3855 research outputs found
Sort by
The role of medication use and state anxiety on the cognitive components of emotional facial processing: An Event-Related Potentials Study
Get PDFHigh levels of anxiety have been associated with a cognitive bias towards threat, impacting
attention and emotional facial processes as evidenced at the electrophysiological level from EventRelated Potentials (ERP). This threat-bias can be attenuated by reducing anxiety with Selective
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), but the relationship between anxiety, psychotropic
medications, and attentional resources remains a relatively unexplored area. The current study
therefore aimed to examine the impact of anxiety reducing SSRI medication on emotional facial
processing by comparing individuals with high and low anxiety and differing medication levels.
Participants (n = 50) completed a Rapid Serial Visualization Presentation and were asked to
identify emotional facial expressions while ERP and accuracy were recorded. Results suggest
SSRIs have an overall emotional attenuation on facial processing. ERP results revealed all
participants displayed a dominant early positive bias, with the threat-bias associated with high
anxiety originating exclusively in later cognitive components of facial processing
Processus de développement d’une trousse d’accompagnement pour l’examen médical des nouveaux arrivants francophones : un exemple de coopération
Get PDFAlors que plus de la moitié des immigrants francophones vivant en Ontario proviennent
de l’Afrique et des Caraïbes, les professionnels de la santé formés au Canada ne sont pas
suffisamment familiers avec les problèmes de santé auxquels les nouveaux arrivants peuvent être
confrontés. Fort de ce constat, dans un partenariat multidisciplinaire, le Centre de recherche en
santé dans les milieux ruraux et du nord, le Centre de santé communautaire du grand Sudbury,
l’Institut du savoir Montfort, l’École des sciences de l’activité physique de l’Université
Laurentienne et un groupe d’immigrants francophones du Grand Sudbury, ont développé en
utilisant l’approche de recherche collaborative, une trousse d’accompagnement pour l’examen
médical du nouvel arrivant à l’attention des professionnels de la santé et des services sociaux. Le
processus d’élaboration de la trousse a nécessité plusieurs étapes : 1) l’établissement d’un
partenariat entre les organismes sus cités; 2) la recension des écrits pour identifier les problèmes
de santé les plus fréquents; 3) la sélection des problèmes les plus fréquents et qui ne sont pas
nécessairement ceux que les professionnels de santé rencontrent dans leur pratique; 4) la
rédaction des versions provisoires des fiches d’information en insistant sur certains aspects
importants de la maladie; 5) la validation des fiches avec les partenaires; 6) la restitution des
fiches finales (25 fiches dont 3 portent sur l’examen général, 10 autres portent sur certaines
maladies tropicales, 8 portent sur les signes et symptômes les plus fréquemment rencontrés et les
4 autres sur les soins de santé en Ontario); et 7) le développement d’une capsule infographique
afin d’assurer une plus grande visibilité de la disponibilité de la trousse d’accompagnement pour
l’examen médical des nouveaux arrivants francophones
Are Canadian Libraries Ready to Transition from MARC to BIBFRAME?
No full textThis project seeks to assess the Canadian library community’s understanding of and readiness for the transition from the MARC format to the BIBFRAME model. Data were collected using a survey distributed in English and French to a stratified random sample of 1,200 Canadian libraries. Results indicate that knowledge of BIBFRAME is low among respondents and that most of the libraries surveyed do not know enough about BIBFRAME to consider planning a transition at this point
Ectoparasitism of rodent hosts in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada: Infestation patterns, host glucocorticoids, and species co-occurrence
No full textExamining multiple parasite taxa across host species presents an opportunity to assess the
biology of host-parasite systems. This study investigated: 1) factors associated with ectoparasite
prevalence on deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), southern red-backed voles (Myodes
gapperi) and woodland jumping mice (Napaeozapus insignus); 2) relationship between
ectoparasites and glucocorticoid levels of deer mice, and; 3) whether ectoparasites of deer mice
and North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) form structured assemblages. I
examined data from fleas, mites, and botflies on these hosts in Algonquin Provincial Park,
Ontario, Canada. Ectoparasite prevalence varied with host traits and date. Ectoparasites had no
relationship with deer mouse glucocorticoid production. Lastly, ectoparasites of deer mice, but
not red squirrels, had exhibited non-random co-occurrence patterns. Parasites play an important
role in population regulation and thus, these findings provide a better understanding on the effect
of ectoparasites on their hosts, on each other, and consequently on their ecosystem
The knowledge of physicians regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across Ontario: a mixed methods study
No full textThe current study is a manuscript-based thesis, divided into 2 journal articles. The first article examines the facilitators and barriers to recruiting physicians for psychological research and is a reflexive article written from the author’s personal perspective. Physicians have been a hard population to recruit for research purposes over the years and the article provides insight into recruitment methods from a unique perspective. The second article investigates the knowledge of Ontario physicians regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD), employing a mixed methods approach. ASD is a complex disorder and is rising in prevalence. Physicians are said to be one of the first to come into contact with an individual with ASD and need to be able to recognize or identify signs and symptoms of the disorder. Previous research highlights that physicians may not feel competent in diagnosing and treating ASD because of their lack of knowledge and training. Physicians completed questionnaires and participated in semi-structured interviews. Analysis of quantitative data included t-tests and ANOVA’s, while thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview transcripts. Areas where knowledge or information regarding ASD was lacking is discussed. Additionally, recommendations for improving medical education regarding ASD and physicians’ knowledge, as well as clinical and research implications are discussed
The role of muramyl depeptide in glucagon-like peptide-1 regulation
No full textType 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for 90% of all cases of diabetes, and it is one of the world’s
most threatening chronic and metabolic diseases in the world. Researchers have been investigating
the possible links between the glucagon-like peptide1 (GLP-1) incretin hormone and bacterial
metabolites in the gut in order to improve T2D treatments. In this study, I hypothesized that
muramyl dipeptide (MDP) enhances the release of GLP-1 to improve hyperglycemia. Various
muropeptides were tested in GLP-1 secreting cell lines (NCI-H716 and GLUTag) for their ability
to regulate hormone secretion. The intracellular mechanism of lipid-modified L18MDP was
examined via western blot and pharmacological inhibition. Pilot studies using siRNA for the MDP
receptor NOD2 were completed. GLP-1 secretion was significantly induced by different
concentrations of L18MDP in the two cell lines, (5, 10 µg/ml) in GLUTag and (10 µg/ml) in NCIH716. Treatment did not affect cell lines viability. The p38 MAPK signaling pathway was slightly
stimulated at the 10-minute L18MDP treatment as was demonstrated by western blot.
Pharmacological NOD2 inhibition with GSK717 at different doses (5, 10 µM) failed to block the
L18MDP stimulation of GLP-1 secretion in GLUTag and NCI-H716 cell lines. This work
demonstrates that L18MDP can significantly stimulate GLP-1 release; however, future work will
be required to resolve the precise mechanis
Measuring differences in eye glance behaviour for heavy equipment operators while driving in naturalistic worksite environments
No full textStruck-by accidents continue to be a predominant issue with catastrophic consequences in
both construction and mining industries. These incidents are found to be largely caused by blind
spots due to the equipment or environment, along with human error. Blind spots are considered
to be non-visible areas where operator line-of-sight is impeded by parts of the heavy equipment,
buildings or other objects in their environment. Eye-tracking (ET) research has mostly focused
on the eye behaviour while operating passenger vehicles. This research includes, but is not
limited to, eye scanning patterns of drivers, development and implementation vehicle interaction
devices for safe use and enhanced education through training programs. Visual scanning patterns
of heavy equipment operators cannot be lumped into that of those driving passenger vehicles as
the design of various machinery is vastly different in addition to differences of driving on a
public road compared to a worksite environment. The intention of this research was to initiate
research specifically for ET data while operating various types of heavy equipment. The purpose
of this research was to quantify typical heavy equipment operator eye gaze behaviour in natural
worksite settings in both construction and mining industries. First, the objective was to determine
the similarities on where operators naturally look while driving in a field setting. Key areas of
interest (AOI) operators looked were identified during forward and rearward movements. The
most noticeable difference was that the front view ahead was fixated the most while driving
forwards, whereas the mirrors were tended to the majority of rearward movements basically
never looking within the front views.
As some heavy equipment, such as a load-haul-dump (LHD) have very unique
characteristics including operator seated position within the machine, it was important to
measure their visual scanning pattern while driving, especially in an underground mine.
Therefore, the second objective was to obtain data to quantify typical LHD operator eye gaze
behaviour in addition to determining differences between novice and expert operators. This was
accomplished by comparing novice operator completing a four-day training program on an LHD
simulator to a similar trial completed by the expert operator. Results demonstrated that visual
scanning patterns of the novice operator was considerably more dispersed than that of the expert
which was much more focal. However, it should be noted that the scanning pattern of novice
operators did become more focal and less dispersed at the end of training, starting to resemble
that of the expert. Other main findings revealed that regardless of direction travelled, operators
spend the majority of time fixating within the central view ahead. Findings suggest that novice
operators experienced an overall decrease in cognitive workload and relied less on using the edge
of machine and wall as sightlines to monitor LHD speed and position within the mine as
experience increased. Interestingly enough it appears that the expert operator utilized the right
wall as a sightline while driving forwards, differing from novice operators.
Determining the gaze behaviour of heavy equipment operators on various machines is
important to have a baseline typical eye gaze behaviour to be able to detect deviations that can
provide a measure of how technologies, policies or training programs affect gaze behaviour. Eye
gaze behaviour needs to be incorporated in the design of future technologies (ex. proximity
detection and awareness technology) to provide modifications to reduce cognitive workload and
distraction that can occur when implementing devices. Findings of this research could also aid to
enhance current training programs and advise the development of new training programs or
policies to minimize human-equipment interactions
Mobilization of komatiite-associated Ni-Cu-(PGE) mineralization in the Southern Manneville fault zone, Southern Abitibi subprovince, Quebec
No full textThe Cubric showing and Marbridge deposit occur in the 2714 ± 2 Ma La Motte-Vassan Formation, 20-25 km north of Malartic, Québec. Mineralization at the Cubric showing is hosted by a silicate-magnetite facies iron formation as well as gabbro, but the high Ni/Cu and Ir/Pd ratios of the mineralization suggest that it formed from a komatiitic magma, similar to the mineralization at the historic Marbridge deposit. Normal abundances of most metals in the mineralization in the gabbro suggest that it was mechanically mobilized into the gabbro as a high-temperature monosulfide solid solution, whereas low abundances of Cr and Ir-Ru-Rh in the mineralization in the iron formation suggest that Ni-Cu-Pt-Pd-Au and other metals were mobilized into the iron formation by metamorphic-hydrothermal fluids. The host rocks and country rocks have experienced two phases of deformation during regional metamorphism, and it is likely that the mineralization was mobilized from unexposed/eroded mineralized cumulate komatiites during this deformation and metamorphism, which occurred after emplacement of the younger 2680 ± 1.5 Ma gabbro
Herps in the wind: the ecology of herpetofauna in windfarms
No full textWindfarms are reducing reliance on fossil fuels but they may present threats to wildlife. I studied
the ecology of herpetofauna living in Prince Windfarm (Sault Ste Marie, Ontario) in 4 wetlands
located close to wind turbines (<500 m, Turbine sites), and 4 wetlands far from wind turbines
(>1.5 km, Control sites). I measured amphibian biodiversity using transect surveys and acoustic
recordings of frog calls. I found lower biodiversity and richness within frog choruses in Turbine
sites, and some evidence that frogs in windfarms adjust their calls similar to frogs near roads. I
also investigated whether the spatial ecology of Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) was impacted
by the windfarm. Turtles within the windfarm had shorter movements and marginally smaller
home ranges than turtles in Control sites, and appeared to avoid service roads and turbines.
Future research should investigate acoustic masking of low frequency calling amphibians and
infrastructure avoidance behaviours by turtles
Diet-induced insulin resistance & exercise in Drosophila melanogaster is highly influenced by genotype & sex
No full textType 2 Diabetes, characterized by a combination of insulin resistance and impaired insulin
secretion, is a serious metabolic disorder in humans that not only affects adults, but now young
children. The model organism Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as an excellent model to
study metabolic regulation. Using a high sucrose diet to induce insulin resistance, I used multiple
fly lines to explore how genotype and sex interacts with the progression of insulin resistance and
how exercise can influence this response. Flies were grouped and placed on one of four conditions:
control diet (CD), high sucrose diet (HSD), control diet with exercise (CDEx), or high sucrose diet
with exercise (HSDEx). Flies were exercised using a fly treadmill. Weight and various metabolites
known to respond to diet and exercise were quantified, along with gene expression of various
nodes in the insulin pathway. Twenty-five percent of fly lines on the HSD displayed symptoms of
insulin resistance, such as hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and/or hyperinsulinemia, as well
as patterns in insulin pathway gene expression that is indicative of insulin resistance. Flies
experienced physiological changes in response to exercise, which changed 11-13% of the
metabolome of each sex, and 20-29% of the metabolome of each line. Strikingly, across all
experiments, fly response to diet and exercise was highly genotype and sex-dependent. This study
demonstrates the complex nature of insulin resistance and most importantly, the importance of
studying disease related states using multiple genetic backgrounds and both sexes