Recherche uO, le dépôt numérique de l'Université d'Ottawa, réunit le matériel de recherche et d'enseignement créé par notre communauté universitaire et nos partenaires. Le savoir de l'Université est ainsi disponible à long terme et en accès libre, ce qui lui procure de la visibilité et facilite sa diffusion.
Communautés dans DSpace
Sélectionner une communauté pour parcourir les collections sous-jacentes.
Nouveaux dépôts
Type d'Item : Item , An Integrated PS-InSAR and Machine Learning Framework for Bridge Displacement Monitoring(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-08-26) Sadeghian, Ehsan; Dragomirescu, Elena; Cusson, Daniel; Inkpen, DianaEnsuring the safety and long-term performance of bridge infrastructure requires reliable methods for monitoring structural behavior over time. Traditional structural health monitoring (SHM) systems often rely on in-situ sensors that provide detailed measurements, but are typically limited in spatial coverage and access to the bridge site. In contrast, satellite-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) enables millimeter-level displacement monitoring over large areas without the need of installing and maintaining sensors. This thesis develops a new approach for integrating the time-series modeling, SAR satellite interferometry and machine learning techniques, to better support data-driven structural monitoring. As employing ML techniques for structural investigations must be correctly applied, initially, a FEM model of a cantilever beam and dynamic loading was investigated and its response time-series modeling approaches, similar to the ones used in SHM, were examined, with particular attention to deep learning methods such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, multivariate time-series transformers and LSTM-based autoencoders. These models are reviewed and analyzed for their ability to capture complex temporal patterns in structural response data and their potential for supporting data-driven damage detection. Once these techniques were confirmed as accurately performing for structural applications, a real bridge was selected for monitoring with remote sensing methods (satellites) and used the ML techniques for the assessment of the measured responses. Thus, Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PS-InSAR) method was applied to derive displacement time series for persistent scatterer points, over five years, located on the Victoria Bridge in Montreal. Statistical and temporal features were extracted from the displacement signals and an unsupervised anomaly detection framework based on the Isolation Forest algorithm was developed to identify unusual displacement patterns. Spatial filtering, to ensure the neighborhood consistency of the identified anomalous points on the deck, and bridge deck-axis segmentation, to create regular bins of measured data that are easier to interpret statistically but structurally as well, were developed and implemented to improve the robustness of anomaly identification. These techniques are newly developed in the current study. The proposed framework was extended to a multi-satellite analysis of PS-InSAR observations from Sentinel-1, RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), and RADARSAT-2 to identify the challenges and compatibilities between the measurements of the same monitored structure. Having access to data from three different satellites tasked to monitor the same structure, Victoria Bridge in this case, is very rare and very valuable. Using an enhanced anomaly detection workflow that integrates statistical filtering and spatial constraints, displacement trends and anomaly patterns were compared across different satellites datasets to assess the consistency and reliability of satellite-based bridge monitoring. The PS-InSAR investigation of the Victoria Bridge, enhanced with anomaly detection using spatial filtering techniques, demonstrated that the proposed approach can effectively highlight spatial zones with concentrated anomalies, while improving the interpretability of satellite-derived displacement measurements. Together, these contributions illustrate the potential of combining satellite remote sensing and machine learning techniques to support scalable and data-driven approaches for long-term bridge monitoring.Type d'Item : Item , Structural Studies of the Sterol Transporter ABCG5/G8: Nanodisc Reconstitution, Cryo-EM, and Nanobody Discovery(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-08-26) Gursu, Gonca; Lee, Jyh-YeuanABCG5/G8 is a heterodimeric ATP binding cassette transporter that mediates cholesterol and dietary plant sterol efflux in the liver and intestine and plays an essential role in sterol homeostasis. Dysfunction of ABCG5/G8 is associated with sitosterolemia and cardiovascular disease risk. Despite progress in structural characterization, available structures have been determined in detergent micelles or restricted lipid environments which may not accurately reflect the native membrane context. In this thesis, ABCG5/G8 was expressed in Pichia pastoris, purified, and reconstituted into lipid nanodiscs by evaluating four membrane scaffold protein and lipid combinations. The optimal MSP1E3D1/POPC condition enabled single particle cryo-EM structure determination in a native-like lipid bilayer environment under apo, cholesterol-incubated, and cholesterol/AMP-PNP-incubated conditions, with the apo reconstruction reaching 3.15 Å resolution. In parallel, five unique ABCG5/G8 binding nanobodies were identified using yeast surface display. Together, this work establishes a foundation for structural studies of ABCG5/G8 in a native-like lipid bilayer environment and provides ABCG5/G8 specific nanobodies as new molecular tools for future structural and therapeutic applications.Type d'Item : Item , Characterizing FDA-Approved Drugs Targeting Staufen1 as Therapeutics Against Skeletal Muscle Atrophy(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-08-26) Patel, Dhrashti; Jasmin, Bernard J.; Ravel-Chapuis, AymericSkeletal muscle atrophy is a debilitating condition characterized by progressive muscle mass loss and functional decline, commonly associated with aging, physical inactivity, denervation, cachexia, and various chronic diseases. Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that transgenic overexpression of STAU1 in mouse skeletal muscle induces muscle atrophy, suggesting that STAU1 functions as a novel atrogene. More recently, we observed an early and transient increase in STAU1 expression across multiple models of muscle atrophy, including starvation-induced atrophy in C2C12 myotubes, muscle samples in a denervation model, and human participants undergoing bed rest or dry immersion. Importantly, genetic knockdown of STAU1 during atrophic condition preserved myofiber diameter, supporting a causal role for STAU1 in the initiation of muscle wasting. However, whether STAU1 can be effectively targeted using pharmacological approaches remains unknown. To explore potential therapeutic strategies, we aimed to identify FDA-approved compounds capable of reducing STAU1 expression during atrophy. A high-throughput ELISA-based screen of 770 FDA-approved drugs was conducted in myoblasts to assess their ability to downregulate STAU1 protein levels. Using our established in vitro atrophy model, three candidate drugs (11, 12, and 15) were identified that significantly reduced STAU1 mRNA and protein expression and preserved myotube diameter, thereby attenuating atrophy. Subsequently, Drugs 12 and 15 were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo using C2C12 myotubes and male and female mice subjected to sciatic nerve denervation followed by daily drug administration. STAU1 inhibition preserves myotube integrity during acute atrophic stress in vitro. However, in vivo treatment following denervation did not significantly prevent muscle loss, indicating that while STAU1 contributes to early atrophic responses, its inhibition alone is insufficient to mitigate denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. Collectively, these findings indicate that although STAU1 inhibition is protective in vitro, it does not confer significant protection against denervation-induced muscle atrophy in vivo. Further studies are warranted to identify more effective modulators of STAU1 or complementary pathways to mitigate skeletal muscle atrophy.Type d'Item : Item , South Asian Women and Psychotherapy: A Phenomenological Analysis(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-08-26) Senthilmurugan, Aranee; Audet, CristelleDespite being the largest racialized demographic in Canada, psychological service usage amongst South Asians is significantly lower than other groups. Lack of service usage may be tied to barriers to use or inequities in service provision. Underutilization of mental health services may be a particularly pressing issue for South Asian women, who are at greater risk of experiencing mood and anxiety disorders in comparison to men. Nonetheless, research examining South Asians' psychological service usage has been lacking. The current study aimed to qualitatively examine the lived experiences of South Asian women who have engaged with psychotherapy. The methodology of this study was guided by philosophical hermeneutic phenomenology. An intersectional theoretical lens was further employed to obtain a deeper understanding of how participants' intersecting identities shaped their lived experiences of psychotherapy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 participants across Canada to explore their experiences before, during, and after psychotherapy. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2012) six-step approach to thematic analysis. A total of 7 themes and 23 subthemes were identified. Themes included the following: a) barriers to psychotherapy, b) facilitators to psychotherapy, c) frustrations or missing elements, d) helpful elements, e) psychotherapy in the future, f) community context, and g) (not) talking psychotherapy. Results from this study provide insight into the clinical needs and overall mental health service (under)utilization of South Asian Canadian women. Implications for the delivery of culturally-responsive care are provided.Type d'Item : Item , Control and Care: The Inherent Antagonism in the Identity Transformation of Indigenous Women During Reintegration(Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2026-08-26) Bains, Jasmeen; Horn, KanataseThis thesis examines the identity transformation experience of formerly incarcerated Indigenous women during reintegration. Reintegration is a pivotal carceral stage for Indigenous women, as it represents constraints and opportunities in discovering personhood outside the confines of the prison. However, mainstream criminological literature tends to focus on Indigenous women's entry into prison, resulting in less attention being placed on their navigation of post-carceral life. To address this gap, I draw on archival data (i.e., government testimonies, oral histories, podcasts and memoirs) to provide an in-depth analysis of Indigenous women's reintegration experience through the lens of identity transformation. This thesis theorizes the space of reintegration in a nexus of antagonism between settler colonialism and Indigenous cultural resurgence. Within this framework, this project situates and explores how these two forces meet and collide upon Indigenous women's identity formation during reintegration. I argue that while settler colonial attempts of control manifest as Indigenous women navigate their sense of self during reintegration, it is kinship-based resurgence that has a more powerful role in supporting Indigenous women's identity transformation. Collectively, this thesis contributes to ongoing discussions in Indigenous scholarship that emphasize the need to highlight Indigenous women's resilience and agency in the face of settler colonial attempts at domination.