VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Synchronization in Networks of Linear Time-Invariant Systems

This thesis studies the synchronization problem for a network of identical, linear time-invariant systems. A criterion to test network synchronization is derived and used for synchronization design. Minimum requirements for the solvability of the design problem are provided. A selection of control protocols for specific classes of systems are presented, and their synchronization properties are characterized. An algorithm to approximate the root locus of polynomials is developed to study synchronization properties in the high-gain limit. This analysis yields an algebraic characterization of systems that synchronize with respect to a large set of interconnections, as well as the conclusion that certain control protocols have poor synchronization properties.

Keywords: Control theory
Linear systems
Synchronization
Advisor: Scardovi, Luca
Investigating Wind Catchers and Solar Chimneys to Improve Thermal Comfort in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings in Mumbai

The thesis examines the effect of wind catchers and solar chimneys in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) in Mumbai to help improve indoor thermal comfort. The implementation of wind catchers and solar chimneys in MURBs was selected as the most applicable passive cooling solution. Fundamental heat loss equations and duct loss design procedures were used to determine the sizing and feasibility of the solution and were verified against discretized calculation methods and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The discretized results were found to be comparable to the CFD with an error margin of 10%. The combination of the wind catcher and solar chimney solution was able to reduce the total annual discomfort time by a minimum of 71% using ASHRAE Standard 55. The preliminary results from the findings are promising and establishes the necessary precedence for further research to be conducted.

Advisor: Touchie, Marianne
Biomechanical Analyses of Bodyweight Unilateral Lower Limb Exercise Tasks - Comparison of Common Squatting and Lunging Movements

Bodyweight unilateral lower limb exercise tasks (BULLETs) are used in movement assessment and (re)training contexts. Since kinematic characteristics of individual BULLETs are different, it was hypothesized that lower extremity biomechanical loading patterns would differ between BULLETs. Thirty-two participants performed bodyweight forward lunges, backward lunges, split squats, single-leg squats, and double-leg squats. Body segment kinematics and ground reaction forces were used to quantify body-size normalized, lower limb net joint moments. Peak and average hip, knee, ankle, and total support moments differed across BULLETs (p

Keywords: Biomechanics
Human Movement
Kinematics
Kinesiology
Kinetics
Strength Conditioning
Advisor: Beach, Tyson A
Achieving Scalable and Reliable Non-Intrusive Failure Reproduction in Distributed Systems by Enhancing the Event Chaining Approach

Complex and unforeseen failures in distributed systems must be diagnosed and replicated so developers can understand the underlying problem and verify the resolution. Unfortunately, failure reproduction is unpredictable and time-consuming, often leading to costly service outages. Pensieve is a tool that automates failure reproduction by deploying a novel static analysis approach, Event Chaining (EC), which iteratively explains causal dependencies from the failure symptom while avoiding simulating the entire execution by skipping likely irrelevant instructions, which addresses the cause of poor scalability in existing approaches like symbolic execution. Despite its aggressive design, EC is plagued by combinatorial explosion. This thesis investigates ECâ s poor scalability and presents a redesign that enables EC to scale for complex failures. Further, this thesis presents a feedback mechanism that identifies instructions initially skipped by EC but are in fact relevant to the failure. Finally, this thesis presents a design that enables deterministically reproduction of concurrency failures.

Advisor: Yuan, Ding
The Relative Contribution of Mental Illness in Intimate Partner Violence Recidivism

To date the literature exploring the relative contribution of mental health-related risk factors to intimate partner violence recidivism has produced ambiguous results. Mental illness has only sometimes been shown to be predictive of IPV recidivism and few studies have examined mental illness alongside other well-established predictors of recidivism. This study seeks to add to the literature by examining the relative contribution of mental health-related risk factors to the rate and timing of adult male IPV recidivism over and above standard predictors. The study found that when controlling for other significant risk factors, recidivists with mental illness were 1.83 times more likely to re-offend and reoffended faster than their non-ill counterparts. This study concludes that extending the eligibility criteria of adult therapeutic court to permit access to perpetrators with mental illness who have offended against an intimate partner may allow for treatment during the highest risk time for reoffending.

Keywords: domestic violence
Intimate partner violence
mental illness
recidivism risk
risk assessment
Advisor: Scott, Katreena
Heavy group 13 elements (Ga, In) in frustrated Lewis pair reactions and hydrogenation catalysis

The Lewis acids Ga(C6F5)3 and In(C6F5)3 were synthesized and their Lewis acidities have been investigated by experimental and computational methods. In the presence of phosphine donors, these frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) were shown to heterolytically split dihydrogen and catalyze the hydrogenation of N-tert-butylbenzimine. Furthermore, the reactions with diphenyl disulfide produce phosphonium-gallates or phosphonium-indates of the form [tBu3PSPh][PhSE(C6F5)3] and [tBu3PSPh][(Îź-SPh)(E(C6F5)3)2] (E=Ga, In), while the reactions with phenylacetylene gave mixtures of the products [tBu3PH][PhCCE(C6F5)3] and tBu3P(Ph)C=C(H)E(C6F5)3. A number of these compounds were crystallographically characterized.

Keywords: Frustrated Lewis pair
Gallium
Hydrogenation
Indium
Main group chemistry
Small molecule activation
Advisor: Stephan, Doug W
LESBIANS’ AND GAY MEN’S PERCEPTIONS OF STEREOTYPING: RELATIONSHIP TO CAREER INTERESTS AND SENSE OF BELONGING

The “gender inversion” stereotype that lesbians and gay men are similar to the opposite gender continues to be a pervasive part of how others perceive lesbians and gay men (Reyna, Wetherell, Yantis, Brandt, 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lesbians’ and gay men’s awareness and endorsement of the gender inversion stereotyping and their interests in pursuing gender typical careers (masculine careers for gay men and feminine careers for lesbians). Seventy-four gay men and 108 lesbians completed questionnaires assessing awareness and the endorsement of gender inversion stereotype, sense of belonging, anticipated discrimination, perceived support from role models and interest in pursuing masculine and feminine careers. Awarenes of stereotypes had no influence on gay men’s or lesbians’ career interests. This study expands the research on stereotypes into the area of lesbians’ and gay men’s career development.

Advisor: Schneider, Margaret
Endoscopic Full-Field Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Neuroimaging System

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has the capability to differentiate brain elements with intrinsic contrast and at a resolution an order-of-magnitude higher than other imaging modalities. This thesis investigates the feasibility of OCT for neuroimaging applied to neurosurgical guidance. We present, to our knowledge, the first Full-Field Swept-Source OCT system operating near a wavelength of 1310 nm, achieving a transverse imaging resolution of 6.5 μm, an axial resolution of 14 μm in tissue and a field of view of 270 μm x 180 μm x 400 μm. Imaging experiments were performed on rat brain tissues ex vivo, human cortical tissue ex vivo, and rats in vivo. A multi-level threshold metric applied on the intensity of the images led to a plausible correlation between the observed density and location in the brain. The proof-of-concept OCT system can be improved and miniaturized for clinical use.

Keywords: endoscopic
full-field
neuroimaging
optical coherence tomography
stereotactic surgery
swept-source
Advisor: Poon, Joyce KS
Learning Socially Assistive Robot Behaviors for Personalized Human-Robot Interaction

Caregivers play a crucial role in assisting seniors having difficulty accomplishing activities of daily living (ADLs) due to physical or cognitive limitations. A global decline in the caregiver-to-senior ratio is making it increasingly more difficult to care for these seniors. Socially assistive robots are promising alternative technologies for supporting seniors in living independently. However, limited research has gone into developing a learning-based method for designing assistive robot behaviors. This thesis aims to: (1) identify the key features necessary for assistive robots supporting seniors with cognitive impairments in completing ADLs; and (2) develop a novel behavior-learning architecture to teach robots how to display assistive behaviors using expert demonstrations and personalize these learned behaviors to the seniorâ s cognition using reinforcement learning to increase task performance. Experiments with a socially assistive robot validated the robotâ s ability to learn and personalize new behaviors to a userâ s cognition from expert demonstration using the proposed architecture.

Keywords: human-robot interaction
robot behavior learning
socially assistive robots
Advisor: Nejat, Goldie
Mihailidis, Alex
A Numerical Study of Viscoelastic Flow Through an Array of Cylinders

This thesis is a study on creeping flow of an ideal viscoelastic fluid through square arrays of cylinders to predict the pressure drop. Numerical simulations were completed for arrays of three different solid volume fractions: 2.5%, 5%, and 10%. Substantial amounts of elastic stresses were found beyond a critical flow rate, up to six times that of the highest Newtonian stresses. An increase in pressure drop caused by elasticity was found, in contrast to many other numerical studies which find a decrease or no change. This pressure drop was, however, considerably smaller than what was found experimentally by James, Yip, Currie (2012). The absence of elastic extensional stresses downstream of the cylinder for the 10% array supports the argument that the increase in pressure drop is caused by elastic stresses due to shear.

Keywords: Array of cylinders
Numerical simulation
Oldroyd-B
Porous media
Viscoelastic flow
Advisor: James, David F
IDENTITY INVESTMENT: HARNESSING SOCIAL MEDIA AS A PLATFORM FOR AN IDENTITY TEXT PROJECT

This study explored how the affordance of social media generates opportunities for students to maximize identity investment and literacy engagement in rolling admission, non-credit adult English language classes at a private language school in Toronto. While research on studentsâ identities and experiences, and use of social media in the classroom exists, there is little research on the use of social media as a medium for creating student identity texts. Thus, this study utilizes social media to involve studentsâ identities and experiences in the classroom by taking an action research oriented case study approach in which data collected in iterative cycles inform the construction of a cross-case comparison of four student participants. Findings indicate that studentsâ identity investment and literacy engagement are maximized when students have agency over posting variables.

Keywords: humanizing pedagogy
identity text
literacy expertise framework
multimodality
rolling admission
transformative multiliteracies pedagogy
Advisor: GagnĂŠ, Antoinette
Positive Compromise among Professional Canadian Immigrants

The current study examined retraining and career development experiences of professional Canadian immigrants. Specifically, the current studyâ s purpose was to determine how positive compromise influences immigrant career development. A qualitative methodology was utilized, and in depth interviews were conducted and analyzed utilizing a grounded theory approach. Results indicated that participants engaged in various behaviours associated with positive compromise, which facilitated both retraining and career development. Common actions endorsed by participants associated with positive compromsie are discussed, as well as outcomes associated with such actions. The discussion details implications of results pertaining to vocational psychology literature, professional practice in counselling, self-help, and in addition, provides suggestions for future researchers.

Keywords: Positive Compromise
Professional Immigrants
Resilience
Retraining
Advisor: Chen, Charles P
In vivo Imaging of Cerebral Microglial Activation and Glutathione in Regular Cannabis Users

Cannabinoids have been shown to modulate immune responses, including microglial activation, and oxidative stress pathways; however, the effects of cannabis use on brain immune cells (i.e. microglial activation) and redox status have never been investigated in vivo in human brain. Twenty regular cannabis users and 27 healthy controls were scanned using positron emission tomography to quantify microglial activation in the DLPFC and mPFC. All of the cannabis users and the majority of healthy controls (n=14) also underwent a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan to quantify glutathione levels in the mPFC. Regular cannabis users had higher microglial activation in the DLPFC (F(1,44)= 5.614, p= 0.022) and mPFC (F(1,44)= 5.733, p= 0.021) compared to healthy controls. In contrast, no group differences were observed in GSH levels in the mPFC. Our findings suggest a link between regular cannabis use and microglial activation, but not redox status.

Keywords: cannabis
glutathione
microglial activation
neuroinflammation
oxidative stress
Advisor: Mizrahi, Romina
Investigation of a Dynamic Multifocal Display for Instrument Insertion Tasks

The limited field of view caused by high magnification in minimally invasive surgery incurs safety concerns for instrument insertion tasks. The Bifocal Display has been designed to address this problem by compressing a wider context area while retaining a magnified focus zone. However, the distortion will still hinder instrument insertion when a large focus zone is required. This thesis proposes a Dynamic Multifocal Display to improve steering performance in the context area of the visual field. By tracking the instrument tip in real-time, the Dynamic Multifocal Display introduces a local zone of magnification surrounding the instrument tip. Two parameters, the magnification and width of the magnified area around the tip, are investigated in a contrived experimental environment. The results show that both parameters have significant effects on instrument insertion task performance. This finding has important implications for not only minimally invasive surgery but also other relevant teleoperation scenarios.

Keywords: Bifocal Display
Distortion oriented display
Dynamic Multifocal Display
Minimally invasive surgery
Teleoperation
Advisor: Milgram, Paul
Identification of Therapeutic Targets in a Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV Mouse Model

Adult polyglucosan body disease (APBD) is a neurological, adult-onset variant of glycogen storage disease type IV caused by mutations in the glycogen branching enzyme gene. APBD is characterized by the accumulation of poorly-branched glycogen molecules which aggregate to form pathogenic inclusions, called polyglucosan bodies. Polyglucosan bodies localized to the nervous system are understood to cause the progressive neurological symptoms. We hypothesized that deficiency of the enzyme responsible for glycogen chain elongation, glycogen synthase, or of a protein involved in its activation, protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 3C (PPP1R3C), could mitigate the glycogen branching enzyme deficiency and prevent polyglucosan body formation. Using the APBD mouse model, we characterized the effect of glycogen synthase and PPP1R3C deficiency on the disease phenotype and observed significant behavioural, histological and biochemical rescue. Identification of glycogen synthase and PPP1R3C as effective therapeutic targets represents a critical step towards the development of a therapy for APBD patients.

Keywords: adult polyglucosan body disease
genetics
glycogen
glycogen storage disease
mouse model
neurology
Advisor: Minassian, Berge A
Respecting Worldviews Through Storywork

Epistemologically significant, relationships to land inform ways of knowing ourselves and others. This research provided Indigenous/non-Indigenous participants an opportunity to engage with the Canadian colonial narrative through stories of their connection to these lands and responses to an Idle No More news story. Considered in a consciously enacted ethical space (Ermine, 2007), and viewed through the Indigenous storywork principles of relationship, responsibility, respect, and reciprocity (Archibald, 2008), these stories revealed the epistemological divide between Indigenous and Westerns ways of knowing, and provided deeper understandings of how the national narrative incommensurably positioned participants by erasing and marginalizing some stories while privileging others. The consequences of colonization among participants included various forms of erasure and displacement, historical misrepresentation, cultural and linguistic loss, and struggles with envisioning meaningful connection to land and culture. We have all been colonized (Donald, 2010) and must recognize its costs within ourselves in order to effect meaningful reconciliation.

Keywords: Canadian national narrative
connection to land
ethical space
Indigenous methodology
Indigenous storywork
reconciliation
Advisor: Styres, Sandra
Cooper, Karyn
Geographies of Enforced Heteronormativity in Urban Public Parks: A Case Study of Project Marie

The policing of sex in public parks raises questions regarding how the access and use of public space is regulated and how normative framings of urban park space are reproduced and enforced. This thesis uses the recent police operation, Project Marie â in which dozens of individuals were ticketed for bylaw infractions and trespassing in Etobicokeâ s Marie Curtis Park â as a case study. Drawing from queer geography and urban political ecology, this thesis examines how heteronormativity is reproduced through and embedded in the planning, governance and regulation of urban park space. I situate this case study within discussions of the socio-political conditions and decisions that shape urban natures that construct and confine park spaces. The paper uses interviews and a critical discourse analysis of the media and grey literature surrounding Project Marie to demonstrate social regulation and enforcement of heteronormative ideas of public park space.

Keywords: heteronormativity
public sex
queer geographies
urban political ecology
urban public parks
Advisor: Bunce, Susannah
The Use of Visual Feedback to Improve Temporal Gait Asymmetry Post-Stroke

Temporal gait asymmetry (TGA) is common post-stroke and particularly resistant to conventional therapy. Therefore new rehabilitation approaches are required. One approach may be visual feedback (FB) during gait training. Optimal parameters for providing visual FB during motor skill acquisition are well established for healthy adults but remain largely unknown for motor learning in people with stroke. This study aimed to determine the effect of visual displays and frequencies for visual FB about TGA during an overground walking practice session and its effects during a retention session. Participants received feedback at 50% or 100% frequency in one of two display formats (A and B). The largest effect sizes were seen in the group that received Display B at 100%, and 50%. Individuals that received FB during practice showed significant changes in TGA at the retention while those individuals who did not receive feedback showed no changes at retention.

Keywords: gait
motor learning
physical therapy
rehabilitation
stroke
Advisor: Patterson, Kara K
Brooks, Dina
Filling the Gap in Post Surgical Epilepsy Care: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Study of Post-Surgical Epilepsy Patients

Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder, affects over 50 million individuals worldwide. Thirty percent of these have seizures that are not amenable to medications, and of these, at least one-half may be candidates for surgical treatment. While epilepsy surgery maybe an option with high rates of seizure freedom, this does not necessarily guarantee a good psychosocial outcome. Despite well documented issues of post-operative adjustment difficulties, little information exists regarding post-surgical epilepsy patients and what they believe would have benefited them post-surgically, if they had received it pre-surgically. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore possible knowledge gaps around the surgical event. This qualitative needs assessment study involved interviewing post-surgical epilepsy patients. The results suggest pre-surgical information and support gaps exist and require change. Furthermore, in conjunction with our recently proposed predictive coding model of post-epilepsy surgery adaptation, our results provide the groundwork for developing a pre-operative intervention to address patient predictions and expectations.

Keywords: Burden of Normality
Epilepsy Surgery
Expectations
Predictive Coding
Qualitative Needs Assessment
Quality of Life
Advisor: Valiante, Taufik Ali
Assessing Acrodont Dentition in Reptilia, with Special Attention to Replacement and Wear Adaptations

Tooth implantation has been conflated with other tooth characteristics, such as replacement, attachment, and morphology. Tooth attachment refers to the tissues that attach teeth, whilst implantation refers to the orientation of the tooth relative to the jaw. There are three main forms of tooth implantation identified in Reptilia: (1) thecodonty, where the tooth in implanted in a socket, (2) pleurodonty, the tooth is implanted against the side of the jaw, and (3) acrodonty the tooth is at the apex of the jaw; this thesis is concerned with the latter. Acrodonty has long been linked with a lack of replacement, which is because all modern acrodont reptiles do not replace their teeth; instead, they exhibit derived wear adaptations that help them counteract the loss of replacement. Here in this study, I explore the wear adaptations in extant acrodont reptiles, and analyze forms of acrodonty found within Reptilia in the Permian.

Keywords: Acrodonty
Dentition
Histology
Reptile
Tooth replacment
Advisor: Reisz, Robert R
Post-Acute Structured Exercise Following Sport Concussion: A Randomized Control Pilot Study

There is insufficient clinical evidence to recommend prolonged rest following sport-related concussion (SRC), although the optimal timing and nature of activity post-SRC remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of implementing a standardized aerobic exercise (AE) intervention in a population of adolescent males within the post-acute phase of SRC recovery. Eight participants were administered the intervention beginning on Day 6 post-injury on a stationary bicycle, while seven control participants underwent usual care (i.e. rest followed by a gradual return to activities). Results demonstrate that overall time to medical clearance was not significantly different between groups, although the Exercise Group did achieve a greater trend towards symptom resolution and cardio-autonomic normalization compared to the Usual Care Group. Findings suggest that the AE intervention is safe and beneficial to administer in the post-acute stage of SRC recovery.

Keywords: Active Rehabilitation
Adolescents
Concussion Management
mTBI
Pilot Trial
Sport-Related Concussion
Advisor: Hutchison, Michael