title: Electrical and Thermal Design of High Efficiency and High Power Density Power Converters

contributor:
Liu, Yan-Fei
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
Power Electronics
High Power Density
Thermal Design
High Efficiency
Electrical Design

abstract:
This thesis investigates high power density power converters from two approaches: electrical circuit and module design, and thermal management and mitigation. Three specific topics are studied in this thesis: Point-of-Load (POL) power module packaging, thermomechanical structures for high power density power converters, and single-stage resonant converters with Power Factor Correction (PFC) for the Electric Vehicle (EV) On-Board Charging (OBC) application.
A new POL power module packaging structure called Power-System-in-Inductor (PSI2) is analyzed against traditional plastic packaging. PSI2 promises lower loss and higher package thermal conductivity by replacing a traditional plastic casing with the magnetic inductor core. Thermal analysis and FEA thermal simulation are conducted to verify the new packaging technology. Identical buck power modules are developed and tested experimentally. Simulation and experimentation show the PSI2 package achieves 2.68% greater efficiency, 0.51W less loss, and 26˚C lower top temperature compared to the traditionally plastic packaged module. Thermal conductivity of the PSI2 package accounts for about 33% of the improved thermal performance.
A new thermomechanical structure is proposed named Integrated Multi-Layer Cooling (IMLC). The IMLC structure uses multiple-PCB layers, integrated active liquid cooling, and component sorting to achieve increased power density while maintaining thermal performance compared to a traditional single-PCB liquid cooled structure. FEA thermal simulation and experimentation with an EV Low-Voltage DC converter (LDC) show the IMLC structure achieves a 46°C peak temperature rise decrease and 0.6% improved efficiency over air cooled designs. Additionally, power density is improved by 31% compared to a single-PCB liquid cooled design.
A single-stage LLC converter with PFC is designed for use in the EV OBC application. This topology promises improved power density, lower loss, and less complexity compared to traditional two-stage PFC designs by removing one switching converter stage. The circuit schematic and PCB layout are designed to achieve maximum power density and minimum loss. Simulation and experimental verification are conducted to verify the electrical performance and high-power density of 2.3kW/L of this topology. A high-power density, 1.65kW single-stage LLC OBC experimental prototype is designed which achieves 99.1% power factor and 96.9% efficiency at 1.47kW operation.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Examination of Psychological Factors in Chronic Pelvic Pain

contributor:
Tripp, Dean
Psychology

rights: Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada

rights: ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement

rights: Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University

rights: This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.

subject:
Chronic Pain
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Catastrophizing
Depression
Endometriosis
Interstitial Cystitis
Behavioural Coping

abstract:
Many forms of chronic pelvic pain have no specific etiology or curative treatment. Catastrophizing, behavioural coping strategies, and depressive symptoms have all been noted in the chronic pain literature for their negative impact on multiple patient outcomes. The primary aim of this dissertation was to examine the predictive or mediating effect of catastrophizing, behavioural coping strategies, and depressive symptoms on pain among women with chronic pelvic pain.

In Study 1, women with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (a chronic pelvic pain condition) completed questionnaires at three time points spanning 12 months. The directionality of the catastrophizing-pain relationship was tested using a cross-lagged panel analysis. Results suggest that changes in catastrophizing precede changes in pain but not vice versa.

In Study 2, which used the same sample as Study 1, mediators and moderators of the catastrophizing-pain relationship were examined using a moderated multiple mediation model. Catastrophizing was found to directly affect pain. However, this direct catastrophizing-pain relationship was significant only for women with a clinically significant level of depressive symptoms. Additionally, catastrophizing indirectly affected pain through illness-focused coping strategies. Women with a greater tendency to catastrophize were more likely to engage in illness-focused coping and women who used more illness-focused coping strategies were more likely to experience greater levels of pain severity.

In Study 3, which involved recruiting women with any diagnosed chronic pelvic pain condition, an experimental manipulation of induced negative mood (a proxy for depressive symptoms) was used to examine the effect of negative mood on pain tolerance for acute pain. No significant differences were found between participants who experienced induced negative mood and participants who experienced a neutral mood with regard to acute pain tolerance.

The clinical implications of these findings for the management of chronic pelvic pain are discussed, particularly with regard to the identification and targeting of catastrophizing, illness-focused coping strategies, and depressive symptoms.

abstract: PhD


title: Investigating the Efficacy of a Combination Therapy and a Nanopolymer-Mediated Drug Delivery Approach to Treat Pancreatic and Breast Cancer

contributor:
Szewczuk, Myron R
Harless, William
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States

subject:
Acetylsalicylic Acid
Active Targeting
Breast Cancer
Chemoresistance
Combination Therapy
FA-DABA-SMA
Metformin
Multimodal Therapy
Nanomedicine
Nanopolymer
Oseltamivir Phosphate
Resistance
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer

abstract:
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most challenging malignancies to treat clinically. The current standard of care for a possible cure requires surgery; however, only a small subset of patients is eligible for potentially curable surgery, and chemotherapy or radiation therapy are typically used in a palliative fashion. Although modest improvements are observed for a short period of time, treatment failure inevitably results. This lack of success has been attributed to the highly mutagenic and adaptive nature of pancreatic cancer. As a possible solution to this, we hypothesize that supplementing conventional chemotherapeutics with agents that broadly target multiple pathways implicated in multistage tumorigenesis may lead to improvements in treatment outcomes.

We propose to investigate the efficacy of a triple combination of metformin (Met), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and oseltamivir phosphate (OP) together with gemcitabine and paclitaxel to treat pancreatic cancer. Owing to the broad applicability of this combination, we also investigated its translatability to triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is characterized by its poor prognosis, early relapse, and a shorter progression-free survival period following recurrence. The development of chemoresistance is another common clinical challenge with breast cancer in that conventional treatments could select for resistant subpopulation leading to a more aggressive malignancy challenging to treat.

Engineering of a “smart” drug delivery system to specifically target tumour cells has been at the forefront of cancer research. Here, we investigated the efficacy of a functionalized folic acid-conjugated amphiphilic alternating copolymer (FA-DABA-SMA) to target three-dimensional avascular human pancreatic and breast tumour spheroids in culture and deliver hydrophobic agents. The findings of this research provide supporting evidence for the efficacy and translatability of this combination treatment approach in offering improved survival outcomes in patients with pancreatic and breast cancer.

abstract: PhD


title: The Effects of Self-Guided Meditation and Napping on Memory Consolidation in Humans

contributor:
Dringenberg, Hans
Psychology

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States

subject:
Memory
Memory Consolidation
Sleep
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness
Nap
Quiet Wakefulness

abstract:
Numerous studies have reported that, compared to an equivalent period of wakefulness, post-training sleep (overnight or daytime naps) benefits memory consolidation (Diekelmann & Born, 2010; Mednick, Nakayama, & Stickgold, 2003; Plihal & Born, 1999; Walker et al., 2003). However, most investigations have employed various forms of “active wakefulness” (e.g., sensorimotor and cognitive tasks) as a comparison condition for sleep, while few studies have examined the role of “quiet wakefulness” in memory consolidation, even though some of the EEG oscillations during quiet waking resemble those present in sleep (e.g., increased activity in the theta-alpha range) (Brokaw et al., 2016).
This study aimed to examine the consolidation of declarative (word-pair associates) and non-declarative (marble maze visuo-motor task) learning over a 60-minutes time interval (with continuous EEG monitoring) filled with either (A) napping; (B) active-waking (watching a video); or (C) quiet-waking (self-guided meditation).
The results of the current study suggested that memory consolidation may not be a sleep-specific- phenomenon. In fact, quiet wakefulness appeared to be more advantageous than a short nap for the consolidation of declarative memories. This study also found that SWS exerts significant effects on the retention of non-declarative memory. For nappers, the absence of SWS resulted in noticeable performance enhancements compared to participants who entered SWS. Thus, it is possible that SWS plays a disadvantageous role in the consolidation of procedural memory. It is thought that sleep inertia caused by SWS is partly responsible for the impairments in tasks procedural memory.
The findings of current study contribute to the  understanding of memory consolidation and provide insights about the role of waking states for future studies.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Development of a Screening Platform for Angiogenic Drug Delivery Systems Using Zebrafish Embryos

contributor:
Fitzpatrick, Lindsay
Chemical Engineering

subject: Biomedical Engineering, Drug delivery, Zebrafish

abstract:
The development of an angiogenic drug delivery system requires in vitro and in vivo testing before the system can used to treat a disease or condition. The zebrafish embryo is a promising animal model for screening potential angiogenic drug delivery systems due to their optical transparency, which allows for the live imaging of tissues and biological responses. Following establishment of injection protocols, the trunk and yolk sac of 2 - 3 day post-fertilization (dpf) embryos were investigated as potential implant sites for evaluating angiogenic responses due to the highly ordered and easily visualized vasculature at these locations. Bolus injections of vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A) was carried out into the yolk sac of Tg[fli1a:DsRED] zebrafish embryos and the survival rate and angiogenic response in the neighboring gut vasculature was evaluated, and microparticle retention rates within the trunk and yolk sac were analyzed. Embryos that received the VEGF-A bolus injections had a survival rate of 100%, and the survival rate of embryos that received a vehicle only injection was also 100%.
No angiogenic response was detected in the surrounding vasculature. The microparticle retention rate of 25 μm PE microparticles injected into the yolk sac was poor, where only 7% of injected microparticles were retained in the yolk sac after 2 days. The trunk injection model was evaluated for microparticle retention rates using 10 μm polystyrene microparticles and 3 dpf Tg[fli1a:DsRED] embryos. At 2 days post-injection (dpi), 56% of the injected microparticles remained within the injection sites. A simple VEGF-A delivery system was made by adsorbing the protein to the surface of 15 μm PLGA microparticles. In vitro release studies showed that this system released 0.042 μg VEGF-A/mg microparticle/hr and that 100% of the loaded protein was released after 48 hours. The VEGF-A-loaded microparticles were injected into the trunk of 3 dpf (Tg[fli1a:DsRED]) embryos. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the intersegmental vessels in proximity to the injection site showed no change in the vasculature between the VEGF-A injection groups and the two control groups injected with either 15 μm PLGA particles and a solution of PBS.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Arsenic mobility in a changing northern climate: Implications for geochemical baselines and long-term stability of contaminants in lake systems

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
Arsenic
Mining
Lake Sediment
Climate Change
Organic Matter
Geochemistry

abstract:
Climate change is influencing the biogeochemical dynamics of lake systems in northern Canada. These changes may affect the loading and cycling of naturally occurring metal(loid)s and the long-term stability of mining-derived contaminants in sub-Arctic lakes. Arsenic (As) concentrations of lakes in the Courageous Lake Greenstone Belt (CLGB), Northwest Territories, Canada, are elevated from the weathering of mineralized bedrock and/or the operation of historical gold mines (Tundra and Salmita mines). In this region, the cumulative effects of resource extraction and modern climate warming make it difficult to discern between anthropogenic impacts and baseline geochemistry. This study integrates As geochemistry, organic petrography, paleoclimate proxies (particle size, organic matter (OM) type and quantity), and radiometric dating (14C and 210Pb) to determine the influence of past and present climate warming on the long-term stability of As in lakes surrounding Tundra Mine. The findings of this study demonstrate baseline As concentrations in lake sediments ranging from 28 to 170 mg·kg−1 (median: 40 mg·kg−1; n = 102) and provide evidence that weathering of mineralized bedrock and terrigenous material provides an ongoing source of naturally derived As to some lakes of the CLGB. An increased accumulation of OM in the near-surface sediment, as a result of climate warming, influences redox dynamics and results in As release from minerals to pore waters via reductive dissolution of As-bearing minerals (i.e. scorodite and Fe-(oxy)hydroxides). Under these changing redox conditions, solid phase OM mediates the diffusion of dissolved As to overlying surface waters by providing a substrate for As sequestration and facilitating the precipitation of authigenic As-bearing minerals (i.e. framboidal pyrite, As-sulphides, Fe-(oxy)hydroxides). However, the effect of these changes will differ between lakes as the long-term stability of As is influenced by the source and primary hosts of As in lake sediments. Knowledge from this study will help predict future climate-driven changes to metal(loid) cycling in sub-Arctic lakes and improve environmental monitoring and remediation strategies at northern metal mines.

The possibilities and benefits of weaving traditional knowledge with our research and teaching of geological sciences and engineering are also explored in this thesis, based on hands-on experience gained through this study.

abstract: PhD


title: Effects of peripherality and hybridization on range-wide genetic structure of the coastal dune plant Abronia umbellata (Nyctaginaceae)

contributor:
Eckert, Christopher
Biology

subject: Peripherality Hybridization Conservation Plants

abstract: The pattern of genetic variation across a species range may give insight into geographic variation in adaptive capacity and hence, conservation priority. For this reason, determining the factors that may influence range-wide genetic structure is vital, but remains relatively understudied. Demography has long been viewed as the dominant factor influencing species’ genetic structure, but non-demographic processes must be considered as well. In this study, we investigated the effects of peripherality, hybridization and mating system on the range wide genetic structure of Abronia umbellata, a pink-flowered Pacific coastal dune endemic and that ranges from San Quintin, Baja California to Coos Bay, Oregon and occurs as disjunct populations in Washington and on Vancouver Island in Canada. The species exhibits striking mating system differentiation across the range with obligately outcrossing populations south of San Francisco and highly selfing populations to the north. Abronia umbellata also has two congeners that it co-occurs and creates putative phenotypic hybrids with, yellow-flowered A. latifolia and magenta-flowered A. maritima. Genetic analyses of sequence variation at nine single-copy genes revealed that outcrossing and selfing populations of A. umbellata are genetically differentiated from each other and northern disjunct populations of A. umbellata are genetically similar to selfing populations. Furthermore, the northern disjunct populations contain little unique variation and thus, likely arose through a recent long-distance dispersal event or fragmentation of a recent expansion. Southern edge populations in Baja California, on the other hand, are genetically unique and significantly higher in genetic variation than other outcrossing populations. Extensive searches in 37 populations across the range of A. umbellata in 2017 and 2018, revealed that phenotypic hybrids occurred in 100% of locations where outcrossing populations of A. umbellata were sympatric with a congener and sequence variation at five single-copy genes indicate that phenotypic hybrids are in fact hybrids. However, during the same searches we did not find any phenotypic hybrids with selfing populations of A. umbellata and quantitative analyses showed that hybrids were only found in 2.6% of 695 3-m radius plots across all 37 populations.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Environmental Characterization of Waste Rock and Tailings from a Carbonatite- Hosted Niobium and Rare Earth Element Deposit

subject:
Rare Earth Elements
Niobium
Carbonatites
Mine Wastes

abstract:
Rare earth elements (REEs) have become essential in green energy and high-tech applications and the development of new REE mines is expected in the coming years. There is currently little published research on the behaviour of REE-bearing mine wastes in the environment. The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the mobility of elements of environmental concern from mine wastes derived from REE-enriched carbonatite deposits.
One of the primary sources of REEs are carbonatite intrusions. The St. Lawrence Columbium Mine in Oka, Quebec is the only carbonatite deposit in Canada with untreated niobium (Nb)- and REE-enriched mine wastes. This former Nb mine contains waste rock and tailings that have been weathering in situ for several decades. Drainage from these wastes could carry potentially harmful elements into the environment. This site provides a unique opportunity to determine the long-term mobility of these elements from carbonatitic mine wastes.
In 2017 and 2018 waste rock and tailings were collected from the mine site. Field observations indicate that most waste rock is calcite-rich sövite, which has deeply weathered in some areas forming piles of loose grains. Also present are areas of secondary mineralization including crusts of manganese oxides and sulphide-rich lenses weathered to iron oxides. Mine wastes collected from the site were characterized using chemical and mineralogical analysis. Analyses show that mine wastes have elevated levels of REEs, Nb, uranium (U), thorium (Th), and fluorine (F). EPMA and LA-ICP-MS analyses indicate that the main hosts of these elements are pyrochlore, apatite, biotite, calcite and various REE-carbonates.
Shake flask tests were used to predict which elements would be easily mobilized from particular rock types. The results show that Nb and Th are relatively immobile, while some REEs, U and F are likely to be released into drainage derived from the mine wastes. Most of the U and F is leached from sövite. However, the rare sulphide-rich lenses are the most important sources of easily leached REEs. Manganese oxides will sequester a portion of the REEs. The results of this study will help guide waste management strategies during the development of similar carbonatite-hosted REE deposits.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Synthesis and Verification of Models using Satisfiability Modulo Theories

contributor:
Cordy, James R
Computing

subject: Synthesis of Models

subject: Verification of Models

subject: Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT Solvers)

subject: Model Transformation

subject: State Machines

subject: Model-Driven Development (MDD)

subject: Model-Driven Engineering (MDE)

subject: Real-Time Embedded (RTE) Systems

subject: UML-RT (UML for real-time)

abstract:
Model-driven development (MDD) advocates using models as the primary software development artifacts in place of source code. Automatic synthesis and verification of models are essential to simplify the process of creation and design of high-quality models. Despite its importance, support for synthesis and verification of models remains less than ideal, and it is still the case that no existing MDD tool or technique supports automatic synthesis of models based on the system properties, or handles the verification of models directly, without leveraging program verification tools.
The key idea in this thesis is the use of satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) solvers to boost the synthesis and verification capabilities of existing MDD tools. The scope of this work is twofold. First, we propose a synthesis approach using SMT that takes as input a structural model of a system and its desired system properties, and automatically synthesizes executable state machines for its components. To this end, it first generates a synthesis formula for each component consistent with the system properties, and then performs a state space exploration of each component based on its synthesis formula. The result of the state space exploration is saved in a labeled transition system (LTS). Finally, we transform the LTSs into UML-RT (UML for real-time) state machines and integrate them with the original structural models. Unlike any other method, our approach synthesizes detailed actions for the transitions of the synthesized state machines. With action code, synthesized state machines can be executed and tested.
Second, we propose a bounded verification approach for hierarchical state machines, which is the main formalism for the description of behavior in many MDD tools. Our approach takes as input the behavior of a system, a depth bound, and the system properties (as invariants), and then automatically verifies models of systems in a four-phase process: (1) It first generates all possible execution paths of the model to the specified bound; (2) it encodes each of the execution paths as SMT formulas; (3) it instruments the SMT formulas with the negation of given invariants; and (4) finally, it uses SMT solvers to check the satisfiability of the instrumented formula.

abstract: PhD


title: Kinetics and Modeling of Radical Copolymerization of Water-Soluble Cationic Monomers

contributor:
Hutchinson, Robin A.
Chemical Engineering

subject:
Aqueous Phase Polymerization
Radical Polymerization
in-situ NMR
Modeling and Simulation
Rate of Polymerization
Molar Mass Distribution
Reactivity Ratio
Polyelectrolytes
Polyampholytes

abstract:
Polyelectrolytes (PELs) are a special class of charged water-soluble polymers utilized in both consumer and industrial applications such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, waste-water treatment, flocculating agents, oil drilling and enhanced oil recovery. While their unique solution properties are controlled by the polymer microstructure, studies on the (co)polymerization kinetics are relatively rare due to complexities that arise from polymerization in aqueous phase and electrostatic effects. The knowledge gained from application of specialized experimental techniques such as Pulsed Laser Polymerization (PLP) and in-situ NMR to measure the rate coefficients and study (co)polymerization behavior can aid PEL process and product development efforts.
          In the present study, cationic monomers, 2-(methacryloyloxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (TMAEMC) and	3-(Methacrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC) are copolymerized with nonionized (AA) and fully ionized acrylic acid (NaA) in aqueous solution by radical copolymerization to obtain cationic PELs and polyampholytes. The in-situ NMR technique, and in some cases, semi-batch reactor systems, were utilized to obtain the rates of polymerization and monomer composition drifts across the full range of comonomer compositions, for initial monomer weight fraction up to 0.40, and at varying ionic strengths and pHs. Comonomer and copolymer solution properties such as counterion activity, conductivity, pH and viscosity were measured to further understand how the copolymerization kinetics could be affected by reaction conditions.
          The experimental findings were combined with the rate coefficients measured by our collaborators and implemented into the Predici software to develop of TMAEMC and MAPTAC homopolymerization and their copolymerization with AA and NaA. It is demonstrated that a standard model of copolymerization kinetics can be used to successfully describe rates of monomer conversion, polymer MWs and copolymer compositions for these systems once the influence of the charged monomer on the propagation and termination rate coefficients are accounted for.

abstract: PhD


title: Testing A Full-Scale Reinforced Concrete Bridge Deck with GFRP and Steel Reinforcement Using Cyclic Pulsating and Rolling Loads

contributor:
Fam, Amir
Civil Engineering

subject:
Reinforced Concrete
GFRP
Stay-in-place Forms
Rolling Load Simulator
Stiffness Degradation
Bridge Deck
Moving Loads
Pulsating Loads
Steel Rebar
Cyclic Loading

abstract: The repair and replacement of bridge decks represents a large portion of infrastructure spending. Gaining a better understanding of bridge deck behaviour through more representative vehicular loading can lead to a reduction in the costs, time and environmental impacts associated with construction. Past studies have most often used fixed pulsating loads to represent cyclic loading on a bridge deck. However, it has been shown that these types of loading do not induce the most critical conditions when compared with moving loads. This thesis is the first part of a long-term study intended to compare the loading effects of fixed pulsating cyclic loads against moving wheel loads, up to 3000 load cycles. The study also compares different types of deck reinforcement and construction methods, namely conventional steel reinforcing bar, glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar and GFRP stay-in-place (SIP) structural forms for rapid construction. A slab-on-girder reinforced concrete bridge deck with dimensions of 15.24 m x 3.89 m x 210 mm and a girder spacing of 3.05 m was designed according to the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC) and constructed in the laboratory. Detailing and construction procedures have also been proposed for the new GFRP SIP structural form system. The deck was conceptually divided into four sections but all were monolithically cast. Sections 1 and 4, at either ends of the deck, were identical and reinforced with GFRP bars, Section 2 incorporated the novel GFRP SIP form system and Section 3 was reinforced with conventional steel rebar. Section 1 was subjected to pulsating loads and Sections 2-4 were subjected to moving wheel loads. Monotonic load tests were performed at various cycling intervals to establish stiffness degradation. After 3000 load cycles, the maximum values of reinforcement and concrete strain were well within their ultimate limits, signifying the deck was not at risk of failure. Section 4 experienced a larger reduction in stiffness than Section 1, suggesting that the moving loads were more damaging than the pulsating loads. It is important to note that observations could change at higher levels of cyclic loading, which is beyond the scope of this thesis.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Celebrations everywhere:  How social movements enact emotional culture  to advance an ideology of local production

contributor:
Dacin, M. Tina
Business

subject:
Emotional Culture
Cultural Performances
Ideology
Local Food
Social Movements

abstract: I investigate how social movements enact emotional culture to advance an ideology of local production in the context of local food initiatives in a small city in Canada. In Localtown, a local food movement conducts initiatives to rebuild the city’s local food system after decades of agricultural consolidation had reduced the availability of local food. Starting with feasts in 2004 that drew attention to the issue, movement members began making active use of events to attract external audiences to local food initiatives. After 2007, the movement's focus went from generating awareness to building infrastructure. Farmers’ markets then became the main vehicles for mobilization. Adopting a qualitative methodology to build theory inductively, I conducted participant observation in the two main markets in Localtown, and I interviewed market vendors, consumers, and members of the broader local food movement. I found that movement members build an emotional culture that emphasizes fun and community experiences while mobilizing movement members despite a lack of agreement on how to enact shared ideals of community resilience and ecological conservation. In building this emotional culture, movement members make frequent use of cultural performances that celebrate the movement’s shared ideals and generate a fun and vibrant community spirit in farmers’ markets. A natural mise-en-scene displayed by the setting and by market products, reinforces the community and ecological meanings of the performance, attracting community audiences whose presence further reinforces perceptions of markets as a community space. But neither the meaning nor the emotionality of performances become necessarily associated with markets, as performances may ignore market products, or the emotional culture may blend into the vibrancy of other surrounding performances.  My findings contribute to the literature on social movements by showing that a coherent, positive and vibrant emotional culture helps movements to mobilize external audiences despite the existence of conflicting ideologies or despite the lack of ideological affiliation. I also unveil that a positive emotional culture is often described as in opposition to the ascetic emotionality of modern institutions, revealing deeper meanings of movement-sponsored emotions. My dissertation also offers contributions to literatures on cultural performances, communities, and crafts.

abstract: PhD


title: Migrating web Applications from SQL to NoSQL Databases

contributor:
Dean, Thomas R.
Alalfi, Manar H.
Computing

subject:
SQL
NoSQL
Web Application
Migration
Big Data
MySQL
Databases

abstract:
In the Big Data era, data is emerging dramatically and the structure of data is becoming increasingly flexible. Non-Relational databases, such as the NoSQL class of Databases, are playing a major role as an enabler technology to manipulate such data. Non-Relational databases, have overcome many of the limitations of the relational databases especially those that relate to enable systems to scale up to serve more customers producing terabytes of data. More businesses are willing to migrate their legacy relational database systems to ones that use NoSQL Databases.

In this thesis, we present a semi-automated approach to migrate highly dynamic SQL-based web applications to ones that use document-oriented NoSQL databases such as MongoDB using source analysis and transformation techniques. We outline a set of source transformation steps that can be used to migrate existing web applications database from SQL  one to document-oriented NoSQL database. We demonstrate our semi-automated framework on the analysis and migration of three existing web applications to extract, classify, translate, migrate and optimize the queries and migrate the PHP code to interact with the migrated database.

There are two parts to this approach; the migration of schema and data, and the migration of the actual application code with embedded queries. Our approach provides contributions to the second part, migrating and optimizing the embedded  SQL queries to interact with the new database system and changing the application code to use the translated queries.

abstract: PhD


title: Thyroid Cancer Treatment and Subsequent Infertility Diagnosis in Female Adolescents and Young Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study

contributor:
Velez, Maria
Public Health Sciences

subject:
Infertility
Thyroid Cancer
Radioactive Iodine Therapy
Cancer Treatment
Female

abstract:
Background: Unnecessary treatment of thyroid cancer as a result of increased surveillance may be associated with substantial side effects, including infertility, often without improvements in survival rates.

Objective: To examine the association between thyroid cancer treatment and subsequent infertility diagnosis.

Study Design:  Population-based cohort study of female Adolescent and Young Adults (AYAs, 15-39 years) who have been treated for thyroid cancer between 1992 and 2011 in Ontario and lived at least 5 years after cancer diagnosis. Exposure data were obtained through the CIHI/DAD, which was linked to several health care data sources through ICES. Thyroid cancer treatment, from less invasive to more aggressive, was categorized as: less than total thyroidectomy-LTT, total thyroidectomy-TOT, or TOT accompanied with radioactive iodine therapy-TOT+RAI. Women were followed in the cohort until December 31, 2016. Infertility diagnosis was identified using information on physician billed claims through the OHIP database (ICD-9 628). Modified Poisson regression models were used to examine associations between type of thyroid cancer treatment and infertility diagnosis, adjusting for confounding factors.

Results: From 4,926 female AYAs with thyroid cancer during the study period, 849 (17%) received LTT, 2457 (50%) TOT, 1620 (33%) TOT + RAI. Mean age at cancer diagnosis was 31.04 years (SD=5.99).  The median follow-up time for cancer survivors was 10.78 years (IQR=6.96-15.77). A total of 563 (11%) had a subsequent diagnosis of infertility. The frequency of infertility diagnosis was similar among treatments (p=0.99), with a similar mean time to infertility diagnosis (p=0.69). Mean age at infertility diagnosis was 35.26 years (SD=5.48). Compared to women with LTT, women who received TOT or TOT+RAI did not have a higher risk of subsequent infertility diagnosis (RR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.78, 1.24, p=0.86; RR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.72, 1.20, p=0.55 respectively).

Conclusions: More aggressive types of thyroid cancer treatment are not associated with an increased risk of infertility diagnosis when compared to the least aggressive type of treatment. Findings of this study are similar to those of others that have examined treatment effects on female reproductive outcomes. Further research is needed to elucidate whether ICD-9 628 code for female infertility is a valid measure of female infertility.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The novel application of sensor technologies to monitor long-term vertical track displacement pre and post rehabilitation

contributor:
Take, W. Andy
Hoult, Neil
Civil Engineering

subject:
ShapeAccelArray
Field Case Study
Digital Image Correlation
Track Settlement
Track Geometry Irregularities
Rehabilitation
Monitoring
Rammed Aggregate Piers

abstract:
Track geometry irregularities may induce travelling discomfort for passengers, vibration and noise, and critically redistribution of wheel loads causing derailments. To better understand the track deterioration mechanisms and to quantitively evaluate the success of remediation methods, a new technology is needed to enable long-term measurements of track geometry. The objectives of this thesis are to use a novel sensing technology known as a ShapeAccelArray (SAA) to measure the profile and rate of long-term vertical track displacement in real-time to a) understand the track deterioration and b) quantify the success of remediation methods.
This research was conducted at a site where the section of track being monitored is known to be susceptible to long-term displacements. One SAA was installed horizontally on each side of the track to monitor the track displacement over eight months prior to rehabilitation. The SAA measurements were compared with a series of LIDAR scans taken at three different times during the SAA monitoring period to assess the accuracy of the SAA measurements. The measurements from the two systems were in good agreement and showed that the SAA can be used to measure the displacement of the track as well as the displacement rate. The rate was seasonal with slower rates of motion in dry warm summer periods and accelerated rates in wetter fall and spring seasons. The failure mechanism at the site is believed to be an asymmetrical bearing capacity failure based on the track and soil movement measured by the LIDAR scans.
The section of track was then rehabilitated with rammed aggregate piers, which were installed in pairs between every other tie in the settlement zone. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and SAAs were used to measure the instantaneous and long-term displacement of the track, respectively, in order to assess the effectiveness of the piers. It was found that the instantaneous displacements of the track were reduced at all four monitored sleepers after the pier installation. It was also found that after an initial bedding-in period of the re-ballasted and tamped construction zone, the rate of vertical track displacement decreased by an order of magnitude from the average rate of track displacement during the pre-remediation baseline monitoring, indicating the effectiveness of the installed piers at reducing long-term ground displacements.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Spatial Analysis of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Ontario

contributor:
Belanger, Paul
William, Pickett
Moore, Kieran
Public Health Sciences

subject:
Epidemiology
Infectious Disease
Cluster Analysis

abstract:
Introduction: In recent years, Ontario has witnessed a dramatic rise in the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs); however, the spatial patterning and causal factors contributing to this increase are not fully understood. The objectives of this thesis were: 1) to map the rates of commonly diagnosed STIs at a fine level of spatial aggregation; 2) to characterize global and local trends in the spatial patterning of STIs to inform the identification of priority locations for STI initiatives; and 3) to explore the influence healthcare accessibility and other community-level socio-economic characteristics have on STI incidence.

Methods: The residential location of Ontario chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis case data reported to the integrated Public Health Information System from 2005 through 2016 were geocoded on a tailored geography of census tracts and census subdivisions. One global (Moran’s I) and three local tests (local indicators of spatial association, Kulldorff's circular spatial scan statistic, and Tango and Takahashi’s flexible scan statistic) for spatial patterning were applied to the case data. The association between healthcare accessibility and the 12-year cumulative incidence rate ratio of chlamydia diagnosis in Ontario was assessed through Poisson geographically weighted regression, and Besag-York-Mollie Bayesian hierarchical model.

Results: Findings suggest that each STI exerts spatial patterning. Temporal autocorrelation trends for gonorrhoea and syphilis remained consistent over the study period, while the autocorrelation for chlamydia cases decreased by greater than two-fold. Both the geographically weighted regression and Besag-York-Mollie model identified an increase in healthcare accessibility to be positively associated with the incidence chlamydia diagnosis. Findings also identify locations experiencing a high incidence of chlamydia.

Conclusions: Spatial findings suggest that mapping STI rates at a finer level of spatial resolution is feasible for epidemiologists and needed to better inform geographically-targeted interventions. Although there are localized clusters of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis throughout Ontario, programming efforts should be directed towards addressing a college-aged demographic of young adults in the City of Toronto, and other high chlamydia incidence locations. With greater diagnosis in highly accessible areas, this research also supports the necessity for improved access to healthcare services, screening campaigns, and educational initiatives in rural Ontario.

abstract: PhD


title: Investigating the association between cortical morphological features and the properties of underlying WM tracts in healthy young adults

contributor:
Cook, Douglas James
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neuroimaging
Diffusion MRI
Structural MRI

abstract:
Quantitative measures of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) can be derived from structural and diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to study the cerebral cortex and WM projections. Previous multimodal research in patient populations suggests that changes in GM or WM properties propagate to the other tissue type in anatomically connected regions. The association between GM and WM measures is poorly understood, especially in healthy subjects.  Addressing this gap is important because the relationship between GM and WM measures may vary over the lifespan where MRI measures may reflect different underlying mechanisms. The primary purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between GM and associated WM in healthy young adults. It was hypothesized that lower cortical morphometric measures would be associated with lower tract volume and WM micro-structural integrity.

These relationships were examined using a surface and tract based approach with a subset of the Human Connectome Project dataset. The cortical surface and 16 known WM pathways were reconstructed. The two WM tract endings for each pathway were projected onto the cortical surface to identify associated GM regions. The WM volume and average fractional anisotropy (FA) were computed for each reconstructed tract of interest (TOI). The cortical thickness, surface area, GM volume and curvature measures were extracted for each corresponding GM region of interest (ROI). The magnitude, direction and significance of the Spearman's Rank Correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the association between GM and WM measures from structurally connected TOIs and ROIs.

The most noteworthy findings were the relationships between surface area and WM properties and GM volume and WM properties. Surface area and GM volume were consistently positively correlated with WM volume. These correlations varied from weak to strong and reached significance in nearly all regions examined across the brain. Surface area and GM volume also demonstrated a weak to moderate negative correlation with tract average FA which was significant in over 40\% of the brain regions examined. The relationships between other GM and WM measures were inconclusive with a lack of supporting evidence. Characterizing these relationships may lead to easier detection of abnormal relationships.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Development and characterization of thermoplastic biopolyester compounds and their processing by 3D bioplotting

contributor:
Kontopoulou, Marianna
Ramsay, Bruce
Chemical Engineering

subject:
Thermoplastics
Polymer Blends
3D Bioplotting
Additive Manufacturing
Biopolyester
Dimensionless Groups

abstract:
The objective of this thesis is to improve the properties of thermoplastic biopolyesters by reactive modification and blending, and to develop thermoplastic biopolyester compounds with suitable rheological, thermal and mechanical properties for processing by 3D bioplotting. As a first step the effects of the structure of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (MCL-PHAs) on their thermal properties and crystallization kinetics were investigated. The predominantly homopolymeric poly(3-hydroxydecanoate), P(3HD)-98 (98 mol% HD), as well as poly(3-hydroxydodecanoate), P(3HDD), exhibited sharp crystallization peaks upon cooling, with the latter exhibiting faster crystallization rates. A chemical modification strategy involving reaction with dicumyl peroxide and triallyl trimesate coagent was implemented to introduce branching and improve the crystallization kinetics of P(3HD-98). Increases in the exothermic crystallization temperature by 8°C and in the overall crystallinity, and lower crystallization half-times were achieved upon chemical modification.
Furthermore, blends containing various amounts of polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) P(3HO) were prepared by melt compounding. Even though addition of the amorphous P(3HO) resulted in a decrease in the crystallinity of PCL, the crystallization temperature of the blends increased, and the blends exhibited faster crystallization rates up to blend compositions of 30wt% P(3HO).
3D printing of these compounds requires detailed understanding of the viscosity, residence time and the forces encountered in a 3D bioplotter device. A model study was undertaken to investigate the effects of needle diameter and dispensing pressure on the shear rates, shear stresses, pressure drops and die swell of extruded miscible polycaprolactone (PCL) blends having a range of viscosities. Assuming simple capillary flow, flow curves were constructed. Relevant dimensionless numbers that reflected the material rheological properties and processing conditions including the capillary number (Ca), Bond number (Bo), Weissenberg number (Wi) and Elasticity number (El) were estimated. Based on the findings above, it was determined that the viscosity of the PCL/P(3HO) blend system was suitable for processing using the 3D bioplotter. Compositions ranging from 10-30 wt.% P(3HO) were ideal for processing, because of their faster crystallization kinetics, reduced stickiness and good flow properties. Owing to its favourable thermal and mechanical properties this blend system has promising potential in biomedical applications.

abstract: PhD


title: Developing and Employing a Behavioral Platform to Characterize a non-human Primate Model of Alzheimer's Disease

contributor:
Munoz, Doug
Neuroscience Studies

subject: Non-human Primates

subject: Alzheimer's Disease

subject: CANTAB

subject: Actigraphy

subject: Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

subject: Behavioral Platforms

abstract:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease and with shifting demographics, the number of affected individuals is estimated to increase dramatically. While a great deal of resources has been dedicated to researching new therapeutic strategies, most of the promising rodent results have failed to translate to clinical success, suggesting that perhaps inter-species differences represent a major obstacle. As such, there is an urgent need for more translationally relevant animal models of disease, and non-human primates (NHPs), a phylogenetically closer species, are promising candidates. In order to validate these NHP models of disease, it requires demonstration that similar behavioral and cognitive deficits are observed in both the model and the disease it seeks to emulate. To maximize the translational value of these models, the same neural correlates and processes underlying the behavioral deficits should be measured, which necessitates using tasks and experimental procedures that have cross-species translational validity. In this thesis we detail a collection of 4 studies that describe a behavioral testing platform for NHP models of neurodegenerative diseases. The first 2 studies describe the training, performance, and response time profiles of control NHPs on a series of cognitive tasks included in the Cambridge neuropsychological testing automated battery (CANTAB). The third study examines the use of the actical, a 3-D accelerometer, to characterize the daily activity patterns of a colony of control NHPs. Additionally, this study describes a number of environmental factors that influence and disrupt normal behavioral patterning in NHPs. In the final study, we used this developed behavioral platform of CANTAB and actigaphy/accelerometry approaches to characterize the effects of intracerebroventricular injected amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs) as an NHP model of AD. Using the CANTAB, we noted that AβO-injected NHPs displayed decreased task performance and lengthened response times suggesting impaired spatial, object- based, and associative working memory capabilities.
Using accelerometry, we also found that global activity levels were diminished in AβO-injected NHPs, but that proper circadian patterning was still intact.

abstract: PhD


title: Robotic Sanding of Wooden Bowls with Hybrid Force/Position Impedance Control

contributor:
Surgenor, Brian
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Robotics
Sanding
Hybrid Impedance Control

abstract:
This thesis set out to determine whether a serial robot could be used to sand a wooden bowl, in order to free a human operator from what is considered a hazardous task. The process of sanding wood is similar to the polishing of metal, both set out to eliminate scratches. There are robot-based commercial systems available for the polishing of metal, for example aluminum, as employed by the aerospace industry. However, unlike aluminum, wood is a non-homogeneous material. In the case of wooden bowls, each has a unique geometry, and to a degree, unique material properties. The hypothesis posed by this thesis is that a hybrid force/position impedance controller can sand the inside of a wooden bowl and mimic the motions and technique of a human operator, and yet be able to deal with conditions of unknown bowl geometry.

A CRS A465 robotic arm was used to mimic the arm motion of a human operator. The bowl was held in place by a vacuum chuck. A pneumatic orbital sander was used for the sanding process. A 3-axis force sensor mounted on the end effector measured the applied force. The arm was programmed to follow a radial line from the rim of the bowl to its center and then back to the rim. A hybrid force/position impedance controller was implemented. A forward and inverse kinematic model of the robot was developed to enable trajectory generation. The effect of sander angle and the nature of the trajectory was tested. PD action was adopted for the position controller. Four different force controllers were tested: First Order (FO) filter, Butterworth filter, PI action and combined FO/PI. Tuning tests were conducted to obtain the best values for the controller gains. The conclusion is that a FO filter for the force controller and PD action for the position controller, with an appropriate settings for the impedance, gave the best control performance. This performance was obtained with only a rough estimation of the bowl geometry as based on the bowl’s diameter and depth. A precise CAD/CAM model of the bowl was not employed.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: A Time-Domain Modeling of Multi-Element Resonant Converter With Capacitive Output Filter

contributor:
Jain, Praveen
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
LLC Resonant Converter
CLL Resonant Converter
Solar PV
DC-DC Converter
Renewable Energy

abstract:
In this thesis, an analytical based design tool has been proposed for the multi-elements resonant converters. A computer program has been written using the generalized equations in MATLAB App Designer. The MATLAB App Designer provides a graphical user interface (GUI) features to this tool. The time-domain analysis of CLL resonant converter has been introduced in the literature. An alternative time-domain analysis of LLC resonant converter has been proposed.This generalized analysis is used to model LLC resonant, CLL resonant and LC series resonant converter in time-domain. State-plane analysis has been also introduced for both LLC and CLL resonant converters. The performance curves for DC power, voltage gain, peak switch current, RMS value of switch current, peak capacitor voltage and zero voltage switching (ZVS) angle are presented as a function of the frequency and the load. State-of-the-art design examples have been shown.
This work also proposes a novel Push-Pull resonant converter.  The CLL resonant tank has been find to be best fit for secondary side resonance with push-pull configuration. A steady-state analysis of Push-Pull CLL resonant converter has been done in time-domain. The CLL resonant tank has been designed to provide both series and parallel resonance characteristic based on proper selection of inductance ratio and quality factor. A computer program has been written using the generalized equations in MATLAB App Designer for study and optimization of CLL resonant tank. Experimentation has been done to verify the soft-switching features of Push-Pull resonant converter.
A comparative analysis is shown between LLC and CLL resonant tanks using design curves. Experimentation has been done to verify the theoretical findings from this tool on the experimental prototype of 400V/320W for LLC and CLL resonant converters operating between input voltage 20V-40V.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Trace and Isotopic Geochemistry of Groundwaters in Mineral Exploration

subject:
Groundwater
Mineral Exploration
Stable Isotopes
Hydrogeochemistry
Geochemistry
Copper
Molybdenium

abstract:
Total cover (100 % coverage) presents a challenge for mineral explorers, with the effectiveness of traditional geochemical techniques greatly reduced. Hydromorphic mobilization of solutes can produce geochemical footprints much larger than the ore deposits. However, mainstream adoption of hydrogeochemistry has yet to occur, presumably due to a perception that data interpretation is complicated, and targets generated are of low confidence. Therefore, the development of reliable “direct detection” geochemical tools is needed.

Groundwaters were sampled from three case study sites, including porphyry, epithermal, and iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposits. Significant geochemical footprints (~ 5 kilometres) were identified. However, results also demonstrate the potential for the contribution of trace elements from endmember mixing and variation in anomalous element concentrations of up to ten times the order of magnitude, relating to contrasting groundwater endmember compositions. In order to quantify this variation, this project proposes a seven-source regional model for the Atacama region of Chile, with the aim of aiding geochemists to interpret hydrogeochemical data.

This project also tests a number of emerging, yet highly promising isotopic systems (S, Sr, Mo, and Cu), and reports the first use of δ98Mo in hydrogeochemical mineral exploration. Mineral exploration requires relatively low costs and high throughput, which form the main barriers to the mainstream use of metal stable isotopes. To that end, this project yields an automated chromatography procedure for δ65Cu suitable for high Na and low Cu concentration samples, yielding precise measurements and low blank contributions.

This work reports that large fractionation factors for δ65Cu and δ98Mo have been observed in case studies between samples proximal to mineralization and distal samples downflow from the source. Following the example of previous work, the processes controlling fractionation in this project are constrained to be oxidation, sorption, and precipitation. These controls appear robust in the oxygenated and sub-alkaline groundwaters often encountered in nature. Strontium isotopes show a clear tracer of water-rock interactions and mixing of endmembers, potentially facilitating geological mapping in the covered environment. All isotopic analysis undertaken in this project demonstrated use for the identification of metal sources, mixing between multiple water sources, and water-sulfide interaction.

abstract: PhD


title: Genocide Culture: From Everyday Cultural Doxa and Ethnic Engineering to Genocide of Kurds in Iraq

contributor:
Scott, Jill
Woolford, Andrew
Cultural Studies

subject:
Genocide Culture
Kurd
Iraq
Doxa
Habitus
Cultural Theory
Genocide
Pierre Bourdieu
Social Patterns
Ethnic Violence
Classification
Ba'athification
Nationalism

abstract: This interdisciplinary study reconceptualizes the dominant vision of how genocides begin, and the role civilians play in both cultural and physical forms of genocide. I coined the term “genocide culture” and reconceptualize the terms “civilian actors” and “civilian actors and ethnic engineering” to present an alternative hypothesis of how civilians become involved in genocide through their participation in a range of cultural habitus and doxa. I argue that the socio-cultural aspects of a genocidal process develop prior to the murderous events of a state-led genocide. The concept of genocide culture draws attention to the cultural practices and core beliefs that make genocide possible. The concept highlights how a society normalizes violence against a targeted group, rationalizes the ideology of the dominant group, and legitimizes its authority. The term civilian actors describes the dispositions of ordinary people and non-state actors in the reproduction of cultural practices and behaviours that foster the state’s genocidal actions. Finally, reconceptualization of the term ethnic engineering is to include the “reconstruction” and “destruction” of a subjected group’s identity by a dominant group.  The dissertation applies the sociological theories of Pierre Bourdieu to the study of genocide in order to develop socio-cultural discourses concerning genocide culture. The history of genocide against the Kurds in Iraq is examined as a case study. While Saddam Hussein and the Ba’ath Party are often invoked when responsibility for late twentieth-century genocides in Iraq is assigned, this dissertation argues against personalizing or individualizing the history of genocide in Iraq by assigning responsibility to a single agent or a single political organization. Thus, it avoids detaching the present from the past and argues that macro-events in the present are accumulations of the micro-processes of past events, which also cannot be disassociated from civilians. The first part of the dissertation outlines the theoretical apparatus that is used to conceptualize the cultural practices of the general population in Iraq prior to Saddam Hussein’s rule. The second part consists of empirical case studies and analysis of semi-structured interviews that were conducted to contextualize the experiences of individuals.

abstract: PhD


title: Geomechanics and Mineralogical Characterization of Intact Heterogeneous Rocks from the Legacy Skarn Deposit

subject: Geotechnical Engineering

subject: Unconfined Compressive Stress Laboratory Testing

subject: Heterogeneous Rockmasses

subject: Sample Selection

subject: Geological Investigation

abstract: Predicting the geomechanical behaviour of rockmasses is key to the economic success and safety of rock engineering projects such as surface and underground excavations. For these projects, unconfined compressive stress (UCS) laboratory testing provides fundamental geomechanical properties of intact rocks. It is currently standard practice for UCS testing to consider only homogeneous samples and discard heterogeneous samples such as those that are affected by hydrothermal alteration and veining. Understanding the complexities of heterogeneous rocks and rockmasses is critical for excavation projects such as deep block cave mines where extensive tunnel networks are regularly excavated through heterogeneous rockmasses. During this research project, UCS tests were conducted on 29 homogeneous (matrix-type) and 21 heterogeneous (vein-type) core samples from the Legacy Skarn Deposit located in northern New Brunswick, Canada. These samples are sorted into five lithological units: beige, red, and black varieties of quartz-plagioclase granodiorite, calcareous mudstone, and garnet-pyroxene skarn. Mineralogical compositions of these units were determined using hand sample field identification techniques and microscopic laboratory methods including petrographic thin section analysis, X-Ray Diffraction, and micro-X-ray Fluorescence. Significant effects of hydrothermal veining on the UCS test results were observed in the tested samples. Vein mineralogy dominated by calcite weakens the granodiorites but strengthens the calcareous mudstone. Vein mineralogy dominated by quartz in the skarn has a mixed influence on geomechanical properties. Vein thickness primarily influences geomechanical properties of samples with single veins, whereas vein density is more useful to characterize samples that contain vein networks or stockwork. The effects of vein orientation only partially agree with an established model for shear failure through critically oriented foliations. The disseminated alteration in the granodiorites (plagioclase phenocrysts) and skarn (garnet crystals) typically increase stiffness and strength, since the large grains arrest cracks under load. Lastly, the effects of sample selection on reported UCS test results were also investigated using four sample selection methods to the tested core samples. The results demonstrate the importance of including heterogeneous veined samples in a UCS testing program.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Continuum Damage Modeling of Rocks Under Blast Loading

contributor:
Katsabanis, Panagiotis
Mining Engineering

subject:
Blast Damage
Stress Wave
Numerical Modeling
Continuum Damage
Rock Fragmentation

abstract: Rock fragmentation by blasting has been in practice in civil and mining industries for centuries. The controlled use of explosives is considered the dominant approach for the purpose of breaking the rock material in any hard rock mining. The fracturing process of rock material, when subjected to blast loading, is a complex phenomenon and requires substantial study. Obtaining desired results in any rock blasting project demands for extensive understanding in two separate engineering fields. The first field of study should focus on the mechanics of dynamic fracturing of brittle rock material in response to blast loading. Given the inherent nature of the blast phenomenon, care should be given in the rock mechanics studies, and the analysis should be handled considering the dynamic behavior of the material. The second field comprises the study of the behavior of stress waves in brittle materials, the controlling parameters of wave attenuation, and the effect of stress wave interactions on dynamic fracturing of rock mass. In this thesis, the strain rate dependency of dynamic tensile strength of Laurentian granite is investigated by the aid of different experimental methods i.e. Hopkinson bar experiments and Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) experiments. The obtained results were combined and implemented as Dynamic Increase Factor (DIF) in the RHT material model using LS-DYNA numerical code. Using the modified RHT material model, two distinct rock blasting problems are studied numerically. First, the effect of stress wave interaction on the resulted rock damage and fragmentation is investigated using a range of initiation delay times. Different scenarios of wave superposition are examined and an optimum delay window is introduced based on the elastic stress wave theory. Second, the effectiveness of current destress blasting practices in burst prone deep underground excavations is studied. The capability of the conventional destressing patterns in alleviating the burst potential is explored by damage investigation and stress studies ahead of a tunnel face before and after destressing. A new destressing pattern is introduced which is successfully capable of transforming the stress states ahead of a tunnel face, reducing the rockburst potential.

abstract: PhD


title: Exploring the Quality of life of Polio Survivors in Northwest Nigeria: Selection of an Instrument for Future Cross-Cultural Adaptation

contributor:
Aldersey, Heather
Rehabilitation Science

subject:
Paralytic Polio
Quality of Life
Instruments
Cultural Relevance
Scoping Review
Qualitative Research
Integrative Review

abstract: Background: Consequences of paralytic polio may adversely affect the quality of life (QoL) of polio survivors. The promotion of QoL is the ultimate goal of rehabilitation interventions. Thus, QoL evaluation is essential for monitoring success. Researchers have employed a range of assessment instruments to evaluate the QoL of polio survivors in western settings. It is unclear whether those instruments are suitable for the measurement of QoL among polio survivors in northwest Nigeria. Purpose: To identify and select a pre-existing QoL measurement instrument that is appropriate for polio survivors in northwest Nigeria. Method: This dissertation employed three inter-related phases of studies. In the first phase, a scoping review of literature was conducted to identify available instruments, which are used to evaluate the QoL of polio survivors globally. In the second phase, a qualitative exploration of the perception of QoL among polio survivors in northwest Nigeria was done using a qualitative descriptive study. In the third phase, an integrative review of literature was performed using the findings of the first and second phase of the dissertation to select a QoL instrument that reflects the perspectives of polio survivors in northwest Nigeria and at the same time exhibits good psychometric properties. Result: Eleven QoL assessment instruments were identified in the scoping review. Most of the instruments are generic, self-reported, and multidimensional. Despite having good measurement properties, these properties were mostly not evaluated among polio survivors. The qualitative description showed that polio survivors in northwest Nigeria perceived QoL as a blend of satisfaction of needs, happiness, spirituality, and self-perception. Subsequently, the integrative review reveals that the Quality of Life Index is consistent with the perspectives of the polio survivors in northwest Nigeria and has satisfactory measurement properties. Conclusion: Most instruments that are employed to evaluate QoL among polio survivors are not primarily designed as QoL scales. It is imperative to consider and reflect on the perspectives of the polio survivors to select a scale that is conceptually and contextually relevant. This dissertation demonstrated how the perspectives of polio survivors could be integrated to select the appropriate instrument. The dissertation also recommends the Quality of Life Index for future cross-cultural adaptation and validation in the northwest Nigerian context.

abstract: PhD


title: Computational study of rovibrational spectrum of CO-CO 2

contributor: Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy

subject:
CO-CO2
Rovibrational Spectroscopy
Ro-vibrational Spectroscopy

abstract:
The Lanczos algorithm was used to determine J=0 and J=1 ro-vibrational energy
levels for CO-CO2 . The fundamental transition energies have good agreement with
previous experiments for both the C-bound and O-bound isomers. Likewise, we ob-
served and confirmed a previously unlabeled in-plane state, now labeled a geared
state. Other states were labeled and confirmed, such as the CO-libration state. Ro-
tational constants obtained from J = 1 energy levels also have good agreement with
previous experiments.
There is strong coupling between the bends and torsion, which makes the in-plane
Potential Energy Surface (PES) cuts different from the out-of-plane cuts. There is
an out-of-plane path, however its barrier is still higher than its geared counterpart.
When close to equilibrium, a T-shape, a vibration on the torsional coordinate does
not significantly change the geometry of the molecule, making vibration along this
coordinate very floppy.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Reliability of Stress Induced Damage Predictions in Hard Rocks With Continuum and Discontinuum Numerical Modelling Approaches

contributor: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering

subject:
Deep Geological Repository
Excavation Damage Zone
Brittle Fracture
Discrete Element Method
Numerical Modeling
Reliability Analysis

abstract:
The use of underground repositories known as deep geological repositories (DGR) is globally accepted to be the best solution for long term storage of nuclear waste. In combination with different types of engineered barriers, the final layer is the host rock providing a natural geological barrier to radio nuclide migration. In the context of the Canadian nuclear waste management efforts, the emphasis has been on sedimentary and crystalline rock formations to host the DGR. Construction of the underground spaces within such hard rocks induces irreversible brittle damage around the excavation. The prediction of the Excavation Damage Zone (EDZ) is paramount for the design process of DGR, since it can provide a potential leakage pathway for contaminants. This thesis includes a discontinuum and continuum numerical study to improve the understanding of the fracture development process associated with EDZ in massive rock masses.
A two-dimensional discontinuum grain-based modeling (GBM) approach is implemented to characterize the mechanics of EDZ by explicitly simulating the process of fracture initiation and propagation. While the potential of GBMs in capturing field scale behavior is largely unexplored, this study bridges the gap through the development of a new methodology for generation and calibration of large scale models, which when applied narrows the computation efforts. This research confirms the nature of key subdivisions within the generalized EDZ, which includes four zones depending on the intensity of damage, and provides new insights into fracture evolution behavior within these zones. Key impacts of rock type and stress field on the micro mechanics of crack damage within EDZ are illustrated. Capabilities and limitations of the continuum based modeling approaches to predict discontinuum nature of brittle failure are addressed.
The predictive numerical tools implemented in this study rely firmly on rockmass strength properties, which are always subject to a great deal of uncertainty. Such uncertainty can pose a challenge for obtaining reliable predictions. Given the low-risk tolerance for DGR, it is essential to quantitatively describe the impact of these uncertainties on predicted EDZ. A reliability-based approach is implemented with both discontinuum and continuum models to address the issue of uncertainty in rock mass strength.

abstract: PhD


title: An Encounter between East and West: The Notion of Truth in William James and Swami Vivekananda

contributor:
Murty, Ram
Philosophy

subject: Vedanta Pragmatism Truth Monism Philosophy

abstract: William James considered Swami Vivekananda the exemplary example of a monist, and he comes to reject Vivekananda’s philosophy because it ultimately did not suit his active temperament. However, judging from his assessment of Vivekananda’s philosophy, it appears James had a limited understanding of Vedanta. It can be speculated that James’s understanding of Vedanta was mainly the aspect of Raja Yoga (the science of psychic control) – which is evinced by the fact that he disagrees with what he perceives as a lack of ability to justify meliorism and a zestful life. But this understanding leaves out of account Karma Yoga or the active principle of Vedanta – which advocates work as the means to realize the divine. Contra James’s conception, it is more illustrative to understand Vedanta not as a doctrine of extreme ‘monism’, but rather an attitude which cultivates every particular temperament and disposition.

abstract: M.A.


title: The Bullying Word: Exploring how Students, Parents, Teachers and Principals Interpret ‘Bullying’

contributor:
Kutsyuruba, Benjamin
Education

subject: Bullying Inclusion School Students

abstract:
Over the past 25 years, research, policies, programming and news reports have proactively tackled the evolving bullying problem, trying to remain ahead of the issue and provide relevant solutions for all educational community members. As of now, the majority of the literature written on the subject focuses on the changing rates of bullying, the different forms of bullying and lastly the negative impact bullying has on victims, offenders, bystanders and the larger school community.
These three areas of research are all predicated on the “bullying” word being understood by different players in the educational community; however, as preliminarily research has started to demonstrate there is a growing and concerning trend of the “bullying” word not being commonly understand, which has the potential to cause problems as they relate to communication, assessment and problem solving. The intent of this study was to use a multiple case study approach to explore how students, teachers, parents and administrators understand the word bullying and how they arrived at their conceptualization. In order to accomplish this goal, individual interviews of each case study group were conducted at two southeastern Ontario elementary schools, specifically working with participants in or associated with the junior grades. The findings reveal that across and within different case study groups the definition of bullying has notable commonalities not yet documented in collective discourse, as well as problematic areas of vast subjectivity. In my study, I introduce the phrase “bullying word phenomenon” to describe the occurrence of the term “bullying” not being commonly understood by members of the school community, which has the potential to make problem solving more difficult and inhibit different research findings (i.e. the difficulties of assessing “bullying” rates if the term itself is not commonly understood). As this is an exploratory case study, my findings are based on my literature review and qualitative case study.
With that said, awareness of these trends needs to spread, and more research needs to be done on the “bullying word phenomenon,” so as to assist with school problem solving and inclusion.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Interpreting Mass Spectrometry Images Using Stacked Learning

contributor:
Ellis, Randy
Computing

subject:
DESI
Mass Spectrometry
Deep Learning
Stacked Learning
Atrial Fibrillation

abstract:
Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) allows for hyperspectral analysis of tissue samples non-destructively under ambient conditions. A downside of such a bountiful source of data is that the high dimensional images suffer from the curse of dimensionality, often requiring substantial pre-processing and complex algorithmic approaches to extract meaningful interpretations of the data. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a cardiac arrhythmia that can occur after heart surgery,  resulting in poorer recovery and higher treatment costs. We proposed a stacked learning system using a combination of DESI-MS and patient demographic information to classify POAF in a set of patients. This stacked learning system was composed of three stages. First, a CNN was trained to identify nuclear hypertrophy in DESI-MS images.
Second, the CNN’s output was combined with patient demographic information and dimensionally reduced. Finally, a support vector machine was used to classify POAF on the resulting dataset. Our study showed that the full stacked learning system outperformed the individual components and also provided a preliminary step toward predicting POAF in patients.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Optimization of spherical proportional counter backgrounds and response for low mass dark matter search

subject:
Dark Matter
Spherical Proportional Counter
Gas Detector
Radioactive Background

abstract: The NEWS-G collaboration uses Spherical Proportional Counters to search for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP). The first detector developed for this goal is a 60 cm diameter sphere installed at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane in France. In 2015, the collaboration took a run  with neon as the target material for an exposure of 9.7 $\mathrm{kg\cdot days}$. This run allowed new limits to be set on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross-sections with $\mathrm{90\%}$ confidence upper limit of $\mathrm{\sigma_{SI} < 4.4 \times 10^{-37}  cm^{2}}$ for a $\mathrm{0.5\, GeV/c^{2}}$ WIMP. The study of the background events observed during this run shows that it is dominated by the presence of the $\mathrm{^{210}Pb}$ decay chain in the different materials composing the detector, its shielding, and on the inner surface of the sphere. The experiences acquired during the utilization of SEDINE and the analysis of its data allowed a procedure to be developed to avoid radioactive contaminations and minimize the background of the experiment. The background of the next detector was estimated by a stringent selection of the materials, the measurements of their radioactive contaminations and the simulation of the different components. The development of new sensors allows a better homogeneity of the detector response and good data acquisition in large detector. The new detector is a 140 cm diameter sphere, to be installed at SNOLAB in Canada in 2020. Its performance will be also enhanced by the development of methods of signal characterisation and calibration.

abstract: PhD


title: Novel Current Sensor-less MPPT Algorithm for Solar Applications

contributor:
Eren, Suzan
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
MPPT
Photovoltaic
PV
Current Sensor-Less
High Frequency Injection

abstract:
This thesis presents a novel Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique for photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. The proposed method eliminates the need for current sensing by injecting high-frequency perturbations and monitoring the behavior of the system. The method takes advantage of the increase in the non-linearity of the I-V curve of the solar panel in order to find the maximum power point (MPP). Current sensors are a costly component in the design of a power converter. They also require a signal conditioning circuitry to reduce the noise and prepare the signal to be sampled and used by the controller. This elimination can reduce the cost of MPPT circuitry. The proposed method also shows a very fast tracking response due to the use of high-frequency signals instead of relying on low frequency and DC signals which are used in the traditional methods. Numerical analysis, simulation results, and experimental results verify the feasibility of the proposed technique.
An FPGA controlled converter is designed for the experimental implementation of this technique. The board is designed to be expandable and versatile in order to be used as a development board for power electronics applications.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: What Factors and Experiences Motivate Innovators? An Expectancy-Value-Cost Approach to Promoting Student Innovation

contributor:
Bolden, Benjamin
Education

subject:
Innovation
Motivation
Learning Environments
Expectancy-Value-Cost
Mixed Methods

abstract: This multi-manuscript dissertation integrated a systematic literature review, interviews, and a developed survey instrument to investigate the expectancies, values, and costs that are involved in motivating current Canadian innovators.  Using the Expectancy-Value-Cost framework, the research investigated individual innovators' motivations, but also considered the relationship between individual motivations and the environments (e.g., climates, contexts, and the surroundings of innovators) and strategies (e.g., approaches, interventions, and decisions made by figures of importance within contexts) that they experience. This research offers unique insights in alignment with innovation education that address paucities within the innovation literature at large, particularly the relative lack of research addressing motivations of the innovative individual.  The findings of this research nuance and advance the knowledge of promotive and hindering motivational factors that can inform the design of innovation promotion efforts.  Innovator participants also identified specific strategies that they use to make their innovating more likely and gave advice to future innovators regarding maximizing expectancies and values, whilst mitigating perceived costs of innovation.  Innovators also reflected on their educational experiences to identify the mechanisms that formal and informal education can provide in increasing the prevalence of innovation among Canadian students.

abstract: PhD


title: High sensitivity of freshwater zooplankton to low chloride concentrations is unaltered by nutrient level

contributor:
Arnott, Shelley
Biology

subject:
Zooplankton
Chloride
Nutrients
Road Salt

abstract: Driven by decades of road salt use, freshwater salinization is prevalent across North America. Increasing chloride concentrations threaten freshwater species, and zooplankton are particularly sensitive. In Canada, the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life (CWQG) set the chronic limit for chloride in freshwater at 120 mg/L. The ability of this guideline to protect zooplankton is questionable, given that: it is based on only five species of zooplankton, it relies on controlled laboratory studies that can miss indirect effects of contaminants on complex species interactions, and it does not account for factors that modify response to chloride. Increased food availability is one factor that has been shown to increase chloride tolerance in zooplankton species Daphnia pulex/pulicaria. It follows that differences in nutrient concentration, via their influence on phytoplankton biomass and availability of prey, could drive variation in response to chloride. Our main objectives were to understand how freshwater zooplankton respond to chloride, how nutrients could potentially modify response to chloride, and to determine if the CWQG chronic limit of 120 mg Cl-/L adequately protects zooplankton. We exposed a freshwater zooplankton community to thirty increasing increments of chloride concentrations (ambient to 1500 mg/L) for six weeks, crossed with either ambient or high nutrient treatments. Total biomass, richness and abundance of all zooplankton taxa, genera and species declined with increasing chloride, except for two rotifer genera, Keratella spp. and Lecane spp. Higher nutrients did not reduce the impact of chloride in any group, genus or species. Additionally, we observed 27.7–70.9% loss in abundance by the CWQG of 120 mg Cl-/L, suggesting that these guidelines should be revisited.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Biomass production and nutrient removal by Chlorella vulgaris as monoculture and in a consortium from centrate wastewater: optimization through acclimation

contributor:
Champagne, Pascale
Civil Engineering

subject:
Microalgae
Centrate Wastewater
Acclimation
Monoculture
Consortium
Nutrient Removal

abstract:
Microalgae-based wastewater treatment has shown promise in the removal of contaminants such as nutrients and heavy metals. Municipal wastewaters could be used as low-cost cultivation media as they provide the necessary nutrients for microalgal growth. This technology could represent a viable and sustainable option to implement as part of biological wastewater treatment. However, microalgal culturing requirements and conditions must be more clearly understood.
At a number of wastewater treatment facilities, centrate (CW) is produced from the dewatering process of biosolids following anaerobic digestion. CW exhibits high nutrient concentrations, generally much higher than the initial influent wastewater. Therefore, CW represents a potential nutrient-rich cultivation medium for microalgal growth, but it can also be toxic for their metabolism.
This study evaluated the acclimation of microalgae culture to CW diluted with secondary wastewater (SW) as a growth media following a 16-week acclimation period. Monoculture C. vulgaris and a native consortium sampled from Amhertsview water pollution facility were used. This consortium was maintained in two conditions –Bold´s Basal Medium (BBMC); and 50% CW (CWC). The initial ammonia (NH4-N) and phosphate (PO43--P) concentrations were 451.67 ± 7.82 mg/L and  22.33± 0.69 mg/L for CW, and 0.65 ± 0.10 mg/L and 1.38 ± 0.04 mg/L for SW, respectively.
Results showed that the acclimation process of microalgal cultures increased their tolerance by the fifth cycle, after 75 days of cultivation. Afterward, acclimated and non-acclimated cultures were cultivated in 30%, 50% and 100% dilution of CW to compare and evaluate nutrient removal and biomass production in CW. In terms of biomass productivity, 30% CW resulted in low values, while in 100%, nutrient toxicity leads to physiological stress on cellular metabolism, increasing lag phases. The 50% CW had the highest biomass production with continuous growth. Moreover, nutrients removal was dependant on the dilution of CW used, resulting in a significant removal (> 80%) for ammonium and phosphate when microalgae were cultivated in 50%CW. These results demonstrate the feasibility of microalgae to acclimatize, adapt, and grow under high nutrient loadings while providing efficient constituent removals.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: High Spatial Resolution Measurement of Tendon Reinforcement in Underground Construction Works

subject:
Tunnel Support
Ground Support
Optical Fiber Strain Sensing
Deep Mining
Excavation Displacements
Support Element
Rock Bolt
Cable Bolt
Monitoring
Umbrella Arch
Shearing Ground

abstract:
Distributed optical fiber strain sensing is investigated as a technology to enhance the assessment of tendon reinforcement elements that are commonly used in mines and tunnelling projects. Central to this research effort is the application of a particular high spatial resolution Rayleigh optical frequency domain reflectometer that is able to distinguish strain along a standard optical fiber at spatial increments as low as 0.65 millimeters. In applying this technology to reinforcement elements, the objective is to measure a nearly continuous strain distribution, such that complex and non-uniform in-situ reinforcement responses that are induced by ground deformations can be characterized and quantified.
This has been approached from an intrinsic sensing perspective, whereby several instrumenting procedures have been developed to directly couple fiber optic strain sensors with various reinforcement elements. Notably, a delta-shaped sensor arrangement and accompanying analysis have been developed in order to calculate the coaxial strain scalar and bending moment vector mobilized along a reinforcement element. Significantly, this allows the maximum strain distribution along a reinforcement element to be measured without prior knowledge of the location(s) or orientation(s) of strain inducing features.
	Through a series of laboratory experiments and in-situ studies it was demonstrated that load experienced by a reinforcement element can be measured as a function of distance from the load inducing source. This critically improves common pull test assessment of reinforcement because bond stress and load development length can be quantified and related to bond strength models. Furthermore, several in-situ reinforcement mechanisms mobilized by excavation advancement were measured. These included stress redistributions facilitated by umbrella arch elements in the form of distributed bending moments as well as localized dowel reinforcement across shearing discontinuities. The latter was found to concentrate strain within several centimeters of an active discontinuity, necessitating the high spatial resolution measurements.
	In view of use of this technology by practitioners, it has been established that the sensor arrangement can be installed in conformance with standard reinforcement handling and mechanized installation procedures. The end benefit is the developed sensing technique can be used by ground control engineers to more confidently justify alterations and optimizations to support design.

abstract: PhD


title: The effects of increasing chloride concentrations and temperatures on freshwater zooplankton communities

subject:
Road Salt
Zooplankton
Lake
Climate Change
Chloride
Warming
Phytoplankton
Mesocosm

abstract: Across the Northern Hemisphere, chloride concentrations in lakes are increasing from decades of road salt use, imperiling aquatic ecosystems. Elevated chloride concentrations threaten aquatic organisms, and zooplankton are especially sensitive. Despite the negative effects of chloride on zooplankton and aquatic communities, current water quality guidelines are based on laboratory studies that exclude indirect effects or additional stressors that may modify tolerance to chloride. Additionally, increasing lake temperatures could exacerbate the negative effects of increasing chloride concentrations on zooplankton, possibly through changes to the phytoplankton community. To determine the effects of increasing chloride concentrations and lake temperatures on freshwater plankton communities and investigate the applicability of the current Canadian Water Quality Guideline for chloride (CWQG), we conducted a mesocosm experiment. We used thirty concentrations of chloride from ambient to 1500 mg/L, ambient or warmed temperatures, and plankton from a lake typical of the Canadian Shield. We found that increasing chloride concentrations negatively affected zooplankton, even at concentrations below the CWQG. Zooplankton abundance, biomass and richness decreased with increasing chloride concentrations to an extent that would likely impair ecosystem functions in highly impacted lakes, and no zooplankton taxa were positively associated with high chloride concentrations. Increasing chloride concentrations also led to a shift in phytoplankton community composition marked by an increase in cyanobacteria, which likely contributed to the negative effects of elevated chloride on zooplankton. The effects of warming, however, were limited to increasing copepod abundance and green algae concentration, and decreasing cyanobacteria concentration. Overall, zooplankton in our experiment were highly sensitive to increasing chloride concentrations and experienced 28 – 55% declines in abundance and biomass at the CWQG, suggesting that Shield lakes are not sufficiently protected from the impacts of road salt pollution.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Becoming Pornography: White Women, Voyeuristic Surveillance, and Image-Based Sexual Abuse

contributor:
Lord, Susan
Cultural Studies

subject:
Image-Based Sexual Abuse
Revenge Porn
Pornography
Surveillance
Voyeurism

abstract: This dissertation examines the gendered and racialized discourses that inform how we understand the problem of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) in the West. Specifically, it traces out the role that whiteness, and white femininity in particular, plays in the valuation of the non-consensual sexualized image. The centring of the young, white, middle-class, cis-gendered, heterosexual, able-bodied female in discourses of IBSA is a function of the cultural, social, financial, and political economies within a contemporary capitalism that is deeply enmeshed with cinematic and surveillant ways of “seeing.” Through a range of case studies (including film, documentary, advertising, and cultural moments) it is argued that the different ways in which the non-consensual sexualized image comes to have social, cultural, economic, and/or political value must be understood as emerging from the context of contemporary capitalism – a capitalism that is deeply entangled with surveillance culture and economies, the affordances of digital networks and technologies, cinematic practices, pornography, gender, race, sexuality, and sexual violence. The dissertation argues for understanding the non-consensual sexualized image as a social technology that (re)produces particular social outcomes, the importance of considering these images in terms of their uses and valuations rather than their content, and the need for more research into how IBSA affects other demographics.

abstract: PhD


title: Environmental Art and Our Relationship With Road-killed Animals

contributor:
Hovorka, Alice
Environmental Studies

subject:
Art
Painting
Emotional Geographies
Environmental Art
Roadkill
Animals

abstract: The broad aim of this research creation project is to explore my emotional encounters with road-killed animals. This project involves the current road ecology issue of road-killed animals; the encroachment of human settlements and road-building contributes to overwhelming numbers of animal deaths by vehicular slaughter. These animal deaths occur, perhaps as an acceptable cost to the convenience and cultural necessity of road travel. Emotional Geographies demonstrate how humans and animals move through shared spaces, and how road-killed animal sites might impact their emotional connection. Animal geographies examine the importance of animal agency, both in their right to use these spaces and their representation in an anthropocentric world. Acts of mourning are considered in how humans might grieve animals, elevating their lives to be equal to those of humans. The ethical obligations humans have towards animal deaths are explored and my diary entries provide insight in each encounter with a road-killed animal. Examining a variety of approaches to trans-species artwork, I approach my own paintings in an effort to provide the individual animals agency while simultaneously evoking emotional reactions and ethical conversations among viewers. By using juiced fruits and vegetables,  I create a blood-like staining dye. My paintings take current, animal-focused environmental art and use environmentally conscientious materials and remove any use of animals within the art pieces. I mix pre-existing canvas staining techniques and move them forward by creating organic dyes.  The stains on the canvas mimic the stains remaining on asphalt after a road-killed animal victim has long been forgotten; displaying these paintings within a human space contemplates the divide between human and animal spaces and insists that these animal deaths are considered. Confronting viewers with frequently ignored deaths of often unvalued individuals highlights that further steps must be taken to consider how animals co-exist with us in shared spaces and how human power within these spaces causes animal death.

abstract: M.E.S.


title: Validity of an Inertial Measurement Unit System for Evaluating Gait Quality in Healthy Adults and People With Stroke

contributor:
Brouwer, Brenda
DePaul, Vincent
Rehabilitation Science

subject:
Stroke
Gait Analysis
Wearable Sensor
Validity
Inertial Measurement Unit

abstract: Ambulation in the community is more challenging than walking indoors on level ground due to variable conditions including uneven terrain and slopes, but particularly so for people with hemiparesis due to stroke. Measurement of the quality of gait based on spatial-temporal parameters can provide insight to determine the capacity for community ambulation; however, instrumentation to assess gait is mostly limited to laboratory settings over flat surfaces. Wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) have the potential to measure spatial-temporal gait parameters in community settings, but few studies have been conducted to determine their validity. The objective of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of an IMU system compared to the GAITRite system in characterizing spatial-temporal aspects of gait in healthy adults and adults with hemiparesis secondary to stroke on level, inclined, and downward sloped surfaces. A cross-sectional validation study including two groups (stroke, n=11; healthy, n=12) who completed the same three walking conditions (level ground, inclined slope, and downward slope) was conducted. The agreement of spatial-temporal outcomes associated with the IMU system relative to the GAITRite system was analyzed using a three-way mixed ANOVA, Bland-Altman plots, root mean squared error (RMSE), and coefficients of variation (CV). No significant differences between the IMU and GAITRite systems were found for measures of step length, step length symmetry, and speed but swing time was consistently overestimated, and stance time was consistently underestimated compared to the GAITRite system. The agreement between IMU and GAITRite systems was not affected by surface condition (incline or downward slope); however, examination of trends indicated that the agreement between IMU and GAITRite systems may be lower for spatial-temporal parameters measured from participants with hemiparesis compared to healthy adults. Further, the variability (RMSE) associated with IMU-derived measurements tended to be higher than those from the GAITRite for the stroke group, and there was higher variation (CV) associated with the IMU system, relative to the GAITRite, among stroke participants. The major findings indicate that the IMU system requires improvements in measurement accuracy before it can be used as a valid measurement system for spatial-temporal gait parameters in healthy and hemiparetic populations.

abstract: M.Sc.