income was a very important reason for enrolling and who utilized scholarships decreased as graduation age increased. Graduates aged 40 and over were concentrated in the Humanities, Social Science, Education and Commerce related disciplines. Graduates from Ontario and Quebec (both genders) and males from the Western Provinces and Territories were typically younger than those from other Canadian regions. Less than 35% of 1995 Master's graduates in any age group indicated that they planned to pursue a Ph.D.


identifier: Gillingham, Michele Lynn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Gillingham=3AMichele_Lynn=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Israel's non-entry into Messianic salvation : reflections on the meaning of Romans 9-11 in the light of anti-Judaism.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In Romans 9-11 Paul was attempting to reconcile two apparently contradictory affirmations: (a) that God is faithful to his divine promises to Israel (the "election of Israel), and (b) that the salvation of God is universally offered and does not imply the election of Israel. Paul struggled to uphold both the particularism of Israel as God's chosen people and the universalism of the gospel as revealed in Christ. -- Traditional interpreters of Romans 9-11 have concluded that for Paul Christianity superseded Judaism and that the present position of the Jews is now one of "wrath". Pre- Holocaust interpretations tended to place Judaism in a position of being the precursor to Christianity without validity as an independent path to God. Paul, in Romans 9-11, was trying to understand the purpose of Israel's unbelief in light of the gospel, yet classical exegetes understood his purpose to be "why some are saved and others damned". Ben Meyer offers an interesting explanation: "Having lost interest in Israel as the prime heir of messianic salvation, Gentile Christianity failed to catch onto the fact that this was a central interest of Paul's... Salvation of the Gentiles seemed self-evidently right.” --  With the advent of the Holocaust, Christians have become more sensitive to taking or upholding a position of Christian superiority as this may be construed as anti- Jewish. This point becomes especially valid because of the special relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Unlike other religions, such as Hinduism or Buddhism, which may also contradict the Christian viewpoint, Judaism and Christianity share a vital connection. They share a body of sacred literature in the Hebrew scriptures and they share a religious history. When one considers supersessionism in such a context, it takes on a new emphasis. Other religions may offer points of contention but when the Christian religion is said to have replaced Judaism, "replaced" in the sense of something better, an anti-Jewish sentiment begins to emerge. Such a position denigrates the validity of Judaism as well as its importance as a precursor to Christianity for Christians. --  Chrysostom railed against Judaizing by promoting Christianity as the superior ideal. Augustine was convinced that since all are born into a state of Original Sin, belief and conversion in Christ was the only saving grace. Calvin argued that the way to salvation was predestination, which claimed that non-believers were vessels of wrath, and Luther's "Death to the Law" stance was meant to promote the omnipotence of God. But with the terrible anguish of the Holocaust comes the necessary motivation to reexamine Paul's words and to question any anti-Judaism that may have been added by past exegesis. To argue that Paul believed that Christianity alone would bring salvation is to argue against Paul's own words: "All Israel will be saved"(Rom 11:26). Paul never claims that the Jews will convert at the end of the present age or that Judaism is no longer a valid path to God. Modern interpreters such as Dunn, Sanders and Williamson, as well as Ruethers and Gaston, have tried a new approach to reading Paul because the result of an anti-Jewish interpretation of Romans 9-11 is the contradiction of Paul's own words and purposes. The Jewish context in which he lived and wrote is an inherent part of his development and not only is it necessary to understand him in this context, but it is possible to interpret him in a manner free of anti-Judaism.


identifier: Alam, Md. Rabiul <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Alam=3AMd=2E_Rabiul=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Crack identification in an offshore structural frame through static substructuring and finite element method.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Identification of crack in an offshore structural frame using static substructuring and finite element approach was carried out by comparing local stresses, strains and global displacement results between uncracked and cracked structures. For simplicity of calculation and reduction of computational time and resources, a two-dimensional plane frame instead of the actual three-dimensional space frame structure was used in the numerical analysis; substructuring technique in finite element method was utilized as the numerical analysis methodology. In order to develop finite element meshes of this plane frame, eight noded degenerate isoparametric shell elements with reduced Gaussian integration points were used over the entire structure. ABAQUS finite element software was used to solve the problem and process all information relating to the above- mentioned global and local responses. Numerical results obtained in the analysis have been verified (for correctness) by using earlier published information and comparison with those obtained using other types of elements available in ABAQUS. -- From the analysis mentioned above, it was observed that the rate of change of normalized global displacements of a cracked structure becomes a maximum within the crack region; in addition, enormous changes in normalized local strains develop around the crack region. These parameters could be used to detect the crack and its position in real structures by the processing of information obtained from installed sensors (triaxial strain gauges, LVDTs and accelerometers) at various critical regions of the structure.


identifier: Abu-Kharma, Mahmoud <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Abu-Kharma=3AMahmoud=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Investigation of the elastic properties of LiKSO4 single crystals as a function of temperature and pressure.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The ultrasonic pulse-echo method is used to study the elastic properties of LiKSO4 single crystals as a function of temperature between 4 K and 300 K and at pressures up to 7 kbar. The measured values of the elastic constants obtained at room temperature for the hexagonal phase structure are: C66 = 1.41 ± 0.03, C44 = 2.11 ± 0.04, C11 = 5.7 ± 0.1, C12 = 2.92 ± 0.06, and C33 = 6.7 ± 0.1 (×1010 N/m). At ambient pressure, phase transitions between 130 K and 300 K have been detected using the measurement of the relative change in sound velocity Δv/v in both x- and z-directions for longitudinal modes. First order transitions are observed around 195 K and 185 K on cooling, and around 195 K and 260 K on heating. Relying on the measurements of Δ v/v in the x-direction for longitudinal modes in the same temperature range at different pressures, we derive the pressure-temperature phase diagram. The main features obtained for this diagram are: we observe a triple point at (1.8 kbar, 200 K) during the cooling process that shifts to (5 kbar, 286 K) for the heating, the intermediate phase PIV vanishes beyond the triple point, and the transition temperature is shifted to higher values with increasing pressures. In the temperature region below 130 K, we observed at low pressures phase transitions at 35 K and 65 K, with no sign of thermal hysteresis. However, for pressures greater than 3.2 kbar the transition observed at 35 K is suppressed. The existence of the phases PIII, PIV, PV, PIX and PX were confirmed. There were no transitions observed at 165 K, 135 K and 80 K, so we cannot confirm the PVI, PVII and PVIII phases.


identifier: McGann, Joseph Clifford <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/McGann=3AJoseph_Clifford=3A=3A.html>   (2003) Dan R. MacDonald: Individual creativity in the Cape Breton fiddle tradition.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis is an examination of the life of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia born composer Dan Rory MacDonald (1911-1976). The focus is on his life story, using it as a jumping off point for examining the evolution of the Cape Breton tradition over the last one hundred years. The introduction sets the stage for this examination by outlining the motivational factors behind my interest in Dan R. MacDonald and also outlines my efforts to uncover source material for this thesis. -- Chapter one examines the evolution of folklore collecting within the Cape Breton idiom, focusing on the historical lack of attention paid to instrumental traditions. Chapter two defines the Cape Breton fiddling tradition within which Dan R. was active, first by probing the roots of the tradition in Scotland then following its evolution within a New World context. -- The main body of the thesis, chapters three through seven, consists of detailed examinations of each distinct period of Dan R's life. This material chronicles his formative years as a fiddler and follows him as he makes his initial compositional contributions to the idiom. After four and a half years in Scotland during World War II, subsequent to his return to Cape Breton in the 1960s, the setting shifts to Dan R's time in The Boston States and Ontario. Finally, I chronicle his rise to a position of note within the tradition following his return to Cape Breton after years employed as an Ontario autoworker. Two constants run through each distinct period in Dan R's life, his passion for his native Island's traditional fiddle music and his obsession for composing within that tradition. -- Chapter 8 shifts focus from a detailed overview of Dan R's life to concentrate on understanding his passion for composing. I also place Dan R's compositional output into the context of his life via a descriptive and analytic examination detailing how he re- combined the building blocks of tradition into new compositions. The thesis concludes by discussing Dan R.'s role within the wider umbrella of the traveling musician and attempts to identify the reasons for the popularity of his compositions beyond the fact that they are simply good tunes. -- Appendices A and B play an important role in further establishing Dan R's significance to the tradition. Appendix A is a thirty-nine page tune listing of all known Dan R. MacDonald compositions at the time of submission. In the notes associated with each composition I have attempted to provide the extra-musical association for the title Dan R. gave his composition. -- Appendix B is the first extensive discography compiled of recordings upon which a Dan R. composition has been recorded. The discography is meant to give the reader further insight into just how integral Dan R. MacDonald's compositions have become within the Cape Breton tradition and also establish the distances his tunes have traveled since his 1976 death.


identifier: Fuglem, Mark <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Fuglem=3AMark=3A=3A.html>   (1997) Decision-making for offshore resource development.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The amount of oil in Canada which can be accessed economically is in decline, and industry is making a significant effort to find and develop alternative sources. The discovery of oil on the Grand Banks off Canada’s east coast is one notable success. While the reserves there are significant, the environment is very harsh, including high sea states and the presence of icebergs. Special designs are required for safe operations under these conditions and therefore production costs are high. --  The goal of this research is to develop a methodology for optimizing the choice and design of production systems for ice environments, given the two main criteria of safety and economic feasibility. Two specific objectives are addressed. The first objective is the development of an overall probabilistic methodology for assessing required design oads ad economic viability of proposed developments. Possible systems include large gravity based platforms which will withstand iceberg impacts, and floating systems which will be moved out of the way when icebergs approach. Design loads are determined by estimating the distribution of loads appropriate for each system and choosing the structural design which reduces the probability of failure. For gravity-based platforms, the design loads must accommodate impact with large icebergs which cannot be towed. For floating systems, the design loads must accommodate impact with smaller icebergs which cannot be detected during storm conditions. To determine appropriate design loads, a probabilistic model is developed which accounts for the number of icebergs encountered, the reliability of detection and avoidance schemes, and the impact dynamics including ice failure pressures.  To compare the economic viability of different systems, cost-revenue models are developed and the netpre3sent values compared. The preferred system is one which maximizes revenues while minimizing costs, accounting for the time value of money given other potential investments. --  The second objective of this thesis is to evaluate the current use of Bayesian techniques in applied sciences and to suggest extensions to handle more complex problems. In applications involving complex systems, uncertainties in processes and in measurement of input parameters are common, therefore considerable use of judgement is required. It is important that these uncertainties are properly considered in design and economic evaluations. Specific areas of consideration include evaluation of the effect of improper choice of prior distributions and likelihood functions, incorporation of judgement when biases in measurement techniques are suspected, and the use of partial exchangeability as a mathematical method for incorporating one’s judgement regarding an overall probabilistic model. --  The modes developed for determining design loads are illustrated for a GBS and a floating production system. In both cases, it is found that the ice failure model used has a significant influence. In the case of the GBS, ice management had a negligible effect on design loads.  In the case of the FPSO, the success of detection, management and avoidance system is very important. In particular, it was found that the reliability of the mooring disconnect system could significantly affect the required design loads.


identifier: Liu, Pei-Ying <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Liu=3APei-Ying=3A=3A.html>   (1992) Investigations on the mechanism of the Diels-Alder reaction and synthetic studies on the Prezizaene sesquiterpenes.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Spiro(bicyclo[2.2.1 ]heptane-2,1’-3-cyclopentene-2.5-dione) (69) which was obtained from norcamphor in three steps underwent cycloaddition with cyclopentadiene to give all of four possible adducts in a 50 : 22 : 24 : 4 ratio. The π-facial stereoselectivity in the endo region (72 : 28) was consistent with that of the complementary diene spiro(bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,1’-[2,4]-cyclopenadiene) (58) with Z-ethylenic dienophiles (70 : 30). Likewise, the π-facial stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition of symmetrical dienophile spiro(bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,1’-3-cyclopentene-2,5-dione) (70) with cyclopentadiene is similar to that of the corresponding diene sipro(bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2.1’-[2,4]cyclopentadiene) (59) in the Diels-Alder reaction with Z-ethylenic dienophiles. These results suggest very strongly that the steric interactions are responsible for the observed π-facial stereoselectivity in these spiro-addends. -- The relatively large proportions of exo addition products in the cycloadditions of spiro(bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,1’-3-cyclopentene-2,5-dione) (69) and spiro(bicycle[2.2.2]octane-2,1’-3-cyclopentene-2,5-dione) (70) with cyclopentadiene stimulated the reevaluation of the endo-exo selectivity observed with simple dienophiles 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione (118), spiro[4.5]dec-2-ene-1,4-dione (104), and 2,2-dimethyl-4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione (107). The results are discussed based on frontier molecular orbital theory. -- Comparison experiments of dienes 2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1,3-cyclohexadiene (145a), 6,6-dimethyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1,3-cyclohexadiene (145b), and 5,5-dimethyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1,3-cyclohexadiene (145c) with both symmetrical and unsymmetrical dienophiles were conducted. The cycloadditions of diene 6,6-dimethyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1,3-cyclohexadiene (145b) with symmetrical dienophiles proceeded at roughly the same rates as those of diene 5,5-dimelhyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1,3-cyclohexadiene (145c), which suggested that the reaction was not merely concerted but also synchronous. -- 2-Methyltricyclo[6.2.1.0¹,⁵]undecan-7-one (278) could serve as a precursor to the prezizaene sesquiterpenes. The synthesis of 2-methyltricyclo[6.2.1.0¹,⁵]undecan-7-one (278) was started with 1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane-8-one (294), which was treated with methyllithium to give 8-methyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decan-8-ol (295). The spiro-annulation of this ketal alcohol with 1,2-bis(trimethylsiIoxy)cyclobutene (77) proceeded smoothly to produce 8-methylspiro[4.5]dec-7-ene-1,4-dione (281). Addition of methyl-lithium and ozonolysis, followed by intramolecular aldol cyclization afforded a 1 : 1 mixture of two double bond isomers 7-acetyl-4-methylenespiro[4.4]non-7-en-1-one (299) and 7-acetyl-4-methylspiro[4.4]nona-3,7-dien-1-one (280). Hydrogenation and base-induced aldol condensation of this mixture gave 2-methylspiro[6.2.1.0¹,⁵]undecan-7-one (278 and 304). -- During the synthetic studies of prezizaene sesquiterpenes we found that the addition of methyllithium to 8-methylspiro[4.5]dec-7-ene-1,4-dione (281) is stereoselective. Similar diketones were treated with both methyllithium and sodium borohydride. In all the cases the nucleophiles prefer to approach the spiro-diketones at the same face as the double bond of cyclohexene ring. The observed facial selectivity is consistent with the predictions based on the Cieplak model.


identifier: Brown, Grant Edwin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Brown=3AGrant_Edwin=3A=3A.html>   (1993) Kinship and social dynamics in juvenile Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout : the adaptive role of kin discrimination.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: I conducted a series of experiments designed to examine the regulating mechanisms and the functional value of kin discrimination in two juvenile salmonids: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ). The first two studies documented kin discrimination abilites in these species and also determined the possible recognition mechanism responsible for kin discrimination abilities in these species. When given the 'choice', individual salmon and trout fry spent a significantly greater proportion of time in waters conditioned by kin versus non-kin (Chapter 2). When I controlled for familiarity (Chapter 3), individual trout fry spent a significantly greater proportion of time in water conditioned by either familiar (reared together) or unfamiliar (reared apart) kin versus non-kin, but exhibited no significant discrimination between familiar versus unfamiliar kin. These data suggest that these species are capable of kin discrimination based on water-borne chemosensory cues and that direct familiarity is not the recognition mechanism regulating this ability. Support for the phenotype matching hypothesis was found. -- I conducted a third study (Chapter 4) designed to examine the effects of kinship on the territorial defence behaviour of juvenile salmon and trout. Kin groups initiated significantly fewer aggressive interactions, utilized a lower proportion of 'overtly aggressive' behaviour types and defended significantly smaller territories than did non-kin groups in an artificial stream channel. This study suggests the possibility for significant inclusive fitness benefits associated with kin-biased territorial behaviour. -- I examined the effects of varying territory quality on these kin-biased territorial defence behaviour in juvenile rainbow trout in the fourth study (Chapter 5). Food availability and predator presentation rates were altered in order to manipulate territory quality. Kin groups were always observed to initiate significantly fewer aggressive interactions and to defend significantly smaller territories than were non-kin groups. Kin-biased territorial defence behaviour were always observed, though the magnitude of the difference between kin and non-kin groups was reduced at the low territory quality conditions.  Kin groups also exhibited higher mean weight increases (fitness benefits) when compared to non-kin groups, regardless of territory quality. -- The final study (Chapter 6) examines the influence of kinship on the foraging behaviour and the distribution of benefits in groups of kin and non-kin salmon and trout.  Both salmon and trout kin groups exhibited significantly higher mean weight increases with significantly less variability among individual weight gains when compared to non-kin groups. Foraging rates among subordinate kin were higher and aggressive interactions among dominant kin were reduced compared to non-kin groups. These results suggest that with decreased territorial defence behaviour, individuals can devote more time to foraging and hence exhibit higher and less variable fitness benefits. -- Taken together, these data suggest that there is significant kin selection pressure on the territorial defence behaviour of these juvenile salmonids. By defending territories near kin preferentially, both juvenile salmon and trout are able to reduce the frequency of aggressive interactions and the costs associated with territorial defence behaviours, resulting in significant direct and inclusive fitness benefits to the individual.


identifier: Eaton, Nancy <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Eaton=3ANancy=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Learning disabilities and French immersion : are they compatable?  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Paper 1. A review of the literature on current research in learning disabilities and French immersion. -- Paper 2. The nature and characteristics of learning disabilities: Implications for French immersion placement. -- Paper 3. The nature and characteristics of French immersion: Implications for students with learning disabilities.


identifier: Lim, Yeo Howe <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lim=3AYeo_Howe=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Design flood estimation methods for rivers with extensive tidal interaction zones.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Flooding problems may never be solved as long as people live in proximity of riverbanks with high inundation risk. A rational approach well embraced by civil engineers is to derive flood estimates and adopt mitigation measures corresponding to an acceptable risk level. However similar approaches have not been well addressed in many rivers with extensive tidal interaction zones (TIZ), such as those found in Sarawak, Malaysia. -- The primary objective of this research is to streamline and develop a set of design flood estimation methods applicable to the TIZ with varying degrees of sophistication. Methods in use such as the direct frequency analysis method, the regression-like rating-curve method, the joint probability method and the hydrodynamic modelling method are evaluated. Although these methods have their merits, they have many inherent limitations and constraints. Two new methods that are statistically based yet do not compromise the physical meanings of the processes involved are developed. The first is a low-pass filter method involving Fourier transforms resulting in filtering of low frequency river level series. A second new method is based on wavelet de-noising techniques that considers tidal contributions as noise in a smooth function. An algorithm ensuring a consistent separation technique is developed. Various wavelet families are investigated together with different decomposition levels  and thresholding options. Conventional flood frequency analysis techniques are subsequently applied directly to the separated flow series. -- The secondary objective of this research is to establish a comprehensive flood estimation procedure for ungauged catchments in the study area based on regional flood frequency analysis. The need arises because inflow floods deriving from the major ungauged tributaries, which affect flows in the TIZ, have to be estimated in some of the methods. -- After comparing all the methods, it is recommended that an appropriate number of water-level observation stations should be established at strategic locations in the TIZ on a continuous long-term basis. With these data, the effects of climatic change on sea level rise and the subsequent effects on flood estimations in the TIZ can be assessed accurately. -- In conclusion, the method to be chosen for design flood estimations in the TIZ is very much dependent on data availability. If long-term water level data in the TIZ is available, the new fundamental method using wavelet de-noising gives direct and reliable results. By considering the interaction effects, it is superior to the conventional direct frequency analysis. Since wavelet methodology is still evolving, there are further potential applications for this particular method.


identifier: Neal, J. David (James David) <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Neal=3AJ=2E_David_=28James_David=29=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Life on the rocks : environmental perceptions of the rock crawlers, a western American recreational community.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In the contemporary American west many communities vie for (and share) public lands. This text studies one of these groups, Rock Crawlers, who are automotive enthusiasts that (re)construct their 4-wheel drive vehicles to pilot them over trails winding through these spaces. They enter these lands to enjoy their beauty, push their driving skills in an arduous terrain, and to seek refuge from negative attributes they believe are inherent to the urban milieu. These places- dubbed the “outback-are socially created, carved from their surrounding non-urban environment through the existence of mentally held maps. These maps, superimposed over the terrain like a blanket, are comprised of special outback locations such as challenges, aberrations in the terrain, or culturally-relevant historical sites. -- This text studies how these values are reflected through the form of the 4x4s used to venture into these ideologically laden outback places. Interaction with the landscape on a personal level engenders morphological reconfigurations in the vehicles, as drivers make them compatible with the harsh environments where they are used. Even aesthetic modifications-paint, chrome and accessories-to the 4x4s hinge on values concerning the nature and significance of the outback. -- Places so imbued with meaning necessitate special activities. This is because they are liminal, or Other than the locations of normal daily life. Although outback lands are entered for ritual and recreation, they maintain their special nature through adhesion to strictly maintained and performed rules of “off-road etiquette." As such, outback activities take on ritual status; they become more than play or diversion; they become a metaphor for life, showing participants what it means to be productive members of one's family, social group, or society.


identifier: Payne, Jeremiah Frederick <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Payne=3AJeremiah_Frederick=3A=3A.html>   (1975) Cytological study of some chromatin bound enzymes in Allium cepa L. by in vitro autoradiography.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Autoradiography has been used with tritiated precursors to cytologically demonstrate in vitro nuclear RNA polymerase, DAN polymerase, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and RNA methylase in frozen sections of plant tissue (Allium cepa L. cultivar white Barletta). DNA polymerase, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and RNA methylase have been cytologically established for the first time (from any tissue source). This is also the first report of the presence of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in higher plants. -- Different RNA polymerase activities can be reliably demonstrated in cytologic sections. Both nucleolar and nucleoplasmic RNA polymerases appear preformed in onion seed and bulb root tissues. Nucleolar and nucleoplasmic activity is observed in the endosperm from the beginning of hydration while in the embryo axis, distinct nucleolar activity is preceded by general nucleoplasmic labeling. Both nucleolar and nucleoplasmic polymerases were fund in bulb roots before sprouting. -- No G2 cells were found in the ungerminated seed, while a small population occurred in the bulb roots. Rare occurrence of S phase nuclei and mitotic figures indicated that slow growth is maintained in the bulb roots and the G2 cells do not represent a ‘true’ physiologically blocked population. Ultrastructural studies substantiated possible slow growth and (or) degenerative changes in the roots of stored bulbs. -- DNA polymerase activity can be adequately retained in apparent S phase nuclei of root meristems. A low level of activity was demonstrated in the ungerminated seed in the apparent absence of de novo protein synthesis. -- Nuclei in storage cotyledonary cells, in contrast to other tissues, were not efficient templates for exogenous DNA polymerase. --  In vitro amino acid incorporation in cytologic sections was decreased with unlabelled precursors and polyuridylic acid, but not with protein synthesis inhibitors. --  RNA methylase activity was cytologically detected in root meristematic nuclei. Activity was found over entire nuclei with no preferential nucleolar activity. --  An enzyme tentatively identified biochemically as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase has been recorded for the first time from a higher plant tissue. Incorporation from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was demonstrated in cytologic sections of root meristematic cells.  Incorporation was distributed over whole nuclei with no preferential nucleolar labeling. Intense activity was found in all tissues of ungerminated seed embryos.


identifier: Hemaya, Paulette B. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hemaya=3APaulette_B=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1992) Knowledge based advisory system for flexible pavement routine maintenance.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In recent years, pavement maintenance has become an area of major expenditure for many highway agencies. Making good maintenance decisions requires years of practical experience and judgement. Deciding on the best maintenance strategy is largely a subjective problem mainly because the benefits of a particular type of maintenance have not been quantified. Hence the problem does not lend itself to a traditional economic analysis where benefits and costs can be explicitly considered. As a result, the field seems perfectly suitable for an expert system application. -- Only four systems in flexible pavement and one system in rigid pavement were reported in the literature, namely, PARADIGM, PRESERVER, ROSE, ERASME, and Concrete Pavement Evaluation. These systems are limited in their application to particular jurisdictions and environmental conditions. The only three systems which consider routine maintenance are PRESERVER, ROSE and ERASME. PRESERVER runs only on a mainframe using the specially developed expert system programming environment OPS5. ROSE is a knowledge-based computer program intended for selecting and recommending routing and sealing of cracks only. ERASME is of limited scope and applicable only to pavements in France. Therefore, it is essential to develop an expert system program to facilitate pavement maintenance decision making in Newfoundland. -- This thesis describes the development of the Pavement Maintenance Advisory System (PMAS). It involves two areas of study. The first area is the process of knowledge acquisition. Knowledge was acquired for PMAS both from formal documents, documented case studies and from interviews with experts from the Newfoundland Department of Works, Services and Transportation. The interaction with the experts was invaluable and their expertise, which was not available in any literature, was encoded in the system. -- The second area of this study is the development of a computer program for selecting the appropriate maintenance strategies in cold/coastal regions. The system uses input including the type of distress, surface condition (severity and density), traffic volume, Riding Comfort Index, climate condition and outputs maintenance strategies with expected repair life in years as well as the associated total and unit cost of equipment, labors and materials. The cost comparison for the recommended maintenance strategies does not affect the internal decision making of the program. This feature simply allows the user to evaluate other maintenance options in case particular materials, laborers and equipment are available. The system is developed using two expert system shells; Exsys Professional on IBM-PC and compatibles and Instant Expert Plus on Apple Macintosh. PMAS utilizes backward chaining mechanisms to arrive at a conclusion. Confidence factors were introduced to indicate expert opinion on the suitability of the alternative maintenance strategies. The operational system was successfully tested by the experts through nine test case studies. PMAS can serve as a training tool for engineers who do not have much experience in selecting routine pavement maintenance strategies.


identifier: Rose, Robert James <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Rose=3ARobert_James=3A=3A.html>   (1978) Levels of processing and the effect of spacing upon judgements of frequency.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The term spacing effect refers to the empirical fact that items which are repeated with few other items intervening between the repetitions are remembered worse than items which are repeated with relatively more interventions between the repetitions.  The purpose of the set of spacing experiments reported here is to infer a cause of the spacing effect in a judgment of frequency paradigm by trying to discover conditions which will remove it. -- Following Experiment 1, which compared continuous judgments of frequency of words made on the learning trial with terminal judgments of frequency made at the conclusion of the learning trial, it was inferred that the spacing effect arose from one or more of three possible origins: (1) a true memory deficit for massed repetitions together with a biassed tendency to overestimate the frequency of words repeated at non-zero spacings; (2) the use of different strategies on continuous and terminal judgments; (3) the deficient processing of repetitions at low values of spacing relative to repetitions at higher values. -- Experiments 2 and 3 found evidence which was irreconcilable with the first two of these three possible origins of the spacing effect.  Experiments 4 and 5 were then carried out to test the relevance of the third possibility.  Specifically, the levels of processing hypothesis was contrasted with the variable contextual encoding hypothesis.  The former claims that the spacing effect arises because repetitions at long spacings receive deep, reconstructive processing while those at short spacings receive shallow scanning processing.  The contextual encoding hypothesis, which enjoys some support elsewhere, attributes the spacing effect to the greater variability among the contents of the repetitions which occur at long spacings.  The evidence from Experiments 4 and 5 generally supported the levels of processing hypothesis but in addition indicated that the encoding context is a factor which interacts with the measure of retention.  Also the nature of the posited scanning and reconstructive processes still remains a mystery.


identifier: Haywood, Ruth <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Haywood=3ARuth=3A=3A.html>   (2002) "delinquent, disorderly and diseased females": regulating sexuality in Second World War St. John's, Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: During the Second World War, Newfoundland was in a strategic location. By 1942 there were over 15,000 Canadian and American service personnel in the colony. Some of the relationships that developed between these servicemen and Newfoundland women led to marriage - some did not. In St. John's the number of lone mothers sharply increased. Many women were arrested on disorderly behaviour charges, and Chinese cafe owners were also suspected of involvement in the sex trade. Health officials' fears of rising rates of venereal disease (VD), were exacerbated by the anxieties of the military. Forced treatment was permitted under existing legislation, and a lock hospital was inaugurated to incarcerate non-compliant VD patients. With the introduction of penicillin, the use of Sydney Hospital ended and it became a home for delinquent girls. The discourse of disease transformed sex-trade workers into a source of social pollution, and sexually-active young women were accused of sharing sex-worker status. Due to the triple threat of illegitimacy, prostitution, and VD, young women became the site of a moral panic over 'sex delinquency'.


identifier: Dooley, Paul James <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dooley=3APaul_James=3A=3A.html>   (1997) Competing processes of cell death and recovery of function following ischemic preconditioning in the gerbil.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The goal of the present study was to determine the neuroprotective efficacy of ischemic preconditioning using behavioral, electrophysiological and histological endpoints at various time points up to 90 days postischemia. Gerbils were exposed to a brief, non-injurious episode of forebrain ischemia (1.5 min) on each of two consecutive days. Three days following this preconditioning procedure, the animals received a 5 min occlusion. Other animals underwent sham surgery or a 5 min occlusion without preconditioning. --

Ischemic preconditioning appeared to provide striking cellular preservation at both rostral (79.7 and 66.9% of sham) and posterior levels of hippocampus (94 and 78% of sham) at 3 and 10 days survival, respectively. However, in spite of the near normal number of CA1 neurons, animals displayed impairments in an open field test of habituation as well as reduced dendritic field potentials in the CA1 area. Additionally, in ischemic animals the basal and apical dendritic regions of CA1 were nearly devoid of the cytoskeletal protein microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2). Staining levels of MAP2 in sham and ischemic animals were similar. --

With increasing survival time, both open field performance and CA1 dendritic field potential amplitude in the ischemic preconditioined animals recovered. During this time, however, CA1 cell death continued over the 90 day survival period (p<0.05, vs. sham). --

Ischemic preconditioning provides a significant degree of neuroprotection characterized by a complex interplay of protracted cell death and neuroplasticity (recovery of function). These competing processes are best elucidated using a combination of functional and histological endpoints as well as multiple and extended survival times (i.e. greater than 7-10 days).


identifier: Mizyed, Shehadeh A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Mizyed=3AShehadeh_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Complexation studies of calixnaphthalenes and hexahomotrioxacalixnaphthalenes with [60] fullerene.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Calixarenes 1-3 are cyclic oligomers of p -substituted phenols and formaldehyde which have been used as hosts in supramolecular chemistry. A related group of molecules are the naphthalene ring-based calixnaphthalenes e.g. (8 and 9 ) and hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene e.g. 19 .

This thesis describes the ability of calixnaphthalenes to form complexes with C60 in different solvents using different methods. It also describes the first synthesis of hexahomotrioxacalix[3]naphthalenes and their complexation properties.*

Calix[4]naphthalenes 8 and 9 have deeper cavities than those of the analogous calix[4]arenes and our physiochemical data confirm they do form complexes with C60 . Results obtained for the complexation of C60 with the C4 -symmetrical endo -calix[4] naphthalene 8 and its tert -butyl-substituted derivative 9 using uv-vis spectrophotometry show that they form relatively stable supramolecular 1:1 complexes with C 60 in toluene, benzene and CS2 solution. Thermodynamic parameters have also been determined for the complexation of 8 and 9 with C60 and show that both a solvophobic effect and π-π interactions are major driving forces for the complexation process.

The symmetrical hexahomotrioxacalix[3]naphthalene 26 and its tert -butyl-substituted derivative 26a were synthesized via either the cyclization of the linear precursors 48 or 48a respectively, or by the direct cyclization of the monomers 46 or 46a respectively. The unsymmetrical hexahomotrioxacalix[3]naphthalene 27 was also obtained from the cyclization of the linear precursor 48 . Complexation studies showed that the ability of 26 and 26a to bind alkali metal cations was not significant. However, as shown by 1 H NMR studies they do form stable 1:1 complexes with C60 in solution. A crystalline 2:1 complex of 26a with C60 was isolated and its X-ray structure was successfully determined.

Using densitometry, partial molar volume changes were determined for the complexation of 8, 9, 26 , or 26a with C 60 in toluene, benzene or CS2 solution. The results are consistent with a solvophobic effect, and some other additional factors which are discussed.

Ester derivatives of hexahomotrioxacalix[3]naphthalenes in both the "cone" 49 (or 50 ) and the "partial-cone" 49a (or 50a ) conformations were synthesized and the X-ray crystal structure of 49a was determined. The ability of these esters to bind with alkali metal cations using standard extraction experiments is described.

*Please refer to dissertation for diagrams.


identifier: Levy Milne, Ryna <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Levy_Milne=3ARyna=3A=3A.html>   (1996) Differential metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid and decosahexaenoic acid.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: We hypothesized that EPA is preferentially metabolized in peripheral tissues thus making less of this acid available for storage. The three proposed mechanisms investigated to explain how EPA is preferentially utilized included; 1) EPA is oxidized at a greater rate relative to DHA in skeletal and cardiac muscle, 2) EPA is preferentially hydrolyzed from circulating triacylglycerols, and/or 3) EPA is selectively secreted in bile by the liver. -- To investigate the first proposal, fatty acid oxidation studies were conducted using soleus muscle homogenates, intact soleus muscle and cardiac myocytes. Our findings indicated that even though the rate of oxidation of EPA over DHA was doubled in the experiments which employed soleus muscle homogenates, there was no differential oxidation between EPA and DHA in muscle when these fatty acids were incubated with either the intact soleus muscle or cardiac myocytes. Since the latter two experiments are more representative of the physiological state, it appears that these results do not support our first postulated mechanism that EPA is preferentially oxidized compared to DHA by muscle. -- We also suggested that EPA is preferentially hydrolyzed compared to DHA from circulating triacylglycerols by muscle LPL with the hypothesis that if more EPA is released to the peripheral tissues for metabolism then less would be available for storage in adipose tissue.   Therefore, chylomicrons were incubated with cardiac lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to determine if there was selective release of EPA. This study demonstrated no difference in the hydrolysis pattern of the two n-3 fatty acids. Thus, preferential release of EPA from chylomicrons by LPL does not appear to explain the lower storage of EPA in adipose tissue. -- The third mechanism examined the proposal that supplementation of fish oil in the diet results in more EPA compared to DHA being available for hepatic phospholipid synthesis. Consequently, more EPA is secreted in bile by the liver. In this part of the investigation, we determined the fatty acid profile as well as the proportion of fatty acids of phospholipids secreted in the bile of rats being fed a diet containing MaxEPA oil as its primary fat source. Even though biliary phospholipids were enriched in the long chain n-3 fatty acids found in dietary fish oils, no significant difference in the relative proportion of EPA and DHA was observed. The differential storage of DHA compared to EPA is thus, not due to the selective secretion of EPA into bile by the liver. -- From our data, we were able to conclude that the suggested mechanisms are not responsible for the preferential metabolism of EPA relative to DHA. We found that EPA was oxidized at a greater rate than DHA in soleus muscle homogenates. However, when more physiological models were used, i.e., cardiac myocytes or the intact skeletal muscle, there were no differences in the oxidation of either of these fatty acids.  Furthermore, we determined that EPA and DHA were released from triacylglycerols in lymph-derived chylomicrons at similar rates and that both fatty adds were secreted in bile to the same extent.


identifier: Lu, Zhongqun <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lu=3AZhongqun=3A=3A.html>   (1996) Development of subsea robot nomad with a micro computer based intelligent control system.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The goal of this PhD project was to design and develop a small inexpensive subsea robot with a micro computer based intelligent control system. The robot developed is called NOMAD. It could be the key element in a Distributed Marine Observation System(DMOS). Most Engineering PhDs are research oriented; this one has a design focus. -- NOMAD uses an air/water ballast tank instead of a battery/motor system to drive itself vertically. To facilitate mission requirements, great efforts were made to develop a high performance onboard micro computer based control system. To deal with the uncertainty and nonlinearity of the robot model, investigations were conducted to check the potential of strategies based on Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic. A Real Time Kernel software and an onboard micro computer with a Z180 CPU were used to implement a Fuzzy Variable Structure Switching (FVSS) control scheme and a multiple-task, multiple-layered control structure. -- The design and development process for NOMAD are detailed in this thesis. The results of digital simulation, theoretical analysis and typical data recorded from tests in a deep water tank on the robot are presented. Successful tests and good agreement between data and analysis indicate great potential for industrial application of the technologies developed in this project.


identifier: Parsons, Sheila G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Parsons=3ASheila_G=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1962) Drug resistance in a mutant strain of Aspergillus nidulans.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The effects of the inhibitors proflavine and phenylmercuric acetate upon germination of conidia of a mutant of Aspergillus nidulans were investigated.  Conidia were observed microscopically in the germination process, on media containing various concentrations of the inhibitors.  Resistance was induced to gradually increasing concentrations of the inhibitors by continual subculture of the organism in their presence.  The effect of this training process upon resistance to the inhibitor, during the various phases of germination and other stages of the asexual life cycle of the organism, were studied at length. -- The untrained strain of the mutant proved relatively resistant to proflavine, and a small inoculum could grow on petri plates containing concentrations of the inhibitor up to 400 ppm.  This strain could be trained to resist concentrations of proflavine up to 475 ppm on petri plates.  The principal effects of proflavine on germination were shown to be inhibition of spore swelling, prevention of the production of a germ tube, and decreased production of mycelium.  In growth chambers, strains either trained or untrained to proflavine, germinated almost equally well on concentrations up to 800 ppm, but on 2000 ppm a greater proportion of spores of the resistant strain succeeded in germinating than did those of the untrained strain. -- Nearness of spores was found to increase the initial germination rate of both strains.  The size of conidia of trained and untrained strains just prior to germination was found to be between 7.1 and 8.2 μ.  The majority of those spores which failed to germinate on 2000 ppm proflavine retained a diameter of less than 4.4 μ. -- The mutant had been trained to grow on 0.50 ppm phenylmercuric acetate in petri plates.  In growth chambers (where the inoculum used was much heavier than that added to petri plates) growth of both trained and untrained strains was obtained on 0.50 ppm.  The closeness of spores increased the germination rate.  The inhibitor at concentrations higher than 0.50 ppm completely inhibited the swelling of the spores and other phases of germination.  Heavy deposits were seen in the hyphae of both trained and untrained strains growing in the presence of phenylmercuric acetate.  These deposits were observed to appear much earlier in the hyphae of the resistant strain than in those of the untrained strain.  Hyphal growth was retarded in both strains, and sporulation did not occur in the sensitive strain in the presence of the drug.  Conidiophores produced by the trained strain growing in the presence of phenylmercuric acetate were considerably shorter than normal, though the conidial heads and conidia appeared normal.  The trained strain was found able to overcome the effects of the inhibitor on all phases of the asexual life cycle, after continual subculture in its presence, at concentrations up to 1.0 ppm. -- These findings are discussed in the light of the available literature.  Two major theories which might explain the attainment of resistance by training, namely enzyme adaptation and gene mutation, are considered.  The possibility that phenylmercuric acetate may be absorbed in a non-toxic form by the hyphae of resistant strains is discussed.


identifier: Turner, Linda <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Turner=3ALinda=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Dimensions of creativity in generalist social work practice : constructions and retiring practitioners.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Creativity is often proclaimed as a valuable and central element of social work practice, and social workers are regularly urged to incorporate creativity into their work, however little research describing creative social work practice exists. The purpose of this study is to contribute to a broader conceptualization of creativity in social work by examining how experienced generalist social work practitioners construct creativity in social work practice. Thirty retiring practitioners were interviewed using grounded theory methodology from a constructivist perspective. The study was conducted bilingually, in French and English. -- The practitioners' constructions of creativity in social work practice led to the following definition: Creativity in social work practice occurs when a social worker intentionally envisages beyond the presumed levels of good practice required in their roles and functions, and accepts a challenge which often leads him or her to utilize uncommon, unfamiliar, or previously unconsidered means to pursue greater social justice and heightened empowerment. -- Analysis of the data also led to the development of five dimensions which can facilitate incorporating greater creativity into social work practice. The dimensions are presented through the metaphor of fire-making, and include: 1. The significance of the practitioner as an individual; 2. Foundations for practicing social work creatively; 3. The social and political environment; 4. The need for an assertive commitment to practicing creatively; and 5. The need for ongoing sharing of examples of forms of creative practice. -- The retiring social work practitioners shared numerous examples of creativity in social work practice from their experience. They identified the profession's need for greater creativity in the education and development of social workers, in speaking out and taking risks, in bringing about changes in bureaucracies, and in bringing about an increase in advocacy and radicalism.


identifier: Giles, Tina <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Giles=3ATina=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Do dendritic spines contribute to ischemic tolerance?  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Global ischemia destroys the CA1 pyramidal cells of the hippocampus. This cell loss can be prevented by ischemic preconditioning (IP). IP is a phenomenon whereby brief episodes of ischemia protect against a later more severe insult. Dendritic spines have been suggested to be neuroprotective by regulating toxic calcium levels independently of the parent dendrite. Therefore, dendritic spine formation may play a role in the development of IP. The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the effects of IP on spine densities in the CA1 region in gerbils. Animals received bilateral carotid occlusions of 1.5 min (pre-conditioning) and 5 min (ischemic preconditioning) in duration. Spine densities were calculated from apical and basilar dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells in ischemic preconditioned animals that survived 3 (IP3), 10 (IP 10) or 30 (IP30) days, preconditioned only (PO) animals, and sham animals. Animals were tested on the same days for habituation to a novel open field. Sections were stained using a modified Golgi-Cox procedure and spines were visualized using a Neurolucida® neuron tracing system. Results show that PO, IP 10 and IP30 animals have significantly higher spine densities on basilar, proximal and terminal dendrites than all other groups of animals. In the open field, IP animals initially displayed habituation impairments that recovered with time. This apparent recovery coincided with the increase in CA1 spine density. These data may reflect a role for dendritic spines in the neuroprotection and recovery of function associated with ischemic tolerance.


identifier: Haynes, Dale C. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Haynes=3ADale_C=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Ecology and the ballot : Green Party voting in European and national elections in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain and Luxembourg, 1979-1999.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study is a comparative analysis of Green party voting in national and European elections in Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, France, and Luxembourg. This study examines Green party voting in European Parliamentary (EP) and national elections. The primary purpose of this study is to offer insight into why Green parties in these countries generally do better in EP elections than in national elections. -- In determining why Green parties generally do better in European elections than in national elections, three different propositions were applied. The study utilized the second-order election model, looked at the timing of EP elections within national election cycles, and examined differences in the electoral systems used in national and European elections. In explaining why Green parties tend to do better in EP elections, this study found that Green parties made gains in accordance with the second-order election model. The study attempted to determine whether Green parties made larger gains in EP elections that occurred in the early or late stages of the national election cycle. The study found that while Green parties generally made gains, regardless of when these elections occurred in the national election cycle, the greatest gains were in EP elections that were held in mid-term, or late stages of the national election cycle. Finally, this study found that Green parties tended to do better in countries that employed proportional representation in EP elections, but used plurality or majoritarian voting systems in national elections.


identifier: Woolgar, Reeni Catherine <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Woolgar=3AReeni_Catherine=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Development of the subsea robot ANNE (autonomous pneumatic nautical explorer).  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In 1997, a small drifter subsea robot known as NO MAD was developed at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). This robot uses a simple air-water ballast tank for depth control. Although NO MAD is modular in construction, it does not provide easy assembly as all of the structural components are either bolted or screwed and the majority of the electrical components are hard-wired. It uses five float switches equally spaced vertically in the ballast tank to control the level of water in the ballast tank. Unfortunately, this control strategy does not provide adequate depth control. -- This thesis describes the development of a more robust version of NO MAD known as the Autonomous Pneumatic Nautical Explorer (ANNE). ANNE is extremely modular in design and complete assembly requires thirty minutes. Components are locked together using a simple twist mechanism and suction is used to close the instrumentation boxes. To improve the control strategy, ANNE uses an accelerometer to determine whether it is over or under buoyant which controls the amount of flow into and out of the ballast tank. With these modifications, tests in a deep tank at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, MUN, illustrated that ANNE achieved adequate depth control. -- Although ANNE was developed for educational purposes, it has potential for industrial benefits as ANNE could be placed in the ocean upstream of a region of interest. It would be carried by the local current and used for either measurements at preset depths or seabed exploration.


identifier: Lawson, G. L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lawson=3AG=2E_L=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Distribution and movements of Atlantic cod in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study investigates spatial and temporal variability in the distribution and movements of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Canada, and consists of three components. First, a combination of acoustic and submersible surveys is used to reveal systematic variation in acoustic density estimates resulting from diel behavioural patterns of cod vertical movements and habitat associations. Second, acoustic measures of cod distribution demonstrate that cod spawn repeatedly at well-defined grounds in coastal Newfoundland, that the timing and intensity of spawning vary inter- and intra-annually, and that gender and age-related behaviours affect the composition of spawning shoals over time. Third, the within-year distribution and movement patterns of cod in Placentia Bay are studied using acoustic methods and mark-recapture experiments, documenting substantial migrations and a shift in depth-related distribution from the spring spawning to fall feeding period. This thesis reveals strong spatial and temporal trends in coastal cod distribution, demonstrating that acoustics can be effectively employed in the Newfoundland coastal environment. The observations provide evidence for the existence of a Placentia Bay cod stock.


identifier: Yun, Misuk <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Yun=3AMisuk=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Direct measurement of sulphur isotope composition in lichens by continuous flow-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS).  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: An on-line analytical method has been developed for the routine measurement of S isotopic composition in lichens using continuous flow-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS). 15 mg (equivalent to about 9 μg S) of chemically-untreated lichen powder (Alectoria sarmentosa) together with V2O5 was weighed into 40 mg Sn capsules and then combusted directly in an oxidation-reduction reactor (packed with WO3, pure Cu and quartz wool, heated to 1050°C) of an elemental analyzer, connected to the IRMS via an open-split interface. All combusted gases were carried in a stream of He gas (at 80 mL/min) through a trap (75% Mg(CIO4)2 + 25% quartz chips) to remove H2O(g). A 1.2 m Teflon column (Poropak™ QS, heated to 75 °C) was used to chromatographically separate SO2 from CO2 and N2. The separated gases were transferred into the IRMS through the interface where excess CO2 was diluted by the supply of He (set at 25 psi). Using these parameters over 150 samples can be analyzed successively, changing the H2O trap and cleaning residual ash from the combustion reactor after every 40 samples. -- Mean δ34SCDT values of +6.3 ± 0.4 0/00 (calibrated using sulphates) and +6.1 ± 0.3 0/00 (calibrated using sulphides) measured on a homogenized, composite lichen sample collected from the Botanical Garden of Memorial University of Newfoundland, show excellent agreement with those acquired by dual inlet (DI)-IRMS (+6.2 ± 0.2 0/00), and by on-line CF-IRMS in which samples are chemically pretreated to convert S to BaSO4 (+5.9 ± 0.3 0/00). Four different lichen samples with various S concentrations and δ34S values collected from various locations in Newfoundland also show excellent accuracy and precision compared to DI technique. Lichen samples containing as little as 5-6 μg S (equivalent to about 9 mg lichen powder) produce valid isotopic measurements without a loss of precision. No memory effects were observed over a δ34SCDT value range of +6 to +16 0/00. Compared to DI-IRMS and CF-mineral methods, analytical time and reasonable S amount required per CF-lichen analysis are reduced greatly to 15 mins and 9 μg S, respectively. -- The developed CF-lichen method was applied to young and old portions of single lichen strands (25-35 cm in length) collected from Come-By-Chance oil refinery area, eastern Newfoundland to investigate variations of S isotopic composition with time. There were systematic variations in S isotope signatures (δ34SCDT) between old (+6.2 to +10.9 0/00) and young (+5.1 to +8.2 0/00) portions, suggesting that the old portions may preserve the S isotopic signatures before the refinery operation while those of the young portions show the present S isotopic signatures. This study demonstrates that the micro analytical capability of the developed CF-lichen method can successfully be applied to other studies which require very small amount of organic material with low S concentrations.


identifier: White, Tina <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/White=3ATina=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Developing socially responsible students : a thematic literature unit on social injustice.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Social injustice has occurred and continues to occur in a variety of ways globally. To ensure schools develop socially conscious and responsible citizens it is imperative to bring an awareness of stereotypes and prejudice, discrimination, and human indignities and atrocities into our classrooms. By doing so, students are afforded the opportunity to study specific injustices critically and reflect on ways they may affect change. By utilizing various genres of children's literature, including historical fiction, biographies, and informational picture books, students are able to connect to the characters and thus empathize with their circumstances. Students are guided through a three-phase implementation model of a thematic literature unit that reflects the theme of the unit, the formal and informal curriculum learning outcomes through learning experiences that are intratextual, intertextual, and lived-textual using a variety of quality learning resources. Students are encouraged to examine the issues presented in the literature, respond critically and creatively, and make informed decisions as individuals and citizens of a democratic society. Finally, students are invited to analyse and interpret their own world and the world of others through the wealth of quality children's literature available to them today.


identifier: Sadiq, Rehan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sadiq=3ARehan=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Drilling waste discharges in the marine environment : a risk based decision methodology.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Offshore drilling operations generate rock cuttings and spent drilling fluids wastes during the well drilling phase. The wastes contain toxic substances that are harmful to the marine ecosystem. Discharge limitations and restrictive guidelines in different jurisdictions of the world are under development. Pollution prevention by encouraging synthetic based fluids (SBFs) in place of traditional oil based fluids has been supported in recent years. Despite having environmentally benign characteristics. SBFs associated wastes still have a certain amount of pollutants due to barite and contamination with formation oil. -- The main aim of this study was to develop a risk management framework for determining the best drilling waste discharge scenario for disposal in the marine environment. The specific objectives of this research were: (1) development of probabilistic contaminant fate modeling methodology using fugacity and aquivalence based approaches; (2) development of an ecological risk assessment methodology using probabilistic concepts; (3) development of human health cancer and non-cancer risk assessment methodologies using probabilistic concepts; (4) development of a fuzzy composite programming framework for risk management by integrating environmental risk, cost estimates and technical feasibility for various treatment options; and (5) an application of the developed risk management framework to a hypothetical case study. -- Fate modeling in this research was performed using fugacity and aquivalence based concepts. A chemical specific approach was employed for contaminant fate modeling. A steady state non- equilibrium water and sediment interaction model with probabilistic inputs was used to determine the contaminant concentrations in the water column and pore water. The uncertainty and variability in the model inputs were expressed by the statistical distributions. The concentrations in the water column and pore water were estimated using Latin Hypercube sampling (LHS) based Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The concentrations in the water column and pore water followed lognormal distributions. The estimated parameters of lognormal distribution for known discharge conditions were used for performing multiple regression analyses. The highest 95th percentile was used as the predicted environmental concentration (PEC). The uncertainties in the PEC were expressed by the coefficients of regression models. -- The PEC values were converted into exposure concentrations (EC) by adjusting for bioavailability and probability of exposure. The whole ecological community was defined as assessment endpoints. The toxicity assessment analyses were based on the lognormally distributed predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC). The lowest 10th percentile on PNEC distributions was used as a safety level or PNEC criteria value. Bootstrapping was performed on original PNEC data to determine the uncertainty in the PNEC criteria values. The hazard or risk quotients (HQ/RQ) were calculated by dividing EC with PNEC criteria values. The CHARM model's approach was used to convert HQ/RQ into risk estimates for each contaminant. The composite ecological risk for drilling waste was determined by integrating the individual risk estimates assuming statistically independent events. -- The human health risk methodology was based on the consumption of contaminated seafood. A probabilistic framework for human health risk assessment was developed for cancer and non- cancer risk estimates. The chronic daily intake rate (CDI) was established based on fish ingestion rates, lipid content, bioconcentration factors, exposure duration, exposure frequency, and averaging time. The LHS based MC simulations were performed to estimate the CD I. Arsenic was the only proven human carcinogen in the drilling waste stream. The composite hazard index for non-cancer risks was calculated by simple addition for a given exposure scenario. -- A risk management methodology using fuzzy composite programming (CP) was developed. The costs for treatment, drilling fluid loss due to discharge and ecological and human health damages were estimated. The technical feasibility of various solid control devices was also studied from a performance viewpoint. The environmental risk reductions, cost saving and technical feasibility indices were grouped using CP methodology. A double weighting scheme was employed in CP. The final utility and centroidal values of the system improvement indices were calculated through Chen and Yager fuzzy ranking methods, respectively to determine the best management alternative. -- The risk management framework was applied to a hypothetical case study on the East Coast of Canada. Five discharge scenarios, or management alternatives including 10.0%, 8.5%. 7.0%, 5.5% and 4.0% attached base fluids to wet cuttings, were selected for the analysis. The 4% attached base fluid option was found to be the best management option for the first trial when risk and cost were given equal weight and technical feasibility was allotted one-third of the weight. The 7.0% discharge option was the second best management option and that was followed by the 5.5%, 8.5% and 10.0%. respectively. The sensitivity analysis was performed using four different weighting schemes to account for human subjectivity. It was concluded that 4.0% was the best management alternative for the discharge of drilling waste in the marine environment. The other better management alternatives were the discharge options of 7.0% and/or 5.5% attached base fluid to the wet cuttings (approximately 5-6% of dry cuttings). -- This study has introduced a new concept of integrating probabilistic fate modeling with ecological and human health risk assessment methodologies within a risk management framework to determine the best management alternative under conflicting objectives. This study has provided a framework for a decision support system for the selection of the best drilling waste marine discharge option under any known regulatory and technical constraints.


identifier: Kennedy, Christine A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kennedy=3AChristine_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1997) Development of an evaluation protocol for an alternative funding plan for academic pediatricians.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The goal of an alternative funding plan (AFP) is to create a funding system which acknowledges that the responsibilities of academic physicians extend beyond the provision of clinical services to significant roles in teaching, research and administrative service.  An alternative funding plan was proposed for St. John's academic pediatricians, in the Child Health Program, Health Care Corporation of St. John's, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial University of Newfoundland. -- The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive evaluation protocol for the proposed AFP which can be used to assess the impact of the AFP on: (1) providers, in terms of research, teaching, administrative and clinical care duties, (2) consumer (parent/guardian) satisfaction, (3) undergraduate medical student course satisfaction, (4) post-graduate pediatric resident satisfaction, and (5) community-based non-academic providers' pediatric workloads. -- The protocol developed in this study employed (1) questionnaires (provider and consumer satisfaction and student assessment of teaching quality), (2) provincial medical database information for non-academic physicians, (3) information gleaned from the Child Health Program, Janeway databases (patient volume, services, and waiting times), government information (overall budget changes, provider incomes) and (4) faculty information (research activities, income, administration /organizational activities, continuing education, physician recruitment and turnover and department and faculty innovations) . Selected data collection instruments and procedures for the evaluation protocol were pretested to determine their appropriateness and completeness.


identifier: Bruneau, Stephen Earl <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Bruneau=3AStephen_Earl=3A=3A.html>   (1996) Development of a first-year ridge keel load model.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis documents the development of a new modelling approach for first-year ridge keel loads. The development involves a detailed review of previous and new ice rubble indentation and shear strength experiments. A systematic regression analysis of compiled laboratory data sets is used to establish a basic approach to keel load modelling, analogous to that for soil retaining problems. Experiments pioneering the modelling of first-year ridge keels with sand are also described. The dry sand tests afforded a high degree of control which led to the development of a new sand force prediction model that was adapted and calibrated for ice keel modelling. -- The advantage of the new first-year ridge keel load model is that new effective structure width and keel shape models are utilized, ridge width is factored in and surcharge effects are considered. The model shows excellent agreement with a large body of new experimental data and the best field data available. Also, it is closed-form, has been successfully applied to both vertical and conical structures, and is based on fundamental earth pressure equilibrium mechanics as are other approaches already in the literature. A further advantage is that ice rubble shear strength yield criteria used in the model have been thoroughly examined so that associated parametric uncertainties are quantified and reduced. An in situ technique for testing the shear strength of ridge keels is developed and direction for future field work and modelling efforts is given.


identifier: Hall, Heather Lynne <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hall=3AHeather_Lynne=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Early teller acuity card estimates as predictors of long-term visual outcome in children with perinatal complications.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In a previous study (Adams, Courage, Byars, & McKim, 1994), the Teller Acuity Cards (TAC) were used to assess binocular grating acuity in 349 infants between 2 and 42 months (M = 13.20 months, SD = 11.65). All of these children were at risk for abnormal visual/neurological development due to preterm birth and/or significant perinatal complications (e.g., birth asphyxia, seizures, respiratory distress syndrome). In the present study, 76 of these children were reassessed several years later with the TAC, as well as with a battery of spatial and non-spatial vision tests (M age at follow-up = 78.05 months, SD = 34.37, range: 35-122 months). Results of this assessment showed: (1) Compared to healthy, age-matched control children (n = 61) tested with the same battery of follow-up tests, at-risk children had consistently lower test scores, and a higher incidence of ocular disorders and refractive errors. However, most of these visual deficits were not serious. (2) Non-statistical analyses suggest that children who experienced perinatal seizures, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pneumothorax or necrotizing enterocolitis had relatively poorer visual outcomes than children with other risk factors. (3) Correlational analyses show that an early measure of grating acuity was unrelated to follow-up grating acuity, nor to any other later measure of spatial or non- spatial vision. However, when both the early and follow-up results were categorized as either normal or abnormal, an early TAC result did have high normal predictive value and specificity, but low abnormal predictive value and sensitivity for identifying children with and without visual disorders. These data imply that children who experienced significant perinatal risk factors are at some risk for mild, long-term visual deficits. However, predictions based upon a single estimate of Teller acuity must be made with caution, even when the initial results are normal.


identifier: Shaw, Michelle <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Shaw=3AMichelle=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Design of a modular Fortran 90 molecular mechanics package for hydrocarbons.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Molecular mechanics is a popular method for minimization of energies of large biomolecular structures and much work has been done in creating packages which optimize the execution time and memory requirements. Object-based design is a useful tool in creating packages which are easily updated and clearer than procedural-based design due to their inherent modularity. The current codes in use are Fortran 77 and C, but Fortran 90 may prove to be a more viable option for object-based molecular mechanics. In this work, a molecular mechanics package based on the Merck Molecular Force Field (MMFF94) is designed for hydrocarbons using existing Fortran 90 tools and object-based design techniques. Presented in this work are the analysis, design, and implementation of the molecular mechanics package as well as a report of the numerical results. Included in the numerical results are comparisons with literature values for the conformational differences for the ethane and cyclohexane systems.


identifier: Khumalo, Melusi <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Khumalo=3AMelusi=3A=3A.html>   (1997) Dynamics of numerics of linearized collocation methods.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Many ordinary differential equations that describe physical phenomena possess solutions that cannot be obtained in closed form. To obtain the solutions to these systems, the use of numerical schemes is unavoidable. Traditional numerical analysis concerns itself with obtaining error bounds within finite closed time intervals: however, the study of asymptotic or long term behaviour of solutions generated by numerical schemes has attracted a lot of interest in recent years. It is now well established that numerical schemes for nonlinear autonomous differential equations can admit asymptotic solutions which do not correspond to those of the ODE. -- This thesis studies linearized one-point collocation methods, contributing to this important investigation by considering bifurcation phenomena in autonomous ODEs and studying the dynamics of the methods for nonau- tonomous ODEs. -- Using the theory of normal forms, it is established that the common codimension-1 bifurcations that exist in continuous dynamical systems will occur in the methods at the same phase space location. However, the methods can exhibit period doubling bifurcations, which are necessarily spurious. They also introduce a singular set. which drastically affects the global dynamics of the methods. -- The technique of stroboscopic sampling of the numerical solution is used to study the dynamics of nonautonomous ODEs with periodic solutions, and conditions under which the methods have a unique periodic solution that is asymptotically stable, are stated explicitly. A link between these conditions and nonautonomous linear and nonlinear stability theory is established.


identifier: Dunlop, Judith M. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dunlop=3AJudith_M=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Managerial perceptions of local collaboration : the Ontario Healthy Babies/Healthy Children example.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This research study explored state mandated local collaboration in the Healthy Babies/Healthy Children (HBHC) Program in Ontario. A conceptual framework was developed from the theoretical and empirical literature on interorganizational relations, collaboration and community social work practice. Qualitative content analysis was used to examine managers' perceptions of the environmental pre-conditions and interactional processes that influenced local collaboration in HBHC networks, within the context of federal funding reductions and the province of Ontario's downloading of financial responsibility to municipalities. -- Analysis resulted in the reconceptualization of the conceptual framework into six themes of collaboration. Three environmental pre-conditions were: 1) Historical Conditions, 2) Institutional Conditions, and 3) Financial Conditions while three collaborative processes were: 4) Operational Processes, 5) Organizational Processes and 6) Relational Processes. -- This study confirmed that a history of working together locally was an important influence on collaboration, suggesting that collaboration may be a learned practice skill requiring commitment, loyalty and time. This study also confirmed that central government mandates for collaboration are not as important as local autonomy and decision making. The data suggested that central governments should resist a cookie cutter approach. The province did not recognize the need for administrative resources. This lack of administrative funding for the HBHC program drained the resources of public health units/departments and the HBHC managers. In addition, the exclusive funding through public health units/departments created some local resistance. The findings confirmed that the rewards of membership in a collaborative network can outweigh associated demands. This study mirrors the variation in formalization reported in the collaboration literature. Most HBHC managers believed that collaboration is facilitated when network members all have similar decisionmaking power for their organizations. Two new collaborative process themes (Organizational and Relational) emerged. The organization of HBHC networks was not top down. Local sites decided how to structure their HBHC network. The organizing process increased stakeholder representativeness, communication and decision-making. Existing interpersonal relationships were important in the development of HBHC networks. Most had established patterns of working together and shaped the HBHC network to fit the existing local culture of informality or formality. -- The management skills needed to facilitate interorganizational collaboration are not exclusive to any group be they public health nurses or social workers. As governments increasingly mandate collaboration as a mechanism for integrating health and social services, social workers will need managerial competencies in collaborative practice at institutional and community levels. While it appears that public health managers were unaware of social work community practice models, this study illustrates the need for a renewed commitment among social work practitioners and educators to rebuild community social work practice.