VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Mouth Care Education to Improve the Oral Health of Residents of Long Term Care Homes
Keywords: oral health
long term care
education
elderly

Objective: To assess the efficacy of personal support worker (PSW) mouth care education to improve the oral health of residents of long term care homes. Methodology: Experimental PSWs received mouth care education at baseline before taking the knowledge test. PSWs‟ mouth care knowledge was measured using a 20-item knowledge test at baseline, post-test (supervised); 6-months (un-supervised). Residents‟ oral health outcomes assessed at baseline and 6-months using the modified Plaque Index and modified Gingival Index. Results: Experimental PSWs‟ post-test knowledge (n=32;M=17.59;SD=1.43) significantly increased from pre-test (M=15.34;SD=2.10), F(2,72)=4.90;p<.05. 39 control residents and 41 experimental residents participated. Experimental residents‟ PI significantly decreased at 6-months compared to baseline, F(1,156)=5.52;p<.05, there was no significant difference in their GI between baseline and 6-months, F(1,156)=3.29;p=.07. Conclusion: PSWs‟ mouth care knowledge significantly increased after receiving mouth care education and was sustained over six months. Only experimental residents‟ PI significantly improved after 6 months.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Investigations of Mild Brain Damage
Keywords: mild traumatic brain injury
spinal cord injury
diffusion tensor imaging
white matter damage

In two separate studies, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)to examine white matter changes secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). The first study examined the utility of DTI for a single case diagnosis of mild TBI (mTBI) and demonstrated that the anterior limb of the internal capsule and the genu of the corpus callosum were sensitive and specific to mTBI. The second study examined the sub-acute effects of SCI on white matter tissue in the brain and demonstrated that SCI patients have a significantly greater degree of FA asymmetry than control subjects in the superior and posterior corona radiata. The first study has provided preliminary proof of principal evidence that DTI can be used to diagnose mTBI in individual cases. The second study suggests that the degree of asymmetry may be a useful biomarker for detecting subtle white matter changes.
The Association of Childhood Trauma, Eating Disorder Symptoms and General Psychopathology in Individuals with Eating Disorders
Keywords: eating disorders
childhood trauma

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse and childhood emotional and physical neglect on eating disorder symptoms and general psychopathology. This study utilized a cross-sectional research design incorporating a combination of self-report measures and clinical interviews. Seventy participants were recruited from two eating disorder treatment centres. A series of univariate tests revealed no significant differences between individuals who reported a mild level of trauma and those who reported a severe level of trauma on all clinical measures. Logistic regression analyses revealed associations between impulsivity and childhood physical abuse and between psychiatric comorbidity and childhood physical neglect. Few associations were found and the observed effect sizes were generally small suggesting that the null findings were not due to inadequate power. It may be that the study sample differed from those used in previous investigations in which significant associations have been documented.
A Novel Approach for Detection of Several Tuberculosis Markers Using Diffractive Optics
Keywords: tuberculosis
diffraction-based sensing
interferon-γ
ELISA
dotLab
biotin conjugation
TB diagnostics
HRP conjugation

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important disease worldwide. Currently, one-third of the world’s population is infected with TB, and it is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV. Immediate but also accurate diagnosis is required for disease control, yet available diagnostics cannot do both simultaneously. Therefore, designing a technique that can diagnose the disease correctly in the shortest possible time is in great demand in order to stop its spread. Diffraction-based sensing is a novel technique for measuring of biomolecular interaction that has potential for disease diagnosis. In this study, diffraction-based sensing successfully demonstrated its usefulness for diagnostics of TB using recombinant TB antigen, or by detection of interferon-γ that is produced from white blood cells when the immune system activates. The feasibility of the technology was also evaluated in terms of providing real time observation, reducing diagnostic duration, and increasing sensitivity of detection.
Characterization of BT3299: A Family GH31 Enzyme from a Prominent Gut Symbiont Bacteroides Thetaiotaomicron
Keywords: Gut microbiota
Glycoside hydrolases
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
Family 31

The human gut is host to a vast consortium of microorganisms, collectively referred to as the microbiota or microflora, which play important roles in health and disease. Current applications focus only on a single type of bacteria, which are not the most dominant numerically, and without detailed knowledge of the specific functions of these bacteria. A good indicator of the function of a bacterial species involves detailed analysis of its enzymes. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is one of the predominant bacterial species with a great representation of the carbohydrate processing enzymes, glycoside hydrolases in its proteome. This thesis reports the production and purification of one such enzyme, BT3299, suitable for kinetic and structural studies. The enzyme displayed a broad substrate specificity with a slight preference for 1-->3 and 1-->6 glycosidic linkages and longer chain saccharides. Future work will focus on structural analysis as an aid to the understanding of the enzyme function.
Soot Measurements in High-pressure Diffusion Flames of Gaseous and Liquid Fuels
Keywords: combustion
soot
diffusion flames
high pressure
methane
ethane
heptane

Methane-air, ethane-air, and n-heptane-air over-ventilated co-flow laminar diffusion flames were studied up to pressures of 2.03, 1.52, and 0.51 MPa, respectively, to determine the effect of pressure on flame shape, soot concentration, and temperature. A spectral soot emission optical diagnostic method was used to obtain the spatially resolved soot formation and temperature data. In all cases, soot formation was enhanced by pressure, but the pressure sensitivity decreased as pressure was increased. The maximum fuel carbon conversion to soot, ηmax, was approximated by a power law dependence with the pressure exponent of 0.92 between 0.51 and 1.01 MPa, and 0.68 between 1.01 and 2.03 MPa with ηmax=9.5% at 2.03 MPa for methane-air flames. For ethane-air flames, the pressure exponent was 1.57 between 0.20 and 0.51 MPa, 1.08 between 0.51 and 1.01 MPa, and 0.58 between 1.01 and 1.52 MPa where ηmax=23% at 1.52 MPa. For nitrogen-diluted n-heptane-air flames, ηmax=6.5% at 0.51 MPa.
Chronic Deep Brain Stimulation and Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Depression: Effects on Neuroplasticity in Rats
Keywords: Deep Brain Stimulation
Neuroplasticity
BDNF
pCREB
Neurogenesis
Rats
Depression
Ki-67
BrdU
Doublecortin
Fluoxetine
Amitriptyline
Moclobemide

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently being investigated as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression, with promising results. However, it is not clear whether or not DBS works via the same mechanisms as those induced by antidepressant medications. Processes currently implicated in antidepressant effects include neuroplastic changes and promotion of neurogenesis. We investigated the effects of chronic treatment with three different classes of antidepressants and DBS on markers of neuroplasticity (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, (BDNF), and phosphorylated cyclic-AMP regulatory element binding protein, (pCREB)) and neurogenesis (Ki-67, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and doublecortin) in the rat hippocampus. No clear treatment effects were seen on BDNF, pCREB and Ki-67 levels. However all treatments caused increased levels of BrdU (range: 46%-96%) and doublecortin (8%-61%), although these effects were statistically significant only for DBS and amitriptyline, respectively. This overall pattern of results may suggest that diverse antidepressant treatments could possibly share common mechanisms involving cell survival and neuronal differentiation. Potentiated effects of DBS on cell survival may underlie its efficacy in treatment-resistant depression.
Identifying Pharmacological Therapeutics for Aggressive Fibromatosis
Keywords: aggressive fibromatosis
beta-catenin
wnt signaling
mouse model

Aggressive fibromatosis is a fibroproliferative tumour that can occur as a sporadic lesion or a manifestation in FAP patients. Tumours are characterized by the stabilization of beta-catenin. Current therapies have yet to offer complete success for primary and recurrent tumours, and there remains a need for more effective therapeutic strategies. In this work, we demonstrate the anti-neoplastic and beta-catenin modulating capacities of Nefopam, a currently approved analgesic agent. We found that Nefopam was able to decrease cell viability and proliferation as well as total beta-catenin levels in human aggressive fibromatosis tumour cells in vitro. Furthermore, Nefopam reduced the number of tumours formed in the Apc+/Apc1638N aggressive fibromatosis mouse model. We also demonstrated that androgens contribute to the development of tumours and could also modulate beta-catenin levels as indicated in Testosterone-treated orchidectomized Apc+/Apc1638N mice. Together, this work suggests that Nefopam and androgen signaling-blocking agents are potential candidates to effectively manage aggressive fibromatosis.
A Comparison of the Presentation and Outcome of Anorexia Nervosa in Early and Late Adolescence
Keywords: anorexia nervosa
pediatric eating disorders
early onset anorexia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presentation and outcome of anorexia nervosa (AN) within the pediatric population. A retrospective chart review of individuals who were admitted for the first time to hospital between 2000-2005 for treatment of AN was completed. Individuals were classified as Early Pediatric AN (admitted <14 years old) or Later Pediatric AN (≥14 years old). It was hypothesized that the Early Pediatric AN group would have a less severe presentation, as measured by percent ideal body weight (%IBW) and medical stability at admission, and better outcome as measured by rate of weight gain post-discharge, number of hospitalizations and the Morgan-Russell General Outcome Scale rating. The study contained a total of 207 cases, larger than many previous studies in pediatric AN. The study found that younger age at presentation was associated with admission at a higher %IBW but not medical stability. Age at presentation did not predict rate of weight gain or rehospitalization; however, the Early Pediatric AN group had a better outcome on the Morgan-Russell scale.
Design, Test, Calibration and Qualification of Satellite Sun Sensors, Power Systems and Supporting Software Development
Keywords: Space Systems
Nanosatellite
Sun Sensors
Nanospace
Microsatellite
Microspace
Space Flight Laboratory

This thesis describes technologies developed for nanosatellites at the Space Flight Laboratory. A critical ground station component, the Terminal Node Controller, was upgraded in order to support Generic Nanosatellite Bus and future missions. Sun sensor requirements and operation were reviewed, followed by details of the author's work in executing the acceptance testing on these parts, including thermal shock testing, thermal functional testing, calibration, system level testing and on orbit commissioning. A new calibration test process was developed, along with supporting structure and software to ease the testing process, producing accurate calibration parameters and expected performance results for the sensors. A thermal qualification campaign was completed, demonstrating that sun sensors are capable of functioning with negligible performance degradation after exposure to extreme temperatures. A process for installing the sun sensor pin hole was developed using photolithography. Finally, power subsystem analysis for the NEMO-AM mission is presented.
FAx86: An Open-Source FPGA-accelerated x86 Full-system Emulator
Keywords: FPGA
x86
acceleration
simulation

This thesis presents FAx86, a hardware/software full-system emulator of commodity computer systems using x86 processors. FAx86 is based upon the open-source IA-32 full-system simulator Bochs and is implemented over a single Virtex-5 FPGA. Our first prototype uses an embedded PowerPC to run the software portion of Bochs and off-loads the instruction decoding function to a low-cost hardware decoder since instruction decode was measured to be the most time consuming part of the software-only emulation. Instruction decoding for x86 architectures is non-trivial due to their variable length and instruction encoding format. The decoder requires only 3% of the total LUTs and 5% of the BRAMs of the FPGA's resources making the design feasible to replicate for many-core emulator implementations. FAx86 prototype boots Linux Debian version 2.6 and runs SPEC CPU 2006 benchmarks. FAx86 improves simulation performance over the default Bochs by 5 to 9\% depending on the workload.
Who then – in Law – is my Neighbour? Lord Atkin’s ‘Neighbour Principle’ as an Aid for the Principled Delineation of the Boundaries of Negligent Liability
Keywords: Negligence Law
Legal Theory

In contemporary legal writing and discourse, Lord Atkin’s neighbour principle is unloved. The now dominant view is that the neighbour principle performs no practical function since it is a mere descriptive label of the very different factual circumstances in which a duty to take reasonable care exists. It is the central contention of this paper that the neighbour principle is – in fact – invaluable as aid for the principled development of the tort of negligence. As this paper will show, the neighbour principle furnishes a common perspective that renders possible uniform determinations of analogical similarity and difference between novel categories of relations and established forms of negligent liability. The principle thus works in tandem with analogical reasoning to ensure objectivity in the delineation of the proper ambit of negligence law’s protection. Accordingly, the principle is an essential in ensuring a principled law of negligence whereby like cases are treated alike.
Implant Complications in Ontario
Keywords: dental implant
complications

Aims and Objectives: To investigate the experience of implant complications and opinions on complications among dentists in private practices in Ontario. Methods: In 2010, a web-based anonymous survey was distributed to 2034 Ontario dentists with valid e-mail addresses. Results: 527 dentists replied to the survey, of which 469 utilized implants. Most complications were preventable. The most important cause of complications was “poor planning”. The most severe complication was “permanent paraesthesia”. Fewer than 5% of patients experienced a complication in 2009. There was little agreement among general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists on the causes of complications, some agreement on preventive strategies to avoid complications, and significant agreement on severity of complications and their preventability. Conclusions: A significant proportion of dentists in Ontario had encountered an implant treatment complication in 2009. Since most complications are preventable, efforts at decreasing their prevalence and severity should be pursued.
Development and Deployment of a Continuous-flow Diffusion Chamber for the Field Measurement of Atmospheric Ice Nuclei
Keywords: Ice nucleation
Continuous Flow Diffusion Chamber
IN
Toronto
Whistler
ATOFMS

Ice crystals in clouds frequently form upon a subset of aerosol particles called ice nuclei (IN). IN influence cloud ice crystal concentrations, consequently affecting cloud lifetime and reflectivity. The present understanding of these effects on climate is hindered by limited data on the global distribution of IN. This thesis presents measurements of deposition-mode IN concentrations under conditions relevant to mid-level clouds, 238 K and 138% RHi. at two Canadian sites: Toronto, a major city, and Whistler, a pristine coniferous rainforest. In Toronto, chemically-resolved surface areas were estimated by single-particle mass spectrometry and regressed against IN concentrations to identify a significant relationship between IN concentrations and both carbonaceous aerosols (EC and/or OC) and dust. In Whistler, IN concentrations during a biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) event did not increase from background levels (0.1 /L), suggesting that biogenic SOA particles do not nucleate ice under these conditions.
Can Molecules Released From Skeletal Muscle Infuence The Heart? The Effect Of Fibre Type and HSP Content.
Keywords: Exercise Science
Cardiovascular

Skeletal muscle damage can lead to cell death and the subsequent release of intracellular molecules. To investigate whether molecules from skeletal muscle can interact with the heart, the Langendorff isolated heart preparation was used to assess cardiac function, while NF-κB and AP-1 activation were assessed by EMSA to observe inflammatory status. Hearts were perfused for 75 min with 1 μg/ml of either soleus, white gastrocnemius (WG), or heat stressed white gastrocnemius (HSWG) skeletal muscle homogenate and a decreased LVDP, +dP/dt and –dP/dt were observed when compared to untreated (control) hearts. Greater early and late decreases in cardiac function were observed in hearts treated with HSWG and soleus muscle homogenates, respectively. No alterations in NF-κB or AP-1 activation were detected. These data suggests the contents of skeletal muscle are capable of interacting with the heart and altering contractile function in a fibre type specific manner, possibly related to muscle HSP content.
Imaging Biomarkers of Response to Radiation and Anti-angiogenic Agents in Brain Tumors
Keywords: radiation
antiangiogenic
biomarker
magnetic resonance imaging
brain tumor
murine model
xenograft
orthotopic

There is mounting evidence to support combined therapy with radiation (RT) and antiangiogenic agents (AA) for the treatment of brain tumors. However, the therapeutic benefit of this combined treatment hinges on the specific dose, schedule, and duration of each treatment. Early biomarkers that reflect tumor physiological responses provide key information that could guide these aspects of treatment. Pre-clinical tumor models are invaluable tools for identifying potential biomarkers, their optimal timing for measurement and their ability to guide therapy in clinical translation. This thesis demonstrates the feasibility and potential of serial MRI to guide the design, delivery and measure of early response to combined AA and RT in a murine intracranial glioma model. We identified promising biomarker changes reflecting early treatment response that may ultimately facilitate individualized spatio-temporal delivery of radiotherapy (RT) and anti-angiogenic agents (AA) for brain tumors.
Multirobot Lunar Excavation using an Artificial Neural Tissue Controller
Keywords: Artificial neural tissue controller

Automated site preparation on the Moon using a group of autonomous rovers is a topic of great interest for the establishment of a lunar base. A potentially very useful system in which multiple, autonomous rovers clear soil to create a landing pad while simultaneously forming berms with the soil cleared will be described. An Artificial Neural Tissue (ANT) architecture was used as the control algorithm to accomplish these tasks. This scalable architecture encourages task decomposition of the main mission tasks and requires minimal human supervision. To solve these tasks, a single fitness function to measure the performance of the controller and a set of allowable basis behaviors was defined. Next, an evolutionary (Darwinian) selection process was used to generate controllers in simulation. The fittest controller was subsequently implemented on LEGO robots for additional validation and testing. The ANT controller was ultimately integrated with a team of three large-scale rovers.
The Interaction between Rab3a and α-Synuclein, and its Implications on α-Synuclein Membrane-binding
Keywords: α-Synuclein
Rab3a
Parkinson's disease

α-Synuclein is an abundant nerve terminal protein and a primary component of the Lewy body pathology seen in Parkinson’s disease. While the precise biological and pathological role of α-synuclein remains unclear, its ability to bind to and dissociate from synaptic membranes may be linked to its function in these states. In this thesis, we characterized the role of the GTPase protein rab3a as a potential regulator of α-synuclein membrane binding and dissociation. We found evidence that GTP-bound rab3a sequesters α-synuclein on membranes during exocytosis, and that inhibition of rab3a dissociation from the membrane causes inhibition of α-synuclein dissociation as well. Furthermore, we found that the loss of rab3a in human neuroblastoma cells increases α-synuclein expression. This study identifies rab3a and proteins associated with its membrane dissociation as mediators of α-synuclein membrane binding and dissociation.
The Involvement of Aquaporins in Ammonia/Ammonium Transport across Root Cell Membranes of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Keywords: aquaporins
nitrogen
ammonia
barley
water potential
ammonium

Using the short-lived radiotracer 13N, we examined the hypothesis that toxic, futile ammonia/ammonium (NH3/NH4+) fluxes at high external concentrations are mediated by ammonia-transporting aquaporins in roots of intact barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants. Effects of the aquaporin inhibitors zinc, copper, mercury, gold, silver, hydrogen peroxide, propionic acid, and nitrogen gas supported this hypothesis. Further tests with these inhibitors showed that changes in plant water potential and water content could be linked to NH3/NH4+ fluxes. An increase in external pH, causing an increase of NH3 in the nutrient solution, resulted in large increases of 13N influx, which can only be explained in energetic terms if the transported solute is neutrally charged. Taken together, the evidence here strongly supports the proposed hypothesis.
Design and Optimization of an Ultrasound System for Two Photon Microscopy Studies of Ultrasound and Microbubble Assisted Blood-brain Barrier Disruption
Keywords: blood-brain barrier disruption
therapeutic ultrasound
microbubbles
therapeutic transducer array
two photon microscopy

In vivo real-time data of ultrasound and microbubble assisted blood-brain barrier disruption is centrally based on low-resolution magnetic resonance images. Additional information can be gained using online microscopic monitoring. This study presents the first ever in vivo two-photon microscopy, four-dimensional data sets of ultrasound and microbubble assisted blood-brain barrier disruption. It characterized the threshold pressures and mechanical index needed to disrupt the vasculature with 800 kHz ultrasound, and found three different leakage constants from the compromised vasculature. Furthermore, using numerical models, an ultrasound array was designed and optimized to perform specifically with our two-photon microscope. It was fabricated, fully characterized, and its performance met both the required pressure field profile and the pressure values needed for our in vivo two-photon microscopy experiments. This array is an important step in microscopically characterizing ultrasound and microbubble assisted blood-brain barrier disruption.