VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Adaptive constraint aggregation for design optimization using adjoint sensitivity analysis
Keywords: Structural optimization
Mathematical optimization

Constraint aggregation is the key for efficient structural optimization when using the adjoint method for sensitivity analysis. The most widely used constraint aggregation approach, the Kreisselmeier-Steinhauser function, can reduce the number of constraints and returns a conservative estimate. However, this conservative nature reduces the accuracy of the optimization results. This inaccuracy is the most prominent when constraints are active and proportional to the number of active constraints. Using an adaptive approach, this undesirable characteristic is avoided by preserving the exact feasible region. The aggregation parameter is updated according to the constraint sensitivity, and a more accurate result is obtained without additional solver evaluations. This new approach significantly improves the accuracy of the optimization when a large number of constraints are active at the optimum. This improvement is illustrated by the weight optimization of a wing box structure and demonstrated promising computational cost reduction for large-scale design optimization.
Three essays in credit risk
Keywords: Finance
Dissertations, Academic, Canada

This thesis consists of three essays in credit risk. The first essay examines the relationship between credit default swap (CDS) spreads and bond yields as well as the relationship between CDS spreads and credit rating announcements. We test the no-arbitrage theoretical relationship between CDS spreads and bond yields and reach conclusions on the benchmark risk-free rate used by participants in the credit derivatives market. We then carry out a series of tests to explore the extent to which credit rating announcements by Moody's are anticipated by participants in the credit default swap market. The third essay extends the 1976 Black and Cox structural model in order to value correlation-dependent credit derivatives. The proposed model assumes that the correlations between the assets of the obligors are determined by one or more common factors. We first implement a base case model where the asset correlations and recovery rates are constant. We compare our model with the widely used Gaussian copula model of survival time and test how well our model fits market prices of CDO tranches. We then consider two extensions of the base case model. One reflects empirical research showing that default correlations are positively dependent on default rates. The other reflects empirical research showing that recovery rates are negatively dependent on default rates. The second essay investigates the performance of structural models of credit risk along two dimensions. First, I analyze the models' ability to explain CDS spreads. I find that the pricing accuracy of structural models depends heavily on the market information set used in the estimation. Incorporating past time series of CDS spreads in addition to equity and balance sheet information improves the out-of-sample model pricing performance by 50%. Second, I investigate the incremental value of structural models above and beyond CDS spreads in predicting credit ratings migrations. I find evidence that three-month changes in the Distance to Default (DD) have incremental value for anticipating rating downgrades over and above changes in CDS spreads. However, this is not the case for one-month changes in DD.
The pedagogy of place: a naturalistic exploration of river as teacher
Keywords: Nature study
Outdoor education
Experiential learning
Human beings, Effect of environment on

Rooted in the ethnographic tradition, methodologies of semi-structured interviews and participant observations are recorded and presented in narrative form. A detailed review of the relevant literature is also conducted. All available data is synthesized into eleven themes that address four central research questions. To better understand the emergent field of place-based education, this study investigates how nature, or "river," factors into teaching and learning in outdoor and experiential education. In light of growing dissonance between humans and the natural world, efforts are made to define the unique pedagogical opportunities that nature affords with properly "framed" learning experiences. The natural world is shown to contain complexities not found in indoor environments and is particularly adept as a crucible for the development of character and a sense of place. Finally, the study notes a number of conditions precedent necessitating actions by teacher and student for learning to occur.
Black students and higher education: dropping out of community college
Keywords: Community college students, Ontario
Dropouts, Ontario
Students, Black, Ontario
Discrimination in education, Ontario

Given the extent of this phenomenon, the drop out problem represents a major failure of the higher educational system, affecting not just the individual or the Black community in particular but the society at large and indeed the country as a whole. Dropping out represents a major loss of financial and personal investment of time and resources for Black students. Also included are recommendations for drop out prevention. The study utilizes an anti-racist education framework that focuses on the lived experiences of minorities in terms of racism and social oppression. Seventeen Black youth volunteered to participate in the study. Using semi-structured interviews, information was elicited that provides insights into how schooling and education function to disengage some students. Findings reveal that many factors impact the decision to drop out. These factors include finances, socio-economic status, parental involvement, teaching, learning, academic preparedness, and administration of education. Race although not clearly identified by most participants as a factor is still considered a serious issue worth pursuing by the researcher. The students' narratives are presented, providing valuables insights into the thinking of those who drop out. A considerable body of research has been devoted to finding out why students drop out of college and how they can be prevented from doing so. This study explores the reasons why Black students in Toronto drop out of college. The major objectives of this study were to isolate and identify factors related to drop out behavior, to examine the perception that Black students have about dropping out and to develop some preliminary ideas regarding what can be done to minimize attrition behavior, especially among Black students.
Elements of corporate debt policy: taxation and credit ratings
Keywords: Finance
Dissertations, Academic, Canada

A firm will take into consideration several factors when establishing its debt policy. Two of these factors are the tax consequences of the debt and the credit rating that a bond issue will receive. As the integration of financial markets continues, these elements must often be viewed in an international context. This thesis aims to increase our understanding of the tax consequences of cross-border borrowings and the role of credit ratings in both domestic and global environments. The first paper illustrates that the interest rate parity condition cannot hold on both a before and after tax basis. The cost of borrowing in alternative locations is rarely equivalent after taxes have been considered. The discrepancies between alternative costs of debt widen when foreign exchange gains are taxed differently than income. Using Shell Canada's New Zealand dollar transaction as an example, I illustrate the tax benefits of borrowing in foreign currencies and discuss how these benefits have changed under recent budget recommendations. In order to secure cross-border debt, it is essential that companies obtain a bond rating from an agency viewed credibly by foreign investors. In the second paper, I examine the impact of Standard and Poor's acquisition of the Canadian Bond Rating Service on the securities of the rated firms. I suggest that the positive abnormal stock returns at the time of the acquisition are evidence of the benefit that a globally recognized rating agency may bring to Canadian firms. The precise role of credit ratings is examined within the final chapter of this thesis. While some argue that a rating's primary function is to help investors set parameters for the institutions investing on their behalf, others believe that ratings provide additional information to the market. This chapter tests whether rating downgrades have valuable information content for equity securities. It does so in a unique way that depends on first estimating the likelihood of downgrade and then examining stock price reactions conditional on this likelihood. I find no evidence that information is revealed by rating changes.
Beyond rapport: how therapist empathy contributes to outcome in the treatment of depression
Keywords: Depression, Mental, Treatment
Empathy
Psychotherapist and patient
Emotions
Affect (Psychology)

For decades, psychotherapy research has demonstrated a link between therapist empathy and treatment outcome. Theoretical views regarding how therapist empathy facilitates changes in clients' functioning to contribute to positive outcomes continue to build, however, few have ventured forth to empirically test these theories. The current study responds to this gap and builds on previous research by examining how therapist empathy functions in psychotherapy to contribute to positive outcomes in the treatment of depression. The hypothesis that therapist empathy indirectly affects outcome through its facilitation of client affect regulation was specifically tested. Data for the current study was drawn from the Watson, Gordon, Stermac. Kalogerakos, Steckley (2003) treatment study of depression. The sample consisted of 66 clients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV). Path analysis was used to test whether the effect of therapist empathy on treatment outcome is mediated by clients' affect regulation (as measured by the O-MAR, a new measure created for the purpose of this study and future research, Watson Prosser, 2004). Treatment outcome was defined in terms of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, dysfunctional attitudes, interpersonal problems, and problem-focused reflective, suppressive, and reactive coping styles. Total effects of all explanatory variables in the path model tested in the current study accounted for small to moderate proportions of total variance in outcome variables. Results indicated that perceived therapist empathy facilitates clients' affect regulation which in turn leads to positive treatment outcomes, as reflected in level of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, dysfunctional attitudes, and problem-focused reflective, suppressive, and reactive styles of coping, but not in level of interpersonal problems. Direct effects of perceived therapist empathy on treatment outcomes were also noted for dysfunctional attitudes, interpersonal problems, and problem-focused reflective and suppressive styles of coping. These findings advance current understanding of how therapist empathy contributes to positive change in outcome for the treatment of depression and highlights the importance of clients' affect regulation as a focal point for change in therapy. Preliminary psychometric findings for the O-MAR as well as implications and areas for future research are also discussed.
Reclaiming democracy for the Longschoolhouse
Keywords: Indians of North America, Education
Democracy
Student participation in administration

This qualitative study investigates self-described democratic educators' conceptions of the core qualities of democracy, democracy in education, and their claims to educating students in and for critical participatory or Longschoolhouse democracy. Data was collected from an experienced and diverse sample of ten educators, one Haudenosaunee Elder, and secondary and primary sources which examine the nature and practice of democracy, and democracy in education. This thesis argues that the participating democratic educators' philosophies of democracy, democracy in education, and claims to democratic practice reveal both possibilities and obstacles for the realization of Longschoolhouses. I have concluded by identifying a number of catalytic and telling areas for future research, including the need for a curriculum of biophilia or the love of all life forms in educational philosophy and practice, the possible influence of educational experience on educators' conceptions of democracy, and the influence of personal experiences of oppression and discrimination in framing and forming educators' conceptions of, and practice of democracy.
Brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program for nurses and professional caregivers
Keywords: Caregivers, Job stress
Ānāpānasmr̥ti
Nurses, Job stress
Stress (Psychology), Treatment

The brief mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program is a structured four-week training program developed for nurses and professional caregivers. This study is an evaluation of its effectiveness. MBSR participants' (n = 16) pre-post ratings on a number of outcomes were compared to that of two control groups: A control group receiving relaxation training (n = 10) and a no-treatment control group (n = 16). Both mindfulness and relaxation training were effective in increasing relaxation and improving participants' level of satisfaction with their lives. However, the results suggest that MBSR may be a more effective intervention to reduce burnout, and in particular, emotional exhaustion. An important component of this thesis is a series of practical recommendations regarding service delivery and conducting applied research with nurses and professional caregivers.
Support services for distance learners in three Canadian dual mode universities: a student perspective
Keywords: Distance education, Canada
College students, Attitudes
College students, Canada

This study investigates, from the student perspective, questions concerning the importance of student support services to learners taking university credit courses by distance education in Canada. Distance learners from three dual mode Canadian universities, i.e. universities offering courses in both traditional on-campus formats as well as away from the main campus, participated in the study through questionnaire responses (224 students) and interviews (15 students). Primary findings related to the profile of participating students indicate that about four out of five are women with three-quarters aged 25 to 50. Older students (25 and above) primarily study on a part-time basis while the younger group are largely full-time students. Distance students in this study are generally married with children and employed, younger respondents, however, tend to be unmarried and childless. Approximately six in ten of employed respondents work on a full-time basis, largely in the fields of health and education. Almost two-thirds of the participants in this study live at least 50 km. from a university with about 44% residing more than 200 km. from a campus. Those living closer to campus tend to focus on the flexibility and convenience of distance study as reasons for choosing this mode, whereas the geographically more distant students claim to choose distance education because it is their only option. Almost forty per cent of respondents had completed a university or community college program before entering their current program with only about one in seven participants entering with a high school completion or a GED without further education. More than seventy per cent of respondents are taking courses for career-related reasons. Just over half of those who have experienced both on-campus and distance study indicate that they prefer traditional approaches. With respect to required support services, results of this study indicate that distance learners are asking universities to provide the information they require, streamline processes and procedures, help to reduce the sense of isolation and give them the academic tools that they need to succeed. Findings indicate that the availability of services do not match students' assessment of their importance. The study concludes with two types of recommendations regarding support service issues: specific suggestions arising from the study for the three participating universities; and more general recommendations directed to Canadian universities which include a framework and rationale for support services for distance learners, as well as calls for more institutional research, for appropriate training for course developers and instructors, for coordination of support services for distance learners, and for the provision of more courses and programs through distance formats.
Whose children? The status of children of migrant workers in Israel
Keywords: Children, Legal status, laws, etc
Children, Israel
Migrant labor, Legal status, laws, etc
Migrant labor, Israel

This thesis considers the underlying trends which have brought non-Jewish migrant labourers and their families to live in Israel, a country with an immigration regime highly preferential towards Jewish immigrants, and restrictive towards others. Rather than discussing the circumstances of employment of the migrant labourers in Israel, I shall be concerned in this paper with reviewing the status of the migrant labourers' children. In particular, I analyse the accountability of Israel for the plight of this group of migrants, and the potential within Israel for the development of a mechanism through which full membership of the Israeli state might be granted to them. Israel is a fascinating country in which to study the impact of a nation's membership definition in a modern immigration context, whereby the reality of residence diverges from a theoretical membership model and leaves increasing numbers of residents without formal status.
The perceived value of drama by young people in coming to an understanding of personal self
Keywords: Drama in education
Self
Ego (Psychology)

This thesis investigates the value of drama in the development of the awareness of self as perceived by young people. It outlines the writer's background in drama and experience in this specific area. The literature review includes an overview of the work of John Dewey, Maxine Greene, Elliot Eisner, Augusto Boal, Jonothan Neelands, Kathleen Gallagher, and Dorothy Heathcote. This is followed by a primary research project, qualitative in nature, which reveals the stories and thoughts of the five participants who are from urban settings. The conclusion reveals the extent to which the young people involved in the study value drama.
Moving educational leaders from implicit to explicit leadership: an action research study
Keywords: Educational leadership
Educational planning
School management and organization

This study examines whether senior educational leaders from publicly funded school boards, colleges and universities in Ontario make decisions with primarily implicit or explicit models of leadership; and whether implicit leaders might find an explicit framework useful, such as one developed by the researcher (SELF—Success-Evoking Leadership Framework) or one that they construct. Using a customized survey, most leaders indicated they do not rely on explicit models of leadership. They were asked about their experience with explicit leadership models and whether they would agree to be interviewed, as a potential prelude to participating in the action research component—two additional interviews, four telephone conversations, daily e-mails and a daily log. Survey findings concluded that 82.1% of respondents were in their present position for less than seven years, and in educational leadership for eleven to twenty years. On leadership models, empowerment was used most (27.8%) with all the others being used equally (16.7–20.4%). Most used both an explicit and intuitive leadership model (39.9%), principally from experimentation, but 25% from graduate school. The basic analysis of the interviews was done with a word count. Of the leadership “keywords” selected by the researcher, principally from SELF, the most used were “values” and “learning” (eight times each). Many of the keywords unexpectedly appeared only once or twice, possibly indicating lack of a common vocabulary among senior educational leaders in Ontario. The researcher selected three primarily “intuitive” participants by balancing seven criteria. All met as scheduled, processed their e-mails and logs daily, and reflected on the relationship between their tasks and SELF, to which the researcher reflected in turn, with personal observation and experience. All concluded SELF had provided insight into their tasks and provided more “intention” regularly to their leadership, affirming for the researcher that an explicit leadership model can assist educational leaders in their mission, vision, values, culture, processes, decisions and actions. As a result of using SELF as a coaching vehicle, the researcher has amended SELF and recommended areas for further study.
Learning peace through praxis: An inquiry into social movement learning among Isaeli and Palestinian agents of peacebuilding social change
Keywords: Social movements, Israel
Social movements, Occupied Palestinian Territories
Arab-Israeli conflict, Occupied territories
Peace-building, Occupied Palestinian Territories
Peace-building, Israel
Conflict management
Peace, Study and teaching
Peace, Israel
Peace, Study and teaching
Peace, Occupied Palestinian Territories

This thesis is concerned with ways agents of peacebuilding social change emerge in intractable conflict situations, and more specifically, within the context of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). I investigated the different experiences and educational opportunities that might catalyze individuals to challenge the conflict status quo and evolve transformative practices for the purpose of social change. Through analysis of 13 life history interviews and participant-observation in four peacebuilding organizations, I concluded that multiple and dynamic learning experiences intersect to motivate activists to engage in peacebuiliding. For many, it is important to have access to settings in which to discuss, reflect and act on these experiences, as well as process their impact on one's identity. Through social movement participation, I articulate the significance of nonformal and informal peacebuilding education initiatives in providing such opportunities in the lives of Israeli and Palestinian agents of peacebuilding social change.
Standards of impartiality, independence and neutrality for arbitrators in international commercial arbitration
Keywords: Arbitration and award

Traditional standards used in litigation to deal with judicial ethics are not appropriate in the context of this alternative method of dispute resolution, that seeks a more flexible set of rules, opposed to the rigid norms surrounding the judicial system. Therefore, an alternative standard should be adopted to govern arbitral ethics. This standard ought to be responsive to the needs of the parties and take into account the particular ethics, usages and customs within this field, abandoning old paradigms used in traditional litigation, which do not fit well in this alternative method of dispute resolution. The search for an appropriate standard to assess the independence and impartiality of arbitrators in international commercial arbitration has become increasingly important, due to the increased number of claims against arbitrators based on suspicions of bias. Considering the particular features of the arbitral process, including party-autonomy, freedom of choice, and self-determination, this paper suggests that any rules attempting to deal with this issue need to be approached with a flexible view, in order to assure the integrity of the process without violating the governing principles of arbitration.