VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Water Removal Process in Electrochemical Valorization of Glycerol
Keywords: Electrosynthesis
Glycerol Conversion
Membrane
Pervaporation
Stability
Water Separation

Glycerol, as a by-product of biodiesel industries, can be converted to a broad range of high value-added products chemically in the presence of hetero/homogeneous catalysts and also electrochemically in electrolyzers. Using an alkaline medium for glycerol conversion increases the yield of the reaction. In several glycerol valorization reactions, water is used as a solvent or is produced as a by-product. Excess water reduces the reaction conversion and hinders the efficiency by decomposition of final products such as glycerol carbonate in the alkaline solution, and hence must be maintained in a low concentration. The removal of water from aqueous salt solutions containing soluble organic species is a very challenging extraction. This research seeks to design a simple and energy-efficient water removal process by focusing on two organic solvent dehydration methods, desiccants and membrane pervaporation to increase the efficiency as well as purifying the produced glycerol derivatives as commercial products.
Subgroups of Youth within the Attitudes/Orientation Domain of the YLS/CMI: A Latent Class Approach
Keywords: Antisocial attitudes
Rehabilitation
Risk-Need-Responsivity
YLS/CMI
Young offenders
Youth criminal justice

Antisocial attitudes are a “Big Four” risk factor for recidivism. Within the Attitudes/Orientation domain of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), items appear to assess two different factors – antisocial attitudes and treatment readiness.  Research has demonstrated the importance of both in predicting offender outcomes and guiding treatment. To determine whether different classes of youth exist based on identified YLS/CMI Attitudes/Orientation domain items, a Latent Class Analysis was conducted using a sample of justice-involved youth referred to a mental health agency in Toronto, Canada (n=824) for forensic assessment. Four classes were identified: High Overall Attitude Needs (19%), Antisocial-Predominant (20%), Treatment-Resistant (9%), and Low Overall Attitude Needs (52%).  Significant class differences were found in terms of total risk, index offense, criminogenic needs identified for intervention, and recidivism. Results suggest that class information may assist in targeting interventions.
An Evaluation of Alternative Fuels and Powertrain Technologies for Canada’s Long Haul Heavy-duty Vehicle Sector
Keywords: Alternative fuels
Dimethyl ether
Greenhouse gas emissions
Heavy-duty vehicles
Life cycle assessment
Multi-criteria decision making

Heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) are responsible for a growing share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. Despite the near-term availability of several low GHG alternatives to diesel, the most viable alternatives have yet to be identified. The first portion of this thesis reports insights gathered through expert interviews in relation to the perceived barriers and opportunities to the adoption of promising alternative technologies for long haul HDVs. Expert insights are incorporated into frameworks for the evaluation of current or near-term alternative technologies. The second portion of the thesis evaluates an emerging fuel, dimethyl ether (DME), on the basis of its well-to-wheel GHG emissions when produced in Canada. It is found that DME produced from renewable feedstocks can reduce GHG emissions by up to 60%, while natural gas-based DME may increase GHG emissions by 20%. Insights from this thesis can inform policies to support uptake of low GHG alternatives for HDVs.
Design and Evaluation of an Interactive Tactile Aid to support Older Adults’ Adoption of Technology
Keywords: gerontechnology
hci
mobile devices
Older adults
Tactile interface
Technology adoption

Older adults are often considered to be less frequent adopters of new technologies, in part due to increased efforts required to learn new interaction paradigms, especially if these need to overcome long-established mental metaphors of technology use. Many current interfaces such as mobile devices often do not incorporate elements that align with older adults’ models of use: explicit help menus, user manuals, navigation affordances. The lack of such reassuring elements may cause anxiety to those trying to learn interaction paradigms that are new to them. This thesis details the help and support paradigms behind the design of a contextual support interface for tablet devices and describes the results of a usability evaluation with older adult participants.
Estimating Air Pollution with Regulatory Monitors and Supplementary Data from Low-cost Sensors and Remotely Sensed Imagery
Keywords: Air Pollution
Exposure
GIS

This thesis has two main objectives: assessing the accuracy of long-term air pollution concentration estimates produced from portable monitoring campaigns, using temporal adjustments; and second, developing spatial models of air pollution concentrations with remotely sensed imagery and machine learning within a land use regression framework. Objective one was achieved by simulating mobile monitoring campaigns and estimating long-term concentrations with multiple temporal adjustments. The results indicated that sample size greatly influenced the accuracy of long-term estimates produced with temporal adjustments and that adjustments which accounted for the log-normal distribution of air pollution observations produced more accurate estimates. Objective two was achieved through the development of annual and seasonal models for NO2 and PM2.5 at three study sites. The results showed that deep learning models were the most accurate however these models could not capture spatial patterns of air pollution from the spectral signature of the land use surrounding monitors.
Image Based and Biomechanical Characterization of Osteoblastic Vertebral Metastases
Keywords: Machine Learning
Micro Computed Tomography
Micro Finite Element Modeling
Spine Biomechanics
Vertebral Metastasis

The negative consequences of fracture in the metastatic spine motivates improved bone quality assessment and fracture risk prediction. This study aims to automate preclinical microcomputed tomography (µCT) image identification of osteoblastic metastatic disease in vertebrae, characterize how metastases affect the material/mechanical properties of bone tissue and extend finite element (FE) modeling to include pathological changes to evaluate damage and fracture behaviour. A combination of image analysis techniques (µCT-based stereological analysis, back scatter electron microscopy) and computational modeling (voxel-based µFE modeling of post-yield mechanical behaviour experimentally validated through sequentially imaged mechanical testing) is used to characterize the structural and material level impact of osteoblastic disease in vertebral trabecular bone. Methods for automated segmentation of osteoblastic lesions are also developed with µCT feature extraction and random forest classification methods to enable identification of pathologic tissue. Advanced preclinical understanding of osteoblastic disease can provide a foundation for improved guidelines for clinical treatment decision-making.
Enhancing Cognition by using Low-cost In-home Portable Sleep Equipment: A Feasibility Study
Keywords: Ambulatory
Cognitive Impairment
Dementia
Feasibility
Home Sleep Apnea Test
Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which causes pauses in breathing during sleep, increases the risk of developing cognitive impairment. In-laboratory polysomnography (iPSG) is the gold standard to diagnose OSA, but few patients are screened by iPSG due to refusal to spend a night in a sleep laboratory. Home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) may be a more accessible alternative, as it is simple to use, conveniently administered in a patient’s own home, and validated against iPSG. This study investigated the feasibility and practicality of using HSAT in cognitively impaired clinic patients and assessed the prevalence and factors associated with OSA. HSAT was found to be feasible and practical to assess for OSA. OSA was also prevalent in this population. As OSA is a modifiable risk factor for patients with cognitive impairment, HSAT has the potential to lead to expedited treatment for OSA, which may potentially improve health-related outcomes such as cognition.
Sex Specific Selection by a Parasitoid on Body Size in its Newly Recognized Host
Keywords: Parasitoids
Selection
Sex

We identified the tree cricket Oecanthus nigricornis (Orthoptera; Gryllidae) as a host species used by the parasitoid fly Stylogaster neglecta (Diptera: Conopidae). We describe several life history aspects of the parasitoid-host interaction including: the identification of a host, timing of parasitism, estimates of incubation time, preferred life stage of host, and variance in rates of parasitism across space. We also examined size biases in parasitism amongst crickets to determine if there is selection on body size. We found that there was a significant effect of sex, whereby males are more likely to be parasitized than females, and an interaction between the square of body size (non-linear selection) and sex. Upon examining the effect of body size individual for each sex, we found that in males, there was positive linear selection on body size and positive non-linear selection on body size, indicating higher parasitism in smaller and intermediate sized crickets.
Characterization of the Teneurin C-terminal Associated Peptide (TCAP) and Latrophilin Ligand-receptor Pair in an Immortalized Skeletal Muscle Cell Line
Keywords: Latrophilin
Receptor Signalling
Skeletal Muscle
TCAP
Teneurin

Teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) is an ancient and conserved bioactive peptide that is evolutionarily related to corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). Recently, synthetic TCAP-1 was shown to increase cellular energy availability and alter contractile performance in rodent skeletal muscle. However, the exact receptor signalling mechanism through which this occurs is unknown. Based on evidence of their interaction in vitro, we hypothesized that TCAP-1 signals through latrophilins—a family of Adhesion G-protein coupled receptors—to elicit its effects in muscle. To test this, I knocked-down and knocked-out latrophilins in the immortalized mouse myoblast C2C12 cell line by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing methods, respectively, and examined the efficacy of TCAP-1 in knockdown and knockout cells. We determined that latrophilin-1 is necessary for TCAP-1-mediated increases in intracellular calcium, NADH turnover, and PGC-1a expression. This establishes, for the first time, that the TCAP-latrophilin ligand-receptor pair has a functional role in skeletal muscle.
Transit Access to Subsidized Food Stores in the American Midwest
Keywords: Food Environment
SNAP
Transit Access
Transport Poverty

In the United States, low-income and racial minority populations have higher rates of diet-related disease, food insecurity, and transit use. SNAP, which provides low-income households with money for groceries at authorized retailers, creates an altered food procurement environment. How transit networks affect access to SNAP retailers is assessed by calculating transit travel times to all transitable SNAP stores of neighborhoods in 33 MPOs in the American Midwest. Low-income, Black, Hispanic, and public assistance populations, which are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, living in neighborhoods with low transit access scores are then identified. These neighborhoods are compared to USDA low-income, low-access neighborhoods. Results indicate low transit access is experienced in fringe-urban, majority white, car-dependent neighborhoods. However, 117,460 Black people, 121,589 Hispanic people, and 89,185 low-income people live within these neighborhoods. Future research and policy should target suburban and exurban regions to accommodate a non-negligible portion of potentially food insecure populations.
Modelling of 3D Printed Fiber-reinforced Plastic Composites by Classical Laminate Theory
Keywords: 3D printing
Classical Laminate Theory
composite laminate
fiber-reinforced plastic
Fused filament fabrication
sandwich panel

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a rapidly growing 3D printing technology in which molten plastic is extruded to build an object layer-by-layer. Although it is mostly used for prototyping, the use of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (FRP) may enable FFF 3D printed parts to be used in load-bearing applications. The objective of this study was to confirm that the stiffness of FFF 3D printed FRPs can be predicted, based on the raster orientation, using Classical Laminate Theory (CLT), and to use the model to improve the mechanical properties of 3D printed parts. With simple characterizations of the in-plane properties, CLT accurately predicted the elastic moduli of various 3D printed composite laminates and sandwich panels in tensile, flexural, and torsional loading modes. Before this study, CLT had not been validated for FFF 3D printed FRPs. CLT can be used to help designers tailor the raster pattern of each layer for specific stiffness requirements.
Data-driven Investigation of Factors Affecting Surface Transit Speed and Reliability in Toronto
Keywords: Clustering
Delay
Improvements
Speed
Transit

Cities are increasingly interested in implementing low-cost, small-scale spot treatments to improve transit performance. This research uses a data-driven approach to understand where and why poor transit performance occurs, which is necessary when selecting locations to treat and their appropriate treatments. Automatic vehicle location, general transit feed specification, and ride check data are used to generate a descriptive analysis measuring performance of eight high-frequency bus routes in Toronto at the route, segment, stop, and intersection levels. Clustering and regression models of transit performance at intersections along these routes are developed to determine which features most affect bus speeds and delays. These analyses show that locations with greater traffic cycle split have significantly higher speeds and lower delays, and thus signal timing adjustments are suggested as an effective transit-priority spot treatment. The analyses also suggest queue jump lanes and turning restrictions to be effective when signal timing cannot be adjusted.
Development and Modelling of an Aeration Control System for Precision Aquaculture
Keywords: Aeration
Aquaculture
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Control Systems
Dissolved Oxygen Modelling

Dissolved oxygen is an important parameter of water quality in aquaculture. Aeration has been known to improve oxygen levels and yields, but its use is uncommon in many developing world environments due to high costs. As a more effective implementation, this thesis presents the use of a feedback diffused aeration control system to maintain adequate oxygen levels and increase energy savings. To demonstrate the potential, a model was developed to describe the interaction between the aerator and the pond and to predict the oxygen profiles of the water. Time-series simulations were performed to estimate the potential savings for a pond in Bangladesh, with and without the use of a feedback system. Results showed that the use of a control system led to an average of 66.0% in energy savings. Field validation experiments indicated an average prediction error of 3.64% and 4.91% for the top and bottom layers of the pond.
Narratives of Down Syndrome: Representations of Intellectual Disability in Children's Storybooks
Keywords: Childhood Studies
Disability Studies
Down Syndrome
Representations
Storybooks

This thesis investigates how we can engage with intellectual disabilities in a deeper, more relational way through the cultural artefacts of children’s storybooks. Using primarily a disability studies framework and informed by childhood studies, I map and reflect on how dominant relationships with intellectual disability, such as medicine and education, define Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities as developmental problems. My application of disability studies seeks to disrupt notions of disability as being only a medical or educational problem. This project offers a way of understanding Down syndrome in a sociocultural context (Karmiris, 2017; Titchkosky Michalko, 2009; Titchkosky, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2011; Mitchell Snyder, 2015; Michalko, 2002; Weiss, 2015). I comment on how adult-centred representations of Down syndrome re-produce adult-centred expectations of all children. Furthermore, disability studies offers a nuanced account of how ableism might originate in the very institutions that claim to address the “problem” of Down syndrome.
The Relationship Between Maintenance and Manipulation Components of Working Memory and Prefrontal and Parietal Brain Regions in Bipolar Disorder
Keywords: Bipolar Disorder
Maintenance
Manipulation
Structural Neuroimaging
Visuospatial Working Memory

Working memory has been found to be impaired across mood states in bipolar disorder. Working memory is delineated into separate components, maintenance and manipulation, where manipulation is involved in higher-order cognitive processes. No study to date has used a task differentiating the components of working memory and associated them with underlying structural brain regions in bipolar disorder. Therefore, this study aimed to examine behavioral visuospatial working memory performance and structural brain indexes in prefrontal and parietal regions in 26 bipolar patients and 24 controls. Bipolar patients were less accurate on the working memory task, without a greater deficit in the manipulation condition. Moreover, bipolar patients had thinner cortices in the prefrontal and parietal regions, areas associated with working memory. Thicker cortices in the prefrontal regions were associated with greater maintenance accuracy in bipolar patients and a thicker parietal cortex was associated with faster manipulation response times in controls. Keywords: bipolar disorder, visuospatial working memory, maintenance, manipulation, structural neuroimaging
Optimal Energy Management and Storage Sizing for Electric Vehicles
Keywords: Approximate dynamic programming
Batteries
Electric vehicles
Energy storage
Markov Decision Process
Supercapacitors

Battery degradation reduces the performance and lifetime of electric vehicles (EVs). Us- ing energy storage devices with dierent characteristics alongside the battery can mini- mize degradation while ensuring that the storage system is always able to satisfy driving demands. However, this introduces the additional complexity of designing the devices and controlling them in real-time. In this thesis, we rst provide a computationally tractable method to optimally manage power sharing between dual energy storages using approximate linear programming (ALP). We furthermore propose a problem to deter- mine the optimal sizes of the two storages that allows a trade-o between vehicle range and other costs associated with increased storage size. We validate our approaches on a real EV design. Numerical results show that our energy management controller allows for optimal power-sharing with tunable approximation in the number of basis vectors of the ALP, and that our sizing procedure provides a design with locally minimal cost.
Integrated Analyses of Stress and Recovery Responses in Poplar
Keywords: Abiotic stress
Drought
High salinity
Poplar

Efficient responses to environmental change are important for long-lived plants, like trees. We investigated how Populus balsamifera responds to two distinct but related abiotic stresses - osmotic and ionic stress – during acute perturbation and recovery. Based on a pilot experiment and photosynthetic characteristics, one genotype (AP4326) was investigated in greater detail. Responses during the initial phases of both stresses indicated some degree of tolerance. Response patterns in growth and stomatal behavior, diverged as the stress progressed and were even more pronounced during recovery, allowing to discriminate osmotic and ionic effects. Exposure to 150mM NaCl was identified as a critical threshold with 50% survival rate, thus contributing to our understanding of response capacities of P.balsamifera. Soil elemental analyses provided insights into soil conditions experienced under ionic stress. These findings will enhance our understanding of plasticity and survival in trees and will be useful for informed planning of plantations or reclamation efforts.
The Relationship between Life Satisfaction and Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: A Population Cohort Study
Keywords: ambulatory care sensitive conditions
happiness
hospitalizations
life satisfaction
population health

Life satisfaction (LS) has been shown to be inversely related to negative health outcomes such as morbidity and mortality. Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) are conditions for which timely and effective outpatient care can prevent acute episodes. This study is a prospective population-based cohort study of adults from Ontario that tests the hypothesis that poor life satisfaction is associated with an increased risk of avoidable hospitalizations. Weighted distributions of demographic, socioeconomic, health status and behaviour characteristics according to ACSCs and life satisfaction were calculated. Proportional hazards models associated with baseline life satisfaction were used to calculate the risk of preventable hospitalizations. Joint effects models were used to see if socioeconomic status (SES) modified this relationship. Men, the elderly and those with lower household income were more likely to be hospitalized with an ACSC. After controlling for age, sex, SES, and lifestyle factors, poor LS had a strong relationship with hospitalizations for ACSCs (HR = 2.42, p
Using CRISPR/Cas9 to Identify Gene Interactions with Hexosamine Biosynthesis and N-Glycan Remodeling Pathway Enzymes
Keywords: Cancer
Genetics
Metabolism

Genetic studies by classical mutagenesis and screening methods have revealed many molecular interactions and regulatory relationships in animal models. The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway and N-glycosylation are upregulated in most cancers and have shown to play a role in many cancer cell phenotypes. In this thesis, a CRISPR/Cas9 genome-wide targeted mutagenesis approach was employed to identify gene interactions with chosen genes-of-interest from these two pathways: NAGK, GFPT1, MGAT1 and MGAT5. The gene interactions identified suggest relationships between our genes-of-interest and cell-cell adhesion, cytoskeleton, and folate and nucleotide metabolism. Further characterization of metabolite levels in the gene-of-interest knockout cells was done to help understand potential gene interactions from the screen. For example, metabolic imbalance in mutant cells likely indicates cell stress and reactive oxygen species, consistent with PRDX1, an antioxidant, being a suggested genetic interactor in multiple screens. These findings provide new insight on vulnerabilities and genomic redundancies in cancer cells.