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Title: In Singing, He Composed a Song.
Contributors: Jeremy Stewart (author), Robert Budde (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: In Singing, He Composed a Song is a rhizomatic assemblage of texts, voices, and fragments. It uses a collage of prose, lined poetry, photography, a transcribed interview, an epistle, psychiatric records, literary theory fragments, and more to narrate the story of John Stevenson's altercation with the RCMP and subsequent committal to the Psychiatric Ward at the Prince George Regional Hospital. The materials that make up the text are arranged in a rhizomatic network theorized as an assemblage. The rhizome is the polyvalent figure strategically adopted by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari in their A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. It destabilizes unified, hierarchical relationships and structures. In Singing is an assemblage of enunciations which are fictional and provisional, and whose relationships are multiple and indeterminate. The assemblage enacts the palimpsestic, vertiginous layering of stories that informs John's precise difficulty with providing what his psychologist calls 'a fair account of himself.' --P. ii.
Discipline: English

Title: Initial investigation into using a two-level regional voting approach for face verification.
Contributors: Jun Ma (author), Liang Chen (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Face verification is defined as a person whose identity is claimed a priori will be compared with the person's individual template in database, and then the system checks whether the similarity between pattern and template is sufficient to provide access. In this thesis we introduce a new procedure of face verification with an embedding Electoral College framework, which has been applied successfully in face identification. The approaches are evaluated by experiments on benchmark face databases applying the Electoral College framework embedded with standard baseline PCA algorithm and newly developed algorithm S-LDA. The results demonstrate that the proposed face verification systems improve the performance of these holistic algorithms. --P. i.
Discipline: Computer Science

Title: Genetic variation of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. Latifolia [Engelm.]) chemical and physical defenses that affect mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae attack and tree mortality.
Contributors: Daniel Stephen Ott (author), Dezene Huber (Thesis advisor), Kimberly Wallin (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The current outbreak of mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and its fungal complex Grosmannia clavigera has affected ~15 million hectares of lodgepole pine Pinus contorta var. latifolia (Engelm.) in British Columbia. This is of great concern to forest industry in British Columbia but it has provided a rare opportunity to study genetic variation of lodgepole pine defense mechanisms against MPB. Based on a previous study, we selected 45 open-pollinated families from a population of 180 families, with the number of trees per family ranging from 16-26 (for a total of 887 trees) from two 20-year field tests which had undergone attack from MPB. Chemical and physical defensive responses were quantified in response to simulated attack by the MPB fungal complex on these 45 families. These responses included: physical exudation of resin, host compartmentalization response to fungal inoculation, and levels of constitutive and induced resin terpenoids. Further assessments were made for tree height, DBH (diameter at breast height ~1.4 m), bark texture, tree mortality, and MPB presence, attack density, reproduction, and brood development, as well as the presence of hypersensitivity reactions by the tree to MPB. --P. iii.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies

Title: Interactions of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, with typical and atypical host material, lodgepole pine and interior hybrid spruce, in the central interior of British Columbia.
Contributors: Fraser Ray McKee (author), Brian Aukema (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Interactions between mountain pine beetles and spruce hosts are rare, but a high frequency of mountain pine beetle attacks on interior hybrid spruce, an atypical host species, have recently been observed within the central interior of British Columbia, an area experiencing a severe outbreak of mountain pine beetle. I first examined the effect of natal history on host selection by females, and settlement patterns of conspecific males. In a second study, I examined the effects of host species and competitors on mountain pine beetle reproduction in a field experiment. The third study examined the association of within-stand beetle population density and pine vs. spruce availability with attraction to traps baited with pine and spruce host material. Using mountain pine beetle as a model organism, this work emphasizes insect host selection and reproductive success, with potential implications for host range expansion in eruptive herbivores. --P. ii.
Discipline: Biology

Title: Characterization of spawning habitat, incubation environment and early growth and development in bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus ) from pristine streams of northern British Columbia.
Contributors: Cory John Williamson (author), Mark Shrimpton (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: No abstract available.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies

Title: Evaluating community incentives for biodiversity conservation in protected areas in Nepal.
Contributors: S. Arian Spiteri (author), Gail Fondahl (Thesis advisor), Sanjay Nepal (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: No abstract available.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies

Title: Canadian Indians and the Second World War: The pivotal event of the 20th century for Canadian Indians and Canadian Indian policy?
Contributors: Roy P. Toomey (author), Theodore Binnema (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: No abstract available.
Discipline: History

Title: Linear separability of the vertices of an n-dimensional hypercube.
Contributors: Nicolle Gruzling (author), Lee Keener (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: No abstract available.
Discipline: Computer Science

Title: Scripts for Misfits: A creative thesis comprised of short fiction.
Contributors: Carly Stewart (author), Robert Budde (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Scripts for Misfits is a creative thesis comprised of three short stories set in Prince George. Thematically, 'Crazy Old Birds,' '1957 Taylor Dr.' and 'The Box-Shaped Man' are linked in their separate explorations of the positive and negative impacts that popular texts (cinematic or literary) can have on female characters. Ultimately, my thesis pushes the reader to examine how these fictional women come to not only navigate the largely negative sociopolitical ideologies that popular culture prescribes as appropriate gender roles, but also, Scripts for Misfits illustrates how individuals can work toward self-actualization by deconstructing the messages that have previously worked to contain them. --P. ii.
Discipline: English

Title: Exploring predictors of tobacco use during pregnancy in Northern British Columbia: Barriers to conducting tobacco research.
Contributors: Denys M. Smith (author), Ken Prkachin (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Living in northern remote regions has implications for smoking rates in pregnancy and for participant recruitment and retention in tobacco research. The purpose of this research was to identify predictors of smoking through pregnancy for women in northern remote areas in BC. Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 12 participants recruited from the region. Questions asked at baseline were reproduced from a triage tool developed in earlier research. Additional questions specific to pregnant women examined community characteristics, transportation, initial impact of pregnancy and transience. Principal outcomes were: smoking status, smoking rate and quit attempt. Recruitment and retention issues resulted in low participant numbers. Results were interpreted with caution and research interests redirected. Possible solutions to problematic design issues were discussed in the final evaluation. The design appeared, in theory, to be reasonable however, in reality, it was not compatible with unique environmental and cultural factors impacting data collection in the north. --P. ii.
Discipline: Psychology

Title: Voices and visions: Transformative creativity in a northern context.
Contributors: Zander Dahne Harding (author), Si Transken (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This thesis is an arts-based, qualitative examination of the phenomenological reality of individuals who practically and/or theoretically live on the edge of society in Prince George, British Columbia. The primary group consists of homeless women living in an emergency shelter in downtown Prince George, British Columbia and grew to include students and social justice activists. Though the primary discussion is centered on the women from the shelter, quotes and contributions from the other groups are included to highlight some of the common threads. The research project is an investigation of the potential of art as a powerful mechanism for theorizing about the structures of oppression which mediate everyday experiences however, it also became apparent that there was a connection between the creative process, feminine solidarity, and healing while creating a model for community arts-based research that can contribute positively to the individuals, agencies, and research institutions who participate. --P. iii.
Discipline: Gender Studies

Title: The impact of climate change and harvest of mountain pine beetle stands on streamflow in northern British Columbia.
Contributors: Faye Hirshfield (author), Jueyi Sui (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This research examines the impact of climate change and MPB harvest on streamflow in northern British Columbia using the Hydrologiska Byr~\u2022ns Vattenbalansmodell-Environment Canada model (HBV-EC) a semi-distributed conceptual hydrologic model. Streamflow for the Goathorn Creek watershed in Telkwa is modeled under the IPCC A1B, A2 and B1 emissions scenarios. The TreeGen downscaling method and four global climate models were used to generate future climate. Global climate models used were the Canadian developed CGCM3, ECHAM5 from Germany, GFDL-CM2.1 from the United States and CSIRO-Mk from Australia. Under all climate scenarios HBV-EC modeled a 16 percent reduction in mean annual flows the timing of spring peak flows was also forecast to occur up to 30 days earlier in the year. A change in the timing of peak flows and an overall reduction in mean flows will have important implications for water managers, domestic users and industrial development within the Bulkley Valley. The HBV-EC model was also used to model Moffat Creek streamflow under various harvest scenarios for mountain pine beetle stands. The model predicted an increase in streamflow with an increase in harvest area. When compared to measured streamflow it was however found that average spring discharge during the MPB epidemic was 14 percent lower than it had been during the previous 30 years. The low spring discharge during the MPB epidemic appeared to be related to the 9 percent decrease in SWE for the same years however further investigation is required.
Discipline: Environmental Science

Title: Breaking copper: Legislating the repatriation of First Nations cultural property to restore self-determination and promote reconciliation.
Contributors: Pamela Flagel (author), Michael Murphy (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The repatriation of cultural property to First Nations is often guided by voluntary procedures developed by museums, and legislation enacted by government. The treaty process can also direct repatriation negotiations between First Nations and museums. The return of cultural property from museums to First Nations has the potential to restore aboriginal cultural self-determination rights and begin a process of reconciliation between these two groups. However, neither First Nations cultural self-determination nor reconciliation with museums can be achieved through the repatriation of cultural property alone. In order for cultural self-determination to be fully realized complete control over cultural property must be reinstated to First Nations communities. Conditions placed on the care and storage of returned objects can interfere with First Nations cultural practices and can foster mistrust and resentment towards museums. An examination of voluntary policies, treaty processes, and legislative acts demonstrates that legislation is best able to restore full cultural self-determination to First Nations and achieve reconciliation with museums. --P.ii.
Discipline: Political Science

Title: Journeys of disorientation & dislocation: Women/invisible dis/ability in and out of social work. A transdisciplinary exploration.
Contributors: Jorge Mai Kelly (author), Si Transken (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Research question: Please describe your experience of invisible illness/ dis/ ability and what this has meant to you both professionally and personally. This is a qualitative, exploratory study in which six women (including myself) who work/have worked within the social work profession, responded to the research question employing an online-email method. I developed a variety of self-monitoring questions to assist the process. These questions were designed to be used as conversational prompts only if necessary, and to make up for absence of face-to-face contact. The participants were found using a snowball sample. This research is an exploration of female social workers' experiences with invisible illness/dis/abilty. Specifically, the study explores the intersections and subjectivity of a variety of women's oppressions, including socialization, media/body image, sexual identity, and aging in relation to the effects of gender violence and women's health, sense of well being, and social worker retention in rural, isolated, and northern communities. Gender violence will be understood to include a continuum of violence extending from economic coercion to outright physical abuse. I explored the possibilities (and potential linkages) that there may or may not be a relationship between women's previous experiences of marginalization and oppression, including trauma, abuse, neglect, poverty, and abandonment, which might increase the likelihood of further such experiences within a social work setting, and that gender violence is contrary to social worker retention, specifically in rural, isolated, and northern communities ...This may include that women position or allow themselves to be positioned in social work environments paradoxically to re-encounter such situations that would not likely be experienced in other non-caring, or traditionally male professions. Our choices are shaped by our structural contexts and vice versa. Our choices are also influenced by subconscious and subtle dynamics. More specifically, in
Discipline: Social Work

Title: Burden as the bridge to resiliency in mental illness: Effectiveness of the Strengthening Families Together family education intervention.
Contributors: Kim Dixon (author), Dawn Hemingway (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Strengthening Families Together 2005 (SFT) is a Canadian education program for family members affected by mental illness and addiction. This study explores and describes the effectiveness of SFT for burden and resilience among family participants. This research used a single case study with multiple unit method to assess the effectiveness of SFT based on the trauma theory of stress, coping and adaptation. I have combined quantitative and qualitative methodology to explore the effects of SFT and to describe the predicted decrease in burden and increase in resiliency ...Following the criteria for the pattern-matching analysis used in the SFT study, the results must be supported by both the quantitative and qualitative findings to be tenable. Both quantitative and qualitative results suggest SFT was effective at reducing burden. Although, the qualitative data suggests a possible increase in resilience, this result was not supported by the quantitative results suggesting SFT may be less effective at increasing resiliency among family participants in this study. In conclusion, the researcher recommended changes to SFT are based on a sound theoretical foundation to include the broader goal of increased resiliency among family participants and SFT leaders receive standardized teacher training. At the time of writing the researcher had made changes to the SFT curriculum based on a review of the current literature and the research findings and had developed a SFT teacher training model that was scheduled to roll out throughout BC and the Yukon in the winter of 2010. --P.ii-iii.
Discipline: Community Health

Title: Women's perceptions of helpful and hindering incidents in coping with sexual harassment.
Contributors: Tracey Garber (author), Corinne Koehn (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This qualitative study employed the Critical Incident Technique to examine women's perceptions of helpful and hindering incidents in experiences of coping with sexual harassment. Fifteen women completed individual interviews as participants for the study. Incidents were extracted from interview data and sorted into helpful and hindering incidents in the context of actions of participants versus actions of others. Fifteen major categories and nine subcategories were formed. Emotional support, seeking social support (i.e., protecting younger coworkers, banding together with other women, confiding in female coworker), and incidents which helped stop the harassment were described as significantly helpful. Incidents in which harassment did not stop or was perceived to get worse, or incidents in which the participant did not feel emotionally supported and even blamed for being in the situation were described as significantly hindering. Implications for counseling practice and employers are presented and recommendations for future research are discussed. --P.ii.
Discipline: Education-Counselling

Title: Social competence: Cardiovascular activity and humor as mediating mechanisms.
Contributors: Sherri M. Tillotson (author), Kenneth Prkachin (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The present study examined the impact of parent and child pain responsiveness, parent and child health, parent and child pain experience, and parenting style on the main outcome variable of social competence of preschool aged children. The conceptual model depicted direct effects of the first seven variables on the main outcome variable, child social competence, as well as indirect effects on child social competence via parenting style. Participants were recruited from 66 preschools operating in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. A diverse sample of 242 parents, 220 mothers and 22 fathers, of preschool-aged children completed questionnaires measuring parent and child pain responsiveness, parent and child pain experience, parent and child health, parenting style and child social competence. In addition, the recruited child's preschool teacher completed a questionnaire rating the social competence of the child. Teacher rating questionnaires were completed for 184 children. The analytic process employed a preliminary series of correlational analyses to determine variables to include in model evaluations using parent and teacher rated child social competence as the principal outcome variables. The main analyses involved testing and refinement of the proposed model in a series of structural equation modeling (SEM). Because child social competence was measured using data from both parents and teachers, the modeling exercise was performed separately on each of the parent and teacher outcomes. Three variables from the originally hypothesized model, specifically child pain responsiveness, parent pain experience, and child health were not significantly correlated with the outcome variables. The tested model included parent pain experience, child pain experience, parent health, parenting style and child social competence for each of the parent and teacher models. In the parent model increased child social competence was predicted by decreased child pain experience, increased positive parenting style, and decrea
Discipline: Psychology

Title: An investigation of classical Banach spaces and a synthesis of their properties.
Contributors: Kyle Schlitt (author), Lee Keener (Thesis advisor), Robb Fry (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: A list of classical Banach spaces is examined and it is determined which spaces have each of a list of properties. Many answers, and their proofs, are found in the literature in such cases a re-written and accessible proof is supplied. Where this is not appropriate, only reference is given. All non-standard results are stated and referenced if not proved, as the exploration attempts to be as self-contained as possible. The results are summarized at the end of the document in order to maximize the usefulness of the work done and a brief discussion on additional topics is also included as an addendum. --P. ii.
Discipline: Mathematics

Title: The role of leadership in negotiating adolescent identity: Voices of female secondary school students in alternative education.
Contributors: Nicole M. Joron (author), Willow Brown (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This narrative study presents a collection of personal experience stories from five young women enrolled in grades 11 and 12 of an alternative education program. The purpose of this study is twofold exploring how the participants perceive and experience leadership in their lives and how their experiences with leadership affect the participants' development of a stable sense of identity and an empowered sense of self. The collected data is presented first as whole narratives and then through themes that emerged from a content analysis. The analysis revealed helpfulness as the defining characteristic of leadership and that the participants believe they are leaders, at least some of the time. The participants demonstrated having reached a stable sense of identity but expressed a lack of confidence as a barrier to becoming fully empowered persons. Using these findings, the researcher outlines ideas for the development, recruitment, and implementation of youth leadership development programming. --P.ii.
Discipline: Education-Multidisciplinary Leadership

Title: Organizing for sustainability at a small scale: A case study of an ecovillage.
Contributors: Prudence-Elise Breton (author), David Connell (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: When dealing with environmental issues, most reports highlight global-scale solutions. However, as the problem is embedded in all levels of our society, we must also implement solutions on smaller levels. Ecovillages, for example, are intentional communities engaging in initiatives to address sustainability in practical matters. The purpose of my research is to study how EcoVillage at Ithaca, New York, USA, as a small-scale experiment in sustainability, has organized itself. Data collection took place from August 21st to October 6th, 2007 and involved multiple techniques: participant-observation, field notes, documents analysis, and in-depth interviews with 21 key informants. An analytical framework based on organization theory was developed in order to explore the case study. The results suggest that three major tensions are created within EcoVillage at Ithaca's organizational process. The strategies developed to adapt to these tensions are: shared leadership, enhanced communication among members and partnership with the surrounding social environment. --P. ii.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies

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