Most paleoflood reconstructions come from the arid dry climate of southwestern USA with very few studies being conducted in temperate climates. The study’s main objective is to determine if oxbow lakes can be used to reconstruct past flood events in temperate regions, such as the Désert River in southwestern Québec, Canada. Sediment cores were extracted and analyzed for magnetic susceptibility, loss-on-ignition and grain-size. These analyses are used to decipher evidence of flood signatures within the cores. Results show a strong relationship between past flood events and known climate variability on multi-decadal to centennial timescales. A higher frequency of floods was observed during the Little Ice Age (LIA; 1450-1850 AD) and the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP; 300-800 AD) as compared to the Medieval Warm Period (MWP; 900-1200 AD). This study supports previous work on paleoflood hydrology using oxbow lakes as a proxy and its relationship to past hydroclimatic changes. These types of studies contribute to a better understanding of past hydroclimatic changes on regional scales that can be used to better predict future floods under a changing climate.

Titanium is a widely used metal in industrial and commercial applications. It retains anisotropic mechanical properties at room temperature due to its HCP crystal structure. The effects of crystal orientation have been studied theoretically and through modeling though there is a lack of empirical data available on the topic. The work presented here uses laser-machined voids along with EBSD analysis to study the ductility of grains in different orientations to better understand the microscale fracture process in α-titanium. Experimental results show that hard grains with their c-axis parallel to the tensile direction behave in a less ductile manner than grains with their c-axis oriented away from the tensile direction. This is due to the basal slip systems activating in the former case and prismatic slip systems in the latter. Models utilized include the McClintock model for void growth, Brown-Embury model for void coalescence and FEM crystal plasticity simulations

Diseases affecting striated muscle are prevalent and deadly in both the Western and developing worlds. Such diseases include peripheral arterial disease and coronary artery disease, characterized by reduced blood flow to extremities and heart muscle, respectively, all of which manifest as reduced function & quality-of-life. Although promising in animal models, many clinical trials of stem cell therapy have yielded modest results at best. Growing evidence suggests that in a disease state, improvements in local environments using natural methods that already exist in the body hold great promise for supporting recovery and regeneration. This may be accomplished by exploiting natural progenitor cell functions and interactions with endogenous extracellular matrix (ECM) components, pro-regenerative cytokines and ligands. This thesis uses ECM-mimicking, collagen-based matrices to improve the regenerative response. Specifically, such a matrix is demonstrated to improve the potency of ex vivo expanded circulating angiogenic cells for treatment of ischemic muscle (Chapter 2). Matrices were also functionalized to release chemoattractant molecules to improve the recruitment of progenitor cells (Chapter 3) and to present progenitor cell-binding ligands for improved cell retention in ischemic muscle (Chapter 4), with the ultimate goal of restoring perfusion. Matrices were also observed to improve muscle function and augment muscle regeneration in models of ischemic and dystrophic muscle (Chapters 4 & 5). The results of this thesis provide insights into the ability to modulate regeneration in vivo with treatment of biomaterials that have been designed to exploit and amplify progenitor cell responses. Specifically, this thesis contains some of the first reports for the use of ECM-based biomaterials to stimulate passive enrichment of circulating angiogenic cells, functional regeneration of muscle, and a potential method of benefitting from necrosis. These data provide an interesting pilot perspective on improvements or alternatives to cell therapy, and future studies will seek to better tune these prospective therapies so that one day they may be clinically available.

Ice hockey is a sport known for its speed and skill. However, its intensely physical nature is associated with the potential risk of injury, which has become a major public controversy in Canada (Cusimano, Sharma, Lawrence, et al., 2013; Emery et al., 2010). Epidemiological research has adequately documented the frequency and severity of injury (King & LeBlanc, 2006; Yard & Comstock, 2006). Yet, because of methodological limitations and the lack of systematic and mandatory injury prevention strategies implemented nationwide, injuries remain high (Cusimano, Nastis, & Zuccaro, 2013; Emery et al, 2010). An alternative methodology, combined with broadening injury definitions can provide a more detailed assessment of the risks of, and circumstances, around injury. A methodology, based primarily on observational techniques, was utilized to examine injury in body checking hockey when it is first introduced to youth players. Injury was defined as ‘any physical trauma that has occurred as a result of participation in an organized competition’ including four categories of injury severity. In a comparison of Ontario Peewee (ages 11-12) with Québec Bantam (ages 13-14) boys hockey, no significant differences were found in overall injury (χ2: 0.22; p:0.64), however, there were significant differences in frequency of body checking related injury; 76% versus 59% (χ2:4.76; p:0.03). The odds of being injured due to body checking are 2.158 times higher in Peewee (βex 2.158; 95%CI: 1.07-4.34; p:0.03) indicating no increased risk of injury when body checking is introduced later while delaying introduction reduces the frequency of body checking related injury. Ongoing public debate in Canada concerning safety in youth hockey is understood through the theoretical lens of discourse (Foucault, 1972, 1990). The dominant discourse in Canada around hockey is based in a traditional, physically dominant model, where intense physical contact is not only inevitable but desirable. The reverse discourse prioritizes the safety of participants over the potential of lessening the intense physicality of the Canadian style of play. These competing discourses create tension and ambivalence amongst safety advocates and conservative hockey practitioners and enthusiasts. The emotionality of hockey stakeholders often overwhelms logic regarding safety decisions, ultimately impacting progressive injury prevention initiatives.

This thesis investigates agrarian transitions within aquarian contexts by investigating livelihood transitions in a small rural fishing village in central Vietnam. Examined are powers at play that inform livelihood transitions as fishers and fish farmers respond by moving in and out of different production systems in order to maintain their fishing and fish farming livelihoods. This research reveals that aquarian transitions in Vietnam could follow a similar trajectory of agrarian transitions whereby smaller, less efficient production systems make room for more efficient economies of scale. In conducting a thorough and detailed empirical analysis of production systems, the socio-economic relations that shape production systems, and natural resource governance within the Vietnamese context, this research contributes to a better understanding of the knowledge surrounding fishery resources and livelihood options.

Landfill biocovers have been proven as a green and efficient technology to mitigate landfill methane emissions. Thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and bio-chemical (THMBC) factors regulate biocover behaviour. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the geotechnical and geo-environmental response or performance of compost based biocovers under freeze-thaw conditions. A comprehensive experimental program, including tests on samples as well as biocover column experiments, has been conducted. The results demonstrate that the thermal properties (thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity) of the biocovers change due to the FTCs. Moreover, the outcomes of the column experiments demonstrate that biocover performance remains at an acceptable level even after experiencing two FTCs despite that most of the THMBC parameters in the biocover have changed due to the impacts of the FTCs and methane injection. The findings presented in this thesis will contribute to a better understanding and design of compost biocovers in cold regions.

Obesity and being overweight have become growing concerns due to their association with many diseases, such as type II diabetes, several types of cancer and heart disease. Thus, obesity treatments have been the focus of a large number of recent studies. Because of these studies, researchers have found that the treatment of obesity and being overweight requires constant monitoring of the patient’s diet. Therefore, measuring food intake each day is considered an important step in the success of a healthy diet. Measuring daily food consumption for obese patients is one of the challenges in obesity management studies. Countless recent studies have suggested that using technology like smartphones may enhance the under-reporting issue in dietary intake consumption. In this thesis, we propose a Food Recognition System (FRS) for calories and nutrient values assumption. The user employs the built-in camera of the smartphone to take a picture of any food before and after eating. The system then processes and classifies the images to detect the type of food and portion size, then uses the information to estimate the number of calories in the food. The estimation and calculation of the food volume and amount of calories in the image is an essential step in our system. Via special approaches, the FRS can estimate the food volume and the existing calories with a high level of accuracy. Our experiment shows high reliability and accuracy of this approach, with less than 15% error.

This dissertation traces military integration in Europe from the 1940s to the early 2000s in order to reveal the growth of a common European defence identity. Four factors characterize its approach. First, European defence identity is analyzed in relation to the broader path of European integration and its historical context, showing connections with key turning points in European integration, with the evolution of Franco-German relations and European-American relations, with the Cold War and subsequent Collapse of Communism, etc. Second, the dissertation applies theories of identity formation to guide the historical analysis. This approach draws attention, for example, to the important roles that borders and symbols played in European defence identity formation. Third, the thesis adopts a hybrid “top-down” and “bottom-up” approach; one side considers formal programs, policies, and institutions that promoted a European defence identity, while the other takes stock of public perceptions, actions by “rank and file” soldiers, etc. This dual approach helps to reveal more fully the complex, negotiated character of European defence identity formation. Finally, this thesis traces the growth of a European defence identity as a path of ideological and emotional change, growing commitment, and trust-building that spanned decades.

This thesis analyzes representations of female resistors of the Mojahedin-e Khalq or People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran within contemporary schools of academia and western/Iranian medias. Theoretically informed by critical discourse analysis and feminist thought this project identifies common stereotypes attributed to women involved in proscribed violence. Furthermore, this dissertation tests for the presence of normative and ‘gendered’ portrayals of female resistors in popular discourse, evaluates their sufficiency, and presents a more accurate portrait based on interviews and a close analysis of the organization’s history and policies. In other words, it critically examines how female resistors of the MEK/PMOI are captured by the common portrait and through the study of experiential authorship and interviews demonstrates the need to re-evaluate the narratives used to misrepresent an organization and its members who have radicalized notions of gender equality and its relationship to revolution and democratization. Cette thèse analyse les représentations des femmes dans la résistance des Moudjahiddines-e khalq ou l’Organisation des moudjahiddines du peuple iranien dans les écoles contemporaines du monde universitaire et des médias occidentaux / iranienne. Théoriquement informé par l'analyse critique du discours et par la pensée féministe, ce projet identifie les stéréotypes courants attribués aux femmes impliqués dans la violence proscrite. En outre, cette thèse cherche la présence de représentations normatives et «genrées» des femmes dans la résistance de la MEK/ OMPI dans le discours populaire, évalue leur suffisance, et présente un portrait plus précis basé sur des entrevues et une analyse approfondie de l'histoire et des politiques de l'organisation. En d'autres termes, il examine de manière critique comment les femmes dans la résistance de la MEK / OMPI sont capturés par le portrait commun et à travers l'étude des textes rédigés à la première personne par ceux qui ont vécu les expériences et des entrevues démontre la nécessité de réévaluer les récits utilisés pour représenter faussement une organisation et ses membres qui ont radicalisés les notions de l'égalité des sexes et sa relation à la révolution et à la démocratisation.

An increasing body of evidence points to a key role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in chronic and acute neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, markers of ER stress are common features of neurons destined to die in these conditions. In the present study we demonstrate that PUMA, a BH3-only member of the Bcl-2 family is essential for ER stress-induced cell death. PUMA is known to be a key transcriptional target of p53, however we have found that ER stress triggers PUMA induction and cell death through a p53-independent mechanism involving instead the ER stress inducible transcription factor ATF4. Specifically, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of ATF4 sensitizes neurons to ER stress induced apoptosis, and that ATF4-deficient neurons exhibit markedly reduced levels of PUMA expression and cell death. However, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that ATF4 does not directly regulate the PUMA promoter. Rather, we found that ATF4 induces expression of the transcription factor CHOP, and that CHOP in turn directly activates PUMA induction. Specifically, we demonstrate that CHOP binds to the PUMA promoter during ER stress and that CHOP knockdown attenuates PUMA induction and neuronal apoptosis. In summary, we have identified a key signaling pathway in ER stress induced neuronal death involving ATF4-CHOP mediated transactivation of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member PUMA. Protein aggregates and markers of ER stress response have also been observed in dying neurons in several animal models of cerebral ischemia. Therefore, to decipher the significance of the ER stress apoptotic response, we investigate the role of ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway in ischemic neuronal injury. Ischemic stroke results from a transient or permanent reduction in cerebral blood flow in the brain. In spite of much research in trying to develop therapeutic strategies, most clinical trials have failed. These failures demonstrate that effective treatments require a more complete understanding of molecular signals that lead to neuronal death. However, stroke is a complex scenario since distinct mechanisms may involve in rapid and/or delayed neuronal death. The signaling pathways regulating these mechanisms however are not fully defined. Previous studies had suggested that ER stress playing a pivotal role in post-ischemic neuronal death. Yet, the relevance of ER stress signals was not fully known in ischemic neuronal injury. Accordingly, this thesis research attempts to explore the functional role of ER stress -inducible pathway, ATF4-CHOP axis, in different models of neuronal death (delayed and excitotoxic cell death) evoked by ischemia. The data indicates that ATF4 is essential in delayed type of death in vitro. In focal ischemia model (tMCAO) ATF4 also plays a role as a mediator of death signal in vivo. However, CHOP function looks more complex, and our data did not support the role of CHOP in ischemic neuronal death.