eScholar

eScholar stores, preserves and disseminates digital copies of the research and scholarly output of eScholar faculty, researchers and students. These can include the following items:

  • Monographs
  • Pre- and post-prints of academic journal articles
  • Theses and dissertations
  • Major projects and papers
  • Reports/working papers and conference proceedings

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 9

Recent Submissions

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    State of the health system: an exploration of the patients first act and recent outcomes
    (2019-08-01) Sleeman, Anne; Lemonde, Manon
    There is evidence that integrated healthcare systems are considered a solution to the challenge of maintaining access and integrity in healthcare. This is important to uphold the Canada Health Act (1982) principles of universality and accessibility. Furthermore, strong primary care services are the foundation for a high-performing healthcare system and Ontario has focused on improving primary care delivery for many years, through various means. Bill 41, the Patients First Act, was recently legislated in 2016 to promote the integration of primary care services in Ontario, as well as home care and public health, all under the mandate of the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). In order to transform and improve our healthcare system, we must reflect on past outcomes of healthcare reform that led to the enactment of Bill 41. It is also important to understand the consequences of any legislation and policy direction in healthcare, as well as its effect on all key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, patients, services and institutions. Without adequate buy-in and support for new policies, change management will be tumultuous and limit the improvements that are intended to enhance service accessibility for patients. This Major Research Paper will explore the proposed benefits and actual challenges of adopting Bill 41. Furthermore, the paper presents a historical review of primary care reforms; a critical analysis of policy implementation challenges; and discussion of controversial responses to new healthcare legislation in the media, with specific consideration for the recent shift in government power.
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    Neural mechanisms in processing of emotion in real and virtual faces using functional-near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
    (2025-08-01) Rapanan, Dylan; Livingstone, Steven; Stojanoski, Bobby
    As avatars permeate social media, gaming, and telecommunications, understanding how the brain reads emotions from virtual faces is increasingly important. We recorded functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data from adults viewing real photographs and matched computer-generated faces expressing Anger, Disgust, Fear, Joy, Sadness, Surprise, or Neutral (control). General-linear-model mapping revealed higher activation in virtual faces in the left occipital region, and higher activation in Neutral and Surprise compared to the other emotions in parietal and occipital regions. Functional-connectivity analysis revealed higher connectivity in real faces across the brain, and higher connectivity across the brain in Anger and Fear compared to the other emotions. Collectively, the results demonstrate differences in activation in occipital areas, and differential processing of face and emotion types across the whole brain. These neural signatures provide quantitative targets for refining the realism and emotional efficacy of digital characters in virtual and augmented environments.
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    An autoethnography of double consciousness and educational exclusion: Black womanhood, cultural erasure, and the search for belonging
    (2025-08-01) Scott, Nickiesha; Eamer, Allyson
    This autoethnography explores my experience as a Black woman navigating the Canadian education system from childhood to my current educator role. Grounded in critical race theory and the concept of double consciousness, the study examines how race, gender and class interest shape identity, belonging and academic possibility. Through personal narrative and scholarly engagement, I reflect on the internalized silences, shifting identities, and systemic inequalities that shaped my sense of self across educational spaces. While the educational trajectories of both my mother and daughter provide necessary context, this autoethnography centers my journey, illustrating how structural barriers, cultural erasure, and misrecognition defined my education and early academic career. My daughter’s experiences within today’s education system, including a health crisis nearly a decade ago, even more effectively illustrate how institutional practices continue to neglect the nuances of Black student life. Moreover, these experiences highlight an urgency for intersectional and humanizing approaches to student support. Through the interconnectedness of memory, critical self-awareness, and theory, this paper challenges the myth of meritocracy and calls for a more relational, humanizing, and responsible understanding of educational equity.
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    Quantification and analysis of second balls in soccer
    (2025-09-01) Sears, Jackson; Hung, Patrick; Tashiro, Jayshiro
    In soccer, second balls are crucial to control possession and create attacking chances, but have remained largely unexplored. In this thesis, a mathematical framework is created to identify, classify, and extract second balls from data. Building on this foundation, the novel Expected Second Ball Value (xSBV) model uses machine learning and Markov chains to estimate both the probability of winning a second ball and the likelihood that the following possession leads to a goal. Predictive models achieved a top-3 accuracy of 60% for second ball location and an ROC-AUC score of 0.79 for predicting the winning team. The key results highlighted specific areas to target for higher success rates and produced a ranking of players based on their second-ball winning ability. This thesis extends existing literature for second ball analysis, offering valuable applications for player evaluation and tactical decision-making.
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    Exploring the prevalence and factors associated with pain-related disabilities among Indigenous peoples in Canada: a scoping review and cross-sectional study of the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey
    (2025-07-01) DeSouza, Astrid; Côté, Pierre
    Pain-related disabilities (PRDs) are among the most commonly reported disabilities in Canada, yet little is known about their impact among Indigenous populations. The aim of my thesis was to determine the prevalence of PRDs and explore associated factors among Indigenous peoples in Canada. My thesis was guided by Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing) and conducted in partnership with an Indigenous Advisory Committee that I put together to govern and support this work. I first conducted a scoping review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature. Of 5,902 peer-reviewed citations and 49 grey literature sources screened, two met the inclusion criteria: one epidemiological study describing PRD prevalence among First Nations people living off-reserve, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM), and one qualitative study exploring pain-related limitations in functioning. This demonstrated a significant gap in the literature. To address this, I analyzed the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) to estimate PRD prevalence and identify associated factors among FNIM aged 15 years and older. PRDs were defined as pain-related activity limitations lasting ≥6 months. The sample included 9,115 First Nations people living off-reserve, 8,499 Métis, and 2,972 Inuit. I used person-level and bootstrap weights and applied modified Poisson regression with robust variance, guided by Indigenous-specific frameworks. PRDs were reported by 22.1% of First Nations people living off-reserve, 20.4% of Métis, and 11.1% of Inuit. Prevalence was higher among females, older age groups, and those with multiple co-existing disabilities. For First Nations and Métis peoples, prevalence was similar across geographic regions. Among Inuit, those living outside Inuit Nunangat reported higher PRD levels. Demographic, socioeconomic, health, historical, and cultural factors were associated with PRDs in each group. My thesis highlights the complex and multidimensional nature of PRDs among Indigenous peoples in Canada. Addressing these disabilities requires a holistic approach that considers the impacts of colonialism, social inequities and cultural disconnection. Limitations include possible differences between survey participants and non-participants, and the unknown validity and reliability of many APS variables, leading to potential misclassification bias. Future Indigenous-led research should be guided by Indigenous priorities, including qualitative studies exploring lived experiences of PRDs, and how culture, language, and social conditions influence well-being.