VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Constraint Programming Approaches to Electric Vehicle and Robot Routing Problems
Keywords: Constraint programming
Electric vehicle routing
Mixed-integer linear programming
Optimization
Robot routing

Driven by global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, there has been significant investment in electric vehicle (EV) technology in recent years, resulting in a substantial increase in EV market share. Concurrently, the demand for mobile robots, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and land-based robots, has also experienced rapid growth, encouraged by recent advances in the autonomy and capabilities of these systems. Common to both of these technologies is the use of electric motors for propulsion and batteries for mobile energy storage. Techniques for the coordination of electric vehicle fleets, whether human-operated or autonomous, must address a variety of unique challenges, including sparse recharging infrastructure, significant recharge durations, and limited battery capacities. The central thesis of this dissertation is that constraint programming (CP) can be an effective and flexible paradigm for modeling and solving routing problems involving electric vehicles. While efforts on the development of mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approaches to electric vehicle routing problems within the vehicle routing literature are expansive and consistently growing, the exploration of CP for approaching these increasingly pervasive problems has been, thus far, limited. Throughout this dissertation, we address this thesis by developing novel CP formulations for both existing and new electric vehicle routing problem domains, leveraging modeling strategies from the MILP literature. Specifically, we propose novel CP models based on recharging path multigraphs as well as introduce a novel single resource modeling strategy that exploits symmetry in vehicle fleets for CP models involving interval, sequence, and cumulative function expression variables. These methodological contributions are then applied to four problem domains, where applicable. The first two problem domains involve electric vehicle routing with traditional logistics fleets. The third domain requires the synchronization of heterogeneous fleets involving UAVs and ground-based vehicles in a large-scale surveillance setting. Finally, the last problem domain involves the routing of social robots in a retirement home setting under complex real-world constraints, including synchronization and optional task precedence. For each of these domains, we empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our CP approaches.
Youth in Transition: The Political Economy of Migration
Keywords: civil society
Marxist feminism
political economy
refugees
youth

From the Arab uprisings to the refugee crisis, global events seemed to be remaking the conditions of life for young people. For young adults from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the tumultuous conditions of our time prompted civil society actors to develop new forms of youth engagement. Refugee youth from the MENA region are now marked as both a global threat to stability and an asset on the verge of return. Beginning from these contrary realities, my analysis seeks to make two contributions to the knowledge produced for and about refugee youth. Firstly, I locate theorizations of youth within the relations of neoliberals and the expansion of civil society. I aim to disrupt the idea that neoliberal models of youth can promote the agency of refugees. In contrast, my analysis works toward the argument that global capitalism produces a particular type of individual agency that exists in mutual constitution with the conditions of alienation. The point that I hope to demonstrate is that the relations of alienation are co-ordinated, reproduced, and expanded by non-government organizations in their quest to open up spaces for youth participation. The second intervention made by the analysis speaks more directly to the migration studies literature and critiques the ideal of migration as justice. I argue that migrations create the conditions of survival and exploitation, racialization, patriarchy, and youth alienation. Refugee migrations are contradictory, often engendering both access to justice and conditions other than justice. The two parts of the argument are united in the idea that access to humanitarian migration, coordinated by civil society, weaves the aspirational promise of access to class mobility into the political promise of access to justice. The interlinking of youth participation and migration then promises youth a kind of internationalized class mobility. Although social participation for refugee youth promises economic and geographic mobility, the concrete conditions of drawing refugee youth into global capitalism engender conditions of exploitation, racialization, and alienation.
Finding the Self that Teaches: A Co-active Coaching Approach to Mindful Practice and Wellbeing in Education
Keywords: coaching
mindful practice
professional learning
self development
teacher development
teacher wellbeing

Finding the Self that Teaches:A Co-active Coaching Approach to Mindful Practice and Wellbeing in Education Doctor of PhilosophyMargaret E. Adam Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Ontario Institute of Studies in Education University of Toronto 2021 Abstract This research is a qualitative study concerned with developing teachers’ ongoing professional learning through the lens of co-active coaching. It seeks to explore the mechanisms of a holistic model of co-active coaching that influence and deepen Ontario secondary school teachers’ understanding of the self in practice. It includes a self-study that investigates my professional development as a co-active member of the research. The study examines the ways in which learning occurs to cultivate mindful practice and wellbeing in teachers. The co-active coaching model is framed largely by a holistic approach to learning supported by Whitworth et al. (2007) who emphasize the quality and importance of relationship in learning. Co-active coaching is collaborative, non-directive, and co-creative where the desired outcome is a mutual growth in self-understanding and improved performance in teaching. Five secondary school teachers engaged in professional learning and collaboration over 9 months, where they reflected on their development of the self in practice. The narrative analysis of teacher learning indicates a positionality of the teacher in “Finding the Self that Teaches” and is demonstrated through the beliefs, assumptions and practices that emerge from their narratives. The results of this study demonstrate that learning occurs through multiple orientations to teaching and learning. The inward reflection of the participants indicates that a key thread of “who teachers are” is woven through the fabric of “what they do” in practice. Teacher participants reported changes in their thinking and a shift in their perspectives of their own wellbeing and their practices. They demonstrated that co-active coaching was a useful means of supporting professional collaboration and positively influencing mindful practice. This research contributes new knowledge to the field of professional learning, holistic education and coaching and has implications for co-active coaching, as a process for building capacity and delivering sustainable, professional learning to teachers—to be used formally in their classrooms and informally with their colleagues. By implementing co-active coaching as a practice for embedded, ongoing professional learning, schools can take action to ensure high quality support for both educators and students.
Opioid Abuse among Injection Drug Users and Adsociation with City-level Prescription Opioid Dispensing Rates in Ontario
Keywords: Injection Drug Use
Multilevel Models
Ontario
Opioids
Prescription Dispensing

Introduction: The opioid crisis is widespread and expanding in Ontario. Despite increases in opioid-related deaths in recent years, prescription opioids (POs) continue to be prescribed at high levels. The goal of this study was to better define connections between local PO dispensing levels and opioid abuse among IDU (injection drug users) in urban areas of the province.Methods: Data were obtained from the Ontario Drug Benefit claims database and the I-Track surveillance system. Using an unmatched repeated cross-sectional design, individual-level opioid abuse was nested within year and again within city-level (Kingston, London, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Toronto) PO dispensing rates. Analyses were conducted with mixed-effects multilevel logistic regressions. Results: Total PO dispensing levels and total PO abuse among IDU were not associated. For opioid types, there was much variation in measures by city. Possible substitution effects were observed between Dilaudid dispensing levels and morphine abuse among IDU (OR=0.99, 0.98-1.00) as well as morphine dispensing and Dilaudid abuse among IDU (OR=0.93, 0.92-0.94). Dispensing of morphine (but not other POs) was related to heroin abuse among IDU (OR=1.04, 1.00-1.08). Dilaudid dispensing levels were associated with methadone abuse among IDU (OR=0.96, 0.94-0.98). Discussion: Distinctions between cities in both PO dispensing and opioid abuse among IDU were probably due to differences in distances to trafficking points and sociodemographic factors. The relationship between total PO and total opioid abuse among IDU was not reflective of relationships between opioid types. PO dispensing changes were related to changes in abuse of more than traditional PO types, including illicit (heroin) and restricted (methadone) opioids. Conclusions: Policies involving PO dispensing or opioid abuse among IDU should emphasize local evidence based on opioid types. The urban nature of the study also necessitates supplementary research in rural areas. New studies should examine PO dispensing with fentanyl and Suboxone abuse among IDU.
Refining and Expanding a Cognitive Model of Positive Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Keywords: metacognition
neurocognition
schizophrenia
schizotypy

Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the population. A primary symptom of schizophrenia is positive symptoms, which can be extremely debilitating if untreated, and only a quarter of individuals experience complete recovery even when treated. Treatments are only partly effective because the etiology of these symptoms has yet to be fully understood. While there are known genetic vulnerabilities associated with schizophrenia, numerous cognitive models have been proposed. Broadly, these models suggest deficits in metacognition contribute to the development of positive symptoms, but more recent research indicates neurocognitive impairment increase the risk of developing deficits in metacognition. Thus, this research aimed to advance current cognitive models for psychosis by clarifying these relationships in healthy young adults with schizotypal traits. In two studies, the neurocognitive correlates of several metacognitive abilities were examined using self-report and performance-based measures. Processing speed was associated with an externalizing bias, which was associated with subsyndromal positive symptoms. Verbal fluency and verbal learning were associated with understanding another person’s beliefs (i.e., cognitive theory of mind), while verbal memory was associated with faux pas detection (i.e., integration of cognitive and affective theory of mind). Both understanding beliefs and faux pas detection were associated with subsyndromal delusions but not subsyndromal hallucinations. Importantly, schizotypal traits did not influence the strength of these relationships, which supports a continuum view of psychosis. In addition to exploring potential mechanisms, this research examined the influence of negative and positive affect on one aspect of metacognition, jumping to conclusions (JTC), using an experience sampling approach. This study did not support the hypothesis that negative affect increased one’s tendency to JTC. The findings from these studies were synthesized to propose a comprehensive model for the development of positive symptoms in schizophrenia. There are a limited number of studies examining the neurocognitive correlates of metacognition in healthy individuals along the continuum of risk for psychosis as it relates to the development of positive symptoms. Even less research has advanced theories for why these relationships exist. As such, a major contribution of this research was to propose a cognitive model for the development of positive symptoms, grounded in empirical evidence.
The Incidence of Prosthetic Hip and Knee Joint Infections in Ontario and Risk Factors for Treatment Failure
Keywords: administrative databases
prosthetic joint infection

Deep periprosthetic hip and knee joint infections (PJI) are a feared complication of primary arthroplasty and are associated with substantial morbidity. Linked health administrative databases are the mainstay of studying PJIs in Ontario while a detailed retrospective cohort is needed to understand risk factors predictive of treatment failure. The aims of this thesis were to evaluate PJI detection algorithms in administrative databases, describe the incidence and trends of PJIs in Ontario and describe characteristics associated with treatment failure.In the first study, we describe the performance characteristics of algorithms of diagnosis and procedure codes for detecting PJIs, demonstrating that the combination of a PJI diagnosis code along with a procedure code for an arthroplasty in conjunction with the code for a peripherally inserted central catheter had a sensitivity of 0.92 (95% CI 0.88-0.94) and positive predictive value of 0.78 (95% CI 0.74-0.82). This PJI detection algorithm was used to identify the incidence of PJIs in a large cohort using administrative databases. Of the 504,322 primary hip and knee joint replacements performed from 2003-2016, there were 7331 PJIs, with a cumulative incidence at 1-year of 0.97% (95% CI 0.92-1.01%) for hips and 0.76% (95% CI 0.73-0.79%) for knees. To assess for characteristics associated with PJI treatment failure, a retrospective cohort of 533 individuals with a PJI where prosthesis removal occurred was created. By two years 25% had experienced failure with liver disease (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.12, 95% CI 2.09-4.66), presence of a sinus tract (aHR 1.53, 95% CI 1.12-2.10), preceding debridement with prosthesis retention (aHR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13-2.51), a one-stage procedure (aHR 1.72, 95% CI 1.28-2.32), and infection with Gram-negative bacilli (aHR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.76) associated with failure. The majority of recurrent PJIs (53%, 56/105) were caused by a different bacterial species. We designed an algorithm that maximizes the identification of PJIs in administrative databases, which was used to demonstrate that PJIs are increasing over time. Failing to cure a PJI is common and most risk factors are not easily modifiable, which should spur the development of novel treatment paradigms. PJIs cause considerable morbidity and attention needs to be directed toward understanding why these infections occur.
Understanding and Supporting Live Streaming in Non-gaming Contexts
Keywords: human-computer interaction
knowledge sharing
live streaming
online community
social media
user engagement

Live streaming has gained worldwide traction due to affordable digital video devices and high-speed Internet access. Besides video games, live streaming users share a variety of non-gaming content, such as civic engagement, knowledge and experience, and even traditional cultural practices (i.e., intangible cultural heritage). However, because video game live streaming is the primary target of mainstream streaming platforms, little prior research has explored the practices and challenges of the communities of non-gaming streamers who share knowledge or showcase and promote cultural practices through live streams, and few computational tools and systems have been designed and developed to support these stakeholders' unique needs for engaging and communicating with their communities more efficiently and meaningfully. The goal of my research is to understand emerging practices of non-gaming streamers and their communities, and to design new tools for these streamers, viewers, and other stakeholders to better support knowledge sharing and cultural heritage preservation through live streaming. I first conduct qualitative and mixed-method studies to understand various non-gaming streaming practices for sharing knowledge, sharing experiences, and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, all of which are prevalent in China but have not gained comparable traction elsewhere. These studies reveal the stark differences of non-gaming live streams with video-gaming streams, and show that for knowledge sharing and cultural heritage live streaming, context loss, information overload, and limited communication modalities are key challenges for stakeholders. Building on these findings, I design, deploy, and evaluate novel user interfaces for non-gaming live streaming users to better support their needs in knowledge sharing and experience sharing contexts. StreamWiki is a tool that leverages viewers during live streams to produce useful archives of the interactive learning experience which can facilitate in-stream and post hoc learning. StreamSketch enables viewers and streamers to engage during live streams through multiple modalities, including sketch and text. The evaluations of these live streaming interfaces show their usefulness in non-gaming contexts, but also reveal remaining challenges of how to better engage viewers with increased complexity of streaming interfaces. In conclusion, I summarize the key insights from my studies and discuss future research opportunities in non-gaming live streaming.
Productive Uncertainty and the Genomics of 'Neurodevelopmental Disorders': A Critical Discourse Analysis
Keywords: bioethics
critical discourse analysis
genomics
neurodevelopmental disorders
uncertainty

Genomics, in association with precision medicine, promises future certainty meant to ‘pinpoint’ individual differences and allow for individualized therapies. This approach to medicine is also taking place within a context in which neoliberal rationalities dominate thinking about ‘health’ and ‘normality’. My dissertation challenges the notion that the goal of biomedicine, and genomics in particular, is to attain certainty and precision. Rather, uncertainty in this context is a form of power-knowledge that is productive, circulates, and is used as a resource. This study is concerned with the use of uncertainty and uncertainty management discourses to shape genomic testing and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The dissertation aims to extend understandings of how the changing uncertainty discourses of genetics experts can, instead of confounding and diminishing technological and diagnostic pursuits, propel these pursuits using discursive strategies to frame what and who is ethical. Few studies have critically examined the discourses of genetics experts regarding uncertainty in this particular context. I use Foucauldian-influenced critical discourse analysis and a critical bioethics approach to carry out and examine interviews with genetics experts on uncertainty and the genomics of NDDs. My findings highlight three discourses in a field that is changing over time and is technologically dependent. First, the ‘traditional certainty’ discourse was constructed as ‘old thinking’ and as receding into the past. This is contrasted with the ‘uncertainty management’ discourse that is growing in dominance and represents a ‘modern’ approach to uncertainty production in biomedical genomics. A third discourse ‘slips’ between the two discursive poles of ‘traditional certainty’ and ‘modern uncertainty management’. This ‘terrain of slippage’ contains contradictory discourses that co-exist, highlighting tensions around shifting authority and changing technology. Through my analysis, I argue that uncertainty discourses are used to construct varying ethical subjectivities that ultimately extend the reach of genomics while diminishing the need for direct human participation in genomic testing and diagnostic decision-making. This construction culminates in the creation of the ‘innocent’ subject who strategically uses uncertainty to avoid and ignore contentious discourses in the biomedical genomics context and ‘forgets’ the disabled patient who is inconvenient to modern uncertainty management discourses.
Optimizing Treatment Outcomes of Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Major Depressive Disorder.
Keywords: Brain stimulation
DMPFC
Major depressive disorder
rTMS

Major depressive disorder (MDD) continues to challenge the field of psychiatry with its suboptimal treatment outcomes. In cases of partial or non-response to first-line treatments, alternative treatment options are available. Unfortunately, even with these pharmacological advances, there remains a proportion of patients who experience minimal relief from their depressive symptoms. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an emerging form of brain stimulation used in the treatment of refractory psychiatric and neurological disorders. The most widely used target for rTMS in MDD is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC); however, the treatment outcomes it yields are moderate. Over recent years, alternative stimulation targets have emerged as a potential solution to this issue; among them is the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC). To our knowledge, the DMPFC has not been systematically investigated like its adjacent prefrontal counterpart, the DLPFC. Therefore, the primary aim of the present thesis is to examine, and to further optimize treatment outcomes of DMPFC-rTMS in MDD. We addressed this research question using multiple cohorts of MDD patients receiving DMPFC-rTMS. First, we explored the safety and tolerability of DMPFC-rTMS, focusing primarily on its cognitive profile (Study I). Second, we compared treatment outcomes for DMPFC-rTMS between individuals undergoing concurrent antipsychotic pharmacotherapy versus those receiving rTMS alone (Study II). Finally, Experiments III and IV were untaken to investigate accelerated rTMS; that is, whether the pace of symptom improvement can be increased through the use of a more intensive protocol consisting of multiple daily rTMS sessions. Encouragingly, results from this body of work demonstrate that DMPFC-rTMS is a safe and well-tolerated, treatment for MDD (Study I), even in patients undergoing concurrent antipsychotic therapy (Study II). Congruent with existing literature on accelerated rTMS, we found that the rate of improvement can be rapidly increased in some patients, by administering multiple daily sessions of rTMS (Study III), regardless of the intersession interval (Study IV). Collectively, this thesis provides support for the notion that the safety and efficacy of rTMS in MDD applies not only to the standard target, the DLPFC, but also to the DMPFC, a target of stimulation that is entering use.