VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Credit Value Adjusted Real Options Based Valuation of Multiple-Exercise Government Guarantees for Infrastructure Projects

Public-Private-Partnership (P3) is gaining momentum as the delivery method for the development of public infrastructure. These projects, however, are exposed to economic risks. If the private parties are not comfortable with the level of the risks, they would not participate in the project and, as a result, the infrastructure will most likely not be realized. As an incentive for participation in the P3 project, private parties are sometimes offered guarantees against unfavorable economic risks. Therefore, the valuation of these guarantees is essential for deciding whether or not to participate in the project. While previous works focused on the valuation of guarantees, the incorporation of credit risk in the value of the P3 projects and the guarantees has been neglected. The effect of credit risk can be taken into account by using the rigorous Credit Value Adjustment method (CVA). CVA is a computationally demanding method that the valuation methods currently in the literature are not capable of handling. This research offers a novel approach for the valuation of guarantees and P3 projects which is computationally superior to the existing methods. Because of this computational efficiency, CVA can be implemented to account for credit risk. For the development of this method, a continuous stochastic differential equation (SDE) is derived from the forecasted curve of an economic risk. Using the SDE, the partial differential equation (PDE) governing the value of the guarantees will be derived. Then, the PDE will be solved using Finite Difference Method (FDM). A new feature for this method is that it obtains exercise strategies for the Australian guarantees. The present work extends the literature by providing a valuation method for the cases that multiple risks affect P3 projects. It also presents an approach for the valuation of the Asian style guarantee, a contract which reimburses the private party based on the average of risk factor. Finally, a hypothetical case study illustrates the implementation of the FDM-based valuation method and CVA to obtain the value of the P3 project and the guarantees adjusted for the counterparty credit risk.

Keywords: Public-Private-Partnership (PPP)
Project Finance
Infrastructure
Real Options
Valuation
Credit Risk
Credit Value Adjustment (CVA)
Finite Difference Method
Least-Squares Monte Carlo Simulation
Advisor: McCabe, Brenda
Redefining “Enterprising Selves”:Exploring the “Negotiation” of South Asian Immigrant Women Working as Home-based Enclave Entrepreneurs

This study examines the experiences of highly educated South Asian immigrant women working as home-based entrepreneurs within ethnic enclaves in Toronto, Canada. The importance of their work and experiences need to be understood in the context of two processes. On the one hand, there is the neoliberal hegemonic discourse of “enterprising self” that encourages individuals to become “productive”, self-responsible, citizen-subjects, without depending on state help or welfare to succeed in the labour market. On the other hand, there is the racialized and gendered labour market that systematically devalues the previous education and skills of non-white immigrants and pushes them towards jobs that are low-paid, temporary and precarious in nature. In the light of the above situations, I argue that in the process of setting up their home-based businesses, South Asian immigrant women in my study negotiate the barriers they experience in two ways. First, despite being inducted into different (re)training and (re)learning that aim to improve their deficiencies, they continue to believe in their abilities and resourcefulness, thereby challenging the “remedial” processes that try to locate lack in their abilities. Second, by negotiating gender ideologies within their families and drawing on community ties within enclaves they keep at check the individuating and achievement oriented ideology of neoliberalism. They, therefore, demonstrate how the values of an “enterprising self” can be based on collaboration and relationship rather than competition, profit or material success. The concept of “negotiation”, as employed in this thesis, denotes a form of agency different from the commonly perceived notions of agency as formal, large-scale, macro organization or resistance. Rather, the concept is based on how women resort to multiple, various and situational practices of conformity and contestation that often can blend into each other.

Keywords: agency
South Asian immigrant women
adult education
enclave entrepreneurs
governmentality
race, class, gender
enterprising self
Neoliberalism
home-based entrepreneurs
ethnic enclave
Advisor: Mirchandani, Kiran
SATB2, a novel p73-interacting protein: characterization and role in osteosarcoma

p73 shares many structural and functional similarities with its homologue, the p53 tumour suppressor. Many p73 protein isoforms result from both alternative splicing and differential promoter utilization. Transcriptionally active (TA) isoforms are pro-apoptotic, while N-terminally truncated (dN) variants are anti-apoptotic and act as dominant-negative inhibitors of TAp73 and p53. p73 has been shown to activate the transcription of genes involved in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to DNA damaging agents, including chemotherapies. We hypothesize that the activity of p73, like many transcription factors, may be modulated by binding to regulatory proteins. A novel p73-binding protein that we have identified is special AT-rich sequence binding protein 2 (SATB2), which is a nuclear matrix attachment region (MAR)-binding protein. It has important functions in the regulation of gene transcription, neuronal and osteoblast (OB) differentiation, and craniofacial patterning. The SATB2 family member, SATB1, has been implicated in breast tumour growth and metastasis. Here, I describe the initial characterization of the p73-SATB2 interaction. SATB2 binds to and stabilizes TAp73a, leading to the enhancement of TAp73a-mediated induction of p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA; apoptotic gene) and p21 (cell cycle gene). Conversely, SATB2 does not bind to but decreases TAp73b levels, resulting in inhibition of TAp73b-mediated transcription. Thus, our findings reveal a role for SATB2 in the regulation of p73 stability and function. Moreover, we demonstrate that SATB2 is overexpressed in osteosarcoma (OS), while it is undetectable in other sarcomas, thereby suggesting that SATB2 may be a potential biomarker that can distinguish OS from other sarcomas. Loss of SATB2 also inhibits the migration and invasion capabilities of OS cells, and suggests that SATB2 promotes both migration and invasion in OS. Therefore, I present work showing that SATB2 is a novel p73-binding partner that differentially regulates the stability and function of the C-terminal isoforms of p73, as well as the novel involvement of SATB2 in OS invasion.

Keywords: p73
SATB2
osteosarcoma
Advisor: Irwin, Meredith
Contradictions of Neoliberal Development Interventions and Market Transition in Northern Lao PDR

This thesis examines the trajectory and role of development within the context of transition from a command to market economy, in a northern region of the Lao PDR. It looks at how the long-term effects of development interventions have contributed to a context of regional integration where the role of foreign investment and the private sector are increasing. In particular, it examines the role of development interventions in the processes of diversification and differentiation that accompany market integration. The village of Ban Jai illustrates this process as a site where despite the failures of development projects a diversification of livelihoods have developed. The implementation of UNDP projects in Ban Jai raises questions regarding the role of international projects and suggests that rather than alleviating poverty they produce a chain of effects that contribute to the tensions that result from structural changes to the village household economy. My analysis examines the tensions produced by such shifts and how villagers negotiate their engagement with the market economy. The experience of women traders illustrates how relations of solidarity are reworked in an attempt to negotiate tensions produced through processes of market integration. As structural shifts take place with increasing economic integration, international agencies also respond in particular ways by shifting strategies. I also ask what changes shifts in strategy introduce at the local level and how this intersects with the way policies are rationalized by local officials and the UNDP. An examination of this trajectory over a period of two decades, suggests that changing strategies in development have involved a shifting role between international development organizations and the private sector. I ask what kind of context this intersection of structural shifts, policy shifts and institutional shifts produces on the ground and how such shifts are negotiated locally.

Keywords: Anthropology
Lao PDR
Development
Southeast Asia
Gender
market transition
microfinance
Lue
Advisor: Luong, Hy Van
Age Matters: Age, Aging and Intergenerational Relationships in Early Christian Communities, with a Focus on 1 Timothy 5

Exploring age structure in Mediterranean cultures illuminates the social dynamics of intergenerational relationships that became more visible in late first and early second century early Christian texts, and especially in 1 Timothy 5. This was a time of crisis when those with a living memory of the foundations of the movement were almost gone, and the community was scrutinized by outsiders. Since we have relatively few clues related to aging and age structure in the extant texts, a model of generational stability and social change based on ethnographic data helps us to imagine culturally sensitive possibilities that we can then test out as we reread the texts in their Roman cultural context. In his fictive story of Paul and Timothy, the author of the heterographical (pseudepigraphical) letter of 1 Timothy establishes an ideal intergenerational relationship between “Paul” as an older man and “Timothy” as his adult “child.” When the fictive Paul directs Timothy to speak kindly to older people (5:1-2), he introduces a section on age-related issues. Behaviour that was causing concern for public reputation included adult children shirking filial duty (5:4, 8), young widows gadding about in public (5:11-15), and younger men accusing their elders (5:19). These behaviours threatened the reputation and honour of the community and may have been encouraged by the opposing faction. The author’s solution was to reject the opposing teachings and enforce behaviour that reflected proper age structure: adult children should fulfill their filial responsibilities and care for widowed mothers and grandmothers (5:4); young widows should be guided and supported by middle-aged women who were responsible for them in the age hierarchy among women (5:16); middle-aged women should imitate the exemplary behaviour of the enlisted widows who were over 60 years old; and young men were to be rebuked in front of everyone for their disrespect toward elders (5:20). In the face of social change, the author advocates for behaviour reflective of the traditional age structure of Roman society.

Keywords: 1 Timothy
widows
elders
anthropology of aging
early church
intergenerational conflict
age structure
social change
filial duty
enculturation
old age
ancient Mediterranean world
Advisor: Kloppenborg, John S.
Asking about and Predicting Consumer Preference: Implications for New Product Development

Designers do not merely develop concepts; they are increasingly involved in testing product concepts and learning consumer preference. However, designers’ decision making processes in these tasks have been little studied. In the two essays, I apply decision making frameworks to concept testing and preference learning to study consumer’s and designer’s biases. In my first essay, I study consumer bias in concept testing. When consumers test new products, they are often asked to choose which product they prefer. However, a choice question can elicit biased preference because consumers simply choose the product that is superior on the attribute serving their purchase purpose. My studies show that when consumers are asked to predict which product they will enjoy more, they are more likely to prefer the product that actually reflects their consumption utility. These findings suggest that making trade-offs is avoided in the choice question, but is encouraged in the enjoyment prediction question. Thus, a simple change of question format, in otherwise identical product comparisons, elicits different answers. This holds true when product attributes are easy to evaluate; when product attributes are hard to evaluate, changing question format does not affect consumer choice. My second essay examines designer bias in preference learning. When designers predict consumer preference for a product, they often base their predictions on consumer preference for similar products. However, this categorization-based strategy can result in biased predictions because categorical similarity is not diagnostic for preference prediction. I conducted two studies by applying a Multiple Cue Probability Learning experiment to a designer’s prediction task. I found that when subjects used a sequential learning strategy, making a sequence of predictions and receiving feedback, they increased prediction accuracy by 14% on average. When they made predictions with multiple sets, with a break between each set during which they reflected on what they had learned, their prediction accuracy further improved by 7% on average. In sum, I demonstrate bias and propose approaches to avoid them in two design tasks. My two essays show that the decision making frameworks are crucial in understanding and improving the successful outcome of the design process.

Keywords: design
new product development
concept testing
conjoint analysis
response mode effect
preference construction
decision strategy
preference learning
diagnosticity
Multiple Cue Probability Learning
Advisor: Soman, Dilip
Rational Design of Drug Formulations using Computational Approaches

Theory has been used to complement experiment in the development of both drugs and delivery systems. Theoretical methods are capable of identifying the molecular basis of drug formulation inadequacies and systematic theoretical studies may suggest fruitful avenues for material modification. This thesis highlights the utility of computer-based theoretical calculations for guiding the design of drug formulations and enhancing material-drug compatibility and stability. Specifically, the present work explores the applications of semi-empirical methods and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to enhance the performance of nano-emulsions and polymer micelle formulations for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. This work includes three separate studies preceded by an introductory summary of available theoretical techniques. The first study evaluates the accuracy and reliability of semi-empirical methods and MD simulations as means to select suitable excipients to formulate the anti-cancer drug docetaxel in an emulsion. Here, simulations accurately predict the rank order of drug solubility in various excipients, suggesting that simulation is useful for library enrichment. In the second study, a drug conjugation approach is used to further improve the stability and solubility of docetaxel in a triglyceride-based nano-emulsion. Here, optimal conjugates are identified with computer-based theoretical calculations and conjugates with formulation-compatible moieties are synthesized. As predicted, the conjugates exhibit enhanced solubility and loading efficiency in a nano-emulsion. The goal of the third study is to rationally design a stable unimolecular star copolymer that, as a unimer, does not disassemble upon the dilution that accompanies intravenous injection. Here, MD simulation is used to systematically investigate the solution properties of differently composed star copolymers. Overall, star copolymers with a hydrophobic PCL core ≤ 2 kDa and hydrophilic PEG blocks approaching 14.6 kDa per arm are predicted to form unimolecular micelles that remain unimeric at high concentrations. The studies presented in this thesis demonstrate that theoretical approaches are useful for fast pre-screening of drug formulation materials and for the development of delivery systems and drug derivatives.

Keywords: rational design
drug delivery
star copolymer
hydrophobic drug
molecular dynamics
solubility
formulation stability
polymeric micelles
nano-emulsion
compatibility
drug conjugates
lipophilicity
Advisor: Allen, Christine
Brain Regions Involved in Long-term Spatial Memory: fMRI and Behavioural Studies

In this thesis, I investigated the role of the hippocampus and other brain regions in long-term spatial memory. I used neuroimaging and behavioural techniques to compare spatial representations that are dependent on the hippocampus and those that rely on extra-hippocampal structures. In Experiment 1, I demonstrated that at least some spatial memories that are initially dependent on the hippocampus can become independent of it with time. This was done by looking at changes in brain activation as participants became familiar with a real-world environment over a year. Hippocampal activation was found during mental navigation tasks when participants were new to Toronto, but not after they had lived there for a year. This change was accompanied by an increase in activation in the posterior parahippocampal gyrus, lingual gyrus, cuneus, and superior temporal gyrus. In Experiment 2, I used neuroimaging to compare hippocampal involvement during the retrieval of coarse- and fine-grained spatial details, and episodic details associated with a familiar environment. I showed that hippocampally-mediated representations contain more fine-grained spatial details than extra-hippocampal spatial representations. Further, I demonstrated that fine-grained details become less dependent on the hippocampus with experience, but episodic details require the hippocampus throughout the lifetime of the memory. In Experiment 3, I provided behavioural evidence that the role of hippocampus in episodic memory associated with a familiar environment is crucially related to the degree of detail retrieved. Older adults were asked to recall walking routes from their daily lives and the number of details retrieved was correlated with tests sensitive to hippocampal function. Finally, I showed that the extra-hippocampal regions implicated in spatial memory depend on task demands. Basic navigation can be supported by the posterior parahippocampal gyrus, lingual gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, caudate and inferior frontal gyrus, independently of the hippocampus. When navigation requires fine-grained spatial details, additional regions including the precuneus and supramarginal gyrus will be recruited. When the task requires the retrieval of episodic details, the posterior cingulate, angular gyrus, and medial frontal lobes will be required, along with the hippocampus.

Keywords: memory
Advisor: Moscovitch, Morris
Grady, Cheryl L.
Low-frequency Disturbance Injection for Active Islanding Detection of Multiple Electronically-interfaced Distributed Generation Units

This thesis proposes and evaluates the application of a low-frequency disturbance injection, as an active islanding detection method, in a microgrid with multiple electronically-interfaced Distributed Generation (DG) units. Each DG unit is interfaced to the microgrid through a two-level Voltage-Sourced Converter (VSC). The low-frequency disturbance signal for islanding detection is injected through the q-axis control of each VSC unit. The low-frequency signal is at 1 Hz with an amplitude of up to 2.5 % of the rated VA of the VSC unit and augments the reference signal of the q-axis control. The effectiveness of the low-frequency injection for islanding detection is examined under two distinct VSC control scenarios. In the first scenario, each VSC only injects pre-determined real- and reactive-power components in the system and does not participate in frequency/voltage control. In the second scenario, the VSC controls are also equipped with frequency/real-power and voltage/reactive-power droop characteristics and thus share power and participate in frequency and voltage control of the microgrid, specifically in the islanded mode. The investigations reported in this thesis show that the proposed islanding detection method can effectively detect an islanding event under both VSC control strategies, subject to the conditions that UL and/or IEEE anti-islanding standards impose. The studies show that an islanding event can be detected within 536 ms subsequent to the instant of islanding. As part of this thesis, an eigen analysis software tool has been developed that can systematically investigate the impact of low-frequency disturbance injection on the small-signal stability and dynamic performance of the microgrid, prior and subsequent to an islanding event. This thesis concludes that the low-frequency disturbance injection-based method can be successfully applied to a multi-DG system, since (i) islanding detection is achieved within applicable standards requirements by all DG units in the system, and (ii) the low-frequency disturbance injection signal has no noticeable impact on the dynamics nor the small-signal stability of the system if its magnitude is kept below a pre specified limit.

Keywords: islanding detection
microgrid
low-frequency disturbance
Advisor: Iravani, Mohammad Reza
A Phenomenological Analysis of Massively Multiplayer Online Games

This dissertation conducts a phenomenological analysis of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) – networked computer applications that thousands of people play simultaneously using avatars to interact with one another and with computer-controlled entities within a game-world typically rendered in 3D. Part 1 argues that existing studies of MMOGs often utilize concepts that, while presumed to be well understood, are often problematic in ways that conflict with the actual claims of the studies in which they play a central role. Three issues in particular are highlighted. It is argued, first, that common conceptions of virtual should not influence understanding of MMOGs; second, that there are prima facie problems with how existing studies frame the subject of avatars; and, third, that there are substantive problems with accounts of avatars that involve notions of representation or embodiment. Part 2 develops an interpretation of MMOGs that both extends understanding of these games, and reflexively unsettles the traditional phenomenological perspective that orients this interpretation itself. The analysis begins by arguing that MMOGs are worlds – understood as places of meaningful, fallen, thrown, collective conduct – and introduces the idea of conjuncture to account for how Dasein and avatars function together at an existential-ontological level. In so doing, the dissertation puts pressure on the fundamental-ontological distinction between Dasein and entities other than Dasein, the idea that Dasein alone discloses world, and the notion that whatever Dasein uses in its environment only obtains a place because of the de-severing and directionality of Dasein. By interpreting the virtuality of MMOGs as the creative repetition of ontological structures of existence, the dissertation provides insight into the phenomena of virtual death and time. This in turn draws into question the idea that quantifying time blocks access to original human temporality, and that the transcendence of Dasein uniquely involves self-overcoming.

Keywords: Phenomenology
Games
Online Games
Video Games
Advisor: Smith, Brian Cantwell