VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Direct Measurements of Drag Forces on a Microcrawler
Keywords: C. elegans
Fluid mechanics
Force measurement
Microorganism locomotion
Resistive force theory
Viscoelasticity

In the study of the molecular origins of behaviour, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a powerful tractable model. To fully understand an organism’s behaviour, one must also understand the physics of the surrounding medium. The work discussed in this thesis focuses on the interactions of C. elegans with the environment it is most frequently observed in – a viscoelastic agar substrate covered by a thin liquid film. We have used a micropipette-based force measurement technique to directly measure for the first time the forces involved in crawling locomotion of a microorganism. We found that substrate viscoelasticity introduces nonlinearities in the force-velocity relationships, and suggested physical mechanisms for the origin of these nonlinearities. Furthermore, we applied a modification of resistive force theory to recordings of nematode body shape and were able to obtain good agreement with simultaneously recorded lateral forces exerted by a crawling subject.
Beyond Bribery: Rethinking the Form of Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa's Extractive Industries
Keywords: Anti-corruption
Bribery
CFPOA
Corruption
Development
FCPA

Abstract: There has been a rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Sub-Saharan Africa's extractive industries. Currently, the relationship between graft and FDI is widely perceived as one in which FDI inflows are either positively or negatively affected by bribery corruption. With the focus on bribery corruption, legal measures have been implemented to combat graft in this area, yet less attention is being paid to other forms of corruption that relate to FDI and Sub-Saharan Africa's extractive industries. This thesis will argue that the definition of `corruption', with respect to FDI and extractives in SSA, should not be understood only as bribery corruption, but should include graft of other forms.
Assessing The Position And Angulation Of Single Implants Restored In The Predoctoral Dentistry Program
Keywords: angulation
Implant
position

Assessing The Position And Angulation Of Single Implants Restored In The Predoctoral Dentistry ProgramWaad M. KhederMasters of ScienceGraduate ProsthodonticsUniversity of Toronto2014AbstractObjective: to assess if single implants restored in the undergraduate clinic at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, are placed in a compromised position and angulation relative to the adjacent natural teeth. Materials and Methods: The study sample consists of 108 patients treated with single implants placed in the Implants Placement Unit and restored by predoctoral students at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto. Assessing the angulation and 3D position of implant relative to adjacent teeth were conducted by using the measurement tool in the 3D scanner. Results: The highest percentage of the non-ideal implant position was for mesiodistal implant position and the lowest percentage was for the non-ideal buccolingual implant angulation. Conclusion: The placement of the implant in a non-ideal position/angulation may be due to: Gingival biotype, buccal cortical plate concavity, selected implant diameter and Implant site relation to vital anatomical structures and roots of adjacent teeth.
Histopathology in Skeletal Muscle of Transgenic Mice Suggests Dual-Locus of Onset (DLO) in Kennedy's Disease
Keywords: Animal Models
Histopathology
Kennedy's Disease
Neuromuscular
polyQ Disorders
Spinal-Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

Kennedy's Disease or Spinal-Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (KD/SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease associated with a CAG tri-nucleotide repeat expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Mouse models of KD used in this investigation expressed mutant AR either in motor neurons (HB9/AR113 mice) or skeletal muscle (HSA/AR113 mice), revealing abnormalities within the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles. Reduced oxidative metabolism was observed in both HB9/AR113 and HSA/AR113 mice, while a fiber-type switch and a reduction in cell size were only observed in HSA/AR113 mice. Deficits in fiber number and endurance strength were found in HB9/AR113 mice only. These findings support the DLO hypothesis, suggesting that onset of KD involves pathology in motor neurons, and perhaps skeletal muscle. Notably, in vivo evidence of pathology in HB9/AR113 mice is an original finding of this investigation.
Effect of Relative Humidity and CO2 Concentration on the Properties of Carbonated Reactive MgO Cement Based Materials
Keywords: Carbonation
Carbonation Curing
CO2
Concrete
MgO
Reactive magnesia

Sustainability of modern concrete industry recently has become an important topic of scientific discussion, and consequently there is an effort to study the potential of the emerging new supplementary cementitious materials. This study has a purpose to investigate the effect of reactive magnesia (reactive MgO) as a replacement for general use (GU) Portland Cements and the effect of environmental factors (CO2 concentrations and relative humidity) on accelerated carbonation curing results. The findings of this study revealed that improvement of physical properties is related directly to the increase in CO2 concentrations and inversely to the increase in relative humidity and also depends much on %MgO in the mixture. The conclusions of this study helped to clarify the effect of variable environmental factors and the material replacement range on carbonation of reactive magnesia concrete materials, as well as providing an assessment of the optimal conditions for the effective usage of the material.
Flipping the Self-Control Switch: A Novel Within-Subject Paradigm to Test the Effects of Ego Depletion
Keywords: anchoring
cognitive estimation
ego depletion
flanker
self-control
within-subject design

Flipping the Self-Control Switch: A Novel Within-Subject Paradigm to Test the Effects of Ego DepletionZoë FrancisMasters of Arts 2014 Department of PsychologyUniversity of TorontoIn response to concerns of ego depletion replicability, we have developed a within-subject, repeated-measures paradigm to complement the traditional between-subject design. Across five studies, we examine two previously established dependent variables (the cognitive estimation task (CET) and the flanker task) and one novel variable (anchoring effect). The experiments use 8 to 22 blocks of alternating depleting and rejuvenating manipulations, with each block followed by a self-control measurement. Participants consistently report having less energy on depleting blocks compared to rejuvenating blocks, confirming the subjective effectiveness of brief depletion manipulations. We replicate previous findings showing that participants perform poorer on the CET and make more errors on incongruent trials in the flanker task when depleted. Furthermore, we find that depleted participants show a weaker anchoring effect, consistent with literature showing that the anchoring effect is paradoxically reliant on cognitive effort. We conclude that ego depletion can be studied using statistically powerful within-subject designs.
Physical Activity and Student Focus in the Primary Grades
Keywords: academic achievement
elementary students
health and well-being
Physical activity
physical education
primary students

The purpose of this paper is to explore the correlation of student physical activity and its impact on student focus in the academic classroom and the influencing role of School Administration and Stakeholders. Important historical and current empirical studies on physical activity are used to explore their impact on student focus, achievement and well-being. The author shares his own experiences and observations, and explores how research validates his teaching of the Ontario Physical Education and Health curriculum. These resources are used to integrate the physical education curriculum with other academic subjects, to motivate student engagement and success. The conclusion, in a majority of the research, shows a positive correlation between physical activity and academic achievement. The participation of Schools, Schools Board, School Council, Administrators and Educators are integral in achieving this success.
Multiobjective Optimization of PPy based Trilayer Actuators and Mechanical Sensors
Keywords: Conducting polymers
Mechanical sensors
Multiobjective optimization
PPy trilayer actuators

Polypyrrole (PPy) as a conducting polymer has exhibited great potential for the fabrication of bending type actuators and conjugated polymer based mechanical sensors. Considering the structure and performance of any actuating or sensing device, it is of pivotal importance to study the roles and relationships of associated decision variables to design a device with a desired performance. In this thesis, proper modeling methodologies are presented to capture responses of a PPy trilayer actuator and mechanical sensor considering their main characteristic outputs. As the central focus, constrained nonlinear multiobjective optimization models for these actuators and sensors are accordingly developed to obtain the optimal range of their designated design variables. Moreover, incorporation of a layer of multi-walled carbon nanotubes into the structure of a neat PPy actuator is investigated to overcome one of its main shortcomings, low electrical conductivity. The accuracy of the numerical results were then determined using their experimental counterparts.
The Effects of Visual Interference on Older Adults At-Risk for MCI: Comparing Object and Scene Memory
Keywords: Interference
Memory
Objects
Older Adults
Perirhinal Cortex
Scene

Persons with early mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show atrophy in brain regions known to process objects, leaving scene processing regions intact. The MTL is believed to prevent irrelevant visual stimuli from intruding upon memory content. The current study examined whether older adults at-risk for MCI show impaired recognition for objects, and whether visual interference consisting of distracting objects would exacerbate this effect. Participants were classified as at-risk for MCI according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA, Nasreddine et al., 2005). Post-hoc tests revealed that the at-risk group performed significantly worse than controls on object recognition following object interference. Additionally, accuracy in this condition was significantly correlated with MoCA scores. There were no group differences for scene recognition. The results support the view that MTL atrophy damages object representations, leading to a vulnerability to visual interference that is especially detrimental to visual memory for objects.
Autobiography as Fiction, Fiction as Autobiography: A Study of Autobiographical Impulse in Pak Wansŏ's The Naked Tree and Who Ate Up All the Shinga
Keywords: Autobiographical Impulse
Autobiography
Fiction
Pak Wansŏ
Shinga
The Naked Tree

Autobiographical studies in the past few decades have made it increasingly clear that it is no longer possible to leave autobiography to its conventional understanding as a nonfiction literary genre. The uneasy presence of fiction in autobiography and autobiography in fiction has gained autobiography a reputation for elusiveness as a literary genre that defies genre distinction. This thesis examines the literary works of South Korean writer Pak Wansŏ and the autobiographical impulse that drives Pak to write in the fictional form. Following a brief overview of autobiography and its problems as a literary genre, Pak's reasons for writing fiction autobiographically are explained in an investigation of her first novel,
One Step Formation of Heterogeneous Tubular Biomaterials and Stimulus Responsive Hydrogels
Keywords: Bioprinting
Hydrogels
Soft materials
Spatial heterogeneities
Stimulus Responsive
Tubular structures

Tubular structures are fundamental constituents of plant, animal and human tissues. Synthetically prepared biomaterial tubular constructs have a variety of applications that include engineered blood vessels, vascularized biomaterials as well as soft robotic actuators. Currently there is no one-step method for the scalable preparation of perfusable tubular soft materials that allows the tube size, morphology, composition and tensile properties to be consistently altered. We report a scalable microfluidic approach for the consistent formation of cross-linked biopolymer tubes in sodium alginate and collagen I, with outer diameters between 0.7 mm and 2.5 mm, at extrusion velocities between 1mm/s and 20mm/s. We report the consistent formation of homogeneous tubes with cylindrical, crimped, and corkscrew inner wall surfaces. Heterotypic tubular constructs possess up to three concentric wall layers, or consist of single-layered "Janus" tubes and tubes with incorporated axial stripe patterns. Fluorescent microspheres and swelling nanoparticles were incorporated as payload and allowed us to image the tube architecture and induce predictive shape transformations. This research can potentially lead to high throughput construction of complex spatially organized 3D functional soft materials and tissues.
The Narrative of Mental Health: The Relationship Between Narrators and Narrative Content as a Basis for Emotional Dispositions
Keywords: Emotion
Emotional Disposition
Narrative
Reference Frames
Spatial Cognition

In an effort to elucidate the relationship between narrative and emotion, a new narrative concept (Narrative Reference Frames) was derived from the spatial reference frame construct used in spatial cognition research. Connections were drawn between egocentric, allocentric and counterfactual reference frames, and descriptive, evaluative and prescriptive linguistic modes, respectively. The validity of the Narrative Reference Frame model was investigated using intercoder reliability, and the relationship between Narrative Reference Frames and emotion was examined through correlation and mediation analyses. Intercoder reliability on n=2296 Narrative Reference Frame judgements suggested a moderate level of agreement. Significant associations were revealed between a subsample of substantially reliable judgements, emotion, and personality. The potential utility of the Narrative Reference Frame model in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders is discussed.
Slaughterhouse Rules: Declining Abattoirs and the Politics of Food Safety Regulation in Ontario
Keywords: Agricultural regulation
Food systems
Local food
Meat processing

In Ontario, farmers wishing to sell their meat locally must have their livestock slaughtered at a provincially-inspected abattoir. While this type of infrastructure plays an essential role in local food supply chains, its significance is often overlooked. Large numbers of these slaughterhouses have been closing in recent years. This thesis investigates this trend by conducting a series of in-depth interviews with stakeholders in order to determine why abattoirs have been closing so rapidly. It reveals that a variety of factors contribute to abattoir decline, including provincial regulation designed to ensure food safety. The food safety rules, which are increasingly aligned with global standards, tend to present a significant financial burden for these businesses. This research concludes that efforts to address this decline could be more effective if the scope of risk analysis were broadened so as to incorporate other values, including those associated with localized food systems.
The Effect of Ginseng (Genus Panax) on Blood Pressure and Additional Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease
Keywords: blood pressure
diabetes
ginseng
natural health products

This two-fold project investigates the long-term effect of ginseng on blood pressure (BP) in individuals with and without type-2 diabetes. Study 1: A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of ginseng on BP in randomized controlled trials (RCT)s. Study 2: A preliminary segment of an ongoing long-term RCT was analyzed to explore the therapeutic potential of combined American and Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extracts. Meta-analysis of 17 RCTs, demonstrated an overall neutral effect of ginseng on systolic and diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure, although favouring SBP improvement in individuals with diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Trial analyses suggest improved BP, low-grade body inflammation, and glycemic control with the combined ginseng intervention, after 12 weeks, in individuals with type-2 diabetes and concomitant hypertension. This thesis contributes to the understanding of ginseng efficacy, suggesting a neutral and potentially beneficial effect on BP and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.
CK2 Phosphorylation Assay by Electrochemical Detection Using 5'-γ-Ferrocenyl Adenosine Triphosphate
Keywords: CK2
Electrochemistry
Fc-ATP
Kinase Assay
Phosphorylation

Protein phosphorylation has been linked to various diseases such as cancers and diabetes. CK2 is one of the first discovered serine/threonine kinase. Elevated CK2 activity has been shown as a result associates with cancer. The capability of an electrochemical kinase assay utilizing 5'--ferrocenyl adenosine triphosphate (Fc-ATP) was assessed on the activity of CK2 in systems containing buffers and systems containing human serum. Reproducible square-wave voltammetry (SWV) results showed linear relationship between current density and CK2 concentration when phosphorylation was performed in buffer systems. Electrochemical signals were recorded for CK2 phosphorylation in the presence of 10%, 20%, and 50% serum. Four washing conditions were evaluated for their ability to reduce nonspecific binding. Unfortunately, no linear relationship was observed for CK2 phosphorylation in the presence of 20% serum for the concentration dependent study. Surface protecting methods against serum proteins should be implemented for better performance.
Characterization of NLRC3 and its Mechanism of Action in Regulating T cell Function and Activation
Keywords: NLRC3
NOD-like receptor
T cell biology
T cell function

NLRC3 is a newly discovered Nod-like receptor with immune regulatory functions. Strikingly, NLRC3 is highly expressed in lymphocytes, with the highest expression in T cells. Unpublished observations from our laboratory showed that NLRC3-deficient mice cleared Citrobacter rodentium infection more quickly than wild-type mice, which correlated with robust CD4+ T cell responses within the lamina propria. The focus of my thesis is to determine the mechanism and function of NLRC3 within T cells using in vitro approaches. NLRC3 was downregulated upon T cell receptor stimulation, which was also mimicked by intracellular calcium release and mTOR inhibition. Subcellular fractionation revealed NLRC3 localization in both the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions in Jurkat T cells. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation verified the interaction between NLRC3 and IFRD1, a target identified by yeast two-hybrid screens and implicated in gene transcriptional regulation. Altogether, these findings provide new insight into the role of NLRC3 in regulating T cell responses.
Neuroplasticity in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex of People with Schizophrenia Measured by Paired Associative Stimulation
Keywords: Aging
Brain Stimulation
Neuroplasticity
Schizophrenia

Cognitive impairments are a common symptom of schizophrenia, and may be caused in part by disrupted neuroplasticity. Aging is associated with further decline in both neuroplasticity and cognition. Cognitive ability is one of the strongest predictors of functional outcome for people with schizophrenia, thus understanding the nature of these impairments is an important step for improving quality of life for this population.Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS) is a transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol that assesses neuroplasticity. PAS was used to evaluate increases in cortical excitability and theta-gamma coupling - a measure that describes the relationship between neural oscillations - in older people with schizophrenia and healthy controls.Both forms of neuroplasticity were impaired in schizophrenia. Furthermore, plasticity of theta-gamma coupling decreased with increasing age. These results contribute to understanding aging in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of people with schizophrenia, however further research is needed to connect these deficits to cognition.
Exploring Characteristics of Networks that Enable Knowledge Transfer and Exchange (KTE): A Mixed-methods Study
Keywords: health services research
knowledge transfer and exchange
network
semi-structured interviews
structured knowledge network
systematic review

Background: Social interaction promotes research use through knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE). Networks are increasingly used in healthcare to create, share, and apply knowledge for policy and practice. No prior studies explored network characteristics that enable KTE. Methods: Phase one comprised a systematic review of healthcare, organization science, and sociological literature. Phase two entailed qualitative interviews with members of an international healthcare network to learn about characteristics that enable KTE.Results: The literature review yielded 59 eligible studies and led to the development of a descriptive conceptual framework of network KTE. This framework illustrates input and output characteristics important to network KTE and is organized into network backbone, functional units and commodities. Interview findings showed various characteristics allow network members to contribute, learn, and connect internationally.Conclusion: Many network characteristics enable KTE. Future efforts should focus on delineating explanatory or predictive pathways between network characteristics and KTE outcomes.
A Parametric Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Concrete Floor Slabs in Cold Climates
Keywords: Cold Climates
Concrete Floor Slabs
Energy Efficiency
Low Energy
Mass Buildings
Thermal Mass

The inherent thermal mass within the structural components of concrete buildings can have significant influence on energy efficiency in regard to heating and cooling in cold climates. Understanding the influence of building parameters on the passive storage of heat within heavy building materials is thus imperative when informing design decisions regarding energy efficiency. A parametric analysis was performed using energy modeling to characterize the thermal performance of concrete floor slabs in Toronto, Canada. Results showed that the most important factor influencing the relative performance of floor mass is the solar radiation transmitted through exterior glazing. The distribution of internal thermal mass and the density of internal gains were also found to be influential factors. Results were used to inform general concrete slab design guidelines for fully exploiting the thermal mass benefit by recommending minimum slab thicknesses. It is expected that in many cases, structural slab requirements will fulfill these recommendations.