Chan Koon Wah Gary. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2005-2006, design report." / Includes bibliographical references.

Atomistic simulations are employed in this thesis to investigate defect nucleation and free volume of grain boundaries and nanocrystalline materials. Nanocrystalline materials are of particular interest due to their improved mechanical properties and alternative strain accommodation processes at the nanoscale. These processes, or deformation mechanisms, within nanocrystalline materials are strongly dictated by the larger volume fraction of grain boundaries and interfaces due to smaller average grain sizes. The behavior of grain boundaries within nanocrystalline materials is still largely unknown. One reason is that experimental investigation at this scale is often difficult, time consuming, expensive, or impossible with current resources. Atomistic simulations have shown the potential to probe fundamental behavior at these length scales and provide vital insight into material mechanisms. Therefore, work conducted in this thesis will utilize atomistic simulations to explore structure-property relationships of face-centered-cubic grain boundaries, and investigate the deformation of nanocrystalline copper as a function of average grain size. Volume-averaged kinematic metrics are formulated from continuum mechanics theory to estimate nonlocal deformation fields and probe the nanoscale features unique to strain accommodation mechanisms in nanocrystalline metals. The kinematic metrics are also leveraged to explore the tensile deformation of nanocrystalline copper at 10K. The distribution of different deformation mechanisms is calculated and we are able to partition the role of competing mechanisms in the overall strain of the nanocrystalline structure as a function of grain size. Grain boundaries are observed to be influential in smaller grained structures, while dislocation glide is more influential as grain size increases. Under compression, however, the resolved compressive normal stress on interfaces hinders grain boundary plasticity, leading to a tension-compression asymmetry in the strength of nanocrystalline copper. The mechanisms responsible for the asymmetry are probed with atomistic simulations and the volume-averaged metrics. Finally, the utility of the metrics in capturing nonlocal nanoscale deformation behavior and their potential to inform higher-scaled models is discussed.

Canadian border security policies are largely shaped by the asymmetrical relationship that exists between Canada and the United States. American markets are the primary destination for over eighty percent of Canadian exports, creating an economic dependence highlighted in the days following 9/11. As wait times at the American border extended to sixteen hours the importance of the shared border came sharply into focus. To ensure Canada‟s economic security the Canadian government needed to develop policies that would satisfy the American need for physical security and the Canadian need for economic security. This thesis applies John Kingdon‟s policy streams model to demonstrate and explain the subsequent development of Canadian border security policies. It also examines the institutional context for border security policies and examines two case studies: the Container Security Initiative and NEXUS. / vii, 133 leaves ; 29 cm

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Network Direct Selling Organisations (NDSOs) exist in more than 50 countries and have more than 74 million members. The most recent statistical information reveals that the vast majority of members do not earn significant income. Criticism of these organisations revolves around the ethicality of consumption, the commercialisation of personal relationships, and the exploitation of unrealistic expectations. This study aims to explore how communication creates networks that sustain an industry of this kind despite the improbability of its existence. The study commences with a description of NDSOs from historical, operational, tactical, and strategic perspectives. Given the broader context created by the global presence of this industry, cybernetics has been selected as a meta-theoretical perspective for the study of communication. The more recent development of second-order cybernetics and social autopoiesis are introduced to communication theory as a field. Niklas Luhmann‟s new social theory of communication is assessed and applied in relation to existing communication theory. New conceptual models are developed to explore communication as the unity of the synthesis of information, utterance, understanding, and expectations as selections that occur both consciously and unconsciously, intentionally and unintentionally. These models indicate the multiplexity of individual and social operationally closed, yet informationally open systems, and they are used here to provide a systemic and coherent alternative to orthodox communication approaches to the study of organisations. The study adopts a constructivist epistemological stance and propounds throughout the necessity of further interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes that individuals are composite unities of self-creating systems, and they co-create social systems by self-creating and co-creating meaning. Meaning is described as the continuous virtualisation and actualisation of potentialities that in turn coordinate individual and social systems‟ actions. A communication process flow model is created to provide a theoretical explanation for the existence of NDSOs as self-creating systems. The study aims to show that communication has arguably become the most pervasive discipline as a result of the globally interactive era. It is shown that second-order cybernetics and social autopoiesis raise several further questions to be explored within communication theory as a field. / Communication, first-order cybernetics, second-order cybernetics, Complexity and complex systems, autopoiesis, self-reference, recursivity, operational closure, system boundaries, Network Direct Selling Organisations / Communication / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This paper aims to investigate the understanding and approaches of correctional officers in building relationships with clients in a correctionalfacility and to understand how they negotiate the professional boundaries that are necessary to maintain in these relationships. This qualitative study wasconducted through semi-structured interviews with eight correctional officersworking in different correctional facilities with security level two. The findings indicate that the application of the value “personal but not private”in practice is an individual matter and a gray area. The study shows that correctional officers need to establish close relationships with clients whilemaintaining professional boundaries in order to avoid becoming too personal.Striking a balance between being personal and professional is crucial increating trusting relationships with clients.

The current study focus on investigating a relationship between processing variables and microstructure evolution mechanism in 304L stainless steel subjected to hot torsion. The Gleeble 3800 with Mobile Torsion Unit (MTU) is utilized in the current study to conduct hot torsion test of 304L stainless steel. Samples are rotated at 1100℃ in the shear strain rate range of 0.02s-1 to 4.70s-1 and the shear strain range of 0.5 to 4. Orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) technique is used to collect and analyze the microstructure. At low strains (≤1) and strain rate (0.02s-1), average grain size remains relatively constant, but the lengths of DSs and LABs increase within grains. These are characteristics of the dynamic recovery (DRV). With increasing strain and strain rate, the lengths of DSs, LABs and HABs increase, accompanied by the decrease of average grain size. Subgrains with HAB segments are observed. These are characteristics of continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). At strain rates greater than or equal to 0.94s-1, the fraction of deformation texture is about 3 times higher than that of rotated cube texture. The average grain size increases relative to that at a strain rate of 0.20s-1, accompanied by the increase of twin length per area. This indicates that grain growth take place after CDRX. Sigma phase is not observed in the current study due to the lack of static recrystallization (SRX) and the higher cooling rate.

Master of Science / Family Studies and Human Services / Karen S. Myers-Bowman / This study investigates the domains and boundaries of sexuality education between two educational fields: sexuality education and family life education. The goal was to understand how scholars and practitioners in these fields conceptualize sexuality education. The journalistic questions of Who, What, When, For whom, and Why were identified within each field by using the constant comparative method to complete a content analysis of publications by scholars and by interviewing certified professionals in each field. Through the lens of Social Constructionism Theory and a Phenomenological Approach, this study helped clarify the similarities and differences of two professional fields, in turn, advancing each field. Results indicated that sexuality education and family life education are similar in many ways; it is the approach that each takes that makes them different. Sexuality education takes a holistic approach while family life education takes a contextual approach when teaching sexuality education. This approach, in turn, affects the rest of the education, including the domains that were identified.

This research explored the systems psycho-dynamics or group dynamics manifesting in meetings of a self-managed group within a bank. It also investigated the influence of these dynamics on the group's intra- and intergroup relationships.. The literature review explored the dynamics manifesting in groups in general, and reviewed relevant research that has been conducted. A qualitative study explored how these dynamics are manifesting in this group and how they are influencing the intra- and intergroup relationships. The results indicate that there are complex system psycho-dynamics manifesting in this self-managed group. They are influencing its intra- and intergroup relationships and rendering the group less effective in terms of its achieving its primary task. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MA (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)