Search Constraints

Start Over
Filtering by: Date Created 2019 Remove constraint Date Created: 2019 Publisher Carleton University Remove constraint Publisher: Carleton University

Search Results

  • “Lagging Behind” : An Examination of Why Women Continue to be So Underrepresented in Canadian Federal Politics

    Resource Type:
    Research Paper
    Creator:
    Pettie, Jasmin
    Abstract:
    The purpose of this study was to explore the question of why women are still so underrepresented in Canadian federal politics and specifically within the Canadian House of Commons despite advances in representation in many other fields. To answer this question a study was conducted using qualitative data obtained from interviews with 17 female Members of the 42nd Parliament of Canada between October 2018 to April 2019. Data collected through these interviews was analyzed qualitatively using a combination of content and discourse analysis to summarize, categorize, and investigate the verbal, written, and behavioural data that was obtained. Findings from this study mostly confirm the findings of previous research with a few key exceptions. New findings from this study include that a more nuanced relationship exists between female MP’s and the media than previously thought; that most of the women who run for office at the federal level have very little or no knowledge of the nomination, candidate, and electoral process before they start; and that a toxic work place culture exists within the House of Commons and this negatively impacts the experience that female MP’s have and is one of the reasons women are more likely to have shorter political terms and leave politics after shorter amounts of time when compared to their male counterparts.
    Date Created:
    2019-10-16

  • Competitive Securitization in Civil-Military Relations: Internal Threats and Civil-Military Power Dynamics in Turkey, 1980-2016

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Aubrey, Scott Bryce
    Abstract:
    Civil-military relations (CMR) theory often holds that internal threat reduces civil control. However, this is not always the case: Turkey, which faced constant internal threats between 1980 and 2016, saw several periods of increasing civil control, particularly under President Özal (1989-1993) and the AKP after 2002. This study proposes that 'competitive securitization' between civil and military authorities explains these disparities in civil-military outcomes. In this framework, internal threat itself does not decreases civil control. Rather, civilian and military agents each 'securitize' internal threats, legitimizing measures that shift the civil-military balance-of-power in their favour. Where military securitization is more successful, civil control decreases, and vice-versa for civilians. This study applies this framework to eight key periods in Turkish CMR between 1980 and 2016. It finds that, with the exception of the early 2000s when EU accession dominated CMR dynamics, 'competitive securitization' provides a strong explanation for changes in Turkey's civil-military balance-of-power.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    International Affairs
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Elucidating the Role of LRRK2 Kinase Activity in the Innate Immune System

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Lunn, Michaela Olivia
    Abstract:
    Mutations in LRRK2 are linked to three distinct diseases: Parkinson's disease (PD), Crohn's disease, and leprosy. The main pathogenic variant of LRRK2 associated with PD is the p.G2019S mutant, which causes increased kinase activity. Recently, a role for LRRK2 has been implicated in the immune system; however, the exact contribution of the kinase activity in this function remains unknown. We have used mice with a Lrrk2 kinase-dead mutation and three distinct infection paradigms to investigate this role. We demonstrated that in the context of two systemic infection models, Lrrk2 kinase is not required for the host's immune response to control virulent pathogens and may in fact be protective in certain paradigms. Additionally, we have shown that Lrrk2 seems to function predominantly in the periphery rather than the brain, and that the p.G2019S mutation confers a gain-of-function. Taken together, these data will provide important insights into LRRK2 biology and PD pathogenesis.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Neuroscience
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Can Decision-Making be Improved by Allowing Eyewitnesses to Opt-Out?: Examining the Utility of a ‘Not Sure’ Option With Showups

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Jalava, Shaela Tulick
    Abstract:
    I examined the impact of an explicit opt-out option on eyewitness identification performance. I predicted that an opt-out option would decrease innocent-suspect identifications more than culprit identifications, and that this effect would be more pronounced when viewing conditions were worse. I randomly assigned participants (N = 2003) to watch either a clear or degraded simulated-crime video. After a brief filler task, participants viewed either a culprit-present or culprit-absent showup and responded either "Yes" or "No". Half of the participants were randomly assigned to have an additional option to respond, "Not Sure". Contrary to my prediction, the not-sure option decreased both culprit (44% to 36%) and innocent-suspect (19% to 14%) identifications; this effect was unaffected by viewing condition quality. Despite empirical evidence and theoretical rationale indicating an opt-out option would improve the culprit and innocent-suspect identification tradeoff, the present results suggest otherwise.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Characterization of Receptor Kinases and Downstream Signalling Components Involved in Fusarium Head Blight Resistance

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Manes, Nimrat Kaur
    Abstract:
    Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a devastating disease that affects wheat, barley and other small grain crops. Despite huge economic losses, current measures have not yielded desirable resistance to FHB. Resistance to F. graminearum is quantitative and thus identification of putative transmembrane receptors and signalling components involved in plant immunity will help combat this disease. A reverse genetic screen using 249 T-DNA Arabidopsis mutant plants identified two putative leucine-rich transmembrane localized receptors, RLK7 and APEX and a downstream signalling component RbohF as contributors to FHB resistance. The expression analysis suggested that RLK7 and APEX activated distinct hormone signalling pathways, ethylene and salicylic acid, to mediate the resistance. Our analyses indicated that as an intracellular signalling component, RbohF integrates signals from these hormone signalling pathways to regulate stomatal pore closures, a potential entry point for the pathogen. Overall, our findings identified key genes involved in mediating quantitative resistance to F. graminearum.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Thread Homeostasis - Real-Time Anomalous Behavior Detection Using Short Sequences of Messages for Safety-Critical Software

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Al Sharnouby, Mohamed Gamal
    Abstract:
    Safety-critical systems must always have predictable and reliable behavior, otherwise systems fail and lives are put at risk. Even with the most rigorous testing it is impossible to test systems using all possible inputs. Anomaly detection has been proposed as a technique for improving the fault tolerance of safety-critical systems. Past work, however, has been largely limited to behavioral parameter thresholds that miss many kinds of system deviations. Here we propose a novel approach to anomaly detection in fault-tolerant safety critical systems using patterns of messages between threads. This approach is based on techniques originally developed for detecting security violations on systems with UNIX-like system call APIs; here we show that they can be adapted to the constraints of safety critical microkernel-based hard real-time systems. We present the design, implementation, and initial evaluation of tH (thread Homeostasis) implemented on a QNX-based self-driving car platform.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Computer Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Deportability, Labour and Health in Canada’s Late Capitalism

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Rivas Sanchez, Hector Eloy
    Abstract:
    This dissertation explores the political economy of the physical and mental illnesses that the migrant workers experience while living and working under conditions of illegality in Canada's late capitalism. The dissertation is divided into three parts. The first part locates four social determinants of health underpinning the structural vulnerability to which the Latin American undocumented workers are subjected in this particular context. The second part describes the mental and physical health illnesses that the undocumented workers develop while living and working in Canada without authorization, according to the type of industry they work in (1.—Multinational Corporations, 2.—Medium-size local industries and 3.—Underground workers' cooperatives) and to the type of work they do. The empirical evidence illustrates that the undocumented immigrants who work for medium-size local enterprises, those who have been affected by deportability and deportation, as well as those who lost their legal status after being engaged in refugee claimant applications, are more likely to develop the most dramatic forms of physical and mental health diseases, all linked to what is called here "short- term historical trauma." In contrast, undocumented workers who work for underground workers' cooperatives are more likely to report better physical and mental health outcomes. Cooperative labour, free time and social solidarity make this possible. Overall, this thesis indicates that --as explored in part three-- under the social conditions organized by late capitalism, social solidarity and engagement in non-waged cooperative labour constitute social mechanisms by which undocumented migrants can access to forms of refuge, care, solidarity and social recognition that partially emancipate them from illnesses, suffering and social death. This thesis is based on an ethnographic work that I carried out over 24 months in Montreal. During that period of time, I worked side by side with Latin American undocumented workers in slaughterhouses and meatpacking factories, construction and home renovation companies, employment agencies, and as industrial cleaner for multinational corporations, spaces where I carried out direct empirical observation in the points of production and conducted 47 in-depth interviews on illegality, labor and health. I also conducted ethnographic work in hospitals and deportation centers.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Sociology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Performance Improvements of In-Network Caching in ICN-Based Networks

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Zhang, Zhe
    Abstract:
    The continuous development of networking technologies and smart devices has led Internet traffic, especially for the multimedia content traffic, to increase drastically both in wired and wireless networks. Similarly, the fast developing of wireless networks, such as 5G, has led the Internet of things (IoT) to be growing at an unprecedented pace. However, the traditional host-centric IP Internet is based on host-to-host communications which is not suitable for satisfying the requirements of content delivery. Hence, information-centric networking (ICN), one of the emerging next-generation Internet paradigms, is proposed to overcome these challenges. With the ubiquitous in-network caching, ICN can facilitate content delivery and reduce network delay. Both 5G and IoT can use the concept of ICN to constitute ICN-5G and ICN-IoT networks respectively. However, the requirements of in-network caching may vary for different networks. This thesis focuses on designing in-network caching approaches for different networks, including pure ICN networks, ICN-5G networks and ICN-IoT networks, from a theoretical perspective and a practical perspective. Both reactive and proactive caching approaches are discussed in this thesis. Moreover, by leveraging the concepts of software-defined networking (SDN) and machine learning (ML), the efficiency of in-network caching can be significantly improved.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The State and Islam in Soviet Central Asia

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Davletov, Behruz
    Abstract:
    This study explores the relationship between Islam and the Soviet state from World War II to the 1980s. The Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Central Asia and Kazakhstan SADUM, a centralized Islamic institution in Central Asia, played a key role in this relationship. SADUM represented an attempt to harmonize the contradictory worldviews of Islam and socialism and promote a new vision of Islam to the domestic and international Orient. The Soviet state's interaction with Islam and its institutional basis follow the trend of modernizing Muslim states in the Middle East. Secular states like Turkey and Egypt had been experimenting with modern institutions similar to SADUM to promote state-controlled Islam. SADUM's exchanges with these counterpart institutions from Middle Eastern countries and its domestic role in Central Asia as a religious authority highlight the Islamic image of the Soviet Union.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    European, Russian and Eurasian Studies
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Sensory Substitution: Situational Awareness and Resilience using Available Sensors

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Russell, Luke
    Abstract:
    This thesis proposes 1) the concept of sensory substitution to provide data extraction from multiple sensors, 2) data analytics approaches in scenarios, and 3) response vectors where rapidly deployable fixed and mobile sensors (such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAVs] as a flying sensor platform) and emerging human-in-the-loop sensing are used. A "resilience feedback loop" is used throughout to improve each of these approaches. This data can provide actionable intelligence for public safety and critical infrastructure systems. This thesis presents an algorithm called sensory substitution and resilience feedback, which improves situational awareness by solving two key design challenges - limitations on deployment of new infrastructure (sensors), and limited response vectors - using sensors in-place as a source of new information. In Internet of Things (IoT) environments, numerous sensors may be available - although required sensors may not. Sensory substitution can be a solution. To make a system resilient, any smart environment or system should provide redundancies. Sometimes adding hardware/sensors is not possible, so software must simulate other sensors, creating a multi-sensory approach, with a single sensor type. A commonly found measurement system for an application is to use a sensor designed to measure quantity X. In many real-world applications, modification constraints may limit the ability to deploy new hardware. In many cases, a sensor for X is present, though the measurement need is quantity Y. How can a sensor for X act as a substitute for Sensor Y to provide some of the missing information? An agile IoT approach can be a solution. In an effort for additional improvement for increasingly deeper situational awareness, a system called sensory substitution is developed for multiple sensing systems and generalized as part of an Agile IoT approach. However, an Agile IoT system can present privacy and security concerns. With such ubiquitous sensing, seemingly innocuous data could actually "leak" information. Since additional data can be collected with sensors already in-situ, relevant privacy and security implications are discussed.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Transformation and Effects of Silver and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles during Treatment and after Land Application of Sludge

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Abdulsada, Zainab Kadhim
    Abstract:
    The increasing antimicrobial application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) in industries has led to significant quantities being released into wastewater and sludge. This has raised significant concerns about their impact on soil biological activities after sludge land application. This thesis evaluates the transformation of AgNPs and CuONPs and their impact on the bacterial community during sludge treatment (anaerobic digestion, chemical conditioning, and lime stabilization) and subsequent land application. Land application of sludge was simulated in the laboratory using soil microcosms over 105 days. Bacterial population and diversity were assessed through examining specific phyla or the overall bacterial composition in the sludge and soil. The results showed that AgNPs in sludge went through dissolution, agglomeration, and surface coating. During sludge anaerobic digestion, AgNPs and CuONPs at 2, 10 and 30 mg/g TS sludge had no significant impact on the overall bacterial community structure at phylum and genus levels. AgNPs and CuONPs also did not significantly impact the biogas generation over time, except for sludge reactor that had higher concentration of CuONPs (30 mg NPs/g TS), which showed significant reduction in biogas generation over time. After applying the anaerobically digested sludge on soil, AgNPs at 20 mg/kg soil had no significant impact, while the concentrations of AgNPs at 300 mg/kg soil and CuONPs at 20 and 300 mg/kg soil decreased the average relative abundance of highly abundant phyla and genera, and lowered the population of the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) by 10.5, 18, 42 and 41%, respectively, suggesting that CuONPs pose higher toxicity. Sludge chemical conditioning using ferric chloride, alum, and synthetic polymer efficiently removed AgNPs from the aqueous phase and concentrated them in sludge solid. Lime stabilization also removed AgNPs through association with lime molecules and sludge solids. The presence of AgNPs at 2 mg/g TS sludge showed no significant impact on the population of the phyla Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria in soil that received untreated, conditioned or lime stabilized sludge. This thesis presents important findings that can serve as a foundation for risk assessment of nanoparticles toxicity in soil and potentially plant systems.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Environmental
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Inverse Visual Question Answering with Multi-Level Attentions

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Alwattar, Yaser
    Abstract:
    Inverse Visual Question Answering (iVQA) is a contemporary task emerged from the need for improving visual and language understanding. It tackles the challenging problem of generating a corresponding question for a given image-answer pair. Current state-of-the-art iVQA models use the conventional way of representing images by using a convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract visual features. Although some models leverage semantic concepts as an enhancement for the answer cue, they give the same importance weights to these concepts without considering their correlation with the answers. Moreover, the existing iVQA models mainly rely on the conventional recurrent neural networks for question modelling. Nevertheless, the attention-based sequence learning mechanism for question modelling which could help to reduce model parameters remains unexplored. In this research, we address these issues by developing two novel deep multilevel attention models for the task of inverse visual question answering.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Computer Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis during Vegetative Incompatibility in Cryphonectria parasitica, Causal Agent of the American Chestnut Blight

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Witte, Thomas Edward
    Abstract:
    Vegetative Incompatibility (VI) can occur when filamentous fungi fuse during the asexual (mitotic) growth phase. In Cryphonectria parasitica, VI is modulated by six vic loci; hyphal fusion between strains that differ at one or more vic loci results in cell death. VI is considered an immune-like response that restricts heterokaryon formation and transmission of deleterious cytoplasmic elements through unknown mechanisms. A transcriptomic analysis of vic3-associated incompatibility identified a set of differentially expressed genes within biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Using UPLC-HRMS, we detected significant shifts in secondary metabolite production during vic3 incompatibility. Among these metabolites, HPLC purification and NMR structure elucidation revealed that a new variant of calbistrin is linked to VI-upregulated BGCs, as is a farnesyl-S-oxide analog resembling mating pheromones. Similarly, detection of putative lysophosphatidylcholines and other modified lipids implicates membrane alteration during VI. Together, these findings suggest VI involves synthesis of novel secondary metabolites and complex membrane-associated signaling.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Folate induced mutagenesis and identification of folate-specific mutation spectra in somatic cells

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Diaz Gonzalez, Stephanie Andrea
    Abstract:
    Folate is an essential water soluble B-vitamin required for the de novo synthesis of purines and dTMP and the synthesis of methionine. Folate intake,, generally folate deficiency, has been associated with CRC and ALL risk. Here, we used the MutaMouse model to determine the mutagenic potential of dietary FA in the colon, and to determine if there is a tissue- and diet-specific effect induced by FA intake in colon and bone marrow. Male mice were fed experimental FA defined diets (deficient, control, supplemented) for 20 weeks from weaning. NGS was used to sequence the lacZ reporter gene and we determined the FA-induce mutation spectra in both tissues. Here, we demonstrated, for the first time, the mutagenic potential of FA-intake, the FA-induced mutation spectra by different FA intake levels and that the mutagenic potential of FA is tissue-specific.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • An Evaluation of Various Carbonaceous and Synthetic Adsorbents for the Treatment of Sulfolane

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Dinh, My Le
    Abstract:
    Sulfolane is an industrial solvent used in a variety of applications. Improper handling, storage, and disposal of pure sulfolane solvent and sulfolane-containing wastes have created contaminated sites. The objective of this research was to investigate the adsorption of sulfolane on a wide variety of adsorbents. In some experiments, the solution consisted of either diisopropanolamine or benzene. It was observed that while the adsorption capacity of GACs and Ambersorb 560 were comparable, the adsorption equilibrium was established much faster on GACs than on Ambersorb 560. The major solutes in groundwater influenced sulfolane adsorption. Additionally, diisopropanol and benzene inhibited sulfolane adsorption. Another objective was to develop a method for the analysis of sulfolane in aqueous solution. The method developed herein is highly reproducible and has a detection limit (MDL) of 30 µg/L, and a quantitation limit (MQL) of 70 µg/L.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Environmental
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Improving Automatic Tuning of Hadoop and Spark by Analysing Container Performance Metrics

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Zhou, Siyu
    Abstract:
    This research introduces novel container performance metrics and proves that these metrics are beneficial in the development of automatic tuning systems. Hadoop and Spark show different patterns in the static and dynamic values of container creation rate, container completion rate, container average response time and relative standard deviation of response-time(RSD). By applying five kinds of machine learning algorithms, container creation rate was found to be the most sensitive metric to identify and classify the workload type at an average accuracy of 83%. RSD can be used to detect workload transitions with an average accuracy of 74%. Our research results will decrease tuning overhead and promote the development of automatic tuning systems.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Computer Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Metabolism and fate of organophosphate ester (OPE) contaminants in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using in vitro lab-based studies

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Large, Delaney Nicole
    Abstract:
    Due to ubiquitous use of organophosphate esters (OPEs) as flame retardants and plasticizers, they have been found at high concentrations in a variety of environmental media while having low or non-detectable levels in biota, including fish. The exposure and fate of OPEs in fish depends on understanding the toxicokinetics, though studies on OPE metabolism are lacking. A model in vitro microsomal-based metabolism assay for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was utilized to investigate OPE metabolism. Metabolic depletion was only noted for 2 alkyl OPEs and formation of corresponding diester metabolites was low, indicating other unidentified metabolites were formed. Comparison with avian and mammalian models showed fish generally had slower and less complete metabolism, illustrating species-specific differences in biotransformation. Structure also influenced OPE metabolism in that bulky, aryl OPEs were not metabolized. These results provide important information of toxicokinetic processes that can affect the exposure and fate of OPEs in rainbow trout.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The effect of pH and alkalinity on drinking water biofiltration performance

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Pirouz Hamidi, Hamideh
    Abstract:
    Two bench-scale biofiltration columns were monitored to examine the influence of water-quality parameters, including pH and alkalinity to enhance drinking water biofiltration efficiency. The biofilters were operated at four pH values with low and high alkalinity levels. Applying a higher pH level of 7.5 compared to 6.0 led to similar total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency. Raising the pH to 10.0 resulted in a significantly lower TOC removal efficiency. Increasing pH was also observed to influence ammonia removal significantly such that ammonia removal efficiency improved from 13% at pH 6.0 to 93% at pH 10.0; however, the higher pH was no longer attributed to biological removal but ammonia stripping. The assessment of theoretical oxygen demand revealed that dissolved oxygen (DO) availability was an influential factor in nitrification efficiency. No direct correlation was observed between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and TOC removal. Overall, pH 7.5 demonstrated optimal biofilter conditions.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Environmental
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Magnetic and electromagnetic surveying of lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument, California

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Mallozzi, Andre Skyler
    Abstract:
    Lava tubes are targets for future manned missions on Mars because they offer protection from ultraviolet radiation and meteor impacts. As a contribution to the Astrobiology Training in Lava Tubes project, this project aimed on the characterization and detection of lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument (LBNM) using electromagnetic (EM) induction and magnetic techniques. Interior EM surveys were successful in characterizing cave floors with different conductivity signatures. The EM data was inverted in 1D to reveal structures in the basaltic bedrock. Forward modelling of magnetic showed that the signature associated with a lava tube is a magnetic low slightly offset from the axis of symmetry. Visual inspection of surface magnetic data did not identify this signature. Inversion of magnetic data showed good fit over the area of influence of a lava tube with one passage. Inversion also identified susceptibility and remanence signatures that could be related to eruption sequence.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Earth Sciences
    Date Created:
    2019

  • La Ceinture d’Ahmed Abodehman: réincarner l’âme des lieux dans un texte-village

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Alomary, Ghifar
    Abstract:
    The present research studies La Ceinture of Ahmed Abodehman as a text incarnating the village. Its main focus is the text and the author, and it is divided into three chapters. The first chapter examines the production and the critical reception of La Ceinture. The second presents the theoretical context and the analysis methodology used to read the characteristics of the text. The last chapter analyzes theses characteristics which represent the village. The study ends with a conclusion explaining how La Ceinture preserves the village, shares it and reinvents the world.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    French and Francophone Studies
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Testing Natural Products for Toxicity against Agricultural Pests and Pathogens

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Haider, Syeda Fatima
    Abstract:
    In a constant race to overcome pesticide resistance by pests and pathogens, this research aimed to discover bioactive inhibitory compounds from natural products. I tested extracts from 10 different fungal isolates that were previously shown to have antifungal activity, and 5 commercially available natural products. Assays were developed to test natural products for antibiotic activities against model pathogens and pests including fungi, insects, and molluscs. The objectives of this research were to develop and determine the effectiveness of bioassays, and to identify potentially interesting natural products. Of the 10 fungal isolates tested, reconstituted broths ofPenicillium virgatum,Ramularia vizellae, andTrichodermasp. showed pronounced anti-fungal activity. Further,P. virgatumandTrichodermasp. shows anti-insect activity while broths ofRamularia vizellaeandTrichodermasp. exhibited anti-mollusc activity. A preliminary metabolomic study identified potentially interesting metabolites that requires further investigation to determine the chemical structure(s), mode of action, and other attributes.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Relations Among Affect-Related Personality Traits, Mood, Temptation and Academic Procrastination in Everyday Life

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Amali, Saif
    Abstract:
    The current research study made use of daily diaries and personality assessment to examine academic procrastination behaviour in the everyday lives of university students. Undergraduate students (n = 84) completed self-report measures on trait affect intensity, distress tolerance and emotion regulation difficulties before engaging in ten days of daily diaries. Multilevel regression analyses were used to examine whether within-person variations in the intensity of experienced negative moods and temptations predicted levels of self-reported procrastination behaviour, and whether these relations were moderated by individual differences in affect-related personality traits. As hypothesized, at the day-level of analysis, both the extent of negative affect and the strength of experienced temptations positively predicted levels of academic procrastination behaviour. Contrary to what was hypothesized, none of the affect-related personality traits directly or indirectly predicted procrastination behaviour, except for trait levels of emotion regulation difficulties which positively predicted average levels of daily procrastination behaviour.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Diatoms in Lake Sediments as Proxies of Climatic Variation Throughout the Latest Holocene

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Hutchinson, Scott
    Abstract:
    This thesis is composed of manuscripts investigating the impact of climate events throughout the past ~2800 years on conditions within the lacustrine environment of Pocket Lake as reflected in changes of diatom assemblage. The first manuscript presented in chapter 2 is composed of a broad, paleoclimatic reconstruction at a resolution of ~20-30 years per sample based on changes in diatom assemblage integrated with geochemical and particle size datasets from the same core. In the second chapter a high-resolution investigation into the impact of the deposition of airfall tephra into Pocket Lake is presented. Together, these studies provide insight into the impact of broader decadal scale climate cycles and instantaneous, episodic events allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of their impact on lakes in sensitive, northern locations. These reconstructions will help inform predications regarding the potential impact of 21st century climate change.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Earth Sciences
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Low Power Wireless CMOS System-On-Chip X-Ray Dosimeter

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Yadegari, Behzad
    Abstract:
    Blood sterilization systems irradiate blood with Gamma or X-ray radiation to prevent transfusion-associated graft versus host diseases (TA-GvHD).Present day irradiators use tags applied to the blood bags which change color when exposed to radiation of 25 to 50 Gy. This method is neither accurate nor efficient and results in considerable blood wastage.This thesis investigates alternative solutions that are low power, easy to handle, compact and efficient. A floating-gate (FG) metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is studied for its application as a radiation sensor. FG MOSFETs have been employed for this application, but never using an RF-CMOS 0.13μm process suitable for RF-ID wireless readout. This work studies device optimization for best possible performance in radiation dosimetry. Devices are fabricated with different layer configurations to see how these affect sensitivity, linearity and power consumption. The final sensor measurements demonstrate a sensitivity of 6.5μA/Gy-1with a maximum power consumption of 37μW.This work also explores novel sub-threshold operation of FG MOSFET sensors for this application. This technique is shown to reduce the power consumption of such sensors, hence improving their figure of merit. Additionally, FG MOSFET devices are configured as an inverter, rather than a stand-alone transistor, to work as radiation sensors. This provides great reduction in the power requirements and is completely novel. These sensors are seen to consume channel current in the range of nA in comparison to μA consumed by the single MOSFET, while providing acceptable sensitivity values. Furthermore, the thesis explores photodiodes as X-ray power harvesting devices which could be provided with the sensor chip itself for a battery-less solution.Finally, an e-fuse RF-CMOS based non-volatile (NVM) memory is realized for tag identification and control in a multi-sensor context. The memory has been tested under irradiated conditions to show its operation in the proposed environment. The results demonstrate the system-on-chip implementation of key components of an electronic blood irradiator system in a small form factor, with ultra-low power consumption. The proposed solution can improve dosimeter accuracy, allow automation of the process, and reduce blood wastage.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • User Understanding of Internet Data Breaches

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Hassanzadeh, Zahra
    Abstract:
    Data breaches happen when information is accessed by an unauthorized party. They are growing rapidly and becoming a high-impact problem that raises concerns for individuals as well as companies. We explored users understanding of Internet data breaches. We studied 20 participants to explore users' mental models of Internet data breaches, and we analyzed different documents for data breach notifications and news. We found that companies use crisis communication strategies to reduce their reputational damage as well as financial loss. We next conducted a quantitative study of 100 participants in an online. We found that the extracted mental models from our first study cannot be generalized to a bigger public. Our findings of this study regarding the influence of the communication strategies was in line with our second study, and suggest that it affects the users' perception of victimization, attitudes in data protection, and responsibility.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Computer Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • An Investigation of the Relationship Between Acculturation, Follower Identity and Organizational Climate with Leadership Effectiveness

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Chhina, Harinder
    Abstract:
    Increasing international migration has resulted in globalization of the workplace. This study was focused on investigating factors that are potentially related to an immigrant leader's effectiveness in the host nation workforce. Such factors included the state of an immigrant's adaptation to the host nation culture; group members' perceptions of leader group prototypicality and leader stereotypicality; effects of group ethnic diversity; and moderating influence of an organizational climate that is inclusive or otherwise.The data for this quantitative study came from 51 groups, ranging in size from 4 to 9 members, within diverse work settings in the Canadian workplace. The group leaders were first generation South Asians. Using a convenience sample and a cross sectional design, this multilevel data was analysed using mixed model analysis with R.The results indicated that immigrant leaders unanimously chose to fully integrate with host nation culture. Leader group prototypicality and leader stereotypicality were found to be important factors which contributed significantly to individual and group level perceptions of a leader's effectiveness. However, group demographic diversity was not found to be related to follower perceptions of leadership effectiveness. Another significant finding was that perceptions of leader effectiveness were not biased by leader gender. While majority of leaders found organizational climate as being inclusive, this factor was not found to significantly moderate the relationship between follower perceptions of leadership and follower ratings of leadership effectiveness.These findings have important implications for academic scholarship, business landscape, and policy makers. Specifically, this study provides empirical evidence that if immigrants are guided and encouraged to accept and absorb the host nation culture and values, they are a potential resource that can significantly contribute to the human capital of the host nation. Similarly, the negative effects of diversity are minimized in inclusive work environments. Furthermore, the finding that dissimilar leaders in ethnically diverse groups were perceived as group prototypical seems to suggest that the concept of group prototypicality itself has different connotations in varied settings.Keywords:Leadership, Diversity, Relational demography, Organizational climate, Leader prototypicality
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Management
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Campesino Organizations and Public Policies in Ecuador: From Neoliberal to Post-Neoliberal Rural Development, 2006-2016

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Clark, Patrick
    Abstract:
    Food sovereignty is a concept that has been popularized by the international coalition family-farmer and peasant organizations, La Via Campesina, or peasant way in English, since the organization was founded in the 1990s. The concept proposes agricultural production and agri-food economies controlled by small producers, understood as family farmers or "peasants", as an alternative to the consolidation of agricultural production. This study analyzes the impacts of the institutionalization of food sovereignty in Ecuador on public policies for agriculture and rural development during the "postneoliberal" government of Rafael Correa between 2006-2016. Drawing on the work of Peter Evans and others on the developmental state, I proposed that in order for this program to be implemented successfully policies for food sovereignty would necessitate the construction of what Evans calls "embedded autonomy" between organizations of smallholder agricultural producers and public institutions. In order to evaluate whether this dynamic emerged under the Correa government I analyze national-level policies and political dynamics and compare three cases of producer organizations at the sub-national level and the impacts of the post-neoliberal government's policies. In each case I analyze the relationship between the organization, national government programs, local governments and the politics of policy implementation considering whether the postneoliberal turn strengthened or hindered these organizations and their respective via campesina strategies. I argue that the Correa government transformed the neoliberal model of rural development interventions dominated by non-governmental organizations through increased public investment and new national programs for agricultural production. However, for the most part, these new post-neoliberal programs undermined the space in which embeddedness between state interventions and rural social organizations could have emerged. The government's rural development policies largely favored conventional agriculture and domestic agri-business firms which incorporated smallholders to produce agricultural commodities. I conclude that the gap between the policy framework for food sovereignty in Ecuador and the actual policies implemented by the Correa government reflect unresolved contradictions within food sovereignty.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Political Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Statistical Assessment of Soccer Players

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Nabavi, Mohammad-Amin
    Abstract:
    This thesis examines the use of neural network modelling and ordinal logistic regression on a single season of data (2015-16) to score or rank soccer players. These scores and ranks are then compared with ones from FIFA EASports. We also demonstrate the use of association rule mining on one team's data to identify players that are associated with winning (or not winning) a match. Analyses are based on data from the Italian Serie A League 2015-2016 season.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Statistics
    Date Created:
    2019

  • From A Tool For Making To A Tool For Thinking: Investigation of the Potential of 3D Printing in Meaning-Making

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Janevski, Spase
    Abstract:
    The advances in 3D printing technology have an enormous potential to impact how designers learn and develop practical knowledge during the design process. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the potential of 3D printing as a tool for meaningful making. Through investigation of handmade objects and their qualities, this study set out to determine how designers can invent 3D printed objects that make sense to stand alongside handmade objects. Data for the study was obtained using both ethnographic and design research methods, including: an observation, experimental studies and a survey. Results showed that 3D printing has a potential not only to develop meaningful outcomes, but also to drive design processes that make sense to designers. Through engagement and understanding of 3D printing machine, designers can develop not only practical knowledge, but also an understanding of the meaning of their making.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Design (M.Des.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Industrial Design
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Three Essays on Understanding Consumer Engagement with Brand Posts on Social Media

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Deng, Qi
    Abstract:
    The rapid proliferation of social media over the last ten years has revolutionized the way that brands and consumers connect, communicate, and interact with each other. Nowadays, approaching creative brand posts in a way that maximizes consumer engagement has become a growing challenge to social media marketers. This thesis addresses this challenge and aims to understand how to enhance consumer engagement with brand posts on social media through the lens of linguistics. To achieve this goal, three independent but related papers were conducted to 1) investigate how the linguistic styles of brand social media posts influence consumer engagement; 2) examine the interactive impacts of consumer comment valence and brand response language style on consumers' evaluation of brand and their intention for future engagement with the brand; and 3) explore whether and how incorporating emojis in brand social media posts affects consumer engagement with the posts. The findings of this thesis indicate that, for brands, using proper language when communicating with consumers on social media can improve consumers' perceptions of brands and enhance their engagement with brands. The results of this thesis deepen our understanding of the role that brand language plays in influencing consumer engagement on social media as well as provide many practical guidelines for social media marketers regarding the language they use in communicating with consumers on social media.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Management
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Lesion Synthesis Toolbox: Development and Validation of Dedicated Software for Synthesis of Lesions in Raw PET and CT Patient Images

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Juma, Hanif
    Abstract:
    PET is one of the most sensitive clinical tools for early detections of small tumours, but its performance is dependent on multiple factors including image quality and human perception. Current methods relying on physical and numerical image quality phantoms are inadequate for evaluating clinical task-based performance, such as limits of lesion detection, due to lack of physiologic realism of the images.In this work, we describe development and validation of the Lesion Synthesis Toolbox, an easy-to-use software to synthetize well-characterized, user-defined lesions in real patient PET data prior to image reconstruction and in corresponding CT images on GE Discovery line of PET/CT scanners.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Biomedical
    Date Created:
    2019

  • How can World Design Capital (WDC) programme better incorporate United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) in future strategies?

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Asfand, Muhammad Ahmed
    Abstract:
    The research study investigates the ways World Design Organization's (WDO) World Design Capital (WDC) programme can improve in incorporating United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11): Sustainable Cities and Communities as part of its design agenda which can help in the sustainable development of cities.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Design (M.Des.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Industrial Design
    Date Created:
    2019

  • La Cuna: Hospice Care, Death and Memory

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Fernandez-Escobar, Esteban
    Abstract:
    Despite the growing interest in end-of-life care in Colombia, the concept of hospice care is still relatively new. It is an emerging topic that is controversial and debated due to cultural and societal traditions. The study seeks to find common ground relative to life and death as it tries to redefine and change the perception of death in Colombian society. This thesis is an evolving exploration into conceptualizing and designing a transitional place with spaces that allow for end-of-life care and the acknowledgement of death as a way of generating embodied memories in the city of Medellín. As a guiding principle, the project examines these ideas through elements that are part of the local culture, social construct, and the aesthetic of both the natural and built environment.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Architecture
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Functional Applications of Systems Biology Tools: Identification of Novel DNA Repair Factors and Peptide Design

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Burnside, Daniel
    Abstract:
    The highly annotated budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaehas emerged as the primary model for systems biology, the study of how individual cellular components function within the context of a dynamic cellular system. Several genome/proteome-scale tools developed using theS. cerevisiaemodel have produced extensive information on gene function and interaction networks that is stored in publicly accessible databases. Bioinformatic tools can exploit these databases to infer novel biological activity but these predictions must be tested in functioning cellular systems to assess the effectiveness of any method. The work herein uses systems-based computational tools to make predictions on novel protein/gene function that are tested using yeast functional genomic approaches. This thesis describes the development and validation of a new tool to design synthetic binding proteins that bind to and inhibit targeted yeast proteins Psk1 and Pin4 as well as the identification and functional analysis of three yeast DNA repair genes,PSK1,ARP6, andDEF1. Thein-silicoprotein synthesizer, InSiPS successfully engineered two synthetic proteins known as anti-Psk1 and anti-Pin4. This demonstrated the ability of our approach to translate from computational prediction, to a specific biological interaction and importantly, a functionally significant phenotype. Chemical-genetic interaction analysis showed that cells expressing α-Psk1 and α-Pin4 phenocopyΔpsk1andΔpin4mutants and yeast-two-hybrid confirmed binary interactions in vivo whilein vitroassays verify that binding is occurring at predicted loci. Further analysis of the anti-Psk1/Psk1 interaction motif showed strong, specific binding. Psk1 was inferred to participate in yeast non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair of double-strand breaks (DSB), an essential DNA repair pathway. Our functional genetic analysis showed thatPSK1is an important novel NHEJ gene that contributes to repair fidelity while appearing to function throughRAD27activity. We also report thatARP6, affects NHEJ through the RSC chromatin remodeling complex. Lastly, we identify new properties of the Def1 DNA repair protein in yeast NHEJ and a physical and genetic interaction between Yku80 and Def1. Together, these findings demonstrate the ability to predict novel gene/protein function using computational tools and expand our understanding of eukaryotic DSB repair.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Diaspora’s Dialect: Cultural Exchange and the Transformation of Jamaican Patois in the Greater Toronto Area

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Wilkinson, Raven-Paige
    Abstract:
    Patois, the unofficial language of Jamaica, has been hybridized since its inception due to the slavery, violence, and subversion that took place during colonialism. It is thus influenced by various cultures, styles, and identities. Over time, its significance surpassed the Caribbean and influenced localities such as the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which has incorporated many aspects of Jamaican culture and language. As such, this project asks,in what ways is Patois, a language long used to define Jamaican culture, now contributing to cultures in locations abroad, through various processes and connections?Using an online survey and interviews, this empirical project weaves postcolonial thought with cultural studies and personal narratives to provide new insights on Patois' connection to the Toronto community, and what it means for a language to transform significantly throughout space and time. This research contributes a fresh perspective to the wider discourse on modern social and cultural exchange.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Communication
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Solidification in an Initially Emptied Horizontal Turbulent Pipe Flow

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Somers-Neal, Shawn Michael
    Abstract:
    In a reactor core meltdown under postulated severe accidents, the molten material (corium) could be ejected or relocated through existing vessel penetrations (cooling pipe connections). There exists, however, a potential for plugging of melt flow due to its complete solidification, providing the availability of an adequate heat sink. Therefore, a numerical model was created to simulate the flow of corium through an initially empty horizontal pipe. The numerical model was verified using a previously developed analytical model and validated with experimental tests with gallium. Simulations were updated for corium to conduct a sensitivity study on the Reynolds number, thermal conductivity, inlet temperature, and diameter. The study provided insight into the lower bound of the penetration distance, which was found to be 0.384 m, and the upper bound was 1.148 m when predicting the potential penetration length of corium in horizontal pipes.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Aerospace
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Eyewitness Identification Accuracy: The Influence of Olfactory Stimuli Used as a Form of Context Reinstatement

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Fraser, Bailey May
    Abstract:
    The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of olfactory stimuli used as a form of context reinstatement (CR) on eyewitness identification and recall accuracy. Participants (N = 184) attended two sessions. In session one, participants viewed a crime video and then completed the recall task. Participants returned for session two one week later where they completed the recall and lineup task. In each session, participants were randomly assigned to either the scent or no scent condition. A trend was found for a higher correct identification rate and a higher correct rejection rate when encoding and retrieval sessions matched versus mismatched. Scent did not influence the number of descriptors or proportion of accurate descriptors recalled. Overall, the results from the current study suggest that scent may have a minimal influence on eyewitness accuracy when used as a form of CR. Implications and future directions are discussed.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Kinetic Fabric Samples as a New Approach to Interactive Fashion Arts

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Ghanbari Vahid, Shahla
    Abstract:
    As technology is integrated into all aspects of our lives, researchers are working to explore emerging technologies—such as the creation of functional apparel—in the field of fashion design. The substantial growth in the field of functional apparel design—such as the use of smart textiles—encourages researchers and fashion designers to incorporate technology within their designs.Literature shows that the field of interactive fashion design is new and requires interdisciplinary knowledge such as electrical engineering and computer science to be successful. Therefore, we created ready-to-use kinetic fabric samples for designers, to assess how convenient it could be for designers to implement emerging technologies into their designs. We explored this research gap through two preliminary user studies with seven experienced designers. The information gathered from this study could be used to identify design guidelines for kinetic fabric samples that would assist designers incorporating technology in their design.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Can Police Officers Foresee the Future? Predicting Outcomes from Thin Slices of Police-Public Encounters

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Khanizadeh, Ariane-Jade
    Abstract:
    Thin slice studies are studies that examine judgments based on brief exposure to expressive behaviours or still images. One previous study has examined the prediction of outcomes within a law enforcement context from thin slices of a police-public encounter (Suss & Ward, 2012). The present study extends this research by examining how variables - including operational years of experience, training, familiarity with the encounter, confidence in the prediction, and thin slice length - impact prediction accuracy. Participants were asked to predict whether the subject would harm/attempt to harm the officer(s) after each video they viewed. My results demonstrated that more training, greater familiarity, and greater confidence in one's predictions was associated with greater odds of providing an accurate response. Most of these variables' relationships with accuracy disappeared when examining longer thin slices. Finally, specialized police training, years of experience, and familiarity were found to predict greater confidence in one's predictions.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • A Radio-Propagation-Measurement-Based Study of the Capacity of Multi-User Distributed-MIMO Indoor Channels at 18 and 28 GHz

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Alkadamani, Mohamad
    Abstract:
    This thesis had the objective of determining whether indoor SHF wireless systems can provide the same or greater system capacities as current 2 GHz systems. In the interest of avoiding obstruction losses, the focus was on the use of directive antennas at frequencies above 2 GHz to receive radio signals from reflectors and scatterers that could be stronger than those received over direct Tx-to-Rx antenna paths. Models for indirect path transmission loss, spatial variations, shadowing, and temporal fading were derived from propagation measurements conducted in the 2-30 GHz bands.As a final step, models derived from the propagation measurements were used in multi-user conventional and distributed MIMO system capacity simulations. It was shown that with currently achievable transmit powers and antenna gains and beamwidths, narrow band systems at 18 and 28 GHz can be designed to offer the same or greater capacity as those operating in the 2 GHz band.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Role of Game-based Learning in Newcomer Children’s Cultural Adjustment

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    El Kouzi, Malek
    Abstract:
    The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the role of educational computer games as a tool to help newcomer children adjust socially. One of the tense conditions which the newcomer children face is experiencing difficulties in understanding the right behaviour in the new place of living. We have developed an educational game calledNew Beginningthat sought to help newcomer tweens learn more about selected behavioural issues. The game includes social behaviour advice. The participating children were assigned either to play the computer game or to read a brochure related to the topic. Analyzing the pre and post questionnaires for both game group and brochure group showed that while the brochure found to be easy to read, children found the digital game more useful and enjoyable than the brochure. As such, the study confirmed the potential value of educational games in enhancing newcomer children's social adjustment compared to conventional methods.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Information Technology (M.I.T.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Digital Media
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Cartilage Biomechanical and Mechanobiological Response to Sliding Contact

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Shegaf, Ali Mohamed Masoud
    Abstract:
    Osteoarthritis (OA) is the leading cause of disability, worldwide. OA leads to breakdown of the articular cartilage (AC), the highly structured tissue that lines the end of bones of the synovial joints. The cartilage cells synthesize and maintain the homeostasis of articular cartilage, a function that is largely influenced by mechanical forces.Mechanobiological studies of cartilage are conducted toward a better understanding of osteoarthritis pathological mechanism. However, the typically applied loading protocols omit the relative surface motion that is essential for cartilage tribological function. Therefore, this work aimed to examine the effects of a more physiological loading mode on cartilage mechanobiological function.Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to investigate the biomechanical response of cartilage to loading regimes that permits migrating contact area compared to uniaxial cyclic compression. Interstitial fluid pressure was maintained high under sliding contact while it reduced by 20% in cyclic compression model. Also, maximum fluid flow was reduced by 44% in uniaxial cyclic compression where fluid imbibition was limited to a small region near the lateral periphery. Cartilage surface curvature may contribute to cartilage Mechanobiological function by increasing tissue rehydration.Motivated by FE results, two low-cost mechanical testing devices were designed and constructed to allow forin vitromechanobiological experimentation of cartilage. Healthy and degenerated human cartilage samples were subjected to two types of intermittent loading, load-controlled sliding and displacement-controlled unconfined cyclic compression. Changes in biochemical signals that are believed to control chondrocytes functionality were measured. The level of growth factor (TGF-β) was significantly higher in specimen subjected to sliding contact compared to cyclic compression. Also, the level of all measured cytokines and TIMPs was always lower in sliding contact loading mode, although not statistically significant. These results suggest that the sliding contact loading mode does influence chondrocytes anabolic activities.Results obtained from this thesis demonstrate the importance of incorporating realistic loading conditions inin vitromechanobiological testing of cartilage. Findings of this work should contribute to the ongoing research on the role of chondrocytes in OA onset and progression toward developing therapeutic interventions and tissue engineering approaches for OA.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Mechanical
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Being Alone with Others: A Unique Form of Social Contact and Its Impact on Momentary Positive Affect

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Sobocko, Karin
    Abstract:
    Social relationships are essential to human well-being. Although people receive the most benefit from interactions with others who are close to them (Reis, Sheldon, Gable, Roscoe, & Ryan, 2000), the need for human contact can also be satisfied through minimal interactions with others (Sandstrom & Dunn, 2014a, 2014b). This dissertation extended the research regarding the benefits of contact with acquaintances by proposing that being alone with others, i.e. being around others without verbally interacting with them, could be an alternative way of satisfying the need for social contact and improving positive affect. In an experience sampling study (N = 453), being alone with others was associated with similar positive (PA) and negative affect (NA), and lower sense of belonging, than being completely alone. Additional results supported existing research associating the best affective outcomes with interactions with close others, and higher positive affect after talking to acquaintances than not talking to them (Sandstrom & Dunn, 2014a). A second study was designed to test: whether merely sharing a space with others produces a higher sense of belonging; whether this belongingness could explain better outcomes of being alone with others compared to being alone; whether effects depend on performing the same task as others. Participants (N = 265) were randomly assigned to watch a pleasant video: alone, together with a confederate, or alone when a confederate was doing something else. I found no differences in the amplification of PA and sense of belonging, or in reduction of NA between the social conditions; however, these outcomes were also not different in the alone condition. Sharing a space with others, regardless of simultaneously performing a task together, did not lead to better outcomes than being alone. Trait introversion-extraversion was also explored, and two main trends were found in both studies: extraverts reported higher PA and sense of belonging than introverts in all situations, and introverts and extraverts reported similar amplifications of affective states in different social and experimental conditions. Overall, both studies revealed that being alone with others was worse for people's affective outcomes and sense of belonging than being completely alone, contrary to hypotheses.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Determining the uncertainty of areal mean surface elevation measured with a terrestrial laser scanner and with a total station in permafrost environments near Lac de Gras, NWT, Canada

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Peart, Christian
    Abstract:
    Quantifying topographic change in permafrost environments is important because it can provide insight about the loss of excess ice. Ground-based methods that detect change in surface elevation are often applied at individual points rather than over an area, giving rise to questions about their representativeness. Remote sensing methods can overcome this problem, although confounding signals may arise from changing vegetation and microtopography. This study examines the uncertainty of mean elevation measured with a terrestrial laser scanner and with a total station on 28 plots with different surface characteristics in a tundra environment. Observations from terrestrial laser scanning and surveying with a total station are analyzed statistically to reveal confidence intervals for the derived mean elevations. On average, terrestrial laser scanning can detect vertical movements in the centimeter range and the total station method in the low decimeter range.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Geography
    Date Created:
    2019

  • An Investigation of Jordanian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Teachers' Perceptions of and Practices in Classroom Assessment

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Swaie, Malak Turki Ali
    Abstract:
    This study investigated the purposes and methods of classroom-based assessment (CBA) used by Jordanian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in secondary schools and explored their perceptions about assessment for learning. Data were collected through an online questionnaire (n=54) and semi-structured interviews (n=3). The study found that 1) teachers used classroom assessment to achieve various purposes, primarily those related to students' learning; and 2) although teachers used a variety of methods to assess students in reading, writing, listening and speaking, tests were the most frequently used methods. The findings suggest that although teachers were favorably inclined towards assessment for learning, their perceptions might not be aligned with their reported assessment practices. It is hoped that the findings from this study will help raise awareness among Jordanian EFL teachers and educational policy makers about the importance of CBA and the need to develop teacher preparation and professional development programs.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Effects of Early-Life Stress on AMPA Receptors in the Auditory Cortex

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Moyes, Carinna
    Abstract:
    Critical period (CP) plasticity in the auditory cortex (A1) is critical for functional brain development and cognitive function. Impaired A1 development during the CP has been implicated in neurological disorders of learning and memory. Here, we explored the effects of early-life stress (ELS) on α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) functioning during this CP. ELS was induced at P3-15 in a c-Fos based transgenic mouse model. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we recorded pyramidal cells in A1 to measure AMPAR function. We found that AMPAR functional maturation is highly correlated to the opening of the A1 CP during normal development. We further identified that ELS selectively activated a subpopulation of A1 pyramidal neurons as evidenced by selective activity-dependent green fluorescent protein tagging. We observed that ELS activated neurons showed enhanced AMPAR functioning compared to non-activated neurons. These results provide a potential synaptic mechanism following exposure to a stressor during a CP of neurodevelopment.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Neuroscience
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 in Energy Balance and Metabolism

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Alam, Sajin
    Abstract:
    Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is exclusively expressed by astrocytes and has hypophagic and weight reducing effects. The objective of this study is to further elucidate the role of FGF2 on feeding and energy balance using FGF2 KO animals. Mice were exposed to regular chow or a 60% high fat diet over the course of 6 weeks. We hypothesized FGF2KO animals would exhibit hyperphagia and weight gain, and that this would augment in the presence of a high fat diet. Results demonstrated both WT and FGF2KO animals gained weight similarly and had similar caloric intake when ingesting high fat diet. Carbohydrate expenditure was increased in male KO's and female KO's had increased ambulatory counts during the night phase. Future studies should investigate the effects of stressed FGF2KO animals on HFD and should continue to explore the circuitry involved in energy balance and regulation.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Neuroscience
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The impacts of century-old, arsenic-rich, mine tailings on multitrophic level biological assemblages in lakes from the Cobalt, Ontario, Canada region

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Little, Amanda
    Abstract:
    The combination of silver mining and lack of environmental regulations in the early 1900s resulted in a legacy of century-old, arsenic-rich mine tailings around Cobalt, Ontario, Canada. In order to examine the impacts that arsenic has had on aquatic ecosystems in the region, diatom, cladoceran, chironomid, and zooplankton assemblages from lakes along a gradient of surface water arsenic contamination (0.4 - 1,113 µg/L) were sampled. Our results show that present-day arsenic concentration is not a significant driver of biotic community change across the study lakes, suggesting that other variables are more important in the structuring of the biological community in this region. These results suggest that while legacy contamination has greatly increased arsenic concentration beyond the acceptable guideline for aquatic life (5 µg/L), variability in lake morphometry among the study lakes and other environmental factors appear more influential in the structuring of aquatic ecosystems in Cobalt, Ontario, Canada.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Geography
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Settler-Colonialism and Indigenous Women’s Rights: A Comparative Analysis of the Socioeconomic Impact endured by Indigenous women within 'Canada', and Indigenous Palestinian women within 'Israel'

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Yousef, Talia
    Abstract:
    This research compares the socioeconomic realities of indigenous women resisting settler colonialism, such as Palestinian women resisting Israel, and women of varying indigenous nations resisting Canada. The purpose of the research aims to address the socio-economic impact of settler-colonialism on indigenous women as a causal relationship. In doing so, the research addresses factors such as indigenous relationships to land, genocide, and continued mechanisms of systemic oppression and discrimination. This comparative analysis, uses lenses of anti-colonial feminism and marxism, while relying on the academic work of indigenous authors as well as statistical data indicating various measures of socio-economic welfare. The observed outcomes situate the rights of indigenous women at the heart of liberation from settler colonialism, and inversely address settler-colonialism as a key mechanism oppressing the rights of indigenous women.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Political Economy
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Carrying Disaster Lightly: Assessment of Resilience in Two Populations with Psychopathic Features

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Baglole, John Sebastian
    Abstract:
    Psychopathic traits are typically associated with antisocial and offending outcomes. In contrast, resilience (adaptive functioning despite risks) has been found helpful for pursuing positive outcomes (e.g., desistance). To determine the relationship between psychopathy, resilience, and antisocial or offending outcomes, two studies were conducted using two diverse samples: young-adult university students (N = 488) and youth offenders (N = 1,354). In the student young-adult sample, resilience mediated the relationship between psychopathy and antisocial behaviour. In the criminal youth sample, psychopathy had a stable relationship (i.e., consistent predictive validity) with offending over time; resilience was dynamic, its effect deteriorating over longer periods. Agency-related (internal) resilience was found to be more prevalent in females than males and significantly predicted desistance. This runs counter to relational-cultural theory, given that Social-related (external) resilience did not predict desistance in females. Future research should continue to examine gendered effects of internal and external resilience traits.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • A Data Driven Priority Scheduling technique for a Stream Processing Platform

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Ajila, Oluwatobi Adeoye
    Abstract:
    Big data processing has become essential for businesses in recent years as it enables organizations to gather insights from streaming data in near real-time and capitalize on business opportunities. One drawback of stream processing engines is the lack of support for priority scheduling. There are cases where businesses need to ensure that important input data items are processed with low latencies thus avoiding a missed business opportunity. This thesis proposes a technique that enables users to prioritize important input data so that they are processed in time even when the system is under high or bursty input load. Using a prototype this thesis demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed technique. Performance analysis demonstrates that there is a significant latency improvement for high priority data over low priority data especially when there is high system contention.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Effect of Dietary Folic Acid Supplementation on Female Germ Cell Aneuploidy

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Mikwar, Myy
    Abstract:
    Aneuploidy refers to cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes. In female germ cells, aneuploidy originates primarily during the first meiotic division of oogenesis as a result of chromosome segregation errors. Aneuploidy can lead to pregnancy loss and genetic defects in newborns. The incidence of aneuploidy in oocytes increases with advanced maternal age. There is evidence suggesting that dietary intervention can mitigate the effect of maternal age on oocyte aneuploidy. Folic acid, an essential B vitamin, is required for DNA synthesis, chromosome stability, methylation reactions, and proper gene expression; these processes are fundamental for female reproductive physiology. The major hypothesis is that folic acid supplementation will reduce the incidence of oocyte aneuploidy associated with advanced maternal aging. Here, I examined the effect of dietary folic acid supplementation on maternal age-induced oocyte aneuploidy using Bub1-heterozygous mice, a transgenic mouse model of aging-associated oocyte aneuploidy. Results showed that old female mice (24 weeks on a diet) fed a folic acid supplemented diet (8 mg/kg) had significantly more (2-fold) normal oocytes compared to the control group (2 mg/kg). Second, I examined the effect of dietary folic acid deficiency, adequacy and supplementation on colchicine-induced oocyte aneuploidy, as a model for studying age- induced oocyte aneuploidy. Results showed that colchicine treatment arrested a high proportion of oocytes (68%) in meiosis I leaving only 32% of meiosis II oocytes for analysis. No differences among the diet groups were observed. These preliminary results indicate that a larger sample size of mice would be required to determine whether diet has an effect on colchicne-induced oocyte aneuploidy and/or the use of a lower colchcine dose or mouse strain may prove more efficient. My data suggest that folic acid supplementation might mitigate the effect of aging on oocyte aneuploidy and that folate may play a causal role in the development of oocyte aneuploidies. These data, if replicated, suggest that women, especially older women, may benefit from consuming a folic acid supplement in the pre-conception period to avoid aneuploidy-affected pregnancies such as miscarriage and trisomy syndromes.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Effects of Ultrasonication on the Antioxidant and Anti-diabetic Properties of Hydrolyzed Oat Proteins

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Walters, Mallory Elizabeth
    Abstract:
    Ultrasonic treatments can be used to enhance protein extraction yields from foods. The objective of this work was to determine how the treatment of oat brans with ultrasounds affects the functionality and the physical properties of the hydrolyzed proteins. Oat brans were treated with ultrasonic cleaner bath and high-powered ultrasonication, after which, the proteins were extracted and hydrolyzed using three different proteases (Flavourzyme, Papain, and Alcalase). The effect of ultrasonication of brans had a minimal effect on the secondary structure, free thiol, zeta potential, and hydrophobicity of hydrolysates. Ultrasonic treatments did cause the release of two proteins not found in the control, specifically vromindoline and tryptophanin. The hydrolysis of protein isolates with proteases produced hydrolysates with notable antidiabetic activity (DPP-4 and alpha-amylase inhibition) but this was not influenced by the difference in polypeptide compositions.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Chemistry
    Date Created:
    2019

  • A comprehensive topic-model based hybrid sentiment analysis system

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Yang, Yibing
    Abstract:
    Nowadays, Twitter sentiment analysis is drawing a lot of attention due to its potential to drive decision making in a variety of domains. However, the trend that publicly available training datasets are becoming less available, the difficulty in determining topic numbers for topic model-based approach, and a lack of data level discussion about how to utilize the proposed models day-to-day to drive applications are still the remained concerns. To solve these problems, we firstly offer a new method to collect and build Twitter training dataset based on noisy labels; In addition, we proposed a topic-model based hybrid sentiment classification model by using our self-collected tweets, which utilizes three different topic models and coherence score to choose the best topic model in an automated way; Last but not least, a use case is illustrated to show how to apply our pipeline in a daily basis to solve real business problems.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Information Technology (M.I.T.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Digital Media
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Sparse Stereo Visual Odometry with Local Non-Linear Least-Squares Optimization for Navigation of Autonomous Vehicles

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Aguilar Calzadillas, Edgar Fabian
    Abstract:
    In this thesis, the author presents a Sparse Stereo Visual Odometry system for navigation of autonomous vehicles. The proposed system has the capability to estimate the camera's pose based on its surrounding environment. In contrast to other Visual Odometry systems with Bundle Adjustment optimization, the system proposed in here differs in four main aspects: (1) it utilizes both stereo frames to track features between frames; (2) it does not require a bootstrap step to initialize the algorithm; (3) it performs a local optimization at every increment frame instead of perform a windowed optimization; and (4) it consider the both stereo images inside the optimization instead of just one side of the stereo system. The system was tested on the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KITTI) Vision Benchmark Suit, as well as with a set of video sequences recorded with commercial stereo cameras on the roads of the city of Ottawa, Ontario.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Aerospace
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Canadian War Museum's 1812: A Question of Perspective

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Lamancusa, Philip Michael
    Abstract:
    This thesis focuses on the "Four Wars of 1812," or simply 1812, exhibit produced by the Canadian War Museum (CWM) in Ottawa, open to the general public from 13 June 2012 to 6 January 2013.  An investigation of museum documents, academic literature and news media, viewer feedback, and interviews with museum staff involved with the project has been conducted. Examined here are exhibit development, approach, and content, as well as public responses to the exhibit, government policy, museum practice, and a national conversation about war and peace in the context of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. The thesis concludes that the CWM successfully walked a tightrope, aware of but avoiding politics and controversy while appealing to a wide audience and fulfilling the museum's responsibilities to stakeholders and scholarship.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    History
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Space Between: Transformative Public Space

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Kasowski, Anne-Marie Nicole Mitchell
    Abstract:
    What is transformative space? What constitutes an interesting or uninteresting public space? Why do we see the term 'transformative' when reflecting on cities and public space? To situate the characteristics and value of transformative practice, this thesis will define and carry out a project to research six public spaces in Ottawa, chosen to represent six different spatial conditions. Are these locations just transitional 'in between' space, and if so, in between what? Whether located near civic buildings or within residential neighborhoods, what is the narrative we expect from a public space or wish to insert into it? These public spaces are constantly in transition. This thesis will explore the tensions between spaces by examining the adaptive and transformative qualities. The project, integrated within the thesis, will offer spatial strategies and interventions that explore the potential for spatial change as urban situations and human needs evolve.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Architecture
    Date Created:
    2019

  • A Framework for Traffic Collision Prediction Using Historical Accident Information and Real-Time Sensor Data: A Case Study for the City of Ottawa

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Reveron Yanes, Enrique Alfredo
    Abstract:
    According to recent studies, beyond being a major worldwide problem with huge economic impact, traffic collisions are poised to become as well one of the most important leading causes of death. Proactive traffic enforcement and intervention should be based on a thorough analysis on the collision data available to identify leading causes of accidents, the most prone locations as well as to predict the conditions for collision occurrence. This thesis presents a novel framework for collision prediction that takes into consideration historical and real-time factors, such as weather, geospatial information and social event data that can be obtained with existing sensor technology. A prototype is proposed, implemented and evaluated for the city of Ottawa, Canada, to predict: (1) accident frequency (collision vs no-collisions) and (2) accident severity (in terms of fatal, injury and property damage only accidents). The best performance was achieved using gradient boosted trees in both cases.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Regulation of Antioxidant Defenses, DNA Damage Repair, the Immune Response, and Neuroprotection During Hibernation in the Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Szereszewski, Kama
    Abstract:
    Hibernation is a fascinating survival adaptation that allows animals to transition into a torpid state to survive winter by coordinating a strong suppression of metabolic rate, conservation of energy, and reduction of body temperature. This strategy permits thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) and other hibernating mammals to endure the winter season when there is little access to food. Many energy-expensive cellular processes are suppressed, including gene transcription and protein synthesis/turnover, but are reactivated rapidly when animals arouse back to euthermia. Both torpor and arousal can have damaging consequences; for example, during arousal, reactive oxygen species flood the cell causing oxidative damage to numerous cellular components. Therefore, hibernation requires many pro-survival mechanisms to mitigate multiple types of damage: e.g. from oxidative damage, DNA damage, and pathogen attack, among others. The research reported in this thesis on damage control processes in hibernators shows that antioxidant enzymes such as PRDXs are upregulated in key tissues but in an isoform- and time-specific manner over the torpor-arousal cycle. PRDX isoforms were found to be significantly upregulated in specific tissues. Similarly, DNA damage repair is initiated during torpor and is characterized by the binding of repair proteins such as Ku80 and the MRN complex to the site of breaks, but ligation (with XLF) reactions to fully repair DNA do not appear to occur until arousal. Pro-inflammatory mechanisms are also used to deal with pathogens; these remain active at basal levels in a tissue-specific manner during torpor, but are up-regulated in the final stages just before arousal or only during arousal depending on the tissue, such as the induction of CCL5, a recruiter of monocytes. A cyto/neuro-protective mitochondrial peptide, s-humanin, was also identified that is induced in a tissue-specific manner, helping to protect key organs such as the brain cortex and adipose tissues. The results show that hibernation is a complex, multi-faceted process that employs specific adaptations of damage prevention/repair pathways to protect squirrel tissues from damage not only during prolonged torpor but over the transitional states to/from torpor and does so expertly while conserving energy until such a time that repair mechanisms may be fully initiated.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Me, Myself, and ID: Towards Usable, Privacy-Preserving, Fraud-Resistant Digital Identity Services for Smartphone Users

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Lutaaya, Michael Christopher Kitandwe
    Abstract:
    Between easy-to-counterfeit physical IDs, the poor adoption of some digital alternatives, and the weak security of others, the need for better identity solutions becomes apparent. As such, this thesis explores how digital identity services can be designed in a usable, secure, and privacy-preserving manner.Our first user study examines the discoverability of participants' personally identifiable information (PII) to determine what information is suitable for identity proofing. We found that many different types of PII could be obtained by an imposter and that individuals significantly underestimate the risk of said information being available.Our second user study explores the usability of a prototype digital identity service for smartphone users. We identify and categorize users' perceptions, opinions, and concerns over using this type of service. Our findings highlight the need to support users in developing accurate mental models to avoid usability issues.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Computer Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Large Angle Washout Algorithms for Flight Simulators

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Micomonaco, Mikayla
    Abstract:
    This thesis presents modifications to classical washout algorithms to allow for large angular motion. This allows flight simulators with large angular motion envelopes to more effectively produce the motion cues for edge-of-envelope aircraft manoeuvres for pilot training. Classical washout is implemented and the implementation is validated using numeric metrics, normalized Pearson correlation, integral of the error, and maximum error; and plots of the modelled vestibular response. This implementation is then used as a performance baseline for two proposed modifications. Large-angle washout uses quaternions and eliminates the small-angle approximations present in classical washout. Unrestricted angular washout allows for unbounded rotation about all axes. For manoeuvres with small angular motion cues, the original classical washout algorithm designed for small angles performs best, and unrestricted angular washout has comparable performance. For manoeuvres with large angular motion cues, unbounded angular washout performs best.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Aerospace
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Safety Analysis of SysML Models in the Context of Model-Driven Engineering

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Al shboul, Bashar Abdul Kareem Mahmoud
    Abstract:
    Safety Critical Systems (SCS) must operate inside of their prescribed specifications, otherwise, they can cause harm to the user(s) and/or the environment. These systems are used in various domains, such as aerospace, automotive, railway and healthcare. Safety Analysis (SA) is performed on SCS to ensure that they are safe enough to be operational. Many SA techniques already exist and had proven their effectiveness; hence their use is recommended and, in some cases mandated, by industry standards and certification authorities.This thesis aims to develop a methodology termed Model-Driven Safety Engineering (MDSE) for integrating well-established SA methods with standard and well-known tools and techniques within the Model Driven Engineering (MDE) system development process. The proposed methodology can be applied with minimal learning effort. It brings multiple benefits, such as increasing the safety and confidence level of SCS, reducing the costs in various aspects and enhancing the communication between all stakeholders.The proposed approach follows the MDE process by modeling the system under development with the System Modeling Language (SysML), an Object Management Group (OMG) standard. The SysML model is extended with safety annotations using another OMG standard, the UML Profile for Modeling and Analysis of Real-Time Embedded Systems (MARTE), and its dependability extension, the Dependability Analysis and Modeling (DAM) profile. We propose a multi-step automatic model transformation, where a SysML model annotated with safety information is transformed into models for Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). To guide the synthesis of fault tree models, we propose a set of failure mapping patterns, which show how model elements representing failure in the source model are mapped to the target model. The first step transforms the annotated SysML model into Component-based Fault Trees (CFT) models (one CFT per component). A second transformation composes CFTs, producing System-level Fault Trees (SFT). A third transformation feeds back the quantitative results obtained by solving the CFTs and SFTs models to the SysML model. A final transformation synthesizes an FMEA model from the system SysML model and the generated FTs, to keep the FT and FMEA models synchronized.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Life After the Scandal: Thalidomide, Family, and Rehabilitation in Modern Canada, 1958-1990

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Chisholm, Christine Anna
    Abstract:
    In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the drug thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant women around the world as a sedative to combat morning sickness. Instead of being "completely safe," as advertisements had promised, thalidomide caused "deformities" in children born to mothers who took the drug. In Canada thalidomide was licensed for prescription use on April 1, 1961 and remained on the market until the spring of 1962, despite knowledge of the possible connection between the medication and birth defects in newborns. This dissertation focuses on thalidomers' lives after the scandal. It argues that in Canada, thalidomiders' experiences in the aftermath of the tragedy demonstrate that their disabled bodies remained political and public bodies, even in the most intimate and private aspects of their lives. Drawing on disability history and medical history, this dissertation extends the approach of patient histories to include thalidomiders' social lives and disability as a lived experience. Because disability is always political, this case study of thalidomiders in Canada builds on the feminist critique of a public/private dichotomy and suggests that people living with disabilities do not simply blur but always transgress the public/private divide. Through an examination of rehabilitation, school, families, sexuality and reproduction, this dissertation demonstrates that thalidomiders' lives were political as they, both inadvertently and intentionally, confronted notions of normality and engendered the limits of socially-prescribed norms. In addition, their very existence challenged ideas of humanness and belonging, and their lives were defined by their conscious and subconscious resistance to notions of abject bodies. Canadian thalidomiders have challenged the cultural importance of physical "normality" in Canada through everyday performances, and counteracted deep-seated fears of difference and "the abnormal" through their presence in communities. This dissertation is the first study to use oral history methodology to bring the voices of Canadian thalidomiders to the attention of scholars.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    History
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Going North: A Reflection on Lines at the First Canadian Road to the Arctic Coast

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Murray, Stephanie
    Abstract:
    The experience of the first Canadian Road to the Arctic Coas informed the trajectory of this thesis which investigates "the line" as a tool that explores and describes spatial understandings: whether as a physical artifact in space (the road), in making (maps, notations, models and drawings), in storylines (with their material consequences) or physical perspectives (as lines of sight); all of which inform thinking and acting in and toward the site of study. A line doesn't necessarily manifest as "the dot that went for a walk", but often as an inclination, a thought pattern, a habit of spatial engagement, an assumption, or a physical act. The lines we draw and imagine, order our spatial and social practices and write the stories of our understandings. Through a series of reflective exercises this thesis looks for ways in which we might begin destabilizing our patterns of seeing, thinking and making.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Architecture
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Advances towards Multi-hazard Analysis by Hybrid Simulation of Buildings in Fire and Fire Following Earthquake

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Yu, Zhimeng
    Abstract:
    Hybrid simulation is an innovative testing technique which takes both advantages the efficiency in numerical modelling and accuracy of physical test. This research presents a framework for assessing the risks of large-scale structures in fire and fire following earthquake through hybrid simulation. Full interactions between the thermal and mechanical behaviour of the structures are considered in the assessment. In the proposed framework, the element of the prototype structure that is exposed to the sequence of fire loads is selected as physical domain for physical test while the remainder structure as numerical domain is numerically modelled. An illustrative example of the building exposed to fire hazard is presented to demonstrate the hybrid fire simulation methodology. For the multi-hazard risk, a numerical study on the performance of a 4-storey steel moment resisting frame subjected to fire following earthquake is also presented in this research.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Civil
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Food for Thought: Metaphor in Communication and Cognition

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Genovesi, Chris
    Abstract:
    Metaphors are undoubtedly contextual phenomena. We often creatively employ them to say one thing and mean another by exploiting the literal meaning of the words used. However, metaphors are not simply parasitic on literal meaning. Rather, they pull from ways interlocutors, readers, and audiences understand context, and they tap into our shared knowledge of the world and one another's mutual beliefs.In this thesis, I propose a pragmatic account of metaphor that treats metaphorical meaning as the result of recovering the speaker's intended meaning. I defend a broadly Gricean account of metaphorical content from more recent accounts that take metaphorical meaning to be directly, explicitly, and automatically interpreted by an audience. A related concern with my view is whether metaphors are distinctively unique from other forms of linguistic communication. According to recent philosophers of language, metaphors and their literal counterparts exploit the same basic cognitive processes. I disagree with this conclusion.I promote a position that treats metaphor on par with poetic imaginings that exploit characterizations (roughly, stereotypes) to novel ends. This makes my treatment of metaphor importantly different from contemporary treatments of it that reduce metaphor to 'literally loose' talk. I develop a framework of metaphoric communication that is based on Korta and Perry's (2011b) framework developed at length in "Critical Pragmatics". The theoretical utility offered by Korta and Perry's framework is made explicit throughout, but becomes especially important in Part II where I undertake to show how their framework allows me to subsume the nuances of communicating metaphorically within a broader theory of communication.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Cognitive Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • "To Bring a Little Bit of the Land": Tanya Tagaq Performing at the Intersection of Decolonization and Ecocriticism

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Boerchers, Meredith Jayne
    Abstract:
    Two needs that have grown increasingly critical in Canada throughout the twenty-first century are the reduction of global warming and the decolonization of lands, social institutions, and collectivities. Rather than operating independently, decolonization and environmentalism intersect as Indigenous actors contest Western assumptions about "nature" by asserting their own ecological frameworks. In this thesis, I explore Inuk vocalist Tanya Tagaq's artistic contributions to these efforts by analysing her musical commentaries on "nature" in light of Indigenous scholarship on "decolonization". I argue that Tanya Tagaq performs decolonized environmental values by evoking Inuit ecology and embodying Inuit ecologically-rooted ontology on stage. I further contend that Tagaq's musical practices demonstrate a decolonized approach to eco-activism by foregrounding Inuit experiences and discourses, and advocating for environmental issues by mobilizing Inuit worldviews. Throughout this thesis, I demonstrate that Tagaq's environmentally-themed output challenges Western constructions of Inuit and the Arctic while asserting Inuit perspectives in public spaces.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Music and Culture
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Correlates of Denial: Exploring the Function of Denial Among Men Who Commit Sexual Offences Against Children

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Lucente, Gabrielle
    Abstract:
    Men who commit sexual offences against children may engage in denial and minimization that relates to an increased risk to reoffend or as an adaptive response in an adversarial environment. To better understand how and when denial may be related to risk, its function must first be understood. The current study examined the association between denial and factors indicating denial as a risk factor or as an adaptive response among 29 adult men who had committed a sexual offence against a child. Contrary to hypotheses, denial was negatively related to callous-interpersonal traits of psychopathy, and largely unrelated to self-esteem. In line with hypotheses, denial was negatively related to self-identification as a sexual offender and negatively related with attitudes towards sexual offenders. The current study's findings may be consistent with an adaptive use of denial, which has implications for treatment and management decisions.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Lee Mingwei: The Art Must Go On

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Kokozaki, Alexia-Leana
    Abstract:
    Versatile in time, location and form, Lee Mingwei's works are characterized by themes of transience, temporality and transmission. Lee often orchestrates one-on-one situations that produce ephemeral relationships with his audiences, where he offers a small service or gift in exchange for their participation and trust. By being both relational and participatory, his works are meant to inspire introspection regarding relationships, our own and others. Although his projects are deceptively simple in appearance, often portrayed as familiar everyday actions of eating, sleeping, conversing, mending or gifting in company, there lies great psychological and spiritual depth to them. Therefore, as a method to unpack the rich underlying concepts behind his works, this study will relate Lee Mingwei's projects to prevalent concepts of Relational Aesthetics, Zen Buddhism and gift-giving tendencies.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Art History
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Fabrication of Long Range Surface Plasmon Polariton Biosensors incorporating Optical Waveguides and Encapsulated Microfluidic Channels via Wafer Bonding"

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Asif, Muhammad
    Abstract:
    A microfabricated structure incorporating optical waveguides and closed microfluidic channels is an essential component in realizing a practical long range surface plasmon polariton (LRSPP) biosensor. This has been achieved through advances in fabrication processes to realize reliable optical waveguides, and by development of a reliable wafer bonding process to create closed fluid channels. An existing process for fabrication of gold waveguides was modified by introducing ultra-shallow trenches to recess waveguides and present a planar surface for bonding. An improved fluidic channel etching process was characterized and successfully employed, yielding very smooth channel surfaces free from curtaining and grass issues. Optical performance of the complete bonded chips was demonstrated and verified using a cutback measurement method, producing an attenuation loss of 4.92 dB/mm. An alternative hot embossing process for formation of microfluidic channels on a TOPAS substrate was investigated.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Basic Psychological Needs and Passion: Exploring Predictors of Problematic Video Gaming Behaviours

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Capaldi, Jonathan
    Abstract:
    Problematic video gaming is a growing concern across the world. Critically, when video gaming interferes with the pursuit of life goals or begins to negatively affect other life domains (e.g., work, school, relationships), they are described as problematic gaming behaviours. Researchers have linked problematic gaming behaviours to negative outcomes in a variety of contexts, such as university performance and mental illness. However, research is only beginning to examine why problematic gaming develops. I explored possible relations between psychological needs frustration, obsessive passion, and problematic gaming behaviours. A direct model and a mediation model were explored across 2 studies. Study 1 found a small effect of psychological needs frustration, and a large effect of obsessive passion, whereas the indirect effect was not statistically significant. Study 2 recruited a larger sample targeted towards gamers and replicated the direct effects of study 1 and found a significant indirect effect in the mediation model.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Feasibility Study for Measuring Drell-Yan Angular Coefficients in the Atlas Detector Using Low-Pileup Data Sets

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Bachiu, Alexander William
    Abstract:
    W and Z bosons are the mediators of the fundamental weak force and are some of the particles produced using proton-proton collisions with the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Proton-proton interactions producing Z bosons, which subsequently decay into leptonic particles, like electrons, are known as the Drell-Yan process. Its differential cross-section expresses the probability for this process to occur depending on the Z bosons' and decay products' kinematic variables. It can be separated into eight spin-related ratios, known as the Drell-Yan angular coefficients. This thesis is a feasibility study to explore if there is sufficient statistical sensitivity to measure the coefficients with special data sets. Taken with the ATLAS detector, these sets have a lower average number of interactions per proton bunch crossing. This thesis includes predictions of the coefficients and comparisons of MC simulations to the data; this is the first look at these data sets.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Physics
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Computations and Measurements of the Effects of Trailing-Edge Geometry on the Wake of Bluff Bodies

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Caylan, Utku
    Abstract:
    This study has aimed to shed further light on the wake dynamics of a bluff body with a streamlined fore body and a rectangular blunt base through experiments and numerical analysis. Specifically, the study was designed to establish the role of instability modes and small-scale turbulence in shaping the wake dynamics, and the effect of boat tails including lobed geometries on the wake structure. In the absence of small-scale turbulence, the near wake of the body is dominated by the effects of two instability modes that promote larger-scale transient motions. Small-scale turbulence is found to have a significant suppressing effect on these motions. Presence of a straight tail or a lobed tail is observed to alter the relative roles of the instability modes affecting the wake and the resultant streamwise mixing rates.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Aerospace
    Date Created:
    2019

  • To Swerve and Neglect: De-Policing Throughout Today’s Front-Line Police Work

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Brown, Gregory Roy
    Abstract:
    This mixed methods study investigates how American and Canadian front-line police officers are responding to policing's new visibility, which implicates citizen-generated mobile device and CCTV footage and concomitant online interconnectivity and social media discourse, and to intensified scrutiny of officers' actions by a more critical public audience. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from 3,660 rank-and-file officers at 23 police agencies across Canada and throughout the State of New York.This study finds that a substantial majority of today's rank-and-file officers in the 23 jurisdictions across both countries (72%) are intentionally reducing, or eliminating, proactive interactions in the community, in response to officers' perceptions that such discretionary initiatives are unnecessarily risky. Little variation was found across location and agency variables (country, region, and police agency size) or across individual officers' demographic variables (gender and race/ethnicity). For individual officers, the decision to practice de-policing and any subsequent intensification in an officer's de-policing practices, is associated with the accumulation of negative police-citizen interactions over an officer's years of front-line police service. Influence from the rank-and-file police subculture also plays a significant role in contributing to these widespread risk-averse practices.For many officers, de-policing is connected with attitudes toward, and avoidance of, individuals perceived as presenting with mental health issues and/or a 'non-traditional' sexual orientation, and, even more strongly, in relation to persons perceived by front-line officers as visible racialized minorities. Implications of the methodology and findings are discussed, including those in relation to the author's role as a 'pracademic' researcher, to the current and future situation of policing in North America, and to the author's efforts to enter into public debates regarding today's policing.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Sociology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • An ERP Study to Investigate Age-Related Differences in Sensory Gating and Auditory Processing

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Paleske, Caidence Sonya
    Abstract:
    Sensory gating is a mechanism that inhibits neurological responses to redundant information. Although studied within clinical populations, sensory gating has rarely been investigated with respect to aging. The present research investigated age-related changes in auditory sensory gating using electroencephalography and quantified the effect of age on adaptive gating responses for oddball stimuli. Age-related differences in sensory gating and oddball responses were observed in late-stage auditory processing, where older adults exhibited weaker sensory gating. An attenuated P200 for firstandsecond clicks seen in the aging group may explain the weaker sensory gating ratio seen in older participants. Furthermore, replacing the second click with oddball stimuli attenuated, but did not eliminate sensory gating, indicating that sensory gating is a dynamic mechanism. Findings suggest that sensory gating is diminished for older adults and may transform from an adaptive mechanism under executive control to a pre-attentive limiter of auditory processing.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The internal cranial anatomy of Champsosaurus lindoei and its functional implications

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Dudgeon, Thomas William
    Abstract:
    AlthoughChampsosaurusis well-known in Late Cretaceous and Paleocene deposits of North America, their cranial anatomy is poorly understood. Here, a well-preserved skull ofChampsosaurus lindoeiis described in detail using high-resolution micro-CT scanning. This confirms the presence of the putative neomorphic bone, which may be homologous with the pre-existing stapes, or developed through incomplete fusion of dermatocranial ossification centres. The ventral openings on the skull ofChampsosaurusrelate to the fenestrae ovales, an unusual configuration that may be convergent with other aquatic reptiles. Overall, the endocranial anatomy ofChampsosaurusis typical for a basal diapsid. The morphology of the pars inferior of the inner ear suggests thatChampsosauruswere capable of detecting sound underwater, and geometric morphometric analyses of the semicircular canals suggests that they were specialized for detecting head movements in an aquatic environment. Taken together, these results suggest thatChampsosauruswere well adapted for an aquatic lifestyle.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Earth Sciences
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Implications of Sustainable Design Considerations for an Effective Learning Environment in Industrial Design Studios

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Matboully, Mohamed
    Abstract:
    Design studios are the central part of the learning environment in industrial design schools, and the incorporation of sustainable design considerations are essential for the optimization of the learning spaces for design students in our current times. These studio spaces can play a salient role in facilitating collaboration among students and promoting creativity. Recently, the School of Industrial Design's studios at Carleton University have been redesigned with an effort to resolve interior design challenges such as Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and sense of space. Through semi-structured interviews and extensive field notes, this study sought to obtain feedback from end-users (students and faculty members) on their overall experience using the new design studios. This study also pinpoints problematic areas that need to be addressed, based on emerging themes. Preliminary directions and guidelines have been proposed that can be implemented in order to improve the studios in the School of Industrial Design
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Design (M.Des.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Industrial Design
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Dynamic Model-Based Dose Calculations of Permanent Implant Prostate Brachytherapy

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    McCooeye, Luke Pollard
    Abstract:
    This thesis presents the development of a framework for performing dynamic model-based dose calculations in target organs exhibiting geometry changes during permanent implant brachytherapy. The framework is applied to investigate the dosimetric effect of edema during125I prostate brachytherapy. Dynamic dose distributions are accumulated from mapped dose distributions calculated using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations on treatment geometries predicted from post-implant images and clinically-observed models of edema. Ten unique edema resolution models are implemented for 120 patients. Clinical AAPM TG-43 and static MC dose calculations overestimate D90 values compared to dynamically-calculated dose distributions; these overestimations range from 5 to >30% depending on edema model and patient parameters,e.g., the presence of intraprostatic calcifications. Edema should be considered for accurate dose calculations of permanent implant prostate brachytherapy treatments.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Physics
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Finite Element Modelling of Anchorage to Concrete Systems at Different Strain Rates

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Al Saeab, Lenda T. Ahmed
    Abstract:
    Demand for flexibility in design and faster construction times has resulted in the increasing use of fasteners in a variety of concrete structures. These structures are exposed to static and dynamic loading conditions. Furthermore, these structures can be exposed to high strain rate loading such as encountered in impact and blast loads. Thus, anchorage systems used to fasten elements to concrete structures are also exposed to the high strain rates of loading which can be tensile and shear loads. If not adequately designed and constructed, anchorages can fail in a catastrophic manner and pose significant threat to building safety and the life of building occupants.Behaviour of anchors embedded into concrete and subjected to static load has been widely investigated experimentally. However, despite the fact that many structures that contain anchorage systems are exposed to dynamic loads, the research in this vital area is limited. Currently, no guidance is available in design codes for the anchorage response under high strain rate loading. The American Concrete Institute and Concrete Capacity Design methods are recommended for anchorage system subjected to static and low cycle dynamic loading only. Hence, there is a need to develop a design method to predict the anchorage response and capacity under impact and blast loading.The project presented in this thesis aims to investigate the tensile and shear behaviour of cast-in-place, adhesive and undercut anchors subjected to different strain rates using LS-DYNA software. Numerical models of the anchorage systems with different design parameters were developed and mesh sensitivity analyses were carried out to determine mesh sizes that best simulated the experimental results obtained from the literature. The ultimate static capacity results were verified with the design methods. Effect of strain rate, embedment depth, and anchor diameter on the tensile and shear failure loads was investigated. Failure modes for the anchorage systems were also examined at different strain rates. Concrete cone breakout diameter and failure cone angles were investigated. A relation between the ultimate loads and the strain rates was investigated and dynamic increase factors (DIF) for design were determined. Regression analysis was performed to predict a relation that accurately represents the finite element results.Results of the tensile and shear loading of the anchorage to concrete systems show that anchorage to concrete system capacity increases with an increase in the strain rates. The failure mode of the anchorage systems is influenced by the strain rate. Maximum DIFs of 1.74, 1.13and 1.58were obtained for the cast-in-place, adhesive and undercut anchors under tensile load respectivelywhere concrete cone breakout failure mode was observed. Maximum DIFs of 1.17, 1.13 and 1.44 respectively were obtained for the cast-in-place, adhesive and undercut anchors exhibited steel failure mode. The maximum DIFs were 1.15, 1.18 and 1.45respectively for the anchors subjected to shear loadwhere steel failure was observed.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Civil
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Stories of Madness: Exploring Resistance, Conformity, Resiliency, Agency, and Disengagement in Mental Health Narratives

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Johnston, Matthew
    Abstract:
    Old and present mental health systems tend to emphasize mental health service users as passive recipients of psychiatric care, which suppresses the idea that people who experience serious mental illness are able to comprehend their own sickness and recovery and therefore engage psychiatric experts about their care. This dissertation seriously interrogates the ways in which those who experience serious mental illness become agential, resist some of the control mechanisms, relationships of power, and infantilizing rituals found within the Canadian mental health system, and survive abject circumstances. Drawing on my own autoethnographic experiences with psychosis and psychiatric hospitalization, as well as 10 interviews with mental health service users, I argue that narrative approaches to inquiry and a post-anarchist praxis can reveal and liberate our agential capacities to recover and live through madness that otherwise become less known through biomedical approaches to mental health research. I identify some of the porous boundaries between the livable and unlivable forms of madness, and explore the complex relationships between service users and their caregivers whose penultimate goal is to help us live a manageable life. I conclude by discussing the contributions of this dissertation and reflect on some of the practical needs of the current mental health system.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Sociology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • I daydream therefore I am: Investigating associative and narrative processes in daydreaming and self-concept

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Blouin-Hudon, Eve-Marie
    Abstract:
    In this dissertation, I propose that certain daydreams follow principles of association, such that mental elements should be prompted by unique and salient information from the external environment. In turn, daydreams formed through association should be specific and emotionally intense. I also propose that certain daydreams follow principles of narrative processing, such that mental elements should be prompted by more general self-related information such as goals and life stories. In turn, daydreams formed through narrative processing should be organized in a temporally coherent way, follow a common theme, and elicit meaning-making (i.e., connecting experiences to the self). Because of their more integrative presentation of self-related information, I propose that narrative daydreams will have a greater influence on the self-concept than associative daydreams. Three hundred and six participants across two experiments completed a modified sustained attention task with ten random daydreaming probes. Participants were randomly assigned to either an associative or narrative condition. The manipulation in each condition differed across experiments, yet all manipulations aimed to influence daydream content to be more associative or more narrative, respectively. Associative and narrative daydream elements were then assessed through self-report measures, and by coding written daydream descriptions. Results of exploratory factor analyses revealed an emotional and self-related factor (close to theorized associative daydreams) and a realistic narrative factor for self-rated items, and associative and narrative daydream factors for coder-rated items. Multilevel growth curve analyses of these factors demonstrated that daydreams did not follow an associative or narrative structure based on condition (as hypothesized), but instead, varied in an idiosyncratic manner over probes. Finally, multiple regression analyses revealed that self-rated realistic narrative daydreams positively predicted increases in self-consciousness and private self-consciousness in both experiments. However, none of the daydream factors were significantly related to self-concept clarity or self-esteem. This suggests that daydreams that follow a narrative sequence may bring about awareness to the self. However, different processes may need to come into play to take the narratives generated through daydreaming and incorporate them into stable evaluations and knowledge of self (i.e., self-esteem and self-concept clarity). Future research and implications are discussed.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: A Counter-Archive

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Conty, Sheridan Christine
    Abstract:
    The National Inquiry into MMIWG signals a larger moment in Canadian politics in which the State seeks on some level to recognize and remedy injustices committed against Indigenous peoples. This political momentum is marked by a proliferation of commissions and inquiries whose capacity to unsettle existing structures of power and to enact transformative social justice is highly debatable. This research examines the bureaucratic and archiving processes of the Inquiry in order to uncover both how it materializes on an everyday level, and how members of the settler public engage with it. Understanding how the public engages with the National Inquiry may make legible why it both succeeds and fails, and by consequence how the lives of Indigenous peoples are impacted. This research works to reveal some of the logics behind bureaucratic and archiving practices, and how non-Indigenous members of the public engage with a public inquiry of such monumental importance.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Anthropology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Genome-wide association study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adaptations to the cystic fibrosis lung

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Noah, Katherine Elizabeth
    Abstract:
    Pseudomonas aeruginosais an opportunistic pathogen that chronically infects the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. We know that these bacteria evolve within the lung environment, and have an idea of some of the changes that occur. I performed a genome-wide association study inP. aeruginosausing a variety of analysis methods and several datasets of gene and SNP presence/absence. I determined that the machine learning algorithms random forest and support vector machines performed well on gene presence/absence and core SNP datasets, respectively, when compared with current methods (PLINK and treeWAS). Genes and SNPs already associated with adaptation to the CF lung environment, such asmucA,gyrA, andmexgenes, were found with these methods. Some hypothetical and probable proteins were also recovered, and are good candidates for future research.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Control, Simulation, and Testbed Development for Improving Maritime Launch and Recovery Operations

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    McPhee, Johanna
    Abstract:
    This thesis presents various tools to improve motion compensation strategies in maritime launch and recovery: a 3D simulator to examine wave synchronization, a signal prediction algorithm for Go-NoGo states and a hardware set-up to simulate ship and wave motion. The simulator of towed body dynamics was advanced to model the wave interactions with the towed body as the body exits the water. Simulations were run to investigate the inclusion of wave synchronization in active heave compensation strategies where the hypothesis that wave synchronization would reduce variations in cable tension was not supported. The use of a signal prediction method that forecasts a periodic signal was explored for long-term predictions of a Go-NoGo state. For the development of laboratory equipment, a ship motion simulator was designed and built to emulate 5 degrees-of-freedom of ship motion. For producing waves, a design methodology was developed for the design of a plunger-type wavemaker.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Mechanical
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Impact of Bacteriophage on the Aging Brain and Inflammatory Response: Relevance to Parkinson’s Disease

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Beauchamp, Sheryl
    Abstract:
    Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with age and inflammation with increased prevalence associated with gut dysbiosis. Bacteriophage 936 (phage), has been associated with gut disturbances. We assessed the impact of phage in young (4-5 months) or old (15-16 months) mice to determine if it augments the impact of an inflammatory (LPS) stimulus. The young vs old mice received phage, followed by LPS. Changes in brain inflammation and gut microbiome were analyzed, as well as motor functioning and sickness. We hypothesized that both LPS and age would exacerbate the immunological changes produced by the phage. We found that phage alone did cause measurable changes in inflammatory biomarkers, both peripherally and centrally as well as behavioral changes, as evidenced by sickness and weight loss. Both LPS and age exacerbated the immunological changes produced by phage. Presenting for the first time, phage, in aged mice has complex effects that vary with inflammatory stimulus.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Neuroscience
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Peer Information and Substance Use Decision Making in Street-Involved Youth

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Macdonald, Erin
    Abstract:
    Drug related information sharing among homeless youth is an understudied phenomenon with critical intervention implications in the community. This study takes a mixed-methods approach with a sample of street-involved youth, to assess both themes relevant to peer information sharing about drug use, and whether peer information sharing has an impact on well-being. N=82 youth were recruited from a community drop-in centre, n=46 participants completed a semi-structured interview assessing factors relating to drug related peer information sharing. All participants completed a survey assessing substance use frequency and dependence, well-being, and peer credibility. Key qualitative findings demonstrated that trust, experience, and salience of information were key themes in assessing peer provided information regarding substance use. Regression analysis indicated a small relationship between peer credibility and well-being. These findings provide a critical view of high-risk youths' evaluation of drug related information, with implications for improving current information sharing strategies in the community.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Combining Experimental and Theoretical Evidence to Understand Predator Learning Behaviour with Unfamiliar Prey

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Efford, Lauren Kelly
    Abstract:
    Predators confronted with an unfamiliar prey must decide whether or not to attack it. This decision is dependent on the predator's previous experiences with the prey type. In this thesis, I tested the ability of Jamaican field crickets,Gryllus assimilis, to learn a novel binary food choice between a rewarding and unrewarding prey using visual cues. Evidence of learning was confirmed across trials. Moreover, the colour of the prey significantly affected the probability of crickets choosing the palatable option, with green prey more likely to be attacked than blue prey. I then developed a model that formalized prey selection in terms of an exploration-exploitation trade-off. Here, I identified the optimal sampling strategy for a predator with Bayesian learning. I demonstrate that a predator's prior beliefs (Bayesian priors), and the certainty it has in its beliefs affect the optimal sampling strategy, and hence the nature of selection it places on prey.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Relationship Between Sources of Information and Perceived Competence Across a Sports Season: A Planned Missing Data Approach

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Jorgenson, Cecilia
    Abstract:
    This study explores the effect of various sources of information on youth athletes' perceived competence across a sports season. Of interest was how relationship variables (e.g., parent, peer and coach) and motivational variables (e.g., task and ego orientation) affected perceived competence at three-time points during a sports season. Two studies were conducted: A meta-analysis was undertaken to determine current understanding of these relationships within published research literature, and a quantitative study of 182 youth athletes (95 male, 87 female), ranging in age from 6 to 17 years, with an average age of 11.82 was conducted, using a planned missing data design. Both the meta-analysis and the quantitative study found task and ego orientation to have a positive relationship with perceived competence. Results from the meta-analysis also suggested that ego orientation may be differentially related to perceived competence as a function of culture (i.e., individualistic vs collectivist). The quantitative study looked at both between and within-person variability across a sports season. Results suggested that while relational and motivational variables were related to perceived competence in expected ways, perceived competence was also sensitive to changes, relative to the average, of both relationship quality and motivational variables, across a sports season. Results of the present thesis can be used to educate both coaches and parents as to the complex role that significant relationships and motivational climate play in understanding perceived competence in youth athletes.Keywords:Perceived competence; goal orientations; motivational climates; relationship quality; multi-level model; planned missing data; three-form design.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Development psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Integrated Aerial and Terrestrial Wireless Access Architecture for Beyond-5G Networks

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Alzenad, Mohamed
    Abstract:
    Providing wireless services from the sky, using aerial networks (aerial platforms), has recently gained significant attention. Aerial platforms such as (UAVs, also referred to as drones), balloons, and high-altitude/medium-altitude/low-altitude platforms (HAPs/MAPs/LAPs) can play a key role in future wireless networks. For example, a base station (BS) mounted on an aerial platform can boost capacity and/or enhance coverage. This thesis aims to address the challenges accompanied with the use of aerial platforms in wireless communication networks. Specifically, we propose novel frameworks that address various issues related to backhauling/fronthauling a dense deployment of small cells and the recently-envisioned concept of aerial-BSs.This thesis starts with proposing a novel backhaul/fronthaul network capable of transporting the backhaul/fronthaul traffic between the terrestrial-BSs and the core network. In the proposed network, the aerial platforms act as aerial-hubs that collect/deliver traffic from/to small cells via free-space optics (FSO) links. We show the main limitations of the proposed network and identify proper ways to tackle these limitations.Aerial platforms can also act as aerial-BSs; therefore, we address the energy-efficient aerial-BS placement problem. The aim is to find the 3D location of the aerial-BS that maximizes the number of covered users using the minimum transmit power. We decouple the aerial-BS deployments in the horizontal and vertical dimensions without any loss of optimality. Next, we investigate the 3D aerial-BS placement that maximizes the number of covered users with different quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. This 3D placement problem is modeled as a multiple circles placement problem. We propose an optimal placement algorithm. A low-complexity algorithm, referred to as the maximal weighted algorithm, is also proposed.In the last part of the thesis, stochastic geometry-based frameworks are proposed to analyze coverage and rate in two deployment scenarios: (1) a network of aerial-BSs with no underlying terrestrial-BSs, (2) a network of aerial-BSs and terrestrial-BSs. We derive analytical expressions for the conditional Laplace transform of the interference power and the association probabilities. Exact and approximate analytical expressions for the coverage probability and average achievable rate are also derived.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Ahead of its Time: An exploration of virtual environment effects on time estimation

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Monbourquette, Donna Lynn
    Abstract:
    Virtual reality (VR) is an increasingly popular technology, yet little is known about the cognitive effects it produces. For example, no research has been done investigating time perception in virtual environments. The present work proposed and tested a model of time estimation accuracy in virtual environments. A VR flight simulator was used to engage participants in a virtual environment, where they were required to make time estimations. Video game experience, cognitive load, and VR immersiveness factors were considered potential predictors. Video game experience, presence, interactivity, and immersion - fluency were significant predictors of time estimation accuracy. Having prior video gaming experience, higher levels of presence and interactivity in the virtual environment led to more accurate time estimates. In contrast, higher levels of immersion - fluency reduced time estimation accuracy. These results inform stakeholders of VR technology and highlight the importance of understanding how these factors influence time perception in VR.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Cognitive Science (M.Cog.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Cognitive Science
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Making Camp: Dwelling on the Land

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Mirecki, Lindsay Marie
    Abstract:
    Situated on a remote site located in the hinterlands of Northern Ontario, this thesis begins as a positioned commentary on the conceptual effects of a nature-culture dualism and ends as an exploration of a spatial and cultural phenomena that can facilitate its middle ground. The lens and methodology used to examine this interface is the cultural ecology of making camp. This concept of 'making camp' will be defined through five act of site engagement and documentation; Arrival, Clearing, Foraging, Dwelling & Restoring.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Architecture
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Design Of Singlet Fission Chromophores With Cyclic (Alkyl) (Amino) Carbene Building Blocks

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Japahuge, Achini N. L.
    Abstract:
    This is a theoretical chemistry study to design singlet fission chromophores. Quantum chemistry methods MRSF-TDDFT and NEVPT2 are used to design chromophores with the building blocks of cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs). CAAC dimers with C2, C4andp-phenylene spacers are considered. The substitutions with trifluoromethyls and fluorine atoms at the α position are investigated. The electronegative substituents enhance the π accepting capability of the α C, while maintaining it as a quaternary C atom. The phenylene-connected dimers with the two substitutions are identified as promising candidates for the singlet fission chromophores. The cylindrically symmetric C2and C4spacers allow for substantial structural reorganizations in the S0-to-S1and S0-to-T1excitations. Although the two substituted dimers with the C4spacer satisfy (or very close to satisfy) the primary thermodynamics criterion for the singlet fission, the significant structural reorganizations result in high barriers so that the fission is kinetically unfavorable.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Chemistry
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Regulation of NMDA Receptor Subtypes in Pain Processing Neurons within Lamina I of the Spinal Cord

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Dedek, Christopher
    Abstract:
    In lamina I (LI) of the spinal cord dorsal horn, excitatory NMDARs containing GluN2B subunits are phosphorylated and potentiated by Src family kinase (SFK) through BDNF signalling in chronic pain models. Contributions of GluN2B to synaptic responses in the brain makes it a difficult target to specifically treat pain. This study tested whether GluN2D-containing NMDARs are necessary for BDNF-mediated potentiation of NMDARs, whether GluN2D-containing NMDARs are functionally present at juvenile LI synapses and whether SFKs potentiate these receptors. Pharmacological inhibition of either GluN2D or GluN2B prevented potentiation by BDNF in adult spinal cord slices. Inhibition of GluN2A- and GluN2B-containing NMDARs resulted in residual charge transfer through NMDARs, attributed to GluN2D-containing NMDARs. When GluN2B/D-containing NMDARs were pharmacologically isolated, SFK activation failed to potentiate either isolated receptor subtype. We propose that LI of the dorsal horn may contain triheteromeric GluN2B/D NMDARs which do not undergo potentiation in the presence of GluN2B/D antagonists.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Neuroscience
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Improving SensAct’s Usability and Potential to Support Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Using Human-Centred Design Methods

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Tristary, Ebic
    Abstract:
    Individuals living with speech impairments may require an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to be able to speak or interact with other people. The implementation of an AAC device is fundamental to facilitate effective communication, expand social interaction, and to be part of the community. A team of developers at Bruyère - Saint-Vincent Hospital has been developing an AAC device called SensAct to fulfill those needs. Despite extensive advancements, stakeholders at the hospital feel the technology has usability issues preventing it from being implemented and used by a wider audience. This study aims to investigate factors influencing SensAct's usability, specifically, focusing on SensAct's user interface and usability issues that arise when configuring the system for healthcare clients. Using qualitative methods from human-centred design, this study identified systemic factors that influence AAC/SensAct implementation, and three key usability issues: time constraints, the use of complex technical terms, and sophisticated user interface.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Design (M.Des.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Industrial Design
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Getting “Woke” With Each Joke: Black Comediennes and Representational Resistance on YouTube

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    London, Shaunel
    Abstract:
    This research looks at the relationship between comedy, alternative media, and representations of Blackness. Using case studies Akilah Hughes and Franchesca Ramsey, two Black comediennes on YouTube, this thesis asks: how do Black women use both political comedy and alternative media to challenge the stereotypical and racialized representations of themselves in traditional media? A theoretical framework of critical race studies, post-colonialism, intersectional and Black feminisms, postmodernism, and theories of comedy in conjunction with the thematic qualitative text analysis of 30 YouTube videos were used to answer the question. My findings determined that Black women use political comedy and alternative media platforms to satirize oppressive and discriminatory ideologies and behaviours, framing instances of every day racism in absurd and exaggerated terms, which ultimately provides nuanced representations of Black womanhood that affirm the sexist, racist, and racially charged experiences and microaggressions that Black women endure on a daily basis.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Communication
    Date Created:
    2019

  • The Geometric Documentation of Painted Surfaces

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Dhanda, Abhijit
    Abstract:
    Digital documentation for the conservation of 2.5D painted surfaces requires high-resolution data. Geometric detail information can provide insight into the brushwork or condition of a painting, can be used for monitoring, to create facsimiles, or for valorization purposes. The issue with geometric documentation lies in its democratization; commercial systems are expensive. This thesis explores the use of data fusion to achieve high-resolution detail documentation (less than 100 um lateral spatial resolution) at a low-cost. The data fusion combines two image-based methods: photogrammetry and photometric stereo. An optimal result can be achieved by fusing the relevant frequencies from both methods. A case study comparing photogrammetry, photometric stereo, data fusion, and data from a triangulation-based scanner showed that the data fusion improves the results of the photogrammetry and photometric stereo but is inferior when compared to the triangulation-based scanner. Data fusion is a good low-cost alternative to expensive commercial methods.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Civil
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Are You What You Eat? How Protein and Carbohydrate Availability during Development Influence Cricket Cognition and other Fitness Conferring Traits in Adulthood

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Doria, Maria Daniella
    Abstract:
    Abstract The conditions experienced during development may influence adult cognition and fitness, especially when conditions are stressful. To test the developmental stress hypothesis, I manipulated Texas field crickets (Gryllus texensis) juvenile diet and observed its effects on cognition (Chapter 1) and other fitness-related traits; I also examined whether diet influenced trade-offs between traits (Chapter 2). Individuals improved their cognition scores with training, but not during the test trial, suggesting developmental diets were stressful, hindering spatial cognition. Female fecundity was greatest in larger females that grew quickly. Males that developed quickly and performed well cognitively had a high probability of adopting a caller strategy; these males also exhibited high calling effort, suggesting high overall condition. For all others, adopting a caller strategy and exhibiting high calling effort only occurred with trade-offs, either via slower development, poorer performance in the cognitive task, or both. Diet did not predict cognitive and reproductive trade-offs.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • An Experimental Test of the Condition Dependent Handicap Hypothesis Using Gryllus Pennsylvanicus

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Tremblay, Donovan Thomas
    Abstract:
    Viability-based indicator models predict a positive correlation between ornamentation and longevity. Although ornament manipulations can reveal attraction and survival effects, they can inaccurately estimate the costs of ornamentation arising from correlated life-history constraints. Cotton circumvented this problem by applying a weight manipulation to stalk-eyed flies and asking whether males with bigger stalks lived longer. She found that ornamentation was positively correlated with longevity in weight manipulated males. Building upon Cotton's findings, I applied a weight and a diet manipulation to field crickets (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) and quantified their acoustic signalling and longevity. High effort signallers survived longer across all treatments. Further, males that signaled more attractively also survived longer when they experienced a weight manipulation and/or a poor diet. The weight manipulation did not directly affect longevity, because weight manipulated males dealt with the manipulation by reducing their signalling effort. Overall, my results provide strong support for viability-based indicator models.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • Embodied Presence: Evidence for Embodiment of Effectors When Pointing in Virtual Environments

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Langerak, Robin M.
    Abstract:
    In this thesis, I proposed and tested the Embodied Presence Model (EPM), a framework aimed at examining the role of mental representations of the environment and body's effectors in supporting presence in virtual reality. A fundamental assumption of the EPM is that presence is a direct result of interactions between one's environment and one's effectors (e.g., hands) thus requiring a mental representation of both. The EPM was therefore informed by current perspectives from perceptual, cognitive, and neuropsychology literature on how the relationship between the environment and the body. Three experiments were conducted, each with approximately 50 participants. In all three experiments a virtual pointing task was used wherein participants made speeded pointing movements to virtual targets presented on the table in front of them the virtual environment. Behavioral data included latency measures (i.e., hand liftoff time and hand travel time) and landing accuracy of pointing movements. Subjective data were also collected using an adaptation of the Rubber Hand Illusion questionnaire. Experiment 1 served as a paradigm check and examined the kinematic characteristics of pointing movements made by the left and right hands. Experiment 2 examined the influence of changes to the virtual environments on pointing behaviour by introducing fire into the virtual environment. Experiment 3 examined the combined effects of altering the virtual environment - once again with the use of virtual fire - and the virtual effector by comparing pointing behaviour in a virtual hand and a virtual cube condition. Findings suggest that representations of the virtual environment and effectors both influence pointing behaviour, and that these factors may support embodied presence independently. A better understanding of these psychological underpinnings of embodied presence will improve the use of VR in a multitude of situations, including research, training and clinical applications.
    Thesis Degree:
    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Psychology
    Date Created:
    2019

  • JOWSDATALOG: An Ontology Based Data Access Tool for Jointly-Weakly-Sticky Datalog± Programs

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Saljoughi Badlou, Pourya
    Abstract:
    Jointly-Weakly-Sticky(JWS) Datalog± is an expressive member of the family of Datalog± programs. It is characterized by a marking procedure, theexistential dependencygraph, and joint acyclicity. Query-answering (QA) can be done in polynomial-time in data complexity through SChQAS, a chase-based, bottom-up QA algorithm forJWSDatalog± programs. The QA algorithm can be optimized by using amagic-setsquery rewriting technique, MagicD+, forJWSprograms. MagicD+ takes a Datalog± program and a query, and rewrites the combination into a new Datalog± program that becomes an input to SChQAS. With the new program, SChQASavoids generating irrelevant facts. The main contributions of this thesis are the design and implementation of anontology-based data access(OBDA) tool, JowsDatalog, in which SChQASand MagicD+ are implemented.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Computer Science
    Date Created:
    2019