title: The behaviour of largemouth bass in Lake Opinicon, Ontario: A biological perspective for the evaluation of Murphy Bay fish sanctuary

contributor:
Tufts, Bruce L.
Biology

subject:
Largemouth Bass
Fish Sanctuary
Behaviour
Bass Management
Biotelemetry
Habitat Use

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-01 01:39:20.969

abstract: This study provides a biological perspective on the potential of using year-round sanctuaries to protect largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Although the Rideau Lakes bass sanctuaries have been present for more than 70 years, a lack of empirical rationale has resulted in a considerable debate regarding their usefulness. Using radio telemetry in Lake Opinicon, Ontario, the current study indicates that largemouth bass behaviour is influenced by the structural complexity of the habitats they occupy. In high-structure habitats, bass tend to have smaller utilization areas, displacement rates and radial displacements relative to those occupying low-structure habitats. All largemouth bass were captured and released (after transmitter implantation) in high-structure areas; however, more than half (12 of 23) of these individuals made spring (closed fishing season) relocations to low-structure areas where most (11 of 12) remained for the duration of the study. Behaviour is important to consider because of the influence it has on the level of sanctuary protection received by a largemouth bass. Twelve individuals began the study in the high-structure habitats of Lake Opinicon’s Murphy Bay fish sanctuary; however, only five remained in high-structure habitats throughout the study to receive full open season protection, two others received partial protection and four largemouth bass received no open season sanctuary protection because they made spring relocations to low-structure areas outside of the sanctuary. The results of this study provide an important biological perspective for the evaluation of year-round bass sanctuaries. Further research is needed to understand the specific causes of observed behaviours and to investigate how open and closed season protection of a year-round sanctuary translates into overall bass fishery benefits. Therefore, we recommend the maintenance of the Rideau Lakes bass sanctuaries as year-round regulations until there is sufficient empirical evidence to support their re-designation or removal.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Entangled Between ESL-Ness and Poverty: Acculturation of Students in a Grade 3-4 Class

contributor:
Krugly-Smolska, Eva
Education

rights: This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.

subject:
Acculturation
Multicultural Education
Assimilation
Education of Minorities
Multiculturalism
Poverty
ESL Students
Immigrant Students
Institutional Acculturation
Integration
Literacy
Communication
Social Class
Resources

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Education) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-01 20:35:36.735

abstract:
This qualitative case study investigated how an elementary school shaped the acculturation processes of grade 3-4 immigrant students. It was grounded on John Berry’s model of acculturation strategies which maintains that the existence of multiculturalism in the host society is a necessary condition for the integration of immigrants. Also, Geneva Gay’s conceptualization of culturally responsive teaching was accepted as the analytical framework which represents the actualization of multiculturalism in school settings.
The site of the study was an elementary school with a large number of immigrant students in Western Canada. The study used participant observation and interviews as methods of data collection. The audio recording of the classroom sessions for five full weeks, interviews with teachers and students, as well field notes were the sources of data.
The analysis of the data showed that there was little evidence of culturally responsive teaching in the classroom. Findings suggest that these grade 3-4 students were receiving an education which is usually typified as the education for working-class children, were detached from their own culture, were taught by a curriculum defined by themes and orientation from Western/mainstream culture, and were experiencing a whole series of disconnected relationships among teachers, parents, and themselves. It was concluded that, despite the powerful multicultural policies at the provincial and school board level,  school practices, and teachers’ attitudes were reflecting the melting pot-model of host society in Berry’s model and the process of institutional acculturation favoured assimilation rather than integration.

abstract: PhD


title: The Ordering of Things: Narrative Geographies of Bloody Falls and the Central Canadian Arctic

contributor:
Cameron, Laura
Kobayashi, Audrey
Geography

subject:
Inuit
Arctic
Geography
Story
Bloody Falls
Samuel Hearne
Dene
Racialization
Colonialism
Indigenous
Resistance
Materiality
Narrative
Practice
Ethnography
North
Kugluktuk
Decolonization

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-02 15:28:37.649

abstract:
This study examines the geographies of the Bloody Falls massacre story, an account of a massacre of a group of Inuit by a group of Dene allegedly witnessed by explorer Samuel Hearne along the Coppermine River in July 1771. Working from an understanding of story as a relational and material ordering practice, and based on archival, ethnographic, and other qualitative research methods, I consider how the storying of Bloody Falls has ordered colonial and capitalist relations, relations of violence and desire, and relations of decolonization and Indigenous self-determination in the Central Canadian Arctic. The study contributes to theoretical, empirical, methodological, and ethical concerns in geography. I intervene in debates about the materiality of knowledge, power, and practice and suggest that recent turns to the material and the ontological in geographic scholarship risk abandoning important theoretical and political resources that are
necessary for producing engaged and informed knowledge about the colonial past and present. Drawing on actor-network, feminist, postcolonial, and antiracist theories as well as geographic understandings of discourse, I advance a more rigorously materialist assessment of discursive processes and consider the methodological implications of tracing cultural, economic, and political geographies through stories. The study also contributes to understandings of the Bloody Falls massacre by highlighting the importance of copper in the event and describing the ways in which Inuit and Dene story the massacre and its implications. I advance an alternative framework for understanding northern Indigenous geographies and Indigenous-settler relations in Canada involving attention to the geographies of response and responsibility and to the materiality, relationality, and practices of storytelling. At a time when increased attention is being focused on the Canadian North, whether in terms of climate change, sovereignty, resource extraction, or militarization, this study elaborates a critical narrative geography of the region that might facilitate efforts to decolonize northern knowledge and practice.

abstract: PhD


title: The Design and Applications of a Privacy-Preserving Identity and Trust-Management System

contributor:
Skillicorn, B. David
Computing

subject:
Security
Privacy
Reputation Management
Identity Management
Anonymity
Secure Interactions
Unlinkability
Cloud Computing

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-07 11:17:37.68

abstract:
Identities are present in the interactions between individuals and organizations.
Online shopping requires credit card information, while e-government services require social security or passport numbers. The involvement of identities, however, makes them susceptible to theft and misuse.
The most prominent approach for maintaining the privacy of individuals is the enforcement of privacy policies that regulate the flow and use of identity information.

This approach suffers two drawbacks that severely limit its effectiveness. First, recent research in data-mining facilitates the fusion of partial identities into complete identities. That holds true even if the attributes examined are not, normally considered, to be identifying. Second, policies are prone to human error, allowing for identity information to be released accidentally.

This thesis presents a system that enables an individual to interact with organizations, without allowing these organizations to link the interactions of that individual together. The system does not release individuals' identities to
organizations. Instead, certified artificial identities are used to guarantee that individuals possess the required attributes to successfully participate in the interactions. The system limits the fusion of partial identities and minimizes the effects of human error. The concept of using certified artificial identities has been
extensively researched. The system, however, tackles several unaddressed scenarios.

The system works not only for interactions that involve an individual and an organization, but also for interactions
that involve a set of individuals connected by structured relations. The individuals should prove the existence of relations among
them to organizations, yet organizations cannot profile the actions of these individuals. Further, the system allows organizations to be anonymous, while proving their attributes to individuals. Reputation-based trust is incorporated to help individuals make informed decisions whether to deal with a particular organization.

The system is used to design applications in e-commerce, access control, reputation management, and cloud computing. The thesis describes the applications in detail.

abstract: PhD


title: Seeing Through the Lens of Social Justice:  A Threshold for Engineering

contributor:
Baillie, Caroline
Chemical Engineering

subject:
engineering education
social justice
critical thinking
threshold concepts
liminality

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-07 13:12:29.207

abstract: In recent times the need for educational research dedicated to engineering education has been recognised. This PhD project is a contribution to the development of engineering education scholarship and the growing body of engineering education research. In this project it was recognised that problem solving is a central activity to engineering. However, it was also recognised that the conditions for doing engineering are changing, especially in light of pressing issues of poverty and environmental sustainability that humanity currently faces, and as a consequence, engineering education needs to emphasise problem definition to a greater extent. One mechanism for achieving this, which has been adopted by some engineering educators in recent years, is through courses that explicitly relate engineering to social justice. However, creating this relationship requires critical interdisciplinary thinking that is alien to most engineering students. In this dissertation it is suggested that for engineering students, and more generally, engineers, looking at their practice and profession through a social justice lens might be seen as a threshold that needs to be crossed. By studying the variation present among students in three different courses at three different North American universities, the intention was to understand how students approach and internalise social justice as a perspective on engineering and/or develop their abilities to think critically. A conceptual model to frame the study was developed by combining elements of threshold concept theory and the educational research methodology, phenomenographic variation theory. All three of the courses studied operated on a similar basic pedagogical model, however, the courses were framed differently, with social justice in the foreground or in the background with the focus on, in one case, ethics and in the other, sustainability. All courses studied appeared to be successful in encouraging engineering students to engage in critical thinking and a similar general trend in the development of students’ conceptions of social justice was observed in each of the three courses. However, it does appear that if one is interested in developing an articulated understanding of social justice, with respect to engineering, that an explicit focus on social justice is preferable.

abstract: PhD


title: Theory of Mind in Bipolar Disorder: A Pilot Descriptive Study

contributor:
Milev, Roumen
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Theory of Mind
Bipolar Disorder

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2011-02-10 13:18:17.667

abstract: Objective: Primarily, to determine if affective Theory of Mind (ToM) decoding differs between patients with bipolar disorder who are experiencing mania, euthymia, or depression. Secondarily, to determine if a bias in ToM in patients experiencing different affective episodes is related to a positive, negative, or neutral valence of the target. Finally, to determine if mental state decoding is related to the severity of depressive, manic, or anxious symptoms Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, study of ToM in patients with bipolar disorder experiencing mania (n = 14), depression (n = 25), or euthymia (n = 20), using the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task” (Eyes Task) and the Animal Task developed to control for nonsocial response demands of the Eyes Task.  Measures of depressive and anxious symptoms were taken using self-report scales. Interview measures of depressive and manic symptoms were also conducted. A review of patient records was conducted to collect information regarding medications, and course of illness variables. Results: Patients experiencing mania were significantly impaired in mental state decoding compared to euthymic and depressed patients with bipolar disorder. No significant difference was observed between the depressed and euthymic groups. These relationships were maintained when controlling for age of illness onset and Animal Task accuracy. No effect of valence was found. Manic symptom severity was negatively correlated to Animal Task accuracy but no other relationships between Eyes and Animal Tasks and the severity of manic, depressive, or anxious symptoms were found. Group differences in Eyes Task performance were not due to differences in demographics, axis I comorbidities, history of psychosis, or course of illness measures. Limitations: The sample was too small to assess differences between acutely and chronically ill patients. There was no assessment of neurocognition or intelligence using tasks previously validated with manic patients. Conclusions: Patients with bipolar disorder experiencing mania were significantly impaired in mental state decoding compared to patients who were depressed or euthymic. The deficit in ToM decoding in manic patients independent of indicators of illness severity may be indicative of qualitative differences in interpersonal dysfunction between mania, depression, and euthymia in patients with bipolar disorder.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Crustal Stresses and Seismicity in Intraplate Settings: Relationship to Geology and Driving Forces

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject: Geophysics

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-26 15:51:55.044

abstract:
This thesis explores the relationship between contemporary stresses, paleotectonic structure, and seismicity within continental interiors. This is achieved by combining a variety of geophysical and geological data coupled with numerical stress analysis to form seismotectonic models for local seismic zones in eastern North America.

The work focusses on two main areas: (1) Southern Ontario, a region with low to moderate earthquake activity, which is structurally dominated by the Grenville orogen. Numerical models are used to show that both increased seismicity and an identified perturbation in the local stress orientation could be explained by reactivation of basement faults. (2) The Charlevoix seismic zone, a region of comparatively high background seismicity and large historic events, which is structurally controlled by an Iapetan rift and a meteorite impact structure. Although the rift faults are poorly aligned for reactivation in the regional stress field, modelling indicates that if they are sufficiently weak, they may act as a conduit, channelling higher stresses into the interior of the fractured crater zone, triggering much of the background seismicity. Furthermore, interaction with the crater acts to enhance rift fault slip near their intersection points, matching the observed pattern of large events in the seismic zone. The results also highlight a potential structural bias inherent in intraplate focal mechanisms. The faulting style of large earthquakes is heavily influenced by the regional structural trends, while smaller events, which can take advantage of local complexity in fault orientation, produce mechanisms more indicative of local stress conditions.

Concepts developed with these studies as well as a comparison with the eastern Tennessee seismic zone are used to propose a regional model for eastern North American seismicity. Seismicity may be explained by a large deformation zone between the rigid North American craton and the Atlantic oceanic crust. Differential motion across the zone is accommodated by infrequent large earthquakes that localize on the major paleotectonic structures, which may produce a regional counterclockwise stress perturbation within the deformation zone. Stress orientations deduced from smaller magnitude events illustrate this regional perturbation.

abstract: PhD


title: The synthesis of phosphonium indenylides and an investigation of their coordination to group 4 metals

contributor:
Baird, Michael C.
Chemistry

subject: indenylide cyclopentadienylide

abstract: Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-09 08:43:16.931

abstract:
A class of phosphonium cyclopentadienylide ligands was first reported in 1956 by Ramirez and Levy, who synthesized triphenylphosphonium cyclopentadienylide. They discovered that this ylide was unusually inert, for instance being unreactive with ketones; they attributed this unusual stability to its ability to undergo charge delocalization. It was subsequently found that the ylide coordinates to metals in η5 fashion, and thus one might anticipate a rich chemistry involved with these ligands, although surprisingly little research on this fascinating ligand has been reported over the past 50 years. More recently, the coordination chemistry of its analogous compound, methyldiphenylphosphonium cyclopentadienylide, has been investigated, specifically using group six transition metals. As an extension of the latter work, we have now successfully developed a general synthetic route to similar phosphonium 1-indenylide compounds, IndPL3 (L3 = Ph3, PMePh2, PMe2Ph).
The coordination of these compounds is of particular interest given that the compounds that form exhibit planar chirality and, as a result, enantioselective catalytic properties are anticipated. Furthermore, reactions involving two molar equivalents of phosphonium 1-indenylide, where two ligands coordinate, would produce diastereomers.It was our attempt to extend this work to group 4 metal halides, specifically to form coordination compounds of the type [TiCl3(IndPL3)]Cl and [TiCl2(IndPL3)2]Cl2. These compounds could be of great importance as enantioselective polymerization catalysts, or alternatively anti-cancer agents.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Mild Dementia Knowledge Transfer Program to improve knowledge and confidence in primary care: an exploratory study

contributor:
Garcia, Angeles A.
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Knowledge translation
Knowledge transfer
Dementia
Alzheimer's disease
Primary care
Early diagnosis
Early detection

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-07-26 21:38:54.945

abstract:
Patients with dementia are often unaware of their disease and do not seek medical attention; thus, health care providers must shift to "active detection" to identify at-risk patients early. No previous studies have focused on promoting this shift, so this study evaluates the efficacy of a new program to improve the knowledge and confidence of primary care providers in the early detection, diagnosis, and management of mild dementia.
Physicians and nurses (n = 38) were recruited from 14 practices in Ontario, Canada. The Mild Dementia Knowledge Transfer Program was run at each practice. As a Neuroscience Master’s student I demonstrated the cognitive assessment procedures, and recipients assessed remaining patients with my guidance. Assessments included patient interviews using a Data Gathering Form –developed for the Program – to provide informal cognitive assessment, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. The procedures were discussed between assessments to enhance learning. Later, recipients discussed the assessment results with the dementia specialist and myself; diagnoses and initial care plans were formulated collaboratively. Questionnaires measuring knowledge and confidence regarding detection, assessment and care of mild dementia were developed to measure change pre-post and three months after the Program. Linear mixed-effects models analysis with time as fixed effect and intercept as random effect was conducted to test change.
Program recipients showed increases in knowledge-confidence score after the program (10.3; P < .001) paralleling increases in both knowledge and confidence sub-scores; there was no decline after three months (P = .83). No differences were observed between medical and nursing staff. The number of assessments done by recipients was positively associated with knowledge-confidence change (P = .01). Most recipients (70%) rated the program as excellent; 65% rated interactivity as the best part, 34% rated time commitment as the worst part, and 91% rated the program as making it easier to detect dementia.
Due to the complex nature of dementia, the Program was performance-oriented, specialist-supported, clinic-based, and flexible to the needs of recipients. It showed acceptability and feasibility within primary care, and the results support its’ efficacy to improve primary care providers’ self-rated knowledge and confidence in mild dementia care.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Educational Experience of Youth Who Have Lived Through Trauma: Learning From Students’ Stories

contributor:
Hutchinson, Nancy L.
Education

subject:
Trauma
School Connectedness
Mental Health
High School
Caring Relationships

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-14 19:57:15.425

abstract:
Experiencing a traumatic event during childhood or adolescence is not a rare event, yet there is little written that examines the impact that trauma and the resulting stress have in the school context, from the perspective of the youth. Traumatic stress manifests itself in internalizing and externalizing behaviours that can significantly impact academic and social functioning, and the psychosocial well-being of youth. In the absence of disclosure, teachers are often unaware that trauma may be at the root of emotional and behavioural needs seen in the classroom and may be the reason for more subtle shifts in behaviour, achievement, appearance, and demeanour. The protective nature of school connectedness, and specifically student-teacher relationships and caring, positive school climates, in increasing engagement and decreasing at-risk behaviours and emotional distress (Blum, 2005, Bond et al., 2007; Klem, & Connell, 2004) holds promise for these students. School and teachers can play an important role in improving well-being and in mitigating long term negative outcomes. Research in this area is essential as students with trauma histories and subsequent mental health needs are at greater risk for delinquency, substance abuse, suicide, chronic health problems, and diminished educational and employment success than their peers (Bardone, 1998; Edwards, Anda, Felitti, & Dube, 2004; Fergusson, 2007).
     This qualitative study describes the experience of four young adults who had each experienced varying traumatic life events during childhood and adolescence. The interviews sought to understand how trauma impacted the high school experience for the participants, perceptions of teacher support, and to hear their advice on how teachers can best support their learning and well-being. Results of the cross-case analysis showed the importance of noticing and validating subtle signs of student distress, of connections with caring teachers, and of teacher initiated offers of support. The youth also emphasized the importance of being seen and related to as a person and not solely as a student, highlighting the need for schools to focus on student well-being as well as academic functioning.  These findings emphasize the importance that caring connections with teachers can have in supporting the well-being of students who have experienced trauma.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Analysis of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Antigens Presentation by Macrophages

contributor:
Basta, Sameh
Microbiology and Immunology

subject: Antigen Presentation

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Microbiology & Immunology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-12 15:07:38.492

abstract:
The activation of cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) responses requires antigen presentation by professional antigen presenting cells. Macrophages (MØ) can regulate CTL responses but little is known about the role played by splenic macrophages (Sp-MØ) in antigen cross-presentation.
Here, we established, and characterized, an efficient culture method for generating Sp-MØ. By monitoring MØ markers, we found that 7-days Sp-MØ resembles the red pulp macrophages (RPMØ) phenotypic characteristics. The phagocytic capacity of Sp-MØ was increased as the cells become more differentiated. Thus, increased differentiation of Sp-MØ in vitro can be macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) driven, which allows for an optimal condition to increase the yield of the spleen-derived MØ.
As a result of examining the antigen presentation of Sp-MØ during differentiation, we reported that Sp-MØ down-regulated their ability to cross-present the cell-associated lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus nucleoprotein (LCMV-NP) but not the soluble OVA proteins without altering their capacity to directly present LCMV antigens after infection. Mechanistically, we defined the cytosolic pathway as the dominant cross-presentation pathway used by Sp-MØ. Further analysis revealed a direct relationship between Sp-MØ differentiation, phagosomal acidification, and antigen cross-presentation. As Sp-MØ become more mature, their vesicular phagosomal system acquired high acidic characteristics, which adversely affected antigen cross-presentation due to potent and enhanced antigen degradation.
We also addressed the capacity of diverse LCMV antigens, generated during virus infection, to induce LCMV-specific CTL responses via cross-presentation by employing antigen donor cells (ADCs) that provide sufficient LCMV antigens after virus inactivation with no possible direct antigen presentation. Our results demonstrated that the ADCs induced LCMV-specific CTL responses in vitro and in vivo. Out of the four CTL epitopes tested (NP396, NP205, GP33, and GP276), in vitro cross-presentation were dominated by LCMV-NP396 epitope; while the in vivo cross-priming has shifted towards LCMV-GP33 and NP396 epitopes.
Collectively, the data presented in this thesis have defined for the first time important factors that influence Sp-MØ culturing in vitro and highlighted a potential role for the Sp-MØ in regulating CTL
iii
responses via cross-presentation, and characterized how different epitopes from LCMV are cross presented in vitro and in vivo.

abstract: PhD


title: Dynamic Made-To-Measure: A Method of Making Dynamically Self-Consistent Triaxial Dark Matter Halos

subject: Astrophysics Computational

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-13 18:32:29.294

abstract:
In this thesis we modify the Made-To-Measure (M2M) algorithm to be dynamically selfconsistent
and apply it to the problem of generating equilibrium collisionless systems with
non-spherical halos. Our M2M algorithm systematically adjusts the masses of particles in a
system slowly, keeping the system in equilibrium. The adjustments are performed according
to some given constraints and proceed until pseudo-observations of the system match
the constraints. We use this algorithm to generate isolated triaxial dark matter halos and
disk-halo systems with prolate halos. The isolated triaxial dark-matter halo simulations
provide a test for the algorithm. These tests show that our algorithm can generate equilibrium
collisionless systems with non-spherical halos, but we also find that our algorithm
requires a large amount of computational time to converge to the final target system. The
disk-halo simulations show that prolate halos modify the morphology and velocity profile
of dark matter dominated disks that cause errors in the measurement of the inclination and
understanding the rotation curve. As a result of these errors, a mass estimate from the
observed rotation curve of a disk in a prolate halo will depend on the observers position
relative to the disk. The mass estimates from the same disk observed at different positions
may vary by up to a factor of three.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Occupational Biomechanics of Tree-Planters: A study of musculoskeletal symptoms, posture and joint reaction forces in Ontario tree-planters

contributor:
Dumas, Geneviève A.
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Tree-Planting
Posture
Joint-Reaction Forces
Musculoskeletal Symptoms

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-14 10:02:32.385

abstract:
Tree-planters are likely to suffer from musculoskeletal injuries during their short work season.  The objective of this research is to identify the biomechanical mechanisms that contribute to these injuries with an overall goal of reducing injury frequency and severity.
Pre- and post-season discomfort questionnaires were administered to workers in two tree-planting camps to identify areas of the body most prone to injury.  Musculoskeletal pain and discomfort were significantly higher post season.  Greatest pain and discomfort were reported in the feet, wrists and back, while the highest frequency of pain was reported in the back.
Upper body and trunk postures were recorded during the tree-planting task in the field using digital video and inclinometers.  Results indicated that deep trunk flexion occurred over 2600 times per day and workers spent at least half of their workday in trunk flexion greater than 45 degrees.  Although results provide useful insight into injury mechanisms, postural data were two dimensional.
Inertial motion sensors were used in a second field study the following season to examine differences in three-dimensional upper limb and trunk relative joint angles during commonly used tree seedling unloading methods.   Results showed trunk rotation up to 50 degrees combined with deep trunk flexion during parts of the task. Trunk flexion and rotation were significantly less when the tree seedling load was distributed asymmetrically as compared to symmetrically.
Joint reaction forces in the lower body and trunk during the same unloading methods was examined during a simulated planting task in a lab environment.  Greatest joint reaction forces and non-neutral postures occurred when the tree was inserted into the ground.  Right-loaded planting bags resulted in more substantial differences in posture and joint reaction forces than either left-loaded or even-loaded bags.  Axial forces were greater in the right leg than the left throughout the task, regardless of loading condition.
In conclusion, underlying biomechanical mechanisms for injury during tree-planting seem to be a combination of awkward postures (particularly the trunk), repetitive motions, and carrying of heavy loads.  Different seedling unloading strategies did not result in substantial overall differences in posture or joint reaction forces.

abstract: PhD


title: The Media and The Postmodern Athlete: A Political Economic Analysis of Mia Hamm and David Beckham

contributor:
Mosco, Vincent
Sociology

subject: Sociology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-14 13:32:30.071

abstract: Sport has become so deeply in engrained in Western culture that society’s understanding of it has become permeated with common sense.  Deromanticizing the idea of sport, researchers have recently come to study sport as a cultural formation, asking that it be understood as an institution with a complex historical background.  At its core, sport can be understood as an institution that is problematic.  This idea opens the door for researchers to critically analyze the structure of sport and the power relations at play in sport and consumer culture.  The central focus of the project examines the political economic structures and processes that have led to the complex conditions of the commodification of the professional athlete in twenty-first century Western society.  As such, this project will address how athletes, such as soccer stars Mia Hamm and David Beckham, have been utilized as commodities to reach niche markets, represent multiple identities, and to maintain normative ideas of sport and society.  In its entirety, this project will address how social, cultural, and historical processes converge to shape twenty-first century Western sport.

abstract: M.A.


title: Multiobjective Design Optimization of Total Knee Replacements Considering UHMWPE Wear and Kinematics

contributor:
Kim, Il-Yong
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Total Knee Replacement
Design Optimization
UHMWPE Wear
Implant Kinematics
Finite Element Analysis
Multiobjective Design Optimization

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-14 13:43:42.639

abstract:
Total knee replacement is the gold standard treatment for restoring mobility and relieving pain associated with osteoarthritis when other medical therapy has failed.  Revision surgery is necessary when the replaced knee fails, which is often a result of implant damage (such as wear) or poor kinematics.

Design optimization is a method for finding the best shape for a component using an optimization approach considering one or multiple performance metrics.  The shape of a parametric candidate design can be manipulated by an optimization algorithm, which seeks to minimize an objective function subject to performance constraints and design space limitations.  During multiobjective design optimization, multiple performance measures are minimized simultaneously, the relative importance of each determined using a weighted sum.  This approach can also be used to derive a Pareto curve or frontier which graphically describes the relationships (or trade-offs) between the performance measures.

It was hypothesized that a trade-off exists between wear and kinematics performance in total knee replacements.  The objective of this research was to test this hypothesis by using multiobjective design optimization to describe this relationship with a Pareto curve.  It was first necessary to develop and validate numerical frameworks for wear and kinematics simulations, using models constructed using a parametric modeller.  The Pareto curve was then generated using a combination of single objective and multiobjective design optimizations considering these two performance measures.

Single objective optimization for wear yielded a theoretical design with superior wear resistance when compared to a typical commercially available knee design.  Single objective optimization for kinematics yielded a theoretical design capable of higher flexion, as well as more natural laxity characteristics.  After performing multiobjective design optimization, the resulting Pareto curve showed that there is, in fact, a trade-off between wear and kinematics performance.  When considering optimum designs, in order to improve the wear performance it was necessary to sacrifice kinematics performance, and vice-versa.  This previously suspected but never verified nor quantified relationship can be used to improve total knee replacement designs, as well as help healthcare providers select the best implants for their patients.

abstract: PhD


title: Structural, Mineralogical and Geochronological Constraints of the Miguel Auza Intermediate-Sulfidation Ag-rich Polymetallic Mineralization Deposit, Zacatecas, Mexico

subject:
Epithermal
Intermediate-Sulfidation
Mexico
Silver sulfosalts
Structure
Mineralogy
Geochronology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-15 13:04:06.104

abstract:
The Miguel Auza mine, located in Zacatecas State, Mexico, is a vein-type polymetallic epithermal deposit hosted in deformed argillite, siltstone and greywacke of the Cretaceous Caracol Formation.  Silver-rich base metal veins (0.2 m to >1.5 m wide) are spatially associated with NE-striking, steeply SE- dipping (70-80º) faults over a strike length of 1.6 km and a depth of 460 m.

	Three distinct structural stages are correlated with hydrothermal mineral deposition: Stage I is characterized by normal faulting and early hypogene alteration of the sedimentary rock. Stage II is associated with reverse-sense reactivation of early normal faults, dilation of bedding planes/fractures, and deposition of barren calcite + pyrite veinlets. Sub-stages IIA and IIB are related to the development of reverse-fault-hosted quartz-carbonate sulphide veins and characterize the main stage of mineralization.  Associated hydrothermal minerals during the main stage of mineral deposition are quartz, muscovite, and calcite.  Stage III involves late NW-SE striking block faulting, brecciation and calcite veining.  Later supergene oxidation of veins led to deposition of Fe-oxides and hydroxides.

	The main Ag-bearing minerals comprise pyrargyrite, tetrahedrite- freibergite, polybasite-antimonpearceite, and acanthite, with associated sulphides including galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrite.  In the main ore zone, base metal sulphides are commonly intergrown with the Ag-bearing sulfosalts. Compositions of Ag-rich tetrahedrite + pyrargyrite + sphalerite indicate a primary depositional temperature around 325-350ºC for the late phase of sub-stage IIB.

	40Ar/39Ar dating of wall-rock illite associated with stage I alteration yields an age of 46.58 ± 0.30 Ma.  Ages of  46.01 ± 0.55 Ma, and 44.55 ± 0.22 Ma were obtained for vein muscovite related to the main stage (sub-stage IIB) of ore deposition.  These ages correspond to the later stage of the Laramide orogeny in Northern Mexico.
	The geometric relationship between the various structures, vein types, and the regional Miguel Auza fault zone suggest episodic reverse-sense reactivation of normal faults. Based on (1) the tectonic setting, (2) spatially related igneous rocks, (3) ore and gangue mineralogy, and textures (4) geochemical signature, and (5) inferred temperature of formation, the Miguel Auza deposit is interpreted to be an intermediate-sulfidation type deposit.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: The Influence of Ventilation Modeling on Production Planning

contributor:
De Souza, Euler
Mining Engineering

subject:
Mining
Ventilation  - Planning

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 11:36:13.727

abstract:
Abstract
The main objective of a ventilation system is to provide the quality and quantity of the airflows throughout the mine and to ensure safe and health conditions for the workers to the level specified by the mining regulations.

In uranium mines the planning and operation of the ventilation systems have a large impact on production due to the fact that the first engineered step to control radiation contamination is with ventilation. The techniques used to maintain good air quality in uranium mines are based on providing very large volumes of air, maintaining the residence time of the air at a minimum in all working areas, guaranteeing zero recirculation of the air and designing a highly flexible ventilation system.

This thesis introduces a general approach that can be use in ventilation planning for uranium mines and outlines the importance of conducting medium and long term ventilation planning exercises. Case studies are presented to illustrate the use of ventilation modeling software, spreadsheets, scheduling software and mine design software in order to manipulate data in ventilation planning exercises. The results from these exercises will indicate any required additional infrastructure. A section of this thesis deals with simulation exercises used for validation of the design work. Once the new infrastructure is in place and access to reliable field date is available, the models are calibrated and validated to permit further refinement of the ventilation system.

This work has demonstrated how one can effectively design, asses and manage underground mine ventilation systems with the help of ventilation modeling software, when such a tool is properly used through calibration and validation exercises.

The methodology for the reconciliation between ventilation and production planning proposed in this thesis will assist the uranium mining industry in maintaining the health and safety of the workers underground while efficiently achieving economic production targets.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Buildings in Toronto, Ontario: Evaluating Criteria for Determining Building Selection

contributor:
Andrew, John
Urban and Regional Planning

subject:
Adaptive reuse
Real estate
Toronto
Planning
Industrial
Building
Developer

abstract: Thesis (Master, Urban & Regional Planning) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-16 17:16:07.105

abstract:
Infill development, including the reuse of vacant and derelict industrial buildings, is a desirable form of development as municipalities face the pressure of continuous growth. There have been numerous industrial sites in Toronto that have already been redeveloped through adaptive reuse, but there are still sites that remain underutilized, and additional sites continue to become vacant across the city. As the prior use can no longer be supported, these buildings are demolished in order to construct new buildings, or they undergo adaptive reuse.
The purpose of this report is to explain how the environmental, locational, legislative, market and financial characteristics of industrial buildings located in Toronto affect whether they are chosen for adaptive reuse. Additionally the similarities and differences between public and private sector adaptive reuse projects will be studied. This report will complement existing research completed by others on the characteristics of adaptive reuse projects in Ontario, and provide more specific information regarding the industrial adaptive reuse market in Toronto.
The case study approach used in this report consists of eight industrial adaptive reuse projects in the City of Toronto. Interviews with the developers were completed to gain valuable insight into the factors that were present and affected the selection of the building. The analysis involved reviewing the data from the interviews to identify the similarities and differences between the characteristics of the developers’ projects.
Based on the analysis of the interviews, four recommendations were made. These recommendations are provided with the goal of assisting developers during the selection of industrial buildings in Toronto to undergo adaptive reuse. Each recommendation considers the characteristic that a building and site should or should not possess.
Recommendation 1: The site should not contain ground water contamination
Recommendation 2: Use concrete buildings if planning an addition
Recommendation 3: Select a building with interior demising walls removed
Recommendation 4: Select a building that has financial or development incentives promoting reuse

abstract: M.PL.


title: Advanced Applications of Miniemulsion Technology

contributor:
McKenna, Timothy F. L.
Cunningham, Michael F.
Chemical Engineering

subject:
Miniemulsions
Emulsification
Polymerisation
In situ
Surfactant
Static Mixers
Rotor-Stator
Homogenisation

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-19 03:32:08.766

abstract:
Miniemulsion technology is attracting increasing interest for the preparation of nano-size particles. However, the barrier to industrialising miniemulsion-based products is the lack of an energy efficient and scalable homogenisation device. Current laboratory techniques consist of batch units, however trends are leaning towards developing continuous processes. The objective of the work presented here is to investigate the use of the rotor-stator (RS) and static mixers (SM) as homogenisation devices and ultimately develop a continuous emulsification/polymerisation process for the preparation of miniemulsions.
Initially we investigated the RS as a homogenisation device and found that we were able to generate droplets ranging from 300 nm to 2 μm, at industrially pertinent solids content. Subsequently, we investigated the use of SM and compared their performance in terms of mean droplet size evolutions with the rotor-stator. We were able to generate droplets < 200 nm in size and polymerise them in a stable fashion.
All the available emulsification devices were then compared in terms of power/energy consumption, droplet size distributions and shear rates. It was observed that with energy costs being of similar orders of magnitude, SM imposed less shear, produced relatively narrow distributions and were better adapted to scale-up, making them the optimal choice for miniemulsification.
Energy savings were increased by reducing coalescence during the emulsification step by using in situ generated surfactants, ultimately reducing emulsification time. Neutralising a water-soluble base with an oil-soluble acid almost instantaneously generates in situ surfactants at the oil-water interface. The reduction in emulsification time was partially attributed to the elimination of the relatively slow adsorption step
typical of preformed surfactants.
These results were used to show that emulsifying in situ formulations at moderate flow rates in line with SMX mixers can substantially reduce emulsification time from 30 minutes, with preformed surfactants, to ~30 seconds. With such a rapid emulsification step, it was possible to test the feasibility of the continuous emulsification process followed by polymerisation in a tubular reactor. Comparing this process with a batch operation, similar results for the ratio of NP/ND and conversion were obtained, but the continuous process was accomplished in a single step.

abstract: PhD


title: Morphological Awareness, Reading Ability, and the Reading of Multi-Morphemic Words

contributor:
Kirby, John R.
Education

subject:
Reading
Morphological Awareness

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-19 18:50:46.661

abstract: This study examines the effects of morphological awareness and reading ability on the accuracy and speed of reading multi-morphemic words. Test of word reading ability and morphological awareness were given to 134 Grade 5 students. They also completed a test of their ability to read morphologically complex words, in which accuracy and response times were recorded. Two sets of response time scores were calculated – the first taking into account only the accurately pronounced words, and the second taking into account both the accurately and the inaccurately pronounced words. These words varied in surface frequency, base frequency, and transparency. Analysis of variances indicated that multi-morphemic word reading accuracy and speed were positively related to reading ability, morphological awareness, surface and base frequencies, and transparency. Significant interactions showed that (a) high base frequency increased reading accuracy and speed for words with low surface frequency, particularly for the less able students, and (b) the combination of high base frequency and transparency increased reading accuracy and speed for words with low surface frequency. Findings were similar for accuracy and both sets of response time scores. These results imply that morphological knowledge is involved in the reading of multi-morphemic words, suggesting that investigation of instruction that targets the morphological characteristics of words is warranted.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Combining Biomarkers and Clinicopathologic Factors for Prediction of Response to Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Cox Model and Support Vector Machine (SVM) Methods

contributor:
Tu, Dongsheng
Shepherd, Lois
Community Health and Epidemiology

subject:
Breast Cancer
Predictive Marker
Machine Learning
Supporting Vector

abstract: Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-27 10:16:11.811

abstract:
Background: 	Breast cancer is a complex disease, both phenotypically and etiologically. Accordingly, the responses to various treatments in the adjuvant setting among individuals vary considerably.  There is a demand for tools that can distinguish patients who may benefit or may suffer from particular systemic treatments. We hypothesized that combination of data on genetic biomarkers with data from traditional clinical and pathophysiological (clinicopathologic) factors using traditional Cox model or Support Vector Machine (SVM) method, a new machine learning method, may provide a better tool for prediction of benefits to chemotherapy for the treatment of early breast cancer than using either biomarker or clinicopathologic data alone.

Methods:  This project included 531 patients from NCIC-CTG MA.5 trial who had data on both clinicopathologic factors, such as age, tumor size, ER status, type of surgery, tumor grade and lymph node involvement, and biomarkers assayed on tissue microarrays (TMAs), including HER2, p53, CA9, MEP21, clusterin, pAKT, COX2 and TOP2A. The Cox model and SVM methods were used to develop prognostic indices for relapse-free or overall survival with either data from TMAs and clinicopathologic assessments alone or their combination.  The prognostic indices developed were then examined for their value as predictive classifiers for benefits from CEF treatment. The power of the predictive classifiers derived was evaluated and compared using the bootstrap approach.
Results: None of the prognostic indices developed were found to have significant predictive value, although the prognostic index developed using SVM method based on only biomarkers yielded a marginal significant p-value (p=0.0527) for the interaction between classifier and treatment. In accordance with results published previously, the interaction between the classifier developed based on HER2 or TOP2A and treatment was significant (p=0.02 and 0.04 respectively). Comparisons based on the bootstrap approach indicate classifiers developed based on SVM performed better than those based on the Cox model method.
Conclusions: Combination of data using biomarkers and clinical-pathological factors, and using either the traditional COX model method or the new machine learning method was not shown to perform better than two single previously known biomarkers in prediction of response to CEF treatment for early breast cancer.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Three Essays in Auctions and Contests

contributor:
Wang, Ruqu
Bergin, James
Zabojnik, Jan
Economics

subject:
Auctions
Return Policies
Mechanism Design
Contests
All-Pay Auctions
Lottery
Information Revelation

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Economics) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-20 21:34:12.295

abstract:
This thesis studies issues in auctions and contests. The
seller of an object and the organizer of a contest have many
instruments to improve the revenue of the auction or the
efficiency of the contest. The three essays in this dissertation
shed light on these issues.

Chapter 2 investigates how a refund policy affects a buyer's
strategic behavior by characterizing the equilibria of a
second-price auction with a linear refund policy. I find that a
generous refund policy induces buyers to bid aggressively. I also
examine the optimal mechanism design problem when buyers only have
private initial estimates of their valuations and may privately
learn of shocks that affect their
valuations later. When all buyers are
\emph{ex-ante} symmetric, this optimal selling mechanism can be
implemented by a first-price or second-price auction with a refund
policy. Chapter 3 investigates how information revelation rules affect the
existence and the efficiency of equilibria in two-round
elimination contests. I establish that there exists no symmetric
separating equilibrium under the full revelation rule and find
that the non-existence result is very robust. I then characterize
a partially efficient separating equilibrium under the partial
revelation rule when players' valuations are uniformly
distributed. I finally investigate the no revelation rule and find
that it is both most efficient and optimal in maximizing the total
efforts from the contestants. Within my framework, more
information revelation leads to less efficient outcomes.

Chapter 4 analyzes the signaling effect of bidding in a two-round
elimination contest. Before the final round, bids in the
preliminary round are revealed and act as signals of the
contestants' private valuations. Compared to the benchmark model, in which private valuations are
revealed automatically before the final round and thus no
signaling of bids takes place, I find that strong contestants
bluff and weak contestants sandbag. In a separating equilibrium,
bids in the preliminary round fully reveal the contestants'
private valuations. However, this signaling effect makes the
equilibrium bidding strategy in the preliminary round steeper for
high valuations and flatter for low valuations compared to the
benchmark model.

abstract: PhD


title: Resurrecting the Error Choice Technique: The premature demise of an indirect measure of attitude?

contributor:
Fabrigar, Leandre R.
Psychology

subject:
Indirect Attitude Measurement
Implicit Measures of Attitude

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-21 09:32:11.904

abstract:
The error choice (EC) technique was among the earliest indirect attitude measures developed and was originally designed to overcome social desirability concerns (Hammond, 1948).  This programme of research set out to advance EC research in several ways.  First, an exploratory factor analysis examined whether participants’ responses to the EC target items produced a systematic pattern of responding.  The factor analysis indicated that a single underlying factor best accounted for the data.  Additionally, the EC measure demonstrated good reliability across the 3 studies.
Second, these studies provided evidence that the EC measure is, at least in part, attitudinal.  The EC measure showed a modest positive correlation with the direct measure of attitude in all 3 studies.  This suggested that participants’ responses to the EC target items were, at least partially, attitudinal.  Additionally, across the studies participant’s EC scores did not change between the high and low social desirability conditions, while participants’ scores on the direct measure were significantly more positive in the high social desirability condition.  These findings suggest that the EC measure is, to some degree, resistant to socially desirable responding.
Studies 2 and 3 also represent the first time that recommendations made by early EC researchers to improve the EC technique were systematically examined.  In these studies the amount of time participants had to complete the EC measure was restricted.  The time restriction did not improve the performance of the EC measure.  The other optimal condition examined in Study 3 was the presence and absence of filler items in the EC measure.  Indeed, removing filler items from the EC measure did not negatively impact its performance.
Finally, this programme of research compared the EC measure with more contemporary indirect measures of attitude.  In Study 2, the Implicit Association Test (IAT) was compared with the EC and direct measure. In Study 3, the Personalized IAT was compared to the EC and direct measure.  The results revealed that neither the IAT nor PIAT correlated with the EC measure.  In summary, these results suggest the EC technique holds some promise as an approach to attitude measurement and is well worth resurrecting.

abstract: PhD


title: Pulling Together: Making Meaning of Extreme Flesh Practices

contributor:
Sacco, Vincent F.
Sociology

subject:
Social Constructionism
Body Modification
Ethnography

abstract: Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-23 12:16:30.965

abstract: This thesis puts forth an ethnographic, contextual social constructionist account of the non-mainstream body manipulations practiced at the annual Body & Soul body modification event in Western Canada. The radical practices at this event include sewing limes and other items to one’s body, flesh hook pulling, and/or receiving “third eye” piercings and cheek skewers; thus, it constitutes an example of extreme deviance subject to negative reactions from outsiders. This research assumes that meaning is discursively and symbolically constituted by people via an active process of claimsmaking wherein competition for definitional control of reality ensues. From a qualitative stance, data were derived from a combination of participant observation fieldwork at Body & Soul and subsequent in-depth interviews with participants. The results demonstrate a trend in the (counter)claimsmaking activity of practitioners of this extreme form of body modification wherein paradoxically the nature of their deviance is reconstructed and aligned with conformist goals via discursive, corporal, and symbolic claims that simultaneously offer an implicit critique of mainstream Western culture. The results are interpreted as part of a discursive competition for definitional control of extreme body modification, strategy in the negotiation and management of a stigmatized identity, means of implicit social criticism, and an unconventional expression of conventional values.

abstract: M.A.


title: An Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Blasting on the Impact Breakage of Rocks

contributor:
Katsabanis, Panagiotis (Takis) D.
Mining Engineering

subject:
Blasting
Impact Breakage of rocks

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-23 12:49:29.244

abstract:
Size reduction represents one of the most energy-intensive and costly processes in the extraction of valuable minerals and rocks. Drilling and blasting, being the first operation in the size reduction chain, may have a significant downstream effect, influencing mine economics. This thesis investigates effects of blasting on subsequent size reduction operations.
A series of small scale blasts have been conducted, and the fragments have been screened, drop weight tested, crushed and their Bond Work Index and breakage parameters have been determined. The process was repeated for 3 different types of granite blocks (Stanstead, Laurentian, and Barre granite) using samples not blasted previously and samples blasted with three different powder factors (0.391, 0.782, and 1.173kg/m3). As well, four types of different charge methods with the same powder factor were used to investigate the influence of blasting energy distribution on grindability in the case of Barre granite. Subsequently, stress wave collision blasting and the effect of delay timing were tested under the same powder factor conditions.
Generally, powder factor resulted in the most significant changes in the breakage parameters as well as fragmentation. The Bond Work Index showed a small decrease as a function of powder factor, which can be considered to be material dependent.
There is indication that distribution of charge resulted in better grindability while fragmentation seems to be similar in both cases and better than when air decking was used. The results from Barre granite showed clearly that stemming affected fragmentation by producing finer fragments.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Representations of Women in Films Aimed at Young Girls: An Extended Literature Review

subject: Women Film Girls

abstract:
Films aimed at young girls tend to portray women in a similar way. Women are typically shown as passive, beautiful, and desiring love or marriage. Women with power, on the other hand, while motivated and strong, are seen as evil. These types of repeated portrayals are problematic, as girls are accessing them in greater amounts.  While it is difficult to understand precisely what effect these images have on girls, it would be impossible to argue they have no effect. It is for this reason that studying the portrayals of women in films aimed at young girls is so important. Without understanding the images that girls are interacting with, educators and parents will not be able to have critical discussions with girls about what they are viewing.
        This literature review organizes and presents the scholarly work on feminine gender portrayals in movies aimed at young girls. The topics in this work were derived from subjects found in the literature.  Topics include: how children learn gender roles, how women are constructed in films available to young girls, how women with power are portrayed, what women's bodies look like, how love and marriage are portrayed in relation to femininity, and a look at women's level of action and  the types of jobs they are shown working in. Essentially, the scholars' work showed that the feminine woman in films aimed at young girls is still presented as young, beautiful, passively waits for her destiny, which typically is finding love or marriage. Davis (2006) sees a slow shift towards a more diverse portrayal of women in films viewed by girls, but she feels that the portrayals still lag behind society's seemingly more open concept of a feminine woman. Davis feels currently that women are empowered to be both feminine and strong, but these notions have been slow to appear in the films this Project encompasses.
	The findings emphasize the importance of looking at media portrayals of women with a critical eye.  Discussing and breaking down these portrayals with young girls is important, as well as offering girls alternative depictions of feminine women.


title: ENHANCING TEACHING IN THE FSL CLASSROOM THROUGH CULTURAL AWARENESS: RESEARCH AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION

subject:
intercultural competence
cross-cultural awareness
foreign language learning
French as a second language

abstract: With the undeniable presence of multiculturalism in Canada and the rising globalization of the world, it becomes increasingly important to develop intercultural competence in the second language classroom.  The objective of this project was twofold: first, to review the existing literature on cross-cultural awareness and foreign language learning and second, to develop a framework for applicable materials to support and promote intercultural competence in the Ontario French as a Second Language Program. For the purposes of my project I first surveyed the literature related to the importance of culture in foreign language learning. I then reviewed literature concerning goals, frameworks, assessment, materials and strategies related to intercultural competence in order to determine appropriate cultural approaches in the second language classroom.  Finally, based on my findings and the Grade 9 Core French curriculum objectives, I developed a practical application in the form of a cultural portfolio.  The main themes revealed through the development of cultural activities for student use in the FSL classroom include the promotion of cross-cultural awareness, self-reflection and respect for others regardless of their beliefs or practices.


title: Voice and visibility: The claiming of one Black woman's education

contributor:
Bond, Sheryl
Education

subject:
higher education
racism
gender studies
Black feminism
educational equity
autoethnography
indigenous methodology
anti-colonial methodology

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-26 11:11:29.496

abstract: The purpose of my research is to contribute to the de/reconstruction of knowledge about the Black educational experience in Canada. Using post-positivist paradigms, critical Black feminist standpoint theory and auto-ethnographic qualitative methods of inquiry, I provide an insider perspective on being Black and female in the Canadian educational system, from primary and secondary experiences through the journey of claiming a higher education. My self-study explores the social and cultural forces that have impacted my life, highlights systemic racism throughout the journey, identifies themes in the educational experiences of Black students and Black women, uncovers contradictions between the dominant discourse and my reality, and incites reflection and action on the implications for teaching, research and educational policy.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: The Role of Neu1 Sialidase in Trk Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Activation

contributor:
Szewczuk, Myron R.
Microbiology and Immunology

subject:
Sialidase
Trk Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Activation

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Microbiology & Immunology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-26 11:44:51.418

abstract: The signaling pathways of tyrosine kinase Trk receptors and their downstream biological effects are well known, but the parameters controlling the interactions between the receptors and their natural ligands still remain to be defined. Recent published reports from our laboratory indicate that nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced TrkA receptor activation is dependent on a membrane cellular sialidase. This sialidase activity specifically targets and hydrolyzes sialyl α-2, 3-linked β-galactosyl residues resulting in the desialylation and activation of the receptor. These findings support a novel hypothesis that places mammalian sialidase(s) in a cycle of activation of these receptors by their natural ligand. Taken together, they also predict a prerequisite desialylation of Trk receptors caused by a sialidase on the cell surface enabling the removal of a steric hindrance to receptor dimerization. Until now, the sialidase associated with neurotrophin-treated live Trk-expressing cells has not been identified. The molecular mechanism(s) of sialidase activation by neurotrophin factors binding to their receptors also remains unknown. In this thesis, the novel role of Neu1 sialidase in the activation of ligand-induced TrkA and TrkB receptors has been identified. It has been reported for the first time that Neu1 is already in complex with naïve and ligand-induced Trk receptors. In addition, a membrane sialidase mechanism initiated by NGF binding to TrkA has been indentified. It suggests a potentiation of GPCR-signaling via membrane Gαi subunit proteins and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activation to induce Neu1 sialidase activation in live TrkA- and TrkB-expressing cells and primary neurons. These results establish a unique mode of regulation of Trk receptors by their natural ligand and define a new function for Neu1 sialidase. Preliminary data indicate that members of the family of tyrosine kinase receptors like epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and insulin receptor are also under the same regulatory control of Neu1 sialidase. Recent reports from the laboratory have indicated that ligand-induced activation of the highly glycosylated Toll-like receptors, TLR-2,-3 and -4 is also dependent on Neu1 sialidase on the cell surface. Taken all together, the findings in this thesis uncover a Neu1 and MMP-9 cross-talk on the cell surface which is critically essential for neurotrophin-induced Trk tyrosine kinase receptor activation and neuron function.

abstract: PhD


title: The Influence of Self-Efficacy on Physical Activity in Individuals With End-Stage Renal Disease

contributor:
King-VanVlack, Cheryl
Rehabilitation Science

subject:
End-Stage Renal Disease
Dialysis
Human Activity Profile
Physical Function
Albumin
Age

abstract: Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-27 09:47:12.764

abstract:
Background and Purpose: Physical activity is significantly lower in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population compared with age-matched sedentary controls. Self-efficacy is a significant contributing factor to exercise behaviour in the healthy and various chronic disease populations; however, little information is available on self-efficacy and exercise in the ESRD population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and physical activity levels in individuals with ESRD and to determine factors which may contribute to this relationship.
Participants: Patients (127 hemodialysis and 5 peritoneal dialysis) were recruited from the Kingston General Hospital renal units.
Methods: Self-efficacy was measured using the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES) and the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSES). Physical activity was measured using the Human Activity Profile (HAP). Responses on the HAP resulted in 2 scores: the maximum activity score (MAS) and the adjusted activity score (AAS). Contributing factors, such as age, co-morbidities, length on dialysis (vintage), medications, dialysis efficacy (Kt/V), albumin, prealbumin, total protein, protein catabolic rate (PCR) and hemoglobin (HgB) were collected from patient records.
Results: The average MAS and AAS scores were 62.5±15.6 and 49.1± 21.0 (SD), respectively, which are substantively lower than those in the healthy population. Serum albumin was the sole contributing factor to physical activity such that AAS in those with lower levels of albumin (24-30g/L, 31-34 g/L) was less than those with higher levels of albumin (p<0.05). Both MAS and AAS were significantly lower in those with diabetes (n=66) compared to those without (n=66), as was the difference between MAS and AAS. Age and self-efficacy explained 51% of the variance in MAS. Age, self-efficacy and serum albumin level explained 59% of variance in AAS.
Discussion and Conclusion: Individuals on dialysis have lower functional capability within their maximal energy ability at any age and this difference is more pronounced among those with diabetes. Physical activity was substantially influenced by an individual’s self-efficacy, age and serum albumin level. These findings indicate that self-efficacy must be taken into account and used to promote greater participation in physical activity in the ESRD population.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Free Spirit Affirmative Business: Employment for offenders with serious mental illness

contributor:
Krupa, Terry
Rehabilitation Science

subject:
affirmative business
mental illness
offender

abstract: Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-26 15:43:13.848

abstract:
This case study evaluates the process of affirmative business development within
a federal correctional psychiatric facility for federal offenders with mental illness serving
long or indeterminate sentences. It examines how the business associates (i.e., offenders
with mental illness who are self-employed in the affirmative business) change through
working in the affirmative business, and what challenges and benefits they experience.
The aim is to disseminate knowledge that will assist in developing supported employment
opportunities for offenders with serious mental illness.
Qualitative and participatory research methods are used to give a descriptive
account of the experience of 14 business associates within a critical paradigm. The
framework that guided this study included the Canadian Model of Occupational
Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E); the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB); and
a Community Economic Development (CED) approach. Strategies were incorporated to
maintain rigor and ensure trustworthiness and quality of the findings. The data outlined
the first 6 years of the affirmative business. Interviews and observations were conducted
during year 7 and 8 of the affirmative business. Reviews of documents and artifacts were
current and historical in nature.
Three overlapping phases of business development, outreach, and replication are
discussed along with their corresponding core tasks of skepticism, tensions of growth,
and transformation. Within each phase, six overlapping themes emerge: business
development; personal growth, recovery, and hope; ongoing support; the prison
environment; volunteerism; and the community. Self-employment within the affirmative
iii
business emerges as having an encouraging effect on promoting empowerment and
recovery, increasing self-reliance and self-efficacy, helping symptoms, learning new
ways to resolve conflict, and improving understanding of employment support needs.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Runtime Conformance Checking of Mobile Agent Systems Using Executable Models

contributor:
Dingel, Juergen
Computing

subject:
runtime monitoring
conformance testing
mobile agent
process algebra
mutation testing
Kiltera

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-27 12:35:47.996

abstract:
Mobility occurs naturally in many distributed system applications such as telecommunications and electronic commerce. Mobility may reduce bandwidth consumption
and coupling and increase flexibility. However, it seems that relatively little work has
been done to support quality assurance techniques such as testing and verification of
mobile systems.
This thesis describes an approach for checking the conformance of a mobile, distributed application with respect to an executable model at runtime. The approach
is based on kiltera -- a novel, high-level language supporting the description and execution of models of concurrent, mobile, distributed, and timed computation. The
approach allows distributed, rather than centralized, monitoring. However, it makes
very few assumptions about the platform that the mobile agent system is implemented
in.
We have implemented our approach and validated it using four case studies. Two
of them are examples of mobile agent systems, the two others are implementations
of distributed algorithms. Our approach was able to detect seeded faults in the
implementations. To check the effectiveness and the efficiency of our approach more
comprehensively a mutation-based evaluation framework has been implemented. In
this framework a set of a new mutation operators for mobile agent systems has been
identified in order to automatically generate and run a number of mutants programs
and then evaluate the ability of our approach to detect these mutants. We found that
our approach is very effective and efficient in killing the non-equivalent mutants.

abstract: PhD


title: A New Approach in Survival Analysis with Longitudinal Covariates

contributor:
Steinsaltz, David
Thomson, David J.
Mathematics and Statistics

subject:
Survival Analysis
Longitudinal Covariates
Joint Model
State Space Model
Hidden Markov Model
Kalman Filter
Event History Chart
Conditional Expected Remaining Lifespan

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mathematics & Statistics) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-26 18:34:01.131

abstract:
In this study we look at the problem of analysing survival data in the presence of
longitudinally collected covariates. New methodology for analysing such data has
been developed through the use of hidden Markov modeling. Special attention has
been given to the case of large information volume, where a preliminary data reduction
is necessary. Novel graphical diagnostics have been proposed to assess goodness of fit
and significance of covariates.
The methodology developed has been applied to the data collected on behaviors
of Mexican fruit flies, which were monitored throughout their lives. It has been found
that certain patterns in eating behavior may serve as an aging marker. In particular it
has been established that the frequency of eating is positively correlated with survival
times.

abstract: PhD


title: Neo-Traditionalist Fantasies: Colonialism, Modernism, and Fascism in Greater France 1870-1962

contributor:
Mah, Harold
History

subject: Cultural History

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, History) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-27 12:11:42.048

abstract:
Neo-traditionalism was a classicist and colonialist project for regenerating the nation, inaugurated by French avant-garde intellectuals in the fin-de-siècle. Most were formerly Symbolists. They wanted to regenerate a dissolute French population employing new fantasies of identity which would overcome the fragmentation of French culture in the era of modern imperialism. The neo-traditionalist world-view was an alchemy of conflicting cultural concerns which defined the era. These intellectuals hoped that, according to their specific re-arrangement of these concerns, they would redefine and regenerate France itself. Neo-traditionalism was an aesthetic-political project which was conservative and revolutionary, colonial and metropolitan, traditional and avant-garde.
This dissertation is a history of this specific set of ideas and strategies which occupies an uneasy position at the intersection of several conventional historical topics: modernism, fascism, and colonialism. Neo-traditionalism was none of these per se, and yet touched upon all of these topics. This is not a history of France quarantined from its overseas territories, but a history of France that includes colonial Algeria as it was seen by most French contemporaries: an integral and legal part of territorial France. This study also focuses on the lives of two neo-traditionalist intellectuals, Louis Bertrand and Albert Camus, whose works helped define and redefine these shared ideas over time, as they moved across the colonial threshold between France and Algeria, and as they sought to
iii
redefine each society in the image of the other. Bertrand was the founder, almost sui generis, of the conventions of settler literature in the colony. He was also one of the most pro-Nazi French intellectual s of the twentieth century. Camus still remains the most celebrated writer of that settler literature, as well as being almost equally as certain the most famous anti-fascist French intellectual of the twentieth century. There is much that distinguishes their lives and work from one another, but there is also a great deal that they share. One was fascist, the other was anti-fascist. But they shared particular visions of society that are only understood in exploring the intellectual subcultures which shaped their world-view on either side of the Mediterranean: a neo-traditionalist world-view.

abstract: PhD


title: Energy aware techniques for certain problems in Wireless Sensor Networks

contributor:
Akl, Selim
Computing

subject:
Wireless Sensor Networks
Distributed Algorithms
Energy Aware Techniques
Local Algorithms

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-27 10:19:39.03

abstract: Recent years have witnessed a tremendous amount of research in the field of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) due to their numerous real-world applications in environmental and habitat monitoring, fire detection, object tracking, traffic controlling, industrial and machine-health control and monitoring, enemy-intrusion in military battlefields, and so on. However, reducing energy consumption of individual sensors in such networks and obtaining the expected standard of quality in the solutions provided by them is a major challenge. In this thesis, we investigate several problems in WSNs, particularly in the areas of broadcasting, routing, target monitoring, self-protecting networks, and topology control with an emphasis on minimizing and balancing energy consumption among the sensors in such networks. Several interesting theoretical results and bounds have been obtained for these problems which are further corroborated by extensive simulations of most of the algorithms. These empirical results lead us to believe that the algorithms may be applied in real-world situations where we can achieve a guarantee in the quality of solutions with a certain degree of balanced energy consumption among the sensors.

abstract: PhD


title: The  Ezrin  Signalling Network as a Potential Novel Marker in Breast Cancer Metastasis

contributor:
Elliott, Bruce E.
Pathology and Molecular Medicine

subject:
Src
Ezrin
Breast cancer
Invasion
Metastasis

abstract: Thesis (Master, Pathology & Molecular Medicine) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 12:24:25.286

abstract: Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality in human breast cancer.  However, there are few predictive, prognostic, or therapeutic targets of breast cancer metastasis.  Ezrin, a membrane cytoskeletal cross-linker, is frequently over-expressed in human breast cancer and is required for motility and invasion by cultured epithelial cells.  Our group has recently shown that ezrin acts co-operatively with the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, in the transformation of epithelial cells, in which ezrin is phosphorylated on specific tyrosines, such as Y477, by Src (91, 93).  We therefore examined whether Src/ezrin interaction also regulates invasion and metastasis of breast cancer.  This thesis presents the following results: 1) In a murine system, ezrin and Src are differentially localized in nulliparous, lactating mammary glands and PyMT-induced tumours, with pronounced apical expression in nulliparous mammary glands but non-polarized strong cytoplasmic expression in PyMT-induced tumours.  2) Increased expression and activation of ezrin, Src and Met in PyMT-induced tumours compared to normal breast tissues was observed.  A concomitant increased expression of activated Stat3 and HGF was also observed in PyMT-induced tumours, consistent with the establishment of an HGF/Met autocrine loop.  3) In invasive human breast tumours, from a premenopausal patient cohort, ezrin showed significantly greater cytoplasmic localization compared to non-neoplastic epithelial ducts in normal mammoplasties.  4) In a mouse breast carcinoma xenograft model, a Y477F ezrin mutant (not phosphorylatable by Src), significantly reduced local invasion of primary tumours and spreading into visceral organs, yet, it did not significantly affect primary tumour growth rate.  5) Y477F ezrin-expressing tumours exhibited focal areas of incomplete membranous ezrin staining which was absent in control tumours.  Moderate/strong cytoplasmic ezrin staining was evident in both tumour groups.  Thus, ezrin is differentially localized in non-invasive versus invasive mammary tumours.  Our study implicates a role of the Src/ezrin pathway in regulating local invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma cells and provides a clinically relevant model for assessing the Src/ezrin pathway as a potential prognostic marker and treatment target for invasive breast cancer.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Pesticide use at Expo '67: Can we find the evidence 40 years later?

contributor:
Hodson, Peter
Environmental Studies

subject:
Pesticides
Expo '67

abstract: Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-27 18:58:14.505

abstract: The applications of the pesticide DDD to the water of the St. Lawrence River prior to and during the World Exhibition of 1967 in Montréal, Québec were examined. The pesticide was applied between 1965 and 1967 in excess of 16 000 kg to abate nuisance shadflies. To determine if the evidence was captured in the environmental media, sediment cores were sampled from a fluvial lake downstream of the Expo ’67 site, Lac Saint-Pierre, Québec, Canada and from an upstream fluvial lake, Lac Saint-François, Ontario and Québec, Canada.  Sequential slices of sediment cores from the two lakes were analyzed and compared for pesticide concentrations using gas chromatography and dated using 137Cs isotopes. The percentage of total carbon in the sediments was also analyzed to express pesticide concentrations on a carbon basis. Concentrations of DDD and DDE in Lac Saint-François ranged from below detection to 12.2 ppb and from below detection to 11.5 ppb, respectively. Concentrations of both contaminants were highest approximately between the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, consistent with historical use patterns. DDT was not detected in sediment slices from Lac Saint-François at any depth. Concentrations of total DDD, DDE and DDT in Lac Saint-Pierre ranged from below detection to 26.4 ppb, from below detection to 20.9 ppb, and from below detection to 80.5 ppb, respectively. Contaminant concentration distributions demonstrated very complex and multi-peaked profiles that were not reflective of expected historical use patterns. The influence of sediment grain size and carbon content on the contaminant profiles was examined but did not appreciably explain the complexity. Mixing of sediment due to physical processes in combination with other variables may help explain the complex contaminant and 137Cs activity profiles. Although pesticide concentrations were generally higher in the downstream lake compared to the upstream lake, conclusions of the source of the pesticide cannot be accurately drawn due to the complex signals in Lac Saint-Pierre and the absence of DDT in Lac Saint-François, which prevents the comparison of a DDD:DDT breakdown ratio.

abstract: M.E.S.


title: Theory of Mind in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study Describing an Intervention to Teach ToM Concepts

subject:
Autism
Theory of Mind
Applied Behavior Analysis
Education

abstract:
Individuals with autism have been shown to have specific delays in the development of a theory of mind (ToM), which refers to the process of attributing mental states to self and to others in order to explain and predict behaviour. The overall purpose of this project is to provide an accessible account of a multi-year intervention, based on strategies consistent with applied behavior analysis (ABA), designed to improve the social development and theory of mind functioning of an 11-year old male student with autism spectrum disorder. An ethnographic account introduces readers to Kenny, a boy diagnosed with autism, and provides the context for understanding how the intervention was individualized to both consider his strengths and to address his needs.
     Based on the analysis of interview, questionnaire, and direct observational data obtained during a three week study period, four themes emerged as significant for reporting on the participant’s development. First, findings support the conclusion that it is critical for ToM interventions to be tailored to individuals in order to maintain motivation and ensure participation. Second, data supports that through the use of ABA techniques, the participant was able to develop social language skills, such as asking Wh- questions. Third, data supports the finding that Kenny’s peers enjoyed participating in the intervention activities, and that in many ways, they became his social teachers. Fourth, data supports that Kenny displayed meaningful improvements in his social development, and theory of mind functioning, after participating in the intervention. Specifically, interviewees observed dramatic increases in (a) his level of social awareness, and (b) the frequency of his social interactions with peers. Recommendations are made for educators who may be considering incorporating ToM programming for their students with ASD.


title: Does Proteasome Inhibition Produce REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder Leading to Parkinson’s Disease? Examining a Progressive Model of Parkinson’s Disease

contributor:
Smith, Carlyle T.
Beninger, Richard J.
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Sleep
Parkinson's Disease (PD)
REM Behaviour Disorder (RBD)
Rat
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Electromyogram (EMG)
Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
Alpha-Synuclein
PSI
Proteasome Inhibition
Locus Coeruleus (LC)
Subcoeruleus Nucleus (SubC)
Substantia Nigra (SN)
Dorsal Motor Nucleus of the Vagus (DMN)
Beam Traverse
Pesticide

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 12:04:50.613

abstract: A recent model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) suggests that the neuropathological, behavioural and cognitive symptoms progress in stages. There is substantial evidence for a prodromal stage of PD, during which time pre-motor symptoms develop. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is a risk factor for developing PD and may be part of the pre-motor stage. In both disorders, neuropathological α-synuclein aggregates are thought to be a direct cause of the resulting symptoms. One model has shown that in rats, proteasome inhibition produced by systemic exposure to environmental toxins results in α-synuclein pathology and motor behaviour dysfunction that mimics the progression of PD in humans. The present study examined the hypothesis that the systemic proteasome inhibition model would produce pre-Parkinsonian RBD-like pathology in rats. It was expected that sleep disturbances would be seen prior to behavioural disturbances in rats treated systemically with PSI (a proteasome inhibitor). Following baseline sleep recording and training on the inclined beam-traverse task, rats were injected with PSI (a proteasome inhibitor) or ethanol (control), 6 times over 2 wk. Sleep recording over 8 wk and behavioural testing over 16 wk provided no evidence of sleep disturbances or motor dysfunction. Post-mortem immunohistochemical analyses of brain tissue provided no evidence of PSI-associated α-synuclein aggregates in the locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus (dorsal part), or substantia nigra (areas involved in RBD and/or PD). These results did not provide support for RBD as a prodromal phase of PD within the systemic proteasome inhibitor-based model and add to a growing body of research reporting inconsistent findings using this model. We suggest that systemic PSI exposure in rats does not produce a viable model of RBD or PD. Whether RBD is an early symptom in the progression of PD remains to be established.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Investigation of Megavoltage Digital Tomosynthesis using a Co–60 Source

subject:
Digital Tomosynthesis
Cobalt-60 imaging

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 14:14:07.44

abstract:
The ability for megavoltage computed tomography patient setup verification using a cobalt-60 (Co–60) gamma ray source has been established in the context of cobalt tomotherapy. However, it would be beneficial to establish improved cobalt imaging that could be used on more conventional units. In terms of safety and efficiency, this imaging technique would provide the patient with less exposure to radiation. Digital tomosynthesis (DT) is an imaging modality that may provide improved depth localization and in-plane visibility compared to conventional portal imaging in modern Co–60 radiation therapy. DT is a practical and efficient method of achieving depth localization from a limited gantry rotation and a limited number of projections. In DT, each plane of the imaging volume can be brought into focus by relatively displacing the composite images and superimposing the shifted dataset according to the acquisition geometry. Digital flat-panel technology has replaced the need for multiple film exposures and therefore the speed of imaging and capabilities for image processing has put DT in the forefront of both clinical and industrial imaging applications.
The objective of this work is to develop and evaluate the performance of an experimental system for megavoltage digital tomosynthesis (MVDT) imaging using a Co–60 gamma ray source. Linear and isocentric acquisition geometries are implemented using tomographic angles of 20-60° and 10-60 projections. Reconstruction algorithms are designed for both acquisition geometries. Using the backprojection approach, the data are shifted and added to reconstruct focal planes of interest. Depth localization and its dependence on tomographic angle and projection density are visualized with an anthropomorphic head phantom. High contrast resolution at localized depths is quantified using the modulation transfer function approach. Results show that focal-plane visibility is improved for larger tomographic angles and that focal-plane visibility has negligible dependence on projection density. Lastly, the presence of noise and artifacts in the resulting images are quantified in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio and the artifact spread function. The work presented here is expected to provide the justification required to proceed with a prototype Co–60 MVDT system for patient set-up verification in modern Co–60 radiation therapy.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Slow decline: The social organization of mental health care in a prison-hospital

subject:
forensic mental health
policy implementation

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 14:46:36.212

abstract:
Within Canada’s federal correctional system, prison-hospitals provide both in-patient and ambulatory services to incarcerated male offenders. With at least 12% of incarcerated men being identified at intake as having a mental health disorder, the need for these services is significant (Sampson, Gascon, Glen, Louie & Rosenfeldt, 2007).  While some description of the mental health services provided, internal operational reviews, and external health services accreditation surveys of these prison-hospitals are available, there has been very little attention paid to the challenge of trying to balance the dual correctional and mental health mandates of these facilities. Research in comparable facilities and services in the United States describe mental health care as a ‘non-system’ of care and state that mental health staff receive very little system-wide direction regarding the provision of services (Cruser & Diamond, 1996; Elliot, 1997).
This is a study that critically analyses how mental health care has become subordinated to correctional and security priorities in a Canadian prison-hospital.  Five key elements identified in the policy implementation literature are used to explicate the everyday experiences of frontline staff as they work to provide mental health services in this correctional environment.  The thesis argues that the mental health work of frontline prison staff is subverted by a lack of vision for mental health care within organizational policy structures, allowing the detailed correctional policy structures to become the dominant force in implementation and decision making.
Using the theory and method of institutional ethnography developed by sociologist Dorothy Smith, the analysis displays how the everyday activities of frontline staff are systematically organized by routine organizational policy structures to advance the correctional mandate of the prison-hospital while mental health care has slowly declined.  The study finds that mental health care is socially organized as a ‘zero-sum game’. As policy texts have concerted and coordinated the everyday activities of frontline staff in predictable ways, gains for the correctional and security priorities of the prison-hospital have meant significant and repeated losses for mental health care.  However, there are ‘windows of opportunity’ for frontline staff to advance the mental health mandate of the prison-hospital if they work together.

abstract: PhD


title: The influence of nutritional phosphate deprivation on the secreted proteome of Arabidopsis thaliana

contributor:
Plaxton, William C.
Biology

subject:
phosphate deprivation
purple acid phosphatase
secretome
proteomics
glycosylation
fertilizer

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 17:20:46.892

abstract: This thesis examines the influence of nutritional phosphate (Pi) deprivation on extracellular proteins secreted by the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Initial studies compared the secretome of Pi-sufficient (+Pi) versus Pi-deficient (-Pi) Arabidopsis cell cultures by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometry identified 18 different secreted proteins that were upregulated by at least 2-fold by –Pi Arabidopsis. They were predicted to function in Pi scavenging, cell wall and ROS metabolism, proteolysis, and pathogen responses. The relationship between mRNA levels and relative amounts of selected secretome proteins was assessed. The results indicate that transcriptional control is but one of many factors contributing to Arabidopsis Pi starvation responses and highlight the importance of parallel biochemical and proteomic studies of –Pi plants. Three purple acid phosphatase (APase) isoforms were fully purified from the culture media of –Pi Arabidopsis cells and identified as AtPAP12 (At2g27190) and two AtPAP26 (At5g34850) glycoforms. As each purple APase exhibited broad substrate specificities and pH-activity profiles, it is hypothesized that their combined activities facilitate Pi scavenging from soil-localized organophosphates during nutritional Pi deprivation. AtPAP26 is dual-targeted during Pi stress since an earlier report demonstrated that it is also the principal intracellular (vacuolar) APase upregulated by -Pi Arabidopsis. The results indicate that differential glycosylation influences AtPAP26’s substrate specificity and subcellular targeting. An atpap26 T-DNA insertional mutant lacking AtPAP26 transcripts and immunoreactive AtPAP26 polypeptides exhibited: (i) 9- and 5-fold lower shoot and root APase activity, respectively, which did not change in response to Pi starvation, (ii) a 40% reduction in secreted APase activity during Pi deprivation, (iii) 35 and 50% reductions in free and total Pi concentration, respectively, in shoots of –Pi plants, and (iv) impaired shoot and root development when subjected to Pi deficiency. By contrast, no deleterious influence of AtPAP26 loss of function was apparent in +Pi plants. The results establish a firm role for AtPAP26 in the acclimation of Arabidopsis to Pi deficiency. The identification and functional characterization of secreted proteins upregulated by –Pi Arabidopsis is relevant to applied efforts to engineer Pi-efficient transgenic plants, needed to minimize the input of expensive, unsustainable, and polluting Pi fertilizers in crop production.

abstract: PhD