bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
"Canadian Experience' and Other Barriers to Immigrants' Labour Market Integration: Qualitative Evidence of Newcomers From the Former Soviet Union
Authors: Rudenko Marina
Published: May 2021

Employment has always been the primary settlement need for most newcomers. However, more recent immigrants’ labour market integration achievements have generally not matched that of the Canadian-born, despite the fact that, on average, immigrants arrive in Canada better educated and at a similar stage of their career as those born in the country. Lack of recognition of international credentials, insufficient language proficiency and lack of Canadian experience are the most commonly cited barriers to immigrants obtaining employment commensurate with their skills level. This puts immigrants in a classic Catch 22 situation: unable to gain appropriate employment without Canadian experience, but unable to get this experience. As a result, many highly-skilled immigrants spend years trying to break into the skills commensurate labour market, and the longer it takes, the more difficult it becomes to have their skills and experience recognized.

This study was designed to identify the nature and scope of the barriers that prevent foreign-trained professionals from practicing their professions and contributing more meaningfully to their new society. In particular, the study seeks to explore experiences of main applicants who came to Canada under the Skilled Workers category from the republics of the former Soviet Union.
Robotic tooling calibration based on linear and nonlinear formulations
Authors: Helal Mohamed
Published: May 2021

Industrial robot calibration packages, such as ABB CalibWare, are developed only for robot calibration. As a result, the robotic tooling systems designed and fabricated by the user are often calibrated in an ad-hoc fashion. In this thesis, a systematic way for robotic tooling calibration is presented in order to overcome this problem. The idea is to include the tooling system as an extended body in the robot kinematic model, from which two error models are
established. The first error model is associated with the robot, while the second error model is associated with the tooling. Once the robot is fully calibrated, the first error will be reduced to the required accuracy. Thus, the method is focused on the second error model. For the tool error calibration, two formulations were used. The first is a linear formulation based on conventional calibration as well as self-calibration methods while the second is a nonlinear formulation. The conventional linear formulation was extensively investigated and implemented while the self-calibration was proven to be inadequate for the tooling calibration. Moreover, the nonlinear formulation was demonstrated to be very effective and accurate through experimental result. The end-effector position estimation as well as the tool pose estimation were obtained using a 3D vision system as an off-line error measurement technique.
Modelling ecotoxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in aquatic ecosystems
Authors: Maskoameng Kolobe Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are commercially-produced substances that are used as flame retardants in a wide variety of consumer products. They are among chemicals of emerging environmental concern and are found to be ubiquitous in the environment--they were detected in sediments, water, fish, and wildlife and in human adipose tissues. Environmental concentrations are lower than those of other persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, present data show that while levels of POPs such as PCBs and DDT are decreasing, PBDE levels are definitely on the rise. The two most prevalent PBDEs in the environment are BDE47 and BDE99.
This research studied the toxicity of PBDEs using Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum), Daphnia magna, and Hyalella azteca in laboratory bioassays, by exposing each species to 5 different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 [micro]g/l) of BDE47 and BDE99 congeners. PBDEs showed toxicity to D. magna and P. subcapitata and growth was inhibited at the lowest concentration tested, (12.5 [micro]g/l). Neither of the two congeners had measurable effects (in particular, mortality) on H. azteca at the concentrations tested (up to 200 [micro]g/l).
A model was developed in order to understand effects of PBDEs on grazing (or predator-prey) relationships using P. subcapitata as a prey species and D. magna as a grazer or predator species. In general, PBDEs have demonstrated the ability to have significant impact on population dynamics of species in a grazing relationship, even at concentrations that caused minimal effects in growth parameters of isolated species. While single species bioassays showed a decrease in biomass of both species with increasing concentrations of PBDEs, our model predicts an increase in algal population, and a disproportionate and significant decline in Daphnia. The research suggest that PBDEs in the natural environment therefore, will not only cause toxic effects on individual sensitive species but also on populations of other organisms with which they interact.
Bearing the ring: the audience and consumers of The Lord of the Rings
Authors: Scheer Jennie S.
Published: May 2021

"I will examine who the contemporary film industries target as well as how they relate to the creation and maintenance of fan communities, who are either familiar with the original text from which the films are adapted or are initially attracted to the films and then cross over to the texts, resulting in even larger fan bases. These communities are essential in insuring a film studio that there are very active audiences that will pay for a ticket in order to judge for themselves how successful the adaptation is. In the process, these fan communities simultaneously become responsible for the creation of mythologies while also taking pleasure in experiencing them, pitting their allegiances towards the mythopoetic against the logic of commodification.

A logical case study to use in this compendium is The Lord of the Rings, an assemblage of multiple products and texts adapted from a narrative trilogy written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Since its publication, it has achieved a cultural iconic status within a culture that embraces the gray zone, appealing to audiences in search of a cerebral comic book to those who seek comfort in a reinforcement of the good versus evil trope."--Page 5.
Children's mental health and the transition to school: systemic issues in Ontario
Authors: McKhool Ingrid
Published: May 2021

Early intervention in mental health is critical to school readiness and social functioning, and mental wellness is linked to student achievement and success through the life span. Children aged four to six entering school with unaddressed mental health issues may struggle academically and socially, charting a course for low academic achievement that compromises their life chances. Many children are not captured through the Ministry of Education’s labeling of exceptionalities or approach to inclusion. In addition, the current model lacks a systematic
approach to monitoring the effectiveness of services. This study compiled descriptive statistics through a secondary analysis of previously collected community-based mental health services data in Ontario to better understand the needs of children four to six and the services provided to them before they enter school. Results were discussed in the context of a critical review of the literature related to mental health, early years and inclusion in school and community contexts.
Recommendations include improved system measurement, development of a more age-focused community-based early intervention system and a reconceptualized practice of social inclusion to support children’s transition to school.
Effects of regular self-weighing on weight management: restrained and unrestrained eaters in first-year university.
Authors: Strimas Rachel
Published: May 2021

Obesity poses a global health concern. Prevention has emphasized the utility of weight monitoring, but its effect on restrained eaters is unstudied. This study examined the interactive effects of self-weighing and restrained eating on the body mass index of first-year university students over a three-month period. Participants (N = 100) were randomized into one of three groups: Group 1 (n = 36) weighed themselves daily; Group 2 (n = 31) weighed themselves weekly; and Group 3 (n = 33) measured their heart rate weekly. Results revealed that weekly weighing assisted in weight control among restrained eaters, while daily weighing led to significant weight gain (p = 0.003). There was modest support for the utility of regular weighing to assist in the prevention of weight gain among unrestrained eaters. Overall findings suggest that interventions designed to aid in weight control should be implemented judiciously. Further consideration of individual differences may ultimately help to tailor clinical and public health recommendations aimed at weight management.
Leaky Feeder System Optimizations In Underground Mines And Tunnels
Authors: Farjow Wisam F.
Published: May 2021

There is an increasing demand for reliable communications systems in underground mines and tunnels. This is especially true when these systems need to ensure the safety of personnel involved in the mining operations and also to provide infrastructure for mine's communication networks. Stability problems are among the challenges of providing reliable communications in the underground mines. This thesis has focused on analyzing the stability problems in the communication systems of leaky cable technology. Novel algorithms have been developed to provide Automatic Gain and Slope Controls for the leaky feeder communication systems in the underground mines. The new algorithms are based on predications. The amplifiers in the system cascade will be able to predict and compensate for losses yet to occur in the system. System stability will be improved as a result of applying these algorithms by controlling the gains and the slopes of the amplifiers in the systems.
Architectural development of urban social capital : cohousing in downtown Toronto
Authors: Coelho Robert
Published: May 2021

his thesis is an investigation in to the opportunities to create multi-family housing developments in an urban centre, namely downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that facilitate the development of social capital. Social capital refers to the connection that unifies a community, and creates a sense of belonging. A comparative study of social capital creation was undertaken using two typical Toronto housing models, condominiums and cooperatives and a third form of housing not yet found in Toronto, cohousing. Through this comparison, cohousing was determined to have the greatest opportunity for creating social capital. To determine an appropriate design methodology for urban cohousing, the principles of social capital that inspired cohousing design were exposed and used to reinterpret cohousing to include urban conditions. An exploration of the reinterpreted cohousing design methodlogy through the hypothetical redevelopment of an industrial urban five storey complex for a diverse client concludes the design thesis.
Succession of the image
Authors: Koniuszewski Matthew
Published: May 2021

As technology evolves and spheres of information dissemination begin to converge, now is a crucial point to become critical with how these factors are beginning to influence architecture. It is important to understand the ways in which we consume architecture is affecting the architecture we produce. Is architecture a handful of money-shot renderings creating idealised moments captioned with generic copy and paste, or buried in books on shelves? Or have we as architects decided that mechanical reproduction is unable to capture the essence of architecture and that it can only be experienced?

The succession of the image is the challenging of conventional methods of communication utilized by the architectural artifact. In focusing on the possibilities afforded via technological advances emerges a variety of mediums for the creation of spatial narratives. The image has progressed and disseminated architecture to this point and it is important to continuously ask what is next.
Experimental Determination of Carbon Dioxide Diffusivity in Low-density Polyethylene
Authors: Tendulkar Jitendra
Published: May 2021

Diffusion in molten polymers far above the glass-transition temperature is characteristic of many industrial processes such as polymerization, monomer recylcling, stripping, drying, coating and foaming. Many of these systems of practical importance exhibit a strong dependence of diffusion coefficients on concentration and temperature. These operations involve concentrated solutions of polymers and solvents, which are far removed from the dilute region where theoretical advancements have been most significant. The design and optimization of these applications reuires concentraion dependent diffiusivity data, which are scarce at present.

In this work, the calculus of variation is used to establish the necessary conditions of the concentration-dependent diffusivity for a unidirectional distributed parameter model, such that the model-predicted mass of absorbed gas in polymer matches with its experimental counterpart. A computational algorithm is implemented to solve the model, and obrain the diffusivities of carbon dioxide gas in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) melt, in the range of 352 to 1232 kPa, at 120oC and 130oC. The optimal diffusivities versus concentration curves obtrained indicate diffusivity as a significant function of concentration in the polymer medium. The peak diffusivity of carbon dioxide in low-density polyethylene melts for the above temperature and pressure range varies between 3.04 x 10-9 m2 /s. The above results obtrained are evaluated for their sensitivity with respect to maximum expected experimental variation in saturation weight fraction of the gas. The sensitivity of diffusivity to change in above system parameters is maximum at its peak value and is less than 2% with respect to its base value.
Best practices for Strategic Environmental Assessment and application to the Ontario Long-Term Energy Plan
Authors: Baynova Tania
Published: May 2021

Research shows that project-level Environmental Assessment (EA) in Ontario is failing to achieve the goals that it was designed to meet, including protection and management of the environment. The practice of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is emerging internationally and an increasing number of countries and organizations are carrying out SEA either formally or informally. Although there is a considerable amount of debate in terms of standardized SEA methodology, SEA is seen as a proactive tool for incorporating sustainability objectives within Policies, Plans and Programmes (PPPs) and addressing cumulative and long-term effects of of multiple projects and policy decisions.

The energy sector is globally a large impact generator in terms of resource exploration, production, consumption and waste disposal. Energy development and policy in Ontario have great implications for sustainable development. Project-level EA is the process followed for developing energy infrastructure. However, decisions regarding energy supply are strategic in nature and cannot be adequately addressed through project-level EA. Therefore, SEA is an important tool used to deal with such decisions in the early stages of the assessment process and can help decision makers make informed choices regarding the long-term sustainability of strategic energy initiatives. This study focuses on identifying best practices criteria for carrying out SEA and investigating the extent to which the Ontario Long-Term Energy Plan conforms to SEA best practices.
Basic and Evolutionary Survival Effects in Adaptive Memory of Younger and Older Adults
Authors: Lau Karen P.L.
Published: May 2021

Adaptive memory is a memory advantage for stimuli encoded in a survival scenario (e.g., stranded in grasslands) relative to a control scenario (Nairne, Thompson & Pandeirada, 2007). Basic (survival vs. non-survival scenarios) and evolutionary survival effects (high-evolutionary survival vs. low-evolutionary survival scenarios) in adaptive memory were explored in two age groups. Little research has been done with older adults. An extensive pilot study was conducted to select best matched control scenarios. Experiment 1 explored age differences in adaptive memory with a within-subjects manipulation of scenarios and found an age-equivalent basic survival effect. Experiment 2 replicated the basic survival effect in younger adults with a between-subjects design. Considering the age-related preference for processing positive information in older adults, Experiment 3 examined the survival effect with a positive control scenario. Similar results to the previous experiments were found. Overall, the data demonstrated a robust but age equivalent basic survival effect.
Computational study of comprehensive methods of initiating phase separation within metastable regions and obtaining some notable patterns in unstable region
Authors: Tran Duc Viet-Nhien
Published: May 2021

Binary phase polymer solution is interesting in that they expresses double-well local energy behavior, which means phase separation is preferred when condition is right. It is a feature that has been used to fabricate functional polymeric materials such as PDLC films for electro-optical devices (e.g. flat-panel displays and switchable windows). A uniformly mixed solution may be in one of three state: unstable, stable, or metastable. If the solution is unstable, then phase separation is spontaneous and proceeds by spinodal decomposition. If the solution is metastable, then the solution must overcome certain activation barrier for phase separation to proceed spontaneously. The activation barrier is usually the thermal noise or the fluctuation
created by some external influence. This mechanism is called nucleation-and-growth. Manipulating morphology of phase separation has been of some great research interest because of its practical use. While spinodal decomposition has been well-studied, there are several other methods to further control morphology. For this thesis, the following methods are considered: double quench, anisotropic quenching with varying temperature or polymerization, surface-directed wetting, and concentration gradient. The methods are carried out within metastable or unstable regions or both. To numerically model, Cahn-Hilliard theory and FloryHuggins’ theory are used. This thesis is to also demonstrate that, present numerical method is very efficient and can work on complex geometry.
Niqab –as a Symbol of Resistance: Muslim Women’s Experiences With the Face Veil
Authors: Jamal Sadia
Published: May 2021

Niqab, the practice of veiling the face, is adopted by a small percentage of Muslim women in Canada, yet it is the most controversial piece of clothing. Such a practice is stereotypically seen as ‘backwards’, unwarranted, and forced. Some will even go as far as declaring the religious practice as “un-Canadian”– demanding a public ban. But for Muslim women, the Niqab means so much more and it can be defined in many ways. This MRP is a narrative analysis of three Niqabi experiences of this Islamic practice. With Islam as the worldview or lens for this research, these three stories serve as ‘counter narratives’, showing Niqab as a symbol of resistance, power and choice. They also serve as education for those seeking to better support and understand Niqab. In the words of one scholar thinking about this moment during COVID-19, of veiling the face, it might be that “We are all Niqabis now.”

Key Words: Niqab, face veil, face-veil, Burqa, Hijab, Muslim, Muslim women, Islam, resiliency, resilient, niqab ban, burqa ban, COVID-19, Coronavirus, pandemic, Islamophobia, 9/11
Automated tuning of a piezoelectric power harvesting cantilever beam via the application of an axial load
Authors: Tam Kenneth See Jin
Published: May 2021

This thesis deals with automatic tuning of piezoelectric power harvesters. A prototype
was constructed to verify the effect of the application of an axial load on a cantilever
beam and the effectiveness of increasing the power harvested from a piezoelectric beam
via axial loading. It was shown, experimentally, that the natural frequency of a
piezoelectric beam harvester can be changed over a range of 25Hz. From the
experimental results it was shown that the power can increase up to seven times when
tuned in comparison to unturned. Computer simulations were used to demonstrate a
closed loop tuning system’s ability to apply an axial load effectively onto a piezoelectric
cantilever beam in response to ambient vibrations. The closed loop tuning system is a
viable option for tuning and can lead to increased power when applying the axial load
suggested by the tuning system.
Warmth
Authors: Glazberg Sivan
Published: May 2021

Warmth correlates with an inclusive feeling of comfort, both thermally and psychologically. Current practice is preoccupied with preventing heat loss and maintaining a constant temperature and relative level of humidity throughout spaces and does not consider occupancy. This mechanical approach considers warmth from an engineering perspective and does not take into account the human senses. An architectural approach to designing for warmth should on the other hand consider these senses. Ideally, it would create milieus that allow inhabitants to engage comprehensively with their space even as they experience awareness and appreciation of the thermal processes at work there. It is the goal of this thesis to develop viable architectural strategies to provide warmth.
Using electrical resistance tomography to measure the yield stress of pretreated wheat straw and wheat straw slurries
Authors: Naghavi-Anaraki Yasaman
Published: May 2021

Wheat straw is a low-cost feedstock for production of biofuels as a viable alternative to fossil -based fuels. Pretreatment process is an important stage in producing biofuels. Pretreated wheat straw slurries (PWS) are non-Newtonian fluids with yield stress. In mixing operations, the presence of yield stress creates a region of active motion (cavern) around the impeller and stagnant zones elsewhere which causes difficulties in the production of biofuels. In this study, for the first time electrical resistance tomography (ERT) was utilized to measure the cavern dimensions as a function of the impeller type (A200, A100, and A315), impeller speed (20 to 110 rpm), fiber size (≤ 2 and ≤ 6 mm), and PWS concentration (6, 8, and 10 wt%). The cavern sizes were used to measure the yield stress of PWS slurries as a function of fiber size and fiber concentration. The average yield stresses of 6, 8, and 10 wt% PWS slurries with the fiber sizes of ≤ 2 mm were 2.00, 5.43, and 8.51 Pa, respectively, and 4.26, 9.30, and 13.84 Pa for the fiber sizes of ≤ 6 mm.
The lived experience of parents with children diagnosed with mucopolysaccharidosis waiting for enzyme replacement therapy
Authors: Maione Maria
Published: May 2021

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is a rare and life threatening disease, and is one form of a family of metabolic genetic diseases. MPS is classified as an orphan diease. There is no cure for MPS; however, supportive treatment through Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) is available but is an orphan drug. Canada is the only member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that does not have an Orphan Drug Policy. The purpose of this phenomenological descriptive study was to explore the lived experience of parents with children diagnosed with MPS and who have received ERT but were now waiting for ERT funding by the provinces/territories. Nine key informant interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide, were conducted and the following four key themes emerged: A New Journey; A New Reality; A New Optimism and A Road to Nowhere. This description is unique to parents in Canada as it describes their experiences of having to live out the policies set by federal and provincial/territorial governments.
The air pollution contributions of a large-scale suburban development
Authors: Di Poce Victoria Grace
Published: May 2021

In 2007, Toronto Public Health found that air pollution from traffic causes as many as 440 premature deaths and 1,700 hospitalizations annually in the city. Many researchers have demonstrated the links between urban design and vehicle use, however little research has been done to address the air pollution contributions of vehicle-dependent, large-scale suburban developments. To address this deficiency, this study estimated the air pollution contributions of a 6,755 unit approved subdivision, to be built in the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario. Using the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Tool for Evaluating Neighbourhood Sustainability and Transporation Canada's urban Transportation Emissions Caculator the quantity of vehicle-produced criteria air contaminants were estimated for the development in the years 2010 and 2030. The quantity of CAC emissions estimated for both 2010 and 2030 suggest that the forecast emissions from the development are non-trivial and that further study should be conducted to estimate the health impacts of this development.
Emergence and Uncertainty in Urban Landscapes : A Model for the Toronto Public Landscape
Authors: McEneaney Derek
Published: May 2021

This thesis was initially predicated on early research carried out on Toronto's Public Open Space - in quite a broad framework. Texts based on the topic of Toronto's formation and its policy on public open space from the earlier days surrounding Lord Simcoe's first plans of the city provided a point of departure for the research. OMA and Bruce Mau in their design entry to the Downsview Park competition offered further insight into the perceptions and policy of Toronto in relation to public parks and lack of investment and maintenance. While other contributors on the topic of Toronto included Robert Fulford (Accidental City), Mark Osbaldeston (Unbuilt Toronto: a History of the City That Might Have Been), Jane Jacobs (Death and LIfe of Great American Cities), Howard Moscoe (Councillor Moscoe and his views of the city), Rob Ford and many others offered unforeseen accounts or facts on the city over the past century. Such people and the views they have published defend the very reason for the selection of Toronto as the subject of this research. Coinciding with the topic of Toronto, the recent emergence of the discipline of Landscape Urbanism and the capabilities of landscape in dealing with Modern and Post-modern failings within the city was deemed very early on to be the platform or medium upon which to offer any solution to the research on Toronto. Charles Waldheim, Professor and Chair of the Landscape Architecture Department at the Graduate School of Design in Harvard University, has on occasion referred to his term Landscape Urbanism as follows: Across a diverse spectrum of cultural positions landscape has emerged as the most relevant medium through which to construct a meaningful and viable public realm in North American cities. (Waldheim, C. 2006. p.41)
Service needs and gaps for international students transitioning to permanent residency in a "two-step" immigration process : a Toronto-based study
Authors: Roach Erin Roach
Published: May 2021

Despite the increase in efforts to attract and retain international students in Canada, including the introduction of the Canadian Experience Class in 2008, there has been little investigation into what supports will assist international students as they transition from students to workers to migrants. This research paper is a Toronto-based investigation of the service needs and gaps that exist for international students aiming to transition to permanent residency in Canada. Data gathered from interviews with front-line workers assisting international students, an immigrant-serving organization, and government suggests that immigration policy reforms aiming to attract and retain international students have not been accompanied by the necessary changes to traditional settlement and international student services resulting in service gaps for this segment of Canada's international student population. The present study also connects these findings to neoliberal immigration policies and practices in place in Canada since the 1990s.
Simultaneous measurement of flexible robotic link deflection and rotation using position sensing detectors
Authors: Balyasin George
Published: May 2021

It is well known that the flexibility of robotic links causes deformation and reduced positioning accuracy of the robot at the end-effector. This problem becomes more complicated when the links are made of new materials, such as composite. Various approaches including strain gauges, fiber Bragg grating, computer vision and optoelectronics have been applied to solve the problem. This work proposes an optoelectronic method with a reduced number of position sensing detectors and laser diodes to determine both bending and torsion deformations of a robotic link. The attachment of two optoelectronic sensors on the link and the two laser dots produced on these sensors by diodes provide the data required for computations. The tip deflection values are obtained using trigonometric functions. Both iterative and explicit methods of link tip movement have been analysed for efficiency and accuracy. The methods have been validated experimentally and error analysis has been performed.
Decolonizing immigration: addressing missing indigenous perspectives in Canadian immigration policies
Authors: Dmytriw Anne
Published: May 2021

Despite the fact that their presence in the country has long pre-dated immigration, Indigenous people’s views on immigration policy and the impact immigration continues to have on them is rarely discussed in modern day Canada. In this Major Research Paper, I investigate whether or not Canadian immigration policies of the past and present may be written and enacted in ways that contribute to the marginalization of the country’s Indigenous population. By conducting a literature review of works that examine and critique immigration policies and practises as well as by performing a critical discourse analysis on the Immigration Act of 1910 and the 2002 Immigration and Refugee Protection Act considering critiques of settler colonialism and perspectives on decolonization, I explore the ways that inequality may be reproduced in an institutional level through immigration policy.
Non linear estimation of returns on hedge funds with scarce observations
Authors: Samarikhalaj Akram
Published: May 2021

Explaining the behavior of a financial portfolio like a Hedge Fund is challenging for many reasons, one of those reasons is scarce observations.  One possibility to circumvent these issues is to find simple relationships between the portfolio and financial factors.  These factors are observed more frequently so it is valid to assume that one can estimate not only the conditional expectation with respect to single factors, but also the joint law of all the underlying factors.  The problem, then, is to recover the conditional expectation of the portfolio’s return given all the factors.The author of the paper,”Measuring Risk With Scarce Observation” prescribes a reasonable criteria which provides existence and uniqueness to this problem also characterizes  the  solution  under  the  assumption  of  Gaussian  distribution  among the factors (Independent factors).  In our thesis, we present a solution for the casewhen the joint law of factors is a multivariate t-student distribution. 
The feasibility of proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Safe Mina
Published: May 2021

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells' main components are the anode, cathode and the membrane. A conventional membrane used in today's PEM fuel cells is the Nafion 117 membrane. In this project, the Nafion 177 membrane is discussed in detail to demonstrate its ability to absorb water and the capability to operate in a specific range of temperatures. In addition, an extensive simulation using CATIA V5 is used to determine the highest stress distribution on the membrane for various boundary conditions. Other membranes materials were also considered in this report. They include the Dias membrane, the bacterial cellulose membrane to expand the selection of candidate membranes that can be used im PEM fuel cells for future research. Optimization methods were utilized to maximize the performance of the PEM fuel cells. The Genetic Algorithm is used to solve optimization problems by implementing powerful search techniques to find an optimal solution within a large set of solutions. In this project, the Genetic Algorithm is used to show the impact of the stack positions in order to optimize voltage output. In addition, the Nafion content and platinum loading are adjusted to optimize the performance of the current density within PEM fuel cells.
Professionalism from the standpoint of early childhood educators
Authors: Halfon Shani
Published: May 2021

In this research project, findings from qualitative interviews with four early childhood educators (ECEs) in Toronto, Ontario are presented. Using Feminist standpoint theory and methodology as a guiding theoretical framework and research paradigm, the purpose of this research was to examine professionalism from the particular standpoint of ECEs. The findings presented in this paper indicate that feminist standpoint theory and methodology offer the means for revealing what ECEs think and want as professionals, and can be used as a theoretical tool to analyze the relationship between the experienced, material realm and the conceptual, discursive realm of ECE professionalism. A thematic analysis of the collected data identified two themes. The first theme illuminates the lived realities of ECE work, and highlights how ECEs' experiences of professionalism are shaped by their material conditions. These lived realities however, are to a certain extent at odds with the meanings that the ECEs in this project ascribe to professionalism in the second theme, which appear to be shaped by dominant discourses about professionalism. The discussion of the findings focuses on the process of building new knowledge that accounts for these contradictions and aims to address the divide between the conceptual realm of professionalism with the material, experienced realm of ECEs' everyday work.
Environmental justice and project development : the Sri Lankan experience
Authors: Pullenayegem Liana Anoushka
Published: May 2021

Despite large contributions from academia, there is a significant lack of indicators against which to measure environmental injustice, particularly with regard to project development in developing countries such as Sri Lanka. Indicators and methodological approaches that have been developed and are being used in the West are mostly irrelevant since the types of environmental injustices experienced in the two regions are different. This study presents an "environmental justice matrix", a tool consisting of selected indicators that represent a variety of issues that have the potential to cause environmental injustice and that are encountered during the different phases of project development in Sri Lanka. The matrix is designed to evaluate the degree of environmental injustice that may arise during project development and should serve to keep environmental justice front and centre of every stage of the project, especially during the assessment and decision making processes. The value of this tool is illustrated by assessing two large infrastructure projects against the matrix.
The electric utility of the future: insights on challenge and change in Ontario LDCs
Authors: Alibhai Nabila
Published: May 2021

The traditional role of electric utilities is diminishing in the face of technology,
customer, financial, regulatory, and policy changes occurring in the industry. These
changes will determine the future viability of local distribution companies [LDCs] in
Ontario. A diverse collection of academic, industry, and government literature supports
varying opinions of what the LDC of the future should look like. A historical overview
and an institutional theory of organizational behaviour method frames the idea that
technological innovation can break through the sector’s historically and culturally
embedded resistance to change. A two-stage survey method is used to construct a
dialogue between key players, and finds support for the above proposition from the
expert judgements of LDC decision-makers and influencers. The new energy customer,
empowered by new energy technologies, is a primary causal factor of the challenges in
the sector, and also of the transformative change needed to create the LDC of the future.
A Novel High Quantum Efficiency MV X-Ray Detector For Image-Guided Radiotherapy
Authors: Liu Jian
Published: May 2021

To develop a new MV x-ray detector with a high quantum efficiency and an adequate spatial resolution for image-guided radiotherapy, scintillating fibers with a diameter of 1 mm were embedded in lead to form a honeycomb pattern with a thickness of 2 cm. The properties of the detector were measured using a 6 MV beam on a Linac machine. The prototype detector has a quantum efficient of 35%, about an order of magnitude higher than that of current detectors used in the clinic. The spatial resolution of the prototype is comparable to that of video-based electronic portal imaging systems. The prototype detector can also suppress scattered signals which will help to improve the signal to noise ratio of the image. This work indicates that using scintillating fibers to generate and guide imaging signals, it is possible to increase the quantum efficiency and maintain an adequate spatial resolution for MV x-ray imaging.
Emotional memory in violent video game players and nonplayers
Authors: Bowen Holly J.
Published: May 2021

The present study examined whether chronic exposure to violent media was associated with alterations in emotional long-term memory. Derived from the finding that violent video games reduce physiological arousal to violent stimuli I predicted that violent video game players would show lower recognition accuracy for negative images in general but higher accuracy for violent images in particular, compared to a control group of non-players. Participants completed an old-new recognition task with 300 pictures of scenes ranging in emotion (negative nonviolent, violent, neutral and positive). Violent video game players were matched to non-players on age and gender. Memory accuracy, measured by d', showed no significant effects of group or valence, but there were effects of valence on reaction time. Diffusion modelling analysis revealed that across groups, participants were more liberal in their responses to emotional items and more efficient at detecting novel (unstudied) pictures than at recognizing studied pictures.
Resilient Housing for Growing Families: Living in the Urban Core of Toronto
Authors: Shum Wing
Published: May 2021

Toronto is experiencing a trend in which apartment housing lacks the flexibility and adaptability to transform over one’s life cycle. A majority of suites in Toronto’s apartment housing stocks are unsuitable for potential family growth and change to an Echo Boomer’s needs over time due to its static layouts. In light of this phenomenon, how can Toronto’s downtown intensification accommodate the changes and demands in all phases of an Echo Boomer’s life cycle in the ever growing apartment typology? Through analyzing city’s development guidelines, precedent studies and a design proposal to culminate the findings, this thesis envisions a building typology that will enable an architectural response that is flexible to accommodate Echo Boomers over their life cycle.
The Matthew R. Isenburg collection: the dissemination of information on a private photographic collection, 1972 ‐ 2012
Authors: Courtney Heather
Published: May 2021

This thesis examines how the Matthew R. Isenburg Collection of nineteenth‐century photography and photographica, assembled between 1972 and 2012, was used by researchers, scholars, and photography‐enthusiasts, and how information about it was disseminated to the public, prior to its sale to the Archive of Modern Conflict, Toronto, in 2012. The private collection focused on five areas from early photography (1830s – 1860s): the Southworth & Hawes photography studio (Boston, 1843 – 1863), images of and information about the California Gold Rush (1848 – 1855), photographic technology (including cameras, lenses, and studio equipment), daguerreotype and ambrotype cases, and nineteenth-­‐century literature (featuring technical manuals and sales catalogues). This thesis features a literature survey, documentation of how Isenburg displayed his collection within his home, a description of the experience of visiting his collection, an annotated bibliography of publications that feature the collection, and an analytical chapter describing how the reputation of the collector and collection evolved.
All kinds of people, all kinds of ways
Authors: Fernandes Klasha
Published: May 2021

This masters research project, All Kinds of People, All Kinds of Ways, proposes that gender is a constructed concept produced by colonial, capitalist, and patriarchal structures. This is illustrated through a three-channel video installation of the same name that utilizes conversations with two-spirit, Anishinaabe participants whose traditions express the fluidity of gender identity. The research done in this paper further supports these discussions through an analysis of feminist and queer theory, as well as a look at various cultures around the world that have similar understandings of non-fixed gender.
Supply chain models with consignment stock agreement, payment schemes and delay-in-payments
Authors: Zahran Siraj Khalid Saleh
Published: May 2021

Supply chain management (SCM) has shown to be a successful strategy to manage the flow of goods, materials, information and services between multiple entities in one organization or multiple businesses working together to provide final customers with final products or services with the objective of improving and enhancing the performance of the chain and maximizing its profit.
Inventory management (IM) is one element of the SCM that has shown researchers’ interests as it plays a major role in increasing supply chain profits and satisfying customers. Different coordination mechanisms have been developed to improve the collaboration and the integration of supply chain players.
Consignment stock (CS) is one of the coordination mechanisms that is extensively studied by researchers to reflect its benefits, drawbacks, and the proper techniques of implementing it between two or more players in the chain. The studies of the CS still have some gaps that can be covered by researchers such as studying its effect in a three-level supply chain or when a delay-in-payment exists. Optimizing the number of payments or studying a three-level supply chain system with multiple suppliers and multiple buyers has not been developed. This thesis covers these gaps and considers different scenarios where a CS, a traditional policy (TP) or a combination between both of them might exist in case a system consists of three players.
The main findings are optimizing the number of payments and incorporating a delay-in-payment increase the profit of the chain. In addition, a combination of a TP between the upstream players and a CS between the downstream players has shown to be better than adopting the same policy between all players. Some results of adopting a CS by all players have shown to be very close to the best scenario which could be the best option when demands highly fluctuate.
Globalization and the direction of the Canadian publishing industry
Authors: Gurfinkel Casey
Published: May 2021

Since the merger of Indigo and Chapters in 2001, and the bankruptcy of Stoddart Publishing and General Distribution Services in 2002, the Canadian publishing industry has faced perilous times in an already troubled market sector. In addition to the problems specific to the Canadian publishing industry- for example, federal and provincial funding cuts to the industry; the monopoly of the book retail market by the chain outlet Chapters-Indigo; the difficulty and expense of book distribution within Canada; competition from multinational publishing companies; the lack and expense of traditional marketing opportunities- the growing global market for books presents further difficulties for an industry that is struggling to retain its "Canadian" focus. This study considers the recent impact, both positive and negative, of globalization on the Canadian book industry, with a specific focus on publishers as the key figures in this industry. By surveying three publishing houses that represent specific segments of the industry- large multinational, mid-size, and small presses- I examine different approaches to surviving in the current book market and offer several conclusions about the future of Canadian publishing, most notably that the larger the publishing house, the less it is troubled by challenging market conditions.
Micro-channel milling using abrasive waterjets and high pressure abrasive slurry jets
Authors: Haghbin Naser
Published: May 2021

Abrasive water jet technology can be used for micro-milling using recently developed miniaturized nozzles. This thesis develops methodologies to predict the shape of micro-channels milled using high pressure abrasive water jets, and presents a new high pressure abrasive slurry jet micro-machining process. Since abrasive water jet (AWJ) machining is often used with both the nozzle tip and workpiece submerged in water to reduce noise and contain debris, the performance of submerged and unsubmerged abrasive water jet micro-milling of channels in 316L stainless steel and 6061-T6 aluminum at various nozzle angles and standoff distances were compared. It was found that the centerline erosion rate decreased with channel depth due to the spreading of the jet as the effective standoff distance increased, and because of the growing effect of the stagnation zone as the channel became deeper. The erosive jet spread over a larger effective footprint in air than in water, since particles on the jet periphery were slowed much more quickly in water due to increased drag. As a result, the width of a channel machined in air was wider than that in water. It was also found that the erosive efficacy distribution changed suddenly after the initial formation of the channel. Then, a new surface evolution model was developed that predicts the size and shape of relatively deep micro-channels up to aspect ratios of 3 resulting from unsubmerged and
iv submerged abrasive water jet micro-machining (AWJM) using a novel approach in which two different erosive efficacy expressions were sequentially applied.

Since the channels produced by AWJM were found to be relatively wavy due to fluctuations in abrasive mass flow rate, a novel high pressure (water pump pressure up to 345 MPa) abrasive jet slurry micro-machining (HASJM) system was introduced by feeding a premixed slurry into the mixing chamber of a water jet machine with a micro-nozzle. Moreover, an existing model developed for AWJM abrasive particle velocities was modified and used to predict the particle velocity in HASJM, and then verified using a double disc apparatus (DDA). The HASJM system
was then used to study the effect of entrained air in abrasive water jet micro-machining (AWJM) by performing experiments at the same particle velocity and dose for the two systems. The centerline waviness, Wa, of micro-channels made in SS316L and Al60661-T6 using HASJM were typically 3.4 times lower than those made with AWJM using the same dose of particles due to the more constant abrasive flow rate provided by the HASJM provided. The centerline roughness, Ra was approximately the same in both processes at a traverse velocity of Vt=4572 mm/min and a nozzle angle of 90°. For micro-channels of a given depth, the widths of those made with HASJM were 25.6 % narrower than those produced with AWJM, mainly due to the wider jet that resulted from the entrained air in AWJM.