VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Canada’s Shadow Workforce: The Effects of Military Privatization on Political Behaviour and Authority within Liberal-Democratic States, and their Implications for International Security

This study looks at the effects of military privatization on political behaviour and authority within liberal-democratic states. In particular, amid a global growth in the private military industry, it examines how private contractors are perceived by the public, the mechanisms involved, and whether hiring them for military operations truly lowers political risks and masks state authority. These latter effects are often stated benefits of contracting out, but they are understudied in a Canadian context, despite having significant implications for democratic systems and the exercise of state power. To bridge this gap, this study develops a novel "symbolic capital typology" divided along three key dimensions – soldier/contractor, domestic/foreign, and combat/non-combat – to describe the expected relationships between different foreign policy actors and how they might be perceived by the public. It hypothesizes that contractors will be viewed differently than soldiers; this will stem from negative contractor perceptions and a lack of transparency, which reduce their "symbolic capital" relative to other foreign policy actors; and these differences will distort subsequent preferences and political outcomes by separating the public from the true costs or burdens of foreign policy decisions – an effect that lowers political risks and masks state authority. In testing these hypotheses, this study conducts a nationwide survey of almost 5,000 Canadians to examine actor perceptions and levels of transparency while also gauging their effects on foreign policy preferences, political risks, and state authority. It finds that while a simple soldier/contractor dichotomy is insufficient to account for the times in which the "symbolic weight" of these actors overlaps, generally contractors are still viewed far more negatively than soldiers. Actor-type, therefore, matters in public perceptions of foreign policy and in preference articulation, but this has limits. When controlling for transparency, negative contractor perceptions only have an effect on issues of contract spending and support for war, but this is not overly pronounced. Instead, if contractors lower political risks, this seems to stem less from negative perceptions of them being "guns for hire" and more from institutional factors that reduce their visibility and "symbolic weight" relative to soldiers, which has implications for both Canada and abroad.

Keywords: Democratic governance
Mercenaries
Military privatization
Private military and security contractors
Public opinion
Security
Advisor: White, Linda
The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Role of LIMK1 in Long-term memory and Late-phase Long-term Potentiation

New gene expression and protein synthesis are key components for long-term memory (LTM). It is believed that late-phase long-term potentiation (L-LTP) underlies the cellular and molecular mechanisms for LTM. Most excitatory synapses in the central nervous system are located on small dendritic protrusions known as dendritic spines, which are structurally supported by actin. Actin-regulatory proteins play essential roles during synaptic plasticity and memory by regulating the actin cytoskeleton and dendritic spine structure. An actin-regulatory protein called LIM-kinase 1 (LIMK1) has also been shown to interact with transcriptional factors regulating memory, suggesting its role in regulating gene expression. The genetic deletion of LIMK1 impairs synaptic plasticity and memory phases dependent on protein synthesis, and these deficits can be rescued by directly activating gene expression. However, the mechanisms by which LIMK1 regulates gene expression during synaptic plasticity and memory remain unknown. In this thesis, I explored three objectives to investigate the mechanisms underlying the role of LIMK1 in L-LTP and LTM. First, I found that LIMK1 knockout (KO) mice displayed specific LTM deficits during contextual fear conditioning and three-chamber social interaction tasks. Additionally, LIMK1 KO exhibited deficits in the underlying mechanisms of LTM in the hippocampus. Electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that LIMK1 KO resulted in deficits in hippocampal L-LTP, and imaging showed the absence of dendritic spine enlargement in LIMK1 KO hippocampal neurons during L-LTP. Second, I found that LIMK1 accumulated in the nucleus of hippocampal neurons during L-LTP. Using pharmacological and biochemical analysis to investigate the signaling mechanisms regulating LIMK1 nuclear accumulation, I discovered that this process depended on L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, CaMKII and PKA activity, and required an active nuclear import pathway. Lastly, I found that LIMK1 nuclear accumulation was required for LTM and L-LTP. My results suggest that LIMK1 and LIMK1 nuclear accumulation is necessary for LTM and L-LTP. In addition, reintroduction of LIMK1 into excitatory hippocampal neuron is sufficient to improve LTM and L-LTP deficits in LIMK1 KO mice. Together, these results identify a novel nuclear mechanism in neurons through which LIMK1 can regulate gene expression and subsequently L-LTP and LTM.

Advisor: Jia, Zhengping
Phage-mediated Mobile Genetic Elements Identified in Dehalococcoidia, Chloroflexi Bacteria used for Bioremediation

Chlorinated compounds, such as vinyl chloride (VC), are persistent, carcinogenic soil and groundwater contaminants. Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria (OHRB) are used for their ability to detoxify these chlorinated compounds from soil and groundwater in a process called bioremediation. Dehalococcoidia, including Dehalococcoides and Dehalogenimonas, are deep- branching bacteria from the Chloroflexi phylum and are obligate OHRB. Dehalococcoidia use reductive dehalogenase enzymes, RdhA, for organohalide respiration which are encoded by reductive dehalogenase homologous genes, rdhA. There is substantive evidence that certain rdhA were acquired by horizontal gene transfer, found on Genomic Islands (GIs), Integrative and Mobilizable Elements (IMEs), transposable elements, and bacteriophages (phages). However, no mechanism of horizontal gene transfer has been identified to date. VC reductase-encoded genomic islands, vcrA-GI and bvcA-GI, were the focus of this work. Experiments were designed to selectively induce the vcrA-GI to characterize the mechanism of horizontal gene transfer. While there was evidence for replication and circularization of the vcrA-GI, there was no evidence to support the selective induction of the vcrA-GI nor gene transfer for over 4 years of study. On the other hand, the bvcA-GI was predicted to be incorporated in a phage genome in Dehalococcoides, prompting the isolation and sequencing of phage fractions of Dehalococcoides-containing cultures. A hybrid metagenome sequencing approach was used because it combines short- and long-read technologies for a cost-effective, high-quality assembly. The bvcA-GI was not found in a phage genome but a sub-group of IMEs, called IME1s, were found in extremely high abundance in the metavirome. Upon bioinformatic inspection, IME1s shared a conserved structural organization and met the criteria of phage satellites. Phage satellites are a well-studied class of genetic elements which manipulate the phage lifecycle for their benefit and package into phage particles. Six new IME1s were identified in Dehalococcoides and Dehalogenimonas and were re-categorized as a new subclass of phage satellites called Dehalococcoidia Chromosomal Islands (DeCIs). This work revealed the first horizontal gene transfer mechanism in Dehalococcoidia and advances our understanding of horizontal gene transfer in OHRB which are difficult to study using classical approaches. An improved understanding of their lifecycle will enhance the efficiency of bioremediation of contaminated sites globally.

Keywords: bioremediation
chlorinated ethenes
horizontal gene transfer
mobile genetic elements
phage satellites
Advisor: Edwards, Elizabeth A
Preparing for Resource-limited and High-stakes Settings: A Digital Microfluidic Approach

Digital microfluidics (DMF) is a versatile technique that enables the user to manipulate individual liquid droplets across an array of electrodes by applying electrostatic forces. In DMF, droplets can be dispensed, moved, merged, and mixed, which allows for automation of nearly all of the essential liquid handling steps required in multi-step bioassays. This thesis describes my work developing a number of DMF-enabled diagnostic tools that are suitable for settings outside of the research lab. Chapter 2 outlines the hardware and methodological improvements that my colleagues and I made to enable the deployment of magnetic bead-based immunoassays for detecting infection and immunity for measles and rubella virus in a field trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chapter 3 describes a modification of the instrument described in Chapter 2 to enable automated hemagglutination assays that include ABO blood typing, patient crossmatching and hematocrit determination. An image-analysis algorithm known as Droplet Agglutination Assessment using Digital microfluidics (DAAD) was also developed that could automatically detect and rate agglutination of blood in droplets using a low-cost camera. Chapter 4 describes yet another modification of the instrument introduced in Chapter 2 that includes a resistive heater and a fluorescence module, which allowed for culturing and monitoring bacterial growth. This platform was used to perform antibiotic susceptibility testing in uropathogenic E. coli bacteria as well as classify bacteria into Gram-positive and -negative, coliforms and E.coli. Last, in Chapter 5 a new DMF concept is presented that allows for low-cost production of DMF cartridges with an arbitrarily high number of electrodes that can be used to improve throughput. In sum, this thesis introduces several innovations for portable DMF applications, which are a useful toolset for future assay development. The methods described herein (and those that are implied for the future) suggest that there is great promise for using DMF for diagnostic applications without bounds.

Advisor: Wheeler, Aaron R
Neutral pH Ion-Conducting Polymer Electrolytes for Solid-state Electrochemical Capacitors

Thin, solid, flexible, safe, and reliable electrochemical capacitors (ECs) are in demand to power up next generations of wearable electronics and Internet-of-Things devices. Polymer electrolytes are key enablers for the development of solid-state capacitive devices. In this thesis, neutral pH ion-conducting polymer electrolytes (NPPEs) have been developed for ECs using either Li2SO4 or Na2SO4 ionic conductor and polyacrylamide (PAM) host. The optimized NPPEs exhibit: (i) wide electrochemical stability window, (ii) high ionic conductivity with low activation energy for conduction, (iii) long-shelf-life, (iv) good interfaces with EDLC electrodes, and (v) wide-range thermal stability. An in-depth investigation on material properties affecting electrolyte performance has been conducted for NPPEs. Through correlative studies between vibrational spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements, ion hydration was determined as crucial factor affecting ion conductivity and performance stability. Fully solvated ions are necessary to maintain stable performance over time, while smaller hydration shell allows for fast ion mobility. Meanwhile, at low temperatures below freezing point, EDLC interface can only be maintained with NPPE containing fewer crystallized water. Anti-icing additives possessing deep eutectic properties with water, e.g., DMSO, can widen the lower limit of operating temperatures of the NPPE. These correlations are essential considerations for developing future generations of NPPE. In carbon-based solid EDLC devices, both Li2SO4-PAM and Na2SO4-PAM demonstrated a stable 1.8 V cell voltage, much wider than those cells with proton- or hydroxide-ion based electrolytes which allows for significantly higher energy and power densities. Adding DMSO, the ternary system enabled the operating temperature of solid EDLC cells to -20 °C, beyond the typical limit in most aqueous-based systems. The effects of carbon loading on NPPE-based EDLCs were studied using two types of carbon with different pore structures to understand the limitations in designing solid capacitive devices. Although increasing carbon loading leads to higher capacitance, there are two possible adverse effects: (1) lower electrolyte penetration from highly viscous NPPE precursor solution; and (2) increased diffusion limitation, leading to lower material utilization which can be aggravated at faster rates, low temperatures, or with closed micropore-rich materials. These insights can be added to the guiding principle for design and develop solid EDLCs.

Keywords: Electrochemical Capacitors
Neutral pH
Polymer Electrolytes
Sulfates
Supercapacitors
Advisor: Lian, Keryn
Development of Class II-agnostic CAR T Cell Therapy Targeting WT1 Peptide Presented by Diverse HLA class II Molecules

The adoptive transfer of T cells redirected by antitumor T cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is a promising treatment against cancer. Most TCR genes currently tested in the clinic are HLA-class I-restricted, whereas CAR-T cells generally target surface molecules expressed on tumor cells independently of HLA. TCR-like CARs have been developed, but most of them target peptides presented by HLA class I molecules and bind to pHLA complexes instead of the peptides alone, which limits their applications to patients with the compatible HLA genotypes. HLA-class II molecules are expressed by multiple types of tumor cells in vivo, but their expression in normal tissues is limited, which potentially reduces the risk of off-tumor toxicities of class II-directed therapeutics. In contrast to class I-restricted peptides, many class II-restricted peptides can promiscuously bind to multiple different class II molecules. Wilms’ tumor protein (WT1) is an intracellular oncogenic protein highly expressed in various types of cancer. To develop therapeutics specific for class II-presented WT1 peptides, we first identified WT1328-348 as the natural WT1 epitope promiscuously presented by HLA-DP2 and HLA-DP4, in addition to class II proteins reported by others. T cells transduced with TCR specific for DP2/WT1328-348 and DP4/WT1328-348 were able to kill DP2+/WT1+ and DP4+/WT1+ tumor cells, highlighting the therapeutic potential of this TCR. Next, we developed a novel CAR-T therapy capable of specifically targeting WT1328-348 peptide presented by the 18 HLA-class II alleles tested, including 6 DPs, 8 DRs, and 4 DQs. We showed that second generation WT1/28z CAR-T cells recognized class II+/WT1+ leukemic cell lines and primary leukemic samples. These results suggest that our peptide-centric, class II-agnostic CAR-T therapy has the potential to benefit a broad population of cancer patients with diverse class II genotypes.

Advisor: Hirano, Naoto NH
The Role of Narrative Competence in French Immersion: A Detailed Investigation of Macro-and Micro-structural Skills on Language Development Micro-structural Skills and Reading Comprehension

This dissertation is comprised of two separate studies that assess narrative competence in a French Immersion setting. The first examined an array of macro- and micro-structural skills in English and French and further compared the development of these skills between two language groups: Children who speak English as their first language and French as their second language (FL2s) and minority language speakers who speak English as their second language and French as their third language (FL3s). There were no differences in narrative microstructural or macrostructural skills between language groups. In contrast, vocabulary was demonstrated to develop differently among both language groups in English, with FL2 children outperforming FL3 children. No such distinctions were observed in French. The results suggest that narrative skills develop at similar rates in FL2 and FL3 children in a French Immersion setting. The second study investigated the role of macro- and micro-structural skills on the development of reading comprehension, again in a French Immersion setting. The contributions of these skills to reading outcomes were assessed in a combined group of Grade 3 and 4 students, through concurrent analyses. Story grammar, grammaticality and productivity were shown to be significant predictors of reading comprehension. The findings present new evidence of the facilitative role that both macro- and micro-structural narrative skills play in the development of reading skills in French. Together, these studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between narrative competence and literacy outcomes in French Immersion. These results can also positively impact the French Immersion curriculum, encouraging educators to provide more focused support for narrative skills at grade levels where these skills are evidenced to contribute to literacy development. The findings of this research indicate that FL3 children can develop their English narrative skills well in French Immersion programs; these results in turn suggest that French Immersion is a viable option for FL3 children.

Keywords: Bilingual Education
Bilingualism
French Immersion
Language Development
Narrative Competence
Reading Comprehension
Advisor: Chen, Xi
Bubble Dynamics in High-pressure Foam Injection Molding

Foam injection molding (FIM) is utilized in many industries. Despite its flourish, the understanding of the cell dynamics in FIM is still lacking. This work aims to improve the fundamental understanding of cell growth, dissolution, and elongation phenomena during FIM, to expedite the foam structure design for the industry via correlating the processing parameters with the final morphology.A model that predicts the cell growth tailored to high-pressure FIM (HP-FIM) processes during the entire processing period is presented. The model captures the fluid flow and the transport phenomenon during cell growth facilitated by the Simha-Somcynsky equation of state and realistic material properties for the PS/CO2 mixture. The proposed model predicted the cell growth profile for its entire lifespan under different HP-FIM conditions and was validated by comparison with the visualization experimental data. Moreover, a study on the critical, but often overlooked, cell dissolution and its relation to the packing/holding stage is presented. The dissolution of cells in the packing stage decouples the foaming and filling steps in FIM and lays the foundation for the consistent production of uniform foam structures. Systematic experiments were conducted using a visualization mold to study the effect of various processing parameters on the packing efficiency to determine the time required to fully dissolve the gate-nucleated cells. A simulation attempt was made to predict the evolution of cell size during packing. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis showed the model’s response to the changes in various parameters, and echoed the experimental observations. In the end, a study that attempted to correlate the mold opening (MO) parameters to the final foam structure is discussed. Visualized HP-FIM experiments demonstrated that the removal of the gate-nucleated cells could effectively prevent cell coalescence and collapse during MO. Besides the packing pressure, the packing time also dictated the structure by affecting the melt strength and gas diffusion coefficient. Moreover, employing the cell model, we were able to accurately predict the cell growth for a small MO distance and validated the results with experimentally measured growth data. For large MO distances, the simulated results demonstrated qualitative agreement with experimental observations.

Keywords: bubble dissolution
bubble dynamics
bubble growth
high-pressure foam injection molding
polymer foaming
Advisor: Park, Chul B. C.B.
Delineating the Conformational Landscape of the Adenosine A2A Receptor-G Protein Signaling Complex

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface receptors in eukaryotes. Their canonical activation involves binding by an extracellular ligand, conformational changes in the receptor, and complexation with a G protein inside the cell. The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) is a prototypical GPCR and a drug target for the treatment of inflammation, cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. The allosteric interplay between ligand, receptor, membrane, and the G protein is key to determining the pharmacological outcome of a signaling event, which may be characterized by basal activity, inverse agonism, partial and full agonism, and varied signaling pathways. Here, biochemical and biophysical approaches were taken to investigate the conformational ensemble of both the receptor and the G protein in the context of signaling. Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (19F NMR) spectroscopy was key in identifying specific functional states. The results provided insights into mechanisms concerning efficacy and allostery, as well as protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions that play important roles in modulating the conformational dynamics and hence, the signaling of this complex.

Keywords: Adenosine A2A receptor
Conformational landscape
G protein
G protein-coupled receptor
Membrane protein
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Advisor: Prosser, R. Scott
Global Health Promotion and Arts Approaches in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Focus on Strengthening Community Action for Health

Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is largely dominated by the presence of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), many of whom work with global health promotion (GHP) researchers and/or practitioners. Until recently, ongoing colonial dynamics shaping this work has been largely overlooked. This dissertation aims to contribute to ongoing calls to decolonize the GHP field.Arts approaches have become common in GHP, but they are less commonly examined from a critical and/or decolonial perspective. I propose that GHP workers adopt a ‘critical social science perspective influenced by an applied decolonial framework for health promotion’ (CSSP-ADF) when engaging in arts approaches to help re-shape relationships among actors and facilitate the integration of core GHP community concepts (GHPCCs) – such as community participation, community ownership, and community assets – in order to strengthen community action for health. Grounded in the Goma context, I explore these key concepts and relationships across three papers. In the first paper, I provide a reflexive account of my experiences of co-creating the documentary film Kwa Nini Art? in Goma with arts and cultural centre Yole!Africa. I conclude that collaborative documentary filmmaking can be considered a promising CSSP-ADF arts-based research approach in GHP. In the second paper, I engage in a multimodal critical discourse analysis of the audio and visual discourses in the film Kwa Nini Art?. I conclude that decolonial discourse in arts-based INGO collaborations can contribute to fostering core GHPCCs. In the third paper, I engage in a qualitative textual thematic analysis and a critical visual analysis of data generated during a project in Goma implemented by the INGO Colors of Connection. I conclude that the broader neocolonial context fundamentally shaped the three core GHPCCs. In my final dissertation chapter, I highlight the theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions of this work to GHP, while also noting some of its key limitations. I provide a set of reflexive questions (organized thematically and grounded in a CSSP-ADF) that international GHP workers can engage with when seeking to employ arts approaches in their research and/or practice to strengthen community action for health.

Keywords: Arts Approaches
Community Action for Health
Critical Social Sciences Research
Global Health
Health Promotion
Qualitative Health Research
Advisor: Cole, Donald C