title: The association between watershed characteristics and mercury concentrations in fish of Northern Ontario lakes

contributor:
Mackereth, Robert
Lee, Peter
Pyle, Greg

subject:
Mercury contamination
Watershed hydrology
Lake chemistry
Aquatic ecosystem
Sport-fish contamination
Forest harvesting

abstract:
Many landscape, limnological, and ecological factors synergistically affect the mercury cycle and subsequently influence total mercury (THg) concentrations in fish. In Chapter 1, the associations between watershed and lake scale characteristics with THg in piscivorous fish are examined. ArcGIS was used to delineate the waterbody catchment area and extract waterbody catchment characteristics for 243 of northern Ontario’s lakes. Walleye (Sander vitreus, n= 121 lakes), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush, n= 60 lakes), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, n= 18 lakes), northern pike (Esox lucius, n =107 lakes), and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu, n = 37 lakes) were standardized to the mean length of the populations by using power-series regressions. Multivariate analysis (non-metric multidimensional scaling) and univariate analysis were used to determine the associations between total mercury concentrations in fish and watershed scale and lake scale variables. Watershed and lake chemistry characteristics poorly described the variability in THg concentrations. Forest harvesting and natural disturbance were not associated with fish mercury concentrations.
In Chapter 2, the relationship between walleye (Sander vitreus) growth rates and mercury concentrations was evaluated. The von Bertalanffy growth model was used to standardize the age of walleye to the mean total length. Walleye populations with slower growth rates had higher THg concentrations (r2=0.333, p< 0.001), suggestive of growth efficiency. Moreover, abundance of walleyes was associated with the growth rate (r2 =0.136, p<0.0001).
Concentrations of THg in piscivorous fish are attributed to physical, chemical, and ecological characteristics of lakes. It is likely that lake ecology exerts the strongest influence on high mercury concentrations in piscivorous species, masking the effect from from watershed disturbance.


title: Consistency of spelling error patterns : an investigation into the consistency of children's spelling errors using error analysis

subject: English language Orthography and spelling (Psychological aspects)

abstract:
This research investigated the consistency of children's
spelling errors across three grade levels, two to four,
five and six, and seven and eight. Diagnoses of children's
weaknesses in academic subjects are starting to incorporate
error analysis as a means of identifying and remediating
specific weaknesses. Research is necessary to see if
certain error types are normally consistent for children
over time, or with different grade and/or ability levels.
This research consisted of dictated word lists, repeated
five times over thirteen weeks. Errors were collected from
these samples and classified according to an expanded
Spache classification system covering twenty-one error
types. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was
conducted to assess the effects of time, grade level, sex
and ability on individual error types. While grade level
did show a significant effect, ability was by far a greater
factor in the number of phonetic and non phonetic vowel and
consonant substitutions. Results are discussed in light of
models of children's acquisition of spelling that take
developmental/maturational and/or information processing
factors into account.


title: Smoking behaviour, a survey of Canadians in Qatar / by Noel Pendergast.

subject:
Canadians -Tobacco use
Smoking
Qatar

abstract:
Introduction
Canada has relatively strict tobacco control policies as public smoking is banned in most jurisdictions and cigarettes are heavily taxed. In Canada, cigarettes cost approximately $10 for a package o f 20. Corresponding with an increase in tobacco control over the past several decades, smoking prevalence in Canada has decreased significantly, currently at 19%. Qatar has less strict tobacco control with a high prevalence of public smoking and
cigarettes are not taxed. In Qatar, cigarettes cost approximately $2 for a package of 20.  Data on smoking prevalence in Qatar are difficult to collect due to cultural and religious restrictions. However, some studies have estimated the smoking prevalence in Qatar to be greater than 35%.
Rationale
The rationale of this study was to evaluate the effect of a decrease in tobacco control on the smoking behaviour of Canadians.
Methods
Cross-sectional design utilizing a web-based questionnaire to a convenience sample (n=181) of Canadians employed at a college in Qatar.
Results
Prevalence of smoking among Canadians was found to be significantly higher while living in Qatar (Qatar - 18%, Canada - 14%; p < .001). Over 60% of smokers consumed more cigarettes in Qatar. Current smokers cited low prices and increased public smoking as reasons for their recidivism and increased consumption.
Conclusions and Implications
The availability of cheaper cigarettes and increased access to public smoking may lead to an increase in smoking prevalence and consumption of cigarettes. The results are important because they indicate if tobacco control in Canada is decreased; the prevalence of smoking and consumption of tobacco may increase.


title: Reactivity study of the palladium cross-coupling synthesis of enediynes

subject:
Palladium Reactivity
Alkynes Reactivity

abstract:
A reactivity study looking at various aspects of the palladium catalyzed (Sonogashira)
reaction for die synthesis of enediynes was performed. Alkynes were coupled to 1,2-
dichloro-, 1,2-dibromo- and 1,2-diiodobenzene. From this, four conclusions were drawn.
It was determined that the carbon-iodine bond is die most reactive towards coupling though
it is usually harder to obtain die second substitution in comparison to chlorine and bromine.
It was found that alkynes bearing TMS and C(CH3)20H or moderately bulky (TBDMS,
TIPS) groups couple to form disubstituted enediynes while alkynes containing THP do not.
It was determined that this palladium cross-coupling reaction does not exhibit much if any
solvent effect The order o f addition for die reaction mixture was only important if a reactive
alkyne was used. In cases such as this, the alkyne should be added last to minimize
homocoupling. Additionally, successful photochemical cyclizations were performed on three
of the four enediynes syndiesized.


title: Ontology-based modelling of stroke clinical pathways

subject:
Ontology
Clinical pathway
Web-based ontology models
E-healthcare
Ontological modelling

abstract:
Healthcare spending in Canada is on the rise. One method to reduce healthcare spending is to reduce length of stay (LOS). Clinical Pathways (CPs) are one recommended management technique to reduce LOS. CPs are implementations of medical guidelines in a specific healthcare environment. This may include hospitals, clinics or other healthcare facilities. They represent an evidence-based patient care workflow for a specific disease. The adoption of CPs allows for easier continuity of care across different healthcare settings and medical teams. While the use of CP as part of standard patient care has grown considerably in the past decades, not much progress was made in CP representation and modeling to encode CP data properly within existing Health Information Systems (HIS). One proposed method to achieve this goal is ontological modeling. Ontology is a formal model that represents a certain subject matter. It not only communicates what things exist in a certain domain or field but also how those things relate to each other. This research proposes an ontological model for stroke CP representation and processing. Such a model would allow CPs to be sharable, extendable, and machine-readable, thus enabling greater patient management. The Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED – CT) is used to encode medical knowledge described within clinical pathways.
The stroke CP Ontology is an extension of a generic CP ontology, with new concepts introduced specific to the domain of stroke. It is able to represent different types of CP activities, occurring over a period of type, referencing medical knowledge contained in SNOMED CT. It is also able to infer new knowledge using the Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL). This ontology is presented to users through a prototype Clinical Pathway Management System (CPMS). The CPMS is built using Java and the Eclipse IDE. The OWL and SWRL API are used to directly connect to and query ontology files. After completion of a CP, the CPMS generates new ontology files unique to each patient’s CP execution as well as a general output file of patient activities and outcomes. Data analytics can be performed on this output file to determine the most common CP activities, levels of compliancy and similarities between patient CP progressions.


title: Adaptive variation of trembling aspen in Northwestern Ontario

subject:
Adaptive variation
Trembling aspen
Provenance
Leaf flushing phenology

abstract:
To demonstrate the pattern of adaptive variation of Populus tremuloides (Michx.)
to northwestern Ontario climate conditions, a statistical analysis was completed of
growth and phenology variables from 26 provenances. Growth variables included:
height measured in 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004; stem diameter measured in 1999, 2000
and 2002; leader length measured in 2000; and, leaf flushing measured in 2000.
Adaptive variation was summarized by four principal component (PC) axes modeled by
climate variables at seed origin that explained 41.5, 15.8, 10.0 and 6.3 percent of the
growth and phenology variation among provenances. A clinal pattern of adaptive
variation in leaf flushing predicted by temperature in the growing season was
demonstrated by the first PC axis. The second PC axis was strongly influenced by
growth data at one test site (Dog River) and showed a weak latitudinal trend related to
winter temperature and precipitation at the start of the growing season. A longitudinal
pattern of adaptive variation in growth and chlorophyll florescence variables predicted
by July precipitation was demonstrated in PC axis 3. A latitudinal trend was shown for
PC axis 4 where adaptive variation was expressed through a combination of winter
temperatures and June mean temperature that predicted leader length and height
potential together with October frost hardiness. The pattern of adaptive variation
indicated significant genetic variation among trembling aspen provenances over a
relatively small region.


title: Studies on the decomposition of alcohols on metal oxide catalysts

subject:
Decomposition (Chemistry)
Alcohols
Metallic oxides

abstract:
The catalytic decomposition of 2-propanol has
been investigated by a micropulse reactor technique in the
temperature range from 461 to 547 K on nickel oxide and
alumina doped nickel oxide. Nickel oxide is active for
the dehydrogenation of 2-propanol, yielding acetone, but
the introduction of A1[superscript 3+] ions leads to the development
of some dehydration activity; nickel alumlnate is purely
a dehydrating catalyst. X-ray diffraction data indicate
the formation of the nickel aluminate at the higher
dopant concentrations. The variations in catalyst activity
and selectivity as a function of catalyst compositions
have been roughly divided into three regions: region I,
in which there is a significant change in activity and
selectivity with very small concentrations of Al[superscript 3+] ions;
region II, in which the activity and selectivity remains
virtually constant with changes in composition; region III,
in which there is a marked increase in activity and dehydration selectivity with Increasing concentrations of Al[superscript 3+] ions
The behavior in region I is believed to be associated with
electronic changes in nickel oxide brought about by the
substitutional incorporation of Al[superscript 3+] ion, while the behaviour
in region III is ascribed to increasing amounts of
nickel aluminate in the surface zones of the samples.
Self-poisoning in the dehydrogenation reaction
has been observed and an equation accounting for the self-poisoning
kinetics has been proposed. It is suggested
that in the dehydrogenation reaction each alcohol
molecule uses one active site on the catalyst, while
self-poisoning causes elimination of three sites per
deactivating event. Strong chemisorption of acetone on
the surface is considered to be responsible for the self-poisonlng
of the dehydrogenation reaction. The conclusions
are supported by conductivity studies of the catalysts
under reaction conditions.
A characteristic feature of the dehydration
reaction is the deviation from linearity in the Arrhenius
plots at higher reaction temperatures. Isotope effect
measurements show that this is not due to a diffusion controlled
reaction. The deviation is believed to be
associated with the decomposition of hydroxyl groups on
the catalyst surface and investigations of the thermal
dehydroxylation of mixed nickel-aluminium hydroxides
support this proposal.


title: Nesting ecology of a population of red-necked grebes in Northwestern Ontario

contributor:
Ryder, John P.
Momot, Walter T.
Hecnar, Stephen

subject: Red-necked grebe Nests Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Red-necked grebe Breeding Ontario, Northwestern

abstract:
One of the largest, documented breeding populations of Red-necked Grebes
(Podiceps grisegena holboelli) in the world was studied at Whitefish Lake, Ontario in
1993 and 1994. Whitefish Lake (WFL) represents a unique area compared to other
study sites that show mostly solitary nesting Red-necked Grebes or a few pairs/lake.
The population of nesting Red-necked Grebes at WFL is large for this species. It is also
exceptionally dense (mean 1.01 pair per hectare) for this territorial species and could be
considered a semi-colonial situation. The mean number of pairs nesting on the lake for
1993 and 1994 was 49 (range 59-39).
The objective of the study was to expand on the limited information available on
the Red-necked Grebe and to acquire data on nest and nest-site characteristics, egg
measurements, clutch size, egg laying period, incubation period, hatching success, and
young produced. Census results for 1993 show that peak nesting occurred on 21 June
with 59 nests with eggs. Total number of eggs reached a maximum for 1993 at n = 202
for 21 June. Total nests with eggs peaked n = 39 on 22 June, 1994 while total eggs (n
= 135) peaked on 30 June, 1994.
The population is strongly associated with uncultivated wild rice (Zizania
palustris) stands in shallow bays of the lake. Shallow, uniform water depth, and the
high productivity of Whitefish Lake provide abundant food and vegetation for grebe
breeding activities. Eighty-five percent of 121 nests in 1994 were constructed primarily
of wild rice, the most abundant emergent species in the study area. One hundred and six of the 121 (88%) of the nests at Whitefish Lake were floating nests attached to the
lake substrate by a column of sub-surface vegetation and detritus.
Nest-site selection in Red-necked Grebes is influenced by underwater
characteristics such as water depth, availability of nest material and anchors for the
nest. Early evidence of future plant emergence, (future) shelter from wind and waves
and protection/concealment from predators and some form of anchorage (debris, sticks
or logs) evident only from underwater searches.
A factorial ANOVA revealed significant differences between nest and non-nest
sites for depth and vegetation density. Water depth at nests (57.4 ± 35.3 cm, n = 180)
was significantly shallower than non-nest sites (86.9 ± 27.9 cm, n = 120). Overall
vegetation density was higher for nest sites than non-nest sites.
Mean distance for nearest neighbour for 148 nests at Whitefish Lake was 27.2 ±
30.0 m (range 1.5-185). Aggregation indices calculated from study area indicated that
clumping occurred and a simple test of significance for deviation from randomness
revealed significant differences for all of eleven sections sampled.
Water depth and vegetation density must be considered when evaluating the
quality of territory selected by grebes. A study investigating all variables potentially
associated with breeding success is recommended. Since aggregations of this size and
density are so rare for this grebe species. Whitefish Lake represents a suitable site for
future research.
There are over 50,000 lakes in Ontario (OMNR) in which only a handful of have
been identified to have nesting Red-necked Grebes. Regional and provincial surveys
could provide additional data for comparison with Whitefish and other lakes. It is important to establish more specific hypotheses on the habitat and nest site selection of
this Grebe and perhaps determine the variables that can be attributed to their breeding
success in Ontario.


title: Simple technique for measuring maximum aerobic capacity and its relation to state of training

subject:
Respiration Measurement.
Physical fitness.

abstract:
In the past maximum aerobic power tests have been the standard means
for measuring the trained state. Recent literature, however, states that
the ability to work aerobically at a high percentage of one's maximum
aerobic power, referred to as maximum aerobic capacity, may be an equally
effective means for indicating a person's state of training. The purpose
of this study was to develop a simple technique to measure maximum
aerobic capacity and relate this value to the person's state of training.
Twenty trained and twenty untrained subjects ranging in age from
18 to 42 years participated in the study. Participants who accumulated in
excess of an average of fifty Cooper points per week were considered as
being trained, A re-test was administered to establish the reliability
of using ventilation for measuring maximum aerobic capacity.
The trained participants had a significantly greater mean level of
maximum aerobic capacity than the untrained participants. Maximum aerobic power values correlated significantly with maximum aerobic capacity values, and maximum aerobic power and the participant's age had a significantly greater correlation than maximum aerobic capacity and the participant's
age.
There was no evidence that the maximum aerobic capacity test was any
less efficient than the maximum aerobic power test for separating out
levels of training, but the former was much easier to administer. Since
maximum aerobic capacity was less related to age than maximum aerobic
power it might be a better test for evaluating a person's state of training.


title: Examination of predictors related to the stages and transitions of smoking behavior in adolescents / by Connie Dalton.

subject:
Teenagers (Tobacco use)
Adolescent smoking behviours
Predictors of adolescent smoking

abstract:
The present study examined adolescent smoking in relation to six different
groups of smoking determinants, including: the social environment,
pharmacological factors, social bonding, social learning,
personality/intrapsychic determinants, and knowledge, belief, attitude, and
behavior variables. In order to summarize these constructs, factor analysis was
performed on the last four groups of determinants. Longitudinal associations
between these predictors and three stages of smoking were assessed separately
among adolescents aged 10 to 14 and IS to 19, and predictors related to three
different smoking transitions were also examined. Factor analyses revealed that
the predictor variables loaded on three higher order constructs, including: 1)
deviance and social influences, 2) beliefs, attitudes, and behavior, and 3) social
bonding. Family smoking, social bonding, beliefs, and social norms
discriminated between stages of smoking differentially, depending on age.
Whereas, social learning variables predicted the transition from non-smoking to
initiation best, and increasing consumption among initial and experimental
smoking was best predicted by social learning, as well as belief and attitude
variables. Normative social influences and pharmacological variables predicted
the transition to decreasing consumption among maintenance smokers.


title: Tewahia:ton tipaacimowin -- : two stories seen intertribally, the first novels of Ruby Slipperjack and Thomas King

abstract:
Ruby Slipperjack's Honour The Sun (1987) and Thomas King's
Medicine River (1989) are the two novels I discuss. Slipperjack's
novel investigates the adolescence of a female protagonist known as
the Owl, who passes through the vicissitudes of many family changes
and yet sustains her will to grow into adulthood. Her mother is
also a key character who shows the reader her view of a Northern
Ontario land and her love for her children. The second story
examined has a male principal character. King's work employs
humour, the situating of traditional people in modern times and a
Trickster-like character, Harlen Bigbear, as the reader views
relationships that are common to people of any colour. Will, the
central character, explores both his ancestry and his love for
Louise as the reader follows his life in the past and present.
One significant aspect that is used to examine both works is
the Gavanashagowa--The Great Law of Peace and Power and its respect
for and interplay between the community and the individual. Rooted
in the formation of the Six Nations, this law has grown to be a
part of the constitutions of the United States, Canada and the
United Nations. It is my view, therefore, that this way of life
has also influenced Native people in general and more specifically
Native literature in some instances.
Supported by my traditional Indian perspective that is
intertribal, the reader of both works is introduced to Canadian
Native Literature. Enduring images of the land and community life
that all Canadians and readers of any nation can relate to carry
the novels through their unique landscapes. The Medicine Wheel, an
aboriginal way of viewing the world, is examined by me as an
interpretive entry point to a wholistic understanding of the
actions of the characters and their families. I discuss the
metaphor of the circle, with its journey through the Four
Directions, as a effective way to look at the writing of these two
authors and Native literature generally.
As an outgrowth of the Native practice of storytelling, these
books are part of the growing body of aboriginal literature. The
experiences of King's and Slipperjack's characters are set in
Canadian contemporary times so that we may learn more of Native
people; yet the stories are timeless in their vision of a world all
may appreciate.


title: Satisfaction and stability within long-term relationships involving trait hostility

subject:
Interpersonal relations research
Couples psychological testing
Hostility (Psychology)

abstract:
This study examined correlates of trait hostility within long-term relationships. In
accordance with the rules of complementarity put forth by interpersonal theorists,
it was predicted that hostile individuals would more often be paired with similarly
hostile individuals, and that, counter-intuitively, such relationships would involve
high levels of satisfaction and stability. The participants were 70 couples
involved in long-term romantic relationships. Both partners of each couple
completed an anonymous, 20-minute questionnaire that included measures of
personality, relationship satisfaction, and relationship commitment The results
indicate that the existence of complementarity and its association widi
relationship satisfaction and stability are different for friendliness and hostility,
and depend upon whose ratings of personality are compared. When participants’
Friendliness-Hostility self-ratings were compared to their ratings of their partners’
Friendliness-Hostility, complementarity was only evident among friendly
participants, but not hostile participants. Further, both friendly and hostile
participants reported greater relationship satisfaction and commitment when they
rated their partners as friendly, rather than hostile. When partners’ Friendliness-
Hostility self-ratings were compared, the results were inconsistent and varied by
gender. The patterns of results are discussed in relation to interpersonal theory,
base-rate hypotheses, and theories of social influence.


title: Vegetation response to harvesting, harvesting and prescribed-burning and wildfire in Northwestern Ontario : patterns of reproductive strategies and nutrient accumulation

subject:
Initial species composition
Boreal mixedwood
Propagule bank

abstract:
Initial species composition was investigated on a group of boreal
mixedwood sites that had experienced various forms of disturbance. The
hypothesis explored was that environmental changes caused by different
disturbances would be reflected in patterns of revegetation. The disturbance
types were as follows: (1) Harvest, winter, full tree logged cutovers, delimbed at
the road side; (2) Prescribed-bum, cutovers burned in early spring; (3) Reburn,
cutovers which were Prescribed-burned and subsequently experienced a
wildfire; (4) Wildfire, a low severity crown fire in mature forest; (5) Control, 70
year old forest with a species composition of white spruce (Picea glauca
(Moench)Voss), black spruce (Picea mariana (Miller) Britton), balsam fir (Abies
balsamea (L.) Miller) and white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall).


title: Growth and characterization of group III-nitrides by migration enhanced afterglow epitaxy

contributor:
Alexandrov, Dimiter
Reznik, Alla

subject: Group III-nitrides materials system and applications

subject: InN grown by MEAglow

subject: MEAglow grown GaN

subject: MEAglow growth technique

subject: Migration-enhanced afterglow

abstract:
The work presented in this thesis investigates the growth and properties of group III- nitride semiconductors that were grown using the Migration Enhanced Afterglow Epitaxy (MEAglow) method. This work was to enhance the understanding of the MEAglow growth process towards the improvement of quality of the layers grown using this technique. The MEAglow technique applies the migration enhanced epitaxy method in a low pressure plasma-based CVD reactor, which has a potential of producing high quality epitaxial group III-nitride layers at relatively low growth temperatures on large deposition areas.
The low temperature pulse growth in metal-rich regime, comprising the MME method
was employed under growth pressures between 500 mTorr and 3000 mTorr. As the MME method up to this point has been used only for MBE systems, study of the impact of the growth pressure on the materials properties was necessary. In this work the pressure dependence was mapped to an existing surface phase diagram for MBE systems by calculating the number of nitrogen gas phase collisions and the metalorganic bombardment rate, for the specific to the prototype reactor parameters, to a first approximation. This was done in order to achieve an intermediate regime free of metal droplets for growth in metal-rich regime.
High quality epitaxial InN layers were accomplished on extremely thin and smooth
Ga2O3 buffer layers. These results indicate a potential for the application of Ga2O3 buffers in InN growth. The MEAglow InN layers were further optimized for growth on commercially available GaN buffer layers and excellent two-dimensional growth was achieved for layers grown under metal-rich conditions at 512 °C. Post-growth annealing studies were carried out for InN layers grown at temperatures below 400 °C to study the limiting processes of the removal of excess nitrogen, believed to be a dominant defect in InN films grown in plasma-based systems at very low temperatures.
Variations in GaN stoichiometry under certain growth conditions and the effect of similar growth conditions on MEAglow grown InGaN were also examined. The growth of MEAglow InGaN samples on sapphire substrates was optimized to reduce the indium surface segregation and phase separation of the material.


title: Exploring a school health committee's role in school based health promotion

contributor:
Socha, Teresa
Korteweg, Lisa

subject:
School health services
Ontario, Northern
Health promotion
Children
Health and hygiene

abstract: This study examines the role that a School Health Committee (SHC) plays in enhancing school-based health promotion. Designed in collaboration with the local district health unit to inform practice, a qualitative case study design of one school in Northern Ontario with a SHC was used, exploring the roles of the public health nurse, a teacher, a parent, and four students using semi-structured interview, a student focus group, document analysis, and participant observation. The theoretical framework that guided the study included the Diffusion of Innovations theory and the Comprehensive School Health model.


title: Comparison of Carbon Footprints: Mass Timer Buildings vs Steels – A Literature Review

subject:
Carbon footprint
Climate change
Engineered wood products
Global warming
Greenhouse gas emissions
Mass timber
Sustainability

abstract:
Sustainability and innovation are key components in the fight against climate change.
Mass timber buildings have been gaining popularity due to the renewable nature of timber.
Although research comparing mass timber buildings to more mainstream buildings such as steel is
still in the early stages and therefore, limited. We are looking to determine the difference between
carbon footprints of mass timber and traditional steel and concrete buildings. This is done with the
intention of determining the sustainability and practicality of mass timber buildings.


title: Exploring the applicability of the cognitive paradigm to the personality characteristic of perfectionism / by Barbara J. Backs.

subject: Perfectionism (Personality trait)


title: The chemistry of cobalt and nickel complexes with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane and Co ligands

contributor:
Hughes, A. N.
Holah, D. G.

subject:
Cobalt compounds
Nickel compounds
Organophosphorus compounds


title: Hydrolysis of silicone polymers in aqueous systems

subject:
Hydrolysis
Silicone polymers

abstract:
Silicon-29 and 'H NMR spectroscopy were used to investigate the hydrolysis
of methyl silicones in a variety of aqueous environments. Dilute acid, dilute base and
one or more of the dissolved constituents of blood plasma were found to catalyse the
degradation of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-and its hydrojty- and methoxyterminated
derivatives-along with the interior and shell of a silicone mammary
prosthesis. Dimethylsilanediol (DMSD) was the principal hydrolysis product,
although in many instances (most notably after long decomposition periods) the dimer
(tetramethyldisiloxanediol) and/or certain cyclodimethylsiloxane species were also
detected. Only for hexamethyldisiloxane was silicic acid detected as an additional
hydrolysis product after long-term interaction with blood plasma. Alcohols and
certain aliphatic polyols, when added to solution, typically caused alkoxylation of
DMSD and the dimer.
The presence of electron withdrawing hydroxy and methoxy end groups greatly
increased the rate of degradation of PDMS. Both the shell and interior of the
mammary prosthesis also hydrolysed faster than pure PDMS, which would suggest
that there is considerably less than 100 % trimethylsilyl capping of their constituent
polymer chains.


title: Development of nanostructured material based electrochemical sensors for food safety and quality control

contributor:
Chen, Aicheng
Das, Gautam
Qin, Wensheng

subject: Electrochemistry

subject: Materials science

subject: Food safety and quality control

subject: Nanomaterials

subject: Electrochemical techniques

subject: Food additives and contaminants (detection)

abstract:
The issue of foodborne related illnesses due to additives and contaminants poses a significant challenge to food processing industries. Electrochemical-based strategies offer simple and robust analytical tools, which are ideal for food safety and the quality assessment process, in contrast to conventional instrumentation methods. The development of nanomaterials based electrochemical sensors has garnered significant attention due to their capacity for accurate analytical quantification, which has strong potential toward the replacement of conventional techniques by offering advantages such as high sensitivity and selectivity, real-time monitoring, and ease of use.
During my Ph.D. study, four distinct types of nanostructured materials were used to develop electrochemical sensors for the detection of food preservatives in food and beverage products. The consumption of excessive amounts of nitrite (NO2-) can be detrimental to the human body. In light of this, we developed an electrochemical sensor based on cobalt oxide nanosheets and gold nanoparticles (Co3O4/Au) for NO2- sensing. The nanomaterial was synthesized through the electrodeposition of gold (Au) on Co3O4 nanosheets. The Co3O4/Au/GCE was capable of electrooxidizing nitrite with a higher anodic peak current, and the sensor exhibited excellent linearity with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 0.11 μM.
A nanoporous gold microelectrode was synthesized for the determination of contaminants (hydrazine, N2H4) and preservatives (sulfite (SO32-), nitrite (NO2-)). The fabricated microelectrode was characterized via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The nanoporous gold microelectrode exhibited excellent electrochemical performance for the simultaneous electrochemical oxidation of N2H4, SO32-, and NO2-. In addition, the nanoporous gold microelectrode possessed high selectivity and stability. The performance of ii
the electrochemical sensor was further validated using actual samples such as water, wine, apple cider beer, and beef with good recovery rates, thereby confirming its potential for food safety and quality control applications.
A novel electrochemical sensor was developed using fluorine-doped graphene oxide (F-GO) for the detection of caffeic acid (CA). The fabricated nanomaterial was systematically characterized using SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical investigation of F-GO/GCE for CA oxidation revealed that it demonstrated high electrocatalytic activity compared with other electrodes (e.g., bare GCE and GO/GCE). The analytical quantitation of CA recorded with the F-GO/GCE produced a stable oxidation signal over the selected CA concentration range (0.5 μM to 100.0 μM, R2 = 0.9960) with a LOD value of 0.018 μM. The fabricated sensor successfully exhibited the capacity to directly detect CA in assorted wine samples without pretreatment.
To further explore the applications of the F-GO, a nanocomposite material synthesized with Au and F-GO was employed for the development of an Au/F-rGO/GCE sensor for the detection of vanillin. The electrochemical performance and the analytical capabilities of this novel electrochemical sensor were investigated using electrochemical techniques such as CV and DPV. The excellent sensitivity, selectivity, augmented electrocatalytic activity, and reproducibility of these developed electrochemical sensors can be attributed to the high conductivity of the nanostructured materials. The dimensions and morphologies of the developed nanomaterials played a critical role in enhancing the electrochemical performance of these sensors.


title: Children's use of gaze, limb movement, vocal pitch and valence cues to infer deception / by Carey Sullivan.

subject:
Nonverbal communication (Psychology)
Trust (Psychology) in children.
Truthfulness and falsehood in children

abstract:
A substantial body of research has accumulated on the types of
cues individuals use to determine whether others are lying rather than
telling the truth (Depaulo, Stone & Lassiter, 1985). The bulk of the
research, however, has dealt with adults. The present research was
designed to fill in the gap in our knowledge about such processes in
children. In particular, the study examined children's use of gaze cues,
limb movement cues, vocal pitch cues and valence cues to determine
whether others are lying or telling the truth. Children from senior
kindergarten, second and fourth grades were presented videotapes of
actors who stated their liking and disliking for clothes, movies and T.V.
programs. The actors displayed different types of gazes (direct versus
indirect), limb movements (active versus nonactive), vocal pitches (high
versus normal) and valence (liking versus not liking). The children
judged on 3-point scales how much they believed the actors were lying
or telling the truth and provided explanations for their judgments. It was
found that the children did not use the anxiety cues in their judgments,
although they did show consideration of the cues in their explanations.
Age differences were found in children’s use of the valence cues in their
lying judgments; senior kindergarten and second grade, judged the
negative statements as being more indicative of lying than were the
positive statements and the reverse was shown by the fourth graders.
Close scrutiny of the data revealed that fourth grade children tended to use the anxiety cues in their lying judgments. It was proposed that the
children’s use of the anxiety cues may emerge later in development.


title: Utilization of primary health care nurse practitioners in rural northern communities to alleviate the physician shortages and retention issues

subject: Nurse practicioners Ontario, Northern

subject: Nurses Supply and demand Ontario, Northern

subject: Physicians Supply and demand Ontario, Northern

abstract:
The purpose of this research project is to critically examine primary health care services
and analyze alternative solutions to the physician recruitment and retention issue in rural,
northern, and remote communities in Ontario. Primary health care nurse practitioners, (PHCNPs)
are a safe, cost-effective solution to alleviate this dilemma in these communities.
The needs assessment, conceptual framework and literature review demonstrated that
populations living in rural, northern and remote communities have decreased access to Health
Care Providers, show that PHCNPs are a cost-effective and safe alternative to physicians, and
demonstrate that recruiting nurses from rural and remote communities to become PHCNPs is
beneficial to the communities. The Population Health Model validated that the health care needs
of individuals in rural, northern and remote communities are not being met
To alleviate the physician shortage and retention issue in Ontario and particularly rural,
northern and remote communities in Ontario the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
(MOHLTC) could:
Provide funding to Registered Nurses in northern, rural and remote
communities to become PHCNPs.
Increase the number of PHCNP run clinics.
Continue to support and increase the number of Family Health Teams in
Ontario.


title: Design and synthesis of small molecule ligands targeting protease-activated receptor 2 as potential diagnostic and therapeutic agents

contributor:
Hou, Jinqiang
Campbell, Michael
Gottardo, Christine

subject:
Positron emission tomography (PET)
PET imaging agent
Radiopharmaceuticals
G protein-coupled receptor
Inflammatory diseases
Cancer and molecular imaging

abstract:
Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging requires radionuclides (positron-emitters) labeled
molecules (tracers) to image biochemical and physiological processes in vivo and helps diagnose
diseases noninvasively. The success of PET imaging depends on validated radiopharmaceuticals
targeting biologically relevant receptors. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are cell membrane
receptors that belong to a class of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family. Proteaseactivated receptor 2 (PAR2) is the second member of the PARs family. Aberrant activation of
PAR2 is associated with various cancers, through downstream signaling that contributes to cancer
progression and tumor metastasis. It has been found that PAR2 exhibited up to 16-fold overexpression in lung cancer. The upregulation of PAR2 in cancers indicates that it may serve as
potential drug target for cancer screening and treatment. Blocking PAR2 activity with small
molecules is proposed to provide a therapeutic benefit. In addition, the development of 18Fradiolabeled small molecules targeting PAR2 receptor hasthe potential to non-invasively diagnose
some types of cancers such as lung and breast cancers. A library of AZ3451 analogues (14
compounds) was designed with the assistance of molecular modelling, and was synthesized, and
characterized by Mass Spectrometry, and 1H-NMR. All compounds have greater than 95% purity
as confirmed by HPLC. Collaborator Dr. Rithwik Ramachandran at Western University (UWO)
will perform functional assays including calcium-signalling, β-arrestin recruitment, MARK
signaling assays etc. to evaluate all compounds for the therapeutic potential; the candidate
molecule will be selected for radiolabelling and PET imaging studies using animal models of
cancer at the TBRHRI. The novel compounds synthesized in the thesis are potentially useful for
the treatment of PAR2-driven cancers while the radioligand has potential for non-invasive cancer
diagnosis with PET.


title: A social ecological exploration of community adult playground use among seniors in Northern Ontario

contributor:
Moller, Helle
Pearson, Erin
Wiersma, Elaine

subject: Outdoor adult playgrounds

subject: Older adults and physical acitvity initiatives

subject: Socioeconomic and environmental influences on physical activity

abstract:
Modifications to the built environment have recently gained momentum as an important method
of supporting community wellbeing and physical activity. Outdoor adult playgrounds (OAPs) are
one example of a physical activity infrastructure initiative that can improve access in
opportunities to be physically active. Moreover, they have been recognized as potential features
of an age-friendly community by specifically supporting older adults’ physical activity. The
global growth in OAP development as a tool to support community physical activity has yet to
have been supported by a strong analysis of the community, environmental, or policy factors
influencing OAP uptake, particularly for older adults. In view of this noted gap in the literature,
the social ecological model represents a novel methodological approach for understanding
multiple influences on OAP uptake. In this research project, I employed a case-study
methodology informed by the social ecological model to: 1) explore how an OAP can support
older adults’ physical activity; and 2) explore the roles of community organizations and
stakeholders as they relate to supporting OAP uptake by older adults. I collected data through
semi-structured interviews (n=9), participant observations, and a review of relevant municipal
policies and reports, and analyzed the data through a social ecological lens. While community
members, and specifically the older adult population, faced noted challenges in using the OAP
equipment, the OAP’s setting could help to reduce income-related inequalities in access to
physical activity infrastructure. Some of the participatory challenges encountered by prospective
older adult users were similar to the challenges experienced “on the ground” at the OAP, which
is a key finding of this research. The identified facilitators and barriers pertaining to the OAP’s
uptake in the community can be of use to prospective researchers, policymakers, and park
planners, with a view toward informing future initiatives and programming.


title: Analysis of program delivery services in First Nations, federal and provincial schools in Northwestern Ontario

subject: Native peoples Education Ontario, Northwestern

subject: Schools Ontario, Northwestern

abstract:
This study compares federal, provincial and First Nations schools’ delivery of specific
educational services to Native students in Northwestern Ontario. Areas of comparison include
those which the Indian Education Paper Phase One (INAC, 1982) regarded as "determinants
of program quality" (p. 20): (a) curriculum and standards, (b) staffing, (c) staff support and
supervision, and (d) student support services.
Data was acquired through the use of a survey questionnaire, structured interviews, and
document analysis. The primary research instrument, the survey questionnaire, was
distributed to 37 public and separate boards of education, 28 First Nations schools, and 7
federal schools. In addition to the questionnaire structured interviews were conducted with
the Assistant District Superintendent of Education for an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
administrative district, as well as with a Superintendent of Education for an urban separate
school board in the region. Furthermore, a number of documents provided by federal,
provincial and First Nations agencies concerned with education in general, and Native
education in particular, were analyzed.
The results of the study indicate that all three educational systems have programs in place
to provide the above educational services to the Native students enrolled in their schools.
There are, however, significant differences among the systems in the manner in which these
services are implemented. Differences were found in the provision of a Native cultural
component in the curriculum, the professional qualifications required of teaching staff, the
employment benefit packages provided to educational employees, the nature of supervisory
relations, and the provision of student support services.


title: Exploring the Potential for Achieving Self-determined Community Economic Development in Nunavut: An Examination of the Government of Nunavut’s Economic Development Strategies

subject: Postcolonialism, neo-colonialism, and internal colonialism in Nunavut

subject: Current economic conditions in Nunavut

subject: Nunavut's Government structure

subject: Climate change and economic development

subject: Sustainability and development

subject: Community economic development

abstract:
Self-determined political and economic structures can nurture local capacity for
adaptive response to a rapidly changing climate and economy. What level of potential
for creating such structures is contained within Nunavut’s economic development
strategies? In order to explore this topic, this investigation aimed to 1) identify the goals
of Nunavut’s economic development strategies, 2) determine whether the goals are
currently achievable, and 3) describe how the contents of the economic development
strategies compare to what the literature says will produce community wellbeing. The
five economic development strategy documents produced by the Government of
Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation were chosen for
analysis. This investigation focused on the challenge of attaining sustainable community
economic development within the context of a neo-colonial economic and political
regime. A directed content analysis was conducted. This analysis utilized the Harvard
Project’s nation-building framework as a foundation and then expanded upon it to
represent new themes that emerged from the documents. A second level analysis was
undertaken to examine the implementation plans in each strategy. This research
produces valuable baseline information regarding current territorial level economic goals
and plans, which will influence local capacity for adaptation and self-determination.


title: Verbal memory scale : a test of children's short-term and long-term recognition and recall using different channels of input and output

subject: Memory.


title: The Influence of Neck Stiffness, Impact Location, and Angle on Peak Linear Acceleration, Shear Force, and Energy Loading Measures of Hockey Helmet Impacts

contributor:
Zerpa, Carlos
Elyasi, Siamak
Przysucha, Eryk

subject:
Head and brain injuries in hockey
Head impacts and mechanisms of injury
Hockey helmet testing

abstract: Head and brain injuries like concussion affect many hockey players throughout their playing careers. Hockey helmets remain to be the best form of head protection available as they function well to reduce the occurrence of skull fracture by minimizing linear accelerations and force transfer to the head. Currently, among helmet testing protocols and the literature, there is a large focus on peak linear acceleration reduction and the comparison of injury risk across impact conditions relative to linear accelerations felt by the brain. Additionally, gaps exist analyzing how certain impact characteristics like impact angle and neck stiffness influence injury risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence that impact angle, neck stiffness, and impact location have on commonly analyzed variables such as peak linear acceleration and Severity Index, while also analyzing differences in shear force and energy loaded onto the head and neck. The study served to create a model to compute the amount of energy loaded into the system composed of head, neck and helmet and to determine the strength of the relationship between the amounts of energy loaded into the system and the risk of injury estimated by Severity Index values. The study involved an analysis of 18 impacts at different velocities per helmet impact locations using a combination of three neck stiffness and two impact angles. In total, 540 impacts were conducted and analyzed. The findings were analyzed and an interaction effect with a medium effect size was observed between impact angle and impact location when measuring peak linear acceleration, F(8, 510)= 16.174, p< .005, η2= .113. Also, interaction effects with small effect sizes were determined between impact angle and impact location, F(4, 510)= 11.977, p< .005, η2= .086, as well as between neck torque and impact angle when measuring the amount of energy loaded onto the system, F(2, 510)=3.700, p= .025, η2= .014. An interaction effect with a medium effect size was also observed between impact angle and impact location when measuring Severity Index, F(4, 510)= 12.795, p<0.005, η2= .091. Finally, a three-way interaction with a small effect size was observed between the variables when measuring shear force applied to the headform, F(8, 510)= 5.550, p< .005, η2= .080. A model to predict energy loaded was also created using impact location, angle of impact, peak linear acceleration, and peak shear force as predictors, F(5, 535)= 54.190, p< .005. In addition to these findings, a moderate correlation between Severity Index and the amount of energy loaded onto the system was determined, r= .340, p< .05. This study served to build on previous research analyzing helmeted impacts in an attempt to improve understanding of injury mechanisms.


title: "From moribund to mobilized" : the Lake Superior Regiment, 1920-1940

abstract:
The intent of this work is to determine to what extent the Lake Superior
Regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia1 fulfilled both its military and civic
role in the Lakehead cities of Fort William and Port Arthur, Ontario during the
twenty-year period from 1920 to 1940. It is not intended that this work provide an
analysis of the social makeup o f the militia or of Canadian defence policy during the
interwar period, nor is it intended to provide a profile o f the Canadian Army or the
Non Permanent Active Militia as a whole. It is important, however, to examine the
evolution of the Canadian military in general and the militia in particular in order to
understand the environment in which the Lake Superior Regiment operated during the
period in question.


title: Location-independent packet scheduling for wireless EPON

subject:
Ethernet (Local area network system)
Passive optical networks.
Packet switching (Data transmission)

abstract: Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) is the latest access technology, based on IEEE standards, utilizing an optical network architecture optimized for simple, economical delivery of voice, data, and video over native Ethernet to residential, business, and enterprise customers. With the recent explosion of wireless enterprise Local Area Networks (LANs) and the widespread implementation of Wi-Fi networks in public hot-spots, the need for convergence of wired access networks (such as EPON) and wireless enterprise LANs is rapidly evolving and expanding.


title: Visitors' attitudes towards wind farms : a study of the English Lake District National Park

contributor:
Dilley, Robert
Koster, Rhonda
Johnston, Margaret

subject:
Wind power
England
Lake District National Park
Public opinion

abstract: The tourism industry is one of the largest in the world. Many nations derive considerable economic gain from tourism markets. At the same time, many nations are pushing for the development of newer greener sources of energy while not understanding the impact this could have on the tourism industry. The Lake District National Park represents the crowning jewel in the United Kingdom's national park system. With an estimated 12 million visitors a year and over 46,000 permanent residents, the Lake District is one of the United Kingdom's busiest parks. Like many natural areas around the world the Lake District has seen an increase in the number of wind farm proposals.There has been an increase in the number of negative reactions to these proposals; partly as a result of presumed negative effects on visitors to the area. The extent to which this opposition is based on evidence is unclear. This study examines the attitudes of visitors towards wind farms, their level of knowledge and their willingness to return if wind farms were to be constructed on the fringes of the Lake District National Park. The development of a scale with a sole purpose of divulging the visitors' attitudes, positive or negative, is the first step to fully understanding the effect that potential developments will have, not only on the geographic landscape, but also on the visitors to the area.


title: Increasing diameter growth content of red pine (Pinus Resinosa) through intensive management

subject:
Forest management
Red pine
Silviculture
Tree pruning

abstract:
Intensive forest management can only be justified if it increases wood quality or yield sufficiently to compensate for the additional investment.  Treatments such as thinning and/or pruning are typically only applied to high quality sites like those characteristically found at plantations. In Ontario there is an abundance of Red pine plantations across the province especially in southern regions. These plantations are the result of reforestation and afforestation efforts put into place to reduce soil erosion and to repurpose abandoned farm land. This study concentrates of the effect of an intensive
pruning regime over a single growing season.


title: Gendered media representations of sexiness and their effects on girls' educational experiences

contributor:
Nicholas, Jane
Walton, Gerald

subject:
Gender disparities
Girls' educational experiences
Hidden curriculum
Mass media
Preadolescent girls

abstract:
Using the Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay as a case study, this research
focuses on how girls receive, understand, and resist dominant messages of femininity,
heterosexuality, and the body that value sexiness over intelligence and academic success
in the hidden curriculum in Ontario schools. The study explains how preadolescent girls
age 8-14 are affected by the mass media, but also how they negotiate competing
discourses in the hidden curriculum and may resist them. Premised on the fact that girls'
thoughts, experiences, and opinions matter, the study utilizes girls' voices, stories, and
ideas to provide solutions for the overwhelming evidence of gender disparities in the
hidden curriculum. A feminist qualitative perspective is the foundation for the research,
using focus group discussions to provide the space and time for preadolescent girls to
reflect and offer their interpretations of the social world, shedding light on the lives and
experiences of girls' by speaking with them, rather than about them. Through the use of
the focus groups, girls' perspectives can provide valuable knowledge to assist educators
to better serve the needs of girls at school. The results of the research indicate that
preadolescent girls' educational experiences are affected by media content that continues
to represent girls through features of heteronormative femininity.


title: Possessing the literary mystery : reading, writing and interpreting the detective process in A.S. Byatt's Possession

abstract:
This thesis investigates how Byatt’s literary mystery Possession uses elements of
antidetective fiction and subverts conventions of the classic detective story. The classic
detective novel is a genre in which the strange and mysterious is always explained,
rationalized, eradicated, and abolished by the detective. While classic detective stories
feature red herrings and false leads which delay the solution of the mystery, the detective
uses his/her superior intellect and reasoning ability to successfully unravel such
diversions and get at the bare bones of real truth. In contrast, the antidetective novel
foregrounds a world where the disconcerting realm of mystery remains unsolved, the
quest to pin an answer on the unknown unsatisfied. In the antidetective novel, the
detective’s struggle to figure out the truth is often mocked, undermined, and forever
delayed by the author.
To support my claim that Possession is a metafictional antidetective novel, I
analyse, in detail, the detective process Byatt designs for both fictional detectives and
extra-textual readers. My discussion of the investigative process in Possession focuses
on the narrative games Byatt creates between readers and writers inside and outside of
the fiction. The various pieces of written discourses Possession features as textual clues
keep much of the mystery of the past an enigma, thereby destroying the closure and
positivism inherent in classic detective fiction.
In Possession Byatt concocts a flexible reading game/detective process via an
unstable ontological horizon, unreliable narration, and dubious intrusions by the
omniscient narrator. While the metafictional antidetective novel Possession strives to
undermine and assault the classic detective’s search for the truth, Byatt’s art affirms the
energy of dynamic storytelling and the process, not product, of reading.


title: Canada's position and participation in the early development of the International Monetary Fund, 1940-1943

subject: International economic relations History

abstract:
This study focuses on Canada's involvement in the
informal discussions that ultimately led to the creation
of the International Monetary Fund, These discussions, which
involved three main participants, Canada, the United Kingdom
and the United States, took place during 19^0-19^3
established the basic format of the plan used at the Bretton
Woods conference in 1944.
During the discussions of I940-I943, two proposals
for an international financial organization, one British and
one American, were considered. In part, the differences in
the two proposals were owing to the differences in the British
and American international financial situations. It was the
task of Canadian officials to not only advocate the proposal
that was beneficial to Canadian interests, but also to maintain
Anglo-American cooperation. It is argued that the
position taken by Canadian officials was based on past Csinadian
trade and financial experiences, as well as on expectations of the postwar world. However, Canada needed "both Britain
and the United States in her trade and financial network,
hut this was not assured in either proposal. In fact, it
often seemed as though Britain and the United States would
not he a part of the same international financial organization.
Moreover, there was also a fine line between achieving Anglo-
American cooperation and being faced with an Anglo-American
diktat, which Canadian officials had to deal with.
Although Canadian officials considered either proposal
an improvement over the situation that existed in the
interwar period, they nevertheless believed that further
benefits to Canada could be achieved through active Canadian
participation throughout the informal discussions. With all
of these considerations in mind, Canadian officials drafted
a Canadian proposal which was presented in 1943.


title: Effect of semantic representations on episodic memory for unrelated sensory information

subject: Memory Testing

abstract:
The present research investigated the integration
of meaning and sensory information within episodic
memory. Early research (e.g. Morris, Bransford &
Franks, 1977; Stein, 1978, as well as Tulving &
Thomson, 1973; Fisher & Craik, 1977) investigated
episodic memory based on 'transfer appropriate
processing' or 'encoding specificity' explanations of
memory treated memory for meaning and sensory
information as separable processes. In contrast,
recent research (e.g. Hayman, Servais & Macdonald,
1995; Cofell, 1994) has found evidence of an
interactive representation of meaning and sensory
information within episodic memory using words as the
target stimuli. The present experiments extend these
findings to pictorial material using congruent and
incongruent manipulations of both the meaning and the
colour of pictures at study. Experiment 1 replicated
the findings of Hayman et al. (1995) in which episodic
memory is better when both meaning and sensory
information are processed simultaneously at study.
Experiment 2 replicated the results of Experiment 1, as
well as investigated the relationship between
'remember' and 'know' recognitions (Gardiner, 1988; Tulving, 1985) and episodic memory for sensory
features. The results supported an interdependent
representation of meaning and sensory information
within episodic memory when responses were conditional
upon a 'remember' recognition response, although the
independence of 'remember' and 'know' responses was not
clear.


title: Using trail camera imagery to develop a habitat suitability index (HSI) For moose (Alces alces) In the English River Forest, ON

subject:
Maximum entropy modelling
Trail camera imagery
Forest management for large mammals
Moose ecology
Habitat modelling
Remote sensing

abstract:
Moose are a valuable economic and ecological resource in Ontario. Understanding their spatial distribution throughout the forest is essential for managing populations and preserving habitat. One method of identifying the spatial distribution of species is through the development of habitat suitability indices. Suitability models use presence points and environmental variables to predict the likely distribution of a species across a given landscape. This thesis examined the feasibility of using trail camera imagery to create a habitat suitability index for moose Alces alces in the English River Forest, ON. This was accomplished by using recreational trail camera purchased from Cabela's Canada, and an open-source maximum entropy modeling software called MaxEnt. Three runs through the modeling software were completed in order to produce the most accurate model possible. Results showed varying performance with the three models. The binary model had the highest AUC at 0.808. However, it was determined that suitable habitat was highly correlated to the unclassified layer, which represents roads. The non-binary run rectified the issues with the binary model, but only produced an AUC of 0.661. Interestingly the pre-sapling – sapling layer was found to include information which was highly correlated to other variables. This resulted in the layer being relatively unimportant to the model, and it was subsequently removed. The non-
binary run with omitted layers was determined to be the best spatial distribution fit with an AUC value of 0.771 and a standard deviation of 0.161. Overall, results concluded that it was possible to use trail camera imagery to develop a habitat suitability index for moose in the English River Forest.


title: Increased production of cellulosic sugars from lignocellulosic materials

subject:
Lignocellulosic biomass
Biomass energy conversion
Enzymatic hydrolysis
Biomass production
Renewable energy

abstract:
Renewable energy is energy that is regenerated naturally for infinite time. Renewable energy can
be categorized into solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, and biomass. Biomass is an organic material
such as agricultural, forest residues, energy crops (Jatropha, miscanthus, switch grass and etc)
and algae. The current study focusing on biomass based renewable and sustainable energy
production from lignocelluloses biomass. As the name suggest lignocellulosic biomass is made
up of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose and the cellulose, hemicellulose are made up of
polymerized C5 and C6 sugars such as glucose, xylose, arabinose, mannose, and galactose. Due
to the complex nature of lignocellulosic biomass, the sugars present in plant biomass are not
readily accessible for production of biofuels and biochemicals. Hence, a pretreatment of
lignocellulosic biomass to loosen up the lignocellulosic matrix, followed by a hydrolysis process
with enzymes or acids is necessary to obtain a fermentable stream of monomeric sugars.
The objectives of this study were to: 1) investigate the enzymatic production of fermentable
sugars (glucose) from underutilized, low-cost lignocellulosic biomass such as poplar wood, and
2) examine factors that can enhance the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis leading to higher
glucose yields and lower production costs. A two-stage steam-exploded poplar wood biomass
was used as substrate in this work. Initially the effect of inhibitors that generally form during
high temperature pretreatment was evaluated by washing the biomass with distilled water. There
were no significant improvement in hydrolysis yield was obtained, perhaps significant reduction
in sugar yield was noticed after 96h of hydrolysis. Therefore unwashed biomass was used in all
our studies. There after the effect of original pH (3.0) of pretreated poplar pulp and optimum pH
(5.0) of cellulase on hydrolysis yield was studied. Interestingly the commercial cellulase preparation was active at pH 3.0, however pH 5.0 was chosen for further studies due to slightly
higher sugar yield.
To overcome the low hydrolysis efficiency, critical parameters such as enzyme loading, substrate
consistency, hydrolysis time, and substrate recycling were evaluated. Based on the results, 5%
enzyme loading and 5% substrate consistency were found to be optimal. Substrate recycling
could possibly reduce the enzyme usage in successive hydrolysis cycling. A 50% reduction in
sugar yield was observed after 2 successive recycling of substrate, hence adding fresh enzyme at
low concentration was recommended. Further, the effect of different surfactants on hydrolysis
was studied. Compared to the control (without surfactant), 1% PEG4000 produced highest sugar
yield of 58.5% at 5% substrate consistency and 5% enzyme loading. Compared to PEG4000,
other surfactants studied (PEG8000, Tween 20, and TritonX100) improved hydrolysis yield to a
lower extent. Therefore, addition of surfactant can enhance the hydrolysis efficiency of enzymes.
The most likely mechanism for this effect is believed to be by a surfactant-facilitated blocking of
the non-productive sites on lignin, which results in increase in the concentration of free enzymes
available for enzymatic hydrolysis.


title: From paper to practice: educator understanding and facilitation of self-regulation in the kindergarten classroom

contributor:
Mastrangelo, Sonia
Lawson, Alex

subject:
Self-regulation
Student-teacher relationships
Classroom environment
Professional development
Neurophysiology
Kindergarten educators
Mental health (children)

abstract:
There is growing concern about the mental health and resilience of today’s students (McCain,
Mustard, and Shanker, 2007) and difficulties with self-regulation as part of human development
are implicated in educational outcomes, cognitive problems, internalizing problems such as
depression and anxiety, externalizing problems such as aggression, and physical health
problems (McCain et al, 2007; Shanker, 2010). Self-regulation is a growing topic of interest in a
variety of disciplines including education. With over 42 961 peer reviewed journal articles which
use the term “self-regulation”, it is not surprising that there are 447 different interpretations of
what self-regulation means in the literature (Burman et al., 2015), which makes it difficult for
educators to interpret and apply it in their respective classrooms. Due to recent advances in
neuroscience, the Ontario Ministry of Education shifted towards a neurophysiological framework
on the Self-Regulation and Well-Being Frame of the Kindergarten Program. The current study
examined which frameworks kindergarten educators were using by analyzing the ways they
described and facilitated self-regulation in the classroom within a school board in northern
Ontario through surveys, interviews, progress reports, and classroom observations. Findings
revealed that educators: have little experience and training with resources aligned with the
Kindergarten Program’s approach to self-regulation, describe self-regulation as self-control, and
facilitate self-regulation using a learning strategies approach. Educators were observed using
fewer than a third of ministry self-regulation recommendations in the classroom. Implications
and recommendations for aligning educator practices with the Kindergarten Program’s
framework are discussed, including the limitations of pre-packaged programs currently in use
and the advantages of adopting a neurophysiological approach to understanding self-regulation.


title: Numerical analysis of discontinuous structures: static and dynamic

contributor:
Liu, Kefu
Liu, Meilan
Deng, Jian
Tarokh, Ali

subject:
Discontinuous beam structures
Piezoelectric energy harvester
Lap-shear joints
Transfer Matrix Method

abstract:
Discontinuous beam structures can be found in various applications such as adhesive bonded joints and piezoelectric energy harvesters. In adhesive bonded joint design, the single lap joint is commonly used and is constructed by adhering two overlapped materials with an adhesive. It is important to evaluate the static and dynamic behaviours of a single lap joint to mitigate the chance of failure under normal operating conditions. Piezoelectric energy harvesters use piezo-ceramic materials, which are glued to a host structure with a thin layer of adhesive. Studying the dynamic behaviours of piezoelectric energy harvesters is key to achieving optimal power output.
This research presents the use of numerical analysis approaches to investigate the static and dynamic behaviours of discontinuous beam structures, with a focus on applications which require single physics (i.e. static and dynamic behaviours of a single lap joint), and multi-physics (i.e. dynamic behaviours of a piezoelectric energy harvester). Throughout this research, the primary numerical approach used is the finite element method. An alternative approach is the transfer matrix method, to determine the dynamic behaviours of a single lap joint. These numerical approaches are compared with analytical methods and experimental testing, to validate their use. In this research, an experimental apparatus was developed for testing purposes. Overall, the results from the numerical approaches used closely match those from the analytical methods and experimental testing for all applications.
This work investigates key relationships and factors that influence the behaviours of the single lap joint and piezoelectric energy harvesters. The effect of the adhesive layer thickness and the overlap region length on a single lap joint are studied. Increasing the adhesive layer thickness reduces the adhesive stress and the natural frequencies of a single lap joint. The effects of the electrical load resistance and a proof mass on the performance of a piezoelectric energy harvester are discovered. It is found that increasing the electrical load resistance of the piezoelectric energy harvester causes an increase in voltage across the resistor, and the impedance matched resistance, yielding the maximum power output. The proof mass reduces the fundamental frequency, increases the transmissibility function magnitude at this frequency, increases efficiency, and increases the impedance matched resistance of the piezoelectric energy harvester.


title: Plant community assembly 15-37 years after clearcutting, clearcutting plus prescribed burning, and wildfire in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) forest of Central Canada

subject: Forest regeneration

subject: Prescribed burning

subject: Effects of clearcutting & wildfire on plant communities

abstract: Study area: Northwestern Ontario.

abstract:
It has been suggested that clearcutting be followed by prescribed burning as a means of
reconciling effects of clearcutting and wildfire on plant communities. To address the
effectiveness of clearcutting followed by prescribed burning (PB), I assessed understorey
communities in northwestern Ontario using fifty 10 ? 10 m plots, located in 15-37 year old jack
pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stands established after clearcutting, PB, and wildfire. My findings
are presented in two chapters, first I examined structural and compositional differences in plant
communities originating from the three disturbance types, and secondly I examined the
relationship of species' traits to disturbance type. In Chapter 1, I hypothesized that understorey
communities established after PB would resemble those established after wildfire more closely
than those established after clearcutting alone. However, I found that all three disturbance
types had similar understorey species richness and diversity, while species composition within
PB sites differed significantly from clearcut and wildfire sites. Compositional differences
associated with PB were comparable to those found after successive short-interval wildfires.
Indicator species of PB sites were mostly ruderai and disturbance tolerant species; suggesting
that PB created a compound effect on plant communities. Since application of prescribed
burning after clearcutting does not involve a novel disturbance, compositional differences may
be related to the short-interval between clearcutting and PB. In Chapter 2, I hypothesized that
compositional differences between communities originating from PB correspond to the
interaction of short-interval disturbance with species' life history and regeneration traits. I
analyzed traits related to post-disturbance regeneration to quantify relationships with
disturbance type. For trait analysis I used the abundance-weighted analyses RLQ, Fourth-Corner
Analysis, calculation of functional diversity indices (functional richness, evenness, and
dispersion), and community weighted means. I found no significant relationship between the
suite of traits and disturbance type. However I found significant relationships between PB and
species' traits such as Raunkiaer's lifeform, seed banking, wind dispersal, deciduous foliage,
rosettes and alien status. My hypothesis was supported by the prevalence of seed banking and
wind dispersal in the PB sites, both of which are known to increase with short-interval
disturbances. From these results I conclude that application of PB following clearcutting causes
compositional differences that result from disturbance-mediated plant trait selection by short-interval
disturbances.


title: A brief review on restoration projects on Lake Superior coastal wetlands in Ontario, Canada

subject: Wetland ecosystem

subject: Ecological remediation

subject: Hydrologic remediation

subject: Chemical sediment remediation techniques

subject: Great Lakes coastal wetlands

subject: Aquatic ecosystem

subject: Lake Superior restoration project

abstract:
In recent years, human beings have done much damage to the lakes and wetlands, resulting
in some irreversible effects. It is, therefore, necessary to restore and protect the remaining
wetlands. The most representative is the Great Lakes wetland ecosystem. The wetlands along the
great lakes cover an area of more than 500,000 acres and span the great lakes basin. They play an
essential role in the great lakes ecosystem and support many beneficial ecological functions.
Among them, Lake Superior wetland is the principal research object. To successfully restore the
wetland, this paper will adopt scientific methods to repair it. We will conduct field tests in four
areas: eliminate sediment, ecological, hydrology and chemistry. Eliminate sediment remediation
is the proper control of erosion of agricultural land, restoration of gully wetlands and effective
management of beach, dune, ridge and marsh systems to control the coastal sediment problems
that lead to wetland restoration. Ecological remediation is the restoration of wetland productivity
by increasing the diversity and habitat of target organisms. Hydrologic remediation is a test to
restore the essential hydrologic relationship through the preliminary study of the hydrologic
relationship of constructed wetland and the fluctuation of the natural water level. A variety of
chemical sediment remediation techniques can be used to rehabilitate existing contaminated
sites, including tree planting, erosion control, riverbank reinforcement, buffer zones,
reconstruction, diversion of surface drainage systems and drainage of wetland sewage.


title: Do you care2talk? examining an online approach to psychosocial support for young adults with cancer / by Liane S. Kandler.

contributor:
Sellick, Scott M.
Jamieson, John
Martin, Lynn

subject:
Cancer patients - Support
Cancer patients - Mental health service
Cancer patients - Psychology
Young adults with cancer

abstract:
Cancer in young adulthood is unique in that there are clear biological, epidemiological, and etiological differences attributed to this age frame (Bleyer, 2002; Canadian Cancer Statistics, 2007; Cancer in Young Adults in Canada, 2006). Similarly, the psychosocial challenges are also unique and the need for specialized psychosocial care has been clearly advocated (Bleyer, 2002; Corsini & Ammerman, 2008; Pentheroudakis & Pavlidis, 2005; Thomas, Seymour, O'Brien, Sawyer, & Ashley, 2006; Zebrack, Chesler, Penn, & Katz, 2005). In an attempt to assess and meet the psychosocial needs of young adults with cancer in Northwestern Ontario, patients aged 18 to 44 years were mailed a questionnaire package and invited to participate in an online information and support group. Demographic, medical, and psychosocial patient characteristics were assessed. Levels of distress, social support, and active use of the online group were measured.  Primary goals of the research were to assess interest in online support in young adults with cancer, predictors of interest, and relationships among distress measures and social support.
Significant differences emerged between individuals interested and not interested in participating in the online group, with women and those with a previous history of Supportive Care use being more likely to be interested. Significant predictors of interest in participating online included
gender, distress, social support, and previous use of Supportive Care services. Higher distress scores were correlated across measures, and generally associated with lower social support. The implications of these findings for providing supportive care services to young adults with cancer
are discussed.


title: Behavioural effects of benzodiazepines following metrazol-induced seizures

subject: Benzodiazepines Metrazol Psychopharmacology

abstract:
Previous research indicates that seizures cause transient
and in some cases, long lasting increases in the density of
benzodiazepine receptors in the brain. The present research
sought to discover the behavioural effects of diazepam (Valium),
one of the benzodiazepines, on rats in a conflict paradigm
following Metrazol induced seizures. A total of 82 SHS rats
(both sexes) were used in this 4(diazepam doses) X 2 (seizure
condition) X 2(sexes) factorial design. The conflict involved
the availability of food for 24 hour food deprived rats in a
brightly lit open field . Since diazepam is known to have an
anticonflict effect, it was hypothesized that animals
experiencing a seizure would demonstrate a greater anticonflict
response. Results showed significant main effects for diazepam
and seizure factors in food eaten, approaches to the food and in
the ratio between food eaten and approaches to the food.
However, the seizure condition animals showed less anticonflict
behaviour which is contrary to what was predicted. Significant
drug by seizure interactions were expected and confirmed. The
possible drug interactions at the level of the brain receptors
is discussed, as well as, the behaviour resulting from combining
central nervous system(CNS) stimulants with CNS depressants and
anxiolytics.


title: Comparison of methods to determine the carbonation depth in fly ash blended cement mortars

contributor:
Catalan, Lionel
Kinrade, Stephen

subject:
Fly ash
Corrosion
Portland cement

abstract: Carbonation negatively affects the durability of steel-reinforced concrete structures by causing a decrease in pore solution pH, thus facilitating corrosion which eventually leads to cracking and spalling. Different analytical methods for assessing carbonation depth were compared on carbonated cement mortar samples, including blended samples in which up to 40% of the ordinary portland cement (OPC) were substituted for Type C coal fly ash (FA). The methods included the measurement of CaCO3 concentrations by FTIR, the dust digestion method which provided and apparent pH profile, the traditional phenolphthalein method, and computerized image-processing methods based on the use of different pH indicators (thymolphthalein, phenophthalein, and alizarin) or changes in mortar colour due to carbonation.


title: Impact of low frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation on glucose regulation in individuals with type 2 diabetes

subject: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes treatment (Research)

subject: Glucose Metabolism Regulation Research

subject: Blood sugar monitoring Research

subject: Glucose regulation

abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on glucose regulation in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Eight individuals with type 2 diabetes between 41 to 65 years of age volunteered for this study. Participants completed two experimental sessions in a randomized order, a control session and an NMES session. During both sessions, an initial blood sample was collected at rest, a beverage containing 75 g of glucose was then consumed, and further blood samples were drawn at 60 and 120 minutes. On the NMES day, participants completed one hour of low frequency (8 Hz) NMES immediately following the glucose ingestion. Participants regulated the intensity of the NMES to their maximum tolerable level.


title: Public participation in community forests : the Ontario community forest pilot projects / by Florence Wanjira Chege.

contributor:
Duinker, Peter N.
Naysmith, J.
Southcott, C.

subject:
Community forests
Public participation
Decision-making
Forest management

abstract:
Levels of public participation in the management of a community forest (CF)
depend on the CF’s goals and the subsequent decision-making structure that the
community adopts. To evaluate the hypothesis that the Ontario community forest
pilot projects (CFPPs) provide enhanced means for public participation, a
comparative analysis was undertaken involving a detailed description of decision-making
structures of the CFPPs and those of five additional contemporary forest
management arrangements. The study methods involved: personal interviews
with each CFPP’s organizing body, the general public at each CFPP, and
management personnel at the five cases; and a comprehensive compilation of
decision-making structures of all cases based on their documentation. Results of
the study indicate that the CFPPs have developed an elaborate public
participation infrastructure that presents the public with more avenues for
participation than any of the other cases included in the study.
Recommendations are made on procedures of public participation in community
forest decision-making as well as suggested criteria for evaluating what is
successful public participation in a community forest.


title: Case study of reflections on the implementation of group projects from the perspective of professors at Lakehead University

subject:
Groupwork in education
Group projects
Teamwork
Co-operation
Cooperative learning

abstract: Cooperative learning practices in higher education carry the potential to increase student achievement and to develop social and team work skills valued highly by employers. However, despite an abundance of literature documenting such benefits, students and professors continue to report disappointment and frustration with group work, a common form of cooperative learning. These problems are not only distressing and uncomfortable, they also prevent the pedagogical potential of cooperative learning from being realized. This phenomenological inquiry aims to uncover the essential elements of professors’ practice related to group work project implementation in an effort to improve group work experiences for students. Through a focus group interview, professors’ experiences were collected, analyzed, and interpreted through a theoretical lens based on a previously published framework for group work implementation.


title: Relationship between attaining ecological literacy and the development of a sense of community

contributor:
Puk, Tom
Brady, Patrick

subject: Environmental education

subject: Environmental sciences (Study and teaching)

subject: Experiential learning

subject: Ecological literacy

abstract:
The intent of the study was to examine how attainment of ecological literacy
through experiential learning can be enhanced with the development of a sense of
community. Research was carried out with three classes of students enrolled in the
Outdoor Ecological and Experiential Education program at Lakehead University to study
sense of community and how it impacts on the development of ecological literacy.
Qualitative research methods were used to determine: (1) the characteristics of
experiential learning groups that possess a sense of community, (2) methodologies for
development of a sense of community to maximize individual learning experiences, and
(3) effects of a sense of community on the development of ecological literacy.
Data was collected from three distinct classes (a specialization class, an elective
class and a masters-level course) of preservice teachers enrolled in the Outdoor
Ecological and Experiential Education program at the Faculty of Education. Overall, 67
students took part in the research project. Data collection methods included pre and post-course
surveys, participant observation and selected interviews. Data was then analyzed
to generate codes, and develop patterns and themes.
Findings were focused on three key areas: the characteristics of a sense of
community, effective experiential learning activities that develop a sense of community
and the effects of a sense of community on the development of ecological literacy.
Themes of “shared commitment” and “action” appeared with regularity throughout the
analysis of the data. A conceptual framework explains the link between the development
of a sense of community and ecological literacy.


title: Quercus rubra L. regeneration from prescribed burns: an in-depth look into management in Canada forests, specifically Ontario

subject:
Prescribed fires
Forest management
Prescribed burn
Regeneration (forestry)
Management of oak species
Oak forests

abstract: This paper explores the impact that prescribed fires have on red oak (Quercus rubra L.) regeneration in Canada and Ontario. Prescribed fires are important to consider the best management techniques that should be used in oak-dominated stands. To increase the success of prescribed burns the oak regeneration should be monitored and additional methods such as thinning, competition control and shelterwood harvesting should be used. Therefore, prescribed burns will have an affect on oak-dominated stands and how they are managed. Prescribed burns should be used when possible to naturally regenerate oak species and increase the fire cycle in areas that it was historically present.


title: The effect of anxiety, stress and type of task on problem solving performance

contributor:
Melynk, William
Evans, James

subject:
Problem solving
Anxiety

abstract: The present study examined the relationship between anxiety, stress, and the nature of the task. A total of 40 male and 60 female subjects were selected on the basis of their scores on two anxiety scales. Half of each group was considered to be "high anxious" (HA), while the other half was "low anxious" (LA). Both HA and LA groups were then subdivided randomly into either the "high stress" or "low stress" condition. All subjects completed each of four tasks. These were: Logical Reasoning; Letter Series; Ingenuity; and Word Production.


title: Enhanced single school model : one Faculty of Education's variation of the professional development school

subject:
Enhanced Single School Model
Teacher education programs
Educational change
Professional Development Schools

abstract: The Enhanced Single School Model (ESSM) was created to provide teacher candidates with an extended practicum during their professional year. It included two core teaching blocks and weekly volunteer time at a single school site. The intent of the model was to submerge teacher candidates in one school's culture. The current study analyzes an existing document, the Enhanced Single School First Year Pilot Project Interviews (ESSM Data Source), which is a compilation of interviews, conducted in 1998 with 8 teacher candidates, 8 associate teachers, 2 principals and 2 faculty liaisons, concerning their perceptions of the ESSM. This study of that document connects ESSM with the model upon which it was based, that is, the Professional Development School (PDS) and makes recommendations for future single site placement models which include: improving communication between schools and universities, providing a clear description of the participant roles, clarifying the teacher candidate selection process, encouraging university/school teaching exchanges and advancing the model's start date to earlier in the school year.


title: Administration error in presenting the WAIS-R blocks : evaluation of an extreme departure

subject:
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Intelligence tests

abstract:
This study examined block presentation on the Block Design subtest
of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. The standardized
procedure dictates that a variety of sides be shown and that the
red/white side be facing up only on one of the blocks when four are
used, and only three when all nine blocks are given. It is believed that
many administrators scramble the blocks, which may or may not comply
with the standardized procedure. This study attempted to gauge the
impact of this error on Block Design performance. Sixty subjects were
tested ranging in age from 18 to 64 years and in IQ from 73 to 122.
Each subject was given the Kaufman’s ’quick tetrad’ short form version
of the WAIS-R. The Block Design subtest was administered after the
tetrad, using the standardized and a nonstandardized (extreme)
presentation of the blocks. The nonstandard presentation was defined
as all the blocks having the full red side facing up. Results indicated the
method of presenting the blocks had negligible Impact on Block Design
performance. There was also no significant relationship found between
the short form estimate of Full Scale IQ and the difference between
indices of performance for standard versus nonstandard presentations.
However, these results are not conclusive, a number of pertinent factors
must still be considered. It was recommended that administrators
adhere to the standardized form of presentation when administering the blocks on the Wechsler scales of intelligence.


title: Effects of bleached kraft mill effluent on aquatic macrophyte communities in a lake system on the northern shore of Lake Superior / by Michael Coote.

subject: Sulphate waste liquor Environmental aspects Ontario Terrace Bay Region

subject: Wood-pulp industry Waste disposal Ontario Terrace Bay Region

subject: Water Pollution Ontario Terrace Bay Region


title: Does physical activity at a younger age reduce the likelihood of falls in seniors? / by Cindy Sabolic.

contributor:
Montelpare, William
Taylor, Jane
Kilty, Heather Lee

subject:
Falls (Accidents) in old age
Exercise - Preventative health aspects

abstract:
Purpose:  Falls are a significant cause of death and disability and have a serious impact to the psychological and physical health of the elderly. The purpose of this research study was to determine if physical activity reduces the likelihood of falls in seniors living in long term care facility. The main objective of the study was to examine the association between an individual’s history of physical activity throughout their pastime, to determine whether involvement in physical activity at a younger age can be a determinant of the likelihood to incur a debilitating fall at an older age. The research was conducted on seniors currently aged seventy and older who reside at the Specialty Care Mississauga Road long term care center located in Mississauga, Ontario.
Methods: This study used a retrospective cohort approach to determine the association between the physical activity at younger age and incidence of falls as documented in the fall risk assessment tool. A mail-out questionnaire was used to collect information on levels of past physical activity, periods of involvement in sport, and specific lifestyle behaviors. One hundred and sixty resident family members were asked to complete the questionnaire, providing specific information based on their loved one’s history. A total of 84 questionnaires were completed and returned.
Data Analysis: The data that were collected from the fall risk assessment and questionnaire were entered into standard database for subsequent statistical analysis. The information from the two data sets (i.e retrospective physical activity profile and the falls risk assessment) were merged together to evaluate the research question using correlation procedures.
Results: Pearson product moment correlation coefficient scores were computed using SAS to determine the relationship between the physical activity scores and fall risk assessment scores.  The results indicated that there was no correlation between the two scores, in either the total
group or the separate sub-groups created for age.


title: Capacity for visual production and discrimination of random arrangements

subject:
Visual discrimination
Optical pattern recognition


title: Modelling the molecular mechanisms of biocompatibility of artifical materials

contributor:
Rubel, Oleg
Floriano, Wely
Ulanova, Marina

subject:
Fibrinogen
Plasma proteins
Graphene

abstract:
One of the most common reasons for implant failure is immune rejection. Implant
rejection leads to additional surgical intervention and, ultimately, increases health
cost as well as recovery time. Within a few hours after implantation, the implant
surface is covered with host proteins. Adsorption of fibrinogen, a soluble plasma
glycoprotein, is responsible in triggering the immune response to a given material
and, subsequently, in determining its biocompatibility. The work presented here is
focused on modeling the interaction between artificial surfaces and plasma proteins
at the microscopic level by taking into account the physico-chemical properties of
the surfaces. Carbon-based nanomaterials are chosen as a model system due to their
unique bioadhesive and contradictory biocompatible properties as well as the possibility
of functionalization for specific applications. Graphene and its derivatives, such as
graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, demonstrate controversial toxicity properties in vitro as well as in vivo. In this study, by covalently adding chemical groups,
the wettability of graphene surfaces and the subsequent changes in its biocompatibility
are being examined. An empirical force field potential (AMBER03) molecular
dynamic simulation code implemented in the YASARA software package was utilized
to model graphene/biomolecule interactions. The accuracy of the force field choice
was verified by modeling the adsorption of individual amino acids to graphene surface
in a vacuum. The obtained results are in excellent agreement with previously
published ab initio findings. In order to mimic the natural protein environment, the
interaction of several amino acids with graphene in an explicit solvent was modeled.
The results show that the behaviour of amino acids in aqueous conditions is drastically different from that in vacuum. This finding highlights the importance of the
host environment when biomaterial-biomolecule interfaces are modeled.
The surface of Graphene Oxide (GO) has been shown to exhibit properties that
are useful in applications such as biomedical imaging, biological sensors and drug
delivery. An assessment of the intrinsic affinity of amino acids to GO by simulating
their adsorption onto a GO surface was performed. The emphasis was placed on
developing an atomic charge model for GO that was not defined before. Next, the
simulation of a fibrinogen fragment (D-domain) at the graphene surface in an explicit
solvent with physiological conditions was performed. This D-domain contains
the hidden (not expressed to the solvent) motifs (PI 7190-202 and P2 7377-395, and
specifically P2-C portion 7383-395) that were experimentally found to be responsible
for attracting inflammatory cells through CDllb/CD18 (Mac-1) leukocyte integrin
and, consequently, promoting the cascade of immune reactions. It was hypothesized
that the hydrophobic nature of graphene would cause critical changes in the fibrinogen
D-domain structure, thus exposing the sequences and result in the foreign body
reaction. To further study this issue, molecular mechanics was used to stimulate
the interactions between fibrinogen and a graphene surface. The atomistic details of
the interactions that determine plasma protein affinity modes on surfaces with high
hydrophobicity were studied. The results of this work suggest that graphene is potentially
pro-inflammatory surface, and cannot be used directly (without alterations)
for biomedical purposes. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying
the interaction between synthetic materials and biological systems will further
the ultimate goal of understanding the biocompatibility of existing materials as well
as design of new materials with improved biocompatibility.