VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Experiencing the Activity of Teaching “At-Risk” College Mathematics Students: Perspectives of Two College Teachers

This study investigates how two mathematics instructors experience the activity of teaching ‘at-risk’ learners in preparatory college courses. This study was borne out of the need to understand and articulate how to engage and teach the ‘at-risk’ college mathematics learner. This study employs qualitative methods to describe, analyze and compare the instruction of ‘at-risk’ college mathematics learners. The two case studies reveal the similarities and differences in experiencing instruction that arise when teaching ‘at-risk’ college mathematics learners. Specifically, this study examined three areas with respect to teacher experience and understanding of: (a) teaching strategies; (b) non-cognitive/affective issues; and, (c) open and responsive learning environments. There are eight major findings that were influential in the participants negotiation of teaching ‘at-risk' college mathematics students as it related to the above areas: (1) Conferences are a good way to provide individual attention to ‘at-risk’ college mathematics students; (2) Both individualized or lecture style delivery methods could be used; (3) College instructors of ‘at-risk’ mathematics students believe that they could create positive attitudes about mathematics by using humour, using praise, being caring, being patient, engaging in personal life stories, recognizing confusion and frustration in their students and being sensitive to outside pressures experienced by students; (4) The positive learning environment created by the College instructors of ‘at-risk’ mathematics students lead to self-regulation by the student. Providing conferences for personal attention, providing individualized educational plans and providing constant teacher feedback kept students focused on their end goals; (5) College instructors of ‘at-risk’ mathematics students believe that the emotional state of their students is important to their overall learning and that more could be done to access emotional support for students; (6) College instructors of ‘at-risk’ mathematics students used minimal technology and did not believe that the use of technology would enhance their instruction; (7) College instructors of ‘at-risk’ mathematics students were mindful and responsive to the individual differences among their students; and (8) By encouraging students to articulate their lack of understanding, instructors were able to identify areas of individual needs and assist their ‘at-risk’ students.

Keywords: At-risk
College Mathematics
Instructors Experience
Learning Environments
Non-cognitive Issues
Teaching Strategies
Advisor: McDougall, Douglas
Exploring Novel Chemical Space: From Small Molecules to Cyclic Peptides

Lipinski and Hopkins famously stated that “chemical space is for all practical purposes infinite and limited only by the chemist's imagination”. Chemists venturing forth to explore uncharted areas of chemical space are faced with the ongoing challenge of developing efficient synthetic strategies to access new and biologically relevant molecular architectures. This thesis reports on the development of novel chemoselective reactions and molecular building blocks to establish methods of synthesis for a variety of challenging scaffolds, from small molecules to medium-sized rings. In this area, organoboron reagents play indispensable roles in chemical synthesis, providing a versatile synthetic handle that is pivotal in accessing a broader chemical space. Boron-containing amphoteric molecules therefore represent a means for developing flexible, chemoselective routes to densely functionalized borylated molecules. Chapter 1 discusses the development of a new class of amphoteric building block, the dicarbonyl MIDA boronates, and their application toward previously inaccessible borylated heterocycles through condensation chemistry. Chapter 2 outlines a novel methodology for the synthesis of 8-11 membered medium-sized rings and cyclic tripeptides. This work is based on an integrative approach wherein cyclic amides are converted into more electrophilic imides, which subsequently undergo ring expansions to yield the desired rings. Finally, Chapter 3 describes an ongoing collaboration with the Structural Genomics Consortium in Toronto for the development of potent chemical probes for epigenetic protein targets. Target validation studies, which include optimizing expression, purification and crystallization of several proteins, as well as the development and screening of a small library of small molecules produced by members of the Yudin group are discussed in detail.

Keywords: amphoteric
boron
cyclol
epigenetic
medium-sized ring
target validation
Advisor: Yudin, Andrei K
Synthesis of Antimicrobial Oligomers and Their Related Polymers Using a Combination of Antibiotics for Dental Restorations and Adhesive Materials

Despite having limited longevity in the oral cavity, resin composites are the most widely used dental restorative material. Secondary caries, which is the recurrence of cavities at the tooth and restoration interface, is currently responsible for more than half of resin composite replacements. The inherent vulnerability of the resin chemistry to hydrolysis and the presence of esterase activity in the oral environment, in combination with polymerization shrinkage and mechanical loading, sets the stage for a compromised interface. Micro-leakage of bacteria into the marginal site between the tooth and restorative material facilitates the recurrence of caries at the interface. To overcome this challenge, the objective of this thesis was to synthesize, purify, and chemically characterize novel dimethacrylate oligomers with antibiotics covalently incorporated into the oligomeric structure using well-defined biodegradable moieties. The antibiotics Ciprofloxacin (CF) and Metronidazole (MN) were selected as a proof-of concept, and the molecular structure of these oligomers were conceived such as to stabilize the oligomer’s esters as a first line of defense against bacteria, while permitting the use of in-situ methacrylate polymerization chemistry for use in dental adhesive systems. Two dimethacrylate oligomers were synthesized, referred to as HLH-CFPEG and HLH-MN, with the former containing CF and the latter MN. In the presence of enzyme, both drug oligomers were significantly more stable when compared to the commercial monomer 2,2-bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy)-phenyl]propane (BisGMA). Upon degradation, both drug oligomers released their respective original drugs (CF or MN) differentially in free form. Polymer synthesis of resin formulations containing 15 wt% HLH-CFPEG or HLH-MN showed high gel content values (≥97%), and under hydrolytic conditions showed a continuous release of CF and MN during a 28-day monitoring study period. Drug oligomers co-polymerized with BisGMA and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were not cytotoxic against human gingival fibroblasts. The antimicrobial adhesives demonstrated bonding to dentin, with no significant difference in the interfacial fracture toughness (KIC) values from the in-house formulated control composed of BisGMA and HEMA in the 2-step adhesive application technique. When a 3-step application was used, the in-house control had a small but significantly higher KIC value in comparison to the antimicrobial formulations.

Advisor: Santerre, J Paul
Working Memory Performance in Youth Following Concussion: Exploring Development, Performance Errors and Variability

Concussion represents a growing concern for youth in Canada. Following concussion, youth present with reduced cognitive performance, including working memory (WM) and processing speed. Youth represent a population of special interest following concussion, with longer recovery than adults and potential impact to the long-term development of cognitive abilities. This thesis explored changes in WM performance and processing speed in youth aged 10-14 years following concussion. The greater objective was to describe how WM performance changes in youth to inform development of clinical assessment and treatment. The initial study chapter described WM performance in uninjured youth athletes and explored how performance errors and variability relate to age (n=96; aged 9-12 years). The following two study chapters compared pre- and post-concussion WM performance through accuracy and performance errors, and average reaction time (RT) and intraindividual variability of reaction times (n=21 and 18 respectively; aged 10-14 years). All studies utilized an experimental verbal and non-verbal WM task. Developmental findings showed a positive relationship between verbal and nonverbal WM accuracy and age, and a negative relationship between verbal WM false alarms and age. The chapters exploring concussion found decreased verbal WM accuracy, increased verbal WM false alarms and miss errors, and increased nonverbal WM false alarms and intraindividual variability. Overall findings suggest that following concussion, youth exhibit reduced WM performance, false alarms may be more sensitive to WM performance change following concussion than accuracy, and variability in RT may be more sensitive to processing speed changes than average speed following concussion in youth. Clinical implications of reduced WM performance and variability in reaction time include decreased performance in activities of daily living such as school and sport.

Keywords: Cognition
Concussion
Intraindividual Variability
Reaction Time
Working Memory
Youth
Advisor: Mihailidis, Alex
YOUTH SUICIDE-RELATED THOUGHTS AND ATTEMPTS IN CANADA: EXPLAINING THE ROLE OF CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE TO MATERNAL DEPRESSION

Objectives: Objectives of this thesis were to: 1) determine the cumulative incidence of suicide-related thoughts (SRT) and attempts (SA) in Canadian youth and young adults; 2) estimate the association between exposure to maternal depressive symptoms during the first decade of life and subsequent SRT and SA; and 3) identify possible moderators (sex, family structure, maternal social support and social cohesion) and mediators (child psychiatric symptoms) of this association in Canadian youth and young adults. Methods: A cohort was constructed by linking all cycles from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, a nationally representative survey, from 1994-2009 in respondents 0-25 years. Exposure to maternal-reported depressive symptoms and moderators were measured when offspring were between 0-10 years, while mediators were measured when offspring were between 6-10 years. Offspring self-reported incident and recurrent SRT and SA were measured between 11-25 years. Time-to-event models under a counting process framework were used to estimate cumulative incidence, measures of associations and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The incidence of SRT between 11-25 years was 29% (95% CI: 26-31%) in females and 19% (95% CI: 16-23%) in males, and the incidence of SA between 11-25 years was 16% (95% CI: 14-19%) in females and 7% (95% CI: 6-8%) in males. The risk of incident and recurrent SRT and SA was significantly elevated among females exposed to maternal depressive symptoms, but not in males. Hyperactivity/inattention and psychiatric comorbidity were significant mediators, explaining 60% of the association with SRT and SA, and 50% of the association with SA, respectively. Conclusions: These findings have implications for earlier age implementation of suicide prevention programs and upstream selective approaches. Family-based preventions targeting families where a mother is depressed, prenatal screening, and clinician monitoring of high-risk families could reduce the risk of entering the trajectory towards suicide.

Keywords: incidence
maternal depression
social support
suicide attempts
suicide-related thoughts
youth
Advisor: Bondy, Susan
Rhodes, Anne
Issues of Participation: Exploring Ideals of Participation Through a Digital Design Project with a Public Library

Weak forms of ‘user involvement’ are often conflated with ‘participation’, eroding the personal, social and political potential of participation. In this thesis, I explore ideals of participation in the context of a digital design project to understand why digital teams that engage users in conventional human-centred design (HCD) may not adopt a more participatory approach such as Participatory Design (PD) that engages users in authentic participation based on mutual learning. As a foundation, I traced the parallel but distinct trajectories of HCD and PD, identifying tensions between them based on differences in ideals of participation. Drawing on a range of participatory practices, I also derived the Issues of Participation framework comprised of seven issues: goals, representation, power relations, context, effectiveness, transformations, and sustainability. I demonstrate that these issues can help distinguish PD from HCD. In my fieldwork, I took a Participatory Action Research approach by engaging digital designers on the Account Redesign Project (ARP) at the Toronto Public Library (TPL) as co-researchers. Through a series of workshops, we reflected on participation generally and within ARP. Our reflections shed light on differences in ideals between HCD and PD as well as some of the barriers to moving beyond HCD to engaging library members in more participatory ways. I found that my co-researchers adopted HCD’s pragmatic goal of involving users as informants in order to improve the digital product and had little awareness of PD’s democratic goal of engaging users in authentic participation that gives them a say, not just a voice. Nonetheless, within TPL, they were champions for the inclusion of library members in the design of services. My findings suggest that by addressing personal and organizational barriers, designers practicing HCD may adopt and champion PD. My thesis addresses deeply held concerns within PD about “how participatory a design project has to be so as to ‘qualify’ as a PD project” (Bratteteig Wagner, 2014, p. 117). I argue that distinguishing PD from HCD is valuable in raising awareness of the democratic goals of PD, reclaiming an authentic meaning of participation, and enabling users to achieve more ‘say’ in their future.

Keywords: co-design
human-centred design
participation
Participatory Action Research
participatory design
public libraries
Advisor: Clement, Andrew
CULTURAL IDENTITY AND HYBRIDITY IN “DIFFERENT SPACES”: RECENT IMMIGRANT STUDENTS NEGOTIATING SETTLEMENT AND UNIVERSITY IN ONTARIO, CANADA

This qualitative research explores cultural identity construction among recent immigrant students from Jamaica who live and attend universities in Ontario, Canada. It focuses on the experiences of identity construction when migration, settlement and university participation are considered. The research approached the complexities in the immigrant student identity through a hybrid conceptual lens. Through semi-structured interviews of 14 undergraduate students in universities in Ontario, multiple dimensions of identity and intersectional considerations were elucidated. The combined use of hermeneutic (interpretative) phenomenology with a critical component allowed for exploration of cultural identities as living with and through difference, by hybridity. Participants’ experiences of growing up in Jamaica, moving to Ontario and attending university were the general themes within which issues of social class, skin colour, language, race, nation of origin, stereotypes and discrimination were discussed. The findings suggest that participants construct their cultural identities through the intervening influences of parents, peers of similar cultural orientations, language, discourses of difference, nation of origin and aspirations. Of significance is the salience assigned to social class identification and its relation to speech and skin color in the origin country. Social class was not assigned the same meanings in the receiving nation. Participants maintained their nation of origin identification in Ontario, despite encounters of stigmatization and discrimination. This research finds evidence to suggest both resistance to essentialist views of Jamaicans and beliefs in an essence of Jamaican-ness. The study concludes that students’ interactions in and outside of university are complexly negotiated and thus, their identities are multiply constructed. The study makes recommendations for partnerships among policy makers, universities, and settlement agencies to provide appropriate resources to assist recent immigrant students in their educational journey.

Advisor: Bascia, Nina
Higher Education Students' Experiences of Internationalization in Kuwait: The case of Arab Open University

When a Western curriculum is implemented in a non-Western context, some challenges may arise due to differences in the educational and cultural systems, including distinct perspectives, attitudes, approaches and objectives. In order to contribute insight into these challenges and how they might be addressed, this case study investigates the internationalization of the business program at the Arab Open University (AOU) in Kuwait, focusing on the experiences of faculty members and students. Drawing on Steiner-Khamsi’s (2014) policy borrowing analytical framework, this study explores the following research questions: How did faculty members implement the imported business curriculum? How did students experience the imported business curriculum through, for instance, textbooks, learning activities, instructional methods, assignments and exams? How did the imported business curriculum influence students' self-perceived academic performance and contribute to their self-perceived personal and professional growth? Mixed methods were used to collect data through a sequential explanatory design. First, quantitative data were collected through surveys (N=333) and analyzed regarding students' perceptions of the curriculum and how it affected their academic performance. Next, semi-structured interviews were employed in order to: (1) provide students with the opportunity to communicate their experiences and perspectives regarding the imported curriculum in their own words, and (2) provide in-depth insight into faculty members’ perspectives regarding the implementation of the imported curriculum. Findings from the data suggest that in order to enhance students’ academic experience, there is a need to recontextualize the imported curriculum, from the original British version, adapted to the Kuwaiti and Arab context. In order to develop a more contextually appropriate curriculum, a key recommendation is for the AOU to co-design the business curriculum in partnership with the original source, The Open University – United Kingdom (OU-UK), taking into consideration: international standards; the local context of the receiving country; and local students' backgrounds and interests.

Advisor: Bascia, Nina
Bayesian Computations via MCMC, with applications to Big Data and Spatial Data

Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are fundamental tools for sampling highly complex distributions. They are crucial to Bayesian inference as posterior distributions are generally analytically intractable. In this thesis, we tackle two Bayesian inference problems via MCMC methods, that will lie on both methodology and application aspects. The first part of this thesis tackles the computational challenges of Bayesian inference from big data. We develop a new communication-free parallel method, the "Likelihood Inflating Sampling Algorithm (LISA)", that significantly reduces computational costs by randomly splitting the dataset into smaller subsets and running MCMC methods independently in parallel on each subset using different processors. Each processor will be used to run an MCMC chain that samples sub-posterior distributions which are defined using an "inflated" likelihood function. We then discuss on the approaches to combine all sub-samples from all processors to build a highly accurate posterior distribution that is consistent with the full posterior distribution. More importantly, we learn a strategy in combining LISA's draws to study the full posterior of the more complex Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) model, which is highly important in non-parametric regression. We also successfully examine the consistency in performance of LISA on BART with new efficient Metropolis-Hastings proposals introduced by Pratola (2016). The second part of this thesis is focused on the applied aspect of performing Bayesian inference with MCMC methods. We study a Bayesian Geostatistical model to analyze spatial data from the Timiskaming Abitibi River forests in Ontario Canada, provided by the First Resource Management Group Inc.. We implement an MCMC algorithm to perform Bayesian inference on predicting the proportion of hardwood trees from elevation and vegetation index. Spatial predictions are made for new sites in the forests and results are compared with a Logistic Regression model without a spatial effect. We study the trend of accuracy in predictions when fitting fewer data to the model, and present useful insights on the trade-off between performance and the costly need for collecting ground truth data. We further discuss a stratified sampling approach in choosing the subsets of data that allows for potential better predictions.

Keywords: Bayesian Statistics
Geostatistics
Machine Learning
Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)
Advisor: Rosenthal, Jeffrey S.
On mod p local-global compatibility for unramified GL_3

Let F/F+ be a CM number field and w|p a place of F lying over a place of F+ that splits in F. If r¯:GF → GLn( F¯p) is a global Galois representation automorphic with respect to a definite unitary group over F + then there is a naturally associated GLn( Fw)-representation H0( r¯) over F¯p constructed using mod p automorphic forms, and it is hoped that H0(r¯) will correspond to r¯|GFw under a conjectural mod p local Langlands correspondence. The goal of the thesis is to study how to recover the data of r¯|GFw from H0(r¯) in certain cases. Assume that Fw is unramified and n=3. Under certain technical hypotheses on r¯, we give an explicit recipe to find all the data of r¯| GFw inside the GL3(Fw)-action on H0(r¯) when r¯|GFw is maximally nonsplit, Fontaine-Laffaille, generic, and has a unique Serre weight. This generalizes work of Herzig, Le and Morra who found analogous results when Fw= Qp as well as work of Breuil and Diamond in the case of unramified GL2.

Keywords: Automorphic representations
Galois representations
Langlands program
Mod p Langlands program
Advisor: Herzig, Florian