bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Naturalistic observation of perfectionistic behaviours
Authors: McCabe-Bennett Hanna
Published: May 2021

Perfectionism plays an important role across psychopathology. However, there are almost no naturalistic studies that examine the function of perfectionistic behaviours in everyday life. The purpose of this study is to examine predictors, contextual triggers, frequency, and outcomes of 10 proposed perfectionistic behaviours across a 14-day monitoring period in a community sample: Overpreparing, repeating behaviours, excessive reassurance seeking, excessive organizing, excessive perseverance, quitting too soon, procrastinating, refusing to delegate, avoiding situations where standards may be threatened, and attempting to change other people’s behaviour. Correlates and predictors of these behaviours and their related features are discussed in the context of previous research that has examined these behaviours in less naturalistic ways. The findings of the present study have implications for future research regarding behavioural manifestations of perfectionism, and may provide clinicians with important information about perfectionistic behaviours. Additionally, findings using new perfectionism measures provide evidence for their utility with nonclinical samples.
An investigation into the free vibration analysis of intact and defective laminated coposite beams subjected to combined axial force and end moment
Authors: Kashani Mir Tahmaseb T.
Published: May 2021

This research is focusing on the bending-torsion coupled free vibration modeling as well as the analysis of intact and defective pre-stressed beams subjected to combined axial force and end moment. In the recent years, many studies have been conducted in an attempt to investigate the free vibration of pre-stressed beams using numerical and analytical techniques. However, despite their numerous applications, there is limited research done on pre-stressed beams subjected to both axial force and end moment in addition to the coupled behavior caused by the latter one. In the present study, current trends in the literature are critically examined, new models are proposed, and numerical and semi-analytical formulations are developed to find the natural frequencies and mode shapes of different pre-stressed slender beam configurations. The proposed methods are compared in terms of accuracy and convergence. Furthermore, the effects of axial force, end moment and delamination defect on the vibrational behavior of each model are also investigated.

Four different general types of thin beams, including isotropic, layered, composite and delaminated beams, are modeled using traditional Finite Element Method (FEM) and frequency-dependent Dynamic Finite Element (DFE) technique. The DFE formulation is distinct from the conventional FEM by the fact that the former exploits frequency-dependent basis and shape functions of approximation space, whereas the polynomial ones are used in the latter method. With regard to layered beams, a novel layer-wise method is introduced for both DFE and FEM. Delaminated beam is also modeled using both ‘free mode’ and ‘constrained mode’ models showing that the continuity (both kinematic and force) conditions at delamination tips, in particular, play a large role in formulation of ‘free mode’ model. In this case, the defect is assumed to be a single-symmetric through the thickness delamination. However, the presented models and formulations could be readily extended to more general cases. Where available, the results were validated against existing limited experimental, analytical, and numerical data in literature. In addition, the investigated cases are modeled in the commercial finite element suite ANSYS® for further validation. Finally, general concluding remarks are made on the performance of the presented models and solution techniques,
where the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed formulations as well as possible future research works are highlighted.
An Examination of an Opportunity for Collaboration Among Stakeholders to Promote Conservation in Sea Turtle Tourism in Gilli Trawangan, Indonesia
Authors: McCabe Allison Anne
Published: May 2021

All species of sea turtles are globally endangered, largely due to the impact of unsustainable tourism. Gili Trawangan, a small island, depends on marine tourism and has an abundant population of sea turtles. Stakeholder collaboration is often used to promote sustainable tourism development and sea turtle conservation. This study examined stakeholder collaboration to promote conservation in sea turtle tourism in small islands by exploring a case study in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. The study was conducted in 2010. It applied qualitative research methods to expand the knowledge of collaboration in the development of sustainable tourism in small islands. Stakeholder analysis helped to reveal barriers to and influences on tourism development to help promote sea turtle conservation and protect the livelihoods of local communities. Key findings are that education, financial considerations, management structure, regulatory conflict, a disconnect to the island, and stakeholder conflict are factors that influenced stakeholder collaboration in Gili Trawangan.
Effects Of Social Media On E-Commerce: Social Influence & Consumer Behavior Within The Parent Community
Authors: Massad Kelly
Published: May 2021

Social media channels are being used as a way to market products and services. Some of those who utilize the advantages of these social media channels are parents who depend on the opinions of other parents to provide them with genuine reviews on e-commerce products and services. In examining the effects social media has on e-commerce businesses through social influences and consumer behavior, it is evident that social media influencers impact the purchases people are making. In this paper, I explore a variety of theories that provide evidence of social media influencers having an effect on purchasing behaviour. I will argue that parent
bloggers have committed to creating an interactive and close-knit parent community through their personal anecdotes and posts. Thus, as parent bloggers maintain this community, they enable new levels of trust, affecting the purchasing behaviors of their followers.
Augmented Virtual Reality: Playing Architect
Authors: Miller Stefan
Published: May 2021

This thesis sits at the intersection of identity and technology by considering what it means to assume the role of architect as the young black male. The public image of the architect is represented instead, by the white male figure and distributed in a narrative of individualist and ego. However, a critique of the ego through introspection and auto-biographical context gives alternative understanding to the social, cultural, racial and political discourse for the minority seeking autonomy. Framed in modern blackness, design in research becomes a process of appropriation where the architect can be challenged by notions of new softwares where platforms are built instead of foundations. Research that began largely about architecture and virtual reality - instead concludes with urgent questions involving the architect and the tools he interfaces - opening avenues for critical discourse on identity, autonomy, anonymity, and devices.
Celebrity Brand Fashion Collaborations in a Canadian Context
Authors: Melindy Jacqueline
Published: May 2021

Celebrity branded collections are an interesting niche segment of the fashion industry and they have yet to be examined within a Canadian context. This research identifies factors that influence celebrity brand collaborations utilizing a mixed methods approach. Content analysis of merchandise featured on four websites of Canadian celebrities identified key features of celebrity branded product assortments. Interviews with a fashion broker and celebrity fashion editor unpacked the nuances of the design process. The evidence from this study suggests that the design process is negotiated, both the celebrity and the brand play vital roles in product development. The findings derived from the content analysis established the type of garments and accessories, fabrics, colours, patterns, motifs and slogans, logos, fit, sizes, and price points that are commonly used in celebrity fashion collections. Given the huge economic power of celebrity branded collections, this research outlines important practices for designers, product developers and celebrities.
Production of Bioplastics from Renewable and Sustainable Feedstock Resources
Authors: Chaudhry Ahmad
Published: May 2021

This study illustrates the potential opportunity for the utilization of hemp to produce PHB (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). The objective of the study was to optimize simple sugar availability from hemp for Ralstonia eutropha. The use of three pre-treatment methods (grinded – 5% NaOH – Autoclave at 121 oC for 60 minutes) was able to provide a better fractional insoluble solids (FIS) of ≃ 61 % that was significantly better compared to other combinations of pre-treatments studied. Optimum enzyme dosage was also determined by comparing different enzyme concentrations and found that three enzymes should contain a dose of 1.5 g /L. The optimum pretreatment and hydrolysis conditions resulted in a better enzyme hydrolysis yield of 10.9 % and PHB yield of ≃ 43 %. Results also demonstrate that sonification did not improve PHB recovery, while pH control increased PHB recovery. Keywords: Hemp, Ralstonia eutropha, PHB, Pre-treatment, Enzyme Hydrolysis
Benchmarking and screening new building energy models in the Toronto context
Authors: Harmer Jennifer
Published: May 2021

Building energy modeling is a well-established field but there is a lack of research to support design guidance and energy benchmarking using simulated results. This study presents a methodology for collecting information about planned buildings in Toronto from uploaded building energy modelling files, to be used as a basis of comparison for future models. The methodology includes the development of an algorithm for automating the generation of baseline building models. Key building design and performance characteristics are identified for inclusion in a database of new buildings in Toronto, and a feedback mechanism, to provide design guidance through comparative analysis and program screening, is detailed. The resultant database can be used by individual building design teams, urban planners, or policy-makers, as they work together to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto through increased energy efficiency in the built environment.
Storytelling from the Colonial Margins of the Academy: Urban Mixed Ancestry Indigenous experience in and around social work classrooms of T’karonto
Authors: Roberts Leah
Published: May 2021

This is an Indigenous research journey. This journey focuses on the stories of the lived experiences of Urban Mixed Ancestry Indigenous students in T’karonto while attending post-secondary social work classrooms where they received Indigenous focused or indigenized curricula. Using a Mohawk approach to research (that includes traditional teachings from an Elder and a storytelling approach), this paper explores the impact this curriculum has on Urban Mixed Ancestry Indigenous social work students as they express their stories of attending university and their social work program in T’karonto - through paintings. It also explores the colonial, societal and institutional factors that cause Urban Mixed Ancestry Indigenous students to question their Indigenous identity within post-secondary social work classrooms. These stories provide knowledge on how to move forward in a good way when implementing Indigenized curricula within non-Indigenous and settler-colonial classrooms.

Keywords: Indigenous, Storytelling, T’karonto, Urban, Mixed Ancestry, Social Work, Students
South Asian Youth in Canada : Young Women Negotiating Mainstream Representations of Colour
Authors: Saini Nimrit
Published: May 2021

South Asian women in Canada negotiate mainstream representations of skin colour, in a context where light skin is systemically privileged through marketing “whiteness” as a desirable and attainable ideal for beauty and success. A semiotic analysis of two web spaces target at young, South Asian woman in the West will be undertaken, to reveal the constructions of colour which favour dominant ideology. However, it can also be seen that such spaces serve as a means to challenge hegemonic constructions and provide a platform for South Asian visibility in the mainstream. In considering colourism within the South Asian context, it is imperative to reflect on systemic power imbalances and colonial history, which have shaped the experiences of South Asian communities. Key words: South Asia; Gender; Colourism; Youth; Semiotic analysis; Media representations.
E-waste and its sustainable management
Authors: Maslo Dennis
Published: May 2021

This project paper addresses the problem of e-waste in a local and global context. It examines the origins of the issue, processing methods, and related environmental implications. The worst processing methods, have had devastating impacts on both the physical environment and human organizations. The more widely accepted methods of e-waste processing--recycling--are often exclusive of systematic reuse and do not recognize the initial inputs invested in the equipment. To address the lack of regulation around e-waste disposal and the shortcomings of conventional recycling, a management system for the reuse and refurbishment of discarded IT equipment is proposed that is based on the operations at Computation Ltd., a computer recycling company. This system is recognized as an end-of-pipe solution that optimizes various types of waste diversion to include reuse where possible. Future research should focus on green design alternatives and incentives that encourage greater reuse of electronic products.
Evaluating Opportunities for Increased HVAC Energy Efficiency for a Ryerson University Building with eQuest Energy Modeling
Authors: Khemet Bomani A.
Published: May 2021

Energy used by primary and secondary Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems in post-secondary schools can account for a significant share of the total energy expenditure throughout the lifetime of these buildings. The following is a study of a Ryerson University buildings’ Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system through the use of eQUEST energy modelling techniques. A baseline energy model was created and was compared to the buildings’ existing energy consumption, and energy intensity benchmarks. Suggested improvements to the existing Variable Air Volume system were determined by comparing the baseline VAV eQUEST simulation against two subsequent hydronic based eQUEST models; the Fan Coil System, and the Water Source Heat Pump System.
Design and development of a catheter-based tunable device for percutaneous mitral repair through coronary sinus
Authors: Taghipour Ata
Published: May 2021

According to the American Heart Association, the cardiac disease accounts for over 800,000 deaths every year (1 of every 3 deaths) in the US alone. Mitral regurgitation, which occurs in 2% of the population, has become the dominant valvular disease contributing to the high death rate caused by cardiac disease. The existing percutaneous treatments of mitral regurgitation suffer from compression of left circumflex artery, limiting their performance and causing serious iatrogenic consequences. Moreover, they are not tunable resulting in limited functionality. In this thesis, a catheter-based tunable device is designed to be implanted inside the coronary sinus for improving mitral regurgitation grade while minimizing the applied force on the left circumflex artery. A comprehensive computed tomography scan image analysis and experiments are performed to extract the required information for the design of the device and its evaluation with FEM simulations. A new effective engagement mechanism for integrating the device with the steerable catheter is designed and tested through large-scale experiments.

Additionally, a temperature insensitive force/torque sensor is designed for guiding and introducing the device. This sensor can also be used in other catheter-based devices such as cardiac ablation catheters. The sensing structure of the sensor and its sensing method are evaluated by FEM simulations and large-scale prototyping. The actual-scale prototype of the sensor is fabricated, and the experiments are performed for analyzing the static and dynamic response of the sensor and its temperature cross-sensitivity.
Why you bought it: how influences to buy sports products from personal network members differ between social media and in-person settings
Authors: Guido Marcus
Published: May 2021

This major research project explores the extent to which normative and informational influences exerted by core and significant ties differ between social media and in-person contexts. Specifically, it focuses on how such influences persuade recreational athletes to buy sports products. Though normative and informational influences from a variety of personal ties have been studied in online and offline settings, they are seldom explicitly compared and contrasted. Moreover, recreational athletes and sports products have never been the subject of such studies. Based on qualitative interviews with six recreational athletes between the ages of 18 and 30, this study uses a content analysis with open coding to identify significant themes. The findings indicate that although in-person normative influence to buy sports products is easily identifiable, normative influence on social media is more difficult to detect. Yet regardless of the context, normative influence is powered by one’s desire for inclusion into a group. On the other hand, informational influence in the form of product recommendations does not differ between the examined settings. Thorough recommendations are more sought after than pithy ones, experts challenge recommendations and those who do not know much about a given product will seek information from experts. However, the findings also indicate that informational influence in the form of observation and analysis is preferred in offline situations compared with online ones. It is therefore clear that separate facets of normative and informational influence each present unique similarities or dissimilarities between in-person and social media settings.
The edge is the context: transmigrative betweenness
Authors: Birjandi Negar
Published: May 2021

Port cities are particularly important because they are affected by mutations and fluctuations of industrial evolution. These ports encounter other sequential and recreational functions that miss opportunities for identity and particular waterfront characteristics. A city’s waterfront could be envisioned as a thick line, an equipped and inhabitable limen, creating a sense of belonging that could lead to significant identity by corresponding to both internal qualities of a city and external regional influences. These marginal bands can reveal the dynamic in-between-ness of being in the middle.

It is an appropriate time to assess redevelopment projects on waterfront sites and shorelines to evaluate ways to recreate the image of the city, appeal to an urban population and recapture economic investment. Waterfront projects embody potential that speaks to our future and our past. In fact, a waterfront is a hybrid-scape that deals with the gap between city and water to provide alternatives for future usage.
Evaluation of in-situ cooling performance at renovation 2050: comparing zone vs. central based cooling systems for single family dwellings
Authors: Guadagnoli Anthony
Published: May 2021

The objective of this Major Research Project has been to compare the benefits of cooling performance of zoned and central air conditioning systems using summer 2013 as an evaluation period. Three adjacent houses in Toronto have been studied as part of the Renovation2050 research program. Total cooling energy usage was measured directly from all cooling equipment, along with temperature and cooling energy usage was measured directly from all cooling equipment, along with temperature and relative humidity readings via remote sensors. The goal of this 1-year study was to compare the cooling energy performance of each house, temperature, and relative humidity. The study has used energy simulation, to compare zoned and central systems while accounting for weather, human occupancy, and construction types. Results have shown that there is potential for energy benefits on a zoned system compared to a central system by approximately 95% in total cooling energy use for the study period,and these results are dependent on the building envelope and user types and these results are dependent on the building envelope and user types.
Hybrids of Mind and Body: The Forms and Freedoms of the Cyborg in Posthumanist Science Fiction
Authors: Ghan Ben Berman
Published: May 2021

[Introduction] The Cyborg as a figure in popular culture – the body in a literal state of “human/machine symbiosis” (Katherine Hayles, How We Became Posthuman 112) – has sometimes been conceived as a monstrous figure, as a figure of otherness, a being whose status as a hybrid has placed them into the figure of what Giorgio Agamben might refer to as “the Homo Sacer, a person [who] is simply set outside human jurisdiction without being brought into the realm of divine law” (Agamben, Sovereign Power and Bare Life 82). The Homo Sacer, in other words, is a being who has been stripped of all recognition and humanity, deserving neither the rights of a human being or any other animal, and has come to be acknowledged only as an object. Agamben further defines the life of Homo Sacer’s exclusion as “unsacrificeability and [yet] is included in the community in the form of being able to be killed” (82), meaning that Homo Sacer can be killed, but that their killing would never constitute murder, as their life has no recognizable value.
Experimental Investigation of Emulsion AGET ATRP of MMA in a Stirred Tank Reactor
Authors: Regmi Kishor
Published: May 2021

This study investigates the emulsion AGET ATRP of MMA in a 2-L reactor using the reactants: surfactant (Brij 98), catalyst complex (CuBr2/dNbpy), initiator (EBiB) and reducing agent (ascorbic acid). Preliminary trials demonstrate that the two-step procedure preserves the ATRP living features much better than the single-step procedure. An experimental design and statistical analysis were performed to investigate the main effects and two-factor interaction effects of temperature, surfactant, catalyst complex, initiator and reducing agent on the monomer conversion, average molecular weights and polydispersity index of the polymer. The input-output model predictions agree with experimental data. The results revealed that the temperature was the most influential factor for all three-process responses with 71.34%, 32.78% and 27.76 % contribution. However, the initiator was the least influential factor for both conversion and PDI with 0.035% and 0.13% contribution, whereas the surfactant was the least influential factor for molecular weight with 0.068% contribution
Assessing Ecological Impacts of Land-Applied Municipal Biosolids : Effects of Run-Off and Tile Drainage on the Aquatic Organisms Daphnia Magna, Hyalella Azteca and Lemna Minor
Authors: Gebert Sonja
Published: May 2021

The effect of municipal land applied biosolids run-off and tile drainage on aquatic organisms Daphnia magna, Hyalella azteca and Lemna minor was analyzed through a series of standardized eco-toxicological tests. Treatments included reference soil, reference soil amended with Guelph biosolids and reference soil amended with Kitchener biosolids. The assessment was done on biosolids elutriate collected after the simulated rainfall off the ramps on day 1 after the application of biosolids, and day 40 planted versus unplanted soil. Respiration rates, behavioural analysis and survivorship were tested on the two invertebrates, while 7-day Growth Inhibition test was performed on the plant. Although there were some significant differences between the reference soil and soil amended with biosolids elutriate, they were mostly on day 1 and in concentrations that are not likely to happen in nature. The plant Lemna minor showed eutrophication potential in elutriate from Day 1. The results are showing that although there are potential toxic constituents in the municipal biosolids that can adversely affect the aquatic life in the receiving waters, they largely very temporary and for the most part in concentrations that are environmentally irrelevant. To be able to understand the potential of using biosolids on agricultural fields in Ontario, more analytical and eco-toxicological studies should be performed that are relevant to Ontario's laws and topography.
The stigmatization of children with HIV/AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Ogutu Benta
Published: May 2021

The study investigated stigmatization of HIV/AIDS children in Nairobi, Kenya. It involved eight HIV/AIDS infected children aged 7-15 years from Joseph Kangethe Primary school, with an equal mix between boys and girls from diverse ethnic groups. A qualitative approach using interview questions and a phenomenological inquiry strategy was adopted. Data from in-depth personal interviews was transcribed, coded and categorized into themes and analyzed through the post-colonial lens. Stigma was detected through what the children felt about their status and their experiences. Key themes identified were: the children experienced different psychosocial impacts, including fear, denial, shame, fear of isolation and loneliness, and trauma. They confirmed the efficacy of anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

From these findings and supporting literature, the study recommends counseling facilities, provision of anti-retroviral therapy, reconceptualized education using modern and tradition approaches, forums to discuss sexuality and HIV, home based care, community mobilization and empowerment to reduce HIV stigmatization.
Statistics Based Neural Networks Method for Industrial Image Inspection
Authors: Zhu Yi
Published: May 2021

Automated industrial image inspection system has attracted a great deal of interest in recent years. In this thesis, a new method is presented by combining a statistics method with a neural networks method, which could reduce the interference of machine dynamics and improve the inspection accuracy. Different from the pixel-based or feature-based methods, the proposed method is based on two indices of an image, which are the variances of the rows and columns of the image. For image inspection, first neural networks are trained using these two indices from a set of good images in order to establish a tolerance zone. Then, the two indices of each inspection image are computed through trained neural networks and compared with the tolerance zone. A defective item is detected if either index falls out of the tolerance zone. The other contributions, such as two-point based image registration method and defect simulation algorithms, also help to improve the performance of inspection. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach has a better performance in comparison with traditional statistics approach.
Effects of PCM thermal properties and thermodiode panel (TDP) on buildings' energy demand and indoor temperature
Authors: Poulad Mohammad  Ebrahim
Published: May 2021

The performance of a thermodiode panel (TDP) is investigated thoroughly. A phase change material (PCM) layer is integrated into the TDP. A TDP can transfer solar thermal energy into the building. Adding a PCM layer to the TDP adds capacity of storing solar energy into the TDP, and releases the stored energy when the sun goes down. The TDP is composed of dense foam, which is sandwiched between two aluminium sheets, and a thermosyphon passes through the foam layer. PCM layer is added to the condenser section of the TDP that is connected into the building envelope.

PCM thermal properties and their effects on energy demand and indoor temperature are investigated on a typical building. The best melting point for the PCM was found to be a temperature in the middle of the set points (upper and lower). Quantitative indices are introduced to evaluate the effects of PCM on indoor air temperature fluctuations. PCM reduces the indoor air temperature fluctuations. Increasing thermal conductivity of PCM by an order of magnitude reduces about 2% annual energy demand of a building. Regarding convention heat transfer coefficient, by increasing the convective heat transfer coefficient at interior wall surface, the cooling demand slightly increases in summer. In winter, energy demand is sensitive to h-value with a positive correlation.

Matlab codes developed using genetic algorithm to optimize the TDP sizes, i.e., thicknesses of three aluminium sheets, copper tube diameter and its thickness that makes the structure of thermosyphon. The optimum sizes found to be: plate thicknesses of 1.5 mm, 2.5 mm, and 2 mm and thermosyphon diameter and thickness of 32 mm and 9 mm, respectively, provide the maximum objective function (the best performance of the TDP). Thermal bridging of a TDP can be reduced 76 times by adding a piece of Teflon in the thermosyphon assembly. The integration can do both store and collect/gain solar thermal energy, which makes this panel a novel alternative for south walls. It is also shown that thermosyphon angle from the horizon shall be between 30 and 45 degree to have the best performance of the TDP.
Simultaneous near infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography: a prospective screening tool for brain trauma / disease
Authors: Lee Joshua
Published: May 2021

This thesis reports the development of a novel screening tool for brain trauma and disease using a headset capable of taking simultaneous measurements of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with a focus on developing the EEG side of the headset. Procedures for removing artifacts were developed for both modalities. The headset’s measurements were validated using a breath-holding task for fNIRS and an eyes open/eyes closed and trail making tasks for EEG. The eyes open/eyes closed (n=7) and trail making tasks (n=11) were further analyzed as potential tasks for use in screening. Integrated alpha power of EEG signals were found to provide robust differences between the eyes open/eyes closed states of the brain. Alpha power was also found to provide robust differences between rest and early trail making states in the trail making task, whereas, high beta power did not for either task.
Pressure curves for compressible flow with slip through constricted cylinders
Authors: Rabba Salahaldeen
Published: May 2021

The goal of this research is to determine more accurate pressure curves for compressible flow with slipthrough cylinders that have a local constriction.  Existing analyses for compressible flow with slip througha  local  constriction  linearize  the  pressure  gradient  equation,  and  higher-order  derivatives  are  dropped  as well.  The equation to be developed as part of this research retains quadratic pressure gradient terms.  The corresponding  solution  for  the  pressure  gradient  is  found  following  existing  analysis  in  the  literature  for incompressible,  no-slip  flow,  and  subsequently  the  pressure  is  found  using  numerical  integration.   Results are compared to those from the linearized pressure gradient equation to see the extent of the improvement. Results are also assessed and compared to pressure and density curves available in the literature for some specific constrictions.  Improvements may be obtained when the second-order derivatives are kept as well inthe pressure gradient equations, which can be assessed and analyzed in the same context. Pressure curves are assessed in different idealized flow geometries including the Gaussian model, a cosinu-soidal model, and a smooth piece-wise polynomial model.  In each case the pressure is found, and hence alsothe density.  A range of Reynolds numbers, degrees of constriction, length of the constriction, compressibilityand slip are considered. Density  curves  are  separately  compared  to  existing  particle-based  results  obtained  from  a  stochastic particle dynamics using multiparticle collision dynamics. 
Beyond Lipstick: Expressions of Queer Femme Identity in Dress & New Media
Authors: Laalo Concettina Maria
Published: May 2021

This paper and its corresponding creative project beyondlipstick.ca, an online gallery of self-identified queer femmes, seek to examine queer femme-ininity through the lens of academic fashion theory. A call for submissions invited femmes to submit self-portraits and answer a questionnaire on the subject of femme identity and dress. Through the visual and content analysis of submitted self-portraits and questionnaire responses, I investigate visual signifiers of femme identity and position queer femme-ininity as self-aware, intentional and distinct from heteronormative femininity. Themes that emerged from the submissions include; excessive femininity, embracing femininity, empowered femininity, and femme as an identity rather than a style. The beyond lipstick.ca project engages queer femmeininity on three levels: first, as a visual articulation of queer identity; second, as a conscious appropriation of contemporary Western heteronormative femininity; and third, as an expression of femme visibility and community on an online platform.
The integration of human factors into a company's production design process
Authors: Village Judy Lynn
Published: May 2021

Human factors (HF) considerations, integrated early in design of production assembly systems, can improve both worker health and business performance. A longitudinal case study using an action research style collaboration between researchers and a large electronics manufacturer was the platform for this investigation. The findings show “how” HF, previously outside engineering with HF specialists (HFS) performing reactive injury assessments, increasingly became integrated into each stage of the design process with HF adapted tools, enforceable targets, sign-off, and most HF work focused on proactive design alongside engineers. An operations research tool (cognitive mapping) was used to identify the HF perceptions of Senior Directors and link these to their strategic goals. As a result, HF specialists changed their focus from injury risk to reducing fatigue and improving worker performance and assembly quality. Several industrial engineering tools were also adapted for HF (eg. HF failure mode effects analysis, HF design-for-assembly) and used to quantitatively communicate HF concerns, drive continuous improvement, visibly demonstrate change, and lead to benchmarking. Qualitative data analyzed with a grounded theory methodology resulted in six constructs in the final “Design for Human Factors” theory. The theory propositions state that when: 1. HFS acclimate to the engineering process, language and tools; and 2. strategically align HF to the design and business goals, then HF becomes perceived as a means to improve business performance. This results in 3. HFS being pulled onto the engineering team, which increases HF application and engineers’ awareness of HF, and 4. Management hold engineers accountable for HF targets. Being on the engineering team leads to 5. Engineering tools adapted to include HF targets, and in combination results in 6. HF becoming embedded in the design process. Senior directors reported that increased HF application has improved the design of more recent assembly lines and made it easier for operators. The theory contributes an explanation about how HF can be integrated into design processes to inform researchers and practitioners and improve proactive HF application. Recommendations include increased education for HFS in engineering, and more collaborative research to develop tools that quantify and link worker performance to business metrics.
Fashioning decolonization: telling stories of Canadian Indigenous women through fashion hacking
Authors: Mills Presley
Published: May 2021

Decolonization is a complex, often discussed in academic or political environments, it is challenging to discover tangible ways for individuals to practice it in daily life. A gap between the personal understanding decolonization and the academic definitions of decolonization was identified through oral history interviews, so this research shares the unique stories of eight
Canadian indigenous women through fashion as a way to inform a more accessible and embodied definition of decolonization. The participants took part in a fashion-hacking workshop to began to answer the questions: What does the lived experience of decolonization look and feel like for Indigenous women? How do Indigenous women think about decolonization in the personal aspects of their life and how can that be expressed through fashion? The format of this paper explores different perspectives and ways of knowing by jumping back and forth between storytelling, art, Indigenous and Western academic research.
Influence of Yttrium Addition on Texture and Deformation Behavior in an Extruded ZM31 Alloy
Authors: Tahreen Nabila
Published: May 2021

The current “storm” of lightweighting, a revolution in materials, processes, and business models, which is brewing on the horizon of the auto industry, inspires researchers and engineers to develop and apply new wrought magnesium alloys with improved properties. For wider applications in the automotive and aerospace industries, the enhancement of strength, thermal stability and formability of magnesium alloys is required. In recent years, Mg-Zn-Y series alloys have received a considerable attention from the research community due to their improved mechanical properties. The present study was aimed at evaluating the influence of Y addition to Mg-Zn-Mn system based on phase formation, mechanical response and texture development with special attention paid to recrystallization, hot characterization and relative activity.

The dissertation evaluated the strain hardening and deformation behavior of as-extruded Mg-ZnMn (ZM31) magnesium alloy with varying Y contents via compression testing at room temperature, 200°C and 300°C. Alloy ZM31+0.3Y consisted I-phase (Mg3YZn6); alloy ZM31+3.2Y contained I-phase and W-phase (Mg3Y2Zn3); alloy ZM31+6Y had long-period stacking-ordered (LPSO) X-phase (Mg12YZn) and Mg24Y5 particles. With increasing Y content the basal texture became weakened significantly. While alloys ZM31+0.3Y and ZM31+3.2Y exhibited a skewed true stress-true stain curve with a three-stage strain hardening feature caused by the occurrence of {10 Ī 2} extension twinning, the true stress-true strain curve of alloy ZM31+6Y was normal due to the dislocation slip during compression.

The evolution of flow stress, texture and microstructure during the compression tests has been studied under various conditions of temperature and strain rates. Optical metallography, EBSD techniques and X-ray diffraction were employed to study the microstructural development and texture evolution. The deformation activation energy was calculated and the processing maps were generated to determine the optimum hot working parameters. In addition, viscoplastic selfconsistent model was successfully used to predict the experimental textures.

Lastly, the strengthening mechanisms in each Mg-Zn-Mn-Y material are established quantitatively for the first time to account for grain refinement, thermal mismatch, dislocation density, load bearing, and particle strengthening contributions. The present work laid the foundations for a better understanding the role of Y elements on deformation behavior in magnesium alloys.
An Attribute-Oriented Task Scheduling Strategy for Improvement of Quality of Service in Cloud Computing
Authors: Miao Jianying
Published: May 2021

This thesis describes an innovative task scheduling and resource allocation strategy by using thresholds with attributes and amount (TAA) in order to improve the quality of service of cloud computing. In the strategy, attribute-oriented thresholds are set to decide on the acceptance of cloudlets (tasks), and the provisioning of accepted cloudlets on suitable resources represented by virtual machines (VMs,). Experiments are performed in a simulation environment created by Cloudsim that is modified for the experiments. Experimental results indicate that TAA can significantly improve attribute matching between cloudlets and VMs, with average execution time reduced by 30 to 50% compared to a typical non-filtering policy. Moreover, the tradeoff between acceptance rate and task delay, as well as between prioritized and non-prioritized cloudlets, may be adjusted as desired. The filtering type and range and the positioning of thresholds may also be adjusted so as to adapt to the dynamically changing cloud environment.
Impact of Toronto’s Avenues & Mid-rise Building Guidelines on Solar Energy Generation Potential
Authors: Garic Jelena
Published: May 2021

As cities grow, strategies for how and where to accommodate growth are increasingly important. Similarly, renewable energy is gaining importance as a means of reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and other non-renewables, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, and creating energy resiliency at a local level. The purpose of this Major Research Project is to determine the impact the Mid-Rise Building Performance Standards, from the City of Toronto’s 2010 Avenues and Mid-Rise Building Study, have on solar access and to quantify the potential of energy generation using solar photovoltaic systems along the Avenues in Toronto. What impact do the Performance Standards have on solar access to mid-rise buildings along the Avenues? The research concludes that low-podium built form provides the most benefit for the study area – Eglinton Avenue West, at Bathurst Street: the porous street-wall built-form, as outlined in the Mid-Rise Building Performance Standards, provides the highest solar energy generation and energy savings potential.
The Somali-diaspora experience: a focus on Somali children as cultural brokers, and as ambassadors of language and culture
Authors: Mohamud Abdinasir Farah
Published: May 2021

This paper examines the Somali-Canadian Diaspora experience, and in particular, focuses on the role children in immigrant families play as cultural brokers and as ambassadors of language and culture. Utilizing the literature on language acquisition, this paper’s aim is to include the Somali-Canadian Diaspora’s voice into the vast literature that exists, which examines the importance of bilingual children, who assist their families in integrating and settling in a host nation. The second component of this paper examines the role language has on identity, and utilizing cultural brokers’ language acquisition, investigates how cultural brokers’ identity is formed by their bilingualism. The paper posed two research questions:

1. In what ways do cultural brokers play a role as ambassadors of language and culture to
assist their families in navigating the challenges of a new country?

2. In what ways do the cultural brokers’ bilingual abilities inform their identity?

Keywords: Cultural Broker, Bilingual child, Acculturation, Familism, Biculturalism, Hyphen-identity, Somali-Diaspora
A variable frequency PWM rectifier for wind driven induction generators
Authors: Medri Kristian E.
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents a strategy to minimize the front-end converter rating for wind-driven Self-Excited Induction Generators (SEIG). Conventionally front-end converters need to handle complex power while the converter used in this strategy is able to function with rated real power. This converter is a variable frequency Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) rectifier. This strategy is made possible by the discovery of a formula for selecting the optimal static capacitor value, which along with the rectifier, provides the SEIG excitation current. In addition, a practical control scheme was developed which, combined with the excitation capacitance formula, works for isolated wind energy conversion systems. The presented research includes the analysis, simulation, and experimental verification of this novel strategy.
Apathy And The Modern Self: The Afflictions Of Modernity And Orientation Toward The Good
Authors: Pingree Aaron C.
Published: May 2021

Research to date on apathy has been limited to the technical spheres of politics, pedagogy, mass media, and business. Contrary to apathy’s characterization in recent scholarship, this work claims that apathy cannot be understood in terms of a decline in political engagement alone. Through a history of the idea of apathy beginning with the Stoic concept of apatheia, this work locates apathy in the epochal shift in epistemology and subjectivity which occurred between antiquity and modernity, and claims that apathy is a philosophical (rather than political) problem. Guiding research questions include: what allowed for the possibility of modern apathy, and what means might we have at our disposal to address apathy? Rather than treating symptoms, I argue that any response to apathy must engage with its epochal grounding conditions, and so rather than suggesting policy reforms or new legislation, I assess problems accompanying modern subjectivity and epistemology, and the place of the Good under modernity. This project also participates in the longstanding debate concerning the possibility of uniting sense and reason, a problem known in antiquity and addressed by communication theorists and Romantic poets. I argue that the commingling of sense and reason is another way of describing openness to an encounter with the Good, and under modernity such commingling might result from aesthetic exercises.

I consider McLuhan and Foucault thinkers whose work can be read as a form of áskēsis that extends the ancient philosophical tradition into modernity in order to encourage spiritual work in the present. Through readings of McLuhan and Foucault’s engagement with antiquity, I then suggest that aesthetic exercises arising out of the modern milieu may offer a response to apathy and its grounding epistemological and subjective conditions. This work attempts to broaden the contemporary understanding of apathy, and to reconnect the discourse on apathy to its grounding conditions – subjective and epistemological sunderings which have been intensified and normalized under modernity. This broadening and reconnection demand that apathy is understood in a more complete way, not simply in terms of its immediate consequences for the technological society.