VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The Cross as Tree: The Wood-of-the-Cross Legends in Middle English and Latin Texts in Medieval England

Dissertation Abstract: The medieval wood-of-the-cross legends trace the history of the wood of Christ’s cross back to Old Testament figures and sometimes to paradise itself, where the holy wood was derived from the very tree from which Adam and Eve disobediently ate. These legends are thought to have originated in Greek, afterwards radiating into Latin and the vernacular languages of Western Europe. The earliest witness of these narratives (the “rood-tree” legend) is extant in English fragments of the eleventh century, with full versions found in one twelfth-century English manuscript and several Latin ones originating in England. In this study I examine both the setting into which the rood-tree legend arrived, as well as the later, more elaborate wood-of-the-cross legends that inspired adaptations into Middle English writings. The opening chapter establishes the development of the wood-of-the-cross narrative and its manifestations in both the Latin West and the Eastern languages. Chapter two characterizes the strong devotion to the holy cross in Anglo-Saxon England, and its manifestation in literature, theological writings and art, while chapter three details the Latin and Middle English versions of the wood-of-the-cross legends in manuscript form in England. The fourth chapter traces the concept of the “cross as tree,” beginning with medieval glosses on important biblical tree references, followed by the use of the cross-tree image in Christian writings from patristic times through the medieval period. The penultimate chapter examines key narrative motifs from the legends and provides important parallels of these motifs in other genres, including romance, hagiography and travel writing. I conclude that the wood-of-the-cross legends would have been welcomed into Anglo-Saxon England by a pre-existing reverence for the holy cross, and that this devotion probably bolstered their reception in that country. However, the most significant reasons for the legends’ popularity are not specific to England, but rather are common throughout Western Europe in the Middle Ages: the adaptability of the tree as a symbol, the familiarity of the narrative motifs used, and the significant appeal of the legends’ typological structure which tied the wood of Christ’s cross to the very tree whose violation had brought about the Fall of man.

Keywords: medieval legends
cross legends
Advisor: Goering, Joseph
Akbari, Suzanne Conklin
The Image in the MIrror: How Four Elementary Music Teachers Understand Their Professional Identity

Ongoing development of professional identity is critical for pre-service and in-service elementary music teachers to grow and evolve as music educators over the course of their careers. This study was designed to gain insight into the factors surrounding the formation and ongoing development of professional identity of 4 elementary music teachers in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Narrative in both design and approach, the stories of 4 individual elementary music educators, each at different points along their careers paths, were told using their own words. My personal narrative was also added to the discussion. The participants were known to me in advance of the study and invited to be part of the study because they are all reflective practitioners who were comfortable sharing their stories of teaching music with me. All participants were women, which parallels the reality of the profile of elementary music teachers in Ontario. Over a period of 4 months, I met with each participant for semi-structured interviews and in-school observations. Interviews were recorded using an audio recorder and later transcribed and verified by participants. Field notes were kept during classroom observations and supplemented by journal writings. Informal conversations, via telephone, email, or face-to-face further supplemented the data collected. The data was analyzed by reading and rereading, looking for themes, commonalities and differences of the participants. The results of the study are not meant to be generalized to a larger population, but to provide rich illustrations which may lead to common understanding. The identities of these participants, and my identity, were first influenced through early experiences with music and teaching in the home, at school and in the community. As the participants began university undergraduate programs, both positive and negative experiences informed their developing identity as did experiences in pre-service and in-service teaching. The research findings and recommendations of this study have implications in several areas, including: issues of teacher identity, ongoing professional development and, pre-service and in-service education.

Keywords: social construction of music teachers
formation of identity of elementary music teachers
Advisor: Dolloff, Lori-Anne
A Dynamics and Control Algorithm for Low Earth Orbit Precision Formation Flying Satellites

An innovative dynamics and control algorithm is developed for a dual-nanosatellite formation flying mission. The principal function of this algorithm is to use regular GPS state measurements to determine the controlled satellite's tracking error from a set of reference trajectories in the local-vertical/local-horizontal reference frame. A linear state-feedback control law--designed using a linear quadratic regulator method--calculates the optimal thrusts necessary to correct this error and communicates the thrust directions to the attitude control system and the thrust durations to the propulsion system. The control system is developed to minimize the conflicting metrics of tracking error and ΔV requirements. To reconfigure the formation, an optimization algorithm is designed using the analytical solution to the state-space equation and the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire state transition matrix to solve for dual-thrust reconfiguration maneuvers. The resulting trajectories require low ΔV, use finite-time thrusts and are accurate in a fully nonlinear orbital environment. This algorithm will be used to control the CanX-4&5 formation flying demonstration mission. In addition, an iterative method which numerically generates quasi periodic trajectories for a satellite formation is presented. This novel technique utilizes a shooting approach to the Newton method to close the relative deputy trajectory over a specific number of orbits, then fits the actual perturbed motion of the deputy with a Fourier series to enforce periodicity. This process is applied to two well-known satellite formations: a projected circular orbit and a J2-invariant formation. Compared to conventional formations, these resulting quasi-periodic trajectories require a dramatically lower control effort to maintain and could therefore be used to extend ΔV-limited formation flying missions. Finally, an analytical study of the stability of the formation flying algorithm is conducted. To facilitate the proof, the control algorithm is converted into a discrete-time linear time-varying system. Stability of the system is determined via discrete Floquet theory. This analysis is applied to the CanX-4&5 control laws for tracking along-track orbits, projected circular orbits, and quasi J2-invariant formations.

Keywords: Formation flying
Dynamics and control
Advisor: Damaren, Christopher John
Economic Inequality in Adult Mortality in Canada: Analyses of the Longitudinal Administrative Databank

This dissertation contains two empirical papers on income and premature mortality, and one methodological paper that concerns the summary measurement of the extent of social inequalities in health. Income dynamics and adult mortality: Canada and the USA Chapter 4 examines the effects of income level and income drops on all-cause mortality in Canada and the United States. The Canadian data are from the Longitudinal Administrative Databank (LAD), and the US data are from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). The LAD consists of personal income tax records for 20% of Canadian filers from 1982 through 2005. The PSID is a survey sampled in 1968 and followed annually through 1997. Analyses of the PSID confirmed previously published findings that used alternative statistical methods. The effect of income level on hazard of death is twice as large in the United States. The effects of income drops differed in Canada and the United States. Income dynamics and adult mortality in Canada: Chapter 5 re-analyses the LAD data to refine causal inference regarding the effects of income level and income drops on all-cause mortality. Exposure at ages 40-55 is analyzed for induction times ranging from 1-18 years. Income level was defined as the mean of the previous five year period, and income drops was measured both as annual change, and as the difference between projected and observed income. The effect of income level attenuated very little over induction time, and was not confounded by work disability. The effect of income drops also attenuated very little over induction time. Men in couple families showed a monotonic dose-reponse effect of income drops, and exclusion of families with potentially confounding characteristics did not affect the estimated risks. The hypothesized dependency of the effect of income drops on income level was not observed. No differences were observed between the two measures of income drops. Overall, there is strong evidence that the effect of income level on risk of death is primarily causal, while evidence for the effect of income drops is mixed.

Keywords: mortality
income
Canada
united states
socioeconomic status
unemployment
Advisor: Mustard, Cameron
Investigation of the Pre to Post Peak Strength State and Behaviour of Confined Rock Masses Using Mine Induced Microseismicity

As hard rock mining progresses into higher stress mining conditions through either late stage extraction or mining at depth, the rock mass is driven not just to the peak strength, but often well into the post-peak until complete ‘failure’ occurs and easier mining conditions become evident. Limited research has been accomplished in identifying the transition of the rock mass and its behaviour into the post-peak and this research investigates this behaviour in detail. As the rock mass progressively fails, fractures are initiated through intact rock and extension and shear failure of these and pre-existing features occurs. Associated with this failure are microseismic events, which can be used to give an indication of the strength state of the rock mass. Based on an analogy to laboratory testing of intact rock and measurement of acoustic emissions, the microseismicity can be used to identify, fracture initiation, coalescence of fractures (yield), localization (peak-strength), accumulation of damage (post-peak) and ultimate failure (residual strength) leading to aseismic behaviour. The case studies presented in this thesis provide an opportunity to examine and analyse rock mass failure into the post-peak, through the regional and confined failures at the Williams and the Golden Giant mines, both in the Hemlo camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. At the Williams mine, the progressive failure of a sill pillar region into the post-peak was analysed; relating the seismic event density, combined with numerical modelling and a spatial and temporal examination of the principal components analysis (PCA), to characterize the extent, trend and state of the yielding zone, which formed a macrofracture shear structure. Observations of conventional displacement instrumentation, indicates regional dilation or shear of the rock mass occurs at or prior to the point of ‘disassociation’ (breakdown of stable PCA trends) when approaching the residual strength. At the Golden Giant mine, the complete process from initiation to aseismic behaviour is monitored in a highly stressed and confined pendent pillar. The PCA technique, numerical modelling and focal mechanism studies are used to define significant stages of the failure process, in which a similar macrofracture structure was formed. Temporal observations of key source parameters show significant changes prior to and at the point of coalescence and localization.

Keywords: Point of Disassociation
PCA Analysis
Microseismicity
Post Peak Behaviour
Strain Softening Behaviour
Ductile Behaviour
Seismic Source Parameters
Fault Plane Solutions
Brittle Damage Limits
Hoek Brown Criteria
Bulking
Dilation
Macrofracture Shear Zone
SMART Cables
MPBX
Brittle Failure
Advisor: Bawden, William
Transfer Coordination Model and Real-time Strategy for Inter-modal Transit Services

In multi-modal transit networks with several intersecting lines and modes, travel through the network typically requires one or more transfers among transit lines and modes, and as such transfer time is a significant component of transit travel time from the perspective of passengers. Accordingly, efficient transfers are very important to increase the attractiveness and productivity of transit service. This study presents two approaches for the provision of efficient transfers: schedule coordination and real-time CP (Connection Protection) control. The coordination of transit schedules can reduce transfer time significantly. This dissertation develops an optimization model for generating transit timetables that minimize transfer-related times. The model attempts to find an optimal timetable by shifting the existing timetable and/or adding holding time to the timetable to minimize delays associated with transfers from a feeder route to a receiving route. Analytical models are developed to estimate the waiting time of the transfer passengers, and also to determine the influence of the schedule modification on the waiting times of non-transfer passengers. The developed model is evaluated through a case study, and the results show that the model reduces effectively the total transfer and waiting times through the modification of the current schedule. However, even though timetables among intersecting lines may be properly coordinated, an operational control method is necessary to maintain coordinated transfers, which may occasionally be disrupted due to unexpected delays of transit vehicles. A promising approach is to utilize real-time CP control. It involves holding a transit unit in order to wait for another transit unit that is planned to provide a coordinated transfer but has been delayed. This study also develops a CP model to apply a holding control to a receiving run in order to protect the scheduled connection. It incorporates the probabilistic nature of transit operations in formulating a cost function, and accordingly makes more robust decisions for control. The developed model is evaluated and compared with previous models to demonstrate its ability to improve transfer efficiency and reduce the waiting times of affected passengers.

Keywords: Public Transit
Transfer Management
Coordinated Transfer
Transfer Optimization
Connection Protection
Advisor: Shalaby, Amer Saïd
Analysis of Adipose CD4+ TCR alpha/beta T cells in Obesity-associated Insulin Resistance

Progressive obesity and its associated metabolic syndromes represent a globally growing challenge, yet mechanistic understanding and current therapeutics are unsatisfactory. We discovered that CD4+ T-lymphocytes, resident in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), control insulin-resistance in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and likely humans. DIO VAT-associated T cells display biased TCR-Valpha/betarepertoires suggesting antigen-specific expansion. CD4+ T-lymphocyte control of glucose homeostasis is compromised in DIO when VAT accumulates pathogenic IFNgamma-secreting Th1 cells, overwhelming static numbers of Th2 (CD4+GATA-3+) and regulatory Foxp3+ T cells. CD4+ T cell transfer into DIO, lymphocyte-free RAGnull mice reversed weight gain and insulin resistance predominately through Th2 cells. Brief systemic treatment with anti-CD3 antibody or its F(ab’)2 fragment, restores the Th1/Foxp3+ balance and reverses insulin resistance for months, despite continuing high-fat diet. CD4+ T cells impact the progression of obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities and can be manipulated by immunotherapy.

Keywords: Obesity
T cells
Advisor: Dosch, Hans-Michael
A Critical Reappraisal of Self-learning in Health Professions Education: Directed Self-guided Learning Using Simulation Modalities

Context: Self-learning (i.e., students learning independently) and clinical simulation are essential components in contemporary health professions education (HPE). Self-learning is discussed often, yet the concept is seldom the target of rigorous study. Likewise, simulation modalities are abundant, though educational theory that guides their use in HPE remains elusive. Objectives: This dissertation investigates the effects of directed self-guided learning (DSGL) on novice health professions students’ skill acquisition, retention, and transfer in the context of simulation-based education. The objective is to explore how the combination of external direction and student self-guidance influences: students’ cognitive and metacognitive processes, students’ interactions with the learning environment and available resources, and how students learn in different DSGL contexts. Methods: Three research studies used randomized, controlled experimental designs to address five hypotheses. All studies included a performance assessment one-week after the initial practice session that evaluated skill retention and/or skill transfer. Data analysis employed univariate and multivariate analyses of variance and correlational techniques. Results: Regarding students’ cognitive and metacognitive processes, the data show a relation between DSGL and goal-setting. The results suggest that self-guided students benefit when they are directed to set goals related to performance processes, rather than performance outcomes. Regarding the learning environment, when students are directed to practice on simulators that increase progressively in fidelity (i.e., realism) they self-guide their advancement between those simulators effectively and display successful skill transfer. Finally, self-guided students that controlled their learning progression and learning sequence selected the theoretically most appropriate practice schedule (i.e., progressive learning). Students in this latter group seemed able, surprisingly, to direct their own self-guidance. Conclusions: This dissertation adds support to the hypothesis that self-guided students benefit due to their autonomy in controlling practice conditions to meet their own learning needs. Thus, the question of whether or not DSGL is effective, becomes how best to augment the DSGL experience. The instructional design of elements such as goals lists and task structuring (e.g., progressive increases in simulator fidelity) represent techniques that an educator can use to fulfill the role of director in a student’s SGL.

Keywords: simulation
goal setting
metacognition
health professions education
self-monitoring
directed self-guided learning
Advisor: Dubrowski, Adam
Carnahan, Heather
The Black Oneness Church in Perspective

This qualitative study examines the social, spiritual and political role the Black Oneness Churches play in Black communities. It also provides an anti-colonial examination of the Afro-Caribbean Oneness churches to understand how it functioned in the formation and defense of the emerging Black communities for the period 1960-1980. This project is based on qualitative interviews and focus groups conducted with Black Clergy and Black women in the Oneness church of the Greater Toronto area. This study is based on the following four objectives: 1. Understanding the central importance of the Black Oneness Pentecostal Church post 1960 to Black communities. 2. Providing a voice for those of the Black Church that are currently underrepresented in academic scholarship. 3. Examining how the Black Church responds to allegations of its own complicities in colonial practices. 4. Engage spirituality as a legitimate location and space from which to know and resist colonization. The study also introduces an emerging framework entitled: Whiteness as Theology. This framework is a critique of the theological discourse of Whiteness and the enduring relevance of the Black Church in a pluralistic Afro-Christian culture. The data collected reveal that while the Black Church operated as a social welfare institution that assisted thousands of new black immigrants, the inception of the church was political and in protest to racism. Hence, the Black Church is a product of white racism, migration and colonization. The paradox of the Black Church lies in its complicity in colonization while also creating religious forms of resistance. For example, the inception of the Afro-Caribbean Oneness Church was an anti-colonial response to the racism in the White Church. But 40 years later, the insidious nature of colonization has weaved through the church and “prosperity theology” as an impetus of colonialism has reshaped the social justice role of Black Churches.

Keywords: Black Church
Spirituality
Caribbean Diaspora
Religion
Black Culture
Black Religion
Black Spirituality
whiteness as theology
religious spirituality
black identity
Advisor: Dei, George Jerry Sefa
Microstructural Strengthening Mechanisms in Micro-truss Periodic Cellular Metals

This thesis investigates the effect of microstructural strengthening mechanisms on the overall mechanical performance of micro-truss periodic cellular metals (PCMs). Prior to the author’s work, the primary design considerations of micro-truss PCMs had been topological issues, i.e. the architectural arrangement of the load-supporting ligaments. Very little attention had been given to investigate the influence of microstructural effects within the cellular ligaments. Of the four broad categories of strengthening mechanisms in metals, only solute and second phase strengthening had previously been used in micro-trusses; the potential for strengthening micro-truss materials by work-hardening or grain size reduction had not been addressed. In order to utilize these strengthening mechanisms in micro-truss PCMs, two issues needed to be addressed. First, the deformation-forming method used to produce the micro-trusses was analyzed in order to map the fabrication-induced (in-situ) strain as well as the range of architectures that could be reached. Second, a new compression testing method was developed to simulate the properties of the micro-truss as part of a common functional form, i.e. as the core of a light-weight sandwich panel, and test the effectiveness of microstructural strengthening mechanisms without the influence of typical high-temperature sandwich panel joining processes, such as brazing. The first strengthening mechanism was achieved by controlling the distribution of plastic strain imparted to the micro-truss struts during fabrication. It was shown that this strain energy can lead to a factor of three increase in compressive strength without an associated weight penalty. An analytical model for the critical inelastic buckling stress of the micro-truss struts during uniaxial compression was developed in terms of the axial flow stress during stretch forming fabrication. The second mechanism was achieved by electrodeposition of a high-strength nanocrystalline metal sleeve around the cellular ligaments, producing new types of hybrid nanocrystalline cellular metals. It was shown that despite the added mass, the nanocrystalline sleeves could increase the weight-specific strength of micro-truss hybrids. An isostrain model was developed based on the theoretical behaviour of a nanocrystalline metal tube network in order to predict the compressive strength of the hybrid materials.

Keywords: Cellular metals
Micro-truss
Electrodeposition
Nanocrystalline metal
In-situ work hardening
Deformation forming
Microstructure
Advisor: Hibbard, Glenn D.