VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
(Re)conceptualizing Integration: An Arts-Informed Study of Kurdish-Turkish Asylum Claimants’ Post-Migration Experiences in Canada

The number of Turkish and Kurdish refugee claimants to Canada has been increasing significantly over the last six years. Despite this increase, there are limited studies that focus on the post-migration experiences of Turkish and Kurdish individuals from refugee backgrounds in Canada. Although policies highlight that knowledge of the host society's language(s) is a key indicator of successful integration, little attention has been paid to the role of power relations, opportunities for social interaction, language practice and marginalization experiences in shaping the language learning experiences of migrants. Thus, my study aims to answer the following research questions: (a) How do individuals from refugee backgrounds perceive and experience “integration?” (b) What are the challenges of learning languages in Canada as an individual from a refugee background? (c) What opportunities or successes do individuals from refugee backgrounds experience while learning languages in Canada?Within the context of a participatory arts-informed multiple case study, I worked with ten Kurdish and Turkish youth between the ages of 18-30 who participated in semi-structured interviews and online focus groups. During the focus groups, participants produced and shared different (art)ifacts, such as music performance, sculptures, poems, photographs, etc. on diverse topics such as identity, language learning experiences, and involvement in community programs. Engaging in critical group dialogues, participants identified their needs, concerns, and opportunities and proposed solutions for stakeholders in the resettlement and education sectors. Findings revealed that participants’ intersecting identities and their marginalization experiences resulting from different forms of systemic oppression shaped their language learning and “integration” experiences in Canada. Their language learning trajectories were shaped by multilevel structural factors, ideologies and their own perceptions of their languages and position in Canada. Findings also revealed participants’ resilience and resistance to being understood as “lacking agency” as they created and sought opportunities for personal, academic, and language development to move towards a pathway to post-secondary education. I describe implications for language programs for newcomers and policies related to resettlement and language education and, in particular, the need to shift from measuring settlement success by considering integration to making inclusion a priority.

Keywords: arts-informed research
integration
language education
language policy
refugees
resettlement
Advisor: Gagné, Antoinette
Thoroughbass Reductive Analysis Applied to Arranging Bach’s Solo Violin Sonata BWV 1003 for Guitar

Thoroughbass was not only a performance practice, but also a way J.S. Bach and his circle conceived of music. Since the beginning of the 20th century, guitar arrangements of Bach’s music have expanded the repertoire of the instrument. None of the existing guitar arrangements of the second solo violin sonata BWV 1003 have been developed from a thoroughbass-oriented perspective. Commonly, harmonic perspectives derived from Rameau have been employed in analyzing and arranging Bach’s music – mainly his ‘unaccompanied’ works. However, Rameau’s first harmonic treatise was not published until 1722, two years after Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin were finished in 1720. Bach’s conviction was that thoroughbass was ‘the most perfect foundation ofmusic.1 Consequently, this thesis presents a tool called thoroughbass reductive analysis which not only unveil the underlying harmonic structure and voice-leading procedures of BWV 1003, but also address the implied polyphony of this solo work and potentially inform interpretive decisions such as phrasing, articulation, dynamics, and ornamentation. By utilizing thoroughbass reductive analysis, as well as becoming familiar with prototypical thoroughbass patterns, an arrangement can be developed that takes advantage of the idiomatic resources of the guitar while at the same time referencing the foundations upon which Bach’s music was largely conceived in his time. 1 Johann Sebastian Bach, Precepts and principles for playing the thorough bass or accompanying in fourparts Trans. Pamela L. Poulin ( 1738. New York: Clarendon Press, 1994), 10.

Keywords: Analysis
Arrangement
Bach
Guitar
Reductive
Thoroughbass
Advisor: McFadden, Jeffrey
Knowledge Translation

Knowledge-rich applications can see significant performance improvementsby using domain-specific Knowledge bases (KBs). Populating and enriching these KBs has, thus, become an important challenge. In this thesis, we examine a powerful approach for KB population that is based on knowledge exchange, the process of translating knowledge from one KB to another, even when these KBs use very different concepts, properties, and graph structure to represent their knowledge. We introduce Kensho. A tool for generating mapping rules between two Knowledge Bases. In the data exchange problem, data that is structured under a source schema is transformed into an instance of a target schema. This is accomplished using a set of rules (called mapping rules) that specify the relationship between the source and target schemas. Kensho can produce mapping rules even in the presence of cycles, incompleteness in the source, and in settings with missing or unknown correspondences between properties or property paths. In addition, Kensho performs knowledge translation using value invention to preserve the proper grouping of data in the target KB. We also introduce two tools (Vizcurator and Sassho) that we have created to help domain experts in the task of knowledge translation. Vizcurator aims to help a domain expert understand and curate the source of exchange. Sassho aims to help a domain expert compare and understand mapping rules which are automatically created using a mapping generation tool such as Kensho. Sassho enables a domain expert to create examples that can be used to understand subtle differences among alternative mapping rules and explore the affect of those differences on the data being exchanged. As interest in supporting data exchange between heterogeneous knowledge bases (KBs) has increased, so has interest in benchmarking KB exchange systems. We introduce a set of new requirements for a KB exchange benchmark based on unique characteristics of KBs and based on important lessons learned from other data exchange systems. The field of exchanging information among KBs is relatively new. We outline an extensive research agenda for Knowledge Exchange based our experience in bringing data exchange to knowledge graphs.

Keywords: Data Exchange
Data Translation
Knowledge bases
Knowledge Translation
Ontologies
Schema mapping
Advisor: Lyons, Kelly
Miller, Renée
Statistical Inference for Tail Dependence Structures

In multivariate extreme value theory, the study of tail dependence seeks to understand the dependence structure of multivariate data among those observations that are considered extreme, typically by having at least one of their components take a large value. This thesis offers solutions to two inferential problems concerning tail dependence. Existing work often assumes that observed variables are tail dependent, i.e., that observing multiple extreme values simultaneously is roughly as likely as observing at least one extreme. Real data, however, suggests that this is a restrictive assumption even in the bivariate case; the probability of simultaneous extremes can often be significantly smaller than the probability of a single extreme, while being non-negligible. In the first part of this thesis, a novel method is introduced to construct parametric models for bivariate tails that can be agnostic to the presence or absence of tail dependence. A class of M-estimators is constructed for the models and is theoretically justified. The model construction, inference methodology and asymptotic theory are then extended to the case where the tails of a spatial process are of interest. The conditional tail dependence structure of a moderate- to high-dimensional random vector can be encoded in the edges of an extremal graph, where each vertex represents an observed variable. Learning general extremal graphs in a fully data-driven way is an important open problem. In the second part of this thesis, a family of algorithms is introduced to solve this task by borrowing tools from Gaussian graphical model selection. For two such algorithms which are based on L1 regularization, consistency of the estimated graph is established in a general setting. No assumptions are made on the structure of the underlying graph, other than connectedness, and the number of variables is allowed to be exponentially larger than the effective sample size. Along the way, a general concentration result is proved for the empirical extremal variogram, which has widespread applicability in multivariate extreme value theory.

Keywords: Asymptotic independence
Concentration inequality
Extreme value theory
Graphical models
Advisor: Volgushev, Stanislav
Asymptotics for High-dimensional Problems

We examine several classical inferential methods in the higher-order asymptotics literature and derive guarantees for their behaviour in high dimensions. In particular, we consider the accuracy and breaking points of the modified likelihood root, Laplace approximation and the saddlepoint approximation. Throughout this work, our objective is to obtain high-dimensional guarantees for these methods without sparsity assumptions on the underlying model. For the modified likelihood root, r*, we obtain the point at which its asymptotic distributional limit would differ from that of its unmodified version in high dimensions. We show that the modified likelihood root mostly adjusts for the influence of the nuisance parameters, confirming a long-held conjecture. We also characterize a measure of deviation from exponentiality through the modified likelihood root. We then examine the modified likelihood root via standard techniques used in higher-order asymptotics for general location-scale and linear exponential families. For these two families, we show that r* can be viewed as a location and scale adjustment to the likelihood root. We then derive error rates for the Laplace and saddlepoint approximations in the high-dimensional setting under general assumptions and then discuss ways by which these rates can be improved upon. Specific applications of the Laplace and saddlepoint approximations are described and a general discussion of their roles in high-dimensional inference is provided. We conclude with remarks on future research directions, including a discussion of other higher order methods and their applicability in high dimensions, higher order theory for infinite dimensional models, analytical approximations for complex Bayesian models and the role of sparsity in high-dimensional inference.

Keywords: High-Dimensional Statistics
Higher-Order Asymptotics
Laplace Approximation
Likelihood Asymptotics
Modified Likelihood Root
Saddlepoint Approximation
Advisor: Reid, Nancy
Roy, Daniel
A Narrative Study on First-generation Women Students’ Experiences and Persistence Decisions in Ontario Undergraduate Mathematics or Physics Programs

Though participation and persistence rates for women in university science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs are increasing, the experiences of an equity-deserving group, first-generation women students (FGWSs), those women first in their family to attend college or university, are not widely understood. This study used narrative inquiry and interviews to explore the journey of 12 FGWSs into and through their mathematics and physics programs, how they understood and made sense of their experiences, and how these experiences shaped their persistence decisions. The conceptual framework guiding this study draws upon Terenzi and Reason’s (2005) persistence framework, De Grandi et al.’s (2019) STEM climate constructs, and STEM literature. Although findings are mostly consistent with previous research, they also reveal new insights into FGWSs’ challenges and successes and how they use different lenses (e.g., gender or first-generation status) to understand their experiences. Growing up, participants developed an early interest in STEM through informal exploration and teachers who fostered their passion. Once they began university, participants felt disoriented as they were unfamiliar with the university context. Several themes emerged relating to their university journey. First, first-generation status is a hidden component of social identity acknowledged during first year. They do not know what they do not know (or should know), and some had experiences where they felt at a disadvantage. However, they were determined and recognized that they could ask their peers for advice. Second, doubts about their abilities led to lower academic confidence, imposter feelings, and thoughts about switching programs. However, they adopted new perspectives on learning and success and persisted as they felt a sense of pride in their accomplishments. Third, most participants suggested that STEM professors should adopt a pedagogy of care. They felt that student-centred teaching approaches engaged them and made them comfortable approaching professors. Lastly, even though their families did not have knowledge about university, many felt that family support was influential in their persistence. Not all FGWSs have the same experiences in mathematics or physics programs, so a one-size-fits-all model to support them is not appropriate. Several recommendations for post-secondary institutions and STEM departments are provided.

Keywords: First-Generation Women
Mathematics
Persistence Decisions
Physics
STEM
STEM education
Advisor: Childs, Ruth
“Ontario’s Development Road”: The Ontario Northland Railway and Provincial Colonialism, 1901-1995

In this dissertation I investigate the Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway (known as the Ontario Northland Railway after 1946, or simply the ONR) in the Moosonee and Moose Factory region of Northeastern Ontario as a means to examine how provincial colonialism manifested through the railway’s actions. Railway infrastructure is an active agent of provincial colonialism. In Northeastern Ontario, the provincial government used the ONR to impose colonial control over the lands and waters of Omushkegowuk people by granting the railway power over land administration, resource development, and transportation infrastructure. In the Omushkego-Aski (James Bay Lowlands) in particular, the ONR was the first permanent provincial government presence and remained one of the most significant for decades. Industrial and natural resource development proposals, championed by the Ontario government, by the ONR, and by private enterprise show this colonial mindset in practice. Racially motivated indifference and outright discrimination exacerbated the railway’s unresponsiveness to the local situation. These actions demonstrated that, despite the relationship established in Treaty 9, the provincial government’s priorities did not include the local, primarily Omushkegowuk, population. In later years, tourism and leisure activities reinforced the railway’s imposed racial division and also further entrenched colonialism in the region. The Ontario government and ONR were willing to exploit the Omushkegowuk for their own ends, as producers of crafts for sale to tourists and as guides for elite sport hunters. In Northeastern Ontario, the ONR was a key agent of provincial colonialism, even as Omushkegowuk people developed their own complicated relationship with the railway that became a significant transportation link.

Keywords: colonialism
Indigenous
Ontario
politics
railway
tourism
Advisor: Bohaker, Heidi
Economic Analysis of Violations of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Human rights violations in Iran present a challenging issue for international law and a complex subject for research. Most effort has gone into broadcasting Iran's systematic and gross violations of human rights. As a way to move beyond this point, this thesis uses the "law and economics" approach, political economy, and behavioral insights to investigate the behavioral dynamics of state-based human rights violations in post-revolutionary Iran. The first chapter describes human rights in Iran and reveals how institutional designs exacerbate repression. Chapter two provides a literature review, addresses methodological concerns, and defines "Economic analysis of human rights" as a distinct field. The third chapter presents a political economic conceptual framework, discusses the determinants of human rights violations in Iran, and investigates some of the underlying behavioral dynamics of repression in Iran. Finally, statistical analysis indicates that political transitions and armed conflicts are causally linked to more human rights violations in Iran.

Keywords: Economic Analysis
International Law
Iran
Political Economy
Repression
Violations of Human Rights
Advisor: Fadel, Mohammad
Transportation, Poverty, and Urban Dynamics

This dissertation examines suburbanization of poverty in Canadian cities during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with particular focus on its relation to the distribution of transportation infrastructure and travel behaviour outcomes. The body of this dissertation consists of a literature review followed by three quantitative research papers. The first examines suburbanization of poverty in Toronto over a 25 year period relative to changes in public transit accessibility and adverse travel behaviour outcomes (e.g. longer commute times). The second uses panel data to analyze and tabulate individual pathways to suburban poverty across Canada. And the third directly asks whether low-income residents are disproportionately moving away from public transit. Findings show that many suburban areas are not only declining in socio-economic status, but are also experiencing worsening travel restrictions, evidenced by longer commute times and lower activity participation rates. Importantly, the primary pathway to suburban poverty is sourced from residents dropping into poverty in the suburbs, rather than from moving away from central areas or due to immigration. Moreover, while low-income residents reduce their level of transit accessibility when they move, they are not doing so at a greater rate than higher-income movers. Overall, this research generates important knowledge about the changing structure of urban neighbourhoods while also providing pertinent information to aid preventative policy aimed at reducing suburban poverty in Canada.

Keywords: cities
mobility
neighbourhood change
poverty
suburbs
transportation
Advisor: Steven, Farber
Four Essays on Asset Pricing and Structural Estitmation

This dissertation contains four essays on asset pricing and structural estimation. The first essay illustrates the necessary and sufficient conditions via a statistical test for risk-based allocation rules to outperform mean-variance optimization. The essay empirically tests the predictions from the statistical test on many datasets ad finds that inverse volatility rules outperform mean-variance out of sample consistent with the prediction from the statistical test. Furthermore, it uses machine learning to leverage the properties of the inverse volatility portfolio to further enhance the out-of-sample performance of this allocation rule. The second essay develops 50 novel indices of State-level Economic Policy Uncertainty (SEPU) based on newspaper coverage frequency using 204 million state newspaper articles from January 1990 to December 2019. The essay assesses that SEPU indices vary counter-cyclically with respect to state-specific economic conditions, rise before close gubernatorial elections, and exhibit a large cross-sectional variation. Overall these findings highlight the importance of economic policy uncertainty at the state level in addition to the nationwide level. The third essay uses Simulated Method of Moments to estimate the costs of financial distress experienced prior to default separately from the loss incurred at default. The paper shows that, by accounting for pre-default costs of financial distress, a standard capital structure model can fit the data considerably better than previous models. The fourth essay develops a dynamic capital structure model to study how manager-shareholders agency conflicts affect the joint determination of financing and investment decisions. It shows that there are two agency conflicts with opposing effects on a manager's choice of investment: (a) the consumption of private benefits channel leads managers not only to choose a lower optimal leverage, but also to underinvest, (b) compensation linked to firm size may lead managers to overinvest. The paper uses Simulated Method of Moments to fit the model to the data and show that the average firm slightly overinvests, younger CEOs invest more than older ones, while CEOs with longer tenure overinvest more than CEOs with smaller tenure.

Advisor: Elkamhi, Redouane R
Reading, Evaluating and Commemorating Feminism : Excluding and Reviving Dynamics of L'Euguélionne’s Reception in Québec

My doctoral research relies on the premise that political books are more than a receptacle of movement ideas. They are texts that reveal and put words on felt oppression; they are works that resist artistic norms and often challenges literary institutions; and they are objects that can garner solidarity amongst readers and nurture one’s connection to the movement. In other words, I understand political books – reading them, evaluating them, commemorating them – as a way in which culture shapes our political imagination. Québec's feminist novel L’Euguélionne is a good example of this type of political book. Published in 1976 as Louky Bersianik’s debut novel, it was a critically acclaimed and best-selling book that also received vitriol for its ideological commitments. Over time, it became a forgotten classic known only amongst small reception communities, until 2016, when a new feminist bookstore borrowed its name. Using L’Euguélionne as a point of departure, my doctoral research traces the cultural trajectory of this feminist artistic production to enhance our understanding about the ways in which feminist ideas are critiqued and undermined, but also circulated and kept alive. The dissertation raises three central questions: How is feminist art received by masculine gatekeepers of art worlds? What does the reception and revival of feminist art make possible for activists as they attempt to renew the movement? How does friendship shape intergenerational transmission of feminist art? Methodologically, my approach to the study of L’Euguélionne proposes to consider reception like ethnographers would a city sidewalk (Duneier 1999) or an Argentinian neighbourhood (Auyero 2015). This involves looking at the complex dynamics that characterize the site, what I term the push and pull of cultural reception, mapping the connections between actors, and paying close attention to forms of activism that happen under the radar. This approach complements more conventional studies of cultural reception and could be used by scholars interested in how critical appraisal of political art shapes public discourse about social movements, how consumption of art can fuel activism, and how consecration affects the diffusion of political ideas and shapes intergenerational movement dynamics.

Keywords: Archives
Commemoration
Feminism
Québec Studies
Social Movement Studies
Sociology of Culture
Advisor: Taylor, Judith JT