- Thèses, 2011 - // Theses, 2011 -

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10393/11105

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A Discretized Constraint-Aware Heuristic for Altimetry Data Acquisition in Satellites
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-20) Jin, Zhihao; Cesari, Tommaso
As Earth observation missions continue to expand in both scale and complexity, optimization of satellite altimetry data acquisition has become a critical challenge. This thesis addresses continuing needs for scheduling hydrology-related measurements, such as those of oceans, lakes, and glaciers, efficiently while operating under strict constraints, including limited onboard memory, command execution limits, and overall satellite operability. To this end, we propose a constraint-aware heuristic that dynamically prioritizes and schedules altimetry targets, accounting for variations in spatial resolution and scientific priority. The proposed methodology formulates mission planning as a multi-constraint optimization problem that incorporates satellite position and altitude, and to our knowledge, this is the first work to introduce such an approach. It adopts a knapsack-like formulation, accounting for variable data rates, target durations, and orbital geometry. The algorithm includes utility functions for memory management and spatially-aware target merging and supports dynamic mode downgrading to optimize data acquisition under resource limitations. A custom objective function is introduced to evaluate scheduling effectiveness, considering both data quality and target priority. Experimental results, based on real and synthetic altimetry data, demonstrate the approach's scalability (handling up to 3,000 targets in minutes), high memory utilization efficiency, and superior performance compared to conventional optimization methods such as the Jaya algorithm. The algorithm delivers explainable, near-optimal target schedules with linear time complexity, making it a strong candidate for onboard autonomous planning.
Influences of Interactions with Health and Social Care Systems Following the Experience of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on Residential Instability
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-20) Banimahdi, Ramin; Sauvé-Schenk, Katrine
Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability around the world. Post-TBI, individuals might experience cognitive, emotional, behavioural, physical, and psychosocial problems. These neurologically driven changes can hinder an individual's ability to gain and sustain employment, lead to income loss, and might influence individuals' ability to maintain their stable housing, leading to residential instability and an increased risk of homelessness. To address their health and housing needs, individuals with TBI benefit from long-term interactions with health and social care systems. Despite these interactions, many individuals go on to experience housing instability and homelessness. Purpose and Objectives: The overall purpose of this research was to better understand how the interactions of individuals with TBI with health and social care systems influence their housing stability. The specific objectives were: 1) to identify the challenges experienced by the homeless or unstably housed population related to TBI, along with the recommendations for addressing them; 2) to better understand the personal experiences of individuals with TBI regarding their interactions with health and social care systems and how these interactions influenced their residential stability; and 3) to describe how a non-profit organization providing community services to individuals with TBI addresses housing needs, prevents homelessness, and supports stable tenancy. Methods: To meet my first objective, I conducted a scoping review in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology to understand how TBI influences the experiences of individuals who are homeless or unstably housed. For my second objective, I conducted a qualitative narrative inquiry through interviews with individuals with TBI who experienced residential instability following their trauma, to better understand how they navigated their interactions with health and social care systems and their experiences of residential instability. Finally, for the third objective, I conducted a qualitative single case study of a non-profit organization providing community services to individuals with TBI to describe how they guide these individuals toward their services to prevent homelessness and support stable tenancy. The sources of data were semi-structured interviews and agency documentation. Results: Study 1, the scoping review showed that TBI influences various aspects of life in the homeless population, including health, social lives, daily activities, and service utilization. To address these challenges, the included studies recommended routine TBI screenings in homeless care facilities and improved access to neuro-specific rehabilitation. Healthcare settings must also be aware of the housing conditions of their patients with TBI and make appropriate referrals in cases of homelessness or unstable housing to prevent future episodes of homelessness in this population. Additionally, increasing awareness of TBI and its impacts, providing clinicians with training on how to manage clients with aggressive behaviours, and developing policies, strategies, and interventions that address the combined effects of TBI and homelessness are recommended. Study 2, the narrative inquiry, demonstrated the broad impacts of TBI on individuals' lives, including health outcomes, loss of jobs, and loss of social networks. Moreover, the important roles of individuals' socioeconomic status (SES) and the impact of pre- and post-TBI relationships and family dynamics on health and housing outcomes following the TBI were highlighted. Individuals' experiences reflected a lack of knowledge among the healthcare and social service providers about their unique needs and challenges. As well, it showed several gaps in the system related to serving these individuals, including inaccurate assessments, long waitlists for health and housing services, and a lack of providers in the healthcare system. Finally, study 3, the qualitative single case study, showed that the case, an organization that provides community services to individuals living with TBI, inquires about the housing of their clients on initial contacts and then again annually. Apart from their limited supportive housing program with a long waitlist, it also provides some individualized support tailored to the client's needs. However, housing needs are not always successfully met, with limitations in the capacity to provide residential services, infrequent documentation of clients' housing status as an ongoing concern, treating housing as a secondary concern compared with other program areas, and systemic barriers contribute to this process. These systemic barriers limit service capacity and the access of individuals with TBI to this organization. Examples include limited awareness about TBI community services among health and social service providers, inadequate funding and resources, lengthy and complex application processes for housing supports, and excessive formalities and bureaucratic obstacles for implementation of community service plans targeting the housing of individuals with TBI. Conclusion: There is a need to change system-level beliefs about housing for individuals with TBI and to reframe housing in the health and social care systems as a fundamental determinant of health and a basic human right for this population. Healthcare and social service providers should routinely assess and monitor the housing needs of this population, take action within their capacity when instability is identified, and connect clients to appropriate community resources. Sustained government investment in social housing and improvements to income assistance programs that reflect the actual cost of living are also essential. Governments and institutions must recognize and act upon their shared responsibility to prevent homelessness among individuals with TBI.
Answering (or Not Answering) the Call: Young Individuals’ Attitudes Toward Policing Careers
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-17) Sherratt, Kaila; Kempa, Michael
In the context of a drastic decline in recruitment to police agencies across Western democratic nations, the thesis examined the nature of young individuals’ current attitudes towards law enforcement careers. In addition, the study examined how these nuances and characteristics differed across policing careers in Canada generally and the RCMP specifically. Participants (N = 230) were asked to answer questions regarding their career aspirations and whether they planned on applying to a law enforcement agency upon completion of their degree. Afterwards, participants were asked to answer questions on various scales when thinking about a policing career in general versus one with the RCMP specifically. These scales examined concepts such as overall job interest and career outlook, apprehension about work-life balance, social disapproval, and mentoring. Some of the results were consistent with previous literature, indicating that men were more interested in a law enforcement career than women, and that the reputation and perspective of a police organization were barriers for some participants when considering a career in law enforcement. However, there were unique findings regarding mentoring, work-life balance, and the lack of alternative job opportunities, which are discussed. Specifically, participants who said they were going to apply and those who said they were unsure about pursuing a career in law enforcement reported lacking access to mentorship opportunities, which would have been impactful on their decisions. Younger individuals, participants not pursuing a criminology degree, and those who indicated they were not planning to pursue a career in law enforcement reported greater apprehension about work-life balance. Lastly, those who indicated they were not going to apply identified a lack of other job alternatives as an influential factor. This means they would consider joining a law enforcement agency if they could not secure employment elsewhere. This is true for policing in general and for the RCMP specifically. Overall, this thesis makes a significant contribution to the literature and provides new insights into how young individuals currently perceive policing careers. In addition, while not the primary objective of this analytic thesis, the results point to various policy interventions that could encourage youth recruitment.
The Effects of High Resistance Training Volume During Caloric Restriction Among Resistance Trained Individuals on Body Composition, Resting Energy Expenditure, 24-hour Total Nitrogen Balance and Maximal Strength
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-17) Nait-Yahia, Samir; Doucet, Éric
Athletes employ weight-loss protocols to lower fat mass (FM) and maintain fat-free mass (FFM) for performance purposes. Under mass-stable conditions, high resistance training volumes (HVRT) have been associated with greater increases in FFM than low resistance training volumes (LVRT). However, less is known about the effects of HVRT under caloric restriction (CR). Therefore, it remains unclear whether HVRT could elicit greater retention of FFM and improvements in strength during CR. Objectives Determine the effects of HVRT and high protein intake on FFM and strength in resistance-trained individuals after a 40% CR.
Multi-Proxy Annual Profiles in Narwhal Tusks Reveal Biogeochemical Baseline Restructuring Under Rapid Arctic Change
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-17) Brault Nikolajew, Shanie; Bataille, Clément
The Arctic is undergoing rapid physical and biogeochemical change, yet major gaps remain in our understanding of how these transformations propagate through marine food webs and influence the ecology of long-lived marine mammals. Climate-driven shifts in prey availability, sea-ice dynamics, and habitat structure shape diet, mobility, and contaminant exposure, but the ecological consequences of these interacting pressures remain difficult to disentangle. Similar isotopic and elemental responses can arise from changes in foraging behaviour, movement patterns, or environmental baselines, creating a central interpretive challenge for long-term geochemical records. This thesis uses incrementally growing narwhal tusks as natural archives to disentangle ecological change from climate-driven restructuring of baseline conditions. Multi-proxy geochemical profiles were measured along annual growth layer groups in two narwhal tusks from contrasting Canadian Arctic regions, Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay, spanning the late 1990s to early 2020s. Stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N in collagen; δ13C and δ18O in carbonate), isotopic spacing between carbonate and collagen (∆13Ccarb-coll), mercury concentrations, lead isotope ratios (206Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/206Pb, 206Pb/207Pb), and selected elemental ratios (Pb:Ca, Cd:Ca, As:Ca) were integrated with regional time series of sea-ice extent, coastal ocean temperature and salinity, and Arctic climate modes. Additional population-level δ13C and δ15N data from Pond Inlet narwhal embedded teeth and Baffin Bay beluga teeth were used to evaluate whether inferred baseline shifts are expressed across individuals, populations, and species. The dominant isotopic signal was a pronounced decline in δ15Ncollagen in the Baffin Bay individual, whereas δ15Ncollagen remained comparatively stable in the Hudson Bay individual. Mobility-sensitive tracers showed strong interannual variability but no sustained directional trends, indicating no long-term relocation sufficient to account for the observed δ15N pattern. In both individuals, Ba:Ca, Sr:Ca, and ∆13Ccarb-coll displayed consistent early-life structure, supporting an ontogenetic transition toward an adult-like feeding regime and changes in macronutrient routing. Bulk collagen isotopes behaved differently: δ13Ccollagen covaried with δ13CCO3 in both tusks, indicating a shared sensitivity to baseline carbon-system variability, while the contrasting δ15N records may reflect population-specific baseline forcing, potentially limiting the use of bulk δ15N as a long-term trophic indicator. Toxicological proxies showed contrasting trajectories, with mercury increasing through time in both individuals, consistent with trophic biomagnification combined with climate-sensitive baseline forcing, whereas Pb:Ca, Cd:Ca, and As:Ca declined systematically, consistent with changing exposure pathways driven by sea-ice loss, altered primary production, circulation shifts, and reduced atmospheric inputs. Lead isotope variability further indicated changes in contaminant provenance, particularly in Baffin Bay. Independent multi-individual datasets revealed coherent shifts toward lower δ13C and δ15N beginning around the early 2000s at the population level in narwhals and also in belugas, demonstrating that the signal extends beyond single individuals to multiple populations and species. The concordance of these records is consistent with an ecosystem-scale baseline driver potentially linked to climate-driven loss of sea ice and associated reorganization of carbon and nitrogen cycling at the base of the food web in Baffin Bay. In this region, the population-level decline in δ15N is interpreted as reflecting increased reliance on regenerated nitrogen and enhanced N2 fixation under declining sea-ice conditions, processes that would lower baseline δ15N values in primary producers and propagate upward to apex predators. Concurrent declines in δ13C are consistent with shifts in dominant carbon sources associated with reduced ice-algal production, enhanced pelagic phytoplankton growth, and changing CO2 availability, indicating baseline restructuring within the Baffin Bay ecosystem. Together, these findings establish narwhal tusks as high-resolution archives of both ontogenetic ecology and multi-decadal baseline restructuring. The integration of isotopic and elemental tracers within annual growth layers provides a robust framework for disentangling ecological change from shifting environmental baselines and for improving understanding of how Arctic marine systems and the species inhabiting them respond to changes in primary production, reorganization of biogeochemical cycling, ongoing sea-ice loss, and evolving contaminant pathways.
Understanding Caregiver-Reported Outcomes in Clinical Trials for Children with Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-17) Al-Baldawi, Yousif; Potter, Beth
Objective: To examine how caregiver-reported outcomes are incorporated in clinical trials involving children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID), including alignment with regulatory guidance about observer- versus proxy-reporting. Methods: We conducted a scoping review, using a systematic search strategy and screening citations in duplicate to identify interventional trials in children and adolescents with ID, published 2019-2024, that included caregiver-reported outcomes. We extracted trial characteristics and outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) from eligible reports, analyzing OMIs used as primary endpoints. Results: From 8,167 citations, we identified 88 trials, 38 of which included a caregiver-reported primary outcome; 20 unique OMIs were primary endpoints. Caregiver characteristics, training, and OMI psychometric properties were infrequently reported. OMIs were not easily classifiable as observer- versus proxy-reported based on instructions and item wording. Conclusions: Clearer reporting of caregiver-reported OMIs in pediatric ID trials, including instrument characteristics and measurement details, is needed to improve interpretability and alignment with guidance.
Enhancing SARS-CoV-2 DNA Vaccines with CD40 Ligand and Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-17) Tamming, Levi Andrew; Li, Xuguang; Wang, Lisheng
Despite widespread vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate globally, with ongoing transmission driven by the emergence of immune-evasive variants and the waning of infection- and vaccine-induced immunity. Although mRNA vaccines induce strong early responses, serum neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers often wane substantially within 7–9 months post-vaccination, increasing susceptibility to breakthrough infection. While updated, variant-matched boosters can restore higher levels of protection, their overall impact is constrained by declining uptake, rollout timelines that can leave vaccines mismatched to circulating variants, and immune imprinting. Novel vaccination strategies are needed to elicit more durable and broadly protective immunity. Multiple DNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been evaluated clinically, but most elicited only modest immune responses and often required specialized delivery systems. This thesis investigates two complementary approaches to enhance DNA vaccine performance against SARS-CoV-2: incorporation of CD40 ligand (CD40L) as a molecular adjuvant and formulation of DNA in ionizable lipid nanoparticles (DNA-LNPs). Fusing CD40L to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike enhanced the magnitude and breadth of humoral responses elicited by DNA, DNA-LNP and mRNA-LNP vaccines, while preferentially promoting Th1-skewed immunity. Encapsulation of DNA in LNPs markedly increased immunogenicity and broadened NAb activity, enabling neutralization and protection against both matched Delta and heterologous Omicron variants. This thesis also demonstrates that DNA-LNPs can afford long-term protective immunity, with durability of humoral immune response greatly exceeding those of mRNA-LNP vaccines six-months post-vaccination. Together, these findings support the feasibility and complementarity of CD40L adjuvants and LNP delivery to improve the potency, breadth, and durability of DNA vaccine-induced immunity, potentially reducing the need for frequent boosting.
Controlling Ice Growth: From Nucleation to Recrystallization
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-16) Diamante, Marcus; Ben, Robert
The growing demand for advanced cellular therapies has facilitated a substantial need for efficient cryopreservation methods for a wide range of biological materials. As a result, a wide range of novel cryoprotective agents (CPAs) have been investigated to supplement traditional cryopreservation protocols, with the aim to improve not just post-thaw recovery, but post-thaw viability and functional capacity (e.g. proliferation and differentiation). Controlling ice recrystallization is a strategy to improve the outcome of cryopreservation, and small molecule ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) have proven effective for many complex and clinically relevant cell types. The Ben lab has spent over two decades characterizing a diverse library of IRI active CPAs, however the structural requirements for IRI activity are still not fully understood. The temperature of ice crystal nucleation is also a vital factor impacting cryopreservation outcomes. As an essential step of the cryopreservation process, ice nucleation is the phenomena of an ordered, solid ice embryo forming in supercooled water. Ice nucleation can be considered either homogeneous in pure water, or heterogeneous when a foreign body lowers the energy barrier required for ice nucleation. It has been established in cellular models that it is beneficial to induce controlled, heterogeneous ice nucleation prior to a sample spontaneously nucleating. Through induced nucleation, the degree of supercooling of the sample is limited. This in turn limits thermal shock generated by latent heat release through ice nucleation and can limit the degree of intracellular ice formation observed. The use of induced heterogeneous ice nucleation can also generate a more consistent cryopreservation protocol, as the temperature of spontaneous ice nucleation can be widely variable, even in identically prepared samples. The research described in this thesis leverages the decades of research from the Ben lab to further the understanding of IRI and ice nucleation activity (INA) of small molecules. This work implements an in-house assay for the characterization of ice nucleation activity. With an understanding of small molecule INA activity, the degree of interaction between small molecule INA and IRI activity is examined herein. In parallel, this work reports synthetically accessible scaffolds containing the structural components required for IRI activity in N-functionalized gluconamides. The structure activity relationship investigations elucidate not only a novel set of highly IRI active small molecules, but also an improved understanding of the functional tolerance for further derivatization. Collectively, the work described herein sets the groundwork for the targeted generation of not only specialized small molecule IRIs, but the first attempts to generate dual-action IRI / INA active small molecule CPAs.
The Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit: Epidemiology and Performance of Common Predictive Scoring Systems
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-16) El wadia, Hajar; Hundemer, Gregory; Knoll , Gregory
Purpose: This thesis investigated outcomes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methodology: A systematic review evaluated ICU scoring systems performance in CKD patients, and a cohort study assessed associations between CKD stages and outcomes. Results: The systematic review identified 12 heterogeneous studies. APACHE II/III, SAPS II, and SOFA showed good discrimination in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on dialysis but consistently overestimated mortality and performed poorly among kidney transplant recipients. The cohort study of 531,090 ICU admissions revealed one quarter had pre-existing CKD. Increasing CKD severity was independently associated with higher mortality and greater risk of kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Dialysis dependent stage 5 CKD showed lower mortality compared to non-dialysis dependent stage 5 CKD. Conclusion: CKD is highly prevalent among ICU patients and strongly associated with mortality and KRT dependence. The scoring systems overestimate mortality risk in this population, highlighting the need for CKD stratification specific studies.
Crowdfunding Platform Mechanisms: Mitigating Fraud and Enhancing Campaign Success
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-16) Ben Najee, Abdussalam; Chkir, Imed; Branco, Paula
The purpose of this thesis is to explore the role of crowdfunding platforms in protecting investors by investigating the platform governance mechanisms (PGMs) they have implemented to determine their effectiveness in increasing campaign success and reducing fraudulent activities. The specific objectives are (i) to know the prevalence of governance mechanisms implemented by crowdfunding platforms, (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of PGMs in protecting investors against suspended campaigns on crowdfunding platforms, and (iii) to compare the PGMS of different types of crowdfunding platforms to identify any differences and potential best practices. The data collection method consists of two types of platforms: reward-based crowdfunding that covers the years between 2009 and 2023, and equity-based crowdfunding platforms that cover the years between 2018 and 2021, as well as the PGMs applied to both types. Using a logistic regression model, the general findings suggest that mechanisms such as social media and Google Analytics have mixed effects. Social media positively influences campaign success on equity-based campaigns but negatively affects campaign success on reward-based campaigns. In contrast, google analytics substantially influence reward-based campaigns positively, while having a negative effect on equity-based campaigns. The third-party verification mechanism was ineffective in campaigns to succeed or reduce fraud. In addition, the number of funders and amount pledged can enhance the successful campaigns, while they cannot distinguish between fraudulent and non-fraudulent campaigns. The duration is mixed with longer duration enhancing campaign success and shorter duration reducing fraud for reward campaigns. However, for equity-based campaigns, a shorter duration enhances campaign success. The study contributes valuable research knowledge by showing the role of crowdfunding platforms in protecting investors and increasing campaign success. The results indicate the necessity for further economic research on PGMs to enhance the campaign's success and prevent fraud, as well as highlight other essential topics for future study.
Towards Real-World Quantum Machine Learning
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-15) Singh, Utkarsh; Heshami, Khabat
Quantum machine learning (QML) promises new representational and computational capabilities, yet practical deployment on near-term hardware is hampered by resource overheads, depth constraints, and fragile trainability. This thesis advances resource-aware QML by proposing architectures and kernels that retain expressivity while sharply reducing qubit counts, circuit depth, and entangling-gate budgets. The work is presented in an article-based format with three core contributions. First, I introduce a Coherent Feed-Forward Quantum Neural Network (CFF-QNN) that preserves quantum coherence across all layers, mirrors the flexibility of classical feed-forward networks (adjustable hidden layers and nodes), and decouples qubit requirements from input feature dimension. Compared to prevailing QNN baselines, the CFF-QNN reduces both depth and CNOT count by over 50% while achieving strong performance on standard benchmarks (e.g., 91% accuracy on Wisconsin breast cancer and 85% on credit-card fraud). This contribution is accompanied by an international patent filing (WO2025050205A1). Second, I develop a resource-efficient quantum kernel that enables high-dimensional embeddings with substantially fewer qubits and entanglers, achieving linear scaling of entangling gates in the number of qubits. Empirically, the kernel delivers competitive or superior performance to widely used classical kernels and to popular quantum feature maps (e.g., on the Parkinson's disease dataset), with noisy simulations and small-scale runs on superconducting hardware indicating suitability for near-term devices. This contribution is covered by a companion patent filing (WO2025073041A1). Third, I propose a quantum reservoir computing (QRC) scheme that reuses a fixed quantum feature-map circuit as the reservoir while injecting temporal memory via an explicit feedback loop. The register is recycled across time, so quantum resources remain constant, no quantum parameters are trained, and only a lightweight classical readout is fitted. Experiments on chaotic time series (e.g., Mackey-Glass) show competitive predictive accuracy with strict resource efficiency, and illuminate how feedback delay and entangling structure affect memory and error. Collectively, these results chart a path toward practical QML: coherent architectures and kernels that are trainable, scalable in input dimension, frugal in quantum resources, and viable on noisy intermediate-scale devices—while providing design guidelines for future, larger-scale implementations.
Neither Il nor Elle: A Study of Gender Non-Conforming Student Experience in Ontario Public French-Language Education
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-15) Barrett, Emma; Ng-A-Fook, Nicholas
This study explores the ways gender-neutral or gender-inclusive French language is making its way into Ontario public anglophone FSL classrooms. Ontario French curriculum, and Ontario public school board policies and guidelines were examined. Six gender nonconforming participants underwent semi-structured interviews, detailing their experiences in French classes as recent graduates from Ontario public anglophone schools. From these two lines of evidence, two articles are presented. The first highlights the curriculum and policy documents and their mentions (or lack-there-of) of inclusive or gender-neutral French. The second amplifies the individual voices of the six participants who share their experiences of (in)visibility, representation, and belonging in the French classroom. Suggested improvements for French education from participants are presented.
Exploring Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services Among Therapists-in-Training: A Thematic Analysis
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-15) Mayled, Mackenzie; Gazzola, Nicola
Therapist well-being is widely regarded as a crucial aspect of effective therapy. Decades of research highlight the negative impacts of unmanaged distress on therapists' treatment outcomes, which has led to a focus on the ethical importance of managing challenges through self-care. However, a gap remains between the recognized importance of accessing mental health care and the actual use of these services, particularly among therapists-in-training. This presents a critical concern for both trainee well-being and client care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the barriers that prevent therapists-in-training in Canada from accessing mental health services. Guided by a constructivist framework, six master's-level counselling and psychotherapy students participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021). Seven overarching themes and twenty-three subthemes emerged: (1) Internal Resistance to Help-Seeking, (2) Structural and Systemic Barriers, (3) Dual Relationships and Being Caught Between Roles, (4) The Demands of Training as a Barrier, (5) Internalized Stigma and Incongruence with the Idealized Therapist Identity, (6) Fear of Professional Consequences, and (7) Broken Trust in Therapeutic Systems. Together, these themes reveal that barriers to help-seeking reflect individual, relational, and systemic factors. This study addresses a gap in the literature by providing insights into the unique obstacles faced by therapists-in-training. The findings contribute to the development of interventions aimed at improving access to mental health services for professionals, enhancing their long-term well-being. This, in turn, benefits clients, as well-supported therapists are better equipped to provide ethical and effective care - the profession's primary goal.
Understanding Maternal Decision-Making Regarding Infant Sleep as Discussed on Social Media Platforms
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-15) Gingras Little, Kasia; Lalonde, Michelle
Objective: To understand how mothers use social media when making decisions about infant sleep practices. Methods: Using a quantitative descriptive design, the recruitment poster with a link to the questionnaire instrument was shared within three private Facebook groups for mothers in Northumberland County (Ontario). Results: Mothers access social media frequently, primarily to read content rather than comment or post. Infant sleep practice is perceived as a controversial topic, with inconsistent guidelines which are challenging to implement. Trustworthiness and comfort discussing infant sleep on social media are low, but mothers continue to use these platforms as validation of infant sleep struggles and reinforcement of maternal instincts. Discussion: Updating infant sleep guidelines to reflect the challenges and realities of infant sleep practices, developing decision support tools to reduce decisional conflict, and discussing information gathered from social media in an open, bi-directional dialogue, will better support mothers in decision-making about infant sleep practices.
Intelligent Scheduling and Charging Optimization for CAEVs and UAVs in Urban Transportation Networks
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-14) Shaikh, Palwasha Waheed; Mouftah, Hussein; Kantarci, Burack
Urban transportation systems are increasingly strained by congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, motivating the need for scalable and sustainable mobility solutions. Connected Autonomous Electric Vehicles (CAEVs) and Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are key enablers of next generation intelligent transportation systems (ITS), yet their adoption remains constrained by limited battery capacity, fragmented charging infrastructure, and the absence of reliable coordination mechanisms under dynamic and heterogeneous conditions. Existing research often addresses individual charging technologies or isolated vehicle classes, leaving a gap in system-level coordination across ground and aerial platforms. This thesis addresses this gap by demonstrating that charging coordination, rather than charging technology alone, is a critical barrier to sustainable deployment of autonomous electric mobility. A scalable and interoperable three-layer charging network architecture is proposed to support static charging, dynamic wireless charging, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging across heterogeneous charging node types. A hybrid coordination topology and unified handshake protocol enable interoperable charging discovery, reservation based scheduling, and execution while remaining compatible with existing communication infrastructure. Building on this architectural foundation, coordinated charging scheduling and trip planning mechanisms that consider both vehicle routing and charging resource allocation are developed using heuristic and learning-based approaches. Two heuristic strategies, Static Heuristic Charging Scheduling Policy (SH-CSP) and Dynamic Heuristic Charging Scheduling Policy (DH-CSP), provide interpretable baselines and handle early and late arrivals. To address scalability and non-stationary demand, Safety, Sustainability, and Scheduling-Aware Feasibility Enhanced Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (SAFE-DDPG) is introduced to enable adaptive, real-time scheduling under heterogeneous charging conditions. Reliability and fairness are embedded as system-level properties within the architecture and scheduling framework. Simulation-based evaluation demonstrates charging reservation fulfillment rates approaching 98%, waiting time reductions of up to approximately 80% relative to heuristic baselines, and consistently high fairness across heterogeneous charging networks. Comparative evaluation against baseline deep reinforcement learning methods, including DDPG and TD3, and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques further validate effectiveness and interpretability. Overall, this thesis presents a unified, reliable, and scalable framework for intelligent scheduling and charging optimization through learning-based decision-making in next-generation urban transportation systems.
Exploring the Unimolecular Chemistry of Representative Terpenes Under Protonated and Pyrolysis Conditions
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-14) White Buenger, Edgar; Mayer, Paul M.
The art of combining experiment and theory together allows for the painting of a complete chemical picture. In this work, the two concepts were married to investigate the unimolecular gasphase decomposition of representative terpene molecules under protonated and extreme thermal conditions. Protonation studies were carried out experimentally using tandem mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation. Protonated isoprene was dominated by the neutral loss of C2H4, while its derivative prenol had competition between the neutral losses of C3H6, CH2O, CH3OH, and H2O. The dissociation of the monoterpenes showed abundant neutral losses of C3H6 and C4H8, with minor appearance of C2H4 and C3H8 in some examples. The monoterpenoid derivatives showed similar dissociation products but introduced the neutral losses of oxygenated compounds. Density functional theory calculations were used to unravel the minimum energy reaction pathways that describe the mechanisms by which each given protonated terpene was converted to the observed product ions in the experiment. In nearly all cases, the initial site of protonation was a key driver for the observed dissociation chemistry of the protonated terpenes. The decomposition of terpenes under extreme thermal conditions was investigated using flash pyrolysis at the Swiss Light Source synchrotron using the iPEPICO beamline. This experiment enabled the identification of novel isomeric products that have not been previously described in the literature when experiments were performed with isoprene. Density functional theory calculations revealed a new mechanism that could feasibly produce the newly observed cyclopentene intermediate on the pathway towards cyclopentadiene, a previously described pyrolysis product. These calculations were also used to help confirm product identities with Franck-Condon simulations and were used to reveal the mechanisms by which these products were formed. Similar experimental and theoretical methodology was applied for representative monoterpenes. Here, there was a clear differentiation in the product distribution that was observed for α-pinene, dominated by sequential losses of methyl radicals to yield substituted benzenes, a process not observed in β-pinene or limonene, which were shown to have some degree of overlap between their decomposition chemistries. Unique to the former was the appearance of abundant propargyl radicals, while the latter was shown to be dominated by intermolecular cleavage to yield two molecules of isoprene. In the end, when experiment and theory are combined to provide the same picture, we can have more confidence that the individual images were captured correctly.
Recovery of Metals from Spent Lithium-ion Batteries Through Adsorption Processes Using Waste Materials
(Université d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa, 2026-04-14) Roshanfar, Melina; Sartaj, Majid
The rapid growth in the use of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and portable electronics has made their recycling a pressing global concern. The primary challenge is developing a universal, sustainable process capable of effectively treating diverse cathode chemistries, such as LiCoO₂ (LCO), LiMn₂O₄ (LMO), and LiNiₓCoᵧMn₁₋ₓ₋ᵧO₂ (NMC). This study has developed an integrated, environmentally friendly recycling method that incorporates thermal pretreatment, selective leaching, bio-based adsorption, and lithium recovery, making it suitable for all major cathode materials. Thermal treatment at 570 °C in air for 2 hours effectively removed the PVDF binder and organic residues, without forming unwanted cobalt oxides or metallic alloys, resulting in clean, reactive powders. Optimized leaching using a mixed citric–sulfuric acid system achieved almost complete metal recovery (Li, 99%; Co, 98%; Ni, 90%; Mn, 92%) under mild conditions, with citric acid acting as both a complexing and reducing agent, thereby eliminating the need for external reductants. The adsorption process was preferred over traditional separation methods because of its simplicity, low cost, high selectivity, and minimal secondary waste. Chitosan powder, a by-product derived from marine waste, exhibited strong affinity for Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II), while leaving lithium in solution. Crosslinking with 1 wt.% L-cystine produced stable CS1%CYS with increased porosity and mechanical strength, reaching adsorption uptake capacities of 153 mg/g for Co(II), 15.6 mg/g for Ni(II), and 7.7 mg/g for Mn(II), and maintaining over 92% recovery after multiple regeneration cycles with 0.1 M EDTA. Additionally, a greener version of chitosan was synthesized using the protic ionic liquid [Eth][Ac], showing similar adsorption performance to commercial powder while lessening environmental impact. Advancing toward practical application, fixed-bed column experiments demonstrated the scalability and stability of the beads under continuous-flow operation, with Co(II) and Ni(II) exhibiting strong retention and predictable breakthrough behavior. The residual Mn(II) was effectively removed (>86%) by KMnO₄ oxidation or pH adjustment, while Li can be recovered as Li₂CO₃ from the solution by reacting with saturated Na₂CO₃ at 90 °C. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including XRD, SEM-EDS, FT-IR, TGA, and BET, supported the results of each stage, confirming the complete removal of the binder, successful metal coordination through amine and hydroxyl groups, and an increased surface area of the modified chitosan. Overall, this study presents a universal, scalable, and sustainable methodology for the selective recovery of critical metals and battery-grade lithium carbonate from spent lithium-ion batteries, representing a significant advancement toward circular, low-carbon battery recycling.
Freedom and Knowing: An Inquiry into Hegel's Metaphysical Idea of Freedom
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-14) Rasouli, Amir; Reid, Jeffrey
In Hegel's philosophy, the Absolute signifies Truth. On the one hand, there is such a thing as Truth, and the human being has the potential capacity to know what Truth is. On the other hand, the actuality (Wirklichkeit) of the consciousness of Truth constitutes the nature of knowing (Erkennen). The very self-consciousness of this actuality is nothing other than the freedom of consciousness. This thesis demonstrates that to be free is the self-knowing of oneself as free in the system. The truth of such knowing (Erkennen) belongs to the knowledge of the speculative identity in Hegel's system. To reach such recognition relies on the true recognition of the Absolute as identity, Spirit as difference, and the wholeness of the system as the identity of identity and difference. Through this interpretation, the consciousness of the wholeness of the whole, which lies at the foundation of the very being of the system, relies on the freedom of consciousness. In this respect, Chapter One demonstrates that the reciprocal recognition between temporal finite consciousness and eternal infinite Truth constitutes the very nature of Erkennen for the Spirit. Without this mutual recognition, there would be no Concept, no Knowledge, no Spirit, and no God at all, since the very nature of the Concept (Begriff) lies in the mutual recognition between finite consciousness and infinite Truth. The aim of Chapter one is, therefore, to demonstrate the self-knowledge of the Absolute as the knowing (Erkennen) of Identity by the finite temporal Spirit. However, this knowledge of Identity is not intelligible except through the act of self-othering for the temporal finite Spirit, which unfolds through the process of Negation. In this respect, Chapter Two is devoted to the exposition of difference as the negative movement of self-consciousness toward knowledge. This Chapter demonstrates that the inward negative movement of the self is intelligible only through the representation of the system, while, on the other hand, the recognition of the system relies on the negative movement of self-consciousness. That is to say, the constitution of the whole depends on its parts, while it is the whole itself that makes the being of its parts intelligible. The freedom of consciousness, therefore, must be grounded in the system; otherwise, in its linear movement, self-consciousness has no other destiny than the failure of freedom. Finally, Chapter Three presents the exposition of speculative identity, as the identity of identity and difference, which is the actuality and embodiment of Hegel's conception of the Absolute in the self-determination of self-consciousness. This chapter demonstrates that it is the transcendental self-reflective movement of consciousness that manifests itself as the reality of the system and, through its manifestation, demonstrates itself as the absolute freedom that being has through this activity. The final aim here is to affirm that the freedom of consciousness is attainable only through the return of the Absolute to consciousness: the phenomenological return that occurs in the Phenomenology through the mediation of Bildung, and the speculative return that occurs in the Logic through the mediation of method.
Comment se dire aux confins du social ? : Une auto-ethnographie parmi d'autres
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-13) Urli, Anne-Marie; Perreault, Isabelle
Les récits de vie occupent une place importante en sciences sociales. À la fois outil pour éclairer certains comportements jugés problématiques, les récits de vie peuvent aussi servir à mieux comprendre le processus d'étiquetage à l'oeuvre auprès de certaines personnes incarnant la marge dans son sens social. Interrogeant par le biais d'oeuvres littéraires cette approche en sciences sociales, l'auteure invite le lectorat à une immersion sensible sur ce que signifie porter un regard en tant que chercheur.e face à des récits de vie lorsque l'on sait qu'ils ne nous appartiennent pas. La méthodologie adoptée est l'auto-ethnographie. Le but est de flouer les dichotomies entre sujet-objet et d'apprivoiser ce qui ne saurait être ou ne peut être nommé, dit, écrit.
An Exploratory Case Study of Implementing Participatory Co-Design of a Digital Health Solution for Life Skills Development of Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Low Resource Contexts
(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-04-13) Villamin, Genevieve Ruth; Luppicini, Rocci
This exploratory case study examined the envisioned features of a digital health solution designed to support individuals exhibiting behaviors consistent with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The proposed solution sought to facilitate learning by integrating learners' interests and strengths while accommodating their challenges and support needs. The design adopted an individualized and personalized approach guided by learners' primary support systems, including parents and teachers. Conducted over 20 months, the study engaged parents and teachers of learners with ASD in a low-resource area in Metro Manila, Philippines. A participatory and co-design approach was employed, combining qualitative surveys and interviews with design thinking, requirements engineering, and iterative development methodologies to inform the conceptualization of a digital life-skills learning solution. To establish a foundation for design, the research first examined documented characteristics of learners with moderate-to-severe ASD through empathy mapping and persona development, informed by existing literature. Building on this foundation, direct engagement with parents and teachers provided contextualized insights into learners' lived realities. Participants described students as demonstrating notable strengths in creative domains while experiencing significant challenges in daily living skills, behavioral regulation, and communication. Parents frequently balanced caregiving with employment responsibilities amid limited financial and social support, relying on nurturing, structured, and interest-driven approaches. They reported persistent difficulties related to behavioral and sensory regulation, financial strain, limited access to specialized services, and minimal extended-family support. Educators likewise encountered constraints, including diverse learner needs, limited training, resource scarcity, uneven workloads, insufficient institutional backing, and inconsistent parental involvement - factors that contributed to burnout and constrained educational outcomes. These layered insights informed the subsequent synthesis and co-design process, during which findings from literature and stakeholder experiences were translated into actionable design elements. Drawing on human-centered, inclusive, and agile principles, the research team developed a digital health solution encompassing 45 integrated design themes. These features included customizable visual learning activities informed by video modeling and task analysis, gamified positive reinforcement systems, visual scheduling supports, behavior and emotion regulation tools, individualized learning plans, communication functionalities, and a platform to foster digital community-building among families and educators. Several limitations shaped the study's trajectory. Direct participation was limited to parents and teachers, as learners themselves were not involved in data collection or co-design activities, thereby constraining the extent to which their firsthand perspectives were represented. Heavy workloads, limited participant availability, and resource constraints further reduced opportunities for collaborative workshops, necessitating greater reliance on surveys and interviews: the small, localized sample - predominantly male learners, limited generalizability, and restricted examination of gender-related differences. Infrastructure challenges, including connectivity issues and varying levels of digital literacy, affected prototype interaction, while technical constraints delayed full feature implementation. Future research should address these considerations to enhance robustness, inclusivity, usability, and scalability. Despite these limitations, the study contributes to the fields of digital health solution and educational technology for ASD by articulating potential digital capabilities that may expand access to evidence-informed learning supports in low-resource settings. The proposed solution offers mechanisms to reduce caregiver burden, empower parents in home-based instruction, and equip educators with tools suited to resource-constrained environments. Collectively, these contributions advance the pursuit of more equitable, sustainable, and impactful autism services, particularly in underserved communities where traditional supports remain limited.

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