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Coactivator Associated Arginine Methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) as a Contributor to Motoneuron Biology
No full textCoactivator Associated Arginine Methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) is a ubiquitously expressed protein arginine methyltransferase with essential roles in normal cell function. As such, CARM1 is often a part of the investigative rationale, where its quantification through Western Blot (WB) is commonly assessed. Here, CARM1 is shown to form aggregates that prevent its migration in SDS-PAGE and introduces error in its quantification by WB. Heat denaturation, DTT and CARM1’s own concentration in samples are found to contribute to its aggregation. An adapted sample buffer with higher SDS concentrations and without DTT
prevents aggregation and permits accurate quantification. These findings reframe CARM1’s biochemical properties as an essential component of its study in an experimental and potentially biological setting.
In motoneurons (MNs), CARM1 was previously found to methylate HuD, a major neuronal RNA binding protein, thereby altering its affinity with the p21 mRNA. Here, the notion that other mRNAs are similarly impacted was explored, and Schip1/Iqschfp, Smarca2, Stc2, Ptger4 and Phox2B mRNAs were found to be dependent on CARM1 levels for their interaction with HuD. These interactions were not previously characterized, making them novel elements in both HuD’s and CARM1’s biology. Moreover, the protein levels of Ptger4 and Smarca2 were regulated by CARM1’s enzymatic activity expanding and attesting to its functional relevance in
MNs. Akin to other work, CARM1’s interactome identifies Alix as being by far its most prominent interactor. Also, ribosomal proteins are overrepresented in CARM1’s interactome suggesting that translation remains a major facet of its function in MNs. In line with this assessment, this work identifies RPS7 as a novel substrate of CARM1. This study solidifies CARM1 as a contributor to neuronal biology through its regulation
of HuD mRNA interactions, its regulation of Ptger4 and Smarca2 protein levels and contribution to the MN methylome
Somatic Approaches to Anatomical Education
No full textAnatomical sciences in health professions education (HPE) often reduce the human body to a static object of mental contemplation. This disembodied approach isolates anatomical concepts from lived, somatic experiences, neglecting the dynamic interplay between theoretical learning, experiential practice, and sensory embodiment. Such disconnection undermines health professional students' ability to develop the somatic sensitivity and kinaesthetic awareness essential for patient-centred care.
This dissertation explores how anatomy educators across diverse disciplines integrate experiential somatic learning methods, which emphasize sensory-based exploration and awareness of the body. These methods aim to bridge the gap between theoretical anatomical knowledge and somatic understanding. In doing so, they also promote perceived intercorporeal connections, or shared bodily experience, in classroom settings. Drawing on multiple case study research methodology and cross-disciplinary comparative analysis, the study traces evolving practices in anatomical education across expressive (visual arts, dance), clinical (medicine, kinesiology), and technical (bioengineering) fields.
Guided by the Function2Flow (F2F) framework, this research examines how sensory and affective dimensions of the body are mobilized in educational practice. Findings reveal that educators intentionally integrate movement, gesture, touch, and lived anatomical experiences to cultivate somatic awareness, deepen anatomical exploration through intercorporeal learning, and inspire joy and curiosity in both teaching and learning.
This work contributes to the growing discourse on cross-disciplinary somatic pedagogy in anatomical sciences, offering actionable insights for anatomy educators. It advocates for a more experiential, humanized, and integrative approach to anatomy education, particularly one that honours the interconnectedness of mind, body, and environment, and reflects the lived complexity of being human
Agricultural Insights: Care Ethics in American Proletarian Literature
No full textThis dissertation examines proletarian fiction's multifaceted engagements with care ethics and socio-material relationships in response to the Great Depression. Through analysis of literary texts which focus on agricultural contexts, labour strikes, and reproductive labour on the West Coast, this project challenges ideas of proletarian literature as primarily being narratives of a masculine, revolutionary battle for the control of production in urban factory and mill settings. The labour struggles in these texts take place in grand forests, Edenic orchards, and lush fields. I argue that the authors' proximities to and concerns for these non-urban ecological settings influence their perceptions of the complex set of social, economic, political, and environmental issues meaningfully entangled in the working-class labour disputes. Moreover, this project complicates conceptions of collective marching as the labour movement's primary form in practice and symbol by showing how these texts do not focus only on masculine struggles against corporate exploitation but also suggest solutions that anticipate a feminist ethics of care. The exploration of various forms of care, as ethical concern and material practice, extends and complicates proletarian literature's concern with collectivity and collective action. I further argue that these authors experiment with care in relation to the more-than-human world, sometimes proposing the natural world as guide for human modes of care and suggesting the need to extend better care to the world's more-than-human inhabitants.
Over four chapters, I read texts by John Steinbeck, Clara Weatherwax, Langston Hughes, and Carlos Bulosan that offer a range of perspectives on California's and Washington's agricultural and lumber strikes in the 1930s. I argue that Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle (1936) and Weatherwax's Marching! Marching! (1935) present opposing conceptions of working-class collectivity. While Steinbeck portrays marching as the activity of mobs who risk uncontrolled violence and a dangerous erasure of individuality, Weatherwax affirms marching as a pathway to heightened, embodied consciousness that understands the world as a harmonious, reciprocally beneficial collective. At the same time, both novels anticipate feminist care ethics in attending to care work as essential to economic work and labour activism. In contrast, Hughes and Bulosan do not emphasize the collective march as the most important expression of collectivity. Chapter Three shows how Hughes's 1934 play Harvest, co-authored with Ella Winter, demonstrates collectivity as forged by communication across perceived differences, while Hughes's poetry anticipates Weatherwax's concern with embodied selfhood. In Chapter Four, I show how Bulosan's America Is in the Heart (1946) emphasizes that the building of collectives must be done through acts of care and that his poetry explores the relationships between care, humanity, and the more-than-human world. By reading these proletarian texts through feminist care ethics and new materialism, my dissertation shows how all four authors not only challenge competitive individualism and capitalist exploitation of nature but also consider positive solutions based in the prioritization of ethical care practices
CDK1 and CK2 Phosphorylation of the Smc4-IDR Modulate Condensin Function in Saccharomyces cerevisae
No full textEffective chromosome condensation and segregation require controlled condensin activity, mediated in part by post-translational modification. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Smc4 N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) phosphorylation by CDK1 and CK2 regulate condensin-chromatin interactions. This study used alanine-replacement mutants to examine Smc4-IDR phosphorylation function. CK2 phospho-mutants smc4-9CK2 and smc4-13CK2 exhibited wild type-like segregation of sister chromatids but reduced rDNA copy number, revealing altered nucleolar maintenance. CDK1 phospho-mutant smc4-7CDK1 exhibited severe condensation defects. Surprisingly, double mutants smc4-16CDK1/CK2 and smc4-20CDK1/CK2 rescued smc4-7CDK1 viability and segregation with compromised rDNA morphology and copy number. Reducing CK2 activity in smc4-7CDK1 ckb1∆ ckb2∆ confirmed CK2's role in this rescue. Quantitative assays detected compact, loop-deficient chromatin in rescued strains, suggesting a model whereby Smc4-IDR phosphorylation influences condensin activity as well as its preference to engage in loop-extrusion or cross-linking of DNA. These findings suggest that CDK1 and CK2 together regulate condensin to coordinate mitotic fidelity and temporal chromatin organization
Deep Reinforcement Learning-Enabled Resource Allocation for UAV-Assisted Communications
No full textUnmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly employed in wireless networks to provide dynamic, on-demand connectivity, particularly in emergency and infrastructure-limited scenarios. This thesis presents a comprehensive AI-enabled framework that integrates user clustering, mobility modeling, and multi-agent reinforcement learning for optimizing UAV-assisted communications. The proposed system leverages a realistic user mobility model (STEP), silhouette-based K-Means clustering for UAV-UE association, and a hybrid reinforcement learning architecture combining Deep Q-Networks (DQN) and Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (MADDPG) to jointly optimize UAV placement, bandwidth allocation, and power control.
The research progresses through three stages: (1) joint resource allocation in a single-UAV static-user scenario; (2) power optimization in a multi-UAV static-user environment using user clustering and MADDPG; and (3) adaptive UAV deployment and resource scheduling in a dynamic-user setting. Simulation results demonstrate substantial improvements in data rate, UAV utility, and user coverage, with the hybrid DRL approach outperforming traditional baselines by up to 41%. The findings validate the potential of AI-driven, mobility-aware UAV coordination for scalable and intelligent next-generation wireless communication networks
2025 Position statement on active outdoor play
No full textAbstract Background In 2015, the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play was released in Canada, emphasizing the critical role of active outdoor play—with its risks—in fostering children’s healthy development. Building on this foundation, a 10-year update of the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play (AOP10) was initiated to broaden its scope and impact, by encompassing all age groups and extending its reach conceptually and globally. Here we explain and present the new 2025 Position Statement. Methods Development of the 2025 Position Statement was informed by 18 rigorous literature reviews, a series of leadership group meetings, three rounds of draft AOP10 surveys, followed by extensive communication, translation, production, and dissemination activities. Results The 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play states: “Active outdoor play promotes holistic health and well-being for people of all ages, communities, and environments, and for our entire planet. It is critical given the multiple global challenges we face today (e.g., social and health inequities, climate change and digital addiction). Together, as a collective of the outdoor play sector, we recommend increasing opportunities for active outdoor play in all settings where people live, learn, work, and play. To achieve this, it is important to collaborate across sectors, settings, and societies to preserve, promote, and value equitable access to active play outdoors and in nature.” We also provide key evidence pertaining to the nine core themes that informed the development of the 2025 Position Statement and offer recommendations across sectors, calling for multi-sectoral, multi-level collaborations. Across all three survey rounds, responses indicated strong support for the 2025 Position Statement and its supporting content (Round 3: 93–98%). Comprehensive, proactive knowledge translation and dissemination plans were executed to maximize the reach and impact of the 2025 Position Statement. Conclusions The 2025 Position Statement calls for systemic changes that prioritize equitable access to active outdoor play opportunities and aims to create healthier communities. Achieved through international collaboration and consensus, the 2025 Position Statement aspires to connect, advise, inspire, and activate active outdoor play worldwide
Houses of Roman and Late Antique Egypt: Change or Continuity?
No full textThis thesis investigates the evolution of domestic architecture in the Roman and Late Antique Egypt, questioning whether the period was characterized more by change or continuity in housing practices. Drawing upon archaeological evidence, papyrological sources, and recent methodological advancements, the study traces the influences of the Roman, Greek, and indigenous Egyptian traditions on house types, spatial organization, and domestic practices from the first through seventh centuries AD. The research is organized in three chapters. Chapter one is an introduction to the typologies of dwellings in the Roman world, the origins of Roman domus, and its Late Antique evolutions. Chapter two explore the influences of the new Roman culture as perceived in diverse house types that existed in Egypt from the first to the third centuries AD, including both elite and non-elite housing. It also explores some of the important factors that influenced the formation of these house types. Finally, the third chapter creates a diachronic picture of change and continuity in houses in Egypt over seven centuries of Roman rule. The findings demonstrate that there is continuity, with the previous period, in regional architectural styles and in the diversity of house types that existed in the province. However, noticeable changes also occurred, most of which hover around matters of privacy and architectural diversity. Most of these changes played out differently in classical houses and Egyptian houses. The findings demonstrate that formation of houses in Egypt is generally influences by a complex interplay of environmental adaptation, cultural hybridity, and economy. While native architectural traditions persisted, significant innovations emerged in response to social, economic and religious developments in the broader Mediterranean context. Ultimately, the thesis argues that Egyptian domestic architecture in this era is best understood as a dynamic synthesis of continuity and adaptation, shaped by long-standing traditions and multiple vectors of external and internal change
A checklist for translating and adapting questionnaires (CTAQ) in healthcare research: insights from a Delphi method approach
No full textAbstract Purpose Accurate translation and adaptation of survey questionnaires are essential for ensuring validity and reliability in cross-cultural healthcare research. Despite the global expansion of healthcare studies, standardized guidelines for the translation process are limited. Methods To address this gap, we developed the Checklist for Translating and Adapting Questionnaires (CTAQ). A three-round Delphi survey was conducted to refine and validate the CTAQ. An international panel of experts in survey methodology, cross-cultural research, and healthcare participated in the study, providing iterative feedback to achieve consensus on checklist items. The development of the CTAQ involved: (i) drafting an initial checklist based on a comprehensive literature review and expert insights; (ii) rating the importance and relevance of each item using an 80% consensus threshold; and (iii) revising items through successive Delphi rounds until consensus was reached. Results The finalized CTAQ comprises eight stages: defining the target audience and objectives; forming a translation team; forward and backward translation; comparing versions; reconciliation; pretesting and evaluation; final review and proofreading; and post-survey evaluation. This structured approach, informed by expert consensus, integrates best practices and addresses cultural nuances, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of translated survey instruments. Conclusions The CTAQ offers a systematic, consensus-based framework that enhances the linguistic and cultural accuracy of translated survey instruments in healthcare research. Practice implications Adopting the CTAQ standardizes translation workflows and promotes the production of valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate questionnaires. This contributes to greater rigor and quality in international and cross-cultural healthcare studies
A Comprehensive Study of Buoyant Rosette Jets Using Laboratory Experiments, CFD, and Machine Learning
No full textRosette diffusers are increasingly used in modern outfall designs due to their unique structure and efficient initial dilution performance. However, the complex mixing behavior of the resulting buoyant jets poses a challenge for accurate modeling, requiring more advanced mixing methods. This study integrates laboratory laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) experiments, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and machine learning (ML) modeling to conduct a comprehensive analysis of buoyant rosette multiport jets. The main goal is to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and interpretability of trajectory and normalized concentration field predictions in wastewater discharge systems.
Experiments were conducted using LIF techniques to obtain high-resolution scalar concentration fields, and visual jet trajectory data under different operating conditions were obtained. These experimental results can be used as a benchmark dataset for validating CFD simulations and training ML models. CFD simulations were performed using a modified version of the OpenFOAM benchmark solver pimpleFoam, which incorporates temperature-driven buoyancy effects while ignoring salinity transport to reduce computational costs. The prediction performance of three RANS turbulence models - standard k-ε, RNG k-ε, and SST k-ω - was evaluated for two different Fr number cases (high Fr number 5.81 and low Fr number 2.23). The RNG k-ε model performs well in predicting centerline trajectories and concentration fields under momentum-dominated conditions, thanks to its enhanced formulation, including an improved turbulent transport model and an additional ε equation term. Importantly, the model achieves higher accuracy than the standard k-ε model without significantly increasing computational time.
To address the limitations of CFD and experimental coverage near the nozzle region, three machine learning models—extreme learning machine (ELM), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS)—are trained on 870 data points from 34 different Fr number cases obtained experimentally. Input features included Fr number, x/D, and y/D, while the target variable was normalized concentration. ANFIS outperforms the other models on the test dataset with an R² of 0.9088 and an RMSE of 0.0551. ELM exhibits high accuracy and fast training speed, while MARS provides an interpretable piecewise linear representation but has limited generalization capabilities. The results show that combining LIF experiments with ML algorithms can effectively reduce the reliance on resource-intensive CFD while maintaining prediction accuracy.
This comprehensive hybrid experiment-CFD and experiment-ML integrated framework provides a reliable solution for rosette jet dynamics modeling, diffuser design optimization, and environmental impact assessment under different hydraulic conditions. Future work suggestions include improving the experimental density control, integrating optimization algorithms with ML models, and extending the application to real-time scenarios
Synthetic Topological Quantum Matter in Nanostructured 2D Materials for Quantum Information Processing
No full textIn this thesis, we contribute to understanding the electronic properties of two-dimensional materials, with a strong emphasis on graphene-based nanostructures, such as twisted multilayer graphene and triangular graphene quantum dots. The thesis is organized into six chapters, including an introduction and a conclusion.
In Chapter 2, we present the theoretical methods used to carry out the calculations in this thesis. We begin by defining the geometry of twisted graphene multilayers, which serves as the basis for the methods described later. We then introduce the general many-body problem and focus on various approximations commonly used to solve it. The tight-binding model is derived, and its application to moiré materials is demonstrated, followed by a comparison with the continuum approach. We then discuss mean-field methods, specifically Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock. In the final section, we introduce methods for studying electron correlations and evaluate their applicability to specific systems. These include the Configuration Interaction (CI) method, hybrid approaches combining DFT and CI, and tensor network techniques.
Chapters 3-5 include the results of our work. We first focus on twisted graphene multilayers - magic angle twisted bilayer graphene and mirror-symmetric twisted trilayer graphene. In Chapter 3, we start with a Hofstadter's butterfly spectrum for the magic angle twisted bilayer graphene obtained using an ab initio based multi-million atom tight-binding model. A nanoribbon geometry is studied, and the quantum size effects for the sample widths up to 1 μ m are analyzed. For sufficiently wide ribbons, where the role of the finite geometry is minimized, we obtain and plot the Hofstadter spectrum and identify the in-gap Chern numbers by counting the total number of chiral edge states crossing these gaps. Subsequently, we examine the Wannier diagrams to identify the insulating states at charge neutrality. We establish the presence of three types of electronic states: moiré, mixed, and conventional.
We then move on to study trilayer structures in Chapter 4. Here, the electronic properties are described by a Hubbard model with long-range tunnelling matrix elements. The electronic properties are obtained by solving the mean-field Hubbard model. We obtain the band structure with characteristic flat bands and a Dirac cone. At charge neutrality, turning on electron-electron interactions results in a metallic to antiferromagnetic phase transition, for Hubbard interaction strength considerably smaller than in other graphene multilayers. We analyze the stability of the antiferromagnetic state against the symmetry-breaking induced by hexagonal boron nitride encapsulation and mirror symmetry-breaking caused by the application of electric fields that mix the Dirac cone with the flat bands. Additionally, we explore the topological properties of the system, revealing a hidden quantum geometry.
In Chapter 5, we focus on triangular graphene quantum dots. We present a method for probing the wave functions of a degenerate shell in such dots by introducing a localized substitutional impurity. Specifically, we demonstrate this approach using a triangular graphene quantum dot containing a nitrogen impurity. Starting from the analytical solution for the degenerate states of a pristine all-carbon triangular graphene quantum dot, we predict the structure of the zero-energy shell in the presence of an impurity. We show that the impurity enables selective probing of the wave functions at the carbon site where it is located. These predictions are validated through comparison with tight-binding and ab initio calculations and experimental results. We then study a triangular graphene quantum dot with armchair edges with a nitrogen impurity. We use a technique combining the Density Functional Theory and Configuration Interactions to analyze the energy spectrum and determine the effect the nitrogen impurity has on it. Additionally, we show that including excitations lowers the ground state energy for all considered geometries. Finally, we focus on bilayer triangular graphene dots with zig-zag edges and analyze the behaviour of the degenerate zero-energy shell as a function of size and the twist angle.
Chapter 6 includes conclusions and prospects for future work