VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Engaging in the Politics of Contemporary City Planning: The Case of 629 Eastern Avenue, Toronto
Keywords: urban planning
neoliberal urbanism
creative class
gentrification

This research examines a contemporary planning case in Toronto where tensions between policy visions and planning practices contribute to our understanding of neoliberal urbanism. Media, policy and interview discourses contribute to developing the nexus between neoliberal urbanism, creative class theory and gentrification in the case of 629 Eastern Avenue. The amalgamation of Toronto’s municipalities in 1998 resulting from the “Common Sense Revolution”, and the ‘creative turn’ in the 2000s are identified as two key evolutionary stages in Toronto’s neoliberal urbanism. The City’s contradictory positions as “grassroots” organizers, market actors and market regulators reveals their interventionist role in this case. The analytical imperative presented by this case study to expose the contradictory and contingent nature of ‘actually existing neoliberalism’ (Brenner & Theodore, 2002) leads to challenging our very understanding of neoliberalism in the context of contemporary urban planning practices.
Site-specific Facilitation or Inhibition of Dopamine-reward by Viral Transfection of M5 Muscarinic Receptors in the Tegmentum of M5 Knockout Mice
Keywords: M5
muscarinic
knockout
VTA
RMTg
USV
HSV
DA

Knockdown of the M5 acetylcholine muscarinic receptor in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) reduces brain-stimulation reward sensitivity in rats. Knockout (KO) of the M5 receptor in mice reduces morphine-induced dopamine efflux, locomotion, conditionedplace- preference, and mating-induced 30-110 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). The GFP-labeled M5 receptor gene was transfected using a Herpes simplex virus either into the VTA or 0.2-0.7 mm posterior in the medial tegmentum (MT) of male M5 KO mice. HSV-M5-GFP transfection in VTA fully restored mating-induced USVs and augmented morphine-induced locomotion and stereotypy consistent with activation of DA neurons by M5 receptors. HSV-M5-GFP transfection sites in the MT inhibited USVs and morphine-induced locomotion presumably through inhibition of DA neurons. Putative transfection of M5 in GABA neurons of the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) or 5HT neurons of the median raphe (mR) may explain this inhibition. Therefore, HSV-M5- GFP transfection in the VTA enhances DA-mediated behaviours while MT transfections inhibits these behaviours.
Development of the Diabetes Complication Surveillance System (DCSS)
Keywords: Electronic Health Record
Healthcare
Diabetes Complication
Surveillance

Information technology [IT] that enables electronic access to patient health records has been widely recognized as a promising means to improve the quality of care for patients with chronic diseases, and reduce health care costs through better health information delivery and encouragement of self-management. IT applied to assist chronic disease management is inadequately studied in Canadian health care settings. This thesis describes the development and modest pilot implementation of an electronic tool, the Diabetes Complication Surveillance System [DCSS]. The DCSS was conceived as a self-monitoring tool that facilitates regular checks on conditions of diabetes patients, including acute and long-term complications. The DCSS is relatively unusual, as it facilitates glycemic control and also allows patients to address the long-term complications of diabetes. The development of the DCSS involved literature reviews and consultations with clinician experts. Questionnaire results from the pilot provided positive feedback.
Cross-substrate Advertisement: Building Overlay Networks for Heterogeneous Environments
Keywords: Network Architecture
Overlay Network
Heterogeneity
Self-organization
Addressing
Network Protocol

Self-organizing overlay networks have emerged as a powerful paradigm for providing network services. While most approaches assume that overlay networks are built over a single substrate network, generally, the Internet, this thesis addresses the construction of overlay networks over multiple substrate networks. We present the design, implementation and evaluation of Cross-Substrate Advertisement (CSA) mechanisms for overlay networks over multiple heterogeneous substrate networks. A key difficulty arises from the more complex address bindings, since a single logical identifier is bound to multiple substrate addresses. We present mechanisms for exchanging information on address bindings and evaluate their effectiveness. The CSA mechanisms have been implemented in the HyperCast overlay protocol architecture, and have been evaluated in measurement experiments on an Emulab testbed. The experiments show that our CSA methods are effective in disseminating address information in large networks and are robust in the presence of network disruptions.
FDTD Characterization of Antenna-channel Interactions via Macromodeling
Keywords: Electromagnetics
FDTD method
Antenna macromodels
Reciprocity theorem

Modeling of radio wave propagation is indispensable for the design and analysis of wireless communication systems. The use of the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method for wireless channel modeling has gained significant popularity due its ability to extract wideband responses from a single simulation. FDTD-based techniques, despite providing accurate channel characterizations, have often employed point sources in their studies, mainly due to the large amounts of resources required for modeling fine geometrical details or features inherent in antennas into a discrete spatial domain. The underlying influences of the antenna on wave propagation have thus been disregarded. This work presents a possible approach for the efficient space-time analysis of antennas by deducing FDTD-compatible macromodels that completely encapsulate the electromagnetic behaviour of antennas and then incorporating them into a standard FDTD formulation for modeling their interactions with a general environment.
Electromagnetic Characterization of Cemented Paste Backfill in the Field and Laboratory
Keywords: Cemented Paste Backfill
electromagnetic waves
dielectric permittivity
electrical conductivity
capacitance probes
ECH2O-TE

Cemented Paste Backfill (CPB) is a relatively new backfilling technology for which a better understanding of binder hydration is required. This research uses electromagnetic (EM) wave-based techniques to non-destructively study a CPB consisting of tailings, sand, process water and binder (90% blast-furnace slag; 10% Portland cement). EM experiments were performed using a broadband network analyzer (20 MHz to 1.3 GHz) in the lab and capacitance probes (70 MHz) in the lab and field. Results showed that the EM properties are sensitive to curing time, operating frequency and specimen composition including binder content. The volumetric water content interpreted from dielectric permittivity varied little with curing. Temporal variations in electrical conductivity reflected the different stages of hydration. Laboratory results aided interpretation of field data and showed that a reduction in binder content from 4.5% to 2.2% delays setting of CPB from 0.5 days to over 2 days, which has important implications for mine design.
Information in the Home Office: An Ethnographic Study of Space, Content, Management, and Use
Keywords: ethnography
information science
home office
information management
information use
information seeking

Many Library and Information Science (LIS) scholars have long articulated the importance of physical and social settings—the environment—when examining how individuals acquire, store, organize, maintain, dispose of, and use information in one of their home or work lives. Yet, few have raised the question of how these information practices are altered and affected in home office spaces, fused living and working environments that lie at the intersection of the personal and the professional. This thesis resulted from an exploratory, ethnographic research study centred upon describing and analyzing the habits of information management and information use that characterize home office settings—specifically, professional home offices that each serve as their user’s only workplace. It argues that the professional home office differs from both traditional professional offices in corporate or institutional settings and from personal home offices used for non-professional tasks and pursuits. The professional home offices of four printing company account managers provided the field from which data was gathered, collected by way of guided tours, diagramming, photography, interviews, and observation. Findings suggest that information practices in professional home offices are a continual negotiation between the two spheres of household and organization, but that this will not necessarily imply a compromise of one for the other.
Activation of Chloride Channels with the Anti-parasitic Agent Ivermectin Induces Membrane Hyperpolarization and Cell Death in Leukemia Cells
Keywords: Leukemia
Ivermectin

FDA-approved drugs with previously unrecognized anti-cancer activity could be rapidly repurposed for this new indication. We compiled a library of such off-patent drugs to screen four leukemia cell lines and identified the anti-parasitic agent ivermectin that induced cell death at low micromolar concentrations. In cell death and clonogenic growth assays, low micromolar concentration of ivermectin significantly reduced viability of leukemia cell lines and patient samples compared to normal peripheral blood stem cells. In xenograft mouse models of leukemia, ivermectin decreased tumor volume and weight by up to 72% when compared to control without observable toxicity at pharmacologically achievable dosage. In this study, we further demonstrate that ivermectin activates chloride channels in leukemia cells leading to membrane hyperpolarization and increased reactive oxygen species generation. In addition, it demonstrated synergistic interaction when used in combination with Daunorubicin and Cytarabine. Therefore, this study highlights a potential new therapeutic strategy in repurposing ivermectin for the treatment of AML.
An Integrated Framework for Coupling Traffic and Wireless Network Simulations
Keywords: Intelligent Transportation
Vehicular networks
Simulation
wireless communication

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) include a wide range of applications that aim to use state-of-the-art communication and information technologies to enhance and control the flow of traffic. The ability to communicate with cars while travelling on the road is crucial to the success of these systems and thus requires careful studying. This research aims to study the feasibility of deploying wireless communication networks that are capable of collecting data from cars as well as providing them with information about the current traffic situation. We present a platform that integrates a microscopic traffic simulation, Paramics, and a communication network simulator, Omnet++. The integration of both simulators is a key solution to several research problems both on the communications side and on the transportation side. The combined simulator will allow designing and testing ITS Applications, which rely on communication between vehicles, before they are implemented on the streets.
The Design Of Compact Planar Antennas For Laptop Applications Based On Metamaterial Concepts
Keywords: Antennas
Metamaterials

Two laptop antennas are presented using two different designs based on metamaterials. The first design consists of planar monopole loaded with an electric-LC resonator (ELC). This novel topology allows for the realization of a multi-band antenna by using the ELC to add multiple resonances. This structure is analyzed using full-wave simulations. A circuit model is also developed to gain further understanding. This technique is then used to design a Wi-Fi antenna. The second design uses a modified double-tuned matching network to create a single-band match for a planar monopole antenna. The matching network is implemented using a complementary-split-ring-resonator (CSRR). The design is once again analyzed using full-wave simulations and a circuit model is also developed. This technique is then applied to design a WiMax antenna. Both the Wi-Fi and WiMax antennas are fabricated and show good agreement between the simulated and measured results.
Analysis and Design of W-Band Phase Shifters
Keywords: phase shifters

This thesis describes 80−94GHz and 70−77GHz interpolating phase shifters and the corresponding transmitter and receiver ICs, fabricated in 65-nm CMOS and SiGe BiCMOS technologies, respectively. Lumped inductors and transformers are employed to realize small-form factor 90 degree hybrids as needed in high density phased arrays. The CMOS transmitter exhibits absolute phase and amplitude errors of 4 degrees and 4dB, respectively, at 90GHz, when the phase is varied from 0 degrees to 360 degrees in steps of 22.5 degrees. The absolute phase error in the SiGe BiCMOS receiver is less than 5 degrees, with a maximum gain imbalance below 3dB at 74GHz. The peak gain and power consumption are 3.8dB and 142mW from 1.2V supply for the CMOS transmitter, and 17dB and 128mW from 1.5V and 2.5V supplies for the SiGe BiCMOS receiver.
Development and Utilization of Shear Mode Acoustic Wave Biosensors for the Detection of Ovarian Cancer
Keywords: analytical
chemistry

Recent proteome studies have discovered the presence of heat shock protein 10 (HSP-10) as an immunosuppressant in ovarian cancer patients. Due to the severity of ovarian cancer, the development of highly sensitive techniques for the early detection of this cancer is well in demand. In this manuscript, the thickness shear mode (TSM) acoustic wave biosensor will be used for the real-time and label-free detection of HSP-10 in buffer. The TSM sensitivity for HSP-10 is evaluated based on resonance frequency shifts generated by the biosensor. A nucleic acid aptamer, which is specifically engineered by in vitro selection to target HSP-10, is employed as the biosensing element of the biosensor. Alkylthiol-based self-assembling monolayers (SAMs), composed of various linker/diluent molar ratios, are used to immobilize the aptamer onto gold-coated piezoelectric quartz substrates. The TSM biosensing properties for avidin-biotin interactions are also evaluated in order to assess the biosensor response to HSP-10 protein-aptamer interaction.
Building a Bridge: A Case Study of Teaching for Transfer of Writing Skills among Japanese-English Bilingual Students
Keywords: biliteracy
transfer
Japanese-English bilinguals
writing

In this study ten Grade 2-3 Japanese-English bilingual students wrote compositions on the same topic in Japanese and English. The students received an intervention designed to help them improve their Japanese writing, and were asked again to write in English after that. The compositions in Japanese and English before and after the intervention were compared and examined in terms of fluency, lexical complexity, grammatical complexity and accuracy, and using holistic measures. The results showed that the fluency, lexical complexity and theme statement of the compositions were highly related across languages before the intervention. Also the intervention was observed to exert a positive effect on lexical complexity and the use of metaphor, but negatively on accuracy. All the patterns found in the quantitavie data were investigated qualitatively. The thesis concludes with practical suggestions for parents and educators of bilingual students about how to support them trnasfer their knowledge across langauges.
Social Capital and the Health Services Utilization of Immigrants in Canada
Keywords: Social capital
Health services utilization
Immigrants

Social capital can be defined as a resource found in the relationships between individuals and within the community that facilitates access to resources. Social capital may have an effect on health services utilization. Few studies have explored the impact of social capital on the propensity and frequency of general practitioner visits for immigrants. The relationship between social capital and health services use by immigrants was analyzed using a dataset consisting of socio-demographic data from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey linked to physician claims from the Ontario Health Insurance Program for fiscal year 2006. The results suggested that the community belonging aspect of individual social capital was associated with a decrease in the number of GP visits for immigrants. Thus, community services may substitute for formal health care for immigrants.
Population Differentiation, Historical Demography and Evolutionary Relationships Among Widespread Common Chaffinch Populations (Fringilla coelebs ssp.)
Keywords: coalescent theory
population structure
colonization
demographic history
Bayesian methods
incomplete lineage sorting
species trees

Widespread species that occupy continents and oceanic islands provide an excellent opportunity to study evolutionary forces responsible for population divergence. Here, I use multilocus coalescent based population genetic and phylogenetic methods to infer the evolutionary history of the common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), a widespread Palearctic passerine species. My results showed strong population structure between Atlantic islands. However, the two European subspecies can be considered one panmictic population based on gene flow estimates. My investigation of effects of sampling on concatenated and Bayesian estimation of species tree (BEST) methods demonstrated that concatenation is more sensitive to sampling than BEST. Furthermore, concatenation can provide incorrect evolutionary relationships with high confidence when sample size is small. In conclusion, my results suggest European ancestry for the common chaffinch and Atlantic islands appear to have been colonized sequentially from north to south via Azores.
Lateralization of Inter-implant Timing and Level Differences in Children Who Use Bilateral Cochlear Implants
Keywords: Auditory brainstem
Binaural processing

Cochlear implants provide hearing to people who are deaf, by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve. Children with a single cochlear implant suffer deficiencies inherent to unilateral hearing, including inability to locate sounds. A second cochlear implant may improve sound localization, which normally requires interpretation of differences in sound intensity and time of arrival between two ears. Currently, it is unknown whether these cues are available to children who were provided with a second cochlear implant after a period of using one implant alone. We asked whether such children could interpret inter-implant level and timing cues. Results indicated that children using two cochlear implants detected level cues but had difficulty interpreting timing cues. Further, children rarely reported that sounds were perceived to come from the middle. Children receiving bilateral cochlear implants sequentially do not process bilateral auditory cues normally but can use inter-implant level cues to make judgments about where sound is coming from.
Characterization of the E3 Ubiquitin ligase EEL-1 in DNA Damage-induced Germ Line Apoptosis in C. elegans
Keywords: C. elegans
apoptosis
E3 ubiquitin ligases

E3 ubiquitin ligases are important regulators of several cellular processes, including apoptosis. To determine the extent to which E3 ligases regulate DNA damage-induced apoptotic signalling in C. elegans, a high-throughput RNAi screen was performed in our laboratory. We identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase EEL-1 as a positive regulator of DNA damage-induced germ cell apoptosis. ARF-BP1, the mammalian EEL-1 ortholog, negatively regulates both the tumour suppressor protein p53 and the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. In C. elegans, we found that eel-1 regulates DNA damage-induced germ cell apoptosis by a mechanism downstream of cep-1/p53 and upstream of ced-9/mcl-1. My results show that unlike ARF-BP1, EEL-1 does not regulate CED-9/Mcl-1 protein levels, suggesting a novel mechanism of apoptosis regulation in C. elegans for this E3 ligase. Unexpectedly, eel-1 causes synthetic sterility in ced-9 loss-of-function mutants that is suppressed by ablation of the Apaf-1 orthologue ced-4, suggesting an additional role for these genes in oogenesis.
Describing and Assessing the Views of Transplant Professionals in Ontario about Directed Organ Donations from Deceased Donors: A Qualitative Study
Keywords: directed donation
organ donation
qualitative
bioethics

In Ontario, the organs of deceased donors are usually allocated to those recipients who are ranked highest on the province’s waiting list for transplant surgery. However, on rare occasion, a donor, or the donor’s family, will request that an organ be given to a designated recipient or designated group of recipients. The ethical acceptability of these so-called “directed donations” of organs from deceased donors is debated in the transplant literature. The purpose of this study was to elicit the views of a group of transplant professionals in Ontario on the question, “Under what circumstances, if any, should a donor or the donor’s family be allowed to choose the recipient of the organ?” Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 Ontario transplant professionals from a range of clinical disciplines. An analysis of these interviews revealed several practical and ethical considerations that the transplant professionals believed to be important in assessing the acceptability of directed donations.
From Opposition to Government: Continuities and Ruptures in Discourses and Practices in Local Democracy
Keywords: El Salvador
local democracy

This inquiry examines the ruptures and continuities in local democratic practices in opposition and in government. I conducted research in seven rural municipalities in Chalatenango, El Salvador where leaders of oppositional community-based organizations entered municipal politics 15 years ago. This new generation of municipal officials established forums for citizen participation that incorporate patterns of citizenship learning and participation developed in oppositional civil society. The democratic outcomes of these municipal spaces for citizen engagement are mixed, however: they improved the quality of citizen participation in municipal governance, but circumscribed autonomous forms of citizen participation. The influence of partisan political and institutional state interests are the principal factors that account for this outcome. At the same time, civil society and local government in Chalatenango exist in a relationship of mutual influence. This suggests that efforts to foster democratic citizen participation should complement support to institutional innovation with efforts to strengthen civil society.
Dietary Patterns and Incident Type 2 Diabetes mellitus in an Aboriginal Canadian Population
Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes
Aboriginal Canadian
Dietary Patterns
Factor Analysis
Reduced Rank Regression

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a growing concern worldwide, particularly among Aboriginal Canadians. Diet has been associated with diabetes risk, and dietary pattern analysis (DPA) provides a method in which whole dietary patterns may be explored in relation to disease. Factor analysis (FA) and reduced rank regression (RRR) of data from the Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project identified patterns associated with incident T2DM at follow-up. A RRR-derived pattern characterized by tea, hot cereal, and peas, and low intake of high-sugar foods and beef was positively associated with diabetes; however, the relationship was attenuated with adjustment for age and other covariates. A FA-derived pattern characterized by processed foods was positively associated with incident T2DM in a multivariate model (OR=1.38; CIs: 1.02, 1.86 per unit), suggesting intake of processed foods may predict T2DM risk.