VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Burden of Care Analysis of Presurgical Infant Orthopedics for Improvement of Nasolabial Aesthetics in CUCLP

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the burden of care (BOC) of two presurgical infant orthopedic (PSIO) protocols used for complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP), and to compare aesthetic outcomes with centres not utilizing PSIO. Four samples were collected. Two from the same centre that underwent either traditional infant orthopedics (TIO) or nasoalveolar molding (NAM) and two from centres not employing PSIO. BOC data were collected for the PSIO groups and photos at age 5 were collected for ratings of nasolabial aesthetics. The BOC of NAM was found to be significantly greater than IO for number of visits (9.9 vs. 6.6, (p<0.001)) and days wearing the appliance (127 vs. 112, (p<0.05)). Significant differences in aesthetic ratings were noted amongst the three centres but not between the NAM and TIO groups. Overall, an increased burden of NAM over TIO was detected, without an observable aesthetic improvement.

Keywords: Cleft lip & palate
Burden of Care
Nasolabial Aesthetics
Infant Orthopedics
Advisor: Daskalogiannakis, John
Robotic Guidance: Velocity Profile Symmetry and Online Feedback Use during Manual Aiming

The current study evaluated whether robotic guidance can influence movement planning and/or the use of online proprioceptive feedback. Participants were divided into three groups wherein they practiced an aiming task unassisted or via a robotic device that led them through a trajectory with an asymmetric or symmetric velocity profile. Baseline performance was measured prior to training and a post-test included control and tendon vibration trials. Temporal, spatial, and kinematic variables were used to assess planning and online control mechanisms. Results indicated that tendon vibration altered the way individuals planned their movements and used online sensory feedback. Robotic-guided groups appeared to use online feedback to a lesser extent than the unassisted group during tendon vibration trials, based on kinematic data. Individuals may become less inclined to use erroneous proprioceptive feedback following robotic guidance, supporting the potential benefit of robotics in neuro-motor rehabilitation for those with proprioceptive deficits.

Keywords: Robotic Guidance
Proprioception
Manual Aiming
Tendon Vibration
Vision
Advisor: Tremblay, Luc
Roles of a Putative Tumor Suppressor Gene, Chc1L, in Tumorigenesis

Human chromosome 13q14 has been identified as one of the hotspots of deletion in prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chromosome Condensation 1-like (CHC1L) is an uncharacterized gene in this region. CHC1L is found within the smallest common region of loss of heterozygosity in prostate cancer, and its decreased expression is linked to pathogenesis and progression of both prostate cancer and multiple myeloma. In the present study, we have generated Chc1L gene knockout mice and demonstrated that loss of this gene increases tumorigenesis in two year old mice. Knockout and heterozygous mice are predisposed to development of Histiocytic Sarcoma and Histiocyte-Associated Lymphoma. Bone marrow and splenic cells from 8-12 week old knockout mice have elevated viability ex vivo. These data provide the first direct evidence that CHC1L is a tumor suppressor gene involved in suppression of histiocyte-rich neoplasms.

Keywords: Histiocytic Sarcoma
Histiocyte-Associated Lymphoma
CHC1L
RCBTB2
Histiocyte
13q14
Advisor: Wen, Xiao-Yan
Why Canada's "Costly" Securities Regulation Regime Ensures Better Decision-making

The purported costs of provincial autonomy in Canadian securities regulation have been well documented. Proposals for centralizing the securities regulatory regime, whether under a national regulator or through restricting the scope of provincial divergence from national standards, have consistently cited the costliness of the current regime. However, policymakers' cognitive biases lead them from time to time to overemphasize the need for decisive and swift action, which in turn causes them to abandon sound decision-making processes. Provincial autonomy ensures that policymaking with national reach is process-oriented and is more likely to be guided by facts and rational projections. Supporters of centralization discount or ignore these features of decentralization and are too sanguine about the ability of centralized regulators to adhere to process. Any further proposals for reform should properly account for these effects.

Keywords: heuristics
bias
action bias
availability bias
rational expedience
salutary inefficiency
paternalism
systemic risk
behavioral economics
cost-benefit
securities regulation
decentralization
regulatory competition
Sarbanes-Oxley
corporate governance
passport system
compliance cost
federalism
single regulator
harmonization
provincial autonomy
Securities Act Reference
Advisor: Anand, Anita
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Exploration of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) can quantify tissue integrity in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). NAWM abnormalities present at the earliest time point implicate neurodegeneration operative from the outset of multiple sclerosis (MS). DTI scans were obtained at first attacks from 6 children later diagnosed with MS and 6 children with monophasic demyelination, and from 6 controls, matched for age. DTI scans were also obtained from 22 children with established MS with clinical onset before age 12 years and compared to age-matched controls. Atlas- and tractography-based image processing methods were utilized. DTI metrics distinguished MS patients from patients with monophasic demyelination and from controls at the first attack. Differences in NAWM between children with established early-onset MS and controls were only notable when DTI was obtained in adolescence. DTI provides valuable insights into NAWM in children with MS, although in the youngest patients such changes may require time to develop.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis
pediatric
DTI
diffusion tensor imaging
corpus callosum
MRI
Advisor: Banwell, Brenda
Genome-scale Metabolic Network Reconstruction and Constraint-based Flux Balance Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii

The increasing prevalence of apicomplexan parasites such as Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Cryptosporidium represents a significant global healthcare burden. Treatment options are increasingly limited due to the emergence of new resistant strains. We postulate that parasites have evolved distinct metabolic strategies critical for growth and survival during human infections, and therefore susceptible to drug targeting using a systematic approach. I developed iCS306, a fully characterized metabolic network reconstruction of the model organism Toxoplasma gondii via extensive curation of available genomic and biochemical data. Using available microarray data, metabolic constraints for six different clinical strains of Toxoplasma were modeled. I conducted various in silico experiments using flux balance analysis in order to identify essential metabolic processes, and to illustrate the differences in metabolic behaviour across Toxoplasma strains. The results elucidate probable explanations for the underlying mechanisms which account for the similarities and differences among strains of Toxoplasma, and among species of Apicomplexa.

Keywords: Flux balance analysis
Toxoplasma gondii
Metabolic network reconstruction
in silico metabolism
Advisor: Parkinson, John
Mechanical Transformation to Support Design for Environmentally Significant Behaviour

This thesis aims to discover possibilities of using products that mechanically transform to support environmentally significant behaviour (ESB), a term that refers to intentional behaviour of an individual to change the natural world. The first half of the work explored the potential relationship between mechanical transformation principles and certain ESBs. This exploration found that implementing transformative mechanisms in products enabled spontaneous use of the products in unanticipated situations. For example, a collapsible reusable shopping bag helped users avoid purchasing disposable bags when they went to grocery stores impulsively. The second half studied a variety of organisms to identify transformation patterns in nature. These patterns were summarized in a two-dimensional matrix to facilitate conceptual design of transformable products. In summary, this work showed that mechanical transformation facilitates at least three types of ESB, and also developed a new tool to assist designers in developing conceptual transformable products that can support ESBs.

Keywords: Design for environment
product design
transformation principles
environmentally significant behaviour
Advisor: Shu, Lily H.
Engineering Organized Epithelium using Nanogrooved Topography in a Gelatin Hydrogel

Tracheal epithelium is organized along two axes: apicobasal, seen through apical ciliogenesis, and planar seen through organized ciliary beating, which moves mucus out of the airway. Diseased patients with affected ciliary motility have serious chronic respiratory infections. The standard method to construct epithelium is through air liquid interface culture which creates apicobasal polarization, not planar organization. Nanogrooved surface topography created in diffusible substrates for use in air liquid interface culture will induce planar organization of the cytoskeleton. We have created a nanogrooved gelatin device which allows basal nutrient diffusion. Multiple epithelial cells have been found to align in the direction of the nanogrooves in both sparse and confluent conditions. This device is also congruent with ALI culture as seen through formation of tight junctions and ciliogenesis. Thus, we have created nanogrooved surface topography in a diffusible substrate that induces planar alignment of epithelial cells and cytoskeleton.

Keywords: epithelial tissue engineering
topography
airway epithelium
epithelium
Advisor: Waddell, Thomas K.
McGuigan, Alison P.
The ICC and R2P: Vacillating between Utopia and Tyranny

For nearly half a decade discussion of the responsibility to protect (R2P) and international criminal justice proceeded along separate lines. However, in recent years an emerging perception that international criminal law may contribute to putting an end to a continuing atrocity crimes has lead to its use as an R2P reactive tool. This paper examines the relationship between R2P and the activity of International Criminal Court (the ICC), and the implications of their recent rapprochement. Firstly, the paper aims to bring a much-needed focus on the implications of their current interaction in ongoing conflict situations. Secondly it examines whether the convergence of R2P and the ICC represents a paradigmatic shift toward humanity’s law and a possible utopian tyranny or reinforces the traditional statist system as the fundamental framework for conflict mediation opening the door to a possible “cynic tyranny”. Thirdly, it considers how ICC and R2P activities should be coordinated.

Keywords: ICC, R2P, Responsibility to Protect, International Criminal Court
Advisor: Knop, Karen C.
A Concept-based P300 Communication System

Severe motor impairments can severely restrict interaction with one's surroundings. Brain computer interfaces combined with text-based communication systems, such as the P300 Speller, have allowed individuals with motor disabilities to spell messages with their EEG signals. Although providing full composition flexibility, they enable communication rates of only a few characters per minute. Utterance-based communication systems have been developed for individuals with disability and have greatly increased communication speeds, but have yet to be applied to BCIs. This paper proposes an utterance-based communication system using the P300-BCI in which words are organized in a network structure that facilitates rapid retrieval. In trials with able-bodied participants, the proposed system achieved greater message speeds, but rated lower in effectiveness than the P300 Speller. Nonetheless, subject preferences and reports of self-perceived effectiveness suggested an inclination towards the proposed word system and thus further investigation of word-based networks is warranted in brain-controlled AAC systems.

Keywords: Alternative and augmentative communication
Brain-computer interface
EEG
P300
Advisor: Chau, Tom
Diel Mediated Populus balsamifera Transcriptome Components Test the Impacts of Artificial Nighttime Lighting

Artificial nighttime lighting (ANL) is known to adversely affect animals, but little is known what the consequences are to plants. Two genotypes of Populus balsamifera, a common urban tree, were used to investigate how ANL impacts plants. While the two genotypes varied in their physiological sensitivity to ANL, poorer levels of net leaf carbon assimilation compared to control samples suggested that ANL perturbed the perception of time of day for these plants. Gene set analysis on a subset of PopGenExpress microarray samples identified time of day specific processes in P. balsamifera, and a set of candidate ANL-sensitive genes were identified from these. Transcript measurements from the two genotypes revealed that ANL affects plants at the molecular level, for the diel cycling of the putative ANL-sensitive genes was perturbed. Together, these results suggest that ANL affects plants at the physiological and molecular level by perturbing their perception of time of day.

Keywords: genomics
microarrays
gene set analysis
trees
clones
artificial nighttime lighting
environmental effects
plants
transcriptomics
transcript abundance
gene expression
photoassimilation
networks
gene sets
Advisor: Campbell, Malcolm M.
Seamless Kernel Updates

Kernel patches are frequently released to fix security vulnerabilities and bugs. However, users and system administrators often delay installing these updates because they require a system reboot, which results in disruption of service and the loss of application state. Unfortunately, the longer an out-of-date system remains operational, the higher is the likelihood of a system being exploited. Approaches, such as dynamic patching and hot swapping, have been proposed for updating the kernel. All of them either limit the types of updates that are supported, or require significant programming effort to manage. We have designed a system that checkpoints application-visible state, updates the kernel, and restores the application state. By checkpointing high-level state, our system no longer depends on the precise implementation of a patch and can apply all backward compatible patches. The results show that updates to major kernel releases can be applied with minimal changes.

Keywords: Updates
Operating Systems
Linux
Security
checkpoint
restart
Advisor: Goel, Ashvin
Preliminary System Development and Detailed Structural Design and Analysis for the CanX-7 Nanosatellite

Satellites placed in LEO can remain there for an inde finite period of time. To reduce the density of this orbit so as to avoid potential collisions with other satellites, the IADC has published a report that suggests any satellite in LEO should de-orbit within 25 years. CanX- 7 is a de-orbiting technology demonstration mission intended to help solve the global space debris problem. The work summarized in this thesis describes the author's contribution to the CanX-7 preliminary system development, as well as to the deployment detection and structural subsystems. Discussed herein are the challenges of carrying forward multiple designs in parallel and the factors and design trades that aid the decision-making process. This thesis not only presents the description of the final design of the nanosatellite, but also the evolution of the spacecraft from when it was initially envisioned in 2010 to its current state at the time of this writing.

Keywords: De-orbit technology
Nanosatellites
System development
structural design
Advisor: Zee, Robert E.
The Role of Repulsive Guidance Molecule b (RGMb) in the Developing Chick Visual Sytem

Our work on RGMb demonstrates a clear and new role in the developing chick visual system. RGMb is expressed in distinct areas of the developing visual system: retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of the retina, which are the only cells in the visual system that extend axons to the brain, as well as newly differentiated neuronal cells within the optic tectum (OT), the primary target of RGC axons. Knockdown of RGMb in RGCs at embryonic day 2 (E2) resulted in aberrant axon projection at E17, indicating that RGMb is required for axon development. Furthermore, knockdown of RGMb in the optic tectum at E5 resulted in disrupted cellular migration at E9, demonstrating that RGMb is involved in correct cell migration. Lastly, we demonstrated that RGMb binds to the Fibronectin III (3,4) domain of Neogenin, which provides a basis for determining the mechanism through which RGMb exerts its biological effects.

Keywords: molecular biology
axon outgrowth
neuroscience
neuron migration
chick visual system
RGMb and Neogenin
Advisor: Monnier, Philippe
Dynamic Ridesharing: Understanding the Role of Gender and Technology

Using a case study approach, the thesis examines how dynamic ridesharing (DRS) has evolved through time, parallel with changes in information and communication technologies (ICTs). DRS is conceptually framed using a socio-ecological modeling approach, the goal being to develop hypotheses regarding factors likely influencing DRS use. This conceptual work forms the foundation for an empirical study of DRS use. Survey data were used in descriptive analysis and logistic regression modeling organized to identify who uses DRS and how. The study reveals that gender may be a central concept to understanding why and how DRS is used by certain segments of population more than others. With regard to technology, it is found that although technical competencies were enabling, in terms of facilitating rideshares, gender and perhaps related mobility constraints, emerged as a larger issues. The findings also caution against relying solely on technological advancement for the success of ridesharing programs.

Keywords: dynamic ridesharing
technology
Advisor: Buliung, Ron
The Development and Validation of a Simplified Soot Model for use in Soot Emissions Prediction in Natural Gas Fuelled Engine Simulations

This study employs a novel approach in order to satisfy the need in industry for a computationally inexpensive means to modelling soot formation in engines fuelled by natural gas. The complex geometries found in practical combustion devices along with the requirement to solve turbulent, chemically reacting, and multi-phase flows necessitates this goal. A two-equation model, which tracks soot mass and soot number density, is employed. The goal is to apply this model in engine simulations at Westport Innovations, an industry partner. Experimental data is used to validate the model in various operating conditions. Numerical data obtained from a detailed sectional soot model is also used to augment available validation data, especially with respect to soot formation/oxidation mechanisms. The developed model shows good agreement compared to experimental data and the detailed sectional soot model among all cases considered and will be further tested and applied in Westport’s natural gas engine simulations.

Keywords: Soot
Model
Simulation
Combustion
Methane
Numerical
Nanoparticles
Laminar Flame
Advisor: Thomson, Murray J.
Automated Micropipette Aspiration of Single Cells

This paper presents a system for mechanically characterizing single cells using automated micropipette aspiration. Using vision-based control and position control, the system controls a micromanipulator, a motorized translation stage, and a custom-built pressure system to position a micropipette (4 ?m opening) to approach a cell, form a seal, and aspirate the cell into the micropipette for quantifying the cell's elastic and viscoelastic parameters as well as viscosity. Image processing algorithms were developed to provide controllers with real-time visual feedback and to accurately measure cell deformation behavior on line. Experiments on both solid-like and liquid-like cells demonstrated that the system is capable of efficiently performing single-cell micropipette aspiration and has low operator skill requirements.

Keywords: cell manipulation
automation
micropipette aspiration
mechanical characterization
Advisor: Sun, Yu
Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment 7 (CanX-7) Mission Analysis, Payload Design and Testing

A deorbiting drag device is being designed and built by the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies/Space Flight Laboratory (UTIAS/SFL) to be demonstrated on the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment 7 (CanX-7) satellite. CanX-7 will address the growing issue of space debris by designing a drag sail device that will be demonstrated for cubesat-sized satellites. Mission analysis done to ensure the drag device functions properly and deorbits within the required lifetime is performed while varying different properties such as drag coefficient, effective drag area, and solar cycle variations. The design evolution of the device is documented and the chosen design, along with several stages of prototyping, is described. The individual components that make up the device are described as are preliminary numerical analyzes. Finally, the test plan required for the device is described with several deployment experiments and risk reduction tests documented.

Keywords: Nanosatellite
Drag Sail
Space Debris Mitigation
Deorbiting Lifetime Analysis
Drag Sail Payload Design
Drag Sail Testing
Advisor: Zee, Robert E.
Homeowners as Urban Forest Managers - Examining the Role of Property-level Variables in Predicting Variations in Urban Forest Quantity Using Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS Methodologies

Urban forests provide vital services to communities and are crucial for our mental, physical and emotional well-being. Recent research has shown that many variables at a neighbourhood-level are linked to variations in urban forest quantity, however, relationships at the property-level have not been considered. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships at property-level in four socioeconomically varied neighbourhoods in the City of Mississauga (Ontario, Canada). Percent canopy cover and tree density was calculated using information from a survey, GIS datasets and remote sensing. Regression was used to determine which property-level characteristics are related to variations in the two tree cover variables. The results show that variables dealing with residents attitudes towards trees and space constraints are commonly linked to tree cover variations. The study found differences in relationships between the two tree measures at property-level and it provides greater insight into human-urban forest relationship at the micro-scale.

Keywords: Urban Forest
GIS
Remote Sensing
IKONOS
Residents
Survey
Advisor: Conway, Tenley
Predicting the Risk of Traumatic Lumbar Punctures in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: a Retrospective Cohort Study using Repeated-measures Analyses

Traumatic lumbar punctures (TLPs) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are associated with a poorer prognosis. The objective of this study was to determine risk factors for TLPs using a retrospective cohort. We compared and contrasted three different regression methods for the analysis of repeated-measures data. In the multivariable model using generalized estimating equations, variables significantly associated with TLPs were age < l year or ≥ 10 years; body mass index percentile ≥ 95; platelet counts < 100 x 103/µL; fewer days since previous LP, and a preceding TLP. The same variables, with similar estimates and confidence-intervals, were identified by the random-effects model. In a fixed-effects model where each patient was used as their own control, days since prior LP and the effect of using image-guidance were significant. Random-effects and GEE lead to similar conclusions, whereas fixed-effects discards between-subject comparisons and leads to different estimates and interpretation of results.

Keywords: leukemia
lumbar punctures
Advisor: Sung, Lillian