Search

The objective of this research is to design an efficient and flexible implementation of parallel matrix multiplication for FPGA devices by analyzing the computation and studying its design space. In order to adapt to the FPGA platform, the design employs blocking and parallelization. Blocked matrix multiplication enables processing arbitrarily large matrices using limited memory capacity, and reduces the bandwidth requirements across the device boundaries by reusing available elements. Exploiting the inherent parallelism in the matrix multiplication computation improves the performance and utilizes the available reconfigurable FPGA resources. The design is constructed by identifying the main design decisions and evaluating the alternatives for each one. The considered design decisions include the scheduling of block transfers, the scheduling of arithmetic operations in a block multiplication, the extent to which the parallelism is exploited, determining the block sizes and shapes, and the use of double buffers for storing matrix blocks. The choices offered by each decision are evaluated analytically in terms of their performance and utilization of FPGA resources. Based on this analysis, a detailed, flexible design that accommodates various alternative design choices is described. The design is optimized for matrices of floating-point elements, and for the FPGA target platform. Prior work is analyzed based on the considered design choices in order to identify the similarities and the differences. The proposed design is implemented using the VHDL hardware description language. The implementation is used to verify the correctness of the design and to confirm the analysis of the design decisions. Correctness is verified both by simulation using the ModelSim logic simulator, and in hardware through compiling the implementation using the Altera Quartus II CAD software and testing it on the Altera DE4 board, featuring a Stratix IV EP4SGX530C2 FPGA device. The implementatio, Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-03 12:46:13.484

Cobalt-60 (Co-60) units played an integral role in radiation therapy from the mid-1950s to the 1970s. Although they continue to be used to treat cancer in some parts of the world, their role has been significantly reduced due to the invention of medical linear accelerators. A number of groups have indicated a strong potential for Co-60 units in modern radiation therapy. The Medical Physics group at the Cancer Center of the Southeastern Ontario and Queen’s University has shown the feasibility of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) via simple conformal treatment planning and dose delivery using a Co-60 unit. In this thesis, initial Co-60 tomotherapy planning investigations on simple uniform phantoms are extended to actual clinical cases based on patient CT data. The planning is based on radiation dose data from a clinical Co-60 unit fitted with a multileaf collimator (MLC) and modeled in the EGSnrc Monte Carlo system. An in house treatment planning program is used to calculate IMRT dose distributions. Conformal delivery in a single slice on a uniform phantom based on sequentially delivered pencil beams is verified by Gafchromic film. Volumetric dose distributions for Co-60 serial tomotherapy are then generated for typical clinical sites that had been treated at our clinic by conventional 6MV IMRT using Varian Eclipse treatment plans. The Co-60 treatment plans are compared with the clinical IMRT plans using conventional matrices such as dose volume histograms (DVH). Dose delivery based on simultaneously opened MLC leaves is also explored and a novel MLC segmentation method is proposed. In order to increase efficiency of dose calculations, a novel convolution based fluence model for treatment planning is also proposed. The ion chamber measurements showed that the Monte Carlo modeling of the beam data under the MIMiC MLC is accurate. The film measurements from the uniform phantom irradiations confirm that IMRT plans from our in-house treatment planning system ar, Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-22 11:34:14.861

Compared to other structures, such as the amygdala, the lateral septum’s (LS) role in the regulation of anxiety and/or behavioural defense is relatively understudied. Thus, the overarching goal of this thesis was to further investigate its contribution to rats’ anxiety-related behaviours. In Chapter 2, we demonstrate, for the first time, that while the dorsal LS does not mediate rats’ appetitive motivation or anxiety in the novelty induced suppression of feeding (NISF) paradigm, it does modulate their defensive behaviours in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and shock probe burying tests (SPBT). In Chapter 3, we are the first to show that bilateral infusions of histamine, a neurochemical previously linked to anxiety, into the LS reduce rats’ anxiety-related behaviours in the EPM and NISF. In addition, we report a novel double dissociation between lateral septal H1 and H2, and H3 receptors in their regulation of rats’ defensive behaviours in those two paradigms. More specifically, the H1 and H2 receptors contribute to rats’ hyponeophagia in the NISF but not their open arm exploration in the EPM, while the H3 receptors modulate rats’ defensive behaviors in the EPM but not in the NISF. Finally, in Chapter 4, we report for the first time that infusions of histamine into the LS, which produce behavioural anxiolysis, increase rather than decrease the frequency of reticular-elicited hippocampal theta activity, a putative neurophysiological correlate of anxiolytic-drug action. Altogether, the data in this thesis increase our understanding of how the LS contributes to rats’ defensive behaviours and adds to the existing literature regarding the neurobiology of fear/anxiety. More importantly though, the data presented here could ultimately aid in the development of novel drugs to treat anxiety disorders in humans., Thesis (Ph.D, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-12-17 17:27:34.014

The electron rich and aromatic character of the indole group allows for a wide range of oxidative and substitution reactions, creating a versatile platform for generating structurally diverse molecules. This thesis explores enzyme and synthetic chemistries that act upon indoles and related molecules. Chapter 1 describes the results of in vivo studies of RebC, an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of the indolocarbazole alkaloid rebeccamycin. A homologous enzyme, StaC, exists in the biosynthetic pathway for staurosporine, a related indolocarbazole. Structural differences between the RebC and StaC active sites were hypothesized to play a pivotal role in determining the oxidation state in the corresponding natural products. Sequence alignment of RebC and StaC with homologous enzymes from related indolocarbazole biosynthetic pathways revealed six non-conserved residues in the active site. Three RebC variants were generated by replacement of all six, four, or two specific residues with their StaC counterparts. It was demonstrated that only two substitutions, F216V and R239N, are required to convert the specificity of RebC to that of StaC. Analysis of the structure of the RebC bound to a putative reaction intermediate supports the importance of F216 and R239 in catalysis. Based on these results, contrasting mechanisms for RebC and StaC are proposed to account for their differing specificities. Chapter 2 describes a synthetic approach to primarily heterocyclic analogues of lycogarubin C. Suzuki coupling of appropriately functionalized 3,4-dibromopyrrole or 3,4-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)pyrrole was effective for numerous π-excessive five-membered heterocyclic-3-boronic acids. The optimized conditions were less effective for cross-couplings involving heteroaromatic-2-boronic acids, π-deficient heteroaromatic boronic acids, and heteroaromatic boropinacolate esters. Oxidative cyclization of the 3,4-bis(thiophen-3-yl)pyrrole and 3,4-bis(benzothiophen-3-yl)p, Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-13 11:14:49.599

Many obese individuals and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have elevated levels of insulin. Hyperinsulinemia is a major cancer risk factor in T2DM individuals and activated insulin receptor (IR) has been linked to many types of cancer and poor survival. However, the mechanisms that account for the link between the hyper-active insulin signaling and cancer risk is not well understood. PTEN plays an antagonistic role in the canonical insulin signaling pathway, and is the second most commonly mutated tumour suppressor (after p53) found in human cancers. In many cancers the PTEN gene is not deleted, but instead the protein is lost. Therefore the regulation of PTEN protein in humans is of great importance. Here we hypothesized that the activated insulin signaling down-regulates PTEN. Considering that insulin signaling is highly conserved from C. elegans to human, I used C. elegans as a model and showed that DAF-2, the worm homolog of IR, is a negative regulator of DAF-18, the worm homolog of PTEN. In addition, I showed that DAF-28, the worm homolog of insulin, also negatively regulates DAF-18/PTEN. I used western blot and immunostaining to show that the protein level of DAF-18/PTEN is increased in the daf-2/IR and daf-28/insulin mutants. I further showed that daf-18/Pten is genetically epistatic to daf-2/IR in regulating neuronal development. I then employed human cell culture experiments and reported that this negative regulation is conserved in human cancer cell lines. I showed that knocking-down IR through siRNA up-regulates PTEN, and over-expressing a gain-of-function IR down-regulates PTEN. I also showed that insulin stimulation dramatically decreased PTEN and this decrease is dependent on IR. I further confirmed a physical association between IR and PTEN in both human and C. elegans, and reported that IR could phosphorylate PTEN. To provide mechanistic insight to DAF-18/PTEN regulation, I identified another protein, which is a ubiquitin ligase, that functi, Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-04 14:37:29.376

This thesis addresses three issues. These are the self-assembly of block copolymer in selective solvents, hierarchical assembly of micelles or crosslinked micelles of block copolymers, and the application of block copolymers as solid state compatibilizers in polymer-based photovoltaic cells. Poly(acrylic acid)-block-(2-cinnamoyloxylethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate) or PAA-b-PCEMA-b-PFOEMA self-assembles in solvent mixtures of α,α,α-trifluorotoluene (TFT) and methanol, which are selective towards PAA. At TFT volume fraction (fTFT) of 40 %, the copolymer forms vesicles at 70 oC and cylinders at 21 oC. These two structures inter-convert via meta-stable intermediates including jellyfish-like, tethered vesicular, and bilayer sheet-like structures. These structures occur in kinetic experiments involving quick temperature swing from 21 to 70 oC or vice versa and also in experiments involving annealing samples long at temperatures between 21 to 70 oC. Thus, they are meta-stable and point to complex pathways for the morphological transition. At fTFT = 10 %, the polymer forms vesicles with bumpy surface at 70 oC and toroids with sharp angles at 21 oC. Closely examined is how the liquid crystalline nature of the PFOEMA block affects the formation of these unique morphologies and their morphological transitions. Two types of hierarchical assembly of cylindrical micelles (cylinders) or crosslinked cylindrical micelles (fibers) of block copolymers are examined. First, carboxyl-bearing nanofibers of PAA-b-PCEMA and amino-bearing nanocylinders from poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-dimethylamino-ethylmethacrylate), PtBA-b-PCEMA-b-PDMAEMA, are mixed in solvent. The two species firstly aggregate via electrostatic interaction. Upon heating and aging, the cylinders dissociate on the fibers and eventually evolve into composite multilayered cylindrical structures. Second, layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition of c, Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-05 13:45:04.189

Cooperative Spectrum Sensing (CSS) allows Cognitive Radio Networks (CRNs) to locate vacant spectrum channels and to protect active Primary Users (PUs). However, the achieved detection accuracy is proportional to the duration of the CSS process which, unfortunately, reduces the time of useful communication as well as increases the Co-Channel Interference (CCI) perceived by an active PU. To overcome this, this thesis proposes three CSS strategies, namely the Dual-Threshold CSS (DTCSS), the Maximum CSS (MCSS), and the Max-Min CSS (MMCSS). These strategies reduce the number of reporting terminals while maintaining reliable performance and minimal CCI e ect. The performance of these three methods is analyzed, and the numerical and simulations results illustrate the accuracy of the derived results as well as the achieved performance gains. The second part of this thesis studies the impact of CCI on the performance of a number of transmission techniques used by CRNs. These are Chase combining Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HAQR), Fixed Relaying (FR), Selective Relaying (SR), Incremental Relaying (IR), and Selective Incremental Relaying (SIR). The performance of these techniques is studied in terms of the average spectral e ciency, the outage probability, and the error probability. To obtain closed forms for the error probabilities, this thesis proposes a novel accurate approximation of the exponential integral function using a sum of exponentials., Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-05 13:39:22.35

Siblings are an integral part of the support network for adults with a developmental disability (DD). However, little is known about the psychological stress of having a sibling with a DD in adulthood. This project had four main objectives: (1) to identify variables that predict and moderate psychological well-being and depressive symptoms in adults who have a sibling with a DD; (2) to examine differences in sibling relationship characteristics, psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, and support use in siblings of individuals with a DD alone versus siblings of individuals with a DD and symptoms of a mental illness; (3) to determine whether relationships with siblings with a DD differ from relationships with siblings without a DD; and (4) to explore the perspectives of adults with a DD regarding their sibling relationships and how these relationships affect their well-being. One-hundred ninety six adult siblings of individuals with a DD completed online questionnaires about life events, relationship closeness, sibling contact, impact of having a sibling with a DD, family functioning, use of supports, symptoms of depression, and psychological well-being. Life events and having a sibling with a DD and behavioural or psychiatric symptoms predicted symptoms of depression and psychological well-being. However, the relationship between these predictor variables and psychological well-being was moderated by general family functioning. Additionally, siblings of individuals with a DD and behavioural or psychiatric symptoms reported less positive feelings about their sibling relationship, more symptoms of depression, and lower psychological well-being than siblings of individuals with a DD alone. A subset of the participants (n = 128) who also had a sibling without a DD completed questionnaires about their relationship closeness, sibling contact, and perceived impact of their sibling without a DD. Participants reported more in-person and telephone contact with siblings, Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-07 23:47:06.32

As much of the scholarly literature shows, gender has served as a central organizing force for knowing and theorizing about sexuality. The governmentality of sexuality in Western societies over the last 200 years has led to sex being discursively implicated with reproduction, and this has had a profound effect on the ways sexuality has been theorized and understood in terms of gendered desire. The aim of this dissertation is to theorize an alternative approach to sexuality that decenters gender and gives attention to the materiality of sex and the body. Using existentialism and phenomenology, this dissertation offers a particular challenge to heteronormative conceptions of “sexual orientation” and “sexual identity” for their ostensibly timeless and enduring quality, or being. The research presented herein theorizes sexuality through an ontology of becoming that takes into account the diverse, multi-faceted nature of sexuality as a series of temporal experiences, attractions, desires, sensations, practices, and identities – that is, as a phenomenon. A genealogical methodology is used to trace the discursive history of sexuality and demonstrate how modernist discourses of sexuality have influenced how sexuality is known and experienced. This research emphasizes the discursive constraints on knowledge about sexuality. In considering an alternative framework, the principles of existentialism and phenomenology are critically examined through the works of Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. Attention is then turned toward a non-classical paradigm of science to elaborate on an ontology of becoming and its significance for understanding the development of sex and sexuality. In conjunction, contemporary biological research is introduced to expand upon de Beauvoir’s (1996) analysis of “the data of biology” on sexual difference and to help situate the sexed body as dynamic and developmental. An existential phenomenological approach theorizes sexual, Thesis (Ph.D, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-04 00:33:41.993

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is an important technology that can be used to provide new data sets for many applications ranging from healthcare monitoring to military surveillance. Due to the increasing popularity of WSNs, user demands have evolved as well. To achieve the end-to-end goals and requirements of the applications, managing the resources of the network becomes a critical task. Cognitive networking techniques for resource management have been proposed in recent years to provide performance gains over traditional design methodologies. However, even though several tools have been considered in cognitive network design, they show limitations in their adaptability, complexity, and their ability to consider multiple conflicting goals. Thus, this thesis proposes novel cognitive solutions for WSNs that include a reasoning machine and a learning protocol. Weighted Cognitive Maps (WCM) and Q-Learning are identified as suitable tools for addressing the aforementioned challenges and designing the cognitive solutions due to their ability to consider conflicting objectives with low complexity. WCM is a mathematical tool that has powerful inference capabilities. Thus, they are used to design a reasoning machine for WSNs. Two case studies are proposed in this thesis that illustrate the capabilities of WCMs and their flexibility in supporting different application requirements and network types. In addition, an elaborate theoretical model based on Markov Chains (MC) is proposed to analyze the operation of the WCM system. Extensive computer simulations and analytical results show the ability of the WCM system to achieve the end-to-end goals of the network and find compromises between conflicting constraints. On the other hand, Q-Learning is a well known reinforcement learning algorithm that is used to evaluate the actions taken by an agent over time. Thus, it is used to design a learning protocol that improves the performance of the WCM system. Furthermore, to ensure tha, Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-04 16:24:55.385

The Hudson-James Bay Lowlands (HJBL) are composed of fens and bogs frequently intersected by rivers and punctured by bioherms (ancient reef mounds) rising from bedrock aquifer. The peatlands exist partly due to minimal vertical losses limited by the low hydraulic conductivity (K) of the Tyrrell Sea sediments and small vertical gradients between the surface and bedrock aquifers. The recent development of an open-pit mine; DeBeers Victor Diamond Mine within the HJBL requires dewatering of the regional limestone aquifer to a depth of 200 mbgs. Two major components in assessing the potential impacts of dewatering on the hydrogeological regime and the sensitive peatland ecosystem are: the characteristics and behaviour of the Tyrrell Sea aquitard, and bioherms as potential recharge enhancing features. The Victor Tyrrell Sea (VTS) deposits are clayey silt with low LL, low PI, and no smectite clay minerals. The clay fraction consists of quartz, illite, chlinochlore, and usually calcite. The deposits are normally consolidated with Cc values of 0.08-0.155 and void ratios of 0.52-0.77. The VTS deposits are grey with pockets of black graphite and frequent shells. The K rages from 6.6x10-9 to 4.7x10-8 m/s. GEO-SLOPE™ finite element modeling software was used to investigate the sensitivity of surface drainage and consolidation behaviour in regard to the range of measured VTS parameters. The behaviours were also compared to classic clay aquitard types such as Lake Agassiz and Lake Champlain. Unit thickness, K, and the K modifier function have the greatest impact on the rate and magnitude of consolidation, and vertical drainage of the surface. The K of the underlying till is extremely important because they can be a buffer between the dewatered bedrock aquifer and the VTS. The characteristics of the sediments and the flow regime surrounding three outcropping bioherms which increase vertical drainage are investigated and a conceptual model of flow is proposed. The sediments in profi, Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-06 14:47:13.582

Cognitive radio is an important technology which aims to improve the spectrum resource utilization and allows a cognitive radio transceiver to detect and sense spectrum holes without causing interference to the primary users (PUs). As a result of the development of cognitive radio technology, the concept of cognitive radio ad hoc networks (CRAHNs) has recently been proposed in the literature, which aims to apply the cognitive radio to traditional ad hoc networks. However, this new network paradigm creates more research challenges than those in classical cognitive radio networks (CRNs). These research challenges in CRAHNs are due to the variable radio environments caused by spectrum-dependent communication links, hop-by-hop transmission, and changing topology. This study will focus on important research topics in spectrum management in scalable CRAHNs driven by local control, such as spectrum sharing, allocation, and mobility. To conduct this study, a local control approach is proposed to enable system-level analysis and protocol-level design with distributed protocols for spectrum sharing. In the local control approach, we can evaluate the system dynamics caused by either protocol-specific parameters or application-specific parameters in CRAHNs, which is hard to explore using existing methods. Moreover, combining the previous evaluations and scaling law analysis based on local control concept, we can design new distributed protocols based on the features of the medium access control (MAC) layer and the physical layer. In this study, the proposed research themes and related research issues surrounding spectrum sharing are discussed. Moreover, justification of the research has been made by experimental and analytical results., Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-04 14:37:45.883

The control of object manipulation tasks involves the close interplay of predictive and reactive control mechanisms. For example, when lifting an object, people typically predict the weight based on object size and material as well as sensorimotor memory obtained from previous lifts of the object. When lifting objects with a precision grip, people increase vertical load force to a target level that slightly exceeds the predicted weight. When the object is heavier than expected, the mismatch between expected and actual tactile signals associated with lift-off triggers a corrective action within ~100 ms, that involves probing increases in load force that continue until the object is lifted. Here we investigated whether this correction action can be adaptively influenced by experience. Participants repeatedly lifted an object that was instrumented with force sensors to measure the forces applied by the fingertips, with weight that could be varied without the knowledge of the participant. In 80% of trials, the weight was set to 2 N and, in different blocks of 110 trials, the remaining 20 % of trials (2 trials randomly selected from each successive 10 trials) was set to either 4 or 6 N. We found that the rate of change of the reflexively triggered increase in load force that occurred in the 4 or 6 N trials, scaled with the additional weight. That is, following the initial increase in load force to ~2 N, the subsequent increase in load force was more rapid for the 6 N object than the 4 N object. In contrast, the onset time of the reactive increase in load force was independent of the additional weight. Finally, this adaptation of reactive load force control took place quickly and was evident after only a few lifts of the heavier weight. These results indicate that the reactive increases in load force that occur when a lifted object is heavier than expected can be adapted and tuned, to refine behavior. This further suggests that multiple predictions can be generated about, Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-02 13:34:20.533

Implementing the legal mandate to accommodate students with impairments in higher education, particularly in fieldwork settings, poses a significant challenge to retaining academic integrity (Pardo, 1999). Currently, there is no consistent way of determining which academic requirements are “bona fide” (OHRC, 2004), and might not be altered for students with disabilities, and those which can be accomplished using a different method. Situating accommodation and accessibility within the Environmental Factors domain of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) as a theoretical framework, a set of questions are presented to determine whether academic requirements in fieldwork can be accommodated or not, and why. Combining an occupational therapy perspective on the importance of task analysis (Ashworth, 1995) with the means of identifying discrimination laid out in the human rights case law provides the required tools for such an analysis. This dissertation examines the intersection of legislated mandates for accommodation and academic integrity, by applying human rights legislation to higher education. Using the three-step test of discrimination set out in Meiorin (1999) and an additional question based on Granovsky (2000) to analyze academic tasks and requirements of fieldwork, bona fide requirements can be determined. The resulting model for determining accommodation for students with impairments is applicable to accommodation of disability in primary and secondary education, as well as in the employment sector and accessibility planning, and contributes to standards of practice in academic accommodation planning, a need identified by Reed, Lund-Lucas, & O'Rourke (2003). Following the introduction, six distinct chapters explore 1) the background of accommodation in post-secondary education, 2) the weaving together of models of disability with legislated requirements and curricula, 3) the human rights paradigm, Thesis (Ph.D, Education) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-04 19:28:14.838

Background: In 2007, the Canadian federal budget provided $300 million over three years to the provinces and territories to implement publicly-funded HPV immunization programs. Current estimates indicate that HPV vaccine uptake varies significantly across Canada and is reported to be lowest in Ontario at 53%. There is a paucity of literature on the determinants of HPV vaccine uptake in the Canadian context, therefore further research is needed. Objectives: To describe the patterns of HPV vaccine non-uptake across health units in Ontario, and identify the individual- and health unit (ecologic)-level factors that influenced HPV immunization decision-making between 2007 and 2011. Methods: The study linked administrative health and immunization databases to identify a retrospective population-based cohort of 144,047 girls eligible for Ontario's school-based HPV immunization program between 2007 and 2011. In this study a girl was considered vaccinated if she received at least 1 dose, otherwise she was considered unvaccinated. Ecologic or health unit-level factors that may have influenced HPV vaccine decision-making were assessed, as well as individual-level predictors including clinical characteristics and sociodemographics. A population-average model based on generalized estimating equations was used to identify determinants associated with non-uptake. Results: In all, 49.3% of girls from 21 public health units refused HPV immunization between 2007 and 2011. Non-uptake varied across health units, from 41.82% to 60.30%. In multivariate analyses, non-uptake was strongly associated with a history of autism (OR=1.60; 95% CI 1.34, 1.90) and Down's syndrome (OR=1.37; 95% CI 1.16, 1.63), refusal of mandatory and optional vaccines (OR=2.23; 95% CI 2.07, 2.4, and OR=3.96; 95% CI 3.87, 4.05, respectively), and infrequent physician visits (OR=1.45; 95% CI 1.35, 1.55). Contextual or health unit-level characteristics appeared to have a weak influence on vaccine decision-making. Conc, Thesis (Master, Community Health & Epidemiology) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-01 19:49:17.262

Fe(III)-As(III) bearing precipitates have been successfully used for arsenic immobilization in copper smelter weak acid effluents. However, knowledge on their precise characteristics is very limited compared to ferric arsenate precipitates which are the preferred disposal option. As(III) is the dominant arsenic species in the weak acid effluents, and high costs are incurred in oxidizing As(III) to As(V) prior to ferric arsenate precipitation. Detailed characterization of Fe(III)-As(III) bearing residues is fundamental for accurate prediction of their long term stability. Synchrotron-based analysis of the Fe(III)-As(III) bearing precipitates from the effluent treatment plant (ETP) at Xstrata’s Horne Copper Smelter in Quebec identified ferric arsenate and gypsum as the major phases, and other minor phases including zinc hydroxide and franklinite. The predominant As species was As(V) which accounted for 49 to 84% of the total As in the Horne ETP sample. The high As(V) levels detected in the Horne ETP co-precipitates may be due to the partial oxidation of As(III) during prolonged storage, prior to synchrotron analysis. Tooeleite was investigated as an alternative potential disposal option for As(III) immobilization from copper smelter weak acid effluents. Lime neutralization of an equimolar Fe(III)-As(III) bearing weak acid solution resulted in about 85% As being removed at pH 2.7 and the formation of gypsum-bearing tooeleite at pH 2 to 3.5. At >pH 4, the rapid transformation of tooeleite occurred to form a poorly crystalline equimolar ferric arsenite which was stable at pH 6 to 10. Co-precipitation tests also showed that equimolar ferric arsenite was precipitated at pH>4. US EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis indicated that both tooeleite and ferric arsenite have relatively high As solubilities. Calcination of tooeleite was explored as a method for improving the stability of tooeleite, and calcination of tooeleite in air at 600˚C produced a, Thesis (Ph.D, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-31 23:47:37.942

The joint may be considered a weak point along the pipe and can have a major impact on pipe performance. However, little research has been conducted in regard to joint design. To improve current structural design criteria, this thesis presents the findings and conclusions of experimental and computational studies of the effects of longitudinal bending on joints in rigid (reinforced concrete) and flexible (corrugated steel and thermoplastic) pipes. Solutions for expected shear force, longitudinal bending moment and rotation across the joint for rigid and flexible pipes are formulated for use in structural design of pipe joints. Exact algebraic solutions for rigid pipes are derived using the beam-on-elastic-spring approximation. The formulations for flexible pipes are developed assuming that the two pipes are very long, and that the response is not affected by either the location or characteristics of those other joints. The flexible pipe design equations are developed using various closed form solutions for beams on elastic foundations developed by Hetényi (1948). Parametric studies are then presented where the key factors controlling the behaviour are examined, and the comparisons to recent experimental measurements show that the joint rotation calculated using the equations and a value of soil stiffness proposed for use in design are generally reasonable and conservative compared with the laboratory tests. To measure the capacity of the joint to accommodate the demands, a pipe joint testing frame has been designed to facilitate joint characterization experiments. Shear tests and articulation (rotation) tests have been conducted using this testing frame to examine the shear force capacity, longitudinal bending moment capacity of moment-transfer joints, and rotational characteristics of joints. The shear test results show that the joints of PVC pipe and corrugated steel pipe have similar shear stiffness while the reinforced concrete pipe joint is significantly stiffe, Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-31 15:33:41.058

The goal of this thesis is to develop more effective quantitative procedures to evaluate the stability of deteriorated metal culverts and a better understanding of the deteriorated culverts' behaviour through non-destructive testing, full scale experiments and numerical analyses. First, three design cases were examined using numerical analysis to study the effects of corrosion, burial depth and staged construction on the capacity of deteriorated steel culverts. Then, a method to measure the remaining wall thickness of two 1.8 m diameter corroded metal culverts using ultrasonic device was developed. Both culverts were then buried in the test pit at Queen's University and tested under nominal and working vehicle loads at 0.9m cover and 0.6m cover. The more heavily corroded structure (CSP1) was tested up to its ultimate limit state, inducing local bending across the crown, as well as local buckling of the remnants of the corrugated steel wall between perforations at the haunches. The results suggest that the single axle pads interact to influence the culvert's behaviour despite the shallow cover used in these experiments. CSP1 was able to carry the working load and did not fail until reaching 340 kN, which was equal to 90% of the fully factored load. The experiment suggests that less deteriorated metal culverts (as compared to CSP1) may have the required capacity. Two finite element packages, CANDE and ABAQUS, were used to perform the numerical investigation and the AASHTO and CHBDC approaches were then used to calculate the thrust force in the culverts. Although the numerical analysis produced conservative values for the thrust forces, it failed to capture the non-linear behaviour of both specimens in the experiments. Both the AASHTO and the CHBDC approaches produced unconservative thrust forces compared to experimental results while numerical analysis using Moore's spreading factor produced the most conservative results in terms of thrust. The analysis suggests that, Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-30 12:56:17.945

In this thesis we report on the design and evaluation of interfaces to support crowdsourced programming tasks. We present WordMatch and SnipMatch: two programming tools that can incorporate crowdsourced source code. The design of these tools is informed by an investigation of crowdsourcing; specifically, Crowdsourced Human-Based Computation (CHC) systems, which organize tasks performed by humans. Recommendations include methods to obtain and maintain users who are highly motivated to participate and methods to improve task performance. WordMatch, a novel programming environment for specifying direct answers for search queries, builds on this work by introducing a parameterized search interface that can be easily understood by end users. In a laboratory study, we found that people with basic computer literacy could be taught to create complex direct answers with minimal training. Finally, evaluations of SnipMatch, a search interface for curated source code snippets, demonstrate that features from WordMatch are applicable to general programming tasks. Participants in our longitudinal study reported that SnipMatch was an effective tool for reducing context switching and as a memory aid., Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-31 12:50:58.15

This thesis examines technological and social mechanisms of British imperial water control as created and managed by British irrigation engineers in Egypt between 1882 and 1914. In the aftermath of the British military conquest of the Ottoman colony, irrigation engineering was lauded as a way to make Egypt prosperous and financially solvent through the growth and sale of cash-crop cotton on the global market. The irrigation engineers who transferred into Egypt in the wake of the British occupation to enact this revivification of irrigation were Indian-experienced military engineers; these Royal Engineers officers and their British superiors in Egypt and the Foreign Office enacted the principles of late nineteenth century liberal economy, including the construction of large-scale public works. The British engineers imported their Indian experiences when they transferred to the Egyptian Irrigation Department. Their engineering epistemologies included economic frugality, an emphasis and reliance on hydraulic science, and skepticism of the viability of local irrigation practices. Permanent dams were built or reconstructed across the Nile at Cairo (Delta Barrage, 1887-1890) and at Aswan (Aswan Dam, 1898-1902). With these structures, among other major projects, the engineers created a system of water control that extended their abilities to manage the Nile and local irrigation practices. Always chaotic, contingent, and geographically and temporally specific, the engineers forced Egyptian peasants, cash crop cotton, and the Nile into the interconnected web of politics, economics, and science that was transnational British imperialism., Thesis (Ph.D, History) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-04 12:28:11.274

Geomembranes (GMB) are normally used as part of the liner system in heap leach pads. There is a need to quantify tensile strains in the geomembrane that could affect short-term puncture and long-term performance of the GMB. In this thesis, short-term tensile strains arising from indentations caused from the material placed both below and above the geomembrane are quantified, and the potential for puncturing is investigated. Experiments were conducted on 1.5 mm high-density (HDPE) and liner low density polyethylene (LLDPE) geomembranes for applied pressures up to 3000 kPa. The geomembrane punctured from underliner material having gravel and sand placed directly beneath the geomembrane and a peak tensile strain of 40% was induced. Increasing the sand fraction to obtain a well graded gravel and sand underliner resulted in peak tensile strains of 14% in the geomembrane and caused no puncture. When geomembrane is underlain by geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) and compacted clay liner, the tensile strains increased with increasing deformability (due to higher water content) of the underlying material. Experiments were also conducted to examine the implications of overliner material and pressure on geomembrane strains. It was found that the overliner having gravel and some sand resulted in 18% tensile strain in the geomembrane at 2000 kPa and 27% for 3000 kPa. A gravelly sand overliner with some silt induced tensile strains of 9% and 12% at 2000 kPa and 3000 kPa respectively. None of the overliners was able to limit stains in the geomembrane to less the maximum recommended geomembrane strain proposed in the literature. A 150-mm-thick silty sand layer placed above coarsest overliner examined reduced the geomembrane strains to 2%, even when subjected to pressures of 3000 kPa., Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-01 10:33:47.733

Standing at a workbench is required for manual work including sorting and assembly. When work heights and reach distances are not matched to stature or arm length, the trunk assumes a partially bent position, which increases the postural effort required to stand or to reach to far distances. As a result, the biomechanical load on the lumbar spine is raised, which contributes to a higher risk for back pain. In ergonomics, assistive devices are being developed to counter this effect. A new leaning device was tested in the laboratory with forward-bent standing and reaching where the trunk was bent forward and twisted to reach to a far target 45° from the center. This device supported the trunk at the upper chest. With leaning, back muscle activity decreased by ~ 60% with forward-bent standing and ~ 23-30% with the off-center reach, depending on reach height. Because leaning changed how standing remained balanced, ~12° less bending was required to reach the target. Therefore, upper-trunk support may be helpful for benchworkers when ergonomic design is not possible; some product development and testing is still needed to provide the right amount of support at the right time and to ensure there is no rib joint irritation. An interesting outcome from these previous studies was related to workers’ posture when they leaned against a workbench that was adjusted for heavier work (hip height). Low back muscle activity was unchanged with forward-bent standing, but decreased by ~ 23-30% with the off-center reach. This reduction was accompanied by greater twist at the mid back as a way of compensating for a loss of hip rotation. Three different heights for bench leaning were compared in a third study: elbow height, hip height and below hip height. The results showed that leaning at elbow height lowered the work demand by ~16-24% for far reach, partially due to changed motions consistent with greater mid back movement and coincided with ~ 8% increase in work demands at the mid-back, Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-29 14:32:19.696

The systematic evaluation of effective health behavior interventions is critical for addressing overweight and obesity. Process evaluation assesses whether critical intervention components are delivered as intended and can enhance our understanding of program effects by linking participant program exposure to outcomes. The purpose of this study was to conduct a process evaluation of PROACTIVE, an intervention program to prevent and reduce obesity in clinical settings, and to explore associations between measures of dose, fidelity, and session quality with participant outcomes in an effort to explain gender differences in PROACTIVE program response observed at 24 months. Overweight and obese men (n = 74) and women (n = 175) were randomized into the 24-month health behavior counselling intervention. Outcomes of waist circumference (WC) and physical activity (PA; 7-Day PA Recall) were measured at 12 and 24 months. Process outcomes were distilled from Session Summary Forms completed by Health Educators after each session. Dose was a significant predictor of WC (β = -.12, p < .01) and PA (β = -.16, p < .05) at 24 months. Fidelity predicted 12 month WC (β = -.11, p < .05) and PA (β = .21, p < .05). Quality was significantly associated with 12 month (WC: β = .07, p < .05; PA: β = -.18, p < .01) and 24-month outcomes (WC: β = .10, p < .01; PA: β = -.15, p < .05). No gender differences were found for complete program adherence (dose; p = .51) or treatment implemented (fidelity; p = .06). Men and women were exposed to a similar amount of PROACTIVE session content and maintained similar levels of adherence throughout the 24-month intervention, therefore the difference in program success between men and women could not be attributed to unequal program exposure between the two groups. Insight yielded into the relationship between program exposure and participant outcomes via this process evaluation can help guide and refine future program implementation along with providing area, Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-29 17:29:48.89

Directly modulated lasers (DMLs) are a low cost solution for moderate reach systems due to their small footprint, low power dissipation and high output optical power. However, commercial 10-Gb/s on-off keying DMLs have been limited by an inherent modulation of the optical phase that accompanies the desired modulation of the optical intensity, which reduces their transmission distance to below 20 km. Furthermore, the ability to generate bit rates beyond 10-Gb/s with advanced modulation formats has been limited by the strict requirements on the laser drive current. The primary objective of this research is to dramatically enhance the capability of DML based systems through precise control over the drive current. This is achieved by digital signal processing (DSP) combined with a single digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In this research, a novel method to pre-compensate dispersion for metro and regional networks is demonstrated at 10.709-Gb/s. A look-up table (LUT) for the driving current is optimized for dispersion mitigation. Experimental results show a 25 fold increase in the transmission reach of a DML from 10 km to 252 km. A similar approach applied to a directly modulated chirp managed laser reveals a remarkable increase in the achievable transmission reach from 200 km to 608 km. In the context of access networks the DSP and DAC configuration is utilized for directly modulating a passive feedback laser (PFL) to generate differential phase shift keying (DPSK) signals at bit rates of 10.709-Gb/s, 14-Gb/s and 16-Gb/s. The quality of the DPSK signals is assessed using both noncoherent detection for a bit rate of 10.709-Gb/s and coherent detection with DSP involving a LUT pattern-dependent distortion compensator. For very short reach optical links, a 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation signal is generated using subcarrier modulation with a subcarrier frequency of half the symbol rate, Nyquist pulse shaping, and a directly modulated PFL at bit rates up to 56-Gb/s., Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-31 13:58:56.327

In the context of location, large amounts of information are available on the Internet to be accessed by people via different devices. However, at times people have to manually search and access it. If the space where location-based services are available can be identified by hand-held devices, people can be prompted with services available around them. This thesis explores the use of ultrasound as a communication medium to tag such spaces and access location-based services with the related information; and demonstrates the indoor implementation of the prototype of a location-based services enabling system for hand-held devices. This system allows users to search and access the available services in their surroundings through their hand-held devices. A beacon generator placed in the service location broadcasts a service code mappable to the services particular to that location encoded in an ultrasound signal. The hand-held device can identify this signal and prompt the user with available services. System design and architecture is demonstrated and the viability of the system is tested through a variety of environments and scenarios showing that potentially this has both a wide range of applications and can enhance the way people access location-based services., Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-30 17:50:20.285

This dissertation examines the ways in which socio-cultural, economic and religious ideologies shape discourses on women’s rights, higher education and empowerment in Ghana. The study starts from the premise that female identity in Ghana is constructed through discourses of reproduction that produce and reproduce unequal gender relations that negatively impact women’s higher socio-economic and educational attainments. Consequently, discourses of women’s rights and empowerment are inextricably linked to normative reproductive labour expectations. Using a postcolonial feminist theoretical framework, I argue that women’s rights and empowerment issues must be located within particular historical, local and global socio-cultural and political discourses in postcolonial societies. Subsequently, this study situates women’s rights concerns within the larger framework of global systemic inequalities that reinforce the local socio-cultural, political and economic disadvantages of women in Ghana. I interviewed women’s rights activists, conducted focus group discussions with male and mostly female participants during an intensive six-month field study. In line with postcolonial feminist epistemologies, I consider participants as knowledgeable subjects in the production of knowledge about their lived realities, by centering their voices and experiences in my analyses. The experiences of research participants (heterogeneous as they are) provide excellent insights into transnational feminisms, gendered postcolonial landscapes, and global cultural patriarchal hegemonies. These experiences also illustrate how global discourses of rights provide leverage to simultaneously challenge and politicize colonial discourses of race and gender in the global south., Thesis (Ph.D, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-31 11:45:32.468

A model for free recall of words is presented and applied to representative free-recall experiments. According to the model, a subject's lexicon contains a representation for each word and for the association between each pair of words. Studying a word in a list strengthens that word's representation in the lexicon, but reduces the strength of previously studied words. In addition, while studying the list, the subject associates pairs of items and, thereby, strengthens the corresponding associations in the lexicon. A subject's efficiency at forming associations drops off as the number of pairs increases. Retrieval is initiated with a report cue. Selection of an item for report is based on its strength in the lexicon plus the strength of its association with the retrieval cue. Selecting an item for report changes the strength of its association with the cue in the lexicon. To test the model, parameters were obtained by fitting it to serial-position curves taken from the archival literature. The model predicted three additional dependent measures: order of report, items correct per trial, and the number of intrusions per trial. In addition, I applied the model to phenomena associated with the free-recall task and showed that it captures the list-strength effect, interference in part-list cuing, clustering with categorized lists, and distraction effects. The model itself does not change to capture these experimental data. Word lists are presented to the model according to the experimental protocol used in the original experiments, and the model captures output measures derived from the experimental data. The model demonstrates that simple mechanisms can capture a wide range of apparently complex behaviour if we allow for a large enough knowledge base. In effect, the complexity of behaviour in free-recall paradigms lies in the interactions in the lexicon, not in the complexity of the recall mechanisms., Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-28 14:12:49.99

Accurate channel knowledge is indispensable to the practical success of channel-aware wireless communication technologies. However, channel estimates obtained from pilot symbols rapidly become outdated due to fast time variations of multipath fading channels. To reduce system cost, antenna subset selection reduces radio frequency (RF) chain components. For systems selecting a subset of a plurality of antennas for reception, this outdated channel information is a significant impediment to selection and data decoding reliability. In this thesis, training-based schemes for antenna selection (AS) for time-varying channels which account for practical constraints such as training, packetization and antenna switching time are proposed based on discrete prolate spheroidal sequences. They only operate with knowledge or estimates of the Doppler frequency and the channel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), but do not require detailed statistical correlation knowledge. A pilot-based AS scheme for time-varying frequency-flat channels for single input-multiple output (SIMO) systems selecting one of a plurality of antennas using packet or symbol-rate antenna switching is first proposed. It is demonstrated that the presented scheme provides significant performance gain over AS methods using Fourier-based orthogonal training as well as over single antenna systems with perfect channel knowledge. Analytical expressions for the symbol error probability (SEP) of M-ary phase-shift keying (MPSK) for systems employing the suggested techniques are provided. The second part of this thesis investigates the more general case of selecting a subset of a plurality of receive antennas. A new pilot-based receive antenna subset selection algorithm for time-varying frequency-flat channels is presented. The proposed AS algorithm is shown to outperform AS methods based on Fourier prediction/estimation as well as SIMO systems with perfect channel knowledge. Analysis of MPSK and quadrature amplitude modulation, Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-30 16:47:06.057

Numerous anthropogenic disturbances have occurred in large lakes over recent decades. These may alter concentrations of the biomagnifying contaminant mercury (Hg) in fish, but long-term impacts of disturbances on Hg trophodynamics are poorly understood. Elemental analyses of archived museum ichthyology specimens could be used to study historical, pre-disturbance fish food webs, but there is uncertainty about effects of chemical preservatives on the results of such analyses. In this thesis, long-term preservation effects were studied, and archived fish were used to reconstruct historical food webs and Hg trophodynamic patterns in three large North American lakes, Nipigon, Simcoe and Champlain. After 24 months of formalin/ethanol preservation, fish muscle delta-15N and delta-13C had average changes of +0.4 ‰ and -0.9 ‰, respectively. Shifts in mean Hg concentration was +5 % after 12 months. A suite of 26 other elements analyzed over 24 months showed consistent responses to preservation, usually involving an increase in concentration immediately following preservation. In the second phase of the thesis, stable isotope and Hg analyses were performed on archived and modern fish from the study lakes, dating to the 1920s-60s and 2006-7, respectively. Trophic relationships were often relatively stable over time, but stable isotope metrics revealed a decrease in Lake Nipigon delta-15N range and less pelagic feeding among Lake Simcoe pumpkinseed and yellow perch. In Lake Champlain, the re-introduction of lake trout in recent decades did not have a major effect on overall food web dimensions. Significant Hg biomagnification factors were found in 1920s and 2006-7 Lake Nipigon (which were not statistically distinguishable from each other) and 2006 Lake Champlain. These biomagnification factors ranged from 0.09 to 0.17, which is within the range found in other studies globally. Archived fish and government monitoring records indicated that fish Hg concentrations decreased in Lake, Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-30 15:43:33.438

Emotional intelligence (EI) encompasses abilities (ability EI; AEI) and self-perceptions (trait EI; TEI) related to the expression, understanding, and management of emotions. Research on its developmental dynamics remains heavily weighted by the AEI perspective, whereas TEI has received virtually no attention in the developmental literature. This is a major oversight, as the two EI components are conceptually distinct and contribute independently to the prediction of important outcomes. Using multi-wave data from the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, this project examined rank-order stability (Study 1) and mean-level change (Study 2) in TEI over a 6-year period from late childhood (age 10-11) to adolescence (age 16-17). Longitudinal measurement invariance of the TEI assessment was also tested (Study 1). Longitudinal mean and covariance structures models (Study 1) and latent growth curve models (Study 2) were fitted to the data from 773 children (51% girls) who completed the Emotional Quotient Inventory–Youth Version Brief form at four biannual waves. Principles from the self-concept literature were used to outline an integrative theoretical framework within which the developmental dynamics of TEI could be studied and understood. Study 1 found that three of the four TEI domains could be measured consistently and reliably over time, and that individual differences in these domains became progressively more stable with age. Contrary to the maturity principle guiding the development of AEI, Study 2 found that mean-level changes in TEI followed a curvilinear trajectory characterizing the development of self-concepts: EI self-perceptions declined between late childhood and early adolescence and then increased later in adolescence. These findings provide, for the first time, important validity evidence for the TEI construct as developmentally distinct from AEI and developmentally similar to self-concept. From an applied standpoint, this implies t, Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-29 17:40:30.322

Myosins are molecular motor proteins involved in cell movement, vesicle and organelle transport by moving along the cytoskeletal actin filaments. They include a myosin heavy chain and at least one myosin light chain (LC). The latter are typically bilobal proteins like calmodulin, where each lobe comprises a pair of EF-hand Ca2+-binding motifs. The LCs bind to ~25-residue IQ motifs that loosely conform to an IQXXXRGXXXR consensus sequence, and impart rigidity that is crucial for myosin function. The highly motile amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum expresses seven class I myosins, two of which (MyoD and MyoB) recruit the specific LCs MlcD and MlcB, with MlcB being the first observed single-lobe LC. However, the LCs for the remaining D. discoideum class I myosins are unknown. Identifying and characterizing these LCs is one focus of this thesis, with an overall goal of understanding their role in myosin function and regulation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, site-directed mutagenesis, and computational modeling were used to determine the solution structure of apo-MlcB and identify the MyoB IQ motif-binding site. Apo-MlcB differs from the typical closed conformation of an EF-hand Ca2+-binding protein in the apo-state as helix 1 in its structure is splayed from the remaining helices. The MyoB IQ motif-binding surface is not altered by Ca2+, involves residues from helices 1 and 4, and from residues in the N-terminal canonical EF-hand Ca2+-binding loop, and represents a unique mode of IQ recognition by a myosin LC. Calmodulin was identified as the LC for MyoA and MyoE while another single-lobe LC, MlcC, bound to two of three IQ motifs in MyoC. The solution structure of MlcC was more similar to the C-terminal lobe of apo-calmodulin than to apo-MlcB. Chemical shift perturbation studies suggest that like apo-CaM, MlcC undergoes a global MyoC IQ motif-induced conformational change. Computational modeling of the MlcC-MyoC IQ complex indicates that this is a feasible mode, Thesis (Ph.D, Biochemistry) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-29 11:42:03.428

The Problems of Protest and the Persistence of Domination: Social Movement Theory and Bourdieu’s Economy of Practice is a normative intervention into social movement theory and debates about social movement goals, strategies and tactics. The project asks: what normative implications derive from incorporating Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological framework into social movement research? My core arguments are that Bourdieu’s framework has the potential to sensitize activists and analysts to the tension between conformity and failure and that escaping radical/reformist debates requires working through this tension. The dissertation intervenes in social movement theory from within the critical theory tradition by refusing to separate empirical and normative questions. I develop my argument using two strategies. First, I undertake a close reading of Bourdieu’s most important works and the debates they have provoked. Second I apply the conceptual tools this close reading offers to reconsider the logic behind two key social movement theory concepts: collective identity and repertoires of contention. Following a general introduction and literature review, I undertake a close consideration of habitus and an argument for how attention to the suffering produced by symbolic power constitutes grounds for normative justice claims. I then consider how collective identity formation in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer mobilization indicates the presence of symbolic violence, primarily in the form of epistemic violence. Next I argue that the nature of neoliberal symbolic power creates political antinomies for representation and affinity-based segments of the alterglobalization movement. Finally I argue that Bourdieu needs to be balanced by Nietzsche and that an orientation toward ‘overcoming’ offers a way out of the tension between conformity and failure. My findings point to the need for more sophisticated instruments for understanding the relationship between objective intere, Thesis (Ph.D, Political Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-29 14:14:16.699

Global climate change is one of the defining issues of the 21st century. The phenomenon of natural climate variation being pushed beyond normal ranges has been fueled largely by industrial activities and those which support them (i.e. land-use change and the over-exploitation of natural resources). The urgency is well established with reports demonstrating an increased occurrence of rare, highly damaging weather events, and shifts in the natural range of species. The necessity of action on climate change has resulted in the development of novel global initiatives designed to address the problem across global and regional scales. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) is emblematic of this new wave of conservation strategy. It brings together parties which are often seen as opposed on environmental issues in collaborative environmental practise. This thesis explores the development of REDD+ as an effective and equitable solutions to this problem. REDD+ is a policy architecture designed for global deployment, the success of which will depend largely upon the engagement and involvement of local community groups. Community forest management (CFM) may inform the REDD+ design process, and enhance both land-use strategies by way of synergy. The pathway to that point is, however, uncertain and marred with potential pitfalls. This thesis uses the instructive and critical lens of political ecology to assess the potential for integrating greater CFM elements into the REDD+ policy structure. It explores how the narratives of CFM and REDD+ clash at discursive levels, while also identifying elements of each which may make them mutually beneficial. The thesis finds that much of the conflict between positions on REDD+ are the result of contrasting environmental understandings, some of which are informed by negative experiences with past environmental conservation initiatives. Greater community-centric attributes may assist in improving the local and re, Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-28 14:57:55.951

Global production of soybeans continues to increase, reflecting the value of soybeans in food products, soil amendments, and petroleum replacements. While the N2O aspect of the legume greenhouse gas (GHG) budget has been given substantial, and mostly negative, attention, the CO2 side needs to be explored. During nitrogen fixation, hydrogen is produced. As a result of hydrogen-coupled CO2 fixation, legume soils have the ability to increase the amount of atmospheric carbon fixed into the soil. However, the amount and fate of this fixed carbon has yet to be determined. Therefore, two experiments were conducted. The first experiment explored the methods of 13C labeling of four soil treatments over a period of 28 days. Results showed that most of this carbon uptake was through biotic processes, and that the pattern of carbon uptake was similar for all four soil treatments. The ideal labeling time for both ‘root’ and ‘nodule’ soil was determined to be between 7 and 14 days. The second experiment incubated four 13C labeled soil treatments in a continuous soybean field for 11 months. Throughout this time, bags of soil were removed and separated into three soil organic matter (SOM) fractions; the microbial biomass fraction (MBF), the light fraction (LF), and the acid stable fraction (ASF). These fractions were then measured for δ13C, providing a time series showing carbon movement through the soil which enabled an estimation of the MRT of fixed carbon in the soil. Results showed that the MBF was responsible for the initial flux of carbon uptake in all soil treatments, and that the ‘nodule + H2’ MBF continued to fix carbon at the end of the 11 months. While the LF was not ideal at representing the intermediate SOM pool, the ASF did increase in enrichment at the end of the experiment, showing the movement of newly fixed carbon into long-term carbon storage. Therefore, hydrogen-coupled CO2 fixation does contribute to long-term carbon storage in legume soils, however, longer stu, Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-30 09:28:01.899

Wireless sensor networks have been used in different applications due to the advancement of sensor technology. These uses also have raised different optimization issues. Most of the algorithms proposed as solutions to the various optimization problems are either centralized or distributed which are not ideal for these real life applications. Very few strictly local algorithms for wireless sensor networks exist in the literature. In this thesis, we consider some of these optimization problems of sensor networks, for example, sleep-wake scheduling, mobile dispersion, mobile object monitoring, and gathering problems. We also consider the depth adjustment problem of underwater sensor networks. We design cellular automaton based local algorithms for these problems. The cellular automaton is a bioinspired model used to model different physical systems including wireless sensor networks. One of the main advantages of using cellular automaton based algorithms is that they need very little local information to compute a solution. We perform different simulations and analysis and find that our algorithms are efficient in practice., Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-25 13:37:36.854

Theories of empire and imperialism have a long history in both the International Relations (IR) and International Political Economy (IPE) literature. Yet both literatures have significant theoretical and methodological problems. IR scholars assume the American empire has a progressive role in the global system, promoting peace, security and prosperity. They divorce the ideals of America from its history of violence and exploitation. Alternatively, the IPE literature recognizes that capitalism is a driving force behind imperialism, but tends to ignore other determinants of American foreign policy. This dissertation aims to use an interpretation of Karl Marx’s method of historical materialism to reconceptualize imperialism in the 20th and early 21st century. Building upon theories offered in the IPE literature, it argues there are three interrelated types of imperialisms at work: geopolitical, geocapital and capital imperialism. Geopolitical imperialism is when geopolitics is the main determinant behind foreign policy. This process is driven by international security concerns or domestic politics and often has few direct economic motivations. Geocapital imperialism is when the needs of capital accumulation coincide with the policies of the government. The third type is “capital imperialism.” This process conditions countries and institutions through transnational corporations and international finance, such as bond markets, the repo markets, currency speculation and investment flows. The recent financialization of the international system has made this process of imperialism a much more rapid and disruptive international process. This thesis will place an emphasis on relations, context and history in order to provide a thorough understanding of the forces of imperialism with a particular focus on the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama., Thesis (Ph.D, Political Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-28 16:52:37.364

One of the most frequently reported deficits seen in individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is impairments in learning and memory, which is likely attributed to the teratogenic effects of ethanol on the developing hippocampus. TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β), hedgehog and Wnt signaling pathways have been identified as high probability candidate pathways associated with brain deficits seen in FASD. Increasing evidence indicates that ethanol may induce changes in DNA methylation that could alter transcription regulating factors within signaling pathways critical in brain development. The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that prenatal ethanol exposure during i) the first trimester-equivalent period, or ii) throughout the entire gestational period induces changes in DNA methylation and alters the transcription/translation of TGF-β1, SHH (sonic hedgehog) and Wnt3a within the developing hippocampus. Pregnant Dunkin-Hartley-strain guinea pigs were assigned to one of three groups: ethanol (4 g/kg maternal body weight), isocaloric-sucrose/pair-feeding, or no treatment. Embryonic telencephalon tissue (which gives rise to the hippocampus) and fetal hippocampus were collected at gestational day (GD) 23 or GD 65, respectively. GD 23 ethanol-exposed and nutritional control embryos exhibited decreased crown-rump and head lengths. GD 65 ethanol-exposed fetuses exhibited decreased body and brain weights compared with the control groups. Ethanol exposure during the first trimester-equivalent period, but not during the entire gestational period, resulted in an increase in global DNA methylation. First trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure did not alter TGF-β1, SHH and Wnt3a gene expression within the GD 23 telencephalon. However, ethanol exposure throughout the entire pregnancy led to an increase in the expression of all three genes within the GD 65 hippocampus. No change in TGF-β1 protein was seen in the hippocampus of ethanol-treated fetuses. Po, Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-03 12:36:33.035

The rhombus and parallelogram orbits are interesting families of periodic solutions, which come from celestial mechanics and the N-body problem. Variational methods with finite order symmetry group are used to construct minimizing non-collision periodic orbits. We study the question of stability or instability of periodic and symmetric periodic solutions of the rhombus and the equal mass parallelogram four body problems. We first study the stability of periodic solutions for the rhombus four body problem. An analytical description of the variational principle is used to show that the homographic solutions are the minimizers of the action functional restricted to rhombus loop space [23]. We employ techniques from symplectic geometry and specifically a variant of the Maslov index for curves of Lagrangian subspaces along the minimizing rhombus orbit to prove the main result, Theorem 4.2.2, which states that the reduced rhombus orbit is hyperbolic in the reduced energy manifold when it is not degenerate. We second study the stability for symmetric periodic solutions of the equal mass parallelogram four body problem. The parallelogram family is a family of Z_2× Z_4 symmetric action minimizing solutions, investigated by [7]. In this example, the minimizing solution [7] can be extended to a 4T-periodic solution using symmetries through square and collinear configurations. The Maslov index of the orbits is used to prove the main result, Theorem 5.3.1, which states that the minimizing equal mass parallelogram solution is unstable when it is non-degenerate., Thesis (Ph.D, Mathematics & Statistics) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-26 11:30:29.688

Climate change has been predicted to have long-term consequences for North American ecosystems. Amphibians in particular are considered indicators of ecosystem health because of their sensitivity to environmental change – due in part to their semi-permeable skin and aquatic developmental requirements. Amphibians have been experiencing population declines on a global scale, suggested in part to be due to changes in reproductive behaviour and timing. My thesis examines the abiotic correlates of timing of calling in southeastern Ontario anurans, as well as the extent to which the timing of calling events vary within and among species. I focused on eight species of frogs using both a 40-year historical dataset and a 5-year field-collected dataset of environmental variation and anuran activity. From analysis of the historical dataset, Lithobates pipiens was the only species out of eight to emerge significantly earlier, by an estimated 22 days over four decades. Both L. pipiens and Anaraxyus americanus have advanced initiation of calling over a four-decade span significantly earlier by an estimated 37.2 and 19.2 days, respectively, correlating with significant regional increases in spring air temperatures (2.8°C over four decades). Global frog declines or range shifts relate ultimately to changes in reproductive behaviour and timing mediated by shifting climate. From my analysis of the field-collected dataset, I concluded that species varied in the environmental predictors that best predicted this variation may be a consequence of varying reproductive strategies between early spring “explosive” breeders versus late prolonged breeders. There was also significant among-location variation in calling activity for four prolonged breeding species, which may be an effect of significant microclimatic variation between locations surveyed. My study suggests that local temperature increases have affected the timing of emergence and the onset of calling activity in some frogs and tha, Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-12 23:05:34.12

Image-guided surgeries employ advanced imaging and computing technologies to assist the surgeon when direct visualization is inadequate or unavailable. As modern surgeries continue to move toward minimally invasive procedures, tracked ultrasound (US), an emerging technology that uniquely combines US imaging and position tracking, has been increasingly used for intraoperative guidance in surgical interventions. The intrinsic accuracy of a tracked US system is primarily determined by a unique procedure called ``probe calibration", where a spatial registration between the coordinate systems of the transducer (provided by a tracking device affixed to the probe) and the US image plane must be established prior to imaging. Inaccurate system calibration causes misalignments between the US image and the surgical end-effectors, which may directly contribute to treatment failure. The probe calibration quality is further reduced by the "elevation beamwidth" or "slice thickness", a unique feature of the ultrasound beam pattern that gives rise to localization errors and imaging uncertainties. In this thesis, we aim to provide an automated, pure-computation-based, intraoperative calibration solution that also incorporates the slice thickness to improve the calibration accuracy, precision and reliability. The following contributions have been made during the course of this research. First, we have designed and developed an automated, freehand US calibration system with instant feedback on its calibration accuracy. The system was able to consistently achieve submillimeter accuracy with real-time performance. Furthermore, we have developed a novel beamwidth-weighted calibration framework (USB-FW) that incorporates US slice thickness to improve the estimation of calibration parameters. The new framework provides an effective means of quality control for calibration results. Extensive phantom validation demonstrated that USB-FW introduces statistically significant reduction (p = 0.001, Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-22 16:18:55.439

A steady-state mathematical model for the stripping section of an industrial EPDM rubber production process was developed for a three-tank process, and two four-tank processes. The experiments that were conducted to determine model parameters such as equivalent radius for EPDM particles, as well as solubility and diffusivity parameters for hexane and ENB in EPDM polymer are described. A single-particle multiple-tank model was developed first, and a process model that accounts for the residence-time distribution of crumb particles was developed second. Plant data as well as input data from an existing steady-state model was used to determine estimates for the tuning parameters used in the multiple-particle, multiple-tank model. Using plant data to assess the model’s predictive accuracy, the resulting three-tank and four-tank process B models provide accurate model predictions with a typical error of 0.35 parts per hundred resin (phr) and 0.12 phr. The four-tank process A model provides less-accurate model predictions for residual crumb concentrations in the second tank and has an overall typical error of 1.05 phr. Additional plant data from the three- and four-tank processes would increase the estimability of the parameter values for parameter ranking and estimations steps and thus, yield increased model predictive accuracy., Thesis (Master, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-23 21:06:05.509

Pressing demands for less power consumption of processors while delivering higher performance levels have put an extra attention on efficiency of the systems. Efficient management of resources in the current computing systems, given their increasing number of entities and complexity, requires accurate predictive models that can easily adapt to system and application changes. Through performance monitoring counter (PMC) events, in modern processors, a vast amount of information can be obtained from the system. This thesis provides a methodology to efficiently choose such events for power modeling purposes. In addition, exploiting the time-dependence of the data measured through PMCs and multi-meters, we build predictive multivariate time-series models that estimate the run-time power consumption of a system. In particular, we find an autoregressive moving average with exogenous inputs (ARMAX) model that is combined with a recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm as a good candidate for such purposes. Many of the available estimation or prediction models avoid using the metrics that are affected by the changes of the processor frequency. This thesis proposes a method to mitigate the impact of frequency scaling in a run-time model on power and PMC metrics. This method is based on a practical Gaussian approximation. Different segments of the trend of a metric that are associated with different frequencies are scaled and offset into a zero mean unit variance signal. This is an attempt to transform the variable frequency trend into a weakly stationary time-series. Using this approach, we have shown that power estimation of a system using PMCs can be done in a variable frequency environment. We extend the ARMAX-RLS model to predict the near future power consumption and PMCs of different applications in a variable frequency environment. The proposed method is adaptive, independent of the system and applications. We have shown that a run-time per core or aggregate system PMC, Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-12 12:21:00.152

In laser materials processing, the direct measurement and characterization of material and process depth is traditionally a diffcult task. This is particularly difficult when such information needs to be obtained in real-time for feedback and dynamic analysis applications. This thesis outlines a novel method and apparatus for real-time depth measurement during laser processes such as welding, drilling, cutting and ablation called inline coherent imaging (ICI). The approach borrows the coherent imaging ideas from the primarily medical field of optical coherence tomography and adapts them to the new application. Without requirements for flawless image quality and limitations on sample exposure the design is free to emphasize speed in acquisition and processing. Furthermore, the imaging optics are specialized for compatibility with off-the-shelf beam delivery systems. Several generations of the imaging technique and relevant design equations are described and shown and realized. Also described is the design and construction of two laser processing stations used for testing ICI in macro- and micro-processing applications. A variety of applications for ICI in the understanding of percussion drilling and welding of metals and other industrial materials are discussed. The imaging technique is further extended to provide manual and fully automatic closed-loop control of drilling and ablation processes in industrial materials. Finally, some important applications of ICI in the processing of bone in both open and closed-loop configurations are demonstrated., Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-20 15:31:21.708

The teratogenic effects of valproic acid (VPA) are well known, though its teratogenic mechanism remains unknown. VPA induces oxidative stress, which may lead to double strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA. Though the cell may repair this damage via homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), repair is not always error-free; genomic instability may arise from gene deletions, amplifications, rearrangements, and loss of heterozygosity. Such alterations may underpin VPAʼs teratogenicity. The present study evaluated VPAʼs ability to induce NHEJ and HR and characterized the changes in expression of two proteins key to HR (RAD51) and NHEJ (XRCC4). Using pKZ1 transgenic mice (C57BL/6 genetic background), we sought to measure NHEJ events via X-gal staining. Although consistent staining was observed in adult male brain (positive control), no staining was observed in embryos 12 or 24 hours after in utero exposure to a teratogenic dose of VPA (500 mg/kg, maternal subcutaneous dose) on gestational day 9 (GD9). To determine whether the lack of staining observed in embryos was due to low/absent expression of key DSB-repair proteins, we measured mRNA/protein expression of RAD51 and XRCC4 in C57BL/6, GD9-exposed embryos and maternal brain. One hour after treatment, XRCC4 was increased at the protein level in brain and embryo. RAD51 was not increased in embryos and not detected in adult brain. These data suggest that embryos do possess the protein mediators of NHEJ and HR and that VPA-induced changes in expression of XRCC4 may influence the type of repair pursued, potentially affecting DSB repair fidelity (accuracy). Determination of fidelity of VPA-induced HR was attempted with the Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO33) using DNA sequencing; low template concentration and purity precluded successful sequencing of DNA from recombinant colonies and the assessment of fidelity. Overall, these data demonstrate that the lack of X-gal staining observed in pKZ1 embryos is n, Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-15 11:06:30.613

Mosaic Arthroplasty is a well-accepted surgical approach to treating focal cartilage defects of the knee. However, the task of creating the mosaic of osteochondral grafts that optimally restores the cartilage surface is technically demanding. Conventional techniques require the surgeon to reconstruct a complex, three-dimensional surface by eye and experience only. There is evidence that this type of procedure is sensitive to technique: grafts that are transplanted proud of the native cartilage surface tend to show evidence of cartilage fissuring and fibrillation prematurely. Two computer-assisted techniques (navigation by optical tracking and guidance by patient-specific templates) were investigated to determine whether they would have a beneficial effect on surgical execution, and whether any differences in execution had any correlation to surgical outcome. The experimental work can be broken into two parts: an in vitro study that compared the accuracy of execution of an optically navigated group versus a template guided group, and an in vivo animal trial that compared both computer assisted techniques to the conventional, non-assisted approach. The results of the pilot study indicated that, while there were higher errors in the individual measures of position, orientation, and plug depth in the optically navigated group, there was no significant difference in the overall fidelity of the geometric surface produced between the two groups. The results of the animal trial indicated that both computer assisted techniques produced morphological results that were superior to the conventional technique. The two computer-assisted techniques also showed a significantly better treatment effect as seen by their higher histological scoring. Furthermore, a significant linear correlation was found between morphological results and histological score. Overall, the experiments demonstrated that surgeons and patients could potentially benefit from the use of computer-assisted techn, Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-02 20:50:33.957

This dissertation offers a re-evaluation of the role of the imagination in Jean- Jacques Rousseau’s 'Emile: or On Education' (1762) and Christoph Martin Wieland’s 'Geschichte des Agathon' (1794). My central claim is that both novels develop a pedagogy of the imagination in order to overcome the dilemmas of Cartesian dualism, that is, to form a beautiful soul in whom sensuality and reason, the body and the spirit, coexist in harmony. I demonstrate that both texts highlight the important but potentially damaging role played by the imagination in the development of religious thought, moral sentiments, and sexuality. The texts suggest that while a malformed imagination results in materialism, egotism, libertinism, and despotism, a well-formed imagination provides the foundation for natural religion, cosmopolitan enthusiasm, sentimental love, and a just political constitution. Consequently, I argue that for Rousseau and Wieland, harnessing the power of the imagination becomes the key to reconciling human nature and civil society. In addition to elucidating the role of the imagination in 'Emile' and 'Agathon', this dissertation also contributes to an understanding of the intellectual affinities between Rousseau and Wieland more generally. In preparation for the comparative reading of 'Emile' and 'Agathon', I survey Wieland’s private and public responses to Rousseau and contend that although the two authors differ significantly in their narrative and philosophical approach, they nevertheless share similar moral and political ideals. Both authors acknowledge the ability of the imagination to drive a wedge between the individual’s natural inclinations and moral duties, causing fragmentation of the self and society in turn. Yet the imagination, the motor of cultural progress, is not only the source of man’s alienation, it is also the remedy for his dividedness. If properly harnessed, the imagination can cease to be the cause of human depravity and become the basis of peaceful, Thesis (Ph.D, German) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-15 17:47:42.944

Advanced malicious software threats have become commonplace in cyberspace, with large scale cyber threats exploiting consumer, corporate and government systems on a constant basis. Regardless of the target, upon successful infiltration into a target system an attacker will commonly deploy a backdoor to maintain persistent access as well as a rootkit to evade detection on the infected machine. If the attacked system has access to classified or sensitive material, virus eradication may not be the best response. Instead, a counter-intelligence operation may be initiated to track the infiltration back to its source. It is important that the counter-intelligence operations are not detectable by the infiltrator. Rootkits can not only hide malware, they can also hide the detection and analysis operations of the defenders from malware. This thesis presents a rootkit based on Asynchronous Procedure Calls (APC). This allows the counter-intelligence software to exist inside the kernel and avoid detection. Two techniques are presented to defeat current detection methods: Trident, using a kernel-mode driver to inject payloads into the user-mode address space of processes, and Sidewinder, moving rapidly between user-mode threads without intervention from any kernel-mode controller. Finally, an implementation of the explored techniques is discussed. The Dark Knight framework is outlined, explaining the loading process that employs Master Boot Record (MBR) modifications and the primary driver that enables table hooking, kernel object manipulation, virtual memory subversion, payload injection, and subterfuge. A brief overview of Host-based Intrusion Detection Systems is also presented to outline how the Dark Knight system can be used in conjunction with for immediate reactive investigations., Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-18 09:54:09.678

In laser materials processing, the direct measurement and characterization of material and process depth is traditionally a diffcult task. This is particularly difficult when such information needs to be obtained in real-time for feedback and dynamic analysis applications. This thesis outlines a novel method and apparatus for real-time depth measurement during laser processes such as welding, drilling, cutting and ablation called inline coherent imaging (ICI). The approach borrows the coherent imaging ideas from the primarily medical field of optical coherence tomography and adapts them to the new application. Without requirements for flawless image quality and limitations on sample exposure the design is free to emphasize speed in acquisition and processing. Furthermore, the imaging optics are specialized for compatibility with off-the-shelf beam delivery systems. Several generations of the imaging technique and relevant design equations are described and shown and realized. Also described is the design and construction of two laser processing stations used for testing ICI in macro- and micro-processing applications. A variety of applications for ICI in the understanding of percussion drilling and welding of metals and other industrial materials are discussed. The imaging technique is further extended to provide manual and fully automatic closed-loop control of drilling and ablation processes in industrial materials. Finally, some important applications of ICI in the processing of bone in both open and closed-loop configurations are demonstrated., Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2012-11-04 15:34:14.379

In this thesis I argue that anarchism, as a political philosophy and social movement practice committed to resisting all forms of oppression and domination, needs to place colonialism more clearly and consistently at the centre of its analysis of interlocking systems of oppression. I argue that colonialism has largely been absent as a system of domination and oppression within anarchist theory and practice, with the exception of a small number of theorists and activist groups. My contention is that an anti-colonial orientation needs to be further encompassed in part because of anarchism’s commitment to resisting all forms of oppression and domination, but also because anarchist movements carry out and theorize resistance against the backdrop of settler colonial realities and on Indigenous lands. This thesis contributes to these aims by seeking to expand and push further work done on anarcha-Indigenism that examines the possible points of contact and resonance between anarchist and Indigenous politics, philosophy and action. I conceptualize anarcha-Indigenism first as a ‘third space’, following post-colonial theorists, and extend this concept towards an ‘n-dimensional’ space of meeting, where theoretical perspectives can come to engage with one another. This space consists of points of contact and resonance chiefly between Indigenist, anarchist and feminist theory and practice, but also extends to any perspective that might meet the core commitments of anarcha-Indigenism, namely resistance to all forms of oppression and domination. Within the ‘n-dimensional’ space of anarcha-Indigenism I examine the possibilities of anti-colonial research methodology, solidarity relationships between settlers and Indigenous peoples, engagements between anarchist and Indigenous feminisms and contemporary manifestations of anti-colonial anarchist resistance against the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the Toronto G20. These successive chapters seek to make anti-colonial interventions into a, Thesis (Master, Cultural Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-30 23:49:58.642