VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Determining the Relationship between Quality and Staffing Characteristics in Ontario Long-term Care Homes

Research exploring the relationship between nurse staffing characteristics and quality in Long-Term Care (LTC) settings is needed to inform how staffing relates to quality. The present thesis addresses this research gap using a systematic review and two Ontario-based empirical studies exploring the relationship between LTC quality of care outcomes and nursing and personal care (NPC) staffing characteristics in LTC. The systematic review was conducted using OVID databases (Medline, CINAHL and Ageline) and several Cochrane databases to retrieve studies published between 2008 and 2017, and using the STROBE checklist to evaluate study quality and risk of bias. 31 studies were included in the systematic review. Findings align with previous literature reviews, with mixed results but mainly positive findings for registered nurses (RNs) and personal care (PC) providers (e.g., nursing assistants), and a mix of both positive and negative findings for registered practical nurses (RPNs). The two empirical cross-sectional studies examined the entire population of Ontario LTC residents in 2012 and used risk-adjusted multi-level multivariate regression to relate staffing characteristics to resident outcomes. In the empirical studies, four resident-level NPC-sensitive quality indicators from the Ontario Resident Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set (prevalence of pain and incidence of falls, worsening continence and pressure ulcers) were regressed on four home-level NPC staffing characteristics (staffing level, skill mix, skills and competencies as well as roles and responsibilities). The studies also tested whether the observed relationships between staffing and outcomes varied according to the profit status of the LTC operator. Both empirical studies found similar mixed results, and few significant relationships in the full sample of residents. However, subgroup analyses, comparing residents with lower disablement, revealed RN staffing levels were generally associated with better outcomes, while RPNs had both protective and worsening effects on different indicators. Profit status had an inconsistent influence on relationships. Although many effects were substantial and supported hypotheses, many more were not significant or did not support hypotheses. Other factors influencing resident outcomes should be considered to develop new theory on what drives the differences in risk-adjusted quality measures. Longitudinal studies with more nuanced measurement of staff characteristics will also be useful.

Keywords: Multi-level Model
Nursing Homes/og [Organization Administration]
Nursing Staff/sd [Supply Distribution]
Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
Quality of Health Care
Systematic Review
Advisor: Wodchis, Walter P
'Ms-Understandings'?: A Discourse Analysis of the Talk of Older Single Women

Older ‘never married’ women are often identified as a ‘problem group’. Frequently characterized in stereotypically negative terms as loneliness, risk, and vulnerability, singleness is often considered ‘bad’ for health, especially for women who remain single. From a critical perspective, the implications of this for occupational therapy (OT) are multi-dimensional. Where marriage and motherhood are taken-for-granted life trajectories, older single women are marginalized, which affects assessments, interactions, and outcomes of care. By theorizing singleness from a social constructionist perspective, by attending closely to language and issues of identity, and by tracing out the connections between women’s accounts and broader social and cultural beliefs and values, this thesis contributes to a ‘critical OT’. Drawing on a theoretical blend of constructionist thinking established in social psychology, the talk of lifelong single women is considered from the critical/discursive psychological perspective. Employing interpretive repertoires, subject positions, and ideological dilemmas as analytical tools, the question explored by this thesis is ‘What interpretive repertoires do the speakers draw upon, and what strategies do they use to negotiate their identities?’ The available speaking resources were found to be strongly polarized into two repertoires: ‘singleness as deficit’ and ‘singleness as freedom’. The identity negotiation strategies employed by the participants included anticipating criticisms and objections to mild positive claims about the freedoms of singleness, rhetorically distancing themselves from damaging associations generated from the deficit repertoire, and troubling the applicability of the category ‘single’, which involves implementing discursive ‘tricks’ to close down conversations. In order to improve the quality of care for older single women, the profession of OT needs to recognize how socio/cultural discourses about singleness significantly shape research, theory, and practice. This thesis thus has important implications for critical OT, OT policies and norms of professionalism, and to the micro-politics of everyday OT practice.

Keywords: Discourse analysis
Discursive Psychology
Identity
Occupational Therapy
Single
Women
Advisor: Kontos, Pia
The Past is not a Foreign Country: Archival Mentalities and the Development of the Canadian-Jewish Community’s Archival Landscape During the Nineteen Seventies

Through an analysis of a plethora of contemporary published and archival materials, this dissertation examines the processes of creation, growth, consolidation, and professionalization of the Canadian Jewish community’s archival programs during the 1970s. Exploring the debates, decisions, and struggles that stimulated the emergence and accompanied and determined the direction of the community’s archival landscape, the research positions archival history as part of community members’ negotiation with internal generational and demographic transitions and as part of their responses to the socio-political transformations that reshaped contemporary Canadian public life. The dissertation thus offers a case study that proves just how embedded is the archival domain within the social realities that surround it and how the overarching goal of any archival repository, to accurately document and represent the organization or group that mandates its activities, is also manifested in its own historical processes of creation, growth, and professionalization. In order to better position archival history as part of a broader social history, the dissertation also offers an analysis of the ‘archival mentalities’ of the individuals who directed these archival programs – defining the term as the ways in which broader ideas and worldviews about Canadian Jewry, its past, present, and future, were manifested in approaches towards questions of archival governance and infrastructure. Assumptions concerning the nature of a Jewish records, ownership rights, archival provenance, regulation of access to the records, and about the relationship between the repository and the historiographical product it aimed to encourage and direct – were all elements that determined the directions taken by the archival programs that were developed by each of the local Jewish communities across Canada. An exploration of these differing archival mentalities thus contributes to a broader theoretical understanding of the place of archival programs within non-formal group settings, helps capture the emotional and symbolic power of archives as both practical and perceived agents in promoting community memory and history, and reveals how the challenges posed by non-formal,community archival practices and ideas to mainstream archival principles contributed to the paradigm shift that began to take shape within the archival profession during the 1970s.

Keywords: Canadian Jewish history
Canadian multiculturalism
Community archives
Ethnic archives
Advisor: Ross, Seamus
Hydrological and Life Cycle Assessment of Green Roof Photovoltaic Systems

Traditionally, green roof (GR) and photovoltaic (PV) systems have been viewed as direct competitors vying for the same roof space. However, with appropriate design, synergistic effects can arise when these technologies are combined. This study is focused on two major areas: first, the cradle-to-use life cycle analysis of integrated systems in terms of energy and carbon emissions; and second, the hydrologic related effects of an integrated system including runoff, water retention, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture, among others. A probabilistic analysis was performed to examine the potential energy and carbon emissions of GR, PV, and integrated systems (GR-PV). The analysis demonstrates that a GR-PV system is a low-risk investment generating lower energy and carbon-emission pay-back time in comparison with separate GR and PV systems. The hydrology and vegetation growth of two full scale integrated systems was monitored at GRITlab between August 2016 and July 2017 with 1.2 m and 0.6 m differential height between GR modules and PV panels. Doubling the differential height (from 0.6 to 1.2m) did not significantly change the rainwater retention and peak flow reduction in the integrated systems. Larger vertical distance between PV and GR provided plants with more solar radiation and greater rain exposure, which led to more vegetation growth. GR evapotranspiration (ET) processes and modeling approaches for shaded and unshaded conditions were investigated using data from two GR modules installed at the Green Roof Innovation Testing laboratory (GRITlab) on the fifth-story roof of a University of Toronto building located on the downtown St. George campus. A modified Penman-Monteith equation was developed to provide improved prediction of hourly ET, specifically for GR applications. The modified equation improved ET estimates by 8-9% and 37% under non-water limited and water limited conditions, respectively for the GRITlab data. The net radiation and wind speed beneath PV panels was modeled as a function of length, height, slope and row-spacing of PV panels and diurnal wind/sun characteristics. ET rates beneath PV panels were shown to be most sensitive to PV panel row-spacing and length.

Keywords: evapotranspiration
green roof
penman monteith
photovoltaic
Advisor: Drake, Jennifer
Sleep, Brent
Molecular Mechanisms of Cross-Presentation on HLA-DP84Gly

The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) genes are well-established in connecting the innate and adaptive arms of immunity. In humans, three subclasses of antigen-presenting HLA molecules exist: HLA-DR, DQ, and DP. The foundations of antigen processing and presentation on classical HLA-DR alleles are well-established. However, much less is known regarding the differences in these mechanisms in other, less-studied class II subtypes, particularly HLA-DP, several of which are highly prevalent. We here demonstrate that virtually all DP alleles can be divided into two categories based on a single amino acid polymorphism of the DPβ chain, at position 84. We first demonstrated that whereas those alleles encoding aspartic acid (DP84Asp) behaved as textbook class II molecules, those encoding glycine (DP84Gly) were unable to bind invariant chain (Ii) via the class II-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP) region. Interestingly, DP84Gly still associated with Ii through non-CLIP regions, allowing these molecules to efficiently traverse the endocytic pathway. However, due to lack of CLIP-region association, DP84Gly bound endogenous antigens, resulting in constitutive presentation of both endogenous and exogenous antigens on these class II, regardless of the presence of Ii and HLA-DM. Next, we investigated which Ii regions(s) facilitate the lack of CLIP-mediated association to DP84Gly, identifying both CLIP and N-terminal non-CLIP Ii regions as critical in preventing this association. Surprisingly, synthetic CLIP peptide bound DP84Gly comparably to DP84Asp, together suggesting that total Ii conformation may be incompatible with the Gly84 polymorphism. Finally, we investigated the role of molecular chaperones in this cross-presentation. We found evidence for apparent competition between class I and class II, prompting us to investigate possible sharing of antigen processing machinery. We subsequently identified physical and functional roles for canonically class I-associated chaperones with DP84Gly, including the proteasome, transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP), tapasin, ERp57, calnexin, and calreticulin. Together, these data describe a novel mode of cross-presentation on DP84Gly, providing possible mechanistic insights into previously known HLA associations to human diseases where none were previously apparent.

Keywords: CLIP
Cross-presentation
HLA class II
HLA-DP
Invariant chain
MHC class II
Advisor: Hirano, Naoto
Characterization and Application of the Class II Hydrophobin FcHyd5p from Fusarium culmorum

Hydrophobins are small non-catalytic proteins secreted by filamentous fungi that have been described as the most surface active proteins known. As non-immunogenic proteins with the capacity to change the property of surfaces via self-assembly at liquid-solid interfaces, hydrophobins represent an attractive surface modification technology that can be paired with a variety of fusion partners to increase their versatility as surface modifiers. As the applied study of hydrophobins continues to expand, quick and effective methods for producing functional hydrophobins is crucial for characterization and early stage proof-of-concept studies. The adsorption properties of the class II hydrophobin FcHyd5p from Fusarium culmorum solubly produced in Pichia pastoris and Escherichia choli were compared. The adsorption of FcHyd5p produced in both expression hosts were systematically characterized under the same solution conditions and characterization methods. Mainly, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was used to quantify hydrophobin adsorption of both FcHyd5p proteins, which increased with increasing protein concentration while maximizing adsorption at a pH value just below the predicted pI of each protein. Aeration of both proteins increased particle size and water retention in the protein layer, resulting in complex layer structures susceptible to the addition of other environmental parameters (e.g., salt). Electrostatic forces and protein glycosylation contributed most significantly to changes in adsorption. The impact of multiple environmental conditions on FcHyd5p adsorption to both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces underscores the importance of considering handling conditions when evaluating the functional attributes of hydrophobins. The efficacy of utilizing a class II hydrophobin in tissue engineering applications was demonstrated as coatings of FcHyd5p fused to a cell adhesion-mediating motif superiorly promoted cell adhesion to surfaces as compared to previously reported class I values. While the morphology of the linker used in the fusion hydrophobins had minor effects on hydrophobin adsorption, the fusion proteins were able to adhere to polystyrene surfaces and facilitate mammalian cell attachment. The findings in this study demonstrate the use of hydrophobins as a surface modification technology that can be engineered to carry out numerous secondary functionalities to expand their versatility as surface modifiers.

Keywords: Escherichia choli
hydrophobins
Pichia pastoris
quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D)
recombinant protein production
surface modification
Advisor: Master, Emma R
Modelling Evapotranspiration and Flow Processes in the Shallow Subsurface with Application to Green Roof Technology

Mathematical models in engineering play an important role in understanding and predicting the behaviour of a system. Three different mathematical models were developed in this study, with an increasing level of complexity in the simulation of water and heat transfer in the shallow subsurface. These developed models have been used to answer several questions relevant to the application of green roof (GR) technologies in storm water management and building energy consumption, and to non-isothermal processes in bare and vegetated soils. A simplistic modelling approach (lumped model) was implemented to study the performance of a GR system in storm water reduction in various Canadian climate conditions. In the light of enhancing the water retention performance of GR technologies in each climate, further study was conducted on the GR configuration design parameters including substrate depth, substrate porosity and vegetation types. To predict substrate temperature and evaporation rates in the shallow subsurface of bare soils, a mechanistic model (coupled liquid water, water vapour, and heat transfer model) was developed. The model was validated comprehensively against several measured field data from the GR test modules. The validated model was used to study the non-isothermal processes in the shallow subsurface with the objective of enhancing the modelling results and simplifying the model. The developed mechanistic model was updated to incorporate the impact of vegetation layer on non-isothermal subsurface processes. The new model was fully validated against measured data from the field (drainage rate, evapotranspiration rates, vegetation and substrate temperature), and then used to study the thermal and hydraulic performance of GR technologies associated with different design parameters including vegetation coverage, substrate thickness. The performance of GR with climate change, during rainfall and in a shaded area were investigated as well.

Advisor: Sleep, Brent E
Biochemical and Structural Studies of Microbial Enzymes for the Biosynthesis of 1,3-butanediol

Protein design approach for systems metabolic engineering entails discovery of novel enzymes and protein engineering for improving biocatalysts activity. It allows us to design and optimize cellular metabolism for the generation of novel metabolic pathways, aiming at the production of chemicals from renewable biomass. This thesis is aimed at two topics: the enzyme discovery and engineering for optimization of the biosynthetic pathway for 1,3-butanediol (1,3BDO), and the in vivo demonstration of the protein design in E. coli and cyanobacteria. The 1,3BDO pathway consists of three steps: pyruvate, a natural metabolite, is converted into acetaldehyde by pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC); it is followed by aldol condensation using 2-deoxyribose-5- phosphate aldolase (DERA), yielding 3-hydroxybutanal (3-HB); an aldo-keto reductase (AKR) catalyzes the reduction of 3-HB to produce 1,3BDO. Thus, we specifically investigated novel DERA and AKR in this thesis. First, PA1127 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified based on the activity on 3-HB. The AKR was biochemically and structurally studied, providing insights into further applications with a remarkable substrate promiscuity. Next, BH1352 from Bacillus halodurans was identified with a high activity of aldol condensation. As the DERA-catalyzed condensation was the rate-limiting step, we rationally designed site-directed mutagenesis for enhancing 1,3BDO synthesis from DERA-AKR coupled reaction; two of the mutations showed 2.6 times higher in vitro activity compared to BH1352 wildtype. The two mutations were then introduced to E. coli fermentation for 1,3BDO biosynthesis from glucose. The Phe160Tyr single mutation exhibited a 5-fold increase in 1,3BDO titer, and the Phe160Tyr/Met173Ile double mutation displayed a 6-fold increase in 1,3BDO production with a 7-fold improvement in glucose yield compared to the wildtype. Finally, the biosynthetic pathway was introduced into Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 for the photosynthetic conversion of CO2 into 1,3BDO. Although we were not able to obtain the strain of cyanobacterial 1,3BDO production yet, the cyanobacterial engineering system was established, and the heterologous expression of the pathway genes was demonstrated via genetic engineering of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942.

Keywords: 1
3-butanediol
2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase
Aldo-keto reductase
Metabolic engineering
Protein engineering
Protein structure
Advisor: Yakunin, Alexander F
Mahadevan, Radhakrishnan
Inflections of Prophetic Vision: The Reshaping of Hildegard of Bingen's Apocalypticism as Represented by Abridgments of the Pentachronon

This dissertation examines the continental reception of Hildegard of Bingen's apocalyptic discourse from the thirteenth through the fifteenth century as it was known through the Pentachronon sive speculum futurorum temporum (The Book of Five Times or Mirror of Future Times), an anthology of her prophecies compiled c.1220. Through an examination of three previously unstudied abridgments of the Pentachronon, this study investigates the Pentachronon's role in the formation of medieval apocalyptic spirituality, its common transmission and reception with works ascribed to Joachim of Fiore, and its redeployment during the Western Schism. This study argues for the existence and persistence of an apocalyptic spirituality in which readers and scribes identified with Hildegard's "prophets and wise ones" as they were presented in the Pentachronon, and that this identification informed the production, annotation, and circulation of the Pentachronon and its abridgments. In the thirteenth century this was expressed as a Cistercian apocalyptic spirituality that not only produced the original Pentachronon and its most popular abridged version, the PCp (pre-1250) (chapter two), but was also responsible for the first combined readings of Hildegardian and Joachite prophetic works (chapter three). Chapter two examines how the spiritual instruction offered in the PCp teaches that prophets and prophecy are the key to religious and social renewal and improvement within its alternative salvation theology, and that there is a special relationship between the Cistercian Order and medieval prophecy. Chapter three examines the continuities between Hildegardian and Joachite apocalyptic discourses and the recognition of these commonalities by thirteenth-century readers, including Vincent of Beauvais and Alexander of Bremen. Chapter four examines a radical abridgment of the PCp made in response to the Western Schism, here called the "Schism Extracts", and its association with works promoting pro-French apocalypticism and the Angelic Pope, including a work by Pierre d'Ailly (the Invectiva Ezechielis prophetae). This chapter demonstrates that the apocalyptic spirituality formulated among Cistercians and founded on both Hildegardian and Joachite discourses persisted through the mid-fifteenth century. Chapter five provides a conclusion and Appendices I and II provide working editions of d'Ailly's Invectiva Ezechielis and the Schism Extracts.

Keywords: Apocalypticism
Cistercian
Hildegard of Bingen
Joachim of Fiore
Pentachronon
Prophecy
Advisor: Goering, Joseph