VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Genetic Determinants of the Acute Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms of Caffeine
Keywords: Caffeine
Genetics
nutrigenomics
pharmacogenomics
acute effects of caffeine
caffeine withdrawal symptoms

The mechanisms underlying caffeine’s acute effects and withdrawal symptoms are not entirely understood. The purpose was to determine whether these effects or symptoms co-exist in clusters, and whether they are associated with polymorphisms in β1- and β2-adrenoceptors. Subjects (n=1271) were from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study. The acute effects and withdrawal symptoms clustered into 4 and 6 factors, respectively. Subjects with the ADRβ2 Gly16Arg Gly/Arg genotype were more likely than Gly allele homozygotes to report “fatigue” withdrawal symptoms. Among >200 mg/d caffeine consumers, ADRβ2 Gly allele carriers had a greater risk, compared to Arg allele homozygotes, of reporting ‘flu-like somatic’ withdrawal symptoms. Among subjects with the CYP1A2 -163 A>C A/A genotype and 100-200 mg/d caffeine consumers, ADRβ1 Arg389Gly Gly allele carriers had a greater risk, compared to Arg allele homozygotes, of reporting “dysphoric mood” withdrawal symptoms. The findings suggest that β1- and β2- adrenoceptors play a role in caffeine withdrawal.
The Clinical Relevance of Paediatric Access Targets for Elective Dental Treatment Under General Anaesthesia
Keywords: relevance
access targets
paediatrics
dentistry
general anaesthesia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of access targets for elective dental general anaesthesia (GA) by assessing incremental changes in dental disease burden over wait times at SickKids. A retrospective review of dental records were completed for 378 children who were prioritized by their dental and medical status. A scale was developed to measure cumulative dental disease burden over time. Statistically significant correlations were identified between cumulative disease burden and wait times for priority IV (p = 0.004), the entire sample (p < 0.003), DOSDCADCA (p = 0.005), comorbid (p = 0.036), healthy (p = 0.0002), female (p = 0.014) and male (p = 0.008) groups. The mean cumulative disease burden was not different between matched healthy and cormorbid groups (p = 0.38). A trend of increasing dental disease burden for children with longer wait times for dental GA was found but not clinically significant.
Lyapunov-based Stability Analysis of a One-pump One-signal Co-pumping Raman Amplifier
Keywords: Control
Raman Amplifier
Stability Analysis
Lotka-Volterra

We consider the boundary control problem to stabilize the power of a signal and a pump propagating down a Raman amplifier. This is essentially an initial-boundary value problem (IBVP) of a hyperbolic system with Lotka-Volterra type nonlinearities. We treat the system as a control problem with states in the function space and use Lyapunov-based analysis to demonstrate asymptotic stability in the C_0 and the L_2-sense. The stability conditions are derived for closed-loop systems with a proportional controller and a dynamic controller, and confirmed by simulations in MATLAB.
Characterization of Reductive Dehalogenases in a Chlorinated Ethene-degrading Bioaugmentation Culture
Keywords: Bioremediation
Trichloroethene
Vinyl chloride
Dehalococcoides

Perchloroethene and trichloroethene are among the most persistent groundwater pollutants, and Dehalococcoides is the only known species that can degrade these compounds completely to non-toxic ethene. Characterization of the reductive dehalogenase (RDase) enzymes responsible for dechlorination is important to understanding this process. A series of dechlorination assays were performed with whole cell suspensions and cell-free extracts of three Dehalococcoides-containing mixed microbial consortia to compare dechlorination kinetics and to characterize co-contaminant inhibition. Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters Vmax and Km, as well as non-competitive inhibition coefficients for 1,1,1-trichloroethane and 1,1-dichloroethane inhibitors are reported. Secondly, blue native gel electrophoresis was developed as a method to isolate active protein complexes containing RDases. Thirdly, sources of variability in the isotopic fractionation of vinyl chloride to ethene reaction step were examined using cell-free extracts and whole-cell suspensions. Understanding the function and range of RDases are goals towards the successful application of Dehalococcoides-containing cultures to remediate contaminated sites.
Nitric Oxide as a Marker of Smoking Abstinence
Keywords: nitric oxide
smoking
abstinence

Introduction: To evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention, reliable outcome is essential. Exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) is decreased in smokers, tends to normalize after cessation and might be a good tool to evaluate abstinence. Objective: To evaluate changes in ENO after smoking abstinence of 7 or more days. Methods: 58 smokers in a cessation attempt and 12 non-smokers were recruited: 7 visits for smokers and 2 for non-smokers. Carbon monoxide and cotinine were used to detect smoking status. Results: ENO is decreased in smokers compared to non-smokers (10.8 vs. 20.1 ppb, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in ENO pre and post quitting (p=0.080) although there was a trend to increase as early as 3 days after abstinence (10.78 vs. 15.11, p>0.05). There were no differences in nasal NO measurements (p=0.278). Conclusion: ENO doesn’t seem to be a reliable marker of short-term abstinence.
Inclusionary Zoning, Brownfield Development and Urban Governance: Understanding Affordable Housing Production in Concord's City Place and Pacific Place Developments
Keywords: gentrification
social housing
neoliberalism
social mix

Maintaining affordable housing in Canadian cities remains a challenge for municipal governments. With few political and financial resources, local governments often turn to zoning bylaws to protect affordable housing opportunities. This research focuses on the development and implementation of inclusionary zoning programs in Toronto and Vancouver. In order to understand the value of these policies, this research asks how planners implemented inclusionary zoning and with what outcomes. Interviews with key actors in the public and private sector form the basis of an account that details the implementation of affordable housing requirements negotiated at two new-build gentrification sites in Toronto and Vancouver. The findings from this research show mixed results and highlight the barriers to the successful implementation of inclusionary zoning. While capable of securing subsidized units in gentrifying neighbourhoods, the poor results of these policies demonstrates the difficulty of managing gentrification unleashed by the state.
Increased Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Modulates Hippocampal Glutamatergic Synaptic Protein Expression and Synaptic Transmission
Keywords: growth factor
brain
hippocampus
synapse
glutamate receptors

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional cytokine that orchestrates key events of development, disease and repair in the central nervous system (CNS). To investigate the effects of chronically producing TGF-β1 on synaptic structure and synaptic transmission, I performed immunohistochemistry and immunoblot of brain tissues from transgenic mice (TGF-β1 mice) that over-express active form of TGF-β1 from astrocytes in the CNS. Immunohistochemical assays showed that synaptophysin increased in the CA3 subfield whereas calbindin-D28K decreased in the mossy fibres. Immunoblot analysis revealed that several α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit proteins were up-regulated in the hippocampus of TGF-β1 mice. To examine the direct effect of TGF-β1 alone on glutamatergic synaptic activity, cultured hippocampal neurons were treated with or without TGF-β1. Electrophysiological recordings displayed that TGF-β1 significantly increased the amplitude of glutamate-evoked current (p<0.05). Taken together, these data suggest that TGF-β1 modulates hippocampal glutamatergic synaptic protein expression and regulates synaptic transmission.
Cemento-osseous Dysplasia of the Jaw Bones: A Radiographic Analysis of 118 Cases
Keywords: cemento-osseous dysplasia
radiographic analysis

Objectives: This project explores the demographic and clinical presentation of cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD), and their pathognomonic radiographic features. Methods: Demographic and clinical data were collected from the charts of 118 subjects with COD from the Oral Radiology archives. Using a systematic objective survey instrument, 3 general dentists (GP) and 3 oral radiologists (RG) reviewed 50 image sets of COD and similarly-appearing entities. Participants were asked to identify radiographic features and to make a diagnosis based on the images provided. Results: The majority of cases occurred in clinically asymptomatic females in their fifth decade. RGs identified a well-defined border, radiolucent periphery, bilateral occurrence, mixed radiolucent/radiopaque internal structure, and association with anterior and posterior teeth as key features, correctly interpreting 79.3% of COD cases. The absence of root resorption and an association with anterior and posterior teeth were the only key features that guided GPs to correctly interpret 38.7% of COD cases.
Whole Body Vibration and Passive Standing for Treatment of Sublesional Osteoporosis after Spinal Cord Injury: Device Optimization & Assessment
Keywords: Whole Body Vibration
Osteoporosis Treatment
Spinal Cord Injury
Propagation Charachteristic

Individuals who sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI) experience sublesional osteoporosis (SLOP) which affects the bones of the lower extremities. As a result, these bones become fragile and susceptible to fractures. To tackle SLOP pharmacological and rehabilitation interventions have been proposed; however few have produced a significant and sustainable increase in bone mineral density (BMD). This study investigated whole-body vibration (WBV) as an alternative to tackling SLOP in SCI. Two commercially available vibration platforms, WAVE® and Juvent™, were tested for feasibility and efficacy in the SCI population. The effects of knee angle, frequency and amplitude of vibration in propagation characteristics were also assessed. The results demonstrated that variations in frequency generate the most noticeable changes in propagation characteristics, followed by variations in knee angle and amplitude. The recommended vibration parameters which could potentially have the greatest osteogenic effect on the bones of the lower extremity are 160o, 45 Hz, and 0.6 mm on the WAVE® platform.
The Synthesis and Applications of N-alkenyl Aziridines
Keywords: Aziridine
N-Alkenyl Aziridine

N-alkenyl aziridines are a unique class of molecules that do not behave as typical enamines as a result of the inability of the nitrogen atom lone-pair of electrons to delocalize. The attenuated nucleophilicity of these enamines presents opportunities for selective functionalization and reactivity not available to classical enamines. An operationally simple and mild copper-mediated coupling has been developed that facilitates the preparation of a broad range of N-alkenyl aziridines not available through existing methods. The preparation and reactivity of highly functionalized N-alkenyl aziridines are reported. Also reported is the application of the chemoselective amine/aldehyde/alkyne (A3) multicomponent coupling involving amphoteric aziridine aldehydes as the aldehyde component. This coupling allows access to propargyl amines with pendent aziridine functionality.
DREAM-mediated Regulation of GCM1 in the Human Placental Trophoblast
Keywords: placenta
transcriptional regulation

The trophoblast transcription factor glial cell missing-1 (GCM1) regulates asymmetric division of placental cytotrophoblast to form the differentiated syncytiotrophoblast. Reduced GCM1 expression is a key feature of the hypertensive disorder preeclampsia. In-silico techniques identified a novel calcium-dependent transcriptional repressor – DREAM as a regulatory candidate for GCM1. The overall objective of this thesis was to determine if DREAM regulates GCM1 expression and therefore villous trophoblast turnover. siRNA-mediated DREAM silencing in both BeWo cells and floating villous explants significantly upregulated GCM1 causing reduced cytotrophoblast proliferation. Calcium-dependency was demonstrated in both BeWo cells and floating villous explants by contrasting the effects of ionomycin and nimodipine. A direct interaction between DREAM and the GCM1 promoter was demonstrated using EMSA and ChIP assay. DREAM is a negative upstream regulator of GCM1 expression in human placenta that participates in calcium-dependent trophoblast differentiation.
Ultrasound Imaging of Bone for Spinal Fusion Surgery Guidance: Simulation and Experimental Results
Keywords: ultrasound
imaging
bone
spinal fusion

In order to continue development of an ultrasound-guidance system for spinal fusion surgery, simulation and experimental research was conducted to study the effects of bone on ultrasound imaging. Simulation work examined the effect of bone volume and transducer frequency on image quality and accuracy. Experimental work utilized a 3.2MHz prototype ultrasound probe to create ultrasound images of pedicles. The simulation results, based on an idealized anatomical model, provided higher-quality images than the experimental results. It was determined that high bone volume and high transducer frequency have a detrimental effect on image quality. The experimental results suggest that the high variability in pedicle shape results in variability in ultrasound image quality. Overall, the simulation and experimental results suggest that ultrasound imaging of bone is feasible at relatively low frequencies, while highlighting the need for more experiments to take into account the substantial variability in pedicle shape and bone volume.
Keystone Classroom Management: A Practical Approach to Producing Widespread Change in Student Behaviour
Keywords: keystone skills
classroom behaviour management

Many researchers have pointed out the difficulties teachers face with managing student oppositional behaviour in the classroom. Most pre-service teacher education programs emphasize the curriculum content and the planning of lessons to the exclusion of specialized training in classroom management approaches. This oversight has led to inadequate classroom management skills in many teachers and can result in low teacher self-efficacy and high rates of stress and burnout. Many commonly employed strategies used by teachers to manage problem behaviour focus on reductive consequences that can have a range of negative side effects. Other strategies may be proactive and effective, but are often too complicated and impractical for regular use. In this paper we propose a “keystone” approach to classroom management that may be more efficient and effective for teachers to use in the classroom. With this approach, teachers focus on a circumscribed set of specific classroom skills that have the potential to produce widespread improvement in child outcomes. Empirical support for this approach is discussed.
There is No Choice: Examining Somali Parents' Experience with Special Education
Keywords: Special Education
Minority

We now have a student population that is culturally, linguistically and economically diverse. This, in turn, has resulted in school board initiatives in response to this diversity, primarily; it appears, in ways that harden social class and racial divisions in the society (Roberston & Kushner, 2006). One clear example of this is the over-representation in Special Education of poor, immigrant students of colour, whose culture and language differs from that of English-speaking Canada. This thesis focuses on the experience of Somali parents whose children have been placed in Special Education or where an attempt has been made to place them. The purpose of this study is to examine if high or low cultural capital among Somali parents’ influences the placement of their children in Special Education. Through qualitative semi-structured interviews, I look at the experience of 8 Somali parents. Thematic analysis of the data is used to understand the findings.
The Role of Social Support and Psychological Resources in Depression in People Living with HIV/AIDS: Examining the Mediating Role of Mastery and Self-esteem
Keywords: HIV/AIDS
Social Support
Depression
Mastery
Self-Esteem

The present study explored the influence of social support and psychological resources on depression in people living with HIV/AIDS. The mediating role of mastery and self-esteem was examined. Factor analysis of the MOS-SSS supported three dimensions of social support. Findings from a predominantly gay male sample of unemployed individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the Toronto-area indicated high levels of depressive symptomatology, which were negatively related to emotional/informational support, tangible support, and affectionate/interpersonal support. Mediation analyses indicated partial support of the Cognitive Adaptation Model, revealing significant mediating effects of mastery on the relationship between social support and depressive symptomatology. Self-esteem was not found to be a significant mediator of this relationship. Findings suggest the need for social support interventions that help to strengthen mastery in individuals living with HIV/AIDS in order to reduce depression. Attention should be paid to self-esteem and its relationship with gender and employment status in this population.
Displaced Burmese in Thailand: Refugee Policies and Impact on Access and Rights, 1988-2008
Keywords: Refugee Policies
minority integration
displaced migrants
thailand
policy archaeology

My thesis research centres on the question, how have refugee policy formation and ground level implementation impacted the conditions and experiences of displaced Burmese in Thailand from 1988 to 2008? I examine the effects of the production of subject categories through Thai national laws and practices, a bilateral agreement, and the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees, in order to uncover how official policies are used to manage refugees. This study addresses questions regarding policy formation and implementation toward Burmese who have fled political oppression in Burma (Myanmar) and identifies issues related to the recognition of difference and the allocation of rights in the cultural contexts of migration and integration of minority populations. The formulation and implementation of refugee policies has global implications since policy solutions in general are developed from a perspective that ignores the emergence and significance of displacement.
Mindfulness Training for Adolescents with Learning Disabilities
Keywords: Mindfulness
Learning Disabilities
ADHD
anxiety

The current study evaluated the impact of a 20-week mindfulness training program on executive function, internalizing and externalizing behaviour, and social skills in a clinical sample of adolescent boys with learning disabilities (LD). Mindfulness Martial Arts (MMA) is a manualized group treatment program incorporating elements of mindfulness meditation, cognitive behavioural therapy, and mixed martial arts. Sixty-five boys (ages 12 – 18) with LD were assigned to the MMA or waitlist control group (WL). Adolescents and their parents completed standardized questionnaires before and after training. Analysis of adolescents with distinct clinical profiles showed promising effects. Compared to the WL group, MMA participants with co-occurring ADHD improved on parent-rated externalizing behaviour, oppositional defiant problems, and conduct problems. Boys with elevated hyperactive/impulsive symptomotology improved on parent-rated social problems and monitoring skills. Boys with elevated anxiety reported decreased anxiety. MMA shows promise as an alternative treatment option for youth with LD and co-occurring difficulties.
Effectiveness of School Policies Prohibiting Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use
Keywords: school policies
adolescent substance use
policy measures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of school policies aimed to reduce adolescent alcohol and marijuana use. More specifically, the study investigated whether more severe school policy measures are related to the increased or decreased instances of overall alcohol and marijuana use on and beyond school grounds among grade 10 and 12 students. I used data from the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS). After controlling for a number of prior measures of environmental and demographic factors that are significant predictors of adolescent alcohol and marijuana use, the school policy measures showed no impact on either alcohol or marijuana use at any level of its consumption. This was true for both grade 10 and grade 12 students. The study’s findings suggest that instead of constructing punitive policy measure, policymakers should develop prevention and intervention programs that more specifically target the needs of adolescents, peers, parents, and teachers.
Democratic Coaching: A Case Study
Keywords: coaching
democratic
leadership
case

The thesis is a case study that seeks to understand the democratic coaching style by observing the practices of a specific democratically-minded girls’ varsity hockey coach at a private secondary school in the Greater Toronto Area. The study first characterizes a democratic coach by comparing the democratic leadership style with other styles of leadership; the study then offers a clear understanding of the methods and practices of the case study coach by organizing the findings of the study into four categories: communication techniques, organizational structure, coaching decisions and strategies, and the environment created. Within these four categories, themes emerged that helped answer the following research question: How is democratic coaching understood and practiced by a democratically-minded coach?
Governing Lived Embodiment: Autism, Asperger's and Care
Keywords: sociology
interpretive disability studies
women's studies
governmentality

This thesis brings interpretive disability studies together with a governmentality approach and feminist methodology to think through the meaning of autism, Asperger’s and maternal care. I examine how Asperger’s is articulated as a problem of individual governance through what I call the care complex, an array of practices, knowledges, technologies and institutional locales that attempt to scientifically know and manage alterity under neo-liberal rule. I focus on discourses of inclusion that seek to normalise the movements of alterity through a mother’s care, and reveal how direct and authoritarian forms of power are integral to the accomplishment of this paradoxical version of inclusion and care. The aim of this thesis is to “take care” of autism differently. Thus I also consider how maternal care is lived out and felt, opening analytical space to ask critical questions about power, embodiment and human vulnerability.