identifier: Cao, Jie <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Cao=3AJie=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Horizontal well and near-well region simulation using coupled axial-radial productivity models.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Directional drilling technologies have dramatically increased the application of advanced
wells in reservoir development since the 1990s, including horizontal, deviated, multilateral
and smart wells. The great demand for highly accurate and efficient well models arrives from
the fact that drilling technology has outpaced simulation techniques. The well model, usually
coupled with the reservoir model, is crucial for productivity estimation and prediction.
The main objectives of this research are to develop a well/near-well model and associated
simulation techniques using coupled axial-radial productivity models for advanced wells.
The analytical coupled axial-radial flow models were recently developed and described in
research notes. These ideas originate from the observation that the axial reservoir pressure
gradient cannot be ignored since pressure gradients exist in horizontal wellbores. The
analytical models consider both axial reservoir flow and radial well inflow in the near-well
reservoir, physically representing a two dimensional problem. These models were solved
under both steady state and semi-steady state conditions, using external boundary pressure
and average reservoir/grid block pressure, thereby generating the coupled axial-radial productivity
(CARP) models.
The main focus in this work is to apply the CARP models in the construction of a numerical
scheme for horizontal well and near-well region simulation (i.e. the well/near-well model),
in which wellbore hydraulics are included. In steady state and semi steady state flow, the
pressure solutions are analytical in each grid block and result in curved surfaces of near-well reservoir pressure, contrary to the constant pressure distribution used in the finite difference
method. Hence, the new numerical scheme is demonstrated, and proved in the steady
state case, to be a higher order method than the standard finite difference method. The
simulation results show that the new method requires less grid block refinement to achieve
the same accuracy compared to the finite difference method. The CPU time needed for the
same grid blocks to achieve the same accuracy is greatly reduced using the new method
compared to the finite difference method. This reduces the need for grid block refinement
in the near-well region.
Furthermore, the numerical well/near-well models are applied in heterogeneous reservoirs
and special cases where cross flow occurs. Wide permeability ranges can be dealt with
in these models in a stable manner without special treatment. Both the axial and radial
flow directions are solved as unknowns in these models; hence the cross flow between the
well and the near-well reservoir can be represented. Besides, the new well/near-well model
can be coupled with standard finite difference reservoir simulators such that both the well
completion effects and remote reservoir effects are taken into consideration. An iterative
coupling scheme is used in this research, and calculated examples considering unevenly distributed
skin factors also demonstrate the application of the new well/near-well model and
the stability of the coupling scheme.
The well/near-well model is also developed for anisotropic reservoirs using average reservoir
pressure. Based on previous research notes, this is achieved through a permeability tensor
used for axial reservoir flow and well inflow equations. This permeability tensor is generated
using a unique transformation that converts the anisotropic media into a virtually equivalent
isotropic media in the axial and radial directions. This transformation is only applied in
the near-well region without changing boundary conditions, and it preserves volume, flow
rates and pressure. The cylindrical near-well region is transformed into elliptical cylinders;
consequently, Dietz shape factors for ellipses are used in productivity models.


identifier: Marchant-Short, Sheila <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Marchant-Short=3ASheila=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Adverse events in health care: examining the second victim experience.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract:
Adverse events are a common occurrence in health care. While much attention has been paid to the impact of adverse events on patients and families, little is known about the experiences of health care providers as “second victims.” This study examines the experiences of second victims, using the example of one Canadian health region that had experienced a large-scale event that continues to shape how adverse events are understood and managed in that context. The methodology used is critical ethnography. The researcher uses her knowledge as an insider to health care organizational culture to explore the embodied and everyday experiences of health care providers. The study makes explicit the connections between culture and power to scrutinize the normative assumptions, values and beliefs that shape, and are shaped by, the experience of adverse events.
Staff feel powerless to speak up about adverse events; and by resisting the oppression that they fear will result if they were to speak out, they perpetuate the relations of power. Staff blame a constructed monolithic health care organization for the oppression, a story of responsibility and blame that is reinforced by the public via the media. Power is hidden and implicit in the system. Key findings are: (1) Health care providers involved in adverse events need to be given the opportunity to talk about their experience; (2) The best way to provide support is to recognize that support is needed quickly; and (3) In order for an organization to appropriately support the second victims of adverse events and their subsequent patients, a systems approach -- with attention to organizational culture in its relation to power -- is required.
The specific organizational features that shaped the experiences of health care providers in this study are not unique to the organization that was the site of the study. This study illustrates the magnitude of the trauma and the expanse of the possible experiences and helps us to understand more fully the second victim perspective and how a health care organization can mitigate the trauma to second victims.


identifier: Sheppard, Kelly A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sheppard=3AKelly_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Sibling placement in foster care: exploring the context and possibility of sibling separation.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Sibling placement in foster care has long been a contentious topic of discussion. The decision or desire to place siblings together when they must enter foster care has been based on policies, procedures, and strong preferences of child welfare agencies. There is much literature and research supporting the practice of placing siblings together; however little empirical research examining the context and possibility of sibling separation as it relates to foster parent and social worker perceptions has been conducted. Research based primarily on mixed methods of quantitative and quantitative aspects was undertaken and a small online survey conducted exploring: the experiences of foster parents caring for sibling groups in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL); the conditions under which separating siblings support the development of each child in the sibling group; and what foster parents and social workers think about separating siblings who are in care in the same home.


identifier: Foley, Kyle <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Foley=3AKyle=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Virtual source method: imaging steeply dipping structures in a heterogeneous medium using a walk-away VSP survey.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The virtual source technique is a relative new seismic imaging method with the ability to create virtual sources at the location of receivers. This technique has a broad range of applications, which could be attractive to the petroleum and mineral exploration industry. However, much of the research has been completed imaging a target in a homogenous background. To make the virtual source method more applicable this research focused on more geologically realistic models by changing the homogeneous background to a heterogeneous background (ex sedimentary layering or gneissic foliations). The ultimate goal of this thesis was to test whether seismic scattering, caused by heterogeneities, could enhance the imaging capabilities of the virtual source technique on a complex target. Understanding how different heterogeneous fields affect scattered wavefields and then applying this knowledge to the processing sequence of the virtual source method, was the approach taken for this research to appropriately study the results.


identifier: Alqarni, Fawaz <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Alqarni=3AFawaz=3A=3A.html>   (2017) The effectiveness of the Intel English language learning program on the reading and writing skills of Saudi male adolescent students.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In 2007 the innovative program Intel Teach to the Future (“Intel Program”) was
introduced in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to train teachers on integrating technology
into teaching and learning. Intel supplies training for teachers and provides both hardware
and software to the nation. In English language learning, teachers were trained to enhance
language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) through the Intel Program,
which reaches large and small cities as well as rural areas (MOE, 2008). Because of both
the scale and reach of the investments, a study of the effectiveness of the Intel efforts is
due.
This dissertation reports on a case study involving 26 participants in Makkah,
Saudi Arabia, used to investigate the effectiveness of the Intel English language learning
program on the reading and writing skills of Saudi male adolescent students. An openended
questionnaire and face-to-face interviews in Arabic were used to collect the data.
Arabic transcriptions were coded, translated into English, and the translation recoded for
use in the study focusing on three broad themes: (a) teaching reading and writing practice
through the Intel Program, (b) teachers’ and students’ perceptions about the Intel
Program, and (c) the challenges of the use of the Intel Program in teaching and learning.
Results showed increased use of the communicative method, with less use of the
grammar translation method; teachers acted as facilitators within a student-centered
approach including project-based learning, collaborative learning strategies, and creative
and descriptive writing skills. Teachers integrated technology effectively to teach reading
and writing skills, integrating social media experiences as well.
Results also showed a strong positive attitude towards the use of the Intel
Program from 80% teachers and all students. Negative reactions from 20% of teachers
stemmed from the lack of technology at their schools. Obstacles that prevented effective
use of the Intel Program in some schools included poor infrastructure, parental resistance,
weak administrative support, and challenges related to lack of training and lack of time.


identifier: Muntakim, Abu Hena <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Muntakim=3AAbu_Hena=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Acoustic noise characterization for leak detection in water mains.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Acoustic emission (AE) method is becoming popular for leak detection in municipal water mains where leaks are identified and the locations are determined through interpretation of measured acoustic signals without any excavation or disruption of services. For the interpretation of signals, several parameters such as frequency band of signals, coherence between signals, and cross-correlation between signals are employed. However, published literature lack data on applicability of the AE method under various field conditions. This research presents field investigation of leak detection using AE method, identification of leak noise source, leak noise attenuation characteristics and finite element (FE) simulation of acoustic wave propagation through fluid filled pipe. The field application of the AE method was performed through measuring acoustic noise at two points bracketing the leak along the pipe length in the City of Mount Pearl in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. For a better understanding of the source of leak noise, a preliminary laboratory investigation was conducted under a controlled environment. At low flow rates, it was found that water (escaping from the leak) hits surrounding obstacles and generates the leak noise. To explore the characteristics of leak noise, a new laboratory facility was developed and the attenuation characteristics of the leak noise was investigated. Leak noise attenuation was found to depend on the flow rate of the water. Finally, finite element (FE) method was used for modelling of acoustic wave propagation and attenuation characteristics. A commercially available FE software “ABAQUS” was used. FE analysis reveals that acoustic leak noise can propagate up to 150 m before attenuating to the ambient noise level in water mains.


identifier: Stabb, Katharine <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Stabb=3AKatharine=3A=3A.html>   (2017) An examination of the integrated cognitive affective model and weight regain in obesity: a pilot study.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Obesity is a complex health issue that is widely considered to be an epidemic in
North America. University-based weight loss programs produce weight loss in the shortterm,
but obesity tends to be a chronic condition that is difficult to treat due to long-term
weight regain. The majority of obese people who lose weight tend to regain a large
proportion, if not all, of the lost weight within one year. Among non-regainers, long-term
adherence to reduced-calorie diets and high levels of exercise are associated with better
outcomes. However, weight regain is the norm. Preliminary evidence suggests that
psychological factors may play into why some people regain weight. The Integrative
Cognitive Affective Therapy [ICAT] model provides a framework for understanding how
certain psychological factors may be associated with weight regain including selfdiscrepancy,
mood states (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress), emotion regulation, and
emotional eating.
The current study examined the application of the ICAT model to explain weight
regain in obesity. A community sample of 71 obese adults who had recently lost at least
5% of their body weight were included in the analysis. At baseline, weight was measured,
participants completed self-report questionnaires of psychological variables including:
self-discrepancy, mood, difficulty in emotion regulation, emotional eating, and binge
eating. Participants then provided self-reported weight at 3-month follow-up, and had
their weight re-measured at 6-month follow-up.
Results provided evidence that higher baseline self-discrepancy and difficulty in
emotion regulation were related to worse baseline depression and anxiety. Higher
baseline emotional eating was related to higher body mass index (BMI) at baseline, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. On average, BMI did not change significantly from baseline to 6-
month follow-up. However, upon closer inspection, about one third of the sample
regained weight (31.4%) while the remainder (68.6%) continued to lose weight between
baseline and 6-months. Regression analyses revealed that none of the psychological
variables measured at baseline significantly predicted BMI change from baseline to 6-
months, and there were no significant differences between weight regainers and nonregainers
on any of the baseline psychological variables including self-discrepancy,
negative mood states, difficulties with emotion regulation, emotional eating, or binge
eating.
This research contributed to the literature by exploring the role of psychological
factors in explaining weight regain in obesity, and provided an initial exploration of the
ICAT model as a framework for understanding weight regain. The implications of the
findings, directions for future research as well as study strengths and limitations are
discussed.


identifier: Saha, Debashish <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Saha=3ADebashish=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Experimental investigation of on-deck icing for marine vessels.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Marine icing is a complex phenomenon and understanding its growth process is important to construct ice growth models that can be built with remote sensing unit as a mean of generating a more accurate ice chart that can help in the prediction and prevention of the ice accretion on the deck of the vessel/ rig. In an arctic environment, wave impact and splash can significantly affect ice accretion on a marine structure. To predict ice accretion, water sheet breakup behavior onto a surface needs to be studied closely. The freezing behavior of salt water mostly encountered in marine vessels and offshore structures is very complicated compared to fresh water due to the salt content. A comparative effort to analyze the difference and similarity between the differing ice accretion behaviors of salt and fresh water as well as to further examine water sheet splash are the motivation of experimental investigation performed in two separate lab scale test models. The setup preparation, measurement technique, and results are presented. The results show that in fresh water freezing, droplet cooling behavior, splash area and solidification time were mainly affected by the volume of the falling droplets. The presence of salt affects the cooling time as the falling droplet size is increased. The results from the water sheet breakup tests show that jet velocity significantly affects splash size upon breakup. It is also shown that high attack angles are beneficial in low-velocity impacts.


identifier: Jothi, Geena Arul <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Jothi=3AGeena_Arul=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Pollination ecology of native pollinators in commercial cranberry fields in Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Native bees such as bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and solitary bees are effective
pollinators of a variety of crops. However, an understanding of the pollination services by
native pollinators to commercial cranberries in Newfoundland is limited. This study
assessed the diversity, abundance and effectiveness of native bees, and examined the local
and landscape factors associated with high pollinator abundance and fruit yield in four
commercial cranberry farms in Newfoundland (Canada). Consistent with previous
research, Bombus ternarius was the most abundant native pollinator in the cranberry
farms. Although no direct relationship between bee abundance and fruit yield was
detected, it is clear that the presence of native bees is necessary for adequate fruit set in
commercial cranberries as all farms studied had sufficient native bees to fully pollinate
the available blossoms. It appears that other factors, which were not assessed in this
study, such as crop management practices or microclimate, are more important in
determining yield on these farms. Bees on these farms may respond to resources other
than forage plants, e.g. nesting resources, which were not possible to assess, may be more
limiting. This study contributes to the understanding of the diversity and abundance of
native bees and how local and landscape factors contribute to bee abundance in the
commercial cranberry fields in Newfoundland.


identifier: Ling, Jingjing <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ling=3AJingjing=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Recycling, reuse, and resource recovery from fly ash.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Fly ash (FA) is a particulate residue from power plant boiler by burning oil or biomass. In this study fly ash was used to (a) remove total organic carbon (TOC) from intake water; (b) clean up an offshore oil spill; and (c) compost and stabilize municipal sludge. Firstly, oil fly ash (OFA) from oil-fired power plants was characterized, cleaned, homogenized, and activated to prepare activated carbon (AC). Since the drinking water from many small communities in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has high levels of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) in their water intake sources, causing the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) which are harmful to health, the AC from OFA was used to reduce DBP formation in the drinking water by removing NOM before chlorination. The NOM is typically measured as TOC. The results showed that the AC from fine and coarse OFA could remove 90% and 60% of the TOC from the source water, respectively. Secondly, acid treated OFA and activated carbon obtained from OFA (AC-OFA) were used to remove oil from the surface of water, by agglomerating oil droplets to form larger particles which could attach with the OFA. Due to the nature of hydrophobic, both OFA samples can keep floating on the water surface without sedimentation. The oil adsorption capacity of OFA could go up to 1.08


identifier: Fallon, Katelyn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Fallon=3AKatelyn=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Examining associative and non-associative fear memories in the Rat Exposure Test.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition which results in a variety of negative symptoms causing significant functional impairment. These symptoms fall into four clusters: avoidance, intrusion, negative cognitions or mood, and changes in arousal. Among those who actively seek treatment for PTSD, only 30% achieve full remission. This disparity represents a need for further research into therapies for PTSD. Predator stress is an animal model of PTSD which exposes a prey animal to a natural predator, creating a situation in which the animal fears imminent injury or death. The rat exposure test (RET) developed by Yang et al. (2004) has been successful in producing defensive behaviors in the mouse during a 5-minute protected exposure to a rat. Long-lasting behavioral changes in the mice, however, have not been assessed in this paradigm. Thus, the goal of these studies was to better assess the RET as a model of PTSD. Experiment 1 examined whether the effects of the RET could be seen up to three weeks post-exposure. The results from this experiment revealed that associative, but not non-associative fear, could be seen up to 21 days post-exposure. Specifically, predator-stressed (PS) animals froze significantly more than control animals upon re-exposure to the fear context. There were no differences observed in non-associative fear memories as measured in the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field (OF), or light/dark (LD) box. After minor changes to the RET protocol were made, the results from Experiment 2 demonstrated that the RET produced associative and non-associative fear memories. Specifically, PS animals froze significantly more than controls during re-exposure to the fear context. In addition, PS animals showed increased anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and LD tests. Finally, Experiment 3 tested the effects of the RET in female mice, as well as duration of the RET (5 min versus 60 min). The results indicated that there were no differences between PS and control animals regardless of length of exposure. Collectively, these results indicate more refinement needs to be made to the RET to achieve consistent, robust results across experiments.


identifier: Quinlan, Meghan Anne Laura <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Quinlan=3AMeghan_Anne_Laura=3A=3A.html>   (2017) In vivo optogenetic activation of locus coeruleus and consequent effects on perforant path evoked potentials in dentate gyrus.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Locus coeruleus (LC) is a nucleus composed of noradrenergic neurons, with
extensive forebrain connections. Within hippocampus, the dentate gyrus (DG) receives its
input predominantly from entorhinal cortex through glutamatergic fibers of the perforant
pathway (PP). LC activation prompts norepinephrine (NE) release onto DG granule cells,
which consequently potentiates the cellular response to glutamate. Previous research
using electrical and/or chemical LC activation revealed NE-induced long-term
potentiation (NE-LTP) in the DG, when paired with PP electrical stimulation. The current
study investigates whether previous models of in vivo NE-LTP can be replicated with
optogenetic manipulation of LC neurons in anesthetized rats. Transgenically modified
rats (TH-CRE) were first infused with a virus (AAV8), containing photosensitive
channels (ChR2h134r) and recovered for a minimum of 4-weeks. Recording and
stimulating (.1Hz, 0.2ms pulse) electrodes were then situated in the DG and PP
respectively, to monitor the evoked potentials. The evoked response was monitored for a
30-min period prior to optogenetic activation, using 10Hz trains of 150mA (60-70mW),
30ms pulses of blue light from a laser diode directed at LC to initiate NE release. A
recording electrode was assembled with the laser diode to simultaneously monitor
cellular responses to light. Successful infusions of AAV8 showed colocalization of LC
neurons and virus uptake. The introduction of the light into LC increased neuronal firing,
and when paired with PP electrical stimulation, induced enduring changes in the DG-PP
evoked response, as measured by population spike amplitude. These results occurred
despite the limited duration of LC firing, revealed by our concurrent recording, and are consistent with the effects of chemical and electrical LC activation. They argue
convincingly that PP-evoked potential spike potentiation is selectively related to a
relatively brief period of LC-NE release. Developments in optogenetic technologies are
promising steps toward a highly selective, reversible technique for nerve excitation and
silencing. Light stimulation offers the potential for relating selective activation patterns of
specific neurons to functional outcomes and for understanding the consequences of
specific temporal interactions among neuronal networks.


identifier: Earle, Jessica <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Earle=3AJessica=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Structure & agency in process operator student mobilities.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This research project is a study of structure and agency in the education-related
mobilities of women and men participating in a trades-related course, Process Operator,
designed to increase the provincial labour pool for natural resource industry megaprojects
like Vale’s nickel processing plant in Long Harbour, Newfoundland and
Labrador. Using a biographical approach (Ni Laoire, 2000), student mobilities are seen
as structured by the attraction of students into other skilled trades, the promotion by
government initiatives, the organization of educational funding, and influences from
family and friends. Agency in student mobilities is facilitated by financial and social
resources mainly from parental support. Responsibilities for accomplishing mobility are
left to family and individual resources, and there should be improvements made to
providing government support to Process Operator students, graduates and Blue Seal
trades workers.


identifier: Lee, Scott D. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lee=3AScott_D=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Rural-urban differences in prevalence of diagnosed dyslipidemia in Newfoundland: findings from the Eastern Health laboratory information system.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Background
Newfoundland and Labrador has a higher level of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
mortality than any other Canadian province. This may be partially explained by the
lipid profile of this province. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Newfoundlanders
have lower levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and higher levels of lowdensity
lipoproteins (LDL) than other Canadians. It is unclear if lipid profiles differ
between rural and urban locations within Newfoundland. This study aims to assess
rural-urban differences in prevalence of diagnosed dyslipidemia in NL
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study design using a secondary data analysis of laboratory
data from the Eastern Health Authority. It includes 94,612 patients aged 20+ with a
complete lipid profile (HDL, LDL, Triglyceride (TG), Total Cholesterol) from the
period of January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. Primary outcome measures were
low HDL (<1.0 for men and <1.3 for women), high LDL (≥3.4), high TG (≥1.7), high
Total Cholesterol (≥5.2). Rural and urban area were identified using three digit
postal code and geo-referenced for visualization using ArcMap-GIS 10.2.
Results
Rural residents had a significantly higher prevalence of low HDL (48% vs 44%, p
<0.001), high TG (35% vs 29%, p <0.001), and high Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio
(26% vs 23%, p <0.001). Urban inhabitants had a significantly higher prevalence of
high Total Cholesterol (38% vs 37%, p= 0.035).
Conclusions
The analysis suggests that patterns of dyslipidemia differ between rural and urban
regions with rural having a more adverse dyslipidemia lipid profile. The results of
this study will help guide future research about dyslipidemia as well as other risk
factors for CVD in NL. Further investigation is required using data from all health
authorities in NL to better represent the differences.


identifier: Al Nabhani, Khalid <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Al_Nabhani=3AKhalid=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Risk assessment and management of technologically enhanced naturally occurring nuclear radioactive material in the oil and gas industry.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
There is inadequate awareness in the oil and gas industry worldwide about the
issue of worker protection from Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Nuclear
Radioactive Materials (TENORM), and about the proper disposal of radioactive wastes
into the environment. According to the available data on the mass flow and activity
concentration of radioactive materials involved in various stages of the oil and gas
industry, experts fear that critical clusters in the workforce of the oil and gas industry as
well as the general public are at risk of being exposed to different levels of radiation
doses, these doses range from low to extremely high levels of radiation under adverse
conditions. Such doses often exceed the currently acceptable occupational exposure
limits for workers exposed to these materials. However, according to the medical
epidemiological and laboratory data, even low doses of exposure can pose the same threat
as that of high doses exposure of radiation and eventually increase the chance of
developing cancerous diseases. This research attempts to thoroughly investigate the
available literature and identify current knowledge and technical gaps associated with the
presence of TENORM in the oil and gas industry. Three main gabs have been identified
from the available studies that will be addressed in this study and are: 1) workers in the
oil and gas industry face a great risk of being exposed to various levels of radioactivity
throughout the oil and gas extraction and production life cycles; 2) high volumes of
TENORM waste are generated daily from the petroleum industry and have become a
serious concern as another source of radiation exposure to workers, the general public and the environment; 3) the lack of a uniform international safety standard,
inconsistencies and conflicts in existing regulations and legislation designed to manage
TENORM risks in the oil and gas industry, and the inability of these measures to provide
enough protection for public health and the environment.
The main goal of this thesis is to provide a road map for further research on key
gaps it identifies in measures put in place to protect public health and the environment
from radiological risk posed by TENORM in the oil and gas industry. To achieve that
goal, this thesis presents a new approach of dynamic modelling and quantitative risk
assessment of TENORM occupational exposure in the oil and gas industry using SMART
approach, which integrates SHIPP (System Hazard Identification, Prediction and
Prevention) Methodology And Rational Theory (SMART approach). The SHIPP
methodology is a generic framework used to identify, evaluate, and model processes of
potential TENORM occupational exposure accidents. Rational theory is used to model
accident causation behaviour that usually contributes to its occurrence based on logical,
inductive, and probabilistic analysis. The basic premise of rational theory is that an
accident occurrence is a result of joint conditional behaviour among different parameters.
This thesis also presents an analysis of current TENORM waste disposal methods
used in the oil and gas industry that are completely unsafe and unsupported by scientific
evaluations or radiological risk assessments from either an engineering or a medical
perspective. These disposal methods contribute to serious radiological contamination and
pollution that affect humans, the atmosphere, water aquifers, plants, and animals. To
assess their effectiveness, a real scenario-based risk assessment of common TENORM
waste disposal methods is evaluated and simulated based on a transport and fate model using RESRAD version 6.5. The results of the scenario-based risk assessment are
compared with those obtained using a similar simulated scenario constructed from a
literature review and medical opinion.
Finally, this study highlights the lack of consistency of safety standards related to
radiological risks posed by TENORM in the oil and gas industry. It also investigates the
main reasons that underlie political conflicts in the reservations about regulating
technological risks such as nuclear issues, particularly in the oil and gas industry. There
exists a real need for public participatory approach in the formulation of technological
risk-management processes. The legislative decision-making is an important first step
towards mitigating the technological risks of TENORM exposure in the oil and gas
industry as well as maintaining a strong economy. Indeed TENORM exposure is a vital
public issue as it concerns workers’ safety and public health. Hence this thesis provides a
framework for engaging public participation, which together with government legislation
can promote public health and environmental safety, and aim to strike a balance between
the interests of the authorities and the interests of the public.


identifier: Parsons, Ruth Mary <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Parsons=3ARuth_Mary=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Identifying therapeutic change processes in the treatment of complex trauma: the case of play therapist's perspectives. A qualitative study.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Therapeutic interventions for children have been proven to be effective across all ages and stages of development. However, knowing that therapy works does not account for how or why it works. This question specifically asks, ‘what are the change processes within treatment’ has been raised historically and continues to be asked today. Knowing more about how and why therapy works with children can provide opportunity for the design and development of programming to meet the specialized needs of children in multiple areas of treatment.
This dissertation utilized the naturalistic inquiry to identify therapeutic change processes within the context of treatment of complex trauma with children. Certified and experienced play therapists that practice in Ontario, Canada were interviewed to discover what therapeutic change processes were utilized in their interventions with children who have experienced complex trauma. The guiding questions for this study were:
1. What practices have play therapists found to be effective in assessment and treatment of children exposed to complex trauma?
2. What practices have play therapists found to be effective in reducing the long-term impacts of complex trauma?
3. What are play therapists’ understandings of therapeutic change processes in which they have confidence?
In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of nine certified play therapists, all with advanced training and/or experience in working with children who experienced complex trauma. All participants reside in the province of Ontario, Canada, and practice in both public and private services.
Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data. Three themes emerged from this data: theme 1 – therapeutic tools; theme 2 – building the therapeutic foundation; and theme 3 – working through complex trauma. From within these three themes and their sub-themes, six therapeutic change processes emerged: fostering a renewed ability to attach, fostering a renewed ability to trust, instilling hope for the future, providing age appropriate time and pacing for processing, facing the trauma together, and promoting mental health and resilience.
Additionally, this study’s findings show a comprehensive practice model for therapeutic intervention with children who have been exposed to complex trauma and their caregivers. It also highlights the need for creativity and skill in intervening with children.


identifier: Goddard, Benjamin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Goddard=3ABenjamin=3A=3A.html>   (2017) An exploration of decision-making by individuals who have received specialized treatment for early psychosis.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Decision-making is a critical life skill, integral for guiding behaviour. Previous research has demonstrated that decision-making is frequently impaired across a range of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. Although a concerted research effort has recently been focused on understanding decision-making in chronic schizophrenia, the current study was conceived to provide an initial exploration into the decision-making process of individuals who received specialized treatment for early psychosis. We investigated the decision-making ability of 16 patients enrolled in an early psychosis (EP) program and 20 healthy controls based upon their performance on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and Game of Dice Task (GDT). Additional measures of neuropsychological functioning were also examined. Differences in ambiguous decision-making (IGT) were observed, with the EP group performing significantly worse than the healthy control group. Additionally, there were no differences between the two groups observed in risky decision-making (GDT). The only neuropsychological variable that correlated with decision-making performance across tasks was that of working memory. More specifically, measures of IGT ability significantly correlated with working memory performance for the EP group but not the healthy controls. As such, the current study illustrates an important role for working memory in making ambiguous decisions. It is possible that individuals with EP experience difficulty maintaining mental representations of expected value. Therefore, it is more difficult to utilize feedback from the previous trials to impact positively on future choices and rewards that are not immediately present in the environment. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed for understanding decision-making by individuals who experienced early psychosis, and how decision-making impairments could be accommodated for by treatment programs.


identifier: Tavafi, Amir <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Tavafi=3AAmir=3A=3A.html>   (2017) A hybrid genetic programming based decision making system for multi-agent systems of Robocup Soccer Simulation.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In this thesis, a hybrid genetic programming approach is proposed for decision
making system in the complex multi-agent domain of RoboCup Soccer Simulation.
In the past, genetic programming was rarely used to evolve agents in this domain
due to the difficulties and restrictions of the soccer simulation domain. The proposed
approach consists of two phases, each of which tries to cover the other's restrictions
and limitations. The first phase will produce some evolved individuals based on a GP
algorithm with an off-game evaluation system and the second phase will use the best
individuals of the first phase as input to run another GP algorithm to evolve players
in the simulated game environment where evaluations are done during real-time runs
of the simulator. It is observed that the individuals evolved after the second phase
are able to outperform the same team with a decision making system which is not
evolved.


identifier: Furey, Greg <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Furey=3AGreg=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Prevalence and effects of rhizocephalan (Cirripedia: Briarosaccus callosus) parasitism and assessment of post-capture survival using the reflex action mortality predictor (RAMP) method on the deep water Porcupine crab (Neolithodes grimaldii) captured on the Labrador Shelf in the Northwest Atlantic.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The porcupine crab (Neolithodes grimaldii) is a deep water (>800m) species of king crab (Lithodidae) and little is known about its biology, ecology, and distribution. Historically, high bycatch rates of porcupine crab have been observed in gillnet fisheries targeting Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in the northwest Atlantic. As there is currently no directed fishery for the porcupine crab in the north Atlantic the information collected in this study will be of interest to science, industry, and fisheries management. The results of this project will provide a basis to make informed decisions at the forefront on the sustainability of a potential fishery for this renewable resource. This thesis collected data on the prevalence of the rhizocephalan parasite (Briarosaccus callosus) infesting the porcupine crab which was found to be high (21%) compared to other species of open water king crab. Morphological and reproductive effects of B. callosus on the porcupine crab were also observed. The parasite sterilized male and female porcupine crabs. The parasite correlated with reductions in size of chelae height, length of the first and second merus, and carapace length in infested males, however, females had increased carapace and merus length. The post-capture survival of porcupine crab captured incidentally in gillnets targeting Greenland halibut was also determined using the reflex action mortality predictor (RAMP) method. The survival rate was high (74%) for crabs when removed from gillnets without extensive trauma and held 5-9 days in holding tanks aboard a commercial vessel. The survival rate was greater for crabs that were removed without extensive trauma (74%) and crabs that were selected in the second year that had incurred trauma from gear or rough handling (28%). Using the RAMP method revealed stark differences between porcupine crab captured in gillnets and previous studies conducted on bottom trawl captured king crab. Porcupine crab appear to be in a heightened state during capture and removal from gillnets reducing the ability to predict mortality using the RAMP method as they failed few reflex actions. Analyzing these results revealed that mortality could not be predicted with a high amount of confidence as a low amount of variability was explained by the models used (5-15%).


identifier: Devaine-Pressing, Katalin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Devaine-Pressing=3AKatalin=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Amine-bis(phenolate) complexes of chromium for carbon dioxide/cyclohexene oxide copolymerization and group(I) and (II) complexes for the ring opening polymerization of rac-lactide.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Finding novel methods for polymer synthesis has been of particular interest as of
late from both a chemical and commercial standpoint. This focus stems from the
recognized need for biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, originating from
renewable resources, and is a legitimate endeavor by society to ease the burden imposed
on the environment. Society’s conscience also recognizes the great need to utilize the
carbon dioxide that is released in the atmosphere and it continues to make noble efforts
in order not to contribute further to the greenhouse effect caused by greenhouse gases
such as carbon dioxide. Therefore, the use of carbon dioxide as a starting material and
the incorporation of it in the product of a chemical synthesis are currently developing
research areas. Accordingly, combining the aim of environmentally friendly
polycarbonate synthesis with incorporation of carbon dioxide in the polymer chain was
the goal of the research conducted in the first part of this thesis. Additionally,
biodegradable and biocompatible polylactide from lactide, originating from renewable
feedstocks, was produced by biocompatible complexes in the second part.
Polycarbonate synthesis was carried out in the presence of novel chromium(III)
catalysts which were synthesized via salt metathesis reactions from tetradentate tripodal
amine-bis(phenol) ligands. The complexes were characterized by MALDI-TOF mass
spectrometry, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurement and
elemental analysis. The catalyst precursors selectively produced polycarbonates from
epoxides and carbon dioxide with high yields and moderate molecular weights.
Mechanistic studies revealed a first order dependence on catalyst concentration and that ring opening of the epoxide was initiated by a nucleophilic species originating either
from the complex or from an externally added nucleophile.
Biocompatible magnesium-, lithium-, sodium-, potassium- and calcium
complexes of an amino-bis(phenolato) ligand were also prepared and characterized for
the synthesis of polylactide, a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer. The
magnesium and the sodium complexes in particular showed high catalytic activity and
good control over the reaction. The complexes were active even under relatively low
catalyst loading (0.1 – 0.2 mol%) and produced polymers of high purity as revealed by
NMR, DSC and TGA.


identifier: Valencia, Luis E. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Valencia=3ALuis_E=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Implications of the diagenetic history on polymer flooding performance for the Ben Nevis Formation, Hebron Field, Jeanne D'Arc Basin, offshore Newfoundland, Canada.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The Hebron Project is the fourth major offshore development in Newfoundland and Labrador with more than 700 MBO recoverable. This research focuses on the Ben Nevis Formation (Pool 1) polymer flooding experimental evaluation based on its diagenetic history, reservoir characterization, and the recovery mechanism interactions. The reservoir properties were studied before and after the application of polymer flooding at laboratory scale using optical petrographic and SEM-MLA analyses, showing an increase of calcite cement and fines to Pool 1 top, diminishing the reservoir properties and establishing them as potentially the most critical diagenetic features to influence the EOR performance. Three polymers were tested at Pool 1 reservoir conditions, and core flooding experiments showed an additional oil recovery increase (3-6 %) after water flooding with FLOOPAM-5115. Polymer flooding, as the secondary method, consistently showed a higher increase in oil recovery than standard water flooding stage; thus applying polymer flooding in an early stage of the field development would be beneficial.


identifier: Said, Mohamed Walid Mehrez Elrafei Mohamed <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Said=3AMohamed_Walid_Mehrez_Elrafei_Mohamed=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Optimization based solutions for control and state estimation in non-holonomic mobile robots: stability, distributed control, and relative localization.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Interest in designing, manufacturing, and using autonomous robots has been rapidly growing
during the most recent decade. The main motivation for this interest is the wide range
of potential applications these autonomous systems can serve in. The applications include,
but are not limited to, area coverage, patrolling missions, perimeter surveillance, search
and rescue missions, and situational awareness. In this thesis, the area of control and
state estimation in non-holonomic mobile robots is tackled. Herein, optimization based
solutions for control and state estimation are designed, analyzed, and implemented to such
systems. One of the main motivations for considering such solutions is their ability of
handling constrained and nonlinear systems such as non-holonomic mobile robots. Moreover,
the recent developments in dynamic optimization algorithms as well as in computer
processing facilitated the real-time implementation of such optimization based methods
in embedded computer systems.
Two control problems of a single non-holonomic mobile robot are considered first; these
control problems are point stabilization (regulation) and path-following. Here, a model
predictive control (MPC) scheme is used to fulfill these control tasks. More precisely, a
special class of MPC is considered in which terminal constraints and costs are avoided.
Such constraints and costs are traditionally used in the literature to guarantee the asymptotic
stability of the closed loop system. In contrast, we use a recently developed stability
criterion in which the closed loop asymptotic stability can be guaranteed by appropriately
choosing the prediction horizon length of the MPC controller. This method is based on finite time controllability as well as bounds on the MPC value function.
Afterwards, a regulation control of a multi-robot system (MRS) is considered. In this
control problem, the objective is to stabilize a group of mobile robots to form a pattern.
We achieve this task using a distributed model predictive control (DMPC) scheme based
on a novel communication approach between the subsystems. This newly introduced
method is based on the quantization of the robots’ operating region. Therefore, the
proposed communication technique allows for exchanging data in the form of integers
instead of floating-point numbers. Additionally, we introduce a differential communication
scheme to achieve a further reduction in the communication load.
Finally, a moving horizon estimation (MHE) design for the relative state estimation
(relative localization) in an MRS is developed in this thesis. In this framework, robots
with less payload/computational capacity, in a given MRS, are localized and tracked
using robots fitted with high-accuracy sensory/computational means. More precisely,
relative measurements between these two classes of robots are used to localize the less
(computationally) powerful robotic members. As a complementary part of this study, the
MHE localization scheme is combined with a centralized MPC controller to provide an
algorithm capable of localizing and controlling an MRS based only on relative sensory
measurements. The validity and the practicality of this algorithm are assessed by realtime
laboratory experiments.
The conducted study fills important gaps in the application area of autonomous navigation
especially those associated with optimization based solutions. Both theoretical as
well as practical contributions have been introduced in this research work. Moreover, this
thesis constructs a foundation for using MPC without stabilizing constraints or costs in
the area of non-holonomic mobile robots.


identifier: Boadi, Sylvester Asmah <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Boadi=3ASylvester_Asmah=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Head-teacher and school principal development in Ghana: theory into practice.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This qualitative case study is based on a collaborative web-based leadership training program offered by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada, the Faculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), Canada, and selected educational institutions from four English West African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia) in 2010. While this study focuses on the Ghanaian context, the program’s general design provided a select group of headteachers and school principals in participating countries with the following: innovative knowledge and skills in school management to enhance their professional skills and effectiveness; a forum to exchange ideas and experiences for managing primary and secondary schools, and; opportunities for their continued professional development. The final objective was to develop a formal training manual that “master trainers” would use in their respective countries to train other school leaders.
Faculty from MUN provided administrative and academic expertise, including the research and theoretical basis of the program. Six local trainers who were selected from each participating country, brought their expertise and their knowledge of local context, and ensured thoughtful reflection on each of their own country’s circumstances and practices. The COL provided financial support to ensure that the program was developed and implemented successfully. The program was carried out in two phases (beginning in Ghana and ended in The Gambia) leading to the development of a final training manual that master trainers would use in their respective countries to train other school leaders. Ghana started implementation of the training in 2011.
Within the last decade or so, Ghana has consistently experienced considerable decline in students’ academic performance both at the basic and secondary school levels due to several factors including leadership inefficiencies. The leadership training program as it applies to Ghana seeks, therefore, to introduce modern leadership practices which focus on local conditions to participating headteachers and school principals. In doing so, the aim is to improve the teaching and learning environment within the Ghanaian school system.
The current study investigated successes and challenges that characterized the training and implementation of skills for school leaders within Ghana. Of particular interest here, is what the trainees (mostly headteachers and school principals) learned, the processes through which they intended implementing the new skills, knowledge, and abilities (SKAs) to their workplaces, and the socio-cultural factors that influenced the implementation processes. The design of this study relies on theoretical perspectives elucidated by instructional leadership theory (Hallinger & Murphy, 1985), transformational leadership theory (Bass, 1985), distributed leadership theory (Sheppard, Brown, & Dibbon, 2009), and the transfer of learning framework (Baldwin & Ford, 1988). The methodology used for data collection was a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire, followed by one-on-one, face-to-face interviews. The sample consisted of 36 respondents made up of 30 headteachers, two coordinators (one doubled as a trainer), three trainers who participated in the manual development training in Ghana and Gambia, one faculty member from MUN who provided expertise and contributed to the development of the training manual, and one Ghanaian consultant who collaborated with the COL and MUN representatives before the program started.
Findings revealed that headteachers and school principals who undertook the training successfully developed contemporary leadership SKAs. Most trainees endeavoured to implement what they learned in the training program at their workplaces, but factors such as resistance to change, lack of employer support, and poor conditions of service caused a relapse in their ability to apply contemporary leadership skills. In light of these findings, recommendations are made for program improvement and further development in addressing issues of social content in the adaption and implementation of skills for future trainees.


identifier: Furey, Doug <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Furey=3ADoug=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Mixed methods development of a survey instrument for cataloguing student practices and perceptions.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: How can outside-the-classroom agencies (e.g., universities, school districts) contribute to effective schooling in terms of student self-development? How can external initiatives be designed, implemented, and institutionalized to lead students to change existing classroom practice? As a first step in answering these questions, a survey instrument was developed to map baseline and post-initiative perceptions of teacher practice, student responses, and self-initiated practices in various course and lesson situations in schools in Newfoundland Labrador, Canada. The mixed methods program of research included an Exploration Phase with major projects entitled Teacher Description of Practice (n = 80), Student Description of Practice (n = 60), and Student Journal of Teacher Practice (n = 75), and a Development Phase with projects entitled Student Explanation of Teacher Description (n = 60), the Development Study (n = 60), and the Final Survey (n = 180). The teacher project, for example, collected 80 teacher descriptions of practice in 16 long- and short-term situations as well as perceptions of effectiveness. A website was developed for project administration and to accept data entry from participants representing 30 geographically separate schools. Qualitative data analysis consisted of text mining, concept mapping, keyword coding, categorization, and theme recognition; quantitative analyses consisted of descriptive statistics, item associations, and reduction of equivalent expressions. Analysis was designed to carry the richness of description through to the Final Survey. Measures of credibility and validity included the mixed method structure, large samples for descriptive research, question duplication, active website administration, pilot groups, member checking, triangulated descriptions, focus groups, case studies, participation across the mixed methods paradigm shift, a study of student misconceptions, and survey redevelopment. The instrument, entitled Student Practice and Perception of Teacher Practice, was included in this work as were descriptions of survey administration and data analyses.


identifier: Zhang, Zhen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zhang=3AZhen=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Development and characterization of synthetic rock-like materials for drilling and geomechanics experiments.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The Drilling Technology Laboratory (DTL) have been investigating relationships between vibrations and Rate of Penetration (ROP) using real sedimentary rocks and synthetic rocks for years. However, identical sedimentary rock samples are not easy to obtain in local area (onshore area of eastern Newfoundland). Therefore, this research is focusing on developing synthetic rocks as a substitute for real sedimentary rocks and characterizing petroleum related physical properties of synthetic rocks.
These Rock-Like Materials (RLM) are essentially fine grained concretes based on the use of Portland Cement, fine aggregate, water and related admixtures which can meet the research requirements.
A new approach has been proposed by Prasad (2009) [1] to describe drillability of rocks in a quantitative way with eight parameters which include density, porosity, compressional and shear wave velocities, unconfined compressive strength, Mohr friction angle, mineralogy and grain size. this method is adopted and modified in this research to be suitable for synthetic rocks developed previously. The eight parameters tests are conducted in the drilling technology lab to characterize the properties of the synthetic rocks and to provide the basis for the future work. In this research, standard procedures of making concrete (synthetic rocks) and standard procedures of eight parameters tests have been established with quality assurance.


identifier: Güneş, Pınar <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/G=FCne==015F=3AP==0131nar=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Tectonic evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean and its implications for the Messinian salinity crisis.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The interpretation of a comprehensive set of high-resolution multi-channel seismic reflection
profiles, multibeam bathymetry data and the litho- and bio-stratigraphic information from exploration
wells across the Antalya Basin and Florence Rise revealed important conclusions on the
Miocene to Recent tectonic evolution and the Messinian Salinity Crisis depositional history of the
eastern Mediterranean Basin.
This study clearly demonstrated the presence of a 4-division Messinian evaporite stratigraphy
in the eastern Mediterranean, similar to that observed in the western Mediterranean, suggesting the
existence of a similar set of depositional processes across the Mediterranean during the Messinian
Salinity Crisis. However, the stratigraphic and depositional similarities of the evaporites between
the eastern and western basins do not necessitate synchroneity in their depositional histories. The
fact that the only saline water source for the eastern Mediterranean is the Atlantic Ocean and that the
Sicily sill creates a physical barrier between the eastern and western Mediterranean impose several
critical conditions. A simple 2-D model is developed which satisfies these conditions. The model
suggests that the eastern and western basin margins experienced a nearly synchronized gypsum deposition
associated with the initial drawdown of the Mediterranean level, followed by the resedimentation
in the deep basins of the terrigenous and early evaporite deposits as the drawdown intensified.
The synchroneity of evaporite deposition across the eastern and western basins broke down as the
Sicily Gateway became largely subaerial during a period when the Calabrian Arc area experienced
uplift associated with slab break-off: the Sicily sill must have remained within a “goldilocks” zone
to allow the right amount of saline water inflow into the eastern Mediterranean so that evaporites
(massive halite) could be deposited. During this time, the sea level in western Mediterranean was at
the breach-level of the Sicily sill, thus no evaporite deposition took place there. The model suggests
that further restriction of the inflow occurred across the Betic and Rif gateways as these regions also
largely became subaerial associated with the uplift of the Gibraltar Arc region caused again by the lithospheric slab break-off. However, similar to the Sicily Gateway, the Betic and Rif gateways must
also have remained within the “goldilocks” zone to allow the right amount of saline water inflow into
the western Mediterranean so that massive halite could be deposited. The re-opening of the Betic
and Rif gateways reflooded the western Mediterranean first, then the eastern Mediterranean allowing
the deposition of a mixed evaporite-siliciclastic unit, followed by the transgressive sediments with a
distinctive brackish water Lago Mage fauna.
The interpretation and mapping of the tightly-spaced high-resolution multichannel seismic reflection
profiles clearly improved our understanding of the Late Miocene–Recent tectonic and kinematic
evolution of the Antalya Basin and Florence Rise and it is relationship with Cyprus-Eratosthenes
collision zone, along the plate boundary between the African Plate and the overriding Aegean-
Anatolian Microplate.
The pre-Messinian Miocene structural architecture of the Antalya Basin and its southwestern
extension into the Florence Rise is characterized by a very prominent broadly northwest-southeast
striking and largely southwest verging fold thrust belt, with occasional northeast verging back-thrusts.
During the Messinian a number of prominent thrusts remained active; however, numerous thrusts
whichwere active during the pre-Messinian Miocene became inactive. During the Pliocene–Quaternary
the stain was partitioned into five broadly northwest-southeast trending morpho-tectonic domains,
each delineated by a distinctive seafloor morphology: (a) a domain across the inner and western
Antalya Basin is dominated by extensional faults, (b) a domain immediately south of the extensional
faults, is characterized by contractional structures, (c) a halokinetic zone in southwestern Antalya
Basin north of the foothills of the Anaxagoras Mountain is characterized by numerous positive flower
structures beneath a corrugated seafloor, (d) a domain across the crestal portion of the Florence Rise
is dominated by prominent inversion structures, and (e) a domain across the northeastern and southwestern
margins of the Florence Rise characterized by positive flower structures.


identifier: Gillies, Brittany <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Gillies=3ABrittany=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Role of calcitriol in regulating maternal bone and mineral metabolism during pregnancy, lactation, and post-weaning recovery.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Maternal physiology adapts throughout reproductive phases to meet the mineral needs of the
fetuses and neonates. During pregnancy, intestinal calcium absorption doubles; conversely,
during lactation, calcium is resorbed from the skeleton. Post-weaning, restoration of bone
mineral content occurs, however the factors regulating these adaptations are unknown. Animals
lacking the vitamin D receptor (VDR) or those deficient in vitamin D achieve post-weaning
increases in bone mass, suggesting that calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, is not required.
An alternative explanation is that calcitriol may act through non-genomic receptors to have these
effects. We used calcitriol-deficient Cyp27b1 null mice to test whether calcitriol is required for
upregulation of intestinal calcium absorption and skeletal recovery post-weaning. Compared to
WT, and despite a rescue diet containing 2 % calcium, at baseline Cyp27b1 nulls were
hypocalcemic with markedly increased PTH and 30 % lower BMC; μCT displayed reduced
femoral length, cortical thickness, and cortical area. During pregnancy serum calcium levels
increased, PTH levels were reduced, and BMD increased by 45 %, so that all values became no
different from WT. During lactation, serum calcium levels of Cyp27b1 nulls decreased, PTH
levels increased, BMC declined more markedly than in WT, and bone strength decreased; μCT
analysis confirmed extensive endocortical resorption. Post-weaning, serum calcium of Cyp27b1
null normalized, PTH levels remained high, BMC increased, and bone strength recovered; μCT
confirmed recovery of cortical parameters. In comparison to WT mice, the Cyp27b1 null females
display very low levels of calcitriol throughout pregnancy and lactation. Intestinal calcium
absorption is upregulated in the Cyp27b1 null mice during pregnancy. In conclusion, calcitriolindependent
mechanisms regulate mineral and bone metabolism during pregnancy and postweaning;
however, absence of calcitriol leads to greater transient bone loss during lactation.


identifier: Kaur, Jasleen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kaur=3AJasleen=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Sense of community in on-line, face-to-face, and blended learning contexts.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Advances in educational technology leading to the growth of on-line and blended learning contexts as valid alternatives to traditional face-to-face classrooms, as well as recognition that social interactions among learners play a key role in the learning process, has led to an evolution of teaching approaches from direct instruction to facilitated learning. To choose the most appropriate pedagogical approach in the most suitable learning modality, educators need to know which approaches work effectively with the students and why. This mixed-methods research study compared sense of community in on-line, face-to-face and blended learning contexts. Twelve participants, four from each learning context, enrolled in a trades-related training program at a polytechnic reported their sense of community by completing the Classroom Community Scale (CCS) survey. Three participants, one from each learning context, shared their experiences in an interview about how each learning context contributed to their sense of community within the context in which they studied. Likely due to small sample size, survey results showed no statistically significant differences in sense of community between groups. The interviews showed that regular physical contact among students, synchronous discussions, instructor presence, and student-centered pedagogical approaches promote the establishment of sense of community.


identifier: Bohacek, Linda <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Bohacek=3ALinda=3A=3A.html>   (2017) The effect of sleeve gastrectomy on rates of hyperparathyroidism in a cohort of patients living with severe obesity in NL.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Purpose: Multiple studies show an association between hyperparathyroidism and obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on rates of hyperparathyroidism and its different subtypes in patients living with severe obesity.
Methods: The rates of primary, normocalcemic, and secondary hyperparathyroidism were derived from a cohort of 200 patients before and after LSG. Laboratory data and Vitamin supplementation were collected at an initial clinic visit (ICV) where lifestyle modification and supplementation were advocated, at a surgical pre-admission clinic visit (PACV), and at the last follow-up visit after surgery (LFV).
Results: The rates of primary, normocalcemic, and secondary hyperparathyroidism at ICV (n=134) were 2.23 % (n=3), 20.15% (n=27), and 17.91% (n=24), respectively. The same rates were 1.52% (n=3), 17.17% (n=34), and 10.10% (n=20) at PACV (n=198), and 0.72% (n=1), 25.90% (n=36), and 5.04% (n=7) at LFV (n=139). The rates of Vitamin D insufficiency at the ICV, PACV, and LFV were 41.84% (58/141), 19% (38/200), and 10.79% (15/139) respectively. 58% (n=116) of patients were taking supplements of Vitamin D, Multivitamin, or both at PACV.
Conclusions: The percentage of patients with primary and normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism peri-operatively remained stable. The percentage of patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism declined from ICV to LFV, as did the percentage of patients with Vitamin D insufficiency; the greatest change occurred between ICV and PACV. The results suggest that supplementation and lifestyle modification may impact secondary hyperparathyroidism and Vitamin D insufficiency in this population, and that LSG is not associated with a worsening of these conditions.


identifier: Venovcevs, Anatolijs <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Venovcevs=3AAnatolijs=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Not just fisherfolk: winter housing and the seasonal lifeways of rural Euro-Newfoundlanders.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
From the mid-seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century, European and European-descendent
people in rural parts of the island of Newfoundland practiced a semimigratory,
i.e. transhumant, tradition known colloquially as winter housing. This tradition
saw rural Euro-Newfoundlanders shift their primary homes from the fishing villages in
the summer to wintering camps in more sheltered areas of the island where they hunted,
trapped, cut lumber, and prepared for the next fishing season. Through examination of
written and oral accounts on the tradition and archaeological surveys of five different
winter houses, this research seeks to broaden the understanding of this tradition. It is
argued that instead of being apart from the fishery, winter houses are elements of a
deeply complex, integrated, organic system that allowed early Euro-Newfoundlanders to
maximize life in their environment and survive in a rugged, unpredictable, North Atlantic
environment. Euro-Newfoundlanders were not just fisherfolk but adaptable, resourceful
residents of their island home.


identifier: Abouhussien, Ahmed Abdallah <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Abouhussien=3AAhmed_Abdallah=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Acoustic emission based structural health monitoring of corroded/un-corroded concrete structures.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a continuous nondestructive evaluation system
used for both damage prognosis and diagnosis of civil structures. Acoustic emission (AE)
technique is defined as a passive SHM method that enables the detection of any possible
damage. AE technique has been exploited for condition assessment and long-term
monitoring of civil infrastructure systems. AE sensors are sensitive to the micro-cracking
stage of damage, therefore showed a great potential for early detection of different forms
of deteriorations in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The rate of deterioration in RC
structures greatly increases due to reinforcing steel corrosion embedded in concrete.
Corrosion results in both expansion and mass loss of steel, thus causing concrete cover
cracking and delamination. Moreover, corrosion causes reduction of bond between
concrete and steel, which reduces the overall strength of RC structures. The objectives of
this research were to: a) utilize AE monitoring for early corrosion detection and concrete
cover/steel damage quantification of small-scale RC specimens, b) evaluate and localize
corrosion activity using distributed AE sensors in full-scale RC beams, c) attain an early
detection of loss of bond between corroded steel and concrete at different corrosion
levels, d) identify and assess bond degradation of corroded/un-corroded bars in both
small- and full-scale RC beams, and e) develop relationships between the collected AE
data and variable levels of corrosion, corrosion-induced cover crack growth, and bond
deterioration in RC structures.
Four extensive experimental investigations have been conducted both on small- and fullscale
RC elements to accomplish these aforementioned research objectives. AE monitoring was implemented in these studies on RC elements including a total of 30
prisms, 114 pull-out samples, and 10 beam anchorage specimens under accelerated
corrosion, direct pull-out, and four-point load tests, respectively. The analysis of AE data
obtained from these tests was performed and compared to the results of half-cell
potentials (HCP) standard tests, visual detection of corrosion-induced cracks, crack width
measurements, and overall bond behaviour of all tested pull-out samples/beams. The
results showed that the analysis of AE signal parameters acquired during corrosion tests
enabled the detection of both corrosion and cover crack onset earlier than HCP readings
and prior to any visible cracking in both small- and full-scale RC beams, regardless of
cover thickness or sensor location. Analyzing the AE signals attained from the pull-out
tests permitted the characterization of two early stages of bond degradation (micro- and
macro-cracking) in both corroded and un-corroded specimens at all values of bar
diameter, corrosion level, cover thickness, and embedded length. The AE analysis also
allowed an early identification of three stages of bond damage in full-scale corroded/uncorroded
RC beams namely; first crack, initial slip, and anchorage cracking, before their
visual observation, irrespective of corrosion level, embedded length, or sensor location.
The results of AE intensity analysis on AE signal strength data were exploited to develop
damage classification charts to assess the extent of corrosion damage as well as to
categorize different stages of bond deterioration in corroded/un-corroded small- and fullscale
RC samples.


identifier: Skardasi, Georgia <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Skardasi=3AGeorgia=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Infection and propagation of hepatitis C virus in human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in vitro.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Accumulated molecular and clinical evidence indicate that human immune cells can
support replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to investigate
the ability of authentic, plasma-occurring HCV to infect human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T
lymphocytes in vitro. For this purpose, we adopted the previously established in vitro
HCV replication system in total T cells derived from cultured normal human PBMC by
employing affinity-purified CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes as targets. Using this system,
we were able to demonstrate that molecularly intact HCV can infect and productively
replicate in both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, albeit at low levels, by documenting:
(1) Presence of HCV positive and replicative (negative) strands in infected cells; (2)
Intracytoplasmic localization of viral proteins; (3) Emergence of new HCV variants in the
de novo infected cells, and (4) Release of HCV RNA-reactive particles from the infected
cells with biophysical properties distinct from those of virions in inocula used to infect
these cells.


identifier: Guffey, Shannon Dee <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Guffey=3AShannon_Dee=3A=3A.html>   (2017) 3D lithogeochemical footprint of the Millennium-McArthur river unconformity-type uranium deposits, Saskatchewan, Canada.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The Millennium and McArthur River unconformity-related uranium deposits in the southeastern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, are overlain by hydrothermally altered sandstones of the Manitou Falls Formation. The distal lithogeochemical footprints in these sandstones, from unconformity to subcrop, are useful for vectoring toward mineralization using simple major and trace element analyses. Large first order alteration envelopes are defined by molar element ratios K/Al vs. Mg/Al, which surround smaller, second order trace element haloes. At Millennium, median Mg/K molar ratios >0.2 define a 10-km alteration envelope. Values increase significantly within 2 km of the deposit, coinciding with Mo, Ga, and REE enrichment 100s of metres vertically above the deposit. At McArthur River, K/Al <0.06 and Mg/Al <0.4 (molar), and elevated Ba, Sr, Ga, and Cs, exhibit haloes 4–8 km along strike of the P2 trend, 100s of metres above the McArthur River deposit.


identifier: Kasmi, Mohammed <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kasmi=3AMohammed=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Experiences, challenges, and strategies of multilingual graduate students in English academic writing.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A large number of international students enter Canada every year to pursue their education careers. This academic journey is mostly a positive one, rich in various experiences but not without challenges. In this research, I focused on the main challenges that international graduate students encounter when writing academic papers. Although many studies have researched the difficulties encountered by international students when writing academic papers, few studies have focused on graduate international students’ personal perspectives of these writing experiences. I chose a qualitative case study as my research design because it provides a rich source of data on experiences and perspectives. In this case, I conducted interviews with seven international graduate students in the Faculty of Education. Results of the study show that individual multilingual students are not necessarily deficient in writing skills; rather, it is a complex matter of many factors that come into play such as language, curriculum, writing pedagogies, literacy practices, disciplinary knowledge, etc. The study recommends that, international students who came from diverse cultural/ ideological backgrounds need support to better understand the new academic context and discover what and how to develop their level of academic writing.


identifier: Klapstein, Sara Jane <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Klapstein=3ASara_Jane=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Methylmercury photodemethylation in Kajimkujik lakes.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Methylmercury (MeHg) concentration in surface waters is a key variable regulating
mercury availability to food webs. Few studies have quantified the seasonal importance
of photodemethylation reactions and the influence of chromophoric dissolved organic
matter (DOM) properties on these relationships. To address this research gap we have
used numerous controlled experiments that focused primarily on the quantification of the
relationships between solar radiation exposures, DOM, and MeHg within six freshwater
lakes in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in Nova Scotia. The
concentration of DOM was found to strongly control the photoreactivity of DOM in these
study lakes across sampling seasons (R²=0.94). The effect of DOM photoreactivity on
MeHg photodemethylation was directly tested using photochemically manipulated water
from one lake collected in three different months. Photodemethylation rate constants and
efficiencies tended to be higher in water collected during June, when in-situ DOM
concentration was lower, than in water collected in August and October. Experiments that
included water from all six lakes in summer and fall showed that DOM concentration
could explain 76% of variation in photodemethylation rate constants. The outcomes from
this combination of studies and experiments provide insight for prediction of
photodemethylation potential in our study system and for comparison with MeHg
concentrations in corresponding food webs. Methylmercury is associated with DOM
(DOM-MeHg) in complexes, however in high DOM waters the proportion of DOM that
is associated with MeHg (DOM-MeHg) will decrease and this MeHg-free DOM may be
critical in regulating photodemethylation reactions. Photodemethylation will still occur in high DOM waters but at a limited rate because a smaller proportion of the photoreactions
will involve DOM-MeHg complexes. This is the first study to test and quantify a
competitive interaction between MeHg photodemethylation and DOM
phototransformations (both photomineralization and photobleaching) to support the
conceptual idea that higher dissolved organic carbon systems will have slower rates of
photodemethylation. Overall, this compiled body of work yielded a method for predicting
seasonal and spatial changes to MeHg concentrations in surface waters depending on
environmental and physicochemical factors.


identifier: Faruq, Abdullah Ali <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Faruq=3AAbdullah_Ali=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Planning an interesting path.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Planning an interesting path

abstract:
Terrain aided navigation (TAN) is a well-studied method to localize an autonomous
underwater vehicle in the absence of GPS. Researchers have been exploring new improvements;
in particular Bachmayer and Claus have been incorporating terrain based
navigation (glider TAN) into the Slocum gliders. To take full advantage of glider
TAN, the glider path should favour areas of the ocean with uneven depth and unique
features. This leads to a question of planning such an "interesting" path for the glider.
In this thesis, we present an offline path planning algorithm that optimizes the
distance under the maximum uncertainty constraint. A major part of our contribution
is developing a rating technique for evaluating the usefulness of an area of the
ocean floor for reducing the uncertainty of the glider’s position. We include experimental
results showing how the generated path varies with the maximum allowable
uncertainty, based on the ocean elevation data of the Conception Bay near Holyrood,
Newfoundland.


identifier: Zhou, Mingxi <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zhou=3AMingxi=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Underwater iceberg profiling and motion estimation using autonomous underwater vehicles.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Icebergs originating from high latitude glaciers have drawn much attention from scientists
and offshore operators in the North Atlantic. Scientists are curious about the
iceberg drift and deterioration, while the offshore industry is concerned about the
potential risks and damages on offshore oil platforms and infrastructures. In order to
provide information to improve the iceberg drift and deterioration model constructed
by scientists, and to assess the threats posed by icebergs to offshore platforms, iceberg
shapes need to be measured. For the above water portion, optical instruments
such as a camera and a laser scanner/LIDAR can be used. However, measuring the
underwater portion of an iceberg is more challenging due to navigational constraints
and sensor limitations. One approach, commonly used, is to deploy a horizontal plane
scanning sonar from a support vessel at several locations around the iceberg. There
are many drawbacks to this method, including the cost, sensing trade-offs in resolution
and coverage, as well as constraints because of weather conditions limiting safe
operations.
The technology of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) has been developing
rapidly in the last two decades. AUVs are commonly chosen to carry scientific sensors
for various oceanographic applications. Without human intervention, AUVs can accomplish
pre-programmed missions autonomously and deliver scientific data upon the
users’ request. With these advantages, AUVs are considered as potential candidates in underwater iceberg sensing operations because they can operate close to icebergs
to measure shapes and collect environmental data of the surrounding water. Sonar is
usually used for underwater mapping applications. Since AUVs are typically quieter
acoustically than manned surface vessels, a low noise to signal ratio can be achieved
on sonars carried by AUVs.
In this research, a technology of AUV-based underwater iceberg-profiling is evaluated.
An iceberg-profiling simulator is constructed to analyse underwater iceberg-profiling
missions. With the simulator, the accuracy of AUV-based operation is compared
with conventional methods of deploying sonar profilers around icebergs. Beyond the
simulation, a guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system is designed with an
objective of guiding the vehicle traveling around the iceberg at a standoff distance.
The GNC uses measurements from a mechanical scanning sonar to construct a vehicleattached
occupancy map (VOM) that the probability of occupancy of the cells in the
VOM is updated based on a dynamic inverse-sonar model. Using the occupancy
information about the cells in the VOM, the line-of-sight (LOS) guidance law is used
to compute the desired heading for the existing heading controller in the AUV. The
GNC is first calibrated and validated in a simulated environment. Then, an AUV
equipped with a forward side-looking mechanical scanning sonar is deployed in the
field. The GNC guides the vehicle circumnavigated an iceberg autonomously, and
underwater shape of the target iceberg is represented using the sonar samples.
The point cloud may deviate from the original iceberg shape due to the iceberg movement.
A motion estimation algorithm is developed to estimate the iceberg motion
for converting the point cloud into an iceberg-centered coordinate system. Two point
clouds measured at different times, inputs of the motion estimation algorithm, are
presumed to be identical in the iceberg-centered coordinate system. Then, the algorithm
iteratively updates the motion estimates based on the translational matrix and rotational matrix from an iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm to match the point
clouds. The hypothesis that two point clouds are identical in the iceberg-centered
coordinate system is valid when the motion estimates are converged in the updating
process. Once the iceberg motion is resolved, the point cloud in the inertial coordinate
can be converted in to the iceberg-centered coordinate to present the true iceberg
shape. The algorithm for estimating iceberg motion is applied to data collected from
the simulation environment and the field trials in Newfoundland.


identifier: Saha, Biswajit Kumar <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Saha=3ABiswajit_Kumar=3A=3A.html>   (2017) A comparative study between large deformation finite element and limit equilibrium methods of slope stability analysis.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Limit equilibrium (LE) methods are widely used to analyze the stability of earthen slopes. In the
LE methods, resistance along the critical failure plane is compared against the sum of the driving
forces resulted from different sources such as gravity and earthquake. The ratio between the
resistance and driving force is expressed as factor of safety (Fs). The Fs does not provide any
information about deformation behaviour although it could be a design criteria. The mechanism
of failure and deformation behaviour can be better modeled using recently advanced numerical
techniques such as finite element (FE) methods. Although FE modeling techniques have been
improved significantly over the last few decades, most of the current FE methods have been
developed for small strain analysis in Lagrangian framework. However, in large-scale landslides,
significant shear displacement occurs along the failure plane that cannot be modeled using the
conventional Lagrangian-based FE techniques because of numerical issues resulting from
significant mesh distortion.
In the present study, the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach in Abaqus is used to
simulate large deformation behaviour of slope failure. Analyses are also performed using the
limit equilibrium methods in SLOPE/W software. The present study focuses on two critical
factors: earthquake loading and retrogression in sensitive clay slopes. Comparison of different
methods of analysis shows that Abaqus CEL can successfully simulate the failure process from
small- to large-deformation levels. Based on a comprehensive parametric study, different types
of failure as reported in the literature from post-failure investigations could be simulated, which
cannot be done using the LE method or Lagrangian-based FE technique.


identifier: Hodgson, Daniel <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hodgson=3ADaniel=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Additional roller massage applied at ten-minute intervals can prolong hip and knee flexion range of motion improvements up to 30-minutes post warmup without impairing neuromuscular performance.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Roller massage (RM) has been shown to increase range of motion (ROM) without incurring subsequent performance deficits; contrarily, prolonged static stretching (SS) can induce performance impairments. It is not known if adding RM to a SS routine would augment stretch-induced ROM improvements. Furthermore, it is not known whether performing RM at intervals after stretching would prolong ROM increases. Hence, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of combining SS and RM with and without subsequent RM at 10-minute intervals on ROM and neuromuscular performance measures, and to monitor changes over 30-minutes. Whereas sessions involving a post-intervention rest period saw a diminishing effect to most ROM measurements over time, sessions including RM at 10 and 20-minutes post-intervention demonstrated maintained or greater active and passive hip and knee flexion ROM after 30-minutes. SS only and SS+RM provided similar ROM improvements, while most neuromuscular performance measures were not adversely affected.


identifier: Neto, Eugenio Turco <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Neto=3AEugenio_Turco=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Modelling and simulation of diesel catalytic dewaxing reactors.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Designing catalytic dewaxing reactors is a major challenge in petroleum refineries due to the lack of kinetic studies related to this operation. Also, the measurements of the cloud point of diesel fuels produced from those units are still being carried out using inaccurate visual procedures, which bring difficulties to the process control design. In this thesis, a single event kinetic model is developed for catalytic dewaxing on Pt/ZSM-5, which application has not been explored in the scientific literature. A total of 14 kinetic parameters have been estimated from experimental data, which are independent on the feedstock type. Then, the obtained parameters were used to propose a soft-sensor consisting of three different modules that handles the feedstock distillation data and integrates a mechanistic reactor model to a solid-liquid flash algorithm to predict the cloud point of the diesel product. Finally, a surrogate model is developed using a sequential design of experiments to simplify the sensor framework and reduce the computing time so that it can be industrially implemented to perform on-line cloud point estimations. The results have showed that the proposed kinetic model was in agreement with observed data and suitable to simulate the industrial operation. Pressure, temperature, and liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) were found to be the main process variables controlling the conversion in the hydrodewaxing mechanism. The proposed sensor showed to be suitable to study the reactor performance for different set of operating conditions. Also, the surrogate model drastically reduced the computing time to obtain the cloud point estimations and showed to be suitable for on-line prediction purposes. Finally, the employed sequential design strategy revealed that nonlinearities can strongly affect the sensor accuracy if not properly handled.


identifier: Ibrahim, Galal Mohamed Galal <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ibrahim=3AGalal_Mohamed_Galal=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Numerical investigation of atmospheric icing on wind turbine blades.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The research work presented in this thesis aims to predict ice accretion effect on a wind turbine blade section at 80% of blade span. All simulations are obtained using FENSAP ICE, a widely used solver for aircraft in-flight icing simulations. Using low and high liquid water concentrations existed in clouds at lower altitudes, different icing events are simulated. Ice accretion predictions are computed using single-shot and multi-shot approaches. Blade surface roughness is investigated, as well as the relationships between ice mass, liquid water content, median volume diameter and temperature are predicted. To study the effect of blade design / curvature parameters on the ice formation process, ice accretion loads are predicted for all NREL airfoil families used for horizontal axis wind turbines. The effect of low and high LWC conditions on blade thickness is presented. Effects of atmospheric temperature, LWC, MVD and flow angle of attack on resulted ice shape are investigated. The degradation in aerodynamic characteristics due to ice formation is investigated at different icing conditions. The new numerical data presented in this thesis provide useful insights on ice accretion rates for wind turbines operating in cold and harsh environments.


identifier: Algaidi, Hanin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Algaidi=3AHanin=3A=3A.html>   (2017) Investigating the interactions between a scanning tunneling microscope tip and an Au- coated microcantilever.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In this work we investigated the interactions between a tip used for scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and a Au-coated cantilever in ambient conditions. A system was constructed to position an STM tip on a Au-coated cantilever. The van der Waals, electrostatic, and capillary forces were used to model the tip-cantilever interactions. As the piezoelectric scanner adjusted the STM tip on the cantilever surface to maintain the tunnelling current set point, the magnitude of the forces changed, causing the deflection of the cantilever to vary. It was noted that the magnitude of the force was affected by the relative humidity and the tip location on the cantilever. Our experimental results showed that the van der Waals, capillary, and repulsive forces dominated the interactions and affected the stability of the cantilever during the interaction with the STM tip. It was found that an attractive force ranging between 2.4 and 27 nN acted on the cantilever when the STM was approaching toward the cantilever. The magnitudes of these forces were varied as the conditions of the experiments changed. In all cases the theoretical estimated values of the force were calculated to be well within the uncertainties. When the separation distance between the STM tip and the cantilever decreased to within a few angstroms, a repulsive force between 80- 86 nN strong was detected.