VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Group Collaboration in Global Online Learning Environments
Keywords: Film Education
Intercultural competences
International Baccalaureate
K-12 online learning
Media Education
Online collaboration

This case study seeks to better understand online collaboration in a global secondary school classroom context. Given the widespread promotion of collaborative learning as a crucial skill, coupled with a significant increase in online learning, this study aims to grow research evidence and offer practical recommendations specific to K-12 global online collaboration. This study encompasses an intervention activity designed to introduce a group film production assignment in a global online International Baccalaureate (IB) secondary level film class with no prior collaborative activity. The study provides a detailed account and interpretive analysis of behaviours amongst groups using a theory-driven coding scheme to further identify and interpret the complex interactions and exchanges. Finally, student reflections and post-activity comments provide insight into students' perceptions and attitudes about online collaboration. This study reveals the challenges groups faced with prescribed online tools, Internet connectivity, technical issues, uneven participation, and time zone differences. The learning management system, Canvas, was perceived as a location to retrieve assignments and less as a space to collaborate. Given these challenges, groups eventually transitioned to social media instant messaging (IM) to enhance interactions. The study reveals IM was the most effective for fostering frequency of communications, sustained interaction, and was found to have the widest range of collaborative behaviours. For groups, IM became an effective digital backchannel and a space to enhancegroup cohesion and connection. Students demonstrated preference for lean media affordances of IM such as speediness of responses, ease of use, informal nature of interactions and accessibility. Given the culturally and globally diverse students body, the study identifies a need to foster intercultural competences for students and educators. Technology access and Internet connectivity continue to be an equity issue for students globally. Considering a recent IB initiative to pilot more online courses across centres worldwide, this study makes four recommendations for current online IB film and other global centres endeavouring to promote online collaboration. Recommendations include the development of an IB global media repository to promote a culture of participatory media production, an increase of opportunities for intercultural collaboration, and further recommendations to improve instructional design for online collaboration.
CRISPR/Cas9 Screens Reveal the Consequences of Genome Stability Factor Inhibition by Small Molecules
Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9
Functional genomics
Genome editing
Mitosis
MRE11 nuclease inhibitor
WEE1 kinase inhibitor

Multiplex genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 enables highly penetrant loss-of-function screening in an unbiased, genome-wide manner in human cells. Genome stability factors maintain the fidelity of DNA replication and chromosome segregation (mitosis). Therefore, their activity is highly relevant to physiological and disease states. Accordingly, small molecule inhibitors developed against these factors may be applied to study the consequences of their loss. In my primary research objective, I employed positive and negative selection chemical screens to search for novel determinants of WEE1 kinase and MRE11 nuclease inhibitor sensitivity. Firstly, I found unexpected but robust genetic interactions between WEE1 kinase inhibition by the clinical inhibitor adavosertib (AZD-1775), the eIF2 alpha kinase GCN2, and the ribosome quality control (RQC) machinery in human cells. Loss of the RQC protein ZNF598 sensitizes cells to adavosertib. Moreover, I show that a GCN2-dependent integrated stress response orchestrated by the ATF4 transcription factor is necessary to drive cellular toxicity upon adavosertib treatment. Consequently, GCN2 or ATF4 loss is associated with resistance to adavosertib. I provide evidence that GCN2 activation is a common but until now unrecognized outcome of WEE1 kinase inhibition. Secondly, I found novel sensitizing relationships with the MRE11 nuclease inhibitor mirin and two derivatives (PFM01 and PFM39). I show that defective mitochondrial gene expression is an unexpected hallmark of PFM01 sensitivity. My work cautions against off-target activities that may confound the interpretation of phenotypes elicited by MRE11 inhibitors. Together, the work presented in this thesis illustrates the potential of chemical genetic CRISPR screens to uncover novel genetic interactions and mechanisms of drug action. In my second research objective, I studied the regulation of DNA double-strand break repair during mitosis. I found that end resection is minimally inhibited by targeting of the CtIP/RBBP8 protein, which blocks MRE11 nuclease activity. My work suggests that supplemental mechanisms to inhibit CtIP/MRE11 exist in cells and that unscheduled end resection in mitosis can alter the fate of daughter cells. Finally, I characterized a mitotic DNA damage tolerance complex composed of MDC1, TOPBP1, and CIP2A, the loss of which is selectively deleterious to BRCA-mutated cells and potentially BRCA-mutated breast and ovarian cancers.
Artist Friendly Tools For Facial 3D Modeling and Animation
Keywords: Animation
Character
Face
Geometry
Graphics
Interface

One of the most powerful tools in social communication is the face, from which observers can quickly make several emotional inferences. Humans are extremely sensitive to unrealistic facial expressions and develop a sense of unease and disgust when robotic or digital depiction doesn't meet their high standards. Developing artist-friendly tools for creating and animating digital faces is challenging because the face can be thought of as comprising a high-dimensional, dynamic information space. This inherently led to modern 3D tools for faces to be complex and have a high barrier of entry. The goal of this thesis is to address the problem of designing artist-friendly 3D tools and systems for digital face modeling and animation. We focus on exploring novel digital data representations that, in turn, inspire interactive tools that significantly reduce the time and effort it takes to produce believable faces. First, we introduce a novel tool for creating muscle geometry using a volumetric representation. Second, we propose a new representation for facial expressions that enables the creation of intelligent user interfaces for posing faces. Finally, we introduce a system to produce a stylized stop-motion effect of the input animation that can be further used to bring animations into physical realms via 3D printing. While developing tools and systems, we identify key issues that hinder user experience, build novel digital representations, and confirm our design choices by various informal evaluations and comparisons.
The Role of Phosphoinositides During Phagosome Formation and Resolution
Keywords: Cytoskeleton
Innate Immunity
Lipids
Macrophages
Phagocytosis
Phosphoinositides

Phagocytosis, the process by which cells internalize particles greater than 0.5µm into membrane-bound vacuoles (phagosomes), is key for innate immunity and tissue homeostasis. Phagocytosis can be carried out by myeloid cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. These cells, known as professional phagocytes, constitute the first line of defense against invading microorganisms and are key for the development of adaptive immunity. Furthermore, phagocytosis is essential for the clearance of the apoptotic debris produced from the daily turnover of cells. Clearance of apoptotic bodies can be carried out also by non-professional phagocytes such as fibroblasts, epithelial, mesenchymal, and endothelial cells. Phagocytosis can be divided into three main stages, phagosome formation, maturation, and resolution. Firstly, phagosome formation consists of probing for potential targets through ruffling, followed by target binding, pseudopod extension, and scission of the phagosome from the plasma membrane. Secondly, during the maturation stage nascent phagosomes convert into early phagosomes, subsequently into late phagosomes and then into phagolysosomes. Finally, the resolution of phagolysosomes consists of their shrinkage and recycling of membrane and luminal components. Phosphoinositides, specialized signaling lipid molecules in the cytosolic leaflet of the phagosomal and plasma membrane orchestrate the changes in membrane composition and actin cytoskeleton during each stage of phagocytosis. This dissertation aims to characterize the roles for two largely understudied phosphoinositides, PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdIns(4)P, during phagosome formation and phagolysosome resolution respectively. Specifically, I focus on describing the distribution, dynamics, metabolism, and functions of these phosphoinositides during phagocytosis. In chapter I, I review the background on phosphoinositides and their previously known involvement during phagocytosis. Chapter 2 defines the aims and hypothesis of my work. The methodology used in this work is described in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, I describe the role of PtdIns(3,4)P2 during phagosome formation. Chapter 5 focuses on PtdIns(4)P, how its levels are regulated by the endoplasmic reticulum and its involvement during phagolysosome resolution. Finally, I discuss the importance of these events to phagosome formation and phagolysosome resolution. This work highlights the relevance of PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdIns(4)P for the phagocytic process and the importance of a fine-tuned regulation of these lipids.
Neuroimaging of the Dopaminergic System in Healthy Controls and Parkinson’s Disease with REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder
Keywords: Dopamine
Healthy Controls
Parkinson's disease
PET Imaging
REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder where patients suffer from tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. One of the primary driving forces of PD pathophysiology involves neuronal loss within the dopaminergic pathways including the nigrostriatal, mesocortical, and mesolimbic pathways. Neurons within these pathways contain two dopamine D2 receptor isoforms—D2 long and D2 short. The genotype of the DRD2 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs2283265 (C>A), modulate the degree of expression for these isoforms. This SNP is clinically important because PD patients with the CC genotype showed the most clinical improvement in motor and mental functioning to certain drugs that modulates the dopaminergic system, compared to the minor A allele carriers. However, it is unclear how this SNP affects the distribution of D2 receptors in vivo within the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system at a foundational level in healthy controls. Furthermore, given the role of the dopaminergic system on sleep disturbances in PD patients, it is critical to elucidate the dopaminergic dysfunction in PD patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). RBD impacts nearly half of PD patients and is characterized by the lack of normal skeletal muscle atonia during REM sleep resulting in dream enactment behaviours. Therefore, the general aims of this thesis were to use positron emission tomography (PET) to determine in vivo striatal D2 receptor distribution and availability as a function of DRD2 SNP genotype in healthy controls; to investigate the extent of extra-striatal D2 receptor availability and striatal dopaminergic innervation in PD patients with and without RBD. The findings from this thesis revealed that 1) DRD2 SNP influences either the quantity and/or high affinity state of D2 receptors within the ventral striatum in healthy controls; 2) extra-striatal dopaminergic system may play a role in more advanced PD patients with RBD; and 3) PD patients with and without RBD had similar striatal denervation. The significances of these results are: DRD2 SNP modulates the D2 receptor distribution in the ventral striatum in healthy controls; and the dopaminergic dysfunction in extra-striatal regions may play a stronger role in RBD pathophysiology in PD patients relative to striatal dopaminergic denervation.
My Sister, My Bride: The Liturgical Rites of Monastic Profession and Consecration of Virgins in the Usage of Monastic Women from the Tenth to the Thirteenth Century
Keywords: consecrated life
consecration of virgins
liturgy
monastic profession
nuns

This thesis investigates the liturgical rites used by women in England and Germany for initiation into the monastic life from the tenth to the thirteenth century. Two rites were used: monastic profession and the consecration of virgins. The contents of each rite are presented from a variety of liturgical sources, facilitating their comparison. The sources are divided geographically (England and the Continent) and according to type (pontificals are treated in chapters 2 and 3 and monastic sources in chapter 4). In some contexts, the consecration of virgins was used as the female version of monastic profession. In other places, monastic women used both rites, either in two different moments or in a hybrid rite. Initially, when women used profession rites, they were identical to those used by monks. The emergence of a new type of rite, monastic profession compiled specifically for women, is documented beginning in the thirteenth century. These new rites have the nuptial character of the consecration of virgins without the requirement that they be celebrated by a bishop. These new profession rites best reflect the ecclesial role of consecrated women as spouses of Christ.
Essays on Managing the Consumption and Creation of Digital Media
Keywords: Demand estimation
Digital media
Incentive contract
Platform design
Release strategy

Online platforms of digitized media content face different challenges on managing the consumer demand and creator production compared to the traditional media industry. This work utilizes data from a major online book platform in China to investigate these issues and provides insights on platform management regarding content releases and creator incentives. The first essay studies the impact of the digital platform’s product release strategy of serialized media content on its consumption and the ensuing profits made by the platform. Specifically, should a platform release all chapters of a book simultaneously, sequentially over time, or with a hybrid strategy where it releases a fraction simultaneously and the rest sequentially? I show that the release speed of chapters impacts consumption through two opposite forces: binge consumption and product exploration. A slower release, while limiting binge consumption, leads to an increased exploration of other books through two mechanisms - consumers visit the platform more often and explore other books due to the constrained availability. The counterfactuals show that the platform will be worse-off under a simultaneous release strategy but better-off under an optimized hybrid release strategy. The second essay focuses on how the platform should design a monetary contract to incentivize content creators to produce higher quantity and higher quality works. The platform switched from a uniform commission rate to a quantity-based plan offering higher commission rates if a writer's production meets higher quantity brackets. Theoretical analysis indicates that a quantity-based commission plan can enhance the quantity-quality complementarity: the creators who reach a higher bracket of quantity should also produce a higher quality. This theoretical result is confirmed in multiple empirical tests. First, for a given book, the chapters published in the months when writers reached higher brackets of quantity had higher quality measured by chapter-to-chapter customer retention rates. Such a positive correlation is not significant in books published when the platform offered a uniform commission plan. Second, when writers produced higher quantity early on in a month but failed later, there was a greater quality drop under the quantity-based commission plan than under the uniform commission plan.
Asemaa Nitam (Sacred Tobacco First): Indigenous Healing Practices within the Ojibwe Tradition
Keywords: Indigenous Healing
Indigenous Psychology
Ojibwe Oral Tradition
Social Justice
Traditional Knowledge
Truth and Reconciliation

The Seven Stages of Life Teaching is an Ojibwe Traditional Healing Method and Pedagogy used to relieve psychological and physical trauma to promote and support a ‘Good Life.’ The main approach of the method/pedagogy is by reliving past experiences and trauma through participation in the Oral Tradition of Sacred Ceremony. This doctoral research project will share my personal experience of this Traditional Lifeway Teaching using heard stories, Sacred Instructions, Songs, and Dreams as the primary source of reference. My intention for sharing these teachings in this academic context is to provide a point of reference to otherAnishinaabe/Indigenous students so that they can begin their own personal research as I have done to maintain this path through colonization. I am doing this work to validate our Ojibwe Traditional Healing Methods and to promote and support confidence in the psychology of Indigenous Healing Ceremonies for Indigenous students as they move forward in a Good Way. In a very small way, my contributions through this doctoral research project will begin to address some of the issues in ‘decolonizing’ the academy for Indigenous students.
The Longitudinal Association between Anxiety and Restricted/ Repetitive Behaviour in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Keywords: anxiety
autism
insistence on sameness
repetitive behaviour

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1-2% of children. The core symptoms include (1) social communication deficits and (2) restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour. Autistic children experience high rates of co-occurring anxiety; anxiety disorders are estimated to affect 40%. Previous data suggest that restricted/repetitive behaviour severity correlates with anxiety levels in cross-sectional samples. The nature of the longitudinal relationship between anxiety and restricted/repetitive behaviour in ASD is unknown. Methods: In a cohort of autistic children followed between ages 3 and 11 years (n = 421), anxiety was measured longitudinally using a parent report measure (Childhood Behavior Checklist - anxiety problems subscale). Restricted/repetitive behaviour was measured using a standardized parent interview (Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised) and a parent survey (Repetitive Behavior Scale - Revised). The longitudinal association between anxiety and restricted/ repetitive behaviour was explored using three different analytic approaches: (1) multivariable logistic regression (Study 1), (2) group-based trajectory modelling (Study 2), and (3) cross-lagged panel modelling (Study 3). Results: In study 1, preschool restricted/ repetitive behaviour severity was an independent predictor of clinically elevated anxiety symptoms in middle childhood. Sameness and restricted behaviour subtypes appeared to be the most predictive of future anxiety. In study 2, four anxiety trajectories and three insistence on sameness behaviour trajectories were identified, with mostly stable or increasing symptoms. Sameness and anxiety trajectories were similar in severity and direction for two-thirds of the sample. ‘High-peaking’ insistence on sameness trajectory membership was associated with clinically elevated anxiety trajectories. In study 3, cross-lagged panels supported a model where a rise in sameness behaviours precedes a rise in anxiety symptoms; within time associations also appeared to lessen with age. Conclusion: In ASD, restricted/repetitive behaviour and anxiety are related symptom domains, especially in early childhood. Elevated or increasing restricted/repetitive behaviour severity, especially level of insistence on sameness behaviour, is a predictor of future anxiety problems. Longitudinal anxiety symptoms and insistence on sameness behaviours often mirror each other and should be assessed concurrently. Therapeutic interventions including participants with high or increasing sameness behaviours in early to middle childhood may help reduce or prevent anxiety disorders in ASD.
Exploring Pathways from Growth to Wisdom: The Role of Coping Styles and Meaning-Making
Keywords: Coping
Meaning
Trauma

Variations in cognition and coping play a key role in the maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), therefore it is important to know how individuals can successfully cope with trauma. Self-compassion (SC) and meaning may help an individual grow in a transformative manner following trauma. Moreover, recent research has shown a link between SC, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and emotion-focused coping strategies. Studies have also found evidence for the use of problem-focused strategies in predicting PTG. Therefore, this study had three main objectives: (1) investigate the association of negative cognitions (about the self, the world, and self-blame), coping, and their interactions with PTSD, (2) examine whether SC and meaning are associated with PTG in individuals with probable PTSD, and (3) investigate the association between SC, emotion- and problem-focused coping, and PTG. Participants were 111 emerging adults who participated in an online survey. First, a hierarchical multiple linear regression was conducted to test the hypothesis related to coping, negative cognitions, and PTSD. At step 1, self-distraction and substance use were associated with PTSD. At step 2, these coping styles and negative cognitions about the world were associated with PTSD. In step 3, no interactions were significant. Second, for the probable PTSD group, SC was associated with meaning and PTG, whereas SC and PTG were not correlated in the non-PTSD group. There was an indirect effect of SC on PTG via meaning in those with probable PTSD. Lastly, SC and PTG were correlated with active coping, instrumental support, and positive reframing. All three coping styles were associated with PTG over and above SC. Findings indicate that distracting oneself, using substances, and maintaining a negative view of the world significantly impacts PTSD. Trauma may require individuals to redefine negative beliefs to rebuild their shattered assumptive worlds. SC also involves a caring about one’s life that affords a greater opportunity for PTG. SC-based interventions could be beneficial in supporting growth after adversity. Problem-focused coping strategies are also influential in mediating the development of PTG from SC. Incorporating problem-focused coping into SC-based practices in trauma therapies may offer additional benefits by reducing self-criticism to promote recovery.