VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The politics of keeping space: a multi-method study of the housing stability of 'hard to house' persons

This multi-method study focused on the housing stability of formerly homeless persons who live in two housing programs for 'hard to house' people in Toronto. Specifically, this study answered the following questions: (1) How do "hard to house" tenants who are in the process of being evicted experience and understand their planned evictions? What are their struggles with maintaining housing stability and where do they plan to go if they get evicted? (2) What factors distinguish 'hard to house' tenants in alternative housing who have housing stability from those at risk of being evicted? (3) What resources, programs and policies do the tenants and community housing workers think would increase the housing stability of 'hard to house' tenants in alternative housing? Study methods include long interviews at two points in time with twelve tenants who are in the process of being evicted and two focus groups with fifteen housing workers in the housing programs where the tenants live. A cross sectional survey sampled one hundred and six tenants, fifty-nine with stable housing and forty-seven with unstable housing. The survey questionnaire included standardized measures of quality of life, empowerment, social support, program satisfaction and meaningful activity. One of the central themes from the long interviews was the challenges participants experienced in the shared housing model and the impact of these on participants' well being. Findings from the focus groups illuminated the challenges of working within an empowerment model in a shared housing model. Although analyses of survey data showed no significant differences between the stable and unstable housing groups on demographics and other variables, a multiple logistic regression model identified social support and quality of life (satisfaction with living situation) as significant predictors of housing stability (p (less than) 0.05) when controlling for age, gender, income, race, empowerment and use of community services and support. Findings from the long interviews confirmed those from the survey, deepening and extending our understanding of why those two variables are significant predictors of housing stability. Implications of the findings for policy and practice include the need for more subsidized housing units integrated with the creation of more job opportunities, increased income supports and large-scale efforts to improve health, education and employability.
Black-eyed Susan: Blue-eyed schools : academically-oriented Black girls in Toronto schools

This study explores the ways in which academically oriented Black girls in Toronto secondary schools perceive, interpret and cope with issues related to their race and gender. It also examines their achievement motivation and strategies for coping with their status as academic Black girls. The literature abounds with research describing Black students who disengage from school or academics. Much less is known about the strengths and coping mechanisms of those who overcome barriers, such as racism and sexism, to achieving academic success. This is the first study that focuses on academic Black girls in Ontario schools. Through semi-structured personal interviews with twenty Black girls, this study provides some insight into their experiences of racism and sexism, their academic problems and their relationships with school staff, family, friends and acquaintances. They also describe the strategies they use for coping with these issues and the sources of their motivation to achieve. The findings show that racism and sexism are still major elements of school culture and that perpetrators include teachers, administrators and students. Despite this, the girls were able to cope with discrimination in ways that did not jeopardise their academic achievement. Contrary to popular belief about Black students, they consider academic credentials as crucial to the attainment of their career goals. This study dispels the myth which equates Black culture with nonconformist behaviour and academic failure. The participants displayed positive aspects of Black culture and identity, and a sense of pride in their African heritage. This research also confirms that school staff, families and peers have key roles to play in Black students' academic achievement. The girls had several supportive non-Black teachers who encouraged their academic pursuits. The study identifies additional ways through which educators and policy makers can promote achievement and support, not only Black students, but those from other marginalised groups. Most notable among these is the call for more Black and other â€œminorityâ€ teachers and administrators in our schools. The participants also expressed a desire for a more inclusive curriculum because the Eurocentric one currently used is not realistic and does not adequately meet their needs. They proffered additional recommendations for improving the school system, pedagogy and instruction and these are also included here.
Manufacturing the responsible citizen: a textual analysis of the civics and career studies texts in Ontario's secondary schools

In this study, I will examine the Civics and Career textbooks used in Ontario's secondary schools. It is my assumption that the textbooks are a reflection of existing political and economic structures and that the course material offers the student little opportunity to critically analyze existing power structures. My investigation centres on the â€œrealitiesâ€ created by the textbooks and the opportunities for change presented by the authors of the course material. Eight textbooks (four from each course) approved for use in Ontario's secondary schools by the Ministry of Education are used in the analysis of this study. The discussion at the end of the paper examines attempts made by the textbooks to develop an â€œidealâ€ citizen for placement in society.

Keywords: Civics, Study and teaching (Secondary)
Civics, Ontario
Social sciences, Study and teaching (Secondary)
Social sciences, Ontario
Career development
New materials, old ideas: Native use of European-introduced metals in the Northeast

The goal of this research was to explore the technological practices of the Wendat and Haudenosaunee individuals who were working these materials. It was determined that there is a predictable difference in the manufacturing techniques used by Native metalworkers of this period and contemporary European metalworkers, which supports the hypothesis that Native individuals were manufacturing these objects rather than acquiring them all as finished objects from Europeans. Differences in both the manufacturing techniques used and forms created were observed chronologically and ethnically supporting the assertion that smelted copper and copper-alloy metalworking was a newly developed industry primarily adapting existing Native technological practices to this material rather than a complete set of practices adopted en mass from Europeans.*This project is a detailed comparative analysis of the use of smelted copper and copper-alloy metals by individuals of the Wendat/Huron and Haudenosaunee/Five Nations Iroquois confederacies. This material was introduced into Northeastern North America by a series of European explorers and settlers in the form of finished kettles and sheet metal during the Early and Middle Contact periods (ca. A.D. 1480/1500--1614 and A.D. 1614--1690, respectively). Once acquired, Native metalworkers then transformed this metal into various forms of ornamental and utilitarian objects which were more meaningful to themselves and their communities. For this analysis, 14,137 objects of this type were examined from 68 archaeological sites and two amalgamated collections, principally using visual examination techniques under low-power magnification. Using correspondence analysis, a non-parametric comparative analytical technique, the collected data were used to discuss the character of the assemblages examined. This dissertation explored (1) the manufacturing techniques used to craft these pieces, (2) the differences in manufacturing techniques used chronologically and ethnically and (3) the forms of the produced objects.*This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a CD as part of the dissertation).
Molecular identification of novel aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulators

The Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) is a ligand dependent basic helix-loop-helix Per-ARNT-Sim transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes in a wide range of species and tissues. The best-characterized AhR ligands are environmental contaminants, which include polycyclic and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (dioxin). The molecular mechanism of AhR signaling has been extensively investigated in the induction of drug metabolizing enzymes. However, the involvement of AhR in biological processes remains obscure. The objective of this thesis was to identify novel endogenous modulators that may influence the mechanism of AhR action. Competitive binding assays performed with a panel of the most frequent oxysterols in blood revealed that 7-ketocholesterol displaced radiolabeled-dioxin from AhR. The search for additional partners of AhR was further pursued using a yeast two-hybrid screen where Nedd8 and Ubc9 were identified as potential AhR-interacting proteins. Initially the three novel, yet distinct modulators were validated for their independent interaction with AhR. Each modulator was found within an AhR multi-protein complex; however 7-ketocholesterol and Ubc9 independently functioned to attenuate the transactivational properties of the receptor, while Nedd8 augmented AhR signaling. These findings provided novel evidence for interactions between AhR and important cell signaling molecules. The molecular mechanism of AhR action within a specific cell type, organ or tissue as well as developmental stage may be dependent on the presence or absence of these specific modulators. Alteration of the AhR signaling pathway with these modulators may serve as potential therapeutic targets to inhibit the toxicity of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. Additionally, the identification of these proteins may reveal the importance of AhR signaling in a non-toxicological context.
Regulatory T cell blockade combined with pemetrexed in malignant pleural mesothelioma

The mechanisms of suppressing host antitumor immunity that impede effective treatment have been extensively studied but the roles of the major suppressors--regulatory T cells, or the effectors--cytotoxic T cells in malignant pleural mesothelioma have yet to be elucidated. The presence of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells has a favourable impact on prolonged survival whereas that of CD25 + regulatory T cells has a negative impact in patients with MPM treated with induction chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy. In an animal model of MPM, chemotherapy with pemetrexed induces regulatory T cell population at local tumor microenvironment that can be inhibited by regulatory T cell blockade using anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody. By administering anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody combined with pemetrexed, significantly better survival and stronger antitumor immune reactions were observed with increased levels of antitumor cytokines interleukin 2 and interferon gamma, and decreased level of transforming growth factor beta1. Immunomodulation with regulatory T cell blockade along with chemotherapy, therefore, is a promising approach that induces an advantageous antitumor immune environment, which may improve outcome in patients with MPM.
An evaluation of Toronto's Heat Watch Warning system

Toronto implemented a synoptic based Heat Watch Warning system in 2001. The objectives of this system are to reduce and prevent heat related morbidity and mortality. In order to determine if this system is effective at reducing heat related mortality and morbidity, an evaluation of the system is required. Through this research an evaluation scheme for Heat Watch Warning Systems was developed. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate the two components of Heat Watch Warning Systems in the City of Toronto: the threshold levels at which point heat alerts are issued and the intervention measures that are implemented when heat alerts are issued. Results indicate that Toronto has implemented a system that uses appropriate threshold levels. However, there are some concerns surrounding the ability of the intervention measures to protect those who are most vulnerable to the threat of heat waves.
Automated microassembly of MEMS using vision-based feedback control

This thesis introduces a vision-based feedback control system used in the automation of microassembly of MEMS devices. The proposed system permits the automatic grasping, joining and releasing of a micropart using a passive compliant microgripper, controlled using a six-axis robotic workstation. A vision-based microgripper force sensing method is proposed to measure the microgripper jaw deflections during the microassembly process through computation of the relative displacements of the right and left microgripper jaws with respect to the microgripper base. To measure the absolute position of an object in the image frame, two approaches are proposed. The first approach uses two-dimensional pattern identification, performed using normalized cross correlation, to estimate the degree to which the image and the object pattern are correlated. The second approach uses object recognition and image processing methods, such as zero-crossing Laplacian of Gaussian edge detection and region-filling. The relation between the displacement and the resultant forces of its jaw was determined through performing Finite Element Analysis of the microgripper. Vision-based relative micropart-microgripper position and microassembly force feedbacks are fused and supplied to a fuzzy logic controller that corrects the alignment of the microgripper and micropart and guides the system towards achieving a successful grasp. Depth-from-defocus depth estimation method is used to position two different microstructures to be along the same horizontal plane. It is used for microgripper-micropart positioning, during grasping, and for micropart-assembly insertion pad, during joining. The performance of both the assembly system and the vision-based force sensor are investigated experimentally, and their effectiveness is verified.
The evolution of the acoustic communication system in members of the genus Adenomera (Anura: a comparative approach

Little is known about the relative contributions of phylogeny and the acoustic properties of habitats in shaping the evolution of acoustic features in anurans. Herein I explore this question with regards to three distinct Amazonian habitats where four sympatric congenerics occur. The Neotropical leptodactylid genus Adenomera is used as a model system in which to address this question. Acoustic features are used to identify species within this cryptic genus, phylogenetic analyses are conducted, and a phylogenetic hypothesis is used as a template upon which acoustic characters are mapped and macroevolutionary patterns of evolution can be inferred and interpreted. Acoustic data provide compelling evidence for much higher species richness in Adenomera than currently acknowledged, with at least recognized 17 species as opposed to the eight nominal species presently accepted. Phylogenetic analyses include a combination of acoustic, morphological, and partial molecular data derived from the 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes. The monophyly of Adenomera is generally supported, as are certain topological arrangements. Macroevolutionary patterns of call character evolution suggest general lability. Main carrier frequency, though, deserves special attention, in that the shift from a lower to higher frequency constitutes a puzzle for Adenomera both in terms of habitat acoustics (lower frequencies carry farther than higher frequencies) and sexual selection (female anurans generally prefer males with lower frequencies). The derived nature of the main carrier frequency for most Adenomera is corroborated independently with acoustic information from aggressive signals. Measures of habitat acoustics in the three different Amazonian habitats where four sympatric Adenomera exist suggest that the physical properties of background noise, relative humidity and temperature are comparable across these three habitats. All signals attenuate and degrade with distance from broadcast source in all habitats, although attenuation may differ according to habitat.Combined evidence from phylogenetic analyses and experiments of environmental acoustics suggest that there are other evolutionary forces playing a larger role in shaping the evolution of acoustic characters. Finally, the discovery of increased species richness in this genus has important implications for assessments of amphibian populations, which have a bearing on conservation biology given the global phenomenon of declining amphibian populations.
The approximation power of priority algorithms

Greedy-like algorithms have been a popular approach in combinatorial optimization, due to their conceptual simplicity and amenability to analysis. Surprisingly, it was only recently that a formal framework for their study emerged. In particular, Borodin, Nielsen and Rackoff introduced the class of priority algorithms as a model for abstracting the main properties of (deterministic) greedy-like algorithms; they also showed limitations on the approximation power of such algorithms for various scheduling problems. In this thesis we extend and modify the priority-algorithm framework so as to make it applicable to a wider class of optimization problems and settings. More precisely, we first derive strong lower bounds on the approximation ratio of priority algorithms for two well studied problems, namely facility location and set cover. These are problems for which several greedy-like algorithms with good performance guarantees exist. Subsequently, we address the issue of randomization in priority algorithms, and show how to prove bounds on the power of greedy-like algorithms with access to random bits. Finally, we propose a model for priority algorithms in the context of graph theoretic optimization problems; the later class of problems turns out to be of particular interest, since it poses certain conceptual challenges when studying priority algorithms. Our goal is to define a model in which it is possible to filter out certain overly powerful algorithms, while still capturing a very rich class of greedy-like algorithms. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).
Transgressing limits: Kant's dialectic and the problem of metaphysics

Chapter three focuses on the paralogism of pure reason, specifically the paralogism of substantiality. It studies original time as pure self-affection, to show that the transcendental subject is not reducible to a unity of self-consciousness, but is open to ecstatic temporality. Kant's Critique of Pure Reason presents a novel notion of the limit of reason by grounding this limit in transcendental subjectivity. This grounding, however, points to freedom as transcendence, and as original temporality. Chapter two studies the constitution of the transcendental object in the Analytic and the consequences of the horizontal temporality of this objectivity for the antinomy of freedom. But freedom as transcendence is an open ground, what Heidegger calls a groundless ground, an opening that Heidegger does not himself discuss in relation to dialectic. This opening is centred on the Kantian thing in itself. Chapter one takes up Heidegger's controversial view that Kant "shrank back" from his implicit discovery, in the A Deduction, that imagination is the common root of the faculties of sensibility and thought. Heidegger's claims about theoretical reason and the transcendental imagination, however, show that there is a continuity between the A and B Deductions. Heidegger's interpretation of Kant in Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics is used to secure these results. Scholars often confine Heidegger's interpretation to its consequences for the doctrine of the categories in the Deduction. But careful study shows that Heidegger's position also leads to reinterpretation of the Dialectic and of the limits of reason. In conclusion, there is a kinship between imagination and reason that pervades the Critique, including the Dialectic. This kinship is suggested by Heidegger in his study of the A deduction, but is not taken any further. This kinship radically transforms Kant's project, for it means that transcendental illusion is intrinsic to reason as a free transcendence and that transcendental subjectivity is open to original temporality. Most of all it means that the Dialectic essentially depends upon Kant's discovery that sensibility as our faculty of receptivity has an element of spontaneity, and pure thought as our faculty of spontaneity has an element of receptivity.
The structure of attitudes towards science

The underlying structure of attitude questions on Student Questionnaire accompanying the School Achievement Indicators Program (SAIP) Science Assessment (1999) is investigated. An exploratory factor analysis is employed to analyse data from 13- and 16-year-old Ontario Anglophone students. Results support a six-factor model for both age groups. The factors for the 13-year-old students are interpreted as: (1) interest in and liking of school, (2) importance of and interest in science, (3) external locus of control, (4) extracurricular activities, (5) peer interaction, and (6) parental involvement. The interpretation of the model for the 16-year-old students is similar with the exception that items representing a combination of internal locus of control and engagement form a distinct factor and items related to extracurricular activities do not. The dimensions revealed by the exploratory factor analysis represent similar constructs to those conceptualized by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada in developing the questionnaire.

Keywords: Science, Study and teaching
Students, Attitudes
Effect of slag cement on drying shrinkage of concrete

Slag cement replacements for portland cement in the production of concrete are known to improve many properties of concrete. However, in the literature it is not clear how the addition of slag cement can influence drying shrinkage of concrete. In this study, two main aspects of slag cement are considered to influence drying shrinkage: first, the alumina content (Al 2O3) of the slag and, second, the sulfate content (SO 3) of the slag and the cementitious system. A total of 20 concrete mixtures were cast using two types of portland cement (ASTM Type I and II/V) and two slag cements with different alumina content. Gypsum was added to various mixtures as a percentage of the amount of slag cement used in order to elevate the sulfate content of the slag. The water-cementing materials ratio was kept constant at 0.45. All concrete mixtures were tested for free and restrained drying shrinkage, compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus and permeability. The mixtures containing lower alumina slag displayed comparable degrees of drying shrinkage with respect to the control samples using plain portland cement; on the other hand, the mixtures containing higher alumina slag displayed considerably higher drying shrinkage than other mixes. The addition of gypsum lowered drying shrinkage when it was used in the concretes that contained Type II/V portland cement and the higher alumina slag, due to the more pronounce sulfate deficiency of these mixtures. Keywords. slag cement; drying shrinkage; portland cement, sulfate content.