VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Spatially Distributed Sequential Stimulation on Fatigue in Functional Electrical Stimulation Rowing

Secondary medical complications caused by paralysis in spinal cord injury (SCI) can be mitigated by regular exercise. Hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES) exercises such as FES-rowing integrate stimulated paralyzed muscles with voluntary muscle movement and are more effective than traditional exercises. Because FES-rowing is relatively new, reviews of its clinical benefits do not exist. Furthermore, acute muscle fatigue limits the effectiveness of FES-rowing. Therefore, the objectives of this thesis were (1) to conduct a systematic review of the benefits of FES-rowing and (2) to investigate reducing acute muscle fatigue in FES-rowing with spatially distributed sequential stimulation (SDSS) to extend exercise duration.FES-rowing was found to be an effective clinical exercise for combating secondary medical complications. SDSS improved fatigue resistance during FES-rowing when compared to traditional stimulation protocols in 15 able-bodied individuals. Application of these results would increase the effectiveness FES-rowing as rehabilitative exercise for individuals with SCI.

Keywords: electrical stimulation
electrical stimulation therapy
exercise therapy
muscle fatigue
rowing
spinal cord injury
Advisor: Masani, Kei
Changes in Sexual Behaviours among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men who Have Sex with Men Occurring during the COVID-19 Pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing measures and stay-at-home orders have been put in place around the world to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, several studies outside Canada have found that some individuals, including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) have continued to engage in sexual activity. As such, the current research explored changes in sexual behaviours as a result of the pandemic among Canadian GBMSM. Findings revealed that Canadian GBMSM did report a reduction in sexual activity. Factors that predicted current high-risk sexual behaviour were identification with the bareback scene, sexual satisfaction and prior high-risk sexual behaviour. Our findings suggest that some Canadian GBMSM have continued to engage in sexual activities with casual and regular partners during the initial height of the pandemic, which has important implications for public health policies and health promotion as the pandemic endures.

Keywords: COVID-19
LGBTQ
MSM
Sexual Health
Sexuality
Advisor: Gillis, J. Roy
Electroencephalography of the Trail Making Test

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test consisting of Parts A and B, which involve linking numbers and numbers alternating with letters, respectively. The temporal dynamics of TMT-related behavioural and neural changes remain to be characterized. Sixteen healthy young adults underwent TMT performance with electroencephalography (EEG) recording using tablet technology to capture enhanced performance metrics such as the speed of linking movements, and linking and non-linking periods - the time spent executing and preparing movements, respectively. Seconds per link (SPL) was also employed to evaluate TMT performance. A strong effect of TMT Part A and B was found for SPL values, whereas a strong effect of linking and non-linking periods was found in multiple EEG frequency bands, as well as effects consistent with previous studies of TMT-related brain activity performed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. 连线测试（TMT）是一种神经心理学测试，由A部分和B部分组成，分别涉及连线数字和以字母交替的数字。 TMT相关的行为和神经变化的时间动态仍有待表征。 16位健康的年轻人使用平板技术通过脑电图（EEG）记录进行了TMT表现，以获取增强的表现指标，例如连线运动的速度以及连线和非连线时间——执行和准备运动所花费的时间。每连线秒数（SPL）也用于评估TMT表现。发现TMT-A和TMT-B部分对SPL值有很强的影响，而在多个EEG频段中发现了连接和非连接期的强影响，并且这种影响与以前使用功能磁共振成像发现的TMT相关脑活动一致。

Keywords: Computerized tablet
EEG
Neuropsychological tests
partial least squares
Time-frequency analysis
Trail Making Test
Advisor: Graham, Simon J
Investigating Translocator Protein Binding in Borderline Personality Disorder with Serious Self-harm Behavior: An [18 F] FEPPA Positron Emission Tomography Study

Several studies have demonstrated that microglial activation is implicated in various psychiatric illnesses. The role of microglial activation in borderline personality disorder (BPD), however, and its relationship to behavioral symptoms remains elusive. Translocator protein-18 kDa (TSPO), a marker of activated microglia, can be evaluated by utilizing the radioligand, [18F]-FEPPA, in a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. We compared the TSPO total distribution volume (TSPO VT) of 12 BPD with non-suicidal self-injury to 14 controls using [18F]-FEPPA PET. We also correlated the TSPO VT of different brain regions in BPD subjects to the severity of BPD features. Results indicated that the TSPO VT in the anterior cingulate cortex of BPD participants with a high-affinity binding genotype was reduced. Significant negative associations were also identified between the TSPO VT in frontal structures of BPD subjects and features of BPD after controlling for genotype. These findings suggest a neuroinflammatory imbalance in this population.

Keywords: Borderline Personality Disorder
Microglial Activation
Neuroimaging
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Positron Emission Tomography
Translocator Protein
Advisor: Kolla, Nathan NK
Aspen Plus Model Simulation and Financial Analysis of Pyrrhotite Processing Technology Options

The feasibility of a novel bioleaching two-stage process for pyrrhotite tailings treatment is evaluated using leaching kinetics and process simulation of the proposed tailing treatment process, using Microsoft Excel and Aspen Plus V10. Some operational limits encountered during the process simulation include low solids loading and abiotic conversion, which constrained by the operating pH, especially for the biotic unit. In addition, a trade-off observed between metal solution throughput and % nickel recovery. Based on the process simulation of a plant with a 500 tonne/hour tailing throughput, a financial analysis of the two-stage process predicted a net present value of -$6.9 billion, with a 15% discount rate. The main contributors that affect the net present value of the process are the capital cost and the sales revenue based on 29% sulfur and 54% nickel recovery. Comparisons with other alternative processes and closure plans indicate the need for further improvements of the two-stage process.

Advisor: Saville, Bradley
Waveform Visualization in Augmented Reality using Electric Machines and Software-defined Radio with High Dynamic Range Signal Compositing

The human eye can only perceive the visible spectrum, a tiny portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Scientific instruments can be employed to measure a wider range of the electromagnetic spectrum compared to the human eye, but these instruments fail to directly connect their measurements to the environment. The Sequential Wave Imprinting Machine (SWIM) was originally invented in the 1970s to allow the human eye to perceive electromagnetic waves in the environment, such as radio waves, in phenomenological augmented reality, a type of augmented reality. One disadvantage with this original SWIM implementation is hardware complexity, which requires specialized hardware such as lock-in amplifiers to function. In this thesis, the goal is to utilize software-defined radios (SDRs) to facilitate miniaturization of the SWIM and examine the possible use of high dynamic range technique to improve the dynamic range of the SDR-based SWIM. The SWIM is also combined with electric machines and EEG.

Keywords: Augmented Reality
Electric Machines
Electroencephalogram
High Dynamic Range
Signal Processing
Software-Defined Radio
Advisor: Mann, Steve
Relationship Between Lateral Load and Interstorey Drift in Total Precast Concrete Buildings

This thesis documents the first phase of the project in which the end goal is to develop a model that characterizes the relationship between lateral load and interstorey drift in total precast concrete buildings. CSA Standard A23.3 and the CPCI Design Manual will be used as the main source of design codes and standards for this project. In this thesis, the lateral load-deflection response of the welded plate connection, which is one of the two main connection types used in total precast concrete buildings, has been developed based on a series of experiments. The following have also been completed in this thesis: 1. The experimental design for characterizing the tensile load-deflection response of the grouted dowel connection, which is the other main connection type, and 2. The preliminary experimental design for a storey test, which aims to characterize the behaviour of a storey within a total precast building.

Keywords: grouted dowel connection
interstorey drift
Relationship Between Lateral Load and Interstorey Drift
total precast building
Total Precast Concrete Buildings
welded plate conncection
Advisor: Gauvreau, Paul
Development and Application of Sampling and Extraction Methods for Microplastics in Drinking Water

To-date, no standardized methods have been proposed for analyzing microplastics in drinking waters. This study assessed known methods to collect and extract microplastics from treated drinking waters and identified two common limitations: use of insufficient water, and lack of method recovery assessment. In response, this study developed an in-line filtration method, which improved accuracy when compared to in-laboratory filtration methods. In-line filtration was shown to have higher recoveries for the reference microplastics examined (+37% for PVC fragments, +23% for PET fragments, +22% for nylon fibers and +7% for PET fibers) and a greater potential to reduce microplastic contamination. The filtration capacity of in-line filtration method was observed to exceed 350 L of treated water. Application of in-line filtration was validated using ultrafiltration (UF) influent and effluent from two full-scale drinking water treatment facilities. UF represents an effective technology which is capable of removing ~95% of microplastics from drinking water.

Keywords: Drinking Water
Methods
Microplastics
QA/QC
Advisor: Andrews, Robert RCA
The Effect of Steam on Potassium and Chlorine Release during Biomass Combustion

The performance of biomass and kraft recovery boilers is hindered by alkali and chlorine in the fuel because these elements aect fouling and corrosion in the covective passes.The release of alkali and chlorides during combustion in environments containing steam, like that inside a boiler, is not well understood. Here, the release of K and Cl from three biomass fuels in dierent gas environments is measured. Additionally, mass loss and particle temperature throughout combustion are measured. In biomass, steam and CO2 in the gas environment are signicant during char oxidation. Their presence slows the release of K and Cl during char conversion, while increasing the char conversion rate and decreasing the particle temperature. It is suspected that this decrease in char temperature is due to the endothermic gasication reactions on the char surface by steam and CO2. The decrease in the char temperature results in a lower KCl vapour pressure and lower KCl vapourization rate. Steam and CO2 did not aect the mass loss or the release of K and Cl from black liquor, though. The black liquor particle temperature was lowered by steam.

Keywords: Biomass
Black Liquor
Chlorine
Combustion
Potassium
Advisor: DeMartini, Nikolai
Characterizing Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato DC3000 in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Arabidopsis species possesses great genetic diversity, yet no reports have thoroughly characterized a resistance response against the pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (PtoDC3000). Our investigation found one ecotype, Kz-9, demonstrating resistance to PtoDC3000, and phenotypes consistent with an effector-triggered immune (ETI) response. After screening 47 PtoDC3000 effectors for ETI-eliciting capability in Kz-9, two candidates were found: hopI1i and avrE1f. A PtoDC3000∆hopI1i mutant grew similarly to wild-type PtoDC3000 in Kz-9, suggesting AvrE1f or another protein may function redundantly with HopI1i to trigger ETI.Next-generation mapping highlighted a 1.365 Mbp region in Kz-9’s genome correlating with resistance to PtoDC3000; 18 immunity-associated genes are located here, and one is hypothesized to confer resistance. Upon annotating this region, seven Kz-9 unique genes were identified, absent in the susceptible Col-0 reference, including two additional RPS4-like genes. These candidate genes are targets of downstream genetic manipulation, to test for their role in PtoDC3000 resistance.

Advisor: Guttman, David S
Desveaux, Darrell
The Timing and Extent of Water Limitation Structures Trophic Interactions in a Terrestrial Plant-insect System

In many terrestrial systems, water is an important resource that impacts plant growth, survival and responses to herbivory. These impacts often cascade to affect herbivores and their predators, altering trophic interactions. Working with milkweed plants and aphid herbivores, I investigated: 1) The interactive effects of water availability and temperature on plant-herbivore-predator dynamics and 2) The effect of drought timing on plant-herbivore interactions. I show that water is important in shaping trophic dynamics. While I did not find evidence for interactions between temperature and water availability impacting trophic dynamics, my first study demonstrates the influence of water and temperature on herbivore populations differed over time, and my second study showed both plants and herbivores to be highly sensitive to changes in the timing of short-term drought. This research illustrates the significance of considering temporal scale when examining environmental change and trophic dynamics.

Advisor: Gilbert, Benjamin
Inhibitory Control Mediates the Association between Emotion Dysregulation and Symptoms of ADHD and ODD in Children with Disruptive Behaviour

Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) often show emotion dysregulation associated with considerable impairment in social, academic, and family domains. Inhibitory control is a cognitive mechanism that influences emotion regulation and is also often impaired in children with ADHD and/or ODD. The present study investigates the role of inhibitory control as a possible mediator in the association between emotion dysregulation and symptoms of ADHD and ODD. Standardized questionnaires and clinician-facilitated structured interviews were used to collect parent and teacher ratings of difficulties in a clinical sample of 297 children (M age = 8.24 (1.7); 79.3% male) with disruptive behaviour. Findings suggest that inhibitory control is a key cognitive mechanism that mediates the relationship between emotional and behavioural difficulties in children with disruptive behaviour. Consequently, emotion dysregulation and inhibitory control may be important targets in psychosocial interventions for children with ADHD and/or ODD symptoms.

Keywords: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Childhood
Emotion Dysregulation
Inhibitory Control
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Advisor: Bedard, Anne-Claude V
Andrade, Brendan F
The Synthesis and Kinetic Characterization of Bi-substrate Inhibitors Targeting M. Tuberculosis GlmU Acetyltransferase

In an arms race against pathogenic bacteria, novel antibacterial agents are constantly being developed. To disrupt the integrity of the bacterial cell wall, a method of inhibiting peptidoglycan biosynthesis has been proposed. In this work, the chemoenzymatic synthesis of a bi-substrate inhibitor targeting M. tuberculosis GlmU was performed. Fortunately, no eukaryotic orthologue of GlmU acetyltransferase exists, making this domain an attractive target for inhibition. In an attempt to elucidate key structural components leading to increased inhibition of GlmU, the linker of the bi-substrate inhibitor was explored. This required synthesizing challenging glycosyl-1-phosphate intermediates using the promiscuous NahK enzyme. To determine GlmU two-substrate kinetics and measure inhibition of our inhibitors, an in vitro UV-vis continuous assay employing an Ellman’s reagent derivative was used. The inhibitor (LB1115) displayed a competitive Ki, AcCoA of 4.1 ± 0.3 μM and a non-competitive Ki, GlcN-1-P of 3.9 ± 0.2 μM.

Keywords: Antibiotic
Bi-substrate inhibitor
Chemoenzymatic
GlmU
Synthesis
Tuberculosis
Advisor: Nitz, Mark
Development of Carbon Lewis Acids for Hydrodefluorination Catalysis

Industry relies heavily on costly noble metals for use in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and petroleum research. However, extraction of polymetallic ore deposits contributes to human rights violations and irreversible ecological damage. These concerns must weigh on the scientific community as rare-Earth feedstocks decline, and industrial means of satisfying demand grow more extreme. By contrast, metal-free main group elements exhibit considerable natural abundance and structural diversity, yet their use as catalysts remains underdeveloped. Chapter 1 discusses the development of novel carbon-based bipyridinium and phenanthrolinium dications. Applicability of these species towards catalytic hydrodefluorination (HDF) is reported in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 details the computations used to determine the Hydride Ion Affinity (HIA) of these species and to examine their participation in HDF. Overall, this thesis demonstrates application of novel main group initiators towards modes of reactivity potentially useful in the remediation of chemically persistent perfluorinated compounds.

Advisor: Stephan, Douglas W
Metabolic Immaturity of Stem Cell-derived β Cells Impairs Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion

Type I diabetes is characterized by an autoimmune-mediated loss of β cells and subsequent insufficiency of insulin. Unmet donor supply has potentiated the need for other islet transplant cell sources, including human embryonic stem cell-derived β cells (hESC-β), to achieve long-term insulin independence without the need for exogenous insulin. However, hESC-β have limited insulin secretion function in vitro. We have demonstrated that these β-like cells are metabolically immature resulting in impaired insulin secretion in response to glucose and alternative secretagogues. Compared to human islets, hESC-β appear to predominantly use glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation resulting in inefficient metabolism. hESC-β also have a reduced spare respiratory capacity demonstrating inefficiencies in mitochondrial function. Lastly, while these immature β-like cells express essential β cell genes, they maintain expression of the disallowed genes hexokinase I/II and lactate dehydrogenase A, which may have a role in impairing glucose responsiveness and β cell maturity.

Keywords: beta cell
diabetes
islets
metabolism
Advisor: Screaton, Robert A
Decoding Striga Germination through Functional Characterization of Gibberellin Signaling Components in Arabidopsis thaliana and Striga hermonthica

In sub-Saharan Africa, Striga hermonthica affects $300 million worth of crops every year. Strigolactones (SLs) but not gibberellic acid (GA), induce germination of Striga seeds. In Arabidopsis, degradation of DELLA repressor proteins is necessary for GA-mediated biological responses including germination, cell expansion, and floral development. Since bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of DELLA homologues in Striga (ShDELFAs), each ShDELFA is overexpressed in Arabidopsis to characterize their functions. All ShDELFAs are functional in Arabidopsis of which, two, suppress germination and vegetative growth, and are degraded by GA, much like the Arabidopsis DELLAs while the other, showed unique characteristics such as resistance to GA-induced degradation and with no apparent suppression of germination and vegetative development. Crucially, Striga’s SL receptor can bypass DELLA degradation to induce seed germination in Arabidopsis. Further studies on how GA affects Striga germination may contribute to a solution in eradicating Striga infestations.

Advisor: Lumba, Shelley SL
CFD Modelling of an Evaporator Pump Experiencing CaCO3 Scaling

Significant calcium carbonate scaling has been reported in the black liquor transfer pumps of a North American kraft pulp mill. CFD modelling was done to examine possible scaling mechanisms. A mesh of a typical pump was designed, and the flow of black liquor at mill conditions was modeled in Ansys CFX to get temperature, pressure, velocity, and shear profiles. In order to understand how particles in the flow might affect scale build up, particles were introduced at the inlet, particle trajectories were calculated, and the impact of particles on blades was assessed. It was found that the areas of high velocity particle impact lead to less scale formation.

Advisor: Bussmann, Markus
DeMartini, Nikolai
Social Responsibility in Future Worlds: Using Student-led Futures Thinking Practices to Assist in Redesigning Engineering Education

This research explores the potential for integrating futures thinking and speculative design practices in undergraduate engineering education, as a move to push Canadian engineering pedagogy into student-led spaces for more creative, reflective, and civic-oriented thinking. The research examines iterative design and development sessions, which detail the transformation of an educational, student-led intervention into an exploratory, futures-based workshop— Undiscipline. Though pilot play sessions, the potential of this tool is examined, particularly in its encouragement of participants to continually question their perception of the future, their understanding of society, and their role and responsibility to shape a preferable future. Lastly, this study discusses the potential for this game as a tool for student-led and values-driven education, to propose the implementation of futures studies in mainstream education as a method for reflective and creative growth, and how Undiscipline can be used as a lens to examine institutional pushback and burgeoning possibilities for educator implementation.

Keywords: Civic Design
Design Fiction
Futures Studies
Holistic Engineering
Speculative Design
Student-led
Advisor: Ratto, Matt
When Your Outcomes Become My Rewards: Individual Differences in the Neural Representation of Others’ Outcomes Drives Prosociality (or Antisociality)

Contemporary theories of prosociality suggest the mesolimbic dopamine reward circuit may play a critical role in enabling prosociality during social decision-making. One implication is that people who find good outcomes for others to be rewarding should incorporate this signal during decision-making, and variance in the strength of this signal should lead to variations in decision-making. The degree to which others’ outcomes were experienced as rewarding was estimated through the modelling of outcome-period BOLD activity in a social decision-making task. Variation in reward to others’ outcomes moderated decision-making and related to established metrics of empathy, suggesting that the degree to which others’ outcomes will be rewarding to the self are incorporated during decision-making. The ability of the reward system to represent others’ outcomes may be an exaptation of the reward system in hypersocial animals, though, how others’ outcomes are represented in the reward system can promote either prosocial or antisocial behaviour.

Keywords: altruism
empathy
prosociality
reward
social cognition
social decision-making
Advisor: Cunningham, William A