title: EXPLORING SOLITON AND SIMILARITON FORMATION IN RESONANT OPTICAL MEDIA

subject:
soliton
similariton
resonant
optical media

abstract:
Investigating the behavior of an atom in response to the applied electric field when the
latter frequency is in resonance with the natural frequency of the atom is an interesting subject. Near resonance, some of the most interesting optical phenomena such as dispersion, and absorption are more pronounced. Moreover, considering resonant and near
resonant interaction of light with two-level atoms, uncovers fascinating physical phenomena
such as area theorem and self-induced transparency describing stable pulse propagation
regimes in which the pulses maintain their identity. Existence of these optical structures
in on-resonance optical media has not been investigated in detail. In this thesis, the on-resonance interaction of optical field with atoms is considered and the formation of several
novel self-similar and kink waves in linear and nonlinear resonant media is discovered and
theoretically explored.
First, self-similar pulse formation in homogeneous broadened linear amplifiers in a
vicinity of an optical resonance is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the self-similar pulses
serve as universal asymptotics of any near resonance short pulses propagating in coherent
linear amplifiers. Second, ultrashort self-similar pulse propagation in coherent linear absorbers near optical resonance is investigated. Third, existence of self-similar optical waves with kink structure in resonant optical systems is discovered. Fourth, it is found that self-induced transparency quadratic solitons are realizable in the media with quadratic optical nonlinearities, doped with resonant impurities. Finally, stable spatial similaritons supported by homogeneous conservative optical media with quintic nonlinearities are explored.
To experimentally realize the presented results, physical models are presented for all
systems under consideration. The stability of the proposed near resonance optical systems
is demonstrated through a series of numerical case studies.


title: ELECTROSTATIC FREE-FREE BEAM MICROELECTROMECHANICAL RESONATOR

contributor: Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

contributor: Dr. Kamal El-Sankary, Dr. William Phillips

subject: MEMS, Free-Free Beam, Resonator, Electrostatic, FEA, Dynamic

abstract: Several free-free beam micro-resonators are designed and fabricated using two commercially available surface micromachining processes, the UW-MEMS process and PolyMUMPs. Theoretical derivations of the design parameters are presented and an electrical lumped behavior model is developed for a single resonator with direct mechanic-to-electric analogy. A finite-element analysis (FEA) tool, the COMSOL Multiphysics 4.2a, is utilized to simulate the effects of the critical structural dimensions and electromechanical coupling. A variety of analyses, such as modal, static and dynamic responses are performed in FEA and the results are compared with the analytical solutions. The static and dynamic performances of the fabricated UW-MEMS resonators are tested using the Vecco NT-9100 In-Motion System. The electrical testing is carried out to obtain the frequency characteristics in electrical domain of the device. Measured data are compared with the analytical and simulation results. Discrepancies are discussed and analyzed.


title: EARLY LIFE EXPERIENCES INFLUENCE SEIZURE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF 14-DAY OLD RAT PUPS IN A DAM-DEPENDENT AND SEX-DEPENDENT MANNER

contributor: Dr. Tara Perrot, Dr. Gary Allen, Dr. Kazue Semba

subject: Prenatal stress, maternal care, epilepsy, seizure,

subject: Seizures, epilepsy, FosB, prenatal stress, maternal care

abstract: Epilepsy is a devastating disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. The pathophysiology of the disorder is not well understood. In this study the effects of early life, including pre- and post-natal, experiences on the seizure susceptibility of offspring was determined. Sprague-Dawley rats were air transported prior to breeding (In-House), on gestation day 9 (G9), or G16. The maternal behaviour was scored from P2-P13. On P14, seizure susceptibility of pups was assessed by randomly assigning the pups into Naïve (control), Saline, lipopolysaccharides (LPS; 200 ?g/kg), Kainic acid (KA; 1.75 mg/kg) or Febrile Convulsion (FC; LPS followed by KA) groups. No effect of prenatal transport was found on seizure susceptibility. Licking and grooming (LG) maternal behaviour was associated with higher FC seizure susceptibility of offspring. Male pups were more susceptible to FC seizure than female pups. These results emphasize the dam-dependent and sex-dependent effects of early life experiences on seizure susceptibility of offspring.


title: Perceptions of Patient Safety: What Influences Patient and Provider Involvement?

contributor:
Interdisciplinary PhD Programme
Doctor of Philosophy
Dr. G. Ross Baker
Dr. William Barker
Dr. Todd Boyle
Dr. Marilyn Macdonald
Dr. D. David Persaud
Received
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
patient safety
health behaviour
mixed methods
patient involvement

abstract: Patient safety strategies have traditionally involved the promotion of provider-oriented practices aimed at reducing known risks associated with surgery, infection, and continuity of care. With the knowledge that patient safety incidents can significantly impact patients, providers, and health care organizations, greater emphasis on patient involvement as a means to mitigate risks warrants further research. The primary objective of this research was to determine the relationship between perceptions of patient safety and the likelihood of patient involvement in both factual and challenging patient safety practices. This mixed methods study was conducted at two tertiary hospital sites located in Atlantic Canada between February 2011 and January 2012. The study design was the sequential explanatory model of mixed methods design, integrating both quantitative survey methods and qualitative focus group methods for both patient and provider participants. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and partial least squares (PLS) analysis. Focus group sessions were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The development and analysis of this research was guided by the Health Belief Model. Overall, patients were more willing to engage in factual patient safety practices (e.g., asking questions of their doctors) than challenging patient safety practices (e.g., asking a provider if they have washed their hands). The patient PLS analysis revealed relationships between patient perceptions of threat and self-efficacy and the performance of factual and challenging patient safety practices, explaining 46% and 42% of the variance, respectively. The provider PLS model found that perceptions of safety culture accounted for 34% of the variance in perceptions of threat and 42% of the variance in perceptions of barriers versus benefits. Thematic analysis resulted in the identification of four major themes for both patient and providers related to the phenomenon of patient involvement. Quantitative and qualitative results were complementary in nature. Perceptions of patient safety were shown to influence both patient and provider likelihood in engaging in selected patient safety practices. Greater understanding of the roles that perceptions play in patient involvement in their care may help to improve the safety and quality of care delivered.


title: British Identity and the Antirevolutionary Novel: Nineteenth-Century British Novels about the French Revolution

contributor: Dr. Judith Thompson; Dr. Marjorie Stone; Dr. Lyn Bennett

abstract: Between Edmund Burke’s 1790 Reflections on the Revolution in France and Charles Dickens’s 1859 A Tale of Two Cities, a cluster of antirevolutionary British works depicting the French Revolution that bridges periodisation divisions and often challenges the conventionally recognised political affiliations of the authors in question appeared.  Recent work in recovering neglected Romantic and Victorian-era texts about the French Revolution has typically focused on radical and liberal works or the literary output of the 1790s, while disregarding the long-term antirevolutionary tradition my dissertation examines.  I analyse canonical and well-known texts such as Burke’s Reflections, Thomas Carlyle’s The French Revolution (1837) and Dickens’s Tale with understudied and sometimes utterly neglected antirevolutionary novels, including Elizabeth Hamilton’s Memoirs of Modern Philosophers (1800), Frances Burney’s The Wanderer (1814), Anthony Trollope’s La Vendée (1850) and Charlotte M. Yonge’s Dynevor Terrace (1857), in order to reconstruct the political and representational contests surrounding the French Revolution that occurred across seventy years of British literature.  My work reveals that by representing the Revolution as inherently and unavoidably violent, the antirevolutionary writers in this study take up their own violent positions against it.  These writers are primarily concerned with the French Revolution’s impact on British communities and identities, and construct their own versions of Britishness in the context of, and usually in opposition to, revolutionary violence and the French revolutionary state.  These texts all politicise the family and the domestic community as models or microcosms of the broader national community, although they do so in diverse ways: Burney and Trollope turn to the political family romance to test out versions of the state modelled on patriarchy, fraternity or the heterosexual marriage contract.  By contrast, Burke, Dickens and Yonge use middle-class domestic ideology to promote a national community rooted in private, social affections.  However, as the home comes under threat by revolutionary violence in all of these works, each writer commits some kind of representational violence against revolutionary symbols, ideals and narratives.  My analysis of these texts as a group demonstrates that the French Revolution was also a British event, generating decades of antirevolutionary reaction, histrionic paranoia and literary strategies for containing French and British radicalism.


title: FORECASTING, MODELING, AND CONTROL OF TIDAL CURRENTS ELECTRICAL ENERGY SYSTEMS

subject: Forecasting, Modeling, Control, Stability, DDPMSG, DFIG, Tidal Current Turbine

abstract:
The increasing penetration of renewable energy in the power system grid makes it one of the most important topics in electricity generation, now and into the future. Tidal current energy is one of the most rapidly growing technologies for generating electric energy. Within that frame, tidal current energy is surging to the fore. Forecasting is the first step in dealing with future generations of the tidal current power systems. The doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) and the direct drive permanent magnet synchronous generator (DDPMSG) are the most commonly used generators associated with tidal current turbines. The aim of the present work is to propose a forecasting technique for tidal current speed and direction and to develop dedicated control strategies for the most commonly used generators, enabling the turbines to act as an active component in the power system.

This thesis is divided into two parts. The first part proposes a hybrid model of an artificial neural network (ANN) and a Fourier series model based on the least squares method (FLSM) for monthly forecasting of tidal current speed magnitude and direction. The proposed hybrid model is highly accurate and outperforms both the ANN and the FLSM alone. The model is validated and shown to perform better than other models currently in use. This study was done using data collected from the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2008.

The second part of the thesis describes the overall dynamic models of the tidal current turbine driving either a DFIG or a DDPMSG connected to a single machine infinite bus system, including controllers used to improve system stability. Two models are tested and validated, and two proportional integral (PI) controllers are proposed for each machine to control the output power of the tidal current turbine. The controllers are tested using a small signal stability analysis method for the models, and prove the robustness of the tidal current turbine using two different types of generators over those without controllers. The controller gain ranges are also investigated to establish zones of stability. Overall results show the advantages of using a DDPMSG over a DFIG.


title: SafetyNET-Rx: Insights and Lessons Learned From a Pilot Project

contributor:
Applied Health Services Research
Master of Health Services Research
Dr. Stacy Ackroyd-Stolarz
Grace Johnston
Dr. Raewyn Bassett
Dr. Todd Boyle
Dr. Grace Johnston
Received
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

abstract: Medication errors are under-reported in community pharmacies, thereby reducing the opportunities for creating solutions and jeopardizing patient safety. This research identified challenges and facilitators of medication error reporting, and lessons learned from using a continuous quality improvement program. In-depth interviews with pharmacists and technicians from 13 community pharmacies in Nova Scotia were analyzed using iterative thematic analysis. The overall theme, From Secret to Shared, was comprised of: resistance; resolving resistance; and improved outlook. Suggestions for improvement included: increased ease of use, provision of feedback, and sharing of learnings among pharmacies. By understanding the context of medication errors, reporting and patient safety can be improved.


title: MONITORING OF THE REMEDIATION OF HALIFAX HARBOUR AFTER 250 YEARS OF CONTAMINATION USING FORAMINIFERAL PROXIES

contributor:
Department of Earth Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy
Eduard G. Reinhardt
Nicholas Culshaw
Shanon Sterling
Stephanie Kienast
Michael Parsons
David Scott
Not Applicable
Yes
Yes

subject:
Remediation Monitoring
Halifax Harbour
Pollution
Benthonic Foraminifera

abstract:
The analyses of benthonic foraminifera in surface sediments for two-years (Oct. 2007-August 2009) and cores from Halifax Harbour (HH) were essential for short-term monitoring, and reference environment reconstruction for the remediation that started in 2008. The distribution of foraminifera in the surface sediments indicates a lateral environmental variation and positive correlation to the pollution rate in HH as the environmental purity increases seawards. The treated area, Inner Harbour, recorded a rapid environmental recovery during treatment period (2008), and reverted to its former characteristics after treatment stopped (early 2009). This recovery represented by an increase in both diversity (from <12 to >20 species) and abundance (from 120–880 to 1350-1750 individuals). Additionally, the assemblage during that period witnessed a decrease in opportunistic species (<50%), shell deformities (<11%), and inner linings (17%), and a significant increase in calcareous species.
The assemblage in pre-impact environment, as inferred from cores, has a high diversity (>30 species) and abundance (>4000 individuals), a dominant calcareous record (>60%), and lower deformities (3-4%). The gradual environmental degradation due to organic enrichment in the harbour caused an increasing foraminiferal decimation to reach dramatic levels with the huge growth of Halifax city since late 1950s. This decimation led to dominance of opportunistic species (e.g., agglutinated forms such as Eggerella advena, and Reophax scottii), abundance of shell deformities, and complete absence of calcareous tests, leaving only their inner linings.
 Analysis of benthonic foraminifera in two cores from Sydney Harbour (SH) helped to compare contamination types in both areas (domestic in HH vs. industrial in SH). The domestic pollution in HH developed an agglutinated assemblage with low diversity, low abundance, and high ratios of inner linings. In SH the assemblage showed higher diversity (>22 species) and abundance (>4000 individuals), dominant calcareous record (>50%), and low inner linings (<10%) together with some species that had never been observed in such cold waters in Nova Scotia (Ammonia beccarii).


title: Indicators of Inflammation in the Fasting Induced Fatty Liver of the American Mink  (Neovison vison)

contributor: Dr. Lori Parsons, Dr. Vasantha Rupasinghe

subject: American Mink, Fatty liver, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha, Bile Duct Proliferation

abstract: The presence of inflammation in the progression of fatty liver disease induced by fasting was determined in mink. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) liver mRNA levels were quantified by real-time PCR. Mink fasted for 5 and 7 days had significantly higher levels of TNF-? and MCP-1 liver mRNA, compared to mink fasted for 0, 1, and 3 days. Mink fasted for 7 days, but re-fed for 28 days had the lowest mRNA levels of both TNF-?, and MCP-1 demonstrating the liver’s ability to restore homeostasis post-fasting. TNF-? mRNA levels were correlated with MCP-1 liver mRNA and liver fat percent. To confirm the physical presence of inflammation, slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin were analyzed for bile ducts resulting in no significant differences. Results indicate that elevated MCP-1 and TNF-? expression are associated with fasting induced fatty liver in mink.


title: Is There a Relationship Among Overall Nutritional Quality Index, Carbon Footprint and the Price of Food?

contributor:
Department of Economics
Master of Arts
Melvin L.Cross
Melvin L.Cross and Courtney Ward
J.Stephen Clark
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: Overall nutritional quality index, carbon footprint, price

abstract: This study explores the relationship among the overall nutritional quality index (ONQI), the carbon footprint and price of 90 different foods. The ONQI and carbon footprint measure the healthiness and environmental impact of a food, respectively. Two models are estimated. The first is a hedonic model of the food price and two characteristics: ONQI and carbon footprint. A positive relationship between price and carbon footprint is found, implying higher priced foods have a larger environmental impact. The second model is a regression of ONQI on price and carbon footprint. A negative, non-linear relationship between ONQI and carbon footprint is found. This implies there is a complementary relationship between the healthiness of food and its environmental impact. Both models show that healthier food is also higher priced. This could explain why poorer consumers are less healthy than richer consumers, and why taxing food would disproportionately impact the health of the poor.


title: THE VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF COPEPODS IN BEDFORD BASIN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PHYSICAL VARIABLES WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SMALL-SCALE TURBULENCE

contributor:
Department of Oceanography
Master of Science
Charles Hannah
Daniel Kelley
Daniel Kelley and Christopher Taggart
Tetjana Ross
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

abstract:
In the autumn of 2010 a novel free-falling profiler was deployed in attempt to measure,
quantify and understand the vertical distribution of copepods in Bedford Basin, with
particular emphasis on the effects of small-scale turbulence. Coincident measurements
of high-resolution copepod abundance, depth, temperature, salinity, density, buoyancy
frequency and turbulent dissipation rates were collected. Data for light, tide and winds
were also available on a larger space and time scale. The results suggest that the distribution
of copepods in Bedford Basin is not affected by turbulence and is mainly controlled by
temperature, salinity and density, while the large scale copepod abundance is controlled by
light and tides.


title: An OWL Ontology for Modeling HL-7 Compliant Electronic Patient Records for Chronic Disease Management

contributor:
Health Informatics
Master of Health Informatics
Dr. Raza Abidi
Dr Samina Abidi
Dr. Christian Blouin
Dr. Raza Abidi
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: Chronic Disease Management, Electronic Medical Record, Ontology, Knowledge Management, Semantic Interoperability

abstract: The management process of chronic diseases is longitudinal in nature. Patient records in electronic format provide information at the point of care and support decision-making processes. In our research, we analyzed the clinical pragmatics of Chronic Disease Management (CDM) and formulated a knowledge model to develop Ontology-based EMR. Our research involved knowledge abstraction, knowledge modeling, and ontology engineering. We applied the Knowledge Management approach to knowledge sources including medical literature, the Chronic Care Model (CCM), CPR Ontology and HL-7 RIM. We studied CDM in detail to abstract conceptual knowledge involved in the process of CDM. The abstracted knowledge was modeled into a formal model called CD-EMR Model. We adapted Methontology and developed an OWL-based ontology from the CD-EMR Model. We evaluated the ontology by instantiating longitudinal clinical cases of chronic diseases. CD-EMR ontology allows (a) computerization of longitudinal patient records, (b) semantic interoperability, and (c) reasoning for clinical decision support.


title: Testing the Embodied Account of Object Representations

contributor: Department of Psychology with Neuroscience

abstract: Theories of embodied cognition propose that sensorimotor experiences constrain visual cognitive process. Specifically, these theories posit that object concepts are represented by simulations within modality-specific cortices. These theories make two critical predictions about the role of sensorimotor simulations in representing manipulable versus non-manipulable objects. First, sensorimotor simulations are functionally necessary during visual cognitive tasks. That is, in visual processing of objects, simulations are involved in producing successful performance (e.g. object naming). Second, sensorimotor simulations are coactivated in response to the visual presentation of objects. That is, we should observe evidence for incidental sensorimotor simulations during the performance of visual cognitive tasks (e.g. orientation judgments). I conducted two studies to test these hypotheses. In the first, I employ a concurrent motor task during an object-naming experiment in an attempt to disrupt sensorimotor simulations. Using this paradigm, I failed to show evidence that concurrent motor activity selectively impairs manipulable object naming; rather, I show that a concurrent motor task affects naming across categories of objects. In the second, I investigate behavioural evidence for coactivated sensorimotor simulations in response to the visual presentation of objects. I show a ‘motor potentiation effect’ for both animals and artifacts, a finding that cannot be explained by coactivation of sensorimotor simulations. In the other studies reported here, I adopt eye-tracking and electrophysiological techniques to investigate ways in which visual attention is biased by artifact and animal stimuli and show covert and overt attentional biases for the handle of manipulable objects. Overall, the results in the present set of studies are more parsimoniously accounted for by a general bias in visual attention that is determined by factors such as experimental task, rather than embodied object representations. I conclude that we must abandon a strong form of the embodiment hypothesis.


title: Volume-Preserving Coordinate Gauges in Linear Perturbation Theory

contributor: Department of Mathematics & Statistics - Math Division

subject:
Cosmology
Cosmological Averaging
Differential Geometry
Perturbation Theory in Cosmology
General Relativity
The Gauge Issue

abstract: The main goal of this thesis is to present cosmological perturbation theory (based on the standard Friedmann cosmological model) in volume-preserving coordinates, which then provides a suitable basis for studies in cosmological averaging. We review perturbation theory to second order, allowing for averaging to second order in future research. To solve the averaging problem we need a method of covariantly and gauge invariantly averaging tensorial objects on a background manifold. This is a very difficult problem. However, the definition of an average takes on a particularly simple form when written in a system of volume-preserving coordinates. Therefore, we develop a three dimensional and a four dimensional volume-preserving coordinate gauge in this thesis that can be used for averaging in cosmological perturbation theory.


title: FATIGUE CHARACTERIZATION OF RISERS AND PIPELINES UNDER REALISTIC VARIABLE AMPLITUDE LOADING AND THE INFLUENCE OF COMPRESSIVE STRESS CYCLES

contributor: Dr. Farid Taheri and Dr. J. Kim Vandiver

subject: Offshore, risers, pipe, pipeline, fatigue, fracture, crack, VIV (vortex-induced vibration), finite element, nonlinear, stress intensity factor, VAL (variable amplitude loading), CAL (constant amplitude loading), Willenborg Model, Paris model, Walker model, Barsom model, Hudson model, rainflow, compressive stress cycles, tensile overload, compressive underload and roughness.

abstract:
One of the most prominent factors affecting the performance and longevity of risers is vortex induced vibration (VIV), which can cause severe fatigue damage, especially in risers used in deep waters. The available approaches for analyzing VIV induced fatigue in risers mainly focus on the VIV aspect of the problem; indeed less attention has been paid on the effect of VIV on a riser’s fatigue life and in prediction of fatigue life using various models.
This dissertation first demonstrates how one can characterize fatigue of pipes and risers using an equivalent plate specimen as opposed to using a pipe specimen, thereby simplifying the task, yet obtaining good accuracy. Actual variable amplitude loadings (VAL) are used to study the fatigue crack growth in risers’ material with a focus on the various influencing parameters. Extensive experimental investigations are performed, followed by analytical and computational nonlinear finite element analyses. It is shown that the higher harmonics do cause significant fatigue damage, thus their influence should not be ignored. The influence of load interaction effects is also investigated, focusing on the fatigue crack growth retardation effects due to tension overloads, as well as the acceleration effects due to compression underloads. The crack closure concept is then used to explore into both the fatigue retardation and acceleration effects within a VAL scenario. An effective method for calculation of the stress intensity factor is proposed, which considers only the tensile portion of the stress range, while proposing another effective approach for accounting for the influence of compressive stress cycles.
Moreover, a two-parameter approach is used in this dissertation, relating the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) to the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD). It is shown that the CTOD provides adequate information for calculating the FCGR under VAL, and it can be effectively used to account for the influence of the compressive stress cycles. The experimental investigation also considers the retardation effect resulting from the applied peak tensile overload cycles (TOLC) and the influence of various so-called “clipping” levels, demonstrating the significant influence of the TOLC on crack growth retardation in VAL.


title: CONSENSUS ANALYSIS ON NETWORKED MULTI-AGENT SYSTEMS WITH STOCHASTIC COMMUNICATION LINK FAILURE

contributor:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Master of Applied Science
Jason Gu
Ya-Jun Pan
Mae Seto
Ya-Jun Pan
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: Multi-agent Systems, Bernoulli Process, Data Losses

abstract: This thesis is to develop a novel consensus algorithm or protocol for multi-agent systems in the event of communication link failure over the network. The structure or topology of the system is modeled by an algebraic graph theory, and defined as a discrete time-invariant system with a second-order dynamics. The communication link failure is governed by a Bernoulli process. Lyapunov-based methodologies and Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) techniques are then applied to find an appropriate controller gain by satisfying the sufficient conditions of the error dynamics.  Therefore, the controller with the calculated gain is guaranteed to drive the system to reach a consensus. Finally, simulation and experiment studies are carried out by using two Mobile Robot Pioneer 3-DXs and one Pioneer 3-AT as a team to verify the proposed work.


title: Experimental Evaluation of the Bond Dependent Coefficient and Parameters which Influence Crack Width in GFRP Reinforced Concrete

contributor:
Department of Civil Engineering
Master of Applied Science
Dr. Lei Liu
Dr. Yi Liu
Dr. Darrel Doman
Dr. John Newhook
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Bond
Crack width
Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP)
Bond dependent coefficient (kb)
Concrete

abstract:
Reinforcement of concrete flexural components has been traditionally provided by steel rebar; however, durability concerns and life maintenance costs of this product have powered the emergence of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) as reinforcement in concrete.  FRP products hold tremendous promise but their application can be constrained due to design challenges resulting from a reduced modulus of elasticity.  The ability to meet serviceability behavior, such as crack width and deflection, is commonly the limiting factor for design.  Therefore, the area of FRP reinforcement provided is often greater than the amount required for strength alone and this has significant impacts on the project economics.  The bond dependent coefficient (kb) of FRP is required for serviceability design purposes in order to account for the bonding capability of FRP to concrete.  The values of this coefficient reported in experimental studies are highly variable, resulting in unreliable crack response predictions.  Therefore, a more consistent interpretation and calculation must be found for the bond dependent coefficient due to its critical importance in design.
The bond dependent coefficient, as well as physical parameters which influence crack width in GFRP reinforced concrete, were investigated experimentally in this study using a total of 33 specimens.  The test procedure was taken from a procedure being developed by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 440 and was evaluated and modified as required during testing.  Phase I testing was used to investigate and determine the physical parameters which had the most significant influence on cracking behaviour and bonding capability.  Using significant findings from Phase I, Phase II testing was structured to focus on the interpretation of the bond dependent coefficient and the statistical variation in a set of 5 identical test specimens.  Current design equations, as recommended by ACI 440.1R-06 and CHBDC CAN/CSA-S6-06, were used for the calculation of the bond dependent coefficient for all specimens.  Interpretation of the bond dependent coefficient was considered using the stress-level approach and newly developed slope approach.
Results of the study indicated that the high variability of kb was likely due to its interpretation.  Current design equations force a zero intercept, neglecting the fact that concrete does not crack immediately upon loading.  In addition, clear definitions of service stress and maximum crack width are ambiguous, further complicating the calculation of the bond dependent coefficient.  This resulted in a range of kb values for a given beam despite the fact that kb is inherently a material property of the bar. The behaviour of specimens following load cycling was also very different than the initial loading cycle and consequently, kb was also significantly different.  As structures in the field will be subjected to continual loading and unloading, the effect of cyclic loading becomes a consideration in the calculation of kb.


title: The Philosophy and Physics of Relationality and Inherent Nature: Shunyata and Svabhava in Madhyamaka Buddhist Philosophy, Western Analytic Metaphysics, Philosophy of Science and Physics

contributor:
Interdisciplinary PhD Programme
Interdisciplinary PhD
Dr. Mark Siderits
Dr. William Barker
Dr. Letitia Meynell
Dr. Alan Coley
Dr. John Taber
Dr. Thomas Vinci
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: Madhyamaka, Buddhist philosophy, analytic metaphysics, sunyata, svabhava, philosophy of science, physics, relationality, inherent nature

abstract: Proponents of Middle Way (Sanskrit: Madhyamaka) Buddhist philosophy argue that all phenomena lack inherent nature. This dissertation provides an analysis of the meaning of inherent nature and the lack of inherent nature in the basic physical character of non-living physical phenomena as indicated by certain interpretations of ancient and contemporary Middle Way Buddhist philosophy, contemporary Western analytic metaphysics, philosophy of science, and physics. The primary intellectual focus in the dissertation is Madhyamaka. I explicate an interpretation of Madhyamaka that is both amenable to discourse and dialogue with the other disciplines, and also consistent with at least some extant Madhyamaka interpretations. The discourse and dialogue with other disciplines results in a revision of some of the arguments of Madhyamaka—specifically making it consistent with modern physics. However, that revision does not deny the foundational view of Madhyamaka that there is no inherent nature in phenomena, but rather supports it within the revised interpretation. Additionally, I also find that this foundational view provides at least heuristic guidance in development of a generic interpretive framework (‘contextualization’ and Physics Pluralism) that I then apply in criticism and revision of some arguments in modern analytic metaphysics and in philosophy of science.That generic interpretive framework is used within this dissertation in examination of Western analytic metaphysics and philosophy of science. While I find independent support for that framework within contemporary philosophy, the framework also reflects an interpretation of Madhyamaka that I develop as a variation of the classic two truths view of Madhyamaka. My interpretation of the classical expression of the two truths is that there is relative existence of inherent nature that may be reflected in our conventions of discourse and habit, while ultimately no inherent nature can be found when the phenomena are analyzed more fully. In my modified interpretation of the two truths that corresponds to modern physics, for some phenomena inherent nature is found within specific (‘local’) contexts of discourse or domains of physics theory applicability, yet when we take a ‘global’ view that acknowledges many domains and relationships between domains we find an ultimate relationality rather than inherent nature.


title: Determining Client Effort: Understanding Therapists' Practices

contributor:
School of Occupational Therapy
Master of Science
Leslie Johnson
Brenda Beagan
Anne Carswell
Brenda Beagan
Received
No
Not Applicable

subject:
functional capacity evaluation
FCE
work capacity evaluation
WCE
effort

abstract: For over 20 years occupational therapists have been using functional capacity evaluations to provide information about individuals’ ability to work after a musculoskeletal injury. An important component of these evaluations is the determination of the clients’ level of effort during the assessment. Only when a client puts forth high effort are the results considered an accurate measure of their work ability. This qualitative study explored therapists’ perception of the process of determining effort. Consistent with the literature, the results show that effort is a complex construct that is not easily defined, understood, or consistently assessed in practice. The participants in this study spoke about their own struggles defining, explaining, and assessing effort within the medico-legal context of an insurance system. The study results suggest support is needed for clinicians to navigate multiple client contexts, and the term ‘effort’ needs to be conceptualized in line with current knowledge about disability.


title: Towards an Integrated Infrastructure: Using Architecture to Celebrate a Canadian National Park Town

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Geoffrey Thun
Stephen Parcell
Catherine Venart
Roland Hudson
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Infrastructure
Parks Canada
Architecture
Research
Visitor Experience
Tourism
Systems Integration
Storm Water

abstract:
This thesis proposes an architecturally integrated stormwater system and research facility in the town of Wasagaming, Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP), Manitoba. The design proposal provides four-season, interior and exterior space for the integration of resource management operations and park visitor experiences. Visible integration of infrastructure, building and landscape cultivate destination-based travel to RMNP while reducing human impacts on the ecosystem.
Aging infrastructure and diminishing federal funding make responsible ecological and cultural management of parks increasingly difficult. Integration of research and tourism as a component of visitor experience at parks is one way of addressing cost-effective co-location of programme, ensuring future funding can be generated for resource management.


title: Site as Education: Using Architecture to Communicate Nature's Behaviours

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Peter Henry
Steve Parcell
Roger Mullin
Ted Cavanagh
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: Site, childhood education, natural environment, experiential, tectonic

abstract:
This thesis is an architectural exploration of The Serpentine Fen Wildlife Area in Surrey, British Columbia as a public park and an opportunity for environmental education for children. As public education becomes more environmentally conscious, there is a need for architecture that supports how the child interacts with and perceives their natural environments.
This thesis proposes the use of a single architectural element as a transition between multiple site conditions to create a dynamic link between earth, air, water which affords the abilitity for a relationship to be developed between the user and their environment. This element will consistently be present in the user’s journey through the site and serves to encourage interaction with the identified site conditions. The thesis investigates how this continous element acts as locus, datum, frame, reference, stage and devise to enhance the child’s experience of nature.


title: Re-Thinking the Portable School: A New System for the Durham District School Board

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Geoffrey Thun
Stephen Parcell
Emanuel Jannasch
Steve Parcell
Catherine Venart
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Portable
School
Durham
Education
Strategy
Didactic Architecture
Octagonal Classroom

abstract: This thesis investigates strategies for the portable classroom as a way of envisioning a new model for elementary schools in the region of Durham, Ontario. The portable and the school configuration is informed by a set of rules determined by site and program, making each school building unique and suited for its particular context. Geometry and play are at the core of how children learn, and the architecture will implicitly and explicitly engage this sense of play and learning. The pieces making up the modules have an aesthetic similar to Lego and K’nex toys, which immediately engages the childrens’ imagination and understanding, creating both a playful and engaging environment for learning. The strategy also brings together a variety of geometric pieces that form different classroom types and which can reconfigure for different rooms and uses. As such, the students may understand how the modules stack and stagger to create unique interstitial spaces for the public and for informal learning. These modules can be reconfigured using interior components that create a variety of smaller environments within the larger classrooms. As well as for expansion and contraction of school populations, these components could be recycled for use by other schools with growing populations. Thus, changing the role of the portable into a malleable, moveable aggregate, and making it easier and therefore economical to add, transform and subtract classrooms and learning spaces, school buildings come to life and change along with their setting.


title: Incorporating Spolia: The Façade as Artifact and Frame

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Geoffrey Thun
Stephen Parcell
Jonathan Mandeville
Catherine Venart
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: spolia façade film Hamilton artifact frame dialectics

abstract:
This thesis explores an architectural response for an urban site that incorporates the dismantled façade stones (spolia) of the site’s previous building into two dialectical devices:  a ramp and a camera obscura.  Each device allows the stones to act as both artifact (individual object with an embedded history) and frame (structure that invites a reading of its context).
Spatial and temporal concepts from film provide theoretical guidance for the dialectical structure of the architectural design approach.  A constant navigation between pairs of opposing forces (capturing/projecting, introvert/extrovert, operator/device, artifact/frame, object/subject) results in a pair of architectures,  one a cinema + digital archive and the other a film school, between which a public space is activated as an outdoor amphitheatre.  The two buildings simultaneously act as object (artifact) and subject (frame) in an attempt to locate and express a redefined historical continuity for the site.


title: Reactivate and Reconnect: A Strategy for the Reintegration of an Abandoned Military Community

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Geoffrey Thun
Steve Parcell
Niall Savage
Steve Parcell
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Identity
Connectivity
Neighbourhood
Adaptive Reuse
Military

abstract:
This architectural design thesis proposes the adaptive
re-use of 82 walk-up apartment blocks located in
Shannon Park, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. The
uniform military housing community, abandoned in 2004,
is reintegrated back into the surrounding neighbourhood
network through a series of interventions at several
scales. The new neighbourhood will provide housing
for the population influx expected as a result of the
acquisition of a significant shipbuilding contract. Because
the expected influx is temporary, the development must
be able to easily fit into the existing urban fabric. A
series of strategic design interventions will transform the
monotonous, desolate site into a varied community with
strong neighbourhood identity.


title: TALKING TO TREES: A DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION EFFECTS OF ATHABASCA BITUMEN MINING DOWNWIND FROM THE INDUSTRY

contributor: School of Resource & Environmental Studies

contributor: Dr. Heather Castleden and Dr. Colin Laroque

abstract: Bitumen mining in Alberta is considered one of the largest economic vehicles in Canada, but the assessment of this industry’s environmental impacts is incomplete. The region downwind of this pollution source is occupied by an Indigenous population concerned for the health and viability of their territory. This thesis presents dendrochronology results of principal component and regression analysis documenting white spruce (Picea glauca) growth suppression associated with bitumen mining activity. The growth suppression is most pronounced close to the disturbance and in the most recent rings. With a desire to share these results with the Indigenous peoples whose traditional territory overlaps this study’s transect, I engaged in relationship building and knowledge sharing activities beyond the scope of my scientific analysis. This thesis presents both dendrochronology results documenting tree growth suppression associated with bitumen mining activity and reflections on the relational ethics of conducting research-relevant activity on Indigenous lands in Canada.


title: Beyond 70%: Assessing Alternative Waste Management Opportunities for Institutions

abstract: Initial investigations into the waste management practices at Dalhousie University revealed opportunities for more effective and efficient management of the four major waste streams. However, there was no comprehensive framework in place to properly evaluate which of these opportunities is most appropriate. Neither was there a model system in use at other institutions that could be easily applied to the Dalhousie context. The purpose of this research was to address this issue and, in doing so, to provide a framework for Dalhousie University for facilitating the selection of stakeholder-inclusive waste management options. The study applies a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)/weighted sum model (WSM) framework to waste management decision-making within an institutional setting. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with key stakeholders selected based on their knowledge and experience in waste management, as well their position or role. The knowledge and expertise from the stakeholders was elicited and used to inform the development of twelve evaluation criteria for assessing three waste management options, as well as the weightings used in the analysis. The outcome of this research demonstrates a novel approach for implementing a framework that other organizations and institutions can apply to facilitate the selection of waste management options.


title: Studies of the safety of materials for metal-ion batteries

contributor: Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science

subject:
Safety
materials
metal-ion batteries

abstract:
In order for battery manufacturers to have a sustainable business, the batteries they produce must be as safe as possible. For lithium-ion batteries, reducing the flammability of the electrolyte is considered to be one way to improve safety, which might be achieved by adding flame retardants to the electrolyte. On the other hand, sodium-ion batteries are attracting attention from academic researchers due to the abundance of sodium reserves compared to lithium reserves. However, there are virtually no studies about the safety of sodium-ion batteries. In this thesis, studies of these two issues will be reported.

	The reactivity of charged/discharged electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries in different solvents and electrolytes at elevated temperature was studied using Accelerating Rate Calorimetry (ARC). Hard carbon was studied as a negative electrode material for sodium-ion batteries. The reactivity of sodium-inserted hard carbon in solvents and electrolytes was investigated. Then, the reactivity of sodium-inserted hard carbon was compared to lithiated graphite. NaCrO2, NaxCoO2 and NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2 were studied as positive electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of these materials was investigated. The reactivity of charged NaCrO2, NaxCoO2 and NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2 in solvents and electrolytes was studied using ARC. Sodium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI) was studied as an electrolyte salt for sodium-ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of hard carbon and NaCrO2 in NaTFSI/PC electrolyte was studied. The reactivity of sodium-inserted hard carbon and deintercalated NaCrO2 in NaTFSI/PC electrolyte was also investigated.

	Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) was studied as a flame retardant additive for lithium-ion batteries. Its impact on electrochemical performance of negative electrode materials (petroleum coke and graphite) and positive electrode materials (LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC) and LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA)) was studied using an automated storage test, symmetric cells and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The reactivity of lithiated graphite, deintercalated NMC and NCA in electrolyte containing TPP was investigated using ARC. Finally, the flammability of electrolytes containing TPP was studied using a Self-Extinguishing Time (SET) test.


title: Tapping In: Community-Based Water Monitoring Program in Atlantic Canadian First Nations Communities

contributor:
Krkosek, Wendy
Gagnon, Graham

subject: Community-Based Water Monitoring

subject: First Nations Drinking Water

subject: Water Quality Monitoring

subject: Atlantic Canada First Nations

subject: Water quality management-Atlantic Canada

subject: Drinking water - Atlantic Canada

subject: Indian reservations - Environmental aspects - Canada.

subject: Water quality - Measurement - Atlantic Canada

abstract: Drinking water quality is an issue in First Nations communities across Canada. To address this, in 2003 Health Canada created the Community-Based Water Monitoring Program across Canada to employ First Nations community members to monitor their own community’s drinking water. This study was part of a larger audit conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Studies to determine the effects this program had on water quality in Atlantic Canada, and to test its compliance with federal standards. Water quality data from WaterTrax (online database) for all First Nations in Atlantic Canada was evaluated for the following parameters: free chlorine residual, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, trihalomethanes, and haloacetic acids between 2007 and 2012. It was found that at least one third of all sites were not meeting the sampling frequency recommended in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for chlorine and microbial samples. There was some improvement in total coliform concentration, and little to no improvement for the other parameters. No definitive conclusions could be drawn because there were not enough samples taken to provide an accurate representation of overall water quality. These findings indicate a need to re-evaluate the program’s training and implementation effectiveness, and to also determine the cause(s) behind the poor water quality found in these communities.

abstract: Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs


title: Young Agrarian Culture in Nova Scotia: The Initial and Ongoing Motivations for Young Farmers from Non-Agricultural Backgrounds

subject:
young farmers
Nova Scotia
sustainable agriculture
motivations
small-scale farming
beginner farmers

abstract: For Nova Scotia, a province historically characterized by rural communities and family farms, the overhaul of Canadian agriculture to an industrial production model has had major ramifications. Farmers are an aging and shrinking demographic. There is growing support for an alternative food system, focused on re-establishing local capacity for food production. Despite financial constraints, a new generation of young people are pursuing farming in Nova Scotia. This study interviewed eight such individuals from non-farming backgrounds to determine their motivations. Participants described fulfillment attained through a farming lifestyle, including a sense of emotional, personal and social wellbeing. Farming as a livelihood was acknowledged as a risky business decision, requiring several years to become securely established.  Having a thriving peer network of farmers and direct marketing to customers were viewed as essential for surviving the early years. Economic viability remains the greatest challenge, and further studies are needed to discuss opportunities for income generation in small-scale farming, to support a sustainable agriculture sector in Nova Scotia.


title: APPLYING A PV GRID-TIED SYSTEM IN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR WITH PAYBACK REDUCTION: A CASE STUDY IN K.S.A.

contributor: Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

abstract:
The key to creating clean energy is to use renewable energy sources. Saudi Arabia has an
abundance of solar radiation due to its geographical location; therefore, solar energy
applications provide excellent opportunities for generating electricity in the region. Since
1960, Saudi Arabia has examined potential photovoltaic (PV) applications however, the
progress towards implementing a solar energy program has not been sufficient. In Saudi
Arabia, the industrial sector consumes a large portion of the power load demand. The
biggest industrial cities in Saudi Arabia are Dammam, Al-Jubile, Jeddah, and Riyadh.
This study examines the potential application of solar energy through a PV system in the
Saudi Arabian industrial sector. The research seeks to examine whether a PV system
combined with a grid system could be feasible to apply in the country. To examine this, a
typical energy consumption daily profile is assumed. The study uses an existing factory
in the city of Jeddah for simulation. HOMER and Microsoft Excel are used to carry out
the study. Furthermore, the economic reliability and feasibility of the examined results
will be included. Finally ways to reduce the payback time was investigated and a cost
effective system is recommended.


title: Canada and its commons:institutional support for a nascent social sector

subject: social finance

subject: social enterprise

subject: social innovation

subject: social sector

subject: content analysis

subject: document analysis

subject: government support

subject: insitutional support

subject: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

subject: Big Society Capital

subject: market development

subject: impact investing

subject: social venture

subject: Social entrepreneurship

abstract: A thesis conducted in completion of an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability and Political Science.

abstract: Social enterprise may help address many social and environmental issues, but needs support from a strong funding market in order to flourish. This study seeks to understand how well public Canadian institutions are supporting the development of this “social finance” industry. An analysis of internal and external publications in two Canadian governmental bodies, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), shows an awareness of this sector which is not communicated in external publications. It demonstrates organizational activity relevant to the development of the social sector. This activity is currently un-directed towards the social sector when compared to a socially-directed comparison organization, Big Society Capital of the UK. Analysis of financial statements points to possible focus areas for ACOA and HRSDC in this space. ACOA’s familiarity with direct business services makes it well placed to shape the delivery of training and business education within the social sector. On the other hand, HRSDC is better positioned at a more “meso” level of activity given its history of funding bodies which themselves distribute resources. This indicates considerable ability to support an important diversity of mid-level and intermediary actors in the development of this marketplace.


title: The Effects of Canola (Brassica napus) and Juncea (Brassica juncea) Meals in Diets on Broilers and Turkeys

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Science
Dr. Bill GUENTER
Dr.Dian Patterson
Dr.Bruce Rathgeber
Dr.Nancy McLean
Dr.Derek Anderson
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
No

subject:
Canola (Brassica napus)
juncea (Brassica juncea)
broilers
turkeys

abstract: Canola and juncea meals can be used in poultry diets instead of soybean meal. The meals were fed to broilers and turkeys in digestibility trials to measure the apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn). Throughout growth trials, canola and juncea meals were fed at four levels (0, 10, 20 and 30 %) with and without a dietary enzyme cocktail (DEC). This study investigated higher inclusion levels than previously recommended for use in broilers diets. The carcass compositions, fatty acid analysis and liver parameters were measured to investigate the effects of diets on birds. The AMEn of the meals were used in formulating broiler and turkey diets. Growth trials found positive effects of DEC on performance, allowed higher inclusion levels of the meals. No negative effects of diets were observed for liver parameters and carcass compositions. The fatty acid profiles of carcass tissues were improved by increasing levels of canola oil in diets.


title: ‘"IT'S NOT MY STORY": THE DEVELOPMENT DISCONNECT BETWEEN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE NARRATIVES OF COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY MINING IN PERU'S ANDES’

contributor: Department of International Development Studies

subject: Hegemony, Corporate Social Responsibility, Peru, Canadian Mining, Sustainable Development

abstract: This thesis examines the disconnect between the stated intentions of mining companies and narratives of hegemonic dispossession from mining-affected communities in the Andean region of Peru. The study focuses on Barrick Gold Corporations’ operations in rural Peruvian communities to illustrate how policy decisions and corporate privilege in Canada, and globally, construct hegemonic processes of development broadly. The research question asks how the mining industry frames its intentions so that civil society in Canada subscribes to the interest of this elite group. Findings from two case studies in rural Peru show that the mining industry uses instrumental tools such as Sustainable Development (SD), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnerships with NGOs to create an illusion of shared values with civil society. The presence of a transnational capitalist class (TCC) is evidenced by examples of collaboration between government and corporate efforts.  I argue that a TCC enables global mining to maintain an influential role in shaping economic and political agendas that hinder development behind a guise of responsible and sustainable behaviour.  A local-level analysis of Barrick Gold Corporation’s actions in Peru is connected to global economic and political trends to show how hegemony serves the maintenance of neoliberal economic growth instead of social development.


title: Sewage Treatment Plant Contamination of the Annapolis River: Economic Implications for the Soft-shell Clam Industry

contributor:
Department of Economics
Master of Development Economics
Melvin Cross
Dr. Tom Pinfold
Dr. Barry Lesser, Dr. Teresa Cyrus
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

abstract:
The Annapolis Basin soft-shell clam fishery has been impacted by frequent closures due to sewage contamination from overflow at the Town of Digby sewage treatment plant.  The harvesters that derive a livelihood from this traditional fishery have suffered economic losses that have not been widely acknowledged, addressed, or quantified.

For years, individuals and organizations in the Annapolis Basin area pushed to have the sewage treatment plant in Digby upgraded to remediate the environmental damage that its under-capacity was causing.  The investment in the upgrade was estimated at $2.2 million, while the cost of doing nothing was never measured.

The objective of this thesis is to examine the economic implications for the soft-shell clam industry of the contamination of the Annapolis Basin using a simple cost-benefit framework.  By isolating the interaction between the sewage treatment plant upgrade and the soft-shell clam fishery, the analysis identifies and estimates principal costs and benefits, measuring the net present value of the prevention of fishery closure resulting from the upgrade.  Results of the analysis demonstrate that the investment in the upgrade is justified under a range of closure scenarios and deviations in key assumptions and variables.


title: Cosmogenic Nuclide Quantification of Paleo-fluvial Sedimentation Rates in Response to Climate Change

contributor:
Department of Earth Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy
Fred Phillips
Nicholas Culshaw
Markus Kienast
Duane Froese
John Gosse
Not Applicable
Yes
Yes

subject:
cosmogenic nuclides
landscape evolution
paleo-denudation rates
climate change

abstract:
The magnitude of global sediment flux from streams to the oceans over the last 5 Ma is poorly quantified, yet important for predicting future fluxes and deciphering the relative control of tectonic uplift, climate change, vegetation, and related feedback mechanisms on landscape evolution. Despite numerous proxy studies on global sediment delivery to the oceans, it remains uncertain whether bulk sedimentation increased, decreased, or remained approximately constant across one of the most significant global climate changes: the Plio-Pleistocene transition.
New developments and strategies in the application of cosmic-ray-produced isotopes, in part developed by this thesis, provide records of pre-historic denudation of confined fluvial catchments in Texas and Yukon. Non-glaciated, tectonically passive regions were targeted in contrast to other studies on modern sedimentation rates in order to isolate the climate influence from glacial and tectonic controls. The results suggest that average catchment temperature, and surficial processes and other factors such as vegetation cover associated with temperature, are the primary controls on the variation in landscape denudation in regions lacking tectonics and direct glacial cover. Specifically, warmer temperatures yield higher denudation rates, both at the scale of glacial-interglacial climate change and over the Plio-Pleistocene transition. The implication is that stream sediment flux to the ocean from tropical and temperate regions was higher during the Pliocene than in the Quaternary. However, this may have been balanced by an increase in sediment flux from regions covered by warm-based glaciers during glacial periods, or by increased temporary continental storage during interglacial periods.


title: INTERSYMBOL INTERFERENCE (ISI) MITIGATION SCHEMES IN IR-UWB SYSTEMS EMPLOYING ENERGY DETECTION RECEIVER

contributor: Dr. Zhizhang (David) Chen, Dr. Hong (Jeffrey) Nie

subject:
ISI
ED-PPM
energy detection

abstract:
Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is an emerging wireless technology that has attracted many applications in modern day communications. Its ability to provide high data rates at very low complexity makes the system attractive for many indoor high-speed wireless communications. UWB signal can be transmitted by either impulse radio (IR) or multicarrier techniques.  Impulse radio technique in particular, is a carrier less technology using pulses in the range of nanoseconds or less providing a low complexity, low power and low interference susceptible wireless system.  These features motivate the usage of energy detection based receiver structures that operates at very low power.

With the recent developments in UWB technology, a promising feature of this system is to provide high data rate with transceivers operating at very low power. High data rate on the other hand can be achieved only by using a complex modulation schemes that requires more transmitted power. As a limitation in the spectral emission associated with UWB, only low-level modulation technology can be used in UWB systems. Hence, in order to achieve high data rates using low-level modulation schemes, the Inter-symbol interference (ISI) becomes unavoidable.

Decision feedback equalization (DFE) is one of the 	signal process techniques that can be used to mitigate the effects of ISI. This thesis proposes an energy subtraction algorithm combining with the principles of DFE to mitigate the effects of ISI in an impulse radio UWB system employing energy detection receiver. Computer simulations have been performed to verify the operation of the new proposed algorithm under UWB channel characteristics and relevant comparisons have been made with the basic energy detection receiver. Simulation results show that the ISI can be effectively mitigated with low system complexity.


title: Examining the impacts of marine tourism in the Seaflower MPA of San Andrés, Colombia

subject:
Coral reefs
San Andrés Archipelago
Tourism
Reef Check
Seaflower MPA
Seaflower Marine Protected Area

abstract: Over 6 months, fieldwork was conducted in the Seaflower MPA of San Andrés to assess shallow reef health and the examine the impacts of marine tourism. This paper offers insight into the local tourism industry, the perspectives of tourism operators, and the condition of San Andrés reefs to provide a baseline of information for the development of effective marine tourism policies.

abstract:
San Andrés attracts roughly 400 000 tourists annually to white sand beaches and coral reefs. The island sits within the Seaflower Marine Protected Area, which covers 75% of Colombia’s coral reefs, including the western Caribbean biodiversity hotspot and provides habitat for 192 IUCN red list species. A study of marine tourism was requested by MPA managers to support policy, monitoring and enforcement decisions. This paper uses quantitative and qualitative information on tourism activity types, user density and coral reef condition to provide baseline information on the local tourism industry and its relationship with shallow reefs. Data was collected through interviews with marine tour operators and shallow reef transects following Reef Check protocols.
	There are up to 3700 visitors on the water every day during the high season, including SCUBA divers, snorkelers, kite surfers, sail boats, cruise ships, etc. It is clear that the impact of tourism is not linear nor is it easily divided by activity type. However spatial and historical analyses indicate that San Andrés reefs have been significantly changed by tourism development. High traffic areas showed lower hard coral cover, increased algal growth, increased coral rubble and low invertebrate diversity. This research offers valuable insight into where managers should focus time and resources. Speed-boat operators carry the vast majority of tourists, and represent a high impact community who could be targeted with environmental education campaigns. The highest traffic and highest damage area occurs in the San Andrés Bay, an area that would benefit from increased vigilance and enforcement of no-entry zones. Tourism policy recommendations suggested and supported by many operators during interviews include limiting speed-boat and jet ski permits, and establishing activity-specific regulations (ex. PWC best practices).
	This paper represents a baseline study, providing a platform for additional research. Further historical and comparative analyses are required to understand the area more completely.

abstract: Robin Rigby Trust


title: Sowing the Seeds of Experiential Learning: Perspectives on the Creation of a High School Gardening Class in the Halifax Regional Municipality

subject:
grounded theory
gardening
community garden workers
Grounded theory
Gardening
Urban gardens

abstract: This study uses a Grounded Theory framework to explore the opportunities and barriers of integrating an elective gardening class into the curriculum for high school students in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Four community garden workers participated as key informants in this research. They shared their perspectives on the benefits and detriments of school gardens and how a gardening class could be structured. The conclusion of this study is that the participants believe that the implementation of a high school gardening program would be beneficial to the students, schools and community. The next step for this research is to explore the students’ perceptions of a gardening class to determine whether it would be a worthwhile program that they are interested in.


title: Promoting change throughout energy systems using economic incentives - A novel approach to electricity billing to improve The City of Summerside’s energy security and reduce its carbon emissions

subject:
Environmental Sustainability
Utility Billing
The City of Summerside, PEI
Smart Grid
Smart Meters
Energy Security
Demand Side Management

abstract:
With energy demands increasing rapidly, energy suppliers are struggling to keep up.  Upgrading the existing systems comes with an enormous price tag for the supplier, who in turn must recover these costs by increasing rates to the consumer.  Not only are the supplier and consumer strained by this solution, but the environment suffers as well, since roughly 80% of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels.  In order to ensure that resources will be available to meet the needs of future consumers and to protect our fragile environment from depletion and pollution, it is critical that changes occur now.   Maintaining a balance in the energy system consisting of the supplier, the consumer, the government and the environment needs to be achieved in order to ensure energy security.  To do this, each stakeholder’s needs must be determined and taken into consideration.  Primary research confirms that currently, the consumer’s biggest concern is affordability, while the supplier’s is reducing production cost.  The government sets policies and guidelines that must be met to protect all stakeholders, while the environment often takes the brunt of our collective actions.
The objective of this thesis is to determine the viability of promoting behavioural change in consumption habits in order to reduce the amount of electricity used, shift on-peak loads to alleviate the need for costly upgrades, and to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. By inviting consumers to participate in a supplier endorsed survey to determine their main concerns and motivators, the goal is to develop a customized billing system for the supplier that will motivate consumers to reduce energy usage. In turn, this alleviates the strain on the existing system, substantially reduces costs to the end-user, encourages the use of alternative energy, and protects the environment. This model is tested using a case study on The City of Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

abstract: A big thank you to Dr. Larry Hughes and The City of Summerside in PEI.  This thesis would not have been possible without their help.


title: Exploring Marine Protected Areas: A baseline governance assessment of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

subject:
marine protected area
marine protected area governance
governance
governance framework
biosphere reserve
sian ka'an
Mexico
conservation
conservation objectives
effectiveness
incentive use

abstract: Governance is a key component of sustainable ocean management and utilizes stakeholder collaboration to build resilient conservation and management schemes. Marine protected areas are governed from a top-down, bottom-up, market-based or cooperative approach, all of which involve a variety of actors. The ability of a reserve to meet its objectives, particularly those focused on conservation, depend heavily on the ability of stakeholder groups to communicate effectively and work cohesively to protect and promote the mandates of a reserve. The diverse nature of marine protected areas and their management schemes can make it difficult to determine and develop methods for assessing the success of a reserve in meeting its objectives. The purpose of this case study was to create a baseline governance assessment of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The analysis will begin to determine how well the reserve is meeting its conservation objectives from a governance perspective. The focus is placed on investigating the five variables of governance outlined by Jones et al. (2011) in the Marine Protected Area Governance (MPAG) framework. These five variables include: legal, economic, knowledge (role of science), interpretative, and participative incentives. An in-depth desktop analysis of peer-reviewed and gray literature was conducted alongside informal stakeholder communication to determine how well the Sian Ka’an Reserve is meeting its conservation objectives. The analysis identified areas where the Sian Ka’an Reserve had excelled; it has also uncovered deficiencies in the application of good governance, e.g. the lack of a comprehensive legal framework. The discovery of these shortfalls and successes aims to improve governance in the Sian Ka’an Reserve and to identify transferable lessons for other MPAs. Overall, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve has had moderate success in meeting its conservation objectives.


title: Comparative Genomics of Endosymbiotically-Derived Organelles in Cryptophyte Algae

contributor: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

subject:
Cryptophytes
Nucleomorph
Plastid Genome
Secondary Endosymbiosis
Comparative Genomics

abstract: The cryptophytes are an enigmatic group of unicellular algae that acquired their plastids through the process of secondary endosymbiosis, which involved the uptake and retention of a red algal endosymbiont. There are several eukaryotic lineages that contain red algal-derived secondary plastids, but the cryptophytes and chlorarachniophytes are unique among them in that along with the plastid, they have retained the vestigial endosymbiont nucleus, called the nucleomorph. The ability to study cryptophyte nucleomorph genome biology and evolution provides a unique opportunity to investigate the processes of genome reduction, gene loss, and endosymbiotic gene transfer that followed the establishment of red secondary plastids. Here, I present the complete nucleomorph and plastid genome sequences of the photosynthetic marine cryptophyte Chroomonas mesostigmatica CCMP1168. My comparative analysis of cryptophyte nucleomorph genomes shows that there is a highly conserved core gene set, including an ultra-conserved set of plastid-related genes, but that there is also lineage-specific gene loss. The presence of pseudogenes and relict open reading frames in areas of gene order conservation indicate that nucleomorph genome reduction via gene loss is still occurring. My comparative analysis of cryptophyte plastid genomes reveals that the plastid genome architecture of photosynthetic species has been incredibly slowly evolving compared to other red secondary plastids. In addition, the identification of several group II introns in the C. mesostigmatica plastid genome, possibly acquired through lateral gene transfer from more than one source, suggests that cryptophyte plastid genomes may be more affected by exogenous genetic material than previously thought. Using phylogenetic analyses of expanded cryptophyte nucleomorph and plastid gene sets, I attempt to resolve the tree of cryptophytes and to identify the closest modern day red algal ancestor of the cryptophyte plastid and nucleomorph. Although the nucleomorph and plastid gene phylogenies are not congruent, I highlight meaningful inferences made by combining the comparative genomic and phylogenomic data. In terms of gene content and genome architecture, the cryptophyte plastid and nucleomorph genomes are the most similar to modern-day red algae of all known red algal secondary plastid-containing lineages. Study of these organellar genomes continues to shed light on the evolution of photosynethic eukaryotes.


title: Locomotor behaviour, emotionality, and cognition in the 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease: A cross-sectional study

contributor: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

subject: "Transgenic mice", "Alzheimer's disease", "Mouse models", "Behaviour", "Memory", "Motor coordination"

abstract: The triple transgenic (3xTg-AD) mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) possesses three transgenes that lead to the development of amyloid-beta (A?) plaques (APPswe, PS1M146V) and neurofibrillary tangles (and tauP301L) (Oddo et al., 2003b). Although the neuropathology of these mice has been extensively studied (Sy et al., 2011), less research has been done to investigate their working memory, emotionality, and locomotor-related behaviour.  Using a cross-sectional design, male and female 3xTg-AD mice were compared to control mice (B6129SF2/J) at five ages (2-, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 15-months of age) on a battery of five tests designed to measure: anxiety- and locomotor-related behaviours (open field [OF], elevated plus maze [EPM]); depression (forced swim test [FST]); motor coordination and motor learning (rotarod); and working and reference memory (8-arm radial maze [RAM]). Additionally, the brain tissue of male and female 3xTg-AD and control mice at 2- and 15-months of age was analyzed for the presence of A? plaques and human tauP301L. 3xTg-AD mice were found to travel less and freeze more in both the OF and the EPM, engage in fewer bouts of immobility in the FST, have a longer latency to fall on the rotarod, and make more working and reference memory errors in the RAM than controls. There was no effect of age on performance in any of the tests. Intracellular A? plaques and limited human tau were present in the brain tissue of 2-month old 3xTg-AD mice. At 15-months of age, the brain tissue of 3xTg-AD mice showed extensive intra- and extracellular A? plaques as well as tauP301L staining. The presence of intracellular A? at 2-months of age supports the behavioural differences observed in the 3xTg-AD mice at 2-months of age. However, the lack of progressive behavioural change does not match the increase in neuropathology seen in the brains of the 15-month old 3xTg-AD mice. The results of the present study suggest that while the 3xTg-AD mice display similar neuropathology and some of the behavioural differences seen in individuals with AD, they also exhibit contradictory behaviours; findings that should be taken into consideration for future researchers using 3xTg-AD mice.


title: Synthesis of Novel Types of Polyester Glycodendrimers and the Development and Applications of an Efficient Alternative to Multistep Regioselective Esterification in Diols and Polyols

contributor:
Department of Chemistry
Doctor of Philosophy
Dr. Elizabeth Gillies
Dr. Mark Stradiotto
Dr. Alison Thompson
Dr. Norman Schepp
Dr. Jean Burnell
Dr. T. Bruce Grindley
Dr. D. Jean Burnell
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Yes

subject:
Regioselective esterification
Lyme disease antigens
Maradolipid synthesis
Dendrimer synthesis
Polyester dendrimers
dendrimer surface functionalization
polyester glycodendrimers
tribranched dendrons

abstract: PhD Thesis

abstract:
Polyester dendrimers are attractive for biological applications because they are biodegradable and non-toxic. The preparation of a variety of core molecules that are compatible with deprotection using hydrogenolysis is presented. Previous syntheses of polyester dendrimers have mainly focused on the use of dibranched building blocks or dendrons. Chemistry was developed for the synthesis of novel tribranched dendrons and lower generation dendrimers have been prepared.  It was found that formation of successive generations using tribranched dendrons was not possible, presumably because of steric hindrance, but dendrimers containing alternating generations of dibranched and tribranched dendrons could be formed.
          In the search for a mild esterification method which would allow convergent synthesis of dendrimers, it was demonstrated that coupling agents namely, TBTU, TATU, and COMU are efficient promoters of ester bond formation between carboxylic acids and all types of alcohols in the presence of organic bases. It was shown that regioselective esterification of diols and polyols is possible based on whether the alcohols are primary, secondary, or tertiary, with choice of base and coupling agent. The base sensitivity of the TBTU-promoted esterification was used in the preparation of a library of the Lyme disease antigens termed Borrelia burgdorferi glycolipid 1 that contain esters of different fatty acids connected to O-6 of cholesteryl ?-D-galactopyranoside. In addition, the direct synthesis of maradolipids from the dauer form of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and other trehalose 6-monoesters and 6,6’-diesters was demonstrated.
           Finally, novel types of polyester glycodendrimers have been synthesized using click chemistry to attach ?-D-mannopyranosyl glycosides bearing alkyne groups at the termini of their aglycones to polyester dendrimers with terminal azide groups, and these will be evaluated as anti adhesion drugs against urinary tract infections.


title: AN EXPLORATION OF CRITICAL CARE NURSES’ EXPERIENCE OF NIGHT SHIFT FATIGUE AND WORKPLACE NAPPING: BRINGING IT OUT FROM UNDER THE COVERS

contributor:
School of Nursing
Master of Nursing
Marilyn Macdonald
Mary Ellen Gurnham; Dr. Deborah Tamlyn
Dr. Brenda Sabo; Dr. Megan Aston
Received
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Safety
Napping
Fatigue
Critical care nursing

abstract:
Recently, there has been increasing recognition of the threat of fatigue on safety. Nursing has been slow to recognize this threat. Workplace napping is a fatigue management strategy that is used in some nursing workplaces, although often hidden.

This feminist interpretive phenomenological study explored the lived experience of night shift fatigue and the use of workplace napping among critical care nurses. An understanding of the meaning of night shift fatigue, the concern for safety as embodied by fear, was illuminated by exploring the phenomenological commonalities within the nurses’ historical, social and cultural world. Five main themes were identified within this overarching understanding.

There is a need to recognize oppressive constraints, and share the responsibility for managing fatigue among individuals, professions and organizations. In education, practice and research, nurses must be supported through validated evidence-informed strategies to manage what is a normal consequence of shift work, thus leading to enhanced safety for both the patient and nurse.


title: AZ-NUGGETS: AN IDE FOR PROGRAMMING BY CONCEPT

contributor:
Faculty of Computer Science
Master of Computer Science
Dr. Dirk Arnold
Dr. Srinivas Sampalli
Dr. Vlado Keselj
Dr. Philip T. Cox
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

abstract: Contemporary Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) offer minimal or no fea-tures that allow programmers to explore details of a programming language or interact with the program elements at a conceptual level. Programmers have limited means of identifying and contextualizing relevant syntactic or semantic rules. Az-Nuggets attempts to address these limitations by facilitating programming-by-concept and allowing pro-grammers to access, instantiate and contextualize syntactic and semantic rules.


title: An Index of Economic Security for Three South Asian and Seven OECD Countries: Methodological Issues

contributor:
Department of Economics
Master of Arts
Dr. Peter Burton
Dr. Talan Iscan
Dr. Daniel Rosenblum
Dr. Lars Osberg
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Economic Insecurity
Social protection
Anxiety
Economic Well-being

abstract: Security about one's economic future is something that is valued by risk-averse individuals and its absence may decrease their economic well-being. Therefore, rich societies have social protection mechanisms in place to guard people against potential economic hazards. However, such mechanisms may be absent in poor countries where people are not only poorer but exposed to significant economic risks. Under this context, this paper inquires if there is a comparable way to measure an Index of Economic Security for a sample of three South Asian and seven OECD countries. We provide a theoretical framework to articulate why economic security is important in the measurement of well-being. We also discuss the human rights perspective on economic insecurity and its implications for measurement of economic security. After constructing a basic index, we conduct sensitivity analysis to determine how much impact methodological choices have on country performance.


title: Identity and Access: The Capital Library

contributor:
Faculty of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Brian Carter
Steve Parcell
Diogo Burnay
Christine Macy
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: Architecture, library, Ottawa, Canada, identity, politics

abstract:
As a capital city, Ottawa is a national and international icon. On one hand, its
inhabitants are players in a larger spectacle of national identity. On the other hand, they
still have the requirements of an everyday life, which is the foundation of civic identity.
This thesis explores this paradox in Ottawa through the design of a public
building. It proposes to site the new Capital Library in Ottawa in the midst of an
underused space in the Parliamentary Precinct, where the civic vitality of the downtown
core meets the institutional zone. The siting has both clear political and urban agendas,
and the program has a clear cultural agenda. The execution of the building uses an
architectural language to promote participation, provide waterfront access, reveal a vista,
cap an important axis and strengthen the quality of life in our capital city.


title: Investigating Galvanic Corrosion in Low-Alkalinity Water: The Effects of pH, High Dose Corrosion Inhibitors, and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon

contributor:
Department of Civil Engineering
Master of Applied Science
Dr. Lei Liu
Dr. Lei Liu
Dr. Jeff Dahn
Dr. Graham Gagnon
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: Overdosing

subject: Particulate lead

subject: Galvanic corrosion, Orthophosphate, Zinc orthophosphate, high dose corrosion inhibitor

abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate galvanic corrosion potential under various pH conditions, buffering capacities, and corrosion inhibitors including zinc orthophosphate (ZOP) and orthophosphate (OP). Bench-scale dump-and-fill experiments evaluated metals release from a lead and copper couple under stagnant conditions. Key findings from this study were that increasing DIC from 3 to 7 or 17 mg CaCO3/L significantly reduced lead release with or without corrosion inhibitor; however, the lowest lead concentrations were observed in water conditions with corrosion inhibitor addition.  However, addition of 20 mg PO4/L as OP exacerbated lead release in some cases; though dissolved lead release was always below 28 µg/L, particulate lead was as much as 4 times greater compared to no corrosion inhibitor. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of high dose ZOP and OP for lead corrosion control in drinking water, however, overdosing OP can lead to exacerbated particulate concentrations.


title: Searching for Identity in Chinatown: An Architectural Response to Calgary’s Growing Chinese Population

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Brian Carter
Steve Parcell
Steve Parcell
Diogo Burnay
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Architecture
Calgary (Alta.)
Chinatown
Chinese
Cultural Centre
Public Centre

abstract:
This thesis proposes an architectural design for a public
cultural centre for the diverse Chinese immigrant population
in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It addresses the history of
Chinatown’s formation and how this ethnic community came
to be, as well as analyzing how waves of Chinese immigrants
contribute to the evolution of Calgary’s Chinatown.
The reinterpretation of traditional Chinese architectural concepts
and elements in ancient courtyard houses is essential
to searching for identity. This reinterpretation studies the
spatial organization and structural system, the generation
of solids and voids, and the relationship between nature
and the built form. This thesis explores a new design for
Calgary’s Chinese Cultural Centre by combining traditional
Chinese architectural concepts with successful existing and
proposed programs to express culture and immigrant integration.
It proposes functionality of different courtyards and
includes cultural programs such as a performance theatre,
heritage and cultural museum, Chinese school, restaurant,
exhibition gallery, gymnasium, and a public library.


title: ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF SEEDLING EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SEEDLING EMERGENCE MODELS (SEM) FOR CUT AND PEEL CARROTS (Daucus carota var Sativus L.)

contributor:
Faculty of Agriculture
Master of Science
Dr. Martine Dorais
Dr. Dian L. Patterson
Dr. Claude Caldwell
Dr. Samuel Asiedu
Dr. Rajasekaran R. Lada
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject: IQF cut and peel baby carrots, Ecophysiology, Modelling, soil moisture, temperature, seeding depth and rate, genotypes, seedling emergence, Fancy grade recovery

abstract:
Effect of soil moisture potential (?), temperature (T), genotype, seeding depth (SD) and rate (SR) on seedling emergence (SE), emergence velocity (EV), root yield and grades of cut and peel carrots were studied.

SE was reduced at –120 kPa and totally inhibited at -156 kPa. EV was the lowest at – 5 kPa and – 90 kPa. SE was delayed by 33 d at 5°C, reduced at 30°C and totally inhibited at 35 and 40 °C. Heat units 99.75 and 159.60°Cd were the lowest to initiate and complete SE respectively while the optimum was 300 – 350 °Cd. There was no interaction effect between ? and T on SE. Honey snax at 85 seeds/ 30 cm showed the best SE whereas, Triton recorded the highest total yield at 2.54 cm SD and Fancy yield at 85 seeds/ 30 cm implying certain crop ecological and management factors can influence SE, root yield and quality.


title: Synthesis and Reactivity of Group 10 Silyl Pincer Complexes

contributor: Jean Burnell, James Pincock, Mark Stradiotto

subject: Chemistry, Organometallics

abstract:
In an effort to explore new metal mediated reactivity and further the versatility of metal pincer chemistry, research in the Turculet group has targeted the synthesis of novel bis(phosphino)silyl PSiP pincer complexes. In this context, the synthesis and reactivity of Group 10 complexes featuring [Cy-PSiP] ([Cy-PSiP] = [?3-(2-Cy2PC6H4)2SiMe]⁻) ligation is described herein. The central silyl donor is anticipated to promote the formation of electron rich metal species capable of diverse and challenging reactivity.
	In the course of this work, it was found that [Cy-PSiP] ligation supports the synthesis of square planar PtII alkyl complexes that can mediate Si-H and Si-Cl bond cleavage chemistry. A cationic PtII species was accessed by treatment of [Cy-PSiP]PtMe with B(C6F5)3. The latter complex underwent B-C bond cleavage in the [MeB(C6F5)3]⁻ counteranion to produce [Cy-PSiP]Pt(C6F5). Examples of Si-C bond cleavage reactions at Pt0 and PtII centers were also observed. Related alkyl complexes of Ni and Pd were observed to undergo rearrangement processes involving net Si-C(sp2) and Si-C(sp3) bond cleavage. In the case of Ni these Si-C bond cleavage steps are reversible on the NMR timescale. Attempts to prepare a terminal hydride complex of the type [Cy-PSiP]MH (M = Pd, Pt) resulted in the isolation of ?2-Si-H coordination complexes of the type [Cy-PSi(µ-H)P]M, which were shown to undergo insertion of CO2 to form the corresponding formate species. In the presence of B(C6F5)3, these ?2-Si-H complexes were capable of mediating the catalytic reduction of CO2 to CH4 using hydrosilanes as the reducing agent.
	The synthesis and characterization of terminal, monomeric Pt hydroxide and alkoxide complexes of the type [Cy-PSiP]Pt(OR) (R= H, Ph, tBu) was achieved, and these complexes were shown to readily deprotonate relatively acidic C-H bonds in phenylacetylene and acetonitrile. A rare example of hydrogenolysis of the Pt-OR linkage with H2 was documented, as was an unusual example of Si-H addition across the Pt-OR bond to form Pt silyl species. While terminal anilido Pt complexes of the type [Cy-PSiP]Pt(NHAr) (Ar = Ph, 2,6-Me2C6H3, 2,6-iPr2C6H3) proved readily isolable, related Ni and Pd anilido species underwent rearrangement processes similar to those observed in their alkyl analogues. Terminal phosphido complexes supported by [Cy-PSiP] ligation were successfully isolated and characterized for all Group 10 metals. Lastly, the Pt and Pd coordination chemistry of a new PSiN pincer derivative was explored, and the amino donor arm of this pincer ligand was demonstrated to exhibit hemilabile coordination to the metal center.


title: Sacred Landscape: Division and Convergence Between Past and Progress

contributor:
School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Brian Carter
Steve Parcell
Roger Mullin
Christine Macy
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

abstract: This thesis proposes a design for the Rossdale Flats that pays homage to its various pasts and usages. It does so in a manner that offers pertinent interpretations to current issues facing the site and region that can also secure Rossdale’s place in Edmonton’s future as a cultural artifact.


title: Local Structure and the Photoelastic Response in Zinc-modified Oxide Glass

contributor: Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science

subject: Glass structure, photoelasticity, EXAFS, zinc oxide

abstract:
Understanding the relationship between the structure of materials and their properties
allows for the development of new applications and technologies. Here the relationship
between local structure and optical properties in several binary oxide glass systems
containing zinc oxide was examined, in particular the relationship between structure,
applied stress and induced birefringence in a glass. The empirical model introduced by
Zwanziger and co-workers posits a negative correlation between the ratio of the bond
length to coordination number in a glass and the induced birefringence; zinc oxide in this
model is predicted to be exactly at the threshold between positive and negative
birefringence and is thus of particular interest to investigate. XAFS and Raman
spectroscopy were used to determine local structure while the Sénarmont compensator
method, Abbe refractometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry were used to measure optical properties.


title: Evaluating Textual Annotations with Interactive 3D Models

contributor:
Faculty of Computer Science
Master of Computer Science
Dr. Dirk Arnold
Dr. James Blustein
Dr. Stephen Brooks
Dr. Kirstie Hawkey
Received
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
Boeing
3D Models

abstract:
Annotations play a key role in explaining and elaborating 3D illustrations. They support users in identifying and establishing a visual link between different components within a 3D model. However, one major issue with annotating 3D illustrations is that there are no standard guidelines that clearly define which annotation type or style to use or is preferred by users in supporting learning and identifying objects at different zooming levels. Often, the decision of which style to use is influenced by size of the components being annotated and the overall look and feel (i.e., reduced occlusion and visual clutter) of the annotated view in display. In our research, we try to understand how effectively the three types of textual annotation labels (internal, external, and annotation boxes) can support users in learning, identifying, and navigating through 3D objects. We report the results of a study that evaluates the efficiency and accuracy in searching for components inside a 3D model, measures the impact on learning (in recalling the names of various components and their locations), and analyzes for user preferences in interacting with a 3D model on a mobile form factor at different zooming levels.
Results of our study reflect that participants preferred external style annotations over internal and box style annotations, and that the participant’s performance (for both efficiency and accuracy) in searching for components inside a 3D model was highest with external style annotations. We also found that participants recalled more components when annotated with external styles annotations. Our findings suggest that of the three textual annotation styles considered in this study, external style annotation is the best annotation style to use in an annotated 3D model.


title: Fine-scale distribution, habitat use, and movements of sperm whales

contributor:
Department of Biology
Master of Science
Hal Whitehead
Ian Jonsen
Marlon Lewis
Hal Whitehead
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

subject:
sperm whale
Physeter macrocepahlus
habitat
movement
nomad
generalized estimating equations
social unit
social behaviour
defecation rate
anthropogenic disturbance
diurnal cycle

abstract: Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are nomadic species typically studied across broad (>100km) spatial scales.  In this study, I model fine-scale (or submesocale) habitat preferences, determine how organization into distinctive units of associating female and juveniles influences habitat use, and describe how movements change across the 24-hour cycle.  This study concerns a well-studied population of sperm whales off Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean.  Statistical models suggest that overall habitat use is rather homogenous, and social behaviour is best predicted by the presence of mature males.  Variation among social units in the amount of time spent, and space occupied, within the study area indicates habitat preferences at the level of the social unit.  Finally, movements are influenced by the diurnal cycle, as whales tend to move from inshore to offshore at dusk.  This study betters our understanding of sperm whale habitat decisions over fine-scales, and has implication for conservation and management strategies.


title: Treatment Performance Assessment and Modeling of a Natural Tundra Wetland Receiving Municipal Wastewater

contributor: Dr. Graham Gagnon, Dr. Craig Lake, Dr. Matt Alexander

subject: Treatment performance, wetland, tundra, wastewater treatment, arctic, treatment wetland, natural wetland, municipal wastewater, Nunavut

abstract: The application of natural tundra wetlands for municipal wastewater treatment is an option to meet upcoming federal wastewater systems effluent regulations for Canada’s Far North. A treatment performance assessment with physical, hydraulic and biogeochemical contextual data was conducted on the wetland treatment area of Coral Harbour, Nunavut. A modified Tanks-In-Series model was used to model treatment kinetics. The study showed seasonal variability in treatment performance and hydraulic characteristics. A decrease in vegetation diversity and deposition of organic detritus was observed in high effluent loading areas. Effective reduction in effluent concentrations was observed. Dilution from watershed contributions accounted for much of the reductions observed. The importance of the determination of the hydraulic residence time, field delineation of the wetted area, and delineation of the watershed was demonstrated. First order rate coefficients determined suggested that the selection of the lowest percentiles from literature of southern treatment wetlands is conservative in this case.