bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The experiences of an African woman seeking refuge in Canada
Authors: Holita Susan
Published: May 2021

This research paper provides insight into the experiences and challenges that asylum seekers go through in their quest to obtain legal status in countries in the West. Even though countries like Canada, the US, UK and Australia are signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention, this paper attempts to show that these countries are not adhering to the principles of the Convention when it comes to the issues of those labelled as asylum seekers or refugees. My paper focuses specifically on the challenges and the experiences that those with these labels go through, from the ways employed into the attempts to negotiate borders to ways that will provide a favorable outcome from the Immigration and Refugee Board. Further, the study strives to highlight that governments of the West are violating the mobility rights of refugees and asylum seekers in favor of corporations and the free movement of goods.
Storytelling architecture
Authors: Bica Adrian
Published: May 2021

This thesis critiques contemporary architecture tracing its faults to favoritism of scientific thinking, diminishing urban culture and commodification of architecture. The effects of these shortcomings have fostered a loss of captivation between humanity and architecture placing people at odds with their built surroundings. This thesis aims to reintegrate captivation within design drawing metaphorical inspiration from storytelling to create engaging architectural spaces. In so doing, architectural storytelling is established as a new design theory with the aim of integrating rich narratives within the foundation of the architectural design process rekindling the strained relationship between architecture and mankind. Storytelling architecture will be show cased through the design of a subway station at Queen St. and Ossington Ave. in Toronto
Does the apple fall far from the tree?: reviewing the communication of scientific information about GMOs
Authors: Kirby Lauren
Published: May 2021

Online content is changing the way the public accesses and understands science. The staggering number of often conflicting online sources about science makes it difficult for the lay public to know where to turn in search of accurate scientific information. This project will examine how the nature of online content might be affecting how the public learns about science. Through textual content analyses, it will examine the chain of communication (scientists→online media→public) and document how scientific information evolves. Okanagan Specialty Fruits’ Arctic apple, a genetically modified organism (GMO) that has had the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) gene silenced, will be used as a case study. Three primary themes guide my research: the public understanding of science (PUS), the communication of risk and uncertainty, and social epistemology. The primacy of the PUS movement in public venues for science makes it an important theory for my project, while theories of risk/uncertainty and social epistemology will inform my analysis.
My results suggest that: 1) stories about science often include over and understatements of uncertainties and risks; 2) online media stories apply rhetorical frames when reporting scientific information, but the way in which framing is used appears to be reflective of whether the author wishes to persuade their audience; and 3) the rhetorical frames used by online stories about science are not typically integrated into the public’s commentary in a meaningful way, supporting the notion that audiences are active rather than passive and that the public seeks out content that complements their pre-existing beliefs.
A special high-frequency soft-switched DC/DC power supply for GCT gate driver
Authors: Afsharian Jahangir
Published: May 2021

This thesis is devoted to the development of a novel parallel isolated power supply (PIPS) for the gate driver of integrated Gate Commutated Thyristors (GCT). The proposed PIPS is essentially a special high frequency soft switched DC/DC converter, integrating six parallel isolated power supplies in one module where each power supply generates a regulated dc supply for the GCT gate driver. In commercial GCT power supplies, a high-voltage isolation transformer is indispensable but highly inefficient in terms of cost and size, which can be significantly improved by the optimized transformer. In all, this design strives to achieve a general power supply for powering up the gate drivers of all types of GCT devices in all MV applications with minimal changes in configuration.

In this thesis, the configuration of PIPS is presented and its operating principle is elaborated. The transformer optimization procedure satisfying the voltage isolation requirement of GCT gate drivers is extensively discussed. The performance of PIPS, including the front end DC/DC converter, zero voltage switching phase-shift full bridge (ZVS-PS-FB) converter, and the optimization of the transformer, is verified by simulations and experiments where a 360W laboratory prototype is built for the experimental use.
Combination of sonophotolysis and aerobic activated sludge processes for treatment of synthetic pharmaceutical wastewater
Authors: Mowla Amir
Published: May 2021

The treatment ability and efficiency of sonophotolytic process, aerobic activated sludge (AS) process, and their combination in reduction of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD) from a synthetic pharmaceutical wastewater (SPWW) were studied. Batch mode experiments were performed to obtain optimal experimental operating conditions for sonophotolysis process. Ultrasonic power of 140 W, initial pH solution of 2, and air flow rate of 3 L/min were found as optimum. The initial optimum molar ratio of H2O2/TOC was found to be 13.77 for sonophotolysis process alone in batch mode. In continuous mode, sonophotolysis was able to reduce TOC by 90% after 180 min retention time. Aerobic AS process alone after 48 h retention time reduced TOC by 67%. Combined sonophotolysis and aerobic AS processes improved the biodegradability of the SPWW and resulted in 98% TOC and 99% COD removal while decreasing the retention time in sonophotoreactor and aerobic AS reactor to 120 min and 24 h, respectively. Additionally, the consumption of H2O2 was reduced significantly in the combined processes.
Household food insecurity among recent immigrants to Canada: A quantitative analysis
Authors: Kohnen Andrea
Published: May 2021

Background: Immigrants comprise over one-fifth of the Canadian population and are consistently shown to have a higher prevalence of household food insecurity than the general population.
Methods: Using the 2011 Canadian Community Health Survey, a multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate immigration, economic and household characteristics for associations with increased odds of food insecurity.
Results: Number of years since arrival, region of birth, region of settlement within Canada and non-use of an official language in the household are significantly associated with household food insecurity as are some economic and household characteristics. Households present for 6-10 years have higher odds of being food insecure than those which arrived more recently, and households in which neither English nor French are spoken are less likely than others to be food insecure.
Discussion: Further research is required in order to determine what places certain immigrant households at higher risk of food insecurity.
Serendipity: an aptitude for perceiving pleasant discoveries on an accidental bases
Authors: Townsend Scott McIntyre
Published: May 2021

Serendipity, or serendipitous behaviour, is described as the aptitude for perceiving pleasant discoveries on an accidental basis. While not an incredibly new concept to design and its related process, serendipitous discovery within the perceptual process of design is an incredibly potent catalyst for the concepts being explored within this thesis. As an introspective exercise, observing this serendipitous behaviour allows us to take a step back and apprehend new discoveries as we wade through the many aliases induced through simulated perception.
Exploring the Horizontal Acquisition of Transnational Identity in Intercultural Relationships in Toronto
Authors: Jankowski Emma
Published: May 2021

While identity shift in the context of migration has been studied in depth, questions of identity in those who have close, love-based relationships with international migrants or descendants of migrants remain underrepresented in the literature. Theoretically framing the research in a cultural studies and constructivist perspective, this study explores the extent to which individuals in intercultural relationships take on components of their partners’ transnational identities and how this process occurs. Interviews were conducted with seven individuals in intercultural relationships with first or second-generation immigrant partners. They explored how an individual’s identity shifts in the context of their relationship to reflect their partner’s transnational identity. The findings demonstrate that individuals embrace components of their partner’s transnational identity through discussion and interaction with both their partner and their partner’s family, suggesting that non-migrant individuals with no familial ties to another region in the world can also engage in transnationalism.
Pilot Study Investigating the Effect of a Suppression Versus Mindfulness-Based Strategy in Coping with Cigarette Cravings
Authors: Rogojanski Jenny
Published: May 2021

The current pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a brief suppression versus mindfulness-based strategy for coping with cigarette cravings. Participants (N = 61) were randomly assigned to one of the two coping strategies to manage cravings during an experimental cue exposure to cigarettes. Results indicate that participants in both conditions reported significantly reduced amounts of smoking and increased self-efficacy in coping with smoking urges at a seven-day follow-up. However, only participants in the mindfulness condition demonstrated reductions in negative affect, depressive symptoms, and reduced levels of nicotine dependence. These findings indicate that while both conditions were associated with improvements on smoking relevant outcomes, mindfulness was unique for its beneficial impacts on reported nicotine dependence and emotional functioning over the course of the study.
Internal communications explored: Disseminating information, expressing mission statement values
Authors: Iacono Elena
Published: May 2021

This research paper explores internal communication and focuses on understanding some tactics used to communicate mission statement values with employees. Internal communication is disseminated within organizations to create awareness, foster understanding and offer direction on how to attain corporate goals. Distributing internal communication also ensures a focused workforce. Drawing from communication theory and literature, this study analyzes internal communication practices within a Canadian communications firm. Specifically, email sent from a Director to employees related to mission statement values from March 1, 2011 to April 30, 2011 were analyzed drawing from research done by Cheney (1983b). Findings of this study suggest that within the sample, communication was one-way and controlled, using various styles and tactics to express mission statement values with employees. Future research is called for to investigate the impacts for such a communication model.
Fast Contextual View Generation and Region of Interest Selection in 3D Medical Images Via Superellipsoid Manipulation, Blending and Constrained Region Growing
Authors: Lagos Ken
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents a 3D widget user-interface (UI), super-ellipsoid shape primitives and a customized volume rendering algorithm that together create a system effective for exploring 3D medical images and for selecting a 3D region within these images. Using a “painting” metaphor, the widget UI supports the fast and precise positioning of a super-ellipsoid shaped paint “blob”. The paint blob can be “deposited” and automatically blended with previously deposited blobs to form arbitrarily-shaped regions enclosing target image features. The rendering of these “focus” regions can be controlled separately from the surrounding contextual region, allowing medical experts to examine and measure image features relative to the context. The system’s core algorithms are designed to execute on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), resulting in real-time interaction and high-quality visualizations. The focus plus context visualization system presented in this thesis is validated via a user study and a series of experiments.
Laser Synthesis of Nanostructured Glass for Selective Cell Proliferation or Apoptosis
Authors: Samarasekera Champika
Published: May 2021

The state-of-the-art in synthesis of nanostructured cell and contra-cell surfaces relies on techniques that utilize elaborate precursor chemicals, catalysts, or vacuum conditions, and any combination thereof. Two types of nanostructures, Na2O nanotips and SiO2 nanofibers, have been fabricated on soda-lime glass using ultrafast laser ablation. Control over nanotip width was demonstrated via laser dwell time and a new tip formation mechanism is proposed. The nanofibers generated in this work display a level of nanomorphology unseen in other fiber fabrication methods. The resulting fibers show striking morphological similarity to proteins that comprise the natural extra cellular matrix. The interaction of both nanostructures with NIH 3T3 fibroblasts was explored by incubating nanostructured glass with fibroblasts over periods of 12 hours, 1 day, or 1 week. Nanotip structures appeared to induce apoptosis in cells while nanofibers influenced cells to display unique, healthy characteristics such as preferential adhesion to nanofibers and increased microvilli generation.
Experimental implementation of an artificial neural network-based active vibration control
Authors: Xia Yong
Published: May 2021

Vibration control strategies strive to reduce the effect of harmful vibrations on machinery and people. In general, these strategies are classified as passive or active. While passive vibration control techniques are generally less complex, there is a limit to their effectiveness. Active vibration control strategies, on the other hand, require more complex algorithms but can be very effective. In this current work, a novel active vibration control experimental system, including the hardware setup and software development environment, has been successfully implemented. A static artificial neural network-based active vibration control system has been designed and tested based on the experimental system. The artificial neural network is trained to model the plant using a backpropagation algorithm. After training, the network model is used as part of a feedforward controller. the efficiency of this controller is shown through experimental tests.
From queue to café: Tangerine’s interventions in Canada’s digital banking
Authors: Khuu Alexandra
Published: May 2021

Traditionally, banking institutions have relied on face-to-face encounters to provide trusted and credible financial services. However, in today’s digitally-orientated marketplace, this is no longer an exclusive option. In Canada, the banking industry has be resistant to adopt these newer digital platforms and this introduces a number of potential setbacks for the nation’s economic and international interests. At the same time, the unique and emergent Canadian banking institution, Tangerine, has responded positively and productively to the changes. The bank, I argue in this Major Research Paper, thus offers a valuable case study for an analysis of new models of agile banking. By depicting the narrative of Canada’s banking history, investigating industry market documents and reports, then visually analyzing logos and branding strategies using theories from branding and visual semiotics, the MRP provides a comparison of Tangerine’s branding and infrastructure relative to Canada’s ‘Big Five’ banks (BMO, RBC, CIBC, TD, Scotiabank). Compared to the Big Five, Tangerine’s strong leadership, customer loyalty, and integration of digital practices make its intervention in Canada’s banking industry truly disruptive and as such, a model for 21st century banks to come.
All-fiber passively Q-switched ytterbium doped double-clad fiber lasers: experiment and modeling
Authors: Lu Yi
Published: May 2021

All-fiber passively Q-switched lasers were demonstrated using ytterbium-doped double cladding fiber (YDF) as an active medium. The laser was pumped by three 25W, 975nm fiber coupled diodes and Q-switching was initiated when the amplified spontaneous emission generated in the core of the gain fiber bleached the saturable absorber (SA). A piece of samarium-doped fiber was used as SA in first configuration and pulses with 68μJ pulse energy and 210ns pulse width were obtained. In second configuration, a piece of ytterbium-doped fiber with much smaller core size was used as SA to produce pulse energy of 86μJ. The last configuration incorporated a 9m-long YDF as gain fiber. The far end from pump was acting as SA in this case and pulses with 82μJ pulse energy and 148ns pulse width were observed. The peak power was estimated at 554W. Traveling wave model was implemented to numerically simulate the output characteristics versus pump power.
A solution to profiling for mobile computation cloud offloading
Authors: McGrillis Corey
Published: May 2021

In this thesis, we develop a Generic Profiler which is a solution to profiling for mobile computation cloud offloading. Profiling refers to the process of examining and collecting statistics and information about data. The Generic Profiler uses resection in many cases to reduce redundant code and allow developers to easily incorporate new profilers to
their offloading solutions. Third party developers can include the Generic Profiler into their solutions with ease and without having to worry about the underlying processes of storing data using a Content Provider. The Generic Profiler also contains a set of default profilers, which include a Location Profiler, Software Profiler, Wi-Fi Profiler, Telephony
Profiler, and a Battery Profiler. Using the Software Profiler, we have shown that the performance, in terms of inclusive invocation time, of the profilers which are designed by implementing the Generic Profiler adequately store data.
Hepatitis C virus Modelling In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Blahut Kenneth
Published: May 2021

Experiments have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in vitro disseminate both distally via the release and diffusion of cell-free virus through the medium, and locally via direct, cell-to-cell transmission. To determine the relative contribution of each mode of infection to HCV dissemination, we developed an agent-based model (ABM) that explicitly incorporates both distal and local modes of infection. The ABM tracks the concentration of extracellular infectious virus in the supernatant and the number of intracellular HCV RNA segments within each infected cell over the course of simulated in vitro HCV infections. By constraining our ABM parameters using experimental data, we found that direct, cell-to-cell infection accounts for 98% (85%–100%, 95% credible region) of infection events, making it the dominant mode of HCV dissemination in vitro. Yet, while HCV spread via cell-free virus contributes little to the total number of infection events in vitro, it plays a critical role in enhancing cell-to-cell HCV dissemination by providing access to distant, uninfected areas, away from the already established large infection foci.
Mathematical modelling of HCV load decay under antiviral therapy has allowed for the determination of antiviral efficacy and other important parameters. Current mathematical models (MMs) of HCV infection are based on a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and assume that infectious cell lifespans are exponentially distributed over time, meaning that every infected cell has an equal probability of dying at any time. Here, we introduce a new MM which: (1) allows for a realistic eclipse delay between the moment of cell infection and the release of new virus; and (2) considers both exponential and (log)normal distributed durations for infectious cell lifespan, wherein cells are assumed to continuously producing virus. Application of this MM to HCV load data for patients undergoing antiviral therapy leads to different conclusions when predicting parameter values.
Reusability Evaluation Models In Reverse Logistics
Authors: Kouchekian-Sabour Shahin
Published: May 2021

This study focuses on the problem of reusability evaluation in reverse logistics. To deal with it, products are categorized into two types: well established products, and products with fast innovations. An innovation reliability based model (model 1) is suggested to evaluate reusability of returns for the first category.

For the second category, a fuzzy multiple participant-multiple criteria (MPMC) decision making model is presented, which is a modified combination of two previous researches: the disposal cause analysis matrix (Umeda et al., 2005), and the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method (van Laarhoven and Pedrycz, 1983).

To present the application of model 1, a green manufacturing system with an (s, Q) inventory control policy is simulated using Arena. With the aid of it, the system is analyzed in two situations: with recovery operations, and without recovery operations to investigate the effects of both model 1 and recovery operations on the system parameters.
On the acoustic response of ultrasound and induced cell death
Authors: Alsaiari Fatimah
Published: May 2021

Ultrasonically-stimulated microbubbles can enhance cell membrane permeability and decrease cell viability where the underlying acoustic mechanism has been associated with both non-inertial and inertial cavitation. In this study, breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) were exposed to 0.5MHz ultrasound pulses of 16μs duration at varying peak negative pressures (PNP: 218kPa, 335kPa and 908kPa) and pulse repetition period (PRP 10ms and 100ms) in the presence of Definity microbubbles (3.3% v/v). The acoustic response of microbubbles was measured using passive cavitation detection with 2.25MHz transducer, and characterized by their frequency a cavitation dose (CD). Results show that the number of non-viable cells and integrated cavitation dose (ICD) significantly increases with PNP, whereas no significant differences were found between 10ms and 100ms PRPs. In this study, no correlation was found between (ICD) and cell non-viability.
Modeling of advanced fossil fuel power plants
Authors: Zabihian Farshid
Published: May 2021

The first part of this thesis deals with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired power stations. The GHG emission estimation from fossil fuel power generation industry signifies that emissions from this industry can be significantly reduced by fuel switching and adaption of advanced power generation technologies. In the second part of the thesis, steady-state models of some of the advanced fossil fuel power generation technologies are presented. The impacts of various parameters on the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) overpotentials and outputs are investigated. The detail analyses of operation of the hybrid SOFC-gas turbine (GT) cycle when fuelled with methane and syngas demonstrate that the efficiencies of the cycles with and without anode exhaust recirculation are close, but the specific power of the former is much higher. The parametric analysis of the performance of the hybrid SOFC-GT cycle indicates that increasing the system operating pressure and SOFC operating temperature and fuel utilization factor improves cycle efficiency, but the effects of the increasing SOFC current density and turbine inlet temperature are not favourable. The analysis of the operation of the system when fuelled with a wide range of fuel types demonstrates that the hybrid SOFC-GT cycle efficiency can be between 59% and 75%, depending on the inlet fuel type. Then, the system performance is investigated when methane as a reference fuel is replaced with various species that can be found in the fuel, i.e., H₂, CO₂, CO, and N₂. The results point out that influence of various species can be significant and different for each case. The experimental and numerical analyses of a biodiesel fuelled micro gas turbine indicate that fuel switching from petrodiesel to biodiesel can influence operational parameters of the system. The modeling results of gas turbine-based power plants signify that relatively simple models can predict plant performance with acceptable accuracy. The unique feature of these models is that they are developed based on similar assumptions and run at similar conditions; therefore, their results can be compared. This work demonstrates that, although utilization of fossil fuels for power generation is inevitable, at least in the short- and mid-term future, it is possible and practical to carry out such utilization more efficiently and in an environmentally friendlier manner.
A quasi-2D finite element formulation of active constrained-layer functionally graded beam
Authors: Miroshnichenko Elena
Published: May 2021

A functionally graded (FG) beam with an active constrained-layer damping (ACLD) treatment is modeled and analyzed. ACLD consists of a passive element, in the form of a viscoelastic layer bonded to the host structure, and an active constraining element which is represented by a piezoelectric fiber-reinforced composite (PFRC) laminate. It is assumed in the current formulation that the field variables are expressible as polynomials through the thickness of the beam and are cubically interpolated across the span. Hamilton's principle is used in the derivation of the equations of motion, which are solved using the Newmark time-integration method. The versatility of the formulation is demonstrated using different support mechanisms in the form of analysis of cantilevered, fixed-end partially-constrained and simply-supported beam cases. The effects of ply orientation in PFRC laminate and varying elastic modulus in the FG beam are also examined.
A Testbed for QoS-Based Data Analytic Service Selection in the Cloud
Authors: Rahman Md Shahinur
Published: May 2021

With the emergence of Big Data and Cloud Computing, more and more data analytic software services have become available through a Cloud platform. Compared to the traditional service selection problem, selecting this type of services has additional challenges, which requires new selection models being proposed. It is the purpose of this work to “create a testbed” to benefit the research community in this area so that different selection models with consideration of different performance-influencing factors such as algorithms implemented, datasets to be processed, hosting infrastructure, can be tested and compared. We created a cloud-based platform for publishing and invoking analytic services as well as monitoring service performance during invocation. We implemented various data mining algorithms from different packages as example analytic services and hosted them on different infrastructure services. We also ran these services on some real datasets to collect a sample dataset of their Quality of Service (QoS) values.
Playing it straight: kindergarten children's perspectives on gender in play materials
Authors: Ali Ameera
Published: May 2021

This study focuses on the perspectives of kindergarten children regarding their perceptions of gender appropriateness of play materials. The theory of gender performativity has been used as a theoretical lens for the study. Six kindergarten children between the ages of four and five were individually interviewed about whether they believed toys to be gender-specific or gender-neutral. Results indicated that children displayed gender-stereotype knowledge as well as an understanding that toys can be gender-neutral, however, they were generally perceived to be gender-specific. Themes found include: perceptions of play materials as gender-neutral, perceptions of play materials as male-appropriate, perceptions of play materials as female-appropriate, notions of gender stereotypes, gender-role flexibility, contingent gender-role flexibility and external knowledge sources. Implications of these results regarding both gender-conforming as well as gender-non conforming children are provided and recommendations for educators are suggested.

Keywords: gender performativity; children; masculinity; femininity; heteronormativity; toys; gender stereotypes, gender roles, gender non-conforming behaviour
Study Of Digital Image Correlation-A Computer Vision Technique for Stress Analysis: Its Accuracy and Reliability
Authors: Ajmal Muhammad
Published: May 2021

The computer vision methods for stress analysis were emerged in early 1980s. Among them the method of digital speckle/image correlation (DSC) was first proposed in the year of 1983 (by Sutton et al). The latest technology advance has made possible to build affordable systems to handle applications that conventional techniques are unable to deal with. Researchers worldwide have been studying to improve the accuracy and reliability of the DSC in order to extend its applications to emerging areas of science and engineering. The study of DSC at Ryerson was initiated in early 1990s and the existing system at Ryerson, named “AutoStrain,” was made available early in 2000. The recent applications have been concentrated in areas where stress analysis in the microscopic scale is needed. The applicability of the method has been studied and verified by the predecessors in many ways, mostly via comparison with the results obtained from analytical solutions, numerical modelling and experimental measurement using proven techniques. Yet new applications usually demand revelation of stress/strain for problems with no prior knowledge and under unusually subtle conditions (e.g., new material/structure of micro or sub-micro scale of geometry, multi-material interface, ultra-hassle environment and etc.). For an application facing such challenges, the accuracy and reliability of the measurements are constantly a concern. The goals of the current project are as follows: to review the recent research on the sources resulting in errors from both fundamental and technical fronts; to give a close analysis of the key factors that cause errors in the existing system; and to finally propose measures to cope with the factors and to lead to improvements. The study has covered these aspects o f the method including the image formation and the effect of light sources, the speckle patterns, the algorithms of the search schemes used and the proper interface among these schemes, the convergence criterion and the adaptive method to determine/adjust the values of the criterion to fit specific applications, etc. The project has reached the goals by having made substantial improvements as follows. First, the importance has been clarified of consistency among the different coordinate systems defined in the different parts of the software and improved the interface among these parts. Second, an adaptive method aiming at improving the convergence criterion for Newton-Raphson iterative algorithm has been proposed and implemented. The test results have demonstrated the effectiveness of these improvements.
Truth to Nature: Pre-Raphaelite Dress in Nineteenth-Century Visual Culture
Authors: Heinrich Marta
Published: May 2021

The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of artists in mid-nineteenth century England who disliked popular art, design, and fashion. They devised an oppositional, artistic type of dress. This major research project (MRP) endeavours to define, contextualize, and interpret the special kind of dress depicted in Pre-Raphaelite paintings and worn by women in the Pre-Raphaelite circle. Qualitative, interdisciplinary historical methods were used in my research method, and visual media (both primary and secondary sources) were used throughout the project. Outcomes include a new analysis of Pre-Raphaelite dress and its formal qualities along with a socio-cultural analysis of why the Pre-Raphaelites chose to dress in an eclectic way. The paintings reveal the diverse sources the Pre-Raphaelites used to create original garments in their illustrated works. The original garments the Pre-Raphaelites wore influenced other artistic, dress, and design reform movements such as the Aesthetic Dress movement and the Arts and Craft movement.
Urban Banyan public space in section
Authors: Yousefi Elmira
Published: May 2021

There exists a lack of public funding or political authority within the 21st century North American city for the creation of public space. In the absence of this authority, architecture can resist being merely a commodity for global profit and become an agent for the creation of public space through built form. While this is a topical idea in architectural discourse, through synthesized research intocontemporary urbanisms and by way of several architectural projects that explore public space, this thesis proposes an alternative methology to the conventions of framing public space through the horizontal deformation of a building. This thesis places public space as the hierarchal organizing figure for urban architecture and proposes a new connective public domain that might operate more like the Nolli Map in section rather than in plan.
Immigrants, Refugees and the Risk of Homelessness: Analyzing the Barriers to Adequate and Affordable Housing
Authors: Raicevic Ana
Published: May 2021

This qualitative study examines the risk of homelessness amongst recent immigrant and refugee populations in the Greater Toronto Area by analyzing the various barriers which hinder newcomer access to adequate and affordable housing. This study incorporates the framework of Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) to understand the oppression, marginalization, and exclusion that many recent immigrants and refugee claimants experience within Toronto’s housing and rental markets and subsequently, how this initiates their cycle of homelessness. The findings of this study are informed by two semi-structured, informal interviews with housing and settlement workers in order to provide a working insight onto the issues that are affecting their newcomer clients on a daily basis. This study identifies challenges within Toronto’s housing market and highlights solutions put forth by housing and settlement workers. Similarly, this study examines initiatives put forth by the municipal government to address the barriers to accessing adequate and affordable housing.
Sorption of Pharmaceuticals in Aqueous Solution Using Insoluble β-Cyclodextrin Polymers
Authors: Mirani Atefeh S
Published: May 2021

The present study was aimed at evaluating the ability of insoluble β-cyclodextrin polymers (βCDps) to recover pharmaceuticals from aqueous solutions. Two different β-cyclodextrin polymers, one composed of epichlorohydrin-cross linked β-cyclodextrin and the other a β-cyclodextrin-polyurethane, were prepared by condensation polymerization and addition polymerization of βCD using epichlorohydrin (EP) and diisocyanatohexane (HDI) as cross linking agents, respectively. The contaminants tested were naphthalene, naproxen, nabumetone, 2-naphthol, pyrene and propranolol which represent model pharmaceutical molecules. The adsorption isotherms of the organics and βCDPs were well described by Freundlich isotherm equations. The trapping efficiencies were determined using fluorescence spectroscopy as the analytical technique. Based on the results of this study, it was found that the epichlorohydrin-cross linked β-cyclodextrin polymers were more efficient in adsorption of organic contaminants both in batch and column systems when compared with β-cyclodextrin-polyurethane polymers. Reasons for these differences are discussed.
INF-Convolution of Risk Measures on Rearrangement Invariant Spaces
Authors: Chen Shengzhong
Published: May 2021

The problem of optimal capital and risk allocation among economic agents, has played a predominant role in the respective academic and industrial research areas for decades. Typically as risk occurs in face of randomness the risks which are to be measured are identified with real-valued random variables on some probability space (Ω, F, P). Consider a model space X , and n economic agents with initial endowments X1, · · · , Xn ∈ X who assess the riskiness of their positions by means of law-invariant convex risk measures ρi : X → (−∞,∞]. In order to minimize total and individual risk, the agents redistribute the aggregate endowment X = X1 + · · · + Xn among themselves. An optimal capital and risk allocation Y1, · · · , Yn satisfies Y1 + · · · + Yn = X and

ρ1(Y1) + · · · + ρ(Yn) = inf nXn i=1 ρi(Xi) : Xi ∈ X , i = 1, . . . , n, and Xn i=1 Xi = X o , (0.1)

where n i=1ρi(X) = inf nPn i=1 ρi(Xi) : Xi ∈ X , i = 1, . . . , n, and Pn i=1 Xi = X o is the inf-convolution of ρ1, ..., ρn. In 2008, Filipovi´c and Svindland proved that if X is an L p (P) for some 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞ and ρi satisfy a suitable continuity condition (i.e. Fatou property), then Problem (0.1) always admits a solution. To reflect the fact of randomness of risk, we should consider the model space X chosen for risk evaluations to be as general as possible. The main contribution of this thesis is Theorem 4.10 has been published in [9]. It extends Filipovi´c and Svindland’s result from L p spaces to general rearrangement invariant (r.i.) spaces.
Stars in their eyes: magazines and celebrity content
Authors: Fulford Victoria
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this research paper is to examine the celebrity phenomenon as it relates to consumer magazines produced in the United States. Boorstin's definition of the term celebrity is a broad one, encompassing
all persons who are known simply for their "well-knownness," regardless of vocation (Boorstin 57). For the purposes of this paper, this classification will be abridged, focussing solely on well-known persons or celebrities engaged in the dramatic arts. George Simmel, a first generation German sociologist whose work has had a seminal influence on the development of modern philosophy and sociology, addresses the role of the actor in shaping public opinion and, in turn, reality. More recently, scholars across a diversity of fields from sociology to film studies, such as Alberoni, Dyer, Gamson, Kellner, and Moran, have examined the influence of celebrities on societal values and culture. Film critic Richard Schickel has gone so far as to call celebrity "possibly the - most vital shaping (that is to say, distorting force) in our society" (xi).
Piezo drive tunable optic filter
Authors: Zu Wen
Published: May 2021

Tunable fiber optic filter has extensive applications in telecommunications, spectroscopy, and fiber optic sensing. Many research attempts have been devoted to develop a filter with a wide tuning range, a fast tuning speed, a fine tuning resolution, and high reliability. Despite of the progress made so far, a tunable fiber optic filter that combines all these qualities is still a subject of intensive research. This thesis describes the design, fabrication and test results of a high performance tunable fiber optic filter. The filter is piezo-driven using a flexural hinge structure for displacement magnification and an axial strain of a fiber Bragg grating. Finite element analysis was used to design the mechanical structure to achieve the required displacement magnification and reaction force for grating compression. A passive thermal compensation design was implemented with two spacers of different coefficients of thermal expansion to compensate the thermal-induced wavelength drift. A feedback control system with a linear variable differential transformer was employed to control the displacement and to achieve the designed tuning accuracy. A tuning range of 13.7 nm, a maximum closed loop switching time of 17.3 ms, and a wavelength drift of 1.4 pm/C were achieved. The flexural-hinge structure, that offers noise-free motion, no need of lubricants and no wear, ensures its long-term reliability.
Non-Invasive Measurement Of Tissue Chromophore Concentrations And Cerebral Blood Flow Using Broad-Band Continuous Wave Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Zabihi-Yeganeh Hadi
Published: May 2021

We present a broad-band, continuous wave spectral approach to quantify the baseline optical properties of tissue, in particular the absolute absorption and scattering properties and changes in the concentrations of chromophores, which can assist to quantify the regional blood flow from dynamic contrast-enhanced near-infrared spectroscopy data. Experiments were conducted on phantoms and piglets. The baseline optical properties of tissue were determined by performing a multi-parameter wavelength-dependent differential data fit of the near infrared reflectance spectrum between 680 nm and 970 nm of a photon diffusion equation solution for a semi-infinite homogeneous medium. These baseline optical properties of the piglet head tissue were used to quantify the temporal dynamics of the concentration of the intravenously administered contrast agent Indocyanine Green in the piglet brain. The temporal traces of the Indocyanine Green concentration measured by our method were used to estimate the cerebral blood flow using a bolus tracking technique.
Architecture as palimpsest : a strategy of intermediacy
Authors: Tran Ke Leng
Published: May 2021

In much of historic preservation work, artefacts are primarily seen as documents of their time and bearing little relevance to how we design buildings and cities today. Consequently, architectural interventions separate the old and new work, unintentionally distancing historic buildings from their evolving context. There are layers of inspiration embedded within an existing site that can enrich architectural creations. The history of architecture is the story of built forms that have been altered and re-created to make space for the continuation of life. This thesis seeks an archtictural strategy that not only complements but also challenges and reveals the history and material character of the original intent, in order to create greater meaning for the historic building. As a hypothesis, the thesis project presents a schema for the conversion of century old public school in the City of Toronto into a contemporary art museum that demonstrates this strategy, arguing that engaging with the existing work can lead to new insights and meanings.
A Predator-Prey Model In Deterministic And Stochastic Environments
Authors: Limbu Chandra P.
Published: May 2021

We investigate the phase portraits, the uniqueness of limit cycles and the Hopf bifurcations in the Holling-Tanner models in deterministic and stochastic environments. We provide the conditions on the parameters to assure saddle, focus and node. We use numerical simulations to demonstrate our results in the deterministic cases. We also explore the Holling-Tanner model in a stochastic environment by using numerical simulations. We generalize and improve some new results on Holling-Tanner model from Lotka-Volterra model on real ecological systems.
Public health core and nursing competencies among public health nurses in Ontario: A pilot study to assess awareness and utilization
Authors: Peroff-Johnston Nancy
Published: May 2021

Purpose: This study describes influencing factors that public health core and public health nursing competency sets have had on public health nursing workforce development since their release in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

Methods: A descriptive, non-experimental pilot study was conducted using Rogers Diffusion of Innovation Theory as a framework to explore awareness and utilization of public health core and nursing competencies among a sample of 221 public health nurses (PHNs) working in Ontario health units.

Results: Findings suggest substantial awareness and moderate use of both competency sets among PHNs, with a statistically significant difference between management and front-line staff in level of awareness of core competencies only. Barrier/facilitator themes influencing competency set utilization frequently represented organizational factors, and were slightly different between competency sets.

Implications: Results have implications for knowledge translation efforts of competencies integration into practice and addressing barriers to precluding competency-based public health nursing workforce policy and planning.
Jeanette Bernard And American Amateur Photography Contests In The Early Twentieth Century
Authors: Guthrie Jami
Published: May 2021

This thesis analyzes a collection of 101 photographs by American amateur photographer Jeanette Bernard held at George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film (GEH). Bernard lived in Long Island, New York, and produced photographs from 1904 to 1924 and actively participated in amateur photography competitions in newspapers those years. The first part of the paper analyzes Bernard's work within the broader context of amateur photograph competitions through a detailed examination of Leslie's Weekly, the newspaper she most regularly submitted her work, with an emphasis on the year 1907. The second part of the paper outlines the steps taken to make this material available and searchable within the GEH's database, The Museum System (TMS), and includes an appendix which compares the fully illustrated catalogue.
Changing channels: an exploration of disruptive technologies and the challenges they pose to English-Canadian television product
Authors: Sproule Tessa
Published: May 2021

"The audience wants to be able to watch a program when they want - in fact most every technological innovation adopted by the television industry has had some aspect in its design to fulfil that desire. I'm interested in how technologies facilitate audiences in finding a way to watch what they want to, when they want to. I'm also interested in (and to be frank, somewhat anxious since I work in television) what new pitfalls and possibilities the latest technologies pose for the future of television production and distribution in Canada. As we'll lean later, there are technological changes afoot that could sideswipe the effort of generations of Canadian broadcast policymakers and topple the Canadian television industry in their wake. Ours is a fragile television broadcasting system, crippled by a deeply divided policy framework based on two opposing philosophies -- one that puts an emphasis on television's role as a public service and another that emphasizes its commercial purposes and profitability. I will evaluate whether that policy framework is equipped to safeguard Canada's precarious television industry against what some say is an inevitable tidal wave of American domination heading our way. But first I want to investigate whether American domination of our TV sets is such a horror. If television doesn't really matter when it comes to our cultural and national sovereignty, I might as well stop writing right now. But as we'll learn, it does matter. While there is much debate over how television plays a role in our functioning as a sovereign society there is a general consensus that something is happening when we watch TV. It is to the problem of what that something is that I turn to first."--Pages 1-2.