VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Women's Reproductive Health Rights: The Rule of Law and Public Health Considerations in Repealing the Criminal Laws on Abortion in the Republic Suriname

Within the Surinamese jurisdiction the Constitution grants women the right to health and imposes a legal duty on the state to facilitate the realization of this right. Also treaty law, in particular, the ICESCR article 12 and the CEDAW article 12 grant women the right to the highest attainable standard of health and the right to non-discriminatory access to healthcare. But due to the criminal law applicable to abortion women lack non-discriminatory access to reproductive healthcare and therefore do not enjoy the highest attainable standard of pregnancy related health. Despite its decision not to enforce the abortion prohibiting criminal laws, Suriname remains in a state of failure to comply with its legal duties as imposed by the Constitution and treaty law. This, due to the state’s reluctance to repeal the criminal laws on abortion and its failure to enact effective health regulations to facilitate women in need of an abortion.

Keywords: abortion
reproductive health rights
reproductive health law
reproductive health
women's rights
right to health
crime and punishment approach
human rights
right to life
rule of law
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Suriname
criminal law
pregnancy
constitutional law
Convention on the Rights of the Child
American Convention on Human Rights
Advisor: Cook, Rebecca J.
An Objective Methodology to Assess Visual Acuity Using Visual Scanning Parameters

An objective methodology to assess visual acuity (VA) in infants was developed. The methodology is based on the analysis of visual scanning parameters when visual stimuli consisting of homogeneous targets and a target with gratings (TG) are presented. The percentage of time on the TG best predicted the ability of the subject to discriminate between the targets. Using this parameter, the likelihood ratio test was used to test the hypothesis that the TG was discriminated. VA is estimated as the highest spatial frequency for which the probability of false positive is lower than the probability of false negative for stimuli with lower spatial frequencies. VA estimates of 9 adults had an average error of 0.06 logMAR with a testing time of 3.5 minutes. These results suggest that if the attention of infants can be consistently maintained the new methodology will enable more accurate assessment of VA in infants.

Keywords: Point of Gaze Estimation
Visual Acuity
Advisor: Eizenman, Moshe
Metal and Polymer Foam Hybrid Materials: Design, Fabrication and Analysis

Two novel hybrid materials for use in sandwich cores of structural materials are designed, manufactured and mechanically tested. Each material is a hybrid of metal and polymer foam. One set of hybrids is fabricated using an aluminium micro-truss filled with varying densities of polyurethane foam. Increases up to 120% in stiffness, 372% in strength, 740% in resilience and 106% in impact energy over the aluminium micro-truss are obtained from compression and impact testing. Furthermore, the stiffness of these hybrids can be tailored according to the density of the polyurethane foam. Another set of hybrids is fabricated using a rapid prototyped ABS polymer truss that is foamed and electroplated with nanocrystalline nickel. Increases up to 1525% in stiffness, 1165% in strength and 650% in energy absorption over the foamed ABS truss are obtained. Furthermore, the gain in strength, stiffness and energy absorption outweigh the gain in density in these hybrid materials.

Keywords: Hybrid Materials
Micro-truss
Sandwich cores
Polymer Foam
Advisor: Hibbard, Glenn D.
Naguib, Hani E.
The Core Principles of Arbitral Expertise: A New Lens Through Which to View Weber v. Ontario Hydro

This thesis considers the substance of a labour arbitrator’s expertise. The author argues that the question is timely in that its answer provides a novel way to approach the position the Supreme Court of Canada has taken with respect to an arbitrator’s rightful jurisdiction, most notably in the over-decade old decision of Weber v. Ontario Hydro, a decision which continues to act as a thorn in arbitrators’ sides.

Keywords: Labour Law
Industrial Relations
Advisor: Langille, Brian A.
Natural Health Products (NHPs) and Canadian Pharmacy Students: Core Competencies

Objective: To reach consensus on entry-to-practice natural health product (NHP)-related competency statements for Canadian pharmacy students. Methods: Four rounds of a modified Delphi method were conducted. Participants; pharmacy educators,and representatives from Canadian pharmacy organizations (n=17), ranked their level of agreement using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Consensus occurred when all participants ranked a statement 4 or 5. Three core NHP-related competencies were identified: 1) the ability to incorporate NHP knowledge when providing pharmaceutical care; 2) the ability to access and critically appraise NHP-related information sources, and 3) the ability to provide appropriate education to patients and other health care providers on the effectiveness and potential adverse effects and drug interactions of NHPs. Two additional NHP-related competency statements emerged as important, but consensus was not achieved. Conclusions: If the developed core NHP-related competency statements are widely implemented, Canadian pharmacists will be able to fulfill their NHP-related professional responsibilities upon entry-to-practice.

Keywords: pharmacy
education
natural health products
Advisor: Boon, Heather
Homeostatic Beliefs: Measurement and Future Applications

“Homeostatic beliefs” (HBs) denote a sense that one’s life path will remain stable in the long-term despite short-term disruptions. Two studies have been undertaken to explore whether HBs exist independent of other constructs, and to develop a scale with which to measure them. In Study 1, 158 undergraduate students completed a draft HB scale and theoretically related scales. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed with correlational and regression analyses: HBs are most strongly related to, but not redundant with, optimism, trait extraversion, and satisfaction with life. Using exploratory factor analysis, a six-item HB scale was derived. Study 2 is in progress, and will assess the construct validity of the HB scale by attempting to manipulate HBs to possibly influence individuals’ reactions to a mortality salience manipulation. We hypothesize that high HBs may buffer individuals from transient disrupting stimuli such as a mortality salience cue.

Keywords: Beliefs
Scale validation
Advisor: Plaks, Jason
Peterson, Jordan
Multicohort Management and LiDAR: New Forest Management Tools for Northeastern Ontario Boreal Mixedwood Bird Communities

While traditional management of the boreal forests results in even-aged forests with low landscape scale variability, recent work has suggested that much of the eastern boreal forest of North America is subject to long natural fire return-intervals. This has led to the development of new management strategies to maintain a mosaic of even and multi-aged stands. In this context I investigated the relationships between diameter-distributions, stand age, forest structure and bird communities. Results showed weak associations of the bird community with cohort classes, but that diameter-distributions can work to succinctly describe some of the variation in stand structure and bird communities. I also explored the utility of LiDAR to measure important structural features for bird communities. Results showed that LiDAR can outperform traditional measures of stand structure at explaining bird communities at differing scales.

Keywords: Multicohort Management
bird
Boreal
Forestry
forest structure
vertical stratification
LiDAR
multiscale analysis
Advisor: Malcolm, Jay R.
Drapeau, Pierre
A Novel Role for Tid1 in HIF2α Regulation

Activity of the hypoxia inducible HIF-alpha transcription factors drive the hypoxic response, resulting in enhancement of angiogenesis, tumour growth, invasion and metastasis. Seeking to uncover a role for Tid1 in control of HIF2-alpha, we used lentiviral shRNA to knock-down Tid1 in 786-0 RCC cells with and without pVHL. In 786-0 cells stably expressing pVHL30, Tid1 knock-down resulted in a dramatic reduction in HIF2-alpha levels relative to controls. Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of Tid1S rescued this decline in HIF2-alpha levels, while overexpression of Tid1L enhanced this decline. A protective role of Tid1S for HIF2-alpha was reproduced in a HEK293 cell model. Immunoprecipitations in HEK293 cells revealed a lack of direct binding between HIF2-alpha and Tid1 in vivo, while adenoviral-mediated overexpression of Tid1 in this model failed to alter in vitro binding between HIF2-alpha and pVHL30. We present a model in which Tid1 regulates HIF2-alpha stability through regulation of pVHL30 nuclear import.

Keywords: Tid1
HIF
renal cell carcinoma
hypoxia inducible factor
VHL
von Hippel Lindau
Advisor: Rozakis-Adcock, Maria
Synthesis and Characterization of Citrate and Polymer Stabilized Lanthanide Trifluoride Nanoparticles

Citrate-coated gadolinium trifluoride (Cit-GdF3) and poly(acrylic acid)-coated nanoparticles (PAA-GdF3 NPs) were synthesized, the former reproduced from literature (though using more refined conditions), the latter through a new, two-step, ligand exchange method. Diamagnetic nanoparticle analogs (Cit-YF3 NPs) were prepared to investigate citrate interactions with the nanoparticle surface using NMR. Citrate was found to bind in numerous conformations, with a total of between 29 – 46 % bound at 0 ºC. Exchange studies revealed short residence lifetimes of one and twelve seconds respectively for bound and free forms of citrate (0 ºC), perhaps explaining the colloidal instability of these nanoparticles. PAA-GdF3 NPs were synthesized by first producing their Cit-GdF3 counterparts, and then exchanging citrate for PAA. The impetus behind this latter synthesis was the relative enhancement in stability and relaxivity attainable by these nanoparticles. The displacement of citrate by PAA was verified using diffusion NMR studies.

Keywords: nanoparticle
lanthanide
citrate
poly(acrylic acid)
MRI
contrast agent
NMR
diffusion
gadolinium
Advisor: Prosser, Robert Scott
Macdonald, Peter Moore
Biomimetic Aminoacylation: Optimization of Reaction Conditions

Synthesizing proteins containing unnatural amino acids inserted at specific positions within the protein sequence has been a longstanding goal of biological chemists. This poses unique challenges, as aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, the enzymes responsible for protein synthesis, are highly specific. To overcome this, a lanthanum-catalyzed, biomimetic tRNA aminoacylation method has been developed(1). However, due to unproductive lanthanum coordination of ethyl phosphate, a reaction byproduct, a full equivalent of lanthanum must be added to each reaction. This may threaten the integrity of tRNA, as lanthanides are known to catalyze the hydrolysis of RNA (2, 3). Using uridine as a simplified tRNA mimic, magnesium, which is known to coordinate strongly with phosphate ions, has been utilized to optimize this reaction and increase the selectivity of lanthanum towards esterification. In the presence of magnesium, ester yield is substantially increased. In addition to this, optimal pH and buffer reaction conditions were determined.

Keywords: Aminoacylation
Bioorganic
Lanthanum
Advisor: Kluger, Ronald
Numerical Shape Optimization of Airfoils With Practical Aerodynamic Design Requirements

Practical aerodynamic shape design problems must balance performance optimization over a range of on-design operating conditions with constraint satisfaction at off-design operating conditions. A multipoint optimization formulation can be used to represent on-design and off-design conditions with corresponding objective or constraint functions. Two methods are presented for obtaining optimal airfoil designs that satisfy all design objectives and constraints. The first method uses an unconstrained optimization algorithm where optimal design is achieved by minimizing a weighted sum of objective functions at each of the conditions. To address competing design objectives between on-design and off-design conditions, an automated procedure is used to weight off-design objective functions to limit their influence on the overall optimization. The second method uses the constrained optimization algorithm SNOPT, allowing aerodynamic constraints imposed at off-design conditions to be treated explicitly. Both methods are applied to the design of an airfoil for a hypothetical aircraft, which is formulated as an 18-point multipoint optimization.

Keywords: computational aerodynamics
optimization
airfoil
Advisor: Zingg, David W.
Regulation of Lfc, a RhoGEF, by Phosphorylation

RhoGTPases oscillate between an inactive GDP-bound state and an active GTP-bound state. The exchange of GDP for GTP is catalyzed by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Different modes of GEF activation allow for localized Rho signaling in response to specific stimuli. Lfc’s activity in normal cells is tightly regulated through phosphorylation, subcellular localization and protein-protein interactions. Having identified PKA and PP2A as the potential kinase and phosphatase regulating Lfc our work has concentrated on the importance of specific sites of phosphorylation on Lfc responsible for its regulation. We have confirmed T114 and S885 as the sites of phosphorylation mediating the mutually exclusive relationship of Lfc with 14-3-3 and Tctex1, both negative regulators of Lfc activity. We have also confirmed TIP41 as a member of the Lfc-PP2A complex. Future work will focus on determining if TIP41 mediates the Lfc-PP2A interaction and the signals involved in Lfc activation by dephosphorylation.

Advisor: Rottapel, Robert
Eye Movements as a Reflection of Binding in Older Adults

Theories of age-related memory decline debate whether the problem lies at the level of encoding or consciously accessing information at the level of retrieval. Deficits at encoding may be due to the inability to bind relations among objects. The present research implements eye movement monitoring into an associative memory task to explore age-related memory at encoding and retrieval. Eye movements of older and younger adults are compared. Three solitary items were presented during the study phase, and test responses were whether the spatial relation of these objects to one another was intact or manipulated when subsequently presented all together. Observed differences at the level of encoding in addition to the level of retrieval clarifies that there is not a deficit in consciously accessing encoded representations. Further, differences in relational binding at the level of encoding were observed, which supports the association deficit theory of memory and aging.

Keywords: Relational Memory
Eye Movement Monitoring
Advisor: Ryan, Jennifer D.
Moscovitch, Morris
Analysis of the Low-bid Award System in Public Sector Construction Procurement

Canadian construction participants have long recognized that accepting the lowest price bid does not guarantee maximum value. Achieving a value-based procurement approach is a challenge, particularly for the Canadian public sector clients who are limited in their ability to evaluate the competitive bids based solely on the low-bid award system. Bid and cost data from 218 projects from three major public sector construction clients in the Greater Toronto Area are evaluated. Compared to the other clients, the cost escalation is significantly higher for the client that does not have a standard prequalification policy. Increased contractor competition (high number of bids) and a large price gap between low bid and other bids are correlated to higher cost escalation for the non-prequalifying client. Also, the organizational culture of the non-prequalifying client is less results-oriented. The research demonstrates the importance of prequalifying for clients that award based solely on the low bid.

Keywords: Construction
Procurement
Low-Bid
Advisor: McCabe, Brenda
Insect Communities and Multicohort Stand Structure in Boreal Mixedwood Forests of Northeastern Ontario

Current forest management in boreal northeastern Ontario results in young, even-aged forests; however, fire history research has found old stands with multiple cohorts of trees are common, supporting the value of Multi-cohort Management. I investigated relationships between insect communities and stand live-tree diameter distribution, cohort class and structure. Results showed that variation in abundances of Carabidae, Diapriidae, Diptera and Hymenoptera were not strongly predicted by cohort class. The concept showed greater strength when parameters of live-tree diameter distributions were used. Forest structure, not age, was important for all communities, including heterogeneity of understory and/or overstory vegetation. Trap height was a strong predictor of aerial insect community structure, with insect abundance higher in the understory than in the canopy. In summary, a more diversified classification approach which includes important habitat features in addition to simple characterization of diameter distributions should be considered to better assess forest structural variation and management.

Keywords: Multicohort Management
Carabidae
Boreal
Forestry
insects
vertical stratification
canopy
understory
Hymenoptera
Diptera
forest structure
Advisor: Smith, Sandy
Hepatocyte Cytotoxicity Induced by Hydroperoxide (Oxidative Stress Model) or Dicarbonyls (Carbonylation Model): Prevention by Bioactive Nut Extracts or Catechins

Carbonyl and oxidative stress augment the development of diabetic complications. We evaluated the cytoprotectiveness of walnut and hazelnut extracts and catechins for decreasing cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and protein carbonylation in cell death models of carbonyl and oxidative stress. Polar extracts (methanol or water) showed better cytoprotection than the non-polar (ethyl acetate) nut extracts against hydroperoxide-induced hepatocyte cell death and oxidative stress markers. Catechin flavonoids found in plants, including walnuts and hazelnuts, prevented serum albumin carbonylation in a carbonyl stress model (using glyoxal or methylglyoxal). Hepatocyte protein carbonylation and cell death were prevented and UV spectra data suggested a catechin:methylglyoxal adduct was formed. We conclude that (a) bioactive nut constituents in polar extracts were more protective than non-polar extracts against oxidative stress, and (b) catechins were effective under physiological temperature and pH, at preventing dicarbonyl induced cytotoxicity likely by trapping dicarbonyls or reversing early stage carbonylation.

Keywords: Nut Extracts, Catechins, Cytotoxicity, Oxidative Stress, Lipid Peroxidation, Protein Carbonylation
Advisor: O'Brien, Peter J.
Jenkins, David J. A.
Optimization of Nitrogen Acquisition, and Metabolism, by Potassium in Rice, and Barley

We present the first characterization of K+ optimization of N uptake and metabolism in an NH4+-tolerant species, tropical lowland rice (cv. IR-72). 13N radiotracing showed that increased K+ supply reduces futile NH4+ cycling at the plasma membrane, diminishing the excessive rates of both unidirectional influx and efflux. Pharmacological testing showed that low-affinity NH4+ influx may be mediated by both K+ and non-selective cation channels. Suppression of NH4+ influx by K+ occurred within minutes of increasing K+ supply. Increased K+ reduced free [NH4+] in roots and shoots by 50-75%. Plant biomass was maximized on 10 mM NH4+ and 5 mM K+, with growth 160% higher than 10 mM NO3--grown plants, and 220% higher than plants grown at 10 mM NH4+ and 0.1 mM K+. Unlike in NH4+-sensitive barley, growth optimization was not attributed to a reduced energy cost of futile NH4+ cycling at the plasma membrane. Activities of the key enzymes glutamine synthetase (GS) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) were strongly stimulated by elevated K+, mirroring plant growth and protein content. Improved plant performance through optimization of K+ and NH4+ is likely to be of substantial agronomic significance in the world’s foremost crop species.

Keywords: Plant nutrition
Nitrogen
Potassium
Ion channel
Influx
Efflux
Rice
Barley
Futile cycling
Advisor: Kronzucker, Herbert
Establishment of High Seas Marine Protected Areas: Towards an Implementing Agreement?

Although international law requires States to protect the marine environment and conserve marine living resources, human activities are still threatening marine species and its survival. In view of limited scientific knowledge of marine ecosystems, fragility of ecosystems and insufficient mechanisms of protection, marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction is at risk. Increasing attention has been given to the need to conserve this important and vulnerable biodiversity. The international community has begun to recognize the importance of marine protected areas (MPAs) as key tool to ensure sustainable use and preservation of biodiversity. However, the adequacy of the current legal framework related to the conservation of marine biodiversity through the establishing of high seas MPAs raises debates. Disagreements about the existence of inadequacies and need for an implementing agreement remain. My study seeks to determine whether the international legal framework is adequate for the establishment of MPAs or whether further measures are required.

Keywords: marine protected areas
marine biodiversity
international law
Advisor: Brunnee, Jutta
Structural MR Imaging of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Cortical thinning of the anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC) and insula has been previously reported in IBS (Davis et al., 2008). The aim of the present study was to examine cortical and subcortical structural gray matter integrity in IBS with particular attention to individual disease symptoms and personality characteristics such as pain catastrophizing. Eleven IBS patients and 16 age-matched healthy subjects (female, right-handed) underwent structural MRI. Voxel Based Morphometry and Cortical Thickness Analysis revealed that the IBS group had increased gray matter density in the hypothalamus, cortical thinning in the aMCC, strong (r = -66; p=0.015), a negative correlation between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and pain catastrophizing and anterior insula thickness was positively correlated to pain duration (r = 0.77, p=0.003) when controlling for age. These abnormalities may contribute to chronic pain in IBS.

Keywords: IBS
MRI
Pain
Cortex
Advisor: Davis, Karen
Access to Primary Health Care: Does Neighbourhood of Residence Matter?

Access to primary health care is an important determinant of health. Within current research there has been limited examination of neighbourhood level variations in access to care, despite knowledge that local contexts shape health. The objective of this research is to examine neighbourhood-level access to primary health care in the city of Mississauga, Ontario. Street address locations of primary care physicians were obtained from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) website and analyzed using geographic information systems (GIS). A 'Three Step Floating Catchment Area' (3SFCA) method was derived and used to measure multiple dimensions of access for the population as a whole, for specific linguistic groups and for recent immigrants. This research identifies significant neighbourhood-level variations in access to care for each dimension of access and population subgroup studied. The research findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of neighbourhood-level variability in access to health care.

Keywords: geographic information systems
GIS
primary health care
access to health care
neighbourhood
neighbourhoods and health
geography
health geography
Advisor: Wilson, Kathi