VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Experimental Analysis of Competency-based Training for Paraprofessionals in Canadian Public Schools

Behaviour analytic interventions are highly effective approaches for addressing the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, despite its strong evidence base, applied behaviour analysis (ABA) is not commonly integrated into regular classrooms where a growing number of students receive instruction. In Canada, reliance on paraprofessionals to provide intervention, support, and direct instruction for students with ASD is widespread, yet paraprofessionals in public education report a lack of training to support students with challenging behaviour. Staff training in schools typically entails didactic workshops, producing brief behaviour change at best; in contrast, training using effective components such as modeling, role-play, and performance-based feedback produces positive gains. To prepare paraprofessionals to support students with behavioural needs, the current research utilized a randomized control design to examine the effectiveness of a competency-based program aligned with the BACB’s Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) standards. Two training groups were offered in a single academic year and 30 paraprofessionals were randomly assigned to either Fall (treatment) or Winter (service as usual) groups. The paraprofessionals individually supported students with ASD, Grades K-3, with significant support requirements in language, socialization, and challenging behaviour. Data collection occurred across three time periods in the 10-month school year: baseline (Time 1); 4 months post-training (Time 2); and a 3-4-month follow-up for the treatment group only (Time 3). Classroom observations, structured interviews, and surveys were used to assess paraprofessional performance, student behaviour, and perceptions of student success and teamwork. Data were analyzed using a mixed ANOVA and revealed statistically significant group by time interaction effects (p < .05) for paraprofessional use of proactive and reactive strategies; student challenging behaviour; student cooperation with academic tasks; frequency of challenging routines; and paraprofessional ratings of student success. Probing of these interactions showed significant and substantial improvements for the treatment group, but not comparison group, from Time 1 to Time 2. Furthermore, a within-subjects ANOVA at Time 3 indicated maintenance of outcomes for all dependent variables for the treatment group. These findings provide strong support for the effectiveness and social acceptability of competency-based staff training models based on the principles of ABA in public schools.

Keywords: applied behaviour analysis
autism
behavioural skills training
competency-based
paraprofessional
registered behaviour technician
Advisor: Scott, Katreena
Studies of the Higgs boson Properties in $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV $pp$ Collisions

The properties of the Higgs boson were studied using the proton-proton collisions delivered by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and collected using the ATLAS detector between 2015 and 2018. The work presented in this thesis focuses on the \htollll (where $\ell = \mu$ or $e$) decay channel, in which several properties of the Higgs boson were measured. Measurements of the Higgs boson coupling were carried out in the Simplified Template Cross Section (STXS) framework. The inclusive (expected) cross section was found to be $1.34 \pm 0.12$ pb ($1.33 \pm 0.08$ pb), with all major production and differential production mode cross sections found to be in good agreement with the Standard Model (SM). The distributions of the invariant mass of the lepton pairs and Higgs boson transverse momentum were reinterpreted using different assumptions to constrain beyond-the-SM contact interactions and the bottom and charm quark Yukawa coupling, with no deviations from the SM observed. The fully reconstructible final state and low background makes \htollll one of the best channels to measure the Higgs boson mass, which was found to be $124.92 \pm 0.19 \;\mathrm{ (stat.)}^{+0.09}_{-0.06} \; \mathrm{ (syst.)}$ GeV. The measurement used a novel approach to incorporate the event-by-event mass uncertainty. A statistical combination of all accessible Higgs boson decay channels to measure its coupling to SM particles was performed in the STXS framework, providing a comprehensive test of the SM. A combination of the $H \rightarrow b\bar{b}$ final states, using data collected between 2011 and 2017, resulted in observation of this decay with a significance of $5\sigma$. The precision of Higgs boson analyses relies on the reconstruction, identification, and calibration of particles in the detector. New techniques were introduced for the muon momentum calibration and improved precision Run 2 calibration constants were derived to reduce the leading systematic uncertainty in the \htollll mass measurement. To continue advancing the physics program at the LHC, the accelerator will be upgraded to the High Luminosity LHC. The ATLAS inner detector will be replaced by an all-silicon tracking detector (ITk). Irradiated silicon sensors were characterized to ensure end-of-lifetime performance requirements are met for the ITk.

Keywords: ATLAS
Higgs boson
Advisor: Sinervo, Pekka
Constellated Media: Serial Stars, Feminist Film Historiography, and Intermedial Hollywood

This dissertation explores mid-twentieth century serial intermediality in Hollywood through case studies focused on three stars: Mary Pickford, Dale Evans, and Pearl White. Looking beyond our fixed understanding of these women’s accomplishments in earlier eras, this project examines their later-career activities (or, in the case of Pearl White, how her persona resurfaced after her death) to argue that each star represented a locus of intermedial production beyond the screen. We can challenge media hierarchies that privilege the film object by broadening our understanding of the work associated with women in Hollywood after the institutionalization of sound in the 1920s. Looking to a variety of sources outside the film text, such as promotional materials, pressbooks, advertising, and autobiographical writings, and related media forms such as tie-in literature, comic strips, popular music, and television, I introduce the term “constellated media” to describe how these forms interrelate and become serialized. Through constellation, such entities come to constitute entire media universes outside (and within) the movie theatre. In so doing, I also introduce a novel historiographical approach to assessing these forms. Drawing upon Monica Dall’Asta and Jane M. Gaines’ theory of “constellating the past,” I turn to the wealth of feminist film historiography texts centered on “early” and “silent” cinema and read this scholarship beyond its specific periodization. Invoking a shared emphasis on contingency and media permeability provides impetus for exploring the underexamined possibilities within serial media and Hollywood cinema at the mid-century.

Keywords: Feminist Film Historiography
Historiography
Hollywood
Intermediality
Media History
Seriality
Advisor: Keil, Charlie
Structural and Functional Characterization of Strigolactone Perception and Hydrolysis, the Discovery of Inhibitors for Striga, and Insights into the Evolution of Parasitic Receptors

Striga spp. is the most destructive food crop parasite in the developing world. It invades its hosts by perceiving host-derived hormones called strigolactones (SLs). The receptors in charge of sensing SLs belong to a group of a/b hydrolases that not only recognize SLs but also hydrolyze them. To understand this perception-signalling mechanism at a molecular level, and prevent the parasite from invading a potential host, I generated structural information from its SL receptors and used this information to dissect function. Using this structural information in combination with in silico, in vitro and in vivo experiments, I designed a hybrid drug-discovery approach to find and optimize a group of antagonist molecules that can specifically bind and inactivate the parasitic receptors. Subsequently, I discovered dormirazine, a potent antagonist that reduces parasitic germination by 90%. Additionally, this compound helped us reveal parallels between the germination of parasitic and non-parasitic organisms. Also, I leveraged the first structure of a parasitic SL receptor bound to its ligand, in combination with targeted mutagenesis, to characterize the structural mechanisms that drive SL perception and hydrolysis, and typified the conformational changes required to promote protein signalling. I described the existence of a tunnel that could drive the release of SL hydrolysis by-products which possibly contribute to biological function using a push-over mechanism. Lastly, using a series of molecular dynamics simulations and biochemical experiments, I defined the importance of protein flexibility for substrate recognition and its influence on the evolution of parasitism. Collectively, my thesis projects apply a wide range of structural biochemistry techniques to dissect the molecular mechanisms behind the pernicious Striga and propose targeted solutions to control it with the ultimate goal of helping populations in need.

Keywords: Antagonist
Drug discovery
Molecular dynamics
Protein engineering
Striga
Structural biology
Advisor: McCourt, Peter
Design Principles Underlying Nearly-homeostatic Biological Networks

A nearly-homeostatic system is able to maintain the steady state system output within a narrow range, despite a wide range of environmental perturbations. Here, we present the inverse homeostasis perspective, a simple graphical approach to analyze nearly-homeostatic systems. To implement a nearly-homeostatic biological system without undertaking the difficult task of making precise parameter measurements, we use the inverse homeostasis perspective to determine the impact of each parameter on the system's homeostatic performance and to adjust experimentally-determined steady state response curves of key system components to attain desired characteristics. Furthermore, the inverse homeostasis perspective revealed a much stronger dependence of nearly-perfect integral controllers on the properties of the existing system being controlled, compared to perfect integral controllers' independence from the existing-system. The inverse homeostasis perspective combined with class Alpha and Beta homeostasis indicator near-kernels unify seemingly distinct mechanisms of near-homeostasis and should be able to predict such systems in new experimental settings.

Keywords: near-homeostasis
perfect-adaptation
Advisor: McMillen, David R
How Depth of Social Learning Affects Post-flood Depth of Adaptation

Extreme flooding events in Canada are increasing both in their frequency and repeated occurrence in the same geographical location. This dissertation examines the cases of Fort McMurray, AB and Fraser River Basin, BC to examine what influences social learning depth and how does this affect post-flood policy change in Canada. The research filled some notable gaps in the literature, including consideration of power in policy making, provided both theoretical and empirical research, contributed to the research on the limited adaptation and learning literature in Canada, and used the Multiple Streams Framework with a Political Ecology lens. Using Interpretive Analysis as a research approach, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge and framing. This research suggests that beliefs, collaboration and governance, resources, and politics are determinants to depth of social learning and impact depth of adaptation and policy change post-flood. Further, MSF can provide a means to explore complex cases and the use of PE can bring forward nuances of power that may be missing from the policy change literature. Findings suggest that there are nuances in these cases that can provide insight into improved future policy development.

Keywords: adaptation
multiple streams framework
policy change
political ecology
social learning
Advisor: Schwartz, Robert
Metallurgical Processes for Extraction of Strategic Materials from Bauxite Residue and Ionic Clays

The global demand for strategic materials, such as scandium and rare earth elements (REEs) is increasing with growing adoption of modern and environmentally sustainable technologies, necessitating the adoption of novel resources to ensure supply. Two metallurgical processes are developed towards the goal of providing alternate sources for these materials that are less environmentally damaging and reagent intensive than currently employed methods: bauxite residue and ionic clay.Bauxite residue is a byproduct of aluminum production, and is a potential resource for iron, aluminum and scandium. Carbothermic smelting – acid baking – water leaching is investigated for the recovery of these materials. Carbothermic smelting recovers 99% of iron as crude metallic iron, which can be separated from slag that contains aluminum and scandium. The slag is treated by acid baking – water leaching, to convert scandium and aluminum to soluble sulfate species, allowing recovery. The process is optimized to achieve 99% scandium and 47% aluminum extraction. The production of solid leaching residue is avoided by employing thermal desulfation to remove 84% of residue sulfur content, allowing recycling as smelting flux. Ionic clays are formed by the natural weathering of REE-bearing minerals and the adsorption of the liberated REE ions onto clay surfaces. A desorption–precipitation process is developed to extract REEs from ionic clays. Desorption, employing ammonium sulfate and active pH control, is developed to efficiently extract REEs. Mechanistic testing demonstrates that REE adsorption/desorption occurs according to physical ion exchange adsorption, and surface complexation chemical adsorption, with the relative importance of these mechanisms depending on pH. Using ammonium bicarbonate solution to both raise pH and introduce carbonate ions in the system enables the sequential precipitation and separation of co-extracted impurities, then a mixed REE-carbonate product. The precipitation characteristics of real leachate solutions are tested experimentally and thermodynamic calculations are used to further investigate the precipitation mechanism. These two processes present potential alternatives to traditional sourcing of strategic materials. In addition to demonstrating the potential technological viability and enhancing process efficiency, this work explores and describes the underlying physicochemical mechanisms, allowing this work to inform future efforts to develop processes for responsible strategic materials sourcing.

Keywords: Bauxite Residue
Ionic Clay
Metallurgy
Rare Earth Elements
Scandium
Advisor: Azimi, Gisele
Sleep and Factors Affecting Sleep for Parents of Preterm Infants Compared to Parents of Healthy Term Infants: The After-baby Comparison (ABC) Parent Sleep Study

Background/Rationale: Poor sleep is linked to negative health consequences, including postpartum depression among new mothers. Mothers of preterm infants may be at risk of poor sleep, but changes in sleep across the hospital-home transition and comparison to mothers of healthy term infants at a comparable time when infant is home has been inadequate. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to compare sleep quality, sleep quantity and factors affecting sleep for maternal cohorts at the 4-week timepoint (T1). Secondary objectives aimed to characterize change in sleep and factors affecting sleep across timepoints for both cohorts, and investigate prospective associations between psychological distress and sleep quality reported by mothers of healthy term infants. Methods: In a prospective observational survey cohort study, 71 mothers of healthy term infants and 30 mothers of preterm infants were recruited. Mothers of healthy term infants completed study measures when their infant was 4 weeks old (T1) and 4 months of age (T2). Mothers of preterm infants completed study measures during hospitalization (T0) and 4 weeks post-hospital discharge (T1). Validated study measures included maternal sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI), infant sleep, depression, anxiety, social support, partner support, cognitions, and behaviours around infant sleep. Results: There were no maternal cohort differences in any sleep quality/quantity variable, psychological distress, factors affecting sleep 4 weeks after discharge; with the majority (93%) scoring above the sleep quality (PSQI) cut-off >5. Despite not sleeping in hospital or caring for their infant at night, mothers of preterm infants reported similar levels of poor sleep during hospitalization and 4-weeks post-discharge; with the majority sleeping <6 hours/night (T0: 60% vs. T1: 71%, p=0.505). Among mothers of term infants, psychological distress at 4 weeks was significantly associated with worse sleep quality at 4 months postpartum. Conclusion: High rates of sleep disturbances and psychological distress for mothers of preterm infants and mothers of healthy term infants at all timepoints highlight the need to develop anticipatory and targeted interventions aimed at preserving sleep and reducing deleterious consequences of sleep loss for mothers of preterm infants in the NICU and for all mothers in the postpartum.

Advisor: Stremler, Robyn
Socio-emotional Modulation of Pain Circuits and Behaviour

Painful experiences are personal, subjective, complex and do not always match the level of noxious input experienced. Instead, pain is influenced by several psychosocial factors that can enhance or inhibit the perception of pain. To effectively study pain, the role of the social context needs to be clarified. These studies aimed to deconstruct the roles of social context, sex, and hormonal mechanisms in the social modulation of pain. Social interactions result in the physiological release of hormones, which can be rewarding or stressful depending on context, hormonal release, and receptor dynamics. Here, I carried out several experiments to further understand the complex relationships between social context, sex, social interactions, and their effects on pain. In the first study, I demonstrate the role of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in suppressing emotional contagion in mice in an unfamiliar social context. Stranger dyads exhibit significantly elevated GR activity in the prelimbic cortex of the mPFC. Acute inhibition of GR in the prelimbic cortex was sufficient to elicit pain contagion in strangers, while their activation prevented pain contagion in cagemate dyads. Together these findings provide novel evidence towards the neural mechanism underlying the prevention of pain contagion. In my second study, I examined the role of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors in modulating social approach behaviours towards a sibling in pain. Systemic blockade of opioid receptors (MOR, DOR and KOR) all reversed social preference for a female sibling in pain. Pharmacological inactivation of the mid cingulate cortex reversed social approach preference behaviour towards a sibling in pain. In my final study, I demonstrate that social interactions reduce pain and anxiety behaviours in reunited female sibling mice. In female sibling mice, c-fos was elevated in the oxytocinergic neurons of the PVN, cells within the PAG and reduced in the basolateral amygdala compared to mice paired with a stranger or tested alone. Together these findings point towards distinct modulation of pain-related behaviours due to social context.

Keywords: Pain
Sex difference
Social interaction
Advisor: Martin, Loren J.
A New Search for Low-mass Dark Matter and an Examination and Reduction of the Uncertainty due to the Photoelectric Absorption Cross Section using a Cryogenic Silicon Detector with Single-charge Sensitivity

Many astrophysical observations point to the abundant existence of dark matter (DM) in the universe composed of particles beyond the Standard Model. However despite numerous experiments using different techniques, DM particles have yet to be directly observed. The Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (SuperCDMS) SNOLAB experiment will employ silicon and germanium crystal detectors operated at temperatures as low as 15~mK to probe DM interactions using phonon and ionization signals. Recently, R\&D; facilities have developed gram-sized high-voltage eV-scale (HVeV) silicon detectors that achieve single-electron-hole-pair resolution. By probing effective DM-electron interactions, these devices can be used for searches of low-mass DM candidates. This dissertation presents a DM search experiment known as HVeV Run~2 that employs a second-generation HVeV detector operated in an above-ground laboratory at Northwestern University (IL, USA). Energy spectra are obtained from a blind analysis with 0.39 and 1.2\,g-days of exposure with the detector biased at 60 and 100\,V, respectively. The 0.93~gram detector achieves a 3\,eV phonon energy resolution, corresponding to a world-leading charge resolution of 3\,\% of a single electron-hole pair for a detector bias of 100\,V. With charge carrier trapping and impact ionization effects incorporated into the DM signal models, the resulting exclusion limits are reported for inelastic DM-electron scattering for DM masses from 0.5--$10^{4}$\,MeV$/c^{2}$; in the mass range from 1.2--50\,eV$/c^{2}$ the limits for dark photon and axion-like particle absorption are reported. Several DM search experiments, including HVeV Run~2, are sensitive to low-mass DM candidates that rely on the temperature-dependent photoelectric absorption cross section of silicon. However discrepancies in the underlying literature data result in dominating systematic uncertainties on the DM exclusion limits. In order to reduce these systematic uncertainties, this dissertation presents a novel method of making a direct, low-temperature measurement of the photoelectric absorption cross section of silicon at energies near the band gap (1.2--2.8\,eV).

Keywords: Dark Matter
Particle Physics
Photoelectric Absorption Cross Section
Semiconductor Crystal Detectors
Advisor: Diamond, Miriam