Assessment Of Landing Biomechanics And Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Sheila S. Gagnon

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Aberrant landing biomechanics increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and are a focus of rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction. The purpose of the present thesis was to develop and evaluate methods of assessing landing mechanics and investigate the effects of different rehabilitation strategies after ACL reconstruction. Three studies were conducted. The first study used a Delphi process to develop the content of a Clinician-Rated Drop Vertical Jump Scale to evaluate jump landing mechanics during rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction. Twenty experts participated in four rounds of questioning, resulting in 92% agreement for knee valgus collapse, lateral trunk lean, insufficient …

The Effect Of Pigmentation On Latex And Non-Latex Orthodontic Elastics, Dustin Wilson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Intraoral Elastics have been widely used in Orthodontics for well over 100 years. Changes in material composition, manufacturing and addition of color to elastics has shown to effect force levels over time.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of pigmentation on force levels and their degradation over time in both Latex and Non-Latex orthodontic intraoral elastics.

Materials & Methods: Groups consisted of elastics in Latex from American Orthodontics in both natural and four different colors, American Orthodontics Non-Latex in natural, Ormco Latex in both natural and four different colors, Auradonics Latex in both natural …

Reducing Length Of Stay After Total Hip And Knee Arthroplasty: Assessing Cost-Effectiveness, Caregiver Involvement And Surgical Approach, Bryn O. Zomar

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Purpose

The overall purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate factors related to reducing length of stay after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA).

Methods

Study 1 was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the cost-effectiveness of outpatient THA compared to standard overnight stay. Study 2 was a prospective cohort study to assess patient- and caregiver-related factors and how they may relate to caregiver strain and level of assistance when caring for patients undergoing THA and TKA. Finally, Study 3 was a 2x2 factorial RCT to compare the trajectory of early functional recovery between the medial parapatellar …

Reliability-Based Calibration Of Design Wind Load, Snow Load And Companion Load Factors Considering Climate Change Effect, Qian Tang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Wind load and snow load are two of the environmental loads that need to be considered for structural design. This study compared the statistical characteristics of the annual maximum thunderstorm and non-thunderstorm winds based on the updated wind speed dataset and carried out the extreme value analysis for wind load by treating the synoptic and thunderstorm winds separately. The results indicated that for southern Ontario and the southern part of the Prairies, the extreme winds could be dominated by thunderstorm winds. The consideration of both thunderstorm winds and synoptic winds separately to recommend the reference wind velocity pressure for the …

The Subplate And Its Role In The Gaba System In The Prefrontal Cortex, Gaeul Kyla Lee

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During early brain development, the subplate relays thalamocortical afferents. Lesions to the subplate have been implicated in developmental abnormalities of cortical GABAergic circuits. This thesis examined the effects of subplate lesions in the prefrontal cortex of rats on the expression of GABA markers (parvalbumin and GAD67) and GABA synapse maturation [potassium-chloride cotransporter (KCC2) and sodium-potassium- chloride cotransporter (NKCC1)] with relevance to the characterization of a rat model for schizophrenia. Lesions were made on postnatal day 1 (P1). Lesioned and control rats were sacrificed between P5 and P90 and immunolabelled for parvalbumin, GAD67, KCC2, and NKCC1. We found decreased parvalbumin expression …

Geometallurgy And Gold Mineralization Of The Monument Bay Project, Stull Lake Greenstone Belt, Manitoba, Canada, Chunyi Hao

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The Monument Bay Project is located in the Archean Stull Lake Greenstone Belt, in Northern Manitoba, Canada. This thesis focuses on the geometallurgy and gold mineralization of the Monument Bay Deposit in order to better understand the multiple gold mineralizing events and provide a pathfinder to gold mineralization. Traditional microscopy is used in combination with geochemical and mineralogical analytical techniques (Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) and Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS)/(WDS) element map) and synchrotron geochemical techniques (synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (SR-XRD), synchrotron micro X-ray fluorescence (SR-µXRF) mapping, X-ray Absorption Near-edge Structure (XANES) Spectroscopy). Metallic gold (Au⁰) exists as free gold …

Value-Added Lipids Extraction From Wet Microalgae Using Ionic Liquids, Yujie Zhang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Microalgae have gained interest as sources of renewable lipids in the biofuel sector due to their ability to sequester carbon dioxide into triacylglycerol (TAG), a biodiesel feedstock. However, industrial-scale production of microalgae exclusively for fuel production is limited by technical and economic challenges. Some marine microalgae can accumulate large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and other unsaturated fatty acids, which are high-value compounds linked to the prevention of various cardiovascular diseases. This thesis therefore examines the extraction of lipids and DHA from two microorganisms (Chlorella vulgaris, a model organism for lipid production, …

Geometry Optimization Of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Sunshade, Seyedsoroush Sadatifar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are one of the growing applications of PV technology. These approaches allow PV panels to perform additional functions for the building, such as regulating interior lighting and incoming heat. In this work, we explore a design framework for optimizing the configuration of BIPV shading devices to optimize a combination of power generation, daylighting conditions within the building, and heating and cooling loads.

We develop a generalizable computational model and apply it to a case study for the Cornerstone Architecture Building in London, Ontario. We optimize the configuration of static and dynamic BIPV shading devices in both …

Electrochemiluminescence Of A Di-Boron Complex, Perovskite And Carbon Quantum Dots, Jonathan M. Wong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of three novel materials was explored in this thesis. A di-boron complex exhibiting crystallization-induced blue shift emission was detected utilizing photoluminescence. This phenomenon was successfully observed in the annihilation pathway, resulting in crystallization-induced blue shift ECL. The effects of coreactant and crystallization-induced enhancements were distinguished utilizing two testing systems. Undoped and Mn-doped CsPbCl₃ perovskites were investigated, as the latter exhibits a dual emissive photoluminescence pathway due to host and dopant emission mechanics. It was discovered that the electrochemiluminescence of Mn-doped CsPbCl₃ proceeds through a triplet-triplet annihilation pathway. Furthermore, the relaxation of the electrochemically generated Mn-doped …

Intersectional Social Inequalities And Cognitive Functioning Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults In England: A Decomposition Analysis Of The Mediating Role Of Loneliness, Chantel Walwyn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Normative cognitive decline is an emerging public health issue for older adult populations. It is necessary that we take an intersectional approach to examining heterogeneity in cognitive health outcomes. Using complex longitudinal survey data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), multiple linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between intersectional group membership based on age, education, and sex, and change in cognitive functioning domains (memory function, and executive function) over an 8-year period. Three-way decomposition analysis was also used to examine the mediating effect of loneliness on the association between intersectional group membership and the change …

Experimental Investigation Of Inverse Liquid-Solid Fluidized Bed Hydrodynamics, Saleh A. Srabet

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Abstract

Inverse liquid-solid fluidized beds have recently received increased attention, particularly for use with wastewater treatment bioreactors (i.e., particle-supported biofilms). The flow behaviour of free-rising light particles is especially interesting because their drag coefficients deviate from the standard drag curve. For this reason, the work presented in this thesis was focussed on investigating the minimum fluidization velocity () and the steady-state bed voidage associated with four particles, with densities of 28, 122, 300, and 678 kg/m³, in a conventional inverse fluidization regime. All experimental measurements were completed using a large-scale system comprising a downer column with a diameter …

Finite Element Analyses And Random Field Modeling Of Naturally Corroded Underground Energy Pipelines, Ji Bao

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Metal-loss corrosion is one of the major threats to the integrity of oil and natural gas pipelines. The Fitness-For-Service (FFS) assessment is commonly carried out to demonstrate the integrity of the corroded pipelines. The naturally occurring corrosions on the external surfaces are irregularly shaped three-dimensional features. Due to the geometric complexity of the natural corrosion features, the research of FFS assessment in the previous studies always employed the pipe segments containing artificially induced corrosion features. However, since artificial features are in general regular-shaped, e.g. cubic or semi-ellipsoidal, they do not capture geometric characteristics of naturally occurring corrosions. The thesis develops …

Fabricating Cu2znsns4, Cu2znsn(S,Se)4 And Cuin(S,Se)2 Light-Absorbing Thin Films For Low-Cost Solar Devices., Vaishnavi Raja

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In this thesis, Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS), Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) and CuIn(S,Se)₂ (CISSe) thin-films have been optimized to use as the key light-absorbing and conversion layer for solar cells. CZTS nanocrystals (NCs) were solvothermally synthesized, etched with acetic acid and structurally analyzed using synchrotron spectroscopy. Electrodeposited CZTSSe films showed a non-ideal increase in sulfur with lower selenization temperature and post-process etching. Compositional studies of electrodeposited CISSe films confirmed the decrease in selenium after the acetic acid etching. Through PECMs and other conventional characterization techniques, it was determined that non-etched CZTSSe and CISSe solar devices performed better …

A Novel Spatio-Temporal Examination Of Children's Accessibility, Exposure, And Engagement To Parks And Recreation Spaces In Middlesex-London, Ontario, Malcolm K. Little

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Children are spending more free time engaged in activities indoors, rather than in outdoor environments such as parks and recreation spaces. Parks and recreation spaces provide amenities that promote physical, cognitive, and social health among children. As it relates to the complexities of children’s living situations, properly measuring children’s levels of interactions with these spaces is poorly understood in geography research.

By examining various attributes of children, this thesis improves on the measurement of children’s levels of interactions with parks and recreation spaces. Research herein utilized household survey data, a high-resolution GIS dataset of environmental factors, and GPS logs from …

Efficient Hardware Architectures For Public-Key Cryptosystems, Mohammadamin Saburruhmonfared

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Finite field arithmetic plays an essential role in public-key cryptography as all the underlying operations are performed in these fields. The finite fields are either prime fields or binary fields. Binary field elements can mainly be represented on a polynomial basis or a normal basis (NB). NB representation offers a simple squaring operation, especially in hardware. However, multiplication is typically complex, and a particular subset of NB called Gaussian Normal Basis (GNB) features an efficient multiplication operation used in this work. The first part of this thesis has focused on improving finite field arithmetic architectures over GNB. Among different arithmetic …

The Effect Of Moox Reducibility On Its Activity For Anisole Hydrodeoxygenation, Chantal Walker

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is a process for upgrading crude bio-oil as it has a high oxygen content which causes several undesirable properties. Current methods for HDO use sulfided NiMo and CoMo or supported noble metal catalysts which hydrogenate aromatic rings, leading to less valuable products and increasing the hydrogen consumption. Using 10 wt. % MoO3 supported on ZrO2, TiO2, γ-Al2O3, SiO2 and CeO2, we investigated the atmospheric HDO of anisole, a model compound, at 350 °C. All catalysts achieved C – O bond cleavage, preserving the aromatic ring. In situ UV-Vis spectroscopy showed a peak corresponding to intervalence charge transfer …

Cannabis For Therapeutic Purposes: Older Adult Perspectives, User Characteristics And Motivations For Use, Lean Fiedeldey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Use of cannabis among adults 55 years of age and older is increasing. In Q4 of 2018, slightly over half of cannabis users used for therapeutic purposes at least once, where many reported using for both medical and non-medical reasons (mixed use). Research on older adults regarding the use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes (CTP) is fragmented and there are no comprehensive or in-depth studies on their perceptions or self-reported motivations. Understanding in these areas is important to inform policy that takes the protection of public health and safety as central aims. Does policy affect one of, if not both, …

Towards Efficient And Secure Iiot: Solutions For The Sensing Domain, Elena Uchiteleva

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This work explores reduced complexity solutions for the increased efficiency and safety of the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensing domain. Resource virtualization, security, and predictive modeling are the main subjects of these studies.

The first solution is a joint throughput and time-resource allocation scheme for virtualization of IEEE 802.15.4-based wireless sensor networks. Virtualization is realized through the utilization of the guaranteed time slot mechanism for scheduling on the medium access control (MAC) layer. The solution abstracts resources into logical units that are allocated to segregated applications with different service requirements. The problem is formulated in a linear optimization framework …

Population-Based Studies On Medications And Fall-Related Injury In Older Adults, Yu Ming

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Fall-related injuries in older adults result in serious consequences to individuals and health care system, especially with the increasing aging population. The purpose of this study was to (1) describe medication prescription patterns within one year prior to fall-related injuries; (2) identify medication classes prescribed within 30 days prior to the injury that were associated to fall-related injury; and (3) examine the association between fall-related injuries and continuous use or new initiation of most commonly prescribed medications.

Methods: Studies used administrative health care data in Ontario. Study 1 described the frequency of medications prescribed to older adults within one …

Reconstructing Carbon Dynamics Of Alpine And Temperate Zone Lakes Using Stable Isotopic Analysis, Rebecca M. Doyle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Lake sediments integrate signals from the catchment, atmosphere and water column, offering a unique window through which to view changes in the carbon cycle. Carbon dynamics in lakes are changing due to nitrogen loading and anthropogenic climate warming (ACW), threatening the water quality of lakes. This thesis identifies how the carbon dynamics of lakes have responded to anthropogenically-driven forcings by comparing pre- and post- AD 1850 records preserved in lake sediments. First, the carbon dynamics of Barry Lake (Ontario, Canada), a low-elevation temperate lake, are investigated. Effective moisture (the net of water inputs and evaporation) is reconstructed using the carbon …

Coordination And Reactivity Of A Structurally Responsive Phosphine-1-Azallyl Ligand, Meagan Kindervater

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The reactivity and coordination of a phosphine-1-azaallyl (P^AzA) ligand was explored using palladium (Pd) and ruthenium (Ru) complexes. Small molecules, H₂, O₂, and organic acids were added to a Pd(II) dimer to explore small molecule activation with a complex bearing a structurally responsive ligand. Notably, the 1-azaallyl moiety of a Pd(II) dimer was proton-responsive toward H₂ and organic acids may be harnessed under catalytic conditions. The possible coordination modes of the P^AzA ligand were further explored by synthesising a Ru-P^AzA complex. The compound was proposed to exist in an equilibrium of three complexes that stabilise …

The Role Of Timp3 In Microvascular Endothelial Cell-Extracellular Matrix Interaction And Regulation Of Microvascular Barrier Function, Nidhi Kulkarni

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (PMVEC) interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) mediates PMVEC barrier function. Further, data suggests an association between decreased PMVEC-ECM interactions under proinflammatory conditions and PMVEC barrier dysfunction. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 (TIMP3) may also regulate barrier function, as PMVEC from Timp3^-/-mice show increased leak. Studies in the developing lung also showed TIMP3 regulating PMVEC-ECM interactions. Based on this, I hypothesized that TIMP3 maintains PMVEC barrier function by promoting PMVEC-ECM interactions.

Using the XperT-permeability assay, Timp3^-/-PMVEC demonstrated enhanced leak vs. WT PMVEC, particularly under proinflammatory conditions, and this was associated with decreased …

Longitudinal Partitioning Waveform Relaxation Methods For The Analysis Of Transmission Line Circuits, Tarik Menkad

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Three research projects are presented in this manuscript. Projects one and two describe two waveform relaxation algorithms (WR) with longitudinal partitioning for the time-domain analysis of transmission line circuits. Project three presents theoretical results about the convergence of WR for chains of general circuits.

The first WR algorithm uses a assignment-partition procedure that relies on inserting external series combinations of positive and negative resistances into the circuit to control the speed of convergence of the algorithm. The convergence of the subsequent WR method is examined, and fast convergence is cast as a generic optimization problem in the frequency-domain. An automatic …

Correlates Of Preventable Emergency Department Visits In Canada: Evidence From The Literature And The Canadian Community Health Survey, Tammy Lau

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Emergency department (ED) visits for primary healthcare-treatable conditions are preventable and indicate barriers to primary healthcare. The goal of this thesis was to explore the prevalence and key correlates of preventable ED visits among adults in Canada. Our systematic review found that the prevalence of these visits ranged from 4.3% to 59.1% and were associated with younger age, low education, low income, rural residence, and worse self-rated health. Our analysis of data from the 2015-2016 Canadian Community Health Survey found that 39.9% of adults with a regular healthcare provider considered their last ED visit to be preventable. In addition to …

Exploring The Experiences Of High School Syrian Refugee Students With Interrupted Formal Education And Their Teachers In Eld Classrooms, Hiba Barek

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Exploring the experiences of Syrian refugee Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE) and their teachers in English and Literacy Development (ELD) classrooms is an emergent topic of interest in the field of education in Canada. There is a need to understand the ways in which ELD teachers respond to the cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity of Syrian refugee SIFEs and create learning opportunities for those students while supporting them emotionally, socially, and academically. Thus, the aim of this research was to explore the nature of the experiences of high school Syrian refugee SIFEs and their teachers in ELD classrooms in …

Uncertainties In The Assessment Of Individual And Compound Flooding From River Discharge And Coastal Water Levels Under Climate Change, Shuyi Wang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

It is widely recognized that climate change can impact the risks of flooding in many regions around the world especially the low-lying coastal areas. The concurrent occurrence of multiple flood drivers such as high river flows and coastal water levels can aggravate such impacts causing catastrophic damages. In this study, the individual and compounding effects of riverine and coastal flooding are investigated over Stephenville Crossing, a town located in the coastal-estuarine region of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada. The impacts of climate change on flood characteristics and the corresponding uncertainties associated with model inputs and structure, and emission scenarios are …

Development And Validation Of Tools For Improving Intraoperative Implant Assessment With Ultrasound During Gynaecological Brachytherapy, Jessica Robin Rodgers

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Treatment of gynaecological cancers often includes a type of conformal radiotherapy, known as brachytherapy, that allows radiation sources to be placed close to or directly into cancerous tissues, tailoring the dose to the local region around tumours and sparing surrounding normal tissues. These sources can be positioned via intracavitary applicators that are placed inside the vagina/uterus or interstitial implants, involving the insertion of multiple needles into the tissue. There is currently no standard imaging modality to visualize these applicators and needles at the time of placement, which would allow for the immediate assessment and refinement of the implant positions. Ultrasound …

Community Of Entrepreneurs In Coworking Space, Nam Kyoon Kim

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation studies the novel phenomenon related to the social context of entrepreneurship—coworking space. Coworking spaces are known for creating a social community of entrepreneurial workforce—entrepreneurs, freelancers, contractors, remote workers, and others. The three essays that form this dissertation collectively highlight the entrepreneurial community in coworking spaces by proposing a novel typology of coworking space based on community, discovering the community building process, and analyzing user reviews of coworking spaces.

The first essay contributes to the literature on coworking space by creating novel ideal types of coworking spaces. Based on interviews conducted and archival data from 16 coworking spaces, this …

Comparing Neuromuscular System Function In Healthy And Mobility-Impaired Older Females, Neal B. Mckinnon

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: The objective of this thesis was to evaluate and compare neuromuscular system function in a group of young, healthy old and mobility-impaired older females (gait speed less than 1m/s) in an attempt to identify which neuromuscular factors contribute most to the loss of mobility and functional performance with age.

Methods: The ankle dorsiflexor and knee extensor muscles were used as a model in these studies. First, in Chapter 2 quantitative electromyography (EMG) was used to evaluate motor unit (MU) numbers, properties and the fidelity of the neuromuscular junction. Next, Chapter 3 conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine contractile …

Detection And Quantification Of Cells Using Magnetic Particle Imaging And Magnetic Microspheres, Kierstin P. Melo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an emerging imaging modality that specifically detects superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs). Our lab has shown that cell tracking with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has very high sensitivity, but low specificity and quantification of iron labeled cells is difficult. MPI cell tracking could overcome these limitations. A Momentum^TM MPI system was installed at Robarts in August 2019 and this is the first project to be completed using MPI. In Chapter 2 a series of in vitro experiments are reported which tested the repeatability and reproducibility of imaging SPIO labeled cell samples. There are no …