bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Energy Demand Flexibility of a Radiant Cooling System With Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Gallardo Andres
Published: March 2024

The accelerated growth of renewable energies in recent years has made it necessary to implement Demand-Side Management (DSM) strategies that can help to adjust the energy demand according to energy production. In the context of DSM, buildings can play a significant role as they consume almost 40% of the energy use worldwide and show a significant potential for implementing energy demand flexibility measures. DSM strategies in buildings generally rely on short-term heat storage in structural thermal mass. However, the Thermal Energy Storage (TES) capacity is limited by the available thermal mass in dense building elements. In addition, the structural thermal mass generally has low heat storage and release rate (passive system), limiting the ability to manage building thermal loads. To overcome these limitations, a flexible heating and cooling system that can be installed in office buildings to replace the conventional all-air system was proposed and evaluated in this study. The system utilizes the high TES capacity of macro-encapsulated Phase Change Materials (PCM) discreetly incorporated below the serpentine copper coil of a standard Radiant Ceiling Panel (RCP), which allows shifting the energy demand for conditioning buildings. At first, the thermal storage properties of the TES units were determined using the standard ASTM C1784-20. Then, a walk-in dual climate chamber was used to experimentally evaluate the ability of the Radiant Ceiling Panel incorporating macro-encapsulated PCM (RCP-PCM) to shift heating/cooling loads to off-peak hours, measure its heat removal capacity, and the resulting indoor thermal environment. The obtained properties and the measurements from the experimental and field studies were used to validate a whole-building simulation model. The validated model was used to develop a simplified method for designing and controlling a RCP-PCM system. The validated model was also used to evaluate the energy demand flexibility potential of office buildings conditioned by the proposed system. Three different performance indicators were used to quantify energy demand flexibility: available TES capacity, storage efficiency, and power shifting capacity. The results of this study indicate that the RCP-PCM system can effectively shift the heating/cooling loads to off-peak hours while maintaining acceptable thermal comfort conditions during typical office occupancy hours (8:00 to 18:00). This load-shifting capability of the RCP-PCM system can be of great help in planning DSM strategies for increased penetration of renewable electricity in building heating and cooling applications.
Does Selenium Offset Methylmercury Toxicity Across Trophic Levels in Chlorella Pyrenoidosa and Aeolosoma Variegatum?
Authors: Azmi Husnah
Published: March 2024

Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin that impairs functioning of the nervous system, and selenium is known to provide a protective effect against methylmercury. Experiments were run to investigate the offsetting of methylmercury toxicity by selenium across trophic levels at the base of the aquatic food chain. A primary producer, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, was exposed to methylmercury in the presence or absence of selenium. The subsequent biomass was fed to a primary consumer, Aeolosoma variegatum. Results showed that methylmercury decreased the maximum density of Chlorella, which selenium did not offset. When consuming selenium in methylmercury contaminated water or when consuming dietary methylmercury with dietary selenium, Aeolosoma populations experienced a rescue effect against methylmercury. Understanding safe levels of dietary selenium that provide population level protection against methylmercury is a critical step towards managing mercury in contaminated ecosystems. More research is required to determine the threshold range of safe dietary selenium for representative species.
Electromagnetic Treatment to Improve Water Clarity: The Effect of Treatment on Water Viscosity and Isoelectric Point of Colloidal Clay Particles
Authors: Snisarenko Yana
Published: March 2024

This study explored effects of a device that uses a low power electromagnetic field (EMF), which has previously coincided with improved water clarity in field applications. Colloidal suspensions were exposed to EM treatment to study settling of particulate matter, where effects of EMF on isoelectric point of colloidal suspensions and viscosity of water were assessed. Results indicated that the isoelectric point occurred at lower pH with treatment (decrease by 0.29 pH units), and that viscosity may also be reduced with EM treatment. Thus, particle surface charge was decreased. These results may be attributed to alterations in interactions between water molecules and substrata in a way that suggests that EMF may disrupt H-bonding between molecules, but further tests did not show treatment effect on colloidal particle settling at neutral pH. However, at the isoelectric point for reference conditions, clays remained in suspension longer with EMF treatment, settling rapidly in its absence.
Municipal Asset Management Planning in Ontario: An Analysis of Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Asset Management Planning in Selected Ontario Municipalities
Authors: Setoodeh Andre
Published: March 2024

In 2017, the Province of Ontario filed the Ontario Regulation 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure (O.Reg.588/17) to promote the standardization and implementation of asset management planning practices in municipal infrastructure management. The regulation required all municipalities in Ontario to have developed an asset management plan for all infrastructure systems by 2021 (extended to 2022 due to the COVID pandemic). This study identifies the best practices associated with infrastructure asset management planning from the literature, and the requirements in O.Reg.588/17, and uses these criteria to analyze and compare these practices and strategies with the asset management planning practices implemented in selected Ontario municipalities (Guelph, Richmond Hill and Waterloo), specifically related to water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure sections in these plans. Semi-structured interviews of municipal asset managers were also conducted in order to further understand the implementation of asset management in Ontario’s municipalities and their water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure management. The key findings of this study suggest that the selected municipalities have successfully implemented the asset management requirements of O.Reg.588/17 but were missing some elements that the literature outlines as being best practices, particularly related to environment and climate change aspects.
Flood Risk Management and Perceptions of Responsibility for Flood Risk on Toronto Island
Authors: Akkuyu Elif
Published: March 2024

Hazard, exposure, and vulnerability interact to produce disaster risk. To reduce flood risk, flood risk management (FRM) policies, programs, and Acts must address hazard, exposure and/or vulnerability. Flood risk management involves structural and non-structural measures. While structural measures solely address hazards, non-structural mitigation measures address human exposure and vulnerabilities to hazards. This thesis investigates how flood risk on Toronto Island is managed and how residents perceive responsibility for flood management. Policy content analysis of FRM documents (n=59) reveals that policy actions for flood reduction at Toronto Island are diverse, although hazard mitigation measures are preferred over exposure and vulnerability mitigation measures. Cross-analysis of those findings with the results of a survey of Toronto Island residents (n=109) finds that residents view responsibilities for flood reduction differently than that assigned by FRM policy. These findings show that diversifying structural and non-structural mitigation methods, and defining stakeholder roles and responsibilities can improve FRM at Toronto Island.
Electronic Waste Management: A Comparative Policy Analysis Between the Swiss and Canadian Approaches
Authors: Ali Saidia
Published: March 2024

Efficient e-waste management are crucial in successfully achieving sustainable urban growth universally. The upsurge in e-waste has resulted in countries, including Canada, adopting a wide array of policies that are associated with sustainable management. This research conducted a qualitative analysis of Canadian e-waste management policies to showcase the opportunities and limitations witnessed in the current system. This thesis examines and compares the effectiveness of electronic waste management strategies of Canada and Switzerland by using a comparative policy evaluation and measuring their efficiencies quantitatively through DEA analysis. To enhance Canada’s electronic waste management system, Switzerland is utilized as a comparison due to its robust legal framework in properly managing e-waste for decades. The policy considerations for this study are directed towards urban planners, policy-makers, and corporate strategists. These involve a mix of political, economic, social, and environmental planning tools on how to appropriately communicate and foster competent e-waste management in Canada.
The Assessment of Quantity, Diversity and Quality of CSR Reports in Canadian Food Retailing: A Comparative Study Among and Between Retailers Using Content Analysis
Authors: Wright Elleanna
Published: March 2024

This content analysis study assesses the corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports of Canada’s top food retailers for quantity, diversity and quality. Given a responsibility for food retailers to be accountable in how they operate their business, CSR reporting is the retailer’s way of publicly disclosing their social and environmental operations. Although previous studies have looked at the CSR of food retailers, none has investigated Canadian retailers. This study uses a modified consolidated narrative interrogation (CONI) method (Beck et al., 2010). Key results include that CSR reports contain higher Quantity Indices related to the social dimension than the environmental dimension, larger retailers overall display higher Diversity and Quality Indices than smaller retailers, and retailers report on the same CSR topics due to having shared stakeholders. The results of the study also indicate there is room for improvement in the quality and diversity of CSR reports, and quantity, diversity, and quality of CSR reports have a wide variation.
Industrial Contaminant Concentration Variations in Traditional Medicinal Plants Utilized
Authors: Di Shenghan
Published: March 2024

Pollution of local environment and associated health risks for residents has been an ongoing politicized issue since the inception of the Chemical Valley. The industrial complex hosts numerous petrochemical refineries and other facilities which release harmful contaminants. Due to Aamjiwnaang First Nation (AFN)’s close vicinity to the complex, their local environment and residents have been subjected to high exposure risks. This study examined concentrations of contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) in traditional medicinal plants used by AFN, with the goal of providing residents reliable empirical data to make informed decisions on maintaining, reducing, or abandoning traditional practices of using these plants. Paired plant and soil samples of plant species of interest were collected in AFN and Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation (KSP), which served as a reference site. A suite of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were quantified in laboratory settings. A systematic review was conducted to examine the potential for uptake, biotransformation, and bioaccumulation of VOCs in the indicated plants. Metal concentrations assessed via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) or Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICPOES), while PAHs were analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition, lipid content was analyzed for plant samples while pH and loss on ignition (LOI) were examined for soil samples. Study findings indicated significant contaminant concentration differences in several plants. Notably, cadmium (Cd) concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in A. Canadense plants from AFN, and tungsten (W) concentrations in H. virginiana (p < 0.05) and (unwashed) T. occidentalis (p < 0.01) were also observed to be higher in AFN plants. For soil samples, Benzo [bkj] fluoranthene (B[bkj]F) concentrations were found to be significantly higher in Prunella vulgaris (p < 0.001), Thuja occidentalis (p < 0.05), and Sanguinaria canadensis (p < 0.05) in AFN. Although B[bkj]F mean concentrations were nearly 20 times below provincial guidelines. In addition, Cd and lead (Pb) concentrations in most plants from both communities exceeded European Commission maximum levels (MLs) for comparable food items. However, when contextualized with the relative infrequency of consumption of medicinal plants, reported concentrations were well below Health Canada oral total daily intake (TDI) levels on a yearly basis. Although it should be noted Pb is a non-threshold contaminant. To conclude, the present study found significant differences in COPC concentrations in plant and soil samples, although they were generally below provincial or Health Canada standards when contextualized in estimated yearly consumption rates. However, high usage or consumption rate of traditional medicinal plants found in the area should proceed with caution, due to detected presence of lead.
Curatorial Practices Challenging Colonial Narratives in Fashion and Dress Exhibition
Authors: Dionne Laura
Published: March 2024

Fashion and dress exhibitions are often excluded from the contemporary discourse on colonial implications within the museum sector. As an emerging field of study, fashion provides a unique opportunity to challenge how museums are moving towards decolonial processes. Curators can challenge the ways in which museum visitors engage with the effects of colonization through fashion and dress history. This project aims to understand how fashion curators challenge colonial narratives in their practice, as it is no longer acceptable to be neutral within curatorial practice. Curatorial neutrality has perpetuated Western ideals while erasing the histories and experiences of people and groups negatively affected by colonization. This project combines curatorial interviews and case studies to investigate how fashion and dress exhibitions challenge colonial narratives in the museum sector. Through the preliminary stages of this research, themes of identity, the collaboration of multiple voices and stories, and the inclusion of numerous global contexts prove beneficial.
Where There is Lightness, There is Dark: Exploring Colourism in the Philippine Diaspora
Authors: Lopez Alliya
Published: March 2024

This major research project highlights skin whitening in Filipino communities and its relations to critical race theory and colourism through a multi-methodological approach of content analysis and arts-based research. Researchers have examined how colourism in Asia and the Philippines have flourished, but little research exists regarding social media and its presentation of colourism through skincare companies. Further, there has been no incorporation of arts-based research in approaching Asia’s skin whitening practices. This project aims to explore the messages Filipino skincare brands promote to consumers on Instagram regarding skin tone while using the messages to guide a creative exploration. Twenty Instagram companies were analyzed for the initial stage of this project through a content analysis. The findings from the analysis resulted in the creation of artworks that respond to and create cultural messages about skin tone stratification in the Philippines.
Beyond Performative Activism: Working Towards an Authentically Equitable and Inclusive Fashion Industry
Authors: Nguyen Jennifer
Published: March 2024

The media production industry within fashion is an impactful force that often determines what's popular on a materialistic and cultural level. This project breaks down how the media upholds an elitist system that privileges a select few. This project particularly questions the favouritism shown to communities that are white, male and financially secure. Through creative, practice-led work along with a support paper, this project highlights current systemic barriers for communities excluded from mainstream narratives in the fashion industry and presents potential solutions and outcomes if the fashion industry expanded through an ethical lens and authentic practices.
The (Sub)field of Fashion Media: An American Vogue Case Study
Authors: Colqhuoun Erin
Published: March 2024

There are twenty-seven international editions of Vogue magazine, with its original American edition—self-described as “thought-provoking, relevant and always influential” and defining “the culture of fashion”—boasts a monthly print readership of eight million (Condé Nast). One hundred and thirty years since its first edition was published, Vogue epitomizes legacy fashion media. Employing Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory, this project is a critical rereading of Agnès Rocamora’s discussion of field theory and fashion with an eye to feminist and critical race theories. Using an updated and intersectional theoretical framework and maintaining a critical lens, this project uses Glossy: The Inside Story of Vogue by Nina Sophia-Miralles as a starting point in a descriptive case study of American Vogue. This project contributes to the sociological study of fashion media and positions Vogue as a valuable subject of social and cultural study.
Commodifying Sustainability? Examining Ecolabels Employed
Authors: Dugas Emily
Published: March 2024

Consumers are increasingly aware of the detrimental environmental and human impacts of their apparel purchases. In response, the widespread use of ‘ecolabels’ has risen to resolve the asymmetry of information between shoppers and businesses. This research project presents an observation of the Canadian ecolabel market and determines which ecolabels are being used by Canadian apparel companies. Data sets were created to identify all ecolabels adopted within the textile and apparel industry and all Canadian apparel companies. The results indicate that ecolabels are favoured by large apparel companies and their use is not an accurate representation of brands’ sustainable initiatives. Key takeaways include ecolabels’ failure to account for the scale of companies seeking certification and the power imbalances created by Western governed ecolabels. This study calls attention to the commodification of sustainable efforts through the use of labelling schemes and discusses the implications of widespread ecolabel use in the apparel industry.
Embodying Glamour During the Golden-age of Hollywood: A Critical Analysis of Beauty Practice Marketing, 1920-1938
Authors: Pellegrino Isabella
Published: March 2024

Beauty has always been a marketable and lucrative entity and the focus of discussion across many disciplines such as fashion studies, film studies, marketing, and cultural studies. This major research project examines the dynamic relationship between the Hollywood film industry, the cosmetic industry, star/spectator theory, and concepts surrounding advertising and consumption during the Golden age of Hollywood with specific emphasis on the 1920s and 1930s. Fashion studies enabled me to centre the body, highlighting notions of embodiment in beauty practice marketing through a critical literature review and a visual analysis of Max Factor advertisements in Photoplay magazine between the years 1930-1938. I examine how fan magazines were an ideal medium to house cosmetic advertisements which in tandem contributed to the dissemination and embodiment of beauty practices; five thematic tropes were identified across the ‘Society Makeup’ advertisements analyzed which work, alongside the identified relationships, to communicate embodiment glamour.
Queering Traditions, Decolonizing Queerness: A Literature Review of Queer Worldmaking Tradition Bearers
Authors: Garcia Bianca
Published: March 2024

For many diasporic queer people of colour, participating in cultural traditions may mean erasing or suppressing their nonheteronormative identities. Similarly, participating in mainstream queer culture may mean erasing or suppressing ethnic, religious, racial, or cultural heritage. This borderlands existence often evokes intense pain but can also compel great creative agency. Stirred to explore this dual reality, I created a literature review of queer cultural, ethnic, and religious rituals. Conducted in English language and drawing on academic and nonacademic data, this review includes African, Caribbean, Central and South American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Turtle Island First Nations, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities throughout the world. I used thematic analysis to derive 7 sources of energy that ignited and sustained the messy processes of queer ritual innovation. This MRP aims to equip queer people of colour with the knowledge of a worldwide legacy in honoring one’s full, multifaceted identity through ritual-making.
On Reckoning and Renewal: A Discourse Analysis of Migrant Farm Worker Coverage in Alternative News Media
Authors: Robinson Krista
Published: March 2024

This Major Research Paper seeks to assess alternative media coverage of migrant farm workers in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Extending upon what Callison and Young (2020) call a “digital reckoning” taking place in Canadian journalism, I employ the theoretical framework of political economy of communication (PEC) to interpret the organizational practices and funding models of the shifting mediascape. Following in the tradition of PEC, I ask how alternative media in Canada are covering migrant farm workers and worker programs during a pandemic, and to what extent these publications are addressing larger systemic issues in their coverage. A critical discourse analysis of two print magazines and four digital media outlets finds common themes surrounding precarious work, exploitation and the need for migrant workers to access a pathway to citizenship, but relatively less context into systemic issues. A broader assessment of the journalism industry encourages future scholarship of alternative media in Canada.
Higher Education Experiences of Underrepresented Populations: A Literature Review on Indigenous and Racialized International Students
Authors: Eskandarpour Roxanna
Published: March 2024

While students come from diverse cultural and racially marginalized backgrounds, the higher education landscape remains predominantly Euro-centric. This study provides an analytical review of the extant literature using a postcolonial lens that concerns with the experiences of two socio-culturally and racially and socio-culturally marginalized populations - Indigenous and racialized international students - within formal Euro-centric post-secondary institutions. The study aims at identifying systemic barriers they face in three procedural areas: academic, socio-cultural, and psychological, and makes policy recommendations. Since Canadian scholarship is somewhat scarce, studies published in other contexts with significant proportions of Indigenous and racialized international student populations (e.g., the United States, The UK and other Western European countries, Australia, and New Zealand) were reviewed.
FPCB Micromirrors for 3D Scanning LIDAR
Authors: Tai Trevor
Published: March 2024

This thesis presents two types of FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board) micromirrors, i.e., 1D (rotation about one axis) FPCB micromirror and 2D (rotation about two perpendicular axes) FPCB micromirror. Each type of micromirror is integrated with a commercial single-point LIDAR (TF03) to form a scanning 3D LIDAR, which can be used in autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs). Using the 3D scanning LIDAR, real-time 3D point cloud maps can be generated by collecting positional data and processing it on a computer. The first 3D LIDAR scanning system uses two 1D FPCB mirrors rotating about perpendicular axes to steer an infrared (IR) laser from the LIDAR (Class 1 laser) and collect the diffusion reflected light at the receiver. This system is capable of: 1) field of view (FOV) of 38°×24°; 2) 12.5 or 25 horizontal scanning lines, 3) refreshing rate of 2 or 4 frames per second (fps), 4) 0.2~20 meters detection distance, and 5) 1,250-5,000 points per frame. The second 3D LIDAR system uses a single 2D FPCB mirror to steer the LIDAR light in two axial directions where one axis is actuated with Lorentz forces and the other by electromagnetic solenoids. This second system can achieve: 1) FOV of 40°×24; 2) 15 or 30 horizontal scanning lines; 3) refreshing rate of 2.5 or 5 fps; 4) detecting distance of 0.2~20 meters; and 5) 1,000-4,000 points per frame.
The Incorporation of Cross Hedging Diesel Fuel Into a Single Vendor-buyer Supply Chain Model
Authors: Koschany Anton Kristian
Published: March 2024

Many supply chains rely on diesel fuel for transportation and other purposes, and must cope with the risk associated with its price volatility, which can affect firms’ earnings and operating costs. This master’s research project summarises studies in the literature to provide an understanding of this problem, both from risk hedging and supply chain perspectives. We then take steps to further the research by modifying the single vendor-buyer supply chain model in order to incorporate the process of cross hedging; identifying and evaluating potential cross hedging instruments for diesel fuel during differing market conditions; and evaluating the realworld effectiveness of cross hedging in the supply chain model by creating three numerical examples, utilizing real-world price data and the determined cross hedging instrument and hedge ratio, in order to determine whether it is worth it for firms to incorporate this type of cross hedging into their supply chain management strategies.
Performance Analysis and Optimization of Hybrid Wastewater Heat Pump Systems Using Numerical Simulation
Authors: Sohali Usama
Published: March 2024

Wastewater heat pump (WWHP) systems utilize raw wastewater flowing through a sewer pipe to serve as an energy source/sink and provide space conditioning to buildings. These systems can be hybridized by coupling them with conventional heat addition and rejection equipment such as natural gas fired boilers and cooling towers. Numerical simulation is used to analyze and optimize the performance of a WWHP system and its hybrid variant for three distinct climate zones. An optimization algorithm is used to determine ideal temperature setpoints for each major component of the hybrid WWHP system. The results of the WWHP system are compared against a conventional water loop heat pump (WLHP) system in terms of energy consumption, financial viability, and CO2emissions. It is concluded that WWHP systems are an excellent alternative to WLHP systems, both in terms of financial performance and environment impact, for mild and heating dominated climates.
Dual Supply Blood Platelet Inventory Management: An Approximate Dynamic Programming Approach
Authors: Kundavaram Samuel Henry
Published: March 2024

This report formulates a dual-source model that considers artificial blood along with natural blood as sources of blood platelet supply. The model is formulated for a single hospital by considering deterministic lead time while ordering, uncertainty in supply, and demand. A newsvendor model is used to find the optimal order quantity for each day and approximate dynamic programming (ADP) is used to deal with uncertainty over a year. Three different step size rules are being studied and compared in terms of average value function approximation (VFA) per timestep, with two being deterministic step size and the other being an optimal stochastic step size to deal with non-stationary data. The project aims is to select a policy that can reduce shortages, outages, and maximize the rewards for the developed model. Eleven policies are being investigated while introducing artificial blood platelet rewards. Numerical analysis is implemented by considering varied demand and donations for different acceptance percentages and inventory levels of artificial blood under each policy. Another analysis is done to show how shortage and outage values vary for a single source supply vs a dual source (0% acceptance vs 50% acceptance) and are computed for three policies. Computed results show that first in first out (FIFO) is the best policy with the least shortage and outage for various acceptance rates, for varied demand and donations. As the acceptance rate and the inventory level for artificial blood are increased, for 10% a shortage percentage of 5.8% along with 5.9% of outage for natural and 8.8% for artificial is observed. When increased to 30%, 40%, we see an increase in the outage of natural platelets from5.9% to 6.1% along with shortage levels slightly falling. For 50% shortage values falls below 5.2%, outage values fall below 5.7% with outage of artificial from 9% to 8.6%. For the second analysis 0% vs 50%, considering a secondary source can help reduces shortage from 5.8% to 5.1% and outage from 6.3% to 5.7%.
The Effects of Thermophoresis and Brownian Motion on the Flow of a Nanofluid in Rectangular Channels Using Buongiorno’s Model
Authors: Ghalayini Ibrahim
Published: March 2024

Nanofluids is an emerging sector of working fluids that promise to enhance heat transfer by increasing fluids’ thermal conductivity by inputting metal nanoparticles into a base fluid. There are two ways of modelling nanofluids; single-phase and two-phase. Since nanoparticle sedimentation may influence heat extraction, the Buongiorno two-phase model will be of focus to understand Brownian motion as well as thermophoretic effects on nanofluids. This research presents the case of investigating the thermal performance of plain water, as well as Al 2 -3ater and TiO -2ater nanofluids with varying concentrations and flow rates in rectangular channelled configurations. The results revealed that the Nusselt number and thermal efficiency index augmented by increasing the Reynolds number and nanoparticle concentrations. Furthermore, higher Reynolds numbers and nanoparticle concentrations increased homogeneity in nanoparticle distributions. Lastly, 2 and 3-channel configurations were utilized in the study, the 2-channel model yielded symmetrical flow allowing uniform nanoparticle distributions, leading to higher thermal efficiencies.
Studies in Ground Heat Transfer and Thermal Energy Storage Using Phase Change Material and Nanoparticles
Authors: Daneshazarian Reza
Published: March 2024

The thesis begins with a literature review of phase change material (PCM) and heat transfer intensification methods. The challenges of using these methods are discussed, and the potential of adding nanoparticles as one of the heat transfer enhancement methods is explored thoroughly and presented. Also, the potential of implementing thermally enhanced latent heat thermal energy storage (TES) in a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system is presented. A detailed study has been carried out on developing an enhanced numerical approach to investigate the melting performance of nanoPCM (exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP)octadecane) filled in a vertical cylindrical enclosure at different weight concentrations. The results showed that by adding 0.5wt% of xGnP in the base PCM (octadecane), the melting rate decreases by 9.7% and the heat storage rate increases by 12.6%.
Information Theoretic Measures Applied to Deep Learning Models
Authors: Qureshi Mohsin
Published: March 2024

It is possible to improve existing deep learning architecture performance with the use of added information theoretic measures. In this work, two different deep learning architectures are modified and experiments are carried out over multiple data sets to determine their effectiveness. Varational Autoencoders can be combined with mutual information maximization to create disentangled representations that are more useful for downstream tasks like classification. In Contrastive losses, such as the one used by SimCLR, substituting and enhacing I with other mutual information NCE measurements shows potential for improving the limited mutual information estimation capabilities that batch size enforces on NCE.
Forced Convection in Wavy Microchannels Porous Media Using TiO2 and Al2O3-CU Nanoparticles in Water Base Fluids: Numerical Results
Authors: Elsafy Kholoud
Published: March 2024

  

In the present work, attempt is made to investigate the performance of three fluid with forced convection in a wavy channel. The fluids are water, a nanofluid of 1%TiO2 in a water solution and a hybrid fluid which consists of 1% Al2O3-Cu nanoparticles in a water solution. The wavy channel has a porous insert with a permeability of 10 PPI, 20 PPI and 40PPI respectively. Since Reynolds number is less than 1000, the flow is assumed laminar, Newtonian and steady state. Results revealed that wavy channel provides a better heat enhancement than a straight channel of the same dimension. Porous material increases heat extraction at the expenses of the pressure drop. The nanofluid of 1%TiO2 water provided the highest performance evaluation criteria.
The Role of Bacterial Filamentation in Response to the Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37
Authors: Tomlinson Madison
Published: March 2024

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections in humans. Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) are the primary cause of UTIs. During a UTI, UPEC invades bladder epithelial cells forming intracellular biofilm-like structures with heterogenous bacterial morphologies, including filamentous. These infections often persist despite the host immune system. In this study, we examine filamentation in E. coli K12 and UPEC strains and test whether filamentous cells exhibit altered resistance to immune responses. Utilizing fluorescent microscopy, we demonstrate that filamentation increases bacterial survival against the antimicrobial peptide, LL-37, and slows engulfment by macrophage phagocytosis with subsequent increased survival within macrophages. We also established LL-37 localization in E. coli and determined that LL-37 localizes differently to filaments. This work demonstrates that filamentation is an adaptive response to host induced stress that allow UPEC to better survive, suggesting that interference with filamentation might be a viable approach to treat UTIs.
A Comprehensive Investigation Into How Metal Nanoparticles Enhance Photochemical Processes
Authors: Dogantzis Nicholas
Published: March 2024

Integrated nanoparticle-fluorophore systems are an emerging class of hybrid materials with potential for a variety of applications. Within these systems, Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) is a phenomenon that arises through the unique near-field interactions between organic fluorophores and metallic nanoparticles. These interactions can enhance fluorophore brightness by operating under two mechanistic pathways: increased fluorophore excitation, and increased fluorophore emission. It is critical, however, to garner an understanding of the balance between the two mechanisms in order to optimize its use for customized applications. In this work, silver nanoplates (AgNP) were synergistically integrated with a photoactivatable system consisting of a fluorogenic boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) and select photoacid generators (PAGs). Light irradiation of the PAGs promotes the release of acid, which encourages the formation of a fluorescent BODIPY analogue. AgNP were found to enhance the output of steady-state emission via MEF. Furthermore, single molecule total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) was executed to distinguish the relative contributions of the two MEF mechanisms between the quenched and fluorescent BODIPY fluorochromes and AgNP. Interestingly, increased excitation was the dominant MEF mechanism amongst both dyes. Finally, the rational design of a ‘uninanomolecular’ superstructure incorporating both a photoactivatable dihydrofluorescein dye and AgNP within a single system was investigated. Two synthetic approaches were proposed, however neither method yielded superstructures that photoactivated with subsequent MEF. Overall, this work aids to advance the understanding of complex particle-molecule interactions.
The Synthesis of Molecular Probes Based on Cystic Fibrosis Drugs for Biological Research
Authors: Junor Philip
Published: March 2024

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. These mutations either impair trafficking to thecell membrane, reducefunction as ananion channel,orboth. Ivacaftor(a channel potentiator) was the first FDA-approved drug that treats the underlying cause of CF, specifically for patients with the G551D mutation. Shortly after, Orkambi, a combination of ivacaftor and the trafficking corrector lumacaftor was FDA-approved for patients homozygous for the F508del mutation. Based onclinical studies, itisreportedthatOrkambi has amodesteffect onlung function due to the negative impact of ivacaftor on the stability of F508del CFTR. Ivacaftor and lumacaftor were discovered and optimized through functional bioassays, and their interaction at the molecular level is not fully understood. To better understand the drug-protein interaction and inform the development of better CF drugs, molecular probes have been synthesized based on the structures of ivacaftor and lumacaftor.
Outer Membrane Protease Regulation and Function in Enterobacterales
Authors: Cho Youn Hee
Published: March 2024

Bacteria that make their living inside a host face the constant threat of clearance by host defenses. Such is the case for Escherichia coli, which often harmlessly colonize humans but are also capable of causing disease. Adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) are isolated from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients at a higher rate than from healthy individuals. AIEC strains are genetically diverse suggesting that a phenotypic approach may be better suited for understanding their mechanisms of pathogenesis. In a collection of clinical E. coli isolates, we observed elevated host defense peptides (HDPs) in IBD-associated AIEC; this may be an adaptive phenotype converged upon by these strains on the basis of a shared environment. Ulcerative colitis-associated strains showed statistically greater resistance to LL-37-mediated killing. High-level resistance to LL-37 depended upon carriage of omptin protease genes, but this did not wholly explain the heterogeneity of omptin activity in these strains. This suggests that the molecular basis of the observed phenotype varies from strain-to-strain. We further investigated the mechanism of omptin protease regulation in E. coli BW25113, and found OmpT, OmpP and ArlC of E. coli and CroP of Citrobacter rodentium to be directly regulated by the PhoPQ system, a master regulator of virulence and antimicrobial peptide resistance. We identified conserved PhoP-binding sites in the promoters of these omptin genes and show that mutation of this site in the ompT promoter abrogates PhoP-dependent expression. We also show that despite the conserved PhoP-dependent regulation, each omptin has differential activity towards specific substrates, suggesting that each omptin may contribute to resistance to a particular repertoire of host immune peptides, depending on the particular environment in which each evolved. A screen to identify other potential regulators of omptin activity revealed EnvY as a repressor of omptin activity. Further characterization is consistent with EnvY functioning as a repressor of the PhoPQ system, allowing for the integration of temperature as a signal influencing expression of PhoP-regulated genes. The function of EnvY is broadly conserved in strains that possess the envY gene, but the gene itself is not present in all E. coli strains; this is another source of strain-to-strain variability allowing for fine-tuning of virulence phenotypes. Together, these results demonstrate diversity in virulence-associated phenotypes and their regulation in E. coli, potentially reflecting adaptations based on the specific lifestyles of each strain.
The Importance of the Acyltransferase LYCAT on PI3K-Akt Signaling and Cancer Cell Proliferation
Authors: Chan Victoria
Published: March 2024

Phosphoinositides (PIPs) play a key role in regulating key cellular functions. PIPs are enriched with a unique acyl profile composed of stearate and arachidonate at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, respectively, which is governed by phospholipase As and acyltransferases. Specifically, lysocardiolipin acyltransferase (LYCAT) incorporates stearic acid onto the sn-1 position. Previous work found that LYCAT silencing selectively perturbs the levels and localization of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate, an important precursor for phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5- trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 recruits and modulates the effector Akt, which promotes and coordinates cell survival and proliferation. Thus, we hypothesized that LYCAT is important in PIP3-Akt signaling and cell proliferation. Our results show that LYCAT silencing suppresses EGF- stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and select downstream substrates. Further, we observed impaired cell proliferation. Overall, our results suggest that the acyl specificity governed by LYCAT may play a significant role in controlling cell signaling and proliferation, which may have consequences for diseases such as cancer.
The Immigration and Settlement Experiences of International Students From Ghana and Nigeria in the Greater Toronto Area
Authors: Haastrup Peter
Published: March 2024

Over the last 20 years, the number of international students coming to Canada has increased drastically from just over 100,000 in 2000-2001 to well over half a million in the 20202021 academic years (Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), 2018; El-Assal, 2020; Statista, 2021). According to Global Affairs Canada (2020), in 2018 alone, international students in Canada contributed $22.3 billion to the Canadian economy on tuition, accommodation, and discretionary spending and helped to sustain over 170,000 jobs. Much of the literature has focused on Asian international students – especially from India and China, who make up a combined 56% of the international student body in Canada (El-Assal, 2020). Significantly less is known about African international students, who make up about 9% of the international student body in Canada. This study critically assesses Canada’s approach to and focus on international students as part of overall programs to attract immigrants. Using a qualitative analysis, this study focuses on the immigration and settlement experiences of Black African international students from Ghana and Nigeria living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Canada. Semi structured interviews were conducted with Ghanaian (N = 6) and Nigerian (N = 14) international students living in the GTA. Because experiences may defer between male and female, an even number of students who identified as men (N = 10) and identified as women (N = 10) were recruited. The study centred the voices of these Ghanaian and Nigerian international students, adding to the scarce body of knowledge surrounding the topic. The research focused on the ways in which social networks contributed to or diminished acculturative stress; the impact of Canadian immigration policy on the experiences of these students; and the role of race and gender on the immigration experiences of these students. The study resulted in three key finding. First, Ghanaian and Nigerian international students face financial difficulties. They could benefit from additional forms of financial aid, grants, or financial support, although participants identified as female experienced more financial challenges than those identified as male. Second, there is a lack of culturally appropriate support from colleges and universities for Ghanaian and Nigerian international students, which have led some to seek support from their religious institutions, some of which are not equipped to help with mental wellbeing. Lastly, some participants that used educational agents, expressed discontent and frustration with the outcomes, as agencies at times gave them misinformation that led them to enroll in bridging programs when, in fact, this was not necessary. The study provides recommendations that can inform policy change to better support and enhance the experiences of Ghanaian and Nigerian international students in the GTA.
Labour Market Outcomes and Experiences of West African Immigrants to Canada: A Comparative Study of Toronto and Montreal
Authors: Adamu Patience
Published: March 2024

West African-born economic immigrants to Canada have a unique settlement experience. Coming from countries that were colonized by the British and the French, economic immigrants from these places were educated in the English and French languages--but as Sub Saharan African s, they are racialized as Black upon entry into Canada. This presents a quandary for a society that remains committed to its understanding of Black bodies and their capacity to contribute to an economy, or lack thereof. This mixed method study uses focus groups, semi-structured interviews and multiple linear regressions to better understand the labour market outcomes and experiences of West African immigrants to Canada. Through a theoretical framework inclusive of racial capitalism, transnationalism and postcolonial theory, this study situates the experiences of West African-born immigrants at a place of racial reckoning. The study’s findings indicate that the processes of racialization are further complicated by names, accents and credentials, all of which serve to further marginalize West African economic immigrants when compared to Black economic immigrants from elsewhere. The findings also reveal a fundamental issue of identity, where West Africans resist the categorization of Black in response to their lack of familiarity with ‘Black culture’.
Make the Environment Great Again: Extending Past-focused Environmental Comparisons for Conservatives
Authors: Reid Jesse
Published: March 2024

Conservatives are typically less pro-environmental than liberals. Promisingly, Baldwin and Lammers (2016) suggested conservatives may be swayed by pro-environmental messages promoting a return to a pristine past environment, instead of promoting avoidance of a degraded future environment. This study aimed to replicate and extend these findings by including nuanced political measures (SDO and RWA), and a third temporal comparison that focused simultaneously on the past and future, for wider political appeal. Participants (N = 563) viewed pro-environmental messages, images, and charities that were focused on either the past, the future, or both (combined). Unlike previous research, none of the conditions, impacted participants’ general environmental attitudes. Although, supporting Baldwin and Lammers (2016), individuals higher in RWA (typically more conservative) preferred pastfocused appeals and donated more to past-focused charities. Encouragingly, the combined condition was often just as, or more appealing than the other conditions to participants across the political spectrum.