Aging is characterized by an increase in inter-individual variability in cognitive capacity. Slight decrements in learning and memory emerge; however, age-related shifts in attentional function remain controversial. In pathological aging, however, attentional dysfunction is prominent and the circuitry critical to signal detection and thus attention as a whole, the corticopetal cholinergic system, exhibits substantial disruption and deterioration. One contributing factor to cholinergic dysfunction is the loss of neurotrophic support, specifically nerve growth factor’s high-affinity receptor tropomyosin-related kinase A (trkA). Previous cross-sectional studies demonstrated that reduced trkA receptor levels selectively impaired attentional capacity in aged rats. However, it remains unclear if reduced trkA receptors in the basal forebrain (BF) interact with aging to elicit these attentional deficits. Thus developmental suppression of trkA receptors on attentional capacity and BF cholinergic markers was examined, with the expectation that attentional deficits would emerge earlier in trkA-suppressed rats and cholinergic integrity would be altered. Despite persistent trkA suppression and reduced cholinergic cell size in 6-week-old rats, aged rats that were maintained on a cognitive task throughout life exhibited comparable attentional capacity and stable cholinergic markers compared to controls. Thus, activation of a compensatory mechanism may have stabilized the attentional network. Due to continuous performance on the attentional task, lifelong cognitive engagement may have served to bolster cholinergic integrity and stabilize attentional function. To examine the role of compensatory mechanisms in aging and their interactions with the attentional network, a consistently observed neural activation pattern in aging, termed the anterior-to-posterior shift in aging (PASA), was evaluated. PASA is characterized by enhanced frontal and reduced visual neural activity. Thus, the necessity of cholinergic afferents to the maintenance of PASA was investigated, as well as the role of PASA in stabilizing cognitive function in aging. If cholinergic afferents, specifically those innervating the prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices (PFC; PC), were crucial to PASA then partial cholinergic pruning of the PFC was expected to disrupt PASA and produce attentional deficits. Prefrontal infusion produced attentional deficits in aged rats regardless of infusion type, and elicited a corresponding age-related shift in neural activity, with decreases in visual and increases in parietal cortical activation in aged rats. Partial parietal cholinergic deafferentation impaired performance in both young and aged rats and altered prefrontal cortical recruitment, which was correlated with attentional performance in young rats. Increased recruitment of the attentional network was associated with worse performance in aged rats. Thus, prefrontal and parietal cholinergic afferents are not critical to PASA and increased activation may be representative of reduced neural efficiency rather than compensation. Moreover, aged rats rely heavily on the prefrontal cortex for attentional function, and aberrant prefrontal activity, via generalized damage or disruption of parietal cholinergic inputs, is associated with attentional impairments. Together these findings suggest that enhanced vulnerability of attentional capacity due to prefrontal disruption arises in aging; however, activation of compensatory mechanisms, such as lifelong cognitive activity, may bolster cholinergic integrity and stabilize cognitive function in aging. / Psychology

Sliding is recognized as a dominant response mode for unanchored stocky components in nuclear facilities. Although unanchored components are themselves not safety-critical, their interaction with safety-critical systems and components during earthquake shaking can have significant consequences. It is therefore important to be able to accurately estimate the peak sliding displacement demands on unanchored components so that sufficient clearance is provided around them. In lieu of nonlinear time history analysis, the ASCE/SEI 43-05 standard provides an approximate method to estimate the maximum sliding displacement of sliding objects in nuclear facilities. The present paper assesses the procedure of the approximate method and compares its results to those of nonlinear time history analysis. The study finds that the ASCE 43-05 approximate method provides conservative sliding estimates overall and that is based on the three components of 7 modified and 159 real earthquake motions used in this study. It is concluded that the ASCE 43-05 approximate method offers reasonable sliding estimates of components in nuclear facilities. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Involving Indigenous youth in health promotion research within the broader field of public health allows us to investigate health literacy, while promoting, protecting, and combating complex health issues. This project uses a community-engaged research approach, as well as a research workshop methodology and draws on qualitative methods to answer the following study objectives: (1) To what extent do female youth living on Six Nations Reserve No. 40 understand and engage in health promotion; (2) In what ways did a cornhusk doll workshop engage and strengthen female youth understanding on the topic of health promotion; and (3) What resources are necessary for female youth to successfully engage in health promotion. Findings were grouped into three main themes: Healthy Development, Healthy Relationships, and Healthy Policies. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH)

This study analyzes the empirical evidence of a political monetary cycle in Federal Reserve policy instruments and indicators, such as the discount rate and the monetary base. The theoretical predictions of a four year presidential election cycle are tested with seasonal adjustment indices, which provide a measure of the seasonal component of these time series. It was found that Democratic presidential terms are characterized by a six month stimulation of borrowing, engineered through a reduced discount rate in the election year. The pre-election stimulation in Republican presidential terms begins in the pre-election year. This allows for the short-run effect on Ml, as well as lagged effects on GNP. The seasonal adjustment indices for the monetary base growth rate show stimulative strategies for both political parties. The finding is that both parties show a lower variance in the monetary base growth rate in the pre-election year for both congressional and presidential elections. / M.A.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

vegetation and soil carbon-and nitrogen cycles in a grazing area through food selection, consumption, fertilization, and trampling. There have been discussions on how reindeer grazing, plant communities, and different ecosystems relate to each other and how the management of protected areas should proceed based on various laws, recommendations, and perspectives. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of reindeer grazing on biodiversity in northern Scandinavia and thus be able to support these discussions. Inventory data was collected in 1995 on both sides of the fence that demarcates Norway from Malla National Park in Finland. At the time of the inventory, reindeer husbandry had been prohibited on the Finnish side of the fence for several decades, creating a difference in grazing pressure between the inventory areas. A statistical comparison was made between the number of plant species for six different functional plant groups divided into four different soil moisture types between the two countries, as well as a comparison of the number of reindeer droppings per study area in each country to quantify the difference in grazing pressure. The results show that there were more grass species in meadow areas and more reindeer droppings on the Norwegian side. I found no significant difference for the other functional plant groups or for the grasses in the other soil moisture types. Based on these results, I conclude that reindeer may increase the number of grass species in meadow areas.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plays a vital role in restoring grasslands by removing highly erodible land from production; however, landscape-scale conservation success depends on participation. Fluctuating trends in participation suggest a need to better understand landowners' motivations for enrolling. Since participation hinges on agricultural producers' perceptions of programs, there is utility in understanding programs through their lens to ensure program design accounts for their needs. To understand what drives enrollment, I conducted immersive ethnographic fieldwork in farming and ranching communities of southwest Kansas and southeast Colorado. Through interviews and participant observation, I examined producers' reasons for participating, program perceptions, and the degree to which CRP fits with their lived experiences. I also explored challenges faced by field staff of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in working within the program structure. I used open coding to identify common themes and quotes to capture producers' and field staff's points of view. I identified several frames through which producers think about CRP and themes related to how CRP fit well or poorly with producers' and field staff's lives. Frames characterized producer perceptions of CRP as a financial savior, a way to maintain financial solvency, and to gain leverage for their operation. Additionally, CRP was framed as a retirement fund and a conservation program that provides a solution for erodible land. Lived experiences related to wind erosion and the Dust Bowl, perceived community impacts of CRP, and the cultural and economic history of the region, also influenced how producers make sense of and 'frame' the program. Guaranteed payments to maintain cover incentivize participation, especially for land which some producers believe should have never been farmed, or 'broke out', in the first place. Even so, the economic and cultural aspiration to farm may prompt program avoidance or re-cultivation of prior CRP land. In identifying program fit, many felt the program serves a noble purpose but is complicated by rules which lack 'common sense'. While producers valued the program's role in soil stabilization and increased wildlife habitat, CRP requirements during the grass establishment phase and mid-contract management do not always align with producer and field staff visions. Mixed opinions existed around suitable grass species and management practices such as disking, interseeding, and grazing. A dominant theme emerged from producers, echoed by field staff, in the benefits of grazing and need for CRP to increase flexibility to maximize grazing compatibility. Broader program concerns included a shifting program focus, inconsistent enforcement of rules, and one-size-fits-all management. Personal relationships between FSA, NRCS, and producers were generally regarded as positive, and staff members value their role in working with producers to harmonize program requirements with producer needs, within the bounds of the program. Juggling various programs with limited time and other procedural issues leave many field staff feeling overwhelmed and understaffed. Field staff expressed a desire for greater one-on-one time with producers to better communicate program requirements or amend management plans. Both producers and field staff felt CRP could be enhanced to achieve a greater conservation benefit, alleviate staff burdens, and improve overall satisfaction if program rules had both greater flexibility and regional tailoring to correlate with the variable climate and local conditions. In exploring CRP 'frames' and 'fit', this case study provides a window into the interplay of producers' lived experiences in the shadow of the Dust Bowl, and a ubiquitous conservation program's impact on the way land is used. / Master of Science / The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) compensates farmers for removing sensitive lands from agricultural production. Since program participation has fluctuated over the years, there is a need to understand participation through the perspective of farmers and ranchers who enroll their land in CRP. The goal of CRP is to provide habitat, reduce soil erosion, and prevent runoff; however, understanding producers’ reasons for enrolling may paint a clearer picture of how to better match human needs with program objectives. To understand these motivations, I used a deep dive approach in communities of Southwest Kansas and Southeast Colorado to better learn about perspectives related to CRP from both producers and field staff of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). I conducted face-to-face interviews and participated in a variety of activities with field staff and producers to understand why people enroll, and to what degree CRP fits with their needs and desires. Through my time in the field and analyzing interviews and fieldnotes, I found several frames or ways of thinking about CRP. These include CRP as a retirement fund, as financial solvency, and as a conservation program and answer to land blowing or wind erosion. Additionally, I found several themes related to program fit including concerns with one-size-fits-all management, changes in the program’s focus and rules over time, and the need for greater flexibility to match CRP requirements with local site conditions and producer needs such as grazing. Field staff expressed concern over program staffing and time constraints and echoed many of the program mismatches discussed by producers. The management implications in this thesis were inspired by ideas from producers and field staff who thought CRP could be adapted to take advantage of opportunities that make sense for the climate as well as agricultural and procedural needs. This case study provides a window into how lived experiences around farming and ranching in the Dust Bowl region interact with a widespread conservation program to impact the way land is used.

The Federal Reserve System is a complex central bank system which determines the money supply and the level of interest rates. The System was established in 1913 as a monetary authority primarily concerned with maintaining an elastic reserve system which would act as a check on bank runs and money panics. Since 1913, Congress has provided the System with monetary tools enabling it to quickly respond to adverse conditions affecting dollar stability and economic growth. All indicators point to an increase in monetary power by the Federal Reserve System simply because economic growth, national and worldwide, calls for more complex monetary mechanics. Representative Wright Patman (Democrat, Texas) is afraid of the powerful Reserve System. He would like to strip the agency of its power and reduce it to a routine operation with policy decisions made by the Administration. He charges the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with manipulating the money supply and raising the interest rates for the benefit of bankers of the East. In my thesis, The Independent Status of the Federal Reserve System, I evaluated Mr. Patman's criticisms and his recommended reforms of the System. I have concluded that a continuation of the status of the Federal Reserve System is necessary. Mr. Patman's suggested reforms would invite political interference in monetary affairs and expose the character of our dollar to abuse. / Master of Science

Poland has long been a country of net emigration, though the country has received backlash in recent years for its xenophobic treatment towards asylum seekers from non-European countries, versus its treatment of Ukrainian asylum seekers. To explore this phenomenon, this research first asks, does Poland have a preferential migration policy? I first look at the restrictiveness and evolution of Poland's migration policy from 2003-2019. I find that the state's migration policies which specifically target EU member and Eastern European states are on average slightly less restrictive than the restrictiveness of the entire population of policies. In the following chapter I ask, how is this policy implemented, and how is it reflected in Poland's migrant workforce? To explore how these policies are implemented, I look at work permit data from 2010-2020, analyzing the differences in the number of work permits granted to each country of origin over time. I find that migrants from Eastern European and Central Asian states receive a disproportionately high number of work permits compared to other regions, and that within the region, Ukrainians receive the highest number of permits each year. Finally, to better understand this inequality, my fourth chapter asks, why Ukraine specifically? In this analysis, I hypothesize that proximity and cultural similarities, Poland's security interests, and both states' economic interests drive this special migration relationship. I find mixed support for this hypothesis, but ultimately find that these factors do play important roles in maintaining the relationship between Poland and Ukraine. / Master of Arts / Poland has traditionally been a country where more migrants leave than arrive, but in the past few years, it has faced criticism for its differing attitudes toward asylum seekers based on their country of origin, particularly in its welcoming stance toward Ukrainians as opposed to migrants from non-European countries. In exploring this phenomenon, my research examines whether Poland has a preferential migration policy. I analyze policy to understand this phenomenon of accused hypocrisy in order to understand if these inequalities are built into Poland's legislation, or if there are other factors at play. I first look at the evolution of Polish migration policies from 2003 to 2019 and find that the policies targeting EU and Eastern European countries are generally less strict than those aimed at other regions. However, the differences that I find in strictness are not drastic enough for me to argue that Poland has a discriminatory migration policy. To see how these policies are put into practice, especially in the workforce, I then analyze work permit data from 2010 to 2020. This data shows that Eastern European and Central Asian migrants, particularly Ukrainians, receive significantly more work permits than those from other regions. This trend raises the question: Why is Ukraine a special case? I hypothesize that geographical closeness, cultural similarities, Poland's security concerns, and mutual economic benefits are key factors that influence this unique migration relationship. Although the support I find for this hypothesis varies, I find that ultimately these factors highlight how important aspects of the states' relationship, like geography, culture, security, and economic interests, shape the unique bond between Poland and Ukraine. This study sheds light on the complexities and nuances of national migration policies and their real-world implications, especially in Central European EU member states.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are examples of multifunctional landscapes recognized as sources of ecosystem services and laboratories for sustainable development. Participatory mapping of ecosystem services reveals where residents value ecosystem services in a landscape. This approach is expected to provide useful knowledge to inform land use decision-making. However, the knowledge about the spatial distribution of ecosystem service values in Biosphere Reserves and the usefulness of this knowledge for practitioners remains scarce. Through the application of Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) in the Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve located in Southern Sweden, this study identifies i) hotspots and ii) bundles of ecosystem service values, as well as iii) spatial patterns of ecosystem service values regarding the three Biosphere Reserve management zones. Complementary, this study assesses the potential usefulness of the PPGIS-derived knowledge by analyzing qualitative data from a workshop with practitioners of the Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve. My findings reveal distinct patterns of ecosystem service values across Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve that reflect the Biosphere Reserve zones’ management goals. The ecosystem service values were clustered around wetlands and the densest populated areas. Respondents mapped predominantly places for outdoor recreation, biodiversity, and places with existential value. The results highlight the importance of cultural and regulating ecosystem services to people in the Biosphere Reserve. Additionally, practitioners involved in Biosphere Reserve management emphasized the potential strategic usefulness of the PPGIS knowledge for their nature restoration work.