Abstract The objective was to assess Professional, Health Advocate and Scholar CanMEDS competencies in anesthesia residents using a Generic Integrated Objective Structured Assessment Tool (GIOSAT) during simulated scenarios. Methods Twenty one anesthesia residents participated in managing two scenarios: “do not resuscitate” and “morphine overdose”. Four trained blinded raters analyzed video recordings using the GIOSAT. Internal structure was examined using generalizability analysis. Results Results of the g-study focused on PHAS and ME components alone, participants accounted for 20% of the scores variance (G-coefficient 0.66). A D-study indicated two raters and eleven or more scenarios would be required for a G-coefficient > 0.80. Conclusion This study demonstrates construct validity for assessing PHAS competencies for low stakes assessment. Results address the gap of assessment performance for PHAS competencies, describe methodology and produce recommendations for summative assessments using simulation.

The process of identification for émigrés in host countries requires an investigation into the “politics of identity”, and epistemological tensions of how identity is conceptualized and practiced in the context of multicultural environments. Indeed, multiculturalism frameworks in Canada have emerged from attempts to manage coexisting cultures living in the nation-state. This research is a comparative theoretical discussion that mobilizes postmodern perspectives to open limited notions of Canadian identity, and describes the potential challenges that English Canadian and Francophone Quebec multicultural frameworks raise in cultural identification for Canada as a whole, and specifically for émigrés. Secondary literature for the analysis of multicultural frameworks is examined with citizenship markers from Census of Canada questionnaires, to conceptualize Canadian identity through discourse. The findings: (1) postulate how the multiculturalist framework in English Canada and the politics of intercultural identity in Quebec intervene in the meaning-making process of national identity and thus impede on the preservation and development of different cultural identities; and (2) discover that both frameworks of multiculturalism and interculturalism, as an institutionalization of social justice and equality, should be reframed or refined due to the limiting conceptualization of cultural identity as fluid. The findings conclude that multiculturalism, interculturalism, and citizenship frameworks may not provide effective strategies to balance the relationship between different groups with regards to ethnic and cultural rights and equality, and that these frameworks should be revisited to account for, and represent, the complexities of identity in Canada.

Carbon capture and storage technologies are necessary to start lowering greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to utilize existing thermal power generation infrastructure. Calcium looping is a promising technology based on cyclic calcination/carbonation reactions which utilizes limestone as a sorbent. Steam is present in combustion flue gas and in the calciner used for sorbent regeneration. The effect of steam during calcination on sorbent performance has not been extensively studied in the literature. Here, experiments were conducted using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and subsequently a dual-fluidized bed pilot plant to determine the effect of steam injection during calcination on sorbent reactivity during carbonation. In a TGA, various levels of steam (0-40% vol.) were injected during sorbent regeneration throughout 15 calcination/carbonation cycles. All concentrations of steam were found to increase sorbent reactivity during carbonation. A level of 15% steam during calcination had the largest impact. Steam changes the morphology of the sorbent during calcination, likely by shifting the pore volume to larger pores, resulting in a structure which has an increased carrying capacity. This effect was then examined at the pilot scale to determine if the phase contacting patterns and solids heat-up rates in a fluidized bed were factors. Three levels of steam (0%, 15%, 65%) were injected during sorbent regeneration throughout 5 hours of steady state operation. Again, all levels of steam were found to increase sorbent reactivity and reduce the required sorbent make-up rate with the best performance seen at 65% steam.

In this thesis we are concerned with estimation of clustering probabilities for univariate heavy tailed time series. We employ functional convergence of a bivariate tail empirical process to conclude asymptotic normality of an estimator of the clustering probabilities. Theoretical results are illustrated by simulation studies.

Clinical Issue Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months post birth and then the addition of complementary foods with breastfeeding extending to a minimum of two years. Breastfeeding initiation rates in Canada are currently at around 87% but, by one month, about 21% of women have stopped breastfeeding. Engorgement and edema in breast tissue can lead to breastfeeding challenges which may contribute to early weaning. Purpose The purpose of this pilot research study was to explore the relationship between intravenous (IV) fluids given to mothers during the peripartum period and postpartum breast or nipple swelling in the first ten days postpartum and determine if a larger study was warranted and feasible. The research question for this pilot study was, "What is the relationship between the amount of IV fluids given to labouring women and edema of the breast and areola complex experienced by breastfeeding women in the first 10 days postpartum?" Methods It is a prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort pilot study with repeated measures and a within-subjects design. Participants are first time mothers who planned to exclusively breastfeed and gave birth to a single, healthy newborn by means of a spontaneous vaginal birth, Mother and baby were discharged home together with no contraindications to exclusive unrestricted breastfeeding. Descriptive statistics are reported and linear regression analysis is used to model the relationship between IV therapy and postpartum breast edema. Results Women who received IV fluids during labour had higher levels of edema postpartum and rated their breasts as firmer as and more tender than women who did not receive IV fluids. Participants who had IV fluids appeared to be less aware of the fullness associated with lactogenesis II, and the pattern of fullness they described appeared to be related to edema noted. Participants who did not have IV fluids appeared to have unrelated patterns of fullness and edema, and therefore appeared more aware of the onset of lactogenesis II. The results support a larger study about the relationships between maternal perinatal IV fluids and breast or nipple changes.

In the present study, we characterized the ability of a novel oncolytic rhabdovirus - Maraba MG1 to boost Natural Killer (NK) cell activity. In tandem, we addressed the ability of this enhanced NK cell functionality to reduce the incidence of post-cancer surgery micrometastases. Due to the potential safety barriers associated with the use of a live virus immediately prior to surgery in cancer patients, we generated a single cycle replication virus (MG1-Gless) and UV-inactivated MG1 to stimulate NK cell function and reduce post-operative metastases. Our in vivo data demonstrate that significant NK cell activation and a similar level of reduction in postoperative tumor metastases was achieved with live MG1, MG1-Gless and UV-inactivated MG1, concluding that viral replication is important, but not necessary for NK cell activation. Mechanistically, we observed that dendritic cells (DCs) are necessary intermediates for MG1-induced NK cell activation. Finally, we characterized and compared a panel of UV-inactivated MG1 (2mins to 2hrs) to better understand the requirements for NK cell activation. Our results suggest that intact viral particle and cellular recognition and association are essential for NK cell mediated anti-tumor responses. These findings provide the preclinical rationale to develop safe and viable virotherapy-based interventional protocols that might reduce the risk of metastatic disease after cancer surgery.

Sigma-1 receptors (σ-1Rs) are chaperone-like proteins that are broadly distributed throughout the central nervous system and in other tissues. They have been implicated in several physiological and pathological processes, primarily by their ability to modulate certain voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels. Growing evidence suggests that σ-1Rs regulate the functions of ion channels, such as voltage-gated K+ 1.2 (Kv 1.2) and the human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) ion channels, by modulating their expression, trafficking, and targeting. While it is well documented that σ-1Rs enhance the function of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), the mechanisms of this enhancement remain poorly understood. Using biochemical methods, we show that 90 minutes after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of σ-1R agonists such as (+)-SKF 10,047 (SKF) or (+)-Pentazocine (PTZ) (2 mg/kg), there is an increase in the expression of GluN2 subunits of NMDARs and postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) in the rat hippocampus. Following activation of σ-1Rs, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments reveal an increased interaction between σ-1Rs and NMDAR subunits; sucrose gradient centrifugation demonstrates an increase in the protein levels of GluN2 subunits in vesicular compartment; and biotinylation shows an increase in the surface levels of GluN2A-containing NMDARs. Taken together, our results suggest σ-1Rs may enhance NMDARs function by increasing their expression, trafficking, and surface levels. This σ-1R-mediated increase in NMDAR expression and surface levels might be involved in several physiological processes such as learning and memory. Our findings also suggest that σ-1Rs could form a potential target for designing novel antipsychotics.

Earlier studies have found that endangered species recovery is only weakly associated with the tools enabled by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). With habitat loss often cited as a leading cause of species declines, we tested whether the recovery of ESA-listed species is instead associated with the protection of critical habitat (CH) by protected areas. We tested the relationship for 299 species using recovery indices derived from the biennial status reports to Congress (1990-2010), as well as NatureServe and IUCN population status data. We found no overall relationship between recovery and the extent to which CH is protected. However, restricting the analysis to recovering species, listed species with larger areas of protected (R2 = 0.158) or strictly protected (R2 = 0.194) CH fared better than species with less protected or strictly protected CH areas. Declining species (199 of 273 species studied) fared no better with more protected habitat. We conclude that the abatement of habitat loss alone does not necessarily facilitate recoveries for the majority of ESA-listed species. We also note that the weak relationships we observed in this study may be reflective of poor recovery status estimates.

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are characterized by the inability of mature neurons to regenerate or repair by themselves. In an attempt to overcome the SCI, a novel photo-sensitive cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptide was synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis (SPSS) to control 3T3 fibroblast cell attachment on hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel. The circular RGDS peptide was designed using RGDS sequence labeled with Anp group (3-Na-fmoc-amino-3-(2-nitrophenyl) propionic acid) at the N terminus. The peptide was photo-labile cyclic caged to shelter its bioactivity and UV light was used to make the peptide uncaged. Accuracy of the cyclic caged RGDS peptide was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrum (MS). The molecular weight of cyclic caged RGDS peptide was confirmed as 881 by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrum. Stability of the cyclic caged RGDS peptide under various pH conditions was verified by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The bioactivity of cyclic caged and uncaged RGDS peptide was tested by photo-controllable directing cell growth based on cell attachment study, cell counting study, and cell morphology study. Three dimensional model structures of cyclic caged and uncaged RGDS peptides were computed by Hyperchem program. The first order reaction theory of Anp uncaging reaction was confirmed by kinetic study. Bioactivity caging and uncaging property of the peptide was also fully confirmed by cell attachment study. This cyclic caged RGDS peptide would be a promising tool in cell patterning for repairing of SCI.

Femoro-Acetabular Impingement (FAI) is a hip joint disease which affects and impairs the range of hip motion during performing activities of daily living, jogging, walking, or climbing stairs due to the bony abnormalities of the joint. Ballet dancers and athletes (e.g. gymnasts and hockey players) put their hips at the risk of FAI by extremely moving the hip mainly by excessively rotating the joint. In this research, we introduce a visualization system which helps surgeons to analyze the range of hip motions as well as to have a better communication with patients. These goals are achieved by presenting three dimensional (3D) visualizations of motion envelope by examining the maximum possible rotation of the digital hip bones. Our computer simulation system estimates, analyzes and visualizes the maximum hip range of motion (ROM) for the constructed 3D bone models that are extracted from Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) after segmenting the bones. These tasks are accomplished by first calculating Hip Joint Center (HJC) which is center of rotation of femoral head on the 3D segmented MRI models followed by simulating hip motions with examining impingement between the femur and the acetabulum using our collision detection system. In our collision detection system, surfaces of femoral head and acetabulum bones are sampled in the spherical coordinates based on rasterization and interpolation. Then, the distance between the femoral head and acetabulum are computed to prevent impingement between them. The maximum motion degree of femur bone within depression of acetabulum in every direction during the digital simulation shows the ROMs of the inputted MRI of the hip joint. Six primary plane motions (flexion/extension, abduction/adduction and internal/external rotation) as well as various combinations of these motions (maximum rotation of the hip between every two rotational movements) and successive movements (maximum rotational movement of the hip per another rotational movement) are simulated and analyzed along with 3D visualization of estimated range of these motions. Generally, the ROM differs by some factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and geographic location. For instance, newborns up to age two have considerably greater motion in hip flexion and hip abduction than adults. Our system by 3D visualization of motion envelope will provide a platform to understand quicker and better the effect of bony morphology of the hip joint on the possible ROM. We also examine the long-standing question about moving center of rotation related to ROM. We found out the ROM becomes bigger especially when the center moves outward to the direction of acetabulum axis. This thesis does not consider the effect of muscle and other surrounding connective tissue on the hip ROM since they can be altered significantly by physical training to show the potential of maximum ROM. For example a ballerina has a bigger ROM leading a bigger motion envelope compared with non-dancers. Hence we visualize the range of joint motions and their envelopes that are obtained from the osseous anatomy of the hip joint. The osseous anatomy of the joint is the most fundamental and permanent factor of ROM which indicates the maximum motion that the joint can achieve if the muscle and other connective tissues are perfectly trained.