VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Development of the Challenge-coach as a Contribution towards Understanding Physical Literacy in Children with Neuromotor Disabilities

Background: Children with neuromotor disabilities often experience barriers to developing/advancing physical literacy (PhysLit) (i.e., physical competences, knowledge, motivation, confidence), and may benefit from a PhysLit-related on/offboarding assessment when they enter and complete a physical activity program. Purpose: (1) Reduce item length of the Ignite Challenge and Challenge-Fun (assessments of the physical competence component of PhysLit) to create coach-friendly versions; (2) explore child and caregiver interest in on/offboarding assessments; (3) elucidate PhysLit meaning for these children. Methods: Twenty-five children with neuromotor disabilities completed the Ignite Challenge or Challenge-Fun, with Ignite-Coach and Fun-Coach candidate item sets extracted and analyzed. Fourteen children and 19 caregivers were interviewed post-Challenge assessment. Results: The 5-item Ignite-Coach and 4-item Fun-Coach met the targets for use in a community-based on/offboarding process. Participants expressed interest in on/offboarding. A more inclusive PhysLit definition was created. Impact: Coaches can apply study findings to encourage a PhysLit-based approach within their programs.

Keywords: Adapted physical activity
Children
Disability
Neuromotor Disability
Physical activity
Physical literacy
Advisor: Wright, Virginia
Understanding Bone Marrow Interactions w\hich Drive Aging of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Bone marrow(BM) niche aging contributes to hematopoietic stem cell(HSC) dysfunction and consequent impaired tissue homeostasis in the elderly, but the cellular interactions remain unclear. I hypothesize that aging of BM niche cells drive HSC aging by altering their differentiation capacity. To evaluate old microenvironmental influence on HSCs, young Sca-1+ BM stem cells were transplanted into old(Y-O) compared to young(Y-Y) irradiated mice and showed increased BM cellularity(p=0.01) and % of Lin-/Sca-1+/cKit+HSCs(LSKs)(p=0.003), similar to old BM. To mimic cell interactions in the BM, F4/80+/CD11b+/CD45+ immune, Sca-1+/PDGRFα+/CD90⁻ stromal, and CD90+/CD29+/Sca-1+ bone-forming niche cells were isolated from young and old BM. Co-culture with young LSKs showed LSK expansion(p=0.04) by old niche cells, reduction in stemenss by old stromal cells, and enhanced myeloid differentiation and Lin- colony production in Methocult medium by old immune cells. BM niche cells are key players in HSC differentiation, which are potential targets for BM rejuvenation therapy in the elderly.

Keywords: Aging
Bone marrow niche
Cellular regulation
Extrinsic signaling
Hematopoiesis
Hematopoietic stem cells
Advisor: Li, Ren-Ke
Farmer Advice Network Ties as Predictors of Organizational Leadership

Increasingly, more farmers are turning to agroforestry, or the integration of trees with agriculture, to diversify their livelihoods while contributing to environmental sustainability. Despite the prominence of farmer groups in the diffusion of agroforestry, few studies have examined predictors of organizational leadership in these groups. By applying social exchange theory and principles of leadership theory, this study used social network analysis to investigate agroforestry advice ties between members of a farmer group in the Ayeyarwady delta region of Myanmar. Advice-seeking ties were found to be influential in predicting leadership status. Actors who received more advice requests and had more frequent interactions through these requests were more likely to be organizational leaders. Also, actors with more ties to elicit and provide advice were more likely to report higher levels of socio-cultural well-being. Study findings suggest farmer groups are well-suited to serve as learning and resource platforms for the adoption of agroforestry.

Keywords: Advice networks
Agroforestry
Farmer group
Leadership
Myanmar
Social network analysis
Advisor: Isaac, Marney E.
An Investigation of Snow and Ice Phenology in the Arctic from 1997 - 2019

This study investigates the use of finer-resolution satellite observations for monitoring snow and ice phenology in the Arctic. The primary data used were the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS) snow and ice products from 1997 – 2019. Snow and ice phenology were examined by detecting the first and last dates of snow and ice on and off. The largest trends in earlier ice-off dates and later ice-on dates were detected in the Alaska/Russia region, while earlier snow-onset trends were detected across Canada and Eurasia. Sea ice freeze in the Canadian Arctic is shifting earlier, while freeze onset across Eurasia continues to become later, likely due to strong warming across the region. In the Canadian Arctic, significant correlations were identified between snow and ice on/off parameters, and at the pan-Arctic scale, lake ice phenology parameters showed significant correlations to snow and sea ice parameters during the melt season.

Keywords: Arctic
Cryosphere
IMS
Lake ice
Sea ice
Snow
Advisor: Brown, Laura C
Dental Adhesive Systems Loaded with Antimicrobial Drug-silica-Co-assembled Particles for Interfacial Biodegradation and Recurrent Caries Reduction

Resin composite restorations fail prematurely mainly due to biodegradation and bacterial attack, leading to recurrent caries. It is hypothesized that 1) dental adhesives containing drug-silica-co-assembled-particles (DSPs) inhibit interfacial bacterial-biodegradation-markers (BBMs) and reduce interfacial demineralization and cavitation; 2) photothermal radiometry and luminescence (PTR-LUM) technology correlates positively with micro-computed-tomography (µCT) in recurrent caries detection. In vitro models based on simulated human salivary esterases and cariogenic bacteria to evaluate the effects of DSPs on interfacial biodegradation and recurrent caries development show long-term reduction in BBMs and interfacial demineralization and cavitation, suggesting that DSP-loaded dental adhesives are efficacious in reducing interfacial biodegradation and recurrent caries. PTR-LUM technology (the Canary System Numbers), was positively correlated to demineralization and cavitation measurements by µCT. Provision of antimicrobial-antidegradative properties to dental adhesives is a promising strategy to improve the longevity of resin composite restorations. Additionally, PTR-LUM technology may aid dental professionals in detecting recurrent caries, without radiation exposure.

Keywords: Antimicrobial
Biodegradation
Biofilm
Dental adhesive
Resin composite
Secondary caries
Advisor: Finer, Yoav
Hatton, Benjamin
Implicit and Explicit Responses to Male Gender Inversion Stereotype Violation: A Mouse-tracking Study

Gender inversion stereotypes characterize straight men as masculine and gay men as feminine. Because people automatically employ stereotypes to conserve cognitive resources, processing masculine gay and feminine straight targets might require more effort. I tested that possibility here by using a mouse-tracking task to examine how perceivers reported the sexual orientation of stereotypical (masculine straight and feminine gay) versus counterstereotypical (feminine straight and masculine gay) men. Results from two studies showed that stereotypes affect accurate identification of men’s sexual orientation in explicit but not implicit judgments: participants in Study 1 were less accurate in explicitly reporting the sexual orientation of counterstereotypical targets (especially feminine straight men) and participants in Study 2 were less accurate in explicitly reporting the sexual orientation of all gay targets, regardless of their stereotypicality. Stereotype-based expectations therefore affect perceptions of male sexual orientation, though additional research will need to further interrogate the nature of these stereotype-based errors.

Keywords: mouse-tracking
sexual orientation
social perception
stereotypes
Advisor: Rule, Nick
Neuropsychological and Neurophysiological Models of Changes Associated with Cannibis use and RTMS Treatment for Schizophrenia

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) in schizophrenia is associated with worsened symptomatology and cognitive impairment. Additionally, individuals with schizophrenia are known to exhibit difficulties in quitting cannabis use (CU), which may relate to prefrontal cortical dysfunction and cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate whether changes in cannabis use during active versus sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment were mediated by neuropsychological or neurophysiological factors in co-morbid schizophrenia and CUD (N=24). There was a significant reduction in CU, as well as improvements in attention and executive functioning, following active versus sham rTMS. Moreover, there were sample-wide reductions in CU associated with improvements in visual-motor skills and impairments in working memory. This research provided insight into the relationship between rTMS, cognitive functioning and CU behavior in comorbid CUD and schizophrenia. Importantly, this research contributed to the literature in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of this comorbidity and a promising treatment.

Keywords: Addiction
Cannabis Use Disorder
Cognition
Mental Health
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Schizophrenia
Advisor: George, Tony P
Effects of Prehabilitation on Inpatient Step Counts After Major Abdominal Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer

While prehabilitation and early postoperative mobilisation have demonstrated improvements in surgical recovery in oncologic populations, the effects of prehabilitation on early ambulation remain poorly understood. This thesis examined the effects of prehabilitation on inpatient steps following major abdominal surgery for gastrointestinal cancer within a larger trial. Participants (n=20) were randomized to usual care (UC; n=13) or prehabilitation (PREHAB; n=7) consisting of exercise and mindful relaxation. Fitbits were used to collect inpatient steps. After adjustment for preoperative steps, the estimated mean group difference in average daily steps was 291 steps with results suggestive of a small to moderate effect in favour of prehabilitation. The trajectory in inpatient steps and steps at discharge were comparable between groups. Further analyses revealed a moderate positive correlation (r=0.50) between preoperative functional capacity and average inpatient steps. Larger studies are required to ascertain if prehabilitation can enhance early postoperative mobilisation and the clinical implications of such.

Keywords: Abdominal surgery
Cancer
Exercise
Prehabilitation
Advisor: Santa Mina, Daniel
Understanding Volitional and Habitual Facilitators of Drivers' Handheld Cellphone Use

Despite increased media attention and legislation, many drivers continue to engage in illegal cellphone distractions. Various constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), e.g., attitudes, have been found to explain drivers’ intention to engage in distractions; however, the role of cellphone habits has rarely been considered. This thesis reports the results of two online survey studies conducted in North America and China in 2015/2016. In addition, the design of a follow-up survey study is introduced; this study could not be conducted due to the impact of COVID-19. Overall, it was found that cellphone habits predicted self-reported frequency of engagement in a selection of handheld cellphone distractions while driving, after controlling for the TPB. Further, several TPB constructs were found to be significant, with patterns of significance differing across the two geographies. Results from this thesis can inform the development of countermeasures in both North America and China.

Keywords: Cellphone Habits
Driver Distraction
Human Factors
Psychology
Theory of Planned Behavior
Traffic Safety
Advisor: Donmez, Birsen
Practical Debug for Dataflow Computations on One or More FPGAs

Interest in multi-FPGA designs is higher than ever, but debugging support has not keptup. This is a problem because it increases the costs of developing for FPGAs and presents a major obstacle for their use in data centres. This work proposes two tools that together forma practical multi-FPGA debugging solution.Our ﬁrst tool, Debug Governors, can pause, log, drop, or inject data into any stream. Theseoperations enable single-stepping, unit testing, and interfacing with software. Hundreds ofDebug Governors can ﬁt in a single FPGA and, because they are transparent when inactive,can be left “dormant” in production designs. We also provide a user interface. Our second tool, FFShark, is a Wireshark-compatible packet ﬁlter. It allows interactive debugging of 100 Gbps network links, and can scale to faster speeds. It is completely transparent even when active, and is suitable for performance debugging.

Keywords: Dataflow
Debugging
Distributed
FPGA
Advisor: Chow, Paul
Fatigue Life Prediction via Strain Energy Density and Digital Image Correlation

The energy-based fatigue life prediction method estimates the fatigue life of a specimen, based on the theory that the total strain energy density dissipation required to cause monotonic quasi-static rupture is equivalent to the total energy dissipated in fatigue. The existing method is expanded to include predictions of the fatigue life of specimens with nanocrystalline coatings stressed at varying stress ratios. Digital image correlation is also used to demonstrate there is a region surrounding the fatigue crack initiation point where the strain energy density dissipation value deviates by a critical value from the median strain energy density dissipation value immediately prior to fatigue. This study represents one of the first instances in literature that the fatigue life of nanocrystalline-coated specimens has been quantified. As well, it provides a basis for estimating the fatigue life of coated specimens and an alternative indicator for predicting impending fatigue failure based on non-contact methods.

Keywords: Aluminum
Digital Image Correlation
Fatigue
Nanocrystalline
Nickel Cobalt
Strain Energy Density
Advisor: Steeves, Craig A
Influence of Cannabinoid CNR1 Genetic Variants on the Subjective Effects of Smoked Cannabis

Objectives: We investigated specific genetic variations within the CNR1 gene and their effect on the subjective effects of smoked cannabis. Methods: Data was obtained from a regulated clinical trial studying the impact of cannabis intoxication on driving performance. Active cannabis group participants that consented to secondary genetic analysis (n=52) were genotyped at the CNR1 rs1049353 and rs2023239 polymorphic areas. Maximum Value and Area Under the Curve (AUC) analyses were performed on subjective measure data to assess intoxication of each group. Results: Analysis of subjective effects by genotype uncovered a global trend towards greater subjective effects for rs1049353 T allele and rs2023239 C allele carrying subjects, however, significant differences attributed to allelic identity were only documented for a subset of subjective effect items. Conclusions: Our findings suggest rs1049353 and rs2023239 minor allele carriers experience augmented subjective effects during acute cannabis intoxication.

Advisor: Le Foll, Bernard
The Use of Short Message Service (SMS) as a Means of Clinical Engagement in Early Psychosis

Clinical disengagement of youth with psychosis in EPI services continues to be a significant barrier to recovery. The current pilot randomized controlled trial sought to evaluate a weekly SMS intervention to improve engagement in EPI services. 61 participants between the ages of 16 and 29 presenting with early psychosis were randomized to either an active or sham SMS intervention arm, delivered weekly for nine months. Compared to the sham, those receiving the active intervention exhibited a reduction in attendance rates paired with paradoxical improvements in clinician-rated availability, attitude toward medication, positive symptoms, avolition-apathy and social functioning. These results indicate a potential pattern of engagement whereby individuals who appear to be improving, may be attending less due to the inadvertent use of the intervention to check-in with clinicians. Overall, participants endorsed the use of SMS as a means of connection, but advocated for personalizing the intervention in future trials.

Keywords: Appointment Attendance
Early Psychosis
Serious Mental Illness
Service Engagement
Short Message Service (SMS)
Advisor: Foussias, George
Use of Adjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy with Primary Radiation Therapy for Patients >75 Years Old with Prostate Cancer: Pooled Analysis of RTOG Data

The use of adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer who undergo primary radiation therapy is recommended by multiple clinical practice guidelines. Nonetheless, ADT has been associated with side effects that can impact the health of men, especially in a population who already has an increased prevalence of comorbidities and can be more prone to complications. We did a pooled analysis of randomized clinical trials looking into survival outcomes in men >75 years old. In the elder population, the benefit of ADT on cancer-specific mortality is clear, although it increases the risk of other cause mortality, resulting in a null effect on overall survival. We had similar findings in the younger population. In terms of length of adjuvant ADT, the use of 24 months of ADT could improve overall survival, compared to 4 months.

Keywords: Androgen Deprivation Therapy
Geriatric
Prostate Cancer
Radiation Oncology
Survival analyses
Treatment complications
Advisor: Fleshner, Neil
Berlin, Alejandro
Neoliberal Developmentalism: Challenging Dominant Educational Narratives of Human and Economic Development

Educationalists have argued that career and guidance curricula often reflect the structural need to produce a future working population fit to service neoliberal capitalism, a system that demonstrates grave incompatibilities with human well-being. I observe this trend in a New Brunswick curriculum document called Personal Development and Career Planning (PDCP), which has been criticized in the past for its effect on marginalized students. I argue that PDCP effaces the distinction between what it means to be a “person” and a “worker” by conflating one’s ‘mental fitness’ for work with a positive self-concept and self-esteem, and I observe of this pairing a kind of social Darwinian educational schematic. Drawing from a breadth of disciplines, I analyze how students’ expected disillusionment is channeled into forms of “proper adjustment” and “proper resistance” to the oppressive structure of capitalism, whereby the progressive pedagogical tendencies of PDCP are squandered by its main objective.

Keywords: Critical theory
Curriculum
Developmentalism
Neoliberalism
New Brunswick
Philosophy of Education
Advisor: Bialystok, Lauren
Lucas-Washburn Flow in the Transverse Dimension of 3D Microfluidic Paper Analytical Devices

Microfluidic paper analytical devices (µPADs) are being designed with increasing complexity allowing for a higher density of microfluidic paper functions in a single device. µPADs operate with solutions flowing laterally within each layer and transversely across layers. Transverse flow hasn’t been characterized as comprehensively as lateral flow using the practical Lucas-Washburn model of flow. The objective of this thesis is to characterize transverse flow with LucasWashburn (LW) modelling and, accordingly, one time-use valves and sucrose-based timed delays. The major results were that transverse flow can be characterized using Lucas-Washburn flow modelling, compression is an important design variable that significantly affects LucasWashburn flow, and sucrose based timed delays have a fabrication advantage of depending on layer positioning for its timing. Ultimately, transverse flow can be modelled with LW flow, given that layer compression is represented in the formulation.

Advisor: Krull, Ulrich J
The Effects of High- vs Low-volume Resistance Training Combined with Critical Reflection on Muscular Hypertrophy and Strength

Purpose: Investigate the effects of low- and high-volume RT combined with critical reflection on muscular size and strength. Methods: This study randomized trained men into two groups: LVR and HVR. Muscle strength was assessed via 3RM tests in the squat, stiff-leg deadlift and leg press. Muscle hypertrophy was evaluated through a combination of DXA, BodPod, and ultrasound (US) measurements. Results: Strength in all compound lifts increased significantly among both groups; between group differences favoured HVR. Significant increases in indicators of hypertrophy were discovered for DXA LBM, FFM via BodPod, and several measures of muscle thickness. Critical reflection improved RT preparedness and chronic performance – albeit to a “low” degree. The main themes that emerged were: training facilitators, obstacles, behaviours, focus, cognitions, exercise technique, effort, mental resilience, recovery. Conclusion: Ecologically-valid RT regimens significantly improve muscular strength and indicators of hypertrophy. Critical reflection was deemed to be beneficial to RT.

Keywords: critical reflection
hypertrophy
reflection
resistance training
strength
volume
Advisor: Thomas, Scott
Depressive Symptoms, Perceived Stress, and Nonsuicidal Self-injury Among Emerging Adults: An Examination of the Mediating Effect of Self-compassion

Many emerging adults report experiencing mental health challenges, such as depressive symptoms and stress, during the transition to university. These mental health challenges are also associated with increased risk for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; e.g., self-cutting without lethal intent). It may be that students who experience these mental health challenges have greater difficulty being compassionate towards themselves, leading to NSSI engagement as a form of self-derogation. However, longitudinal research has yet to examine the mechanism through which depressive symptoms, stress, self-compassion, and NSSI are associated. To address this gap in the literature, 1125 university students (Mage = 17.96 years, 74% female) completed an online survey three times in first year university. Path analysis revealed significant indirect effects from depressive symptoms and stress to NSSI, through self-compassion. These associations were bidirectional, such that NSSI engagement predicted increases in depressive symptoms and stress through self-compassion. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: depression
emerging adulthood
nonsuicidal self-injury
post-secondary
stress
Advisor: Hamza, Chloe A
A Large Scale Study on the Interplay between Users Behaviors, Expectations and Attitudes with Android Permissions

We recruited 1,780 participants using mobile advertising across 10 countries to study user behaviors, expectations and attitudes towards Android permissions. Participants were directed to install an Android application we developed that collected data via in-situ surveys and behavioral monitoring using Android APIs over a 30 day period. We observe how often participants grant and deny permission requests and discover some factors that driver their decisions. We also study which permissions a smartphone user expects applications to request, compute the accuracy of these expectations and their effect on our participant's permission granting and denying behavior. Then we measure participants' attitudes towards privacy and study the effect of this on their permission behavior. Lastly, we explore the effect of Covid-19 on participants' behaviors and attitudes by comparing data collected from participants that finished before and after Covid-19 breakout.

Keywords: Android
Field Study
Mobile
Permission
Privacy
User Behavior
Advisor: Lie, David