bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Developmental Study of 9- And 12-Month-Old Infants' Learning From Televised Video
Authors: Labine Danielle
Published: May 2021

Although infants are exposed to relatively high levels of television the impact of this exposure on learning is not completely known. Research has shown that infants learn significantly less from a televised demonstration than they learn from a live demonstration. It was hypothesized that providing 9‐ and 12‐month‐old infants with active experience with the task objects after a demonstration would increase learning from television. Overall, infants were able to solve means‐end tasks quite well and transfer the modeled solution across several test trials with slightly different tasks. Surprisingly, the results showed that infants learned equally well from the live and video demonstrations and did not show a video deficit effect. In addition, no age differences were found. However, as expected, infants performed much better in the active training conditions compared to the passive conditions. Findings are discussed in terms of the perceptual impoverishment theory and the dual representation theory.
Development of Ductile Irons for High-Temperature Applications: Characterization in the As-Cast and Oxidized States
Authors: Cvetnic Carl Rudolph
Published: May 2021

Ductile iron alloyed with molybdenum and different levels of aluminium and silicon was cast to determine the proper combination of elements to increase the temperature range of operation. Four alloys containing 1.5wt.% molybdenum and different combinations of aluminium and silicon (i.e. 3.5Si-3.0A1, 4.5Si-2.0Al and 4.5Si-3.0Al) were cast at 1350, 1400 and 1450⁰C into step blocks. The effects of alloy chemistry, pouring temperature and casting thickness in the as-cast and oxidized conditions were studied. Results from the as-cast condition show that graphite morphology (i.e., size, count and sphericity) improved with lower Si/Al ratios and intermediate pouring temperatures. Higher silicon and lower aluminium contents accompanied by intermediate pouring temperatures reduced the onset of surface and sub-surface defects. Results from the oxidized condition show that maximum oxidation resistance was achieved in alloys containing higher aluminium and silicon contents. This also increased the critical α-ferrite to γ-austenite phase transformation temperature range.
Something Ordinary to Something Navy- Exploring Influencer Arielle Charnas’ use of Parasocial Interaction Techniques on Instagram
Authors: Shiner Lesley
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this research paper is to explore ideas that may highlight why Instagram users may be interested in following the lives and daily activities of social media influencers on Instagram. Social media influencers have been defined as “independent third party endorsers who have developed sizeable social networks by sharing details about their personal lives, experiences, and opinions publicly through texts, pictures, videos” (Ki & Kim, 2019, p. 905). Research also suggests that if successful, influencers can become “opinion leaders who communicate with a sizeable social network of people following them” (Boerman, 2020, p. 199). Arielle Charnas is a New York City fashion influencer with over one million followers on
Instagram, and she will be used as a case to study alongside parasocial interaction to explore how, as an influencer, she incorporates techniques from this theory to establish a connection with her followers. This MRP supports research that proposes that the two established parasocial interaction techniques of perceived interactivity and openness “should increase feelings of parasocial interaction” (Labrecque, 2014, p. 136). Moreover, the analysis of Arielle’s Instagram supports the concept that the development of feelings of a parasocial relationship can be enhanced when “media presentations resemble interpersonal interaction” (Perse & Rubin, 1989, p. 60).
The gender dimension of communication technologies in Uganda: documenting ICTs in the daily lives of women
Authors: Nicholl Heloise
Published: May 2021

The field of international and development communications entered a new chapter with the emergence of digital information and communication technologies. Information and communication technologies (leTs) have long been a source of study for theorists and practitioners of international development, starting with study of the telegraph, fixed phone, and radio. However with the advent of digital technologies, the size of devices has
shrunken while simultaneously their power has expanded. This paper discusses one segment of the development communications paradigm, the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in relation to gender.
One focus that demands greater scrutiny is gender. It's important to ask who is benefiting the most from using ICTs in development. For women in particular, using and accessing communications is more difficult than it is for men, a situation that authors of gender and technology studies have coined 'the Gender Digital Divide'.
Elements of sustainable Canadian food consumption: measuring self-sufficiency
Authors: Sule Charles C.
Published: May 2021

One aspect of sustainable agriculture development in industrial nations is a move towards national self-sufficiency in food production. A self-sufficiency indicator (SSI) that complements the Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development's driving force-state-response framework on which Canada's agri-environmental indicators are based is proposed and demonstrated. A 2001 survey of Canadian household food consumption is analysed to estimate the areal measure of land required for its satisfaction exclusively by domestically produced primary agriculture. Canada is self-sufficient in field crops, which reflects its comparative advantage on the global market. The nation would require about five times the area currently under cultivation to be self-sufficient in fruit production. Vegetables consumed domestically account for just under half the area under cultivation.
An Interferometric Study of Free Convective Heat Transfer in a Double Glazed Window With a Between-Panes Venetian Blind
Authors: Lai Bertha
Published: May 2021

The free convective heat transfer in a double-glazed window with between-panes Venetian blinds was measured using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A vertical cavity with differentially heated/cooled flat plates was set up with an internal blind at slat angles of ø=0⁰, ø=45⁰, and ø=90⁰ from the horizontal and tip-to-plate spacings of s=2mm, s=4mm, and s=8mm. Heat transfer measurements were taken with air as the test fluid and at Rayleigh numbers of Ra~4.5x10(4), RA~6.7X10(4), and Ra~13.1x10(4), based on cavity widths of W=28.7mm, W=32.7mm, and W=40.7mm, respectively. Finite fringe interferograms were used to obtain local and average heat transfer data. Infinite fringe interferograms were taken to visualize the temperature field within the cavity. A preliminary numerical study of the experimental geometry was also conducted. The results show that there was substantial variation in local heat transfer rates caused by the presence of the between-panes blind inside the window cavity. In general, experimental average Nusselt numbers were found to be lower than those of a cavity without blinds.
Multidisciplinary Aircraft Conceptual Design Optimization Considering Fidelity Uncertainties
Authors: Neufeld Daniel J.
Published: May 2021

Aircraft conceptual design traditionally utilizes simplified analysis methods and empirical equations to establish the basic layout of new aircraft. Applying optimization methods to aircraft conceptual design may yield solutions that are found to violate constraints when more sophisticated analysis methods are introduced. The designer's confidence that proposed conceptual designs will meet their performance target is limited when conventional optimization approaches are utilized. Therefore, there is a need for an optimization approach that takes into account the uncertainties that arise when traditional analysis methods are used in aircraft conceptual design optimization. This research introduces a new aircraft conceptual design optimization approach that utilizes the concept of Reliability Based Design Optimization (RBDO). RyeMDO, a framework for multi-objective, multi-disciplinary RBDO was developed for this purpose. The performance and effectiveness of the RBDO-MDO approaches implemented in RyeMDO were evaluated to identify the most promising approaches for aircraft conceptual design optimization. Additionally, an approach for quantifying the errors introduced by approximate analysis methods was developed. The approach leverages available historical data to quantify the uncertainties introduced by approximate analysis methods in two engineering case studies: the conceptual design optimization of an aircraft wing box structure and the conceptual design optimization of a commercial aircraft. The case studies were solved with several of the most promising RBDO-MDO integrated approaches. The proposed approach yields more conservative solutions and estimates the risk associated with each solution, enabling designers to reduce the likelihood that conceptual aircraft designs will fail to meet objectives later in the design process.
Characterization of microbial aggregates in relation to membrane biofouling in submerged membrane bioreactors
Authors: Kraemer Heather Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study was to characterize microbial aggregates and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that contribute to biofouling of submerged polymeric microfiltration membranes. Two issues were addressed in this study, (1) the influence operational and recovery cleanings of membranes have on biofouling amelioration and (2) the influence physicochemical properties of microbial flocs have on biofouling.

The experiments in this study employed two pilot scale Zee Weed™ membrane bioreactors

(MBRs). In one MBR, a ZW-I0 module was installed to treat secondary municipal wastewater at a sludge retention time (SRT) of30 days and operated under permeate/relaxation conditions.

In the other MBR, two ZW -10 modules were installed to treat secondary municipal wastewater at an SRT of 12 days. One module operated under permeate/relaxation conditions, while the other operated under permeate/backwash conditions. Sludge samples from the MBRs were characterized by measuring the surface charge, hydrophobicity, and EPS composition of the microbial flocs. Membrane fibre samples were collected from each ZW -10 module during

permeation and after recovery cleanings. The biofoulant on the membrane was analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) after simultaneous staining with the lectins concanavalin A (ConA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and soybean agglutinin (SBA).

The CLSM analysis of the membrane fibres sampled showed that the biofoulant on the membrane was composed of a heterogeneous colonization of microbes and EPS known to contain glucose, mannose, N -acetylglucosamine, and galactose. The dominant carbohydrate in the biofoulant was shown to be N -acetylglucosamine, which is part of both the cell wall of bacteria and the extracellular matrix. The reversible biofoulant was composed of individual cells, aggregates of cells, and EPS. The major constituent of the irreversible biofoulant was inferred to be EPS, which was observed as a fibrous network of material that remained adhered to the membrane after recovery cleaning the modules with a 2000 ppm hypochlorite solution. By using a permeate backwash rather than relaxation as an operational cleaning method, the rate of biofouling may be reduced. The rate of biofoulant accumulation on hydrophilic membranes may be reduced at higher SR Ts because the biomass at higher SR Ts has a higher hydrophobicity when compared to the biomass at lower SRTs.
Young diaspora Somali women's navigation of intersectional identities in online social media spaces
Authors: Warsame Samira
Published: May 2021

Using Crenshaw’s work on intersectionality, this research examines how young Somali women have used the arts to challenge negative mainstream media discourse regarding the Black, Muslim and Somali identities. This research, similar to Crichlow's work on narrative sharing in the classroom space being used to amplify the voice of the oppressed and the marginalized, finds that young Somali women are using the arts interact with their intersectional identities and share them in online spaces. Social media has provided room for them to use and amplify their own voices which inevitably challenges negative representations promoted by mainstream media outlets while interacting with their intersectional identities. Using 6 Somali women from the arts communities in two of the major Somali-populated cities in the West; Toronto, Canada, and Minneapolis, USA, this work explores how young Somali women artists have been able to critically and creatively shape a more nuanced discourse about their identities.

Keywords:
Diaspora youth, Black AND Muslim, Somali women, arts-based inquiry, belonging, social media, narrative sharing, resiliency.
Posttraumatic Symptomatology, Interpersonal Relationship Functioning, and Their Association Following Trauma Exposure
Authors: Shnaider Philippe
Published: May 2021

Interpersonal relationship functioning problems have been documented among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the trajectory of PTSD following traumatization is well understood, there is minimal research examining the trajectory of interpersonal relationship functioning following trauma. It is yet to be determined if interpersonal relationship functioning confers risk/resilience for PTSD, if interpersonal relationship functioning problems are a consequence of PTSD, or if the direction of the association between these constructs changes over time. The current study examined the trajectory of PTSD and interpersonal relationship functioning, following recent trauma exposure, and the effects that these constructs exert on one another over time. Trauma-exposed individuals (N = 107) and their close significant others (e.g., intimate partner, family member, close friend) were recruited from the community. Trauma-exposed individuals completed clinician-administered and self-report measures of PTSD, as well as a self-report measure of interpersonal relationship functioning in reference to their relationship with their close significant other. Four assessments took place at 4-month intervals. PTSD severity declined over time. The trajectory of self-reported, but not clinician-assessed, PTSD was associated with end-state PTSD. Relationship support and depth deteriorated over time. After controlling for trauma type, relationship support and depth worsened over time as end-state PTSD symptom severity improved. Significant associations between initial levels of interpersonal relationship functioning and end-state PTSD were detected, in both bivariate models and in the context of interaction terms. Initial relationship conflict was positively associated with end-state PTSD among participants participating with intimate close others but not those participating with non-intimate close others. There was a negative association between initial relationship support and end-state PTSD among those who experienced non-interpersonal traumas, and a positive association between initial relationship depth and end-state PTSD among those who experienced interpersonal traumas. Findings did not support the hypothesis that the direction of the association between interpersonal relationship functioning and PTSD changes over time. Results can inform early intervention efforts aimed at reducing risk for PTSD following trauma. Brief interpersonally-based interventions, which could be “indicated” based on the type of trauma exposure and whether someone is in an intimate relationship, should be considered and further investigated.
Role Of Compressibility And Slip In Blood Flow Through A Local Constriction
Authors: Akhter Tahmina
Published: May 2021

One type of blood disease is a narrowing of a tubular structure, known as constriction or stenosis and high cholesterol is one of the main causes for this. Suitable mathematical models are important to describe this phenomenon, and to study the problem analytically and numerically. An approximate analytical solution and a recently developed particle-based method called multi-particle collision dynamics (MPC) is used to simulate the weakly compressible steady flow through a three-dimensional constricted axisymmetric cylinder. The particle collisions in
How do they do it? : perspectives on being an educational assistant in an Ontario classroom
Authors: Hodgson Patricia Marie
Published: May 2021

This qualitative study examined the roles and responsibilities of educational assistants from their own perspectives. Five educational assistants kept written journals and each participant was interviewed once. Findings were interpreted through a critical lens which allowed an examination of the relationships within the hierarchical power structure of the school system and where the educational assistants were situated. A grounded theory approach explained the factors which influenced the perspectives of the participants on being an educational assistant in an Ontario classroom. These factors were identified and organized in five major categories: 1) roles and responsibilities, 2) relationships, 3) communication, 4) changes, and 5) training. The interrelationships between these categories highlighted the complex nature of the role of the educational assistant. This study concluded that relationships and communication had a major influence on the perspectives of the educational assistants.
Extended Kalman filter approach to electric arc furnace forecasting
Authors: Hosseignholizadeh Ali
Published: May 2021

In this thesis, we propose and implement a new approach for building an online self-adjusting model for prediction of v-i characteristic of a multivariate time series obtained from an operational electrical arc furnace. The proposed methodology is based on the Kalman filtering method, and is used for prediction of the arc furnace voltage using the past history of the current and voltage. The main advantage of the proposed approach over similar earlier related work is the ability to adapt during the operation of the furnace. In this study, three different hybrid models have been developed based on the extended Kalman filtering technique and one of the following methodologies: (i) a linar auto regressive model; (ii) fuzzy logic, (iii) wavelet analysis. The results compare well with those of earlier work and clearly indicate that the augmentation of the above mentioned approaches with the extended Kalman filter improves the prediction accuracy.
Re-Orienting Refugee Representation? A Multimodal Analysis of Syrian Refugee Representation on the social media platform Humans of New York
Authors: Aarssen Nicole
Published: May 2021

This major research paper (MRP) examines a selection of photo-narratives presented by the social media account Humans of New York, focusing on a series that documented Syrian refugees in the fall of 2015. It seeks to answer the following questions: How does the HONY platform frame the Syrian Refugee crisis? Which visual, textual, and multimodal elements are mostprevalent in the sample? How does HONY’s representations of Syrian refugees contribute to or challenge the discourse of Orientalism and Othering? Does the HONY coverage provide the
opportunity for a more humanizing, compassionate perspective? To answer these questions, I coded the twenty most “liked” posts from the series for various visual, narrative, and multimodal elements. A codebook was developed from the literature review on Orientalism, neo-Orientalism, media representations of Islam, and media representations of refugees, as well as from theories of visual social semiotics, narrative analysis, and multimodal communication. The findings of this MRP question how alternative media platforms may challenge or reinforce traditional tropes utilized by mainstream media to represent a marginalized group such as Syrian refugees. The results suggest that while alternative platforms may challenge aspects of the Orientalist discourse and highlight a shared sense of humanity, the continuity of this discourse is seen to adapt through more subtle manifestations. The HONY audience is more likely to affirm representations that fit within the neo-liberal notion of who is an acceptable and “worthy” refugee. Based on the findings, this study is relevant to how professional communicators and audiences engage with media representations of marginalized groups, particularly in the current sociopolitical environment that is witnessing the unprecedented mass movement of displaced peoples.
Numerical and experimental modal analysis of machine tool spindle systems
Authors: Sambandamurthy Hemachandran
Published: May 2021

The need for air transportation has increased drastically over the last few decades, to cope with
these increasing demands manufacturing companies are trying to improve and speed up their
machining processes. High precision in surface finish is required in aerospace industry. To
achieve higher production rates, the cycle time (time required for a part or component to be
machined) should be reduced. However, chatter often poses a limiting factor on the achievable
productivity. One of the major parameters contributing to chatter is the fundamental frequency of
the machining system. The system consists of cutting tool, tool-holder, and machine-tool spindle.
Impact test is commonly used to determine frequency response function (FRF), which in turn is
utilized to acquire the natural frequencies of the system. Impact testing at each stage of
machining is impractical, as it will hinder production. Therefore, the study conducted in this
report introduces Finite Element Analysis (using ANSYS®) to create an accurate model, which
predicts the natural frequencies of the system. A calibrated FEM model of the spindle system,
where the bearings are modelled as linear spring elements, is introduced. The spring constants
are then varied such that the FEM natural frequencies match the theoretical/experimental ones.
This technique is extremely useful as it reduces the downtime of the machine due to impact
testing. An experimental setup of the spindle system was designed and fabricated. Impact tests
were conducted on the spindle-setup and the results were used to validate the model. The
proposed method could be ultimately used to incorporate the bearings degradation/aging effects
into the dedicated calibrated FEM model, and to predict the system frequencies in terms of
spindle age, i.e., number of in-service hours.
Afghan youth in Toronto : barriers to social inclusion
Authors: Wali Masi
Published: May 2021

To identify the barriers to social inclusion that Afghan youth encounter in Toronto, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six Afghan youth—three male and three female participants. The data revealed that participants shared (1) experiences of cultural and religious limitations, (2) language barriers, (3) being subjected to discriminatory attitudes, and (4) family responsibilities. Based on theories of Social Exclusion, Social Inclusion, and Social Identity, it was concluded that Afghan youth currently live as marginalized members of Canadian society where their participation in prominent fields such as education, employment, and recreation are limited.
Mechanical Properties Of Butt Welded AZ31B Magnesium Alloys
Authors: Chowdhury Md. S.M.
Published: May 2021

Mechanical properties of friction stir welded (FSWed), double sided arc welded (DSAWed), fiber laser welded (FLWed) and diode laser welded (DLWed) on AZ31B Mg alloy were studied. After welding, grains at the centre became recrystallized. Brittle phase β-Mg₁₇AI₁₂ particles observed at the centre of the joint during fusion welding process. The yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and fatigue strength were lower in the FDWed samples than in the DSAWed samples. Welding defect at the bottom of the FDWed joint was observed when right hand thread (RHT) weld tool was considered. In FLWed joint, YS, UTS and fatigue strength, with a joint efficiency of ~91% was achieved while the YS, UTS and fatigue strength of the DLWed joints were notably lower. The DSAWed joints and DLWed joints exhibited a higher strain hardening capacity in comparison with the FSWed joints and FLWed joints, respectively.
Energy-saving MAC protocol design for body sensor networks
Authors: Shahrokhi Mahdi  S.
Published: May 2021

Remote and online patient monitoring can significantly reduce the cost for the health care system. Body Sensor Network (BSN) plays a key role in real-time remote health monitoring. Although the BSN can reduce the health monitoring cost, some technical challenges arise. One of the major challenges in BSN is the power consumption. The power recharge is very difficult and inconvenient in BSNs. Therefore, energy saving is one of the most appropriate approaches to prolong the network lifetime. In the thesis, we propose a context-aware Medium Access Control (MAC) design to extend the network lifetime of the BSN. The proposed MAC reduces data transmission by determining the more valuable fraction of data. The high-value portion of the data is transmitted, while the low-value fraction of the data is omitted, at the sensor node. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can reduce the transmission energy by up to 30% compared to the existing method called burst communications.
Analysis of natural gas consumption and energy saving measures for small and medium-sized industries in the greater Toronto area
Authors: Baig Altamash Ahmad
Published: May 2021

A total of 15 energy (natural gas) audits were conducted for industrial sites from food processing, packaged goods and finishing processes (powder coating) sector. Natural gas consumptions, performances of major gas consuming equipment and savings from proposed energy measures were analyzed for the audited sites. Proposed energy saving measures included reduction in non-productive consumption, tune-up of gas-fired equipment, optimization of boiler loads, heat recovery through feedwater economizer and reduction in oven exhaust using variable frequency drives (VFDs). Gas savings achieved by employing VFDs showed great potential ranging from 13% to 49% of oven consumptions while savings for feedwater economizer ranged from 3.4% to 18.4% of boiler consumptions. Other measures mentioned above, though relatively simpler to implement, also showed potential of considerable savings. Associated fuel cost savings and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions were also estimated. Furthermore, a MATLAB program was created to calculate boiler efficiencies.
Gathering place: a literature review on the social role of immigrant-owned food businesses in diasporic communities
Authors: Oza Janika
Published: May 2021

The importance of foodways in diasporic communities makes restaurants and grocery stores significant sites where identity is reproduced and social, political, and economic interactions occur. Considering the prevalence of social isolation amongst migrants and the potential for networks and community to develop within food businesses, this literature review examines the role of immigrant-owned food businesses as cultural, social, and informational hubs amongst migrants. This paper provides a critical review of the international literature on the role of immigrant-owned food businesses within the last two decades. The main themes that characterise the literature are as follows: 1) identity and belonging, 2) community and social ties, 3) information exchange and networks, and 4) hybridity and cultural change. This research analyzes the social impact of these food businesses within immigrant communities and links these spaces to the context of social isolation and settlement-related challenges experienced by migrants.

Key Words:

Immigrant, food business, social isolation, settlement, community
Body Meets Space. Space Becomes Dress
Authors: Lipsit Sarah
Published: May 2021

Forming. Shifting. Shaping. The envelope of one’s physiological body extends outwards in multiple shells, layer by layer. The versions of this envelope exist in the interstitial moment between clothing and architecture; ever forming and being
formed, they shift and shape the circulation and happenings of the body on one side and the world on the other. The study of garments lends architecture recognition of various visible and invisible forces that create space and envelope. When space becomes dress, body specificity and movement is emphasized, and the geometries of the physiological body and what it means to experience space as an individual becomes primary, achieving a qualitative, sensory experience extending from the powers of kinaesthetic sense. Oscillating between scales and acts of making, model experimentation invents new ways to conceive and create architecture — a soft architecture finds itself operating here: on the liminal edge of body, envelope, and space
Renaming Practices: An Autoethnography of South Asian Names, Identity, and Belonging
Authors: Mann Mandeep Kaur
Published: May 2021

Names have been linked to various aspects of identity including ethnicity and language, and family. Studies have shown that the proper use of children’s names can reinforce and validate their identity. Research on renaming throughout Canadian history shows how these practices have the ability to dismantle and remove or alter identity. South Asians represent a large portion of Ontario’s population. However when their names do not conform to the dominant western culture, South Asians can be marginalized through racist microaggressions that contribute to their renaming. This paper is guided by critical race theory and Desi critical theory and explores the significance of my use of different names and why I chose and continue to choose these names. Using an autoethnographic approach I reflect on my name alteration experiences from my childhood and youth to explore how renaming practices can and do further marginalize minority children.

Keywords: renaming practices; naming; South Asian; identity; belonging; childhood; autoethnography
Online LTI system identification and time delay estimation
Authors: Rahnamaee Seyed Hossein
Published: May 2021

Model order selection for linear time-invariant (LTI) systems is an important system modeling concern and has been widely investigated through past decades. Different approaches of order selection such as Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), minimum description length (MDL) and reconstruction error LTI system identification (RE-LTI) propose different criteria to select the optimum order of a system. In many real life applications of model order selection the size of an observed data set is increasing. Thus, order selection methods need to adopt the best fit of a model as the data set size is increasing. This is our motivation to extend RE-LTI order selection for online application of order selection with lower computational cost and complexity. It has been shown previously that AIC, BIC, two-stage MDL and many existing order selection criteria are special cases of RE-LTI method. Our online order selection approach reduces the computational complexity of the offline approach from O(N3) to O(N2). It should be noted that RE-LTI and MNDL order selection methods have same fundamentals and consequently
extending RE-LTI to online RE-LTI also extends MNDL to online MNDL.

Another crucial issue in system identification and modeling is estimating the time delay of a system’s impulse response (or determining the start of its non-zero part). This problem is addressed in various areas including radar, sonar, acoustic source tracking, multipath channel identification, as well as many automatic control applications. Utilizing fundamentals of RE-LTI approach, here we introduce a new time-delay estimator. Simulation results show advantages of the proposed method and its superiority to existing approaches in accuracy and robustness in terms of the FIT index.
Stabilization of Polystannanes via Alkyne Insertion
Authors: Khan Aman U.
Published: May 2021

Di-n-butylstannane, polydi-n-butylstannane and the acetylene inserted carbodistannanes were prepared using the methods described in literature [sic]. Their structures were confirmed by NMR analysis. Finally acetylene inserted polydibutylstannane, was prepared in a similar fashion and was evident from its unique
Voltage stability analysis using STATCOM
Authors: Patel Umang
Published: May 2021

Power system stability is gaining importance because of unusual growth in power system. Day by day use of nonlinear load and other power electronics devices created distortions in the system which creates problems of voltage instability. Voltage stability of system is major concerns in power system stability. When a transmission network is operated near to their voltage stability limit it is difficult to control active-reactive power of the system. Our objectives are the analysis of voltage stability margin and active-reactive power control in proposed system which includes model of STATCOM with aim to analyse its behavior to improve voltage stability margin and active-reactive power control of the system under unbalanced condition. The study has been carried out using MATLAB Simulation program on three phase system connected to unbalanced three phase load via long transmission network and results of voltage and active-reactive power are presented. In future work, we can do power flow calculation of large power system network and find the weakest bus of the system and by placing STATCOM at that bus we can improve over all stability of the system
Flights of fancy: creating and communicating the elite travel experience
Authors: Graham Corinne
Published: May 2021

This major research paper (MRP) explores the discourses of elite airline travel by applying principles of travel discourse, linguistics, and social identity theory to a case study of Delta Air Lines’ online marketing for its premium Delta Sky Club lounge. The following research questions guided this study: How does Delta Air Lines’ language use in the online marketing of their frequent-flyer and business-class services contribute to the creation of a Club motif? How does the Club motif help to differentiate the elite traveler (and their travel experience) from other ticketholders? How does it reinforce the salience of these groups? How does the loyalty and- reward framework capitalize on social anxieties about status and group identification? A qualitative analysis was used to analyze the spaces, status groups, and social structures that were featured on the five webpages selected from Delta Air Lines’ corporate website. The results of this study not only contribute to our understanding of the travel experience for ‘preferred’ airline passengers, but also reveal the discursive strategies by which these passengers are stylized and positioned as elites.
The post-Olympic dilemma: a systems approach to architecture
Authors: Silva Jorge S.
Published: May 2021

The practice of Architecture is in need of a new methodology towards Olympic sport infrastructure. The Olympic Games have shown that constructing Olympic buildings with traditional methods is unsustainable. Post-Olympic use is generally unplanned causing financial burdens for those cities maintaining the large buildings. This thesis/project makes reference to work of R. Buckminster Fuller, Cedric Price, and Archigram in developing a systematic approach to Olympic Architecture. The core concepts of systems theory and cybernetics are investigated and a relationship is made with architecture. This culminates in the design of a process that looks to successfully locate an Olympic gymnasium in a Toronto community. It tackles the question of how to build Olympic stadia with lower embodied energy and qualities of stewardship, adaptability, flexibility and modality while maintaining multi-functionality.
Memories of Panjshir
Authors: Palmer Robert
Published: May 2021

With the recent upsurge of forced refugee migration, there has been an increase in opportunities to study the psychological impact of war and trauma, and the effect on the identities of individuals who have been forced to adapt to societies entirely foreign to them. With a native country that has been subject to over three decades of war and political corruption, Afghan refugees illustrate the notion of the ‘traumatized identity,’ and the psychological issues related to forced flight to a new land.

In the specific case of Abdul Rahman Mohammadi, political refugee and victim of war crime from Afghanistan, a visual narrative is constructed to identify the shift that has occurred between his identity as an advocate/political figure in Afghanistan, and his current traumatized identity in Canada. The psychological consequences that have resulted from his adaptation to Canadian society include: the change in socioeconomic status, the disruption of family ties and social support, language limitations, prominence of physical limitations, alienation, as well as traumatic memories and the fear for his family’s safety in Afghanistan.

Memories of Panjshir is a photo-based narrative that blends both the past experiences and present, day-to-day events in Mohammadi’s life. By documenting him at the mosque, in the hospital, and on the street, while including a continuous reminder of the past life that continues to haunt him, this story is intended to reveal a very private plea for help in a society that is fortunate enough to exist without war. The focus of this body of work is to analyze the potential outcomes of Mohammadi’s current situation and state of mind, while providing insight into the obstacles that refugees face who lead similar double lives, as they try to adapt to life in Canada.
Optimization of optical signal-to noise ratio by α profile multimode fibre in wireless over fibre link
Authors: Khan Muhammad Imran
Published: May 2021

The demand of bandwidth in mobile communication is growing exponentially day-by-day, as the number of users have been increasing drastically over the span of last five years. Fibre optics has attracted much attention due to its promising performance and operational cost reduction. In this thesis, the feasibility of using multimode fibre as an inexpensive cell feed in indoor system is investigated. The proposed architecture is analyzed using signal to noise ratio versus GI multimode fibre profile parameter α, cumulative signal to noise ratio, and multipath fading in indoor environment. The objectives of this thesis are: (i)designing COFDM based radio-over-fibre communication system, (ii)analyzing the downlink and uplink performance considering impairements in the fibre and wireless channels and investigating the effect of core refractive index profile (α) on graded index RoF link, (iii)investigating the effect of COFDM cyclic prefix to the graded index multimode fibre dispersion. The performance is evaluated through theoretical analysis and simulations using Matlab. The downlink and uplink analysis are performed considering all the impairements from the air interface and the RoF link. Thereafter, numerical results are generated for the downlink and uplink to illustrate the performance of the COFDM-RoF architecture.
Unbinding of contextual information: age differences and cultural effects
Authors: Wong Brenda Iok
Published: May 2021

Age and cultural effects on memory for complex pictures were examined under an unbinding condition. Young and older Canadians and Chinese were tested in Toronto and Beijing respectively. At encoding, participants viewed semantically congruent or incongruent pictures. At recognition, they were asked to recognize the objects and backgrounds of these pictures in isolation. The results revealed effects of both age and culture on recognition performance. Older adults recognized more objects than young adults, whereas Canadians were better than Chinese in background recognition. There was also a trend for Canadian older adults to recognize more objects and backgrounds than the other groups of participants. Age and cultural differences in memory under unbinding were possibly due to group differences in information binding during encoding. Finally, it was found that images from congruent pictures were better recognized than those from incongruent pictures, suggesting that semantic relatedness of information improves recognition under unbinding.
An examination of memory archivization through a creative wearable artifact
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao
Published: May 2021

This study incorporated embroidery with autobiographical memory to create a wearable story line that draws pictures of the life experience across different ages. The study drew from 5 participants’ precious memories as an inspiration to create a line of necklaces representing key points in participants’ lived experiences, thereby transforming the memories into tangible items that can be held, touched, and worn. Lesage couture embroidery and 3D printing were incorporated to interpret the memories. The final designs were shown to participants to observe their interaction and collect their verbal and non-verbal feedback.
Modeling juror decisions: a comparison of perceptions of innocence and guilt
Authors: El-Sibaey Sami
Published: May 2021

The research in this dissertation investigates the consistency of juror decision models when evaluating incriminating and exonerating evidence. Many stochastic and psychological models indicate that an interaction between a person’s prior beliefs and their evaluation of the evidence contribute to their verdict decision. However, less is known regarding how this interaction occurs for different forms of evidence. In particular, a pervasive assumption is that jurors use the same or similar models to evaluate exonerating and incriminating evidence. The data from this dissertation indicates that this may not be the case. Participants adjust estimates of probability of guilt in a Bayesian inference problem more when case specific evidence is incriminating versus exonerating. Further, their response patterns and reported and observed measures of the type and variety of information they are using to produce probability of guilt estimates indicate that they engage in a process of mental estimation more often than they report that they do. The findings indicate that jurors may potentially use different decision models to evaluate different forms of evidence. Further, the framing of the search for culpability provides a plausible explanation for differences in the decision models that are used. Specifically, a juror’s selection criteria and perceived importance of a given piece of evidence will vary depending on its relevance to their decision task. Thus, asking jurors to estimate likelihoods of guilt may lead to their underutilization of evidence implying innocence.
Rewriting Desirability an Exploration Of North American Ugly Food Marketing Campaigns
Authors: Tozios Sienna Dawn Ing
Published: May 2021

The application of aesthetic and cosmetic standards to fresh fruits and vegetables results in the discrimination and elimination of an abundance of “ugly” foods. The systematic elimination of “ugly” foods, which are foods deemed suboptimal in their appearance, weight, shape, or size, greatly contributes to the global problem of food waste in a time of increasing food insecurity. Grocers and food retailers in Canada and the U.S. have begun promoting the sale of “ugly” foods in an attempt to combat the issue of food waste. This MRP (Major Research Paper) examines the names and titles of eleven North American “ugly” food marketing campaigns. This project explores how “ugly” foods are communicated to consumers in North America and how the chosen language used in these campaign titles works to normalize “ugly” foods and attempts to alter their desirability to consumers. The analysis is conducted using textual coding and the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) method. Moreover, this MRP reflects on the power of grocers and food retailers to encourage the consumption of “ugly” foods, reduce food waste at the retail level, and effect change in the global food system.
Trajectory Analysis on Spherical Self-Organizing Maps With Application to Gesture Recognition
Authors: Gonsales Artur Oliva
Published: May 2021

In this work, a new approach to gesture recognition using the properties of Spherical Self- Organizing Map (SSOM) is investigated. Bounded mapping of data onto a SSOM creates not only a powerful tool for visualization but also for modeling spatiotemporal information of gesture data. The SSOM allows for the automated decomposition of a variety of gestures into a set of distinct postures. The decomposition naturally organizes this set into a spatial map that preserves associations between postures, upon which we formalize the notion of a gesture as a trajectory through learned posture space. Trajectories from different gestures may share postures. However, the path traversed through posture space is relatively unique. Different variations of posture transitions occurring within a gesture trajectory are used to classify new unknown gestures. Four mechanisms for detecting the occurrence of a trajectory of an unknown gesture are proposed and evaluated on two data sets involving both hand gestures (public sign language database) and full body gestures (Microsoft Kinect database collected in-house) showing the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Distributed recommender system using multi-agent for social networks
Authors: Ahmed Lubaid
Published: May 2021

Social networks have become significant tools due to the vast and useful information existing in them. The social platforms also act as the storage of entered choices of millions of users for various applications such as political surveys, research studies, marketing product preferences and many more. Social network recommender systems exploit this information and direct users in selecting their choices. It is clear that recommender systems should be efficient enough to be able to process the huge magnitude of data that has been generated in recent years by social network users. This research proposes a foundation of an efficient and scalable recommender system to be able to process large amount of data (i.e. Big data) in a short amount of time. The main goal is providing scalability and efficiency of the recommender system. The simulation of the prototype of such a distributed recommender system by using multi-agent based technologies shows promising results. These prototypes provide recommendations to users about other users with the similar interests in online and distributed manner as real recommender systems. The agents can simulate users or can be used as the containers of algorithms for comparing the similarity between users by different approaches, such as cosine similarity and clustering methods for testing and examining real scenarios. To be able to test these prototypes in agent-based simulation environment an agent-based framework is developed. This framework has three modules named social network crawler, social network simulator and employed prototype of the distributed recommender system that use different text and data mining algorithms. Finally, newly developed performance metric (called Scalability Factor) is introduced that shows the minimum number of servers needed to be able to run the agent systems in parallel. This thesis shows using a distributed and parallel model for recommender systems is the key to increase the speed of recommendation convergence and as a result to provide scalability. Multi-agent based simulation results, coupled with numerical analysis affirm that the proposed solution provides scalability and efficiency for recommender systems.