Cannabis use is becoming increasingly prevalent in Canada and the United States, where legality and public perception have recently shifted to be more permissive of recreational use. Despite established negative health consequences associated with persistent use, there remains considerable debate in the scientific community surrounding the potentially harmful effects of cannabis use on human cognition. Evidence exists that heavy cannabis use predicts diminished performance within several neurocognitive domains and also predicts greater risk of having ADHD. Further evidence suggests that earlier age of first cannabis use strengthens these associations, however the findings in these literatures are mixed and in need of further delineation. This thesis sought to examine continuous associations among current cannabis use severity, age of first use, neuropsychological performance, and ADHD symptomatology. Two studies using large samples of community adults were conducted. Study 1 analyzed data from the Human Connectome Project, and examined performance on a battery of neuropsychological measures among young adults, and found recent use to be the strongest predictor of differences in episodic memory and processing speed, and CUD predicted lower fluid intelligence. Lifetime exposure to cannabis was not associated with any outcome measures. Study 2 examined similar associations in a sample of adults representative of the Hamilton community, and also included self-reported symptoms of ADHD. Study 2 found current cannabis use severity to be predictive of more impulsive reward preferences, and also of both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms of ADHD. Both studies found a lack of support for the role of age of first cannabis use in differential cognitive performance, and also failed to find associations between cannabis involvement and several cognitive domains such as working memory, behavioural inhibition, executive function, and psychomotor dexterity. These findings challenge some of the current literature, and highlight the necessity of further investigation to better understand interrelationships among cannabis use, cognition, and ADHD. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / It is unclear to what extent cannabis use effects mental functions such as memory, attention, and intelligence. The goal of this research was to investigate how recent and early-life cannabis use is related to these cognitive functions and real-life problems with attention and impulse control as seen in ADHD. Two studies were performed to investigate these relationships, and together found recent cannabis use rather than lifetime use to be predictive of performance on select cognitive abilities and ADHD symptoms. Age of first cannabis use and lifetime use were not associated with differences in cognition, suggesting that cannabis use in adolescence may not necessarily cause lasting detrimental changes. Rather, people who have symptoms of ADHD may be more likely to use cannabis earlier and in more problematic ways.

"Nothing endures but change" - Heraclitus. Buildings are designed and built to house a specific program for a set period of time. The end of a building's life marks a change in its use. In today's building practices, some building owners opt to demolish an entire building prior to constructing a new one. Unfortunately, this world-wide attitude results in the production of millions of tons of waste every year and is not an ecologically sustainable practice. However, as green building methods become more valued in today's society, building owners and designers are becoming more conscious of buildings' end lives. Construction methods are increasingly involving concepts of designing for disassembly, wherein parts and materials can be easily taken apart for reuse or recycling. Such practices are vital in minimizing the unnecessary production of construction waste. Everything on earth exhibits change. This thesis explores the development of a newly constructed building and its transformation at the end of its life into a new building. The project consists of two designs; the program of the first was predetermined while the program of the second was chosen by the committee at the concluding stage of the first design. This thesis seeks to develop a position on architectural design and construction methods that acknowledges the fact that buildings are not permanent objects and that they will, at some point in time, change. / Master of Architecture

This study examines the relationship of role parenting behaviors and adolescent depression in adolescent outcomes. Parenting behaviors considered were authoritative parenting, parental monitoring, and parental care. Adolescent outcomes considered were depression, alcohol use, tobacco use, and grades. A path model was employed to examine these variables together. A sample of (n=3,174) of 9th -12th grade high school students from seven contiguous counties in rural Virginia were examined on these variables. Logistic regression analysis revealed parental monitoring and adolescent depression predicted all outcome variables tested. Authoritative parenting predicted adolescent alcohol use and grades and parental care only predicted adolescent depression. Logistical regression also reveled gender difference with parental care, authoritative parenting and male and female alcohol use and grades. Authoritative parenting predicted female alcohol use, and female grades were predicted by parental care. For males, authoritative parenting predicted male grades, and parental care predicted male alcohol use. / Master of Science

No description available.

Substance use is characterized by use of licit and illicit substances, paired with adverse consequences. Substance use and abuse are major concerns among the adolescent population. Some of the most popular substances used among adolescents include alcohol and marijuana. Adolescents who use substances have often demonstrated risky behaviors. These risky behaviors include delinquency and antisocial behaviors, such as decreased commitment to school, burglary, and theft. Behaviors such as unprotected sexual intercourse while under the influence of substances places the adolescent at risk for pregnancy and STis. Adolescents may develop depressive symptoms related to substance use, as well as attempt to commit suicide while using substances when feeling sad. Effective nursing interventions are needed to target these adolescents and prevent or cease substance use. The purpose of this integrated literature review was to explore current nursing interventions for adolescent substance use. Another aim was to determine the need for improvement on these interventions or the need for a new action plan. Findings showed that brief motivational interviewing is an effective intervention method for adolescent substance use. The advantage to brief motivational interviewing is - that it is non-confrontational, short in duration, promotes reduced substance use, and leads to complete cessation. With the use of evidence-based interventions, nurses and other health care providers can take part 1~ early preveritioh and cessation of adolescent substance use.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / P.V. Vara Prasad / Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important crop in the semi-arid regions of Africa, Asia and United States. Productivity of grain sorghum is limited by soil fertility, especially nitrogen (N). Sorghum genotypes are known to vary in their response to nitrogen, however, the information on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is limited. The objectives of this research were to (a) determine the response of sorghum genotypes (hybrids and inbred lines) to nitrogen fertilizer (b) quantify genotypic differences in NUE; and (c) determine physiological and morphological basis of NUE. Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Kansas (Hays, Ottawa and Manhattan) during 2010 and 2011. Six hybrids and six inbred lines of grain sorghum were grown with 0, 45 and 90 kg N ha-1.The experimental design was a split-plot design with N regimes as main plots and genotypes as sub-plot, with four replications. Planting was done in May and June across all the locations, and nitrogen fertilizer (Urea, 46% N) was applied at emergence. Data on N concentration in the leaves, stems and grain were determined. NUE and components of N use were computed for Ottawa and Manhattan as follows: Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE): Grain weight / N supplied; Nitrogen utilization efficiency: Grain weight / N total in plant; Nitrogen uptake efficiency: N total in plant / N supplied; Percent fertilizer recovery = [uptake (fertilized plot) – N uptake (un- fertilized plot)] / [ N applied ] x 100; and Nitrogen harvest index (NHI) = Grain N / N total in plant. Where N supplied = Rate of N fertilizer applied + soil N supplied. Growth and yield data were collected at all locations. There were significant effects of genotypes (P < 0.05) and nitrogen (P < 0.05) on biomass and grain yield across all locations. Performance of hybrids was generally superior to the inbred lines of all traits. Sorghum hybrids 26506 and 99480 produced maximum grain yield across all locations. While inbred lines B35 and SC35 had the lowest grain yield. Maximum biomass and grain yield was obtained at 90 kg N ha-1, followed 45 kg N ha-1, and lowest in 0 N kg ha-1. There were significant differences among genotypes for all NUE traits at Ottawa and Manhattan. Across genotypes, total NUE ranged from 17.2 to 42.6 kg kg-1, utilization efficiency from 24.3 to 60.2 kg kg-1, N uptake efficiency ranged from 56.1 to 82.5%, recovery from 2 to 52%, and NHI from 43.6 to 81.3%. Among the genotypes, 99480 and 26506 both known to be post–flowering drought tolerance were high in NUE and component of N use. While genotypes B35 and SC35 were the lowest in NUE and components of N use. Overall, our data suggest that there were significant differences for NUE traits in sorghum hybrids and inbred lines. There are opportunities to breed for higher NUE in grain sorghum.

Antisera to the basement membrane proteins laminin, fibronectin and type IV collagen were prepared, characterized and rendered monospecific by appropriate treatments. Methods were developed to allow the use of these antisera for inmunohistochemical staining of sections of tissue which had been preserved by several methods. In particular, the use of protease digestion {"unmasking") to allow staining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material was studied. The presence and intensity of staining was found to be highly dependent on the protease and the conditions of digestion, the type of basement membrane, and whether the tissue was normal or neoplastic. The distributions of the three proteins were studied in normal colorectal mucosa and in colorectal adenocarcinoma. A detailed retrospective study was made of the distribution of laminin in 158 cases of rectal carcinoma. Tumours fell into two groups: those which showed linear basement membrane-like laminin staining (laminin positive) and those which did not (laminin negative). Patients with laminin positive tumours had a reduced incidence of distant metastasis and an increased 5 yr survival rate; these correlations were statistically highly significant. Carparison by multivariate analysis with other widely used prognostic markers indicated that laminin status has considerable potential for use as a prognostic marker in the management of such patients. The antisera were also used in a study of the cellular origin and biosynthesis of basement membrane proteins in three systems. In a basement membrane-producing murine tumour, intracellular staining was seen, but it was found that different methods of tissue preparation and unmasking drastically affected the apparent distributions of the three antigens. In the developing rat intestine, no evidence was seen of basement membrane synthesis by the intestinal epithelial cells. However in isolated rat intestinal epithelial cells, some evidence was found for synthesis of laminin and fibronectin, but not type IV collagen.

This study compares the expropriation and assimilation policies of the French and American governments towards the Algerian and Southeastern Indian peoples in the nineteenth century. It describes in detail the policies and techniques, including sequestration and removal, which were established to deprive the indigenous people of their land for the purpose of colonial development, and also examines the various responses to it by the Algerians and Indians. Having effected wholesale confiscations by the middle of the nineteenth century, the French and American governments subsequently developed more mature policies designed to break down the traditional political and economic structures through an attack on collective property in the Warnier Law of 1873 and the Dawes Act of 1887. After a brief introduction, the first two chapters examine the background to European colonization in the two societies, including an analysis of the native society and economy. The major expropriation phases in Algeria and the southern United States are examined in the following four chapters, with a particular emphasis upon Indian removal in the United States and upon the sequence of French land legislation up to and including the Senatus-Consulte of 1863. In the final chapter, the two assaults upon tribal collective property are analysed. A brief conclusion reviews and contrasts the two processes of expropriation.

This thesis explores two main hypotheses: the first is that the Thessaloniki Biennale fulfils an instrumental role linked to financial and political interests, particularly tourism and cultural diplomacy. The second hypothesis concerns the possibility that the Thessaloniki Biennale may have alternative potential(s), and explores to what extent and in what ways this was realised. This thesis draws on the debates raised in the literature on art and culture’s instrumentalisation for ‘non-artistic’ purposes, art and culture’s potential for ‘subversion’, and the burgeoning literature on the biennial exhibitions of contemporary art. The analysis is interdisciplinary, applying a broad range of methodologies and theories: semiotics, social history of art, social theory of art and culture, the analysis of cultural policy formulation, and discourse analysis. The aim of this thesis is to synthesise these different methodologies to provide a rich, multi-faceted account of the Thessaloniki Biennale. In this thesis, I contend that the Thessaloniki Biennale attempted to ‘re-brand’ Thessaloniki as historical and multicultural, as well as a centre of contemporary art. In this way, it contributed to enhancing the city’s competitiveness and attractiveness as well as its influence in the broader area. Thus, the art event became entangled to official Greek cultural policy, and the agenda of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. At the same time, the Thessaloniki Biennale challenged stereotypical interpretative frameworks as regards art practice in regions outside the so-called West, and avoided exhibition practices which commercialise ‘cultural difference’. Also, certain artworks undermined the privileged narrative on the city’s identity, by highlighting aspects of the city and its history which were largely ignored in the official written texts of the art event. The ‘subversive’ potential of the art event could be deepened and expanded by democratising the processes of selection of participating artists, and by working more closely with independent artistic groups, citizen and activist groups.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning