VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Socialist Industrialization and Railway Sector Development in the Early PRC

My thesis focuses on national industrialization in the early decades of the Peopleâ s Republic of China (PRC). The industrialization project connected the following: histories and impacts of Western imperialism, the distinctive form of Third World socialism, and the importance of economic and technological development to the early PRC. I explore the above set of connections in order to answer my motivating question: What is particularly socialist about the early PRCâ s industrialization project? I begin with histories and plans. Western depictions of state planned economies rely on tropes of irrationality. I retrieve the logical content of early PRC plans by piecing together historical data, the text of plans, and narratives from early PRC leaders and planners. I then turn to the formulation and implementation of state plans. I trace these processes through events in the state railway sectorâ a system that evolved in tandem with the project of early PRC industrialization.

Keywords: China
Colonialism and postcolonial theory
PRC history
Railway development
Socialist industrialization
Advisor: Boland, Alana
Phylogenetic and Experimental Evidence for an Evolutionary Precursor to Male Colouration in Poeciliid Fishes and Their Relatives

In many animals, phenotypic diversity in males originates through sexual selection. However, the evolutionary origins of female preferences are unclear. The sensory bias hypothesis suggests female preferences can originate as a byproduct of natural selection operating on sensory systems in non-sexual contexts, like foraging. Despite over 25 years of investigation, fundamental tenets of the sensory bias hypothesis remain unresolved. We explicitly test one of these tenets: the historical dependency of male traits on pre-existing biases in females. We marry phylogenetic comparative methods and behavioural experiments to test for this dependency in poeciliids and related fishes. Our results demonstrate that female biases for long-wavelength colours drove the evolution of long-wavelength colouration in males. In addition to demonstrating this dependency, our study suggests (i) behaviour can be phylogenetically conserved, and (ii) natural selection may be the ultimate explanation for a tremendous amount of variation that has classically been attributed to sexual selection.

Keywords: Behaviour
Experiments
Fishes
Phylogenetic Comparative Methods
Sexual Selection
Advisor: Rodd, Frieda Helen
Mahler, Donald Luke
Quantum Transport Studies of InAs Based Nanowire Devices

Experiments and analysis reported in this thesis advance the understanding of quantum transport in nanowire transistors. Indium Arsenide nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy were incorporated into numerous back-gated field effect transistors and electronic measurements confirm electron transport is occurring in a regime where ballistic transmission and quantum confinement effects are significant. Quantum interference phenomena are investigated through electrostatic manipulation of interface charge configurations and interference quenching is demonstrated in a nanowire device. Elimination of interference distortions reveal perfect quantization of the conductance and provide direct insight into the one-dimensional quantum-electronic bandstructure which displays strong divergence from cylindrical hard-wall confinement. Numerical simulations investigating morphological variations demonstrate a strong influence on electronic sub-band structure, prompting characterization of the cross-sectional morphology via focused ion beam micro-sampling and transmission electron microscopy. Adoption of hard-wall confinement potentials consistent with the characterized morphology indicates significant electrostatic influence of interface charges on the sub-band structure.

Keywords: Ballistic
InAs
Nanowire
Quantum
Advisor: Ruda, Harry E
Zinc Mediated Synthesis of Cyclopropylamines

The cyclopropylamine motif is often found in both natural and pharmaceutical compounds. Our group has recently developed a synthesis of trans-cyclopropylamines using electrophilic zinc homoenolate intermediates. This thesis describes the attempted extension of this concept to an intramolecular version of this transformation to yield cyclopropanated heterocycles. Despite the successful preparation of the linear precursor for the synthesis of 2,3-methanopyrrolidine, cyclization did not result in any desired product. The second part of this thesis describes a one-pot synthesis of trans-cyclopropylamines from readily available a-chloroaldehydes and amines. Zinc homoenolate intermediates have been reported in the synthesis of cyclopropanols from a-chloroaldehydes, as well as being the key intermediate in our synthesis of trans-cyclopropylamines. Hence, combining both processes would allow the development of a versatile synthetic method to access trans-cyclopropylamines. While products were obtained in excellent yields, diastereomeric ratios remained low, which led us to speculate that this reaction is under thermodynamic control.

Keywords: Cyclopropylamines
Zinc Homoenolate
Advisor: Rousseaux, Sophie A.L.
Systematic Quantification of Superficial Blood Flow in Near Infrared Spectroscopy Brain Computer Interfaces in a Pediatric Context

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been developed as an access pathway for individuals who present as locked-in, but only in adults. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signals have been suspected to be influenced by superficial blood flow signals, suggesting that its removal may result in better BCI classification accuracy. Seven typically developing children aged 8-12 participated in three offline sessions in order to assess the suitability of NIRS-BCIs in children, and to examine the effect of superficial blood flow on classification accuracy. Superficial flow was induced using a five-minute bicycle task, and the deep signal was extracted using the multi-distance independent component analysis method. Our results yielded an average classification accuracy of 76.7Âą8.3% with six participants achieving the 70% threshold for an effective BCI. We demonstrated that the induced superficial flow was able to significantly affect BCI classification accuracy, but removal of the superficial signal offered no or limited benefit in children.

Keywords: Brain-computer interfaces
Near-infrared spectroscopy
pediatric
superficial blood flow
verbal fluency task
Advisor: Chau, Tom
Attention Biases Among Preschool-Aged Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: An Eye-tracking Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preschool-aged children exposed to domestic violence (DV) are more vigilant of threatening (i.e., angry faces) versus neutral faces relative to non-exposed children, and whether such vigilance relates to child psychopathology. Preschool-aged children (18 to 60 months-of-age) exposed to DV (as substantiated by child protective services) and their mothers (n=13), as well as typically developing children and their mothers (non-exposed group, n=25), participated in this study. Children completed an eye-tracking task to assess their attention to face stimuli (e.g., angry-neutral, sad-neutral, and happy-neutral face pairings). Mothers completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire â Social and Emotional (ASQ-SE-2; Squires, Bricker Twombly, 2015). Results show that young, DV-exposed children fixated on faces for a shorter duration relative to non-exposed children, and that vigilance to angry faces is associated with more behavioural and emotional problems. Practical applications resulting from attentional bias research are discussed.

Keywords: Attention biases
Child development
Child psychopathology
Domestic violence
Advisor: Scott, Katreena
A Novel EEG-BCI Dependent on Discrimination of Imagined Stimuli in Visual Field Quadrants

Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) can provide individuals with severe motor disorders a means of communication. This study aimed to determine whether visuospatial imagery could be used to signify intent in an electroencephalography (EEG)-based BCI. Eighteen healthy participants imagined stimuli in visual field quadrants while EEG was collected. A subset of participants used visuospatial imagery to control a character’s movement in four directions. Classifying rest against non-specific visuospatial imagery attained accuracies of 77±11.4%. Six participants exceeded chance when discriminating imagery in diagonally-opposing quadrants. These six could be predicted using a regression model that combined visuospatial perception and fatigue scores. The 4-class navigation accuracy was 48.3±18.8% (max 85%). Imagery in one hemifield corresponded to significant increases in alpha spindles in ipsilateral visual cortical regions. While further improvement is necessary to make the paradigm generalizable, visuospatial imagery shows promise for becoming a useful system for individuals in need of a BCI access technology.

Keywords: BCI
EEG
imagery
visuospatial
Advisor: Chau, Tom
The Regulatory Function of Raf-1 Kinase Inhibitory Protein in Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is the generation of new neuronal cells within the dentate gyrus of mammals. The process avails the hippocampus in its innate function of memory and notwithstanding any aberration, shows consistency throughout early adulthood until depreciating in old age. It begins with neural stem cells which undergo activation and division, mature over several weeks, and finally (of those that survive), integrate into existing neural circuitry. Several possible cellular pathways exist to mediate this neurogenic process, including the MAPK pathway. RKIP, a novel and elusive protein, is known to inhibit this pathway and regulate others, such as NF-kB, GSK3Î˛, and GRK2. Owing to this expansive function is the finding of its role in promoting a neuronal fate in neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here, I looked to delineate the role of RKIP throughout the entirety of the neurogenic process in mice. With voluntary exercise employed for neurogenesis induction, I discovered RKIP as functioning to reduce NPC proliferation while maintaining proper cell cycle kinetics. Furthermore, RKIP did not affect the overall formation of mature neuronal cells despite promoting a neuronal fate early in development.

Advisor: Cheng, Hai-Ying
Predictors of Hospital Readmission after Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Ontario

Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the standard of care for treatment of aortic stenosis in patients deemed too high risk for surgical valve replacement. However, recent data have shown that patients who undergo TAVI have exceedingly high rates of hospital readmission. Our objectives were to determine the predictors of readmission while seeking to identify any modifiable factors. We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study based on abstraction of detailed clinical data that included 937 patients discharged alive after TAVI. Readmission occurred in 17% of patients within 30 days and 49% within 1 year. Heart failure was the most common cause of readmission. Bleeding was also a major cause of readmission and many covariates related to bleeding were associated with a higher hazard of readmission. Transition of care factors were not associated with reduced readmission. These results suggest that quality improvement efforts directed at optimal heart failure management and bleeding avoidance, may reduce readmission.

Keywords: aortic stenosis
hospital readmission
TAVI
Advisor: Ko, Dennis T
Relationship Between Procedure Volume and Mortality After Surgical Lung Biopsy in Interstitial Lung Disease

Surgical lung biopsy (SLB) is often required for diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Previous studies suggest high and variable mortality after SLB for ILD. Surgical volume relationships are well established but have not been studied in SLB. The study objective was to determine if SLB volume is associated with 30-day mortality after SLB in patients with ILD. Mortality variability attributed to between hospital differences and the role of patient characteristics were assessed. Multilevel modeling was used to evaluate the surgical volume relationship in 4526 ILD patients who underwent SLB in Ontario, Canada. Higher yearly hospital SLB volume was associated with lower 30-day mortality, although the association between patient characteristics and mortality was stronger. Mortality variability attributed to between hospital differences was minimal after accounting for patient characteristics. Our results suggest that patient characteristics are significant drivers of mortality after SLB and should be carefully considered during pre-operative risk stratification.

Advisor: Dell, Sharon
Optical and Structural Characterization of Hydrogenated Aluminium Nitride Thin-films Synthesized at Low Temperature

A fundamental study of the optical and structural properties of hydrogenated aluminium nitride (AlN:H) films is presented. It is shown that incorporation of hydrogen within aluminium nitride (AlN) enables inherent optical tunability and leads to enhancement in its optical transmittance. It is revealed through microscopy studies (SEM, AFM and TEM) that the AlN:H films have an amorphous-nanocrystalline character, undergo non-columnar growth, and have reduced surface roughness, and feature size. Examination of the infrared vibrational modes indicate enhancement in chemical stability and robustness of the AlN:H films. Optical tunability coupled with excellent physical, structural and chemical properties of the AlN:H films enabled its successful integration in spectrally selective coatings (SSCs) wherein these multilayer stacks are synthesized with the fewest layers in comparison to the state-of-the-art and have been experimentally demonstrated to provide optimal solar energy control and rapid active uniform heating with inherent stability against degradation from ambient moisture and oxygen.

Keywords: Hydrogenated Aluminium Nitride
Low Temperature Synthesis
Optical and Structural Characterization
Spectrally Selective Coatings
Advisor: Kherani, Nazir P
The Development of In Vivo and Microcoil NMR: Towards Single Egg Toxicity Screening

An objective in ecology is to understand an organism’s response (e.g. Daphnia magna) to changing environmental conditions. Under unfavorable conditions, D. magna’s dormant eggs are stored in aquatic sediments, where exposure to toxins can lead to population decimation. A single egg has a small volume (~4 nL), making them challenging to study via conventional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The static nature of eggs allows for their localization over planar microcoils and an increase in signal-to-noise ratio is observed relative to larger coils. This thesis applies a range of planar microcoils (

Keywords: ecotoxicology
in vivo NMR
microcoil NMR
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
single cell
single egg
Advisor: Simpson, Andre J
Protein Kinase C Î´ Regulates Cellular Protrusions and Filamentous Actin Organization during Drosophila Border Cell Migration

The migrating border cell cluster (BCC) of Drosophila ovarian follicles is an excellent model for studying collective cell migration. My project aimed at gaining mechanistic insight into the function of the serine/threonine kinase Protein Kinase C δ (PKCδ) in the migrating BCC. Analysis of mosaic BCCs containing PKCδ mutant or PKCδ-overexpressing cells indicates that normal PKCδ expression is important for a cell in the cluster to lead migration. Increasing or eliminating PKCδ caused a reduction of non-muscle myosin II in cellular protrusions and along the cell cortices of the BCC perimeter. Tagged transgenic PKCδ enriched in the leading protrusion in a complementary distribution with F-actin, where it appears to antagonize F-actin induced by the actin elongation factor Enabled. Inhibition of Enabled activity suppresses the effects of loss of PKCδ on F-actin organization. These findings suggest that PKCδ is a negative regulator of F-actin and functions in an Enabled-dependent process.

Keywords: Border cell cluster
Cell migration
Cellular protrusions
Drosophila
F-actin
Protein Kinase C Î´
Advisor: Godt, Dorothea
Development of an Anthropomorphic Dynamic Heart Phantom

Dynamic anthropomorphic heart phantoms are a developing technology which offer a methodology for optimizing current computed tomography coronary angiography techniques. This work focuses on the development of a myocardial tissue analogue material that can be utilized as a synthetic heart for Toronto General Hospitals(TGH) current dynamic phantom. First, the mechanical properties of myocardial tissue are studied to determine the static (youngâ s modulus) and viscoelastic (storage/loss modulus, tan delta) properties of the tissue. A dioctyl phthalate and poly(vinyl) chloride material is then developed which mimics the obtained properties and the computed tomography(CT) attenuation of myocardium. The material is then utilized to create a heart/coronary artery model which can be integrated with the phantom in a cardiac CT simulation scan. Through this study it is seen that the phantom provides: a visual simulation to myocardium, motion profiles of the coronary arteries and hearts, and can be used as a plaque analysis tool.

Keywords: Biomedical Phantoms
CT Attenuation
Mechanical Properties
Myocardial Tissue
Advisor: Naguib, Hani
Paul, Narinder
Assessing Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Stress among International Students at the University of Toronto.

Physical activity is vital for maintaining the health of students on campus. However, there is a lack of research examining International students (IntS) mental and physical activity (PA) needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between PA and mental health within an acculturation framework; and to explore IntS experiences with PA and mental health. Two studies were used to address the aims of this study. In study one, secondary data from domestic (n = 4035) and IntS (n = 605) were analyzed. PA mediated the association between stress and mental health but it did not mediate the association between stress and mental illness. In study two, interviews were conducted with 12 IntS, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results indicate that IntS are facing several cross-cultural, adaptation, and organizational challenges. Higher institutions must continue to explore IntS needs and barriers in order to support them effectively.

Keywords: International Students
Mental Health
Mental Illness
Physical Activity
Stress
Advisor: Sabiston, Catherine
Using Early Changes in Cognition to Predict Response to 8-week Vortioxetine Treatment in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Pharmacotherapy dominates current treatment in psychiatry, including treatment for major depressive disorder. However, due to the current trial-and-error process of antidepressant selection, patients are often exposed to several antidepressants before an effective treatment is established. This process can be extremely challenging, particularly in patients who have worked through multiple ineffective treatments. As a result, minimizing the length of drug therapy would have meaningful clinical significance. Towards this aim, research exploring early predictors of antidepressant response has been incredibly valuable. Deficits in both hot (emotion-laden) and cold (emotion-independent) cognition represent core features of MDD. While there is preliminary evidence that early changes in hot cognition predict clinical response to antidepressants, no studies have formally assessed the predictive value of early changes in cold cognition. The goal of my research is to assess whether early changes in cold cognition are capable of predicting treatment response in MDD patients receiving vortioxetine.

Keywords: Antidepressant Response
Cognition
Depression
Early Treatment Prediction
Precision Medicine
Vortioxetine
Advisor: McIntyre, Roger S
Successes and Challenges for Two-spirit Youth in the Workplace

Abstract The unemployment rate of Indigenous youth is significantly higher than non-Indigenous youth. Two-spirit youth are at an even greater disadvantage due to barriers such as lack of education, poverty, discrimination, and intergenerational trauma. Additionally, Two-Spirit youth report feeling a disconnect between their ethnic and sexual identities. This feeling of incongruence contributes to a heightened risk of street involvement, drug or alcohol misuse, and homelessness. This study utilizes a community-based, narrative approach, operating within an intersectional framework. The research question is: What are the intersections of cultural identity, LGBTQ identity, and work-life experiences for Two-Spirit youth as they relate to employment outcomes? Two-Spirit youth, living in the Greater Toronto Area were interviewed to explore their employment experiences in relation to their intersecting identities. This research is significant as there is minimal research investigating the intersection of Two-Spirit youth and employment, particularly from the perspective of the youth, themselves.

Keywords: Aboriginal
employment
Indigenous
LGBTQI2
resilience
Two-Spirit
Advisor: Stewart, Suzanne
Moodley, Roy
Using Probability of Detection to Detect Changes in Nearshore Lake Huron Fish Communities

Management of a large number of fish populations has been shown to be regularly limited by high year-to-year variation in catch per unit effort (CPUE), so that impractically large numbers of monitoring years are required to detect even modest changes in abundance. Probability of detection (p(d)) is a relatively new metric derived from binary presence-absence data. Due to its properties as a probability I hypothesized that with p(d), among-year variations would be dampened, allowing detection of smaller changes in abundance than with CPUE. I used data from a large study of Lake Huron nearshore fish populations collected using two gear types to compare the 2 metrics’ ability to detect change. I found little difference in the capabilities of the two. Catches in these datasets were not consistently high enough for the variation-dampening properties of the p(d) metric to be strongly expressed.

Keywords: catch per unit effort
detecting change
fish
occupancy analyses
probability of detection
year-to-year variation
Advisor: Collins, Nicholas C
Dunlop, Erin S
Investigating the Mechanism of UBR-1, an Arg/N-end Rule Pathway E3 Ligase that Modulates Caenorhabditis elegans Motor Behaviour

The Arg/N-end rule pathway regulates protein half-lives in eukaryotes. UBR-1 E3 ligase serves as a substrate recognition component of this pathway in C. elegans, which recognizes N-terminal degradation signals of substrates and mediates their ubiquitination. The functional loss of UBR-1 results in a unique motor defect: animals’ posterior body fails to establish normal bending due to synchronized A-type motor neuron activation during backward locomotion. This motor defect was found to be caused by aberrant glutamate metabolism. Specifically, removing a glutamate synthesizing enzyme GOT-1 could restore ubr-1 mutants’ bending during reversals. Locomotory patterns are regulated by sensorimotor circuits. These findings connect aberrant glutamate levels with neural circuit dysfunction in the UBR-1-dependent modulation of motor outputs. Extending from these findings, my studies further reveal UBR-1’s main sites of action to be premotor interneurons that regulate backward locomotion. Results of my studies help decipher a physiological role of UBR-1 in the nervous system.

Keywords: C. elegans
locomotion
UBR-1
Advisor: Zhen, Mei