title: SUPPORTING THE USE OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE IN THE COLOMBIAN HEALTH SYSTEM

contributor:
Lavis, John N
Health Policy

subject:
health policy
evidence informed policymaking
health systems
policy analysis

abstract: During the last decade, there has been growing international interest in generating new knowledge regarding understanding, developing and evaluating mechanisms that support the use of research evidence by policymakers as a strategy to strengthen health systems in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This thesis contributes to this knowledge through three original scientific contributions that employ a mixed methods approach, with the goal of supporting the use of research evidence in the Colombian health system. Specifically, in the chapters I present: 1) the development of an analytical schema that explains the conceptualization of the Colombian government, research funder and universities of an evidence-informed health system; 2) two case studies that explain whether and how political factors influenced the role of research evidence in the agenda-setting and policy-development stages of two past health policy decisions in Colombia; and 3) a protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention in increasing the utilization of an evidence service and the intention to use synthesized research evidence by policy advisors and analysts at the Colombian Ministry of Health. As a whole, the chapters presented in this thesis provide substantive, methodological and disciplinary contributions to the field of health systems research and particularly to the study of efforts that aim to support evidence-informed policy in LMICs. They also help to provide insights that can be utilized to support a more nuanced approach to the use of research evidence in LMICs that takes into account the many factors that can influence health system policymaking. Ideally, this will help those engaged in developing mechanisms to support the use of research evidence in the policy process, and contribute to stronger health systems across the world.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Candidate in Philosophy


title: A dose response study of effects of 8-OH-DPAT on locomotor sensitization to quinpirole

contributor:
Szechtman, Henry
Neuroscience

subject: Sensitization Neuroscience Pharmacology Dopamine Serotonin

abstract: Behavioural sensitization models are useful for understanding many disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and drug addiction. Many of these models are produced by sensitization of dopamine neurotransmission, resulting in behaviours which include increased locomotor activity. Alterations to dopamine-mediated locomotor sensitization may be possible via activation of serotonergic neurotransmission, and there is evidence to suggest this may be through repeated activation of serotonin 1A receptors. The current study examines the development of locomotor sensitization in an animal model via repeated exposure of both a dopamine (D2R/D3R) and serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) agonist. To examine this, male Long-Evans rats were exposed to 10 injections of a combination of different doses of quinpirole and 8-OH-DPAT and tested in activity chambers for locomotor stimulation (measured by total distance travelled). Animals were then exposed to challenges of quinpirole, and 8-OH-DPAT and tested again for locomotor activity. Results showed that high doses of quinpirole or 8-OH-DPAT induced locomotor sensitization. However, when the two drugs were co-administered, 8-OH-DPAT displayed some initial disruption of quinpirole-induced sensitization. Animals sensitized to either quinpirole or 8-OH-DPAT did show higher locomotion when challenged with the drug to which they were sensitized. However, simultaneous quinpirole and 8-OH-DPAT sensitization seemed to prevent maximal responding when challenged with quinpirole. In all, our data suggests that sensitization to quinpirole and 8-OH-DPAT is occurring via separate neural mechanisms, with 5-HT1A agonism interfering with development of dopaminergic (D2R) sensitization.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: The Role of Islam in Malaysian and Indonesian Politics: A Comparative Survey

contributor:
Means, Gordon P.
Political Science

subject:
Islam
Malaysian politics
Indonesian politics

abstract:
This thesis examines the different roles that Islam plays in Malaysian and Indonesian - politics. Whereas Islam serves to identify and distinguish Malays from the other ethnic groups in Malaysia, Indonesian Islam reinforces a centre-periphery or Java-Outer Islands dichotomy.
Islam's importance in Indonesia derives from the fact that approximately ninety percent of the country's population is Muslim, albeit many of them are not zealous practitioners. In Malaysia, on the other hand, Islam is important because it is used as a barometer to identify ethnic Malays who comprise approximately fifty-five percent of the population. Apart from being the ethnic majority, Malays wield most of the political power in Malaysia. Additionally,
Islam is the official religion in Malaysia.                                                                          Public policy responses toward Islam in both countries are substantially different. Indonesian public policy, which derives its precedent from Dutch colonial administration, only tolerates Islam as a private religion. Malays i an public policy toward Islam is at once supportive and suppressive. The government has to promote it as the country's official religion and outbid an Islamic political party. Also, the government has to direct Islamic revivalism so that the country's delicate inter-religious and inter-ethnic harmony is maintained.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Prediction of The Response of the Canadian Super Critical Water Reactor to Potential Loss of Forced Flow Scenarios

subject: SCWR LOFA

abstract: This Study is performed to assess the Canadian pre-conceptual SCWR design for Loss of Flow events leading to degraded cooling conditions and to assess the quality of the CATHENA predictions under supercritical pressure conditions and the unique features which occur under these conditions.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: “Go to Work on Monday One More Time”: An analysis of the compensation process for occupational disease at General Electric in Peterborough

contributor:
Robert Storey
Labour Studies

abstract: This paper provides a historical, socioeconomic and political analysis of the compensation claims process for former General Electric workers in Peterborough.  To provide context to the issue, the literature analyzes the evolution of the compensation process, the history of asbestos and occupational cancer in Canada and more specifically, Ontario, chemical causation considerations and the government and large industry’s participation in these issues.  In order to examine the complexity of the compensation process in Peterborough, the key players involved in the process were interviewed and include representatives from CAW/Unifor, Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), OWA (Office of the Worker Advisor), Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Occupational and Environmental Health Coalition of Peterborough (O&EHC-P), as well as former workers and their families.  The testimonials deliver insight on issues such as the range of asbestos and chemicals used in the plant, the lack of causation data to support workers’ claims, the use and abuse of science in the process, the socioeconomic relevancy of GE in Peterborough, the environmental devastation created by the manufacturing industry in the city and the tensions between the intended and applied responsibilities of the key players.  The overall findings were that the workers feel invisible to the major players involved, ignored by the community and overwhelmed by the system.  To provide a deeper understanding of these issues, there are three groups of case studies examined: the compensated, the uncompensated and the families.  The recommendations include a need for a concerted effort by all key players to ensure the workers’ right to a fair and just compensation process, enhanced education within the community on occupational health and safety, legislation reform, increased causation data, community mobilization efforts and environmental studies examining the water, air and soil in Peterborough and surrounding areas.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Magnetic Characterization of Y_(2-x)Bi_xIr_2O_7: A Muon Spin Rotation/Relaxation and Susceptibility Study

contributor:
Luke, Graeme M.
Physics and Astronomy

subject: Magnetic order, pyrochlore iridate, muon spin rotation/relaxation, susceptibility, yttrium iridate, bismuth iridate, magnetic frustration, order transition

abstract:
Pyrochlore iridates have received considerable attention for the past few years as they possess strong electron correlations and spin orbit coupling, giving rise to a finite temperature metal-insulator transition (MIT). The nature of this MIT transition is related to the magnetic order of the Ir atoms which also experience frustration as they are part of a pyrochore structure. The aim of this study is to elucidate the magnetic configuration of the magnetic iridium ions by doping Y2Ir2O7 with Bi. Here we present a study on the magnetic properties of the Y2−xBixIr2O7 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.9, 1.3, 2) system using μSR and DC susceptibility.
Our results show that pure Y2Ir2O7 has a magnetic transition to a long- range ordered state. Substituting Bi by Y results in a lower temperature transition with increasing amount of bismuth. When the system goes into the ordered state a weak ferromagnetic moment is seen. This is in agreement with the belief that the system orders in an canted antiferromagnetic fashion with all-in all-out spins in the tetrahedron of the pyrochlore structure. However the addition of bismuth into the sample does not change the internal magnetic field measured at low temperatures with μSR, but only changes the transition temperature and the ordered volume fraction.
For the Bi2Ir2O7 system two magnetic transitions had been measured previously counter to the belief that this material did not order magnetically. In this work, our μSR measurements show no evidence of such a transition. In the transverse field μSR set up a small Knight shift is measured due to the local susceptibility of Bi2Ir2O7.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: The Borderlands of ldentity and Culture: An Interrogation of Merleau-Ponty's Conception of Intersubjectivity

contributor:
Sassen, B.
Philosophy

subject: philosophical problem, Merleau-Ponty, modernist view, identity, intersubjectivity,

abstract:
This thesis is concerned with the philosophical problem of the universal
and the particular and its application to identity and difference, specifically in
relation to cultural identity. Merleau-Ponty's philosophy mediates between the
extremes of a modernist view that seeks to subsume all difference in identity and
a postmodem perspective that only validates our essential differences. Neither
position offers a viable option for ethical relations or action.
While the conclusion reached in the present work affirms the superiority
of Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological view of difference and identity over either
a modernist or a postmodemist perspective, initially Merleau-Ponty's notion of
intersubjectivity is criticized. In the Phenomenology of Perception, MerleauPonty
makes the claim that we can only ever live in one linguistic/social and
cultural world. This claim does not account for the experience of immigrants,
which attests to a borderland between worlds. In fact this claims seems to suggest
that cultural worlds are to be viewed as hermetic localities.
However, if Merleau-Ponty's earlier works are read in relation to the
ontology of The Visible and the Invisible, the problems of subjectivism in his
earlier works may be resolved. The notions of Flesh and Reversibility illustrate
that Merleau-Ponty viewed identities as creative enterprises and by extension the
intersubjective (t.e cultural and social ) world as one that is constantly re-creating
boundary limits. This thesis explores the hermeneutical implications of the
notions of Flesh and Reversibility in relation to cultural identity through the use
of personal narrative. Identities are posited as imaginary idenitites and cultures
are shown to be mutually implicated with each other.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Modeling and State of Charge Estimation of Electric Vehicle Batteries

contributor:
Habibi, Saeid
Mechanical Engineering

subject: Lithium-Ion Batteries, electrochemical battery model, Battery management systems (BMS), genetic algorithm optimization, parameter identification, state of charge estimation, interacting multiple models (IMM), state of charge (SOC) , state of health (SOH), filtration

abstract:
Electric vehicles have received substantial attention in the past few years since they provide a more sustainable, efficient, and greener transportation alternative in comparison to conventional fossil-fuel powered vehicles. Lithium-Ion batteries represent the most important component in the electric vehicle powertrain and thus require accurate monitoring and control. Many challenges are still facing the mass market production of electric vehicles; these challenges include battery cost, range anxiety, safety, and reliability. These challenges can be significantly mitigated by incorporating an efficient battery management system. The battery management system is responsible for estimating, in real-time, the battery state of charge, state of health, and remaining useful life in addition to communicating with other vehicle components and subsystems. In order for the battery management system to effectively perform these tasks, a high-fidelity battery model along with an accurate, robust estimation strategy must work collaboratively at various power demands, temperatures, and states of life. Lithium ion batteries are considered in this research. For these batteries, electrochemical models represent an attractive approach since they are capable of modeling lithium diffusion processes and track changes in lithium concentrations and potentials inside the electrodes and the electrolyte. Therefore, electrochemical models provide a connection to the physical reactions that occur in the battery thus favoured in state of charge and state of health estimation in comparison to other modeling techniques.
The research presented in this thesis focuses on advancing the development and implementation of battery models, state of charge, and state of health estimation strategies. Most electrochemical battery models have been verified using simulation data and have rarely been experimentally applied. This is because most electrochemical battery model parameters are considered proprietary information to their manufacturers. In addition, most battery models have not accounted for battery aging and degradation over the lifetime of the vehicle using real-world driving cycles. Therefore, the first major contribution of this research is the formulation of a new battery state of charge parameterization strategy. Using this strategy, a full-set of parameters for a reduced-order electrochemical model can be estimated using real-world driving cycles while accurately calculating the state of charge. The developed electrochemical model-based state of charge parameterization strategy depends on a number of spherical shells (model states) in conjunction with the final value theorem. The final value theorem is applied in order to calculate the initial values of lithium concentrations at various shells of the electrode. Then, this value is used in setting up constraints for the optimizer in order to achieve accurate state of charge estimation. Developed battery models at various battery states of life can be utilized in a real-time battery management system. Based on the developed models, estimation of the battery critical surface charge using a relatively new estimation strategy known as the Smooth Variable Structure Filter has been effectively applied. The technique has been extended to estimate the state of charge for aged batteries in addition to healthy ones.
In addition, the thesis introduces a new battery aging model based on electrochemistry. The model is capable of capturing battery degradation by varying the effective electrode volume, open circuit potential-state of charge relationship, diffusion coefficients, and solid-electrolyte interface resistance. Extensive experiments for a range of aging scenarios have been carried out over a period of 12 months to emulate the entire life of the battery. The applications of the proposed parameterization method combined with experimental aging results significantly improve the reduced-order electrochemical model to adapt to various battery states of life. Furthermore, online and offline battery model parameters identification and state of charge estimation at various states of life has been implemented. A technique for tracking changes in the battery OCV-R-RC model parameters as battery ages in addition to estimation of the battery SOC using the relatively new Smooth Variable Structure Filter is presented. The strategy has been validated at both healthy and aged battery states of life using driving scenarios of an average North-American driver. Furthermore, online estimation of the battery model parameters using square-root recursive least square (SR-RLS) with forgetting factor methodology is conducted. Based on the estimated model parameters, estimation of the battery state of charge using regressed-voltage-based estimation strategy at various states of life is applied.
The developed models provide a mechanism for combining the standalone estimation strategy that provide terminal voltage, state of charge, and state of health estimates based on one model to incorporate these different aspects at various battery states of life. Accordingly, a new model-based estimation strategy known as the interacting multiple model (IMM) method has been applied by utilizing multiple models at various states of life. The method is able to improve the state of charge estimation accuracy and stability, when compared with the most commonly used strategy. This research results in a number of novel contributions, and significantly advances the development of robust strategies that can be effectively applied in real-time on-board of a battery management system.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Effect of Cr Content on Corrosion Resistance of Fe-Cr-Ni Alloys Exposed in Supercritical Water (SCW)

contributor:
Kish, Joey
Botton, Gianluigi
Materials Science and Engineering

subject: Corrosion resistance, Supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR), supercritical water (SCW), Cr content, oxide scale

abstract: The aim of this work was to rationalize the corrosion resistance of candidate austenitic iron-chromium-nickel (Fe-Cr-Ni) alloys in supercritical water (SCW) for use as fuel claddings within the in-core structure of the Canadian supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR) concept. High chromium (Cr)-containing alloys (Alloy 800HT with 20.6 wt.% Cr and 30.7 wt.% Ni and Alloy 33 with 33.4 wt.% Cr and 31.9 wt.% Ni) in the mill annealed condition were chosen for this purpose. Coupons were exposed on a short-term basis (500 h) in a static autoclave containing 25 MPa SCW at 550 °C and 625 °C. Gravimetric measurements and electron microscopy techniques were then used to study the oxidation/corrosion resistance of two alloys. Alloy 33 was found to exhibit the higher corrosion resistance at both temperatures. The improved corrosion resistance of Alloy 33 was attributed to two factors: (i) the formation of a continuous Cr-rich corundum-type M2O3 (M= Cr and Fe) oxide layer that prevented the diffusion of Fe and the formation of a less-protective Fe/Mn-Cr spinel ([Fe,Mn]Cr2O4) outer layer, (ii) a sufficient residual bulk Cr in the Cr-depleted layer adjacent to the alloy/scale interface that prevented any localized internal oxidation from occurring. A mass balance conducted on the corroded Alloy 33 material suggested that volatilization of the corundum-type oxide layer did not occur, at least not within the short-term exposure in the essentially deaerated SCW. A key issue requiring further study was the observation of intermetallic precipitates that formed below the Cr-depleted zone adjacent to the alloy/scale interface in both alloys when exposed for 500 h at 625 °C and their possible influence on the in-service mechanical integrity.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)

abstract: The supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR) is one of the six reactor design concepts developed by the Generation-IV International Forum (GIF). Canada is planning to build the SCWR within the next decades. However, selection of proper materials that perform well within such high pressure high temperature circumstances inside the reactor core with minimum degradation is a very imperative challenge. The current work has addressed this issue by studying the corrosion behaviour of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys in similar environment using electron microscopy techniques.


title: Development of 226Ra Activity Analysis for Live Fish Using Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

contributor:
Byun, Soo-Hyun
Medical Physics

subject: 226Ra

subject: Radium

subject: Ra-226

subject: Radium-226

abstract: Radium contamination in the lakes near uranium mines and its intake by fish and other aquatic species are of great concern in environmental radiation protection. As an alternative technique to Liquid Scintillation Counting, we present a gamma-ray spectrometric method for low level 226Ra analysis, particularly in live fish. The HyperPure Ge and a 4π NaI(Tl) array were employed as gamma-ray spectrometers. The 226Ra spectra for each spectrometer were collected in order to compare their analytical performance.  From the HPGe 226Ra spectra, a detection limit of 6.81 Bq with 99% confidence was determined for an hour counting with the three strongest peaks combined. For the 4π NaI(Tl) 226Ra spectra, in order to optimize the spectral analysis, a method applied to nine different energy regions was attempted and it turned out that the detection limit is best when the total integral count subtracted by the corresponding background is used. The detection limit of the 4π NaI(Tl) was 0.99 Bq with 99% confidence for one hour counting. A benchmark simulation for point source position dependence on relative peak efficiency showed a good agreement with the experimental data. To extend 226Ra analysis to volumetric aqueous samples, MCNP Monte Carlo simulations showed that for three cylindrical volume sources, as the simulated volume source size increased from 60 ml to 125 ml to 250 ml, the full-energy peak efficiency in the energy range of interest for 226Ra decreased by approximately 3% for each size increase, due to attenuation in the source volume. A method has been proposed in order to demonstrate this technique for a live fish, whereby a fish injected with 226Ra would be kept in its own special aquarium and its gamma-ray spectrum collected.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OXIDATIVE STRESS AND COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN WOMEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

contributor:
Taylor, Valerie
Neuroscience

subject:
Oxidative Stress
Combined Oral Contraceptive
Bipolar Disorder

abstract: Background:  The objective of this thesis was to measure oxidative stress (OS) in women with Bipolar Disorder (BD) who used combined oral contraceptives (OCU).  Based on our literature review, it was predicted that OCU would increase OS levels relative to non-contraceptive users (NCU) in women.  Methods:  Thirty-five participants (BD n=25; Control n=10) were recruited from an ongoing study based in British Columbia ‘The Systematic Treatment Optimization Program in Early Mania.’  Participants were administered psychological screening tools (Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) and provided a blood sample for the assays (Lipid Hydroperoxide (LPH), Protein Carbonylation, 4-Hydroxynonenal, 3-Nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 17-Beta Estradiol).  Results:  In our primary analysis we did not find differences in OS between BD and controls relative to OCU.  Within our remaining analyses, only BD women (n=17) and who gave smoking status were included.  We found 3-NT to be increased in OCU compared to NCU (F (1, 12) = 5.639, p = 0.035).  With respect to mood stabilizer use, 3-NT was increased in OCU relative to NCU (F (1, 10) = 6.33, p=0.031).  As for atypical antipsychotics, 3-NT was heightened in OCU adjunctive users compared to NCU who did not use atypical antipsychotics (F (3, 10) = 4.822, p = 0.025).  As for our correlation analyses, YRMS correlated with 3-NT and LPH in OCU BD women (r(11)= 0.711, p=0.014 and r(11) = 0.676, p=0.022, respectively) and 17-Beta Estradiol correlated with LPH (r(17) = 0.598, p = 0.001).  Our results are preliminary and are limited by our small sample size and various other factors (i.e. controls).  Conclusion:  The association between hormones and oxidative stress still remains controversial.  Here we showed, after controlling for smoking, BMI and age the use of a COC significantly increased 3-NT in women with BD.  Moreover, hormones may influence the relationship between OS and mood episodes.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Bertrand Russell's Letters to Helen Thomas Flexner and Lucy Martin Donnelly

contributor:
Brink, Andrew
English

subject:
Bertrand Russell
letters
biographical
world events

abstract:
 This dissertation consists of a scholarly edition of Bertrand Russell's letters to Helen Thomas Flexner and Lucy Martin Donnelly. Although Russell's reputation as a writer of voluminous letters is well-known, to date there are no collected editions of his personal correspondence. As an editorial project this thesis is very much concerned with the problematic and often controversial methods of editorial procedure. Another major concern is the assessment of a set of letters that span nearly half a century of riveting social upheaval.

Russell's letters to Helen Flexner and Lucy Donnelly convey the personal and public sides of his life. The correspondence with them provides biographical information for the reader who is unfamiliar with Russell's life and thought as well as for the specialist. The letters, however, represent more than just an account of one man's life. As historical documents they recount major world events such as the Great War and discuss significant issues such as political elections and women's suffrage. Thus, in its scope, this thesis embraces various disciplines that reflect the multifarious aspects of Russell's activities and writings.

 Undoubtedly, the editor's role in the preparation and transformation of private documents to public ones is a crucial part of any editorial undertaking. The strategies employed in this edition involve techniques of selecting and presenting annotative material in the most comprehensive manner. The purpose of such notes is to provide the reader with a sense of the historical, sociological and literary themes in Russell's correspondence.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Gene-environment interactions in obesity: results from the multi-ethnic cohort EpiDREAM

contributor: Clinical Epidemiology/Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics

subject:
gene-environment interaction
physical activity
parity

abstract:
Background: Obesity is now considered to be a global epidemic and gene-environment interaction studies are crucial to understanding the genetic architecture of this disease. The objectives of this research were to (1) review the current evidence of gene-environment interactions in the field of obesity, (2) examine the interactions between obesity predisposing gene variants and physical activity using precise physical activity data and (3) analyze a novel gene-environment interaction between obesity predisposing gene variants and multiple pregnancies.

Methods: The data for the gene-environment interaction analyses were collected from the EpiDREAM study: a prospective cohort including participants of six ethnic backgrounds from 21 countries worldwide. A subset of 17 423 participants with complete genotype and phenotype information was included in the analysis. Obesity predisposing single nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed independently and as a genetic risk score. General linear models were used to analyze all main effects and interactions.

Results: Physical activity interacted with FTO rs9939609 to modulate BMI (Pinteraction=0.032) and BAI (Pinteraction=3.26 x 10-4). Increased physical activity attenuated the impact of FTO on obesity. Four SNPs displayed significant associations with physical activity: NTRK2 rs1211166 (P=0.015), BDNF rs6265 (P=0.007), BDNF rs1401635 P=0.003) and NPC1 rs1805081 (P=3.52 x 10-4). Multiple pregnancies was significantly associated with BMI (Pinteraction=1.17 x 10-5) BAI (Pinteraction=3.47 x 10-7) and also interacted with FTO rs9939609 to modulate BMI (Pinteraction=0.014). The impact of FTO on BMI was accentuated by multiple pregnancies in the EpiDREAM cohort.

Discussion: Both physical activity and parity have a significant impact on obesity measures and these effects appear to be relevant on a global scale. Our results confirm the physical activity x FTO interaction in a multi-ethnic context and indicate that parity may also interact with FTO polymorphisms.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: The role of monocytes, macrophages and the microbiota in age-associated inflammation during the steady state and anti-bacterial immunity

contributor: Medical Sciences (Molecular Virology and Immunology Program)

subject:
Immunology
Innate Immunity
Macrophage
Monocyte
Infection
Elderly
Pneumonia
Aging
Microbiota
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Tumour Necrosis Factor
Intestinal Tract
Inflammaging
Inflammation
Immunosenescence
Interleukin 6

abstract: Inflammaging is a hallmark of human aging. Defined as low-grade, chronic inflammation, it is characterized by heightened proinflammatory cytokines in the blood and tissues and predicts morbidity and mortality. Despite this, the etiology of inflammaging and its role in infection have remained elusive, an issue this thesis addressed. First, we provided a comprehensive overview of an intranasal Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization model (Chapter 2). We described in detail the colonization technique, and demonstrated how to isolate and phenotype recruited cells, quantify bacterial load and measure production of immune mediators in the nasopharynx. Since both myeloid cell recruitment and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) production were increased following S. pneumoniae colonization with age, we investigated whether TNF directly augmented monocyte frequency (Chapter 3). TNF increased CCR2 expression on monocytes in old mice, leading to their enhanced egress from the bone marrow, resulting in enrichment of this population in the circulation. Monocyte numbers directly influenced plasma IL-6 levels, and this negatively impacted anti-bacterial responses, as monocyte blockade improved pneumococcal clearance in old mice. Lastly, to better understand the fundamental source of inflammaging, we studied the impact of the host microbiome on its development. This work was rooted in Elie Metchnikoff’s early predictions that leakage of intestinal bacterial products could dysregulate macrophage function, resulting in inflammation that would progress aging (Chapter 4). We showed that old mice had increased intestinal permeability, aberrant expression of cellular junction genes and increased microbial translocation from the gut to the blood. Germ-free mice lived longer than their conventionally colonized counterparts, and were protected from the development of inflammaging and defective macrophage function.  Together, these studies resolve a major disparity in the field by demonstrating that systemic TNF production is initiated by increased levels of circulating bacterial products, driving functional defects in myeloid cells, which ultimately impairs anti-bacterial immunity.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Candidate in Philosophy


title: Light Coloured Cool Asphalt Pavements

contributor:
Guo, Peijun
Civil Engineering

subject:
Asphalt
Pavement
Albedo
Temperature
Sustainability
Microclimate
Numerical Modelling

abstract:
The black colour of an asphalt pavement causes it to reach very high temperatures throughout the summer months. Asphalt binder is a temperature dependent material, so these high temperatures can result in damage to the road surface.
This report explores the use of light coloured surface coatings to decrease the temperature of an asphalt pavement. A field testing method was developed to compare the effect of several surface materials on temperature. To support this field test, a method was developed to characterize the surface colour (albedo) through the use of a simple light meter. As well, the durability of the surface coatings applied to asphalt pavement surfaces was examined using the Wet Track Abrasion Test, and methods for further testing were suggested. A numerical model was developed in Abaqus to predict the temperature effects based on the surface colour and climate conditions. This model can be used to predict the temperature in an asphalt concrete pavement at the surface and throughout the depth of the pavement. Two versions of this model were created: A complete model, which is used when all climate data is available, and a simplified model, which uses estimated values to replace any data that is not available
The temperature difference between white and black painted asphalt concrete
surfaces was found to be as much as 17C. Using light coloured surfaces with albedo
values in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 yielded a temperature decrease of approximately 7 to 10C as compared to a black painted surface. Microclimate effects were found to be significant; wind speed can drastically affect the temperature of a pavement. The use of hydrated lime in conjunction with a polymer modified asphalt surface course yielded good results for both temperature reduction and durability. It should be considered for future work.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: Dynamic Modelling of the Emulsion Copolymerization of Styrene/Butadiene

title: Dynamic Modelling of the Emulsion Copolymerization of SBR

contributor:
Hamielec, A.E.
MacGregor, J.F.
Chemical Engineering

subject:
computer model
emulsion copolymerization
SBR
styrene/butadiene
redox mechanism

abstract:
 A computer model is developed to simulate the emulsion copolymerization of styrene/butadiene in perfectly stirred batch, semi-batch or continuous flow reactors. The model considers free radical initiation by a redox mechanism, micellar particle nucleation, radical concentration as -a function of particle size, radical entry rate and termination rate and diffusion controlled termination and propagation reactions. It predicts conversion, copolymer composition, particle number, number and mass average molecular masses and tri- and tetra-functional branch frequencies. A simple method of estimating the particle size distribution is included in the model. Heat balances over the reactor and cooling jacket are considered and proportional-integra control of the reactor temperature is simulated.

 The model is used to simulate SBR copolymerization and styrene homopolymerization experimental data from the literature. These simulations tested only certain parts of the model and it is concluded that a more complete verification of the model can only be achieved by running a series of designed experiments. Qualitatively, the molecular mass, particle size distribution and reactor temperature predictions appear to be reasonable. The lack of appropriate temperature dependent rate constants currently limits the molecular mass predictions to isothermal conditions.

 A comparison of semi-batch operating policies designed to control copolymer composition is presented to illustrate the potential application of the model.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Engineering (ME)


title: The Theory of Community in Being and Time

contributor:
Allen, Barry
Philosophy

subject: Theory of community, Being and Time, liberal-pluralist vision

abstract:
This thesis seeks to show that there is a substantive theory of community in
Martin Heidegger's Being and Time. There is more to this theory of community than is
commonly thought. While the importance of the structures of Being-with and
authenticity is stressed, I argue that Heidegger's account of historicality from Division
II, Chapter 5 is vital for any adequate understanding of the theory of community in this
text. In Part 2, the theory of community in Being and Time is compared to that which
Heidegger appeals to in his speech "The Self-Assertion of the German University". I
argue that the two theories are very similar to one another. Having established this, I
offer some criticisms of the theory of community. Heidegger's theory of community is
unacceptable to those of us who accept a liberal-pluralist vision of society. The theory
of community he gives in Being and Time, by appealing to monolithic notions of
"people" (Volk) and "destiny" contradicts the liberal-pluralist vision.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Interspecies Relations in Equestrian Sport

contributor:
Gillett, James
Sociology

subject:
Equestrian Sport
Sociology
Human-Animal Relations

abstract: This thesis is a sandwich thesis that explores youth participation in equestrian sport. Each of the three papers that comprise the substantive portion of this thesis are stand-alone papers. Each paper employs a mixed methodology which includes document analysis, media analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The goal of the thesis is to analyse and describe: (1) what, if anything, young female equestrians gain from participating in equestrian stables, (2) the form and function of “trust” in competitive youth equestrian sport, and, (3) the characteristics of the equine industry in Canada and how it has evolved since the introduction of the Canadian Pony Club in 1934. These three aspects of equestrian sport in Canada are examined using data from equine industry documents such as reports and program material, equine industry media including websites, online magazines, and blogs, and semi-structured interviews with current and former female equestrians who participated in equestrian sport during their youth. This thesis is a retrospective study. Interviewees were members of the Canadian Pony Club at some point during their youth. The thesis employs a range of sociological theories and perspectives, drawing on the work of Pierre Bourdieu, George Herbert Mead, Niklas Luhmann, and Donna Haraway. Theoretically and substantially, it provides a rigorous understanding of the equine industry in Canada, the human-horse relationship, and female youth participation in equestrian sport. It makes a contribution to sociology by providing an analysis of modernity and the current conditions of the risk society, arguing that the horse (and other animals) now occupy a unique position in society and may act as a means of dealing with the individuality and complexity of a risk society.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Candidate in Philosophy


title: Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Health in Childhood Survivors of a Brain Tumour and the Feasibility of Exercise Training

contributor: Medical Sciences (Division of Physiology/Pharmacology)

subject:
Pediatric exercise medicine
Pediatric brain tumour survivors
Cardiovascular health
Exercise intervention

abstract: The pediatric population is highly impacted by brain tumours, as they are the most common type of solid tumour affecting children. Medical advances have improved the survival rate of children with brain tumours, but many survivors still experience late effects. In adulthood, 18% of pediatric brain tumour (PBT) survivors have reported cardiovascular issues such as strokes, blood clots, and angina, but little is known about the cardiovascular health of these survivors during childhood. The primary objective of this thesis was to measure the proportion of PBT survivors with values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and aerobic fitness meeting the cut-offs associated with unfavourable cardiovascular health (BMI≥+2 SDs, WC≥90th percentile, and % peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) predicted<85%). The secondary objective was to observe the effects of 12 weeks of exercise training on the BMI, WC, blood pressure (BP), and aerobic fitness of PBT survivors and describe the feasibility of an exercise training program for this population. In this thesis, 32 PBT survivors who had all received cranial radiation were included (age=12.3±3.4 years, age at diagnosis=7.0±2.5 years, time since treatment completion=4.5±2.8 years, 21/32 male). While WC was measured for 13/32 participants, BMI and aerobic fitness were measured for all. Of the participants, 5/32 children completed a 12-week pilot exercise program consisting of two group and two in-home exercise sessions per week. A control group (n=2, age=14.8±3.6 years, 1/2 male) and an intervention group (n=5, age=15.0±2.3, 3/5 male) had BMI, WC, BP, and aerobic fitness measurements taken pre- and post-training. Of the participants, 15.6% (5/32) had a BMI≥+2 SDs, 30.7% had a WC≥90th percentile, and 86.7% had a %VO2peak predicted<85%. In total, 81% (26/32) of the participants had at least one identified biomarker reflecting unfavourable cardiovascular health. A training effect was only observed in BP (change of +9%). The exercise program was feasible with an adherence rate of 88% (21/24) to the group and in-home sessions. All (5/5) participants completed the program without injuries or adverse events during the training program. Findings from this thesis indicate that 81% brain tumour survivors have at least one biomarker indicating unfavourable cardiovascular health in childhood. This thesis also provides novel information to be considered before implementing exercise as a therapy for improving the cardiovascular health of survivors. Future additional research is required to determine the appropriate duration, frequency, and intensity of aerobic exercise to stimulate a training effect on these cardiovascular biomarkers.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: WORK STRESS IN THE CONTEXT OF SHIFTWORK: A LONGITUDINAL INVESTIGATION

contributor:
Baba, Vishwanath
Business Administration

subject:
work stress
shiftwork
work hours
work at night

abstract:
Although prior research has documented the harmful effects of shiftwork on health and well-being, the relationship between shiftwork and other workplace stressors remains unclear.  The current study addresses this gap by using longitudinal data from three cycles of the National Population Health Survey to explore 1) the direct effects of shiftwork and JDCSM variables (job demands, job control, social support, and mastery) on health and well-being, 2) whether shiftwork moderates the effects of JDCSM variables, and 3) whether the effects of shiftwork are mediated by these variables.  In addition, “reverse” causal relationships between four measures of strain and workplace stressors are investigated.
	The results suggest that shiftwork is associated with a reduction in job satisfaction over two cycles.  However, there was no evidence of a relationship between shiftwork and changes in chronic health conditions, psychological distress, or health-related quality of life.  Consistent with the JDCSM model, increased job demands predicted more distress and less job satisfaction, while greater mastery predicted less distress and more job satisfaction.  In addition, job control and social support predicted improved health-related quality of life.  The associations were more consistent with the thesis’s predictions across two cycles than across three.
	There was only weak support for the hypotheses that shiftwork moderates the effects of JDCSM variables.  However, there was evidence that changes in job control and social support mediate the effects of shiftwork on job satisfaction.  There was also support for reverse causal effects between various outcomes and workplace stressors.  However, the prediction that shiftwork moderates these reverse effects received only weak and inconsistent support.  Exploratory analyses found specific JDCSM and strain variables to predict an individual’s continuation in shiftwork over time.  The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Design and Implementation of an Extensive Test Facility for Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

contributor:
Preston, John S.
Engineering Physics

subject: thermoelectric, TEG, characterization, module,

abstract: A test system was commissioned to characterize commercial thermoelectric modules to be used in the Pizza Oven Waste Energy Recovery (POWER) system for Pizza Pizza restaurants. The objective of this testing was to obtain and classify the thermoelectric material parameters of the Bi2Te3 within commercial thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules. These parameters consisted of the Seebeck coefficient, the thermal conductivity and the electrical resistivity. Together they provide the normalized figure of merit for the thermoelectric material which is a performance indicator for energy efficiency at a given operating temperature. From this research, a two phase methodology was developed that was able to extract the desired values from these modules. Material quality and device composition was first assessed with tools such as SEM and EDS. During this phase, dimensional and elemental data was gathered and a finite element model was constructed to ensure the validity of the primary selected test method for this research which was the Harman technique. The results obtained with this method were all three of the aforementioned thermoelectric parameters as well as a direct measurement of the figure of merit. Thermal and electrical losses for the TEG1B-12610-5.1 module were characterized from room temperature to 200°C using this process. It was determined that the thermal losses were more dominant and could be approximated using a function of T4 to within 1% of their calculated values. This process can be applied to any model of TEG to forecast these losses. To assist with future research, a secondary test method known as the Parallel Thermal Conductance technique was researched and a proposed model of it was designed for use in temperatures up to 300°C. Due to the relatively short test time of the Harman Technique, it was also used to effectively bin incoming groups of TEGs used in the POWER system so that they could be placed strategically in different areas of heat flow based on their measured performance. An increase of 13.2% was observed in the electrical output of the system after the binning had occurred.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: An automated toolkit for hyetograph-hydrograph analysis

contributor:
Carey, Sean
Geography

subject:
hydrograph analysis
hyetograph
time characteristics
recession analysis

abstract: Understanding the nature of streamflow response to precipitation inputs is at the core of applied hydrological applications such as flood forecasting and water resource management. Indices such as the runoff ratio, recession constant and response time of a watershed retain an important place in hydrology decades after their establishment as metrics to compare watersheds and understand the impact of human activity, geology, geomorphology, soils and climate on precipitation-runoff relations. Extracting characteristics of the hyetograph-hydrograph relationship is often done manually, resulting in subjective and inconsistent results that require considerable time. In addition, there are a large number of metrics proposed to analyze the hyetograph-hydrograph relationship and hydrograph shape that are typically subjective in application. The objective of this research is to develop an automated and flexible toolkit for rainfall-runoff analysis. Using the MATLAB language, a series of inter-related functions are created to extract rainfall-runoff events from time-series of rainfall and streamflow data and compute commonly used characteristics of the hyetograph-hydrograph relationship. Furthermore, a number of input parameters are introduced to add flexibility to the toolkit. This toolkit has been applied successfully to four watersheds in Canada and Scotland. A subsequent analysis was performed assessing the sensitivity of parameter selection on the toolkit performance, and a number of suggestions for users provided. It is anticipated that this toolkit will provide hydrologists with a rapid objective method of analyzing rainfall and runoff data where in the past manual procedures resulted in considerable subjectivity in results.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Addiction Treatment for Families: Is there a need?

contributor:
Sammon, Sheila
Social Work

subject:
Family
Family Systems Theory
Addiction
Social Constructionism

abstract:
Addiction has been predominantly viewed through the lens of the individual, thereby leaving the family largely out of the scope of treatment or prevention. Csiernik (2002) calls the family the ‘secondary element’ in addiction treatment. The definitions of addiction and research on the prevalence of use are examples of this narrow, individual focus.
This qualitative study sought to widen the lens and explore the family’s experiences of addiction. Families’ voices will be presented and their perspectives captured regarding what would be helpful to them in addiction treatment. This study’s theoretical underpinnings are Family Systems Theory and Social Constructionism. Interviews with the participants were conducted through the use of an open-ended interview process. Interpretive data analysis and phenomenology were used to explore possible themes and meanings to gain a better understanding of the participants’ perspectives regarding addiction.
The main finding of this study, based on the testimony of the participants, was that families perceived there to be a need for more clinical and supportive services to deal with the impact of addictions on the family. This study fills a gap in the literature because, though there is ample research on the consequences of addiction for the family, there is very limited research on the family’s perspective regarding what services they require in order to cope with those consequences. The information supplied by the participants of this study will help social workers and treatment centers provide more holistic, family-centered addiction treatment.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Social Work (MSW)


title: A Botanical Survey of Turkey Point, Ontario

subject:
vegetation
botanical samples
Turkey Point
Lake Erie
Ontario

abstract: The following paper is the result of making a study of the vegetation of a selected region along Lake Erie at Turkey Point, by observations, field notes and collections of botanical specimens together with information and records acquired by examination of provincial institutional and private herbaria and by a survey of the literature. The field work was carried out during the summer of 1938.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Shady Transactions: Three Essays on the Underground Economy

contributor:
Crossley, Thomas F.
Economics

subject:
underground economy
income
hidden from authorities
growing

abstract:
 The term "underground economy" refers to output that is produced, and income
that is generated, by agents who hide this fact from authorities. There has been a recent resurgence in interest in the underground economy and this interest has predominantly been stimulated by the perception that the underground economy is sizeable and growing. This dissertation is comprised of three essays, the goals of which are to provide empirical measures of underground activity.

 The first paper in this dissertation applies a modeling technique that treats the underground economy as an unobservable or latent variable and incorporates multiple indicator and multiple causal (MIMIC) variables to estimate a time-path of the size of broadly defined underground economy. Using macroeconomic Canadian data, the results indicate that the underground economy grew steadily over the sample period: from 7.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1976 to about 15.3% in 2001.

 The second paper uses microeconomic data and proposes a nonparametric expenditure-based approach to obtain estimates of income under-reporting by self- employed households. The approach is illustrated by estimating the effect of the Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST) on income under-reporting. It is found that the difference between true and reported self-employment income is larger for households at the lower end of the self-employment income distribution and that there was no statistically significant change in under-reporting behaviour following the
implementation of the GST.

The third paper investigates the characteristics of businesses that engage in tax non-compliance using a survey of firms from around the world. Overall, small firms tend to be less compliant than larger firms. In addition, foreign owned firms, exporters, and firms that have audited financial statements are found to be more compliant but quite surprisingly, government ownership does not result in increased tax compliance. Finally, the existence of organized crime, high taxes, and government corruption all result in lower compliance.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: The Effect of Muscial Experience on the Perception of Triads

contributor:
Platt, John R.
Racine, Ronald J.
Psychology

subject:
major triad
instantiator of key
Method of Paired Comparisons
experiments

abstract:
Historically, music theorists have claimed that the major triad
functions as a strong instantiator of key, and that each of its inversions are
harmonically equivalent. To examine these assumptions, subjects were tested
with the Method of Paired Comparisons, and asked to judge the similarity of
root, first inversion, and second inversion major triads drawn from keys of
different degrees of musical relatedness. In Experiment 1, where triads were
built on the tonics of two maximally-related keys (A and E major), only
professional musicians demonstrated a separation of the triads on the basis of
key, indicating that inversions of triads built on the same root-note were
perceived as sounding similar to one another. The majority of moderately trained
and inexperienced subjects tended to use a pitch-height strategy, in
which triads containing upper notes that were close in absolute frequency were
judged as sounding similar to one another. In Experiment 2, where triads were
also included from a distantly related key (Bb major), the majority of
professional musicians continued to group all triads on the basis of key, while
some moderately-trained subjects confused the maximally-related keys, but
perceived them as distinct from the more distant key. Other moderately-trained
and musically-inexperienced subjects used a pitch·height strategy for judging similarity. In Experiments 3 and 4, chords were built on seven different rootnotes
moving counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively, from a constant
standard chord on the Circle of Fifths. The professional and moderately trained
subjects tested did not show an especially strong tendency to judge
chord similarity on the basis of musical key in either experiment. Inversion
equivalence was demonstrated in each of these four experiments by subjects
who judged triads built on the same root-note as sounding similar to one
another. In Experiment 5, where seven Shepard chords (chords built to obscure
pitch-height and inversion cues) were presented to only moderately-trained
subjects, similarity judgements now appeared to be based on key. Conclusions
are made regarding musical representation in a form described by the theoretic
Circle of Fifths in musically-trained individuals.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Building New Worlds: Gender and Embodied Non-Conformity and Imagining Otherwise in Contemporary Canadian Literatures

contributor:
York, Lorraine
English and Cultural Studies

subject:
Canadian Literature
Gender Studies

abstract: My dissertation project maps three characters, Lucy, Evie, and the Fur Queen in three contemporary Canadian novels Not Wanted on the Voyage (1984), Salt Fish Girl (2002), and Kiss of the Fur Queen (1998), respectively, whose embodiments and genders do not conform to norms and who are also the only characters able to imagine a different kind of world. These novels, which I read as magical realist dystopias each maps out a process by which normatively gendered characters can begin to imagine a different social order than the one they have inherited. What is significant about these novels, though, is that this imagining would not be possible without the work of the gender non-conforming characters. My dissertation argues that when a major identity category, like gender, is unsettled, possibilities arise for other major social structures, such as the nation, to be questioned. These novels, each arising out of different racialized and cultural backgrounds, all settle on gender and embodied non-normativity as a site of possibility for imagining a different kind of world. Using education and collaboration, these characters are revolutionary figures who, instead of tearing down dominant geo-political structures in ways that risk replicating dominant geo-political structures or reforming existing ones, argue for a slow revolution in which spaces are built without reference to dominant structures. These spaces are decentralized insofar as the novels suggest that they will need to leave room for revision and change, rather than advocating for a static idea of what utopia is, and they will be built collaboratively, so that there is no one authority. These novels do not suggest that building a different world will be easy, but they show that fast solutions will not work and instead map out the difficult process of learning that is necessary in order for it to happen.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: ￼Modeling And Analysis Of Rainwater Harvesting Systems Under ￼Different Climates

contributor:
Guo, Yiping
Dickson, Sarah
Civil Engineering

subject:
Rainwater Harvesting
Modeling
Climate Conditions
Uganda
Canada
Storm Water Management

abstract: There is a strong interest in rainwater harvesting (RWH) solutions as the global demand for water increases and water sources face contamination and depletion. Despite the extensive research conducted on the impact of RWH on watersheds, there is significant research to be completed to determine the relationship between the collection tank volume, roof size, and water demand satisfied by the RWH system. This thesis aims to further the understanding of the behaviour of RWH systems through a quantitative assessment of the water provided by these systems. Calculating the reliability of RWH systems in various Canadian regions allows for an evaluation of the capacity of RWH in meeting various residential water needs in Canada’s diverse climates. The results are obtained through hourly continuous simulation to provide the most accurate results and are presented in a user-friendly format through simple equations and graphs. RWH modeling through analytical equations do not require long-term historical data and are easier to use than conducting computer-aided continuous simulations. A better understating of the analytical equations’ application is developed through a comparison between the analytical and continuous simulations methods. The comparison is held for different regions within Canada, and the analysis confirms a lack of accuracy for the analytical method in some climatic conditions. Daily continuous simulations conduced for Ugandan and Canadian regions provide a perspective on the feasibility of RWH systems to meet the human right to drinking water in the two countries. A comparison of the reliability of RWH tanks in Ugandan and Canadian regions is conducted to provide insight into the impact of rainfall patterns on the reliability of RWH systems. The evaluation of RWH performance in the RRM context in Canada and Uganda is aimed to address the lack of adequate water sources in rural, remote, and otherwise marginalized (RRM) communities globally. Examining the most accurate and appropriate modeling tools and assessing the actual yield of RWH systems provides information critical to water-sensitive communities and provides a foundation for future research to further explore the most effective application of RWH in urban and water-sensitive communities.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: FICST: A Tool for Sensitivity Analysis of SCWR Fuel Isotopic Composition to Nuclear Data

contributor: Engineering Physics and Nuclear Engineering

subject: Tool for Sensitivity Analysis of SCWR

abstract:
With an ever-increasing population both in Canada and globally, an improved quality of life will depend on having access to energy. The non-renewable, carbon-based, sources of energy that presently provide a major amount of the world's energy supply are depleting and therefore will be expensive in the future.  Nuclear technology is a relatively new technology which can fulfill future energy needs but requires highly specialized skills and knowledge to continue to make it safer, cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable. Thus the nuclear industry puts lots of efforts to develop and improve the next generation of nuclear power plants. The Supercritical Water Reactors (SCWRs) are one of the Generation IV nuclear-reactor systems.
The SCWRs, to a large extent, are very similar to light water reactors, but with a simpler design. The main advantage of SCWRs is their higher thermal efficiency. The Canadian SCWR has adopted an innovative fuel concept which is a mixture of plutonium and thorium oxides (Th, Pu) O2.
The role of nuclear data in fuel development and reactor-physics analysis is quite significant. With the development of nuclear data files over the years, nuclear cross sections and other parameters are widely available, but their accuracy is still a concern. Also the accuracy of nuclear data is more reliable for uranium-based fuels than for thorium-based fuels.  It is not known how the uncertainties in the nuclear data will impact the fuel depletion in a SCWR. Thus a sensitivity analysis tool has been developed to evaluate the impact of uncertainties in the neutron cross-sections of the actinides present in SCWR fuel.  This document provides the details on the theory and methodology used to develop this tool (FICST). The objective of this work is to develop a code, not any specific calculation done with it.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc)


title: Relation-inferred Self-efficacy: Investigations of Sources, Processes, and Interventions in Youth Sport

contributor:
Bray, Steven
Kinesiology

abstract:
The purpose of this dissertation was twofold; the first purpose was to investigate the interpersonal sources of relation-inferred self-efficacy (RISE) and the metacognitive processes involved in self-efficacy development in youth sport. The second purpose was to translate those findings to recreational sport coaches.  Study 1 explored the perceived sources of self-efficacy and identified a variety of relevant coaching behaviours sport participants used to formulate RISE.  Findings showed a range of experiential as well as interpersonal factors were used to develop sport participants’ self-efficacy.  In both contexts, participants described detailed examples of the verbal and nonverbal interactions they had with their coach that contributed to their RISE perceptions.
Study 2 examined the relationships among coaching behaviour, RISE, and self-efficacy of boys and girls participating in youth sports and proceeded to investigate the causal processes involved in the interpretation of coaching behaviour.  Results showed a positive relationship between coaches’ RISE-enhancing behaviour and athletes’ RISE perceptions; however, the association between coaching behaviour and self-efficacy differed by gender.  Results were consistent with previous research in that sport participants’ RISE was shown to be strong and positively correlated with their self-efficacy beliefs.  Overall, findings provided empirical support for RISE as a mediator of the coaching behaviour – self-efficacy relationship and provided initial evidence of a complementary pathway, outlined in Lent and Lopez (2002) model of relational efficacy beliefs that may be used to build self-efficacy among youth athletes.
Study 3 examined the effects of a two-phase coach-athlete communication intervention on coaches’ perceptions toward integrating RISE-enhancing interactions into their coaching practice.  Findings showed coaches’ knowledge, outcome expectations, and self-efficacy for implementing RISE-enhancing behaviours with their athletes improved significantly from pre-to post-intervention.  Findings provided support for Bandura’s (1997) Self-efficacy Theory and emphasized the need to incorporate the learning preferences of youth sport coaches.  The studies in this dissertation, advanced our understanding of the specific interpersonal sources that contribute to athletes’ RISE as well as the metacognitive processes involved in the development of children’s self-efficacy beliefs within a youth sport context.  Taken together, findings of these studies suggest additional efforts to educate coaches on the potential they have to influence children’s RISE perceptions may be warranted.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Adaptive wavelet modelling of geophysical flows on the sphere

contributor:
Kevlahan, Nicholas K.-R.
Computational Engineering and Science

abstract: In this thesis the development of a dynamically adaptive wavelet method for geophysical applications is described. Being targeted at geophysical applications, a discrete shallow water model is derived in a way to retain mimetic properties of the continuous setting. Based on an investigation of properties of second generation wavelets, wavelet transforms for the sphere are designed for height and non-separable velocity that provide conservation of mass and consistent advection of vorticity. The model has been implemented in Fortran-95 with careful choice of data-structure and algorithms with the result that the computational cost per grid point of the adaptive method is only three times as large as for an optimized non-adaptive method. The Message Passing Interface (MPI) has been used to enable the model to run on 100 to 1000 of computer cores with generally high parallel efficiency (above 80%), but depending on the test-case. Standard tests by Williamson (1992) and a more recent test-case by Galewsky (2004) have verified numerical accuracy and convergence of the adaptive method. A simulation of homogeneous shallow water turbulence demonstrates that the model is capable of compression ratios of 20-50 even in a challenging setting. Finally the 2004 tsunami in the Indian ocean is computed as a real application to ocean simulation.

abstract: Dissertation

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Evil and Appearances: Clarifying Arendtian Political Ontology

contributor:
Kroeker, P. Travis
Religious Studies

subject:
Hannah Arendt
conception of evil
political theory

abstract: This thesis explores and clarifies Hannah Arendt' s conception of evil and its impact on her political theory. While following Arendt' s reflections on evil over the course of her career-from The Origins of Totalitarianism through Eichmann in Jerusalem and The Life of the Mind-I make the argument that the common thread in her apparently divergent accounts is a certain understanding of evil's negative ontology. I then demonstrate that Arendt's alternative "ontology of appearances" results in an account of "conscience" that prevents action based on cognitive certainty, and thus, evil. In the third chapter, I suggest that Arendt' s political theory, with its opposition to biological "life," is a direct response to totalitarianism's emphasis on animality and its de-emphasis on appearance. I claim furthermore that the difficulties of Arendt' s political thought (particularly her vacuous account of freedom and its troubling connection to immortality) are best explained in relation to her account of evil. On this point I suggest critically that her notion of political freedom is paralyzing or preventative in a way that resonates with her account of conscience. Finally, I propose that in seeking to articulate the meaning of immortalizing action, Arendt might have instead elucidated the difference between a totalitarian perversion of human desire, where desires become cognitive prescriptions, and a Platonic notion of properly erotic desire, where action manifests a desiring orientation to an independent object, but in a decisively non-totalitarian fashion.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Les Dames du Lac: Belle infidèle version 1986

contributor:
Simeoni, Daniel
French

subject:
The Mists of Avalon
féminine
belles infidèles

abstract:
Abstract not available.
Thesis
Master of Arts (MA)


title: La difficulté de la traduction culturelle de la poésie: Le 巜Romance Sonámbulo» de Federico Garcia Lorca par Stephen Spender et J. L. Gili

title: éáć巜

subject:
Federica García Lorca
Stephen Spender
Romance Sonàmbulo
Joan Lluis Gili

abstract:
Cette etude porte sur la difficulte de la traduction culturelle et plus
specifiquement sur celle de la poesie. On etudiera les problemes intrinseques de la traduction de ce type de litterature en meme temps que les insuffisances des theories traductologiques contemporaines face a ces problemes. A cette fin, on analysera la traduction du poeme «Romance sonambulo» de Federico García Lorca par Stephen Spender et Joan Lluis Gili.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Notions of Identity: Hybridity vs. Cultural Consolidation in Some Black Post-Colonial and Women's Fiction

contributor:
O'Connor, Mary
English

subject:
Ngugi wa Thiong
Zora Neale Hurston
Erna Brodber
critical theory
literature

abstract:
This thesis involves a theoretical study of the dynamics of cultural interaction
as represented in Ngugi wa Thiong'o's A Grain of Wheat, Zora Neale Hurston's
Jonah's Gourd Vine and Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Ema Brodber's Myal.
Specifically, it considers the role that a dialogue between critical theory (post-colonial
and feminist) and literary practice can play in the evaluation of two distinct
conceptions of cultural difference: identity politics, understood as positing an essential
binaristic difference between an ethnic or gendered Self and Other, and hybridity
theory, which conceives of Self and Other as mutually constitutive and inescapably
interconnected. While this thesis demonstrates some of the ways in which hybridity
theory can revise and expand contemporary critical readings of the novels under study,
it also demonstrates how literature can problematize the universalizing claims of both
hybridity theory and identity politics, thus stressing the importance of sociohistorical
and literary/narrative contexts to the evaluation of strategies of resistance to colonial
and/or patriarchal regimes.                                                                                After an introductory chapter dealing with questions of theory, three subsequent
chapters discuss themes of hybridity and cultural separatism in the novels by Ngugi,
Hurston, and Brodber, respectively. Each of these latter chapters involves a detailed
analysis of the colonial and/or patriarchal discourses represented in the particular novel
or novels under study. These analyses include discussions of some of the ways in
which dominant discourses attempt to co-opt cultural difference and impede equitable intercultural hybridizing exchange by polarizing Self and Other in a binaristic
economy. Each chapter also considers the presence of internal contradictions in
dominant discourses and the implications of such contradictions for a revolutionary
politics. On the basis of these discussions, this thesis considers the relative efficacy of
hybridity and identity politics as strategies of resistance, demonstrating that different
contexts call for different approaches to revolutionary theory and practice.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: TOWARD A THERAPEUTIC AND AUTISM-FRIENDLY HOME ENVIRONMENT

subject:
Autism
Therapeutic Landsape

abstract: The unique characteristics of people with autism influence their spatial experience and interaction with the physical environment resulting in struggles not only to them but also to their families and caregivers. This research, which drew on the therapeutic landscapes theory, aimed at exploring these challenges in home environment and the role of modifying the physical home environment in alleviating these challenges. The research employed qualitative methods on three phases: a) learning from the experience of  key informants who are involved in creating or modifying the home environment of people with autism. This phase involved interviews (n=4) with architects and interviews (n=2) and a focus group (n= 9 participants) with Occupational Therapists OTs) ; b) online survey across Canada and U.S.A with families of children with autism (n=168) , and; c) in-depth diary interviews with three selected case studies of families having children with autism and living in different housing typology (house, townhouse and apartment) in the Great Toronto Area. The identified themes provided comprehensive understanding on the following:  (1) the common characteristics of people with autism affecting their interaction with the built environment; (2) the physical, social and psychological challenges that affect the quality of life of children with autism and their families in their home environment and the physical elements contributing to these challenges; (3) the common home modifications adapted by families to face these challenges; and; (4) the role of home modifications in shaping home environment as a therapeutic landscapes of healing. It was evident that the implemented modifications positively affected the families’ experiences of home as a physical, social, and; symbolic space.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Health Care in Indian Buddhism: Representations of Monks and Medicine in Indian Monastic Law Codes

contributor:
Clarke, Shayne
Religious Studies

subject:
Indian Buddhism
vinaya
Indian health care
health care
History of Medicine
Buddhist monks
Mūlasarvāstivāda-vinaya
Monasticism
Indian epigraphy
Dharmasūtra
Dharmaśāstra
Asceticism
Buddhist studies
history of India

abstract: In this Master’s thesis, I attempt to illuminate the historical relationship between Classical Indian medical practice and Buddhist monastic law codes, vinaya, in India around the turn of the Common Era. Popular scholarly conceptions of this relationship contend that the adoption of the Indian medical tradition into the Buddhist monastic institution is directly traceable to the Pāli canon. The Mūlasarvastivāda-vinaya (MSV) does not appear to take issue with physicians or medical knowledge, yet the condemnation of physicians in ancient Indian literature strongly suggests that the relationship between monks and medicine is more complex than the Pāli canon illustrates. Similar to other vinaya traditions, the MSV includes detailed information about permitted medicaments, as well as allowances for monastics to provide medical care to other monastics and even, in particular cases, the laity. I argue that the incentives for monastics to maintain a positive relationship with the medical world were driven by the economic benefits of monastic medical knowledge, as well as associations with wealthy physicians. Using a variety of extant Sanskrit materials, as well as epigraphic evidence, I aim to present a nuanced picture of the history of the relationship between Indian Buddhist monasticism and medicine around the turn of the Common Era.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Mature Students at McMaster University

contributor:
Shaffir, William
Sociology

subject: social worlds, mature students, interviews,

abstract: This study examines the social worlds of mature students. Data was collected through participant observation in campus settings and in-depth interviews with mature students. The focus is on their experiences as they navigated the passage to student status. A variety of constraints to the progress of the passage are documented, as well as mature students' negotiation strategies used to overcome these constraints. Attention is then paid to how mature students adjust to the new realities that university life poses. Dealing with university administration, learning new skills, and renegotiation processes are analysed. The status passage to mature student is viewed as problematic for the individual, as a new set of meanings must be negotiated with significant others for the passage to be successful. This study suggests that the case of mature students offers explanation into the nature of status passage in later life, and contributes new knowledge to the nature of generic social processes.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Women and Religion in Diderot's La Religieuse. Authority, Sexuality, and Alienation.

contributor:
Hanley, William
French

subject: women, religion, Diderot, La Religieuse, Authority, Sexuality, Alienation

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


title: Stewardship and the Development of a Fund-Raising Programme in McMaster Divinity College

subject: post-modernity, church, stewardship, McMaster Divinity College, Baptist, theological

abstract:
The shift from the paradigm ofthe Enlightenment (modernity) to post-modernity will have a significant impact on the concept and practice of stewardship in the church and in the theological seminary. This thesis project examines fund-raising under the emerging paradigm and offers proposals for the raising of funds for McMaster Divinity College. It does so by looking at current and potential donor sources in addition to examining and suggesting methodologies to assist in underwriting the visions and purposes ofthe College.
As a background, the study presents a brief analysis ofthe philosophical and theological roots of McMaster Divinity College. This is done by considering a number of the influences common to most theological schools founded in conjunction with North American universities in the 19th century. The influences peculiar to McMaster are considered as well.
The thesis project also examines several points of conflict that have arisen periodically between the College and its long-time sponsor, the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec, in order to understand better the relationships between the two institutions. This is accomplished by consideration of their legal relationship and the circumstances leading to a denomonational schism in 1927, the Sunday school "curriculum controversy" of 1964-65, and, more recently, the so-called Bishop Robinson controversy of the mid-1980s. The meaning of stewardship has changed both in its theological concept and its usage in society. It continues to change. Several theologians and biblical scholars ofthe post-modern era are returning to a more biblically informed understanding ofstewardship with its much greater emphasis on accountability and responsibility, not only for the use of personal resources such as money and property, but for all the resources that God has entrusted to his people.
The theological school likely will continue to be the primary training institution for Christians who desire more formal theological education but the churches likely will wish to see those teaching in and administering the Divinity College model the qualities ofthe Christian steward. That probability will be a major factor for recruitment and financial support.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Ministry (DMin)


title: Irony, Ideology, and Resistance: The Amazing Double Life of Harlequin Presents

contributor:
Szeman, Imre
English

subject: ironic, Harlequin Presents, text, ideological, romance,

abstract:
In Harlequin Presents, the recurrence of particular moments of resistance suggests that these structures of events have meaning apart from -and perhaps even antithetical to - the ideological outcome of any specific text. The ideological structures presented in the romance novel are not passively accepted, nor do they simply fulfill a single pre-existing need or desire in their reading public. Romance novels utilize ideologies in a self-consciously playful and ironic way. These texts offer multiple ways of understanding the worlds they depict, the structures of understanding contained within being posited and discarded. This thesis proposes a means of interpreting the romance novel captures the ambivalence of the reading experience. I will show how the paradox of the romance novel - the seemingly limitless potential of a feminine discourse of the private sphere that is set within the conservative confines of repetitive narratives of social integration - is incorporated into the structure of the texts themselves.
While the texts in the series manifest standardized outcomes, they also exhibit recurrent patterns of resistance. The serial form of Harlequin Presents dictates that this tension between separate value sets and ideologies is never fully resolved. The appeal of the romance novel must then lie between these competing demands. Each of my chapters examines the ways that this ironic tension functions within a different intellectual space. In considering how the domestic sphere, the body and the nation are overlayed with multiple, contested meanings, this thesis maps out the scope of ideological resistance and adherence throughout Harlequin Presents.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Creativity in the Metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead

contributor:
Robertson, J.C. Jr.
Religious Studies

subject:
metaphysics
Alfred North Whitehead
creativity
God
evil

abstract:
 This is a study of the role that creativity plays in the metaphysics of Alfred North
Whitehead ( 1861-194 7). As the title generally indicates, there are two parts to this
project. The first part develops an understanding of Whitehead's metaphysics through the careful analysis of two key texts, namely Religion in the Making (1926), and Process and Reality (1929). The second part examines and carefully analyses the role that creativity plays within this metaphysic. The second part focuses on two questions. The first question considers the ontological status which creativity requires to perform the role which it is given within the metaphysical system. The second question discusses
implications of this status for creativity's relationship to God. This second section further discusses the implications of such an understanding of "process theology" for Christian theology in general. Specifically it comments on the various responses of theology to creatio ex nihilo and the problem of evil.

 This thesis concludes that creativity functions as an ultimate explanatory principle in Whitehead's metaphysics. In this role, creativity is monistic, not in the sense of an ontological monism, but in the sense that it is 'one' rather than 'many'. Creativity cannot be ontologically monistic because it is not actual. However, since it is indeterminate it must be one rather than many. In addition creativity and God must be considered distinct elements in Whitehead's metaphysics. Their roles cannot be collapsed into each other, although it is possible to speak of an intimate association between them. In this sense, creativity is the ground of God and God is necessarily creative. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that there is room for further dialogue between process theology and a more orthodox version of Christian theology especially regarding the questions of the creation of the world and theodicy.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Political Dissent

contributor:
Waluchow, Wilfred J.
Philosophy

subject: dissent; disobedience; political obligation; rights; justification

abstract: Although political dissent is an idea that perennially receives much public attention, its standing in the academic literature is relatively slight. Very few thinkers engage the idea of dissent outside of its manifestation as an illegal action, and ever fewer dedicate any time to understanding the idea conceptually. A substantial portion of my dissertation aims to address this conspicuous gap. In the remaining portion, I advance a normative claim. My claim is that the very same justificatory considerations that pertain to illegal acts of dissent pertain as well to those acts that ought to be legally protected by a citizen’s right to dissent. Put more simply, I argue that whether or not a dissenting action is done within, or outside of, the law is of no normative effect. The upshot of this argument is that it places the burden on agents to be responsible for all the dissenting actions they undertake. This is so regardless of whether or not those actions find institutional shelter.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Romans 1:26-27 and Homosexuality: A Study in Text and Context

contributor:
Reinhartz, A.
Religious Studies

subject:
Romans 1:26-27
homosexual behaviour
John Boswell
Richard Hays

abstract:
 The subject of this thesis is Paul's statements about homosexual behaviour in Romans 1:26-27. The thesis has a two-fold focus. First, it is concerned with the interpretation of Paul's words in the light of their historical context, using the methods of traditional historical criticism. Second, it attempts to evaluate the impact of recent debates in Christian churches about the ethics of homosexual behaviour on the interpretation of this text.

The differing interpretations of John Boswell and Richard Hays are treated as paradigmatic of recent debates over the text In the light of Boswell's and Hays' interpretations this thesis argues that Paul's words in Rom. 1:26-27 do a negative evaluation of all hormosexual behaviour, that Paul objected to homosexual behaviour because he believed it violated God's will for human life, that the objection was fundamentally gender-based, condemning sexual relations between persons of the same gender as "against nature." Furthermore, Paul's claim that homosexual behaviour was an expression of passions and desires is stressed, and it is argued that Paul believed, with other Jews, that homosexual behaviour was a vice characteristic of Gentile culture.

 The thesis begins with an introductory discussion of the interpretations of John Boswell and Richard Hays and an overview of methodological issues. Following this, Chapter One deals with the modern context in which interpretation of Rom. 1:26-27 takes place, focusing on theories about homosexuality and Christian responses. Chapter Two reviews recent work on Rom. 1:26-27 and highlights basic issues and questions. Chapter Three focuses on Paul's historical context, dealing with homosexual behaviour in the Graeco-Roman world, and Jewish and non-Jewish responses and attitudes. Chapter Four, the core of the thesis, deals in detail with Rom. 1:26-27 and presents the major arguments of the thesis. An outline of major conclusions follows, including a discussion of the relevance of the thesis for modern debates.

 The thesis both contributes a review of recent scholarship and attempts to advance understanding of the text by considering the relationship between historical interpretation of the text and its use in ethical debates.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Healing Through the Holy Spirit

title: Contesting Catholicisms and Communistas at a Canadian Catholic Pilgrimage Shrine

contributor:
Badone, Ellen E.F.
Anthropology

subject:
Greensides Farm
Virgin Mary
miraculous experiences
Holy Spirit
Visions

abstract: The Virgin Mary reportedly began to appear at Greensides Farm, just outside the village of Marmora, Ontario, Canada, in 1992. She continues to appear to three central visionaries at the pilgrimage shrine. Catholic pilgrims come from around the world to pray, many of them with the hope of seeing Mary or experiencing a miracle. Countless pilgrims claim to have received spiritual, emotional, or physical healing through their miraculous experiences, events which they attribute to the power of the Holy Spirit. I argue that contestation is present at the Marmora pilgrimage shrine and occurs over symbols embedded in the activities of individuals and different Catholic groups. Communitas also exists at Marmora through the shrine's liminality, but it is normative communitas, and not spontaneous communitas, because the pilgrimage is structured by outside social, political, and religious influences. Further to this point, most pilgrims retain their status in everyday life at the shrine, and some pilgrims (namely the visionaries) obtain a heightened status that transfers into their mundane lives. My research indicates that contestation and communitas among both pilgrims and Catholic groups affect each individual's interpretation of their pilgrimage experience at Marmora, just as individuals' interpretations of their own background and knowledge inform their experiences of contestation and communitas. An analysis of pilgrims' miracle and healing narratives demonstrates that it is important to explore individuals' interpretations of their pilgrimage experience, as the journey can have tangible effects on a pilgrim's mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Managing Borders, Nurturing Life: Existences, Resistances and Political Becoming in the Amazon Forest

contributor: Political Science - International Relations

subject:
Indigenous Peoples
Citizenship
Amazon forest
Borders

abstract:
This study is about how two different indigenous groups in two different places of the enormous border area of the Amazon forest in Brazil (approximately 12,000 km) have been resisting displacement and appropriation, prejudice and pre-conceptualizations, ever since Brazil became Brazil and even before. The ability of these groups to resist, entangled to their capacity to endure in face of the colonization of their ways of living, enacted them to becoming political (Viveiros de Castro 1998; Isin 2002; Starn, de la Cadena 2008; Blaser 2010; de la Cadena 2010) in distinct forms depending on the geographies of relationships, land use and various forms of mobility through border areas they have been living in and within. In looking at these “resistances” and “endurances” at different places, I argue that the fact that a group of Ashaninka people became political by moving to and throughout the border between Brazil and Peru and the many reinventions Macuxi and Wapishana people in the present day Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory  went through for becoming Indigenous peoples at the Brazilian borders with Guyana and Venezuela have corroborated the role of their “existences” in delineating and re-inventing geographical borders by managing the meanings and effects of these very borders on their lives as integral (and integrated) part of the forest.
 In a general way, it can be said that borders in Brazil came hand in hand with the appearance of the terminology “Indians” in this country, which prompted me to ask what politics emerged out of it. In a particular manner, by looking at how this politics was practiced through the articulation of the indigenous groups mentioned above allowed me to historicize their own stories about the articulation of their existence or permanence in places that coincided with the space of the border amidst the forest. As I begin this dissertation, I will show that the creation of such space meant no coincidence for governments and their legislative instruments, which equalized the space of the border with territories necessary for the expansion of economic frontiers since the 18th century. Also, and most importantly, it will be discussed that these spaces coincided with the spaces where some indigenous groups were living and moving through on a constant basis making the forest what it was but, especially, considering it the integrative space of their worlds of living and articulating relationships. The politics emerging out of the negotiation of this last world - beyond borders - with the world created and limited by the national borders, as according to the actual and contemporary political practices of the abovementioned indigenous groups, is an important part of this study. This politics will be contextualized vis-à-vis the politicization of the Amazon rainforest as a territory of dispute and a region of political possibilities (Escobar 2008) based on life projects (Blaser et al 2004) as opposed to governmental projects.
Ultimately, this dissertation is an exercise in understanding how some indigenous groups kept on resisting by living in spaces constantly changed by the advances of economic frontiers that intersected with the production of borders and with the changing policies toward managing the landscapes cut across by these same borders. Opposing the idea of borders as the productive site of affirmation by negation, for the indigenous groups I engaged with in this dissertation borders are an integrated place of relationships to human beings, to other beings and to the forest within them; in other words, a landscape in constant change because of peoples’ action. The mobility of some indigenous groups throughout the forest and their contribution to design landscapes on it as related to a cosmology not centered in the human [although relying on a particular conceptualization of the human] brought to the fore of this research the aspect that there are inter-relations between nature, culture and society that do not correspond to distinctive, visible and hierarchical separation, let alone to the limits of an Indigenous Territory. In this sense, approaching different borders to understanding different indigenous standpoints on them means also approaching new worlds of knowing and living to which all sorts of borders are also imposed, including within the very Indigenous Territory.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: The Relation of Ethnicity and Income to Kinship Involvement and Voluntary Association Membership

subject:
Voluntary association membership
Ethnicity
Income
Kinship

abstract:
No abstract provided.
Thesis
Bachelor of Arts (BA)


title: Pleistocene Shallow Braided Outwash Near Galt

contributor:
Walker, R.G.
Geology

subject:
cycles of sediment deposition
topography

abstract:
A gravel pit west of Galt exposed about 6m of shallow braided outwash gravels which overlie deposits of unknown origin with eroded topography. The outwash shows two cycles of coarse sediment deposition with a relatively quiet period between. The lower cycle fines upwards from coarse gravel, through cross-bedded pebbly sand, to silty ripple-drift. The upper cycle erodes the silty sand and coarsens upwards from pebbly sand cross-beds to cobble gravel of longitudinal bars. These bars can be shown by their internal sandy horizons and stoss side sandy deposits to have grown by deposition at their upstream end.

The two major depositional cycles are related to north-westward flowing meltwater from the glacier as it stood at the Paris and Galt moraines respectively with the quiet period representing the time of retreat between the moraines. Subsequent melting to the north initiated an ice-contact spillway which ended the outwash deposition west or Galt.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Bachelor of Science (BSc)


title: On the Optimization of Thermal Waste Destruction Systems

contributor:
Latto, Brian
Mechanical Engineering

subject:
environmental pollutants
incineration
waste disposal

abstract:
A computer technique for the optimization of thermal waste destruction systems for various design modes, with emphasis on satisfying the air pollution limitations is discussed. The approach considers the incineration of wastes by addition of fuels to permit the thermal destruction of waste materials which are potential pollutants. The computer optimizing package developed utilizes a modified form of a NASA chemical equilibrium program, the Pasquill-Gifford gas diffusion equation and an optimization routine.

The method employed incorporates the mathematical modeling of elementary incineration systems, with consideration of the practical aspects of the problem. The final computer design and assessment package is flexible and is developed in a way that permits upgrading and modification for realistic systems.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Engineering (ME)