bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-FGM discourses as constructed by NGOS in the Maasai community in Kenya
Authors: Lesancha Teriano
Published: May 2021

This Major Research Paper conducted a critical discourse analysis of a documentary produced by NTV Kenya and AMREF Africa about eradicating Female Circumcision in the Maasai community in Kenya. This research sought to understand how the documentary constructed anti female genital mutilation (FGM) discourse. The main discourses were colonialism, saving the Maasai girl, and double patriarchy as is constructed by International NGOs. These discourses became evident through the language used, images displayed on the screen, gendered power relations and who is benefiting from these. Using the Maasai Female Experience (MFE) as a theoretical lens, I placed emphasis on how Maasai women are treated in the anti-FGM campaigns which is driven by international NGOs. African centered worldviews were also employed in this study by the use of MFE and Afrocentric theory of social change. Community development workers and social workers need to consider these discourses while working with Maasai women. They must be conscious about reproducing oppressive practices and stereotypes that has historically been used to marginalize Maasai women.
The Effects Of Blast Lag In Abrasive Jet Machined Micro-Channel Intersections
Authors: Shafagh Soheil
Published: May 2021

Abrasive jet micro-machining (AJM) uses compressed air carrying abrasive solid particles to micro-machine a variety of features into surfaces. If the features are smaller than a few mm, then a patterned erosion-resistant mask is used to protect the substrate material, leaving exposed areas to define the features. Previous investigations have revealed a ‘blast lag’ phenomenon in which, for the same dose of abrasive particles, the etched depth of micro-channels and holes tends to decrease as the features become narrower. Blast lag occurs when using AJM on brittle substrates because of the natural tendency to rapidly form a V-shaped cross-sectional profile which inhibits abrasive particle strikes on the narrow vertex at the feature centerline. In this thesis, for the first time, the blast lag phenomenon is studied when using AJM to machine a network of microfluidic channels. It is found that, in some cases, differences in blast lag occurring at channel intersections and within the channels themselves, can lead to channel networks of non-uniform depth. A previously developed surface evolution model is used to predict the onset of blast lag in the channels and intersections, and thus explain these differences. Finally, methods to eliminate the differences are discussed.
A Virtual Reality Investigation of Spontaneous Navigation Strategies and Spatial Memory Performance in Schizophrenia
Authors: Wilkins Leanne K.
Published: May 2021

There is strong evidence that schizophrenia (SCZ) patients perform poorly on spatial memory tasks. We investigated whether these deficits were associated with subdivisions of spatial memory (locale/cognitive map and taxon/response) or whether these deficits represented a general cognitive decline. This study investigated the types of spontaneous navigation strategies used by individuals living with SCZ to solve the 4 on 8 task. It was predicted that SCZ participants who spontaneously chose a spatial strategy would have the longest latencies and make the most errors. Four of five measures of latency and errors produced a medium magnitude effect size (
Investigating the Use of Sustainability and Sustainable Development by the City of Toronto Through a 30-Year Document Analysis
Authors: Alkins Shenley Audrey
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this research is to map the conceptual and theoretical foundations of sustainability and sustainable development, specifically how these concepts have been defined, conceptualized, and operationalized in the past, in effect to elucidate knowledge gaps and limitations of current research. This research uses an exploratory approach to textual discourse analysis to uncover the ways in which sustainability and sustainable development has been defined, conceptualized, and operationalized by the City of Toronto over the past thirty years. The findings of this research indicate that despite poorly defined conceptions of sustainability and sustainable development, operationalization has continued. However, many challenges to conceptualization and operationalization remain, such as those related to cross-scale coordination, understanding of social, economic, and environmental interdependencies, inadequate understanding of environmental conditions, and issues related to information sharing and reporting across institutions.

Keywords sustainability; urban sustainability; sustainable development; municipal policy; municipal decisionmaking; textual data analysis; content analysis; discourse analysis
Film Cooling with Surface Enhancements
Authors: Chang Xavier
Published: May 2021

Film cooling has been studied for many decades but the study of film cooling using surface enhancements is still relatively new. In this project numerical analysis has been carried out to find the film cooling performance of ramp, flow aligned blocker, and trench surface enhancements in comparison to the standard elliptical injection configuration. A comparative study of the effects of the blowing ratio has also been carried out for each surface enhancement configuration. In addition to calculating and discussing the centerline and laterally averaged film cooling effectiveness results, detailed analysis of the flow and temperature field of each configuration is also presented. In the end the laterally averaged film cooling effectiveness results suggested that flow aligned blockers would provide the greatest film cooling improvements with closer hole spacing.
Operational optimization of residential HVAC system using model predictive control strategy planning
Authors: Alibabaei Nima
Published: May 2021

To date, the residential sector accounts for a major portion of consumption by consuming more
than 40% of the entire world's energy and producing 33% of the carbon dioxide emissions. In
North America, the residential sector energy consumptions are mainly related to heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which are not operating in the most efficient
ways due to existing on/off and conventional controllers. In Ontario, due to the variable price of
electricity, variation in outdoor disturbances, and new Ontario Government sweeping mandate in
overhauling the energy use in residential sector, there is an opportunity to develop intelligent
control systems to employ energy conservation strategy planning model (ECSPM) in existing
HVAC systems for reducing their operating cost, energy consumption, and GHG emission.
In order to take advantage of these opportunities, two model-based predictive controllers (MPCs)
were developed in this Ph.D. research. In the first MPC controller, a Matlab-TRNSYS co-simulator
was developed to fill the lack of advanced controllers in building energy simulators. This cosimulator
investigated the effectiveness of different novel ECSPMs on an HVAC system's energy
cost saving during winter and summer seasons. This co-simulator offered 23.8% saving in the
HVAC system's energy costs in the heating season. Regardless of the strong capabilities,
employing this co-simulator for implementing comprehensive/complex optimization methods
resulted in an unacceptably long optimization time due to the of TRNSYS simulation engine.
Therefore, in the second PMC controller, simplified house thermal and HVAC system models
were developed in Matlab. To design a grid-friendly house, this model was enhanced by
integrating on-site renewable energy generation and storage systems. A novel algorithm was
developed to reduce the MPC controller optimization time. The effectiveness of the novel MPC
model in the HVAC system's energy cost saving was compared with a Simple Rule-based (SRB)
controller, which itself is an efficient HVAC controller, while this controller offered 12.28%
additional savings in the heating season.
2-D Kasai Velocity Estimation for Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Morofke Darren
Published: May 2021

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution, non-invasive technique to image subsurface tissue and tissue functions. A broadband light source illuminates an object and the reflected photons are processed using an interferometer, demodulated into inphase and quadrature components and then digitized. The captured data contains information about the velocity of the moving scatterers but current Doppler estimation algorithms have a limited velocity detection range. Here we demonstrate Doppler OCT (DOCT) detection of in vivo of blood flow in a rat aorta with over 1 m/s peak velocity through an esophageal DOCT probe using a new processing technique. Previous methods have used a transverse Kasai (TK) autocorrelation estimation to estimate the velocity. By calculating the Kasai autocorrelation with a lag in the depth or axial direction, backscattered frequency information is obtained. Through subtraction with stationary backscattered information, the Doppler shift is obtained by the axial Kasai (AK) technique. Maximum non-aliased Doppler frequency estimation using a time domain DOCT system increased from +/-4 kHz to =+/-1.6 MHz. The TK has better velocity resolution in the low flow rate range and when combined with the AK we demonstrate a dynamic frequency range over 100 dB with a velocity detection range from 10 [micro]m/s to over 1 m/s. This velocity range spans from microcirculation to cardiac blood flow velocities.
Residual stress analysis by digital spectral correlation
Authors: Ma Shiwei (Stanley)
Published: May 2021

It is essential to determine residual stress, as it can have a significant influence on the fatigue lives of engineering components, and as it can be induced unintentionally as well as intentionally. A classical method of measuring residual stress is to use hole drilling in combination with strain gauges, which themselves have inherent disadvantages. The Digital Speckle Correlation method (DSC) is a computerized method which determines displacement and strains and consequently calculates stress. This project demonstrates the viability of hole drilling in combination with DSC.
Thermo mechanical analysis of through-hole solder joint using strain partitioning method
Authors: Shaik Imtiaz Ahmed
Published: May 2021

Currently in the electronics industry there is a desire to increase component reliability. Fatigue failure in solder joints is an important design consideration for electronic packaging. In through-hole components, fatigue failure of leads has been observed to antecede fatigue failure of solder joints. The main objective of the study for a solder joint in a plated-through-hole bearing the pin during the temperature cycle was to ascertain the thermo mechanical behavior and the dominant deformation mode. The Digital Speckle Correlation (DSC) technique, which is a computer vision technique, was applied for the measurement of solder joint deforamtion for a prescribed outlined temperature and time. The dimensions for the area of the solder joint under study were 21 by 21 um, located at the centre of the hole. And computation of averaged shear strains at 6 data points for this area was done. R Darveaux's constitutive model was applied for the data analysis such as the solder joint yields stress with respect to the time and temperature. On achieving the stress solution, the measured total strains were partitioned into elastic, plastic and creep terms separately and hence the creep strain was evaluated. From the analysis, it was found that the dominant deformation mode was shear deformation due to mismatch of coefficient of thermal expansion between pin and copper plating material of through-hole under thermal loading. And the dominant deformation mechanism was creep strain while stress started to relax at the end of ramp up and continued throughout the test and creep strain rate decreased during high temperature dwell. In Addition, the elastic strain was dominating during the initial stage of thermal cycle but later it was neglibible when compared to creep strain.
The city with no street : information communication technology, urban public space, and architecture
Authors: Chieh Hsiao-Chung (Anthony)
Published: May 2021

Our experience of the city, private or public, is no longer primarily influenced by physical built form but by various media, digital information, and communication technologies we interact with and through on a daily basis. The shift in influence not only blurs what used to be public and private space, but also modifies our behavior through space and time. Along with some of these technological transformations come new social situations, and with them new spatial practices will emerge. Precisely for this reason, I want to find out the trajectory of the current social situation influenced by information communication technology, and how it will alter future spatial organization both at the urban scale and the human scale. The aim of the thesis is to ask questions and also to provoke discussion of the relationship between cybernetic public space and the physical public space.
The Jewish Identifies of Toronto: An Examination of Toronto Jewish Identity Construction Through an Analysis of UJA’s Annual Campaign 2012 ‘Jewish Toronto Lives Here’
Authors: Cuperfain Alexandra Mia Herzig
Published: May 2021

The Jewish identities of the Toronto Jewish community are complex, overlapping and multifaceted. United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto (UJA) is the main international Jewish philanthropy and the main Jewish philanthropic organization in Toronto. Through an examination of UJA’s 2012 annual campaign, ‘Jewish Toronto Lives Here,’ it is possible to explore how UJA has engaged in a dialogue with its community stakeholders and supporters to determine what Jewish identities exist in Toronto and construct what Jewish Toronto means. Using grounded theory to derive the identity concepts from UJA’s 2012 annual campaign, it is apparent that there are at least eight Jewish identities in Toronto in 2012. These identities relate to religion, ethnicity, history, education, preparing for the future, advocacy, repairing the world and Israel and are depicted in the campaign through references to UJA-supported institutions and initiatives. While UJA speaks to each of these identities in the campaign, the identities are never directly defined. This lack of definition enables UJA to oversee an inclusive and diverse Jewish community in Toronto. Through an application of Judith Butler’s gender theory and Martin Buber’s phenomenological approach to the data one can better comprehend how Jewish identity is potentially performed, while also being an intrinsic aspect of community members, in Jewish Toronto. UJA’s approach of non-definition and openness to different approaches to identity is a possible method that other organizations can look to when deciding how to communicate to a diverse group of stakeholders.
The facial feedback hypothesis and automatic mimicry in perception of sung emotion
Authors: Chan Lisa
Published: May 2021

Facial mimicry in response to emotional and neutral singing was tested in the context of an emotion judgment task. Participants were tested in two conditions, Perception (n=16) and Imagery (n=21). Participants were presented with video clips showing a singer expressing happy, neutral and sad emotions, and were asked to identify the expressed emotions, as well as rate their intensity. Participants in the Perception group were asked to simply watch the video clips, while participants in the Imagery group were also asked to imagine imitating the song fragment after watching the model singer. Facial electromyography was used to monitor acitivity in the corrugator supercilii and zygomaticus major muscles.

Results showed more corrugator muscle activity for sad than happy trials, and more zygomaticus activity for happy than sad trials. No differences were found between conditions, suggesting that mimicry is an automatic process, not requiring encouragement prompted by imagery.
Indirect Estimation Of Distribution Algorithms For The Evolution Of Tree-Shaped Structures
Authors: Ghoulbeigi Elmira
Published: May 2021

This thesis explores indirect estimation of distribution algorithms (IEDAs) for the evolution of tree structured expressions. Unlike conventional estimation of distribution algorithms, IEDAs maintain a distribution of the genotype space and indirectly search the solution space by performing a genotype-to-phenotype mapping.

In this work we introduce two IEDAs named PDPE and N-gram GEP. PDPE induces a population of programs, encoded as fixed-length gene expression programming (GEP) chromosomes, by iteratively refining and randomly sampling a probability distribution of program instructions. N-gram GEP attempts to capture regularities in GEP chromosomes by sampling the probability distribution of triplet of instructions (3-grams).

We tested the performance of these systems using a variety of non-trivial test problems, such as symbolic regression and the lawn-mower problem. We compared PDPE and N-gram GEP with their predecessors, probabilistic incremental program evolution (PIPE) and N-gram GP, and the canonical GEP algorithm. The results proved that our methodology is more efficient than PIPE and the canonical GEP algorithm.
Sequential subspace estimator for an efficient multibiometrics authentication and encryption
Authors: Malek Md. Obaidul
Published: May 2021

The principal challenge in biometric authentication is to mitigate the effects of any noise while extracting biometric features for biometric template generation. Most biometric systems are developed under the assumption that the extracted biometrics and the nature of their associated interferences are linear, stationary, and homogeneous.
When these assumptions are violated due to nonlinear, nonstationary, and heterogeneous noise, the authentication performance deteriorates. As well, demands for biometric templates are on the rise in the field of information technology, leading to an increase in the vulnerability of stored and dynamic information. Thus, the development of a sophisticated authentication and encryption method is necessary to address these challenges.

This dissertation proposes a new Sequential Subspace Estimator (SSE) algorithm for biometric authentication. In the proposed method, a sequential estimator is being designed in the image subspace that addresses challenges arising from nonlinear, nonstationary, and heterogeneous noise. The proposed method includes a subspace technique that overcomes the computational complexity associated with the sequential estimator. In addition, it includes a novel MultiBiometrics encryption algorithm that protects the biometric templates against security, privacy, and unlinkability attacks. Unlike current biometric encryption, this method uses cryptographic keys in conjunction with extracted MultiBiometrics to create cryptographic bonds, called “BioCryptoBond”. To further enhance system security and improve authentication accuracy, the development of a biometric database management system is also being considered. The proposed method is being tested on images from three public databases: the “Put Face Database”, the “Indian Face Database”, and the “CASIA Fingerprint Image Database Version 5.1”. The performance of the proposed solution has been evaluated using the Equal Error Rate (EER) and Correct Recognition Rate (CRR). The experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method in comparison to its counterparts.
Consumer and Academic Culture Convergence: the Implications of the Internet on Student Evaluations of Faculty Members and the Shaping the Rhetoric of Pedagogy
Authors: Palmason Greta
Published: May 2021

The increasing commercialization of higher education is challenging the fundamental role of the University in today's democratic society and the consequences are grave. Increasingly, higher education is applying a customer-service approach to the student-professor relationship that is undermining effective pedagogy. Edwin Guthrie (1954) notes that the function of the University is to attempt to insure that the following generation will be more good, wise, and knowing than the present one" (p.l). Student evaluations of teaching effectiveness are often used to ensure that the function is fulfilled. Student rating websites such as Ratemyprofessor.com (RMP) offers an online community forum that exists outside the institution, where students can anonymously share evaluations of instructors with others. Students can choose instructors and courses based on the ratings. However they are selecting their professors relative to criteria that fulfills a pedagogy that is fuelled not by the drive for an enriched knowledge but by a pedagogy that is influenced by a consumer and academic culture convergence. These consumer attitudes towards higher education are spilling over into the institution and faculty members are suffering the impact. Professors need to have the freedom to motivate students to learn without having to be concerned with entertaining them. It has been argued that Universities need to re-instate their legitimacy and remind students that degrees are granted on a learning basis, not for tuition payment (Delucchi & Korgen 2002). Without a re-establishment of an academic ethic, the University could fall prisoner to the pedagogically irresponsible demands of their customers.
Coding photographic meaning: how interactive digitized surrogates affect photography exhibitions
Authors: El-Sabaawi Soha
Published: May 2021

This research paper discusses the growing trend of interactive displays in art institutions as a relevant shift in the discourse on photographic literacy, and it is addressed towards curators, archivists, museum professionals, and new media artists with a specialization in photographic studies. The paper explores the concerns of digitized materiality in interactive exhibitions, virtual museums, and image databases. Four cases studies will be utilized in this discussion, including the Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives, Google Cultural Institute, Flickr: The Commons, and The Lowcounty Digital History Initiative. The relationship between digitized materials and visitors requires an ongoing review of how a diverse demographic of museumgoers read photographs and relate to them in exhibitions. This research paper utilizes topics from new media studies to better understand the implications, benefits, and drawbacks of these different types of displays, and how they fit into the narrative of photographic theory and exhibition design.
Is everyone using technology? : addressing the social and cultural needs of newcomer youth
Authors: Arndt Laura
Published: May 2021

This mixed methodological study involving newcomer youth aged 17-24 and settlement service staff explores the role of technology in the process of settlement and the youth newcomer services. The findings indicate that youth prefer direct engagement with services and resources as they navigate the barriers that impact their access to mainstream and settlement service resources. They want to improve the quality of their engagement in communication as they strive to become part of their community. Participants involved in the study did not see technology as central to delivering youth settlement services. Youth did see the internet as necessary for schooling and in bridging to friends and family back home. The findings reflect the paucity of resources and capacity of mainstream and settlement specific services to meet the needs of youth, a lack of focus on integrated and accountable realm of settlement services specific to the needs of newcomer youth.
Breaking the Isolation : Filipino Live-In Caregivers' Experiences of Settlement in Toronto
Authors: Dansereau-Cahill Chantal
Published: May 2021

This study looks at the agency and activism of Filipina live-in caregivers in Toronto and how they break the isolation seemingly imposed by the live-in caregiver Program and foster their own settlement in Toronto. This research details the problem approach, which puts forward neoliberalism as a great hindrance to the settlement of these women, and contrasts it with the agency approach, which stipulates that agency, resiliency, resistance, and social capital are also important forces in shaping their experiences in Toronto. Four in-depth interviews were conducted and the main themes that transpired were religion, family, the desire for normalcy, and developing community networks mainly, but not necessarily exclusively, within the Filipino community. Policy implications include encouraging grass-roots associations to promote informal socializing during evenings or week-ends, when caregivers have time to participate in activities outside of their work.
The Mediating Role of Motivations for Sex in the Relationship Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Sexual Health Outcomes Among Homeless Youth in Canada
Authors: Schwartz Danielle R.
Published: May 2021

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA), which is disproportionately common among homeless youth, is associated with adverse sexual health outcomes. However, there is a lack of data as to how CSA is related to adverse sexual health outcomes among homeless youth. The current study examined motivations for sex as mediators in the relationships between CSA and 1)sexual risk behaviours and 2)sexual functioning among homeless youth. 179 youth (ages 16-21) completed measures examining CSA, motivations for sex, and sexual health outcomes. CSA was associated with earlier age of first intercourse among females and involvement in sex trading among males. CSA was also associated with motivations to have sex for partner approval and coping. Sex for partner approval mediated the relationship between CSA and age of first intercourse among females. This study highlights the importance of targeting motivations in the reduction of adverse sexual health outcomes among homeless youth in Canada.
About narrative: a study of the use of narratives in fashion design
Authors: Fortin-Cote Laurence
Published: May 2021

This research examines the construction of narratives in fashion design. The intent is to explore how narratives emerge through this practice and how they impact the process of creation and making of fashion artefacts. It is constructed around a series of interviews with three fashion designers whose work reflects the importance of narratives as essential tools in their practice. All participants currently occupy a position in the fashion industry and have significant experiences that allowed them to share and express this area of their work. The analysis of these interviews forms the basis of a short documentary as well as the making of an art piece that are intended to encourage dialogue and deeper reflection about the ways in which narratives manifest themselves in the process of fashion design and how these they are later translated through the fashion industry. It examines how narratives can be used to generate meanings throughout the conception and production of garments and how these meanings can sensitize the consumers to the stories behind the clothes that they wear.
Sensorless speed estimation for long term flywheel energy storage system in standby mode.
Authors: Liu Rongqiang
Published: May 2021

A novel technique for sensorless speed estimation is presented in this thesis for squirrel cage induction machine (SCIM) drived long-term flywheel energy storage system (FESS) in standby mode.

The SCIM model for long-term large-capacity FESS is presented. Based on dynamic model , a hybrid rotor flux observer and speed observer are derived. The hybrid rotor flux observer takes advantages of both the current model and voltage model flux observers by seamlessly incorporating these two models together for a better flux estimation performance even at low speed range. The fundamental speed observer is derived from the dynamic model for speed estimation with a fast response time for a tradeoff of the adaptive capabilities.

In order to observe the speed in standby mode, a modified field-oriented control (FOC) scheme is presented. The hybrid flux observer and speed observer are tested in association with the modified FOC. The proposed control technique adopts approaches in an effort to minimize the impact generated by the excitation and speed estimation process to the FESS.

Simulation and experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility of the proposed speed estimation at the standby mode. It is also observed that a step change of excitation current has a significant impact to the existing FESS. A ramp control for excitation current is added to avoid the possible oscillation of the estimated speed and the disturbance to the FESS. The speed estimation settling time is optimized based on the experiment and simulation.
Exploring yoga wear needs for the baby boomer generation
Authors: Park Sunyang
Published: May 2021

Baby boomers are defined as the demographics born during post-World War II between the years 1946 and 1965. As of 2016, boomers are in their 50s and 60s. As a group, they are interested in pursuing a healthy lifestyle and are willing to invest time and money in maintaining healthy bodies. Yoga, a mind body practice, is an appealing option for this group. A current U.S. national study showed that yoga practitioners over the age of 49 are the second largest group comprising 38% of the yoga practitioners. However, the boomer yoga practitioners do not have many choices when it comes to shopping for yoga wear. Manufacturers of active wear produce the same yoga wear for individuals regardless of age, even though the baby boomer market has different clothing needs and garment design preferences. This study explored baby boomers’ clothing needs and preferences in yoga wear.
An architecture of imagery
Authors: Pavia Anna F.
Published: May 2021

The development of ocularcentric culture can be traced through the modes and history of representation. The omnipotence of form and a visual aesthetic within contemporary architecture parallels this notion of visual primacy. The role of imagery within contemporary design practice is twofold: it is both a tool for investigating spatial realities and the product of a systematic design process. Emotive spaces are created when perceptual phenomena are in the vanguard rather than the aftermath of constructed objects. Through the reconsideration of image, as a multi-dimensional design tool, the spatial realities of the built context are investigated. Within film and contemporary media, architectural imagery combines with the temporal realm to enrich user perceptions of the built environment. The restoration of architecture as a communicative medium is facilitated by restructuring its current model from a formal object generated by a system of abstract geometries into a perceptual model.
Toward a Unified Framework for the Heterogeneous Cloud Utilizing Bytecode Containers
Authors: Tenty David Andrew Lloyd
Published: May 2021

As we approach the limits of Moore’s law the Cloud computing landscape is becoming ever more heterogeneous in order to extract more performance from available resources. Meanwhile, the container-based cloud is of growing importance as a lightweight way to deploy applications. A unified heterogeneous systems framework for use with container-based applications in the heterogeneous cloud is required. We present a bytecode-based framework and it’s implementation called Man O’ War, which allows for the creation of novel, portable LLVM bitcode-based containers for use in the heterogeneous cloud. Containers in Man O’ War enabled systems can be efficiently specialized for the available hardware within the Cloud and expand the frontiers for optimization in heterogeneous cloud environments. We demonstrate that a framework utilizing portable bytecode-based containers eases optimizations such as heterogeneous scaling which have the potential to improve resource utilization and significantly lower costs for users of the public cloud.
Forecasting stock market with neural networks
Authors: Jiang Hua
Published: May 2021

The objective of this project is to use neural networks to forecast next day's stock closing price. In the past, researchers used different methods to forecast stock price such as technical analysis, fundamental analysis, and economic analysis. Forecasting stock prices is a problem that has been usually approached in terms of weekly, monthly, or quarterly forecast. This project aims at finding a feasible way, by using neural networks, to make daily forecasts. Most methods proposed so far, such as technical, fundamental and economic analysis, are limited to solving the problem as a long term trend analysis. Thus, these methods either lack accuracy or add extra expenses to the forecasting task, especially if a company's fundamental statistics are out of date. Therefore it is difficult to forecast day-to-day close price as a nonlinear problem. In this study, three portfolios are created. Portfolio #1 is based on subjective forecasts, Portfolio #2 uses a neural network to forecast, and Portfolio #3 using CAPM optimizer forecast. A comparison of these portfolios showed that the CAPM optimization based on neural network forecast (Portfolio #3) achieved the highest return. The degree of accuracy is compared in three economic periods: the beginning of recession; the middle of recession; and the beginning of recovery. Stock forecasting example cases are given to illustrate this neural network approach to solve nonlinear problems. It is observed, indeed, that next day closing prices are forecast with better accuracy within a one-year period than other methods.
A simulation model for comparison of an innovative hybrid system and the conventional cellular manufacturing
Authors: Lopez Roa Erika Valery
Published: May 2021

Cellular manufacturing has tested positive in significantly reducing material handling and setup time as compared to a job shop, but it falls behind job shop in terms of flexibility. In this thesis a new system is proposed that takes advantage of the flexibility of a job shop while it keeps the setup time at a reduced level. This new system is referred to as hybrid system.

In this thesis the performance of the proposed hybrid system is compared to the conventional cellular manufacturing system. Both systems are evaluated within a cellular layout and utilize group sheduling rules DDSI (due date truncated shortest processing time) and MSSPT (minimum setup shortest processing time). A simulation model, with random due dates and quantities is developed and tested. Performance measures are mean flowtime, tardiness and earliness.

Overall results indicate that, in terms of mean flowtime and tardiness, the hybrid system outperforms the cellular system when the MSSPT rule was applied, while the cellular system outperforms the hybrid system when the DDSI rule is implemented. With regard to the earliness performance measure, the cellular system shows in most cases better performance than the hybrid system, regardless of the scheduling rule used. Finally, the results indicate that the hybrid system performs better than the cellular system with respect to the number of parts produced.
Intersectionality in programs and services for newcomer youth in Toronto
Authors: Saher Fatima
Published: May 2021

Newcomer youth arrive to Canada with multiple social identities including, their immigration pathway, status, race, gender, sexuality etc. which shapes their individual experiences and settlement. The term “intersectionality” was coined by Crenshaw (1991) to highlight how identities intersect and can act as sites of cross-roads of oppression, as rooted in an understanding of social exclusion and inclusion. This paper studies how newcomer youth programs in Toronto are informed by intersectionality. Audio interviews were conducted with three service providers to study their cognizance of intersectionality, their experiences with newcomer youth who have multiple identities, and if/how their programs incorporate an intersectional lens. Results showed that while key informants practice and understand intersectionality, they feel limited by funding and other barriers which stifle their inclusivity. The potential benefits of this project exist for service providers and their workplaces, who can evaluate their understanding of newcomer youth to recognize and support them better.

Key words: intersectionality; newcomer youth; Toronto
Instability of a binary liquid film flowing down a slippery inclined heated plate
Authors: Ellaban Eglal
Published: May 2021

In this thesis we studied the stability of a binary liquid film flowing down a heated porous inclined plate. It is assumed that the heating induces concentration differences in the liquid mixture (Soret effect), which together with the differences in temperature affects the surface tension. A mathematical model is constructed by coupling the Navier- tokes equations governing the flow with equations for the concentration and temperature. The effect of substrate permeability is incorporated by applying a specific slip condition at the bottom of the liquid layer. We carry out a linear stability analysis in order to obtain the critical conditions for the onset of instability. We used a Chebyshev spectral collocation method to obtain numerical solutions to the resulting Orr-Sommerfeld type equations. We also obtained an asymptotic solution which yielded an expression for the state of neutral stability of long perturbations as a function of the parameters controlling the problem. We present our findings by illustrating and interpreting our results for the critical Reynolds number for instability.
Scheduling of electrical vehicle charging for a charging facility with single charger or multiple chargers
Authors: Vidanalage Isuru Pasan Dasanayake
Published: May 2021

Merchant-owned charging stations will replace gasoline stations in the near future. As charging times of electric vehicles (EV) may be significant, without optimization, customers will wait to get charged without knowing the actual period of charging. In this thesis, two optimal scheduling methods for charging electric vehicles were developed for merchant-owned charging facilities, the first with a single charger and the second with multiple chargers.

In the mathematical model for the single merchant-owned charging station, the problem is formulated as a hybrid nonlinear optimization model and solved using a backward recursive algorithm with nonlinear optimization solvers. As for a single charger, a hybrid system framework was used to capture the tradeoff between demand charges and speed of charging.

For the merchant-owned multiple chargers case, the problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear optimization challenge with three-dimensional matrices characterizing the solution space and was solved using the MOSEK optimization toolbox in MATLAB.

The proposed algorithms have been analyzed for different penalty factors which were imposed on total waiting time of each EV. Final results are analyzed and discussed.
Reducing provincial GHG emissions through reductions in energy use and demand: the case of the restaurant industry in Toronto
Authors: Wren Daniel D. C.
Published: May 2021

In the absence of a national greenhouse gas reduction strategy, the provinces and territories of Canada have adopted legislated or policy-based reduction targets largely related to energy source, the adoption of carbon pricing models and by working with municipal governments. Municipalities have acknowledged their responsibility in emissions reduction by implementing a range of GHG reduction programs but they are limited by their area of influence and by financial constraints. The major focus of this thesis is a study to assess the contribution of the Toronto-based independent restaurant industry to municipal energy use based on an original survey; it was found that the restaurant industry contributes approximately 2.4% of Toronto’s GHG emissions and 0.3% nationally. While GHG emissions related to electricity use has decreased as greater energy efficiency is achieved, similar trends
are not seen in GHG emissions related to natural gas use demonstrating the need for further research in this area.
Uncertainty in Risk Modelling
Authors: Singh Harjas
Published: May 2021

In this thesis, we explore the uncertainty issues in risk modelling arising from the different approaches proposed in the literature and currently being used in the industry. The first type of methods that we discuss assume that the returns of the stocks follows a generalized hyperbolic distribution. Data is calibrated by the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm in order to estimate the parameters in the underlying distribution. Once we have the parameters, we estimate the Value at Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) by using Monte Carlo simulations.
Furthermore, we calibrate data to different copulas, including the Gauss Copula, the
Hearing Audible Minorities: Accent, Discrimination, and the Integration of Immigrants into the Canadian Labour Market
Authors: MacDougall Alanna
Published: May 2021

Accent is a permanent marker of difference for learners of a second language, and may be a barrier to finding appropriate employment. Research on discrimination and accent reveals a widespread belief in the myth of a standard, ideal accent. This has resulted in individuals stereotyping accented speakers and drawing inappropriate conclusions about their language ability, leading to discrimination in both the workplace and broader society. A small study of Ottawa companies conducted for this paper supports the hypothesis that some employers may rely on accent to determine an applicant's English proficiency. Accent discrimination can be addressed by providing employers with information about accent and appropriate tools for language evaluation, confronting the reality of accent discrimination with ESL students, and by broadening the discourse on discrimination as a whole to recognize that minorities can be audible as well as visible.
Spaces of Exclusion? Exploring the Everyday Public Spaces in St. James Town
Authors: Arsenault Naomi
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this research paper is to explore how public spaces in low-income, high-density neighbourhoods may be utilized to encourage social cohesion. Toward that goal, St. James Town – an inner city neighbourhood of Toronto – was chosen as the case study. Most residents in SJT are immigrants from non-traditional sources, and a high proportion of them have arrived in Canada within the last five years. Based on their age and educational qualifications, it may seem that the residents of SJT should be a part of Toronto's "Creative Class", yet, their employment and housing conditions reveal a contrasting story. Living in residual housing, earning less than the Toronto average, and having little interaction with their neighbours in public spaces, severely thwarts their functional and subjective integration into the host society. As a result, SJT residents remain one of the major marginalised groups in Toronto.
From EOQ to JIT with Storage Consideration: Coordinating a Two Level Supply Chain
Authors: John Yohan Jeju
Published: May 2021

Many organizations are faced with a decision to choose between two inventory systems namely JIT (Just in Time) and EOQ (Economic Order Quantity). This thesis models the cost drivers into the EOQ model and extends it to the JIT scenario. They include cost savings like space, synergy of coordination, and other cost factors like rework and penalty costs. It looks at the total cost of the supply chain with two players and calculates space in terms of storage spaces of equal capacity. Results showed that considering space in EOQ brought savings to the chain. It has brought down the order quantity closer to, and many times equal to JIT ordering quantities. Coordination in the chain has brought further savings. Moving to JIT (ordering daily supply of demand) from the point, where space is accounted and there is coordination between the two levels, did not require much reduction in ordering costs.
The benefit's place in cultural-political imaginings
Authors: Martin Maryann
Published: May 2021

The proliferation of large-scale benefits over the last thirty years has led to debate about the place of the benefit in cultural and political spheres. Acknowledging that cross-cultural flow takes a number of forms, that politics and culture increasingly intermingle, and that the West has a long history and geography tied to exploitation and occupation of other countries, this project discusses four benefits in relation to ideas about myth, narrative, celebrity, and memory. Such benefits as the Concerts for Bangladesh, the Sun City project, Freedomfest (The Nelson Mandela Seventieth Birthday Tribute), and America: A Tribute To Heroes, are explored in relation to cultural-political movements and Western imaginings of Bangladesh, South Africa, and Afghanistan. In so doing, the positional superiority of the West is necessarily reconsidered. Benefits are directional pointers through which music narrates storied sociality, mapping the beats of particular histories and geographies. Emphasizing the importance of hearing, and thereby challenging the visual focus of Western culture, readers are encouraged to hear the maps that benefits project through the traces they inevitably leave in popular landscapes.
Ozone inactivation of fungi associated with barley grain
Authors: Allen Brent
Published: May 2021

The use of ozone as a fungicide for barley storage was studied. The effects of ozone on the inactivation of natural and inoculated fungi on barley were evaluated at different water activities and temperatures. Results indicated that higher ozone doses were better at inactivating the natural fungi on barley than lower ozone doses. An ozone dose of 0.98mg/g • min was able to reduce the natural fungi counts on the barley at 0.98aw by over 97% after 45 minutes of ozone contact time. The inactivation of the natural fungi and Aspergillus flavus on the barley was favoured by higher temperatures. Ozone consumption of the barley was higher at higher temperatures. Tests on A. flavus spores inoculated on barley indicated that they were resistant to ozone doses up to 4.90mg/g while Penicillium, verrucosum spores showed no resistance to any ozone doses that were tested. Inactivation of A. flavus (vegetative state) and P. verrucosum spores were favoured by higher water activities. The effect of ozone on barley germination was also examined. By 15 minutes of treatment at an ozone dose of 0.98mg/g • min, all the fungi tested were inactivated by over 90%, while germination was only reduced by 6%. Different water activities had no effect on the germination of barley. The findings show that ozone may be applied as a fumigant against fungi attacking high moisture content barley and provide the possibility of using it as an alternative to current chemicals for preserving stored barley.