Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection Through Combination Of Contrastive Learning And Adversarial Domain Adaptation, Mahnoosh Torabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The most common cancer diagnosed worldwide is breast cancer and early detection is essential for reducing mortality. The best standard for early detection of breast cancer is digital mammography, which can aid physicians in treating the illness when it is still curable. However, inaccurate mammography diagnoses are frequent and can cause patients to undergo unnecessary examinations and therapies. This study aims to explore deep-learning techniques that can be utilized to implement and train a model to identify breast cancer cases in mammograms. Current deep learning-based diagnostic techniques are hindered by two fundamental issues: the expensive and time-consuming task of data …

“Volunteers Are Our Bloodline”: Examining Managerial Perceptions Of The Relationship Between Volunteer Behaviour And Event Performance, Emily Stadder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sport organizations and events rely heavily on volunteers to achieve their goals and missions. Currently, volunteer research is heavily focused on the experiences of individual volunteers and the management of volunteers in continuous positions. This research takes a different approach by examining managerial perceptions of the relationship between volunteer behaviour and event performance at Canadian national amateur sport championships. Drawn from the field of strategic human resource management, behavioural perspective theory was used to understand if volunteer managers are linking strategy to their human resource management (HRM) systems, what desired role behaviours they are expecting from volunteers, what HRM systems …

Physiological And Behavioural Responses Of Arctic-Breeding Shorebirds To Weather And Habitat Conditions, Sara Bellefontaine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arctic-breeding shorebirds balance proximate and ultimate trade-offs in an energetically demanding environment. While these species are selective of nest sites, previous research shows that the characteristics of preferred shorebird nests do not predict increased breeding success. Thus, I aimed to identify detectable mechanisms driving nest preferences in Arctic-breeding shorebirds. Using an archival dataset, I first examined long-term nest preferences in relation to wind conditions at the East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary, on Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada. I then studied energetic responses of two shorebird species to weather conditions across various nest types in a field study using non-invasive heart rate …

Deconstructing Caste-Based Private Discrimination: Comparative Examination Of India And Canada, Shubham Kumar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

"Caste" is a rigid system of social hierarchy marked by deep-rooted divisions. These divisions are upheld through patriarchal and heteronormative practices, often enforced through the looming threats of social ostracism, economic boycotts, and physical violence, which also infringe upon the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India. While numerous legal judgments and legislations have concentrated on mitigating caste-based discrimination by state authorities and individuals in public spaces, significantly less attention has been directed towards caste discrimination in private spheres, referred to as private discrimination. Despite explicit constitutional provisions that prohibit private discrimination and enable individuals to take legal action against …

Painting The ‘Essential’ Green Activist: Critical Interrogations Of Responses To Environmental Activism, Alex Jack Painter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, qualitative Directed Content Analysis is used to elucidate and analyze media rhetoric and legal rhetoric found in prominent news publications reporting on green protests in Canada and the United States. Preliminary theory suggested commodification of the environment encourages the denigration of green dissenters and may aim to lead to negative conceptualizations of the ‘green activist’ in the public consciousness. Further content analysis notions that the political leanings of given news publications may be the strongest predictor of the level of support/opposition to green protest that an article will purvey. And, animal advocacy, youth-led dissent, protest around critical …

Emergency Department Registered Nurses’ Perceptions Of Substance Use Disorders And Supervised Consumption Sites, Aleksandra Ilievska

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Canada is facing increased drug-related harms; thus, a stronger emphasis has been placed on harm reduction strategies such as supervised consumption sites (SCSs). There is a lack of literature on emergency department (ED) registered nurses’ (RNs) perceptions of SCSs and substance use disorders (SUDs), especially in small to mid-sized Canadian cities.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine ED RNs’ perceptions of SUDs and SCSs in Southwestern Ontario hospitals.

Methods: A 27-question survey was sent to RNs currently working in EDs in Southwestern Ontario using an online Qualtrics® link. The research explored ED RNs’ perception of SCSs and SUDs.

Results: …

A Phenomenological Study Examining Job Embeddedness Of Direct Support Professionals In Community-Based Services Programs: Why Do They Stay?, Athena M. Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) live in the community in apartments, group home settings, and host home environments. They need support in all aspects of adaptive living skills to live independently. Direct support professionals (DSPs) provide support in areas of grooming, oral hygiene, toileting, laundry, housekeeping, meal planning, meal preparation, medication administration, mobility, recreation, shopping, and grocery shopping. This qualitative phenomenological study examined why DSPs remain in the position despite experiencing low wages, inadequate benefits, lack of adequate training, and lack of opportunities for upward mobility. Using the theoretical framework of job embeddedness, this research was conducted to …

The Correlational Relationship Between Clinical Sepsis Knowledge And Evidence-Based Practice Compliance, Gary Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sepsis represents a growing public health concern and is considered a leading cause of death in the United States. Sepsis accounts for over 265,000 annually. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have established the SEP-1 Sepsis care bundle to reduce sepsis-related mortality. This scholarly DNP project examines the clinical problem of sepsis bundle noncompliance. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between baseline clinical sepsis knowledge and evidence-based practice compliance. The target population of this project includes emergency department healthcare professionals who acutely manage sepsis patients. This sample was surveyed using the KAP Sepsis Questionnaire to …

Exploratory Case Study Of Online Teacher Professional Development At A Faith Based School Through The Lens Of A Community Of Inquiry Framework, Ericka Heide Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As online education continues to expand, a need has arisen for online teacher professional developments (OTPDs) that are tailored to fit the individualized needs of teachers. This qualitative, exploratory case study explored one faith-based, virtual school’s OTPD program within a community of inquiry framework. This study used purposive sampling to describe six teacher participants’ perceptions of the design and implementation of their OTPD as well as the pedagogical changes resulting from effective OTPD. Data were collected using two focus group discussions, a community of inquiry survey, and end-of-the-year teacher self-evaluations. Data analysis revealed three themes to answer the three research …

The Perception Of New Professionals On Their Transition Into The Field Of Student Affairs, Ana Garcia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While research has been conducted exploring the competencies needed for student affairs work, little is known about the perception of new professionals regarding their socialization into the field. This phenomenological study explores the perception of 10 new student affairs professionals on how the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the American College Personnel Association Values, Philosophy and History professional competency aided their social transition into student affairs. Using Weidman et al.’s (2001) graduate socialization theoretical framework, the study revealed three key findings: (a) for new student affairs professionals, the socialization process begins well before beginning a graduate program; (b) …

The Use Of The Agency Healthcare Research And Quality Patient Safety Indicator 11 Toolkit To Decrease Postoperative Respiratory Failure, Nancy Garcia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Postoperative respiratory failure incidents can lead to adverse outcomes, including prolonged hospitalizations, increased admissions to intensive care units, and the risk of complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia, sepsis, and mortality. This project aimed to assess the effectiveness of implementing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Indicator 11 toolkit intervention for noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in reducing postoperative respiratory failure rates compared to traditional practices. Adopting evidence- based toolkits, such as those provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, aids healthcare organizations in enhancing the quality of patient care. The quality improvement project employed a quasi-experimental design, …

Is Conventional Colonoscopy More Effective Than Computed Tomography Colonography In The Screening Of Colorectal Cancer Among Young African American Adults?, Abena Abrafi Nimako

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare journalist Brenda Goodman’s article on CNN Health on October 10, 2022, about a new study examining the effectiveness of colonoscopies, essentially concluded that the efficacy of conventional colonoscopy is in question. This research sought to establish whether conventional colonoscopy is more effective than computed tomography (CT) colonography in screening colorectal cancer among young African American adults. The researcher employed a literature review and a case-control research design to gather data on the subject. Data were collected from literature, the SEER database, the CDC, and the American Cancer Society websites. The study sample consisted of African Americans between the ages …

School Superintendents’ Perspectives Regarding Subordinates Developing, Utilizing, And Implementing Gifted Identification Equity, Vincent T. Landrum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study’s focus was the lived experiences of school superintendents about inconsistencies in gifted and talented education policy and ensuring the superintendents’ direct subordinates develop, utilize, and implement equitable gifted identification policies and practices, specifically for culturally, linguistically, and economically disadvantaged (CLED) students. Specifically, the researcher investigated the following: (a) the superintendents’ involvement in ensuring direct subordinates develop, utilize, and implement equitable gifted identification policies and practices for CLED students; (b) the superintendents’ involvement in ensuring their direct subordinates develop, utilize, and implement equitable gifted identification policies and practices for CLED students through professional development for those subordinates; and (c) …

Residual Stress In Metal Additive Manufacturing Of Thin-Walled Components: Investigation And Development Of Prediction Models With Respect To Path Planning, Bita Mohajernia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the investigation of residual stress in metal additive manufacturing of thin-walled components. Residual stress is a critical issue in additive manufacturing processes as it can lead to structural deformations, reduced mechanical properties, and potential failure of the manufactured parts. The objective of this research is to develop a fast and accurate prediction model for residual stress using numerical and machine learning techniques, with a specific focus on path planning. To achieve the research objectives, the dissertation employs numerical simulations to understand the underlying physics and mechanics of residual stress formation in the additive manufacturing process. These …

Variability Of Noise Exposure Forecast Outputs Due To The Selection Of Input Parameters, Junxian Zhao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growth of civil aviation and the resulting aircraft noise exposure and noise annoyance have become a serious environmental issue for residents living around airports. Land use planning and management is one method to mitigate noise and annoyance. It is one of four components of the Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management adopted by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Effective land use and planning tries to remove conflicts between noise and residential communities by keeping noise sensitive functions away from levels of predicted high noise exposure. Authorities typically use noise contours to determine noise exposure around airports. Noise thresholds are …

Bridging The Gap Between Research And Practice: Description, Implementation, And Evaluation Of Online Psychological Skills Training For Para-Athletes, Frank O. Ely

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Psychological skills training (PST) is the deliberate and systematic practice of psychological skills (e.g., goal setting, imagery). Athletes’ use of psychological skills can lead to increased sport performance, enhanced enjoyment, and elevated satisfaction in sport (e.g., Barker et al., 2020; Munroe-Chandler & Hall, 2021). There is growing interest in delivering PST programs through online modalities (Price et al., 2022), such as learning modules that are asynchronous, interactive, and self-paced (e.g., Barak & Grohol, 2011). In fact, para-athletes may find a module-based program especially useful given its potential to overcome traditional barriers to PST (e.g., cost, geographic location; Bastos et al., …

Many-To-One: Transformer-Based Unsupervised Anomaly Detection And Localization On Industrial Images, Naga Jyothirmayee Dodda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anomaly detection is of utmost importance in the realm of industrial defect identification, particularly when employing computer vision-based inspection mechanisms within quality control systems. This research introduces the Many-to-One (M2O) framework, which relies on a multi-level transformer encoder combined with a single transformer decoder, which forms many-to-one relation in the framework for detecting and localizing anomalies. The rise of Industry 4.0 and electric vehicles has increased interest in this area. Although previous research has made significant contributions, challenges still exist in this area. It is crucial to develop models that can generalize well and overcome time complexity problems that affect …

Digital Realization Of Spiking Neural Network, Mahsasadat Seyedbarhagh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spiking Neural Network which is known as the third generation of artificial neural networks can imitate the same biological patterns of human brain. Neuromorphic Computing is a multidisciplinary research topic which employs digital and analog platforms to implement bio-inspired systems and is able to operate parallelly with low-power consumption. This research study presents the digital design for several bio-inspired systems such as biophysical spiking neuron, calcium signaling astrocyte, and a neuron-astrocyte interaction models using various approximation methodologies. Astrocytes have an essential impact within the neural network and their role is to maintain support for neuron, control the ion hemostasis and …

Beyond Argument? Addressing The Matter Of Trust In Vaccine Hesitancy, Nicholas Kinnish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is no shortage of research implicating trust as a central concern for addressing vaccine hesitancy, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, healthcare professionals have long called for increased resources and training to address the issue. However, despite this long-standing problem, and its recent foray into the social consciousness, there is still a significant lack of resources for resolving this issue. This thesis aims to address this deficit. I offer a practical framework for healthcare practitioners, public health officials, and vaccine manufacturers for managing both trust and its related, but distinct, counterpart: distrust. This framework involves demonstrating (rather than …

A Tale Of Two Mechanisms: Is The P53 Modulator Coti-2 A Zinc Chaperone Instead?, Irem Simsek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The tumor protein p53 plays a vital role in regulating protein pathways that determine the fate of cells. Any interference with p53 function can cause disruptive cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. The p53 protein experiences a high frequency of mutation in human cancers, leading to significant research efforts to target mutant p53 and restore the normal functioning of p53. The COTI-2 small molecule, developed by COTINGA Pharmaceuticals through a computational program, has entered Phase I clinical trials. Although the mechanism of action is not fully understood, it has shown considerable promise in targeting cell lines with mutant p53. COTI-2 is believed …

Electromagnetically Induced Transparency In An Ensemble Of Three-Level Lambda Systems, Sara Moezzi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is a technique whereby a medium otherwise opaque to radiation of a particular frequency can be made transparent at that frequency by applying radiation of an appropriate second frequency. EIT demonstrates numerous current applications, with a notable focus on its utilization within the field of quantum information. Given the absence of an established theory of EIT in atomic ensembles, my primary focus is to develop theoretical models that describe both the quantum mechanical origin of EIT as well as the effect of interatomic interactions. In this thesis, I present two theoretical models of EIT in an …

Anomaly Detection In Large Datasets: A Case Study In Loan Defaults, Rayhaan Pirani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given the rise in loan defaults, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to predict if customers might default on a loan for risk management. This thesis proposes an early warning system architecture using anomaly detection based on the unbalanced nature of loan default data in the real world. Most customers do not default on their loans; only a tiny percentage do, resulting in an unbalanced dataset. We aim to evaluate potential anomaly detection methods for their suitability in handling unbalanced datasets. We conduct a comparative study on different anomaly detection approaches on four balanced and unbalanced datasets. We …

An Approach Of Lip Synchronization With Facial Expression Rendering For An Eca, Mohammed Maaz Mohammed Shoieb Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

E-Tutoring systems have emerged as effective tools for remote learning and personalized education. However, to foster engaging and interactive experiences, there is a need to enhance the communication and expressiveness of virtual tutors within these systems. This research focuses on integrating facial expression animation and lip-syncing capabilities into an e-tutoring system, aiming to improve the realism and effectiveness of virtual tutor interactions. The study presents a novel approach to animating the facial expressions of the virtual tutor’s avatar using computer graphics, 3D animation, and computer vision techniques. Working with 3D files and using them to interpolate each face vertex are …

Associations Between Parent Stress, Parent Mobile Technology Use, And Parenting Behaviours On Children’S Psychological Functioning, Amy Wei Yan Tran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the impact of parent stress and parent mobile technology use on parenting behaviours, as well as children’s internalizing and externalizing difficulties during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of Part 1 of the study was to explore the associations between parent stress, technoference (interruptions in the parent-child dyad due to mobile technology), parenting behaviours, life changes due to COVID-19, and child internalizing and externalizing difficulties. A total of 224 participants, who were caregivers of children, aged 3 to 5 years old, completed online measures assessing parent stress, technoference, parenting behaviours, life changes due …

A Psycholinguistic Analysis Of Neuropsychological Tests, Brette Lansue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neuropsychological assessment often depends on language-based measures of cognitive functioning and proper diagnosis of certain disorders relies on patterns of impairment in language and memory on these measures. The current project was motivated by the relative lack of literature integrating psycholinguistic experimental findings and clinical neuropsychological research. It has been well documented that word-level characteristics impact language processing and memory. Therefore, it is critical that neuropsychologists begin to understand how the measures currently in use can be confounded by the underlying lexical and semantic characteristics of the stimuli and how, if used properly, those characteristics could aid in diagnostic specificity. …

The Self-Reference Effect On Memory Among 4- To 6-Year-Olds: The Role Of Active Encoding And Cognitive Abilities, Alicia Nicole Bartlett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The self-reference effect (SRE) is the enhanced memory for information encoded with reference to oneself relative to information encoded with reference to another non-intimate person or the linguistic properties of a word (Rogers et al., 1977). This effect is measured with an encoding task and a surprise recall and/or recognition task. An important distinction among encoding tasks is whether they involve active or passive engagement with the to-be-remembered information. Tasks with active engagement require the participant to identify the relation between the referent and target object and then to perform a mental (e.g., evaluate desirability of objects) or physical (e.g., …

An End-To-End Hybrid Approach To Automatic And Semi-Automatic Image Annotation, Roisul Islam Rumi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a new end-to-end hybrid machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) approach for semi-automatic image annotation (SAIA) and automatic image annotation (AIA) in industrial assembly line setups. Image annotation refers to adding descriptive labels or tags to an image to provide information about the objects and features present in the image. On a high level, the proposed system uses the following steps to annotate images. The first step involves using an ML algorithm, Haar cascade, to split an image into smaller regions of interest (ROI) based on the object of interest, in our case, the connectors of …

Factors Influencing Post-Traumatic Growth In Emerging Adults With Chronic Medical Illness, Alana Marie Gyemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (2017), approximately 60% of Canadian adults suffer from a chronic medical condition. Managing a chronic medical illness provides an opportunity for post-traumatic growth (PTG). PTG is the positive psychological change that develops because of experiencing a trauma or highly stressful event. The current study evaluated a collection of biopsychosocial factors as potential predictors of PTG. Specifically, we hypothesized that physical pain, perceived social support, coping, pain self-efficacy, pain acceptance, and resilience would produce a model that significantly predicts PTG. Both quantitative and qualitative data from undergraduate students aged 18 to 25 …

Body Dissatisfaction And Depression: Investigating The Moderating Roles Of Maladaptive Investment In Appearance And Rumination, Mallory Forward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Body dissatisfaction has been shown to predict the onset of depression (Bornioli et al., 2020; Paxton et at, 2006; Ferreiro et al., 2014; Sharpe et al., 2018). However, those for whom body dissatisfaction may be especially likely to result in depression has received little attention. The goal of the current study is to test the moderating roles of rumination and maladaptive investment in appearance in the association between body dissatisfaction and depression. It is suggested that those who are more maladaptively invested in their appearance may experience body dissatisfaction as particularly distressing because they place a high degree of importance …

Transmission Power Based Congestion Control Using Q-Learning Algorithm In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (Vanet), Pooja Chandrasekharan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To enhance road safety, Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), an emerging wireless technology used for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, are essential components to reduce road accidents and traffic congestion in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). It also provides additional services to vehicles and their users. However, vehicles must balance awareness and congestion control in a dynamic environment to efficiently transmit basic safety messages (BSMs) and event-driven warnings. The limited channel capacity makes the reliable delivery of BSMs a challenging problem for VANETs. This paper aims to optimize the performance of VANETs by effectively managing channel load and reducing congestion by maintaining …