bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Face Detection in Color Images
Authors: Gao Jun
Published: May 2021

Detection of human face has many realistic and important applications such as human and computer interface, face recognition, face image database management, security access control systems and content-based indexing video retrieval systems. In this report a face detection scheme will be presented. The scheme is designed to operate on color images. In the first stage of algorithm, the skin color regions are detected based on the chrominance information. A color segmentation stage is then employed to make skin color regions to be divided into smaller regions which have homogenous color. Then, we use the iterative luminance segmentation to further separate the detected skin region from other skin-colored objects such as hair, clothes, and wood, based on the high variance of the luminance component in the neighborhood of edges of objects. Post-processing is applied to determine whether skin color regions fit the face constrains on density of skin, size, shape and symmetry and contain the facial features such as eyes and mouths. Experimental results show that the algorithm is robust and is capable of detecting multiple faces in the presence of a complex background which contains the color similar to the skin tone.
Fuel regression rate estimation model for swirling-flow hybrid rocket engines
Authors: Wongyai Potchara
Published: May 2021

In the current study, an analytical model to estimate the fuel surface regression rate of hybrid rocket engines with head-end swirling flow oxidizer injection is established. The model is based on a convective heat feedback approach and, in conjunction with the corresponding boundary layer (or zone) concept which accounts for transpiration, effective hydraulic diameters, and wall friction. The effective tangential (swirl) velocity of the gas provides a positive augmentation effect to the fuel regression rate, above that due to the axial mass flux component of the core gas
flow. From the literature, a variety of propellant combinations, engine sizes, and flow swirl numbers are evaluated for engines having circular-port fuel grains, with sample results provided in this report for comparative purposes. The predicted fuel regression rates for the most part compare quite well with the corresponding experimental data. Additionally, the validity of the underlying assumption of a slowly decaying effective axial and tangential velocity of the gas as one moves downstream along the central fuel port is to some degree verified using a computational approach, based on a simplified engine flow model. As a final element of the overall study, the fuel regression rate model is evaluated for parameter sensitivity. The settings for some propellant and gas properties are found to have a significant influence on the quantitative predictive results.
Remaking KM6: an authoethnographic and photographic journey to Santa Cruz Bolivia
Authors: Chun So  Jin
Published: May 2021

This paper examines the process of autoethnography and photographic study within the context of hybridity and diasporic cultural identity. For this project, ReMaking KM6, I returned to my childhood home of Santa Cruz, Bolivia creating representations of this city in the context of Latin America. Through the lens of hybridity, I look at my own process of autoethnography and documentary photography. The concept of hybridity resonates in my personal narrative, which illustrates the meeting between Korean, Bolivian and Canadian cultures. As a result, the visual evidence gathered demonstrates a specific perspective and contributes to the pool of Latin American images available in North America. The photographs gathered during my fieldwork illustrate the day-to-day lives of Crucenos (people of Santa Cruz) that disrupt notions of Latin America as static, and exotic providing an alternative to stereotypes of this region. In order to illustrate specific examples of this process, this essay will refer to the seventy-page book titled ReMaking KM6: Childhood Memories of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, that outlines this journey through the combination of visual evidence and narratives.

My autoethnography takes on the process of "memory-work" in which I explore the relationship between my childhood memories and present-day reality in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. By looking at Latin America as a concept, I create a specific local and regional representation of Latin America that shows one of the many diverse narratives within this hybrid cultural ground. Through careful examination of my role as former-resident, present-day foreigner, North American, artist, researcher, academic and photographer, I negotiate the meanings in my photographs by contextualizing my hybridity and subjectivity.

Some of the main questions that I tackle in this essay are: what kinds of tools can be used in order to engage in an auto ethnography that exists within the representation of place? What are the characteristics of diasporas, and hybrid identities that renounce positivist notions of static and dichotomous identities and embrace identity as a constant flux? What constitutes Latin American photography? What have been the tendencies in Latin American photography? How do artists and photographers that live or have strong connections to Latin America portray this vast area? Can photography be an effective tool in representing diversity?
Canadian ethnic media and social capital development : Examining the relationship between broadcasting policy, multicultural programming and sociocultural integration and cohesion in Canada
Authors: Hogerwaard Erika M.
Published: May 2021

Using Canada as a case for analysis, this research investigates the potential for ethnic media, which are mandated to deliver content directed to "racially and culturally distinct" (CRTC, 1999) groups that are not English, French or Aboriginal, to act as an integrative tool for allophone communities, and to stimulate intercultural exchanges amongst all Canadians that can lead to the development of social capital. Given Canada's extraordinary demographic heterogeneity, the mechanisms in place to encourage the development of networks between and among ethnic communities are increasingly important for supporting social solidarity in the broader population (Putnam, 2006). Canada's Broadcasting Act, §3(1)(d)(iii) (1991) and related policies which the Act initiates, including the Ethnic Broadcasting Policy, provide a policy framework for the creation and distribution of culturally and linguistically diverse content" to Canadian audiences, demonstrating official support for the potential social benefits associated with the national availability of ethnic media. By developing culturally and linguistically diverse content aligned with the demographic realities of the Canadian population within a supportive policy environment, ethnic media can provide, an important platform for sharing information and ideas across vast geographic or sociocultural divides, as well as a venue for fostering community building, civic involvement and an active dialogue amongst Canadians of all backgrounds. This research seeks to explore and develop theoretical linkages between the existing policy framework governing ethnic broadcasting in Canada, the broadcasting sector's methods of compliance with existing regulation, and the development of social capital.
The impact of vlogging on deaf culture, communication and identity
Authors: Hibbard Ellen S.
Published: May 2021

This thesis presents a framework representing research conducted to examine the impact of website based online video technology for Deaf people, their culture, and their communication. This technology enables American Sign Language (ASL) asynchronous communication, called vlogging, for Deaf people. The thesis provides new insights and implications for Deaf culture and communication as a result of studying the practices, opinions and attitudes of vlogging. Typical asynchronous communication media such as blogs, books, e-mails, or movies have been dependent on use of spoken language or text, not incorporating sign language content. Online video and website technologies make it possible for Deaf people to share signed content through video blogs (vlogs), and to have a permanent record of that content. Signed content is typically 3-D, shared during face-to-face gatherings, and ephemeral in nature. Websites are typically textual and video display is 2-D, placing constraints on the spatial modulation required for ASL communication.

There have been few academic studies to date examining signed asynchronous communication use by Deaf people and the implications for Deaf culture and communication. In this research, 130 vlogs by Deaf vloggers on the mainstream website YouTube, and specialized website Deafvideo.TV were examined to discover strategies employed by Deaf users as a result of the technology’s spatial limitations, and to explore similarities and differences between the two websites. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 Deaf people as follow up. The main findings from this research include register of vlogging formality depending on website type, informal on Deafvideo.TV while formal on YouTube. In addition, vlogs had flaming behaviour while unexpected findings of lack of ASL literature and use of technical elements that obscured ASL content in vlogs. Questions regarding the space changes and narrative elements observed have arisen, providing avenues for additional research. This study and more research could lead to a fuller understanding the impact of vlogging and vlogging technology on Deaf culture and identify potential improvements or new services that could offered.
You're not welcome here: examining the intersections of migration and neoliberal immigration policy in Canada
Authors: Gunn Rosalind  V.
Published: May 2021

This analysis examines the intersections of migration and neoliberal immigration policy in Canada through a political economy lens. It looks particularly at the increasing phenomenon of human smuggling and it asks how the emergence of neoliberalism has shaped Canadian immigration policy and how has this impacted working peoples’ lives and forced them to become migrants. Canada increasingly treats migrants with suspicion and seeks to prevent the less “profitable” ones from entering. Today’s policies are the result of a historical process of entrenching a North-South divide as some sort of unavoidable truth, and the fruits of the global North as requiring protection from “needy” and “lazy” poor in the global South. It is this paradigm which the following analysis seeks to problematize and deconstruct by examining the historical roots of the North-South divide.
Design and materials for photographic housing
Authors: Psaila Denise
Published: May 2021

There are many complex issues that pertain to the physical housings used to contain a photograph collection. Information on this topic is varied and hard to obtain, yet there is a growing need for this information to be widely available, especially for workers in the archival, photographic, museum and cultural heritage community. The goal of this Professional Practice Project was to create an applied guide illustrating the care of photographic collections that could be used as a resource by professionals in the field. Design and Materials: Suggestions for Photographic Housing presents my research and analysis of this area of the field as well as an illustrated guide that is intended to be used as a future resource by professional collection managers responsible for large scale photographic collections.
Use of concept maps and wikis for early engineering design and collaborative engineering
Authors: Weerasinghe Janaka S.
Published: May 2021

Concept Maps and wikis were examined as tools that compliment the engineering design process and better facilitate collaboration between geographically dispersed design teams. Concept maps are a visual knowledge capture medium that can be used to promote the understanding of the design problem and in providing an organizational reference for the entire project. Wikis are editable websites that give the users the freedom to add content in any manner, thus providing a project management platform for design teams. This thesis reports on five studies by the author in which concept maps and wikis are used as both tools for the design process as well as collaborative tools in various modes of interaction. Recommendations to improve concept maps and wiki technologies were determined based on the feedback from the participants in these studies. The wiki was used extensively as a project management tool but required some push for the participants to use. The hierarchical layout structure has been shown to be the favoured pattern by participants in the engineering field. Concept maps are also shown to be a clearer visualization tool than another accepted tool, Unified Modelling Language.
Determining the Sustainability of Land-Applying Biosolids to Agricultural Lands Using Environmentally-Relevant Terrestrial Biota
Authors: Puddephatt Karen Joan
Published: May 2021

Biosolids, the treated solid by-product of a WWPT, have been land-applied for decades as a means of disposal of an inexpensive form of fertilizer. However, research has shown that many chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, herbicides, pesticides, plasticizers, detergents, or heavy metals pass through the WWTP, often unaltered, and potentially end up in the biosolids. Therefore, a need to determine if the land-application of biosolids has an impact on terrestrial biota exists. In this work, six different organisms were used including Folsomia candida, Lumbricus terrestris, Zea mays, Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Brassca rap.

It was determined that government protocols were inadequate since they either prescribed organisms not environmentally-relevant or only looked at initial growth stages such as germination and emergence and not at effect, if any, on subsequent generations. Thus, new protocols were developed. Additionally, it was concluded that very little impact was seen on any of the terrestrial biota examined.
A simplified model of the thermal interaction of a Venetian blind located on the indoor glazing surface of a window
Authors: Roeleveld Derek
Published: May 2021

A simplified model was developed to predict the radiative and convective heat transfer in complex fenestration systems, including the effect of solar radiation. The focus of the current work was on Venetian blinds mounted adjacent to the indoor window surface. From the perspective of convection, the model used a convective flat plate flow between the blind and ambient surroundings and a convective channel flow between the window and blinds. It was necessary to develop new empirical correlations to predict the average channel Nusslet numbers of the hot and cold walls separately.

Therefore, a CFG study of free convection in an asymmetrically heated channel was performed. Then, the new empirical correlations were used to develop a simplified one-dimensional model of the heat transfer in the system. The radiative heat exchange between the blind, window and room was calculated using a four surface grey-diffuse model. Sample predicted results were compared with existing experimental and numerical data from the literature.
A Narrative Study of the Experiences of Providing Culturally Competent Care by Frontline Staff Caring for Older Ukrainian Immigrants in a Mono-culture Long-term Care Facility
Authors: Zaplatsinska Maryana
Published: May 2021

Frontline healthcare providers are increasingly called to demonstrate respect for clients’preferences by providing culturally competent care as part of person-centered approaches. Review of literature, however, shows culturally competent care practices have been poorly integrated into healthcare. Among Canada’s population, care of older Ukrainian immigrants has received limited consideration. This narrative study explored experiences of two Ukrainian nurses providing culturally competent care in Ukrainian long-term care homes in the Greater Toronto Area. Textual and photographic data were analyzed via categorical-content and visual analysis approaches in keeping with narrative methodology. Three levels of data analysis were completed: emergent theme analysis, comparative theme analysis, and metaphoric representative analysis. Major themes include honoring the client, home is where the varenyky are served, the culturally competent nurse as the doorway to culturally competent care, and cultural insight as the solid foundation. Study implications are for organizational practice, policy and research.
Biological Treatment of Wastewater Containing Automotive Antifreeze Solution Using a Packed Column
Authors: Khan M. Adnan A.
Published: May 2021

Simulated wastewater samples containing antifreeze were treated biologically using a packed column as an aerator. The objective of this project is to determine the rate of biological degradation of ethylene glycol at different air flow rates, liquid flow rates, and varied seeding rates at different time intervals, to achieve the highest removal rate of the BOD. The biological oxygen demand (BOD) of the wastewater was measured. Under a liquid flowrate of 5.5 kg m̃²s̃¹ the BOD removal increased when the air flowrate was increased from 0.0069 to 0.0414 kg m̃²s̃¹. However, further increases of the air flowrate beyond 0.0138 kg m̃²s̃¹ did not affect the BOD removal rate significantly. On the other hand, with a constant air flowrate when the liquid flowrate was increased from 5.5 to 11, 16.5, and 27.5 kg m̃²s̃¹, the percent BOD removal appeared to decrease slightly. It was also found that the increase in amount of seeding has no significant effect on BOD removal. The averaged BOD removal of about 90% was obtained after 72 hours of the wastewater treatment.
A single-phase DC-AC dual-active-bridge based resonant converter for grid-connected photovoltaic applications
Authors: Aguirre Marcos Felix
Published: May 2021

In the wake of the global energy crisis, the integration of renewable energy resources, energy storage devices, and electric vehicles into the electric grid has been of great interest towards replacing conventional, fossil-fuel-dependent energy resources. This thesis presents the circuit topology and a control strategy for a 250-W single-phase gridconnected
dc-ac converter for photovoltaic (PV) solar applications. The converter is based on the dual active bridge (DAB) kernel employing a series-resonant link and a high-frequency isolation stage. For interfacing the 60-Hz ac grid with the 78-kHz resonant circuit, the converter utilizes a four-quadrant switch array that functions as an ac-ac stage. Therefore, a bipolar low-frequency voltage source, that is the grid voltage, is used to synthesize a symmetrical high-frequency voltage pulse-train for the resonant circuit. Thus, soft switching and the use of a compact ferrite-core transformer have been possible. Then, a fast current-control loop ensures that the converter injects a sinusoidal current in phase with the grid voltage, while a relatively slower feedback loop regulates the converter dc-side voltage, that is, the PV array voltage, at a desired value. To simulate the converter and to design the controllers, the thesis also presents nonlinear large-signal and linearized small-signal state-space averaged models. The performance of the converter is assessed through simulation studies conducted using the aforementioned averaged models, a detailed topological model in the PLECS software environment, and a prototype.
Keywords: Photovoltaic, PV, Microinverter, Dual Active Bridge, Phase-shift Modulation, High Frequency Transformer
Heat Pump Water Heater For Cold Climate – Canada
Authors: Amirirad Afarin
Published: May 2021

Considering the large energy consumption of conventional water heaters in residential buildings, the performance of a new type of water heater has been characterized through conducting experiments and numerical modelling. The specific water heater investigated in this work benefits from heat absorption from the indoor air, denoted as the air source heat pump water heater (ASHPWH), and is located in the Archetype Sustainable Twin House B in Toronto. The experiments have been conducted under three different indoor conditions associated with temperature and humidity. The coefficient of performance (COP), which quantifies the ratio of heating capacity to the consumed power of ASHPWH, ranges between 1.5 and 5, depending on the indoor dry bulb and water inlet temperatures. A TRNSYS model of ASHPWH has been constructed based on the obtained experimental results and has subsequently been integrated with a TRNSYS model of the Archetype Sustainable House (ASH). The numerical results were verified with the experimental data. The model results suggests that after employing ASHPWH, the domestic hot water energy consumption reduces by 60.3% and 53.2% compared to the electric water heater in summer and winter respectively. Due to the energy absorption of ASHPWH from the indoor environment, the heating load of the ASH house increases while its cooling load decreases. Furthermore, the annual electricity consumption of the ASH house due to the required heating and cooling as well as the domestic hot water demand is reduced by 21.3%. Finally, as a consequence of employing ASHPWH, the energy cost and GHG emission were reduced respectively by 22% and 21.7%. By investigating the system in four other Canadian cities, it appears that Vancouver and Edmonton would have the maximum and minimum energy savings respectively.
Robot calibration based on nonlinear formulation for Modular Reconfigurable Robots (MRRs)
Authors: Lin Yu
Published: May 2021

Developed in this thesis is a full pose kinematic calibration method for modular reconfigurable robots (MRRs). This method is based on a nonlinear formulation as opposed to the conventional linear method that has a number of critical limitations. By avoiding linearization of the nonlinear robot forward kinematic equations, these nonlinear equations are directly used to identify the robot calibration parameters. A hybrid search method is developed to solve the nonlinear error equations by combining genetic algorithms with Monte Carlo simulations to ensure a global search over the robot workspace with good accuracy. A number of comparisons are made between the proposed method and the conventional linear method, indicating the advantages of the former over the latter by eliminating two critical limitations. The first one is the orthogonality sacrifice that leads to ill-conditioning of the Jacobian used in the linear method. The second one is quadrant sensitivity during the determination of the (Tait) Bryan angles from inverting the rotation matrix.
An Evaluation of the Sagarmatha National Park Forestry Project (SNPFP), Khumbu, Nepal: A Community Stakeholder Approach
Authors: Bhatta Chet
Published: May 2021

This study adopts a community stakeholder approach to analyze the stakeholders' perceptions on foreign aid and NGO-driven reforestation programme in an impacted community. The focus of the study, the Sagarmatha National Park Forestry Project (SNPFP), has operated in Khumbu, Nepal for thirty years.

The overall performance and impacts of the SNPFP were assessed by interviewing key informants with regard to their experience and perceptions. Qualitative analysis revealed the gap in the involvement of multiple donors and identified how these gaps impacted on quality of foreign aid and NGO-led project. The implications of this study include the recommendation that the immediate stakeholders in a local area are a reliable source of information to measure the value of foreign aid and NGO performance. Furthermore, the future of natural resource conservation and rural development led by foreign aid and NGOs depends on collaboration between the local people, the NGOs, donors, and the government.
Environmental Management in the Film and Television Production Industry
Authors: Brown Collingwood
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this research is to examine the current state of the film industry’s environmental management efforts, by using the temporary structure of the film production itself as a framework. Film industry experts were interviewed, and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was performed using the project-based organization (PBO) as a system boundary. The literature on environmental management for another project-based industry, construction, was reviewed and used as a comparison with the interview results. At present, the greatest strength of the PBO in pursuing environmental management is the social conscience of the employees within the PBO itself. The largest threat is the lack of financial resources. The construction comparison indicated that there was some divergence between the two industries, specifically with respect to competitive advantage and company image. The complex relationship each industry has with its stakeholders plays an important role in the ability to implement an environmental management program.
New Orientalism: Depictions of Muslims in the Canadian Media
Authors: Harb Hanan
Published: May 2021

This paper seeks to examine the topic of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism that is currently present in reports of mainstream media and the implications it has on the lives of people in the Muslim community in Canada. The Western media has played a major role in both reviving historical Orientalist depictions of the 'other' and shaping the views of many ordinary Canadians about Muslims and people from the Middle East. Negative portrayals of Islam, and more specifically Muslims, have often been defended in the West under the principle of freedom of speech and the press, and this type of racism has been allowed to continue to exist in society under the contentious pretext of security. This paper draws on examples from two mainstream Canadian media outlets: The Toronto Star and Maclean's Magazine. The analysis of the Toronto Star is limited to articles that were published between June 2nd, 2006 and July 29th, 2008 about the Toronto 18 case. The Maclean's magazine analysis focuses on articles that were written between January 2005 and July 2006, many of which have also been at the center of a complaint before the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
More than 1,000 words: Visual narrative structures in CDC Instagram posts during the 2014-15 West African Ebola crisis
Authors: Junke Jeff
Published: May 2021

This major research paper (MRP) is a visual social semiotics study that identifies dominant visual narrative structures found in a series of photos posted to Instagram by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the 2014-15 West African Ebola epidemic. Based in scholarship from fields including visual culture, public health visual communication, and global health communication, the paper identifies the characteristics of each identified visual narrative structure and how they relate to larger historical discourse in health communication. This MRP identified six major visual narrative structures across 63 relevant photos that, together, show the CDC to be an organization concerned with the following two things, amongst their other priorities: 1) the epidemiological activities and expertise of its staff, and 2) a focus on the global health security regime and, in turn, the protection of American citizens in North America over those suffering in affected African countries.
A two-stage normalization method for robust differential expression analysis in microarray experiments
Authors: Manafi Shirin
Published: May 2021

In this research, we introduce an approach to improve the reliability of genetic data analysis. Consistency of the results obtained from microarray data analysis strongly relies on elimination of non-biological variations during data normalization process. Instability in Housekeeping Gene (HKG) expression after performing common normalization methods might be an indication of inefficiency potentially resulting in sampling bias in differential expression analysis. This research aims to reduce the sampling bias in microarray experiments proposing a two-stage normalization algorithm. Proposed approach consists of non-linear Quantile normalization at the first stage and linear HKG based normalization at the second stage. We tested the efficiency of the two-stage normalization method using publicly available microarray datasets obtained from the experiments mainly in the field of reproductive biology. Results show that combined Robust Multiarray Average (RMA) and HKG normalization method reduces the sampling bias in experiments when variations in HKG expression is observed after RMA normalization.
Funny feelings: taking love to the cinema with Woody Allen
Authors: Zurba Zorianna Ulana
Published: May 2021

This dissertation utilizes the films of Woody Allen in order to position the cinema as a site where realizing and practicing an embodied experience of love is possible. This dissertation challenges pessimistic readings of Woody Allen’s film that render love difficult, if not impossible. By challenging assumptions about love, this dissertation opens a dialogue not only about the representation of love, but the understanding of love. Rather than a Platonic love of unity, this dissertation combines the phenomenological work of Luce Irigaray and Jean-Luc Marion to describe a love of letting be. A love of letting be focuses on the lived experience of love as a phenomenology. In a love of letting be it is the intent of both lovers to regard each other as an unknowable whole, whom they must support and whose mystery they must protect. The transformations of four characters from Allen’s cinema, Allan Felix of Play it Again, Sam, Alvy Singer of Annie Hall, Cecilia of The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Mickey Sachs of Hannah and her Sisters serve as illustrations of how coming to a love of letting be is possible. The four characters, the nervous romantics, come to understand a love of letting be through their experience in the cinema. Their experience in the cinema comes to enlighten their understanding and living of love as a love of letting be.
Secure message routing in structured peer-to-peer networks
Authors: Dabbagh Abdolkarim Hajfarajollah
Published: May 2021

"Due to the lack of a centralized server in “Peer-to-Peer” (P2P) networks, users are responsible for the security of these networks. One of the security issues in P2P networks is the security of the message routing. Messages could be altered or modified by attackers while being routed. The conventional security method to avoid this has been “Public Key Cryptography” (PKC). To avoid the certificate management issue in PKC, “Identity-based Encryption” (IBE) has been suggested in which any arbitrary string could be used as a public key. Since IBE is a computationally expensive method, current proposed IBE-based methods are not effective in the message routing phase in P2P networks and highly affect the performance of message delivery time in these networks. This thesis proposes two IBE-based protocols that can be applied effectively to the message routing phase of structured P2P networks, yet provide a satisfactory message delivery time performance. Both protocols benefit from Identity-based key exchange scheme and, therefore, none of them impose any extra communication on the network to secure message routing. Protocol 1 significantly improves the performance of message delivery time compared to the current IBE-based proposed methods. Protocol 2, which requires nodes to store data, has a performance similar to the situations in which no security measures are applied for message routing."
A Finding Aid For The Models' Guild of Philadelphia Collection
Authors: Dudley Kristin E.
Published: May 2021

The following is a professional practice project which focuses on the research, methodology, and development of a finding aid for the Models' Guild of Philadelphia Collection, which currently resides in the Richard and Ronay Menschel Library at George Eastman House as part of the Dr. Louis Walton Sipley collection which was donated by 3M in 1977. The contents of this collection include business correspondence documents, ephemera, photographs, and other material dating from 1946 to approximately 1963. This project was undertaken with the goal of organizing, and inventorying the collections that it would be more accessible to researchers within the Library at George Eastman House.
A modified CLIQUES key agreement protocol for secure multicast
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan
Published: May 2021

In a secured multicast application, members may join or leave frequently. Hence, key management is one of the most challenging problems. A practical and scalable key management requires high security features, efficient key distribution, low key-storage cost, and small processing overhead. CLIQUES (1-5) scheme was proposed to handle contributory key agreement. It extends the two-party Diffie-Hellman (6) algorithm to allow a group of members to "agree" upon a symmetric group key. Among the existing key management approaches, CLIQUES has the lowest cost in establishing the common session key. It also imposes less processing overhead in the user machine. The main drawback of CLIQUES is that a large number of re-key messages have to be exchanged among members when there is a membership change. The number of messages exchanged is proportional to the size of the membership. Consequently, CLIQUES is not very scalable and cannot support large group of members.

In this thesis, we proposed a Static CLIQUES, in which, a static group controller is introduced to reduce the complexity of status synchronization process within the group when there is a membership change. The number of keys stored in each member is smaller than that of the original CLIQUES. In addition, the use of static group controller provides member privacy protection since individual member does not have direct contact with other members. We also proposed a hierarchical CLIQUES structure to support a large number of members by sub-grouping them logically into a hierarchical key tree. It is more scalable than dynamic CLIQUES. The size of re-key message being distributed is found to be comparable with hierarchical key tree approach (7-11).
Scrap tire management in Ontario
Authors: Mirtorabi Ramona
Published: May 2021

This project paper addresses the major problem of scrap tire management in Ontario. It examines the environmental and health impacts associated with current disposal practices. To address the absence of a management program and lack of regulation for tire disposal in Ontario, tire management programs implemented in other provinces in Canada are evaluated and compared with Ontario, in order to explore the causes of its failure to develop and implement a comprehensive scrap tire management program. The divergence from Ontario on adopting a similar kind of tire managenet program is because of its strong market driven tire industry and governent's reluctance to implement another tax. This paper encourages a tire management system for Ontario as well, which is very similar to those already implemented in other provinces throughout Canada.
Believe me, believe me not : investigating the possibility of a dual standard in the evaluation of alibi and eyewitness evidence
Authors: El-Sibaey Sami
Published: May 2021

The present study investigates the hypothesis that alibi evidence is interpreted as an excuse and so perceived and reacted to negatively. Participants read case summaries that included incriminating eyewitness and exculpatory alibi evidence, the latter labelled as an 'alibi', 'excuse' or 'statement', completed questionnaires evaluating their perceptions or the honesty and credibility of witnesses, and provided a ruling for the case (guilty/not guilty). The alibi evidence was provided before or after the eyewitness evidence. It was expected that ratings for the 'alibi' or 'excuse' would be lower than those for the 'statement'. Though there were no significant evaluations of alibi honesty/credibility and accuracy are not utilized in the formation of a verdict. The results are discussed in the context of using the 'excuse hypothesis' as an explanation for the underutilization of alibi evidence.
Phase Portraits Of An Epidemic model With Incident Rates
Authors: Doan Thi D.
Published: May 2021

In this thesis, an epidemic model with nonlinear incidence rate is investigated. The ranges of the parameters involved in the model are given under which the equilibria are positive. By carrying out the qualitative behaviour analysis, it is shown the disease free equilibrium can exhibit saddle-nodes, saddle point or stable node depending on the ranges of the parameters. It is shown that the interior equilibria are saddle point, stable or focus nodes. Furthermore, several numerical solution and graphics are given to support the theoretical analysis.
Examination of different pretreatment and saccharification methods for biobutanol production in SSF process
Authors: Thirmal Chumangalah
Published: May 2021

The objective of this thesis was to examine different pretreatment and saccharification processes of the agriculture residue (i.e. wheat straw) for enhanced production of biobutanol. The purpose was to define the best conditions to obtain maximum sugar yield during the saccharification and butanol yield during the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Three different pretreatment methods for the wheat straws were examined in the present work in comparison with no chemical pretreatment as a reference. This included water, acidic, and alkaline pretreatment. For all cases, physical pretreatment represented by 1 mm size reduction of the straws was applied prior to each pretreatment. Results showed that 16.91 g/L glucose concentration and 100% glucose yield were produced from saccarification with just the physical pretreatment (i.e. no chemical pretreatment). This represented ~5-20% lower sugar release in saccarification compared to the other three pretreatment processes. Saccharification with acid pretreatment obtained the highest sugar concentrations, which were 18.77 g/L glucose and 12.19 g/L xylose. Water pretreatment with SSF was compared with SSF alone (i,e. no chemical pretreatment with SSF). Both processes converted more that 10% of wheat straw into butanol product. This was 2% higher that previous studies. The results illustrated that SSF with no chemical pretreatment obtained 2.61 g/L butanol. Kinetic model was developed for both processes to determine concentration profile of butanol. The SSF with no chemical pretreatment obtained 1.21% root mean square error in comparison with the kinetic model. Similarly, SSF with water pretreatment obtained 1.21% root mean square error in comparison with the kinetic model. Similarly, SSF with water pretreatment obtained 0.83% root mean square error.
A Real Options Approach to Design for Quality Standards Considering Life Cycle of a Product
Authors: Mullick Aasyfa
Published: May 2021

Flexibility is recognized as a valuable parameter for a manufacturing system. When valuing flexibility for quality standards of a production facility, there must be a tool to precisely justify the value delivered by the preferred standards. In this project, we have developed an options model that accounts for the demand dynamics during the product life cycle. We consider a manufacturing facility that employs a specific quality control chart. A second control chart with more strict standards is generated and the effectiveness of two control charts is analyzed with options framework considering the life cycle of the product. The options model is evaluated by lattice approach and the dynamic programming model. The results show that a set of appropriate levels of quality standards when adopted by a manufacturing system can be profitable for the firm.
Human female sexual behaviour across sexual orientations : evolution, personality, and fluidity
Authors: Radtke Sarah
Published: May 2021

Women's sexual behavour across sexual orientations was evaluated in this thesis. Evolutionary theory has shown that women and men pursue different reproductive strategies and predicts that strategic interference results when women and men are trying to acquire mates. This study compared women who varied in sexual orientation to assess differences between lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual female scores in sociosexuality. Masculine and feminine personality traits were additionally assessed by the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Sexual fluidity was assessed via interviews. Results indicated that lesbians and heterosexual women had similar scores in sociosexuality, suggesting little effect of strategic interference on lesbian sociosexuality. Extreme Kinsey scale scores were compared (i.e. completely heterosexual and completely lesbian), lesbians reported being more restricted in sociosexuality than heterosexual women. Bisexual women were statistically significantly more unrestricted compared to lesbian and heterosexual women. Lesbians had the highest self ratings of femininity when compared to heterosexual and bisexual women.
Bridging divides, creating connections: reimagining existing city of towers neighbourhoods
Authors: Truong Lai-yee  Joanna
Published: May 2021

Modern city planning theories were widely accepted in the early twentieth century producing many ‘City of Towers’ neighbourhoods throughout Toronto and the world. Although cities in the twenty-first century are being planned with the inclusion of human needs, remnants of the twentieth century city planning are still present within our built environment. The current methods of revitalizing existing City of Towers neighbourhoods are band-aid solutions that are not sustainable in the long run. This thesis investigates how alternative strategies can provide a more integrated solution without taking the tabula rasa approach. Architecture and other built forms are used to propose strategies that will produce a new relationship between existing buildings and their surroundings to meet the needs of residents today and in the future. St. James Town located in Toronto, Ontario is selected to investigate the hypotheses of this thesis to give expression to the topic of Bridging Divides|Creating Connections.
Impact of Multiple Immigration Experience in Childhood on Ethnic Self-identity: Case Study of Russian-speaking Israeli Canadians
Authors: Markman Natalia
Published: May 2021

This study analyzed the impact of multiple immigration experiences in childhood on ethnic self-identity of a group of immigrants who were born in Former Soviet Union states, who immigrated to Israel in childhood and immigrated to Canada as teenagers. The research question was: “What is the ethnic self-identity of Russian-speaking Canadian immigrants born in FSU countries who also lived in Israel and what contributes to it? Qualitative interviews with 8 participants were conducted and analyzed. Results showed that the majority of participants have mixed identities (often with strong connection to their FSU country of origin) developed due to the factors such as their immigration experiences, influence of their family, peer-groups and both negative (i.e. bullying) and positive experiences within the neighborhoods in which they resided. Few participants chose a single ethnic identity. Length of time residing in Israel seemed to matter in whether Israeli was part of their identity.
Embodied Artifacts: Memory, Nostalgia and Mid-Century Objects
Authors: Waugh Nicola
Published: May 2021

"The aim of this paper and its accompanying documentary video is to contemplate the value that we place on objects from the past, specifically the mid-century period from 1946 to 1964. This value, I will argue, comes from a combination of subjective, sensorial contemplation, nostalgic yearning, and a reaction to the spatial fragmentation and temporal acceleration of contemporary North American life. In order to bridge the gap between academic discourse and personal narrative, I will apply the theories on memory by Pierre Nora and Andreas Huyssen and on nostalgia by Svetlana Boym to the conversations in the video component of my project about the current fascination with mid-century objects. While the style of the 1950's and 60's could simply be an aesthetic trend, moving to other periods in a few years, perhaps the narratives that surround the mid-century period speak to busy, young people today because of a deeper cultural yearning for postwar ideals like quality and domesticity."--Introduction.
Visualizing real-world networks
Authors: Roach Lyndsay
Published: May 2021

The study of networks has been propelled by improvements in computing power, enabling our ability to mine and store large amounts of network data. Moreover, the ubiquity of the internet has afforded us access to records of interactions that have previously been invisible. We are now able to study complex networks with anywhere from hundreds to billions of nodes; however, it is difficult to visualize large networks in a meaningful way. We explore the process of visualizing real-world networks. We first discuss the properties of complex networks and the mechanisms used in the network visualizing software Gephi. Then we provide examples of voting, trade, and linguistic networks using data extracted from on-line sources. We investigate the impact of hidden community structures on the analysis of these real-world networks.
Heat Transfer to Small Cylinders Within a Packed Bed
Authors: Penny Christopher
Published: May 2021

Heat transfer to small cylinders within a porous media has been experimentally and analytically studied extensively over a varying degree of sample and particle sizes and fluid flow regimes. In general, the observations, trends and empirical correlations developed for these systems do not accurately extrapolate down to small cylinders operating under the packed bed condition. The objective of this research is to develop an empirical correlation that expresses the Nusselt number of small cylinders immersed horizontally within a packed bed subject to forced convection heat transfer, in terms of the pertinent test parameters and material properties.

Heat transfer to small cylinders within a porous media has been experimentally and analytically studied extensively over a varying degree of sample and particle sizes and fluid flow regimes. In general, the observations, trends and empirical correlations developed for these systems do not accurately extrapolate down to small cylinders operating under the packed bed condition. The objective of this research is to develop an empirical correlation that expresses the Nusselt number of small cylinders immersed horizontally within a packed bed subject to forced convection heat transfer, in terms of the pertinent test parameters and material properties.A set of seven small cylinders ranging in size from 1.27 to 9.53mm were resistively heated within a 311mm diameter lab-scale packed bed. The porous medium in which the samples were immersed was fine alumina oxide sand, with mean particle sizes ranging from 145 to 33μm. Four separate Type K thermocouples were used to measure temperatures at pertinent locations within the apparatus: bed temperature, inner sample temperature, left and right sample temperatures. The apparatus was operated under flow rates up until incipient fluidization. The trends observed in this research compared well with published data, though the correlations developed from other research consistently under-predicted the heat transfer capacity within the packed bed. The correlation that was developed for calculating the mean Nusselt number was accurate to within ±15% for the entire range of tested and published data.