VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Lung Clearance Index as a Marker of Ventilation Inhomogeneity in Early Childhood with Health and Disease
Keywords: Ventilation Inhomogeneity
Lung Clearance Index
Cystic Fibrosis
Asthma
Childhood
Lung development

Rationale: Ventilation inhomogeneity (VI) may be an early sign of obstructive airway disease. The lung clearance index (LCI) has been suggested as a sensitive marker of VI, although it has not been well characterized in young children in health and in those with CF and asthma. Objective: To determine if LCI can detect VI in asymptomatic infants and preschool-age subjects with CF or wheeze/asthma compared to healthy controls. Methods: Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) multiple breath washout (MBW) testing was completed in all subjects. Results: LCI was found to be dependent on age in a large healthy cohort. Accounting for age, LCI was significantly elevated in disease groups compared to healthy controls in early childhood, illustrating early presence of VI in wheezy infants and the progression of disease in CF. Furthermore, the effects of breathing pattern and the variability of MBW parameters showed positive associations with age and VI.
Stable Boron Subphthalocyanines: A Structure Property Relationship and New Processes for Further Synthetic Study
Keywords: subphthalocyanine
light fastness

A structure property relationship relating photostability with the axial and peripheral substituents of Boronsubphthalocyanine (BsubPc) derivatives has been outlined: peripherally halogenating BsubPc has been determined to be the best way to increase the photostability, while axial substituents are found to have little effect. A solid state photostability test using BsubPc doped polymer films has been developed and was used to form this structure property relationship. The polymer in which BsubPc is tested is found to have an effect on the photostability and should be further explored. In addition to the structure property relationship, processes to make new BsubPc precursors, HO-BsubPc and Br-BsubPc, have been developed in order to further expand the derivatives available for study.
The Efficacy of New Zealand Aid: An Analysis and Critique of New Zealand's Aid Programme
Keywords: foreign aid
administration
New Zealand
development
institutions
aid effectiveness
aid program
policy
efficacy of aid

New Zealand’s aid programme reflects many of the controversies surrounding foreign aid more generally. From issues relating to the influence of political considerations and the administration and evaluation of aid agencies, to the fragmentation of the global aid system and the volatility of aid, these issues compromise the efficacy of aid provided to developing countries. This paper analyses the evolution of New Zealand’s aid programme and critiques its current policy and administrative structure in the context of these current controversies, in order to highlight the ways in which New Zealand’s aid can be delivered more effectively. The paper concludes, among other things, that New Zealand’s change in focus to economic development, its close alignment of aid policy with foreign policy and the re-absorption of its semi-autonomous aid agency NZAID back into its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade risks compromising the effectiveness of the aid that New Zealand provides.
Involvement of Primary Care Providers in the Care of Hospitalized Patients
Keywords: Primary Care
Continuity of Care
Quality of Care
Health Services Utilization

This study examined the potential impact on processes of care and patient outcomes upon exposure of supportive and concurrent care provided by primary care providers (PCPs) to their hospitalized patients. A secondary objective was to describe the PCPs who conduct these services, and the patients who receive them. There was a marked, observable trend that PCP visits to their hospitalized patients is on the decline (dropped 10% between 2003 and 2009). The patients who received in-hospital visits from their PCPs had more disease burden and were hospitalized longer than the control group. Patients who received and in-hospital visit from their PCP were more likely to receive home care services and PCP visits post-discharge [adjusted OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.12-1.28)]. They were also less likely to experience the composite outcome of death, hospital readmission, or emergency department visit [aOR 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.98)].
Responding to the Global Injury Burden by Improving Access to Orthopaedic Medical Devices: A Qualitative Case Study of Orthopaedic Services in Uganda
Keywords: Global Injury Burden
Access to Orthopaedic Medical Devices
Orthopaedic care in low-income countries
Corruption in health care

The global burden of injury is severely underappreciated and disproportionately affects low-income countries. With timely, appropriate orthopaedic treatment disability and mortality can be prevented, yet appropriate health resources are seldom available. Without orthopaedic medical devices (OMDs), quality of orthopaedic care suffers and the burden of preventable injury is exacerbated. A qualitative case study of 45 key informant interviews was conducted in Uganda to explore accessibility of OMDs, such as plaster, external fixators and implants. Data analysis elicited four major themes as barriers preventing access to OMDs in Uganda: 1) Poor leadership in government and corruption; 2) inadequate human resources; 3) inefficient and insufficient health care infrastructure; and 4) high costs of OMDs and poverty. Potential solutions for improving access to orthopaedic care were categorized as policies prioritizing orthopaedic services, training more orthopaedic specialists and creating incentives for them to work in underserviced areas, and innovative strategies funding for orthopaedic services.
Systems Development, Assembly and Testing, and Mission Operations for Nanosatellites in the CanX Program
Keywords: nanosatellite
systems development

The Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment (CanX) program at the University of Toronto's Space Flight Laboratory provides rapid, cost effective access to space through the use of micro- and nanosatellites. The primary focus of this thesis is the development of the CanX-4/-5 nanosatellite mission, which is intended to demonstrate precise, autonomous formation flying. This involves the development of nominal and contingency operations, system budgets, and requirements to produce a complete system architecture. Also described is the assembly, integration, and testing of flight hardware for this mission. In addition, this thesis addresses the on-orbit operation of CanX-2 and CanX-6/NTS, as it relates to operations planning for CanX-4/-5. The ground station operations for these two nanosatellite missions are described, with particular focus on payload operations and contingencies resulting from on-orbit anomalies. This experience is then related to the development of the CanX-4/-5 ground station software architecture.
A Qualitative Descriptive Study: Older Adults' Postoperative Pain Medication Usage After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Keywords: qualitative research
postoperative pain

Postoperative pain is a major concern to patients undergoing surgical procedures but little research has been conducted on pain management after hospital discharge for orthopaedic patients. Since pain medication is a key component of pain management, it is important to study medication usage from a patient’s perspective, for greater patient–health care provider concordance. A qualitative descriptive approach was taken to investigate the experience of 14 participants with managing pain at home immediately after total knee arthroplasty. Most participants limited their consumption and weaned themselves off prescription analgesics and used over-the-counter pain medications. The participants adapted their regimens in response to several factors and generally were content to self-manage their pain but required access to professional support. The study suggests that when developing postoperative pain management plans, health care providers may need to increase the time they spend addressing patients’ concerns and considering patients’ preferences.
Study of Fluid-structure Interactions of Communication Antennas
Keywords: fluid structure interactions
communication antennas
flow induced vibrations
structural analysis

Large structures exposed to the environment such as the collinear omni and large panel communication antennas in this research suffer damage from cyclic wind, rain, hail, ice load and impacts from birds and stones. Stresses from self-weight, ice loading and wind gusts will produce deformations of the structure that will lead to performance deterioration of the antenna. In order to avoid such a case, it is important to understand the static, dynamic and aerodynamic behavior of these structures and thus optimization can be achieved. In this research the current fluid-structure interaction methods are used to model, simulate and analyze these communication antennas in order to assess whether failure would occur under service loads. The FEA models developed are verified against analytical models and/or experiments. Different antenna configurations are compared based on their capacity to minimize vibration effects, stress-induced deformations and aerodynamic loading effects.
Navigating Textual Space in Print and Digital Interfaces: A Study of the Material and Cognitive Dimensions of Reading Systems
Keywords: information systems design
reading media
annotations
navigation
interface design
human computer interaction
hypertext
interaction styles
prototyping
distributed cognition
documents

This research examines situated behaviours and perceptions around textual navigation as it is practiced in situ by professionals working in various domains. In its investigation of interactions between human cognition and mediating artifacts, this research relies heavily on the resources of cognitive ethnography, including both observation and in-depth interviews with participants. Relevant contributions from the fields of information studies, book history, digital humanities, and human-computer interaction are presented to further elucidate the findings of this study. The findings reveal several emergent, interrelated navigational strategies, such as the use of annotations as navigational aids, reliance on automated interface actions, and the navigational value of interface metaphors. In further addressing the practice of textual navigation, this research also describes the creation of a prototype interface reflecting the study’s findings. This research proposes new ways of conceptualizing textual navigation and designing interfaces that support emergent textual interaction.
'Artificial' Land and 'Natural' Disaster: Hazard and Vulnerability on Created Urban Land
Keywords: artificial land
disaster
waterfront
GIS
urban
Toronto
New Orleans
Boston
Montreal

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, waterfront cities expanded over wetlands and shallow water by building land on which to build the city. Today, this artificial land is threatened by a range of environmental hazards. This increases the risk of natural disaster for people occupying the area. A framework for risk analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create maps based on the formula: ‘Risk = Hazard + Vulnerability’ is proposed. This methodology is demonstrated in four case study cities - Toronto’s Ashbridges Bay (Port Lands), Boston’s Back Bay, New Orleans’ Lakefront and Montreal’s Point St. Charles (Technoparc) – to show that census tracts that are both socially and environmentally vulnerable ought to take precedence in disaster prevention and relief efforts. Created land is inherently more hazardous than the adjacent natural land and requires planning focused on targeting and responding to the documented hazards.
CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 Genetic Variation, and Tobacco Use Behaviours and Biomarkers in Alaska Natives
Keywords: Nicotine
Alaska Native
CYP2A6
CYP2B6
Genetic Variation
Pharmacogenetics
Smoking & Tobacco Use
Tobacco-Related Disease

The impact of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 genetic variation on nicotine metabolism, tobacco use behaviours, and nicotine biomarkers was investigated in a group of Alaska Natives (n = 400). CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 allele frequencies were unique and associations of CYP2A6 genotype and CYP2A6 activity (plasma and urine trans 3’-hydroxycotinine/cotinine (3HC/COT) ratios) were robust. Notably, this population possessed a more rapid rate of CYP2A6 activity (higher plasma 3HC/COT) when compared to CYP2A6 wild-type individuals in other ethnic groups (ANOVA P < 0.001). Also demonstrated was a significant difference in urine total nicotine equivalents by CYP2A6 activity median split (t-test P < 0.01), the first evidence of nicotine titration by CYP2A6 activity within a light smoking population. Overall, this population possessed a distinctive pattern of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 variant frequencies and a faster rate of nicotine metabolism, which may in part explain higher levels of tobacco use prevalence and tobacco-related disease risk.
Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 Channels Regulate Neuronal Cytoskeletal Dynamics
Keywords: biology
stroke
TRPM7
cytoskeleton
cofilin
neuron

Transient Receptor Potential ‘Melastatin’ 7 (TRPM7) is a ubiquitously expressed, non-selective divalent cation channel implicated in diverse cellular functions including actomyosin cytoskeletal remodeling, magnesium homeostasis, and anoxic neuronal death. The present study investigates the role of TRPM7 in modulating neuronal morphology and regulating neuronal cytoskeletal dynamics after anoxia. Overexpression of GFP-tagged TRPM7 in neuronal cultures caused a stunted morphology with fewer neurite branches than controls, suggesting that TRPM7 regulates the neuronal cytoskeleton during dendritic outgrowth. I have discovered that TRPM7 may regulate morphology via activation of cofilin-1 (an actin binding protein). I found that TRPM7-dependent cofilin activation during anoxia mediated neuronal death. Overall my work reveals a novel link between anoxia-induced TRPM7 activity and cofilin activation, which likely contributes to neurodegeneration after ischemia.
An Examination of Possible Maternal Effects due to Parasite and Density Stress on the Mealworm Beetle, Tenebrio molitor
Keywords: Host-parasite interactions
Maternal effects
Life history trade-offs
Invertebrates
Tenebrio molitor

Few empirical studies examine the influence that the maternal parasite environment can have on offspring fitness (maternal effects) in invertebrates. Several recent studies have found that mothers can adjust offspring phenotype to counter the negative effects of parasite infection. In this thesis I subjected the parental generation of the host species, Tenebrio molitor (Insecta: Coleoptera), to a high parasite, high density, or control treatment. Offspring were subsequently subjected to either the same stress, the alternate stress, or to the control, and fitness-related life history traits were measured in both generations. The results from this thesis do not support the hypothesis that T. molitor mothers influence offspring fitness in a positive way. Instead, maternal effects led to a reduction in offspring fitness under both types of stress. At least under some environmental conditions, females invest in their fitness at the expense of their offspring.
"Young Women Growing Graciously": Considering Sport, Gender and Development in Diasporic Space
Keywords: sport
community development
diaspora
gender norms
social change
postcolonial feminism
transnational feminism
Somali-Canadian
Toronto

This thesis aims to expand our understanding of the relationship between gender, sport and development. Specifically, it asks 1) how a sport, gender and development program is conceptualized and deployed by members of a young Somali-Canadian women’s group in Toronto, Canada and 2) if female participation in sport is thought to contribute to new gender norms, roles and relationships within such a diaspora community. Working within a postcolonial/transnational feminist framework, the thesis utilizes focus group interviews and engages with issues of power, representation and knowledge production. The findings shed light on the influences that have both informed and constrained this particular community initiative, as well as the possibilities and limitations of using sport to negotiate new gender norms, roles and relationships within the Somali diaspora. In conclusion, several recommendations are made to researchers and practitioners invested in the burgeoning field of international sport for development.
When Daughters become Caregivers to a Parent who has Suffered a Stroke: A Qualitative Exploration of how the Parent-to-child Relationship is Associated with Caregiver Well Being
Keywords: Rehabilitation Science
Caregiving

Rationale: Many community-dwelling stroke survivors receive care from their family, often daughters. However, we lack in-depth information on the caregiver/care-recipient relationship and its impact on adult daughter caregivers (ADCs). Objective: To systematically review the caregiving literature and qualitatively explore the pre-and post-stroke parent-to-child relationship and its association with ADCs’ well being. Method: A qualitative descriptive methodology used in-depth interviews of 23 ADCs. Analyses generated themes. Findings: Four themes were revealed: 1) The pre-stroke ADC-to-parent relationship is associated with the decision to take on the caregiving role; 2) Changes in the parent-to-child relationship occur as a result of providing care; 3) Changes to an ADC’s relationships with others arises from providing care to a parent and 4) Changes to caregiver lifestyle, outlook and physical and emotional well being arise from caregiving. Conclusion: There is a need for interventions that focus on role strains and issues related to relationship loss.
Utilizing Managerial Cash Flow Estimates for Applied Real Options Analysis
Keywords: Real Options
Project Valuation
Medical Device
NPV Analysis
Managerial Information

Real options analysis has been recommended to identify and quantify opportunities where managerial flexibility can influence worth. However, real options models in the literature have become increasingly sophisticated, and managers have cited their reluctance to use such models due to their level of complexity and lack of transparency. Presented in this thesis is a real options model that can be easily incorporated into the current project selection methodology of a firm; the model uses managerial cash flow estimates to price real options on tangible investment opportunities in a financially consistent manner. Next, to demonstrate the application of real options analysis in practice, five real options models, including the proposed model, are applied to value a medical device project. The models all price the real option differently, due to the differences in their underlying assumptions, but they all yield the same investment conclusion: the medical device project has value.
Parathyroid Hormone Regulates Osterix Promoter Activity In Vitro and Expression In Vivo
Keywords: Osterix
osteoblast
parathyroid hormone
gene regulation

Osterix (Osx) is a transcription factor required for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. We previously demonstrated that continuous parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatment inhibited Osx expression in murine calvaria and osteoblastic UMR106-01 cells through the regulation of two regions on the Osx promoter. Mutational analysis of transcription factor elements within these regions revealed two "Sp-sites" were vital for Osx promoter activity. Blockage of these Sp-sites with Mithramycin A demonstrated their importance for Osx expression. Osx bound to its own promoter at these sites, while PTH treatment inhibited this association. PTH regulation of Osx expression in vivo was investigated in mice by: daily injection of PTH for 3 days, continuous infusion of PTH from osmotic pumps for 14 days, or mice fed a calcium-deficient diet for 21 days. Osx expression was decreased by daily injection, while Osx expression was stimulated in mice receiving continuous PTH infusion and mice fed a calcium-deficient diet.
Cross Validation of the Structure of a Transiently Formed and Low Populated FF Domain Folding Intermediate Determined by Relaxation Dispersion NMR and CS-Rosetta
Keywords: Protein Folding
Folding Intermediate
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
FF domain
Protein Structure
CPMG Relaxation Dispersion NMR

The atomic resolution structure of a low populated and transiently formed on-pathway folding intermediate of the FF domain from human HYPA/FBP11 has recently been reported[1]. The structure was determined on the basis of backbone chemical shift and bond vector orientation restraints measured on the ‘invisible’ intermediate state using relaxation dispersion nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy that were subsequently input into the data-base structure determination program CS-Rosetta. This thesis focuses on the cross-validation of the structure so produced. We present here the solution NMR structure of a mimic of the folding intermediate that is highly populated in solution, obtained from the wild-type domain by protein mutagenesis. The ensemble of structures generated of the mimic are within 2Å of the relaxation dispersion/CS-Rosetta structures of the intermediate, with the non-native interactions in the intermediate also observed in the mimic. The results presented in this thesis strongly confirm the structure of the FF domain folding intermediate, in particular, and validate the use of relaxation dispersion derived restraints in structural studies of invisible excited states, in general.
Exploring Perceptions of Cultural Difference in IRB Family Sponsorship Decisions
Keywords: law
immigration
Canada
Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
cultural difference
Critical Race Theory
family sponsorship
identity construction
Immigration Appeal Division

This thesis analyzes the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)’s treatment of culture in recent family sponsorship decisions. Drawing upon theories of cultural difference, identity construction, and Critical Race Theory, it examines IRB decision-makers’ assessments of cultural factors and their influence on the evaluation of parties’ credibility. This thesis argues that appellants and applicants before the Immigration Appeal Division often had to demonstrate that their family class relationships were “performed” in accordance with the norms of their culture. Many IRB Members relied on essentialist conceptions of culture, and thus generated problematic images of both cultural minorities and Canadian society. Further, the identity of parties was often constructed in terms of defined categories such as ethnic background, religion, marital status, age, and disability. In conclusion, this thesis offers reflections on how issues of cultural identity can be more fairly and sensitively addressed by administrative tribunals such as the IRB.
Multi-sensor Data Fusion for Traffic Speed and Travel Time Estimation
Keywords: Data Fusion
Traffic Speed
Estimation
ITS

In this thesis, seven multi-sensor data fusion based estimation techniques are investigated. All methods are compared in terms of their ability to fuse data from loop detectors and Bluetooth tracked probe vehicles to accurately estimate freeway traffic speed. In the first case study, data generated from a microsimulation model are used to assess how data fusion might perform with present day conditions, having few probe vehicles, and what sort of improvement might result from an increased proportion of vehicles carrying Bluetooth-enabled devices in the future. In the second case study, data collected from the real-world Bluetooth traffic monitoring system are fused with corresponding loop detector data and the results are compared against GPS collected probe vehicle data, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing data fusion for real-time traffic monitoring today. This research constitutes the most comprehensive evaluation of data fusion techniques for traffic speed estimation known to the author.