VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
A night at the Garden(s): A history of professional hockey spectatorship in the 1920s and 1930s

This study inserts the spectator into the socio-historic analysis of commercial sport in the interwar years, specifically in the context of North American ice hockey. It focuses upon two facilities, New York's Madison Square Garden (built in 1925) and Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens (1931), which hosted indoor sports spectating on a scale previously unseen in either city, Maple Leaf Gardens' scale was a direct response to the economic challenge symbolized by Madison Square Garden and this study begins with an examination of hockey spectators in New York. The emphasis then shifts to Maple Leaf Gardens and Conn Smythe, the man most responsible for Toronto's new arena, who was symbolic of interwar sport entrepreneurs who positioned their attractions as respectable alternatives to, for example, a night at the theatre. How should we think about spectatorship at Madison Square Garden and Maple Leaf Gardens? How did these buildings anticipate particular spectators and spectator behaviours? Who were the spectators that attended hockey games in these arenas? And what were the experiences of spectators within them?To make his arena venture successful, Smythe wanted, in his own words, "a place where people can go in evening clothes ... a place that people can be proud to take their wives or girl friends to." The result was a building that anticipated and produced respectable spectators at a particular intersection of class, gender, and ethnic expectations. The spectators who watched hockey games at Maple Leaf Gardens were predominantly men who earned higher incomes and were more commonly occupied in white-collar professions when compared to Toronto's contemporary wage-earning male population. Attending hockey games was a social experience regardless of social standing or gender. There were women who went to hockey games in the company of other women. Spectating has been constructed as a masculine pastime, but in the new spaces of sport in the interwar years, both women and men in Toronto used one of the city's most prominent public buildings as a site for their own socializing.
Distributed control of a retinal imaging adaptive optics system

In recent years a technique known as adaptive optics (AO), commonly used to correct the dynamic wavefront error caused by atmospheric turbulence in ground-based telescopes, has been studied as a means of correcting the dynamic wavefront error caused by aberrations in the human eye, allowing for higher resolution retinal images. In order to compensate for these dynamic aberrations, a compact AO system that tracks and compensates for these changes in real-time is needed. To realize such a system, improvements must be made in two key components, namely the control algorithms and the design of the wavefront corrector. The latter represents the main focus of this thesis. The control problem in adaptive optics systems is generalized to that of shape control for a flexible membrane representing a deformable membrane mirror used in the wavefront corrector. Due to the dynamic nature of the aberrations in the eye, the shape control problem addressed is the tracking of an unknown and time-varying shape for a distributed membrane (i.e., desired shape of the mirror). The proposed controller design approach relies on two steps. The first step is to construct a Q -parameterized set of stabilizing controllers for the system under consideration and to derive conditions on the Q parameter in the controller expression to achieve regulation. Since the desired shape of the mirror is unknown and time-varying, the second step is to derive an online tuning algorithm for the Q parameter in the expression for the parameterized stabilizing controller. The online tuning of the Q parameter allows the controller to converge to the controller needed to achieve regulation, hence compensating for the lack of information on the desired shape for the deformable mirror. Decoupling introduced in the closed loop system allows tuning to be performed using decentralized algorithms.

Keywords: Biomedical engineering
Mechanical engineering
A new model describing the lubrication of synovial joints

The purpose of this study is to explain why opposing cartilage surfaces in synovial joints do not wear, particularly under sustained loading. A new hypothesis, termed the immobile hyaluronic acid model, is developed to explain the loading problem and the role of hyaluronic acid in joints. In this model, the hyaluronic acid chains form an entangled immobile network spanning the gap between cartilage surfaces. During a squeezing motion, water and other solutes flow through this network, which significantly retards the outward flow and therefore the squeezing rate. An analysis is carried out, deriving the squeezing behaviour of a fibrous porous material between two parallel discs and a disc and parabolic surface, and the effect of relevant physiological parameters on the time for opposing surfaces to contact is studied. Under physiological conditions, cartilage contacts in 10 to 11 hours depending on whether additional solutes become trapped within the hyaluronic acid network.
"Give me real, don't give me fake": Authenticity, value, and popular music

This study examines the role of claims of authenticity in the production and reception of contemporary popular music. Through its equation with judgments of value, I argue that the concept of authenticity is integral to the way that musical practices are understood, organized, and categorized. This has implications for both the creation and maintenance of genre boundaries, and ultimately in the processes of canonization. In Part I of the dissertation, I address the theoretical implications of this model. Chapter 1 surveys theoretical precedents in philosophy, historical performance practice, and popular music studies. Before presenting the model in Chapter 2, I rationalize the centrality of the concept of authenticity to contemporary popular music and culture with reference to postmodernism. Lastly, in Chapter 3, I problematize issues of irony and value within the framework of the model. This chapter culminates with an examination of what I have termed the dominant discourse of authenticity. The enduring influence of this dominant discourse represents an important thread in the investigation of specific musical practices that follows in Part II of the dissertation. In Chapter 4, I describe the shifting claims of authenticity that resulted in the canonization of the Velvet Underground. In contrast, Chapter 5 outlines the unique conflation of values that led to the perception of new age music in general, and the artist Yanni in particular, as in authentic. Finally, in Chapter 6, I assess rapper Eminem's claims of authenticity. Within the context of genre and musical style, I suggest that his claims are characterized by an underlying contradiction between competing ideals of authenticity. As a preliminary stride towards a thorough and consistent theorization of authenticity, value, and popular music, I have developed a model to facilitate an understanding of the way that claims of authenticity are located, 'marked', and evaluated. Claims of authenticity---whether they are posited by artists or listeners---are situated within certain expectations of genre, identity, and social and historical context. Authenticity is subsequently defined by the degree to which an artist is perceived to have fulfilled or subverted these expectations.
Changing gender roles over three generations of Eritrean women

This thesis provides a theoretical and conceptual analysis of the changing gender roles of three generations of Eritrean women based on my recollections of the lives of my grandmother, my mother and myself. It is based on African feminist principles and examines Eritrean women's gender roles from the perspective of patriarchal institutions and practices and the influence of colonialism, neocolonialism and racism. My main findings are that traditionally Eritrean women acted in multiple roles to support their families and communities. They drew upon traditional networks of women for support and as a means of sharing and maintaining women's substantial indigenous knowledge. However, much of their work was concentrated in the private sphere and so was either unrecognized or unrecorded. Over my mother's generation and my own, the private sphere focus of women's gender roles began to shift and to take on a much more public aspect, particularly when large numbers of Eritrean women joined the Eritrean People's Liberation Front as freedom fighters. This research is based on first-hand, lived experience and my recollections of the oral history I heard when I was growing up. The three life histories and the changing gender roles they reflect are documented in a story format.

Keywords: Women, Eritrean
Sex role, Eritrean
Social ethics, Eritrean
Mechanisms of three dimensional ocular control as revealed in patients with skew deviation

Our eyes rotate with 3 degrees of freedom---horizontally, vertically, and torsionally---but torsional control is poorly understood. We know that in many visual tasks torsion is not an independent variable, but is determined by horizontal and vertical eye position; this fact is called Donders' law. Specifically, torsion is a linear function of horizontal and vertical eye position; this is Listing's law. I studied the mechanisms of these laws by recording 3-D ocular coordination in healthy subjects and in patients with an acquired oculomotor disorder called skew deviation. I found that both laws were broken in the acute stage of the disorder, and that both were later restored, though the linear function relating torsion to the other dimensions remained abnormal. These findings suggest that the neural mechanisms underlying Donders' and Listing's laws are adaptive: they restore the laws when ocular control is disrupted by a central lesion.
Power grid statistical analysis and verification in presence of leakage current variations

The ongoing trends in technology scaling imply a reduction in the transistor threshold voltage (Vth). With smaller feature lengths and smaller parameters, variability becomes increasingly important, for ignoring it may lead to chip failure and assuming worst-case renders almost any design non-achievable. This work presents a methodology for the analysis and verification of the power grid of integrated circuits considering variations in leakage currents. These variations are large due to the exponential relation between leakage current and transistor threshold voltage and appear as random background noise on the nodes of the grid. We propose a lognormal distribution to model the grid voltage drops, derive bounds on the voltage drop variances, and develop a numerical Monte Carlo method to estimate the variance of each node voltage on the grid. This model is used toward the solution of a statistical formulation of the power grid verification problem.
Dynamic pricing of multiple products with segmented customer behaviour

Three models are presented that dynamically price multiple product types. The first model prices the products over an infinite selling horizon, the second is a discrete-time model with a finite selling horizon, and finally we present a continuous-time finite horizon model. Numerical analysis exhibits that when the inventory is reduced to only one product type, then the pricing policies are non-increasing with respect to time and for higher inventories the discounting occurs earlier; however, it is evident that a product that has a higher expected rate of revenue associated with the subsequent price can be discounted at later times, and higher prices for that product can be used for higher levels of inventory. When pricing multiple products, it is observed that the decisions are not necessarily non-increasing with time and inventory, and that there are cases where higher overall inventory levels are discounted later than lower levels.
Children of war in Sri Lanka: promoting resilience through faith development

Building on my Master's research, the present study examined processes that promote adaptive and maladaptive courses of development in children of war in Sri Lanka. Particular attention was placed on faith development. The study involved 77 participants (62 children and 15 caregivers). Children ranged between 5 to 18 years of age. Caregivers were between 25 to 80 years of age. Participants included war orphans, non-war orphans and a comparison group of children from intact families. Children's measures included: Goodenough Harris Drawings (man and woman), Risk and Resilience Indices, Sandtray Analysis (Construction and Narrative), Stages of Faith interview (Adaptation of Fowler's) and a Sentence Completion task. Adult measures included: Stages of Faith interview (Adaptation of Fowler's) and a Sentence Completion task. A mixed methodological approach (quantitative/qualitative) was used. Scoring was completed by two raters, whose inter-rater reliability was 90% and above. Findings found similar indicators of general risk and resilience as in previous research, as well as idioms of risk and resilience that were context specific. Idioms of resilience included planned competence, provision of educational and social opportunities within orphanages, tailored caregiving, flexible support systems for parents in transition from trauma, and use of religious traditions for health promotion. Contrary to past research, most of these children demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity, with development progressing substantially better than expected given exposure to risk circumstances. Resilient orphans identified religious practices as important to them and used them to cope with difficulties, and promote well being and provide a sense of belonging. However, lack of contact with biological parents after being placed in orphanages posed a unique idiom of risk for war orphans. Unlike many Western studies, it appears that the children within Sri Lankan orphanages are given many opportunities which enable them to feel supported and empowered. Orphanage caregivers valued faith practice both personally and when caring for children, while comparison caregivers and children valued family and community relationships personally, despite recognizing the importance of having faith. Although all participants spoke of faith at age appropriate levels, orphans and orphan-caregivers were more action-oriented, while comparison participants were more philosophical.
Water quality modelling in pipelines including the impact of hydraulic transients

The quality of water delivered by a distribution network may degrade for many reasons. This research studies one potential cause that arises from the connection between water quality parameters and the hydraulic conditions experienced by a pipe system. More specifically, pressure and velocity variations associated with hydraulic transients or water hammer conditions, particularly through leaks and rapid device adjustments, have the potential to cause water quality degradation. To deal with the complexity of the interrelated threats and challenges to water quality conditions, an integrated approach to the analysis of water distribution system is required. To this end, this thesis presents a water quality modelling approach that is superimposed on a comprehensive hydraulic simulator. The result is an analysis tool that permits the consideration of a wider range of hydraulic conditions than is currently permitted by the conventional steady-state (or near steady-state) approaches. The challenge of approximating both the advection equation (AE) and the advection-dispersion equation (ADE) arises from the nature of the governing partial differential equations, which is characterized by a hyperbolic non-dissipative advective term, a parabolic diffusive term and a reaction/decay mechanism. In most pipeline applications, the numerical transport scheme has been coupled to a steady or nearly steady hydraulic model. The numerical challenge overcome here was to couple the transport equations to a fully unsteady, method of characteristics (MOC) based, hydraulic solution. This thesis presents two successful finite difference schemes, one for the solution of the advection-reaction equation (ARE) and the other for the advection-dispersion-reaction equation (ADRE), both under transient or waterhammer conditions. The numerical properties of consistency, stability and convergence of the proposed models are investigated, both analytically and through several numerical case studies. The case studies investigated revealed some water quality implications as a consequence of dynamic conditions in the pipeline system. However, many transient simulations showed no dramatic differences compared to results from a quasi-steady formulation in an extended period simulation. Depending on the properties of the system being analyzed, the effects of advection, compressibility and reaction are evident at various stages in the modelled response. The most serious water quality implications arise from a possible transient intrusion scenario. This contribution represents the first rigorous attempt to evaluate water hammer effects on the water quality evolution of a pipe system.
Canada and United States household consumption: An input-output life cycle comparison of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

The direct (use related) and indirect (production related) energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with Canadian and United States households in 1997 are compared using household environmental impact analysis. Indirect results are calculated using a bi-national economic input-output life cycle inventory model in conjunction with personal consumption expenditure data; direct results are estimated from published surveys. United States per capita energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with households are found to be 35% higher than in Canada, with the difference driven by higher purchases of electricity and hospital and medical care and by higher use of motor fuels and lubricants for personal transportation. Major impact categories are found to be household operation, personal transportation and food. Canadian production of goods and services is found to be 1.13 times more energy use intensive and 1.26 times more greenhouse gas emissions intensive.
A within family study of depression

The relationship between parental depressive symptoms and child behavioural outcomes were examined in a national sample of sibling pairs (n = 180 pairs, 360 children). Hypotheses concerning the potentiating quality of mother and father depression on child outcome and differential reactions by siblings to parental depression, explained by birth order and gender, were investigated. Repeated measures ANOVAs, revealed main effects for maternal and paternal depressive symptoms as well as an interaction between maternal depression and paternal depression in the prediction of internalizing and externalizing behaviour in the children. The interaction showed that when only one parent was depressed the child's disturbance was no higher than when neither parent was depressed. When two parents were depressed childhood disturbance scores were higher. No moderating effects of child birth order or gender were substantiated; there were no systematic differences between boy and girl, older or younger, siblings' reactions to either mother or father depression.
Characterization of alpha-catulin, a new dystrophin-associated protein

This thesis further characterized alpha-catulin by investigating its interacting proteins via a yeast two-hybrid screen. Utrophin and talin were selected and their interactions with alpha-catulin were further investigated via non-yeast methods. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic C-terminal dystrophin isoforms were found to be differentially localized in the heart with alpha-catulin, co-localizing with the latter. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that the dystrophin hydrophilic and hydrophobic C-termini are performing unique functions in different tissues. The dystrophin gene gives rise to a diverse family of transcripts generated through alternative promoter usage and alternative splicing. The most common splicing event involves exon 78 and changes the C-terminus of the resultant protein from a hydrophilic C-terminus to a hydrophobic C-terminus. Recently in our lab it has been discovered that the alternative splicing event excluding exon 78 creates a new protein-binding site in dystrophin that interacts with alpha-catulin, a relatively uncharacterized protein.
Same-cell, high-resolution tracking of nuclear and cytoplasmic fluorescent signals in live, transfected cerebellar neurons

In interphase nuclei of neurons, centromeres of chromosomes form clusters that change in number, size and spatial position, during differentiation. To study the dynamics of centromere movement, live neurons from murine cerebellar slice and dissociated cultures were biolisitically transfected with two plasmids. One plasmid encodes for green fluorescent protein conjugated to centromeric protein A (CENPA-GFP); another for red fluorescent protein (RFP). A method was developed for the repeated observation of nuclear and cytoplasmic signals, at high resolution, over time, in slice cultures. Purkinje neurons developed in an organotypic manner and nuclear signals could be re-located and re-identified for up to ten days in vitro. Laser confocal microscopy showed that RFP was expressed throughout the cytoplasm, including dendrites and axons, while CENPA-GFP was expressed in the nucleus as punctate or, unexpectedly, diffuse signals. Possible reasons for this dichotimy of CENPA-GFP distribution patterns are discussed and alternative protocols for labelling centromeres considered.
Effects of policy shifts on marital relations in a central-China village

This thesis studies the effects of policy shifts on marital relations in a central-China village. The intensive empirical research in the village contributes to understanding the impacts of the state policy and traditional culture on women and their lives in contemporary rural China. Given the long history of patriarchy in rural Chinese society, this research uses feminist theory on patriarchy, gender, and the social construction of gender to analyze Chinese rural life at different points in times. Sociological theory is used to examine the relation between structure and agency so as to study how structure constrains individuals and how individuals respond to the restraints. Qualitative methodology enables to study the research question: did the 1978-economic reform improve or worsen women's situation in rural society? To address this question, this study takes a long-term view on the effects of state policies on rural women. There are 46 participants (women and men), aged from over 20 to over 90 years old. They are divided into 5 groups by the year of marriage, starting from those who got married before 1949 till 2005. The grouping helps to learn villagers' perspectives and practices on particular event or events within different contexts. This, in turn, contributes to the major findings: women played a decisive role for the prosperity of the family and acted actively to improve their situation in the family, thus making contributions to the continuation, transformation, and reproduction of rural society. State policies played an important role in changing the rural society. However, changing rural ideology is the outcome of individual initiatives and agency in transforming family life. For the future research, I suggested such issues as old-age support, basic education of rural children, and out-migrating young people, with the focus on the influences and impacts of the state policy and the initiatives and agency of people in villages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)