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A neuroevolutionary neural network-based collaborative filtering recommendation system
No full textThe success of a neural network-based recommendation system depends on finding an architecture to fit the task. The Fixed Topology NeuroEvolution approach is considered outdated when compared with an automated method for optimizing neural network structures. A NeuroEvolutionary algorithm has been developed in order to enhance the structure of a neural network to yield a more accurate recommendation system based on some of the existing benchmarks for measuring recommendation capability. The genetic algorithm ensures us to gain a more efficient topology produced by different generations through each step of the evolution process. Results show that this method performs better than many other algorithms and is close to the Singular Value Decomposition based algorithm developed by Funk as a benchmark standard
Regulation of epinephrine biosynthesis by intermittent and continuous hypoxia
Get PDFPhenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) synthesizes the catecholamine (CA),
epinephrine (Epi), and is increased in hypertensive patients. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA) experience oxidative stress, which is associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) and CAs,
and consequently, hypertension (HTN). Studies have demonstrated PNMT regulation by
continuous hypoxia (CH) and intermittent hypoxia (IH). In the present study, the role of Epi
synthesis by both forms of hypoxia are compared in O2-sensitive PC12 cells. RT-PCR and Western
analysis demonstrated a robust induction in CA biosynthesis enzymes by IH, compared to CH,
especially following the sustained duration of exposure. Further, mechanisms involved in this IH-
mediated induction include a potent increase in transcription factors that regulate the PNMT gene.
This led to an enhanced activation of the PNMT promoter by IH, compared to that resulting from
CH exposure, as shown by the luciferase reporter assay. Additionally, IH, but not CH, contributed
to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), which appeared to play a prominent role in the
induction of CA biosynthesis enzymes. Prior treatment with a synthetic antioxidant and selected
polyphenols were able to abolish these IH-mediated inductions. In summary, these findings
demonstrate the role of IH-induced oxidative stress in PNMT gene regulation. This study furthers
our understanding of how IH, associated with OSA, contributes to the development of secondary HTN
Re-establishing reciprocal relationships with the land: designing regenerative developments on Six Nations Reserve through the application of Haudenosaunce Ecological Knowledge (HEK)
No full textThis Thesis pursuit explores how Traditional Ecological
Knowledge (TEK) can inform sustainable land management and
architectural development strategies that perform reciprocally with
the land, forming harmonious relations with the natural environment.
Situated within the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve located
in southern Ontario, the Haudenosaunee will be the cultural focus
of the study. For the Haudenosaunee, maintaining a respectful
relationship with Mother Earth isn’t just a lifestyle, it is a central
component to their culture and identity, while serving as a necessity
to achieving healthy minds, bodies and spirits. Although Six Nation’s
Reserves built environment has been in
fl uenced by settler culture
and development. As a result, the environments aren’t conducive to
Haudenosaunee value systems and promotes a hyper-individualistic
ownership of property that produces segregated communities
while allocating hardly any land for communal or recreational use
or nature preserves. Titled ‘Re-establishing Reciprocal Relationships with
the Land: Designing Regenerative Developments on Six Nations Reserve
Through the Application of Haudenosaunee Ecological Knowledge (HEK),’
this Thesis pursuit revolves around utilizing Haudenosaunee
Ecological Knowledge (HEK) in modern applications to inform
regenerative strategies for sustainable design that reinterprets Six
Nations current westernized built environment that is based on
a colonialist method of developing the land. Through more of a
land-based approach, regenerative systems will take advantage of
natural processes of the land while enhancing and remediating the
ecological conditions, producing environments that form reciprocal
relations with the land. This land-based learning approach also
begins both to question, as well as to think and re-conceptualize the
current Six Nations gridalinear, westernized landscapes to better
align with Haudenosaunee perspectives.
The architectural vehicle for the exploration of employing
HEK is through the design of a Land Based Learning Center with
accompanying facilities of a Transitional Housing Center and
the Elderly Care Facility. With the Land Based Learning Center
serving as the programmatic anchor of the three architectures, the
intent is to produce a regenerative development that achieves selfsufficiency and resiliency, centered around Haudenosaunee ways of
keeping balance with Mother Earth in a contemporary context. In
doing so, a new community development will be conceived that maintains reciprocal relationships with the surrounding ecology of
Six Nations while developing infrastructures that empower the local
community and promote self-determination.
The intent of the Land Based learning center is to serve
as a cultural and educational hub that operates both locally as well
as across North America, serving as an outreach center for Six
Nations community members both on and off reserve, as well as
North American Indigenous people and enlightened mainstream
individuals. The Center’s goal is to actively preserve and rekindle
Six Nations connections with traditional values, teachings and
ceremonies surrounding ecological knowledge and skill sets of
harvesting and cultivating the land, while reinforcing the signifi cance
of traditional knowledge in a contemporary context. The facility
provides social, educational, and therapeutic programming that
reinforce the signifi cance of maintaining close and respectful
relationships with Mother Earth as a necessity to achieving
healthy minds, bodies and spirits. In addition, the facility provides
consultation services to home owners, builders, and developers
both on and off the reserve as well as Six Nations Council on how
traditional teachings and HEK can be reinforced in a contemporary
context to inform sustainable land management and regenerative
development strategies. Overall, the development of the Land
Based Learning Center with accompanying housing facilities will
inform Six Nations members and broader society on how to
perform reciprocal relations with the land while actively reaching to
increase the number of Six Nations members living on reserve by
providing affordable housing for displaced Indigenous members
A study of family physician scope of practice in Ontario
No full textThe broad aim of the research described in this thesis was to develop a more comprehensive understanding of scope of practice (SOP) within medicine in Canada, with an emphasis on family and general practice in Ontario. A more specific objective was to determine the common conceptual elements of SOP, what differences there are in how SOP is conceived, and what implications these differences have for health policy, physician regulation, continuing professional development and practice. This study aimed to answer three research questions, resulting in chapters two, three and four of this thesis. A sequential qualitative methods approach based on a modified institutionalist conceptual framework of ‘ideas, interests and institutions’ guided the overall approach to this study
Structural evolution and orogenic gold metallogeny of the western Wabigoon subprovince, Canada
No full textSome of the world’s largest orogenic gold deposits are hosted within granite-greenstone
subprovinces of the Superior Province of Canada. The apparent gold endowment of the western
Wabigoon subprovince is much less than that of the Abitibi subprovince, despite both Neoarchean
subprovinces sharing similar structural and metallogenic histories. Further, the relationship
between regional deformation and orogenic gold mineralizing events in the western Wabigoon
subprovince is poorly constrained in comparison to other greenstone belts within the Superior
Province. New structural mapping of the Dryden area of the western Wabigoon subprovince
indicates that it experienced a N-S shortening event (D1), 2705-2695 Ma, which reactivated, or
initiated the formation of, the E-W-trending Wabigoon and Mosher Bay-Washeibemaga
deformation zones (Wdz and MBWdz, respectively). Following the D1 event, after 2695 Ma, a
protracted period of NNW-SSE shortening (D2) localized transpression along the Manitou
Dinorwic deformation zone (MDdz), which is spatially associated with orogenic gold systems,
including the Goldlund deposit (~1.7 Moz Au) and Kenwest prospect (~0.3 Moz Au). During D2,
the MDdz experienced sinistral transpression, while the Wdz and MDdz experienced dextral-sense
movement. U-Pb geochronology of vein-hosted xenotime from the Goldlund deposit and Kenwest
prospect indicate that hydrothermal events, and likely gold mineralization, occurred syn- to late-
D2 deformation at 2664 ± 8.3 Ma and 2580 ± 12 Ma, respectively. The structural evolution and
orogenic metallogeny of the western Wabigoon subprovince is similar to that of anomalously gold-
rich subprovinces of the Superior Province. Therefore, it is proposed that the structural evolution
of individual greenstone belts is not the primary controlling factor on their bulk gold endowment.
Nevertheless, orogenic gold deposits are spatially associated with major deformation zones and
linked to widespread hydrothermal event(s), spanning 2680-2580 Ma across the southern Superior
Province
Discuter de la mort et des soins palliatifs en oncologie – expériences de personnes ayant eu un cancer et de professionnels de la santé
No full textLe cancer est une maladie qui affecte grand nombre de personnes chaque jour, et recevoir un diagnostic de cancer peut être dévastateur. Tenir des discussions qui abordent la réalité du pronostic tôt lors du diagnostic peut améliorer la qualité de vie des patients atteints d’un cancer, ainsi que leurs proches. Malheureusement, les professionnels de la santé ne discutent pas toujours de la mort ou des soins palliatifs avec les personnes atteintes d’un cancer avant que la maladie ne soit avancée et qu’il n’y ait plus de possibilité de guérison. Il a cependant été démontré que l’accès anticipé aux soins palliatifs et le deuil anticipatoire peuvent améliorer la qualité de vie en fin de vie, et même que plusieurs patients voudraient discuter de ces sujets. Les survivants du cancer et les professionnels de la santé interviewés au cours de cette recherche qualitative identifient que ces thèmes ne sont pas toujours abordés lorsque le niveau de confort avec la mort est moins élevé chez le patient et chez le professionnel de la santé. Les résultats suggèrent aussi que les personnes qui sont plus à l’aise avec la mort ont tendance à vivre moins de détresse lorsqu’ils font face à ces situations. Cette recherche souligne d’abord l’importance pour les professionnels de la santé d’avoir une communication claire et ouverte sur tous les aspects de la maladie avec leurs patients dès le diagnostic du cancer, y inclut la possibilité de mort et les soins palliatifs. Elle démontre aussi l’importance pour eux de recevoir des formations ou de gagner de l’expérience dans le domaine de soins palliatifs et de la mort pour être plus à l’aise d’aborder les discussions avec leurs patients.Maîtrise en service social (MSS
The effects of cyclic thermal stress on oviparous shark development
No full textGlobally, shark species have undergone a dramatic decrease in abundance due to the
environmental degradation caused by anthropogenic activities and global warming. There are
limited studies on the effects of global warming on embryological development of threatened
tropical sharks. This study investigated the impact of cyclic thermal stress on the embryonic
development of the grey carpet shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum), as well as the ability of grey
carpet shark neonates to tolerate a hypoxic challenge following exposure to thermal stress.
Detailed characterisation of all developmental stages observable through the egg case
to the naked eye formed the basis for the investigation of thermal stress. The data clearly
showed that embryos exposed to 28 °C in a cyclic manner, displayed a delay in the appearance
of three developmental milestones: (i) the time pigmentation took to reach the pectoral fins;
(ii) widening of the trunk region; and (iii) the internalization of yolk. The time to hatching was
increased by 10 days and neonates were significantly shorter in total body length in response
to cyclic thermal exposure (28 °C) compared to control egg cases only exposed to 24 °C.
No morphometric changes were observed on a separate experiment on neonates reared
at 24°C, then exposed for five days either to intermittent thermal stress at 32°C or control
conditions 24°C. This short exposure to cyclic thermal stress did not alter their ability to
withstand a hypoxic challenge at 30 days post-hatching. During the hypoxic challenge,
neonates were observed to use ventilation depression and diminished their use of buccal
musculature. The strongest morphometric predictor of the time to loss of righting reflex in
response to the hypoxic challenge was the ratio of the span of the first dorsal fin to the total
length of the neonate, which could reduce the amount of energy needed during escape attempts
and exploratory behaviours observed during the hypoxia exposure. My research sheds light
on the potential survival of this near threatened tropical shark. Future studies should explore
the impact of higher cyclic temperatures on grey carpet shark embryo development to expand
upon the understanding of the impact of cyclic thermal stress on shark embryos
