VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The Role of EphB2 Receptors in the Development of Morphine Tolerance
Keywords: Eph receptor
Morphine
Mu opioid receptor

Recently we have begun to investigate a novel role of EphB receptors in opiate-dependant analgesia. EphB2-β-galactosidase knockins demonstrate that EphB2 is persistently expressed within a number of neural pathways involved in MOR-mediated nociception in vivo and that EphB2 colocalizes with markers of the MOR at the cellular level in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. Despite demonstrating wild-type levels of sensory and motor activity, EphB2 null mice exhibit a significantly altered analgesic response to repeated (but not naive) opiate exposure compared to controls. Investigation of EphB2 null mice and wild type animals revealed no differences in MOR protein levels or affinity. Analysis of this opiate-mediated tolerance suggests that associative phenomena play a substantial role in mediating the analgesic effects observed, possibly due to defeciencies in CA1-mediated learning. Therefore, loss of EphB2 may diminish context-dependent learning and that such learning plays a substantial role in regulating morphine-dependent tolerance.
CREB Induces Structural Changes in LA Neurons making them more Advantageous for Inclusion into the Fear Memory Trace
Keywords: Transcription factor
Dendritic spines
Fear memory

The current study aimed to determine the selective advantage of lateral amygdala (LA) neurons overexpressing the transcription factor CREB that enables their preferential incorporation into the fear memory trace. I hypothesized that overexpression of CREB drives the formation of dendritic spines, potentially providing these neurons with greater connectivity to sensory inputs at the time of learning. Using viral-mediated gene transfer, CREB tagged with GFP, or GFP as a control, was overexpressed in the LA of wild-type mice. Spine number and morphology were compared in homecage mice at the time when mice are normally trained in fear conditioning. Spine density was increased in neurons with CREB vector compared to neurons with GFP vector whereas spine head diameter and length was not different. Therefore, LA neurons overexpressing CREB have increased spine number at the time of learning, potentially providing these neurons with a selective advantage for incorporation into the fear memory trace.
Bad Behaviour: The Cultural Production of Addiction and the Psychologization of Everyday Life
Keywords: addiction
phenomenology
disability studies
feminist
experience
intersubjectivity
cultural production
psychologization
orientation
pain
queer
interpretive sociology

This thesis explores the cultural production of addiction and the psychologization of everyday life. Through analyses of ubiquitous addiction literature, as well as ordinary, everyday encounters, I examine how we make meaning of addiction, thus culturally constituting the addict. I explore my situated-ness in relation to addiction, which in turn helps me to think through how I am oriented toward addiction. Through an analysis of a specific account of an intersubjective experience of addiction, I examine how experiences of addiction are made between us. This thesis also explores the relationship between substance use and harm and the role the perceived “warnings signs” of addiction play in how we recognize addiction. Using a phenomenologically informed method of social inquiry, I question what the psychologization of everyday life, or our (over) use of psychology, means for our engagement with others.
VEGF in the Placenta and Maternal Circulation and Organs during Pregnancy in Mice
Keywords: VEGF
placenta

Whether vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) plays an augmented role during pregnancy is unknown. In this thesis expression of VEGF in the placenta, maternal circulation and organs in mice was examined using qRT-PCR, LacZ expression, and/or ELISAs. Normal pregnancies and pregnancies with transgenic conceptuses that over-express VEGF in the placenta were examined. In normal pregnancies, VEGF120/164 levels in the ovary increased in parallel with that of the maternal circulation. In pregnancies where the placenta over-expressed VEGF, maternal circulating VEGF120/164 levels decreased and so did levels in the maternal ovary. Surprisingly, VEGF protein levels (per mg of total protein) decreased in the growing, highly vascular placenta during pregnancy. In conclusion this thesis provides evidence for an important ovarian source of maternal circulating VEGF120/164 during pregnancy.
Towards Automated Recognition of Human Emotions using EEG
Keywords: Emotion Recognition
EEG

Emotion states greatly influence many areas in our daily lives, such as: learning, decision making and interaction with others. Therefore, the ability to detect and recognize one’s emotional states is essential in intelligence Human Machine Interaction (HMI). In this thesis, a pattern classification framework was developed to sense and communicate emo- tion changes expressed by the Central Nervous System (CNS) through the use of EEG signals. More specifically, an EEG-based subject-dependent affect recognition system was developed to quantitatively measure and categorize three affect states: Positively excited, neutral and negatively excited. Several existing feature extraction algorithms and classifiers were researched, analyzed and evaluated through a series of classification simulations using a publicly available emotion-based EEG database. Simulation results were presented followed by an interpretation discussion. The findings in this thesis can be useful for the design of affect sensitive applications such as augmented means of communication for severely disabled people that cannot directly express their emotions. Furthermore, we have shown that with significantly reduced number of channels, classification rates maintained a level that is feasible for emotion recognition. Thus current HMI paradigms to integrate consumer electronics such as smart hand-held device with commercially available EEG headsets is promising and will significantly broaden the application cases.
Extracting Lipid and Carotenoids from Microalgae with Lecithin-linker Microemulsions
Keywords: microalgae
extraction
microemulsion
lipids

This study investigated the extraction of lipids and β-carotene from microalgae using microemulsions as an alternative to current solvents. Type I and type IV microemulsions composed of 4% lecithin, sorbitan monooleate, PEG-6-caprylic glycerides, and ethyl caprate were able extract lipids from lyophilized microalgae better than hexane and ethyl caprate. HPLC quantified the extracted β-carotene, with type IV microemulsions extracting the most β-carotene at 0.137±0.074% (w/w) of the total microalgae biomass after an hour. The growth recovery of the microalgae after extraction was observed over 2 weeks. Variability in the data prevented definite conclusions about the ability of algae to grow after extraction. The type IV extractions consistently showed some signs of survival. After two weeks, a pale-green colour was observed in the 15min and 1h extractions. This study showed that microemulsions can successfully extract lipids from microalgae; future work would apply microemulsion formulations to live algal cells for in-situ extraction.
Impacts of Driving Patterns on Well-to-wheel Performance of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Keywords: light duty vehicles
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
life cycle assessment
well-to-wheel
energy
petroleum
greenhouse gas emissions
electricity generation
driving patterns
driving conditions
driving cycles
travel demand modeling
Transportation Tomorrow Survey
Ontario
Greater Toronto Area
Emme
CALMOB6
Autonomie
GREET

The well-to-wheel (WTW) environmental performance of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is sensitive to driving patterns, which vary within and across regions. This thesis develops and applies a novel approach for estimating specific regional driving patterns. The approach employs a macroscopic traffic assignment model linked with a vehicle motion model to construct driving cycles, which is done for a wide range of driving patterns. For each driving cycle, the tank-to-wheel energy use of two PHEVs and comparable non-plug-in alternatives is estimated. These estimates are then employed within a WTW analysis to investigate implications of driving patterns on the energy use and greenhouse gas emission of PHEVs, and the WTW performance of PHEVs relative to non-plug-in alternatives for various electricity generation scenarios. The results of the WTW analysis demonstrate that driving patterns and the electricity generation supply interact to substantially impact the WTW performance of PHEVs.
Development of a Novel Pck-1: eGFP Reporter Zebrafish Line for the Discovery and Evaluation of Potential Anti-Diabetic Drugs
Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus
gluconeogenesis
PEPCK
Pck-1
zebrafish
drug discovery
transgenics
reporter line
high throughput screening
transposon
gene regulation
novel drugs
drug screen
microinjection
deletional analysis
physiology

Overexpression of Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase - cytosolic (PEPCK, encoded by Pck-1 gene) has been found to be associated with the prevalence of hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. The Pck-1 enzyme catalyzes the rate limiting step in endogenous glucose production. The aims of this study are to develop a Pck-1:eGFP reporter zebrafish and validate it as a potential tool for the screening of novel anti-diabetic compounds. 3.6 kb zebrafish Pck-1 promoter fragment was cloned and a Pck-1:eGFP expression vector was constructed. After DNA microinjection, we generated Pck-1:eGFP reporter zebrafish with strong eGFP expression in developing liver. Validation studies confirmed that Pck-1:eGFP zebrafish embryos responded to treatment of glucose, cAMP and dexamethasone, metformin and rosiglitazone similarly to that of humans. This novel Pck-1:eGFP reporter fish line can serve as a tool for the screening and development of novel anti-diabetic drugs that may have potential in the treatment of T2DM.
Determination of Protein Needs Using Nitrogen Balance in Infants Immediately Post Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery
Keywords: nitrogen balance
infants

Background: The amount of parenteral protein to produce nitrogen balance in infants diagnosed with severe heart defects undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery was investigated. Methods: Infants born at ≥36 weeks and ≤ 12 months of age were randomized to one of three parenteral protein intakes, the control group received 1.5 g/kg/d and intervention groups received either, 2.2 or 3.0 g/kg/d of protein, respectively. Timed 24 hour urine collections were obtained for three consecutive days following surgery. Total urinary nitrogen was measured through Kjeldahl analysis. Results: A significant difference was demonstrated between the lowest protein intake level of 1.5 g/kg/d and both 2.2 g/kg/d (p ≤ 0.03) and 3.0 g/kg/d (p ≤ 0.001), on study day 1. Nitrogen balance results were 4.0 ± 52.9 (1.5 g/kg/d), 97.0 ± 96.2 (2.2 g/kg/d) and 149.7 ± 90.9 (3.0 g/kg/d). Conclusion: Protein delivery of 1.5 g/kg/d was insufficient to produce nitrogen balance on post-operative day 1.
Influences of Confluences on Reach Scale Morphology of Southern Ontario Stream Channels
Keywords: Stream Channel Morphology
Channel Confluences

Downstream adjustment in stream channel morphology is examined in the context of stream channel confluences. Stream channel confluences represent areas of point specific increases in discharge, flow energy and potential erosion in a river system which will in turn affect the post-confluence downstream morphology. Analysis of 12 confluence junctions from southern Ontario streams, constituting 36 channel reaches in total, show an internally consistent hydraulic geometry relationship but with specific controls on channel morphology related to boundary conditions. Predictions of mainstem morphologies is possible using tributary attributes but reach specific channel confinement and material type add significant influence.
Proposed Strategies for Incident Information Flow, Organizational Learning, and Incident-driven Quality Improvement in Health Care
Keywords: incident reporting
incident learning
risk management
quality assurance
process improvement
Rasmussen
information flow
incident
organizational learning
quality improvement
patient safety
Rasmussen framework
preventable errors
focus group
in-depth interview
thematic analysis
health care
aviation
nuclear power
system design
closed-loop communication

Every year, tens of thousands of patients in North America die from preventable errors. Incident learning can decrease this number, but is not currently reaching its full potential in health care. The goal of this research was to propose strategies to effectively report and learn from incidents to drive quality improvement. A detailed literature review, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis were used to identify potential process improvement strategies from aviation and nuclear power and assess these strategies for feasibility and desirability in health care. This work was guided by World Health Organization recommendations and Rasmussen’s risk management framework. An extensive list of strategies to address existing shortcomings was ultimately proposed for consideration in health care. These strategies can serve as guidelines to proactively improve incident learning processes. This should help create more effective systems and in turn, improve patient safety.
Role of Patched-1 Intracellular Domains in Canonical and Non-Canonical Hedgehog Signalling Events
Keywords: Hedgehog signalling
Molecular Biology

Patched-1 (Ptch1) is the primary receptor for Hedgehog (Hh) ligands and mediates both canonical and non-canonical Hh signalling. Previously, our lab identified that mice possessing a Ptch1 C-terminal truncation display blocked mammary gland development at puberty that is overcome by overexpression of activated c-src. Testing the hypothesis that this involves a direct interaction between Ptch1 and c-src, we identified through co-immunoprecipitation that Ptch1 and c-src associate in an Hh-dependent manner, and that the Ptch1 C-terminus regulates activation of c-src in response to Hh ligand. Since the effects of Ptch1 intracellular domain deletions on canonical Hh signalling are ill-defined, we assayed this through luciferase reporter assays and qRT-PCR. Transient assays revealed that the Ptch1 middle intracellular loop is required for response to ligand, while qRT-PCR from primary cells showed that C-terminal truncation impairs canonical Ptch1 function. Together, this indicates that the intracellular domains of Ptch1 mediate distinct canonical and non-canonical functions.
A Microsimulated Industrial and Occupation-based Labour Market Model for Use in the Integrated Land Use, Transportation, Environment (ILUTE) Modelling System
Keywords: Labour Market
Microsimulation
ILUTE
Model

Urban microsimulators have been increasingly used to forecast land use, environmental and transportation conditions in cities and are a major tool for stakeholders to analyze the effects of urban policy. Although demographic and residential land use models have been well developed for the majority of these systems, labour market conditions and the forecasting of future jobs have at best been limited to high-level exogenous processes. This thesis aims to develop and implement a truly endogenous job supply and job matching model for use with the Integrated Land Use, Transportation, Environment (ILUTE) modelling system. Jobs within the system are tracked individually at both the occupational and industrial level, and matching occurs within an open market framework in an effort to simulate the true macroeconomic conditions of the real world.
Skilled Worker Selection and the Flawed Lawmaking Process
Keywords: Immigration

While Canadian immigration law has generally evolved incrementally, the law and policy around skilled immigrant selection has undergone generational shifts. The 1960s and 1970s saw the implementation of a human capital model, whereby immigrants were selected based on long-term adaptability to the labour market. This shift was accompanied by a broad national discussion on immigration. In the past decade, Canada has seen another generational shift away from the human capital model towards an employment-based model, where immigrants are chosen based on immediate employment prospects. The consequences of this shift are profound for our economy and society, but this change has not been accompanied by meaningful consultation or debate. Even more problematic has been the use of various lawmaking tools to limit debate and avoid judicial scrutiny. In contrasting recent changes and the accompanying lawmaking processes with the previous changes, this paper argues for a more comprehensive national conversation on immigration.
Developing and Validating Prognostic Scores for Patients with Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Keywords: Stroke
Computer Tomography

Objective: To develop a score for hematoma expansion prediction, identify predictors of outcome, and validated existing prognostic scores in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: Data were obtained from a prospective multicenter ICH cohort. Patients were evaluated with computed tomography (CT) angiography, 24-hour CT, and 3-month outcome. Multivariable regression identified predictors of 24-hour expansion and 3-month outcome and a score was developed for expansion prediction. Existing scores were evaluated in the dataset. Results: The PREDICT Hematoma Expansion Score predicts 24-hour expansion based on number of spots, stroke severity, time from onset, and coagulopathy (c-statistic: 0.803). Prediction was improved over spot sign presence (p<0.001) and clinical variables alone (p=0.002). Existing scores for hematoma expansion and clinical outcome demonstrated reduced discrimination compared with the original reports. Conclusion: The PREDICT Hematoma Expansion Score may aid patient selection for future interventions aimed at reducing expansion however external validation is required. Existing scores demonstrated reduced discrimination.
Investigation of the Genetic Factors Associated with Attention/deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Reading Disability (RD) and Language Ability
Keywords: ADHD
RD
language
children
psychiatric

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with language disorders including reading disabilities (RD) and language impairment (LI). Results from recent genetic studies have implicated Cadherin 13 (CDH13) and Contactin Associated Protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) as ADHD and LI candidate genes, respectively. Studies have also indicated genomic regions of overlap between ADHD and reading disability (RD), suggesting a shared genetic etiology for both disorders. In the present study, we conducted a family based association analysis to investigate whether CDH13 and CNTNAP2 genes are associated with ADHD, RD and language ability in ADHD and RD samples. Although we found several trends for associations between CDH13, CNTNAP2 and ADHD and language measures, none would remain significant following corrections for multiple tests. However, the study represents the first time CDH13 and CNTNAP2 have been studied for a relationship with language in ADHD/RD samples. Further studies employing larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm our findings.
Phonon Properties in Superlattices
Keywords: Phonons
Superlattices
Nanoscale Energy Transport
Molecular dynamics
Lattice dynamics

We use normal mode decomposition to obtain phonon properties from quasi-harmonic lattice dynamics calculations and classical molecular dynamics simulations in unstrained Lennard-Jones argon superlattices with perfect and mixed interfaces. Debye scaling of phonon lifetimes at low frequencies in both perfect and mixed superlattices and Rayleigh scaling for intermediate frequencies in mixed superlattices is observed. For short period mixed superlattices, lifetimes below the Ioffe-Regel limit are observed. The relaxation-time approximation of the Boltzmann transport equation is used to predict cross-plane and in-plane thermal conductivity. We find that using a dispersion relation which includes the secondary periodicity is required to predict thermal conductivity. The assumption of perturbative disorder, where Tamura elastic mass defect scattering theory can be applied, was found to be valid for predicting cross-plane thermal conductivities but not in-plane thermal conductivities in mixed superlattices.
The Identification of Novel Proteins that Interact with the GLP-1 Receptor and Restrain its Activity
Keywords: GLP-1 Receptor
Protein Interactions

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to interact with an array of accessory proteins that modulate their function. I hypothesize that the GLP-1R, a B-class GPCR, similarly has interacting proteins that regulate its signaling. An unliganded human GLP-1R was screened using a membrane-based split ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid (MYTH) assay and a human fetal brain cDNA prey library to reveal 38 novel interactor proteins. These interactions were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. When co-expressed with the GLP-1R in cell lines, 15 interactors significantly attenuated GLP-1-induced cAMP accumulation. Interestingly, SiRNA-mediated knock down of three selected novel interactors, SLC15A4, APLP1 and AP2M1, significantly enhanced GLP-1-stimulated insulin secretion from the MIN6 beta cells. In conclusion, this present work generated a novel GLP-1R-protein interactome, identifying several interactors that suppress GLP-1R signaling; and the inhibition of these interactors may serve as a novel strategy to enhance GLP-1R activity.
UnityFS: A File System for the Unity Block Store
Keywords: Distributed File System
Cloud Computing
Computer Security

A large number of personal cloud storage systems have emerged in recent years, such as Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive etc. A common limitation of these system is that the users have to trust the cloud provider not to be malicious. Now we have a Unity block store, which can solve the problem and provide a secure and durable cloud-based block store. However, the base Unity system does not have the concept of file on top of its block device, thus the concurrent operations to different files can cause false sharing problem. In this thesis, we propose UnityFS, a file system built on top of the base Unity system. We design and implement the file system that maintains a mapping between files and a group of data blocks, such that the whole Unity system can support concurrent file operations to different files from multiple user devices in the personal cloud.
Realtime HDR (High Dynamic Range) Image Processing For Digital Eye Glass Seeing Aid
Keywords: HDR
Digital Eye Glass

The work of this thesis is motivated by the bene t of real-time HDR image processing which helps constructing better seeing aid devices for day-to-day uses. The seeing aids with HDR can achieve dynamic range greater than human eyes to capture visuals under various light conditions. Further, it helps range sensing devices to read the light codes better. This requires realtime HDR image processing running at 24 FPS. In this thesis, we demonstrate implementation of several HDR image compositing and tone mapping methods in CUDA to achieve realtime performance. In addition, a new tone mapping method termed PPEM is introduced as a novel tone mapping method by adjusting per pixel exposure. Finally, we apply relevant HDR methods to range sensing devices for robust reading.