bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vor- und Nachteile des brasilianischen Beitritts zur Organisation für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung – OECD
Authors: Cordeiro Luciana Machado , Campina Ana Cláudia Carvalho
Published: May 2021

Die hier vorgeschlagene Forschungsarbeit hat den Raum, die Vor- und Nachteile, die sich aus der Unterstützung Brasiliens durch die OECD ergeben, in die Diskussion zu bringen. Es ist eine internationale Organisation, die durch ihre Mitglieder und Mitgliedsländer Politiken fördert, die auf die Entwicklung und das Wohlergehen der Menschen abzielen. Die Studie wird mit einer kurzen Geschichte über die Gründung der Organisation beginnen und auf ihre Ursprünge, Ziele und Instrumente hinweisen und nicht auch charakterisieren, was es bedeutet, Mitglied der Organisation zu sein. Die verwendete Methodik wird bibliographisch sein, basierend auf der Lehre, die auf dem Thema basiert. Abschließend wird sie auf die Bedeutung der globalen Governance eingehen, um die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der Studie über den Zulassungsprozess Brasiliens sowie die Vor- und Nachteile der Unterstützung Brasiliens für die Organisation zu erörtern.
Advantages and disadvantages of Brazilian accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development – OECD
Authors: Cordeiro Luciana Machado , Campina Ana Cláudia Carvalho
Published: May 2021

The research work, which is proposed here, has the scope to bring to the discussion the advantages and disadvantages arising from Brazil’s support of the OECD. It is an International Organization that through its members and member countries promotes policies aimed at the development and well-being of people. The study will begin with a brief history on the creation of the Organization, pointing out its origins, objectives and instruments, besides characterizing what it means to be a member of the Organization. The methodology used will be bibliographic, based on doctrine based on the theme. In conclusion, it will address the importance of global governance, in order to discuss the main results of the study on the admission process of Brazil, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of Brazil’s support to the Organization.
Ventajas y desventajas de la adhesión de Brasil a la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos – OCDE
Authors: Cordeiro Luciana Machado , Campina Ana Cláudia Carvalho
Published: May 2021

El trabajo de investigación, que se propone aquí, tiene el margen para llevar al debate las ventajas y desventajas derivadas del apoyo del Brasil a la OCDE. Es una Organización Internacional que a través de sus miembros y países miembros promueve políticas dirigidas al desarrollo y bienestar de las personas. El estudio comenzará con una breve historia sobre la creación de la Organización, señalando sus orígenes, objetivos e instrumentos, además de caracterizar lo que significa ser miembro de la Organización. La metodología utilizada será bibliográfica, basada en la doctrina basada en el tema. En conclusión, abordará la importancia de la gobernanza mundial, a fin de debatir los principales resultados del estudio sobre el proceso de admisión del Brasil, así como las ventajas y desventajas del apoyo del Brasil a la Organización.
Преимущества и недостатки вступления Бразилии в Организацию экономического сотрудничества и развития – ОЭСР
Authors: Cordeiro Luciana Machado , Campina Ana Cláudia Carvalho
Published: May 2021

Предлагаемая здесь исследовательская работа имеет возможности для того, чтобы довести до обсуждения преимущества и недостатки, связанные с поддержкой Бразилии ОЭСР. Международная организация через своих членов и страны-члены содействует разработке политики, направленной на развитие и благополучие людей. Исследование начнется с краткой истории создания Организации с указанием ее истоков, целей и инструментов, помимо характеристики того, что значит быть членом Организации. Используемая методология будет библиографической, основанной на доктрине, основанной на теме. В заключение он будет рассмотрен вопрос о важности глобального управления, с тем чтобы обсудить основные результаты исследования, касаются процесса приема в Бразилию, а также преимуществ и недостатков поддержки Бразилией Организации.
Algorithms and the Streaming Wars: The Changing Meanings of Film and Television Culture
Authors: Pajkovic Niko
Published: May 2021

The film and television industry has been transformed by a new wave of over-the-top (OTT) video streaming services. Disney+, Apple TV Plus, NBC Universal’s Peacock, WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, and Quibi have all been released between November 12th, 2019 and May 27th, 2020, ushering in what the media has called the “Streaming Wars”. Like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, these platforms are dependent on the use of algorithms and Big Data, meaning the presence of these technologies within the industry will become increasingly pervasive, important, and unavoidable for producers and consumers alike. The purpose of this MRP is twofold: 1) to explore the current role algorithms play in the production, distribution and consumption of film and television, and to assess how these technologies are impacting broader notions of creativity and taste within the industry; and 2) to challenge the dominant critical theoretical perspectives that have emerged in regards to algorithmic cultures, namely, those contending that algorithms are replacing the fundamentally human process of cultural meaning- and decision-making. To achieve this, I explore the role algorithms play in the production and creative development of film and television, focusing my analysis on the emergence of data-driven creativity. I examine several third-party AI and analytics firms whose services automate the creative practices of ideation, script development, and casting. In addition, I examine how algorithms are changing the distribution and consumption of film and television via recommendation systems, and contribute to the existing dialogue regarding their implications on taste and taste-making. For that purpose, I apply Bucher’s (2018) method of reverse engineering to the Netflix Recommender System (NRS), revealing its circular and economic logics.
Preliminary Investigation of a Flax-Epoxy Composite Material for Orthopaedic Applications
Authors: Shami Kamil
Published: May 2021

In this dissertation, a preliminary experimental study was done on a flax-epoxy prepreg to determine its suitability as a composite material for making bone fixation plates. The research involved manufacturing, testing, data analysis, and design and optimizing. The material was found to have sufficient strength and mechanical characteristics similar to those of bone, and could be used for making bone fixation implants with proper design or in combination with other reinforcement fibres. The findings of this research are useful not only for using flax-epoxy composites in designing bone fixation plates but also for orthopaedic implants, such as joint replacement, in general.
Celluloid buttons : cataloging unusual photographic objects
Authors: McInturff Jennifer Ann
Published: May 2021

This thesis project used a collection of 59 celluloid photographic buttons as a case study for arranging, describing, and cataloging similar novelty displays. The buttons discussed, which are part of the photographic collection at Eastman House, are in the form of pin-backs, pocket mirrors, and medallions. The first part of the paper describes the collection, gives a concise explanation of the button-making process and history, and presents an analysis of celluloid buttons based on observations of the objects as well as primary research. The second part of the paper outlines the arrangement and cataloging process, and summarized the decisions made regarding the documentation of the collection.
The development of crosslinked gelatin thin films as controlled release matrices
Authors: Abbasi Alireza
Published: May 2021

The aim of this thesis was to develop gelatin-based thin films that may be used as matrices for the controlled release of bioactive compounds. There were three objectives to this research: i) develop a method to generate the thin films ii) experimentally quantify the release of a fluorescent marker from these films, and iii) implement a mathematical model to characterize the release of the fluorescent marker. To achieve the first objective, a novel method of developing thin films was implemented where sub-micron thickness films affixed to standard glass slides were crosslinked with genipin, a naturally-occurring fixative. Gel thickness measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM) varied from 350 to 650 nm irrespective of the concentration of genifin added. AFM-based surface roughness decreased with increasing genipin concentration. Release behavior of a fluorescent marker from the thin films demonstrated a strong influence of genipin concentration on release kinetics, with greater genipin leading to slower release. A mathematical model for the water transport into, and fluorescent marker release from, the genipin-crosslinked gelatin films was developed and successfully implemented with both the water ingress (swelling) and marker release being effectively characterized by the model.
The Canadian Point System and Its Discontents: Integration of Immigrants into the Labour Market into the 21st Century
Authors: Lopez Elsa
Published: May 2021

This paper offers a historical review of the evolution of the point system. It is crucial to understand the past in order to understand immigrants' current economic performance. Canada's immigration policy has evolved over time by adjusting to the economic, social and political needs of each specific period. However, the current immigration policy, in the form of the point system, is not flexible in meeting the needs of the Canadian labour market. The point system currently requires immigrants to have a high level of education and proficiency in English or French. However, research indicates that immigrans are not doing as well as expected financially. This paper will analyze and seek answers to the following research questions: Does the point system reflect the needs of the labour market and is it an effective tool for measuring the needs of the Canadian nation? The theoretical frameworks that will be used are human capital theory and labour market segmentation theory. This paper will be focusing on the relationship between Canadian immigration policy and the needs of the labour market.
Ageism analyzed and redefined: a critical discourse analysis
Authors: LeBlanc Mari
Published: May 2021

In this Major Research Paper, I conducted a critical discourse analysis of articles about ageism and age discrimination published in The Globe and Mail in 2015. The research aimed to locate and examine discourses about ageism and older adults. I located three discourses in these articles. First the articles centered a middle aged, white, and successful subject; secondly, older adults in these articles were both privileged and a burden, and finally, older adults were urged to take initiative to prevent aging. It is my hope that my work points to both the underlying discourses that social workers need to consider to do equitable work with older adults and new ways for them to understand ageism in order to center the needs, experiences, and beliefs of older adults with multiply marginalized identities.
Let's talk sex: expertise in women's online sex communities
Authors: Northup Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

As a result of failures in the healthcare profession, and perhaps also in sexual health education, women are facing barriers when attempting to express, control, and explore their own sexuality. In response to the constraints of medical and educational discourses of sexuality and the disregard of female perspectives in traditional forms of health communication, some women are seeking out alternative sites for communicating about sexuality. This major research paper focuses on the expression of knowledge and experience regarding women’s sexuality, sexual practices, and sexual health in online spaces. To evaluate the potentially beneficial and damaging effects of exchanging knowledge online, the construction, negotiation, and legitimization of expertise will be considered through a theoretical lens focused on sexual storytelling and dominant feminist and health discourses.

This study provides an inductive qualitative discourse analysis of three publicly available websites: girlonthenet.com, carasutra.co.uk, and sluttygirlproblems.com. The discourses of both authors and readers are analyzed through a coding scheme derived from a number of sources from the relevant literature. The broader categories of coding
allow for an understanding of how expertise is constructed, while the subcategories within these headings enable analysis of the ways in which expertise is legitimized, enforced, and policed between experts and non-experts. This particular categorization of expertise is considered through a perspective that prioritizes the personal sexual narrative as a valid form of sexual knowledge exchange, while assessing the validity, value, and influence of this knowledge on women and their individual sexuality, sexual practices, and sexual health.
Bloodlines : honour killings in the post-migration context
Authors: Beelut Muzzammil Ismail
Published: May 2021

Honour killing is an extreme form of violence in the family. This paper seeks to understand the reasons behind the honour killings. Since 2002, there have been 13 reported honour killings in Canada. A media analysis was conducted of 8 articles from the Toronto Star and the National Post to demonstrate how the media portrayed issues related to the murder of Aqsa Parvez, a 16 year old Muslim girl. Policy recommendations are offered as to how honour killings can be prevented from happening in Canada. Keywords: honour killings, Canada, South Asian families, intergenerational conflict, media analysis.
Shear viscosity calculation for particle-based flow
Authors: Kunwar Pradeep
Published: May 2021

A particle-based method called multi-particle collision (MPC) dynamics is considered, and the shear viscosity is calculated theoretically. As part of the particle-based mechanism, velocities of particles change due to collisions and due to an applied external force used to create flow. The system's temperature increases due to the external force, and a thermostat is used to remove this excess temperature so as to maintain constant temperature (isothermal) flow conditions. A theoretical expression for the shear viscosity is derived and compared to existing viscosity expressions.

Additionally, results for MPC flow through a local constriction are assessed. The novelty of the numerical results in this Thesis come from using a local thermostat rather than a global thermostat that had been used in the past.
Multidisciplinary design optimization of stamped and welded structures
Authors: Mang Michael
Published: May 2021

Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) is very useful in present day engineering. The aim of this thesis is to develop and utilize an MDO procedure that can be applied to stamped and welded structures. This procedure involves new techniques such as material selection, weld constraint, and cost optimizations. The MDO is developed through five design iterations starting with a simple finite element model. As more techniques are added, the procedure progresses towards using a real life radiator support structure in a static loading case. Three trials were completed to optimize the cost of the structure; the final result is that the total cost was minimized by 20%. The MDO procedure was also applied to a real life wheel chair ramp model from a modified minivan. This structure was subject to a rear crash situation and the total mass, after the procedure was applied, was reduced by 19%.
A Framework for Early Design Process Stages Based on an Analogy to Evolution
Authors: Rogers Damian A. S.
Published: May 2021

Recent research has revealed several shortcomings of design processes with respect to modern contexts. Two of these are complexity and sustainability. Design problems are becoming increasingly complex, to the point where designers can be easily overwhelmed. Sustainability, while recognized as pivotal to future human progress and well-being, remains largely disconnected from design processes. Current practices in the field of sustainability are not integrated into the design process and thus, are often carried out only as after-the-fact addenda. The goal of this research is to address these two problems with current design processes. It has long been known that analogies are useful and help to reduce complexity by rooting a topic into pre-existing knowledge of the user. Patterns have also been shown to be useful in helping solve complex problems in engineering, as well as architecture and computer science. Therefore, this dissertation proposes a new design framework which: reduces problem complexity through the use of an analogy and patterns, makes provisions for emergent properties within the patterns and the framework, and provides a means for generating solutions with aspects of sustainability via the patterns and evaluation criteria. The analogical framework, based on similarities found in the phenomena and processes between natural systems (nature) and design, is then used to formulate a new model for describing the design of a product, the Design Genome. The main focus of this dissertation is to use this model as a basis for a new method of concept generation, the Design by DNA method, and concept evaluation, the Fitness Space method. It is shown that the Fitness Space method has the potential to solve many, if not all, of the downfalls of conventional evaluation methods. A pilot experiment testing the Design by DNA method against previously known design methods is conducted and demonstrates the feasibility for a full-scale experiment. Even with small population sizes, results from the experiment show promise that the DbD method is useful as a tool for the concept generation process. Based on the work done, it appears that Design by DNA and the Fitness Space are promising approaches for improving design processes.
Photolytic and Photocatalytic Treatment of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate in Water
Authors: Venhuis Sarah Rebecca Hatfield
Published: May 2021

Treatment of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate using various photolytic and photocatalytic processes is described. Based on first order rates, it is shown that 5,000 mg/L of H²O² for degradation of a 100 mg/L solution of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate is optimum. Two different photocatalysts, Degussa P25 and Hombikat UV 100 TiO², are used to degrade LAS in slurry batch reactors. The optimum photocatalyst loading for Degussa P25 is higher than UV 100 for treatment of LAS since >20% adsorbs to the surface of the UV 100 photocatalyst. Combination of photocatalysts does not improve degradation rates in batch tests. Combination of Degussa P25 and 600 mg/L H²O² and irradiation with either UV light at 254 or 365 nm does not improve degradation rates over the photocatalytic or photolytic processes individually. Photolysis of LAS with UV light at 254 nm and 600 mg/L H²O² added at different time intervals was not successful and no improvement in the first order rate constant was observed. For optimum results, the hydrogen peroxide was added at the beginning of irradiation.
Gerrard India Bazaar : an atypical ethnic economy in a residential neighbourhood
Authors: Suorineni Angelica
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of the thesis that ethnic economies development from a co-ethnic residential context. This paper presents the Gerrard India Bazaar located at Gerrard Street East and Coxwell Ave. in Toronto, Ontario, as a South Asian ethnic economy that has developed into an ethnic commercial district without a corresponding coethnic neighbourhood. This paper explores the process and challenges that have accompanied the development of the Gerrard India Bazaar with the use of newspaper documentation on the area and business information from 1971, 1982, 1991, 1996 and 2009 MIGHTS Business Directory and 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 Census Data on the area. Findings from the research demonstrate that ethnic economics can be sustained without a co-ethnic neighborhood as long as there is co-occurring emergence of formal aspects of institutional completeness, accommodation to the residential environment and marketability to the mainstream market.
A sibling-paired observational study investigating the accumulation and deficiency of toxic and essential elements in children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Da Silva Eric
Published: May 2021

This study evaluated if elemental concentrations differed in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus normally developing children, at the pre-natal level of development, by means of a sibling-paired design, using deciduous teeth as biomarkers of pre-natal exposure to the elements. A total of 22 families were sampled from the Southern Ontario region (London, Hamilton, Orangeville, Newmarket, Toronto, Kingston and Ottawa) in which the full set of deciduous teeth from all children, where only one child was diagnosed with an ASD, were acquired. An analogous sample was collected from 7 control families. The concentrations of K, Mn, Na, Pb and Sr in the deciduous teeth of children with an ASD were found not to differ from that of their normally developing siblings and the control group (α = 0.01). The concentrations of Mg, Ni, Cu, Fe and Zn were found to be lower in the deciduous teeth of children with an ASD versus their normally developing siblings, while Cr concentrations were found to be elevated (ρ < 0.001). The differences were correlated to a general trend by which the concentrations decreased (or increase, in the case of Cr) in children as the mother conceived more children within the family. This may indicate that the trends and differences observed may be a secondary effect to another underlying condition, presumably at the level of the mother.
The Schostal Agency : a finding aid for the Schostal Agency collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Authors: Madamba Rebecca
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents the applied project of housing, intellectually arranging and creating a finding aid for the Schostal Agency collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). This collection includes 5,066 gelatin silver prints, 58 information sheets, and 34 photograph envelopes dating from the late 1920s to mid 1940s. The paper is structured in two parts: 1) an analytical paper, and 2) the finding aid. Part one investigates the historical context of the Schostal Agency, finding aids and collections management practices, as well as the methodology for organizing, housing, and creating the finding aid. Part two is the finding aid, which includes a descriptive summary, administrative information, scope and content of the collection, biographies and historical sketches, box lists, and a summary box list tracing the collection as a whole. This document will be made available to researchers in the Marvin Gelber Print and Drawing Study Centre at the AGO.
The Impact Of Exposure On Generalized Anxiety Disorder-Related Symptoms And Cognitive Processes: The Role Of Stimulus Variation
Authors: Fracalanza Katie
Published: May 2021

Theories indicate that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) avoid imagining threatening scenarios that have not occurred. Cognitive exposure to these images is a component of treatment; however, few studies have examined its efficacy. The current study assessed the impact of cognitive exposure and varying exposure content on GAD symptoms and cognitive processes. Forty-eight individuals with GAD were assigned to three sessions of : (1) variable exposure (VE), (2) consistent exposure (CE), or (3) neutral control writing (NC). Emotional activation was assessed during each session. Outcome measures were administered at pretest and 1-week follow-up. The CE condition showed improvements in GAD symptoms and cognitive processes, the VE condition showed less belief that their worse worry would occur, and the NC condition showed reduced GAD symptoms and interpretation bias. Emotional activation decreased across session in the CE condition; however, this did not predict outcomes. The theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
'You have the right to remain silent' an exploration of public perceptions of free speech
Authors: Carragher Natalie
Published: May 2021

This study explores the online public's reaction to the National Security Agency's surveillance Prism programs in light of the confidential government document leakage to the public on June 7, 2013. Through an in-depth qualitative analysis of top recommended user comments to the news article published in The Guardian describing the technicalities of the Prism program, public perceptions of civil liberties like free speech in new media communication are explored. Overarching themes and salient discourses on the public's understanding of their democratic rights emerged in the analysis. The findings revealed a number of competing views of liberty, and while the majority of the users opposed government surveillance and agreed it was in violation of their rights, further examination revealed a temptation to withdraw from using new media communication susceptible to government surveillance, thereby hindering the Internet's ability to act as a valuable arena for public debate as afforded by new media communication
Barack Obama’s Speeches and Addresses: a Narrative and Framing Analysis
Authors: Sanghara Anneliese
Published: May 2021

This Major Research Paper analyzes four of President Obama’s addresses or speeches leading up to and during the initial year in his second presidential term by asking two crucial questions that existing literature has overlooked.
Scholars have primarily focused on the rhetorical strategies, themes, and techniques in Obama’s speeches. First, what political, economic, and constitutive stories did Obama include in the four speeches and addresses? I rely upon Abbott’s story definition along with Smith’s explanation of political, economic, and constitutive stories. Second, how did Obama frame these stories? I draw upon Fairhurst and Sarr’s framing techniques: metaphor, contrast, and slogan. From this analysis, it is evident that Obama carefully selects political, economic, and constitutive stories and framing techniques to convey common American experiences, provide a renewed vision for the United States of America, and empower Americans as capable agents to create a better future, ultimately moving forward, which is the slogan of his second presidential campaign.
Grotesque Corporeality: Queering The Bulge In Gay Male Underwear
Authors: Williams Joshua
Published: May 2021

This creative Major Research Project (MRP) uses a practice-led research method approach to investigate a correlation between the queer body and the grotesque. The research questions attempt to explore the way queer bodies are used to transgress and subvert both heteronormative and homonormative ideologies and masculinities using grotesque humour. This project also examines the relationship between fashion and the body to resist normative values and ideals. Artistic practices combine to create a volume of work consisting of collage, underwear garments, and photographs. These creative outputs are then analyzed and discussed with a focus on Mikhail Bakhtin’s theories of the grotesque and carnivalesque, Gilles Deleuze’s theory of the Body without Organs, and queer theory.
Achieving an 80% reduction in Ontario residential heating energy consumption by 2030: a tiered framework and preliminary implementation strategy
Authors: Yip Amanda  Jacqueline
Published: May 2021

The increasing prevalence of climate change impacts and rising energy prices has highlighted the need to achieve deep energy savings now. To accomplish this, stricter prescriptive performance requirements for residential buildings are needed. The intent of this work is to develop a framework and policy implementation strategy to achieve an 80% reduction in Ontario residential heating energy consumption by 2030. A tiered framework of consumption targets was developed using OBC 2012 SB-12 requirements as a baseline and sample compliance packages created for each tier. Construction costs for the baseline and each tier compliance package were estimated and simple payback periods determined. Impacts of fuel escalation rates on payback periods were also considered. Significant cost premiums were found between the baseline consumption and overall 80% heating energy reduction target. Lack of experience and perceived risk were found to be the greatest barriers to achieving the overall energy reduction target. A preliminary strategy and supporting policy tools was developed, taking into consideration the observed barriers to adoption.
Effect of a Slat Arm Door on the Wing Efficiency of a Commercial Aircraft
Authors: Perera Sharman
Published: May 2021

The objective of this thesis is to determine the influence of a slat arm door on the aerodynamic performance of a wing of a commercial aircraft during it's take off and landing configurations using CFD simulation. The slats are extended forward by extendable arms coming out from the leading edge of the wing after the slat arm is deployed. CFD analysis of wing and slat configuration of the aircraft showed that the removal of this slat door at higher angle of attacks increased the drag by 0.88%, reduced the lift by 1.29%, increased the inert particle residence time inside the slat door compartment by 200.00% and increased the local flow separation area on the top surface of the wing by 42.81% with reference to the closed model.
Real Time Optimal Control of Distributed-Parameter Systems
Authors: Dutta Debaprasad
Published: May 2021

An optimal state feedback control strategy is proposed for processes described by non-linear, distributed-parameter models. For different values of a given parameter susceptible to upsets, the strategy involves off-line computation of a repository of optimal open-loop control, state, and the gain needed for the feedback adjustment of control. The gain is determined by minimizing the perturbation of the objective functional, state and control due to an upset. When an upset is encountered in a running process, the repository is utilized to obtain the control adjustment required to steer the process to the new optimal state. The strategy is successfully applied to a highly non-linear, heavy oil recovery process with the state depending non-linearly on time and two spatial directions inside a moving boundary, and subject to pressure upsets. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy is able to determine control adjustment with negligible time delay, and navigate the process to the new optimal state when disturbed by a pressure upset.
The Gardiner SkyPark: continuous productive urban landscape as infrastructure
Authors: Ghazizaden Bijan
Published: May 2021

The concept of Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes (CPUL) was introduced by Andrè Vilijoen and Katrin Bohn in 2004. This thesis project tests the application of the CPUL concept to Toronto, a densely developed North America winter city. It examines:

1. The challenges, limitations and opportunities of an existing high-rise city fabric as a platform for creating new coherent, continuous and active pedestrianized landscapes by reclaiming unused and under-utilized spaces.

2. The implications of merging reclaimed spaces with existing circulation arteries and infrastructure, to improve, invigorate and strengthen connections in the city.

Through an iterative research and design exercise, which discovered many hidden potentials within the CPUL framework, this project is able to demonstrate how a linear park system is capable of seamlessly reconnecting a severed Toronto’s waterfront to the dense downtown core. Such projects can substantially benefit community life, and offer new and meaningful forms of urban connectivity that are sustainable and productive.
Fashion & function: challenging gender through footwear design
Authors: Keymole Zent
Published: May 2021

This major research project challenges the concept of functionality as a masculine prerogative and its naturalized association to men’s fashion, within a North American context. I used Queer theory and concepts of gender performativity as a theoretical framework to support the exploration of the relationship between masculinity and function, and femininity and fashion. The research employs practice-led methodologies that bridge the gap between theory and practice by reflecting the process of theorizing fashion and seeing the result of its production in the real world. The project produced eight original footwear designs, four of which were fabricated using leather, rubber and plastics. I developed the footwear with the goal of creating accessibility and understandability to afford “wearability”. The overarching purpose of this study was to develop footwear that cannot be classified according to normative gender identity formulations, and that makes consumers reflect on the significance of gender in fashion.
A Pit-bull in Lipstick: The Reciprocal Brand Rhetoric of Sarah Palin
Authors: Stockdale Sarah
Published: May 2021

This Major Research paper will focus on the Republican American politician Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is a political figure who has played an interesting role in Republican politics over the last four years. As an unexpected candidate for John
McCain’s 2008 Vice Presidential nomination, Palin garnered unprecedented media attention for a running mate. Sarah Palin is a media celebrity, a potential Republican candidate for the 2012 election, and an international household name. The purpose of this research is to explore Sarah Palin as a political actor and celebrity icon by analyzing her use of new media as a platform for her political rhetoric. Specifically, this study looks at the discourse used in Sarah Palin’s social media campaign, with a direct focus on the social media outlet of Facebook. Facebook is a non-traditional political media platform, which allows politicians contact with millions of users in a format that is social, personal and direct. Many politicians have been utilizing new media platforms in order to communicate their political messages to new and diverse audiences. This study analyzes how Sarah Palin is utilizing the medium of Facebook, and how the language she uses in communicating to her supporters affects their experience of current political events. This study aims to show the relationship between the rhetoric she chooses to employ, and the comment activity of her supporters on Facebook. Selections of Sarah Palin’s Facebook Note documents were chosen in order to narrow the scope of this research. The research questions that has directed this study is: Through the social media platform of Facebook, what function does Palin’s use of metaphor play in the reciprocal discourse of supporter comments? Do literary devices such as metaphor affect the nature of audience participation in political social media?
Social constructions of childhood and migration: what does it mean for child participation in NGO programming in Guatemala?
Authors: Britton Tamara
Published: May 2021

This MRP uses a children’s rights theoretical perspective to explore the connection between child participation and the surge in unaccompanied child migration to the United States. It argues that children’s rights in the Northern Triangle have been missing from the discourse, with a focus on the lack of participation and empowerment of Guatemalan children and youth, in the creation of policies and programs that directly affect their livelihoods. Therefore, development interventions must include both children and youth in participatory planning processes in order to work towards a future of a more empowered generation that can create sustainable alternatives to migration. This MRP analyzes social constructions of childhood and migration extracted from interviews and observations, as well as YouTube videos on the influx of child migration to the United States, in order to understand how these conceptualizations inform the role that child participation plays in NGO programs in Guatemala.
A Maud of her own: re-visioning L.M. Montgomery’s “Western Eden” in Melanie Fishbane’s historical fiction
Authors: Young Jessica
Published: May 2021

This major research paper considers the connection between the genre of historical fiction and the complex dynamics of revisionist history in Melanie Fishbane’s young adult novel Maud: A Novel inspired by the Life of L.M. Montgomery (2017). More specifically, this study critically examines how Fishbane appropriates L.M. Montgomery’s Western Canadian writings for her own purposes to update complex social realities and sensibilities in her historical novel. Because Montgomery’s personal and fictional writings reveal a deeply conflicted and contradictory ideological stance on race issues, particularly where Indigenous peoples are concerned, which may frustrate or alienate 21st century mass readership, Fishbane opted to make her character, Maud, more sympathetic towards the plight of the Indigenous peoples in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; this revisionist approach, I argue, has potential to gloss over the real Montgomery’s more problematic and more heteroglossic representations on race. This study’s findings indicate that the revisionist nature of historical fiction, moulded by the new context in which it is written, influences the way that texts and historical figures, like L.M. Montgomery are re-imagined and re-written.
Sight: a Socially Interactive Gesture-Aware Human-Following Transport System
Authors: D'Souza Andrew
Published: May 2021

Moving a wheelchair is a task which requires both the physical and mental engagement of either an assistant pushing it, or the rider controlling it. Pushing it can be physically demanding and limits the number of wheelchairs that can be moved, to one. Our research introduces a technology that may enable a wheelchair to independently follow the rider or assistant. This will allow the rider to disengage from the task of moving the wheelchair, and allow for more riders to be assisted by an assistant at one time. We have developed a Socially Interactive, Gesture-Aware, Human-Following, Transport system (SIGHT) in order to provide more freedom of action to assistants who are providing the same level of service to riders with less effort. Indeed, SIGHT allows for a human to interact with the wheelchair on a more social level. By using gestures, such as waving, the assistant and wheelchair can communicate.
Canadian immigrant community-based theatre
Authors: Kim Mia Grace
Published: May 2021

This study explores the potential of Canadian immigrant community-based theatre as a means of promoting empowerment among newcomers. Alongside an integrated literature review, the paper centres on a case study of a group of five Canadian immigrant women and their coordinator who participated in a community-based theatre project in Toronto called Tomorrow's Time, funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and facilitated by Working Women Community Centre. The development of the group and the play, the actors' involvement, the roles of the funder, facilitators, and directors are described and discussed. The paper concludes that the processes involved in community-based theatre contributed to the participants' personal and social empowerment in terms of developing confidence, acting skills, integration within communities, and involvement in peer education. Additionally, findings support the critical necessity of a sensitive director, equitable compensation of participants' contributions, and inclusion of participants' narratives as characteristics of successful community-based theatre.
Ventricular fibrillation detection algorithm for automated external defibrillators
Authors: Kusha Marjan M.
Published: May 2021

The automatic external defibrillator (AED) is a lifesaving device, which processes and analyzes the electrocardiogram (ECG) and prompts a defibrillation shock if ventricular fibrillation is determined. This project investigates the possibility of developing a Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) detection algorithm based on Autoregressive Modeling (AR Modeling) and dominant poles for the use in AEDs. In particular, the ECG segment is modeled using AR modeling and the dominant poles are extracted from the model transfer function. The dominant pole frequencies were then used in classification based on the distance measure. The potential use of this method to distinguish between VF and Normal sinus rhythm (NSR) is discussed. The method was tested with ECG records from the widely recognized databases of American Heart Association (AHA) and the Creighton University (CU). Sensitivity and specificity for the new VF detection method were calculated to be 66% and 94% respectively. The proposed method has some advantages over other existing VF detection algorithms; it has a high detection accuracy, it is computationally inexpensive and can be easily implemented in hardware.
Exploring Motivations for Participation in Different Modes of Urban Community Energy Development in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Roy Pallavi
Published: May 2021

Urban energy systems are facing disruption at the same time as cities are increasingly focusing on sustainability. Community energy projects are increasingly gaining attention as systems that can deliver on the promise of sustainable growth and may even serve as a model for the future of energy planning, especially in an urban context. With the decreasing cost of modular generation technologies, it is increasingly feasible to generate local energy in urban areas. Not only is there potential for an economic benefit, but people are also empowered from being end of the line consumers to ‘prosumers’. This paper explores the landscape for urban community energy projects with community involvement in ownership and management. Different models of ownership and management are examined and a spectrum of citizen participation in community energy is described. Various motivations for participation in community energy projects are identified. Interviews with representatives of key stakeholder groups were conducted to assess the theoretical foundation of the research and to refine a survey given to 270 residents of households located in the City of Toronto. The results were used to determine consumer/prosumer choices towards participation in local community generation and utilisation of renewable energy. This study shows that there is heterogeneity in the ways citizens can participate in community energy in an urban context. Relying on principal component factor analysis to identify the inferential variables associated with four motivating factors, namely Financial, Social Norms, Environmental and Community Concerns, and Trust in Technology, correlations with certain descriptive variables were examined. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify respective models of causality between these motivating factors and three common models of community energy participation. The analysis shows that most residents in a Canadian urban centre prefer a more passive participatory role and that the financial factor remains the principle motivator. The results have implications for urban energy planning including the need for more utility and industry collaboration with urban community members.
Comparative analysis of classification models for diagnosis Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Almadni Daniah
Published: May 2021

Diabetes mellitus type 2 has become one of the major causes of premature diseases and death in many countries. It accounts for the majority of diabetes cases around the world. Thus, we need to develop a system that diagnoses type 2 diabetes. In this thesis, a fuzzy expert system is proposed using the Mamdani fuzzy inference system to diagnose type 2 diabetes effectively. In order to evaluate the performance of our system, a comparative study has been initiated,
and will contrast the proposed system with data mining algorithms, namely J48 Decision tree, multilayer perceptron, support vector machine, and Naïve Bayes. The developed fuzzy expert system and the data mining algorithms are validated with real data from the UCI machine learning datasets. Moreover, the performance of the fuzzy expert system is evaluated by comparing it to related work that used the Mamdani inference system to diagnose the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Alternate title: Comparative analysis of data mining algorithms for diagnosis Type 2 Diabetes
Testing and Targeting a Mobile Application for Creatives
Authors: Hopkins Jack
Published: May 2021

Will another social media application that aims to connect creators have a chance at success in our crowded digital landscape? We are putting that question to the test, by working on our idea of helping anyone find specific workspaces or spots that help them do their craft. Within a mobile application, letting users quickly find and post such spaces in their community while being able to connect with other users behind those posts, is what our ideas (and subsequent research) led us to. From target market and user experience interviews we have conducted for nearly a year, we believe that the need for such a mobile application among creatives justifies the work that must go into creating it.
Raising the bar in clinical perfectionism: an evaluation in the domain of weight loss
Authors: Krause Kirstyn L.
Published: May 2021

Clinical perfectionists who successfully meet a salient, personally demanding, and selfimposed standard are thought to feel dissatisfied with success, reappraise the standard as insufficient, and raise the bar by setting more challenging goals (Shafran et al., 2002). Past studies evaluate raising the bar using tasks that are not salient, personally demanding, or selfimposed. The present study examined raising the bar in the salient domain of weight loss. Overweight participants completed a 2-week food and exercise diary during which they set personal weight goals. Raising the bar was measured by calculating the difference between weight goals at separate time points. The General Goal-setting Questionnaire (Krause et al., 2016) measured (1) standard dissatisfaction and reappraisal, and (2) the tendency to raise the bar. Results revealed that clinical perfectionism significantly predicted standard dissatisfaction and reappraisal, but not the tendency to raise the bar or an increase in weight goals. Implications are discussed.
Influence of solidification parameters on the thermal conductivity of cast A319 aluminum alloy
Authors: Vandersluis Eli
Published: May 2021

One of the major causes of premature failure in A319 aluminum alloy powertrain components is the accumulation of thermal stresses. Consequently, the engine operating temperature is restricted to prevent large internal temperature gradients in the components, thereby reducing thermal efficiency. The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of solidification parameters on the thermal conductivity of A319 alloy, in an effort to promote uniform temperature distributions in powertrain components. Castings with varying mould preheating temperatures were characterized using thermal analysis, microstructural analysis, mechanical testing, and thermal conductivity measurements via the transient plane source method. The results indicated that increasing solidification rate was associated with two competing phenomena: Whereas finer secondary phases improved conductivity, a finer dendritic structure reduced conductivity. As a result, a critical solidification rate was found to attain maximum thermal conductivity in A319.