39456 research outputs found
Sort by
The Rise Of Null Hypothesis Significance Testing As The Gold Standard In Psychology, 1940-55
No full textIn the midst of the ongoing replication crisis, it is more important than ever for psychologists to look critically at methodology. Nearly every psychologist uses null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) to analyze and draw conclusions from quantitative data, despite its imperfections and the heavy criticisms it has received, particularly in recent years. Though NHST is usually taught as a strictly formalized, “objective” procedure inherent to the field, it was only introduced to psychology in the 1930s. The method reached its current status of ubiquity during the so-called “inference revolution” of 1940-55 (Gigerenzer & Murray, 1987). However, the means through which this revolution occurred remain unclear. By reviewing course catalogues from six major Canadian universities from 1940-55 and situating my findings in the broader historical context, I aim to disentangle how, and why, NHST became the gold standard of psychological statistics during this time
AI-based Assistive Technologies & People With Disabilities: Privacy At Risk
No full textThis thesis follows three research questions. First, it explores the potential privacy risks that people with disabilities (PWDs) face in the face of incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) in assistive technologies (ATs). It then investigates reasons that exacerbate PWDs’ vulnerability to such potential privacy risks. Since legal literature in the context of AI-based ATs is limited, this thesis adopts a combination of multidisciplinary and traditional legal doctrinal research by studying legal literature and empirical research in other disciplines. Lastly, the thesis reviews the current Canadian data protection legal framework to examine if there is any provision specifically addressing PWDs or vulnerable data subjects and highlight legislative gaps impacting PWDs
Modeling of Eye contact behavior
No full textWith the rise of online platforms and avatar-based communication, understanding eye contact a key non-verbal cue is crucial for trust in conversations. This study examines eye contact behavior across face-to-face interactions, a screen-sized window interface, and online meetings.
We collected twelve hours of eye contact data from 48 individuals using eye trackers and motion capture in dyadic settings. Our analysis showed consistent eye contact patterns in face-to-face and screen-sized window interactions, while online meetings caused significant shifts due to the lack of direct eye contact.
To model this behavior, we trained a diffusion model (DDPM) to generate synthetic eye movements that preserved key features of real data. We evaluated our model using metrics such as eye contact frequency. This study provides insights into how communication media influence gaze behavior and explores methods for generating realistic eye movements in conversational settings
Black Girls Need Love Too: An intersectional analysis of the lived experiences of Black girls in French Immersion Programs
No full textBlack girls in the French immersion program are silent scholars. They continue to remain under the radar, significantly under-researched and hidden behind the generalization of Black students without considerations for the intersectionality of race and gender. Using the narratives of four Black girls through semi-structured interviews, this thesis addresses this gap by exploring the lived experiences of four Black girls in Southern Ontario’s French immersion programs. By thematically analyzing their experiences using Black Canadian feminism, raciolinguistics, and intersectionality, we can critically assess their experiences and provide strategies to counter colonial institutions and policies. The findings reveal insights into their identities, sense of belonging, representation, and treatment, and how these themes impact their educational experiences. The experiences of these Black girls highlight several key areas for improvement and offer opportunities to enhance educational experiences for Black girls by informing more equitable policies and practices in the French immersion program
The Effect Of Ketogenic Diet On Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism
No full textThe ketogenic diet (KD), known for its high-fat, low-carbohydrate composition, has gained popularity for weight loss and metabolic health benefits. Despite these advantages, there are concerns that the diet's high saturated fat content might elevate cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study investigates the KD's impact on the molecular mechanisms of cholesterol metabolism in the liver, focusing on cholesterol synthesis markers such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), as well as cholesterol uptake markers including proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and LDL receptors (LDLr). For that, male Wistar rats (n = 6 per group) were fed for 16 weeks one of the following diets: standard chow (SC, 60% carbohydrates, 13% fat, 27% protein), high-fat sucrose-enriched (HFS, 20% carbohydrates, 60% fat, 20% protein), and ketogenic diet (KD, 0% carbohydrates, 80% fat, 20% protein). Liver tissue was extracted and analyzed for gene expression using real-time PCR and protein content using western blotting. Blood samples were collected to measure circulating cholesterol levels. We found that neither plasma cholesterol levels nor HMG-CoA reductase and SREBP-2 levels in the liver differed among the dietary interventions. However, the KD significantly reduced liver PCSK9 content and expression in comparison other diets, suggesting that the KD enhanced clearance of circulating cholesterol by the liver. To test whether there was a higher amount of LDLr on the membrane compared to the cytoplasm, the ratio of LDLr distribution between these compartments was measured. Importantly, there was an upward trend in the levels of LDLr on the membrane. In conclusion, the KD altered key steps that regulate hepatic cholesterol metabolism and prevented plasma cholesterol levels from increasing, despite its elevated saturated fat content
Appearance-Based Social Media Use, Body Dissatisfaction, and Mood Among Young Women with High Weight Bias Internalization: Investigating the Roles of Body-Related Shame and Self-Compassion
No full textThe current study investigated how weight bias internalization (WBI) relates to body dissatisfaction and mood among young women following an upward appearance-based comparison to thin-ideal Instagram imagery, and whether such relationships are mediated by body-related shame and moderated by self-compassion. Undergraduate women (N=109) completed trait measures of WBI and body-related shame in Part I. During Part II, participants were randomly assigned to either 1)compare their body parts to those of thin-ideal Instagram models; or to 2)an appearance-neutral control condition. Participants completed pre(Time 1)/post(Time 2) measures of body dissatisfaction and mood and Time 2 measures of self-compassion and appearance-based comparison. Following upward comparison, higher WBI was related to greater weight and appearance dissatisfaction and depressed mood. At heightened WBI, body-related shame explained elevated appearance-dissatisfaction and self-compassion buffered against increased depression. Findings highlight the need for interventions addressing body dissatisfaction and mood among young women with high WBI in social media contexts
Structural and RNA-Binding Characteristics of Three Yeast LA Motif Domains
No full textLa-related proteins (LARP) are a conserved class of RNA-binding proteins that function in RNA metabolism, including mRNA stabilization, translation regulation, and non-coding RNA processing. In humans, La-related protein 1 (LARP1) regulates translation and stability of 5′ terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) tract-containing mRNAs linked to cell growth and proliferation. Although its role as a downstream effector of the mTORC1 pathway is established, the molecular interactions of LARP1 and yeast homologs remain poorly defined. This thesis examines the structure–function relationship of the La motif domain (LaM) in yeast proteins Slr1p, Slf1p, and Sro9p using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Findings show these proteins share conserved features and bind RNA and ligands with high affinity (low micromolar Kd). NMR line broadening observed for Slf1p–RNA interactions suggests conformational sampling. Collectively, these results advance understanding of conserved mechanisms underlying LARP1-mediated translational regulation
Improvements in Microfabrication of Integrated Collagen Scaffolds Containing Embedded Microchannels Inside 3D Extracellular Matrix with 2D Basement Membrane Linings
No full textCollagen's biocompatibility, biodegradability, and cell-adhesive properties make it vital for developing biomimetic scaffolds in tissue engineering. This thesis enhances the microfabrication of collagen scaffolds with micro-conduits, mimicking the Extracellular Matrix (ECM). These scaffolds feature a 3D porous collagen sponge, mimicking the interstitial matrix, with embedded microchannels with varying widths (70-1000 μm) resembling veins and vessels and micropatterns, as well as a 2D collagen film lining the microchannel walls that mimic the basement membrane. Through soft lithography, freeze-drying, and contact printing, scaffolds with enclosed macrochannels in multiple layers were created and reinforced with composite effects of components and crosslinking. Characterization methods included microscopy, ImageJ analysis, optical profilometry, flow studies, and SEM imaging. Factors influencing scaffold flatness and achievable microchannel dimensions were investigated in a parametric study. Preliminary cultures evaluated scaffold viability for culturing mice brain tissue and studying various cell behaviors, including HEp2, HEp2D and HEK 293T cell lines. These scaffolds offer customizable physical characteristics for diverse tissue applications, facilitating blood vessel modeling, cell co-culture, and drug delivery studies
Book - DYA 6.23 TEST UPG with contributor
No full textCheck if contributor field is populatedno sponsor
On t-fold Totally-Concave Polyominoes
No full textThis article has been submitted for publication.A t-fold totally concave polyomino (t-TCP) is an edge-wise connected collection of cells of the square lattice with t or more gaps in every row and column. We describe an efficient algorithm for counting 1-TCPs (modulo translation) by area, and comment on its extension to t > 1. We prove that the minimum area of a t-TCP is 21 for t = 1, 50 for t = 2, and 6(t+1)2 −1 for t > 2. We show that the counting sequence κt(n) of t-TCPs of area n satisfies λn+o(n) as n → ∞, where λ is the same growth constant as for all polyominoes. From this, we prove that the ratio of successive terms converges to λ. For
each t, we obtain an explicit constant θt such that κt(n) ≥ n−θtλn for infinitely-many values of n, complementing the fact that κt(n) ≤ n−1/2λn for every n ∈ N. We also briefly discuss the relation of t-TCPs to similar models from statistical physics