VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Pulling A Newborn's Strings
Keywords: Biotechnology
Human rights law
Criminal law
International law
Bioethics
Reproductive technologies

The emerging technologies of prenatal human genetic enhancement give to third parties the unprecedented power to design newborn genetic traits such as eye and skin color, intelligence, and emotional profile. The literature has not provided any answers to the question as to why these genetic enhancement technologies are prohibited by the European Biomedicine Convention. This thesis will demonstrate, by way of legal theory, that the prohibition on prenatal genetic enhancement is thoroughly justified on grounds that it violates the human right to dignity, as expressed in Kantian philosophy. In light of Kant’s Philosophy, genetic interventions for designing identity-related characteristics treat human beings instrumentally, to satisfy the desires of others, as mere means and not as ends in themselves. This thesis offers a deeper understanding of the law and policy regarding the prohibition on human genetic enhancement in order to safeguard future generations in the wake of a brave new world.
The Protein-Protein Interactome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ABC Transporters Nft1p, Pdr10p, Pdr18p and Vmr1p
Keywords: ABC Transporter
Membrane Yeast Two Hybrid
Protein-Protein Interaction

The Membrane Yeast Two-Hybrid (MYTH) technology was used in this study to find protein-protein interactors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters Nft1p, Pdr10p, Pdr18p and Vmr1p. There were 23 interactors for Nft1p, 22 interactors for Pdr10p, 4 interactors for Pdr18p and 1 interactor for Vmr1p. The 43 unique interactors belong to a wide variety of functional categories. There were 11 interactors involved in metabolism, 9 interactors involved in transport, 8 interactors with unknown function, 4 interactors involved in trafficking and secretion, 3 interactors involved in protein folding, 2 interactors involved in stress response, and 1 interactor in each of the following categories: cell wall assembly, cytoskeleton maintenance, nuclear function, protein degradation, protein modification and protein synthesis. Follow up experiments also showed that Pdr15p and Pdr18p play an important role in zinc homeostasis because deletion of these ABC transporters results in sensitivity to zinc shock.
Mitigating Cognitive and Neural Biases in Conceptual Design
Keywords: Engineering Design
Cognition
Long-Term Potentiation
Design Methodology
Fixation
Creativity
Confirmation Bias
Psychology
Neural Plasticity
Decision Making

Conceptual design is a series of complex cognitive processing tasks and research seeking to further understand design cognition will benefit by considering literature from the field of psychology. This thesis presents two research projects, which sought to understand and mitigate design biases in conceptual design through the application of theories from biological and cognitive psychology. The first of these puts forward a novel model of design creativity based on connectionist theory and a neurological phenomenon known as long-term potentiation. This model is applied to provide new insights into design fixation and develop interventions to assist designers overcome fixation. The second project seeks to establish that cognitive heuristics and biases predictably influence design cognition. Two studies are discussed that examined the role of confirmation bias in design. The first establishes that confirmation bias is present during concept generation; the second demonstrates that decision matrices can mitigate confirmation bias in concept evaluation.
Synergistic Effect of Mircobubble Emulsion and Sonic or Ultrasonic Agitation on Endodontic Biofilm in Vitro
Keywords: Microbubble emulsion
Irrigation dynamics

This study examined the effects of a microbubble emulsion (ME) combined with sonic or ultrasonic agitation, on irrigation dynamics and reduction of biofilm bacteria. High-speed imaging was used to characterize the bubble dynamics generated in ME by sonic or ultrasonic agitation within polymer teeth. 5.25% NaOCl or ME was sonically or ultrasonically agitated in canals of extracted teeth with 7-day-old Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Dentinal shavings were sampled and colony-forming units (CFU) enumerated. Mean log CFU/ml values were analyzed with ANOVA and post-hoc tests. Strongly oscillating and vaporizing bubbles were generated within ME during ultrasonic, but not sonic agitation. Post-treatment biofilm CFU were significantly lower in the ultrasonic agitation (P=0.000) of ME group than in the ultrasonic (P=0.009) and sonic agitation (P=0.006) of NaOCl groups. The synergistic effect of ME combined with ultrasonic agitation enhanced bubble dynamics and reduced E. faecalis biofilm bacteria beyond the level achieved by agitation of NaOCl.
Design Optimization and Verification of a Horizontal Stabilizer for the SeaStryder600 Wing-in-ground-Effect (WIG) Aircraft
Keywords: Horizontal Stabilizer
Wing-In-Ground-Effect
WIG
Composite

Aircraft manufacturer Aquavion Systems is currently designing and constructing prototypes for its revolutionary new fleet of aircraft called the SeaStryder. During the prototyping phase, it was discovered that the center-of-gravity of the SeaStryder600 was too far aft and outside of the acceptable range. To solve this design issue, it was hypothesized that the weight of the horizontal stabilizer may be reduced without compromising its structural integrity. The following document analyzes this hypothesis and provides two alternative designs. Each design exceeds the design requirements, meets additional requirements requested by industry, and provides a significant degree of weight savings. The first design provides a 25% weight reduction. The second design provides an 18% weight reduction as well as a 160% increase in loading capacity. The designs proposed have both been verified through the use of Finite Element Analysis as well as by means of experimentation where two prototype wings were constructed and tested to failure confirming the analytical results.
Mechanisms of EphB2 Mediated Opiate-dependent Tolerance and Learning
Keywords: EphB2
morphine
opiate
learning
memory
hippocampus
tolerance

The underlying mechanism of morphine tolerance remains unclear. EphB2 regulates synaptic efficiency with respect to learning and memory. Previously, we demonstrated that loss of EphB2 significantly accelerates the rate of morphine tolerance and alters behavioural responses to morphine following tolerance. However, EphB2 null mice exhibit no significant alteration in their metabolism of morphine compared to littermate controls, or altered mu opioid receptor expression levels within the spinal cord or brain compared to littermate controls. Therefore, we investigated whether loss of EphB2 alters learned responsiveness to morphine through modification of hippocampal function. Interestingly, results indicate that electrolytic lesions of the dorsal hippocampus of wild-type mice display similar behavioural responses seen in EphB2 null mice compared to sham operated controls. These findings suggest that loss of EphB2 function within the hippocampus is a critical feature in mediating morphine-dependent tolerance, and suggests a novel role for EphB2 receptor signaling in opiate-dependent learning.
A Comparative Study between Circular and Elliptical Nozzle Holes on Natural Gas Combustion and Soot Formation in a Direct Injection Engine
Keywords: Natural Gas
Soot
Direct Injection
Combustion
Elliptical

The effects of changing nozzle hole patterns and hole geometry in a direct injection natural gas optically accessible engine was investigated. Six nozzles were studied having a 1 hole, 3 hole, and 9 hole pattern; each having either elliptical or circular hole geometries. Combustion images were taken with a high speed camera and the nozzles were compared on the basis of their ignition delay time, rate of heat release, net heat release, fuel utilization, gross indicated thermal efficiency, and particulate emissions. The best performance in all categories was achieved by the 9 hole nozzles which was largely attributed to better fuel mixing as a result of its hole distribution. The elliptical hole geometry exhibited characteristics of improved mixing mainly through reduced ignition delay time and reduced elemental carbon emissions.
Development of a Novel Psycho-biological Tool for the Measurement of Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy and Concomitant Chemotherapy
Keywords: Dentistry
Oncology
Oral Mucositis
Head and Neck cancer
Radiotherapy

Objective: Evaluate a patient-reported-oral mucositis scale (PROMS) on its own and in relation to existing measures of mucositis. Methods: 50 patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy were examined before cancer treatment, twice weekly during 6-7 weeks of therapy and post-therapy. Oral mucositis (OM) signs were evaluated clinically using NCI-CTCAE v.3, OMAS criteria and Total VAS-OMAS score. OM symptoms were recorded on PROMS-VAS questionnaires. Albumin and polymorphonuclear neutrophils were measured in saline rinses. The PROMS data were subjected to Spearman rank correlations versus the other clinical and biomarker data. Results: 33 participants completed the study. Significant correlations (p<.001) were seen between PROMS scores and other clinical and biomarker indicators of OM at a group level. Significant variations were seen between individuals. Conclusion: The PROMS tool demonstrates good correlation with other clinical indicators of OM and adds novel dimensions to currently available methods of assessments used for quantification of OM.
Characterization of an Iducible Beta-cell Specific UCP2 Deletion Mouse Model
Keywords: Physiology
Diabetes
Endocrinology
beta-cell function

In order to elucidate how uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) influences pancreatic β cells and glucose homeostasis, I have generated and characterized an inducible β cell-specific UCP2 deletion model,MIPCreER×loxUCP2 mice. Male littermates were injected with tamoxifen to induce UCP2 deletion(UCP2 iBKO) or with corn oil (CO). The phenotypes of both short-term (3-4 weeks after the last injection) and long-term (8-9 weeks after the last injection) were determined: Short-term iBKO mice displayed no differences in glucose or insulin tolerance, but enhanced in vivo and in vitro insulin secretion and suppressed islet reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels; while long-term iBKO mice displayed no difference in glucose tolerance, but impaired in vivo and in vitro insulin secretion and enhanced islet ROS levels. In conclusion, short-term UCP2 deletion in β cells promotes insulin secretion, while long-term UCP2 deletion impairs insulin secretion, possibly due to the opposite background of islet ROS.
The Effects of Altering Discharge Policies to Alternate Level of Care Patient Flow
Keywords: Operations research
Patient flow
Discrete-event simulation
Alternate Level of Care

Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients are patients that stay in the acute care setting while waiting to be transferred to an ALC facility. They are not receiving the appropriate type of care and are occupying acute care resources. ALC patients occupy 5,200 patient beds everyday in Canada, and 12 percent of these ALC patients die during their waiting period. This study evaluates Toronto General Hospital's (TGH) discharge policy in the General Surgery and General Internal Medicine (GIM) departments using a discrete-event simulation. For long-term care ALC patients, it was found that applying to one extra application or maximizing the number of short waiting list facilities in their total number of applications significantly reduces the number of ALC days and the number of died in hospital patients. Knowing if discharge policies can decrease ALC days is not only significant to TGH but also to other health care institutions.
A Study of the Scope, Limitations and Kinetics of the Siliconization of Triarylamines Using Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane Catalysis
Keywords: charge transport
metal-free catalysis
silicones
functionalization
functional group
finishing

Piers-Rubinsztajn (P-R) conditions, involving catalysis by tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, were applied to siliconize triarylamines. A phenylated linear methylhydrosiloxane copolymer was utilized to create a hydrolytically-stable composite with promising optical, electrochemical and thermal properties. However, the reaction was highly exothermic, had rapid uncontrollable kinetics and produced methane as a byproduct; problematic characteristics for larger scale syntheses. Thereafter, triarylamines with bulkier substituents were studied to determine whether the kinetics could be slowed and a less volatile byproduct created. The rate of conversion was retarded significantly as expected, but not all derivatives reacted quantitatively in ambient conditions. Finally, P-R conditions were applied to methylhydrosiloxane-dimethylsiloxane copolymers. Gelation in air upon extended reaction time was effectively avoided by “finishing” excess Si-H sites using anisole. The result was the preparation of composites with up to 61 wt % arylamine content, which are expected to have significant applications as cost-effective flexible hole transport layers in organic electronic devices.
Role of GAL3ST1 in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Keywords: von Hippel-Lindau
hypoxia-inducible factor
GAL3ST1
sulfatide
tumour hypoxia
renal cell carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor gene, the protein product of which mediates degradation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). GAL3ST1 is a sulfotransferase which catalyzes the production of sulfatide, a plasma membrane sulfolipid previously implicated in metastasis. We observed GAL3ST1 overexpression in primary ccRCC tumours relative to matched-normal tissue and subsequently asked if GAL3ST1 was a HIF-responsive gene that facilitates ccRCC metastasis. GAL3ST1 expression was suppressed in ccRCC cells by stable reconstitution of wild-type VHL and also siRNA-mediated knockdown of HIF1alpha and HIF2alpha. Dual luciferase assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed a hypoxia-response element in the GAL3ST1 5’-UTR that appeared to be crucial for HIF-mediated upregulation. Finally, stable knockdown of GAL3ST1 significantly impeded ccRCC cell invasion through an in vitro basement membrane mimic. These results suggest GAL3ST1 is a HIF-responsive gene that promotes tumour cell invasion.
Computationally Characterizing Schizophrenia
Keywords: Biomedical engineering
EEG
Machine learning
Electrical and computer engineering
Schizophrenia
Neurological disorders
Data mining

An accurate diagnosis of schizophrenia is difficult; no reliable biomarkers of the disease exist. We present a computational approach for diagnosis of schizophrenia from electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. Novel and existing mathematical methods for the interpretation of EEG are surveyed and compared. Methods utilizing single electrodes are used in conjunction with those incorporating the recordings of multiple electrodes. A data-driven, machine-learning approach is used to automate the selection of relevant features, which are then classified using least-squares support vector machines. This approach yielded a prediction accuracy of 86.5%, using a stringent application of correct statistical techniques. Those features deemed most relevant are related with known abnormalities symptomatic of schizophrenia.
Protein Kinase C Epsilon and Genetic Networks in Osteosarcoma Metastasis
Keywords: osteosarcoma
metastasis
network analysis

Pulmonary metastasis is the most frequent cause of osteosarcoma (OS) mortality. The aim of this study was to discover and characterize genetic networks differentially expressed in metastatic OS. Supervised network analysis of OS expression profiles was performed to discover genetic networks differentially activated or organized in metastatic OS. Broad trends among the profiles of metastatic tumours included aberrant activity of intracellular organization and translation networks, as well as disorganization of metabolic networks. The differentially activated PRKCε-RASGRP3-GNB2 network, which interacts with the disorganized DLG2 hub, was additionally found to be differentially expressed among in vitro models of human OS metastasis. PRKCε transcript was more abundant in some metastatic OS tumours; however the difference was not significant overall. In functional studies, PRKCε was not found to be involved in migration of M132 OS cells, but its protein expression was induced in M112 OS cells following IGF-1 stimulation.
The Role of Selection History on the Indirect Fitness Consequences of Female Mating Biases
Keywords: mate choice
sexual conflict
Drosophila
adaptation

The ‘good genes’ model of sexual selection predicts that sexual and natural selection should act concordantly. However sexual selection can favour alleles in males that are costly when expressed in daughters, placing the two in opposition. The relationship between natural and sexual selection depends on the nature of genetic variation for fitness. Laboratory adaptation may deplete sexually concordant fitness variation, overestimating sexually antagonistic variation and obscuring good genes. I investigated sire-offspring fitness correlations in Drosophila melanogaster populations expected to differ in their levels of sexually concordant fitness variation. In maladapted populations, successful sires produced fitter daughters than unsuccessful sires; this pattern was reversed in adapted populations. Several generations later, successful sires in both population types produced lower fitness daughters than unsuccessful sires, consistent with predictions. However, subsequent generations revealed no effect of sire status on daughter fitness, highlighting the difficulty in testing predictions on the evolutionary dynamics of fitness heritability.
A Retrospective Cohort Study of Fixed Space Maintainers and a Survey of their use by Pediatric Dentists and Orthodontists
Keywords: Space maintainer
Band and loop
Distal shoe
Lingual arch
Nance
Leeway space

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the success of fixed space maintainers (fspms) placed by a sole dental practitioner in a private practice setting. The survey was conducted to evaluate the use of fspms by pediatric dentists and orthodontists. Methods: 899 fspms placed in 531 patients were evaluated. An online survey was sent to 1000 pediatric dentists and 1000 orthodontists. Results: The clinical success rate was 86.6%. The response rate for pediatric dentists surveyed was 43.0% but for orthodontists was only 7.0%. The vast majority of responding pediatric dentists (99.8%) and orthodontists (97.0%) placed fspms. The most common reason cited for failure by the pediatric dentists was cement loss (47.3%) and breakage by the orthodontists (30.4%). Conclusions: Fixed space maintainers had a high clinical success rate (86.6%) and were placed by the vast majority of responding pediatric dentists (99.8%) and orthodontists (97.0%).
Auditory Search: The Deployment of Attention within a Complex Auditory Scene
Keywords: Auditory Attention
Attention Deployment
Auditory Search
Scene Analysis
MEG

Current theories of auditory attention are largely based upon studies examining either the presentation of a single auditory stimulus or requiring the identification and labeling of stimuli presented sequentially. Whether or not these theories apply in more complex ecologically-valid environments where multiple sound sources are simultaneously active is still unknown. This study examined the pattern of neuromagnetic responses elicited when participants had to perform a search in an auditory language-based `scene` for a stimulus matching an imperative target held in working memory. The analysis of source waveforms revealed left lateralized patterns of activity that distinguished target present from target absent trials. Similar source waveform amplitudes were found when the target was presented in the left or right hemispace. The results suggest that auditory search for speech sounds engage a left lateralized process in the superior temporal gyrus.
BCE and the Shareholder Primacy Paradox: A Theory at War with Itself
Keywords: Corporate Governance
Shareholder Primacy
Chaos Theory
Corporate Culture

This paper explores the interrelationships among corporate culture, capital structure, firm performance, and fiduciary duties. Chaos theory, nonlinear dynamics, complex systems theory, and socio-cultural studies of firms’ organizational ecosystems, and enabling infrastructure suggest that the BCE rule is: (i) a superior fiduciary principle to shareholder primacy; and (ii) more likely to enhance firm value in proportion to the importance of intangible assets in its production process. The existence of “epistatic costs” rooted in the non-linear negative feedback effects of perverse agency theory-driven cost cutting is hypothesized. A theoretical model is developed to empirically test for the existence of epistatic costs and optimal levels of organizational tension or “slack.” Broader implications of the model for fiduciary rules, financing decisions, and the current posture of Canadian securities regulation in the takeover context are explored.
Direct-to-consumer Advertising in the Digital Age: The Impact of the Internet and Social Media in the Promotion of Prescription Drugs in Canada
Keywords: Pharmaceutical Policy
Direct-to-Consumer Advertising
Health Law
Social Media

While a significant amount of research has been produced in Canada on direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs in general, very little work has been undertaken specifically with regard to the role of social media and emerging Internet technologies. While Health Canada has reaffirmed that existing DTCA regulations apply to new Internet and social media technologies, there are several unique features of these technologies that make the application of existing regulations an uncertain process. Further, given the difficulties Health Canada has faced in directly regulating DTCA in traditional media, there is significant skepticism around whether government regulators have the resources or political will to effectively monitor new digital media. Consequently, independent third party oversight and industry self-regulation may play an important role in regulating digital channels. Finally, regulators should not simply be limited to regulating online DTCA; social media is equally available to government for use in health promotion.
Bacteria Filamentation, a Contributing Factor to the Intracellular Survival of Legionella pneumophila
Keywords: Legionella
Macrophages

Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is the pathogen responsible for Legionnaires disease. Lp invades and survives in human macrophages to form an intracellular compartment, called the Legionella containing vacuole (LCV). Within the LCV, Lp avoids degradation and replicates, before killing its host and releasing its virulent progeny. Lp is pleomorphic, exhibiting a combination of short rod phenotypes and filaments. Filamentous Lp has been reported in patient samples, but current studies of Lp virulence are exclusively focused on rods. Our results show that filamentous Lp can invade and replicate in human and murine macrophages. Filaments are phagocytosed gradually into tubular phagocytic cups. Interestingly, the formation of the LCV starts at this stage of phagocytosis, and LCV markers were detected before the sealing of the phagosome occurred. We present evidence that the filamentous morphology acts cooperatively with Lp effectors to subvert the microbicidal activities of the macrophage, contributing to the survival of Lp.