Search Constraints

Start Over
Filtering by: Thesis Degree Level Master's Remove constraint Thesis Degree Level: Master's

Search Results

  • Trends in the functions and organization of departmental personnel administration.

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Dowdell, Robert Hartley
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Arts (M.A.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Public Administration
    Date Created:
    1964

  • The use of EEG and VR in Mental State Recognition

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    El-Habrouk, Jaser
    Abstract:
    Mental state recognition (MSR) is important to multiple health-related fields. A virtual reality (VR) headset is used to induce mental states through both distractors and stressors. Participants solved arithmetic questions in VR, then outside of VR using a Muse S EEG device. A heart monitor was used throughout. Three research contributions followed: First, heart rate variability (HRV) data were compared between VR and non-VR sessions and correlated with established Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) measurements used to asses participants' attention and focus. Second, a classifier was developed to differentiate between clean and noisy EEG data, with 92% accuracy. Lastly, linear regression models were developed, achieving mean squared error scores of 0.65 and 0.63 for 3-level stress and attention prediction from EEG data, respectively. In summary, this thesis explores the use of VR to induce mental states and advances the state of the art in EEG-based MSR.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Biomedical
    Date Created:
    2023

  • Differential Introgression Between the Northern and Southern Extents of the Lodgepole x Jack Pine Hybrid Zone Suggests Environmentally-driven Selection and Local Adaptation.

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Yaremchuk, Danya Daria
    Abstract:
    Lodgepole and jack pine form a mosaic hybrid zone in western Canada. Introgression occurs between lodgepole and jack pine through this hybrid zone by repeated backcrossing with advanced generation hybrid progeny. Using environmentally-associated SNPs identified by redundancy analyses, we examined patterns of introgression between the northern and southern extents of this hybrid zone to identify differential introgression. Through genomic cline analyses, we found extensive introgression of these SNPs through the hybrid zone. Twenty-eight SNPs had significantly different patterns of introgression between the northern and southern extents. Fine-scale patterns revealed several SNPs that were introgressing more frequently than expected, suggesting adaptive introgression. We found that adaptive introgression is occurring more frequently in the northern hybrid extent compared to the southern hybrid extent, suggesting different environmental pressures. Using gene annotations and major allele frequency maps, we identified evidence of differing environmental pressures resulting in putative local adaptation within this hybrid zone.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Biology
    Date Created:
    2023

  • Role of TrkB.T1 in Glial Inflammatory Response Elicited by MHV

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Heiratifar, Noora Donna
    Abstract:
    In the present thesis, we used a rodent analogous coronavirus, murine hepatitis virus (MHV), in culture to directly assess its impact on astrocytic and microglial cells. Given the increasing importance of the brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-TrkB signaling system in glial functioning, we also assessed whether the unique TrkB.T1 truncated isoform (the only BDNF receptor on astrocytes) would modulate glial reactivity to MHV viral infection. Our results largely support the notion that MHV readily infects astrocytes and caused a degree of toxicity of these cells. The addition of microglia to the astrocytic culture modulated the magnitude of this effect and greatly increased pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Furthermore, TrkB.T1 deficiency appeared to greatly reduce astrocyte viability and microglial morphology. These data may have useful implications for better understanding the nature of glial responses to coronaviral infection and the importance of TrkB in such responses.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Neuroscience
    Date Created:
    2023

  • Modular Verification of Hierarchical Component-Based Software Systems

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Baak, James Alec William
    Abstract:
    Using Component-based Software Engineering approaches with Formal Methods has seen an influx of interest in the recent decades. The joining of these two disciplines have been stifled though due to unclear component specifications and expensive formal verification techniques, which hurt the reusability and scalability of complex software systems. In this work, we expand on current component-port-connector metamodels for formally specifying a system's architectural and behavioural requirements into a hierarchical component system structure by using abstract Composite Components. The Composite Components of a system model can then utilize modular verification for isolating the verification process into modules surrounding Composite Components and generating higher level properties. We formalize our metamodel in Alloy 6 and present a template for specifying system properties for modular verification which enables the reuse of previous verification efforts on satisfied modules. We conclude with an example case study system and analysis of the modular verification strategy.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2023

  • Analysis of Open-Source Data in Wind Power Prediction Modeling

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    von Zuben, Elizabeth Lynn
    Abstract:
    As identified in the 2021 IPCC AR6 WGIII report, wind energy has a high potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The deployment of wind energy, however, has fallen behind its potential in part because of the need for improved wind power predictions. This thesis combines historical power production data, meteorological station data, reanalysis data, and numerical weather prediction output data (WRF model) to determine the optimal combination of data sources and variables for wind power prediction using a random forests model. A study then further evaluates reanalysis data and methods of bias correction for this type of data, to improve power predictions at 52 wind farms across Canada using power curve and machine learning methods. Recommendations are proposed for: the use of data sources and important input variables; the utility of global reanalysis data sources by terrain features; and the utility of bias correction methods for downstream wind power prediction.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Mechanical
    Date Created:
    2022

  • A NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF MAKE-UP AIR VELOCITY ON THE SMOKE CONDITIONS IN AN ATRIUM

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Boakyewah, Barbara
    Abstract:
    This research numerically investigates the effect of make-up air on the smoke conditions in an atrium under different make-up air velocities and fire sizes. A total of twenty-four (24) simulations were conducted using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to consider different scenarios of fire located at the center (axisymmetric), northwest corner and southeast corner of the atrium. Fire sizes of 1 MW, 3 MW and 5 MW along with different make-up air velocities of 1 m/s, 1.5 m/s, 2.5 m/s and 3.5 m/s were simulated to investigate their effect on smoke conditions the atrium. The results showed that the simulation predicted slightly higher temperatures and lower smoke layer heights when compared to the experimental tests. The position of the fire source at different locations showed different and increasing temperatures when the velocity changes from 1 m/s to 3.5 m/s, however the effects of make-up air velocities were minor.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Civil
    Date Created:
    2023

  • QoS Performance Measurement Through SRv6 Network Programming for Smart City IoT Traffic

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Kuri, Sajib Kumar
    Abstract:
    Segment Routing over IPv6, also known as SRv6, is a modern networking solution that aims to improve the current Internet of Things (IoT) network's reliability, availability, and scalability. Performance measures are required to evaluate SRv6 behaviors or functions. The proposed work aims to provide real IoT traffic profiles to assess the performance of SRv6 behaviors. In particular, a three-module SRv6 programming model is proposed to measure the performance of SRv6 policy headend and endpoint behavior and ensure reliability and quality of service (QoS). Moreover, a novel finder algorithm for maximum receive rate (MRR) benchmarking is proposed, which can outperform existing techniques in terms of throughput/bandwidth performance while maintaining the same computational resources. Finally, implementation results provide insights into forwarding different IoT use-cases traffic based on the functional service requirements. That also ensures a higher usage level of existing IoT networks, minimizing the need for additional capacity and lowering network costs.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2022

  • Assessing the Beclin-1 Knockout: Autophagy, Neurogenesis, and the TUNL Task

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Bornheimer, Jacob
    Abstract:
    Autophagy is the intracellular process of isolating, enveloping, and recycling cell matter. Beclin-1 is a protein that acts as a lynchpin in the autophagic process. Animals lacking Beclin-1 are embryonically lethal, and knockout of Beclin-1 causes a reduction in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. The dentate gyrus (DG) is normally home to ongoing neurogenesis, which is thought to mediate pattern separation and memory encoding. First, I test a new protocol for the TUNL task. To assess whether a behavioural phenotype of Beclin-1 nKO is apparent, on the second experiment I compare TUNL performance between WT and KO mice. The new protocol for the TUNL task produces a reliable measure of pattern separation. Beclin-1 nKO reduced DG neurogenesis by 40% compared to WT. No difference between the WT and KO mice in TUNL task performance (pattern separation ability) was found but KO mice had lower activity in the CA1 during the task.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Neuroscience
    Date Created:
    2023

  • Optimal Selection of IPsec-Based Security Mechanisms in Resource Constrained IoT Environment

    Resource Type:
    Thesis
    Creator:
    Mahmoud, Abdullah Fahmi Mustafa
    Abstract:
    Internet of Things (IoT) is a modern-day technology that supports many different applications such as smart cities, e-health, and smart homes. However, the specific IoT nature of connecting various heterogeneous devices complicates the implementation of conventional security mechanisms. In this work, a device-based security approach has been proposed to assign optimal security mechanisms to the set of heterogeneous IoT devices based on their available resources and the system requirements. To achieve the proposed approach, the security overhead equation was formulated to include 3 parameters: RAM usage, energy consumption and throughput. A hardware implementation was used to measure these parameters and to calculate the security overhead for the tested security mechanisms. The Pareto frontline was used to select the optimal security mechanism that minimizes the security overhead per device while maximizing the system requirement. The selection algorithm was tested in a simulation of 50 heterogeneous devices that ran 30 security mechanisms.
    Thesis Degree:
    Master of Applied Science (M.App.Sc.)
    Thesis Degree Discipline:
    Engineering, Electrical and Computer
    Date Created:
    2023