VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Effect of Varenicline vs. Placebo on Reactivity to Tobacco and Alcohol Cues in Smokers who are Light Drinkers
Keywords: varenicline
cue-induced craving

Varenicline is used to treat tobacco dependence. While varenicline decreases craving during a quit attempt, no studies have investigated its effect on cue-induced craving. Varenicline has also been shown to decrease alcohol consumption in animal and humans. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effect of varenicline on tobacco and alcohol cue-induced craving and alcohol consumption in dependent smokers/light drinkers. Tobacco and alcohol craving were assessed at baseline and after 2-weeks of drug administration using the QSU and ACQ. Significant decreases in cigarette and alcohol craving were observed between the pre- and post-drug session in the varenicline group on QSU Factor 1(87.5811.66 vs.70.5820.79, p=0.008) and ACQ Total (3.371.16 vs. 2.661.15, p=0.004) scores. This effect remained significant after correction for craving during neutral cues in the alcohol but not tobacco condition. No significant decreases in alcohol consumption were seen. These results suggest varenicline decreases overall craving, but not cue-induced craving specifically.
Phase Noise in Multi-carrier Systems
Keywords: Phase Noise
multi-carrier systems
ofdm
sc-fdma

This thesis concerns the effect of phase noise (PHN) on multi-carrier systems such as OFDM and the detection of multi-carrier symbols affected by PHN. It is known that PHN causes mixing between sub-carriers resulting in inter-carrier interference (ICI) and rotates symbols on every sub-carrier by a certain angle called the common phase error (CPE). We explore how these two effects arise and show that these two effects are coupled to each other. We also note that higher order M-QAM constellations like 64-QAM are more sensitive to CPE than smaller constellations like 4-QAM. Based on our observations on CPE, we propose a blind CPE estimation algorithm. We then address the issue of ICI and propose a turbo receiver design to mitigate it.
Barley Protein-enriched Flour, Coronary Heart Disease and Cancer Risk
Keywords: Nutrition

This thesis assessed whether advantages existed for animal (calcium caseinate) versus vegetable protein (barley protein-enriched flour) foods when fed at 30 g protein per day to 23 healthy hyperlipidemic subjects for 4 weeks in a randomized crossover study. Outcomes included serum lipids, serum markers of oxidative stress and the growth response of LNCaP prostate and MCF-7 breast cancer cells when incubated in vitro with individual subject’s study serum as an indication of whether the treatment promoted or inhibited cell growth. There was no treatment effect on blood lipids or biomarkers of oxidative stress nor was in vitro cell growth different between treatments. However, after pooling the two treatments, both MCF-7 and LNCaP cell growth was related positively to the change in oxidized LDL. MCF-7 growth was negatively related to the non-HDL-C: HDL-C ratio suggesting that raising intracellular cholesterol and reducing oxidative stress may have preventive and possibly therapeutic advantages.
Opportunistic Routing for Enhanced Source-location Privacy in Wireless Sensor Networks
Keywords: opportunistic routing
source-location privacy
wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are an attractive solution for a plethora of communication applications, such as unattended event monitoring and tracking. One of the looming challenges that threaten the successful deployment of these sensor networks is source-location privacy, especially when they are used to monitor sensitive objects. In order to enhance source location privacy in sensor networks, we propose the use of an opportunistic routing scheme and we examine four different approaches. In opportunistic routing, each sensor transmits the packet over a dynamic path to the destination. Every packet from the source can therefore follow a different path toward the destination, making it difficult for an adversary to backtrack hop-by-hop to the origin of the sensor communication. Through theoretical analysis, we attempt to justify the use of opportunistic routing for the source-location problem. Moreover, simulations have been conducted in order to evaluate the performance of all the proposed schemes, in terms of source-location privacy.
Are We Chasing Rainbows?: Achieving the Decriminalization of Prostitution in Canada
Keywords: prostitution
decriminalization
sex work
criminal law
legalization

Prostitution has often been referred to as the oldest profession in the world. Yet the Canadian legislature and courts refuse to recognize it as a profession but merely as a social nuisance or worse yet a social evil. While the act of selling sex in exchange for money is technically legal in Canada, all related activities are criminalized. The majority of social science studies concerning the impact of prostitution-related laws on the health, safety and wellbeing of prostitutes indicates that criminalization jeopardizes the safety of prostitutes, as well as their access to health and social services and recommends the decriminalization of the profession. Despite these studies and requests from sex workers and experts, the government has refused to repeal any of the prostitution-related laws. This paper outlines the societal and legislative treatment of prostitution and then seeks to determine whether decriminalization is a viable goal in Canada.
Cognitive Functioning in Varsity Athletes Following Musculoskeletal Injury
Keywords: musculoskeletal injury
cognition
practice effects
automated neuropsychological assessment metrics
working memory
spatial processing
concussion
cognitive functioning

Background: Research suggests that musculoskeletal injury (MSI) influences cognitive functioning. Cognitive functioning following MSI in athletes is not evaluated currently. Purpose and Method: To examine cognitive deficit in athletes following musculoskeletal injuries, the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric (ANAM) was administered to 22 varsity athletes prior to competition and following MSI. A healthy comparison group of 22 athletes was also tested at time intervals matched with the injured group. Results: A 2 (Group) X 2 (Time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects for time on ANAM subtests of Delayed Code Substitution and Simple Reaction Time. Post-hoc Paired t-Tests revealed significant improvements in both groups for Simple Reaction Time, and a significant improvement for the comparison group on Match-to-Sample. Implications: Athletes with musculoskeletal injuries did not show cognitive deficit post-injury; however, the apparent absence of practice effects on a test of spatial processing and working memory requires further examination.
Multigene Therapy by Ultrasound-mediated Plasmid Delivery: Temporally Separated Delivery of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Angiopoietin-1 Promotes Sustained Angiogenesis in Chronically Ischemic Skeletal Muscle
Keywords: cardiovascular disease
angiogenesis
gene therapy
ultrasound

Endogenously, VEGF initiates angiogenesis, then later Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 matures vessels. We hypothesized that multigene therapy of VEGF before Ang1 to ischemic hindlimb tissue would result in persistent angiogenesis. At 2, 4 and 8 wks after inducing ischemia, blood flow was assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Animals were treated with VEGF at 2 wks, VEGF/Ang1 at 2 wks, or VEGF at 2 wks and Ang1 at 4 wks. In untreated controls, blood flow remained reduced. After VEGF delivery, resting flow and vessel density increased; however, flow reserve remained reduced, and vasculature was capillary-rich and eventually regressed. After VEGF/Ang1 co-delivery, flow increased marginally, flow reserve improved and vascular architecture remained normal. After separated VEGF and Ang1 delivery, flow, vessel density and flow reserve increased and were sustained, while vascular architecture remained normal. In conclusion, temporally separated VEGF and Ang1 delivery promotes sustained angiogenesis and improved vessel functionality.
Examining the Role of Herp in the ER Stress Response of Pancreatic Beta Cells
Keywords: Herp
ER stress
beta cell
ERAD
Type 2 Diabetes

The unfolded protein response, which is activated during ER stress, counteracts stress conditions by increasing folding capacity and by increasing the degradation of misfolded ER proteins by the ER-Associated Degradation (ERAD) system. Studies using an engineered insulinoma cell line with inducible expression of the Akita folding-deficient insulin have shown a large induction of Herp, a protein that has been implicated in the ERAD pathway. We hypothesized that Herp is an essential protein that regulates the degradation of misfolded insulin during the ER stress response. Indeed, we found that the degradation of mutant insulin is Herp-dependent and that maintaining Herp expression is vital for maintaining cell survival. We have also observed that the expression of Herp mRNA and protein is induced in various cell culture and animal models of diabetes. These results suggest that Herp is an important ER stress response protein that is induced under diabetic conditions in pancreatic β-cells.
Age Related Tissue Fibrosis During Fracture Repair Is Mediated by Wnt/β-catenin Signaling
Keywords: Fracture Repair
Elderly
Osteoblasts
Tissue Fibrosis
Wnt/β-catenin Signaling
Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The regenerative potential of tissue injury declines with age. Recently, a significant role for Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been shown in tissue specific stem cell aging, leading to increased tissue fibrosis. Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates the differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts during fracture repair. We investigated the potential role of dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in delayed fracture union and tissue fibrosis in the elderly. Old mice displayed increased total β-catenin protein levels at 4 and 7 days post-fracture and tissue fibrosis at 14 and 21 days post-fracture compared to young mice. Furthermore, treatment with a pharmalogical agent decreased total β-catenin protein levels in the fracture callus at 4 days post-fracture and prevented tissue fibrosis at 21 days post-fracture. Our data suggests that dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the elderly contributes to delayed fracture repair and tissue fibrosis and offers a potential therapeutic strategy to improve fracture outcome in the elderly.
Three Wave Mixing in Periodically Quantum-well-intermixed GaAs:AlGaAs Superlattices: Modeling, Optimization, and Parametric Generation
Keywords: optics
second harmonic generation
quantum well intermixing

The three wave mixing process was modeled in GaAs:AlGaAs superlattices using two new modeling tools that were developed in the course of this work: A 2D beam propagation tool for optimizing quasi-phase matching gratings, and a 1D iterative beam propagation tool for determining the output powers and threshold of optical parametric oscillators of arbitrary geometries. The 2D tool predicts close to 80% enhancement of conversion e ciency by phase matching near 800 nm compared to 775 nm, which was the originally designed operation wavelength. The model also predicts resonant behaviour for an abrupt grating pro le. The 1D tool was used to determine the threshold conditions for para- metric oscillation for di erent geometries. The performances of di erent phase matching approaches in AlGaAs were quantitatively compared. The model also indicated the need for pulsed operation to achieve reasonably low threshold powers in AlGaAs waveguides.
The Circadian Regulation of Feeding in Adult Drosophila melanogaster
Keywords: Circadian clocks
Drosophila melanogaster
Fat body
Feeding behaviour
CAFE assay
Circadian rhythms

In nature, all organisms face the daily challenges created by a fluctuating environment. Circadian clocks synchronize behaviour and physiology allowing an organism to adapt to and predict daily changes to environmental conditions. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, circadian clocks reside in a set of ~150 neurons in the brain, collectively referred to as the central clock, and in the cells of many peripheral tissues. The central clock regulates daily behavioural rhythms, whereas peripheral clocks are thought to regulate the local metabolic activities of the cells in which they reside. In this thesis, I demonstrate that a peripheral clock resides in the abdominal fat body, a tissue analogous to the mammalian liver and adipocytes. Moreover, I show that flies display a temporal feeding pattern that is partly regulated by a peripheral clock. I propose that the central clock and peripheral clocks coordinate to regulate the timing of fly feeding behaviour.
Development of a Microfluidic Device for Selective Electrical Lysis of Plasma Membranes of Single Cells
Keywords: Microfluidics
Single Cell
Electrical Lysis
Lab-on-a-Chip
Electrophoresis
Selective Lysis
Photolithography

A primary objective of modern biology is to understand the molecular mechanisms which underlie cellular functions and a crucial part of this task is the ability to manipulate and analyze individual cells. As a result of interdisciplinary research, microfluidics may become the forefront of analytical methods used by biologists. This technology can be used to gain unprecedented opportunities for cell handling, lysis and investigation on a single cell basis. This thesis presents the development of a microfluidic device capable of selecting individual cells and performing selective electrical lysis of the plasma membrane, while verifying intactness of the nuclear membrane. The device is fabricated by an improved photolithography method and integrates molten solder as electrodes for lysis by a DC electric field. Quantification of lysis is accomplished by video and image analysis, and measurement of the rate of ion diffusion from the cell.
QoE-based Application Mapping for Resource Management
Keywords: Mean Opinion Score
General Expression
QoS Class Mapping
Quality Assessment
Multimedia
Application Virtualization

Mapping between many different applications and many different underlying technologies is very complicated. Moreover, since users need service continuity and want to get the service in a satisfactory level, firstly, their perception of the service should be measured and secondly, the changes in the underlying technologies should be transparent to users. As a result, there should be ”virtualization layer” between application layer and underlying access technologies whose job is to abstract user perception of the application in terms of network parameters and transfer these requirements to underlying layers. In this thesis, we propose a generic mathematical expression to abstract user perception of application in a unified way for different applications. Since today applications are composite applications, having a generalized expression that has the same form for various applications can ease resource management calculations. We use application service map which is based on quality of experience for resource management.
Decarburization and Melting Behavior of Direct-reduced Iron Pellets in Steelmaking Slag
Keywords: Steelmaking
DRI

An experimental study was undertaken to quantify the rate of DRI decarburization in a steelmaking slag using the constant–volume pressure increase technique. Experiments were conducted by dropping DRI pellets into molten slag at temperatures from 1500°C to 1600°C. Further experiments were carried out in which the DRI pellets were preheated while the slag temperature remained constant. The effect of initial carbon content and preheating temperature of the DRI on the reaction rate was investigated. The decarburization of DRI appears to comprise of two stages; reaction with the FeO of DRI, followed by further decarburization through the iron oxide of slag. Carbon has a significant effect on the kinetics of both stages while the preheating temperature mainly influences the rate of the reaction between FeO and carbon inside the pellet.
Development of Test Methods for Assessment of Concrete Durability for Use in Performance-based Specifications
Keywords: Concrete durability
Permeability
Surface electrical resistivity
Water sorptivity
Wenner probe
RCPT coulombs passed
DC-cyclic bulk resistivity

Many Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) projects consist of construction and maintenance of reinforced concrete structures. Where appropriate test methods exist, MTO has been moving towards use of performance-based specifications for durability control of concrete. MTO currently uses ASTM C1202 (RCPT) coulomb values to assess concrete durability. This test requires taking cores, so replacing this test with a faster non-destructive technique is important. The main focus of this program was to study the Wenner probe surface resistivity as a non-destructive test device and evaluate the potential for replacement of RCPT with the Wenner resistivity. This research program consists of the determination of RCPT values, water sorptivity coefficients and electrical resistivities (bulk and surface) of nine concrete mixtures. In addition, the development of the Wenner probe instrument was studied. As well, correlations between resistivity and ASTM C1202 and C1585 are provided followed by technical recommendations for improving the Wenner test.
The Role of Estrogens in Cognition: Does Prophylactic Oophorectomy Affect Verbal, Spatial and Working Memory?
Keywords: Estrogens
Cognition

Studies of non-human animals have shown that estrogens have a significant effect on the structure and neurochemistry of the brain and on cognitive behaviours. This study examines women with BRCA1/2 mutations who have undergone bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), resulting in surgical menopause. In order to understand how the absence of endogenous estrogens affects cognition, women with BSO are compared to women with BRCA1/2 mutations but without BSO, as well as age-matched controls on tests of verbal, spatial and working memory. Women with BSO show decreased verbal memory and attention (logical memory) relative to controls but better performance on a measure of temporal lobe function (fluency clustering). Further, concentration of estrogen metabolites (E1G) negatively correlated with performance on a spatial memory task (object placement task) and with fluency clustering. These results indicate that endogenous estrogens are important for verbal memory and attention, but may contribute negatively to spatial memory and fluency clustering.
Truncated Cell Surface Markers Fused with Mutant Human Tmpk: Versatile Cell Fate Control Safety Cassettes for Lentiviral Vector Mediated Correction of Fabry Disease
Keywords: gene therapy
fabry disease

Lentivirus-mediated gene therapy has curative potential for a variety of disorders, however, insertional oncogenesis still remains a concern. One approach to increase safety of such treatment modalities is to include a ‘cell fate control safety cassette’ in lentiviral vectors (LVs), enabling pharmacological control over the survival of gene-modified cells (GMCs). Two novel LVs with engineered expression of truncated cell surface molecules (CD19 or LNGFR) fused to a ‘cell fate control’ gene (TmpkF105YR200A) were constructed. Results demonstrated these safety cassettes could be used to control the survival of GMCs in a murine xenogeneic leukemia models. For treatment of Fabry disease, a bicistronic LV containing the fusion safety element and therapeutic α-galactosidase A was constructed. Transduction with this vector restored enzyme activity in Fabry patient’s fibroblasts. These collective results demonstrate that this approach is sufficient to eradicate GMCs, and when combined with a corrective cDNA can provide therapeutic benefit for Fabry disease.
Modelling the Impact of Weather Conditions on Active Transportation Travel Behaviour
Keywords: mode choice modelling
active transportation
impact of weather conditions

Three weather sensitive multinomial logit models are estimated using the 2001 Transportation Tomorrow Survey in order explore the relationship between weather and home-based work trips within the City of Toronto, focusing on active modes of transportation. The data is restricted to non-captive commuters who have the option of alternating between all five basic modes of auto driver, auto passenger, transit, bike and walk with change in weather. Daily trip rates in various weather conditions are assessed. The combined effect of the daily trip rate and mode choice analysis is applied to several climate change scenarios. A 6oC increase in temperature can increase cycling trips by 17%, and reduce auto-passenger trips by 7%. A 20% increase or decrease in precipitation, however, is found to have much smaller impacts on all modes. Overall, the results confirm that impact of weather on active modes of transportation is significant enough to deserve attention at the research, data collection and planning levels.
Hypocretin/Orexin Neurons Endogenously Regulate Somatic Motoneuron Excitability
Keywords: Hypocretin

The role of hypocretin neurons in modulating somatic motoneuron excitability and hence muscle tone is poorly understood. We investigated whether hypocretin neurons influence the hypoglossal and trigeminal motor pools that innervate the genioglossus and masseter muscles respectively, both of which function to maintain upper airway patency. We hypothesized hypocretin neurons facilitate motor outflow at the motor pools. We pharmacologically manipulated hypocretin neuron activity in anaesthetized mice to determine their role in somatic motoneuron excitability. We also antagonized hypocretin receptors in the hypoglossal motor pool to determine the pathway through which hypocretin neurons influence motoneuron excitability. We demonstrated that hypocretin neurons potently excite somatic motoneurons and hence facilitate genioglossus and masseter muscle tone. Furthermore, we demonstrated that an endogenous hypocretinergic drive on somatic motoneurons facilitated muscle tone under anaesthesia. These studies demonstrate that hypocretin is an excitatory neuromodulator of muscle tone and contributes to the excitatory regulation of somatic motoneurons.
Music Processing in Deaf Adults with Cochlear Implants
Keywords: cochlear implants
music
hearing
pitch
rhythm
timbre

Cochlear implants (CIs) provide coarse representations of pitch, which are adequate for speech but not for music. Despite increasing interest in music processing by CI users, the available information is fragmentary. The present experiment attempted to fill this void by conducting a comprehensive assessment of music processing in adult CI users. CI users (n =6) and normally hearing (NH) controls (n = 12) were tested on several tasks involving melody and rhythm perception, recognition of familiar music, and emotion of recognition in speech and music. CI performance was substantially poorer than NH performance and at chance levels on pitch processing tasks. Performance was highly variable, however, with one individual achieving NH performance levels on some tasks, probably because of low-frequency residual hearing in his unimplanted ear. Future research with a larger sample of CI users can shed light on factors associated with good and poor music processing in this population.