bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional self-assembled nanocarbon for theranostics applications
Authors: Chowdhury A K M Rezaul Haque
Published: May 2021

Carbon nanomaterials have been explored for biomedical applications such as scaffolds in tissue engineering, drug delivery carriers, cancer diagnostics and biological imaging. Due to their possible cytotoxicity and biological inertness, they need biological or chemical functionalization to attain biomedical applications. Current research trends are for the synthesis of biocompatible and self-functionalized nanocarbon with prospective application in therapy and diagnosis. The main objectives of this thesis are to synthesize 3D self-functionalized biocompatible nanocarbon for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The synthesis of the unique three-dimensional carbon nanostructures has been done with ultrashort femtosecond laser processing mechanism, a versatile yet precise technique for nanoscale material generation.
First study deals with the synthesis of 3D nanocarbon network and its biocompatibility assessment. Quantitative and qualitative studies of the fibroblast cell response to this nano-network are performed. The findings from the in-vitro study indicate that the platform possesses excellent biocompatibility and promote cell adhesion and subsequent cell proliferation.
In next study, the synthesized nanocarbon network (CNRN) platform that possesses a variation in C-C and C-O bond architecture showed dual functionality i. e. cytophilic to fibroblasts but cytotoxic to HeLa cells. Two distict opposite responses like tissue generation for fibroblasts and apoptosis like function for HeLa was observed after 48-hour of culture. The results have potentials for therapeutic appliations.
Third study focuses on the diagnostic applications of the nanocarbon. A unique non-plasmonic SERS based bio-sensing platform using 3D nanocarbon is introduced for in-vitro detection and differentiation of HeLa and fibroblast cells. Time based Raman spectroscopy of these cells seeded on nanocarbon revealed chemical fingerprints of intracellular components like DNA/RNA, protein and lipids. Their spectroscopic differences guide differentiation of each cell.
Finally, we have synthesized N-enriched nanocarbon probe through nitrogen incorporation-assisted ionization and demonstrate label free SERS based detection of transient variation of cell chemistry and thereby cancer cell diagnosis with N-enriched 3D nanocarbon probe. The results suggested that the SERS functionality not only reveal the chemical fingerprint of the intracellular components (e. g. protein, DNA, RNA etc.) within a cell but also guide detection of cancerous HeLa cells.
The results obtained in this thesis point out multifunctional viability of biocompatible self-functionalized nanocarbons for therapy and diagnosis.
A Sketch-Line Interaction Model for Image Slice-Based Examination and Region of Interest Delineation of 3D Image Data
Authors: Shih Yueh-Shan
Published: May 2021

This thesis explores the effectiveness of a novel interaction model for visualizing 3D image data. The interaction model is based on user-sketched line segments known as
Automatic detection and classification of diabetic retinopathy from retinal fundus images
Authors: Biran Abdullah
Published: May 2021

Automatic Detection and Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy from Retinal Fundus Images by Abdullah Biran, Master of Applied Science, lectrical and computer engineering Department, Ryerson University, 2017.
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is an eye disease that leads to blindness when it progresses to proliferative level. The earliest signs of DR are the appearance of red and yellow lesions on the retina called hemorrhages and exudates. Early diagnosis of DR prevents from blindness. In this thesis, an automatic algorithm for detecting diabetic retinopathy is presented. The algorithm is based on combination of several image processing techniques including Circular Hough Transform (CHT), Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE), Gabor filter and thresholding. In addition, Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier is used to classify retinal images into normal or abnormal cases of DR including non-proliferative (NPDR) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The proposed method has been tested on fundus images from Standard Diabetic Retinopathy Database (DIARETDB). The implementation of the presented methodology was done in MATLAB. The methodology is tested for sensitivity and accuracy.
Establishing Fashionthropy: A History and Analysis of Fashion and Philanthropy’s Convergence
Authors: Morgan Kyla
Published: May 2021

Fashion and philanthropy, both the study and the practice, at times converge. It is at this intersection, conceptualized as the social world of fashionthropy, that this research takes place. A literature review on the history of fashion and philanthropic studies is presented as well as a conceptual framework based on Georg Simmel’s notion of fashion’s dualism and Gates’s view that a binary motive is the best fuel for market- driven philanthropy. This paper then explores concepts of capitalism, social responsibility and social worlds through an interpretivist lens in relation to three Canadian case studies on fashion and philanthropic happenings in Toronto.
A 1.8V 1.1-GHZ Novel 8 X 8-Bit Digital Multiplier
Authors: Khatibzadeh Amir Ali
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents the design of an 8x8-bit novel multiplier, which can provide a better performance that its counterparts in the sense that it has a fraction of the silicon area, delay and power consumption of the common architectures such as the conventional linear array multipliers. At the system-level high performance is obtained by implementing a pair-wise multiplication algorithm. Also, parallel addition algorithm is used to add up partial products. Combining these two algorithms results in an efficient cell-based circuit realization. In the circuit-level, pseudo-NMOS full adder cell is chosen amongst the several existing full adder cells due to its superior speed and power performance. The performance of this design has been evaluated by comparing it to those of the recently reported multipliers. The results of the comparison, both in theory and simulation, prove the superiority of the proposed multiplier.
"What's Up With All these Walls?" : Racialized Lesbian/Queer Women Immigrants and Belonging in Toronto
Authors: Pardoe Sheila C.S
Published: May 2021

Despite government and scholarly interest in how Canada's immigrants settle after arrival, there is limited scholarship on how queer female immigrants find spaces for belonging in a Toronto context in both immigration scholarship, and in theories of queer migration. Drawing on critical queer, critical post-colonial feminist, and critical whiteness approaches, the paper aims to demonstrate why a universal subject, and increasingly, a universal queer subject renders a racialized lesbian/queer woman immigrant living in Toronto marginalized, impossible and unintelligible in mainstream and queer spaces. For the study, three racialized lesbian/queer women immigrants living in Toronto were interviewed. A reflexive analysis of the experiences of the three participants suggests that spaces of belonging for a racialized lesbian/queer woman immigrant in Toronto and beyond are limited, contradictory, and conditional.
High frequency photoacoustic detection of red blood cell aggregation
Authors: Kibria Fayruz
Published: May 2021

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation was correctly reported in early 1768 as the increased deposition for blood to form spots of red in pathological conditions. However only recently have there been advances in technology to allow possible detection of RBC aggregation in vivo. Photoacoustic imaging (PA) shows a promising future in the detection of simultaneous in vivo RBC aggregation and oxygen saturation. This work presents, for the first time, the results of investigating aggregated RBCs using high frequency (> 20 MHz) photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Aggregation was induced by using 3% w/v concentration of 70 kDa Dextran and PA measurements were taken by a 25 MHz center frequency transducer. It was found that the spectral slope (SS) of the photoacoustic signals decreased by ~0.25 dB/MHz with RBC aggregation. The results are consistent with the findings of low frequency PA RBC aggregation study which also reported decrease in SS with increased aggregation.
How brands care: rhetorics of self-care in contemporary consumer culture
Authors: Pantalone Kristina
Published: May 2021

Rooted in feminist activism, self-care has become a commodified survival skill, practiced by individuals seeking temporary relief from everyday stress and exhaustion and to prevent or mitigate burnout. Under today’s challenging political and economic circumstances, the term ‘self-care’ has permeated popular culture and has shaped the discursive strategies of pro-care / lifestyle brands such as lululemon, the popular fitness apparel company. Through a review of the feminist and mainstream rhetorics of self-care as well as a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of lululemon’s brand communication, this Masters Research Paper (MRP) analyzes how lululemon communicates self-care as a means of restorative pleasure and optimization to their predominantly female demographic.

Keywords: self-care, collective care, corporate care, neoliberalism, lululemon, exhaustion, optimization, retail resilience
Electro-Hydraulic Servo-Valve and Motion and Control Loading of Full Flight Simulator
Authors: Shi Wei
Published: May 2021

The present thesis is on the subject of electro-hydraulic servo-valve (EHV), and motion and control loading of a flight simulator with EHV. The fundamentals of EHV and hydraulic control systems are discussed in Part A. An electro-hydraulic servo-valve (MOOG 760 series) and a position servo control were constructed using an EHV and a linear hydraulic double-ended cylinder, which was modeled mathematically and implemented symbolically by Simulink.

Part B examines the motion and control loading systems of a full flight simulator. Motion simulation algorithms and implementation are discussed in moderate depth. As a generic example, a typical elevator control loading channel is represented in state space; whose stability, linkage compliance and control scheme implementation analysis are conducted in detail by means of MATLAB. The same elevator control loading channel was symbolically modelled through Simulink, based on the EHV/actuator model that was developed in Part A. The results of different control schemes are discussed and compared.
Electronic tennis officiating: low cost, accurate and reliable solutions
Authors: Hawling Andrew
Published: May 2021

The goal of this project was to research an electronic tennis officiating system that was low cost, accurate, and reliable. To do this, professional practices and literature were reviewed to identify what was already known and being implemented in the market. A basic proof of concept, in the form of a foot fault detecting system, was built in order to find out if a larger system could realistically be built. Then, a thorough investigation of components, including sensors, microcontrollers, wireless devices, cases, holders, and alert systems was performed to better understand the underlying technologies and suitability in a tennis officiating setting. Sensors were tested on a full-scale tennis court to identify the best possible option for a final design based on accuracy, cost, ease of use, set-up time, reliability, and size. Additionally, a plan to develop and commercialize the system was examined, taking into consideration relevant costs and restraints. Finally, a scale model of the full system was put together, showcasing the components previously studied and providing end users with an idea of how it would work.
Characterization of the role of yadK in the pathogenesis of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7
Authors: Yu Yijing
Published: May 2021

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 can use serious diarrhea and haemolytic uremic syndrome. Various factors including adhesins contribute to pathogenesis of EHEC. Previous studies suggested that yadK gene, which encodes a putative fimbrial adhesin in EHEC, may be involved in response of EHEC to acid stress. To characterize role of yadK protein in the pathogenesis of EHEC, recombinant yadK protein was generated and used to immunize rabbit to obtain anti-yadK antiserum, which was able to specifically recognize over-expressed yadK protein in EHEC. Western blotting with anti-yadK revealed a higher level of yadK expression in EHEC under acid adapted-acid stress compared to EHEC under unstressed conditions, which confirmed earlier yadK mRNA studies and indicated that yadK is upregulated in EHEC under acid stress. Finally, we observed that anti-yadK antiserum was able to specifically reduce adhesion of acid stressed EHEC to human epithelial cells compared to adhesion level of unstressed EHEC.
Regulation of lysosome biogenesis by phosphoinositides and phagocytosis
Authors: Choy Christopher
Published: May 2021

Lysosomes are acidic organelles responsible for molecular degradation, energy balance, and pathogen clearance. Consequently, lysosome dysfunction is linked to numerous diseases, including lysosome storage diseases. Notably, enhancing lysosome biogenesis ameliorates cell function and helps clear metabolites. The transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of lysosome biogenesis, and thus a potential therapeutic target. Among known regulators of TFEB, the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is best understood. In nutrient-rich cells, mTORC1 is activated and represses TFEB by phosphorylation. Upon starvation, mTORC1 is inactivated and TFEB enters the nucleus, upregulating lysosomal gene expression to enhance cellular degradation for energy recovery. Numerous other TFEB-dependent pathways have been identified. We aim to understand how TFEB is regulated in two additional contexts: in lysosome enlargement during phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(3,5)P2] depletion and in phagocytosis.
First, PtdIns(3,5)P2 is required for maintaining lysosome size by an incompletely understood mechanism. We hypothesized that TFEB-mediated lysosome biogenesis contributes de novo lysosomal material. Acute depletion of PtdIns(3,5)P2-synthesizing kinase PIKfyve induced TFEB nuclear accumulation. Despite increases in transcription, little to no protein translation was observed. Furthermore, tfeb-/-cells and cells blocked with cycloheximide were similar to wild-type cells, with regard to the number and size of lysosomes during PIKfyve inhibition cells, suggesting biosynthesis is not necessary for lysosome enlargement. However, TFEB still becomes active by an known mechanism. We show that TFEB nuclear localization during PIKfyve inhibition was not due to mTORC1 inactivation but may result from GSK3 inhibition.
Secondly, phagocytosis allows immune cells to sequester potential pathogens by engulfing them into phagosomes. These phagosomes are then degraded by the lysosome. We postulated that phagocytosis would enhance TFEB-mediated lysosome biogenesis to promote pathogen killing. Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis activated TFEB and increased biosynthesis of select lysosomal genes, augmenting existing lysosomes and enhancing proteolysis. To understand how TFEB was activated by the Fcγ receptor, we inhibited key signaling and trafficking mediators. Particle internalization, phagosome formation, and phagosome maturation appear to be necessary for TFEB activation.
Overall, our work uncovers two additional mechanisms that may govern TFEBactivation.
Connection: an architecture of support
Authors: Wong Chung Ngai Nicholas
Published: May 2021

“We need a base to set down our Being and realize our possibilities (potential). A here from which to discover the world and a there to which we can return to.” (Relph, Edward. Geographical Experiences, Dwelling, Place and Environment, p.27)

In China, architecture is currently employed with a focus towards rapid urbanization in the midst of globalization carried out to satisfy abstract economic goals rather than improving livelihood. This thesis asserts that architecture can serve as a support for rural migrants to aid their transition to urban life. The dynamics of urbanization is embodied in the journey of rural migrant workers who travel to cities and struggle with the disparity between rural and urban living. The lack of availability of services for migrant workers hinders them from reaching their potential. Architecture can transcend its role as merely a device for economic gain and stimulate social change. Architecture can serve as catalyst to create this here and there.
The effect of an enclosure retrofit on a multi-unit residential building: single case study
Authors: Urquhart Robin
Published: May 2021

This case study examines the effect of an enclosure retrofit on a high-rise, multi-unit residential building (MURB). Literature on fan pressurization test methodologies and MURB air leakage rates is reviewed. The enclosure for the case study building was tested using the guarded-zone fan pressurization method. Results of the air leakage testing show significant improvement in the enclosure tightness and compare well to measured data for other MURBs across North America. There is recognition of a need to standardize both testing methods and presentation of data for air leakage in MURBs. The issue of abnormal flow exponent values is discussed and recommendations for future research are made.
Charles Gagnon’s Use of SX-70 and Minox Cameras in the Context of his Photographic Work
Authors: Bernier-Cormier Samuel
Published: May 2021

This thesis addresses two groups of photographs by the multi-disciplinary Canadian artist Charles Gagnon (1934-2003) from the Art Gallery of Ontario’s collection. The first are 21 SX-70 type Polaroid colour prints made between 1976 and 1979. The second are 18 small black and white photographs taken with a Minox camera between 1977 and 1978. This currently represents the largest collection of these works by Gagnon. This thesis investigates their position and role within the larger context of the artist’s oeuvre. The apparatuses used in the production of these photographs are very particular and differ from traditional 35mm film photography. The traces of these characteristics emerge in the photographs and illustrate a connection to Gagnon’s work in other mediums that is rooted in his philosophical dispositions as an artist.
Ethnic communities, identity and belonging: an autoethnography
Authors: Bekkout Evanilde
Published: May 2021

This paper presents an autoethnographic analysis of identity and belonging. I describe some of my own experiences as a member of the Brazilian and Portuguese communities in order to propose that multicultural individuals need to navigate among the many identities they relate to, which make them live at the margins of cultural groups rather than limiting them to one exclusive culture. I examine the period I lived in the Brazilian community and why I do not fit there; and why I fit in the Portuguese community although I do not feel that I fully belong there. Then, I argue that a multicultural individual needs to live at the margins of cultural communities in order to move among different communities; and conclude that more work on multicultural identity is needed to understand how multicultural individuals handle belonging without identifying themselves with specific groups. The sequence of personal experiences presents a progressive development of identity and belonging culminating with an argument that this project can be enlarged into a qualitative study of identity and belonging in ethnic groups to examine multicultural identity in ethnographic studies.
Refining field portable technology: quantification of arsenic field test kits
Authors: Battaglia Brian
Published: May 2021

This thesis investigates issues related to the detection of arsenic from water sources and the analysis performed to quantify its presence. Through the literature it is shown that colourimetric means of analysis are essential, but current techniques suffer quantitatively, generally relying on a technicians’ ability to visually discern colour. An increased level of control, over the Gutzeit method, would serve to drastically improve the existing means of analysis. With reliance being placed on simple field portable technologies, considerable room has been left for misclassifications. Methodology and means of using these commercial products must therefore be tuned, if they are to be globally accepted as a means of quantification.

This thesis compared both benchmark and colourimetric technologies, to redefine in-field analysis. Here the goals were to improve both the classification of arsenic concentrations in water and alleviate the need for technical proficiency. A framework was built under ideal conditions, moving away from the qualitative state of existing colourimetric analyses. A combination of cameras and imaging apparati were put to use, in the acquisition of colourimetric indicator images. MATLAB algorithms were applied to quantitatively discern samples with assembled calibration curves.
"I realized that cops are just regular people" :changing youth attitudes toward the police through community policing programming.
Authors: Leroux Elisabeth J.
Published: May 2021

Existing literature examining youth-police relations has consistently found that willingness to engage with the police is directly influenced by youth attitudes toward the police. Research findings suggest that increasing positive attitudes toward the police among adolescent populations will result in a subsequent increase in behaviours supportive of the police and law enforcement. The current study was a mixed-method evaluation (including survey data and qualitative interviews) of a community policing pilot program designed to increase positive contact between at-risk youth and police officers. The program was effective in positively changing youth attitudes toward the police. Interview results provide evidence of a direct mechanism for increasing trust and cooperation with the police. Survey results indicate that positive contact with the police can shift general attitudes toward the police and reduce perceptions of police discrimination. Further, survey findings support the program as a remedial intervention for youth with previous negative police contact.
Inter-Vehicle Position Estimation For NLOS Condition In The Persistence Of GPS Outages
Authors: Shaik Meharoon
Published: May 2021

The main focus of thesis work addresses one of the functional key points of Cooperative Collision Warning application which is an accurate estimation of the range data of neighboring vehicles during persistent GPS outages under both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) situations. Cooperative Collision Warning, based on vehicle-to-vehicle radio communications and GPS systems, is one promising active safety application that has attracted considerable research interest. One of the severe estimation error is due to NLOS that can be mitigated by applying biased Kalman filter on range measurements. For our algorithm these inter-vehicle distances are measured from using one of the radio-based ranging techniques. Main objective is to establish an accurate map of positions for neighboring vehicles in the persistance of GPS outages. GPS outages can be possible in multipath environments where NLOS component is introduced to the true range measurements. These position estimates mainly depend on two factors: (i) Preprocessed inter-vehicle distances (range data is processed from biased Kalman filter); (ii) Road constraints (the vehicle uncertainty is more in the direction of road than the uncertainty in the direction opposite the road); This thesis suggests smoothing and mitigating the NLOS for radio-based ranging measurements under multipath conditions. In order to find accurate positions of neighboring vehicles an extended Kalman filter is implemented along with road constraints. Unbiased Kalman filter, biased Kalman filter and extended Kalman filter performances are experimentally verified using Matlab simulation tool with random number of vehicles at unknown random distinct positions in some physical region along a section of road for vehicular environment.
What Is Inclusion And How Is It Influenced By Administration: Narratives From 3 Early Childhood Educators
Authors: Batool Warda
Published: May 2021

Through this study, I aimed to explore ECEs perceptions of inclusion and their perspectives on how their understandings and practice are influenced by the administration at their work setting. I used theories from Disability Studies to shape my study and analyze my findings. I sampled 3 participants, 2 of whom were previous ECEs and 1 who was currently an ECE. I held 3 individual interviews where I used an interview guide to ask ECEs about their stories around the research questions. Then, using thematic coding and inductive reasoning, I arrived with 3 themes; definitions of disability, perceptions of inclusion, and understandings and opinions towards administration. I discussed the findings while arguing that ECEs definitions of disability influence their perceptions of inclusion. Which then leads them to seek specific supports from administration. I used these discussions to humbly suggest some implications for ECEs.
Data Denoising in Analog and Digital Domains
Authors: Hashemi Amroabadi S.
Published: May 2021

In this thesis, we develop various methods for the purpose of data denoising. We propose a method for Mean Square Error (MSE) estimation in Soft Thresholding. The MSE estimator is based on Minimum Noiseless Data Length (MNDL). Our simulation results show that this MSE estimate is a valuable comparison measure for different soft thresholding methods. Two denoising methods are proposed for analog domain: Mean Square Error EstiMation (MSEEM) which minimizes the worst case MSE estimate, and Noise Invalidation Denoising (NIDe) method which is based on the newly prosposed idea of noise signature. While MSEEM shown to be the optimum denoising method for non-sparse signals, NIDe approach outperforms the other well known denoising methods in presence of colored noise. In digital domain we address two interesting problems: 1) simultaneous denoising and quantization method, 2) denoising a digital signal in digital domain. For problem one, we propose a new method that generalizes the idea of dead zone estimation to a multi-level noise removal. An example of this method is shown for hyperspectral image denoising and compression. A digital domain denoising approach pioneers in answering the second problem with only one prior knowledge on the desired signal, that it is digital. The method provides the optimum reconstruction levels in the MSE sense.

One of the critical steps of denoising process is the noise variance estimation. As a part of this thesis, we propose a novel noise variance estimation method for BayesShrink that outperforms conventional MAD-based noise variance estimation. Although BayesShrink is one of the most efficient denoising methods, no analytical analysis is available for it. Here, we study Bayes estimators for General Gaussian Distribued (GGD) data and provide the theoretical justification for BayesShrink. This study enables us to generalize the BayesShrink threshold to Generalized BayesShrink which outperforms the BayesShrink itself.
Design, construction and evaluation OFAN experimental ceramic membrane facility with investigation into fouling control
Authors: Shim Sarah
Published: May 2021

During the past decade, the growth in membrane research and technology has advanced and multiplied in usage for many industries including water and wastewater. A major limitation of the application is due to membrane fouling.
In this work, the construction, start-up calibration and testing of a membrane unit, as well as an examination into the fouling and cleaning aspect of the ceramic membranes are investigated. An aqueous solution containing precipitate is fed to the unit in order to observe fouling behaviour.
Effluent wastewater from a bioreactor, CUBEN, is also tested with the unit and membrane cleaning is performed using various chemical agents. For both chemically enhanced backwash (CEB) and membrane soaking, hydrochloric acid cleaning agent «1 %w) produces best flux recoveries of 72.7% and 82%, respectively. All permeate effluent analysis, resulted in a suspended solids concentration <3 mgIL and turbidities. < 1 NTU, which both meet Ontario regulation limits.
Enhancing the functional design of a multi-touch UAV ground control station
Authors: Haber Jeffrey
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents a reconfigurable Ground Control Station designed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle use, which utilizes multi-touch gesture inputs as well as the ability for the operator to personalize where the instruments they interact with are located on screen. The Ground Control Station that is presented was designed and developed in Ryerson University’s Mixed-Reality Immersive Motion Simulation Laboratory utilizing commercial off the shelf programs supplied by Presagis. Presagis’ VAPS XT 4.1 beta was used to design and develop the actual Ground Control Station’s User Interface due to its ability to create high quality interfaces for aircraft that harness multi-touch gestures. While FlightSIM 14 was used to simulate a high fidelity aircraft being controlled by the Ground Control Station. The final interface was comprised of six key features and 12 different instrument panels that could be manipulated by the operator to control a simulated aircraft throughout a virtual environment.
Mathematical Model for the Intracellular Kinetics of Influenza a Virus Replication in Vitro
Authors: Schwendener Forkel Diana
Published: May 2021

In the last twenty years, mathematical modelling (MM) has been notably used to capture the infection kinetics of many infectious diseases as it allows insights into the basic biology, infection kinetics, and the mechanisms and efficacy of treatment modalities. MMs of influenza A virus (IAV) infection usually represent the process of virus replication within a cell as a ‘black box’ term for viral production. The simplification is appropriate when we are not interested in the microscopic details of infection. Recently though, MMs have begun to account for the kinetics of intracellular IAV replication. Herein, we examine the MM by Heldt et al., which is able to capture kinetics of IAV infection. It however, does so by adjusting parameters of the MM to various events in the infection process. We developed a robust, yet concise, MM for the intracellular kinetics of influenza A virus infection in vitro with a consistent set of parameters. We use attachment, fusion and RNA data gathered from literature sources to validate our simplified MM and match known infection kinetics consistent throughout infection.
Non-linear Acoustic Characterization of Microbubbles and Nanobubbles
Authors: Fishbein Grace
Published: May 2021

Non-linear contrast-enhanced ultrasound can provide high contrast images by enhancing the non-linear signals from bubble oscillations. In this work, we developed a methodology to detect individual bubble scattering using focused transducers with dilute bubble solutions. Microbubbles and nanobubbles were made with five different lipid shell compositions. Their structure is altered through additional components added to the shell that affect their stability. Dilute samples of bubbles were sonicated at 25 MHz with 30 cycles using a commercial high frequency ultrasound instrument with a pressure range of 75 kPa to 3 MPa. Criteria were developed to ensure signals were only classified if they contained an isolated bubbles’ response. The response of the bubbles of different shell compositions were compared using analysis tools developed. There were no observable differences in the non-linear behaviour between the different shells. However, when comparing microbubbles to nanobubbles differences involving signal count, stability and harmonic amplitudes were observed.
Collaboration, compassion and conversation: Exploring change management trends and strategies
Authors: Impey Corinne
Published: May 2021

This research project explores current trends in organizational change management as characterized in online business publications. Specifically, with the intention of developing an understanding of current trends, I examine areas of consensus and debate within change management content by analyzing blogs and articles on the topic of organizational change. With a particular emphasis on the role of communication and communicators, the goal is to develop an understanding of how business journalists and bloggers explain the role of communication during times of organizational transition.

Developing a greater understanding of current trends in change management has the potential to assist employees who are responsible for implementing change by providing up-to-date insights and best practices for executing change programs. Furthermore, by focusing on the role of communication during and about change efforts, this project could also contribute to an understanding of how professional communicators should engage in organizational change efforts.
Are media exposure and self-control related?
Authors: House Julian
Published: May 2021

One critical dimension of self-control is attention control, the ability to willfully determine the content of conscious thought. It is argued here that the amount of effort required to exercise attention control while critically engaging in different media, specifically text and television, is significantly different. It is hypothesized that the amount of self-control exerted while reading will be significantly greater than while watching television. An experiment comparing a film clip with its screen play demonstrates that participants' self-control is more depleted after 30 minutes of reading than 30 minutes of viewing. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that differential habitual exposure to media will predict trait levels of self-control, respectively. An internet survey testing these relationships is reported in which a small but significant negative relationship between TV exposure and trait self-control is found.
Fusing magnetic resonance imaging data for studying ventricular fibrillation
Authors: Magtibay Karl
Published: May 2021

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) has been described as seemingly random activations on the ventricles of the mammalian heart and is one of the causes of Sudden Cardiac Deaths (SCD). Medical imaging techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), could potentially provide a better way of collecting data and understanding the true nature of VF than the techniques that are currently being employed. In addition, as there is a wide variety of MR techniques, fusing and jointly
analyzing complementary data sets could also prove beneficial in providing parameters that are informative in studying VF and are otherwise unobservable by inspection.

In this thesis, the author explores the quantification of the combination of MRI techniques, Current Density Imaging (CDI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), as novel tools for studying VF. This was accomplished by performing two feature-based data fusion techniques, Joint Independent Component Analysis (jICA) and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA). Using 12 imaging data sets from 10 live porcine heart experiments, both data fusion techniques provided unique ways from which the variations of CDI and DTI data sets were used to distinguish cardiac states. The results obtained by the jICA approach demonstrated discrimination between VF and non-VF subjects (p = 0:020) using the jICA loadings with evidence of a significant increase in the mutual information post fusion. For the CCA approach, using the pairwise mixing profiles, we observed discrimination between VF and non-VF subjects (p = 0:023) with a 7.25% increase in average correlation between the modalities, post fusion.

The results of the study demonstrate that the fusion of CDI and DTI data sets captures and enhances the variations in electrical current pathways in relation to a myocardial structure that are unique to a cardiac state, such as VF. This study serves as a strong precursor for exploring MRI and data fusion techniques in studying VF. Such a study could provide greater insights on VF characteristics inspiring better treatment options for patients vulnerable to VF.
The Relationships Between Racialized Immigrants and Indigenous Peoples in Canada: A Literature Review
Authors: Chung Melissa M.L.
Published: May 2021

This literature review assesses the current status of Indigenous and racialized newcomer relations in Canada and provides recommendations for future research, government policy, and grassroots organizing. In Canada, as is other “white settler-societies”, there is a strict separation between two intersecting debates surrounding identity, citizenship, and belonging—one revolves around the immigrant experience and the other around Indigenous peoples. To break down the barriers separating these two debates, this paper will explore what the nature of the relationship is between immigrants and Indigenous peoples through a review of the literature using postcolonial and decolonized anti-racist frameworks. This literature review attempts to contribute to the unsettling of insider/outsider, minority/majority, Indigenous/settler, and black/white binaries, which are pervasive within the racialized and colonized Canadian society, and build dialogue and cross-cultural collaboration in anti-racist activism and scholarship.
Sonic City: an exhibition of photography, A/V installation, community action
Authors: Skoczkowski Philip
Published: May 2021

By taking participatory action research, utilizing sound as a means of harnessing the socio-cultural, and documentary exhibiting as mimesis, this paper takes themes of contemporary underground dance music culture, sonics, political engagement, and human development in urban spaces and looks at the key processes involved in formulating my documentary project Sonic City throughout the years 2014-2016. From personal experiences in Berlin (GER), London (UK), and Toronto (CAN) to research on the ephemeral nature of what creates thriving underground dance music scenes, this paper proposes that discotheques are vital and underestimated spaces for urban development, where complex socio-cultural monads of production and consumption are exercised and actualized. Sonic City as a documentary project is meant to shed light onto the places, spaces, and people involved in this vibrant culture, while as an artistic endeavour is attempting to put relational aesthetics at the forefront of documentary exhibiting, blurring the lines between gallery expectations and dance space experience.
Architecture and implementation of a high frame-rate stereo vision system
Authors: Islam Jamin
Published: May 2021

For the purpose of autonomous satellite grasping, a high-speed, low-cost stereo vision system is required with high accuracy. This type of system must be able to detect an object and estimate its range. Hardware solutions are often chosen over software solutions, which tend to be too slow for high frame-rate applications. Designs utilizing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) provide flexibility and are cost effective versus solutions that provide similar
performance (i.e., Application Specific Integrated Circuits). This thesis presents the architecture and implementation of a high frame-rate stereo vision system based on an FPGA platform. The system acquires stereo images, performs stereo rectification and generates disparity estimates at frame-rates close to 100 fpSi and on a large-enough FPGA, it can process 200 fps. The implementation presents novelties in performance and in the choice of the algorithm implemented. It achieves superior performance to existing systems that estimate scene depth. Furthermore, it demonstrates equivalent accuracy to software implementations of the dynamic programming maximum likelihood stereo correspondence algorithm.
A New Model for Predicting Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Discontinuously Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Zhang Qian
Published: May 2021

An analytical model for predicitng the crack inititation life of low cycle fatique (LCF) of discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites (DR-MMCs) has been proposed. The effects of the volume fraction Vf cyclic strain hardening exponent n' and cyclic strength coefficient K' on the LCF crack initiation life of DR-MMCs were analyzed. While both the lower level of the plastic strain amplitude and the lower Vf were found to increase the LCF crack initiation resistance, the effects of n' and K' were more complicated. By considering the enhanced dislocation density in the matrix and the load bearing effect of particles, a quantitative relationship between the LCF life of DR-MMCs and particle size was also derived. This model showed that a decreasing particle size results in a longer LCF life. The theoretical predictions based on the proposed models were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data reported in the literature.
Automatic Detection of Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS), And Analysis of Their Relationship to Heart Rate Signals
Authors: Kolappan Sharadha
Published: May 2021

Periodic Limb Movement in Sleep (PLMS) are a sleep-related disorder of the limbs that increasingly more research has begun to associate with severe Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). With that said, Polysomnography (PSG), followed by manual scoring, is the conventional approach being used to monitor the disorder. However, patient inconvenience, and the high costs associated with PSG, has probed the need for alternative screening tools to be developed. Moreover, due to the cumbersome and time-consuming nature of manually scoring for PLMS, more studies have begun to look into automated means of detecting PLMS. Hence, while one of the goals of the current thesis was to use the latest clinical specifications to develop an automated Periodic Limb Movement (PLM) detector, the other goal was to look into alternative signals to monitor PLMS. With that said, in the current thesis, an automated PLM detector was developed and tested on two datasets. In fact, the results were promising in that, correlation coefficients of 0.78 and 0.8, and absolute differences not greater than 9 and 6 (not including the extreme outliers) respectively, were found when comparing the clinical PLM scores with that of the automated algorithm’s PLM scores. Moreover, not only did the automated PLM detector compute PLM scores, it also provided us with PLM segmentation information, i.e., localization of PLM with respect to time. On the other hand, with regards to finding alternative signals to monitor PLMS, the etiology of PLMS was used in order to validate the use of relatively easily acquirable signals, such as Heart Rate (HR) signals, to monitor the condition. Moreover, core features were extracted from the HR signals and the PLM segmentation information from the developed PLM detector was used in order to perform individuaized classification between PLM and non-PLM segments (per subject). Although the results were promising in that, the percent of correctly identifying a given segment as PLM or non-PLM, using the HR features, across most of the subjects, i.e., especially those with PLM Index ≥ 15, were around and well above the 70% range, due to the possibility of other factors interfering with HR during sleep, a more immediate application of the observed PLMS vs HR distinction was, to be able to monitor the autonomic health of an individual, given their PLM information. Specifically, the latter was anticipated to be useful for studies looking into the relationship between PLMS and HR, and thus CVD, or more significantly, those looking into preventing CVD by treating PLM.
Development of the hyperspectral near infrared spectroscopy for monitoring tissue oxygen metabolism
Authors: Nosrati Reyhaneh
Published: May 2021

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) employs optical window of 650-1100 nm to measure the concentrations of different chromophores such as, oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2), deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb) and water. In addition, changes in the redox cytochrome c oxidase (Cyt-ox) can be measured using hyperspectral NIRS. Cyt-ox has a relatively low concentration compared to HbO2 and HHb therefore its measurements is very
challenging.
The main objective of this thesis was to identify the best signal-processing algorithm for deconvolution of the Cyt-ox changes.
In this thesis two different studies have been done; in the first study, functional broadband NIRS during simulated driving (on 16 adult subjects) has been recorded and the best data processing algorithm for deconvolution of the chromophores was identified. In the second series of experiments broadband NIRS data during cardiac arrest and
resuscitation was recorded on 19 pigs. A novel signal-processing algorithm was introduced to deconvolve Cyt-ox.
The Introduction section covers relevant aspects of the theory and mathematical concepts. The Journal Manuscript part contains the two projects mentioned above. The last part is The Journal Manuscript part contains the two projects mentioned above. The last part is allocated for the overall conclusion of the entire thesis.
The effect of different mix proportions on the hygrothermal performance of hempcrete in the Canadian context
Authors: Dhakal Ujwal
Published: May 2021

Hempcrete is a light composite bio-based envelope plus insulation material with lime as binding agent and hemp as a renewable raw material from agriculture. The main qualities of hempcrete are hygrothermal behavior and low environmental impact. There is currently lack of clear cross-industry standards for hempcrete; however, extensive research, laboratory experiments and literature reviews are ongoing. The primary aim of this study was to understand the impact of different mixes on the performance of hempcrete and to establish hygrothermal behavior of a hempcrete wall in the Canadian context (by measuring dry density and some other hygroscopic parameters for 3 different mixes) as well as to define the required minimum thickness for a code compliant wall (as per OBC requirements) based on the most reliable reference R values. Based on the material values acquired from the tests and references, simulations for 2 types of wall assemblies and series of sensitivity analysis were carried out in WUFI software. Finally, further research on hygrothermal performance of hempcrete wall (using Canada grown hemp) was recommended to carry out by measuring thermal conductivity in various mean temperatures.
The Role of Thermal Simulation in Various Phases of Buildings’ Life-Cycles in Improving Building Performances
Authors: Ng Ka Long Ringo
Published: May 2021

Despite the proliferation of the usage of simulation programs in the conventional building design process, the use of thermal simulation programs in assessing energy and thermal performances of building designs are very limited. This thesis aims to investigate the role of thermal simulation programs in various phases of building projects‟ life cycles, and evaluate potential benefits these programs can bring. To illustrate the potential of these simulation programs, two case studies, one from the schematic design phase and the other from the post-occupancy phase, are presented. The thesis shows that, at each of these phases, thermal simulations can act as a feedback tool where performances of different strategies can be evaluated, which in turn allows energy conserving strategies to be recognized. The thesis also shows that, at the post-occupancy phase, conducting thermal simulation studies with existing buildings can also help highlight poor performances.