bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Codes of the North: difficulty in the origins of the Canadian avant-garde film
Authors: Broomer Stephen
Published: May 2021

This dissertation chronicles the formation of a Canadian avant-garde cinema and its relation to the tradition of art of purposeful difficulty. It is informed by the writings of George Steiner, who advanced a typology of difficult forms in poetry. The major works of Jack Chambers (The Hart of London), Michael Snow (La Region Centrale), and Joyce Wieland (Reason Over Passion) illustrate the ways in which a poetic vanguard in cinema is anchored in an aesthetic of difficulty. Such aesthetics enclose the various forms of avant-garde cinema, from the lyrical to the structural film, and signal work of an enduring radicalism. SImultaneously, this dissertation charts the origins of these artists, the circumstances that formed their aesthetic themes, and their maturation. In doing so, it attends to their individual origins and sources, and consequently, the individuation of their artistic activity. This research fills gaps in the literature of Canadian cinema by explicitly linking the origins of a Canadian avant-garde cinema to the forms of purposeful difficulty in modernism. Additionally, it offers new commentary on the idea of difficulty in art, and specifically, the resonances of difficult modern art in vanguard cinema. This study champions progressive poetic form in avant-garde cinema, identifying aesthetic strategies that have analogues in other art forms such as music, painting and poetry.
A framework and method for the run-time on-chip synthesis of multi-mode self-organized reconfigurable stream processors
Authors: Dumitriu Victor
Published: May 2021

A number of modern digital processing systems implement complex multi-mode applications with high performance requirements and strict operating constraints; examples include video processing and telecommunication applications. A number of these systems use increasingly large FPGAs as the implementation medium, due to reduced development costs. The combination of increases in FPGA capacity and system complexity has lead to a non-linear increase in system implementation effort. If left unchecked, implementation effort for such systems will reach the point where it becomes a design and development bottleneck. At the same time, the reduction in transistor size used to manufacture these devices can lead to increased device fault rates. To address these two problems, the Multi-mode Adaptive Collaborative Reconfigurable self-Organized System (MACROS) Framework and design methodology is proposed and described in this work. The MACROS Framework other the ability for run-time architecture adaptation by integrating FPGA configuration into regular operation. The MACROS Framework allows for run-time generation of Application-Specific Processors (ASPs) through the deployment, assembly and integration
of pre-built functional units; the framework further allows the relocation of functional units without affecting system functionality. The use of functional units as building blocks allows the system to be implemented on a piece-by-piece basis, which reduces the complexity of mapping, placement and routing tasks; the ability to relocate functional units allows fault mitigation by avoiding faulty regions in a device. The proposed framework has been used to implement multiple video processing systems which were used as verification and testing instruments. The MACROS framework was found to successfully support run-time architecture adaptation in the form of functional unit deployment and relocation in high performance systems. For large systems (more than 100 functional units), the MACROS Framework implementation effort, measured as time cost, was found to be one third that of a traditional (monolithic) system; more importantly, in MACRO Systems this time cost was found to increase linearly with system complexity (the number of functional units). When considering fault mitigation capabilities, the resource overhead associated with the MACROS Framework was found to be up to 85 % smaller than a traditional Triple Module Redundancy (TMR) solution.
Robust robotic visual servoing for uncertain systems
Authors: Assa Akbar
Published: May 2021

The control of robotic manipulators in unstructured environments is a challenging task. Exploiting the camera images for that purpose, known as visual servoing, offers an interesting solution to the problem. Classic visual servoing techniques were the first attempts towards this goal. However, these methods suffered from system’s shortcomings such as ones imposed by the limited camera’s field of view and the robot’s reachability. Numerous approaches were proposed to overcome these limitations. Nevertheless, most of these techniques assumed full knowledge about the system and did not account for uncertainties. Uncertainties in visual servoing systems are introduced by multiple sources such as camera image noise and robot parameters. The lack of knowledge about system’s parameters may lead to reduced accuracy or even total failure. Adaptive techniques were introduced previously to cope with this matter. However, those techniques were usually useful for deterministic uncertainties (e.g., camera calibration errors). Alternately, robust methods were employed to improve the performance of the system under uncertainties. Yet, those methods were usually conservative and more concerned with the stability of the system, rather than its accuracy.

This work proposes three steps towards robust and accurate visual servoing. First, the pose estimation algorithm, used in many visual servoing systems, is revised by introducing novel sensor fusion techniques. Multiple fusion algorithms at different levels of estimation are introduced to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the estimation against system uncertainties. Second, a novel uncertainty estimation technique is presented to approximate the level of uncertainties induced by image noise at different levels of the system. A general approach is used for that matter which has applicability over a wide range of controllers. Finally, multiple constraint-aware and robust controllers with improved stability and numerical feasibility are proposed to enhance the performance of the visual servoing systems in presence of uncertainties. The developed uncertainty model is exploited in robust control design. The effectiveness of each
proposed technique is verified through numerous simulations and experiments. As it is expected, the proposed methods are capable of handling the uncertainties and enhancing the accuracy, while accounting for system constraints.
Screening of sleep movement disorders via EMG signal analysis
Authors: Shokrollahi Mehrnaz
Published: May 2021

It is estimated that 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder, which hinders their daily life, affects their health, and incurs a significant economic burden to society. Untreated Periodic Leg Movement (PLM) or Rapid Eye Movement Behaviour Disorder (RBD) could lead to a three to four-fold increased risk of stroke and Parkinson’s disease respectively. These risks bring about the need for less costly and more available diagnostic tools that will have great potential for detection and prevention. The goal of this study is to investigate the potentially clinically relevant but under-explored relationship of the sleep-related movement disorders of PLMs and RBD with cerebrovascular diseases.
Our objective is to introduce a unique and efficient way of performing non-stationary signal analysis using sparse representation techniques. To fulfill this objective, at first, we develop a novel algorithm for Electromyogram (EMG) signals in sleep based on sparse representation, and we use a generalized method based on Leave-One-Out (LOO) to perform classification for small size datasets.
In the second objective, due to the long-length of these EMG signals, the need for feature extraction algorithms that can localize to events of interest increases. To fulfill this objective, we propose to use the Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) algorithm by means of sparsity and dictionary learning. This allows us to represent a variety of EMG phenomena efficiently using a very compact set of spectrum bases.
Yet EMG signals pose severe challenges in terms of the analysis and extraction of discriminant features. To achieve a balance between robustness and classification performance, we aim to exploit deep learning and study the discriminant features of the EMG signals by means of dictionary learning, kernels, and sparse representation for classification. The classification performances that were achieved for detection of RBD and PLM by means of implicating these properties were 90% and 97% respectively.
The theoretical properties of the proposed approaches pertaining to pattern recognition and detection are examined in this dissertation. The multi-layer feature extraction provide strong and successful characterization and classification for the EMG non-stationary signals and the proposed sparse representation techniques facilitate the adaptation to EMG signal quantification in automating the identification process.
Chaos based cryptography and image encryption
Authors: Nasim Amber  S.
Published: May 2021

Chaotic cryptography pronounces the use of chaos theory in specific physical dynamical systems working in chaotic system as measure of communication techniques and computation algorithms to accomplish dissimilar cryptographic tasks in a cryptographic system. We have reviewed some of the recent work on chaos-based cryptography in this piece of work.
Cryptography methodologies are critically important for storage of secured media content and transmission over exposed systems, for example, the web. For high security, encryption is one the approach to guard the information from leakage. Image encryption is transformation of image to an inaccurate form so that it can be secured from unauthorized users.
To explore application of encryption in time samples pattern, we have recommended a secured approach to code input signals by introducing a new encryption algorithm. The algorithm mechanism is such that the transmitter, an input signal was received and coded into a lengthier series of numbers. At the receiver, the coded signal by the transmitter was received and changed back into its original values. This was done based on the idea that the hidden input signal samples using a specific pattern, could only recoverable by a trusted receiver.
Poetry and reason: means and meanings of the moving image
Authors: Pelovska Iona
Published: May 2021

Poetry and Reason departs from the question of cinema as industrial technology and as artistic language. The prosthetic relationship of industrial technologies to the body, unlike the contingency of traditional art technologies on the body, problematizes the question of cinema as art. Cinema's capacity to render thought-like environments allows its trans-mediumatic abstraction. This extends its questioning beyond the technologically cinematic, into the pre-technological moving image that animates perception, thought and dream. In scanning the field that makes cinema possible, this work questions the possibilities cinema opens as a way of knowing and assembling realities. The interpolation of language, thought and embodiment reveals a view of language as mediumatic, and of cinema as a linguistic medium that can simulate a cognitively faithful dream (the original disembodied moving image) as sensory experience. Thus cinema re-enacts a pre-technological environment while advancing the language of technology embedded in the cinematic machine.
The libidinal ways solar and chthonic energies, the symbolic and the physical, interpolate in mytho-poetic thought, art and science culminate in the ways these energies unfold in the experience of cinema and illuminate human hybridization, from ancient anthropo-bestiality to the techno-human condition. Poetry and reason, as the two ways of language, outline an epistemology that foregrounds the primacy of poetry in symbolic being. This work aims to resolve tensions between the symbolic and the material both theoretically and methodologically, proposing an integration of rational and poetic (artistic) techniques. The methodological intervention brings divergent approaches into tensional dynamic that sculpts a mobile structure, necessarily open-ended and imperfect. Theoretically, it delves into the movements of poetry and reason as ways to meaning, investigating their destination in cinema. The vocabulary of reason prompts cinema to advance a technological intent to colonize reality while poetic language destabilizes that movement. Reason and poetry as the two ways of language are thus actualized in the ways cinematic language interpolates mental and sensory experience.
Interaction between clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 and thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum DSM 7060 on cellulosic and lignocellulosic substrates: substrate attachment, concentration dynamics, and ethanol production
Authors: Miscevic Dragan
Published: May 2021

Second generation biofuel research and bioethanol production via consolidated bioprocessing has the potential to become a viable alternative to finite fossil fuel reserves. Further advances have to be made in order to make this biotechnology more economically feasible. The focus of this study was to use cellulotyc C. thermocellum in a consortium with hemicellulotyc T. saccharolyticum to investigate the dynamics of their interaction with respect to cellulosic and lignocellulosic substrate attachment, respective numbers, and extent of solid substrate hydrolysis and desired end product formation. T. saccharolyticum's partial adherence to cotton and switchgrass has demonstrated limited need for substrate colonization and hence reduced competition with C. thermocellum. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that T. saccharolyticum can proliferate under low carbon supplementation, and efficiently utilize the metabolites produced from C. thermocellum's hydrolysis of cotton and switchgrass. The interaction between the two thermophiles on both substrates demonstrated a potential for increased bioethanol production.
The preparation and characterization of structurally stable 5-coordinate polystannanes
Authors: Khan Aman U.
Published: May 2021

Tetraorganotin compounds [2-(MeOCH2)C6H4]SnR3 (R = Me, n-Bu, Ph) containing a C,O-chelating ligand were prepared in good yield from the reaction of the R3SnCl and [2-(MeOCH2)C6H4]Li. Tethered organotin compounds Ph3Sn(CH2)3OC6H4R (R = Ph, H, CF3, OCH3) were prepared in good yield from the hydrostannylation reactions of the corresponding vinyl ethers with Ph3SnH. Conversion of two organotin compounds to triorganotin chlorides and diorganotin chlorides, (Ph3-nClnSn(CH2)3OC6H4R; R = H, Ph: n = 1, 2), was successfully carried out and characterisation afforded by NMR spectroscopy. X-ray crystallographic studies revealed a tetrahedral geometry for the tetraorganotin Ph3Sn(CH2)3OC6H4CF3, while five-coordinate trigonal bipyramidal structures with relatively short Sn-O (2.7-2.8 Å) interactions were observed for both mono- (Ph2ClSn(CH2)3OC6H4R; R = H, Ph) and dichloride (PhCl2Sn(CH2)3OC6H4R; R = H, Ph) species. Penta-coordinate diorganotin dichlorides containing a C,N- chelating ligand[2-(Me2NCH2)C6H4]RSnCl2 (R = Me, n-Bu, Ph) or C,O- chelating ligand [2-(MeOCH2)C6H4]RSnCl2 (R = Me, n-Bu, Ph) were prepared by treating RSnCl3 with the lithiated salts [2-(Me2NCH2)C6H4]Li and [2-(MeOCH2)C6H4]Li respectively. Organotin chlorides were successfully reduced with LiAlH4 or NaBH4 to produce novel hydrides. Catalytic dehydrocoupling of diorganotin dihydrides to yield polystannanes was explored using a variety of dehydrocoupling catalysts such as Wilkinson’s catalyst, Cp2ZrMe2 or TMEDA. In almost every instance this resulted in the formation of yellow coloured gummy polymeric materials of moderate molecular weights (Mw = 1 × 104 - 1 × 105 Da) and PDI’s (1.3-2.0). The stability of polystannanes containing
tethered O or C,N- or C,O-chelating ligands was investigated in both solid and in solution using NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. These studies revealed an enhanced stability to ambient light in the solid state and in solution in the dark when compared to known poly(dialkyl)stannanes.
Automating GIS input for distributed urban drainage modelling
Authors: Shamead Saalih  M
Published: May 2021

The development of distributed urban drainage models is becoming more important as cities prepare for the challenges associated with climate change such as more intense precipitation events (McCarthy et al. 2010; Allan, 2011; Simõeset et al. 2011; Blumensaat et al. 2012; Leitãoet al. 2012). GIS-based tools were developed to generate input datasets for a 1-D distributed urban drainage model for part of Toronto's combined area, resulting in an efficient model development process compared to those utilizing manual approaches. These automatic GIS-based tools included the delineation of Wet Weather Flow (WWF) subcatchments (stormwater) and Dry Weather Flow (DWF) subcatchments (sanitary). It also included the determination of the intensity of rainfall on a more detailed scale than the coarse coverage provided by the City's rain gauges and the traditional Thiessen polygon interpolation method. Through testing the new tools designed in ModelBuilder, it was determined that 66% and 52% of DWF and WWF subcatchments respectively, were automatically delineated to a degree where they would be "Acceptable" for input into the urban drainage model, InfoWorks CS. Although the rainfall tools were able to continuously interpolate measured rainfall (on a seemingly unprecedented basis),and generate over 700 virtual rain gauges, the validity of the approach remains imperfect due to irresolvable inconsistencies between the City's gauges and those used for validation purposes.
Characterization of major chromatin assembly proteins in tetrahymena thermophile using proeomic and molecular evolutionary analyses
Authors: Shah Syed  N
Published: May 2021

Histones H3/H4 are deposited onto DNA in a replication-dependent or independent fashion by the CAF1 and HIRA protein complexes. Despite the identification of these protein complexes, mechanistic details remain unclear. Recently, we showed that in T. thermophila histone chaperones Nrp1, Asf1 and the Impβ6 importin function together to transport newly synthesized H3/H4 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. To characterize chromatin assembly proteins in T.thermophila, I used affinity purification combined with mass spectrometry to identify protein-protein interactions of Nrp1, Cac2 subunit of CAF1, HIRA and histone modifying Hat1-complex in T. thermophila. I found that the three-subunit T.thermophila CAF1 complex interacts with Casein Kinase 2 (CKII), possibly accounting for previously reported human CAF1phosphorylation. I also found that Hat2 subunit of HAT1 complex is also shared by CAF1 complex as its Cac3 subunit. This suggests that Hat2/Cac3 might exist in two separate pools of protein complexes. Remarkably, proteomic analysis of Hat2/Cac3 in turn revealed that it forms several complexes with other proteins including SIN3, RXT3, LIN9 and TESMIN, all of which have known roles in the regulation of gene expression. Finally, I asked how selective forces might have impacted on the function of proteins involved in H3/H4 transport. Focusing on NASP which possesses several TPR motifs, I showed that its protein-protein interactions are conserved in T. thermophila. Using molecular evolutionary methods I show that different TPRs in NASP evolve at different rates possibly accounting for the functional diversity observed among different family members.
Vis3D+ A tightly integrated GPU-accelerated computation and rendering framework for interactive 3D image visualization
Authors: Nisar Irfa
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents extensions to an interactive 3D image visualization framework. The existing software
framework provides functionality for interactively visualizing 3D medical data. The extensions consist of software modules that execute directly on the graphics hardware, utilizing the massively parallel, general-purpose computing platform provided by modern graphics processing units (GPUs). These GPUbased software modules are designed to support the execution of volume image processing algorithms, implemented using recently available GPU programs known as “compute shaders”, as well as to support interactive editing of the algorithms’ output. The new modules are seamlessly integrated as new stages in a GPU-based rendering pipeline provided by the existing framework. In this thesis, an example volume image processing algorithm known as level set segmentation is implemented and demonstrated. In addition, a new editing module is demonstrated that enables user modification of this algorithm’s
output by extending a pre-existing volume “painting” interface.
Appliance scheduling optimization with micro-grid in smart home network
Authors: Qayyum Fatima  Abdul
Published: May 2021

The fast emerging smart grid technology provides greater information flow, flexibility and control to both electricity consumers and electricity suppliers. Of these benefits, the two way flow of information between consumer and electricity producer in smart grid opened new vistas of applications. Smart home appliances are connected to home area network (HAN) to co-ordinate power usage demanded for the home under control. We are, therefore, witnessing an increasing interest in smart homes from the point of view of optimal energy management, renewable green energy sources and smart appliances. Hence, the problem of scheduling of smart appliances operations in a given time range with set of energy sources like national grid and local generation micro-grid is investigated in this thesis. Renewable
energy source that is adopted in this thesis is a photovoltaic panel as a power producing appliance. Appliance operation is modeled in terms of un-interruptible sequence phases, given in load demand profile with a goal of minimizing electricity cost fulfilling duration, energy requirement, and user preference constraints. An optimization algorithm which can provide a schedule plan for smart home appliances usage is proposed based on the mixed integer linear programming technique. The effect of adding a photovoltaic system in the home results in reduction of electricity bill and the peak demand of the home and export of energy to the national grid in times when solar energy production is more than the demand of the home. The situation is modeled using Matlab with Yalmip library to exploit the state-of-the-art Gurobi solver for obtaining the timing of appliance scheduling in the smart home in comparable time to be true as real time process for demand side management.
Discovering access holes in disaster rubble with functional and photometric attributes
Authors: Kong Christopher
Published: May 2021

The collapse of buildings often result in human victims becoming trapped within rubble. This environment is dangerous for emergency first responders tasked with locating and extricating victims. Recent work in scene mapping using photometric colour and metric depth (RGB-D) data suggest the possibility of automatically identifying potential access holes into rubble interior. This capability would improve search operation by directing limited resources to be concentrated on areas where access holes might exist.
This thesis presents an approach to automatically identify access holes in rubble. The investigation begins by defining access holes in terms of their functional utility, that allow for their algorithmic identification. From this definition, a set of hole-related features extracted from RGB-D imagery are proposed for detection. Experiments were conducted using data collected over a real-world disaster training facility. Empirical evaluation indicates the efficacy of the proposed system for successfully identifying potential access holes in disaster rubble scenes.
Investigation of the life cycle carbon impact of passive house building envelopes in Canada
Authors: Andres Patrick W.
Published: May 2021

Whole building energy and life cycle impact modeling was conducted for a single-family detached reference building designed to meet the Passive House Standard. Life cycle operating global warming potential (GWP) and building envelope embodied GWP were assessed for two mechanical system configurations and three Canadian cities. Variations in regional electricity carbon intensity were found to significantly impact both operating and embodied GWP. Embodied GWP was found to be significant relative to operating GWP in locations with access to low carbon electricity. Additionally, use of natural gas mechanical systems in Edmonton resulted in 360% greater operating emissions than in Montreal, while electric heat pump mechanicals yielded 6,600% higher emissions. Finally, the Passive House Standard method for quantifying operating GWP was found to overestimate emissions by up to 3700% in Montreal and underestimate emissions by 34% in Edmonton, when compared to a method accounting for variations in regional electricity carbon intensity.
The use of optical coherence tomography envelope statistics to quantify local temperature changes in tissue-mimicking phantoms
Authors: Seevaratnam Subaagari
Published: May 2021

There exists a multitude of extreme thermally induced therapies for treating both benign and malignant tumors. Advancement in optics has shown prospect in clinical applications, especially monitoring oncological clinical treatments like thermal ablation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) backscattered spectrum has demonstrated sensitivity to structural changes on the microscopic level. Envelope statistics analysis on OCT images of tissue-mimicking phantoms that are thermally modulated can provide structural information that correlates to changes in temperature. Several probability distribution functions were analyzed by looking at suitable theoretical matches to the empirical OCT data. Results indicate that the generalized gamma function was the best fit and has potential in relating the scale parameter to the size of the scatterers in the phantom. Moreover, the parameters revealed sensitivity to temperature changes, which can be further studied to understand the biological response of tissue that are exposed to extreme thermal conditions in
order to improve patient care.
Mutagenesis of novel clostridial fusants for enhanced green biobutanol production using renewable and sustainable feedstock
Authors: Roy Pallavi
Published: May 2021

Biobutanol was produced in the present work through Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) of cellulosic feedstock (i.e. wheat straw (WS)) and algal biomass. Novel Clostridial fused strains developed earlier underwent mutagenesis for strain enhancement using UV and chemical mutagen (ethyl methanesulphonate). Results for mutated strains showed higher biobutanol production of 14.6 g/L, with total acetone, biobutanol and ethanol (ABE) yield of 0.6 g/g. Moreover, mutated strains showed tolerance to biobutanol toxicity at 15g/L; ~15% increase over literature values. Algal biomass was pre-treated using different thermal, chemical and enzymatic pre-treatments to define its biobutanol production potential compared to WS. A total sugar concentration of 26.4 g/L and glucose concentration of 12.48 g/L was obtained with enzymatic pre-treatment. Biobutanol production through SSF of algal biomass showed maximum concentration of biobutanol of 7.52 g/L with a total ABE yield of 0.48 g/g.
Location based popularity analysis of Twitter data
Authors: Rana S.M. Rashel
Published: May 2021

This research aims to analyze location based twitter data to measure the popularity of the products/persons or any given user parameter. For this purpose this work has integrated sentimental analysis, location based system and ontology. An application with a novel user interface has been developed to search and visualize the data on Google map. This research work uses publicly available and location enabled twitter data. This work also has the capability to process tweet data without user’s locations.
The main contribution of this research is the integration of sentimental analysis on location based Twitter data. Another significant contribution is the development of a novel user interface, which allows the user to search on a map interactively with multi-focusing features on Google map. This integrated sentiment analysis work efficiently performs location based popularity scaling on products, persons, brands or any given topic.
Green resins from renewable resources
Authors: Kosalka Justin J.
Published: May 2021

This work was aimed at exploring bio-based materials for the purpose of toner production on an industrial scale. Polyester and polyether based resins were prepared in good yields from naturally occurring phenolic compounds with desired thermal and physical properties. Phenols with varying functionality such as guaiacol, eugenol and vanillin along with two synthetically produced phenolic compounds modelling the β-O-4 linkage found in softwood lignins were explored as suitable precursors to synthetic, "green", resins. Phenols were transformed into diols using glycerine carbonate and a base catalyzed reaction. Diols were then polymerized with dicarboxylic acids in an acid catalyzed, transesterfication, reaction. A novel, bio-based polyether was synthesized in one pot, one step polymerization using vanillin. Thermal properties ((Tg) and (Ts) of resulting resins were evaluated. Resulting compounds and polymers were characterized using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, DSC and GPC.
Impacts of restorative justice on youth in conflict with the law : a narrative approach
Authors: Cassell Jessica
Published: May 2021

Restorative justice is meant to be an alternative to retributive justice by putting the
process and outcome of justice back in the hands of those involved in a crime. Through narrative
inquiry, this study posed the question, “how does restorative justice impact youth in conflict with
the law?” Anti-oppressive perspectives and critical and post-modern theories were used to
analyze the narratives of participants and provide insight into the potential of restorative justice
as an empowering alternative to retributive justice. Youth found the process beneficial in a
number of ways. However, youth still experienced criminalization before participating in a
restorative justice program, suggesting that the model is unable to completely minimize the
marginalizing impacts of retributive justice. Furthermore, participants’ narratives demonstrated
the need for the restorative justice model to incorporate a critical analysis of intersectionality into
its program delivery to avoid mirroring the oppressive relations of the mainstream system.
Ecological consciousness and the limits of the Academy: a case study approach to ecohealth training and research
Authors: Feagan Mathieu
Published: May 2021

This dissertation explores the concept of ecological consciousness through a case study approach examining recent attempts to use graduate training and research to better address issues of ecological sustainability and human health. Since the 1970s, there has been a growing number of graduate training programs designed to equip a new generation of graduates with the kind of awareness necessary to address the global ecological crisis. Despite these efforts, the crisis on the whole continues to worsen. Although scholars have pointed to the challenges that ecological consciousness poses for graduate training and research, few studies have examined these challenges from the point of view of graduate students themselves. To better understand the opportunities and constraints of graduate training and research, this dissertation uses the framework of ecological consciousness to analyze the experiences of an international group of twenty-six graduate students and professionals trained in ecosystem approaches to human health (ecohealth) in Canada, West and Central Africa, and Central America. Drawing on systems thinking, Indigenous knowledges, and historical materialism, I argue that ecological consciousness means using different ways of knowing to challenge the disciplining tendency of academic knowledge production and open space for a wider ecology of knowledge to develop and express itself. Methodologically, this project is informed by institutional ethnography, building on the diverse experiences and insights of interviewees to make sense of the layered contextual frames of the university, the state, and international development research projects. Despite an orientation toward transformative practices, interviewee experiences reveal strong pressures to fit within top-down, disciplinary processes already governing the administration of training and research, thereby limiting the possibilities for ecological consciousness. I conclude by offering certain theoretical possibilities for how ecological consciousness can support collective action upon the disciplinary employment structures, which graduate students and professionals have a key role in transforming.
Functional analysis of chromatin assembly genes in tetrahymena thermophila
Authors: Jeyapala Renu
Published: May 2021

The basic structural unit of chromatin is the nucleosome composed of ~147 base pairs of DNA wrapped around an octamer of histone proteins. Post-translational modifications such as histone acetylation or the substitution of histone variants in place of core histones have been implicated in various chromatin related processes. There are two distinct chromatin assembly pathways. Replication-dependent mediated by CAF-1 (H3-H4) and replication-independent mediated by HIRA (H3.3-H4). Miss-regulation of chromatin assembly patterns result in the onset of many disease states such as cancer. Tetrahymena thermophila is a useful model for understanding basic questions in chromatin biology due to the segregation of transcriptionally active and silent chromatin into two distinct nuclei. To better characterize replication-dependent and independent chromatin assembly pathways in T. thermophila, I have engineered somatic knockouts (HIRA, CAC2, UBN1 and UBN2) and initiated the functional analysis of these chromatin assembly genes mediated in growth and development. The absence of CAC2 results in larger macronuclei and speculated to be a result of reduced histone H3-H4 deposition onto chromatin during growth.
Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling by clathrin-coated membrane microdomains
Authors: Garay Camilo
Published: May 2021

The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling axis controls cell survival, proliferation and metabolism, and is activated by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) such as the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR). In addition to activation of PI3K-Akt signaling, the binding of EGF to its receptor results in rapid recruitment of EGFR to clathrin-coated pits (CCPs) followed by eventual EGFR internalization. Hence, receptor-proximal activation of signaling intermediates occurs while EGFR resides within CCPs; however, whether CCPs are required for EGFR signaling remains poorly understood. Using a combination of pharmacological inhibition and siRNA gene silencing of clathrin, we have examined how clathrin controls EGF-stimulated activation of Akt. We find that perturbation of clathrin, but not of EGFR endocytosis by perturbation of dynamin leads to disruption of EGF-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. This indicates that clathrin acts in a function separate from its role in endocytosis to regulate EGFR signaling at the plasma membrane. The EGF-stimulated phosphorylation of the signaling intermediate Gab1, but not that of EGFR itself, was also abrogated upon disruption of clathrin. We then utilized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF-M) to examine the hierarchy of recruitment of EGFR signaling components to CCPs. Collectively, these findings suggest a role for clathrin as a central regulator of EGFR signaling leading to Gab1 and Akt phosphorylation.
An optimal broker design for inter-cloud systems
Authors: Peesary Shraddha  R
Published: May 2021

In the next generation of Cloud computing systems, it is expected that multiple Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) will cooperate together to advertise their services and prices to their end users, which may choose the one that best meets their budgetary and technical needs. Despite this benefit of having multiple CSPs to select from, several issues may arise. For instance, how does an IT entrepreneur select a CSP to offload his/her service request?
How does the underlying Inter-Cloud system handle this service request? To address these questions, this thesis proposes a novel Optimal Cloud Broker design for Inter-Cloud Systems in the form of a Semi-Markov Decision Process (SMDP) based model. Under the long-run expected average cost criterion, the optimal policy is derived, which aim at maximizing the overall virtual machine utilization while giving the end users the best possible prices. The effectiveness of the proposed Broker design is validated by numerical results.
Evaluation of biological nutrient removal by anammox in three phase fluidized bed bioreator
Authors: Jones Nicholas
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study was to show the viability of a 0.70 m3 three phase aerobic fluidized bed bioreactor for the denitrification of wastewater by anammox bacteria. The reactor was monitored for 343 days, operating in a batch mode for 50 days, with a continuous flow of wastewater being fed for the remaining 293 days. It was determined that anammox contributed up to 5.5±0.5% of the ammonia removal during the batch mode of operation, and up to 14.2±3.7% of the ammonia removal during the continuous mode of operation. The highest ammonia and total nitrogen removals of 90.9±1.6% and 20.8±4.1% were measured under high recycle rates. Up to 63.1±5.2% and 19.2±7.5% ammonia and total nitrogen removal was observed after a single pass through the reactor. At low COD concentrations and anoxic conditions, ammonia and nitrite were removed simultaneously. Under the evaluated conditions, the reactor was determined to contain anammox bacteria.
Hybrid Neuro-Fractal Analysis of ECG Signals to Predict Ischemia
Authors: Montazeri Hedieh
Published: May 2021

In this thesis, we propose and implement a new hybrid approach using fractal analysis, statistical analysis and neural network computation to build a model for prediction the number of ischemia occurrence based on ECG recordings. The main advantage of the proposed approach over similar earlier related works is that first useful parameters from fractal analysis of the signal are extracted to build a model that includes both clinical characteristics and signal attributes. Statistical analysis such as binary logistic regression and multivariate linear regression are then used to further explore the relation of parameters in order to obtain a more accurate model. We show that the results compare well with those of earlier work and clearly indicate that the augmentation of the above mentioned approaches improves the prediction accuracy.
Digitizing Snow: A Study Using Selected Works of Michael Snow and Examining How Digital Reproductions of Contemporary Photographic Artworks are Pursued by Cultural Institutions
Authors: Jivraj Christophe
Published: May 2021

This thesis looks at the current state of digital reproductions for contemporary photographic artworks—how they are made, the purposes they serve, and how they are disseminated by cultural institutions. Using four selected photographic installation artworks by Canadian artist Michael Snow, this research examines how museums pursue reproductions of artworks that are installative by design and possess elements that are not easily reproducible like sound or the use of time. The reproduction process and terminology used at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada (two institutions with significant collections of Snow’s artworks) are both examined, as well as how digital reproduction is currently discussed and theorized by museum professionals and digital specialists. Reproductions are used for outreach, research, advertising, and conservation, but between texts and institutions alike there lacks consistent terminologies and purposes for reproductions due to the dearth of research into this type of imagery.
Mechanisms Of Organelle Identity and Adaptation In Immune Cells
Authors: Hipolito Victoria Emily Barbosa
Published: May 2021

Cells are exposed to diverse extracellular and intracellular cues, and coopt subcellular responses depending on their cellular state and functional demand; including upregulating signalling pathways or adapting organelle function and physiology. The immune system is a tightly regulated cohort of specialized cells with heterogeneous functions. Phagocytes, a type of immune cell, are challenged with disparate environmental stimuli and can adapt intracellularly to promote immunity. Due to their cellular plasticity, we aim to understand the molecular machinery that controls organelle identity and adaptation in immune cells, when challenged with immunostimulatory agents.
First, we used a long tubular phagocytic cup, which provides the spatiotemporal resolution necessary to study the stages of phagocytosis. Using this model, we observed the sequential recruitment of early and late endolysosomal markers to the growing cup. Surprisingly, the early endosomal lipid, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P] persisted. We determined a novel pH-based mechanism that induces the dissociation of the Vps34 Class III phosphatidylinositol-3- kinase from tubular cups as they progressively acidify, when reaching 20 µm in length or upon phagosome closure. The detachment of Vps34 stops the production of PtdIns(3)P, allowing for its turnover by PIKfyve. Given that PtdIns(3)P dependent signalling is important for multiple cellular pathways, this mechanism for pH-dependent regulation of Vps34 could be at the center of many PtdIns(3)P-dependent cellular processes.
Additionally, we examined how lysosomes, a kingpin organelle essential for pathogen killing, and antigen processing and presentation, adapt in response to phagocyte activation. During phagocyte activation, lysosomes are remodelled from dozens of globular structures to a tubular network, in a process that requires the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signalling pathway. We showed that lysosome tubulation is coupled with an increase in volume and holding capacity. Lysosome remodelling was dependent on de novo synthesis of lysosomal proteins, but independent of TFEB and TFE3 transcription factors, known to scale-up lysosome biogenesis. We demonstrate a novel mechanism of acute organelle expansion via mTORC1-S6K-4E-BP-dependent increase in lysosomal mRNA translation. This process was necessary for efficient and rapid antigen presentation to T-cells by dendritic cells (DCs). Moreover, lysosome remodelling was conserved in DCs activated with select adjuvants, additives used in vaccines to boost efficacy, providing evidence for its possible clinical applicability.
Together, we have identified two novel mechanisms controlling organelle identity and
adaptation in immune cells.
Second generation of the diagnostic tool for the In vivo measurement of strontium levels in human bone
Authors: Sibai Mira
Published: May 2021

Strontium (Sr) is an element collected naturally in the human body through diet. It has a paradoxical effect on bone health, where at low doses Sr enhances bone health. The beneficial effects of Sr warranted its use as a complimentary treatment for osteoporosis. The current source-bases Sr in vivo x-ray fluorescence (IVXRF) system is in clinical use to study the incorporation and retention of Sr in bone after administration of Sr supplements. This system however can only monitor relative changes in bone with a limited level of accuracy. Therefore a second generation of the diagnostic tool has been developed and optimized aiming to improve the accuracy and precision of an IVXRF measurement. The system comprises of an optically focused x-ray tube producing monochromatic x-rays and a silicon drift detector. Furthermore, optimal parameters to run the system are investigated, along with three different means of signal normalization.
Creation of a federated database of blood proteins: a powerful new tool for finding and characterizing biomarkers in serum
Authors: Marshall John , Bowden Peter , Schmit Jean Claude , Betsou Fay
Published: May 2021

Protein biomarkers offer major benefits for diagnosis and monitoring of disease processes. Recent advances in protein mass spectrometry make it feasible to use this very sensitive technology to detect and quantify proteins in blood. To explore the potential of blood biomarkers, we conducted a thorough review to evaluate the reliability of data in the literature and to determine the spectrum of proteins reported to exist in blood with a goal of creating a Federated Database of Blood Proteins (FDBP). A unique feature of our approach is the use of a SQL database for all of the peptide data; the power of the SQL database combined with standard informatic algorithms such as BLASTand the statistical analysis system (SAS) allowed the rapid annotation and analysis of the database without the need
to create special programs to manage the data. Our mathematical analysis and review shows that in addition to the usual secreted proteins found in blood, there are many reports of intracellular proteins and good agreement on transcription factors, DNA remodelling factors in addition to cellular receptors and their signal transduction enzymes. Overall, we have catalogued about 12,130 proteins identified by at least one unique peptide, and of these
3858 have 3 or more peptide correlations. The FDBP with annotations should facilitate testing blood for specific disease biomarkers.
Integration of GPS Precise Point Positioning and MEMS-Based INS Using Unscented Particle Filter
Authors: Rabbou Mahmoud Abd , El-Rabbany Ahmed
Published: May 2021

Integration of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS) integrated system involves nonlinear motion state and measurement models. However, the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is commonly used as the estimation filter, which might lead to solution divergence. This is usually encountered during GPS outages, when low-cost micro-electro-mechanical sensors (MEMS) inertial sensors are used. To enhance the navigation system performance, alternatives to the standard EKF should be considered. Particle filtering (PF) is commonly considered as a nonlinear estimation technique to accommodate severe MEMS inertial sensor biases and noise behavior. However, the computation burden of PF limits its use. In this study, an improved version of PF, the unscented particle filter (UPF), is utilized, which combines the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and PF for the integration of GPS precise point positioning and MEMS-based inertial systems. The proposed filter is examined and compared with traditional estimation filters, namely EKF, UKF and PF. Tightly coupled mechanization is adopted, which is developed in the raw GPS and INS measurement domain. Un-differenced ionosphere-free linear combinations of pseudorange and carrier-phase measurements are used for PPP. The performance of the UPF is analyzed using a real test scenario in downtown Kingston, Ontario. It is shown that the use of UPF reduces the number of samples needed to produce an accurate solution, in comparison with the traditional PF, which in turn reduces the processing time. In addition, UPF enhances the positioning accuracy by up to 15% during GPS outages, in comparison with EKF. However, all filters produce comparable results when the GPS measurement updates are available. Keywords: GPS; PPP; INS; EKF; UKF; UPF; tightly coupled
Gender and Generosity: Does Degree of Anonymity or Group Gender Composition Matter?
Authors: Cadsby C. Bram , Servátka Maroš , Song Fei
Published: May 2021

Employing a two-by-two factorial design that manipulates whether dictator groups are single or mixed-sex and whether procedures are single or double-blind, we examine gender effects in a standard dictator game. No gender effect was found in any of the experimental treatments. Moreover, neither single- versus mixed-sex groups nor level of anonymity had any impact on either male or female behavior.