VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The Physiological Roles of Rhopr-kinins and the Molecular Characterization of their Gene in the Blood-gorging Insect, Rhodnius prolixus

The dramatic feeding-related activities of the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus are under neurohormonal regulation of serotonin and various neuropeptides. One such family of neuropeptides, the insect kinins, possesses diuretic, digestive and myotropic activities in many insects. In R. prolixus, they co-localize with the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like diuretic hormone (DH) in neurosecretory cell bodies and their abdominal neurohaemal sites. Additionally, kinins are present in endocrine cells of the midgut and are known to stimulate hindgut and midgut contractions. Through the experimentation presented in this dissertation, the cloning and spatial expression of the R. prolixus kinin (Rhopr-kinin) transcript is described. Physiological bioassays demonstrate the myostimulatory effects of selected Rhopr-kinin peptides and also illustrate the augmented responses of hindgut contractions to co-application of Rhopr-kinin and Rhopr-CRF/DH. The irreversible effects of two synthetic kinin analogs on the hindgut relative to the native kinins also exhibit the prospective biotechnological significance of this study.

Keywords: neurohormone
insect
Rhodnius prolixus
kinin
neuropeptide
CRF
cloning
Rhopr-kinin
analog
diuresis
serotonin
receptor
hindgut
myotropic
Advisor: Orchard, Ian
The Use of Simulation Methods to Understand and Control Pandemic Influenza

This thesis investigates several uses of simulation methods to understand and control pandemic influenza in urban settings. An agent-based simulation, which models pandemic spread in a large metropolitan area, is used for two main purposes: to identify the shape of the distribution of pandemic outcomes, and to test for the presence of complex relationships between public health policy responses and underlying pandemic characteristics. The usefulness of pandemic simulation as a tool for assessing the cost-effectiveness of vaccination programs is critically evaluated through a rigorous comparison of three recent H1N1 vaccine cost-effectiveness studies. The potential for simulation methods to improve vaccine deployment is then demonstrated through a discrete-event simulation study of a mass immunization clinic.

Keywords: influenza
pandemic
modelling
modeling
simulation
agent-based
health economics
vaccine effectiveness
cost-effectiveness
sensitivity analysis
flu
epidemic
Advisor: Aleman, Dionne
Carter, Michael W.
Aquitted with an Asterisk: Implementing the "New Double Jeopardy" Exception into Canadian Law

Since the end of the 20th century the protection better known to all as double jeopardy has been under attack. With public pressure put on the United Kingdom government to address individuals who had been acquitted of violent crimes, the Labour government implemented a radical overhaul of common law criminal procedural protections. The reform created an exception to double jeopardy, allowing re-prosecution of acquitted individuals. Many of the commonwealth countries starting with Australia took the U.K. exceptions and adopted them into their own criminal justice systems. This paper is going to look at the exception created, and the factors that lead to the bypass of such a critical legal protection throughout the commonwealth nations. Then analyze the current state of double jeopardy in Canada to determine if such and exception is needed; or if any factors from the exception can be adapted to strengthen the Canadian criminal justice system.

Keywords: Double Jeopardy
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure
Law Reform
Advisor: Dubber, Markus
Soot Formation in Diffusion Flames of Alternative Turbine Fuels at Elevated Pressures

Laminar axisymmetric syngas-air, syngas-methane mixture-air and biogas-air diffusion fames were studied over the pressure range of 5 to 20 atm to investigate the effect of pressure and dilution on soot formation. Spectral soot emission (SSE) optical diagnostic technique was used to measure the soot volume fraction and soot temperature in these flames. The fuel matrix consisted of three syngas fuels, two syngas-methane mixtures and two biogas fuels. In general, soot formation in syngas-methane mixtures and biogas diffusion flames showed strong pressure dependence at lower pressures but this dependence got weaker at elevated pressures. No soot was detected by SSE diagnostic technique in syngas-air flames at all pressures. The suppressive effect of carbon dioxide on soot formation prevailed at all pressures in syngas-methane mixtures and biogas flames.

Keywords: Soot formation
Diffusion flames
Alternative turbine fuels
High pressure expeimentation
Advisor: Gulder, Omer L.
Combustion Properties of Biologically Sourced Alternative Fuels

The effects of pressure on various properties of ten different syngas fueled flames were analyzed using one and two dimensional simulations. One-dimensional premixed flames were modeled in CANTERA. Flame speed, adiabatic flame temperature and thermal diffusivity as functions of equivalence ratio and pressure were quantified for the fuels using four chemical kinetic mechanisms. Data from the different mechanisms displayed good agreement with data from previous experimental benchmarks. Two-dimensional axisymmetric co-flow flames were simulated in a state of the art computational framework for modeling laminar flames. Flame structure comparisons were made with past experimental and numerical results as well as with theoretical predictions. Good agreement in stoichiometric flame height was observed with past theoretical and numerical flame height measurements. Visible flame heights had little correlation with the stoichiometric flame heights. The flame radius was also noted to be proportional to p^-0.35 at high pressures instead of p^-0.5 as predicted by theory.

Keywords: Combustion
CFD
Advisor: Groth, Clinton P. T.
Memory Functioning in Patients with Unilateral Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Neuroimaging Indicators of Functional Integrity in the Hippocampus and Beyond

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common form of intractable epilepsy that can be treated with surgical resection of the epileptogenic medial temporal lobe tissue, specifically the hippocampus. This resection can lead to a variable degree of memory deficit and considerable research has been directed at identifying predictors of these deficits. This thesis explores the relationship between structural predictors and functional predictors in TLE. I looked at fMRI activation asymmetry produced by a scene encoding task as well as volume asymmetry ratios within the hippocampus and the relationship of these predictors to memory performance in patients with TLE. Mediation analysis was performed according to Baron and Kenny (1986) and showed that fMRI activation asymmetry mediated the relationship between volume asymmetry and memory asymmetry in patients with TLE. This suggests that activation asymmetry may be a preferred variable for assessing functional adequacy in the medial temporal region.

Keywords: Neuroimaging
Memory
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Advisor: McAndrews, Mary Pat
SPARC is Required in the Drosophila melanogaster Fat Body for ECM Homeostasis during Larval Development

SPARC is a collagen‐binding, matricellular glycoprotein with diverse roles in tissue remodeling and development. Previous studies have demonstrated that SPARC is required in Drosophila for larval development and maintenance of the fat body, an organ that incorporates endocrine, growth and immune functions. I have characterized effects of loss and knockdown of SPARC in the fat body. Loss‐of‐function analyses revealed remodeling of adipocytes demarcated by cell rounding and dense accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) beneath an abnormally thick basement membrane. Remodeling of adipocytes mediated by expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was found to cause ECM breakdown and accumulation of hemocytes, indicating endogenous fat body remodeling is mechanistically distinct from that which occurs upon silencing of SPARC. Knockdown of the lysyl hydroxylase, dPlod, in the fat body, revealed abnormal intracellular co‐localization of SPARC with Collagen IV, but not with Laminin. The data indicate SPARC is required for ECM homeostasis during development.

Keywords: SPARC
Drosophila
Fat Body
ECM
Advisor: Ringuette, Maurice
Polyoxometalate/Carbon Electrodes for Electrochemical Capacitors

Carbon materials are commonly studied as the electrode material for electrochemical double layer capacitance (EDLC) due to their high surface area. The present work aimed to leverage both EDLC and pseudocapacitance through chemical modification of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and onion-like carbon (OLC) with polyoxometalates (POMs) to further enhance the performance of these electrodes. Layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of two commercially available POMs (PMo12O403- and SiMo12O404-) and three synthesized POMs (PMo11VO404-, PMo10V2O405- and PMo9V3O406-) has been investigated. A single-layer of POMs increased the area specific capacitance by approximately three-times, while superimposing of these POMs into two-layer coatings increased the capacitance by approximately five-times. The morphology and composition of these composite materials were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).

Keywords: Electrochemical Capacitor
Polyoxometalate
Electrodes
Pseudocapacitance
Advisor: Lian, Keryn
Effects of 10% Carbamide Peroxide on Fracture Toughness and Microhardness aof Human Dentin In Situ

There have been some reported negative effects on dental hard tissues associated with tooth bleaching. This in situ study evaluated the effect of 10% carbamide peroxide dental bleach on the dentin fracture toughness and microhardness. Compact tension fracture toughness dentin specimens, were prepared from extracted molars, irradiated and fitted into custom-made bleaching trays. The bleaching trays were loaded with either bleach (10% Carbamide Peroxide gel, Opalescence, Ultradent, n=34) or placebo gel (control group, n=31) and worn overnight for approximately 14 nights. Dentin specimens were tested 24-48 hrs after the end of treatment. The mean values for dentin fracture toughness were: 2.22 ± 0.71 & 2.26 ± 0.86 (MPa m ½) and for microhardness were: 66.80 ± 40.14 & 53.35± 42.52 (KHN) for bleaching and control respectively. Independent t-test showed no significant difference in dentin fracture toughness and microhardness after 14 days of in situ bleaching using 10% carbamide peroxide.

Keywords: Dentin
Carbamide peroxide
Advisor: Tam, Laura
The Effects of 17B-estradiol on Cognition

A bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (BSO), removal of the ovaries, is recommended for carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations to reduce cancer risks. However, BSO induces surgical menopause, and is associated with an increased risk of dementia (Rocca et al., 2007a) and Parkinsonism (Rocca et al, 2007b). This study investigated the cognitive outcomes of BSO one to ten years post-surgically. The present dataset (n=37) revealed there was a significant difference between the BSO group and their age matched cohort on the Logical Memory task assessing verbal, episodic memory. Levels of E1G (estrogen metabolite) was a significant predictor of the RAVLT primacy subscale indicating higher levels were associated with better recall at the beginning of a list of words. Controlling for age, performance on the RAVLT A1 measuring short-term memory degraded further out from BSO. While limited by the sample size, results are consistent with reports of post-BSO cognitive changes (Vearncomb & Panchana, 2009).

Keywords: cognition
estrogen
oophorectomy
brca
Advisor: Einstein, Gillian
Implicit and Explicit Effects of Context on Episodic Auditory-verbal Memory: A Hybrid Repetition-learning Recognition Paradigm

The objective of this research was to investigate the extent to which context contributes to the learning and recognition of episodic auditory-verbal memories (EAM). By combining the Hebb repetition paradigm (HRP) and continuous recognition paradigm (CRP), I capitalized on the advantages of both while manipulating the context in which EAM were retrieved. Through repetition, participants learned sequences of pseudowords in which word order and speaker were varied. A recognition test of either a pseudoword (Experiment I) or the speaker of a pseudoword (Experiment II) revealed temporal and sensory context effects. Results showed that the encoding manipulation did not impact short-term memory but did have an effect on long-term learning. This research helped to clarify the role of context in EAM in both short- and long-term memory, as well as added to the current literature of HRP and CRP. Future directions are discussed.

Keywords: Episodic memory
Learning
Context
Auditory
Advisor: Buchsbaum, Bradley
Canonical TGF-β Pathway Activity is a Predictor of Medulloblastoma Survival and Delineates Putative Precursors in Cerebellar Development

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric malignant brain tumor. Little is known about aggressive forms of this disease. In order to identify pathways mediating aggressiveness in MB, we performed microarray experiments. Primary human MBs were compared to their patient matched recurrent or metastatic counterparts. Murine tumors from two MB mouse models that present with differing clinical severities were also evaluated. We identified the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) as a potential contributor to MB pathogenesis in both species. Smad3, a major downstream component of the TGF-β pathway, was shown to correlate with MB metastasis and survival in human tissue. Similarly, Smad3 expression during development identified a subset of cerebellar neuronal precursors as putative cells of origin for the Smad3 positive MBs. To our knowledge, this is the first study that links TGF-β to MB pathogenesis. Our research suggests that canonical activation of this pathway leads to better prognosis for patients.

Keywords: medulloblastoma
smad3
TGF-beta
prognosis
cerebellar development
Advisor: Croul, Sidney
A Load-balancing Tool for Structured Multi-block CFD Applications Applied to a Parallel Newton-Krylov Algorithm

For high-fidelity parallel computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations, multi-block grid methodology makes it possible to simulate flows around complex geometries. An automatic load-balancing tool is developed for a parallel Newton-Krylov algorithm that uses multi-block grids. The load-balancing tool uses a recursive edge bisection tool for splitting blocks to enforce load-balancing constraints. When homogeneous multi-block grids are used, an optional constraint is introduced to control block splitting. For heterogeneous multi-block grids, a block size constraint prevents smaller blocks from being split when the tool is started of with a smaller number of blocks than processors. The load-balancing tool is applied to three-dimensional multi-block grids for a Newton-Krylov solution process applied to the Euler and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations. For heterogeneous grids, significant reductions in turnaround time is obtained using the load-balancing tool than without a load-balancing tool. Finally, using the automatic tool, the scaling properties of the parallel Newton-Krylov algorithm are investigated.

Keywords: Applied Sciences
Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Zingg, David W.
Progress Towards the Synthesis of a Pentasaccharide Derivative Found in Spergularia ramosa

There has been increasing interest in the syntheses of carbohydrates due to their profound role in various biological processes and thus their potential in drug development. Various methods have been developed for the preparation of these oligosaccharides from simpler carbohydrate derivatives both chemically and enzymatically but they must be carefully applied to obtain the desired linkages. The main method that has been used to control the regioselectivity of glycosylations is protecting group chemistry. Unfortunately this requires additional steps lengthening the synthesis sequence. Extensive literature has shown the ability for carbohydrate recognition via organoboron methods through selective binding and their ability to undergo regioselective glycosylation through sugar-derived boronate esters. Exploiting these factors and in extension of previous work done in our laboratory on borinic acid- and boronic acid-catalyzed regioselective glycosylations of carbohydrate derivatives, we proposed a target oriented synthesis of a pentassacharide moiety found in four saponins isolated from Spergularia ramosa.

Keywords: Spergularia ramosa
pentasaccharide derivative
organoboron methods
carbohydrate synthesis
Advisor: Taylor, Mark S.
Age Differences in Distraction Processing

The current study investigates whether younger adults process distraction semantically and how age influences the level of distraction processing. In a first experiment, younger adults’ processing of distraction was examined by comparing implicit and explicit memory for that distraction. Then, in a second experiment, younger and older adults’ semantic processing of distractors was directly tested by examining memory for distractors on a conceptually based category-generation task. Younger adults showed equivalent implicit and explicit distractor memory in the first experiment and no conceptual priming for distractors on the category-generation task of the second experiment. Older adults, on the other hand, showed reliable conceptual priming for distractors, and the effect was significantly correlated with age in that group. The results collectively suggest that older, but not younger, adults engage in elaborate processing of irrelevant information, and that this effect is possibly tied to inhibitory control abilities that tend to decrease with age.

Keywords: inhibitory control
distraction
levels of processin
category generation
Advisor: Hasher, Lynn
Grady, Cheryl
Biophotoacoustic Radar: Study of Tissue Phantoms, Tissues, Contrast Agent and Comparison to Ultrasound Imaging for Deep Subsurface Imaging

This study explored the imaging capability of our frequency-domain photoacoustic (FD-PA) system that utilizes correlation processing alias “photoacoustic radar” and ultrasonic phased array for imaging of soft tissues. The probe imaging capabilities were studied using tissue-mimicking phantoms, tissue samples ex vivo, blood vessels in a human wrist and a rat tumour model in vivo. Our experimental results have shown decent image correlation between our FD-PA and a clinical ultrasound modality. In comparison with ultrasound, we have also demonstrated strong potential of the FD-PA for deep (~15 mm) subsurface imaging with excellent contrast and high signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, we assessed the potential of silica-coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) as a novel PA contrast agent. Detection of the nanoparticles up to 24 mm inside an optically tissue-like turbid media and about 5-fold PA signal amplification due to their presence in sheep blood (~1.4 mg/ml) are presented.

Keywords: photoacoustic
ultrasound
nanoparticles
contrast
SPION
phantom
tissue
Advisor: Mandelis, Andreas
Development, Sensibility and Reliability of a New Case-finding Questionnaire: The Toronto Axial Spondyloarthritis Questionnaire (TASQ) in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: There is an unacceptable delay in diagnosis of axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) especially in its early stages among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Objective: to develop a sensible and reliable questionnaire to identify undetected axSpA among IBD patients. Methods: Candidate items for the questionnaire were selected on 3 domains (IBD, inflammatory back symptoms, and extra-axial features). Sensibility of the Toronto axSpA Questionnaire (TASQ) was assessed leading to drafting 18 items. Test-retest reliability study was conducted among 77 patients with established IBD and axSpA and kappa agreement coefficients were calculated for items. Results: The TASQ was developed using multiple steps of sensibility assessment resulting in 16 items. Kappa coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 1.00 for all items indicating almost perfect agreement. Conclusion: TASQ is a newly developed, sensible and reliable questionnaire that should facilitate identification and referral of IBD patients to rheumatologists and should avoid delay in diagnosis of axSpA.

Keywords: case finding questionnaire
reliability
clinimetrics
sensibility assessment
axial spondyloarthritis
inflammatory bowel disease
Advisor: Inman, Robert D.
Casein Proteins as a Vehicle to Deliver Vitamin D3: Fortification of Dairy Products with Vitamin D3 and Bioavailability of Vitamin D3 from Fortified Mozzarella Cheese Baked with Pizza

Current vitamin D intakes in Canada are inadequate. The extension of vitamin D fortification to additional foods may be an effective and appropriate strategy for increasing vitamin D intakes in the general population. Cheese is potentially an ideal candidate for vitamin D fortification. We introduce the potential use of casein proteins as a vehicle for vitamin D3 fortification in industrially made cheeses where we found that over 90% of vitamin D3 added to milk was retained in both Cheddar and Mozzarella cheeses. Use of casein proteins for vitamin D3 fortification did not fully prevent vitamin D3 loss into whey. However the loss was minimized to approximately 8%. We then show that vitamin D3 is bioavailable from fortified Mozzarella cheese baked with pizza suggesting that the high temperature baking process does not significantly breakdown vitamin D3. Our findings could have important implications in increasing fortified food options for Canadians.

Keywords: Vitamin D
fortification
dairy proteins
casein
Advisor: Vieth, Reinhold
Polygamy and the Nature of Marriage in Islam and the West

Section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada provides that polygamy is an indictable offence. In a recent reference to the Supreme Court of British Colombia, the court held that this section was constitutionally valid and did not infringe upon religious freedom because of the harm polygamous marriages caused to women, children, society and most importantly, “the institution of monogamous marriage”. This paper will revisit the court’s analysis of polygamy and discuss why it was considered harmful and preserved as a criminal act. The paper will canvas the underlying differences between the roles ascribed to marriage in Islam, as an example of a non-Western religio-legal tradition, and the collective liberal West. Ultimately, the paper will consider whether a balance can be struck between the measures required to protect women and children from harm, and preserving religious freedom, while remaining within the bounds of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Keywords: Polygamy
Criminal Code of Canada
Bountiful
Islam
Advisor: Fadel, Mohammad
Wound Healing Potential of Human Neonatal Mesenchymal Cells in an Animal Model of Hyperglycemia

Potential targeting of impaired wounds resulting from hyperglycemia using mesenchymal stem cells is a promising approach. We hypothesized that when administered to dermal wounds in hyperglycemic subjects, neonatal mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) would be more effective than adult mesenchymal cells in accelerating healing. We examined the in vitro impact of various glucose conditions on proliferation and senescence of human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) and adult bone marrow MSCs (hBM-MSCs). We also investigated the healing potential of both cells in dermal wounds of streptozotocin-induced NOD-scid-gamma (NSG) mice utilizing planimetry and histomorphometry. HUCPVCs showed higher proliferation under normal and hyperglycemic conditions and lower senescence under all conditions compared to hBM-MSCs. Wound closure was better in treated wounds compared to untreated wounds. Disease tolerance varied among mice which affected healing. HUCPVCs still holds a potential over adult MSCs for impaired wounds; yet more studies are needed to recognize their bona fide capacity.

Keywords: wound healing
Diabetes
Mesenchymal cells
Advisor: Davies, John Edward