Digital Commons Network^™

Space-Time Modelling Of Emerging Infectious Diseases: Assessing Leptospirosis Risk In Sri Lanka, Cameron C F Plouffe

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this research, models were developed to analyze leptospirosis incidence in Sri Lanka and its relation to rainfall. Before any leptospirosis risk models were developed, rainfall data were evaluated from an agro-ecological monitoring network for producing maps of total monthly rainfall in Sri Lanka. Four spatial interpolation techniques were compared: inverse distance weighting, thin-plate splines, ordinary kriging, and Bayesian kriging. Error metrics were used to validate interpolations against independent data. Satellite data were used to assess the spatial pattern of rainfall. Results indicated that Bayesian kriging and splines performed best in low and high rainfall, respectively. Rainfall maps generated from …

The Influence Of Real-Time Visual Feedback Training On Vocal Control, Justeena N. Zaki-Azat

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Trained singers have better vocal control when compared to singers without vocal training. The development of precise vocal control, like any motor skill, requires practice with some form of feedback, such as auditory feedback. In addition to auditory feedback, singing training programs use online visual feedback to improve performance accuracy. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the recent body of literature concerning the cognitive processing of vocal control, and apply this knowledge practically to develop an effective real-time visual feedback training program that enhances vocal control. In the first of two studies, non-singers and singers were randomly assigned …

Factors Influencing Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Rural Ontario Paramedics, Tonya A. Leduc

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction. Influenza vaccination rates have traditionally been very low among healthcare workers (HCWs) however; very few studies have examined vaccination rates andmotivators among paramedics.

Objectives. The Health Belief Model (HBM) (Rosenstock,1974) was used as a guideline in this study to better understand the motivators and barriers to flu vaccination among rural Ontario paramedics. This group represents a considerable proportion of the HCW community, yet it has been virtually omitted from previous research.

Methods. Through the use of self-report questionnaires, and using the HBM as a guideline, a graphical representation of the decision-making process regarding flu vaccination was generated. The sample …

Partitioning Evapotranspiration In Forested Peatlands Within The Western Boreal Plain, Fort Mcmurray, Alberta, Canada, Elise C. Gabrielli

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Forested peatlands in the Western Boreal Plain (WBP) represent hydrologically sensitive ecosystems that often support an open-crown forest of Picea mariana and/or Larix laricina. These systems store globally significant soil carbon, containing one-fourth to one-third of the world’s soil organic carbon pool (Turunen et al., 2002),serving a critical role in regulating atmospheric CO₂. Recent studies indicate that the hydrological conditions are the critical determinant of a peatland’s carbon budget (Price et al., 2005; Aurela et al., 2007).To understand current hydrological conditions, it is essential to accurately estimate the rate of ET, due …

Japanese Encephalitis: Assessing Disease Risk Due To Landscape Factors At Multiple Scales, Julia E. Metelka

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Japanese Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease and is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. In many Asian countries, the geographical distribution of JE is dependent on a variety of human-environment interactions that can be conceptualized as a complex social-ecological system. The JE transmission cycle is influenced by a few primary human-landscape factors; the abundance and the spatial configuration of rice paddy fields (which provide habitat for the vector), the distribution of pig farms (which position the virus' amplifying host), and the location of a susceptible human population. Our models integrate population dynamics, landscape characteristics, and weather variables that …

Climate Change And Social Work: Our Roles And Barriers To Action, Tina Cumby

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative research project was conducted using a grounded theory research methodology and was approached with the theoretical underpinnings of social constructivism and pragmatism. The purpose of this research was to assess what role, if any, that social workers can play in dealing with environmental issues such as climate change and what barriers, if any, they will likely experience as they engage with these issues. It is important to explore these roles and barriers because social work is a profession that is well equipped to mitigate environmental issues like climate change, yet there is virtually no social work presence in …

The Bigger Picture: Piecing Together The Experiences Of Family Members Living With High-Functioning Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lauren Thomson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of family members living with a child with ASD. The specific research questions that were addressed included: 1. How is a family member affected by having a child with ASD in the family unit; and 2. How does living with a child with ASD affect family functioning? The theoretical orientation of phenomenology was used to guide this research and to allow the “voice” of family members of children with ASD to be heard. The purpose of phenomenology is to distill individuals’ experiences with a phenomenon down to an “essence” of …

The Contribution Of The Cerebello-Thalamo-Cortical Circuit To The Pathology Of Non-Dopaminergic Responsive Parkinson's Disease Symptoms, Shannon C. Lefaivre

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

It has been well established that motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are primarily associated with dopaminergic degeneration in the basal ganglia. However, symptoms which respond poorly to dopaminergic replacement, such as tremor, gait, and balance deficits, point to an alternative pathology to dysfunction of the basal ganglia. Over-activity of the cerebellum has been demonstrated in PD, however it is not entirely clear how the cerebellum might be affecting motor symptoms. A lack of consensus exists regarding how cerebellar over-activity might be influencing PD tremor, and whether resting and postural tremor are differentially influenced by cerebellar dysfunction. It is also …

Theoretical Investigations Of Zinc Blende And Wurtzite Semiconductor Quantum Wells On The Rotated Substrates, Igor Ivashev

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

We present a comprehensive set of computations of effective mass theory for both the Kane's parabolic band approximation and Luttinger-Kohn's valence band mixing approximation. We generalize the kp method to be able to evaluate band structures for the materials such as zincblende InGaAsN and GaAsBi compounds used in long wavelength lasers and wurtzite materials used in short wavelength lasers. We investigate methodology to study band structure of semiconductors that are grown away from natural direction. The strain influence is introduced via Bir and Pikus model. It is expected that band structure is strongly dependent on direction of crystal growth and …

Do Toxicity Modifying Factors Influence Acute Or Chronic Toxicity Of Thulium To Hyalella Azteca?, Alexandria H. Loveridge

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The industrial demand for rare earth elements (REEs) is growing and as a result, environmental exposure is a concern. Very little is understood about the toxicity of REEs in aquatic environments. The objective of this research is to evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of Tm and to also understand the toxicity modifying influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and cationic competition (Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+). Furthermore, the aim of this study was to determine linkages between Tm bioaccumulation, growth and survival during chronic exposures. Standard methods (Environment Canada) were followed for both 96h acute and 14d chronic tests, in …

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (Mcda) For Agricultural Sustainability Assessment, Byomkesh Talukder

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Multi Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT), Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) and Elimination methods of Multi-Criteria Decision analysis (MCDA) are tested to assess and compare the sustainability of different agricultural systems. Indicators and composite indicators are derived from data gathered using the agricultural sustainability categories of Productivity, Stability, Efficiency, Durability, Compatibility and Equity (PSEDCE).

Agricultural systems around the world face challenges from current agricultural practices, over-exploitation of natural resources, population growth and climate change. As a result, understanding agricultural sustainability has become a global issue. Assessment is a first step in benchmarking and tracking agricultural sustainability and …

Phosphorus Removal Using Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles In Wastewater Treatment, Suyoung Choi Mr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Due to eutrophication caused by nutrients such as phosphorus (P), local surface water near military garrisons and camps has been deteriorated for several years in the Republic of Korea. Thus, in order to remove excessive P in local fresh water, various size of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were used.

In the first investigation, TiO₂ mixed bulk powder (particle size > 5µm) showed maximum P removal with pH dependence (higher pH shows lower P removal), that was approximately 27%. To determine adsorption isotherms, Langmuir and Freudlich models were used. The experimental data was better fit by a Langmuir model compared …

Examining Quality Indicator Rates For Older Home Care Clients With Dual Sensory Impairment (Dsi) And Exploring The Heterogeneity Within Dsi., Jacob G S Davidson, Dawn M. Guthrie

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Older adults with impairments in both hearing and vision, called dual sensory impairment (DSI), are at an increased risk of negative health outcomes such as impaired communication and difficulties with mobility. It is unknown whether DSI is associated with potential quality of care issues. This study used a set of home care quality indicators (HCQIs) to examine potential quality issues in older clients (65+) with DSI. Further, it looked to explore how HCQI rates differed based on the geographic region of care and whether the client’s level of hearing and vision impairment was related to certain HCQIs. The HCQIs were …

Evaluating A Skills-Based Approach To Bullying Prevention, Rebecca Pister

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In the following paper, I present an evaluation of the bullying prevention program designed and delivered by the John Howard Society of Waterloo-Wellington (JHS WW). A mixed-methods approach involving both quantitative and qualitative data collection was used to assess the program impacts on children receiving the primary stream of the program (Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3), and the junior stream of the program (Grades 4 through 6). A case study was also conducted to assess the impacts of the program one year after program delivery and after two consecutive years of programming. Finally, all school staff members were invited to respond …

Metabolic Scaling Physiology And The Uptake, Elimination And Toxicity Of Tfm (3-Trifluoromethyl-4-Nitrophenol) To Invasive Sea Lampreys (Petromyzon Marinus), Laura R. Tessier

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) have a complex life cycle that involves a parasitic phase in which they feed on the blood and bodily fluids of large piscivorous fishes. Following the invasion of the Great Lakes by sea lampreys in the early 20^th century, sea lamprey parasitism contributed to major declines in the populations of commercial and sports fisheries in that basin. The lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), developed in the late 1950s,is now routinely applied to tributaries of the Great Lakes to control sea lamprey populations. This lampricide is selectively toxic to larval sea lampreys, which typically reside as …

Sexual Orientation Microaggressions On Campus: Prevalence And Outcomes Among Lesbian/Gay And Bisexual Students, Pamela Sariyannis Ms.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Microaggressions are subtle, often-unintentional forms of discrimination that convey negative messages about targeted individuals. While empirical attention to sexual orientation microaggressions is growing, little is known about their prevalence among specific groups of sexual minorities. Using data (n = 438) from the US-based National Study of LGBTQ Student Success, this study examines: (1) the prevalence of both general sexual orientation microaggressions and erasure of sexuality and hypersexualization microaggressions among bisexual college students and their gay/lesbian peers; (2) the relationship between each type of microaggression and sexual orientation on student outcomes (depression, substance use, and social acceptance); (3) the role of …

The Kinetic Characterization Of Two Putative Galactosidases, Bt2857 And Sco6594, And The Preliminary Analyses Of Sco6595-97, Maria Ngo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is a prolific bacterium found in the distal intestinal tract of humans that possesses the ability to breakdown complex polysaccharides through the release of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Overall, the saccharolytic prowess of B. thetaiotaomicron presents an intriguing model for understanding microbial-host nutrient exchange within the gut and to identify novel mechanisms for accessing carbohydrates. The successful expression, purification, and preliminary kinetic characterization of BT2857 are reported. BT2857 was found to be enzymatically active against the artificial substrate, 4-nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside (pNP-Gal); suggesting its role as a putative β-galactosidase and allowed for the quantification of BT2857 activity by the determination …

Strange Compositions: Chemistry And Its Occult History In Victorian Speculative Fiction, Susan Hroncek

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines how depictions of chemistry in Victorian literature are influenced by concerns regarding the history of chemistry and its relationship to the occult. Among these depictions, I consider non-fiction writings of the period, such as histories of science and articles from periodicals, but I focus on novels that prominently feature chemistry, including Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s A Strange Story (1862), Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), George Griffith’s Olga Romanoff (1894), T. Mullet Ellis’s Zalma (1895), and Richard Marsh’s The Beetle (1897). These texts link chemistry with its origins in alchemy, the occult, and …

Causes And Consequences Of Variation In Female Mate Choice And Its Relation To Sexual Conflict In Drosophila Melanogaster, David Cs Filice

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Female mate choice is a significant driving force of evolutionary change and can explain the evolution of exaggerated male traits and/or displays, and dimorphism between the sexes. Females are thought to choose mates based on the greatest provision of direct or indirect benefits. Despite this, we often still see substantial individual variation in female mate choice behaviours both within and across populations. Recent studies suggest that female mate choice is a complex decision-making process that involves many context-dependent factors. However, the precise sources of this variation, such as previous mating experience, are not completely understood. In Drosophila melanogaster, mating …

The Effects Of External Focus Of Attention Exercise Rehabilitation On Dual Task Walking In Parkinson's Disease, Eric N. Beck

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Parkinson’s disease impairs control of well-learned movements, and therefore, individuals with Parkinson’s disease are forced to walk with greater conscious control. This causes difficulties while walking and completing a secondary task simultaneously (dual tasking), in that distractions from conscious control of walking increase the risk of falls and injury. Although, attention-based exercise may be a potential avenue to decrease the demands associated with walking in Parkinson’s disease. For example, an external focus of attention (on manipulated objects) has been found to recruit the networks that are important for walking with little conscious control (automatic control networks). In contrast, an internal …

Host Community Narratives Of Volunteer Tourism In Ghana: From Developmentalism To Social Justice, Danielle E. Lediard

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

It is evident from the research around volunteer tourism that local perspectives are sorely lacking. Instead of the focus of research being on the communities that volunteer tourism is meant to help, the emphasis remains on the experiences of the volunteers. Although many researchers identify the lack of attention directed towards host communities as a problem, there remains a lack of research in this area. The importance in the existing research, then, remains on the ‘us’ in developed countries instead of the those in developing countries that volunteer tourism is meant to help. The primary objective of this research is …

How Perceptions Of A Relationship Partner’S Self-Esteem Influence Support Seeking, Alexandra Hirniak

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Receiving effective social support is beneficial (Cohen & Wills, 1985); unfortunately people do not always seek support when they need it (Collins & Feeney, 2000). I hypothesized that perceptions of a partner’s self-esteem affect social support processes, such that people will be less willing to solicit support from low self-esteem partners for stressful events because they assume that low self-esteem partners will be unable to provide effective support. Results from four studies (Study 1A: N=116; Study 1B: N=201; Study 2: N=194; Study 3: N=196) demonstrated that perceptions of a romantic partner’s self-esteem were positively associated with people’s willingness to share …

Hiv Testing In The Context Of Hiv Stigma And Minority Stress, Mallory C. Harrigan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The HIV test is highly valued for its role in promoting personal health, aiding in HIV prevention, and enabling the epidemiological tracking of the virus. However, relatively few scholars have critically examined the social and cultural implications of testing practices (Scott, 2003). These implications are of particular concern because the groups targeted for testing (referred to as service priority groups) are marginalized communities, and have historically been further marginalized by many public health HIV prevention efforts (Waldby, 1996). This thesis examines the experience of receiving an HIV test from the perspective of individuals in service priority groups, which include gay, …

The Struggle To Be Heard: Toronto's Postproduction Sound Industry, 1968 To 2005, Katherine E. Quanz

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines how economic and technological changes shaped the sounds of Canadian cinema, from the modern industry’s founding in the late 1960s to the widespread adoption of digital editing software in the early 2000s. By focusing on the labour and craft practices that coalesced in Toronto’s postproduction companies, I argue that such practices engendered a critical shift in the sonic style of Canadian film sound. Whereas fiction films initially featured a sonic style developed by the National Film Board of Canada for documentary production, filmmakers eventually adopted a style strongly identified with Hollywood cinema. Although it is tempting to …

The Effect Of Menstrual Cycle Phase On Appetite-Regulating Hormones, Logan Townsend

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Background: Obesity rates are higher among females than males potentially due to changing food intake across the menstrual cycle. Food intake is partially regulated by circulating appetite-regulating hormones that can be influenced by the menstrual hormones estradiol and progesterone. Purpose: Examine whether changes in female sex hormones across the menstrual cycle are related to appetite-regulating hormones. Methods: 8 healthy young females were tested during the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases; phases were confirmed by fasting plasma hormone concentrations. Blood samples were taken after an overnight fast, as well as 30, 60, and 90 min post-prandially to test the concentrations of …

Holding Canada Accountable: An Evaluation Of Canada's Compliance To The United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples, Jackson A. Smith

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Compliance of human rights norms requires the application of pressure from a multitude of directions and levels. It takes individual advocacy, micro-system/organizational/community-level pressure, and macro-level pressure from other nation-states and international organizations and governance bodies. This MA study focuses on the mechanisms employed by the United Nations to monitor the compliance of signatory nation-states to the standards established in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), with particular focus on Canada. A crucial goal of this study is to translate the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNSRRIP), James Anaya’s, findings on the …

Stigma, Community Connectedness, And Social Support Among Trans Women Living With Hiv In Ontario: Findings From The Trans Pulse Project, Tanya D'Amours

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Trans (transgender, transsexual, transitioned) individuals face numerous challenges to their health and well-being (Bauer, Hammond, Travers, Kaay, Hohenadel & Boyce, 2009). Trans women in particular face disproportionately high rates of negative health outcomes, including HIV. Trans women face intersecting stigmas, which result in transphobia, trans erasure, isolation, and other systemic barriers to their well-being (Logie, James, Tharao, & Loutfy, 2012a). Despite their elevated risk, trans women, particularly those living with HIV, are invisible, neglected or underrepresented in research (Logie, et al., 2012a). Research suggests that community connectedness and social support are factors that impact the wellness of marginalized people (Kertzner, …

The Influence Of Hip Mobility And Fatigue On Spinal Flexion And Muscle Activation In Rugby Scrum Performance, Joshua D. Clayton

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Rugby scrumming is a means of restarting play following a minor rule infringement that can occur up to 28 times per game. The scrum poses a significant injury risk, with more days missed due to injury per event than any other rugby activity. Rugby players also have a significantly higher rate of spine injury than the general population, perhaps due to flexion in combination with high compression forces, which has been cited as the main mechanism of injury. Flexion of the spine has also been associated with poor hip mobility and quadriceps fatigue in other athletic tasks and may …

The Influence Of Joint-Site, Limb Preference, And Physical Activity On Joint Position Sense, Amanda N. Forsyth

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Joint position sense provides the body with information about where limb segments are relative to one another in three-dimensional space. The ability to utilize this sense is imperative for smooth, coordinated, and accurate movement in everything from activities of daily living to competitive sport (Ghez & Sainburg, 1995). Researchers currently use joint position sense as a measure of proprioceptive acuity. However, limited research has investigated the influence of potential confounding factors on proprioception. Specifically, literature on how joint-site specificity and lateral preference influence proprioception displays several incongruent findings. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was (1) to determine if …

Computing Closed Forms For The Convergent Series $\Displaystyle\Sum_{N \In \Mathbb{Z}}\Frac{1}{(N^3+Bn^2+Cn+D)^K}$, Gagandeep K. Virk

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this thesis we discuss the various approaches that will be taken to evaluate and find a finite closed form for the sum $$\sum_{n \in \mathbb{Z}} \frac{1}{(n^3+Bn^2+Cn+D)^k}$$ where $B, C, D \in \mathbb{C}$ and $k$ is a positive integer. We begin this thesis by studying the cubic equations and discussing briefly various methods of finding their roots. Cardano's method (1545) for finding the roots of cubic polynomials is explored in detail as this method is used in later parts of the thesis to make calculations while evaluating the sums. Various tools and techniques from Fourier analysis are reviewed for these …