cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Low-temperature solution-processed metal oxide semiconductors for large-area electronics
Creators: name: Das, Satyajit
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2019

description: In recent years, solution-processed metal oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors (TFTs) have shown great promise as an emerging technology in the field of large-area electronics. This has been possible due to a range of favourable properties, such as high charge carrier mobility, low power consumption, optical transparency and mechanical flexibility. However, emerging electronic applications such as high-definition displays demand TFTs with ever increasing performance characteristics that are inaccessible by existing technologies. This thesis focuses on developing TFTs based on metal oxides beyond the current state-of-the-art performance via low-temperature (<250°C), solution-processed methods and the compatibility of these devices on temperature sensitive and inexpensive flexible plastic substrates. The work first explores low-dimensional high performance ultra-thin (<15 nm) In2O3/ZnO heterojunction (HJ) TFTs, in which the In2O3 and ZnO layers were deposited via ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (SP) in ambient conditions and spin coating, respectively. Using this bi-layer approach, the impact of the second semiconducting layer on the electrical performance and on the interface(s) was studied using different characterisation methods. The results demonstrated TFTs with enhanced electron mobilities of 40 – 50 cm2/Vs. The next part of this work explores a facile n-type doping approach of the HJ TFTs described in the previous part. An additional layer of fullerenes (pristine and doped) was introduced on top of the oxide bi-layers to study the concept of hybrid modulation doping (MOD) in organic-metal oxide layered semiconductors. Using electrical and optical characterisations, the effect of this extra doping layer was evaluated on the HJ TFT performance. The third part discusses the utilisation of high-κ oxides (ZrO2, Y2O3 and ZrO2:Y2O3 blend) dielectric system for high-performance In2O3/ZnO HJ TFTs on inexpensive flexible polyimide (PI) substrates, where all layers were deposited via spin coating. Using these dielectrics, TFTs with electron mobilities 15 – 25 cm2/Vs and a reduced operating voltage (± 2V) were observed. The final part introduces the concept of hybrid perovskite-oxide phototransistors, where CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) were deposited on top of two different bi-layer TFTs (In2O3/ZnO and In2O3/Al-ZnO) to study their light response. The transistors were exposed to light at different wavelengths and the results demonstrate a high photoresponse at shorter wavelengths, i.e. near UV region with maximum responsitivity of around 104 (A/W), which is at least a few orders of magnitude higher than previously reported values for metal-oxide based phototransistors.
Secure and Efficient Cross-Layer Techniques For Low-Power Wireless Embedded Systems
Creators: name: Onat, Ilker
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Electronics and Electrical.

description: Energy efficiency is playing a major role in the proliferation of low-power wireless sensing and identification systems. Hardware, firmware and communication protocol design processes of such systems are becoming increasingly adapt to low-power techniques enhancing the device lifetime, range, and efficiency. This thesis focuses on the cross-layer security and medium access techniques for low-power wireless embedded devices. Layer interactions in these systems are pointed out and algorithms taking advantage of these interactions are proposed. To improve the security of stationary systems, anomaly detection based algorithms can be used with various parameters at different layers. We introduce two distributed anomaly detection based security algorithms for wireless sensor networks, using the physical layer signal characteristics and network layer arrival patterns. By analyzing the received packet features at different layers, a node can effectively identify an intruder impersonating a legitimate neighbor. In a wireless sensor node, the radio is the main energy spending component. To limit energy consumption, wireless sensor nodes are periodically waken up and put to sleep. This duty-cycling operation still constitutes the major energy drain for battery powered wireless sensor architectures. Duty-cycling also imposes major constraints on the medium access and network layer operations of sensor nodes. We propose a hardware based solution in which an RFID wakeup system eliminates the duty-cycling completely from sensor operations using a boosting circuit and a low-threshold rectifier. This solution removes the burden of duty-cycling on the upper layers with a physical layer approach. Efficiency of RFID systems can be improved with smart slot selection algorithms in MAC layer for slotted ALOHA based MAC protocols. We introduce a MAC scheme where tags select their transmission slot based on their distance from the reader which is deduced by the received power levels. Slotted ALOHA based RFID MAC algorithms achieve smallest total reading time when, at each reading round, the frame length is set equal to the actual number of remaining unread tags. We present an a posteriori tag count estimation algorithm for these RFID MAC protocols from the collision statistics of the previous reading round.
Geração S: Plano de Sustentabilidade Alimentar
Creators: name: Oliveira Zão, H.
name: Mendonça, Alberto
name: Lima, João
name: Costa, Tiago
name: BRIGHT
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019

description: O projeto municipal de Esposende “Geração S – Programa de Sustentabilidade Alimentar”,  promove a saúde e o bem-estar da comunidade escolar, apelando aos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento da Agenda 2030 da ONU, nomeadamente o ODS 3 – Saúde de Qualidade, ODS 4 – Educação de Qualidade e ODS 17 – Parcerias para a Implementação dos Objetivos de Sustentabilidade.
Varma modelling for window size and RTT in TCPIP networks
Creators: name: Li, Yingzi
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Mathematics.
subject: Computer Science.

description: TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol) are the most important protocols used for most of the data transmission across the Internet. Modern implementations of TCP mostly involve the concepts of Window Size and Round Trip Time (RTT) in controlling network congestion. We model simulated time series of Window Size and RTT to evaluate the characteristics and the relationship of the data over time using autoregressive moving average methods. These methods help us to forecast network performance and detect server congestion.
Iphigénie en trichromie, suivi de, Entre construction et déchéance: Réflexions sur le processus de création littéraire
Creators: name: Ouellette, Michel
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Literature, Canadian (English).

description: Dans la présente thèse, j'ai réflechi sur la création littéraire. Dans un premier temps, j'ai écrit une nouvelle version du mythe d'Iphigénie. Animé d'un désir de me distancier des autres versions, j'ai adopté une stratégie qui consiste à redéfinir le mythe en fonction de recherches en archéologie, sous une perspective féministe et en intégrant des considérations sociologiques et politiques contemporaines. S'ouvre alors un questionnement sur la réception d'une telle oeuvre qui débouche sur une analyse d'une certaine dramaturgie franco-ontarienne qui mène à une réflexion plus profonde sur ma propre démarche artistique. Du réel qui nourrit la fiction à la fiction qui se nourrit d'elle-même, j'ai pu voir les signes d'une décheance esthétique dans mon parcours créatif. La découverte d'une forme élémentaire au coeur même d'une bonne partie de mes oeuvres m'incite à reconsidérer mon engagement littéraire.
Effects of exercise intensity on adiponectin levels in young healthy women
Creators: name: Parker, Torrey M
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Biology, Animal Physiology.
subject: Health Sciences, Recreation.

description: Adiponectin is a protein secreted exclusively from adipose tissue, which is speculated to increase acute fatty acid oxidation rates. High-intensity exercise has been reported to have a greater capacity to increase absolute fat oxidation rates, as compared to low-intensity exercise. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the acute effects of exercise intensity on adiponectin levels in young healthy women. Nine healthy, moderately active women (age = 22 +/- 2 years, BMI = 22.1 +/- 21.5 kg/m 2; VO2peak = 43.9 +/- 4.0 ml O2/kg/min) performed in a randomized order three experimental sessions: control (C) with no exercise and two equicaloric (350 kcal), low-intensity (LIE) and moderate-to-high-intensity (M-HIE) exercise sessions on a treadmill at 40% and 70% VO2peak, respectively. Experimental sessions took place during the follicular phase of the participant's menstrual cycle; therefore, sessions were spread out by at least one-month. Plasma adiponectin levels were measured before, at 15-minutes, at 30-minutes, and post exercise session (LI/M-HI) or control session. The results indicated that plasma adiponectin levels were comparable across conditions and remained unchanged over time within each session. These findings suggest that plasma adiponectin levels do not seem to be acutely modulated during and immediately after exercise of varying intensity in young healthy women.
Lacustrine sediment records of debris flow activity, northwestern British Columbia and southwestern Yukon Territory
Creators: name: Van Brabant, Reid
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Geography.
subject: Geology.

description: Lacustrine sediment records were used to examine debris flow magnitude and frequency at two sites in northwestern Canada. A rod-driven piston corer was used to collect four lacustrine sediment cores from Mount Aramis Lake, Yukon Territory (YT) and five from Three Guardsmen Lake, British Columbia (BC). Nine layers deposited in the Lacustrine sediment of Mount Aramis Lake over an estimated 3400 to 3800 yrs and ten layers deposited in Three Guardsmen Lake over an estimated 3000 to 3500 yrs are inferred to be due to debris flows. However, these layers represent the minimum number of events because lacustrine sediments only contain a record of debris flows with sufficient energy to reach the lake. Variations in the sedimentary structure of the debris flow layers between the sites could not be attributed to differences in debris flow magnitude and frequency resulting from local variations in slope gradients, debris supply, or precipitation. The lacustrine, terrestrial, and climatic evidence indicates that lower precipitation at Mount Aramis may result in higher magnitude, lower frequency debris flows. Conversely, higher precipitation at Three Guardsmen Mountain may cause lower magnitude, higher frequency debris flows. However, these are preliminary conclusions and further research regarding the relationship between precipitation regime, debris supply, and debris flow magnitude and frequency is required.
Intimate partner abuse before and during pregnancy as risk factors for postpartum mental health problems
Creators: name: Desmarais, Sarah L.
name: Pritchard, Ashley
name: Lowder, Evan M.
name: Janssen, Patricia A.
Publisher: name: BioMed Central
Year: 2016

description: Background: Although research has established the profound effects that intimate partner abuse can have on postpartum mental health, little is known regarding how this association may change as a function of the timing and type of abuse. This study examined associations of psychological, physical and sexual abuse experienced as adults before and during pregnancy with symptoms of postpartum mental health problems in a non-clinical sample of women. Methods: English-speaking mothers aged 18 years and older in the metropolitan area of a large, Western Canadian city were recruited to participate in a study of women’s health after pregnancy. The study was advertised in hospitals, local newspapers, community venues, and relevant websites. One-hundred women completed standardized, self-report questionnaires during semi-structured interviews conducted by female research assistants at approximately 2 months postpartum. In addition to questions about their general health and well-being, participants answered questions about their experiences of intimate partner abuse and about their mental health during the postpartum period. Results: Almost two-thirds (61.0%) of women reported postpartum mental health symptoms above normal levels, with 47.0% reporting symptoms at moderate or higher levels. The majority reported some form of intimate partner abuse before pregnancy (84.0%) and more than two-thirds (70.0%), during pregnancy; however, the abuse was typically minor in nature. Multivariate models revealed that women who experienced intimate partner abuse—whether before or during pregnancy—reported higher levels of postpartum mental health problems; however, associations differed as a function of the timing and type of abuse, as well as specific mental health symptoms. Multivariate models also showed that as the number of types of intimate partner abuse experienced increased, so did the negative effects on postpartum mental health. Conclusions: Results of this study provide further evidence that intimate partner abuse is a risk factor for postpartum mental health problems. They also underscore the complex risks and needs associated with intimate partner abuse among postpartum women and support the use of integrated approaches to treating postpartum mental health problems. Future efforts should focus on the extent to which strategies designed to reduce intimate partner abuse also improve postpartum mental health and vice versus.
La critique de la modernité dans l'oeuvre de Charles Peguy
Creators: name: Simonneau, Pierre
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: History, General.
subject: Political Science, General.

description: Notre thèse a pour objectif de comprendre le sens de la critique la modernité chez Charles Peguy. C'est en analysant la présentation que Peguy fait des sciences sociales et en particulier à la conception du monde moderne qu'on peut associer à ces dernières, que l'on va pouvoir cerner la critique peguyste. Notre hypothèse est que Peguy, tout au long de son oeuvre, mène une critique systèmatique de la modernité car il pense que les Modernes, en faisant de l'Histoire une science vont modifier ou ont modifié la conception de l'Histoire et du "vivre-ensemble" de manière substantielle et inquiétante. Tout au long de sa vie, Peguy expose ses craintes vis-à-vis de la conception moderne du temps, qu'il décrit comme une métaphysique du progrès historique linéaire. En somme, explique-t-il, les Modernes, en voyant dans l'histoire un progrès, réduisent à néant le sens du passé en tant que fondation et négligent le présent, ce dernier devant forcément être dépassé par un futur amélioré. Selon nous, Peguy oppose à cette conception linéaire de l'histoire une conception bergsonienne du temps ou la durée différé en fonction de la qualité de l'évènement. Ce poids mystérieux de certains évènements fait que Peguy s'intéresse à la question de la fondation, de l'inscription et de la mémoire. Pour lui, il y a dans l'Histoire quelque chose de mystérieux, d'enchanteur auquel précisement les Modernes s'opposent en prétendant avoir transformé l'Histoire en science. Très imprégné par la mystique du judaïsme et du christianisme, Peguy semble affirmer que l'homme moderne (à l'image de ses ancêtres) ne serait pas capable de se passer de principes fondateurs pour vivre en société sans risquer l'atomisation de cette dernière. Ainsi il propose de réactualiser l'héritage théologico-politique de la France en réaffirmant l'importance du christianisme, de certaines figures héroïques comme Jeanne d'Arc ou Bernard-Lazare, de génies comme Corneille, Pascal ou Victor Hugo ou d'évènements marquants de l'Histoire comme la Passion, la Révolution française ou l'affaire Dreyfus; tout ceci non pas pour retourner vers le passé mais bien pour affirmer ce que Peguy appelle la "dignité du temporel" où l'importance du temps présent.
title: Mise en sursis du maréchal-des-logis-chef du 11e cuirassiers Yves Pérotin (ex-maquisard du Vercors Pothier) à compter du 1er septembre 1945, 28 août 1945 (recto)
Creators: name: Lieutenant-Colonel Badaire, Commandant Provis Subdivision D’Orléans, 5e RM
Publisher: name: NAKALA - https://nakala.fr (Huma-Num - CNRS)
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/04ces3204
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Deuxième guerre mondiale
subject: formalités de démobilisation liquidation des états de service des combattants

description: Mise en sursis du maréchal-des-logis-chef du 11e cuirassiers Yves Pérotin (ex-maquisard du Vercors Pothier) pour reprendre ses études, 28 août 1945
description: Source: GED Campus Condorcet Fonds Yves Pérotin CNRS-IHTP ARC 143 ; 3ARM_33
Risk stratification of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia in a multi-ethnic cohort
Creators: name: Allard, Matthew D
name: Saeedi, Ramesh
name: Yousefi, Masoud
name: Frohlich, Jiri
Publisher: name: BioMed Central
Year: 2016

description: Background: Heterozygous Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant disorder resulting in in very high blood cholesterol levels and premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is a wide variation in the occurrence of CVD in these patients. The aim of this study is to determine risk factors that are responsible for the variability of CVD events in FH patients. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a large multiethnic cohort of patients with definite FH attending the Healthy Heart Prevention Clinic in Vancouver, Canada. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to assess the association of the risk factors to the hard cardiovascular outcomes. Results: 409 patients were identified as having “definite” FH, according to the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Criteria (DLCNC), with 111 (27%) having evidence of CVD. Male sex, family history of premature CVD, diabetes mellitus, low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)) were significant, independent risk factors for CVD. In men, family history, diabetes and low levels of HDL-C were significant risk factors while in women smoking, diabetes mellitus and high Lp (a) were significant risk factors for CVD. There were no significant differences in risk factors between ethnicities. Conclusion: In conclusion, men and women differ in the impact of the risk factors on the presence of CVD with family history of CVD and low HDL-C being a significant factor in men while smoking and increased Lp (a) were significant factors in women. Diabetes was a significant factor in both men and women.
Successful implementation of Looking After Children in Ontario: Three studies of key stakeholder groups
Creators: name: Pantin, Sarah
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Psychology, Developmental.
subject: Sociology, Public and Social Welfare.

description: For over two decades there has been growing concern over poor outcomes achieved by many foster care alumni (Courtney, Pilivan, Grogan-Kaylor, & Nesmith, 2001; Heath, Colton, & Aldgate, 1994). This series of studies investigates the implementation of the Looking After Children (LAC) (Parker, Ward, Jackson, Aldgate, & Wedge, 1991; Ward, 1995) approach with foster children in Ontario (the OnLAC study). Studies 1 and 2 investigated perceived usefulness of the AAR by child welfare workers and foster carers. The third study fell into two parts. The first investigated the factor structure of a measure of team implementation (TS-Y3). The second part investigated whether greater success in implementing LAC (as judged by the team) was associated with higher quality relationships with significant people in the foster child's life and higher levels of placement satisfaction. Methodology. For the first two studies we invited child welfare workers (n = 126) and foster parents (n = 93) who participated in Year 2 of the OnLAC study to respond to a questionnaire. For the third study we used data collected through the annual administration of the AAR in Ontario (n = 403). Results. In Studies 1 and 2 we found better quality training was a significant predictor of perceived usefulness of the AAR. In Study 3 we investigated the factor structure and validity of the TS-Y3, identifying two principle factors, LAC-PHIL measuring the degree to which the team felt that that they had achieved the priorities and goals of LAC and LAC-POC which measured administrative functions. We also found that higher levels of success were associated with better quality relationships with the female caregiver and child welfare worker but not with the foster father. Higher levels of success in implementing LAC also predicted higher levels of foster youth placement satisfaction. Discussion. The results of the first two studies suggest that child welfare workers and foster parents do find the AAR useful, particularly when they have received high quality training. The third study provides some support for the hypothesis that the LAC approach may facilitate resilient outcomes in youth. Implications of these findings are discussed.
NEURAL NETWORK BASED VOLTAGE STABILITY IMPROVEMENT OF THE NIGERIAN 330KV POWER NETWORK USING UNIFIED POWER FLOW CONTROLLER (UPFC) AND HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT (HVDC) DURING CONTINGENCY OF LARGE LOAD GAIN.
Creators: name: Iyidobi, Jonathan, Chijindu
name: Prof Eneh, Innocent, Ifeanyichukwu
Publisher: name: ZAP JOURNALS
Year: 2023
Subjects: Network-based, Neural, power, Stability, Voltage

description: This paper presents the neural network-based voltage stability improvement of the Nigeria 330KV Power transmission network using a Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC). The impact of voltage instabilities in our power networks can be damaging. Load changes, loss of generators, amongst other contingencies, can introduce voltage instability in the networks. In this research, a parallel operation of the Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) is employed to enhance the voltage stability of the Nigerian network under a contingency of large load gain. HVDC and UPFC have become very attractive in network compensation due to their ability to independently control real and reactive power in a network. Simulink models of the test network, the UPFC and HVDC, were developed in Matlab for simulation. Neural network controllers designed and implemented in Simulink Matlab effectively controlled the devices to achieve the desired result when the network was simulated. Results obtained from simulations revealed that relative to when the devices were not connected to the network, a parallel operation of HVDC and UPFC improved the voltage stability of the network by 43.8%. It can be concluded that the operation of HVDC and UPFC together in a power transmission network is effective in enhancing voltage stability of the network during a contingency of large gain in load
Religion in diaspora: The transformation of Korean immigrant churches in global society
Creators: name: Cho, Kyuhoon
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Religion, General.

description: This thesis explores the reasons why Christian churches have been at the centre of Korean immigrant communities in North America and the recent changes in the characteristics of Korean immigrant churches. The multi-functionality of Korean diasporic churches is a consequence of Korea's unique experience of Christianity, as a Western religion, in the process of Korean modernization during the 20th century. Christian churches in modern Korea have played an important role in supporting Koreans during the conflict and crisis of modern Korean history, crises ranging from the Japanese annexation of Korea and the Korean War, to dictatorship and radical industrialization. The benevolent acts and comforts of Christianity left positive impressions in a great many Koreans' minds. Furthermore, Christianity, in particular its charismatic form, was itself a great source of energy to overcome the modern tragedies and difficulties of immigrant life. These elements of Christianity have had significant impact on Korean immigration to North America so that many Korean immigrants have tended to meet other Korean immigrants around Korean immigrant churches, which offered varied services and roles to help the immigrants' lives in the new land. However, recently Korean immigrant churches have placed more of a focus on religious functions. Changes in Korean society since the 1990s, the rapid development of communication and information technologies, and the increased importance of second-generation Koreans have all become significant variables in transforming the lives of Korean immigrants. In the new social environment, in which local and global communication has become easier and possible, Korean ethnic churches try to maintain their influence on the general Korean immigrant communities by becoming a more differentiated religious centre.
Essays in finance
Creators: name: Alifano, Daniela
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2019

description: This thesis contributes to advance the fields of Finance and Financial Risk Management. The first chapter introduces a new risk measurement technique called Capital at Risk (CaR) for the evaluation of economic capital requirements of banks and other financial institutions. CaR does not rely on the choice of a specific quantile and contemplates the entire loss distribution. It has the least number of breaches with respect to 99%-Value at Risk and 97.5%-Expected Shortfall. CaR is subadditive also in the case of extreme heavy-tails. We recommend the adoption of CaR for the evaluation of economic capital requirements as complement to the risk measures currently in use. The second chapter extends the understanding of the link between Operational Risk (OR) losses and macro-economic factors. Our results confirm the connection with GDP postulated by previous literature. As novelty element, the Governance Indicators are the macro-factors with the largest number of links made with the Event Types losses. The adoption of a jackknife bias correction provides estimates with a lower bias and mean squared error (MSE). The findings of this study greatly re-encourage the adoption of macro-economic factors for the internal risk management processes of risk assessment and mitigation and dispel the myth of operational risk being exclusively a bank specific risk. In the third chapter, we revisit the ubiquitous practice of creating portfolios by sorting financial returns according to a given variable. The sorting is usually done brute force and ignores the estimation error present in the measurement of the sorting variable. Also the estimation error of the quantile is ignored. We propose a procedure to control for this and show that ignoring this error may produce a substantial classification error. The importance of portfolio sorts is not only acknowledged in Finance but also in Risk Management.
In vitro and in vivo characterization of mutations in the human Indian hedgehog gene associated with brachydactyly type A1 and acrocapitofemoral dysplasia
Creators: name: Cunningham, Graeme
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Biology, Molecular.
subject: Chemistry, Biochemistry.

description: Brachydactyly type A1 (BDA1) is a congenital disorder that affects normal bone development and patterning. Affected individuals have short fingers, broad hands and are generally short in stature. Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia (ACFD) is a chondrodysplasia characterized by variable short stature of the affected individual with short limbs, brachydactyly in the hands and feet, a relatively large head, and a narrow thorax with pectus deformities. Missense mutations in the Indian hedgehog (IHH) gene have been shown to be responsible for both disorders. We were the first group to successfully characterize the functional consequences of four BDA1-associated mutations (E95K, D100N, R128Q and E131K), and one ACFD-associated mutation (V190A). In stably transfected HEK293 cells, production and secretion of each mutant was significantly compared in comparison to the wild-type. When a LIGHT2 and a differentiating ATDC5 reporter cells were treated separately with normalized amounts of BDA1-associated mutant IHH-N, significantly reduced reporter activity in both cell lines was detected. Little increase in activity was noted when the reporter cells were treated with an equal combination of mutant and WT IHH-N, consistent with a dominant-negative effect. Furthermore, morpholino-induced 'knock-down' of zebrafish ihha revealed a crucial role for ihha in early zebrafish angiogenesis. Co-injection of human Ihh mRNA, although improving the phenotype, did not completely rescue it. Injection of mutant Ihh mRNA alone resulted in approximately 25% of the embryos displaying an altered phenotype - further evidence of a dominant negative effect. Ultimately, our in vitro and in vivo analysis led to the development of a likely model for the pathogenesis of both brachydactyly type A1 and acrocapitofemoral dysplasia.
Contribution to the development of decision-support tools for environmental life-cycle assessment and optimisation of chemical processes and products
Creators: name: Calvo-Serrano, Raul
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2019

description: The threat of irreversible environmental degradation has fostered the interest in more sustainable production practices in all production sectors and human activities. The chemical industry presents a fundamental intermediate role in the supply chains of most products and services, thus being critical to achieve globally more efficient, reliable and sustainable production practices. To address these sustainability challenges, decision-making processes are fundamental to identify suitable solutions under increasingly competitive and dynamic markets, requiring the consideration of the production system particularities. The quality of these solutions, however, directly depends on the reliability of the sustainability assessment methods underpinning decision-making. Nevertheless, most of these assessment methods, and particularly for environmental assessment, are limited to specific systems under very limiting conditions (e.g. excessive necessary process information). These factors ultimately condition the reliability and, in extreme cases, the applicability of existing assessment methods. As many other sectors, chemical processes often involve many material and energy flows which lead to highly complex and variable behaviours, being critically affected by the limitations of conventional sustainability assessment methods. In order to enhance the identification and application of more sustainable processes, it is necessary to use assessment methods able to encompass the particularities of the chemical industry. This thesis proposes the development of environmental assessment methodologies tailored for specific processes and products while relying on mathematical modelling and analysis techniques such as model optimisation. This thesis focuses on (i) the environmental assessment and uncertainty evaluation of chemical processes and products under scarce information, and (ii) the economic and environmental optimisation of biomass utilisation for the satisfaction of chemicals, fuels and energy demands. The chapters of this thesis discuss the quality of the methods here developed and their results, overall demonstrating the capabilities and advantages of adapted environmental assessment combined with mathematical modelling for the development of sustainable chemical processes.
Novembro Branco (Ponto Final)
Creators: name: Oliveira Zão, H.
name: Mendonça, Alberto
name: Lima, João
name: Costa, Tiago
name: BRIGHT
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023

description: No âmbito do Dia Internacional Pela Eliminação da Violência Contra as Mulheres, que se assinala a 25 de novembro, o Município leva a efeito a campanha “Novembro Branco”, numa iniciativa de não legitimação da desigualdade de género e violência contra as mulheres, este ano, novamente, com o mote ponto final.
Building a sensitive atom interferometer for navigation
Creators: name: Cheng, Xiaxi
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2019

description: The presented thesis describes the setting up of an inertial sensitive atom interferometer for navigation using Rubidium 87 atoms, which is able to perform horizontal acceleration measurement. An ultra-high vacuum interferometer chamber is designed and built. The cold atoms are prepared in a compact 2D MOT setup and loaded into the main MOT. These atoms are then cooled down to few K and prepared in a magnetically insensitive ground state using a sequence of optical and microwave pulses, after which atoms are selected in a narrow band of the velocity. A three-pulse Mach-Zehnder ( pi/2 -pi-pi/2) interferometer using stimulated Raman transitions is used to measure the horizontal acceleration. To improve the sensitivity to acceleration, the fringe contrast of the interferometer requires to be optimised. By investigating the intensity profile of the Raman beams using atoms, a procedure is developed to operate the interferometer in an improved condition, which is able to enhance the fringe contrast by a factor of 3. This procedure improves the shot-to-shot sensitivity of the interferometer below 5 um/s^2. In addition, the atom interferometer is compared with a classical state-of-the-art accelerometer.
Beyond Trisomy 21: Additional Chromosomal Anomalies Detected through Routine Aneuploidy Screening
Creators: name: Metcalfe, Amy
name: Hippman, Catriona
name: Pastuck, Melanie
name: Johnson, Jo-Ann
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2019

description: Prenatal screening is often misconstrued by patients as screening for trisomy 21 alone; however, other chromosomal anomalies are often detected. This study aimed to systematically review the literature and use diagnostic meta-analysis to derive pooled detection and false positive rates for aneuploidies other than trisomy 21 with different prenatal screening tests. Non-invasive prenatal testing had the highest detection (DR) and lowest false positive (FPR) rates for trisomy 13 (DR: 90.3%; FPR: 0.2%), trisomy 18 (DR: 98.1%; FPR: 0.2%), and 45,X (DR: 92.2%; FPR: 0.1%); however, most estimates came from high-risk samples. The first trimester combined test also had high DRs for all conditions studied (trisomy 13 DR: 83.1%; FPR: 4.4%; trisomy 18 DR: 91.9%; FPR: 3.5%; 45,X DR: 70.1%; FPR: 5.4%; triploidy DR: 100%; FPR: 6.3%). Second trimester triple screening had the lowest DRs and highest FPRs for all conditions (trisomy 13 DR: 43.9%; FPR: 8.1%; trisomy 18 DR: 70.5%; FPR: 3.3%; 45,X DR: 77.2%; FPR: 9.3%). Prenatal screening tests differ in their ability to accurately detect chromosomal anomalies. Patients should be counseled about the ability of prenatal screening to detect anomalies other than trisomy 21 prior to undergoing screening.
Downstream hydraulic geometry of clay-dominated cohesive bed stream channels
Creators: name: Ebisa Fola, Miressa
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2007
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Civil.

description: Empirical downstream hydraulic geometry equations for clay-dominated cohesive bed (semi-alluvial) streams were derived using the data from five streams in eastern Ontario and four streams from other regions. The width exponent (0.57) is comparable to the exponents reported for previous studies; however, depth exponent (0.52) was greater for clay-dominated cohesive bed than for typical gravel-bed and sand-bed rivers. Furthermore, the recurrence intervals of bankfull discharges of those streams range from 1 to 2 years. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study which related bankfull hydraulic variables and discharges to derive downstream hydraulic geometry equations specifically for clay-dominated cohesive bed streams. Assessment of width:depth ratio depicted that large channels were deeper and narrower than comparable gravel-bed channels, but small channels were actually wider and shallower than typical gravel-bed rivers. This can likely be attributed to the resistance of stiff and consolidated cohesive-bed to erosive effects of more frequent flows.
The Multifaceted Roles of STAT3 Signaling in the Progression of Prostate Cancer
Creators: name: Bishop, Jennifer L.
name: Thaper, Daksh
name: Zoubeidi, Amina
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2019

description: The signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 governs essential functions of epithelial and hematopoietic cells that are often dysregulated in cancer. While the role for STAT3 in promoting the progression of many solid and hematopoietic malignancies is well established, this review will focus on the importance of STAT3 in prostate cancer progression to the incurable metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Indeed, STAT3 integrates different signaling pathways involved in the reactivation of androgen receptor pathway, stem like cells and the epithelial to mesenchymal transition that drive progression to mCRPC. As equally important, STAT3 regulates interactions between tumor cells and the microenvironment as well as immune cell activation. This makes it a major factor in facilitating prostate cancer escape from detection of the immune response, promoting an immunosuppressive environment that allows growth and metastasis. Based on the multifaceted nature of STAT3 signaling in the progression to mCRPC, the promise of STAT3 as a therapeutic target to prevent prostate cancer progression and the variety of STAT3 inhibitors used in cancer therapies is discussed.
Modelling an SBR waste treatment system.
Creators: name: Sun, Tianhua.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1996
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Civil.

description: The sequencing batch reactor (SBR), developed from batch reactor technology, has made significant progress in the past two decades with increasing use in wastewater treatment. However, there are still some important aspects of the system that need improvement. Modelling SBR system, developing lab methods for estimation of the model parameters, re-defining SBR design parameters and comparing SBR and continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CFSTR) systems were the four objectives of this thesis. Previous SBR models cannot predict an entire SBR operation cycle because they have some obvious deficiencies. No consideration of soluble microbial products (SMP) by the models is one of the deficiencies. These deficiencies were carefully reviewed and discussed before beginning the modelling work. A new mathematical model based on the standard Lawrence and McCarty model and IAWPRC model No. 1 has been developed for the SBR activated sludge system. In contrast with previous SBR models, the most important developments of the new model are involving expressions for SMP formed from substrate metabolism and released from activated sludge decay and classifying different basic chemical oxygen demand (COD) categories based on their biodegradabilities. In the new SBR model, total COD is divided into two parts: soluble and insoluble. The soluble part is further subdivided into easy-to-biodegrade substrate (EBS), difficult-to-biodegrade substrate (DBS) and biologically inert organic materials (IOM). The classification of COD makes it possible to describe the degradation process of organic substances more precisely. Quantitative batch test methods for the classification of the substrate have been devised to aid in characterizing and developing the coefficient values of the new SBR model. The batch test techniques were employed for measuring the three different (EBS, DBS and IOM) soluble COD fractions in the influent as well as the formation or release of these three types of substances from metabolism and sludge decay. The kinetic constants of the new model can also be estimated by the techniques. It was found that EBS degradation followed Monod kinetics and DBS degradation followed first-order kinetics. It was also found that the soluble COD released from substrate metabolism is closely related to the type of substrate degraded while the soluble COD released from activated sludge decay is not. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Approximate solution for nonlinear filtering and identification problems.
Creators: name: Radaideh, Saleh M.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1995
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Electronics and Electrical.

description: Filtering and identification problems of partially observable stochastic dynamical systems has been considered. A modification of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) called a modified extended Kalman filter (MEKF) and a theoretical justification for this modification have been investigated. A simple but powerful numerical method for the approximation of the unnormalized conditional (probability) density of filtered diffusion process which satisfies Zakai equation arises from diffusion processes observed in correlated (or uncorrelated) noises and solves the nonlinear filtering problem has been presented. Using Galerkin technique the solution of Zakai equation has been approximated by means of a sequence of nonstandard basis functions given by a parameterized family of Gaussian densities. The spatial domain for the solution of Zakai equation and the completeness of the Gaussian densities have been also investigated. The methods are illustrated by some numerical examples. Techniques of optimal control theory as well as linear filter theory have been utilized in identifying the parameters of linear (partially observable) stochastic differential systems. Using the method of simulated annealing a computational algorithm for identifying the unknown parameters from the available observation has been derived. The results are illustrated by some examples.
Effects of videotape self-modeling on the motor learning of figure skating jumps
Creators: name: Law, Barbara D
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Health Sciences, Recreation.

description: This study investigated whether self-modeling would positively affect intermediate level figure skaters' self-efficacy, state anxiety, motivation, and jump performance more than physical practice alone. Twelve female skaters (M = 13.38 years of age, SD = 1.35) participated in a four week study where they received a self-modeling intervention (SM) for one jump and no modeling (SM-C) for a second jump. They were also compared with a separate control group (CON) of 7 skaters (M = 14.20 years of age, SD = 2.35) who received no intervention for both jumps. Analyses revealed no significant differences between the three conditions. This indicates that while no transfer effects existed between the SM and SM-C conditions, the self-modeling intervention also failed to enhance figure skaters' psychological and physical performance. The athletes' skill level, their perception of the intervention, the characteristics of the task, and the type of self-modeling employed are all discussed as possible explanations for this lack of results. Further empirical examination of self-modeling is recommended to clarify these issues.
Investigation into the genetic nature of familial congenital bicuspid aortic valve
Creators: name: Le Sage, Jacinthe
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Biology, Genetics.

description: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) affects approximately 1% of the general population and its etiology remains unknown. Based on literature reports, we hypothesized that congenital BAV (cBAV) was a developmental defect inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance. We evaluated the NOS3 candidate gene based on the reported phenotype of a mouse mutant, and the FBLN2 and TIMP4 genes based on their role in heart development. DNA sequencing of these genes in our BAV families did not reveal the presence of any potential disease-causing mutations. We also examined the 3p25 region, which showed suggestive linkage at the D3S1259 marker locus in a previous 20 cM genome-wide screen. Linkage analysis with additional markers in the region suggested that the initial hit at D3S1259 had probably been obtained by chance in most families. We are currently recruiting additional families and plan to undertake a 10 cM genome screen to uncover new loci. This work represents the first effort to investigate the genetic nature of cBAV.
Fluid model for access control mechanism
Creators: name: Li, Cheng
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Civil.
subject: Engineering, System Science.

description: In this thesis, we develop two distinct traffic models: one based on Brownian motion and the other based on fractional Brownian motion. The later model captures the self-similarity and the long-range dependence (LRD) properties. The aggregate model is composed of a drift part and of a fluctuation (diffusion) part. With this model, traffic from several seconds to 24 hours can be simulated. Applying the Token Bucket (TB) mechanism, a continuous time (state-space) dynamic system model is developed based on the ideas of recent papers [1,2]. Incoming traffic from each user is policed at the TBs and one multiplexor buffer, linked to all the TBs, multiplexes the conforming traffic. We propose two feedback control strategies, one is a simple feedback control law and the other is a feedback control based on neural network, to control the traffic flow into the link of the backbone network. We also use the simulated annealing algorithm to optimize the parameters of control laws. Several network performance related issues are studied systemically. The results show that the proposed control laws can improve the network performance, by improving throughput, reducing multiplexor and TB losses, and relaxing, not avoiding, congestion.
Cellular basis of inflammation in the enteric nervous system
Creators: name: Roshan, Payam
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Biology, Neuroscience.

description: There is limited knowledge of immunocyte-myenteric neuronal interaction and the role of iNOS in myenteric neuronal injury. This research sought to examine the role of macrophages, NO, and iNOS inhibitors in myenteric neurodegeneration. Increased NO synthesis in macrophages and its effects on myenteric neurons were investigated in cell cultures. Using rodent models of inflammation, we further examined NO-dependent neurotoxicity. In the presence of activated macrophages neuronal injury and degeneration occurred; however the myenteric neurons showed greater resistance to oxidative challenge than cortical neurons. Pretreatment with iNOS inhibitors significantly reduced these inflammatory effects. Myenteric neuronal injury was also evident in experimental colitis, and iNOS selective inhibitor protected the myenteric neurons from inflammation and degeneration. In conclusion, these results show that activated macrophage-derived NO is important in inflammation-dependent myenteric neurodegeneration, and iNOS inhibitors can protect myenteric neurons from degeneration. Two potential strategies for neuroprotection in gut inflammation are defined.