Research Repository

LU|ZONE|UL distributes and preserves the scholarly work of LU faculty. It is a space for faculty to support the dissemination of knowledge created at Laurentian.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) Repository This section preserves Master's theses and doctoral dissertations accepted at Laurentian University and is a mechanism for making this form of scholarly work widely accessible.

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Ancient Studies (Thorneloe University) 5
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Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Predicting serious diagnoses in vertigo patients using clinical data and machine learning techniques
(Laurentian University Library & Archives, 2025-03-06) Patel, Shrey Alpeshkumar; Dr. Kalpdrum Passi, Dr. Robert Ohle,
Vertigo is a condition that results in a sensation of rotating or dizziness, and can arise from one of the following causes – from inflammation of the inner ear to life-threatening conditions like brain stroke, brain tumor, etc. Therefore, Accurate and timely diagnosis are critical to effectively manage and treat patients, preventing potential complications. However, conventional diagnostic procedures depend basically on clinical orientation and may involve numerous tests, which can delay the process of identification of serious conditions. The development of machine learning in recent years provides potential methods for risk assessment in individual vertigo patients during the initial stages. Machine learning models can use extensive data and high-quality algorithms to detect tendencies and factors that can lead to severe diseases by analyzing patients’ symptoms, history, and test results. In their current form, these clinical models offer considerable benefits: they support experienced and skilled clinicians in making better decisions and addressing patients’ needs that require prompt attention. In order to build a robust risk prediction model for this study, we proposed and examined various machine learning models along with a combination of feature selection approaches. When analyzing the results of all considered models, such as boosting and ensemble methods, the best performance was observed by Logistic Regression. Combined with the correlation-based feature selection and splitting ratio of 75:15:10, this model yielded 97% sensitivity with data imbalance being maintained by the SMOTE method. The sensitivity of the model suggested in this study could contribute to upgrade the diagnostic abilities, reducing the load on health resources due to the minimization of ineffective tests, and spotlight the risky cases. This machine learning-driven approach holds the potential to transform the management of vertigo, improving patient outcomes and ensuring timely intervention for those with serious underlying conditions.
Access status: Open Access ,
Contributions in nearly non-diffracting beams' propagation
(Laurentian University Library & Archives, 2025-02-21) Haouas, Mouna; Dr. Brahim Chebbi
Due to their unique properties, non-diffracting beams, such as Bessel beams, are increasingly used in various biomedical, imaging, research, and industrial applications. In this thesis, I present designs for two types of optical systems that generate nearly non-diffracting beams. The first system produces a quasi-nondiffracting light sheet, while the second explores different methods for generating constant intensity, constant DOF, tunable range, Bessel beams. The motivations behind this work, potential applications of the developed systems, and a review of the relevant literature and background theory are discussed. The main proposed ideas to achieve these goals are also presented and analyzed. The research includes mathematical descriptions and numerical simulations of the developed systems. An experimental realization of the light sheet system is described, with the results presented and discussed. To generate the light sheet, we propose a setup comprising a laser, a telescope to expand and collimate the laser beam, a Powell lens to expand the beam in the spanwise direction, and a mask on a cylindrical lens. The mask, formed by a pair of double slits, works with the cylindrical lens to produce a thin, nearly non-diffracting light sheet. For generating constant intensity, constant DOF, tunable range, Bessel beams, we propose three optical systems. The first system consists of three refractive axicons: the first two axicons create a nearly constant-diameter annular beam, and the third, a logarithmic axicon, generates a nearly constant intensity segment of light. The tunability is achieved by adjusting the distance between the first two axicons. The second system employs a newly designed optical lens to transform an annular beam into a Bessel beam with a constant intensity, constant DOF, and tunable range. The third system involves placing a ring aperture in front of a logarithmic axicon. The tunability is achieved by varying the mean radius of the ring aperture.
Access status: Open Access ,
Experiences of Anishinaabe kweok (Anishinaabe momen) accessing health care and dreams for the future
(Laurentian University Library & Archives, 2025) O’Donnell, Ophelia; Dr. Levin
The experiences that Indigenous people have with health are impacted by their cultures and the consequences of colonization. The thesis project aims to communicate the experiences that Northern Anishinaabe kweok (Anishinaabe women) are having accessing health care, what health means to them and their dreams for the future of health. The study took place in Sudbury, Ontario. Through storytelling sessions, seven Northern Anishinaabe kweok shared their experiences. Rooted in an Anishinaabe paradigm, hermeneutic phenomenology and thematic analysis were used to understand the stories shared during the storytelling sessions. Storytellers described their conceptions of health, their experiences accessing health care, and their dreams for the future of health care. Experiences accessing health care were defined by interactions with health care providers, outcomes and the environment in which in the interactions took place. The conceptions of health described by the storytellers were influenced by the examples of health they had around them, such as observing their parents. Health was defined by cultural factors, including holism. The storytellers shared two major ways the health care system can be improved; how health care is approached and more education about culturally safe health care for providers and policy makers, as well as more education about the health and the health care system for Indigenous people and community members. The stories support the need to improve health care access and treatment for not only Anishinaabe kweok, but Indigenous people in general.
Access status: Open Access ,
The role of community development in addressing food insecurity
(Laurentian University Library & Archives, 2022-04-28) Josh, Drewitt; Dr. Sandra Hoy, Dr. Tanya Shute
This report examines the experience of my Advanced Practicum at the London Food Bank (LFB). Community development and food security are two concepts that will be discussed in detail throughout the duration of my report, and were a large focus of the advanced practicum setting. The London Food Bank is located in a low-income neighbourhood, and serves thousands of people who are experiencing poverty and food insecurity each month. Throughout my practicum, I was also able to understand how different social service organizations in London employed food security interventions for their clients who were vulnerable in terms of experiencing food insecurity. I engaged in community development work at the London Food Bank through helping lead a community garden project called Adopt a Plot/Plant a Row Grow A Row. An overall review of frameworks and theories relevant to community development social work practice addressing food insecurity will also be included. Throughout my advanced practicum, I developed an understanding of how community development can be used as a tool to address food insecurity. A review of literature surrounding food bank models, food security interventions and the ways in which policy can be used as a tool to alleviate food insecurity will also be included in this report. An unfortunate reality exists today even in developed nations such as Canada: many people lack access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. While they are not without critique, food banks certainly play a vital role in addressing food insecurity in Canada.
Access status: Open Access ,
Correlates of tapering initiation and success at an opioid agonist treatment program in Northern Ontario
(Laurentian University Library & Archives, 2023-08-10) LeBlanc, Matthew H.; Dr. Marion Marr, Dr. Diana Urajnik
Currently, there is limited research on the correlates of tapering initiation and success in opioid agonist treatment (OAT). This research is part of a community-based participatory research study conducted in collaboration with a First Nation to describe and identify the benefits and areas of improvement for a community-based OAT program in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. The study utilized retrospective chart review data for all active clients seeking treatment at the community-operated opioid replacement clinic, Naandwe Miikan, between May 2014 and December 2019. The correlates in this study were education level, age, gender, start drug, start dose in morphine equivalent dose (MED), and clients’ number of children. Standard binary logistic regression was used to model the binary variables taper initiation and taper success. Models demonstrated that taper initiation and success were influenced by start dose in MED and start drug, respectively. There were no significant findings related to the sociodemographic correlates. The results from this study have assisted in reducing the substantial gap in knowledge surrounding correlates of taper initiation and taper success in a remote Northern Ontario setting. Findings also identified electronic record limitations that impede robust evidence-based practice at the community level to track the added value of various strengths-based, cultural and community services on clients’ well-being and recovery. Lessons learned identify the need for data sharing agreements across health and mental health services in future research using patient chart data to investigate potential correlates of tapering initiation and success in opioid agonist treatment programs.