bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface modification of selected polymer films by ozonation
Authors: Gu Hong Bin
Published: May 2021

In this study, three polymer films - high density polyethylene (HDPE), biaxial oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and biaxial oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were oxidized by ozone in distilled water and in the gaseous phase in a specially designed reactor. Ozonation was conducted using different reaction times, applied ozone doses and pH values. Peroxides were generated by ozonation on the surfaces of polymers. Then the peroxide-induced graft polymerixation of hydrophilic monomers improves the biocompatibility of the polymer surfaces. These three films are currently in extensive use, the modified polymer films can be applied more in organic materials packaging and medical fields.

These three films were all found to react with ozone to generate peroxides both in distilled water and in gaseous phase. When comparing the peroxide generation rates in distilled water and in ozone gas mixture, it was found that the peroxide generation rates of BOPP and PET in the gaseous phase ozonation were faster than the peroxide generation rates in the aqueous phase ozonation; but the peroxide generation rate of HDPE showed a different trend: its peroxide generation rate in distilled water was faster than when using the ozone mixture in the gaseous phase. Further, among the three polymer films, HDPE obtained the fastest peroxide generation rate in distilled water, while BOPP has the fastest peroxide generation rate in gas phase.

The tensile strength and elongation of untreated and ozone treated films were examined. The tensile strength and elongation decreased with increasing ozonation time. For both the aqueous and ozone gas mixtures, the order in which the three polymer films decreased in tensile strength and elongation were: HDPE>BOPP>PETE; but the tensile stength and elongation of BOPP and PET dropped faster when using the ozone gas mixture than when using the aqueous ozone. The results were the opposite of HDPE.

After the reaction conditions were investigated, that using the 1.0-wt‰ applied ozone dose and 1.0-hr reaction time was found to be optimal, both to obtain peroxides and to maintain good mechanical strength. After investigation of the reactions with different pH values, it was found that the peroxide density decreased slightly as the pH volume increased.

Finally, the ozone-induced graft polymerization of Acryamide (AAm) significantlly increased the hydrophilicity of HDPE films, the FTIR and SEM analysis confirmed the successful graft polymerization of AAm.
Retinal Fundus image processing and ensemble learning: optic disc and optic cup detection
Authors: Mohammadali Pishnamaz Shima
Published: May 2021

Ophthalmologists have widely used retinal fundus imaging systems to examine the health of the optic nerve, vitreous, macula, retina and their blood vessels. Many critical diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, can be diagnosed by analyzing retinal fundus images. Retinal image-based glaucoma detection is a comprehensive diagnostic approach that examines the head cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) as an important indicator for detecting the presence and the extent of glaucoma in a patient. The accurate segmentations of the optic disc (OD) and optic cup (OC) are critical for the calculation of CDR. Machine learning based algorithms can be very helpful to efficiently exploit the vast amounts of retinal fundus data.
In this thesis project, the main goal is to develop image processing and machine learning algorithms to automatically detect OD and OC from fundus images. This goal has been achieved by developing and applying several image enhancement techniques. First, an algorithm is proposed and tested on several fundus images to detect OD. The proposed algorithm is based on a combination of Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE), Alternating Sequential Filters (ASF), thresholding, and Circular Hough Transform (CHT) methods. The results section highlights that the proposed algorithm is highly efficient in segmentation of OD from other parts of the fundus image. Several classification and modeling methods are studied in order to classify detected OD into OC and non-OC regions. In this thesis project three main ensemble modeling algorithms are studied to segment OC. The studied ensemble models are Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machines (GBM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting Machines (XGBoost). The comparison between these models shows that they have more accurate results than conventional classification methods such as Logistic Regression (LR) or Support Vector Machines (SVM). This study shows that XGBoost is the fastest and most accurate approach to segment optic cup within the optic disc region.
Hardware software partitioning using directed acyclic data dependence graph with precedence
Authors: Jin Matthew
Published: May 2021

In this thesis we present a system partitioning technique that employs C/C++ as input specification language for hardware/software co-design. The proposed algorithm is able to explore a number of partitioning solutions as compared to other partitioning research. This benefit is obtained by processing data dependency and precedence dependency simultaneously in a new representation called Directed Acyclic Data dependency Graph with Precedence (DADGP). DADGP is an extension of Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure frequently used in the past for partitioning. The DADGP based partitioning algorithm minimizes communication overhead, overall system execution time as well as system cost in terms of hardware area. The algorithm analyzes the DADGP and tries to expose parallelism between processing elements and repeated tasks. The benefits of exposing parallelism with minimum inter PE communication overhead are shown in the experimental results. However, such benefits come with increase in cost due to additional hardware units and their interconnections. DADGP-based partitioning technique is also employed to implement block matching and SOBEL edge detection techniques. Overall, the proposed system partitioning algorithm is fast and powerful enough to handle complicated and large system designs.
Long-term performance modelling of Etobicoke exfiltration system
Authors: Liu Haiyue
Published: May 2021

Urbanization increases the stress on the hydrologic cycle. The Etobicoke exfiltration system (EES) was developed in 1993 to remediate the impact on the hydrologic cycle after urbanization. The purpose of this research is to model the Etobicoke exfiltration system (EES) and evaluate the stormwater management performance of EES. A comprehensive literature review was conducted on development of stormwater management and Low impact development (LID). The US EPA SWMM was selected to model the EES. Three modelling methods were investigated to simulate the performance of EES. The Orifice-Storage-Pump method was found to perform the best. EES was applied before an existing wet pond in a case study subdivision. The modelling results show that EES meets three criteria: reduce water quantity, impact water balance and improve water quality.
Modifying Crystal Morphology and Framework Composition of Composition of Zeolite L (LTL) : A Co-Solvent Approach
Authors: Gaona-Gomez Adriana
Published: May 2021

The first part of this study investigates synthesis protocols to tune the size and the morphology of zeolite L (LTL) crystals using three different glycols. The outcomes clearly demonstrate that the formation of pure LTL phase is greatly facilitated at 150 ºC for 6 days only when using triethylene glycol (TEG) as the co-solvent, verified by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). SEM images show that LTL crystals present a cylinder-like structure with an aspect ratio of one. The formation of pure LTL phase is dramatically deteriorated when the synthesis conditions are changed to higher temperature (180 ºC), various synthesis durations (1-3 days) and aging time, and using other co-solvents (ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol). Inspired by published results indicating the interactions between Ge and glycols, I developed three synthesis approaches exploring the feasibility of incorporating germanium (Ge) into LTL framework using TEG in the second part of this study. Moreover, studies report that the incorporation of Ge in zeolite frameworks can enhance zeolites’ catalytic performances. The results from my investigation show that highly crystalline and well-defined LTL crystals are attained at 150 ºC for 3 days. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) shows the presence of Ge in LTL samples, indicating that the incorporation of Ge is very promising using the developed synthesis approaches. The outcomes are expected to be very useful to other researchers in the zeolites research field.
Photochemical treatment of organic constituents and bacterial pathogens from synthetic slaughterhouse wastewater by combining vacuum-UV and UV-C
Authors: Barrera Mauricio
Published: May 2021

The reduction and degradation of total organic carbon (TOC) and bacteria inactivation efficiency using Vacuum-Ultraviolet (VUV) oxidation process Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) photolytic process, and their combination (UV-C/VUV and VUV/UV-C) from synthetic slaughterhouse wastewater was investigated. TOC removal rates achieved during continuous mode operation were 6.2%, 5.5%, 5.8%, and 6.1%, respectively. In a second stage, H₂O₂ was added to both processes, UV-C/H₂O₂ and VUV/H₂O₂, and it was found that TOC removal rates were increased twice as much during continious flow operation to 10.8% and 12.2%, respectively. The optimum molar ration of H₂O₂/TOC was found to be 2.5 and 1.5 for each process respectively. Finally, it was observed that all photochemical processes achieved over 99.999% (five logs) of bacteria inactivation in a short period of irradiation time, 27.6 sec.
A cut above: the end (and ends) of film censorship
Authors: Sacco Daniel Vincent
Published: May 2021

By the beginning of the twenty-first century in the West, the notion of
government-appointed bodies mandated for censoring cinematic content had fallen
considerably out of fashion as institutional censorship was largely curtailed. Barring
widely shared concerns regarding the exposure of underage children to material deemed
inappropriate, newly rebranded “classification” boards have acted to limit the extent to
which they themselves can prohibit images from entering the public market, shifting their
emphasis away from censorship and toward consumer edification and greater
consideration of artistic merit and authorial intent. Such reform brought the policies of
censorship boards in Britain, Canada, and Australia into closer alignment with the goals
and processes of the Motion Picture Association of America’s ratings system. Can we
then assume that cinematic censorship is effectively a thing of the past? Does the
impetus to regulate and police film content continue silently to exist? Analysis of
controversies surrounding particular films throughout and in the wake of this shift
suggests that, while no longer practiced explicitly by governmental institutions, film
censorship continues to operate through less immediately recognizable forms of cultural
marginalization and restraint. Classification status drastically affects the number of
platforms through which a film can be accessed and thus works, as censorship does, to
restrict films from audiences. When market demands place external restraints upon film
content, familiar processes of cinematic censorship can be reframed as operating within
(as opposed to upon) the institutional structures and practices of cultural production.

This two-part study will examine, first, the process by which certain postmillennial
cinematic artworks, such as Catherine Breillat’s Fat Girl (2001) and Gaspar
Noé’s Irreversible (2002), spurred reform in the policies of classification boards by
highlighting the rigidity of classification criteria and, secondly, cases in which, following
the shift from moral to covert censorship, artistically serious films such as Vincent
Gallo’s The Brown Bunny (2003) and Abel Ferrara’s Welcome to New York (2014) have
been suppressed or constrained for their challenging subject matter, most notably for their
aggressive presentation of sexuality. The main objective will be determining: 1) how the
shift from censorship to classification corresponded to the aesthetic strategies of a
handful of boundary-pushing films; and 2) how cinematic censorship, in the absence of
traditional institutional enforcement, continues to operate in the interactions between
alternative networks of disciplinary power and discursive practice.
"If Only I Didn't Embarrass Myself in Front of the Class!" Social Anxiety and Upward Counterfactual Thinking
Authors: Monforton Jennifer
Published: May 2021

This study examined the relationship between social anxiety (SA) and the generation of upward counterfactual thoughts (U-CFT; ―if only...‖ thoughts imagining better outcomes to past events). U-CFT has been associated with negative affect and with social anxiety in past research (e.g., Kocovski et al., 2005). Participants (n= 89) were randomly assigned to generate U-CFT in response to a controllable or uncontrollable social-evaluative scenario. When comparing those with extreme SA scores, those higher in SA generated a greater number of upward as compared with downward CFTs. A significant positive correlation between SA and U-CFT was found when examining subsets of the sample (i.e., those in the controllable scenario, students). Potential mediators between SA and CFT were examined. Postevent Processing emerged as the only significant mediator (among students only). There was no evidence of maladaptive CFT (i.e., in response to the uncontrollable scenario only) within subsets or the sample as a whole.
Fabrication of smart titanium implants by femtosecond laser synthesis
Authors: Chinnakkannu Vijayakumar Sivaprasad
Published: May 2021

A 3-D nanostructure particle network of TiO2, TiO, Ti3O oxide nanoparticles is synthesized by ultra-short pulsed femtosecond laser irradiation from a Grade 2 pure titanium substrate. This study investigated the properties of the resulting nanostructure and underneath phase transformed surface for biomaterial applications. Controlled tuning of surface chemistry and phases of the 3-D network were found to directly influence the cell mobility. The presented findings support a previously unrealized capacity by nano-core shell like particles and its phases for reducing cell proliferation on a biomaterial. Both osteoblast and fibroblast cells improved controllability and anisotropic migration with the developed nanostructure. The corresponding oxide phases which influenced this controllability was analysed in detail with possible potential in health care industry. The results suggest an effective means to improve biomaterial life thereby increasing implant life.
Revenge of the grand narrative: the ethics of authorship as a metaphysics of meaning
Authors: Rosenbaum Richard
Published: May 2021

"The topic at hand - the ethics of authorship in narrative fiction - is an incredibly expansive and complex one. My decision to take advantage of the project option has been an excellent and enlightening method to deal with some of these issues, but also has its own limitations. For the first part of this project I have written a novella in which I introduce and dramatize the discourse by raising some of these questions in a metafictional way within the story itself. In the second part, I discuss these same issues from a theoretical perspective, as a meditation incorporating mainly Literary and Communications Theory and Philosophy. In the third and final part, I attempt to create a synthesis of the first two parts by combining narrative and theoretical elements with an explanation of some of the thoughts and ideas I, as author of the piece, was trying to get across to the reader through character, action, symbolism, etc."--From page 3.
A Tag And Social Network Based Recommender System
Authors: Naseri Sogol
Published: May 2021

In the era of the Internet, information overload is a growing problem which refers to the inability of a person to make a decision because the amount of information that she/he needs to process is huge. To solve this problem, recommender systems were proposed to apply various algorithms to recognize users’ preferences and generate recommendations which are likely match the user’s interest on various items. In this thesis, we aim to improve the effectiveness of the recommendation by incorporating the social data into the traditional recommendation algorithms. Hence, we first propose a new user similarity metric that not only considers tagging activities of users, but also incorporates their social relationships, such as friendships and memberships, in measuring the nearest neighbours. Subsequently, we define a new recommendation method which makes use of both user-to-user similarity and item-to-item similarity. Experimental outcomes on a Last.fm dataset show positive results of our proposed approach.
A Basic Income For All? Understanding the Basic Income Concept From the Perspectives of Community-Based Advocates
Authors: Silverthorn Andrew
Published: May 2021

Basic income is a policy concept that has garnered considerable research attention over the past decade. However, very few studies have explored the concept from the perspectives of frontline service providers and anti-poverty activists. Grounded in structural social work and intersectionality theories, this qualitative study centres the insights of six individuals working and organizing in various community roles, including frontline social workers and grassroots anti-poverty activists. The findings from this study, gathered through a focus group, suggest that community responders to poverty are deeply unhappy with the current welfare state, possess mixed feelings about the possibilities of a basic income strategy, and are highly skeptical about the ethical implications and political motivations behind the Ontario government’s basic income pilot study. It is hoped that the findings from this research will complicate and deepen perspectives on a basic income while simultaneously contributing to the momentum behind this emerging policy intervention.
Assessment of the Subsurface Pathogen Abatement Effects of Nutrient Management Policy in Ontario
Authors: Rebellato Steven R.
Published: May 2021

The transport mechanisms of pathogens through the subsurfact environment are complex. Provincial legislation, such as Ontario's Nutrient Management Act (2002) is designed to control nutrients in agricultural settings and it is assumed that the Act also attempts to control pathogens from reaching source waters. The study examined the progressive restrictions on agricultural practices that are sources of pathogens in water. Furthermore, current research in microbial subsurface transport and modelling was examined to determine if existing legislation is sufficient in controlling pathogens. Analysis showed that research gaps in microbial subsurface transport studies restricts subsurface research and transport models from effectively predicting the fate of pathogens. Furthermore, gaps in research restrict nutrient management legislation from protecting source waters from pathogens. Research showed that a 'critical control point' strategy that acts to decrease pathogen loading to agricultural surfaces is key in reducing the risks that microorganisms pose to ground water sources.
Mobile technology: private talk, public life and the shrinking commons.
Authors: Pannu Savi
Published: May 2021

"In the field of Communication studies, mobile technology is still a relatively new area of study with scholarly research just beginning to address this rapidly growing field. Because this technology is continually evolving, as is the way in which people are starting to use it, much of the research remains inconclusive as to any predictions of how this technology will to be used. In the meantime, much has been made about mobile technology's potential to change the way we interact and communicate with one another, and how these changes might have the ability to alter social relations forever. What I would like to examine are the locations where mobile technology and social relations intersect, and the manner in which the two inform each other. More specifically, I would like to focus on the areas where mobile technologies (cell phones, Blackberries, text messaging) affect social life, such as collective behaviour, political action, as well as public sphere and public space issues. Much has been made about the supposed benefits of technology and its potential to collectivize, politicize and, above all, mobilize our society. However, is this constant telephony really living up to this potential? In an environment already saturated with communication technology, billion-dollar advertising expenditures and media multinationals, will the addition of new technologies benefit those seldom heard or only add to the white noise?"--Pages 2-3.
Follow your neighbours and engage in a new culture
Authors: AlMeshary Meshary Abdulrahman
Published: May 2021

Twitter is one of the popular social media websites. It has more than 400 million active
users. They post a huge number of tweets daily to share their opinions and knowledge in
different languages and locations. Twitter has been used to distribute news, politics and
more. This thesis proposes an approach to recommend new followees to Twitter users
who just moved to a new place where the local language is different. A recommender
system is developed that provides Twitter users the ability to adjust and engage in a new
culture and helps them adapt to a new environment. This recommender system finds
users’ interests from his historical tweets in his mother language and looks for followees
who have the same interests in the local language. This proposed system uses Twitter
APIs to fetch local tweets after finding the location of the user and recommends similar
local followees to the system user.
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC): Suggestions for improvements
Authors: Baril Lindsay
Published: May 2021

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LlNC) provides basic language instruction to adult newcomers in both official languages and facilitates the settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees into Canadian society. This study examined service provider organizations and the delivery of English language learning and assessment, and provides suggestions for improvements. LlNC experiences are helpful as initial orientation to Canada and for learning English, but the program is limited in scope. Not only does the program delivery in terms of class times, schedules and availability, have limitations but assessment procedures, eligibility and teacher training are also in need of improvement This critical examination provides ideas to guide LINC language learning delivery, assessment and efficiency in the future. It also makes use ofintersectionality theory as a major avenue toward improvements.

Keywords: LINe; Service Provider Organizations; TESL Canada; lntersectionality Theory; Newcomers; Language acquisition
A Laser Scanner And Void Visualizer For Use In A Search And Rescue Environment
Authors: Somers Vijay
Published: May 2021

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) environments present many risks to emergency first responders. Technologies that can allow people to explore dangerous locations in great detail while being physically separate from them are of great value. This thesis provides an intuitive 3D viewing application called Voidviz for just that purpose, with features specifically designed for USAR and bomb identification. It is tested using 3D data gathered by two devices: a computerized theodolite, and a custom built laser scanner. The theodolite was found to be impractical for scanning dangerous locations due to its low resolution and slow speed, but the custom laser scanner was able to gather high resolution data at a useful speed. This thesis shows that useful data can be derived from sufficiently detailed simulations of voids within building collapses and unexploded explosive devices. This data can be used to increase the situational awareness of first responders.
Self-regulation and corporate sustainability in the brewing industry: a proposal for sustainability certification for small brewers in Ontario
Authors: Boerger Christopher
Published: May 2021

Recent growth within the craft brewing industry has increased employment and economic
growth in Ontario, and has also raised social and environmental concerns. The purpose of
this thesis was to explore the application of a self-regulatory model within the Ontario craft
brewing industry to improve sustainability performance. Based on a literature review, two
content analyses, interviews with craft breweries, and interviews with sustainability
certification administrators, the viability, content, and organization of a self-regulatory
model has been considered. Findings suggest that a sustainability certification scheme
grounded in a public report may be a viable governance mechanism for craft breweries in
Ontario to adopt, and may result in improved sustainability performance within firms. A
proposal for a guideline, requirements, and a list of indicators for a sustainability
certification scheme is presented.
Serving immigrant families: using knowledge translation to inform a family approach in the settlement sector
Authors: Dargy Tania
Published: May 2021

Research studies show that the family is an integral dimension of newcomers’ immigration and settlement experiences. Findings from a recent project on the integration trajectories of immigrant families shed light on the ways families support each other and the social factors of immigration. Still, immigration policy, federal data collection and measures, as well as settlement services rely on an individualistic conceptualization of newcomers with insufficient regard for their social realities. Preliminary consultations with partner settlement agencies in the Greater Toronto Area reveal there is a need to incorporate the family/social dimension in their services. Using the Knowledge Translation method, academic knowledge was transferred into a practical position paper for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada settlement policy-makers. Through ongoing collaboration with the partners, the pillars of a Family Approach for the settlement sector were developed. Five key practical recommendations for its implementation are presented to policy-makers in the paper.
Accurate parametric sensitivity of stochastic biochemical systems
Authors: Gassoumov Farid
Published: May 2021

Computational and Systems Biology are experiencing a rapid development in recent years. Mathematical and computational modelling are critical tools for studying cellular dynamics. Molecular interactions in a cell may display significant random fluctuations when some key species have low amounts (RNA, DNA), making the traditional model of the deterministic reaction rate equations insufficient. Consequently, stochastic models are required to accurately represent the biochemical system behaviour. Nonetheless, stochastic models are more challenging to simulate and analyse than the deterministic ones. Parametric sensitivity is a powerful tool for exploring the system behaviour, such as system robustness with respect to perturbations in its parameters. We present an accurate method for estimating parametric sensitivities for stochastic discrete models of biochemical systems using a high order Coupled Finite Difference scheme and illustrate its advantages compared to the existing techniques
Finite element analysis of a single conductor with a Stockbridge damper under Aeolian vibration
Authors: Barry Oumar
Published: May 2021

A finite element model is developed to predict the vibrational response of a single conductor with a Stockbride damper. The mathematical model accounts for the two-way coupling between the conductor and the damper. A two-part numerical analysis using MATLAB is presented to simulate the response of the system. The first part deals with the vibration of the conductor without a damper. The results indicate that longer span conductors without dampers are susceptible to fatigue failure.

In the second part, a damper is attached to the conductor and the effects of the excitation frequency, the damper mass, and the damper location are investigated. This investigation shows that the presence of a properly positioned damper on the conductor significantly reduces fatigue failure.
Experiences of Rexdale youth
Authors: Ciupa Erin Catherine
Published: May 2021

This narrative qualitative research study explored the stories of four youth about their experiences of living in Rexdale, a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario. The stories shared by participants shared showed the similarities, differences, and complexities of the youths’ experiences of living in Rexdale. A narrative approach to research was used to collect the data, which are referred to as stories. The theoretical framework draws from critical race theory with an emphasis on the concept of race and space. Data analysis included a thematic and structural narrative analysis. The findings provided insight into what it is like for youth to live in Rexdale. The themes that emerged include: the positive/negative or good/bad binary, defying stereotypes, the portrayal of Rexdale, experiences of living in Rexdale, community resources, potential growth and sense of community. The implications for future social work research and practice are discussed followed by the author’s final thoughts.
Using Calibrated Simulation to Quantify the Energy Savings From Residential Passive Solar Design in Canada
Authors: Zirnhelt Hayes E.
Published: May 2021

Energy savings from passive solar design applied to a typical Canadian house were quantified using calibrated whole building energy simulation. A detailed energy simulation model was created for a research house which represents a typical Canadian tract house with basic passive solar measures. The model was calibrated to measured furnace gas consumption data. Eight design scenarios were evaluated for eight climate locations. Design parameters included increased thermal mass, increased south window area, and high performance windows. In addition, an advanced house scenario was evaluated which featured optimized geometry, a further increase in south window area, high thermal mass, advanced glazing, and no north facing windows. For the typical house predicted solar heating fractions ranged from 20% to 34% with basic passive solar measures, and 35% to 52% for more aggressive passive solar measures. For the advanced house predicted solar fractions ranged from 40% to 69%.
Synthesis and Investigation of Perfluorinated Polystannanes
Authors: Damion Miles
Published: May 2021

Two fluorinated tetraaryl stannanes, 1 and 2 were synthesized in good yields. X-ray crystallography revealed deviation from ideal tetrahedral geometry with C-Sn-C bond angles between 107.89°-112.7° for 1 and 104.69°-120.76° for 2. Dichlorides 4 and 5 were synthesized using a redistribution reaction between SnC1₄ and 1-2. These dichlorides also deviated from tetrahedral geometry with bond angles between 101.79°-128.44° for 4 and 99.23°-125.9° for 5. Polymerizaton of 4 and 5 by Wurtz coupling produced polymers 10 and 11. Absolute molecular weights in the range of 1.16 x 10⁵-2.92 x 10⁷ Da was estimated for 10 and 1.47 x 10⁵ Da for 11. UV/VIS spectroscopy gave values of 332 nm and 328 nm that are blue shifted to other polystannanes. The unexpected cleavage of a tin-aryl bond produced tin trihydrides 8 and 9. Polymerization of 8-9 produced the network polymers 12 and 13 with [wavelength]max values of 354 nm and 350 nm.
An Architecture of Disassembly and Cyclical Material Life
Authors: Sturgess Danya
Published: May 2021

This thesis explores disassembly as architectural expression and liberator of components for reuse and recycling in order to diminish material waste when the building is deemed obsolete. It questions that contemporary buildings be built for permanence, but proposes instead that they be able to be modified and taken apart in order to provide material for the next generation of buildings instead of the landfill. It examines the history and theory of joints and connections in architecture and the possibilities these offer for disassembly. It examines production and construction methods pertaining to disassembly and reversible joints, as well as the implications of an architecture that strives to express its construction and material being. Principles of disassembly and component reuse are established through the study of temporary, prefabricated, modular, and waste-as-material precedents. The principles are utilized in the design project, which aims to create an architecture expressing the assembly of parts in addition to the whole while significantly contributing to a reduction of material waste.
A Hybrid Rate Adaptation Framework for MPEG-4 FGS Video Streaming Over IP
Authors: Huang Colin Xialin
Published: May 2021

There are increasing demands for real-time streaming video applications over the Internet. However, the current generation Internet was not originally designed for real-time streaming applications and only provides best-effort services, so there are many challenges in the deployment of video streaming applications over the Internet. This thesis investigates a hybrid end-to-end rate adaptation framework that provides application-level enhancements to achieve Quality of Service (QoS) for MPEG-4 FGS-Encoded video bandwidth on the path and the terminal process capabilities based on the packet-loss ratio and then determine their subscribing rate of video streams. The sender adjusts the transmission rate based on the packet-loss ratio and then determine their subscribing rate of video streams. The sender adjusts the transmission rate based on the proportion of load status feedbacks from the receivers. The sender and the receivers act together to minimize the possibility of network congestion by adjusting the transmission rate to match the network conditions. This framework achieves inter-receiver fairness in a heterogeneous multicast environment and improves QoS stability for MPEG-4 FGS video streaming over the Internet.
Fatigue damage and life assessment of welded joints based on energy methods
Authors: Pakandam Faertom
Published: May 2021

The present study intends to evaluate fatigue damage of different welded joints under loading conditions and their response on fatigue lifetime. The main variables influencing the fatigue life of a welded joint are: applied stress amplitude, material properties, geometrical stress concentration effects, and size and location of welding defects. In order to carry out the study, calculations have been performed using the parameters in three energy-based models. Calculations have been carried out separately for each model from the original experimental data obtained from available literature related to each welded joint. The data variables used as a basis for the calculations of the energy-based models for different welded joints include: cyclic stress-strain properties related to the base metal material type of the welded joints, dimensional and geometrical information on the welded joints, and stress versus endurance cycle tables obtained from the tests performed on the welded joints. All the mentioned variables are parameters influencing the fatigue life of a welded joint. Fatigue damage assessments were performed and discussed based on earlier developed energy damage approaches consisting of: (i) the hysteresis loop based parameter of Masing type material, (ii) the notch stress-intensity based parameter and (iii) the critical plane/energy based parameter. In evaluating fatigue damage of welded joints, these approaches were discussed based on the comparison of energy-lifetime diagrams obtained from each energy model and how readily coefficients/constants are determined and employed in the parameters. In addition, a finite element analysis was performed on selected welded joints to obtain local peak stress values and their location. Numerically obtained stress concentration factor and fatigue notch factor values were also compared with their analytical values. To assess fatigue damage of welded joints based on various energy models, different sets of experimentally obtained fatigue data performed by different laboratories under uniaxial loading conditions available in literature were chosen. The welded joints used in this study were butt joint, cruciform joint, butt-ground joint, and butt-strap fillet joint. The welded joint base metals included low carbon structural steel, aluminium alloys, and carbon steel. The energy models were compared for their energy-fatigue life curve slopes and their ability to converge the related nominal stress-life scatter. The energy values calculated based on their models included the effect of variables of cyclic stresses. Important results were concluded for welded joints from the study including: the relation between fatigue notch factor and fatigue strength, the stress-life diagram slope and fatigue resistance, the ability of the energy models to reflect the fatigue notch factor, and merits and disadvantages of each energy model.
Photograph Paper Sample Books : A Reference Collection and Web Presentation At George Eastman House
Authors: Welch Emily
Published: May 2021

This thesis proposes a model for the cataloging, evaluation, and description of photographic paper sample books in the George Eastman House collection. The model is implemented as a reference resource on Notes - on Photographs, a collaborative website in development at George Eastman House with the support of a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Notes - on Photographs is built on a wiki platform, which is characterized by capabilities for dynamic updating and collaborative editing by a group of users. The model implemented to describe the contents of the paper sample books utilizes these capabilities to further enrich the information resource.

Manufacturer paper sample books are invaluable resources in developing a better understanding of the materials of photography; they reveal the evolution of the dominant image-making support for over a century of silver halide photography. This project seeks to do a better job of explaining what they are, why they are valuable, and of promoting a standardized language to facilitate description and communication among professionals engaged in the care, display, and study of photographs. The ability to articulate the technological and material aspects of any medium contributes to better discernment and has implications for establishing authenticity, being conscious of an image maker's aesthetic decisions, dating works, and for understanding the condition and preservation of the object.

In most cases photographic paper sample books in the George Eastman House collection are undated, and catalogue records treat the books as single entries rather than complex bound material where each sample has unique characteristics. The work accomplished in this thesis will inform and enrich the object information in the current cataloging system, The Museum System (TMS) at George Eastman House.
Accessibility and digital media: exploring economic and social opportunities for inclusive design
Authors: Osadchin Natali
Published: May 2021

The following paper explores the digital media market from an accessibility point of view; what does digital accessibility look like today? What further efforts are needed to ensure digital media products and services are in compliance with universal design practices? The paper will be supplemented by both academic research, as well as ethnographic accounts of the author’s experiences whilst working on AccessNow, a web service aimed at lifting mobility barriers. Topics explored include the disenfranchisement of people with disabilities in consumerist society, the dichotomy of the medical and social models, as well as a brief overview of universal web design, accessible gaming, and existing assistive technologies. Findings show there has been significant progress towards the incorporation of accessibility design guidelines, however, the process is slow and adopted by few. There is a significant gap in the accessible digital media market, which may be an enticing opportunity for economic investment.
How Did Growing Up In a Financially Insecure Household Impact Young Adults From Northern Ontario?
Authors: Trudel Chrissy Lynn
Published: May 2021

Growing up in Northern Ontario and then being a temporary resident in Toronto, it became very evident to me that many issues, especially financial insecurity, were very different between the two areas. I spoke to someone from Toronto who had visited Northern Ontario in the past and the first thing he told me was that it was a whole other world there and that the realities of financial insecurity were very evident. I decided then that my MRP should focus on an issue close to my heart that can serve as a tool to raise awareness on the issue. This MRP focuses on a gap in the
current literature and the narratives of five Northern Ontarians who have grown up with financial insecurity and wanted to make their stories heard.
"Remembering is Our Mutiny": An Examination of Exile, Memory, and Palestinian Identity in Salt Houses
Authors: Lahalih Lena
Published: May 2021

[Introductory paragraph] :

“Remembering is Our Munity”: An Examination of Exile, Memory, and Palestinian Identity in Salt Houses “[W]hat is true of all exiles is not that home and love of home are lost, but that loss is inherent in the very existence of both.”- Edward Said, “Reflection on Exile” (1984)

Watan means homeland in Arabic. For exiled Palestinians, the politically charged term evokes a painful memory of home, loss, and expulsion from a land they were forced to flee in 1948. The 1948 Israeli-Arab War which led to the creation of the State of Israel, also resulted in the devastation of Palestinian society. This period is regarded by Palestinians as the nakba, or the catastrophe, which saw the displacement and expulsion of over 800,000 Palestinians from their communities (Gelvin 236). Approximately 80 percent of the Palestinians who lived in the major part of Palestine, upon which Israel was established, became refugees (Abu-Lughod and Sa’di 3). The minority of Palestinians who remained in the newly-minted state became “nominal citizens” and were subject to a separate system of “military administration” (3). In the same year, those who had stayed witnessed the systematic annexation of their lands (Abu-Lughod 3). Others became internally-displaced refugees and sought refuge in places like the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which were under the control of Jordan and Egypt respectively (Gelvin 240). Thus, historic Palestine became “a society disintegrated, a people dispersed, and a complex and historically changing but taken for granted communal life was violently ended” (Abu-Lughod and Sa’di 3).
A critical frame analysis of the various perspectives on recent policy changes to refugee health care in Canada
Authors: Emslie Brittney
Published: May 2021

This paper explores the Federal Court of Appeal’s (FCA) decision from July 4, 2014 that opposed the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program that traditionally provided a wide range of health care coverage for refugees and asylum seekers in Canada. Using a case-study approach, I will explore the various perspectives, outline policy implications and analyze what changes still need to be made from both federal and provincial governments. I will argue that Canada’s current conservative government is using a neoliberal lens to justify their harsh, decision-making regarding this issue and it is an approach that disregards fundamental human rights. However, it is clear that the humanitarian approach that is used by both the advocates as well as Justice MacTavish is the most popular amongst refugees, asylum seekers, academics, health care professionals and many Canadian citizens who oppose these changes. In my analysis, I use both critical frame and discourse analysis to unpack the various perspectives on this debate and explain how the stakeholders have framed their argument to offer a holistic view for understanding this unprecedented court ruling.
Characterization of RQ1, a mutant involved in nervous system development in C. Elegans
Authors: Bueno de Mesquita Matthew M
Published: May 2021

During the development of the nervous system, guidance cues provide directional information to the growth cones of migrating axons. In C. elegans, ventral to dorsal migration is in part mediated by the ligand UNC-6 and its receptor UNC-5. In an UNC-5 null mutant the DA and DB motor neuron axons fail to migrate in a wild type manner to the dorsal cord, despite initial dorsalward outgrowth from the cell bodies. A genetic enhancer screen was conducted in an UNC-5 null strain and one mutant, rq1, was found to have increased axon guidance defects. To identify the mutated gene in rq1, microinjection experiments were performed and were able to rescue two rq1 phontypes. RNAi experiments were performed where double stranded RNA corresponding to all the genes in the region were used individually to knock out the transcripts. Several of these were able to phenocopy the defects of rq1. The rq1 mutation could be located in any one of five genes known to be present on the rescuing cosmid while combined results implicate three strong candidate genes, M03C11.8, H04D03.1 and H04D03.4.
The social construction of refugees & asylum-seekers: a case study of South Africa
Authors: McDonough Laura Anne
Published: May 2021

Refugees/asylum-seekers are socially constructed as being economically, politically and culturally threatening to the nation-state in which they seek asylum. Evidence of this social construction can be found in media, statements by public officials and in opinion polls. By synthesizing the results of research we can identify the commonalities amongst discourses from different nation-states. This allows us to see how refugees/asylum- eekers serve nation building in general. A case study of South Africa is used to show how this discourse relates to the South African nation-building exercise, with particular references to the xenophobic violence of May 2008. What emerges from the case study is that despite evidence that this framework is a good fit for thinking critically about instances of xenophobia in South Africa, there is also evidence of a counter discourse about refugees/asylum-seekers that casts them as deserving of compassion and generosity.
Sparse Signal Decomposition Techniques For Multimedia Fingerprinting
Authors: Li Xiaoli
Published: May 2021

This dissertation focuses on digital multimedia content protection from the copyright point of view. Several approaches aiming to resolve the challenge to some extent in the emerging area of multimedia protection were proposed and studied. This study proposes an approach to secure the authorized media sharing in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks. The P2P networks was initially designed for bandwidth saving, but its file sharing property was later on put to use for pirate. This situation has not been improved effectively until now. The approach aims to embed an unique-mark (fingerprint) into each authorized copy in the P2P networks so that it can be used to track the pirate initiator. This study also proposes another scheme for protecting the ownership of digital media files that have been circulated without copyright mark embedded. To protect this type of files, the ownership of each file needs to be stored associated with its meta-data (such as the ownership, title and artist) and can be identified correctly later on. Since the size and the number of the media files to be stored are extremely large, the mini versions (fingerprints) of the files become necessary to be derived.

The common criteria of designing these two approaches are to ensure the fingerprint is compact, robust, discriminative, and ease of computation. To well balance the criteria, the sparse decomposition techniques play a very important role. The results of the tests under various distortions show the proposed fingerprinting schemes are very promising for real applications.