VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Informed consumers, regulated subjects: Public health and the rise and fall of the interventionist state

The question at the heart of this thesis is where, if anywhere, should we locate public health in an analysis of post welfare state, neo-liberal processes of political legitimation? The thesis explores the relationship between the practices and discourse of public health--and in particular those strategies broadly falling within what is now called "health promotion"--and the sustainability and reproduction of hegemonic government in Canada. It does so through an examination, in three case studies, of the relationship of public health to the state, to ideological production, and to the capitalist mode of production. The thesis concludes that public health does have an identifiable role in the reproduction of hegemony, that it is implicated in the ideological sustainability of the capitalist mode of production, and that it can be located among an array of strategies that enable the state to "govern at a distance."
Perceived cultural sensitivity among public health nurses

Studies on culture are important because we live in an increasingly diverse society. This study explores, from an interpretist perspective, the experiences of public health nurses in working with a culturally diverse community. Ten nurses and ten community workers from two public health departments were recruited by convenience sampling. Through semi-structured interviews the meaning of cultural sensitivity is explored from the perspectives of both nurses and community workers. For both groups, cultural sensitivity means: (a) knowing the historical background of the client; (b) incorporating the clients current health practices with the health education offered by the public health departments and; (c) demonstrating behavior that is acceptable to the particular culture of the individual with whom one is interacting. Findings suggest that the priority of the nurses is in performing their roles to the best of their abilities. This role includes appearing to be culturally sensitive as a means to achieving an end. This method of capturing the attention of the audience in order to ensure compliance to their health education is governed by their accountability to their employer, the public health departments. The thesis concludes with consideration of the implications of these findings for practice and research.
Adolescents at Risk, Effectiveness of School-based Interventions

The aim of this study in the secondary schools was to evaluate the extent to which a universal program model of four interventions--cooperative learning; classroom management; peer helping approaches; and community enrichment of the schools can reduce the prevalence rates of violent antisocial behaviour. The social development model--a prevention model for antisocial behaviour was used for purposes of the thesis as a guide to describe a field experiment in the secondary schools in which a program of teacher and student training was tested for short-term effects on antisocial behaviour. This study examined the role of factors hypothesized by the social development model to prevent or decrease the likelihood of subsequent involvement in antisocial behaviour. Year One of the implementation phase launched in September, 1995 included the selection of two school boards to participate in the data collection process. The study employed a two-group (n = 2) matched comparison before-and after-design. Year One involved the collection of baseline data on all grade nine students in four schools (n = 1024) and the selection of a subsample (n = 400) for a more detailed follow-up; training in the comprehensive model for all grade nine teachers (n = 89) in the intervention schools, and implementation of the comprehensive model in the intervention schools. The results from Year One of the implementation phase demonstrate that the universal intervention provided for the intervention group, had no statistically significant effects on the outcomes used in the study. The implications of the results for preventive interventions with antisocial adolescents are discussed.
Characterization of a BMP responsive element in the Tlx2 promoter

Due to the broad range of processes controlled by Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), there is an intense interest in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that regulate diversity and specificity of the biological responses induced by these factors. We recently showed that 'Tlx2', a homeobox gene essential for gastrulation in mouse, is a target gene for BMP signalling. In order to determine the mechanisms involved in regulation of ' Tlx2' transcriptional activation I have undertaken analysis of the 5' flanking region of the 'Tlx2' for BMP-dependent regulatory elements. I have identified a single 191 base pair BMP responsive element (BRE) in the upstream region of the 'Tlx2' gene, which confers BMP responsiveness to a heterologous promoter. BMP dependent induction of BRE in the 'Tlx2' promoter is only observed in P19 mouse embryonic carcinoma cell line and in early embryos, indicating that cell type specific nuclear factors may be required for such response. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and 'in vitro' footprinting analysis with bacterially expressed Smad proteins showed that the BRE contains two separate binding sites for Smad1, Smad3, and Smad4. These Smad binding sites partially overlap with two regions that are protected by P19 nuclear extracts. Further detailed analysis of the BRE showed that Smad binding sites are required for BMP-dependent induction of the BRE. In addition, induction was dependent on an adjacent AT-rich site that contains a canonical homeodomain binding site. Furthermore, the residues in the Smad binding sites that are essential for direct binding of Smad1 and Smad4 proteins were determined. Taken together, these results suggest a model in which the interaction of Smads with cell type specific nuclear target protein(s) mediates BMP dependent induction of tissue specific genes, such as 'Tlx2'.
Exploring GL vocabulary, a bar-none cloze test

This dissertation describes the design of several instruments to be used to examine children's use of vocabulary, with a specific focus on their knowledge of the rules of use for Graeco-Latinate words. These instruments are in the form of multiple choice cloze passages in which the vocabulary options were chosen specifically to elicit the use of Graeco-Latinate words because of the genre of the passage. The unequivocal choices of numerous adult native English speakers were used to establish a norm for scoring this passage. The resulting norm-referenced instrument is intended for use in a later, large-scale study which will form the basis of a Ph.D. thesis.
Characterization of the essential oil of Thuja occidentalis L. leaves and branchlets

The essential oil of 'Thuja occidentalis' L. was isolated by steam distillation and chemically fractionated based on the presence or absence of ketone, aldehyde or carbonyl groups in the constituents. Leaf and branchlet samples of 'Thuja' were collected from a site near Portland in Eastern Ontario. Monthly collections were made from October 1997 to September 1998. Monthly variation in yield of oil and water content of the leaves and branchlets were measured. Yield of oil, based on fresh weight, ranged from a low of 0.59% (July 1998) to a high of 1.06% (Dec. 1997). In the summer months yield was approximately 30% lower than in the winter months. The oil was fractionated and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy to determine the chemical components. The main ketone components of the oil were thujone and fenchone. Unidentified minor malodorous constituents were concentrated in the aldehyde fraction. The results suggest that biomass for oil extraction should be harvested during the winter months. Results also indicated that the Sukh-Dev fractionation method, based on the use of semicarbazide on silica gel, is effective in recovering both ketone and aldehyde components of the oil from the crude steam distillate.
"You're leaving?" Understanding student voluntary attrition from a private school

Concern over student attrition from schools places the issue at the fore of research, especially at the university level of education. Several studies have investigated this phenomenon toward understanding and improving upon student retention in Universities and Colleges. Private secondary and elementary schools, particularly in the United States, also recognize that student attrition issues raise concerns running to the very core of the existence of such schools. In the Canadian context, private school administrators can learn from the United States' situation so that we may see what lies ahead for Canadian schools. We know comparatively little about the issues surrounding student voluntary attrition with respect to private secondary schools. From the literature, it seems that the forces which shape attrition elsewhere arise from a very complex interplay of issues. It appears that the dispositions of the people who enroll, the character of their interactions with the institution upon entry, and the external forces which influence their behaviour in school all play a role in a student's failure to persist in her or his school. Given the apparent complexity of the voluntary attrition process, this study employed qualitative research methodology to learn more about the issues involved. Twelve student leavers, members of their families, school friends, and teachers provided the data gathered through interviews in this case study approach. This research demonstrates that each of the departing students brought with her/him at the time of enrolment some personal character traits or issues which affected the ways in which she/he interacted with internal characteristics of the school. Once enrolled, these students experienced problems which adversely affected the students' ability to affiliate within the school's culture. Some gender related issues came to the fore. External forces also played a role in the unique formula of events leading to each student's failure to persist. This research provides a compelling look at the issues underlying the voluntary attrition process for the student leavers involved. This study enhances our understanding of private school voluntary attrition and does so from a Canadian perspective.
On the discrete logarithm problem in the finite fields and on elliptic curves

The discrete logarithm problem has been the basis of numerous cryptographic schemes. The security of those cryptosystems is based on the presumed intractability of the discrete logarithm problem in some group. The subject of this thesis is the discrete logarithm problem in the multiplicative group of finite fields and in the group of points of elliptic curves over finite fields. The most successful algorithm for computing discrete logarithms in finite fields is the index calculus method. A significant parameter of the method is the factor base, which has invariably been chosen to contain all irreducible elements up to some size. Until now, this choice had not been questioned. We attempt a rigorous study of the behavior of the algorithm in the case that a different factor base is used. This leads us to generalize the notion of smoothness, and prove density theorems for those generalized smooth polynomials analogous to the existing once for smooth polynomials. Subsequently, we use them to analyze the index calculus method, that operates with a non-smooth factor base. The analysis shows that the more general version of the method has the same asymptotic running time, as the traditional version. For the discrete logarithm problem on elliptic curves, our goal is to obtain a polynomial time reduction to the discrete logarithm problem in finite fields. A complete such reduction has been given by Frey and Rûck. Our reduction is a generalization of that of Menezes, Okamoto, and Vanstone.We present a generalization of the Weil pairing, that is parameterized by an isogeny <math> <f> <g>y</g></f> </math>. Then we specialize the isogeny to 1 - [straight phi], where [straight phi] is the Frobenius endomorphism, and use it to construct an isomorphism between the group of points of interest and a suitable group of roots of unity. For an elliptic curve <math> <f> <mit>E/<blkbd>F<inf><mit>q</mit></inf></blkbd></mit></f> </math>, and a point 'P' in <math> <f> E<fen lp="par"><blkbd>F<inf><mit>q</mit></inf></blkbd><rp post="par"></fen> </f> </math> of prime order 'r', our construction works for ' r'@'q' - 1. Finally, we present an efficient algorithm for evaluating the pairing, which makes the isomorphism efficiently computable. Our contribution is a new, conceptually simpler construction, that is equivalent to the one by Frey and Rûck. The Frobenius endomorphism has been used in the past to speed up the arithmetic on elliptic curves, as well as to speed up Pollard's 'p' method for computing discrete logarithms.
A multi-standard set-top box channel decoder

Digital transmission and recording technologies are revolutionizing the home-entertainment consumer electronics industry. Services such as Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (DBS) and Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) are rapidly gaining acceptance with consumers. It would be economical and convenient to use a single "set-top box" receiver for multiple services. This thesis describes the channel decoder design of a unified set-top box receiver. The standards for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) and DVD are described first, to determine which receiver functions are amenable to being combined into reconfigurable VLSI soft-macro blocks. A survey of these standards indicates that a Viterbi decoder and/or a Reed-Solomon decoder for channel decoding are common functions that would benefit from co-integration. This thesis presents the synthesis-based design of a multi-standard Viterbi decoder which has been fabricated in a 0.35 [mu]m CMOS process. A Reed-Solomon decoder design which can operate with multiple standards is also presented.
Bacteriophage M13 major coat protein, roles of aromatic residues at the membrane-water interface

Major coat protein of bacteriophage M13 was used as a model to study the roles of aromatic residues at the membrane-water interface of integral membrane proteins. Viable bacteriophages with either one of the interfacial tyrosine residues of the major coat protein mutated were generated, but no mutant with both tyrosine residues substituted was found, indicating a critical role for those residues when the protein is in the virion and/or in the membrane. Biophysical analyses indicated that mutants with a hydrophilic amino acid substitution are less buried in the interior of deoxycholate micelle. Such mutants also exhibit decreased protein-lipid interaction with the micelle, resulting in less difficulty for the protein to escape from the micelle and thus a lower Ã-helix to ß-sheet transition temperature. The results suggest that the interfacial aromatic residues are important in both the positioning and anchoring of the transmembrane segments of membrane proteins in the lipid bilayer.
The educative process as a contributor to self-efficacy in adult education graduate students

Self-efficacy is defined as "personal judgments about one's ability to perform a given task" (Lent, Gore & Brown, 1997, p. 307). The present research investigated whether the participants perceived that there was a relationship between their own self-efficacy to complete graduate degrees in education, and the educative process they must undertake to complete the degrees. The research explored the effect of participants' self-beliefs on degree attainment. Further, the research studied the broader implication of transformative change attributed by the participants to the educative process. Previous research has indicated that self-beliefs influence learning and outcomes, and the review of the literature provided the framework for the research. Two groups of students participated in this study--one of MA/MEd students and another of EdD/PhD students. Data collection for each group was identical and involved three meetings and maintenance of a journal. The data were analyzed using coding methodologies as described in Miles and Huberman (1987). Analysis of the data generated by the participants in this study indicated that the four criteria identified by Betz and Hackett (1981) to change self-efficacy--performance accomplishments, vicarious learning, emotional arousal and verbal persuasion--are present. The participants in this study believed that a change in self-efficacy occurred while obtaining their graduate degrees, attributed by them to the educative process. Further, these changes in self-efficacy and the more global self-perceptions on ability were believed by the participants to have wider application than degree attainment, with the participants in the study also attributing increased self-assurance in their everyday lives to the educative process. The present research concurs with similar research done in other fields and demonstrates that certain teaching methodologies enhance performance. The research is significant in that it demonstrates that factors that can increase self-efficacy are not necessarily part of the formal process of learning and may come from unexpected sources, such as administrative statistics, departmental paperwork completed by the students, or even the freedom to use the "staff" kitchen. By comparing two groups of students at different levels, the results are further significant, in that they suggest that it is the environment and not the actual attainment of a previous graduate degree that largely influences self-efficacy, since no major differences in the two groups were identified. The data suggested implications for further research, including a longitudinal self-efficacy study from entry to completion of graduate degrees.
Comparison of low- and high-fibre breakfast cereals and a high monounsaturated fat diet without breakfast cereals in the dietary management of type 2 diabetes

The purpose of this thesis was to determine if breakfast cereal consumption, which is associated with high carbohydrate intakes, was deleterious to diabetes control. In a 6-month parallel design study, diets of 72 type 2 diabetic subjects were supplemented with either low- or high-fibre cereals, or high monounsaturated fat (MUFA) oil/margarine. Subjects on cereals consumed 7-10% more energy as carbohydrate than MUFA subjects. Changes in HbA1c, fasting glucose, body weight, and fasting triglycerides did not differ between diets. HDL cholesterol increased by ~10% on MUFA compared to cereal (P = 0.002). Total:HDL cholesterol ratio was higher on low-fibre cereal than MUFA at 3-months, but not 6-months (diet x time interaction, P = 0.041). A longer study with more frequent blood sampling is needed to confirm these results. We conclude that a 10% increase in carbohydrate intake associated with cereal use does not impair glycaemic control over 6-months in type 2 diabetes.
Optimal maintenance schedules for a fleet of vehicles under the constraint of a single repair facility

This thesis deals with optimal maintenance schedules for a fleet of vehicles, where the vehicles are subject to deterioration and random failures, and maintained by a single repair facility. In previous works, vehicles have always been considered as completely independent of each other, whereas in our work the maintenance capacity constraint is introduced. Mathematical models have been developed for this system using Markov Renewal theory and the theory of semi-regenerative processes, with the objective to minimize the long run expected average cost. Two models are presented. In the first model, the failure time of a vehicle is assumed to be generally distributed and a priority rule with preemption is assumed at the repair facility. In the second model, the deterioration process is represented by a 3-state Markov process. Under a specified maintenance strategy, the optimal inspection policy is determined and a numerical example is given.
Extensional viscosity of dilute polymer solutions

The purpose of this study was to obtain reliable extensional viscosity measurements for dilute polymer solutions using a filament-stretching rheometer at the University of Toronto. Initial extensional measurements of two Newtonian fluids gave data very close to the expected values, which validated the experimental technique. Three dilute solutions of high-molecular-weight polystyrene in oligomeric styrene and the M1 fluid, were then tested. For the least viscous fluid, high strains were achieved and a steady-state Trouton ratio of about 900 was obtained, at all Deborah numbers. For the more viscous liquids, high strains were not achieved because the fluid filaments detached from their holders. Reasonable agreement was obtained in the data comparisons with MIT and Monash University using similar test techniques and the same fluids. The fact that the steady-state value of SM-1 was independent of the extensional rate suggests that this value could be used as a material property for SM-1.
Mechanism of fragmentation of 2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)thiamin insight from the reactivity of N(1')-benzyl-2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)thiamin

Thiamin promotes reactions involving acyl carbanion equivalents derived from benzaldehyde, through the covalent intermediate 2-(1-hydrozybenzyl)thiamin (HBzT). When HBzT contains a positive charge at the N(1') position of the pyrimidine ring it fragments irreversibly into thiazole and pyrimidine derivatives. A mechanism for the fragmentation of HBzT was proposed based on kinetic studies of N(1')-methyl-2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)thiamin (NMHBzT). N(1')-benzyl-2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)diamin (NBzHBzT) has been synthesized and fully characterized to investigate the proposed mechanism of fragmentation. Kinetic studies over a large range of buffer concentrations have revealed a change in rate-determining step in the mechanism of fragmentation. The rate-determining step changes from general-base catalyzed to buffer independent as the concentration of buffer increases. Exchange of the C(2Ã) proton of NBzHBzT for a deuteron has been shown to be linearly dependent on the concentration of buffer and at low concentrations found to occur at the same rate as fragmentation. The general-base catalyzed step in the mechanism of fragmentation has been assigned to formation of the C(2Ã) carbanion. A Brönsted analysis of general-base catalysis has shown the C(2Ã) carbanion to be a delocalized species.
The use of computed tomography to define zygomatic complex position

'Purpose'. To develop and test the reliability of a method to measure the position of the zygomatic complex relative to the cranial base using CT. 'Methods'. CT images of dry skulls were created including various image errors. Direct skull measurements were compared to CT measurements. A mixed effect analysis of variance model was employed to assess the effect of method of measurement and the effect of each type of error. 'Results'. A total of 2040 measurements were made. Interobserver variations of 0.02 ± 0.03mm, 0.5 ± 0.4mm and 0.4 ± 0.3mm were found for 3 different measurements respectively. The difference between dry skull and CT assessment for the three measurements were 1.2 ± 0.3mm, 0.4 ± 0.4mm and 1.1 ± 0.5mm. Other sources of error were not significant. The measurements were not sensitive to gantry angle and skull inclination changes of 10 degrees or less. 'Conclusions'. The findings suggest that three CT scan measurements were useful in establishing the position of the zygomatic complex, relative to the cranial base.