VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The Effects of a Supplemental Early Reading Intervention on the Literacy Development of Kindergarten Children Exhibiting Concurrent Weaknesses in Attention and Emergent Literacy Skills
Keywords: Emergent literacy
Inattention
Intervention
Kindergarten

This study investigated the effects of a supplemental prereading intervention on the early literacy skills of kindergarten children with co-existing weaknesses in emergent literacy skills and attention. Four children (3 boys, 1 girl) received one-on-one tutoring 4 days a week for approximately 18 weeks. A multiple-baseline across individuals design was used to analyze the effects of the intervention on children’s letter knowledge and phonemic awareness. Biweekly progress monitoring was conducted using curriculum-based measures throughout the baseline and intervention phases. Maintenance of skills was assessed six weeks after the conclusion of the program. The results indicated that children’s letter knowledge and phonemic awareness skills improved over time. The findings support the use of targeted early intervention to improve the emergent literacy skills of kindergarten students who are inattentive and at risk for reading failure.
Droplet Impact and Penetration onto Structured Pore Network Geometries
Keywords: Capillary
Droplet Impact
Inertia
Penetration
Porous Substrate

The impact of the water droplet on permeable substrate has been studied experimentally and numerically. Reynolds number (Re) and Weber number (We) are found to be the governing non- dimensional numbers. Porosity of the substrate is the geometry parameter studied in this thesis. Impact and penetration of the water droplet has been studied experimentally on structured parallel holes on a solid substrate to track penetration in the presence of capillarity. Liquid penetration into the holes was initially rapid, driven by the inertia of the impacting liquid and then much slower, caused by capillary forces that drew in the liquid. The rate of liquid movement was predicted by a simple model that included liquid pressure, surface tension and viscous effects. The area of liquid, solid contact inside the holes was significant, varying from 5% to 30% of the total droplet-substrate contact area as droplet height was raised from 1 cm to 5 cm. The enhanced contact area increased the surface energy of the droplet and reduced the energy available for droplet recoil. Physics of capillary penetration in our experimental studies extended our research to model droplet impact and penetration into structured permeable geometries using ANSYS-FLUENT 14.0. The significant objective of the numerical studies is characterization of the ratio of penetrated volume rather than droplet initial volume. Porosity of the substrate has been studied to evaluate the effect of this value in penetration regime. Investigating the effect of impact inertia achieved by changing Re number from 50 to 2000 and penetrated volume showed that increasing Re number increases liquid penetrated into the pore network. Spreading diameter and droplet height showed similar oscillatory behaviors, but larger degree in height rather than spreading diameter. In the end, dynamic of bubble formation at range of Re has been observed. Small bubbles start forming at Re = 200. By increasing Re to 500 entrapped bubbles into the pore network starts to disappear due to the larger degree of momentum of the impact which pushes the bubbles closer to the liquid/gas interface. For Re > 1000, formation of bubbles changes from spherical small form to large slug form.
Generalized Summation-by-parts Operators for First and Second Derivatives
Keywords: discontinuous Galerkin
finite difference
partial differential equations
second derivative
simultaneous approximation terms
summation by parts

Higher-order methods represent an attractive means of efficiently solving partial differential equations (PDEs) for certain classes of problems. The theory of classical finite-difference (FD) summation-by-parts (SBP) operators with weak imposition of boundary conditions using simultaneous approximation terms (SATs) is extended in several new directions. The SBP-SAT approach is advantageous as it leads to provably consistent, conservative, and stable higher-order discretizations, gives a straightforward means to develop numerical boundary conditions and inter-block coupling, and results in efficient parallel schemes with constant communication overhead, regardless of the order of the scheme. We develop a framework for generalized SBP (GSBP) operators that extends the theory of classical FD-SBP operators to operators with one or more of the following characteristics: i) non-repeating interior operator, ii) nonuniform nodal distribution in the computational domain, and iii) operators that exclude one or both boundary nodes. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of first-derivative GSBP operators are derived. For diagonal-norm operators, we show that if a quadrature rule with positive weights exists, then an associated GSBP operator is guaranteed to exist. This reduces the search for diagonal-norm GSBP operators to the search for quadrature rules with positive weights. Furthermore, we prove that dense-norm GSBP operators on n distinct nodes of up to order n - 1 always exist. The framework enables one to show that many known operators have the SBP property and gives a straightforward methodology for the construction of novel operators. We extend the GSBP framework to include approximations to the second derivative with a variable coefficient and develop GSBP operators more accurate than the application of the first-derivative operator twice that lead to stable discretizations of PDEs with cross-derivative terms. We propose a novel decomposition of classical FD-SBP operators that leads to efficient implementations and simplifies the construction of Jacobian matrices. We show how to construct SATs, derive various novel operators, and demonstrate that they have preferential error characteristics relative to classical FD-SBP operators in the context of the linear convection and linear convection-diffusion equations.
The Unity of Being: Groundwork for a Theory of Obligations to Other Animals
Keywords: "Animal rights"
Animals
Kant
Korsgaard
Law
Obligations

Is there a condition that we recognize in other animals that we must uphold as having absolute value, and that can limit our conduct as a matter of moral imperative? Animals are excluded from direct concern in Kant’s moral philosophy because they do not share in the condition that grounds the moral imperative, namely, the capacity to determine one’s own ends through reason. The reason we value our capacity for free election, however, is because it is the means by which we, as free beings, become unified with our own end. The condition of absolute worth that we must uphold, therefore, is in the unity of our purpose in our being. Animals, as an end of nature, are unified with their own end in their original condition and, therefore, share in the condition that all rational beings must uphold as an absolute value and an end in itself.
The UNCITRAL Legislative Guide, Model Law and Three Country Comparison
Keywords: Comperative Law
Model law reform
Secured Transactions
UNCITRAL

The UNCITRAL encourages States to implement a comprehensive secured transactions regime. In addition to the Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions, the UNCITRAL recently started drafting a model law. This thesis will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of model law reform. The reforms in Belgium, New Zealand and Australia show that model law reform can help States avoid drafting mistakes and make good policy choices. The implementation of a well-drafted and well-functioning model law can also increase economic efficiency and international economic appeal which can help outweigh the transition costs associated with model law reform. Model law reform does not solve all issues related to secured transactions reform, but recent reforms highlight the potential benefits of model law reform. The previous examples can help support the UNCITRAL’s project to draft a model law.
Choosing Mastectomy: A Qualitative Exploration of the Increasing Mastectomy Rates in Women with Early-stage Breast Cancer
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Decision-Making
Mastectomy
Qualitative
Risk Perception
Surgery

Context: Rates of Unilateral (UM) and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) for early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) have been increasing. Numerous factors for this rise have been suggested including the surgeon's preference, the patient's choice and the external environment. Objectives: A grounded theory study explored women's decision-making processes in their treatment for ESBC, and elucidated the role of the surgeon and the practice environment in the increasing rates. The Health-Belief Model was applied, discerning those factors influential in surgical decision-making shaping women's choice for UM+/-CPM. Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients to understand their experiences and decision-making which resulted in undergoing UM+/-CPM. Similarly, semi-structured interviews were conducted with general surgeons exploring their treatment approaches to ESBC. Theoretical sampling identified suitable candidates. Data were collected until saturation was reached. Constant comparative analysis identified key concepts. Results: 29 patients and 45 surgeons completed interviews. The `overwhelming threat' of breast cancer `was the dominant theme. Despite surgeons describing the high survivability of ESBC, patients misperceived the threat of death from their cancer, and strived to eliminate this threat by choosing UM+/-CPM. Surgeons described breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and UM as equivalent treatment options for ESBC, and frequently recommended BCT. Despite this, women requested UM+/-CPM. CPM was discouraged, as surgeons described no survival advantage and increased operative risks. Experiential knowledge was the most influential factor in patients' decision-making. Previous negative experiences of family and friends with breast cancer, translated into an overestimated risk of recurrence, contralateral cancer, metastasis and subsequent death. Patients' perceived the risks and severity of ESBC to be great, and believed that by choosing UM+/-CPM they would eliminate the threat of breast cancer. Most women did not perceive any risks of undergoing UM+/-CPM, yet many experienced concerns with disturbed skin sensation, cosmesis and body image. Conclusion: Previous cancer experiences and experiential knowledge are extremely influential in women undergoing UM+/-CPM. Women overestimated their risk and misperceived the benefit of UM+/-CPM as they thought it would substantially improve their cancer outcomes. As undergoing UM+/-CPM is not without risks improved discussion of patient sources of information and fears around survival may benefit surgical consultations, facilitating informed decision-making.
In-between Categories of Law: a Gender Variant Analysis of Anti-discrimination Law and Litigation
Keywords: Anti-Discrmination
Arab-Jewish
Mizrahi
Performativity
Queer
Transgener

This thesis offers a gender variant perspective on Anti-Discrimination legislation and litigation. Using queer theory, feminist legal theory and critical race theory, this thesis analyzes current debates within the trans movement regarding the use of rights based litigation and the fight for inclusion. I argue that gender variant people’s exclusion from resources and opportunities is inextricably linked, legally and affectively, to gender performance. I will show how performative aspects of the law can be brought forward by applying an “intrasectional” analysis of the protected classes relating to gender variant people within anti-discrimination law and litigation (ADL), and set the stage for the claim that ADL more broadly is intertwined with performativity. Reading the notion of performativity into legal analysis, this thesis suggests the possibility of strategic use of the existing legal rights as an instrument for change.
Examining the Delineation of Jurisdiction Between Human Rights and Labour Arbitration After Figliola and Penner
Keywords: human rights
jurisdiction
labour arbitration

There has been a long-time debate over whether issues conclusively decided at labour arbitration should be subject to a subsequent proceeding before a human rights tribunal. The author examines Supreme Court of Canada decisions dealing with re-litigation of issues before multiple decision-makers, and demonstrates how they are interpreted by the human rights tribunal. This paper identifies principles from cases before other decision-makers that can be applied to the problem of shared jurisdiction between labour arbitration and human rights.
Making More Valid Estimates of Treatment Effect using Observational Data in Uncommon Disease. The Warfarin in Scleroderma-associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Model.
Keywords: Bayesian
Confounding

Objectives. The aim of this dissertation is to develop and apply methods to make more valid estimates of treatment effect using observational data in uncommon disease. The objectives were 1) using strategies that reduce the threat of potential biases on the elicited response, to develop and evaluate the feasibility, validity and reliability of a revised belief elicitation method for Bayesian priors; 2) to determine expert clinicians’ beliefs regarding the effect of warfarin on survival in systemic sclerosis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) (expressed as prior probability distributions), and determine the importance of factors that influence experts’ use of warfarin for SSc-PAH and IPAH; 3) a) use data from experts to derive a propensity score in a Bayesian context, and, b) combine observed survival data from 2 large, inception cohorts with the prior probability distributions derived from experts, to evaluate the effect of warfarin on survival in SSc-PAH and IPAH. Methods. The methods include systematic review of the literature, application of principles of psychometric science, cross-sectional elicitation of experts’ beliefs, analysis of retrospective observational cohort data with a survival outcome using propensity score modeling and Bayesian inference. Results. I have developed a scientific method to quantifiably elicit experts’ beliefs in the form of Bayesian priors that can be included in models of treatment effect. This method incorporates strategies that reduce the effect of potential biases, and has demonstrable feasibility, validity and reliability. I have developed methods in a Bayesian framework to make propensity-score adjusted estimates of treatment effect using observational data with a survival end point. I have determined experts’ beliefs regarding the effect of warfarin on survival on SSc-PAH and IPAH, and have determined factors that influence experts’ use of warfarin in SSc-PAH and IPAH. Using these methods, I have found that warfarin has a low probability of improving survival in SSc-PAH and IPAH. Conclusion. I have demonstrated that making more valid estimates of treatment effect using observational data of an uncommon disease can be successfully achieved. Given the low probability that warfarin improves survival in SSc-PAH and IPAH, and availability of other PAH therapies with demonstrable benefits, there is little role for warfarin in these patients.
Control of Transient Growth Induced Transition in a Zero-pressure Gradient Boundary Layer Using Plasma Actuators
Keywords: Bypass Transition
Plasma Actuators
Transient Growth
Flow Control
Laminar Boundary Layer

The level of the skin friction drag depends on the boundary layer state, either low, for the laminar case or high for the turbulent case. Flow control is sought to attenuate the streamwise velocity streaks preceding sub-critical bypass transition to turbulence. In addition, the targeted instability is ubiquitous to the self-sustaining wall-bounded turbulence cycle and at the root of the long-term goal of turbulence control. The longer spatial and temporal scales associated with the laminar case make a physical demonstration of a model-based boundary layer flow control more tractable. The effectiveness of control systems is inherently linked to the ability of the actuator to alter the flow to a desired state. Therefore, actuators are a critical enabling technology component in any active flow control system. Arguably, the most important missing technology in boundary layer flow control is effective and robust actuators, which can be readily integrated with an active flow control system. Plasma actuators fulfil these characteristics and are an ideal candidate for the control of the bypass transition instability. In this thesis, the receptivity of the boundary layer to forcing by arrays of plasma actuators capable of producing streamwise streaks was characterized. Following, the transient growth instability was targeted in an open-loop framework to identify the physics of the attenuation mechanism, which was shown to be a linear process. The control loop was then closed with feedback from simultaneous spanwise distributed shear stress sensors. A wavenumber specific control objective was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of feedback for steady disturbance attenuation as well as to provide robustness to off-model conditions. For all cases, the targeted disturbance was reduced by over 94% of its initial energy. The control effectiveness was also validated for quasi-steady forcing by varying the input disturbance level. Ultimately, control of transient growth due to unsteady stochastic excitation is sought, and the dynamic response of the flow to pulsed actuation was studied to support the natural next step in the greater efforts of which this thesis is a critical component.
Measurement of the Inclusive Jet and Dijet Cross Sections using 2010 Data from the ATLAS Detector and Calibration Studies and Simulation of the Atlas Forward Calorimeter
Keywords: ATLAS
LHC
FCal
Jets
testbeam
QCD

Data collected during the 2003 beam test of the ATLAS Forward Calorimeter has been analysed, and results for the energy resolution and response of the calorimeter are presented. The effect of inactive material placed in the beamline on the detector performance has also been studied. A Monte Carlo simulation of the Forward Calorimeter has also been constructed, and results obtained from this simulation are compared to data, with generally good agreement found between the two. The inclusive jet and dijet cross sections have also been measured using 37 pb^{-1} of data collected at ATLAS during 2010. The kinematic reach of this measurement extends into the forward region of the ATLAS detector, covering rapidities that have not previously been studied at a hadron-hadron collider. This is accomplished through a sophisticated triggering scheme, in which jets in the transition region were selected provided they satisfied either the forward jet trigger or the central jet trigger conditions. The results are compared to theoretical predictions obtained using NLO event generators (NLOJet++ and POWHEG), which generally agree with the measured data.
Ahimsa and Humility in/for Philosophy of Education Discourse
Keywords: ahimsa
Gandhi
intersubjectivity
humility
peace education

Peace education has made significant and meaningful contributions to the development and maintenance of social justice based education. This thesis presents the argument that peace education’s adoption of a scientific and logical definition of peace potentially limits the application and effectiveness of peace education’s objectives. More specifically, Johan Galtung has explored and provided a view of peace that insists upon a systematic and delimited definition commonly employed by peace education theorists. In so doing, peace education has adopted an approach to conflict and violence that depends on many of the understandings found in the Enlightenment tradition. Through adopting notions of subjectivity and objectivity found in this tradition, many theories of peace education inadvertently incorporate the very premises to which these theories object. In response, this dissertation seeks to combine the work of Mohandas K. Gandhi and intersubjectivity as found in philosophy of education discourse to offer peace education a philosophical framework in which subjectivity and objectivity are determined through relationship and responsibility to the other, rather than scientific processes and assumptions. In order to demonstrate the benefits of adopting such a framework, this thesis carefully examines Gandhi’s theoretical framework to demonstrate its stark contrast to Enlightenment traditions. It then moves to a discussion of Gandhi’s understanding of Truth, its relationship to ahimsa (literally translated as “to do no harm”), and the impact this relationship has upon one’s responsibility to the other. It then compares and aligns the responsibility to the other found in Gandhi’s work to that found in intersubjectivity discourse and insists upon a notion of humility through ahimsa. In so doing, this work demonstrates the benefits of a re-defined framework on peace education scholarship.
Obstetric Violence in Argentina: a Study on the Legal Effects of Medical Guidelines and Statutory Obligations for Improving the Quality of Maternal Health
Keywords: Abuse
Maternal Health
Mistreatment
Reproductive Rights
Tort Law

Obstetric Violence is a pervasive phenomenon that affects women’s maternal health worldwide. It has been recognized by the WHO that abusive and disrespectful treatment in facility-based childbirth is a contributing factor in maternal and infant mortality, and the global community has adopted steps in attempting to identify and eliminate all forms of obstetric violence. Within Latin America, Argentina has taken proactive measures legislating the proscription of obstetric violence. This thesis seeks to examine the development of the concept of Obstetric Violence in Argentina, its organic evolution from internal medical regulations and guidelines to national legislation. The thesis will also track evidence about the degrees of success that Obstetric Violence definition, assessment and regulation have had in preventing violations of women’s rights—both on a practical level and in the legal redress of these rights through tort claims.
The Issue of “Deep Control” In Professional E-Sports – A Critical Analysis of Intellectual Property Structures in Electronic Gaming
Keywords: Control
Copyright
Electronic Sports

This thesis deals with the issue of what the author calls “deep control” through IP law in the area of electronic sports (e-sports). The term is chosen because publishers of electronic games are able not only to protect the market of their original product, the game, but can also control downstream markets. The production of e-sports competition broadcasts, intended for the consumption via viewing as opposed to the active playing of the game, is such a downstream market. So far, the legal issues involved in e-sports production have only attracted limited interest from scholars and case law addressing these particular issues hardly exists. Therefore, the first part of this work sets out to describe the structures of IP rights in e-sports with special focus on copyright law. Next, it is shown how these rights confer deep control onto the publisher. The paper concludes with an economic analysis.