VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of independent ambulation in chronic stroke survivors

A greater understanding of the impairments contributing to gait dysfunction post stroke can aid in the design of interventions that address the patient's specific needs. Objectives of the two studies involving chronic stroke survivors were to (1) characterize task parameters of treadmill walking that influence the degree of inappropriately timed muscle activity, (2) determine the occurrence of asymmetry and (3) establish the association between the degree of asymmetry and walking velocity. Findings indicate that (1) hand support and velocity influence the degree of inappropriately timed activity in tibialis anterior and (2) independent post-stroke ambulators fall into 3 discrete groups based on symmetry at the preferred gait speed. The results suggest that (1) treadmill training at the preferred velocity using the handlebar may be beneficial and (2) a classification system for post-stroke gait based in part on symmetry at preferred walking speed may be of benefit in directing gait retraining programs.
Teachers leading and changing: case studies of teacher leadership in large-scale reform

This is a qualitative inquiry about teacher leadership. Based on data from interviews with 60 participants, it investigates barriers and supports influencing the role of teacher leader within a large-scale reform initiative in one Canadian school district. This multiple case study and cross-case analysis explores the conditions impacting on five school-based leadership teams working to improve practice within the Assessment for Learning project in Edmonton Catholic Schools. Project emphasis is on building leadership capacity toward the development of professional communities, using assessment literacy as a curricular focus and vehicle for reform. The conceptual framework for this study centers on theories of change, professional development, and previous research on teacher leadership. An individual case study representing a withincase analysis of conditions affecting teacher leadership is presented for each of five schools, to preserve the integrity and unique qualities of each site. Case studies relate the experiences of the schools and their leadership teams, highlighting supports and barriers to teacher leadership as perceived by the participants. The five cases provide the foundation for a cross-case analysis of conditions that may influence teachers taking the responsibility to work as leaders in school improvement. Conditions found to positively affect teacher leadership include district coherence, commitment, and advocacy as well as administrative support; access to external expertise; knowledge of change and quality professional development; feelings of responsibility and high expectations for colleagues' learning; and, a clear role definition as change agents committed to shared goals of reculturing and the development of professional learning communities.

Keywords: Educational leadership
Leadership
Teachers
Educational change
Educational innovations
Education, Aims and objectives
Barriers to retention in the Toronto Drug Treatment Court program: what provides the impetus to succeed or to fail?

Drug treatment court (DTC) programs have been implemented and promoted in American as well as Canadian judicial systems as an effective tool for reducing recidivism rates. Evaluation of the program in Toronto revealed that the drug court participants' substance abuse and criminal behaviors are reduced while they are under the drug courts' jurisdiction and to some extent, recidivism is reduced after participants leave the program. However, while we know that there are positive effects of the program, the characteristics of drug-dependent offenders who benefit the most or the least from the DTC are less clear. A path analysis model showed that factors responsible for success or failure in program participation depend on past criminal history. Lack of stable housing was significantly associated with clients' retention. As expected, the stages of change data effectively predicted dropout status. Cox regression found predictors of dropouts such as, young age, criminal record, unemployment, and new re-offenses during program. A logistic regression model showed that clients considered 'unexpected retainers' were subject to conditions of social disadvantage yet quite motivated; whereas clients considered 'unexpected dropouts' had no housing concern, no indication of family problems but had criminal justice involvement in early stage of the program. Implications for the Toronto DTC, as well as suggestions for future research in the drug treatment and drug court fields are discussed. The purpose of this study was to identify those factors that determine study participants' expulsion or involuntary dismissal and long-term retention in the Toronto DTC. This was approached in three ways. The first approach was to investigate statistically significant factors that might predict retention and re-offence using latent path analysis. The second approach tested whether clients in higher stages of change remain in the program longer than those in lower stages of change and to predict what factors were responsible for dropping out of the program using survival analysis. The final approach was to identify characteristics and factors among clients who might normally be expected to not comply yet who do in the long run [unexpected retainers]; and who might normally be expected to comply, but who do not [unexpected dropouts].

Keywords: Drug courts, Ontario
Drug addiction, Treatment
Drug addiction, Ontario
Recidivism
Drug addicts, Rehabilitation
Drug addicts, Ontario
Eyelid force measurements and electromagnetic blink stimulation system: Development of a novel management technique for unilateral lagophthalmos

This thesis tested the feasibility of an electromagnetic blink stimulation system. An eyelid force measurement device was built with a speculum and strain gauge technology to measure the forces generated by the eyelids of patients with unilateral lagophthalmos due to facial nerve paralysis and normal subjects. The difference between the paralysed and non-paralysed eyelids of patients was 40.44g for blink force and 101.87g for forceful closure force. An electromagnetic blink stimulation system, consisting of a permanent magnet implanted in the upper lid of the paralysed eyelid and an electromagnet, was simulated using Maxwell SV. A maximal downward force of 0.51g was generated, smaller than the lightest gold weight implant. This system would ideally be integrated with a non-contact blink detection system already developed. Any force larger than that of the gold weight implant would allow for a higher closure velocity, increased blink amplitude and corneal coverage and less corneal irritation.
Aberrant transmembrane helix-helix interactions as a biophysical cause of human disease

Mutations that alter transmembrane (TM) helix-helix interactions can result in disease by compromising protein structure/function. Recent reports showed that TM-embedded polar residues play powerful roles in TM domain (TMD) folding by forming interhelical H-bonds (reviewed in (Partridge et al., 2002b)). Thus, mutations involving these species could result in disease by disrupting the pattern of native electrostatic links. To explore this possibility, we performed a statistical analysis of the phenotypic missense mutations listed in the human gene mutation database. We found that both polar to non-polar and non-polar to polar mutations are more often associated with disease in TMDs compared to soluble domains. This suggests that, in TMDs, both the disruption of native structure-stabilizing H-bonds and the formation of non-native structure-destabilizing H-bonds are frequent causes of human disease. To experimentally investigate these concepts, we developed a peptide-based system for the study of TM helix-helix interactions. This 'Lys-tagged' approach involves the addition of several Lys residues to both the N- and C-termini of a single TM helix. The resulting species are water-soluble, a property that greatly facilitates their purification and characterization. Furthermore, such peptides retain the ability to insert into membrane-mimetic environments to assume their native-like secondary and tertiary structures. Using such peptides, we showed that when applied to TM4 from the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator, the apolar to polar phenotypic mutation V232D induces the formation of multiple non-covalent oligomeric states through the formation of an interhelical H-bonding network. The powerful effect of this mutation is context-specific, since randomized sequences containing the analogous interhelical H-bonding components could not form similar oligomeric assemblies. Studies on the TM helix from myelin protein zero (PO) and its phenotypic mutation show that an apolar to polar mutation can similarly disrupt native state oligomeric states through mechanisms not involving interhelical H-bonds. We demonstrate that the native P0-TM helix forms a tetrameric bundle and that the phenotypic mutation G163R prevents this assembly through steric clash interactions. The research presented suggests that the proper packing of TM helices is vital to protein function and that TM-embedded mutations involving polar residues manifest their deleterious effects through a variety of mechanisms.
Calibration of the aggregate transit assignment model of EMME/2 using genetic algorithms

The study objective is to calibrate the aggregate transit assignment model such that the assignment output volumes match ridership volumes obtained by the on board counts. Specifically, calibration involves the determination of the optimal values of the following parameters: Boarding time, Wait time factor, Wait time weight, Auxiliary time weight and Boarding time weight. Conventionally, we use default values of EMME/2 or use a trial and error method for calibration. But such conventional methods do not ensure the optimal set of values. A more efficient method to determine the optimal values of the combinatorial parameters is to use Genetic Algorithms. Each chromosome in GA represents a specific set of parameter values that has a specific goodness of fit value. Finally, the best set of values was obtained through GA optimizer. This automatic method will help to get rid of tedious conventional methods for calibration of transit assignment models.
Family history of cancers, hormone replacement therapy and the risk of breast cancer in Canada

Recent evidence of the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) revealed an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer associated with the estrogen-progestin combination pill, though a decreased risk for exposure to estrogen alone. At the time of planning of this study, there was much inconsistency in findings from observational studies, explained, in part, by the differing estrogenic potencies over time, the introduction of progestin to estrogen therapies, and the examination of different time windows of exposure between studies. The impact of HRT may also differ by the family history of cancer, though this relationship has not been thoroughly studied. The objectives of this study were to determine whether a family history of different cancers, as measured by a family history score (FHS), and ever use of HRT use were associated with the risk for postmenopausal breast cancer, and whether there was evidence of an FHS-HRT interaction. Results indicate that HRT users were not at increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer (OR=0.74, 95%CI: 0.52-1.05) compared to non-users. Relative to no family history of these cancers, women with a family history of cancer of the breast (OR=2.45, 95%CI: 1.37-4.36) and breast or ovary (OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.35-3.85) were at increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. The FHS-HRT interaction was not statistically significant, however, analyses stratified by category of FHS (high, low, none) revealed a significant inverse effect of HRT use in women at highest risk for both a family history of cancer of the breast (OR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.10-0.71), and breast or ovary (OR=0.22, 95%CI: 0.09-0.53). These significant inverse associations are suggestive of a beneficial effect of HRT for women at highest risk based on their family history, and suggest estrogen as a viable alternative to prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy, as approximately 85% of HRT users reported exposure to estrogen alone. This requires further study. A case-control study nested within the Canadian National Breast Screening Study was conducted, with controls selected via incidence-density sampling at a case:control ratio of 4:1. Study participants (n=1,255) were stratified by menopausal status with only postmenopausal women (n=671 cases, 216 controls) included in the HRT and FHS-HRT interaction analyses.
A pilot trial of a home-based peer support program after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is performed more frequently on individuals who are older and sicker than in previous years. Increased patient acuity and reduced hospital length of stays leave individuals ill prepared for their recovery following discharge. Individuals experience pain, functional impairment and depressive symptoms; which predispose them to adverse events and impaired HRQOL. The objectives of this pilot trial were to test the feasibility of all procedures, specifically to determine: (1) an estimate of patient and peer recruitment rates, (2) peer compliance and dose of the intervention, (3) peer satisfaction with orientation, (4) peer support activities offered to patients, and (5) patients' satisfaction with peer support. Additionally, exploratory research questions were used to determine indicators of the effects of peer support on HRQOL, pain, pain-related interference with activities, function, depressive symptoms, and enrolment in cardiac rehabilitation.
Thomas Paine: Conscience of liberalism. A comparison of the political philosophy of Paine and Locke

This dissertation compares Thomas Paine's political thought with that of John Locke in order to illuminate the central principles of Paine's thought and establish his importance among 18th century liberal thinkers. A secondary goal is to gain a better understanding of liberalism, and more specifically, early liberalism's understanding of the subjects Paine considers in his works: human nature, equality, private property, good government, and religion. Paine's unswerving commitment to principle and theory leads him to be an excellent critic of early liberal political philosophy, which, though animated by theory, remains grounded decisively in practical considerations. As this comparison with Locke reveals, earlier liberals do not share Paine's optimism; they temper their ambition with a radical skepticism concerning man's intellectual and moral capacity, which leads them to pursue goals that are more modest. As an apostle of the enlightenment, Paine lacks this skepticism; this dissertation demonstrates that this is a decisive failing of Paine's political thought, a consideration of which nonetheless sheds considerable light on the limits of what a liberal society---and liberalism itself---can accomplish. Paine is particularly adept at---and largely succeeds in---reminding liberals of the great promise of their political arrangement. He is convinced that if man constantly refers to the guiding principles of liberalism---liberty, equality, and the rational consideration of one's interest---he can fulfill that promise. Thus, it is by reminding liberals of what they ought to do that Thomas Paine establishes himself as the conscience of liberalism.
Transplantation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells in the injured adult rat spinal cord

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) have previously been identified in both the mammalian brain and spinal cord. They have the ability to self-renew and are multipotential for both neurons and glia. It has been suggested that they can be used to repair the spinal cord by generating cells useful for repair and an environment that would promote axonal regeneration. It has also been suggested that transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) into the injured spinal cord may provide therapeutic benefit. We show here that transplantation of adult rat neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) into the injured spinal cord results in mainly glial differentiation of the transplanted cells but poor long term survival. NSPCs have better survival if transplanted rostral and caudal to the lesion, when transplanted in a delayed fashion at 9 days, and if high dose (20 mg/kg/day) cyclosporine is used. In contrast, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) survive well and form a bridge across the lesion cavity, but do not differentiate into cells of neural lineage. We were unable to demonstrate functional improvement after transplantation of either NSPCs or BMSCs after 35g clip compression injury. We also transplanted both cell types alone and in combination into a 27g clip injury model. We hypothesized that BMSCs would form a scaffold upon which NSPCs could be seeded, to improve survival of the NSPCs, and improve functional recovery. This study demonstrated that this strategy of sequential transplantation of BMSCs and NSPCs trends toward improved cell survival of the NSPCs, but does not lead to improved functional recovery. However, we did find a significant improvement in functional recovery in rats receiving spinal cord derived NSPCs (SC-NSPCs) only in this 27g clip injury model. NSPCs differentiated mainly into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, and were seen enveloping non-myelinated axons. The early recovery seen in these experiments, along with the increase in host oligodendrocytes at 7 days, is supportive of a neuroprotective action of SC-NSPCs. A retrograde tracer analysis indicates that SC-NSPC transplantation contributed to either axonal preservation or regeneration, and that the BMSCs did not.
An investigation of the relationship between maternal attachment-related characteristics and the aggressive behaviour of four, five or six year-old sons

The aim of this study was to identify and investigate attachment-related aspects of the mother's internal representational world that may contribute to the prediction of childhood aggressive disorders. Drawing on the theoretical framework of attachment and object relations theory, aggression was presented as a hypothesized consequence of threats to availability of the attachment figure, "frightened/frightening" care giving and defensive distortions associated with unresolved maternal attachment. Twenty, single parent, mother-son dyads participated in the study. The child's score on the Externalizing Problem factor of the Child Behavior Checklist was used to determine levels of aggression. The Family Environment Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Adult Attachment Interview provided measures of the family environment and maternal characteristics. A set of hypotheses linking attachment-related constructs, the family environment and the adaptation of sons were explored. From the regression analyses a three variable model including: (1) unresolved state of mind regarding trauma, (2) the intensity and degree of expressed anger and conflict within the home and, (3) mothers' level of reflective-self function, was predictive of aggression. The unresolved trauma and reflective-self function scores were also significant in differentiating between clinical and non-clinical categorical comparisons of aggressive behaviour. The results of this study indicate that the development of externalizing disorders and childhood aggression may be associated with different maternal histories. In particular, the findings suggest that the impact of unresolved trauma experiences on the organization of the mother's internal world and her capacity to reflect on psychological states in self and other may have serious implications for parent-child interactions and the child's development. Findings provide further evidence of links between maternal attachment-related histories, disruptions in the attachment system and the subsequent adaptation of children. Finally, while the results provide strong empirical evidence for the theoretically predicted risk associated with an unresolved parent-child relationship, they also suggest that "organized" attachment patterns and the capacity to reflect upon psychological states perform a protective function in promoting the adaptive functioning of children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords: Child psychotherapy
Temperament in children
Maternal behavior
Infants
Mothers and sons
Mother and child
Ugo Foscolo e la cultura inglese: uno studio dell'Epistolario foscoliano

This thesis examines the relationship of Ugo Foscolo (1778-1827) to English culture through an analysis of his letters. It provides a comprehensive view of how Foscolo related to the literature, philosophy, and culture of England, the country where he lived in voluntary exile from 1816 to 1827. Foscolo produced a celebrated translation of Laurence Sterne's A Sentimental Journey, and the first part of the dissertation examines the influence of Sterne's prose on Foscolo's private correspondence. This analysis provides evidence of the central role played by Sterne's sentimental humour in Foscolo's self-representation; it also determines the different stages of such influence on Foscolo's works in general and on his Epistolario in particular. The second part of the thesis studies the philosophical correlations between Foscolo's epistemological views and the philosophy of Locke and Hume. It demonstrates the central influence of English empiricism on Foscolo's theory of knowledge, and on his political, ethical, and aesthetic principles. Locke's philosophy confirmed Foscolo in his anti-metaphysical thinking and supported his strong opposition to German idealism which was on the rise. Foscolo's letters constitute proof of the great extent to which the writer's philosophical beliefs were consistent with Hume's theory of passions, and this study also provides a link between Foscolo's analysis of pyrrhonism (or radical scepticism) and Hume's opinion on this key philosophical issue. The last chapter of this work focuses on Foscolo's views of English writers. It attests to Foscolo's extensive knowledge of eighteenth-century didactic poetry, his fondness for satirical and sentimental writers, the often ambiguous view he expressed of Shakespeare, the mixed admiration he showed for Pope, and his in depth reading of Johnson. A significant part of the chapter is devoted to Foscolo's analysis of contemporary English writers, his negative response towards the historical novel and much of contemporary Romanticism, and to his sympathetic insight into Byron as a man and an artist. This thesis provides a comprehensive and diachronic reading of the Epistolario, which reveals the rich and complex relations between the Italian writer and the culture of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century England.