VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The Interpretation of Orchestral Ballet Excerpts for Clarinet

This research examines the current performance practice of ballet excerpts for clarinet from five ballets: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella. Research has been published on the performance practice of symphonic orchestra and opera repertoire for clarinet, however, there is a paucity of research that examines the current performance practice techniques of orchestral ballet clarinet excerpts. The methodology of this research consisted of identifying major orchestral ballet clarinet excerpts in the canon and interviewing five experienced principal clarinetists in North American ballet orchestras. The interviewees were Max Christie from National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, Steve Hartman from New York City Ballet Orchestra, Jon Manasse from American Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Sheryl Renk from San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, and William Wrzesien from Boston Ballet Orchestra. They discussed clarinet solos from the selected ballet excerpts regarding phrasing, technique, dynamics, fingerings, pitch, tempo, and ensemble playing in a ballet orchestra. An analysis of the interpretation of musical excerpts by the interviewees reveals some common themes. They addressed phrasing, dynamics, intonation, fingerings, and instrument choice (A or B-flat clarinet). Phrasing was the most prominent musical feature discussed, although there was variation in their opinions about phrasing. Some clarinetists had specific suggestions for the phrasing of each individual passage; others generally preferred a long or short phrase. All interviewees commented on fingerings for notes in the altissimo register, particularly for technically difficult passages that reached into the altissimo registers in the Prokofiev ballets. They also indicated that intonation is influenced by the dynamic played, the register of the clarinet, and the orchestration. Many of the interviewees suggest that certain passages work better for the fingers or timbre if transposed to the A clarinet or vice-versa.

Keywords: Clarinet
Interpretation
Orchestral Ballet Excerpts
Performance Practice
Prokofiev
Tchaikovsky
Advisor: Walter, Cameron
Cinematic Modernity: Cosmopolitan Imaginaries in Twentieth Century Iran

"Cinematic Modernity: Cosmopolitan Imaginaries in Twentieth Century Iran" explores the 'genesis amnesia' that informs the conventional scholarly accounts of Iranian cinema history. Critiquing a "homogeneous historical time," this dissertation investigates cinematic temporality autonomous from (and in relation to) political and social temporalities in modern Iran. Grounding the emergence of cinema in Iran within a previously neglected cosmopolitan urban social formation, it demonstrates how the intermingling of diverse Russian, Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, French and British communities in interwar Tehran, facilitated the formation of a cosmopolitan cinematic culture in the early twentieth century. In the 1930s, such globally-informed and aspiring citizens took part in the making of a cinema that was simultaneously cosmopolitan and Persian-national, i.e. cosmo-national. This dissertation explains how, in the late 1940s, after a decade long hiatus in Iranian feature-film productions--when cinemas were dominated by Russian, British, and German films--Iranian filmmakers and critics actualised their aspirations for a sovereign national cinema in the form a sustained commercial industry; this cinema staged the moral compromises of everyday life and negotiation of conflicting allegiances to families and social networks in a rapidly changing Iran--albeit in entertaining forms. While critiqued for "imitating" European commercial films, this cinema--known as "Film-Farsi" (Persian-Language)-was highly informed by lived experiences of Iranians and international commercial motion pictures. In the late 1950s, a group of internationally-educated filmmakers, distanced themselves from the debilitating charges aimed at "Film-Farsi" cinema, and crafted an "alter-native," social realist, intellectual cinema that drew upon recognised international visual motifs and techniques, and lent itself to a critique of social and political conditions of the time. Envisioning a cinematic revolution (in form and content), this cinema became more politically conscious as revolutionary fervor grew in the 1970s. Decoupling cinematic temporality from Iran's political temporality, this dissertation demonstrates that alter-native cinema's revolution presaged the political revolution of 1979.

Keywords: Cosmopolitanism
Historiography of Cinema
Islamic Culture
Modern Iran
Modernity
Popular Culture
Advisor: Tavakoli-Targhi, Mohamad
Photocurrent Control in a Magnetic Field through Quantum Interference

Quantum-mechanical interference between excitation pathways can be used to inject photocurrents optically in semiconductors, the properties of which can be coherently controlled through the phases and polarizations of the optical pulses. In this thesis, coherent photocurrent control is investigated theoretically for two-dimensional semiconductor systems in a perpendicular magnetic field. The semiconductor systems are subjected to optical pulses with centre frequencies

Keywords: coherent control
exciton
graphene
magnetic field
photocurrent
quantum well
Advisor: Sipe, John E
Flexible Work Arrangements and Co-worker Perceptions: The Relationship between Values, Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment

This dissertation explored the relationship between individual-level value differences and workplace attitudes. Using data from a sample of Canadian workers whose co-workers were currently using flexible work arrangements, the relationship between allocentrism and workers' job satisfaction and organizational commitment was explored. A workplace-allocentrism scale was developed and validated. The scale showed adequate validity and reliability and thus was used in the main study. The Co-Worker Model was developed and tested on a sample of adults in Canada who work in organizations where flexible work arrangements are used. Data were collected from an online research panel and then tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that allocentric value orientations were positively related to reported organizational commitment, mediated by job satisfaction. This study sheds light on the importance of understanding individual-level value differences when examining the effectiveness and/or ineffectiveness of organizational policies and practices.

Advisor: Latham, Gary
The Classification of Dirac Homogeneous Spaces

A well known result of Drinfeld classifies Poisson Lie groups (H,Pi) in terms of Lie algebraic data in the form of Manin triples (d,g,h); he also classified compatible Poisson structures on H-homogeneous spaces H/K in terms of Lagrangian subalgebras l in d with l intersect h equaling k=Lie(K). Using the language of Courant algebroids and groupoids, Li-Bland and Meinrenken formalized the notion of Dirac Lie groups and classified them in terms of so-called ``H-equivariant Dirac Manin triples" (d,g,h)_beta. This generalizes the first result of Drinfeld, as each Poisson Lie group gives a unique Dirac Lie group structure. In this thesis, we consider a notion of homogeneous space for Dirac Lie groups, and classify them in terms of K-invariant coisotropic subalgebras c in d, with c intersect h equaling k. The relation between Poisson and Dirac morphisms makes Drinfeld's second result a special case of this classification.

Keywords: Algebroids
Dirac Geometry
Groupoids
Homogeneous Spaces
Lie Theory
Poisson Geometry
Advisor: Meinrenken, Eckhard
Investigation of Porphyrin and Lipid Supramolecular Assemblies for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Aerobic life on earth is made possible through the functions of the porphyrin. These colorful and ubiquitous chromophores are efficient at concentrating and converting sunlight into chemical energetic potential which sustain biological life. Humans have had a longstanding fascination with these molecules, especially for their applications in photodynamic therapy. The photophysical properties of porphyrins are highly influenced by their surrounding environment. Intermolecular interactions between these pigments can lead to excited state quenching, energy transfer and large changes to their absorption and fluorescence spectra. This thesis is focused on utilizing molecular self-assembly strategies to develop nanoscale porphyrin and phospholipid structures. The rationale being that intermolecular interactions between porphyrins in these nanostructures can induce changes which can be exploited in novel biomedical imaging and therapeutic applications. Four lipid-based structural platforms are studied including: nanoemulsions, bilayer discs and nanovesicles. In Chapter 1, I provide a background on the photophysics of porphyrins and the effect of intermolecular porphyrin interactions on photophysical properties. I also discuss phospholipids and their self-assembly process. Lastly I review current biomedical photonics techniques and discuss how these strategies can be used in conjugation with porphyrin and lipid supramolecular assemblies. In Chapter 2, I investigate the influence that loading a novel bacteriochlorin photosensitizer into a protein-stabilized lipid emulsion has on its spectral properties. I discovered that while the dye can be incorporated into the lipid emulsion, no changes were observed in its spectral properties. In Chapter 3, an amphipathic alpha-helical protein is used to stabilize and organize porphyrin-lipid molecules into bilayer discs. Close packing between porphyrin molecules causes quenching, which can be reversed by structural degradation of the nanoparticle. This enables application as an activatable photodynamic therapy agent. In Chapter 4, energy transfer between porphyrin-lipid dyes in porphysome nanovesicles is explored as a way to track the structural fate of the nanovesicle

Keywords: Cancer Imaging and Therapy
Lipid
Molecular Aggregate
Nanoparticles
Porphyrin
Supramolecular assemblies
Advisor: Zheng, Gang
The Application of Millimeter Wave Spectroscopy to Ground-based Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere

A new ground-based millimeter wave radiometer, SPÉIR, was designed as part of an observation system to detect and monitor ozone-related trace gases in the Arctic stratosphere. SPÉIR is designed to operate in the frequency range 265-280 GHz and measure the atmospheric spectra of ozone, nitrous oxide, nitric acid, and chlorine monoxide, from which vertical profiles of the gas concentrations can be retrieved. The observation system was characterised and simulated to determine its capability while operating at its intended location at Eureka, Nunavut (80°N). The altitude ranges and resolution of the retrieved profiles were determined, as well as the most significant sources of error in the profile of each gas. Optimal estimation statistics were compared to inversions of 500 simulated spectra. The results are in good agreement but showed that nonlinearities in the forward model, if not accounted for, can cause errors of 5-10% when constructing climatologies or analyzing trends with the trace gas profiles. A sensitivity study was performed to quantify the effects that uncertainties in the spectral parameters of molecules have on ground-based measurements at 265-280 GHz, and recommendations are made for new laboratory measurements. An inversion scheme was created to retrieve ozone profiles from measurements made by KIMRA (Kiruna Microwave Radiometer) and MIRA 2 (Millimeter Wave Radiometer 2), two ground-based millimeter wave radiometers in Kiruna, Sweden (68°N). The resulting profiles in winter/spring 2012/2013 were compared to each other, and to those from ozonesondes and the satellite instrument Aura MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder). The Kiruna instruments are biased low compared to the ozonesondes and generally agree with MLS. A significant oscillatory bias was found in KIMRA profiles and is attributed to standing wave features in the spectral measurements. Winter-time KIMRA ozone from 2008-2013 was used to investigate the natural variability of ozone above Kiruna. A persistent local minimum at approximately 35 km altitude is observed in winter-time ozone profiles and may be due to an effect of the polar vortex edge.

Keywords: Arctic
millimeter wave
Ozone
PEARL
Radiometry
Advisor: Walker, Kaley A
The Optimization of Lateral Ankle Sprain Management Practices Among Physiotherapists in the Canadian Armed Forces

Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are the 3rd most common injury sustained by military members, affecting their physical readiness and thereby the operational readiness of the military. To limit the impact of LAS on the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), this thesis used three studies to investigate an approach to optimize the LAS management practices of CAF Physiotherapists. Firstly, a literature review determined the LAS management practices recommended by current best research evidence. Subsequently, 52 CAF Physiotherapists were surveyed to establish their LAS management practices. Comparing these sources revealed that over 84.6% of the respondents reported using evidence based practices across all stages of healing. However, respondents also reported a relative delay in prescribing balance strengthening exercises until the sub-acute stage of healing, and reported a limited use of balance functional performance measures across all stages of healing. A focus group of CAF Physiotherapists further explored their LAS management practices and investigated any factors affecting the implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation program derived from current research evidence. Seven participants confirmed delaying their prescription of strengthening exercises and using a limited number of balance functional performance measures¸ but denied barriers to implementing the rehabilitation program in garrison or on deployment. A pilot study investigated the feasibility of conducting a randomized trial to determine the value of adding manual ankle mobilizations to the rehabilitation program to improve ankle dorsiflexion in 20 CAF members with LAS. It was concluded that the study design was feasible in a CAF setting, yet there were no statistically significant differences in ankle dorsiflexion between the mobilization (95.2±47.5mm) and sham groups (94.7±36.9mm) at 2 weeks (p=0.84). However, while clinically important changes in ankle dorsiflexion and self-reported function were reported by both groups, the magnitude of change was larger in the mobilization group. The recommendations of this thesis may be clinically applied by CAF Physiotherapists to optimize their LAS management practices and limit the impact of LAS on CAF operational readiness

Keywords: ankle
military
rehabilitation
sprain
Advisor: Agur, Anne
Switzer-McIntyre, Sharon
Dynamics of Violence between Intimate Partners in the Narratives of Incarcerated Women in Canada: A Violent Events Perspective

While we have learnt much in the last forty years about the prevalence of and risk factors for violence perpetrated by individual men and women in their intimate relationships, little research has focused on the interaction between intimate partners within a violent situation. I argue that given the complex nature of intimate relationships and intertwining roles, behaviours, and emotions of both partners, examining the couple's interaction -- rather than the disconnected behaviours of individual men or women -- can provide a deeper understanding of and new insights into the process of violence between intimate partners. Using a sample of 295 violent incidents reported by 135 incarcerated women, I explore the interactional aspects of violence in the incidents from a violent events perspective. Identifying and drawing on different dimensions of violent dynamics, e.g., initiation of violence, reaction to initial violence, the use of violence in the entire incident, and injuries to partners, I used Latent Class Analysis to identify specific classes of violent incidents that represent more general patterns of violent dynamics. This incident-based analysis identified four distinct classes of violent incidents and characteristics associated with each of them at the individual, relationship and situational levels. My study finds evidence consistent with previously identified violent types and also detects a novel type of violent dynamics in the relationships of high-risk incarcerated women. Moreover, the context-based and interaction-based approach in my study reveals the heterogeneity of women's behaviour in a violent situation. These findings question a `one size fits all' approach to address such a complex and multidimensional phenomenon as intimate partner violence and suggest carefully tailored interventions for different violent types/incidents.

Keywords: Canada
Female violence
Incident-based approach
Partner violence
Violent event
Violent interaction
Advisor: Gartner, Rosemary
On the Development of a 2MHz Radial Imaging Ultrasound Array for Potential Use in Guiding Pedicle Screw Insertion

Spinal fusion surgeries often require the insertion of screw implants into the pedicle bone. Although the procedure is somewhat routine, there is an inherent error rate when surgeons employ manual feedback techniques in the operating room. An alternative image guidance technique to reduce the error rate is an ultrasound transducer, which could be incorporated with the surgical toolkit to image the pedicle bone from within. This allows for real-time, non-radiating visualization of the anatomy and bone boundaries relative to the tip of the toolkit. The primary objective of this thesis is to describe the design and fabrication of 2MHz ultrasound probes for pedicle screw guidance. Three single-element transducer designs (3.5mm diameter) are explored in order to arrive at an acoustic design (backing, active, matching layer) that enables intra-pedicular imaging. To eliminate the need for manual rotation of the transducer, we have successfully designed and fabricated a 2MHz radial array that consists of 32 elements (3.2mm outer diameter). Using a commercial platform, we have obtained radial images from successive groupings of four array elements, when the array was placed in various fluids. Although this work has not demonstrated intra-pedicular imaging, we believe that it represents an important step in this direction. A secondary objective of this work is to investigate the directionality distribution in the pedicle's trabecular bone. This stems from the need to better understand the manner in which it can affect ultrasound propagation. In this thesis, we have estimated the direction distribution of pedicle trabecular bone from micro-CT images using Gabor filters. The Gabor filter was tested for suitability in detecting trabecular structures first through simulated 2-D line tests then through 3-D bone models. When applied to micro-CT images of six human pedicle bones, the final results are an estimation of the main directions of trabecular structures in both the coronal and sagittal planes. However, since the pedicles tested were from just one cadaver, more general conclusions cannot be drawn concerning the directionality distribution. Nonetheless, a reliable quantitative method has been developed that should have considerable potential in a variety of applications.

Keywords: Bone
Image guided surgery
Imaging Arrays
Spine Surgery
Transducers
Ultrasound
Advisor: Cobbold, Richard S.C.
Ginsberg, Howard J.
Bellini: Optimizing Mobile Application Traffic Flows through the Cloud

With the proliferation of mobile devices with large multi-touch displays, millions of users are carrying mobile devices everyday and interacting with mobile applications using multi-touch gestures. Since a majority of mobile devices are connected to the Internet wirelessly, cloud computing platforms have been increasingly used to meet the demand from mobile applications. In the context of mobile cloud computing, this dissertation explores the possibilities of offering better performance to mobile applications with the help of the cloud infrastructure. After a careful examination of problems towards the integration of the cloud, it is discovered that mobile applications face significant challenges in reality. On one hand, mobile applications seek to properly route data flows via the cloud, to saturate flow throughput, shorten data latency, and reduce delay variance. On the other hand, applications wish to take advantage of the cloud to allow users to interact socially, and engage mobile users in a smooth and convenient interactive environment. In order to address these challenges, this dissertation proposes to design a unified solution to bridge mobile applications and the cloud with performance and user experience as top concerns. By studying a wide range of mobile applications with different needs, in terms of data exchange, interaction and socializing, we have designed and implemented a mobile-centric system framework, named Bellini, from scratch. First, the Bellini framework is able to improve the performance of applications by sending data through geo-distributed datacenters in the cloud. Second, it facilitates multi-touch interactions among mobile devices through the cloud infrastructure, by carefully packetizing, streaming, and replaying multi-touch gestures. Finally, it supports spontaneous social interaction between users in the same mobile application, be they in the same living room using local connections such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or around the world over the cloud. In order to thoroughly evaluate the performance of the Bellini framework, we have conducted two case studies, including a mobile music composition application that supports online interactive editing, and a mobile video conferencing application, featuring high-throughput streaming.

Keywords: Application-layer routing
Cloud computing
Data transmission
Mobile computing
Multi-touch streaming
Optimization
Advisor: Li, Baochun