VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Incentives and Productivity in the Economics of Education

Recent advances in the literature examining the importance of teachers in student learning have led to credible new measures of teacher productivity. Simultaneously, the spread of school-based performance incentives in the United States has fueled a separate literature exploring the way that school performance changes with incentives. These literatures have largely developed independently, as most studies examining teacher effectiveness treat productivity as a fixed trait. This thesis brings the two literatures together, showing how teacher productivity depends on performance incentives. Chapter 1 examines the effects of school competition on teacher productivity in a setting where public schools face pre-existing accountability incentives. Combining rich student- and teacher-level data in a state that witnessed an expansion of charter schools, I use a difference-in differences strategy to show that traditional public schools (TPSs) become 0.12 standard deviations more productive when facing charter school competition. Teacher value-added estimates indicate that the school-level improvement is driven entirely by within-teacher performance improvements rather than TPSs hiring more productive teachers. Chapter 2 explores educator responses to competition in light of prevailing accountability incentives. I propose a model in which teachers differ in their intrinsic motivation, showing the accountability scheme allows unmotivated teachers to exert relatively little effort. Competition then causes school principals to monitor unmotivated teachers more intensively, raising their effort. Consistent with the model, my estimates show that the least-productive teachers drive the average improvement, thus demonstrating that competitive incentives compensate for weaknesses in accountability-program design. Chapter 3, joint with Hugh Macartney and Robert McMillan, develops an empirical approach to separate the incentive-varying component of teacher productivity -- teacher effort -- from its incentive-invariant counterpart -- teacher ability. The identification strategy uses exogenous variation in incentives from a federal accountability scheme in North Carolina. We find that both effort and ability affect contemporaneous test scores, though with effort having a smaller effect. Both also affect future test scores, with the effect of effort persisting at approximately 25 percent of ability. We show that accountability incentives affect conventional value-added measures, and have implications for the cost effectiveness of policies designed to improve productivity.

Advisor: McMillan, Robert
Stereoselective Heterocycle Synthesis via Alkene Difunctionalization: Bulky Phosphine Ligands Enable Pd-Catalyzed Arylhalogenation, Arylcyanation and Diarylation

Due to the ubiquity of heterocyclic scaffolds in naturally occurring compounds and pharmaceutical drugs, an important longterm goal in organic chemistry has been developing new heterocycle syntheses. Research in the Lautens group has led to many advances in this field, specifically using Rh and Pd as catalysts. Our group recently discovered the Pd-catalyzed aryliodination reaction which proceeds via a challenging C(sp3)–I reductive elimination from Pd(II), and affords access to diverse 5- and 6-membered heterocycles. This reaction was a starting point for the research described herein which involves several new stereoselective heterocycle syntheses. Chapter 1 describes the synthesis of three different classes of heterocycles using the alkene aryliodination methodology: isochromans, chromans, and dihydroisoquinolinones. The use of amine bases was found to be key in these transformations. The dihydroisoquinoline synthesis was employed as the key carbon–carbon bond forming step in the formal synthesis of the polycyclic alkaloid natural product (+)-corynoline. Chapter 2 discusses the development of a two highly diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed arylcyanation methodologies which were inspired by a challanging alkylation step in the aforementioned formal synthesis. The first methodology generates enantioenriched nitrile-containing dihydroisoquinolinones, and was found to irradicate multiple problems that were faced during our initial route to (+)-corynoline. The second method utilized indoles as substrates in order to execute the first dearomative bisfunctionalization via arylcyanation. Chapter 3 discusses the extention of the indole dearomatization methodology wherein both a dearomative syn 1,2-diarylation and a syn 1,2-arylvinylation were achieved. This methodology utilizes readily available aryl and vinyl boroxines as coupling partners, and exhibits an extremely large substrate scope where products can be obtained as single diastereomers. Chapter 4 discusses the use of diiodinated aromatic compounds in a site-selective intramolecular aryliodination, as well as an intramolecular aryliodination/intermolecular Mizoroki-Heck reaction. The Pd/QPhos combination is capable of undergoing reversible oxidative addition to aromatic carbon–halogen bonds, and this rare characteristic is what allows this reaction to proceed to high levels of conversion.

Keywords: Arylation
Carbohalogenation
Catalysis
Cyanation
Oxidative Addition
Palladium
Advisor: Lautens, Mark
Innate Immune Response Polarization and Treatment Potential in a Pre-clinical Model of Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world, depriving older individuals of their central vision and their autonomy. At present, no treatments exist for dry AMD, nor are there animal models that reproduce the complex clinical fundus autofluorescence (FAF) findings of end-stage blinding complications, such as geographic atrophy (GA) - patches of tissue loss of the RPE and overlying neuroretina. The objective of this study was to characterize the immune response and macrophage polarization in a rodent model of GA using clinically relevant imaging modalities, and determine whether modulation of this response would alter atrophy progression. We administered sodium iodate to Sprague Dawley rats to induce loss of the RPE and subsequently the photoreceptors, resulting in retinal atrophy, and monitored the changes using a clinical confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO). Using the FAF channel typically employed for patients in the clinic, we have characterized five stages of atrophy progression that occurs over the period of acute RPE loss and chronic tissue response. This was further observed with our newly developed Delayed Near-Infrared Analysis (DNIRA) technique in the near-infrared channel. This novel finding also led us to detect macrophages in the areas of bright FAF, and using modified DNIRA techniques we have been able to identify and track macrophages directly in vivo. By using inflammatory markers and quantitative PCR for polarized macrophage phenotypes on retinal and eyecup tissue samples, we identified that inflammatory M1 macrophages can be detected during the stages of atrophy progression, and that the overall tissue profile is heavily skewed towards M1 polarization. By employing intraocular gadolinium chloride and subsequently an M1-blocking drug bindarit to prevent the macrophage response, we have shown that atrophy can be prevented and that the in vivo and tissue phenotypes can be virtually normalized if inflammation is blocked. On the other hand, by further propagating the inflammatory response by combining NaIO3 with nitroglycerin, the atrophy is expanded, which can also be subsequently blocked by bindarit. These unprecedented findings have strong implications for translation to the clinical setting for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of late stage dry AMD.

Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration
Fundus autofluorescence
Geographic atrophy
Macrophage polarization
Retinal pigment epithelium
Advisor: Boyd, Shelley
Glutamatergic mechanisms in behavioural sensitization to ethanol

Repeated exposure to ethanol (EtOH) in mice produces behavioural sensitization. However, not all mice sensitize to EtOH and in any cohort high-sensitizers (HS) can readily be distinguished from low-sensitizers (LS). The neural mechanisms mediating vulnerability and resistance to EtOH sensitization remain unclear. Given the prominent role of glutamate in neuroplasticity, we examined whether this system might explain the variable response to EtOH. In the first set of experiments, we measured nucleus accumbens (NAc) glutamate levels in LS and HS mice following an EtOH challenge two weeks after sensitization development. EtOH-induced glutamate release in the NAc was present in HS mice and use of a glutamate release blocker prevented the expression of sensitization. To ascertain whether NAc glutamate was also elevated in HS mice during the development of sensitization, we measured levels after the 1st and 5th EtOH injection and found them unchanged in HS mice. These results suggest that NAc glutamate may not be necessary for the development of EtOH sensitization, but it appears essential for the expression of a sensitized response. iii We next studied the role of NMDARs in EtOH sensitization. LS mice demonstrated elevated NMDAR subunit gene expression across the brain compared to HS and saline-treated mice. However, NMDAR antagonism with MK-801 and CGS 19755 did not interfere with EtOH sensitization, indicating perhaps that NMDARs may not be crucial to sensitization. A final goal was to examine whether LS and HS mice differ in the expression of the plasticity markers pCREB, Bdnf, trkB, and Arc, and if they show structural changes in NAc neurons. HS mice showed increased pCREB expression in the NAc. LS mice showed reduced trkB and Bdnf expression across the brain, however inhibition of BDNF-TrkB signaling had no effect on EtOH sensitization. LS mice also presented greater stubby spine density in the NAc and increased Arc mRNA in several brain areas when compared to saline controls and HS mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate variation in the glutamate system between LS and HS mice. This thesis discusses these differences and how they may contribute to individual differences in sensitization response.

Keywords: Addiction
Ethanol
Glutamate
Locomotor activity
NMDA receptor
Sensitization
Advisor: Nobrega, Jose N
Investigation of Thermal, Mechanical, and Tribological Behaviour of Biobased-resin-crosslinked, Sisal-fibre-reinforced Epoxy Composites

The wide-reaching potential demands for exchanging petroleum-derived raw materials with renewable plant-based ones in the production of valuable polymeric materials and composites are quite substantial from the collective and ecological viewpoints. Hence, cheap renewable sources has profoundly drawn attention by many investigators for polymer composite processing. Among them, biobased resin and natural fibres are likely to be the ideal alternative feedstock, derived from plant sources, are found in abundance in the world.The significant feature of these types of materials is that they can be designed and tailored to meet diverse requirements.The actual challenge exists in finding applications, which would use adequately large amounts of these materials allowing biodegradable polymers to compete economically in the market.Absence of materialsâ s mechanical and tribological characterization have created an awareness to accomplish this crucial objective. In order to comprehend the feasibility of biobased materials incorporation in polymer composite processing for structural and tribological application , this thesis work elucidates the study of friction and wear characteristics of epoxy matrix and composites made out of biobased crosslinking agent and natural fibre available profusely in plants. An epoxy resin was cross-linked with synthetic and bio-based cross-linking agents, and the effects of this cross-linking on the resinâ s mechanical and tribological properties were investigated.The determined concentration of biobased crosslinking agent was optimized by comparing epoxy network tensile strength properties. The effect of crosslinker concentration, reinforcement agent was studied under dry sliding.The dry-sliding wear resistance property of bio-based cross-linker-cured, sisal fibre reinforced epoxy network was found to be superior, due to enhanced flexibility. The functional groups, nature of curing and degradation of epoxy resin with different crosslinking agent was studied through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermograviemetric analysis technique. The wear tracks were quantified with scanning electron microscope and optical microscope.The numerical analysis of the dry sliding wear testing process further confirmed the experimental findings as they related to the effects of normal load on the specific wear rate of composites. An empirical relationship between wear behavior and mechanical properties of epoxy network was established.

Keywords: Bio cross-linking agent
Dry sliding wear
Epoxy composite
Phenalkamine
Polymer Tribology
Advisor: Sain, Mohini Mohan
Nayak, Sanjay Kumar
Automated Brain Mapping to Evaluate the Relationship between Neurodegeneration, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Structural Covariance Network Disruption in Alzheimer's Disease

Humans are currently living longer than any other period in history. However, gains in life expectancy do not portend a commensurate increase in quality of life years, particularly in persons with dementia. This is pertinent as the number of persons suffering from Alzheimerâ s disease (AD) is expected to double to over a million within a generation in Canada. The pathological underpinnings of AD remain unclear but are thought to target large-scale brain systems. It is posited that disease of the brainâ s small blood vessels may contribute to AD progression by disrupting structural brain networks that subserve complex cognitive routines. Therefore, the overarching aim of this dissertation is to determine the contribution of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) versus coexistent neurodegeneration to brain network disruption in AD. The first part of this thesis presents and validates a state-of-the-art automated hippocampal segmentation technique for magnetic resonance imaging to accurately measure neurodegenerative status in mixed disease samples. The second part of this thesis assesses the relationship between hippocampal volume, SVD burden and grey matter cortico- and subneocortico-cortical network hub disruption. Finally, we extend these findings by introducing a method we call covariance-based connectomics to characterize how cortex-wide polysynaptic (grey-white matter) systems are disrupted in relation to SVD and neurodegenerative markers in AD versus age-matched controls. In summary, this thesis presents innovative human brain mapping techniques and the application of these methods to explore the relationship between SVD and AD in vivo. The SVD-signature of network disruption in AD is elucidated, and evidence is presented which supports the idea that SVD is differentially associated with neural network degradation in older adults and persons with mild AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease
Brain Networks
Covariance-based connectomics
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Small Vessel Disease
Structural covariance
Advisor: Black, Sandra E
Pre-operative Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Application to Tumour Resection by Awake Craniotomy

The management of brain tumours in eloquent areas remains challenging. Surgical intervention is currently the primary method of treatment, with the surgeon attempting to maximize tumour resection while simultaneously sparing healthy cortex. Pre-operative and intra-operative brain mapping techniques are capable of localizing eloquent cortex, and are thus employed to facilitate the surgical decisions. Although direct cortical stimulation (DCS) remains the gold standard intra-operative brain mapping technique, non-invasive imaging tools like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have become increasingly popular at the pre-operative planning stage. In this thesis, technical work has been done to improve, characterize, and provide perspective on appropriate usage of pre-operative fMRI in brain tumour surgery. The thesis encompasses three specific research studies. The first, entitled “A novel tablet computer platform for advanced language mapping during awake craniotomy procedures”, describes the development of a platform that enables behavioural testing to be standardized with respect to pre-operative fMRI, and enables sophisticated testing paradigms to be administered during DCS. The testing platform is demonstrated to provide improved language mapping capabilities over current practice. The second project, entitled “Reliability of task-based fMRI for pre-operative planning: a test-retest study in brain tumour patients and healthy controls”, shows the impact of disease and technical factors on the reproducibility of fMRI activation maps. Reliability of fMRI data is shown to be comparable in low-grade glioma (LGG) patients and healthy controls, but poorer in high-grade glioma (HGG) patients. More reliable activation patterns are demonstrated for motor tasks than for language tasks. The third project explores “Sources of variation influencing concordance between functional MRI and direct cortical stimulation in neurosurgery”. This work shows the substantial extent of false positive (FP) activations that are present in fMRI results compared to DCS, the inverse relationship between fMRI sensitivity and specificity with changing statistical threshold, and that concordance is improved when behavioural tasks are standardized across fMRI and DCS. Collectively, this thesis supports that pre-operative fMRI is a suitable adjunct to DCS for surgical decision-making. The experimental findings demonstrate that the reproducibility of fMRI data and its concordance with DCS are generally good, though directly related to the quality of fMRI activation maps. Actions can be taken to optimize fMRI data quality with good understanding of the clinical and technical factors that are influential, such that neurosurgeons can interpret activation maps more reliably.

Keywords: awake craniotomy
direct cortical stimulation
functional magnetic resonance imaging
glioma
language mapping
reliability
Advisor: Graham, Simon J
Heidegger's Nietzsche: European Modernity and the Philosophy of the Future

The dissertation offers a study of two key figures in the history of political philosophy. By way of a textual interpretation of Martin Heidegger’s reading of Friedrich Nietzsche, it attempts to draw renewed attention to the question of ontology in the history of political thought. The discussion unfolds in the context of an epochal change and transition in European culture that in Heidegger’s interpretation of Nietzsche is in the process of teleological “fulfillment.” The text examines the sources of this potentially transformative event, with special emphasis on the contrast between the modern predominance of Cartesian inter-subjectivity and a manner of thought that dwells in the philosophical anthropology of classical Greek culture. The dissertation partakes in the Platonic-Aristotelian tradition of studying political science from architectonic perspectives, thereby highlighting the key comparative importance of philosophical “vision.” In that spirit, the thesis proposes to study an encounter between Heidegger and Nietzsche at the interstice between hermeneutics and contemporary political theory.

Keywords: Heidegger
Hermeneutics
History of Political Thought
Nietzsche
Ontology
Political Philosophy
Advisor: Beiner, Ronald
Understanding and Practice of Teaching Reading in Content Areas in Upper Elementary Classes in Suburban Public Schools in Cambodia

In Cambodia, little research has been done on how teachers teach reading in their content-area classes. Teachers’ perspectives of and knowledge and skills in teaching reading are essential links as to how well they instruct their students and how well their students learn. This qualitative case study explores teachers’ instructional strategies in teaching reading in content areas in Cambodia, using a series of teacher interviews combined with lesson observations. Although teacher-training experiences impact teachers’ understandings of reading and their selection of instructional strategies, the findings of this study suggest that Cambodian teachers have neither become familiar with reading strategies nor learned specific methods for teaching reading in content areas. Even though student-centered approaches are utilized to teach reading in content areas, these teachers did not implement them consistently and effectively, preferring traditional teacher-centered approaches and rote memorization. Other factors that influence teachers’ attitudes, beliefs, and choice of instructional strategies are also explored. More importantly, key perspectives that explain the teachers’ perspectives on teaching reading, issues and challenges they encounter, and curricular roles they adopt or could develop are identified in each analysis in the findings chapter. Thus, this study has implications regarding the improvement of: teacher education programs, reading curricula, teaching reading in content areas, and pre/in-service teacher development.

Keywords: Comparative and international studies in teacher education
Student centered and teacher centered approaches
Teachers' perspectives on teaching reading
Teaching practices in Cambodia
Teaching reading in content areas
Teaching reading in upper elementary classes
Advisor: Cooper, Karyn
Constructing Endomorphism Rings of Large Finite Global Dimension

For a numerical semigroup H with generators α1, α 3,...,αs, let R be the subring of the ring of formal power series k[[t]] (where k is a field of characteristic zero) with generators tα1, tα2,..., tαs. More precisely, R:= k[[tα1, α3,...,α s]]={∑i≥0aiti : ai ε k, i ε H} For R ≠ k[[t]], we construct ascending chains of rings R= R 1 ⊆ R2 ⊆ ...⊆ R = k[[t]], and we then consider E = EndR1 (⊕l i=1Ri. Our arguments show that the global dimension of E depends on R 1 and the way we construct our ascending chain. This leads to an investigation of two types of constructions for our ascending chain, which we call the "greedy" and "lazy" constructions. In the "greedy" construction we choose Ri+1 as the endomorphism ring of the radical of Ri. In the "lazy" (or, as Iyama calls it, saturated) construction we choose Ri+1 so that dim k (Ri+1/Ri)=1 and the conductor of Ri+1 is strictly larger than that of Ri. We introduce a special family of rings {Ri1 R1 : i ε N}, thinking of each as the beginning of an ascending chain and we let {Ei : i ε N} be the set of corresponding endomorphism rings. This thesis consists of three main results. Firstly, if for each i our chain is constructed via the "lazy" construction, then {gl. dim(Ei) : i ε N} is an unbounded set. Secondly, under some additional assumptions on the set {Ri1 R 1 : i ε N} we compute the precise values in the set {gl. dim(Ei) : i ε N}. Thirdly, if for each i the chain is constructed via the "greedy" construction, then {gl. dim(Ei= 2 for all i.

Advisor: Buchweitz, Ragnar Olaf