VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
APROVE: A Stable and Robust VANET Clustering Scheme using Affinity Propagation

The need for an effective clustering algorithm for Vehicle Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) is motivated by the recent research in cluster-based MAC and routing schemes. VANETs are highly dynamic and have harsh channel conditions, thus a suitable clustering algorithm must be robust to channel error and must consider node mobility during cluster formation. This work presents a novel, mobility-based clustering scheme for Vehicle Ad hoc Networks, which forms clusters using the Affinity Propagation algorithm in a distributed manner. This proposed algorithm considers node mobility during cluster formation and produces clusters with high stability. Cluster performance was measured in terms of average cluster head duration, average cluster member duration, average rate of cluster head change, and average number of clusters. The proposed algorithm is also robust to channel error and exhibits reasonable overhead. Simulation results confirm the superior performance, when compared to other mobility-based clustering techniques.

Keywords: Clustering
Vehicle Ad hoc Networks
Affinity Propagation
Advisor: Valaee, Shahrokh
The Effects of Stress and Placebo Alcohol on Cognitive Activation and Inhibitory Control in Male Problem Gamblers and Problem Gamblers with Alcohol Use Disorder

This experiment studied relapse by assessing the separate/combined effects of two instigators: alcohol cues and stress on the salience of alcohol/gambling target stimuli and inhibitory control in twelve male problem gamblers and twelve male comorbid drinker-gamblers. Our study day consisted of two test sessions. Subjects received alcohol (non-alcoholic beer) and/or stress (uncontrollable noise) in a counterbalanced method. Hypotheses were tested using computer-based tasks, including the modified Stroop, gambling-word Shift Task, and the conventional and modified Stop-Signal Tasks. Stimuli with incentive value divert attention (i.e., are salient) selectively based on their clinical relevance to the subject and the nature of the instigating factor – stress (expected negative reinforcement) vs. anticipation of alcohol (expected positive reinforcement). Results suggest that alcohol cues and stress have differing effects on incentive salience, and disinhibit behaviour in both pathological populations. These findings have the potential to facilitate treatment and improve understanding for relapse prevention in these subjects.

Keywords: Gambling
Alcohol
Stress
Inhibitory Control
Advisor: Busto, Usoa
Canadian Pharmacists and Natural Health Products: Identifying Professional Responsibilities

Natural health products (NHPs) are increasingly sold in pharmacies. The purpose of this study was to determine Canadian pharmacists’ attitudes about their professional responsibilities regarding natural health products. A cross-sectional, random sample survey design was used: 3356 questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of licensed pharmacists in all provinces/territories in Canada (except Nunavut). Survey responses were evaluated using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. Response rate was 61%. Overall, respondents were most likely to endorse pharmacist responsibilities related to vitamins and minerals, followed by herbal medicines, then homeopathic medicines. Responsibilities regarding knowledge of NHPs and counseling on NHPs were more frequently endorsed than responsibilities associated with NHP-related documentation. Self-reported knowledge was positively associated with endorsement of NHP-related responsibilities for all NHP types.

Keywords: pharmacists
natural health products
responsibilities
attitudes
Advisor: Boon, Heather
VHF Beacon Development, Ground Segment, and Operations for CanX Missions

The versatile Generic Nanosatellite Bus (GNB) technology fused with the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment (CanX) missions is pioneered by the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies. Microspace philosophy has been employed at SFL to develop low cost nanosatellites with emerging technologies for education and research. This thesis provides an insight to the space systems engineering experience acquired by the author being a master’s student at SFL. This thesis describes the design, construction and testing of the VHF beacon transmitter for GNB. The umbilical Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) designed and built by the author is presented in this thesis. The assembly, integration and testing of the SFL ground station for the CanX missions has been explored. The on-orbit spacecraft operations for CanX-2 and NTS, from the launch campaign to the commissioning phase to nominal operations along with the anomalies faced and the contingency operations carried out by the author to date have been explained in detail in this thesis.

Keywords: CanX
nanosatellite
beacon
operations
Advisor: Zee, Robert E.
Incorporating Ratios in DEA—Applications to Real Data

In the standard Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the strong disposability and convexity axioms along with the variable/constant return to scale assumption provide a good estimation of the production possibility set and the efficient frontier. However, when data contains some or all measures represented by ratios, the standard DEA fails to generate an accurate efficient frontier. This problem has been addressed by a number of researchers and models have been proposed to solve the problem. This thesis proposes a “Maximized Slack Model” as a second stage to an existing model. This work implements a two phase modified model in MATLAB (since no existing DEA software can handle ratios) and with this new tool, compares the results of our proposed model against the results from two other standard DEA models for a real example with ratio and non-ratio measures. Then we propose different approaches to get a close approximation of the convex hull of the production possibility set as well as the frontier when ratio variables are present on the side of the desired orientation.

Keywords: DEA
Ratio variables
Advisor: Paradi, Joseph C.
Characterization of Perfluorocarbon Droplets for Focused Ultrasound Therapy

Focused ultrasound therapy can be enhanced with microbubbles by thermal and cavitation effects. However, localization of treatment becomes difficult as bioeffects can occur outside of the target region. Spatial control of gas bubbles can be achieved with acoustic vaporization of perfluorocarbon droplets. This study was undertaken to determine the acoustic parameters for bubble production by droplet vaporization and how it depends on the acoustic conditions and droplet physical parameters. Droplets of varying sizes were sonicated in vitro with a focused ultrasound transducer and varying frequency and exposure. Simultaneous measurements of the vaporization and inertial cavitation thresholds were performed. The results show that droplets cannot be vaporized at low frequency without inertial cavitation occurring. However, the vaporization threshold decreased with increasing frequency, exposure and droplet size. In summary, we have demonstrated that droplet vaporization is feasible for clinically-relevant sized droplets and acoustic exposures.

Keywords: focused ultrasound
perfluorocarbon droplets
Advisor: Hynynen, Kullervo
The New Ontario Human Rights Code: Implications for an Intersectional Approach to Human Rights Claims

This paper explores the theory of intersectionality and its viability for the analysis of human rights under the new legal process and institutional framework in Ontario. First, I examine the debate between essentialism and intersectionality and conclude that intersectionality is a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to anti-discrimination laws. Second, I examine Canadian Human Rights Code cases and Charter equality cases involving intersectional claims. These cases reveal three inadequate approaches to analyzing multiple grounds of discrimination and two positive developments in the intersectional analysis of human rights claims. After assessing the general congruence of the new institutional framework with the principles of administrative justice, I identify three recent changes to Ontario’s system that hinder the development of an intersectional analytical framework and I offer suggestions for improvement. I conclude that an intersectional approach to human rights claims is possible but is currently frustrated by the new institutional framework in Ontario.

Keywords: human rights
intersectionality
Advisor: Reaume, Denise
Limiting Democracy for the Sake of Itself: Fighting Extremism with Extreme Measures

In response to terrorism as one of the major challenges of our time, developments in anti-terrorism law have led to laws that infringe on democratic rights. The author addresses two key questions in relation to such legislation, namely how the development of such laws is influenced by rights instruments, and whether such laws can be justified as a proportionate response to the terrorist threat. The examination focuses on the key rights of expression and association. It takes place within a comparative jurisprudence structure, considering the treatment of these rights in the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA. The assessment is undertaken in the context of the definition of terrorism and in particular reflects on the thought/act distinction, and whether the motive element of the definition leads to a normative response that is justified or is particularly severe to these democratic rights.

Keywords: anti-terrorism law
comparative law
Advisor: Roach, Kent
Identification of Feline Leukemia Virus Variant That Uses THTR1, FLVCR1 and FLVCR2 as Receptors for Infection

The pathogenic subgroup C feline leukemia virus (C virus) arises in infected cats by mutations in the envelope gene (env) of subgroup A FeLV (A virus) that switches the host receptor used for infection. To better understand C virus emergence and potential FeLV variants that may arise, I characterized FeLV Env sequence isolated from the primary FY981 FeLV isolate derived from an anemic cat. I show that the FY981 pseudotype virus is capable of using both the A virus receptor THTR1, and the C virus receptor FLVCR1 for infection, consistent with the FY981 Env being a hybrid A virus/C virus Env. Furthermore, I propose that pathogenic C virus arise in infected cats through FeLV variants or intermediates that are multi-tropic in their receptor use.

Keywords: FeLV
retrovirus
Advisor: Tailor, Chetankumar
Modelling and Computational Prediction of Metabollic Channelling

Metabolic channelling occurs when two enzymes that act on a common substrate pass that intermediate directly from one active site to the next without allowing it to diffuse into the surrounding aqueous medium. In this study, properties of channelling are investigated through the use of computational models and cell simulation tools. The effects of enzyme kinetics and thermodynamics on channelling are explored with the emphasis on validating the hypothesized roles of metabolic channelling in living cells. These simulations identify situations in which channelling can induce acceleration of reaction velocities and reduction in the free concentration of intermediate metabolites. Databases of biological information, including metabolic, thermodynamic, toxicity, inhibitory, gene fusion and physical protein interaction data are used to predict examples of potentially channelled enzyme pairs. The predictions are used both to support the hypothesized evolutionary motivations for channelling, and to propose potential enzyme interactions that may be worthy of future investigation.

Keywords: Metabolic channelling
Modeling
Advisor: Parkinson, John
An Examination of Chinese and Taiwanese Media Sources in Relation to the Development of Cross-strait Flights

Direct links between Taiwan and China have been re-established since the end of 2008. At present, regular direct flights between airports in Taiwan and China are in operation. This reality is the culmination of negotiations between China and Taiwan. A number of obstacles in ideology and politics existed throughout the negotiations. Particularly salient to these obstacles were the discourse of the one-China principle, as well as the political strategies and ideologies of the Kuomintang and Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan. In addition, the influence of the media with regard to the resolution of ideological and political conflict was an important factor. Different news media outlets in Taiwan and China developed their own narratives of the development of cross-strait relations and negotiation of the Three Links. An analysis of news media perspectives offers insight into the complex nature of political communication in Taiwan and China.

Keywords: China
Taiwan
Advisor: Rupprecht, Hsiao-Wei
Immunohistochemical Expression of Pituitary Tumor Transforming Gene in Pituitary and Brain Tumors

The purpose of this study was to investigate a) PTTG expression in pituitary adenoma subtypes, b) the correlation between PTTG expression and clinico-pathological variables in patients with Cushing’s disease with ACTH secreting pituitary adenomas, and c) PTTG expression in brain tumour subtypes. PTTG expression was investigated in 89 pituitary and 88 brain tumours, and 54 ACTH adenomas of patients with Cushing’s disease. Our results show that PTTG is expressed in the cytoplasm of pituitary adenoma cells, and at higher levels in GH adenomas, with lower PTTG expression levels being exhibited by PRL adenomas. Significant differences were noted between PTTG expression in medically treated and non-treated GH adenomas. However, PTTG expression in ACTH adenomas did not correlate with clinico-pathological variables, making it an unsuitable prognostic indicator in such tumours. In brain neoplasms, PTTG was expressed at higher levels in malignant tumours, whereas in less aggressive tumours, PTTG expression was considerably lower.

Keywords: Pituitary Tumors
PTTG
Advisor: Cusimano, Michael
Kalman, Kovacs
Characterization of the Novel Cysteine-rich Extracellular Calmodulin-binding Protein cyrA from Dictyostelium discoideum

A novel calmodulin (CaM)-binding cysteine-rich protein from Dictyostelium, cyrA, with epidermal growth factor-like (EGFL) repeats was discovered and characterized. Calcium-dependent and –independent CaM-binding was verified. Western blots show that full length cyrA is detected constitutively throughout development. Analyses of the extracellular medium reveal that cyrA is cleaved and that the fragments containing the N-terminus are secreted early in development, while those containing the C-terminus are secreted later. In support of this, GFP and immunohistochemistry studies reveal that cyrA localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and secretory vesicles of vegetative cells, and to the extracellular matrix (slime sheath) of migrating slugs. The addition of EGFL1 peptides enhanced cell motility and cAMP-mediated chemotaxis. Finally, cyrA cleavage is regulated by extracellular Dictyostelium CaM and by the extracellular EGFL repeats. In total the data suggest that cyrA is a true matricellular protein that mediates cell motility during multicellular development.

Keywords: calmodulin-binding protein
Dictyostelium
extracellular
matricellular
epidermal growth factor-like
cysteine rich
proteolytic processing
secreted
calmodulin
cyrA
Advisor: O'Day, Danton H.
Utilizing Polysomnographic Sleep Markers as Predictors of Mood State and Response to Antidepressant Treatment

Depression is commonly associated with abnormal sleep architecture. This thesis undertook to assess sleep architecture as a biological correlate of self and observer-rated depressive state, and consists of three studies. The first used a categorical approach to examine the association of sleep architecture with subjective mood in a community sample of 74 preoperative patients, and found no association between high depression scores and hypothesized sleep markers. The second followed 16 patients with Major Depression who were treated with the antidepressant mirtazapine in an 8 week longitudinal study during which they underwent polysomnography on 6 occasions. It was found that classes of sleep markers (REM latency or REM, arousal index, and slow wave sleep) tend to predict response when analyzed concurrently. The third study was methodological in nature, and found that commercially available software for automating eye movement counts did not show strong correspondence with visually scored polysomnographic data.

Keywords: sleep
major depressive disorder
polysomnography
mood
antidepressants
mirtazapine
REM density
Advisor: Shapiro, Colin M.
Air Mercury Speciation, Foliar Uptake, and Wash-Off along an Urban-Rural Gradient

Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of global concern due to its long-range atmospheric transport and high toxicity. The focus of this research is on the role of the forest canopy in the accumulation, and delivery of Hg to the soil Hg pool. Particular focus is on the role of atmospheric speciation of Hg on deposition. An urban-rural gradient was examined from Mississauga to Dorset, Ontario, to determine the role of locally emitted Hg: RGM, and PM on deposition. [GEM] was measured to be similar at both sites, and [PM] and [RGM] were greater in the urban location. Seasonal accumulation of Hg on foliar surfaces was dominated by GEM, and similar at the urban (8.74 ng cm-2) and rural (9.80 ng cm-2) locations. Increased [PM] and [RGM] at the urban location resulted in a transient upper canopy Hg pool, and throughfall enrichment at the urban site.

Keywords: Mercury
Atmospheric Mercury
Advisor: Branfireun, Brian
Toward an Understanding of Carpool Formation and Use

Recent transportation, economic and environmental trends demonstrate a need for altering the typical commuting practices in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) area. Travel Demand Management initiatives like Smart Commute’s, Carpool Zone, are working to reduce the negative externalities of commuting. Using a variety of secondary data sources, geographic visualization, and statistical methods, this thesis examines the carpool formation and use process in the GGH. The results indicate that municipalities with the highest rates of carpooling are in relatively affluent exurban/suburban areas, located beyond the Smart Commute programming jurisdiction. The most significant factor in the carpool process was found to be proximity to other Carpool Zone users. Other factors include; motivations to save time, gender, and current use of public transit. These results are both relevant in a behavioural science context – advancing current understanding of shared travel behaviour, and in the policy environment, as they inform how to improve carpool practices.

Keywords: transportation
carpooling
Advisor: Buliung, Ron
An Analysis of Seasonal Sea Ice off the Coast of Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada

Sea ice is essential to the survival of many human settlements in Arctic Canada in that it provides a means for basic sustenance, travel and largely defines the seasons. Northern communities base their livelihoods on these traditionally well established cryogenic cycles. In this work, seasonal sea ice is analyzed off the coast of Cape Dorset, Nunavut. Significant trends are established for earlier sea ice break-up and later freeze up dates for the period 1982 to 2007. The timing of sea ice formation and retreat is significantly changing in the Cape Dorset region, with the ice free season increasing ~40 days since 1982. Relationships are established statistically between the shifting ice free season and temperature, weather types (air masses), precipitation, and wind. The results of this study illustrate the changing nature of sea ice formation and retreat in Cape Dorset and the importance of completing localized studies in the Arctic.

Keywords: Inuit
Sea Ice
Advisor: Gough, William A.
Carbon Opportunities and Carbon Losses in the Peruvian Amazon: Farmers' Interests in the Offset Business

Carbon-based forestry (CBF) projects for the carbon market have been proposed with the aim of mitigating climate change, enhancing forest cover and improving livelihoods in developing countries. Debate has ensued regarding the validity of applying market-based mechanisms to climate mitigation in the form of CBF activities. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups, this study explores the various stakeholders’ involvement in the development of CBF projects in the Peruvian Amazon and reveals how their interests influence the types of activities that are established. Farmers’ perceptions on the carbon trade are examined and it is demonstrated that the potential of earning a carbon credit may influence farmers’ current land management practices in favor for implementing reforestation or agroforestry systems on their terrain. Regardless, the number of obstacles and the preferences of stakeholders significantly limit the ability of small-scale farmers to access and benefit from the emerging market.

Keywords: carbon market
forest
carbon offsets
clean development mechanism
small-scale communities
Latin America
Advisor: Kepe, Thembela
The Effect of Indole-3-Carbinol and 3,3'-Diindolylmethane on Fatty Acid Synthase and Sp1 in Breast Cancer Cells

Fatty acid synthase (FAS), an enzyme that is over-expressed in many cancers, is necessary for cancer cell proliferation. Previously, we have shown that FAS in cancer cells is regulated at least in part, by Sp1. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its acid condensation product, 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) modulate various transcription factors involved in regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis. The objective of this study was to determine whether reductions in breast cancer cell proliferation caused by I3C and/or DIM occur as a result of reductions in FAS. DIM and, in some cases, I3C reduced FAS expression in three breast cancer cell lines. However, addition of palmitate or oleate to DIM-treated MCF-7 cells did not restore proliferation. DIM-associated reduction in proliferation of MCF-7 cells also results in a reduction of Sp1 expression, and down-regulation of FAS occurs after inhibition of proliferation. Thus, the anti-proliferative effect of I3C and DIM may be due to their effect on down-regulating Sp1, which in turn could modify several Sp1-associated genes, including FAS.

Keywords: Indole-3-carbinol 3,3'-diindolylmethane Breast Cancer
Advisor: Archer, Michael
Mechanisms of Erythropoietic Failure in Shwachman Diamond Syndrome Caused by Loss of the Ribosome-related Protein, SBDS

Anemia occurs in 60% of patients with Shwachman Diamond Syndrome (SDS). Although bi-allelic mutations in SBDS cause SDS, it is unclear whether SBDS is critical for erythropoiesis and what the pathogenesis of anemia is in SDS. I hypothesize that SBDS protects early erythroid progenitors from p53 family member mediated apoptosis by promoting ribosome biosynthesis and translation. SBDS deficiency by vector-based shRNA led to impaired cell expansion of differentiating K562 cells due to accelerated apoptosis and reduced proliferation. Furthermore, the cells showed general reduction of 40S, 60S, 80S ribosomal subunits, loss of polysomes and impaired global translation during differentiation. An upregulation of the pro-apoptotic p53 family member, TAp73, was found in resting SBDS deficient cells; however, not in differentiating cells. These results demonstrate SBDS plays a critical role in erythroid expansion by promoting survival of early erythroid progenitors and in maintaining ribosome biogenesis during erythroid maturation independently of p53 family members.

Keywords: Erythropoiesis
Shwachman Diamond Syndrome
Advisor: Dror, Yigal