VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Psychometric Evaluation of the Patient Reported Outcomes of Fracture Healing Questionnaires for Children with Upper Extremity Fractures (PROOF-UE)
Keywords: Children's Fracture
Outcome Research
Patient priorities
Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM)
Psychometrics
Upper Extremity Fractures

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of a new patient reported outcome measure, the Patient Reported Outcomes of Fracture Healing questionnaires for children with upper extremity fractures (PROOF-UE).Method: Children with upper extremity fractures and their parents completed the child and parent versions of PROOF-UE questionnaires up to 4 time points during fracture healing until full recovery: early healing, intermediate healing, fully healed, and 1-2 weeks after fully healed. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity (known-groups and convergent validity), and responsiveness were evaluated. Results: The PROOF-UE showed acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC2,1: 0.54-0.84; ICC2,1: 0.66-0.98) and internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha: 0.76-0.90; 0.83-0.88) for parent and child versions, respectively. Fractures associated with neurologic or vascular injury or other complications scored significantly less than fractures with no complications. The PROOF-UE total and domain scores correlated as hypothesized with the QuickDASH and corresponding domain scores of the PODCI. The PROOF-UE was also found to be responsive to change (SRM: 0.32-1.4; 0.55-1.40 for parents and children’s questionnaires, respectively). Conclusion: The PROOF-UE is a promising outcome measure to evaluate children’s upper extremity fractures treatments.
The Outcomes of Endodontically Treated Teeth Restored with Custom-made Cast Post-and-core Restorations: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Keywords: Apical periodontitis
cohort study
post and core technique
root canal therapy
treatment outcome

Introduction: Custom-made cast post-and-core (CMCPC) restorations have long been used to restore structurally deficient endodontically treated teeth (ETT). However, the evidence regarding their impact on the outcomes of ETT is largely inconclusive. This study evaluated the long-term treatment outcome of ETT restored with CMCPC. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined the dental records of patients with CMCPC placed at a specialty private practice in Toronto, Canada, between 1999 and 2021. The proportion of ETT with complete periapical healing and those that survived were estimated, and prognostic factors were investigated using multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses, respectively (P<.05). Results: A total of 500 and 1000 teeth met periapical healing and survival criteria, respectively. The periapical healing rate was 88.8% and was associated with the presence of baseline periapical radiolucency [OR=0.1, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI):0.05–0.2; P<.001]. The survival, after a mean follow-up time of 68.9±54.07 months (range:0.5–251.9), was 87.9% and was associated with <75% of root length in bone [Hazard Ratio (HR) =2.6; 95%CI:1.0–6.6; P=.033], type and quality of final restoration [HR=2.09; 95%CI:1.1–3.9; P=.020; HR=2.3; 95%CI:1.2–4.5; P=.008, respectively], and the presence of periapical radiolucency at the latest recall (HR=3.2; 95%CI:1.7–6.3; P<.001). Conclusions: The outcome of ETT restored with CMCPC was assessed to be very good. CMCPC may be regarded as a viable restorative option for ETT with reduced coronal structure.
Clinical Evaluation of Adults Undergoing Elective Surgery Utilizing Intraoperative Incisional Wound Irrigation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Keywords: feasibility
randomized controlled trial
surgical site infection
wound irrigation

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSIs) occur in up to 20% of patients postoperatively. Intraoperative incisional wound irrigation may reduce SSIs; however, uncertainty remains in the type, volume, and method of irrigation to use. A feasibility study of irrigation with povidone-iodine versus saline versus no irrigation to reduce SSIs was conducted. Methods: Over six months, a multicentre 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to assess feasibility of: 1) accrual; 2) compliance with the intervention; 3) collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for quality of life and SSIs; and 4) the rate of SSIs. Results: Overall, 32.3 (standard deviation 6.9) participants were accrued monthly across three sites. Of 177 procedures, 170 (96%) received the correct intervention. At postoperative day 30, 81.5% of PROs were completed and SSIs were reported by 20 (14.3 % (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 8.5% - 20.1%)) of participants. Conclusion: A definitive RCT is feasible to conduct with modifications.
Autonomous Vehicles: How they can Transform Perceived Travel Times and Toronto’s Transportation Network in the Process
Keywords: Autonomous Vehicles
Mode Choice
Perceived Travel Time
Toronto
Transportation Demand
Travel Behavior

Since almost the introduction of the automobile itself, people have long fantasized about the possibility of a self-driving car, allowing its passengers to read, sleep, or whatever else they wanted to do. Until recently, it was just that- a fantasy. However, recent developments suggest that Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) may soon become a reality, potentially bringing a massive shift in how we perceive travel times. This thesis examines how AVs might impact our perceptions of travel time and the kinds of activities that this time would be used for via a Stated Preference (SP) survey conducted in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). In addition, this thesis aims to better understand the factors that may influence AV adoption under different ownership structures. The results provide planners and engineers with an idea of the potential effects of AVs on travel demand and inform policy to help navigate this future.
Investigating the Role of LRR-VIII-2 Receptor-like Kinase genes in Intra- and Inter-species Pollinations in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana
Compatible Pollination
Interspecies Pollination
Malectin
Pollination
Receptor-Like Kinases

Successful fertilization in flowering plants requires tightly controlled pollen-pistil interactions to promote compatible pollen and prevent interspecies hybridizations. In Arabidopsis, previous research has mainly focused on the later stages of compatible pollen tube growth and ovular reception in the pistil and the pre-zygotic interspecies barriers acting at this stage. Previously, we identified a group of Leucine-Rich Repeat (LRR) VIII-2 Receptor-Like Kinase (RLK) genes that function in the female reproductive tract to support compatible pollen. Here, I have shown that wildtype compatible pollen tubes deposit smaller callose plugs when growing through LRR-VIII-2 RLK mutant pistils from two different higher-order mutants. LRR-VIII-2 RLK mutants were also impaired in establishing an interspecies barrier against Capsella rubella pollen tubes. The stigma-specific expression of one member, RKF1, in the LRR-VIII-2 RLK septuple mutant was sufficient to rescue these mutant phenotypes. Thus, my research further defined the functions of these LRR-VIII-2 RLKs in supporting the earlier stages of compatible pollen-pistil interactions and blocking interspecies pollen.
Distinguishing between Adsorption and Biodegradation of MIB and Geosmin in Operational Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filters
Keywords: Adsorption
Biodegradation
Drinking water treatment
Granular activated carbon

Water treatment facilities commonly use granular activated carbon (GAC) filters to remove taste and odour (T&O) compounds, such as geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB). However, filter exhaustion is challenging to predict due to the seasonal nature of T&O events. Thus, a tool is needed to qualify performance. Therefore, the φ parameter of the pore surface diffusion model (PSDM) was calculated from parallel minicolumn data to determine filter performance. Here, the biodegradative and adsorptive φ were measured using parallel biologically active and suppressed minicolumns, thus, distinguishing their relative contribution to the removal rate. When evaluated near GAC full-scale empty bed contact times, the average removal efficiency of MIB and geosmin were 53 ± 30% and 80 ± 14%, respectively. Additionally, based on principal component analysis, the full-scale conditions at the time of GAC collection significantly impact φ.
Limiting S-Palmitoylation of Pro-Inflammatory Signals by Inhibiting Fatty Acid Synthase
Keywords: Fatty Acid Synthesis
IBD
Inflammation
Palmitoylation
Palmitoyltransferase
TVB

S-palmitoylation is the addition of an acyl-CoA to a cysteine residue of a protein via a thioester bond. The attachment of this hydrophobic moiety can impact the protein targeting, trafficking and protein function, and is often observed in the immune-regulatory system, including being required for NOD1/2 signal transduction and the MyD88-dependent TLR4 pathway. Dampening of S-palmitoylation in the immune system via inhibition of FASN-mediated de novo lipogenesis has been shown in vitro, however holds little translational use due to dangerous toxicity of these inhibitors. Here, I investigate the potential of new FASN-inhibiting TVB compounds to decrease inflammatory signalling. TVB-3166 decreased intracellular palmitoyl-CoA and reduced translocation of NOD1/2 to the PM in epithelial cells and was able to reduce NF-kB transcriptional activity and IL-1β and IL-6 secretion from macrophages. Thus, we believe TVB compounds, upon further investigation, could provide a therapeutically viable approach to modulating severe inflammation as seen in sepsis.
Experimental Study of Laterally Offset RHS X-Connections in Branch Axial Tension
Keywords: Hollow structural sections
Laterally Offset RHS X-Connections
Rectangular hollow sections
Steel structures
Truss connections
Welded joints

In all predominant design guides for truss-type welded Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) connections, the branch and chord member axes are assumed to lie in the same plane. To investigate the effect of laterally offset branch members on the strength and behaviour of welded RHS connections, 14 full-scale experiments (five full-width matched, four stepped, and five laterally offset) have been performed on cold-formed RHSto-RHS X-connections with quasi-static branch axial tension loading. A recent recommendation made for extending the validity range of full-width connection failure models to high-strength steel is re-evaluated, and resistance factors are proposed for design. Recommendations for the design of laterally offset connections subject to branch axial tension are also evaluated and resistance factors are proposed for design.
Black Speculative Fiction as a Pathway to Collective Responsibility
Keywords: Black Feminism
Disability Studies
Identity
Indigenous Feminism
Social Justice
Specualtive Fiction

Introduced by critical race scholar, Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1991, “intersectionality” has become a term used to untangle multiple identities such as race, ability, and gender to better understand “how systems of power work within and beyond identity claims alone" (Schalk, 2018, p. 8). This thesis investigates the social expectations that fall in an unbalanced way onto Black communities to be overly responsible for service, especially related to the pursuit of justice and liberation. Informed by a Black feminist disability framework (Bailey & Mobley, 2019), I explore how speculative fiction can disrupt these expectations. I turn to Rivers Solomon’s (2019) novella, The Deep, to gain insight on similar, but fictionalized accounts of the underseen impacts that effect the body and the mind. I further inquire what it might mean to introspect through sense, memory and feeling as a method to redistribute the responsibility to be of service as a collective responsibility.
Experimental Warming of Flower Temperatures and Influence on Pollinator Visitation
Keywords: Bogert Effect
Climate Change
Plant-pollinator interaction
Urban Heat Island Effect
Wild Bees

Climate change and the urban heat island effect are warming temperatures in cities, putting pollinators at risk as they increasingly experience temperatures close to or above their thermal tolerance range. I evaluated patterns in flower visitation in relation to temperature and hypothesized that an increase in floral temperature will result in decreased visitation. Using an in-situ temperature manipulation experiment, I experimentally heated flowers of three pollinator-dependent plant species in spring, summer, and late summer. Between paired plots of heated and control (i.e., unheated) plants, I recorded 617 plant visitations and painted 96 bees for a mark-recapture experiment. Pollinator visitation declined on heated flowers during the peak of summer when the temperature is hottest. Additionally, the number of blooms per plot increased pollinator visitation in all seasons. Knowledge gaps in our understanding of influences on microclimatic temperature and how this applies to quantifying temperature in field experiments are discussed.
Targeting the TIGIT/CD226/CD96 Signaling Axis using the IgV Domain of PVR
Keywords: Cancer
Immunotherapy
Inflammation

PVR (poliovirus receptor) functions as a ligand that signals through TIGIT and CD96 to induce suppression of T-cell and NK-cell responses and binds to CD226, resulting in a co-stimulatory signal. PVR and its immune-cell receptors have been implicated in several diseases including cancer and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, my thesis focused on engineering a soluble version of the PVR extracellular domain that could serve to modulate immune responses responsible for such diseases. We developed vdPVR-Fc by fusing the murine IgV binding region of PVR to the Fc-domain of human IgG1. vdPVR-Fc bound to recombinant forms of its receptors TIGIT, CD96 and CD226 with similar low nanomolar affinities. Additionally, vdPVR-Fc could suppress murine T-cell activity ex-vivo. Importantly, vdPVR-Fc suppressed inflammatory responses in-vivo by reducing disease severity in murine models of psoriasis and colitis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the minimal IgV domain of PVR is sufficient to dampen T-cell mediated immune responses.
Pooling Donations in Human Milk Banks using Machine Learning and Optimization
Keywords: Healthcare
Human Milk Banking
Machine Learning
Neonatal nutrition
Optimization
Predict-then-Optimize

Human milk is considered the ideal nutrition for preterm infants. Donor milk is collected, processed and distributed by milk banks. The macronutrient content of donor milk is critical to infant development but varies substantially between donations. To reduce this variance, milk banks pool multiple donations together to create a product. Approximately half of all North American milk banks do not have the resources to measure the macronutrient content of donations, which means pooling is done heuristically. For these milk banks, an approach is needed to optimize pooling decisions. We propose a data-driven framework combining machine learning and optimization, to predict macronutrient content of donations, then optimally combine them in pools. We rigorously simulate milk bank operations to evaluate our framework then conduct a year-long trial implementation comparing between our model to current practice. Pools created by our approach met macronutrient targets more often, demonstrating the value of a predict-optimize approach.
Investigating the Fate of Bio-based Plastics in Anaerobic Digestion
Keywords: anaerobic digestion
bioplastics
food packaging

The anaerobic digestibility of three bio-based after-market plastics used for food packaging applications was evaluated. These plastic samples were tested in a lab-scale solid-state digester, called Daisy, that was operated for 26 weeks. Daisy comprises 6 sequentially fed leach beds (~10 kg each) fed with a mixture of fibres and food waste, with each leach bed having a residence time of 6 weeks. The mass loss of polyhydroxyalkanoate straws, bamboo-fibre coffee cups, and polylactic acid clamshell containers was evaluated as a measure of anaerobic biodegradability. The PHA straws exhibited a mass loss of 55 % ± 17, the bamboo-fibre cups had a mass loss of 54% ± 15, and the PLA clamshell containers had no measurable mass loss. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted on samples of each bioplastic before and after digestion. These images revealed the formation of a biofilm and potentially the presence of methanogens on all bioplastic types.
Non-Invasive Tendon Release for Contractures using Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound: Feasibility, Monitoring and Assessment
Keywords: contracture
focused ultrasound
magnetic resonance imaging
non-invasive therapy

Contracture is the permanent tightening of muscle or tendon causing pain, deformity, and a restricted range of motion. Patients with contracture often undergo surgical tendon lengthening to improve their range of motion. This thesis investigated focused ultrasound (FUS) as a non-invasive treatment option for tendon lengthening. Porcine Achilles tendons were successfully released in vivo using a hybrid therapy of FUS cavitation and ablation, resulting in improvements in the range of motion of the ankle. Ex vivo experiments determined that passive cavitation detection can monitor inertial cavitation in tendon in real time, with sensitivity to histotripsy parameters. Finally, the effect of FUS on longitudinal tendon stiffness was quantified using ultrafast shear wave elastography. Results indicate that treating tendons with FUS causes a significant decrease in shear wave speed, and consequently in tendon stiffness. The thesis concludes with recommendations for future studies to advance the understanding of FUS tendon lengthening.
Self-Regulated Learning, Self-Assessment of Writing, and Writing Abilities at the Microstructure and the Macrostructure Level: The Effects of Gender and Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Keywords: ADHD
automated writing evaluation
gender
self-regulated learning
writing ability
writing self-assessment

Students with ADHD struggle with most aspects of writing (Graham et al., 2016). Furthermore, girls outperform boys on both reading and writing tasks (Reilly et al., 2018). This study investigated the relationship between self-regulated learning and writing ability at the microstructure and macrostructure level, and determine how this relationship is moderated by gender or diagnosis of ADHD. Results showed that ADHD students compared to non-ADHD had lower scores on both levels of writing. In addition, female students had higher scores on the two levels of writing than male students. Finally, no significant interactions were found between SRL and ADHD diagnosis. However, gender moderated the relationship between SRL and microstructure writing: Female students with high SRL scores were more likely to have high microstructure writing scores. These results underline the complexity of the writing process and emphasize the role of gender and diagnosis in students’ writing ability at different levels.
Geology and Origin of a Coastal Placer Chromite Deposit, Port au Port Bay, Western Newfoundland, Canada
Keywords: chromite
coastal evolution
glacial sedimentology
placer deposits
sedimentary facies

Detrital chromite (Cr) is currently accumulating in the modern wave-influenced and gravel-dominated shoreface environment of eastern Port au Port Bay, western Newfoundland. Chromite concentrations of up to 7485 ppm occur in modern cross-bedded shallow marine gravel and pebbly sand facies derived from a large late- and early postglacial fan delta complex undergoing rapid marine erosion. The fan delta fills a broad coastal embayment and was constructed during an early postglacial phase of rapid crustal rebound and low relative sea level that lasted until about 9,500 ybp. Since coastal outcrops of the fan delta have undergone rapid erosion and sediments in response to ongoing postglacial sea level rise outpacing the rate of crustal recovery, chromite-bearing sediment is being re-transported and reworked southwards by shore parallel currents resulting in much higher concentrations within a nearshore chromite placer deposit, some 8 km long and 2 km wide.
Microwave-Assisted Methane Pyrolysis in a Fluidized Bed Reactor for CO2-free Hydrogen and Solid Carbon Production
Keywords: Clean Hydrogen
Distributed Hydrogen
Fluidized Bed
Hydrogen Production
Methane Pyrolysis
Microwave-driven Pyrolysis

Hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize energy systems if it can become simpler to distribute and cleaner to produce. Methane pyrolysis can produce hydrogen without direct CO2 emissions with modest energy inputs. Microwaves are an efficient method of adding the required energy for this endothermic reaction. This thesis investigates a novel method of low-GHG hydrogen production via methane pyrolysis using microwaves and carbon particles in a fluidized bed reactor. Activated carbon particles in the fluidized bed absorb microwave energy and create a hot medium (>1200℃) in contact with flowing methane. As a result, methane decomposes into hydrogen and solid carbon causing carbon catalyst deactivation with over 90% methane conversion rate and hydrogen selectivity. The produced carbon possesses an autocatalytic effect thus bypassing the need for catalyst regeneration or replacement. This modular pyrolysis system can be built anywhere with access to natural gas and electricity, enabling distributed and localized hydrogen production.
Long-term Carbon Accumulation in a Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) Swamp in the Lake Simcoe Watershed, Southern Ontario, Canada
Keywords: Carbon accumulation
Forested wetland
Long term accumulation
Paleoecology
Peat
Swamp

Cedar swamps stand out amongst forested wetlands as containing high soil carbon stocks; however, factors determining rate of peat accumulation remain unclear due to uncertain carbon turnover rates across spatial and temporal gradients. To address this, this thesis first analyses Ontario peatland and forest inventory data to compare peat properties among forested wetlands, showing significant regional differences, with northern swamps being more acidic and containing lower peat bulk densities compared to southern swamps. Secondly, we analyse a series of cores in a mineral-rich cedar swamp in southern Ontario, showing that peat development and long-term carbon accumulation vary with water table depth. While rates of carbon accumulation in the cedar swamp were slower (5.7 g m-2 yr-1) than non-forested peatlands, carbon stocks were significant (60.3 kg m-2) and basal radiocarbon ages suggest decamillennial development of these wetlands, showing their significance as carbon pools and their vulnerability to peat-degrading disturbances.
Development and Validation of a Clinical Prediction Tool for Estimating the Risk of 1-year Mortality among Hospitalized Patients with Dementia
Keywords: clinical decision rules
dementia
epidemiology
hospitalization
mortality
prognosis

Advance care planning (ACP) has an established benefit among dementia patients though may happen infrequently, which could contribute to goal-discordant end-of-life care. A prognostic tool could serve as a trigger for ACP. We sought to develop and test a clinical tool to predict the risk of 1-year mortality among hospitalized dementia patients. Population-level linked healthcare administrative databases in Ontario were used. In a cohort of 235667 patients hospitalized from 2009-2017, we developed a tool with 76 predictor variables (sociodemographic factors, comorbidities, previous interventions, functional status, nutritional status, admission-specific information, previous healthcare utilization). In a cohort of 62909 patients hospitalized from 2018-2019, the tool demonstrated acceptable discrimination (c statistic=0.796). It demonstrated acceptable calibration in the validation cohort (mean relative difference=-3.29%) and subgroups of meaning to clinicians and policy-makers. This model could be integrated into electronic medical records as an automated prognostic tool, which could prompt ACP among hospitalized dementia patients.