title: “GG” Good Gaming Wordlists: Insight Into Single-Player Commercial Off-the-Shelf Games and Action-Roleplay Game Vocabulary

abstract: The purpose of this study is to create two pedagogical wordlists for videogames to be used by ESL/EFL teachers and learners. Using a multimethod design, the present research utilizes both quantitative and qualitative measures. A keyness analysis using the Minimal Ratio index provided by the Keyworder software was conducted to investigate a game corpus' distinctive words. The corpus of ten videogame scripts from Rodgers and Heidt (in press) (5.7 million tokens) was compared to the SUBTLEXus TV/movie corpus (50.5 million tokens) to identify flemmas that are significantly more frequent in videogames. With Schmitt's (2019) call for a better understanding of the vocabulary found in games and game-genres in mind, two wordlists were created: a common game wordlist and an action-roleplay game (ARPG) wordlist to investigate variation in game vocabulary. To facilitate vocabulary acquisition, the listed words were coded for ludic/diegetic properties and patterns. Results regarding learning are discussed.


title: The Political Economy of Psychiatry - Power, Knowledge, and Subjectification in the State/Psychiatry Apparatus

abstract: Mental Health is an issue of great importance to states and governments worldwide. Mental illness is the number one cause of disabilities in Canada and globally. Psychiatry dominates mental health knowledge, discourses and policy, prioritizing a biomedical approach, producing questionable results. The concept of psychiatric disorders is criticized for lacking scientific reliability and validity, psychopharmaceuticals for inefficacy and danger, and coercive practices for violating human rights. Why then does psychiatry continue to dominate mental health policy, practices, discourses and understandings? Applying critical theory of political economy with influences from Marx, Foucault, and others, this thesis argues psychiatry's power and privilege persists through the existence of the state/psychiatry apparatus, consolidating knowledge and power in a process of psychiatric subjectification, creating psychiatric subjects - mentally ill persons. The theory is applied to Canada and Ontario, mapping and explaining the parameters and layers of the apparatus and the political economy of psychiatry.


title: World Order with Chinese Characteristics: The Development of Chinese International Relations Theory and Implications for China’s Foreign Policy

abstract: This dissertation critically examines the development of Chinese International Relations theories in the wake of China's rise, the perception of international order held by China's Communist Party and government elites and scholars, and the mutual implication and constitution of domestic ideas and foreign policy. The question at the heart of this project is: How do Chinese international relations scholars understand international order and how is this related to China's approach to international order? In answering this question, this dissertation will argue that social conditions shape the development of international relations scholarship according to locally meaningful ideologies. In making this claim, I argue against the field of international relations as a universal discipline engaged in the objective analysis of an autonomous realm of global politics. Instead, I argue that as a socially conditioned body of knowledge, international relations theory is fundamentally a discourse about who and what the nation is and what its role in global politics should be. For the case used in this dissertation - China and the development of Chinese theories of IR - this has involved a reconstitution of China's role in international and regional order in an attempt to breakaway from Western discourses and ascribe a new locally meaningful identity to the nation and its relation to others. Furthermore, these counter-hegemonic discourses are increasingly being adopted by the state as it seeks to define its role as a great power and to legitimate its hegemonic position in Asia. This study will contribute to debates on rising powers and international order, the role of ideas in foreign policy, and the sociology of the discipline of international relations.


title: Generalized Delaunay Triangulations:Graph-Theoretic Properties and Algorithms

abstract: This thesis studies different generalizations of Delaunay triangulations, both from a combinatorial and algorithmic point of view. The Delaunay triangulation of a point set S, denoted DT(S), has vertex set S. An edge uv is in DT(S) if it satisfies the empty circle property: there exists a circle with u and v on its boundary that does not enclose points of S. Due to different optimization criteria, many generalizations of the DT(S) have been proposed. Several properties are known for DT(S), yet, few are known for its generalizations. The main question we explore is: to what extent can properties of DT(S) be extended for generalized Delaunay graphs? First, we explore the connectivity of the flip graph of higher order Delaunay triangulations of a point set S in the plane. The order-k flip graph might be disconnected for k ≥ 3, yet, we give upper and lower bounds on the flip distance from one order-k triangulation to another in certain settings. Later, we show that there exists a length-decreasing sequence of plane spanning trees of S that converges to the minimum spanning tree of S with respect to an arbitrary convex distance function. Each pair of consecutive trees in the sequence is contained in a constrained convex shape Delaunay graph. In addition, we give a linear upper bound and specific bounds when the convex shape is a square. With focus still on convex distance functions, we study Hamiltonicity in k-order convex shape Delaunay graphs. Depending on the convex shape, we provide several upper bounds for the minimum k for which the k-order convex shape Delaunay graph is always Hamiltonian. In addition, we provide lower bounds when the convex shape is in a set of certain regular polygons. Finally, we revisit an affine invariant triangulation, which is a special type of convex shape Delaunay triangulation. We show that many properties of the standard Delaunay triangulations carry over to these triangulations. Also, motivated by this affine invariant triangulation, we study different triangulation methods for producing other affine invariant geometric objects.


title: Investigations of Sliding-Induced Solute Transport in Articular Cartilage

abstract: Solute transport has not been studied in articular cartilage subject to sliding loads, as occurs in vivo. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive investigation of solute transport under sliding loads specifically investigating enhancement to mass transfer and spatiotemporal changes to diffusivity within the tissue. The findings are contextualized by supplemental investigations comparing the results to commonly studied loading modes such as uniaxial compression, elucidating the role of the superficial region as a barrier to load induced solute transport, and the accuracy of nutrient diffusion models (single vs multi-layer) for characterizing diffusivity. This study demonstrates that mass transfer is higher for sliding compared to uniaxial compression reaching 4.4-fold at 2 hrs (p=0.002) and this can exceed the passive capacity of the tissue. In addition, this work demonstrates a spatiotemporal dependence of diffusivity within the tissue under sliding loads.


title: Design for Recycling Behaviour - An Exploratory Inquiry of Practical Applications

abstract: Efforts geared towards sustainable development have been progressing in different fields, recently shaping a transitional framework named Circular Economy. In a similar manner, design has produced a collection of significant results, some of them formed the field known as Design for Behaviour Change. This field has produced a series of strategies, models, tools, and methods, by bringing knowledge from the social sciences into design. This project sets out to investigate the scope and limits of one tool in particular—Dimensions of Behaviour Change—by formulating the research question: To what extent, Dimensions of Behaviour Change tool—DBC model—can be used in design practice to generate solutions that foster recycling behaviour within Circular Economy framework? The answer is unraveled in this thesis comprised of five main phases: introduction, literature review, methods, study, and results. Ultimately, attempting to contribute to the progress of this field.


title: Enzymatic Regulation in the Liver of the Freeze-Tolerant Wood Frog in Metabolically Depressed States

abstract: The wood frog, Rana sylvatica, can tolerate high degrees of freeze-tolerance, a stress that also requires anoxia, dehydration and hyperglycemia tolerance. Frozen wood frogs show no heartbeat, brain activity, muscle movement or breathing, but phenomenally return to normal once thawed. Control of enzymatic activity is crucial for regulating metabolism and it is imperative for wood frog survival. This thesis investigates the properties of two key enzymes metabolic enzymes, glutamate dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in liver of the wood frogs exposed to freezing, dehydration and anoxia. Current data show that changes in activity, substrate affinity and stability of the enzymes play a major role in their regulation to support the survival of the wood frog during stress, and these regulations are partly controlled by post-translational modifications. Therefore, these enzymes undergo regulation at the level of posttranslational modification to contribute to the overall readjustment of energy production in the wood frog.


title: Urban and Indoor Vehicular Navigation using IMU, GNSS, LiDAR, and Radar

abstract: Vehicles must be able to localize themselves in all environments (unmapped and mapped) including urban and indoor areas where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) performance may degrade. The research and development in this thesis cover three major localization techniques that use an assortment of sensors to achieve this. In urban environments, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and GNSS fusion using the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is developed. For indoor environments, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and Radio Detection and Ranging (radar) SLAM systems are devised. Novel techniques are developed to tune EKF parameters using a Genetic Algorithm (GA) approach and to apply radar in a Rao-Blackwellized particle filter. The thesis presents in-depth explanations of experimental approaches as well as results that demonstrate a variety of localization systems performing high accuracy estimations in several experiments.


title: Markov Regime-Switching in Forecasting Models

abstract: This thesis studies Markov-switching model and its applications in commodity markets with a long historical data series. The background theory of Markov chain is summarized, and the Markov switching model is introduced and discussed. Then, literature surrounding the Markov-switching model is reviewed from the earliest iterations of Hamilton to recent development. The research imposes the features of Markov regime-switching models, considering gold as a financial asset to offer a comprehensive methodology for forecasting commodity price. We show that applying Markov regime-switching could significantly improve the forecast abilities in commodity prices. The analysis indicates that the abnormal increases of gold price in history always resulted from special economic conditions. This study makes a novel contribution to the field by demonstrating that the impact of CPI change to gold price is subject to the regimes, which is more sophisticated than what has been commonly accepted in economics literature to date.


title: On the psycholinguistics of argumenthood

abstract: Verbs are often understood in terms of the events they denote and the events' participants. These participants are typically classified as core or peripheral participants, which correspond to arguments and adjuncts, respectively. Consider Cathy won the contest last year. Cathy and the contest are core participants and arguments whereas last year is a peripheral participant and an adjunct, respectively. Despite an intuitive distinction between arguments and adjuncts, the exact nature of this distinction has been difficult to characterize. This thesis contributes to our understanding of argument structure through two different approaches. We first conducted a cross-linguistic investigation of instrument phrases, which are notoriously difficult to characterize as arguments or adjuncts. This study revealed three factors that contribute to the controversial status of instruments: the semantics/syntax misalignment, the allow/require distinction, and the body-part/external instruments distinction. Next we conducted an investigation of verbs and their participants in atypical populations. This study provided evidence that individuals with high functioning autism and individuals with loss of diagnosis may present with subtle argument structure impairments; proposed novel measures of language assessment that capture individual differences otherwise missed; and advocated for an alternative method of analysis that accounts for within-group variability. Together, the two studies contribute to our understanding of some of the factors involved in distinguishing between arguments and adjuncts and highlight how argument structure concepts can be applied to better serve individuals with high functioning autism and with loss of diagnosis.


title: Understanding the Perpetrator’s Experience: Shame, Guilt, and Forgiveness

abstract: Research on transgressions has focused almost exclusively on the experience of the victim. Extrapolating from the attributional theory of motivation and emotion, this research aimed to gain a better understanding of how individuals make sense of a perpetrator's experience following transgressions. In three studies (combined N = 288; 73.3% female; Mage = 21.3) undergraduate students read hypothetical transgressions and assessed perceived likelihood of shame, guilt, forgiveness seeking, and self-forgiveness from the actor in each scenario. Results suggest that people sometimes do make a distinction between shame and guilt and that causal attributions and whether victims were involved in the transgression may aid people in making this distinction. Results also suggest that causal attributions, the presence of other victims, and perceived emotions may influence perceptions about forgiveness. These findings may allow for a more in-depth understanding of the psychology of transgressions and may have implications for law and conflict resolution.


title: Development of a Planar Shipboard Skid-Equipped Rotary-Wing Aircraft Manoeuvring and Securing Simulation

abstract: In maritime shipboard operations, the typical `skid-type' landing gear of unmanned aircraft systems constrain mechanical securing and traversing options, and present complex ship-helicopter interface behaviour which must be characterized. The planar case of a dynamic interface package named SRAMSS (Skid-equipped Rotary-wing Aircraft Manoeuvring and Securing Simulation) has been developed. SRAMSS models the aircraft as a mass-coupled rigid airframe and flexible landing gear by integration of dynamic finite element modelling into Kane's method. Oriented ship-aircraft contact dynamics is modelled by a Separation Axis Theorem algorithm. Aerodynamic drag, and rotor blade element models complete the modelling of the embarked aircraft. Verification of SRAMSS confirms the proper implementation of the included models. Preliminary validation of the rotor model against published data indicates the need for refinement. Nevertheless, this work verifies a suitable system formulation methodology for a state-of-the-art fully-spatial dynamic interface simulation package for skid-equipped rotary-wing aircraft.


title: Text Classification with Noisy Class Labels

abstract: This thesis focuses on the problem of text classification with noise in the labels of the training data. Label noise can have many potential consequences, such as decreasing the model's accuracy and increasing the model's complexity. Designing learning algorithms that help maximize a desired performance measure in such noisy settings is important for achieving success on real world data. This thesis also investigates a recently proposed text classification method, called the Tsetlin Machine. The Tsetlin Machine can learn human readable rules made up of clauses. There is currently only one paper about the Tsetlin Machine applied to text classification problems, and this thesis builds on the work of that paper. Our experiments have shown that classical methods and the Tsetlin Machine have reasonably low impact on their performance from label noise, while recent state-of-the-art methods in text classification are not as robust.


title: Too Much Growth: The Role of Self-Expansion Perceptions on Date Planning

abstract: The goal of this thesis is to examine whether perceptions of too much self-expansion affects shared leisure experiences. I hypothesize that too much relational self-expansion will be associated with a tendency to engage in less exciting and more familiar shared activities. In Study 1, relational self-expansion was manipulated (i.e., too much, just enough, not enough) in hypothetical couples and participants rated the types of dates (i.e., exciting or familiar) the couple should engage in. In Study 2, participants reported their own relational self-expansion and rated the excitement and familiarity of the date they planned. As predicted, when participants read about someone experiencing too much self-expansion in their relationship, they selected dates for the couple that were more exciting and less familiar (Study 1). However, these findings did not extend to people's own relationships (Study 2). The findings in this thesis provide insight on how self-expansion perceptions affect relationship maintenance behaviour.


title: Fraction Symbols and their Relation to Conceptual Fraction Knowledge for Students in Grades 4 and 6.

abstract: How do students make sense of fractions? Formal fraction knowledge begins when students start mapping fractions shown visually (e.g., area models), with symbols (e.g., ¾) and with words (e.g., three-quarters). Students were recruited from schools that service rural and small-town communities. Grade 4 (N=64) and grade 6 (N = 66) students completed measures of cognition, language, and three novel measures developed for this study: mathematical vocabulary, orthography (i.e., the conventions for writing symbolic math), and fraction mapping. Five months later, their conceptual fraction skills (i.e., mapping, word problems and number line) were measured. I used two analytical approaches to examine the role of fraction mapping as students acquire conceptual fraction knowledge. In Study 1 (Chapters 4 and 5), I tested a path model in which mathematical vocabulary and orthography predicted fraction mapping, and fraction mapping predicted conceptual fraction skills. The model was largely supported for both grades. Moreover, mathematical vocabulary also predicted conceptual fraction skills for sixth graders. Thus, once students have sufficient knowledge of fraction mappings, other skills such as mathematical vocabulary may contribute more strongly to students' knowledge of fraction concepts. In Study 2 (Chapter 6), I used latent profile analysis to group students based on their fraction number line estimation. Three groups emerged. Relational estimators had the most advanced fraction concepts because they viewed the fraction as a unit. Compared to the other groups, relational estimators were more likely to be in sixth grade, have better mapping skills and more accurate whole number line estimation. Whole-component and denominator estimators, respectively, interpreted the fraction based on the magnitudes of both components (i.e., the numerator and denominator) or just the denominator. Only fraction mapping skills differentiated whole-component estimators from denominator estimators. Thus, students' knowledge of fraction mappings is a precursor to interpreting fractions as units rather than as composites, and therefore necessary for successfully placing those fractions on a number line. In summary, this research shows that students who struggle to acquire fraction concepts in grades 4 and 6 have not mastered fraction mappings. Knowing how fraction symbols are connected to magnitude is foundational knowledge for fraction learning.


title: Potential impacts of sea ice and ship traffic change to caribou sea ice crossing areas surrounding King William Island, Nunavut, Canada

abstract: Caribou (Rangifer tarandus, tuktuit in Inuktitut) use sea ice to facilitate movements that fulfill their ecological needs. Ship traffic is growing in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, and ice-strengthened ships can disrupt sea ice by breaking it apart. This project explored priorities identified by community members in Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven, NU) concerning changes in sea ice and ship traffic in caribou crossing areas surrounding King William Island. Using Canadian Ice Service ice charts and Canadian Coast Guard ship traffic data, the timing of freeze-up, break-up and ship transit was assessed. Preliminary results were discussed in workshops in Uqsuqtuuq in September 2018, and Inuit knowledge guided methods and analyses in this thesis. Despite interannual variability in sea ice conditions, the timing of ship movement was independent of local conditions. In the future, shifting freeze-up and break-up timing may intensify interactions between sea ice and ship transit creating challenges for caribou movement.


title: Augmented Reality Window: The New York Museum of Climate Catastrophe Through Objects, Failures and Timelines

abstract: This thesis explores how architecture can create a connection of present-day actions to far-future consequences. The daily actions we perform impact our future environment, yet the connection between actions today and the consequences of actions years later remain invisible. As a coastal urban centre, New York City will be deeply impacted by climate catastrophe. My desire to link the effects of climate catastrophe to real time behavior led to the exploration of augmented reality as an architectural instrument. A vision into the future was inspired by Bruno Latour's Down to Earth and visualizations of Latour's theories drive narratives of a future New York. Augmentation connects the future to your present-day actions using an Augmented Reality Window. Building upon research in Environmental Psychology, these windows will attempt to narrow the ecological attitude-behaviour gap of New Yorkers. Multiple people using the Augmented Reality Window, will mitigate the consequences of climate catastrophe.


title: Design and Validation of a Force-Sensing Piano Key to Assess Pianist Biomechanics

abstract: Musicians injuries are surprisingly common. There is limited knowledge behind the biomechanics of pianist performance. This study presents the development of a novel instrumented piano key with integrated strain-based sensors that unobtrusively measures the force applied during finger-key interaction in pianists. Pianist perception of touch was experimentally assessed to determine sensitivity to changes in key mass properties. In general, pianists were unable to identify significant changes in the mass of the key. The prototype key successfully identified components of contact force and location. Design refinements are presented that will enable a second prototype to completely measure all components of the contact force and its location. The accuracy, precision, and resolution of data collected from this prototype clearly indicate that an instrumented key can be integrated in a piano to assess the fifinger key interactions in piano performance.


title: Multiple Dynamic Pivots Rig for 3D Biped Character Designed along Human-Computer Interaction Principles

abstract: This thesis is addressing the design, implementation and usability testing of a modular extensible animator-centric authoring tool-independent 3D Multiple Dynamic Pivots (MDP) biped character rig. An objective of the thesis is to show that the design of the character rig must be independent of its platform, cater to the needs of the animation workflow based on HCI principles (particularly that of Direct Manipulation) and be modular and extensible in order to build and grow as needed within the production pipeline. In the thesis, the proposed rig design is implemented in Maya, the most widely used and taught commercial 3D animation authoring tool. Another thesis objective is to perform usability testing of the MDP rig with animation students and professionals, in order to gauge the new design's intuitiveness for those relatively new to the trade and those already steeped in its decades of accumulated technical idiosyncrasies.


title: On The Numerical Computation of Aᵅx=b

abstract: The paper, ODE-based double-preconditioning for solving linear systems A^{\alpha}x = b and f(A)x = b, by Antoine and Lorin [5], introduces different types of precon- ditioners for efficiently computing large sparse systems Ax = b. In this thesis, we introduce the notion of matrix functions f(A) and present several methods for computing p-th root matrices A^(1/p). Finally we propose some algorithms for solving fractional linear systems.


title: Retail Customer and Market Proclivity Assessment using Historical data and Social Media Analytics

abstract: Our research focuses on gaining insights into the retail market by introducing an integrated proclivity assessment model to examine the consumer-market relationships. First, we perform a qualitative study to investigate the potential sales of the grocery market by utilizing the consumer's transactional history data released by Instacart. Second, we proficiently interpret the user propensity towards grocery products by scrutinizing consumer tweets based on the user location. Finally, we propose an extended framework to detect the category of purchase intentions reflected by the consumers in their online reviews. Amalgamating the three distinct models, we present a web application as the use case that allows retailers to mine consumer behavior and market tendencies. The integrated approach can assist retailers to foresee the demand and adjust the supply chain of their business which further can help in generating better schemes and effective promotional campaigns to maximize the revenues.


title: Exclusionary Inclusion?: The Realities of Academic Accommodation at University for Students with Invisible Physical Chronic Conditions

abstract: The following thesis is a case study that discusses the various impacts of academic accommodations for undergraduate students who self-identify as having invisible physical chronic conditions (IPCCs). This research draws on qualitative data from interviews with undergraduate students and academic accommodation centre staff. Using a symbolic interactionist perspective, I explore why students who identify as having IPCCs either use, or do not seek out, academic accommodations. I investigate how students' identities are impacted, arguing that there is negative impact on identity for some students, particularly vis-a-vis how they are viewed within the University community. The research further uncovers the current academic accommodations system's challenges, and opportunities for positive change in terms of improving the access and experience of academic accommodations for students. The research discusses the concept of the "continuous assessment" model as an alternate design and practice of academic accommodation that arguably would benefit all post-secondary students.


title: A Qualitative Discourse Analysis of Ontario University Websites: Exploring the Value Systems of Teacher Education Webpages

abstract: Although features of hidden curriculum (implicit value systems) in higher education have been extensively researched (Snyder, 1971; White, 1988), few studies have undertaken research that explores hidden curriculum using curriculum theory in conjunction with Systemic Functional Linguistics. The present study explored the hidden curriculum implicit within descriptions of Teacher Education (TE) programs on three Ontario faculties' webpages. The study drew textual data from open source documents and webpages that are publicly accessible on websites (i.e., from the Ontario College of Teachers'; Ottawa; Queen's; and Nipissing Universities). Analysis focused on, 1) the Commonplaces of Curriculum (Connelly & Clandinin,1988); and 2) Systemic Functional Linguistics: Mood, Transitivity, and Theme (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004; 2014), to identify the recurring patterns of emphasis and de/emphasis in the texts. Findings suggested that features of the market-oriented value system constrain the inclusive, and diverse pedagogy that is prevalent in teacher education programs. Implications are discussed.


title: Evaluating the Usability of Passthought Authentication

abstract: Traditional passwords have numerous problems, but so far no alternative system has been able to replace them. Authentication using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), or passthoughts, has been proposed as an alternative because of the unique biometric properties of neurophysiological data, but significant questions remain regarding usability and practicality. In this thesis I explore issues related to the usability of BCIs and passthoughts. I designed and built a prototype passthought authenticator, which revealed significant usability issues surrounding the use of mental commands. By interviewing expert BCI users and researchers, I identified barriers relating to perceived safety, usability, and applicability of BCIs. A survey of MTurk workers with no prior BCI experience revealed that personality characteristics as well as security behaviours were related to respondents' acceptance and perceived usability of BCIs. These studies revealed significant barriers and areas for improvement of passthoughts and BCIs in general.


title: Exploring the Missing Element of Racism: The Unintentional Factor

abstract: Definitions of racism often do not consider group specificities or contextual factors, with existing measures failing to discern the features of individuals who are well-meaning, but unintentionally perpetuate systemic differences. The present studies sought to assess the validity of the newly created Unintentional Racism Scale (URS) that would address the nuances of racism towards Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Participants (Study 1, N = 219; Study 2, N = 185) responded to 23 vignettes varying in ambiguity and context. The URS used a scenario format; for each, participants rated nine dimensions that reflect whether the behaviour depicted is racist and whether it is appropriate. The final scale included 15 scenarios that tapped into four forms of unintentional racism (microaggressions, paternalism, glorified differences, and justification of past actions). Psychometric analyses revealed that the four forms had acceptable reliability and demonstrated construct and criterion validity with other indices of racism and outcome measures.


title: Object Lessons: Domestic Interiors on Display at Eaton's Toronto Department Stores

abstract: During the interwar years the T. Eaton Company constructed a number of life-sized model houses and period rooms in their Toronto department stores as a means of marketing furniture and house furnishings. This thesis argues that Eaton's used these domestic displays in a program of public pedagogy intended to sell Torontonians specific ideas about middle class values as well as tables and chairs, carpets and wallpaper. Advertising, most notably in the Toronto Globe, complemented these object lessons in modern middlebrow domesticity. Starting in the late nineteenth century many furniture retailers in Europe and North America had deployed such displays as marketing tools. Situating this commercial practice in a particular time and place enables a deeper understanding of its cultural meaning. Eaton's interwar displays reflected corporate imaginings of the local market: Thrift House (1926-1950) was designed to appeal to budget-conscious homeowners, while the Ideal Ontario House (1930-1936) encouraged more affluent Torontonians to buy Canadian made furnishings. The House of To-day (1929) targeted those willing to experiment with innovative art moderne designs. Period interiors featuring English and French historical styles remained a constant, reflecting the popularity of tradition during these decades. Mid level employees, such as interior designers René Cera and Phyllis Stagg, and innovative copywriter Edith Macdonald (known as 'The Scribe'), used their talents to teach shoppers about the aesthetics of interior design, financial literacy, and the impact of consumer choices on the national economy: a syllabus that reinforced a definition of appropriate middle class consumerism as disciplined desire. As a site of display, Eaton's was linked to more obviously authoritative institutions of public pedagogy in Toronto, such as the Royal Ontario Museum. Through its focus on domesticity and its embrace of public pedagogy as a key marketing technique, the store cultivated an image as a civic benefactor, undercutting contemporary critiques of mass merchandising as essentially deceptive and corrupt. Case studies of the store's interwar domestic displays reveal successes and failures of Eaton's bid for cultural authority in a city of homes.


title: Big Data-Driven AI-based Wireless Network Personalization

abstract: There is a consensus that trends in emerging wireless technologies, such as explosive data requirements and proliferating services and applications, are creating serious issues for the management of user experience. This is due to the fact that, unlike Quality-of-Service (QoS), for which technical metrics are available such as packet error rate, it is difficult to analytically model and measure "user experience" in wireless networks. Besides, current communication networks use design methodologies that prevent the realization of maximum network efficiency. For all these reasons, more agile, intelligent, and flexible networks are required. Such networks should be capable of micro-managing resources in a way that meets each user's service quality expectations while using a minimum amount of resources. This micro-management of network resources has ushered in the concept of wireless network personalization. Personalized networks optimize two correlated and contradicting objectives in real time: user satisfaction and resource utilization. In this thesis, the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and real-time non-intrusive user feedback is proposed in order to enable the personalization of wireless networks. Based on each user's actual QoS requirements and context, a Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) formulation enables the network to micro-manage and optimize the provided QoS and user satisfaction levels simultaneously. In addition, to enable user feedback tracking and measurement, user satisfaction is modeled based on the Zone of Tolerance concept. Furthermore, a big data-driven AI-based personalization framework is proposed to integrate personalization into wireless networks. Moreover, a MOO problem is formulated to model the personalized resource allocation problem in wireless networks. Then, to validate the formulated problem, a proof-of-concept prototype is built using the wireless personalization framework in which Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization (EMOO) is utilized to find the optimum Pareto front solutions. Finally, since user privacy is a crucial concern, a privacy-preserving framework, which is based on the concept of Differential Privacy, is proposed for personalized wireless networks.


title: Rule of the Routes: Infrastructure, Colonization, and ‘the Social Science’ in the Canadas from Conquest to Confederation

abstract: Rule of the Routes offers a rich and detailed account of colonial social and political development from 1759 to 1875 by focussing on a state-led process of what is throughout referred to as 'infrastructural colonization'. Offering a novel account of state formation and infrastructure development by shifting from traditional infrastructural systems, namely highways, canals and railways, and toward mundane modes of transport, specifically rural routes, this thesis shows how agricultural settlement, communal development, rural infrastructures and forms of political administration became inextricably intertwined by the mid-nineteenth century. While states have always sought to ensure military control over their roads, attempts to establish an 'art of government' based on the prudent administration of the common routes of the people are comparatively more recent. Through an examination of a specific road-building initiative, the colonization roads project, Rule of the Routes offers an account of Canadian social and political development by outlining the State's use of common routes as a mechanism of social and political subjectification. Rule of the Routes shows how concerns with ruling populations can be seen in the very form of rural roads themselves, from their materials, width, orientation, layout of lots, maps depicting them, and their organizational administration. New ministries developed as techniques for representing the social, moral, and economic progress of colonization were institutionalized. Finally, Rule of the Routes documents conditions on the ground to offer a reflexive historical sociology revealing how colonial socio-political relations between the French and English, as well as imperial attempts to anglicize canadiens, motivated the early development of 'the social science' in the Canadas. The thesis concludes by demonstrating how attempts by state actors and amateurs alike to use the social science to demonstrate the progress of infrastructural colonization led to the creation of new territorial abstractions which led to changes in the form of infrastructural colonization in the 1870s and the end of the colonization roads.


title: Sensor Fusion INS/GNSS based on Fuzzy Logic Adaptive Error-State Kalman Filter and Unscented Kalman Filter

abstract: A Fuzzy Logic Adaptive Control (FLAC) is used to correct an Error-State Kalman Filter (ESKF) and an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), in a loosely coupled INS/GNSS system, when the IMU presents a dominant 1/f flicker noise. First, the ESKF and UKF implementation were tuned to achieve an optimal solution when all noise sources are white. Secondly, a flicker noise was applied to the IMU, making the systems reach a large error bound solution. Finally, a FLAC methodology that combines the observation of the residuals and the states error covariance and applies the correction using an exponential weighted and a process noise injection was used to correct the suboptimal behaviour. The FLAC application improved the navigation accuracy for all the states, preserving the stability of the error covariance. The comparison between the ESKF and UKF showed that both systems give equivalent outcomes, with the UKF been slightly less sensitive to disturbances.


title: The Robotic Molecular Biologist -Automated Processing of Astrobiological Samples for Planetary Missions

abstract: The aim of this research is the development of a low-mass and robust life detection platform that has the potential to be integrated into future astrobiology space missions and to perform numerical analysis to optimize the platform. To achieve this, a subset of instruments that could be deployed on a Mars rover are examined and a novel stand-alone life detection platform is designed that is equipped with peristaltic pumps, solenoid valves, microfluidic chip, Microbial Activity MicroAssay (u-MAMA) and an Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction System (A-NECS). Further, a control algorithm is developed to perform an end-to-end analysis of DNA/RNA extraction and microbial activity detection on the environmental sample collected. A mathematical model for predicting the flow patterns in microfluidics is presented and a CFD analysis of the lysing chamber is conducted to understand turbulent properties, volume density distributions of the dissipated energy and the agitation rate effects.


title: The Role of Documentary Linguistics in the Creation of Academic Resources and Materials for Second Language Learners: Conversations with Kanien’kéha Students and Teachers

abstract: This thesis examines the relevance and application of permanent language resources to contexts of second language education. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adult language learners and teachers at Onkwawén:na Kentyóhkwa, a Kanien'kéha immersion school, to gather perceptions and ideas on how and what types of data collected in linguistic documentation projects could be utilized to create language learning materials. Kanien'kéha students and teachers were also asked to comment on their perceptions of or experiences with documentary linguists and how these relationships could be improved. Contributors provided insight on materials and resources which they believe would aid in language learning and fluency development as well as specific requests for documentation, including motherese, idiomatic expressions and every day, interactional speech. Contributors also provided information on how the field of language documentation and its practices could be improved and made suggestions for ways in which linguists could help Indigenous language education programs succeed.


title: Autistics' Perspectives of Autism Funding in Ontario

abstract: Ontario overhauled their autism program in 2019 seeking to replace the flexible service- or funding-based 2018 Ontario Autism Program with a cash-based benefit called the Childhood Budgets program. I used one-to-one interviews to collect four autistic adults' perspectives of autism funding in Ontario. Participants reflected on how they identified with autism to frame their discussions in this research. Participants highlighted the importance of enjoying supports and services. Some participants did not trust the school system because of inadequate provision of support. The lack of adequate funding, services, and supports for autism in Ontario may have increased some of the participants' use of medication. Participants wanted inclusive policy-making opportunities for autistic people. They agreed that some of the costs for services should be covered. This research demonstrates that autistic adults are willing to take part in policy discussions surrounding autism, advocating that autistic perspectives be considered when creating new autism programs.


title: "New" York: A Story of People, Architecture, and Climate Change

abstract: For the first time in its history, New York City is presented with the effects of climate change at a scale that will manipulate the physical makeup of the city. The inevitable incremental changes brought upon by rising waters and temperatures have resulted in the drafting of the OneNYC Plan for 2050. This official document by the city of New York consists of infrastructural, cultural, and technological planning, but the manuscript lacks the necessary foresight to preserve a city of 9 million people in the wake of a major coastal restructuring. This thesis is a presentation of the OneNYC Company Plan for 2050 and Beyond: a series of amendments to the official document which focuses on the New Yorkers of New York. Using architectural, infrastructural, and industrial technologies, the OneNYC Company aims to reconstitute New York and work with climate change to redesign the city.


title: Estimating the number of undiscovered rare plant occurences in Southern Ontario

abstract: Species distribution models (SDMs) can be used to predict the probability of species' occurrence. We tested the use of validated SDMs to estimate the number of occurrences of rare plant species across Southern Ontario. We built SDMs for six rare species using known occurrence records and then surveyed 282 new sites and used presence/absence records from these sites to predict probability of occurrence. We summed these probabilities to estimate the number of occurrences on the landscape. We then used simulation exercises which showed that the true number of extant occurrences can be overestimated with fewer than 1,000 SDM-directed survey sites. Therefore, our estimates may be overestimates of the true number of extant occurrences, and more surveys will be required to obtain more accurate estimates. This technique for estimating the number of rare species occurrences will inform managers as they prioritize time and money towards decisions around species recovery and protection.


title: Text Entry in Virtual Reality; Implementation of FLIK method and Text Entry Test-bed

abstract: We present new testing software for text entry techniques. Text entry is the act of entering text via some interaction technique into a machine or monitor, common text entry techniques are the typical QWERTY keyboard, smartphone touch virtual keyboards, speech to text techniques, and others. The purpose of this text entry test-bed software is to provide a flexible and reusable experiment tool for text entry studies, in such a way to include studies from a variety of sources, more specifically to this thesis, from Virtual Reality text entry experiments. On top of the proposed text entry test-bed, we conduct two studies comparing different text entry techniques in virtual reality as a way of validating the text entry test-bed, as well as contributing the results of these studies to the pool of research related to text entry in virtual reality.


title: Multi-scale Modelling of Hydrogen Diffusion in Solids : Impact of Diffusion on Denuded Zones in Zr Alloy Pressure Vessels and Hydrogen Diffusion in Lead Zirconate Titanate.

abstract: Zirconium alloys are used as cladding in nuclear reactors. They are vulnerable to hydrogen degradation under the harsh service conditions, which necessitates monitoring for the hydride contentHydride denuded zones found these pressure tubes hinders the monitoring process, which uses scrape samples taken from the pressure tubes. A hypothesis is proposed that oxygen slows the diffusion of hydrogen and thereby encourages the occurrence of hydride denuded zones. We developed an approach to determine the diffusivity of hydrogen in zirconium, combining of first principles calculations and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. Rate constants found through the energy landscapes of hydrogen motion between different interstitial sites, were used in KMC to determine the values of bulk diffusivity. We also found that hydrogen diffusivity in Zr is closely isotropic, with a slightly higher diffusivity in the C-axis direction. With this model we found that oxygen decreases the diffusivity of hydrogen for moderate oxygen concentrations. Though the diffusivity of H seems to be reduced by O, looking at the O concentration profiles found in pressure tubes, we see that the decrease is insufficient to cause a sufficient change to the size of hydrides. Hence, we reject the hypothesis as the main reason for the formation of denuded zones. Thereafter, we used the model to determine the effect of stress on diffusivity of H by applied hydrostatic stresses. We see a decrease in the diffusivity with increase in compressive stress showing us that stress does influence the diffusivity of H. The main reason for this decrease is the increase in activation barriers Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) is a widely used piezoelectric material which is also affected by H absorption. This gives the need of understanding the H diffusion in PZT. This research presents the initial results of a study which aims to simulate hydrogen diffusion in PZT using the validated diffusion model used for Zr. First-principles calculations were done to determine the possible hydrogen occupancy locations in the PZT lattice. These results will serve as a basis for future nudged elastic band calculations to determine the diffusion characteristics for H diffusion in PZT.


title: Re-Stitching the Canadas: Great River Station and Prince of Wales Bridge Rehabilitation

abstract: This thesis offers an architectural intervention that would reinforce the unification of Upper and Lower Canada. As we know it today, Canada began with the amalgamation of French and English settlers, in alliance with the First Nations. Although our history is replete with tensions between these peoples, trade and travel have been among the threads that bound the peoples of Canada together. Like the canoe in its day, the building of railroads in the 1880s was a key event that helped unite Canada. Today, the Prince of Wales Bridge, a railway bridge that once united Quebec and Ontario, stands abandoned. This thesis offers the design of a unifying station and museum, and rehabilitation of the bridge. It integrates pedestrian and cycling routes, while honouring the heritage of the canoe and railroad. This architectural strategy addresses social desires and transportation needs of the people in the local and broader region.


title: Queer(ing) Space: Potentials of the In-Between

abstract: We have come to accept that architecture sustains matrices of patriarchy and heteronormativity. This thesis frames the subject around those who have been excluded from the canonical discourse, in the wider scene termed 'Queer'. It asks how we might begin to think of architecture beyond accepted structures - beyond binarization and oppositional logic. By tracing the historical context of specific events, sites, and urban zones, that have come to define LGBTQI2+ movements and culture, this study remains grounded in queer identities while uncovering an attitude of resistance and transformation. Born often out of necessity and survival, and existing outside heteronormative boundaries, these moments of appropriation begin to define an active queering of space. Taking a turn towards architecture and the potential for queering, the emerging project analyzes the bounds of inside/outside rhetoric and questions how to create new significations with a charge of multiplicity, openness, contradiction and contention.


title: A Validation of the Dynamic Risk Assessment for Offender Re-entry (DRAOR) for use with Offenders with Mental Disorder

abstract: Persons with mental disorders face widespread challenges in their lives, including disproportionate involvement in the criminal justice system. As there has been ongoing scholarly debate regarding relevant criminal risk factors for offenders with mental disorders, better understanding their experiences with the criminal justice system is essential to ensure they are being managed appropriately. The goal of the current doctoral research was to validate the Dynamic Risk Assessment for Offender Re-entry (DRAOR) for use with offenders with a mental disorder. A sample of 961 parolees in the state of Iowa (49.7% being diagnosed with a mental disorder) was used to achieve this goal. Findings showed that, while offenders with a mental disorder were assessed as having higher dynamic risk and lower protective factors, they were equally likely to recidivate compared to those with no mental disorder. While the DRAOR had utility with offenders who were not diagnosed with a mental disorder, results were less positive for those with a diagnosis. Discrimination analyses found that the DRAOR was only able to weakly discriminate between those who did or did not violate the conditions of their release, while calibration analyses found that the DRAOR may be under-classifying lower-scoring offenders with a mental disorder and over-classifying higher-scoring offenders with a mental disorder. The consideration of current mental health-related problems augmented the prediction of technical violations over DRAOR assessments for offenders with mental disorder, pointing to the possibility that there may be other factors relevant to risk prediction for this sub-population. Analyses focused on assessments over time found that, regardless of the presence of a mental disorder, offenders' levels of dynamic risk, but not protective factors, changed over multiple assessments. Subsequent analysis found that while DRAOR change scores significantly predicted future technical violations, they did not predict new charges. Overall, these findings point to the need for parole officers to exercise caution with using the DRAOR with clients who have a diagnosed mental disorder. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying reasons why the DRAOR does not work as well with offenders with mental disorders compared to those without mental disorders.


title: Number transcoding for First and Second Language Learners

abstract: The goal of this study was to explore the effect of language on English number transcoding by comparing the errors made by First Language Learners (FLL) with those made by Second Language Learners (SLL). Errors were analyzed through the lens of ADAPT cognitive model of transcoding. Eighty-seven students in grade 3 (i.e., 51 FLL and 36 SLL) were recruited from Ottawa schools. They attempted to write down 30 verbally-presented numbers which varied from 3 to 7-digits. Overall, the two groups showed similar transcoding performance. The errors increased with the number of digits and did not differ across groups. However, FLL made more syntactic errors whereas SLL made more lexical and combination errors. Although both groups made errors applying the transcoding procedures, some SLL were still developing their numerical lexicon. Individual differences in transcoding were related to visual-spatial and verbal working memory. The results align with ADAPT model of number transcoding.


title: The Mediated Landscape: Iceland’s Wilderness in Cinema, Travel, and Transition

abstract: Natural environments have been formative for cultural traditions and national identities. Iceland's landscapes became prominent in visual culture due to their cinematic appeal. Recent growth in tourism and media communications have transformed Iceland into a coveted travel destination over the span of the past decade. Media and travel practices frame and re-frame the geological uniqueness of this sub-Arctic, mid-Atlantic island through countless narratives and visuals. While marketed to travelers as a place of pristine wilderness, the space of Iceland's nature are contested grounds with fragile ecosystems caught between preservation and industrialization. Through a series of maps and drawings that borrow elements of 'sequence' and 'duration' from cinematography, this project aims to construct a mediation with the idiosyncratic landscape. Repositioning the notion of 'landscape' from a primarily visual entity to a layered catalyst for culture, this thesis proposes a network of installations in support of Iceland's ecology through travel.


title: Performance Improvements in Software-Defined Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

abstract: In this dissertation, we investigate performance improvements in software-defined and virtualized vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) with advanced technologies. We firstly present a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approach in software-defined vehicular ad-hoc networks with trust management. In this research, we propose to use a deep Q-learning (DQL) approach and the centralized control mechanism of SDN to address the bad influences of the malicious nodes in VANETs. The trust of each vehicle and the reverse delivery ratio are considered in a joint optimization problem, which is modeled as a Markov decision process with state space, action space, and reward function. DQL is used to obtain the best link quality policy under the bad influence of the malicious vehicles in the inter-vehicle communication for ITS. Secondly, we focus on distributed SDN and blockchain technology for connected vehicles in smart cities. Specifically, we propose a novel blockchain-based hierarchical distributed software-defined VANET framework (block-SDV) to establish a secure and reliable architecture that operates a distributed way to overcome the security issues of VANETs. Thirdly, we propose a novel framework of blockchain-based mobile edge computing for a future VANET ecosystem (BMEC-FV), in which we have adopted a hierarchical architecture. In the underlying VANET environment, we propose a trust model to ensure the security of the communication link between vehicles.


title: Housing on the Horizon: Low-rise, High-density Housing Strategies for Luanda’s Expanding Periphery

abstract: Angola is one of the fastest urbanizing countries in Africa. Rapid urbanization, coupled with severe housing shortages, has produced sprawling informal settlements throughout the nation's capital, Luanda. Addressing this situation involves both the redevelopment of much of Luanda's existing urban fabric and new strategies for the build-out of the city's peri-urban landscapes. This involves finding ways to build at higher densities, which is difficult to do without access to capital. Good design is also key to the success of high-density development -- at the scale of the building, site, and larger public realm. This thesis explores strategies and prototypes for sustainable and affordable low-rise, high-density housing on Luanda's periphery. The design portion of the project explores a model neighborhood for a micro-financed, not-for-profit development that offers residents the opportunity to own their units. It is intended as an alternative both to bottom-up, informal settlements and top-down, high-rise, government-sponsored housing.


title: A House is a Home: reconciling design and energy performance in three Toronto laneway houses

abstract: Residential construction and operation account for a great percentage of Ontario's energy usage. Dwellings are undoubtedly indispensable, yet their necessity is not enough to justify the considerable energy this sector expends. In architectural education and practice, energy efficiency tends to assume a secondary role, one subordinate to aesthetic considerations. This divide jeopardizes the industry as increasing societal pressure demands that the profession respond to sustainability expectations. This thesis proposes an alternative workflow for architects that places energy performance considerations on par with design decisions. Through energy and daylighting simulations that consider quantitative and qualitative interventions, the analysis of two existing Toronto laneway homes uncovers a close relationship between aesthetic and performance considerations, demonstrating that design choices directly impact a home's performance. The evaluation results in a methodology to guide the design process of a new laneway home to ensure that a balance is continuously struck between design and efficiency.


title: Abandoned: Revealing Ontario’s Hidden Landscapes

abstract: Ontario's history is dotted with the rise and fall of multiple colonial settlements established all over the province during the 18th century. These deserted and decaying structures, often isolated from civilization, are beautiful and eerie at once. Why does abandoned architecture lure many urban explorers? What qualities are attractive to photographers, artists, architects and other professionals? With no persons dwelling in these towns, the observer has defaulted to using their imagination to evoke a possible theory to explain the livelihoods, culture and decline of such places. An initial mapping and site analysis of selected towns will begin to clarify some elements concerning the abandoned; through the recording of location, terrain and past industries. This thesis intends to dissect the tangible and intangible qualities of abandoned sites leading to a final project that explores an unconventional practice celebrating the progression of material decay.


title: 'Superbugs' and the 'Dirty Hospital': The Social Co-Production of Public Health Risks

abstract: This dissertation examines the construction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a public health risk. Its focus is on how AMR is co-produced among a network of medical professionals, scientists and science journalists. The research advances three main arguments: first, narratives and definitions of health risk are not absolute or fixed, but constituted in the discourses and practices of global, national and local actors; second, the production of knowledge about the risk of AMR is not a linear process but one in which various definitions, interests, and practices are involved, and influence one another; and third, conceptualizing health risk as discursive co-production provides a more robust and nuanced understanding of how risks are defined and understood by stakeholders, particularly in relation to attributions of responsibility, blame, victimhood, and resource allocation. I argue that this represents a novel way of imagining and conceptualizing risk communication. The research involved the development of a novel methodology, which I call ethnography of risk, that brings together hospital ethnography, in-depth interviews, and qualitative analysis of media coverage and policy documents. The results of this study show that health risks are co-produced through processes of negotiation between different and co-existing types of knowledge, including situational and embodied experience, emotional memory, and expert assessments. Second, it argues that risks are multifaceted and constituted at the intersection of different perspectives, such that AMR is understood and addressed as a personal risk, a professional risk, a global risk, and a political risk. Third, it shows that stakeholders perform boundary work and blame shifting to justify why they preferred certain ways of knowledge over others. Fourth, various stakeholders reified, and co-produced, the deficit model of risk communication through narratives and actions that keep creating the conditions in which the supposed knowledge deficit is circulated. Finally, AMR lacks a compelling narrative and is communicated as abstract, lost in a plethora or other, more urgent risks. These results open up new ways of conceptualizing health risks beyond the biomedical model and emphasize the need for studies in risk communication and health communication that critically examine the production and circulation of risk knowledge.


title: Testing the Paleogeography of Late Archean Supercraton Superia using Pre-Breakup 2.51-1.98 Ga dyke and Sill Provinces – with a Focus on the Relationship Between the Karelia-Kola and Superior Cratonic Fragments

abstract: Archean cratons are dispersed crustal fragments derived from larger ancestral landmasses. Their individual and combined study in paleogeographic reconstructions reveal details relevant to understanding larger Archean tectonic systems. Canada's Superior craton is considered the central piece of the late Archean Superia supercraton paleogeographic reconstruction that also includes the Karelia-Kola (Finland/Russia), Wyoming (USA), and Hearne (Canada) cratons. The relationship between Superior and Karelia-Kola is of interest because the position of the Karelia-Kola craton within the context of the Superia reconstruction is not fully resolved. Dyke swarm correlations based on age and geometry indicate that Karelia-Kola and Superior were 'nearest-neighbours', yet paleomagnetic studies disagree. However, these data are complicated due to multiple metamorphic overprints, and are limited by a lack of high-precision U-Pb ages. The focus of this study is to test the correlation between the Karelia-Kola and Superior cratons by integrating U-Pb geochronology, whole-rock major, trace element and Sm-Nd isotope geochemistry, and dyke swarm geometry. These methods confirm the occurrence of sharply timed large igneous provinces (LIP) in Karelia-Kola correlated to Superior using geochronology, test whether the magmas were from a common source, and refine the paleogeographic Superia reconstruction by incorporating regional dyke trends. This study presents nine ages from dykes and sills that confirm LIP correlations between the Karelia-Kola and Superior cratons at ca. 2.40 Ga, 2.22 Ga, 2.11 Ga and 1.98 Ga, and three ages at ca. 2.32 Ga confined to Karelia-Kola. Geochemical studies were completed on mafic magmatic events at ca. 2.22 Ga and 2.11 Ga. The evaluation of 2.22 Ga dykes and sills confirms that the Senneterre and Maguire dykes are compatible feeders to the Nipissing sills (Superior) and that the Karjalitic sills (Karelia-Kola) are not their direct continuation. At 2.11 Ga, mafic dykes and sills from Superior, Karelia-Kola, Wyoming and Hearne cratons were generated from two mantle end-member sources that mixed together and assimilated a crustal component. In support of a nearest-neighbour connection between the Karelia-Kola and Superior cratons, the integration of U-Pb geochronology, geochemistry and dyke trends provide controls for a refined configuration of the Karelia-Kola craton within the Superia supercraton paleogeographic reconstruction.


title: It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's...a Girl?!: Analyzing Representations of Femininity on The CW's Supergirl

abstract: Although it takes more than diverse media representation to create positive social change, representation is still important in normalizing identities and discussing social issues. However, representations of minority groups are often either flawed or absent in media. This is true for the genre of superhero stories: for instance, it has long been dominated by superheroes who are heterosexual cisgender men, creating a reputation of a sexist boy's club. Focusing on the CW's Supergirl, this thesis provides a snapshot of how women are fairing in superhero media in the mid-to-late 2010s. This snapshot highlights that representations of superwomen have improved greatly, no longer entirely reflecting a problematic singular ideal of what femininity means. Centered around three superwomen, protagonist Kara Danvers/Supergirl, Kara's sister/super spy Alex Danvers, and Nia Nal/Dreamer, this analysis argues that the show presents complex and nuanced depictions of femininity that are a strong step forward for the genre.


title: Bike Assisted Linear Search and Evacuation

abstract: It is interesting to study the linear search and evacuation problems on robots with variable maximum speed in order to compare the results based on that speed. What makes the problem more interesting is to include a passive entity, such as a bike, that can be used by any of the robots. This will make the problem more generalized and thus it may encompass many previously done studies on linear search and evacuation, as we will demonstrate later. We will revisit the linear search and evacuation problems; however, this time we will use two robots with a bike under the condition that only one robot can use the bike at a time. The exit would be placed at an unknown position on the line. The problem will be divided into two categories: linear search and evacuation. Evacuation in turn will be studied for two communication models: wi-fi and face-to-face.


title: From China to Canada: The Identity Formation of Chinese-Canadian Adoptees

abstract: There is a substantial amount of research done examining the lives and experiences of Chinese-Canadian adoptees, yet not enough attention has been given to hearing from the adoptees. This study engages with the experiences of adoptees and how they make sense of their individual and social identities. The study is informed by semi-structured interviews from self-identified Chinese-Canadian adoptees who are 18-24 years old. The thesis expresses two findings. First, when an adoptee self-identifies as adopted, where they believe "home" to be, when they were told they were adopted, and how adoption has been a meaning-making experience for them. Second, it discusses social responses in encounters adoptees had with others. This includes racist remarks from others, an exploration of the family make-up of the adoptee, and where the adoptee experiences community and/or support. To understand the responses of the participants, I drew upon approaches of reflexivity and auto-ethnographic work.


title: The Silent Horror Film, 1896-1922: Narrative, Style, Context

abstract: This project examines early horror films before the term "horror" was popularly used. This is done by analyzing their narrative, stylistic, and national/cultural contexts. Their fascination with mysticism over horror anchors a tension between the modern and the medieval. Their treatment of monsters is informed by authorial intent, religious myth, and cultural interpretation. They are often adapted from pre-existing works and must navigate several practical and creative challenges during this process. Restoration efforts are also necessary to preserve and update these films for public screenings and home media. Several international examples will be used to illustrate these points, including Frankenstein (United States, 1910), The Golem: How He Came into the World (Germany, 1920), and Häxan (Denmark, 1922). Contemporaneous conceptions of the supernatural, as well as early cinematic devices, helped to popularize what was considered frightening - and shaped our idea of horror films as we know them today.


title: Medicative Architecture: Bioplastic Ice Fishing Huts as A Rehabilitative, Bioremediation Proposal for Contrecoeur’s Contaminated Protected Wetlands

abstract: This thesis uses the materiality of pharmaceutical capsules as the research inspiration to examine dissolvable structures. Using the typology of the ice fishing hut, these temporary constructions will be deployed in pursuit of a community-led landscape rehabilitation and aims to improve the contaminated ecosystem surrounding Contrecoeur, Quebec. The thesis is composed of two parts. In the first part, a dialogue between the personification Contrecoeur as a patient requiring medical treatment for high concentration of contaminants found in his protected Wetlands. The second part, a conventional explanation of the research-by-design project including the material research into an extensive collection of dissolvable bioplastics forming the main material investigation for this project. In conclusion, the ease of in-house fabrication of bioplastic allows the ice fishing community to self-build dissolvable structures and engage in the rehabilitation of their local ecosystem, simultaneously continuing a culture of self-expression in the design of their ice fishing huts.


title: An Approach to Data-Driven Sensing and Predictive Supervisory Control for Commercial Buildings with In-Situ Evaluation

abstract: Modern building automation systems offer virtually limitless programmability, sensing, and connectivity, but often do not achieve the energy use or occupant comfort goals of building stakeholders. One major source of the shortfall of modern building automation systems is room-level and zone-level control. Given the lack of perceived importance of zone-level controllers compared to system-level and building-level controllers, comprehensive and efficient zone-level programming is overlooked at the cost of quality of implementation. This thesis addresses these obstacles to improve comfort and energy performance by developing a suite of interrelated approaches and technologies and extensively field testing them in 27 highly instrumented (but typical) offices. One approach to reducing sensor infrastructure (and associated installation and maintenance costs) for advanced control applications is to apply proxy sensing using data-driven modelling. By comparing indirect sensors for energy use estimation (i.e., proxy sensors) to direct energy use estimation sensors, this thesis develops an approach to rank all physically reasonable sensors at the zone level for energy use estimation usefulness. From this approach, it was found that outdoor air temperature, hydronic flow, and hydronic temperature sensors were the most useful for proxy sensing. With the ability to accurately estimate room-level energy use, the performance of novel supervisory control approaches can be quantified. To improve zone-level control, this thesis first developed a simplified model-based predictive control approach for the heating season. The simplified MPC achieved 94% of the energy savings of MPC, but the implementation in a typical building automation system (BAS) controller was much simpler. The simplified MPC approach was modified to remove the underlying indoor air temperature model and scaled to operate in both the heating and cooling seasons in 27 rooms of an institutional building at Carleton University. The MPC and RE control reduced energy use by 42% and 27% in the cooling season and 18% and 33% in the heating season when compared over four weeks of testing for each algorithm and season. Thus, the RE approach was experimentally verified to have comparable energy savings to detailed MPC while using only a few dozen lines of BAS controller-embedded code.


title: A Deep Representation Learning Framework for Medical Imaging Data Analysis

abstract: This thesis studies representation learning for medical imaging data analysis. We propose a deep learning framework that is composed of data representation and feature learning. The data representation module deals with challenges from the need to analyze the various types of data from medical imaging. Examples of such data include 1D physiological signals, 2D high-resolution images and 3D human shape. The framework uses deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) and deep recurrent neural networks (RNN) for feature learning from the data representations. The framework starts from converting the various types of medical imaging data to 2D visual representations unanimously. Transfer learning is a technique for addressing data insufficiency problems in deep learning. With this technique, the framework uses deep CNNs pre-trained on large-scale 2D image sets to extract deep features from the data representations. In applications where the medical data are in a sequential form, the framework also integrates deep RNNs to conduct representation learning in spatial, spectral and temporal domains. We introduce the representation learning framework through selected tasks, including detecting cardiac murmurs from phonocardiograms (PCGs), recognizing masses and calcifications in mammograms, and locating anatomical landmarks on 3D human surface data. In the detection of cardiac murmurs, we have found a suitable data representation, which is computed from mel spectrograms within specific frequency ranges. Deep feature learning from the representations has achieved an F-score of 0.9767. When deployed to the detection of abnormalities in mammograms, the framework trains patch CNNs and builds abnormality detectors that outperform traditional approaches by a large margin. When applied to 3D human surface data, the proposed framework demonstrates that the learned representations are invariant to viewpoints. When applied to the surface data for locating landmarks, the framework finds optimal data representations and it has achieved human-level performance. In summary, we have proposed a deep representation learning framework and proved its effectiveness in medical imaging data analysis. Experimental results indicate that the framework serves as a guidance on effective representation learning for solving other problems from medical imaging data analysis using deep learning.


title: Secret arsenal of a cereal killer- cryptic activation of secondary metabolism biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum

abstract: Fusarium graminearum is a fungal pathogen and is a major causal agent of diseases in several agriculturally important crop species. In addition to the disease that diminishes grain yield, this pathogen produces secondary metabolites that are harmful to both plants and animals. Secondary metabolites are not essential for survival, instead, they enable the pathogen to successfully infect its host. In fungi, genes necessary to produce secondary metabolites are often arranged together in the genome, forming secondary metabolic clusters (SMCs). The F. graminearum genome contains 76 such clusters with a potential to produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites (SMs). However, given high functional specificity and energetic cost, most of these clusters remain silent, or "cryptic," unless the organism is subjected to an environment conductive to SM production. Alternatively, SMCs can be activated by genetically manipulating their activators or repressors. The goal of this dissertation is to establish the transcriptional factor TRI6 and the MAP kinase MGV1 as regulators of secondary metabolism by genetically altering their expression and thus activating cryptic SMCs in F. graminearum. TRI6 is a transcriptional factor that regulates the trichothecene group of mycotoxins and other non-trichothecene genes. MGV1 is a MAP kinase, implicated in regulation of diverse cellular responses, including secondary metabolite biosynthesis. We used transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to identify SMCs regulated by TRI6 and MGV1. We discovered that at the transcriptional level, MGV1 and TRI6 co-regulate biosynthesis of four SMs; however, MGV1 also exerts its control of three SMCs at the post-transcriptional level. Finally, at the mechanistic level, we demonstrate that TRI6 regulates the trichothecene genes by directly binding to the promoters of the genes of the cluster. However, the regulation of other SMCs such as gramillin is achieved indirectly, through physical binding of TRI6 to the cluster-specific protein GRA2.


title: Slipping the Line: The Embodied and Affective Materiality of Gang Territories

abstract: In both popular and academic accounts, one of the defining features of gangs is their strong attachment to turf—the home territory under the control of a gang. However, the concept of gang territory often remains narrowly defined as a static and bounded region claimed, defended, and controlled by gang members; a view that fails to account for versions of space beyond settler colonial models. In contrast, this dissertation uses a new materialist lens to attend to the ways gang territories are made, maintained, and disrupted through the daily practices of a variety of actors. I draw on multi-sited qualitative fieldwork in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city referred to as the gang capital of Canada. Through interviews with gang and non-gang-affiliated residents, police, and administrators working or living within gang territories, I show that gang territories are made material through various embodied practices that enact these spaces in affective, emergent, mobile, and multiple forms. I argue that central to the materialization of gang territories are embodied regularities that contribute to the multiplicity and mobility of boundaries, to gang space that takes shape as new mobilities and conditions of the body, and as territory that spatializes as the racialized body. This project expands gang research by highlighting gang behaviours and processes outside the scope of criminal enterprise, and by showing territorialization as a process that implicates a broad range of actors. Recognizing the role of multiple actors encourages a relational ethics of accountability between bodies, practices, and place that challenges the often-naturalized connections between race, space, and crime. Understanding gang space as enacted through embodied material practices provides an alternative way to think through, trace, and disrupt these associations.


title: Ontogenetic Niche Shifts in Megaherbivorous Dinosaurs of Late Cretaceous North America and their Ecological Implications

abstract: Despite megaherbivore ontogeny being relatively well-studied, little research has been conducted on the ecological implications of growth stages. Using ecomorphological dietary correlates, investigations into potential ecological differences between mature and immature ceratopsids and hadrosaurids were undertaken. Results suggest that juvenile megaherbivores selectively consumed softer, lower-growing vegetation than their adult counterparts, which likely reduced intra-specific competition. Ecomorphological investigations into the potential for competition between juvenile megaherbivores and small ornithischians, and investigations into relative abundances, were conducted to test the competition and taphonomic hypotheses. An overlap in results indicated a potential for competition between juvenile megaherbivores and leptoceratopsids, and as predicted by the competition hypothesis small ornithischians were generally less abundant than megaherbivores. Other groups showed separation in the ecomorphospace. Some distributions showed similar abundances between groups as predicted by the taphonomic hypothesis. Thus, size differences were important for resource partitioning, and competition and taphonomy both influenced observed Late Cretaceous size distributions.


title: A Method to Characterize Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties Using a Wearable Ultrasonic Sensor

abstract: Skeletal muscle monitoring provides valuable information about the muscle contractile properties which could be useful in various clinical applications. A wearable ultrasonic sensor (WUS) was constructed using a 110 μm thick polyvinylidene fluoride polymer piezoelectric film to perform a continuous hands-free muscle monitoring. The lightweight and flexible properties of WUS enables the stable attachment to the skin surface without affecting the tissue motion of interest, which results in reduced motion artifacts.


title: Wayfinding Experience of Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder within a Museum Context

abstract: This study investigates whether the wayfinding available within a museum setting accommodates the needs of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder. To obtain insight on the personal experience of people with autism, three qualitative methods were used: an anonymous survey to gather basic insight about museum visit experience showing that most respondents visit museums and the majority do not use assistive devices during their visits; an observational study revealed how participants navigated this environment and that visual memory played a role when traveling through the museum; and a workshop revealed environmental preferences and aversions highlighting the differences between individuals, and how an understanding of diversity is an important consideration in design. The findings of this case study attest that it is challenging to design a space to support a diversity of needs, but that improving our knowledge of diversity and commonalities can better support the movement and aspiration toward universal design.


title: Cross-Platform Software Developer Expertise Learning

abstract: In today's world software development is a competitive field. Being an expert gives software engineers opportunities to find better, higher-paying jobs. Recruiters are always searching for the right talent, but it is difficult to determine the expertise of a developer only from reviewing their resume. To solve this problem expertise detection algorithms are needed. A few problems arise when expertise is put into application: how can developer expertise be defined, measured, extracted or even learnt? Our work is attempting to provide recruiters a data-driven alternative to reading the candidate's CV or resume. In this thesis, we propose three novel topic modeling based, robust, data-driven techniques for expertise learning. Our extensive analysis of cross-platform developer expertise suggests that using multiple collaborative platforms is the optimal path towards gaining more knowledge and becoming an expert, as cross-platform expertise tends to be more diverse, thus creating opportunities for more effective learning by collaboration.


title: To Discover a New Tomorrow

abstract: This thesis aims to critique the financial waste that is a result of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The project proposes a hypothetical underground Bank for money laundering which would use government money and turn it into profit for individual and corporate investors. The research examines how Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, speculates on how the Government of Japan intends to spend funds allocated for the Games and how the government and major corporations might mismanage or misuse these large sums of money. The thesis is a series of annotated images that describe this hypothetical narrative. It shows the perspectives of a series of characters through the city, in order to reveal some of the harsh realities that come with hosting the Olympics. By using a research-by-design methodology, the thesis explores the front and back-of house relationship of the project, site and people that are integral to the Olympics.


title: Filmic

abstract: The space within a film, though intangible, might not be a mere representation of real space. Agreeing with this, how would we define it? Might it simply be a different kind of space? And if so, can it be analyzed, understood and, shaped? This thesis sets out to determine the ways in which a filmmaker's (considerably different) attitude towards spatio-temporal concerns might serve as a foundation upon which an alternative approach to space-making might develop. To achieve this, we explore cinematic tools and examine filmic processes to help uncover the overlooked potential cognitive experience and perception might have towards the crafting of architecture. A series of exercises—developed by adapting a filmmaker's alternative understanding of time and space will be tested as tools for a speculative exploration of events, behavior and emotion; all set within the context of architectural design suggesting ways to speak of film as an architectural research methodology.


title: Building the Paper Economy: Finding spatial and cultural agency through recycled paper

abstract: In a rapidly changing atmosphere of environmental and economic concerns, our relationship with waste and its processes must be reconsidered if we are to take part in a more circular economy. Following a global waste trade ban in 2018, this thesis sets out to understand how current paper recovery methods could be reimagined for the design and fabrication of sustainable building components. With over a year of international research of physical explorations, literature review, and extensive design work conducted in Australia, Brazil, and at Carleton University, this project identifies conventional solid waste management strategies and adopts an integrated systematic approach to reduce waste generating processes while understanding how paper could be reused and redistributed back into the social networks and economies of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Using newfound material recovery solutions using nano and micro-fibrillated paper and cardboard, this thesis presents design methodologies for prefabricated building components in developing regions.


title: Too Anxious to Talk: Social Anxiety, Communication, and Academic Experiences in Higher Education

abstract: The first overarching goal of this doctoral dissertation was to develop and measure a new construct termed academic communication. Accordingly, Study 1 focussed on item development, pilot testing, and examining the psychometric properties of the newly developed Academic Communication Inventory (ACI). Undergraduate students (N = 642, Mage = 19.5) completed the ACI (assessing general communicative behaviours) along with other measures to investigate external validity. Results demonstrated that the best fitting structure of the ACI was a two-factor solution, consisting of the subscales: (1) communication with instructors; and (2) communication with peers. Study 2 assessed measure invariance across educational context (i.e., blended courses, online courses, offline courses), as well as gender differences in communication. Participants were undergraduate students (N = 1074, Mage = 20.3) who completed the ACI (assessing course-specific communicative behaviours), with 21% subset completing follow-up questionnaires (participants from Study 2 were also used in Studies 3 and 4 for different research purposes). Multi-group factor analyses suggested that the ACI could be used as both a general and course-specific measure of academic communication (i.e., the ACI was invariant across course contexts). Moreover, females and males reported different communication levels with instructors and peers. Study 3 focused on the utility of the ACI, by examining the links between social anxiety, communication, academic experiences (i.e., engagement, classroom connectedness, student satisfaction). Among the results, academic communication accounted for significant variance in the links between social anxiety and academic experiences. Moreover, social anxiety was negatively related to academic experiences, and there was at least some evidence that academic experiences explained part of the association between social anxiety and wellbeing. Study 4 supplemented the previous studies by asking students who they ask course related questions to and why. Emerging themes aligned with the subscales of the ACI (i.e., communication with peers, instructors, peers and instructors, and no one). Social anxiety scores in the theme of no one and peers were significantly higher than instructors and peers and instructors. Results from each study are discussed in the context of contemporary higher education and potential implications for educational practice.


title: Deep Learning Methods for Abnormality Detection and Segmentation in Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Images

abstract: In this dissertation, I describe development of novel deep learning (DL)-based methodologies for the detection and segmentation of clinical abnormalities including renal lesions, left ventricle (LV) scar, and prostate cancer (PCa) in 3D computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance (MR) images. In the first phase, I developed a decision fusion of patch-based convolutional neural network (CNN) for renal masses classification into cyst versus solid. The solid renal masses were then categorized into benign and malignant using an image-based CNN. These approaches were selected to capture local and global features of the renal masses including intensity, texture, shape, and size, which are key features used by radiologists to classify renal masses. Results demonstrated that automated assessment of renal mass with moderate-to-high degrees of accuracy is feasible. In the second phase, I designed a novel algorithm that comprehensively learns and integrates inter- and intra-slice features from 3D late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-MR images and allows to accurately and efficiently delineate LV scar fully automatically. In the proposed method, three U-Nets were trained using LGE-MR images extracted from transversal, coronal, and sagittal directions to learn the description of LV scar from different views and the predicted results were combined through majority voting system for the final segmentation. This algorithm benefited from isotropic property of the voxels in 3D MRI that permits for multiplanar reformation. In the third phase, I described a U-Net-based methodology to segment prostate zones from T2-weighted (T2W) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map prostate MR images as a fundamental requirement for automated diagnosis of PCa. This work is the first attempt for prostate zonal segmentation using ADC map MR images. Furthermore, I presented an ensemble learning system for fully automated localization of peripheral zone PCa from the ADC map. The ensemble learning model allowed accurate PCa detection, which was not possible using one network due to the complexity of the decision boundary. Our results confirmed that automated PCa detection and segmentation using ADC map MR image are feasible, highly sensitive and can be performed rapidly.


title: Self-advocacy, Rights and Legislation: The Experiences of Self-advocates in Nova Scotia and Ontario

abstract: Through my research I listened to the self-advocacy experiences of people labelled with intellectual disability in Nova Scotia, which maintains segregated residential centres, and Ontario, which had closed all such centres by 2009. I did so in order to answer a key question: is there a difference between self-advocates' views of de-institutionalization in Nova Scotia and Ontario? Specifically, is there greater anxiety in Nova Scotia given the continued existence of segregated centres in that province? Following Malhotra and Rowe (2014), I inquired into the relationship between law, advocacy, and identity. I conceptualized my findings through cultural disability theory to scrutinize disability and impairment. This is important as the intellectual disability impairment label is a key component of the management and oppression of advocates so labelled (Altermark, 2017). I used a Foucauldian power lens to understand further how self-advocates are governed, and also how they resist power through their advocacy initiatives. I also used Agamben's (1998) theory of sovereign power to explore the persistence of institutionalization, despite the existence of disability rights legislation. My research revealed, most notably, no significant difference in views on deinstitutionalization between my research participants, who were all members of a self-advocacy organization, in Nova Scotia and Ontario, despite the presence of more oppressive disability legislation in Nova Scotia. This implies that membership in a self-advocacy organization empowers people in such a way that participants in Nova Scotia did not relay any fear of the potential for institutionalization in the future. It seems, significantly, that when participants know that they have rights, they feel protected from institutionalization. They also feel empowered to challenge and resist ableist power structures, including states of exception, through self-advocacy. As such, I found a recursive relationship between identity, relational autonomy, resilience, and self-advocacy, once there is a consciousness of rights. The importance of understanding the rights advocacy of self-advocates cannot be understated as it is a key component in the fight to prevent the reversal of de-institutionalization, a reversal that many scholars warn could happen due to entrenched, systemic ableism (Malacrida, 2015).


title: A Study of Particle Surface Effects on the Spall Strength of Particle-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

abstract: In the field of shock physics, flat plate impacts are used to characterize the dynamic tensile strength (spall strength) of a material. In particular, prior work has observed that the presence of secondary phases influences the overall material, typically reducing spall strength. In the study presented here, surface effects were investigated using polymer matrix composites reinforced with alumina particles. Interface adhesion between the matrix and filler was tailored with silanes, while filler morphology effects were assessed using spherical and irregular particle geometries. Two matrix materials were used, polydimethylsiloxane and polyurethane. These composites were characterized through spall experiments, using a single stage light gas gun at Carleton University. Varying particle morphology was found to have no effect on spall strength, while composites with impeded adhesion saw a drastic reduction in spall strength, associated with a loss of adhesion at the interface.


title: Balancing Trade-Offs Between Deep Energy Retrofits and Heritage Conservation

abstract: An 81% reduction in carbon emissions from existing and heritage buildings by 2030 is required to achieve climate change mitigation targets of preventing warming above 1.5˚C. A methodology and decision framework is presented for deep energy retrofit analyses that balances trade-offs between conservation and sustainability of a building's components. An historic house in Ottawa, Canada was studied to demonstrate the use of the methodology. The energy retrofit analysis suggests 71% energy savings are achievable through envelope retrofits, upgrading HVAC, sensors, controls, and renewable energy. The simple cost payback period is analysed to estimate feasibility for homeowners to implement deep energy retrofits. The carbon emissions saved over 20 years of operation are estimated. This thesis reveals that heritage conservation and sustainability have intersecting values, demonstrating that conserving and upgrading heritage buildings in a respectful way can play a key role in achieving carbon reductions within the existing building stock.