VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Voxel-based Analysis of Cholinesterase Inhibitor Response in Lewy Body Disorders: A Prospective Observational Study

Lewy body disorders (LBD) have visual hallucinations, fluctuations in attention and alertness, and parkinsonism as common features. While cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are an effective treatment for LBD, our understanding of the effects of these drugs in the brain in relation to response is limited. The objective is to investigate functional neuroimaging correlates of response to ChEIs. Standardized neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological batteries and brain perfusion SPECT scans were completed at baseline and after six-months following initiation of ChEIs. This study investigated longitudinal relationships between changes in battery test scores and perfusion using statistical parametric mapping. Treatment with ChEIs resulted in significantly increased occipital perfusion. Significant improvements in working memory, visuospatial performance, and executive functions were observed. Visual hallucinations were significantly reduced, which correlated with increased occipital perfusion. This study identified occipital perfusion as an important correlate of response to ChEIs in LBD, which could be further developed as a response biomarker.

Keywords: Cholinesterase inhibitor
Lewy body disease
SPECT imaging
Advisor: Masellis, Mario
Black, Sandra
On the Generation of Unsteady Mean and Turbulent Flows in a Wind Tunnel using an Active Grid

Unsteady flows are pervasive in nature and engineering applications such as UAVs. Simulating these flows in an experimental setting is key to avoiding detrimental changes in the performance of such applications. This study explores the capabilities of an active grid in producing unsteady flows in a recirculating wind tunnel. The grid is operated in different modes that allow control over the flow frequency, amplitude and turbulence intensity. Hot-wire measurements demonstrate the grid's capabilities in generating flows typical of those used in experiments of unsteady aerodynamics. Mean grid blockage, freestream speed and tunnel size were all found to be factors influencing the resulting flow. The response of turbulence to the oscillating flow was also investigated and results showed a modulation of the turbulence intensity and dissipation rate that is dependent on the frequency of the imposed oscillations. A change in the scaling behaviour of the dissipation rate was also noted.

Keywords: active grid
unsteady aerodynamics
unsteady turbulence
Advisor: Lavoie, Philippe
The Investigation of Transient Wake Dynamics in Highly-Loaded High-Pressure Turbine Stages under Transonic Engine Conditions

The convection of unsteady wakes through a downstream blade row and the interaction of these wakes with subsequent blade wakes were investigated in characteristic highly-loaded high-pressure turbine cascades under engine relevant conditions (Ma=0.69 and Re=3,8x10^5). Phase conditioned PIV measurements were obtained in the aft portion of the blade channel and downstream of the trailing edge. Two blade designs were investigated - one front-loaded, one aft-loaded. Wake convection kinematics are discussed, and the development of turbulence properties are linked to measured efficiency losses. The front-loaded design proved inferior to the aft-loaded, with ~30% higher peak turbulence kinetic energy and ~10% greater total pressure loss. The trailing edge wake modulated through constructive and destructive vorticity interactions and was linked to a higher harmonic of the convected wake cycle. This study contributes to a full characterisation of the unsteady flow field of a high-pressure turbine, leading to innovative methods of efficiency improvement.

Keywords: Blade Loading
High-Pressure Turbine
Phase-Conditioning
Transonic
Unsteady Fluid Mechanics
Wake Development
Advisor: Steinberg, Adam M
Mechanisms of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Removal in Algae-Based Wastewater Treatment

Algae-based wastewater treatment is a form of passive wastewater treatment used to treat municipal and agricultural wastewaters. While pharmaceutical and personal care product (PPCP) treatment has been observed, the removal mechanisms in these systems are poorly understood. In this study, lab-scale algal bioreactors were used to simulate algae-based wastewater treatment. Concentrations of carbamazepine, ibuprofen, gemfibrozil, and triclosan were monitored in these reactors alongside controls designed to isolate and elucidate removal processes. Ibuprofen was primarily treated by biotransformation, which was dependent on interactions of algae with the bacteria and media. Triclosan was rapidly phototransformed, though there was evidence of biodegradation or sorption. There was no evidence of carbamazepine and gemfibrozil treatment in algae-based wastewater systems. Based on the results of these experiments, algae can facilitate PPCP removal in passive water treatment systems. Further research on PPCP removal in these systems should be focused on the interactions between bacteria, algae, and media.

Keywords: Algae
Environment
Pharmaceutical
Wastewater
Water Treatment
Advisor: Passeport, Elodie
In and Out: Exploring Inclusion and Alienation within the Sport Experiences of Hijabi Athletes in Ontario

Western sport environments may create challenges for young Muslim women who choose to participate while adhering to their Islamic values and principles. In this way, participation in sport may serve to exclude young Muslim women when cultural and religious needs are not met. The purpose of this study was to explore how young Muslim women who wear the hijab experience inclusion or alienation due to their involvement in sport in Ontario. Data collection with seven Hijabi athletes consisted of semi-structured interviews and audio-diaries recorded over a one-month period to examine identity negotiation, social interactions with non-Muslim teammates and coaches, and the influence of broader discourses on the sport experiences of young Muslim women. Results pertained to solidarity as well as Islamophobic interactions with teammates, surveillance due to hypervisibility of the hijab, and behaviour modification. This research highlights the heterogeneity of Muslim women in Ontario and how they navigate sport experiences.

Keywords: Identity
Islamophobia
Muslim Women
Social research
Social Support
Sport
Advisor: Tamminen, Katherine
The Good Judge of Meta-perception

Is meta-accuracy an individual difference that people carry with them wherever they go, or is it context-specific? Previous research assumes that meta-accuracy is an individual difference, but has not explicitly tested this assumption. Using seven samples, I tested whether meta-accuracy is an individual difference by conducting three tests that examined whether there is a good judge of meta-perception across different 1) contexts, 2) traits, and 3) targets. The Good Judge Hypothesis predicts that there are individuals who are consistently meta-accurate across contexts, traits, and targets. In contrast, the Context Hypothesis predicts that there are no consistently meta-accurate individuals across contexts, traits, or targets. The present results support the Good Judge Hypothesis. However, while there was a good judge across various traits and targets, and within specific contexts, there was no evidence of a good judge across contexts. Theoretical implications, practical applications, and future directions of the current work are discussed.

Keywords: judges
meta-accuracy
meta-perception
personality
self-knowledge
Advisor: Carlson, Erika N
CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (IE)

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious medical condition with significant morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine the clinical characteristics, microbiological profile and long-term outcome of IE patients at a tertiary care Canadian hospital. A total of 307 confirmed IE cases were included from, January 2008 to June 2016. The mean age of study population was 58 ±16 years, including 66% males. A native cardiac valve (NVE) was affected in 238 patients (77.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 98 cases (32%). Surgery was performed in 190 patients (61.8%), with 120 early surgeries (63%) during index hospitalization. At a median follow up of 235 days (IQR 45-1012 days), 90 patients had died (29%); 44.4% from medical and 20% from surgical cohort, p=0.001. On multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.04 95%CI 1.02-1.07, p=0.000), heart failure (OR 3.62 95%CI 1.06-12.41, p=0.04) and septic shock (OR 2.89 95%CI 1.18-7.08, p=0.02) were predictors of mortality.

Keywords: Heart valves
Infection
Microorganisms
Mortality
Advisor: Cheema, Asim N
Role of miRNA-27a Regulation of VAV3 in Cellular and Experimental Models of Sepsis-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

We identified miR-27a as a differentially regulated miRNA ARDS, and its putative targets play roles in lung injury. Our studies focus on the target VAV3, a GEF for Rho GTPases. VAV3 signalling cascades play roles in cytoskeletal organization of endothelial cells, which is shown to be involved in cell adhesion, migration, and maintaining barrier integrity. We hypothesize that miR-27a is overexpressed in models of ARDS while VAV3 is suppressed; regulating VAV3 via miR-27a would impact inflammatory phenotypes such as barrier integrity; and inhibiting miR-27a would attenuate inflammatory phenotypes. We aim to verify the regulation of VAV3 by miR-27a, show phenotype changes in vitro through miR-27a modulation, and replicate the findings in vivo. We find that inflammatory stimuli stimulate miR-27a expression to suppress VAV3. Loss of VAV3 disrupts endothelial barrier integrity, leading to increased adhesion and transendothelial migration of leukocytes, thus promoting inflammation. Inhibiting miR-27a would partially attenuate the inflammatory response.

Keywords: ALI
inflammation
lung
miRNA
sepsis
VAV3
Advisor: dos Santos, Claudia
The Structural Analysis of Soluble Muscle Glycogen and Insoluble Polyglucosan

The improper function of either glycogen synthase (GS) or glycogen branching enzyme (GBE) is directly correlated to the several glycogen storage disorders such as Lafora disease (LD, OMIM #254780) and Adult polyglucosan body disorder (APBD, OMIM #263570). A prominent feature of LD and ABPD is the presence of insoluble polyglucosan bodies that accumulate in various tissues including the skin, skeletal muscle and brain. Recent studies have demonstrated an increased average chain length in a small proportion of cellular glycogen. This is suggested to be directly correlated to the elevated glycogen accumulation in the form of polyglucosan bodies (PBs). Using mouse models of LD and APBD, we perform a structural characterization of the soluble and insoluble fractions of muscle glycogen. Knockout mice demonstrate a significant elevation of total glycogen, solely due to an accumulation of insoluble glycogen, a population which exhibits clear visual and quantitative differences in comparison to wildtype glycogen.

Keywords: Adult polyglucosan body disease
Biochemistry
Glycogen storage
Lafora disease
Metabolism
Neurodegenerative disorder
Advisor: Minassian, Berge
Goh, Cynthia
Characterization of Internal Oxidation in Alloy 690

The oxidation behavior of Alloy 690 was investigated after exposure in hydrogenated steam at 480 °C. The alloy underwent internal oxidation intragranularly, resulting in the expulsion of Ni to the surface. Protective external Cr-rich oxides formed around the grain boundaries and hindered oxygen penetration and intergranular oxidation. A compact Cr-rich healing layer was able to develop over time at the internal oxidation front initiating at the grain boundary surface oxide, thus effectively stopping internal oxidation from penetrating further into the bulk alloy. Additional exposures performed on Alloy 690TT, Ni-30Cr-10Fe and Ni-35Cr-10Fe model alloys found that increased outward Cr flux due to intergranular carbides and increased Cr concentration greatly reduce the depth of internal oxidation. Short circuit diffusion along grain boundaries and diffusion induced grain boundary migration are found to significantly increase the diffusion of the reactive components and promote the formation of the protective oxide layer.

Keywords: Alloy 690
grain boundary migration
hydrogenated steam
internal oxidation
TEM
ToF-SIMS
Advisor: Newman, Roger C
A role for the p38 MAPK in animal cell size regulation

Cell size within animal tissues is highly uniform. Previous data has shown that the p38 pathway plays a role in this regulation. The mTOR inhibitor Torin2 reversibly decreases cell size, and upregulates p38 activity. After removal of Torin2 (recovery phase), p38 activity continues to be upregulated. Chemical inhibition of the p38 pathway, but not ERK and JNK pathways, delays the ability of cells to recover their original size. The inability of cells with inhibited p38 to recover in size is not due to continued mTOR inhibition during recovery. Genetic knockdown of p38 itself does not, whereas knockdown of its upstream effector MKK3 but not MKK6 does. In addition, our lab has generated doxycycline inducible cell lines that can express inactive forms of MKK3 and MKK6. Overexpression of inactive MKK3 in conjunction with simultaneous knockdown of endogenous MKK3, but not MKK6, may prevent cell size recovery.

Keywords: cell
cell size
mTOR
p38
Torin2
Advisor: Trimble, William
Kafri, Ran
The Commodification of English as Development: An Examination of English Language Teaching Voluntourism Programs

With over 100 countries employing English as an official or second language (Selvi Yazan, 2013), English is becoming increasingly popular around the globe. One way this spread of English has manifested is in the rise of the English language teaching voluntourism industry, where individuals from primarily Anglophone countries travel to teach English in the Global South. These trips promote volunteer English teaching as a way to contribute to local economic development. Additionally, qualifications to participate are minimal and often require only native English fluency (Jakubiak, 2016). This work explores the phenomenon of volunteer English teaching through examining discursive strategies used by organizations to construct the presence of English as linked to development outcomes. Additionally, it examines how volunteers are situated to contribute to development, and what sort of implications the framing of volunteers, English, and development have for relationships between volunteers and Global South community members.

Keywords: ELT Voluntourism
English and Development
International Development
International English Teaching
Voluntourism
Advisor: Bale, Jeff
Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach for Multicriteria Decision-Making with an Application to developing an ‘Urban Greenness Index’

Urban greenness is a multifaceted concept that describes greenness in a built environment. Current approaches studying health outcomes quantify greenness one-dimensionally, leading to the necessity of developing an index that accurately reflects greenness aspects in an urban setting. This thesis integrates Analytical Hierarchy Process with fuzzy logic (fuzzy-AHP) to develop an index based on opinions about urban greenness and on objective attribute data. Index attribute weights are obtained by triangular, trapezoidal and Gaussian membership functions; geometric mean method and fuzzy extent analysis are applied to obtain fuzzy weights. Defuzzification is performed by modal value dominancy and alpha-cuts. A numerical application is shown and resulting indices are compared. The developed ‘Urban Greenness Index’ represents a more accurate reflection of the true exposure by incorporating multiple aspects of the urban environment. After obtaining experts input on index attributes, this index can be used to explore associations to different health outcomes.

Keywords: Analytical Hierarchy Process
Fuzzy-AHP
Fuzzy Logic
Greenness
Spatial Analysis
Urban Greenness
Advisor: Lou, Wendy
Ge, Erjia
A changing natural history of primary biliary cholangitis and its impact on risk stratification

We sought to describe temporal trends in the presenting characteristics and clinical course of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) from the 1970s to 2014 in a large international cohort of patients. There was a 10-year increase in age at diagnosis and the proportion of patients presenting with a mild biochemical and histological disease stage increased. Furthermore, recent decades had improved decompensation and transplant-free survival rates. Since most patients presented with normal bilirubin, we aimed to evaluate whether normal bilirubin is associated with transplant-free survival. In patients with normal bilirubin at 1 year, the threshold with the highest ability to predict liver transplantation or death was 0.6×ULN. Patients with normal bilirubin, yet above this threshold, had a 2.1-fold increase in risk. In conclusion, the natural history of PBC has changed over time and bilirubin levels ≤0.6×ULN are associated with the lowest risk for liver transplantation or death in patients with PBC.

Keywords: autoimmune liver disease
bilirubin
cholestatic liver disease
epidemiology
hepatology
Advisor: Janssen, Harry LA
Data-driven sonification of CFD aneurysm models

A novel method is presented for inspecting and characterizing turbulent-like hemodynamic structures in intracranial cerebral aneurysms by sonification of data generated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The intention of the current research is to intuitively communicate flow complexity by augmenting conventional flow visualizations with data-driven sound, thereby increasing the ease of interpretation of dense spatiotemporal data through multimodal presentation. The described implementation allows the user to interactively listen to flow fluctuations thought to indicate turbulent-like blood flow patterns that are often visually difficult to discriminate in conventional flow visualizations. The sonification is generated through spectral analysis and resynthesis of high-frequency velocity fluctuations. For simulated flows of five intracranial aneurysms spanning a range of turbulent-like flow qualities, sonifications are presented and compared with existing quantities of flow complexity, demonstrating promising preliminary results.

Keywords: computational fluid dynamics
hemodynamics
signal processing
sonification
Advisor: Steinman, David A
Coppin, Peter W
Specific needs in literacy & language learning of refugee children: A comparison of German and Canadian Syrian refugee families

Literacy and language development and wellbeing of Syrian refugee students are influenced by many factors including educational and refugee protection policies and socio-economic influences within schools and communities. The present study examined these factors contributing to the successes and challenges in language and literacy development, both in English, the second language (L2) and Arabic, the first language (L1), of Syrian refugee children as they settle in Canada. We employed a mixed measures design, five families participated in qualitative interviews, and nine children (5 girls; M age = 134.67 months) also completed a short battery of quantitative language and literacy measures. The interviews uncovered the importance of L1 maintenance and L2 acquisition, and support systems; and results from the quantitative measures suggested that the sample was significantly behind in language and literacy development. When compared to the German sample, both samples showed L2 difficulties.

Keywords: acculturation
Canada
refugee
resettle
syrian
Toronto
Advisor: Chen, Becky Xi
The rewarding value of gentle touch in mice

There exists strong evidence that both human and non-human primates have a specialized “affective touch” system for transmitting socio-emotionally relevant touch. There is increasing evidence that rodents possess an analogous system, but the neural mechanisms remain largely unknown. One challenge for studying affective touch in rodents is the lack of a reliable and valid behavioural assay. The current project describes a novel tactile conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, the results from which suggest that gentle touch is rewarding for young male C57Bl/6 mice. In order to address whether tactile reward is driven by or otherwise related to innate sociality, the classic three-chambered test of social approach was used, but no significant association was found. Lastly, the brain regions associated in human affective touch (i.e. the insular and somatosensory cortices) and in reward processing (i.e. the nucleus accumbens) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry probing for c-Fos expression in response to gentle touch and tactile CPP, but no significant insights can be reported.

Keywords: Affective Touch
C-Tactile
Gentle Touch
Advisor: Martin, Loren J
Anticolonial Biocultures: A Framework for Community Education, Biopower and Resilience

In this thesis, I describe colonial biopower in sciences, education, and society, and the ways in which Individual/Community biopower is maintained and reclaimed. I connect our biocultural relationships within settler colonialism and Indigenous Land movements of Turtle Island and Abya Yala. It is shown that biocultural sciences and biocultural knowledges in schooling and Community are vital to the reclamation of biopower. I connect five key concepts between Indigenous/ancestral/cultural/place-based biocultures and anticolonial thought to share a pedagogical framework which centers Humxn subjectivity, diversity, Community, co-learning/co-creating, and continual change. The anticolonial biocultures framework is meant to support mobilizing of biopower in Community learning, innovation, and change; strengthening biocultural relationships and Indigenous/ancestral/cultural/place-based biocultural knowledges; and the co-creation of resilient, sustainable Communities with(in) Nature. Esta tesis describe el biopoder colonial en las ciencias, la educación y la sociedad, y las formas en que se mantiene y recupera el biopoder Individual / Comunitario. Se muestra que las ciencias bioculturales y los conocimientos bioculturales en la educación y la Comunidad son vitales para la recuperación del biopoder. Vinculo cinco conceptos clave entre bioculturas Indígenas / ancestrales / culturales / basadas en el lugar y el pensamiento anticolonial para compartir un marco pedagógico que centra la subjetividad del ser Humxno/a/x, la diversidad, la Comunidad, el co’aprendizaje, la co-creación, y el cambio continuo de la Naturaleza. El marco de bioculturas anticoloniales apoya la movilización del biopoder en el aprendizaje comunitario, la innovación y el cambio; fortalece las relaciones bioculturales y los conocimientos bioculturales Indígenas / ancestrales / culturales / basados en el lugar; y la co-creación de Comunidades resilientes y sostenibles con (en) la Naturaleza.

Keywords: biopower
Canada
colonialism
environment
Latin America
science
Advisor: Dei, George S
Wane, Njoki