title: A critical legal geography of "Territory of Traditional Nature-Use" (TTP) formation in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia

contributor:
Parlato, Nicholas (author)
Fondahl, Gail (thesis advisor)
Wilson, Gary (committee member)
Krupnik, Igor (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (158 pages)

subject: Indigenous peoples--Land tenure

subject: Indigenous peoples--Land tenure--Sakha (Russia)

abstract: In Russia’s largest region, the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Indigenous (KMNS) leaders and communities representing five different cultural groups have succeeded in preserving traditional ways of life, and particularly nomadic reindeer husbandry, through the enormous political, social, and environmental changes of the past century. To ensure continued cultural survival, Indigenous leaders have developed a wide range of political and legal instruments, processes, and bodies within and without Russian governance structures. Key among these instruments is the “Territory of Traditional Nature-Use” (TTP), a geographically bounded legal-cultural landscape within which dozens of normative republican and federal acts, constitutional laws, and codices regulate and protect traditional land-use, socioeconomic organization, and ways of life.

abstract: sakha republic

abstract: Yakutia

abstract: Indigenous KMNS

abstract: nomadic reindeer husbandry

abstract: russian governance structures


title: Ergodic Flocking of Swarm Robots

type: Text thesis

contributor:
Veitch, Conan (author)
Aravind, Alex A (thesis advisor)
Dale, Mark (committee member)
Reid, Matt (committee member)
Dobrowolski, Edward (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (82 pages)

subject:
Robotics
Swarm intelligence
Robots--Control systems
Ergodic theory

abstract: The design of efficient control strategies is a well studied problem. Due to recent technological advancements and applications in the field of robotics, exploring novel ways to design optimal control for multi-robot systems has gained interest. In this respect, the concept of ergodicity has successfully been applied as an effective control technique for tracking and area coverage. The generation of flocking behaviour is a problem that involves both tracking and coverage, and as such is also suited for the use of ergodicity. The main contribution of this thesis is the application of ergodicity to emulate flocking behaviour. This approach is appealing because control and communication is assumed to be local, self-organized, and does not require separate algorithms in order to generate different behaviour. Simulation results show that the proposed approach is effective and a prototype provides evidence that flocking behaviour is possible using ergodicity in a real-life setting.

abstract: robotics

abstract: flocking behaviour

abstract: ergodicity

abstract: algorithms

abstract: simulation


title: "It's good for the soul": Eveny traditional land-use and meaning in life

contributor:
O'Rourke, Sean Richard (author)
Fondahl, Gail (thesis advisor)
Beaumont, Sherry (committee member)
Harder, Henry (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (150 pages)

subject: Even (Asian people)--Land tenure

subject: Even (Asian people)--Land tenure--Batagaĭ (Sakha, Russia)

abstract: Following Russian/Soviet colonization, Indigenous Siberian Eveny less frequently engage in hunting and reindeer herding—land-based activities central to their culture. Research suggests that an inability to engage in key cultural activities may hamper Indigenous peoples’ capacities to construct meaningful existences (i.e., fulfilling lives with purpose), but this has not been empirically investigated among Eveny. I conducted 14 semi-structured interviews on traditional land-use and meaning in life with Eveny men in Batagay-Alyta (Sakkyryr), Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia. Half of the participants lived in the village; the other half were nomadic herders. Both herders and non-herders described meaningful existences, but the groups often acquired meaning from different sources. Some sources (i.e., family, finances, reindeer) were deemed important by both groups. My findings illuminate what makes life meaningful for some Eveny, and can help policy-makers better address their unique needs.

abstract: Russian/Soviet colonization

abstract: Indigenous Siberian Eveny

abstract: Batagay-Alyta (Sakkyryr)

abstract: Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia

abstract: nomadic herders.

abstract: herders and non-herders


title: Experiences of Indigenous mothers with the child welfare system at the birth of their child

contributor: University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (vi, 116 pages)

subject: Childbirth -- British Columbia -- Prince George

subject: Indigenous women -- British Columbia -- Prince George

subject: Child welfare -- British Columbia -- Prince George

abstract: The topic of Indigenous women’s experiences with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) at the birth of their child is one that falls through the gaps of current literature. This thesis is focused on identifying the experiences of Indigenous women when MCFD intervenes at the birth of their child; the purpose is to gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of child welfare interventions. I interviewed five Indigenous women using an interpretive description approach and analyzed the data using constant comparative analysis as well as conventional content analysis techniques. The findings highlighted the impact of child welfare involvement that included: powerful emotions, trust, communication and dismantled families; a structural power imbalance characterized as feeling powerless, being watched and judged, and jumping through hoops; addiction; socioeconomic struggles that included young mothers and homelessness, poverty, and neglect; missed preventative opportunities; the role of advocacy; identity and culture; and bonding. In conclusion, child welfare practice needs to include opportunities for preventative measures and planning to optimize support and communication with Indigenous pregnant women and mothers.


title: White spruce growth sensitivity to climate variability in pure and mixedwood stands

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xiii, 155 pages)

subject: White spruce -- British Columbia, Northern -- Growth

subject: Trees -- British Columbia, Northern -- Growth

subject: Forest microclimatology -- British Columbia, Northern

abstract: I studied how microclimate variables influence the growth of white spruce trees (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in pure and mixedwood stands in north-eastern British Columbia. My key finding is that stand composition and structure are essential determinants of how spruce radial growth and sap flow respond to fluctuations in climate variables. A combination of warmer temperatures and drought during summer will negatively affect white spruce trees growth in pure and mixedwood stands in the studied region. Spruce sap flow in both stand types is likely to increase as the climate warms, increasing the demand for soil water. White spruce growing in mixedwood stands might be more sensitive to drought stress than in pure stands due to the higher competition for limiting resources (primarily water). I provide information that will be useful in modeling and managing these stands across western Canada under current and future climate conditions.


title: Role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in energy expenditure including the thermogenic response

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xiv, 133 pages)

subject:
Pituitary hormones
Energy metabolism
Brown adipose tissue

abstract: Obesity results when energy intake chronically exceeds energy expenditure, driving accumulation and malfunctioning of white adipose tissue and increasing risk for comorbidity. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) burns energy via adaptive thermogenesis, a process gaining therapeutic interest to restore energy balance in obesity. PACAP regulates energy expenditure including thermogenesis in BAT, but the neuronal circuits involved are not well known. Thus, we aim to develop a tool to safely restore PACAP in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN) of PACAP-null mice to assess the VMN’s contribution. We also investigated whether PACAP directly regulates BAT function by binding at adipocytes. We discovered PACAP receptor expression in BAT and genetic regulation of receptor expression with cold acclimation. Acute in vitro studies did not show PACAP-stimulated thermogenesis in BAT. Studying adaptive thermogenesis and its hypothalamic regulation will contribute to the field of energy metabolism, and the pathophysiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes.


title: Understanding the mental health and well-being impacts of natural resource extraction and development : global perspectives and insights from Terrace, BC.

format:
electronic
1 online resource (vi, 143 pages)

subject: Resource-based communities -- Mental health -- British Columbia -- Terrace

subject: Natural resources -- Health aspects -- British Columbia -- Terrace

abstract: This research couples a global scale targeted systematic review with the perspectives and experiences of mental health service providers in Terrace, British Columbia. A targeted systematic review was conducted exploring mental health and well-being impacts of resource extraction globally. Findings informed qualitative interviews with mental health service providers in Terrace, BC. Main themes from service providers are systemic issues in health care, poor access to mental health services for children and youth, mental health risk factors, social determinants of health, and industry’s lasting influence and legacy. Synthesis of the findings from the systematic review and interviews with service providers indicates providers concerns aligned with the global literature. A synthesis combines the two phases of research. Insights from this work suggest a greater consideration of the social and mental health impacts of industrial projects is necessary, and there is need for equitable access to mental health resources for all ages.


title: Efficient enumeration of small graphlets and orbits

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xi, 73 pages)

subject:
Graph algorithms
Computer graphics
Data mining

abstract: As the world is flooded with data, the demand for mining data for useful purposes is increasing. An effective techniques is to model the data as networks (graphs) and then apply graph mining techniques for analysis. As on date, the algorithms available to count graphlets and orbits for various types of graphs and their generalizations are limited. The thesis aims to fill the gap by presenting a simple and efficient algorithm for 3-node graphlet and orbit counting that is generic enough to work for both undirected and directed graphs. Our algorithm is compared with the state-of-art algorithms and we show that in most cases our algorithm performs better. We demonstrate our algorithm in three case studies related to (i) enzyme and metabolite correlation network in corn, (ii) watershed governance networks, and (iii) patterns exhibited by co-expression networks of healthy and cancerous stomach cells.


title: ‘The passions of a woman’ : rereading the disabled female body in Wilkie Collins’s novels

format:
electronic
1 online resource (iv, 101 pages)

subject: Collins, Wilkie -- 1824-1889 -- Criticism and interpretation

subject: Women in literature

subject: People with disabilities in literature

abstract: This thesis explores how Wilkie Collins’s portrayal of disabled female bodies disrupts the Victorian opposition between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ bodies, and, in doing so, offers an alternative to the prevailing contemporary ideal of femininity, as passive, pure, and spiritualized. In Hide and Seek (1861), The Moonstone (1868), and Poor Miss Finch (1872), I argue Collins reconfigures traditional readings of both disabled and able-bodied women. Drawing on theories in disability and gender studies, my thesis examines how prevalent understandings of the disabled body offer insight into how we think about the human body in general, and how in Collins’s novels the disabled body is used to question gendered norms placed upon all members of society.


title: Removing barriers to environmental action : the impact of personal cap-and-trade systems on individuals’ sense of efficacy and personal responsibility for climate change

format:
electronic
1 online resource (vii, 111 pages)

subject: Environmental impact analysis

subject: Carbon offsetting -- Canada -- Public opinion

subject: Emissions trading -- Canada -- Public opinion

subject: Carbon taxes -- Canada -- Public opinion

abstract: In complex industrialized societies, it is virtually impossible for individuals to know the environmental impact of their consumption. A personal cap and trade system, which assigns citizens limited, tradable allocations of pollution (e.g., carbon pollution), can link individuals directly to their environmental impact and enable them to chart a path to sustainable living. To explore public reactions to this system, an Amazon Mechanical Turk sample of individuals residing in Canada viewed a video describing either a carbon tax system or a personal cap and trade system. A personal cap and trade system based on allocations of kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kgCO2e) was viewed as significantly more likely than carbon taxes to enable Canadians to reduce their carbon consumption and to live more sustainably. A range of public concerns that might limit support for carbon pricing systems were identified with qualitative analysis of participant comments about the systems.


title: Plant communities of the grasslands and the forest-grassland mosaic in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of British Columbia

format:
electronic
1 online resource (vii, 116 pages)

subject: Plant communities -- British Columbia -- Cariboo

subject: Plant communities -- British Columbia -- Chicotin

subject: Grassland ecology -- British Columbia -- Cariboo

subject: Grassland ecology -- British Columbia -- Chilcotin

abstract: Plant communities and soils of grasslands on an elevation gradient and the forest-grassland mosaic in the Cariboo-Chilcotin of British Columbia were examined. Vegetation change along an elevation-climate gradient was analysed, including plant cover, litter cover, species composition, and species richness. Grassland plant communities were compared with associated climate variables and biogeoclimatic classifications. Based on results, an updated classification of grassland ecosystems is proposed with suggestions for management and research. Plant community and soil moisture characteristics of adjacent forests and grasslands were compared. Ten-year-old slash and burn treatments of young forests, and areas of forest encroachment on grasslands were studied to detect potential change between forest and grassland states. Results did not suggest change in ecosystem state between grasslands and forests, with persistent ecosystem legacies a potential source of long-term resilience. Land-use legacies manifested as encroachment of forests on areas of historical grasslands and high cover values of exotic species.


title: MU_PSYC : Algorithmic music composition with a music-psychology enriched genetic algorithm

format:
electronic
1 online resource (63 pages)

subject:
Computer composition (Music)
Artificial intelligence
Genetic algorithms

abstract:
Recent advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have impacted the field of algorithmic music composition, and that has been evidenced by live concert performances wherein the audience reportedly often could not tell whether music was composed by machine or by human. Among the various AI techniques, genetic algorithms dominate the field due to their suitability for both creativity and optimization.

Many attempts have been made to incorporate rules from traditional music theory to design and automate genetic algorithms. Another popular approach is to incorporate statistical or mathematical measures of fitness. However, these rules and measures are rarely tested for their validity.

This thesis is aimed at addressing the above limitation and hence paving the way to advance the field towards composing human-quality music. The basic idea is to look beyond this constrained set of traditional music rules and statistical/mathematical methods towards a more concrete foundation. We look to a field at the intersection of musicology and psychology, referred to as music-psychology.

To demonstrate our proposed approach, we implemented a genetic algorithm exclusively using rules found in music-psychology. An online survey was conducted testing the quality of our algorithm’s output compositions. Moreover, algorithm performance was analyzed by experimental study. The initial results are encouraging and warrant further research. The societal implications of our work and other research in the field are also discussed.


title: Influence of temperature and precipitation on radial growth properties of hybrid white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) x engelmannii (Parry)) in Central Interior British Columbia, Canada

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xiii, 147 pages)

subject: White spruce -- Climatic factors -- British Columbia, Central Interior

subject: White spruce -- Effect of temperature on -- British Columbia, Central Interior

subject: White spruce -- British Columbia, Central Interior -- Growth

abstract: It is prudent to understand how changes in climate will affect tree-ring growth, wood fibre quality, and percent carbon content in natural and planted stands in central interior British Columbia (BC), as BC produces high volumes of wood fibres that are competitive in a global market. Wood properties within natural and planted stands of hybrid white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) x engelmannii (Parry)) (percent carbon, ring-width, earlywood and latewood width and wood cell properties of cell wall thickness, density, microfibril angle, radial diameter and coarseness) were assessed to determine if climate variation is a limiting growth factor. Results show precipitation is an important limiting factor in planted stand growth with some indication that increasing temperatures limit growth in natural stands. Relationships between climate and percent carbon indicate that rising winter, spring, and summer temperatures coupled with reduced precipitation strongly limit percent carbon accumulation in most natural and planted stands.


title: Deadlands girl : a modern fairy tale

contributor: Wessell Lightfoot, Dana (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (vi, 101 pages)

subject:
Fantasy fiction, Canada
Canadian fiction (English)
Apocalyptic literature
Coming of age -- Fiction

abstract: Deadlands Girl is a short young adult, fantasy fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic Canada. The protagonist, Tabitha, is kidnapped and brought to Faerie and the novel follows her quest to come back home. Written as a response to the notion that there are few non-historical Young Adult (YA) novels that are set in Canada, my creative thesis demonstrates that a novel can explore themes of identity, belonging and power while using the Canadian landscape as a backdrop and an inspiration. Mythological creatures assist Tabitha on her hero-quest but, ultimately, it is a coming-of-age story about a young woman growing up and discovering her own power. The novel is introduced with a critical analysis of young adult fiction in Canada, a discussion of identity and what it means to be a Canadian writer creating dark, but hopeful, stories for youth.


title: The Iroquois: voyageurs of the North-West and Oregon territories

format:
electronic
1 online resource (vi, 126 pages)

subject: Iroquois Indians -- Saskatchewan River (Sask. and Man.)

subject: Indians of North America -- Northwest, Canadian -- History

subject: Fur trade -- North America

abstract: This thesis will posit that the Iroquois migrations into the Northwest and Oregon Territories are misunderstood in their interactions amongst both the Indigenous and frontiersmen. By Iroquois we specifically mean the French-speaking and Catholic Iroquois who settled in New France in Sault St. Louis (1680), Lac des Deux-Montagnes (1717) and in 1755 when the St. Régis Mission was established. After 150 years of acculturation (1650s to 1800s), these Iroquois had become a hybrid culture with a syncretic Catholicism. The Iroquois immigrated to the Saskatchewan River in 1799 to escape ‘improvements of civilization’ in the east and to follow the mode of life of their forefathers. Peter Fidler’s three versions of the Chesterfield House incident, where 14 Iroquois and 2 Canadiens were killed, will be analyzed to provide a new understanding of the role of the Iroquois as central actors in the fur trade rivalries.

abstract: pioneer

abstract: Haudenosaunee

abstract: Mohawk

abstract: syncretism

abstract: deputation

abstract: Chesterfield House

abstract: Peter Fidler


title: The space to make mistakes: allocating responsibility and accountability for nursing student-committed medication errors

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xi, 248 pages)

subject: Nursing--Study and teaching--Social aspects

subject: Medication errors

subject: Critical realism

abstract:
A medication error committed by a student nurse during a clinical placement often results in the student fearing its potential impact on the patient, unit staff, and the student’s educational journey. Student nurses must navigate two parallel systems during a clinical placement – the educational system and the healthcare system – and there can be confusion about what each requires of the student. Neither of these systems contain clear direction for managing student-committed medication errors and for allocating associated responsibility and accountability.
This exploratory mixed methods study examines the process by which responsibility and accountability for a student-committed medication error is allocated and the factors that influence that allocation decision. It describes key features of an ideal allocation process and suggests reasons why the current allocation process often does not meet those requirements. Qualitative data were analyzed through interpretive description and quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results were situated, interpreted, and triangulated within a critical realism philosophical framework.
An ideal post-error environment must incorporate a just culture. Since students must navigate both the educational institution and the healthcare facility environments during a clinical placement, a just culture must permeate both. However, students are instead colliding with a post-error environment that they perceive as not meeting key ideals of a just culture: fairness, transparency, minimization of fear, and dedication to learning. Findings of this study can be used to drive change that will better support those who are involved in a post-error process, and decrease the significant inconsistencies that are currently of particular concern.


title: Support for people living with HIV: insights into knowledge acquisition and personal wellbeing

format:
electronic
1 online resource (148 pages)

subject:
HIV (Viruses)
HIV-positive persons
HIV-positive persons--Care
Social networks

abstract:
The provision of care for people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has advanced since the 1980’s. New treatments have changed HIV to a chronic condition instead of a death sentence.
How this change has affected support networks providing care to those living with HIV requires further investigation. Through interviews with Key Informants (n=4), and Family and Peer Support Networks for those living with HIV (n=7) three major themes emerged:
1) People providing support for people living with HIV are often HIV positive themselves.
2) Methods of learning about HIV/AIDS utilized before and after HIV diagnosis; such as, doctors, pamphlets, and others living with HIV.
3) Methods of support provided and received while living with HIV.
These themes demonstrate the collaboration between support networks for people living with HIV. This research provides a greater understanding of support networks affected by and living with HIV.


title: Genre, history, fiction: vocabularies of resistance in The Hunger Games trilogy

format:
electronic
1 online resource (iv, 99 pages)

subject:
Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games (Novel).
Literature and society.
Social problems in literature.
Social movements in literature.

abstract: This thesis examines Suzanne Collins‘ use of “arena fiction” conventions and historical social reform movements in The Hunger Games trilogy (THG) to encourage reflection on the means of subverting the intended effects of spectacle, but also to consider the cost of consuming or using children in social reform. My thesis argues that THG is an arena story which explores the mechanics of social reform through powerful visuals while also exploring the personal cost, especially on children, of becoming a visual symbol of resistance. I show how THG is rooted in historical social reforms and why these are so useful for Collins to generate visual resistance literacy in her readers and push her use of arena fiction deeper into exploring child bodies. Finally, through a close reading of the subversions in THG, I argue that Collins uses both arena fiction and history to further reflection on children‘s participation in reform movements.


title: Pacific marten (Martes caurina) as an apex predator : the habitat and diet ecology of an insular population of mesocarnivore on Haida Gwaii

format:
electronic
1 online resource (x, 93 pages)

subject: American marten -- Food -- British Columbia -- Haida Gwaii (B.C.)

subject: American marten -- Habitat -- British Columbia -- Haida Gwaii (B.C.)

subject: Predation (Biology) -- British Columbia -- Haida Gwaii (B.C.)

subject: Top predators -- British Columbia -- Haida Gwaii (B.C.)

abstract: Pacific marten (Martes caurina) may benefit from invasive or non-native species that occur across some coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. I used remote-camera trapping and stable-isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to infer resource-use strategies of marten on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. Marten are more likely to be detected in 3 ha patches with less logging and optimal amounts of road and forest edge habitat, and areas close to marine shorelines and streams. Findings from bulk carbon and nitrogen stable-isotope analysis suggest that terrestrial fauna, including birds, deer, small mammals, and invertebrates, contribute the most to diet; marine invertebrates are the second-most important prey group. Marten consume salmon and berries seasonally, but these are a relatively minor component of the diet. Knowledge of habitat and diet ecology of this generalist, apex predator should be integrated into ecosystem-based management and conservation of the globally rare old-growth forests that remain relatively intact on Haida Gwaii.


title: Women's perceptions of health and well-being in a rural, remote, and resource-dependent community: Strengths and opportunities

contributor: University of Northern British Columbia Community Health (Degree granting institution)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (140 pages)

subject: Women--Health and hygiene

subject: Women--Health and hygiene--British columbia, Northern

abstract: This research sought to explore the perceptions of health and well-being for women in a rural and remote northeastern British Columbia community experiencing intense social, ecological, and economic change as a result of its dependence on natural resource extraction. Designed as a qualitative inquiry into the health of local women, this research is informed by social constructivism, feminist theory, and ecosystems approaches to health. Engagement with participants and data collection was heavily influenced by Appreciative Inquiry, a strengths-based approach that identifies assets within a given system with the aim of contributing to positive change. Findings indicate that equitable access, perceptions of people and place, and leadership, communication, and collaboration are factors that strongly impact women’s health and in this context.

abstract: health and well-being

abstract: rural north east bc

abstract: community

abstract: feminist theory

abstract: ecosystems

abstract: appreciate inquiry


title: No Indians allowed: Challenging aboriginal segregation in Northern British Columbia, 1945-1969

contributor: Pawlowska-Mainville, Agnes (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (144 pages)

subject: Indians of North America--Public opinion--British Columbia, Northern--1945-1969

subject: Indians of North America--Civil rights

subject: Indians of North America--Civil rights--British Columbia, Northern--1945-1969

abstract: This thesis argues that Indians and White people who were sympathetic to Native issues episodically challenged racial discrimination and segregation during the post-war era by asserting Native people's growing citizenship rights while calling into question the cultural assumptions that underpinned such prejudice. Those participating in this discourse used analogies with global theatres of racial tension, namely the southern United States, to legitimize their protests. Indians articulated their demands for citizenship by leveraging their burgeoning political rights, their wartime contributions to Canada, and their growing economic contribution to post-war northern British Columbia. During this era, Indians, activists, and sympathetic Whites fought for the liberalization of Native drinking laws and the culturally deterministic preconceptions that motivated such legislation. Finally, newspaper reportage and public perceptions influenced, and to some degree shaped, public discourse on issues of racial discrimination as well as on Native political protest and activism.

abstract: indians

abstract: native

abstract: cultural assumptions

abstract: global theatres

abstract: political rights

abstract: wartime contributions


title: Psychological distance of events and attribute dimensions

contributor:
Pannu, Parveen Kaur (author)
Ge, Xin (thesis advisor)
Choi, Sungchul (committee member)
Chen, Liang (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (47 pages)

subject:
Consumers' preferences--Testing
Consumers--Attitudes
Marketing--Psychological aspects

abstract: Using a Construal Level Theory (CLT) foundation, the authors conduct four studies which find consumers are more likely to pay attention to short-term (long-term) benefits if an event is taking place in the near (distant) future. Additionally, when people are deciding for themselves (acquaintances), they’re more likely to pay attention to short-term (long-term) benefits and proximal (distant) spatial locations. This research provides theoretical and managerial implications, as businesses can tailor marketing campaigns to emphasize short-term/long-term attribute dimensions to prime consumers to choose a certain alternative depending on how psychologically distant they are from an event/object. The research methods used were questionnaires where participants chose between two alternatives. The current research aims to uphold philosophy from previous literature that states: a primary aim of consumer research is to understand aspects that are influencing different trade-offs of a choice set in the preference construction process (Bettman, Luce, & Payne, 1998).

abstract: CLT

abstract: consumers

abstract: marketing campaigns

abstract: spatial locations

abstract: research methods


title: Exporting Canada's extractives approach to development: The nexus of law, violence and development in the case of Tahoe Resources Inc. in Guatemala

contributor:
Connolly, Charlotte Rose (author)
Nolin, Catherine (thesis advisor)
Russell, Grahame (committee member)
Fondahl, Gail (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (221 pages)

subject: Canada--Foreign economic relations--Guatemala

subject: Guatemala--Foreign economic relations--Canada

subject: Mineral industries--Law and legislation

subject: Civil disobedience

abstract: Drawing on theories of critical legal geography and critical development studies, this thesis examines how law shapes processes of repression and resistance in conflicts over resource extraction. Through the lens of Canadian mining in Guatemala and the specific case of Tahoe Resources’ El Escobal Mine, I reflect on how law impacts the production, control, and remaking of space and place. A discourse analysis of documents obtained via Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests, as well as an analysis of fieldwork notes and semistructured interviews conducted in Guatemala and Canada between May and September 2018, demonstrate that a lack of government oversight and accountability reinforces a status quo of impunity for human rights abuses related to Canada’s extractive sector. While home state litigation may enforce a measure of accountability for parent companies in their operations abroad, the ideological structures enabling mining corporations to operate with ease across borders remain intact.

abstract: legal geography

abstract: repression and resistance

abstract: Guatemala

abstract: mining

abstract: Tahoe Resources

abstract: ATIP


title: A Spatial Analysis of the Impact of Oil and Natural Gas Infrastructure on Farmland in the Peace River Valley of British Columbia: Is the Delegation Agreement Making a Difference?

contributor:
Eistetter, Katie (author)
Connell, David (thesis advisor)
Emmons, Scott (committee member)
Green, Arthur (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (186 pages)

coverage:
British Columbia, Northern
British Columbia, Northern

subject: Land use, Rural--Effect of oil fields on--British Columbia, Northern

subject: Land use, Rural--Effect of gas industry on--British Columbia, Northern

abstract: With the continuous expansion of the oil and natural gas fields, there is growing concern regarding the impacts of oil and natural gas activities on the agricultural land base in northeast British Columbia. The Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) and Oil and Gas Commission (OGC) entered a binding contract, called the Delegation Agreement (DA), in an attempt to manage oil and gas activities on ALR lands and streamline the land use application process. However, with increasing activities in the region, too much prominence has been given to oil and gas development and not enough to farmland protection, which is the fundamental mandate of the Agricultural Land Commission Act (ALCA).

abstract: agricultural land use planning

abstract: farmland protection

abstract: oil and natural gas

abstract: plan evaluation

abstract: ALR

abstract: Delegation Agreement


title: A graph-based approach towards automatic text summarization

contributor:
Fatima, Qandeel (author)
Haque, Waqar (thesis advisor)
Casperson, David (committee member)
Chowdhury, Reza (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (116 pages)

subject:
Automatic abstracting
Text processing (Computer science)

abstract: Due to an exponential increase in number of electronic documents and easy access to information on the Internet, the need for text summarization has become obvious. An ideal summary contains important parts of the original document, eliminates redundant information and can be generated from single or multiple documents. There are several online text summarizers but they have limited accessibility and generate somewhat incoherent summaries. We have proposed a Graph-based Automatic Summarizer (GAUTOSUMM), which consists of a pre-processing module, control features and a post-processing module. For evaluation, two datasets, Opinosis and DUC 2007 are used and generated summaries are evaluated using ROUGE metrics. The results show that GAUTOSUMM outperforms the online text summarizers in eight out of ten topics both in terms of the summary quality and time performance. A user interface has also been built to collect the original text and the desired number of sentences in the summary.

abstract: text summarization

abstract: graph-based

abstract: automatic text summarization

abstract: GAUTOSUMM


title: Traditional resource management and biocultural conservation: A case study for the relationship between Tombstone Territorial Park, the Tr'ondek Hwech'in and caribou

contributor:
Heffner, Susan (author)
Shultis, John (thesis advisor)
Booth, Annie (committee member)
Rahemtulla, Farid (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (155 pages)

coverage: Yukon Yukon

subject: Indigenous peoples--Ecology

subject: Indigenous peoples--Ecology--Yukon

subject: Conservation of natural resources

subject: Conservation of natural resources--Yukon

subject: Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in

abstract: Biocultural approaches to conservation include the protection and appreciation of other ways of knowing the environment. Studies in traditional resource management systems illuminate the intricate ways culture has coevolved with nature and provide opportunities to incorporate alternate perceptions of the environment into conservation objectives. This thesis examines how traditional resource management systems contribute to biocultural conservation using a case study for the relationship between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, caribou and Tombstone Territorial Park. Core beliefs about the natural world, including caribou, are central to the strategies Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in employ in resource management. While cultural values and First Nation rights are engrained in park management, a broader understanding of how Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in know the natural world is lacking.

abstract: Biocultural

abstract: Resource Management Systems

abstract: Conservation

abstract: caribou

abstract: Tombstone Territorial Park

abstract: First Nations


title: Neighbouring proximity: A key impact factor of deep machine learning

contributor:
Shi, Hongyuan (author)
Sui, Jueyi (thesis advisor)
Polajnar, Jernej (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (96 pages)

subject:
Machine learning
Artificial intelligence

abstract: Deep Learning has become increasingly popular since 2006. It has an outstanding capability to extract and represent the features of raw data and it has been applied to many domains, such as image processing, pattern recognition, computer vision, machine translation, natural language processing, and autopilot. While the advantages of deep learning methods are widely accepted, the limitations are not well studied. This thesis studies cases where deep learning methods lose their advantages over traditional methods. Our experiments show that, when the neighbouring proximity disappears, deep learning methods are significantly less powerful than traditional methods. Our work not only clearly indicates that deep structure methods cannot fully replace traditional shallow methods but also shows the potential risks of applying deep learning to autopilot.

abstract: deep learning

abstract: image processing

abstract: pattern recognition

abstract: computer vision

abstract: machine translation

abstract: natural language processing


title: Promoting Internationalism?: A gendered examination of the United Nations reintegration processes for internally displaced persons (IDPS) in North-East Nigeria

contributor: Adefowokan, Ebunoluwa Elizabeth (author)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (153 pages)

coverage: Nigeria Nigeria

subject:
Internally displaced persons
Internally displaced persons--Nigeria
Women refugees
Women refugees--Nigeria
United Nations

abstract: Widespread displacement of persons domiciled in northeastern Nigeria is one of the most profound aftermaths of the Boko Haram insurgency. This study investigates the challenges of internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly women and girls, in northeastern Nigeria. The focus is primarily on the United Nations’ (UN) interventions and reintegration policies as the “government of the world,” the implementation of these policies in the Nigerian context, and their effectiveness for women and girls. The study asks the following questions: What are the general and gender-specific challenges of IDPs in northeastern Nigeria? How have the UN intervention and reintegration processes responded to those challenges? How gender-sensitive are the UN’s intervention and reintegration processes for Nigeria’s female IDPs in that part of the country? The researcher applied internationalism and a feminist perspective on human security as the conceptual framework for this study.

abstract: nigeria

abstract: boko haram insurgency

abstract: IDPS

abstract: United Nations

abstract: gender-sensitive

abstract: feminist perspective


title: The impact of social media engagement on university student recruitment

contributor:
Ahmadi, Yalda (author)
Chun, Wootae (thesis advisor)
Monu, Kafui (committee member)
Kumar, Pranesh (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (70 pages)

subject:
College students--Recruitment
Education, Higher--Marketing
Social media

abstract: Education marketing managers are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits of social media engagement in recruitment marketing for colleges and universities. Today’s prospective student is tech-savvy and information driven. Despite a general emphasis on social media engagement in a university marketing strategy, there is minimal research on the influence it has on university student recruitment and the amount of effort that universities should dedicate to social media engagement. Therefore, this study focuses on the influence of university social media engagement, particularly Facebook, on university student recruitment in the form of student applications.

abstract: education marketing

abstract: social media

abstract: recruitment

abstract: facebook

abstract: linear regression methods


title: Novel treatment and value-added utilization of oily sludge using ionic liquid and pyrolysis

contributor:
Tian, Yuan (author)
Li, Jianbing (thesis advisor)
Whitcombe, Todd (committee member)
Thring, Ron (committee member)
McGill, William (committee member)
Chen, Liang (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (244 pages)

subject: Petroleum waste

subject: Petroleum industry and trade--Waste minimization

abstract: The effective treatment of oily sludge has been a challenging problem faced by the petroleum industry worldwide. It is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, water, metallic ions, and suspended fine solids. The recalcitrant nature of oily sludge makes the treatment a difficult and costly task. The objective of this dissertation research was to develop environmentally friendly and economically competitive techniques for oily sludge treatment. Three different approaches were developed: ionic liquid (IL)-enhanced solvent extraction, co-pyrolysis with wood waste, and value-added utilization of oily sludge as sorbent to remove lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) from solution. Firstly, as compared to conventional solvent extraction, the IL-enhanced solvent extraction not only improved oil recovery efficiency but also greatly reduced solvent and energy consumption as well as shortening the treatment duration even at low IL concentration. Secondly, co-pyrolysis of oily waste and hog fuel was conducted in a fixed bed reactor. Three experimental parameters (pyrolysis temperature, reaction time, and hog fuel addition) were explored to optimize both oil recovery and metal ion immobilization. The latter was tested through sequential extraction techniques with high temperature pyrolysis leading to metal ions fixed within the residues. The addition of hog fuel had a significant synergistic effect on the distribution of metal ions in the various extraction fractions resulting in lower risk index (RI) values. Thirdly, the oily sludge-derived char (OS500) obtained at 500 °C could effectively remove Pb2+ from solution with the maximum sorption capacity of 373.2 mg/g (based on a Langmuir model). Sorption of Pb2+ by the OS500 was mainly attributed to its precipitation with carbonate (CO32‒) originating in OS500. The maximum sorption capacity for Cd2+, using a Langmuir model, was 23.19 mg/g. Complexation and metal ion exchange dominated Cd2+ sorption on OS500. The Pb2+ sorption capacity dramatically decreased as the iii pyrolysis temperature increased from 500 to 900 °C due to the decomposition of minerals which could release CO32‒ at high temperature. The activated OS500 showed a higher sorption capacity (90.06 mg/g) for Cd2+ than OS500 (23.95 mg/g) because conversion of barite (BaSO4) to witherite (BaCO3) after chemical activation favored the precipitation of Cd-carbonate.

abstract: Langmuir model

abstract: hydrocarbons, water, metallic ions

abstract: recalcitrant nature

abstract: ionic liquid

abstract: co-pyrolysis

abstract: wood waste


title: The “girl push-up”: The effects of gender stereotypes on women's competence and participation in physical activity

contributor:
Coburn, Jennifer (author)
McGill, William (chair)
(Degree granting institution)
Holler, Jacqueline (thesis advisor)
Lavallee, Loraine (thesis advisor)
Mullins, Philip (committee member)

subject: Stereotypes (Social psychology)

subject: Exercise for women

subject: Exercise for women--Psychological aspects

abstract: Men are stereotyped as more physically competent than women. The stereotyping of women’s poor performance creates the conditions for stereotype threat. Stereotype threat, the fear of confirming a stereotype, can undermine women’s performances and participation in sports. Stereotype threat, however, has not been tested in strength-building activities. The present study experimentally tests whether stereotype threat undermines women’s willingness to perform unmodified push-ups and undermines their push-up performance. Women were assigned to four conditions: a stereotype-threat condition, an implicit stereotype-threat condition, a relief condition, and a control condition. Under stereotype threat, women were expected to choose modified over unmodified push-ups and, among those performing unmodified push-ups, to complete fewer push-ups than women in the other conditions. These hypotheses were not supported. During debriefings, women described their experiences related to push-ups and strength training. A thematic analysis of women’s debriefings offers insight into the gender complexities of women’s engagement with strength training.


title: Data visualization and predictive data mining to identify high risk suicidal patients with psychiatric disorder

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xi, 138 pages)

subject:
Information visualization
Business intelligence--Data processing
Suicide
Mental health--Data processing

abstract:
Suicide is a global health issue that involves the biological, social, cultural, spiritual, and psychological state of an individual in addition to many other factors which interact and lead a person to Suicidal Ideation (SI) and Suicide Attempt (SA). Over the last decade, with the advent of large medical databases, there has been a tremendous rise in the use of Business Intelligence (BI) in the healthcare sector. Healthcare uses BI tools to transform raw data into meaningful information to extract the potential value of historical data. Timely diagnoses of mental health problems can assist experts to address it at an early stage and enhance patient’s quality of life. There is a critical need to examine the fundamental psychological well-being issues among the worldwide population, which may develop into more complex issues, if not considered at an early period.

This research focuses on two main components: Data visualization and Predictive model. First, a mental health dashboard is created using an end to end approach in which mental health data is pre-processed, integrated, and visualized in the form of several reports. These reports display the aggregated results in visually appealing formats (i.e., graphs, tables, pie charts, and line graphs) and allow navigation to finer granularity reports via drill down and drill through reports. Second, a predictive model is built to forecasts Suicide Attempts (SA). Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS) database obtained from CIHI (Canadian Institute for Health Information) is used to train and test the predictive model. This model uses advanced data mining algorithms, including Artificial Neural Networks, Decision trees, and regression. The outcomes of different data mining algorithms are compared with actual values to determine the accuracy of the model. In addition, a web form is created, which takes input from the user and calculates the probability of SA for a given patient. The objective of this research is to provide a better understanding of trends, outliers, and patterns to enable healthcare providers to make more informed decisions and decrease mortality rate due to suicide.


title: Investigating scientific, social and other influences on the 2017 British Columbia grizzly bear hunt ban

format:
electronic
1 online resource (127 pages)

subject: Grizzly bear hunting -- British Columbia -- Public opinion

subject: Hunting -- Government policy -- British Columbia

subject: Hunting -- Moral and ethical aspects -- British Columbia

abstract: British Columbia has the largest grizzly bear population in Canada. In 2017, B.C. banned the hunt of grizzly bears citing a lack of societal support, despite government-cited science that the hunt was sustainably managed. I explored the factors that influenced popular perceptions of grizzly bears, the hunt, how these factors may have influenced the province’s decision to implement the ban, and its reception by various actors. Methods included: examining key claims in government documents preceding the ban; surveying media coverage of the ban; and interviewing experts (n = 30) about their role in, and opinion of the ban. Results indicated that public perception of the hunt, and its framing as a trophy hunt outweighed scientific evidence of hunt sustainability. However, controversy over the representativeness of the “public opinion”, and comprehensiveness of government consultation processes remain. I suggest avenues for further research into roles of social values in natural resource policy.


title: "Like being pecked to death by a chicken": Resilience and work-family equilibrium in teacher/mothers

contributor: University of Northern British Columbia College of Arts, Social, and Health Sciences (Degree granting institution)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (390 pages)

subject:
Working mothers--Family relationships
Teachers--Family relationships

abstract: Teachers are helping professionals for whom caring work is a significant aspect of the job. Conflicts between work and family demands arise from various antecedent work, home, and personal features and have been linked to negative effects on mental health and quality of life, as well as increased rates of burnout. This research investigated whether mothers and non-mothers differ in their reported experiences of wellness at work and home. Using teachers as a proxy for helping professionals, this research used mixed methods to explore whether there might be observable differences between the experiences of women who are parents with children at home, compared to those who are child-free. A sample of British Columbia teachers (n = 182) was surveyed to seek quantifiable within-profession differences in measures of stress, work/life conflicts, and/or resilience between groups of K–12 teachers, based on whether or not they had children at home. These surveys also provided opportunities for participants to share stories of challenging experiences and the resilience strategies they used to work through them. A subsample of the survey group of teacher/mothers analyzed and made sense of the collected stories in light of the quantitative results and their own experiences as part of the process of Participatory Narrative Inquiry (PNI), which comprised the qualitative portion of this research and resulted in suggestions of many strategies. Statistically, it appears parent and non-parent teachers may differ only in the greater extent to which the former report family demands to interfere with the time and effort they can spend at or on work. In general, teachers reported similar challenges regardless of whether they were mothers and may use similar resilience strategies (such as self-efficacy) to support them in their caring work. Formal elucidation of these strategies may facilitate the translation of this research into meaningful supports and strategies to facilitate equilibrium between work and home for all helping professionals.

abstract: teachers

abstract: mothers

abstract: translation

abstract: supports

abstract: equilibrium


title: A spatio-temporal analysis of trends in Northern Hemisphere seasonal snow-cover, 1971-2017

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xiv, 231)

subject: Snow -- Northern Hemisphere

subject: Snow -- Remote sensing

subject: Snow -- Measurement -- Longitudinal studies

abstract:
Seasonal snow-cover (SSC) substantially alters surface physical properties over the Northern Hemisphere (NH). It modulates processes within the energy and water cycles, thereby influencing climatology, hydrology, geomorphology and ecology. In spring and summer, snowmelt provides an essential resource for humankind. The identification, quantification and explanation of changing spatial and temporal distributions of SSC helps to predict future impacts on natural and human environments, and informs development of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Because SSC is spatially and temporally heterogeneous, meaningful estimation of trends in its distribution and duration is dependent on long records of remotely-sensed imagery. The Rutgers University Global Snow Laboratory and the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide the longest such archive (NOAA-Rutgers Snow Archive, NRSA), dating from 1966. However, several studies have raised questions about the credibility of the signs and magnitudes of trends derived from the NRSA, suggesting that they may be artifacts of technological improvements introduced in 1999.

This dissertation improves the spatial resolution at which NH SSC extent and duration trends during the NRSA’s longest continuous section (since 1971) are reported, building on previous hemispheric and continental studies. It demonstrates that the magnitudes of area-related trends are sensitive to assumptions adopted when estimating SSC extent from the NRSA, and that these sensitivities vary spatially. The study assesses whether temporal trajectories of SSConset trends imply abrupt changes in 1999, particularly over more complex terrain, and finds no evidence of this. It also explores the broader climatological contexts of these trends, together with estimated departures from mean conditions. Evidence is presented at monthly intervals for causative chains linking advection of mid-tropospheric warming from lower to higher latitudes, consequent inception of climatologically novel airflows, and the incidence of significant SSConset trends of both signs. Earlier onset of snow-dominated conditions is found to be driven by augmented moisture advected from lower latitudes (in eastern Eurasia) or zonally from oceanic sources (in North America) over regional monthly mean 0°C isotherms. Delayed onset is associated with drier or warmer airflows. These findings support the interpretation that the NRSA-based trends are plausible within their spatial and temporal contexts.


title: Ground beetles (coleoptera: carabidae) of the Chun T'oh Whudujut Park in eastern British Columbia, Canada, and their use as bioindicators of disturbance

contributor:
Higgins, Ian (author)
Murray, Brent (thesis advisor)
Poirier, Lisa (thesis advisor)
Erasmus, Daniel (committee member)
Lindgren, Staffan (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (182 pages)

subject: Temperate rain forest ecology

subject: Temperate rain forest ecology--British Columbia, Northern

subject: Ground beetles--Ecology

subject: Ground beetles--Ecology--British Columbia, Northern

abstract: The Chun T’Oh Wudujut is a provincial park located in the Interior Cedar-Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone. My objective was to assess the use of carabid beetles as bioindicators of change in this unique interior temperate rain forest ecosystem. Using a combination of morphotyping and DNA barcoding, I examined the diversity of carabid beetles in three different habitat types: clear-cuts, undisturbed old growth, and disturbed old growth subject to frequent human traffic. Nineteen species of carabid were observed, with the highest diversity occurring in clear-cut sites. Carabid diversity in both old growth habitats was similar, but differed from that in the clear-cuts. Temperature and relative humidity proved more variable in clear-cut sites; this may impact carabid biodiversity, and should be measured in future bioindicative studies. Several species of carabid beetles (alone and in combination) were identified as possible bioindicators, including Scaphinotus marginatus, Trechus chalybeus, Pterostichus herculaneus, and Pterostichus riparius.

abstract: The Chun T’Oh Wudujut

abstract: Ancient Forest Provincial Park and Protected Area

abstract: Cedar-Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone

abstract: carabid beetles as bioindicators

abstract: Scaphinotus marginatus Trechus chalybeus,

abstract: Pterostichus riparius.


title: A distribute deadlock detection and resolution algorithm using agents

contributor: University of Northern British Columbia College of Science and Management (Degree granting institution)

contributor: Boroojeny, Jalil Safael (committee member)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (151 pages)

subject: Distributed databases--Reliability

abstract: Deadlock is an intrinsic bottleneck in Distributed Real-Time Database Systems (DRTDBS). Deadlock detection and resolution algorithms are important because in DRTDBS, deadlocked transactions are prone to missing deadlines. We propose an Agent Deadlock Detection and Resolution algorithm (ADCombine), a novel framework for distributed deadlock handling using stationary agents, to address the high overhead suffered by current agent-based algorithms. We test a combined deadlock detection and resolution algorithm that enables the Multi Agent System to adjust its execution based on the changing system load, and that selects its victim transactions more judiciously. We demonstrate the advantages of ADCombine over existing algorithms that use agents or traditional edge-chasing through simulation experiments that measure overhead and performance under a widely varying of experimental conditions.

abstract: deadlock

abstract: distribute real-time database systems

abstract: drtdbs

abstract: algorithm

abstract: multi agent system


title: Inhibitors of CRD-BP-KRAS RNA interaction

format:
electronic
1 online resource (93 pages)

subject:
Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
RNA-Binding Proteins

abstract: The KRAS mRNA is one of few oncogenic mRNAs that can be recognized and bound by the RNA-binding protein called Coding Region Determinant-Binding Protein (CRD-BP). Binding of CRD-BP to oncogenic mRNAs can ultimately increase the possibility of tumor occurrence. Given that CRD-BP is only expressed in adult cancers but not in normal tissues, targeting the CRD-BP-mRNA interaction is a good anti-cancer strategy. To study CRD-BP-KRAS mRNA interaction and to search for inhibitors of such interaction, a safe, sensitive and high throughput-based fluorescence polarization (FP) method was developed. By using a 44 nts fluorescein-labeled KRAS RNA, a library of 217 small molecules was screenedfor their ability to inhibit CRD-BP-KRAS RNA interaction. Finally, candidate small molecule inhibitors as well as effective antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) against KRAS RNA were assessed for their ability to suppress KRAS gene expression in cancer cells.

abstract: KRAS

abstract: mRNA

abstract: CRD-BP

abstract: tumor

abstract: cancer


title: Parasite-host interactions between Protocalliphora Spp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and tree swallows Tachycineta bicolor

format:
electronic
1 online resource (100 pages)

subject:
Protocalliphora
Tree swallow

abstract: Many host-parasite relationships exist, and while some have been studied extensively, for others, our understanding of the influences the parasite and host impose on each other is limited. Ectoparasites live in close proximity to their host, often living on the host or within the nest of their host, and so are influenced not only by the individual host they exploit, but by the habitat choices of their host as well. Bird blow flies in the genus Protocalliphora (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are ectoparasites of the altricial young of many species of birds; the nests of tree swallows Tachycineta bicolor in particular are frequently infested by a number of species of Protocalliphora. Through the use of baited traps, experimental manipulation of the nests and nest sites of hosts, and observing the behaviours of adult tree swallows, I studied: (1) host location and host selection strategies of blow flies by testing the importance of nest feathers to blow flies; (2) the influence of the density and distribution of hosts and a reduction in available hosts on the size and density of parasites; (3) individual host selection; (4) the effect of sanitation behaviour by hosts on the size and density of blow flies. Traps baited with potential cues used by blow flies in host location were unsuccessful in attracting blow flies; however, traps installed in nests containing nestlings successfully captured adult blow flies, suggesting that a specific concentration or combination of cues may be necessary to attract blow flies. Additionally, the number of blow flies per nestling in nests where preen oil was removed from feathers used in nest construction was significantly higher than in control nests, which suggests that preen oil may play a role in masking olfactory cues used by blow flies to locate hosts. No clear influence of the number of occupied neighbouring nest boxes on the density of blow flies in nests was observed, although size (i.e., length) of pupae decreased as the number of occupied neighbouring nest boxes increased. A reduction in available hosts resulted in an increase in the number of blow flies per nestling, and unexpectedly, an increase in the weight of larvae and weight and body length of adults, perhaps because of higher quality hosts acquiring the remaining nest sites over lower quality hosts. The ability of blow fly larvae to feed and acquire resources from nestling tree swallows did not appear to be influenced by previous exposure of hosts to parasites, although lighter larvae were more likely to feed than heavier larvae, and acquired a larger blood meal. There also was evidence that the size of the blood meal varied among species of blow fly. The presence of blow flies in the nest did not appear to influence the rate or time spent performing sanitation behaviour by adult tree swallows, and there was similarly no significant influence of sanitation behaviour of hosts on density or size of blow flies, although there was some suggestion of a negative influence on the length of adult blow flies. Overall, more research is needed to understand better the host location strategies of blow flies. While the influence of hosts on the size of blow flies may be subtle, a positive influence was much more apparent after a reduction in available hosts, which may have unknown effects on future generations of hosts and implications for conservation efforts of hosts.

abstract: host-parasite

abstract: ectoparasites

abstract: Tachycineta bicolor

abstract: tree swallows


title: Experiences of running: One Dakelh woman's message of transformation and resilience

format:
electronic
1 online resource (109 pages)

subject:
Resilience (Personality trait)
Well-being
Indigenous peoples--British Columbia
Carrier Indians

abstract: Running was a traditional role to share messages among the Dakelh communities of northern British Columbia. This role has been lost due to colonialism. The injustices of colonialism have resulted in challenges for Indigenous peoples’ health and well-being. Despite colonialism, the benefits of running for the mind, body, and spirit remain. However, the role that running played in the spiritual health of Indigenous people has remained unexplored. This research is an autoethnographic study about myself and the role of running in my life. I am situating myself within my Dakelh cultural context. I use decolonizing and Indigenous methodologies as a foundation for my research, drawing on my own experiences to express my testimony about transformation. My data includes my personal reflective journals and an interview. I analyzed these two sets of data by situating my experiences within the context of my culture. The themes identified include: 1) Space for self-reflection and responding to the world around me, (2) Relationships and encouragement, (3) My connection to something greater, (4) Honour my life enough to love myself, and (5) Creating space to fully express myself. This research fills a gap in Indigenous specific literature because spiritual health is not widely discussed in the physical activity literature and the running literature connected to Indigenous people. This thesis concludes that running has proven beneficial to me through the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual areas of my health and well-being. Given the role that running has played in my transformation journey, I recommend more research that explores the role of running or other sports as processes for transformation of Indigenous people to explore the understandings of spirit as it relates to holistic health among Indigenous people living in Northern British Columbia.

abstract: running

abstract: Dakelh

abstract: indigenous


title: Examining the effects of enhanced compilers on student productivity

format:
electronic
1 online resource (152 pages)

subject: Computer programming--Study and teaching

subject: Compilers (Computer programs)

abstract: Programs written by novices programmers often contain errors. Previous work shows students struggle when compiler error messages are inaccurate, misleading, or both. Loss of productivity caused by poor error messages has not been thoroughly explored in the literature. This thesis examines how enhanced compilers improve the experiences of those learning to program. The thesis follows fifty non-CS majors with little programming experience through a one-semester CS1-like course at the University of Northern British Columbia, a small western Canadian university. Half of the participants used the enhanced compiler for Java named Decaf while the other half used the standard Java compiler.  The evidence shows that Decaf is beneficial with regards to the number and types of errors generated, productivity, frustration, and confidence in programming ability, and compares results with the literature.

abstract: enhanced compilers

abstract: student productivity

abstract: Java


title: Seasonal movement of marine-derived nutrients in riverine surface bed sediment and the floodplain hyporheic zone

format:
electronic
1 online resource (131 pages)

subject: Nutrient pollution of water

subject: Nutrient pollution of water--Horsefly (B.C.)

subject: Sockeye salmon--Spawning

abstract: In the fall of 2014, 223,425 sockeye salmon returned to the Horsefly River in the Central Interior of BC. During and following the active spawn the river received a pulse of marine derived nutrients (MDN). The value of these nutrients to the functioning of the riverine ecosystem depends on if, where, and for what time period MDN is retained. Re-suspended fine bed sediment and floodplain hyporheic water were collected to determine the potential for MDN to be retained overwinter. During the spawn the proportional contribution of salmon to the fine bed sediment and associated biofilm was 25-50%. Following the winter, isotopic signatures had returned to pre-spawn levels.  MDN was also transported into the floodplain hyporheic zone. Hyporheic flow pathways and nutrient concentrations were found to be spatially and temporally variable. More research is needed to determine the proportional contribution of MDN to the hyporheic nutrient pool and the retention time.

abstract: marine derived nutrients

abstract: riverine

abstract: salmon

abstract: hyporheic


title: BC/AD (before cancer / after diagnosis): A poetic timeline of illness for patients and healthcare professionals

contributor: University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)

format:
electronic
1 online resource (v, 99 pages)

subject: Breast--Cancer--Patients

abstract: In December 2005, I was diagnosed with aggressive, invasive breast cancer. A former competitive athlete, I was shocked but also relieved I was sane. I wasn’t dramatic or attention-seeking, a hypochondriac, or lonely, as my doctor had admonished for five years. I really was really sick. And to think it was my dog who had proven me right. Throughout 2006, I underwent two surgeries, a systemic infection, chemotherapy, and then radiation. I lost all my hair but missed my eyebrows the most. I ballooned like a blowfish. My eyeballs became sandpaper. I contracted a staph infection and was the ugliest Me I could’ve imagined. But I survived. This thesis is a poetic and verse self-narrative of 2006. Using theories of performance, art therapy, autoethnography, Arts Based and transdisciplinary research (among others), I chronicle the hardest days and nights I have ever known. I am surviving.

abstract: survive

abstract: breast cancer

abstract: chemotherapy

abstract: radiation


title: Dietary patterns of ethnic non-indigenous populations in northern British Columbia: A cross-sectional survey study

format:
electronic
1 online resource (140 pages)

subject: Immigrants--Nutrition

subject: Immigrants--Nutrition--British Columbia, Northern

subject: Ethnic food

abstract: Dietary transitions and acculturation of different ethnic and immigrant subpopulations in western countries are associated with change in diet patterns and increased obesity risk. Loss of the “healthy immigrant effect” have been observed in such populations, so further research is critical. The study objectives were to a) explore dietary patterns for a sample from various ethnic backgrounds in northern British Columbia, b) examine the association between dietary patterns and healthy body weight status. A cross-sectional survey instrument including a food frequency questionnaire was developed to collect data from 444 participants. Two predominant patterns were identified and termed “western” and “prudent” dietary patterns. There was a positive association between a “western” diet pattern and increased BMI (p < .05). Men had higher adherence to “western” diet patterns, and higher risk of overweight and obesity (p < .05). Interventions promoting adherence to prudent diet and retention of ethnic food habits are warranted.

abstract: dietary patterns

abstract: ethnic

abstract: western

abstract: prudent


title: Characterization of U2 snRNA associated proteins: Functional analysis of C. merolae Hsh49 protein

subject:
RNA Precursors
RNA splicing
Spliceosomes
Red algae

abstract: Pre-mRNA splicing is an important process involving the removal of non-coding regions (introns) from messenger RNA. Disruption of this mechanism can cause diseases such as cancer. A particle known as the spliceosome is responsible for recognition and removal of introns. This complex machinery consists of five small nuclear RNAs, U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6, and many proteins. Each snRNA associates with proteins to form small nuclear ribonucleo-proteins or snRNPs. Due to the considerable number of proteins involved in this process in humans, the study of splicing has been a struggle. Cyanidioschyzon merolae (C. merolae) is a unicellular acidophilic red alga that we hope will be a good model for studying splicing factors due to its greatly reduced complexity (only ~70 splicing proteins, compared to ~300 in humans). Thus, we are investigating the interactions of snRNAs with their specific proteins by expressing the entire snRNP particles recombinantly and investigating their function.

abstract: RNA

abstract: Cyanidioschyzon merolae

abstract: C. merolae


title: Mapping wilderness character in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area

format:
electronic
1 online resource (187 pages)

subject: Muskwa-Kechika Management Area

subject: Wilderness areass--Management

subject: Wilderness areass--Management--British Columbia, Northern

abstract: Wilderness is an abstract concept containing both an ecological component more generally referred to as naturalness, and a social/human component attributed with recreation; it varies geographically, culturally and jurisdictionally. This thesis focuses on a case study of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA) in northern British Columbia, Canada where maintaining wilderness is central to the vision. Previous mapping within the M-KMA has focused on wildlife and resource values, whereas this thesis aimed to define and map the wilderness character of the M-KMA. This thesis assesses the current state of wilderness to potentially examine changes over time and to spatially compare wilderness with other uses such as resource potential. When wilderness character data are separated into categories (lower, moderate, high and very-high), 55% is represented in the very-high quality category and only 9% by the lower category. In addition, there is 26% overlap between high resource potential values and very-high wilderness values.

abstract: wilderness character

abstract: Muskwa-Kechika management area

abstract: M-KMA

abstract: northern British Columbia


title: Exploring the lived experiences of atypical-aged female students in university

format:
electronic
1 online resource (85 pages)

subject: Middle-aged women--Education (Higher)

abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study was to interview women over 40 years of age in order to discover their experiences after they returned to university. Obtaining a university degree later in life can be a challenging process. Many women had been unable to go directly into university from high school or continue university for a number of reasons: lack of finances, marriage commitments, family responsibilities, work commitments, and lack of support systems. The women in this research demonstrated determination, resilience, and motivation to pursue their education for both professional development and as personal goals. They were surprised at how well they did with their course work. One or two women planned to complete only their Bachelor's degree, while others found a love for learning and planned to keep going for Master's and Doctoral degrees and even continue on in other types of learning.

abstract: atypical-aged

abstract: female students

abstract: University degree


title: Math play's effects on mathematics attitude and awareness: A Rasch Analysis

format:
electronic
1 online resource (215 pages)

subject: Mathematics--Study and teaching (Elementary)

abstract: Where children see mathematics in the world and the attitudes children hold toward mathematics are not thoroughly understood. The Mathematics Attitude Assessment (MAA) and the Difficulty Associating Words with Mathematics (DAWM) are instruments developed to examine mathematics attitude and the propensity of primary students to indicate words as mathematics related. These instruments were used to measure any changes among pre-intervention, post-intervention and one-month post-intervention of this quasi-experimental design. The intervention was Math Play: a collection of mathematics-based games and activities with emphasis on exploration and problem solving. Rasch analysis and traditional analysis techniques were used to examine the participants, the assessment instruments and any effects. The difference scores were analysed using a 2X2 Two-Factor ANOVA. A statistically significant difference was found for pre-treatment to one-month post-treatment for the DAWM with each participant as an experimental unit. No statistically significant differences were found for the MAA results.

abstract: mathematics

abstract: Mathematics Attitude Assessment (MAA)

abstract: ANOVA

abstract: Rasch analysis

abstract: DAWM


title: Systematic conservation planning in the Wild Harts Study Area

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xvii, 111 pages)

subject: Wilderness areas

subject: Wilderness areas--British Columbia, Northern

abstract: The Wild Harts Study Area (WHSA) covers an ecological diverse area in northeastern British Columbia that is poorly represented by protected areas. Industrial expansion threatens to fragment the contiguous habitats found in the WHSA — reducing the ability of the area to perform important landscape functions at local and continental scales. I employed a systematic conservation planning approach to prioritize lands for conservation. The software MARXAN with integer linear programming (ILP) was used to produce optimal solutions for conservation, at the lowest cost, and to enforce principles of protected area design. Priority lands for conservation action were those that met science-based targets for a selection of ecological surrogates, displayed low edge-to-area ratios, and represented intact landscapes outside the influence of resource development. The finalized conservation portfolio produced in this research is meant to inform protected area planning in the WHSA.

abstract: Wild Harts Study Area (WHSA)

abstract: northeastern british columbia

abstract: contiguous habitats

abstract: software MARXAN

abstract: protected area design

abstract: intact landscapes


title: Structural and functional studies into branchpoint sequence recognition and the U4/U6 di-Snrnp in cyanidioschyzon merolae

format:
electronic
1 online resource

subject:
RNA splicing
RNA Precursors
Inverted Repeat Sequences
Red algae

abstract: Pre-mRNA splicing ensures mRNA transcripts contain contiguous coding sequences prior to protein synthesis. 5’ splice site recognition of pre-mRNA is unknown in Cyanidioschyzon merolae, lacks the U1 snRNP. Conservation among the core splicing proteins is low, and there is potential for novel adaptations. Similar to yeast, branchpoint sequence recognition appears driven by Msl5 and stabilized by Mud2. Electrophoretic mobility assays showed Msl5, with its canonical KH-QUA2 domain, specifically binds to the conserved branchpoint sequence. Mud2 is a novel ScMud2/U2AF65 homolog. Conversely, U4/U6 di-snRNP assembly appears conserved. Fluorescence polarization assays with the U4 5’ stem loop and the crystal structure of Snu13 revealed a conserved interaction. Snu13 and the Sm heptamer were able to bind base-paired U4/U6. Finally, circular dichroism spectroscopy and in silico mapping of intrinsic disorder found several proteins were partially unstructured; this would allow a minimal spliceosome to functionally fulfill the roles of otherwise necessary proteins.

abstract: silico

abstract: stem loop and crystal structure

abstract: circular dichronism spectroscopy

abstract: intrinsic disorder

abstract: Cyanidioschyzon merolae


title: Forecasting spring freshet events in the Kiskatinaw River basin, British Columbia

format:
electronic
1 online resource (120 pages)

coverage:
Dawson Creek (B.C.)
Kiskatinaw River (B.C.)

subject: Streamflow--Forecasting

subject: Streamflow--Forecasting--Dawson Creek (B.C.)

abstract: Incorporating climate information into hydrologic streamflow forecasts has allowed for significant advancement in the ability to predict seasonal streamflow. The City of Dawson Creek (CDC), BC, has depended on the Kiskatinaw River (KR) as its sole source of municipal water for over 60 years. Hydro-meteorological changes in the KR along with increasing population and growing industry have put stress on the CDC water supply. In this study regional surface climate observations aggregated over the winter accumulation period (15 November–25 March) integrated with global circulation indices were input into a series of regression models providing spring runoff predictions in the KR. The surface climate observations, indices of global circulation and snow cover provided good predictability of both cumulative streamflow timing and volume in the KR. This study provides the CDC with a tool for better informed releases and withdrawals from the KR during the spring freshet.

abstract: spring freshet

abstract: Kiskatinaw River (KR)

abstract: surface climate

abstract: hydrology


title: An Interactive framework to develop and align business process models

format:
electronic
1 online resource (x, 98 pages)

subject:
Industrial management
Workflow--Management

abstract: In the past few decades, the usage of Business Process Management (BPM) has enormously increased. Organizations are devoting resources towards development and use of BPM techniques and technologies to analyze, model, improve and implement business processes. The procedures currently used for collecting information to create business process models generally lead to misunderstanding or ambiguity between model and domain experts. We propose a framework to build business process models directly from users’ inputs captured through interactive web-forms. It also allows the users to align processes with strategic business objectives, critical success factors, and key performance indicators. Further, processes can be tagged with appropriate maturity level, types and tiers. The framework includes a dashboard with real-time reports which helps decision makers to monitor organization’s performance, make better decisions, and standardize/optimize processes across the organization. A comparison of the functionality available in different tools along with proposed framework is also presented.

abstract: BPM

abstract: Business Process Management


title: Individual versus group success in round robin tournament of an ability-based two-player game

format:
electronic
1 online resource (viii, 104 pages)

subject: Game theory

abstract: This thesis studies the development of cooperation and measures of success among self-interested agents in a defined ability-based two-player asymmetric game that is structured as a round-robin tournament. Our research is motivated by the notion that in many systems cooperative behaviour depends on some parameters that are usually not considered in existing research. These include: the balance between individual activity and interaction with others; the impact of agents' ability levels; and the need to maintain balance between individual and group performance. In this thesis, we examine all these issues by using a defined game-theoretic modelling and simulation framework. Our simulation experiments on six agent group compositions establish some patterns of how an agent's ability and strategy impact its individual and overall group performance. The results demonstrate that the design framework supports methodical comparative studies of strategy profiles with respect to specific individual and group performance measures.

abstract: cooperative behaviour

abstract: two-player asymmetric game


title: Employee acculturation in tight vs. loose organizational cultures

format:
electronic
1 online resource (vii, 93 pages)
electronic

subject:
Organizational behavior
Acculturation
Corporate culture

abstract: Organizational Acculturation is a process through which new and existing employees may adapt and internalize the organizational culture. It is proposed that acculturation is impacted by the interaction between the individual and the environment. A questionnaire was compiled to measure how the Need for Organizational Identification - NOID (individual-level variable) and the perception of Tightness vs Looseness of the Organizational Culture (situational-level variable) may affect employees’ Organizational Acculturation. The study did not find person x environment interaction, but the main effects were found. These main effects showed, individuals with high NOID are more likely to exhibit an Integration and individuals in a loose organizational culture are more likely to exhibit a Separation strategy of Organizational Acculturation. The study contributes to existing body of literature by, highlighting the contextual differences between acculturation on societal and organizational levels, and by synthesizing organizational literature to propose an alternative approach to Organizational Acculturation.

abstract: Tightness vs Looseness

abstract: Need for Organizational Identification NOID

abstract: Organizational Acculturation

abstract: contextual differences


title: Hunting, healing & human-land relationships: A reflective inquiry into health and well-being explored through indigenous-informed hunting practices, land-relationships & ways of knowing

format:
electronic
1 online resource (ix, 252)

subject:
Indians of North America
Well-being
Hunting

abstract: This research is based on the premise that strategies to address Indigenous well-being might well be best found within Indigenous teachings themselves. More specifically, it seeks to explore the question: How might human-land relationships, as developed through Indigenous-informed hunting practices and ways of knowing, facilitate health, healing, and well-being among North American Indigenous peoples? The Interdisciplinary nature of this research merges concepts, theories and ideas from First Nations Studies, Anthropology, Health Sciences and Health Geography disciplines. The thesis and accompanying website embrace land-engaged storying and an autoethnographic reflective exploration of health anchored in Indigenous-informed relationships with land, hunting practices and ways of knowing the world. The research project engages a land-privileging, anti-colonizing, methodological approach that is embedded in relationship driven, spiritually accepting, and emotionally felt Indigenous epistemological ideologies. As such, this inquiry is both explored and expressed through the lens of Indigenous-informed pedagogies of knowledge transition and dissemination.

abstract: Indigenous well-being

abstract: human-land relationships

abstract: Indigenous-informed hunting practices

abstract: knowing, facilitate health, healing

abstract: autoethnographic reflective exploration


title: Conservation and consumption : conflicted bedfellows in sea turtle conservation

format:
electronic
1 online resource (153 pages)
electronic
1 online resource (153 pages)

coverage:
North America
North America

subject: Sea turtles--Conservation

subject: Sea turtles--Conservation--North America

subject: Sea turtles--Effect of human beings on

subject: Sea turtles--Effect of human beings on--North America

abstract: This thesis explores relationships between consumption and conservation, via a case study of North American conservationists. I conducted an online survey (n=24), and examined respondent statements about their own consumption and that of others. Here, I consider these within contexts of community messaging, and related literatures (political ecology; consumption studies; social marketing). Four key themes emerge: 1) a primarily negative association with the term consumption, which influences and limits engagements with consumption; 2) mixed messaging about some encouraged consumption (e.g. sustainable seafood is promoted within this community, but is debated by respondents and researchers); 3) over-confidence in information provision as key to changing consumer behaviour, despite evidence to the contrary; and 4) limited recognition of ISTCC community success and power with respect to promoting and benefitting from “consuming to conserve” activities. This thesis ends with academic and applied recommendations for more comprehensive engagements with intersections between consumption and conservation.

abstract: sea turtle

abstract: conservation

abstract: consumption


title: Why did the chickadee cross the road: Effects of linear habitat gaps on the movements of black-capped chickadees

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xii, 64 pages)
electronic

subject:
Black-capped chickadee--Behavior
Radio frequency identification systems

abstract: I present a novel approach utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) birdfeeders, coupled with playback experiments, to investigate the gap-crossing decisions of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Results from my RFID experiments revealed that the best predictors of gap-crossing behaviors were gap-distance, and vegetation density. Birds were less likely to cross as gap distance increased. As the amount of vegetation within gaps increased, birds were more likely to cross. Playback experiments showed a decrease in gap-crossing behaviour after the RFID sampling period. Because birdfeeders were put out during this time, decreases in gap-crossing propensity suggests that birds may be engaging in a tradeoff between energy reserves and risk taking. Results from both experiments confirm that gaps do restrict movements of wintering black-capped chickadees. I recommend the primary way to increase connectivity for birds in fragmented habitats is to reduce the distance across gaps. Furthermore, increasing vegetation within gaps may also increase connectivity.

abstract: chickadees

abstract: black-capped chickadees

abstract: habitat

abstract: gap-crossing


title: Synthetic small molecule inhibitors of KRAS expression and antiproliferative small molecules isolated from Onnia tomentosa and Sarcodon scabripes

format:
electronic
1 online resource (xxiv, 210 pages)

abstract:
Small molecules, including synthetic and those isolated from natural products, are important classes of compounds with broad utility, including drugs. The objectives of this dissertation were (i) to synthesize, purify, and characterize novel small molecule inhibitors on
KRAS expression level; (ii) to purify and characterize antiproliferative small molecules from Onnia tomentosa and Sarcodon Scabripes.
The first part of this Ph.D. dissertation focuses on synthesizing dispiropyrrolidizine derivatives with potential KRAS protein expression inhibitory activity. At the outset of this study, compound UNBC 152, which turned out to be a mixture of compounds, was found to possess bioactivities including antiproliferative activity and the ability to inhibit KRAS expression. This study aimed to synthesize UNBC 152 and resolve the compound-activity ambiguity. The investigation on UNBC 152 led to the isolation of two novel regioisomers, 6 and 7. Regioisomers 6 and 7 were synthesized using a one-pot three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. They were purified using recrystallization method and their structures were determined by FTIR, ESI-LRMS, NMR, and X-ray crystallography. Regioisomers 6 and 7 showed the ability to inhibit KRAS protein expression.
Over the past several decades, researchers have isolated many useful medicinal compounds from mushrooms. Medicinal mushrooms with validated anticancer properties in animals have been found and this has encouraged further exploration of fungal metabolites with antiproliferative activity. The second part of this Ph.D. dissertation focuses on isolating antiproliferative small molecules from two species of mushrooms native to British Columbia (BC). Chapters 3 and 4 described the use of antiproliferative activity-guided approach that led to the isolation and structural elucidation of small molecules from O. tomentosa and S. scabripes native to Northern BC. The ethanolic extracts of O. tomentosa and S. scabripes were purified using phase separation, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC-based fractionation. The final structure of the small molecules was determined by ESI-LRMS, ESI-HRMS/MS, and NMR. Fatty acids (labeled 1.1-1.4 and 2-7) were identified from the ethanolic extract of O. tomentosa, while several p-terphenyl derivatives (1-4) and one phenolic aldehyde (5) were identified from S. scabripes. Amongst the small molecules, oleic acid (7), linoleic acid (6), and linoleic degradation products from O. tomentosa, and compounds 1-5 from S. scabripes showed antiproliferative activity against HeLa cervical cancer cells.


title: The lived experiences of women currently in addiction recovery in Mississauga, Ontario

format:
electronic
1 online resource (v, 116 pages)

abstract:
This research explores women's experiences in recovery from addiction in a suburban area of Mississauga, Ontario (ON). In the suburbs drugs are not as localized as they might be in a city. The goal set out in this research was to better understand recovery from the women’s
perspectives as well as identify barriers, challenges, and benefits they faced in recovery and treatment programs. The research offers suggestions on how this information could be considered when creating or adapting current recovery and treatment programs. The research may also help us understand and improve women’s entry, retention, and completion of treatment programs. Six participants participated in semi-structured interviews, four in person and two over the video platform Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was conducted and four themes emerged: opinions on treatment programs, cravings and withdrawals, support, and recommendations to improve treatment programs.


title: Effects of ground motion duration on the seismic performance of a two-storey balloon-type CLT building

format:
electronic
1 online resource (viii, 62 pages)

abstract:
The widespread availability of Cross-laminated timber (CLT) provides opportunities to extend the use of wood beyond traditional low-rise residential construction. Although previous studies have shown that ground motion duration impacts the collapse risk of structural systems, duration effects are not explicitly accounted for in current building codes, and information on the impact of ground motion duration on the seismic performance of CLT buildings is not available. This study aims to quantify the effects of long duration ground motions on a newly constructed two-storey balloon-type CLT building located in Vancouver, Canada. A three-dimensional numerical model of the building was developed in OpenSees. The shear wall and connections models were validated with test data. 24 pairs of long and short duration records with approximately the same amplitude, frequency content and the rate of energy build up were used for nonlinear dynamic analyses. The building was subjected to the earthquakes in its long (weak) direction. To assess the building’s collapse capacity, fragility curves were developed based on incremental dynamic analysis. The long and short duration motions on average resulted in interstorey drift ratios of 3.7%
and 4.8%, respectively, before collapse, indicating that long duration motions are more likely to lead to structural collapse. Similarly, compared with short duration motions, long duration motions increased the probability of collapse by 7% due to the larger number of inelastic cycles. These results suggest that further research is required to further evaluate the effect of ground motion duration on the seismic performance of CLT buildings.


title: Poise under pressure: Eliteness, fashion, and the spatial perception of women in nineteenth-century Britain

format:
electronic
1 online resource (iv, 146 pages)

abstract:
Every summer thousands of Britain’s elite upper class travelled to London’s West End to socialize and participate in the Season. During this time, elite women donned luxurious court gowns and went to St. James Palace to present themselves before Queen Victoria in Drawing Room ceremonies. One of these gowns, from 1863, survives today and offers an evocative glimpse of how elite women styled themselves for one of the most important ceremonies in their life. But, the West End was not just an elite neighbourhood. It also housed and employed middle and working-class Victorians with whom the elite did not always happily coexist. In 1861, peer and M.P. Sir Shelley allegedly flashed the public and his middle-class neighbours while a carriage procession for one of the Queen’s Drawing Room ceremonies passed below. The Times reported his trial, which featured contemptuous cross-examinations of several working-class women, and Sir Shelley’s triumphant victory. Two years later, several elite men submitted letters to the editor of The Times, complaining about the cramped and sometimes combative atmosphere of royal ceremonies, suggesting that they were not safe for women to attend. There is a gendered
conflict in these sources. Those from elite feminine perspectives show the value in attending royal ceremonies, during which women could use their fashion and occupation of space to reinforce or manipulate their social status. The documents written from men’s points of view,
however, show an attempted renegotiation of elite status by excluding the middle class and further limiting women’s access to elite spaces. My research questions where this conflict originated and how historians can utilize less traditional sources to bring feminine perspectives
into areas of history in which male points of view have often dominated.