VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The McMichaels and The McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Keywords: Cataloguing
Collecting
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Museums
Registration

The project is an event-based analysis of a group of pioneer objects held at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Using institutional records and published accounts, collecting and cataloguing activities are examined and present evidence of historical discrepancies in the treatment of these objects throughout the development of the institution. The project exposes how historical attitudes towards the pioneer objects categorically separated them from the original donation of the McMichael collection in 1965 and how institutional publications helped frame the growing collection as exclusively art focused. Significant historical cataloguing activities and projects expose institutional discrepancies related to the treated and cataloguing of pioneer objects at the McMichael. As a whole, the project uses these historical discrepancies as part of a framework that begins to question the continued nature of the relationship of the pioneer objects to the McMichael given the institutionâ s current silence towards this element of its development and collection holdings.
Structural Effects of Extracellular Loop Mutations in CFTR Helical Hairpins
Keywords: CFTR
E217 and Q220
ECL2
Mutations
Structural Effects
TM3/4

Here we investigate the structural effects of single amino acid replacements in the extracellular (ECL2) loop region using helical hairpin constructs derived from TM3 and TM4 of TMD1 in human CFTR. By systematically replacing the wild-type residues at two CF-phenotypic sites E217 and Q220 with the other 19 common amino acids, it was shown by CD spectroscopy that a single residue change can result in a significant change in helicity for the resulting hairpin. In most cases, increasing hydrophobicity of the mutant is associated with increasing helicity and SDS-PAGE gel-shift. Leu mutants showed the most dramatic increase in helicity at both positions. Charged residues have relatively diminished effects on helicity at E217 but not at Q220. The CF-phenotypic mutant E217G showed a similar gel-shift pattern to wild-type, but significantly increased helicity when compared to wild-type, while the CF-mutant Q220R showed similar helicity but an increased gel-shift to the wild-type.
The Role of Sex and Gender in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Resconstructive Surgery Outcome
Keywords: Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Gender Studies
Health Related Quality of Life
Sex
Surgical Outcome

Similarities and differences between women and men (M/F) in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and predictors of 1-year HRQoL after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) were explored for the first time using a Sex and Gender Sensitive Analysis (SGSA). M/F differences in variables representing biological sex (S), gender-based sociocultural factors (G) and both SG were evaluated. Males and females in the cohort (n=121, 18-41 years, 77 males) had good 1-year HRQoL but scores indicated potential for improvement. Bivariate analyses showed minimal differences at baseline; males reported more depressive symptoms. In multi-variable regression, 1-year strength (S), change in pain (SG) and physical function (SG) predicted 1-year HRQoL. While a SGSA provided insight into some sex, gender and SG differences, male/female was not associated with 1-year HRQoL. The results suggest the need for the care team to address the psychological as well as the physical aspects of ACL rehabilitation following ACLR.
Identity Construction in ASL-English Interpreted Interactions
Keywords: Identity
Interpretation

Drawing from sociolinguistic literature on identity negotiation and from interpreting research, this study examines how interpreters are implicated in the discursive processes occurring in interpreted interactions. Conversational interactions are sites of identity construction and interpreters actively participate in these dynamics. The data from an interpreted conversation, questionnaires from the interpreters and interlocutors, and playback interviews are analyzed to explore how participantsâ identity negotiations are altered by the interpreters. This study found that identity-related dynamics were influenced by the interpretersâ language proficiency, interpreting technique, and personal identity. In particular, the interpreters had an impact on the participantsâ ability to construct relations of affinity and on their capacity to accurately attribute interactional dynamics. Recruitment and retention of diverse students and pedagogical practices in interpreter education programs might attend to these issues so ASL-English interpreters can seek professional practices that allow transparency and accountability.
Surgical Gloves and Instruments: Potential Vectors of Cancer Cell Seeding
Keywords: cancer seeding
mechanisms of seeding
surgical oncology
tumour recurrence
wound recurrence

Cancer recurrence in surgical wounds occurs by unknown mechanisms. My hypothesis is that tumour cells are harboured on surgical gloves and instruments during the extirpative phase of a cancer resection and can exfoliate into the wound during reconstruction, with potential for growth. A systematic review revealed that the incidence of port-site metastasis in gallbladder cancer is especially high. A survey of practising surgeons found that there is no consensus as to whether specific intraoperative protective strategies are warranted. An analysis of washings from gloves and instruments used intraoperatively during cancer resections identified malignant cells on approximately half of gloves and instruments that had directly handled malignant tissue (debulking of peritoneal malignancy, incisional biopsy of extremity sarcoma). No malignant cells were identified on a glove or instrument used in margin-negative sarcoma resection. These results suggest that specific protective strategies may not be warranted in curative resections.
Coping Motives as a Mediator in the Relationship Between LGBQ-specific Stressors and Alcohol Consumption and Consequences Among LGBQ Emerging Adults
Keywords: Alcohol use
Emerging adults
Lesbian
gay
bisexual
queer

Research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) emerging adults (EAs) are at a disproportionally high risk of consuming alcohol and experiencing alcohol consequences. Additionally, research has demonstrated a relationship between LGBQ stressors and problematic alcohol outcomes among LGBQ EAs. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of coping motives on the relationship between LGBQ stressors (internalized heterosexism, parental rejection, homonegative microaggressions, and sexual orientation-based violence) and both alcohol consumption and consequences. 252 LGBQ EAs (18-25 years-old) completed a series of online questionnaires. Two LGBQ stressors were significantly and positively associated with alcohol consumption, whereas the majority of the LGBQ stressors were significantly and positively associated with alcohol consequences. Coping motives emerged as a significant mediator across all tested models. These findings suggest that coping motives are an important target for clinical interventions for reducing drinking among LGBQ EAs.
Brief History of an English-language Journal in the Ottoman Empire: The Levant Herald and Constantinople Messenger (1859-1878)
Keywords: Ali Suavi
Caputilations
Edgar Whitaker
Media
Ottoman Empire
Britain
Press
Newspapers

The Levant Herald (1856-1914) was one of the English-language newspapers published in Constantinople by British subjects. Given the length of its lifecycle, which exceeded half a century, The Levant Herald was one of the longest lasting newspapers issued during the entire Ottoman period. Although it was published in Ottoman territory, it also circulated in Europe and Britain. Due to this, the newspaper had a somewhat international character. Throughout its lifecycle, it faced many suspensions, closures, and bans, and it suffered from regular political pressure. The proprietors of the newspaper changed several times during its lifecycle and due the regular threat of closure, it had to be issued under different names. The names that the newspaper used were as follows: The Levant Herald, The Constantinople Messenger, The Eastern Express, The Levant Herald Eastern Express.
The Impact of Focal Radiation Damage on Whole-brain Development in the Mouse
Keywords: brain
development
neurogenesis
radiation
volume
white matter

Radiotherapy is a critical component in treating pediatric brain tumors such as medulloblastoma. Although 5-year survival rates are rising, cognitive late eďŹ ects are frequently seen in survivors that received whole-brain radiotherapy. Importantly, white matter (WM) volumes of survivors are often reduced after receiving radiotherapy. Impairments in both WM and neurogenesis have been implicated in late side eďŹ ects. This work involved the image-guided focal irradiation of WM (anterior commissure or AC), neuronal tissue (olfactory bulbs or OBs), and neurogenesis (subventricular zone or SVZ) in the infant mouse brain and subsequent characterization of developmental outcomes in adulthood using MRI. The results indicate that direct radiation targeting of WM may not be the cause of WM hypersensitivity in development. Importantly, the growth of WM (ie. AC) may depend on radiation targeting of other structures. Overall, this work shows that indirect radiation targeting may be as important in structural outcomes as direct radiation targeting.
The Discourse of Konketsuji: Racialized Representations of Biracial Japanese Children in the 1950s
Keywords: Biracial
Discourse
Japan
Mixed-race
Postwar
Race

This study examines textual representations of biracial Japanese children as featured in the print media of 1950s Japan. Attention is paid to the complex discursive process of racialization that produced knowledge of biracial Japanese under the label konketsuji or “mixed-blood child.” This “discourse of konketsuji” is deconstructed and analyzed towards the aim of illustrating how it functioned to disassociate the figure of the konketsuji from the category of “Japanese.” This study situates konketsuji and Japanese racial identity discourse into their proper historical contexts before transitioning to an analysis of primary source material. The discourse of konketsuji is revealed as having racialized konketsuji in a plural and complex manner. Racializing statements about konketsuji referenced difference in phenotype, social origin, political potential, birth circumstances, mentality, intellect, and cultural proclivities so as to position biracial children as a group outside a normative construction of Japanese raciality.
Sex Education as Neoliberal Inclusion: Hetero-cis-ableism in Ontario' s 2015 Health and Physical Education Curriculum
Keywords: crip theory
hetero-cis-ableism
neoliberalism
queer theory
sex education

In this thesis, I investigate how hetero-cis-ableism and neoliberalism are tied to the production of “good” LGBT2SQ and disabled people and the expulsion of “bad” queers and crips within Ontario’s 2015 Health and Physical Education Curriculum. I argue that the move towards explicit or social justice education and the implementation of LGBT2SQ dialogue is not (simply) a way to represent equality, but a way of insuring the production of a specific type of person. Analysing the curriculum through Foucauldian and poststructuralist discourse analysis, I examined how the new content is being used to illicit hetero and cis-normative identities onto those that have otherwise been see as “less desirable.” Through a pedagogical mix of Queer and Crip Theory, this paper points to inconsistencies and flaws that are inherent within curriculum design itself, and how, regardless of intent, anything created for or within a neoliberal institution can never be fully inclusive.
Regulation of Mitochondrial Fission by Ceramide-induced Bcl-2-related Ovarian Killer in Preeclampsia
Keywords: Bcl-2-related ovarian killer
Ceramide
Mitochondria-associated ER membrane
Mitochondrial dynamics
Mitophagy
Preeclampsia

Mitochondrial fission (MF) is regulated by the dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), and its excess is implicated in a number of human diseases. Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with elevated placental ceramide (CER), a bioactive sphingolipid implicated in cell death. We hypothesize that increased CER, as found in PE, increase MF. We have found that PE placentae have increased expression of DRP1, and the mitochondrial compartment is enriched in CERs. JEG3 and primary isolated cytotrophoblast cells treated with CERs have increased pDRP1 expression and recruitment to the mitochondria. CER also increases pro-death Bcl-2 related ovarian killer (BOK) recruitment to the mitochondria in JEG3 cells, where it increases DRP1 expression. pDRP1 and BOK are recruited to the mitochondria associated ER membranes in primary cytotrophoblast cells treated with CER. In conclusion, increased CER augments MF via a mechanism involving BOK, and this may contribute to increased cell death in PE.
Quantitative Ultrasound Characterization of Cell Death
Keywords: Cancer
Cell Death Differentiation
Chromatin
Quantitative Ultrasound

In this thesis, the use of quantitative ultrasound techniques is expanded from previous studies to quantify the approximate degree of tumor response with other modalities of cell death while determining nuclear chromatin to be the major scatterer of ultrasound at frequencies around 20-40 MHz. In the first study, quantitative ultrasound parameters correlated strongly to tumor cell death following mitotic arrest on the basis of chromatin aggregate formation. In the second study, it was observed that quantitative ultrasound techniques could differentiate cell death modalities in a manner that was linked to different chromatin manners of chromatin processing within each form of cell death. In the final study, quantitative ultrasound parameter trends mirrored those of chromatin compaction in the course of chromatin-altering treatments. The findings of this work indicate that quantitative ultrasound can characterize and differentiate multiple forms of cell death in a quantitative manner based on changes to chromatin configuration.
Class-C PA-VCO Cell for FSK and GFSK Transmitters in 130nm Technology
Keywords: BLE Transmitter
Current-reuse
High Efficiency
Power Amplifier
Ultra-low Power
Voltage-controlled Oscillator

Ultra-low power transceivers are widely used in portable devices powered by coin batteries, including applications for indoor localization and body area networks. In these applications, the TX data rate and transmission power are sacrificed in favor of longer lasting battery life. At moderate data rate, FSK and GFSK are of special interest for ultra-low power transceivers since they simplify the transmitter architecture, which can be realized by a VCO followed by a power-efficient non-linear PA. This thesis presents a current-reuse Class-C PA-VCO cell tailored to FSK/GFSK transmitter. By inserting the PA-VCO cell into an open-loop BLE transmitter, 17.5 % of TX efficiency was achieved while delivering -1 dBm of power at 2.45 GHz. The minimal phase noise of -132 dBc/Hz at 2.5 MHz frequency offset results in a carrier-frequency drift rate below 7 Hz/s and an FSK error below 0.7 % when FSK/GFSK modulations are applied.
mHealth and Empowerment Education in the Rainbow Nation: A Study of the CHAT program in South Africa
Keywords: Educational Media
Empowerment Education
Health Literacy
Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition
mHealth
South Africa

Maternal and child health and nutrition (MCHN) disparities remain prominent influences in sustained high infant mortality rates for children under five living with HIV in South Africa. Empowerment processes used in critical health literacy regarding disease management and nutrition can address issues of contextual references to educational content by identifying problems, critically reflecting and acting upon social, economic and political barriers to health. This thesis explores the role of the Community Health Worker Assistive Technologies (CHAT) program to open space use dialogue, supported by educational media delivered by handheld tablets and booklets, as a means of addressing MCHN health disparities in South Africa. Videos recorded of household visits elicited inferential statistics regarding media usage, and further thematic areas emerging from participant/community health worker interactions. This thesis suggests educational media in conjunction with sufficient training can improve references to participant context and increase quality of care and opportunities for empowering dialogue.
Emotions, Significance and Improvement Expectations: The Personal Matter of a Patient's Hospital Stay
Keywords: delivery of health care
patient-centered care
patient experience
patient-reported information
quality health care
quality improvement

Health systems aim to provide quality healthcare. Patients’ experiences can inform quality improvements. Background: Mailed standardized surveys are a way to engage patients about inpatient care experiences. While results from rating-scale questions are regularly reported, no study has analyzed patients’ written responses. Purpose: To learn about patients’ perspectives of hospital care, survey comments were examined. Method: Inductive content analysis of 1,638 written responses was conducted within a qualitative description study design. Findings: Patients’ comments suggest: Emotions pervade patients’ hospital stay experiences with feelings about perceptions of safety, personhood and preparation for returning to living life; moments in time personalize hospital experiences; and the survey is viewed as an implied contract, where patients provide feedback in exchange for hospital improvements. Implications: Findings affirm current understandings about inpatient experiences and extend them. Patients’ comments reveal new insights about the specifics of patient-centered care, patient experience and quality healthcare that merit further study.
Micro-scale Diversity and Persistence of Genomic Variants of the Yeast Saccharomyces paradoxus in a Natural Woodland Population
Keywords: population genetics
Whole-genome
yeasts

Genetic diversity in populations of sister species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. paradoxus, has been described at the global scale, but less at small spatial scales. Fine scale sampling over time captures dynamics in genome distribution, which may not be revealed in large-scaled studies. I investigated the population genomics of a local population to address two questions: is there genomic variation in a S. paradoxus population at a fine spatial scale (centimeters to tens of meters)? Does the distribution of genomic variants persist over time? I sampled 42 S. paradoxus strains from 2014 and 43 strains from 2015 collected from the same 72 microsites around four oak trees within 1km2 in a mixed hardwood forest in southern Ontario. As well, 6 samples were made from Maple or Beech. I found five differentiated clades coexisting within the sampled area and persistent population structure over the two years of my study.
Development and Evaluation of a Sensor System to Monitor the Stance-Phase Control Function of the Automatic Stance-Phase Lock (ASPL) Mechanism
Keywords: Alignment
Prosthetics
Sensor
Transfemoral amputation

The Automatic Stance-Phase Lock is the novel stance-phase control mechanism employed by the All-Terrain Knee. Gait analysis tools are often limited to controlled environments and cannot directly monitor the ASPL. The objective of this project was to design and test a sensor system to measure ASPL function and to begin to explore the effects of relevant alignment, terrain, and mobility conditions on its performance. The results of this study indicate that the developed system is sensitive to knee lock position changes, knee extension and flexion, and gait events. Data collected by the system confirms the fundamental relationships between applied moments and knee lock engagement which define ASPL stance-phase control. Measurable differences in ASPL function allude to its responsiveness to variable gait conditions. The developed system has the proven potential for use in larger biomechanical and clinical studies to inform All-Terrain Knee design iterations and optimize patient-specific prosthetic alignment and set-up.
Effects of an Upstream Triangular Plate on the Wing-body Junction Flow
Keywords: horseshoe vortices
junction flow
laminar boundary layer
vortex identification
wing-body

The use of a short triangular leading-edge plate at the base of a wing-body junction is experimentally evaluated as a passive control method to mitigate horseshoe vortices. The impact of the plate geometry on the efficacy of the control is assessed by considering triangular plates that vary in length and thickness. The wing model is a NACA 0020 airfoil. The Reynolds number based on the chord length is varied from Rec = 25;000 to 75;000. The incoming boundary layer is laminar. Particle Image Velocimetry is utilized to characterize the temporal behavior and circulation strength of horseshoe vortices. All the triangular plates considered are found to decrease the circulation strength of the horseshoe vortices in the plane of symmetry by varying degrees compared to the uncontrolled configuration. Among the plates considered in this study, the results show that the longer and thinner the plate, the better the vortex mitigation. Overall, the proposed method provides an effective way to mitigate horseshoe vortices at wing-body junctions.
Preliminary Investigation of Ferrate for Drinking Water Treatment: Mussel Control and Synergy with Powdered Activated Carbon
Keywords: Dreissena
Ferrate
Geosmin
Powdered activated carbon
taste and odour compounds
Veligers

Ferrate has been observed under experimental conditions to be a potentially effective drinking water treatment chemical, serving as an oxidant, coagulant, and disinfectant. Although studies have ascertained ferrateâ s potential to remove substances like bacteria, viruses, and organic matter, there is limited research for its use in mussel control and its synergy with other treatment methods. This research first explored ferrateâ s ability to control dreissenids. Preliminary results from acute toxicity testing suggested that ferrate could be an effective alternative to chlorine in the inactivation of quagga and zebra mussel veligers. Additionally, veliger settlement tests showed similar performance between ferrate and chlorine. This work, however, was limited in scope, and would require future investigation. The research also explored the hypothesis that ferrate could enhance or inhibit the adsorption of geosmin by powdered activated carbon, through a series of jar tests. Overall, there was little observed impact of ferrate.
Fetal Hemodynamics and Brain Development in Late Onset Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Keywords: brain development
circulation
growth restriction
IUGR
MRI

Late-onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) results from placental insufficiency. It has an adverse impact on brain development. However, the relationships between placental function, fetal hemodynamics and cerebral maturation in human IUGR are poorly understood. This thesis describes our findings using MRI technology in late-onset IUGR. We measured key hemodynamic parameters and compared them with indices of brain development in neonates following late-onset IUGR. MRI revealed the expected adaptive responses to hypoxia in IUGR fetuses. MRI parameters including flow in the superior vena cava and oxygen delivery could be useful markers of late-onset IUGR. We also observed reduced cerebral oxygen delivery in IUGR fetuses, which could be associated with reduced brain growth and delayed white matter development. Preliminary data indicated that IUGR was impacting subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. Our finding would suggest that MRI could provide useful adjunct to current monitoring and help define the optimal timing of delivery of late-onset IUGR.