Digital Commons Network^™

Imaging Atherosclerosis With Hybrid [(18)F]Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging: What Leonardo Da Vinci Could Not See, Myra S. Cocker, Brian Mc Ardle, J. David Spence, Cheemun Lum, Robert R. Hammond, Deidre C. Ongaro, Matthew A. Mcdonald, Robert A. Dekemp, Jean Claude Tardif, Rob S.B. Beanlands

Department of Medicine Publications

Prodigious efforts and landmark discoveries have led toward significant advances in our understanding of atherosclerosis. Despite significant efforts, atherosclerosis continues globally to be a leading cause of mortality and reduced quality of life. With surges in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, atherosclerosis is expected to have an even more pronounced impact upon the global burden of disease. It is imperative to develop strategies for the early detection of disease. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging utilizing [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) may provide a non-invasive means of characterizing inflammatory activity within atherosclerotic plaque, thus serving as a surrogate biomarker for detecting vulnerable plaque. …

Letter To The Editor: The Ezetimibe 'Controversy' Is A Misunderstanding, John David Spence

Department of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Estimating Software Effort Using An Ann Model Based On Use Case Points, Ali Bou Nassif, Luiz Fernando Capretz, Danny Ho

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

In this paper, we propose a novel Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict software effort from use case diagrams based on the Use Case Point (UCP) model. The inputs of this model are software size, productivity and complexity, while the output is the predicted software effort. A multiple linear regression model with three independent variables (same inputs of the ANN) and one dependent variable (effort) is also introduced. Our data repository contains 240 data points in which, 214 are industrial and 26 are educational projects. Both the regression and ANN models were trained using 168 data points and tested using …

Incomplete Market Models Of Carbon Emissions Markets, Walid Mnif

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

New regulatory frameworks have been developed with the aim of decreasing global greenhouse gas emissions over both short and long time periods. Incentives must be established to encourage the transition to a clean energy economy. Emissions taxes represent a "price" incentive for this transition, but economists agree this approach is suboptimal. Instead, the "quantity" instrument provided by cap-and-trade markets are superior from an economic point of view. This thesis focuses on the cap-and-trade instrument. Carbon emissions markets have recently been implemented in different countries. We summarize the state of world cap-and-trade schemes. We also provide a literature review of existing …

Social And Human Capital: The Determinants Of Economic Integration Of South Asian Immigrants In Canada, Muhammed M. Raza

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

ABSTARCT

The labor market outcomes of immigrants have been a primary focus of the research to comprehend the integration of immigrants inCanada. The focus of the research is largely on human capital approaches for the investigation of the earnings of immigrants. This thesis takes a distinct approach in three ways: first, unlike traditional research that compares the earnings of immigrants with native born of the same ethnic/racial groups or with white native born population, the dissertation compares the earnings of visible minority immigrants with non-visible minority immigrants. Comparing across foreign born populations is important to neutralize the impact of exposure …

Experimental And Computational Analysis Of The Structure And Dynamics Of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins, Elio Anthony Cino

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are abundant in cells and have central roles in

protein-protein interaction networks. Many are involved in cancer, aging and

neurodegenerative diseases. The structure and dynamics of IDPs is intimately related to their

interactions with binding partners. Because IDPs are inherently flexible and do not have a

single conformation, conventional methods and conditions for determining structure and

dynamics of globular proteins may not be directly applicable. Nuclear magnetic resonance

(NMR) spectroscopy is one of the primary techniques characterizing the structures and

dynamics of IDPs, but one cannot rely solely on NMR data. A primary aim of this …

Strategies For Visco-Acoustic Waveform Inversion In The Laplace-Fourier Domain, With Application To The Nankai Subduction Zone, Rie Kamei

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Waveform inversion is a non-linear and ill-posed inverse problem, with the objective of utilizing the full information content of recorded seismic waveforms. A Laplace-Fourier domain implementation allows a natural `multiscale' approach that mitigates the non-linearity and ill-posedness by inverting low-frequency, early arrival data in the initial stages of inversion. High-frequency components, and late arrivals are incorporated at a later stage. This allows the development of robust inversion strategies capable of handling large wide-angle crustal surveys, leading to reliable, high-resolution velocity and attenuation models of crustal structures. I apply waveform inversion to extract a P-wave velocity model of the active megasplay …

Physical Therapy Following Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair, Ravindiran Appunni

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Rotator cuff (RC) tears are one of the common causes of pain and disability in the upper extremity. Currently there are no fixed guidelines for choosing testing positions for shoulder range of motion measurement. Optimal rehabilitation following RC repair is yet to be defined.

Purpose and Method

The purpose was to inform about postoperative Physical therapy following rotator cuff repair, with the following objectives:

• To systematically review the content of clinical research, which addresses various physical therapy programs.
• To describe validity and responsiveness of different testing positions for goniometric measurement of shoulder active external rotation.
• To pilot test …

Evaluating The Impact Of Two Different Methods Of Diabetes Self-Management Education On Knowledge, Attitude, And Behaviours Of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Laura B. Briden

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study compared the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education (DSME) methods by examining changes in knowledge, attitude, and behaviour (KAB) after receiving education. Participants from a convenience sample were randomized into two groups, one receiving education through conversation maps and the other through traditional group education. Participants’ knowledge and attitude changes were measured by using a repeated measures pre-test/post-test design and changes in Hb A1c were observed. Focus groups were conducted after education was received to obtain perceptions and self-reported behaviour changes. Significant knowledge and attitude score changes were observed in the conversation map group after education. When comparing the …

Essays On International And Environmental Economics, Jacob Wibe

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis consists of three chapters employing quantitative open economy models to study international trade transmission, the economic impacts of climate change, and remittance transfers.

The first chapter examines the role of production sharing and trade in the transmission of the 2008-2009 recession. In the model, production sharing is represented by a tradable sector that produces a composite good exclusively for the foreign market. The results suggest that trade transmission can account for 67% of the fall in output in Canada, 24% of the fall in output in Mexico, and about two-thirds of the fall in trade for both countries. …

Social Marketing And Falls Prevention: Market Segmentation And Product Positioning, Eric C. Stemmler

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study sets out to better understand how falls prevention can be marketed and positioned in order to increase participation rates in seniors. Market segmentation was used to create unique marketing mixes for individual groups of seniors. The senior market was segmented into frequent falling males and females, and non-falling males and females. Frequent fallers were defined by having experienced 2 or more falls in the past year, where non-fallers had experienced 1 or less falls. Twelve focus groups were conducted with thirty-five participants (N=35), 65 years or older. Differences were mainly found between number of falls …

Preparation And Formulation Of Powder Coating For Application Of Enamelled Wire, Liuyin Xia

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Enamelled wire is a conductive wire coated with a very thin layer of insulation, widely used in the field that requires tight coils of wire. The traditional enamelled wire is produced by liquid paint, which consists of resins, solvents, pigments, and additives. Organic solvent takes a relatively high content, normally of 75% to 90% by weight. Many efforts have been made to decrease the percentage of solvent in the insulation paint. On the other hand, increasing the solids content of given enamel results in the viscosity rises significantly, making it harder to flow. Therefore, powder coating technology as an alternative …

Linking Psychological Capital, Structural Empowerment And Perceived Staffing Adequacy To New Graduate Nurses' Job Satisfaction, Lisa Stam

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Reports indicate that new graduate nurses (NGNs) are experiencing stressful work environments, affecting job satisfaction and retention in current positions. New nurses are a health human resource that must be retained in order to ensure the replacement of retiring nurses, and to address impending shortages. As a result, creating supportive work environments that promote NGNs’ job satisfaction may play an important role in the retention and recruitment of skilled, satisfied nursing staff. The purpose of this study was to test the relationships between new graduates’ self-reported psychological capital (PsyCap), access to empowerment structures, perceptions of staffing adequacy and job satisfaction. …

Sexual Trafficking In The Canadian Context: Exploring The Political Landscape, Examining Discourse, And Identifying Health Issues Among Women With Lived Experience, Hoda Malakouti-Nejad

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Although human trafficking has a long history, it has more recently become a topic of profound interest in popular culture, in political debates on sex work and immigration, and among law enforcement and social service providers. However, the widespread interest in human trafficking has not translated into a clear or consistent understanding of the phenomenon or the experiences of those who have been trafficked. This study sought to explore the perspectives of women who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation and the professionals who work with them. Specifically, the study examined three key issues in sexual trafficking: the political and …

Evaluation Of The Utility Of Decomposition-Enhanced Spike-Triggered Averaging Motor Unit Number Estimation As An Outcome Measure For The Study Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Colleen T. Ives

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this thesis were to review the use of outcome measures systematically across amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical trials, and evaluate the utility of decomposition-enhanced spike-triggered averaging (DE-STA) motor unit number estimation (MUNE) as an outcome measure, with a particular focus on its application to the upper trapezius (UT).

METHODS: First, a systematic review quantified the frequency of use of outcome measures in ALS randomized controlled trials (Chapter 2). Next, the intra- and inter-rater reliability of DE-STA MUNE was evaluated in the UT of control subjects (Chapter 3), followed by the intra-rater reliability of the technique in …

An Investigation Of The Neural Mechanism By Which The Prefrontal Cortex Facilitates Anti-Saccade Task Performance, Michael J. Koval

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cognitive control enables us to guide our behaviour in an appropriate manner, such as rapid eye movements (saccades) toward a location or object of interest. A well-established test of cognitive control is the anti-saccade task, which instructs subjects to look away from a suddenly-appearing stimulus. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) are part of a cortical saccade control network that influences the superior colliculus (SC), which sends saccade commands to the brainstem saccade generator. To compare and contrast the roles of the dlPFC and ACC in saccade control, the cryoloop method of reversible cryogenic deactivation was …

Overcoming Barriers To Trust In Agricultural Biotechnology Projects: A Case Study Of Bt Cowpea In Nigeria., Obidimma Ezezika, Abdallah S. Daar

Health Studies Publications

Background: Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been the world’s largest cowpea importer since 2004. The country is currently in the early phases of confined field trials for two genetically modified crops: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cowpea and nutritionally enhanced cassava (“BioCassava Plus”). Using the bio-safety guidelines process as a backdrop, we evaluate the role of trust in the operation of the Cowpea Productivity Improvement Project, which is an international agricultural biotechnology public-private partnership (PPP) aimed at providing pest-resistant cowpea varieties to Nigerian farmers. Methods: We reviewed the published literature and collected data through direct observations and semistructured, face-to-face interviews. Data …

Building Trust In Biotechnology Crops In Light Of The Arab Spring: A Case Study Of Bt Maize In Egypt., Obidimma Ezezika, Abdallah S. Daar

Health Studies Publications

Background: The case of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize in Egypt presents a unique perspective on the role of trust in agricultural biotechnology (agbiotech) public-private partnerships (PPPs). This is especially relevant given the recent pro-democracy uprisings that spread throughout the Arab world that have significantly impacted the current political climate and status of both the public and private sector, and especially public-private collaborative initiatives. This case study aims to shed light on various trust-building practices adopted, and trust-related challenges faced, in the Bt maize project in Egypt. Methods: We reviewed published materials on Bt maize in Egypt and collected data through …

Male Gender Promotes An Increased Inflammatory Response To Lipopolysaccharide In Umbilical Vein Blood., Shunaha Kim-Fine, Timothy Regnault, James S Lee, Sarah A Gimbel, Jill A Greenspoon, Jonathan Fairbairn, Kelly Summers, Barbra De Vrijer

Paediatrics Publications

OBJECTIVES: To establish gender-specific differences in maternal and fetal immune response in healthy human fetuses at term.

METHODS: Forty-five women with elective caesarean sections for uncomplicated singleton pregnancies were recruited for two studies. Using a multiplex biomarker immunoassay system, unstimulated maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured from one study population. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine response was measured in a second study.

RESULTS: There were no significant gender differences in either maternal or fetal unstimulated plasma cytokine concentrations, but concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and …

Activation Of Protein Kinase Cδ Leads To Increased Pancreatic Acinar Cell Dedifferentiation In The Absence Of Mist1, Charis L. Johnson, Jodi M. Peat, Sonia N. Volante, Rennian Wang, Carolyn A. Mclean, Christopher L. Pin

Paediatrics Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a 5 year survival rate post-diagnosis of < 5%. Individuals with chronic pancreatitis (CP) are 20-fold more likely to develop PDAC, making it a significant risk factor for PDAC. While the relationship for the increased susceptibility to PDAC is unknown, loss of the acinar cell phenotype is common to both pathologies. Pancreatic acinar cells can dedifferentiate or trans-differentiate into a number of cell types including duct cells, β cells, hepatocytes and adipocytes. Knowledge of the molecular pathways that regulate this plasticity should provide insight into PDAC and CP. MIST1 (encoded by Bhlha15 in mice) is a transcription factor required for complete acinar cell maturation. The goal of this study was to examine the plasticity of acinar cells that do not express MIST1 (Mist1 -/-). The fate of acinar cells from C57Bl6 or congenic Mist1 -/- mice expressing an acinar specific, tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase mated to Rosa26 reporter LacZ mice (Mist1CreERT/- R26r) was determined following culture in a three-dimensional collagen matrix. Mist1CreERT/- R26r acini showed increased acinar dedifferentiation, formation of ductal cysts and transient increases in PDX1 expression compared to wild-type acinar cells. Other progenitor cell markers, including Foxa1, Sox9, Sca1 and Hes1, were elevated only in Mist1-/- cultures. Analysis of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms by western blot and immunofluorescence identified increased PKCε accumulation and nuclear localization of PKCδ that correlated with increased duct formation. Treatment with rottlerin, a PKCδ-specific inhibitor, but not the PKCε-specific antagonist εV1-2, reduced acinar dedifferentiation, progenitor gene expression and ductal cyst formation. Immunocytochemistry on CP or PDAC tissue samples showed reduced MIST1 expression combined with increased nuclear PKCδ accumulation. These results suggest that the loss of MIST1 is a common event during PDAC and CP and events that affect MIST1 function and expression may increase susceptibility to these pathologies. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Clarifying The Importance Of Cyp2c19 And Pon1 In The Mechanism Of Clopidogrel Bioactivation And In Vivo Antiplatelet Response, Inna Y. Gong, Natalie Crown, Colin M. Suen, Ute I. Schwarz, George K. Dresser, Michael J. Knauer, Daisuke Sugiyama, Marianne K. Degorter, Sarah Woolsey, Rommel G. Tirona, Richard B. Kim

Paediatrics Publications

AimsIt is thought that clopidogrel bioactivation and antiplatelet response are related to cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19). However, a recent study challenged this notion by proposing CYP2C19 as wholly irrelevant, while identifying paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and its Q192R polymorphism as the major driver of clopidogrel bioactivation and efficacy. The aim of this study was to systematically elucidate the mechanism and relative contribution of PON1 in comparison to CYP2C19 to clopidogrel bioactivation and antiplatelet response.Methods and resultsFirst, the influence of CYP2C19 and PON1 polymorphisms and plasma paraoxonase activity on clopidogrel active metabolite (H4) levels and antiplatelet response was assessed in a cohort of …

The Long And Short Of It: The Role Of Telomeres In Fetal Origins Of Adult Disease, Stephanie E. Hallows, Timothy R.H. Regnault, Dean H. Betts

Paediatrics Publications

Placental insufficiency, maternal malnutrition, and other causes of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can significantly affect short-term growth and long-term health. Following IUGR, there is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes. The etiology of these diseases is beginning to be elucidated, and premature aging or cellular senescence through increased oxidative stress and DNA damage to telomeric ends may be initiators of these disease processes. This paper will explore the areas where telomere and telomerase biology can have significant effects on various tissues in the body in IUGR outcomes. © 2012 Stephanie E. Hallows et al.

How To Make Climate Change Research Relevant For Indigenous Communities In Torres Strait, Australia, Claire O'Neill, Donna Green, Willie Lui

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Several Torres Strait communities have significant infrastructure and sacred sites located only a few metres above sea level. As a consequence, these areas are vulnerable to erosion due to the projected increase in storm surge intensity caused by climate change. Common sense suggests that Islanders would welcome new scientific research about how climate change might affect them, in order to understand the significance of these impacts and the timeframes involved. However, one leader has taken a seemingly counterintuitive stance, and has refused to let new climate research occur. We explore why this position was taken, and the implications of this …

Linking Childhood Obesity To The Built Environment: A Multi-Level Analysis Of Home And School Neighbourhood Factors Associated With Body Mass Index, Jason A. Gilliland, Claudia Rangel, Martin Healy, Patricia Tucker, Janet E. Loebach, Paul M. Hess, Meizi He, Jennifer D. Irwin, Piotr Wilk

Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL)

Objectives: This study examines environmental factors associated with BMI (body mass index) levels among adolescents with the aim of identifying potential interventions for reducing childhood obesity.

Methods: Students (n=1,048) aged 10-14 years at 28 schools in London, ON, completed a survey providing information on age, sex, height, weight, home address, etc., which was used to construct age-sex adjusted BMI z-scores. The presence of recreation opportunities, fast-food outlets and convenience stores was assessed using four areal units around each participant’s home and school neighbourhood: “circular buffers” encompassing territory within a straight-line distance of 500 m and 1000 m; and “network buffers” …

Unfulfilled Farmer Expectations: The Case Of The Insect Resistant Maize For Africa (Irma) Project In Kenya, Obidimma Ezezika, Justin Mabeya

Health Studies Publications

Background: Maize is the most important staple food in Kenya; any reduction in production and yield therefore often becomes a national food security concern. To address the challenge posed by the maize stem borer, the Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) agricultural biotechnology public-private partnership (PPP) project was launched in 1999. There were, however, pre-existing concerns regarding the use of genetic engineering in crop production and skepticism about private sector involvement. The purpose of this case study was to understand the role of trust in the IRMA partnership by identifying the challenges to, and practices for, building trust in the …

Assessing The Psychometric Properties Of Both A Global And A Domain-Specific Perceived Quality Of Life Measure When Used With Youth Who Have Chronic Conditions, Janette Mcdougall, Virginia Wright, Megan Nichols, Linda Miller

Occupational Therapy Publications

The purpose of this paper was to assess the psychometric properties of the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) and the Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS) when used with youth who have chronic conditions. Baseline data from a longitudinal study examining predictors of changes in perceived quality of life (PQOL) for youth with chronic conditions were used. SLSS and BMSLSS data were collected on over 400 youth aged 11–17 using youth self-report and parent proxy-report versions. Internal consistency, convergent validity, and factor structure were examined for both versions. Extent of agreement and magnitude of differences between youth and parent …

Trpm2 In The Central Nervous System: Physiological Role And Critical Regulatory Pathways, Jillian C. Belrose

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

TRPM2 is a non-selective cation channel which is permeable to calcium. Although expression is highest in the brain, the physiological role for TRPM2 in neurons was unknown. Furthermore, our understanding of the pathways regulating TRPM2 channel function required further investigation. In this thesis, we identified that TRPM2 is required for NMDAR-dependent long-term depression (LTD). No change in NMDAR expression or function was observed following genetic deletion of TRPM2. Instead, the loss of NMDAR-LTD in TRPM2 knockout mice results from diminished GSK-3β activation. We next examined whether age in vitro could facilitate TRPM2 currents. We demonstrate that diminished glutathione with age …

Mapping The Contact Zone: A Case Study Of An Integrated Chinese And Canadian Literacy Curriculum In A Secondary Transnational Education Program In China, Zheng Zhang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This case study using ethnographic tools was conducted in an Ontario transnational education (TNE) program in China where Ontario secondary school curricula were integrated with the Chinese national curricula. Curricula are seen by TNE researchers as key to successful TNE programs (e.g., Hughes & Urasa, 1997). However, little is known about how literacy-related curricula are exported across borders and what happens with them in local contexts. The study investigated how literacy was conceived and practiced at the various levels of curriculum at the elite secondary school (Pseudonym: SCS), namely, intended, implemented, lived, hidden, and null curriculum.

The theoretical tools of …

Cholesterol Lowering, Nutrition And Stroke Prevention, J. David Spence

Department of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Not Your Mother's Pda: The Transition From Pda Pilot To Full Acquisitions Integration, Harriet Rykse, Bruce Fyfe, Nazi Torabi, Nicole Nolan, Erin Gallagher, Yves Vanier

Western Libraries Publications

Western Libraries and Ingram Content Group worked together to establish a Patron Driven Acquisition (PDA) program that has been incorporated into the regular acquisitions workflow at Western. Some features of the program include: all titles selected for addition to the PDA collection are filtered through the approval profiles established by the librarians, the library’s holdings are uploaded to Ingram weekly so that duplicate titles are avoided, invoices for purchased PDA titles are sent weekly and holdings for un-purchased and purchased PDA records are updated weekly. A Patron Driven Acquisitions Working Group established the program at Western by meeting with collections …