title: Regional volcanogenic massive sulphide metallogeny of the neoarchean greenstone belt assemblages on the northwest margin of the Wawa subprovince, Superior province

subject:
Archean
Superior Province
Wawa Subprovince
Greenstone Belts

abstract:
The ca. 2720 Ma Vermilion, Shebandowan, Winston Lake, and Manitouwadge greenstone
belts (VGB, SGB, WGB, and MGB, respectively) are located along the northern margin of the Wawa
subprovince. They are interpreted to have formed in broadly similar rifted arc to back-arc
environments, but their base and precious endowment and, in particular, their endowment in VMS
deposits, differ markedly. These difference is metal endowment reflect differences in their
metallogenic history that were examined by comparing their regional, belt-scale lithostratigraphy,
chemostratigraphy, petrogenesis and tectonic history constrained by new U-Pb zircon
geochronology.
The MGB is the most VMS-endowed and isotopically juvenile (Pb and Nd) greenstone belt.
It has a trace element chemostratigraphy that is consistent with a rifted arc to back-arc environment.
The trace element chemostratigraphy of the WGB is also consistent with a rifted-arc to back arc
geodynamic setting. The Winston Lake VMS deposits formed during early rifting of the arc and their
timing is tightly constrained at ca. 2720 Ma by U-Pb ages of the host felsic strata and post-VMS
Zenith gabbro. The Zn-dominated VMS mineralization formed from hydrothermal fluids that were
<300 ° and were possibly boiling in relatively shallow water.
The trace element chemostratigraphy of the VGB, SGB, and WGB indicates a plume-driven
rifted arc to back-arc geodynamic settings. The composition of VMS mineralization, lithofacies, and
alteration in these belts are consistent with a relatively shallower-water environment, which may
have compromised VMS formation. The high-Mg andesites that are typical of, but restricted to, the
SGB formed during compressional “hot” subduction, which resulted in the development of a thicker
arc crust. This thicker crust may have inhibited VMS formation, but favoured the formation of
magmatic sulphide and gold mineralization.
New detrital and magmatic zircon U-Pb geochronology allowed comparison and correlation
of lithostratigraphy and metallogeny between the greenstone belts. U-Pb ages within the VGB also
defined younger, Timiskaming-type volcanic and sedimentary strata that are coeval with similar
deposits in the SGB. These strata are spatially and temporally associated with gold mineralization in
both belts and are coeval with similar deformation and magmatic events in the WGB and along the
northern margin of the Wawa-Abitibi terrane. This indicates that the formation of Timiskaming-type
pull apart basins in the northern part of the Wawa-Abitibi terrane were synchronous, and earlier than
in the southern part, which is consistent with oblique convergence of the Wawa-Abitibi terrane onto
the Superior Province. Detrital zircon geochronology also revealed the presence of a >2720 Ma
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zircon population within the Timiskaming-type sedimentary strata of the SGB. This is consistent
with their derivation from the Wabigoon subprovince and suggests trans-terrane transport of detritus
in a foreland –type basin resulting from uplift of the Wabigoon subprovince during accretion of the
Wawa subprovince.

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy In Mineral Deposits and Precambrian Geology


title: Urban First Nations men create a ribbon shirt

subject:
Phenomenology
First Nations
metis
men
photovoice
ribbon shirt

abstract:
This thesis examines the experiences of three men, two First Nations and one Metis who
participated in the creation of a Ribbon Shirt at the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre (SKHC) in
Sudbury, Ontario. This research demonstrated how specific programming can nurture a
connection to traditional ways in urban First Nations and Metis men and promote an embracing
of First Nations identities. This study utilized both Phenomenology and elements of Photovoice
research methodologies to gather participant narratives, this highlighted the lack of services
specifically for men and the benefits of focused programing that included cultural teachings.

abstract: Master of Social Work (MSW)


title: Proximal braided-river morphodynamics reconstructed through groundpenetrating radar and multi-temporal remote sensing: Kicking Horse River, British Columbia, Canada

subject:
Braided
fluvial
British Columbia
sedimentology
remote sensing
ground-penetrating radar

abstract:
Located in southeastern British Columbia, the Kicking Horse River is a gravel-bed
braided river that flows westward through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Prior studies
focused on using ground observations to describe processes of bar formation and
sediment distribution patterns; however, a complete model of planform evolution and
related stratigraphic signature is lacking. The river was re-examined combining ground
observations, multi-temporal remote sensing, discharge data, and ground-penetrating
radar to develop three-dimensional models of bar geometry and to highlight changes in
alluvial morphology. Remote sensing indicates extensive lateral channel migration over
an eight-year period and demonstrates how varying flood stages are associated with
episodes of channel braiding. Ground-penetrating radar imaging and analysis identified
the distribution of sedimentary facies in the subsurface, which were used to understand
the river’s depositional history. The Kicking Horse River’s sedimentary signature is
compared to those of both proximal, coarse-grained and more distal, mixed sandy-gravel
fluvial systems where similarities in sedimentary architecture and fluvial processes are
observed.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Geology


title: Comparison of two indexed gill-netting protocols for fish community surveys in Northern lakes

subject: NORDIC protocol

subject: fish community

subject: Ontario

subject: NWT lakes

subject: NPUE

subject: BPUE

subject: gill-netting protocols

subject: NORDIC (NRD)

subject: North American Standard (NA1),

subject: Ontario Small Mesh Standard (ON2)

abstract:
1) I compared the performance of two standard fish community assessment protocols, the
NORDIC protocol and the Broad-scale Fish Community Monitoring (BsM) protocol (the
latter consisting of two gear types). I utilized fish catch and attribute data collected from
21 Boreal Shield lakes (17 in Ontario, 4 in NWT) surveyed using both protocols, in a
pairwise design. Fish community composition (species richness, diversity, and evenness),
relative abundance (number and biomass per 100 m of net), and body size distributions
were compared between NORDIC and BsM surveys, and among the three gill net gears -
NORDIC (NRD), North American Standard (NA1), and Ontario Small Mesh Standard
(ON2). The NORDIC protocol dedicates a higher proportion of total sampling effort to
small-mesh gear compared to the BsM protocol, and the ranking of gears according to
proportion of small mesh effort is ON2 > NRD > NA1. NORDIC surveys used 38%
greater effort (total length of net deployed per area of lake) than BsM surveys over the 21
lakes examined.    2) Principal components analysis (PCA) of species relative abundances showed
significant differences between surveys in community compositions, as well as a
separation of communities between Ontario and NWT lakes. NORDIC surveys detected
19% more species per survey, with the additional species primarily belonging to smallbodied
taxa (e.g., Cyprinidae, Gasterosteidae, Cottidae). Paired-comparisons of gears
indicated that NA1 gangs (highest proportion of large mesh) yielded fewer species, lower
diversity, and higher evenness at standardized levels of effort compared to NRD and ON2
gangs, but there were no significant differences between NRD and ON2 gangs.     3) NORDIC surveys tended to provide higher numeric catch per unit effort (NPUE) and lower biomass per unit effort (BPUE) estimates compared to BsM surveys for the whole community, but differences between surveys were stronger and more consistent for smallbodied species than large-bodied species. For most small-bodied species, both NPUE and BPUE were significantly higher in NORDIC than BsM surveys. In gear comparisons,
differences generally followed mesh size compositions for both NPUE and BPUE; NA1
gear tended to provide higher estimates for large-bodied species, and lower estimates for
small-bodied species compared to NRD and ON2 gears. NRD and ON2 gear provided
comparable NPUE and BPUE estimates for small-bodied species, but NRD gear tended to
provide higher estimates for large-bodied species.    4) Biomass size distributions of all captured fish differed significantly between surveys in most Ontario lakes, but not in most NWT lakes. Significant differences between the surveys were more consistent across lakes for large-bodied piscivores than for other taxa.
Size distributions from NORDIC surveys generally had lower medians and higher CVs
than distributions from BsM surveys. Both NRD and ON2 gears yielded size distributions
that tended to be more multi-modal than distributions from NA1 gear. In gear
comparisons, size distribution medians were NA1 > NRD > ON2, whereas size
distribution CVs were NRD=ON2 > NA1.  5) Differences in fish community metrics between the surveys were not related to the physical characteristics of the survey lakes (area, depth, water clarity), with the exception
that BPUE differences were weakly but significantly related to lake maximum depth.
Differences between surveys appeared to be less distinct in NWT lakes than in Ontario
lakes, presumably due to differences in fish community composition between regions.
6) Overall, BsM surveys tended to under-represent small-bodied fish and over-represent
large-bodied fish relative to NORDIC surveys. Differences between survey results could
likely be reduced by increasing the total sampling effort, and/or the relative amount of
ON2 effort in BsM surveys.

abstract: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biology


title: The role of perfectionism and shame in understanding excessive exercise tendencies.

subject:
Perfectionism
Shame
Excessive exercise
Emotion regulation

abstract:
Previous research has identified perfectionistic traits and negative affect as developmental and maintenance factors for exercise dependence. However, the interplay between these has not yet been determined. The current study aimed to gain a better understanding of how perfectionism, shame, and emotion regulation difficulties may help inform excessive exercise tendencies. Eighty-six female post-secondary students were asked to complete self-report questionnaires and were randomly assigned to view shame-based advertisements either related specifically to physical activity or more general content. The findings propose that
shame as a function of perfectionism level, may explain symptoms of excessive exercise. Specifically, socially-prescribed perfectionism appeared to be a unique predictor of exercise cravings and emotion regulation difficulties. Furthermore, results suggest that impulse control difficulties may lead to a reduction in duration of exercise participation. Together, shame and perfectionism seem to be implicated in the development of excessive exercise tendencies. Future research should further consider the interrelatedness of perfectionism, shame and emotion regulation that may help explain not only excessive exercise tendencies, but also exercise
avoidance.

abstract: Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology


title: Early Interventions to trauma: an examination of crisis support delivery, trauma clinician  skill development, and potential applications for  child welfare apprehension and placement

subject:
trauma
trauma clinician
crisis support delivery

abstract:
This advanced practicum thesis presents a Master of Social Work student’s journey
toward becoming a more skilled trauma clinician. It also serves as a forum to consider
opportunities to limit or reduce trauma potentially suffered by clients through their engagement
in my current field of social work practice, child welfare. This practicum was completed with the
Victim Crisis Unit (VCU), a division of the Ottawa Police Services. The Victim Crisis Unit is
devoted to providing emergency service provision to Ottawa residents exposed to trauma or
criminal victimization. Three primary goals were developed for this practicum experience. The
first goal was to gain, through experiential learning, the ability to practice ethically sound,
effective, Early Intervention (EI) techniques targeted at mitigating the negative effects of
victimization and trauma. The second goal was to make an overall improvement to my capacity
as a trauma clinician by developing my therapeutic presence, client-engagement, self-awareness,
and professional self-care through learning about mindfulness research and practice. My third
goal was to reflect on the combination of my research and experiential learning in order to
present a critical analysis of the potential applications of EI techniques for child welfare practice,
most specifically, how they might make the process of bringing children into care more trauma-
informed and less damaging.

abstract: Master of Social Work Program


title: rRNA disruption: a predictive marker of response to taxane chemotherapy

publisher:
Laurentian University of Sudbury
Laurentian University of Sudbury

subject:
rRNA disruption
Cancer patients
Epirubicin
Docetaxel
Tumour RNA

abstract:
A recent clinical trial for locally advanced breast cancer patients treated with epirubicin
and docetaxel prior to surgery reported significant dose-dependent reductions in tumour RNA
integrity values which correlated with pathological complete response. The purpose of the
present study was to assess whether similar chemotherapy-dependent alterations in RNA
integrity could occur in vitro and to assess its relationship, if any, to apoptosis. Treatment of
wildtype A2780 ovarian carcinoma cells with taxanes resulted in dose- and time-dependent RNA
degradation, identified as several unique bands on electropherograms having mobilities lower
than the 28S and 18S rRNAs. We refer to this chemotherapy-dependent generation of aberrant
RNA bands on electropherograms as “RNA disruption”. RNA disruption was found to be
temporally associated with the induction of apoptosis, as determined by the appearance of a sub
G1 peak of DNA content, positive annexin-V staining, and both PARP-1 and caspase-3 cleavage.
Treatment of cells with a caspase-3 inhibitor resulted in a significant reduction in rRNA
disruption, suggesting the involvement of caspase-3 or related caspases in RNA disruption. In
contrast, docetaxel-dependent rRNA disruption was absent when docetaxel was administered to
docetaxel-resistant A2780DXL cells, indicating that changes in RNA integrity may possibly
differentiate between responsive and non-responsive tumours in cancer patients.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Biology


title: Unveiling the metabolic network underlying mitochondrial and nuclear metabolism in a model differentiating stem cell

subject:
Stem cells
Differentiation
Mitochondrial metabolism
Nuclear metabolism

abstract: Participation of metabolism in stem cell differentiation has been largely disregarded until recently. Here, functional proteomics and metabolomics were performed to unveil the mitochondrial and nuclear metabolism during dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation of P19 cells. DMSO-treated cells were shown to exhibit increased glycolytic enzymes activities and fuel pyruvate into oxidative phosphorylation. Subsequently, enzymes of electron transport chain also had elevated activities upon differentiation. These changes in mitochondrial metabolism were concomitant with increased mitochondrial biogenesis as PGC-1α expression was higher in the differentiated cells. To study nuclear metabolism, particular focus was placed on delineating a potential role of nuclear lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Nuclear LDH was found to exhibit higher expression in pluripotent cells. NAD+ generated from LDH reaction was discovered to promote histone deacetylation via sirtuin-1 (SIRT1). Drastic alterations in mitochondrial and nuclear metabolism during differentiation point to a pivotal role of metabolism in deciding the final destination of stem cells.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical Sciences


title: Understanding the meanings created around the aging body and sports by masters athletes through media data

subject:
Aging
Older adults
Later life
Masters athletes

abstract:
There is literature based on masters athletes and their involvement in sports at the later stages of
life. Masters athletes are exercise-trained individuals who compete in athletic events at a high
level well beyond a typical retirement age (Tanaka & Seals, 2008). These athletes vary widely in
age but are typically older than 35 years, with many more over the ages of 50 and well into old
age. The research questions guiding this study included; (a) what are the media representation of
masters athletes, and how are they used to generate meanings around aging, sports and the aging
body and (b) what are the implications of these meanings on how the aging body is represented
to the audience. A qualitative (i.e., case study) approach was used to explore what meanings
were generated around aging and sports through media narratives in relation to aging
successfully. Media data in the form of sports magazines (i.e., Runner’s World and Lexis-Nexis
data base) were compiled for the data analysis. This research focused specifically on two cases,
81year old Ed Whitlock, a Canadian long distance marathon runner, and 77 year-old Jeanne
Daprano, an American masters track and field athlete. The data included (n=41 Ed Whitlock, n=
17 Jeanne Daprano). The data were analyzed via an inductive thematic analysis (see Braun &
Clarke, 2006).
The following central themes emerged a) life-long involvement in sports (higher order themes:
earlier sporting experience, triumphant return, uninterrupted engagement), (b) performance
narratives (serious contenders, reasoning for performance, systematic training, an individualized
approach), and (c) decline narratives (resistance to declines in old age, sports related injuries,
maintenance of performance). This study highlights how both athletes were depicted in the
media narratives, demonstrating that their involvement in sports in later life provided an alternate
way to view the aging process. The findings from this study seek to extend the understanding of
masters athletes, by contextualization how they challenge some of the decline narratives
associated with old age.

abstract: Masters in Arts in (M.A) in Human Development


title: Cross-phyla investigation into the effects of applied weak-intensity electromagnetic fields

subject:
harvester ant
orb-weaving spider
planarian
electromagnetic fields
behaviour

abstract: This series of studies investigated the effects of applied, low-intensity electromagnetic fields on the behaviour of several species. To cover a range of species; the eusocial harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex sp.), solitary orb-weaving spiders, and aquatic planarian (Dugesia tigrina) were examined for behavioural consequences associated with applied electromagnetic fields. An additional component examined these effects on various volumes of water. In all species examined, significant behavioural consequences were observed. Intensities of the used fields ranged from nanotesla to millitesla, and their patterns included a fixed-pattern 60 Hz field, and a more complex-patterned field. A separate component also analyzed the effects of light and polarity, where additional effects were evident. For the experiments with the harvester ants, significant changes in tunneling behavior were observed; for the spiders, significant changes in the structure of the web were observed; for the planarian, significant effects on t-maze arm selection occurred; and for water, significant changes in pH were detected.

abstract: Master's Theses


title: Survival analysis approaches for prostate cancer.

subject:
Survival analyis
Prostate cancer
Kaplan-Meier method
Treatment of radical prostatectomy
Primary tumor
Metastic tumor
Log-rank test
Cox proportional hazard (PH) model
Parametric model
Gleason score
Survival rate

abstract: Survival time has become an essential outcome of clinical trial, which began to emerge among the latter half of the 20th century. A present study was carried out on the survival analysis for patients with prostate cancer. The data was obtained from Memorial Sloan Kettering where each sample was collected from the recipients of the treatment of radical prostatectomy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to obtain and estimate the survival function and median time among the primary and metastatic tumor of prostate cancer. Results showed that the metastatic tumor has a poor survival rate compared to the primary tumor, which give us a hint that primary tumor has a higher probability of surviving. The log-rank test was used to test the differences in the survival curves. The results showed that the difference in survival rate between the patients of the two groups of tumor was significant with a p-value of 4.44e-15. The second approach was based on the efficiency of cox proportional hazards model and parametric model. Some criteria of residuals were used for judging the goodness of fit among the candidate models. The cox proportional hazard (PH) model provided an effective covariate on the hazard function. As a result of cox PH model, the influence of standard clinical prognostic factors is based on the hazard rate of prostate cancer patients. These prognostic factors are: prostate specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis, tumor size, Secondary Gleason grade, and Gleason score which is helpful to determine the treatment. The Gleason score [HR 4.835, 95% CI 2.7847- 8.3937, p=2.20E-08] has the most significant progression-associated prognosticators and reveal to be an effective criteria leading to death in prostate cancer. The Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) was applied to the data with four distortions. AFT with Weibull distortions was chosen to be the best model for our data by testing the AIC.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Computational Sciences


title: Comparison of sibling relationships in families of children with autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

subject:
autism
families
relationships
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

abstract: Employing a mixed methods approach, the purpose of this present study was to examine the lived experiences of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Participants participated in semi-structured interviews and completed two questionnaires. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts and five main themes were identified: Positive Transformational Outcomes, Sibling Demands, Caregiving Roles, Awareness of Developmental Disabilities, and Supports. Questionnaire data from the Sibling Daily Hassles and Uplifts Scale and the Sibling Inventory of Behaviour Scale were also utilized and comparison findings between sibling groups from these questionnaires will be analyzed and discussed.

abstract: Honours essay


title: An analysis of physical activity levels of children following the balanced school day schedule

subject:
Physical activity
children
health
school

abstract:
Background: Physical activity is a key determinant of children’s health. However, increasingly children are not attaining adequate amounts of physical activity. Children spend a considerable amount of time at school and school-based physical activity can significantly contribute to total daily physical activity achieved by children. Specifically, recess time can significantly contribute to a child’s daily opportunity to attain the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. In this thesis, I assessed the impact of block scheduling on physical activity levels during recess for children in grades 3 and 6. More specifically, I examined the impact of time of day (am vs. pm) and season (fall vs. winter) on levels of recess-based physical activity among children using the “Balanced School Day” schedule.
Methods: Data were collected at a school using the Balanced School Day schedule over five consecutive days during fall and winter in a school from a community in northern Ontario. Children wore the Yamax SW-200 pedometer and a segmented data collection approach to assess step counts during ‘class-time’ and ‘recess-time’ was used.
Results: Seventy-eight students participated in this study. Average daily steps were higher in the fall compared to the winter. There were no meaningful differences in the number of steps taken when considering time of day. Boys accumulated significantly more steps than girls for total recess steps regardless of season. Grade 3 students experienced the greatest decrease in steps seasonally.
Conclusions: As a result of this study, we have reaffirmed that children are not maximizing opportunities for physical activity during the school day. In general, lower step counts are noted among girls and grade 6 students. We can also conclude that the recess schedule (i.e. morning vs.
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afternoon) does not affect physical activity during recess in children using the BSD; however, there is a seasonal influence. All children were less active in the winter recess when compared to the fall and this was particularly accentuated among the younger participants.

abstract: Master of Human Kinetics (MHK)


title: Quantum phase transitions and topological orders in spin chains and ladders

subject:
Quantum phase transitions
topological orders
spin chains
ladders

abstract:
Dimerized antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 chains and ladders demonstrate quantum critical
phase transition, the existence or absence of which is dependent on the dimerization
and the dimerization pattern of the chain and the ladder, respectively. The
gapped phases can not be distinguished by the conventional Landau long-range
order parameters. However, they possess non-local topological string order parameters
which can be used to classify different phases. We utilize the self-consistent
free fermionic approximation and some standard results for exactly solved models
to analytically calculate the string order parameters of dimerized spin chains. As a
complement parameter the gapped phases possess the topological number, called the
winding number and they are characterized by different integer values of the winding
number. In order to calculate the string order parameters and winding numbers
in dimerized spin chains and two-leg ladders we use analytical methods such as the
Jordan-Wigner transformation, mean-field approximation, duality transformations,
and some standard results available for the exactly 1D solve models. It is shown
that the winding number provides the complementary framework to the string order
parameter to characterize the topological gapped phases.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Physics


title: “Revisiting sales as a human connection and a business transaction”

subject:
selling
scales
qualitative/quantitative analysis
group comparisons
skills

abstract:
This study focusses on identifying what skills are essential for salespeople from a human
motivation, sales skills, and business perspective. It uses historical research as a backdrop and
then looks at today’s sales environment from a company perspective. The study identifies,
compiles, organizes and validates core elements of sales skill requirements and factors that
impact these requirements. The literature review helps study this complex issue by bringing
disciplinary and non-disciplinary knowledges, perspectives, and insights to bear.

abstract: Doctor of Human Studies (PHD) in Interdisciplinary Research


title: The ecology of lakes and rivers in the southern boreal shield: water quality, community structure, and cumulative effects

subject:
cumulative effects assessment (CEA)
Muskoka River Watershed
ecological monitoring
modelling activities
water chemistry
benthic community structure
monitoring program

abstract:
Cumulative effects are the collective ecological effects of multiple human
activities. Cumulative effects assessment (CEA) is concerned with quantifying effects of
natural environmental factors and human activities. CEA has not lived up to its promise
as a precautionary instrument for sustainability, in part because our knowledge of
stressors and their effects is elementary; monitoring systems (needed to characterize
ecological condition and how it changes over time) are insufficient; and numerical
methods for associating stressors and effects, and for forecasting development
outcomes, are lacking.
This thesis reviews the environmental appraisal literature to synthesize CEA’s
theoretical underpinnings, articulate its impediments, and establish that ecological
monitoring and modelling activities are critical to success. Three research chapters
overcome several scientific barriers to effective CEA. Data from spatial and temporal
surveys of lake and stream water chemistry and benthic community structure are used
to evaluate candidate monitoring indicators, identify minimally impacted reference
waterbodies, characterize baseline water quality and biological condition, and quantify
cumulative effects of land use and natural environmental variation (spatial survey: 107
lakes and 112 streams sampled in 2012 or 2013; temporal survey: 19 lakes sampled
between 1993 and 2016).
The research was conducted in Canada’s Muskoka River Watershed, a 5660 km2
area of Precambrian Shield that drains to Lake Huron. This area’s combination of
extensive remaining natural areas and pervasive human influence makes it ideal for
studying cumulative effects. It is also characterized by many lakes and their connecting
stream and river channels, which integrate effects of stressors in their catchments and
constitute logical focal points for CEA. Moreover, the local planning authority (District Municipality of Muskoka) is striving to implement CEA and establish a cumulative
effects monitoring program centered on water as its foremost resource; therefore,
practical applications of the research have, been identified. Universal numerical methods, which are transferrable to other study areas, are
used. Random forest models (an extension of the algorithm used to produce
classification or regression trees) are shown to model the singular and collective effects
of land-use and natural factors on water chemistry and benthic community structure,
and to quantify the sensitivities, and identify the important drivers of various chemical
and biological indicators of aquatic ecosystem condition. Partial dependencies from the
random forests (i.e., the mean predicted values of a given indicator that occurred across
the observed range of a selected predictor) are paired with TITAN (Threshold Indicator
Taxa Analysis) to investigate biological and chemical “onset-of-effect” thresholds along
gradients of human development. Declining calcium concentrations and amphipod
abundances are demonstrated in lakes, and generalized linear models forecast an
average 57% decrease in the abundances of these animals to occur by the time lakewater
calcium concentrations reach expected minima. As its key findings, the thesis highlights sensitive indicators that should be
included in a cumulative effects monitoring program, and are to be preferred when
forecasting outcomes of changed land-use or environmental attributes. Empirical breakpoints,
where effects of stressor exposures become detectable, are also identified.
These thresholds can be used to distinguish reference and impacted conditions, so that
normal indicator ranges and associated assessment criteria (important CEA precursors)
can be objectively derived. In addition, the potential severity of cumulative effects is
exemplified by marked declines in the abundances of lake dwelling amphipods, which
could propagate through food webs to substantially alter soft-water Boreal ecosystems.

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Boreal Ecology


title: Genesis of mafic-ultramafic inclusions in sublayer and inclusion quartz diorite and implications for the formation of associated NICU-PGE mineralization in the Sudbury igneous complex

subject:
Sudbury igneous complex
sublayer
offset dikes
mafic-ultramafic inclusions
anteliths
local xenoliths
exotic xenoliths
thermomechanical erosion

abstract:
The lowermost, discontinuous units of the impact-generated Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC),
Sublayer, Footwall Breccia (FWBX), and Inclusion Quartz Diorite (IQD), are distinguished from
overlying Main Mass norite rocks by the presence of abundant inclusions and Ni-Cu-PGE (PGE
– platinum group element) mineralization. The majority of the felsic-mafic inclusions appear to
be derived from exposed country rocks, but volumetrically important mafic-ultramafic inclusions
have only rare equivalents in the surrounding country rocks and appear to be preferentially
associated with sulfide mineralization. Establishing the petrogenesis of the mafic-ultramafic
inclusions and the nature of their association with the Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization are therefore
critical to understand the evolution of the impact melt, genesis of Sublayer, FWBX, and IQD, and
the formation of one of the world’s largest accumulations of Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization.
Petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical, and Sm-Nd and Re-Os isotopic data indicate three
origins for the olivine-bearing mafic-ultramafic inclusions: (1) Anteliths, comprising olivine melanorites and olivine melagabbronorites in the Whistle and
Levack embayments on the North Range, which are characterized by igneous textures, Zr/Y,
Zr/Nb, Nb/U, and Zr/Hf ratios similar to igneous-textured Sublayer matrix (ITSM), unradiogenic
εNd1850 Ma values (-8 to -5), and slightly unradiogenic to radiogenic γOs1850 Ma values (-8 to +94).
They likely crystallized from a local mixture of SIC impact melt and a more mafic melt derived
by melting of the widespread Huronian volcanic and subvolcanic units in the region.
(2) Local xenoliths, comprising wehrlites and olivine clinopyroxenites in the Levack embayment
and olivine melanorites in the Foy Offset on the North Range, which are characterized by shock
mosaic and recrystallized textures, and trace element patterns (e.g., negative Th-U, Nb-Ta-(Ti), Sr, and Zr-Hf anomalies) similar to and Nb/U ratios overlapping with a layered mafic-ultramafic
intrusion in the footwall of the Levack and Fraser deposits. They were likely derived from local
mafic-ultramafic protoliths that were petrogenetically-related to the layered mafic-ultramafic
intrusion in the footwall of the Levack and Fraser deposits.
(3) Exotic xenoliths, comprising phlogopite/feldspar lherzolites in the Trill, Levack, and Bowell
embayments and the Foy Offset dike on the North Range, which are characterized by variably
igneous, tectonic-metamorphic, and shock-metamorphic textures, and orthopyroxene reaction
rims against igneous-textured Sublayer matrix (ITSM), indicating disequilibrium with the impact
melt. One composite inclusion exhibits igneous layering of feldspar lherzolite and olivine gabbro,
suggesting derivation from an unexposed older layered mafic-ultramafic intrusion. The calculated
parental magma for one particularly well-preserved feldspar lherzolite inclusion is similar to
continental arc basalt formed by up to 5% partial melting of garnet peridotite. Ol-Cpx-Pl
thermobarometry of several exotic inclusions indicate equilibration at 900o
C – 1120o
C and 210 –
300 MPa, suggesting emplacement into upper-middle crust (7.7 – 10.9 km), prior to being
incorporated into the lower parts of the proto-SIC during impact excavation and/or
thermomechanical erosion of target rocks.  Most analyzed inclusions, ITSM, and Main Mass lithologies are enriched in highly incompatible
elements with negative Nb-Ta-Ti anomalies, unradiogenic Nd, and radiogenic Os isotopic
signatures. These features suggest that the impact sampled rocks that were derived from
subduction-metasomatized mantle, including the widespread Huronian volcanic and intrusive
rocks adjacent to the SIC. Melting of these volcanic and intrusive rocks and the underlying
Neoarchean Superior Province upper-middle crustal rocks would produce the observed
geochemical characteristics of the SIC lithologies and inclusions.  The Main Mass has a very homogeneous Hf isotopic composition, indicating that the impact melt
sheet was well mixed. However, Sublayer, IQD, and overlying basal Main Mass norites vary
widely in terms of Pb-S-(Os) isotopic compositions. Most mafic-ultramafic inclusions, except for
anteliths, contain no sulfides and exhibit no signatures of Ni-Cu-PGE depletion caused by prior
sulfide saturation, which suggest that the association between mafic-ultramafic inclusions and NiCu-PGE sulfide mineralization is attributable to the hydrodynamic equivalence of less dense but
larger silicate inclusions and denser but smaller sulfide melt droplets during transport and/or
settling. Anteliths, locally-derived inclusions, and local variations in Pb-S-(Os) isotopes must
have been generated in situ, requiring significant degrees of assimilation of footwall rocks via
thermomechanical erosion, whereas most exotic inclusions other than shocked feldspar lherzolite
were derived from deeper mafic-ultramafic protoliths, generated during impact excavation and/or
thermomechanical erosion, and physically transported into their current locations. Thus,
thermomechanical erosion played an important role in the generation of embayments,
incorporation of xenoliths and sulfide xenomelts from the mineralized country rocks (e.g., EBLINipissing-Huronian), and formation of isotopic heterogeneity in the basal parts of the SIC.
Convective- and gravity-driven mass flow contributed to the horizontal transportation of
inclusions and sulfide xenomelts into the embayment when the impact melt contained <45%
inclusions, but became less significant as proto-Sublayer incorporated more inclusions.

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mineral Deposits and Precambrian Geology


title: Teaching English for Academic Preparation through the “communitarian self” concept as an aspect of the theory of objectification/subjectification: learners’ development of linguistic, interpersonal and conceptual skills

subject:
Theory of objectification
subjectification
communal self
TEFL/TESOL

abstract:
One of the most important areas of English as a foreign language teaching is English for Specific
Purposes (ESP). ESP is a special branch of English Language Teaching which focuses on the
learners’ specific needs and the learning environment. The learners’ needs and requirements are
in constant change and their expectations increase especially when they are learning for
professional purposes. What is more, our main interest is focused on English for Academic
Preparation (EAP) learners, whose needs are quite different as they intend to enrol in different
academic programs at the university level. Moreover, each discipline has its own and specific
terminology and jargon. Indeed, instructors teaching EAP program should cover a wide range of
topics and content through the subject-matter. The task, then, becomes difficult and challenging.
Studies have indicated that learners are not playing an active role within the ESP learning
process, in general, and in EAP program in particular. Interaction between the learners
themselves and the instructors are absent. The aim of the present doctoral research project is to
develop a model where the concept of “Communitarian Self” will be utilized as a pedagogical
tool in teaching EAP to improve the dynamics of the social practices taking place in the
classroom learning context. This study will show that the tool provides learners an interesting
and helpful learning community environment in which socio-cultural interaction; and exchange
and critical thinking take place. Based on communication, autonomy, cooperation and
collaboration among the other social individuals and the learners themselves, this tool
encourages the whole community’s interaction and negotiation of meaning in a social and
cultural environment. This tool will be examined to what extent it can help EAP learners become
active participants in their activities and contribute to the improvement of their communicative
skills, cognitive skills and comprehension and understanding in a socio-cultural environment.
Findings show that the tool impacts learning to a great extent. Recommendations for the
teaching/learning context and future are made.

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Studies


title: Computer-based application to assess gross motor skills using Microsoft Kinect sensor

subject:
Kinect Sensor
gross motor skills
virtual reality
assessment
computerized test

abstract:
The performance of a fundamental motor skill in early childhood can be investigated using diverse
assessment tools. Although the classical tests are reliable and useful for motor skills assessment,
they have some limitations. The launch of the Microsoft Kinect marked a revolutionary
advancement for developers thanks to the depth camera and its affordable price. This work aims
to develop a reliable computer-based application using the Microsoft Kinect sensor to implement
the third version of the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3). The assessment consists of
customized algorithms that verify if the 3D position of the most relevant joints for each subtest
varies along time according to the respective performance criteria. The proposed system returns
an immediate feedback to the participant, indicating if s/he passes or fails the selected subtest. The
results revealed the computer-based application for assessing gross motor skills is accurate,
although it is limited by the space requirements.

abstract: Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Natural Resources Engineering


title: Antibacterial activities of Propionibacterium acnes bacteriophages against a diverse collection of P. acnes clinical isolates: prospects for novel alternative therapies for acne vulgaris

subject:
bacteriophage
phage
siphoviridae
coryneform
P acnes
acne vulgaris
antibiotic resistance
phage therapy
phylotype
clinical isolate
genome
multiplex PCR
host-range
3D modeling
major tail protein
receptor

abstract:
A total of 136 chronically infected Canadian acne patients from Ottawa-Gatineau and
Northeastern Ontario regions accounting for 75% of subjects (12-50 years old, with 90th
percentile at the age of 30) who had suffered acne vulgaris (with various acne related scarring)
for a median duration of 4 years, were sources for isolation of Propionibacterium acnes, the
etiologic agent for acne vulgaris. Eighty-four percent of patients were subjected to various
treatment regimens with topical and systemic agents including in combination with 1-3 different
types of antibiotics (mean duration of 7 months). A diverse collection of 224 clinical P. acnes
isolates from Canadian and Swedish subjects were characterized for their sensitivities to
infection by a Canadian collection of 67 diverse phages belonging to siphoviridae; and multiple
minimal cocktails consisting of 2-3 phages were formulated to be effective on global P. acnes
isolates. Propionibacterium acnes isolates were characterized by multiplex PCR to belong to
phylotypes IA, IB and II, which also showed resistance against commonly used antibiotics for
treating acne vulgaris (overall resistance rate of 9.5%), were sensitive to phages regardless of
their type and antibiotic resistance patterns, providing ground for phages as novel alternative
therapeutics for future in vivo trials. The phage collection was diverse by virtue of their BamHI
restriction patterns and full genome sequences and harboured a major tail protein (MTP) that
appeared to be important in contributing to their host ranges. Three dimensional structural
modeling of the N-domain of P. acnes MTPs implicated previously unreported involvement of
the α1-β4 loop (C5 loop) within N-domain amino acid sequence in contributing to the expanded
host range of a mutant phage to infect a naturally phage resistant P. acnes clinical isolate. Given the potential of phages for rapid mutational diversification surpassing that of their bacterial hosts and the fact that phages are generally regarded as safe (GRAS), rapid and cost-effective derivation of mutant phages with expanded host ranges provide a strong framework forimproving phage cocktails for use in future personalized medicine.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Biology


title: The role of renalase in catecholamine biosynthesis: a new protective mechanism against hypertension?

subject:
Renalase
catecholamine biosynthesis
adrenal medulla
PC12 cells
hypertension
spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR)

abstract: Renalase is a secretory protein that may protect against hypertension by reducing levels of circulating catecholamines (CAs). Renalase knockout mice are hypertensive with elevated CA levels. There are no known physiological mechanisms that fully describe renalase’s influence on plasma CAs. The adrenal medulla is a major site for CA regulation, however, the role of renalase in this tissue has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine a potential role of renalase in this tissue using three objectives: 1) Examine the regulation of renalase by signal activators of CA biosynthesis; 2) Determine the effects of renalase on the regulation of CA-biosynthesizing enzymes; 3) Examine the expression of renalase in hypertensive rats. For objective 1, renalase expression was analyzed in pheochromocytoma-derived PC12 cells after treatment with 10 signal activators (e.g. phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), forskolin, cobalt chloride (CoCl2), and dexamethasone (Dex)). For objective 2, PC12 cells were treated with recombinant renalase and mRNA levels of CA-biosynthesizing enzymes were quantitated. For objective 3, renalase expression was examined in adrenal glands from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs). RT-PCR and western blotting were performed to quantify mRNA and protein levels. Three signal activators significantly altered renalase expression; changes in renalase expression were observed after PMA, CoCl2, and Dex treatment. Recombinant renalase treatment did not change the expression of CA-biosynthesizing enzymes. SHRs compared to WKYs had significantly higher levels of renalase mRNA, but not protein. Overall, this study is a first step to determine if renalase’s role in the adrenal medulla is to regulate CA biosynthesis and protect against hypertension.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Biology


title: Troubles de l'attachement et traumatismes chez l'enfant : recension intégratives des écritis

subject:
troubles de l'attachement
traumatisme chez l'enfant
modèles d’intervention
service social
recension intégrative des écrits
barrières à l’intervention
trouble réactionnel de l’attachement
enfance

abstract: Les troubles de l’attachement dans l’enfance, et plus particulièrement les troubles réactionnels de l’attachement sont complexes. Afin de bien saisir leur complexité et intervenir adéquatement, il faut non seulement bien les comprendre et les cerner, mais aussi bien évaluer les traumatismes associés à ces troubles et les effets des traumatismes vécus par l’enfant. Ce mémoire, construit à l’aide d’une recension intégrative des écrits, vise à offrir quelques pistes de réflexion et de compréhension sur les troubles de l’attachement, dont le trouble réactionnel de l’attachement, les traumatismes, dont les traumatismes sévères vécus dans l’enfance, et les principaux modèles d’intervention pour traiter ces deux problématiques. La discussion porte principalement sur les barrières qui rendent très difficile l’intervention auprès de ces enfants et, plus particulièrement auprès des enfants qui vivent dans le nord de l’Ontario.

abstract: Maîtrise en service social


title: Immigrant landscapes: architecture in the age of migration

subject:
migration
immigration
spatial homogenization
cultural assimilation
racism
inequality
immigrant landscape
social-cultural issues
cultural diversity
vision of inclusivity
architecture as catalyst
social architecture
hub
Northern Ontario
Sudbury
cities

abstract:
North American cities are being transformed both architecturally and
culturally by migration, yet their infrastructure is often too standardized and
homogenous to accommodate diversity. Using the City of Sudbury as an example,
this thesis imagines an Immigration Support Centre that repositions the relationship
between the people, ethnicity and place.
Rather than assuming migration only happens in bigger centres this
thesis addresses the desire for a local community to attract newcomers to a
Northern city. This brings to light the need to provide cities with inclusive designs
that can welcome. Now more than ever, architects and designers are faced with
the problem of designing for diverse people. What if, instead of favoring spatial
homogenization and cultural assimilation, we start from the premise of cultural
diversity in architecture as crucial to humanity? Although this thesis aims to provide
an architectural project for Sudbury, it is intended to be a framework of research that
may be applied to other cities regardless of size.

abstract: Master of Architecture (M.Arch)


title: Stress reappraisal and its effects on emotional bias, state anxiety, social performance and physiological measurements

subject:
Physiological measurements
Social performance
State anxiety
Emotional bias
Stress reappraisal

abstract:
Many individuals will struggle with performance anxiety throughout their life. Clinical
research has shown that a positive conceptualization of stress and stress arousal (stress
reappraisal) can lead to positive outcomes such as increased cardiac efficiency, higher GRE test
scores and decreased bias towards threat cues as measured by physiological, performance, and
attentional bias measures in a clinical population. Little is known regarding these processes in
non-clinical populations. As such, this study examined the effects of different conceptualizations
of stress (positive, negative, and neutral) on blood pressure (mean arterial pressure), social
performance ratings, and emotional bias via physiological, observational, self-report, and
attentional bias measures within a non-clinical population. In this study, participants who were
instructed to conceptualize stress as positive had significantly lower mean arterial pressure
(MAP) during a stressful task and significantly higher social performance during a social
evaluation task in comparison to participants who were instructed to conceptualize stress as
negative. This research suggests that a positive conceptualization of stress might improve cardiac
function and performance on certain tasks in a non-clinical sample. Implications from this
research suggest that if one who perceives stress and stress arousal as beneficial may experience
an increase in their performance during a social evaluation situation, a decrease in the negative
effects of stress arousal on physiology, and a positive impact on stress arousal responses.

abstract: Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology


title: The emergence of Ontario microbreweries: a socio-historical analysis

subject:
microbreweries
Emergence of Ontario Microbreweries
craft beer industry
Ontario microbrewery industry

abstract:
Since the 1980s microbreweries in Ontario have gained in popularity, winning over
beer drinkers in the province and earning the support of the provincial government that funds
the expansion of this creative industry. The Emergence of Ontario Microbreweries, adopting
the theoretical perspectives of Margaret Archer and Michel Foucault, looks at the factors
explaining the emergence of the craft beer industry. Through the morphogenetic approach,
which sees enablements take shape through entrepreneurial pursuits, and disenablements
through Foucauldian disciplinary processes, we observe that Ontario microbreweries were
constrained by strict government laws. Enforced by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario
(LCBO), these laws acted upon the individuals and their ability to consume alcohol both
privately and publicly. Over time, the strict governmental regimes which constrained beer
drinkers and micro-brewed beer producers gradually transformed to allow for the expansion
of microbreweries that create unique, distinct and authentic products that have specific
geographic links to community.

abstract: Master`s Theses


title: Does exercise-induced inflammation serve a useful purpose across the adult age span?

subject:
exercise-induced inflammation
cell injury
endurance sports
physiological stress
immune system
cellular and biochemical defences

abstract:
Inflammation is a protective biological response involving immune cells, blood vessels
and molecular mediators, initiated upon the induction of cell injury (Abbas, Lichtman, & Pillai,
2007). The purpose of inflammation is to both eliminate the cause of the injurious agent (Abbas
et al., 2007) as well as remove dead cells and tissues, damaged from the initial assault (Lapointe,
Frenette, & Côté, 2002), and to initiate tissue repair (Ricciotti & FitzGerald, 2011). Inflammation
as an event is a generic response to any injurious insult, which includes exercise-induced injury
(Nehlsen-Cannarella et al., 1997). Exercise-induced muscle damage is defined as an injury from
a mechanical force applied externally, causing structural stress or strain, resulting in cellular or
tissue responses (Mueller & Maluf, 2002).
An acute inflammatory response is sometimes instigated during exercise (Nehlsen-
Cannarella et al., 1997); its initiation and magnitude depend upon the degree of physiological
stress applied during the exercise bout (McFarlin, Flynn, Stewart, & Timmerman, 2004).
Exercise-induced inflammation is typically seen in endurance sports where there is overuse of
specific tissues (McFarlin et al., 2004). Physiological stress increases as intensity, duration and
internal stimuli (e.g., blood glucose levels) increase (McFarlin et al., 2004). Thus, prolonged and
intensive exercises significantly increase the induction of and the magnitude of an inflammatory
response (McFarlin et al., 2004). Exercise-induced inflammation also stimulates the activation of
the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis, characterised by elevated levels of cortisol
and other mediators, inducing immune suppressive effects and thereby reinstating immune
homeostasis (Tsigos & Chrousos, 2002). However, the immunosuppressive effects of the HPA
axis may be detrimental to individuals if over-stimulated (Tsigos & Chrousos, 2002).Various
methods have been employed in training regimes to counteract this inflammatory response
Exercise-Induced Inflammation 7
(Bleakley, McDonough, & MacAuley, 2004; Gleeson, Nieman, & Pedersen, 2004; Quintero,
Wright, Fu, & Huard, 2009). Carbohydrate supplementation is one method (Gleeson et al., 2004;
McFarlin et al., 2004; Mitchell et al., 1998; Nehlsen-Cannarella et al., 1997; Nieman et al., 2004;
Nieman et al., 1998; Scharhag, Myer, Auracher, Gabriel, & Kindermann, 2006). Others, such as
cryotherapy (Bleakley et al., 2004) and RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation; Quintero et
al., 2009), are also commonly used to reduce the exercise-induced inflammatory response under
conditions where muscle soreness and/or injuries occur following physical activity (Bleakley et
al., 2004; Quintero et al., 2009). The underlying theory is that reducing the inflammation will
improve muscle tissue recovery (Bleakley et al., 2004; Quintero et al., 2009).
The exercise-induced inflammatory response is necessary for performance adaptation
(Kurtz, Loebig, Anderson, DeMeo, & Campbell, 1999), although, it may also lead to injury and
is often associated with pain or discomfort by the individual (Abbas et al., 2007). Considering
these two, opposing concepts, it would be valuable to understand the appropriate management of
exercise-induced inflammation for both injury prevention and performance gains.
Further complicating this question are external factors, which can enhance or reduce
systemic inflammation (Gomez, Nomellini, Faunce, & Kovacs, 2008; Weiskopf, Weinberger &
Grubeck-Loebenstein, 2009). In particular, age has significant impacts on both immune function
and underlying inflammatory status (Franceschi et al., 2007; Gomez et al., 2008; Weiskopf et al.,
2009). For example, aging impacts immune function by weakening immune responses to
infections (Gomez, Boehmer, & Kovacs, 2005).
Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to answer two questions: 1) ‘Does Exercise-
Induced Inflammation Serve a Useful Purpose?’; and 2) ‘How Does Aging Affect this Process?’
To address these questions, this paper will first: i) review the role of inflammation as part of the
Exercise-Induced Inflammation 8
innate immune response; ii) examine the positive and negative consequences of the exercise induced
inflammatory response; and iii) outline the age-related effects on both the immune
system and underlying inflammatory status.

abstract: Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Health


title: Development and validation of a method for the determination of nine benzodiazepines and metabolites in dried blood spots (DBS) using UPLC-QTOF-MS

subject:
forensic science
toxicology
benzodiazepines
dried blood spots
UPLC-QTOF-MS

abstract:
In forensic toxicology benzodiazepines are common compounds implicated in
drug impaired driving cases. Detection of these compounds is ideally determined from
whole blood collected from the individual after impairment has been established and
qualified personnel are available to draw blood. This study focused on the development
and validation of a screening method that could also be applied to quantification of a set
of nine benzodiazepines and metabolites extracted from dried blood spots and analyzed
using UPLC-QTOF-MS: diazepam (DZP), temazepam (TMZ), oxazepam (OXZ),
nordiazepam (NOZ), lorazepam (LRZ), clonazepam(CLZ), 7-aminoclonazepam (7CLZ),
alprazolam (APZ), and α-hydroxyalprazolam (aHAM). Advantages of DBS over whole
blood sampling are less invasive sampling, potential for increased stability of analytes in
the card matrix, small sample volumes, simplified extraction and ease of storage and
transport. All dried blood spots were 20 μL of sheep blood spiked with a 2.86μg/mL
mixture of the compounds included in this study and left to try overnight at ambient
temperature. The optimized method immersed a ½” diameter punch of card containing
the entire blood spot in an extraction solvent of 1:1 (v/v) methanol:acetonitrile and
sonicated for 30 minutes. The extraction solvent was separated from the spot, 1 mL of
acetonitrile was added followed by protein filtration. Filtrate was evaporated down to
dryness and analytes were then reconstituted in 1:1 (v/v) acetonitrile:water before
analysis. Each step of extraction and sample preparation was optimized for this study. All
analytes were stable within the card matrix for 14 days under refrigeration at 4°C. All analytes were stable up to 12 hours in the autosampler of the instrument. Hematocrit over
a range of 20 - 70% did not affect interpretation of results. Validation produced
calibration curves over a range of 7.8 – 500 ng/mL that had R2 values ranging from
0.998-1.00 with a quadratic line of best fit. Bias was <20% for high blind samples and
≤25.6% for low blind samples.
A screening method using UPLC-QTOF-MS to analyze DBS extracts able to
identify all benzodiazepines of interest was developed and validated. Calibration curves
representing impairment ranges of the analytes of interest predicted concentrations within
a reliable range that allowed for quantification of the analytes.


title: The effect of experience, personality and learning style on health and safety performance and physiologic responses of miners training in a simulator

subject:
Simulator
virtual reality
personality
learning style
experience
HRV
performance
mining training

abstract:
This study examined how learning style, personality type, and experience
level influence the performance and heart rate variability (HRV) (quantified by
LF:HF ratio and RMSSD) of individuals operating NORCAT’s mining simulator. At
Baseline, the twenty participants completed: Kolb’s learning style questionnaire, the
44 item Big Five Inventory Index; and an Operator Experience Questionnaire. After
which, participants were fitted with a Zephyr BioHarness to measure HRV. HRV data
and performance scores (a computer-based evaluation generated from performance
measures taken while the operator is using the simulator) were collected for three
simulator trials: 1) first use of the simulator; 2) at the end of the operator training
program; and 3) post training during a troubleshooting trial where emergency
situations and faults are initiated by the trainer. During the troubleshooting run,
reaction time to each fault was also recorded. Results indicated that the personality
trait: conscientiousness; was associated with improved performance and increased
Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD). Moreover, experienced
operators showed higher performance scores later in the training process.

abstract: Master in Human Kinetics (MHK)


title: Pulsed electron deposition and characterization of nanocrystalline diamond thin films

subject:
Nanocrystalline diamond
pulsed electron beam ablation
HOPG
Thin film deposition,

abstract:
Diamond is widely known for its extraordinary properties, such as high hardness, thermal conductivity, electron mobility, energy bandgap and durability making it a very attractive material for many applications. Synthetic diamonds retain most of the attractive properties of natural diamond. Among the types of synthetic diamonds, nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) is being developed for electrical, tribological, optical, and biomedical applications.
In this research work, NCD films were grown by the pulsed electron beam ablation (PEBA) method at different process conditions such as accelerating voltage, pulse repetition rate, substrate material and temperature. PEBA is a relatively novel deposition technique, which has been developed to provide researchers with a new means of producing films of equal or better quality than more conventional methods such as Pulsed Laser Deposition, Sputtering, and Cathodic Vacuum Arc.
The deposition process parameters have been defined by estimating the temperature and pressure of the plasma particles upon impact with the substrates, and comparing the data with the carbon phase diagram. Film thickness was measured by visible reflectance spectroscopy technique and was in the range of 40 – 230 nm. The nature of chemical bonding, namely, the ratio (sp3/sp3+sp2) and nanocrystallinity percentage were estimated using visible Raman spectroscopy technique. The films prepared from the ablation of a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) target on different substrates consisted mainly of nanocrystalline diamond material in association with a diamond-like carbon phase. The micro-structural properties and surface morphology of the films were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties of the NCD films were evaluated by nano-indentation.

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Natural Resources Engineering


title: 222Rn measurements within the water phase of the SNO+ experiment

subject:
neutrino detector
radon assay
backgrounds
SNO+
hotspot

abstract:
The SNO+ experiment is a large multipurpose scintillator detector. In the first phase of the
experiment, close monitoring is done to determine radioactivity background levels, in particular the monitoring of 222Rn as its presence can obscure or mimic physics data. This thesis
focuses on a cryogenic technique used to collect and concentrate 222Rn in the water used for
the SNO+ experiment. The target level for 222Rn using this system is 3.5 × 10−14 g
238U/gH2O equivalent for the initial water phase. The radon assay technique and resulting measurements
are discussed.
Further analysis was done to determine the content and locations of areas within the detector
emitting higher than expected rate of events. This is informally known as the "hotspot" problem.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Physics


title: Determination and speciation of tellurium in environmental samples using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (HG-AFS)

subject:
Tellurium
Environmental samples
HG-AFS

abstract:
This thesis focuses on developing a new method to measure trace tellurium (Te) in
different environmental samples such as lake waters, mine tailings and sediments. The developed
technique is based on Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy (HG-AFS), a
technique that can measure low concentration of Te and also allows for Te speciation at low cost
and high efficiency in various environmental samples.
To validate the method that could be used to determine Te speciation in various types of
environmental samples, a series of tests has been designed for finding the best conditions to
measure Te(IV) using HG-AFS and obtain accurate and reliable results. Those tests include the
stability of the signal, the acidity of the solution, the volatility of Te after digestion of solids, the
reduction from Te(VI) to Te(IV), the detection limit of the technique, and the validity of two
digestion methods under the optimum (HG-AFS) instrumental settings.
An interference study including the most common elements in the Earth’s crust such as
(Ni, Fe, Pb, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Mn and Mo) was also performed. The results of this study showed
that Cu(II) can severely interfere with Te quantification decreasing the Te signal to almost zero.
Therefore, different masking agents such as 8-hydroxyquinoline, 1,10-phenanthroline, urea and
thiourea were tested to reduce and eliminate this interference.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical Sciences


title: The lived experience of a changing relationship with tobacco: a perspective of individuals with serious mental illness

subject:
mental illness
smoking
cessation
stages of change

abstract:
Individuals experiencing serious mental illness (SMI) have significantly higher rates of
tobacco use and although motivated to quit smoking are less successful with quit attempts thus
increasing their risk of chronic disease. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study that
included photo elicitation was used to gain an understanding of what the lived experience of a
changing relationship with tobacco means to those living with SMI. Interviews with nine
individuals with varying diagnoses of SMI, and at various stages of changing their tobacco use
behaviour were interpreted to reflect six themes of the phenomenon. The findings align with the
core concepts of the Trans-theoretical Model and also parallel the consumer driven concept of
recovery in mental illness. The mental health care provider’s integration of tobacco cessation
into practice using a recovery model approach, may serve a dual purpose of improving quit
smoking rates as well as supporting the individual’s recovery in mental illness.

abstract: Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing


title: The effects of brief mindfulness induction and psychological stress manipulation on perceived stress

subject: stress mindfulness manipulation

abstract:
The effects of a brief mindfulness induction and psychological stress manipulation on perceived stress were studied using a sample of 51 Laurentian University Undergraduate Psychology students. Participants were subjected to either to a mindfulness manipulation condition (a focused attention task – an analogy of mindfulness induction – or a free mind wandering task), followed by a stress manipulation condition (either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or an activity-matched placebo (TSSTp). Trait mindfulness (covariate), state mindfulness (manipulation check), perceived stress (manipulation check/dependant variable), and mood measures (dependant variable) were administered. Both mindfulness induction and stress induction manipulation checks were significant, indicating that participants understood the instructions, and the manipulations provided significant measured changes between groups. The stress manipulation check was significant in the expected direction, such that those in the stress experimental group rated as more stressed than the control group; however, the mood induction was significant opposite to expectations, such that the mind-wandering condition elicited significantly higher state mindfulness scores than the focused-breathing condition. There was no significant main effect of mindfulness on perceived stress scores, and contrary to the main hypothesis, there was no significant interaction between mindfulness condition and stress condition on perceived stress scores. Results of the mindfulness manipulation check suggest that the brief mindfulness manipulation utilized was not sufficient enough to produce measurable differences in mindfulness scores; however, the unexpected significance of the control group scores, coupled with a significant negative correlation between the trait and state mindfulness measures, may reflect discrepancies between the two measures of mindfulness and ultimately a difference between schools of mindfulness, or it may reflect an artifact of the methodology used.
The lack of significant results concerning mindfulness and perceived stress scores suggest that either 1) a brief 15-minute implementation of mindfulness may not be sufficient enough to buffer against immediate future stress, or 2) there were issues/confounding variables with the methodology used. There were no significant results concerning the mood measures. Results and future research are discussed.

abstract: Masters of Arts (MA) in Psychology


title: Textual odalisque: from Roxolana to Hürrem Sultan

format: 280.03KB PDF application/pdf

subject:
Hürrem Sultan
literary criticism

abstract: Presented on April 21, 2022 at Student Research Day at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta.

abstract: My thesis examines the trajectory of literary depictions of the enigmatic figure of Hürrem Sultan (otherwise known as Roxolana, circa. 1502-1558), the legal wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and the first Haseki Sultan, or Imperial Consort, of the Ottoman Empire. It will first consider Hürrem’s emergence on the European stage as a product of Orientalist discourse, then focus in detail on her more recent Ukrainian and Turkish cultural depictions. To assist my analysis, I will employ the theory of re-Orientalism, which is defined by Lisa Lau as an approach that determines “how cultural producers with eastern affiliations come to terms with an orientalized East, whether by complying with perceived expectations of western readers, by playing with them or by discarding them altogether." I will examine the Ukrainian opera Roksoliana (by Denys Sichynsky, 1911) and two contemporary Turkish productions, the television show Muhteşem Yüzyıl (The Magnificent Century, 2011, Tims Productions) and the play Gayri Resmi Hurrem (Unofficial Roxelana, by Ozen Yula, 2003) to show how they question, critique, and dispel Orientalist tropes associated with Roxolana in the western European imagination.


title: Operator algebras and symbolic dynamical systems associated to symbolic substitutions

format: 581.18KB PDF application/pdf

subject:
shift dynamical systems
operator algebras

abstract: In this thesis, we shall look at symbolic dynamical systems and operator algebras that are associated with these systems. We shall focus on minimal shift dynamical systems generated by symbolic substitutions. By first characterizing the shift spaces associated to primitive substitutions, we shall see that all minimal dynamical systems generated by symbolic substitutions are conjugate to proper primitive substitutions. In doing this, we will look at ordered Bratteli diagrams and strongly maximal TAF-algebras and we will see how we can associate these to a type of dynamical system called a Cantor minimal system, of which infinite minimal shift spaces are an example. We also shall see how we can associate a semi-crossed product algebra to a topological dynamical system and how isomorphism of two semi-crossed product algebras is equivalent to conjugacy of their associated dynamical systems. The semi-crossed product algebra is more general in that it can be associated to any dynamical system, whereas TAF-algebras can only be associated to Cantor minimal systems.


title: It’s a burden but… having a sibling with Prader Willi syndrome: stress, growth, and perceived burden

format: 395.86KB PDF application/pdf

subject:
Prader-Willi syndrome
siblings
stress
atypical development
burden
growth

abstract: Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 15000 live births worldwide that presents a spectrum of physiological and neurological-related health challenges. PWS has been extensively studied as it affects parents, however, research on sibling interaction is limited. This study examined to what extent neurotypical siblings with a brother or sister with PWS experience stress in daily life, is there a feeling of growth as a result, and are feelings of burden higher when compared to the general population. Using the Perceived Stress Scale 10, the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, and the Zarit Burden Interview questionnaires, a comparison between families with a neurotypical -PWS sibling dynamic and non-PWS – sibling dynamic was conducted. The findings between the control and experimental groups indicated similar stress levels, and both groups indicated a moderately high level of stress. No statistically significant difference in personal growth was present. The perception of burden was significantly higher for the neurotypical-PWS group versus the control group. The details of the results indicated that the relationship dynamic between PWS-neurotypical siblings requires further research, and the use of different survey tools may be warranted to better explore this population.


title: An exploratory study on the relationship between earworms and stress

subject:
earworms
involuntary musical imagery
stress
infrasound
coherence
heart rate variability

abstract: An earworm is defined as hearing music without currently listening to music. Research on earworms is limited; however, research on music in relation to stress and arousal is plentiful. Here we present two studies investigating earworms in relation to arousal. Much research suggests that music can help to reduce stress. On the other hand, one common phenomenon associated with stress is ruminative thoughts. We initially hypothesized that earworms may either be: (1) a form of ruminative thought and thus more likely to occur when an individual was stressed or (2) similar to music therapy, a stress reducing experience. To test this hypothesis, we had participants fill out a modified PANAS scale over the course of a semester during both earworm presence and earworm absence. We found that significantly more people reported lower anxiety during earworm presence and higher anxiety during earworm absence than people who reported the opposite. From these results, it was unclear whether people would be more likely to get an earworm when they were less stressed, or whether getting an earworm helped to reduce stress. Therefore, study two was developed to further probe the results from study one. In study two, we assessed arousal before and after an earworm induction procedure. A regression model found that the presence or absence of earworms and infrasound predicted arousal post-earworm induction. Our research adds to the body of literature regarding earworms and attempts to clarify whether earworms are a useful form of anxiety-reduction.

abstract: Restricted Access


title: The influence of interpersonal synchrony on helping behavior, social bonding, and empathy in children

format: 624.33KB PDF application/pdf

subject:
interpersonal synchrony
children

abstract: Presented at the Undergraduate Research in Science Conference of Alberta (URSCA).

abstract: The current study examines the influence of interpersonal synchrony on typically developing 3-6-year-old children’s empathy and helping behavior. In a replication of a spontaneous helping task developed by Kirschner & Tomasello (2010), fish food is spilt on the way to an imaginary fish tank, creating an opportunity for child participants to help their play partner (adult or same-aged children) at the cost of the immediate gratification of feeding their own fish first. Cognitive and Affective empathy were measured in an emotion assessment task using a 7-point Likert scale. Both helping and empathy measures were assessed before and after the synchronization task, where children clapped to metronome sounds that were either in- or out- of synchrony. It was found that helping behavior and empathy were not significantly higher in the synchrony condition when compared with the asynchronous condition. Furthermore, pairwise comparisons of pre- and post- helping and empathy measures remained unchanged across synchronizing conditions, and no differences in the frequency of eye-contact and smiles¬ were found during the synchronization task. Although a trend emerged wherein children were more likely to help same-aged peers when compared with adult playmates, follow-up studies with modifications to the task are needed to optimize the performance of child playmates. While our findings do not show an effect of synchrony on enhancing the social connections and prosocial abilities in our current sample, further research is needed to explore possible age-related differences that may account for discrepancies observed between the current study and those reported in previous research.


title: Associations among parental attitudes on technology, digital literacy, and children’s learning outcomes in the 2020 pandemic

subject:
digital literacy
online learning
parents

abstract: Presented on April 26, 2021 at Student Research Day held virtually at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta.

abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore how parents’ digital literacy affected children’s learning outcomes while engaging in online learning in the recent pandemic. Digital literacy is the ability to efficiently use technology, to navigate through different programs comfortably, and to manage information for proper online behaviour. This study focused on the parental perspective of their child’s learning from face-to-face to digital instruction. An online survey was completed by 22 parents with children in grades K-12 attending school in the Edmonton area. The survey explored parents’ digital technology use, their motivation and perspectives on technology in their child’s learning, as well as demographic factors such as ethnicity, digital age, and household income. Students’ school performance was recorded for a number of subject areas. The survey revealed that parents had good digital literacy, access to technology, and positive attitudes on technology for learning. However, some parents reported a lack of their child’s engagement, a desire for greater teacher interaction, and difficulties with balancing parenting and teaching at home. Despite these concerns, detriment to children’s school performance was not observed. The findings shed light on the challenges faced by parents and children’s learning at home in the recent pandemic and have the potential to inform teaching practices that will optimize learning outcomes in online learning settings.

abstract: Restricted Access


title: Why do firms delay recalls? The effects of firm type and country of origin on time to recall defective toys in the United States

subject:
product recall
country of origin
public company

abstract: Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at Student Research Day held at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. Won the Best Student Paper Award in April 2019 at the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) conference held at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.

abstract: This article examines the influence of perceptions of the country of origin of the defective product on time to recall in the context of the U.S. toy industry. Using signalling theory, shareholder/stakeholder perspectives, and drawing on insights from attribution theory, it is suggested that perceptions of low country of origin of the defective product make firms issue quicker recalls. Besides, this effect is more pronounced in publicly traded firms as opposed to privately held firms. Data on 400 toy recalls were obtained from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) from 2007 to 2018 to show empirical support for the above. Implications and contributions are discussed.

abstract: Restricted Access


title: Developing microsatellite markers for Cypripedium passerinum (Sparrow’s egg lady’s slipper)

format: 751.82KB PDF application/pdf

subject:
conservation
microsatellites
genetic diversity
Cypripedium
FIASCO

abstract: Presented on: April 21, 2022 at Student Research Day at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta; May 5-6, 2022 at the Undergraduate Research in Science Conference of Alberta held at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta; March 10-11, 2022 at the Richard E. Peter Biology Conference at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

abstract: Natural and anthropogenic disturbances contribute to increased habitat loss and fragmentation and subsequently, species loss. Integrated conservation approaches combine both in-situ and ex-situ approaches whereby natural habitats of endangered species are conserved, and the genetic diversity of the threatened population is retained outside of their natural habitat. Therefore, an essential component of an effective conservation strategy is to assess genetic variation to ensure that the conservation approach employed is effective in preserving the diversity of the whole population. Microsatellites, highly polymorphic repetitive DNA sequences in the genome of all organisms, have proven to be a valuable tool in the assessment of genetic diversity. This project aimed to isolate microsatellite markers from Cypripedium passerinum, a native North American terrestrial orchid at risk of extinction. Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing Repeats (FIASCO) was employed to generate a genomic DNA library enriched for AT, AC, and AAG microsatellites. Clones were selected from the libraries and bidirectionally sequenced to identify those which contain microsatellites. A total of 158 microsatellite loci were identified, of which 83% were perfect microsatellites. PCR primers were developed using the unique sequences flanking the identified microsatellites and were evaluated for their utility. Primers amplifying polymorphic loci can be used to assess the genetic diversity of C. passerinum populations both within the Wagner Natural Area, Alberta, Canada and elsewhere in its range of distribution. The project findings will contribute to the integrated conservation efforts to protect species found in Wagner Natural Area and contribute to our understanding of C. passerinum.


title: Cults: to be or not to be: exploring the topic of cults within anthropology

subject:
cults
research methods
anthropology

abstract: Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled)

abstract: Despite the significance of cults as a social group in other disciplines, anthropologists have paid little attention to these sub-cultures as a viable area of research. Social scientists in other disciplines, such as sociology and psychology, have explored cults as a social and mental phenomenon; yet, anthropological investigations tend to be limited to studying cargo cults outside North America. Sociologists have defined and categorized cults in numerous ways: as a social movement or a religious movement. In this presentation, I hypothesize that anthropologists do not study cults due to their methodological practices and theoretical approach to working with communities.

abstract: Restricted Access


title: Van der Pol oscillator – analysis of a non-conservative system

format: 618.75KB PDF application/pdf

abstract: The Van der Pol oscillator was introduced by Balthasar van der Pol, who was ”a famous scholar, a famous scientist, a famous administrator at the international level, he was equally well known for the clarity of his lectures (in several languages), his knowledge of the classics, his warm personality and his talents for friendship, and his love for music.” [2] The oscillator describes the nonlinear oscillations for systems like a triode circuit, which produce selfsustained oscillations known as relaxation oscillations. Extensive studies have been done on the oscillator, for understanding it and for using it as an applied model for the heartbeat, for example. In this thesis, we will explain the nature of the oscillator from an original point of view, in the low-friction regime. First, we will give an intuitive physical explanation of the first order averaging method, a perturbation theory method, applied onto the oscillator. We will follow with an analytical approach of the first order averaging method, and we will show the mathematical complexity of it. We will conclude with the application of the first order averaging method to the Van der Pol oscillator, confirming the  findings from the intuitive approach.


title: Can leadership characteristics predict perceived growth when faced with stress?

format:
1.63 MB
PDF
application/pdf

subject: leadership adversity

abstract: Presented on April 24, 2017 at Student Research Day held at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta.

abstract: In recent years, positive psychology has devoted an area of study directed at exploring the anecdote "that which does not kill you makes you stronger." This led to the creation of a field of study called growth through adversity. Previous research in this area has demonstrated that there are a multitude of personality traits which contribute to growth through adversity, but no known research to date has looked at leadership traits specifically, and how these traits affect growth outcomes. This study sought to fill this void in the literature by attempting to determine whether or not leadership characteristics are strong predictors of perceived growth when an individual is faced with stressful life circumstances. Self report measures were used to assess 142 MacEwan students in levels of leadership, stress, and growth outcomes resulting from stress. The relationship between these variables was assessed using regression analysis, which yielded statistically significant findings, which supported that leadership traits have meaningful effects on growth outcomes.


identifier: Abedinifard, Mostafa. "Humour and Gender Hegemony: The Panoptical Role of Ridicule vis-à-vis Gender." Dissertation, University of Alberta, 2015.

title: Humour and gender hegemony: the panoptical role of ridicule vis-à-vis gender

format:
2.28 MB
PDF
application/pdf

subject:
gender humour
gender studies
ridicule

abstract: My dissertation addressed the policing role of ridicule, as a form of humor, in relation to gender norms. Using cultural studies methods and drawing on theories in humor studies and gender—particularly masculinities—studies, I examined various forms and instances of mainstream gender humor from both Iranian and US cultures; I argued that such humor reflects and, through ridicule’s punitive role, systematically reinforces hegemonic notions of gender in a society. I concluded that the role of ridicule in the construction of gender demands theoretical and practical attention in studies of gender relations.


title: Teachers and care: a relational narrative inquiry of the power of educators for youth

format: 853.35KB PDF application/pdf

subject:
youth
teachers
junior high
care
connections
relationships

abstract: Our human process of becoming, which involves identity formation and an emerging sense of self (Worth, 2009, p.1050), begins at a very young age and reaches critical points through youth's educational life course. Through the process of becoming, the ways through which youth deal with the challenges in their lives are potentially supported or thwarted, depending on the presence of caring adults who may act as guides, adult mentors, or what can be referred to as "champions." According to Rita Pierson (2013), a champion for youth is "an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.” During adolescence, the transition from elementary school to junior high can result in “heightened levels of mistrust between teachers and students, student perceptions that teachers no longer care about them, and a decrease in opportunities for students to establish meaningful relationships with teachers” (Wentzel, 1997, p.411). Therefore, the position that teachers occupy at such a necessary time for youth becoming gives these adult authorities a unique opportunity to connect with youth and to establish a relationship that can serve as a role model and a support system as youth learn who they are and aspire to become. This project is a sociological exploration into the dynamics of building caring relationships between youth and teachers. Specifically, what are the relational processes of teacher-student connections according to junior high teachers?


identifier: Siddiqui, A. (1991). Microeconomic theory and foreign policy crisis decisions: Bangla Desh, 1971. Montreal: McGill University.

format:
6.45 MB
PDF
application/pdf

subject:
microeconomic theory
foreign policy
crises

abstract: This study analyzes the Bangladesh Crisis by building upon previous works that have applied microeconomic theory to international relations. One of the most innovative lines of inquiry from the realist school is to study international relations through analogy with microeconomic theory. Although used to analyze conflict, war, and the workings of the international system, a strict application of microeconomic theory to interstate crises is rare. This thesis will endeavour to contribute to this linkage.


title: Been, being, becoming: an auto-ethnographical analysis of black youth in Canada

format: 766.64KB PDF application/pdf

subject: Blackness youth identity performance auto-ethnography

abstract: Black youth often contend with negative external social constructions, labels, and categories, defining who they are as individuals and as racialized others. Regardless of the degree to which Black youth identify with these narratives of deviance, the expectations and assumptions within this discourse have consequences. This research project analyzed Black youth identity and racialization through the lens of my racialized experience of growing up Black in Canada. Thus, this study attempted to answer the following question: How have I as a Black youth made sense of the “narrative of deviance” as I created my identity during adolescence? The method used for this research was an auto-ethnographical approach, which allowed me to analyze my own life experiences and explore the themes in relation to academic literature on Black youth and adolescent experiences. As the primary researcher I coded the selected life experiences using MAXQDA coding software, analyzed them for major themes, and drew on the major connections that existed between the data and the existing literature. The existing literature represented Black youth identity as frequently being fraught with internal identity tension, varying levels of performative tendencies, and denial of individual recognition. My research found that throughout my life, I contended with social process that constructed Blackness, through creation, performance, and judgment, making my Blackness an object that was meant to represent a stereotypical image of a Black male.


identifier: Wong, Leo. "Understanding Donor Response to Donation Appeals: The Role of Deservingness in the Dictator Game and Optimum Donation Promises in Charity Auctions." PhD dissertation, University of Alberta, 2010.

title: Understanding donor response to donation appeals : the role of deservingness in the dictator game and optimum donation promises in charity auctions

format:
2.16 MB
PDF
application/pdf

subject:
marketing research
fundraising strategies
charity

abstract: Marketing research has attempted to shed light on donor responses to a variety of donation appeals and strategies. More recently, research has examined the effect of changing the content of an appeal in both a donation solicitation and a cause related marketing context. Some charities are highly successful with their marketing and fundraising strategies, while many others struggle to fund their services. This discrepancy in donor support is cause for concern from a public policy perspective, where optimizing the distribution of dollars is a key objective. Particularly in a recessionary economy, with more and more charities appealing to donors for their support, charity choice has become more crowded than ever before. The question of which charity is chosen and how much to ‘spend’ on that charity can determine which charities succeed and which ones fail, as donors become increasingly concerned with maximizing the impact of their donor dollars. I begin the dissertation with a thorough review of the relevant literature to provide a foundation and backdrop to the issues I study in two sets of studies. In the first set of studies, I examine deservingness of a recipient, where judgments are affected by the donation appeal content. Specifically, I look at how recipient information profiles can affect donor response. In the second set of studies, I examine donor response in a novel cause-related marketing format - online charity auctions – where I vary factors related to the auction products, price and the percentage of auction price that is donated to charity. These two papers contribute to the research in donor response to charity appeals by shedding light on the deliberative aspect of the decision process. Public policy and managerial implications are discussed, where an increasingly competitive environment with many comparative options are becoming standard challenges for charity fundraisers. A review of the relevant research areas for both papers precedes the studies to provide a foundation and motivation for our hypotheses and research designs.


title: Population-specific variation in the accuracy of Rogers’ method of sex estimation

format:
470.77 KB
PDF
application/pdf

subject:
biological ancestry
sex estimation

abstract: Rogers’ (1) method of sex estimation is a visual technique that evaluates morphological variation in four traits of the distal posterior humerus. This method has the potential for widespread application in biological anthropology, but previous tests have been unable to replicate Rogers’ initial accuracy rate of 92%. Additionally, the role of populations in the accuracy of the method has not been sufficiently explored, as only one study (2) has controlled for it. Wanek (2) found differences in the accuracy of Rogers’ method correlated with different populations but concluded the method could be used on all human populations, regardless. This study tests Wanek’s (2) conclusion through a blind test of Rogers’ (1) original method, though it differs methodologically from previous studies (1–7) by seriating humeri according to trait expression, and by using logistic regression for analysis of results. In conducting a blind test on a sample of American black and white individuals from The Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection, I found that the method was 67% accurate overall, and that odds for a correct classification were 2.03 more likely for a white individual than for a black individual. Prior to applying this method in the future, bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists should consider these results within the context of their study.


title: The ponderings of a poet: architecture as representative of an author's concerns in Geoffrey Chaucer's House of Fame

contributor:
Farvolden, Pam
Wiznura, Rob

format:
4.89 MB
PDF
application/pdf

subject:
Geoffrey Chaucer
House of Fame

abstract: One of Geoffrey Chaucer 's most well-known dream visions, The House of Fame, abounds with allusions to the concerns that writers must wrestle with at some point during their careers. Throughout the work, Chaucer discusses the purpose of writing, the value of poetry, and the worthiness of fame, but perhaps his biggest concerns lie among the questions of the future: Should he embark on a new trail of topics for his writing rather than traverse the worn road of love from his writing predecessors? How long, if at all, will his works last into the future? What can one do to make his work stand the test of time? Chaucer's pondering of these concerns is evident throughout the entirety of The House of Fame, but they are most prevalent in Book III, consisting of his attendance in the houses of Fame and Rumour. [Honours thesis]