bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design And Analysis Of An Efficient And Reliable MAC Protocol For VANETS
Authors: Hafeez Khalid Abdel
Published: May 2021

The increase number of vehicles on roads and the immense number of fatal accidents they cause have driven the research and development of new generation technologies to help drivers travel more safely. One major cause of traffic accidents is that drivers cannot consistently respond to the changing road conditions appropriately.  In fact, most accidents could be avoided if drivers could obtain and use relevant information of the traffic that is beyond their vision using wireless communications technology. Recently, the IEEE community adopted the IEEE 802.11p standard as a main technology for VANETs. To test the feasibility of this technology, most researchers use simulations toevaluate its new applications and protocols due to the prohibitive cost of implementing real VANET setup. Therefore, we first analyze VANET’s wireless channel analytically and bysimulations to predict its most appropriate propagation model and the communication rangethat minimizes the impact of the hidden terminal problem. Second, we derive a new mobility model that takes into account the vehicle’s follow-on safety rule, to accurately derive therelationship between vehicle’s speed and network density. It is expected that broadcasting and multi hop communications will be dominant in VANETs safety applications and protocols. Therefore, a Network Topology p-Persistence (NTPP) scheme is proposed to alleviate the impact of the broadcast storm problem. NTPPis based on vehicles’ knowledge of their neighbors in their range and traffic parameters to reduce the channel contention, redundant re-broadcasts and message travel time and to increase the emergency message reception rate.

We analyze the reliability of the IEEE 802.11p in VANETs safety and warning applications scope taking into consideration different factors.  It is shown analytically and byextensive simulations that the current DSRC specifications may lead to undesirable perfor-mance under harsh vehicular environments.  Therefore, a novel Distributed Multichanneland Mobility Aware Cluster-based MAC Protocol (DMCMAC) is proposed to alleviate theimpact of the hidden terminal problem, increase the network capacity and reliability. Clusterheads in DMCMAC are elected and re-elected in a distributed manner according to their relative speed and distance from their cluster members. The high stability of DMCMAC re-sults from its adaptability to drivers’ behavior on the road and its learning process to predictthe future speed and position of all cluster members using the fuzzy logic inference system.The reliability of DMCMAC is analyzed and compared with other protocols. It is shown by simulations that DMCMAC has high stability, its performance exceeds other protocols andcan achieve a timely and reliable delivery of emergency messages to their intended recipientswhich make it more suitable for VANETs.
Integrated routing system for wireless mesh networks
Authors: Esmailpour Amir
Published: May 2021

Recently Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) has become popular especially for its low cost deployment in the areas of poor network infrastructure and terrain of difficult deployment. Although paths in WMN backbone network are stable, the access link contention can severely constrain the end-to-end throughput. We proposed an integrated routing system for WMN that exploits both paths through the backbone network and through the ad-hoc access network of mobile nodes. The ad-hoc path is considered as an alternative path and is used only when the primary backbone path is severely constrained due to access links contention. We have shown through simulation that alternative path is effective in delivering higher throughput in that situation. We also proposed a scheme for initiating the route discovery of the ad-hoc path.

The main contributions of this thesis are two algorithms that allow the mobile node to evaluate the throughput of the backbone and ad-hoc paths, and to make a decision of taking one path. The proposed algorithms are implemented in OPNET simulator, and network performance is studied under variety of conditions.
Extension of some project scheduling heuristics and their comparison at low and high levels of resource requirement
Authors: Nematullah Mohammad
Published: May 2021

Some of the most frequently used scheduling heuristics for resource constrained projects are Activity Time (ACTIM), Activity Resource (ACTRES) and Resource Over Time (ROT) which are based on Brook's Algorithm (BAG). These heuristics assign resources based upon the priority values of the activities that can be scheduled. In the first part of this study, these heuristics have been modified such that when more than two activities are allowed to be assigned, depending upon the priority rule, that activity is assigned first overriding the priority rule, which, if assigned, will result in minimum resource idle time (MRIT). MRIT is found to improve the performance of these existing heuristics. The second part of the study investigates the performance of these heuristics at high and low levels of resource requirement by each activity. ACTIM was found to perform better than other heuristics at the low level. At the high level, all the heuristics performed equally well.
Allotropic Fields : On Architectural Kinetics & Biodynamic Assemblies
Authors: Le Lay Pierre-Alexandre
Published: May 2021

Through the recent prevalence of interdisciplinary design, kinetic architecture has aligned its modalities with those of biological paradigms. Homologous to transformative architecture, biological organisms exemplify a propensity for adaptation by virtue of kinetic means. Along these lines, the institution of kinetic architecture, hitherto delineated by hard mechanical means, is transitioning to soft, polymeric material systems analogous to homeostatic mechanisms. While this signals the beginning of a paradigmatic shift, architectural kinetics – nascent by its own right - finds itself only in the incipient stages of establishing a framework rooted in the operative analogies of dynamic biological behavior. With the intent of furthering this burgeoning discourse, this thesis explores the interface between mechanisms of biological adaptation and architectural kinetics in order to cultivate new transposition strategies and, in turn, develop an architectural prototype embodying novel manifestations of kinetic complexity and dynamism.
Benchmarking of semantic annotation systems
Authors: Patel Minal
Published: May 2021

In this research, an effort has been made to evaluate the semantic annotators with a systematic subjective evaluation technique. So far, most of the previous evaluation efforts have involved creation of gold standards and by measuring basic metrics, the performance of semantic annotators has been analysed. But in this work, a subjective evaluation technique has been applied to evaluate some of the publicly available semantic annotation systems. In this method, 60 participants have been involved in the evaluation. A survey has been carried out to collect the response from participants about what they think how well the annotators perform on different types of texts (e.g. long texts, short texts and tweets). Their responses have been analysed using standard statistical tests. Using this approach, it has been concluded that Wikipedia Miner performs better on long texts and Tag Me performs better on short texts and tweets than other systems.
Inter-Bubble Interactions in Ultrasonically Excited Microbubble Clusters
Authors: Haghi Hossein , Kolios Michael C.
Published: May 2021

Microbubbles (MBs) have been utilized in a variety of applications ranging from medicine to chemistry. There have been extensive studies on many aspects of microbubble dynamics. The majority of previous theoretical studies examine the oscillations of single microbubbles. In most applications multiple microbubbles form clusters. Oscillating microbubbles generate secondary pressure waves in the medium which have been shown to modify the dynamics of neighboring
MBs. Large microbubble clusters have not been studied due to the complexity of solving many coupled differential equations governing the dynamics of a large number of microbubbles. This work expands on previous works conducted on the study of multiple bubble interactions. Two approaches are introduced to simulate large clusters. Inter-bubble interactions are classified and used to explain and predict collective behavior within large polydisperse clusters. This work shows that even identical MBs within a monodisperse cluster do not necessarily exhibit identical behavior.
An Analysis Of The Seminar, Preservation Of Photographs, In The Years 1991-2007
Authors: Maloney Amanda
Published: May 2021

This paper is an examination of the Preservation of Photographs seminars held yearly since 1991 by the Image Permanence Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology and George Eastman House. The world of photography was affected by a variety of changes during this time, which were manifested in the subject matter covered at the Seminar. The purpose of this examination is to make a detailed review of this Seminar, see what changes have been made, and assess how and why these changes took place to better be aware of our priorities today. It was not the intent of this paper to be critical of past practices, but rather to attempt to chronicle and understand how these practices have evolved over time.
Star tracker and LIDAR-based night-time planetary navigation
Authors: Jovanovic Ilija
Published: May 2021

Planetary navigation on planets with no global positioning infrastructure is a challenge which has been overcome in the past by using day-light dependent sensors. This thesis develops a platform to test a star tracker and LIDAR based night-time navigation system. Testing of the system confirmed its feasibility despite not meeting target performance. Global position was acquired to within five kilometres using the star tracker and refined to within 23% of true motion for a 13 m path using the LIDAR.
The Host Program and social inclusion
Authors: Abduvaitova Zebiniso
Published: May 2021

This study examines the role of the Host Program in the social inclusion of newcomers into Canadian society through formation networks and ties with the mainstream community. With the help of qualitative methods, this study seeks to investigate whether participation in the Host program facilitates building networks and ties among newcomers and host Canadians. The findings suggest that the Host program facilitates the development of networks and ties with the host society, with the volunteers being the main structured opening into the mainstream group. Informal and friendly interactions the host volunteers give newcomers a much needed sense of confidence and comfort, which in turn enables them to access and benefit from other existing services and make friends outside of their own communities. This research concludes that the Host Program is indeed effective in expanding networks and building ties to mainstream society and potentially, in the social inclusion of newcomers into the receiving society.
Intelligent selection of scanning area for ICP based pose estimation of space structures
Authors: Shahid Kamran
Published: May 2021

Future autonomous satellite repair missions would benefit from higher accuracy pose estimates of target satellites. Constraint analysis provides a sensitivity index which can be used as a registration accuracy predictor. It was shown that point cloud configurations with higher values of this index returned more accurate pose estimates than unstable configurations with lower index values. Registration tests were conducted on four satellite geometries using synthetic range data. These results elucidate a means of determining the optimal scanning area of a given satellite for registration with the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm to return a highly accurate pose estimate.
Sensitivity Analysis of a Beamforming Technique for Acoustic Measurements
Authors: Bhullar Pushpinder Singh
Published: May 2021

Beamforming is a technique that is used to determine the location of an acoustic source and the sound level spectrum of the signal produced by the source. This technique involves an array of microphones which record acoustic signals at multiple locations. A detailed analysis of the beamforming technique was carried out for three different array geometries: a uniform linear array, a uniform planar array, and a random array. The effect of various parameters, such as the number of microphones in an array, on the applicability of the technique was examined using both simulations and experiments. The simulation results established that the source localization capability of a uniform linear array is limited to an acoustic source lying in the plane of the array. In contrast, a planar array (either uniform or random) does not suffer the above limitation. The results also showed that a random array (eg., a spiral array) is the best of all the array geometries. The experimental results demonstrated the robustness of the beamforming technique in localizing an acoustic source and also confirmed the superiority of a uniform planar array over a uniform linear array.
Recommender system on social networking site with domain specific and sparse data
Authors: Nian Chuy Chang
Published: May 2021

In many recent domain-specific social networking sites, posts are organized in chronological order, where later posts are shown first at the top, even though they might not be of everyone's interest. As a result, if users want to read posts that interest them, they will have to scroll down and sift through all the posts. To overcome this information overload problem and relieve users' burden, a recommender system is needed in social networking sites. In this thesis we propose a hybrid approach of Recommender System (RS) that combines both Collaborative Filtering and Content-based approach. Although each approach has their own weaknesses independently, by joining them together we can improve the accuracy of our recommendations. From our experiments, we noticed that using learning to rank algorithms in combining each recommender algorithm greatly enhances the system's performance.
Re-contextualizing the architectural learning experiences: the alternative perspective (Part V)
Authors: Chakasim Kenneth J. (Jake)
Published: May 2021

Canadian Aboriginal students struggle to situate their cultural knowledge within a Eurocentric academy, in part because indigenous ways of knowing are informed by a philosophy that is characterized by ‘interconnected’ relationships rather than an isolated system of thought. In accordance with this worldview, this report is shaped by a series of 'interdisciplinary' discussions with the intent to establish an ethical middle ground (or space) for architectural learning that does not exclude an Aboriginal worldview. Supported with a different set of hermeneutic principles the report addresses the need to preserve indigenous knowledge systems thereby encouraging architectural Education in Canada to facilitate and help re-contextualize aboriginal traditions. As a result, this thesis attempts to create an enduring intellectual space for future aboriginal students where they are encouraged to “live the story of their created object” while forging renewed identity pieces in a shared cross-cultural context.
Ricardo Villaalba's Péron et Bolivie : types et costumes : an album of cartes de visite
Authors: Pena Patricia G
Published: May 2021

Despite the research done by many authors on the history of Andean people and their culture, and some research done on the history of Latin American photography, little is known about the Villaabla's Péron et Bolivie - Types et Costumes album. It is my contention that in order to understand how commercial photography altered and perpetuated an image of Andean people, it is necessary to understand the influences of the nineteenth century mindset and the business of photography. The album Péron et Bolivie - Types et Costumes, consists of two hundred cartes de visite ca. 1860 on Aymara and Quechua Indian types. The symbolic clues within the images, and nineteenth century cultural attitudes, as suggested by the handwritten text, imply that categorization of Villaalba's sitters as types of people that could be seen in Péru and Bolivia. My examination and analysis of the album aims to interpret the images through a variety of disciplines that include photography, anthropology, and sociology. By investigating the Péron et Bolivie - Types et Costumes album, I hope to contribute research about the album, create an awareness of its existence, and provide an examination of Villaabla's work that will help others investigate similar topics.
An Investigation of the Learning and Forgetting of Workers in Dual Resource Constrained Systems
Authors: Zamiska John Russell
Published: May 2021

This thesis examines worker learning and forgetting in dual resource constrained systems according to the dual-phase learning-forgetting model (DPLFM). The contributions are as follows: (1) equations were developed that output controllable shop factors such as training and transfer policies given existing factors such as the degree of job similarity, processing times, and the learning and forgetting rate of the worker, (2) results suggest that the task-type factor with respect to the worker learning rate and proportion of cognitive and motor elements is a factor to include in DRC research, and (3) the results have suggested that the DPLFM emphasized a greater benefit for upfront training and more frequent transfer policy than the learn forget curve model (LFCM) when tasks are similar, and supported the conclusions of Jaber et al. (2003) by an even greater extent that it is possible to use more flexibility in DRC shops with similar tasks.
Effects of Grain Geometry and Vibration on the Suppression of Combustion Instability in a Solid Rocket Motor
Authors: Baczynski Christopher
Published: May 2021

A comprehensive numerical model for internal ballistic simulation under dynamic flow, combustion and structural vibration conditions is used to investigate the effectiveness of grain port area transitions of a reference solid rocket motor as a means for suppression of axial combustion instability symptoms. Modification of the propellant grain geometry is one of several traditional means for suppressing symptoms in actual motors. With respect to these symptoms, individual transient simulation runs show the evolution of the axial pressure wave and associated DC shift for the given grain geometry, as initiated by a given pressure disturbance. Limit pressure wave magnitudes are collected for a number of simulation runs for different grain area transition positions, steepness and aspect ratios, and mapped on an attenuation trend chart. Effects of acceleration, through structural vibration of the propellant surface, on the combustion process are investigated, and their influence on the effectiveness of grain area transitions is examined. With or without acceleration/vibrations effects included, the numerical results produced in this study confirm the significant ability of a grain area transition to suppress combustion instability symptoms.
Cinematic Inclusiveness: Horror Cinema’s Portrayal of Mental and Physical Disabilities
Authors: Massa Cossette
Published: May 2021

The relationship between disability and horror cinema has been complicated. The majority of horror films have associated disability with monstrosity, and represented it as a phenomenon to fear or destroy. Paul Longmore, a leading academic scholar in disability studies, states that according to Hollywood, “the presence of individuals with visible handicaps would
alienate consumers from their products,” and is the leading force behind the lack of minority representation in cinema (14). However, changes in the genre are taking place as horror films have begun representing a range of mental and physical disabilities with compassion and sensitivity. Angela Smith, a disabilities and film studies academic scholar, explains that horror cinema frequently “locate[s] horror less in singular and deformed bodies and more in dominant social structures, including the family and American culture,” because disabilities are a literary device to inform the audience about an underlying issue (“Introduction” 24). Moreover, they purposely “force viewers to confront spectacles of impairment as projections of their own socially, scientifically, and cinematically shaped prejudices” (Smith, “Chapter 3” 133). As the presence of disabilities becomes more prominent in horror cinema, so does the audience’s understanding and awareness about mental health issues and physical impairments. Disabilities are identified as a mental or physical condition that makes it difficult for an individual to interact with society the same way a non-disabled person can. This paper analyzes deafness, blindness, schizophrenia, and depression in films that were released over the last decade. The four recent
horror films I base my discussion on are John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place (2018), Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook (2014), Pearry Reginald Teo’s The Assent (2019), and Fede Alvarez’s Don’t Breathe (2016). My goal is to show how in aligning the audience with the character’s struggles, they are normalizing and making the audience consciously aware of disabilities in horror films.
The voices of South Asian immigrant parents : how they conceptualize, negotiate and develop relationships with their children's schools
Authors: Khandelwal Sunita
Published: May 2021

This study finds out how South Asian immigrant parents conceptualize, negotiate and develop their relationship with their children's schools. The qualitative analysis of interview data collected from nine newcomer parents provides an insight into the processes involved in conceptualizing, developing and negotiating parent-school relationships. This study is important as current trends in immigration reveal that the South Asian population is the largest visible minority group in Canada. Findings show that most immigrant parents are heavily invested in their children's education and go to great lengths to become acquainted with the new system they encounter. Implications for including immigrant parents in their children’s education are discussed.
The Beat of Change - Fashioned by the Peacock Revolution
Authors: Tino Cassandra
Published: May 2021

The development of British menswear during the first phase of the Peacock Revolution from 1960 to 1965 demonstrated a significant visual change in the representation of masculinity. Examining the elements that helped shape this moment in style indicates a deep rooted relationship between a group of upper class dandies and rock music icons. This practice-based study addresses gaps in existing research, qualitatively exploring the collaborative role of fashion and music that supported the progression of menswear. The methodological framework investigates the process of sociocultural evolution through the study of memetics, accompanied by a semiotic analysis of oppositional dress. Bricolage was applied as a method of shaping and applying new meaning to the themes investigated in this
research, expressing the potential of music to serve as a vehicle for change. An interactive audio-visual installation piece has been created to stimulate audience participation, encouraging the public to question more generally how fashion and music collaborate to facilitate shifts in identity.
Intersections of violence : the role of immigration status in women's experiences of and responses to domestic violence in Canada
Authors: Campbell Ariane
Published: May 2021

Domestic violence is a serious problem affecting women in Canada. Immigrant women in particular may be more vulnerable to abuse and face more barriers in seeking help. This paper will examine the experiences of abused immigrant woman through a critical review of the literature. Domestic abuse does not operate in a vacuum; it is shaped and compounded by other interlinking forms of oppression. In particular, gendered immigration policies and reduced access to social services exacerbate experiences of violence. Responses to violence against immigrant women thus must be holistic and long term, challenging societal inequalities and underlying structures of power.
Reducing Operating Cost with Anammox in Wastewater Treatment : a Simulation Study
Authors: Eini Eliav J.
Published: May 2021

A simulation study is presented to investigate the use of the Anammox process for removing nitrogen compounds from wastewater to reduce operating cost. The literature review of technologies for removal of Total Nitrogen includes an overview of the biological nitrogen cycle, the discovery of Anammox, bioreactor design, operational strategies, and start-up of full-scale processes. A facility of 656 MLD with influent loading of 35 mg/L as NH3-N and 250 mg/L as BOD is used as a basis of the simulation study. Preliminary bioreactor sizing calculations are developed for six configurations. Subsequently, eight whole-plant simulation cases are compared to demonstrate operational savings for removal of Total Nitrogen. For the sample facility, this is shown to be on the order of $460 to $680K/year while attaining 66-70% Total Nitrogen removal and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2 kt CO2/year. The project concludes with ideas about future development of the Anammox process.
Arctic adaptive : responsive design in the Canadian north
Authors: Hampson Erin
Published: May 2021

Since the industrial revolution, architecture has become increasingly disconnected from its surrounding environment and the existence of regional vernacular architecture is dwindling. (Fathy, 1986; Ozkan, 1985) Modern technology coupled with globalization has resulted in universal architecture based on formal aesthetic and economy rather than local climatic factors. (Fathy, 1986; Frampton, 1983)

The lack of regionally responsive design is nowhere more evident than in the Canadian Arctic (Dawson, 1997) Despite its immense cultural, economic and environmental importance to Canada and the world, Arctic communities have struggled with inadequate buildings and infrastructures since the creation of permanent settlements in the 1950's. (Bone, 2008; Dawson, 1997)

Through the synthesis of modern technology and principles learned from nature and vernacular architecture this thesis explores new possibilities for a regionally responsive architecture in the Canadian Arctic; focusing on the building skin and its relationship between both indoor and outdoor environments.
Changeability of arc flash parameters and its impact on hazard mitigation in low voltage power systems
Authors: Kadri Abdeslem
Published: May 2021

Arc flashes in power system result in a huge amount of incident energy that can injure human workers. Strict safety measures have to be applied in the work place for safety of technical personnel. Computation of the incident energy is imperative to determine the corresponding safety requirements. Arcing current, and hence incident energy, is a function of some system parameters which may vary due to different reasons.
This research work considers the problem of parameter variability in arc flash calculations and its effect on hazard mitigation. A mathematical basis is set forth for the impact of the variation in gap between electrodes and system voltage on the incident energy value. Findings of this work emphasize that small variations in system parameters can yield inaccurate values of incident energy and misleading hazard categories. Therefore, parameter variation has to be carefully accommodated in the arc flash calculations to result in the proper hazard mitigation precautions.
Improving Specificity of the Musical Mood Induction Procedure
Authors: Liskovoi Lisa
Published: May 2021

The musical mood induction procedure was used to induce 3 negative moods:
sadness, fatigue and anxiety. Induction was validated using subjective and physiological
measures. One hundred twenty-seven participants listened to one of 18 film soundtrack
excerpts for 20 minutes. Physiological response (heart rate, respiration, skin conductance
level (SCL), and facial electromyography) was recorded throughout the induction and
postinduction phases. Subjective mood ratings (sadness, anxiety, tiredness, valence,
arousal) were provided before induction and throughout the postinduction phase.
Repeated measures ANOVAs showed increase in valence and decrease in arousal in all
conditions after induction, which persisted in the postinduction phase, and an increase in
tiredness immediately after induction. Reduction in SCL was strongest in the fatigue
condition. However, difference between groups was only evident when comparing
fatigue and sadness conditions between 3-10 minutes. Lack of between-group differences
and mixed physiological findings suggest that specificity is difficult to achieve through
musical mood induction.
'This may not be represented in the curriculum documents', an analysis of early childhood education curriculum from Ontario college programs.
Authors: Gosson Daniel
Published: May 2021

This study examines the way in which Early Childhood Educators trained in Ontario college programs are prepared to work with queer populations upon entering the field. This study used post-structuralist, queer feminist, and critical disability theoretical frameworks while analysing the data. A content analysis, informed by critical discourse analysis, was used to assess program documents. Course descriptions from ECE program websites were collected, as well as a total of 33 course outlines from 11 different Ontario college ECE programs, and 9 textbooks identified through the course outlines. Queer content was found to be absent from all but 5 course outlines and 4 textbooks. The need to have queer issues included formally in Ontario ECE curriculum, the othering of queer populations, and the erasure of queer identities are discussed.
Key
Exploring Themes of Tibetan Cultural Identity During the Settlement Experience in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Akhtar Farha
Published: May 2021

This study explores both existing research as well as emerging themes in the area of Tibetan exile communities. Previous research examining the settlement experiences of Tibetan refugees in Europe, the United States and India has focused largely on the various ways in which individuals acculturate and adapt to new, culturally different environments. Out of this research, a number of themes arise such as cultural expectations, internal concepts of identity, and citizenship. Authors have suggested that Tibetan refugees during settlement are likely to adopt a version of Berry’s integration strategy of acculturation. What is lacking in these earlier studies is an exploration of the experiences of Tibetan refugees in Canada. This study is set within a Canadian context and considers other social factors that may greatly influence the settlement experience, namely barriers to settlement such as the failure to have foreign credentials recognized. Key words: Tibetan, Refugees, Settlement, Acculturation, Cultural Identity.
Adsorption and partitioning behaviour of selected trace polycyclic synthetic musks in a suspended growth aerobic activated sludge system
Authors: Pileggi Vince
Published: May 2021

This thesis investigated the influence of sludge retention time (SRT) and temperature (T) on selected activated sludge properties and their influence on partitioning and sorption behaviour of selected trace polycyclic synthetic musks (PSMs) of environmental concern.

Suspended growth aerobic activated sludge systems under controlled temperature (10 and 20°C) and SRTs (3.5 and 10.5 days) conditions fed by municipal sewage were investigated. The selected PSMs monitored included Cashmeran, Celestolide, Phantolide, Traseolide, Galaxolide and Tonalide.

Activated sludge floc properties including relative hydrophobicity (RH) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) showed significant differences which correlated well (r [subscript p] of ± 0.4 to ± 0.7) to the removal and partitioning of PSMs removed from the aqueous phase and associated with activated sludege. Galaxolide and Tonalide were found to represent over 95% of the total PSMs in both the aqueous and solid phases. PSMs aqueous reduction from 62 to 80% was observed. The total PSMs associated with sludge ranged from 15 to 27 [micro]g/g d.m. and the lowest concentration was observed under 10.5 days SRT and 20°C which also resulted in nitrifying conditions. SRT was the dominant operational factor, followed by SRT and TxSRT in influencing the partitioning of the PSMs and floc properties.

The Freundlich equilibrium PSMs sorption and desorption isotherms, for sludges were generated and showed significant differences in sorption behaviour.
Performance Evaluation Of 802.11P Vanets With Different Duty Cycles
Authors: Kumar Rishabh
Published: May 2021

With the improvement in technology, the number of vehicles on the roads has increased tremendously over the last decade. As large numbers of vehicles are on the road it has become almost a necessity to improve the driving conditions, provide all the facilities and to make sure that driving is safe for drivers around the world. To utilize this information the vehicle has to alternately switch between control (CCH) and service channels (SCH) effectively. So, in our work we evaluate the performance of vehicles on control and service channels with different duty cycle such that no critical message is missed and multimedia applications can be used concurrently. For this purpose we developed 802.11p simulator and the experiments proved that CCH should use duty cycle of 0.6 as delay tolerant data has to be transmitted over it and SCH should work on 0.3 which is delay insensitive, but generates revenue for the industry by using different multimedia applications as requested by the user.
Re-Mediation : Architecture and the Interface of Place
Authors: Campbell Chelsea
Published: May 2021

In the digital age, a cultural shift has arisen that privileges individual agency, leading to architectural repercussions in place-making. By contrast, a dissociation develops toward physical places that present as prescriptive, homogeneous, or superficial to its users. The architecture of place should progress from images of consumerism and containers of behaviour to become active producers of individual agency, mediated through the architectural interface. This thesis examines the design interfaces of institutional places, studying the relationships between agency and spatial structure. It introduces a contemporary reconstruction of place-making methods that involves the layering of ambient cues, shifting narratives, network connectivity, and dispositional identity in the architectural interface. Applying this method, the design project focuses on mediating the user’s journey and opportunistic settlement in realtime and real-place. The result is an architectural interface that communicates a greater sense of agency, contributing to the heuristic formation of individual landscapes of place.
Novel RF MEMS tunable capacitors
Authors: Hailu Zewdu
Published: May 2021

Current tunable devices such as filters, impedance matching networks and oscillators have problems that degrade their performance at high microwave frequencies. Tuning ratios and quality factors are the major problems associated with semiconductor based tuning components.
This thesis presents the design, fabrication and testing of two novel RF MEMS tunable capacitors. The first tunable capacitor is designed using electrostatic repulsive-force actuators which produce an upward movement of the moving plate of a tunable capacitor. The repulsive-force actuator is free of pull-in effect and capable of reaching large displacement.
Gap increasing tunable capacitors with areas of 162μm×220μm and 300μm×302μm are developed using electrostatic repulsive-force actuators. The capacitances are calculated using simulations and maximum tuning ratios of 438.5% and 230% are obtained for a parallel and inclined plate designs, respectively, with capacitance-voltage linearity of 96.28% and 95.14%, respectively, in the presence of RF voltage.
The second tunable capacitor is developed using residual stress gradient based vertical comb-drive actuator. Conventional vertical comb-drive actuators need two vertical comb fingers, i.e., one for the fixed and one for the moving comb. MetalMUMPs process provides a 20μm thick nickel layer which is subject to residual stress gradient along its thickness. Using the residual stress gradient two curve-up beams are devised to bend out of plane and upward. A moving plate is connected between the middles of the curve-up beams through supporting springs and is raised above the substrate. The moving fingers are connected to opposite sides of the moving plate. The fixed comb-drive fingers are anchored to the substrate. When a voltage is applied, the moving fingers move down towards the fixed fingers. As a result, the capacitance between the moving fingers and the fixed fingers change. Prototypes are fabricated to verify the working principles of this novel actuator using the MetalMUMPs process. Tunable capacitors based on this actuator are experimentally analyzed. Quality factors of 106.9-162.7 at 0.8GHz and 42.4-51.9 at 1.24GHz are obtained over actuation voltage of 0-100V. An optimal design of the tunable capacitors achieved a tuning ratio of 194.4% at 162.5V with linearity of 97.84%
Acceleration of Hessenberg reduction for nonsymmetric matrix
Authors: Nekouei Hesamaldin
Published: May 2021

The worth of finding a general solution for nonsymmetric eigenvalue problems is specified in many areas of engineering and science computations, such as reducing noise to have a quiet ride in automotive industrial engineering or calculating the natural frequency of a bridge in civil engineering. The main objective of this thesis is to design a hybrid algorithm (based on CPU-GPU) in order to reduce general non-symmetric matrices to Hessenberg form. A new blocks method is used to achieve great efficiency in solving eigenvalue problems and to reduce the execution time compared with the most recent related works. The GPU part of proposed algorithm is thread based with asynchrony structure (based on FFT techniques) that is able to maximize the memory usage in GPU. On a system with an Intel Core i5 CPU and NVIDA GeForce GT 635M GPU, this approach achieved 239.74 times speed up over the CPU-only case when computing the Hessenberg form of a 256 * 256 real matrix. Minimum matrix order (n), which the proposed algorithm supports, is sixteen. Therefore, supporting this matrix size is led to have the large matrix order range.
A dual factor decision making model in green manufacturing
Authors: Jamshidy Bahador
Published: May 2021

This study focuses on the evaluation of different methods of product recovery for GM. The evaluation is conducted through the application of a decision making model. The model evaluates product recovery options on the basis of two categories: optimization of objective factors and market demand. The first category in the model focuses on optimization of five objective factors, including environmental impact (E), cost (C), quality (Q), resource consumption (R), and time (T). Goal programming is used to solve the optimization problem. The goal programming is supported by the construction of a decision making tree with three branches: remanufacturing, refurbishing, and current manufacturing. The solution of the decision tree helps determine the best method of product recovery for GM.

The second category in the model focuses on the evaluation of market demand. This further supports the selection of the best method for product recovery. To evaluate market demand, a Bayesian forecasting model is used in the construction of a decision making tree. The study shows that the availably of products information including the objective factors and market demand, has a positive impact on making product recovery decisions. It also shows how recovery decisions can be modeled in decision making tress to represent the impact of product information on those decisions.
Modelling Architecture: Engaging Our Imagination Through Architectural Models
Authors: Yau Michael P. K.
Published: May 2021

Architectural models have always served the purpose of communication. They can be seen as measurements of the body against the current world and projecting into the future. Recent architectural practices saw increasing use of digital drawings and models in design process. This altered the intension of models, transforming some into spectacles that pleases only the eye. The purpose of this thesis is to understand the operation of the architect and the role of physical models in the current architectural discipline. Models clarify our understanding of our bodies, and help provoking and extracting our imaginations. They stimulate our imaginations using our bodies and senses. This thesis is a record of a process. It documents the executions, observations, and speculations concluded from a series of exercises orientated towards the understanding of the use of architectural models and their effects toward our imagination and body, both physically and psychologically.
State control of the Internet in China
Authors: Wang Hua
Published: May 2021

"The Internet landed in China in 1987, only 9 years after the "Open-Door Policy" III 1978. Although the history of the Internet in China is not long, the speed of the Internet's development has been rapid. According to the statistics of China National Network Information Center (CNNIC), the number of Chinese Internet users already reached 33.7 million at the end of 2001, and this number quickly increased to 45.8 million by the end of June of 2002. The Chinese government also recognized the huge potential brought by the Internet to the economic growth in the country and started to launch several projects to enhance its development in 1990s.

But, for regimes of democratic centralism, like China, the Internet is a double edged sword. Dramatically distinguished from other traditional mediums, the Internet enhances a much freer information flow and implies libertarianism and anarchism in the virtual world, which collides with the Chinese government's conventional practice of media control. Although the Internet is not as easy to control as other traditional mediums, the Chinese government is intent on maintaining control and censorship on it."--Page 3.
Fashion trends: how political happenings influence consumers mindsets
Authors: Marques da Rosa Valentina
Published: May 2021

This paper focuses on how fashion products have the capacity of translating social, political and cultural happenings, influencing preferences in dress style and precipitating trends. Based on four case studies, this research explores how cultural and societal developments influence the consumption of dress styles. This includes understanding how garments and accessories associated with social causes are received by consumers.
Such knowledge is useful in accurately predicting the likelihood of a trend’s adoption. The data collected from the case studies was sifted via a content analysis methodology. Study findings support that consumers’ identification with the social cause linked to a fashion product significantly increases their adoption as a trend. Furthermore, the study also demonstrates that the presence of a number of actors is needed in order for trends to achieve inception and their subsequent dissemination.
Decoding the smart city narrative
Authors: Boynska-Nikolova Desislava
Published: May 2021

It is a common misconception that smart cities are simply those that use Information and Communication Technologies. In fact, it is not as straightforward as that. A wide range of definitions exists out there regarding the smart city concept. While they do have in common an innovative and creative approach to solving urban problems, they also differ in the extent, reach, method, goals, and strategies utilized to fulfil those definitions. The author of this paper examined over 50 definitions from various contexts and identified a common, but also inherently diverse, set of goals smart cities claimed to represent. They also vastly diverged in their strategies and time lines. From brand new cities designed to be smart to smart initiatives of varying complexity, there is no single and agreed-upon definition among the various stakeholders. This paper attempts to decode the smart city narrative that has been over two decades in the making.
Fault ride through capability of double fed induction generator for wind energy system
Authors: Berisso Hussien
Published: May 2021

Until recently it has been accepted that induction generator based wind turbines are disconnected from the power system in the event of a network disturbance. However, the increasing trend of connecting high penetrations of wind farms to transmission networks has resulted in the transmission system operators revising their grid codes for the connection of large MW capacity wind farms. The new grid codes require wind turbines to remain connected for a specified voltage disturbance on the network. Most of the wind generation plant being developed will use either fixed speed induction generator (FSIG) or doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind turbines. The basics of using a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) to convert the mechanical energy of the wind into useful electrical power that can be used to supply electricity to any grid are presented. The ability of doubly fed induction generator based wind turbines to remain connected through power system disturbances is discussed. A crowbar protection system to provide a power system fault ride-through capability for doubly fed induction generator based wind turbines is also described. The dynamic behaviour ofDFIG wind turbines normal operation and during grid faults are simulated and assessed to verify the recommended method using a Matlab/Simulink developed model.
Mutually Reinforcing Design & Symbiosis: An Architectural Design Thesis
Authors: Murdoch Paul William
Published: May 2021

Mutual reinforcement and symbiosis can impose salutary design principles for architecture, creating more creative, interconnected, coherent and convivial cities across our planet. Symbiosis refers to the interrelationship between two or more facets of life, which are mutually beneficial or dependent on each other in a direct, indirect, visible or interpretive way. These benefits or dependencies may be metaphorical, physical in nature or philosophical interpretations of how two systems within our environment may be dependent on each other in order to exist.
On serial killers: the collective's search for understanding
Authors: Harper Robyn  S.
Published: May 2021

I will begin by examining the term serial itself and its importance in the notion of the serial killer. What does the term serial say? It draws on series - a term often used in reference to novels, films and, quite literally, the television series. Series carries notions of multiple segments that are all linked in some way. There is an ongoing nature to the series - when one segment ends, another begins. The series creates anticipation, anxiety of what is to come and a hope for closure. As "serial killer" is a relatively new term it becomes possible to trace its inception and examine what is being revealed in this naming process. I then go to illustrate how this term serial is what sets serial killing apart from other forms of multiple murder (such as mass murder, spree killing, terrorism and assassination). I will explore the features of the serial killer that appear to make it unique to the collective by developing the language of the accounts of understanding the serial killer: the profiling account, the study of numbers, facts and statistics as a way to apprehend and comprehend the serial killer; the logical extension of society account, where the serial killer is a reflection of society from concerns with the individual to celebrity and consumerism; and the serial killer account, where the serial killer explains his own motivations. In looking at these accounts it becomes possible to see the cliches that are used to discuss the serial killer and how these reveal thoughts and fears of the collective, rather than providing the insight on the serial killer that the accounts are seeking.