VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Keeping in Touch or Keeping Score? Social Comparisons on Facebook

In face-to-face contexts, individuals typically make one social comparison per day and make more self-enhancing downward comparisons (to worse-off others) than potentially threatening upward comparisons (to better-off others). However, online social networks such as Facebook may be radically altering these standards. In two studies, I examined the frequency, direction, and impact of social comparisons on Facebook, and investigated potential moderating factors, including self-esteem. Participants reported making more upward than downward Facebook comparisons (Studies 1 and 2) and made an average of four comparisons in a 20-minute Facebook session (Study 2). Both low self-esteem and being motivated to log onto Facebook to get information with others predict making more comparisons on Facebook (Study 1) and participants with lower self-esteem may feel worse about themselves after making both upward and downward Facebook comparisons compared to their higher self-esteem peers (Study 2).

Keywords: Social comparisons
Facebook
Self-esteem
Advisor: Lockwood, Penelope
Awakening the 'Sleeping Beauty of the Peace Palace' - The Two-dimensional Role of Arbitration in the Pacific Settlement of Interstate Territorial Disputes Involving Armed Conflict

Interstate arbitration is commonly viewed as an essentially judicial process, suitable for the resolution of legal questions but inappropriate to deal with “political” issues. This conception, however, arguably flies in the face of both the origins and historical function of interstate arbitration and the complex legal-political nature of most interstate disputes. This paper offers an alternative account of interstate arbitration, which views it as a sui generis hybrid mechanism that combines “legal” and “diplomatic” dimensions to effectively resolve all aspects of interstate disputes. The paper examines this proposed account by analyzing four complex interstate territorial disputes that were submitted to arbitration and assessing the extent to which these two dimensions were recognized and employed, and how this may have affected the resolution of the disputes. Based on this analysis, the paper offers a two-dimensional operative framework intended to guide states and arbitrators in the resolution of future complex interstate disputes.

Keywords: Public international law
Conflict resolution
Arbitration
Interstate territorial disputes
Advisor: Knop, Karen C.
Design and Development of Ground Segment Software and Hardware for Nanosatellie Space Missions

Contributions to two nanosatellite missions are discussed. First, the design and development of a test system for an advanced nanosatellite power board is discussed. Details of software and hardware design process involved in the implementation of automated test procedures are presented. The system has been deployed for unit-level testing of power boards for several nanosatellite missions, significantly reducing testing cost and time. Next, a Mission Planning and Scheduling Software platform is proposed for Earth Observation missions. The motivation is described for the development of a stand-alone application enabling satellite operations teams to identify suitable observation scenario parameters. Attitude and orbital trajectory estimation algorithms constituting the computational model are integrated and implemented within a graphical visualization environment to allow interaction with the user in an efficient and intuitive manner. Key results of major component-level testing are presented, showing the behaviour and accuracy of analytical components satisfy mission requirements.

Keywords: nanosatellite
testing
mission planning
Advisor: Zee, Robert E.
Time-dependent Transformation of Episodic Memories

Although there has been over a century of research on memory and consolidation, there remains no consensus with respect to the nature of episodic memories over time. This study tests two prominent theories (Standard Consolidation Theory and Trace Transformation Hypothesis), which make opposing predictions as to the quality of remote episodic memory, by investigating memories for film clips. Using true/false questions to test recall immediately, 3 days, and 7 days after encoding, these experiments demonstrate that details (both perceptual and story-line details) are lost, while the gist of memories is maintained over time. These data also suggest that gist and detail may be maintained independently in the brain. These results broaden our understanding of recent and remote memory, and provide support for the transformation view of consolidation. In the future, the transfer of this paradigm to neuroimaging will allow us to investigate the neural basis of episodic memory over time.

Keywords: Episodic Memory
Transformation
Consolidation
Advisor: Moscovitch, Morris
Dynamic Linkage Between Local Cross-frequency Coupling and Communication Through Coherence in an in Vitro Model of Human Neocortical Oscillatory Activity

The dynamical underpinnings of complex computation and information transmission within the brain, while of great interest to the neuroscience community at large, remain poorly understood. One of the striking manifestations of neuronal population activity is that of rhythmic oscillations in the local field potential. It is thought that distinct patterns of these oscillations such as cross-frequency coupling within a given spatial location and coherence between disparate brain regions may represent neuronal computation and communication, respectively. Here we show such dynamics within a human temporal neocortical in vitro model. In specific, we show theta-gamma cross frequency coupling in deep and superficial layers, phase coherence between layers at theta frequencies, and a measure of communication (phase dependent power correlations) between layers at theta frequency. Additionally, we show a novel correlation between communication across layers and cross frequency coupling within layers, demonstrating a dynamic link between local computation and intralaminar communication.

Keywords: Cross Frequency Coupling
Modulation Index
Communication Through Coherence
Phase Coherence
Human
Intralaminar
Cortex
Electrophysiology
Advisor: Bardakjian, Berj
The Effects of Over-reporting and Under-reporting Response Bias on the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5)

Accurate self-report assessment of psychopathology depends on individuals responding honestly and accurately. Some respondents, however, may respond in a manner not representative of their traits/symptoms. The MMPI-2-RF contains “validity” scales to detect elevations on over-reporting (OR) or under-reporting (UR) scales which typically correspond to elevations on MMPI-2-RF substantive scales and on instruments administered alongside the MMPI-2-RF. We examined effects of OR and UR on the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5); a self-report instrument that assesses 25 pathological traits used with other diagnostic criteria to diagnose personality disorders (PDs) in Section III of the DSM-5. Using MMPI-2-RF validity scale scores, 908 students and 255 psychiatric outpatients were classified into OR, UR or within normal limit response groups. Significant group differences were found such that differences in the frequency of PD diagnosis emerged across response groups. We believe the PID-5 is vulnerable to OR and UR responding, which potentially compromises its validity.

Keywords: DSM-5
MMPI-2-RF
non-credible responding
over-reporting
under-reporting
personality disorders
Personality Inventory for DSM-5
PID-5
response bias
validity scales
invalid responding
PD diagnosis
Advisor: Bagby, R. Michael
Zakzanis, Konstantine
Human Rights and Contracts as Labour Governance: A (Post-)legal Realist Inquiry

Law and development mainstream conceptions of labour market policies, while still marked by long-dominant views of contract law as economically superior to any labour regulation, have recently incorporated certain specific labour (human) rights. Core labour rights are thus accepted by global policy-makers, on the basis of their radical distinction from non-core labour standards and their rationalization according to certain foundational principles. This thesis criticizes the prevailing dichotomies between core labour rights and non-core standards, on the one hand, and contract law and regulation, on the other, bringing to bear the post-legal realist idea of legal indeterminacy. It argues that the organizing legal concepts that justify these dichotomies contain gaps and ambiguities that often lead to contradictory and indeterminate outcomes. It thus suggests that the core/non-core labour standards and contract/regulation distinctions are unproductive and should be rejected if a better conception of labour governance is to come to fruition.

Keywords: Law and Development
Core Labour Rights
International Labour Organization
Contract Law
Washington Consensus
Neoliberalism
Equality Rights
Freedom of Association
Successor Rights
Collective Bargaining
Critical Legal Studies
American Legal Realism
Indeterminacy
Legal Semiotics
Interruption of Performance
Substantive Equality
Advisor: Rittich, Kerry
Cossman, Brenda
The Development and Evaluation of a Fully-coupled Monolithic Approach to Aero-structural Analysis and Optimization

A monolithic approach to aero-structural analysis and optimization has been developed and implemented. In contrast to a partitioned approach which uses individual fluid and structural solvers to solve their respective systems separately, the monolithic approach solves a fully-coupled system simultaneously, enforcing solution compatibility across the sub-system interfaces at each iteration. In this work, a three-field formulation is used, consisting of fluid, structural, and fluid mesh-movement sub-systems. The performance of the monolithic approach is characterized using 1-D unsteady and 2-D steady analysis problems, and compared with a partitioned approach. Four steady model aero-structural optimization problems are also investigated. Gradients of the objective function are computed using the discrete-adjoint and flow-sensitivity (direct) methods. In each case, the monolithic approach is shown to be a promising option for efficient aero-structural analysis and optimization, though the implementation requires additional development of coupling sub-matrices when compared to a partitioned approach.

Keywords: CFD
optimiztion
aerodynamics
structural
monolithic
fluid-structure interaction
aero-structural
analysis
Advisor: Zingg, David W.
Investigation of Light-harvesting Dynamics of Photosynthetic Pigment-protein Complexes using Ultrafast Spectroscopy

We investigate the ultrafast electronic excitation dynamics of phycobiliproteins from cryptophyte algae using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy and frequency-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. We detail the development of a transient absorption spectrometer that utilizes balanced and fast detection methods to reduce noise and maintain high temporal and spectral resolution. We observe coherent oscillations and attribute them to vibrational coherences using the wave packet formalism. Analysis of the dynamic Stokes shift and motion of the wave packet on the potential-energy surface indicate the coherences are predominantly situated in the excited electronic state of the protein. These measurements imply that the ultrafast energy transfer within phycobiliproteins is coupled to the vibrational motion of its constituent chromophores. We demonstrate the capability and necessity of multiple ultrafast spectroscopic techniques for determining the origin of coherent motion in photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes.

Advisor: Scholes, Gregory D.
Factors Affecting Gaseous Mercury (Hg) Emissions from Soils: Insights from Disturbance due to Frest Harvesting and Hg Source Depth Manipulation

This thesis explored the impacts of forest harvesting on gaseous elemental mercury emissions from forest soils in both field and laboratory studies, through novel use of enriched mercury isotope tracers. Forest floor Hg emissions, sourced from legacy deposition, increased proportionally to the vegetation quantity removed, with biomass harvesting most exacerbating emissions. Contemporary Hg deposition did not appear to be influenced by harvesting. Some of the tracer was rapidly lost to the atmosphere (~8%), but most was sequestered within the soil. Two regimes facilitating Hg emissions were observed in low-light conditions. Under extremely dry conditions deeper Hg sources (&gt; 2cm depth) were as equally susceptible to emission as shallower sources. Following wetting to field capacity, emissions were elevated only from shallow sources, likely as a result of upward capillary transport. Impacts of vegetation removal and dry fluxes are previously uncharacterized and may constitute large additional sources to regional atmospheric Hg cycling.

Keywords: Mercury
Emission
Forest Harvesting
Soil
Isotope
Source Depth
Dry Flux
Soil Wetting
Flux
Wet Flux
Solar Radiation
Soil Moisture
Leaf Litter
Sequestration
ICP-MS
Tekran
Tracer
Enriched Mercury Isotope
Forest Floor
Deposition
Biomass Harvesting
Capillary Transport
Hg
Cycling
Advisor: Mitchell, Carl
Business Models for Selling AEC Knowledge over the Cloud

Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms are in need to modify their business models to exploit available opportunities by the increasing role of knowledge management and information technology in the global economy. This thesis will propose business models for AEC firms to sell consulting knowledge on-line. The three proposed business models are: business and management intelligence, design optimization and innovation and; software customization and real time data analytics. The business models are based on selling online consulting knowledge services customized to the customers' business needs through enabling emerging information technologies like cloud computing. The models were developed through benchmarking cases in other industries, previous classifications in the area of business models and, experts insights. The suitability of these models to different clients will be assessed in addition to the most suitable revenue streams. Finally, the validated final business models will be presented in the framework by Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010).

Keywords: Business Models
Cloud Computing
Project Management
Business Intelligence
Building Information Modelling
Software Tailoring
AEC Firms
Advisor: El-Diraby, Tamer
The Effect of Ankle Arthritis on Hindfoot Kinematics During Heel Rise

The act of raising the heel up is an essential portion of the gait cycle in humans, comprising the third rocker in the gait cycle. This act further demands specific motions from the hindfoot, and the surrounding structures. These motions have been previously studied and are reasonably well understood. End-stage osteoarthritis of the ankle (or ESOA) has been theorized to affect not only the ankle joint, but the same joints required for heel rise. (i.e. - hindfoot, lower leg, and foot) In the present research, the powerful effect that ESOA has on the lower leg, hindfoot and forefoot biomechanical relationship was demonstrated as significantly different from that of healthy age and sex-matched controls. This has implications not only for further research, but potentially treatment as well.

Keywords: foot & ankle biomechanics
arthritis
Advisor: Fernie, Geoff
Adhesion of Epoxy Coating to Steel Reinforcement under Alkaline Conditions

Epoxy-coated reinforcement was developed in the 1970s and became the primary corrosion protection technique in North America. Throughout the years, ECR has exhibited mixed results, with some regions and jurisdictions reporting good corrosion protection while others reported poor field performance of ECR. It has been established that epoxy coating can lose its adhesion in a wet environment thus providing poor corrosion protection of reinforcing steel. However, limited research has been done on the influence of concrete pore solution on adhesion of epoxy coating to reinforcing steel. This research investigates the effect of high alkali conditions on performance of ECR bars. Based on the test results, it was found that the rate of disbondment increases as the hydroxyl ion concentration increases and presence of high temperature accelerates the disbondment process.

Keywords: adhesion
Epoxy
Cathodic Disbondment
pH
Alkaline
Disbondment
Advisor: Hooton, Robert Douglas
Molecular Characterization, Expression Analysis and Physiological Roles of Allatotropin in Rhodnius prolixus

Rhodnius prolixus, the principal Chagas disease vector, requires a blood meal to complete its moult cycle into the next stage. Allatotropins (ATs), a family of peptides first isolated from Manduca sexta, have been shown to regulate the biosynthesis of juvenile hormone, an insect growth and development hormone; however, ATs, being multimodal peptides, also exhibit myotropic effects on some insect visceral muscles. Here, this AT family of peptides has been examined in R. prolixus. Genomic analysis revealed a cDNA fragment of 973bp encoding one mature amidated AT tridecapeptide (Rhopr-AT) with high transcript levels observed, via RT-PCR, in the central nervous system (CNS) and pool of fat body and trachea. AT-like immunoreactive neurons were found throughout the CNS and AT-like immunoreactive processes were present on some peripheral tissues. Bioassays using hindgut and dorsal vessel contraction, however, failed to demonstrate any effect of Rhopr-AT on these tissues. Future work will examine the effects of Rhopr-AT on JH production.

Keywords: Rhodnius prolixus
blood-gorging
neurophysiology
allatotropin
physiology
neuroendocrinology
immunoreactivity
insect
hemipteran
Advisor: Orchard, Ian
Maternal Intakes and Sources of Folate and other One-carbon Nutrients in the Post-fortification Era

This study characterizes B vitamin supplement use prior to and during pregnancy, changes in dietary one-carbon nutrient intakes (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, choline, betaine and methionine) and most significant dietary sources. In Canadian women (Toronto, Ontario) supplemental (n=364) and dietary intakes (using a food frequency questionnaire) (n=290) were assessed during early and late pregnancy. Majority reported using a B vitamin-containing supplement prior (60%) to and during early (93%) and late (89%) pregnancy. Median supplemental intakes of folic acid, B12 and B6 were 1000 µg/d, 2.6 µg/d and 1.9 mg/d, respectively. Dietary one-carbon nutrient intakes did not change appreciably between early and late pregnancy. Most significant sources of folate and B6 were fruits and vegetables, of folic acid were cereals and grains and of B12 were dairy and egg products. Overall, this study provides novel information about one-carbon nutrient intakes in pregnancy which are crucial in maternal and child health.

Keywords: folate
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
choline
betaine
methionine
pregnancy
one-carbon nutrients
food frequency questionnaire
supplements
Advisor: Kim, Young-In
O'Connor, Deborah Louise
The Sonch’on Trial: Legalizing Colonial Intentions

This thesis takes a fresh look at the legal practices observed at the Sŏnch’ŏn trial, the main trial of the Korean Conspiracy Case. On 28 June 1912, 132 suspects were brought forth on charges of alleged assassination of the first Governor-General of colonial Korea, Masatake Terauchi. It is argued that if the immediate local interests of the new administration invariably affected the entire case, what determined the nature of the suspects’ treatment before and during the trial was a set of formal and informal legal practices that were transported to the colony amidst legal reforms. By analysis the trial from an empire-wide perspective, this study looks at how specific legal practices from the metropole were exacerbated in Korea through legal loopholes and the agency of legal actors and how such informal and disavowed legal practices both defined the legal system of the colony and helped sustain the Japanese colonial venture.

Keywords: Colonial Korea
Law in Korea
Anti-Colonial Movement
Sunchon Case
Korean Conspiracy Trial
Legal Reforms in Korea
Colonial Administration
Torture
Advisor: Schmid, Andre
Thermo-mechanical Behaviour of Turbine Disc Assembly in the Presence of Residual Stresses

A comprehensive three dimensional coupled thermo-mechanical finite element study is performed on turbine blade attachments in gas turbine engines. The effects of the self-generated centrifugal forces of the disc and the associated blades, thermal loads, and shot peening residual are all considered in this thesis. Three aspects of the work were accordingly examined. The first was concerned with the coupled thermo-mechanical stress analysis and load sharing between the teeth of the fir-tree root. The second was devoted to the development of a complete model incorporating the effect of shot peening residual stresses upon the developed stress state. The effectiveness of shot peening treatment in response to cyclic thermo-mechanical loadings at the contact interface has also been studied. The third was concerned with the validation of some aspects of the developed models analytically using closed form solutions and experimentally using photoelasticity.

Keywords: Thermo-Mechanical
Residual Stress
Shot Peening
Turbine Disc Assembly
Finite Element Method
Advisor: Meguid, Shaker A.
The Role of Visuomotor Regulation Processes on Perceived Audiovisual Events

Recent evidence suggests audiovisual perception changes as one engages in action. Specifically, if an audiovisual illusion comprised of 2 flashes and 1 beep is presented during the high velocity portion of upper- limb movements, the influence of the auditory stimuli is subdued. The goal of this thesis was to examine if visuomotor regulation processes that rely on information obtained when the limb is traveling at a high velocity could explain this perceptual modulation. In the present study, to control for engagement in visuomotor regulation processes, vision of the environment was manipulated. In conditions without vision of the environment, participants did not show the noted modulation of the audiovisual illusion. Also, analysis of the movement trajectories and endpoint precision revealed that movements without vision were less controlled than movements performed with vision. These results suggest that engagement in visuomotor regulation processes can influence perception of certain audiovisual events during goal-directed action.

Keywords: multisensory integration
perception
action
vision
Advisor: Tremblay, Luc
Role of Chromosomal Type II Toxin-antitoxin Modules in Survival of Streptococcus mutans

Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are composed of a stable toxin and its cognate unstable antitoxin that impedes the toxin through direct interaction. The human oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans uses a quorum-sensing peptide (CSP) as a stress-inducible pheromone to synchronize gene expression in response to specific stressors. The objectives of this study were to investigate the role of S. mutans MazEF TA in cell survival and characterize the functionality of CSP-inducible chromosomal type II TAs. Our results suggest that MazEF represents a stress-response element. Interestingly, S. mutans negatively regulates its MazEF system under high-cell-density environment that is characteristic of oral biofilms. S. mutans also encodes a novel chromosomal type II TA involved in biofilm formation and development of dormant persister cells. The results from this study suggest a complex interplay between quorum-sensing (signal), type II TA activation (response), and persister formation (phenotype) as a reaction to environmental perturbations.

Keywords: Toxin-antitoxin
Streptococcus mutans
Advisor: Lévesque, Céline