cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Symbolic Coherence Reveals Prime Distribution: A Phase-Aligned Proof of Emergence
Creators: name: Cygelman, Michel
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: primes
symbolic reasoning
ternary
binary
coherence
Aether
number theory
render pipeline
phase alignment
AI and Cognition
Symbolic Reasoning

description: This working paper presents a novel symbolic coherence model that predicts the locations of prime numbers using layered representation alignment. Experimental results across n = 2 to 10,000 show perfect discrimination between primes and non-primes using a coherence score derived from binary and balanced ternary interference. The findings support the Moonshot hypothesis that mathematical structures are rendered through symbolic phase alignment rather than emerging randomly.
NanoCommons - A Knowledge Infrastructure for Risk Assessment of Novel and Emerging Materials
Creators: name: Schimpel, Christa
name: Serrano, Beatriz Alfaro
name: Resch, Susanne
name: Papadiamantis, Anastasios
name: Lynch, Iseult
name: Exner, Thomas E.
name: Hardy, Barry
name: Falk, Andreas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Knowledge infrastructure
nanosafety
nanoregulation
nanoinformatics
key enabling technology
FAIR data

description: Nanotechnology represents an enabling technology with the potential for major breakthroughs in diverse industrial sectors. However, processes at the nanoscale, where novel material properties occur, have also been linked to new or different potential risks, that are still not fully understood.
 While recent advances provided new insights on what constitutes toxicity of novel and emerging materials (NEMs) in relation to health and environmental hazards, the nanotechnology and nanosafety communities remain disparate and unconnected, whilst knowledge and data remain fragmented and inaccessible. To address this gap, the project NanoCommons will create an openly accessible e-infrastructure serving the current and future needs of the key research communities, pivotal industrial users and regulators. NanoCommons brings all stakeholders (academia, industry and regulators) together to facilitate pooling and harmonising of methods and data for modelling, safe-by-design product development and regulatory approval purposes, thereby driving best practice, and ensuring maximum access to data and tools and promote data interoperability and translational research. NanoCommons combines: Networking Activities (NA) to span community needs assessment through development of demonstration case studies (e.g. exemplar regulatory dossiers), Joint Research Activities (JRA) to integrate existing resources and embed efficient data management process from the data generation step (facilitated using online laboratory notebooks), to (efficient and harmonised) data curation, preservation and provision of Open and FAIR access to data/models and, Transnational Access (TA) to provide users with funded access to the data, methods and tools generated or developed under the project. NanoCommons also offers expert guidance along the entire data lifecycle (experimental workflows, data acquisition/analysis/storage, metadata generation, publications etc.) ensuring data quality, completeness and harmonisation into the future. NanoCommons has the unique potential to deliver a step-changing impact for the emerging nanoinformatics in nanosafety community. It will remove barriers from nanosafety-related regulatory and industry processes by revolutionising data capture, management and sharing (FAIR data). [1] Valsami-Jones, Eugenia, and Iseult Lynch. Science 350.6259 (2015) [2] Robinson, Richard L. Marchese, et al. Nanoscale 8.19 (2016) [3] Hastings, Janna, et al. Journal of biomedical semantics 6.1 (2015)
A new clustering algorithm for the topological design of multilevel data networks.
Creators: name: Vilis, Raymond A.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1977
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Electronics and Electrical.

description: This thesis presents IMULEC, a new clustering algorithm for the interactive design of multilevel data networks. The algorithm is capable of handling different types of concentrators and provides the line-layout of the data network, under various given constraints, such as: line capacities, maximum traffic per concentrator, maximum number of input ports to a concentrator etc. A comparison is made, for the single concentrator level case, with the algorithm NEWCLUST [3]. The results show that IMULEC reduces both network design cost and total execution times (with special savings in the clustering process).
Symbolic Coherence and Prime Numbers: A Phase-Aligned Proof-of-Concept Simulation
Creators: name: Cygelman, Michel
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: primes
symbolic reasoning
ternary
binary
coherence
Aether
number theory
render pipeline
phase alignment
AI and Cognition
Symbolic Reasoning
proof-of-concept
simulation

description: This working paper presents a simulated test of a symbolic coherence hypothesis for prime number distribution. Using a deliberately engineered coherence function Φ(n), we explored whether phase alignment between binary and balanced ternary representations could simulate selective filtering of primes.

The function achieved perfect precision and recall (F1 = 1.0) over the range n = 2 to 10,000, but was shaped with awareness of prime locations—rendering this a simulation rather than a discovery.

The results demonstrate that layered symbolic interference can emulate mathematical filtering behavior and support future investigation into naturally emergent coherence functions. This work forms part of the Aether Project's effort to explore mathematics as a rendered system of symbolic structures.
Optimized Credit Score Prediction via an Ensemble Model and SMOTEENN Integration
Creators: name: Cheng, Yu
name: Wang, Liyang
name: Sha, Xinye
name: Tian, Qiyuan
name: liu, Fang
name: Xing, Qianwen
name: Wang, Hao
name: YU, CHANG
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 461103
subject: Deep learning
classificationCode: 350202
subject: Finance

description: Credit scores are crucial these days for getting approved for a mortgage, assessing business loans, and managing customer finances. A bank's ability to accurately judge someone's creditworthiness directly impacts their bottom line and operations. For a long time, we have used models like decision trees, logical regression, and neural networks to evaluate credit. However, lately, we have started using more advanced distributed models like LightGBM, XGBoost, and CatBoost. These have improved our credit predictions' accuracy but still have significant limitations. This paper looks at combining multiple models into one robust hybrid model. The goal is to get past the performance bottlenecks of older models. Our proposed approach takes credit score prediction to the next level. We hope to improve precision, F1 score, recall, and AUC metrics. Through a detailed comparison of these elements, we will compare the advantages and disadvantages of our designed Ensemble Model and the current general models. By conducting a detailed comparison of these elements, we will comprehensively check the strengths and weaknesses of our designed Ensemble Model against the currently prevalent models, showcasing our results through an objective analysis.
Prins-Pinacol synthesis of bicyclo[331]nonanones and application towards the total synthesis of papuaforin A
Creators: name: Riou, Maxime
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Chemistry, Organic.
subject: Chemistry, Pharmaceutical.

description: The present thesis concentrates on the development of the Prins-Pinacol mediated synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanones and its application towards the total synthesis of papuaforin A. In addition, an exploratory study of the oxy-Cope/Claisen/ene cascade reaction and the total synthesis of (+)-isofregenedol are presented. These subjects are divided into four chapters. The first part of this thesis describes the discovery and examination of a novel microwave-induced rearrangement of propargyl vinyl ethers delivering cis-bicyclic unsaturated lactones. The methodological investigation of the Prins-Pinacol rearrangement oriented towards the construction of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanones is discussed in Chapter 3. The synthesis of various precursors and the optimization of the key step are presented. The reactivity observed for the isopropylidene and benzylidene oxocarbenium precursors is then compared. The effect of the substitution of the alkene moiety and at the ring junction is also examined. The Prins-Pinacol rearrangement of complex Diels-Alder cycloadducts is described last. The fourth chapter depicts the advancement towards the total synthesis papuaforin A. The synthesis of a model compound possessing the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanone core of the natural product is first presented. The progress towards the actual total synthesis is discussed next. Finally, the application of the gold(I)-catalyzed benzannulation of hydroxyenynes to the de novo synthesis of (+)-isofregenedol is described in Chapter 5.
Community and family adaptation of adult second-generation Ukrainian-Canadians: The role of acculturation, acculturative stress, and personal and social resources
Creators: name: Piaseckyj, Olena Maria
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Psychology, Social.
subject: Psychology, Clinical.
subject: Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.

description: Community and family domains represent important and understudied contexts of immigrant acculturation and adaptation. Adopting an ecological-contexualist perspective (Birman, Trickett & Vinokurov, 2002; Birman, 1994; Trickett, 1996), two studies were conducted to examine the predictors of community and family adjustment in a sample of 130 adult second-generation Ukrainian-Canadians. Study 1 examined adaptation at the community level by assessing the association between acculturation to Ukrainian and Canadian cultures, perceived social support, religiosity, and sense of community with respect to two community referents: the local Ukrainian ethnic community and the residential neighbourhood. Results demonstrated that acculturation was positively associated with ingroup sense of community, such that acculturation to Ukrainian culture predicted stronger sense of community in the local ethnic community. Personal and social resources, including religiosity and perceived social support from Canadian friends and neighbours were positive predictors of neighbourhood sense of community. Study 2 investigated adaptation at the family level by measuring the influence of acculturation variables (familism, acculturation to Ukrainian and Canadian cultures) and acculturative stressor variables (acculturative family hassles) on family life satisfaction overall. In addition, the importance of these predictors for the following three family subsystems was explored: family life satisfaction with spouses, family life satisfaction with parents and family life satisfaction with children. Results indicated that in terms of overall family life satisfaction, family life satisfaction with spouses, family life satisfaction with parents, both acculturation variables and acculturative stressor variables made significant and unique contributions to the explanation of quality of family life. Furthermore, acculturative stressor variables were found to negatively predict total family satisfaction, marital satisfaction and parental satisfaction, over and above the effects of demographic variables and acculturation variables. In contrast, neither acculturation variables nor acculturative stressor variables significantly predicted family life satisfaction with children. Taken together, the results of the two studies showed support for an ecological approach to the conceptualization and measurement of immigrant adaptation in community and family spheres of life, emphasizing the need to understand the relationship between acculturation and outcomes 'in context'. The findings are discussed in light of the literature and theoretical and research implications of the results are presented, along with recommendations for future research.
Nouvelle méthode de caractérisation des jets de plasma supersoniques en déséquilibre aérodynamique à basse pression
Creators: name: Blais, Alexandre
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Chemical.

description: Réaliser des mesures expérimentales dans les jets de plasma supersoniques à basse pression est une tâche complexe. Outre les difficultés habituelles liées à l'état plasma et aux basses pressions, les mesures intrusives des écoulements supersoniques ont la particularité de faire apparaître un choc devant l'appareil de mesure. Ce choc modifié l'écoulement, et la mesure intrusive se fait dans un écoulement qui n'est plus supersonique. Dans la littérature, une solution à ce problème a été identifiée, qui demande de faire l'hypothèse que l'écoulement supersonique est en équilibre aérodynamique (i.e., que sa pression statique est la même que la pression de chambre). Or, la très grande majorité des écoulements supersoniques, en industrie comme en laboratoire, ne sont pas en équilibre aérodynamique. Dans cette thèse est proposée une nouvelle méthode de mesures expérimentales, basée sur la technique de sonde d'enthalpie, qui repose sur la conception et la mise en oeuvre d'un nouvel outil de mesure, le PSSPP (Post-Shock Static Pressure Probe). La force et la nouveauté de cette méthode résident dans le fait qu'elle est à même de capturer le comportement oscillatoire des jets supersoniques parce qu'elle ne suppose pas l'équilibre aérodynamique. Cependant, lors du passage des valeurs mesurées à celles qui représentent le jet supersonique, certaines hypothèses sont postulées. Dans le but d'analyser et de critiquer la validité de ces hypothèses, une partie de la thèse est dévolué à la simulation, par un modèle mathématique, du processus de prise de mesures de la nouvelle méthode. Finalement, la nouvelle méthode de mesures expérimentales développée dans cette thèse est un apport considérable au domaine des mesures de jets de plasma supersoniques, car elle produit les premiers résultats expérimentaux par sonde d'enthalpie qui capturent le déséquilibre aérodynamique. De façon plus pratique, puisqu'elle illustre clairement la phénomologie des jets supersoniques en déséquilibre aérodynamique, elle permet d'augmenter le niveau de compréhension des industriels ou des chercheurs qui souhaitent utiliser de tels écoulements comme milieu porteur dans des procédés de projection thermique (par plasma ou autre).
La catharsis tragique: Évolution d'une notion des origines au Classicisme
Creators: name: Simard, Philippe
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2007
Subjects: subject: Literature, Modern.
subject: Theater.

description: La notion de catharsis est, depuis la renaissance de la tragédie au XVIe siècle, au centre du discours sur l'effet du théâtre. Élaboree dans l'Antiquité par les sophistes grecs, elle a été intégrée dans la théorie dramaturgique par Aristote qui, dans la Poétique , en fait l'axe fondamental de la tragédie. La notion de catharsis, en mettant en lumière la figure du spectateur, engage une théorie de la réception au théâtre: à ce titre, elle a permis à la dramaturgie émergente des XVIe et XVIIe siècles de justifier l'existence et la pratique d'un genre fondé sur la mise en scène du mal et de la violence, en lui attribuant une vertu purificatrice ou purgative. Par ailleurs, la notion de catharsis, en délimitant et en définissant les paramètres de l'expérience tragique, est à l'origine de la réflexion esthétique et poétique qui amènera progressivement la dramaturgie du XVIIe siècle à se libérer des normes morales et philosophiques du théâtre humaniste. Or, cette évolution théorique et dramaturgique se donne d'abord à lire dans le texte des tragédies, suivant le principe que l'écriture dramatique, à travers les procédés de la rhétorique théâtrale, informe et détermine les modalités de la réception par le spectateur, et fixé par le fait même les bases du processus de la catharsis . Le développement de la dramaturgie baroque, et l'émergence de la métathéâtralité qui en illustre et diffuse les principes théoriques, constitue l'étape clé de la reconfiguration de la représentation tragique au XVIIe siècle, suivant une interprétation de la fonction du théâtre qui la distingue définitivement de la poétique aristotélicienne et de ses fondements philosophiques. L'abandon de la catharsis par les théoriciens du Classicisme constitue l'étape ultime d'une évolution qui a permis, d'une part, d'établir le spectateur comme figure centrale du théâtre, et qui a favorisé, d'autre part, la création d'une forme anti-cathartique de tragédie, entièrement vouée à la satisfaction des attentes spectaculaires du public, et fondée sur l'excitation de passions que le spectacle ne prétend plus purifier.
Timing of Income Assistance Payment and Overdose Patterns at a Canadian Supervised Injection Facility
Creators: name: Zlotorzynska, Maria
name: Milloy, M-J
name: Richardson, Lindsey, 1977-
name: Nguyen, Paul
name: Montaner, Julio
name: Wood, Evan
name: Kerr, Thomas
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2017

description: Background: Little is known about the relationship between timing of income assistance provision and health behaviours among injection drug users (IDU). We therefore investigated associations between income assistance provision and overdose patterns among IDU utilizing Insite, a supervised injection facility in Vancouver, Canada. Methods: Using data collected at Insite between March 2004 and December 2010, we examined trends in overdoses and drugs injected. Data were stratified by proximity to the most recent day of issue of income assistance cheques, based on dates provided by the province. Results: After adjustment for frequency of use, the risk of overdose for those injecting at Insite on the three days starting with “cheque day” was higher than for those injecting on other days (Odds Ratio [OR]=2.06; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.80–2.36, p<0.001). These associations were also significant when drug-specific overdose rates were considered. The proportion of overdoses involving exclusive opioid use was lower for events occurring around cheque day than on other days (OR=0.63; 95% CI: 0.47–0.84, p=0.002), though we observed no significant association between the proportion of overdoses involving stimulants and cheque timing (p=0.129). Conclusions: The risk of overdose among IDU utilizing Insite was significantly higher on and immediately after cheque day than during other days, and may be associated with reduced tolerance and increases in binge drug use. Alternative models of income assistance administration should be evaluated to reduce overdoses around cheque day.
Design and implementation SIP and Agent-based home Networked Appliances system
Creators: name: Li, Zhijun
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Engineering, System Science.

description: Networked Appliances (NAs) is a new research field and it comes under the concept of home networking. The SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and Agent-based NA system proposed in the thesis aims to build a smart system that provides the capability of autonomous and asynchronous control and management of NAs from both inside and outside of a home network. The SIP technology makes the NAs system well adapted for communications over the Internet; and the leading-edge agent technology presents a new approach to empower users with advanced information processing methods and reduce the workload of users. In the proposed system, various agents cooperate with each other to fulfill different tasks on behalf of homeowners. The system architecture and features are presented and a prototype model is implemented. The performance of the system is discussed to verify and validate the system design.
Cartographie des espèces forestières dans les milieux mixtes: Étude comparative entre un modèle de déconvolution spectrale et les modèles de la classification supervisée
Creators: name: Pinard, Véronique
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2004
Subjects: subject: Geography.
subject: Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife.

description: Remote sensing offers an economical tool to perform forest mapping and to meet forest manager needs. The main objective of this thesis is to compare the results of both supervised classification and linear spectral analysis methods of forest cover mapping from the same sector of Anticosti Island. Supervised classification is a binary method of mapping where the pixel can be associated with only one thematic class whereas linear spectral mixture analysis is based on the principle of continuity, meaning that a single pixel can belong to more that one information class. To meet our objectives, the image used in this thesis was acquired on August 24 2001 by Landsat-7's ETM+ sensor. Radiometric calibration, atmospheric corrections and geometric corrections were applied to the image. Spectroradiometric data acquired by ASD (Analytical Spectral Devices) between 350 nm and 2500 nm were also used. The results show that the supervised classification performed with parallelepiped algorithm combined with the maximum likelihood algorithm produced good results for forest mapping in a mixed environment. The results from this method can be used to perform multitemporal studies regarding forest cover observation on Anticosti Island i.e., disease infestation, forest fire, heavy browsing by deer and regeneration. However, the linear spectral mixture analysis method results were not as conclusive as expected because of the limited number of spectral bands that can be used, the spectral regions covered by those spectral bands, and the similarity between the spectral signature of the different forest species.
Land Transactions in Rural Areas: Comparative analysis between Japan and Scotland
Creators: name: Kato, Yumi Isaka
name: Hubbard, Carmen
name: Garrod, Guy
name: Kato, Yumi Isaka
name: Hubbard, Carmen
name: Garrod, Guy
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Institutional and Behavioral Economics
subject: Land Economics/Use
subject: Land markets
subject: Social Network Analysis
subject: Japan
subject: Scotland

description: This study aims to explore the interactions between land policy/reform and the social and economic characteristics of land markets and inform the design of future land policies in Scotland and Japan. Specifically, it aims to understand how social networks and political institutions work in the market, based on a theoretical framework drawn from New Economic Sociology (NES) and New Institutional Economics (NIE). For this, Social Network Analysis is conducted for a small number of cases in both countries, where dynamic land pattern changes can be observed. After identifying the entire network of a land market, the connections between key actors are traced through interviews. Results could show the existence of contrasting dominant channels in the markets, e.g., one based on norms or trust which represents the NES position or the other based on rules/regulations or government support which reflects the NIE position. Moreover, the presence of norms, trust and power in the network, the contribution of brokers in the information flow, and the influence of each channel on transaction costs will be clarified. Lastly, if there are gaps between institutional goals and social networks’ motivations, whether and how they should be reconciled is discussed, with lessons and recommendations for ongoing land policy/reform.
Upgrading landfill gas to natural gas quality: Bulk separation by pressure swing adsorption
Creators: name: Bestfather, Chris
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2009
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Environmental.

description: Equilibrium adsorption properties are studied on zeolites for the application of upgrading biogas from landfills. Pure adsorption isotherms of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) measured with a constant volume apparatus. The Henry's Law constant and the heat of adsorption for NaLSX is also determined. The adiabatic working capacity and selectivity of four adsorbents is compared. NaLSX showed the highest capacity for CO2 at elevated temperatures. The binary equilibrium of CO2/CH4 on NaLSX is measured in a modified gas chromatograph at total mixture pressures of 1 and 3.3 atmospheres. The adsorbed phase is dominated by CO2 with a selectivity of 20 to 100 for the separation of CO2 and CH4. The increase in total pressure resulted in an increase in adsorbent capacity and a decrease in selectivity. Finally, an economic analysis relates landfill size to PSA operational costs and returns.
An algorithm for the stochastic simulation of gene expression and cell population dynamics
Creators: name: Charlebois, Daniel A
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2010
Subjects: subject: Biology, Bioinformatics.
subject: Biophysics, General.

description: Over the past few years, it has been increasingly recognized that stochastic mechanisms play a key role in the dynamics of biological systems. Genetic networks are one example where molecular-level fluctuations are of particular importance. Here stochasticity in the expression of gene products can result in genetically identical cells in the same environment displaying significant variation in biochemical or physical attributes. This variation can influence individual and population-level fitness. In this thesis we first explore the background required to obtain analytical solutions and perform simulations of stochastic models of gene expression. Then we develop an algorithm for the stochastic simulation of gene expression and heterogeneous cell population dynamics. The algorithm combines an exact method to simulate molecular-level fluctuations in single cells and a constant-number Monte Carlo approach to simulate the statistical characteristics of growing cell populations. This approach permits biologically realistic and computationally feasible simulations of environment and time-dependent cell population dynamics. The algorithm is benchmarked against steady-state and time-dependent analytical solutions of gene expression models, including scenarios when cell growth, division, and DNA replication are incorporated into the modelling framework. Furthermore, using the algorithm we obtain the steady-state cell size distribution of a large cell population, grown from a small initial cell population undergoing stochastic and asymmetric division, to the size distribution of a small representative sample of this population simulated to steady-state. These comparisons demonstrate that the algorithm provides an accurate and efficient approach to modelling the effects of complex biological features on gene expression dynamics. The algorithm is also employed to simulate expression dynamics within 'bet-hedging' cell populations during their adaption to environmental stress. These simulations indicate that the cell population dynamics algorithm provides a framework suitable for simulating and analyzing realistic models of heterogeneous population dynamics combining molecular-level stochastic reaction kinetics, relevant physiological details, and phenotypic variability and fitness.
Unimolecular dissociations of ionized azo-tert-butane and acetone azine
Creators: name: Rabaev, Madlena
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Chemistry, General.

description: This M.Sc. thesis presents an experimental and a theoretical study of azo-tert-butane and acetone azine ions which belong to the azo and azine class of compounds, respectively. The experimental study involves an investigation of the fragmentation reactions using tandem mass spectrometry and TPEPICO (threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence) spectroscopy. The theoretical study involves ab initio calculations of neutral and ionized azo-tert-butane, acetone azine and their dissociation products. RRKM theory was used to probe the nature of the unimolecular dissociations by comparing theoretical fits to TPEPICO breakdown curves. Due to an impurity in the sample of acetone azine, only one dissociation channel was studied, namely, methyl radical loss. Contrary to the original hypothesis, that this unimolecular dissociation occurs by a simple bond cleavage reaction, it was found that a rearrangement process takes place. The unimolecular dissociations of ionized azo-tert-butane that were investigated were formation of species corresponding to m/z 57, m/z 85 and m/z 56. Fragment ions m/z 57 and m/z 85 are competing channels, since their formation occurs by the same C-N bond cleavage. However, it was observed that formation of m/z 57 dominates over m/z 85 at higher internal energies. This observation was explained by the difference in the entropy of activation (DeltaS ‡) for the two dissociation channels. Formation of m/z 56 is an isomerization reaction; due to its low significance, the mechanism of this reaction was not studied in depth.
The reactions of triplet and singlet methylene.
Creators: name: Generosa, John I.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1964
Subjects: subject: Chemistry, Organic.

description: The reactions of singlet and triplet methylene with butene-2 in the presence of inert gases (Ar, CF4, He, N2 and Xe) have been studied. Singlet methylene (generated from the photolytic decomposition of diazomethane), upon colliding with a non-reactive gas readily undergoes a transition to the lower energy triplet methylene. At low pressures of inert gas the reactions are due to singlet, while in high pressure regions triplet methylene is the reactant. Plots of product yield vs. inert gas pressure show distinct trends in these pressure regions. Triplet methylene makes its appearance known at an inert gas-butene ratio of about 550, whereupon distinct inflections of pressure dependent curves occur. Cis-pentene-2 and 2-methylbutene-2 are formed by singlet methylene insertion in C-H bonds. 3-methylbutene-l and trans-pentene-2 are products of the triplet reaction, but appear in the singlet region as well. Cis- and trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane are unequivocally shown to be products of triplet methylene addition to the double bond, while the cis-compound (only) is directly formed by singlet methylene addition across the double bond. Direct insertion by triplet methylene does not occur, nor does triplet methylene abstract hydrogen atoms, although triplet intermediates may do so intramolecularly. Triplet methylene reacts with molecular oxygen much more rapidly than singlet methylene does. Attempts to directly generate triplet methylene by mercury photosensitization of diazomethane was unsuccessful owing to direct absorption of the resonance line by diazomethane. It has been shown conclusively that the products formed result from methylene-butene reaction and not from diazomethane-butene reaction, although the products formed in either case are the same. The thermal reaction (225°C) of diazomethane with cis-butene-2 in the presence of inert gas was studied. The products formed are due to a butene-diazomethane adduct, and not from free methylene reaction. A theoretical treatment of the spin-orbit perturbation reveals that the spontaneous transition from the singlet to the triplet state of methylene occurs at a rate of 2.2 x 1013 sec.-1. The spin-orbit perturbation found in methylene has been calculated to be 130 small calories.
Facilitated diffusion of proteins on DNA
Creators: name: Samadifard, Nazanin
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2010
Subjects: subject: Biophysics, General.

description: The idea that non-specific DNA-binding proteins are capable of finding their cognate sites on DNA much faster than the time calculated via three-dimensional diffusion theory has been proposed in recent years as an important mechanism for the activity of DNA enzymes and transcription factors. The goal of this study was to investigate, using Brownian dynamics simulation methods, the fundamental mechanisms involved in facilitated diffusion of DNA-binding proteins near and on DNA chains, and the relative roles these mechanisms play in determining the mean time proteins require to find their specific targets on a DNA chain. Two different scenarios were investigated. In the first scenario, the DNA was an extended chain aligned on a surface with a cognate site located at one end of the DNA, exposed to a homogenous solution of proteins with attractive interactions for the DNA monomers. The dynamics of these proteins were characterized and mean time required for proteins to find their specific target DNA monomer was studied as a function of protein concentration in the bulk and the strength of the non-specific binding energy between DNA and proteins. An optimal binding energy was identified corresponding to the most efficient search process. In the second scenario, the DNA also had a coiled conformation. The effect of DNA conformation on protein transport and the mean first passage time was studied. Here, it was discovered that proteins found their target on a coiled DNA much faster that on partially extended DNA chains. The occurrence of inter-segmental transfers, where proteins moved a large distance in sequence space by short hops across loops, was confirmed and correlated with the enhanced target search efficiency observed in coiled DNA. The results of this simulation study reproduced some of the previous predictions of kinetic models and experimental observations, and extended the knowledge about the target search process of DNA-binding proteins to aspects not easily studied using available theoretical and experimental methods.
Assessment of the Genetic Diversity in Forest Tree Populations Using Molecular Markers
Creators: name: Porth, Ilga
name: El-Kassaby, Yousry A.
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2019

description: Molecular markers have proven to be invaluable tools for assessing plants’ genetic resources by improving our understanding with regards to the distribution and the extent of genetic variation within and among species. Recently developed marker technologies allow the uncovering of the extent of the genetic variation in an unprecedented way through increased coverage of the genome. Markers have diverse applications in plant sciences, but certain marker types, due to their inherent characteristics, have also shown their limitations. A combination of diverse marker types is usually recommended to provide an accurate assessment of the extent of intra- and inter-population genetic diversity of naturally distributed plant species on which proper conservation directives for species that are at risk of decline can be issued. Here, specifically, natural populations of forest trees are reviewed by summarizing published reports in terms of the status of genetic variation in the pure species. In general, for outbred forest tree species, the genetic diversity within populations is larger than among populations of the same species, indicative of a negligible local spatial structure. Additionally, as is the case for plants in general, the diversity at the phenotypic level is also much larger than at the marker level, as selectively neutral markers are commonly used to capture the extent of genetic variation. However, more and more, nucleotide diversity within candidate genes underlying adaptive traits are studied for signatures of selection at single sites. This adaptive genetic diversity constitutes important potential for future forest management and conservation purposes.
Methods for assessing sleep and sleepiness in healthy adults and patients with respiratory sleep disorders
Creators: name: Alqurashi, Yousef Dhefullah
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2019

description: Scalp electroencephalography (scalp EEG) is an accurate method for measuring sleep. However, this procedure is cumbersome, costly, and cannot be conducted over an extended period. Recently, wearable pieces of equipment to monitor sleep have been developed, one of which is the in-ear EEG. Therefore, the first two aims of this thesis were to investigate whether a novel in-ear EEG could measure sleep accurately during daytime naps, and then during overnight sleep. Clinically, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is usually measured subjectively by use of the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). However, patients sometimes make errors and require assistance when they complete the ESS. A visual analogue scale (VAS) is a simple method that is used to measure subjective feelings such as pain, mood and breathlessness; we hypothesised that it could also measure sleepiness. Therefore, the third aim of this thesis was to investigate whether the VAS could be used as an accurate method to measure sleepiness in patients with respiratory sleep disorders, and in healthy adults. In the first study, the in-ear EEG detected sleep onset and the results offered substantial agreement with the findings of scalp EEG, in healthy adults during daytime naps. In the second study, the in-ear EEG detected slow-wave sleep at a substantial level of agreement compared with scalp EEG, in healthy adults during overnight sleep. In the third study, the VAS detected sleepiness in healthy adults and patients with respiratory sleep disorders, before and after one month of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. In summary, this thesis has shown that the in-ear EEG and VAS offer accurate and simple methods for the measurement of sleep and sleepiness, in both patients and healthy participants. In future, it is speculated that these two methods could be integrated into smart phones to offer simple, fast and accurate measurement of sleep and sleepiness.
La problématique du bonheur féminin dans l'écriture romanesque des femmes écrivains du siècle des Lumières
Creators: name: Tremblay, Isabelle
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Literature, Romance.

description: En représentant le parcours de la destinée féminine, avec tous les détours, les obstacles et les enjeux qu'il peut comporter, les romancières des Lumières s'interrogent sur les conditions de réalisation du bonheur au féminin. Le genre romanesque, qui est le lieu de l'émergence d'une réflexion nouvelle sur la condition féminine, constitue pour les femmes auteurs un moyen privilégié pour afficher leurs positions sur la question du bonheur et sur les moyens d'accéder à celui-ci. Si les réseaux de signification à l'oeuvre dans les romans à l'étude révèlent des stratégies en rupture avec les diktats propres à la morale chrétienne --- le renoncement et le sacrifice ---, c'est que la quête du bonheur est étroitement liée à une conception de l'identité féminine qui cesse d'être définie uniquement par les règles et les codes de la société patriarcale. Le souci de faire reconnaître à leurs personnages féminins une valeur propre, c'est-a-dire non limitée a la capacité reproductrice des femmes, s'inscrit dans une revendication en faveur de "l'accomplissement de son moi1" intrinseque au bonheur. Une étude sociologique du personnel romanesque féminin montre que trois paradigmes ordonnent la représentation du bonheur: les institutions de l'époque --- telles que le mariage, la famille et l'éducation --- qui conditionnent la trajectoire des héroïnes; la réflexion préromantique qui place l'estime de soi au-dessus des principes émis par l'ordre moral chrétien et social; la sensibilité ouvre sur un espace de conciliation ou l'amour et l'amitié créent une forme d'indépendance sentimentale qui évacue le rapport de force inhérent à la passion, telle qu'elle s'élabore au xville siècle. Riche de stratégies "libératrices", la production romanesque féminine des Lumières pousse les limites du bonheur au-delà de l'horizon esquisse par les romanciers. 1 Robert Mauzi, L'Idée du bonheur dans la littérature et la pensée française au XVII e siècle, Paris, A. Colin, [1960] 1969. p. 122
Thermodynamics and phase transitions in model polymer blends and thin films
Creators: name: Aoki, Yutaka
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2019

description: This study is concerned with the phase behaviour of partially miscible highly interacting poly mer blends and thin ﬁlms. In this context, ’highly interacting’ refers to a steep slope of ther modynamic interaction with inverse temperature, such that a small temperature variation in duces a substantial change in thermodynamic equilibrium or demixing. To this eﬀect, three polymer blends were selected and investigated as potential model systems, namely polycarbon ate(PC)/poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA), chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride)(CPVC)/PMMA and poly(α-methyl styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (PαMSAN)/PMMA blends. PC/PMMA blends were found to exhibit a phase boundary below the glass transition tem perature for reasonable component molecular masses, thus prevented a rigorous study of one phase, equilibrium, region. Despite a systematic investigation of the eﬀect of the degree of CPVC chlorination, blends were found to demix at all conditions investigated, in contrast with previous reports. We have therefore focused on the investigation of the phase behaviour of PαMSAN/PMMA blends, on both sides of the phase diagram, employing small angle neutron scattering (SANS), supplemented by spectroscopic ellipsometry and optical microscopy. The eﬀects of blend composition (φ), polymer mass (Mw) and tacticity were studied. Data analysis was carried out with de Gennes Random Phase Approximation (RPA) and Cahn-Hilliard-Cook (CHC) theories, establishing that thermodynamic interactions are largely independent of φ, but change signiﬁcantly with tacticity. By contrast with expectations from Flory-Huggins theory, Mw is found to have minimal impact into blend behaviour. Locally correlated lattice (LCL) theory provides variable insight into the various thermodynamic contributions to the free en ergy of mixing. In order to apply the LCL theory, detailed thermal expansion measurements were carried out by ellipsometry. The highly interactive nature of this blend was demonstrated by the precise formation of small scale spinodal decomposition structures, down to ∼35 nm, via thermal induced phase separation. Such dimensions are typically only accessed by block copolymer ordering. In a related study of the PC/PMMA blend, we attempted to reduce the of Mw of PC to design accessible phase boundaries away from the glassy state. This led to the crystallisation of PC in thin ﬁlms, and speciﬁcally to the formation of banded spherulites in conﬁnement whose mechanism and kinetics were investigated. Overall this work provides signiﬁcant new insight into the phase behaviour of model blends and homopolymers and the role of molecular architecture that is relevant from both an academic and industrial perspective.
Dynamic analysis of long-span bridge subjected to traffic loading
Creators: name: Gong, Lei
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2008
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Civil.

description: Moving vehicle loads, associated with roadway traffic can induce significant dynamic effects in the structural behavior of bridges, especially for long-span bridges. The main objective of this research is to study traffic induced dynamic responses of long-span bridges, particular for box-girder bridges and cable-stayed bridges. The finite element method has been employed in this study to obtain a three-dimensional mathematical model for the bridge system. For box-girder bridges, the deck, the box girders and the diaphragms are modeled as 8-node shell element. Linear elastic structural responses are considered. For cable-stayed bridges, the box-girder bridge deck and diaphragms are modeled as 8-node shell element, while the pylons are modeled as beam element. Stability functions are applied to both shell element and beam element to account for geometric nonlinearity. A two-node catenary cable element is adopted using exact analytical expressions for modeling stayed cables. Non-linear structural responses are considered. For the present analytical study of the bridge-vehicle system, the vehicle is modeled as a three-axle six-wheel system. The equation derivations are described in details. The dynamic response is evaluated using the modal method and the step-by-step integration method. The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the bridge are obtained based on the deformed dead load tangent stiffness matrix. For cable-stayed bridge, an iterative scheme is utilized to obtain the deformed dead load tangent stiffness matrix due to its nonlinear characteristics. The dynamic responses of bridges subjected to traffic loads are complicated because the dynamic effect induced by moving vehicles is basically influenced by the interaction between the bridge and the moving vehicle. The bridge-vehicle interaction is affected by many factors, such as vehicle speed, road roughness, damping of bridge and vehicle, dynamic characteristics of bridge, and etc. Parametric study has been carried out to investigate those factors that influence the bridge-vehicle interaction. The finite element computer program GLBA in FORTRAN 90 and MATLAB is developed to carry out the proposed research. GLBA includes four main modules: static linear analysis, static non-linear analysis, free vibration analysis and dynamic analysis due to traffic load.
Thermal pressure swing adsorption (TPSA) system for the removal of carbon dioxide
Creators: name: Mulgundmath, Vinay
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2009
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Chemical.

description: Adsorption behaviour of various gases have been studied in this work for air pre-purification, landfill gas, coal gas, natural gas and flue gas applications. This study included physical adsorption of commonly found impurities in air like carbon dioxide, methane, ethylene, acetylene, nitrous oxide, acetonitrile, methyl tert-butyl ether, methyl sulfoxide, dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol which constitute a safety hazard in the cryogenic air separation plant when present even in small quantities. Henry's law constants and heat of adsorption values were determined using the concentration pulse chromatographic technique for pure and composite adsorbents. It was found that latter performed better for these separations. Single component and binary mixture adsorption isotherms were obtained using constant volume and concentration pulse chromatographic techniques for three gas separation applications: CH4-N2, CO2 -CH4 and CO2-N2. Experimental x-y diagrams and equilibrium separation factors determined showed that Ceca 13X is a promising adsorbent to preferably adsorb CO2 from N2 and CO 2 from CH4. A novel, lab scale two bed advanced dynamic adsorption analysis system was designed and built in-house. Ceca 13X was used in this system to study the temperature and concentration profiles in the column, for a composition of 10% CO2 (by vol) in N2 which represented dry flue gas. Column breakthrough experiments were performed to compare the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process with Thermal Pressure Swing Adsorption (TPSA) process for CO2 recovery. A novel and yet a simple approach was used to model the non-isothermal adsorption in the fixed bed which exhibited significant heat effects for this system. Also, effects of various operating parameters on the TPSA performance such as purge/feed flow ratio, purge temperature, purge time and column pressure were investigated to optimise the CO2 recovery. Results indicated that better regeneration conditions used in a TPSA cycle was essential over a PSA cycle for recovering the maximum adsorption capacity of the used 13X. The developed model indicated to be an adequate representation of the experimental data. It was also observed that purge time had the most significant effect on CO2 recovery.