Over the past fifty or so years there has been a well examined decline in socialconnections and many other facets of American communities (Fischer 1982; Putnam2000; Freeman 2001; McPherson, Smith-Lovin, & Brashears 2006; Dunham-Jones &Williamson 2009). New urbanism has been proposed as a tool to reverse some of thissocial decline in communities. This study seeks to understand the possible socialconnective benefits of new urbanism in a number of ways. First, a new urbanistcommunity is compared to a similar adjacent community that also happens to betraditional suburban community. The study examines differences between the twocommunities in terms of social connections, social interactions, and communitysatisfaction. Second, the study examines individual design elements of new urbanism to understand their relationships with social interactions and social connections. This study also examines community cohesion in terms of diverse social interactions and bridging ties. Previous studies suggest that bridging ties are more likely to be formed between persons who are connected with weaker social bonds (Granovetter, 1973) as well as persons who interact through spontaneous rather than planned forms of social interaction (Molm, Collett, & Schaefer 2007). Lastly, this study seeks to understand if any of the new urbanist design strategies examined are related to bridging ties. The findings of this study suggested that new urbanist communities do have more social interactions, social connections, and community satisfaction than do traditional suburban communities. The findings also suggested that four new urbanist design strategies: porches, community meetings, and mixed-use zoning are positively related to social interactions and social connections. Moreover, findings suggested that persons connected by weaker social bonds are indeed more likely to have bridging ties, however, they did not support the idea that persons who have more spontaneous interactions will also be more likely to have bridging ties. Lastly, the findings indicated that of all the new urbanist design strategies, only the neighborhood business center was positively related to bridging ties. Conversely, a negative relationship was found between resident's who use their porches and bridging ties.

This thesis is devoted to the study of holomorphic Poisson structures and Lie algebroids, and their relationship with differential equations, singularity theory and noncommutative algebra. After reviewing and developing the basic theory of Lie algebroids in the framework of complex analytic and algebraic geometry, we focus on Lie algebroids over complex curves and their application to the study of meromorphic connections. We give concrete constructions of the corresponding Lie groupoids, using blowups and the uniformization theorem. These groupoids are complex surfaces that serve as the natural domains of definition for the fundamental solutions of ordinary differential equations with singularities. We explore the relationship between the convergent Taylor expansions of these fundamental solutions and the divergent asymptotic series that arise when one attempts to solve an ordinary differential equation at an irregular singular point. We then turn our attention to Poisson geometry. After discussing the basic structure of Poisson brackets and Poisson modules on analytic spaces, we study the geometry of the degeneracy loci---where the dimension of the symplectic leaves drops. We explain that Poisson structures have natural residues along their degeneracy loci, analogous to the Poincar\'e residue of a meromorphic volume form. We discuss the local structure of degeneracy loci that have small codimensions, and place strong constraints on the singularities of the degeneracy hypersurfaces of log symplectic manifolds. We use these results to give new evidence for a conjecture of Bondal. Finally, we discuss the problem of quantization in noncommutative projective geometry. Using Cerveau and Lins Neto's classification of degree-two foliations of projective space, we give normal forms for unimodular quadratic Poisson structures in four dimensions, and describe the quantizations of these Poisson structures to noncommutative graded algebras. As a result, we obtain a (conjecturally complete) list of families of quantum deformations of projective three-space. Among these algebras is an ``exceptional'' one, associated with a twisted cubic curve. This algebra has a number of remarkable properties: for example, it supports a family of bimodules that serve as quantum analogues of the classical Schwarzenberger bundles.

The groups of Puankare transformations appeared while developing relativity and became the main groups of these invariant theories. Subsequently it was put in terms that they were mostly classical mathematical physical differential equations of the groups of invariant. There were developed various groups of differential equations having invariant groups, methods of integration. Differential equations became the investigation of specialists’ differential geometry investigation. Geometers developed the circle of investigation, proposing the directions of new investigation- differential equations internal differentials- construction of geometrical objects. The principle of constructive objects became various internal connections of differential equations. These connections were looked up applying a well known classical method- expressing connections through the given differential equations from the coefficient of their differential continuation. R. Vosylius in his work was suggested a new method of construction of differential equations of systems’ internal connections, which allowed to construct these connections, knowing only the given equations of symmetrical groups Lie algebraical exemplar in the analyzed space. That allowed relating the task of differential equations internal connections with the proposition of their transformations Lie groups discovery proposition, which became the classical one. Moreover, this method allows constructing connections with the groups of... [to full text]

To design with a changing ecosystem requires examining and understanding site dynamics, extracting guidelines for making architectural decisions and defi ning processes that allow for change. Sable Island National Park is an ideal case study to test this method because its simple and dynamic ecosystem defi nes clear guidelines and requirements for adaptation. The proposed National Park infrastructure remodels human interaction with Sable Island by replacing and remediating existing settlements. Designed to be sensitive to and participate in the island’s natural processes, the new architecture protects the delicate ecosystem and facilitates low impact visitation. The systems, spaces and experiences serve to deepen understanding of human interdependence with the environment. / The thesis is a architectural case study for designing with dynamic ecosystems. To test a methodology for designing in dynamic ecosystems, a National Park infrastructure is designed for Sable Island, Canada. The exercise requires learning from the dynamic ecosystem, extracting guidelines for making design choices and developing designs with the capacity to adapt to their surroundings.

This thesis is devoted to the study of holomorphic Poisson structures and Lie algebroids, and their relationship with differential equations, singularity theory and noncommutative algebra. After reviewing and developing the basic theory of Lie algebroids in the framework of complex analytic and algebraic geometry, we focus on Lie algebroids over complex curves and their application to the study of meromorphic connections. We give concrete constructions of the corresponding Lie groupoids, using blowups and the uniformization theorem. These groupoids are complex surfaces that serve as the natural domains of definition for the fundamental solutions of ordinary differential equations with singularities. We explore the relationship between the convergent Taylor expansions of these fundamental solutions and the divergent asymptotic series that arise when one attempts to solve an ordinary differential equation at an irregular singular point. We then turn our attention to Poisson geometry. After discussing the basic structure of Poisson brackets and Poisson modules on analytic spaces, we study the geometry of the degeneracy loci---where the dimension of the symplectic leaves drops. We explain that Poisson structures have natural residues along their degeneracy loci, analogous to the Poincar\'e residue of a meromorphic volume form. We discuss the local structure of degeneracy loci that have small codimensions, and place strong constraints on the singularities of the degeneracy hypersurfaces of log symplectic manifolds. We use these results to give new evidence for a conjecture of Bondal. Finally, we discuss the problem of quantization in noncommutative projective geometry. Using Cerveau and Lins Neto's classification of degree-two foliations of projective space, we give normal forms for unimodular quadratic Poisson structures in four dimensions, and describe the quantizations of these Poisson structures to noncommutative graded algebras. As a result, we obtain a (conjecturally complete) list of families of quantum deformations of projective three-space. Among these algebras is an ``exceptional'' one, associated with a twisted cubic curve. This algebra has a number of remarkable properties: for example, it supports a family of bimodules that serve as quantum analogues of the classical Schwarzenberger bundles.

During the 2010-11 school year, KFL&A Public Health partnered with Lancaster Drive Public School (LDPS) to develop and implement a Walking School Bus Program (WSBP). This study was designed as a pre-test post-test study to explore parental concerns and attitudes towards their children’s use of active transportation and the WSBP, perceptions of the social and built environment, and how these may be associated with parental willingness to allow their children to participate in the WSBP. However, a low response rate did not allow comparisons of pre- and post-test results. Therefore, this thesis uses the pre-test data as a pilot study to evaluate the methods, tools, and feasibility of a future, multi-school pre-and post-test study. As part of the pilot study, a questionnaire was developed and administered to 298 households. Parental willingness was assessed using one item rated on a 10-point scale. Concerns and attitudes were assessed from similar scales developed for this study. Social environment perceptions were measured using a neighbourhood collective efficacy scale and a name generator/interpreter social network instrument. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association of parental willingness with the aforementioned variables. Fifty parents participated, which may have contributed to low power to detect associations. However, even with low power, attitudes of parents whose children had already used active transportation to school were found to be significantly associated with willingness when contrasting high and low levels (OR: 1.61, 95%CI: 1.02-2.54). This association did not appear in parents of children who used inactive transportation. Significant correlations were seen between parental willingness and compositional aspects of parental social network ties, i.e., having ties to individuals of diverse ages (τ=0.271) and having ties to individuals with children of the same age as their own (τ=0.267). Qualitative analyses of concerns revealed sub-themes related to the traffic, the need to cross a street, and the need for a suitable place to walk and bicycle, as well as concerns about the WSBP. KFL&A Public Health, LDPS, and Kingston’s City Traffic Engineers can use these results to address barriers to the WSBP and to advocate for improvements in the community infrastructure. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2011-07-20 17:17:15.828

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In the past few years, some experimental investigations have been conducted to verify seismic behaviour of fiber reinforced polymer reinforced concrete (FRP-RC) beam-column joints. Those researches were mainly focused on exterior beam-column joints without lateral beams. However, lateral beams, commonly exist in buildings, can significantly improve seismic performance of the joints. Moreover, the way the longitudinal beam bars are anchored in the joint, either using headed-end or bent bars, was not adequately addressed. This study aims to fill these gaps and investigate the shear capacity of FRP-RC exterior beam-column joints confined with lateral beams, and the effect of beam reinforcement anchorage on their seismic behaviour. Six full-scale exterior beam-column joints were constructed and tested to failure under reversal cyclic loading. Test results showed that the presence of lateral beams significantly increased the shear capacity of the joints. Moreover, replacing bent bars with headed-end bars resulted in more ductile behaviour of the joints.

In the past few years, some experimental investigations have been conducted to verify seismic behaviour of fiber reinforced polymer reinforced concrete (FRP-RC) beam-column joints. Those researches were mainly focused on exterior beam-column joints without lateral beams. However, lateral beams, commonly exist in buildings, can significantly improve seismic performance of the joints. Moreover, the way the longitudinal beam bars are anchored in the joint, either using headed-end or bent bars, was not adequately addressed. This study aims to fill these gaps and investigate the shear capacity of FRP-RC exterior beam-column joints confined with lateral beams, and the effect of beam reinforcement anchorage on their seismic behaviour. Six full-scale exterior beam-column joints were constructed and tested to failure under reversal cyclic loading. Test results showed that the presence of lateral beams significantly increased the shear capacity of the joints. Moreover, replacing bent bars with headed-end bars resulted in more ductile behaviour of the joints.

This paper presents a qualitative study in which an attempt was made to extend the debate surrounding the use of real life contexts to make mathematics more meaningful and real. The study investigated Grade 8 learners’ knowledge of number, understanding of number concepts and the kinds of connections they make between number and the context in which number is used. An important aspect of the study’s methodological approach involved an examination of the comments that learners made about what they said they know about number. A response to the question: “Why is the number in the picture?” provided a framework for establishing how learners saw relationships between number and the context in which numbers are used. A face scenario with four questions was given to learners to elicit these relationships. Results pointed to the usefulness of real life contexts as tools that have a central role in uncovering what learners know about number and how they use that knowledge to understand situations that call for proficiency in mathematics.