VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Dissecting the Roles of Anillin's Interaction with Importin Beta 2 and mDia2
Keywords: Actin cytoskeleton
Anillin
Cell division
Cytokinesis
importin beta 2
mDia2

Successful completion of cytokinesis, the final step of cell division, is required to prevent aneuploidy. A vital step in cytokinesis is the formation of an actomyosin ring. Actin filament formation and contraction is key to the ingression of the ring, but the mechanism still remains unclear. Anillin is a scaffolding protein able to cross-link actin with other cytoskeletal elements and regulatory factors of the ring. I sought to examine the roles of the interactions mediated by anillin in cytokinesis. I identified a novel anillin-importin beta 2 interaction which targets anillin to the nucleus and regulates cell shape in interphase. More importantly, I identified a mechanism by which anillin enhances RhoA dependent activation of formin mDia2. My data suggest a new model whereby anillin acts as an enhancer to help RhoA to fully activate mDia to effectively function in regulating actin organization during ring ingression.
Pedagogical Progressivism and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education: A Shared Historical Landscape, 1870-1970
Keywords: career counseling
child-centred pedagogy
history of education
military-industrial complex
progressive education
science education

This thesis is part of a larger project to sketch a history of how the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects were structured in Ontario public schools. The thesis begins by studying the longstanding forces that have demarcated science from other subjects from the 1870s to the 1960s. It then examines the 1960s as a pivotal decade when the effects of school guidance counsellors, economic imperatives, and the preoccupation with human selection accentuated those longstanding divisive forces in public education. These developments culminated in an institutional entrenchment of disciplinary gulfs within the schooling system, opened the door to a constructed embodiment of subject-specific talents inside the child, and alienated math-related subjects from pedagogically progressive visions of education. The guidance movement and the reforms in mathematics during the 1960s were scrutinized in detail. The role of progressive education in its own marginalization from STEM subjects is also examined.
Closed-loop Control of Ankle Plantarflexors and Dorsiflexors using an Inverted Pendulum Apparatus
Keywords: Functional Electrical Stimulation
Inverted Pendulum Standing Apparatus
Plantarflexors/Dorsiflexors
Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) Control
Quiet Standing
Spinal Cord Injury

In the past, it has been shown that functional electrical stimulation (FES), when applied to lower limbs, can facilitate quiet stance in patients with various neurological disorders. Furthermore, the literature suggests that able-bodied individuals regulate balance during quiet stance using a control strategy that is similar to proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. The purpose of this study was to test if a PID control strategy is capable of effectively regulating an FES system at the ankle joints during quiet stance. Specifically, we tested whether able-bodied individuals with compromised visual, vestibular and proprioceptive senses, would exhibit improved ankle joint control if FES was applied to contract the ankle muscles using a closed-loop, PID control strategy. In what follows we show that the proposed PID control strategy was able to outperform voluntary control of the ankle joint, indicating that the controller could be considered for use in neurological patients, including spinal cord injured individuals.
To Heed the Lessons of Failure: Individual Differences in Cognitive, Affective and Behavioural Responses to Failure
Keywords: autobiographical narrative
cognitive appraisal
exploratory factor analysis
failure
personality
questionnaire

Experiences with failure, while painful and ubiquitous, provide opportunities for learning and growth. But what is the range of reaction to failure, and what determines the sorts of reactions people will have? A sample of 143 participants recalled failure experiences, through autobiographical narratives and responding to questionnaires. Exploratory factor analyses of questionnaire items revealed six factors, specifying divergent reactions to failure: Self Criticism, Autonomous Preventability, Concern for Others, Transformational Analysis, Global Negative Self-Attribution, and Frustrated Anger. Each factor included a mixture of cognitive, affective, and behavioural responses, and suggested a strong potential for the derivation of a questionnaire assessing failure reactions. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to establish divergence between the extracted factors. Personality traits were found to be strong predictors of most reactions. Refining the measurement structure suggested by the factor analysis will broaden our understanding of failure and its consequences as they help or hinder survival and future success.
Rat Cytomegalovirus Evasion of Innate Immunity via Modulation of NKR-P1:Clr Interactions
Keywords: Cytomegalovirus
Infection
Innate immunity
Natural Killer cell

NK cells are innate lymphocytes that provide a crucial first line of defense against malignancies and infections. Pathological or infected target cells can send danger signals to activate NK cells by modulating their cell surface ligand expression, resulting in imbalanced self-nonself discrimination, to which NK cells respond by exerting cytotoxicity or secreting cytokines and chemokines.This thesis focuses on interactions between the NKR-P1 family of NK cell receptors and their cognate C-type lectin-related (Clr) ligands. Earlier studies in our laboratory identified an RCMV (rat cytomegalovirus) -encoded decoy ligand, RCTL (RCMV C-type lectin), which binds to the inhibitory rat NKR-P1B receptor to inhibit NK cell activation. In this thesis, we investigated the expression and function of two other putative immunoevasins encoded by distinct RCMV isolates, RCTL2 and r153, which are homologous to RCTL yet potentially serve distinct immunoevasive functions.
The Multiplication Table and its Generalizations
Keywords: Algebraic Number Fields
Arithmetical Semigroups
Arithmetic Functions
Distribution of Divisors

Motivated by an old question investigated by Erd\H{o}s (colloquially referred to as the ''Multiplication Table'' problem) and recent developments in its study by Ford and Tenenbaum, we investigate the fundamental problem of locating the divisors of ''most'' integers in certain intervals. We generalize Erd\H{o}s' problem to a certain class of Arithmetical Semigroups using Ford's techniques. We generalize this problem in a different direction by providing explicit estimates of "restricted multiplication tables" in various interesting cases.
Indenpendent Transcription of a Functional Lucerne Transient Streak Virus Satellite RNA and its Packaging Requirement(s)
Keywords: functional
packaging
sat RNA

The satellite RNA of Lucerne Transient Streak Virus (LTSV) is a 322-nucleotide, single-stranded circular RNA. To investigate whether interactions between genomic and satellite RNA are important for satellite packaging into the helper virus capsid protein, transgenic plants were generated which contained turnip rosette virus capsid protein gene and LTSV satellite dimer sequence in tandem. Results of the RT-PCR and western blotting revealed that the ribozyme was functional in vivo and generated the unit length of monomeric LTSV circular RNA. This was confirmed by an infectivity assay results showing that the LTSV circular RNA was infectious when inoculated into plants with the turnip rosette helper virus. However, the TRoV capsid protein (CP) failed to be expressed in transgenic plants. Lack of TRoV mRNA for capsid protein in transgenic plants is probably due to the presence of the ribozyme which resulted in the destabilization and consequent degradation of CP TRoV mRNA.
Hospital Readmissions among Patients who are Homeless in Toronto
Keywords: Administrative Health Data
Generalized Estimating Equations
Health Services Research
Homeless
Hospital Readmissions
Vulnerable Populations

Despite high interest in examining hospital readmissions, few studies have focused on readmissions among individuals experiencing homelessness, a population with complex health challenges. A cohort of 1,165 homeless adults recruited from homeless shelters and meal programs in Toronto were observed from December 6th, 2004 to March 31st, 2009 using administrative health care databases. Multivariate analyses were used to i) compare the 30-day readmission rate between the homeless participants and a cohort of low-income controls; ii) to compare the readmission rate between hospitalized homeless participants and hospitalized low-income controls, matched on age, sex and case mix group; and iii) to determine risk factors associated with readmission among the homeless participants.Homeless participants were substantially more likely to be readmitted within 30-days as compared to low-income controls, even after accounting for the primary reason for admission. Further research is needed to assess practices and interventions to reduce readmissions in this patient population.
Poly-ADP-Ribose-Polymerase as a Therapeutic Target in Paediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and Paediatric High Grade Astrocytoma
Keywords: Cancer
High Grade Glioma
Neuro-oncology
Niraparib
Paediatric
Poly-ADP-Ribose Polymerase 1

Paediatric high-grade astrocytomas (pHGA) and diffuse-intrinsic-pontine-gliomas (DIPG) are devastating paediatric malignancies for which there are no effective therapies. Previous evidence found Poly-ADP-Ribose-Polymerase 1 (PARP1) over-expressed in DIPG and pHGA. Immunohistochemical and western-blot analysis was performed on pHGA and DIPG patient tumour samples and cell lines to establish PARP1 expression. Three PARP inhibitors, Veliparib, Olaparib, and Niraparib, were used to study PARP inhibition in multiple pHGA and DIPG cell lines and intracranial xenografts. PARP1 was expressed in the majority of pHGA and DIPG patient samples and cell lines and PARP inhibition in vitro resulted in growth arrest and/or apoptosis. Niraparib was the most effective monotherapeutic agent. Niraparib reduced the rate of DNA repair and sensitized cells in vitro to ionizing radiation (IR). In vivo, Niraparib when combined with IR, inhibited PARP1 and extended survival by 40%. Therefore, PARP1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target in pHGA and DIPG.
Multi-mode Near Minimum Deviation Controller IC for High Frequency Switch-mode Power Supplies
Keywords: digital controller
Integrated circuit
minimum deviation
Switch mode power supply
transient control

The purpose of this thesis is to propose a versatile controller IC (integrated circuit) for dc-dc switch-mode power supplies used in volume-sensitive portable consumer devices. A novel control technique and implementation is presented which provides near minimum output voltage deviation, allowing for the reduction of reactive component sizes. The controller utilizes a simple hardware implementation to obtain accurate estimates of the output capacitor current during transients. It requires no knowledge of the converter's parameters and can be used with direct and indirect energy transfer converters. The controller is implemented on an IC and the digital logic on an FPGA. The IC was fabricated in a CMOS 0.13 um IBM process which consumes 0.0511 mm2 of silicon area and 591 uA of current. A complete IC controller solution would occupy an estimated silicon area of ~0.25 mm2 which is competitive with state-of-the-art analog or digital controller solutions that occupy ~0.2-0.3 mm2.
Development of Transition Metal Compound Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Keywords: Electrode Materials
Molybdenum
Supercapacitor
Transition Metal Compounds
Tungsten
Vanadium

Many transition metal compounds are found to possess promising pseudocapacitive properties. Research on these transition metal compounds, especially Mo, V and W based materials, is still limited. This project aimed to investigate cost-effective methods utilizing inexpensive transition metal compounds to produce EC electrodes with high energy density and power capability. Mo(O,N)x was developed as a pseudocapacitive electrode material by electrodeposition of Mo oxide followed by low-temperature thermal nitridation in a N2 environment. The partial nitridation significantly improved the electrochemical properties, including capacitive behavior, power capability and cycle life. The device performance can be improved with an asymmetric configuration using an electrodeposited WO3 electrode. An electrolessly deposited V mixed oxides electrode also showed ideal capacitive behaviors and good cycle life. By tuning the fabrication methods, the electrodes (i.e. Mo(O,N)x, WO3 and VOx.yH2O) were developed with low cost processes.
Optimization of Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures for Adult Neurogenesis Research: Exploring Pharmacological Interactions in Newborn Dentate Granule Cells
Keywords: in vitro
neurogenesis
organotypic

The organotypic hippocampal slice culture technique is an in vitro system for explanting the hippocampus and incubating tissue for up to four weeks. This method is useful because the tissue is maintained in a state closely resembling what is found in vivo. Previous studies have used organotypic cultures to study hippocampal physiology, but attempts to use the model specifically for adult neurogenesis research have not convincingly shown that newborn neurons can be efficiently studied and quantified.In this thesis, we optimized organotypic slice cultures for neurogenesis research. We used the model to study extrasynaptic GABAergic signaling in newborn dentate granule neurons. Following treatment with a selective extrasynaptic GABAAR agonist, neuronal differentiation and maturation was promoted in slice cultures, but this effect was abolished following treatment with a selective NMDAR antagonist. Our results highlight the benefit of organotypic cultures for studying adult neurogenesis and describe an efficient technique for future neurogenesis studies.
Living the Dream: Precarious Labour in the Live Music Industry
Keywords: Cultural Economy
Labour
Live Music Industry
Music
Precarious Labour

This thesis explores the precarious nature of backstage work within the live music industry. Live music is replacing recorded music as the economic core of the music industry. Live music is a unique sector, in that it is valued for its ephemerality. Given the ephemerality of concerts, new frameworks are required to understand technical and logistical production of live music. Labour arrangements in live music reflect sweeping trends in the labour market. Backstage workers are employed in flexible, contract and contingent arrangements leading to precarious livelihoods. This thesis argues that labour precaritization in the live music industry is part of an accumulation strategy by suggesting that employers exploit the affective, emotive and cathartic nature of live music to reduce wages and extract surplus from workers. Essentially, workers are willing to accept a psychic wage in lieu a living wage. This arrangement can be called `lifestyle labour' in that workers are willing to accept lifestyle components as part of their wage.
Identification of Causal Rare Variants in an Extended Pedigree with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Keywords: Exome
Genetics
Linkage
OCD
Sequencing

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, heritable and etiologically heterogeneous neuropsychiatric disorder. Despite twin and family studies supporting genetic determinants in OCD, the discovery of causal variants remains elusive. To identify causal variants, an extended pedigree consisting of multiple affected individuals with early-onset OCD was studied. Genome-wide linkage analysis was performed using both parametric and non-parametric approaches. Whole exome sequencing was conducted on two of the most distantly related affected individuals who shared a haplotype. Variants were filtered based on their presence in both individuals, rare frequency, and location within linkage regions. Genes previously implicated in OCD were also screened. Several putatively damaging low/rare frequency variants were identified in genes involved in immune function (TRAFD1) and glutamate pathways (DLG1, CPQ, SLC1A1). Our findings identified variants within genes/pathways known to be associated with OCD and demonstrated the ability of our methodology to identify rare variants in common complex diseases.
Development and Validation of a Partially Coupled Soot Model for Turbulent Kerosene Combustion in Industrial Applications
Keywords: CFD
Combustion
Kerosene
Model
Soot
Turbulent

Soot emissions are by-products of combustion that are well documented to have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Consequently, these emissions are becoming a target for stricter regulations. However, obstacles exist in the implementation of soot models in Computational Fluid Dynamics codes with complex geometry, such as ensuring carbon mass conservation as soot forms. This challenge is due to the thermochemistry interactions in turbulent codes being preprocessed (included in look-up tables), not solved for directly. This study considers the development of a soot model for kerosene combustion. Coupling is introduced between the soot and gas phase by including nucleation rates within the flamelet library, and by adjusting the concentrations of key soot precursors through additional transport equations. Validation has been performed for turbulent coflow kerosene flames at pressures of 1 and 4.8 bar. This simplified model reasonably predicts the soot volume fraction without tuning of the inception rate.
From the Hands into the Eyes: An Analysis of Children's American Sign Language Story Comprehension
Keywords: American Sign Language
ASL
ASL assessment
ASL story comprehension

This thesis provides an insight into how native ASL children are making meaning and drawing upon language cueing systems, and into the commonalities of eye behaviour demonstrated when they decipher/deconstruct ASL stories on video. Studies of ASL linguistics and ASL literature are critical, but historically neglected, components of bilingual ASL-English education. While teaching ASL as a language of study in my classroom, I observed how students comprehended ASL stories. In the absence of formal standardized ASL comprehension assessments for classroom teachers, I explored Kintsch's theory of comprehension and the use of language cueing systems as a way to conceptualize ASL story comprehension. Findings show that native ASL children have a higher rate of comprehension when they are drawing upon ASL language cueing systems when deciphering/deconstructing ASL stories. Children's use of the eyebrows and eye gaze seem to be a part of their deciphering/deconstructing behaviour, and need to be explored further.
Visuomotor Adaptation in Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Prism Adaptation Study
Keywords: Amblyopia
Anisometropia
Manual Pointing
Perceptuomotor Control
Prism Adaptation
Sensorimotor Integration

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impact of anisometropic amblyopia, a neurodevelopmental disorder of vision, on sensorimotor control. This was accomplished by adapting the manual motor system to a change in the spatial environment resulting from the placement of bilateral 20 D left-shifting wedge prisms in front of the eyes. During prism adaptation, participants initially missed the target in the direction of optical displacement but in the presence of visual feedback and with repeated pointing, they were able to adapt to this perturbation. Eleven visually-normal control participants and seven people with anisometropic amblyopia were tested binocularly on this task. People with anisometropic amblyopia displayed a significantly longer time course of adaptation than visually-normal controls, with higher variability during the strategic recalibration phase of adaptation. It is suggested that increased visual variability, temporal synchrony deficits and deficits in extra-striate visual processing in amblyopia contribute to the above findings.
Studying Best Practices in Acquiring more Responsibly-built University Buildings in Ontario
Keywords: construction management

Investment in construction and renovation projects represents long-term plans for improving and expanding the existing facilities at Ontario universities. Ontario Universities, as parts of the public sector, are committed to implement projects that are integral to their academic missions, and that provide high quality design incorporating appropriate functionality and environmental responsibility. The primary objective of this research was to examine the key success factors in the domain of public procurement, specifically in the construction of Ontario University buildings. This goal was achieved through discussing the different aspects of common universities decisions in regards to the key factors that contribute in project success. The results of this study have provided insight into Ontario universities suggested approach to construction. Although there is no single best approach for all the universities projects, recommended approach by experienced experts may help to select the best option.
Using Thermal Spray Technology to Make Heat Spreaders for LED Cooling
Keywords: composite heat spreader
heat dissipation
heat pipe
LED cooling
porous polymer
thermal spray

Thermal spray coating processes have been employed to create either copper wicks or zinc skins of the heat spreaders that were designed for LEDs cooling application. Two copper coating samples and two polymer coating samples were made using flame spray and wire-arc spray, respectively. The microstructural characteristics and the capillary effects of coating samples were studied. To study the heat transfer characteristics, two test chambers featured copper and polymer coating samples and filled with distilled water and ethanol were tested. Two composite heat spreaders featuring the zinc skins and the porous polymer wicks were created. The best thermal performance in terms of the lowest overall thermal resistance of 3.72 cm^2*K/W was achieved by the cylindrical composite heat spreader with the ethanol at a charge ratio of 51.5%. The rectangular composite has an overall thermal resistance of 4.81 cm^2*K/W with the water at a charge ratio of 53.7%.
The Roles of Ethnicity and Family in the Career Development of Second-generation Chinese Canadians
Keywords: Career
Chinese Canadians
Ethnicity
Family
Second Generation

This study explored the career development of Canadian-born Chinese individuals. Applying a qualitative framework using a phenomenological approach, ten participants who had at least one year of work experience in their chosen fields were interviewed about their career development. Specifically, the roles of ethnicity and family were emphasized. Analyses revealed that second-generation Chinese Canadians were influenced by Chinese and Western values regarding career, which affected the factors that they considered in their career development, including interests, strengths, work environment, practicality and others' opinions. Specifically, interests and financial compensation were two crucial factors that Chinese Canadians considered. Ethnicity and family intertwined to play different roles throughout Chinese Canadians' career development: while some indicated no influence from either aspect, others described influential roles particularly at the beginning stages of their career development. Practical and theoretical implications as well as future research directions are discussed.