title: From Khastgari to Arosi: Understanding Attitudes Towards Marriage Choice and Practice Amongst Afghan Women in the Canadian Diaspora

contributor:
Levine-Rasky, Cynthia
Sociology

subject: Feminism Sociology Orientalism Marriage Afghanistan Diaspora

abstract: While a significant amount of attention is often paid to the notion of forced and abusive marriages in Afghanistan, little has been said to give Afghan women the agency and opportunity to speak out for themselves and talk about their own personal experiences in relation to marriage and marriage practices. This especially pertains to Afghan women in the Canadian diaspora when multiple layers of identity associated with gender, culture, and faith become intertwined. Navigating romantic relationships through these multiple intersections becomes even more complex, but it does offer room for creativity, resistance, and accommodation. In fact, for most Afghan women in the Canadian diaspora, their attitudes towards marriage practices and marriage choice reveal diverse perspectives on gender ideologies and gender relations. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how individualistic desires and cultural values and expectations affect the marriage choices of first and second-generation Afghan women living in the Canadian diaspora.  This study is based on qualitative research consisting of in-depth, extensive online interviews¬¬ and draws on postcolonial and anti-racist feminist analyses to map out the complex interactions of race, gender, religion, and sexuality that pertain to the diverse experiences faced by Afghan women when engaging with feminism. Understanding the rationalizations behind marriage choice and practices for Afghan women in the diaspora paves the way for better understanding of a group that has typically been neglected in academia.

abstract: M.A.


title: Amorphous Organic Molecular Glasses for Photovoltaic Applications

contributor:
Nunzi, Jean-Michel
Chemistry

rights: Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada

rights: ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement

rights: Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University

rights: This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.

subject:
Organic Molecular Glass
Optical Properties
Band Gap
Organic PV Cells
Efficiency

abstract:
Significant progress has been achieved recently in the development of solution-processed organic photovoltaic devices, and they are now in the early stages of commercialization. However, achieving a smooth and homogenous film morphology without disturbing the optical and electronic properties of the active layer remains a crucial challenge to overcome for developing small-molecule materials. Strong molecular forces between conjugated small molecules can result in the nucleation of molecular crystals in solution, thereby resulting in an incomplete film coverage with high surface roughness. In addition, most small-molecule donor and acceptor materials tend to crystallize rapidly during solvent and thermal annealing to yield films of poor quality with polycrystalline small domains separated by grain boundaries, which act as electron traps and limit the long-range transport of electrons, and thusly impacting negatively device performance.
To improve film quality with enhanced efficiency, several efforts are focused on molecular design which is based on high solubility, high optical absorption, high charge carrier mobility and a high interfacial gap between donor and acceptor. The approach studied herein consists in improving the film quality of PV devices by synthesizing amorphous glass-forming donors and acceptors with improved optical and electronic properties. Organic molecular glasses are a class of glass-forming materials that usually show outstanding glass-forming ability, and high kinetic stability towards crystallization. Organic materials functionalized with glass-forming mexylaminotriazine derivatives can remain indefinitely in the amorphous state at working temperatures, thereby preserving their optical and electronic properties. In this thesis, we developed molecular glasses functionalized with n- and p-type organic small molecules and studied their optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties.
This thesis mainly focuses on the optical, electronic and photovoltaic properties of target mexylaminotriazine-functionalized amorphous donor and acceptor materials which show outstanding PV performance compared to their crystalline analogues. In addition, the structural and morphological properties of their respective thin films studied by XRD, AFM and SEM are also discussed.

abstract: PhD


title: BitDrones OS A Programmable Matter System

contributor:
Vertegaal, Roel
Computing

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States

subject:
Programmable Matter
3D Tangible UIs
Tangible UIs
Organic UIs
Human Centered Computing
Claytronics
Real Reality Interfaces

abstract: This work presents the BitDrones System, a platform for developing interactive 3D tangible user interface applications. This system is a first step towards interactive self-levitating programmable matter. Although there have been many attempts to create programmable matter, BitDrones represents a unique contribution where the voxels are self-levitating, and completely controllable in 3D, all while still allowing user interactions. Several generations of BitDrones units are presented, beginning with BitDrones that are single self-levitating pixels and moving to fully graspable 3D tangible voxels. Each BitDrone consists of a 3D printed wireframe cube with RGB LEDs mounted on a nano-quadcopter, which allows it to self-levitate. Groups of BitDrones are controllable directly by the user through a series of unimanual, bimanual, gestural, and embodied controller interactions. Interactions such as Touch and Drag are possible simply by grasping and moving the BitDrones. Gestural interactions such as Point and Click allow the user to manipulate remote BitDrones. Also described are several application scenarios that are possible with the BitDrones system. These include a 3D Canvas, a tangible Grid, an animation recording and playback, and an embodied controller designed to operate as Flying LEGO Bricks.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Bootle Rumble: Gamifying Rehabilitation Exercise for Youth with Cerebral Palsy

contributor:
Graham, T.C. Nicholas
Computing

subject:
Computer Science
Game Design
Game Development
Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation
Gamification
Cerebral Palsy
Virtual Reality Therapy
Active Games
Exergames

abstract:
Youth with cerebral palsy (CP) may be prescribed rehabilitation exercises by physiotherapists in order to improve or maintain motor function as they grow into adolescence. However, in the field of physiotherapeutic medicine, adherence to exercise prescriptions has been shown to be low. Motivation and enjoyment have been identified as important factors of adherence to prescribed exercise, and gamification of rehabilitation exercise has been shown in some cases to improve motivation, enjoyment, and exercise adherence for youth with cerebral palsy. In this thesis, we present Bootle Rumble, an exercise video game for youth with cerebral palsy which intends to motivate high-quality rehabilitation exercise without sacrificing enjoyable gameplay.

Bootle Rumble’s design balances four distinct constraints: (1) it must motivate high-quality exercise; (2) it must be balanced for effort rather than individual ability; (3) it must be accessible to youth with CP; and (4) it must be fun. These constraints led to several unique game design decisions, which we describe in this thesis.

To gain early evaluation of the design decisions that underly Bootle Rumble, we conducted a pilot study involving three participating youth with CP, their parent/guardians, and a participating physiotherapy assistant (PTA) who works with youth with CP. This pilot study focused on evaluating (1) our form-tracking mechanic, in which players’ quality of exercise influences the outcomes of in-game choices, (2) player enjoyment while playing Bootle Rumble, and (3) the effectiveness of Bootle Rumble’s design.

The results gathered from our pilot study show promise for Bootle Rumble as an enjoyable adjunct to rehabilitative exercise for youth with CP. Our PTA’s observations suggest that Bootle Rumble incentivizes high-quality exercise. Responses from our participating youth with CP suggest that Bootle Rumble is enjoyable. We further leverage our results to evaluate several of Bootle Rumble’s design decisions. These design decisions may be useful to future developers intending to gamify rehabilitation for youth with CP and other motor disorders.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Access and Wait Times: A Geographic Exploration of Diagnostic Imaging in Ontario

contributor:
Rosenberg, Mark
Geography and Planning

subject:
Health Geography
Access to Health Services
Wait Times
Diagnostic Imaging

abstract:
Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in frontline health care, providing the information some physicians need to make a diagnosis and determine a course of treatment. Delays in access not only lead to undue stress for patients who are not sick but can postpone treatment for those who are. The issue of lengthy wait times in Canada, in particular, is both socially and politically charged, as “waiting lists” are typically viewed as a proxy for access to care. The topic is widely reported in mainstream media and has been targeted by both federal and provincial governments.

Using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey – Annual Component, 2010 and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, this thesis aimed to provide a holistic understanding of the accessibility of diagnostic imaging in the context of Ontario, with specific attention given to the role of wait times. IBM SPSS 24.0 was used to perform cross-tabulations, chi-square tests of independence and run a binary logistic regression model, while geographic analysis was performed using Esri’s ArcMap software.

Waiting too long was cited as the top barrier to access for diagnostic services, with worry, stress and anxiety being the main impact associated with waiting. Differences in the types of difficulties and impacts of waiting were observed based on population characteristics. Wait time acceptability differed depending on difficulty with access and was shown to influence one’s rating of broader health services. Most respondents reported that their wait time was acceptable, regardless of geography. That said, wait times for MRI services were variable throughout the province. Average provincial wait times increased between January 2014 and December 2016 and did not meet the 28-day target at any point throughout the study period.

This research suggests that while wait times should remain an important government priority, there is a need for more targeted interventions that take into account patient experience from a broad perspective. Simply increasing the capacity available to perform diagnostic services has not proven to be a sufficient strategy. Future research can help inform this policy direction by employing more comprehensive methodologies that critically engage with patient perceptions.

abstract: M.A.


title: Surface Relief Grating on Thin Film Containing Azobenzene-Polymer Material Linked by Hydrogen-Bonding

subject:
Surface Relief Grating
Hydrogen Bonding
Isomerization
Thin Films

abstract: Thin films of azobenzene-polymer material show unique photo-responsive behavior under irradiation with two interfering laser beams. That leads to generate surface inscription pattering known as Surface Relief Grating (SRG). Moreover, two different types of polymers were used in this research, and we used them with new series of azobenzene compounds. In fact, the H-bonding between donor and acceptor system was applied to create the link between the polymer and the azobenzene materials. The chromophore units in the azobenzene were attached to the polymer backbone through hydrogen bonding. In this research, we determined the efficiency of hydrogen bond to form SRG on azo-polymer thin films. The UV-VIS absorption spectra of the azo-polymer film showed broad band extending from 400-700 nm with maximum occurring at 430-580 nm. The laser’s wavelength was selected within the absorption band. Azo-polymer thin film was irradiated with a 532 nm green laser at room temperature. The obtained grating was confirmed by AFM scanning method, and grating depth up to 86 nm was observed.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Enzyme Degradable Networks Prepared from a Poly(trimethylene Carbonate)-Peptide Biohybrid

contributor:
Amsden, Brian G.
Chemical Engineering

subject:
Tissue Engineering
Enzyme-Degradable Networks
Biodegradation
Biohybrid Materials

abstract: The main objective of this thesis was to develop a biohybrid network with appropriate mechanical properties for a range of soft connective tissue engineering applications that could be degraded solely by the action of the target enzymes. An α-vinyl sulfone (VS), ω-methacrylate (MA) heterobifunctional poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC)/ poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-PTMC was prepared and conjugated to a di-cysteine containing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive peptide to form a curable prepolymer. These biohybrid formulations were designed to be cured via a simplified one-step cross-linking process by having both the synthetic polymer and the MMP-sensitive peptide components in a single prepolymer. The degradation behavior and the change in moduli were assessed for the biohybrid networks in vitro using a proteinase-containing medium and in vivo using a Wistar rat model. Both studies confirmed the enzyme degradation of the biohybrid networks via the cleavage of the peptide component and the hydrolytic resistance of the synthetic polymer backbone and the thio-ether linkage over the experimental time frame. The new formulation may be able to support the lost or damaged soft connective tissue mechanically, with identical mechanical features, until the healing process is completed. In addition, a moderate tissue response was observed to the implanted biohybrid networks which was comparable to that observed towards a VicrylTM suture. This observation suggested that these new materials can be considered biocompatible for tissue engineering applications. Overall, the developed biohybrid formulation has shown promising in vitro and in vivo degradation and mechanical properties that would be suitable for soft connective tissue engineering.

abstract: PhD


title: The Role of Interleukin-33 in the Pathophysiology of Endometriosis

contributor:
Miller, Jessica E
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

subject: Endometriosis Interleukin-33 Inflammation

abstract: Endometriosis is a debilitating condition that affects 6-10% of reproductive aged women. It is categorized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. There is no non-invasive diagnostic test available and treatments provide temporary relief but no cure exists. Issues surrounding endometriosis are related to the limited understanding of endometriosis pathogenesis as this is a difficult disease to recapitulate in animal models. The pathogenesis of endometriosis is theorized to occur due to retrograde menstruation, where menstrual debris is refluxed into the peritoneal cavity and instead of being cleared, this debris adheres to peritoneal surfaces. The inability to clear menstrual debris is thought to be a result of immune dysfunction. Indeed, chronic inflammation is considered hallmark feature of endometriosis. Interleukin(IL)-33 is an alarmin that has emerged as a critical regulator of several chronic inflammatory diseases. Previous reports have found that IL-33 is elevated in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of deep infiltrating endometriosis patients; however, these reports did not investigate the role, if any, of IL-33 in the disease pathophysiology. I hypothesize that IL-33 is produced by the endometriotic lesions and that IL-33 contributes to the chronic inflammation in endometriosis. Using endometriosis patient plasma and tissue samples, as well as endometrial epithelial, endothelial and endometriotic cell lines and an established syngeneic mouse model of endometriosis, I investigated the central role of IL-33 in endometriosis. My results indicate that endometriotic lesions from women with moderate/severe endometriosis produce significantly higher levels of IL-33 compared to the endometrium of healthy, fertile controls. In vitro stimulation of endometrial epithelial, endothelial and endometriotic epithelial cells with human recombinant IL-33 led to the production of pro-inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines. Additionally, stimulation of endothelial cells with IL-33 induced angiogenesis in vitro.  In the syngeneic mouse model of endometriosis, intraperitoneal mouse recombinant IL-33 injections caused systemic inflammation, which manifested as an increase in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to PBS-treated control mice. Furthermore, endometriotic lesions from mouse recombinant IL-33-treated mice were highly vascularized and exhibited increased proliferation. Collectively, my studies provide convincing evidence that IL-33 perpetuates inflammation, angiogenesis and lesion proliferation, which are critical events in the lesion survival and progression of endometriosis.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Comparison of a Newly Proposed Staging System with 7th Edition AJCC/UICC System for Surgically Resected  Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

contributor:
Flemming, Jennifer
Richardson, Harriet
Public Health Sciences

subject:
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Tumor Size
Staging System
Population-Based Study
Overall Survival

abstract:
Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) is a rare but lethal primary liver cancer. Debate exists about whether tumor size should be considered in disease staging. This study aimed to examine the association between tumor size and overall survival (OS) in surgically resected patients with IHCC and to compare a newly proposed staging system that includes tumor size with the current American Joint Cancer Committee on Cancer classification/ Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) system.
Methods: This is a retrospective population-based study from 2002-2012 in Ontario, Canada. Patients with IHCC who underwent surgical resection were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry and Canadian Institute for Health Information. Pathology data was abstracted from primary pathology reports. The association between largest tumor size and OS was assessed with multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. The predictive accuracy and discriminative abilities of the 7th edition AJCC/UICC TNM staging system was compared with the newly proposed staging system using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, the proportional hazards model and a concordance index (c-index), respectively.
Results: The study cohort of 121 cases had a median age of 63.9 (Range: 30.7-86.0), 43% were men, the median tumor size was 6 cm (Range: 0.6-13.0), and median follow-up time was 37.6 months (Range: 0.3-126.7). After multivariate analysis adjusting for sex and T-category, no association was observed between tumor size and OS (HR for ≥5 cm=1.08, 95% CI: 0.34-3.49, p-value=0.893). Comparison of the TNM staging systems revealed that the 7th edition AJCC/UICC was comparable at predicting and discriminating survival to the newly proposed system (c-index=0.92 vs 0.86).
Conclusion: There is no association between tumor size and OS in patients with surgically resected IHCC and these results argue against the inclusion of tumor size into IHCC disease staging.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Microalgae Cultivation on Wastewater and Genetic Modifications to Increase Triacylglycerol Production

contributor:
Regan, Sharon
McGinn, Patrick J.
Biology

subject:
Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii
Chlorella Vulgaris
Biodiesel
Glycerolipid Metabolism

abstract:
Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that can grow in a variety of environments. They have become a popular feedstock for the production of biofuels, high-value chemicals, and nutraceuticals. One of the main products obtained from microalgae is biodiesel: a mix of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained from the transesterification of triacylglycerol (TAG). However, microalgal biodiesel still cannot compete economically with petroleoum diesel. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to explore alternatives to make microalgal cultivation for biodiesel more efficient.
Microalgal treatment of municipal wastewater has been discussed as a strategy for the simultaneous removal of excess nutrients and the generation of microalgal biomass. This thesis evaluated the performance of Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sorokiniana in the removal of nutrients from non-sterile, highly concentrated synthetic-wastewater. These microalgae removed up to 60% NH4+ and 44% PO43- in a semi-continuous cultivation mode without negatively affecting effluent quality, demonstrating that microalgal growth can be coupled with wastewater treatment.
Microalgal research is growing, and efforts to enhance TAG production are the focus of many studies. Reliable genetic modification protocols for many species, such as Chlorella vulgaris, are still not available. Therefore, work with the model Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a practical alternative for proof-of-concept studies. The work in this thesis generated five Chlorella vulgaris starch mutants through UV-mutagenesis: four low-starch producing and one starch-overproducer. Additionally, four Chlamydomonas reinhardtii transgenic lines expressing Chlorella vulgaris genes involved in glycerolipid metabolism were developed. Mutant st27, with lower starch production than wildtype, displayed up to 3.8-fold increase in TAG, illustrating the importance of the organic carbon source in the medium to provide enough carbon precursors for TAG biosynthesis. Similarly, the transgenic lines increased lipid content more than 100-fold, suggesting that increasing glycerol-3-phosphate availability is crucial to generate oleaginous feedstock.
This thesis illustrates the possibility of generating microalgal strains rich in both starch and TAG, which would be a promising feedstock for microalgal biorefineries. Additionally, two new gene candidates to improve TAG yields in microalgal strains are suggested, expanding on the knowledge available for metabolic engineering of microalgal crops for biodiesel production.

abstract: PhD


title: Days of Action: Ontario's Extra-Parliamentary Opposition to the Common Sense Revolution, 1995-1998

contributor:
Dubinsky, Karen
History

subject:
Ontario Politics
Ontario Labour Movement
Ontario Protest Movements

abstract:
From 1995 to 1998, Ontario was the site of a sustained political and industrial conflict between the provincial government of Premier Mike Harris and a loosely-coordinated protest movement of labour unions, community organizations, and activist groups. The struggle was aimed at the defeating the “Common Sense Revolution,” a sweeping neoliberal program advanced by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. The program designed to renovate the state, rationalize the social safety net, repeal barriers to capital accumulation, and decisively weaken the strength of organized labour.
What became a union-led extra-parliamentary opposition drew in large sections of the population often aligned with a political culture of statist collectivism encompassing both social democracy and “Red Toryism”. The movement emerged at a time when the two major parties aligned with such ideas embraced neoliberal policies. Under the leadership of Mike Harris, the Red Tories were pushed out of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives in the early 1990s. Meanwhile, the one-term New Democratic government of 1990-95 made a decisive turn towards neoliberal austerity amidst a catastrophic recession, declining federal transfers, and employer hostility.
Through the union-led “Days of Action” of large political strikes, mass demonstrations, and numerous militant protests, the implementation of the Common Sense Revolution was slowed and weakened and the government’s popularity greatly diminished. However, the province’s union leadership was deeply divided over loyalties to the New Democratic Party following its turn to neoliberal austerity. One union leadership faction opposed the Days of Action while the other proved unwilling to escalate the scale of industrial disruption against the Common Sense Revolution. The crisis led to an open factional dispute within organized labour that culminated in the formal suspension of the political strikes in the summer of 1998.
The outcome was an unprecedented political defeat for the labour-led forces defending an expansive redistributive welfare state, and a retreat by organized labour from extra-parliamentary political strategies in favour of electoralism. The government managed to regain support before winning re-election in 1999. The end of the Days of Action marked the political triumph of neoliberal restructuring and permanent austerity, and the crafting of a new political and economic common sense that has endured in Ontario to this day.

abstract: PhD


title: Fountain Codes for Fault Tolerance in Distributed Storage Systems

contributor:
Yousefi, Shahram
Electrical and Computer Engineering

rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States

subject:
Coding Theory
Data Storage Codes
Fault-Tolerant Data Storage
Erasure Codes
Fountain Codes
Belief Propagation Decoding

abstract:
Modern data storage systems are typically built using hard drives and other components that are prone to failure. The financial, operational and legal impact of data loss is usually quite high, particularly for owners of massive storage data-centers. Data loss prevention is therefore a critical aspect of storage system design. Techniques such as data replication are incapable of satisfying the cost and energy-efficiency required in a large-scale distributed storage system (DSS). Erasure codes for data storage are required to offer systematic encoding, low repair locality, low encoding/decoding complexity and low decoding/storage overhead. However, information theoretical bounds have shown that all these metrics might need to be carefully traded off with one another.

In this dissertation, analysis and design of Fountain codes for DSSs with respect to key performance requirements is performed. The first design proposed starts with a theoretical characterization of repair locality and system reliability for a Fountain coded system. The symbol repair locality probability as well as Data loss probability under BP decoding for a Fountain code are both derived. A multi-objective optimization (MOO) procedure is then used to determine degree distributions that achieve a good trade-off between repair locality, edge complexity and reliability. The second proposed solution offers a closed-form degree distribution using a modified truncated Poisson distribution (MTPD). The design is motivated by a careful study of the contributions from different encoding degrees towards the system performance.
An analysis of the Fountain code probability of redundancy is used to determine the Poisson parameter.

Both proposed solutions come with approximately 10% additional decoding overhead compared to recent contributions based on algebraic codes. However, their design for implementation over a binary finite field and excellent repair capabilities make them quite attractive for implementation. Through simulations, we also show that their decoding overhead performance exhibits significant improvement over some existing Fountain code degree distributions in the literature. For instance, with the MTPD, we achieve a data loss probability closely approaching 10^-4, while other Fountain codes compared are about a factor of 10^2 higher.

abstract: PhD


title: Assembly of the O Antigen in the Highly Pathogenic Escherichia Coli Serotype O104:H4

contributor:
Brockhausen, Inka
Allingham, John
Biochemistry

subject:
Glycobiology
O Antigen
E. coli O104
Glycosyltransferase

abstract: Escherichia coli serotype O104:H4 (ECO104) is an intestinal pathogen that causes severe bloody diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure and death. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are important virulence factors in Gram-negative bacteria and our goal is to understand the enzymes and mechanisms involved in the assembly of the outer O antigenic polysaccharides of the ECO104 LPS. The O antigen repeating unit of ECO104 has the structure [4-Galα1-4Neu5,7,9Ac3α2-3Galβ1-3GalNAcβ1-]n, which contains a mimic of the human sialyl-T-antigen found on certain types of cancer cells. Each monosaccharide subunit of the repeating structure is added sequentially by glycosyltransferases. These enzymes catalyze the transfer of a donor sugar from a nucleotide sugar onto a nucleophilic acceptor. Our aim was to biochemically characterize the second, third and fourth glycosyltransferases that synthesize the repeating unit of ECO104 by expressing the enzymes transgenically in non-pathogenic E. coli BL21, by purifying the enzymes and performing enzyme assays to determine substrate specificity, co-factor requirements, and enzyme kinetics, as well as creating single point mutations in the enzymes to identify key residues.  The second enzyme, WbwC, a β1,3-Gal-transferase, has an absolute requirement for a diphosphate in the acceptor. Remarkably, the third enzyme, α2,3-sialyltransferase WbwA, and the fourth enzyme, α1,4-Gal-transferase WbwB, also have this requirement. This finding is unique in that glycosyltransferases further down the O antigen synthesis pathway usually do not require a diphosphate in the acceptor substrate. WbwB does not require any divalent metal ions for activity and several synthetic bis-imidazolium salts could inhibit the enzymes. This work provides insight into the biosynthesis of bacterial polysaccharides and identifies potential anti-bacterial targets and a strategy for vaccine synthesis.

abstract: PhD


title: Analysis of Human Thyroid Cancer-1 and Annexin V as Pro-Survival cDNA Sequences in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

contributor:
Young, Paul
Greenwood, Michael
Biology

subject:
Programmed Cell Death (PCD)
Apoptosis
Pro-Survival
Anti-Apoptotic
Cell Survival
Yeast
Thyroid Cancer-1 (TC-1)
Annexin V (ANXA5)

abstract: Overexpressing a mouse Bax cDNA in yeast cells induces cell death.  When heterologously expressed in yeast cells overexpression of a mouse cDNA encoding Bax, human Thyroid Cancer-1 (TC-1) or annexin V (ANXA5) suppresses the Bax induced cell death. My goal was to characterize the anti-Programmed Cell Death (anti-PCD) potential of these human cDNA sequences. In addition to rescuing Bax-expressing cells, I found that TC-1 and ANXA5 are pro-survival sequences that protect yeast from other death-inducing stresses including copper sulfate. TC-1 also prevented the deleterious effects caused by over-expression of a number of endogenous yeast pro-apoptotic sequences, including the YCA1 encoded metacaspase; the YBH3 encoded Bcl-2 Homology domain 3 protein, the NUC1 encoded DNase, as well as the apoptosis-inducing factor encoded by AIF1.  Even though the protective effects were more pronounced in rescued cells over-expressing YBH3 and YCA1, TC-1 could still protect yeast mutant strains lacking YBH3 and YCA1 from the growth inhibitory effects of copper sulfate. Our results demonstrate that TC-1 and  ANXA5 are pro-survival sequences that are able to attenuate stress-induced programmed cell death.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Wave Characteristics of Tsunamis Generated by Landslides of Varying Size and Mobility

contributor:
Take, Andy
Mulligan, Ryan
Civil Engineering

subject:
Landslide Generated Waves
Tsuanmi
Impulse Waves

abstract:
Landslide generated tsunamis are a natural phenomenon, capable of causing catastrophic consequences at the site of impact as well as some kilometers away. In order to increase understanding of these hazards, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted in a large-scale flume investigate the wave characteristics in the near-field and far-field based on a variety of landslides.

The first objective is to examine the difference between the near-field maximum wave amplitude generated by highly mobile (water) and dry granular landslides. The results indicate that quantifying time and length scales are imperative in order to accurately estimate the maximum amplitude for highly mobile flows. The relationship between the time and length scales has a direct influence on the wave amplitude. The dry granular landslide decelerates much faster and therefore produce a smaller near-field maximum wave amplitude than those produced by highly mobile flows.

The second objective is to investigate the relationship between near-field wave shape of an impulse generated wave and the landslide properties. Quantifying the wave shape in terms of asymmetry allowed for the development of a novel framework, which provides a time-series for an impulse wave generated by a landslide with certain characteristics of thickness and velocity.

The third objective explores the near-field maximum wave amplitude generated by a higher mobility granular flow. The impulse waves generated in this study were in between the amplitude of the dry granular and highly mobile flows previously tested. This indicates that mobility can be quantified using the relationship between the time and length scales, and impulse waves generated by the highly mobile (water) flows is an accurate upper-bound of mobility.

abstract: PhD


title: All About Eve and Other Stories: Representations of Eve in French Romanesque Sculpture

contributor:
Reeve, Matthew
Art History

subject:
Eve
Genesis
Romanesque
Sculpture
France
Europe
Mediterranean
Body
Gesture
Iconography
Architecture
Church
Garden of Eden
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Feminism
Gender Issues
Female Identity
Art History
Digital Humanities
Homo  Sacer
Leprosy
Multi-Think
Narrative
Original Sin
Sacred Plays
Spolia
Socio-Religious Ideology
Vernacular Literature
Vita Apostolica
Virgin Mary
Formalism
Memory
Time
Church Fathers
Material Culture
Theology
Femininity
Temptation and Fall
Interactive Map
Statistics
Database

abstract:
Traditionally unclothed, the figure of Eve made a sudden appearance on highly visible areas in the interior and exterior of European churches, built during the great architectural efflorescence of ca. 1100, now characterised as the Romanesque. Adapted, re-read, and sexualized, the story of Eve advanced particular agendas surrounding sex and gender. She became a plastic translation of socio-religious ideology, which imagined Eve’s body as a site of sin.

Concerned mostly with the imagery of Eve between ca. 1080 to 1200, this dissertation not only explores the broad iconographical tradition of Eve in French Romanesque sculpture, but also places key monuments, such as the lintel fragment from Saint-Lazare Cathedral (ca. 1120), Autun, into a fuller context that includes regional trends, vernacular and religious literature, and socio-historical issues. Focusing on primary source material, textual evidence, and cultural context, this dissertation applies a multidisciplinary approach that includes digital humanities methods. Not only is it concerned with the application of current discourses of femininity and gender into pre-modern issues, but it also displays its findings through contemporary technological tools, making its scientific contribution more accessible and representative of its time.

Moreover, this dissertation investigates codes in non-phonetic scripts and cultural practices for a more complete grasp of medieval visual expression and gender issues. It articulates the ways monumental Romanesque sculptures of Eve, which are in some respects similar to contemporary billboards, are not only passive reflections of political, religious (or secular/cultural), and social realities, but are also commodities and objects that act as social agents to remodel, challenge, and influence their society. In this context, the dissertation acknowledges the broader ideological systems present in Western Mediterranean societies. It identifies monumental French Romanesque sculptures of Eve as a possible precursor to modern-day advertisements — most especially those promoting perfumes that operate as performative image sources for and of female identity.

abstract: PhD


title: Photoreactivity of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Boranes and the Reactivity of Pyrido[2,1-A] Isoindole

contributor:
Wang, Suning
Chemistry

subject: Boron Inorganic Photochemistry Organometallic

abstract:
N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) borane systems have become an important topic in main group chemistry. Finding uses as catalysts, coordinators for radical polymerizations, and reagents in a variety of reactions, NHCs have become a very important ligand for fundamental research. However, there have been relatively few studies on NHC-boranes over the last fifty years. This thesis will make new strides in the understanding and reactivity of NHC-boranes with UV light.

Modeling after a previous result, NHC-BH3 systems were investigated for their photoreactivity. The systems investigated were found to decompose under irradiation.

The systems were shifted to NHC-BH2R where the R group has a b-hydrogen relative to the boron center. When exposed to UV light a facile reaction occurred, akin to a b-hydrogen elimination reaction. The resulting products are an NHC-BH3 and the corresponding alkene from the elimination.

BMes2 moieties chelated by an NHC were synthesized, analogous to previous work. When irradiated by UV light, mesitylene was eliminated, yielding a new B-C pi-bond. This new system contains an imbedded 1,3-azaborine within its multicyclic structure and is the first example of this type. When the precursor was heated, the boron moiety was eliminated and the ring closed to make a new 1H-imidazo[1,2-a]indole. This new compound shows a striking similarity to pyrido[2,1-a]isoindole (iczH). Like iczH, there is a new highly nucleophilic carbon center at the apex of the new 5-membered ring.

Due to synthetic ease, iczH was selected to test nucleophilicity in place of the 1H-imidazo[1,2-a]indole. The reactivity of iczH as a nucleophile was explored with a variety of transition metals and main group elements. A normal adduct was formed when reacted with a platinum(II) center, while an 6 complex was formed with a chromium(0) center. When iczH was reacted with group 11 metals(I), a redox reaction took place, producing the solid metal, protonation iczH, and a dimer of iczH. A chlorophosphines was found to be very reactive with iczH once again resulting in protonated iczH while also producing an icz-functionalized phosphine. Despite the HOMO residing on the carbon of the icz unit, the phosphorous atom (dominant in HOMO-1) was still the favoured nucleophile when reacted with borane, producing a new borane-phosphine adduct. These new compounds were fully characterized by NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

abstract: PhD


title: Behavioural and Metabolic Characterization of NPR-9 and AIB Signaling Dynamics in Caenorhabditis Elegans

contributor:
Bendena, William
Biology

subject:
Neuroscience
C. elegans
Locomotion
Behaviour
Metabolism
Molecular neuroscience
Genetics
NPR-9
AIB

abstract:
Caenorhabditis elegans inhabit heterogeneous environments and are often faced with
diverse environmental cues. The nematode must modulate behavioural and physiological
mechanisms to avoid aversive environmental conditions while favouring conditions that promote
growth. Therefore, organisms must detect environmental cues via sensory neurons, integrate
sensory evoked signals via interneurons, and modulate downstream pathways dependent on
environmental context. Internal cues, such as a well fed or starved condition, can also
reconfigure the neural circuitry. Interneuron AIB functions as an integration hub that integrates
sensory-evoked signals and fine-tunes locomotory behaviours.
Previous work has highlighted that galanin-like G-protein coupled neuropeptide receptor
NPR-9 and stimulatory glutamate gated cation channel receptor GLR-1 function in anterior
interneuron AIB. npr-9 loss-of-function and over-expression mutants display abnormal
spontaneous locomotion patterns. Hence, we evaluated npr-9 and AIB-specific glr-1 mutant
locomotory phenotypes in response to diverse environmental cues. We have shown that NPR-9
functions in concert with GLR-1 to regulate AIB activity. We also highlighted that overexpression
of npr-9 interferes with locomotory modulation suggesting that NPR-9 upregulation
inhibits the capacity of AIB to integrate environmental cues. This phenotype persists in the
context of starvation suggesting that NPR-9 and AIB are also required for internal cue dependent
modulation.
AIB regulation via NPR-9, serotonin gated chloride channel MOD-1, and tachykinin
GPCR TKR-2 also regulates lipid metabolism, likely via the control of glutamate release. In the
context of the locomotory circuit, glutamate release inhibits inter/motor neuron RIM via
inhibitory glutamate gated chloride channel receptor AVR-14. Transforming growth factor beta
(TGF-β) receptor homolog receptor DAF-1 has been found to function in RIM and is regulated
via glutamatergic signaling. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of AIB glutamate release on
daf-1 lipid phenotypes. We highlight that diverse receptors in AIB can influence lipid
metabolism and feeding behaviour, while the influence of starvation also appears to be integrated
by AIB in the regulation of the aforementioned phenotypes. Collectively, this thesis indicates
that interneuron AIB integrates diverse signals from sensory neurons to modulate an array of
behavioural and physiological signaling pathways dependent on internal and external cues.

abstract: PhD


title: Deficits in Eye Movement Control in Adults with FASD

contributor:
Reynolds, James
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
FASD
Justice-Involvement
Eye Movement Control

abstract:
Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are believed to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system (CJS). However, accurate reporting of prevalence rates of FASD in the CJS is a significant clinical challenge. This is a reflection of the fact that the diagnostic process requires collaboration from a multidisciplinary team, and there is a low clinical capacity in Canada for diagnosing FASD. In addition, screening every individual that enters the CJS in this way is prohibitively expensive. However, identifying individuals with FASD in the CJS is essential for two reasons. First, understanding the true prevalence rates of FASD will aid in developing much-needed programming and rehabilitation plans to better address the needs of these individuals. Second, rapid identification of these individuals within the CJS will lead to better outcomes for the individuals, and potentially reduce the high rates of recidivism.
Tracking eye movement behaviours has been shown to differentiate children with FASD from typically developing controls. This may be due to the substantial overlap in the areas of the brain known to control saccades, and the areas known to be sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure. To the best of our knowledge, studies investigating eye movement control in adults with FASD have never been performed. The objective of this study was to investigate whether eye tracking can differentiate between adults with FASD in the CJS and control groups for each factor (FASD and CJS involvement). In this study,  criminal justice involvement did not significantly affect eye movement control. As a result, adults with FASD were compared directly with adults without FASD, regardless of criminal justice involvement. Compared with control adults (n=22), adults with FASD (n=15) exhibited significant differences in eye movement performance, including an overall decreased proportion of correct trials, as well as deficits in accuracy, attention, response inhibition, working memory, and variability. These results support the notion that eye movement tracking identifies differences in brain function between adults with FASD and controls, and could contribute to an inexpensive, rapid, and reliable screening tool for FASD that may one day be used in the CJS.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Passive Lower-Limb Exoskeletons for Human Gait Assistance: Development and Evaluation

contributor:
Li, Qingguo
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Exoskeletons
Gait
Human Machine Interaction
Biomechanics
Energetics
Treadmill Walking
Mechanics
Assisting Human Walking

abstract:
Walking is the basis of human locomotion. With an increasing aging population, the need for devices that assist human walking are in demand. While several simple devices exist such as canes, braces, and walkers, to assist the elderly or individuals suffering from gait impairment, these devices often limit the user’s performance and increase their energy expenditure during walking. Recently autonomous exoskeletons that reduce the user's energy expenditure without limiting their performance have been developed. Unfortunately, these exoskeletons are heavy and have limited operating time due to their actuation mechanisms and power demands.

This thesis focuses on the development and testing of passive lower limb exoskeletons that assist level walking. Passive or un-actuated exoskeletons, are naturally lighter and fully autonomous since they do not rely on electro-mechanical actuators to assist the user. This reduces the environmental impact and provides accessibility to populations without access to a power source. Like the mechanical wristwatch, passive exoskeletons utilize the potential energy of the user’s natural motion to “power” the assistance. This potential energy is otherwise dissipated in the body in deformation of soft tissues or as heat. By harnessing the potential energy and releasing it at properly timed intervals, it is possible to reduce the metabolic energy expenditure of the user and reduce the onset of fatigue.

Three passive exoskeleton devices to assist the user during level walking were developed using two approaches. The first approach attempts to minimize the step-to-step transition cost of walking, where energy is lost due to collision of the leading leg with the ground. The approach focuses on a method of reducing the energy lost during the collision and using the energy to assist the trailing leg. The second approach examines assistance of the leg joints during walking. This approach follows an inter-joint energy transfer paradigm where potential energy at one joint is used to assist a different joint. The performance of each device and their effects on the biomechanics and energetics of the user are presented. Contributions of this thesis further our understanding of the mechanics in human locomotion and interactions with passive exoskeletons.

abstract: PhD


title: Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Stability of Horizontal Boreholes during Horizontal Directional Drilling

contributor:
Moore, Ian
Civil Engineering

subject:
Stability
Excessive Pressure
Horizontal Boreholes
Horizontal Directional Drilling

abstract: This thesis focuses on the stability of horizontal boreholes in sand and saturated clay during Horizontal Directional Drilling. For saturated clay, new criteria for distinguishing tensile and shear failure were developed and case studies were used to support the criteria. New ‘risky’ and ‘dangerous’ zones along the drilling path were defined. Lateral earth pressure coefficient at rest influences the failure mechanisms and an overview of this coefficient was presented including lessons learned from the tests for obtaining this coefficient. Hydro-sand and sandy gravel were used for the tests presented in this thesis and the influence of compaction effects has been investigated. Contrary to conventional understanding, no obvious compaction-induced earth stresses were observed. For sand, a series of medium-scale mud loss experiments have been successfully conducted. The relationships between maximum allowable mud pressure (P_max) and burial depth, pump rate and multi-layer stratigraphy (dense sand overlain by loose sand or dense sandy gravel) were examined. Values of P_max obtained using finite element analyses were close to the P_max results for experiments at different burial depths. Based on a parametric study undertaken using numerical modelling, a new design equation for calculating P_max in uniform sand has been developed. Case studies were also used to support the design equation and a new ‘dangerous’ zone was identified along the drilling path. In addition, stress paths (relationships between radial and hoop stresses at the crown of the borehole) calculated using finite element analyses that deviate from the elastic closed form solution have been investigated. Based on the experiments, P_max is independent of pump rates and dependent on parameters associated with the multi-layer stratigraphy. In practice, it is conservative to use the design equation when dense sand is overlain by dense sandy gravel and a reduction factor was developed for the design equation when a loose layer rests on top of the dense layer. Furthermore, mud travelling paths from the primary infiltration zone around the borehole along shear planes to the ground surface have been examined. Ground surface movement was monitored using Geo-PIV combined with a new post-processing method for diminishing ‘pseudo displacements’ in three-dimensional applications, and it is found that the maximum ground movement occurred just before mud flowed out of the soil rather than the moment when mud pressure reaches a peak value.

abstract: PhD


title: Conservation Canines in Canada: Roles, Welfare & Environmental Impacts

contributor:
Hovorka, Alice
Environmental Studies

subject:
Working Dogs
Animal Labour
Conservation Canines
Detection Dogs
Animal Welfare
Conservation
Sustainability
Humane Jobs
One Welfare

abstract: People have been employing dogs to assist with conservation work for more than a century. While the literature documents the efficacy of using dogs in these roles, the welfare and experiences of these dogs has received little attention. I explored the lives of conservation canines in Canada through two case studies. My aim was to explore the roles, welfare, and environmental impacts of conservation canines in Alberta and Ontario in order to determine whether conservation canine programs offer humane and sustainable job opportunities – those that are good for animals, humans, and the environment. I employed qualitative research methods via interviews with canine handlers and participant observations, as well as quantitative methods to assess animal welfare using an ethogram. My findings suggest that conservation roles are good for dogs because dogs showed signs of enjoyment and little stress while working, and handlers primarily used reward-based training as opposed to punishment; however, aversive stimuli are used at times, thus welfare may be at risk in some cases. These roles are also good for people as handlers seemed proud of their work and showed strong connections with their canines. Finally, they are good for the environment as they help educate the public about conservation issues, such as invasive species, and deter natural resources-related crimes, such as poaching. This assessment is based on three major frameworks: animal studies, animal welfare, and sustainability. Based on my findings, I recommend implementing more rigid guidelines for the care of working dogs in order to ensure their long-term welfare in situations where welfare might be impaired. Future research should further investigate the handlers’ experiences and environmental impacts of this work and include physiological indicators of welfare. Other case studies should also be explored in order to provide a more complete representation of conservation canine programs and the extent to which they might be humane and sustainable.

abstract: M.E.S.


title: Physical Activity and Usage Patterns in Community Sport and Recreation Spaces in Guadalajara, Mexico

contributor:
Lévesque, Lucie
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Parks
Built Environment
PARA
SOPARC
Physical Activity

abstract: Background: Research shows that park quality, available amenities, and facilities are strongly associated with physical activity. However, the majority of the research evidence comes from studies conducted in high income countries (HICs). The main objective of the current study was to explore relationships between the quality of community sport and recreation spaces and their physical activity patterns in a low-to-middle income country (LMIC). A secondary objective was to compare these patterns between renovated and non-renovated sites. Methods: Data were collected from community sport and recreation spaces (n=10) throughout Guadalajara, Mexico. Direct observation measures were used to assess site quality (PARA) and collect information on user characteristics and physical activity levels (SOPARC). Pearson’s correlations and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in analyses. Results: Users were primarily male (66.6%), adult (48.4%), and sedentary (51.7%). There was a strong, significant relationship between the quality of sport and recreation spaces and all site users (r_partial= .775,p< .05), as well as active users (r_partial= .826,p< .01). No significant differences in group medians were detected among all site users or active users when renovated and non-renovated sites were compared.  Conclusions: Findings suggest that the quality of community sport and recreation spaces is related to physical activity behaviour. Additionally, there may be a threshold level of quality needed to attract users beyond which additional improvements in quality do not translate into a higher number of users. These results have the potential to optimize the design, maintenance and promotion of COMUDE (Municipal Council of Sport) sport and recreation spaces.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Regional Differences in Na+/K+-ATPase Expression in the Mouse and Rat Brain

contributor:
Andrew, R. David
Bennett, Brian M.
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Na+/K+-ATPase
Anoxic Depolarization
Stroke
Ischemia
Alpha Isoform
Oxidative Stress
Chronic Unpredictable Stress
Selective Vulnerability

abstract: Insufficient blood flow to the brain generates widespread neurological damage, yet not all brain regions are similarly vulnerable to ischemic injury. During stroke, failure of the Na+/K+-ATPase generates a robust anoxic depolarization that silences neurons in higher brain regions such as the neocortex, whereas the brainstem is capable of recovery and is therefore less sensitive to ischemic damage. The alpha subunit of the Na+/K+-ATPase is primarily responsible for the ion transport rate, particularly the α1 and α3 isoforms which are expressed in neurons. Based on prior evidence that α3 isoform mRNA expression is proportionally greater in the brainstem whereas α1 isoform mRNA expression predominates in higher brain regions such as the neocortex and cerebellum, this study used immunoblotting to investigate the distribution of Na+/K+-ATPase α1 and α3 isoform proteins in the mouse and rat brain. It was determined that α1 isoform expression is higher in the neocortex and cerebellum, whereas α3 isoform expression is higher in the brainstem. In addition, the striatum and hippocampus express similar amounts of both the α1 and α3 isoforms of the Na+/K+-ATPase, although this may be due to a heterogeneous isoform distribution pattern as suggested by pilot immunohistochemical experiments. To assess whether elevated oxidative stress generates adaptive changes in Na+/K+-ATPase expression, isoform distribution was studied in the Aldh2-/- mouse model of oxidative stress, as well as in mice subjected to a chronic unpredictable stress protocol. No changes in Na+/K+-ATPase isoform expression were detected in these cohorts, except for a small but significant decrease in α1 isoform expression in the cerebellum of chronically-stressed Aldh2-/- mice compared to unstressed wild-type mice. To assess whether transient ischemia generates adaptive changes in Na+/K+-ATPase expression, isoform distribution was studied in rats subjected to 90 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 hours of recovery. Pilot immunoblotting experiments suggested an increase in the expression of both α1 and α3 isoforms of the Na+/K+-ATPase in the infarcted striatum, indicating that the Na+/K+-ATPase may be implicated in selective neuronal vulnerability to ischemia, but not oxidative stress. This may help identify molecular targets for improving higher brain survival post stroke.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Investigating Chinese High School Students' Motivation, Learning Engagement, and Language Achievement in the English Classroom

contributor:
Cheng, Liying
Education

subject:
Motivation
Learning Engagement
Language Achievement
Self-Determination Theory
English as a Foreign Language

abstract: This study investigated Chinese high school students’ motivational orientations as measured by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and the extent to which motivational orientations contribute to learning engagement and language achievement in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. 390 high school students from Grade 11 at one secondary school in northern China completed a paper-based questionnaire that measures SDT motivational orientations, learning engagement, and self-perceived English proficiency. Their most recent English course test score was also collected as a language achievement indicator. The data was quantitatively analyzed to address the research questions. The results identified four dimensions of SDT motivational orientations and two factors of learning engagement among these Chinese high school English learners, and revealed extensive associations among motivational orientations, learning engagement, and their language achievement. Intrinsic motivation was confirmed to predict positive learning engagement and a high level of language achievement. Introjected regulation was noted to be a minor contributor to English test score. Compared to learning engagement, SDT motivational orientations remained to be strong determinants in contribution to various language achievement across all effective indicators, such as self-perceived language proficiency and test score. This study is important in addressing the foreign language motivation research gap of individual difference with a younger age group of high school students and within a unique English as a Foreign Language learning context in China.

abstract: M.Ed.


title: Inline Temperature Imaging: A Non-contact Temperature Measurement Technique for Laser Processing

contributor: Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy

subject:
Additive Manufacturing
AM
Laser Keyhole Welding
Temperature
Defect Detection
ICI
Inline Coherent Imaging
ITI
Inline Temperature Imaging

abstract: Laser keyhole welding and laser additive manufacturing are high intensity laser based advanced manufacturing techniques that offer numerous advantages over more traditional processes. However, because of the extreme spatial temperature gradients, both have complicated interaction physics that make them hard to control. Moreover, these techniques and their temperatures can prove exceptionally difficult to monitor because of these physics, which can fluctuate the emissivity wildly. This necessitates monitoring techniques that are high-speed and high-resolution to capture these dynamics. Inline coherent imaging (ICI) is a low coherence interferometric ranging technique that has previously been used to characterise the morphology of both processes. In this work, I developed a novel method to collect high-resolution, high-speed absolute temperature measurements during laser processing, inline temperature imaging (ITI), such that ITI can be used in conjunction with ICI. ITI offers spatial resolutions of 30µm at imaging speeds of up to 10kHz, for temperatures ranging from 1600K to 4500K. I have resolved spatial and temporal temperature dynamics in laser processing never before observed. Moreover, I highlight the potential future works of this technique, especially in conjunction with ICI, to better characterise more aspects of laser processing, with a hope for eventual real-time in-situ feedback control.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Assessing the Effectiveness of a Transformational Coaching Workshop for Changing Youth Sport  Coaches' Behaviours

contributor:
Côté, Jean
Martin, Luc
Kinesiology and Health Studies

subject:
Transformational Coaching Workshop
Systematic Observation
Coaching
Full-Range Leadership Model

abstract:
There is a need for coach development programs that target coaches’ interpersonal behaviours (Lefebvre et al., 2016) and that are informed by behaviour change techniques (Allan et al., 2017).  In addition, current and future coach development programs could benefit from comprehensive evaluations to determine their impact on the coaches and athletes involved (Evans et al., 2015).  Recently, Turnnidge and Côté (2017a) developed the Transformational Coaching workshop to fill these gaps in the literature.  Informed by the full-range leadership model (Bass & Riggio, 2006) and the Behaviour Change Wheel (Michie et al., 2011), the workshop offers coach education on a range of interpersonal behaviours using a leadership perspective.  Considering that the Transformational Coaching workshop has yet to be evaluated, the purpose of this study was to evaluate its impact by systematically observing coaches’ behaviours before and after their involvement in the workshop.
	Participants included eight male head coaches of youth competitive soccer teams with an average of 14.25 years of coaching experience.  Systematic observation and coding using the Coach Leadership Assessment System (CLAS; Turnnidge & Côté, 2016b) was employed pre- and post-workshop participation to examine the duration of coaches’ leadership behaviours.
	Paired samples t-tests, bootstrapped confidence intervals, and effect sizes indicated that idealized influence (p = .067, d = .76), inspirational motivation (p = .087, d = .70), and intellectual stimulation (p = .132, d = .60) behaviours had confidence intervals that did not cross zero, thus approaching statistical significance.  However, from a pragmatic perspective, the workshop significantly influenced these behaviours considering the medium to large effect sizes observed.  Furthermore, following the workshop, coaches displayed less neutral behaviours (p = .007, d = 1.34).  Coaches also spent significantly more time, after the workshop, displaying leadership behaviours through instruction/feedback (p = 0.013, d = 1.17) and significantly less time displaying leadership behaviours through organization (p = .001, d = 1.90).  There were no significant differences in other leadership behaviours, modifiers, or recipients.  These findings offer detailed descriptions of how coaches’ behaviours changed after participating in the Transformational Coaching workshop.  Practical implications for the workshop and future research opportunities are discussed.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Differential Regulation of hERG Current and Expression by Activation of Protein Kinase C Using Phorbol Ester Treatment

contributor:
Zhang, Shetuan
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

subject:
hERG
Protein Kinase C
Phorbol Ester
Regulation
IKr

abstract:
The human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) encodes the pore-forming alpha subunit of the channel that conducts the rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) in the heart. Reductions in IKr cause long QT syndrome (LQTS), which predisposes individuals to potentially fatal arrhythmias that can be triggered by stress. One potential link between stress and hERG function is protein kinase C (PKC) activation. However, PKC regulation of hERG is complex and seemingly conflicting results have been reported. In the present study, both acute and chronic effects of PKC activation were investigated using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on hERG channels expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Western blot analyses demonstrate that chronic PKC activation increases expression of intracellular and
membrane-bound hERG protein. However, the increased channel abundance is accompanied by a decrease in hERG current (IhERG) after chronic PMA treatment. Furthermore, patch clamp data reveal that acute PKC activation reduces IhERG, and this effect is dependent on the presence of the N-terminus of the channel. Upon truncation of the N-terminus of hERG, chronic activation of PKC increases both hERG protein expression and current. The increase in hERG protein is
partially mediated by reduced degradation of mature hERG channels. This results from increased phosphorylation of neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4 subtype 2 (Nedd4-2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediates hERG degradation. These findings demonstrate that PKC regulates hERG in a balanced manner, increasing expression while decreasing current.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: A Preface to Perversion: Foucault, Archives, Evidence

contributor:
Dubinsky, Karen
Cultural Studies

subject:
Foucault
Archives
Historical Evidence
Queer Theory / History

abstract: This dissertation assembles four previously published articles on the subject of queer archives and evidence. Published over a period of almost thirty years, the articles reflect the author’s changing approach to archival evidence, changes related to his shifting response to queer politics and theory over this same period. The introduction situates the articles within the author’s ongoing work on the history of perversion as well as on queer relationality and temporality. It adopts Foucault and his ideas on the “insurrection of subjugated knowledge” to conceptualize archives and evidence as material and embodied; as non-identitarian; and as activist-oriented in order to critically intervene in state practices of liberal governance. The conclusion places the thesis in the context of the ‘new queer archive studies.’ It offers a critique of the over-aestheticizing and depoliticizing of archives and evidence within recent queer theory and assesses the prospects for the continued insurrection of archival evidence.

abstract: PhD


title: Correlating Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Control of Saccade Behaviour

contributor:
Munoz, Douglas
Neuroscience Studies

subject:
Sympathetic Activity
Parasympathetic Activity
Pupil Size
Electrodermal Activity
Heart Rate Variability

abstract:
The autonomic nervous system controls numerous effectors within the human body, working to adapt to changing environments. It is composed of three divisions: the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems. Sympathetic and parasympathetic activity have been related to emotion, cognition and behaviour. Sympathetic and parasympathetic influence on behavioural performance has been examined extensively; however, the autonomic modulation of performance in tasks involving distinct voluntary and automatic behaviours has not been directly investigated. Interleaved pro- and anti-saccade tasks (IPASTs) are regularly used to evaluate voluntary and automatic behaviour, respectively. The pro-saccade task requires an automatic visuomotor response whereas the anti-saccade task requires the suppression of an automatic response and the generation of a voluntary response in the opposite direction. We sought to investigate parasympathetic and sympathetic modulation of voluntary and automatic saccade behaviour using an IPAST. Thirty healthy human controls completed five blocks of trials (each block: 40 pro / 40 anti = 8 minutes) over 45 minutes. We explored the relationship between experiment duration, autonomic activity and performance in the context of this task as arousal varied. Eye movements, pupil size, electrodermal activity and electrocardiogram were measured throughout. The consecutive measurement of these peripheral autonomic indices further allowed for the investigation of the role of autonomic drive in their coordination.
A clear effect of time-on-task on arousal was present in all three measures with arousal increasing across the first three blocks. This modulation of arousal however, was unrelated to task performance, which was unaffected by block number. Lastly, a task effect on performance was found, replicating previous studies. A task effect on arousal was also demonstrated. The changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic activity underlying this effect however are unclear. These findings suggest that the development of cognitive fatigue is not a concern in the use of the IPAST subtending 45 minutes. Additionally, further investigation of autonomic modulation of performance in the IPAST may contribute to the interpretation and analysis of related fMRI data and its application towards investigations of autonomic dysfunction in various neurological disorders. Moreover, the effects of task and block on arousal demonstrated here warrant further investigation.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: Steady-State Time-Domain Analysis of LLCL Resonant Converter

contributor:
Jain, Praveen
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject:
Resonant Converter
LLCL
Time-Domain Analysis

abstract:
This thesis presents a new LLCL resonant converter topology which is capable of providing zero voltage switching of MOSFET switches for a wider range of operating frequency as compared to conventional LLC resonant converter topology. The proposed topology (LLCL) is a modified form of conventional LLC resonant converter topology where an additional inductor is connected in parallel with the LLC resonant tank on the input side.

For the analysis of a series resonant converter, frequency domain modelling (FDM) is usually sufficient due to the limited modes of operation. However, for a three or more element resonant tank, multiple modes of operation arises due to which FDM is restricted for analysis for operation below resonant frequency when the circuit enters in freewheeling mode otherwise known as Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM). Hence, a detailed time domain analysis is presented describing the steady state behavior of the circuit under continuous and discontinuous mode of operation.

A comprehensive analysis of LLCL type converter is performed and compared with that of a conventional LLC resonant converter which demonstrates the benefits obtained by the proposed topology. Voltage gain and resonant tank component current stress is derived, as a function of various circuit parameters such as the ratio of inductors and normalized relative frequency, to assist in the design trade-offs.  The time domain analysis is verified with simulation studies using PSIM 11.0.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Experimental Study of Low-Speed Gearbox Faults Using Vibration and Acoustic Emission Signals

contributor:
Mechefske, Chris K.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering

subject:
Low-speed Gearbox
Acoustic Emission
Vibration
Fault Detection

abstract:
With the goal of finding an effective condition monitoring tool for low-speed gearbox applications, vibration-based tests and Acoustic Emission (AE) tests have been performed on several gearbox sets in normal and faulty conditions.
Vibration based tests were conducted both on-site and off-line. Vibration signals from the gearboxes were mostly corrupted by background noise, as was demonstrated by the close proximity of dominant frequencies in the frequency spectrum. Among those, 121.5 Hz was observed as the most significant dominant frequency for both on-site and off-line test regardless of speed changes. This frequency response was speculated to be a property of electrical noise.
The AE tests were conducted on faulty and normal gearboxes at different shaft speeds from 3 to 35 rpm. Hit-based, time-driven and frequency domain AE parameters were used to compare their effectiveness. The count rate, absolute energy and signal strength were found to be good hit-based parameters in this application. The count rate was the best hit-based parameter with the largest parameter difference value at a shaft speed of 25 rpm. The absolute energy was observed to be the best time-driven parameter. Both frequency and time-frequency analysis results indicated that the faulty gearbox has higher spectral peaks in the lower frequency range, which was confirmed numerically by the frequency centroid difference.
AE was shown to be superior to vibration signal analysis in condition monitoring of low-speed gearbox faults with numerous AE parameters identified as showing significant differences between normal and faulty gearbox conditions.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: Modelling Forest Inventory and Biophysical Variables for an Uneven-Aged Forest Using Multi-Source Remotely-Sensed Data

contributor:
Treitz, Paul
Geography and Planning

subject:
Geography
Remote Sensing
LiDAR
ALS
Forest

abstract: Forest resource inventory (FRI) information is critical to sustainable forest management. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) offers a cost-effective option for modelling forest inventory, biophysical and ecological variables over large areas. Given that traditional ALS-based FRIs rely primarily on height data, the objective of this research was to examine the potential of ALS intensity data, multi-seasonal multispectral imagery, and digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) for enhancing traditional ALS-based FRIs using a combination of non-parametric and parametric modelling techniques. For size class distribution estimation, the results of k-nearest neighbor imputation and random forest regression demonstrated that the combination of ALS height- and intensity-based metrics improved accuracy compared to models based on either type of metric alone. Using a hierarchical variable clustering technique, ALS intensity data were found to carry unique information complementary to passive near-infrared data, despite their similarity in wavelengths. Compared to ALS data alone, the addition of multi-seasonal imagery contributed to more accurate models of basal area and species mixture. In contrast, ALS height- and intensity-based metrics exhibited unparalleled utility for modelling stem density compared to optical imagery. Among the three multispectral sensors examined (i.e., Landsat-5 TM, Sentinel-2A and WorldView-2), Sentinel-2A proved to be the most cost-effective for enhancing ALS-based FRI, owing to its sufficient spatial resolution and inclusion of key spectral bands (i.e., red-edge and shortwave infrared). Compared to ALS, similar functional groups of metrics were found in DAP data, but DAP metrics lacked the capacity for characterizing canopy permeability. Due to the lack of penetrating echoes, gap fraction information was not well represented by DAP, resulting in suboptimal accuracy for LAI estimation compared to ALS. However, a comparison of functional groups between DAP and ALS identified tasks for which DAP is suitable (e.g., volume, forest successional stages, and species mix). Overall, this research demonstrates that ALS-based FRIs can be enhanced by additional sources of input, such as ALS intensity data and multispectral imagery; thereby demonstrating greater potential for more advanced FRIs for Canadian forests.

abstract: PhD


title: Full Disclosure: The Effects of Energy Benchmarking & Reporting Programs on Promoting Efficient Buildings

subject:
Energy Efficiency
Green Real Estate
Energy Disclosure
Energy Benchmarking

abstract:
Buildings and their operations are responsible for roughly half of all greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian urban centres. Despite this large number, building owners have failed to adopt the well-developed and cost-saving green building technologies which offer an ideal solution to this problem. This is due to market failures created by the tendency for energy efficiency information to be hidden in real estate transactions: uncertainty about the market performance of energy efficient buildings, lack of consumer awareness of energy efficiency, and the misallocation of incentives.
Energy disclosure policies that require commercial building owners to publicly disclose their annual energy use and offer the ability to make energy use transparent in the marketplace. Disclosure allows decision-makers such as owners, prospective buyers and lenders to incorporate energy information into investment and consumption decisions, therefore establishing a market signal that increases consumer demand for efficient buildings.
This study analyzes whether empirical evidence validates this theory by comparing the financial performance of buildings between a market where disclosure policies have been in place for nine years (New York City) to one where it hasn’t (Toronto). LEED certification is used as a proxy for energy efficiency in this study, and the sample size includes: 100 buildings in the Toronto market and 224 buildings in the New York City Market. Hedonic models are applied to each market to determine the correlation of certification is with the following financial metrics: rental rates, occupancy levels, and assessed building value.
The results show that in Toronto, LEED certification is correlated with 18% lower rental rates, 20% higher assessed building values, and an 8% decrease in occupancy rates. In New York City, LEED certification is correlated with a 28% premium in rental rates, a 0.8% increase in building value, and a 40% increase in occupancy levels. The results show that green buildings do perform measurably better relative to conventional buildings in New York City in terms of these financial metrics. However, the findings were not statistically significant. This study points to the need for more research on the effects of this nascent but promising, cost-effective, and city-driven public policy tool.


title: Policy, Poverty, and Indigenous Child Welfare: Revisiting the Sixties Scoop

contributor:
Little, Margaret
Gender Studies

subject:
Indigenous
First Nations
Canada
Child welfare
Sixties Scoop
Poverty
Policy
Postwar
The Hawthorn Report
Social work

abstract: I analyse the Sixties Scoop through the lens of Indigenous and feminist scholarship to contextualize the Scoop within the specific historical, political, and cultural moment of the postwar Canadian “welfare state” during which it was occurring. In the 1960s and 1970s, Canada was attempting to foment a unique “Canadian” identity that became increasingly tied to the values of cultural pluralism and tolerance. During this time, both the state and Indigenous activism questioned where and how Indigenous people would “fit” (or would not fit) into the burgeoning Canadian cultural “mosaic” of the late 20th century. Through an analysis of the 1966/67 federal government report, A Survey of the Contemporary Indians of Canada: Economic, Political, and Educational Needs and Policies (The Hawthorn Report), alongside articles from the Journal – Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (JOACAS), mostly authored by social workers about reserve communities in Northern Ontario during the 1960s and 1970s, I aim to illuminate the intimate relationship between capitalist development, settler colonialism, and patriarchy in postwar Canada. I argue that one of the causes of the Scoop was the inability of governments and Children’s Aid Societies (CAS) administrators and frontline service providers to conceptualize the mass apprehension of Indigenous children from their homes during the 1960s to 1980s as holistically and inextricably connected to the social, political, cultural, and economic aspects of Indigenous people’s lives.

abstract: M.A.


title: Evolvability and Pleiotropic Constraint

contributor:
Day, Troy
Mathematics and Statistics

subject: Evolution Pleiotropy Evolvability

abstract:
Evolvability is a population's ability to change its underlying genetic makeup through natural selection, to evolve. Most measures of short-term evolvability relate genetic change to the abundance and geometry of standing genetic variation, making the additional assumption that this structure is captured by the genetic variance-covariance matrix G; G applies in only the multivariate normal scenario. Because we observe non-normality in natural distributions and are often unable to verify statistically whether a particular distribution is normal, we propose an alternate approach to discussing the short-term evolvability of general populations.
Changes in the underlying genetic makeup of a population are observed as changes in the relative frequency of the population's traits. This is fundamentally a change in distribution, and is best quantified using an information-theoretical approach. The resulting measure of evolvability and its constraints apply to any well-behaved distribution and are for normally distributed traits a function of G; we suggest that existing measures may be placed within our general formulation.
Comparing the total constraint to the sum of univariate constraints on individual traits we quantify the constraint due to multivariate trait interactions; we propose this as an appropriate measure of pleiotropic constraint. We find that pleiotropic constraint is highly dependent on the total correlation information, and to advance towards a suitable null hypothesis for tests of pleiotropy we derive the distribution of this quantity under multivariate normal independence. For large system sizes this relates to the Marchenko-Pasteur distribution, and is approximately normal, obeying Lyapunov's central limit theorem.
We demonstrate the unique theoretical and practical advantages of a distribution-level approach to evolvability using both simulated and real data from Drosophila. In line with intuition, incorrectly assuming an absence of non-normality in the  distribution of phenotypic traits leads to underestimation of the evolutionary constraint.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: The Impact of Vatican II on Catholic Religious Secondary Education in the Province of Ontario

contributor:
Bruno-Jofre, Rosa
Education

subject:
Vatican II
Secondary Education
Religious Education

abstract: This thesis examines the impact of Vatican II on secondary religious education in Ontario. In order to understand this impact, pre-Vatican II secondary religious education is analysed beginning with the role of the papacy and the eventual imposition of Neo-Thomism on Catholic schools. The conditions of reception for the reforms of Vatican II, in particular for the Declaration on Christian Education, are also examined. During the long sixties secondary religious education experienced a fundamental shift as both the pre-Vatican II approach to education and the dominant theology of Neo-Thomism were abandoned. Influenced by both the Vatican II reforms and the conditions of reception, secondary religious education shifted from an objective, content-driven approach to a subjective approach that focused on the inner transformation of the individual and the establishment of a Christian community within the school.  By the late 1970s, an effort was made to establish a balance between these two approaches as Catholic schools struggled to deal with the pervasive influence of secularism and the collapse of the Catholic classicist culture. This thesis proposes a new curricular framework aimed at achieving this balance.

abstract: PhD


title: A Rechargeable Zn-Cu Battery Using a Selective Cation Exchange Membrane

contributor:
Dominik, Barz
Chemical Engineering

subject: Zinc Copper Battery Separator

abstract: The Daniell cell (Zn-Cu battery) offers several potential advantages over current battery technologies, but is held back by the problems of copper ion (Cu2+) crossover. We resolved this through employing a selective cation exchange membrane as the separator. The membrane allows sodium ions (Na+) to maintain ion transfer between the zinc and copper half-cells while preventing Cu2+ from entering the zinc half-cell. We observed that at equal electrolyte conductivities, the potential of zinc deposition is larger in sulphate electrolytes than in chloride electrolytes. Zinc nitrate electrolytes lead to the formation of zinc oxide (ZnO) which passivated the zinc electrode surface. In copper electrolytes, sulphate and nitrate electrolytes possessed nearly equal potentials for electrodeposition. Chloride-based copper electrolytes possessed large negative potentials for copper deposition due to the stabilization effect of chloride (Cl-) on the monovalent Cu+ intermediate species. Tafel analyses revealed that zinc deposition and dissolution had near identical kinetics in sulphate and chloride electrolytes when they were present at equal conductivites. We also observed through cyclic voltammetry and Tafel analyses that there is a small increase in the kinetics of both the zinc and copper electrochemical reactions as the active ion concentration was increased. Low levels of Cu2+ did not have a significant effect on the zinc electrode performance, but at 1000 ppm concentration of Cu2+, the overpotentials for zinc deposition and dissolution were much larger. It was observed at open-circuit that at low concentrations of catholyte, only very little Cu2+ was able to cross the membrane. Recharging the battery without any Na+ in the electrolyte was not possible. When 1.0 M sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) was added to the catholyte the battery was able to be successfully cycled 100 times with no noticeable losses in performance and only small amounts of Cu2+ crossing over. High coulombic efficiencies were observed at low current drains.

abstract: M.A.Sc.


title: "The Trans Tipping Point": Assessing Contemporary Transgender Visibility in Alternative and Mainstream Media

contributor:
MacDonald, Eleanor
Salah, Patricia
Cultural Studies

subject:
Transgender
Queer Visibility
Representation
Alternative Media
Mainstream Media

abstract:
This thesis seeks to develop a rubric for the assessment of recent transgender visibility
across disparate media spaces. The rubric is based upon the critiques of transgender studies
scholars and transgender activists on transgender representation in media. The rubric aims to
address the most salient issues found in contemporary transgender representation and guide its
user toward identifying more inclusive forms of transgender visibility that resist stereotypes. The
rubric is both a resource for the analysis of transgender visibility as well as the production of
media that focuses upon or includes transgender subjects.

abstract: M.A.


title: The World of Tomorrow: Technological Change and Market Development

contributor:
Handelman, Jay
Business

subject:
Technological Change
Market Change
Innovation
Diffusion
Imagination
Social Imaginary
Castoriadis
Cultural Mythologies

abstract: Technological change refers to the ways in which physical objects, practices, and knowledge develop over time. Marketing and consumer research understand technological change and its impact on market structures as processes of diffusion. These processes follow predictable patterns in which innovative technologies with objectively superior capabilities or performance are more likely to diffuse, displacing existing technologies. While this progression from the past to the present remains central in most theories linking technological change and marketplace structures, the role of the future remains under-examined. Recent empirical work in market and consumer research emphasizes the role of the future on how individuals think and act in the present, suggesting that interpretations of the future play an important role in the relationship between technology and marketplace structures. Drawing on the sociological theory of Castoriadis, this thesis examines cultural narratives of future-oriented social imaginaries surrounding a given technology and how these imaginaries come to shape current marketplace activity. Through an ethnographically-informed longitudinal study (2012-2018) of the emerging markets for 3D printing hardware, software, and services, I find market actors making sense of 3D printing through four distinct future-oriented social imaginaries linked with hybrid market mythologies. Rather than only superior technology diffusing through the marketplace, the findings reveal the diffusion of future-oriented social imaginaries, and how this diffusion relates to the ongoing development of market arrangements. I discuss the implications of these findings for studies of market systems, diffusion of innovations, and unintended market change.

abstract: PhD


title: A Novel Mechanism of Tumour Cell Drug Resistance Induced by the Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immune Checkpoint

contributor:
Graham, Charles
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

subject: PD-1

subject: PD-L1

subject: Autophagy

subject: Drug Resistance

abstract:
Immune checkpoints are regulators of the immune system that are critical for self-tolerance and prevention of autoimmunity. The programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint is often co-opted by tumour cells to escape the immune system. Whereas most studies on the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint focus on mechanisms leading to inactivation of immune effectors, we have shown that binding of PD-1 to PD-L1 on the surface of tumour cells leads to activation of oncogenic pathways as well as resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin in tumour cells. Development of drug resistance is responsible for treatment failure in over 90% of patients with metastatic cancer. Autophagy is a well-established mechanism of drug resistance in cancer cells. Hence, we hypothesized that PD-1/PD-L1 signalling induces drug resistance in tumor cells by up-regulating autophagic pathways.

Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that exposure of human breast cancer cells to recombinant PD-1 (rPD-1) resulted in a time-dependent increase in LC3-II as well as Beclin1 protein levels, two important mediators of autophagy. 4T1 mammary carcinomas from mice treated with rPD-1 also showed increased levels of LC3-II protein levels. Moreover, imaging of breast cancer cells expressing GFP-tagged LC3 revealed a time-dependent increase in autophagosome formation following administration of rPD-1. Inhibition of autophagy using chloroquine prevented drug resistance induced by PD-1/PD-L1 signalling. Furthermore, results revealed that exposure of breast cancer cells to rPD-1 resulted in increased extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, and that ERK phosphorylation is required for PD-1/PD-L1 induced autophagy. These studies provide a rationale for the use of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockers and autophagy inhibitors as potential chemosensitizers in cancer therapy.

abstract: M.Sc.


title: How Do You Really Feel?: Two Experiments on the Impact of Affect on Investor Judgment and Decision Making

contributor:
Murphy, Pamela
Business

subject:
Accounting
Emotion
Affect
Investor Behavior

abstract:
The purpose of this thesis is to understand how investor judgments and decisions around an
earnings announcement are influenced by affect. In the first study, I examine the impact of
unrelated tweets on investor judgments when they receive a positive earnings announcement
through Twitter. I find that both negative and positive affect elicited by posts in an investor’s
Twitter feed unrelated to the investment results in investment attractiveness judgments that are
lower than when unrelated tweets are neutral in tone. I find that a warning from the SEC about
the impact of these irrelevant Twitter posts helps to reduce the influence of only negative
incidental affect. Further analysis reveals that an investor’s ability to understand the cause and
effect relationship of emotions achieves a similar debiasing result. In the second study, I examine
how two types of negative affect, anger and fear, influence investor behavior after a negative
earnings announcement. I find that anger and fear lead to very different information search and
processing behaviors. Anger, while not impacting how much additional information an investor
accesses, reduces how much time they spend reading materials and how deeply the information
is processed. In contrast, fear leads to an increase in how much additional information is
accessed, as well as increases the amount of time spent reading the materials; it also leads to
better recall of that information. Results also show that anger causes investors to allocate less
money to the firm that just announced negative earnings whereas fear did not affect investment.
Finally, my results show that an investor’s ability to manage his/her emotions can reduce the
influence of anger on investment decisions. Together, these studies extend the accounting and
psychology literatures related to affect, earnings announcements, social media, attributions, and
emotional intelligence. My findings have practical importance, suggesting that investors,
managers, and regulators need to be aware that affect can arise due to the channel used to
disseminate earnings and the language used by managers to explain earnings performance. The
positive takeaway is that emotionally intelligent investors can insulate themselves from the
influence of affect.

abstract: PhD


title: Investigating the Role of PTEN in Prostate Cancer Cell-Intrinsic Type I Interferon Responses

contributor:
Koti, Madhuri
Biomedical and Molecular Sciences

subject:
Prostate Cancer
Cancer Immunology
Type i Interferon
Cancer

abstract: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian men and is characterized by a dysregulated immune response which is influenced by cancer cell-intrinsic genetic aberrations. Loss of the tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) occurs in 20-30% of PCa tumors and is associated with disease progression and an aggressive phenotype. Clinical and preclinical studies demonstrate that loss of PTEN expression correlates with decreased Type I Interferon (IFN1) pathway markers, suggesting that PTEN has a role in regulating the immune response by impacting IFN1 signaling. To characterize the role of PTEN in shaping cellular immune-related properties, we assessed cell-intrinsic IFN1 responses using NanoString gene expression analysis and secreted cytokine profiling in PCa cells with variable PTEN expression. We observed distinct response patterns at baseline and following treatment with IFN1 agonists. We generated PTEN knockout derivatives of PCa cells and observed statistically significant differences in expression patterns of IFN1 pathway genes in PTEN-deficient cells during normal growth and following treatment with IFN1 agonists. Genes involved in innate immune signaling, antiviral responses, and inflammation were significantly decreased in PTEN-knockout cells. Additionally, PTEN-knockout cells had significantly decreased secreted levels of major inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines including CXCL1 and CXCL10 compared to PTEN-intact PCa cells. Given the significance of the cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding immune cells in cancer progression, these findings are important in elucidating the specific contribution of cell-intrinsic pathways to the PCa tumor microenvironment. This investigation may lead to exploitation of PCa cell-intrinsic IFN1 pathways for rational design and use of immune-based therapies to improve management of PCa.

abstract: M.Sc.


Secondary Dwellings: An Integrated Housing Option for Seniors in Small Municipalities


title: Asynchronous Complementary Dual Channel Current Source Gate Driver for Synchronous Buck Converters

subject: Power Electronics

abstract:
Currently there is a push for higher switching frequency DC-DC converters, especially in mobile and computer applications. Higher frequency operation allows for better transient performance and a reduction in the size of magnetic components. This leads to converters with a higher power density. However, certain challenges arise from operating at higher switching frequencies. Focusing on the Synchronous Buck Converter, efficiency may be degraded due to higher switching loss, higher diode conduction loss, and higher gate drive loss.
	To increase efficiency, different gate drive configurations have been designed with the goal of minimizing losses for MOSFETs being switched at high frequencies. Higher efficiency operation at higher frequencies can be accomplished with resonant gate drives, which include an inductor in the gate drive. The advantages may include: a high, constant gate current that enables faster switching and the possibility to return gate drive current to the source as opposed to ground. However, few gate drives are able to capture both these advantages – the ones that do suffer from other disadvantages such as high component counts, high complexity, and high conduction loss in the gate drive.
	An Asymmetric Complementary Dual Channel Current Source Driver is proposed in this thesis specifically designed for a Synchronous Buck Converter. Merits include: a constant, high gate current used to switch the Control MOSFET and Synchronous MOSFET; discharging the MOSFETs to the source, reducing gate drive losses; lower component count than other designs; and lower conduction loss due to reduced precharge and discharge intervals versus other designs.
	There are two sides to the gate drive: one driving the Control MOSFET, the other driving the Synchronous MOSFET. A coupled inductor links the two sides of the gate drive and transfers charge between the gates of the MOSFETs.
	The proposed gate drive is specifically designed to maximize efficiency when applied to a Synchronous Buck Converter. The efficiency is verified and compared via analysis and simulation, the operation of the gate drive was verified via simulation and experimentally.

abstract: M.A.Sc.