VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Cellular Imaging of Human Embryonic Stem Cells using a New Positive-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agent
Keywords: Cell Tracking
MRI
Regenerative Medicine
Stem Cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the unique potential of developing into all the different cell types in our body and represent a clinically relevant cell source in the field of regenerative medicine. At present, we can inject cells and monitor their progress only in animals but not in humans (and this we do through sacrifice and histology to determine if the cells have survived or migrated). In human trials, these invasive methods cannot be applied, and information can be garnered only when tissue samples are retrieved, which is possible under rare circumstances. To address the need for a non-invasive method to monitor and guide cellular therapy in humans, we have explored a MRI based cell-tracking method that utilizes a positive-contrast manganese porphyrin agent, MnP-TPPS-NH2, that has better sensitivity and safety than gadolinium-based compounds and is easy to scale up due to simplicity of synthesis. In this study, we investigate for the first time the efficacy of cell-permeable MnP-TPPS-NH2 for labeling hESCs. We have demonstrated a significant reduction in T1, leading to large increase in bright signal relative to the background. We have shown the agent has no adverse effects on cell survival and function and that the agent is internalized with higher concentrations inside the nucleus and along the membrane periphery. We have presented a facile and easily scalable new method for sensitive MRI tracking of human embryonic stem cells to accelerate and enable future studies in the complex and interdisciplinary field of regenerative medicine.
Non-Adhesive Wound Dressings for Burn Patients
Keywords: Antimicrobial
Burns
Clinical engineering
Non adhesive surfaces
SLIPS
Wound dressing

Wounds can be caused by a number of reasons including trauma, surgical procedures, or burns. Current would dressings are frequently made of hydrophilic materials, causing them to adhere to exposed wound tissue and exudate, resulting in damage to the healing wound and pain upon dressing changes. This project designed and tested a novel non-adhesive wound dressing that does not adhere to the underlying wound tissue upon removal, and also discourages the growth of bacterial biofilm on its surface, while still allowing for exudate absorbance. Cellular adhesion tests were conducted with both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, comparing the novel wound dressings to commercially-available dressings indicated for use on burn wounds. Results showed that the novel dressings adhered to less human fibroblast cells and P. aeruginosa biofilm after 3 days. An effective non-adhesive wound dressing, with antimicrobial abilities, would significantly benefit both the patient and the healthcare system as a whole.
AN ANALYSIS OF POSITIVE SOCIAL INFORMATION-PROCESSING, AGGRESSION, AND PEER FUNCTIONING AMONG CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
Keywords: ADHD
Peer Problems
Social Cognition
Social Functioning
Social Information Processing

Research has used social information-processing (SIP) theory to explain the association between social cognitive deficits among children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and social dysfunction (aggression, low prosocial behaviour, peer problems). Scant research has investigated positive information-processing and social outcomes. This study examined SIP (cue encoding and attributions) of positive social situations among children with ADHD (n=77) and typically developing children (n=48) and explored whether SIP mediated the relation between ADHD symptoms and social outcomes. Results indicated that children with ADHD encoded more overall cues and neutral cues than typically developing children. Typically developing children encoded a significantly higher number of positive and negative cues than children with ADHD. There were no significant differences in intent attributions; however, children with ADHD provided more negative outcome attributions. SIP did not mediate the association between hyperactive-impulsive symptoms and peer problems. Elevated aggression did not moderate the association between SIP and social outcomes.
Pilot Study Investigating the Impacts of Behavioural Inattention and Meta-Attention on Post-Secondary Students' Online Information Seeking for Academic Purposes
Keywords: attention
e-learning
information seeking
meta-attention
online information seeking

Success at the graduate level of postsecondary education requires proficiency with academic online information seeking. Navigating the internet to find information is a complicated task that is vulnerable to lapses in attention. This study examined the relationships between graduate studentsâ self-reported behavioural inattention symptoms, meta-attention and online academic information seeking abilities. One-hundred and thirteen (99 female) graduate students (83 Masters-Level, 27 Doctoral Level) completed an online self-report questionnaire examining behavioural inattention symptoms, meta-attention, time-management and online information seeking ability. Results indicated that self-reported inattention, meta-attention, experience, and diagnostic status each significantly predicted unique variance in online information seeking ability. Implications for future research and intervention are discussed.
A Person-Centred Approach to Understanding Wisdom, Identity, and Well-Being in Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: An In-Depth Cross-Case Gestalt Analysis
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Identity
Person-centred research
Values
Well-being
Wisdom

This thesis uses a person-centred approach to examine in-depth the lives, experiences, and perspectives of three individuals with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFA). It investigates how young adults with HFA make sense of their past experiences and integrate them into their current understanding of self, while also orienting themselves towards their future ideals. This thesis also explores how these individuals understand, experience, and express the concepts of wisdom and identity, from both a personal-experiential and abstract frame of reference. The current study proposes an integrative theoretical framework that attempts to explain the connection between wisdom, identity, and well-being, with the novel element of values. This is the first study of its kind that has attempted to integrate all four of these constructs under a unified theory. No known studies exist that have investigated all of these topics together, in either neurotypical, or HFA populations.
Self-Reported Understanding of Romantic Relationships: High School Students with ASD Compared to Neurotypical High School Students
Keywords: Adolescence
ASD
Asperger's
Autism
Romance
Self-Report

This thesis seeks to explore how high school aged students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) understand romantic relationships. This is the first study to investigate romantic relationships in adolescents with ASD with a self-report methodology. Romance was broken down thematically into five categories: Dating Experience Desire, Romantic Signaling, Romantic Knowledge, Romantic Learning, and Consent. Students were recruited from secondary schools in Toronto and surrounding areas. Students were asked to fill in a multiple choice and short answer questionnaire. Responses from the ASD participants (N=22) were then compared to the responses of the neurotypical (NT) participants (N=20) in the control group. Responses were analyzed with chi-squares and theme analyses. Significant differences were found across all 5 themes, with answers in the Romantic Signaling and Consent themes being the most disparate between the ASD and NT groups. Implications and further research needed discussed.
Reproducibility of ultrasound-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) thermal lesions in minimally-invasive brain surgery
Keywords: Clinical Engineering
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
Minimally invasive surgery
Therapeutic Ultrasound

This study aims to prove the feasibility of using Ultrasound-Guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (USg-HIFU) to create thermal lesions in neurosurgical applications, allowing for precise ablation of brain tissue, while simultaneously providing real time imaging. To test the feasibility of the system, an optically transparent HIFU compatible tissue-mimicking phantom model was produced. USg-HIFU was then used for ablation of the phantom, with and without targets. Finally, ex vivo lamb brain tissue was imaged and ablated using the USg-HIFU system. Real-time ultrasound images and videos obtained throughout the ablation process showing clear lesion formation at the focal point of the HIFU transducer. Post-ablation gross and histopathology examinations were conducted to verify thermal and mechanical damage in the ex vivo lamb brain tissue. Finally, thermocouple readings were obtained, and HIFU field computer simulations were conducted to verify findings. Results of the study concluded reproducibility of USg-HIFU thermal lesions for neurosurgical applications.
Development of a New Interactive Board Game for Hand and Arm Therapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Keywords: Cerebral Palsy
Hand Therapy
Interactive Computer Play

Introduction: As current Interactive Computer Play (ICP) therapies lack skill transferability, my research will focus on the development of an interactive board game that uses tangible objects to strengthen the link between virtual play and everyday activities. Objective: The objective of this project is to demonstrate that this system can provide functional therapy targeting the upper extremities of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Using an iterative design process, a prototype of this device was developed. An in-home single participant case study was then performed having a child with CP use this system as a therapy intervention. Results: Clinically significant improvements were seen in Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Discussion: This study highlighted that the development of ICP therapies should include greater focus on the intervention and how it fits within a family dynamic. Conclusion: This interactive board game has shown the potential to delivery in-home therapy to children with CP.
Beyond Wisdom and Virtue
Keywords: Exemplar
Narrative analysis
Psychology of religion
Qualitative analysis
Virtue
Wisdom

It is argued that there is presently a theoretical confusion in psychology between the concepts of personal wisdom and moral virtue, a confusion not present in traditional religious and philosophical literature. It is further argued that this confusion may be resolved by understanding how exemplars of wisdom and virtue develop such qualities. The narratives of 16 participants, 8 scoring high on the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale and 8 scoring low, from 2 age cohorts (18-25 and 60-85) and 4 religious backgrounds (Atheist, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim) were analyzed for implicit narratives of developing exemplary qualities. It is found that wisdom and virtue are best understood as perspectival and procedural aspects of some further, little-discussed quality, stemming from deep immersion in religious paths of cultivation, which is shown to have important implications for the psychology of wisdom and virtue.
Ontario Elementary Teachers' Preparedness to Administer Comprehensive, LGBTQ-Inclusive Sex Education
Keywords: Curriculum Reform
LGBTQ
Preparation
Sex Education
Sexual Health
Teacher

In 2015, Ontario introduced an updated, LGBTQ-inclusive sexual health curriculum for all grades which inspired opposition from some conservative religious groups. This study explored the experiences and preparedness of elementary teachers covering this curriculum using a survey. Researchers predicted that: (1) teachers would feel least prepared to cover the controversial topics, (2) low levels of engagement in the reform and encountering complaints would predict lower preparedness, and (3) teachers in religious schools would encounter more obstacles than those in secular schools. The majority of participants felt comfortable, knowledgeable, effective and motivated to teach the curriculum. Participants felt least prepared to teach four of the most controversial topics. Support for LGBTQ-inclusive education, positive student reactions, and less fear of parent complaints predicted greater preparedness to teach sex education. There were few differences between religious and secular teachers. Respondents desired more training, teaching resources, support from administration and time to teach health.
An Analysis of the Thermal Stability of Conventional and Alternative Aviation Fuels
Keywords: Aviation Fuels
Biofuels
Thermal Stability

An experimental apparatus was used to examine the thermal stability of conventional and alternative aviation fuels. The apparatus is a simplified but controllable representation of an aircraft fuel system consisting of a preheating section and a test section. The preheating section simulates the fuel conditions as it acts as a coolant on board of the aircraft while the test section simulates the conditions of the fuel injection nozzles. The apparatus measures the accumulated deposit by taking the pressure drop data across the heated test section. After thermal stressing, the pressure drop data is verified by a carbon burnoff apparatus. The fuel chemical composition is evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Experimental results are presented and discussed in this thesis for four different types of aviation fuels to show the relationship between fuel chemical composition and coking propensity. The experiments show that fuels with aromatic content tend to produce more deposits and the alternative fuels are potentially more thermally stable than their conventional counterparts.
Emergent Readers in the French Immersion Context: Development and Cross-language Transfer of Orthographic and Semantic Learning
Keywords: Bilingualism
Emergent readers
French immersion
Orthographic learning
Semantic learning
Word reading

This study investigated the ability of emergent readers in French immersion to learn the orthographic (spelling) and semantic (meaning) representations of novel words encountered during shared storybook reading in English. We also examined the role of orthographic and semantic learning in predicting word reading concurrently and six-months longitudinally both within English and across languages from English to French, controlling for reading-related skills. Sixty-two Grade 1 children (35 girls; M age = 75.89 months) listened to 12 short stories as the examiner simultaneously pointed to the text. Orthographic and semantic choice post-test measures were administered immediately after reading each set of three stories and again approximately one week later. Results indicated that children performed above chance level on measures of orthographic and semantic learning. Orthographic learning predicted word reading in English and French both concurrently and longitudinally. Semantic learning did not predict word reading in either language at any time point.
Writing Abilities of Adolescents with and without ADHD and the Role of Inattention
Keywords: ADHD
Adolescents
Handwriting
Inattention
Writing

Adolescents with ADHD are at risk for academic and future occupational difficulties. Despite the importance of strong writing skills for educational and occupational success, the writing abilities of adolescents with ADHD are not well understood. I examined group differences in writing ability between adolescents with and without a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis and the extent to which inattention symptoms uniquely predicted writing ability independent of variables related to written expression such as handwriting fluency and reading. Findings indicated that adolescents with ADHD performed significantly lower than their same-age peers on the writing outcomes of text length, sentence-writing, and vocabulary sophistication, although once handwriting fluency was controlled for in the analyses, statistically significant group differences remained only for vocabulary sophistication. Analyzing the sample using a dimensional approach, inattention symptoms only uniquely predicted sentence-writing ability independent of writing-related variables. Instead, handwriting fluency appears to be a vital transcription skill to higher-level writing abilities.
A Comparison of Parenting Daily Hassles in Parents of Children with Autism and Typically Developing Children
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorders
Parenting Daily Hassles

Parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known to be highly stressful and has been reported to be more difficult than parenting children with different types of disability, or with no disability; however, the daily hassles that contribute to the increased stress for this specific group have not been studied systematically. The main goal of this research was to determine what areas of daily strain are most prevalent in the lives of parents with young children with autism. Participants were 16 parents of a child with ASD and 16 parents of a child without ASD (child age range: 47-78 months). Parenting daily hassles and demographic features were assessed using questionnaires. We investigated which specific daily hassles uniquely characterize the lives of parents of children with ASD in comparison to the hassles characterizing the lives of parents of typically developing children. Parents of children with ASD experienced greater levels, frequency, and intensity of daily hassles, particularly in relation to hassles associated with diagnostic criteria of ASD including social communication difficulties and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour. Further, additional factors such as marital status influenced parenting daily hassles, with parents of children with ASD experiencing greater levels of daily hassles when raising a child as a single parent. Determining the aspects of daily life that are most difficult for parents of children with ASD can inform policy priorities and decisions about the types of supports would be most helpful.
Kindergarten Teachers' Perspectives on Culturally Responsive Education
Keywords: cultural diversity
culturally responsive education
kindergarten
teachers' perspectives

Researchers and policymakers have been making efforts to build more inclusive Canadian schooling experiences that reflect the diversity of its student bodies. The present study examined kindergarten teachersâ experiences of culturally responsive education. Qualitative interviews were conducted with six kindergarten teachers in the Greater Toronto Area to learn about how they understand and approach cultural diversity in their classrooms and the challenges that they experience. Participating teachers most often referred to ethnicity in relation to studentsâ cultural backgrounds, and believed that culturally responsive practices have an important place at the kindergarten level. Teachers described implementing practices that are both structured components of the classroom, and spontaneous in that they are unplanned accommodations or instruction. They spoke of challenges relating to their access to resources both within and outside of their schools and establishing strong relationships with school personnel and families.
Infrastructure-Free Mapping and Localization for Tunnel-Based Rail Applications Using 2D Lidar
Keywords: Lidar
Localization
Mapping
Point Clouds
RQE
Train

This thesis presents an infrastructure-free mapping and localization framework for rail vehicles using only a lidar sensor. The method was designed to handle modern underground tunnels: narrow, parallel, and relatively smooth concrete walls. A sliding-window algorithm was developed to estimate the train's motion, using a RĂŠnyiâ s Quadratic Entropy (RQE)-based point-cloud alignment system. The method was tested with datasets gathered on a subway train travelling at high speeds, with 75 km of data across 14 runs, simulating 500 km of localization. The system was capable of mapping with an average error of less than 0.6 % by distance. It was capable of continuously localizing, relative to the map, to within 10 cm in stations and at crossovers, and 2.3 m in pathological sections of tunnel. This work has the potential to improve train localization in a tunnel, which can be used to increase capacity and for automation purposes.
Motor Point Stimulation and Its Role in Investigating and Modulating Neural Circuits
Keywords: Functional Electrical Stimulation
Motor Point Stimulation
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Rehabilitation
Spinal Cord Injury

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used in the rehabilitation of people with neurological disorders. Two methods exist to evoke muscle contraction via NMES: peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) and motor point stimulation (MPS) delivered to the so-named motor points located at neuromuscular junctions. We hypothesized that, based on the specific location of neuromuscular junctions and the distribution of muscle spindles, PNS and MPS would differ in their activation of sensory and motor axons, and that MPS would produce strong antidromic activation. We demonstrated that (1) PNS and MPS differ in sensory and motor recruitment curve patterns (2) MPS cannot induce reciprocal inhibition, and (3) that MPS induces antidromic firing and strong recurrent inhibition of the SOL H-reflex. These results suggest that distinct differences exist in the recruitment patterns of PNS and MPS. Our findings contribute to the neurophysiological understanding of NMES and hence will improve NMES-based therapies in the future.
Regulation of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Exocytosis from the Primary L-cell by the SNARE Protein Syntaxin-1a
Keywords: 2-photon microscopy
Exocytosis
GLP-1
Intestine
Metabolism

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an intestinal L-cell hormone that potentiates glucose- dependent insulin secretion. To develop novel approaches for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the capacity to enhance endogenous GLP-1 secretion from the L-cell is currently being explored. Although secretagogues that stimulate GLP-1 secretion have been identified, the mechanism of exocytosis remains unknown. I hypothesized that the core SNARE protein, syntaxin-1a, is required for GLP-1 exocytosis from the primary adult murine intestinal L-cell. Use of inducible syntaxin-1a knockout models demonstrated that loss of syntaxin-1a in the intestinal epithelium, including the L-cells, reduces stimulated GLP-1 secretion in vivo and ex vivo, in association with deficient glucose-stimulated insulin release and glucose intolerance. Furthermore, 2-Photon microscopy revealed that L-cell exocytosis is biphasic and that, in the absence of syntaxin-1a, both phases of exocytosis are impaired. These data illuminate the spatio-temporal activity of L- cell exocytosis, and establish a role for syntaxin-1a in GLP-1 secretion.
Dynamics of Collagen Films and Starch Observed by Atomic Force Microscopy
Keywords: Atomic force microscopy
Collagen
Phosphorylation
Potassium
Real-time
Starch

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. In vivo, collagen is spatially arranged as aligned fibers. In vitro, collagen can be self-assembled into higher order structures. These hierarchical collagen networks, however, lack the alignment found in natural tissues. Using mica as a template, aligned arrays of collagen can be created due to the aggregation of collagen along the crystallographic orientation of the muscovite substrate. Potassium ions, which disturb the interaction between collagen and mica, were used to control the pattern of collagen alignment to create unidirectional and bidirectional oriented films. This reversible synthesis of patterned films from randomly arranged collagen was observed in real-time via atomic force microscopy (AFM) in fluid. This study demonstrates the mobility and reorganization of collagen on surfaces and it preference for specific arrangements under varying environmental conditions. AFM was also used to monitor starch phosphorylation by alpha-glucan water dikinase (GWD).