VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Innovations in Chronic Disease Management (CDM) from Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs)
Keywords: Chronic Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus
Health Services Research
Innovative Healthcare Delivery Models
Low and Middle Income Countries
Performance Measurement

Chronic disease is rising globally, but LMICs may require novel approaches to management suited to a low-resource setting. Private health care providers in LMICs have experimented and developed new models for organizing, financing, and delivering care. This thesis examines some of the innovations that have emerged in LMICs to manage chronic disease. Using a common performance measurement framework and drawing from a database of over 1200 innovative health programs, I identify and evaluate 46 programs addressing chronic disease in LMICs. I then go on to identify, innovative practices used by the subset of 19 diabetes focussed programs and catalogue them according to the Chronic Care Model (CCM). Delivery system design is the most commonly used domain of the CCM, which even earlier has shown to have great potential to impact health outcomes. Few of the identified innovations may also have the potential for ‘Reverse innovation’ in high income countries.
Real-time Simulation of Modular Multilevel Converters
Keywords: Modular Multilevel Converters
Real-time simulation
Hardware-in-the-Loop
Electromagnetic Transients
Modeling
FPGA

This thesis presents the real-time simulation of a realistic-size Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) based High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission system. Based on the concept of time-varying Thevenin equivalent, a computationally efficient model of the MMC is developed and deployed on an FPGA platform. The salient features of the developed MMC model are: (i) The decoupling of the solutions of the MMC model and the of the rest of the system, (ii) it provides an equivalent representation of the full MMC, (iii) it is suitable for parallel implementation. The model is used as part of the simulation of the 401-level France/Spain MMC-HVDC link between, in which 2 separate MMCs are included, showing the expandability of the designed system to larger DC grid scenarios. Hardware in the loop (HIL) testing capabilities of the system are also demonstrated with the addition of an external controller to the simulation system.
Differential Licking in Early Life Alters Stress Behaviour and Brain Gene Expression in Adult Female Rats
Keywords: Rats
licking and grooming
maternal care
epigenetics
corticosterone
glucocorticoid receptor
gene expression
hippocampus

We investigated licking and grooming (LG) levels received by each pup from their dams and the locomotor activity, anxiety-like behaviors, and stress reactivity in adult female offspring. We also investigated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression and its DNA methylation status in the hippocampus, comparing pups between and with-in litters. Rats that receive more LG than their siblings showed less anxiety-like behaviors and increased locomotor activity, regardless of their litter type. Higher licked pups also showed increased expression of the GR gene. Gene expression levels of the GR 17 splice variant were not significantly different as a function of dam LG or LG received, whereas DNA methylation levels at two CpG sites within GR17 promoter were significantly higher in high LG pups than low LG pups. Our results indicate that naturally occurring intra- and inter-litter differences in maternal LG have a lasting effect on the phenotypic outcomes of adult female offspring.
The GRADE for Evidence-based Decision Making:from Concept to Application in the Field of Pediatric Pharmacotherapy
Keywords: GRADE
pediatric pharmacotherapy

Rationale: Methodological quality of systematic reviews (SRs) remains an area of concern with no consensus on the optimal appraisal instrument to assess quality of published research. Hypothesis: The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) is a feasible and useful methodology to assess quality of evidence in pediatric pharmacotherapy. Aim: To demonstrate the applicability of the GRADE to selected topics. Methods: To perform two SRs to illustrate the practical use of the GRADE, highlight methodological challenges encountered and compare the GRADE to the alternative appraisal tool. Results: the GRADE was implemented to conduct two SRs. Judgments on imprecision were challenging. Comparison of the GRADE to alternative tool demonstrated that GRADE may generate different conclusions on overall quality assessment. Conclusion: The GRADE is a valuable innovative tool for assessing quality of evidence, applicable to the field of pediatric pharmacotherapy, with a potential to impact inferences drawn after applying alternative instruments.
Proposal to Request the Unconstitutionality of the Provisions that Criminalize Abortion in Chile
Keywords: abortion
chile
decriminalization
strategic litigation
arguments
constitutional law

This paper proposes a judicial advocacy strategy aimed to challenge the constitutionality of the law that imposes an absolute prohibition of abortion in Chile. Examines the origin of the criminalization provisions in light to the constitutional mandate to protect the life of the unborn, presents an overview of the arguments used in the legislative to request the partial decriminalization of abortion, the tendency of the executive in the past years in this matter, and the criminal strategy that has been used in cases where women have been prosecuted by abortion, based on what has been intended so far the paper conclude a solicitude to declare unconstitutional the criminal abortion provisions because they do not protect the life of the unborn.
The Surgical Management of Kidney Stone Disease in the Province of Ontario: A Population Based Time Series Analysis
Keywords: Kidney Stones
Shockwave Lithotripsy
Ureteroscopy
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Morbidity
Time Series Analysis
Time Trends
Surgery

A population based cross-sectional time series analysis was conducted using three Ontario administrative databases, to assess trends over time in the surgical management of kidney stone disease. All kidney stone treatments performed with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), ureteroscopy (URS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy between July 1, 1991 and December 31, 2010, were included. Time series modeling with exponential smoothing and autoregressive integrated moving average models demonstrated a significant increase in the utilization of URS over time (23.69% to 59.98%, p<0.0001), with a reciprocal significant decrease in the utilization of SWL (68.77% to 33.36%, p<0.0001). As a result of this shift in treatment paradigm, time series modeling also demonstrated an associated significant decrease in the need for ancillary treatment over time (22.12% to 16.01%, p<0.0001) and a significant increase in the need for hospital readmission (8.01% to 10.85%, p<0.0001) or emergency room visit (7.58% to 9.95%, p=0.0024) within 7 days following treatment.
Investigation of Computer Vision Techniques for Object Classification on an Intelligent Wheelchair System for the Cognitively Impaired
Keywords: Intelligent Wheelchair
Object Classification

The purpose of this research was to investigate object classification algorithms for the application of wheelchair interaction with the environment for the cognitively impaired wheelchair user. Towards this end, top performing object classification algorithms were trained on images of the target object classes (chair, dresser, and sink/washbasin) obtained from the internet and tested on images of the target object classes obtain in the home and patient room environments; these algorithms were Locality-constrained Linear Coding (LLC) [1], Kernel Descriptors (KDES) [2], and Hierarchical Matching Pursuit (HMP) [3]. It was found that HMP achieved the highest over classification accuracy (71.3%) in the home environment and LLC achieved the greatest accuracy (85.0%) in the patient room environment. This research also sought to investigate the potential of active learning to improve upon the obtained classification performance. A maximum mean classification accuracy of 98.6% was achieved when active learning was applied.
Functional and Physical Interaction between the Trigger Factor Folding Chaperone and the ClpXP Degradation System
Keywords: Chaperone
protein folding
Trigger factor
ClpXP

Molecular chaperones and proteases help maintain protein homeostasis in the cell. While chaperones assist in the folding of polypeptide chains to their native state, proteases degrade misfolded or unfolded proteins and also help regulate protein levels. While mapping chaperone interaction networks, we found that tig (trigger factor chaperone gene), clpP and clpX genes co-localize next to each other on the genome of most examined bacteria. This led us to hypothesize that trigger factor (TF) chaperone and ClpXP protease might interact functionally. TF is a ribosome-associated chaperone that co-translationally folds polypeptide chains. ClpXP is a proteolytic complex that degrades a wide range of substrate proteins. We observed that TF enhanced the rate of the ClpXP degradation of the λO phage protein in vitro and in vivo. TF was also found to enhance the degradation of ribosome-stalled λO thus suggesting the existence of co-translational protein degradation in E. coli.
Developing Test Methods for the Evaluation of Scooter Performance in Winter Conditions
Keywords: Winter Conditions
Mobility Scooter
Test Method
Traction Testing
Scooter
Snow
Ice
Wheeled Mobility Aids

Electric mobility scooters are increasing in popularity and are used extensively by individuals with mobility impairments to conduct activities of daily living. Scientific literature on the safety and efficacy of scooters in winter conditions is sparse and the current technical standards for scooters do not mandate testing in these conditions. This study paves the way for more rigorous standard testing by: 1) Describing a novel, motion-capture based method to quantify the tractive performance of scooters; 2) Describing methods to create a wide variety of simulated winter conditions; 3) Presenting pilot-test results of a scooter driven in these winter conditions. The outcomes of this study are significant because it is the first study to evaluate the performance of a scooter in winter conditions. Furthermore, it constitutes the first phase of a broader initiative to develop a rigorous, new winter test method for scooters and drive improvements in safety, performance and design.
Effects of Altered Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 Expression on the Growth of Neural Progenitors and Organization of the Mouse Cortex
Keywords: Neurodevelopmental disorder
Williams-Beuren Syndrome
Neural progenitor cell
neural stem cell
Neuroscience

Williams Beuren syndrome Syndrome (WBS) and 7q11.23 Duplication Syndrome (Dup7) are rare neurodevelopmental disorders associated with a range of cognitive and behavioural symptoms, caused by the deletion and duplication, respectively, of 26 genes on human chromosome 7q11.23. I have studied the effects of deletion or duplication of two candidate genes, GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, on neural stem cell growth and neurogenesis using cultured primary neuronal precursors from mouse models with gene copy number changes. I found that the number of neuronal precursors and committed neurons was directly related to the copy number of these genes in the mid-gestation embryonic cortex. I further found that in late-gestation embryos, cortical thickness was altered in a similar gene dose-dependent manner, in combination with layer-specific changes in neuronal density. I hypothesize that some of the neurological features of WS and Dup7 stem from these impairments in early cortical development.
Investigating the Role of ATF6Beta in the ER Stress Response of Pancreatic Beta-cells
Keywords: Diabetes
ER stress
Apoptosis
ATF6beta
unfolded protein response
ATF6 signaling pathway
pancreatic beta-cell

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated as a causative factor in the development of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and death resulting in type 2 diabetes. This thesis examined the role of ATF6beta in the ER stress response of beta-cells. Using an ATF6beta-specific antibody, expression of full-length ATF6beta was detected in various insulinoma cell lines and rodent islets and the induction of the active form (ATF6beta-p60) under ER stress conditions. Knock-down of ATF6beta in INS-1 832/13 cells did not affect mRNA induction of known ER stress response genes in response to tunicamycin-induced ER stress, however it increased the susceptibility of beta-cells to apoptosis. Conversely, overexpression of ATF6beta-p60 reduced the apoptotic phenotype. Microarray results suggest ATF6beta functions to induce expression of adaptive genes also regulated by ATF6alpha, but also several specific targets genes. These findings have increased our understanding of the role of ATF6beta in the ER stress response of beta-cells.
Information Centric Data Collection and Dissemination Fabric for Smart Infrastructures
Keywords: Information Centric Networking
Publish/Subscribe
PASS for Internet of Things
Machine-to-Machine Cmmunication

Evolving smart infrastructures requires both content distribution as well as event notification and processing support. Content Centric Networking (CCN), built around named data, is a clean slate network architecture for supporting future applications. Due to its focus on content distribution, CCN does not inherently support Publish-Subscribe event notification, a fundamental building block in computer mediated systems and a critical requirement for smart infrastructure applications. While semantics of content distribution and event notification require different support systems from the underlying network infrastructure, content distribution and event notification can still be united by leveraging similarities in the routing infrastructure. Our Extended-CCN architecture(X-CCN) realizes this to provide lightweight content based pub-sub service at the network layer, which is used to provide advanced publish/subscribe services at higher layers. Light weight content based pub-sub and CCN communication at network layer along with advanced publish/subscribe together are presented as data fabric for the smart infrastructures applications.
Improving the Detection Limit of Planar 2D Photonic Crystal Slab Refractive Index Sensors
Keywords: Photonic Crystal
Refractive Index Sensor

Two dimensional photonic crystal slabs are studied theoretically and experimentally for the application of refractive index sensing with a focus on increasing both quality factor and sensitivity simultaneously. An overview of simulation and experimental techniques, along with fabrication protocols used is given. Through the use of new wafer architectures which allow for an air substrate, sensitivity is enhanced in some cases by more than a factor of 2 from our previous studies. Combining this with a novel lattice proposed which greatly reduces fabrication tolerances, experimental quality factors above 10,500 are achieved while maintaining an experimental sensitivity of above 800 nm/RIU. The effects of a finite photonic crystal slab are studied through the group velocity of guided mode resonances, with an emphasis on zero-group velocity. Future applications of the designs proposed are discussed.
Development and Testing of Sample Therapeutic Programs on the Microsoft Kinect for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Keywords: Virtual Reality Therapy
Cerebral Palsy
Kinect
Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common condition leading to severe motor impairment in children. Children with CP must go through extensive therapy. Current therapy approaches are coming to use computer games therapeutic tools. However children with CP often have trouble using many of these virtual systems due to equipment challenges. This thesis uses the Kinect to design and create two therapeutic games (DODGEWALL and Reach+) that are tailored to be used in therapy for children with CP. It evaluates the usefulness of the system in a therapeutic context for children with CP through a study involving 6 therapists and 8 children with CP. It was found that overall, children were engaged and enjoyed playing the games. Further, the games developed were judged therapeutically relevant and will be included in a newly constructed VRT suite at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and used in therapy with appropriate children.
Approach-avoidance Conflict for Sucrose and Footshock Pairing in Cocaine-sensitized Rats
Keywords: incentive motivation
addiction
dopamine
cocaine
sensitization
approach-avoidance

Repeated administration of psychostimulant drugs induces a long-term state of sensitization in the mesolimbic dopamine system. This hyperdopaminergic state is associated with enhanced reward-seeking behaviors. Such aberration of incentive motivational processing is suggested to facilitate the initiation and maintenance of compulsive drug-taking behaviors. A defining characteristic of addiction is the persistence to pursue drug reinforcement despite negative consequences associated with administration. Thus, it is likely that addicts frequently experience states of motivational conflict to both seek and avoid the drug. The present study investigated the effects of repeated cocaine exposure on goal-seeking behaviors in rats, utilizing conflict paradigms wherein positive and negative incentive motivations were simultaneously evoked. Here it was shown that cocaine-experienced rats displayed both enhanced approach and avoidance behaviors, depending upon the conditions put forth in each paradigm. The results contribute to elucidating the consequences of drug administration upon basic motivational processes that may influence compulsive drug-taking behaviors.
Multimodal Targets in Speech Production: Acoustic, Articulatory and Dynamic Eevidence from Formant Perturbation
Keywords: speech motor control
auditory feedback
formant perturbation
articulography

This thesis presents evidence from a formant perturbation experiment which supports the hypothesis that speech targets are multimodal. A real-time auditory feedback perturbation is used to gradually shift English speakers' formants from the vowel /E/ towards /I/. Most speakers compensate at the level of acoustics, adjusting their production towards /ae/ such that they hear themselves producing the correct vowel. Subjects' articulation is tracked with electromagnetic-articulography. The articulatory data shows that subjects tend to produce marginal /E/s at the level of articulation - remaining within the normal articulatory bounds for that vowel, while adjusting the position of individual articulators to a sufficient extent to create an acoustic compensation to the perturbation. The higher-order relationship between speed and curvature is shown to differ across different vowel phonemes. However, this measure remains constant under formant perturbation. These findings are argued to show that phonemic targets are multi-modal, having acoustical, kinematic, and dynamic components.
Non-contact Measurement of Dynamic Belt Span Tension in Automotive FEAD Systems
Keywords: Vibration
Tension
Automotive
Measurement

The proposed tension measurement method focuses on measurement of tension in a single belt span of the multi-pulley Front End Accessory Drive (FEAD) system. The mean belt span tension is calculated from the measured belt span natural vibration frequency. The oscillation belt span tension is calculated from the measured belt span transverse displacement. The dynamic belt span tension is calculated using the mean and oscillation tensions, belt span support pulley rotations, and belt slip, where the slip equation is based on Euler's equation. The proposed tension measurement method is validated using an experimental testing FEAD system which consists of a five pulley system and an automatic tensioner arm. Non-contact sensors are used to prevent disruption of the typical system behaviour. Testing conditions simulate typical engine crankshaft rotation input. Results from experimental testing consistently produce results with percent error less than 10 % for mean and maximum belt span dynamic tension.
Development of Surrogates for Aviation Jet Fuels
Keywords: Surrogate fuels
Fuel modeling
Surrogate mixture
Quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR)

Surrogate fuels are mixtures of pure hydrocarbons that mimic specific properties of a real fuel. The use of a small number of pure compounds in their formulation ensures that chemical composition is well controlled, helping increase reproducibility of experiments and reduce the computational cost associated with numerical modeling. In this work, surrogate mixtures were developed for Jet A fuel based on correlations between fuel properties (cetane number, smoke point, threshold sooting index (TSI), density, viscosity, boiling point and freezing point) and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the fuel as a measure of the fuel's chemical composition. Comparison of the chemical composition and target fuel properties of the surrogate fuels developed in this work to a Jet A fuel sample and other surrogate fuels proposed in the literature revealed the superiority of these surrogate fuels in mimicking the fuel properties of interest.
Quantification of Damage in Selected Rocks due to Impact with Tungsten Carbide Bits
Keywords: Damage Quantification in Rocks
low velocity impact experiments

Impact induced dynamic cracks are produced with a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus in two rocks (Kuru granite and Flamboro limestone) with impact velocities ranging from 8 to 12 m/s. Impact bit (tungsten carbide) diameters range from 8mm to 15mm. Dye impregnation combined with UV imaging, CAT scans and Optical scans were employed to study the resulting crack patterns. The resulting damage is quantified in terms of radial crack density on impact surface, crater, crushed zone and crack density with depth. In both rocks &lsquo;total&rsquo; damage obtained is directly proportional (exponential) with bit diameter and impact velocity. The &lsquo;total&rsquo; damage in Kuru granite is found to be greater than Flamboro limestone at all impact velocities; however, the crushed zone in the latter is found to consistently greater than the former. 2D simulations of dynamic fractures with AUTODYN have also been carried out showing good qualitative agreement with experimental results.
The Kurdish Quest for Self-determination: Looking to Individual Experiences to Administer Differences
Keywords: Kurdish Self-Determination
French Republicanism
Decentralization
Pluralism

The issue of Kurdish self-determination within the highly centralized Republic of Turkey has been a controversial issue with its local, national and international dimensions over the years. Without solving this issue, Turkey might not reach the aims of joining the European Union (EU), economic sustainability, literal democracy, pluralism, and peace. After 40 years armed struggle between Kurdish and Turkish sides, two significant suggestions are currently being discussed: a provincial system similar to what the Ottoman Empire accepted with its own multicultural system; second, the current unitary system with more powerful local authorities. This paper analyzes the problem in an inductive method and takes the second approach to evaluate Turkish centralization, modernization, and transformation to French Republicanism. This evaluation concludes with the critique of the French universal citizenship understanding and requirement of more pluralistic, democratic citizenship and administrative model as a solution of minority rights and self-determination problem in Turkey.