title: Trapped in her lover's arms : the problem of courtship and romance in selected novels by L. M. Montgomery

abstract:
L.M. Montgomery may be viewed as a subversive author, rebelling against patriarchal
authority. She employed the conventions of the courtship or domestic novel of popular fiction as
a vehicle by which to challenge existing gender roles. Montgomery recognized that tales of
perfect love and happily-ever-after were not a part of most women's reality. However, the market
demanded these happy stories. Consequently, Montgomery was motivated to create a fiction
which would combine the fantasy of happily-ever-after with her perception of reality. She
arranged romantic marriages for her heroines for those readers who wanted this message, but she
also established a counter-discourse which suggests that marriage, ultimately, can be entrapping
for a young woman. These stories could simultaneously satisfy the reader and question
assurances of the heroine's future happiness.
On a superficial level, the resolutions of these novels seem to assert the value of romantic
love. However, the 'happily-ever-after' ending fails to satisfy, as in each case the heroine's
marriage also marks the necessity of leaving behind something essential to both her identity and
her happiness. Thus, Montgomery questions society's emphasis upon romance as the greatest
fulfilment for women. In the novels, the young woman's desire for respect and equality comes
into conflict with a romantic world view.
I have selected five novels in which Montgomery addresses the critical issues of identity
and equality. In each of these, the development of character and the resolution of the heroine's
romance address how courtship and the promise of marriage challenge the integrity of the
heroine's identity. A close examination of these narratives reveals that Montgomery's apparent
focus upon love and romance does not preclude the absence o f a deeper, shadowy meaning about
the hazards of male-female relationships.


title: Towards system identification using single channel measurement in wireless sensing network

contributor:
Sadhu, Ayan
Deng, Jian
Liu, Meilan

subject:
Wireless and mobile sensing technology
Structural health monitoring
Movable wireless sensors
Vibration data

abstract:
In the last few years, structural health monitoring has gained signifcant popularity to perform real-time condition assessment of civil structures. With the aid of
mobile sensing network, movable wireless sensors have made a paradigm shift in cost-
effective and faster deployment of sensors in large-scale structures. A wide range of
system identifcation methods has been developed by different researchers to accurately identify modal parameters from the measured vibration data. However, most
of these techniques are suitable only when all key locations of the structures are instrumented. In the case of mobile sensing network where a sensor is autonomously
moved from one location to another, only a few sensors are available at any time. In
this research, a newer time-frequency method, namely the empirical mode decomposition (EMD), is explored and improved to conduct system identification using single
channel measurement.
The original EMD method results in significant mode-mixing in the modal responses when utilizing closely-spaced modes and data with measurement noise. In
this thesis, time-varying filtering based empirical mode decomposition (TVF-EMD)
is proposed to undertake ambient modal identification. The proposed method is fully
adaptive and suitable for automation since it uses only one channel of data at a time.
An energy-based thresholding criterion is proposed to identify dominant frequency
components of the vibration data. Once the key signal components are identified, a
cluster diagram is integrated with TVF-EMD to identify modal responses that are utilized for modal identification. Such modification shows improved performance of the TVF-EMD in identifying modal parameters using single channel measurement under
a wide-range of challenging situations including closely-spaced modes and measurement noise. The proposed method is verified using a suite of numerical, experimental
and full-scale studies using wireless sensors in a decentralized manner. The proposed
methodology shows significant potential towards its application in modern mobile and
robotic sensors.


title: The utility of molecular DNA markers for monitoring population trends and genetic structure of woodland caribou

subject: Non-invasive genetic sampling

subject: Fecal matter DNA

subject: Woodland caribou population trends (Ontario)

abstract:
The use of non-invasive genetic sampling techniques is becoming frequent in the
field of conservation. An examination of population trends of woodland caribou in
Canada reveals the potential for fecal DNA analysis. Various sampling techniques have
been practiced throughout multiple studies, using different protocols among species. The
use of fecal matter to extract DNA has been done for terrestrial and aquatic species.
There are three main methods for storing collected fecal matter, drying and
lyophilisation, freezing and using solutions. For DNA extraction, two main brands were
used for the process, Qiagen, and PureLink. This literature review focuses on the current
understanding of woodland caribou population trends in Canada, and the potential for
fecal DNA to close the knowledge gap between known knowledge and future trends.
The use of fecal matter genetic sampling has potential to benefit the understanding and
enhance current survey methodology of woodland caribou populations in Canada, and
specifically, in the province of Ontario.


title: The role of repetition in free recall

subject:
Recollection (Psychology)
Learning, Psychology of

abstract: Three experiments investigated the hypothetical processes of organization and frequency, which have been advanced to explain the repetition effect in multi-trial free recall learning. Each experiment examined recall over a series of trials under conditions assumed to be conducive either to increments due to organization or increments due to frequency.


title: The Role of free- and liposomal-N-acetycysteine in paraquat-induced cytotoxicity

contributor:
Suntres, Zacharias
Khaper, Neelam
Law, David
Malek, Ladislav

subject:
Paraquat
Toxicology
Herbicides
N-acetycysteine
Cell-mediated cytotoxicity
Liposomes
Oxidation-reduction reaction
Antioxidants

abstract: Paraquat (PQ), one of the most commonly used herbicides worldwide, is hightly toxic to humans and exposure can result in severe clinical situations with no effective treatments available. The toxicity of PQ has been attributed to its ability to continuously produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) via redox cycling. Oxidants have been shown to induce the expression of several early response genes and to activate transcription factors, which may contribute to the inflammatory response associated with PQ injury.


title: Injured athletes' perceptions of and satisfaction with the social support provided by their coaches and teammates during rehabilitation

contributor:
Crossman, Jane
Jamieson, John
Main, Bob

subject: Athletes rehabilitation (Psychological aspects)

subject: Sports injuries (Psychological aspects)

subject: Social support (Rehabilitation)

abstract:
The primary purpose of this study was to assess injured athletes’ perceptions of and
satisfaction with the social support provided by their coaches and teammates. Seventy two
varsity student-athletes (26 females, 46 males) completed the Rehabilitation Social
Support Survey. This instrument, a modified form of the Social Support Survey, was used
to determine for each type of social support the athlete’s satisfaction, its availability, and
its contribution to the athlete’s well-being. A MANOVA was used to determine if
significant differences existed for the athletes’ evaluations of the three variables support
(composed of the eight types of social support), effect (composed of the satisfaction, the
availability, and the contribution to the athlete’s well-being) and source (composed of the
coaches and the teammates). The MANOVA analysis determined a main effect of the
variable effect. Pillai’s trace=6.S24. p<.01. and a main effect of the variable support.
Pillai’s trace=6.824. p<.O1. on the injured athletes’ evaluations of the social support they
perceived. The MANOVA analysis also revealed an interaction effect between the
support and the effect variables, Pillai’s trace=2.410, p<.05, and an interaction effect
between the support and the source variables. Pillai’s trace-2.866, p<05. Results
showed that the benefits of the social support that injured athletes perceived are
dependent on the athlete’s expectations about the provider, the athlete’s satisfaction with
the social support provided, and the availability of the social support. The more satisfied
the athletes were about the social support provided, the more beneficial it was for their
well-being. Similarly, the more the athletes perceived the social support was available,
the more satisfied they were. Differences between the coaches and the teammates were
found. For seven of the eight types of social support, teammates provided more satisfying support, their support was also more available and it contributed more to the injured
athletes’ well-being. The MANOVA, by calculating the mean between the three
components of the effect variable (satisfaction, availability and contribution of each type
of the social support), also revealed that injured athletes evaluated the listening support as
having the highest mean; while they evaluate the tangible support as the lowest mean of
all the type of social support.


title: Real time three-dimensional robotics simulation

contributor:
Li, Xining
Meng, M.

subject: Robotics Computer simulation

abstract:
This thesis is concerned with the design and implementation of a real-time robotics
simulator with three-dimensional graphics. The simulator allows for internal or external
control o f a number o f robotic manipulators with revolute or prismatic joints. These
manipulators may interact with each other and other objects in the simulated environment.
All objects in the simulation will have physical properties such as mass and fragility, and
can exert forces upon each other. An external program is planned to allow easy
construction of models from an assortment of pre-designed pieces.
This thesis describes four areas o f the simulation in detail The first o f these is the
modelling scheme used to represent objects in the simulation. The second is the actual
simulation design. The third is a discussion on the use o f external programs to control the
simulation. Last is a summary o f the programming environment and how it relates to the
simulation.


title: Campus drinking : psychological and personality factors as correlates of university students' drinking / by Maria Jones.

subject: College students Alcohol use Ontario Thunder Bay.

abstract:
The present study addressed the frequency and quantity of
alcohol consumption among 100 freshmen and 100 senior
students representing various faculties at Lakehead
University. Results suggested female students' alcohol
consumption was more frequent, but not greater in
quantity, than male students'. Freshmen were heavier
consumers of alcohol than seniors. Reasons for drinking,
and the kind of alcohol preferred differed between the
sexes. More freshmen than seniors reported they missed
class and their grades were affected as a result of their
drinking, and that they were nearly always to always
drunk when they drank. Anxiety was found to be associated
with the frequency, but not the quantity, of alcohol
consumption among male and female students. Finally,
depression was not found to be associated with students'
alcohol consumption patterns.


title: Thermophilic and mesophilic aerobic biological treatment of wastewater / by Shawn Langevin.

subject: Wood-pulp industry Environmental aspects

subject: Sewage Purification Biological treatment

subject: Wood-pulp industry Waste disposal

abstract: "To achieve closed cycle operation and subsequent reuse of treated effluent, individual streams of pulp and paper mill effluents are being evaluated for their suitability fur in-mill treatment. This thesis includes two individual studies. The first part focused on the feasibility of thermomechanical pulping (TMP) condensate treatment using thermophilic and mesophilic sequencing batch reactors (SBR). The second part of this thesis, based on the results of the first part and literature, developed an improved fundamental understanding of how environmental (temperature) and operating (dissolved oxygen (DO conditions affecting sludge properties and their role in bioflocculation and settling using a synthetic wastewater of glucose."--from Abstract.


title: Alienation, commitment and transcendence in three novels of Saul Bellow

subject: Bellow, Saul.

abstract: The central point of this thesis is the theme of modern man's alienation from his surroundings as portrayed by Saul Bellow in three of his novels, Dangling Man, Henderson the Rain King and Humboldt's Gift. The individual is seen in Dangling Man as alienated from society, in Henderson the Rain King from nature, and in Humboldt's Gift from the spiritual reality. The relevance of Owen Barfield's thesis in his book Save the Appearances to Bellow's Henderson the Rain King is shown here to be important for our understanding of Bellow's concern with modern man's alienation. My thesis also shows Bellow's faith in man's capacity to solve his dilemma into which "civilization" with its emphasis on the scientific view of the phenomena has put him. Bellow's hero is determined to make a conscious commitment with society and nature that surround him. Only such commitment will give his life a meaning and purpose. But for Bellow this is not enough. My thesis shows how Bellow's hero in his latest novel, Humboldt's Gift,is in search of spiritual reality and how he decides to transcend his involvement with this world in order to relate with the world of soul. The anthroposophist Rudolph Steiner is seen as an influence upon Bellow in respect to his latest protagonist's search for the spiritual reality.


title: An investigation into the local and traditional knowledge of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation regarding the status of ciscoes (Coregonus spp.) in Lake Huron

contributor:
Levkoe, Charles
Lowitt, Kristen
Lauzon, Ryan
McLaren, Brian

subject:
Ciscoes
Indigenous ecological knowledge
Saugeen Ojibway Nation (fishery)
Fisheries governance and management

abstract:
The ciscoes (Coregonus spp.) of Lake Huron are a poorly understood group of fish that have
experienced declines in population numbers and a collapse of their ecological communities.
Ciscoes are culturally and socio-economically important to the people of the Saugeen Ojibway
Nation (SON), who have harvested them for food and commerce for generations. The decline in
cisco populations has had significant impacts on the SON’s economy and traditional food
availability, a key pillar of Indigenous food security. A community-based investigation SON fish
harvesters’ Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) was conducted to address concerns about the
cisco fishery and to determine if this knowledge can inform fisheries governance and socialecological relationships with ciscoes in Lake Huron. Sixteen semi-structured mapping interviews
were held with past and current SON fish harvesters. Their IEK represented unique contributions
that account for social and ecological perspectives. Two groups of ciscoes were identified, lake
herring (Coregonus artedi) and chub (Coregonus spp.). The former is an important traditional
food fish while the latter was a significant component of the SON fishery from the 1990s until
the 2000s. A practical application of this IEK was successful cisco-specific sampling that was
conducted in 2019. The results reveal that IEK has the potential to inform governance by
identifying meta-level governance elements and the application of a two-eyed seeing approach.
The IEK of the SON and their connection to these fish has been altered by numerous
anthropogenic and ecological factors, but their legacy lives on.


title: Flight distances from nests and behaviours of the olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)

subject:
Olive-sided flycatcher
Species at risk
Bird behaviour

abstract: The Olive-sided Flycatcher is a migratory species currently facing a dramatic population decline. The species is listed as threatened in Canada under the Species at Risk Act. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between flight distances from active nests and behaviour of the Olive-sided Flycatcher. Four of the eight male birds in observed nesting pairs in a recently burned and logged region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, were found to follow a pattern of foraging, preening and other behaviours most often 0 m to 49 m away from the nest. Singing was most often observed 100+ m away from the nest. Males of the other four pairs each deviated from the pattern in a specific way. Habitat influenced the pattern, as birds inhabiting open or burned areas did not travel as far from the nest as birds in dense forest. With limited research conducted on the species, any information relating to habitat, nesting behaviour and behaviour in general is important.


title: English as a second language (ESL) teachers' perceptions of grammar instruction

contributor:
Blaikie, Fiona
O'Meara, John

subject: English language (Study and teaching,Foreign speakers)

subject: Second language acquisition

subject: English language (Grammar)

abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions that teachers of English as a second language (ESL) have regarding grammar instruction in ESL classrooms. The participants are five ESL teachers in ESL programs in Northern Ontario. The design of the study is qualitative. The primary method of data collection is based on focused questions via an interview guide (Patton, 2002).


title: Comparison of the pre-settlement and present diversity of the forests of Central Ontario

contributor:
Euler, David L.
Brown, Ken

subject:
Forest surveys Ontario
Hardwoods Ontario
Conifers Ontario
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest region
Pre-settlement forest

abstract:
Original Crown Survey notes were used to infer the European pre-settlement
forest diversity condition in the management units of Algonquin Park, French-Severn,
Nipissing and Temagami in central Ontario, Canada. This diversity condition was then
compared to the 1990 diversity of the forests as determined from forest resource
inventory (FRI) maps. This study compared selected compositional proportions of the
forest to identify potential changes that have occurred since 1890,
Ten sub-divided townships were randomly selected from Algonquin Park, French-
Severn and Nipissing while all available non-sub-divided townships were used in the
management unit of Temagami. The 1890 data represented the pre-settlement condition
of the forest and acted as the baseline to which the 1990 data was compared. The 1890
data were derived from the original Crown Survey notes which were the forest cruise
notes of the day, giving detailed descriptions of the forest cover including species
composition, abundance, diameter at breast height and disturbances. The 1990 data were
provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in the form of FRI maps and
spreadsheets. The data were sorted into working group proportions, hardwoods and
softwoods, shade tolerance groupings and frequency of occurrence.
This study revealed that in terms of changes in working group proportions there
have apparently been region wide increases in maple (Acer spp.), while balsam fir (Abies
balsamea), hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and the ‘other conifer’ group (larch (Larix
larcind) and cedar (Thuja occidentalis)) have apparently decreased. This study revealed
that there has been an apparent increase in the proportions of hardwoods in the region
with a subsequent decrease in the proportion of softwoods. The analysis of shade
tolerance groupings showed that there seems to have been an increase in the shade
tolerant species while no large changes have occurred with the mid-tolerant species or the
shade intolerant species. The regional comparison of frequency of occurrence of each
species revealed that a total of nine of the fourteen species have apparent large changes.
This study has shown the usefulness of the Crown Survey notes in reconstructing
the pre-settlement condition of these forests. These survey notes were easily available
and could be simply converted to spreadsheet form. Future forest management plans
should attempt to use these data as it will allow for more informed decision-making and
will lead to a better understanding of original diversity conditions.


title: The effect of isometric cervical strength, head impact location, and impact mechanism on simulated head impact measures in female ice hockey players

contributor:
Kivi, Derek
Zerpa, Carlos
Sinden, Kathryn

subject:
Head injuries
Concussions
Concussions in women's hockey
Female hockey players

abstract:
Head injuries in sport have become a growing concern due to the negative acute and chronic health effects manifested from concussion injuries. Ice hockey is a sport associated with a high rate of concussions, although most research has focused on concussions in men’s hockey. Comparatively, women’s hockey has not only seen a drastic increase in participation rates, but female hockey players also exhibit a higher concussion rate than male players, despite the “no body contact” rule that is founding characteristic of women’s hockey. In fact, female hockey players may be more at risk for concussions than their male counterparts. The concerning prevalence of concussions in women’s hockey has been identified, yet the factors contributing to the high risk of concussions are still unclear.
Among others, factors such as cervical muscle strength, head impact location, and impact mechanism have all been discussed in the literature as potential variables influencing the risk of concussion in athletes. The influence of these factors on head impact biomechanics, however, have not been thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, women experience high rates of concussion that have been potentially linked to decreased cervical muscle strength; however, there is little research that has characterized cervical muscle strength among female hockey players and limited research that has developed a set of normative data for female hockey players. Consequently, the purpose of this study was twofold. The first purpose was to develop normative data on the isometric cervical muscle strength and anthropometrics of female hockey players. The second purpose was to examine the effect of neckform torque, head impact location, and impact mechanism on simulated head impact measures of peak linear acceleration, shear force, and injury risk in female hockey players.
To address the first purpose, the isometric cervical strength of a sample of female hockey players (n= 25) was measured in flexion, extension, and side flexion. An average of the muscle strength in these three directions was then calculated to develop an average overall isometric cervical strength measure for each athlete. Overall cervical strength measures of 58.64 N, 76.01 N, and 108.27 N (SD=17.52 N) represented the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles, respectively, of the normally distributed dataset created from the sample. These measures were then scaled and transformed into torque measures to be appropriately modelled on a mechanical neckform to address Part II of the simulation study. The 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile isometric cervical strength measures corresponded to torque measures of 1.36 Nm (weak), 2.94 Nm (average), and 4.62 Nm (strong), respectively, as established through calibration and transformation of the data. To address the second purpose, three neckform torques (weak, average, and strong), three helmet impact locations (front, rear, and side), and two impact mechanisms (direct and whiplash+impact) were tested at 16 different drop speeds using a dual-rail vertical drop system. The outcome measures included peak linear acceleration, shear force, and Gadd Severity Index, as these are variables commonly used to assess concussions in athletes.


title: Managing Canada's Park Systems: Exploring Aboriginal Involvement in Canadian National Parks

contributor:
Dowsley, Martha (Advisor)
Hamilton, Scott
Stewart, Robert

subject:
National parks
Pukaskwa National Park
Pic River First Nation
Aboriginal perspectives

abstract: In recent years attempts have been made to bridge Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal interests in the management of Canadian federal parks. In part this reflects increasing recognition of Aboriginal rights to lands and resources, and the need to reconfirm at an operational level the relationship that Aboriginal peoples have to the land (Sherry 1999; Speilmann and Unger 2000; Devin and Doberstein 2004; Battiste 2005; Hawley et al. 2005; Houde 2007). This thesis uses Clark’s (2002) policy sciences framework on problem orientation to examine how Aboriginal cultural perspectives can be better incorporated into park management, and how Aboriginal employment opportunities in parks can be increased (as per park policy). Clark’s (2002) problem orientation framework offers ways to explore and identify strategies by which policy problems can be improved by accommodating common interests, people’s expectations and their preferred goals. The research used a case study approach focusing on Pukaskwa National Park and the Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of the Pic River First Nation and Parks Canada representatives. By reviewing the broader literature on policy and planning related to First Nations and Parks Canada and then evaluating that in context of the case study, my research examined the current state of Aboriginal involvement in Pukaskwa National Park and makes recommendations for future improvement in this area. My analysis found that at this time Aboriginal culture is not being well integrated in the park, especially in relation to park programming. Further to this, my analysis also showed that Aboriginal employment levels are at a standstill and there is a desire to see more Aboriginal people in managerial roles within the park. Factors such as competing interests, mandates and timelines have affected the current relationship between Parks Canada and members of the Pic River First Nation. I believe that a significant difficulty lies in establishing an appropriate balance between the priorities of Parks Canada and Pic River First Nation.


title: Site condition effects on beech leaf disease symptom severity in southwestern Ontario hardwood forests

subject: Beech leaf disease

subject: CART analysis

subject: Forest pathology

subject: Permanent plot monitoring

abstract:
The health of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) is threatened in North America due
to its susceptibility to various pathogens, including beech leaf disease. Little is known about
beech leaf disease, and forest health specialists have failed to determine the causal agent
responsible or how the disease is spread. The purpose of this study is to determine whether
particular site conditions, which may negatively impact the health and vigour of American
beech trees, affect the susceptibility of beech to infection by beech leaf disease, by assessing
foliar symptom severity relative to environmental conditions occurring at 34 unique beech
stands in southwestern Ontario. This study was conducted at various American beech stands
occurring throughout the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Guelph and
Aylmer districts. Plots were constructed at each site to capture symptom severity data for
overstorey, sapling, and understorey trees, by recording metrics such as percentage of the
total canopy afflicted by dieback, chlorosis, undersized leaves and foliar banding at different
severity levels. To assess whether a relationship exists between site conditions and symptom
severity, the data collected in the field was run through a CART analysis to produce a
decision tree that predicted the characteristics of the sites being studied and describe the
stressor-response relationship that exists within the data between American beech trees and
the environmental conditions occurring on the sites surveyed. The results revealed that
slopes equal to or less than 32.8% are associated with an increased presence of beech leaf
disease symptoms among seedlings under 1 m in height. Further, it was determined that
shoulders, back slopes, and flat areas, and the occurrence of beech scale infestation
intensities equal to or greater than the ‘trace’ classification are associated with the
development of severe beech leaf disease symptoms among saplings with DBH under 10
cm. A stressor-response relationship exists between those site conditions that are less
conducive to the growth of American beech seedlings and saplings and increased occurrence
and severity of beech leaf disease symptoms. In doing so, the results of this study indicated
that the causal agent or vectoring organism responsible may attack stressed trees
opportunistically, thus providing insight as to how the spread of beech leaf disease can be
controlled.


title: Over-winter survivorship of parelaphostrongylus tenuis first-stage larvae / by Sean Geritt Forrester

subject:
White-tailed deer Parasites Life cycle
Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Wintering
Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Larvae


title: Depictions of race : self and other in Tolkien's and Jackson's Lord of the Rings / by Jonathan Epp.

subject:
Lord of the Rings films
Racism in motion pictures
Racism in literature
Lord of the rings (novel trilogy)

abstract:
The war between darkness and light depicted in J. R. R. Tolkien’s famous
fantasy. The Lord of the Rings, is the subject of much debate and interpretation. At a first reading, Tolkien’s story can be mistaken as following a traditional and predictable template of good versus evil. In this thesis, I challenge this binary reading. I use a postcolonial lens to illustrate the complexities within this work that provide characters on both sides of the conflict with opportunity for redemption and warning against corruption in a complex ideology that defies a narrow interpretation. I also argue that Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptation of The Lord of the Rings overlooks these complexities to portray a simplistic battle between light and dark that
racially stereotypes white as good and black as evil.
In this reading I follow the Hobbits through the shadows of Otherness on a
developmental journey and coming of age. I discuss the hybridity, ambivalence and alterity of various characters as they are drawn into the conflict. In particular, I discuss the role played by Gollum, a hybrid figure who belongs to the world of light as well as the world of darkness, and his influence upon his Hobbit companions. I point out the complex relationships that develop as the young Hobbits appropriate the military tactics of the Other to be used for their own purposes. I then suggest that in Jackson’s cinematic adaptation of Tolkien’s text, the focus of the narrative is shifted
away from the complex Hobbit journey to highlight the war itself and that the visual adaptation promotes a racial identification of darkness to evil paralleling, in many ways, the war-on-terror.


title: Compact sets in Banach spaces

subject:
Banach spaces
Compact spaces
Topology

abstract:
Connections between several compact spaces are studied in this thesis.
Proofs are given when one implies another, and so are counterexamples when
one does not. The spaces discussed in this thesis are: uniform Eberlein -
compact (UEC) space, Eberlein - compact (EC) space, Talagrand - compact
(TC) space, Gul'ko - compact (GC) space, Corson - compact (CC) space,
Radon-Nikody'm - compact (RN) space, Rosenthal - compact (RC), Valdivia -
compact (VC) space. The main results are: (see document)


title: Predicting mixing trends in mine-receiving waters using water quality modeling

contributor:
Lee, Peter
Qin, Wensheng
Hecnar, Stephen
Diochon, Amanda

subject: Water quality and meromictic state of study lakes

subject: Water quality modeling of mixing trends in Frank Lake

abstract: Complete mixing of the water column of lakes is important to ensure that nutrients and dissolved oxygen are replenished and equalized throughout the lake. This ensures that organisms within the lake at all trophic levels can perform necessarily metabolism and have a maximized habitat range. Lakes that receive effluent high in total dissolved solids from mine operations can be prevented from performing complete water column turnover. When this occurs the lake is termed meromictic. Two lakes, one naturally remediating and the other actively receiving effluent discharge, have both exhibited historical meromictic conditions (meromixis). Over a three year period, the water quality in both lakes was analyzed and related to their current meromictic state. The CE-QUAL-W2 model was calibrated to predict total dissolved solids concentrations within the active receiver lake and one-year predictive simulations were run with total dissolved solids reductions of 10%, 25%, 50% and 75% at the lake inflow. The lake undergoing natural remediation exhibited substantial breakdown of meromictic stability during the study and was deemed monomictic while the active receiver demonstrated meromictic stability and variability in mixolimnion turnover depth. Calibration of CE-QUAL-W2 revealed that fluctuations in surface total dissolved solid concentrations and dissolved organic carbon from natural and effluent inputs had substantial influences on heat distribution in the effluent receiver. Reducing total dissolved solids inputs into the active receiver lake only elicited change in mixolimnion total dissolved solids concentrations but little change in monimolimnion concentrations. The 50% and 75% reduction simulations resulted in a much shallower mixolimnion depth and stronger meromictic stability in the lake.


title: Evaluating success of energy from algal biomass

subject:
Microalgae
Sustainability
Environment friendliness
Fossil fuels

abstract:
This thesis explores the effectiveness of algal biomass as a possible alternative to
fossil fuels. The thesis examines the cost-effectiveness, sustainability and environmental
friendliness factors of algal biomass and checks if algal biomass is a viable alternative
that can bring down the disadvantages caused by fossil fuels in the energy sector. The
research was conducted by reviewing existing studies on the subject. Algal biomass was
found to be better than fossil fuels in terms of sustainability and environmental
friendliness factors. With improving technology, the cost-effectiveness could also be
improved. Thus, indicating that Algal biomass could be considered a great alternative to
fossil fuels.


title: Planting the seeds of change : evaluation of the impacts of community gardens on well-being and connections to community and nature in First Nations' youth / by Graham Trull.

contributor:
Stroink, Mirella
Klein, Rupert

subject:
Community gardens
Native youth - Wellbeing
Northwestern Ontario
Aboriginal identity

abstract:
Aboriginal populations in Canada currently struggle with a variety of social,
economic, and health issues. Many of these problems have been shown to relate to levels of connectedness to community and to nature, as well as involvement in cultural traditions. The current research measures these factors among youth both before and after the implementation of a community gardening project in an Aboriginal community in Northwestern Ontario. Paper and pencil questionnaires were used to measure wellbeing,
sense of community, connectedness to nature, and cultural identification among youth in both the participating community and control communities. Significant relationships were found between well-being and Aboriginal identity, traditional food consumption and physical exercise. Aboriginal identity also had significant relationships to sense of community and connectedness to nature. Significant improvements in these measures were not observed over the course of the project.
First Nations (Native, Aboriginal peoples) participants from : Ginoogaming First Nation (near Longlac, Northwestern Ontario) ; Long Lake #58 First Nation ; Aroland First Nation (near Nakina) ; Lake Helen First Nation (near Nipigon).


title: C++ : a concurrent object-oriented programming language

subject: C (Computer program language)

subject: Object-oriented programming (Computer science)

subject: Concurrent object-oriented programming (COOP)

abstract:
Developing concurrent object-oriented programming (COOP) languages becomes an
attractive research area since COOP languages are more suitable for simulation of
real world objects and their interactions. After reviewing fundamentals of COOP
languages and analyzing existing COOP languages, we propose a concurrent object-oriented
programming language: CC++-. CC++ is an extension to object-oriented
programming (OOP) language C++. It is extended by introducing five keywords,
and incorporating process concepts and communication and synchronization mechanisms
into C++. Meanwhile it retains the syntax and semantics of C++. The
language distinguishes class (or passive) objects from process (or active) objects.
The class objects are the ordinary objects in C++. The process objects, however,
are coarse-grain concurrent entities. Each process object has a sequential control
thread and an optional public interface that can be accessed by other process objects.
The communication and synchronization between interacting process objects
are accomplished through remote function call (RFC), which is an extension of remote
procedure call (RPC) [Han78]. Two types of RFCs, blocked RFC and unblocked RFC
are distinguished in CC++. The blocked RFC, along with guarded function and
forward mechanism performs synchronous message passing. The unblocked RFC,
however, provides a way to express asynchronous message passing. The guarded
function is based on guarded commands [Dij 75], and is introduced for expressing and
controlling indeterminism. The language has been implemented as an experimental
system running on UNIX. The important objectives of CC++ are ease of programming,
simple syntax, clear semantics and strong expressive power.


title: Moving towards self-care and self-determination: improving the role and organization of tribal councils in remote First Nations wildfire evacuations

subject:
Wildfire evacuations
Self-governance
Post-Colonial Theory
Social constructivism
Tribal council

abstract:
During climate change, wildfires will increase in frequency and size, equating to
an increase in wildfire evacuation frequency and duration. Keewaytinook Okimakinak
Tribal Council (KO) struggled to identify a role and scope of practice during the 2021
wildfire evacuations of their communities due to the absence of a defined role of tribal
councils during emergency evacuations. To identify the role of KO, and improve their
response, there were three research questions: 1) What is the current role of self-care
and self-determination in KO service? 2) what were the perspectives, experiences, and
recommendations from KO service providers and community volunteers who played a
role in the wildfire-driven evacuations of several KO communities in the summer of
2019 and 2021? 3) What recommended practical and systematic changes can be
suggested that promote self-care and self-determination while considering SDH
differences and is culturally appropriate? [...]


title: Systematics and ecology of the Sexguttata species group, genus Cicindela (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) / by Michael M. Kaulbars. --

contributor:
Freitag, Richard
Graham, W. M.
Macdonald, Alastair D.
Ryder, John P.

subject:
Tiger beetles.
Beetles North America.

abstract:
The systematics of Cicindela sexguttata Fabricius and
Cicindela patruela Dejean was studied. Various aspects of
their holomorphology were considered, including: multivariate
analysis of external characters, morphology of the genitalia,
distribution, habitat, and life history. Colour of the exoskeleton
is not a stable character in this group and is not used in
taxonomic decisions. The species C. denikei Brown is a sibling
species of C. sexguttata, not a subspecies as previously described.
The egg and third instar larva of C. denikei are described for the
first time. The larval burrow of C. denikei opens directly beneath
rocks and stones, a habit unique in Cicindela. The species
C. sexguttata occurs throughout Eastern North America and consists of several identifiable subpopulations which are characterized by
ecophenotypic characters only, and are not recognized taxonomically.
The species C. patruela consists of two subspecies, C. p. patruela
and C. p. consentanea Dejean. The distributions, habitats, and
life histories of C. sexguttata, C. denikei, C. p. patruela, and
C. p. consentanea are described. The distribution of C. sexguttata
is correlated with warm moist loamy soils. Populations of C. denikei
are found on sandy silty till deposited by Lake Agassiz. Some of the
variability in the populations of C. sexguttata Is accounted for by
differences in dominant soil type. Climate and geographic features also account for some variabnity. The different number of mature
eggs in the abdomens of adult females of C. sexguttata and C. denikei
indicate that the fecundity of the two species differs. Adults of
C. denikei are ambush predators that change ambush site frequently.
Encounters with prey modify the behaviour of the beetles such that
they remain in the vicintity of the encounter. The beetles have
a defended territory that moves with them as they forage.


title: Mechanical properties of underutilized species in Northwestern Ontario

subject: Bioeconomy

subject: Mechanical properties (wood)

subject: Markets and market demand (wood products)

subject: Value-added forestry products

subject: Engineered wood products

abstract:
Increasing the utilization of available wood supply is becoming more important
in sustaining market demand and developing future opportunities for Ontario’s wood
products in the growing bioeconomy. The objective of this paper is to determine the
mechanical properties of commonly underutilized species in Ontario to identify possible
commodity and value-added uses. In this study, four boreal species were measured to
determine the basic mechanical properties. Each species was tested for modulus of
elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), density and compression characteristics.
The results concluded in statistically accurate MOR, MOE, density and compression
values for each of the four species. Possible market opportunities and value-added uses
for the species are viable.


title: Native use of moose and woodland caribou in the Cat Lake Band area, Northwestern Ontario

subject:
Caribou Ontario Cat Lake Region
Caribou hunting Ontario Cat Lake Region
Moose Ontario Cat Lake Region

abstract:
This study was aimed at providing an objective analysis of
native hunting of moose (Alces alces) and woodland caribou (Rangifer
tarandus caribou) in the Cat Lake Band Area, an isolated area of some
11,560 km [superscript 2] in northwestern Ontario. Specifically, the study was designed, to; 1) assess big game population levels and trends; 2)
quantify native harvest; 3) assess sport hunting for moose; 4) assess
the inportance of big game to the people; and 5) gain an understanding
of the attitudes regarding wildlife management and conservation held by
Cat Lake trappers and hunters. Sources of information were: 1) data
from 5 aerial surveys dating from 1977 to 1980; 2) government native
and sport harvest data; 3) a detailed interview involving 44 Cat Lake
trappers and hunters.
Aerial survey results were highly variable and imprecise for
both moose and caribou, making interpretation risky. There was
however, some indication that moose had declined during the study
period. Ratios of moose;caribou calculated from transect surveys were
near 2.2;1.
Government records of native harvest indicated that local
trappers took 26 moose and 6 caribou during the 1979-80 season, with 4
of the moose being taken from outside the Band Area. Results from the
detailed interviews suggested that actual harvest was closer to 50
moose and 10 caribou, with 4 of each species taken outside the Band
Area. Government records of sport harvest within the Band Area
indicated a total of 21 moose taken during the 1979 hunting season.
Enquiries directed towards tourist outfitters and native trappers
revealed an additional 2 moose taken by non-Indians.
Interviews with native trappers and hunters indicated that
moose were perceived to have declined in numbers, while caribou were
thought to have been approximately stable. A majority of men believed overhunting, particularly by sport hunters, to have hurt the local
moose population. Moose were overwhelmingly preferred over caribou as
a game animal; caribou appeared to generate relatively little interest
or hunting effort. One instance of overhunting of caribou was
recorded, however. In early 1977, at least 65 animals were taken,
primarily by 4 hunters. Snowmobiles contributed substantially to
hunting success. Complaints of wastage were voiced and the overall
consensus was that the harvest had been excessive.
Wild foods apparently provided more than half of the protein
in the diet of the Cat Lake people. While store-bought meats were the
largest single item, moose meat made up an estimated 28% of the total;
caribou contributed only 2%. While most men hunted primarily for
subsistence reasons, non-subsistence (aesthetic) values were also
strongly in evidence.
Most hunters made comments indicative of a concern for
wildlife conservation. A wide variety of approaches was suggested,
including traditional, non-scientific views. In general, however,
there was no consensus, and it appeared that there had been little
attention directed towards the problem of positive wildlife management.
The most consistent view was that total (native and sport) moose
harvest was excessive, a perception that was corroborated to some
extent by aerial survey and harvest data.


title: Cultural identity and notions of safe space among young indigenous women in an urban context: the case of Thunder Bay

contributor:
Southcott, Chris
Puddephatt, Antony

subject: Indigeneity and historical legacy

subject: Indigenous Peoples and urbanization

subject: Young Indigenous women, urban challenges & safe spaces

abstract:
Indigenous people of Canada have been relocating from their home communities, and
moving into larger urban city centers at unprecedented rates (Norris, Clatworthy, & Peters
2013). The population shift of Indigenous-based mobility from their respective home
communities, and into larger metropolitan areas has been well discussed throughout the
literature. Specifically, this social pattern has been transpiring in Thunder Bay, which has
brought awareness to the new challenges and barriers that many Indigenous peoples
experience when migrating to Canada’s larger urban cities (Peters 2009). The young
Indigenous female population in Thunder Bay are at a larger disadvantage (NIMMIWG,
2017), in terms of safe spaces, which consequently highlights that there is a gender
differential that ought to be researched further.
Urban Indigenous women are at a disadvantage within society in terms of
accessing culturally appropriate safe spaces (Ontario Native Women’s Association n.d.;
Latimer, Sylliboy, MacLeod, Rudderham, Francis, Hutt-MacLeod, Harman, & Finley
2018:1). This master’s thesis is a case study of Indigenous women aged 18-29 in Thunder
Bay and surrounding areas. This paper seeks to address the relationship between safety
and individualized notions of how identity is developed amongst the Indigenous youth
population. Therefore, I pose the question, how do notions of Indigeneity or cultural
identity impact visions of what is necessary to create a safe space in an urban context?
Furthermore, how do young Indigenous women conceptualize notions of safe space in
Thunder Bay, in terms of their hopes, dreams and wishes of achieving their version of
Mino-Bimaadiziwin – the good life?


title: Differences between the Francophone and Anglophone ethno-linguistic groups in the home care setting of Ontario

contributor:
Stones, Michael
Maranzan, Amanda
Martin, Lynn

subject:
Anthropological linguistics
Ontario
Home care services
Older people
Canadians, French-speaking
Social conditions
Canadians, English-speaking

abstract: Although Francophones in Ontario represent the largest population of French-Canadians outside Quebec, little is known about this population, and especially about the older members of this ethno-linguistic group. The scarce literature reports that French-Canadians generally have lower service utilization, lower health status and are at risk of psychological distress compared with Anglo-Canadians. One could postulate that these disparities would be present to a greater extent in Ontario because Francophones are more of a minority.


title: Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Whitefish Bay residents regarding type 2 diabetes / by Ella Goodman.

subject:
Whitefish Bay (Ontario)
First Nations diabetics - Care
Diabetes - Education

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore Whitefish Bay residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Type 2 diabetes. The objectives were to examine current literature related to Type 2 diabetes with an emphasis on the Aboriginal population; distribute a questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, to assess Whitefish Bay residents for the risk of Type 2 diabetes; and make recommendations regarding prevention of Type 2 diabetes for Whitefish Bay residents. A questionnaire was developed by the researcher to obtain basic information from residents on demographics, beliefs surrounding the meaning of diabetes, knowledge of specific risk factors, knowledge of signs and symptoms and complications, and attitudes toward prevention of diabetes. For feasibility, the questionnaire utilized closed-ended questions to address the questions posed. Data were collected from a cohort of 175 Whitefish Bay residents over the age of 18. This sample size reflected approximately 55% of the total eligible population. Questionnaire data demonstrated that fifty-five (55%) had knowledge of a general definition of Type 2 diabetes. Areas of potential education were noted in identification of risk factors, signs and symptoms, and complications. Certain groups appear to be more at risk, such as males, those less educated, unemployed, individuals with no family history of diabetes, and those who have never been screened before. The previous groups appear more at risk due to a lower level of knowledge in variables such as risk factors, signs and symptoms, and complications. The current prevalence of diabetes was determined to be 11%, and a further 13% of those screened by Naotkamegwanning Health Services had impaired glucose tolerance on casual testing.
Recommendations included strategies such as developing culturally appropriate educational materials to increase awareness to improve prevention and early detection. Populations within Whitefish Bay who are at greater risk should be targeted with health promotion campaigns to increase primary and secondary prevention. These could include educational programs to be delivered in public schools and at community events. Screening for Type 2 diabetes should continue in order to educate those with impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose on the importance of lifestyle modifications. Due to the environmental contributions related to Type 2 diabetes, partnerships with both the private and public sector to increase collaboration in the fight against Type 2 diabetes would enhance preventative messages and community acceptance. For collaboration to be effective, funding for health care professionals to provide health promotion and prevention must increase. Further, the skills of health care professionals must improve to provide culturally appropriate care targeted at primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of Type 2 diabetes. Finally, research needs to be completed to determine what barriers Whitefish Bay residents are enduring that inhibit
healthy lifestyles. Future research that is conducted should distinguish between diabetics and nondiabetics in order to develop appropriate prevention programs based on their cohort’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. This research can be utilized to create more effective health strategies. Research of this nature should also be completed in other communities due to individual community characteristics that can contribute to differences knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs with regard to Type 2 diabetes.


title: Effects of simultaneous sensory stimulation on creativity and field dependence

subject:
Creative ability
Sensory stimulation
Field dependence (Psychology)


title: Construction of an achievement motivation scale for use in the athletic environment / Randy G. Fox. --

subject:
Achievement motivation - Testing.
Athletes.
Swimming.


title: Dynamic bandwidth scheduling and burst construction algorithm for downlink in (4G) mobile WiMAX networks

subject: Worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX)

subject: Advanced wireless systems

subject: Mobile WiMAX

subject: 4G wireless systems

subject: Digital modulation

subject: Wireless network scheduling algorithms

abstract:
Advanced wireless systems, also called fourth generation (4G) wireless systems, such as Mobile Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), are developed to provide broadband wireless access in true sense. Therefore, it becomes mandatory for such kind of systems to provide Quality of Service (QoS) support for wide range of applications. In such types of systems, wireless base stations are responsible for distributing proper amount of bandwidth among different mobile users, thus satisfying a user’s QoS requirements. The task of distributing proper amount of bandwidth rests upon a scheduling algorithm, typically executed at the base station.
2G and 3G wireless systems are able to provide only voice, low data rate, and delay insensitive services, such as Web browsing. This is due to the lack of development in digital modulation and multiple access schemes, which are two major aspects of physical layer of these systems. Digital modulation is used to combat with location-dependent channel errors which get introduced in the data transmitted by base station on a wireless channel to a mobile station. Hence, different locations of every mobile station in a cell coverage area require different modulation and coding schemes for error-free transmission. Link adaptation is a technique that makes the use of variable modulation and coding schemes possible, according to varying location of mobile stations. This technique is used by 4G systems to achieve error free transmissions. 2G and 3G systems are not capable of achieving error-free transmissions in many cases due to significantly fewer or no choice of modulation and coding schemes for different locations of mobile stations. In such cases, most of the time, wireless channel is either error-prone or error-free for mobile station.
Scheduling algorithms developed for 2G and 3G systems focussed on providing long term average rate requirements of users, which are satisfied at the expense of zero transmission for mobile users experiencing bad or error prone channel. This approach was adopted to achieve efficient use of wireless channel capacity. This was the best approach adopted by majority of scheduling algorithms because delay sensitive applications were not supported in such systems and hence bounded delay was not a matter of concern. Hence, the majority of the algorithms focussed on providing long term average rate requirements while maximizing cell throughput. This helped in making efficient use of wireless channel capacity at the expense of zero transmission for mobile users experiencing bad channel and compromising delay performance.
These approaches, however, will not be suitable for 4G systems as such systems support wide range of applications ranging from delay-insensitive to highly delay-sensitive. Hence in this thesis, a dynamic bandwidth scheduling algorithm called Leaky Bucket Token Bank (LBTB) is proposed. This algorithm exploits some advanced features of 4G systems, like link adaptation and multiple access scheme, to achieve long term average rate requirements for delay-insensitive applications and bounded delay for delay-sensitive applications.
Advanced features of 4G systems also bring more challenges. One such challenge is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), a multiple access scheme deployed in 4G systems. In OFDMA, scheduled data for different mobile stations is packed into bursts and mapped to a two dimensional structure of time and frequency, called OFDMA frame. It has been observed that the way bursts are mapped to OFDMA frame affects the wakeup time of mobile stations receiving data and therefore causes power consumption. Wakeup time is the time duration in OFDMA frame for which the mobile station becomes active. Since OFDMA frame is a limited and precious radio resource, the efficient use of such radio resource is necessary. Efficient use requires that the wastage of such radio resource be minimized. Hence in this thesis, a burst construction algorithm called Burst Construction for Fairness in Power (BCFP) is also proposed. The algorithm attempts to achieve fairness in power consumption of different mobile stations by affecting their wakeup time. It also attempts to minimize wastage of radio resources.
For comparing the performance of joint proposed algorithms (LBTB+BCFP), the proposed burst construction algorithm (BCFP) is joined to the two other existing scheduling algorithms namely: Token Bank Fair Queuing (TBFQ) and Adaptive Token Bank Fair Queuing (ATBFQ). TBFQ is an algorithm developed for 3G wireless networks whereas, ATBFQ is an extension to the TBFQ and is developed for 4G wireless networks. Therefore, the performance of the proposed algorithms jointly together (LBTB+BCFP) is compared with the joint TBFQ and proposed burst construction algorithm (TBFQ+BCFP), as well as joint ATBFQ and proposed burst construction algorithm (ATBFQ+BCFP). We compare the performance in terms of average queuing delay, average cell throughput, packet loss, fairness among different mobile users, fairness in average wakeup times (average power consumption), and fraction of radio resources wasted. The performance of proposed burst construction algorithm (BCFP) is also compared with Round Robin algorithm in terms of fairness in average power consumption as well as fraction of radio resources wasted, for varying number of users.


title: New demodulation techniques for gearbox bearing fault detection

subject:
Gearbox
Fault detection in gearboxes
Vibration sensors
Rotary machinery

abstract:
Nowadays, modern rotating machinery industries such as automotive, aerospace, turbo
machinery, chemical plants, and power generation stations are rapidly increasing in complexity
and in their everyday operations, which demand their systems to operate at higher reliability,
extreme safety, and with lower production and maintenance costs. Therefore, accurate fault
diagnosis of machine failure is vital to the operation of the related industries. The majority of
machine imperfections has been related to gearbox faults (e.g., gears, shafts and bearings), which
are subject to damage modes such as fatigue, impacts, and overloading. Faults not detected in
time can result in severe damage to machinery, catastrophic injuries, and substantial financial
losses. On the other hand, if a fault is detected in its early stages, corrective and preventive action
can be taken to avoid any significant machine failure. Vibration monitoring, a method that is
widely used to determine the condition of various mechanical systems, will be applied in this
work. In data acquisition, a transducer is attached to the structure under investigation and the
vibration signal is recorded. This signal is then processed to extract representative features for
fault detection. Signal processing techniques are therefore required to extract representative
features to assess the health condition of gearbox components. However, in practice, the
theoretical frequencies and characteristic features of gearbox faults may be modulated and
masked by parasitical frequencies due to numerous noisy vibrations, as well as by the complexity
of the transmission mechanics. To solve the related problems, the objective of this research work
is to propose new signal processing technologies to evaluate gearbox health conditions. This
work will focus on fixed-axis gearboxes, in which all gears are designed to rotate around their
perspective fixed centers. Firstly, an enhanced morphological filtering (eM) technique is
proposed to improve signal-to-noise ratio. Secondly, under controlled operating conditions, an
integrated Hilbert Huang transform (iHT) method is suggested for bearing fault detection.
Thirdly, a leakage-free resonance sparse decomposition (LRSD)-based technique is developed
for advanced vibration signal analysis to eliminate random noise and to recognize characteristic
features for bearing in gearboxes health conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed techniques
is verified by a series of experimental tests corresponding to different bearing and gearbox
conditions.


title: Experimental study on mixing of activated sludge with or without air in a mixing tank through electrical resistance tomography (ERT) and response surface methodology

subject:
Activated sludge
Gas-liquid mixing
Flow patterns
Electrical resistance tomography

abstract: In such industrial processes as oxidation, hydrogenation, and biological fermentation gas and liquid are contacted and mixed to reach steady condition. The unit operations applied for gas/liquid processes include but are not limited to bubble column, plate column, mechanically agitated vessels, in-line static mixers, jet mixing devices/jet mixers, and surface aerators. Among aforementioned unit operations, aerated mixing vessels are mostly employed for the gas-liquid processes in such industry as biochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and waste water treatment. While gas-dispersion in Newtonian fluids, especially in low-viscosity systems, has been successfully understood, not enough information may be found in the literature about this process in non-Newtonian fluids. Therefore, in this study electrical resistance tomography (ERT) was utilized to assess the mixing of the activated sludge as shear thinning non-Newtonian fluid in presence of aeration. ERT results revealed that shorter mixing time can be achieved in presence of aeration. The following three central impellers were employed: ASI (a combination of A200 and the Scaba impellers), ARI (a combination of A200 and the Rushton impellers), and Rushton (fully radial impeller). An ERT system with a two-plane assembly equipped with 16 sensors on each plane was employed to assess the impact of the impeller type, impeller speed, and gas flow rate on the mixing of activated sludge in terms of mixing time, specific power consumption, and gas flow number. A statistical-based experimental design with RSM (response surface methodology) was applied to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of the design parameters and operating conditions. Experiments and RSM demonstrated that among all independent variables in this study, impeller speed was the common independent variable which impacts mixing time, specific power consumption and gas flow number significantly.


title: Well-spaced and free-growing: effects and interactions of ecosite and renewal treatments on regenerating stands in northwestern Ontario

subject:
Boreal forest
Jack Pine
Lake Nipigon forest
Mechanical site preparation (forestry)
Silviculture
Renewal of harvested stands (Ontario)

abstract: Effective renewal of harvested stands in Ontario is mandated in the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA 1994). Properly prescribed silviculture leads to forested stands that are regenerated successfully, have predictable future yields, increased value, and will meet management objectives. Regeneration status in Ontario is determined by the Well-Spaced Free-Growing Regeneration (WSFG) Assessment Procedure. The objective of this study is to determine the effects and interactions of ecosite and renewal treatments on the number of WSFG trees per plot evaluated using the WSFG Regeneration Assessment Procedure on Blackwater Blocks of the Lake Nipigon Forest in northwestern Ontario. Five null hypotheses resulted from the review of current literature: that 1) ecosite, 2) regeneration method, 3) mechanical site preparation and 4) chemical herbicide application, do not have a statistically significant effect on the number of WSFG trees per plot. The fifth hypothesis was that the interaction of ecosite, regeneration method, mechanical site preparation, and herbicide application does not have statistically significant effect on the number of WSFG trees per plot. In testing these null hypotheses, an analysis of plot data included a two-way ANOVA with ecosite and herbicide treatment, and one-way ANOVAs for ecosite and regeneration methods. A plot level statistical analysis was also used to supplement these results. Results of the ANOVAs indicate that ecosite and regeneration method both have a statistically significant effect on the number of WSFG trees per plot. Independent t-test findings were that mechanical site preparation does not significantly effect on the number of WSFG trees per plot, but herbicide application does. The key finding is that ecosite specific prescriptions for renewal treatments will lead to more WSFG trees per plot and establishment of stands which achieve the desired future forest conditions.


title: Cross-cultural dialogue : the concept of autonomy as a case study

subject:
Autonomy (Philosophy)
Autonomy (Psychology)
Intercultural communication

abstract:
This study is an examination of cross cultural philosophical discourse between
North American Indigenous cultures and the dominant Western culture. The
methodological approaches used in this study are modeled after the work of Michael M.
Pomedli, Thomas W. Overholt and J. Baird Callicott, and George Lakoff and Mark
Johnson. A case study of the concept of autonomy is used in exploring the possibility of
such discourse. This case study is particularly relevant in light of Indigenous peoples’
continuing struggles for self-government and appropriate education, as well as their
attempts to re-assert their unique cultural perspectives. Examples of both Western and
Indigenous uses of the concept of autonomy are compared and contrasted in
demonstrating that, although there are differences in their uses of this concept, they can
be rendered intelligible one to another. Cross-cultural dialogue is indeed possible.


title: Predictors of physical activity among individuals with spinal cord injuries

subject:
Spinal cord Wounds and injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries psychology
Spinal cord Patients

abstract:
This study used the theoretical framework of Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM)
to predict physical activity patterns in a sample of spinal cord injured (SCI). The model
was adapted to better fit the population under study by including coping style, level of
lesion and weight as individual characteristics and physical self-efficacy as a behaviour-specific
cognition. The relationships of personal factors, coping strategies, social
support, barriers to action, and physical self-efficacy were explored. A sample of 33
respondents who had either quadriplegia (19) or paraplegia (14) completed the study
instruments. There were 29 males and 4 females with a mean age of 40.5 years and a
mean age of injury of 24 years. Participants completed each of six instruments
including; Physical Self-Efficacy (PSE) and its two subscales Perceived Physical Ability
(PPA) and Physical Self-Presentation Confidence (PSPC); Exercise Benefits Barrier
Scale (EBBS); Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS); Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ-
85); Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ); and a personal inventory for
demographic and health risk information. It was hypothesized that high physical self
efficacy, few barriers to action, and high social support would be positively related to
involvement in physical activity, and conversely, that high lesion levels (quadriplegia),
overweight and use of an affective coping style would relate to low involvement in
physical activity. Results of the present study provide some support for applying the
adapted model of health promotion to explain the physical activity patterns of people
with SCI. Participation in moderate, strenuous, sweat inducing and total weekly physical
activity was moderately correlated to high levels of both PPA and PSE. A clear but
weaker relationship was also shown between few perceived barriers to participation and involvement in mild, strenuous and total weekly physical activity. In addition, severity of
impairment or comparison of activity level to lesion level indicated that paraplegics were
more involved in strenuous activity than quadriplegics. No relationship was found
between level of social support or affective copying style and physical activity. The
strongest predictors of physical activity were high PPA and short time since injury (TSI).
Sixty-seven percent of the variance in participation in strenuous activity was accounted
for by PPA (38%), height (15%) and age (14%). Fifty-five percent of the variance in total
weekly activity (LTEQ) was explained by PPA (35%), TSI (11%) and stiffness and
soreness (9%). Fifty-one percent of the variance in mild activity was explained by TSI
(36%) and PSPC (15%) and 48% of moderate exercise was explained by TSI (34%)
and PPA (14%). As a consequence of this investigation, a revised model of health
promotion was presented. It was concluded that those people with SCI who adopt an
active approach to health promotion are young, recently injured, have a high PPA and
are paraplegic. It was recommended that rehabilitation practices concentrate on
increasing physical self efficacy and empowerment through the use of situation-specific
learning environments and a variety of activities that have a life span approach.


title: Evaluating the winter diet of a pack of coyotes (Canis latrans)  in a periurban environment on Georgian Bay

subject:
Scat dissection
Domestic animal predation
Wildlife management
Coyote-human conflict

abstract:
This thesis explores the diet of a pack of coyotes in a periurban environment on
the southern extent of Georgian Bay, west of the Town of Collingwood. Coyotes have
seen a massive expansion in their range, and even though they are occupying
increasingly urban areas, their biology has stayed relatively unchanged. Coyotes for
years have been a focal point in many news articles and local politics due to a perceived
threat on human safety and the safety of pets. Through the winter months of 2021, their
diet was evaluated using scat dissections. Their diet was found not to differ significantly
from other studies, with lagomorphs and rodents comprising at least 39%; their diet was
partially supplemented by the availability of domestic dogs, but there was little evidence
of garbage in their scats. It is suggested that education and informative postings in
Collingwood and other similar communities should be increased to inform the public
and mitigate risk of conflict between these canids and humans.


title: Carabidae (Coleoptera) and associated Acari in Northwestern Ontario

subject:
Ground beetles Ontario, Northwestern
Mites Ontario, Northwestern

abstract: Site collection areas : Shabaqua 65 km. northwest of Thunder Bay and Gilbride Road near One Island Lake 32 km. northwest of Thunder Bay.

abstract:
Carablds Iti Northwestern Ontario were found to follow one or another of three basic annual population curves reflecting both activity and actual population levels. Additional research Is needed to ascertain whether or not other carabld species follow those three
phenology patterns.
The carabld species Scaphinotus bilobus Say , Sphaeroderus
nitidicollis Chevrolat, Pterostichus coracinus Newman and Agonum
decentis Say were found to be primary associates of the mites
(hypopi) Acotyledon, Sancassania, Kuzinia and Schwiebea, Those mites
and Poecilochirus deutonymphs were common associates of the carabids
studied. Other mites were Infrequently associated with the carabids.  The mites did not appear to associate selectively with either sex of
carabid, particular species of carabid or particular sites on the
carabids. The mites were found most commonly on ventral surfaces and
rarely under elytra, and did not appear to be associated with the
carabid eggs, pupae or overwintering adults. The mites appeared to be
phoretlc on the carabids, using them as a means of transport to environments more suitable to further development.


title: Adult college students perceptions on science education : reclaiming lost ground in science education in preparation for health science programs / by Anita Graham.

subject:
Science education
Mature students

abstract:
This study was based upon the issues surrounding science education and how they impact students’ further science education as well as their everyday lives. The research was a qualitative study that used an interview guide. Six adult college students who had graduated from the Pre-Health Sciences Program and continued with Health Science Programs were interviewed for this study. Their perceptions on how science education had influenced their
further science education as well as everyday lives were analyzed and similar themes evolved from the data. Findings revealed that high school science education for these students generally did not generate interest or desire to learn science, except when they participated in lab activities. In contrast, these students found that the college science education interested them and inspired them to learn. This may be more due to intrinsic values for learning science since students articulated that they needed to learn the science because they wanted to enter Health Science Programs after the science prerequisites were fulfilled. The findings showed that students wanted labs and hands-on activities as part of their learning. Also, science literacy in the students was evident from the stories they shared about their everyday lives.


title: Effects of wind induced soil moisture stress on the germination and early growth of Pinus banksiana Lamb. on three soil texture types

subject:
Soil moisture
Forest soils
Trees Growth
Osmotic priming
Permanent wilting point
Soil characteristics
Wind tunnel

abstract:
A controlled environment wind tunnel was used to produce three wind speeds and hence three soil drying
rates in order to study the effects of soil moisture stress on seeds and germinants of Pinus banksiana
Lamb, planted in a sandy loam, loamy sand and sand. Osmotically primed and untreated seed were sown
when the soil was saturated and germination was monitored daily. Germinants at five stages of ontogeny,
the most advanced stage being the start of epicotyl growth, were placed into the wind tunnel with the soil
saturated. When 50% of the germinants were dead and/or wilted, final length and dry weight of the shoots
and roots were measured. All experiments were a split plot factorial design with wind speed as the main
plots and the soil and seed or ontogeny stage treatments as the subplots.
No seed germinated in the wind tunnel for any of the soil type and wind speed treatment combinations.
Therefore, seed were transfered from the soil surface to Petri-dishes in a germination cabinet where
germination was monitored daily. Compared to controls (primed and unprimed seed taken from cold
storage), germination of unprimed seed decreased with each increase in wind speed, the magnitude of the
decrease varying with soil type. A similar response was not noted for the primed seed; osmotic priming
appeared to negate the effects of the physical environment. The exact cause could not be determined from
these studies. The hypothesis that the unprimed seed did not imbibe some critical, minimum amount of
water before drying and that something inhibited germination when the seed was rehydrated is presented
and discussed.
The fewer number of macropores and the more rapid drying rate of the loamy sand and sandy loam soil
types was considered to be the cause of poorer establishment with increasing wind speed of the early
ontogeny stages (stages up to the point the radicle has penetrated the soil surface and the seed is slightly
elevated). The growth and survival of germinants once established was not affected by these factors. The
data suggests that the drying rate of the soil and the inability of root growth to keep up with this drying
was considered to be a major factor affecting growth and survival of the established germinants.
Additionally, the transpiration rate of the germinants probably played a significant role in the survival
time. The loamy sand and sandy loam soil types probably could not supply a sufficient quantity of water
to the germinant to keep pace with the transpirational demand. The sandy soil was better for growth and
survival than the finer soils probably because of the way water is held in the soil profile once the
capillaries are broken. Germinants began to die at soil moisture potentials above the permanent wilting
point (PWP) at the high wind speed. This supports the view that PWP is not a soil constant The increase
in some growth parameters with increasing wind speed supports the view that increasing wind speed is not
always detrimental to germinant growth. Application of the results to field conditions is discussed.


title: Key duplicating software using digital image processing

subject:
Key measuring system
Digital image processing

abstract: In order to cut a key duplicate, it is necessary to measure the original key very precisely. There is a great variety in the key measuring devices currently in use; however, they follow the common basic principle of using a known light source of some kind and measuring the features of the light reflected off the key. In some variations of these systems, only a small part of the key can be measured at one time, and therefore some part of the system needs to be physically mobile to measure the entire key; be it the key itself, the light source or the camera measuring the reflected light. Most of the systems also require the key to be positioned exactly straight in the device in order to be measured, and even a slight deviation means that the blank key will be cut wrong and will be unusable.


title: Optimal trajectory control of series resonant converter

subject: Electric current converters

abstract:
Resonant power converters have gained increased attention in industry due to various
advantages over conventional pulse width modulation (PWM) converters. Resonant
converters have improved transient response, reduced switching losses and stresses, reduced
equipment size and weight and reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI). In this
thesis, series resonant converters (SRC) in variable and constant frequency topologies are
analyzed using state-space approach for effective control. The design and implementation
of a practical optimal trajectory control (OTC) scheme is shown. Experimental results
are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed control scheme.


title: Comparison of policy and legislation to protect nature reserves in Canada and China

subject:
Nature reserves
Wildlife protection
Sustainable forest management
Policies and legislation (foresty)

abstract:
Many animals and plants are extinct because of human activities. The nature
reserve is the most effective way to protect natural resources and wildlife. In this
paper, I reviewed policies to protect nature reserves in Canada and China. Although
the two countries developed the concept of nature reserves relatively early in their
history, legislation that is meaningful concerning the environment is recent, and there
remain some problems in managing nature reserves, especially with respect to
compliance with the law among local communities. In both countries, there is still a
need to learn more about nature reserves, traditional ecological knowledge, and ways
to make nature reserves more effective in the future.


title: Heavy metal pollution control technology - phytoremediation in China

contributor:
Wang, Jian
Dang, Qing-Lai

subject:
Heavy metal pollution
Hyperaccumulators
Phytoremediation
Environmental pollution control

abstract:
As a worldwide problem, soil heavy metal pollution has a huge impact on human
production and life. The world has invested a lot of manpower and material resources
for environmental governance. Environmental pollution control has a new
breakthrough with the emergence of phytoremediation technology. Phytoremediation,
as a new technology, has the characteristics of low cost, more ecological and
environmental friendly. This paper summarizes the mechanism of phytoremediation,
the status of heavy metal pollution in China, and the application of phytoremediation
in China. Meanwhile, the discussion on the development of phytoremediation was also
explored.


title: The wild west of policy making : a discourse analysis of primary and secondary schools' social media policies

subject: Evolution of social media

subject: Social media, classrooms & policies

subject: Motivations to develop social media policies in schools

subject: Social media policies in schools

subject: Educators and social media policy

subject: Challenges facing social media policy developers

subject: Overcoming social media policy challenges

abstract:
Social media has become a technology that is increasingly shaping how
young people connect, socialize, and learn (Ahn, 2011). Many educators and
administrators endeavour to understand how this communications tool has evolved
and is used. While some steer clear of it as a tool for teaching and learning, others
grapple with how to employ its interactive, participatory potential in the classroom.
Primary and secondary school administrators around the world have begun to
create policies to delineate the use of social media in classrooms. However others
continue to struggle with how to do so and many others have not even begun.
Through a qualitative analysis of four distinct social media policies from the United
States, this thesis examines extant discursive themes and discourses, and
demonstrates how more schools, boards, and districts can develop their own
policies to implement this potent teaching and learning tool for the benefit of
students, the overwhelming majority of whom are already engaged in social media.


title: Assessment of strength-based functioning, behavioural problems, and adaptive functioning in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities

subject:
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Asperger syndrome
Assessment of behavioural difficulties

abstract:
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by marked deficits in socialization. Along
this spectrum, however, intellectual functioning varies. Individuals with low-functioning autism
typically function in the moderate mental retardation range (IQ between 35-50), while higher-functioning
individuals have average or above-average IQs. Because daily living skills
(e.g., socialization) and cognitive functioning are important considerations in the diagnosis of
autism spectrum disorders, much research has focussed upon these areas in comparing ASD
individuals with those individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). However, minimal
research focus has been allotted to the strengths o f individuals diagnosed with these disorders as
a differentiating feature. Specifically, very few studies have examined the connection between
strengths, behavioural difficulties and adaptive functioning within these diagnostic groups.
Comparison of individuals with these disorders with a sample of individuals with developmental
disabilities may further strengthen the distinctness o f these conditions based upon behavioural
difficulties, IQ and adaptive functioning, as well as provide evidence o f strengths potentially
predictive o f adaptive behaviour. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to have primary
caregivers (e.g., parents/guardians) complete two strength-based questionnaires, an adaptive
measure and a behavioural checklist on adolescents with four different diagnoses. These
diagnoses included Low-Functioning Autism (IQ below 70), High-Functioning Autism (IQ 70
and above), Asperger syndrome, developmental disability, and a control group with no formal
diagnosis. The overall focus of this thesis was exploratory, however, some specific hypotheses
were also tested. Results indicated different and unique profiles for each group in terms of
strengths, adaptive functioning, and behavioural difficulties. Moreover, individuals with low-functioning autism exhibited similar profiles to those with developmental disability, and
individuals with high-functioning autism exhibited profiles similar to those with Asperger
Syndrome. Specifically, individuals with low-functioning autism and developmental disability
exhibited fewer strengths and adaptive functioning skills and greater behavioural difficulties,
while those with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome displayed greater strengths and
adaptive functioning skills and fewer behavioural difficulties. Normal individuals also differed
from the diagnostic groups in this respect, in that they exhibited far more strengths and adaptive
functioning skills and fewer behavioural difficulties when compared to the diagnostic groups.


title: Item response theory analyses of the Personality Assessment Inventory in samples of methadone maintenance patients and university students / by Albert Patrick Gouge.

contributor:
O'Connor, Brian
Mazmanian, Dwight
van Barneveld, Christina
Netley, Charles
Wesner, Michael

subject:
Item response theory (IRT)
Methadone maintenance
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)

abstract:
This dissertation employed a variety of item response theory models and methods to examine the psychometric function of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) in a sample of opioid dependent individuals (TV = 323) receiving methadone maintenance treatment. The analyses employed both nonparametric and parametric models to examine the PAI scales and items for monotonicity, dimensionality, discrimination, difficulty,
information, differential item functioning, and differential test functioning. A large sample of post-secondary students (TV = 919) were employed as a comparison group for the examination of differential item and test functioning. These analyses resulted in a potential revised version of the PAI for use in methadone maintenance populations and other substance abusing populations. Most scales and subscales were reduced in length
by approximately 50% yet retained the majority of the information offered. Many scales and subscales were demonstrated to be multidimensional. Two causal factors were hypothesized with respect to this demonstration of multidimensionality. First, the widespread use of negatively scored items in the PAI likely results in the inclusion of items which are not on the same continuum as the positively worded likely due to artifactual method effects. The second major issue with respect to multidimensionality is
the inclusion of symptoms of Axis I and Axis II disorders on the same scale. As well, many other items were shown to offer little in the way of discriminatory power or information. Many scales displayed items with statistically significant differential item functioning (DIF), however, only a few scales were found to have significant differential test functioning. It is suggested that this revised version of the PAI offers an improved
alternative scoring method for the assessment of substance abusing populations.


title: Understory ingrowth mortality model for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) in mixed species stands of boreal Ontario

creator: Innerd, W. R. Andrew (Wilfred Robert Andrew)

contributor:
Pulkki, Reino
Chen, Han
Van Damme, Laird

subject:
Understory plants (Ontario)
Black spruce
Boreal

abstract: Study area : Longlac area (Northwestern Ontario)

abstract:
An individual tree mortality model was developed for understory ingrowth mixed
species stands of boreal Central Ontario. Data for the model came from long-term
permanent sample plots initiated by the AmericanCan and Kimberly Clark Corporations
and now maintained by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The model took the
form of a logistic regression equation. Tree size, stand density and basal area were
found to be variables of particular importance, perhaps because they most directly reflect
the situation of the tree within its particular system. Also significant was average stand
dbh and ingrowth density. The model correctly predicted 45% of the observed mortality
and 70% of the observed survival in the data set used to develop the model. For the
independent data set the model was able to correctly classify 30% of the observed
mortality and 66% of the observed survival. Future research efforts into mortality
should include data collection on the causes of mortality and the interaction of a
particular tree with its environment.


title: Calculated risk : constructions of risk in biomedical, feminist, and lay perceptions of conception-assisting technologies

subject: Human reproductive technology Moral and ethical aspects

subject: Infertility, Female Treatment Risk factors

subject: Human reproductive technology

abstract:
This thesis explores how different social and political
interests frame interpretations and assessments of the risks of
conception-assisting technologies among biomedical clinicians,
infertile women seeking treatment, and feminist analysts— three
important groups involved in the debate over the efficacy, safety
and acceptability of conception-assisting technologies. Through
a review of interdisciplinary secondary source data on risk and
conception-assisting technologies, I detail the prevailing
theories on risk, risk assessment and risk acceptability. I
elaborate the particular perspectives on risk held by each of the
three groups and the social and political influences which shape
them. I also explore how differing conceptions of risk affect
decision making and the acceptance of technology. I argue that
to understand differing risk constructions it is necessary to
understand the social, political, economic and cultural framework
within which these risk determinations are made. This discussion
of risk and conception-assisting technologies should be viewed
and analyzed as part of a wider debate about socializing
technology. It also makes way for more comparative sociological
analyses of different groups' risk assessments of technological
innovations.


title: Lake trout and their egg predators' ability to locate spawning substrate using olfaction

subject:
Lake trout
Lake trout spawning sites
Spawning substrate
Egg predators

abstract:
Lake trout spawning sites, and the substrate on these sites, are structurally unique
in many ways. These sites are generally at the end of the fetch of a lake, close to shore (1
m) and composed of small to medium sized rubble and cobble. Lake trout and their egg
predators use the same site(s) annually. It was hypothesized that both lake trout and their
egg predators utilize olfaction to locate the same sites annually. To test this hypothesis
trap nets were baited with visually concealed lake trout spawning substrate or nonspawning substrate that was structurally similar to spawning substrate. Trap nets baited with lake trout spawning substrate captured significantly more lake trout and common white sucker (an egg predator) than trap nets that contained structurally similar nonspawning substrate. Spawning substrate-containing traps also caught more spawn-ready lake trout.
In a second experiment, significantly more egg predators were captured in
unbaited minnow traps on lake trout spawning sites than structurally-similar nonspawning
sites. To test whether smaller egg predators, such as sculpin or crayfish, were
attracted to visually concealed spawning substrate, two standard minnows traps were
placed on 8-10 sites on three lakes. One trap was baited with lake trout spawning
substrate and the other with structurally similar non-spawning substrate. Traps with
spawning substrate captured significantly more egg predators as well other opportunists
than those with non-spawning substrate. These results demonstrate that both lake trout
and their egg predators are able to locate visually concealed spawning substrate.


title: Extracting lignocelluloses from various spent liquors via adsorption

contributor:
Fatehi, Pedram
Liao, Baoqiang

subject:
lignocellulose
adsorption
pulp and paper industry

abstract: The spent liquors of thermomechanical (TMP) and neutral sulfite semichemical (NSSC) pulping processes contain some lignocelluloses that are recently treated in the waste water of the processes, and thus wasted. In this dissertation, the adsorption concept was considered to separate lignocelluloses from the spent liquors (SL)s of TMP and NSSC processes. Various adsorbents such as activated carbon, fly ash, bentonite, kaolin, kaolinite, calcium carbonate, talc and aluminium silicate were used in order to adsorb lignocelluloses. The operating conditions of adsorption were optimized by adjusting pH, temperature and time of treatment. Moreover, various alternatives, such as pH adjustment, polymer addition and multi-stage adsorption processes were considered to improve the overall extraction of lignocelluloses from SLs. The properties of adsorbents, e.g. charge density and surface area, were related to the adsorption performance and the properties, e.g. turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD), of SLs after adsorption. The high removals in turbidity and COD showed that the suggested processes were not only effective in extracting lignocelluloses but also efficient in decreasing the load of wastewater treatment of the plant. Generally, the results showed that fly ash and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) were the best adsorbents for lignin removal, and the products could be used as fillers in composites.


title: Microbial methylation of mercury in the North Harbour of Lake Superior

contributor:
Rakshit, Sudip
Behzadfar, Ehsan
Liao, Baoqiang

subject:
Biotic methylation
Mercury methylation
Demethylation
Methylmercury

abstract:
Mercury is a known contaminant in the North Harbour of Lake Superior due to the
decommissioned “Thunder Bay Fine Papers” pulp and paper mill. The cause for concern for
organisms in the lake and for humans occurs when mercury undergoes a transformation to
methylmercury (MeHg). Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that has the ability of bioaccumulation
and biomagnification- making it a primary concern for human health. The methylation of mercury
can occur by a variety of mechanisms, including both biotic and abiotic, however methylation via
microorganisms is considered the primary mechanism in most aquatic systems. Microorganisms
that can carry out this reaction do so to lessen the toxic effects of mercury on themselves. There
are several known microbes that will methylate mercury, such as sulfate reducing bacteria,
however the diversity of microorganisms that can carry out this reaction goes beyond what
researchers currently know. Recent studies have identified a gene correlated to methylation known
as the hgcAB gene cluster. This research aims to answer two main questions: 1) are mercury-methylating
microorganisms present in sediment samples from the North Harbour and if so, 2)
which microorganisms are present? Amplification of the hgcA gene by PCR shows that the gene
is present in sediment samples from the North Harbour. Sequencing experiments were
inconclusive, and the identities of the microorganisms that contain the hgcA gene are unknown at
this time.


title: Investigation of the molecular basis for silicon biofunctionality

subject:
Silicon absorption and adsorption
Silicon in biology
Silicon -29 NMR

abstract:
Despite advances in our understanding of the beneficial role of silicon in the
biosphere, surprisingly little is known of the molecular mechanism by which silicon is
absorbed, transported, accumulated and deposited by organisms. We used silicon-29
NMR spectroscopy to investigate the interaction of the rare amino acid
2,3-trans-3,4-cw-3,4-dihydroxy-L-proline (DHP) with aqueous silicon. Spectral data
revealed the structure of three organosilicate complexes that DHP spontaneously forms
with aqueous silicon at pH = 7.9, making DHP the first ever known Si-binding amino
acid. Such a discovery has potential significance in accounting for silicon’s biological
role in hydroxyproline-rich structural glycoproteins found in both mammals and plants.
The cell wall morphology of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., grown in either -Si
or +Si media was examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The
preliminary results indicate that Si-deficiency causes swelling of the parenchyma cell
walls, supporting the hypothesis that silicon may enhance cell wall integrity by
cross-linking pectic polysaccharide molecules via complexation at the apiofuranose
binding sites. Silicon-29 and 13C NMR spectroscopy were used to test this theory at the
molecular level.
Blood and urine were collected periodically from a human subject following
ingestion of 29Si-enriched silicic acid and analyzed by ICP-OES and NMR spectroscopy.
In addition to studying the kinetics of Si uptake and excretion, we obtained the first reliable speciation of Si-containing molecules in human biofluids, and demonstrated that
mono- and disilicic acid are the predominant species.