VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Not all in one Rhythm: A Critical Analysis of the Media Discourse against the Indigenous Re-existence of the Maraká’nà Village in Kûánãpará

Indigenous people created the re-existence known as Maraká’nà village, by re-occupying the sacred territory of a building in Kûánãpará (Rio de Janeiro) located next to the popular Maracanã stadium. The village became a meeting place for re-existences that encompass issues of Indigenous sovereignty, sacred land right, spirituality practices, decolonizing education, and the creation of the first Intercultural Indigenous University in Pindorama. It challenged the economic and social impacts of the neoliberal sports mega-events, which raised tensions during the organization of sports mega-events. These tensions were amplified through media discourse, by perpetuating violent treatment of Indigenous peoples, and naturalizing the dominant elite. Employing a transdisciplinary methodology that combines Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Political Economy, this study examines the media discourse that obstructs the Indigenous re-existence of Maraká’nà by favoring capitalist structures. Despite demonstrating unbalanced power relations, the findings show unbalanced power relations Maraká'nà and media discourses.

Keywords: Discourse Analysis
Indigenous Education
Kรปรกnรฃparรก
Pindorama
Re-existence
Advisor: Sumner, Jennifer
Development of a Universal Rubric Bank for Curriculum-embedded Assessment of Engineering Design Learning Outcomes

This thesis report focuses on the process of constructing, testing, and refining a bank of universal analytic rubric rows. The objective was to produce a valid and reliable instrument that could be implemented in any engineering design course to measure program-level learning outcomes. A draft rubric was constructed by formulating descriptors of performance quality for each indicator row and validating the outcomes, indicators (criteria), and descriptors with experts. Indicator rows were then tested in focus groups with teaching assistants. The universal rubric bank was refined based on analysis and interpretation of testing results. The outcome of this process is a bank of 23 rubric rows that can be deployed in courses and/or developed further. The universal design provides a common measure for comparing student cohorts in different courses, disciplines, and year-levels. Refinement activities improved reliability, and the rigorous development process is evidence for the validity of the assessment tool.

Keywords: Engineering design
Engineering education
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes assessment
Rubric development
Rubrics
Advisor: McCahan, Susan
Cellular Response to Diesel Engine Exhaust Particulate Exposures: Impact of Extraction Method and Reactive Oxygen Species as a Biomarker

Oxidative stress induction by diesel engine particulate was investigated. The objectives were: to determine the temporal profile of cell oxidant generation, elucidate engine condition effects on particulate toxicity, and assess filter extraction impact on potency. Calu-3 cells were exposed to particulate from a tier 1 diesel engine, an off-road diesel generator, and a soot generator. Particulate filters were extracted into different solvents, using multiple sonication methods; with reactive oxygen species and cell death biomarkers measured upon exposure. Dose-dependent effects and an effective dose of > 35 Âľg/mL were observed for all particulate types. Greater oxidative potential was positively associated with engine load in the tier 1 system, but tier 3 diesel generator particulate was most potent (> 18 Âľg/mL effective dose). Additionally, phosphate buffer extracted particulate, and sonicator probe use enhanced the oxidative stress response. The methods validated can be applied to larger matrices of diesel particulate exposures, incorporating various emission control technologies, testing cycles, and fuel types.

Keywords: Cell death
Diesel engine exhaust particulate
Human lung epithelial cells
Oxidative stress
Particulate filter extraction
Reactive oxygen species
Advisor: Evans, Greg J
Chow, Chung-Wai
Fabrication and Machining of Bulk Metallic Glass for Airborne Gravity Gradiometry

Bulk metallic glass is an intriguing material ideally suited for use as a flexure in an airborne gravity gradiometry. Successful fabrication of Zr56Ni20Al15Cu5Nb4 was achieved using arc melting and suction casting. The effect of oxygen and microalloying Nb into this alloy composition was investigated. It was determined that oxygen in solute form is much more detrimental than as an oxide with respect to glass forming ability. Through microalloying Nb, a high glass forming region was observed between 2 â 4 at.% Nb. Studies on crystallization kinetics revealed that upon heating these amorphous samples, a multi-step phase transformation pathway can be observed. Lastly, electrochemical micromachining (ECMM) and abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) were shown to be effective techniques which can be used to shape BMGs after casting without inducing crystallization. ECMM parameters were investigated to optimize the micron-machining process. AWJM demonstrated that fast cutting could be achieved with smooth surface finishes and good dimensional tolerance.

Keywords: Bulk metallic glass
Glass forming ability
Machining
Minor alloying
Zr-based
Advisor: Thorpe, Steven J
Singh, Chandra Veer
Optimization Models for Energy-efficient Railway Timetables

This thesis presents two novel optimization models to calculate energy-efficient railway timetables in a railway network. The first optimization model is a mixed integer programming one, which saves energy by maximizing the total overlapping time between the braking and accelerating phases of suitable train pairs. However, it suffers from some limitations associated with NP-hard computational complexity and modeling of energy saving strategy. To overcome the limitations of the first model, we propose a second optimization model consisting of two stages. The first stage of this model minimizes the total energy consumed by all trains and the second stage maximizes the transfer of regenerative braking energy between suitable train pairs. Both of these stages are solvable in polynomial time, compared to other existing models, which are NP-hard. The two-stage model has proven to be very effective in practice and has been incorporated into an industrial railway timetable compiler.

Keywords: Energy efficiency
Linear Programming
Railway networks
Regenerative braking
Train scheduling
Advisor: Pavel, Lacra
Identification of PDLIM7 as a Nedd4-1 Substrate in the Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Mass

Skeletal muscle atrophy occurs both as a natural consequence of muscle disuse and aging, and as a pathophysiological response to acute and chronic disease. The ubiquitin proteasome system is the predominant proteolytic machinery responsible for atrophy of skeletal muscle and Nedd4-1 is one of a series of E3 ubiquitin ligases known to mediate inactivity-induced muscle wasting. Muscle substrates of Nedd4-1, and mechanisms by which Nedd4-1 regulates muscle mass, are poorly understood. In the present study, I identified PDLIM7 as a novel target of Nedd4- 1 in skeletal muscle. Nedd4-1 expression in muscle atrophied by denervation is coincident with a decrease in PDLIM7, and PDLIM7 protein levels are stabilized in denervated muscle of Nedd4-1 knockout mice. These results identify PDLIM7 as a bona fide skeletal muscle substrate of Nedd4-1 and suggest that this interaction may underlie the progression of skeletal muscle atrophy, offering a potential therapeutic target to attenuate its onset.

Advisor: Batt, Jane
Shade Tree Effects on Intraspecific Leaf Trait Plasticity and Decomposition in a Willow Agroforestry System

Agroforestry systems enhance nutrient cycling, in part, through modifications to leaf quality and quantity, and subsequently, decomposition rates. However, leaf traits are plastic and thus variable across both temporal and spatial scales in agroforestry systems. Using a temperate tree- based intercropping system with willow, this study examined effects of shade tree functional group (N2-fixer, Non N2-fixer, or monoculture) and distance from shade tree on i) willow leaf traits (leaf area, leaf weight, specific-leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC), and subsequently ii) trait variability influence on decomposition rates in a lab incubation. Willow leaves within agroforestry treatments exhibited greater leaf area, SLA, and LNC than within the monoculture treatment. Willow leaf decomposition followed a two-pooled kinetic model with k1 values ranging from 0.20 to 0.29 d-1 and k2 values ranging from 0.0019 to 0.0023 d-1. Willow litter in agroforestry systems presumably provides soils with additional N, potentially reducing required fertilizer inputs.

Keywords: Agroforestry
Decomposition
Leaf plasticity
Nutrient cycling
Resource acquisition
Salix dasyclados
Advisor: Isaac, Marney E
Purifying and Positive Selection Influence Patterns of Gene Loss and Gene Expression in the Evolution of a Plant Sex Chromosome System

The degeneration of the Y chromosome is a hallmark of sex chromosome evolution. However, it is not known whether degeneration occurs as a direct result of selective interference due to lack of recombination, or whether adaptive gene silencing on the Y results in neutral degeneration. I used comparative transcriptome data from two related plant species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes, Rumex rothschildianus and R. hastatulus, to investigate processes underlying Y chromosome degeneration. The rate of degeneration varied greatly between the two species. In R. rothschildianus, I infer widespread gene loss. Genes showing lower constraint and those not expressed during the haploid phase were more likely to be lost. There was evidence of adaptive evolution on the Y from over-expression of Y alleles in certain genes. Targeted dosage compensation was occurring in more constrained genes. These results are consistent with selective interference playing a crucial role in the degeneration of the Y.

Keywords: dosage compensation
genetic degeneration
Rumex
sex chromosomes
Advisor: Wright, Stephen I
Barrett, Spencer CH
Determining the Effect of Total Fructose-Containing Sugars and Food Sources of Fructose-Containing Sugars on Glycemic Control

The role of fructose-containing sugars in diabetes remains unclear. We undertook two systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) of controlled trials: one to assess the ecological validity of fructose doses used in human interventions and a second to assess the effect of food sources of fructose-containing sugars on glycemic control. The first SRMA identified 80 trials involving 1,432 participants. Average doses of fructose greatly exceeded mean population level intakes. The second SRMA identified 160 trials involving 5139 participants. Fructose-containing sugars from different food sources, especially fruits, did not adversely affect glycemic control and improved HbA1c in isocaloric exchange with other macronutrients. However, supplementing diets with excess energy from fructose-containing sugars across different food sources, especially sugars-sweetened beverages, impaired fasting glucose and insulin. The available evidence suggest that the fructose doses studied do not represent â real worldâ exposures and effects of fructose-containing sugars on glycemic control are energy and food source dependent.

Advisor: Sievenpiper, John L
Jenkins, David JA
A Composite System using Ultra High-performance Fibre-reinforced Concrete and Cross-laminated Timber

The application of cross-laminated timber (CLT) as floor panels is limited by excessive deflection and vibration. A composite system combining CLT and ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) was developed to extend span limits. Push-off tests were conducted on different connectors, and a glued-in rod connector was chosen and further refined for the proposed system. Static bending tests and free vibration tests were conducted on bare CLT panels and two composite specimens. By comparing the results, it is concluded that the proposed system considerably extend the span limits of CLT panels.

Keywords: cross-laminated timber
ductile shear connector
ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete
wood-concrete composite
Advisor: Gauvreau, Paul
Hybrid Lead-acid/Lithium-ion Energy Storage System with Power-mix Control for Light Electric Vehicles

This work presents a hybrid energy storage system (HESS), using lithium-ion (LI) and lead-acid (PbA) batteries, for light electric vehicles (LEV) that is both cost and performance competitive with single energy storage system (SESS) configurations. A modular HESS architecture with a dc-dc converter and controller is proposed. The power-mix algorithm that minimizes the Peukert effect, and increases the usable energy of the lead-acid battery is presented and verified experimentally. A novel DLL and PLL based off-time control scheme is demonstrated for inductor ripple current interleaving in the multi-phase dc-dc converter. The cost and performance of the HESS are assessed side-by-side with PbA and LI SESS configurations of comparable total energy. The experimental HESS has a total projected cost midway between the SESS PbA cost and the SESS Li cost, while providing 17% range and 23% efficiency increase over the SESS PbA vehicle.

Keywords: Batteries
DC-DC Converters
Electric Vehicles
Hybrid Energy Storage System
Power Electronics
Power-Mix Control
Advisor: Trescases, Olivier
A Comparison between GaN and Silicon Based Class D Audio Power Amplifiers with Pulse Density Modulation

GaN power devices have lower specific on-resistance and faster switching speeds when compared to silicon power devices. These attributes make the GaN devices attractive for switching power converters. However, the application of GaN power devices in Class D audio power amplifier have not been widely studied. This thesis studies the performance of two 25 W open-loop GaN and silicon based Class D audio amplifiers using Pulse Density Modulation. The distortion, efficiency and thermal characteristics of a GaN based and a silicon based Class D amplifiers performances are compared under matching operating conditions. The GaN based amplifier shows a 0.15 % reduction in distortion and a 15 % increase in efficiency at output power levels of less than 20 W. However, the GaN based amplifier exhibits a 0.1% increase in distortion with 5 Ë C rise in temperature.

Keywords: Class D Amplifier
GaN power device
Advisor: Ng, Wai Tung
The Effect of Aromatic Structure on Soot Formation in a Laminar Co-flow Diffusion Flame

The current study presents an experimental approach to investigate the effect of the structure of aromatics on soot formation. Aromatics including 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and n-propylbenzene were chosen as the fuels in this study. A small amount of naphthalene was added to the fuel to assess the effect of naphthalene addition on soot formation. Quantitative measurements including soot volume fraction, flame temperature, and soot primary particle diameter were obtained by the Laser-induced Incandescence and Spectral Soot Emission techniques. Despite having the same molecular mass, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene was found to be sootier than n-propylbenzene. On the other hand, the addition of naphthalene affected n-propylbenzene more than 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene on soot formation. A numerical modelling was also performed to obtain better insight of the fuel chemistry and it was shown that the models do not fully agree with the experimental results.

Advisor: Thomson, Murray J.
Towards Construction of a Biosensor for the Detection of Early-stage Ovarian Cancer: Evaluation of Novel DNA Aptamers for the Capture of Biomarker HSP10

The current test for ovarian cancer is associated with many false positives and false negatives. With ovarian cancer being the deadliest gynaecological cancer, the diagnostic inadequacy of the current test creates an imperative need for a method that can detect for early-stage ovarian cancer. Fortunately, HSP10 has recently emerged as a potential biomarker for early-stage ovarian cancer. Four DNA aptamers were evaluated for their binding affinity towards HSP10 using two methods. The first method employed use of gel electrophoresis, a common method to study interactions, mainly bind-and-release, between biomolecules. The second employed novel surface chemistry with the EMPAS. With the combination of both methods, a candidate DNA aptamer was selected for surface chemistry immobilization, moving towards building a crude biosensor. This is the first steps towards creating a novel biosensor which can provide women with a screening test that has the ability to mitigate deaths associated with ovarian cancer.

Keywords: aptamer
biosensor
heat shock protein
ovarian cancer
silanes
surface chemistry
Advisor: Thompson, Michael
Ontario's Grade 6 Learners' Mathematics Achievement Profiles Underlying the EQAO Junior Division Assessment

The popular approach of using overly simplistic total scores as the sole indicator of learner performances in the complex discipline of mathematics, restricts the recognition of remedial needs (Nichols, 1994). This study analyzed a random sample of 5,000 Grade 6 learner responses, out of 127,302 to the 2013-2014 EQAO assessment, to better understand mathematical performances. Firstly, an Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed to investigate the dimensionality of the test, followed by an investigation of strengths and weaknesses in these dimensions using a Latent Class Analysis (Collins Lanza, 2010). Results revealed that the majority of learners were strong in their ability to apply mathematical knowledge to solve problems, but weak in applying process or thinking skills to do the same. This pattern was consistent regardless of linguistic background. These results highlight the urgent need to not only remediate learnersâ mathematical thinking abilities, but also future research into this skill dilemma.

Keywords: EQAO
Exploratory Factor Analysis
Large-scale assessment
Latent Class Analysis
Mathematics
Ontario
Advisor: Jang, Eunice E
Inflammatory Responses that Drive Survival and Vascularization of Tissue Engineered Grafts

Tissue modules containing endothelial cells, vascular support cells, therapeutic cells and collagen self organize upon implantation, producing a vascularized tissue. Hypoxia and inflammatory cells are important aspects of tissue regeneration. First, the effects of a 10x increase in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) density on the host response was investigated. Increased MSC densities led to augmented host (CD31+) vessel formation but fewer graft-derived (UEA-1+) vessels compared to standard density controls, with no difference in inflammatory cell recruitment. Next, the host response to transplanted islets using the modular system was investigated. Interestingly, sustained inflammation was found at day 7; more neutrophils and macrophages were found in implants containing islets relative to no islet controls. The presence of endothelial cells led to increased vessel formation and maintained modular integrity. This work demonstrated both the importance of hypoxia on driving vessel formation and the opportunity for modular tissue engineering to enhance subcutaneous islet transplantation.

Keywords: Angiogenesis
Diabetes
Inflammatory Response
Islet Transplantation
Tissue Engineering
Vascularization
Advisor: Sefton, Michael V
Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Antiepileptic Compounds Based on β-Alanine and Isatin

Epilepsy is the fourth-most common neurological disorder in the world. Approximately 70% of cases can be controlled with therapeutics, however 30% remain pharmacoresistant. There is no cure for the disorder, and patients affected are subsequently medicated for life. Thus, there is a need to develop compounds that can treat not only the symptoms, but also delay/prevent progression. Previous work resulted in the discovery of NC-2505, a substituted β-alanine with activity against chemically induced seizures. Several N- and α-substituted derivatives of this compound were synthesized and evaluated in the kindling model and 4-AP model of epilepsy. In the kindling model, RC1-080 and RC1-102 were able to decrease the mean seizure score from 5 to 3 in aged mice. RC1-085 decreased the interevent interval by a factor of 2 in the 4-AP model. Future studies are focused on the synthesis of further compounds to gain insight on structure necessary for activity.

Keywords: Chemistry
Epilepsy
Isatin
Kindling
Medicinal
Synthesis
Advisor: Weaver, Donald F
Characterization of VPS33B and VPS16B in Megakaryocyte and Platelet α-granule Biogenesis

Platelets play a key role in vascular homeostasis by triggering platelet adhesion, aggregation, and release of cargo from secretory granules. Inherited defects in α-granule cargo sorting and packaging in platelet precursor megakaryocytes (MKs) include arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction and cholestasis (ARC) syndrome, which is characterized by mutations in VPS33B or VPS16B. In this study, components of the multisubunit tethering complex, GARP/EARP, and an endosomal transport complex, CCC, were identified as potential interacting partners for VPS33B/VPS16B using a BioID screen and mass spectrometry. These interactions were confirmed and characterized via immunoprecipitation experiments, and immunofluorescence microscopy studies of megakaryocytic cell lines (Dami, imMKCL) revealed that subunits of the GARP/EARP and CCC complexes co-localize with markers of the trans-Golgi Network, late endosomes and α-granules. These findings suggest a role for previously unsuspected interactions of GARP/EARP, CCC and VPS33B/VPS16B complexes in α-granule biogenesis by regulating intracellular membrane fusion in a coordinated nature.

Keywords: alpha granule
ARC syndrome
BioID
Platelets
VPS16B
VPS33B
Advisor: Kahr, Walter
The Effect of Physiological Modulators on Resting-state fMRI Functional Connectivity

In this thesis, we focus on the following physiological modulators of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal â cerebral blood flow (CBF), venous-blood oxygenation, and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). We use simulations and experiments to examine the relationship between the physiological parameters with rs-fMRI functional connectivity measurements in three resting-state networks: default-mode network (DMN), sensori-motor network (SMN), and the visual network (VN). By using the general linear model, we demonstrate that physiological modulators significant impact functional connectivity measurements in these regions, both within subjects and between subjects. Moreover, we found that the physiological effects vary depending upon brain region and individual. The results confirm that it is important to account for the effect of physiological noise when examining resting-state fMRI functional connectivity, in the study of healthy brain function, but more importantly, in states of altered brain function.

Keywords: BOLD
fMRI
physiological modulators
physiological noise
resting-state functional connectivity
Advisor: Chen, Jean