VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Craniofacial Growth in Pierre Robin Sequence in Comparison with Isolated Cleft Palate and Unaffected children

Background: Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) is defined at birth by the presence of mandibular micrognathia, glossoptosis and airway insufficiency with or without cleft palate. Objectives/hypothesis: Analyze craniofacial morphology and facial growth patterns in non-syndromic PRS and compare them to isolated cleft palate (ICP) and unaffected children. Materials Methods: Craniofacial characteristics were examined at three time points by comparing digitized tracings of subjects with PRS and ICP and unaffected class I subjects. Between-group and longitudinal differences across the time points were analyzed. Results: PRS and ICP groups had significantly small maxillas compared to the unaffected group and displayed a vertical pattern of growth. PRS group had the smallest mandibles (by 8%; 9.7mm) followed by the ICP group (by 4%; 4.2mm) when compared to the unaffected group. Conclusions: Craniofacial morphology and longitudinal facial growth in subjects with PRS and ICP are similar in many areas but differ significantly from comparable unaffected children.

Keywords: craniofacial growth
Isolated cleft palate
mandibular growth
occlusion
Pierre Robin
Advisor: Suri, Sunjay
Access to deep sedation and general anaesthesia services for dental patients: A survey of Ontario patients

Background: Many patients require deep sedation or general anaesthesia (DS/GA) in order to undergo dental treatment, due to fear, anxiety, age, disability, medical illness or extensive treatment. Objectives: To assess the barriers to access to DS/GA as identified by Ontario dental patients. Methods: A mail-out survey of Ontario patients who received DS/GA over the past two years was conducted. Descriptive and bivariate analyses, and logistic regression were performed. Results: With a response rate of 36%, the most frequently reported barriers to access to DS/GA were added cost of DS/GA, lack of private and public insurance funding for these services, long wait times, and lack of dentists available to provide DS/GA. Conclusions: Access to DS/GA for dental treatment in Ontario is limited by lack of insurance and government funding for these services, as well as decreased availability of providers of DS/GA.

Advisor: Azarpazhooh, Amir
The Role of Octopamine and Tyramine in the Adult Female Reproductive System of Rhodnius prolixus

Octopamine and tyramine are neuroactive chemicals involved in many physiological processes acting as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neurohormones. Octopamine and tyramine modulate reproduction in insects. In Rhodnius prolixus, octopamine decreased the amplitude and reduced the RhoprFIRFa-induced oviduct contraction in a dose-dependent manner, whereas tyramine only reduced the RhoprFIRFa-induced contractions. Also, octopamine and tyramine reduced the frequency and abolished bursal contractions at higher concentrations. Octopamine also increased the levels of cAMP in the oviducts, an effect blocked by phentolamine. Dibutyryl cAMP mimicked the effects of octopamine at the bursa, suggesting that octopamine may act by an OctÎ˛-receptor, a known GPCR. The cDNA sequences of RhoprOctÎ˛2-R and RhoprTyr1-R have been cloned and characterized; the receptor transcripts are expressed in all female reproductive tissues. Injection of octopamine and tyramine into mated and fed adult females increased oogenesis. Overall, octopamine and tyramine modulate the female reproductive tissues leading to successful laying of eggs.

Advisor: Lange, Angela
The Hybrid Panel-Truss Element: Developing a Novel Finite Element for the Nonlinear Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams and Shells

This research thesis presents a finite element for the nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete beams and shells. The Hybrid Panel-Truss (HyPT) element overcomes the computational limitations that exist when working with current analysis paradigms implemented in commercial software. Instead of explicit shape functions, the element utilizes the combined actions of simpler subcomponents to capture the coupled axial, flexural and shear deformations associated with reinforced concrete structures. The finite element formulation itself is robust as only one element is required through the depth of a member, and efficient since the global degrees of freedom necessary in a structural analysis model are reduced. The predictive accuracy of the HyPT element was verified using the American Concrete Institute database of shear critical reinforced concrete beam tests. In addition, the element was used to successfully model the experimental component of this research - the first documented pure torsion tests on reinforced concrete shells.

Keywords: Finite Element
Reinforced Concrete
Shear
Shell
Structural Analysis
Torsion
Advisor: Bent, Evan C.
Kwon, Oh-Sung
"Something to Just Hold On To": Occasional Teaching and Collaborative Inquiry in Precarious Times

This thesis is the product of a collaborative inquiry involving six occasional teachers, myself included, who came together over five months to share our experiences of navigating a teacher labour market ruled by teacher surplus, job shortages, and increasing employment precarity. Together we took an inquiry stance on occasional teaching (Cochran-Smith Lytle, 2009) and explored the consequences of precarious teacher employment for teaching, learning, working, and living. Here I document the myriad ways precariousness shapes not only our career trajectories but also our everyday experiences of practice, our professional identities as educators, and our engagement in political action and institutional change efforts. I also offer specific processes and interventions that mitigate the risks of long-term employment precarity for teaching and learning. Throughout, I rely on my participantsâ words as well as my own to tell a story about our work, what it means to us, and why it matters.

Keywords: collaborative inquiry
community
occasional teaching
precarity
teacher employment
teacher research
Advisor: Simon, Rob
The Involvement of Rhopr-CRF/DH in Feeding and Reproduction in the Blood-gorging Insect Rhodnius prolixus

Rhodnius prolixus is a blood-gorging insect and vector of human Chagas disease, which is transmitted following feeding, when the insect excretes urine contaminated with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. Diuretic corticotropin-releasing factor-like peptide (Rhopr-CRF/DH) plays a major role in this post-prandial diuresis; however, its localization in the insectâ s central nervous system and expression of its receptor in feeding-related tissues as well as the female reproductive system suggests a multifaceted role for the hormone, beyond diuresis. Here, the involvement of Rhopr-CRF/DH in feeding and reproduction was investigated. Rhopr-CRF/DH-like staining decreased in neurosecretory cells of the CNS after feeding, and injection of the hormone resulted in intake of a significantly smaller blood meal. Adult females injected with Rhopr-CRF/DH produced and laid significantly fewer eggs, and application of Rhopr-CRF/DH to the lateral oviducts inhibited contractions. These findings have implications for vector control by highlighting targets to alter feeding, diuresis, and reproduction of this disease vector.

Keywords: diuresis
reproduction
satiety
stress
triatomine
Advisor: Lange, Angela B
Genome-wide Characterization of Learning- and Age-related Regulation of the Histone Variant H2A.Z

Histone variants were recently identified as novel regulators of memory, but little is known about their function in the brain. Here, I used next-generation sequencing to characterize genome-wide learning- and age-dependent binding of the histone variant H2A.Z in the hippocampus of young and aged mice. At baseline, H2A.Z co-localized with histone modifications indicative of active transcription and its binding levels were positively correlated with basal gene expression. In response to learning, H2A.Z was widely evicted from ~3000 sites in both young and aged mice, but this eviction was minimally correlated with learning-induced gene activity at both ages. In addition, several age differences were observed. Specifically, H2A.Z levels were higher in aged compared to young mice, suggesting that H2A.Z accumulates with age. Moreover, H2A.Z was evicted from a unique set of genes in aged mice, which also had a distinct gene expression profile compared to young mice.

Advisor: Zovkic, Iva B
Development of a Weakly-Coupled Hybrid Simulation Method for Seismic Assessment and its Application to Reinforced Concrete Building Structure

Hybrid simulation methods have attracted significant interest from researchers in structural engineering to accurately assess the seismic performance of structures. To implement hybrid simulations in a testing facility, it is necessary to properly control the boundary conditions of physically tested specimens. The objective of this study is to propose and implement a methodology for performing hybrid simulations when a limited number of actuators are available and the full control of the boundary conditions is not possible. The developed methodology is employed to evaluate the seismic performance of a RC structure where one of the first storey columns is experimentally tested with testing equipment which can control only two DOF instead of the three required for columns subjected to planar motions. The seismic assessment is performed for the cases of an intact, repaired and retrofitted structure, where externally applied Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) fabric is used for repairing and retrofitting.

Keywords: hybrid simulation
reinforced concrete structure
seismic performance assessment
structural testing
Advisor: Kwon, Oh-Sung
Sheikh, Shamim A
Automated Generation of Banked Memory Architectures in the High-Level Synthesis of Multi-Threaded Software

The Legup High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tool permits the synthesis of multi-threaded software into parallel hardware, where parallel software threads are realized as concurrently operating hardware units. A common performance bottleneck in any parallel implementation is memory bandwidth â parallel threads demand concurrent access to memory resulting in contention that hurts performance. FPGAs contain an abundance of independently accessible memories offering high internal memory bandwidth. We describe an approach for leveraging such bandwidth in the context of synthesizing parallel software into hardware. Our approach applies trace-based profiling to determine how a programâ s arrays should be automatically partitioned into sub-arrays, which are then implemented in separate RAM blocks within the target FPGA. The end result is that each thread, when implemented in hardware, has exclusive access to its own memories to the extent possible, significantly reducing contention and arbitration and thus raising performance.

Keywords: Computer-Aided Design
FPGA
Hardware
High-Level Synthesis
Memory Partitioning
Multi-thread
Advisor: Anderson, Jason H
Losing the War, Winning the Pooh: Ishii Momoko and the Construction of Contemporary Children's Literature in Postwar Japan

The beginning of contemporary Japanese children’s literature dates back to the 1950s. Presently, the conventions of the genre has become accepted as truths about what types of books are appropriate for children. However, the conventions established in the 50s and 60s developed under the specific social conditions of Japan’s loss of the Second World War, the ensuing U.S. Occupation, and the Cold War. The state of children’s literature in present day Japan reflects a historically constructed image of childhood prevalent in writing, translating, publishing, and distributing children’s books. This thesis focuses on the career of Ishii Momoko, one of the most important figures in shaping postwar Japanese children’s literature who received a fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation to study in America from 1954 to 55 and disseminated the knowledge she acquired upon her return, in an attempt to outline the influences of postwar social forces on children’s literature.

Keywords: Ishii Momoko
Japanese Children's Literature
Japanese Literature
Advisor: Sakaki, Atsuko
Performance and Policy Analysis of Cladding Systems with Large Window Areas in Tall Residential Buildings

Highly-glazed modular systems such as the curtain wall and window wall have been the most popular cladding systems for modern tall buildings in North America. There exists little in academic literature about the window wall, prompting a detailed analysis of the system in comparison with the curtain wall. The systems were analyzed and compared for building science and construction management parameters. Further, energy codes around the world have been restricting window-to-wall ratios (WWR) in an attempt to help reduce the energy loads of building envelopes. As ambitious goals are trying to be reached, there are concerns that maximum WWRs will be lowered to levels that might harm human comfort and liveability of multi-unit residential building (MURB) units. A different way to calculate glazing area from an occupantâ s perspective is introduced.

Keywords: Curtain wall
Efficiency
MURB
Tall Building
Window wall
WWR
Advisor: McCabe, Brenda
Effect of Photosensitizer-Functionalized Bioactive Nanoparticles on Lipopolysaccharide-Contaminated Root Dentin In-Vivo

Persistence of dentin-bound bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) after conventional root canal disinfection regimens impedes treatment outcomes of conventional and regenerative endodontic procedures. Effects of photoactivated rose-bengal functionalized chitosan nanoparticles (CSRBnp) on neotissue formation in LPS-contaminated root canals, using a regenerative endodontics model in-vivo was evaluated. LPS-contaminated, 3mm-long root dentin cylinders were treated with CSRBnp or conventional endodontic disinfection protocols, and implanted mandibular symphysis of Guinea-pigs to allow ingrowth of neotissue into canals. After 4weeks animals were sacrificed, processed for histology and interfacial neotissue examined. Neotissue without LPS inactivation displayed intense inflammation (CD14+ and CB68+ cells), osteoclasts and dentin-resorption defects, and minimal osteoid formation. Conventional disinfection and calcium hydroxide treated cylinders displayed ingrowth of mixed areas of healthy and inflamed neotissue. CSRBnp treated dentin displayed mineralized neotissue formation, absence of inflammatory cells/markers, osteoclasts, and dentin-resorption defects. Root canal disinfection with photoactivated CSRBnp supported ingrowth of healthy neotissue in-vivo, suggestive of effective inactivation of dentin-bound LPS.

Keywords: chitosan
functionalized
guinea pig
intraosseous
Lipopolysaccharide
nanoparticles
Advisor: Kishen, Anil
IMPACT OF BONDING PERICERVICAL DENTIN ON BIOMECHANICAL RESPONSE IN ROOT FILLED MAXILLARY SINGLE-CANAL PREMOLARS

Introduction: This study evaluated the impact of bonding pericervical-dentin (PCD) with composite-resin on microstrain distribution (MD) and fracture strength of root-filled maxillary premolars. Methods: Microstrain: Ten single-canal maxillary premolars were decoronated 2mm above the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and instrumented to Protaper Universal F3. Canals were root-filled with gutta-percha, either to CEJ (Group-1) or to 6mm below CEJ and restored with bonded composite-resin (Group-2). Digital moirĂŠ interferometry was used to evaluate MD in PCD. Fracture strength: Thirty premolars were prepared and root-filled as above (n=10/group). Cyclic loading with compressive load-to-failure were used. Mechanical data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey test at 5% level of significance. Results: Coronal and apical dentin showed bending and compressive MD. Group-1 MD was unaltered. Group-2 MD suggested stiffening at PCD. Load-at-failure values were not statistically significant (p=0.464). Conclusion: Bonding of PCD might impact the biomechanical responses in maxillary premolars at low-level continuous loads.

Keywords: Endodontics
Pericervical dentin
Restoration
Advisor: Kishen, Anil
Improving the Fabrication of Semiconductor Bragg Lasers

Fabrication process developments for Bragg reflection lasers have been optimized in this thesis using resources available to the group. New e-beam lithography and oxide etch recipes have been developed to minimize sidewall roughness and residues. E -beam evaporated metal contacts for semiconductor diode laser utilizing oblique angle deposition have also been developed in-house for the first time. Furthermore, improvement in micro-loading effect of DFB laser etching has been demonstrated where the ratio of tapered portion of the sidewall to total etch depth is reduced by half, from 33% to 15%. Electrical, optical and thermal performance of the fabricated lasers are characterized. Comparing the results to previous generation lasers, average dynamic resistance is decreased drastically from 14 Ohms to 7 Ohms and threshold current density also reduced from 1705A/cm^2 to 1383A/cm^2. Improvement in laser performance is result of reduced loss from optimized fabrication processes. BRL bow-tie tapered lasers is then fabricated for the first time and output power of 18mW at 200mA input is measured. Benefiting from the increased effective area and better carrier utilization, reduction in threshold current density from 1383A/cm^2 to 712A/cm^2 is observed.

Keywords: Bragg Reflection Laser
Semiconductor Laser
Tapered Bowtie Laser
Advisor: Helmy, Amr S
Improving the Characterization of Infiltration and Natural Ventilation Parameters in Whole-Building Energy Models of Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

This thesis investigated two low-cost, easy-to-implement procedures to reduce parameter uncertainty for infiltration and natural ventilation inputs in whole-building energy models. Window component infiltration rate testing was conducted at two buildings to develop a component-weighted average infiltration rate. Incorporation of these building-specific measurements reduced parameter uncertainty and accounted for the variation in zone infiltration rates based on type and quantity of leakage paths. The discretization of the infiltration rate can improve energy retrofit models specifically targeting building infiltration, by setting bounds on the maximum possible improvement. Various sensors were tested for their appropriateness in window monitoring applications. An accelerometer, state logger and string potentiometer were tested on both a sliding window and a tilting window. No one sensor distinguished itself as ideal for all applications so selection should be tailored to the window type and monitoring goals. Data on window operation patterns and schedules can improve energy model calibration.

Keywords: Calibration
Energy Modelling
Infiltration
Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
Natural Ventilation
Advisor: Touchie, Marianne F
Adaptive Waveform Design and CFAR Processing for High Frequency Surface Wave Radar

High frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR), used for coastal surveillance, operates in a challenging environment as the clutter signals returned from the ocean surface can be several orders of magnitude larger than returns from targets. Reliably detecting small boats in severe sea states, is therefore quite difficult. In this thesis we take a two-fold approach to improving the detection performance of Raytheon Canada's third generation HFSWR system. First, we consider the design of transmit waveforms with improved range resolution, thus reducing the area of the clutter cell. We develop an algorithm to design practical spectrally-compliant waveforms which achieve high bandwidths while simultaneously avoiding interference with concurrent communications users. We then propose a new detection algorithm based on the best known statistical model for sea clutter, the K-distribution. We show that both the proposed transmit waveforms and detection algorithm can lead to improved detection performance in a sea clutter environment.

Keywords: alternating projections
CFAR
radar
sea clutter
spectral coexistence
successive convex approximation
Advisor: Adve, Raviraj S.
Large Swing Optical Modulator Drivers for 100+ GBaud Applications

This thesis describes the design of a large-swing linear driver and a large-swing 90 GS/s digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with retiming in 55 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology, both with applications for next-generation optical transmitters. The linear driver’s measured differential gain is 20 dB and its small-signal bandwidth exceeds 70 GHz. Measured NRZ eye diagrams up to 120 Gb/s with 4.8 Vpp differential output swing are shown, as well as PAM-4 and PAM-8 eye diagrams up to 64 GBaud. The driver’s measured input linearity is −2.5 dBm (475 mVpp) per side. In simulation, the large-swing DAC demonstrates 90 GBaud PAM-4 with greater than 6 Vpp differential output swing. Its simulated effective number of bits (ENOB) is 3.51 at 90 GS/s.

Keywords: digital-to-analog converter
distributed amplifier
large-swing
linear broadband amplifier
modulator driver
SiGe BiCMOS
Advisor: Voinigescu, Sorin P.
Enamel Bond Strength of Self-Etching Adhesives to Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Study

Background: Self-etch adhesives, which have combined the acidic monomer, primer and adhesive resin into one bottle, have been extensively tested on dentin and cut-enamel; however, very limited studies test their performances on uncut enamel. Objective: To assess their shear bond strength(SBS) on uncut enamel bonded to orthodontic brackets. Methods:160 premolars were divided into four groups: SU(Scotchbond™ Universal Adhesive), BU(All-Bond Universal), CU(Clearfil Universal Bond), the control total-etch adhesive, C(Adper™ Scotchbond™ Multi-Purpose Adhesive). Following storage in distilled water(24 h/6 months), they were tested for SBS, adhesive remnant index(ARI) and percentage of remaining resin(%RR). Data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Student-t test(α =0.05). Results: C group had the highest SBS, ARI and mean %RR. BU group had the lowest SBS. SBS and ARI decreased over time for SU and BU, but remained stable for CU and there was no difference in %RR. Conclusion: None of the self-etch adhesives achieved the recommended SBS for orthodontic treatment.

Keywords: Enamel Bond Strength
Orthodontic Brackets
Self-Etching Adhesives
Universal Adhesives
Advisor: Prakki, Anuradha
Gender Differences and Predictors of Referral in a Sample of Ontario Dentists

Introduction: Very little is known about what influences a dentistâ s decision to refer to specialists. Research suggests that male and female dentists practice differently, but it is unknown whether or not a gender difference exists in referrals to specialists. This study explores what predicts referrals and to see whether or not a gender difference exists amongst the predictors. Methods: A secondary data analysis of a mail-in survey of Ontario dentists. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to obtain referral likelihood for fifteen dental services. Results: Dental services requiring multiple appointments or more chair time had the highest number of predictors. Male and female dentists had different predictors of referral indicating a gender difference. Conclusion: Referral to specialists appears to be a complex function of personal, familial, and professional factors with a high variability amongst dentists and across dental services. Gender differences exist with respect to considerations for referral.

Keywords: Dentists
Gender
Ontario
Predictor
Referrals
Advisor: Qui単onez, Carlos