identifier: Kiraly, Stefan Andreas  (2003) The philosophical implications of zoophilia : a response to Peter Singer and his critics.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The Canadian Criminal Code currently prohibits any contact with a non-human animal for the purpose of human sexual gratification. This prohibition dates back unbroken to the creation of a Canadian jurisdiction, and was in existence under British law prior to that. Peter Singer has recently asked whether zoophilia is always worthy of legal sanction and moral condemnation. More specifically: Singer wonders whether instances of zoophilic contact that cause no apparent harm to participants can rightly be considered liable to such sanction or condemnation. Critics of Singer's stance most frequently cite the supposed inability of a nonhuman animal to render genuine consent to zoophilic contacts as sufficient grounds to make zoophilia morally problematic without exception. If one takes non-human consent seriously, however, then one cannot avoid making human interventions into the lives of non-human animals almost universally problematic. Zoophilia is prohibited, despite the fact that no similar legal restrictions have ever been (or are, or are likely ever to be) levied against the wide variety of far more overt harms to which non-human animals are routinely subjected in human industries--both agricultural and scientific--harms to which no non-human animal is even presumed to have given consent. This examination suggests a different approach to determining the proper moral and legal status of zoophilic activities by regarding any such interactions within the moral and legal contexts of fiduciary relationships. Under such a scheme, the only permissible human interventions into the lives of non-human animals would be those aimed at promoting the best interests of the weaker (i.e., non-human) party and, therefore, obligated by fiduciary duty.


identifier: Kemp, David  (2003) The scientific revolution's axiomatic rejection of magical thinking : the case of astrology in England (1600-1700).  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract: The research presented here will cover the changing perceptions of astrology over the course of the seventeenth century from the height of its popularity to its extinction, with special attention to the non-empirical motivations behind its dismissal by the scientific community. It is the main thesis of this paper that astrology was rejected by the scientific community of the seventeenth century on non-empirical grounds. This will be shown through an examination of the rhetoric of the leading members of the seventeenth-century English scientific community. It would appear from the rhetoric of the scientific elite, and from the historical record of scientific experimentation and correspondence, that astrology was dismissed on non-empirical grounds for two reasons that can be weighted equally in terms of significance. The first of these to be discussed, and the one that will be the main focus of this paper, is that the scientific community was able to take the final step of rejecting the magical paradigm based on a faith in the future potential of the mechanical paradigm to one day provide empirical evidence against the older paradigm. As a caveat it will be suggested that such a decision was made final by the fact that the tenets of astrology were essentially very difficult if not impossible to test by any means available in the seventeenth century.


identifier: Vucko, Stephanie  (2003) Going beyond I like it in a portfolio context : scaffolding the development of six grade two learners' reflections.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: One component of self-regulated learning is a learner's ability to reflect on her/his learning process. This study examined: (a) the development of reflective language grade two students used when describing their learning, and (b) instructional activities and interactions that supported this development. A grounded theory framework was used to collect data from six grade two students, and their teacher in the context of a portfolio activity. Data sets included student portfolios, a student-led portfolio conference, classroom observations and interviews with the classroom teacher. Single case and cross-case analyses were used to respond to the research questions guiding this study. Findings indicated that these students express metacognitive thoughts under six topics of reflective language such as affect, task-understanding and judgment. In addition, students' reflection strategies evolved throughout the school year and included tactics such as echoing classroom language and providing rationales within their reflections. Teacher scaffolds were many and varied over the course of the school year and fell into two broad categories: structural and procedural. Structural scaffolds included environmental conditions, prompting and questioning. The most common reflection scaffold in the portfolio was the use of prompts and questions, which varied in degree from structured to open-ended. Whereas procedural scaffolds involved peer and teacher modeling, discussion as well as large group and individual conferencing. The combination of structural and procedural scaffolds point to a need for redefining the scaffolding metaphor in order to capture the complex dynamics involved in supporting young students in their reflection process. This study concludes by offering a metaphor that captures the complexity of supporting student reflection.


identifier: De Souza, Andrea Barretto  (2003) Automatic filter selection using image quality assessment.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: We present a method for automatically selecting the best filter to treat poorly printed documents using image quality assessment. In order to estimate the quality of the image, we introduce five quality measures: stroke thickness factor, broken character factor, touching character factor, small speckle factor, and white speckle factor. Based on the information provided by the quality measures, a set of rules uses a two-stage decision process to choose the best filter among 4 morphological filters to be applied to an image. Other preprocessing tasks implemented are: skew correction, connected components analysis, and detection of reference lines. Our database contains 736 document images that were divided in three sets: training, validation and testing. Most images have one or more of the following degradations: broken characters, touching characters and salt-and-pepper noise. A training set of 370 images was used to develop the system. Experimental results on the test set of 183 images show a significant improvement in the recognition rate from 73.24% using no filter at all to 93.09% after applying a filter that was automatically selected. The recognition rate refers to the number of characters that were correctly recognized in the image using a commercial OCR. Three commercial OCR's were used to demonstrate the improvement obtained in the recognition rates in the training set.


identifier: Andreevskaia, Alina  (2003) Knowledge acquisition for dynamic personalization in e-commerce.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Information technology is playing an increasingly important role in today's world. Commerce through Internet is not an exception to this phenomenon. Currently the focus in the retailer e-commerce is shifting toward catering to the needs of repeat customers by offering them more personalized services. One of the barriers to such an individualized approach to each customer is the difficulty of collecting information about individual users. This thesis addresses this knowledge acquisition problem.  Based on a thorough analysis of different kinds of knowledge acquisition tools and techniques, we propose an architecture that allows the use of a combination of different approaches for knowledge acquisition about users in e-commerce. This architecture is designed to support dynamic adaptation of the user profile to changes in the user interests as well as in the store. The architecture is based on two core concepts, namely dynamic personalization and software agent-support. To reduce the time and effort put in the process of knowledge acquisition by the user and by the knowledge engineer software agents in the proposed architecture assist in different aspects of the process, such as profile initialization, processing of results discovered by the web mining, making changes to user profile and tracking their effects, and in trust related issues and interaction with other agents and systems. A proof of concept prototype has been implemented to demonstrate the feasibility of the architecture


identifier: Davy, Barbara Jane  (2003) The ethics of being with/in.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

title: The ethics of being with/in

abstract: Inspired by the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, this thesis develops an environmental ethic out of his work. While the main threads of Levinas' philosophy exclude nature from ethics, a deconstructive reading of his work finds that it remains open to the possibility of ethics beyond the interhuman. While for Levinas the other is always a human other, I contend that his ideas on thematization and totalization ultimately require us to refuse to apply the labels "human" or "nonhuman" before being obligated in ethics. We need an ethic that does not ask who the other is before hearing the other's calling of oneself to responsibility. Responding to Levinas' work, I endeavour to articulate such an ethic, adequate to all others in the more than human world, including nonhuman (and more than human) others. I call these ethics the ethics of being with/in. I write "with/in" to emphasize that we are always both with and in: with others, and within contexts of relations, embodied in the world. In addition, the conjunction "with/in" illustrates the interrupted nature of an ethical subjectivity envisioned as a decentred conjunction of relations, always interrupted by others. As Levinas teaches, in ethical subjectivity oneself is interrupted by another, torn out of one's concern for oneself, creating a sense of ethics that comes before one's own philosophy and interrupts one's own thinking.


identifier: Wang, Jian Qun  (2003) Metaviz : issues in software visualizing beyond 3D.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Software visualization can play a significant role in program comprehension. A large number of visualization tools have been developed to support program comprehension. Traditionally, these tools are 2D representations. In recent years, 3D software visualization techniques have been introduced to support program comprehension. These techniques provide new approaches to visualizing and comprehending software system structures and their internal relationships. At the same time, they introduce new research challenges. The software metaphors, layout algorithms, and readability criteria generally applicable in 2D software visualization cannot directly be applied in 3D visualizations. In this thesis, we present our research on the use of a new metaphor based on energy fields using the Metaballs 3D modeling and visualization technique. We also present grouping and layout algorithms, specially designed for 3D Metaballs based software visualization. These are built into Metaviz, a software visualization tool, which we have designed and implemented as part of our larger program comprehension environment, CONCEPT. Using Metaviz, we also show examples that illustrate how these visualization techniques, when combined with program slicing and metric based analysis, provide guidance during software comprehension during the testing and maintenance phrase.


identifier: Liu, Yimin  (2003) Data modeling for biochemical pathway and microarray gene expression.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Biochemical pathways are typically thought as complex networks of chemical compounds and reaction in the living organisms. A great amount of gene expression data that have a bearing on pathway is created at an increasing rate by microarray technology. The large ensemble of information that the gene expression experiments produce contains pattern that are a reflection of pathway dynamic, and therefore can be used to deduce pathway causal structure. Conceptual data modelling involves the development of implementation-independent models that capture and make explicit the principal structural properties of the data. This thesis develops and presents such a data modeling for biochemical pathway and microarray gene expression. The conceptual data models can be transformed in systematic ways for implementation using different platforms, e.g. traditional database management system and visualisation pathway application. This conceptual data model is described by widely used conceptual modelling notation: the class diagrams of UML (unified modelling language).


identifier: Liu, Shi Hui  (2003) Simulated validation of real-time reactive system with parameterized events.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis addresses the problems encountered during the simulated validation of real-time reactive systems at the design phase before the implementation. We assume that such systems are modeled as timed labeled transition systems, following the TROM methodology with parameterized events. In the previous work on the simulation, the simulator's algorithm had problems simulating some real-time reactive systems, such as the Train-Gate-Controller and Robotics system. This thesis aims to correct the flaws related to time conflicts in previous models, separate the Data Model module from the Validation tool, and add support for parameterized events in the simulator. As a system grows larger, assessing the performance of mission-critical applications become more important. This thesis proposes an assessment of a system's performance in terms of functionality, based on a Simulation, and illustrates its approach using the Robotics case study.


identifier: Kiricenko, Victoria  (2003) Partial answers in information integration systems : their meaning and computation.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Information integration systems provide uniform interfaces to varieties of heterogeneous information sources. Our work focuses on query answering in such system. The current generation of query answering algorithms in local-as-view (source-centric) information integration systems all produce what has been thought of as "the best obtainable" answer, given the circumstances that the source-centric approach introduces incomplete information into the virtual global relations. However, this "best obtainable" answer does not include all information that can be extracted form the sources because it does not allow partial information.  We define the semantics of partial facts and introduce the notion of exact answer--that is the answer that includes partial facts. We also present two methods for computing exact answer, in such way that semantics of queries remain compositional. The first method is tableau-based and is a generalization of the "inverse-rules" approach. The second, much more efficient method, is a generalization of the rewriting approach, and is based on partial containment mappings introduced in the thesis. Furthermore, we provide two query rewriting algorithms that can be used to compute exact answer. Finally, we present experimental results confirming that computation of the exact answer can be done efficiently for all practical situations including the large-scale systems


identifier: Kowaliw, Taras  (2003) Bluenome : a novel developmental model for the evolution of artificial agents.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The Bluenome Model of Development is introduced. The Bluenome model is a developmental model of Artificial Morphogenesis, inspired by biological development, instantiating a subset of two-dimensional Cellular Automata. The Bluenome model is cast as a general model, one which generates organizational topologies for finite sets of component types, assuming local interactions between components. Its key feature is that there exists no relation between genotopic complexity and phenotopic complexity, implying its potential application in high-dimensional evolutionary problems. The Bluenome model is first applied to a series of application-neutral experiments, in which it is shown experimentally that it is capable of producing robust agents in a reasonable amount of computation. Next, it is applied to an application involving the design of embedded agents. This second series of experiments contrasts the Bluenome model against a model in which there exists a bijective relation between genotype and phenotype, showing that the Bluenome model is capable of performing as well or better in cases of high phenotopic complexity. Additionally, genomes from the Bluenome Model are shown to be capable of re-development in differing environments, retaining many relevant phenotopic properties.


identifier: Chen, Yueqin  (2003) Pipeline for the quality control of sequencing.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Sequencing technology has been developed for more than decades. In all methods applied, however, sequencing quality remains a problem. In most cases, raw DNA sequences obtained from automatic sequencing machines are not reliable, and the output sequence might contain errors, vector contamination might occur, Dye-terminator reaction might not occur, and segment migration might be abnormal in gel electrophoresis. In order to trim low quality regions and sequences, to remove contamination and to build reliable assembled contigs, we constructed the pipeline, which uses Phred, Lucy and Phrap tools together. Phred takes chromatogram data as input, then makes base calls and assigns quality values and finally generates sequence and quality files in FASTA format. In a subsequent step, Lucy trims vectors and low quality sequences, makes a clean range of each sequence. At the end Phrap will assemble these sequences using pairwise alignment information from the Smith-Waterman algorithm. The consensus sequences of the assemblies built by the pipeline are assumed to be reliable genes that can be used for gene annotation. Furthermore, we compared two pipelines, with and without the use of Lucy. The output clearly indicates that applying Lucy in the sequencing process generates more reliable consensus sequences.


identifier: Hineson, Lucas  (2003) Canadian equity risk premium, 1923-2001.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Examinations of long-run trends in the stock market usually concentrate on markets in the United States. This paper builds on these studies by examining the equity risk premium in Canada over the 1923-2001 period. Two methodologies are used to gauge the expectations of investors with regard to the equity risk premium. The first is the one developed and implemented by Arnott and Bernstein (2002) for the United States. The second methodology estimates the equity risk premium implicit in the discount rate that equates forecasted dividend payments to present market valuations. The empirical results show that actual risk premiums either met or exceeded the future equity risk premium expectations of Canadian investors over the studied time period. On balance, it would appear that investors realized more than they expected in terms of risk premium over the studied period, although this excess does not appear to be as pronounced as that found by Arnott and Bernstein (2002) for the United States. Moreover, evidence is presented that the effect of the stock exchange (namely, the Toronto Stock Exchange and Montreal Exchange) used to measure stock returns is important when investors form their expectations regarding future equity premiums. However, the latter result may be due to the lower quality of the data available for the Montreal Exchange.


identifier: Price, Kristin N  (2003) The many layers of the strategic process : a qualitative study examining strategy from both corporate and managerial perspectives.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study approaches the strategy process using both grounded theory and qualitative statistical analysis to validate and uncover the suspected differences in the strategic behaviour of managers and corporate executives. While most strategy research offers either theoretical propositions or quantitative results based on fragmented constructs, they offer little in the way of rich, accurate knowledge (Fredrickson, 1986; Huy, 1992; Van de Ven, 1992). The grounded theory methods yielded significant differences between the strategic behaviour of managers and corporate executives, particularly in the domains of roles, responsibilities, and accountability measures. Common strategy terms were found to vary in meaning across the two types of cases as well. Results were validated with discriminate illustrations, textual examples, and statistical analysis.


identifier: Morán Villar, Pablo  (2003) A game theoretic real options approach to corporate acquisitions : theory and evidence.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The phenomenon of corporate acquisitions has been the subject of extensive research, but despite important advances in our understanding of these corporate events, many issues are still unclear. Our purpose in this thesis is to revisit the M&A subject using the real options paradigm. Even though this literature has been one of the most important recent developments in finance and economics, the application of its lessons to corporate acquisitions is still scarce.  Using a game theoretic real option framework, we develop a model of corporate acquisitions. We incorporate imperfect information about synergy gains, strategic interaction among competing bidders, and between the acquirer and the target firm. Assuming the absence of managerial motives, the model is able to explain some empirical regularities that, thus far, have only been explained under the agency and hubris hypotheses. The undervaluation, asymmetric distribution of gains, and divestiture phenomena are natural results in our model.  In a preliminary empirical test we find support for the prediction relating target gains to the target's undervaluation and volatility. Even though we do not intend to replace other competing theories of corporate acquisitions, we believe our model represents a valid alternative hypothesis that could help to improve our understanding of some stylized facts. The many still unexplored predictions from our model are an interesting area for future research.


identifier: Longacre, Judith  (2003) Camillo Sbarbaro and the Ligurian poetic tradition.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis presents a human and artistic profile of Camillo Sbarbaro (1888-1967). It is set against the geographical and historical background of the first part of the twentieth century to which Sbarbaro belonged. It explains the salient points of the poetic tradition of Liguria emphasizing that Liguria, both as a physical reality and as an objective correlative of existential meditation, played a significant role, not only in the works of the poets born in this region but also in the works which visitors or admirers have written to describe Liguria. In order to underline the specificity of the Ligurian sensibility vis-à-vis the landscape, the thesis dedicates a chapter to the journal La Riviera Ligure (1895-1919). Camillo Sbarbaro was one of its major contributors, and by writing for this magazine, he began his literary career. The final chapter of the first part of the thesis is a glance at the historical, political and the artistic themes at the end of the nineteenth century.  The second part of this thesis presents the arrival of modern poetry in Italy and links it to the rise of existentialism in early twentieth century Europe. Another section deals with the often unspoken debt of Eugenio Montale to Sbarbaro--a debt of themes, language, ideas--all never properly nor fully acknowledged. A third section compares and contrasts Montale and Sbarbaro and ascertains their artistic merit. In the comparison Sbarbaro emerges as being as significant as Montale. Sbarbaro is presented with Giuseppe Ungaretti as the harbinger of contemporary Italian poetry and Montale becomes to an extent Sbarbaro's pupil


identifier: Flegel, Loretta  (2003) Parts in play : the Rosalynde Osborne Stearn Collection at McGill University.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study is a historical survey of the Rosalynde Osborne Stearn Collection housed at McGill University's Rare Books and Special Collections Division. The collection is the result of the efforts of Rosalynde Osborne Stearn, (1888-1990), who actively collected puppet figures, posters, texts, theatres and various other puppet paraphernalia. The thesis' emphasis is on Osborne Stearn's biography and varying roles of her creative career, those of an artist, a performer and a collector. The thesis seeks to insert Osborne Stearn as a vibrant character in Canadian Art History, active in an art practice that has ventured near oblivion in Canada, as well as increase interest in this fascinating collection.


identifier: Ghalamzan, Momtaz  (2003) A phenomenological approach to understanding printmaking processes and their applications to art education.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis discusses the processes of creating visually coherent art objects by means of engaging one's cognitive, intellectual and emotional faculties and experiences. Its approach to art education based on an understanding of the art educator's personal experience in the process of art making. Using phenomenological and experiential methods of teaching to validate inquiry into one's personal subjective experience, it functions as a qualitative research tool which can be applied to the investigation of teaching methods.  This thesis is a documentation of recorded self-examination through five progressive sessions of art making. Each session investigate different forms of printmaking and their role in creating images. Session 1 investigates use of lithography in picture making; Session 2 is an application of intaglio; Session 3 an application monotype; Session 4 and 5 involves advance lithography and role of digital and computer generated imagery in lithography


identifier: Zhou, Jingxue  (2003) A B+-tree index for the know-it-all database framework.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: An efficient implementation of search trees is crucial for any database systems. The B+-tree is one of the most widely and studied data structures and provides an efficient index structure for databases. The Index subframework is a component of the Know-It-All database framework. It covers tree-based indexes such as B+-tree, R-tree, X-tree and SS-tree, including sequential queries, exact match queries, range queries, approximate queries, and similarity queries. Our B+-tree implementation is a proof-of-concept for the Index subframework. Our B+-tree index is designed to be a container by following the STL style in C++ and implemented by using design patterns and generic programming techniques. Therefore, the B+-tree index can adapt to different key types, data types, different queries, and different database application domains, and be easy and convenient for developers to reuse.


identifier: Xian, Xiaohua  (2003) 2D & 3D UML-based software visualization for object-oriented programs.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: UML (Unified Modeling Language) is a successful example of two-dimensional software visualization that is widely used in both academic and enterprise environments for object-oriented software development. The presented work ( UML3D ), which is included in the CONCEPT (Comprehension Of Net-CEntered Programs and Techniques) framework, applies 3D visualization techniques to UML to take advantages of 3D space and the additional features that can be applied in the 3D space. The UML3D project also integrates a self-organizing layout algorithm for both traditional 2D UML and 3D UML diagrams. The use of layout algorithms can reduce the complexity of a graph and facilitate the task of program comprehension. Moreover, UML3D addresses some other shortcomings of UML by providing intuitive navigation and interactions with the diagrams. We also discuss the use of source code analysis like program slicing and coupling to improve the scalability, usability and navigability of the visual representations. An initial usability study of UML3D based on the SUMI (Software Usability Measurement Inventory) questionnaire was performed to study the ease of use and to identify future research directions.


identifier: Torres Jiménez, Cristian  (2003) Percentile pension cost methods with random retirement age.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: A new family of methods for pension valuation is studied; Ramsay (1993) who originally proposed them called them percentile cost methods. These are compared to traditional cost methods and their differences are discussed. A numerical illustration is presented.  In addition, this thesis models the retirement age as a random variable. The traditional and percentile cost methods are redefined under this more general random context.


identifier: Kahrizsangi, Mehran Ebrahimi  (2003) Direct computing of entropy from time series.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Measure Theoretic Entropy and its important properties are studied. We introduce a method to compute entropy of a dynamical system directly from the definition. The computational approach is discussed in detail and is presented in several sections: (1) Partitioning and Scaling Data; (2) Sequencing and Compactification; (3) Probabilities and Information; (4) Entropy Estimation. Also, we apply the same method in two dimensions. A model for filtering entropy based on skew products is given, and we apply our computational results to verify this model.


identifier: Tsonis, Mary  (2002) Perception of texture during unimodal haptic and bimodal haptic-plus-visual conditions in 3- and 6-month-old infants.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The importance of the haptic system (cutaneous and kinaesthetic processes) in development is widely acknowledged. Yet little is known about infants' haptic perceptual abilities during the first half-year of life. This is due, in part, to the view that haptic perceptual abilities are limited prior to the development of fine-motor exploratory skills and visual prehension. The methodology of existing studies (e.g., the visibility of stimuli and confounding properties, selection of stimuli, and fixed-trials habituation procedures) has also limited clear interpretations with respect to infants' haptic perception. The present research consisted of two studies designed to assess early haptic perceptual abilities by employing a stimulus property salient to this system, texture. Study 1 examined unimodal haptic perception at 3 and 6 months of age, just before and after gains in fine-motor and visual prehension are made. Vision was occluded by an opaque plastic cover and the textures were presented underneath the cover to infants' hands. An infant-controlled Habituation (HAB)-Novelty (NOV)-Return-to-Familiar (RFAM) procedure was employed. Following habituation, experimental group infants received a novel texture for 3 NOV test trials and the original texture for 3 RFAM test trials. Control group infants received the same HAB texture during all test trials. Study 2 was designed to assess the influence of vision on haptic perception of texture. Using the same textures as in Study 1 and presenting them under a transparent cover, infants were permitted both haptic and visual exploration during the HAB phase. However, the test phases were unimodal haptic. Results of infants' haptic manipulations indicated that both 3- and 6-month-olds habituated following similar amounts of haptic manipulation, and that levels of haptic manipulation to habituation did not differ across Studies 1 and 2. In addition, infants discriminated novel textures during NOV, and recognized the original texture during RFAM in both studies. These results suggest that haptic perception and discrimination of texture may not be dependent on visual guidance. However, infants in Study 2 haptically manipulated for shorter amounts of time during NOV and RFAM, relative to Study l, suggesting that the visual input during HAB may have facilitated discrimination and recognition of textures. Facilitation effects may reflect the integration of visual and haptic input during HAB and the detection of amodal relations across haptics and vision. Vision also suppressed the novelty responses observed in Study 1 on the measure of exploratory procedures (EPs). The EPs may have been suppressed by the lack of salient visual features, again suggesting that visual and haptic input was integrated. Suppression of EPs was less pronounced for the 6-, relative to 3-month-olds, who engaged in more EPs in response to the rough texture in both studies, suggesting that among infants with more developed fine-motor skills, the haptic features of stimuli may alone elicit exploration in this modality. Overall, the findings: (1) support haptic perception of texture during the first half-year of life; (2) suggest an important and unique role for haptics in early perceptual learning; and (3) contribute to the understanding of infants' haptic perception during bimodal exploration. The methodological contributions of the present studies in accessing infants' haptic abilities are discussed and future research directions are proposed.


identifier: Castiel, Élie  (2003) Pour une esthétique du plan-séquence dans Le Voyage des comédiens de Theo Angelopoulos.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: La thèse proposée cherche à discourir principalement sur l'apport du plan-séquence dans le cinéma de Theo Angelopoulos en prenant comme défense les textes étudiés et parmi les films de l'auteur, essentiellement son plus abouti, Le Voyage des comédiens ( O Thiassos , 1975). Ce choix, intentionnellement arbitraire, a pour but de concilier l'oeuvre en question en faveur des exigences humanistes et des concepts esthétiques d'Angelopoulos.  La majorité des écrits sur d'Angelopoulos l'ont été en langue grecque, bien entendu, mais peu dans d'autres. On en retrouve en italien, en français et étrangement, en slave. Le milieu cinéphilique et les théoriciens du cinéma anglo-saxons commencent à le découvir grâce aux textes d'auteurs-essayistes et historiens du cinéma tels que Andrew Horton, David Bordwell, Dan Georgakas, Michael Wilmington, Fredric Jameson, Yvette Biro et Gerald O'Grady. Par contre, tout en constatant qu'ils possèdent tous une forte connaissance du sujet étudié, il n'en demeure pas moins que ces auteurs, à l'exception de David Bordwell, ont rarement abordé le caractère ambivalent et concialiateur du plan-séquence, préférant se pencher, la plupart du temps à juste titre, sur l'aspect narratif du répertoire angelopoulossien


identifier: Jiang, Xing  (2003) Secure SIP between IPv4 endpoints and IPv6 endpoints.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is designed to replace the current version IPv4. However, there will continue to be a demand for IPv4-based end users to access IPv6-based services, and vice versa. Some transition mechanisms are necessary to make IPv6 and IPv4 compatible. Network Address Translation--Protocol Translation (NAT-PT) can provide protocol translation at the network layer.  The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an application layer control protocol that can initiate, modify and terminate interactive communication sessions between end users. When SIP is used with NAT-PT, a special Application Level Gateway (ALG) is required to handle the translation of the addresses inside the SIP messages.  This thesis introduces an implementation of a SIP-ALG. The SIP-ALG is responsible for translating IPv6 addresses in a SIP packet into the corresponding IPv4 addresses, and vice versa, relying on the functionalities of NAT-PT as the packet traverses across the boundary between IPv6 and IPv4.  In addition, this thesis describes and models a SIP end-to-end security solution between IPv4 end points and IPv6 end points, given that involvement of the SIP-ALG seems to be in conflict with the primary requirements of the end-to-end security. The proposed mechanism lets a SIP endpoint authorize a security proxy server to encrypt the SIP bodies on behalf of the end point. The security proxy will discover the capabilities of the receiving party and encrypt the SIP bodies for the other SIP security proxy server in the receiving domain. IP address translation must be done before the encryption at the sending security proxy or after the decryption at the receiving security proxy.


identifier: Nie, Bin  (2003) A tree index framework for databases.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: A tree index framework for databases

abstract: The search tree index framework, a sub-framework of the Know-It-All Project, is used to develop a generalized search tree that provides the basis for common tree access methods used in database systems. The search tree index framework covers one-dimensional tree structures, point access structures, and special multi-dimensional structures. It also covers sequential queries, exact match queries, range queries, approximate queries, and similarity queries.  It applies the Standard Template Library modularity concept in the analysis, architecture, design and interface and takes advantage of reuse capabilities in modern programming languages such as generic programming and design pattern. By using modularization design, the system is designed as an integrated set of layers including algorithms layer, proxy layer and physical storage layer. Layering design technique provides a mechanism to decompose functionality. The design separates index, data, and data Reference/Page reference; uses iterators perform general queries on search tree structures, while providing a clean interface for these queries to define both positions within indexes or files, as well as to refer to a collection of information.  The framework can be adapted to the needs of any application by simply changing some of the building blocks and is designed for maximum flexibility and the simplest extension.


identifier: Xue, Furong  (2003) Automatic semantic header generator for PDF documents.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The Concordia INdexing and DIscovery system (CINDI) is an information discovery and retrieval system to enable a reader to discover resources from a bibliographic database. It uses a metadata description called semantic header to describe an information resource, whose content includes title, author name, the subject and sub-subject, etc. Automatic Semantic Header Generator (ASHG) is used to generate a draft version of the semantic header from a resource automatically. The existing system can deal with four special document formats: HTML, TEXT, LATEX, and RTF.  Since more and more people use PDF for document exchange, perusal on line or in print format due to PDF document's easy to use and cross platform portability, more documents are published in PDF format. This thesis presents the design and implementation of an extension to the existing ASHG to extract the semantic header from a PDF document automatically. First, the PDF document is converted to plain text file using Xpdf, an open source software. Modification to Xpdf has been made to get better results of the conversion. In order to test the accuracy of the ASHG, 500 articles which are all from computer science field are used in an experiment to generate the semantic header; the results 80% accurate respectively. However the results reveal that the subject classification (about 41%) is the weakest point of ASHG and requiring further work.


identifier: Kapustianyk, Martin  (2003) Dialogues of death-in-life : the photographic works of Sandra Semchuk and the exhibition Coming to death's door: a daughter/father collaboration.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study is an ethno-cultural exploration concerning identity as is articulated through the work of photographer Sandra Semchuk. The particular focus of this discussion is prefaced around Semchuk's photographic exhibition Coming to Death's Door: A Daughter/Father Collaboration . Within this exhibition the context of two near-death experiences of Semchuk's father is the motivation behind the photographic composites and installation space to the show. This show is looked at as an experiential catalyst for the artist's personal journey through discovering the many layers of her identity. Within the following chapters to this thesis topics of ethnic and cultural identity as well as political, gender, and familial identity are explored. Due to the artistic and visual nature of this topic, this discussion will also pay considerable attention to the dynamics of photography, ritual and space.


identifier: Babineau, Dan  (2003) Stairs in cinema : a formal and thematic investigation.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Stairways have appeared with great regularity throughout film history, often in scenes of tremendous intensity and significance. As a complex element of architecture, and an equally complex signifier, the stairway offers filmmakers rich possibilities of expression. This thesis investigates the appearances of stairways and explains the multi-layered nature of their role in narrative cinema. Following an outline of the repertoire of possibilities signified by the staircase as an element of mise-en-scene, movement, and symbolic registers, the thesis turns to a series of case studies. Focusing on the classical Hollywood cinema, the investigation is divided into chapters on the musical, the melodrama and the films of Alfred Hitchcock. A dream element in the Hollywood musical, a dramatic site of confrontation, spectacle and expressive mise-en-scene in the melodrama, and an evocative recurring detail in Hitchcock's cinema, the thesis demonstrates the prevalence and dramatic importance of stairways. Concluding arguments point to the multiple ways that stairways have served the needs of various genres at different periods of film history, and how they have played key roles in the work of different international directors.


identifier: Terreault, Sara  (2003) The spirituality of theology and the work of Rowan Williams.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study examines the relationship between spirituality and the theological endeavour in light of the work of Rowan Williams, the 104 th Archbishop of Canterbury. It traces the history of the relationship, which by the modern era was one of disconnection, and it considers the implications of contemporary culture, and especially the effects of postmodernist thought on the situation. The central thesis contends that Rowan Williams, in his work as theologian, is especially skilled in the task of bringing spirituality and theology into renewed dialogue, and both into conversation with postmodernity.


identifier: Otrakji, Camille-Alexandre  (2003) The effects of personality traits, software interface, and computer experience on performance and perceptions of ease of use and usefulness.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Different computer competency, personality traits, gender and different types of software interface can influence a users' perception of the software usefulness, ease of use and hence performance. Understanding the relationships between a users gender, personality traits, computer competency, perceptions, and performance using different interfaces is necessary because these variables are significant for the end-user as well as for business managers in making software decisions. In this paper, a research model to explain the above relationships is proposed, based on the computer learning process and the technology acceptance model. A menu driven interface and an icon-based interface were used in the experiment. A survey methodology was used to measure computer competency and user perceptions. Analysis of the data was done for the measurement model and Structural model. The measurement model was assessed in terms of reliability measure, and factor analysis. The structural model and hypotheses were investigated by examining the regression analysis. Two-way repeated measured analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the relationship among gender, interface and perception and performance. The results suggest that the relationships between computer competency, perceptions and performance are significant for both interfaces.


identifier: West, Dianne  (2003) Sex differences in images of pleasure : a study of food preferences and consumption behavior.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Pleasure is a key component of food consumption. It has traditionally been approached as one-dimensional, largely synonymous with taste. However, recent findings suggests that pleasure may be multi-dimensional, composed of social, emotional, intellectual, and sensory pleasures. Mental imagery, identified as an important component of hedonic consumption, may provide insight into the nature of pleasures experienced in food consumption. The goal of this thesis is to (1) determine whether multiple pleasures are identifiable and impact food consumption experiences and (2) whether these experiences vary for men and women, as sex is known to have an important impact on food consumption. Study 1 was largely exploratory and provided valuable insight into the types of pleasures and mental images associated with food and how these differ by sex. Study 2 was an experimental study designed to further our understanding of the impact of pleasure and mental imagery on consumption choices. In this study participants were required to view two advertisements for similar products, one familiar and one novel, and rate their attitude toward the ad, their attitude toward the product, and their purchase intention. Results indicate that the novelty of the product (whether the product is novel or familiar) as well as imagery (whether imagery is absent, is emotional, or is sensory) both have significant effects on these measures. However, the results for sex were not significant, requiring further investigation on this topic.


identifier: Campbell, Marie  (2003) Postmodern challenges to theology : a study of sociological and hermeneutic factors in theological pluralism.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study explores the complexities of theological pluralism in the postmodern context, with a particular focus on the distinct but inter-related sociological and interpretative dimensions of theology. The theologian's internalisation of multiple plausibility structures (social and religious) necessarily influence contemporary theology, while traditional theology is influenced by centuries of internalised historicity and philosophical thought, which is brought to bear on its interpretation of fundamental theological principles. Postmodern theology, rejecting concepts of universality and objectivity, challenges these traditional principles while proposing new possibilities for interpreting the human being in relationship with the Transcendent. Given the exploratory nature of the study its conclusion is necessarily tentative, leaning towards a middle ground in a situation that is intrinsically conflicted. Deeper and more extensive analysis of this middle ground would be required before firm conclusions on its potential to respond with integrity to the postmodern critique could be reached.


identifier: Howard, Dorothy Zalcman  (2003) Stress@work : an exploration of the impact of information and communication technology on Canadian workers.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Although many assumptions have been made about the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on worklife, research on human concerns and human resource issues in a variety of settings, sectors, and occupational groups is surprisingly limited. The literature suggests that while new technologies may offer many benefits, they may also contribute to increased job stress and strain. This thesis is a multiple exploratory case study examining the ways in which office technologies contribute to job stress and burnout among executives, professionals, and clerical-administrative workers in the not-for-profit sector. A conceptual model drawing on the demand-control model of job stress and the job-person fit model of burnout was developed and empirically tested. Data were collected in six organizations and triangulated in 18 semi-structured, in-depth interviews, documentation, and on-site observation. The study found that ICT contributes to job stress by creating new expectations that exacerbate workload, reduce control, and contribute to community breakdown. The conditioning effects of training and values were also explored. Managers, an understudied group, reported the highest levels of stress and strain. Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research are discussed.


identifier: Erwig-Straughan, Lydia  (2003) Art : spiritual discipline in process.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: Art : spiritual discipline in process

abstract: Much has been written on the significance of art and Christianity; the vast majority dealing with as a product. In this thesis the role art-as-process is explored to discover the effects and ramifications of the two approaches on churchly and individual spiritual life. The terminology of art-as-process and art-as-product is introduced to delineate between the former active art making process and the latter focus on end product seen in the church today.  The purpose of this study is to discover possibilities for the use of art-as-process as a spiritual discipline. In so doing, the history of art in the Christian church is briefly explored to understand reasons for the focus on art as contemplative tool hence product based. All three major streams of the faith are considered, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant.  The problem of idolatry is also addressed in relation to the art-as-product mindset. The role of art in society is linked to idolatry in examining the institution of high arts, kitsch, the effects of consumerism and the situationalist concept of the society of the spectacle.  Relevant theological, psychological and philosophical sources are consulted to form a portrait of the benefits of creativity on spirit and psyche. Art is regarded as the vocation of all and not a compartmentalized activity commonly held in art-as-product mindset. Art-as-process is proposed as a valuable spiritual discipline in light of the following revelations of this research: art as antidote to idolatry, as release from the effects of original sin, and as eschatological transformation.


identifier: Horn, Erica  (2003) Loyalty and stickiness in a virtual environment : parameters of a website's homepage and consumers' responses to different e-retailing strategies.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The goal of the present thesis is to suggest a means of objectively classifying and measuring the design parameters of a website's homepage and then to analyze the effects these parameters have on consumer stickiness and loyalty. In addition, the aim is to compare the objective parameters of a website's homepage and the browsing experiences of consumers between brick and mortar and virtual e-retailers. To date, marketing managers and website designers have had to rely on the trade literature on website design that is replete with checklists and 'how to' guides that lack scientific rigour. The limited academic research relies heavily on the subjective assessments of websites. Two distinct yet complementary studies were conducted. Study 1 uses the guiding principles of the grounded theory approach to develop an objective and systematic way of organizing and measuring the parameters of an e-retailer's homepage. The study identified three key categories of parameters: (1) usability; (2) brand and; (3) atmospheric parameters. Study 2 then uses this categorization in a web browsing field study to examine their relationship with web surfer level outcomes such as stickiness and loyalty. Study 2 identified several significant differences in the measures of stickiness and loyalty depending upon e-retailing strategy employed, existence or absence of prior contact with a website and level of brand knowledge. The findings from Study 2 suggest that some measures of stickiness and loyalty are affected by website level and individual level factors.


identifier: Zhou, Jian Guang  (2003) A modified low-bit-rate ACELP speech coder and its implementation.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In modern communication systems, low-bit-rate speech coder is widely employed to increase the bandwidth efficiency of the network. The ITU-T G.729 is one such speech coder extensively used in packet voice communication systems. Since the reduction in the complexity has been a major issue in designing and implementing low-bit-rate speech coder, the focus of this research is on reducing the complexity of the existing G.729 standard. Based on the fact that the fixed codebook search accounts for much of the computation in the coding process, in this thesis, the existing codebook search algorithm of G.729A, a reduced complexity version of G.729, is modified and incorporated into this standard. The test results on a general PC indicate that the modified search scheme reduces the computation load by about 40% with only a slight degradation in the perceptual quality of the speech.  In the second part of this project, the modified speech coder is implemented on the TMS320C5416 DSK DSP board. First, the implementation scheme is described and the initial results for both the G.729A and the modified coder are presented. Then, several optimization procedures are developed to effectively reduce the run-time of the algorithm. With the optimized implementation, the run-time of the speech coder is significantly reduced to meet the real time requirement to process a single frame within 10 ms. As for the savings on the computational load, the run-time of the modified fixed codebook search algorithm is about 30% smaller than that of the original search scheme used in G.729A.


identifier: Kufedjian, Joanna  (2003) Critical success factors in the design of customer experiences.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Marketing 'experiences' has become a strategically useful means to enhance one's offering and avoid the commoditization of a firm's product or service. Given the increasing role of 'experiences', no study to date has explored the issue of experience design from a 'bottom up' approach. Existing frameworks in the popular press have been silent on the interface between design and marketing. Moreover, in spite of the expanding literature on 'experiences,' no study has yet explored or documented the state of managerial knowledge and practice. The objective of this thesis is to address this gap and improve our understanding of key issues surrounding experience marketing. In this thesis, marketing and operations managers from three firms, in three different industries, were interviewed and observations were made to understand the process and factors involved in designing experiences. Interviews and observations were designed to explore marketing managers' knowledge and 'know-how' in designing pleasurable customer experiences, as well as to gather information about each firm's operations and structure, physical design and customer interactions. Furthermore, the actual definition of an experience was explored in a systematic manner that produced relevant theoretical and managerial insight. By assessing, directly from renowned practitioners, their own views and definitions of an experience along with the key obstacles in designing and managing such, this research project delivered useful results.


identifier: Mustafayev, Yermek  (2003) Risk parameter shifts : the case of spinoffs.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This study deals with measuring and testing the impact of spinoff transactions on the risk parameters of the parent firm stocks. This is achieved by employing CC-GARCH(1,1) and VC-GARCH(1,1) models to estimate the most-commonly used risk measures: the stock return total variance, made up of beta (systematic risk), and the residual variance (unsystematic risk).  We find that there are risk changes associated with spinoffs. However, only shifts in the total and residual variances last more than two years after the spinoff completion, while shocks to the betas dissipate within the year for the full sample. We observe increases in all risk measures to be permanent for more than two years only for the low-asymmetry, own-industry group of firms. Both the total and residual variance processes for the high-asymmetry, cross-industry subsample do not react significantly to the spinoff transaction. However, there is a 13.7% decrease in systematic risk significant at less than 10% confidence level. Therefore, this is the only group of spinoff parents that delivers some risk reduction for their shareholders.  As the beta shifts are on average small, spinoffs mostly increase the unsystematic part of the risk, making stock returns more unpredictable.  We fail to relate these risk changes to the debt burden variation. Therefore, we conclude that the source of the changes is possibly the diversification loss, causing increased volatility of post-event earnings and therefore increased information asymmetry. The only anomaly that we are not able to explain within the current hypothesis framework is a highly significant and persistent shift of the risk characteristics of the low-asymmetry, own-industry parent stocks.  Such findings cast doubts on the superior benefits of the average spinoff for ordinary shareholders, who may not be able to diversify away increased risks, as well as for the institutional holders, who have strict investment policy concerning the riskiness of investment assets. Therefore, the investors must be aware that an improved operational and stock performance of the spinoff parent company may come at the price of the stock risk increase.


identifier: Al Wehaibi, Abdullah Ahmed  (2003) QoS multicast for DiffServ on MPLS and IP platforms.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Multicasting has become increasingly important with the emergence of Internet-based applications such Internet protocol (IP) telephony, audio/video conferencing, distributed databases and software upgrading. IP Multicasting is an efficient way to distribute information from a single source to multiple destinations at different locations. One of the challenges the Internet is facing today is to keep the packet forwarding performance up with the skyrocketing demand for bandwidth. On the other hand, the MultiProtocol Label Switching (MPLS), which is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) framework, combines the flexibility of layer 3 routing and layer 2 switching, which enhances network performance in terms of scalability, computational complexity, latency and control message overhead. Besides, MPLS offers a vehicle for enhanced network services such as Quality of Services (QoS)/Class of Service (CoS), Traffic Engineering and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).  In this thesis, we present a new Fair Share Policy (FSP), which is a traffic policing mechanism that utilizes Differentiated Services (DiffServ) to solve the problems of QoS and congestion control. We compare the QoS performance of IP and MPLS multicasting, given their particular constraints. In order to achieve the required QoS, different techniques of reliable multicasting are adapted, such as Forward Error Correction (FEC), Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) or Hybrid FEC/ARQ with multicast or unicast repairs mechanisms so as to mitigate the effect of errors as well as packet loss. This reliable multicast is for both IP and MPLS platforms with Diffserv. Analytical and simulation models are suggested and employed.  The results provide insights into the comparisons between IP multicast in MPLS networks using FSP and plain IP multicasting using the same policy when DiffServ is adopted and when reliable multicast is considered. This comparison will be based on the following QoS measures: total packet delay, delay jitter and residual packet loss probability. Analysis and simulation tools are used to evaluate our fair share policy (FSP) for different homogeneous (when all routers are identical in their capabilities) and heterogeneous (when routers have different capabilities) network scenarios.


identifier: Yan, Yupeng  (2003) Feedforward symbol synchronization techniques for digital receiver.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.


identifier: Lee, Chang-Seo  (2003) A theoretical study on VOC source and sink behavior of porous building materials.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The indoor air quality (IAQ) of a building can be significantly affected by the building materials. Porous building materials are not only sources of indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOC) but also strong sinks of those pollutants. The knowledge of VOC transfer mechanisms in these materials is an important step for controlling the indoor VOC concentration levels, and for determining the optimum ventilation requirements for acceptable IAQ. This study has investigated theoretically VOC source and sink behavior of porous building materials.  A novel analytical model was developed based on the fundamental theories of mass transfer mechanisms in porous materials. The proposed model considers both primary and secondary source/sink behavior for the first time. The former refers to the transfer of gas-phase and/or physically adsorbed VOC, while the latter is generation or elimination of VOC within the solid due to chemical reactions like oxidation, hydrolysis, chemical adsorption, etc. The proposed model was assessed with experimental data, namely emission tests of carpets and sorption tests of wood chipboard. It was demonstrated that the proposed analytical model could simultaneously account for the effect of air velocity on both VOC source and sink behavior unlike the existing analytical models.  A parametric study was carried out to investigate the effects of air velocity and material properties including diffusion coefficient, sorption partition coefficient, porosity, thickness and length on the primary VOC source/sink behavior, and these effects were quantified. Due to the lack of knowledge on the secondary source/sink behavior, five hypothetical cases were considered, and the model predictions agree with experimental findings on the secondary emissions available in the literature.  The validity of four main assumptions imposed on the developed analytical model, was investigated through the development of numerical conjugate mass transfer models. The considered assumptions are (1) constant VOC concentration at the solid-fluid interface along the solid plate length; (2) quasi-steady convection mass transfer in fluid; (3) one-dimensional diffusion in solid; and (4) Henry (linear) sorption isotherm. The limits of the proposed analytical model due to each of the mentioned assumptions were clearly defined hence providing a range for the validity of the novel analytical model.


identifier: Alam, Nadeem  (2003) Quality assurance implementation issues in Canadian firms : a study of ISO 9001:2000.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This research studies implementation issues related to the emergence of the latest version of the ISO 9000 quality standard, ISO 9001:2000. This version has abandoned the structure of 20 sections and now has five comprehensive sections covering all the previous requirements, with some modifications and the introduction of new requirements. The ISO 9001:2000 standard has introduced a process-based approach that considers the quality management system as a single large process consisting of many smaller processes. The thesis focuses on the implementation of ISO 9001:2000 through an empirical study on Canadian firms. Results show that, whether external or internal reasons provided the impetus for registration, Canadian companies registered under the new ISO standards generally face the same degree of difficulty in implementation. However, internally driven companies have less difficulty for certain items. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Wang, Yang  (2003) Adaptive control for frictional and impact chatter in metal cutting via piezoelectric actuator.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: From the very beginning, metal cutting has had one troublesome obstacle in increasing productivity and accuracy, namely chatter. In machining, chatter is perceived as unwanted excessive vibration between the tool and workpiece, resulting in a poor surface finish and accelerated tool wear. It also has a deteriorating effect on the machine tool life, and the reliability and safety of the machining operation. The frictional and impact chatter are mainly due to the nonlinearity of the dry friction and the intermittent contact between the cutting tool and the workpiece. This thesis addresses the controller design for suppressing frictional and impact chatter in metal cutting systems.  Piezoelectric actuators have become a standard option in positioning applications where the displacements must be small and highly accurate. In particular, ultra-precision manufacturing requires exceptionally fine and repeatable motions, making piezoelectric actuators a common choice. In this thesis, with the application of piezoelectric actuators in two directions x and y , an adaptive controller is developed to deal with unknown hysteresis combined with time delay. And an approach for adaptive control of frictional and impact chatter for metal cutting by piezoelectric actuator is presented. The developed control approach is based on an accepted model of the metal cutting process dynamics in the context of an approximate analysis of the resulting non-linear differential equations of motion. The stability analysis of the system is also given. The results of the numerical study of the adaptive control system shows the effectiveness of control of frictional and impact chatter with piezoelectric actuators.


identifier: Hsu, Yon  (2003) Montreal's twinning with Shanghai : a case study of urban diplomacy in the global economy.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: It is an increasing trend that Canadian cities demand more of an international presence, and that municipalities are eager to form their own international policies relation to economic globalization. In this case, how do we understand urban international relations beyond the usual criticism that they merely serve local politicians' interests through exotic trips financed by taxpayers? Based on qualitative interviews, records in Montreal municipal archive and local newspapers, this research provides a case study of Montreal's sister-city relationship with Shanghai between 1985 and 2001 in order to shed light on how urban diplomacy is forged in the intertwined processes of international communication, global-local dynamics, intergovernmental relations and interpersonal communication. The research also contextualizes urban international relations in terms of structure and agency at local, regional and global levels.  Montreal's twinning with Shanghai aimed at the "low" policy of diplomacy with the hopes of enhancing both cities' international connections and urban competitiveness. Seeking mutual help and advantages between Montreal and Shanghai was a municipal entrepreneurial strategy in response to the pressure, challenges and opportunities opened up in the global economy. These twinning objectives were not under the aegis of Quebec's international relations in searching for its distinctive political status, nor were they guided by a specific political ideology in hoping for the improvement of human rights in China. However, twinning does not occur in a political vacuum. This research further presents political problems and controversies surrounding the Montreal-Shanghai connection. First, the question is asked about the absence of a broad-based public participation in the twinning processes. Second, the concern is raised about the lack of an overt twinning agenda on human rights in China. A critical evaluation of both issues is given as a normative inquiry into the significance of urban international relations.


identifier: Tryphonopoulos, Aliki  (2003) Niera's prophecy.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: Niera's prophecy

abstract: Niera's Prophecy is a novella-length fiction about jealousy, integrity and the acceptance of self. It is set in an arid land where the civilized live in walled city-kingdoms and the "uncivilized" live nomadically in the more inhospitable regions of the desert. Niera, the king's unrecognized daughter, suffers from her father's indifference and from envy of her half sister, Princess Meriope. When Niera becomes the apprentice of the court soothsayer, she believes she has finally found a way to distinguish herself. She soon discovers that being a soothsayer requires an impartiality and selflessness that are difficult to achieve. Her own prophetic sight is partial and incomplete, reflecting her inability to let go of her desires. When the court soothsayer is expelled from the palace, Niera finds herself in the position to make a judgement that will affect Meriope's future. Her actions lead to an unforeseen tragedy from which she gains an understanding of herself. Although Niera's Prophecy does not explicitly critique gender and class relationships, inequalities in both form the background of the story (e.g. the role of the female soothsayer in government, Meriope's bride price, women's mobility, Niera's view of the commoners, and the prejudice against the nomadic tribes)


identifier: Loncke, Paul G  (2003) Theoretical studies of intramolecular rearrangements of siloxycarbenes.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis describes a thorough theoretical investigation of the mechanisms of intramolecular rearrangements of siloxycarbenes by means of contemporary ab initio molecular orbital theory and density-functional theory calculations combined with the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (AIM), the electron localization function (ELF) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. New approaches for probing the mechanisms of organic reactions using these well-established electronic-structure methods are described. The thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 addresses the importance of understanding siloxycarbene reactivity, and provides a concise description of the electronic structure of carbenes, a brief review of singlet carbene rearrangements and an outline of the main objectives of this work. Chapter 2 describes an investigation of the mechanisms of intramolecular rearrangements of methoxy(siloxy)carbene, with emphasis on 1,2-silyl migration and decarbonylation. It is shown that 1,2-silyl migration and decarbonylation are concerted rearrangements involving intramolecular front-side nucleophilic attack by the carbene lone pair at silicon and by the methoxy oxygen at silicon, respectively. It is worthy to note that both of these rearrangement mechanisms are symmetry-forbidden according to Woodward-Hoffmann rules and similar rearrangements involving intramolecular front-side nucleophilic substitution are quite rare. Also noteworthy is the finding based on AIM analysis that the changes in molecular structure associated with 1,2-silyl migration occur via a bifurcation mechanism, while those associated with 1,2-methyl migration, which involves an anion-like shift to the "vacant" carbene p orbital, occur via a conflict mechanism. Chapter 3 deals with the effects of substituents and the role of hyperconjugation in siloxycarbene rearrangements. It is found that electron-withdrawing substituents in methoxy(substituted-siloxy)carbenes generally lower the barriers for 1,2-silyl migration and decarbonylation, consistent with the mechanisms proposed in Chapter 2. The ease of intramolecular rearrangements of siloxycarbenes is also shown to be related to the extent of the pertinent hyperconjugative interactions in the parent carbene conformers. Chapter 4 describes a study of the mechanisms of intramolecular rearrangements of 3-sila-2-oxacyclohexylidene, a cyclic siloxycarbene. Chapter 5 summarizes the key findings of this work and provides some perspective on these findings. It also provides insight into how the approaches described in this work may be extended to other systems. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Romeo, Andrea A  (2003) Copper catalysis of human hemoglobin CysÝ93 S-nitrosation and Heme nitrosylation by S-Nitrosoglutathione.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: There is evidence that binding of the vasorelaxant, nitric oxide (NO), to CysÝ93 of human adult hemoglobin (Hb) plays a role in blood pressure regulation. S-Nitrosation of CysÝ93 by low-molecular-weight S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) such as S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was directly probed by FTIR by monitoring the p(SH) vibrations of Hb and by ESI-MS. The results indicate that CysÝ93 is S-nitrosated when oxyHb (HbFe II O 2 ), but not deoxyHb (HbFe II ), is exposed to GSNO (1:1 heme/GSNO). No FTIR or ESI-MS evidence was obtained for oxyHb S-nitrosation in the presence of DTPA (a Cu II chelator) and neocuproine (a Cu I chelator). Monitoring the heme Soret and visible bands revealed that oxyHb was converted to metHb (HbFe III ) in the presence of excess GSNO over CysÝ93 and that this was inhibited on addition of neocuproine. The combined data are consistent with a mechanism involving Cu II -catalysis of CysÝ93 S-nitrosation by free NO generated by Cu I -catalysis of GSNO breakdown but not with trans-S-nitrosation (NO + transfer between thiols).  Reductive cleavage of GSNO by deoxyHb to release free NO that binds to additional deoxyHb to give nitrosylHb was recently reported [Spencer, N. Y., Zeng, H., Patel, R. P., and Hogg, N. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275(47), 36562]. The reaction between GSNO and deoxyHb was reexamined in the presence of both neocuproine and DTPA using a copper-depleted Hb solution prepared by exhaustive dialysis vs. EDTA. Direct spectroscopic and mass spectral analyses of the deoxyHb/GSNO incubates show that nitrosylHb formation was significantly decelerated in presence of neocuproine. Deceleration was less in the presence of DTPA and in Hb solutions dialyzed vs. EDTA.  NitrosylHb formation was almost totally inhibited when neocuproine was added to dialyzed deoxyHb plus GSNO. Extensive GSSG formation was observed by mass spectrometry in deoxyHb/GSNO incubates in the absence of metal chelators where deoxyHb nitrosylation was complete in <5 min. The data presented are inconsistent with direct reduction of GSNO by deoxyHb but indicate a mechanism involving free NO generated by Cu I catalysis of GSNO breakdown and Cu II reduction by GSH.  The Cu and Zn content in commercial human Hb samples was determined by ICP-MS, and V20 oM of each metal was present in 5 mM Hb solutions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Doquang, Kimchi  (2003) Cdc2 links the cell division cycle to differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: In Dictyostelium discoideum , a multicellular organism stems from individual amoebae in response to nutrient depletion. Despite the vastly different strategy used to generate multicellular structures, processes associated with animal development including cell sorting, pattern formation and cell-type choice are mirrored to a remarkable degree in the development of Dictyostelium . Morphogenesis ultimately leads to the formation of a fruiting body composed of dormant spores mounted on a rigid stalk of dead cells. The simplicity of this dichotomous choice makes Dictyostelium a model system for the study of pattern formation in developing organisms. Several lines of evidence suggest that cell-type biases are directly linked to the cell cycle. Cells starved early in the cell cycle preferentially become the stalk cells while those starved in later phases of the cell cycle favour the spore pathway [Weijer, C., Duschl, G., David, C.N. (1984) J. Cell Sci ., 70 , 133-145; MacDonald, S.A., Durston, A.J. (1984) J. Cell Sci ., 66 , 195-204; Gomer, R.H., Firtel, R.A. (1987) Science , 237 , 758-762; Ohmori, T., Maeda, Y. (1987) Cell Differentiation , 25 , 11-18; Zimmerman, W., Weijer, C. (1993) Developmental Biology , 160 , 178-185; Araki, T., Hajime, N., Takeuchi, I., Maeda, Y. (1994) Developmental Biology , 162 , 221-228]. The underlying mechanism linking the cell cycle to cellular differentiation is unclear. To gain a better understanding of the relationship we have undertaken the analysis of proteins controlling the cell division cycle. In this work we describe a mutation in Cdc2 kinase, a pivotal cell cycle control element, and demonstrate that the cell-cycle control mechanism contributes directly to cell-type biases.


identifier: Pons, Frank  (2003) "Is too few really better than too many?" : development of the perceived human concentration scale and its impact on the service experience.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: The marketing research on crowding presents conclusive but limited results about the, mainly negative, consequences triggered by crowded situations for the individual or the consumer (Eroglu and Machleit, 1990; Machleit et al, 1994; 2000). On the other hand, the growth of experiential and hedonist products and services (amusement parks, concerts...), in which the crowd may play a positive role on the consumer's experience and the lack of managerial direction to deal with crowding issues in service settings (Stewart and Cole, 2001; Eastman and Land, 1997) call for a more in-depth analysis of crowding issues. Therefore, through findings from other research streams (environmental psychology or sociology) and empirical data, this research aims at filling these existing gaps in the business literature about crowding.  The first contribution of this study deals with the repositioning of human density (also called concentration) as a key concept in crowd assessment and appreciation. A valid and reliable multidimensional measure of human concentration is developed. It gives researchers and managers the opportunity to better understand crowd mechanisms and to control them. In particular, four facets of human concentration, namely privacy, personal space, freedom of movement and perceived density are uncovered and give a more complete definition of what human concentration is. In a second study, the developed scale is used to study the human concentration-satisfaction relationship and key moderating variables are identified (service situation, confirmation/disconfirmation and scarcity of the service experience). Several direct and interaction effects are described. The main contribution of this part of the research refers to the demonstration that this relationship is complex and context-dependent. Crowd can also have a positive influence on satisfaction in specific conditions.


identifier: Bennett, Joy  (2003) From gentlemen's agreements to collective agreements : how the unionization of full time faculty members in anglophone Canadian universities has changed the management and governance structures of those universities.  PhD thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis examines the influence that unionized faculty associations have had on the management and governance structures of Canadian universities by exploring the reasons that led to certification, the certification process, and the collective bargaining history at three research level Anglophone universities. Since the 1940s Canadian labour legislation has permitted unionization and collective bargaining in the private sector, but it was only in the mid 1960s that changes in the legislation, at both the federal and provincial levels, allowed individuals in the public sector to unionize. The certification of professionals in the public sector gave Canadian university faculty associations the model they needed to consider unionization and collective bargaining as a viable means by which they might ensure academic freedom, increase faculty autonomy and improve compensation.  The three universities--the University of Manitoba, Dalhousie University and Queen's University--were studied using case study methodology, which included interviews, examination of primary and secondary documentation, and textual analysis of collective agreements. In each case, the conditions under which unionization occurred have been examined, the reasons for certification analysed, and the results discussed.  This study shows that unionization led in fundamental ways to changes in the governance and management structure of the universities, with authority relating to faculty personnel matters shifting from the senate to direct negotiations between the board of governors and faculty associations. As a result, significant management powers have devolved from the senior academic administrators to academic peers. The gentlemen's agreements, formerly forged during senate debates, have been replaced by negotiated collective agreements. The overall implications of these changes on the governance and management of Canadian Anglophone universities have generally been positive, but only time will tell whether they will continue to be so.


identifier: Lapalme, Judy Cuggy  (2003) Ahuntsic Park.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: Ahuntsic Park

abstract: Set in Montreal, Ahuntsic Park, is a collection of linked stories that explore themes of religion, spirituality, and faith as they intersect with life, death, and sexuality. As the character Maggie treads through her life, her unique experiences are built on her passionate interest in the historical past, her strong attentiveness to the present, her inner fantasy world, and her penchant for visions and apparitions. Accompanying Maggie are some of the people who are a part of her life, including her husband and sister. Each devises a strategy to cope with the circumstances of their lives that make it possible for her to examine the nature of communications within the context of her relationships.


identifier: Motyka, Susan  (2003) Knowing : stories.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

title: Knowing : stories

abstract: Knowing: Stories explores the relationship between foregrounds and backgrounds in characters' lives. Set in periods from the 1930s to the present, and written in a realistic style, the stories in the collection examine the ways in which aspects (whether personal, familial, ethnic, or social) of characters' backgrounds are relevant to their present situations. Such aspects may be welcome or unwelcome to the characters; evident or initially hidden; may be felt to intrude on the present, or may be actively used; they may be seen to create limitations, or to provide possibilities. What the stories share in common is a focus on the unavoidable relevance of aspects of background to the characters' attempts to create meaning and identities, and to understand, engage with, and shape their present and future situations.  In the stories, "foreground" and "background" may be understood spatially/geographically, in which sense "foreground" refers to characters' current, and "background" to previous or prospective, locations: characters anticipate, with anxiety or hope, the places towards which they are traveling ("The Dictionary"); conversely, from vantage points in new locations, characters reflect on the circumstances, homes, or countries they have left behind ("Nightshade"). The characters also conceive of "foreground" and "background" in temporal terms, with the present constituting the "foreground" and the past, or the future, functioning as a "background" ("Grey Lake" and "Knowing"). What links the stories is their shared perspective on how coming to know aspects of background is, for some characters, an essential task.


identifier: Islam, Salekul  (2003) Security issues in PIM-SM link-local messages.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Protocol Independent Multicast-Sparse Mode (PIM-SM) routing protocol attracts most of the attention of the Internet community due to its scalability and flexibility. From the very beginning, multicast communication faced various difficulties in its security areas. PIM-SM is also not free from this problem. Security features of a routing protocol consist of two orthogonal planes: data plane and control message plane. The first one ensures distribution of data packets securely while the other deals with security of control messages.  Most of the PIM-SM control messages fall into the link-local category, and are sent to adjacent routers only, using TTL = 1 and ALL_PIM_ROUTERS as destination address. To protect these link-local messages, in the present Internet Draft of PIM-SM a security mechanism has been proposed that uses IPsec Authentication Header (AH) protocol. While using IPsec AH protocol, the anti-replay mechanism has been disabled. This compromise makes PIM-SM vulnerable to denial of service attack. Moreover, the Security Association lookup and number of Security Associations are also erroneous and incomplete in the document.  A new proposal has been presented in this thesis to protect PIM link-local messages while activating the anti-replay mechanism as well. Security Association lookup method has been modified also to cope with this proposal. Finally, this new proposal has been validated using a validation tool, SPIN, that uses PROMELA to design the validation model.


identifier: Abou-Moustafa, Karim T  (2003) A generative-discriminative framework for time-series data classification.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis targets the problem of poor performance of HMM-based classifiers. First, we study the effect of the structure on the performance of HMMs and see how the number of states and the topology can contribute to the classification performance. As a result, our investigation showed the topology has a stronger contribution to the classification performance than the number of states. Second, we propose a general two-stage framework that combines generative and discriminative models to reach a high performance in the classification of time-series data. In the first stage, HMMs are used to model the time-series data, then a fixed size score vector is extracted from this stage and used as the input to the discriminative model in the second stage. The framework showed a potential for combining generative and discriminative models for in time-series data classification and was able to achieve a recognition rate of 98.02%, with an increase of 3.83% over traditional HMM-based classifiers. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Fu, Longchang  (2003) Validation and implementation of an enzyme activity mapping database.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: An enzyme activity database (EAMDB) is required to support a fungal genomics project currently underway at Concordia. EAMDB supports high-throughput assays to determine enzyme activities, kinetic constants, optimal temperatures and pH values. This thesis implements and validates the design of EAMDB done by Ronghua Shu, a previous Masters student at Concordia. By working closely with the wet lab scientists, we have validated it through several techniques and implemented a MySQL relational database for EAMDB. We also have created the user interfaces on the web for EAMDB and links between protocol files and relations in this database by using PHP Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP)


identifier: Islam, Faridul  (2003) On usability pattern documentation : an XML-based approach.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: There are several ways to document patterns. Different formats have been proposed by different authors for capturing the best practices and proven solutions; i.e. patterns. The Alexandrian format of patterns was presented in a fairly informal, narrative style. On the other hand, the Gang-of-Four format of patterns was presented in much finer grained fashion by decomposing each pattern into many sections. The structure of pattern documentation depends on several factors. Each author has his own preferences. Different subject matters may influence the structure. For example, more technical information may require patterns with more structure. Different users may require different structures as well. Novice users may prefer a more prosy style while the experienced users may prefer a more structured one. Thus, there was a need to compromise for having a consistent structure so that patterns are clear, understandable, and reusable.  This thesis explores some of the most popular formats of patterns, proposed by different individuals or communities. After a thorough study of the strength and weaknesses of the existing ones, a new comprehensive format of pattern documentation, comprising seven elements, has been developed. Besides enhancing productivity, the proposed format reduces the communication gap among the three key professional groups; i.e. Patterns Writers, Usability Experts and Software Developers. To support the selection of a pattern for a given context, a classification scheme, which organizes patterns according to granularity, functionality, and structural principles, is also proposed. The study concludes with the development of syntax and semantics of a markup language, named Usability Pattern Markup Language (UPML), based on eXtensible Markup Language (XML)


identifier: Gao, Song  (2003) A new image segmentation and smoothing method based on the Mumford-Shah variational model.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Recently Chan and Vese have developed an active contour model for image segmentation and smoothing. Tsai et al. have also developed a similar approach independently. In this thesis, we develop a new hierarchical method which has many advantages compared to the Chan and Vese multiphase active contour models. First , unlike previous works, the curve evolution partial differential equations (PDEs) for different level set functions are decoupled. Each curve evolution PDE is the equation of motion of just one level set function; and different level set equations of motion are solved in a hierarchy. This decoupling of the motion equations of the level set functions speeds up the segmentation process significantly. Secondly , because of the coupling of the curve evolution equations associated with different level set functions, the initialization of the level sets in Chan and Vese's method is difficult to handle. The hierarchical method proposed in this thesis can avoid the problem due to the choice of initial conditions. Thirdly , we use the diffusion equation for denoising. This method therefore can deal with very noisy images. In general, our method is fast, flexible, not sensitive to the choice of initial conditions, and produces very good results.


identifier: Ball, Ian  (2003) Evaluation of an air-to-air cross flow plate heat exchanger using a new heat recovery test facility.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Air-to-air heat recovery is a means of energy conservation in buildings. The plate type cross flow heat exchangers is predominantly used in the HVAC industry because of their low cost, low pressure drop, and medium to high thermal effectiveness. The two main objectives of the present research are to design, fabricate and commission a new low cost innovative heat recovery test facility, and to utilize the facility to evaluate the thermal performance of cross flow plate type heat exchanger. The heat recovery test facility was designed based on two existing North American standards for testing air-to-air heat recovery devices: ASHRAE Standard 84-1991 and CSA standard C439-00. The test facility uses two independent closed loop ducts that incorporate variable frequency drives to provide precise control of airflow. Thermocouple sensors were embedded in the plate heat exchanger allowing for a determination of the bulk air temperature distribution on both the cold and hot sides of the heat exchanger at a top, middle and bottom planes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Huang, Wen Zhen  (2003) Dynamic simulation of energy management control functions in VAV-HVAC systems.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Energy Management Control Systems (EMCS) in buildings can help reduce the energy consumption while maintaining satisfactory occupant environment. The energy management control strategies have to be developed taking into consideration the thermal behavior of buildings and the thermal, operational characteristics of mechanical systems in buildings.  In this thesis, improved EMC algorithms are developed and implemented in a variable air volume HVAC (VAV-HVAC) system. Firstly, HVAC system component dynamic models are developed. Then, several individual improved EMC functions (outdoor air economical cycle, programmed start time, programmed stop time, reset supply air temperature setpoint, occupied time control strategies) are developed and evaluated. Finally, real-time simulations are carried out, in which the results of implementing above improved EMC functions are compared with those of conventional EMC functions. This comparison reveals that the HVAC system with each independent improved function can save 7% to 12% energy. Simulation results also show that a VAV-HVAC system employing all EMC algorithms can save between 14% to 15% energy during summer and winter operation. An optimization methodology to compute optimal setpoints is proposed. These optimal setpoints were used as tracking signals to PI and adaptive control strategies developed in this thesis. The use of optimal setpoints resulted in 17% energy savings.  A real-time supervisory EMC platform is developed in which the developed EMC algorithms are embedded. Simulation results showing the typical operation of a VAV-HVAC system under supervisory EMC system are presented.


identifier: Silva Rivera, Moisés Israel  (2003) A database tool to support building envelope failure diagnosis.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: This thesis' objective is to develop a tool to support the diagnostic process during a building envelope investigation.  Access to the files of the Quebec Home Builder's Association (APCHQ) allowed information on residential building envelope failures in Quebec to be collected and organized into a computer database. Analysis of the database information pointed to water infiltration as the most frequent failure in the first 5 years of life of the houses. Inappropriate design accounted for 43% of the problems, 25% were due to deficient workmanship, and 11% to wrong detailing. The database built in this research could be a framework to collect and disseminate information about problems in the building envelope in Quebec and Canada. Thus, with it, a portrait of the current building envelope problems can be made.  The prototype tool was designed and implemented to demonstrate how a tool integrating a database populated with well-documented and relevant cases of failure can be used in in-situ investigations. The tool works by supplying relevant similar cases of envelope failures. Developed using Microsoft Access, it allows delving into the 96 cases of the database and automates the production of reports.  An evaluation of the prototype tool finally led to the development of guidelines for the next generation of a diagnostic support tool. Such tool should combine retrieving of similar cases with interrogation of relevant general knowledge in order to make a diagnosis and propose remedial measures. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)


identifier: Khamis, Enad  (2003) Compression of a thin layer overlying deep soil deposit.  Masters thesis, Concordia University.

abstract: Roads constitute the largest and most expensive project governments undertake. The deterioration of the infrastructure of these roads represents a major and outstanding problem in transportation engineering. Construction of roads is usually made by stripping the top soil (600 to 1000 mm), which often contains organic materials, and replacing it with a layer of subgrade material (crushed stones, well-graded sand). A thin layer of asphalt or concrete is usually placed on the top of the subgrade layer to provide a durable surface.  This thesis examines the role of a deep deposit on the compression of the overlain subgrade layer. The object of this study is to provide a practical method of analysis for the design of airport runways. The cross-anisotropic elastic body that is characterized by three independent elastic constant with a plane of isotropy is suggested as an improved mathematical model of natural soil deposit. The theory of stresses and displacements in a two-layer system is presented in accordance with the theory of elasticity. The theory present herein reveals the controlling influence of two important ratios on the load-settlement characteristics of the "two-layer system," namely; the ratio of the thickness of the upper layer to the radius of the bearing area and the ratio of the modulus of the deposit to that of the upper layer. For practical design purposes, the theoretical results of settlement and compression of the upper layer have been evaluated numerically and expressed in basic influence curves, for rough and smooth interfaces at the center and the edge of the load. These influence curves are made for a various combination of anisotropic and isotropic two-layer system. The influence curves of the compression of a thin layer overlying deep deposit, confirm that the stiffness of the lower layer has a significant influence on the compression of the upper layer.