title: Tectonometamophic evolution of the Greater Himalayan sequence, Karnali valley, northwestern Nepal

subject:
Greater Himalayan sequence
Thermobarometry
Tectonics
Himalaya
40Ar/39Ar Thermochronology
Microstructure

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-20 09:23:07.103

abstract: In the Karnali valley of west Nepal, detailed mapping, thermobarometry, quartz-petrofabrics, vorticity analysis, and thermochronology delineate three tectonometamorphic domains separated by structural and metamorphic discontinuities. The lowest domain, the Lesser Himalayan sequence, is weakly metamorphosed and preserves evidence of primary sedimentary features and a polydeformational history. The Greater Himalayan sequence (GHS) is pervasively sheared and metamorphosed and overlies the Lesser Himalayan sequence along the Main Central thrust. The Greater Himalayan sequence is sub-divided into two tectonometamorphic domains that display contrasting metamorphic histories. The lower portion of the Greater Himalayan sequence contains garnet- to kyanite-grade rocks whose peak metamorphic assemblages developed during top-to-the-south directed shear and a metamorphic pressure gradient that increases up structural section. The upper portion of the Greater Himalayan sequence contains kyanite and sillimanite-grade migmatites that preserve polymetamorphic assemblages and a metamorphic pressure gradient that decreases up structural section. The upper and lower portions of the Greater Himalayan sequence are separated by a metamorphic discontinuity that roughly coincides with the bottom of the lowest migmatite unit. Vorticity estimates indicate roughly equal contributions of pure and simple shear during deformation of the upper and lower portions of the GHS. Quartz petrofabrics suggest deformation temperatures are equivalent to peak metamorphic temperatures in the lower Greater Himalayan sequence. These observations are consistent with channel flow tectonic models whereby the upper portion of the Greater Himalayan sequence is ductily extruded to the south while ductily accreting the subjacent lower portion of the Greater Himalayan sequence across a metamorphic discontinuity. 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology indicates Miocene homogeneous cooling of the Greater Himalayan sequence. Cooling rates of the GHS and the homogeneous cooling profile suggest east-west extensional exhumation followed peak-metamorphism and south-directed shearing and supports the hypothesis of the southeast propagation of the Gurla-Mandhata-Humla fault system into the Karnali valley.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Redefining Prosocial Behaviour: The Production of Helping, Sharing, and Comforting Acts in Human Infants and Toddlers

contributor:
Kuhlmeier, Valerie
Psychology

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:
developmental psychology
social cognition
socioemotional development
prosocial behaviour

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-20 15:08:27.842

abstract:
Prosocial behaviours are a diverse group of actions that are integral to human social life. In this dissertation I propose and test a three-factor model of prosocial behaviour. Specifically, in a series of four studies I examined the ability of infants and toddlers to engage in helping, sharing, and comforting behaviour.  Additionally, I examine the consistency with which children produce these behaviours longitudinally over time and the associations between these three subtypes of prosocial behaviour and social cognitive perspective taking, effortful control, affective perspective taking, and temperament.
In Study 1, I found that 18-month-old infants were able to engage in helping and sharing, but not comforting behaviour. In Study 2, I found that between 18 and 30 months, there was no individual consistency in the production of prosocial behaviours, either across types (helping, sharing) or times (18, 24, or 30 months). Moreover, I found that even at 30 months of age, young children were not recognizing and responding to the emotional needs of others. In Study 3, I examined the relation between helping and sharing and three measures of social cognitive perspective taking and general cognitive development. I found unique relations between the behavioural correlates and the measures of prosocial behaviour. Specifically, I found that sharing was associated with imitation and that helping was associated with general cognitive development.
Finally, Study 4 demonstrated that helping was the most frequent prosocial behaviour that the children engaged in, and it did not increase over time. I also observed a significant developmental increase in comforting behaviour from 2 to 3 years. Additionally, I found low rates of sharing behaviour that were stable over time. Importantly, I observed consistency in the production of prosocial behaviour within each subtype and defined a three-factor structure that differentiated between the helping, sharing, and comforting tasks. Further, I observed a significant association between effortful control and comforting behaviour, but no other significant associations between any of the subtypes of prosocial behaviour and the behavioural correlates (effortful control, affective perspective taking, and temperament). The implications for the construct of prosocial behaviour and the presence of a “prosocial disposition” are discussed.

abstract: PhD


title: The Experiential Process of Acquiring Wisdom: How Wise Individuals Report Learning Life Lessons

contributor:
Hutchinson, Nancy L.
Education

subject:
Wisdom
Life Learning
Experiential Learning
Qualitative Research

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-20 15:34:05.91

abstract:
Philosophers have considered and debated the topic of wisdom for centuries.  Now, as we face an ageing world population, a need for the scientific exploration of the topic has arisen. Over the past 30 years, the challenge to understand and define wisdom has been taken up and studied mainly by the fields of psychology and sociology. A body of wisdom literature has emerged and this thesis addresses an identified gap in that literature concerning the development of wisdom.
 This thesis examines the process of acquiring wisdom across the human lifespan. Specifically, this qualitative exploratory case study examines the process employed by wise nominees when transforming a personal life experience into a life lesson. The opinions, experiences, and relationship descriptions of their nominators are uniquely included in the study’s findings. Each of the four cases in the study is comprised of a dyad, a nominator and their wise nominee. Data were collected from the study participants through questionnaires and in-depth interviews.
A framework, comprised of three components, that begins to describe the wisdom acquisition process emerged from the study’s findings. The first element of the emerging wisdom acquisition framework is a new succinct definition of wisdom. The second element is a model that describes the iterative process of learning from life experiences. This model was hypothesized at the outset of the study and obtained some corroboration from the study’s data. The third element of the emerging framework is the life management practices that wise individuals employ to deal with life experiences. These practices emerged as four central themes from the data. Three of those four life practices revolve around self-reliance whereas the fourth theme addresses the spiritual balance in the participants’ lives.
	This study is a first attempt to unravel the complex phenomenon of the acquisition of wisdom.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Investigating the Mechanisms of Toxicity of Benzene and its Metabolite Benzoquinone and the Role of Sulforaphane as a Potential Protective Agent in CD-1 Mouse Development

contributor:
Winn, Louise M.
Pharmacology and Toxicology

rights: Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada

rights: ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement

rights: Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University

subject:
benzene
sulforaphane
developmental toxicity
CD-1 mice

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2015-06-29 09:36:44.339

abstract: Benzene is an environmental pollutant and a known human leukemogen. It is also suspected to be associated with in utero-initiated leukemia. However, the mechanisms of benzene-mediated toxicity and carcinogenicity in both adults and fetuses are not well understood. Two main research hypotheses were tested in this thesis work. The first was that exposure to the benzene metabolite, benzoquinone, leads to increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage in cultured mouse fetal liver cells, and that epigenetic changes in CD-1 mouse fetal livers would result from in vivo exposure to benzene. The second was that exposure to the phytochemical, sulforaphane (SFN), would induce detoxification enzymes in CD-1 mouse fetal livers in vitro and in vivo, and that this would confer protection against benzene-induced cellular damage. Our data demonstrated that exposure to benzoquinone increased ROS levels, increased DNA damage, and altered DNA repair gene expression in cultured CD-1 mouse fetal liver cells. Additionally, although we found that SFN induced various metabolizing enzymes involved in the detoxification of benzene metabolites, SFN did not protect against the deleterious effects of benzene found in this study. In a separate study, we examined whether SFN could induce fetal and/or maternal enzymes involved in benzene detoxification in vivo in CD-1 mice and how this compared to non-pregnant CD-1 mice. While we found that chronic SFN exposure induced both gene expression and activity of liver detoxification enzymes of both pregnant and non-pregnant mice, SFN had no effect on expression levels or activity of these genes in fetal livers exposed in utero. Lastly, we investigated the effect of benzene exposure on DNA methylation and histone modifications in vivo. Benzene exposure decreased global DNA methylation in maternal bone marrow only, having no effect on any other epigenetic modifications measured in these studies. Taken together, the data presented in this thesis only partially supported our hypotheses; nevertheless, they provide valuable information for future research directions pertaining to benzene-associated transplacental carcinogenesis.

abstract: Not all the chapters have been accepted for publication, and we do not want online publishing of this thesis to affect that process.

abstract: PhD


title: Affective Dynamics of Rejected Children in Triadic Peer Interactions in Early Childhood

contributor:
Hollenstein, Tom
Psychology

subject:
rejection
triad
affect
dynamic systems
state space grids

abstract: Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-20 22:48:51.92

abstract: Entry into elementary school marks the beginning of a crucial shift in the amount and quality of time that children spend with their peers (Coie & Dodge, 1988). For many 5-year olds, kindergarten provides the opportunity to encounter their first stable peer group. It is in the context of these interactions that children practice essential social skills, as well as develop a capacity to interact with others. For various reasons, however, many children have difficulty gaining acceptance into fundamental peer groups. For these children, the opportunities for peer interactions present in the early school years are limited and often characterized by a high degree of aggressive affect (Coie & Dodge, 1988). Although previous research has reliably identified the individual affective states characteristic of rejected children during a typical peer interaction (Newcomb, Bukowski, & Pattee, 1993), it should be kept in mind that these expressions are embedded within a larger peer context, which plays an important role in how these dynamic processes unfold in real time (O’Connell, Pepler, & Craig, 1999). The purpose of the present study was to explore the application of a dynamic systems (DS) technique, state space grids (SSG), to the study of kindergarten peer processes and their impact on long-term psychopathology. Participants were 267 kindergarten children from a single school serving a predominantly low socioeconomic neighbourhood. In order to examine the social dynamics of interacting triads, moment-to-moment changes in affect were documented. Parent and teacher ratings of child conduct problems were also obtained at four measurement points. Consistent with previous research, both controversial and rejected children were more likely to express aggressive affect. Differential effects across sociometric groups were also replicated for both externalizing and internalizing ratings, where rejected children were found to have significantly higher scores. Extending upon past research, the expression of particular triadic affective states were found to differ significantly across sociometric groups. Furthermore, specific triadic affective states were found to be related to the developmental trajectories of clinical outcomes. Overall, results of the present study extend previous findings on the expression of individual affective states through the application of DS principles and methodology.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Head Roll Influences on Multi-Sensory Integration for Perception and Action

contributor:
Blohm, Gunnar
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Multi-Sensory Integration
Head Roll
Action
Perception

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-21 14:07:09.217

abstract: The representation of ourselves and our environment is based on the combination of information from multiple sensory systems. Each sensory modality is represented within a different frame of reference, in other words each sensory system uses a different code to represent the same properties of the environment (ex. visual stimuli in an eye-centered frame of reference; hand position would be shoulder-centered). Combing this information into a singular coordinate frame is complex. For instance, the eye and shoulder have different centers of rotation, therefore any changes in eye position or body posture will affect the relationship between them. What is still unknown is how the brain integrates these different sources of information into an internal representation, and what effect extra-retinal signals can have on this process. This thesis was designed to investigate the effect of head roll on action and perception. In Experiment 1, we wanted to determine how the integration of vision and proprioception for action was affected by changes in head roll. To investigate this question subjects performed a reaching task at three different head roll positions, where they would experience conflicts between their viewed and actual hand position. In Experiment 2, we examined the influence of head roll on sensory perception. To explore this idea subjects performed a task where they needed to judge the position of their unseen index fingertip relative to a visual target. Our findings reveal that eccentric head roll conditions influence both action and perception – revealed by an increase in movement variability and a decreased ability to discriminate the position of the unseen fingertip relative to visual targets. In summary, we have discovered that introducing eccentric head roll positions affects the perception of ourselves within the environment and the way that we integrate sensory information.

abstract: We would like to publish our data before this becomes available online. Please restrict public access for one year.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Pressureless Sintering and Mechanical Properties of SiC Composites with in-situ Converted TiO2 to TiC

contributor:
Krstic, Vladimir
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
SiC
TiC
silicon carbide
titanium carbide
ceramic
composite
in-situ
pressureless sintering
mechanical properties

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-21 15:20:02.797

abstract: Densification behaviour and mechanical properties (hardness, fracture toughness and flexural strength) of the SiC-TiC composite system were studied. Pressureless sintering experiments were conducted on samples containing 0 to 30 vol % TiC created through an in-situ reaction between TiO2 and C: TiO2 + 3C -> TiC + 2CO.  Sintering of the compacts was carried out in the presence of Al2O3 and Y2O3 sintering additives which promoted densification at sintering temperatures ranging from 1825 to 1925°C. It was determined that the presence of synthesized TiC particles served to effectively toughen the composite through crack deflection, impedance and bridging. An increase in fracture strength and hardness was also observed. Densities in excess of 98 % theoretical density were achieved depending on the sintering conditions and volume fraction of TiC phase.  The SiC grain size and morphology was analyzed as a function of TiC volume fraction. The presence of TiC particles in the SiC matrix inhibited the exaggerated grain growth of the SiC grains and activated additional toughening mechanisms. The SiC grains were found to be roughly equiaxed with very fine TiC particles preventing significant elongation. The optimal sintering conditions for room temperature mechanical properties required slow heating through the reaction zone  (1300 to 1520°C) followed by a 1 h dwell at 1885°C. At this temperature, the maximum flexural strength of 566 MPa was measured in samples containing 5 vol % TiC. Conversely, a maximum fracture toughness of 5.7 MPa·m0.5 was measured in samples containing 10 vol % TiC sintered at 1900°C. The hardness was shown to increase very little, from ~19.8 GPa in the monolithic SiC samples to 20.1 GPa in samples containing 5 vol % TiC. A theoretical analysis was conducted to model the effect of porosity and grain morphology on the mechanical properties of the SiC matrix and was experimentally verified.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Flexural Behaviour of Sandwich Panels Composed of Polyurethane Core and GFRP Skins and Ribs

contributor:
Fam, Amir Z.
Civil Engineering

subject:
Sandwich Panels
Polyurethane Foam
Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer
Finite Element

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-21 16:29:00.315

abstract:
This study addresses the flexural performance of sandwich panels composed of a polyurethane foam core and glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) skins. Panels with and without GFRP ribs connecting the skins have been studied. While the motivation of the study was to develop new insulated cladding panels for buildings, most of the work and findings are also applicable to other potential applications such as flooring, roofing and light-weight decking. The study comprises experimental, numerical, and analytical investigations.
The experimental program included three phases. Phase I is a comprehensive material testing program of the polyurethane core and GFRP skins and ribs. In Phase II, six medium size (2500x660x78 mm) panels with different rib configurations were tested in one-way bending. It was shown that flexural strength and stiffness have increased by 50 to 150%, depending on the rib configuration, compared to a panel without ribs. In Phase III, two large-scale (9150x2440x78 mm) panels, representing a cladding system envisioned to be used in the field, were tested under a realistic air pressure and discrete loads, respectively. The deflection under service wind load did not exceed span/360, while the ultimate pressure was about 2.6 times the maximum factored wind pressure in Canada.
A numerical study using finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out. The FEA model accounted for the significant material nonlinearities, especially for the polyurethane soft core, and the geometric nonlinearity, which is mainly a reduction in thickness due to core softness. Another independent analytical model was developed based on equilibrium and strain compatibility, accounting for the core excessive shear deformation. The model also captures the localized deformations of the loaded skin, using the principals of beam-on-elastic foundation. Both models were successfully validated using experimental results. Possible failure modes, namely core shear failure, and compression skin crushing or wrinkling were successfully predicted.
A parametric study was carried out to explore further the core density, skin thickness, and rib spacing effects. As the core density increased, flexural strength and stiffness increased and shear deformations reduced. Also, increasing skin thickness became more effective as the core density increased. The optimal density was 95-130 kg/m3. Reducing the spacing of ribs enhanced the strength up to a certain level; It then stabilized at a spacing of 2.9 times the panel thickness.

abstract: PhD


title: Ice Association in Microbes

contributor:
Walker, Virginia K.
Biology

subject:
Freeze-Thaw
Ice Nucleation Activity
Ice Recrystallization Inhibition
Cross-Tolerance

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-21 15:58:14.932

abstract: Microbes have a remarkable ability to adapt to a host of environmental stressors, including low temperature, high pressure and osmotic stresses.  The adaptations of resistant microbes to low temperatures are varied, and may include the accumulation of solutes to maintain osmotic balance, the production of antifreeze proteins (AFPs) or ice nucleation proteins (INPs) to manipulate ice growth or formation.  AFPs depress the freezing point, inhibit ice recrystallization, and have been reported to inhibit or delay the growth of gas hydrates.  Conversely, INPs precipitate ice formation at relatively high subzero temperatures.  Collectively, these activities can be described as ‘ice-association’ activities.  Here, ice-affinity and/or freeze-thaw cycling were used to either select for isolates with ice association properties or to assess the low temperature resistance of microbial consortia derived from various environments.  Ice-affinity successfully selected psychrotolerant microbes from cultured temperate and boreal soils, some of which had been previously reported in glaciers and Arctic/Antarctic sites.  Many of the recovered microbes demonstrated ice-association activities.  Freeze-thaw selection also greatly decreased the abundance and diversity of consortia from distinct sites, and allowed the recovery of individual isolates, many of which demonstrated ice-association.  Freeze-thaw selection was also used to assess the role of cross-tolerance between osmotic and freeze-thaw stresses, based on the common challenge of desiccation.  Microbial consortia from lakes with varying degrees of salinity were subjected to freeze-thaw stress, and the consortia from more saline lakes tended to show greater low temperature resistance.  While few of the recovered microbes demonstrated ice-association activities, those from the more saline lakes tended to contain a higher intracellular solute concentration and were more likely to form biofilms.  This underscores the diversity of resistance strategies and supports the notion of cross-tolerance.  To determine if these selective regimes would have applications for hydrate growth inhibition, microbes derived from an oil well sample were subjected to freeze-thaw stress.  Selection reduced microbial abundance, shifted the diversity, and resulted in the recovery of microbes with some ice-association activity.  Taken together, this thesis demonstrates that the application of low temperature stress can be used to successfully investigate stress resistance mechanisms within microbial communities from distinct environments.

abstract: to be restricted, as per supervisors request, to allow for publication of individual articles prior to public access to my thesis (to avoid being seen by competitors)

abstract: PhD


title: Excess Maternal Weight Gain in Pregnancy and its Relationship to Operative Delivery

contributor:
Medves, Jennifer M.
Nursing

subject:
Pregnancy
Weight Gain
Operative Delivery
Cesarean Section

abstract: Thesis (Master, Nursing) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 09:00:57.695

abstract:
Increasing obesity rates in Canadian women are at an all time high with more than 50% of Canadian women falling into one of the four overweight to obese categories. Further to this 11-21% of Canadian women who are of child-bearing age are being described as overweight or obese. Along with the increasing rates of obesity is an increase in the number of operative deliveries experienced by pregnant women in Canada. Canadian women experience cesarean section (CS) approximately 21% of the time while women in Ontario experience an even higher rate of CS (26%). While currently there are several studies examining the relationship between pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity and its association with CS, there is little research examining the relationship between excess weight gain in pregnancy and operative delivery methods.
Data were collected through a retrospective chart review to examine the relationship between excess weight gain in pregnancy and operative delivery methods. Mean weight gain throughout pregnancy was measured. Data analysis was conducted using t-tests, Chi-Squared analyses and Fisher’s Exact test of significance, accepting a significance level of alpha = 0.05 with a 95% Confidence Interval of difference. The analysis conducted demonstrated no significant relationship between weight gain in pregnancy and operative delivery methods. When examining maternal weight and labour type, statistical significance was reached (p = 0.04) demonstrating increased likelihood of induction with excess weight gain in pregnancy; statistical significance was also reached with maternal age greater than 35 years and increased risk for operative delivery(p = 0.04). Further analysis demonstrated statistically significant results when examining one minute Apgar scores between the group of women with recorded weights in comparison to those women whose charts did not contain weights. The lack of findings in this study may be largely attributed to the small sample size.Important practice issues were identified. It is important that pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy weight and height be recorded on all women in hospital databases as well paper charts.
Consistency in recording weight units in either pounds or kilograms is imperative. Dietary consultation is an important component of prenatal care and women who enter pregnancy overweight or obese should have immediate access to nutritional counseling.

abstract: MNSc.


title: The Impact of Baseline Artery Diameter on Human Flow-Mediated Vasodilation: A Comparison of Brachial and Radial Artery Responses to Matched Levels of Shear Stress

contributor:
Pyke, Kyra E.
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Endothelial Function
Flow Mediated Dilation

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 11:01:26.028

abstract: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) can be used to assess the risk of atherosclerosis; however, an inverse relationship between vessel size and FMD has been identified using reactive hyperemia (RH) to create a shear stress (SS) stimulus in human conduit arteries. RH creates a transient and uncontrolled SS stimulus that is inversely related to baseline arterial diameter.  It is therefore unclear whether differences in FMD between groups with non-uniform artery sizes are indicative of differences in vascular health or due to the creation of a greater SS stimulus in smaller vessels. Unlike RH, exercise can effectively create sustained and controlled increases in conduit artery SS. The purpose of this study was to compare the FMD responses of two differently sized upper limb arteries (brachial (BA) and radial artery (RA)) to matched graded levels of SS. Using exercise, three distinct sustained shear rate stimuli were created ((SR)=blood flow velocity/vessel diameter; estimate of SS) in the RA and BA. Artery diameter and mean blood flow velocity were assessed with echo and Doppler ultrasound respectively in 15 healthy male subjects (19-25yrs). Data are means ±SE. Subjects performed 6-min each of adductor pollicis and handgrip exercise to increase SR in the RA and BA respectively. Exercise intensity was modulated to achieve uniformity of SR between the RA and BA at three SR targets (40s-1, 60s-1, 80s-1).  Three distinct SR levels were successfully created (steady state exercise: 39.8±0.6s-1, 57.3±0.7s-1, 72.4±1.2s-1; p<0.001 between SR levels). The %FMD at the end of exercise was greater in the RA vs. BA (SR40 RA: 5.4±0.8%, BA: 1.0±0.2%; SR60 RA: 9.8±1.0%, BA: 2.5±0.5%; SR80 RA: 15.7±1.5%, BA: 5.4±0.7%; p<0.001). The mean slope of the within-subject FMD-SR dose-response regression lines was significantly greater in the RA (RA: 0.33±0.04, BA: 0.13±0.02; p<0.001) and a strong within-subjects relationship between FMD and SR was observed in both arteries (RA r2: 0.92±0.02; BA r2: 0.90±0.03). These findings suggest that the response to SS is not uniform across differently sized vessels, which is in agreement with previous RH studies. Future research is required to investigate the potential mechanisms that mediate the functional differences observed between differently sized vessels.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Experiments and Monte Carlo Analysis for the Optical Properties of the Scintillator in SNO+

subject:
Liquid Scintillator
Optical Properties
SNO+
Nd-loaded
Radioactive Backgrounds

abstract: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 11:55:44.351

abstract:
The SNO+ experiment will be the SNO detector filled with a neodymium-loaded liquid scintillator instead of heavy water. SNO+ will be used to detect neutrinos of much lower energy. Also, SNO+ will conduct a search for neutrinoless double beta decay with Nd-150. The Nd-loaded scintillator in SNO+ will be made from linear alkylbenzene (LAB). Both the LAB solvent and the Nd loading are new developments. The optical properties of this scintillator and information about radioactive backgrounds should be studied.

A calibration source known as the scintillator bucket was deployed in the water-filled SNO detector in order to study some optical properties of Nd-loaded scintillator, raw LAB scintillator and distilled LAB scintillator. Using a neutron source attached to the bucket to produce events with known energy, with a model of the scintillator bucket simulated by an analysis tool called RAT, the light yield of the scintillator could be determined by comparing data measurements with simulations. This allowed the light yield, one of the main optical properties of the scintillator, to be measured and that value to be corrected in the Monte Carlo.

The bucket was deployed both at the centre of the detector and at the bottom. After subtracting backgrounds from radon introduced in the scintillator during preparation and filling, constraints on the amount of Po-210 were obtained. Estimates on the K-40 content of the Nd-loaded scintillator were obtained by analyzing the radon-subtracted background spectra. By comparing the background spectra with the bucket deployed at the bottom of the acrylic vessel with spectra from the bucket at the centre, it was possible to estimate the K-40 content of the acrylic vessel.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Burnout and Coping Strategies Utilized by Occupational Therapists in Ontario

contributor:
Paterson, Margo
Rehabilitation Science

subject:
Burnout, Professional
Occupational Therapy

abstract: Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 12:12:20.009

abstract:
Introduction: Burnout is a familiar term for today’s health care professionals with emotional, psychological, physical, and social consequences for those who experience it. It leads to job dissatisfaction, low organizational commitment, absenteeism, as well as inter personal conflict in teams and patient care.
Objectives: This mixed methods study has 3 objectives:
1.	To determine the levels of burnout being experienced by a sample of occupational therapists practicing in Ontario.
2.	To describe the practice issues faced by participants in their day-to-day work and
3.	To describe the coping strategies participants employ to maintain their practice.
Methods: A concurrent embedded mixed methods research design was used. The mixed methods design collected quantitative and qualitative data. In the first phase, 63 participants completed a survey, which collected demographic information, responses on Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and Areas of Worklife Survey, and their use of coping strategies. In the second phase, focus groups and interviews with 7 occupational therapists were conducted to learn about practice issues, and coping strategies used to address the identified demands.
Results: 34.8% of the participants reported high levels of emotional exhaustion, 43.5% of the participants reported high levels of cynicism and 24.6 % report low professional efficacy. Unmanageable workload predicted 29.9% of the variance in emotional exhaustion. Rewards predict 15.5% of the variance in professional efficacy. Demands on time, lack of autonomy, lack of respect and conflict were identified as practice issues participants grapple with on a daily basis.  Spending time with spouse/partner/family, maintaining balance between professional and personal lives, maintaining sense of control over work responsibilities and maintaining sense of humor were rated highly by participants as coping strategies they utilize to maintain their practice. Maintaining self awareness / self monitoring, focusing on satisfying aspects of work, importance of workplace/home community and boundaries emerged as additional coping strategies from the focus groups and interviews.
Conclusion: This study contributes to understanding the practice challenges for occupational therapists in the contemporary healthcare arena. It provides valuable insights into factors that contribute to therapist burnout and strategies they employ to maintain competent practice.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Cyberethics in action: Copyright, privacy, and media awareness teachers' guides

subject:
cyberethics
copyright
privacy
media awareness

abstract: New advancements in Information Communication Technology (ICT) have greatly impacted the way people interact with one another and the world. While ICT has led to many improvements, a number of problems involving ICT have also emerged, such as copyright infringement. These issues do not always experience the same level of moral adherence as their real world counterparts. For example copyright violations are not always associated with theft. The area of cyberethics examines these updated attitudes towards morally and ethically dubious acts and recommends cyberethics education for teachers to teach students ethical behaviour and values. Drawing from available literature, documents published by federal and private organizations, and credible online resources, this project develops three guides for instructors regarding the issues of: copyright, privacy, and media literacy. Each guide provides instructors with background information, lesson plan ideas, and additional resources for research and instruction. In this way, this project develops a useful tool to help instructors improve cyberethics education and address issues in ICT.


title: Sources and Correlates of Performance Enhancement in Audiovisual Speech Perception

contributor:
Paré, Martin
Munhall, Kevin G.
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Speech-in-noise
Confusions
McGurk illusion
Audiovisual speech
Audiovisual integration
Integration enhancement
Word identification
Open-set

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2014-07-22 10:47:29.009

abstract: In a noisy environment, speech intelligibility is greatly enhanced by seeing the speaker’s face. This enhancement results from the integration of auditory and visual signals, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This thesis describes the results from four studies investigating the enhancement of speech comprehension in an open-set, word-in-noise identification task. In the first study, we examined how the auditory signal-to-noise ratio impacts audiovisual performance in a large participant sample. Consistent with the majority of previous studies, we found high inter-individual variability, whose magnitude increased monotonically with increasing signal-to-noise ratio. We also found that audiovisual performance was highly variably across studies, even after normalizing with auditory-only performance, suggesting that experimental factors strongly affect performance. In the second study, we replicated the findings from the first study and developed a measure of audiovisual ‘integration enhancement’ that captures how much of the audiovisual performance cannot be accounted for by performances in visual-only and auditory-only tasks. Contrary to the principle of inverse effectiveness, this integration enhancement was found not to decrease with auditory signal-to-noise ratio but to peak at an intermediate ratio. In the third study, we developed a model based on the congruency of response errors (confusions) observed in auditory-only and visual-only task conditions to predict audiovisual performance enhancement. This relatively simple categorical model was found to account for audiovisual performance enhancement in 60% of our stimuli, lower level processing was likely responsible for the enhancement in the remainder of the words. In the fourth study, we investigated how much of the audiovisual performance enhancement can be predicted by the integration of auditory and visual signals, a process that we estimated from the susceptibility of one’s auditory perception to be altered by incongruent (McGurk) visual stimuli. Surprisingly, we found no correlation between the McGurk illusion susceptibility for nonsense syllables and our measure of audiovisual integration enhancement for words. Altogether, these findings suggest that a large amount of performance enhancement in speech comprehension is attributable to categorical constraints rather than to a discrete integration process. This work also highlights the importance of developing standardized approaches for future investigations of audiovisual speech perception.

abstract: PhD


title: A Therapeutic Dose of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

contributor:
Waldman, Stephen D.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Tissue Engineering
ATP
Articular Cartilage

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 14:08:28.114

abstract:
Tissue engineering holds great promise for developing functional tissue to repair damaged articular cartilage.  However, cartilaginous tissues formed in vitro typically possess poor mechanical properties in comparison to native tissue due to the inability of chondrocytes to accumulate adequate amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM).  While mechanical stimuli can enhance the properties of engineered cartilage, it may be more efficient to harness the underlying mechanotransduction pathways responsible.  Substantial evidence suggests that the mechanotransduction signaling cascade is initiated by rapid adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP) release from chondrocytes (purinergic receptor pathway).  Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous ATP supplementation on the biochemical and mechanical properties of tissue engineered cartilage.

Primary bovine articular chondrocytes, seeded on MilliporeTM filters, were grown in the presence of 0, 62.5 or 250 µM ATP for a period of four weeks.  Both anabolic and catabolic effects were examined and a therapeutic dose range of ATP was determined.

ATP stimulation (62.5 - 250 µM) enhanced ECM synthesis by 23 - 43% and long-term collagen accumulation by 16 - 26%, in a dose-dependent manner; however, long-term proteoglycan accumulation decreased as a result of 250 µM ATP.  In addition, ATP supplementation significantly improved the mechanical properties of the developed tissues (5- to 6.5-fold increase in tissue stiffness).  Interestingly, high doses of ATP (250 µM) also elicited a 2-fold increase in MMP-13 gene expression, 39% increase in MMP-13 activity, and 54% more extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (ePPi) – an ATP degradation product.  Dose-dependent increases in MMP-13 activity suggested that catabolic effects were occurring alongside anabolic effects, which initiated the investigation of a therapeutic dose of ATP.  Doses of 31.25 µM and 125 µM ATP were added to cartilaginous tissues and investigated in terms of MMP-13 activity and ECM synthesis.  Tissues supplemented with 62.5 – 125 µM ATP exhibited a balance between anabolic and catabolic effects.

By harnessing the purinergic receptor pathway, anabolic effects of mechanical stimuli were achieved in the absence of externally applied forces. Understanding how the catabolic effects of ATP are manifested would be valuable in order to further maximize the therapeutic potential of ATP stimulation.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Geotechnical Applications of LiDAR for Geomechanical Characterization in Drill and Blast Tunnels and Representative 3-Dimensional Discontinuum Modelling

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
LiDAR
Laser Scanning
Tunnel
Rockmass Characterization
Geotechnical
Numerical Modelling

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 19:38:49.401

abstract:
Contractors and tunnelling engineers consistently seek to identify techniques and equipment to improve the efficiency and lower the cost of tunnelling projects. Based on the recent successes of rock slope characterization with laser scanning techniques, the author proposes 3D laser scanning (LiDAR) as a new tool for geotechnical assessment in drill and blast tunnels.
 It has been demonstrated that practical deployment of a phase-based LiDAR system at the face of an active tunnel heading is possible with a simple tripod setup. With data collection requiring only 5 minutes at the tunnel face, it was shown that this technique could be integrated into geotechnical evaluation without interruption of the excavation cycle.  Following the successful scanning at two active tunnelling projects and two completed unlined tunnels, the research explored the applications of the data. With detailed geometric data of the heading as it advanced, the author identified applications of interest to the contractor/on-site engineer as well as the geotechnical engineer or geologist responsible for rockmass characterization. Operational applications included the extraction of information about tunnel geometry and installed support, while geomechanical information provided important elements of rockmass characterization. Building on the success of retrieving joint network information, the research investigated the potential for LiDAR-derived structural databases to be the basis for highly-representative 3D discrete element models. These representative models were found to be useful for back-analysis or as predictive tools for future tunnel design.
The primary implications of the thesis are that a) LiDAR data collection at the face of a drill and blast tunnel operation is practical and potentially has great value, b) data extraction is possible for a wide range of applications, and c) that discontinuum stability analysis becomes a much more powerful tool with the integration of LiDAR data. The cumulative result of the work presented is a proposed workflow for integrating LiDAR into tunneling operations.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: The Experience of Students as Part of a Secondary School Musical Theatre Course

contributor:
Elliott, Stephen
Education

subject:
Musical Theatre
Education

abstract: Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 22:14:14.457

abstract:
This thesis captures the nature of musical theatre in secondary schools in order to understand more completely the intrinsic benefits of the activity.  The research surrounds the essence of students’ experience as part of a secondary school musical theatre course, and how students come to understand the meaning of their experience over time.  The research design uses a hermeneutic phenomenological lens to capture the lived experience of six former musical theatre students using in-depth, semi-structured interviews.  The data is organized in a narrative-like style and analyzed according to the emergent themes, the literature, and this researcher’s personal experience.
The data suggest musical theatre is a journey of self-discovery where process is paramount.  The alumni describe the impact of teacher quality on the musical theatre process, the family inherent in the musical theatre cast, the allure of performance and notoriety, and the frustrations toward other students’ apathy.  Recent graduates note increased confidence and improved public speaking abilities, but older graduates see musical theatre as something life changing.  The intensity of experience, therefore, seems to depend on the number of years students have to reflect on the impact of their experience.  Holding these experiences in such esteem, in this study however, decreases the probability of participation in future musical theatre opportunities for fear of their inadequacy.  These former students fear they will be unable to repeat the musical theatre experience to the same quality they experienced back when they were in secondary school.  This regrettable cycle is unfortunate, but seems to be the reality of how students come to understand this experience over time.  The analysis is intended to inform curriculum delivery, advocacy, and alumni relations for future courses in musical theatre.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Investigations Into Cross-Coupling of Secondary Organoboronic Esters

contributor:
Crudden, Cathleen M.
Chemistry

subject: Organometallics Cross-Coupling

abstract: Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 23:33:10.984

abstract:
Until recently, secondary organoboronic esters were not viable substrates in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction; however under recently reported conditions from the Crudden group1, which includes the addition of silver oxide to a palladium/phosphine catalyst system, this coupling can now be achieved.
This thesis centres on optimizing the reaction conditions and expanding the substrate scope of this difficult but important secondary coupling. Optimal coupling conditions, for the example reaction of 4-iodoacetophenone and (R)-pinacol(1-phenylethyl)boronate, were found to be 8 mol% Pd(PPh3)4, 32 mol%  PPh3, 1.5 eq. Ag2O and 1.5 eq. K2CO3 in DME at 85 °C for 24 h. This gave the desired coupling product in 64 % yield with 99.5 % retention of stereochemistry. Using this set of conditions, an array of aryl iodides were screened. The reaction conditions could not be extended to triflate or diazonium electrophiles.
Amide functionality is important in many natural products and pharmaceuticals. The extension of reaction conditions to amides possessing boronic ester functionality at the β-position was attempted; however, no conditions could be determined to generate the cross-coupling product. An α-substitution pattern would better exemplify the benzylic positioning found to work for the original substrates. Attempts to synthesize the α-substituted amide were made without success.
The optimal reaction conditions gave hope for differentiation between an aryl and a secondary aliphatic boronic ester. Using an aryl triflate to couple the aryl position and an aryl iodide to couple the aliphatic position, conditions for selective coupling were determined and applied to a one-pot procedure.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Resolution 1267 Committee in the War on Terror: a Ticking Time Bomb on Human Rights

contributor:
Robinson, Darryl
Law

subject:
Terror
Terrorism
Security Council
1267 Committee
Natural Justice
Fair Trial
Due Process

abstract: Thesis (Master, Law) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 01:13:43.719

abstract:
ABSTRACT
The United Nations Security Council's efforts to suppress and to halt the acts of international terrorism resulted in the adoption of resolution 1267 in 1999 pursuant to chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. This resolution was originally worded against the Taliban administration in Afghanistan for its alleged support and involvement in the bombing of the embassies of the United States of America in Kenya and Tanzania by Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda Network. The resolution places a ‘no assets’ and a ‘no-fly’ ban on the Taliban government or any of its representatives. The third category of the sanction places arm embargo on the Taliban and the designated individuals and entities.

As a result of the rising incidence of transnational terrorism, the resolution was made applicable to private individuals who are suspected to be affiliated with Osama Bin Laden or his Al-Qaeda organization. Worthy of note also is the establishment of the Resolution 1267 Committee which was saddled with the duty, inter alia, of putting the names of the suspected individuals on a list known as ‘the Consolidated List’ and requiring states to freeze these individuals’ assets and refraining them from flying in and out of their territories.

Using the experience of Mr. Abousfian Abdelrazik as documented in the recent Canadian case of Abousfian Abdelrazik v. Minister of Foreign Affairs & Attorney General of Canada as a case study and with the aid of a discussion of some established principles of international criminal law, this thesis will place the activities of the Resolution 1267 Committee on the scale of compatibility with the well established principles of natural justice and due process under international criminal law. The thesis will determine whether the working guidelines of the resolution 1267 committee conform with the centuries of jurisprudence on natural justice, equity and good conscience. It will examine whether the United Nations or any of its organs is bound to comply with due process or natural justice principles even in the face of threat to international peace and security.

abstract: LL.M.


title: A Quantitative and Mechanistic Assessment of Activated Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor and its Role in Pathological Bleeding and Thrombosis

contributor:
Nesheim, Michael E.
Biochemistry

subject: Enzymology Carboxypeptidase Hemophilia Fibinrolysis

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Biochemistry) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 10:12:18.892

abstract:
The coagulation and fibrinolytic systems are linked by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex which regulates each system through activation of protein C and TAFI, respectively. We have used novel assays and techniques to study the enzymology and biochemistry of TAFI and TAFIa, to measure TAFI activation in hemophilia A and protein C deficiency and to determine if enhancing TAFI activation can improve hemostasis in hemophilic plasma and whole blood.
We show that TAFIa not TAFI attenuates fibrinolysis in vitro and this is supported by a relatively high catalytic efficiency (16.41μM-1s-1) of plasminogen binding site removal from fibrin degradation products (FDPs) by TAFIa. Since the catalytic efficiency of TAFIa in removing these sites is ~60-fold higher than that for inflammatory mediators such as bradykinin it is likely that FDPs are a physiological substrate of TAFIa. The high catalytic efficiency is primarily a result of a low Km which can be explained by a novel mechanism where TAFIa forms a binary complex with plasminogen and is recruited to the surface of FDPs. The low Km also suggests that TAFIa would effectively cleave lysines from FDPs during the early stages of fibrinolysis (i.e. at low concentrations of FDPs).
Since individuals with hemophilia suffer from premature fibrinolysis as a result of insufficient TAFI activation we quantified TAFI activation in whole blood from hemophilic subjects. Both the rate of activation and the area under the TAFI activation time course (termed TAFIa potential) was determined to be reduced in hemophilia A and the TAFIa potential was significantly and inversely correlated with the clinical bleeding
iii
phenotype. Using a novel therapeutic strategy, we used soluble thrombomodulin to increase TAFI activation which improved the clot lysis time in factor VIII deficient human plasma and hemophilic dog plasma as well as hemophilic dog blood.
Finally, we briefly show in a biochemical case study that TAFI activation is enhanced in protein C deficiency and when afflicted individuals are placed on Warfarin anticoagulant therapy, TAFI activation is reduced. Since TAFIa stabilizes blood clots, this suggests that reducing TAFI activation or inhibiting TAFIa may help restore blood flow in vessels with pathological thrombosis.

abstract: PhD


title: The impact of experimental snow augmentation on soil thermal regimes and nutrient fluxes from High Arctic headwater catchments

contributor:
Lafrenière, Melissa J.
Geography

subject:
Fluxes
Snow
Hydrology
Thermal regime
Biogeochemistry

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 10:36:11.833

abstract:
Two catchments amended with snow fences were paired with unaltered controls to investigate the influences of increased snow accumulation on the hydrology, soil thermal regime, and nutrient fluxes from High Arctic headwater catchments, representative of polar desert and mid-moisture vegetative classes at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory (CBAWO). The impact of augmented snow accumulation on the winter soil thermal regime was highly variable during the period studied. Soil temperatures were 8-9°C warmer beneath a drift 54 cm deep compared to ambient snow (10 cm) in the winter of 2006-2007, whereas soil temperatures were not significantly warmer beneath drifts (88 and 50 cm) compared to ambient snow (18 and 35 cm) in the winter of 2007-2008. Departures between air and ground surface temperatures suggest that snow accumulation was insufficient to insulate soils before February 2007-2008 due to late snow accumulation, compared to earlier snow accumulation in September in the winter of 2006-2007. The augmented snow accumulation did not significantly impact the timing of soil thaw in spring or active layer thickness at this site.

Greater snow accumulation in the amended catchments altered runoff characteristics, including an extended  duration of runoff by 30-80%, a delay in peak flow of ~5 days, and increased runoff ratios. Augmented snow accumulation, resulted in greater fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+) and total inorganic solutes (TIS) in amended catchments relative to control sites. The seasonality of solute fluxes were also affected, with a greater proportion of inorganic solute fluxes occurring in the later portion of the runoff season compared to the controls.

Snow accumulation was strong factor in determining total specific solute fluxes, with the magnitude of DOC and DON fluxes also strongly dependent on vegetative class. An active layer detachment that occurred in one of the amended catchments may have contributed to changes in nutrient fluxes, but the precise influence of the active layer detachment could not be differentiated from the combined impact of the disturbance and increased snow accumulation.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Tolerance Induction and The Immunobiology of Factor VIII in Hemophilia A

contributor:
Lillicrap, David
Pathology and Molecular Medicine

subject:
Factor VIII
Tolerance

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Pathology & Molecular Medicine) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 10:22:07.39

abstract:
The development of inhibitory antibodies to the factor VIII (FVIII) protein is the greatest complication in the management of hemophilia A patients. These antibodies, which form in approximately 25% of patients, neutralize the procoagulant activity of FVIII. There are limited treatment options to manage FVIII “inhibitors”, and this significantly increases morbidity within the hemophilia population. Therefore, understanding the immunobiology of FVIII, and developing safe, efficacious therapies to induce immunological tolerance to FVIII is a clinical priority.
In 2010, there is no therapy available to prevent the formation of FVIII inhibitors in boys with hemophilia. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of anti-CD3 to induce tolerance to FVIII in a prophylactic setting. Low-dose anti-CD3 significantly increased the level CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells, and prevented formation of inhibitors in >80% in hemophilia A mice. Depleting CD4+CD25+ cells in vivo completely abrogated tolerance. Furthermore, cytokine production by splenocytes from tolerant mice were shifted toward a Th1 response. Anti-CD3 therefore represents one of the most efficacious pre-clinical therapies for FVIII tolerance induction.
Surgery is widely regarded in the hemophilia community as a trigger for inducing de novo inhibitor formation. There is, however, only conflicting clinical evidence, and no basic science data to lend support to this clinical hypothesis. Therefore, we developed a novel surgical procedure in hemophilia A mice to study the influence of surgery on FVIII immunogenicity. We found that surgery induced a systemic proinflammatory response (upregulated plasma IL-1 and IL-6), but surprisingly the immunogenicity of FVIII was not enhanced when infused at the perioperative time. These results are significant, however, because they suggest that surgery is not as important for de novo inhibitor formation as previously thought.
Finally, it is unknown whether central tolerance to FVIII shapes the peripheral T cell repertoire. Therefore, we studied the murine thymus for evidence of FVIII expression. Whole thymus expressed FVIII mRNA but not protein. FVIII mRNA expression in the thymus was due, at least in part, by the thymic epithelium (CD45-/loEpCAM+). In FVIII-/-AIRE+/-, the immunogenicity of FVIII appeared to be unaltered. This study is the first to investigate a possible role for central tolerance to FVIII.

abstract: PhD


title: Regulated Freedoms & Disrupted Rituals: Histories of Media Arts Censorship in English Canada

contributor:
Robertson, Clive
Art History

subject:
Art History
Cultural Policy Studies
Cultural Studies of Law
Cultural Studies
Ontario Board of Censors
Ontario Film Review Board
Freedom of Expression
Governmentality
Pornography
Social Movements
Video Art
Film and Video Regulation

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Art History) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 11:09:40.235

abstract: This thesis revisits the effects of moving image regulation, exploring its histories in Canada with an interest in the intersections between arts practitioners and legal processes in the administration of culture.  During the 1980s and 1990s, intensified film and video regulatory activities necessitated a coalition space for cultural activism populated by media artists and exhibitors, legal and academic scholars, and public intellectuals engaged with representational and identity politics, producing discourses about sexuality, pornography, race, AIDS, censorship, fundamental freedoms, and art.  Considering the current state of the law, largely ignored by arts exhibitors in between moments of crisis, I ask how is the reception of this history reflected in practice with regard to regulation and self-regulation?  Drawing on work that develops out of Michel Foucault’s theories of governmentality, I argue that actors across Canada were confronted with the task of negotiating not just how contemporary art survives regulatory scrutiny in public policy arenas and the courts, but also the acceptable boundaries of sexual identities and citizenship.  This approach prompts a rethinking of contradictory liberal and libertarian notions of censorship to foreground the way ideas are constrained in all aspects of policy, and the way protocols of dissuasion often fail.  As such, censoring acts reveal themselves to be less about restricting access than they are about the administration or legitimation of particular cultural values.  This thesis historicizes the mandate of the Ontario Film Review Board, explores aspects of movement strategies as they work to crystallize identities, documents specific speech constraints and their justifications in the law, and suggests functions of counter-speech in video productions of the period.  This thesis is guided by a concern with the relationship between cultural citizens and the state and asks what role does the state imagine itself playing in regulating the circulation of images?  What are the (mis)understandings of censorship within more recent anti-censorship movement efforts, and what are the opportunities for cultural citizens to negotiate change, both in public policy and in popular consciousness?

abstract: PhD


title: Mathematical Modeling of Nonpremixed Turbulent Methane-Air Flameless Combustion in a Strong-Jet/Weak-Jet Burner

contributor:
Grandmaison, Edward W.
Matovic, Miodrag
Chemical Engineering

subject:
Flameless Combustion
Strong-Jet/Weak-Jet Burner

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 11:05:21.884

abstract:
Flameless combustion technology has been developed over the past twenty years achieving low-NOx emissions and high energy efficiency for industrial applications.  In the present work, three aspects of flameless combustion were examined based on a burner employing the Strong-Jet/Weak-Jet (SJ/WJ) configuration.
In the first part of the work, a 3-D SJ/WJ physical model was developed in the Lagrangian perspective for an isothermal pair of free jets.  The model was used to predict the WJ trajectory, identify important design/operation factors, and estimate the extent of mixing in the main combustion region (confluence region).  The model was also validated with experimental data and showed excellent agreement over a wide range of flow conditions.
In the second part of the work, a simplified chemical kinetic model was developed for the flameless combustion of natural gas.  A detailed chemical reaction mechanism (GRI Mech 3.0) was successfully reduced to a skeletal chemical reaction mechanism under flameless combustion conditions by Principal Component Analysis, sensitivity analysis and reaction flow analysis. The skeletal mechanism was further simplified to a set of 2-D manifolds by Trajectory-Generated Low-Dimensional Manifolds (TGLDM) method.  The set of 2-D manifolds was tested by the Batch Reactor (BR) and Perfect Stirred Reactor (PSR) models.  From the BR model test, it was found that the chemical reaction rates were well represented by the 2-D manifolds. The effect of the physical perturbation, tested by PSR model, could be handled by the perpendicular projection instead of the orthogonal projection because both showed similar discrepancies with the skeletal mechanism.
In the final part of the work, the steady-state Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation was conducted for the turbulent flameless combustion in the SJ/WJ furnace, based on the Probability Density Function (PDF)/Mixing approach. The set of 2-D manifolds and Conditional Source-term Estimate (CSE) method were used for the combustion reaction and the estimation of the mean production/destruction rate, respectively.  This CSE-TGLDM model provided good predictions of major species concentrations. However, the gas temperatures and CO concentrations were highly over-predicted.

abstract: PhD


title: Finite element analysis and experimental study of metal powder compaction

contributor:
Kim, Il-Yong
Jeswiet, Jack
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
metal powder compaction
finite element analysis
constitutive equations
numerical stability
computational efficiency
experimental validation

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 12:15:27.371

abstract: In metal powder compaction, density non-uniformity due to friction can be a source of flaws. Currently in industry, uniform density distribution is achieved by the optimization of punch motions through trial and error. This method is both costly and time consuming. Over the last decade, the finite element (FE) method has received significant attention as an alternative to the trial and error method; however, there is still lack of an accurate and robust material model for the simulation of metal powder compaction. In this study, Cam-clay and Drucker-Prager cap (DPC) material models were implemented into the commercial FE software ABAQUS/Explicit using the user-subroutine VUMAT. The Cam-clay model was shown to be appropriate for simple geometries. The DPC model is a pressure-dependent, non-smooth, multi-yield surface material model with a high curvature in the cap yield surface. This high curvature tends to result in instability issues; a sub-increment technique was implemented to address this instability problem.  The DPC model also shows instability problems at the intersection of the yield surfaces; this problem was solved using the corner region in DPC material models for soils. The computational efficiency of the DPC material model was improved using a novel technique to solve the constitutive equations. In a case study it was shown that the numerical technique leads to a 30% decrease in computational cost, while degrading the accuracy of the analysis by only 0.4%. The forward Euler method was shown to be accurate in the integration of the constitutive equations using an error control scheme. Experimental tests were conducted where cylindrical-shaped parts were compacted from Distaloy AE iron based powder to a final density of 7.0 g/cm3. To measure local density, metallography and image processing was used. The FE results were compared to experimental results and it was shown that the FE analysis predicted local relative density within 2% of the actual experimental density.

abstract: PhD


title: Modelling and Testing Strategies for Brittle Fracture Simulation in Crystalline Rock Samples

subject:
Brittle Rock
Damage Threshold
Particle Flow Code
Acoustic Emission
Rock Mechanics
Microcracks

abstract: Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 13:59:28.795

abstract:
The failure of brittle rocks around deep underground excavations due to the high induced stress is controlled by the crack accumulation in the rock. The study shows that the damage initiation strength, CI, corresponds to the long-term strength, and the short-term strength of the brittle rocks in-situ is the crack interaction strength, CD. Therefore the damage thresholds that are being used for the calibration and validation of numerical models are important parameters in the design of underground structures.
The accurate detection of the damage thresholds is important as they define the in-situ behaviour of the brittle rocks. The two most common methods of detecting damage thresholds are the Acoustic Emission method and the strain measurement method. Apparent discrepancy that exists between the accuracy of these methods was the author’s motivation for comparing these two methods on Stanstead and Smaland granites. The author introduced two new parameters based on the measured strains for improving the strain measurement method. Based on the comparisons, the author is of the opinion that the Acoustic Emission method is a more accurate method of detecting damage thresholds.
Numerical models are an important tool in the design of underground structures. The numerical methods that are able to simulate fractures explicitly have the ability to predict the brittle failure, the density and the extension of the microcracks around the opening. Itasca’s Particle Flow Code (PFC) was used in this study due to its potential  to simulate fractures explicitly. Calibration of PFC models to Unconfined Compressive Strength properties of the rock does not mean that the model will behave correctly under other confining stresses or in tension. The author has tried to solve this problem by different methods and developing new procedures. Improvements in the model behaviour have been achieved but  more work is required.
The definition, and detection and calibrated simulation of rock damage thresholds for calibration of numerical models is helpful for a successful design of underground excavations and long term, lower bound strength, a critical design parameter for deep geological repositories for the storage of nuclear wastes, for example.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: The Impact of Violation of Linguistic Expectations on Children's Perceptions of Helpfuless, Knowledgeability and Information Seeking Behaviour

contributor:
Fitneva, Stanka A.
Psychology

subject:
Information Seeking
Conversational Maxims

abstract: Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-29 11:43:23.22

abstract: When seeking information, children expect informants to provide information that is congruent with their knowledge and to use conventional labels. Violations of these linguistic expectations influence their behaviour and perceptions, as they are less likely to seek information from informants with a history of inaccuracy or of violation of conversational form (Eskritt et al., 2008; Koenig & Harris, 2005) and perceive unreliable informants as “silly” (Brosseau-Liard & Birch, 2010). I explored whether violations of linguistic expectations influence children’s perceptions of knowledgeability and helpfulness and whether these characteristics predict children’s information seeking. Forty 5-year-olds observed a farmer and a car mechanic label objects for a foreign child. The objects were associated with one of the two informants, rendering one as the expert, and the other as the non-expert. The informants labelled the familiarization objects by stating either the object’s color or its super ordinate category.  During test trials, children selected one of the two informants to label novel objects that were either related or unrelated to either one’s domain of expertise (i.e. novel animals, tools or odd objects). Finally, children rated informant’s knowledge of the familiarization objects and their willingness to help the foreign child. Results show that children perceive an informant who provided the super ordinate category as more helpful and somewhat more knowledgeable than one who provides the colour. When labelling objects related to the informants’ domain of expertise, children rely on expertise to seek information. For unrelated novel objects, a trend suggests that perceptions of the expert’s knowledge influence decision making. These results provide new factors underlying children’s information seeking.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Poverty and Welfare in Colonial Nigeria, 1900-1954

contributor:
Shenton, Robert W.
History

subject:
Poverty
Social Welfare
Colonialism
Development
Nationalism
Labour
Peasants
Decolonization

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, History) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 15:39:43.303

abstract:
This study examines the interface of poverty and development of state welfare
initiatives colonial Nigeria. It attempts to unravel the transformation and the nature and
character of poverty afflicting majority of Nigerians since the period immediately
preceding colonialism and under colonial rule. It looks at the causes and manifestations
of poverty as well as the nature of social welfare in pre-colonial Nigerian societies in
relation to the new forms of poverty that British Colonial policies visited on the society.
Poverty in the colonial period is shown to have been caused by changes in power
relations and accompanying administrative and economic reorganization of the society
which facilitated the diversion of labour, resources and surplus produce from family and
household use to the colonial state, firms and their agents. This new form of poverty was
manifested in the loss of family and household self-sufficiency and the inability to meet
personal survival needs and obligations, making the majority unable to participate fully in
the affairs of their communities. This dissertation looks at how the British Colonial State
tried to achieve its objective of exploitation and deal with the problem of poverty in its
various manifestations using indigenous institutions and practices and other nonindigenous
strategies in the face of growing African resistance and declining
productivity. It argues that over-aching strategy of development represented by the
Colonial Development and Welfare Act of 1940 and subsequent amendments and
community development were designed to co-opt the emergent civil society into
acquiescence with the social system and contain further resistance, and as such could not
provide welfare nor alleviate the problem of poverty.

abstract: PhD


title: The just urban food system: Exploring the geographies of social justice and retail food access in Kingston, Ontario

contributor:
Donald, J. Betsy
Geography

subject:
Geography
Food
Social justice
Dignity
Kingston
Retail

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 16:02:39.366

abstract:
This dissertation explores poor retail food access in low-income, class-segregated communities through a social justice lens. Disadvantaged communities with poor food access—often called ‘food deserts’—have received ample scholarly attention, however the problem has yet to be analyzed from a normative, critical perspective. For this research, I use the case study of two communities in Kingston, Ontario’s North End, whose retail food geography changed significantly between 2006 and 2009. Critical political economy is my primary theoretical framework. I conducted forty-two qualitative interviews with key informants, four focus groups (three with low-income North Kingston residents and one with elderly Kingston residents), two door-to-door surveys in Rideau Heights, archival research, and I attended public meetings around a grocery store closure in the North End.

I advance several research findings based on my results. Most broadly, I argue that the food desert problem represents capital’s ability to shape the ‘everyday geographies’ of simple, mundane activities like food shopping through the manipulation of the urban built environment. As such, capital is able to distribute the costs and burdens of food procurement in ways that reproduce class relations and class contempt to suite the dynamics of capitalist accumulation. I propose three interpretations of poor retail food access as a social injustice: (1) poor access represents the unequal and disproportionate allocation of burdens and costs of food acquisition on those with the fewest resources to mitigate these costs; (2) class disparity is inherently supported by urban governance systems that protect the interests of capital, therefore scaled-up retail capital is not accountable to residents of communities or their non-economic needs or wishes; and (3) the consolidated retail food geography of North American cities deprives low-income people of freedom, choice and dignity that is often embodied in the act of enjoying a ‘normal’ middle-class shopping experience. In the transition to a post-capitalist retail food geography, therefore, activists should abandon a romantic notion that low-income people should drive the change by somehow adopting a more agrarian lifestyle or lead the food system re-localization agenda – change driven by desperation rather than personal values.

abstract: PhD


title: Parents, Practitioners, and Public Health for a Healthy Family Environment: a Pilot Evaluation to Promote Healthy Weight in Children

contributor:
Lévesque, Lucie L.
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Physical Activity
Family
Prescription
Intervention

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 16:58:17.208

abstract:
Given that childhood obesity has become a public health concern, the development and implementation of effective interventions addressing this issue are needed. Research suggests that the use of a parent-only approach is an effective way to improve the home and family environment to promote healthy weight in children. Moreover, by improving parents’ physical activity and eating behaviours children’s behaviours may also be improved. Primary care interventions have been shown to be effective for enhancing physical activity in adults, especially when using physical activity prescriptions and referrals to community programs. No studies have combined these two interventions to explore the possibility of an added-value effect relative to the promotion of a healthy family environment conducive to healthy weight in children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a combined primary care-parent-only intervention with a primary care intervention alone for improving the home and family environment and mothers’ physical activity behaviours relevant to the promotion of healthy weight in children.

	Female patients (N = 35) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Prescription Plus (PP), Prescription Only (PO) and Usual Care (UC). The PP group received a physical activity prescription plus a referral to a parent-only intervention, the PO group received just the prescription, and the UC group, regular health care. Outcome variables were physical activity, the obesogenic home environment, mother’s confidence for making obesity related changes, exercise/physical activity self-efficacy and outcome expectations, and self-regulation and perceived competence for exercise. All the measures were self-reported and were assessed before and eight weeks after the intervention.
A 2 x 3 mixed analysis of variance showed no significant group differences at post-intervention. Only a significant time * intervention interaction was observed (p = .03), where the PP group achieved the largest effect (partial ŋ² = .200) in the obesogenic home environment score after receiving the intervention. These findings suggest that the combined primary care-parent-only intervention was effective for improving the home environment and provide preliminary insight into the effectiveness of such an intervention for influencing healthy weight in children.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Texture Evolution and Variant Selection in Zr-2.5Nb During the α-β Phase Transformation

contributor:
Daymond, Mark R.
Holt, Richard A.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Texture
Variant selection
Zirconium
Phase Transformation

abstract: Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 20:44:24.784

abstract:
Zr-2.5Nb is used as the pressure tube material for 2nd and 3rd generation CANDU reactors. The physical properties of pressure tubes in service, including strength, dimensional stability, and delayed hydride cracking resistance, are largely dependent upon the crystallographic texture of the hcp α-phase, whose texture is predominantly developed during the extrusion stage of manufacturing. During extrusion and subsequent cooling, the formation of α may occur by transformation of the bcc β-phase to α according to the Burgers relationship and influenced by variant selection – that is, a preference for one or more of the twelve possible orientations of the hcp lattice relative to the bcc lattice. Variant selection has been observed in other Zr alloys, including the heat-treated zone in pressure tube welds and the bulk texture of heat-treated pressure tubes. Further, it has been proposed as a possible explanation for texture characteristics in pressure tubes that are not explained by the deformation mechanics of extrusion. However, the criteria for variant selection are unclear.

In this work, an understanding of the criteria for variant selection is developed through observations of the differing mechanisms at play during both directions of transformation, from α-β and β-α. Transformation via the Burgers relationship was confirmed; the existence of variant selection is also established. In thermal cycles to the β-regime, this selection manifests as the selection of a new (0002) variant, as driven by anisotropic thermal stresses generated during heating. Upon cooling, the high-temperature β texture is inherited by the α grains via the Burgers relationship; the magnitude of the texture maxima is driven by elastic transformation strains. Further thermal cycles to the β regime demonstrate texture memory, with some development of cubic symmetry due to grain growth during the hold in the β-phase. No texture changes are observed if samples are not heated fully into the beta regime. Finally, a study of the biasing effects of both residual and external stresses is discussed. While the external stress did not appear to be capable of biasing variant selection during either heating or cooling, some texture changes were observed, likely due to deformation at high temperature.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Characterization of a shigella boydii B14 galactosyltransferase involved in O-antigen synthesis

contributor:
Brockhausen, Inka
Allingham, John
Biochemistry

subject: Biochemistry

abstract: Thesis (Master, Biochemistry) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-23 21:14:29.363

abstract: The O-antigenic glycan chains (O-antigen) of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in Gram-negative bacteria are synthesized by glycosyltransferases (GTs), most of which are yet to be characterized. The LPS are important for cell surface functions in bacteria and for the host immune system, through influencing the ability of bacteria to invade tissues and to evade the immune system of the host. Shigella is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes diarrhea or dysentery in humans. The O-antigenic chain of Shigella boydii (S. boydii) serotype B14 consists of repeating units with the structure [-6-D-Galp-alpha1,4-D-GlcpA-beta1,6-D-Galp-beta1,4-D-Galp-beta1,4-D-GlcpNAc-beta1-]n. None of the genes in the S. boydii serotype B14 O-antigen gene cluster, which includes putative GT genes, have been functionally characterized. We have developed the technology to biochemically identify these novel GTs. The wfeD gene in the B14 O-antigen gene cluster was proposed to encode a galactosyltransferase (GalT) involved in O-antigen synthesis. We confirmed here that the wfeD gene product is a beta4GalT that synthesizes the Gal1-4GlcNAcalpha-R linkage. WfeD was expressed in E.coli and the activity characterized using UDP-[3H]Gal as the donor substrate and the synthetic acceptor substrate GlcNAcalpha-pyrophosphate-phenyl-undecyl (GlcNAc-PP-PhU). A His-tagged version of the enzyme was purified via Ni2+-affinity chromatography, and its disaccharide product was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and galactosidase digestion. The enzyme was shown to be specific for the UDP-Gal donor substrate and required pyrophosphate in the acceptor substrate. Divalent metal ions such as Mn2+, Ni2+, and surprisingly also Pb2+, were able to enhance enzyme activity. Mutational analysis showed that the Glu101 residue within a DxD motif is essential for activity, possibly by forming the catalytic nucleophile. The Lys211 residue within a cluster of positively charged amino acids was also found to be required for activity. This latter residue may be involved in binding the negatively charged acceptor substrate. Our study revealed that the beta4GalT WfeD is a previously unknown enzyme that has extremely low sequence similarities to any other GalT and has an unusual preference for metal ion cofactors.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Self-Care: a Clarification of Meaning and Examination of Supportive Strategies

contributor:
Lysaght, Rosemary
Harrison, Margaret B.
Rehabilitation Science

subject: Self-Care

subject: Concept Clarification

subject: Supportive Strategies for Health Care Professionals

subject: Therapeutic Self-Care

subject: Systematic Review

subject: Synthesis of Evidence Across Disease/Impairment Groupings

abstract: Thesis (Ph.D, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-24 09:33:03.17

abstract:
Background
Considering  ~9 million Canadians have one or more chronic health conditions, and >3.3 million report some level of disability, the burden of care is substantive for individuals and health system.  With such conditions, self-care is essential but may pose challenges to both individuals and providers of care.  As a concept, self-care is poorly understood. Further, evidence for effective self-care support is diffuse and typically studied relative to specific conditions.
Objectives
To investigate the concept of self-care three objectives were undertaken:  1) explore and describe the construct of self-care as understood by individuals/families, health care professionals, researchers, policy-makers; and industry; 2) produce new knowledge for health care professionals about interventions for self-care across a range of population groups; 3) develop a provisional framework to inform practice and research.
Method
A multi-phase enquiry was undertaken. Phase 1 Concept clarification including: 1) synthesis of qualitative evidence on the experience of self-care reported by individuals/families; 2)  content analysis and definitional study of the meaning  of self-care;  3) concept analysis of self-care; 4) creation of a conceptual schema encompassing these perspectives.  Phase 2 Self-care Interventions: Integrative study of systematic reviews, synthesizing evidence for self-care interventions from multiple disease/impairment groupings.
Results
Three modes of self-care were revealed : ‘Care of self’ self-care performed on one’s own behalf; ‘care by other’ acknowledging individuals with disabilities who guide and direct care provided by another person; and ‘care of other’- care of families and others at a community level.  Analysis of 30 self-care interventions across 16 conditions demonstrated that educational sessions and self-care management plans are emerging as effective strategies to support and guide self-care.
Conclusion
Self-care is a complex care concept that is becoming an expected element in today’s health care environment. A full understanding of how it is viewed, including the individual’s perspective, is vital for enactment and beneficial support.  This comprehensive understanding of the concept along with evidence for effective interventions drawn from multiple groups will assist health care professionals to improve their assessments and provide them with strategies to support self-care needs –ultimately,  contributing to enabling individuals to maintain their highest level of functioning.

abstract: PhD


title: Variability of DTI Values in the Human Cervical and Lumbar Spinal Cord

contributor:
Stroman, Patrick W.
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
human
Spinal Cord
classification
motion
partial volume effects

abstract: Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-24 02:29:32.619

abstract:
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a medical imaging method that measures tissue structure. This is valuable when applied to the central nervous system (CNS) because it can provide structural information about white matter tracts. DTI of the spinal cord has been suggested as the next great leap in clinical diagnostics for spinal cord injury and disease because it may provide a measurable correlate of the physical structure of the cord with the associated functional deficit. Collecting precise structural information from the site of injury could be used to improve diagnostics and guide treatments. While these are the long term goals of DTI research, there are currently fundamental questions with regards to image resolution and motion-related artifacts in spinal cord which have not been thoroughly addressed. DTI is a sensitive imaging method which requires multiple mathematical calculations and approximations to complete. The limitations of the method compound with the limitations of imaging the spinal cord leading to the query: How reliable is DTI in the spinal cord? It is the goal of this study to begin to address these concerns.

First, the effect of spinal cord motion on tissue discrimination was examined by comparing DTI results obtained in the presence and absence of a correctional measure for cardiac-induced motion called 'cardiac gating'. Tissue discriminability was found to be greatest in the cervical cord. Second, DTI results were subjected to two classification algorithms and compared with known anatomy to assess tissue discrimination accuracy as well as the types of associated errors. The proportion of errors in tissue classification was very high, presenting itself in all subjects. This result indicated that the DTI values associated with particular tissues were not unique to only those tissues. Finally, a theoretical model was implemented to assess the degree to which image resolution specifically affected the tissue classification accuracy obtained in the above experiments, as opposed to other errors such as MRI ghosting, blurring or distortions. It was found that DTI provides a systematically biased representation of spinal cord tissues. To overcome this limitation, future studies should concentrate efforts on increasing image resolution.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Family Influence on Children’s Physical Activity and Their Use of Kingston Gets Active’s Grade 5 Community Physical Activity Pass

subject:
Children
Family
Physical Activity
Health Promotion
Intervention

abstract: Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-24 02:48:17.239

abstract:
Background: Canadian children's physical inactivity levels are a public health concern due to their association with chronic diseases and mental health. Families are considered gatekeepers to children’s behaviours, and may influence their physical activity (PA).
Purpose: To investigate the influence of family PA factors (i.e. parental PA, parents’ perspectives on family support for PA and family PA rules) on children’s PA levels and their free-play PA facility use.
Methods: Kingston Gets Active distributes the Grade 5 Community PA Pass to approximately 2,500 grade 5 students in Kingston and surrounding areas yearly. The pass grants students free access to local pools (n=4), YMCA (n=1), and arenas (n=8) for recreational PA for 10 months. In fall 2006, 292 grade 5 students (54% girls; mean age=9.99, SD=0.35) from 24 elementary schools completed a baseline (BL) questionnaire that assessed demographics, children’s PA levels, PA facility use, and family support for PA. In spring 2007, 272 students completed a follow-up (FU) questionnaire with additional items assessing pass use. In spring 2007, 189 parents (83% mothers) participated in a telephone interview assessing family PA variables and community resources influencing pass and PA facility use.
Results: The majority of students (69%) reported using their pass at least once; and although children’s PA did increase (t(230) = -4.91, p < .05), free-play PA facility use did not increase from BL to FU. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis indicated that individual-level variables were better predictors of children’s PA (ΔR2 = .28, F(2, 136) = 26.99, p < .001) and their free-play PA facility use (ΔR2 = .36, F(4, 151) = 21.55, p < .001) as compared to family-level PA variables (children’s PA: ΔR2 = .001, F(3, 133) = 0.089, p =.97; free-play PA facility use: ΔR2 = .007, F(3, 148) = 0.54, p =.65). Parents indicated that other social, organizational, and community factors influenced children’s free-play PA facility use.
Conclusions: Children’s PA and free-play PA facility use are influenced by a multitude of interrelated factors within the socio-ecological model. More research should explore associations between family factors and children’s free-play PA facility use.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: FOREIGN STUDENTS IN CANADA: THE IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE FROM START TO FINISH

subject:
foreign students
immigration

abstract:
The purpose of this project is to reveal the practical issues that arose for foreign students in Canada as they attempted to maintain their immigration documents in compliance with prescribed procedures, and to fully access the opportunities afforded by the regulations.  The project covers the period ending in 2007 and is based on my observations as an international student advisor who has worked in the profession for many years.
First, I review Canadian federal government news releases, and educational and business lobby statements regarding the value of foreign students to Canada.  Second, I describe the Canadian federal government regulations that defined the processes that applicants were required to use to gain entrance to Canada and in order to maintain their documents throughout their period of study.  Third, I describe the practical considerations students undertook in order to comply with the regulations concerning study and in opting to take advantage of newly-emerging work permit opportunities.  I have included tables naming what actions the students needed to take with regard to their immigration documents and when these actions best needed to take place.   I conclude that it is the intention of the federal government of Canada to encourage foreign students to come to Canada for study and to remain, temporarily or permanently, for employment.  Further, I conclude that the procedures created to regulate foreign student entrance and stay in Canada are not consistent for all foreign students, but vary according to their citizenship.  Last, I conclude that foreign students need to use complex strategies to successfully obtain and maintain their Canadian immigration documents.


title: Laser Driver Design in 0.18 um CMOS Technology

contributor:
Frank, Brian M.
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
CMOS technology
Laser driver
GPON
Fiber to the home
Integrated circuit
Passive optical network

abstract: Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-24 10:43:33.418

abstract:
This thesis presents the design and analysis of two high speed analog laser driver stages (LDS) for use in a passive optical network (PON) upstream burst-mode transmitter (BM-Tx) using low cost complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) technology.  The maturation of CMOS technology has lead to aggressive scaling of device sizes which has made it an increasingly attractive technology for high speed analog design.  CMOS provides high levels of integration as it is the industry standard for digital circuits, analog and digital systems can share one substrate reducing costs.  Additionally CMOS is a more cost effective solution than traditional expensive high speed analog substrates.

A 2.5 Gbps LDS fabricated in 0.18 um CMOS technology is presented.  The LDS uses a two stage per-amplifier.  Stage one consists of a cascode differential pair with a source follower voltage buffer, while stage two consists of a shunt inductively peaked differential pair using active inductors.  A differential pair composed of large transistors is used in an open drain configuration for the output stage.  Measurements of S-parameters are presented which accurately agree with simulations. Electrical eye diagram measurements are presented which demonstrate the LDS is able to provide a modulation current of 14.6-58 mA.  10%-90% approximate rise/fall times of 230/260 ps was obtained for a modulation current of 58 mA.  Power consumption of the core was determined to be 68.5 mW, while the chip consumed an area of 0.8 mm x 0.7 mm including pads.

A 10 Gbps LDS fabricated in 0.18 um CMOS technology is also presented.  The LDS uses a cascode differential pair for the output stage.  The per-amplifier for this design consists of a differential pair and utilizes spiral inductors for series inductive peaking between the per-amplifier and output stage.  Measurements of S-parameters are presented which accurately agree with simulations.  Electrical eye diagram measurements are presented which demonstrate the LDS is able to provide a modulation current of 22.6-62 mA.  10%-90% rise/fall time of 87 ps and 75 ps are respectively obtained while operating at maximum modulation current.  The core of the LDS consumes a power of 287 mW, while the chip consumed an area of 0.79 mm x 0.7mm.

The measured electrical eye diagrams for the 2.5 Gbps and the 10 Gbps meet the timing requirements for the GPON standard.  Further work is needed to investigate whether or not the timing requirements would still be met once the CMOS chips are integrated with commercial laser diodes.

abstract: M.A.Sc.