VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Standardized Liberation Trials for Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Respiratory Failure: Current State of the Evidence, Efficacy and Safety, and Factors Associates with Unsafe Liberation
Keywords: ARDS
ECMO
Liberation
Respiratory failure
Weaning

Liberation from V-V extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains understudied. Timely liberation from V-V ECMO would be expected to reduce risks and improve outcomes. We conducted a scoping review of the literature highlighting the existing heterogeneity in clinical practice and identified knowledge base gaps around liberation. We then designed and explored the effects of incorporating standardized liberation trials in patients with respiratory failure on V-V ECMO, identifying a strong association between the use of standardized liberation trials and earlier liberation from ECMO. Lastly, we sought factors associated with unsafe liberation and the impact of unsafe liberation on ICU mortality. Factors associated with unsafe liberation included surrogates of dead space ventilation and impaired oxygenation. Unsafe liberation, defined by a composite outcome of increased respiratory or hemodynamic support, recannulation, or death within 48 hours of decannulation was strongly associated with intensive care unit mortality.
Pharmacogenetics of Biochemically Verified Abstinence in an Opioid Agonist Therapy Randomized Clinical Trial of Methadone and Buprenorphine/Naloxone
Keywords: Addiction
Methadone
Neuroscience
Opioid Use Disorder
Pharmacogenetics
Randomized Clinical Trial

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a critical public health issue in Canada and the United States. Methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone are opioid agonist therapies for OUD. We aimed to test genetic variation on clinical outcomes in patients receiving opioid agonist therapies. Patients with prescription OUD were randomized to methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone for 24 weeks of daily treatment. Urine was collected every two weeks and tested for non-treatment opioids. Variants in genes involved in methadone metabolism, buprenorphine metabolism, and μ-opioid receptor function were analyzed. In the methadone arm, the OPRM1 rs1799971 AA genotype was associated with greater non-treatment opioid-free urine screens (i.e. abstinence) than the G-genotypes (AG and GG) in both repeated cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, and were additionally associated with greater retention. No other associations were significant. Following replication, the functionally impactful OPRM1 rs1799971 variant may serve as a pharmacogenetic biomarker for clinically optimizing OUD treatment.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps as a Biomarker to Predict Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis
Keywords: Biomarkers
Lupus Nephritis
Renal outcomes
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) have been implicated in Lupus Nephritis (LN) pathogenesis. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) neutrophils release Elastase, High Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB1) and oxidized DNA (oxDNA). These NET components are capable of amplifying the inflammatory immune response and causing tissue damage which may in turn dictate the severity of LN and it´s response to therapy. This thesis examined if the amount of serum NET remnants (Elastase-DNA, HMGB1-DNA and Elastase-oxDNA) at the time of a LN flare predicted renal outcomes in the following 24 months. To accomplish this I developed in-house-ELISA assays to measure serum Elastase-DNA, HMGB1-DNA and Elastase-oxDNA complexes. It was found that circulating NET remnants, specifically Elastase-DNA and HMGB1-DNA, are predominantly elevated in patients with active LN and may also serve as predictors of adverse renal outcomes including lack of response to therapy and decline in kidney function in the 24 months following the LN flare.
Development of a Pulsed, Diode-Pumped, Fiber-Based, Entangled Photon Source
Keywords: Entanglement
Photonics
Quantum Optics

Entangled photon sources have applications in such fields as quantum communications, quantum sensing and quantum computing. Of particular interest are pulsed entangled photon sources, as they provide an additional degree of freedom – the temporal degree of freedom – to manipulate entanglement properties, hence increasing the information capacity of the entangled photons they produce. An entangled photon source in the telecom wavelength typically requires a 780 nm pump laser. So far, in most cases, pulsed entangled photon sources are pumped by the Ti:Sapph mode-locked laser, which, due to its bulky size and high cost, has limited the widescale adoption of pulsed entangled photon sources. In this thesis, I demonstrate a simple, cost-effective, pulsed laser diode capable of competing with the Ti:Sapph for the purposes of entangled photon generation. The diode and driver are capable of pulsing at up to 60 MHz , with peak power exceeding 1 W and pulse energy in excess of 1 nJ , and with a spectral width narrower than 0.1 nm. I also demonstrate a pulsed, fully fiber-based, entangled photon source, with high entanglement quality (maximum concurrence of 0.985) and a high pair generation rate (0.15 pairs/pulse). The source is to our knowledge the first of its kind.
Multimodal COACH System to Assist with Activities of Daily Living
Keywords: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Artificial Intelligence
Assistive Robotics
Conversational Interface
Dementia
Object Detection

Older adults with dementia often rely on caregivers for daily activities, resulting in a loss of confidence and independence. While many cognitive assistive technologies have been developed, limitations exist. The multimodal COACH system addresses these challenges by integrating speech and visual modalities with a socially assistive robot (SAR) to assist in handwashing. The system improves tracking performance using YOLO algorithms and facilitates human-robot interaction through speech with the SAR. In a study with healthy participants, the system achieved an 84.17% accuracy in visually detecting handwashing steps without prompts and an impressive overall task completion rate of 99.17%. Participants reported positive experiences, highlighting the robot's interactivity and engagement. This work evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of using multiple modalities and robots, marking a significant step in system advancement. Ultimately, it aims to empower older adults with dementia to independently and safely perform a broader range of daily activities in their homes.
Exploring the Impact of Minority Stress on Trauma and Dissociation Symptoms Among Sexual Orientation Minorities: A Mixed-Methods Study
Keywords: dissociation
minority stress
sexual orientation minorities
trauma

The present study utilized a mixed-methods approach to explore the relationship between minority stress and trauma-related symptoms among sexual orientation minorities. The study posits that chronic identity-based stressors encountered by sexual orientation minorities may elicit mental health symptom commonly associated with trauma. The methods include a qualitative interview and quantitative self-report measures of minority stress, trauma symptoms, and dissociation symptoms. The study found a distinct relationship between elevated minority stress scores and an array of trauma-related symptoms endorsed in the qualitative interviews, including hypervigilance, emotion dysregulation, negative self- concept, and dissociation. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that trauma symptoms mediate the relationship between minority stress and dissociation symptoms, providing new insights into the underlying mechanisms that may influence mental health outcomes in this population. This research contributes to the call for innovative trauma frameworks that are inclusive and attuned to the lived experiences of sexual orientation minorities.
Ketamine for Bipolar Depression
Keywords: Bipolar Depression
Depression
Effectiveness
Ketamine
Suicide
Treatment-resistant

Clinical trials have demonstrated therapeutic potential of intravenous (IV) ketamine in unipolar depression; however, its effectiveness and safety in treating bipolar depression (BD) remains uncertain. This thesis aimed to assess the efficacy, effectiveness, safety and tolerability of IV ketamine for BD. A systematic review was conducted to synthesize the currently available evidence on ketamine for BD. Additionally, a retrospective analysis was conducted, evaluating outcome data of outpatients with BD that received an acute course of four ketamine infusions. The systematic review found that 48% of participants receiving ketamine achieved response, whereas only 5% achieved response with placebo. Real-world data showed statistically and clinically significant antidepressant effects of ketamine in the overall sample (n=66). Preliminary evidence suggests IV ketamine has a favourable safety and efficacy profile for the treatment of BD. Future studies should focus on investigating the effects of repeated acute and maintenance infusions using a randomized study design.
The Incidence and Function of Defensive Sound Production in a Nearctic Tiger Moth Community
Keywords: Aposematism
Arctiidae
Echolocation
Predator
Prey
Tiger moth

We queried a community of Nearctic tiger moths for defensive sound production (clicks) when exposed to simulated predator stimuli, and measured several parameters of the phonoresponse to better understand how they deter predatory bats. We found that most species produced clicks and, within and between species, more responded to tactile stimulation than to ultrasonic stimuli (high frequency tone or calibrated bat attack sequence). Additionally, we found that most species respond early in the bat attack sequence, although there was a significant difference in when species responded. Using the dogbane tiger moth, Cycnia tenera, we determined when their clicks would arrive at an attacking bat relative to their returning echoes and how loud the clicks would be relative to these same echoes. We also measured click frequency and directionality. We found that the timing, sound level, and frequency point to an aposematic function, and we demonstrate that the clicks are directional.
Exploring NahK-mediated Metabolic Oligosaccharide Engineering with N-azidoacetylglucosamine Derivatives in Escherichia coli
Keywords: Glycans
Metabolic labelling
Metabolic oligosaccharide engineering
N-azidoacetylglucosamine

N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a glycan precursor, has essential roles in bacterial survival. TheGlcNAc analog, N-azidoacetylglucosamine (GlcNAz) is a widely used glycan probe. Metabolic oligosaccharide engineering (MOE) employing NahK GlcNAc-1-kinase enables UDP-GlcNAz production and incorporation into the peptidoglycan of E. coli. In this work, the mechanism of GlcNAz import in E. coli was investigated using knockout mutant screens. Our results lead to a model for GlcNAz import, consisting of GlcNAz-6-phosphate import by the MurP-Crr phosphotransferase system, induction of transcriptional regulator NagC, and upregulation of GlcNAz import by galactose permease GalP. Additionally, the scope of this MOE strategy was explored toward novel GlcNAz derivatives and N-azidoacetylmannosamine (ManNAz). This revealed GlmU as a bottleneck to incorporating bulkier GlcNAz analogs while hinting at unexplored amino sugar metabolic pathways. This work sheds light on the promiscuity of bacterial sugar transporters and can inform the development of novel cell-permeable sugar probes and MOE strategies.
Detection and Characterization of Pulse Field Ablation Lesion Guided by Polarization-sensitive Optical Coherence Reflectometry in Cardiac Tissue
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation
Cardiac ablation
Electrophysiology
OCR
Polarimetry
Pulsed Field Ablation

Pulsed electric field ablation (PFA) is a new modality of cardiac ablation that uses electrical fields to cause non-thermal cell death over several hours, resulting in replacement fibrosis. Muscular tissue is known to exhibit birefringent properties and when the tissue is damaged and loses its ultrastructure there is a change in its optical properties. Polarization Sensitive Optical Coherence Reflectometry (PS-OCR) is an optical imaging technique that can detect changes in tissue birefringence in real-time. The objective of this project was to evaluate the ability of a PS-OCR system to detect acute changes in tissue birefringence during PFA which can predict the development of chronic lesions in the superior vena cava in a swine model. PS-OCR proved to be an effective method to guide PFA and lesion formation in real-time, assessing loss of tissue birefringence and potential electrical gaps. The system showed a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 83% to predict chronic lesion formation.
Investigating the Role of HDAC inhibition on Cell Fate Determination
Keywords: Blastoids
Epigenetics
HDACs
Reprogramming
Stem cells

As Waddington proposed, fate determination is maintained not only by a network of transcription factors but the superimposed epigenetic landscape. This epigenetic landscape governing and maintaining the earliest cell fate decisions post-fertilization remains elusive. Here I focus on epigenetic manipulation of murine blastocyst-derived stem cell lines (ESCs mainly, as well as TSCs), focusing on histone deacetylases (HDACs) and their associated complexes and their role in establishing repression of cell states after fertilization, with a specific focus on the totipotent-like state. Chemical inhibitors of HDAC isoforms are first assessed and their capacity to relieve repression on restricted blastocyst lineages in stem cell models. Class I HDAC1-3 inhibition of both ESCs and TSCs enable access to their restricted trophectoderm and epiblast lineages, respectively, after 6 days of treatment. HDAC1-3 inhibited cells replated at day 6 in optimized media and 3D non-adherent culture have the capacity to also self-assemble into blastocyst-like structures. Prior to turning on alternative lineage transcripts, around 3 days in 2D culture, totipotent-like transcripts (Zscan4, Dux and Muervl) are also expressed, suggestive of possible reprogramming through a totipotent-like state prior to restricted lineage access. I subsequently dive further into this mechanism of totipotent-specific transcript alleviation with HDAC 1-3 inhibition. Since HDAC1 through 3 do not act in isolation and are associated with four main complexes (NuRD, CoREST, Sin3a, and SMRT), chemical inhibitors specific to these complexes were tested using a Zscan4-Emerald mouse ESC line. Broad and narrow range general HDAC inhibitors were also tested alongside. HDAC 1 and 3 and associated complexes CoREST and SMRT, respectively, show most significant increase in Zscan4 endogenous protein after full treatment duration as well as most significant increase in key totipotent transcripts (Zscan4, Muervl and Dux). Therefore, results cumulatively suggest that HDAC 1 and 3 and associated complexes CoREST and SMRT are key players of the totipotency network, epigenetically.
The Association Between Prenatal Depression and Anxiety and Children's’ Sleep Patterns at Age 3: A Cohort Study
Keywords: Child Health
Cohort
Depression
Developmental
Mental Health
Sleep

ABSTRACT Background: Behavioral insomnia of childhood has a prevalence as high as 25–30%, and has negative long-term consequences. Prenatal depression is a potential contributor to disturbed sleep patterns. However, few studies have examined children aged three and older.Objective: To evaluate the association between prenatal depression/anxiety and children's sleep patterns at age 3. A further aim is to establish whether maternal depression and anxiety in different trimesters have a differential effect. Methods: The dependent variables are maternal-reported child sleep latency, total sleep duration and nighttime awakenings. The main independent variables are the maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire score. Results/Conclusion: A multiple regression revealed a robust association between prenatal depression at 28-32 weeks of pregnancy and child awakening. While programming effects of maternal depression on child neurodevelopment may account for these findings, alternative explanations such as shared genetic risk require further consideration in future work.
Piggybacking on UAV Package Delivery Systems to Enable Aerial Wireless Network in 6G
Keywords: 6G
Deep Q-Learning
Deep Reinforcement Learning
Multi-Purpose UAV
UAV-Assisted Communications
UAV-Based Delivery

Various literature explored the idea of deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as last-mile package delivery agents or aerial wireless base stations in recent years. Despite the extensive exploration of these applications, nearly all of the studies assumed that the UAVs are serving just one service, and not both simultaneously; however, for reasons such as heavy traffic congestion in the sky, it seems more suitable for the UAVs to be serving both services concurrently. Stemming from the observation that there are various ongoing industrial projects in UAV-based package delivery, we investigate the possibility of piggybacking on UAV-based package delivery infrastructures to also provide wireless coverage, and address the problem of designing UAV trajectories that maximize the downlink cumulative sum rate of the ground communication users while simultaneously delivering packages under strict delivery time constraints with deep Q-learning. To conclude, we discuss several open problems in this new aerial network framework.
Assaying Fish Richness and Distribution Using eDNA in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Keywords: Amazon Biodiversity
Conservation
eDNA metabarcoding
Freshwater Fishes
Museums

To protect the Amazon's biodiversity from escalating anthropogenic threats, proactive conservation measures are crucial. Understanding the region's intricate biodiversity is pivotal for effective strategy development. This study introduces the first museum voucher-backed 12S rRNA reference library for fishes of the Ecuadorian Amazon, highlighting the pivotal role of curated libraries and museum collaborations in advancing biodiversity studies. Employing eDNA metabarcoding, this study yielded comparable outcomes to conventional sampling in estimating richness and species distributions, requiring fewer samples and reduced effort. The fusion of a reliable reference library and eDNA metabarcoding emerges as an enhanced tool for mapping species distributions, estimating richness, and monitoring environmental impacts. The study identifies the Napo drainage in Ecuador as exceptionally diverse, underscoring the need for targeted conservation in a region persistently affected by anthropogenic impacts. This study emphasizes the significance of integrating novel techniques and collaborative strategies for effectively identifying biodiversity in the Amazon.
Revitalizing Indigenous Languages in Toronto: The Responsibilities and Potential Roles of non-Indigenous People
Keywords: Allyship
Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language)
Haudenosaunee languages
Indigenous language revitalization
Toronto
Two Row Wampum

In the place known as Toronto, Indigenous peoples are dedicating themselves to revitalizing and reclaiming their languages. How can the non-Indigenous people of this place end the neglect and assault on Indigenous languages and support their goals? I spoke with eleven mostly First Nations people who are engaged with languages in the Toronto area to ask for guidance. I learned about the different kinds of relationships and responsibilities that hold us together, including wampum belt treaties, reconciliation, our relationship with the land, and for some, common experiences of colonization or language oppression. I learned about the work that needs to be done, including: raising awareness, supporting Indigenous language naming, signage and arts, lobbying governments, land back, volunteering for grass roots organizations, decolonizing institutions, and perhaps learning the languages. This research is intended as a foundation for public education to stimulate informed solidarity and action in Indigenous language revitalization.
Exploring the Self-Diagnosis Experiences of Self-Diagnosed Autistic Women
Keywords: Autism
Self-Diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Many Autistic women are misdiagnosed, diagnosed as Autistic later in life, or not identified or diagnosed at all. Some women choose to self-diagnose as Autistic, yet their experiences have not been explored in depth in Autism literature. This qualitative study explored the self-diagnosis experiences of Autistic women. METHODS: Seven people living in Ontario were asked about their self-diagnosis experiences through either a virtual interview or an open-ended questionnaire. Drawing on reflexive thematic analysis procedures, data was analyzed using critical Autism studies as a theoretical lens. RESULTS: Self-diagnosis aims were described as a way to find answers through professionals, the internet, and people in their lives. Self-diagnosis processes were described as increasing one’s self-acceptance, allowing one to sense-make life experiences, and make connections to Autistic communities. IMPLICATIONS: This research highlights the need for neurodiversity-affirming training for health professionals and the importance of Autistic communities for the wellbeing of Autistic people.
Exploring the Context of Youth and Young Adult Immigrants in Stepfamilies in Canada
Keywords: Blended Families
Psychology
Stepfamilies
Young Adults
Youth

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the psychological adjustmentexperiences of youth and young adult immigrants in the context of stepfamily dynamics in Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants identified as immigrants who have lived in stepfamilies in Canada and grounded in Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model. The findings reveal the nuanced psychological adjustment experiences of youth and young adult immigrants in stepfamily settings in Canada, emphasizing the significant influence of individuals and communities on their adjustment. Close relationships particularly within families emerge as sources of both conflict and support. Results highlight the importance of social workers in identifying and addressing the diverse experiences of youth and young adult immigrants in stepfamilies and/or blended families in order to provide better services to support their needs. These findings aim to inform and improve social work practice, resulting in better outcomes for youth and adult immigrants in stepfamily and/or blended family contexts.
In-Ear EEG Device for Auditory Brain-Computer Interface Communication
Keywords: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Brain-Computer Interface
Electroencephalography
In-Ear EEG

Scalp-based electroencephalography (EEG) is often deployed in non-invasive brain-computer interfaces with electrodes that are uncomfortable, not conducive to long-term wear and conspicuous. In-ear EEG devices have potential to address these limitations by measuring brain activity from within the ear canal. We designed, constructed, and tested a portable in-ear EEG device using commercially available components. Fifteen typically developing adolescents participated in a single session where simultaneous scalp and in-ear EEG were recorded during deliberate creation of artefacts. Data from 5 were analyzed. We confirmed that the new in-ear device was capable of alpha wave detection. In-ear measurements were most susceptible to contamination by head and biting motions, likely due to displacement of wires and related muscle activations. In the presence of artefacts, in-ear EEG signals appear to exhibit an inherent robustness to extreme values (strictly platykurtic amplitude distributions) and may afford a low-pass filtering benefit (narrower bandwidths than over scalp signals).