VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Decentralization of IoT Networks: Exploring Blockchain-enabled Connected Vehicles and Data Marketplaces

Blockchain technology has been proposed as a solution to the privacy and security concerns faced by the Internet of Things. This is especially true in the automotive industry, where connected sensors surround vehicles and proper handling of data they produce is safety critical. In addition, blockchain networks' ability to support microtransactions could revolutionize how data from sensors are bought and sold. This thesis surveys and analyzes the current state of automotive blockchains. It describes the services blockchains have to offer the automotive industry and analyzes the applications that build on them. It also investigates the current state of blockchain architectures that may be capable of supporting these applications, and proposes directions for future work in this area. Additionally, this thesis presents a design for a blockchain-based data marketplace and credit system that together allow data producers to sell data streams to interested parties in a decentralized, safe, and efficient manner.

Keywords: Blockchain
IoT
Advisor: Veneris, Andreas
Investigation of Senescence in Inner Annulus Fibrosus Cells

This study investigates the ability of TNFα and H2O2 to induce senescence in cells of the inner annulus fibrosus (iAF) and the role of paracrine signaling in the latter process. Our results show that unlike NP cells, TNFα does not induce senescence in iAF cells, however degeneration-like changes were observed. Contrary to iAF cells, TNFα treatment induced dysregulation of ROS homeostasis in NP cells, which suggests ROS involvement in the mechanism of TNFα-induced senescence for NP cells. Treating iAF cells with an exogenous low dose of H2O2 did induce senescence, but did not induce degeneration-like changes. Lastly, co-culturing iAF cells with TNFα-induced senescent NP cells could induce both degenerative and senescent changes in iAF cells. This study provides insights into factors and their related pathways involved in the accumulation of senescent iAF cells associate with the IVD. The work contributes to our understanding of the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration.

Keywords: Degeneration
Intervertebral Disc
ROS signaling
Senescence
Advisor: Kandel, Rita
Santerre, Paul
Decolonizing or Changemaking: Professional Perspectives on Decolonizing Museum Practice in Small- and Medium-Sized Public Art Institutions

Ongoing calls for change in the museum sector, paired with recent events, have increased the urgency for decolonization. While past scholarship on decolonizing museums has been dedicated to large-scale institutions, this study focuses on small- and medium-sized public art institutions to ask how they have been responding to calls for decolonization. It uses semi-structured interviews with staff and volunteers to determine how professionals understand decolonizing; how they have been enacting decolonizing in practice; and what challenges have limited decolonial change. Answering these questions revealed that professionals choose to describe their practice using more general terms, commonly diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, which better align with their broad changemaking efforts. This language, however, obscures attention to land and privileges a focus on representation. Furthermore, interviews revealed that despite the process-based nature of decolonizing and changemaking, critical reflection has not been considered an essential component of current practice.

Keywords: art gallery
changemaking
decolonization
diversity equity inclusion and accessibility
institutional change
slow museology
Advisor: Krmpotich, Cara
Migwans, Mikinaak
Genetic Disruption in Folic Acid Metabolism and Embryonic Development of Energy Balance Regulation in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

High gestational folic acid (FA) favours an obesogenic phenotype in offspring but its interaction with common polymorphisms in FA metabolizing genes such as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), is unknown. While preclinical murine models have been valuable to inform on diet x gene interactions, a recent folate expert panel has encouraged the validation of new animal models. We used the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a preclinical model for understanding interactions between mthfr and FA. Wildtype and mthfr-deficient embryos were supplemented with no folate (0FA, control) or 100μM FA (100FA) throughout embryonic development. mthfr deficiency in zebrafish altered food intake and reduced metabolic rate and expression of central regulatory genes. Mthfr zebrafish also had greater lipid accumulation, changes to the one-carbon metabolic profile indicative of reduced methylation capacity, and reduced microglia abundance. FA exposure exacerbated these effects. Both a functional loss of mthfr and FA supplementation adversely affected the development of energy homeostasis and metabolism in zebrafish.

Advisor: Anderson, G. H.
Generator Model Identification using the Unscented Kalman Filter Based on Augmented Phasor Measurement Unit Signals

In 1996, the Western Systems Coordinating Council system had a system break-up event due to incorrect parameters. As a result, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has mandated the regular calibration of parameters to ensure accurate simulation results. It has been proposed to use Kalman filter-based approaches to estimate parameters via signals from an online generator. However, the current literature focuses on using limited signal measurements and limiting the number of simulation parameters to estimate. In this thesis, we investigate if a richer set of signals from the phasor measurement unit with the unscented Kalman filter will make it easier to improve the simulation accuracy, estimate more parameters, and identify the generator controllers’ parameters. The results show that improving simulation accuracy via an unscented Kalman filter is more manageable with augmented phasor measurement unit signals.

Keywords: parameter estimation
phasor measurement units
power systems
simulation
synchronous generators
unscented kalman filter
Advisor: Tate, Jospeh E
Water-energy Nexus in Intermittent Water Supplies: A Household-induced Trap

Intermittent water supply (IWS) is a persistent reality for one billion people. Here we explore one possible reason for the persistence of IWS: friction-induced energy loss. Under IWS, water is delivered in a short period, increasing flow rates and friction. To quantify this IWS-friction relationship, we defined three paces at which a household could withdraw water from IWS and determined how each pace would contribute to energy loss. We implemented each household withdrawal type by: a) expressing an analytic model of energy loss in a highly simplified IWS and b) simulating the behaviours of IWS in EPANET. Together, the analytic expressions and the EPANET simulations provide strong evidence that energy loss in an IWS is highly dependent on the household withdrawal type which may trap some utilities in the mode of IWS. We recommend additional theoretical and field research on IWS investigate the pace at which household withdrawals occur.

Keywords: Energy loss
EPANET modelling
Global South
Intermittent water supplies
Water distribution networks
Advisor: Meyer, David D.J.
3D Video Tracking Technology in the Assessment of Orofacial Impairments in Neurological Disorders

Changes to the orofacial muscles’ movement and speech are often among the earliest signs perceived in Neurological disorders. Detection of subtle changes in speech and facial movements can help with the diagnosis and prognosis of neurological disorders. Deep artificial intelligent video-based facial analysis models have the potential to be used as objective and non-invasive clinical tools. This thesis used the V3 framework for evaluation of digital biomarkers and their adoption into clinical settings to evaluate an automatic video-based facial analysis system as an objective assessment tool for accessing orofacial movements. The proposed system consists of a 3D camera and Artificial Intelligent-based algorithms that automatically extract objective clinically interpretable kinematic features from video recordings of individuals performing standard orofacial tasks. This work investigates the analytical and clinical validation of the proposed system to assess the severity of orofacial impairment in clinical groups.

Keywords: computer-aided orofacial assessment
facial kinematics
neurological disorders
Advisor: Yunusova, Yana
Taati, Babak
Teacher Perspectives on Refugee Youth Education in Ontario: The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on School Engagement and Barriers to Education

Refugee youth arrive in Canada with gaps in their education and a lack of English language abilities. English Literacy Development (ELD) programs are designed to help refugee high school students close these gaps and provide direct instruction in reading, writing, and oral language. Refugee youth are also at considerable risk for school disengagement, and they have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 school disruptions (Gallagher-Mackey et al., 2021). The present study uses thematic analysis based on teacher interviews to investigate refugee school engagement, barriers to education, and schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to teachers, refugee high school students face numerous barriers to their education including a lack of school skills and difficult home environments which negatively impact their school engagement, and which were exacerbated during emergency online learning. Findings from the present study will add to existing literature and serve as a foundation for future research in this area.

Keywords: Barriers
Education
Engagement
Refugee
Youth
Advisor: Cunningham, Todd
Numerical Prediction of Lean Premixed Hydrogen-air Deflagrations in Vented Vessels

In water-cooled nuclear power plants, hydrogen gas can be generated by various mechanisms during an accident. If the resulting hydrogen-air mixture within the facility combusts, existing containment structures may be compromised, and radio-active material can be released to the environment. Thus, to develop mitigation strategies for these scenarios, an improved understanding of the propagation of lean hydrogen deflagrations within buildings and structures is required. Large-eddy-simulation (LES) techniques can be used to model the propagation of flames in such scenarios. Adaptive-mesh-refinement can be used to increase the level of detail provided by the LES simulations, and thus they are applied in this study along with an Integral-length-scale-approximation (ILSA) sub-filter scale model. The LES predictions are compared to experimental data obtained by the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). Particularly, the predicted time histories of pressure as well as the maximum overpressure achieved within the vessels are compared to those arising from CNL experiments.

Keywords: Computational Fluid Dynamics
Finite Volume Method
Hydrogen Deflagration
Integral Length Scale Approximation
Large Eddy Simulation
Nuclear Power Plant
Advisor: Groth, Clinton P.T.
Challenging Canadian Immigration Policies and Services: The Settlement Experiences of Mature Tamil Women in Ontario, Canada

Literature on immigrant integration in Canada documents the limits of public services supporting the settlement of newcomers. This study provides deeper understandings of these limitations by examining the experiences of ten mature Tamil immigrant women who have resided in the province of Ontario, Canada for more than 10 years. Using personal interviews and archival immigration policy documents, the study argues that despite interacting closely with settlement programs, adult Tamil immigrant women continue to face gendered and classed barriers to social integration within and outside their communities. The thesis attributes these barriers to neoliberal and patriarchal notions of a “successfully integrated immigrant” enacted through Canadian government legislation and services supporting newcomers. Reflections from study participants challenge Canadian immigration policymakers to look beyond a time-limited definition of “successful integration” and towards feminist and community-centered notions of belonging. Based on these conclusions, the study proposes changes in Canadian federal and provincial settlement and integration policy.

Keywords: Community
Integration
Newcomer
Settlement
Tamil women
Tamil-Canadian
Advisor: Todorova, Miglena
Impact of Biochar on the Hydrological Performance of Extensive Green Roofs in Southern Ontario

Green roofs are a form of green infrastructure used in urban areas to help the postdevelopment water balance mimic the pre-development balance by retaining stormwater during the wet period and restoring it as evapotranspiration (ET) during the dry period. The overall objective of the current research is threefold: (1) assessing the discharge performance (retentionand detention) over 115 rain events and vegetation growth of four configurations of extensive green roof testbeds for two variables (a) green roof plant communities, and (b) substrate amendment using biochar; (2) assessing the effect of biochar amendment on the water balance, including dew, of a green roof module planted with sedum, using a smart field lysimeter; finally (3) assessing the effect of scale on a green roof by comparing the hydrological performance of a small green roof module with that of a larger green roof testbed. Overall, the green roofs showed good hydrological performance.

Keywords: Biochar
Detention
Evapotranspiration
Green Roof
Retention
Water Balance
Advisor: Drake, Jennifer
Investigating the Allosteric Role of PIP2 in the Activation Pathway of Adenosine-A2A Receptor through 31P 19F NMR

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a large eukaryotic membrane protein family. They function as signal transducers that regulate various cellular pathways upon activation by orthosteric ligands. GPCRs are known to adopt multiple conformational states that are stabilized by orthosteric, allosteric, and intracellular binding partners. Lipids are known allosteric modulators that constitute the hydrophobic environment for GPCRs to function. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a minor phospholipid component of cell membranes and recently been shown to regulate class A GPCRs by engaging its (4,5) phosphate groups with positively charged amino acids. In this project, phosphorus and fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (31P/19F NMR) was used to investigate the interplay between receptor, heterotrimeric G protein, orthosteric ligand, and PIP2. Interestingly, PIP2 (4, 5) phosphate groups show evidence for binding adenosine A2A receptor; additionally, PIP2 enhanced states involved in G protein binding and recognition (precoupled state).

Advisor: Prosser, Scott
Unprecedented Long Circulating Lipid Nanoparticles Enabled by High-density Gd-DTPA-bis(stearylamide) for Enhanced Tumor Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Porphysomes (PS) were developed to incorporate different types of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic-acid-gadolinium-(III) (Gd-DTPA)-lipids into their bilayer membrane to assess PS potential as an MRI contrast agent. Integration of Gd-DTPA-bis(stearylamide) (Gd-DTPA-BSA)-lipids resulted in exceptional serum stability and intact T1 and T2 relaxivity measurements of 13mM-1s-1 and 19mM-1s-1, respectively. In vivo studies in mice showed Gd-dPS-BSA having significant enhanced retention in blood circulation with a half-life of 13.6 hours and high tumor accumulation in select models with biodistribution showing up to 19.5 %ID/g in the tumor 72-hours post-injection. Additionally, Gd-dPS-BSA displayed excellent MRI tumor enhancement over 24-, 48- and 72-hours with contrast enhancements from baseline of 35.8%, 38.2% and 38.3%, respectively. Results reported in this project highlight how dense incorporation of Gd-DTPA-BSA-lipids can enhance circulatory longevity within PS and other liposome formulations, suggesting effective MRI contrast agent potential for Gd-dPS-BSA and potential utility of Gd-DTPA-BSA-lipids to enhance other liposomal-influenced diagnostic and therapeutic functions.

Keywords: Bis(stearylamide)
Circulatory longevity
Contrast agent
Liposome
MRI
Porphysome
Advisor: Zheng, Gang
Fabrication of In-mold Pressure and Temperature Sensors using Masked Wire-arc Thermal Spray

Pressure and temperature fluctuations within injection molding cavities adversely impact the viscosity of injected molten polymers, leading to material defects and poor part quality. This research investigates the feasibility of wire-arc deposition through patterned masks as a cost-effective and direct method for fabricating strain gauge and thermocouple sensors directly onto cavity surfaces for accurate and real-time in situ process monitoring. Preliminary characterization of coating microstructures revealed improved density and surface splat formations in a comparative study against flame sprayed coatings. The thick film Ni-Cr strain gauge responded linearly to uniaxial tensile strains and exhibited a cycled gauge factor of 70 with a R2 value of 0.995. Furthermore, a four-point bending experiment successfully demonstrated a reduction of hysteresis with increased cycling of flexure loads. Finally, wire-arc fabrication of a steel-constantan surface thermocouple, with a 0 °C Seebeck coefficient of 50 µV/°C, was also proposed to compensate for thermal output.

Keywords: Injection molding
Masked in situ deposition
Sensors
Strain gauge
Thermal spray
Thermocouple
Advisor: Chandra, Sanjeev
The Behaviour of Large Hollow Reinforced Concrete Shear-Critical Beams with Transverse Reinforcement

The objective of this study is to investigate the shear capacity of rectangular reinforced concrete beams with hollow cross sections subject to combined shear and flexural loading. The size of the hollow section is a key component of the analytical modelling and was evaluated using 2D Sectional Analysis software and CSA A23.3-14 Code formulations. The transverse reinforcement ratio was varied between specimens to observe its influence on crack development, shear capacity, and deformation. It was concluded that a 52% reduction in cross sectional area and 40% reduction in concrete volume with identical transverse and longitudinal reinforcement results in a 23% reduction in shear capacity compared to a solid beam with the same external dimensions. An identical hollow-section specimen with the same longitudinal reinforcement and twice as much transverse reinforcement carries 38% more shear than the lightly reinforced hollow specimen, and 6% more than the lightly reinforced solid specimen.

Keywords: co2 emissions
embodied carbon
hollow beams
point load tests
reinforced concrete
shear critical
Advisor: Bentz, Evan C
Towards a Body: A Study of Anatomical Exhibits in "Canada"

Autoethnographic methods and affect theory guide this reflection upon three anatomical exhibits: The Maude Abbott Medical Museum, The AstraZeneca Human Edge, and Medical Sensations. It reflects upon the stakes of the display of bodies, the idea of presence, and, ultimately, conceptions of the human life-form. Approaching the material by thinking through critical race theory, performance studies, and women and gender studies, this thesis questions how these exhibits pose challenges for dreaming of a collective future. Many of the displays include fragments of deceased bodies, or replications of deceased bodies. Thus, this thesis asks how we can ethically engage in these exhibits by bearing witness to rather than consuming these bodies. Critically thinking about the body and humanisms is a central concern for living in an ethical present and future. Ultimately, the writing reflects upon how storytelling is a key method for theoretically shifting how we think about the human life-form itself.

Keywords: Anatomy
Critical Race Theory
Death
Healthism
Humanism
Presence
Advisor: Carter, Jill
Cytotoxicity of Non-psychoactive Cannabinoids with an Emphasis on Cannabidiol and Ovarian Cancer

There has been an increased interest in determining the therapeutic potential of non-psychoactive cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene, and cannabigerol. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the cytotoxicity of non-psychoactive cannabinoids in various cancer cell lines and to determine the combined drug effects of CBD with chemotherapeutic agents, cisplatin (CDDP), and paclitaxel (PTX) in ovarian cancer cell lines. All cannabinoids exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects with IC50 values in the micromolar range. When CBD was further evaluated in combination with CDDP, the combined drug effect was neither cell line nor molar ratio dependent and was predominantly antagonistic at most molar ratios of CBD:CDDP. Conversely, the effects of CBD combined with PTX resulted in synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects which varied depending on the cell line evaluated. The combined effect of CBD and PTX cannot be explained solely by the involvement of the drug transporter, P-glycoprotein.

Keywords: cannabichromene
cannabidiol
cannabigerol
cisplatin
ovarian cancer
paclitaxel
Advisor: Allen, Christine
Teacher-student Tradition: Bharathanatyam Classroom Experience in the Greater Toronto Area

This research project explores the guru-shishya paramapara (teacher-student tradition) within Bharathanatyam classrooms in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Briefly examining the complex history of the dance form and the origin of the teacher-student tradition within Hinduism establishes the sources of this tradition and challenges the effectiveness of said tradition in present-day Bharathanatyam classrooms. The researcher’s overt auto-ethnographical methodology as well as individual and group interviews with nine Bharathanatyam students from the GTA ascertain challenges faced within the teacher-student relationship. Further information is gathered through publicly posted social media content and their advocacy and condemnation of the teacher-student tradition is examined. The main purpose of this research project is to assess if the teacher-student tradition can offer safe and inclusive learning spaces for Bharathanatyam students of diverse backgrounds.

Keywords: Bharathanatyam
Dance Teacher
Guru-Shishya Parampara
Hierarchy
Power Dynamics
Teacher-Student Relationship
Advisor: Carter, Jill
Synchronized Microbubble-photodynamic Activation (SYMPA) to Disinfect Minimally Prepared Root Canals

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a novel root canal irrigation strategy using synchronized microbubble-photodynamic activation (SYMPA) in a minimally prepared single canal. Single canal mandibular incisors were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis for 3 weeks, and randomly allocated to 4 groups based on different irrigation protocols: control (saline), conventional needle irrigation (CI), ultrasonic irrigation (UI), and SYMPA. The first three groups were instrumented to size 25.07v (WaveOne Gold Primary) and SYMPA group was minimally prepared to size 20.07v (WaveOne Gold Small, Dentsply Sirona, Tulsa, OK). The apical 5mm was resected for microbiological assessment using culture technique (colony-forming-unit (CFU)), ATP-based viability assay (relative luminescence units (RLU)), and percentage of live bacteria using confocal-laser-scanning-microscopy (CLSM). Log CFU from UI (2.37  0.66), and SYMPA (2.21  0.86) showed significant microbial reduction compared to control and CI. There was a significant reduction in metabolic activity (RLU) in SYMPA (415.25  329.51) and UI (619.08  352.78) compared to control (1213.2  880.03) (p <.05). The percentage of live bacteria was significantly lower in SYMPA, and UI compared to control and CI. Although higher microbial reduction was observed in SYMPA when compared to UI, there was no statistical significance (p >.05). SYMPA in minimally prepared canals showed significant antimicrobial efficacy. This novel irrigation protocol using SYMPA could be an effective disinfection strategy for minimally prepared root canals.

Advisor: Kishen, Anil