bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of residual stresses and cold-straightening on the compressive resistance of solid round steel columns
Authors: Xu Jin
Published: June 2021

The objective of this research is to study the effects of residual stresses and cold-straightening on the compressive resistance of solid round steel columns. Thermal residual stresses in selected solid round sizes were determined from experimental study, finite element analysis, and previous research. In the experimental investigation, classical boring-out method using water-jet technology was applied on four samples with different diameters. Finite element models were constructed for the determination of thermal reidual stresses for columns with 12 different diameters. The results were then compared with results obtained from a recent study on the predictionof symmetrical residual stresses in solid rounds using X-ray diffraction method. For the non-symmetrical residual stresses arising from cold-straightening, the equation developed by Nitta and Thurlimann was adopted in the finite element modeling to study the effect of non-symmetrical residual stresses on the compressive resistance of solid round steel columns. The Finite Element Analysis has been conducted on different bar diameter (1.5 inch to 12 inch diameter) and length, as well as initial out-of-straightness.
Prefetching in HTTP to improve performance in the delivery of web pages
Authors: Serbinski Adam
Published: June 2021

In this work, two enhancements are presented to improve the performance of complete web page delivery. The first enhancement is the addition of disk to memory prefetching in Apache HTTP Server. This results in the number of files served from the web server cache to increase by 27%. The second enhancement is an addition to the HTTP protocol, allowing for server to client prefetching. Server to client prefetching eliminates the need for the web client to request the embedded objects of web pages. This modification results in page load times reduced to as low as 24.5% of the non-prefetching page load times.
Analysis and architecture design of scalable fractional motion estimation for H.264 encoding
Authors: Vasiljevic Jasmina
Published: June 2021

FractionalMotion Estimation (FME) is an important part of the H.264/AVC video encoding standard. FME can significantly increase the compression ratio achievable by video encoders while improving video quality. However, it is computationally expensive and can consist of over 45% of the total motion estimation runtime. To maximize the performance and hardware utilization of FME implementations on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FGPAs), one needs to effectively exploit the inherent parallelism in an algorithm. In the work we explore two approaches to FME algorithm parallelization in order to effectively increase the processing power of the computing hardware. The first method is referred to as vertical scaling and the second horizontal scaling. In total, we implemented six scaled FME designs on a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA. We found that our best scaled FME design exhibited a speedup of 8x over the horizontally scaled designs. Additionally, we conclude that scaling vertically within 4x4 pixel sub-block is more efficient than scaling horizontally across several sub-blocks. As a result we were able to achieve higher video resolutions at lower resource costs. In particular, it is shown that the best vertically scaled design can achieve 30 fps of QSXGA (2560x2048) video using 4 reference frames with only 25.5L LUTS and 28.7K registers.
Modelling And Control Of Automated Polishing/Deburring Process
Authors: Liao Liang
Published: June 2021

In this thesis, a new approach is presented for the modelling and control of an automated polishing/deburring process that utilizes a dual-purpose complaint toolhead mounted on a parallel tripod robot. This toolhead has a pneumatic spindle that can be extended and retracted by three pneumatic actuators to provide tool compliance. By integrating a pressure sensor and a linear encoder, this toolhead can be used for polishing and deburring. For the polishing open-loop control, the desired tool pressure is pre-planned based on the given part geometry. To improve control performance, a closed-loop controller is applied for pressure tracking through pressure sensing. For the deburring control, another closed-loop controller is applied to regulate the tool length through tool extension sensing. The two control methods have been tested and implemented on a polishing/deburring robot, and the experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented methods.

To future improve the control performance, an adaptive controller is developed to deal with the uncertainties in the compliant tool. This control method combines the adaptive control theory with the constant stress theory of the contact model. A recursive last squares (RLS) estimator is developed to estimate the pneumatic plant model, and then a minimum-degree pole placement (MDPP) is applied to design a self-tuning controller. Afterwards, the simulation and experiment results of the proposed controller are presented and discussed. Finally, a nonlinear model of the pneumatic plant is developed. The nonlinear controller developed by using feedback linearization method is applied on the nonlinear pneumatic system of the compliant toolhead. The simulation is carried out to test the effectiveness of the pressure tracking for the polishing process.
Bond characteristics of glass fibre reinforced polymer bars embedded in high performance and ultra-high performance concrete
Authors: Ametrano Dave
Published: June 2021

The use of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is increasing in construction as an alternative to conventional steel rebars. This thesis investigates the bond behaviour of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars embedded in high performance concrete (HPC) and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). In this study, the bond characteristics of sand coated GFRP bars embedded in 70-175 MPa concrete were explored. Beam and pullout tests were performed to determine the effects of the concrete strength, bar diameter, embedment length, and concrete cover on the bond behaviour of GFRP bars. Based on the analysis, the development lengths for the GFRP bars were determined and then compared to requirements provided by design codes. It was concluded that the design code lengths could be reduced by 20% while still maintaining a factor of safety of two over the development lengths determined through this study. This reduction can be applied when the GFRP bar is surrounded by sufficient transverse reinforcement, such that adding additional reinforcement would not affect the bond strength. Reducing the amount of GFRP reinforcing material needed, results in a lower overall cost of construction.
Public Participation in Nuclear Waste Management : a Comparative Analysis of the Swedish and Canadian Processes
Authors: Camacho Rosanne
Published: June 2021

This thesis addresses the issue of public participation in the implementation of nuclear waste management (NWM) strategies by comparing the NWM programs of Sweden and Canada. It begins with a comparison of the progress and current status of the Swedish and Canadian NWM programs, which illustrates that the Swedish program is further ahead in terms of obtaining approval for a disposal method. Next, quantitative analyses were performed on three measures of public engagement, which revealed that the proponents of Sweden's NWM program have focused on public participation much more than their Canadian counterparts. Lastly, a comparison was made between the level of public awareness regarding nuclear waste and public support for the NWM programs of each country. The analysis indicated that there is a greater level of both public awareness of the nuclear waste issue and public support for the NWM program in Sweden than there is in Canada.
Nonlinear seismic response of reinforced concrete pedestals in elevated water tanks
Authors: Ghateh Razmyar
Published: June 2021

Elevated water tanks are employed in water distribution facilities in order to provide storage
and necessary pressure in water network systems. These structures have demonstrated poor
seismic performance in the past earthquakes. In this study, a finite element method is employed
for investigating the nonlinear seismic response of reinforced concrete (RC) pedestal in elevated
water tanks. A combination of the most commonly constructed tank sizes and pedestal heights in
industry are developed and investigated. Pushover analysis is performed in order to construct the
pushover curves, establish the overstrength and ductility factor, and evaluate the effect of various
parameters such as fundamental period and tank size on the seismic response factors of elevated
water tanks. Furthermore, a probabilistic method is implemented to verify the seismic
performance and response modification factor of elevated water tanks. The effect of wall openings in the seismic response characteristics of elevated water tanks is investigated as well. Finally, the effect of axial compression on
shear strength of RC pedestals is evaluated and compared to nominal shear strength from current guideline and standards.
The results of the study show that the tank size, pedestal height, fundamental period, and pedestal height to
diameter ratio, could significantly affect the overstrength and ductility factor of RC pedestals. The nonlinear
dynamic analysis results reveal that under the maximum considered earthquake (MCE) intensity, light and medium size tank models do not experience significant damages. However, heavy tank size models experience more damage in comparison with light and medium tank sizes. This study shows that the current code response modification factor values are appropriate for light and medium tank sizes; however they need to be modified
for heavy tank sizes. The results of this study also reveal that if the pedestal wall openings are designed based on
current design guidelines, then nearly identical nonlinear seismic response behaviour is expected from the pedestals with and without openings. Finally, it is shown that the pedestal maximum shear strength calculated by finite element method for the full tank state is higher than the nominal shear strength determined based on the current design guidelines compared to the nominal shear strength from current guideline and standards.
"Why nobody told me and why it would have been impossible to do so until now" : an autoethnographic inquiry into teaching and learning towards social justice in early childhood teacher education
Authors: Ramnarase Katrina
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a personal narrative autoethnographic methodology is used to begin mapping a transformative learning journey towards teaching and learning for social justice in early childhood teacher education. In autoethnography, personal lived experience is the primary source of data. This inquiry explores two stories of personal transformative learning using a journey metaphor to structurally frame the inquiry. Through a process of writing as inquiry (Richardson, 2003) and emotional introspection (Ellis, 1991) and using a conceptual framework based on postmodern perspectives, this autoethnographic research paper reveals the steps toward critical consciousness (Freire, 2006) taken by the author/researcher-a student in early childhood teacher education-as she uses personal narratives of lived experience in early childhood teacher education as primary data to explore the implications of this transormative learning process to explore themes around teaching and learning towards social justice in early childhood teacher education programs.
The extraordinary renditions of Maher Arar and Abdullah Almalki : Orientalism, Islamophobia, and the erosion of citizenship and human rights
Authors: Lane Ian Geriant
Published: June 2021

Extraordinary rendition has gained significant notoriety as an inhuman practice against suspected terrorists in the "war on terror". It is a highly controversial initiative whereby many critics contend that the purpose of such renditions is to subject the suspects to aggressive methods of persuasion such as torture and other human rights violations that are illegal in Western liberal democracies. The CIA implemented the extraordinary rendition program, but other Western states have participated in the rendering of Muslims to the CIA's global web of secret prisons. Canada was involved with the renditions of two Muslim-Canadians, Maher Arar and Abdullah Almalki. This paper will discuss their respective renditions and the ideological machinations that fuel the extraordinary rendition program using Edward Said's theory of Orientalism and its relationship with Islamophobia. A lexical discourse analysis will be integrated into the paper to evaluate negative Muslim identity construction in Canada post-9/11.
Stabilization of paper waste in bioreactor landfills using soybean peroxidase enzyme
Authors: Sah Ram Kumar
Published: June 2021

One obvious way to reduce the amount of paper waste being discarded, and to conserve the forest resources, is to recycle more of the waste paper. But most common waste management technique for solid waste is the use of landfills. This study was aimed at decomposing the waste in aerobic condition before the anaerobic condition using soybean peroxidase enzyme (SBP). One bioreactor cell without enzyme was compared with two bioreactor cells, which contained different concentration of soybean peroxidase enzyme with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The rate of reaction was analyzed by performing COD, BOD₅, NH₃, TS and pH tests as well as monitoring the settlement.

The findings showed that the bioreactors with enzyme had faster decomposition rate than the control one. Final COD concentration in control one was 62.6% higher than the bioreactor having higher concentrations of enzyme. Similarly, final BOD₅ concentration in control one was 70.7% higher than the bioreactor having higher concentration of enzyme. Furthermore, the results were compared with the previous study, the bioreactors having municipal solid waste (MSW) with biosolids. The results showed that the strength of leachate quality was much better in bioreactors having paper waste with enzyme than the bioreactor having MSW with biosolids. The COD reduction rate in case of enzyme was about more than double than the bioreactor having biosolids. Similarly, BOD₅ reduction rate in case of enzyme was 1.6 times higher than the biosolids and TS reduction rate was about 1.4 times higher than the bioreactor having biosolids.
Infant cognitive development : the influence of maternal sensitivity and prior cognitive capacity
Authors: Villani Vanessa
Published: June 2021

Researchers have found that maternal sensitivity predicts cognitive development above and beyond prior cognitive capacity; however, cognition and sensitivity scores in previous studies were amalgamated. The principal aim of this thesis was to evaluate the changing influence of maternal sensitivity and prior capacity over several points in infancy.  Maternal sensitivity was assessed in the home at 6 and 18 months, and infant cognitive development at 6, 12, 18 and 36 months.  Through a series of multiple regressions and change score analyses, results indicated that maternal sensitivity is a better predictor of cognitive development than prior capacity of the infant in early infancy; however, as the infant ages, the relative influence of predictors changes.  That is, at 18-36 months, prior capacity appears a better predictor.  Thus, findings indicate maternal sensitivity is most influential in early infancy, whereas prior capacity of the infant is more influential in later infancy.  
Deterioration Caused By Sulfide-Bearing Aggregates: Performance Test Development
Authors: Maguire Bradley
Published: June 2021

Recently in Quebec Canada, concrete structures suffered very rapid deterioration within 3 to 5 years of construction. The deterioration was caused by an iron sulfide, namely pyrrhotite, in the coarse aggregate that suffered oxidation inside concrete and promoted sulfate attack; indicated by the presence of ferric oxyhydroxides (“rust”), gypsum, ettringite, and thaumasite. The goal of the current work was to reproduce this reaction under accelerated laboratory conditions, in progression of a performance test. Conditions to promote pyrrhotite oxidation and internal sulfate attack were provided; exposure cycles were tested with heating and cooling, and saturation in oxidizing agents or lime solution. Oxidation was induced in concrete samples, however, other mechanisms contributed to deterioration. The bleach was found to promote NaCl and Friedel’s salt formation, furthermore, it seemed to mitigate expansion from sulfate attack. Sulfoaluminate decomposition was also found to cause secondary ettringite formation. More optimization to the test methods was recommended.
Recurrence quantification analysis of motor learning and training
Authors: Vuong Barry
Published: June 2021

The goal of this study was to apply recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals during motor learning and training activities. It has been previously demonstrated that the RQA variable, percentage of determinism (�T), is related to the synchronization of motor units. It is suggested that �T will change throughout the motor learning and training process. As a result, the experiment consisted of two separate parts. The motor learning part required a male subject to train using the Nintendo Wii Fit® software, Wii Fit® balance board and the Nintendo Wii® gaming console. The myoelectric signals were acquired from the peroneus longus (PL) and soleus (S) muscles. During the course of this experiment a soccer simulator and three in-game balance tests were used to evaluate motor learning. The second part of the experiment consisted of a chronic incomplete spinal cord injured patient from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The subject trained three times a week for fourteen days. Each training session consisted of the subject performing weighted dorsaf and plantar flexion. Both parts of the experiments suggests that there is a decrease in synchronization of motor units after motor learning and training (decrease in �T). Additionally, the time course of �T displayed a con-vergence of levels between the right PL and right S during the virtual environment training. It is concluded that RQA demonstrates the ability to detect motor learning and training. Possible applications for the use of RQA on sEMG signal could be the evaluation of rehabilitation programs. By monitoring the �T, it may be possible to determine if a particular rehabilitation program is effective for a patient. This could lead to customizable programs, suited for a specific person, in order to increase the rate of recovery.
William S. Sawyer exhibition : a thesis project : a curated exhibition of William S. Sawyer's collection and the preservation recommendations for its storage
Authors: Caron Elisabeth Teresa Jessica
Published: June 2021

This practical thesis project examines the planning process of a specific exhibition using the photographic collection of a Canadian photographer / portrait painter William S. Sawyer. The exhibition is drawn from the many artifacts, including photographic prints, family albums, newspaper clippings, and speeches on photography from William S. Sawyer's personal collection that were donated to the Archives Department at Queens University. Following several discussions with the head archivist at Queens University, Mr. Paul Banfield, I have created an exhibition for future display at Queens University archives. The exhibition contains a selection of 48 prints and related artifacts. This paper examines the procedures and decision-making processes used while planning this exhibition. The appendix includes the traditional byproducts of an exhibition including checklists, wall text, gallery layout and preservation and conservation recommendations for the objects included in the exhibition.
Are planning methods culturally neutral? Examining how planners read multicultural landscapes
Authors: Cooke Leah
Published: June 2021

Are traditional observational planning methods applicable to the growing range of contemporary urban settings? These methods, which include the approaches of Kevin Lynch, Jane Jacobs, William Whyte, Allan Jacobs, and Jan Gehl, were identified and analysed in an ethnocultural, suburban context. Specifically, they were applied to Pacific Mall in Markham, which was selected as a case study. Observations were compared to Dr. Zhixi Zhuang’s in-depth research, who determined what was and was not missed. This comparison determined that while the observational methods were able to read the landscape, there was cultural information not possible to establish through observation alone. Practicing planners need to better consider this cultural information when analysing space. This includes the culture of the space, the intended users of the space, legibility for these users, and what information to include in reports to better plan for places that are culturally unknown to the planners responsible for them.
A Numerical Study On Active Film Cooling Flow Control Through The Use Of Sister Holes
Authors: Ely Marc J.
Published: June 2021

The research contained herein studied the effect of sister holes on film cooling. This novel technique surrounds a primary injection hole by two or four smaller sister holes to actively maintain flow adhesion along the surface of the blade. A numerical evaluation using the realizable κ-ε turbulence model led to the determination that the use of sister holes significantly improves adiabatic effectiveness by countering the primary vertical flow structure. Research was performed to determine the optimal hole configuration, arriving at the conclusion that placing sister holes slightly downstream of the primary injection hole improves the near-hole effectiveness, while placing sister holes slightly upstream of the primary hole improves downstream effectiveness. Similar results were found in evaluating both long and short hole geometries with a significantly less coherent flow field arising form the short hole study. However, on the whole, the sister hole approach to film cooling was found to offer viable improvements over standard cooling regimes.
Selective Expressions of Portugueseness: Notions of Portugueseness among Second Generation Portuguese-Canadian Youth in Toronto
Authors: Gomes Frederica
Published: June 2021

It has been noted that very little literature on second generation Portuguese-Canadian youth exists (Nunes 1986, Noivo 1997, Oliveira and Teixeira 2004, Trindade 2007). This study aims to build upon this by focusing on the social construction of what it means to be Portuguese in Toronto for second generation Portuguese-Canadian youth. This is an exploratory, qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with 8 Portuguese-Canadian (Torontonian) youth. This study found, among other things that these Portuguese-Canadians, while very aware of the stereotypes often associated with Portuguese youth in Toronto, distanced themselves from them and selectively constructed Portugueseness based on a medley of positive and symbolic elements. I attribute this ability to actively select positive images and distance themselves from negative ones to this (small and non-representative) sample’s above-average levels of education. This finding and hypothesis suggest the need for future research to further explore the role of changing/increasing levels of education among Portuguese-Canadian youth.
Describing uncatalogued photographs in nineteenth century albums : a practical project in collections management
Authors: Odorico Trish
Published: June 2021

This essay documents and justifies a practical project in collections management, in
which I surveyed ten albums of photographs and recorded information about them, using a
system of my own devising. The descriptive tables included here serve as a finding aid for the
contents of albums that are not catalogued at the unit level, offers quick comparison among the
albums, and efficiently assembles necessary information for unit-level cataloguing. It also
demonstrates a model approach to pre-cataloguing surveys, especially when a particular genre is
being studied in more than one album. A system such as this, customized for a specific category
or genre of photograph, can provide researchers with thorough and appropriate information
specific to their needs. This project deals specifically with the genre of photographic
reproductions of works of art, found in ten nineteenth century albums of travels to Italy in the
collection of George Eastman House.
A study on the potential for sustainable waste management in the Greater Toronto Area
Authors: Alam Md Shamsul
Published: June 2021

Performance of the residential waste management practices in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was studied. The study encompassed identification of waste management practices and analysis of data concerning different management options followed by the Regional Municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, York and the City of Toronto during 2002 to 2008. Historically, wastes from the GTA were disposed of in the landfills. Majority wastes [sic] from the GTA were exported to Michigan under a contract which is going to be expired [sic] at the end of 2010. Residents already [sic] opposed to accept new landfills. Toxic emissions from the incinerators are also of great concern to them. Integrated waste management system comprising source reduction, recycling and reuse, diversion through green bin SSO program and the aerobic/anaerobic processing of organic waste treatment can be considered to succeed in achieving the most effective and sustainable solution to the residential waste management problems in the GTA.
Generalized SDOF system for dynamic analysis of concrete rectangular liquid storage tanks
Authors: Chen Jun Zheng
Published: June 2021

Liquid storage tanks are essential facilities in lifeline and industrial systems. To ensure liquid tightness, serviceability is the prime design concern for these structures. While there have been major studies on the behavior of steel tanks, little attention has been paid to the behavior of rectangular concrete tanks. In this study, the dynamic response of concrete rectangular liquid storage tanks is investigated. In the current design practice, the response of liquid and tank structure is determined based on rigid tank wall and the lumped mass approach. However, the results of analysis show that the flexibility of tank wall increases the hydrodynamic pressures as compared to the rigid wall assumption. Also, recent studies show that the lumped added mass method leads to overly conservative results in terms of base shear and base moment. In addition, in spite of advanced analysis techniques available for dynamic analysis of liquid storage tanks such as finite element method and sequential coupling analysis procedure, there is a need to develop a simplified analysis method for practical applications.

In this thesis, a simplified method using the generalized single degree of freedom (SDOF) system is proposed for seismic analysis of concrete rectangular liquid containing structures (LCS). Only the impulsive hydrodynamic pressure is considered. In the proposed method, the consistent mass approach and the effect of flexibility of tank wall on hydrodynamic pressures are considered. Different analytical methods are used to verify the proposed model in this study. The comparison of results based on the current design practice, the analytical-finite element models and full finite element model using ANSYS® shows that the proposed method is fairly accurate which can be used in the structural design of liquid containing structures.

Parametric studies on seismic analysis of concrete rectangular LCS using the generalized SDOF system are carried out. Five prescribed vibration shape functions representing the first mode shape of fluid structure interaction system are used to study the effect of flexibility of tank wall and boundary conditions. The effect of flexibility of tank wall, the amplitude of hydrodynamic pressure, the added mass of liquid due to hydrodynamic pressure, the effective heights for liquid containing system and the effect of higher modes on dynamic response of LCS are investigated. In addition, the effect of variable size of tanks and liquid depth are studied. The contribution of higher modes to the dynamic response of LCS is included in the proposed model. A design procedure based on the structural model using the generalized SDOF system is proposed in this study. Design charts and tables for the added mass of liquid due to impulsive hydrodynamic pressure and the corresponding effective heights are presented. The proposed design procedure can be used for engineering design applications.
Influence of formwork liners on fresh, mechanical and durability properties of cast concretes
Authors: Gurbani Sunny  R
Published: June 2021

The following study investigates the influence of formwork liners on fresh, mechanical and durability properties of cast concretes. In order to investigate the influence of formwork liners (Weather Shield, Poligloss and Zemdrain) manufactured by Newark Group on concrete properties, column and other specimens were cast in conventional moulds (steel, wood and plastic) with and without formwork liners. As per ASTM Standards Surface characteristics, compressive strength, water absorption, sorptivity, chloride penetration, freeze thaw and salt scaling tests were conducted and results are analyzed. It is found that by the application of formwork liners Zemdrain and Weather Shield, compressive strength, water absorption, sorptivity, chloride penetration resistance, freeze thaw resistance and salt scaling resistance were improved. By the application of Poligloss, concrete surface was found to be homogenous without any visible blow-holes.
Plan recognition in dynamic 2-D environments
Authors: Gross Joshua
Published: June 2021

We look at the relatively unexplored problem of plan recognition applied to motion in 2-D environments where all moving objects are modelled as circles. Golog is a well-known high level logical language for solving planning problems and specifying agent controllers. Few studies have applied Golog to plan recognition. We use some of the features of this language, but its standard interpreter is adapted to solving plan recognition problems.

This thesis makes several other contributions. First, plan recognition procedures are formulated as finite automata and expressed as Golog programs. Second, we elaborate a logical formalism for reasoning about depth and motion from an observer's viewpoint. We not only expand on this situation calculus based formalism, but also apply it to tackle plan recognition problems in the traffic domain. The proposed approach is implemented and thoroughly tested on recognizing simple behaviours such as left turns, right turns, and overtaking.
Esson’s Ontario A Photographic Exhibition Proposal For The Archives Of Ontario
Authors: Cook Ashley
Published: June 2021

This thesis constitutes a proposal for the exhibition, Esson’s Ontario: Celebrating James Esson’s Stereographic Tour of Ontario, which will be mounted in 2013 at the Archives of Ontario in their Reading Room display cases. Using the collection of 40 James Esson stereographs at the Archives of Ontario, the proposed exhibition will re-introduce Esson and his stereographs of the province of Ontario. A curatorial statement and a concept for the design of the exhibition will follow and introduction to James Esson and his life and work as a photographer and stereographer, and some of the assets and difficulties of displaying works in the Reading Room display cases will be addressed. The thesis includes appendices that outline the design of the exhibition, including the English panel texts, exhibition designs and checklists.
Optimization of subharmonic generation from ultrasound contrast agents at high frequency ultrasound
Authors: Iradji Sara
Published: June 2021

The microcirculation can be differentiated from the surrounding tissue using high frequency ultrasound subharmonic imaging. This imaging technique relies on the detection of energy scattered from ultrasound contrast agents at half the transmit frequency due to their resonant oscillations. The current contrast agents and the subharmonic imaging parameters have not been optimized for high frequencies. Moreover, the origin of subharmonic generation from submicron bubbles is not well-understood. The size distribution of Definity™ phospholipid-shelled microbubbles was altered to find the optimal bubble size to be resonant over a wide range of high frequencies. The resonant behaviour of bubbles was investigated through in vitro attenuation measurements. The transmit frequency and pressure were varied to optimize the backscattered subharmonic signal. Alteration of Definity™ population significanatly improved the scattering for subharmonic imaging at 20 MHz. A peak negative pressure between 400 to 600 kPa is suggested for this frequency range.
Optical Coherence Tomography Detection of Shear Wave
Authors: Razani Marjan
Published: June 2021

In this work, we explored the potential of measuring shear wave propagation using Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE). Shear waves were generated using a 20 MHz piezoelectric transducer transmitting sine-wave bursts of 400 μs, synchronized with the OCT swept source wavelength sweep. The acoustic radiation force was applied to two gelatin phantoms (differing in gelatin concentration by weight, 8% vs 14%, respectively). Differential OCT phase maps, measured with and without the acoustic radiation force, demonstrate microscopic displacement generated by shear wave propagation in these phantoms of different stiffness. The shear wave speeds for the 14% and 8% gelatin-titanium dioxide phantoms were 2.24 0.06 m/s and 1.49 0.05 m/s and also the shear modulus estimated using SW-OCE was 5.3±0.2 kPa and 2.3±0.1 kPa for the 14% and 8% gelatin-titanium dioxide phantoms, respectively. The results demonstrate the feasibility of this technique for measuring the mechanical properties of tissue.
Use of topographic LiDAR point clouds for building reconstruction
Authors: Yuan Yipeng
Published: June 2021

Demand for three-dimensional (3D) urban models keeps growing in various civil and military applications. Topographic LiDAR systems are capable of acquiring elevation data directly over terrain features. However, the task of creating a large-scale virtual environment still remains a time-consuming and manual work. In this thesis a method for 3D building reconstruction, consisting of building roof detection, roof outline extraction and regularization, and 3D building model generation, directly from LiDAR point clouds is developed.

In the proposed approach, a new algorithm called Gaussian Markov Random Field (GMRF) and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is used to segment point clouds for building roof detection. The modified convex hull (MCH) algorithm is used for the extraction of roof outlines followed by the regularization of the extracted outlines using the modified hierarchical regularization algorithm. Finally, 3D building models are generated in an ArcGIS environment. The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness and satisfactory accuracy of the developed method.
Evaluating land use issues in places of worship: a case of Hindu temples in the GTA
Authors: Lamichhane Rajaram
Published: June 2021

In Canada, every citizen has the right to pursue their cultural and religious heritage. Temples in the GTA are becoming an ideal place for Hindu communities to express their values in a foreign environment. As a result, they serve a vital function for the community on many levels, including psychological, social, and symbolic. This paper explores how Hindu faith group deal with land use planning issues related to locational constraints and zoning bylaws provisions when they establish temples in their communities. The research is based on a literature analysis of various scholarly works on places of worship and land use provisions as well as views and experiences of members from temple organizations and planners from the City of Toronto on the development process of temple construction. In addition, the paper includes case studies of two Hindu temples in the GTA and looks at the legislative and policy frameworks for places of worship. The research aims to underline the importance of temples in broader social undertakings, such as preserving the Hindu religion and culture for future generations. These research findings provide suggestions for a process for locating temples that meets the needs of both Hindu communities and other residents, and minimizes conflicts related to land use designations such as employment lands.
Identity retention and sense of belonging : an examination of second generation Eritrean youth in Toronto
Authors: Zerat Semhar
Published: June 2021

This research examines identity perceptions of twelve Eritrean youth (aged 20 to 27) residing in Toronto, Canada. With the help of qualitative techniques, this research seeks to investigate what it means to be Eritrean and Canadian as well multiculturalism policy and how it all impacts the identity of Eritrean youth. The findings suggest an emphasis on primordial and national Eritrean identity, while their Canadian identity is interpreted as a mindset and is embraced situationally. While youth accept a black identity, the results indicate the development of a hyphenated Eritrean-Canadian identity with greater emphasis on the Eritrean identity. Moreover, participants are critical of and view multiculturalism policy as ineffective in promoting tangible results. Through an analysis of the debates in the existing literature on ethnic, national and racialized identities, this research concludes that Eritrean youth develop a symbolic identity towards being Eritrean and Canadian.
Identity and belonging formations of second generation Portuguese
Authors: Trindale Jani Maria Ferreira
Published: June 2021

My paper investigates eight second generation Portuguese from the ages of 18 to 30, across the GTA, and attempts to explore how second generation Portuguese negotiate their identity and sense of belonging in an ever-changing social environment. While there is extensive literature on the settlement experiences of the first generation Portuguese, there is mininmal information on how second generation Portuguese have integrated within the Canadian mainstream. Therfore, this analysis aims to follow the contours of negotiation among the second generation Portuguese, paying particular attention to the formation of identity and constructions of belonging. In addition, this research will seek to answer on mininmal level, other questions on the subject. For instance, how are Portuguese Canadians forming and reforming their ethnic identity? What cost and benefits are involved in belonging/not belonging to groups? How do people maintain individuality within groups?Children of immigrants
Factors Influencing the Adoption of Cloud Computing by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Authors: Tehrani Shima Ramezani
Published: June 2021

The main objective of this study is to determine the factors influencing the cloud computing adoption by Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). Based on two dominant theories in the field of diffusion of innovation, a conceptual model is proposed. In order to test the model empirically, an online survey was designed and launched. Decision makers of 101 SMEs agreed to participate in this survey. In order to evaluate the internal, convergent and discriminant validity of the instrument, factor analysis and reliability tests of panel data were performed. The logistic regression analysis was deployed to test the research hypotheses. The results of regression analysis reveal that decision maker’s knowledge about cloud computing is the main influential factor in adopting this technology. A comparison between two groups of cloud adopters and non-adaptors confirm the recent Gartner's hype cycle model for emerging technology (as discussed in chapter 7) indicating a high expectation from cloud computing in both groups.
Interrogating "Indianness" : identity and diasporic consciousness among South Asian twice migrants in Canada
Authors: Rahemtullah Omme-Salma
Published: June 2021

The impetus for this study comes from the need to understand the differences across the migration and settlement experiences of various national and cultural groups commonly identified as "South Asian" in Canada. This paper insists, first, on recognizing that the perception of where homeland is and hence the terms by which diasporic identity and community affiliations are forged in Canada differ markedly between twice migrants and direct migrants; and second, that the politics of recognition in multicultural Canada has to contend with the differential histories within "South Asian" migrant groups. The research paper uses the examples of Indo-Caribbeans and Afro-Asians to argue for the social and political importance of recognizing the above distinctions and draws on two cultural productions that directly engage with twice migrant communities in Canada--Ramabai Espinet's The swinging bridge (2003) and M.G. Vassanji's No new land (1991)--to demonstrate ways in which their members understand and articulate their sense of self and place in Canada.
A dose based metric to assess the accuracy of image registration
Authors: Annis Stacy-Lee
Published: June 2021

The relationship between dose mapped using two mapping methods (energy mapping method and voxel warping method) and registration error was examined. The correlation between the difference in doses mapped using these methods, defined as dose mapping difference (DMD), and landmark distance to agreement for a realistic lung patient plan using registrations of varying accuracy was examined. Results showed no correlation between DMD and landmark error. Further investigation on simple dose mapping geometries revealed a correlation of DMD with fractional volume (FVC) change induced by registration errors. A formula for DMD as a function of FVC was derived. Results of this formula agreed with simulated values of DMD with percentage differences less than 3.5% in regions of uniform dose. However, no agreement was found in regions containing a dose gradient. Further work is required in order to extend this formula to regions of dose gradients and scenarios that emulate realistic deformations.
Estimation of side-impact crash risk at signalized intersections
Authors: Karim Dewan Masul
Published: June 2021

Side impact accidents are considered to be the most dangerous of all types of intersection accidents due to their high severity. In-depth investigation of accident occurrence could be a valuable means of mitigating these accidents. Based on the relationship between the distribution of disturbances near intersections and driers reactions, this study developed a logic for three major types of signalized intersections side impact crashes were considered for this study - right-angle, and left and right-turning crashes. The study developed models to understand the relationship between accident frequency and some explanatory variables that represent, driver, vehicle, traffic flow and intersection design characteristics. Negative binomial regression with maximum likelihood estimation of parameters is applied to address the overdispersion usually found in accident count data. The models explain the mechanism of side-impact accident occurrence and could be used to assist safety management agencies to devise countermeasures aimed at divers, and the physical roadway environment.
An Investigation Into The Cmparability Of Common Jet Engine Materials With Next Generation Biofuels
Authors: Yoon Paul
Published: June 2021

Growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels and energy independence has spurned the transportation industry into developing a more eco-friendly and sustainable way to travel. The most promising frontier in this endeavor is the development of alternative fuels that will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our current engines with little or no modifications required. The effect that one of these frontier fuels may have, camelina based biofuel, on various fuel system materials was evaluated in this report in accordance with ASTM D4054 in the form of a 50:50 mixture. The materials went through an immersion process at varying temperatures and tested under the numerous standards outlined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The results were compared to a benchmark Jet A1 fuel since the effects of this fuel on current fuel system materials is extensively known. The purpose of this research is to determine the viability of using a 50:50 biofuel mixture in current aircraft fuel systems by evaluating the physical properties after being fuel treated. The results showed that the biofuel mixture affected the non-metallic materials in varying degrees, while not affecting the metallic materials.
Expanding access to Nickolas Muray's celebrity portraits: cross cataloguing of Richard and Ronay Menschel Library manuscript and photography collections at George Eastman House
Authors: Sato Aya
Published: June 2021

This applied thesis project was undertaken to expand access to the photographer Nickolas Muray’s (1892–1965) celebrity portraits by creating intellectual links between the Richard and Ronay Menschel Library Manuscript Collection and the Department of Photography (DOP) Collection held at George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, Rochester, New York. The project consisted of two phases: (1) to create item-level descriptions for the published examples of Muray’s celebrity portraits in the Library’s Nickolas Muray Manuscript (Mss) Collection Boxes 125-126
Illustrations, and (2) to revise the DOP catalogue records for the corresponding photographic prints and negatives, and their variants from the same photographic sessions within the museum’s collections management system, The Museum System (TMS). This paper outlines the methodologies behind the project and describes decisions made to expand access to Muray’s celebrity materials in both the manuscript and photographic collections.
The Effect of Steel Fibers Type and Content on the Development of Fresh and Hardened Properties and Durability of Selfconsolidating Concrete
Authors: Tamrakar Nirmal
Published: June 2021

Steel fiber reinforced self-consolidated concrete (SFRSCC) has the advantages of both selfconsolidated concrete and fiber reinforced concrete. Thirteen concrete mixtures (with short and long steel fiber) were prepared including control mix. The steel fiber volume fraction varied from 0 to 2.4% by the volume of concrete. The fresh properties of SCC were evaluated using slump flow test, J-ring test, V-funnel test and L-Box test. Bond strength, compressive strength and flexural tests were performed in order to investigate mechanical properties. Water sorptivity, water absorption and porosity, rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT), corrosion and freezethaw cycles tests were performed in order to investigate the durability properties. Bond strength gain of 244% with respect to control mix was observed. Moreover, the compressive strength and MOR gained 45% and 127%, respectively. There was no significant weight loss of the concrete specimen after freeze-thaw cycles for concrete mixture with steel fibers. However, flexural toughness was reduced after freeze-thaw cycles.