VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
When “Good” Beliefs Go Bad: The Upsides and Downsides of Believing Emotions are Controllable

Beliefs we hold about whether emotions are controllable influence how we approach our own emotions – but what about how we approach others’ emotions? I propose that believing someone’s emotions are controllable shapes how we treat them, but the exact nature of this treatment is subject to two competing hypotheses: promoting either more positive responses or more negative responses towards that person’s distress. The present investigation tested these hypotheses in two studies (Ns = 308 and 314) measuring participants’ behavioral intentions towards a person struggling with emotional distress. Across both studies, individuals who believed this person’s emotions were relatively controllable were less positive and more negative towards them. Believing this person’s emotions were relatively controllable also predicted stronger attempts to have her control her emotions using interpersonal emotion regulation strategies likely to backfire. These results suggest beliefs about emotion controllability may powerfully shape our interpersonal interactions, carrying crucial interpersonal downsides.

Keywords: Beliefs
Emotion Control
Emotion Regulation
Emotions
Reappraisal
Advisor: Ford, Brett Q
Automated Blastomere Segmentation for Visual Servo on Early-stage Embryo

Automation of single biological cell surgery requires the location of organelles and cell structures to be determined to permit automated processing carried out in the cell surgery process. In this work, z-stack images of mouse embryos are used as model to develop image processing algorithms, to determine the centroid position (x,y,z) coordinates of embryo blastomeres. Transparency of embryos allow for a series of images along the vertical cell axis (z) to be obtained. Individual z-stack images are processed using 2D image processing steps to first segment, then estimate the centroid (x,y) coordinates of the blastomeres in the 2D image. Successive processing of all z-stack images then permits the centroid of the blastomeres to be determined in (x,y,z) coordinates. Image processing-based calibration allows PZD micropipette to move to the computed centroid position with PBVS control. These algorithms are experimentally verified with mouse embryos at the 2 blastomere stage of development.

Keywords: blastomere
early stage embryo
microrobotics
segmentation
single cell surgery
visual servo
Advisor: Mills, James K.
Novel Gene Regulation Mechanisms of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor: A ChIP-seq and RNA-seq Study of Ahrdbd/dbd Mice Expressing an Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor with Mutated DNA-binding Domain

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a transcription factor known for mediating the toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), and regulating many physiological and pathological processes. In its canonical signalling pathway, ligand-activated AHR translocates into nucleus, associates with its heterodimerization partner, and binds the cognate aryl hydrocarbon response element (AHRE) to regulate transcription. Based on recent evidence, we hypothesize that AHR may mediate gene regulation through unrevealed mechanisms, namely indirect DNA binding via tethering to other transcription factors, or direct DNA binding to regions not containing any AHRE. To explore this, Ahrdbd/dbd mice whose AHR is incapable of binding AHRE were used. ChIP-seq showed Ahrdbd/dbd mice indeed had an increased number of AHR-bound regions across the genome upon activation by TCDD. However, RNA-seq found almost no alteration in gene expression. These results support the presence but refute the physiological significance of AHR tethering to other transcription factors or non-AHRE binding to DNA.

Keywords: 2
3
7
8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR)
Aryl Hydrocarbon Response Element (AHRE)
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP-Seq)
DNA Binding
RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq)
Advisor: Grant, Denis M
Matthews, Jason
In-situ Nano Fibrillation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in Polypropylene (PP) through Spunbond Process

Though the nanofibrillar composites (NFCs) concept has been developed more than a decade ago, the applied feasibility of NFCs in industrial scale has not been assessed yet. The present thesis contemplates the manufacturing process of NFCs specifically fibrillization step by designing and using industrial scale Spunbond Spinning System from two semi crystalline polymers Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). The PET domain adopts fibrillar structure as low as 40 nm with an average size of 92 nm. The research further develops the fundamental understanding of nanofiber formation by evaluating morphological study through employing SEM and polarized microscopy, thermal and viscoelastic properties by differential scanning calorimetry and rheological characterization method. In-situ visualization technique was utilized at the die exit to observe the matrix fiber formation and the well-known die swell phenomenon. Result shows that the final in-situ nanofibril size directly depends on the die swell and processing parameters such as airspeed and polymer flowrate.

Keywords: Die swell
In-situ
Morphology
Nanofibrillar composites
Spunbond
Visualization
Advisor: Park, Chul B
High-order, Robust Multidimensional Summation-by-parts Discretizations Applicable to hp-adaptive Curvilinear Grids

The focus of this thesis is on the development of high-order semi-discrete methods for the Euler equations that are applicable to non-conforming curvilinear grids arising from h-, p-, and hp-refinement. First, we present a method stable for linear differential equations. Second, we present two schemes stable for nonlinear differential equations. These two methods differ in the coupling procedure of neighbouring elements in a mesh: one couples them in a pointwise manner, while the other in a skew-symmetric manner. Finally, we present a fourth scheme which is numerically robust and discretely mimics the kinetic energy equation – an attractive property for simulating turbulent flows. The conservation, accuracy, and stability properties of the methods are first theoretically proven and then numerically verified. Furthermore, preliminary studies comparing all four methods in terms of robustness and computational efficiency are provided.

Advisor: Zingg, David W
Deciphering the Dialogue between the GTPase Cycle, Metal Binding, and Quaternary Structure of Escherichia coli HypB

During the maturation of the bimetallic catalytic centre of [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzymes, the nickel insertion step is facilitated by the metallochaperones HypB and HypA. However, many of the underlying mechanisms behind the process of selective metal transfer from HypB to HypA are still unclear. To better understand these mechanisms, single-residue mutations were engineered into the metal-binding site of HypB. Experiments with C198T HypB revealed that C198 likely does not serve as a link between metal binding and GTP hydrolysis activity. However, complex formation between C198T HypB and HypA is impacted. Complex formation – and the transfer of Ni(II) – between F202A HypB and HypA has also been disrupted. These results demonstrate the importance of the HypB-HypA complex interface during selective nickel transfer from HypB to HypA, and suggest that there is allosteric regulation of complex formation, driven by communication from the metal coordination environment of HypB to the HypB-HypA complex interface.

Keywords: HypB
metalloprotein
nickel homeostasis
[NiFe]-hydrogenase
Advisor: Zamble, Deborah B
The Experiences of Fathers in a Family Integrated Care (FICare) Program

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of fathers of infants born at 320/7 to 346/7 weeks’ gestational age admitted to a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and enrolled in a randomized controlled trial evaluating the Alberta Family Integrated Care (FICare) program. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenology study using semi-structured interviews with 13 fathers and 24 father-written journal entries. FINDINGS: Fifteen themes were generated by triangulating data from interviews and journals: mental preparation, fear of the unknown, reassurance of medical care, level of communication, identifying the fathers role, parenting with supervision, effect of medical staff, effective communication, physical environment, perceived health of infant, balancing life, teamwork through adversity, preparing for discharge home, post-NICU medical care, and relationship to child. CONCLUSIONS: Fathers enrolled in the Alberta FICare program attributed their level of confidence and positive NICU experience that continued post-discharge to the attention and the care they received at the bedside.

Keywords: Experience
Fathers
Intervention
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
preterm
Advisor: Shah, Vibhuti
Hybrid Organic-CQD Solar Cells Using a Near-IR-Absorbing Organic Bulk Heterojunction

Solar photovoltaics requires further progress in efficiency at lower cost. Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are one of many emerging technologies that has been researched in recent years that could play a role in the future of photovoltaics. In this thesis, I developed a new hybrid organic CQD solar cell that achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.98% for the champion device, a record for CQD PV. Charge collection issues at the organic-CQD interface were identified with a study of the spatial collection efficiency of the device and were overcome by introducing a thin buffer layer of CQDs doped with 1,2-ethanedithiol. The hybrid devices were also used as the back cell in a four-terminal tandem device along with a perovskite top cell which was able to achieve a PCE of 23.2% with help from the broad absorption from 700-1100 nm enabled by the hybrid structure.

Keywords: Colloidal Quantum Dots
Organic
Photovoltaics
Solution-processed
Tandem
Thin Film
Advisor: Sargent, Edward H
The Successes and Challenges of Syrian Refugee Families in Canada: A Follow-Up Study

This study provides a one year follow-up on the resettlement experiences of four Syrian refugee families living in Canada. More specifically, this study focuses on the language and literacy development of refugee children. Overall, a lack of development in English and Arabic proficiency was noted among refugee children. A closer analysis of the learning environments of refugee children demonstrated there was a lack of support available at home and in school.

Keywords: Bilingual Development
Educational Development
Language and Literacy
Refugees
Wellbeing
Advisor: Chen, Xi Becky
Cumulative Relational Risk and Preschool Academic Success, Links with Socioemotional Competence

The current study explored whether socioemotional competence contributed to children’s academic success in the face of dysfunctional family environments. At Time 1 (T1), questionnaire-based measures on family risk exposure were collected for 279 newborn children. Observational measures of socioemotional competence (self-recognition, empathy, cooperation and joint attention) were assessed at Time 2 (T2) when children were 1.59 years old (SD=0.15). At Time 4 (T4), early academic success was measured in children aged 4.78 years old (SD=0.28) via performance on the Woodcock Johnson Test, and measures of executive function and theory of mind. After controlling for age, gender and maternal responsivity, results revealed that children’s socioemotional competency conferred a protective effect for performance on the applied problems subtest of the Woodcock Johnson test, executive function tasks, and theory of mind tasks. Findings support the need to consider socioemotional competence as a protective factor for children exposed to negative family dynamics.

Advisor: Jenkins, Jennifer M
Changing for You, for Me: Gratitude Promotes Autonomous Motivation to Make Partner-requested Changes

Two studies examined the role of receiving gratitude in promoting motivation to make a partner-requested change. In a cross-sectional study (N = 486), receiving gratitude for change efforts from a romantic partner was associated with greater motivation to make partner-requested changes. This association was distinct from general gratitude received from a partner. Importantly, self-focused autonomous motives mediated this association in this study and a pre-registered experiment (N = 431), demonstrating that gratitude may promote change efforts by making these efforts feel personally motivated and pursued for their inherent value. In Study 2, imagining receiving gratitude (as compared to a control condition) was also associated with increased feelings of reward and gratitude indirectly promoted motivation to make partner requested changes first through increased feelings of personal reward and subsequently through increased self-focused autonomous motives underlying change efforts. These findings have important implications for how couples can foster successful partner changes.

Keywords: autonomous motivation
gratitude
partner regulation
self-determination theory
Advisor: Impett, Emily A.
Reducing Off-chip Memory Accesses in Deep Neural Network Accelerators

The popularity of deep neural networks (DNNs) has led to widespread development of specialized hardware for accelerating their computations. Many designs employ a memory system that consists of an on-chip local memory in addition to the off-chip main memory. In this dissertation, I seek to improve the energy efficiency in DNN accelerators by reducing the off-chip memory accesses. In the first part, I present and evaluate the required on-chip memory capacity and off-chip data footprint of various configurations for the on-chip memory. For memory configurations where off-chip memory accesses are reduced to once per value, up to 14.3 MB of on-chip memory capacity is necessary. In the second part, I introduce a compression scheme that can be added to any DNN accelerator. It leverages the inherent bit sparsity in DNNs to compress the weight values. Doing so, the off-chip data footprint is reduced by 2.5x-7.6x across the DNNs studied.

Keywords: Hardware Accelerator
Neural Network
Advisor: Moshovos, Andreas
Delayed Gratification: A Double-edged Sword? A Study on the Relationship between Delayed Gratification, Work-life Conflict and Career Burnout

The present study empirically examines the overarching research question: what is the relationship between delayed gratification, work-life conflict and career burnout in a general adult working population? A sample of eighty-nine participants completed an online questionnaire. The results suggest a) a statistically nonsignificant relationship between delayed gratification and work-life conflict, b) a very weak, statistically significant, negative relationship between delayed gratification and burnout c) a moderate, statistically significant, positive relationship between work-life conflict and burnout. Theoretically, this research provides a rationale for delayed gratification based upon Super’s (1990) Life Span, Life Space Theory. In terms of workplace implications, the results highlight the importance of employers understanding work-life conflict and career burnout among their employees. In terms of personal implications, the results capture the significance of engaging in recovery activities to decrease work-life conflict and career burnout. Counselling implications include facilitating client self-understanding of role importance to cope with work-life conflict.

Keywords: Career
Career Burnout
Career Psychology
Delayed Gratification
Vocational Psychology
Work-Life Balance
Advisor: Chen, Charles
Nanomechanics and Tribology of Molybdenum-Disulphide Based Solid Lubricants for Space Applications

Molybdenum-disulphide solid lubricant coatings have an established history of use in space applications. However, limited understanding of their breakdown and failure mechanics has led to premature failure of several systems and missions. In the present study, high-resolution nanomechanical testing techniques are used to examine specific failure mechanics of both pure and co-deposited MoS2 coatings. Fundamental properties such as fracture and shear strength are determined in relation to the nanostructural characteristics of the coatings. It is found that purely nanocrystalline MoS2 shows impeded shearing within the structure compared to partially amorphous MoS2 which therefore increases the friction and wear rates. Furthermore, three state-of-the-art co-deposited coatings are tested under earth to low-earth-orbit specific environments. The newly developed prototype coating is found to outperform the best commercially available coatings under true application-specific conditions. This increased fundamental and application-specific understanding of MoS2 based coatings allows for precision tailoring of MoS2 coatings for reliable performance.

Keywords: Molybdenum Disulphide
Nanomechanics
Solid Lubricant
Tribofilm
Tribology
Wear
Advisor: Filleter, Tobin
Assembly, Integration, and Testing of Earth Monitoring Microsatellites

It has become clear over the last century that aerosol emissions have had a major impact on the Earth's climate and energy balance. Ground and air based aerosol observation techniques have proven to be cumbersome and can only provide data over short periods of time. Satellites, and particularly microsatellites, can provide an accessible method of Earth observation capable of collecting data over large areas for long periods of time. For this reason, the Space Flight Laboratory at the University of Toronto has developed the Next-Generation Earth Monitoring and Observation - Aerosol Monitoring (NEMO-AM) and DMSat-1 spacecraft. This thesis will provide a high-level overview of the assembly, integration, and testing phase for these microsatellite missions. This includes descriptions of the author's contributions to unit-level acceptance testing, battery pack design and assembly, and spacecraft-level environmental testing. The testing and analysis completed by the author to accept the missions' main optical payload is also described.

Keywords: Aerosols
Assembly
Integration
Microsatellite
Satellite
Testing
Advisor: Zee, Robert E
Transcriptomic Signature of Radiation Response in Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is an inherited cancer predisposition disorder associated with a germline mutation in the TP53 tumour suppressor gene. Impaired p53, important in the DNA damage response, has been shown to increase risk of radiation-induced second malignancy (RISM) in LFS patients. We hypothesize that a transcriptomic signature of RISM risk in LFS can be established and used as a predictive tool. LFS patient skin-derived fibroblast cell lines were used to demonstrate transcriptomic differences in patients that developed a RISM relative to those with long-term disease-free survival (LTDFS) post-radiation therapy. Potential RISM signature genes identified were additionally screened for involvement in radiation response and tumorigenic priming. The interconnected Wnt and hedgehog signaling pathways encompassed many of the proposed genes. Development of a RISM signature in LFS has potential to optimize treatment for LFS patients including modification of initial treatment and post-radiation surveillance for those considered high risk of RISM.

Keywords: Cancer
LFS
Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Radiation
RNA
second malignancy
Advisor: Malkin, David
Impact of Post-orthodontic Dental Occlusion on Masticatory Performance

Whether precise orthodontic detailing of occlusion impacts masticatory function is unknown. Here, we aim to assess the impact of post-orthodontic occlusion on masticatory performance. Fifty-four adults who completed orthodontic treatment were categorized into two groups using the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) model grading system: one meeting ABO standards (ABO, N=29), the other failing to meet them (non-ABO, N=25). Surface electromyography and experimental chewing tests of silicone food were used to assess jaw muscle coordination during static and dynamic tests, and masticatory performance. Visual analogue scales were used for self-assessment of chewing function. The ABO group had more symmetric activation of the temporalis muscle during clenching (P=0.016) and chewed at a slower rate (P=0.030). Median particle size, broadness of particle distribution, and self-rating of chewing function did not differ between groups (all P>0.05). This study demonstrated that meeting ABO standards contributes to more balanced activation of jaw muscles during function.

Advisor: Cioffi, Iacopo
The Development and Evaluation of a Tool to Assess Competence in Diabetic Wound Management

Background: Diabetic foot wounds are the greatest cause of extremity amputation in Canada. These patients are encountered by physicians and trainees in all specialties. Few studies focus on how to teach and assess wound management. We aimed to develop and build validity evidence for an assessment of diabetic wound competence. Method: We organized our tool development and validation process using Kane’s framework. A nominal group process i was used to develop the tool items and simulation-based testing scenarios. We then built validity evidence for tool by assessing 74 clinician participants’ performance during the two scenarios. Reliability was evaluated using generalizability Theory. Results: Cronbach’s alpha was 0.953 for the tool. Test-retest reliability was– ICC=0.943. Pooled inter-rater reliability was and good for average measures ICC=0.827. Our generalizability coefficient was 0.871. Conclusion: The validity evidence suggests our tool can be used to assess novice clinicians’ competence in diabetic wound management during simulated cases.

Keywords: Diabetic Wounds
Generalizability theory
Medical education
Psychometrics
Surgical education
Validity theory
Advisor: Okrainec, Allan
Dueck, Andrew
Impaired Motor Cortical Facilitatory-inhibitory Circuit Interactions in Parkinson’s Disease

Motor cortical (M1) inhibition and facilitation can be studied with short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF). These circuits as well as the sensorimotor measure short latency afferent inhibition (SAI) are altered in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to examine the interactions between these circuits in PD. Fifteen PD patients were studied in ON and OFF medication states, and were compared to 16 age-matched controls. A triple-stimulus transcranial magnetic stimulation paradigm was used to elicit a circuit of interest in the presence of another circuit. SICI facilitated SICF in controls and PD ON, but not PD OFF. Therefore, the facilitatory effect of SICI on SICF is not present in PD OFF, but is restored with dopaminergic medication. SAI and SICI inhibited each other in all groups. These results suggest impaired interaction between M1 facilitatory and inhibitory circuits is a pathophysiological feature of PD.

Keywords: Circuit interactions
Cortical excitability
Cortical facilitation
Cortical inhibition
Neurophysiology
Parkinson's disease
Advisor: Chen, Robert