VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Changing the Conversation: a Critical Ethnography of Diabetes Care in People with Mental Illnesses

Chronic illnesses pose a large public health threat. Diabetes mellitus type II accounts for about 90% of cases, is largely considered preventable by health providers, but continues to be among one of the most debilitating chronic conditions in Canada, and around the world. The co-occurrence of severe mental illnesses and diabetes is well documented, with diabetes being two to three times more prevalent among individuals with severe mental illnesses, compared to the general population. In clinical practices, diabetes management for people with mental illnesses and diabetes continues to operate on the premise of chronic disease model with an understanding of diabetes as a physiological and behavioral deficiency. Therefore, clinical and policy efforts are directed toward the enhancement of patient self-management techniques through patient compliance with pharmaceutical and lifestyle behavior recommendations. Self-management continues to be an important mandate in clinical practice and public health policies, where its biomedical understanding continues to prevail. Nonetheless, relatively little attention has been given to the exploration of how well the biomedical model aligns with peopleâ s everyday experiences. This project explored everyday experiences of diabetes self-management and biomedical compliance among those diagnosed with severe mental illnesses through the lens of critical ethnography. This work demonstrated discordance between biomedical perspectives on diabetes management and the lived experiences of those with mental illness. I identified an alternative conceptualization of diabetes management that moved beyond idealized concepts of self-care in order to introduce the social realities of people with severe mental illnesses as they attempt to enact and negotiate around medical directives. This new understanding encourages a shift towards broader social and contextual understandings of the lived realities of individuals with severe mental illness, and their resourcefulness, competence, persistence, and capabilities. Attention to how social context informs patientsâ realities may assist in the development of new context-sensitive and patient-oriented grounds for public health strategies and clinical practices associated with diabetes care, and challenge traditional understandings of compliance and noncompliance with diabetic self-management.

Keywords: critical ethnography
diabetes
population health
severe mental illness
social determinants of health
Advisor: Webster, Fiona
Caring About Racism: Early Career Nurses' Experiences With Aboriginal Cultural Safety

The Aboriginal population in Canada is the youngest and most rapidly growing demographic in the country, and more than half of the 1.4 million Aboriginal people in Canada live in urban centres (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, 2013). As a result, all nurses can expect to provide nursing care to Aboriginal peoples during the course of their work, regardless of the setting of their employment. Since the beginning of the new millennium, however, Canadian researchers have documented that Aboriginal people encounter racism and discrimination at the hands of health professionals when they access health care in this country. In an effort to address this racism and improve the experience of Aboriginal peoples in health care, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (2013) now recommends that undergraduate nursing students receive cultural safety education during their nursing programs. This recommendation is significant because cultural safety differs in important ways from cultural competence, the dominant model of attending to cultural differences practiced by health professionals in North America. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of early career nurses translating knowledge of cultural safety into nursing practice. This qualitative research study used Adele Clarkeâ s (2005) Situational Analysis to interrogate the complex forces and colonial discourses that influence the practice of nurses with Aboriginal people in contemporary health care environments. Thirteen early career nurses and seven experienced northern nurses were interviewed as part of this study, and results showed that for these nurses, a culturally safe approach is one where respect and relationship are centred. The nursesâ narratives also revealed that health care professionals make use of discriminatory labels to withhold and delay care for Aboriginal patients, and that intervening on behalf of patients can provoke strong opposition from nursing colleagues in some settings. However, findings also suggest that cultural safety education can help early career nurses to resist and disrupt pervasive colonial discourses in the health care arena. Further, bearing witness to the suffering created by colonialism also informs the nursesâ motivation to work as allies with Aboriginal peoples, revealing the link between cultural safety and reconciliation.

Keywords: Aboriginal
colonialism
cultural safety
nurses
nursing
racism
Advisor: Muzzin, Linda
Consuming Identities: Communities and Culinary Practice in the Late Moche Jequetepeque Valley, Peru

This dissertation explores the interconnections between food and identity in the Late Moche Jequetepeque valley (AD 650-850). The peripatetic nature of Late Moche lifeways in the Jequetepeque valley, in which farmers, fishers, and pilgrims of all statuses participated in a political-religious-economic round, guided the everyday consumptive practices of valley residents. Utilizing a practice-based materialist approach, I assess the preparation, consumption, and disposal of food and food-related materials at two sites: Wasi Huachuma and Huaca Colorada. I critique binary conceptions of consumption (e.g., feasts vs. daily meals, ritual vs. non-ritual consumption) by analyzing in detail the plant, animal, and ceramic materials recovered from excavations at the two settlements. The application of discriminant analysis to the ubiquity data from the two sites identified statistically correlated assemblages of materials. The results of these assays challenge some of the assumptions of previous Moche studies which ascribe somewhat rigid class associations to specific materials, such as camelid meat and chili pepper. In specific, this dissertation demonstrates that strict class designations are not represented in the culinary practices of the Late Moche inhabitants of Wasi Huachuma and Huaca Colorada. Instead, this dissertation recognizes that class distinctions, and identity in general, are often fluid constructs. Based on these insights, this dissertation has reinterpreted Moche diet and cuisine by identifying that the contingency of consumptive practices is effectively entangled with culturally specific conceptions of space, place, and time, as well as group and individual identity.

Keywords: Culinary practice
Foodways
Identity
Mobility
Moche
Peru
Advisor: Swenson, Edward R
Principals' Engagement with The Ontario Leadership Framework to Enact Social Justice Leadership: Reflection, Resistance, and Resilience

Now, more than ever, leadership — principal leadership — is needed to address the increasing diversity and marginalization in Ontario schools. In 2009, Realizing the Promise of Diversity: Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy policy was released. While The Ontario Leadership Framework was developed to support and sustain quality leadership in schools and districts across the province, it contains little to connect it to the 2009 document. Lying at the crossroads of education policy, educational leadership theory, and the practice of social justice leadership, this study aims to understand how principals engage in the OLF to enact social justice leadership. Using critical theory to conceptualize leadership for social justice, and a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews from 14 principals were analyzed using a constant comparative analysis method. This study found the OLF does not support social justice leadership. Through their own reflections on power and privilege, principals choose to engage in the OLF, not by trying to fit it into their social justice leadership, but rather by viewing it through the lens of social justice and social justice leadership. The power of reflection threads throughout the findings as does the need for principals to employ resistance and resilience to engage in the OLF to enact social justice leadership. It argues that if practicing and aspiring principals are earnest about closing the achievement gap of marginalized students, then they need to have experience with marginalization, with reflecting on their privilege and power, with resisting the status quo — all the while working subversively and with political savvy so that they can resist the dominant versions of leadership and actually make a change in schools that empower individuals against the structural injustices found in the greater society and within our schools. Given Ontario’s commitment to equity and inclusive education, if all students are truly to benefit from schooling, then this research indicates to policy makers that changes to the OLF are needed.

Keywords: educational administration
educational leadership
education policy
Ontario Leadership Framework
social justice
social justice leadership
Advisor: Portelli, John P
Stress Reactions in the Face of the “Good Cancer.” Correlates of Posttraumatic Growth in Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer has been rapidly increasing in incidence. Little is known about the psychological impact of thyroid cancer beyond the impact on quality of life. Moreover, there is scant research on the potential positive outcomes following a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. This study investigated the experience of distress and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in thyroid cancer survivors. This study used a cross sectional design to survey 259 women with thyroid cancer across Canada and the United States. Age, time since diagnosis, recurrence, coping, social support, rumination, anxiety, depression, physical health-related quality of life, health locus of control, and health behaviour change were examined in relation to five dimensions of PTG. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine predictors of PTG. Moderation analysis was used to explore the impact of social support on coping and PTG. Findings from the regression analyses revealed that Positive Reappraisal style of coping was a significant predictor of factors relating to PTG including Relating to Others (R2 change=.18), New Possibilities (R2 change=.38), Personal Strength (R2 change=.07), Spiritual Change (R2 change=.28), Appreciation of Life (R2 change=.15), and total PTG (R2 change=.36). Social Support emerged as a moderator between Distancing as a style of coping and Relating to Others (R2 change=.16). Participants reported significantly higher levels of distress and moderate degrees of PTG. Being younger in age was predictive of Appreciation of Life, but did not account for a meaningful percentage of the variance in the regression model. Time since diagnosis and recurrence were not predictive of PTG for this sample. This is the first quantitative investigation of PTG in a thyroid cancer population, and highlights the fact that this sample of participants experienced significant levels of distress. This study confirms that Positive Reappraisal plays an important role in the experience of growth across all domains of PTG. Inconsistent results between each of these PTG domains with other psychosocial variables suggest evidence for further exploration of an alternate factor structure and caution when using a global score. Future research can focus on developing interventions aimed at reducing distress, reinforcing adaptive coping strategies, and promotion of the mechanisms of growth.

Keywords: Anxiety
Coping
Posttraumatic Growth
PTG
Social Support
Thyroid Cancer
Advisor: Gillis, Joseph Roy
The Speaker-Oriented Use of Estar: Semantic Variation in the [Copula + Adjective] Context in Buenos Aires Spanish

This study investigates copula variation with adjectival predicates in Buenos Aires Spanish. It examines the conditioning factors of ['ser'/'estar' + adjective] contexts and tests the hypothesis of the speaker-oriented use of 'estar'. The speaker-oriented use of 'estar' emphasizes the viewpoint of the speaker (e.g., La nueva película de Almodóvar está buena. ‘The new Almodovar film is[ESTAR] good.’). In contrast, 'ser' is neutral with respect to the speaker’s attitude towards the proposition (e.g., La nueva película de Almodóvar es buena. ‘The new Almodovar film is[SER] good.’). The speaker-oriented hypothesis predicts that the choice of 'estar' optionally expresses speaker perspective, which comprises a range of meanings including evidential, mirative and evaluative interpretations. The study tests whether some of the variation between the copulas can be attributed to the encoding of speaker perspective via the selection of 'estar'. Data from 45 native speakers of Buenos Aires Spanish was collected, using a contextualized preference task, an elicitation task and a sociolinguistic interview. Speakers were classified according to the two social variables of age and level of education. The findings indicated that the presence of evidence in the discourse context was a significant predictor of 'estar' selection. Also, two linguistic variables, the presence of temporal anchoring markers and the presence of speaker-oriented expressions in the sentence, were highly significant predictors of the use of 'estar'. These results are consistent with the prediction that 'estar' is selected to express speaker-oriented meaning. Neither of the social variables tested were significant predictors of 'estar' selection. The findings suggest stable patterns of use for both temporally-anchored and speaker-oriented meanings of the ['estar' + adjective] context in this variety. In conclusion, the linguistic encoding of speaker perspective is a driver of variation in copula selection with adjectival predicates in Buenos Aires Spanish.

Keywords: adjective
copula
evidential
Spanish
speaker-oriented
variation
Advisor: PĂŠrez-Leroux, Ana Teresa
Colantoni, Laura
Green grabbing and the contested nature of belonging in Laikipia, Kenya: A genealogy

Global demand to protect endangered wildlife at any cost has corresponded to increasingly more Large-Scale Land Acquisitions being carried out for conservation purposes. This dissertation focuses on how and why different rural groups have such diverse experiences with, and reactions to, this phenomenon (i.e. green grabbing). Recent studies emphasize the need to depart from stereotypes of rural groups as either passive victims or unified resistors of green grabbing. Such studies show that green grabs have differentiated impacts and are met by variegated political reactions from below â including resistance, acquiescence, and incorporation. While making important contributions to the literature, these insights lead to additional questions. For example, how do the political reactions of certain rural groups align or depart from those of others and why? In responding to such questions, this dissertation makes green grabbing a subject of ethnographic and historical analysis in Laikipia, Kenya. Through a genealogical approach to studying green grabbing, this dissertation brings literature on ethnicity and belonging in Laikipia into dialogue with recent green grabbing literature. The findings suggest that in settler societies, certain aspects of green grabbing may be understood as acts of white belonging. Likewise, green grabbing presents other rural groups with opportunities â however marginal â to re-assert different notions of belonging in the landscape through resistance, acquiescence, or incorporation. Based on these findings, this dissertation argues that green grabbing is central to longstanding contestations over belonging in Laikipia. The phenomenon has been made possible by, but has also re- produced, ethno-spatial divisions rooted in colonial expansion. By tracing the shifting contours of these divisions in time, this dissertation contextualizes how and why different rural groups experience and react to green grabbing. In doing so, it builds a case for ethnographic and historical analyses of green grabs in other places, spaces, and times.

Keywords: Belonging
Conservation
Green grabbing
Kenya
Laikipia
Land rights
Advisor: Kepe, Thembela
Pharmacological Chaperones of the Dopamine Transporter: A Strategy for Increasing Function of Wild Type and Mutant Transporter

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a membrane protein that is essential for regulating signaling and intracellular stores of the neurotransmitter dopamine. An array of pathological conditions have been linked to mutations in the dopamine transporter gene, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, autism, and dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS). DTDS is of particular interest, because it is exclusively caused by autosomal recessive loss-of-function mutations in the dopamine transporter (DAT), resulting in a debilitating pediatric movement disorder that is eventually fatal. The majority of DTDS DAT mutations disrupt DAT function by affecting folding and maturation of the transporter. Pharmacological chaperones have previously been used to rescue mutations in other membrane proteins, and we therefore examined the possibility of using pharmacological chaperones to rescue DTDS mutations. We developed a DAT surface expression assay in order to screen candidate compounds for potential pharmacological chaperone activity. After screening a set of known DAT ligands, we found that the DAT inhibitors bupropion and ibogaine increased DAT surface expression, whereas other inhibitors, including cocaine and methylphenidate, had no effect. The effect appears to be associated with stabilization of an inward- facing or occluded, as opposed to an outward-facing conformation of the DAT. Bupropion and ibogaine increased wild type DAT protein levels, demonstrating that drug effects were not merely due to protein trafficking. Bupropion and ibogaine also promoted maturation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-retained DAT mutant K590A, which could be blocked by inhibiting ER to Golgi transport. Furthermore, bupropion decreased the half-life of immature ER-retained K590A DAT in cycloheximide chase assays. The data suggest that bupropion and ibogaine promote maturation of DAT by acting as pharmacological chaperones in the ER. Importantly, both drugs rescue DAT maturation and functional activity of a subset of DTDS-associated DAT mutants. Tests of pharmacological chaperoning of DAT in mice were not conclusive, and future studies will have to assess in vivo activity of bupropion in a true DTDS mouse model. Together, these results are the first demonstration of pharmacological chaperoning of DAT, and suggest this may be a viable approach to increase DAT levels in DTDS and other conditions associated with reduced DAT function.

Keywords: Dopamine
Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome
Pharmacological chaperones
Protein folding
Advisor: Salahpour, Ali
Protein-Based Conditioners for Enhancing Biosludge Dewaterability

Synthetic organic polymers are commonly used conditioners to enhance sludge dewaterability. However, these polymers are petroleum-derived, costly and can be toxic to aquatic systems. There have been limited studies on the potential use of enzymes for enhancing the dewaterability of sludge and little is known about the mechanisms for such enhancement. This thesis investigated the potential of using proteins as conditioners for enhancing biosludge dewaterability. Cationic proteins can enhance biosludge dewaterability. This was demonstrated by the conditioning effect on biosludge of lysozyme and protamine. After screening several enzymes, lysozyme was the only enzyme that showed dewatering improvements, increasing the cake solids content of biosludge by up to 5.8%. Active and inactive lysozyme exhibited a similar ability for enhancing sludge dewaterability suggesting a non-enzymatic mechanism. The mechanism by which cationic proteins, such as lysozyme, enhance biosludge dewaterability appears to be charge neutralization. In agreement with this proposed mechanism, it was found that the surface charge of a protein largely determines its potential as a conditioner. Synthetic polymers consistently outperformed cationic proteins increasing biosludge cake solids by up to 7.4%. However, protamine showed a higher flocculating activity than synthetic polymers on kaolin suspensions (up to 36% higher at pH 7 and pH 9). Cationic proteins are biodegradable and can potentially be extracted from waste which can be an advantage over synthetic polymers. Although the enzymes in this study were not found to positively affect the dewaterability of biosludge, enzymes can improve the anaerobic digestibility of biosludge as a result of their enzymatic activity. Treatment with proteases and glycosidases increased biogas yields by 10% after 62 days of anaerobic digestion. Taken together, the findings of this thesis improved the current understanding of how enzymes and proteins can change biosludge, and how these changes affect its dewaterability and anaerobic digestibility.

Keywords: Anaerobic Digestion
Biosludge
Dewatering
Enzymes
Flocculation
Proteins
Advisor: Allen, D. Grant
Examining the relationship between exercise and sedentary behaviour among cardiac rehabilitation patients to inform intervention strategies

Prolonged time in sedentary behaviours is associated with cardio-metabolic disease risk and mortality in adult populations. Yet, the association between sedentary behaviour and exercise participation on health outcomes is unclear. Six inter-related studies were conducted in the pursuit of the following objectives: to understand the risks and determinants of sedentary behaviour among patients participating in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR), and inform the development of sedentary behaviour interventions among these individuals. Prolonged sedentary time was found to be associated with cardio-metabolic disorders and mortality independent of physical activity, with greater mortality risks for those with low physical activity levels compared to those with greater levels. Among CR patients, exercise participation did not influence their sedentary time and were found to be highly sedentary (>8 hours per day) at the initiation of, and throughout CR, irrespective of whether physical activity guidelines were met. Patients and staff placed a lower priority in reducing sedentary behaviour than improving physical activity and other health behaviours. Intrapersonal factors (biological, psychological), and environmental factors (behaviour settings, the information environment, social-cultural factors, natural environment) were perceived to be facilitators of sedentary behaviour, and barriers to reducing sedentary behaviour. It was also determined that the exercise focus of CR might be beneficial to individuals who are unable to reallocate sedentary time to exercise and light physical activity. Alternatively, a focus on light-intensity physical activity alone may be suitable for those patients who are unable to participate in exercise. Lastly, it was found that CR programs do not benefit all patients equally, and an intervention strategy must be individually targeted. Taken together, these findings contribute towards a better understanding of whether prolonged sedentary time is a distinct health risk factor, and inform the development and pilot testing of future sedentary behaviour interventions for CR patients.

Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation
Interventions
Sedentary behaviour
Advisor: Alter, David