VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional High Dynamic Range For Wearable Sousveillance Technologies
Keywords: Depth Cameras
HDR
High Dynamic Range
Real-time
Sousveillance
Wearables

This thesis presents high dynamic range (HDR) algorithms, for three camera types, used on wearable sousveillance technologies (wearable technologies where there are cameras observing the world around the user). The camera types, for which the HDR algorithms are presented here, are, colour cameras; structured-light depth sensing cameras (such as Microsoft's Kinect); and time-of-flight depth sensing cameras (such as SoftKinetic's DS325). For colour cameras, CPU and GPGPU accelerated HDR algorithms are presented. The GPGPU algorithms achieved real-time processing speeds. For the structured-light depth sensing cameras, an HDR technique is proposed that helps recover lost depth information in parts of the scene. And for the time-of-flight depth sensing cameras, an HDR algorithm is proposed, which increases the overall depth sensing range and reduces the noise in the measured depth values. For the depth sensing cameras, the application of focus is user input, via hand gestures, for augmented reality glasses.
Analysis and Interpretation of In Situ Rock Bolt Pull Tests in Hard Rock Mines
Keywords: Pull test
Rock bolt
Underground reinforcement
Underground support

Rock bolts are the principal reinforcement element of many underground support systems. This thesis investigates and characterizes the behaviour and performance of rock bolts as measured by a pull test. A database composed of 985 pull tests from six mines in the Sudbury Basin was assembled. Procedures and apparatuses used to conduct these tests were compared to ASTM's standards and ISRM's suggested methods. The results from the pull tests were used to compare the behaviour of reinforcement elements with theoretical models and to quantify performance metrics and their distributions. The influence of bolt, installation and rock mass parameters on the performance of certain rock bolts was investigated, and distributions of expected behaviour were constructed. These may be used in the design of hard rock underground excavations using methodologies that incorporate both the load capacity and displacement behaviour of rock bolts.
Policy Analysis and Evaluation of National Clinician-reported Practices for the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder
Health service delivery
Policy analysis

Timely autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis is critical to access early intervention. The objectives of this thesis were to 1) conduct a systematic review of ASD diagnosis guidance documents; 2) conduct a policy scan of Canadian and UK policies for ASD diagnosis; 3) describe Canadian ASD diagnostic practices through a national survey of paediatricians; and 4) identify determinants of wait times for ASD diagnosis. The systematic review and policy scan showed varying recommendations for ASD diagnosis. The 91 survey respondents described divergent ASD diagnostic assessment practices. Duration of the assessment was a determinant of wait time for the first visit of the assessment and total wait time. The mean adjusted wait time from referral to communication of the diagnosis was 254 days (95% confidence interval 214, 302). ASD diagnostic guidance and practices vary widely. Efficient assessment practices are a key element of reducing wait times and facilitating access to intervention.
Sweet GLUTs: Quantitative Analysis of Glucose Transporter and Fructolytic Enzyme Transcript Densities in Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris)
Keywords: fructolysis
glucose transporter
hummingbird
metabolism
Q-PCR
sugar

Hummingbirds are able to fuel energetically expensive hovering flight entirely with recently ingested glucose or fructose. In other animals, several steps in the pathway of flux of sugars from the gut to muscle are rate-limiting, such as transport into muscle and subsequent phosphorylation. I examined relative expression of facilitative sugar transporters and enzymes of fructolysis in various ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) tissues via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. I hypothesized that the expression of these proteins would be upregulated in hummingbird flight muscle compared to other vertebrates. I found that hummingbird pectoralis displays the highest expression of certain sugar transporter transcripts among vertebrates. I also demonstrated that relative transcript densities of fructolytic enzymes are minimal in hummingbird muscle, suggesting that fructolysis is not a pathway used to rapidly metabolize fructose in these muscles.
The Role of Telomere Maintenance in Adult Mammalian Acute Central Nervous System Injury and Retinal Ganglion Cell Apoptosis
Keywords: Apoptosis
Central Nervous System
Neuron
Retinal Ganglion Cell
Telomere
Telomere-Associated Protein

Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap eukaryotic chromosome ends. They have dynamic secondary structures that interact with networks of telomere-associated proteins, protecting genomic integrity and maintaining proliferative success of cells. When telomeres are destabilized, chromosome ends are misrecognized as DNA double-stranded breaks eliciting DNA damage responses that lead to cellular apoptosis. There is sparse evidence that telomere destabilization plays a role in the pathology of central nervous system (CNS) insults. This study examines this possibility during the acute injury-induced degeneration and apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). By administering or knocking-down key telomere-associated proteins, this work demonstrates that TERT expression promotes RGC survival while Telomerase activity has no role, that TCAB1, TRF1, Ku70, and EST1A play important roles in RGC survival while TRF2 and DNA PKcs do not, and that, overall, telomere maintenance cannot be eliminated as a contributing factor in RGC degeneration and apoptosis within the acutely injured CNS.
Structural and Biochemical Characterization of UDP-glucose: Glycoprotein Glucosyltransferase
Keywords: endoplasmic reticulum quality control
mammalian expression
phage display Fabs
radioactive assay
surface plasmon resonance
UDP-glucose: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase

Endoplasmic reticulum quality control is a crucial process in eukaryotic cells to ensure glycoprotein folding. It utilizes N-glycan modification as an indicator of glycoprotein folding status. Monoglucosylated glycoproteins are recognized by calnexin and calreticulin that recruit ERp57 to assist folding. The glycoproteins are released from calnexin and calreticulin upon removal of the glucose residue by glucosidase II. UDP-glucose: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase (UGGT) recognizes incompletely folded glycoprotein and adds a glucose residue to the glycoprotein. Addition of the glucose residue leads to re-association of the glycoprotein with calnexin and calreticulin for further folding. In this study, we focus on characterizing UGGT and its substrate interaction. We expressed Fabs against UGGT as a tool for crystallization. The binding of Fabs to UGGT was assayed by the surface plasmon resonance technique. We also assayed UGGT activity using a radioactive UDP-Glc-based assay. The results provided a basis for understanding UGGT and its substrate interaction.
Cost-utility Analysis of Oral Antiseptic Chlorhexidine in decreasing Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care Units
Keywords: Chlorhexidine
Cost-utility
Intensive care unit
Oral antiseptic
Ventilated associated pneumonia

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-utility of chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthrinse (0.12-2%) as compared to placebo/usual care in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), among ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods: A cost-utility (and its sensitivity) analyses were performed using a state transition model. We assumed a daily cycle, lifetime horizon, third party payer perspective, 2015 Canadian Dollars adjusted costs, and a 5% discounted benefits. We performed a meta-analysis to obtain CHX effectiveness in preventing VAP and associated survival. Results: Use of CHX was associated with 0.008 life-years, 0.005 Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) lived, and a cost savings of $804.53/patient. Sensitivity analyses showed that an increased mortality risk or reduced effectiveness associated with CHX, or reduced number of prolonged ICU days results in reduced life-years lived and QALYs. Conclusions: CHX oral antiseptic in ICU for preventing VAP as compared to the care without CHX resulted in comparable health outcome, yet it was cost saving.
A Framework for FPGA-based Acceleration of Neural Network Inference with Limited Numerical Precision via High-level Synthesis with Streaming Functionality
Keywords: Embedded System
FPGA
High-level synthesis
LegUp
Neural Networks
Streaming Hardware

Deep neural networks (DNN) are achieving state-of-the-art performance in many artificial intelligence tasks, such as computer vision and speech recognition. Due to the high computational requirements of DNN, there is an increasing need to design custom hardware for accelerating the DNN computation with a low power budget. This thesis proposes an FPGA-based acceleration solution for DNN inference, realized on a SoC device where software controls the execution and off-loads compute-intensive operations to the hardware accelerator. To minimize the hardware cost, limited precision data representations are investigated for DNN computations, and incorporated in the accelerator design. Streaming functionality is added to the LegUp high-level synthesis tool, allowing the hardware accelerator to be designed entirely in C-language and synthesized to pipelined hardware. The accelerator solution is not tied to a particular DNN architecture; rather, it is configurable in software, permitting the acceleration for a range of DNN architectures proposed in recent literatures.
Driving Techniques for GaN Power HEMTs
Keywords: Deadtime
Gallium Nitride High Electron Mobility Transistor
Gate Drive

One of the challenges in the application of GaN power HEMTs is designing the gate driver for optimal performance of the transistors. GaN transistors can switch much faster than silicon (Si) devices and require more precise control on timing. Controlling the ringing oscillation during each switching transient is essential for improved efficiency and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). In this thesis, two driving techniques are examined. A dynamic gate drive technique is examined for driving cascode GaN devices in a flyback converter using a custom gate driver originally designed for silicon power MOSFETs. A reduction in conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) of 6dB at 80 MHz is observed. Optimal deadtime is investigated for a class D audio output stage utilizing GaN enhancement HEMTs using commercial gate drivers. Experimental results suggest that a proper selection of deadtime can minimize the losses, EMI, and total harmonic distortion (THD) of the amplifier.
Adaptively Filtering Trans-impedance Amplifier for RF Current Passive Mixers
Keywords: Adaptively Filtering TIA
High FOM
High SFDR
Low Power
Small Area

Current Passive Mixers represent the state of the art for the signal down-conversion in wireless receivers. In such kind of structures, noise, distortion, and losses are strictly correlated to the stage following the mixer. This thesis proposed a trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) to sense the down-converted current with a new topology that adaptively filters the out-of-band interferers as a function of input current magnitude with a class-AB transconductor in the feedback network. The prototype is implemented in IBM 0.13Îźm CMOS technology, and shows low input impedance with a high-pass shaped noise and distortion profile. The filter cut-off frequency is reconfigurable between 2.8MHz and 12MHz. The prototype consumes 1.92mW of power from a 1.2V supply and the active die area is 0.45mm2. It achieves out-of-band SFDR between 86.8dB and 75.1dB, with the FOM varies between 182 dB(J-1) and 176 dB(J-1).
Discourse Marker So: A Comparison between English Language Learners and English-dominant Speakers
Keywords: Discourse Marker
English-Dominant Speakers
English Language Learners
L1 Influence / Transfer
Second Language Acquisition

This thesis investigates how English language learners (ELLs) use the discourse marker so, in comparison to (Canadian) English-dominant speakers (EDSs). The data were collected from audio recordings of 20 one-on-one sessions with ten EDSs, five Korean ELLs, and five Japanese ELLs. Overall, the ELLs employed so in a very similar fashion to the EDSs. The results, however, revealed a notable anomaly in the use of one of so's functions in the ELL data. Overall, the ELLs were found to employ Move so more frequently in comparison to the EDSs. Moreover, an examination of a related Korean and Japanese discourse marker demonstrated the role of L1 transfer in the acquisition of an L2. It was also discovered that greater English-learning experience abroad and self-declared awareness of some of so's functions did not necessarily result in the learners using the discourse marker in a similar manner to the EDSs in the study.
The Emergence of Rotating Leadership and Collective Responsibility in Grades 1 and 4
Keywords: collaborative innovation theory
collective responsibility
knowledge building
knowledge creation
rotating leadership
self-organisation

Building cultural capacity for innovation is an educational imperative. Knowledge Building pedagogy aims to engage students in sustained creative work with ideas from the earliest years of schooling, with all students taking responsibility for creating and advancing community knowledge. In this investigation, the online discourse of grade 1 and 4 students was examined to explore the possibility of identifying rotating leadership, a distinctive feature of cyberteams that create knowledge in out-of-school contexts. Network analyses were conducted to examine leadership patterns at the group level, followed by content analyses to understand leadership behaviours at the individual level. Overall, student networks were relatively decentralized, with many students leading the group at different points in time by connecting new or unique ideas to the class discussion. This research represents the first attempt to integrate Collaborative Innovation Network theory and Knowledge Building. Findings are discussed within the context of education for the Knowledge Age.
Testing an Approach to Teaching Italian Lyric Diction to Opera Singers: An Action Research Study
Keywords: Diction
Instruction
Lyric
Opera
Pedagogy
Pronunciation

Using the qualitative framework of action research (AR), this thesis empirically tested my five session, Italian Lyric Diction Course for Opera Singers by examining the validity and efficaciousness of its design, materials, course content, and pedagogical approach of explicit articulatory instruction (EAI). Data collection instruments included: semi-structured participant interviews, audio recording and transcribing of the classes, and an invited panel of eight observer-feedback experts from the fields of foreign language pedagogy, pronunciation instruction, and Italian language instruction. The data analysis uncovered that my teaching approach was based on a Seven Point Circle (7PC) pedagogical framework which emerged from a set of Twelve Principals governing my teaching process: 1. listening/observing, 2. diagnosing, 3. evaluating the degree of L1 transfer into the L2, 4. spontaneously creating a personalized plan-of-action, 5. determining required background knowledge, 6. determining the ease of attainability by the student, 7. assessing the student's comfort zone.
An Analytical Model For Predicting The Behaviour of Laterally Restrained Reinforced Concrete Beams
Keywords: Arching Action
Beam
Membrane Action
Reinforced Concrete
Slab

In this thesis, an analytical model for predicting the response of laterally restrained, reinforced concrete beams and slab strips is proposed. This model is formulated using a sectional analysis approach that assumes plane sections remain plane, and accounts for both material nonlinearities and second-order effects. A refined version of the model is developed to account for varying support stiffness, diagonal compression field action, slip relative to the support, and bond deterioration. The refined model is shown to correlate well with test data from two existing experimental investigations on laterally restrained beams. Finally, a series of parametric studies are presented to illustrate the influence of concrete strength, mechanical reinforcement ratio, second-order effects, and slip at a support on the capacity of laterally restrained beams or slab strips. The proposed analytical model presented in this thesis provides the basis for the development of a simplified method that can be incorporated into design standards.
Content-specific Age-related Effects on Recollection and Familiarity
Keywords: Dual-process
Familiarity
Medial temporal lobes
Memory
Recollection
Stimulus-specificity

Recollection declines with age are associated with hippocampal atrophy whereas familiarity sparing with age are associated with rhinal cortices which undergo minimal atrophy. Memory for specific stimuli is also supported by distinct areas (perirhinal for objects and faces, parahippocampal; hippocampus for scenes). The present study investigated age-related differences in recollection and familiarity for objects, faces, and scenes. We predicted that recollection on the rhinal based object and face tasks would be equivalent for the groups, whereas recollection on hippocampally based scene memory would be impaired for older adults. Younger and older adults completed recognition memory tasks from which recollection and familiarity were derived. Recollection was equivalent for older and younger adults for faces and objects, but reduced in older adults for scenes. These results suggest that standing assumptions regarding the universal degradation of recollection are inaccurate.
A Family's Perception of Childhood Cancer Survivorship: A Case Study in Resilience
Keywords: Cancer Subculture
Childhood Cancer
Ecological Resilience
Family Resilience
Healthcare
Paediatrics

Research on families experiencing childhood cancer and life in remission has focused on negative outcomes and variables. Few studies have explored the process of family resilience through this type of adversity. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to describe the experiences of a family who has survived a paediatric cancer. The central question that informed the study is: What are the accounts of members of a family in dealing with childhood cancer and life in survivorship? One family was interviewed over several months and continued to assist in the data analysis and creation of the findings for this study. It was found that cancer subculture and online community support promoted resilience and adaptation for the family as they dealt with the demands and stress of childhood cancer and remission. Recommendations to the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, healthcare professionals, and further research were discussed.
Mapping Acoustics to Kinematics in Speech
Keywords: Acoustics to Kinematics
Articulatory Inversion
Jerk
Signal Processing
Speech
Speech Articulators

An accurate mapping from speech acoustics to speech articulator movements has many practical applications, as well as theoretical implications of speech planning and perception science. This work can be divided into two parts. In the first part, we show that a simple codebook can be used to map acoustics to speech articulator movements in natural, conversational speech. In the second part, we incorporate cost optimization principles that have been shown to be relevant in motor control tasks into the codebook approach. These cost optimizations are defined as minimization of integral of magnitude velocity, acceleration and jerk of the speech articulators, and are implemented using a dynamic programming technique. Results show that incorporating cost minimization of speech articulator movements can significantly improve mapping acoustics to speech articulator movements. This suggests underlying physiological or neural planning principles used by speech articulators during speech production
Distinctive Roles for FANCD2 and FANCJ in the Resection of Radiation-induced DNA Double-strand Breaks in Human Cells
Keywords: DNA repair
Double strand breaks
DSB resection
FANCD2
FANCJ
Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) patients are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation and other agents that generate DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The major error-free DSB repair pathway in human cells is homologous recombination (HR). In G2-phase cells, the decision to use HR to repair a DSB initiates DSB resection. Notably, siRNA-depletion of the FA protein FANCD2 reduces DSB end resection and RAD51-mediated recombination by 40%. In contrast, depletion of another FA protein FANCJ increases DSB resection and directs 77% more breaks into HR repair. However, FANCJ-depletion affects RAD51 protein production and/or stability, preventing the progression of recombination and HR repair. Taken together, data from this study and the literature suggest that FANCD2 is required in DSB resection where it localizes CtIP to the damaged chromatin and initiates HR. In contrast, FANCJ functions in regulating the proper processing and recombination of DSBs through its direct interaction with MRE11-nuclease and its intrinsic helicase activity.
Exploring Context-specific Genetic Vulnerabilities in Human Cancer Cell Lines
Keywords: alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase
context-specific vulnerability
exonuclease1
fitness genes
genetic interaction
oxidative phosphorylation

Synthetic lethality arises when a combination of mutations in multiple genes leads to cell death, whereas a mutation in only one of them retains cell viability. This genetic concept is exploited for identification of targetable vulnerabilities in cancer. We developed a correlation network based on gene essentiality profiles derived from lentiviral-based genome-wide RNA interference screens across a panel of cancer cell lines from several tissues. Novel context-specific vulnerabilities were predicted from the network and further validated. For example, we found that sensitivity to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation inhibition varies amongst ovarian cancer cell lines. We also predicted varying sensitivity against alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase inhibition in breast cancer cell lines. In addition, we identified exonuclease 1 as a sensitizing target in ovarian cancer cell lines expressing wild-type p53. Our findings suggest that our correlation network from functional genetic screens is predictive of context-specific vulnerabilities in cancer cells that help discovery of therapeutic strategies.
Preliminary Mission Design and Power System Testing for Future Small Satellite Missions at the Space Flight Laboratory
Keywords: automation
nanosatellite
Phase A
power system
satellite
systems engineering

This thesis first describes an automated test system developed for a unit of the Space Flight Laboratory's Modular Power System, the Micro-Switched Power Node. This unit is responsible for controlling, monitoring, and delivering power to loads in small satellites. Automating the test in Python successfully reduced per unit test time from approximately thirty minutes down to six minutes and suggests future test improvements for other Modular Power System components. Next, building upon power system knowledge, the CaneoSat preliminary mission design is presented. This is a Canadian Earth Observation Satellite mission prepared for the Canadian Space Agency's Micromission Clusters Pilots Project. The project combines a set of innovative Earth-observing payloads, developed within Canada, into a single satellite. A complete Phase A preliminary design study is presented, which includes discussion of the system requirements, orbit simulation, mass budget, power budget, and data budget for the conceptual satellite mission.