Search Constraints
Filtering by:
Date Created
2014
Remove constraint Date Created: 2014
Language
English
Remove constraint Language: English
« Previous |
1 - 50 of 561
|
Next »
Number of results to display per page
Search Results
-
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Creator:
- Dorin, Bryce A. and Ye, Winnie N.
- Abstract:
- Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) is an emerging multiple-input multiple-output method, utilizing multimode waveguides to increase channel numbers. In the past, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices have been primarily focused on single-mode waveguides. We present the design and fabrication of a two-mode SOI ring resonator for MDM systems. By optimizing the device parameters, we have ensured that each mode is treated equally within the ring. Using adiabatic Bezier curves in the ring bends, our ring demonstrated a signal-to-crosstalk ratio above 18 dB for both modes at the through and drop ports. We conclude that the ring resonator has the potential for filtering and switching for MDM systems on SOI.
- Date Created:
- 2014-02-13
-
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Creator:
- DeRosa, Maria C. and Foster, Amanda
- Abstract:
- Aptamers are short, single-stranded nucleic acids that fold into well-defined three dimensional (3D) structures that allow for binding to a target molecule with affinities and specificities that can rival or in some cases exceed those of antibodies. The compatibility of aptamers with nanostructures such as thin films, in combination with their affinity, selectivity, and conformational changes upon target interaction, could set the foundation for the development of novel smart materials. In this study, the development of a biocompatible aptamer-polyelectrolyte film system was investigated using a layer-by-layer approach. Using fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrated the ability of the sulforhodamine B aptamer to bind its cognate target while sequestered in a chitosan-hyaluronan film matrix. Studies using Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry also suggest that deposition conditions such as rinsing time and volume play a strong role in the internal film interactions and growth mechanisms of chitosan-hyaluronan films. The continued study and development of aptamer-functionalized thin films provides endless new opportunities for novel smart materials and has the potential to revolutionize the field of controlled release.
- Date Created:
- 2014-05-08
-
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Creator:
- MacIsaac, D. Gregory
- Abstract:
- I examine the relation between sensation and discursive thought (dianoia) in Plato, Plotinus, and Proclus. In Theaetetus, a soul whose highest faculty was sensation would have no unified experience of the sensible world, lacking universal ideas to give order to the sensible flux. It is implied that such universals are grasped by the soul’s thinking. In Plotinus the soul is not passive when it senses the world, but as the logos of all things it thinks the world through its own forms.Proclus argues against the derivation of universal logoi from the senses, which alone can’t make the sensible world comprehensible. At most they give a record of the original sense-impression in its particularity. The soul’s own projected logoi give the sensible world stability. For Proclus, bare sensation does not depend on thought, but a unified experience of the sense-world depends on its paradigmatic logoi in our souls.
- Date Created:
- 2014-05-14
-
- Resource Type:
- Poster
- Creator:
- Smith, Robert and Cross, Emma
- Abstract:
- Poster presented by Emma Cross and Robert Smith at the Ontario Library Association Superconference 2014 in Toronto, Ontario.
- Date Created:
- 2014-02-03
-
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Creator:
- Grover, Trina, Riva, Pat, Andrews, Sue, Cross, Emma, and Oliver, Chris
- Abstract:
- This article describes the progress made toward implementing Resource Description and Access (RDA) in libraries across Canada, as of Fall 2013. Differences in the training experiences in the English-speaking cataloging communities and French-speaking cataloging communities are discussed. Preliminary results of a survey of implementation in English-Canadian libraries are included as well as a summary of the support provided for French-Canadian libraries. Data analysis includes an examination of the rate of adoption in Canada by region and by sector. Challenges in RDA training delivery in a Canadian context are identified, as well as opportunities for improvement and expansion of RDA training in the future.
- Date Created:
- 2014-01-10
-
- Resource Type:
- Poster
- Creator:
- Merriam, Helena and Cross, Emma
- Abstract:
- Carleton University and Algonquin College are collaborating on the development of a new joint degree program, the Bachelor of Information Technology - Information Resource Management (BIT-IRM). This unique 4 year program will enable students to graduate with both a Bachelor of Information Technology degree and a Library and Information Technician diploma. Poster presented at the Canadian Library Association Conference in 2014.
- Date Created:
- 2014-06-02
-
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Creator:
- Sharp, David, Jones, Wayne, and Newton Miller, Laura
- Abstract:
- Within the past decade, academic libraries have seen a shift in purchasing from mostly print to mostly electronic. Although Carleton University Library (Ottawa, Canada) has experienced this shift, it had continued until recently to work within the confines of an organizational structure based on a print purchasing model. This paper will describe in detail the restructuring of the Library's collections and technical services departments to better meet growing electronic demands. Changes included dedicating more staff from print resources to e-resources, changing a librarian position to focus specifically on collections assessment, and shifting budgets to manage growing e-resources more efficiently. The authors will explore accomplishments and hurdles that needed to be overcome, cite lessons learned in making organizational shifts, and make some cautious predictions about future changes.
- Date Created:
- 2014-07-03
-
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Creator:
- Wartman, Brianne C. and Holahan, Mathew R.
- Abstract:
- Consolidation processes, involving synaptic and systems level changes, are suggested to stabilize memories once they are formed. At the synaptic level, dendritic structural changes are associated with long-term memory storage. At the systems level, memory storage dynamics between the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) may be influenced by the number of sequentially encoded memories. The present experiment utilized Golgi-Cox staining and neuron reconstruction to examine recent and remote structural changes in the hippocampus and ACC following training on three different behavioral procedures. Rats were trained on one hippocampal-dependent task only (a water maze task), two hippocampal-dependent tasks (a water maze task followed by a radial arm maze task), or one hippocampal-dependent and one non-hippocampal-dependent task (a water maze task followed by an operant conditioning task). Rats were euthanized recently or remotely. Brains underwent Golgi-Cox processing and neurons were reconstructed using Neurolucida software (MicroBrightField, Williston, VT, USA). Rats trained on two hippocampal-dependent tasks displayed increased dendritic complexity compared to control rats, in neurons examined in both the ACC and hippocampus at recent and remote time points. Importantly, this behavioral group showed consistent, significant structural differences in the ACC compared to the control group at the recent time point. These findings suggest that taxing the demand placed upon the hippocampus, by training rats on two hippocampal-dependent tasks, engages synaptic and systems consolidation processes in the ACC at an accelerated rate for recent and remote storage of spatial memories.
- Date Created:
- 2014-04-21
-
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Creator:
- Schmid, Jens H., Ye, Winnie N., Xiong, Yule, Xu, Dan-Xia, Cheben, Pavel, and Janz, Siegfried
- Abstract:
- We propose a robust polarization rotator based on the mode-evolution mechanism. The polarization rotation in a silicon wire waveguide is achieved by forming an amorphous silicon (a-Si) overlayer and an SiO_2 spacer on top of the waveguide. A strip pattern of a constant width is designed to be etched through the overlayer at a specific angle with respectto the Si waveguide. The asymmetry in the a-Si overlayer affects the waveguide mode by rotating the modal axis. This polarization rotator design is amenable to comparatively simple fabrication compatible with standard silicon photonic processing for integration. The length ofthe rotation section is 17 µm, and the broadband operation is achieved with a rotation efficiency higher than 90% for a wavelength range exceeding 135 nm. A maximum polarization rotation efficiency of 99.5% is predicted by calculation.
- Date Created:
- 2014-02-19
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Shields, Samuel W.
- Abstract:
- Part A: We report the first efforts toward regiospecifically and stereospecifically or stereoselectively C9 and C10 deuterio labelled dihydrosterculic acids. The acids were prepared from (SS,SS)-1,1-bis(p-tolylsulfinyl)methane in a sequence involving an asymmetric Corey–Chaykovsky cyclopropanation and two sulfoxide-lithium exchange reactions. By using a d-1-aldehyde we obtained 9-d-dihydrosterculic acid, with a remote mass label at C18, in a 14% yield and 98% D incorporation (at C9) over 7 linear steps. We also prepared a d-10 alkene, which was readily converted to d-10 dihydrosterculic acid. The deuterium label was installed via a stereospecific lithium-sulfoxide exchange and subsequent quenching with MeOD. Transformation to the d-10 dihydrosterculic acid was completed in analogy to the d-9 congener. Part B: A method for the preparation of gram quantities of N-methyl-d3-N-nitroso-p-toluene sulfonamide (Diazald-d3) and N-methyl-13C-N-nitroso-p-toluene sulfonamide (Diazald-13C) and their conversion to labelled diazomethanes is presented. This method uses robust and straightforward chemistry, and employs readily commercially available and inexpensive methanol as a methyl label source.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Chemistry
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Gersher, Shayna
- Abstract:
- Drones are part of a digital network of data collection technologies that enable new flows of information. There is reason to believe that military, police, and corporations, with their sizeable budgets, are amongst the main purchasers of drones in Canada. In the context of a post 9/11 heightened security environment, these organizations rely on drones primarily for their sensory and data collection equipment, effectively rendering them surveillance technologies. The growing drone economy’s corporate, government, and military partnerships are leading the regulatory development which ultimately fails to address civil liberties and privacy in Canada.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Political Economy
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Baldwin, Simon Darrell
- Abstract:
- The review of sudden and unexpected in-custody deaths (I-CDs) clearly demonstrates that there is a cluster of features which indicate that a subject is suffering from a medical emergency. For those who most frequently deal with these subjects (e.g., law enforcement, paramedics, emergency physicians, medical examiners) this is a real issue with serious implications. The labelling of this cluster of features as Excited Delirium Syndrome (ExDS) continues to be contentious. However a standardized and concise label with which meaning (e.g., medical emergency) can be assigned is necessary for the recognition, identification, intervention and treatment of these subjects. Additionally, despite there being many risk factors and a multitude of etiologies and pathophysiologies for ExDS, there are prevention and intervention strategies that can be employed within these dynamic and rapidly unfolding events to diminish adverse outcomes. Through the theoretical lens of symbolic interactionism and the sociology of diagnosis, this research examines the meaning attributed to ExDS, how this meaning influences actions as well as the risks and benefits of medicalization. This research presents promising intervention strategies for gaining control of these subjects, as well as risk factors and officer safety concerns. Furthermore, through the use of grounded theory and excerpts from use of force reports, this research provides an interpretive account of the extreme and violent nature of encounters with probable cases of ExDS, providing a better understanding of these situations. This research represents a new area of inquiry into non-fatal cases of ExDS and the prevention of sudden and unexpected I-CDs. The use of a mixed methods research design utilizes the strengths of qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze police use of force reports. This provides the opportunity to triangulate the results from each of these differing methodological approaches in order to elucidate, validate and generalize the findings. This gives both the depth and breadth required to inform law enforcement training and policy in the area of use of force and medically-high risk situations. As such, this research provides grounded recommendations for policy and training as a delivery mechanism of meaning as well as for equipment and use of force reporting. Thus, the overall focus and intent of this research is reducing the risk of I-CDs and improving police and public safety.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Sociology
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Jardine, Eric
- Abstract:
- Why do some rebel groups win while others lose? Current explanations for why the outcomes of insurgencies vary tend to either overlook the role that the population plays in supporting an insurgency or fail to specify how the requirements of a rebel group's mobilization of popular support might have their own effect on conflict outcome. In this dissertation, I develop a theory of conflict outcome that links a rebel group's mobilization of popular support to organizational and administrative reforms, which, in turn, affect an insurgency's chances of winning or losing. I argue that all rebel groups face a core "Insurgent's Dilemma." On the one hand, insurgent groups often need to become organizationally centralized and have a large-scale administrative presence in order to mobilize a large amount of popular support, because with higher levels of popular support comes a greater chance of defeating a regime. Yet the same organizational and administrative characteristics that allow for effective mobilization actually favour the state in its efforts to destroy an insurgency. On the other hand, an insurgency can abjure centralization and a large-scale presence and avoid adopting characteristics that favour the state's counterinsurgency efforts. Doing so, however, limits the amount of popular support that an insurgency can ultimately mobilize, which effectively means that the group is unlikely to succeed, even if it is hard to defeat. Throughout the development of the mobilization and conflict outcome theory, I substantiate each point with qualitative historical evidence from a number of insurgencies. I also explicitly test three hypotheses that are derived from the theory using descriptive statistics from 21 insurgencies. Finally, I test the proposed mechanisms against four cases (the Mau Mau in Kenya, the Shining Path in Peru, the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, and the EPLF in Eritrea).
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- International Affairs
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Subotic, Sinisa
- Abstract:
- The focus of the thesis is on the characterizing Radio over IP voice and signalling delay, availability and voice quality by deploying Radio over IP (RoIP) System-of-Systems solution over large distances. Sys-tem-of-Systems RoIP solution interfaces various mobile radio systems over multiple third party Wide Area Networks (WANs) based on Multiprotocol Label Switching Internet Protocol (MPLS IP) links to enable different departments such as Police, Military, Fire, Ambulance, Oil, Correctional Services, For-estry, Mining and etc. to communicate using their existing mobile radios.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Electrical and Computer
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Nguyen, Khoi Phu Dang
- Abstract:
- The 1960s in Toronto marked a turn in the city's housing typology from a "City of Homes" to a "City of Towers." The high-rise apartment typology emulated Le Corbusier's housing form in Europe and was the darling of planners and developers. This new urban vision for high density living adopted the moniker of "Towers in the Park" and was based on the act of setting tall apartment towers in the centre of a city block surrounded by a lush green landscape. What was meant to be a refuge for the middle class, however, soon transformed into vertical villages for the low-income and newly arrived immigrants. The towers have defaulted to crumbling pieces of concrete and masonry, and their parks have diminished to patchy lawns and crumbled paving.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Architecture
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Wasslen, Karl Vladimir
- Abstract:
- Defining cellular processes relies heavily on elucidating the temporal dynamics of both lipids and proteins. Different mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative strategies have emerged to map protein and lipid dynamics over the course of stimuli. We report the development of a novel MS-based quantitative proteomics and lipidomics strategy with unique analytical characteristics. By reacting with diazomethane, analytes are modified to contain fixed, permanent positive charges resulting in improved ionization characteristics and predictable dissociation pathways. Optimization and determination of reactive functional groups enabled a priori prediction of MS2 fragmentation patterns for both modified peptides and lipids. The strategy was tested on digested BSA and successfully quantified a peptide not observable prior to modification. Our chemistry eliminates the need for protonation during ionization, reduces ion suppression, and permits predictable MRM-based or precursor ion-based quantitation with improved sensitivity.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Chemistry
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Giacoman Zarzar, Patricia
- Abstract:
- This thesis presents the design and evaluation of an insole for measurement of the complete ground reaction forces and center of pressure that can be integrated on a balance enhancement system. The insole was prototyped using rubber and a number of small force sensing elements. A calibration procedure was implemented for the sensors to calculate the vertical load and an artificial neural network model was implemented on training data to predict shear loads. Experiments with healthy subjects were conducted to evaluate the performance of the insole on both standing and walking conditions. The results show the insole is capable of measuring the vertical component of the ground reaction force with good accuracy compared to a force plate, and the neural network was able to produce an estimate of the shear forces. The insole is capable of measuring the variations of the center of pressure on different standing and walking conditions.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Biomedical
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Lane, Andrea
- Abstract:
- This paper is a plausibility probe of Ziad Munson’s theory of activist mobilisation, testing its relevance first to non-violent activist mobilisation and then to mobilisation into terroristic violence. As well, a case study of the Canadian terrorist group “Direct Action” is presented. Using both semi-structured interviews and extant research to provide data, Munson’s mobilisation process was tested to determine if its further use, particularly by counterterrorism practitioners, is warranted. Munson’s mobilisation process was found to be relevant to both non-violent activist mobilisation as well as mobilisation into political violence and terrorism. Suggestions are offered for further research.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- International Affairs
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Sharifian Koupaei, Alireza
- Abstract:
- The focus of this dissertation is on studying various packet scheduling and resource block (RB) allocation algorithms, for a variety of flow requirements, heterogeneous traffic, and architecture, in wireless OFDMA networks.In the second chapter, we investigate packet scheduling and RB allocation algorithms for realtime (RT) and non-realtime (NRT) packet-switched flows. We start by specifying different quality-of-service (QoS)-requirements for RT \& NRT flows and present different packet scheduling and RB allocation algorithms (including known cores and novel cores) based on the bit-rate driven utilities and the delay driven disutilities. We, then, summarize the machinery for attaining different fairness and QoS-requirements in a pair of classification tables (including a novel intuitive decomposition).When considering RT and NRT flows together, the commonly-used approach is the one based on performing two sequential algorithms of RT and NRT flows. This approach cannot exploit the potent existent multiuser diversity, in wireless OFDMA networks. In the third chapter, we propose a novel unified disutility minimization, in a common pool of RBs. Since the packet scheduling and RB allocation algorithms have taken place for RT and NRT flows from a common pool of RBs (without static priority separation), the overall spectral efficiency is increased. The novel formulations are used to devise computationally-efficient packet scheduling and RB allocation algorithm that surpass baseline algorithms. We also develop a novel general model for input-output bit-rate behaviour in packet scheduling and RB allocation of the heterogeneous traffic. This model sheds light on identifying different input load regions and understanding of the system in a simple intuitive manner.When it comes to providing very high bit-rate coverage, wireless networks require cost-effective radio access network (RAN) devices, such as multiuser enabled amplify-and-forward (AF) relays, with proper fair packet scheduling and RB allocation algorithms. These relays are cost-effective, simpler to implement, and introduce less delay in comparison to other relay based routers. In the fourth chapter, we develop novel fair packet scheduling and RB allocation algorithms in this kind of OFDMA based AF relays.Finally, we discuss a number of interesting research topics, as future directions, in the last chapter.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Electrical
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Catteau, Ayron
- Abstract:
- This thesis presents, as a component of the BalanceAid project, the initial design and prototype of a self-contained wearable system capable of measuring the relative position and orientation of the wearer's shoes. This system is the first published work to use two shoe mounted cameras to measure the position and orientation of the shoes during the entire gait cycle in real time and using entirely on-board processing. The system consists of a camera, eight LED markers, and a single board computer mounted to each shoe. All of the data processing is performed on the shoe mounted computers providing a 6 DoF coordinate system transformation from one shoe to the other at a rate of 15 Hz. Using 6 healthy subjects, experiments were performed to characterize the performance of the system. The system's measurements were compared to those of an accurate commercially available system.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Mechanical
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Campbell, James Alexander
- Abstract:
- The chasmosaurine ceratopsid Chasmosaurus is known from the Upper Cretaceous Dinosaur Park Formation (DPF) of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. The two species, Chasmosaurus belli and Chasmosaurus russelli, are distinguished by differences in cranial ornamentation, and their purported stratigraphic segregation in the DPF, with C. russelli replaced by C. belli over time. In the DPF, Chasmosaurus is replaced by a third chasmosaurine, Vagaceratops irvinensis. The results of the analyses conducted indicate that 1, C. belli and C. russelli lack phylogenetic, stratigraphic or ontogenetic separation, but can be distinguished by the relative embayment of their posterior frill margin; 2, Vagaceratops is the sister taxon to Chasmosaurus; 3, the Chasmosaurus specimens AMNH 5402 and YPM 2016 are referable to Vagaceratops, and may represent directed morphological change over time; 4, no stratigraphic separation exists between Chasmosaurus and Vagaceratops. C. belli and C. russelli are considered to be synonymous, with C. belli having taxonomic priority.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Earth Sciences
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Reid, Jill Lesley
- Abstract:
- The impact of globalization, characterized by technological innovations in the sphere of transportation and communications, presents multiple challenges to international marketing managers. The accelerated diffusion of brands on a worldwide scale has heightened the importance of international branding, as manufacturers endeavour to differentiate their products and create a sustainable and relevant brand image across multicultural consumer audiences. This study offers a significant contribution to the field of international marketing research by bringing together two connected areas that have largely been studied in parallel. Specifically, this research examines the role of place brands in supporting the development of product brand images. The increasing volume of studies in this field centres on the use of place associations as brand image heuristics from the consumer perspective. The key compelling element of this study is that it provides, for the first time, an exploration of the use of country brand associations in marketing communications from the managerial perspective. The focal area of analysis is to examine how the construct of place manifests itself in international branding and advertising, and to identify some of the antecedent factors that direct the way place associations are utilized by marketing managers. A multimethod quantitative and qualitative approach was adopted, hence, the study is divided into three phases. In Phase 1, the actual use of place associations in brand marketing communications is investigated, using the vehicle of print advertising across four economically similar, but culturally divergent nations. In light of the exploratory nature of this first-ever marketing management study integrating the fields of place branding and product branding, an inductive approach was adopted for the in-depth interviews in Phase 2, to gain a deeper understanding of the managerial perspective and aid the design of the online survey conducted in Phase 3. Each phase of the study is of value in itself to advancing research in the fields of international branding and advertising, not least by engaging practitioners in the process. All three research phases reflect the continued interest in this topic from a marketing management perspective, thus reinforcing the call for further investigation into this untapped field.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Management
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Nikravan, Pegah
- Abstract:
- The main goal of the present study was to investigate the semantics and processing of three (in)definite markers used in the colloquial Persian. It was proposed that colloquial Persian morphologically realizes two definite markers, the null marker ‘Ø’ and the suffix ‘-e’. It was further proposed that these correspond to so-called “weak” and “strong” definites, respectively; the presuppositions of strong definites need to be satisfied by an explicit antecedent but the presuppositions of weak definites do not. It was also proposed that ‘ye…i’ is an indefinite marker. This proposal was supported by quantitative data from an off-line questionnaire study that measured the naturalness of sentences that only varied in NPs marked with ‘Ø’, ‘-e,’ ‘ye…¬i’ in contexts which (i) an antecedent was available (Given contexts), (ii) an antecedent was unavailable but could be accommodated (Bridged contexts), and (iii) an antecedent was unavailable and accommodation was unlikely (New).
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Cognitive Science (M.Cog.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Cognitive Science
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Zhao, Rui
- Abstract:
- Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, consisting of multiple electrochemical cells, are complex system whose high electrochemical and thermal stability is often critical to the well-being and functional capabilities of the electric device. Considering any change in the specifications may significantly affect the overall performance and life of a battery, an investigation of the impacts of the electrode thickness and initial electrolyte salt concentration on the electrochemical and thermal properties of lithium-ion cells based on experiments and a coupling model composed of a 1D electrochemical model and a 3D thermal model is conducted in this work. Pertinent results have demonstrated that the electrode thickness as well as the electrolyte salt concentration can significantly influence the battery from many key aspects such as the energy density, voltage, temperature, distribution and proportion of different heat sources and ability to prevent lithium plating.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Materials
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Haley, Brendan L. M.
- Abstract:
- This dissertation explores the broad question of how to understand and promote low-carbon transitions given Canada’s historic and geographic context. An introductory essay provides commentary on the dissertation as a whole, establishes the general context for detailed research within three articles, and offers final reflections. The essay outlines the linkage between fossil fuel dependence and natural resource exploitation; Canada’s regionally segmented energy landscape, and the role of regional politics in public policy; as well as lessons from debates concerning innovation and industrial policy. It also discusses methodological choices and a theoretical framework combining insights from the emerging literature on sustainability transitions and Canadian scholarship in political economy. Core research contributions are found in three published articles. The first article uses the staple theory of Canadian natural resource exploitation to define the problem of carbon lock-in. It outlines the carbon trap as a new pitfall of resource dependency in the 21st century, relevant to Canada. The next articles consider potential low-carbon transition pathways stemming from hydroelectric resources, based in the province of Québec. The second article of the dissertation examines how hydroelectricity shaped the development of an electric vehicle innovation system. The third article explores factors that encourage complementary interactions between wind and hydroelectric technologies. Québec shows promise of avoiding the problem of truncated innovation, which can be associated with overreliance on a natural resource. The wind and electric vehicle cases demonstrate the potential for the hydroelectric regime to encourage the development of a wider system of low-carbon technologies. With respect to evading the carbon trap, a final reflection on the dissertation highlights a need for future research on the potential for low-carbon technologies to evolve from crude oil based systems, given the regional nature of Canadian politics and the importance of geographic and sectoral contexts in socio-technical transitions. The search for these low-carbon configurations within the crude oil system can be informed by lessons stemming from the hydro cases concerning the role of technological interactions in fostering transitions. Furthermore, the need for differentiated strategies targeted to Canada’s various sectoral and geographic circumstances reinforces the relevance of a transitions policy approach.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Public Policy
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Gholami, Mahsa
- Abstract:
- Oil Sand Fine Tailings are difficult to manage due to their poor consolidation characteristics. Once reaching about 35% solids content, they do not appreciably consolidate any further due to low hydraulic conductivity generated by the high dispersion of clay particles. Tailings at 35% solids do not possess any substantial strength and cannot be reclaimed. Regulations are therefore recently implemented that require oil sand operators to improve shear strength of deposited tailings to be at least 5kPa within a year after deposition. Many technologies have and currently being explored that use a polymer to drive clay particle flocculation and improve dewatering. However, most of the tracking of strength behaviour of polymer amended fine tailings has been using field vane or cone penetration testing. This thesis attempts to analyze strength behaviour by using element tests (simple shear and triaxial), the first such attempt in the public domain to the author’s knowledge.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Civil
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Abbas, Jihan
- Abstract:
- This doctoral thesis explores the unpaid labour of persons with intellectual disabilities in rehabilitation and training sites, the home, and the community in order to confront problematic policies and legislation that result in exclusion and exploitation. Grounded in theories of historical materialism, political economies of disability, theories of care, inclusion and exclusion and with attention to intersectionality, this thesis focuses on how these labour experiences are shaped by a legacy of developmental services that are reliant on the economic exploitation and exclusion of these bodies. A qualitative research project, rooted in participatory research and institutional ethnography, and drawing from the labour experiences of persons with disabilities, advocates, and stakeholders, investigates the labour experiences of persons with intellectual disabilities within their broader socio-economic and policy contexts. This thesis makes two key arguments. First, I argue that an examination of this unpaid labour is necessary to make visible the capacities and contributions of many adults with intellectual disabilities and to lay the foundation for funding and policy solutions that promote stronger versions of inclusion that are not reliant on labour market participation or economic norms. Second, I argue that programs and policies that value interdependence and view inclusion as a process separate from the labour market have the potential to support more varied capacities and reshape the social construction of intellectual disability in powerful ways. Finally, this thesis challenges current conceptualizations of caring relationships that have shaped developmental policy for persons with intellectual disabilities; I argue that these conceptualizations are rooted in dominant social constructions of intellectual disability that understand these bodies as dependent and idle. The thesis highlights the urgent need to address existing legislation and policy practices that systemically render these contributions invisible and encourage the exploitation and marginalization of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Its findings lead to calls for policy interventions that acknowledge the unpaid contributions of people with intellectual disabilities, to reimagine how inclusion is conceptualized and promoted, and support the development of concrete measures that recognize and make visible these capacities.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Sociology
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Kosuru, Rahul
- Abstract:
- The objective of this thesis is to address the stability of a DFIG based wind generation system and improve the system’s performance by employing a power system stabilizer. The PSS signals are applied to the inner current control loops of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) control scheme (voltage oriented control). The performance characteristics of PSS controllers based on the stator voltage and the network frequency, when the system is subjected to grid faults, are investigated. The system’s performance is demonstrated by the small signal stability analysis and time domain analysis. In the first step, analysis is carried out without any PSS and the need for PSS is addressed. In the next step, the system performance improvement witnessed with the use of PSS, is discussed. It is observed that the network damping and the system’s dynamic stability are improved when employing the designed PSS’s for DFIG based wind energy conversion system.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Electrical and Computer
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Klein, Reisa Hayley
- Abstract:
- My dissertation furthers a conversation about beauty and the body in communication studies by considering how beauty standards, norms and practices operate within techniques and tactics of power in diverse modes of communication. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the dissertation re-figures ‘beauty’ as a meaningful concept, considering it not just as an instrument of (patriarchal) domination but also as part of techniques and tactics of resistance to domination. The claim of my dissertation is that beauty should be re-conceptualized in ways that counter the generally accepted notion of the term, particularly in the field of communication studies where media practices are held mainly to reproduce unattainable body ideals that are designed to keep women in positions of subordination (Bordo, 1993/2003; Brand, 2000; Kilbourne, 2000; Wolfe, 1991). It also brings some nuances to cultural studies scholarship that suggests that the body is not only a natural entity but is often culturally produced in line with patriarchal, capitalist and racist interests (Collins, 1990; Hall, 1997; Phillips, 2004). Through an analysis of diverse practices of communication situated in different contexts, I investigate the ways in which beauty standardisation and normalisation practices can operate in processes of counter-hegemony. Operating from the starting point that beauty is a social construct and tied to communication and media practices, I examine its operation in different types and techniques of power and resistance using three case studies: 1) propaganda posters and face-to-face communication under German Fascism; 2) fashion blogging and social media practices; and 3) neo-burlesque theatre. I use the concepts of (counter) hegemony developed by Gramsci and Milliband and introduced to the areas of communication and culture by Hall, Williams and Martin-Barbero to extend beyond a top down model of power. To complement this approach, I borrow from a Foucauldian model of power and resistance, using the notions of governmentality, subjectification, biopower, and technologies of the self to flesh out a non-hierarchical type of power that targets the body. This conceptual framework finally uses Butler's notion of gender performativity and de Certeau's concept of tactics to go more deeply into some aspects of my three case studies.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Communication
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Ignaczak, Luke J.
- Abstract:
- Popular perception holds that employment stability declined towards the end of the twentieth century. However, most studies conclude that the proportion of long term jobs has remained remarkably stable over the last few decades. This study focuses on this discrepancy by tracking self-reported changes in Canadian employment durations over an extended period. This is done in order to reconcile popular perception with recent studies and nest the existing literature in a broader historical context. The study makes use of finite mixture decompositions on successive cohorts of employees starting from the 1950s to identify worker types within cohort-based distributions. Then, using tests of stochastic dominance, it is shown that the distribution of employment has indeed changed. Furthermore, detailed examination by employment spell and birth cohort is used to identify contributing factors to the identified declines in stability. It is surmised that structural changes in the economy and broader society played a large role in the seeming reduction in employment stability. While for men these shifts were clear, for women the evidence was more mixed.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Economics
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Dobson, Lydia
- Abstract:
- Contemporary Canadian labour markets are marked by increasingly precarious and unstable working conditions, predominantly found in the secondary labour market (Thomas, 2009). Research indicates that women have been, and continue to be overrepresented in part-time and low-waged workplaces in this market (Vosko, 2006). Contributing to trends in the gendered segmentation of labour is legislation that acts to facilitate differential standards of employment for women. This thesis investigates the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA), with respect to its influence on waitresses in Ontario. Interviewing women occupying serving positions about tipping procedures and workplace standards, I argue that gaps in the ESA around protections over tips facilitate industry-wide standards in restaurants that systemically subordinate and exploit women workers in the food and alcohol service sector.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Sociology
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Griffin, Ryan Hunter
- Abstract:
- This thesis advances the state of the art in biomolecule detection by allowing for quantitative detection using radioactive labels whose decay is detected by a pixelated complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), or CMOS-compatible, sensor. Additionally, the usefulness of this technology as a testbed for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) pharmaceuticals is considered. For the first time a CMOS image sensor has been used to detect the presence of radiolabelled target biomolecules captured on a functionalized surface. Using aptamer functionalization the system successfully detected phosphorus-32 labelled adenosine triphosphate (ATP) at a surface concentration of 2.3 x 10^7 molecules/cm^2, well below those typically associated with fluorescence-based sensor architectures. The system has also demonstrated its amenability to multiplexed biomolecule detection. Geant4, a Monte Carlo toolkit for simulating the passage of radiation through matter, was used to model the detection system. This system has applications in quantitative biomolecule detection and in the development of RIT pharmaceuticals employing beta particle emitting isotopes. Also for the first time, a MOS sensor has been designed, fabricated, and tested for use in the characterization of targeted alpha therapy (TAT) pharmaceuticals. The sensor consists of a 16 by 16 array of 100 micrometer square alpha particle sensitive cells fabricated in-house using a simple nMOS process. A subset of the cells are functionalized for the attachment of chelators under investigation for new pharmaceuticals. To demonstrate the utility of this sensor as a characterization platform, cells functionalized with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)-DNA conjugates were used to chelate americium-241 from solution, and the alpha particle emissions over the surface of the IC measured. The IC was able to quantitatively determine the amount of alpha emitter present over each cell, allowing the chelator and chelating chemistry to be assessed. Without any optimization of the chelation chemistry, a 21% increase of emissions was detected on cells functionalized with DOTA relative to unfunctionalized cells.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Electrical and Computer
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Bai, Zhanjun
- Abstract:
- The thesis implemented a clock distribution system with novel Injection Locked Rotary Traveling Wave Oscillators (IL-RTWOs) and Built-In Self-Test (BIST). Both trans-conductance injection locking and pulse injection locking techniques are explored. The combination of switched Metal-Insulator-Metal capacitors (MIM-caps) and a novel use of Complementary Varactor Pairs (CVPs) target a 1.7 GHz to 2.0 GHz frequency tuning range and 100 kHz frequency resolution. The Complementary Varactor Pairs (CVPs) implemented for RTWO phase tuning achieves 56° phase tuning range and 0.34° worst case phase tuning resolution. The RTWO scheme is implemented in IBM’s 130 nm CMOS technology. The RTWO free running phase noise is -126dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset from 2 GHz operating frequency. With the injection locking techniques, the RTWO inband phase noise is further reduced. This project also describes a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) circuit used to verify and tune the timing integrity of the clock distribution system. The die area is limited by the outer parameter of the RTWOs – leaving internal space for other circuits. The BIST circuit occupies 0.025 mm^2 chip area. The BIST circuit allows testing of the integrity of the clock distribution system at speed by determining if the system clock skew can be tolerated or needs adjustment. The clock distribution network consumes a total of 26.5 mA current from a 1.14 V power supply. The close-in spurs of the IL-RTWO are 79 dB lower than the output spectrum. The IL-RTWO attains an inband phase noise performance of -132 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset from 2.039 GHz output and its integrated rms jitter from 1 kHz to 40 MHz offset frequency is 39 fs. The pulse and transconductance injector circuits are analyzed and measured and it is shown that the pulse injector tends to achieve better phase noise performance. To the author’s best knowledge, the implementation of CVPs and injection locked techniques on RTWO, and the implementation of this BIST technique to determine clock integrity of an injection locked clock distribution network have not been explored previously.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Electrical and Computer
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Maric, Vedrana
- Abstract:
- Through etymological interpretations and a study of architectural roots, this thesis will propose a modern intervention to a historically rich component of Toronto’s urban fabric. The dichotomy presented between the grounding truth of the authentic and the fleeting temporality of the modern in architecture will play a key role in developing a program and contemporary intervention to the Toronto Central Prison Chapel. Located in the highly developed east end in Liberty Village, this thesis will propose a design strategy that will link Toronto’s founding architectural language to the ever changing needs of the modern individual. The proposed design will serve as framework to embrace the collective and cultural past of the city while preserving and adapting the Prison Chapel to suit contemporary needs of the residents of Liberty Village.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Architecture
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Dionne, Danielle
- Abstract:
- During the Cretaceous Period, the Western Interior Seaway (WIS) was influenced by long-term and short-term environmental changes. Vertebrate bonebeds are particularly abundant within the Cenomanian-aged strata of the Western Interior Sedimentary Basin’s eastern margin. The major control for their accumulation is interpreted to be related to the timing and magnitude of sea-level fluctuations. Bioclasts are interpreted to be concentrated as lags along erosion surfaces during transgressions, while their taphonomic character is interpreted to be linked to the frequency of episodic events. In addition to these deposits, the uppermost Cenomanian to Turonian record along the eastern margin is characterized by rich planktic foraminiferal assemblages. Proximal and distal assemblages record a changing environment with frequent catastrophic perturbations including ashfalls and expansion of the oxygen minimum zone. Looking at both depositional and faunal responses to long- and short-term processes improves our understanding of the dynamics of the WIS during this enigmatic time.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Earth Sciences
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Langlois-Bertrand, Simon
- Abstract:
- Social scares are periods triggered by a spectacular, deadly, traumatizing, or otherwise disruptive event. The event produces a sudden, broadly shared perception of insecurity that brings an area of activity to the forefront of public and political attention. In these instances, leading political figures must strike a balance between two objectives: appearing as good leaders to temper the insecurity felt by large segments of their population; and obtaining a policy outcome they are comfortable with. This balancing act is no easy task, as the context forces government actors to “do something”, which may lead to policy changes unattractive to them. Nevertheless, leaders who perform well regarding the first objective win a prize consisting of a bulk of symbolic capital, by being perceived as reducing the perception of insecurity. This is how social scares differ from the policy process during other periods: actors who capture a large such prize in the first days and weeks of a scare possess a formidable resource in the battle over potential policy changes, as this bulk of symbolic capital can tilt the balance to their favor, even if other coalitions and actors have substantial resources. Hence the form that the policy process takes in the aftermath of a scare results from the combination of the obligation for actors in power to act convincingly, of the constraints that this obligation imposes on them, and of the clashing sets of interests that the different groups have regarding the policy options. Focusing on scares related to the energy sector, this dissertation shows how this two-dimensional battle is shaped by four aspects: the triggering event and the first prize that emerges from it; the strategies and actions of the actors regarding the two objectives; the framing of uncertainty and risk, and the role played by experts; and the impact of contextual factors, in particular the election timing and the regime type. By using these as broad investigative questions within the method of structured, focused comparison, the model allows for a better understanding of the political battles that occur while societies progressively return to a more normal state of affairs.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- International Affairs
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Mesbah, Seyyed Morteza
- Abstract:
- Significant investments in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission controls in the U.S. have led to a substantial reduction in emissions. However, it is unclear whether these programs have optimally reduced ozone concentrations and their corresponding health damages. Current cap-and-trade program allocates emission quotas to participants and allows the trade of quotas on a one-to-one basis. However, it does not account for spatial and temporal differences in health damage of NOx emissions. This shortcoming in the current U.S. NOx control policy is explored in this research. Spatial and temporal differences in NOx emissions can be included in policy design if emission quotas are valued differently (exchange rate policy) or if polluters pay time- or location-specific emission fees (taxation policy). The main objective of this work is to develop a decision support system model for evaluating different policies. The proposed model includes an optimization platform to predict the polluters’ behavior, and an air quality model and its adjoint (or backward) sensitivity model to calculate the derivatives of the environmental or health damage function with respect to NOx emissions used for emission differentiations. The results from a case study of U.S. power plants show that exchange rate trading outperforms current indiscriminate trading policies. These findings imply that by implementing exchange rate trading or taxation policies, current improvements in air quality could have been achieved at lower costs, or alternatively, more substantial improvements could have been reached at little to no additional costs. Furthermore, the results indicate that setting the emission fees on an hourly basis leads to a outcome comparable to setting fees based on location. Moreover, the per ton health benefit of NOx emission reductions is found to increase as emissions are reduced. This finding is particularly important from an environmental policy perspective as it impacts the optimal NOx emission reduction target. Our results also indicate that power plants in the restructured electricity market are willing to pay more for emission quotas. Uncertainties involved in the proposed model, challenges for implementation of the proposed policies, and inclusion of health impacts caused by exposure to particulate matter are main directions for future research.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Environmental
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Camire, Kasey Marie
- Abstract:
- Between Dominance and Demise speaks of the industrial ruin as an entity that is in the state of the in-between, which will be elaborated in this thesis. Due to the inevitability of immense changes in technological advancements, the industrial complex is suspended from regular activity. Such an uncertain position is considered to be in a state of transformation for both the physical construct and the community to which it pertains. For many communities, the struggles of adapting to the uncertainty of the post-industrial landscape can often inhibit their regeneration. Consequently, these landscapes are often replaced by contemporary modes of construction that do not consider the past or remain vacant. How do we maintain connections to our industrial heritage, to the memory of place, if it no longer appears to be embedded in the social and physical networks of the surrounding communities?
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Architecture
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Biebuyck, William Albert
- Abstract:
- Utilizing insights from historical and political sociology, this dissertation explores the multitude of ways food, agriculture and rural economy have been governed in Western Europe. As a genealogy of agricultural governance, the project operates on two distinct analytical levels. The first level is analogous to what Charles Tilly labels ‘macro’ political history. The point here is to interrogate the ways agro-food power has been imbricated with historical processes such as statemaking, geopolitics, postwar reconstruction, welfarism and the neoliberalization of economic life. Second, the dissertation aims to make intelligible how agriculture has been created and recreated as a space of government. This will be done by deconstructing its various problems, strategies, objects and mechanisms over time. The project covers a wide swath of history: from the ancien régime to the EU. Nonetheless, the bulk of the empirical investigation will be centered on configurations of ‘European’ agricultural governance over the postwar era. The dissertation ultimately draws two important conclusions from its examination of agro-food power. First, the production and supply of food has always been a central space through which populations have been managed by centralized political authorities – a fact equally true at the national and European levels. Second, the strategies and practices of agricultural governance have been formative in building postwar ‘European government’.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Political Science
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Babaoglu, Yagmur
- Abstract:
- High density (HD) tailings are tailings that have been sufficiently dewatered, where they exhibit a yield stress upon deposition, and therefore naturally form gently sloped deposits that do not requires dams for containment. It is essential to comprehend and model the flow behaviour during deposition to predict the final geometry of the stack and control storage capacity; which are important design elements to HD tailings technology. As HD tailings exhibit a yield stress, modelling stack geometry constitutes, in part, a problem of non-Newtonian flow with a free surface. This research investigated modelling the flow behaviour of HD tailings, using an open-source Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) code. The results indicated that two-dimensional simulations using SPH agreed well with experimental data for single and multi-layer flume tests. SPH has the advantage over simpler methods, such as Lubrication Theory, as SPH better predicts the geometry when inertia influences the flow of tailings.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Civil
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Diab, Soha
- Abstract:
- This thesis examines the humanitarian-security nexus in the Canadian refugee protection regime through a biopolitical and genealogical framework. Addressing the post-WWII period, it analyses the specific ways in which this nexus has been assembled in response to the Ugandan-Asian and Chilean refugee crises. Although diverse studies have focused on either security or humanitarian practices, there has been scant inquiry into the intersecting nature of these practices. Drawing from Michel Foucault and Giorgio Agamben's theoretical understandings of biopolitics as an assemblage of technologies ofpower, this dissertation argues that governing authorities' biopolitical power alternates among making live, letting die, and making survive.In the aftermath of WWII, the humanitarian-security nexus primarily aimed to eliminate immigrants who were deemed racially, politically, and physically unfit to contribute to Canada's economic well-being, White-European heritage, and Western-liberal democratic values. As a result, the humanitarian response to the Ugandan-Asian refugee crisis involved a carefully orchestrated selection process that welcomed refugees who were deemed strong potential economic contributors. Meanwhile, the Chilean refugees, who were perceived to be a poor fit with Canada's Western-liberal democratic value system and economic interests, were excluded and denied the humanitarian welcome that was extended to Ugandan-Asian refugees.In the wake of the implementation of the Immigration Act in 1976, refugees were no longer considered politically or economically valuable to Canada; instead, they were regarded as “problems” that require management and control. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, governing authorities were revising their technologies of power in order to address the increasing numbers of refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Canada who were considered a threat.When these technologies have proven insufficient in addressing ‘the refugee problem', the Canadian governing authorities have sought the power to make survive. This power strives to depoliticize life by appealing to fear and vulnerability. Refugees in the re-emerging humanitarian-security nexus are treated either as dangerous and illegitimate, or as vulnerable individuals in need of care and compassion. Through its critical analysis of this nexus, this study offers a new insight into the Canadian refugee protection system and the political foundation of its governing system.
- Thesis Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Public Policy
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Spry, Melinda
- Abstract:
- Lupus, a chronic illness that is characterized by a series of unpredictable flare-ups, is known to affect different sufferers to varying degrees. This thesis explores the barriers and limitations that are suffered by these individuals both in the public sphere and in some private aspects of life, as well as beginning to question the limitations of Canada’s ‘universal’ health care system for the treatment and support of chronic illness sufferers. After a brief overview of illness narratives, the social aspects of the illness experience are explored. Secondly, I examine the more structural aspects of this experience by looking at the barriers to care and other support services which those with lupus endure. This thesis demonstrates that in general, lupus sufferers experience varying degrees of delegitimization of their illness experience, sometimes resulting in a delay in care or inaccessibility of necessary services.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Anthropology
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Rayfuse, Patrick Bruce
- Abstract:
- In response to the Great Depression and an increasingly protectionist United States, both major political parties in Canada in 1930 declared their intention to switch trade from the United States to the British Empire. A slogan carried in the Globe in the 1930 election campaign was “Let Uncle Sam Go His Own Way – Our Way is With John Bull.” This thesis examines Canadian experience in the 1930-1933 period, drawing upon international relations theoretical literature. As predicted by realist theory, far from exhibiting cooperative behaviour, the governments of both Canada and Britain attempted to maximize their own gains from a trade agreement. The 1930-1933 period thus prompted a weakening of Empire bonds.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- History
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Alenazi, Noof
- Abstract:
- Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that can be selectively extracted from water using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). However, the presence of non-specific binding sites has thusfar limited the utility of BPA-MIPs in sensor applications. This project explored two approaches to reduce or eliminate these sites: Optimizing the molar ratio of functional monomer (methacrylic acid) to cross-linker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) to template, or partially esterifying the carboxylic acid residues by site-selective chemical modification via treatment with diazomethane. Results show esterification with diazomethane to be more efficient in blocking non-specific binding sites than optimization of the template to monomer to crosslinker molar ratio. The efficiency and selectivity of the diazomethane-treated molecularly imprinted polymer (TMIP) particles were then compared with those of a commercially available MIP, either uniformly dispersed in the sample solution or densely packed into a cartridge, for solid phase extraction.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Chemistry
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Sorensen, Thomas
- Abstract:
- In the 1980's and 1990's, a number of critics came to the conclusion that Whitman aspired to an unmediated act of poetic self-representation. I revisit this conclusion, arguing that although it is true Whitman considered his poetry an extension of his personality, he also believed personality is ineffable, and as such avoids exposing it to engaged representation. Instead, he proceeds according to his theory of "indirection"--that is, the poem does not represent his personality as such, but rather evokes a vague atmospheric quality meant to approximate the peculiar resonance of his own personality. I inquire into the specific means available to Whitman's indirect method, as well as the challenges indirection presents to dominant reading practices.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- English
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Aglan, Alaa Eldin Ibrahim
- Abstract:
- This thesis demonstrates the feasibility of using a GaN monolithic reconfigurable matching network to provide variable load impedance matching coverage for microwave power amplifiers operating in the X-band (8-12 GHz). The National Research Council's GaN500 (0.5 micron) HFET process, fabricated at the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Center (CPFC), is employed throughout this work. An initial investigation of various switch topologies is first conducted, showing the advantages and limitations of using single and multi-transistor switch realizations for the development of a multi-stage programmable impedance tuner (PIT). Then, the design, optimization, fabrication and testing of a single stage of the proposed PIT structure are presented. The results show an extensive range of impedance coverage on the Smith Chart can be achieved, although this range is limited by losses. Finally, the co-integration of the resulting programmable tuners within a GaN power amplifier circuit is simulated, and its performance is studied.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Engineering, Electrical and Computer
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Ferguson, Ian Cameron
- Abstract:
- This thesis draws upon Bruno Latour’s concept of Actor-Network-Theory (ANT) to assess the active mediator role played by Brydon E. Smith, the National Gallery of Canada’s (NGC) first Curator of Contemporary Art, as the NGC began to collect postwar American art. Considering the ensuing expansion of its collection from 1967 to 1979, I focus specifically on Smith’s survey exhibitions of artists James Rosenquist (1968), Dan Flavin (1969), Donald Judd (1975) and their related acquisitions, as well as one by Jackson Pollock. Documentary sources in the NGC archives and a questionnaire and interviews with former colleagues of Smith have provided important insights into his curatorial choices and methodology. This research clarifies how curatorial agency may shape the aesthetics and coherence of a public collection. The NGC’s newly acquired credibility in a broader North American cultural context is demonstrated through the critical reception of Smith’s exhibitions, publications and acquisitions.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Art History
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Meghdari Miardan, Mona
- Abstract:
- As manifested in Shor’s groundbreaking seminal work, quantum mechanics promise the possibility of having substantially more effective computation devices. This is in fact the result of quantum parallelism: the coherent interference pattern between the multitude of superpositions. But the fragility of a quantum state, which on one hand is used to take advan- tage of the power of entanglement, also can result in undesired interference between the state of the quantum system, carrying or storing the information, with the envi- ronment. The problem of maintaining quantum coherence remains one of the most important obstacles in the attempt of exploiting the new possibilities opened up by applications of quantum mechanics in classical computations. The seminal independent work of Shor and Steane gave birth to the current active theory of quantum error correction, which is the subject of this thesis.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Pure Mathematics
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Cooper-Bolam, Trina Johanne
- Abstract:
- In anticipation of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, this thesis examines Canada’s federal place-based heritage infrastructure and critiques the policy and practice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) relative to its engagements with the history of Indian residential schools (IRS) and difficult heritage in general. Interpreting IRS Survivor-led commemoration and heritage practices as healing and decolonizing, and drawing on art-as-resistance and social activism-oriented models of commemoration and counter-commemoration, I examine alternative approaches to collective remembering and forgetting within the context of genocide, atrocity, and historic trauma. I argue for a needed shift from dominant heritage paradigms that bind heritage with conservation, to emergent approaches that recognize heritage as a healing practice. In conclusion, I present a series of recommendations to move toward bridging the gap between state practices of heritage, and the needs of Survivors and other IRS stakeholders.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Canadian Studies
- Date Created:
- 2014
-
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Creator:
- Du, Xiao
- Abstract:
- The rapid increase in the use of wearable technologies, especially Optical Head-Mounted Display (OHMD) devices, suggests potentials for education and requires more scientific studies investigating such potentials. In particular, the issue of information access and delivery in classrooms can be of interest where multiple screens and objects of attention exist and can cause distraction, lack of focus and reduced efficiency. This study explores the usability of a single OHMD device, as an alternative to individual and big projected screens in a classroom situation.
- Thesis Degree:
- Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
- Thesis Degree Discipline:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Date Created:
- 2014