VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Very Long-chain Saturated Fatty Acids: Lifestyle Contributors and Associations With Pathophysiological Determinants of Type 2 Diabetes
Keywords: Diabetes
Epidemiology
Fatty acids

Studies have reported that circulating very long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFA), including arachidic acid (20:0), behenic acid (22:0), and lignoceric acid (24:0), are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This thesis aimed to identify dietary determinants of circulating VLCSFA in different serum fractions and evaluate their associations with insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function. We conducted a systematic review to summarize the current evidence on the lifestyle variables associated with circulating VLCSFA. Findings were used to support primary analyses conducted in the PROspective Metabolism Islet cell Evaluation (PROMISE) Cohort. Results indicated that healthier overall dietary quality was positively associated with triacylglycerol VLCSFA, and that VLCSFA in the triacylglycerol pool was longitudinally associated with improved insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function. Our data extend current evidence by indicating that the association between VLCSFA and T2DM may be mediated by changes in insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function over time.
“Information is Power”: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Lived Experiences of Patients with Degenerative Cervical Radiculopathy
Keywords: Cervical radiculopathy
Lived experiences
Phenomenological
Qualitative

Degenerative cervical radiculopathy (DCR) leads to severe pain, paresthesia, and/or motor weakness, resulting in significant morbidity, disability, and reduced quality of life. The objective of this research is to understand the everyday experiences of individuals living with DCR, to help inform the development of a patient-centered non-operative program of care. A qualitative study conducted through an interpretivist lens explored the experiences of DCR through semistructured interviews. Participants describe significant physical and psychological impacts of symptoms, leading to disruption of their normal daily activities. Healthcare providers are seen as a cornerstone in patients’ journey with DCR, while family members provide substantial physical and emotional support. Expectations for a non-operative program of care include symptomatic relief and improved control of symptoms. The results of this project provide the first account of the everyday experiences of DCR patients and lay the groundwork for future steps to create a non-operative program of care.
Supporting Healthcare Worker Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning from Peer Support Facilitators
Keywords: healthcare worker
mental wellbeing
occupational stress

Healthcare Workers are at risk of long-term negative mental health effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Social Support, Tracking Distress, Education and Discussion Community Staff Wellness Program was implemented in select hospital units during the pandemic. Programming was facilitated by multidisciplinary peer supporters; this project aimed to elucidate their experiences, and gain insight into lessons learned and future directions for the implementation of peer support programming. Two open-ended, semi-structured focus groups were conducted with peer supporters. Transcripts were inductively and iteratively read and coded. Codes were deductively categorized to summarize relevant information. Peer supporters described benefits and challenges of the role, reporting an overall positive experience. Building trust with the target group was highlighted as important to program uptake. When planning similar work, groups should aim to build organizational, as well as individual, resilience by targeting leadership and incorporating non-pathologizing messages regarding wellness in onboarding and routine team meetings.
Measuring Abdominal Pain in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Scoping Review and Preliminary Results of a Validation Study
Keywords: Abdominal pain
Irritable bowel syndrome
Measurement
Reliability
Scoping review
Validity

Abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is multi-dimensional and often interferes with daily function in IBS patients. The aims of this thesis are: 1) to review the literature regarding instruments to measure abdominal pain in IBS; and 2) to present the preliminary results of a validation study examining the measurement properties of an adapted version of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) to measure abdominal pain in IBS. Based on a scoping review, we confirmed a lack of evidence of validity of a multi-dimensional instrument to measure abdominal pain in IBS. A preliminary analysis of the first 14 participants in a cohort validation study of the adapted BPI was performed demonstrating that the adapted BPI may offer a reliable and valid measure of abdominal pain that measures both pain intensity and pain interference. These results may have an impact on patient care and the conduct of clinical trials of novel IBS therapies.
A Spatial Analysis of Overdose Mortality Incidence and Supervised Consumption Services in Toronto, Canada
Keywords: drug policy
harm reduction
injection drug use
opioid overdose
spatial analysis
supervised injection site

It is well-established that supervised consumption services (SCS) prevent overdose deaths on site, but evidence gaps remain regarding their capacity to impact overdose mortality at the population level. This study sought to characterize overdose mortality in Toronto, Canada, a city with heightened overdose incidence, and investigate the association between SCS proximity and overdose mortality incidence. First, overdose mortality incidence rates were compared before and after the implementation of nine SCS. Second, overdose incident data were assessed for global spatial autocorrelation and local clustering (i.e., hot spots). Third, geographically-weighted regression was employed to model the association between SCS proximity and overdose mortality incidence. Findings revealed that (1) overdose deaths in SCS- surrounding neighbourhoods decreased significantly post-implementation; (2) overdose deaths were significantly spatially autocorrelated and the magnitude of local clustering decreased in SCS-surrounding neighbourhoods year-over-year; and (3) the spatially-mediated impact of SCS on overdose mortality incidence increased in both magnitude and area year-over-year.
Identifying Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals Binding to Human Nuclear Receptor and Intracellular Lipid-binding Proteins
Keywords: BPA
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Estrogen related receptor gamma
Fatty acid binding proteins
HONO
PFECA

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) mimic the functions of endogenous hormones to modulate endocrine systems that can cause adverse health effects. Most EDCs remain unidentified due to the immense number of chemicals in commerce. This thesis focused on identifying EDCs binding to the fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) and human estrogen related receptor gamma (ERRg). The first project demonstrated that the minor structural changes of PFECAs from legacy PFAS show broad-spectrum binding activity to target human proteins. In the second project, I developed a protein affinity purification method to identify EDCs at the exposome-wide level to discover the hitherto unknown compound, nitrate bisphenol A (NO2-BPA), that binds to the ERRg. NO2-BPA was found to be transformed from bisphenol A through heterogeneous HONO reactions in the indoor environment. This finding has expanded knowledge of a large class of nitration compounds formed via reactions with HONO.
Source Apportionment of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region
Keywords: back-trajectory
chemical mass balance
non-methane hydrocarbons
oil sands
volatile organic compounds

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from oil sands operations in the Athabasca region of Alberta are known to impact Fort McKay (a nearby Indigenous community), often causing poor odours. However, the relative contribution of specific sources to the VOCs observed in Fort McKay has remained unclear. To address this, community exposure to non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) was attributed to nearby sources through two independent approaches; a chemical mass balance (CMB) model which relied on speciated VOC measurements to be used as chemical tracers, and a surface level trajectory model using wind measurements from several nearby stations. The results showed that the two major facilities south of Fort McKay, operated by Suncor and Syncrude, accounted for 40 – 42 % of total observed exposure, while the two nearby Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) operations (Horizon and Jackpine/Muskeg River) accounted for 13% – 14% of total observed exposure.
Examining The Influence of The Self-referential Bias on Aberrant Salience and Jumping to Conclusions Bias in Individuals with Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders
Keywords: Cognitive Bias
Delusions
Schizophrenia

Neurobiological and cognitive processes such as aberrant salience (AS) and the jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias are implicated in the development of delusions. Self-referential thinking (SRT) has also been implicated in this process, however, no research has examined how SRT may interact with AS and JTC in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSDs). The present study examined whether manipulating SRT led to an increase in AS and JTC in individuals with SSDs (n= 20) relative to psychiatrically healthy controls (n= 20), and if greater levels of SRT moderate the relationship between AS, JTC, and delusion severity. Overall, SRT did not influence levels of AS or JTC bias and did not significantly interact with either AS or JTC bias to predict delusion severity. These results indicate that while SRT is related to delusion severity, AS, and JTC bias, it may not interact with these processes to promote the development of delusions.
A Journey towards Allyship: How Middle-class, Second Generation South Asian Canadian Mothers Challenge Anti-black Racism
Keywords: Allyship
Anti-Racism
Critical Race Theory
Intersectionality Theory
Second Generation Canadians
South Asian Studies

This study explores how self-identified middle-class second generation South Asian Canadian mothers journey towards allyship with racialized Black people in dismantling anti-Black racism. Using Participatory Action Research principles, as well as Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality Theory as frameworks, three key findings emerged from the data. First, the journey towards allyship begins with envisioning ourselves as racial justice allies and determining what that means to us, doing the introspection work to examine our own internalised racism, and then working to unlearn those perspectives. The journey towards allyship moves forward by acknowledging our capability to address anti-Blackness in our familial and social networks as well as in institutions such as schools and workplaces. And, the journey towards allyship is sustained by the support of middle-class, second generation South Asian Canadian mothers with similar anti-racism goals sharing resources and stories of their journeys thereby catalysing new understandings of privilege and oppression together. These findings are a meaningful contribution to larger scale efforts in addressing anti-Black racism and achieving social justice for racialized Black people. They are also a contribution to the growing body of research on middle-class second generation South Asian Canadians and, a source of inspiration for us as individuals and as a supportive community of mothers to continue our journey as aspiring allies of colour beyond the scope of this project.
Investigating the Endocannabinoid System in Major Depressive Episodes: Imaging with the Radiotracer [11C]CURB
Keywords: depression
endocannabinoids
neuroimaging

Purpose. To determine whether brain fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is elevated in vivo in patients with major depressive episodes (MDE) and if FAAH is related to depressive severity.Methods. Medication-free MDE and healthy control (HC) participants were recruited. All participants were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. FAAH was measured using [11C]CURB positron emission tomography. Results. Seven MDE and 10 age- and sex-matched HC participants completed the study. Data showed no significant group differences in FAAH, and no correlation between FAAH and depressive severity in MDE. FAAH in the medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, ventral striatum, and substantia nigra were positively correlated with apathy in MDE. It should be noted that this study was underpowered. Conclusion. This study is the first to investigate FAAH in MDE in vivo. Despite no significant group differences in FAAH levels, FAAH may be related to apathy in MDE.
The Relationship between Large-scale Atmospheric Oscillations and Cyclone Patterns, and Their Impacts on Summer Precipitation Distribution in the Canadian Arctic
Keywords: Canadian Arctic
Cyclones
Large-scale oscillations
Precipitation
Trends

A trend analysis of the Arctic System Reanalysis Version 2 (ASRv2) data from 2000 to 2015 showed that changes occurring with summer rainfall and snowfall are synchronized in the Canadian Arctic. The precipitation distribution in the Canadian Arctic with the low-pressure system (center pressure < 1000hPa) patterns showed high consistency; however, snowfall in areas including Ellesmere Island and northeastern mainland NU was not found to be related to the cyclone distribution. The influences of the summer Arctic Oscillation (AO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the cyclones vary regionally, leading to a complicated distribution pattern of rainfall and snowfall. These variations might also be related to sea ice opening and local evaporation, in addition to the moving jet stream. Under the circumstances of global warming and Arctic amplification, changes in summer precipitation might have substantial impacts on the hydrology, sea ice, and permafrost conditions in the Canadian Arctic.
Time Series Classification and Augmentation with Domain-agnostic Self-supervised Learning for Combustion Signature Analysis
Keywords: Self-Supervised Learning
Time Series Augmentation
Time Series Classification

When responding to freight transportation fire incidents with unknown or mixed materials, first responders require decision support on the appropriate emergency response strategy. In this work, we propose to use machine learning (ML) to aid first responders by identifying hazard characteristics (e.g., toxicity and explosivity) of a given fire using the time series profile of chemicals found in the effluent. We experiment with time series classification algorithms, enhance their performance with time series augmentation techniques, and demonstrate that a model named MultiRocket achieved high testing performance with minimal inference time. Additionally, we explore using self-supervised learning to learn patterns of the data without the need of any handcrafted augmentations and demonstrate that it is a promising alternative avenue to training supervised ML models. Our proposed toolkit benefiting from machine learning will pave the way for further research in accessible, easily-deployable AI-enabled tools in fire sciences and management.
The Bacterial Microbiome of Four Hard Red Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cultivars in the Context of Fusarium Head Blight
Keywords: 16S
bacteria
DNA sequencing
Fusarium
microbiome
wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious disease in wheat and other cereal grains, caused by several Fusarium species including Fusarium graminearum. The mycotoxins secreted by these fungal pathogens can be lethal if ingested in large quantities, and their accumulation in cereals results in significant annual crop losses worldwide. Current disease management strategies are struggling to cope with FHB outbreaks and could be improved via the identification and utilization of bacterial endophytes that provide their hosts with disease suppression against FHB. The aim of this project was to identify native bacterial endophytes in the wheat heads of four cultivars of Canadian hard red spring wheat of varying FHB resistance, to investigate any links between microbiome profile and host resistance level. DNA sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene revealed significant differences in species prevalence and abundance among cultivars and among samples collected at early and late stages of FHB infection.
The Adoption, Use, and Impacts of Ride-sourcing Services in the Metro Vancouver Area
Keywords: Mode choice
Ridehailing
Ridesourcing
Stated preference
Transportation network company
Uber

The advent of a new travel mode can transform travel behaviour and urban transportation systems. While ride-sourcing services provided by Transportation Network Companies have generally been established in most urban areas, they only recently became available in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Given the relative novelty of ride-sourcing in the region, it is important to understand the impacts of its introduction. This thesis aims to examine the factors influencing the adoption and use of ride-sourcing services and the impacts of said services on the use of other modes in Metro Vancouver through a web-based survey administered to residents of the region. Additionally, this thesis presents the results of empirical work performed using the collected survey data. The results can help planners understand the role that ride-sourcing plays and its relationship with other travel modes. The results can also be used to develop policies that harness the benefits of ride-sourcing.
Ab Initio DFT Approaches to CMOS Quantum Dot Simulation
Keywords: CMOS
DFT
Nanowire
Quantum computing
Quantum dots
resonant tunneling

An ab initio, atomistic, density functional theory (DFT) simulation approach is reported to capture the impact of temperature, gate oxide spacer width, gate length, and device dimensions on the Coulomb peaks in the drain current characteristics of Si n-type nanowire single electron transistors (SETs). The Coulomb peaks are observed at temperatures as high as 50 K. The tunneling drain current peaks and the peak-to-valley drain current ratios show exponential dependencies on device dimensions, while variations in the scaled nanowire radius result in radically different Coulomb signatures. Variations in gate length highlight the effects of scaling on device capacitance. These findings have important implications for the fabrication process control of current and future generations of quantum devices.
Design of a Custom Rideshare Payload Adapter for the GHGSAT-C3/C4/C5 Microsatellites Launched in Tandem
Keywords: Falcon 9
GHGSat-C3/C4/C5
Launch Adapter
Microsatellites
Rideshare Launch
Space Systems

The increasing repercussions of climate change have encouraged governments and corporations to adopt better ways to monitor and quantify greenhouse gas emissions, opening new opportunities in space-based Earth monitoring. The rapid advancement in space technology has increased small satellite missions dedicated for Earth observation. The Space Flight Laboratory has been developing microsatellites for GHGSat Inc. which is becoming the global reference for remote sensing of greenhouse gas from any source in the world. This thesis presents the complete design cycle of a custom Rideshare payload adapter for a cluster of three microsatellites. Finite element analysis is presented to verify the adapter’s compliance with all structural requirements. Necessary ground support equipment is designed to ensure appropriate handling of the structure. The adapter is then qualified for launch through vibration testing. Experimental data is analyzed to update the simulation models and to develop appropriate testing profiles for spacecraft qualification.
Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Vehicle Lifespan Caps for Reducing Light-duty Vehicle Fleet GHG Emissions in the U.S.
Keywords: carbon emissions
electric vehicle deplyoment
life cycle assessment
light-duty vehicles
vehicle turnover

Accelerated vehicle turnover gets new technologies on the road faster but increases the rate of vehicle production and purchases. By combining vehicle fleet modelling, life cycle assessment (LCA), and total ownership costing this work estimates the GHG emissions and costs for the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet from 2020 – 2050 under a forced early retirement program. We estimate that under current EV sales projections, even when combined with vehicle light-weighting, fuel consumption improvement, and vehicle size reduction, vehicle lifespan caps are ineffective at reducing GHG emissions. While under a 100% EV sales target by 2035, applying a 12-year lifespan cap on conventional light-duty vehicles can be effective, reducing cumulative GHG emissions from 2020 through 2050 by 6%. However, the abatement costs for this method are high, near 2020 USD 1000/tCO2e, placing either a high burden on the government for providing incentives or markedly increasing average vehicle ownership costs.
Advancing the Development of a Maritime Monitoring Satellite from Design to Payload Testing
Keywords: NorSat-4
Satellite
Spacecraft

The newest maritime monitoring satellite for Norway is NorSat-4, whose purpose is to improve situational awareness in Norwegian territorial waters. The mission is housed within a Space Flight Laboratory designed satellite bus, and utilizes the Automatic Identification System receiver and Low Light Imager payloads to meet its objectives. Contributions to advancing the completion state of the mission in this thesis fall under the Command \& Data Handling and Payload subsystems, as well as Assembly, Integration, \& Testing. Of these contributions, a software program is presented that can control the Low Light Imager and save pictures to file. Designs for physical systems have been created as well, including the satellite wire harness and flatsat. Finally, the flatsat wireless communications were set up in preparation for payload testing. Through rigorous testing, following best practices, and meeting mission requirements, these contributions will play a part in ensuring the mission’s successful completion.
Analysis of Prognostic Germline Polymorphisms in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma
SNP

Introduction: There is a need for more prognostic biomarkers to guide the treatment of advanced HCC. Methods: Our aim was to validate SNPs prognostic of outcome in advanced HCC from the literature, and to analyze exploratory SNPs chosen from evaluation of the HCC tumor immune microenvironment. Using a database of patients with HCC treated with sorafenib, blood samples were genotyped, clinical variables were retrospectively collected, and SNPs were analyzed for association with PFS and OS. Results: Literature review identified 7 SNPs in VEGF, eNOS, ANGPT2 and VEGFR2, however none were externally validated in our dataset. Of the 35 exploratory SNPs, the following were associated with PFS or OS: rs1024611, rs1800896, rs231775, and rs28362491. Conclusion: SNPs identified by literature review to be prognostic in sorafenib treated patients with advanced HCC were not validated in our dataset. Our findings suggest potentially important prognostic implications of SNPs in VEGFR2, CCL2, IL-10, CTLA-4 and NFKB1 that deserve further study.