bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reporting sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeeping personnel: a research proposal on community perspectives
Authors: Mintz Kaila
Published: May 2021

Persons displaced by conflict are considered especially vulnerable to sexual abuse by peacekeepers. While the UN reports publicly on allegations of "sexual exploitation and abuse" by peacekeepers, it is widely acknowledged that under-reporting is a significant problem. Proposed qualitative research involving local civil society organizations and community leaders supporting victims in the context of displacement will elicit their perceptions on the barriers to, and challenges associated with, formal reporting. The planned study, set out as a proposal, will assess perceptions of current reporting structures and recent UN reforms regarding "community-based complaint reception and mechanisms." This will inform further research and consultations into the design of more appropriate reporting structures. The research's dissemination, linked to the Code Blue campaign's advocacy to end impunity for sexual violence by peacekeepers, will seek to convince UN decision-makers that systemic reforms are needed to ensure that victims have better access to appropriate support and criminal justice.
Cloning, expression and purification of the cytokine FLT3-ligand for protein interaction studies
Authors: Agro Lauren Alicia
Published: May 2021

The FLT3-FLT3L receptor complex is responsible for the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells, and is involved in several hematological malignancies. A truncated, soluble form of FLT3L was amplified from the full-length sequence by PCR and cloned into a genomic integration and expression vector for Kluyveromyces lactis. Expression and secretion of the 161 amino acid FLT3L was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot and showed smeared bands around 50kDa consistent with a high level of varying glycosylation as expected. A yield of 100ug/mL of culture was obtained. Purification was performed by Ni-affinity chromatography and the protein was confirmed to be in the elution fraction via mass spectrometry analysis. Purified FLT3L was able to activate RAW264.7 cells after 24hr incubation period causing large vacuoles and a dendritic appearance. FLT3L will be utilized for LARC protein interaction studies to search for interactors that might serve as therapeutic agents in human body fluids and cell culture models of myeloid leukemia.
Nonlinear Estimation for Autonomous Optical Navigation
Authors: Hallgrimson Stefan
Published: May 2021

Many interplanetary mission concepts can benefit from autonomous orbit estimation, particularly during critical mission phases. Previous studies have examined the feasibility of optical navigation using nanosatellite class instruments. While promising, these techniques are not without drawbacks. Convergence of the navigation estimates are often sensitive to errors in initial state estimates. This thesis compares various methods to perform nonlinear estimation for autonomous optical navigation. These methods include an extended Kalman filter (EKF), an unscented Kalman filter (UKF), a particle filter (PF), a fixed-lag smoother (FLS), and moving horizon estimation (MHE). The EKF, UKF, and PF can be implemented in real time, while the FLS and MHE implement a delay into the estimation process. To compare the performance of each state estimator three initial reference scenarios around Mars were considered: a hyperbolic flyby, an elliptic orbit and a orbital maneuver using observations of Mars and its moons. Parameter estimation was also explored, where the mass of Mars was to be estimated as a reference parameter in both the hyperbolic and elliptical trajectories. One last reference scenario included a low Earth orbit (LEO) using observations of satellites in a geosynchronous equatorial orbit. In each case, the FLS and MHE showed similar or better performance over each state estimator but at the cost of an increased computation time with respect to the reference EKF. Similarly the UKF was able to provide improved results withe respect to the EKF. While, the PF provided poor estimates in the Mars trajectories but improvements were seen from the UKF and EKF in the LEO scenario.
Energy-balanced parameter-adaptable cooperative protocol (EBPACP) design in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Bai Lu
Published: May 2021

The performance of WSNs is adversely affected by the radio irregularity and fading effect. Cooperative transmission has been proven to be an effective way to combat the impacts of fading by obtaining diversity gains and therefore reduces the transmit energy. Meanwhile, some sensor nodes have heavier burden than the others and the energy imbalance problem remains harmful to the system lifetime. How to efficiently incorporate cooperative transmission into WSNs and balance energy are the subjects of this thesis. In our research, we proposed an energy-balanced parameter-adaptable cooperative protocol (EBPACP) for cluster-based WSNs. Since the design of WSNs is highly dependent on application scenarios, we analyzed the effects of the system parameters and found a unified criterion to summarize the effects. With this knowledge, a preferred scheme of cooperative transmission is chosen to reduce energy consumption. How to form clusters, build up cooperative relationships and transmit data to the BS are explored in detail in the thesis. We use the idea of weighted distance to adjust the size of the cluster. Thus energy consumption is balanced by adjusting energy dissipated inside and outside of the clusters. Sensor nodes consuming higher energy in outside-cluster communication form smaller clusters. In this thesis, EBPACP is mainly discussed in single-hop systems and it can be extended to multi-hop systems. Simulation results have shown that the proposed EBPACP provides good system performance in terms of energy efficiency and energy balance.
Challenging child development theory on the understanding of death : learning through the experiences of child life specialists
Authors: Miller Jessica Erin
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this research was to review the experiences of Child Life Specialists, to determine whether or not children with a terminal illness have a more advanced knowledge of death than traditional child developmental theory suggests. This research was a qualitative design in the form of a questionnaire and examined the experiences of five professional Child Life Specialists in the Greater Toronto Area. The findings revealed that Child Life Specialists have found that there is a difference of understanding of death between a healthy and terminally ill child. This information could lead to better practices for pediatric palliative care by providing those who work with palliative children, a better understanding of their perceptions and understanding of death.
Choice and Transformation of Public Space in Toronto: a Case Study of Tamil Protests 2009
Authors: Satgunam Saraniya
Published: May 2021

The 2009 Tamil demonstrations in Toronto challenged the preconceptions of public space and the legitimacy of transnational politics within a ‘multicultural’ city. This paper explores the impact these demonstrations had on Toronto’s ‘public spaces’, especially how they were able to transform the city. An analysis of secondary data sources, including, media coverage and participant-observations reveal that even though the political demonstrations organised by the Sri Lankan Tamil-Canadians were ‘tolerated’, they were not necessarily ‘accepted’ by many Torontonians. This observation raises numerous interrelated questions, particularly related to the rights of immigrants and refugee groups to the city.
Queer kinships : a quandary of love without borders
Authors: Sairan Sarena
Published: May 2021

What makes a family? Diverse family configuration can take on a variety of unconventional forms; however government definitions decide who are fit for the privilege of recognition within legislative acts. Policy protects individuals and families who are established within the margins of political governance while others are excluded. For example, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/sexual and queer individuals and families rarely profit from their sporadic mention in Canada's legislation and experience a lack of visibility within early childhood education care settings. Furthermore, individuals who do not willfully pledge allegiance with the dominant culture's value system and create kinship outside the boundaries of heteronormative logic remain marginalized. The central question in this context begs for a theoretical argument as to why power is constructed and maintained as it is. Family identity discourse from a queer perspective could reform attitudes and policies where one form of family does not dominate over another.
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for the Detection of Metal Crack Initiation by Low Cycle Fatigue Test
Authors: Hossain KM M.
Published: May 2021

Structural integrity is always an important issue for the service life time of any structure. Therefore, joint of the metal is also a vital point to consider. This thesis describes a new method that uses the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor to detect the crack initiation of friction stir welded aluminum (AL) alloy by low cycle fatigue test. Experimental setups and procedures are studied, a proper test configuration is determined and a series of testing performed. The applicability of this new method of stress control fatigue test in monitoring the metal crack initiation is demonstrated through the test results, which shows that FBG sensors are sensitive to capture the onset of the crack. Stress controlled fatigue tests especially at high strain amplitude for Friction Stir Welded (FSW) joints demand the sensors to withstand strain level above ±8000 με [40] and with the size of few mm, and these sensors are not available in the market. In this work, the new sensors arrays are used in the characterization of cyclic deformation behavior of FSW aluminum alloy, which, in some cases, could sustain up to ±11000με. During the experiment significant difference in plastic strain amplitude (PSA) was observed using these optical fiber sensors mounted in nugget zone (NZ) and across the boundary area between thermo mechanical affected zone (TMZ) and heat affected zone (HZ). For all the samples of Al alloy, with the progress of cyclic deformation the cyclic hardening characteristics of the metal were observed.
Make/shift - a creative community project
Authors: Doroslovac Natalie
Published: May 2021

This thesis project is a contextual response, using physical, social and economic conditions of a site in a particularly provoking city to explore spatial-programmatic architectural responses. The Creative Community is a response to the problems prevalent in post-industrial cities like Detroit; it is a city with an exceptionally striking building stock that lacks social and economic prosperity. Blight is compounded by low density, however this research suggests that this cycle could possibly be broken by grassroots, nodal intensification at the neighbourhood level.
Built precedents and industrial city research will form the dialogue of the thesis. A response formulated to engage with a 1930’s factory and its surroundings will be the culminating Design Project. This thesis project attempts to crystallize an architectonic vision that highlights the industrial heritage of the city while projecting future economic trends in the knowledge industry by tapping into the creative energy of a historically vibrant community.
Gold nanoparticle transport in multilayered cell cultures
Authors: Yohan Darren
Published: May 2021

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) possess a number of useful characteristics that have catapulted them into the mainstream of cancer research. Their optical properties enable them to be used in photodynamic and photothermal therapy as well as contrast agents in photoacoustic imaging. In addition, the ability to bind ligands to the GNP surface has made them valuable bio-markeraware drug carriers. But the effectiveness of any cancer fighting tool relies on homogenous distribution and penetration throughout the tumor, and the uptake and transport dynamics of GNPs has previously been held to monolayer cell models. In this work, multicellular layers (MCLs) are used as a solid tumor model to measure the penetration and uptake of GNPs in tumor tissue. MCLs offer a unique way to bridge the gap between in vitro single-layer cell models and the in vivo tumor. The effects of increased cell-to-cell connections, extracellular matrix and tumor characteristics are investigated to deliver new insights into the transport of GNPs in tissue.
Self-Contained Pedestrian Tracking With Mems Sensors
Authors: Huang Chengliang
Published: May 2021

Due to the limitations of current indoor wireless positioning technologies, a novel positioning/tracking solution has to be explored and developed, in order to locate a person anywhere anytime without any infrastructure. The purpose of this thesis is to present the result of the first phase of a long-period research to find such a solution and develop a practical system.

In this thesis, using inertial sensors for positioning of people is selected to replace wireless solutions, considering the development of micro-electromechanical systems. A sensing module consisting of accelerometers, rate gyroscopes and magnetometers used to monitor human kinetics. In order to make this proposal practical, a synergy of existing strapdown inertial navigation and pedestrian dead-reckoning is proposed to improve the accuracy of positioning. Furthermore, the cyclic alternation of stance phase and swing phase in human walking is used to reduce errors accumulating during projection and integration of sensed accelerometer signals. Other than the improvement of some existing methods to detect stance phase and reset the velocity, several new methods are proposed to remove the integral drift during both phases of a human stride. The algorithm to calculate heading of on the sensing module is also deduced to limit the integral drift of rate gyroscopes.

All the methods and algorithms are applied in field experiments with carefully chosen sensing module mounted on human footwear. The results show promising accuracy of tracking, hence validate the feasibility of self-contained pedestrian tracking system with inertial sensors. Further work, especially with map correlation and particle filtering, will be done in the coming phases of the project to make the system applicable both outdoor and indoor.
Synthesis of Nanotips Through Femtosecond Laser Ablation of Glass with Assisted Gas
Authors: Patel Nikunj
Published: May 2021

Nanotips are the key nanostructures for many applications. Until now, the nanotips of only the crystalline materials have been produced via various deposition methods which require sophisticated equipment, high vacuum, and clean room operations. This thesis proposes a single step, rapid synthesis method using femtosecond laser irradiation at megahertz frequency with background flow of nitrogen gas at ambient conditions. Amorphous nanotips are obtained without the use of catalyst. The nanotips grow from highly energetic plasma generated when target is irradiated with laser pulses. The vapor condensates, nanoparticles and droplets from the plasma get deposited back on to the hot target surface where they experience force imbalance due to which the stems for the nanotips growth are initiated. Once the stems are generated, the continuous deposition of vapor condensates [sic] provides building materials to the stems to complete the growth of nanotips. Further study found that the growth of the nanotips is influenced by laser parameters and gas conditions.
Evaluating suburban brownfield redevelopment incentives
Authors: Wilson Graham Robert
Published: May 2021

Suburban contaminated property (brownfield) redevelopment projects in peripheral or lower-density municipalities often do not have the same expected returns as urban brownfields in dense cities like Toronto, which are aided by high residential sale prices. A survey (n=17) of stakeholders’ opinions found that brownfield redevelopment costs and complexity had increased since changes to environmental and planning regulatory frameworks were made. Existing financial incentives for brownfield redevelopment were reviewed in selected Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) municipalities. A pro forma analysis of a hypothetical mid-rise residential construction scenario was developed to test the current incentives against current market conditions (condo sale prices) in these municipalities, which were often not sufficient to make a project feasible in areas of low condo sale prices. A combination of incentives was found to be effective, and was recommended to be implemented by the Town of Whitby, which has many brownfields but no financial incentives
Phenomenological studies of hot tearing during solidification of magnesium alloys
Authors: Bichler Lukas
Published: May 2021

There is a renewed interest in magnesium alloys in the automotive industry. Magnesium alloys are ~35% lighter than aluminum and ~80% lighter than steel. As a result, incorporation of magnesium alloy castings in new vehicles plays a critical role in reducing the overall vehicle weight and increasing the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Magnesium alloys processed via permanent mold casting (PMC) show a high susceptibility to hot tearing. While several techniques are used to relieve hot tearing (e.g., preheating of molds, grain refinements or elimination of sharp features in part design), the underlying mechanisms responsible for hot tearing remain unclear. In the case of magnesium alloys, limited work has been carried out to advance the fundamental understanding of hot tearing.

This research investigated the influence of alloy microstructure, casting solidifications and casting stresses on the onset of hot tearing in AZ91D and AE42 magnesium alloys. A novel approach to determine casting stresses using neutron diffraction was implemented. A custom design permanent mold was used to manipulate the cooling rate of a casting and enusing susceptibility to hot tearing.

The results indicate that the mold temperature had a profound influence on the nucleation of hot tears. When the cooling rate of AZ91D casting reached ~15.1 °C/s (210 °C mold temperature), the fraction solids development was sufficiently fast to prevent adequate long-range interdendritic feeding of the casting. As a result, shrinkage porosity formed. Shrinkage porosity forming at a location of a stress concentration provided a nucleation site for a hot tear. The stress required to open a shrinkage pore into a hot tear at the stress concentration was ~8 – 12 MPa. Increasing the mold temperature of 250 °C decreased the cooling rate, improved interdendritic feeding of the casting, decreased solidification shrinkage and decreased the magnitude of tensile stresses developing in the casting. In the case of the AE42 alloy, interdendritic feeding of liquid was hindered by the A1xREY intermetallic compounds blocking the interdendritic paths. Further, the presence of acicular A111RE3 phase pinning the grain boundaries decreased the ductility of the AE42 alloy. As a result, a very slow casting cooling rate (~ 7.7 °C/s) was required to prevent the nucleation of hot tears. For higher cooling rates, hot tears nucleated at locations of stress concentrations and propagated along interdendritic regions and grain boundaries.
Investigating emotion recognition in the first year of life using eye-tracking Methodology
Authors: Segal Shira C.
Published: May 2021

The ability to recognize facial expressions of emotion is a critical part of human social interaction. Infants improve in this ability across the first year of life, but the mechanisms driving these changes and the origins of individual differences in this ability are largely unknown. This thesis used eye tracking to characterize infant scanning patterns of expressions. In study 1 (n = 40), I replicated the preference for fearful faces, and found that infants either allocated more attention to the eyes or the mouth across both happy and fearful expressions. In study 2 (n = 40), I found that infants differentially scanned the critical facial features of dynamic expressions. In study 3 (n = 38), I found that maternal depressive symptoms and positive and negative affect were related to individual differences in infants’ scanning of emotional expressions. Implications for our understanding of the development of emotion recognition are discussed.

Key Words: emotion recognition, infancy eye tracking, socioemotional development
The social construction of statelessness in Canada: a study of national media 1939-2011
Authors: Kane Jocelyn
Published: May 2021

To explore notions of knowledge production and narratives of truth surrounding statelessness in Canada, this study employs a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology to a media analysis of 616 newspaper articles from Canada's two largest national newspaper, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. Within a social constructivist analytical framework, it finds that using citizenship as a tool to divide 'us' from 'them', statelessness is constructed in such a way that reinforces power relations between those who belong in Canada and those who do not. This divide is achieved via the construction of the stateless person as the 'other' in Canadian society, the ill-recognition of statelessness as a phenomenon in and of itself, and thirdly, the construction of statelessness contributes to a blurring of the definitional clarity of statelessness, further complicating our understanding of statelessness as a separate and distinct form of status in the Canadian context.
How We Remember 1947
Authors: Farooq Asma
Published: May 2021

In my Major Research Project, I explore how the India-Pakistan partition of 1947 is conceptualized in a popular media text. Specifically, I look at a TV series produced in Pakistan that explores the partition and the events immediately preceding it, that led to the splitting of India into India and Pakistan from a nationalistic perspective. Major themes that are noteworthy of analysis include gender relations, notions of belonging and community, nationalism and identity, contextualization and impact of media, and trauma. Moreover, I pay attention to how gender relations and notions of family are conceptualized in relation to nationalistic ideologies, and how both are impacted during traumatic events. In particular, my research interest includes studying how this media depiction of the partition plays into or contests dominant narratives of the nation and citizenship along the lines of religious and gender classifications. The literature review below aims to explore theoretical conceptualizations of my areas of interest in order to enable my media text analysis to be situated in relation to existing literature.
LGBTQ parents' experiences with early years environments
Authors: Butac Michael
Published: May 2021

This phenomenological study explores LGBTQ parents’ experiences in seeking and in being part of early years environments, such as family support programs and childcare services, in Toronto, Ontario. Literature has shown that heteronormativity plays a significant role in early years environments, thereby, silencing other sexualities. This silencing of sexual minorities adds an additional layer to the process of seeking an early years environment, which involves assessing LGBTQ inclusion of such environments. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted
with LGBTQ parents to compare their experiences to the literature, and to consider implications for future practice and policy. The sample was found to have generally positive experiences. Collaboration was an important factor in creating more positive experiences for parents. Future research should consider further inclusion of bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals in order to continue to better understand their experiences in early years environments and build upon the knowledge gained here.

Keywords: LGBTQ parents, early years environments, family support programs,
childcare
Multi-Pulse SCR Rectifiers
Authors: Li Mei
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents the introduction, analysis and experimental verification of the six-pulse SCR rectifier and multi-pulse SCR rectifiers. As a fundamental three-phase controllable ac-dc converter, the six-pulse SCR rectifier is widely used in industry. However, it generates high Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in the line current. One of the solutions is to use multi-pulse rectifiers. Multi-pulse rectifiers could be classified into the 12-, 18-, and 24-pulse configurations. Application examples include high voltage direct current transmission systems, high power battery chargers and load commutated current source inverter powered motor drives. In this thesis, the six-, 12-, 18- and 24-pulse SCR rectifiers with inductive and capacitive loads are introduced. The line current THD and the input PF of various rectifiers are investigated. The principle of the harmonic elimination through phase-shifting transforms is analyzed by Fourer analysis and positive/negative sequence analysis. The experimental verification is accomplished on a prototype of the 12-pulse SCR recitifier.
Development of Ryerson’s Hyperloop Pod Systems Using a Modular and Systematic Approach
Authors: Khan Mohammed Mohiuddin
Published: May 2021

Ryerson International Hyperloop is a special projects team with the intent of developing a fully functioning Hyperloop Pod. The team believes in driving revolutionary change within the transportation industry, with the greater cause of saving time, and to help make Canadian cities more accessible. The Pod was designed using a systematic approach with modularity and reliability as major foci. Its design featured an innovative, student researched and developed linear induction based MagDrive, and MagLev systems for propulsion and levitation. The braking system featured a fail-safe pneumatic deployment system to facilitate braking at high speeds as well as a wireless “Keep Alive” command. The onboard hyperionics is entirely composed of student researched and developed components which provides an expansive communication range and the ability to transmit real time data back to the mission control through all states and stages of the Pod’s run.
A new Modulo Addition with enhanced scalable security against algebraic attack
Authors: Cheng Min Hsuan
Published: May 2021

In recent years, Algebraic Attack has emerged to be an important cryptanalysis method in evaluating encryption algorithms. The attack exploits algebraic equations between the inputs and outputs of a cipher to solve for the targeted information. The complexity of the attack depends on the algebraic degree of the equations, the number of equations, and the probabilistic conditions employed. Addition Modulo 2n had been suggested over logic XOR as a mixing element to better defend against Algebraic Attack. However, it has been discovered that the complexity of the traditional Modulo Addition can be greatly reduced with the right equations and probabilistic conditions. The presented work introduces a new Modulo Addition structure that includes an Input Expansion, Modulo Addition, and Output Compaction. The security of the new structure is scalable and user-defined as the new structure increases the algebraic degree and thwarts the probabilistic conditions.
Inflight investigation of the effects of rotor state measurement and feedback on variable stability helicopters
Authors: Alexander Marc David
Published: May 2021

This thesis describes a flight test evaluation of flight control laws applying rotor state measurements and feedback on the National Research Council Bell 412 Advanced Systems Research Aircraft (ASRA) and Bell 205A Airborne Simulator (AS).

Parameter estimation of a higher-order mathematical model of the ASRA rotor dynamics was achieved by Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) employing coupled rotor-body equations parameterized by explicit rotor and fuselage state measurements.

Root Locus (RLM), Classical Multivariable (CMC), Eigenstructure Assignment (EAC), and Model Following control algorithms were implemented in Matlab/Simulink simulation for analysis of coupled rotor-body dynamics.

Rotorcraft performance specifications were based on compliance with ADS-33E-PRF and Cooper Harper military handling qualities.

Evaluated in desk-top and in-flight simulation, rotor state feedback of longitudinal and lateral disc tilt dynamics by modern multivariable control significantly improves inter-axis decoupling, disturbance rejection characteristics, rotor response dynamics, command tracking accuracy, and rigid-body bandwidth performance.
IPPS_R : a generative process planning system for rotational parts
Authors: Cai Yijing
Published: May 2021

An automated machining process planning system for rotational parts is designed, developed and implemented. The system is called IPPS_R for Intelligent Process Planning System for Rotational parts. The IPPS_R system is designed for generating process plans for manufacturing rotational parts using metal cutting operations. A generative approach is employed to determine process operations and sequences automatically. For each machining feature, based on the accuracy and surface quality requirements, a fuzzy logic approach is developed to generate machining operations. A method of ranking the machining priorities of the features according to the feature relationship matrix is developed for sequencing operations. Moreover, the heuristic search of process plans is achieved by minimizing the number of setups in a plan. Finally, the IPPS_R system with a user-friendly interface is implemented in Microsoft Visual C++ on a personal computer, utilizing Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC). Two sample parts are used to demonstrate applications of the IPPS_R system.
Investigation of the regulation of expression of E. Coli Common Pilus subunit, ECPA, of enterohaemorrhagic E. Coli 0157:H7 under acid stress
Authors: Tollman Hannah
Published: May 2021

Escherichia coli (EHEC) 0157:H7 is a pathogenic bacterial species that is most commonly linked to severe diarrhea, but is also the leading cause of the potentially fatal hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). In order to establish infection in the colon, EHEC must endure different stresses encountered in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as acid stress in the stomach, bile salt stress in the small intestine, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) stress in the colon. These bacteria are likely able to use GI stresses as indicators of their location, impacting gene expression of adhesion, motility, and virulence factors. The E. coli Common Pilus (ECP) has been shown to be an important factor for EHEC adhesion to epithelial cells, which is increased after either acid or SCFA stress. It has also been demonstrated via microarray that genes of this operon are upregulated after acid stress. The aim of this study is to determine how expression of the main subunit of this structure, EcpA, is regulated upon exposure of EHEC 0157:H7 to acid or SCFA-stress. Both transcriptional and translational regulation are hypothesized to be involved. Isogenic mutants have been constructed that lacked key regulators suspected to be important for each system. Two approaches are used to determine if the predicted regulatory systems are playing a role in response to stress: observing EcpA protein expression analysis through Western blotting with anti-EcpA antibodies, and examining differences in ecp operon promoter activity in regulatory mutants. In this study Western blots reconfirmed H-NS does not modulate ecpA expression in direct response to acute acid stress. This suggests an alternate regulatory response in EHEC 0157:H7 to acute acid stress resulting in the upregulation of ecpA expression previously observed with microarray analysis.
Spatial memory in Canadian and Indian young and older adults: the effects of age, culture and cultural orientation
Authors: Patel Khushi
Published: May 2021

Cross-cultural research suggests that individualistic Americans have a tendency to process focal objects; in contrast, collectivist Asians have a tendency to bind objects and context (Park & Huang, 2010). However, little is known whether the reported cultural differences are moderated by cultural orientation. In light of these results and the well-reported age-related decline in binding abilities, the current study examined cultural and age differences in cultural orientation, spatial memory and strategy use with young and older Canadian and Indian adults. There was little difference between Canadian and Indian participants’ cultural orientation. While cultural orientation did not moderate the relationship between culture and spatial memory, spatial memory and strategy use differed as a function of age. The use of context-specific strategies resulted in performance gains in older adults, however overall older adults had poor spatial memory, with Indian older adults scoring significantly lower than Canadian older adults on the courtyard task.
Technical feasibility study of net-zero energy house for Canada - case study of Team North 2009 US DOE Solar Decathlon competition
Authors: Saeid Toktam
Published: May 2021

In October 2009, Team North competed in the US DOE 2009 Solar Decathlon competition. Team North's mission was to design and deliver North House, an energy efficient solar-powered home while training Canada's next generation of leaders in sustainable design. In North House, the PV system on the roof was the primary energy generation, complimented by a custom PV cladding system on the south, east and west facades. A solar assisted heat pump system, including a three-tank heat transfer and storage system, the horizontally mounted evacuated-tube solar thermal collectors on the roof and a variable capacity heat pump met the hot water and space heating demands. A second variable capacity heat pump was utilized for space cooling. The solar thermal system was studied using TRNSYS simulation. For the initial assessments the simulations were run for Baltimore. Then, the analyses were extended to different cities across Canada. In all scenarios the same house was linked to the system. The minimum annual solar fraction of the different cities was 64% and it rose up to 81%. Finally, the data measured during the competition were analyzed and compared with the data resulting from the simulation. According to competition measures, during the 10 days of competition in Washington DC, the PV system generated 271.6kWh of electricity and the solar thermal system produced 91.7kWh while the house consumption was 294.1kWh. As a result, North House was evidently a net-positive house.
Laser shadowgraphy measurement of abrasive particle mass, size and velocity distributions through micro-masks used in abrasive jet micro-machining
Authors: Dehnadfar Damon
Published: May 2021

In abrasive jet micromachining (AJM), a jet of particles is passed through narrow mask openings in order to define the features to be micro-machined. The size and shape of the micro-machined features depends on the distribution of the particle velocity and mass flux through the mask openings. In this work, a high speed laser shadowgraphy technique was used to demonstrate experimentally, for the first time, the significant effect of the mask opening size and powder shape and size on the resulting distribution of particle mass flux and velocity through the mask opening. In particular, it was found that the velocity through the mask was approximately constant, but different in magnitude than the velocity in the free jet incident to the mask. The measured mass flux distributions were in excellent agreement with a previously developed analytical model, thus directly confirming its validity. Additional measurements also showed that an existing numerical model could be used to predict the velocity distribution in free jets of spherical particles, and, if a modification to the particle drag coefficient is made, in free jets of angular particles. The direct experimental verification of these models allow for their use in surface evolution models that can predict the evolving shape of features micro-machined using AJM.
Exploring hybridity and identity negotiation of young Tamil Canadian women: an autoethnographic study
Authors: Sahayanathan Angeline
Published: May 2021

This paper presents an autoethnographic analysis of hybridity and identity negotiation related to young Tamil Canadian women. Tamil women face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining cultural practices that are so heavily embedded in our upbringing. I have experienced this within my own life, in addition to observing similar challenges among women whom I have encountered within the Sri Lankan Tamil community in the City of Toronto. Young Tamil Canadian women are finding it difficult to conform to cultural expectations given their upbringing in a Western country like Canada Using an autoethnographic approach, the purpose of this paper is to examine transnational issues young Tamil Canadian women – specifically daughters, experience in their diaspora, as a result of negotiating between cultural practices and related impacts or consequences. Specifically, I employ vignette writing, a form of creative analytic practice to explore how young Tamil women are seen as carriers of culture and related implications for their agency and autonomy. Further, I examine and communicate how personal negotiations related to choosing to follow certain Tamil cultural practices and rejecting others, can result in community isolation, rejection from diasporic relations, and uncertainties about self-worth. I consider processes of identity construction and negotiation, and how this results in the creation of a third space that celebrates difference through new ways of being, encompassing cultural values from both the Canadian and Sri Lankan Tamil spectrum. My lived experiences will translate into short narratives that create a tangible example of this phenomenon and is captured by theories of hybridity, third space, acculturation and the good daughter.

Key words: Diaspora, hybridity, identity, negotiation, culture, practices, gender, roles, migration, daughters
Principal Component Analysis for ICP Pose Estimation of Space Structures
Authors: Mark Lun H.
Published: May 2021

This thesis investigates how geometry of complex objects is related to LIDAR scanning with the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) pose estimation and provides statistical means to assess the pose accuracy. LIDAR scanners have become essential parts of space vision systems for autonomous docking and rendezvous. Principal Componenet Analysis based geometric constraint indices have been found to be strongly related to the pose error norm and the error of each individual degree of freedom. This leads to the development of several strategies for identifying the best view of an object and the optimal combination of localized scanned areas of the object's surface to achieve accurate pose estimation. Also investigated is the possible relation between the ICP pose estimation accuracy and the districution or allocation of the point cloud. The simulation results were validated using point clouds generated by scanning models of Quicksat and a cuboctahedron using Neptec's TriDAR scanner.
A bidirectional associative memory based on cortical spiking neurons using temporal coding
Authors: Zamani Masood
Published: May 2021

In this thesis, we proposed a spiking bidirectional associative memory (BAM) using temporal coding. The information processing in biological neurons is beyond of[sic] that applied in the current Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The coding scheme used in ANNs known as “mean firing rate” cannot answer the fast and complex computations occurring in the cortex. In biological neural networks the information is coded and processed based on the timing of action potentials. To improve the biological plausibility of the standard BAM, we employed spiking neurons for its processing units, and information is presented to the BAM in the form of temporal coding. The neurons employed in the model are heterogeneous, and being able to generate various spike-timing patterns. Genetic Algorithm and Co-evolution are used for training, and the experiment results of the proposed BAM are compared to those of the standard BAM. The results show improvements in recall, storage capacity and convergence which are of interest to design a BAM.
Experiences working split shifts: a phenomenological study of early childhood educators
Authors: Saunders Erica
Published: May 2021

Care work in general, and the work of early childhood educators, in particular, are both undervalued and gendered (Langford, Richardson, Albanese, Bezanson, Prentice, and White, 2017). While there is substantial research outlining the low wages and undervaluation of Ontario’s Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs), there is no known research on the effects that split shifts have on workers in this sector. Split shifts, when viewed by a worker as problematic, were found to be detrimental to overall health in the case of bus drivers (Ihlström, Kecklund, and Anund, 2017). It is not known whether the same could be said for RECEs. Given this noted gap, there is a need for research on the impact of working split shifts on RECEs. This study aims to address this noted absence of research for this female-dominated workforce performing care work. In order to do so, ten RECEs who self-report working a split shift were asked about their experiences through in-person, semi-structured interviews. These interviews gathered insight on how RECEs perceive that this work arrangement affected them professionally and personally, as well as what they believed could be done to address this scheduling system. Some of the key findings were that working split shifts resulted in even lower than “normal” compensation, and a sense that RECEs were being policed. There were also concerns about space and language indicating ownership of classroom space, as well as challenges navigating territoriality around that space. Finally, there was an overall feeling that split shifts helped to further undervalue the undervalued RECEs in general.
Development and Characterization of Cast Modified SI-CU-MG Alloys for Heat Resistant Power Train Applications
Authors: Shaha Sugrib Kumar
Published: May 2021

High temperature tensile, compression and low cycle fatigue tests were performed to assess the influence of micro-additions of Ti, V and Zr on the Al-7Si-1Cu-0.5Mg (wt.%) alloy in the as-cast and heat treated conditions. A combination of electron microscopy and high temperature X-ray diffraction was used to identify phases and temperature ranges of their thermal stability. The microstructure of the as-cast Al-7Si-1Cu-0.5Mg (wt.%) base and modified alloys consisted of α-Al, eutectic Si, and Cu-, Mg- and Fe-based phases Al2.1Cu, Al8.5Si2.4Cu, Al7.2Si8.3Cu2Mg6.9 and Al14Si7.1FeMg3.3. In addition, the micro-sized Ti/V/Zr-rich phases Al6.8Si1.4Ti, Al21.4Si4.1Ti3.5VZr3.9, Al6.7Si1.2TiZr1.8, Al2.8Si3.8V1.6Zr and Al5.1Si35.4Ti1.6Zr5.7Fe were identified in the modified alloys. During solution treatment, Cu- and Mg- based phases were completely dissolved, while the eutectic silicon, Fe- and Ti-V-Zr-rich intermetallics partially dissolved. The TEM analysis confirmed the presence of nano-sized precipitates of (AlSi)3(TiVZr) with D023 tetragonal crystal structure. The tensile tests of the alloy in the as-cast state showed that with increasing testing temperature from 25°C to 400°C the yield strength and tensile strength of the studied alloy decreased from 161 MPa to 84 MPa and from 261 MPa to 102 MPa, respectively. Accordingly, the T6 heat treated alloy modified with additions of a higher content of Ti-V-Zr achieved the highest tensile strength of 343 MPa over the base alloy and alloys modified with additions of Ti, Ti-Zr and lower contents of Ti-V-Zr. The fatigue life of the studied alloy in the T6 condition was substantially longer than those of the reference alloys A356 and the same Al-7Si-1Cu-0.5Mg base alloy with lower additions of V, Zr and Ti in the T6 condition. The fractography revealed tensile crack propagation through the eutectic Si and primary phases, exhibiting intergranular fracture along with some cleavage-like features of the plate-shaped Ti-V-Zr-rich intermetallics with a presence of fatigue striations on the latter, indicating their ductile nature. It is believed that the intermetallic precipitates containing Zr, Ti and V improve the fatigue life of the studied alloy in the T6 condition.
Expanding within flexible housing for growing families in urban neighbouthood
Authors: Kim Tae Hoon
Published: May 2021

Two- thirds of the world’s population will be living in urbanized areas by 2050. The response to this trend in housing demand has been intensification of the urban core, or sprawl. However, this solution addresses only current conditions and does not allow for future change.
People’s housing needs are greatly influenced by their stages of life and by socio-economic factors that are constantly changing over time. However, most housing offers unchanging physical environments. Therefore, there is a conflict the between dynamic nature of people’s lifestyle and their dwellings.
Living in a fast-paced society where change is inevitable, how can we design future housing that responds to the evolving needs and desires of diverse households throughout their life cycle? This thesis argues that homes should not be designed with a single purpose. Instead, they must be flexible and open-ended, and lend themselves conveniently to transform.
Development and implementation of the linear phase algorithm in a two-dimensional sun-sensor
Authors: Yam Albert  Kar-Kei
Published: May 2021

The sub-pixel peak position estimation performance of the Linear Phase algorithm was enhanced and extended for use with a two-dimensional sensor. The two-dimensional system is composed of orthogonal pairs of slits diffracting light onto a single pixel array. The adaptation of the Linear Phase algorithm into the two-dimensional system was performed by manipulating the sensor image into two one-dimensional images. Performance testing used simulated sensor output and images attained from a real sun-sensor. The Linear Phase algorithm was then implemented into an embedded system to simulate onboard processing. A C8051 microcontroller was used as the embedded microcontroller. Results from the embedded processing were compared against the native Matlab implementation for consistency in sub-pixel peak position estimation performance. The Linear Phase algorithm was able to perform with excellent results, comparable to current two-dimensional sun-sensor algorithms.
Role of PIKfyve in macrophage and neutrophil immune response
Authors: Dayam Roya Monica
Published: May 2021

Solid particles such as pathogens, dying cells, and debris are engulfed by macrophages
and neutrophils and sequestered into a phagosome. Phagosomes fuse with early and
late endosomes and ultimately with lysosomes to mature into phagolysosomes, a
process known as phagosome maturation. The formation of highly acidic and
degradative phagolysosomes plays an important role in degradation of the internalized
particle. We employed siRNA and pharmacological tools to demonstrate that
phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P2], synthesized by the PIKfyve lipid
kinase, is required for phagosome maturation. However, the mechanism by which
PI(3,5)P2 controls phagosome maturation remained uncharacterized. We hypothesized
that PI(3,5)P2 may control phagosome-lysosome fusion partly by stimulating TRPML1, a
lysosomal Ca2+ channel gated by PI(3,5)P2. Upon opening of the channel, lysosomal Ca2+
would diffuse and trigger phagosome-lysosome fusion since Ca2+ is known to induce
membrane fusion post-docking of SNARE proteins. In addition, we also demonstrated
that the lipid kinase PIKfyve coordinates the neutrophils immune response by
controlling phagosome maturation and regulating Rac GTPase activity. PIKfyve produces
both PI(3,5)P2 and phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PI5P); therefore, it might control
phagosome maturation through production of PI(3,5)P2 and activation of TRPML1 as
well as regulates ROS production and chemotaxis through synthesis of PI5P, which leads
to the activation of Tiam1, and Rac GTPase.