Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Cognition In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Justin B. Mels

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A major challenge in behavioural testing of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mouse models is a low degree of standardization and translatability of tasks to humans. Bussey-Saksida touchscreen systems employ numerous tasks allowing for assessment of advanced cognitive function in mice using paradigms similar to those used in humans. This system can be used to assess cognitive deficits in dementia.

Our study focused on testing visual discrimination, cognitive flexibility and attention of the APP/PS1 familial AD mouse model longitudinally to assess behavioural changes related to cognitive decline. Surprisingly, APP/PS1 mice did not demonstrate impairments in the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task, which …

Space-Time Analysis Of Breast Cancer In Middlesex County Between 2003 And 2013, Jenny T. Tjhin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women in Canada and the incidence rate continues to increase despite improved screening programs and advanced cancer treatments. Some studies have linked breast cancer with risk factors such as genetics, the age of first menstruation, parity, and environmental exposures. This study investigated the spatial distribution of breast cancer cases between 2003 and 2013 in Middlesex County using geospatial techniques. Point data were analyzed with SaTScan and aggregated data were observed at two geographical units, census sub-divisions and dissemination areas using Moran’s Index to detect clusters. Both analyses showed consistency in the cluster locations …

Selected Topics In Quantization And Renormalization Of Gauge Fields, Chenguang Zhao

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

My thesis covers several topics in the quantization and renormalization of gauge fields, ranging from the application of Dirac constraint procedure on the light front, to the manipulation of Faddeev-Popov method to enable use of the transverse-traceless gauge in first order gravity. Last, I study renormalization group ambiguities and carry out a new characterization method for models with one, two and five couplings.

In chapter 2 we apply the Dirac constraint procedure to the quantization of gauge theories on the light front. The light cone gauge is used in conjunction with the first class constraints that arise and the resulting …

Adjunct Faculty: The Silent Majority, Erin M. Hillstead Walton

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The increase in use of part-time faculty, commonly referred to as “adjunct,” has shifted the academic workforce. Utilization of this populace has increased steadily over the past several years and is anticipated to continue this growth as colleges and universities seek cost-cutting measures in balancing their annual budgets. With this increase, however, comes unexpected consequences for the educators who fill these roles; often they are underpaid, overworked, and employed tenuously from term-to-term with no security in employment. This dissertation examines the adjunct faculty role; including what adjunct faculty need to be successful, versus what they have been provided to succeed …

The Influence Of Social And Economic Factors On Breastfeeding And Rural Mothers, Rachel Ellen Borton

Theses and Dissertations

Little is known or understood about rural mothers and their experience with breastfeeding. The literature demonstrates a sound understanding of the factors that influence mothers and breastfeeding; however, it is unclear what factors influence breastfeeding among rural mothers. A search of the literature offered thousands of articles related to urban mothers and their breastfeeding experience, but few describe the rural mother’s breastfeeding experience. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the basic process that characterizes breastfeeding among mothers in the rural setting and to develop a theory based on the investigation of factors that influence breastfeeding among rural …

Does A Positive Illusory Bias Mediate The Moderating Effect Of Achievement Orientation On Response To Exclusion In Boys With Adhd?, Alexandria G. Fladhammer

Theses and Dissertations

Disturbed peer relationships have commonly been found to have long-lasting adverse impacts on children, including school dropout, substance abuse, criminal offenses, psychological maladjustment, and academic problems (Mrug et al., 2012). One subgroup of children well-known to struggle with their peer relationships are children with Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Hoza, 2007). These children often engage in high rate, intrusive behaviors and are excluded from peer interactions (Hoza et al., 2005). The frequent rejection that these children endure highlights the need for research focused on ostracism, the exclusion or ignoring of others by individuals or groups (Williams, 2007). Thus, the purpose of the current …

Trophic Relationships, Distribution And Interactions Among Invasive And Native Laurentian Great Lakes Biota Assessed Using Metabarcoding Of Stomach Content Dna (Scdna) And Environmental Dna (Edna), Justin Glenn Mychek-Londer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As aquatic invasive species (AIS) proliferate, they pose serious threats to native taxa, foodwebs and ecosystems. Massively-parallel, high-throughput, next-generation sequencing (NGS) and metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) and predator stomach content DNA (scDNA) are new approaches to detect AIS and can facilitate detailed analyses of AIS impacts. Using such technology, degraded and digested samples, and cryptic taxa can be identified with high sensitivity. The Laurentian Great Lakes (Great Lakes) are highly invaded and to determine occurrence patterns of AIS and native species inhabiting them I used a shortened portion of Cytochrome Oxidase One (CO1) and NGS metabarcoding. I developed, optimized …

The Subban Brand: A Case Study Of A Hockey Star's Instagram, Kimberley Tonietto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human brands can be described as a set of associations corresponding with a particular person. The creation and maintenance of a strong human brand can shape perceptions of an athlete, and therefore create strong and lasting connections between athletes and consumers. The purpose of this research was to conduct a case study to identify the various elements of National Hockey League (NHL) player P.K. Subban's human brand, as well as determine if and how his changing circumstances and environment has influenced how he presents his brand. A case study of his Instagram content from August 2013 to January 2018 was …

Studies On Nitric Oxide Generation And Its Enzymatic Degradation, Kathleen Fontana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitric oxide (NO) is a vital gasotransmitter, involved in a plethora of signaling pathways. With bioavailable NO stored as S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), its enzymatic degradation by S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) has a large impact on cellular SNO levels. This thesis consists of two components: chapter one explores the production of NO generating particles, that use chitosan as a matrix for a copper catalyst. Chapter two reports the discovery into a new regulatory domain on the GSNOR enzyme. In chapter one, we have developed a novel technology capable of generating NO, in the form of NO-releasing copper-chitosan particles (Cu-chito). These particles were successfully …

Emotion Socialization, Anxiety, And Coping In University Students, Clare Hinch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to investigate emotion socialization in childhood as a predictor of anxiety and coping in adulthood. University undergraduate students (N = 204) completed online self-report questionnaires on the history of their childhood emotion socialization, their trait and public speaking anxiety, and coping behaviours. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 44 years (29 men and 164 women). Self-report by participants of emotion socialization by their mothers in childhood significantly predicted current trait anxiety, adaptive coping, and maladaptive coping. Self-report by participants of emotion socialization by their fathers in childhood significantly predicted current trait anxiety, …

Thermal Management Of Vehicle Interior Temperature For Improvement Of Fuel Economy, Rehan Mohsin Rashid

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The passenger compartment of a vehicle parked directly under the sun in the summer can reach uncomfortably high temperatures. Solar radiation may affect the durability of surfaces such as a dashboards and leather seats. Extended exposure to high temperature reduces the lifespan of some electronics in the instrument panel. VOCs, Volatile organic compounds, also increase due to high temperatures in the vehicle cabin leading to poor air quality. When the driver and passengers enter the vehicle and turn on the AC system, there is a duration of time wherein there is thermal discomfort. The duration depends on how fast the …

Ozone-Surface Exchange And Transport And Transformation Near Ventilation Air Supply, Pradeep Ramasubramanian

Dissertations and Theses

Ozone in indoor environments can pose a health risk to human occupants; around half of exposure to this pollutant occurs inside buildings. One approach to reducing indoor O₃ levels is to mitigate O₃ as it enters a building via outdoor air ventilation supply. Often, mechanical systems that introduce outdoor air into buildings are placed on building rooftops. At the urban scale, greenery has been shown to reduce levels of some harmful pollutants, including ozone and cities like Portland, OR, are mandating green roofs be built on large commercial buildings to increase urban green surfaces. We investigate if rooftop …

Emotional Intelligence And Personality Traits: Assessing Response Distortion In A Motivated Faking Task, Gabriela Sheinin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although research on emotional intelligence (EI) and Cluster B personality traits has considerable potential for elucidating aspects of the emotional and interpersonal difficulties experienced by individuals with elevations on these traits, the findings to date have been mixed. The purpose of this study was to use an experimental manipulation to examine the pattern of associations between both trait and ability EI and Cluster B disorders, to test whether individuals could fake their EI via self-report versus maximum performance tests to appear more socially desirable, as well as to explore the pattern of associations between EI and Cluster B disorders, after …

Young Children’S Use Of Mobile Technology: Impacts On Self-Regulation And Aggression, Amy Wei-Yan Tran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study tested the displacement hypothesis, which proposed that mobile technology use disrupts important daily activities and social interactions that are important for the development of young children’s self-regulation skills (Gentile et al., 2012). As a result of this displacement, children are more likely to become dysregulated and aggressive. Participants were 174 caregivers (n = 157 mothers) who reported on their children aged 2 to 5 years old (n = 100 male). All participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing their own technology use, interference in the parent-child relationship due to mobile technology, and the use of mobile technology as a …

The Association Between Sentence Repetition And Other Cognitive Abilities In School-Aged Children, Alicia Nicole Bartlett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the association between sentence repetition and other cognitive abilities in 6- to 14-year-old children (N = 118; 60% female) recruited from schools in Windsor, Ontario. The effect of age and sex on children's SR was also examined. Children completed Benton's (1965) sentence repetition task, which required them to repeat a series of 26 verbally presented sentences of increasing length. Language, auditory verbal memory, processing speed, fluid reasoning, and visual perception were measured with subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (5th edition) and auditory nonverbal memory was assessed with the Seashore Rhythm Test. A multiple …

Metrics For Assessment And Management Of Lean Manufacturing Implementation, Mina Ghali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research is to introduce a new concept of auditing and implementing Lean Manufacturing by translating qualitative criteria to quantitative metrics. Therefore, quantitative formulas were developed to produce a numeric score, representing the progress of three lean manufacturing tools implementation. The tools are 5S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping. The scores could then be compared to an ideal state or a standard set by industrial studies (i.e. baseline). These tools were chosen based on the researcher’s industrial experience and the gap seen in assessing the implementation of these three tools. Other metric formulas with the same approach could be derived …

Do Profound Experiences Increase Profundity? An Ethnography Of Canadian Teacher Candidates Experiences In Tanzania, East Africa, Jihan Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this ethnography is to explore the lived experiences of alumni members of Teachers for Tanzania dating from 2008 – 2015. Another purpose is to examine if there were effects on their teaching practice, and if so, what they were. Data were collected from 7 alumni members of the finite group. Data were analyzed using methods including triangulation. Evidence supporting the benefits of a Tanzanian teaching practicum was found through the information collected. The benefits of such learning experiences are discussed.

New Derivatives Of 1,2,4-Benzothiadiazines And Their Coordination Chemistry, Konstantina Pringouri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to coordination chemistry and polydentate N-donor ligands along with a synopsis of heterocycles with N and S/N donor atoms. An overview of the chemistry and applications of 1,2,4-benzothiadiazines as well as their previously reported coordination chemistry follows. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of the ligand 3-(2ʹ-pyridyl)benzothiadiazine (pybtdaH). Computational studies on the ligand determining the most stable conformation and tautomer, as well as the energy barrier of the pyridyl ring rotation. The coordination chemistry of pybtdaH with more basic counterions (hfac– and OAc–) or Lewis acidic metal (FeIII) results to oxidation of pybtdaH forming either pybtdaHox …

Efficiency Improvement In Reverse Logistics And Examining The Relationships Between Refund, Return Policy, Quality Policy And Pricing Strategy In E-Commerce Business., Chiranjib Biswas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reverse Logistics (RL), the process of returning goods from a customer to a retail or manufacturing source, is an increasingly important yet undermanaged business function. The advent of internet and mobile technology and its rapid growth worldwide facilitates online shopping. Research shows that 54% of customers are already buying goods online. Online retail sales are expected to hit $ 4.5 trillion USD by 2020. This shift in buying pattern comes with a more worrying change in customer behaviour in the form of increasing returns, a number of that is surging at an alarming rate. In fact, statistics show that 30% …

Environmental Dna (Edna) And Environmental Rna (Erna) Markers For Detection Of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella), Joshua Benjamin Finn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) pose a threat to ecosystems within the Great Lakes. While the number of grass carp in the Great Lakes is currently low, management of this non-indigenous species will get increasingly difficult as the species establishes and becomes more abundant. Surveillance of grass carp in the Great Lakes therefore requires early, sensitive detection of the species when it is present at low abundance. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of detecting low abundances of grass carp with environmental DNA (eDNA) and environmental RNA (eRNA), while limiting false positives and false negatives. In-lab experiments …

The Virtual Parts Functionalities In Catia V5, Finite Element Aspects, Hamoon Ramezani Karegar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the concept of “Virtual Part” as implemented in Catia v5 is studied in detail with the intention of developing a knowledge base for their functionalities and limitations. The origin of Virtual Part can be traced back to the RBE elements (rigid Bar Elements) implemented in NASTRAN in the early 1960s. The focus of the thesis however is to explore the response/applicability of Catia in linear dynamic problems. Since, linear dynamics is based on the concept of modal superposition, a significant part of the research is to investigate the behavior of Virtual Parts and their role in modal …

Reticular Synthesis Of Metal-Organic Rotaxane Frameworks, Alexander Joseph Stirk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The work herein, describes the placement of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) into ordered, crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to create metal-organic rotaxane frameworks (MORFs). This placement is done through the use of the concepts of reticular synthesis, to create predictable materials based on prior known building blocks and topological nets in order to achieve robust dynamics. The concepts of MIMs, nets, reticular synthesis, robust dynamics are all discussed in detail in Chapter 1. Also outlined in Chapter 1 are six design criteria that act as a blueprint for the creation of robust dynamics using the tenants of reticular synthesis. Chapter 2 …

Characterizing The Cortical Contributions To Working Memory-Guided Obstacle Locomotion, Carmen Wong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

While walking in complex environments, the ability to acquire information about objects in our surroundings is essential for successful obstacle negotiation. Furthermore, the ease with which most animals can traverse cluttered terrain while grazing, exploring, or hunting is facilitated by the capacity to store obstacle information in working memory (WM). However, the underlying neural substrates supporting such complex behaviours are poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to examine the neural underpinnings of WM-guided obstacle negotiation in the walking cat.

Obstacle locomotion was studied in two main paradigms, characterized by whether obstacle presence was detected via vision or …

The Brain-Heart Connection: Establishment Of A Novel Rodent Model Of Focal Insular Ischemic Stroke To Examine The Pathophysiology Of Stroke-Induced Heart Injury, Victoria Thorburn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The neurological influence of ischemic stroke in the generation of stroke-induced heart injury (SIHI) has been acknowledged for several years. However, pathophysiological mechanisms remain uncertain. Clinically, it is hypothesized that stroke involving the insular cortex (IC) initiates SIHI, since the IC controls autonomic regulation of cardiovascular function. Yet, given the high prevalence of shared risk factors between ischemic stroke and cardiovascular disorders, mechanistic conclusions from clinical studies are largely speculative. We therefore sought to establish a novel rodent model of focal insular ischemic stroke, used to evaluate chronic outcomes of SIHI. Focal ischemic stroke was induced into the right or …

Regulation Of Beta-Catenin By The Ctlh Complex, Christopher Chiasson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

RanBPM is a highly conserved protein that has been shown to impact numerous cellular processes including migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. RanBPM exists in a multi-protein complex called the CTLH complex, which functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. A putative member of the CTLH complex, WDR26, has been implicated in the Wnt pathway through regulating β-catenin protein levels. This study investigated whether β-catenin regulation is performed by the CTLH complex. WDR26 was confirmed as part of the CTLH complex, and this complex is interacting with Axin1. CTLH members RanBPM and RMND5A both regulate beta-catenin levels in a proteasome dependent manner. Additionally, …

Statistical Tools For Assessment Of Spatial Properties Of Mutations Observed Under The Microarray Platform, Bin Luo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Mutations are alterations of the DNA nucleotide sequence of the genome. Analyses of spatial properties of mutations are critical for understanding certain mutational mechanisms relevant to genetic disease, diversity, and evolution. The studies in this thesis focus on two types of mutations: point mutations, i.e., single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype differences, and mutations in segments, i.e., copy number variations (CNVs). The microarray platform, such as the Mouse Diversity Genotyping Array (MDGA), detects these mutations genome-wide with lower cost compared to whole genome sequencing, and thus is considered for suitability as a screening tool for large populations. Yet it provides observation …

The Lived Experiences Of Nurses Caring For Pediatric Behavioral Health Patients In The Emergency Department, Jamie Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations

Obtaining behavioral health evaluation and care for the pediatric population is particularly difficult. In recent years, emergency departments (EDs) have become a customary location for patients to seek behavioral health treatment. This spike has created unforeseen problems and caring for this vulnerable population presents ED nurses with many challenges. The purpose of the study was to understand the lived experience of nurses caring for pediatric behavioral health patients in the ED. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological research design was utilized. Participants (N = 15) engaged in semi-structured interviews and Colaizzi’s (1978) method was used to identify themes. The data analysis …

A Complete Insight On Obturator Nerve Anatomy And Its Clinical Implications, Ashwin Rai

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Habitat Preferences Of Blue Marlin (Makaira Nigricans) And Black Marlin (Istiompax Indica) In The Eastern Pacific Ocean, Nima Farchadi, Michael G. Hinton, Andrew R. Thompson, Zhi-Yong Yin

Theses

Overexploitation and climate change can reduce the abundance and shift the spatial distribution of marine species. Determining the habitat suitability of a mobile pelagic species, such as Makaira nigricans (BUM) and Istiompax indica (BLM), can help describe their spatiotemporal distribution patterns over a broad spatial scale, which is a crucial need for fisheries management. Using 14 years (1997-2010) of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) catch data from purse-seine vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO), we modeled the dynamic habitat suitability of BUM and BLM in response to environmental variables within the EPO using a species distribution model (MaxEnt) with …

Group Separation And Classification Of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury In A University Student Population, Jann Macisaac

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has gained an increasing amount of attention in the research literature since being included as topic for future research in the DSM-5 (APA, 2013). Currently, two models of NSSI exist, and both place a primacy on the role of the behaviour in regulating negative affect (Chapman et al., 2006; Nock, 2009). Past research has shown that there is considerable heterogeneity in the contextual, functional, and psychiatric profiles of people engaging in this behaviour (Klonsky & Olino, 2008). This underlying heterogeneity likely indicates that distinct sub-populations of people engaging in NSSI exist based on these factors. In the …