VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Democracy by Association: A Comparative Exploration of the Effects of Inequality and the State on Civic Engagement

The dominant civic engagement literature has focused on the many positive outcomes that stem from leading an active associational life, linking it to lower crime rates, economic growth and a healthy democracy. However, it has been less effective at recognizing how much of a dependent variable civic engagement actually is, exploring what shapes it and how. Yet, in light of its centrality to the democratic process and the benefits that accrue from strong, active communities, it is important to understand what shapes civic engagement to establish who is in a better position to participate and why. Drawing on personal interviews with single mothers, policy analyses, and World Values and ISSP survey data, this dissertation explores how inequality and the state shape civic engagement. The findings underscore the impact of class- and status-based inequalities on civic engagement, focusing on women as a case study. Women’s dual roles as caregivers in the home and paid workers in the labour market contribute to the gender gap in participation. However, the presence of children is linked to higher levels of participation for women, and parent-, child- and care-related groups are found to build trust, foster a sense of community, and act as a catalyst for civic involvement. The thesis also highlights the extent to which the state structures citizenship and participation, focusing on welfare regimes as case studies. It develops theories that test the effect of interventionism, egalitarianism and statism on the civic engagement levels of welfare regime-types. The findings suggest that while egalitarian policies may help reduce the impact of inequality on civic life, comprehensive social policies alone do not necessarily lead to more active societies. The way political authority is structured can have a deep impact on civic habits, and creating openings and opportunities for citizens to participate can inspire collective action.

Keywords: civic engagement
welfare regime
social capital
gender
citizenship
Advisor: Nedelsky, Jennifer
Kopstein, Jeffrey
Ethical Leadership in the Employment Relationship: Evidence from Three Canadian Surveys

The purpose of this program of research was to investigate ethical leadership as an antecedent, mediator, and outcome of variables of pragmatic importance to the workplace. Three interrelated studies examined the ethical imperative of the employment relationship using three independent datasets. Ethical leadership, as explained by social cognitive theory, was the central concept modeled in each study. Sample sizes of approximately 1,500 military members of the Canadian military were randomly selected for each study to participate in single-source, cross-sectional surveys conducted in a field setting. Correlation and Multiple Regression analyses were used to test relationships at the individual level of analysis. Key results and measures were replicated utilizing confirmatory factor analytic techniques. These studies contribute to ethical leadership research in three ways. First, findings indicated that a follower’s rank was positively associated with perceptions of ethical leadership of the immediate supervisor. Second, perceptions of ethical leadership were moderated by the type and level of follower ethical predispositions in boundary-spanning positions. Third, ethical leadership functioned as a partial mediator transmitting the effect of follower rank onto the workplace outcomes of follower affective commitment, organizational fairness climate, and career satisfaction. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. As a whole results suggest that organizations can effectively address the ethical imperative of the employment relationship through the clear lens of the individual being led – the ubiquitous follower.

Keywords: leadership
ethics
Advisor: Rotundo, Maria
The Experience of Choosing Nursing as a Career: Narratives from Millennial Nurses

The critical and growing shortage of nurses is a global concern. The growth and sustainability of the nursing profession depends on the ability to recruit and retain the upcoming generation of professionals. Understanding the career choice experiences of Millennial nurses is a critical component of recruitment and retention strategies. An interpretive, narrative methodology, was used to understand how Millennial explain, account for, and make sense of their choice of nursing as a career. Individual, face to face interviews were conducted with 12 Millennial Nursing students (born 1980 or after), for whom nursing was their preferred career choice. Participants were interviewed twice and chronicled their career choice experiences within reflective journals. Data was analyzed using Polkinghorne’s method of narrative configuration and emplotment. The participants’ narratives present a shift from understanding career choice within a virtuous plot to one of social positioning. Career choice was initially emplotted around a traditional and stereotypical understanding of nursing as a virtuous profession: altruistic, noble, caring, and compassionate. The narrative scripts evolved from positioning nursing as virtuous towards understanding the meaning of career choice in relation to one’s position in the social world. The narratives position career choice in relation to the participants’ desire for autonomy, respect and quality of life. Pragmatic considerations such as lifestyle, job security, salary and social status were also emphasized. The narratives represent career choice as a complex consideration of social positioning, fraught with hopes, dreams, doubts and tensions. The participants’ perceptions and expectations in relation to their future nursing careers were influenced by a historical and stereotypical understanding of nursing; an image that remains prevalent in society. Insight gained from this inquiry can inform recruitment, education, socialization and retention strategies for the upcoming and future generations of nurses.

Keywords: Career Choice
Millennial Nurses
Nursing Recruitment
Nursing Retention
Advisor: Hall, Linda McGillis
Structural and Functional Studies of the Human Saposin Proteins

The human saposins are four homologous activator proteins that are essential for the lysosomal degradation of sphingolipids (SLs) with small headgroups. They function in part to increase the solvent accessibility of these SLs to specific acid hydrolases by two proposed modes of action. In the solubilizer model, saposins extract SLs into soluble saposin-lipid complexes, and in the liftase model, the saposins reorganize lipids within membranes. The four saposins, called saposins A, B, C and D, have dual characters and exist as soluble proteins and in membrane-associated states. In this thesis, I first present the crystal structure of saposin D in a lipid-free state. The structure exhibits a closed, monomeric fold as previously described for saposins A and C. Next, I examine the lipid interaction properties of saposin A and determine a crystal structure of SapA in a lipid-bound complex. The complex forms a discoidal lipoprotein particle composed of highly ordered bilayer-like hydrophobic core surrounded by a protein belt consisting of two copies of saposin A in an open conformation. The saposin A-lipid discs are most likely the effective substrate-presenting particles in galactosylceramide hydrolysis. Finally, I compare the lipid interaction properties of the four saposins and address membrane perturbation, liposome binding, lipid solubilization and lipoprotein particle formation for each protein. Each saposin displays a unique behavior in the presence of liposomes under conditions that mimic the lysosomal environment. In particular, saposin D reveals simultaneous formation of different sized protein-lipid complexes, which appear to be primarily dependent on the lipid to protein molar ratio. A comparison of the available structures of saposins A, B and C in the “closed” and “open” conformations reveals structural hinge regions that likely shape the different types of saposin self-association. These states are directly related to the protein-lipid solubilization and/or membrane association properties of the saposins. Collectively, these findings present a more complete understanding of the lipid interaction properties of the saposin proteins and provide new insights into their role as activator proteins.

Keywords: saposin
X-ray crystallography
Advisor: Privé, Gilbert G.
Identification and Characterization of Novel Components in UNC-6/Netrin Signaling

UNC-6/Netrin guides circumferential migrations along the dorso-ventral axis in C.elegans. Its receptors, UNC-40/DCC and UNC-5, mediate both attraction and repulsion of migrating cells or growth cones from sources of UNC-6. seu-2(ev523)and seu-3(ev555) (suppressor of ectopic unc-5) were identified as suppressors of ectopic UNC-5 in the touch receptor neurons(Colavita and Culotii, 1998). Like other components of UNC-6 signaling, seu-2 and seu-3 have roles not just in the migration of axon growth cones, but also in the repulsive migration of other cell types, specifically the distal tip cells (DTCs). Similar to observations in the touch receptor neurons, both seu-2 and seu-3 are able to suppress ectopic expression of the UNC-5 receptor in the DTCs. Genetic analysis of seu-2; seu-3 double mutants reveals that these genes function within the same signaling pathway for repulsive unc-6 guidance. seu-2 also appears to act in attractive unc-6 guidance. Mutations in seu-2 result in ventral to dorsal axon guidance defects in the HSN and ray 1 neurons. Double mutant analyses of seu-2 with either unc-40 or unc-6 null mutations exhibited HSN and ray 1 axon guidance defects at similar penetrance to either single mutant. These results suggest that seu-2 functions in the attractive unc-6-unc-40 dependent signaling pathway for HSN and ray 1 axon guidance. seu-2 was found to encode a G protein coupled receptor. Whole genome sequencing was used to identiy that seu-3 encodes the novel protein K09C6.9. K09C6.9 is predicted secreted protein that is expressed throughout development. Taken together, the phenotypes, method of isolation and genetic interactions of seu-2 and seu-3 make them interesting candidate mediators of UNC-6 signaling. I utilized genes, such as seu-2 and seu-3, to further elucidate other signaling components governing cell migration and axon guidance.

Keywords: C.elegans
axon guidance
Advisor: Culotti, Joseph
Epigenetic rRgulation in the Placenta and its Role in Fetal Growth

Fetal growth potential reflects a complex regulatory system delivered by genetic and environmental factors acting directly on the fetus or through the placenta. Compromise of this potential, as seen in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), is associated with increased perinatal mortality and short and long term morbidity. The expression of several genes has been shown to be disturbed in placentas of fetuses with growth restriction. However, the primary causes for these changes have not yet been elucidated. I proposed that epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, may be involved in placental development leading to modulation of the expression of specific genes, and that their altered regulation will impact fetal development and growth. My primary objective was to identify DNA methylation variation in placenta, in association with variation of gene expression and with poor fetal growth. I used a global genomic screening approach, with 24 selected placental samples, from newborns considered IUGR or normal controls, to identify candidate target genomic regions carrying epigenetic alterations. Candidate regions were followed up, by expression analysis of corresponding regulated genes, for associations with altered expression and by targeted methylation analysis in an expanded cohort of 170 samples, for associations with birthweight percentile. I analyzed methylation variation at imprinting centers (IC), gene promoters and CpG islands. In two genome-wide case control screening studies using distinct commercial microarray platforms I identified approximately 68 differentially methylated autosomal candidate genomic regions overlapping gene promoters. Hypomethylated CpGs mapping to gene promoters were found to be more abundant in placentas of growth restricted newborns than in controls. One of the most interesting candidates, WNT2, was analyzed in an extended sample cohort and showed an association of high promoter methylation to low expression as well as low birthweight percentile. This gene is involved in a pathway that diverts cells from programmed apoptosis. It is highly expressed in placenta, and in mice, targeted biallelic inactivation of Wnt2 has been shown to cause poor growth and perinatal death in 50% of the affected pups. These findings support the hypothesis that dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms are involved in abnormal placental development and can impact fetal growth.

Keywords: Epigenetics
DNA methylation
Placenta
Fetal growth
Advisor: Weksberg, Rosanna
The Practice of Voting: Immigrant Turnout, the Persistence of Origin Effects, and the Nature, Formation and Transmission of Political Habit

This dissertation is a multi-layered examination of the practice of voting, with a focus on the electoral turnout of immigrants. Chapter Two’s statistical analyses show that pre-migration cultural familiarity with democracy, formalized as levels of democratization in source countries, strongly shapes the likelihood of post-migration voting among Canadian immigrants. These origin effects, comparable in size to the best predictors of turnout that we have, exert a persistent influence – affecting turnout not only among the foreign-born, but also among the native-born second generation. Multilevel models demonstrate that the shifting source country composition of immigrant period-of-arrival cohorts provides an alternate explanation for what have previously been identified as generational, racial, and length of residence or ‘exposure’ effects among immigrant voters. This provides further evidence that voting is in most cases habitual, and raises questions about the acquisition, transmission, and reproduction of a voting practice. Chapter Three’s narratives of political development, gathered through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, confirm the importance of parental influence, and suggest that the ‘stickiness’ of practical capacities like voting may be the result of powerful processes of observational social learning. Providing a new twist on dominant models of political socialization, observation of parental voting appears to be the pivotal event in a path-dependent process of political learning, with acquisition of values and beliefs playing a supporting, rather than a leading role. Chapter Four reviews recent efforts among sociologists to amend action theory to make more room for habit, and these efforts are discussed in reference to contemporary research on turnout. I argue that these theoretical revisions still retain too sharp a focus on the cognitive aspects of practice. There is a lack of appreciation for the ways that action itself – our own previous actions and the actions of those close to us – can directly structure outcomes. Evidence from cognitive neuroscience is used to more precisely delineate habitual behaviour and thought. Where the intergenerational transmission of voting behaviour is concerned, culture is often coded directly into embodied practice. Efforts to encourage electoral participation should be built on a better understanding of voting’s substantial behavioural aspects.

Keywords: voting
turnout
immigrant political participation
immigrant integration
political socialization
social learning theory
observational learning
action theory
practice theory
culture
habit
dual-process cognition
Advisor: Myles, John
Low Regularity Stability for Subcritical Generalized Korteweg-de Vries Equations

In this thesis we prove polynomial-in-time upper bounds for the orbital instability of solitons for subcritical generalized Korteweg-de Vries equations in [special characters omitted](R) with s < 1. By combining coercivity estimates of Weinstein with the I-method as developed by Colliander, Keel, Staffilani, Takaoka, and Tao, we construct a modified energy functional which is shown to be almost conserved while providing us with an estimate of the deviation of the solution from the ground state curve. The iteration of the almost conservation law for the modified energy functional over time intervals of uniform length yields the polynomial upper bound.

Keywords: stability
Korteweg-de Vries equation
Advisor: Colliander, James
Development of Protein-based Tools to Image and Modulate Ca2+ Signaling

Optogenetics has emerged as a branch of biotechnology that combines genetic engineering with optics to observe intracellular changes as well as control cellular function. Despite recent progress, there still remains the need for an optogenetic tool that can specifically control Ca2+. Such a tool would greatly facilitate the study of highly Ca2+-dependent cellular processes that are regulated both spatially and temporally. Ca2+ signaling regulates many cellular processes in both healthy and diseased cells. The ability to modulate the shape, duration, and amplitude of Ca2+ signaling is important for elucidating mechanisms by which endogenous Ca2+ concentrations are maintained. In this thesis, we used optogenetic approaches to explore a number of strategies to control Ca2+ influx through store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) mediated by Stim1 and Orai1. To better study Ca2+ signaling in live cells, protein-based biosensors can be developed to monitor intracellular Ca2+ changes. To aid in this, we developed a computational modeling tool called FPMOD to improve both new and existing biosensor designs. Although FPMOD was initially intended for evaluating biosensor designs, other research groups have since used it to construct models of other proteins to answer questions related to protein conformation. We next studied the modulation of SOCE by using drug-inducible fusion proteins to study the regulation of Stim1 puncta formation. Interestingly, recruiting a Ca2+-buffering protein to Stim1 led to puncta formation, a previously unknown means of inducing puncta. These results suggest Stim1 may additionally be regulated by cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels. Finally, we developed LOVS1K, an optogenetic tool to directly activate Orai1 channels and specifically control Ca2+ influx. Photo-sensitive LOVS1K was used to generate both local Ca2+ influx at the membrane and global cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals. As proof of concept, LOVS1K was further used to modulate engineered Ca2+-dependent proteins. Ca2+ is a remarkably versatile intracellular messenger. The combination of high spatiotemporal control of irradiation and the ability of LOVS1K to generate both local and global Ca2+ changes provides a promising platform to study cellular processes that are highly dependent on different Ca2+ signals. Together, biosensors and engineered Ca2+-modulating tools can be used to study the many different aspects of Ca2+ signaling and controllably manipulate endogenous Ca2+ signaling pathways.

Keywords: Calcium Signaling
FRET Biosensors
Store Operated Calcium Entry
Stim1
Orai1
Optogenetics
Photo-activated
LOVS1K
Fusion Proteins
Protein Engineering
Advisor: Truong, Kevin
Headache Experience of the Child and the Adolescent with Shunted Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a common pediatric neurosurgical condition affecting the body’s ability to regulate cerebral spinal fluid. Treatment commonly involves insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt re-establishing cerebral spinal fluid flow. Shunts are prone to malfunction, with headache being a common symptom. Headache has predominantly been recognized as a sign of shunt malfunction and not seen as a pain event. While headache is common in pediatric hydrocephalus patients with an apparently functional shunt, it has not been rigorously investigated putting them at risk for the consequences of unresolved pain. Researchers have not addressed headache within this patient population outside of shunt functioning or the impact of headache from the child and adolescent perspective. Drawing on the Gate Control Theory, the Neuromatrix Theory of Pain and the International Headache Societies Headache Classification system, a mixed methods study design was undertaken to (a) determine the prevalence, frequency and nature of headaches, (b) describe potential child factors associated with headaches and (c) evaluate the impact of headaches on the child’s and adolescent’s’ school, social and family life. Sixty six percent of children and adolescents reported headache within a one month period. Based on the modified International Headache Society’s criteria, 13.0% of headaches were tension-like, 13.2% were unclassifiable 33.5% were migraine-like and 38.8% were mixed. Etiology was significant with children diagnosed with tumour and congenital without myelomeningocele having a decreased tendency to report headache compared to children diagnosed with congenital with myelomeningocele. Children and adolescents described hidden emotions and missing out on many of their school, social and family activities. The main themes from the qualitative analysis were invisibility, normalcy and control/out of control. Etiology and multiple psychosocial and psychological factors potentially influence the headache experience in children and adolescents with shunted hydrocephalus. Future studies are required to further explore and delineate factors impacting headache within this study population.

Keywords: child
adolescent
headache
hydrocephalus
Advisor: Stevens, Bonnie