Efforts toward the synthesis and photochemistry of 4,6-diisopropyl-2-phenylbenzene-1,3-diol

Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfers (ESIPTs) are important primary photoreactions for phenols in which the phenol OH transfers a proton to another site on the same molecule. These reactions contribute to the photoprotective effects of many sunscreens and photostabilizers making their optimization a key research goal. Recent work has focused on improving ESIPT efficiency in 2-phenylphenol (9) and two previously determined strategies include the addition of a bulky substituent ortho to the hydroxy group or incorporation of a second hydroxyl group ortho to the phenyl ring. These strategies were previously combined in 4,6-ditert-butyl-2-phenyl-benzene-1,3-diol (22) yet unexpectedly the ESIPT efficiency was low. These results were attributed to the “loose bolt” effect suggesting that internal conversion dominated the relaxation pathway to the ground state instead of ESIPT.To address this limitation and enhance ESIPT efficiency, efforts were made toward the synthesis of 4,6-diisopropyl-2-phenylbenzene-1,3-diol (23). The goal was to maintain steric effects that promote ESIPT while minimizing the impact of the “loose bolt” effect. The starting compound for the alkylation, 2,6-dihydroxybiphenyl (20), was successfully synthesized through a Suzuki coupling reaction between 2,6-dimethoxyphenylboronic acid and iodobenzene followed by a demethylation step using boron tribromide. The compound was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Isopropyl alkylation of 20 was attempted via alkylation with iPrOH/H2SO4 and Friedel-Crafts alkylation, with the latter yielding the most promising results. Further optimization is required to obtain the final product 23 which will undergo product studies to investigate its photochemistry.</p

Determining the impact of a 10-week HIIT exercise intervention on perceived stress among recent graduates of cardiac rehabilitation

Psychological stress is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and following a cardiac event, stress levels increase. Exercise training has been shown to reduce stress; however, following exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs, the impact of maintaining supervised exercise training on stress and other outcomes is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a 10-week high intensity interval training (HIIT)-based cardiac maintenance program on perceived stress and secondarily, self-efficacy for exercise, anxiety, depression and aerobic fitness. Recent graduates (&lt;1 year) of hospital-based CR were eligible to participate. Assessments (Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), 6-miute walk test (6MWT)) were administered at pre- and post-program. Exercise sessions were thrice weekly for 50-minutes, consisting of interval-based (4:3 high to low intervals) aerobic and resistance training. Data are presented as means and standard deviations, paired samples t-tests were conducted to determine differences from pre to post program. A total of 21 participants (23.8% female; age range: 49-84 years) completed the study. Perceived stress decreased (pre: 13.76±7.32, post 10.54±6.70, p = 0.02). No changes in SEE were observed (pre: 65.05±18.82, post: 57.65±19.59, p=0.07). No significant changes in HADS were observed; however, 19% of participants experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in anxiety and depression. 6MWT distance increased from pre- to post-program (pre: 490±101, post: 543±81.1, p&lt;0.001). These results demonstrate the stress reducing benefits of ongoing community-based exercise interventions (i.e. cardiac maintenance programs) following hospital-based CR, which may have important implications on quality of life and disease management.</p

Dream ads: does playback of sonic brands during sleep influence brand perception?

Dream technology, aimed at engineering dreams and inducing lucid dreams, may soon be a possibility. However, who will pay for this technology? While the idea of dream advertising is controversial, dream ads may hold the key to making dream technology freely available to endusers. However, advertisers will only pay for dream ads if they can be shown to be effective. This study tested the effects of playing sonic brand audio cues during sleep on brand Familiarity, Likability and Recall, as well as testing for dream incorporation of these cues. Participants (N=9) began the study by filling out a pre-study questionnaire of 10 brands (Netflix, McDonald’s, Klondike, NBC, MGM, TUMS, Nationwide, LG, Peacock, and Playstation). Audio cue playback occurred while participants were asleep in bed over a period of 8 nights. Participant sleep and dream data was collected using the DreamDirector app, Apple Watch, and iPhone. The audio cues were played from the iPhone speaker in the home sleep environment. Participants then completed a pre-study questionnaire, a post-study questionnaire, and then a follow-up questionnaire one week later. We hypothesized that exposure to sonic branding during sleep and dreaming would produce better Recall, Familiarity, and stronger Likability towards those brands. However, the results showed an insignificant effect of the conditions on the variables throughout time which could be explained by the small sample size. Though, there was one example of incorporation of a brand into a dream report. The findings suggest an increasing trend of the scores which implies that there is a possibility that playback can have an effect on user’s recognition of the brands.Keywords: Dream incorporation, dream script, sonic branding, audio, cues, lucid dreaming</p

Assessing state compliance: normative approaches to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court

As global humanitarian crises persist, the International Criminal Court (ICC) plays a central role in upholding international justice by issuing arrest warrants for individuals accused of serious crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. However, since the ICC lacks enforcement powers, it relies on state compliance to carry out its mandates. This thesis explores the factors leading to a state’s decision to comply with ICC arrest warrants, asking: Are democratic states more likely to comply with an ICC arrest warrant than authoritarian ones? Using the international relations theory, neo-liberalism, specifically the normative approach, this thesis tests four hypotheses rooted in regime type, liberal democracy and rule of law.Using data from the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, 125 ICC member states were coded based on regime type, with a focus on 20 randomly selected cases (10 democratic and 10 authoritarian). These states were analyzed across 920 potential instances of compliance or non-compliance with 46 ICC arrest warrants. Only 28 instances of clear compliance were observed. Further comparative case studies of France (a democracy) and Chad (an authoritarian state) revealed a limited relationship between the neoliberalist theory and compliance behaviours.The findings suggest that neoliberalist theories, which emphasize international norms and a concern for one’s reputation, are insufficient to explain or predict state compliance with ICC arrest warrants. This thesis highlights the limitations of neoliberalist assumptions regarding state compliance and calls for further research to be done using a broader theoretical framework, such as neorealism.</p

The impact of exposure to polystyrene microparticles on cold tolerance in mosquito larvae

Understanding cold tolerance in insects, such as mosquitoes, allows us to predict changes in their populations, including range expansion and shifts in diversity and abundance. The geographical range of mosquitoes dictated by environmental temperature. However, cold tolerance can change if an animal is experiencing additional stress, such as exposure to pollutants. Microplastics are a ubiquitous pollutant and are ingested by mosquito larvae; thus, this study examined if exposure to polystyrene microspheres impacts the ability for mosquito larvae to recover from low temperatures. I exposed three species of mosquito, Aedes aegypti, Culex pipiens, and Culex territans to two concentrations [low (20 microparticles/mL) and moderate (200 mp/mL)] of 3 μm dark red polystyrene spheres during growth and acclimation to autumn conditions. I then measured the ability for each species to recover from a stressful low temperature exposure (chill coma recovery), as well as the freezing point in the body (supercooling point) of Culex pipiens. Overall, there was no impact on recovery times or supercooling points from microplastic exposure. Thus, microplastic pollution may have no impact on our ability to predict the northward range expansion of mosquitoes. Nevertheless, future research should focus on understanding if other types of microplastics (e.g. fibres) will have properties that modify thermal tolerance and mosquito survival.</p

Retirement in Nova Scotia: dream or reality? A qualitative review on the retirement preparedness of Generation X

Financial institutions, investment firms, and media outlets have raised concerns about Generation X’s (born 1965–1980) retirement preparedness. However, despite this growing concern academic research on the retirement preparedness of Generation X remains limited. This study examines the financial knowledge and retirement goals of 14 Canadian men and women (born 1967–1980) using a qualitative approach. Through semi-structured interviews and a life course perspective, along with cumulative advantage/disadvantage and social learning theory, this study explores the education, employment history, financial responsibilities, retirement education and preparation of these 14 participants of Generation X. Five key themes emerged: economic security, health, retirement goals, retirement education, and financial planning. Economic challenges, including declining pensions and increased debt, make planning for retirement difficult. Notably, the traditional ideal of fully exiting the workforce is shifting. Whether by choice or by necessity, eight of the 14 participants planned to continue working during their retirement years, reflecting a change in previous retirement expectations.</p

Early detection of Alzheimer's disease using positron emission tomography with a 3 dimensional convolutional neural network

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is essential, especially given the limitations in medical resources. This thesis explores the use of a 3D Convolutional Neural Network (3D CNN) for the automated detection of AD using Fludeoxyglucose Possitron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) scans from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The selected PET scans underwent preprocessing, which included reordering slices, normalizing pixel intensities to the [0,1] range, and resizing volumes to a standardized 64×64×64 voxel grid.The model was trained and validated on a balanced dataset and evaluated across ten independent test runs, achieving an average accuracy of 71.25% with an average loss of 0.62. The best-performing run reached an accuracy of 78.75% with a loss of 0.5676, demonstrating the model’s ability to capture key metabolic patterns in PET scans. These promising results highlight the potential of 3D CNNs for early AD detection, offering a foundation for further improvements in deep learning-based diagnostic tools.</p

A common thread: how Paterson's immigrants and New York's intellectuals utilized radical art in the creation of the 1913 Paterson Pageant

This thesis explores the cultural and artistic landscape of radical politics in relation to the 1913 Paterson silk strike and The Pageant of the Paterson Strike. I examine Italian anarchist social spaces, publications, and theater productions from Paterson’s working-class, alongside socialist salons and magazines from Greenwich Village’s middle-class bohemians to provide context as to how these two different groups resisted industrial capitalism, class boundaries, and ethnic divisions in their daily lives and how they drew on those radical aspects to create the Paterson Pageant. Instead of examining the Pageant as an instance of failure due to its financial struggles, I analyze it through the lens of a cultural showcase of mutuality, solidarity, and participation that exemplified the discontent of America with rising industrial capitalism and went on to impact radical and working-class theater throughout the 20th century.</p

Measuring gender in studies of youth's mental health: a rapid review

Sex differences in risk for developing different mental health disorders are well established. However, recent literature suggests that differences in gender may underlie these observed differences. Despite developments in the social and scientific understanding of gender—such as the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Inclusive Language Guide—it is unclear whether gender is being measured consistently in mental health research with youth. I conducted a rapid review to assess how gender has been conceptualised and measured in youth mental health research since the publication of the APA’s Inclusive Language Guide. A systematic search of two relevant databases produced 4,039 results. Of the initial results, 230 studies were included in the final review. Thirty percent of the 230 included studies did not clearly report how they measured gender. Of the studies that did report how gender was measured, 58% used a binary gender measure. Finally, 75% of the 230 included studies relied on outdated conceptualisations of gender, failing to meet the APA’s Inclusive Language Guide. These results provide context about how gender in the youth mental health literature, informing researchers and policy makers and provides evidence that further efforts are required to improve the measurement of gender. Given the majority of included studies measured gender in a reductive manner, opportunities to more accurately measure gender while minimizing researcher and participant burden are discussed.Keywords: gender, measurement, youth, mental health, systematic review</p

Financial literacy and confidence effects on household equity investment: pre- and post-pandemic evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances

The COVID-19 pandemic brought elevated volatility to the US stock market and economic policy uncertainty severe enough to contend with the December 2008, October 1987, and 1929 crashes. Sharif et al. (2020) indicated the need to research the financial effects of the pandemic stating “the COVID-19 pandemic is a source of systematic risk as the US markets were one of the main sources of a spillover effect to other markets and regions”. This thesis uses microdata from the 2019 and 2022 waves of the Survey of Consumer Finances to understand the changes in the share of household equity investment due to financial literacy effects in addition to confidence in one’s own personal finance knowledge and confidence in the economy, which is particularly inspired by Cupák et al. (2020). I estimate the share of household equity investment through a series of Survey Generalised Linear Models using R based on these three key independent variables of financial literacy, self-confidence and confidence in the economy, while controlling for various economic and demographic covariates as well as measures of risk sensitivity and tolerance. Additionally, this thesis distinguishes between financial net worth and total net worth to better understand the channels and margins through which confidence, literacy, and education affect investment and portfolio decisions. Results illustrate a statistically significant relationship between financial literacy and household investment. Controlling for other factors, higher levels of financial literacy were associated with lower levels of household investment in equity than before (7.1% on average in 2019). The percentage of household investment in equity for each higher level of financial literacy, when controlling for other variables, remained substantial. The effect of the self-confidence variable on household investment decisions, specifically on share of equities, also proved to be statistically significant after the pandemic in 2022, seeing an increase of 1.8% points from a meagre 0.1% to 1.9% in 2019 and 2022, respectively. This indicated the importance of confidence in one’s own financial knowledge in making investing decisions post-pandemic. Households with more confidence in their own financial knowledge, ceterus paribus, are expected to have an equity investment of 1.9% of their total financial net worth in 2022. Confidence in the economy has a negative relationship with the share of investment in equity, suggesting that households had a lower share of investment in equity in 2022 by 0.6% points with each level decrease of confidence in the economy. This was interpreted as the influence of the confidence variables, together, being larger on household investment decisions than the level of financial literacy which corroborated the findings of Cupák et al., (2020). In the total net worth model, the intercept flipped its sign in 2022, indicating that the base groups with positive total net worth had a lower share of investment in equities on average. For households with positive financial net worth, higher levels of financial literacy remain substantial and significant and more importantly, confidence in one’s own financial knowledge plays a significant role in volatile equity markets. Confidence in the economy was lower post-pandemic prompting households to own a lower share of investment in equities. For households with positive total net worth, only financial literacy has a significant impact on the share of equity investment, based on its larger magnitude. Confidence in the economy is lower still in 2022, while self-confidence sees a relatively bigger increase; however, the effect is much tamer than for their financial counterpart. Overall, results of the analysis indicate that financial literacy effects, unsurprisingly, continue to be strong determinants for household investment decisions, particularly in equity. However, confidence in one’s own financial knowledge and confidence in the economy are only relatively significant influences households with positive financial net worth.</p