VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Studies of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults

'Background'. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and serious condition affecting children and adults. The symptoms of ADHD include distractibility, overactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness. The manifestations of ADHD in adults are not well understood, and the current methods of diagnosis are controversial. The present research, in two parts, examines the diagnosis of ADHD in adults, and cognitive functioning in adults with the disorder. 'Objectives'. The purposes of the present study were: (1) to determine if an adult can provide as accurate a rating of his own childhood and current ADHD symptoms as can an informant, and (2) to determine if adults with ADHD have the same deficits in cognitive functioning as children with the disorder. 'Method'. In Study 1, adult subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire rating their own childhood or current ADHD symptoms. A parent or partner was asked to complete a similar questionnaire rating the subject's childhood or current ADHD symptoms. The correlation between subject and informant ratings of inattentive symptoms, hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, and total symptoms was determined. In Study 2, the performance of 18 adults with ADHD on several cognitive tests was compared to that of 18 normal controls. 'Results'. In Study 1, moderate to high correlations were found between subject and informant ratings of both childhood and current ADHD symptoms. In Study 2, adults with ADHD were found to have an impairment in cognitive functioning. 'Conclusions'. An adult is able to give as accurate an account of his own childhood and current ADHD symptoms as is an informant. In addition, adults with ADHD have an impairment similar to that found in children with ADHD.
The Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways by the TEL-JAK2 Oncoprotein

TEL-JAK2 fusion proteins possess constitutive tyrosine kinase activity and confer factor-independence. Biochemical analysis revealed that expression of three TEL-JAK2 isoforms, in Ba/F3 cells resulted in constitutive association and tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and Ship1, and consequently, indirect recruitment of Grb2 to TEL-JAK2. Alternatively, direct Grb2 recruitment may occur via Y314 on TEL-JAK2(5-19) and TEL-JAK2(5-12). Studies with a TEL-JAK2(5-19)Y314F mutant supported a role for Y314 in Grb2 recruitment, since Grb2 association with TEL-JAK2(5-19)Y314F was significantly reduced. Activation of Map kinases (Erk, SAPK/JNK, and p38) was also examined. TEL-JAK2 fusions induced the activation of SAPK and phosphorylation of p38. TEL-JAK2(5-12) and TEL-JAK2(5-19) preferentially activated Erk2, whereas TEL-JAK2(4-17) activated Erk2 at lower levels. Activation of Erk was necessary for the factor-independent proliferation mediated by TEL-JAK2, while inhibition of p38 activity with SB203580 had no effect. Furthermore, mutation of Y314 did not affect MapK activation by TEL-JAK2(5-19), nor did the mutation affect Ba/F3 factor-independence.
The topography of hemispatial neglect, brain-behaviour correlations with CT and SPECT imaging in stroke

Hemispatial neglect, characterized as failure to attend to contralesional space, is hypothesized to result from damage to a network for directed attention which involves the frontal, parietal, and cingulate cortices, and the basal ganglia and thalamus. This study identified the neural correlates of hemispatial neglect in 75 LHD and 120 RHD acute stroke patients using structural (CT) and functional (SPECT) imaging. Multiple Linear Regression and Partial Least Squares were used to identify the brain regions that predicted performance on the Sunnybrook Neglect Battery. In LHD patients, the significant regions were the cingulate, frontal, parietal, lateral occipital, and temporal regions. In RHD patients, the significant regions were the cingulate, parietal, lateral occipital, and parietotemporal regions. Overall, the parietal region emerged as the powerful predictor of neglect behaviour. A qualitative difference emerged between the hemispheres on further inspection of neglect subtest and brain region correlations. The study shows the value of complementary structural and functional imaging techniques and neuropsychological tests of behaviour in elucidating brain-behaviour relationships.
An object-based analysis and model of on-line auctions

On-line auctions represent a unique form of e-Commerce that employs an arbitrated pricing method for the sale of goods. The challenges of designing such systems motivated the objective of this thesis: to create an on-line auction model that can be extended to meet different trading requirements. The thesis presents an Object Oriented Analysis of the on-line auction domain in terms of Information, State and Process. The information analysis identifies pertinent objects from which an Information Model of on-line auctions defining their relevant states, events and transitions. From this analysis, an Object Communication Model portraying object hierarchy and control exhibited by on-line auctions is created. Finally, the process analysis identifies the processing units associated with the actions of each object. Using this analysis, an Object Access Model that provides a global view of processing in on-line auctions is constructed.
Widowhood in the island where time stands still: Gender, ethnicity and citizenship in the Maltese Islands

The focus of this study is on the transition into widowhood as experienced by a sample of Gozitan women. In this text I utilized personal narratives, interviews, statistical and textual analysis to find out what barriers widowed women faced as gendered, classed, ethnicized and aged individuals in their communities and in their dealings with Maltese state structures, practices and service providers. This study looks at health, succession, tax and social security practices and discourses prevalent within the Maltese Islands. The focus is on how these discourses and practices positioned the fourteen women who took part in this research project, and how these women negotiated or resisted these discourses and practices. An underlying theme within this text is location and positionality. This text revolves around the location of the Maltese state within the global system; the Gozitan community's location within the nation and the women's location within the community. These multiple levels of locations had an impact on the kind of societal developed resources the fourteen women could access in their dealings with bureaucratic structures and practices. Knowledge of and comprehension of state discourses and practices also seemed to be influenced by the location and positionality of the community vis-à-vis the political center, together with the individual's location within the community. This research made it evident that the positionality of various groups within the nation, and the position of the women within the group, altered the experience of citizenship for those concerned. This text is also about the location and positionality of the 'author' and how the multiple subjectivities and locations were influential in the conceptualization, carrying out, analyzation of the data and writing of this text.
Pioneers of the women's movement in Japan, Hiratsuka Raicho and Fukuda Hideko seen through their journals, Seito and Sekai fujin

Hiratsuka Raichô's (1886-1971) statement, "In the beginning woman was the Sun," in the opening editorial of 'Seitô ' is generally regarded as the first Japanese "women's rights declaration." However, in January 1907, more than four years before the publication of 'Seitô' Fukuda (Kageyama) Hideko (1865-1927), one of the most remarkable activists in Japan's early phase of feminism, also published a magazine, 'Sekai fujin' (Women of the World), aiming at the emancipation of women. While Raichô's 'Seitô' started as a literary magazine among bourgeois and elitist women, Hideko's ' Sekai fujin' was published with the assistance of male socialists. Both magazines fought against the traditional family system, which was tormenting women in those days. However, 'Seitô' had a larger impact on society partly because of the public criticism against the group members. This thesis studies the significance of the two magazines, the social background which gave rise to them, and the two outstanding activists in the Japanese women's movement, Hiratsuka Raichô and Fukuda Hideko.
Bond stress and slip modeling in nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures

The stress transfer behavior between reinforcing steel and surrounding concrete through bond and slip plays an important role in the response of reinforced concrete structures, especially in their hysteretic response. This thesis studies the bond-slip relationship under both monotonic loading and cyclic loading. Two types of bond elements, contact elements and linkage elements, are developed and bond stiffness matrices are derived. Four bond-slip models are presented based on the findings of previous experimental studies. The degradation of bond resistance is included in the bond-slip models. The two bond elements and four bond-slip models are added into the nonlinear finite element program TRIX99. The finite element models are then used to study the behavior of reinforced concrete walls subjected to cyclic lateral load. The accuracy of the models are assessed by comparison of the finite element numerical response with experimental data from four reinforced concrete shear walls tested under cyclic loading. The NLFEA program with the nonlinear material models for concrete, reinforcing bar and bond-slip is capable of reproducing the important features of the measured hysteretic response of reinforced concrete walls with a variety of cyclic loading histories and configurations of walls. The program is able to successfully predict the load-deflection values of the reinforced concrete structures under cyclic loading. The proposed finite element method provides an efficient method for evaluating the monotonic and cyclic response of the reinforced concrete structures.
The self-organization of frames, measuring stable communication patterns in dyadic interactions

There is a substantial body of literature exploring dyadic communication process; however, many studies measure communication patterns as a linear ordering of behaviours and do not capture the recursive nature of human communication. Stable patterns of communication, called frames, emerge from the recursive interaction of verbal and non-verbal behaviours. The present study examined the impact that emotional intensity has on the emergence of frames. This thesis introduces a method of identifying and measuring frames by accounting for the recursive nature of human communication. Six couples were observed having a conversation at three different levels of emotional tension. By applying dynamic systems principles and conducting a sequential analysis, it was possible to identify frames. The results show that as emotional tension increases frames emerge from the interaction of the couple's verbal and non-verbal behaviours. State space grids are used to depict the results as well as characterize styles of interaction. The discussion explores possible implications of this methodology for social-psychological and clinical research.
The effects of exercise training above and below the ventilatory threshold in patients with coronary artery disease

The differential effects of training above and below the ventilatory threshold (VT) were examined in 35 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The LO group trained at 91% of the heart rate at the ventilatory threshold (HRvt) while the HI group trained at 107% of the HRvt. Patients exercised between 4 and 5 days per week for 13 weeks, for an average of 35 minutes per session. Changes in the V¤O2 at the VT were not significant in either group. Failure to detect a change in the VT may be due to the low absolute HR at which both groups were training (LO group 87 bpm, HI group 99 bpm). It seems that the 'absolute' training heart rate is more important than the heart rate 'relative' to the VT in providing a stimulus for VT augmentation. While the V¤O2peak increased significantly in both groups, the increases were not significantly different between groups. Thus, training above the ventilatory threshold did not confer a greater augmentation in the V¤O2peak than training below the ventilatory threshold in these CAD patients within the intensity ranges experienced in this study.
Parent-child communication and the psychosocial qualities of competitive junior tennis players

Study has revealed that parental attitudes and behaviors as well as parent-child communication play a significant role in a young athlete's psychosocial development. Using a group of seven competitive junior tennis players between the ages of nine and fourteen, and their parents, this study focused on four areas. Firstly it sought to examine which parental behaviours had an effect on the psychosocial development, training, and performance of competitive junior tennis players. The second purpose was to assess the impact of a parent-child communication enhancement program designed for families involved in competitive junior tennis on the psychosocial elements of ' competitive anxiety, sport confidence and sport enjoyment'. Thirdly, it explored the efficacy of the communication-enhancement program. Finally, it set out to explore issues considered significant by youth competitive tennis players and their parents.
Adequacy of Three Quality of Life Measures for Dementia, Patient and Family Input

'Objectives'. (1) To obtain a baseline profile of the opinions and experiences of patients mid family members about aspects of quality of life which may be important to them. (2) To assess The opinions of patients and family members on the feasibility of using utility-based instruments (European Quality of Life Instrument; Health Utilities Index, Quality of Well-Being Scale) to measure the quality of life of patients diagnosed with dementia. 'Method'. Forty subjects (20 mild dementia patients and 20 family members) were included in the study. (1) A semi-structured interview was conducted to determine which aspects of quality of life the subjects consider important, and whether or not these attributes are included in the measures. (2) After the respondents had completed each of the measures, they were provided with a questionnaire to assess their opinions on the relevance, acceptability, and sufficiency of these measures. ' Analysis'. (1) The data derived from the interviews was analyzed using content analysis techniques. (2) Differences amongst the measures; on the dimensions of relevance, acceptability and sufficiency were analyzed with ANOVA procedures. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Garden as phenomenon, method and metaphor in the context of health care, an arts informed life history view

This qualitative research project uses arts informed life history methodology to explore the garden as phenomenon, as method, and as metaphor in the personal professional lives of two women; one is myself. The garden as method explores my personal experience of integrating work with horticulture into my practice as a counselling practitioner. It also explores the experience of Felicity Lukace, who integrated her practice as a horticulturalist with work with people. It explores each of our discovery of horticultural therapy as professional practice, and considers how the formalization of intuitive and common sense knowledge impacts the practitioner and her work. As metaphor this is a story which speaks of the influence of the garden--of the life giving forces of texture and colour--on work with people--for Felicity with the elderly, for me with youth; within the institutions of our professions--for Felicity as a horticulturalist and for me as a therapist; within the institutions of our practice--for Felicity in geriatric care facilities, for me in a community based mental health clinic. Considering the garden as phenomenon I explore the particular significance of the people-plant connection, as a forum and mechanism for experiences of authenticity and connection. In my focus on the practitioner over time, I investigate how innovative practice is influenced and develops out of the personal and professional history of each individual practitioner. I consider the new practice in the context of personal and professional development. Implications in the area of practitioner health and renewal are explored. The processes, through which I came to locate a methodological vantage point, that could support, sustain and extend the area of inquiry and my development as a researcher, provide in themselves a parallel investigation to the focal point of my research. My detailed consideration of methodological issues is guided by the principles of creative, aesthetic and imaginative attention to process and relationship characteristic of arts informed research, and as such, offers an alternative approach to the treatment of methodological issues within qualitative research.
A Bayesian belief network for corporate credit risk assessment

The traditional methods used for credit risk have a number of shortcomings associated with them. Bayesian Belief Networks application for decision-making under uncertainty is widespread and the uncertainty and objectivity inherent in assessing corporate risk makes it an ideal application area. A BBN was developed to assess the credit rating and credit grade for a group of companies operating in the U.S. retail industry. The revised BBN outperformed the original BBN by correctly classifying 34% of the credit ratings and 59% of the credit grades as compared to 26% of the credit ratings and 40% of the credit grades in the original BBN. Also, the results suggest that qualitative information on a company has much influence in the assessment of credit risk. The encouraging results of using BBNs in credit risk assessment invite research in the development of better models, using larger and more representative data sets for improved analysis.
Gendered discourse and subjectivity in travel writing by Canadian women

The subject of this dissertation--non-fictional travel writing by Canadian women--has been thrice marginalized by scholarly criticism. As an interdisciplinary genre that is difficult to categorize, travel writing was long excluded from literary analysis. In time, some renegade critics turned their attention to travel writing, pointing out the genre's value as an aesthetic, historical, cultural, and autobiographical document. However, since they tended to ignore its significance as a gendered document, they articulated a gender-blind tradition of the genre that either excluded women travel writers or glossed over the gender-related difference of their texts. In response, feminist critics began identifying a distinct tradition of women's travel writing. However, they usually limited their analysis to nineteenth-century texts, thereby excluding travel writing by Canadian women, which is largely a twentieth-century product. Thus, travel writing by Canadian women has been marginalized on the level of genre, gender, and nation. This dissertation works on and through these levels in an effort to achieve a comprehensive, contextualized analysis of Canadian women's travel writing. Since travel and travel writing are thoroughly gender-inflected cultural practices, a substantial portion of the female travel writer's subjectivity is constructed by gendered discourse. In Canadian women's travel writing, woman-identified, feminine, and feminist discourses pervade the travel writers' inscriptions of their subjectivity. Chapter One of this study explores one manifestation of this gendered subjectivity: the feminist ethnographic discourse in texts by Margaret MacLean, Agnes Deans Cameron, Karen Connelly, and Bronwyn Drainie. In Chapter Two, travel books by Bharati Mukherkee, Daphne Marlatt, Rona Murray, and Myrna Kostash are analysed as feminine matrocentric discourses, wherein each author retrieves maternal memories and messages as she returns to an ancestral homeland. The travel books examined in Chapter Three are composed by incorporated travelling wives: women who accompany their husbands on their work-related journeys. In texts by Ella Manning, Philomena Orford, P. K. Page, Margaret Laurence, and Carlotta Hacker, we find feminine discourses of domestic support or public assistance in a husband's career, as well as feminist discourses of resistance to this incorporation and discourses of self-fulfilling travel experiences beyond wifely incorporation.

Keywords: Travelers' writings, Canadian (English)
History and criticism
Women travelers
Biography
Canadian literature (English)
History and criticism
Écrits de voyageurs canadiens-anglais
Histoire et critique
Voyageuses
Biographies
Littérature canadienne-anglaise
Histoire et critique
Nuclear topology of murine, cerbellar Purkinje neurons, changes as a function of postnatal development

Interphase nuclei exhibit a dynamic, cell-type specific topology of chromatin in differentiated cells. We predict that this topology is established at a particular developmental stage. We assessed the number and spatial distribution of centromeric domains in murine, cerebellar Purkinje cells as a function of postnatal development, and found a redistribution of these domains from the nuclear periphery towards the centrally located nucleolus, associated temporally with differentiation events. Centromeric sequences are not transcribed. Thus, we tested whether the above redistribution of centromeric domains is temporally associated with the 'de novo' expression of Purkinje-neuron specific sequences. Fluorescence 'In Situ' Hybridization to two sequences, RORÃ and PLCß3, showed that the spatial position of RORÃ, whose levels of expression remain constant following expression at E15, does not change during development. In contrast, the 'de novo' expressed PLCß3 relocated from the nuclear periphery to the nucleolus. We conclude that this relocation may represent one level of control of gene expression.
Compassionate economics, local employment trading systems (LETS) towards alternative economic relationships

This study explores in what ways one particular local currency, Local Employment Trading Systems, (LETS) restructures impersonal economic relationships found in our present global monetary economy by reconnecting social and economic obligations. This is accomplished in several ways. First I contrast the structural aspects of earlier and modern forms of currency. I then compare the impact of forms of exchange on social life and culture in Subsistence and Capitalist economies. Next I assess how local currencies support the informal household economy's emphasis on human relations based on care, trust, and personal understanding of one another. Additionally I examine the distinctive structural features of the LETS' local currency and its role in creating alternative economic relationships. Lastly I describe and analyse how integrated social and economic relations actually play out in women's experience in LETS Toronto in order to understand the central role and nature of community-building outcomes in LETS.