Digital Commons Network^™

Sex Comparisons Of External, Anatomical And Methodological Factors On Motor Unit Firing Behavior, Michael James Marsala

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Motor unit (MU) recruitment and firing rate (MUFR) modulation are the primary factors governing force control. Differences in the anatomical distributions of α-motoneurons, muscle properties, and perception of fatigue between males and females may cause sexually dimorphic MU firing behaviors. The purpose of this dissertation was to further examine external, anatomical, and methodological factors that may influence observations of sex-related differences in neuromuscular function. In chapter 2, sex differences in how mental fatigue may influence MU firing behaviors were examined. Mental fatigue did not significantly alter MU firing behavior, maximal force, or force tracing ability in either males or females. …

Cortical Activation During Mobility In An Indoor Real-World Environment: A Mobile Eeg Study, Sam Marshall

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Human mobility requires neurocognitive inputs to safely navigate the environment. Previous research has examined neural processes that underly walking using mobile neuroimaging technologies, yet few studies have incorporated true real-world methods without a specific task imposed on participants (e.g., dual-task, motor demands). The present study utilized mobile electroencephalography to examine and compare theta, alpha, and beta frequency band power (μV2) in young adults during sitting and walking in laboratory and real-world environments. Our findings support that mobility and environment may modulate neural activity, as we observed increased brain activation for walking compared to sitting, and for real-world walking compared to …

Smartphones For Smart Eating: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Smartphone Applications On Improving Adolescent Food Knowledge, Heather A. Jantzi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Many Canadian adolescents have unhealthy eating habits which are risk factors for developing chronic diseases later in life. Food literacy plays a role in healthy eating habits but teens in Ontario currently lack sufficient nutrition education learning opportunities in home and school environments. Across health research, smartphones have been utilized as a novel medium to promote learning and alter behaviour. This thesis seeks to understand the effectiveness of smartphone applications at improving food knowledge in adolescents through (i) a systematic review of published interventions, and (ii) by investigating the efficacy of a novel location-based smartphone application. Findings from this thesis …

Investigating The Roles Of The Dorsal And Ventral Striatum In Humor Comprehension And Appreciation Throughout Health, Aging, And Parkinson’S Disease, Maggie Prenger

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Humor processing is thought to involve two distinct components. The first, humor comprehension, involves detecting and resolving incongruities that are present within a humorous stimulus. This is related to cognitive processes such as ambiguity resolution, response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, functions that are mediated in part by the dorsal portion of the striatum (DS). Humor appreciation, on the other hand, refers to the subjective amusement and mirth that one experiences in response to a joke. This is related to reward processing, which implicates the ventral portion of the striatum (VS). Across three separate studies, we investigated the involvement …

Machine Learning Techniques For Improved Functional Brain Parcellation, Da Zhi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Brain parcellation studies are fundamental for neuroscience as they serve as a bridge between anatomy and function, helping researchers interpret how functions are distributed across different brain regions. However, two substantial challenges exist in current imaging-based brain parcellation studies: large variations in the functional organization across individuals and the intrinsic spatial dependence which causes nearby brain locations to have a similar function. This thesis presents a series of projects aimed to tackle these challenges from different perspectives by using advanced machine learning techniques.

To handle the challenge of individual variability in building precise individual parcellations, Chapter 3 introduces a novel …

“Return To Play”: The Impact Of, And Changes To, Ontario Children’S Physical Activity During Covid-19, Monika B. Szpunar Ms.

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation explored parents’ and their children’s perspectives of returning to play/sport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada, and assessed how children’s physical activity levels changed during COVID-19. To understand the initial impact of the pandemic, Study 1 (August 2020) explored the influence of family sociodemographic factors (e.g., housing type) and risk tolerance (using the validated Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale) on parents’ return to play/sport attitudes. Via interviews with parents (n = 9) and children (n = 12), Study 2 (December 2020 – January 2021) gathered participants’ experiences of getting active …

Sarcopenia In Head And Neck Cancer: A Prognostic Analysis, Nedeljko Jovanovic

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: In head and neck cancer (HNC), loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM), or sarcopenia, is a strong prognostic factor for outcomes. However, inconsistencies in its assessment limit our understanding of the relationship between sarcopenia and nutrition-related outcomes. This project evaluated the significance of sarcopenia as described in the literature and as demonstrated in a cohort of HNC patients.

Methods: A scoping review was first conducted followed by a retrospective cohort study with data collected from 194 oropharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with definitive radiation/chemoradiation. Sarcopenia was assessed from computed tomography (CT) imaging at the third cervical vertebra (C3) and the …

Absence Of Enhancer Of Zeste Homolog 2 Promotes The Progression Of Kras-Driven Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Xiaoyi Wang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is estimated to be the second deadliest cancer by 2030. Previous studies showed constitutive activation of KRAS (KRAS^G12D) is a key genetic driver of PDAC, accelerated by deletion of the epigenetic regulator Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2). However, contradictory findings suggest multiple roles for EZH2. The goal of this study was to define EZH2’s contributes to early KRAS^G12D-driven PDAC. I hypothesized that EZH2 restricts KRAS^G12D initiation of PDAC in response to injury. To address this hypothesis, genetically modified mice with targeted deletion of the SET domain of Ezh2 +/- KRAS …

An Evaluation Of A Mobile Health-Health Action Process Approach Intervention To Reduce Sedentary Behaviour And Stress In Adult Office Workers - Randomized Controlled Trial, Brett Carter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Sedentary behaviour (SB) has been linked with a variety of negative health consequences which can be diminished by increasing frequency of breaks. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) is an effective behaviour change model for reducing SB in adult office workers. The objective of this study was to evaluate a mobile health HAPA-based sedentary behaviour intervention in office workers. Fifty-three participants (Mean age 40.62, 79.2% women) were randomized into a treatment group or a no-contact control group in a four-week, two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. All SB outcomes were assessed from Baseline to Week 4, perceived stress was measured at …

Role Of The Default-Mode Network During Narrative Integration In Major Depressive Disorder, Darren Ri-Sheng Liang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

How brain activity is synchronized across individuals during narrative comprehension has previously been characterized by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in healthy and patient populations. To our knowledge, there has been limited investigation as to how it is affected by major depressive disorder (MDD). We addressed this issue with fMRI through examination of inter-subject synchronization in the default mode network (DMN), brain structures which have previously been implicated in MDD pathology. Twenty-two patients with MDD and 20 matched control participants listened to Intact versus Scrambled versions of an auditory narrative; these experimental conditions differed in the degree of temporal integration …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Safe Exercise Training Workshop On Knowledge And Self-Efficacy To Manage Dysfunctional Exercise Among Eating Disorders Clinicians At Alsana Eating Disorders Center, Danika A. Quesnel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Engaging in dysfunctional exercise (DEX) is detrimental to eating disorders (EDs) prognosis, although common amongst clients. Though nutritionally supported exercise can improve ED treatment outcomes, without negatively impacting weight restoration, clinicians remain hesitant to address DEX, perhaps due to a lack of information and training. The current study examined the effects of a Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) training on clinician knowledge and self-efficacy in managing DEX in ED treatment. Eating disorders clinicians completed measures before (n = 96) and after (n = 44) SEES training to assess their knowledge and self-efficacy around treating DEX, with a …

Understanding Para Athlete Development: An Examination Of Para Swimming, Darda J. Sales

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Most competitively spirited individuals who engage in sport, we call them athletes, are striving to be the best they can be at their chosen discipline. To help athletes achieve their goals, several athlete development models (Côté, 1999, Gulbin et al., 2013, Higgs et al., 2019) have been produced to help coaches and sport administrators best support, and guide an athlete to achieve their optimum performance. While it has been recognized that there is contextual uniqueness to the para athlete development experience (Huetzler et al., 2016) and that there are nuances to the para athlete development experience that need to be …

Examining The Impact Of Financial Incentive Removal On Physical Activity: A Quasi-Experimental Study Of 584,760 Mobile Health Application Users, Sean Kevin Spilsbury

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

BACKGROUND: Government interest in using financial incentives (FIs) to stimulate physical activity (PA) is increasing. The cost of longer-term incentive interventions may be prohibitive, however. PURPOSE: To examine the impact of FI withdrawal on PA. METHODS: A 25-week retrospective pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted with users of a FI-based mHealth app. Users from three Canadian provinces were included. Daily FI were removed in Ontario (ON; intervention) but not British Columbia (BC) and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL; control). Simple linear regression models were used to examine weekly mean daily step count after FI withdrawal. RESULTS: The total sample included 584,760 users …

The Impact Of Energetic Trade-Offs On The Developmental Trajectory And Life History Strategy Of Homo Sapiens: The Modern Human Female Phenotype, Laura Ann Hope Atkinson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study interrogates the relationship between early life environmental variability (measured through birth weight and age at menarche), and adult phenotypic outcomes in female athletes and non-athletes from the United Kingdom. Using anthropometric, and 3D body surface scan analysis, patterns of phenotypic variation were interpreted in a life history context. Significant correlations between birth weight, stature, and bi-iliac breadth were observed. Age at menarche had significant correlations with linear growth and body composition measures in both Pearson and Canonical Correlation analyses. Crural index was found to be negatively correlated with limb segment SA:Vol in opposition to the expectations of Allen’s …

The Genetics Of Pain: An Exploration Of Gene-By-Environment Interactions And Their Effects On Pain, Mohamad F. Fakhereddin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The findings presented in this dissertation are part of the bigger SYMBIOME project which aims to use the biopsychosocial model of pain to develop a prognostic clinical phenotype for people that experience musculoskeletal (MSK) trauma. Chapter 2 presents an exploratory analysis to assess the relationships between genetic polymorphisms and pain severity and interference. Early childhood trauma was also explored as a moderator between genetic polymorphisms and pain outcomes. For pain severity, major allele carriers (A/A and G/A) of FKBP5 rs9394314 reported significantly higher scores than minor allele carriers (G/G). Further, major allele carriers who had at least one adverse childhood …

Likely Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Infections Between Neighboring, Persistent Hotspots In Ontario, Canada, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Peter Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Introduction: This study aimed to produce community-level geo-spatial mapping of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario Canada in near real-time to support decision-making. This was accomplished by area-to-area geostatistical analysis, space-time integration, and spatial interpolation of COVID-19 positive individuals.
Methods: COVID-19 cases and locations were curated for geostatistical analyses from March 2020 through June 2021, corresponding to the first, second, and third waves of infections. Daily cases were aggregated according to designated forward sortation area (FSA), and postal codes (PC) in municipal regions Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Ottawa, Toronto, and Windsor/Essex county. Hotspots were identified with area-to-area tests including Getis-Ord Gi*, Global …

Exercise As A Treatment For Cognitive Decline In Older Adults: The Role Of Growth Factors And Inflammatory Cytokines, Joshua A. Titus

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effects that exercise modalities have on neurotrophic and inflammatory blood markers and cognitive outcomes in older adults. A systematic review and meta-analysis were completed. The included studies illustrated that most of the literature evaluated the effect of aerobic exercise interventions on systemic concentrations of the blood marker brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The review found that aerobic exercise increases BDNF and resistance training increases insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Interventions with sex-specific cohorts presented advantages in males for blood marker and cognitive outcomes compared to females. One of three included interventions decreased …

Discovering Body Positivity & Self-Image (Gender Equality Coalition Of Ontario), Ella Clarke, Morolayo Ilori, Melanie Peck, Hannah Polley, Mili Shah

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

Body image refers to the way we perceive our bodies, and it can positively or negatively impact physical and mental health (Alleva et al., 2015). Unfortunately, negative body image is becoming more common with some studies finding that 65% of young people are dissatisfied with their bodies (Linardon et al., 2021). This can lead to a variety of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders such as body dysmorphia or eating disorders (Alleva et al., 2015). However, many of these consequences associated with negative body image can be circumvented by learning to foster positive body images through building self-esteem (Jessie’s Legacy, …

Addressing Workplace Mental Health During Covid-19 (Global Minds Collective), Candace Brooks-Dasilva, Ashlee Jiang, Priya Modi, Komal Patel, Lilian Raphael

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

We aimed to produce novel, comprehensive tools to support The Global MINDS Collective’s mission of co-creating unique workplace infrastructures conducive to employee mental wellness. Our Systems Map uses a multifactorial and intersectional approach to analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed employees’ mental and psychosocial wellness. A systems thinking approach was used to connect ideas from literature and industry resources to expand on concepts such as workplace diversity, burnout, and current practices. The interconnected nature of the systems map allowed us to identify “leverage points,” which were topics with a high degree of connectivity that could be targeted for high-impact …

Alignment Of The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals And The London Plan (Citystudio London), Jack Adams, Trent Arnold, Rachel Jairam, Amani Khan

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

The goal of our project was to map the City of London Plan to the UN’s Sustainability and Development Goals. An aim of the project was to present the contents in the City of London Plan in a more understandable and accessible way for London citizens and city counsellors to be able to engage with. Another aim was to measure the similarities and discrepancies of the London Plan and the UNs SDGs in a quantifiable way that could be easily examined by the city when creating future city plans. Our deliverables were a 1-minute video pitch, an excel spreadsheet that …

Improving Senior Fitness Programs & Dementia Care (Canadian Centre For Activity & Aging), Nidaal Abid, Tarannum Khan, Serena Lai, Kyle Lam, Madeline Macrae, Karen Wong

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

Our team worked alongside the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA) to improve senior fitness programs and dementia care through volunteering at weekly exercise classes, assisting with fitness assessments, and creating two tangible deliverables. Our first deliverable was a Wordle; a tool for visualizing the modifiable risk factors of dementia. By consulting existing literature, we concluded that hearing loss, low education status, depression, and smoking were the main modifiable risk factors. This Wordle will be used for future research and educational purposes. Our next deliverables targeted the fitness aspect of the CCAA. We helped facilitate weekly instructor-led fitness classes …

Potential Sex-Related Differences In Neurophysiology Post-Concussion, Alexandra N. Pauhl

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to examine potential sex-related differences in neurophysiology in concussed and healthy individuals. There was a total of 21(9 F) participants in each group. The concussion (CONC) group reported to the lab within 72 hours, 1- and 2-weeks post-injury. The control (CONT) group followed a similar measurement schedule once recruited. Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and cortical silent period (CSP) duration was measured in the first dorsal interosseous muscle using transcranial magnetic stimulation. There were no significant differences in MEP amplitude or CSP duration between the CONC and CONT group. As well, there was no …

The Impact Of Mental Fatigue On Motor Unit Firing Behaviour: A Pilot Study, Bernadette C. Tierney Ms.

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Examining the effects of muscle fatigue on force and motor unit firing behaviour using surface electromyography to quantify motor unit firing behaviour.

Changes In Children's And Parents' Physical Activity Levels During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review, Kshitija Mundle

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Objectives: The purpose of this literature review was to gain an understanding of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated closures have had on the physical activity levels of children (ages 0-12) and their parents/guardians.

Methods: To identify relevant literature, a comprehensive database search was conducted. Specifically, studies including keywords: parents, children, physical activity, and COVID-19 and their related terms published between March 2020 and August 2021 were screened for inclusion.

Results: A number of articles have been published which suggest that structured/organized physical activities and team play opportunities have decreased during COVID-19 restrictions, while home-based unstructured play and …

The Influence Of The Social Determinants Of Health On Para-Sports Involvement Throughout The Caribbean And Americas, Laura Misener

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

As the number of individuals with a disability grows worldwide, the Paralympic Games and para-sports have seen a growth in participation (WHO, 2011). However, international sporting competitions including the Paralympic Games remain dominated by developed countries (Andreff, 2001). In the last Paralympic Games, the USA, Canada, and Brazil made up nearly 70% of participants from the North and South American region with 17 of the 28 committees sending five or less participants (Maleske & Sant, 2020). The present study investigates the social and cultural determinants in the Caribbean and Americas of para-sport participation in the region and their relation to …

Examining The Effects Of A Weight Stigma Induction On Psychological Stress And Exercise Outcomes, Isabella J. Randall

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Weight stigma is highly prevalent as a motivational tool in exercise contexts. However, weight stigma experienced in this domain may contribute to lowered exercise engagement, particularly among higher-weight women. This thesis examined the effects of a weight stigma induction on psychological stress, intentions to exercise (ITE), and exercise behaviours. Higher-weight women (N = 170, M_age = 57.2) were randomly assigned to read a fictional news article (weight-stigmatizing vs neutral condition), and completed acute measures of psychological stress, ITE, and exercise behaviours 7-days later. Participants who were exposed to the stigmatizing content reported a significant increase in stress and …

Generation And Characterization Of An In Vitro Organotypic Foreskin Model For Future Study Of The Penile Microbiome, Geoffrey J. Rempel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The foreskin is a site of HIV-1 acquisition in heterosexual males. The lack of relevant in vitro models that mimic the foreskin microenvironment, including innate immune and barrier functions, has limited our understanding of susceptibility at this site. We hypothesize that we can establish organotypic in vitro foreskin that mimics in vivo tissue. Organotypic foreskin models were generated and are composed of stratified cell layers that express E-cadherin suprabasally, filaggrin apically, and expressed TLR1, TLR2, and β-defensin-1 mRNA similar to in vivo foreskin. Preliminary results suggest organotypic foreskin tissues retain the ability to respond to LPS. Lastly, organotypic foreskin permeability …

Interplay Between Shift Work, Psychological Distress, Sleep Quality, And Cognitive Performance, Rea Therese Alonzo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Shift work schedules are designed to maintain a continuous operation of goods and services. However, engaging in shift work may impact cognitive functioning. This thesis assessed the relationship between shift work and cognitive performance. Using cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the association between shift work and cognitive performance, as well as the moderating effects of psychological distress and sleep quality. Differences by sex and retirement status were also investigated. Shift work was significantly associated with poor performance for executive functioning but not for declarative memory. Poorer cognitive performance …

Development Of A Wearable Haptic Feedback Device For Upper Limb Prosthetics Through Sensory Substitution, Marco B.S. Gallone

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Haptics can enable a direct communication pipeline between the artificial limb and the brain; adding haptic sensory feedback for prosthesis wearers is believed to improve operation without drawing too much of the user's attention. Through neuroplasticity, the brain can become more cognizant of the information delivered through the skin and may eventually interpret it as inherently as other natural senses. In this thesis, a wearable haptic feedback device (WHFD) is developed to communicate prosthesis sensory information. A 14-week, 6-stage, between subjects study was created to investigate the learning trajectory as participants were stimulated with haptic patterns conveying joint proprioception. 37 …

“One Of The Most Elaborate Doping Ploys In Sports History”: The Impact Of The 2016 Russian Doping Scandal On Anti-Doping, Wada And Athletes’ Rights, Mikael J. Gonsalves

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation analyzes the impacts of the 2016 Russian doping scandal from a philosophical and historical perspective. This dissertation’s second chapter, the article entitled (1) “The Brave New World of Athletes’ Rights: A Canadian Perspective on Significant Shifts for the World Anti- Doping Agency” in time for the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 20 th anniversary, puts into words the new investigative reality of contemporary anti-doping. It explains a new attitude of anti-doping authorities in response to the ‘game-changing’ Russian manipulation of samples, what has been described as “one of the most elaborate doping ploys in sports history” 1 (Icarus, 2016) …