identifier: Ma, Zhimin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ma=3AZhimin=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Simulation of wind-forced responses over the Newfoundland Shelf.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A three-dimensional finite volume coast ocean model (FVCOM) is applied to understand better the wind forced oceanic responses over the Newfoundland Shelf including its embayments, especially during hurricane events. The hurricane-ocean model is applied over the Newfoundland Shelf to examine the mechanism that results in the significant coastal sea level rise and sea surface temperature drop. Model is coupled with Holland hurricane wind model to represent well the fast moving hurricanes. Hurricane induced coastal trapped waves are found through the analysis of tide-gauge sea level and currents. Turbulent mixing is the dominant process causing the sea surface temperature (SST) drop. The model is further applied to investigate the different oceanic response during Hurricane Igor (2010) and Hurricane Leslie (2012) on Placentia Bay. The model results agree reasonably well with field observations on sea level, near-surface currents and sea surface temperature (SST). The two hurricanes feature significant different tracks, radius and maximum sustainable wind, causing opposite shifts in inner bay circulation. The peak storm surge is significantly influenced by local atmospheric forcing during Leslie, but predominately due to remote forcing during Igor. Baroclinicity is important for the hurricane-induced inertial oscillation in the near-surface currents. The barotropic simulation results in a significant underestimate of the near-surface currents, including the inertial oscillation. FVCOM is finally applied off Eastern Newfoundland to study the circulation and hydrographic variability in 2000 and 2001. The model results along the eastern Newfoundland coast agree reasonably well with observations of sea level and currents. The model surface circulation patterns and temperature distributions in Trinity Bay in spring and summer reveal seasonal differences along the coast. Summer circulation shows significant upwelling along the western side of the bay, together with the emergence of two eddies in the bay. The generation of these eddies reveals the importance of nonlinear dynamics. The stratification along the Newfoundland coast shows the spatial differences and the seasonal and inter-annual change of stratification due to the wind stress and heat flux.


identifier: Brobbey, Anita <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Brobbey=3AAnita=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Variable selection in multivariate multiple regression.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

abstract:
Multivariate analysis is a common statistical tool for assessing covariate effects
when only one response or multiple response variables of the same type are collected
in experimental studies. However with mixed continuous and discrete outcomes,
traditional modeling approaches are no longer appropriate. The common approach
used to make inference is to model each outcome separately ignoring the potential
correlation among the responses. However a statistical analysis that incorporates association
may result in improved precision. Coffey and Gennings (2007a) proposed
an extension of the generalized estimating equations (GEE) methodology to simultaneously
analyze binary, count and continuous outcomes with nonlinear functions.
Variable selection plays a pivotal role in modeling correlated responses due to large
number of covariate variables involved. Thus a parsimonious model is always desirable
to enhance model predictability and interpretation. To perform parameter
estimation and variable selection simultaneously in the presence of mixed discrete and continuous outcomes, we propose a penalized based approach of the extended
generalized estimating equations. This approach only require to specify the first two
marginal moments and a working correlation structure. An advantageous feature of
the penalized GEE is that the consistency of the model holds even if the working
correlation is misspecified. However it is important to use appropriate working correlation
structure in small samples since it improves the statistical efficiency of the
regression parameters. We develop a computational algorithm for estimating the parameters
using local quadratic approximation (LQA) algorithm proposed by Fan and
Li (2001). For tuning parameter selection, we explore the performance of unweighted
Bayesian information criterion(BIC) and generalized cross validation (GCV) for least
absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) and smoothly clipped absolute
deviation (SCAD). We discuss the asymptotic properties for the penalized GEE estimator
when the number of subjects n goes to infinity. Our simulation studies reveal
that when correlated mixed outcomes are available, estimates of regression parameters
are unbiased regardless of the choice of correlation structure. However, estimates
obtained from the unstructured working correlation (UWC) have reduced standard
errors. SCAD with BIC tuning criteria works well in selecting important variables.
Our approach is applied to concrete slump test data set.


identifier: Nwagbara, Amaizu Joseph <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Nwagbara=3AAmaizu_Joseph=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Inverse electron demand Diels-Alder chemistry of electron deficient chromosome-fused dienes.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
An introduction to inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction (IEDDA) chemistry is presented in Chapter one. In Chapter two, work aimed at improving an IEDDA-driven domino reaction leading to 2-hydroxybenzophenone is presented. Chromone-fused electron deficient dienes were synthesized as substrates for IEDDA-driven domino reactions. The reaction between one of these dienes and in situ-generated enamines of cyclobutanone was optimized. The optimized conditions were then applied to a variety of enamines derived from piperidine and various ketones (cyclic and acyclic). In almost all cases, the yields were superior to those obtained using preformed enamines and previously reported conditions for the in situ formation of the enamine.
In Chapter three the attempted synthesis of a new chiral [n](1,6)pyrenophane is described. The described synthetic approach mirrors that of a cyclophane previously reported by the Bodwell group, but makes use of cyclohexanone instead of cyclopentanone in the initial IEDDA-based multicomponent reaction. The synthesis was brought to the final step, but none of the target pyrenophane was obtained from the key McMurry/VID reaction.


identifier: Sarker, Abu Naser <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sarker=3AAbu_Naser=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Optimized Schwarz domain decomposition approaches for the generation of equidistributing grids.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The main purpose of this thesis is to develop and analyze iterations arising from domain
decomposition methods for equidistributing meshes. Adaptive methods are powerful techniques
to obtain the efficient numerical solution of physical boundary value problems
(BVPs) which arise from science and engineering. If a solution of a BVP has sharp changes,
equidistributed mesh can give a reasonable solution for the BVP with a fixed number of
mesh points. Our concern is to solve the involved nonlinear mesh BVP using optimized
domain decomposition approaches and efficiently provide a nonuniform coordinate for the
original boundary value problem. We derive an implicit solution on each subdomain from
the optimized Schwarz method for the mesh BVP, and then introduce an interface iteration
from the Robin transmission condition, which is a nonlinear iteration. Using the theory of
M-functions we provide an alternate analysis of the optimized Schwarz method on two subdomains
and extend this result to an arbitrary number of subdomains. M-function theory
guarantees that these iterations will converge monotonically under some restriction on p,
where p is the Robin parameter. The iteration can be computed by nonlinear (block) Gauss
Jacobi or Gauss Seidel methods. We conclude our study with numerical experiments.


identifier: Palmer, Laura <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Palmer=3ALaura=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Informed consent practices of school counsellors when working with minors in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The process of obtaining informed consent can be complex when counselling
children and adolescents in a school context. The current study explored informed
consent practices among school counsellors (n=123) in the province of Newfoundland
and Labrador through distributing surveys to school counsellors in the province via the
SurveyMonkey platform. Findings indicated that a majority of school counsellors tended
to obtain informed consent from the students they were working with regardless of their
students’ ages. Having said that, variation did exist among the school counsellors in
terms of what ages they reported to seek informed consent from students. School
counsellors working with children (ages 5-11) appear to be more inclined to also involve
parents in the informed consent process, whereas the majority of school counsellors
working with early adolescents (ages 12-15) and late adolescents (ages 16-18) were less
inclined to do so. As well, school counsellors reported parents having less and less
access to their children’s counselling information as students became older. Ideas about
necessary information to provide through the informed consent process and the level of
importance of such pieces of information varied in some cases among participants,
suggesting potential variations in informed consent practices. Implications for future
research and practice are discussed.


identifier: Dibben, Bruce <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Dibben=3ABruce=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Overweight & obesity and risky sexual behavior among Canadian adolescents.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In Canada, the prevalence of adolescent overweight and obesity has increased significantly and currently accounts for about 20% of the adolescent population in the 12 to 17 year old age group. Adolescents with a higher weight status experience a host of physical, social and psychological challenges and have been shown to have an increased likelihood of engaging in various high-risk behaviors. However, the relationship between adolescent overweight and obesity and risky sexual behavior has received scant attention in the literature. Studies have shown that there is a significant association between obesity and lower levels of self-esteem as well as body image satisfaction. In turn, a number of studies have demonstrated that lower levels of self-esteem and body image satisfaction are predictors of risky sexual behavior. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to unveil any direct associations between adolescent overweight and obesity and risky sexual behavior, and explore the possibility of body image satisfaction and self-esteem as psychological pathways. Data from the 2009/2010 cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) were used, where a total of 8 168 participants between the ages of 15 to 19 were included. The results of this study showed that obese female adolescents were less likely to have ever had sex, both in the 15 to 17 year old age group as well as the 18 to 19 year old age group. In the 15 to 17 year old age group, overweight females were more likely to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and in the 18 to 19 year old age group, obese females were less likely to have used a condom the last time they had sex and less likely to have used birth control in the past 12 months. Overweight and obese adolescents had significantly lower levels of body image satisfaction in both age groups, while obese adolescents experienced lower levels of self-esteem in the 15 to 17 year old age group. Implications for intervention and prevention strategies are discussed and recommendations for future studies provided.


identifier: Lacroix, Dominic <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lacroix=3ADominic=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Mobility, ceremonialism, and group identity in archaic Newfoundland.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This dissertation explores the world in which the first permanent inhabitants of the island of Newfoundland situated themselves. People of these First Nations lived in Newfoundland for thousands of years during the Archaic (5500–3200 uncalibrated years BP), leaving material traces in the form of objects and site locations. The three analyses presented herein use these material traces to investigate movements and contacts across the island, different expressions of burial ceremonialism, group identity, and ethnicity, and re-introduces the use of “country” to refer to land occupied by separate indigenous groups.
Least-cost paths are used to model precontact routes of travel and suggest that a number of significant places along the travel route network played an important role for Archaic islanders. It suggests that Back Harbour, and perhaps Burgeo too, were central places; that the Deer Lake-Grand Lake junction may have been of particular ceremonial importance, and that Port au Choix was intentionally positioned at a cultural boundary. The investigation of the landscape setting and burial assemblages of Newfoundland’s only two known Archaic burial grounds at various scales further demonstrates important differences present between the burials at Port au Choix and Back Harbour, suggesting they were intended to fulfill slightly different roles, with Port au Choix acting as a gathering place for multiple groups, while Back Harbour appears to have been the central location of a single kin-group. The comparative analysis of stone tool assemblages from Newfoundland and its adjoining mainland regions reveals the presence of at least three contemporary and spatially distinct technological complexes on the island. Distinct regional patterns in access to food resources, burial ceremonialism, and location along the travel route network support the presence of multiple cultural groups in Archaic Newfoundland.
This dissertation argues for the recognition of three ethnic groups sharing the island; people who inhabited separate countries, saw each other as different and maintained these differences over time despite repeated contacts and exchanges. It is time to move beyond the limiting notion of a single group of Maritime Archaic Indians occupying the island, a concept that over generalizes the complexity of the worlds present in Archaic Newfoundland.


identifier: Ahmed, Faysol <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ahmed=3AFaysol=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Linearized domain decomposition approaches for boundary value problems.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The purpose of this study is to analyze linearized domain decomposition approaches
for different nonlinear boundary value problems (BVPs). Nonlinear BVPs frequently
form a large system of equations when they are discretized and require parallel computers
to solve this system. Domain decomposition approaches are useful to utilize
the advantages of parallel computers in order to solve the differential equations. Cherpion’s
single domain linearized iterative technique is quite useful to solve the nonlinear
BVPs that have the form u′′ = f(ξ, u, u′ ). However with this iterative scheme we are
not able to solve the BVP using parallel computers. Therefore we extend this iterative
scheme to the domain decomposition context so that we can solve the nonlinear
BVP on parallel computers. Theoretical and numerical results are given.


identifier: Tapp-Neville, Rose Marie <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Tapp-Neville=3ARose_Marie=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Collaborative research and the scholarship of engagement: challenges for academic researchers.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive study was to explore the challenges associated with collaborative research and the scholarship of engagement particularly for academic researchers, to determine the value placed on collaborative research by both academics and community partners, and to investigate how community-university partnerships can be sustained. Academic researchers and community partners from a Community University Research Alliance (CURA) project in a Faculty of Education at a Canadian university, a CURA fellow graduate student, a representative from a knowledge mobilization unit at a university, and a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) official were included in the study population. Sixteen interviews in total were conducted and analyzed.
The findings of this study suggest that collaborative research is challenging work. Administrative, relationship-related, cultural, and ethical challenges were highlighted. Administratively, it can be very difficult to manage a partnership with multiple projects, and its players having varying levels of understanding of collaborative research. One of the greatest administrative challenges is dealing with the changeover of players, and engaging participants who come to the project later. Clarity of expectations can be challenging since even when one attempts to develop protocols, it can be difficult to predict all issues that may arise. This study demonstrates that academics and community partners do not have a good understanding of each other’s cultural realities which can be the source of frustration when individuals do not understand why the other partner is behaving in a certain manner. Dealing with findings that may not be favourable to the community partner creates ethical challenges.
This study demonstrates that the value of collaborative research depends on the perspective of the participant. Some academic researchers and community partners welcome the opportunity to work together in the co-creation of knowledge since they recognize that a more enriched product can be the end result. Other university researchers, holding steadfast to more traditional research, sometimes only engage in collaborative work to gain access to funding, and very quickly resort to more traditional methodologies. For some community partners, the research has little value to guide practice.
Among factors highlighted for contributing to the potential success of collaborative partnerships, the level of participant buy-in is noted as having a definite effect. Minimizing the number of partnerships and allowing more than five years may be needed to grow sustainable partnerships. Looking for the “right fit” between partners where interests align could help. Knowledge mobilization units could be beneficial to help connect partners. The creation of memorandums of understanding, advisory committees, and a project manager position are highly recommended. Fostering strong leadership, incorporating succession planning, and the need for ongoing dialogue to help engage participants and create ownership are important. Time release supports for both academics and community partners, and university support through promotion and tenure practices that reward collaborative research involvement can help sustain community-university partnerships.


identifier: Aljaroudi, Alireda A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Aljaroudi=3AAlireda_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Probabilistic methods for assessing the performance of offshore pipelines condition monitoring systems.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Oil and gas condition monitoring systems play a major role in maintaining the operability, integrity, and reliability of oil and gas infrastructure. A leak detection monitoring system (LDS) constitutes an important member of these systems. The main function of this system is to detect the occurrence and location of hydrocarbon leakages in a timely manner before the leaked products can cause a devastating effect on production, health, safety, and the environment. To ensure the continuity of operation and the safety of personnel as well as the environment, this system should be assessed on a regular basis. Traditionally, a deterministic approach is adopted to assess such systems. A deterministic assessment does not consider uncertainties or random variabilities that are inherent in the performance parameters. Thus, it produces results that may not characterize the actual situation of the system or its circumstances. To tackle this issue, it is proposed to use a probabilistic approach to assess the performance since it allows the incorporation of any uncertainties or random variabilities that may exist in the assessment. Hence, a quantifiable probability of failure can be estimated. Once the probability and consequences of failure become known, risk can be easily estimated.
A complete assessment of risk cannot by obtained without incorporating the probability of failure of the pipeline itself. The major research activities include, formulation of the LDS probability of detection and false detection for a single point along the oil and gas transport component; development of a probabilistic performance assessment scheme for the entire LDS along the oil and gas transport component using a limit-state approach; application of probabilistic methods to determine the probability of failure and the remaining life of the oil and gas transport component and development of a risk-based assessment methodology to determine the risk associated with the simultaneous failure of the LDS and the oil and gas transport component (i.e., pipelines). These major research components establish the foundation for an overall evaluation scheme that can be used to provide an up-to-date assessment of the oil and gas transport components and the LDS. The outcome of the assessment can serve as a basis for a well-informed decision-making process that enables the decision makers to determine the best strategy for assessing and maintaining the integrity of the evaluated systems.


identifier: Xu, Ben <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Xu=3ABen=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Assessing different types of disorder in carbonate minerals with vibrational spectroscopy.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In this thesis, calcite was used as a test case to study the effects of structural disorder
on vibrational modes. Vibrational modes were examined using Fourier transform
infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. Structural disorder was assessed by using
X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements.
Data for temperature dependent FTIR, FTIR-photoacoustic (FTIR-PAS), and XAFS
measurements were collected at the Canadian Light Source Inc. (Saskatoon, SK).
Four normal vibrational modes of calcite were thoroughly investigated: the symmetric
in-plane stretch (v₁, Raman active), out-of plane bend (v₂, IR active), asymmetric
in-plane stretch (v₃, IR active), and in-plane bend (v₄, Raman and IR active).
Shapes of the v₁ and v₄ peaks are affected by long-range disorder and temperature,
while the v₂ and v₃ peaks remain unchanged. By comparing the FTIR absorption
spectra of different calcium carbonate polymorphs, we suggest that planar carbonate
arrangements are the key to cause v₄ broadening at higher temperatures and with
structural defects.
To explore the effects of structural defects in more detail, crystalline domain
size, lattice strain, and microstrain fluctuation values were calculated from XRD data.
Long-range disorder strongly affects the vibrations in calcite. Bonding distances and
coordination environments in calcite based minerals (plasters) were assessed from
their XAFS spectra. Results indicate that the local environments are dependent on the secondary phases (mainly Ca(OH)₂) in them. My thesis work demonstrates that
paring FTIR with other techniques is more effective for researchers.
Weak peaks related to the combination and isotopic modes in a calcite FTIR
absorption spectrum were also well studied. My thesis work demonstrates that weak
peaks at 848 cm⁻¹ and 1398 cm⁻¹ in a FTIR absorption spectrum of calcite are due
to the v₂ and v₃ vibrations of ¹³CO₃²⁻ rather than combination modes. These two
peaks become stronger in spectra of calcite with a higher ¹³C concentration. Also,
the ratio between areas of the 848 cm⁻¹ peak and the ¹³CO₃²⁻ v₂ peak in a FTIR
transmittance spectrum match the natural abundance ratio of ¹³C:¹²C (near 1%). An
interesting phenomenon is that positions of these two peaks do not maintain with ¹³C
concentration changes. Theoretical calculations performed by our colleagues (Anna
Hirsch and Dr. Leeor Kronik, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) confirm my
thesis results.
My thesis work shows that FTIR-photoacoustic (FTIR-PAS) spectroscopy is
an appropriate technique to study weak isotopic and combination-mode peaks since
they are relatively enhanced under an acoustic detector. Origins of combination-mode
peaks were discussed, and quantitative analyses of the ¹³C v₂ peak were carried out
based on FTIR-PAS spectra. A surprising finding is that the ¹³C v₂ mode presents
crystallinity dependency, while the ¹²C v₂ mode is not.


identifier: Quinton, Bruce W. T. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Quinton=3ABruce_W=2E_T=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Experimental and numerical investigation of moving loads on hull structures.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Regulations and design codes for ships and offshore structures operating in ice infested waters consider only stationary loads for hull structural design. This implies that the effects of movement of a load along the hull are negligible. Real hull structures most often experience operational ice loads in a way that would be better modelled as a moving load.
Previous work (Quinton 2008) predicted a significant decrease in the structural capacity of a steel grillage (hull) structure subjected to moving loads that cause plastic damage, when compared with similar stationary loads. In particular, the previous work predicted a decrease in the structural capacity of both hull plating and hull frames. For hull frames, it was noticed that plastic buckling of the frame webs occurred at a much lower load level for moving loads, than for stationary loads.
This thesis explores the effects of moving loads causing plastic damage on hull structures using experiments and subsequent numerical models. The results of this work identify a loss of hull structural capacity directly attributable to plastic damage caused by lateral load movement for both plates and frames. It explores the structural response phenomena underlying the observed capacity loses. In particular, this thesis presents: results of laboratory experiments carried out using a novel moving load apparatus involving steel and ice indenters acting on steel plates and frames; a discussion of the design and capabilities of the novel moving load apparatus; a discussion of the structural response phenomena present during moving loads based on a calibrated numerical model of the moving load experiments; and general guidelines for conducting numerical models of moving loads.


identifier: Best, Kiley Morgan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Best=3AKiley_Morgan=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Reproduction in a recently established population of green crab, Carcinus maenas, in Placentia Bay and juvenile targeted mitigation to prevent mussel aquaculture as a vector for introduction and spread.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Invasive species are organisms that are introduced to a new environment via natural or anthropogenic means and cause damage to the native biota through interactions with the native species and habitat. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) in marine coastal ecosystems can thrive in coastal areas in their native and non-native ranges as they have fewer natural barriers to contain spread versus terrestrial environments. AIS spread via vessel traffic, movement of industrial and recreational equipment and currents, weather events, and other organisms in their fluid environment. Generally, invasive species have the ability to tolerate extreme and restrictive conditions with means to make adjustments to their survival strategies to survive and establish populations in areas outside of their native ranges. In this study, we look at the reproductive strategies of the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in recently invaded cold-tolerant populations in Newfoundland. We estimate size minimums for physiological maturity in males and females, timing for mating behaviors, duration of each stage of egg development and timing of larval release in females. This information has been used to establish minimum size thresholds for pilot mitigation efforts in the area and will continue to help pinpoint the best times of year to target a particular life stage for this region. Comparisons to other non-native green crab populations in Atlantic Canada are made to elucidate some of the strategic changes they have made in these environments. This information can be used in targeting different life stages in efforts to control already established populations in Newfoundland and prevent spread and establishment to new areas. This information is then used to pinpoint a vulnerable (likely to settle in and around mussel seed lines of the aquaculture industry) life stage of juvenile green crab to target via mitigation. This was investigated by exposing juveniles to a series of heated salt water immersion treatments. Experiments confirmed that exposing juvenile green crab to heated salt water for no longer than 1 minute at 45°C is sufficient to cull the crab while not causing any significant physiological stress to mussel seed. This information and subsequent control measures are valuable to the mussel aquaculture industry, stakeholders and managers for designing plans for future control of this invasive species.


identifier: Giles Murphy, Tina Linda  <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Giles_Murphy=3ATina_Linda_=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Asbestos exposure and incidence of disease among a group of former chrysotile asbestos miners and millers from Baie Verte, NL, Canada.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Asbestos is one of the most well-known and extensively studied occupational hazards. Over the past century, the health effects of asbestos exposure have been studied in thousands of books, journal articles, and media publications, from all over the world. Despite the vast amount of knowledge that exists about asbestos there continues to be controversy about the relative health risks associated with its different types, that is, serpentine (chrysotile) and amphibole asbestos fibres. The continued production and use of chrysotile asbestos in many countries around the world, as well as the ongoing exposure of millions of workers globally to asbestos, has kept it a subject of ongoing debate and concern.
Although asbestos is a well-established cause of both malignant and non-malignant disease, a number of recent meta-analyses have sought to estimate the relative risk of diseases related to exposure to each of the different fibre types. The lack of epidemiological studies with good quality exposure assessments, particularly in the mining/milling industry, as well as the lack of retrospective exposure assessments for most cohorts, has led to an over-reliance on studies of a single population of chrysotile-only exposed cohorts: the Québec chrysotile miners/millers cohort. These studies, however, have been criticized as being heavily influenced by the asbestos industry.
This thesis, which consists of an introductory chapter, three interrelated studies, and a concluding chapter, presents data on an under-studied cohort of chrysotile miners/millers from Baie Verte, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada. The first study will describe the development of a job exposure matrix (JEM) that was used to perform a retrospective exposure assessment for former workers of the mine/mill. The second study is an epidemiological assessment of a sub-group of the overall cohort of former employees who voluntarily joined the Baie Verte Miners Registry, an exposure/disease registry that was established to aid in the compensation process for former workers who have, or will, develop asbestos-related diseases. The third study outlines the process of enumerating the remainder of the cohort from historical union records (i.e., those who did not join the Baie Verte Miners Registry) and the epidemiological analysis of this group and of the two groups combined. Taken as a whole, this thesis demonstrates the good quality of the retrospective exposure assessment that has been conducted on this group of former asbestos workers and it supports the position that chrysotile asbestos is a cause of malignant mesothelioma. It also confirms the increased risk of asbestosis, as well as cancer of the lung, larynx, esophageal, and colorectum, in workers who were exposed to chrysotile asbestos. This cohort of chrysotile miners/millers is, therefore, a useful addition to the literature for estimating the relative potency of the different asbestos fibre types.


identifier: Zanzerl, Heather <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zanzerl=3AHeather=3A=3A.html>   (2015) The burrowing behaviour and diet of thyasirid bivalves from Bonne Bay, NL.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Thyasirids are an interesting model group due to the presence of sulfur-oxidizing symbionts in some species but not all. Symbiotic thyasirids form numerous burrows (i.e. pedal tracts) to obtain sulfides. Asymbiotic thyasirids were not expected to produce similar burrows as they have no need for sulfides. Comparisons of the burrowing behaviour of symbiotic and asymbiotic thyasirids from Bonne Bay, Newfoundland were made. Unexpectedly, no differences in burrowing depth, number or length of pedal tracts were found between symbiotic and asymbiotic thyasirids. To explore whether pedal tracts of asymbiotic thyasirids might be used for "farming" chemoautotrophic bacteria, we performed stable isotopic analysis (carbon and nitrogen). As expected, the symbiotic taxon consumes mainly thiotrophic bacteria, and one of the asymbiotic taxa consumes mainly suspended material. Contrary to expectations, the other asymbiotic taxon consumed mainly thiotrophic bacteria, in a greater proportion than the symbiotic taxon, indicating that “microbial farming” is likely occurring for that taxon.


identifier: Adeoti, Ibraheem Adetunji <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Adeoti=3AIbraheem_Adetunji=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Extraction of oil from fish processing waste for fuel applications: process development, analysis and feasibility.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The fish processing industry generates a significant amount of fish byproducts that could either be an important source of energy, food, or industrial feedstock. Fish oils are made up of several lipid classes. These lipids contain long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; PUFA, (mostly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA: C20:5 n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA: C22:6 n-3)) and other lipid classes. The traditional market for the nutritional lipids in the fish oil has been the food industry. However, significant infrastructure for the strict quality control systems is required for food grade oils. Therefore, the process of extracting the high nutritional oils is energy intensive. Further, the location and infrastructure limit the feasibility due to processing requirement, storage and/or transportation issue. For biofuel implementation, the processes to extract and refine fish oil are less energy intensive than the processes for nutritional quality oils and do not require the stringent product specifications and approval process as in the food and pharmaceutical industry. There have been significant advances in developing inexpensive and robust methods for fuel extraction and upgrading processes.
Supercritical fluid extraction process using carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) under moderate conditions is promising for quality fish oil production. This process produces oil with low impurities compared to other processes. The specific research objectives include: (1) Overview and background information on Atlantic Canada fish processing plants (2) Review of (state of art) fish oil extraction processes including physical, chemical and biological processes. (3) Fuel oil characterization of fish oil and fish oil blends with petroleum distillate. This section evaluates thermal stability, rheological, and heating values, of crude fish oil and blend with heavy petroleum distillate. (4) Solubility determination of fish oil in SC-CO₂; the SFE extraction process (optimize the SFE process conditions to maximize fish oil yield under the least intensive conditions, pressures, temperatures and CO₂ consumption); and mathematical model to predict oil extraction rate as a function of process conditions. (5) Fuel oil quality evaluation as a function of extraction methods. (6) Life cycle assessment (LCA) of different extraction processes (modified fishmeal process (MFM), SC-CO₂, and soxhlet processes) of fish oil from salmon wastes. The environmental burdens and potential impacts by each extraction process were quantified through the LCA.
In the characterization phase of this study, the thermal and rheological properties of unrefined salmon oil, bunker fuel oil and their blends have been analyzed. The feasibility of using unblended and/or blends of fish oil in conventional heaters/boilers/engines are determined by these properties. The MFM oils, the bunker fuel oil and their blends behaved as a shear thinning non-Newtonian fluid that can be described by the power-law model.
The supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC-CO₂) was effective at pressures of 15, 25, and 35 MPa, temperatures of 313, 333 and 353 K, and CO₂ flow rates of 0.18-0.48 kg/hr. The process is solubility controlled and the yields at 35 MPa, temperatures of 313, 333 and 353 K, and CO₂ flow rates of 0.18 kg/hr were approximately 39, 46 and 41 (wt.%). The mathematical model (Goto et al. 1993) using the best fit of theoretical extraction curve correlated the experimental data satisfactorily with average absolute deviation, AAD (%) ranged from 2.4 to 10.6 %. Unlike the MFM oil, the SC-CO₂ oil is more viscous homogenous oil which behaved as a Newtonian fluid. Physco-chemical, compositional and thermal characterization indicated SC-CO₂ oil contains fewer impurities than the MFM and soxhlet process oils.
From the LCA results, the MFM method has the lowest overall environmental impact compared to the soxhlet and SC-CO₂ methods. The soxhlet extraction method, due to the use of solvent (hexane), has the greatest impacts on all of the four damage categories (human health, ecosystem quality, climate change and resources). The SC-CO₂ requires more energy to produce 1 kg fish oil (2 folds more than the MFM and 3 folds more than the soxhlet methods). However, the SC-CO₂ produces higher quality oil than the other two processes and the process impact on the environment is moderate relative to the MFM and soxhlet processes.


identifier: Besaw, Jessica E. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Besaw=3AJessica_E=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) A computational and experimental study of the structure of the C-terminal domain of the wildtype and mutant FOXL1 protein.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Forkhead box (FOX) proteins are transcription factors that play a significant role during embryonic development and throughout adulthood with functions in regulating cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Consequently, mutated or unregulated FOX proteins have been linked with numerous human genetic diseases. Recently, a deletion of five residues (GIPFL) in the C-terminal domain of the FOXL1 protein has been linked to another human genetic disease. This manuscript presents attempts to determine the three-dimensional structure of the C-terminal domain of FOXL1 protein, both with the mutation (FOXL1MUT) and without (FOXL1CTERM), in order to uncover the structural features that prevent the proper functioning of the mutant. This structural information was obtained using both computational and experimental methods. Computationally, coarse-grain molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were performed using replica exchange MD to provide a prediction of the folded structure. Experimentally, the C-terminal domain of FOXL1 and its mutant was expressed, enriched, and then structurally characterized using circular dichroism.
Bioinformatics analysis of FOXL1 revealed that the mutation occurred in the most ordered and evolutionary-conserved portion of the C-terminal domain of FOXL1, suggesting that this mutation could severely affect the structure and function of FOXL1CTERM. This is in agreement with the replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations results, which predicted that FOXL1CTERM was more folded and structured than FOXL1MUT. Moreover, the simulations showed that the mutation in the FOXL1MUT system disrupted its structure and hydrophobic core, causing the mutant to have an increased amount of randomly coiled structure. The computational results are supported by preliminary experimental data. Circular dichroism results indicated that FOXL1CTERM has a predominantly helical structure while FOXL1MUT was partially helical with some randomly coiled regions.


identifier: Cowan, Beth <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Cowan=3ABeth=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Shorelines beneath the sea: Geomorphology and characterization of the postglacial sea-level lowstand, Cumberland Peninsula, Baffin Island, Nunavut.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis presents the discovery of eight submerged deltas (-19 to -45m), the first documented submerged boulder barricade, a submerged sill platform and spits off the coast of Cumberland Peninsula, eastern Baffin Island, NU. The geomorphic characteristics of these features in relation to contemporaneous sea-level are presented and compared with the modern shore-zone. The submerged boulder barricade at Qikiqtarjuaq in the west indicates a -16 m sea level that isolated Broughton Channel from Baffin Bay to the north, changing the coastal dynamics from those observed at present. A shoreline deeper than -50 m planed off the fiord-mouth sill in Akpait Fiord and formed spits at -50 m and -30 m present depth. These features define a submerged shoreline gradient of 0.35 m/km to the east across northeastern Cumberland Peninsula. The linear gradient sediment supply requirements for delta formation suggest a synchronous lowstand, bracketed by ice margins and sourced from glacial outwash between 11.8-8.5 ka. This confirms the submergence trend hypothesized for eastern Cumberland Peninsula (Dyke, 1979).


identifier: Liu, Jia <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Liu=3AJia=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Family support for high school refugee youth in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
This qualitative study explores high school refugee youth’s family support in
Newfoundland and Labrador. Data were collected from three high school teachers, three refugee
youth and two of their parents. The findings of this study reveal that many services on academic
assistance and social activities for refugee youth are available in the high school and local
communities. However, parent participants tend to depend entirely on local communities and
high school teachers in terms of their children’s academic studies due to language barriers and
low educational attainment. This study demonstrates that parents from diverse cultural
backgrounds have different perceptions on what constitutes quality education than those of
Canadian school teachers. More effort should be made to promote parent-teacher interaction by
schools and local communities.


identifier: Zhu, Jingwen <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zhu=3AJingwen=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Phase noise compensation for long-haul coherent optical communication systems using OFDM.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Long-haul optical transmission systems employing coherent optical orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) are sensitive to laser phase noise. This
causes a common phase rotation and inter-carrier interference. An effective method to
compensate for the phase noise is to insert an RF-pilot tone in the middle of the OFDM
signal. This RF-pilot is used to reverse the phase distortion at the receiver.
This thesis presents a detailed performance analysis of the RF-pilot phase noise
compensation scheme in a simulated 64 Gbit/s CO-OFDM system. The effects of various
parameters including laser linewidth, Mach-Zehnder modulator drive power, pilot-tosignal
ratio, and fiber launch power are investigated. A comparison with the pilot-aided
common phase error compensation method is provided to show the differences in the
BER performance with respect to the required overhead.


identifier: Wang, Meng <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wang=3AMeng=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Developmental trajectories of body mass index: evidence from the National Population Health Survey (1994-2011).  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The body mass index (BMI) trajectory analysis can capture the developmental patterns of BMI over time. Knowledge on the long-term development of obesity throughout adulthood/later years and its determinants and health consequences (including death) is lacking for the Canadian population. The primary aim of this research is to examine whether there are distinct patterns of BMI change among Canadian adults and seniors through a longitudinal study. We analyzed data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS, 1994-2011) to identify the BMI trajectories separately for young to middle-aged adults (20-39 years at baseline), middle-aged to older adults (40-55 years at baseline), and seniors (65-79 years at baseline). Additionally, we examined the impact of individual characteristics on BMI trajectories and whether morbidity and mortality risks differ between the identified BMI trajectories.
Our results showed that there were different patterns of BMI changes over time existing in the Canadian population. We also found a gender difference in the associated factors of BMI trajectories, while food insecurity and decreased years of smoking were associated with raising the BMI trajectories in both women and men. People who were continually severely obese in their midlife were at greater risk of developing numerous adverse health conditions compared with normal weight counterparts. Further, constantly obese men had the highest risk of all-cause mortality in the elderly population. An awareness of different BMI trajectories may allow clinicians and policy professionals to tailor programs to specific groups, who are at the highest risk of poorer health outcomes due to obesity, and to intervene at an earlier stage thus altering the path of risky trajectories.


identifier: Kearney Guigné, Anna  <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kearney_Guigne==0301=3AAnna_=3A=3A.html>   (2004) Kenneth Peacock's Songs of the Newfoundland outports: the cultural politics of a Newfoundland song collection.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Between 1951 and 1961, under the influence of anthropologist Marius Barbeau,
Kenneth Howard Peacock (1923-2000), a classically trained musician and composer from
Ontario, visited Newfoundland six times on behalf of the National Museum of Canada to
collect folksongs, later producing a three-volume work, Songs of the Newfoundland
Outports (1965). While Peacock's work has been celebrated by many, his approach to
folk culture documentation has often concerned scholars. This study articulates the
socio-cultural impact of Outports in Newfoundland and Canada by outlining to persons
who have misunderstood Peacock's research what he was trying to accomplish. It takes
into account the status of folklore research at the National Museum in the 1950s and the
conditions under which Peacock carried out this work. It provides a critical review of
Peacock's Newfoundland fieldwork with a view to better understanding his motivations
for creating Outports and his treatment of the materials he collected.
Along with such peers as Marins Barbeau, Helen Creighton, Edith Fowke, Tom
Kines, Sam Gesser and Alan Mills, Peacock is a noted pioneer contributing substantially
to our understanding of Canadian folklore and the shaping of Canadian folklore
scholarship. He took over the Newfoundland research from former School of Music
classmate Margaret Sargent (McTaggart) in 1951. Leaving his composing career in the
distance he devoted the next twenty years to researching the country 's ethnic and native musical traditions. This study takes into consideration the cultural politics of the day
such as National Museum policies and directions at the time and how the growth of the
Canadian folk revival during the1950s and '60s influenced his work. It considers the
dynamic relations between Peacock and other individuals who had a vested interest in
documenting and presenting Newfoundland culture including Maud Karpeles and folk
revivalist Ralph Rinzler.
Although Peacock's representation of Newfoundland's folk culture tended to be
overly-romanticized, reflecting his Toronto upbringing, his work has had a long-lasting
impact. It later reshaped Newfoundlanders' views of the extent of their own musical
traditions and contributed to the Newfoundland-centered folk revival. As a revivalist
Peacock was driven to see that music from his field research would be made available to
Canadians. Analysis of his Newfoundland collection reveals, however, that Peacock
edited and reworked both texts and music. This is addressed in the thesis through the
creation of a scholarly tool called a "Catalogue of Kenneth Peacock's Music Collection"
linking his published and unpublished materials into one useable explanatory unit. New
knowledge regarding Peacock's life and times facilitates our understanding of this man's
immense contribution to both Newfoundland and Canadian folklore scholarship while at
the same time allowing researchers to make greater use of the materials he so diligently
collected.


identifier: Zubair, Abdulrazaq <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zubair=3AAbdulrazaq=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Design and optimization of surfactant based enhanced remediation of bunker C fuel oil contaminated soil.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Soil pollution, particularly by petroleum compounds is a very important global issue. It is typically a result of improper storage and disposal, historic careless spills, accidental spills, and leaks from tanks. This environmental damage can result in wide spread groundwater and surface water contamination, and limit soil use for agricultural purposes. There are a large number of brownfield sites across Canada. These are sites that have been previously used for industrial and commercial activities and have been contaminated with hazardous wastes. Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) in particular, has numerous sites due to a legacy of fuel oil use for power generation at abandoned, old and emerging mining fields. Data from the federal contaminated site inventory indicate that on federal owned sites in NL, there are over 3000 m³ of oil-contaminated soil. It has therefore become necessary to develop remediation technologies that are economically and technically feasible, environmentally friendly, fast, and applicable in a wide range of physical settings.
A wide range of technologies have been developed over the past few decades for the remediation of contaminated sites. Some of these processes have been found to be successful in removing only a specific group of contaminants from the soil. As a result, combinations of different approaches are usually adopted for more effective remediation thereby leading to more expensive remedial operations. Surfactant-enhanced remediation technology, otherwise known as soil washing has proven to be an effective method to remove a mixture of contaminants such as heavy metals, petroleum compounds, volatile organic compounds, pesticides and herbicides as well as other hazardous and non-degradable substances from contaminated soils. Surfactant remediation relies on the ability of surfactant formulations to remove both organic and inorganic contaminants from soil and sediments by desorbing them from the solid to liquid phase. The technology removes contaminants via two mechanisms; one occurs below the Critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactants known as mobilization mechanism, and the other above the CMC known as solubilization mechanism. However, this technology has not been widely reported for the remediation of Bunker C fuel oil, a complex and recalcitrant petroleum compound that is persistent in the environment and extensively reported to be resistant to chemical and biological degradation, and therefore difficult to remediate.
This research presents an assessment of the performance of soil washing technology for the remediation of Bunker C contaminated oil from weathered contaminated soil using patented surfactant formulations. Weathered soil are known to be more difficult to remediate than freshly contaminated soil hence, the study used weathered soil in order to be certain of the effects of soil washing on Bunker C removal. Specific research objectives include: (1) determining the micellar properties (Surface Tension and CMC) of the patented surfactants, (2) development of a reliable analytical method for the analysis of (heavy) petroleum hydrocarbons in soil, (3) evaluation of the parameters that govern the implementation of soil washing and an assessment of their effects on the washing of weathered Bunker C oil from contaminated soil at surfactants concentrations below the CMC (mobilization mechanism) using the multivariate experimental and statistical approach, (4) determination of the optimum conditions (optimization) for the removal of Bunker C oil with the tested surfactants.
The research, in the course of analysing the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in the soil using the Canada-Wide Standard (CWS) for Petroleum Hydrocarbon in soil is used for the analysis of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds found considerable variability and inconsistencies in the results. This could be due, in part, to the different gas chromatography (GC) conditions, soil properties, as well as and other steps involved in the method. These differences impacts the determination of the effectiveness of remediation at hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. The thesis therefore, developed validated the analytical method for the quantitative analysis of TPH in (contaminated) soil. The newly developed method was successfully applied for a faster and more reliable analysis of TPH of Bunker C oil in contaminated soil.
It is expected that this research will lay a road map for further studies on the application, optimization and development of a treatment system protocol for the use of soil washing for Bunker C remediation. It should be noted that although Bunker C is the contaminant, the hydrocarbon composition of Bunker C makes it a good surrogate for other heavy oils.


identifier: Bennett, Marissa L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Bennett=3AMarissa_L=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Positive mental health in adults reporting sexual abuse in childhood.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a history of child sexual abuse can impact
Positive Mental Health in Canadian adults and how frequency of child sexual abuse as well as
perceived social support impact Positive Mental Health scores for this population. Data was
collected from the Canadian Community Health Survey- Mental Health 2012 and included a
sample of 20,529 adults aged 18 and older, living across ten provinces. A one-way ANOVA
showed a significant difference between Positive Mental Health scores for individuals reporting
a history of child sexual abuse compared to those reporting no history of child sexual abuse. A
regression analysis found that reported frequency of child sexual abuse did not significantly
impact Positive Mental Health scores for individuals reporting child sexual abuse. It also found
that perception of social support was positively related to Positive Mental Health scores and
accounted for 25% of the variance in Positive Mental Health scores for individuals reporting
child sexual abuse. The implications of these findings are discussed in this study.


identifier: Aylward, Katie Ann <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Aylward=3AKatie_Ann=3A=3A.html>   (2015) The effects of simulated lifeboat motions on carbon dioxide production.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A Totally Enclosed Motor Propelled Survival Craft (TEMPSC) is currently the primary mode of escape during a maritime and offshore emergency situation. Although lifeboats have evolved from their original design, the interior comfort and habitability of the craft has remained virtually unchanged and is not considered during the certification process. Ambient carbon dioxide (CO₂) accumulation within TEMPSC is one factor, along with many others that may cause serious health implications for TEMPSC occupants. Previous research has shown that with the hatches closed and the participants at rest, an international 8-hour exposure limit of 4800ppm may be reached in as little as 15 minutes. This study uses simulation as a testing methodology to determine if vessel motions in various sea-states impact the time to reach this same CO₂ exposure limit because of physical exertions of the participants to maintain stability within their seats.


identifier: Alshikh, Nehal Khalaf <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Alshikh=3ANehal_Khalaf=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Phenolic compounds of selected lentil cultivars and their contribution to antioxidant activity.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Free, esterified, and insoluble-bound phenolics were extracted from selected lentil cultivars. Total phenolics, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins contents were determined. Catechin, epicatechin and procyanidins B were predominant in all fractions of all tested samples as evaluated using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSⁿ. Methyl vanillate, procyanidin dimer A, and prodelphinidin dimer A were identified and quantified in lentils for the first time. Procyanidin dimer A was detected only in the insoluble-bound form, methyl vanillate was present in the esterified and insoluble-bound one and prodelphinidin dimer A was found in all forms. The presence of unrevealed compounds present only in the insoluble-bound form shows that ignoring the presence of phenolics linked to the cell wall of lentils may underestimate their potential health benefits. The in vitro antioxidant activities and the inhibition of cupric ion-induced human low-density lipoprotein peroxidation and peroxyl radical induced supercoiled plasmid DNA strand scission demonstrated that lentils may be considered as a functional food.


identifier: Patra, Pranjal <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Patra=3APranjal=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Regulation expression pathway analysis (REPA): a novel method to facilitate biological interpretation of high throughput expression profiling data.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In the past decade there have been great advances and emergence of new techniques
in the field of gene expression profiling. As the popularity of these techniques grew,
the amount of data that gets generated has also grown. The task of analyzing this
data to create a global picture to identify the biological pathways that are relevant
to the study has been addressed by many. These approaches (collectively termed as
enrichment analysis) have also grown in sophistication and accuracy making them
the default step following a gene profiling experiment. However, enrichment analysis
approaches do not provide pointers to likely regulators in their results.
In this project we built a system called Regulation Expression Pathway Analysis
or REPA to facilitate the biological interpretation of results from high throughput
gene expression profiling experiments. In particular, we provide researchers with gene
sets that were most active in the biological phenomenon under study and their likely
regulators. Users can input the gene expression profile data from their expression
profiling experiments in REPA and get a list of disturbed gene sets and inferred
transcription factors that possibly regulate these gene sets.
To build this system first we processed the transcription factor binding data from
the ENCODE project to quantify the strength of regulation that each transcription
factor has on each gene set. Then we build a gene expression enrichment analysis
system that can analyze the gene expression profiling data and list the most active gene sets. Finally we combine the results from the previous two steps to arrive at a
more complete picture that gives users information about not only the most active
gene sets, but also about the most likely regulators of these gene sets.


identifier: Mercer, Craig Joseph <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Mercer=3ACraig_Joseph=3A=3A.html>   (2015) The control valve as a universal steam trap replacement.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The steam trap is considerably overlooked and unappreciated within the steam and
condensate distribution system. Its role is to remove condensate and non-condensables
from the primary steam loop. However, the conventional methods used today are the
devices developed a century ago. An original study was conducted to evaluate the
universal replacement of conventional steam trap technology with control valves. The
condensate flowrate is determined by using a standardized steam trap performance test.
During experimentation, the mass flowrate is acquired through the utilization of a weigh
tank technique. Results indicated that the application of a control valve is feasible and
provides remarkable advantages over the traditional approach. Improvements to enhance
efficiency and effectiveness are evident through the performance attributes of the control
valve, which includes auxiliary prediction and diagnostic capabilities. A response surface
methodology successfully validates the use of theoretical models for practical design
consideration.


identifier: Amirkhanian, Sevan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Amirkhanian=3ASevan=3A=3A.html>   (2015) The effects of resilience and disability on participation and health-related quality of life among older Canadians with multiple sclerosis.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study investigated the characteristics older individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The focus was on examining high and low levels of resilience as well as the effect of resilience on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and participation. Standardized measures were completed by 743 Canadian 55 years of age and older with MS. It was found that individuals with high levels of resilience were significantly older, reported lower disability, less impact of MS, and better mental health. The high resilience group reported being more physically active, participated more frequently in daily activities, had greater social support and perceived health, and were less financial stable than individuals with low levels of resilience. Resilience accounted for a significant proportion of variance in perceived health status (7.2%) and impact of MS (5.7%) considered as measures of HRQOL, and participation (3.1%). These findings inform future strategies to improve the lives of individuals aging with MS.


identifier: Modarresi, Shirin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Modarresi=3AShirin=3A=3A.html>   (2015) CaMKII mediates input-specific early odor preference learning in rats.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The synaptic tagging hypothesis explains how input specificity is preserved in
long-term potentiation of synapses. This phenomenon requires new proteins that are
synthesized in the nuclei and shipped cell wide, to be captured by a tag at synapses that
signal a prior synaptic activity. One specific molecule called calcium/calmodulin Kinase
II (CaMKII) plays a major role and has been postulated to function as a synaptic tag due
to its unique properties. The behavioral relevance of synaptic tagging has not been
extensively studied. Using an early odor-preference learning model, which occurs in a
week-old rat pup when a novel odor is paired with a reward, we tested the hypothesis that
CaMKII activation is critical for short and long-term memories as well as for inputspecificity
of the odor learning. Using behavioral pharmacology, we first tested whether
blocking CaMKII with KN-62 infusion in the olfactory bulb blocks short-term (tested at 3
hr) and long-term memories (tested at 24 hr). Our results show that both memories were
blocked. To test the role of CaMKII in input specificity of long-term memory, we used a
PKA agonist, Sp-cAMP, to induce 24 hr memory and tested whether blocking CaMKII at
the same time affects memories for the learned odor (peppermint) as well as a control
odor (vanillin). Co-infusion of Sp-cAMP with KN-62 did not impair 24 hr memory for
peppermint; however, the input specificity was lost since animals also showed preference
to vanillin. Immunohistochemistry results show that phosphorylated CaMKII is primarily
expressed in mitral cell dendrites of olfactory bulbs. These experiments help us
understand the specific role of CaMKII in short and long-term odor memories, its role as
a synaptic tag, and its role in memory specificity.


identifier: Sullivan, Sean William David <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sullivan=3ASean_William_David=3A=3A.html>   (2016) Effect of surfactants on oil recovery in water-alternating-gas enhanced oil recovery: an investigation into important factors.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Enhanced oil recovery techniques are used after primary (pressure depletion) and secondary (waterflooding) technique to increase oil recovery. One method of enhanced oil recovery uses surfactants. Surfactants have the potential to increase oil recovery through interfacial tension reduction and the possibility of creating foam. This investigation focuses on the surfactant assisted water-alternating-gas technique in a glass micromodel, investigating factors such as water-alternating-gas ratio (1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2), surfactant concentration (one times CMC, 5.5 times CMC, and ten times CMC), gas type (air and propane), and surfactant type (Triton X-100 and Iveysol 106), and observing responses of oil recovery, breakthrough time, and fluid flow. Oil recovery data suggested that individual effects of surfactant concentration and gas type, and interaction effects of WAG ratio-surfactant concentration, WAG ratio-gas type, WAG ratio-surfactant type, and gas type-surfactant type were significant. Breakthrough time data suggested that the individual effects of WAG ratio, gas type, and surfactant type were significant. Additional experiments investigating interfacial tension and viscosity showed that surfactant concentration reduced both interfacial tension and viscosity, with Triton X-100 having lower interfacial tension and viscosity than Iveysol 106.


identifier: Ryan, Morag G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ryan=3AMorag_G=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Interspecific attachment: social bonds between humans and their 'best friends'.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Attachment refers to an individual seeking and maintaining close proximity to another individual. Although, relatively few studies have examined attachment in an interspecific context the human-dog bond has recently gained a great deal of attention, as this relationship has been subjected to thousands of years of co-evolutionary history. I examined the nature of the human-dog bond in the context of an amended Ainsworth’s Strange Situation procedure, in which dogs experience a series of separation and reuniting events from their owners and are introduced to a stranger. Several facets of attachment were tested, predominantly preference (physical proximity and contact) and separation-induced stress. Dogs and owners also provided saliva samples to obtain physiological indicators of stress: cortisol (CORT) and chromogranin A (CgA). Owners completed a series of questionnaires including: human personality (NEO-FFI-3), dog personality (MCPQ-R), attachment (DAQ) and supplemental questions regarding health and about the dyad’s relationship (e.g., duration of cohabitation). Overall, dogs demonstrated behavioural manifestations of attachment, as they spent more time in close proximity and in physical contact with owners compared to strangers. Neither dogs nor owners showed elevated CgA levels at the throughout the procedure. Owners experienced a decrease in CORT throughout the procedure, whereas CORT levels in some dogs increased and some dogs decreased. CORT was related to dog behaviour, e.g., dogs with higher CORT scratched the door more frequently and engaged in more contact bouts with owners. Owners and dogs did not ‘match’ on analogous personality factors, but they did complement each other in interesting ways (e.g., owners scoring high on Conscientiousness had dogs that scored high on Training-focus).


identifier: King, Krista <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/King=3AKrista=3A=3A.html>   (2015) English-as-a-second language nursing students' perceptions of standardized patients as a teaching-learning tool.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: To help offset an unprecedented nursing shortage and reduce healthcare disparities among visible minorities, it is imperative that Canadian nursing schools increase their enrollment and retention of English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) nursing students. However, ESL nursing students struggle academically. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the perceived effectiveness of standardized patients as a means to achieve academic success among ESL nursing students. Using focus group methodology, 35 ESL nursing students shared their perceptions of standardized patients as a teaching-learning tool. Analysis generated seven core ideas: (1) psychological safety; (2) comfort communication; (3) psychomotor skill development; (4) second-language acquisition; (5) change in attitudes; (6) debrief, debrief, debrief; and (7) learning takes time. Based on focus group findings, standardized patient simulation creates a supportive community of practice that enables ESL nursing students to experience a sense of psychological safety as they acquired new learning in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains. Additionally, ESL nursing students were also able to enhance their English proficiency as they communicated complex medical information to patients and/or families. ESL nursing students professed that the opportunity to engage in both debriefing sessions and repeat practice sessions were instrumental to their learning. A strategic transformation in the delivery of education to ESL nursing students is needed. ESL nursing students will attain positive learning outcomes if they are immersed in a supportive and contextually-rich learning environment fostered by standardized patient simulation that encourages them to strive for mastery.


identifier: Nielsen, Travis Vagn James <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Nielsen=3ATravis_Vagn_James=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Characterizing thermoregulatory trade-off behavior in juvenile American lobster, Homarus americanus.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The American lobster, Homarus americanus, forms an important fishery in
Atlantic Canada and New England. As such, a plethora of information exists
on the biology of the larval dispersal phases, as well as that of the adult
lobster. However, comparatively less is known about the behaviour and
physiology of the juvenile stages. The juvenile phase is a critical period of
life, characterized by high levels of mortality. As a result, population
parameters such as abundance and distribution can be significantly
influenced by events occurring during the juvenile phase. Newfoundland is
the northern most range limit for H. americanus, and associated low
temperatures may affect foraging and sheltering behaviours. Laboratory
experiments showed that juveniles preferred temperatures of ~18°C and
were most active between 10-20°C. Heat stroke occurred above 30°C,
while basal activity stopped at ~2.0°C and reactions to sensory stimuli
ceased at ~-1°C. Although juvenile lobsters preferred water of 18ﾟC, they
would choose thermal regimes below their preference range if shelter or
food was available. When shelter was present, the juveniles increased
activity levels to maintain the shelter. Because juveniles are vulnerable to
predation the acquisition of shelter appeared to override both thermal
preferences and foraging behaviour. Although shelter may protect against
predation, the use of sub-optimal thermal habitats will influence metabolism
and reduce potential for growth in juvenile lobsters.


identifier: Rogers, Victoria Lynn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Rogers=3AVictoria_Lynn=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Synergies for stewardship and governance of multiple-use coastal areas: a case study of Koh Chang, Thailand.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Coastal areas globally support a wide variety of human activities. Tourism, fisheries, and
conservation activities, in particular, are often found to coexist, as is the case with the
study area, Koh Chang—an island in the Gulf of Thailand. The relationships between
these activities are highlighted in this study as areas to investigate the potential for
synergy among coastal stakeholders. Positive and compatible relationships are considered
conducive to synergy formation, yet are often overshadowed by those that are negative or
conflicting. This study argues that synergy at the local level can represent an important
consideration for capacity and strength within a social system, which, in turn, can better
inform context-appropriate strategies for integrated coastal management and enhance
environmental stewardship behaviour. This thesis offers an innovative and exploratory
approach, informed by the interactive governance framework, to study synergy among
coastal stakeholders.


identifier: Alrawagfeh, Wagdi <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Alrawagfeh=3AWagdi=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Using event calculus for normative reasoning of BDI agents in the context of norm identification.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
In human society, where different backgrounds, cultures and objectives coexist,
norms help predict, control and coordinate individual behavior. Similarly, norms have
been used in multi-agent systems to describe ideal behaviour for software agents. In
spite of this, agents are still expected behave autonomously, due to the leeway allowed
by norms as soft constraints on individual behavior. Existing work dealing with norm
identification in multi-agent systems generally assumes that agents are fully aware of
all norms, either at design time or as a result of communication with other agents.
Similarly, work examining the impact of norms in agent decision-making proposes
strategies that assume agents have complete knowledge of normative states.
This thesis proposes that agents do not have complete knowledge about normative
states; consequently, it is the agents’ duty to identify norms. To this end, we
propose an agent architecture and algorithms for identifying dynamic permission and
prohibition norms in open multi-agent systems. Using Event Calculus, we propose
a formal representation of norms and a normative practical reasoning mechanism.
Other studies assume that the normative states that are neither identified prohibited
nor obliged are permitted. Central to our proposal is that a normative state can be
unknown if it is not explicitly identified as prohibited, obliged or permitted. This
allows us to integrate permission norms into our proposed normative practical reasoning
mechanism. Thus, the contribution of this thesis is a set of techniques and
algorithms that allow agents to join and function in a society regulated by (possibly
unknown) norms, while minimizing behaviour that violates such norms.


identifier: MacDonald, Corrine A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/MacDonald=3ACorrine_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Teacher efficacy: moving towards inclusive practices.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The current study presents data about beliefs on teacher efficacy related to inclusive practices. Data was collected from teachers employed in two districts within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, during the 2012-2013 school year. Perceived teacher efficacy to teach in inclusive classrooms was measured by the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practice (TEIP) Scale developed by Sharma, Loreman, and Forlin, (2012). Under investigation were teacher perceptions of their ability to implement inclusive practices, to work with parents and other professionals, to work with students with special education needs, and to deal with disruptive behaviours in the classroom. Also explored was whether any significant differences existed in Newfoundland and Labrador teachers‘ perceptions of their ability to implement inclusive practices based on teacher age, gender, years of teaching experience, highest level of education, teaching area (primary, elementary, intermediate, high school), years of teaching experience with students diagnosed with disabilities, school district, and/or whether the school they worked in was in a rural or urban area. Two hundred and sixty two teacher participants (59 men and 203 women) in the K-12 school system took part in the study. Overall, the results showed that the teachers surveyed believe their practice is effective in an inclusive setting. Teacher participants reported no differences in efficacy of overall inclusive practice, efficacy of using inclusive instructions, and efficacy in collaboration. However, managing disruptive behaviour was shown to be an area where male and female teachers differed in their reported self-efficacy of practice. Male participants reported higher efficacy in managing disruptive behaviours in the classroom than female teachers. The findings suggest there may be a need for further teacher education and/or professional development opportunities related to managing disruptive behaviours in the classroom.


identifier: Ahmed, Yahia Y. Ahmed Eldemerdash <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ahmed=3AYahia_Y=2E_Ahmed_Eldemerdash=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Spectrum awareness for cognitive radio systems.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Spectrum scarcity is an obstacle to deploy emerging high speed wireless services that
require more frequency spectrum. Cognitive radio (CR) appears as a promising solution
for the spectral congestion by allowing spectrum sharing between primary and secondary
users in which optimum utilization of the available spectrum is achieved. Efficient coexistence
between different users requires full knowledge of the activities in the spectrum
of interest. Spectrum awareness is the terminology used to describe the techniques that
detect the presence of signals in certain frequency bands, as well as identify the main parameters
of such signals, e.g., modulation scheme. These two tasks are commonly referred
by the terms spectrum sensing and signal identification, respectively.
Blind signal identification was initially used by military applications, such as radio
surveillance and electronic warfare, and has recently been extended to civilian applications.
This problem becomes more challenging in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)
scenarios due to the diverse transmission schemes that can be employed, e.g., spatial multiplexing
(SM) and space-time block codes (STBCs). A large number of studies have been
carried out for developing blind signal identification algorithms in single-input singleoutput
(SISO) scenarios, including identification of the modulation format and recognition
of single-carrier (SC) versus multicarrier transmissions. However, the problem of
signal identification for MIMO systems remains at an incipient stage. In this dissertation,
we develop novel algorithms to blindly identify the MIMO transmission scheme of the
received signal. More specifically, in Chapters 2 and 3, we address the problem of identifying STBCs
for the SC transmission. Unlike most of the work done to date, we show that STBC identification
can be performed using a single receive antenna. Four algorithms are proposed
in Chapter 2 to identify SM and Alamouti STBC. Then, the idea is extended to include
additional STBCs in Chapter 3. The proposed algorithms show improved performance
when compared with other algorithms in the literature. Moreover, neither modulation
identification nor channel and noise power estimation are required by these algorithms.
In Chapter 4 we investigate the identification of SM and Alamouti coded orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals. A new discriminating feature and
a novel decision criterion are developed. The proposed algorithm outperforms the algorithms
in the literature with the advantages of requiring neither modulation identification
nor channel and noise power estimation, and being more robust to the carrier frequency
offset impairment.
Furthermore, in Chapter 5, the problem of identifying SM and Alamouti SC frequency
division multiple access (SC-FDMA) signals is studied when the receiver is equipped
with a single antenna. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work devoted to
the identification of MIMO SC-FDMA signals. The theoretical performance analysis of
the proposed algorithm is presented. Simulation results show the agreement between
theoretical and simulation findings. The proposed algorithm requires neither modulation
identification nor channel and noise power estimation.
Finally, conclusions are drawn and possible extensions to signal identification in MIMO
scenarios are discussed in Chapter 6.


identifier: Tian, Yuanchi <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Tian=3AYuanchi=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Hardware implementation of pipelined statistical cipher feedback mode.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.


identifier: Zhi, Yuan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zhi=3AYuan=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Dynamic risk analysis of dust explosions.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Dust explosion is a continuous threat to equipment safety and human health in process industries. Although many works have been performed in the context of dust explosion mechanism and its prevention measures, a comprehensive risk analysis model which can be applied in various industries is absent. One of the barriers to such a risk model has been the wide variety of industries threatened by dust explosions, as well as complex and interlinked contributors to dust explosions. Selecting safety measures satisfying the requirements of safety regulations and the limitation of budget at the same time has been another barrier. Moreover, there has not been any work devoted to the propagation of dust-domino-effects, although it has frequently been reported in process industries.
In this research, dust explosion root causes as well as other features such as ignition sources have been collected and listed in a comprehensive database. Applying Bow-tie (BT) diagram, a conventional quantitative risk analysis (QRA) method, a generic model of risk assessment for dust explosions has been established using the developed database. In this model, the basic causes contributing to dust explosions are organized according to their cause-effect relationships. Furthermore, potential consequences of dust explosions have been analyzed depending on the function/malfunction of relevant safety barriers. The applicability and efficacy of proposed safety measures to reduce the risk of dust explosions have also been discussed.
To overcome the limitations of BT such as its inability to model conditional dependencies and common-cause failures, Bayesian network (BN) has been used in this research to capture dependencies and to perform diagnostic analysis and sequential learning. According to the results, dust particle properties, oxygen concentration and lack of safety training are identified as the most critical root causes leading to dust explosions.
Further, a risk-based methodology has been proposed for cost-effective allocation of safety measures. Moreover, in this research, the occurrence probabilities of dust explosions in dust-domino-effects have been estimated based on BN.


identifier: Robar, Ashley Nicole <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Robar=3AAshley_Nicole=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Benthic communities in Atlantic Canada continental shelf basins: patterns and their influence on ecosystem functions.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Macrofauna, an abundant and often patchy constituent of benthic soft sediments, alter important processes such as sediment oxygenation and nutrient fluxes. This study links spatial patterns in faunal biodiversity and ecosystem functions. I collected 39 sediment cores from 4 basins within the Gulf of Maine to characterize fauna and sedimentary characteristics. At coarse taxonomic levels (phyla and feeding guild), faunal composition was homogenous across the Gulf of Maine, whereas species-level taxonomy revealed heterogeneous composition and limited species turnover. Of the abiotic variables, all factors varied locally (across sites within basins) but only bottom depth differed significantly regionally. Ecosystem function varied significantly across and within basin, and additional analyses confirmed polychaete biodiversity, as well as abundance, were significant, positive predictors of secondary (microbial) production. Feeding guild biodiversity predicted more ecosystem functions than species or family level groupings, demonstrating that activity and behaviour better predict ecosystem functions in sediments than species diversity.


identifier: Slaney, Brandon <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Slaney=3ABrandon=3A=3A.html>   (2015) The production effect: the role of attentional resources.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The production effect is the benefit in memory found for produced (i.e., read aloud) words relative to words read silently. It is proposed that the production effect occurs as a result of the enhanced distinctiveness associated with the produced items. The current research investigated whether attentional resources are required to encode and/or retrieve the distinctive information associated with the produced words. The literature suggests that the encoding of this distinctive information occurs automatically, but at test, purposeful attention is required to retrieve this distinctive information. To test this, participants read words aloud and silently, under either full or divided attention. Participants then completed either a recognition (Experiment 1) or free recall (Experiment 2) memory test under either full or divided attention. The findings show that when attention is divided at encoding, the benefit for aloud words remains for both recognition and free recall. When attention is divided at test, however, the benefit for aloud words remains for recognition but is absent for free recall. Overall, these results suggest that the distinctive information associated with produced words is encoded automatically, but it may not be accessible at test under attentionally demanding conditions.


identifier: Lush, Barry R. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lush=3ABarry_R=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Western instructors' beliefs in their own and their western administration's efficacy in a western educational institution located in the Middle East.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
The Middle East is experiencing very rapid growth in post-secondary education due to the large number of Arab youth who require advanced educational and vocational skills (United Nations Development Program Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development, 2002). This need is more than the locally established Middle East colleges and universities can accommodate. Because of this gap in the number of spaces available at local Arab post-secondary educational institutions, Arab states have invited numerous Western educational institutions to help fill this need (Bhandari & El-Amine, 2012). This research examines teachers’ beliefs at one such Western institution located in a Middle East state.
This research investigates two important concepts related to teachers’ beliefs at the Western educational institution located in the Middle East: teachers’ beliefs in their own self-efficacy and teachers’ beliefs in the Western administration’s efficacy. Using Woolfolk Hoy’s (2012) survey, Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (Short form), and Hoy’s (2003a) survey, Enabling School Structure (ESS), as well as face-to-face interviews, this research examines Western teachers’ beliefs in their own self-efficacy and their beliefs in the Western administration’s efficacy at a Western educational institution located in the Middle East. The teachers were divided into two groups, those with previous international teaching experience and those without.
This research found that, based on an unpaired t-test, there was no significant difference, between the two groups of Western teachers and that both groups had a relatively high level of belief in their own self-efficacy once they are behind closed classroom doors. This indicates that the physical location of the Western institution did not negatively impact the teachers’ beliefs in their self-efficacy. However, for both groups, their belief in the Western administration’s efficacy was low, less than 98% efficacy according to the finding on the ESS port of this research when compared to the Ohio normative sample developed from the Enabling School Structure survey. In other words, the Western instructors at this satellite campus of a Western college believed that their Western administration was far more coercive than the majority of the schools in the Ohio normative sample. Although both groups rated the Western administration’s efficacy as low, those instructors who had previous international teaching experience rated the Western college administration 2 percentage points lower, or 99% more coercive than the schools in the Ohio normative sample, than those Western instructors who had no previous international experience, 97% coercive than the schools in the Ohio normative sample. The results for this portion of the research showed a significant difference using an unpaired t-test with a Bonferroni Correction for type-1 error on three of the 12 items. The three items were the administration enabling authentic communication, the administrative hierarchy of the school enabling instructors to do their jobs, and the administrative hierarchy obstructing student achievement.


identifier: Campbell, Jennifer Anne <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Campbell=3AJennifer_Anne=3A=3A.html>   (2015) Patch selection behaviour in the presence of environmental constraints.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Habitat selection behaviour is the primary way in which organisms are able to
regulate encounters with their biotic and abiotic environment. An individual chooses an
area that best meets their current needs, particularly regarding safety and the presence of
high-quality food. Several physical aspects of the environment can make it difficult for
individuals to assess the relative habitat quality of the areas available, thus leading to suboptimal
habitat selection. In this thesis, I investigated the way in which two aquatic
habitat constraints - obstacles to movement between patches and turbidity - affected the
ability of fish to make optimal patch choices, using threespine stickleback Gasterosteus
aculeatus as a model species. Laboratory experiments showed that when movement
between patches was hindered by increasingly challenging obstacles, groups of
stickleback did not move as freely between the patches, and thus had greater deviations
from the predictions of the Ideal Free Distribution (IFD). I also demonstrated that, unlike
other species, stickleback do not use turbid environments to avoid predator detection. A
trend was seen towards avoidance of a turbid food patch regardless of risk level, although
this was not statistically significant. As expected, the stickleback avoided feeding in the
presence of a predator regardless of water clarity. Overall, I found that both turbidity and
movement constraints can have significant impacts on patch use and distribution in the
threespine stickleback. Both turbidity and ease of transit will impact the distribution of
ecologically important species like the threespine stickleback, and therefore should be
taken into account when studying habitat selection in the wild.


identifier: Harvey-Crowell, Liam <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Harvey-Crowell=3ALiam=3A=3A.html>   (2015) The impact and perception of Islam and authority online among Muslim university students in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Within the context of the digital age, this thesis examines how the Internet has influenced the religious lives of Muslim university students in the North Atlantic city of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador by asking two primary questions: First, how is the Internet perceived and what benefits, challenges and concerns does this digital technology raise? And second, what strategies do participants use to religiously authentic Islamic websites? To answer these questions I draw upon fifteen qualitative interviews conducted with Muslim university students in St. John’s about their online activity and how they navigate Islam-related websites. My participants expressed concerns with online radicalization and the current securitization climate, but their primary concern was with authenticating Islamic websites. In this regard, they relied on online religious leaders, religious texts, and the ideology of a unified Islam (and rarely on formal Islamic institutions). Paralleling research by Campbell (2007), these authorities were used by my participants to authenticate Islam-related websites and ultimately helped them navigate the complexities of Islam online.


identifier: Agapito, Melinda T. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Agapito=3AMelinda_T=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2016) A multi-criteria method for making tradeoffs and hard decisions spatially explicit in marine conservation planning.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract:
Identifying new marine protected areas (MPAs) typically requires considering competing priorities from a large range of stakeholders. While balancing socioeconomic losses with biodiversity gains is challenging, it is central to the planning process and will influence the effectiveness of the MPAs to be created.
This paper presents a new decision-support method named Spatial Tier Framework-Ordered Weighted Averaging (STF-OWA) that allows stakeholders to share their values and explore alternative planning scenarios, by varying levels of losses and gains, in a collaborative setting. Unlike methods that aim at finding one optimal solution (e.g. Marxan), the STF-OWA provides stakeholders with alternative planning options based on weights reflecting their priorities among and between biodiversity interests (e.g. corals vs. birds) and socioeconomic interests (e.g. fishing employment vs. fishing dollars). The approach was tested in the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf bioregion, Atlantic Canada (~1.2x106 km²), using scientific survey data on groundfish, seabirds, and habitat-forming invertebrates, commercial fishing logbooks, data on marine transportation, and oil and gas activities.
Results show that the STF-OWA can identify easy-to-implement conservation sites (i.e. high biodiversity with low socioeconomic activities), although they represent only <5% of the analyzed area. Subsequently, the STF-OWA demonstrated that identifying >5% of the study area as an MPA often involves hard decision areas (i.e. sites with both high socioeconomic impacts and high biodiversity gains). On making tradeoffs and hard decisions spatially explicit, the STF-OWA: (1) offers various options such as cheap, cost-effective, and expensive scenarios, making the toughest conservation decisions spatially explicit -- namely, tough decisions for and against biodiversity protection and tough decisions for and against socioeconomic protection; (2) allows visualizing multiple competing interests in a solution set that provides empirical evidence that a win-win option is rare; and (3) permits delineating regions of interest (ROIs) and percent area targets within a conservation scenario that makes balancing loss and gain more spatially explicit at a finer scale.
With these features available in the STF-OWA decision-support method, it is possible to identify not only the areas that minimize potential conflicts, but also areas of high importance for biological protection, and to do so without masking the tough political decisions needed in advancing conservation goals.