identifier: Benson, Ryan Joshua <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Benson=3ARyan_Joshua=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Interhemispheric inhibition projecting to the biceps brachii during arm cycling.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Indirect evidence suggests that arm cycling, along with other types of human locomotion, is partially controlled by specialized groups of spinal interneurones known as central pattern generators (CPGs). Further, it is known that the brain is directly involved in the control of arm cycling, however its specific roles are not well understood. The overwhelming majority of information regarding the brain’s role in control of human motor output has come from isometric or tonic contraction, however it has been shown that the cortical input on locomotion differs from that of isometric contraction. It has been shown that inhibitory connections exist between homologous areas of the motor cortices (IHI), which have a direct influence on the motor control of isometric contraction. To date, no study has examined the existence of IHI during locomotion. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the potential influence of IHI during locomotion, using arm cycling as a locomotor model.


identifier: Farrell, Sarah <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Farrell=3ASarah=3A=3A.html>   (2019) A paleomagnetic study of ca. 580 Ma volcanics near Grand Bank, Avalon zone of Newfoundland, and implications for true polar wander in the ediacaran.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract:
Paleomagnetic studies suggest that Laurentia moved from the equator to the pole and then back
again within ~60 Ma during the Ediacaran. Hypotheses to explain the large 90⁰ apparent oscillations
include unreliable paleomagnetic data and/or unreliable dating and complex magnetic
field behaviour. Inertial interchange true polar wander (IITPW) has also been suggested. Since
IITPW would be a global event, it would require the large oscillations suggested by the paleomagnetic
record of Laurentia to have affected all the continents in the Ediacaran. Such oscillations
have been found in selected paleomagnetic data from Baltica and West Africa but not Australia.
Avalonia paleomagnetism also does not appear to show the oscillations expected from the IITPW
hypothesis. The present study provides new paleomagnetic data for the Marystown Group volcanics,
dated at 580±3 Ma, collected near Grand Bank in the Avalon Zone of Newfoundland.
The volcanics were studied with alternating field and thermal demagnetization which showed that
remanence is carried mostly by magnetite rather than hematite. Seven sites provide stable remanence
directions with mean tilt-corrected declination and inclination of D=287⁰ and I=58⁰ (α95 =
13.7⁰). A positive conglomerate test, using rhyolitic crystal lithic tuff clasts from an agglomerate
within the section of flows, shows that the magnetite-bearing clasts carry primary remanence.
Magnetic polarity reversals are also present within the section (six normal flows and one reversed
flow). The corresponding paleolatitude is 39⁰+17/-13⁰ at 580±3 Ma. This agrees with the paleolatitude
of 35⁰+11/-10⁰ at 580±10 Ma previously found for three basalt flows and five red bed sites
in the Marystown Group (omitting the likely Devonian Famine Back Cove basalts). The Marystown
Group results, along with other stable paleomagnetic data from Avalonia, suggest that Avalonia
remained at mid to low latitudes during the mid-Ediacaran. The declination of Avalonia suggests
that it remained at 225⁰ from 606 Ma to 592 Ma and then underwent a steady change towards
330⁰ at 550 Ma. Although IITPW cannot be disproved for the mid-Ediacaran, it is more likely
that complex magnetic field behaviour is the reason multiple large oscillations can be seen in the Laurentia, Baltica, and West African Craton paleomagnetic data.


identifier: Armstrong, Ethan Gerald <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Armstrong=3AEthan_Gerald=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Development of benthic monitoring approaches for salmon aquaculture sites using machine learning, hydroacoustic data and bacterial eDNA.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Intensive caged salmon production can lead to localized perturbations of the seafloor environment where organic waste (flocculent matter) accumulates and disrupts ecological processes. As the aquaculture industry expands, the development of tools to rapidly detect changes in seafloor condition is critical. Here, we examine whether applying machine learning to two types of monitoring data could improve environmental assessments at aquaculture sites in Newfoundland. First, we apply machine learning to single beam echosounder data to detect flocculent matter at aquaculture sites over larger areas than currently achieved used drop camera imaging. Then, we use machine learning to categorize sediments by levels of disturbance based on bacterial tetranucleotide frequency distributions generated from environmental DNA. While echosounder data can detect flocculent matter with moderate success in this region, bacterial tetranucleotide frequencies are highly effective classifiers of benthic disturbance; this simplified environmental DNA-based approach could be implemented within novel aquaculture benthic monitoring pipelines.


identifier: Graham, Nelson <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Graham=3ANelson=3A=3A.html>   (2019) The experiences of immigrant entrepreneurs in a medium sized Canadian city.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Traditionally, immigrant entrepreneurial research conducted in Canada has focused on major
cities such as Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver (MTV). However, recent research on migrant
economies highlights the need to examine immigrant entrepreneurship across all city types,
including small to medium sized cities (SMCs). This thesis answers the call among the literature
for qualitative studies to investigate immigrant entrepreneurship, by examining the experiences
of immigrant entrepreneurs in the SMC of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).
Combining the rescaling approach with the mixed embeddedness theory, the opportunities and
barriers that immigrant entrepreneurs face in this Canadian SMC are identified. More
specifically, this project explores what entrepreneurial supports are considered to be the most
comprehensive for newcomers operating a business. My findings underscore that immigrant
entrepreneurs in the low-skill sector face a much different, less holistic support system than those
in the high-skill sector. Moreover, while this Atlantic province has long struggled with the
retention of newcomers, Memorial University of NL is playing a key role in the integration,
retention, and facilitation of immigrant entrepreneurship.


identifier: Reid, Brady <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Reid=3ABrady=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Traditional knowledge and land use: building research relationships with a rural Ktaqmkuk Mi'kmaw community.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
As evident from the original proposals for self-negotiation from the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (1988), the formation of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation represented a small victory for Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaq: recognition. Validation of the existence of Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaq outside of Miawpukek was a small step towards decolonization yet cannot be a panacea for reconciliation. This study was a collaborative project in the Mi’kmaw community of Ewipkek through the No’kmaq Village Band and Elder Calvin White, a known champion of Mi’kmaw rights in the province.
This thesis is presented in a manuscript format. Chapter one, the introduction, provides background and context to the thesis and presents the overall research questions. Chapter two (the first manuscript) reviews literature that explores considerations for researchers who work with Indigenous communities. The approach of “Two-Eyed Seeing” emerges as a holistic framework that validates and empowers both “Western” and Indigenous knowledge systems. Chapter three (the second manuscript) describes the knowledge sharing that occurred with participants from the community of Ewipkek. The ways in which the structure of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation limits the ability of the knowledge within the community of Ewipkek to be considered in relevant decision-making processes are discussed. Finally, chapter four, the conclusion, responds to the overall research questions. Throughout the life of this collaboration, the community has defined certain responsibilities for researchers in their community. These responsibilities outlined in chapter four are significant and, if met, allow for the positive use of knowledge in the community of Ewipkek.


identifier: Silvey, Dustin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Silvey=3ADustin=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Exploring the development and impact of an Olympic wrestling sport program in Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi (Miawpukek First Nation): A case study.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Physical activity has been shown to increase the physical and mental health of
youth. Many rural and Indigenous communities offer sport programs. However,
many of these sports are not highly accessible to youth for reasons such as social
standing, gender, genetics, and physical fitness levels. The sport of Olympic
wrestling if implemented correctly can be accessible to participants and could offer
Indigenous youth another, more accessible option of physical activity. The purpose
of this thesis is to examine the impact of developing and implementing an Olympic
wrestling program with Indigenous youth.
Working within a Community Based Participatory Research framework and the
Indigenous School Health framework, the first part of this thesis examines the needs
of the Indigenous community in question and determines how the Olympic
wrestling program should be developed and implemented. Following the needs
assessment, the program was developed, implemented, and evaluated and the
results showed that some youth gained significant changes in their physical and
mental health. The program was further evaluated by some of participating youth
through the use of photovoice, which showed increases in youth self-perception and
self-esteem. Lastly, the changes in youths’ holistic health were determined to have
improved after competing with a team of other Indigenous youth at a major
competition.
The Olympic wrestling program continues in the community with little help from
the researcher and is showing a strong likelihood of being offered for the
foreseeable future. Thus, this thesis demonstrates that by first creating a
relationship built upon reciprocity, respect, and relationality, between
implementers and an Indigenous community, in which the researcher is a resource
and conduit to be used by the community, a highly accessible sport program such as
Olympic wrestling, may have a positive impact on Indigenous youths’ physical and
mental health.


identifier: Collette, Farrah Chantal <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Collette=3AFarrah_Chantal=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Third culture kids negotiating identities in an international school in Thailand.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The following Master's thesis discusses research on cultural identity negotiation
of Third Culture Kids (TCKs) attending an international school in Bangkok,
Thailand. Postcolonial theory, primarily Said’s (1978; 1994) theory of
Orientalism, and Bourdieu’s (1993; 2003) theories of symbolic capital, symbolic
power, and fields of cultural production are central to this study. The ethnographic
approach of this research focuses on eight TCK participants, who have at least
one non-Western primary culture of home, and who negotiate dominant local and
globalized cultures of the school into their identity. Highlights on primary and
secondary cultural identities, and the varying symbolic capital that discourses of
different cultures offer are provided through the focus on the relationship between
marginalized and hegemonic cultures present in the international school setting.
The research aims to further an understanding of more socially just cultural and
educational frames of curricular education in international schools.


identifier: Ajayi, Joseph <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ajayi=3AJoseph=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Preposition stranding and pied-piping in Yoruba focus constructions.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The thesis examines P-stranding and pied-piping in focus constructions in Yoruba language, one of the Benue-Congo languages spoken in Western part of Nigeria. This research is unique given the fact that while existing literature and theories on P-stranding and pied-piping have solely hammered cross-linguistic differences, the thesis discovers intra-linguistic features of P-stranding or pied-piping one. On the contrary, Yoruba exhibits both P-stranding the pied-piping features in similar environments in focus constructions. It is discovered that a number of prepositions can only strand while some others can solely pied-pipe. The thesis further examines another behavioral patterns of prepositions in Yoruba focus constructions. Interestingly and quite strangely, it is discovered that some prepositions drop, or pied-pipe with the occurrence of resumptive pronouns in Yoruba focus. These multifarious behavioral patterns of prepositions in Yoruba focus pose a great challenge as to how to account for these patterns within the existing literature and theories which rather deal with P-stranding as cross-linguistic affairs. The thesis, however, tackles this challenge by extracting two different theories to account for these preposition features in Yoruba focus as each of the theories (Abels 2003 Phase Theory and Law 1998 Incorporation Theory) cannot, in isolation, capture the features. The thesis proves that the behavioral patterns of the preposition in Yoruba focus with respect to stranding, pied-piping and dropping are inherent in the prepositions themselves rather than the syntactic configurations of the focus constructions in which they appear.


identifier: Chen, Liwen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Chen=3ALiwen=3A=3A.html>   (2019) E-waste recycling in Beijing and the impact of China's WEEE directive: competition or collaboration between informal recyclers and authorized recycling enterprises?  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This thesis traces the afterlives of used electronics after they are discarded by household
consumers in Beijing and examines the roles of informal and formal sectors in discarded
electronics recycling through following the commodity chain. In contrast to most
mainstream narratives about China’s e-waste recycling, which almost all conclude with the
need to crack down on the current informal e-waste sector and establish a new e-waste
collection network controlled by government authorized processing facilities, I argue that
the current informal sector has a sophisticated collection and reuse network and has found
ways to collaborate with the formal e-waste recycling companies since 2012 when China’s
WEEE directive and funding mechanism (Administrative Measures on Levy and Use of
the Fund for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment) came into
enforcement. I establish this argument by showing how specific e-waste flows have
changed and are currently managed between informal collectors to formal companies in
Beijing. Prior to China’s WEEE enforcement, discarded electronics in Beijing had been
collected, repaired, reused or dismantled by informal sector entrepreneurs since the 1990s.
Following the implementation of the WEEE funding mechanism, certain appliances (in
particular CRTs and washing machines) collected by the informal sector have gradually
flowed to the formal e-waste disposal companies in Beijing and neighboring provinces. I
conclude that the relationship between informal and formal sectors in handling China’s
domestic discarded electronics is currently more one of collaboration than competition.
Other important related findings include:
1) Informal e-waste collection and reuse businesses have been a vibrant part of
environmental and economic activities in Beijing’s urbanization over the last 30
years. That sector’s salvaging of appliances for repair and reuse has extended the
useful lives of tens of millions of electronic appliances and thereby made major
contributions to resource conservation and sustainability.
2) The current ad hoc division of tasks, with the informal sector managing used
electronics collection and sorting and formal companies managing end-of-life
dismantling, has both economic and environmental benefits. By contrast, any
attempts by formal e-waste companies to compete with the informal sector over
residential collection have failed, and the formal companies remain almost
comically ignorant regarding the economics and skills required for
collection/sorting.
3) The biggest obstacles facing the informal discarded electronics sector are urban
planning and policing policies that make their working and living conditions
unstable, economically precarious, and at times dangerous. In this way, Beijing
municipal policy undermines a sector that contributes greatly to resource
conservation and pollution reduction of pollution.
4) The discarded electronic trade provides a clear picture of current trends in appliance
manufacturing that are accelerating habits of disposal which are counter to
environmental sustainability. A key policy suggestion derived from my research is
that, if the government’s aim is to limit resource waste and maximize environmental sustainability, it should formulate standards requiring OEMs to design longer
lasting appliances paired with policies incentivizing repair and reuse.
5) My research reveals that trade in imported used electronics into China is not as
massive as many reports have claimed, but it is significant for particular types of
devices and products. It is crucial to note that the flow of products is not simply
from OECD countries into China; significant flows move out of China and into
other countries, including ones in Africa.
6) Authorized e-waste recycling companies’ supplies mainly rely on the informal
sector’s work. My research reveals that their relationships are more cooperation
than competition. More and more would-be dismantled e-waste is sent to the formal
sector after collected by the informal sector.


identifier: Murugathasan, Parththeeban <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Murugathasan=3AParththeeban=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Experimental and numerical investigations of axial pullout behavior of buried ductile iron pipe.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Buried pipelines often cross active landslide areas, which are subjected to additional loads due to ground movements. The effect of ground loads on the performance of buried pipelines is an important consideration for pipeline integrity assessment. Though experimental and analytical studies were conducted to understand the maximum loads caused by the ground movement on the pipelines, design practices for the assessment of pipes subjected to ground movements are not yet well developed. This thesis presents the design of a new laboratory test facility developed for pullout testing of buried pipelines that investigate the behavior of pipelines subjected to axial ground movements. The test facility is first assessed using finite-element modelling to identify the effects of the size of the facility and the rigidity of the boundary walls on the pullout study of pipelines. The results show that a test cell having the dimensions of 2 m (width) x 1.5m (height) x 4 m (length) is adequate for the current purpose of tests if the wall stiffness is adequately designed. The facility is then used to conduct a pullout test of a 178-mm diameter ductile iron pipe. During the test, horizontal and vertical earth pressure in the soil is measured using Tekscan pressure sensors. Pipe deformation and wall strains are measured using strain gauges. A finite element modelling technique is developed to simulate the test conditions for investigating the soil-pipe interaction during the axial pullout test. The finite element model is then employed to study the pipe-soil interaction mechanism. The study reveals that arching effect and dilation of sand in the pipe–soil interface can affect the mobilized soil load on the ductile iron pipe. The unit interface shear resistance is found to be 16.0H to 17.0H in dense sand, 13.0H in medium dense sand and 5.0H in loose sand for the pipes tested.


identifier: Thalagala, Ravindu G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Thalagala=3ARavindu_G=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Comparison of state marginalization techniques in visual inertial navigation filters.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The main focus of this thesis is finding and validating an efficient visual inertial
navigation system (VINS) algorithm for applications in micro aerial vehicles (MAV).
A typical VINS for a MAV consists of a low-cost micro electro mechanical system
(MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a monocular camera, which provides a
minimum payload sensor setup. This setup is highly desirable for navigation of MAVs
because highly resource constrains in the platform. However, bias and noise of lowcost
IMUs demand sufficiently accurate VINS algorithms. Accurate VINS algorithms
has been developed over the past decade but they demand higher computational
resources. Therefore, resource limited MAVs demand computationally efficient VINS
algorithms.
This thesis considers the following computational cost elements in the VINS algorithm:
feature tracking front-end, state marginalization technique and the complexity
of the algorithm formulation. In this thesis three state-of-the-art feature
tracking front ends were compared in terms of accuracy. (VINS-Mono front-end,
MSCKF-Mono feature tracker and Matlab based feature tracker). Four state-ofthe-
art state marginalization techniques (MSCKF-Generic marginalization, MSCKFMono
marginalization, MSCKF-Two way marginalization and Two keyframe based
epipolar constraint marginalization) were compared in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
The complexity of the VINS algorithm formulation has also been compared
using the filter execution time.
The research study then presents the comparative analysis of the algorithms using a
publicly available MAV benchmark datasets. Based on the results, an efficient VINS
algorithm is proposed which is suitable for MAVs.


identifier: Krutof, Anke <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Krutof=3AAnke=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Enhancement of fast pyrolysis oil fuel properties through co-pyrolysis and improved analysis.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Fast pyrolysis is a thermochemical process converting biomass into fast pyrolysis biooil
(FPBO, 50-75 wt%), non-condensable gases (13-16 wt%), and biochar (12-20 wt%)
at 450-550°C in an inert atmosphere with short residence times and high heating rates.
FPBO is a complex organic mixture of lignocellulose degradation products with high
water (20-30 wt%) and oxygen content (35-40 wt%) causing chemical instability and
corrosion to storage tanks and burners. In this work, the improvement of FPBO quality
was investigated through co-pyrolysis of forestry residues with waste mussel shells and
through improved understanding of phase behaviour and composition of forestry based
FPBO using an advanced distillation curve analysis. Co-pyrolysis with waste mussel
shells was studied by: (1) direct contact with the forestry residues in the reactor and (2)
contacting only the hot vapours with the mussel shells at the reactor exit. The impact of
temperature, residence time, mussel shell loading, and type of contact (operational
mode) on the FPBO and biochar were studied. There was a reduction in FPBO oxygen
and acid content through dehydration and decarboxylation with mussel shell addition
and an increase in biochar pH and functionality (O- and N-containing functional
groups) for soil amendment and adsorption applications, respectively. The FPBO phase
behaviour was studied using an advanced distillation method and a model developed to
simulate the distillation curves of the whole FPBO. The 17 surrogates used in the model
to represent the range of functional groups and boiling points of FPBO components showed a good fit of simulated and experimental distillation curves and some bulk properties.
GC analysis of the vacuum distillate fractions concluded six distillable steps as a
basis for chemical separation procedures.


identifier: Butler, Jessica <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Butler=3AJessica=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Psychological well-being and academic adjustment of young adult children of divorce (YACOD): a systematic review and meta-analysis.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study first examines the literature conducted in the past ten years on young-adults who experienced parental divorce in childhood and the associated predictors of adjustment and general well-being using the PRISMA model of systematic reviews. Secondly, based on these findings, a meta-analysis was conducted to identify any robust findings in the research that has been published on this topic. A total of 53 articles were included in the systematic review and 21 were included in the meta-analysis. Results demonstrate that it is not the event of parental divorce itself that presents a challenge to many young-adults in the later years, but rather extraneous factors such as lower amounts of parental support, higher parental conflict, and lower parental well-being. Despite the high degree of dispersion and variability present in the studies that were included in the analysis, results indicate that there were lasting mental health implications including depression and behavioural concerns. The most important factors in mitigating any long-term negative consequences include more parental support, high quality parent-child relationships, less parental conflict, and healthy coping styles of these young-adults.


identifier: Goodwin, Katie <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Goodwin=3AKatie=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Life's more than one niche: demographic constraints on northern black spruce range expansion in Yukon, Canada.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Species’ distributions are often characterized by the species’ niche represented in
geographic space. Species’ niches can be divided demographically, resulting in multiple
demographic niches with unique dimensions. This approach determines which life stages
have either the narrowest niche breadth or the least available niche space at the range
edge, and thus act as key demographic hurdles on range expansion. We quantified
microsites inhabited by different life stages of black spruce (Picea mariana) at subarctic
treeline in Yukon, Canada to characterize demographic niche breadth and assess how
available niche space changed towards the range edge. We found that restricted suitable
emergent niche space and viable seed availability towards the range limit were the
overwhelmingly main limiting demographic bottlenecks on northern range expansion.
Our findings suggest that demographic niches can identify life stage specific hurdles to
range expansion, contributing to our understanding of how species’ distributions will
respond to climate change.


identifier: Wiseman, Shawn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wiseman=3AShawn=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Neuromuscular mechanisms underlying changes in force production during an attentional focus task.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The objective of this thesis was to examine changes in maximal voluntary force output of the elbow flexors with attentional focus feedback cues and possible underlying physiological mechanisms for these changes. Eleven recreationally active males participated in two randomized experimental sessions (Day 1: n=11, Day 2: n=10); 1) Stimulation session where corticospinal excitability was measured and 2) No stimulation session where only electromyography and elbow flexor force was measured. In both sessions, four randomized blocks of three maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) were performed. Each block consisted of either externally or internally attentional focus cues given before each MVC. During the stimulation session transcranial magnetic, transmastoid and Erb’s point stimulations were used to induce motor evoked potentials (MEPs), cervicomedullary MEP (CMEPs) and maximal muscle action potential (Mmax). All MEPs and CMEPs were normalized to Mmax. Results showed participants could produce greater MVC force without stimulation and given an external focus cue before the MVC compared to an internal cue. Muscle co-activation data (expressed as % triceps/biceps rmsEMG) during the no stimulation session was greater with internally cued compared to externally cued contractions. There was no difference in corticospinal excitability shown between external and internal focus cues in the stimulation session. In conclusion, maximal voluntary force production of the elbow flexors was greater when an external focus feedback cue was provided. This appeared to be due to less coactivation of the triceps and biceps brachii. Secondly, stimulating the corticospinal pathway seemed to have some confounding effect on attentional focus. The distressing stimulations distracted participants from attentional focus cued feedback or stimulating the corticospinal pathway may have disrupted areas of the cortex responsible for attention and focus.


identifier: Richardson, Amy <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Richardson=3AAmy=3A=3A.html>   (2019) The devil is a myth: the dynamic uses of the folkloresque within Hellboy and Fables.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This thesis engages with the theoretical concept of the folkloresque, which considers the way in which folklore, folkloric tropes, motifs, and fuzzy allusion are integrated into popular culture materials to differing ends. Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and Bill Willingham’s Fables are considered in the vein of the folkloresque. As comics as a medium has different attributes form prose or other folkloresque products, this thesis considers the content, characters, prose, and artwork within the two series.
Hellboy uses the folkloresque categories of integration and portrayal. The series uses legends and folktales to different ends in a number of different narrative arcs. Fables plays with the folkloresque category of parody to expand upon readers’ preconceived ideas of folktale characters. Intertextuality plays heavily into folkloresque texts, adding differing dimensions depending on the reader’s already-known knowledge of folklore and this dynamic influence is examined.


identifier: Tenu, Cheerful <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Tenu=3ACheerful=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Obstacles to gender parity in political representation: the case of the Ghanaian parliament.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This thesis seeks to determine the factors that may affect the representation of women in Ghanaian politics by focusing on women’s representation in parliament, and in particular, elite attitudes about women’s representation. The study first (1) analyses traditional (mostly Western) explanations for women’s (lack of) presence in politics; and second (2) situates these explanations within the Ghanaian context; and third (3) examines data obtained from a survey of legislators in Ghana, to assess the role of elite attitudes about gender discrimination and the types of factors parliamentarians perceive to influence women’s representation in politics in this country.
My analysis suggests that gender disparities in Ghana’s politics stem from a combination of political, socio-economic and cultural factors, thus reinforcing the findings of the literature (Inglehart and Norris, 2003, p. 127; Kittilson and Schwindt- Bayer, 2013; Norris, 1989; Shvedova, 2005). Furthermore, the results from the survey data suggest that cultural factors often become formidable hindrances to gender parity in Ghana’s political democracy. Because of the role of culture in influencing women’s presence in formal politics, the study recommends that further assessment is needed in order to better understand the potential of affirmative action (specifically, imposed quotas systems) to promote women’s political representation in Ghana. As many studies of gender and politics show, without institutional change, the presence of women increases only very incrementally, even in places around the world where cultural factors may be less of a hindrance. This study contributes to the wider discourse on gender and politics by providing a framework for understanding the factors impeding Ghanaian women’s efforts in participating in politics.


identifier: Hicks, Christopher L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hicks=3AChristopher_L=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Petrological and geochemical investigation of the Michelin uranium deposit, Central Mineral Belt, Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The Michelin deposit of Labrador’s Central Mineral Belt is a Na-metasomatic
uranium deposit which has an approximate resource of 103 M lbs. U₃O₈. The deposit is
hosted in a broad series of ca. 1857 Ma fine grained porphyritic (FP) and coarse grained
porphyritic (CP) felsic volcanic rocks of the Aillik Group, which have been intruded by
several generations of mafic and felsic intrusives. Individual felsic volcanic units are
tabular and generally maintain their thickness, striking 070 and dipping southeast40-60°.
These rocks were metamorphosed to lower amphibolite facies during the ca. 1800 Ma
Makkovikian Orogeny where they were also deformed, imparting a regional penetrative
foliation. Individual FP and CP units are nearly identical consisting of a 1:1:1 quartzpotassium
feldspar-albite matrix which hosts phenocrysts of potassium feldspar, albite
and quartz; the only distinguishable difference being the sizes and abundances of the
phenocrysts. Geochemically these rocks are classified as metaluminous, high-K,
subalkaline, calc-alkaline rhyolites with an average SiO₂, Na₂O and K₂O content of 74.0,
3.5 and 5.3 wt. % respectively.
Mineralization occurs in an approximate 300-350 m wide zone that extends from
surface continuously to a depth of ~700 m. This zone ranges in thickness from 20-80 m,
which reaches a maximum thickness of 60-80 m at 300-500 m depth, narrowing away
from this zone, eventually dying out. The mineralized zone is hosted in a tight sequence
of alternating CP and FP units termed the Mine Series. These units are geochemically
related and texturally identical to unaltered units but have a drastically different
mineralogy and geochemistry due to intense alteration and mineralization. These units are comprised predominantly of albite, which can reach up to 85 %, which forms through the
sodic metasomatism of potassium feldspar grains and as secondary albite in spaces create
from quartz dissolution. Geochemically these rocks are now metaluminous to peralkaline,
low-K, alkaline, calc-alkaline rhyolites with an average SiO₂ concentration of 67.5 wt. %,
and Na₂O and K₂O averaging 9.5 and 0.10 wt. % respectively.
Uranium mineralization is concentrated within the CP units, and along the
contacts with adjacent FP units, adjacent to the contacts with syn-kinematic mafic dikes,
and in strongly deformed areas including shear and mylonite zones. Uranium
mineralization consists of micron-sized uraninite grains that contain variable amounts of
cation substitutions, consisting of radiogenic Pb, Ca, Si, Fe, Zr, Ti, and LREE. Three
distinct groupings are recognized 1) uraninite grains that only contain radiogenic Pb,
these are often partially-completely surrounded by 2) uraninite grains with Si-Ca-Pb-Zr-
Ce, these still contain some radiogenic Pb but interaction with the altering hydrothermal
fluid most likely caused the substitution of Ca-Si-Zr-Ce into the uraninite structure,
finally group 3) contains large Si concentrations with Ca-Fe-Zr-Ti, these partially
surround group 2 and most likely represent continued interaction between uraninite
grains and the altering fluid. Uranous ions in the hydrothermal fluid precipitated through
the oxidation of hematite and are closely associated with titanite grains.
Two styles of alteration affect the felsic volcanic rocks. The first being a
widespread pervasive sodic metasomatism, marked by the ion exchange of K⁺ for Na⁺ in
potassium feldspar, that envelopes the deposit. This completely strips the rocks of K₂O, Rb and Tl and increases the Na₂O content by as much as 3-5 wt. %. The second style of
alteration is concentrated within the mineralized zone and consists of several different
styles. The first being quartz dissolution, during which quartz is nearly completely
removed from the rock. This is marked by a decrease in SiO₂ by ~8 wt. %. The space
created from the dissolved quartz in the groundmass and phenocrysts is filled with
secondary alteration minerals including albite, sodic amphibole and pyroxene, calcite,
and uraninite. Increased sodic alteration, involving the alteration of biotite and
hornblende to sodic amphiboles and pyroxenes, and the formation of secondary albite and
sodic amphibole and pyroxene occurs concurrently with quartz dissolution, increasing the
Na₂O content of the rock to 9-11 wt. %. The rocks also undergo variable hematitization,
due to the oxidation of magnetite. Hematite alteration and uranium mineralization are
closely related and higher mineralized zones within the mineralized zone show a more
intense hematite alteration, and greater magnetite destruction. Zr is also mobilized during
alteration, forming new secondary growth around pre-existing grains, the Zr content
within the mineralized zone doubles, from an average of 450 ppm in unaltered rock to
950 ppm in mineralized rock. Mass balance calculations indicate that there are slight
enrichments of Al₂O₃, CaO, FeO, Sr, V, Y, LREE, As, and Be associated with alteration,
and minor depletions in Ba and Sb. Finally, calcite forms during the later stages of
alteration filling remaining available pore space within the rock.


identifier: Morshed, MD Anan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Morshed=3AMD_Anan=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Numerical modeling of oblique pipeline-soil interaction in dense sand.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Buried pipelines are a safe, economical and efficient way of transporting oil and gas in both onshore and
offshore environments. The pipeline generally passes through a wide variety of soil, and is buried at
varying depths to maintain the flow of hydrocarbon by minimizing heat loss and avoiding interference
with other human activities. Pipelines are usually installed in a trench and then backfilled with loose to
medium dense sand. This backfill materials might be densified due to natural phenomena such as wave
action at offshore shallow water depths. During operation, the pipeline might be subjected to loads resulting
from oblique movement through the soil. The force/resistance due to relative displacement between soil
and pipe during oblique movement is an important parameter for safe and economic engineering design.
In the present study, an advanced numerical analysis is conducted to understand the pipe–soil interaction
during oblique loading in dense sand. The Mohr–Coulomb (MC) and a Modified Mohr–Coulomb (MMC)
are used for numerical analyses. Showing the limitations of the MC model, the advantages of the MMC
model are shown for oblique loading cases. The importance of boundary conditions in the oblique loading
analysis is shown. This study also focuses on the problems of current design practice where soil is
represented as spring. It shows the importance of developing a new guideline for oblique loading, showing
the limitation of ALA and PRCI guidelines. Large deformation finite element analysis is performed using
the Arbitrary Lagrangian and Eulerian (ALE) method. The necessity of post-peak analysis is shown via
yield surface formation for geohazard analysis. A parametric study is performed to show the effects of
different oblique loading angles, diameters and embedment ratios on the force/resistance due to relative
displacement between soil and pipe.


identifier: Pujara, Hardevi Harsha Chanrakant <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pujara=3AHardevi_Harsha_Chanrakant=3A=3A.html>   (1980) An examination of familial correlates of child psychiatric disorders.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the familial correlates of psychiatric disorders in children receiving psychiatric services in Newfoundland.

The data for the study were collected through personal interviews with the parents of forty-five children receiving psychiatric services during a specified period of time. A structured questionnaire was administered to this sample consisting of parents of all ages, and occupational background. The data thus obtained were compared with the data obtained in a major research project on family life in St. John's, Newfoundland, using the same form of questionnaire.

A review of literature revealed that the family environments of children with psychiatric condition were unsuitable in many ways. Four main areas were discerned: 1) Marital Relationship of Parents, 2) Family Size, 3) Parental adequancy determined by their readiness for parenthood, and 4) Parents' Motives for having Children.

Theories of personality development supported the basic contention that deficiency in the family environment may cause child psychiatric disorders through its influence on parent-child relationship. A total of sixteen hypotheses were derived in the four areas of family life. An analysis of findings confirmed all but two hypotheses.

The general conclusion arrived at was that the marital relationship of parents of children with psychiatric disorders was conflict ridden. These children also came from relatively large families. The parents of these children reported being not ready to assume the parental role, and they lacked knowledge about child rearing. Many were dissatisfied with the role of child rearing. It was also noted that the parents of children with psychiatric disorders differed in their motives for having children; from that of the general population.

These findings are relevant to social workers and other personnel who work with children and their families, in child guidance clinics, in family counselling centers, in child welfare organizations, and so on in that they provide some measure of understanding of the background of children who are troubled and need assistance with their social and personal adjustment. Statistics indicate an upward trend in the population of children requiring psychiatric services, drawing attention to the need for competent mental health services for children and their families. Further research is therefore required to identify those social programs which strengthen family life, with a view to providing preventive treatment.


identifier: Mao, Wendong <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Mao=3AWendong=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Learning-based stereo matching for 3D reconstruction.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Stereo matching has been widely adopted for 3D reconstruction of real world
scenes and has enormous applications in the fields of Computer Graphics, Vision,
and Robotics. Being an ill-posed problem, estimating accurate disparity maps is a
challenging task. However, humans rely on binocular vision to perceive 3D environments
and can estimate 3D information more rapidly and robustly than many active
and passive sensors that have been developed. One of the reasons is that human brains
can utilize prior knowledge to understand the scene and to infer the most reasonable
depth hypothesis even when the visual cues are lacking. Recent advances in machine
learning have shown that the brain's discrimination power can be mimicked using deep
convolutional neural networks. Hence, it is worth investigating how learning-based
techniques can be used to enhance stereo matching for 3D reconstruction.
Toward this goal, a sequence of techniques were developed in this thesis: a novel
disparity filtering approach that selects accurate disparity values through analyzing
the corresponding cost volumes using 3D neural networks; a robust semi-dense stereo
matching algorithm that utilizes two neural networks for computing matching cost
and performing confidence-based filtering; a novel network structure that learns global
smoothness constraints and directly performs multi-view stereo matching based on
global information; and finally a point cloud consolidation method that uses a neural
network to reproject noisy data generated by multi-view stereo matching under
different viewpoints. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons with existing works
demonstrate the respective merits of these presented techniques.


identifier: Teed, Laura L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Teed=3ALaura_L=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Calcium carbonate production, growth, and spatial extent of Lithothamnion glaciale in a Newfoundland rhodolith bed along environmental gradients.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Rhodolith beds are highly diverse benthic ecosystems that are distributed worldwide and contribute significantly to global carbon budgets. Discovery of rhodolith beds in Newfoundland has stimulated research on Northwest Atlantic rhodolith (Lithothamnion glaciale) CaCO₃ production and the factors that influence rhodolith beds. The present study estimated CaCO₃ production rate in a rhodolith bed off the coast of St. Philip’s, Conception Bay, Newfoundland using compared methodological approaches of extension and weight change. This study also examined bioturbator influence on rhodolith extension and CaCO₃ production rate. Applying weight change to rhodolith densities yielded gross and net CaCO₃ production rates of approximately 806 and 196 g CaCO₃ m⁻² y⁻¹, respectively. Applying extension to rhodolith biomass yielded a net CaCO₃ production rate of 163 g CaCO₃ m⁻² y⁻¹. Bioturbator presence did not impact extension or CaCO₃ production. Regarding the spatial distribution and abundance of rhodoliths, one prevalent paradigm is that rhodoliths occur in areas where water motion is strong enough to prevent burial by sediments, but not so strong as to cause fragmentation. A drop camera survey estimated rhodolith abundance in a Newfoundland bed and estimated the influence of several environmental parameters, including water motion. Rhodoliths were found to occur further south in St. Philip’s than previously reported. Rhodolith abundance was highly influenced by slope, temperature, and light where abundance increased with light, temperature and decreasing slope. Flow acceleration (water motion) did not vary with depth and remained low, challenging the long-standing paradigm that water motion is a main factor determining rhodolith bed boundaries.


identifier: Danial, Syed Nasir <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Danial=3ASyed_Nasir=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Software agents & human behavior.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Software agents & human behavior

abstract:
People make important decisions in emergencies. Often these decisions involve high stakes in terms of lives and property. Bhopal disaster (1984), Piper Alpha disaster (1988), Montara blowout (2009), and explosion on Deepwater Horizon (2010) are a few examples among many industrial incidents. In these incidents, those who were in-charge took critical decisions under various ental stressors such as time, fatigue, and panic. This thesis presents an application of naturalistic decision-making (NDM), which is a recent decision-making theory inspired by experts making decisions in real emergencies.
This study develops an intelligent agent model that can be programed to make human-like decisions in emergencies. The agent model has three major components: (1) A spatial learning module, which the agent uses to learn escape routes that are designated routes in a facility for emergency evacuation, (2) a situation recognition module, which is used to recognize or distinguish among evolving emergency situations, and (3) a decision-support module, which exploits modules in (1) and (2), and implements an NDM based decision-logic for producing human-like decisions in emergencies.
The spatial learning module comprises a generalized stochastic Petri net-based model of spatial learning. The model classifies routes into five classes based on landmarks, which are objects with salient spatial features. These classes deal with the question of how difficult a landmark turns out to be when an agent observes it the first time during a route traversal. An extension to the spatial learning model is also proposed where the question of how successive route traversals may impact retention of a route in the agent’s memory is investigated.
The situation awareness module uses Markov logic network (MLN) to define different offshore emergency situations using First-order Logic (FOL) rules. The purpose of this module is to give the agent the necessary experience of dealing with emergencies. The potential of this module lies in the fact that different training samples can be used to produce agents having different experience or capability to deal with an emergency situation. To demonstrate this fact, two agents were developed and trained using two different sets of empirical observations. The two are found to be different in recognizing the prepare-to-abandon-platform alarm (PAPA ), and similar to each other in recognition of an emergency using other cues.
Finally, the decision-support module is proposed as a union of spatial-learning module, situation awareness module, and NDM based decision-logic. The NDM-based decision-logic is inspired by Klein’s (1998) recognition primed decision-making (RPDM) model. The agent’s attitudes related to decision-making as per the RPDM are represented in the form of belief, desire, and intention (BDI). The decision-logic involves recognition of situations based on experience (as proposed in situation-recognition module), and recognition of situations based on classification, where ontological classification is used to guide the agent in cases where the agent’s experience about confronting a situation is inadequate. At the planning stage, the decision-logic exploits the agent’s spatial knowledge (as proposed in spatial-learning module) about the layout of the environment to make adjustments in the course of actions relevant to a decision that has already been made as a by-product of situation recognition.
The proposed agent model has potential to be used to improve virtual training environment’s fidelity by adding agents that exhibit human-like intelligence in performing tasks related to emergency evacuation. Notwithstanding, the potential to exploit the basis provided here, in the form of an agent representing human fallibility, should not be ignored for fields like human reliability analysis.


identifier: Farrell, Natasha <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Farrell=3ANatasha=3A=3A.html>   (2019) << Penser en images >> : Irène Némirovsky, un attrait pour le cinéma.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Mon mémoire se penche sur les rapports entre Irène Némirovsky et le cinéma et a pour objectif d’analyser trois scénarios inédits d’Irène Némirovsky, écrits pendant la période de transition vers le cinéma parlant : La Symphonie de Paris (1931), Noël (1932) et Carnaval de Nice (1932). En inscrivant mes analyses dans la perspective d’intermédialité développée par Jürgen Müller et en utilisant la définition de scénario d’Isabelle Raynauld, la question principale que je traiterai sera la suivante : comment Irène Némirovsky a-t-elle abordé le genre scénaristique, l’usage des indications sonores et l’emploi de procédés typiquement cinématographiques (comme le gros plan, la surimpression, les fondus) pour rencontrer ce nouveau média émergeant, le cinéma parlant ? Dans l’histoire des rapports entre littérature et cinéma, on ne retient d’Irène Némirovsky que les adaptations de David Golder (Duvivier 1931) et du Bal (Thiele 1931). Mon travail de recherche éclairera donc une autre partie de son travail en mettant de l’avant une production typiquement écrite pour le cinéma – le scénario –, en démontrant qu’il subit l’influence d’un important bouleversement technique – le cinéma parlant –, tout en s’inscrivant dans la continuité de l’oeuvre littéraire d’Irène Némirovsky.


identifier: Assi, Ibsal A T <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Assi=3AIbsal_A_T=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Magnetic excitations in quantum rare earth pyrochlores.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Rare-earth pyrochlores are materials with chemical formula A₂B₂O₇, where A is the
rare-earth ion and B is a transition metal. At low temperature, these systems host
various magnetic states such as spin ice, spin liquid state, ferromagnetic ordering, all
in-all out, and anti-ferromagnetic ordering. For each rare-earth ion with total angular
momentum J, the 2J + 1 fold degeneracy splits into singlets and doublets due to the
crystal electric field. However, the crystal electric field ground state for most of the
magnetic ions is a doublet that comes into three different varieties, labeled as ┌₃, ┌₄, ┌₅,₆. This work focuses only on systems in which the ground state doublet is well-separated from the first excited state so that we end up with effective two=state systems, referred to as quantum rare-earth pyrochlores. The low temperature excitations of interacting spins have a wave nature and are referred to as spin waves or magnons, where the energy of these waves is quantized. To study these magnons, we apply the Holstein-Primakoff transformation on the effective spin Hamiltonian to construct a bosonic Hamiltonian that describes magnons. In this study, we limit ourselves to the linear spin-wave approximation in which we diagonalize the magnonic Hamiltonian analytically and numerically for various systems of interest. In particular, we study magnons in Nd₂Zr₂O₇ which orders in an all in-all out state near 0.285 K, in Er₂Ti₂O₇ with a antiferromagnetic state below 1.2 K, and finally the Yb₂Ti₂O₇ which orders ferromagnetically near 0.2 K.


identifier: Amoah, Harriet Afrakomah <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Amoah=3AHarriet_Afrakomah=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Experiences of intimate partner violence in child marriages in Ghana.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Globally, over 60 million girls marry before the age of 18. The adverse health and social effects of child marriage are numerous; early marriage denies girls the right to enjoy their childhood and adolescence, creates gender inequality in education, negatively affects employment opportunities, and restricts the freedom to make decisions on psychosocial/ emotional well-being. More recent research, mostly quantitative, shows the increased risk of IPV among women who marry before 18 years of age. However, there is a dearth of research on the factors that predispose this group of women to IPV, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa which houses a large percentage of the world’s child brides. Similarly, the IPV literature mostly explores IPV experiences among women in the general population, paying little attention to the unique experiences of “child brides.”

Using 15 semi-structured, qualitative, in-depth interviews, I probe the lived experience, context, narratives, and subjective meanings Ghanaian women who marry as children give to child marriage and IPV, and the factors which according to these women, contribute to their IPV experiences. The women in my study come from the Bawku West district in the Upper East region of Ghana. Most say they have experienced physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse from their intimate partners. They are economically dependent on their partners and/or have insufficient autonomy to either refuse sex or make decisions because of the wide age gap. Some also identify issues such as polygamy and cultural beliefs and practices as contributing factors.

This study demonstrates the need to raise awareness among Ghanaians on the detrimental effect of child marriage and to enact policies/law against the practice.


identifier: Rosemary, Edomwandekhoe Amen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Rosemary=3AEdomwandekhoe_Amen=3A=3A.html>   (2019) La révolte de la femme Africaine: une lecture de Rebelle de Fatou Keïta.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Longtemps reléguée au rang de « subalterne », la femme africaine s’engage dans une lutte contre les injustices et l’oppression de l’ordre patriarcal. La prise de parole par des romancières africaines participe aussi de ce combat pour la libération de la femme. Ce mémoire analyse la révolte de la femme africaine dans le roman Rebelle de l’Ivoirienne Fatou Keïta. En s’appuyant sur les travaux tels que Le deuxième sexe de Simone de Beauvoir et et Les subalternes peuvent-elles parler ? de Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, ce travail examine le parcours héroïque de Malimouma, le personnage principal, écrasée dès son enfance par la machine phallocratique. Armée d’une détermination et d’un courage intrépides, elle affronte tout au long de sa vie les différentes épreuves imposées par les traditionalistes. Cependant, il faut souligner que sa révolte contre les traditions obsolètes avilissant la gent féminine a essentiellement pour objectif la reconnaissance et la libération de la femme ; autrement dit, elle vise beaucoup moins une quelconque quête du pouvoir.


identifier: Almatarneh, Ansam <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Almatarneh=3AAnsam=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Evaluation of face recognition algorithms under noise.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
One of the major applications of computer vision and image processing is face recognition,
where a computerized algorithm automatically identifies a person’s face from
a large image dataset or even from a live video. This thesis addresses facial recognition,
a topic that has been widely studied due to its importance in many applications
in both civilian and military domains. The application of face recognition systems
has expanded from security purposes to social networking sites, managing fraud, and
improving user experience. Numerous algorithms have been designed to perform face
recognition with good accuracy. This problem is challenging due to the dynamic nature
of the human face and the different poses that it can take. Regardless of the
algorithm, facial recognition accuracy can be heavily affected by the presence of noise.
This thesis presents a comparison of traditional and deep learning face recognition
algorithms under the presence of noise. For this purpose, Gaussian and salt-andpepper
noises are applied to the face images drawn from the ORL Dataset. The
image recognition is performed using each of the following eight algorithms: principal
component analysis (PCA), two-dimensional PCA (2D-PCA), linear discriminant
analysis (LDA), independent component analysis (ICA), discrete cosine transform
(DCT), support vector machine (SVM), convolution neural network (CNN) and Alex
Net. The ORL dataset was used in the experiments to calculate the evaluation accuracy
for each of the investigated algorithms. Each algorithm is evaluated with two
experiments; in the first experiment only one image per person is used for training,
whereas in the second experiment, five images per person are used for training. The investigated traditional algorithms are implemented with MATLAB and the deep
learning algorithms approaches are implemented with Python. The results show that
the best performance was obtained using the DCT algorithm with 92% dominant
eigenvalues and 95.25 % accuracy, whereas for deep learning, the best performance
was using a CNN with accuracy of 97.95%, which makes it the best choice under noisy
conditions.


identifier: Maity, Barun <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Maity=3ABarun=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Origin of mafic and potassic to ultrapotassic rocks, Manicouagan area, central Grenville Province: geochemical and geochronological constraints on the evolution of the Mesoproterozoic SE Laurentian margin and the Grenvillian LHO.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The southeastern margin of Laurentia preserves evidence for a long episode of juvenile crustal growth and recycling extending from the late Paleoproterozoic and throughout the Mesoproterozoic (~1.9–1.2 Ga). This was terminated by the onset of the Grenvillian continental collision (~1.1–0.98 Ga), forming a large, hot, long-duration orogen (LHO), comparable in scale to the modern day Himalayan-Tibet LHO. The Grenvillian LHO has been subdivided into the ca. 1090-1020 Ma Ottawan phase for which evidence is preserved in allochthonous rocks in the orogenic hinterland, and the ca. 1005-980 Ma Rigolet phase for which evidence is mainly preserved in the parautochthonous foreland (Rivers et al. 2012).
Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic metamorphosed mafic and unmetamorphosed potassic to ultrapotassic rocks from the Canyon domain, part of the polycyclic allochthonous, medium-pressure (aMP) belt of the Grenville Orogen in the Manicouagan area, central Grenville Province, were investigated using integrated petrographic, geochronological, isotopic, and geochemical methods. The principal results of the thesis, presented as three Chapters (2 - 4), are summarized below.
In Chapter 2, U-Pb TIMS geochronology of zircon, and whole-rock geochemical and Sm-Nd isotopic analyses of two granulite-facies mafic tholeiitic suites, provide constraints on: (i) the emplacement of crust-contaminated, depleted to enriched MORB-type, high Fe-Ti-P mafic sills at 1439⁺⁷⁶₋₆₈ Ma within a ca. 1.5 Ga supracrustal sequence that was under limited extension at that time, probably in a back-arc setting; and (ii) emplacement of a crust-contaminated, enriched MORB to arc-type mafic intrusive suite, previously dated at 1410 ± 16 Ma, in a transitional back-arc to arc setting. Integrated with published information, these results support the existing model of a long-lived continental margin arc on the southeastern margin of Laurentia, with intermittent back-arc opening and closure during Geons 15-14.
In Chapter 3, U-Pb TIMS geochronology of zircon from two suites of granulite-facies mafic rocks has yielded ages of 1007.7 ± 2.0 Ma for the syn-metamorphic emplacement of dykes, and 997.0 ± 3.8 Ma for the emplacement of sills. Whole-rock geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the mafic rocks, coupled with petrogenetic modelling, indicate that they are tholeiitic intraplate basalts derived from ~4-10% decompression melting of upwelled asthenosphere, followed by ~4-20% contamination by crust or subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM). Combined with published data, these results provide evidence for late-orogenic (post-Ottawan) lithospheric extension, which led to melting of Proterozoic SCLM, decompression melting of upwelling asthenosphere, and granulite-facies metamorphism in the crust.
In Chapter 4, whole-rock geochemical and isotopic (Sr, Nd, Pb, and O) data for a suite of ca. 980 Ma, late- to post-tectonic, potassic to ultrapotassic dykes suggest two geochemically distinct groups, which formed by melting of spinel and garnet peridotite that were metasomatized by MARID-type vein assemblages containing amphibole, phlogopite, and accessory Fe-Ti-P phases. Their enriched EM I-type mantle sources were metasomatized by ancient subduction of carbonate, phosphate, and pelagic sediments. The late-tectonic group was derived from Proterozoic SCLM, whereas the post-tectonic group was derived from depleted late-Archean SCLM that had undergone early Paleoproterozoic metasomatism. Moreover, both the sources experienced an early Neoproterozoic metasomatism that is mainly attributed to late-Grenvillian continental subduction and asthenospheric upwelling. These data suggest that the terminal Rigolet phase convergence of the Grenvillian orogeny was intracontinental, characterized by foreland subduction, where progressively older components of SCLM underwent partial melting. Hence, with continued subduction, SCLM, initially of Proterozoic age and eventually of late-Archean age, became transported beneath the orogenic core, with the Archean Superior lithosphere being situated beneath the Grenvillian hinterland by ca. 980 Ma.
The late-Grenvillian mafic rocks (Chapter 3) and potassic to ultrapotassic rocks (Chapter 4), together with published structural, geochronological and metamorphic data from the nearby Parautochthonous Belt, suggest that post-Ottawan lithospheric extension was followed by Rigolet intracontinental subduction beginning at ca. 1005 Ma, which in turn led to termination of the long-duration Grenvillian LHO by ca. 980 Ma.


identifier: LeBlanc, Brandon Scott <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/LeBlanc=3ABrandon_Scott=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Universities, human rights codes, and the charter: declarations of students' rights as a mechanism for protecting fundamental freedoms at Canadian universities.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: University campuses have historically served as spaces in which individuals are free to participate in critical thought and unrestricted inquiry. The marketplace of ideas is fundamental to higher education, but is increasingly under threat. Anti-discrimination initiatives of public law have failed to sufficiently protect students from the discriminatory actions of university administrations. The judiciary’s liberal constitutional interpretation of the application provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has deemed the Charter applicable only to government activity, while human rights legislation suffers from a lack of consistency and has proven unreliable in the context of private entities engaged in public interests. To solve the dilemma, the author argues that universities ought to reconfigure internal policy that seeks to respect, protect, and uphold the rights and freedoms of students. Properly enforced, this improved human rights framework provides a stable alternative to abstract applications of public law.


identifier: Chezenko, Griffyn G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Chezenko=3AGriffyn_G=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Breaking through: measuring a third party's pathway to power in Nova Scotia, Canada.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Nova Scotia's politics have historically been defined by their tendency towards “tradition and conservatism” (Beck, 1954; 1978). Provincial elections, for instance, typically had two competitors, the Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties, with a minimal presence among third parties. Moreover, as elections in Nova Scotia are conducted within the confines of a plurality system, the presence of a two-party system in the province served as an example of Duverger's Law (1955) at work, a theory which claims that two-partism naturally occurs where plurality electoral systems are in place. Since the 1998 general election, however, Nova Scotia has experienced a series of elections that are indicative of a shift towards a three-party system, as the New Democratic party (NSNDP) has emerged from its position as the perennial third party to form both the official opposition and, in 2009, the first ever NSNDP government. Drawing upon data found in election returns, this thesis employs measures taken from the political science literature, such as the effective number of parties (ENP), to explore the dynamics of electoral competition in Nova Scotia over the last 85 years, with particular emphasis placed on the performance of the third party. The question driving this research, namely how the historically third-place NSNDP emerged as a viable governing alternative to the two traditional parties, will be explored by analyzing the data herein, and by examining possible cleavages that created the opportunity for a third party to break through as a primary competitor and potential government-in-waiting, regardless of an electoral system that purportedly permits just two parties to thrive.


identifier: Zhang, Yushuo <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zhang=3AYushuo=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Exploring the communicative competence of Chinese graduate students at Memorial University.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A considerable number of Chinese international students enter Canada to pursue higher education every year. However, their less than adequate education in communicative competence domestically causes challenges in intercultural communication even for those students who study abroad by pursuing their Master's or doctoral degree. A great number of studies about Chinese students and their experiences in English speaking countries have been done in recent years. However, little research has provided a holistic picture of what Chinese students think about their own communicative competence, how they improve it consciously as well as what they think of the social and academic support offered by their universities. Therefore, this phenomenological ethnographic qualitative research project intends to fill this research gap. The results show that participants in this study perceived more challenges in terms of pragmatic competence and fluency. The strategies they used and the support provided by Memorial University and the province for improving their communicative competence were described. Pedagogical implications for ESL teachers and further support that should be provided by MUN are also addressed.


identifier: Plommer, Hart <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Plommer=3AHart=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Aluminum coordination complexes in polymerization catalysis.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Polymers based on renewable feedstocks are desirable alternatives to fossil fuel-based conventional plastics. Aliphatic polycarbonates and some polyesters including poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) are biodegradable polymers commonly produced by ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) and ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Controlled, active, inexpensive, and non-toxic catalysts are needed for these ROP reactions. In this thesis, aluminum amino-phenolate complexes bearing different pendent donors were synthesized and fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and elemental analysis. The complexes were investigated as catalysts for ROP of cyclohexene oxide (CHO), ROCOP of CHO/CO₂, and ROP of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL). The produced polymers were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
Complexes containing different outer-sphere heteroatoms (NMe in N-piperazinyl or O in N-morpholinyl) showed markedly different reactivities in ROP of CHO, with the N-morpholinyl catalyst being more active. In ROCOP of CHO/CO₂, pendent donors within the aluminum complexes had considerable influence on the selectivity towards copolymer. In addition, removal of the pendent donor generated catalyst systems that were more active. Generally, the copolymers produced were of strictly alternating character when bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)iminium chloride (PPNCl) was used as a co-catalyst. Cationic aluminum complexes were prepared which contained a weakly coordinating anion (WCA) and the cationic aluminum centre was stabilized by a bidentate N-morpholinyl moiety bound through both the oxygen and nitrogen atoms. When the aluminum complexes containing a WCA stable to alcoholysis were combined with protic co-initiators (EtOH, glycerol carbonate) they formed living catalyst systems for the ROP of ε-CL, producing poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with narrow dispersity (Đ = 1.00–1.05). Kinetic studies allowed the determination of activation parameters, which were consistent with a coordination-insertion mechanism.


identifier: Dalton, Kathryn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dalton=3AKathryn=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Matching treatment to develoment: emerging adults and substance-use disorder.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Emerging adults (age 18-25) drop out of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment earlier than those age 26+. Retention in treatment is important as it is correlated to long-term sobriety. There is a gap in the literature on how to improve retention in emerging adults. Through a systematic review and qualitative study, this thesis explored the best options to improve treatment retention in emerging adults with SUD. The systematic review summarized the literature and identified the highest treatment retention is reported to occur with contingency management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and opioid replacement therapy. In the qualitative study, health care professionals (HCPs) were interviewed regarding facilitators and barriers of treatment retention. Four themes were identified: 1) the emerging adults’ development, 2) their addiction and recovery, 3) the environment, and 4) SUD programing. Future recommendations include tailoring SUD programming to the developmental needs of emerging adults and involving HCPs in the design of SUD programming.


identifier: Hossain, Mohammad Akhtar <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hossain=3AMohammad_Akhtar=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Chronic kidney disease prevalence and nephrology service delivery in Newfoundland and Labrador health regions.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among kidney patients in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). This study aims to investigate the burden of CKD across geographic areas in NL and the utilization pattern for nephrology services. The ultimate goal is to inform future service planning in NL.
This is a retrospective cohort study of 40,465 CKD patients’ administrative data recorded over a 5-year period (2011-15). We compared the differences in nephrology service accessibility and frequency of nephrologist visit follow-up among the four health regions. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
This study found that only 7.3% of NL CKD patients were in contact with nephrologists within one year of CKD being identifiable based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Male CKD patients have a 1.4-fold (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3-1.5 (p < 0.05) higher chance of seeing a nephrologist than female CKD patients. Among diabetic patients, only 12.8% of patients were tested for their urine albumin-creatinine ratio. On the other hand, only 4.5% of all CKD patients had a urine analysis performed. This is an underutilization of urine testing, which is a key diagnostic test that care-providers are failing to offer. Except for in the Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority (ERIHA), patients from all other health regions faced difficulties in accessing nephrology care in their own regions.
Development of telehealth and e-health programs and decentralizing CKD early detection and risk identification and care by a robust kidney outreach program would be useful for optimal CKD care in NL.


identifier: Saad, Mohamed <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Saad=3AMohamed=3A=3A.html>   (2019) The effect of footwear on muscle activation during exercise induced-fatigue.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study investigates the effect of wearing two different types of running footwear: minimalist (MIN), 178g, versus shod, (SH), 349g on lower limb muscle activation during exercise-induced fatigue. Ten well-trained long-distance runners (aged 29.0±7.5; BMI 38.6 ± 6.5 kg m⁻²; Volume oxygen uptake (VO₂max) 61.6±7.3 mL min⁻¹ Kg⁻¹) partook in the study. The participants ran seven (7 X 1000 m) high-intensity running intervals at speeds within 94 - 97% of their maximal aerobic capacity. These fatiguing trials were completed on a 200-m, unbanked Mondo surface indoor running track. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded from five lower limb muscles: biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius, gluteus maximus, tibialis anterior, and vastus lateral. The integrated EMG (iEMG) and root mean square (RMS), EMG frequency and Stride Frequency were compared for the two running conditions. Findings reveal that the only statistically significant main effect of the shoe occurred in iEMG (F (₁, ₉) = 6.137, P = .035), and RMS (F (₁, ₉) = .5.573, P = .043) for the medial gastrocnemius as a function of wearing MIN. In addition, there was only a main effect of the shoe on the stride frequency (F (₁, ₉) = 9.151, P = .014) as a function of wearing MIN. The mean stride frequency values were higher in MIN conditions (92.800 stride/minutes) compared to SH conditions (90.600 stride/minutes). This study suggests that MIN footwear used in this study did not affect EMG amplitude (iEMG and RMS) or EMG frequency of lower limb muscles during exercise-induced fatigue when compared to SH due to low minimalist index. Additionally, results showed that MIN footwear increased stride frequency compared with SH footwear.


identifier: Morrison, Megan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Morrison=3AMegan=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Through the window: creativity as a tool for family members caring for a loved-one living with dementia.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study provides first-hand arts-informed narratives from caregivers at locations in St. John's and rural Newfoundland. The narratives draw attention to the creativity involved in providing care to a family member with dementia by exploring the less visible aspects of the caregiving role and illustrate that caregivers attend to personhood through creativity. The objective of the research was to provide a deeper understanding of the caregiving role through exhibiting participants’ creative projects at a community venue. The study took place in St. John's, NL Canada between 2012 and 2014. Twelve family caregivers shared their caregiving story through an initial meeting, a creative project, and an art exhibit. The participants engaged with symbol, metaphor, imagery, and text to share their narratives using song-writing, singing, home renovation, photography, painting, poetry, short story, film, pencil-sketch, geo-caching, felted-wool, digital story, mixed media, and play-dough. The artifacts created by the participants helped the participants to articulate their caregiving roles and the often invisible work they do. This study found that caring for a family member who is living with dementia is essentially a creative solution-finding role. In looking at these family caregivers through a creative lens, one can see otherwise invisible aspects of their lives. This research contributes to how we understand the context of caring for a loved one with dementia.


identifier: Brooks, Dianna <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Brooks=3ADianna=3A=3A.html>   (2019) The prevalence and correlates of childhood sexual abuse in a national sample of Canadian women.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study examined the prevalence and correlates of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among a large nationally representative sample of Canadian women (age 20-64). Among the 7,862 women age 20 through 64 who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey of Mental Health (CCHS-MH; Statistics Canada, 2013), 1027 (13.01%) reported a history of CSA prior to age 16. Data associated with 2,054 participants were extracted from the Canadian Community Health Survey of Mental Health (CCHS-MH; Statistics Canada, 2013) and further analyzed. Women who reported a history of CSA were significantly more likely to meet diagnostic criteria (lifetime and 12-month) for all psychiatric disorders examined in the present analysis including major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, substance and alcohol use disorders, and bipolar disorder compared to an age-matched sample of women without a CSA history. Lifetime and 12-month suicidal ideation were also significantly higher among those women with a CSA history, along with prevalence of a prior PTSD diagnosis. Significantly poorer outcomes were observed for those women with a CSA history across all socio-demographic (marital status, level of education, personal income) and quality of life (community belonging, self-rated mental health, life satisfaction) variables included in the present analysis. Findings were discussed within the context of existing research on the prevalence and correlates of CSA internationally and within Canada.


identifier: Nykyforak, Joan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Nykyforak=3AJoan=3A=3A.html>   (2019) An exploration of Korean students' experiences studying English in Canada.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, international student enrollment in
Canadian universities is on the rise (Statistics Canada, 2016). International students made up
eleven percent of the total student population at Canadian universities in 2014, increasing from
seven percent a decade prior. International students contribute significantly to the Canadian
economy (OECD, 2013), which is one of the reasons why many post-secondary institutions
strive to recruit students from abroad (Fama, 2011). One method of recruiting international
students is though offering English language learning programs at the tertiary level in Canada
(Chen, 2017). While enrolled in these programs, international students contribute to Canada in a
variety of meaningful ways. Upon returning to their home country after their studies in Canada,
these students can take on the reverse role as ambassadors of their host country (Jamaludin, Sam,
& Sandal, 2018), serving as sources of information about studying in Canada in their peer
groups. As much as Canadian schools endeavor to attract and retain international students there
is little that can be done to access these students’ informal evaluations of their experiences in
their host country once they have returned home and are telling their peers about their time spent
abroad. Since word-of-mouth referrals factor into the decision to study abroad (Mazzarol &
Soutar, 2002), it is important to know what students returning from language programs in
Canada have to say about their experiences. At present, much research on international students
in Canadian language programs has focused on the experiences of Chinese students whereas
little is known about Korean university students participating in language programs in Canada.
This study employs a qualitative research approach using a a basic interpretive design and took
place in Kongju, South Korea. It involved a small, purposive sampling of five university-aged
Korean students who had recently returned from studying English in short-term language
programs in various regions in Canada. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured
interviews, guided by this study’s research questions. This study found that English language
learning programs which include social aspects are more likely to engender a positive word-of-mouth
response from their participants.


identifier: Ghaderi, Gelareh <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ghaderi=3AGelareh=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Geographic accessibility and risk of hospitalization and mortality among patients with chronic respiratory diseases.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Spatial differences exist in hospitalization and mortality among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. Objective: Examine the association between geographic accessibility, hospitalization, and mortality among COPD and asthma patients in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Methods: A retrospective cohort of adults diagnosed with COPD and asthma were followed from diagnosis until hospitalization, death or end of the study. Geographic accessibility was defined using accessibility-remoteness index. Multivariate and geospatial analyses were performed. Result: We identified 44876 (43.8% inaccessible) COPD patients and 28316 asthma patients (37.4% inaccessible). Living in inaccessible areas increased hospitalization incidence for COPD (OR=2.57, 95% CI 1.54-4.25, P<0.00136) and asthma (OR=12.38, 95% CI:6.28-24.46, P<0.001). Mortality was associated with geographic accessibility only for COPD (OR=10.73, 95% CI; 2.27-44.77, P=0.002). COPD hospitalization (MI=0.034, p<0.03), mortality (MI=0.047, p<0.011) and asthma hospitalization (MI=0.065, p<0.001) were spatially autocorrelated. Conclusion: Living with chronic respiratory diseases in NL remote areas increases risk of hospitalization.


identifier: Kudela, Izabela <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kudela=3AIzabela=3A=3A.html>   (2019) The application of traveltime inverse in linearly inhomogeneous and elliptically anisotropic media.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
We use ray methods for seismological investigations that allow us to address a variety
of problems by applying several mathematical tools.
With the assumption of elliptical anisotropy and linear inhomogeneity, it results in
simplifications of the equations; thereby, it allows us to obtain analytic expressions
for the trajectories of seismic signals, as well as their traveltimes. Traveltimes are
essential for processing and velocity determination from VSP surveys.
To solve the inverse problem, we minimize the difference between the traveltimes
calculated from the model and traveltimes from the dataset. We ensure that for a
single medium, the inverse is stable and gives unique solutions. For the more complex
problems with many parameters, we examine the stability of the inversion.
Herein, we investigate one particular case of eight symmetry classes that material
described by a Hookean solid can possess. We consider a particular case of the trans-
versely isotropic (TI) medium. An accurate enough analogy of a seismic performance
with a model of a TI Hookean solid is consistent with parallel layers that serve as an
analogy for the behaviour of waves in a sedimentary basin.
For such medium, we use the Backus average of a stack of isotropic layers that results
in a TI medium.
We investigate whether we may encounter the issue with numerical considerations of
the Backus (1962) product approximation. For isotropic media, despite the stability
conditions, it may lead to an issue within the Backus average. In the context of global
seismology, we examine whether this issue may occur.
Furthermore, we discuss several physical constraints imposed on elasticity parameters
of a TI tensor. Using the assumption of the equal level of increasing velocity of P-
and S-waves and the same anisotropy from abχ model and TI medium, we obtain two out of five elasticity parameters of a TI tensor.
For different elasticity parameters, we show several numerical examples to examine
how these restrictions affect a TI tensor with known values of certain elasticity constants that are acquired from the vertical or horizontal measurements.


identifier: Alhani, Kamal <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Alhani=3AKamal=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Role of calcitriol in regulating fetal mineral homeostasis and bone development.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Calcitriol has a critical role in regulating mineral and bone metabolism in children and adults.
However, its role in fetal mineral and bone metabolism is not yet well understood. Hence, we
investigated the role of calcitriol during fetal development using a knockout mouse model
involving ablation of the Cyp27b1 gene encoding 1α-hydroxylase that converts 25-
hydroxyvitamin D₃ to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (calcitriol). Specifically, this study compared
Cyp27b1 null fetuses to wild type (WT) fetuses from heterozygous (Cyp27b1⁺/⁻) mothers. Our
findings showed that Cyp27b1 null fetuses had normal calcium and phosphorus levels in serum
and amniotic fluid, normal placental mineral transport, as well as normal skeletal ash weight,
mineral content and bone morphology. The quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the loss of Cyp27b1
expression in null fetal kidneys, but there were no changes in fetal renal or placental expression
of calciotropic and phosphotropic genes. Although the calcitriol level in Cyp27b1 null fetuses
was significantly lower than the WT siblings, it was not undetectable, likely due to placental
transfer of maternal calcitriol to the fetuses. To investigate this possibility, a preliminary study
was conducted to assess the fetal mineral and bone metablism of Cyp27b1 null fetuses born from
Cyp27b1 null mothers. Pilot data showed that these fetuses had normal serum calcium and
skeletal ash weight and morphology. In summary, our findings herein suggest that calcitriol may
not play a role in fetal mineral and bone metabolism. However, further studies involving
Cyp27b1 null fetuses from null mothers are required to conclusively support this conclusion.


identifier: Ji, Songyuan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ji=3ASongyuan=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Deep learning for genome-wide association studies and the impact of SNP locations.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The study of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with human
diseases is important for identifying pathogenic genetic variants and illuminating the
genetic architecture of complex diseases. A Genome-wide association study (GWAS)
examines genetic variation in different individuals and detects disease related SNPs.
The traditional machine learning methods always use SNPs data as a sequence to
analyze and process and thus may overlook the complex interacting relationships
among multiple genetic factors. In this thesis, we propose a new hybrid deep learning
approach to identify susceptibility SNPs associated with colorectal cancer. A set of
SNPs variants were first selected by a hybrid feature selection algorithm, and then
organized as 3D images using a selection of space-filling curve models. A multi-layer
deep Convolutional Neural Network was constructed and trained using those images.
We found that images generated using the space-filling curve model that preserve the
original SNP locations in the genome yield the best classification performance. We
also report a set of high risk SNPs associate with colorectal cancer as the result of
the deep neural network model.


identifier: Akese, Grace Abena <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Akese=3AGrace_Abena=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Electronic waste (e-waste) science and advocacy at Agbogbloshie: the making and effects of "The world's largest e-waste dump".  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Over the last two decades, e-waste has become a crisis, receiving significant attention
from activist, environmental groups, policymakers, news media, and academics. E-waste
processing hubs in Africa and Asia pejoratively labelled “digital dumps” are at the center of
the so-called crisis. This dissertation is about Agbogbloshie, a site in Accra, the capital of
Ghana, ostensibly “the world’s largest e-waste dump.” I examine the making of this iconic
imaginary of Agbogbloshie, the grounds on which it is built, and the effects of its circulation.
Broadly, I investigate the knowledge-making practices central to representations of
Agbogbloshie as “problem space” in need of interventions. I explore how advocacy groups,
institutions (academic scholars), and individuals frame the content and relevance of knowledge
about the site to elicit certain forms of interventions and how within this context, the
knowledge they produce itself becomes a site of struggle around which contentious politics
take place. I demonstrate that although the intention is to make visible the environmental and
health effects of e-waste processing, the imaginaries produced about Agbogbloshie within ewaste
science and advocacy do certain kinds of harm. Imaginaries of Agbogbloshie such as it
is “the world’s largest e-waste dump” are not just representations; they do work, including
adding to the harms experienced by those who live and work at the site. Questioning
imaginaries of e-waste at Agbogbloshie, I open spaces where the tensions of Agbogbloshie as
a site of/for e-waste science and advocacy can be more carefully thought through and done
differently.


identifier: Dawuda, Abdul-Waris <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dawuda=3AAbdul-Waris=3A=3A.html>   (2019) A mechanistic and a probabilistic model for predicting and analyzing microbiologically influenced corrosion.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The complexities inherent in Microbiological Influenced Corrosion (MIC) requires a thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved when attempting to predict its rate. Even though mechanistic models have been developed in recent MIC studies, these models rarely analyze factors influencing pit depth and corrosion rate predicted. The objective of this work is to improve MIC prediction by quantitatively analyzing the factors influencing the predicted pit depth and corrosion rates. Therefore, this work presents a mechanistic and a probabilistic model which predicts corrosion rates, pit depth propagation, and analyzing influential factors in a MIC process. The mechanistic approach presents a model based on the direct contact extracellular electron transfer mechanism and nutrient limitation for microbial metabolism. The mechanistic model investigates the impact of redox intermediaries embedded in the cell structure of electroactive biofilms on corrosion rates. The mechanistic model also analyzes the effect of biofilm thickness limiting nutrient availability for corrosive microbiological organisms. The probabilistic approach presents a Bayesian network model which predicts the maximum corrosion rate in a process system. The probabilistic model analyzes the most critical factors affecting the corrosion rate predicted using Importance and Sensitivity analysis. The predictions obtained by both models were consistent with MIC rates in case studies and experimental studies. We also discovered that, redox properties of electroactive biofilms pose a significant threat to asset integrity as opposed to corrosion caused by sulfate reduction, in the case of Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB).


identifier: Gillis, Brock <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Gillis=3ABrock=3A=3A.html>   (2019) Development of laboratory and field scale passive vibration assisted rotary drilling tools.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The Drilling Technology Laboratory (DTL) at Memorial University of Newfoundland has been focused on increasing drilling efficiency through the utilization of downhole vibrations, also known as Vibration Assisted Rotary Drilling (VARD). The pursuit of VARD technologies is split between active and passive vibrations and the current thesis looks at the design, development, and testing of a Passive Vibration Assisted Rotary Drilling tool (pVARD). The pVARD tool acts as a spring and damper inside the bottom hole assembly of the drill string. It is a system that is tuned to utilize the natural vibrations of the drilling process to increase drilling efficiency and rate of penetration.
Two different tools were designed. First, a laboratory scale tool designed to allow analysis into pVARD to be performed on the DTL’s inhouse small drilling simulator. This would allow for rapid testing of many spring damper configurations. The second, a field scale tool, that would be used with six-inch drill bits in the DTL’s first field trial of VARD technology. Powered by a water well drilling rig, this tool would be used to drill shale and granite and explore the pVARD technology on an industrial scale. Both tools required the design of axial and torque taking members as well as the arrangement of the spring damper system. Specific design attention was paid to making the tools easily reconfigurable so that different spring damper arrangements could be tested, both in the lab, and the field.
This investigation explores the testing results of these two tools as compared to one another, as well as learning from the operation of them in the field and how these learning will be used to improve the next generation of pVARD tools.