VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Hip Hop Education and the Pursuit of Justice
Keywords: Critical Hip Hop Pedagogy
Hip Hop Education
Social Justice
Social Justice Education

Educators who choose to use Critical Hip Hop Pedagogy in their classrooms are committed to thinking creatively and alternatively on issues of curriculum content. This thesis investigates how that thinking is translated during moments of conflict, violence, disruption and disorder in the classroom. Choosing to utilize educators who have chosen to root their pedagogy in a practice that calls for a lens of social justice, I am interested in the ways that their strategies challenge, affirm, reinforce, subvert or align particular notions of justice. As this research was inspired by my own personal experiences as an educator, I use personal reflection and narrative data analysis with other educators as method. The study highlights the potential alignment of Critical Hip Hop Pedagogy and practices of restorative justice illustrating its capacity to develop more reflective, consistent and transformative practices for educators.
A Behavioral Assessment of Electronic Cigarettes in Reducing Cue- and Withdrawal-induced Craving in Daily Dependent Smokers
Keywords: addiction
craving
dependence
e-cigarette
electronic cigarette
nicotine

Randomized controlled trials suggest e-cigarettes may decrease cigarette craving and withdrawal symptoms, reduce cigarette smoking, and increase abstinence. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of non-nicotinic e-cigarettes, alone or used with nicotine replacement, in reducing craving by addressing behavioral cues. This randomized, single-blind, within-subject study empirically assessed cigarette craving and withdrawal symptoms in 41 dependent smokers under four conditions: smoking tobacco cigarettes, non-nicotinic e-cigarettes with nicotine lozenges, non-nicotinic e-cigarettes with placebo lozenges, and using nicotine lozenges alone. While tobacco cigarettes most significantly reduced cravings one hour after smoking (-11.24±1.30,p
Affinity Release of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Increases the Viability of Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells In Vitro
Keywords: Affinity release
Cell viability
Hydrogel
Insulin-like growth factor-1
Retinal pigment epithelium
Tunable release

Poor cell survival in vitro and in vivo is a key challenge in tissue engineering. Pro-survival therapeutic proteins such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) can promote cell viability but require controlled delivery systems due to their brief half-lives. Biocompatible materials are commonly used for drug-delivery platforms or to encapsulate cells for increased viability but no material exists for simultaneous use in both applications. A blend of hyaluronan and methylcellulose known to promote cell survival was modified with Src homology 3 (SH3)-binding peptides and demonstrated tunable, affinity-based release of the pro-survival fusion protein SH3-IGF-1. The material was also shown to significantly increase the viability of retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) in anchorage-independent conditions. This novel system is applicable to a broad range of cells and protein therapeutics and is a promising strategy for a drug-delivery/cell transplantation strategy to increase the viability of both exogenous and endogenous cells in tissue engineering applications.
Lagrangian Fluid Element Tracking and Estimation of Local Displacement Speeds in Turbulent Premixed Flames
Keywords: Lagrangian tracking
local displacement speeds
tomographic PIV
turbulence-flame interactions
turbulent burning velocity
turbulent premixed combustion

Improved understanding of turbulence-flame interactions in premixed combustion can be achieved using fully 3D time-resolved multi-kHz multi-scalar experimental measurements. These interactions may be represented by the evolution of various Lagrangian quantities described by theoretical Lagrangian Fluid Elements (LFEs). The data used in this work came from two experimental campaigns that used simultaneous T-PIV and OH/CH2O PLIF, at Sandia National Labs and the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson. In this thesis, an algorithm to accurately track LFEs through this 4D experimental space has been developed and verified by cross-correlation with the T-PIV seed particle fields. A novel method to measure the local instantaneous displacement speed in 3D has been developed, using this algorithm to track control masses of fluid that interact with the flame front. Statistics of the displacement speed have been presented, and the effects of local turbulence and flame topological properties on the displacement speed have been studied.
The Design and Synthesis of Neuroprotectants Based on an Endogenous Platform
Keywords: Biology
Ischemic
Medicinal Chemistry
Stroke
Zinc

There is a pressing need for the development of a neuroprotective therapy that limits neuronal injury in ischemic stroke patients. A diversity of neurotoxic factors, including divalent metal cations, are released during ischemia that result in brain damage. The goal of this research is to develop a method to mitigate the neurotoxic influxes of such cations (focusing on Zn(II)) using histidine as a model chelating molecule, thereby limiting neuronal death during an ischemic stroke. Through the use of computational methods, several small molecules have been identified that bind favourably with Zn(II); nuclear magnetic resonance experiments involving Zn(II) in combination with these small molecules supports these in silico predictions. A subset of active molecules shows measurable binding constants through calorimetric methods. Several molecules provide protection from Zn(II) toxicity in vitro; Zn(II) imaging experiments confirm the mechanism of protection is metal chelation.
Cortical Thickness as a Predictor of Amygdala Reactivity in Healthy Adults
Keywords: Amygdala
Cortical thickness
Emotion
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Prefrontal cortex
Structure-function relations

Background: Cortico-limbic affective processing regions undergo structural and functional changes with aging. However, there are no investigations into the relationships between measures of cortical thinning and affective functional reactivity in older adults. Methods: Two groups of Caucasian men (n = 10 each, aged 60 – 85 years, and aged 20 – 40 years) underwent structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging during which they completed affective and sensorimotor (control) tasks administered according to a blocked design. Results: Age groups were comparable in amygdalae response to negative affect. Older men were best distinguished from young by thinning of the gray matter in bilateral frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. Greater mean right amygdala activation was best predicted by a pattern of left orbito- and middle frontal cortical thickness/thinning in older men. Conclusion: Even in the absence of age differences in amygdalae activation, prefrontal structure alterations uniquely influence emotional amygdala response in healthy older adults.
Museums and Money: The Impact of Provincial Cultural Policy
Keywords: Cultural Policy
Museums
New Brunswick
Public Programming
Subnational

This thesis examines the influence of provincial funding strategies on museum public programming in New Brunswick from 2002 until 2014. Using a literature review and archival research, I traced the development of New Brunswick cultural policy from the 1960s to 2014. Then, I conducted interviews with seventeen individuals representing museums or the Government of New Brunswick (GNB). The results demonstrate that GNB’s Exhibit Renewal and Museum Activities Support Program, a project-based grant, increased the quantity of new or renewed exhibits and encouraged ancillary programming, but limited human resource capacity restricted its use. The provincial Student Employment and Experience Development (SEED) program provided funding for summer staff that offer programming, but SEED’s administration led to challenges, such as a lack of consistency from one year to the next. I recommend additional research into the use of GNB’s Museum Network and a shift in government priorities toward increasing museums’ human resource capacity.
Association of Primary Care Structures with Patient Utilization of Acute Health Services
Keywords: Family Health Team
Patient Medical Home
Primary Care

Background: Evidence suggests that Patient Medical Homes (PMH) improve patient health outcomes and patient experience. Objective: To determine the extent that Ontario primary care (PC) practices represent PMH and the association between PMH components and acute health service utilization (i.e., emergency department (ED) visits and avoidable hospitalizations). Methods: Ontario survey data was used to characterized PC practices, based on PMH components. Survey data was linked to health administrative data to identify practices’ patients’ use of acute health services. Significant associations were determined by hierarchical logistic regression models. Results: There is wide variation of PC practices’ representation of PMH. After adjusting for patient characteristics, increased accessibility and use of electronic medical records were associated with lower odds of ED visits. Increased interprofessional behaviour was associated with lower odds of hospitalization yet higher odds of ED visits. In comparison to PMH, fee-for-service PC practices had lower odds of acute health services utilization.
The Effect of Physical Activity and Body Size on BRCA1 mRNA Expression
Keywords: Body Size
BRCA1
Breast Cancer
Physical Activity
RNA

Prevention of BRCA1-associated cancer is limited to prophylactic surgery and chemoprevention. Factors that increase BRCA1 expression and normalize protein levels may impact cancer risk. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether physical activity and/or body size correlate with BRCA1 mRNA expression. Women (n=50) were asked to wear the GT3X activity monitor for 7 days. Anthropometric measurements were obtained and blood samples were collected. BRCA1 mRNA was quantified using the NanoString nCounter Analysis System. Mean BRCA1 expression was significantly lower for mutation carriers vs. non-carriers (139 counts vs. 157 counts; P=0.02). No significant relationship was observed between physical activity, anthropometrics, and BRCA1 expression (P≥0.05). A borderline significant inverse relationship was observed between mean sedentary time and BRCA1 expression (158.2 vs. 154.7 counts; Ptrend=0.05), suggesting that prolonged sedentary behavior may be associated with lower BRCA1 expression. Whether this finding translates into an increased risk for BRCA1-associated cancer warrants further investigation.
The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Predicting Surgical Outcome in Patients with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Keywords: imaging
model
neurosurgery
prediction
radiology
spine

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to confirm a diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), however, its role in predicting outcome following surgical treatment remains unclear. Herein, it is hypothesized that quantitative preoperative MRI analysis can predict surgical outcome. Using data derived from a prospective and multicenter cohort of patients undergoing surgical treatment for DCM, multiple MRI parameters were assessed, including presence/absence of signal change on T1 and T2, T2 signal quantitative factors, and anatomical measurements. A dichotomized postoperative modified Japanese orthopedic association score at 6-months was then used to characterize patients with mild myelopathy (≥16) and those with substantial residual neurological impairment (
Numerical Simulation of Thermoacoustic Response of Laboratory Scale Premixed Multi-slit Burner Flames
Keywords: Acoustics
Combustion
Compressible
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Navier-Stokes
Thermoacoustics

Thermoacoustic instabilities are an entirely unwanted, yet nearly inevitable phenomenon occurring in many practical premixed combustors. If not properly accounted and designed for, they can incur significant increases in the development combustion systems. The fact that such unexpected issues are encountered is indicative of a fundamental lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms that drive thermoacoustic phenomena. Numerical techniques are used to characterize the thermoacoustic re- sponse of premixed multi-slit bunsen burner flames. A symmetrical rep- resentation of the multi-slit burner is used, and the transfer function is computed at several different frequencies and at three different equiva- lence ratios. The numerical results are then compared against experimen- tal results in order to determine the suitability of numerical techniques for studying thermoacoustics. A fully compressible Navier-Stokes combustion solver is used in conjunction with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) for improved resolution at the flame interface.
Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression and Regulation During Pregnancy, Term Labour, and Postpartum
Keywords: matrix metalloproteinases
myometrium
postpartum
pregnancy
term labour

It is widely accepted that pregnancy, spontaneous term labour (TL), and postpartum (PP) involution is associated with changes in the cellular and extracellular composition of the uterus. These changes involve metalloproteinases (MMPs) secretion by myometrial smooth muscle cells and infiltrating leukocytes. MMP activation results in collagenolysis, modulation of cellular behaviour and barrier function. I hypothesize that during late gestation, the expression and activity of myometrial MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) increase in preparation for TL, and are regulated by mechanical stretch. The current in vivo study demonstrated that gene and protein expression of MMP-7 and MMP-11 were upregulated during TL, suggesting labour promotion; whereas other MMPs (2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12) were induced only during the early PP period. The sources of myometrial MMPs during TL and PP include myocytes and resident leukocytes. In vitro studies did not support the regulation of myometrial MMP expression by mechanical stretch.
Differentiating "Integrative" from "Complementary", "Alternative" and "Unconventional": A Textual Analysis of the Terms and Meanings in the Peer-reviewed Literature
Keywords: alternative medicine
complementary medicine
integrated medicine
integrative medicine
textual analysis
unconventional medicine

This study investigates the discourse surrounding the changes in terms used to describe unconventional medicine in North America. A textual analysis was conducted on the most highly-cited unconventional medicine-related literature published from 1970-2013. Five commonly-used terms were identified as follows: “complementary and alternative”, “complementary”, “alternative”, “unconventional” and “integrated/integrative”. Two major themes emerged from the data analysis. Authors using the first four terms tended to define them by what is not conventional medicine and stressed that the purpose of their research was purely the pursuit of knowledge. Comparatively, authors using the fifth term sought to advocate for the integration of unconventional and conventional medicines. This emergence of two groups may explain why certain stakeholders within this field may be choosing to use terms which attract interest from both groups. Furthermore, since the two groups have unique agendas, the potential tension between them will serve as an interesting phenomenon to further explore.
Characterization of Symbiotic Interactions between Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Tumor-associated Fibroblasts
Keywords: co-culture
desmoplasia
fibroblasts
fibrosis
pancreatic cancer
tumor microenvironment

Pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal of cancers, is characterized by extensive fibrotic stroma. It is unknown whether this extensive stroma promotes or prevents tumor growth. In this thesis project, I attempted to elucidate the interactions between pancreatic cancer cells and fibroblasts, a major cell type in the stroma, using an in vitro co-culture model. I co-cultured CFPAC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and Hs 343.T fibroblasts, sorted them by flow cytometry, measured their gene expression, and inferred molecular intercellular interactions due to co-culture. Analysis revealed abundant changes in the gene expression in fibroblasts that were co-cultured with pancreatic cancer cells. These involve pathways such as ECM, TGF-beta, Ras/PDGFR, HIF-1-alpha, Notch, and Rho GTPases. I also identified many factors produced by cancer cells that can potentially induce the expression changes observed in co-cultured fibroblasts. This study offers a simplified approach to begin dissecting the complexity of PDAC stroma.
Multisensory Integration at Peak Limb Velocity
Keywords: audition
motor control
multisensory integration
peak limb velocity
vision

The current thesis focused on multisensory integration during rapid upper-limb movements, specifically at peak limb velocity (PLV). Participants were required to “fling” their limb through a virtual target while aligning PLV with the target. In Experiment 1, participants were provided with augmented: auditory, visual, audiovisual, or no feedback at peak limb velocity. In Experiment 2, participants completed the same flinging task. At PLV, participants were exposed to either two: auditory beeps, visual flashes, or audiovisual events. Participants then indicated which sensory cue was presented first (i.e., left or right of the target) in a within modality temporal order judgment task. This judgment was also made following stimuli presentation at rest. Across both experiments, the results failed to reveal an audiovisual (i.e., bimodal) advantage over unisensory stimuli presentation (i.e., auditory or visual cues alone), suggesting that the optimal integration of audiovisual information may not occur at peak limb velocity.
Regulation of Hematopoietic Progenitor Formation in a Shwachman Diamond Syndrome Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Disease Model
Keywords: hematopoiesis
iPSCs
shwachman

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an inherited bone marrow failure disease, with 90% of SDS patients carrying a mutation in the SBDS gene. Due to limited efficacy or toxicity of current treatments available, and the otherwise reduced life expectancy of SDS patients, novel therapeutic strategies are needed. Since the main morbidity and mortality are related to the blood dyscrasia, studying hematopoiesis will help characterize the hematological phenotype. We hypothesized that the definitive wave of hematopoiesis is markedly impaired. We generated SDS iPSCs that recapitulated the human SDS disease, specifically, the reduced blood cell formation. The SDS iPSCs showed a defect in definitive hematopoiesis, with a marked reduction in the hemogenic endothelium population. We did not observe a defect in primitive hematopoiesis. Our study sheds light on the onset and progression of the SDS hematopoietic phenotype, and provides a platform for the development of novel, potential therapeutic targets to improve patient care.
Investigating the Determinants of Host Range Specificity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phage
Keywords: aeruginosa
Bacteriophage
fibers
Pseudomonas
Specificity
tail

Phage therapy, or the use of bacteriophages (phages) to kill pathogenic bacteria, represents an alternative strategy to antibiotics in combating bacterial disease in the face of growing antibiotic resistance. To use phage therapy as an antibacterial treatment, we need to understand how the phages choose their host. The following thesis outlines my work studying two particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages, D3 and JBD44a, which I have chosen based on structural similarity and host diversity. I have shown that D3-27 and JBD44-39 are required for complete phage particles as well as involved in specificity through heterologous complementation experiments. I have determined that JBD44a can be blocked by LPS from its host strain PA14. I have also determined that D3-27 specifically and immediately modifies LPS from its host strain PAO1 through the C-terminus. The experiments outlined have shown that D3-27 and JBD44 are involved in specificity and are found in the phage tail.
Development of Sand-bedded Rivers in Glaciated Southern Ontario
Keywords: Channel Pattern
Facies Models
Glacially Conditioned
Ground Penetrating Radar
Sand-Bed Rivers

Many studies of river floodplain sedimentology demonstrate a need to simplify observations in the form of standard floodplain models. A field investigation was undertaken to test the applicability of the accepted sand-bedded river facies model provided by Miall (2010), to sand-bed rivers in southern Ontario. A challenge in this environment is the influence of non-alluvial channel boundary materials such as glacial outwash sands, till, and glaciolacustrine clay. The presence of these materials in some channel beds and banks suggest that recognized “models” may not always be appropriate at predicting channel behaviour. A multifaceted approach (sedimentology, channel surveys, geophysics, etc.) is used to characterize the processes controlling the lateral and vertical mobility of these active sand bed channels. This study proposes that three primary fluvial process domains can be identified and used to explain variable floodplain and channel morphologies, based on slope, migration patterns, sedimentology, and proximity to glacial landforms.
Counterpunching with Culture: Boxers in Relation to the Dominant Ideology
Keywords: boxing
class culture
cultural studies
ethnography
ideology
sports sociology

Numerous scholars have studied the sociological underpinnings of boxing and the boxing site; however, few studies have looked at the cultural level of boxing. This study endeavours to introduce boxing as a cultural practice that is part of a particular group’s cultural milieu. The study employs Willis’ (1977) Learning to Labour to engage with why working class people play working class sports. Much like ‘the lads’ in Learning to Labour the boxers are vulnerable to the dominant ideology. However, in contrast, their own ideology reveals that they have agency, which is performed in relation to other dominant cultural practices. The boxers create an Other (Hall, 1996/2000) and reject and separate themselves from normative cultural practice, thus deliberately reproducing their culture and place in the society.
Male Mating Strategies within a Shifting Competitive Landscape: Performance and Phenotypic Correlates of Mate Guarding Success
Keywords: Female mate choice
Jumping spider
Male-male competition
Mate guarding
Sexual selection

Mate-guarding males who limit access of rivals to females may be likewise preferred by females, or their mating advantage may lie only in excluding opponents. In the jumping spider Phidippus clarus, males guard immature females, mating once females synchronously moult. To investigate factors contributing to mate guarding success in the field, we compared the morphology, competitive and courtship success of guarding and non-guarding males collected throughout their season. Guarders were larger than roamers only during the time when females moult, and also demonstrated both higher fighting and courtship success independent of size-related advantages. Thus, high levels of male-male competition during female moult implicates male-male contests in determining mate-guarding success. Given the proposed significance of mate guarding to male fitness, heritability of traits related to competitive ability and guarding may explain the observed correspondence between sexual selection via female choice and male-male competition.