bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental disabilities : policies for those at the margins of society
Authors: Chicoine Jessica
Published: May 2021

This thesis examines Ontario's disability policies--the Ontario Disability Supports Programs Act, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and assesses the extent to which the legislation provides supports for individuals with developmental disabilities who have both the desire and the capacity to live independently. It uses content analysis to identify the purported aims of the legislation and assesses outcomes through qualitative interviews with executive directors of community agencies that serve individuals with developmental disabilities. A key theme is that there is a tendency to homogenize disability so that barriers to accessibility are defined with a focus on "visible" physical disabilities with consistently less attention to "invisible" developmental disabilities. It concludes by pointing to appropriate housing, adequate income supports, availability of transportation and appropriate employment as critical areas to facilitate the choice of independent living. These areas are underdeveloped in current legislation.
The Consciousness-Raising of #MeToo: Mobilizing Political Empathy in the Digital Age
Authors: Graham Allana
Published: May 2021

The lasting effect of #MeToo’s suggests that we are at a critical moment in the study of communications and media studies. This MRP will be speculative in nature, however, it is my contribution that we must move beyond literature that defends “slacktivism” and the notion that digital mediation is an impoverished form of communication (McCafferty, 2011; Baym, 2017), and instead build upon emerging frameworks that focus on the affordances of the social media age in activism theory by integrating rationality from offline, or “real life”, areas of literature. In the case of #MeToo, the personalization of politics and mobilizing structures share logic with feminism practices that predate the digital age. This indicates that perhaps an effective way to make meaning out of new and complex phenomena like #MeToo is not diminish the human element, but rather acknowledge it as an integral part of online protest. Building on this assumption, this MRP is a commentary that considers the complexity of the events that brought #MeToo to fruition. I will evaluate #MeToo using emerging literature at the intersections of activism and social media, while contextualizing both the viral moment and the continued movement within feminist theory that is grounded in visceral emotions like vulnerability, anger, empathy, solidarity, and catharsis. Combining both literature that focuses on the technological and human elements should be considered in future research in order to develop theoretical frameworks that create a more holistic understanding of the cultural events that occur due to activism in the digital age.
Communication instinct: Husserl and the embodied temporality of the social
Authors: Pantev Boris
Published: May 2021

This dissertation revisits the question of the temporal constitution of sociality. What is the role of subjective time-experience in the understanding of other people and the formation of communicative environment? This problem is considered in a generative phenomenological context. The investigation traces analytically the “stages” of communicative constitution: from the explicit intentional modes of interaction back to the pre-affective and habitualized social sense-accomplishments.
The task is approached through a systematic exposition of Edmund Husserl's generative concept of communication proper (Mitteilung, Kommunikation). A widespread view in the classical and more recent phenomenological scholarship is that Husserl’s concept of communication must be derivative of the more fundamental categories of empathy and intersubjectivity (Einfühlung and Intersubjektivität; Schütz 1957; Held 1972; Zahavi 1996). The theoretical potential of the concept of communication for a phenomenology of sociality has thus been largely overlooked. The dissertation challenges this long-established model and attempts to reaffirm the central constitutive role of communication, to redefine its function in contradistinction with that of empathy. It does so by considering Husserl’s later “genetic phenomenology” where temporal experiences are construed in the background of the sphere of “primal flowing living present” (urströmende lebendige Gegenwart). On this basis, the notion of communication is
uncovered as transcendentally rooted in the structure of pre-conscious instinctual Ineinander. This perspective is radicalized and validated through an extensive analysis of Levinas’s implicit debate with Husserl regarding the temporal constitution of alterity and also translated into a problem of the ethical meaning of objective forms of social communication.
The central argument of the dissertation is that an interpretation of Husserl’s concept of communication in connection with the notions of primal temporal flow, instincts, and pre-intentional passive synthesis affords the elaboration of a generative phenomenological concept of “intermonadic communication” which grounds empathy rather than deriving from it. Such an interpretation might further prove productive for the study of both nonverbal interaction (also in relation to treatments of autism) and the developmental basis of social behaviour. Its potential to validate an ethical theory of interpersonal understanding is also affirmed through a comparative analysis of Husserl and Levinas's concepts of subjectivity, sensibility and common time.
A Novel Hybrid Active Anti-Islanding Method For Multi-Converter Fed Distributed Generation Systems
Authors: Mostafaei Sasan
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents a novel active anti-islanding detection scheme for the three phase gridconnected converters. The proposed hybrid method works based on the combination of Positive Feedback Frequency Shift (PFFS) and Reactive Power Variation (RPV) methods, and therefore it combines the features of both methods. Unlike the RPV scheme, this method is capable of synchronizing all power converters with each other in a distributed generation (DG) system. Therefore, it can effectively detect islanding when the DG system has multiple renewable energy sources interfaced to the system by multiple converters.

The proposed method can also be combined with other active methods, such as the active frequency drift method. This minimizes the power quality degradation since the scheme is called upon only when 0.1Hz deviation in the grid frequency is detected. Moreover, unlike other positive feedback methods, this scheme has little impact on the stability of the DG system, since the positive feedback reference is only limited to
Mentoring partnerships for success : the role of mentoring in reconstructing professional identities and in creating a sense of belonging for internationally-educated teachers from visible minority groups in greater Toronto area school communities
Authors: Robertson Patricia
Published: May 2021

This study explores and analyses mentoring relationships between unemployed and underemployed internationally-educated teachers (IETs) from visible minority groups and Canadian-experienced educators, and their influence on the re-establishment of migrant teachers' professional identities and perceptions of inclusion in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) school communities. A detailed literature review summarizes previously identified issues in this area while, nine in-depth interviews conducted with mentees, mentors and mentoring pairs in this study identify prior and newly emergent themes. Primary themes that transpired include: the presence of varying forms of resistance from the dominant community towards IETs; the role of mentoring relationships in meeting IETs' needs; and the importance of consistency, trust and honesty in building collaborative relationships that foster IETs' successful integration into the teaching field. Recommendations include: the delivery of equity-oriented programming through educational bodies; the development of sustainable occupation-specific teacher mentoring programs; and the promotion of IETs to the greater community by educational stakeholders.
Nurses' experiences of creating an artistic instrument for their nursing practice and professional development: an arts-informed narrative inquiry
Authors: Walji Neelam
Published: May 2021

My passion for the arts as a medium motivated me to create an art piece (artistic instrument) to enrich my nursing practice. This inspired me to explore how other nurses experience creating their own artistic instruments and what meaning these held for their nursing practice and professional development. In this arts-informed Narrative Inquiry, two participants engaged in a narrative interview and in the Narrative Reflective Process, an artistic approach to creative reflection. Participants’ stories were re-constructed and analyzed using the Narrative Inquiry three-dimensional space (temporality, sociality, and place), and examined through the theoretical lens of Patterns of Knowing. Findings revealed six narrative threads (empathy, quality of life, communication, power imbalances, and personal as well as professional development) highlighting the importance of person-centered care, the value of reflective practice, and the need for further research exploring the use of arts by healthcare providers across diverse educational and practice based settings.
Numerical Study of Bleed Slot Flow Characteristics Using Magneto-Aerodynamics
Authors: Buhajczuk Szymon
Published: May 2021

A numerical study into magneto-aerodynamic bleed control systems has been undertaken with the intent of improving the shock swallowing ability of high speed engine intakes. Past research has shown that bleed slots effectively remove sufficient mass flow of air from the system to permit shocks to be swallowed. A magnetic field's influence on a charged boundary layer creates a possibility of sealing a bleed slot when not needed. 2D bleed slots were modeled using structured grids for use with the FLUENT CFD solver. User defined functions were written to simulate charge generation and magnetic field forces. Solutions revealed that bleed slot angles, free stream Mach numbers, pressure ratios, boundary layer displacement thickness, field strength and field position all affect how the system performs. Results have shown that a properly positioned magnetic field can reduce sonic flow coefficients up to 88%, thus justifying further research and investment in wind tunnel experiments.
Existence as resistance in Tkaronto: identity formation for Latinx LGBTQ people
Authors: Segovia Martha
Published: May 2021

Latinx proposes to intersect the space in-between identities. An intersectional framework engaged in a quantitative process is utilized to demonstrate the identity formation for Latinx 2SLGBTQ people living in the City of Toronto. Through looking at the work of Latinx authors developing the testimonios scholarship, various themes emerged from the authentic and multifaceted existences of the research participants. Four themes consisting of various multidimensional factors articulate the participant’s experiences as Othered and Latinx 2SLGBTQ people. Recording and transcribing three narratives from Latin American-identifying 2SLGBTQ people in their lived experience in Toronto suggests the need for a call for inclusive change in the Latinx and 2SLGBTQ communities.
Novel Insole Material for Weight-Bearing Monitoring Medical Device to Be Used in Fractured Bone Clinic
Authors: Rubstova Sofya
Published: May 2021

Partial Weight-Bearing (PWB) regime is a part of a recreation process for patients with lower limb fractures/strains/sprains. In order to avoid a frequent foot overloading and achieve better patient compliance with requirement of PWB, the application of Weight-Bearing Monitoring System (WBMS) is highly attractive. However, it is challenging to find an affordable material for protective insole cover that is also a good shock-absorber. In this regard, a new formulation for protective covering material that preserves and isolates the sensors of WBMS device is suggested in this thesis. Twenty one samples of renewably sourced Polyurethane Foam (PUF) composed of poly (trimethylene ether) glycol (PO3G) and unmodified castor oil (CO) were synthesized and evaluated according to predetermined criteria. Response surface methodology of Box – Behnken design was applied to study the effect of the following parameters (polyols ratio, isocyanate index (II), and blowing agent ratio) on the properties (hardness, density) of PUFs. Results showed that CO/PO3G/TDI PUFs with hardness Shore A 17-22 and density of 0.19-0.25 g/cm3 demonstrate the required characteristics and can potentially be used as a durable and functional insole material. Phase separation studies have found the presence of well-segregated structure in PUFs having polyols ratio CO:PO3G 1:3 and low II, which further explains their extraordinary elastic properties (400% elongation). Analysis of cushioning performance of PUF signified that 5 samples have Cushioning Energy (CE) higher than 70 N·mm and Cushioning Factor (CF) in the range of 4-8, hence are recommended for application in WBMS due to superior weight-bearing and pressure-distributing properties. Moreover, the developed formulation undergoes anaerobic soil bacterial degradation and can be categorized as “green” bio-based material.
Latinx students in the GTA and surroundings and High School disengagement
Authors: Calero Catalina
Published: May 2021

My focus in this study is to explore the experiences of former Latinx/a/o high school
students and their view on the factors that led them to either graduate or “dropout” of high
school. I am also interested in better understanding their experiences with social workers in
schools and how social workers can better support students. Using a narrative approach, I center the voices and experiences of my participants. I gathered these experiences in a focus group, and through thematic analysis I analyzed these findings in relation to the existing literature. With this study, I hope to contribute to the current academic literature on this subject, and would also like to extend the work that has been done in the community with the hopes of further analysis and response on the issue of “low academic achievement” of Latinx/a/o students
Computer-automated shadow moiré method and applications for 3D surface profiling
Authors: Zhao Rui
Published: May 2021

Among numerous methods for 3D surface profiling, classic shadow moiré method has been kept as the most popular one due to its full-field feature and low cost. This thesis focuses on a computer-vision shadow moiré method with a scope to improve the measurement resolution, accuracy and efficiency. The computer automation is basically realized through the introduction of a phase-shifting technique that is incorporated with a new multi-grid least-square unwrapping algorithm. The method is enhanced by implementing a few additional image processing techniques. These techniques, when implemented, result in improved measurement accuracy and enable easy applications to irregularly shaped surfaces. The study also proposes a new, automated system calibration approach that is based on a real-time image subtraction. A data normalization process is studied to resolve possible confusions in the presentation of the original data. The verification test results show that the modified shadow moiré technique has achieved the initial goal, in that the measurement resolution now reaches a few percentage of the fringe sensititivity.
Know Your Neighbour: Reality Television and Performances of the Self
Authors: Hurley Amy Caroline
Published: May 2021

Know Your Neighbour is a proposal for a half hour reality television show in which residents of an apartment building get to know their neighbours in a light-hearted way that breaks down barriers and reveals compelling stories. The residents uncover each of their neighbour’s backstories through challenges: tricky trivia questions and a special snooping test. If they earn enough points as a group they win a break on their rent. Even if the neighbours fall short of their goal, the show helps create the beginnings of a community inside their previously disconnected building. The show’s bible demonstrates the structure of the new format.

Research supports the idea that people are motivated to appear on reality television in order for a chance to define or try-out their identities within a media-obsessed culture. This is accomplished by encouraging people to share their personal stories and by assigning them a type or role that they feel comfortable performing. My format explores and applies this idea to apartment buildings in order to help people define the roles they can play within their communities.
Femtosecond Laser Machining At Submicron And Nano Scale
Authors: Dalili Alireza.
Published: May 2021

Femtosecond Laser Machining At Submicron And Nano Scale
Examining cerebral hemodynamics in a two-layer model of the human head using broadband near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Pucci Olivia
Published: May 2021

The development of a continuous-wave method is presented, to quantify accurately the optical properties of a two-layer model of the human head using a broadband spectral approach. In particular, focus is put on the reconstruction of the absolute absorption and scattering properties of a two-layered phantom model of the human head with steady-state multi-distance measurements by performing differential fit analysis of the near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectrum between 700 nm and 1000 nm. The two-layer model approximation was fitted to experimental broadband absorbance measurements obtained from two-layered phantoms with known optical properties. Results demonstrated that the suggested method was able to determine the optical properties of the lower layer with minimal error at specific source-detector distances. Preliminary results on the non-invasive measurement of the optical properties of the adult human brain in a two-layer approximation are presented. Finally, a mobile wireless NIR device is used to measure changes in the temporal characteristics of cerebral hemodynamic responses to functional brain activity, in particulaur the effect of smoking. Results suggest that assuming homogeneous medium for the adult human head severely underestimates the changes in cerebral hemodynamics. Hence, it is important to take surrounding layers into consideration when performing cerebral measurements using NIR spectroscopy.
CMOS Digital Pixel Sensors With In-Pixel Analog-To-Digital Conversion
Authors: Chen Yong
Published: May 2021

This thesis deals with the designing of CMOS image sensors with in-pixel analog-to-digital conversion. A 2-stage memory write scheme for Pulse-Width-Modulation digital pixel sensors is proposed. It utilizes the characteristics of Gray-code counters and partitions a single data write operation into two separated write operations such that the size of the in-pixel memory can be significantly reduced. A Pulse-Frequency-Modulation pixel significantly reduces the integration time without sacrificing the dynamic range. Finally, a Pulse-Frequency-Modulation Digital Pixel Sensor with an in-pixel variable reference voltage is proposed.

As compared with conventional Pulse-Frequency-Modulation pixels, the proposed architecture improves the dynamic range by adaptively adjusting the reference voltage in the pixel. All proposed digital pixel sensors are designed in TSMC-0.18μm 6-Metal 1-Poly 1.8 V CMOS technology and analyzed using Spectre from Cadence Design Systems with BSIM3V3 device models. The effectiveness of the proposed digital pixel sensors is validated using simultation.
Energy efficient operation of a base transceiver station using Markov decision process
Authors: Regmi Udaya Raj
Published: May 2021

Around 3.15% of the total world energy consumption accounts for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. ICT's contribution to global greenhouse gas emission is expected to double in the coming five years. Base transceiver station (BTS), an important but energy hungry component of access network in a cellular communication system, is usually resourced to serve busy hour traffic but remains under-utilized for most of the 24-hour period irrespective of the traffic load. Hence, self organizing networks (SON) that react to the variable traffic load are being studied to minimize energy consumption without compromising the QoS of the network. Discrete time Markov decision process (DTMDP) as an optimization tool to manage the operation of BTS is investigated in this thesis. MDP _nds an optimal policy that takes state specific optimal decisions, i.e. actions, and gets immediate rewards which maximizes the long term expected reward. The rewards obtained are the power savings when BTS operates as a SON by means of dynamic sectorization against the operation of BTS in uppermost mode irrespective of the traffic load. Further, transition cost to address mode switching cost and delay cost to address QoS are also discussed and elaborated through appropriate simulation to realize the actual energy savings.
Numerical studies of higher order tau-leaping methods
Authors: Thapa Anuj Dhoj
Published: May 2021

Gillespie's algorithm, also known as the Stochastic Simulation Algorithm (SSA), is an exact simulation method for the Chemical Master Equation model of well-stirred biochemical systems. However, this method is computationally intensive when some fast reactions are present in the system. The tau-leap scheme developed by Gillespie can speed up the stochastic simulation of these biochemically reacting systems with negligible loss in accuracy. A number of tau-leaping methods were proposed, including the explicit tau-leaping and the implicit tau-leaping strategies. Nonetheless, these
schemes have low order of accuracy. In this thesis, we investigate tau-leap strategies which achieve high accuracy at reduced computational cost. These strategies are tested on several biochemical systems of practical interest.
The Self : A Journey into Cogito Ergo Sum
Authors: Eskandari Masoud
Published: May 2021

The Self is a series of photo-based videos within an autobiographical conceptual framework in five chapters. It visually illustrates my search for my lost identity and personality as a Persian immigrant artist, using a performative documentary art practice in a poetic and meditative space. After several years of unsuccessful efforts to settle in Canada and to be accepted in Canadian society, I felt that I had lost my self and ego. The concept of the artwork is to create an unconventional visually performative documentary that addresses the question, “Who am I?” This project represents the feeling associated with losing one’s self in a visually coded and semiotic artwork in which the audience is invited to decode the visual segments in order to determine the meaning. The main axis of the work is a series of recent self-portraits and personal identification portraits that are superimposed over pictures related to the history and culture of Persia and Iran with an emphasis on contemporary poetry, music, and mystical philosophy.
Design and Experimental Studies of Flexible Trailing Edge for Variable Camber Morphing Wing
Authors: Kalaji Ahmad T.
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents a flexible trailing edge mechanism capable of undergoing a change in camber for a wing section. The mechanism takes advantage of a rigid constraint between the ends of two flexible carbon fiber panels, which produces a deflection when there is a difference in length between the two panels.

A prototype was designed and built and experimental data was collected for the deformation of the panels for different values of lengths and analyzed to find a function to describe the coefficients which form the polynomials describing the shape for each of the panels, based on the difference in length value. Deflection and deflection angle results were used to develop a controller which will calculate the required change in length based on a deflection or angle and a bottom panel length input.
Automatic classification of the emotional content of web documents
Authors: Hussainalsaid Alaa
Published: May 2021

This thesis proposes automatic classification of the emotional content of web documents using Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms. We used online articles and general documents to verify the performance of the algorithm, such as general web pages and news articles. The experiments used sentiment analysis that extracts sentiment of web documents. We used unigram and bigram approaches that are known as special types of N-gram, where N=1 and N=2, respectively. The unigram model analyses the probability to hit each word in the corpus independently; however, the bigram model analyses the probability of a word occurring depending on the previous word. Our results show that the unigram model has a better performance compared to the bigram model in terms of automatic classification of the emotional content of web documents.
In their shoes: exploring the social experiences of Black male police officers in Canada
Authors: Lawrence Anthony
Published: May 2021

This qualitative research study presents a critical analysis of race and policing by examining the experiences of four Black male police officers in Canada. This study seeks to understand the essence of these experiences and understand the reality of what it means to be a Black male police officer. Included are the results of qualitative interviews with these police officers, using critical race theory as the theoretical framework to explain participants’ experiences as police officers. The themes that emerged from the interviews were the following: the glass ceiling for Black police officers; issues of identity and belonging; negative stereotyping; and future recommendations. Given that this group belongs to both a profession which exhibits inherent racial bias, in the form of over-surveillance and the use of excessive (and even lethal) force against racialized minorities, as well as belonging to the very minority community targeted by the police, it is imperative that we explore and understand the unique tensions black officers experience.
Investor Sentiment in the Financial Market: a Survey
Authors: Aziegbemhin Charles A.
Published: May 2021

Many techniques like technical analysis, fundamental analysis, neural networks etc are used to forecast market behavior but none of these methods has been consistently acceptable forecasting tool. This thesis surveys more than 200 related published articles that study investor sentiment techniques as derived and applied to forecasting equity, debt and alternative markets. From the literatures, it shows that the application of investor sentiment for evaluating market behavior is gaining wide acceptance. Changes in investor sentiment can trigger changes in the valuation and pricing of assets, therefore offering the ability to forecasting market directions more accurately than other techniques. This study is the most comprehensive survey on investor sentiment techniques and its impact on forecasting a panel of assets in the equity, debt, derivative and other alternative investment markets. It examines forecasting as it affects sentiment, investor sentiment, it influence on market returns, news analytics and its use as profit and risk management tool.
Overview of Employment Programs Available to Newcomers in Toronto and Their Role in Breaking Down Barriers to Employment
Authors: Myrie Josina
Published: May 2021

This research examines the systemic barriers faced by newly arrived immigrants to Canada in their job acquisition. A thematic content analysis of the government funded Job Search Workshop (JSW) and Employment Ontario Programs from twenty Service Provider Organizations (SPOs) was undertaken to respond to the following questions: How do these programs assist newcomers to overcome the barriers to labour market entry? What do these services offer that address the needs of newly arrived immigrants for access to employment? What are some of the factors that lead to their unsuccess? Social Inclusion theory was applied. Results indicate that the focus of both programs is on pre-employment preparation and making participants more ‘employable’. The systemic barriers of the accreditation process and racial/employment discrimination are still major areas that need to be given more attention.
Fashioning the Post Colonial Reading: Cultural Representations In Vogue Mexico and Latin America and Arabia Editorials
Authors: Alphonso Martyne
Published: May 2021

This study analyzes regional editorial content as produced by Vogue magazine. Vogue has developed an empire comprised of 22 international editions. Vogue Mexico & Latin America, and Vogue Arabia, are the only two editions that encompass numerous countries, cultures, and voices. Using discourse analysis through a cultural studies lens, this study analyzes six editorial spreads to uncover what cultural messages are being produced, how these images impact national identities, and who is or is not represented in the fashion image. Intersections of fashion with culture, identity, race, and gender, are analyzed through critical discourse analysis to address constructions of power, specifically within a cultural and postcolonial framework. Visual narratives in Vogue Arabia and Vogue Mexico & Latin America reflect values seemingly distinct to their region, but are charged with cultural assumptions and inaccuracies. For postcolonial cultures vying for identities independent of their colonial past, these marketable stereotypes continue to suppress their structural agency.
Solar Community Energy and Storage Systems for Cold Climates
Authors: Masoumi Rad Farzin
Published: May 2021

For a hypothetical solar community located in Toronto, Ontario, the viability of two separate combined heating and cooling systems were investigated. Four TRNSYS integrated models were developed for different cases. First, an existing heating only solar community was modeled and compared with published performance data as the base case with suggested improvements. The base case community was then used to develop a hypothetical solar community, located in Toronto, requiring both heating and cooling. In this second model an absorption chiller was added – Solar Thermal Chiller (STC) system. The chiller received its source heat from the solar thermal system with the supplemental heat from a natural gas boiler. The STC system was designed with two borehole thermal energy storage units (BTES). One was high-temperature BTES for the solar thermal energy storage, and another was medium-temperature BTES for the chillers’ heat rejection. The twenty year simulation results showed that by the fifth year in the heating season, the community operated with 100% solar fraction (SF). In the cooling season, the chiller received 18% of its required energy from the same number of solar collectors as the heating-only community system. The third model was based on the central heat pump system with borehole thermal storage for the heating and cooling, using a PV system as the heat pump power source - Heat Pump Photovoltaics (HPPV) system. The simulation results showed that the system operated favorably from the first year and did not have any significant performance degradation in 20 years. On average, the heat pumps performed with the seasonal COP of 3.3 in the heating mode and 5.9 in the cooling mode. The fourth system, Solar Thermal-Heat Pump Photovoltaics (ST-HPPV), a solar thermal system with borehole thermal energy storage as a supplemental heat source to the HPPV, was investigated. The simulation results showed that this system would be beneficial for a community with the annual heating and cooling difference of more than 75%. By adding a solar thermal system to the HPPV system, the heat pumps’ performance improved by 26% in the heating mode, and exhibited a negligible drop in the cooling mode.
The in vitro production of endochondral bone from bovine periosteal explants
Authors: Collavino Kristina
Published: May 2021

In the present study, periosteal tissue explants were explored as a substratum for the production of endochondral bone tissue in vitro. Endochondral bone is formed when mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proceed through the chondrogenic lineage to produce a transitory cartilage template which eventually is ossified. The periosteum is of interest as this tissue is found enveloping long bones and has been shown to contain a resident cellular population capable of generating endochondral bone. Endochondral ossification was induced in periosteal explants through the successive application of chondrogenic and hypertrophic/osteogenic media simulating the in vivo progression of the process. Different chondrogenic and osteogenic media types were utilized in order to assess the best method for producing osseous tissue. The results indicated that endochondral bone could be produced from periosteum tissue in vitro. It was determined that chondrogenic culture with transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) led to the development of immature (resting or proliferative) cartilage tissue while chondrogenic culture with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) produced mature (hypertrophic or calcified) cartilage and osseous tissue. Osteogenic media generally failed to improve ossification in cartilaginous explants but did affect their progression through the endochondral process. Cartilaginous periosteum explants responded differently to osteogenic media types based on the method of chondrogenic pre-induction. Immature cartilage formed under TGFβ1 induction underwent maturation in osteogenic media with triiodothyronine (T3). Mature cartilage formed under BMP2 continued to undergo maturation in the presence of osteogenic media with BMP2 or T3. Overall, these findings suggested that BMP2 is crucial in the development of endochondral bone from periosteal explants in vitro and that the osteogenic media is unnecessary in promoting this process.
A Critical Review of Health Impact Assessments in Ontario's Nuclear Industry
Authors: Mueller William
Published: May 2021

Risk is central to the health effects of nuclear power plants. The regulator in Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), claims to employ international best practices and risk-informed decision-making to ensure Canadian plants are among the safest in the world. Environmental Assessment (EA), required for operating license approval, is used to determine whether risks to pubic health, both chronic and catastrophic, are within acceptable limits. The main objective of this thesis is to establish Health Risk Assessment (HRA) best practices, approximated by the degree of concordance among HRA authorities, and use these concepts to evaluate EAs of recent nuclear power projects. The extent of compliance would ultimately reveal the CNSC’s commitment to protecting public health and safety. It is concluded from the review of six such EAs that the CNSC is falling short of best practices, ultimately approving projects without an accurate estimation of risk.
A Comparison of Acute Toxicity of Biodiesel, Biodiesel Blends and Diesel on Aquatic Organisms
Authors: Khan Nalissa Farrah
Published: May 2021

The increasing demand of alternative energy sources has created interest in biodiesel and biodiesel blends; biodiesel is promoted as a diesel substitute. Like diesel spills, biodiesel spills can have deleterious effects on aquatic environments. The effect of neat biodiesel, biodiesel blends and diesel on O. mykiss and D. magna was evaluated using acute toxicity testing. Static non-renewable bioassays of freshwater organisms containing B100, B50, B20, B5 and conventional diesel fuel were used to compare the acute effects of biodiesel to diesel. Mortality was the significant endpoint measurement in this study; percent mortality and lethal concentration (LC50) at different exposure times were determined from the acute toxicity tests performed. Trials were considered valid if the controls exhibited more than 90% survival. Based on percent mortality and LC50 values, a toxicity ranking of fuels was developed. The results of the definitive tests indicated that diesel is more toxic than neat biodiesel or biodiesel blends. This approach can provide insights into the lethality of biodiesel spills in the aquatic environment.
Developing an Evaluation Protocol for the Toronto Public Library (TPL) System Through the Application of a Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) of a Branch Library to Inform its Retrofit Strategy
Authors: Martin Rosemary
Published: May 2021

Buildings play a significant role in our economy and society. Substantial capital is invested in buildings, and they are the locales where a large portion (e.g., work, cultural, religious, social and personal activities) of our lives are conducted. Despite the significant monetary and temporal investments in buildings, building performance evaluations (BPEs) are not standard practice. From BPEs that have been conducted, important findings have been identified. Significant gaps frequently exist between the design intent of buildings and their measured performance (e.g., energy and water consumption) and user satisfaction (e.g., thermal comfort, lighting, noise). Environmental (e.g., resource consumption) and economic drivers (e.g., productivity, operational costs) are spurring the growth of BPEs. A BPE was conducted of the Weston Public Library (WPL) with the intent of informing a retrofit strategy and developing a protocol for conducting BPEs in the Toronto Public Library (TPL) system.
Perforations
Authors: Ready Angela
Published: May 2021

Perforations is a personal, experimental film that explores the residue and layers of memory through the emotional landscape of the artist’s entrance into middle age. The project navigates the ephemeral nature of memory, loss, absence, frailty, complexity and — ultimately — renewal in life through the interconnections and legacies of three generations. The thesis examines the way in which specific absences in history (women, class and collective memory) and the recounting of family history (through home movies, reconstruction of personal memory and the cycles of life, death and the landscape) contribute to the underlying basis of the film.
Regulatory networks in bile salt and ferric iron induced resistance of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli to cationic antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Kunwar Chhatra Bahadur
Published: May 2021

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) possess the ability to respond to its surroundings though two-component systems. We hypothesized that gastrointestinal cues such as bile, iron and pH promote EHEC resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) during infection. Killing assays reveal that exposure to low pH, high iron or bile salt mixture results in increased CAMP resistance that is dependent on pmrB but independent of pmrD. Low Mg+2 -induced CAMP resistance is dependent on pmrD. pmrD promoter analysis indicate that EHEC responds to PhoPQ-inducing conditions by increasing pmrD expression. However, pmrD expression is repressed upon exposure to low acid, bile salt mix and iron. This study suggests that a complex interplay of PhoPQ, PmrAB and PmrD is involved in EHEC’s response to various microenvironmental signals and in the promotion of EHEC’s resistance to CAMPS. The results also provide intriguing evidence of both cooperation and redundancy in the mediation of CAMP resistance by these molecular players.
User Adoption Of Internet Of Things: Determining Factors That Directly Affect Internet Of Things Service Adoption And Applying Them To An Existing System
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Revathi
Published: May 2021

Internet of Things (IoT) is defined as a convergence of multiple technologies that interconnect physical and virtual objects over a network to improve our quality of life. These services deal with numerous interactions between devices, each having its own functionality and user flows. A large emphasis has always been placed on the technical aspects of IoT but very little importance has been given to researching factors that could have a significant effect on a user’s intention to use and adopt these services. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Value-based Adoption Model (VAM) are two of the most widely used models to discovering the potential user’s intention to use a new technology. This paper examines these models to provide insight into determining factors that directly affect IoT service adoption by users and applies it to developing a coherent and engaging user interface for an existing IoT system.
New graduate registered nurses' perceptions of transitioning to professional practice after completion of the new graduate guarantee orientation program
Authors: Guay Jo'Anne
Published: May 2021

In Canada, the projected shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) by 2022 is 60,000. This shortage is accentuated as Canadian New Graduate Registered Nurses (NGRNs) experience difficulties transitioning to professional practice. This study sought to explore NGRNs’ transition experiences in the 12 months post New Graduate Guarantee (NGG) orientation informed by Charmaz’s grounded theory methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten NGRNs working in one urban, academic hospital in Ontario. The theory’s overarching category Discovering Professional Self highlights the NGRNs’ transition experiences as a progressive process with transitory setbacks. The early part of the process, described as Surviving without a Safety Net, involved Experiencing Fear, Figuring it Out, and Learning on the Job. In the later part of the process, the NGRNs’ experienced a Turning of the Tables as they described Being Trusted, Gaining Confidence, and Feeling Comfortable in their professional role. Recommendations focus on strategies to enhance NGRNs’ transition experienc
Hebephilic Sexual Interests In Sexual Offenders
Authors: Stephens Skye
Published: May 2021

Hebephilia refers to a sexual interest for pubescent children in Tanner Stage 2 or 3 of sexual development (i.e., early stages of secondary sex development; Blanchard, Lykins, et al., 2009). Hebephilia was recently proposed as a standalone diagnosis, alongside pedophilia, in the main diagnostic manual used by clinicians in Canada and the United States to diagnose mental health disorders, which ignited considerable controversy in the field. The dissertation examined the validity of hebephilia as a construct through three interrelated studies utilizing a large sample of sexual offenders from a Sexual Behaviours Clinic (n = 2,238). Study 1 examined the convergent validity of hebephilia in a sample of admitters and deniers. There was convergence among self-report, sexual behaviour, and sexual arousal indicators of hebephilia. Further, there was considerable overlap between pedophilia (i.e., sexual interest in prepubescent children) and hebephilia. Study 2 and Study 3 examined the association between hebephilia and sexual
offending. Hebephilia is arguably most pertinent to furthering our understanding of sexual offending against children, as one could not act on this sexual interest legally without committing a sexual offence against a child. Study 2 examined concurrent validity by examining the role of hebephilia in sexual victim choice. Similar to pedophilia, hebephilia was associated with a greater number of victims under the age of 15. Further, hebephilia was associated with an increased likelihood of victim age polymorphism (i.e., having victims in other age ranges). Finally, Study 3 examined a subsample of offenders assessed at the Sexual Behaviours Clinic (n = 656) whose criminal records were coded and analyzed in order to assess the predictive validity of hebephilia. Both pedophilia and hebephilia were associated with an increased likelihood of sexual non-contact recidivism, after controlling for time at risk. Based on their high degree of overlap and similar correlates, the major conclusion of this dissertation is that pedophilia and hebephilia are more similar than they are different. Results are discussed within the context of the debate on whether hebephilia is a mental health disorder and the implications for the assessment and risk management of sexual offenders.
Optimal Resource Allocation For Video Streaming Over Cognitive Radio Network Via Geometric Programming
Authors: Guan Bo
Published: May 2021

Cognitive Radio (CR) is a new paradigm in wireless communications to enhance utilization of limited spectrum resources. In the cognitive radio networks, each secondary user can use wireless channels for data transmission to improve the spectrum utilization. This thesis focus on the resource allocation problem for video streaming over cognitive radio networks, where secondary users and primary users transmit data simultaneously in a common frequency band. Respectively, we investigate CR in both single channel and multiple channels scenarios for single-layered and multi-layered streaming video, which is encoded into multiple layers delivered over a separate channel. Moreover, the source rate, the transmission rate, and the transmission power at each video session in each channel are jointly optimized to provide Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee to all video sessions in the secondary network. The optimization problem is formulated into a Geometric Programming (GP) problem, which can be solved efficiently. In the simulations, we demonstrate that the proposed scheme can achieve a lower Packet Loss Rate (PLR) and queuing delay, thus leading to a higher video quality for the video streaming sessions, compared to the uniform scheme.
Short-Term Efficacy of a Worry Postponement Intervention for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Tallon Kathleen
Published: May 2021

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Worry postponement (WP), in which a client is asked to postpone worry until a 30-minute “worry time,” is a common component of CBT for GAD; however, the efficacy of WP has never been tested in people with GAD. Further, the mechanisms of change of WP are not known; nor are its effects on cognitive processes and symptoms related to GAD. A better understanding of the efficacy and mechanisms of change of WP could help to optimize CBT for GAD. The goals of the present study were to examine, in a sample of people with GAD, the effects of WP on worry and GAD symptoms, and cognitive processes and symptoms related to GAD. The study also examined the effects of WP on two proposed mediators: stimulus control and metacognitive beliefs. Sixty-seven adults were randomized to one of three conditions: 2- week worry postponement intervention (WP), 2-week worry monitoring intervention (MON), or an assessment only control. Participants completed outcome measures before and after the 2- week intervention period and at a 2-week follow-up. In the WP and MON conditions, participants completed daily worry monitoring using a phone-based application. All participants showed a significant decrease in past-week worry over the course of the study, with no significant differences between the conditions. There were no significant changes in GAD symptoms across conditions. There was no evidence that WP had superior effects to control groups on cognitive processes or symptoms related to GAD. There was no evidence that stimulus control or metacognitive beliefs mediated the reduction in past week worry in WP. This is the first known study to examine the effects of WP in people with GAD. Whereas worry did decrease on some indices over the course of the study, there were no significant differences between WP and two control conditions. Further this study found no evidence that WP has specific effects on two processes that are thought to be mechanisms of action. The findings of this study demonstrate the need to establish the efficacy of the treatment components used in CBT.