title: The Geologic and Economic Aspects of Copper

subject:
Geology
Civilization
Copper
History
Copper Age

abstract: Many divergent opinions have been expressed concerning the possible priority of the use of copper or iron in the early history of mankind. Too often have archaeologists based their. conclusion solely upon the relative abundance of these meta;ts, which have since been found in ancient ruins, especially in graves and tombs. It is true that among such remains copper has usually proven to be the more predominant metal. This need not, however, be too readily regarded as an indication of its earlier use by mankind, as some writers have been prone to conclude. The higher corrodibility of iron as compared with copper, and particularly with its alloys, would tend to destroy evidences of that metal within a relatively short time. Furthermore, it must be remembered that it was the custom of early peoples to place in the graves of their kindred, articles of intrinsic value, and this practice could tend to account for the absence of iron in such ruins. Excavations of the Lake Dwellings of Switzerland have revealed intermingled remnants of both stone and bronze implements. It has been found however, that the latter are of such perfection as to be attributable only to a later civilization, and thus they were probably introduced at a subsequent date. Moreover, from the standpoint of economic geology and metallurgy it would seem that the use of either iron or copper would depend largely upon the nature and accessibility of the particular deposits, as well as upon the cultural background of the people. Ordinarily, iron can be more readily reduced and worked than copper, while the reduction of bronze requires considerably more skill, and tin, an essential constituent of the alloy, has never been an abundant metal.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Reliability Improvements in Dual Traction Inverters for Hybrid Electric Vehicles

contributor:
Emadi, Ali
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
Reliability
Hybrid electric vehicles
Dual traction inverters
Fault-tolerant control

abstract:
In this thesis, several design methodologies are presented to improve the reliability of dual traction inverters in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
Several power inverter topologies including the two-level voltage-source inverter, the boost voltage-source inverter, the Z-source inverter, and reduced-parts inverters are compared in terms of power ratings, volume, and efficiency. The comparison results show that the two-level voltage-source inverter presents higher efficiency, higher power density, and lower cost. Therefore, the back-to-back two-level voltage-source inverter is selected.
DC-link capacitor and power modules are the most vulnerable components in dual traction inverters. The lifetime of capacitor is mainly determined by the core temperature. In this thesis, an interleaving control scheme is proposed to reduce the capacitor power loss by decreasing the total DC-link current harmonics. With reduced capacitor power loss, the core temperature of capacitor is reduced. Therefore, the lifetime of capacitor is improved. In addition, a fast electro-thermal model of traction inverters is proposed to estimate the junction temperatures of power devices. Practical switching losses are measured and thermal coupling effects between multiple devices are considered. The calculation rate of junction temperature is reduced by considering both power loss profiles and properties of the thermal impedance. With this model, over-temperature protection and lifetime evaluation can be implemented to enhance the reliability of traction inverters.
Finally, a current sensor fault-tolerant operation scheme with six-phase current reconstruction technique is proposed to improve the reliability of dual inverters. In order to get the missing phase currents, the PWM signals are phase shifted to create the reconstruction conditions. With measured DC-link current, all phase-currents of dual inverters are obtained at the expense of slight degradation of maximum allowable modulation index. Therefore, when some or all of the phase current sensors are failed, the dual traction inverters can operate normally.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Process-Morphology Interaction on Arctic Debris Slopes, S. W. Devon Island, Canada

contributor:
Howarth, P. J.
Geography

subject:
Process-morphology
Canadian Arctic
Debris
Rocks

abstract: The study assesses process-morphology relationships on 27 debris slopes of an Arctic periglacial environment. A systematic sampling procedure is followed to obtain profile angle and debris size, shape and orientation for each slope. A rigorous test design to analyze size and shape variation has high statistical power and yields reliable results. Vector analysis is employed in the study of debris orientations, while non-parametric tests are performed on geometric parameters. Supplementary studies are made on rockfall accumulation and subsurface meltwater flow. Responses of slope geometry and debris characteristics to three major process groups are independently analyzed and compared in four selected localities, and the nature and effects of each process in the study area are presented. A discussion of interactions between the processes, geometry and debris concludes with a relative assessment of each process.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MS)


title: Diaspora Health Literacy: reclaiming and restoring Nibwaakaawin (wisdom) and mending broken hearts.

contributor:
Martin Hill, Dawn
Anthropology

subject:
Diaspora
Health Literacy
Indigenous

abstract: Cardiovascular diseases are major causes of mortality and hospitalization for adult Indigenous peoples. Historical, socio-economic, environmental and cultural risk factors have been identified in the literature and new evidence is emerging regarding culturally relevant health promotion approaches for Indigenous peoples at risk of developing or currently experiencing cardiovascular disease.  Self-management of care is considered a central component to effective cardiovascular disease management. This approach requires a working knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular disease medications, and an ability to effectively communicate with healthcare practitioners. Another important associated risk factor for Indigenous peoples with heart disease, is the gap between patient - practitioner understanding of heart disease. The biomedical perspective  supported by Western scientific evidence, makes little room for Indigenous knowledge. Indigenous peoples may wish to include Indigenous knowledge and/or Traditional Medicine in their self-care approach.  The findings of this research demonstrates that Indigenous peoples primarily have a biomedical understanding of their heart disease and most are unaware of  how various socio-historical and socio-cultural factors such as the negative inter-generational impact of residential school and contemporary experiences of oppression and discrimination are linked to their heart disease. This situation can be attributed to an Indigenous knowledge diaspora experience that includes the severance of access to Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous languages during the residential school period and the dominance of biomedicine in health care delivery. The concept of ‘diaspora health literacy’ is critically discussed as a potential tool to address the Indigenous knowledge diaspora barrier. It is proposed that Indigenous peoples with heart disease can enhance their self-care when culturally relevant health literacy approaches are available to them.  In turn, healthcare practitioners can broker an ‘Indigenous therapeutic relational space’ with their Indigenous patients by initiating a culturally relevant health literacy assessment and a harmonized implementation model.

abstract: Dissertation

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: The Principles of Philosophy

contributor:
Georgiadis, C.
Philosophy

subject: metaphilosophical problems, logic, idea, reason, experience, wisdom

abstract: Taking the title of this page literally, I wish to say the following: In this thesis I attempt to resolve some of the metaphilosophical problems concerning the logic of philosophy (i.e. its definition, structural principles, historiography, etc.) in view of the general theory that all of philosophy is but the expression of a single idea--that of the relationship between Reason and Experience. Towards this end, and from within a Kantian framework, I undertake to examine the history of philosophy in order to demonstrate how these basic metaphilosophical problems are generated and how it is that they cannot be solved. The one original claim being made in all of this, then, is simply that philosophy only ever has one thing to say and that this thing cannot be said. If I am right about this, then I have made no contribution to human knowledge, except in the Socratic sense that we now know something which cannot be known. I draw no moral from this except to note in passing that philosophy was first defined as the love of wisdom.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Jewish Ritual Washing and Christian Baptism

subject: rituals, Jewish, Christian, New Testament, purification,

abstract:
The thesis by William H. Jones examines the dual rituals of tevilah (Jewish ritual washing) and Christian baptism, especially in relation to the New Testament and Second Temple periods.
The extent of Jewish ritual washing is apparent in the excavations at the Ophel since 1967 with the unearthing of numerous cisterns and mikve 'ot, the immersion vats used in traditional Judaism at that time as a preparation for entrance to the Temple. It also notes variances in the use of mikve'ot at Qumran among the sect living there and at Masada, the final retreat for some of the sect members. Many observant Jews continue to use mikve 'ot today as a purification ritual.
Christian baptism developed in this same time period, introduced by John the Baptist as a proclamation of the arrival of the kingdom of God and as a means of introducing the atoning and eschatological work of Jesus. Jewish ritual washing provides both a backdrop and an analogy for Christian baptism, since it uses the same immersion procedure and some of the same language, i.e., "born anew," and "change of status."
The differences, however, such as no "agent" in tevilah but clearly an "agent" in Christian baptism suggest that baptism is not an evolution from tevilah but a revolution. Tevilah is self-immersion; baptism requires a baptizer, a clear understanding that the one being baptized cannot cleanse him/herself but relies on the mediator Jesus Christ. Christian baptism implies a believer's identification in the Holy Spirit with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Moreover, it points to the eschatological hope of the completion of the kingdom of God which has come and is coming.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Theology (Th.M)


title: A Study and Design of an Automated Resource Allocation System

contributor:
Newcombe, W. R.
Engineering

subject:
tire-curing
automated resource allocation

abstract:
The purpose of this work has been to generate a method by which an automobile tire manufacturer can optimally allocate its weekly production ticket to its automatic tire-curing presses.
The problem is of interest for the reason that the value of the objective function is markedly affected by the relative locations of tires amongst themselves. This consideration has
negated the possibility of a solution being effected by the application of an algorithm for the classical linear assignment problem. In this work the problem has been formulated and solved
as a quadratic assignment problem.
The logic of this method of solution has been programmed and subsequently used to solve example problems, the results of which are extremely encouraging.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Engineering (MEngr)


title: The Nature and Origins of the Self-As-Object

contributor:
Archibald, Peter W.
Sociology

subject:
naturalization
self-as-object
seld-conscious-self
Chicago School
Mass Society Theory
Post-Modern school

abstract: The intent of this study is to consider changes in the naturalization of the self-as-object in both behavioral and mental spheres, or the "self-as-instrument" and "self-consciousself", respectively. The concern here is on the naturalness versus historicalness accorded these two aspects of the self-as-object. A focused examination of the treatment of the self-as-object in three theoretical schools, the Chicago School, Mass Society Theory, and Post-Modern school, assists in drawing the conclusion that the more the self-as-object is separated in these two spheres, the more the self-as-instrument, and in particular and self-as-egoistic-instrument, is naturalized. Further attendant with this separation is a selfconscious-self that becomes an increasingly historical and problematic construct.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Genealogy as a Practice of Freedom: Foucault's Historical Critique

contributor:
Ajzenstat, S.
Philosophy

subject:
Michel Foucault
genealogical studies
historical critique
human freedom

abstract:
Michel Foucault's philosophy took the form of a series of historicallygrounded
"genealogical" studies of the interconnections between knowledge
and various social practices in contemporary society. This work is a reading of
"the good11-to use Charles Taylor's term-in Foucault's genealogies.

 According to the American social-historian David Rothman, "history is
a liberating discipline for it reminds us that there is nothing inevitable about the
institutions and procedures that surround us. In developing my reading of "the
good" in Foucault's genealogies I have endeavoured to translate the spirit of
this claim into the proposition that Foucault's genealogies were an expression of
his desire to increase human freedom through historical critique; i.e., that
Foucault's ethics were embodied in his philosophy which constitutes "a practice
of freedom".

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: La Fonction de l'espace et du temps dans trois pièces de Jean Giraudoux

contributor:
Pocknell, B.
French

subject:
pièce de théâtre
Jean Giraudoux
l'espace
un actant dans l'action dramatique

abstract:
Toute pièce de théâtre est doublement délimitée et par l'espace et par le
temps. Notre projet examinera les diverses fonctions de l'espace et du temps
dans trois pièces de Jean Giraudoux: La Guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu,
Electre et La Folle de Chaillot. Avec l'aide des modèles actantiels, nous
essayerons d'abord de démontrer que l'espace est un actant dans l'action
dramatique de chaque pièce. Nous examinerons aussi comment l'espace
mimétique reflète cette action, et comment l'espace détermine le statut des
personnages giralduciens. Nous nous concentrerons ensuite sur la temporalité,
et son rôle dans la création d'un cadre dramatique mythologique. Une pression
temporelle précipite l'action dramatique dans chaque pièce, et l'entraîne vers un
moment de crise. Il nous semble ainsi que l'espace et le temps sont au coeur
de l'oeuvre dramatique de Giraudoux. A travers une analyse de la fonction de
l'espace et du temps dans ces trois pièces, notre travail cherche à faire
ressortir quelques-unes des ficelles de la technique dramatique de Giraudoux.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Group Differentiation in Liberal Society

contributor:
Brotz, Howard
Sociology

subject:
contradiction
liberal semocratic society
group inequality

abstract:
This study is concerned with the contradiction in
liberal-democratic society between the persistence of group inequalities
on the one hand, and the firm commitment to individualism
on the other. Individualism requires that group inequalities be
absent, and that "particularistic policies" be avoided. Consequently,
liberal governments tend to either ignore the issue of group inequality
or abandon the liberal framework in order to deal with it. By examining
the communal structure in pre-liberal societies, and the nature of modernday
support for particularism, it has been found that the norm of
universalism is to be preferred. The Indians in Canada have been used
as an example illustrating the effects of a particularistic policy when
applied in a liberal context. An analysis of the Indian case suggests
that legal group differentiation does not reduce group inequality even
within a liberal framework. The argument is advanced that a "liberal"
solution to this problem is possible. Since liberal theory has been
mute on this point, a solution is worked out by exploring what is consistent
with classical liberal foundations as laid down by John Locke.
In general, group differentiation may be practised (sic) in a qualified way
provided it remains the exception, and is not established as a new norm.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: MODELING THE MICROSTRUCTURE EVOLUTION DURING HOT DEFORMATION OF MICROALLOYED STEELS

contributor:
Zurob, Hatem
Materials Science and Engineering

abstract: A physically based model has been developed to describe static recrystallization and grain coarsening of recrystallized grains during hot rolling of Nb microalloyed austenite. Key feature of recrystallization model is detailed description of the nucleation process; the model predicts recrystallization incubation time as well as time evolution of recrystallization nucleation rate along with recrystallized grain size. In addition to this, effect of static recovery, solute drag of Nb and precipitation of Nb(C,N) are captured in both recrystallization nucleation and growth models. Once recrystallization is complete, fine recrystallized austenite grains tend to coarsen driven by its surface energy, which is captured in a physically based model. The present grain coarsening model takes into consideration effect of solute drag of Nb using Cahn’s model and precipitates using Zener drag. The model predictions are validated using the available experimental database in literature. The model is applied to analyze quantitatively grain coarsening problem encountered between the end of roughing and the start of finish rolling under industrial processing conditions. The model enabled quantitative analysis of the effect of cooling rate on key metallurgical parameters, which determine the coarsening kinetics. Based on these results, an engineering solution

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Determining the contribution of neurogenesis to learning and memory by investigating the effects of depression and alcohol consumption on spatial pattern separation using high interference memory tasks

contributor:
Becker, Sue
Psychology

subject:
Pattern Separation
Neurogenesis

abstract: Many young adult university students engage in frequent alcohol bingeing and have high depression scores, both of which are factors that can reduce hippocampal neurogenesis in rodents. Rodents with depleted neurogenesis exhibit selective deficits on high interference memory tasks including visual and spatial pattern separation. We predicted that young adult humans with high bingeing and depression scores would exhibit similarly impaired spatial pattern separation as a result of neurogenesis reductions. The relationships between alcohol bingeing, depression, and spatial pattern separation have, to this point, not been investigated in humans. We developed a novel computerized memory task for assessing spatial pattern separation in humans, loosely based on the “Concentration” memory card game. To further identify how sensitive this pattern separation function is to spatial separation between two stimuli, we developed the spatial separation recognition task (SSRT). We found that young adults with elevated depression and alcohol consumption scores exhibited impaired spatial pattern separation, in spite of intact performance on control tasks, consistent with a selective neurogenesis reduction. Further, this difference in performance seemed to be driven by performance at relatively larger separations.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Effect of Flow Blockages on Interfacial Area in Two-Phase Flows

contributor:
Novog, David
Engineering Physics

abstract:
The interfacial area between two fluid phases governs the rate which mass, momentum and energy can be exchanged.  Modern approaches to calculating the evolution of the interfacial area in a fluid system involves modelling each of the coalescence and fragmentation mechanisms.  A review of current literature suggests that all of the phenomena have not entirely been characterised.

The current study experimentally examines how bubble fragmentation in a co-current upwards air-water flow is enhanced by a flow obstruction.  When the two-phase flow was pumped through a circular orifice, the air bubbles were observed to break apart into 2 daughter particles due to shear at low superficial fluid velocities over time scales of t = 10 ms.  Increasing the tube liquid superficial velocity to jf = 0.702 m/s caused turbulence to be the dominant process as characterized by the generation of several daughter particles over time scales of t < 1 ms.  Both mechanisms are considered consistent with observations in literature.  A unique fragmentation phenomena was observed where the bubbles became entrained in the vena contracta downstream of the leading edge of the orifice, leading to a very large number of small d < 1000 um fragments being pulled off.

The measurement of bubble chord sizes was conducted using ultra fast shutter speed photography at different jf and jg.  In the free-stream, a sharp peak in the bubble chord size distribution was observed to form at d < 1000 um when jf was increased from jf = 0.442 m/s to jf = 0.702 m/s, and is postulated to be the threshold of the start of the turbulent fragmentation mechanism.  A joint probability distribution function was applied to the acquired chord data to estimate the bubble mean diameters, and it was found that the mean chord size was about 15% lower than the estimated mean diameter.  However, once the bubble began to fragment a bimodal chord size distribution curve formed which incorrectly skewed the transform results.

In the free stream, the mean bubble aspect ratios (AR) were measured to be AR = 1.204 (sigma AR = 0.301) when the flow was at jf = 0.191 m/s, and decreasing to AR = 0.994 (sigma AR = 0.254) as the liquid superficial velocity was increased to jf = 0.702 m/s.  Under flow conditions of jf = 0.191 m/s, the orifice with a blockage ratio of 0.36 was observed to elongate the mean aspect ratio to AR = 1.245 (sigma AR = 0.290).  Increasing the blockage ratio to 0.84 made it more likely for the bubbles to fragment, and this is demonstrated by the bubble population's mean aspect ratio decreasing to AR = 0.932 (sigma AR = 0.223).

Four effects were found to simultaneously affect the interfacial area when air bubbles were passed through the orifice.  Flow concentration and enhanced fragmentation were found to increase the local ai, while the change in aspect ratio and the increased likelihood of coalescence served to decrease ai.  Examination of the area distribution functions found that in order for bubbles with smaller chord lengths (d < 1000 um) to contribute significantly with the overall interfacial area, the larger parent bubbles needed to be completely broken apart.  Flow obstructions with high blockage ratios were found to be much more efficient in completely fragmenting the larger bubble population.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Escape from Domestic Labour? Unionizaton of a Nursing Home

contributor:
Cuneo, Carl
Sociology

subject:
unionization
labour process

abstract: This study is an examination of the process of unionization in a nursing home. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with the employees of Journey's End Nursing Home, Prosperity Point, Nova Scotia. The focus of my research was three-fold. First to develop an understanding of why employee's unionized we examined the labour process and general work conditions prior to unionization. Second we examined the process or how the employee's went about getting unionized. Third we undertook an examination of the results of unionization. The central argument in this thesis is that the employees of Journey's End Nursing Home unionized in order to change the labour process. Specifically they wanted 'out' of what they saw as a domestic labour process. This thesis clearly demonstrates two things: firstly, that these women were employed in a domestic labour process secondly, that as a result of unionization the labour process has changed.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Promoting Independence in Learning of Gifted Adolescents

contributor:
Ferns, J
Richardson, J
English

subject:
independent learning
curriculum
classroom
giftedness

abstract:
Although this project refers to theory and literature about giftedness and independent learning, it is based primarily on narratives of classroom experience. The key belief is that the best way to build on the strengths and meet the needs of adolescent gifted learners is for the teachers involved to create a classroom learning climate and curriculum which coaches those students towards independent learning. Such a climate and curriculum provide opportunities for gifted adolescents to reach their potential.

 An adaptable and practical three-stage model for designing such a curriculum is provided. By integrating self- and teacher assessment and evaluation throughout three stages of curriculum, the model provides opportunities for students to develop the skills necessary for independent learning.

 Three narratives of my own experiences in using the three-stage model outlined above are provided. The three situations include the role of classroom teacher of OAC English, co-author of a literature anthology and teacher resource for grade nine destreamed English classes, and facilitator of an Interdisciplinary Autonomous Learner programme for gifted/highly able adolescent learners. Thus, the three-stage curriculum model has been used and shown to be effective.

 My own, and my students' experiences in using the model, and the common ground discovered in all three roles, form the basis of the recommendations being made in the final chapter. Practical recommendations are made to teachers who are interested in implementing a curriculum which promotes independent learning for gifted adolescents.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)


title: Case Study of a Certification Campaign: Attempt at Unionization Among Brock University Faculty in 1983-84

subject:
unionization
certification campaign

abstract:
This research is a case study of a certification drive that took place at Brock University. The study views the "certification campaign" as the critical factor in the rejection of unionization among Brock University faculty in the 1983-84 academic year.

 Two factors led the researcher to examine the role of the certification campaign in the rejection of unionization at Brock University: First, the same reasons that led faculty elsewhere to unionize were also the reasons underlying the attempt at unionization among Brock University faculty. These were the unsatisfactory grievance procedures, anti-administration sentiments and unsatisfactory salary settlements; second, Brock university exhibited the same characteristics of those institutions where faculty often adopted collective bargaining. That is, Brock University was one of the young, recently established, growing universities.

 seventeen faculty members were interviewed to assess two aspects of the certification campaign: a) how the arguments in favour of certification were received; b) how the campaign leadership was perceived. Axelrod (1982) maintains that all successful unionization campaigns appealed to their constituency both in terms of the arguments that they presented and also through their leadership. The interview data indicate that the arguments presented by the campaign leaders in favour of certification were not supported by faculty members, including those faculty in favour of unionization. The campaign leadership, on the other hand, did not have a favourable standing among those faculty who opposed collective bargaining in 1983-84. The campaigners were described as less mature in terms of their age and service in the university; they were perceived as political ideologues and mainly concerned with the power structures within the university.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Action Research as a Tool for Modifying Curriculum of the Girls' Physical Education Program at Syl Apps

contributor:
Richardson, Jack
Heigenhauser, George
Teaching

subject:
physical education
women education
action research

abstract:
The intent of the physical education program in highschools is to provide students with information and skills that will assist them in living a healthy, active lifestyle. This intent was not been realized through the teaching of physical education at Syl Apps School, a secure custody facility for Young Offenders. Action Research was used to investigate the areas in which the physical education program was not meeting the needs of the female students at Syl Apps.

 The action research process involved the stages of finding a starting point, clarifying the problem, developing action strategies and putting them into practice. These stages were undertaken twice in order to ensure the efficacy of the action strategies developed.

 The purpose of this project was to develop suggested modifications to the physical education course so that it would be better suited to the female students at Syl Apps. The suggested modifications that resulted from this project included the establishment of four key assessment tools (Movement skills Assessment, Sister's Package, Self Assessment, Fitness Profile), and the inclusion of a clinical component into the course.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (Teaching)


title: The Design and Application of Aerial Ropeways

contributor:
Siddall, J. N.
Mechanical Engineering

subject:
aerial ropeway
cableway
chair lift
aerial transport

abstract: The history of aerial ropeways and cableways is reviewed. Aerial transport systems are classified according to their design differences. The construction and application of monocable and bicable ropeways are discussed. Cableways are separated into two systems- the tautline and slackline cableway. Their design and use are reviewed. The types of chair lift intermediate support tower are examined. Structural models of four types were built, strain gaged and tested. Experimental stresses are compared to theoretical prediction for each model subkected to external loads. The engineering problems involved in locating the intermediate towers of a chair lift are discussed.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Engineering (MEngr)


title: AN INVESTIGATION OF PERIPHERAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE SPATIAL PERCEPTION OF TACTILE POINT STIMULI

contributor:
Goldreich, Daniel
Psychology

subject: Psychology, Neuroscience, Perception, Touch

abstract:
The earliest measures of tactile spatial acuity reflect the ability of human observers to localize and discriminate the simplest of stimuli: single or double point (punctate) indentations. Because punctate stimuli cover an extremely small area, they typically only activate a few peripheral afferents at a time. Therefore, many researchers have used single-point localization and two-point discrimination thresholds to probe the density of innervation at different body sites.
This thesis explores the relationship between peripheral properties and the spatial perception of tactile point stimuli. In chapter 2, we simulate the neural responses of primary afferents to single and double points, capturing many realistic properties of the periphery: innervation density, the shape and size of receptive fields, and interactions between two-point stimuli. Furthermore, we model optimal performance in localization and discrimination tasks given these afferent responses, and compare it to human performance. We find that human performance is well below optimal, suggesting that humans do not make use of all the information present at the level of the primary afferents. Nevertheless, many human performance trends, resulting from peripheral properties, are predicted by our computational analysis. Using empirical methods, in Chapter 3, we further investigate one of these trends: surround suppression (the suppression of two-point responses relative to that of a single point) is thought to provide a magnitude cue during two-point discrimination (2PD), resulting in elevated performance even at zero separation between two points. We demonstrate that human observers do indeed show elevated 2PD performance at zero separation on a variety of tested body-sites; an alternative task involving orientation discrimination, however, does not show this same trend and is therefore unlikely to be contaminated by the same magnitude cue. In Chapter 4 we review and test a Bayesian model of two-point trajectory estimation that replicates a famous perceptual length contraction illusion. We provide evidence in support of the model: stimuli that give rise to poor spatial acuity also give rise to a stronger length contraction illusion.
Overall, the three studies covered in this thesis elucidate many of the peripheral and stimulus properties that shape our perception of tactile point stimuli.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

abstract: This thesis details an in-depth investigation into the physiological and computational factors involved in the perception of tactile point stimuli. Touch is an often overlooked and under-appreciated sense, however its importance in daily functioning is unquestionable: touch feedback allows us to safely and efficiently interact with the environment, while fine touch allows us to detect and discriminate textures and patterns. The perception of point stimuli is a fundamental aspect of texture and pattern discrimination, with applications as broad as clinical testing and sensory substitution (i.e. Braille).


title: Alexander Kluge: Montage Film as Cultural Criticism

contributor:
Schulte, Hans
German

subject: Alexander Kluge, German, theories, cultural, critics

abstract:
The films and theoretical writings of Alexander Kluge have been receiving greater attention from the North American German Studies community in the 1980's. This thesis is designed to give the reader a general introduction to the intellectual context of his writing and film-making, as well as provide an analysis of the relationship between the structure and content of one of his more recent films, "Der Ang riff der Gegenwart auf die Obrige Zeit", and his theories about the structure and content of the individual and collective societal consciousness.
The first part of the thesis deals with Kluge's association with the lnstitut tor Sozialforschung, more commonly known as the Frankfurt School, and their particular brand of marxist social and cultural theory. The work of the Frankfurt School's most noted scholar, Theodor W. Adorno, is used as a reference work with which Alexander Kluge's early theoretical writings are contrasted and compared.
The second part deals with two exemplary cultural producers and critics, Bertolt Brecht and Jean-Luc Godard. The use of montage technique in Brecht's dramas and Godard's films, and the desired effect which was to be produced, is compared to Kluge's own ideas on the associative technique and its potential as an analytic tool.
The third part of the thesis deals with the work of Walter Benjamin, whose unique fusion of Critical Theory and near-eastern mysticism produced an epistemology which finds its most precise expression in the employment of montage. Benjamin's assertion that the truth content in any situation can only arise out of the juxtaposition of elements in a 'constellation' corresponds very closely to the 'constellation' construction in Kluge's films.
Finally, the analysis of the film "Der Angriff der Gegenwart auf die Obrige Zeit" brings together all of these concepts --the social theory of the Frankfurt School, the production aesthetics of Godard and Brecht, the epistemology of Benjamin --and combines them with Kluge's own most recent theoretical writings to provide the reader with a possible interpretation of the elements in the film and their relation to the network of ideas which forms the world-view of theorist and film-maker Alexander Kluge.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: A Tool For Run Time Soft Error Fault Injection Into FPGA Circuits

contributor:
Lawford, Mark
Nicolici, Nicola
Software Engineering

subject:
FPGA
Fault injection
Field programmable gate array
runtime
soft error

abstract:
Safety and mission critical systems are currently deployed in many different fields where there is a greater presence of high energy particles (e.g.\ aerospace). The use of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) within safety critical systems is becoming more prevalent due to the design and cost benefits their use provides. The effects of externally caused faults on these safety critical systems cannot be neglected. In particular, high energy particle striking a circuit can cause a voltage change in the circuit known as a soft error. The effects these soft errors will have on the circuit needs to be understood in order to ensure that the systems will function properly in the event soft errors do occur.

In this thesis a tool is designed to facilitate the run-time injection of soft errors into a hardware circuit running on a FPGA. The tool allows for the control over the number of injections that can be performed and control over the rate that the injections will occur at. Additionally the tool records time stamps of when injections occur and time stamps of when errors are detected. This recorded data allows for the analysis of designs in conditions prone to soft errors.
The implemented tool allows for design time parametrization and run time configuration, allowing a multitude of tests to be run for a single compiled design. The tool also eliminates the need for a host computer after configuration by generating the injection locations and times on the FPGA. Eliminating the host computer allows for faster testing when compared to other methods as data transfer times are greatly reduced.

The implemented tool was run on classical examples of redundant structures, such as duplication with comparison and triple modular redundancy as well as a non-redundant structure to establish a baseline. The results of multiple tests run on each structure are analyzed to illustrate the uses of the tool and how the tool may be used to test other designs.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: Reader-Response Criticism in the Teaching of Poetry

contributor:
Beattie, Catherine
Aziz, Maqbool
English

subject: reader-response, poetry, grade 7, classroom activities, theory

abstract:
The focus of this project is on the use of the reader-response orientation in the
development of a poetry unit for grade seven. The reader-response orientation is a
literary theory which suggests that the meaning of any literary work is the result of the
interaction between the text and the reader. In this project, the emphasis is on providing
a bridge between this theory and the practice of teaching poetry.
To implement the reader-response orientation into teaching practices, it is
important for teachers to understand how theory affects classroom activities. If the
theory behind the reader-response orientation is understood, then teachers may be better
able to change their teaching approaches. In the classroom, reader-response activities
involve students in ways that encourage interest and personal response to poetry.
Understanding the reader-response critical theory can help teachers plan their poetry
lessons and develop more effective teaching practices.
This project begins with a survey of the literature of the reader-response criticism
and provides a summary of the theory. The link between theory and practice is
demonstrated with a review of a current curriculum project that uses the reader-response
orientation. Chapter Five is a poetry unit, for grade seven, designed to embody the
reader-response theory in actual classroom practices. In my conclusion I briefly highlight
some concerns and give suggestions for further research direction.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)


title: Teaching Poetry By Response in High School

contributor:
Schutz, Alice
Ferns, John
English

subject: employment, reader-response theory, poetry, grade nines, curriculum

abstract:
The focus of this project is on the employment of reader response theory, methodology and
strategy in the development of poetry units for grades nine through twelve for university-bound students. The purpose of the project is to introduce teachers to various reader-response theories, demonstrate how a curriculum may be designed using the transactional reader-response methodology, and provide units of study which are founded on the transactional theory and methodology, and also support the expectations for students established in the various Ministry documents.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)


title: Design and Analysis of Fluorescent Ce:YAG Solar Concentrator

contributor:
Kitai, Adrian
Materials Engineering

subject:
concentrator
solar cells
fluorescent materials
phosphor

abstract:
Research in fluorescent solar concentrators (FSCs) commenced in mid-1970’s to lower the cost of solar cells through the reduction of the required solar cell active area, and by incorporating them in-to buildings, thereby offsetting installation costs. In FSCs, light penetrates the top surface of a waveguide, is absorbed by the fluorescent material (FM) and is emitted at a longer wavelength that is then internally reflected towards edge solar cells. In this project, the use of cerium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce:YAG) was explored as an FM, from which the optical transport of fluorescence must be enhanced towards solar cell edges.
	Optical spectroscopic techniques were conducted to characterize a sample of Ce:YAG with a doping level of 0.180 mol%. An excitation and emission profile indicated a strong absorption at 476 nm and a strong radiation at 530 nm, where the fluorescence process lasted for only 62.3 ns, with a conversion efficiency of 80.0%. Meanwhile, x-ray analysis concluded that this material had a density of 4.56 g/cm3.
	An acrylic concentrator with local islands of Ce:YAG was successfully fabricated. A lens sheet was used to provide strong sunlight coupling to Ce:YAG. The concentrator was analysed using Optics Lab, Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) and through experimental flux measurements, the percentage of light that waveguided to the edges was determined. Optics Lab yielded 56.10%, MCS yielded 59.20% and flux measurements resulted in 58.22% (without lenses) and 57.14% with lenses. Also, an overall experimental optical efficiency was determined to be 32.45% without lenses and 53.53% with lenses. These results can be improved by modifying the fabrication techniques and using substrates with higher refractive indices.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: The Politics of Adaptation: Asian American Texts and Popular Film

contributor:
Goellnicht, Donald
English

subject: politics, problematics, Asian Americans, simplified, gender, anti-essentialist, traditions

abstract:
This thesis explores the politics and problematics of
Asian American self-representation in popular cinema by
focusing on film adaptations of Asian American texts.
In the first chapter I consider the Chinese American
director Wayne Wang's adaptations of Amy Tan's novel The Joy
Luck Club (1989) and Louis Chu's novel Eat a Bowl of Tea
( 1961). Here I demonstrate how the representations of Asian
Americans in the domain of popular cinema are "simplified"
and constrained to universalizing tropes, such as
"generational conflict," that negate the heterogeneous
factors (i.e. culture, gender, class) that contribute to
the making of Asian American subjectivity. As well, though
I find that both films tend to de-problematize the United
States as a context for the Asian American's assimilation,
Eat a Bowl of Tea, in its historicizing efforts and
cinematic flair, manages to posit a more ironic view towards
the narrative of assimilation than Joy Luck does.
In the second chapter I shift my discussion to David
Henry Hwang's 1988 play M. Butterfly and its film adaptation
by David Cronenberg. The opening (longer) section of this
chapter explores Hwang's critiques of Western (American) discourses of sexism, racism, and imperialism in relation to Edward Said's and Judith Butler's theories of orientalism
and gender performance respectively. When Hwang' s arguments
are also understood in the context of Asian American history
and contemporary debates over "identity" in the Asian
American community, it is possible to see how his antiessentialist
stance challenges all (Western and Asian)
impositions of discursive power. The second section of this
chapter compares the formal/performative construction of the
play to that of the film version. Here I argue that Hwang' s
utilization of Brechtian theatrical techniques corroborates
his anti-essentialist political argument. Cronenberg's
film, however, attempts to situate this critique within the
traditions of realist cinema, and thereby significantly
diminishes (and "simplifies") the Asian American perspective
of the play.
Taken collectively, these film adaptations, despite
moments of opposition, attest to the ideological limitations
that severely restrict the possibilities for complex Asian
American self-representations in the realm of popular cinema.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: The Reproduction of Patriarchal Ideological Hegemony in Soap Opera: A Case Study

contributor:
Knight, Graham
Sociology

subject: patriarchal, ideological, soap opera, mass media,

abstract: This research analyzes the reproduction of patriarchal ideological hegemony in the soap opera Another World using Stuart Hall's theory of the mass media and his conceptualization of ideology. A structural analysis of five one hour video-taped episodes of Another world reveals how the soap opera text constructs meaning fulfilling the three functions of the mass media, and thus, reproducing patriarchy's hegemony. This research confirms Hall's theory of the mass media and the propositions which flow from his conceptualization of ideology. Moreover, this research is the first attempt to systematically apply Hall's theory to the study of soap opera. It goes beyond .the generalizations of his theory to look at the particularities of soap opera which contribute to the reproduction of patriarchal ideological hegemony. However, it is seen that what is problematic to this research, and all research on soap opera, is a lack of a theory of the reader.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Optimal Fiscal Strategy for Economic Stabilization: An Econometric Study with Illustrative Application to Canada

contributor:
Denton, F. T.
Economics

subject: methodology, econometric models, fiscal policy, Canada, variables, income

abstract: The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a methodology for applying econometric models to problems of economic policy, and to illustrate it in terms of fiscal policy by applying it to problems of economic stabilization in Canada during the period 1967-69. It was assumed that the fiscal policy-maker in Canada has a preference (loss) function which is a weighted sum of squared deviations between the actual and the desired values of two target variables (changes in the GNE price deflator and the number of persons unemployed) and three instruments (changes in government expenditure on goods and services, and the personal and corporation income tax rates). Then, an intermediate sized annual econometric model of the Canadian economy was developed, subject to which the preference function was minimized. Since the parameters of the preference function were not given, thirty-six experiments of optimization were made under a range of plausible values of the relevant parameters. It was found that the numerical values of the target variables indicated by the optimal strategy were closer to the desired values and more stable in their movements than actual values. Also the results of various experiments suggested that the optimal strategy was relatively insensitive to changes in parameter values over a rather wide range.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Dramatic Anxieties: William Bodham Donne, Censorship and the Victorian Theatre, 1849-1874

contributor:
Ferns, John
English

subject: Victorian era, social issues, anxieties, Donne's censorship of dramatists, theatre

abstract:
While writers of the Victorian era were free to address contemporary social
issues, playwrights were forced to contend with government censorship that ostensibly
discouraged them from debating politically controversial topics. An adjunct of the Lord
Chamberlain's Office, the Examiner of Plays was responsible for censoring morally and
politically sensitive material, giving this individual tremendous influence over the
English stage. My dissertation, Dramatic Anxieties: William Bodham Donne, Censorship
and the Victorian Theatre, 1849-18 74, focuses on the career of one dramatic censor,
William Bodham Donne (1807-82).
Throughout his tenure as Examiner (1849-74), Donne controlled the written
content of every play performed in every theatre in England. His was a position of
remarkable cultural and social influence, offering him the opportunity to shape the
performed drama, and thereby the attitudes of those who attended it. This study
examines Donne's censorship of dramatists' attempts to treat in a serious manner such
political and social issues as Anglo-Jewish emancipation, Chartism, the repeal of the
Com Laws, prison reform, and the condition of the working classes. I demonstrate that to
evaluate the cultural impact of dramatic censorship in the Victorian period requires an
understanding of the ongoing tension between Donne and the playwrights who, despite
the professional ignominy that accompanied censorship, often struggled to address the
political and social issues of their time. The relationship between Victorian playwrights
and the Examiner involves a cultural dialectic that negotiates the boundaries of a licensed public space. In exposing the explicit and implicit pressures which one such Examiner
brought to bear on dramatists, this study begins to uncover what is still a largely
unexplored feature of Victorian theatre history.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: On the Relationship Between Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium in Numerical Simulations

contributor:
Wadsley, James
Couchman, Hugh
Physics and Astronomy

subject:
interstellar medium
galaxies: evolution

abstract: The cycle of star formation is the key to galaxy evolution.  Stars form in massive collections of extremely dense cold gas.  Stellar feedback will inject turbulence into the interstellar medium (ISM) and regulate the availability of more star-forming gas.  This gas is an integral component in the cycle of star formation but is very difficult to model in numerical simulations.  We have investigated the interplay between star formation and the structure of the ISM in numerical simulations.  These simulations were done using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics code Gasoline.  For this work we introduce a new treatment for photoelectric heating in Gasoline.  We first explore the impact of numerical parameter choices for the star formation threshold density, star formation efficiency and feedback efficiency.  Of these three parameters, only the feedback efficiency plays a large role in determining the global star formation rate of the galaxy.  Further, we explore the truncation of star formation in the outer regions of galactic discs and its relation to the presence of a two-phase thermal instability.  In the outer regions of the simulated discs, gas exists almost exclusively in one warm phase, unsuitable to host large-scale star formation.  We find that the disappearance of two-phase structure in the ISM corresponds to the truncation of star formation.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: The Role of Romance Literature in the Education of the Adolescent Female

contributor:
Ferns, John
Ajzenstat, Janet
English

subject: romance literature, bibliotherapy, relationships, moral, pedagogical, gender, sense of self

abstract:
This paper is an attempt to combine my love of
reading with my interest in education. My exploration of
romance literature and its popular appeal is based on a
developmental "bibliotherapy" approach to reading. Focusing
on the adolescent girl in her identity crisis, I examine
potential benefits and pitfalls that romance reading
might hold for her as she grows toward an independent
maturity and becomes involved in intimate relationships.
Although it includes classroom observations, my
project is not a data-based survey of adolescent girls and
their reading habits; rather, it is a theoretical
exploration of moral and pedagogical concerns which I have
encountered through my experiences with teaching and
reading. As such, it deals with issues of gender and genre
and the role of the educator in the promotion of relevant
texts during the transition years of adolescence. I rely
on several eighteenth-century works--Radcliffe's popular
gothic romance and Austen's satire of that genre (though
Austen's novel, too, contains a moving romance); on
Rousseau's Emile and Gilligan's feminist theories--to
develop my thesis that romance reading can provide a
landscape for sublimation and delay of early sexual
experience; and that it is the educator's role to guide
young girls in their reading to recognize the dangers of
reification and to lead them toward a stronger sense of
self.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)


title: APPLICATIONS OF WITTIG OLEFINATION TOWARD THE SYNTHESIS OF FLUORESCENT SPHINGOSINE ANALOGS

title: TOWARD FLUORESCENT SPHINGOSINE ANALOGS

contributor:
McNulty, James
Chemistry

subject:
Wittig
Aqueous Wittig
sphingosine
FTY720
toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma gondii
FTY720
divinylbenzene
fluorescent
probes
Organic Chemistry

abstract:
Over the last decade, a significant amount of research has been done on sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P regulates survival, proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells45, as well as playing an important but still unknown role in ovarian46, prostate, and glioma47 cell carcinomas. S1P plays a significant role in the regulation, proliferation and angiogenesis, and is therefore an area of considerable interest for cancer research.
Previous research in our group has shown that two stilbenoid sphingosine analogs (1 & 2) were effective at sphingosine kinase (SphK) inhibition in addition to showing down-regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), a novel and distinctly different mechanism of action compared to reported sphingosine kinase inhibitors. Both compounds showed novel toxicity toward the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii causes toxoplasmosis; a disease carried by up to 1/3rd of the world’s population and one that has been implicated in schizophrenia. Unfortunately, use of 1 & 2 as fluorescent probes is limited; their emission wavelengths fall between 360 and 380 nm, within the range of background fluorescence.
The synthesis of five fluorescent sphingosine analogs is described herein, three of which have emission wavelengths above 420 nm. These compounds show single digit µM cytotoxicity towards T. gondii.
The second generation synthesis of Fingolimod (FTY720) is also described. The process was optimized for large-scale production. Improvements to the synthesis included increased atom economy, purification and overall reaction efficiency. Yield was increased to 36%, from 33% in the first generation synthesis.
Lastly, a synthesis of p-divinylbenzene is described, using “green” solvents and easy sample work-up. The product contains no meta impurities, an issue that arises when p-divinylbenzene is purchased commercially.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Candidate in Philosophy


title: A Characterization of Flat-Plate Heat Exchangers for Thermal Load Management of Thermoelectric Generators

contributor:
Cotton, James
Mechanical Engineering

subject:
Flat-plate
Thermoelectric generator
Minichannel
Impinging jets
Heat exchangers
TEG

abstract:
Thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a solid state technology based on the Seebeck effect that can generate electrical power from waste heat. For continuous electrical power generation heat exchangers are integrated into the “cold side” and the “hot side” of the TEG such that a temperature difference across the TEG can be established and maintained. This thesis will focus on characterizing two different flat-plate cold side heat exchanger prototypes specifically designed for dissipating the thermal loads from TEG modules.
The majority of TEGs modules available have a flat geometry design and a square shape with typical dimension of 40 mm × 40 mm or 56 mm × 56 mm. To maximize the net electrical power generated by the TEGs the cold side heat exchanger is required to have uniform surface temperature distribution, and excellent heat transfer performance with minimum pressure drop.
To achieve the previously mentioned requirements, two flat-plate heat exchanger prototypes having two distinct heat transfer techniques were investigated. Each heat exchanger is designed to accommodate an array of 14 TEG modules arranged in two parallel rows with 7 TEGs per row a typical arrangement for large waste energy harvesting applications.
 The first heat exchanger prototype utilized single-phase forced convection through 140 minichannels (1 mm × 1 mm × 90 mm long) as a heat transfer technique. The second prototype utilized 14 liquid jets, 3 mm in diameter and 40.3 mm apart, impinging on a flat surface located 5 mm above. Each impinging jets was positioned at the centre of the TEG cooling area.
An experimental facility was constructed in order to test the minichannels heat exchanger and the impinging jets thermally and hydrodynamically. The heat transfer, pressure drop and temperature distribution results were compared to determine the most appropriate cold side heat exchanger prototype for the TEG POWER system. The TEG POWER system is a waste heat recovery system designed to recoup waste heat from the exhaust gases of commercial pizza ovens.  The TEG POWER system is capable of harvesting waste thermal energy produced by an establishment and utilize it for electrical power generation and thermal storage purposes.
Heat transfer results indicated that for a given mass flow rate the minichannels heat exchanger has better heat transfer performance compared to the impinging jets heat exchanger. The minichannels heat exchanger design had a thermal conductance of 238 W/C at 0.19 kg/s coolant flow rate compared to 111 W/C for the impinging jets heat exchanger.
The total pressure drop and the minor losses for each heat exchanger prototype were measured experimentally. For the minichannels heat exchanger, the total pressure drop is 23.3 kPa at flow rate of 0.235 kg/s. Comparatively, the total pressure drop for the impinging jets heat exchanger was 27.4 kPa at the same flow rate. Fittings losses for the minichannels heat and impinging jets heat exchanger were found to be 50% and 80% respectively. The maximum total measured drop corresponded to pumping power requirements of 5.7 W and 6.8 W for the minichannels and impinging jets heat exchanger respectively.
Local and average temperature distributions and their influence on the electrical power generated were studied for both heat exchanger prototypes. It was found that the minichannels heat exchanger offers more uniform surface temperature distribution per row of TEGs compared to the impinging jets heat exchanger. Therefore the minichannels heat exchanger is well suited for cooling two rows of TEGs simultaneously.
Based on the thermal and hydrodynamics comparison results the minichannels heat exchanger prototype is recommended for implementation in the TEG POWER system.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: A Microsimulation Approach Assessing the Impact of Connected Vehicle on Work Zone Traffic Safety

contributor:
Razavi, Saiedeh
Civil Engineering

subject: connected vehicle, intelligent transportation systems, work zone, traffic safety, dynamic route guidance, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, v2v

abstract: Safety in transportation systems is of paramount concern to society; many improvements have been made in recent decades and yet thousands of fatalities still occur annually. Work zones in particular are areas with increased safety risks in transit networks. Advances in electronics have now allowed engineers to merge powerful computing and communication technologies with modern automotive and vehicular technology, known as connected vehicle. Connected vehicle will allow vehicles to exchange data wirelessly with each other and infrastructure to improve safety, mobility and sustainability.  This thesis presents a paper that focuses on evaluating the impact of connected vehicle on work zone traffic safety. A dynamic route guidance system based on decaying average-travel-time and shortest path routing was developed and tested in a microscopic traffic simulation environment to avoid routes with work zones.   To account for the unpredictable behaviour and psychology of driver’s response to information, three behaviour models, in the form of multinomial distributions, are proposed and studied in this research. The surrogate safety measure improved Time to Collision was used to gauge network safety at various market penetrations of connected vehicles. Results show that higher market penetrations of connected vehicles decrease network safety due to increased average travel distance, while the safest conditions, 5%-10% reduction in critical Time to Collision events, were observed at market penetrations of 20%-40% connected vehicle, with network safety strongly influenced by behaviour model.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: Effect of Sc Addition on the Mechanical Properties of Mg-Sc Binary Alloys

contributor:
Niewczas, Marek
Materials Science and Engineering

subject:
Magnesium alloys
Mechanical properties
Scandium
Rare earth additions
Structural materials
Strength and ductility
Texture evolution

abstract:
The addition of rare earth (RE) alloying elements is a promising method for improving the strength, ductility and overall formability of magnesium (Mg) alloys. However, the underlying mechanism for this phenomenon remains unclear. An investigation on the effect of the rare earth element, scandium (Sc), on binary Mg-Sc alloys has been pursued.

Tension and compression tests were performed on a series of dilute binary Mg-Sc alloys at temperatures of 298 K, 78 K and 4.2 K. As a reference, pure Mg was also investigated for comparative purposes. Differences in tension and compression stress-strain curves highlighted distinct activated mechanisms, where slip dominated in tension and twinning governed compression. The observed increase in ductility and prolonged necking was attributed to a weaker basal texture, enhanced twinning and non-basal slip. A decreased work hardening rate suggests an improvement in dislocation recovery with Sc addition. In compression, Mg-Sc alloys followed Fleischer’s theory of solution hardening, where stress scales with concentration, c, as c^1/2; however, there was a very weak fit with both Fleischer and Labusch models under tension. The strengthening rate displayed by Mg-Sc was relatively weak compared to previously studied Mg-RE systems. However, considering the estimated misfit parameters, the size and modulus misfit was not enough to account for the strengthening rate. The results suggest that hardening of the twinning mode may influence strength.

Constitutive modelling, based on a self-consistent plasticity model, was used to characterize the deformation behaviour. The simulations predicted an increased relative activity of non-basal <c+a> slip with Sc addition, supporting experimental results and proposed mechanisms in literature. The results of Mg-Sc alloys have been connected to theories that identify a decrease in stacking fault energy (SFE) as the determining factor for increased strength and ductility of Mg-RE alloys. A comparison of the SFE of previously studied REEs with Sc, demonstrated strong evidence towards the theory’s validity. Sc has been shown to only moderately reduce the SFE of Mg and hence, the present experimental results have shown a moderate increase in strength and ductility. Additional modelling and detailed dislocation analysis are suggested as future steps to further support this theory.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: Early Psychological Factors Associated with Excessive Pregnancy Weight Gain: A pilot study

contributor:
McDonald, Sarah
Health Research Methodology

subject:
pregnancy weight gain
psychological factors
feasibility
prospective cohort

abstract:
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a prospective cohort study during early pregnancy (<24 weeks gestation) examining the psychological factors associated with excessive pregnancy weight gain.

Study Design: Women who had at least 1 prenatal care visit, had a live singleton gestation and were able to read English were eligible to enroll in the study. Women completed the self-administered survey at their prenatal clinics in Hamilton and Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Final pregnancy weight was obtained from women’s clinical charts.

Results: All approached clinics agreed to participate in the study (100% clinic agreement). Five hundred thirty women completed the enrolment survey, which was a 90.0% uptake rate. An average of 6 women enrolled each week at less than 24 weeks gestation. Less than 10% of data were missing for all survey questions and outcome data (final pregnancy weight) was available for all but one participant (97.3%). Final pregnancy weights were obtained a median of 1.0 days (interquartile 0.0-3.5 days) prior to delivery. No psychological factors were significantly associated with the odds of gaining above the 2009 IOM/Health Canada guidelines in the exploratory univariate analysis.

Conclusion: All feasibility outcomes demonstrated that conducting a full-scale study in Southwestern Ontario would be feasible. Conducting a full-scale study may identify associations between psychological factors and excessive pregnancy weight gain.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Predicting co-contraction with an open source musculoskeletal shoulder model during dynamic and static tasks

contributor:
Keir, Peter
Kinesiology

subject:
shoulder
shear
model
dynamic
static
strength
EMG
upper extremity
joint reaction force
co-contraction
co-activation
Biodex

abstract: The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the body.  It has a large range of motion and has active, as well as passive, components to its stabilization.  Many injuries occur every year due to overexertion and strain on the shoulder. Musculoskeletal models can be used as a proactive ergonomics tool for shoulder specific job task design, and to help prevent these injuries before they occur.  The purpose of this thesis was to critically evaluate the performance of four optimization criteria (sum of squared activation, sum of cubed activation, sum of quartic activation, and entropy assisted) using the open source modeling platform OpenSIM. Experimental torque, kinematic, and EMG data were collected using ten participants for a variety of dynamic arm movements, and static arm postures, in different planes of action.  The kinematic and torque data were processed and used as inputs to OpenSIM to calculate predicted muscle activations and joint reaction forces.  Experimental EMG was cross correlated with the predicted muscle activity of 8 muscles, and RMSD was calculated between experimental and predicted muscle activity for evaluation.  A co-contraction index was also used to assess the model’s ability to predict co-activation between muscle pairs.  Overall, the sum of cubed activation and sum of quartic activation model predictions explained significantly more variance (38 ±2.5%, p<0.01) than the sum of squares and entropy models, when compared with experimental EMG.  In conclusion, the type of optimization criterion chosen had an effect on the accuracy of the model predictions.  Future research, in the development of optimization criterions for the shoulder, will create better model predictions of muscle forces and joint reaction forces, enabling musculoskeletal models to be more useful as a tool to the clinical and ergonomic populations.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)

abstract: The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the body.  It has a large range of motion and has muscles and ligaments to support the stability of the complex.  Many injuries occur every year due to overexertion and strain on the shoulder.  Proactively modelling can help reduce these injuries by evaluating a job's likelihood to injure a worker before the worker does the job.  The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the performance of several different shoulder models.  Experimental torque, kinematic, and EMG data were collected using ten participants for a variety of dynamic arm movements, and static arm postures, in different planes of action.  The kinematic and torque data were used by the model to predict muscle activations and joint reaction forces.  Experimental EMG was cross correlated with the predicted muscle activity of 8 muscles, and RMSD was calculated between experimental and predicted muscle activity for evaluation.  A co-contraction index was also used to assess the model’s ability to predict co-activation between muscle pairs.  Overall, the sum of cubed activation and sum of quartic activation model predictions explained significantly more variance (38 ±2.5%, p<0.01) than the sum of squares and entropy models, when compared with experimental EMG.  In conclusion, the type of model chosen had an effect on the accuracy of the model predictions.  Future research, in the development of optimization criterions for shoulder models, will create better model predictions of muscle forces and joint reaction forces, enabling musculoskeletal models to be more useful as a tool to the clinical and ergonomic populations.


title: A population-level evaluation of barriers and facilitators to referral in Cytoreduction/Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy using knowledge translation methodology.

contributor:
Simunovic, Marko
Health Research Methodology

subject:
knowledge translation
survey methodology
cytoreduction/HIPEC
colorectal cancer

abstract:
Introduction: Referral for CS/HIPEC is variable, and barriers encountered by referring physicians are unknown. Identification of such barriers is useful for the creation of tailored knowledge translation (KT) strategies.
Methods: Interviews of 20 medical oncologists and surgeons in the New York (NY) area were completed to identify barrier topics, using the Pathman framework of uptake of innovations (awareness, agreement, adoption, adherence) at the various levels of the individual, practice group, and organization. Barriers were used to structure a survey for evaluation of prevalence at the population level of medical oncologists and surgeons in NY State.
Results: Barrier topics of awareness included training at a CS/HIPEC center, and availability of multidisciplinary cancer conferences. Agreement barriers centered mainly on quality of published literature, and the paradigm shift of carcinomatosis as a systemic to locoregional disease process. Adoption barriers included knowledge of outcomes of a CS/HIPEC surgeon, and concerns with morbidity/mortality rates. Adherence barriers included the lack of reflection of CS/HIPEC in current CPGs, financial/resource and logistic concerns of referrals, and lack of quality measures for the procedure.  For the survey, 119 responded (12% response rate), including 42 medical oncologist and 77 surgeons. The majority were aware of CS/HIPEC (n=113, 95%). Medical oncologists were less likely than surgeons to agree with CS/HIPEC related to published evidence (76% vs 92 %, p = 0.02). Surgeons were more likely to be aware of where to refer patients for the procedure, and were less likely to have concerns regarding morbidity/mortality, compared with medical oncologists (p = 0.05, p = 0.04).  Representation of CS/HIPEC in CPGs and quality measures/outcomes data was felt to result in adherence to a regular referral practice.
Discussion: This prospective study of stakeholders for CS/HIPEC is the first to evaluate and characterize barriers to referral for this complex and controversial surgical innovation, with prevalence at the population level.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Health Sciences (MSc)

abstract: This thesis identifies problems encountered with referring patients to a specialist surgeon for a procedure that involves both surgical removal of tumors and treatment of the abdominal cavity with chemotherapy. These problems are evaluated from interviews with specialists in the field, and then evaluated at a higher level of all practicing referring specialists through a survey. The results will be used to improve patient outcomes in the future.


title: A Methodology for the Simplification of Tabular Designs in Model-Based Development

contributor:
Lawford, Mark
Wassyng, Alan
Computing and Software

subject: Model-Based Development, Automotive, Simulink, Tabular Expressions

abstract:
Model-based development (MBD) is an increasingly used approach for the development of embedded control software, with Matlab Simulink/Stateflow as the widely accepted language. The adoption of this development paradigm is prevalent in many safety-critical domains, including the automotive industry. With an increasing reliance on software for controlling vehicle functionality and the yearly advent of new vehicle features, automotive models have been growing in size and complexity, causing them to become increasingly difficult to maintain, refactor, and test. Given the centrality of models in MBD, it is a requisite that they be maintained under well-defined and principled software development processes that use precise notation to document system requirements and behavioural design description.

Tabular methods have long been used for defining decision-making logic in software, due to their concise and precise manner of communicating complex behaviour, so it is not surprising that they are finding increased use in automotive software models. Thus their presence in Simulink models is increasingly prominent in the implementation of complex behaviour in production code. As a result of the safety-critical nature of the automotive industry, as well as the increasing size and complexity of its models, reliable refactoring and simplification techniques for tabular expressions are becoming an important need for automotive companies. To address this need, this thesis presents a methodology for refactoring complex tabular designs to improve requirements traceability with a focus on Matlab Simulink/Stateflow and the MBD approach.

A case study of industrial examples from an automotive partner are used to motivate the work and demonstrate the proposed methodology's effectiveness in reducing design size and complexity, while also increasing testability and requirements traceability.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: An Integrated System to Improve Data Sharing and Quick Accessibility of Patient Information within Palliative Shared-care Teams in HNHB-LHIN  (Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant - Local Health Integration Network)

contributor:
Nedailkov, Ned
eHealth

subject:
Palliative Care
OSCAR EMR
InfoAnywhere
HNHB-LHIN
Shared-Care Teams

abstract:
Delivery of palliative care to patients in a patient’s home, where they live with their family or in a retirement or nursing home, is an improved, shared-care team approach of providing quality healthcare services at the end of a patient’s life to reduce pain and stress. The palliative care shared-care teams in the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) for Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB also called LHIN4) manage patient health care through documents and trackers created and retained by providers within the circle of care, using several different systems and communication tools. These systems are not currently integrated and are unable to connect in a way that enables the preview, transfer, and receipt of data between these systems to support the needs of palliative care users.
The primary objective of this thesis is to provide a proposal to improve the user experience of palliative care users through enhancement and integration of some of the systems currently in use. These include OSCAR EMR (Open Source Clinical Application Resource Electronic Medical Record) Hospice – InfoAnywhere, CHRIS (Client Health Related Information System) and Clinical Connect. Integration of these systems will address other limitations the shared-care teams are facing, such as communication, system or organizational policies and privacy and information security concerns that stem from the sharing of patient information across the systems, to support a shared-care team’s ability to provide patient care.
During this study, an extensive requirements gathering and analysis was carried out: in-person interviews and teleconference meetings, brain storming sessions on the current systems and review of the secondary data with key stakeholders in the palliative care community. The local hospice sites were visited and extensive input was received from hands-on palliative shared-care teams and hospices across the HNHB LHIN, to ensure that the project team implemented their expressed needs into the integrated solution.
The used case and prototyping approach of gathering the requirements is then used on the initial requirements gathered by sending out an initial draft to the users and stakeholders for their review, changes and additional requirements, hence fostering communication between the business and the development teams each time the brain storming session is held to review the refined requirements, resulting in the development of a high-quality Business Requirement Document (BRD). The project manager, lead developer, software architect, and users/testers were all utilized throughout the entire delivery process to ensure they were all in sync with the documented requirements. This lays the foundation for programmers to implement a quality end product with a technical solution that will enhance and integrate the systems to improve the user’s experience at the point of care.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Use of Anatomy Modules in Self-Directed Education

contributor:
Butler, R. G.
Richardson, R. J.
Biology

subject:
anatomy
self-directed education
module
problem-based learning

abstract:
McMaster University's Department of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology
has developed an extensive collection of self-directed learning modules in Anatomy
which are available in an open laboratory. How medical and allied health students use
this resource has never been adequately surveyed.
     The rates, patterns and reasons for module use among first and second year
medical students were surveyed by questionnaire in late 1992. A similar questionnaire
was administered to students in Block 3 of the Physiotherapy programme in early
1993. Analysis was done using a standard computer-based statistical package.
Average module use among Unit 1 medical students (estimated by a weighted
average) is 1.39 hours per week, with a statistically significant increase reported by
Unit 4 medical students. Physiotherapy students, whose programme has a strong
emphasis on musculoskeletal anatomy, had lab use rates 140% greater than Unit I
medical students. Patterns of module use and student satisfaction with the modules
depend not only upon the medical student's level in the programme, but also upon
their previous backgrounds in biological/health science and problem-based learning
experience. The rates and patterns of use were much more consistent among
physiotherapy students, who were also far more satisfied with the organization and content of the modules than the medical students were. Medical students who were
tutored by research scientists rather than clinicians had different rates and patterns of
module use.
     The survey also indicates that students' use of the anatomy laboratory is not
primarily driven by their tutor's suggestions; by a requirement for a detailed
knowledge of anatomy for clinical skills purposes; or because module use saves time.
The comparatively heavy use of the Anatomy lab and modules by physiotherapy
students is clearly related to the demands of their programme. Students do believe that
module use will help them contribute to their tutorial discussions and to the
evaluations that occur in this setting.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (Teaching)


title: Microwave Circuit Optimization Exploiting Tuning Space Mapping

contributor:
Bandler, John W.
Bakr, Mohamed H.
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject: tuning space mapping (TSM), optimization, microwave circuits, engineering devices, electromagnetic models, calibration

abstract:
This thesis contributes to the development of tuning space mapping (TSM) for computer-aided design and optimization of microwave circuits.
Tuning space mapping applies the traditional engineering tuning idea into the realm of space mapping. It takes advantage of both the efficiency of space mapping and the expertise required for tuning of engineering devices. We present the state of the art in tuning space mapping and selected applications, and discuss how it relates to regular space mapping. A TSM algorithm is illustrated and implemented.
Tuning space mapping shifts the burden of optimization from expensive electromagnetic (EM) models to cheap and fast tuning models. Meanwhile, design accuracy is achieved by keeping the EM simulation result in an S-parameter file in the circuit simulator, while performing optimization only on certain circuit theory-based components that are introduced into the tuning model.
One important step in this tuning approach is to translate the tuning parameters to adjustments in the design parameters. Up to now, this was implemented by experience. Scarcely any systematic algorithm was suggested. In this thesis, we introduce a systematic "calibration" process which aims at calibrating the EM dimensions by the optimizable tuning parameters. Several calibration methods can accomplish this translation process. They are demonstrated here by applications.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: THE EXTENT OF THE NEUROCOGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC PAIN ON THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TEST PERFORMANCE; META-ANALYSIS AND LITERATURE REVIEW

title: COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT ASSOCIATED WTH CHRONIC PAIN

contributor:
Rathbone, Michel
Neuroscience

subject:
Chronic pain
Neurospychological Test Performance
cognitive deficits
Fibromyalgia
Whiplash
Meta-analysis

abstract:
Introduction:
Cognitive complaints are often reported by patients who also describe chronic pain. Reviews suggest chronic pain is likely to be associated with weaknesses, relative to control groups, in at least some cognitive functions including processing speed, attention, and possibly working memory, but differences between studies obscure the size of effects.

Objective:
This study provided a quantitative analysis of the magnitude of the association between chronic pain and neurocognitive test performances. Brief literature review is also done to focus on the functional brain changes associated with the chronic pain.

Methods:
Meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane, PRISMA guidelines. The analysis included published experimental design and the tests were studied at least 3 times, by different researchers, and the outcomes were combined within the same cognitive test. Tests were excluded when heterogeneity of variance exceeded I2 = 0.60. Pain subgroups were combined.

Results:
23 studies met criteria and involved heterogeneous pain populations, or subgroups including back pain, whiplash, and fibromyalgia. Seven tests had sufficient variance homogeneity. Effects sizes (- ve = chronic pain relative weakness) were: Tests measuring the attention such as PASAT and TEA, working memory (WAIS- digit span), executive functions such as Stroop test, TMT showed significant weaker performance on the tests performance, whereas performance on the test of visuospatial abilities such as ROCF and Corsi block test and WCST test, did not showed significant association.

Conclusions:
Chronic pain was associated with statistically significant performance reductions. The pattern suggests that chronic pain is associated with poorer performance in at least some tasks requiring processing speed, attention, working memory and learning. Differences between pain and control groups ranged from about 1/3 standard deviation to just under a full standard deviation. Too little research is available on non-verbal memory and executive functions in chronic pain.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Evaluating the Influence of Vegetation on Evapotranspiration from Waste Rock Surfaces in the Elk Valley, British Columbia

contributor:
Carey, Sean
Geography and Earth Sciences

subject:
evapotranspiration
mine reclamation

abstract:
Coal mines operated by Teck Coal Ltd., in the Elk Valley, British Columbia, utilize the method of surface mining, resulting in large waste rock piles that affect water quality.  In order to limit the influence that these waste rock piles have on water-rock interaction, alternate management strategies are being explored.  In this study, the influence of  vegetation on evapotranspiration is examined, as potential benefits exist in using vegetation to reduce the infiltration and percolation of water into waste rock. During the 2013 growing season, energy and water balance components were measured using the eddy covariance technique at a bare waste rock surface, a waste rock surface with a vegetated grass cover, and a waste rock surface with a reclaimed forest cover. In addition, other water balance components were measured, such as soil water storage and precipitation. The placement of vegetation atop the waste rock pile allowed for increased evapotranspiration compared to the bare waste rock surface.  From 23 May 2013 to 30 September 2013, the reclaimed forest and reclaimed grasses site experienced 305 mm and 272 mm of ET, respectively, while the bare waste rock site had only 140 mm of ET.  This increase in evapotranspiration suggests less deep percolation at vegetated sites, estimated as 148 mm, 172 mm and 246 mm for the grass, forest and bare rock sites respectively.  ET at the vegetated sites was dominantly controlled by the net radiation, while the near surface moisture was the dominant control on ET at the bare rock site.
Results from this study suggest future reclamation projects should consider placing surface vegetation as a potential method to reduce deep percolation into waste rock piles.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: The Ontological Status of Bodies: A Study of the Levels of Discourse in Leibniz's Metaphysics

contributor:
Waluchow, Wilfrid
Philosophy

subject:
Leibniz
material things
metaphysics
philosophy

abstract:
No Abstract was provided.
Thesis
Master of Arts (MA)


title: Modeling and Assessment of Emergency Mitigation Preparedness & Vulnerability for External Events in Nuclear Power Plants

title: Assi _ Ahmad _ Final Submission 2014 _ M.A.Sc.

contributor: Engineering Physics and Nuclear Engineering

subject:
External Events
Loss of AC/DC power in NPP
Risk Assessment
External Hazards
Nuclear Safety
PRA models and limitations
Beyond Design Basis Events
Parametric models

abstract: Thesis Abstract Current Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) design does not account for Beyond Design Basis Events (BDBEs) and thus lack the provisions to effectively mitigates complete loss of AC power and total loss of heat sink. Furthermore, parametric models used in PRA studies to assess Nuclear Power Plant’s safety risk for BDBE and External Events (EE) have significant limitations and proved ineffective to provide solutions on how to mitigate in BDBE or EEs situations. The Fukushima accident is a good example where PRA assessments did not provide the necessary means to cool or contain the reactors effectively. In this thesis, Emergency Mitigation Preparedness (EMP) model and assessment is proposed. The EMP model is objective and practical in evaluating NPP’s mitigation readiness in BDBE and EEs situations and provide a practical NPP Vulnerability indicator gauge which can potentially be used in risk-informed decisions. This will aid further in the NPP to improve in areas of emergency planning, enhance site and reactor design and improve workers safety and readiness to execute effective mitigation procedures and emergency plans.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Engineering (ME)


title: Development of Emotion Regulation Neural Circuitry: Anatomical Volumes and Functional Connectivity in Middle Childhood

contributor:
Hall, Geoffrey Brian Charles
Neuroscience

subject:
fMRI
brain development
cortisol
maternal sensitivity
functional neural networks

abstract: Part 1 - Background: Maternal prenatal adversity often results in changes to the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) function, such as greater cortisol secretion. Recent evidence suggests that fetal exposure to elevated cortisol levels may cause structural changes to key limbic regions integral to regulation of the HPA axis such as the amydala and hippocampus in children. In the early postnatal months these same structures are particularly vulnerable to the quality of maternal care and parenting styles. However, the relative impact and interaction of such factors is still underreported. Methods: 24 healthy 7-8 year old children (male:female=13:11) underwent an MRI. Amygdala and hippocampal volumes were assessed and used in multiple regression models to determine the impact of prenatal cortisol and postnatal maternal sensitivity. Results: Larger right hippocampal volumes were associated with increases in late gestation cortisol levels (4.6 mm3/nmol of cortisol; FDR corrected p<0.005). Increases in 6th month maternal sensitivity predicted a decrease in right hippocampal volumes at a trend level (FDR corrected p=0.09). There was no interaction effect between cortisol and sensitivity. There were no significant effects on left hippocampus or bilateral amygdala volumes. No sex differences were noted. Discussion: Given previous work we had expected greater amygdala volume and reduced hippocampal volumes to associate with increases in cortisol and decreases in sensitivity. Our results suggest that there may indeed be a programming effect on children’s hippocampi by prenatal cortisol. Findings may be reflective of a positive adaptive response or resilience to adverse prenatal environments. Part 2 - Introduction: Emotion regulation (ER) is an integral component to mental health. ER is thought to incorporate limbic as well prefrontal regions in several cognitive top-down circuits to utilize higher-order executive functions to adequately monitor and inhibit emotion when necessary. However, only recently has research targeted the developmental trajectories of these circuits from childhood. Methods: 29 healthy children aged 7-8 years (mean 7.34 ± 0.48) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with an implicit emotion go/nogo cognitive task to assess the developmental state and interaction between cognitive and emotional circuitry using functional connectivity (FC) in this age group. Results: Central executive networks (CEN) and salience networks (SN) showed more diffuse FC than mature networks, with greater inter-network connectivity. During exposure to fearful stimuli, there was greater connectivity within CEN and SN during go trials. Nogo trials were associated with more limbic-cognitive network interaction during concurrent exposure to fearful stimuli than neutral stimuli, Connectivity with the dACC was found to be common between limbic and CEN seeded networks. Discussion: Results indicate that cognitive networks are present but generally less mature than previous results from adult populations. Particularly, diffuse connectivity between the insula and PCC was negatively correlated indicating a developing switch between resting and salience networks. Additionally, greater connectivity for response inhibition tasks (nogo) during fearful stimuli exposure in the dACC, amygdala, anterior prefrontal, and DLPFC, suggests a maturing emotion regulation network, capable of managing cognitive tasks during emotional stimuli presentation.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Sleep, Physical Activity, and Cardiometabolic Health in Overweight/Obese Adolescents

contributor:
Morrison, Katherine
Medical Sciences

abstract: Childhood obesity is currently at its highest. This is a concern due to the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia.  Previous findings suggest an association between sleep and obesity, as well as sleep and metabolic health. This study examined the relationship between objectively measured sleep and physical activity (PA), as well as sleep and cardiometabolic health in overweight/obese adolescents recruited from lifestyle clinics focused on behavioural change. Adolescents (N= 79, 10-17 yrs old) were given a Fitbit activity monitor to wear for 8 days and 7 nights to objectively track their sleep and physical activity. Exposure sleep variables included sleep duration, sleep latency, and sleep fragmentation. PA outcomes were step count and very active minutes. Body fat was measured with bioelectric impedance. Blood pressure z-score (normalized for age, gender, and height) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured as well. PA (step count) was weakly associated with sleep duration (p=.087) after controlling for age, gender, adiposity, and wear time. Sleep latency predicted insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) after adjusting for age and gender (p=.047). This was a weak relationship after adjusting for age, gender, and body fat (p=.092) Sleep variables did not significantly correlate with blood pressure z-scores. It may be beneficial to target sleep in overweight/obese youth in lifestyle clinics in order to improve PA levels and cardiometabolic health.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: An Evaluation of the Approach Used by an Ergonomics Software Program to Predict Arm Strength Using Participant-Specific Elbow and Shoulder Strengths

contributor:
Potvin, James
Kinesiology

subject: Biomechanics, ergonomics, health and safety, strength prediction, kinesiology, injury prevention, shoulder strength, arm strength

abstract: Ergonomics software programs often use an independent axis approach (IAA) to calculate resultant shoulder strength to predict manual arm strength (MAS). The IAA treats strength about each joint axis (joint axis strengths: JAS) in the arm as independent motors, which all combine to complete an exertion. However, this form of modeling is not a true physiological representation of how the shoulder/arm function. The weighted average approach (WAA) was proposed, which combines the axes by weighting each strength based on its relative contribution to the resultant moment vector. The primary purpose of this thesis was to test the IAA using participant-specific JAS values, such that it afforded the IAA the best opportunity to predict MAS accurately. The secondary purpose was to test the WAA, to determine if it was a viable replacement for the IAA. Fifteen university age females completed two data collections. One tested the eight different JASs for the shoulder and elbow, and the other tested participant’s MASs in four hand locations and six exertion directions. The JAS force data, and postural kinematic data (from the MAS collection), were inputs into two models, which completed the MAS predictions. A 4 x 6 x 3 repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant three-way interaction between hand location, exertion direction, and method of MAS estimation (p<0.0001) on MAS. The most important finding of the thesis was that both the IAA and WAA predictions were significantly different than the MAS values. The IAA and WAA explained only 17.9% & 19.1% of the variance with RMS errors of 74.5 N & 73.4 N, respectively. This indicated that ergonomics software programs, using the IAA, should not be used to make arm strength predictions by ergonomists, and that WAA was not a viable replacement for the IAA.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science in Kinesiology


title: The Organization and Integration of the I/O CPU in the ANPT Project

contributor:
Lipton, S.J.
Engineering Physics

subject: ANPT (Air Navigation Procedures Trainer), Litton Systems (Canada) Limited, software, modules, system integration,

abstract: The ANPT (Air Navigation Procedures Trainer) is a navigation simulator being developed by Litton Systems (Canada) Limited. The ANPT design is based on the use of two ECLIPSE S/200 minicomputers to supply the background monitoring necessary for the system. This reports deals with the implementation of the software for the processor that will control the navigation simulation hardware of the ANPT. Two major sections of the implementation are covered: the organization phase which details the modules needed to control the hardware and to communicate with the other processor, and the integration phase in which the various modules are linked together with each other and with the hardware in order to obtain a cycling system. The problems that could be encountered during system integration will be discussed along with possible solutions to these problems.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Engineering (ME)


title: "Geography and Multidimensional Scaling:" Assumptions, Problems and Applications

contributor:
Betak, John
Geography

subject: Geography, multidimensional scaling, applications

abstract:
Abstract Not Provided
Thesis
Master of Arts (MA)