VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The role of knowledge in the integration experience of Ethiopian immigrants to Toronto

Migration of populations involves not merely physical transplantation but often a movement from one framework of knowledge to another. The decision to migrate is often based on the recognition of imminent threats at the present location or better opportunities elsewhere. Hence, migrants do not leave their countries with blank slates nor do they flow in certain directions without some knowledge to guide their journeys. In this thesis, the preeminence of knowledge in facilitating migratory transitions is investigated through multiple methods (census data, document analysis, interviews and a survey). The qualitative and quantitative methods used allow a concurrent examination of the roles of indigenous and western knowledge in the migratory experience of Ethiopian immigrants to Toronto. The findings that emerged from the study discern that these two knowledge systems interact both in consensual and confrontational styles--the dual styles further integrative knowledge acquisition in different fashions. (1) While indigenous knowledge stabilizes immigrants' psychological states, Western knowledge facilitates life-sustaining material acquisition. In other words, while indigenous knowledge serves to explain emotional salience, Western knowledge serves to explain epistemic salience in the lives of immigrants. (2) Knowledge age integration is a personal and processional. Immigrants' pace of integration is dependent on their capacities to perform in various domains, such as employment, housing and education. The study shows that the concurrent utilization of indigenous and host knowledge systems facilitates integration. This research approaches both systems of knowledge as a fluid mixture of experiences, values, contextual information and insights. They both provide a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences. Both indigenous and host society knowledge is embedded not only in documents but also in social routines, processes, practices and norms, guiding migrants throughout the phases of migration.

Keywords: Ethiopians, Canada
Ethiopians, Social life and customs
Ethiopians, Canada
Ethiopians, Ethnic identity
Ethiopians, Canada
Identity (Psychology)
Emigration and immigration
The role of acetone in the anticonvulsant actions of the ketogenic diet in rats

The ketogenic diet (KD) is used to treat drug-resistant seizures. The goal of the present studies was to understand the KD's mechanism of action. Experiments 1 and 2 compared the ability of 2 KD's to elevate seizure threshold in adult rats and rat pups. It was concluded that the KD does not have anticonvulsant actions in rats. We then hypothesized that acetone is the anticonvulsant mechanism of the KD, and that rats on the KD do not develop therapeutic levels of acetone. Experiment 3 determined that seizures themselves decrease in vivo acetone levels, therefore, measuring acetone post-seizure should be performed cautiously. Experiment 4 demonstrated that acetone is not elevated in KD-fed rats, but it is elevated in KD-fed rats when acetone's metabolism was inhibited. Finally, it was determined that acetone suppressed focal cortical and generalized convulsive seizures in the kindling model, but not amygdala focal seizures.
Why "at-risk" students persist: Pierre Bourdeiu's theory applied to student retention at Humber College

The following study examines the factors that have contributed to the success of 'at-risk' students at Humber College in Toronto in the early 21 st Century. Although colleges and universities in Canada and the United States have instituted many initiatives to increase student retention, the retention rate has remained consistent at 60%-65% for decades. This study utilizes the theory of Pierre Bourdieu to provide a broad approach to understanding and increasing student retention. In particular, Bourdieu's 3 major concepts of cultural capital, habitus, and field are applied as Bourdieu intended: in context and multi dimensionally. Quantitative analysis yielded 146 students who started in full time programs at Humber in September, 2001 and who were identified as being 'at-risk' based upon their final high school average. Interviews were conducted with 17 of these students to discuss which factors resulted in their academic success. This qualitative data indicated that these individuals had extensive cultural capital, positive habitus, and responded to the explicit and implicit demands of the field. Their limited performance in high school was a choice, as was their decision to activate their cultural capital in community college. Conclusions from this study support the applicability of Bourdieu to students at a 21 st Century community college and the importance of incorporating all 3 of his variables in research. As well, academic integration was identified as more significant for success at community college than conventional social integration. Recommendations are offered to colleges regarding increasing student retention and the changing nature of faculty interaction with students. The study concludes with presentation of topics for future research with respect to students who are visible minorities, the impact of gender on graduation, faculty engagement, and a more nuanced perspective on social engagement.
Interactions of I2 with paints under condensing steam conditions

In this study, I2 interactions with paints, under condensing steam conditions (130°C) relevant to reactor accidents were investigated. Two epoxy based-paints (Keeler and Long 4500 and Ripolin) and an inorganic zinc primer (Carbo Zinc 11) were examined using radiochemistry, GC/MS, UV Spectrophotometry and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The I2 deposition velocity (kd) on the epoxy based paints was on the order of 10−3 cm/s for both dry and condensing conditions. Desorption under dry conditions was slow with desorption rate constants (k) on the order of 10−6 s−1 . Desorption under condensing conditions was faster, and could be divided into two stages; an initial rapid desorption stage (k ∼ 10 −4 s−1) and a slower long term desorption stage (k ∼ 10−5 s−1). The main reaction pathway between I2 and the epoxy paints was through the formation of a charge transfer complex with nitrogen (N–I2). In the presence of water, one of the iodine atoms was released as I − while the other one remained tied in the form of an N +–I bond. After the reduction of the N+ to neutrality through the release of H+, the N–I bond underwent hydrolysis and the second iodine atom was released as I−. The deposition velocity for I2 onto Carbo Zinc 11 was on the order of 10−3 cm/s for both dry and condensing conditions. Desorption under dry conditions was slow (k ∼ 10−6 s−1). Desorption under condensing conditions was substantially faster and could be divided into two stages; an initial rapid desorption stage (k ∼ 10−3 s−1) and a slower long term desorption stage (k ∼ 10−5 s−1 ). The interaction of I2 with Carbo Zinc 11 was dominated by its reaction with Zn metal, producing I−. This study elucidated the mechanisms of I2 retention by three types of paints used in reactor containment. Under dry conditions, I 2(gas) deposited on these paints will remain fixed for periods comparable to or exceeding the radioactive half-lives of the dominant iodine radioisotopes. Under condensing conditions, the I2 will be released from the surfaces as water soluble and non-volatile I−. Thus, for both conditions, the paints offer pathways for removing airborne I2 (g), which would be advantageous in terms of safety considerations.
Shear resistance of concrete girders prestressed with unbonded tendons

External post-tensioning and reduction of bonded reinforcement in concrete girders eliminate the need for concrete clear cover. Application of high-performance concrete with enhanced strength and ductility allows further reduction of the sectional thicknesses to bare minimums. This optimization, however, necessitates accurate assessment of the state of stress in concrete girders. This thesis presents a truss model describing the shear-resistance mechanisms of externally prestressed girders without longitudinal bonded reinforcement. The model shows arching and spreading of compressive stresses. As such, it considers shear failure due to both web compression and diagonal tension. The study consisted of a large-scale experiment and nonlinear finite element analysis of the shear-critical behaviour of an externally prestressed girder. Experimental study agreed with the proposed truss model. Finite element modelling procedure must be refined. The proposed model facilitates the synthesis of a shear-design method for consistent dimensioning of concrete and steel reinforcement in externally prestressed girders.
Atmospheric temperature and pressure measurements from the ACE-MAESTRO space instrument

A method is developed and tested for determining atmospheric pressure and temperature from space using spectral absorption by the A and B bands of molecular oxygen as measured by the MAESTRO (Measurement of Aerosol Extinction in the Stratosphere and Troposphere Retrieved by Occultation) space instrument in solar occultation mode. MAESTRO is the UV-visible-near-infrared dual grating spectrometer component of the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) scientific payload, and was launched in August 2003 on the SciSat satellite to investigate atmospheric processes affecting the stratospheric ozone distribution. On-orbit measurements of pressure and temperature are desirable for accurate retrievals of other atmospheric constituents from the instrument, and as independent data products. The constant mixing ratio of molecular oxygen is exploited in these retrievals to derive atmospheric density profiles from oxygen absorption, and the density profiles are then converted to pressure and temperature using hydrostatic balance and the ideal gas taw. A highly accurate fast forward model is developed using a fast-line-by-line approach for modelling the high spectral resolution oxygen absorption lines, and a correlated-k technique is used to calculate analytic weighting functions for the retrieval of density. A global fitting algorithm is developed to simultaneously fit all spectra from one occultation. Retrieval characterization shows a small amount of information is added by the inclusion of the weaker B band to a retrieval using the strong A band absorption, and tests with real data show the B band retrievals alone are less sensitive to instrument characterization uncertainties and perform better than A band retrievals at altitudes below 30 km. The new algorithm is applied to 230 occultation observations collected in the Arctic winter, Arctic spring, and tropical regions, and during the Eureka 2004 and 2005 ACE validation campaigns in the high Arctic. Comparisons with profiles from the ACE-FTS (Fourier Transform Spectrometer), also on SciSat, coincident radiosondes, and meteorological analyses yield promising results, with biases between MAESTRO's and other profiles generally within 2-5%, in pressure and less than 5 K in temperature, and Ri1IS differences between 2-10% in pressure and 5-10 K in temperature.
Arts teachers' motives, values and perceptions of their work and objectives at Ontario secondary public schools

The objective of this dissertation is to gain an understanding of the relationship between the arts teachers' perceptions of the objectives served by the public arts secondary schools in Ontario and their own work, values, and motives. Eight arts teachers from four Ontario public secondary schools offering arts programs that are considered to be significant contributors to community culture participated in semi-structured, open-ended elite interviews. Guided open-ended questions addressed the themes of school objectives, arts teachers' own objectives, curriculum expectations, and the effects of their artistic experience on their work in the public secondary arts programs. The analysis of the responses delineated the arts teachers' perceptions of their motivation bases, and indicated their values and priorities that guide the educational decision-making processes. The study revealed that there was a strong influence of teachers' extracurricular professional knowledge of the arts on art teachers' values, which was guiding their pedagogical decision-making. The participants' context-sensitive dual motivation bases of consequence and preference were reflective of their dual role as artists and teachers. Their perceptions and motivation bases found an application as a contextual ground for the resulting decision-making prioritization among available pedagogical approaches.
The role of natural enemies in the regeneration ecology of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) in the southeastern Amazon

This thesis examines plant-enemy interactions in an unlogged population of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King), a valuable but threatened Neotropical timber species. The Janzen-Connell mechanism predicts negative density-dependence in tree recruitment success and survival due to host-specific natural enemies in tropical forests. In Brazil, new seedlings and juveniles of this species are the sole putative hosts for caterpillars of a microlepidopteran herbivore (Steniscadia poliophaea Hampson). The Janzen-Connell mechanism was explored by testing its key prediction at both the scale of the individual and population level of S. macrophylla adults and by considering the influence of canopy cover on the mechanism's dynamics. One-year-survival of naturally established juveniles declined with increasing parent size and the local abundance of conspecific adults, whereas leaf damage and incidence of attack by the specialist S. poliophaea increased. An exclusion experiment indicated small mammals contributed to seed losses and also implicated S. poliophaea in lowering seedling recruitment near fruiting trees. A larger, separate experiment that also simulated seed dispersal confirmed the roles of vertebrates in seed mortality and S. poliophaea in the seed-to-seedling phase. Small mammals and S. poliophaea concentrated their attacks under the crowns of fruiting trees and in patches of clumped fruiters, leading to lowered recruitment by the end of the first growing season near parents and where conspecific adult density was higher. Canopy gaps influenced S. macrophylla susceptibility to these two enemies, and interacted synergistically with dispersal distance to enhance seedling survival. Simulated herbivory reduced the growth rates of juveniles in gaps, but did not affect their immediate survival over 8 months. Greater canopy openness, however, did increase the spatial scale of attack by S. poliophaea well beyond where seeds typically land. Herbivory on gap juveniles also increased with increasing conspecific adult density, but only in the early-wet season. A short-term seed addition experiment revealed little evidence for enhanced early post-dispersal performance on mahogany's preferred soil type in the region. Collectively, these finding suggest that small mammals, and more importantly, S. poliophaea caterpillars, are significant factors limiting the regeneration of big-leaf mahogany in natural forests, and are interpreted as support for the Janzen-Connell mechanism.
Perceptions of marriage: Recent Japanese immigrant women in the Greater Toronto Area

This study explores the perceptions of marriage among recent Japanese immigrant women in Canada and the impacts of Japanese values and cultures on their married lives. The research participants are aged between 26 and 37 years, are married, migrated from Japan to Canada within the past 10 years, and currently live in the Greater Toronto Area. This study examines issues of communication, identity, gender roles, and views on marriage based on interviews with these women. The findings indicate that many of the women's experiences and views on these subjects are unique to their particular situations, affected by intercultural marriage, Japanese and Canadian cultures, their status as landed immigrants in Canada, or being mothers of young children. While many of the women regard Japanese traditional marriage negatively and expect different relationships in their own marriages, they also find it difficult to deal with aspects of relationships in intercultural marriage.
Measuring audiovisual synchrony thresholds

Human audiovisual thresholds can be difficult to measure due to the requirement of high-precision synchronization between the audio and visual components of the stimulus. A major accomplishment of this project was the design of a platform for conducting audiovisual experiments that was both portable between different hardware systems and robust to synchronization issues. Our design was validated by conducting experiments on measuring audiovisual synchrony thresholds. Our results show that the audio lag threshold is larger than the video lag threshold, as has been found in other studies. We extended our experiment to study the effect of prior knowledge of a stimulus on threshold. Specifically, we removed the expectation of the asynchrony direction, and found that threshold did not change significantly. Ultimately, our results provide a more complete understanding of how audiovisual synchrony is perceived by human observers.
Collaborative and independent writing among adult Thai EFL learners: verbal interactions, compositions, and attitudes

This study examined, among 24 Thai undergraduate students of English, the effects of collaborative writing on their verbal interactions, the effects of collaborative writing and independent writing on their compositions, and the students' attitudes toward collaborative writing and independent writing. Data were collected in a counterbalanced design incorporating two writing topics and two writing conditions. Under the collaborative writing group condition (CG) participants wrote in pairs to produce one essay. Under the independent writing condition the same participants wrote their essays alone. For analyses, the independently written essays were separated into an independent higher group (IHG), representing the better writer from each dyad when they wrote alone, and an independent lower group (ILG), the weaker writer from each dyad when they wrote alone. Regarding verbal interactions, the collaborative condition: (1) promoted the participants' discussion of ideas for their essays; (2) engaged learners in language episodes (focused on lexis, grammar, and mechanics) with potential for collaborative scaffolding; and (3) led the learners to debate the organization of their essay. Concerning text quality, (1) there were no statistically significant differences between the global score and the writing aspect scores of the English texts produced under the CG and the average scores of the IHG and the ILG texts together, but (2) the IHG texts were significantly better than the ILG texts on the global score and on four of the five scores for aspects of writing (organization, argumentation, communication, and linguistic accuracy), and (3) the CG texts were significantly better than the ILG texts on the global score and on three of the five scores for aspects of writing (organization, communication, and linguistic appropriacy). In relation to learners' attitudes: (1) the majority of participants preferred the writing processes of planning, writing, and editing/revising under the collaborative condition and thought they wrote a better essay with their partners than alone; (2) students expressed some reservations about criticizing their partners during collaboration; and (3) some suggested that the time allotments were insufficient under the collaborative writing condition.

Keywords: English language, Spoken English
English language, Written English
Group work in education
Thai students, Attitudes
Perfectionism in school-age children experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety: Characterization and relationship to treatment outcomes

Research concerning the maladaptive nature of perfectionism has largely focused on adolescents and adults and less on this problem in children. The few studies examining perfectionism in children have identified that the relationship between perfectionism and maladaptive outcomes is similar to adults, making this an important area to study. To investigate further the problem of perfectionism in children, two studies were presented in this dissertation. The purpose of the second study was to examine the relationship between perfectionism and treatment outcomes. Based on adult studies, it was predicted that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) would reduce ratings of perfectionism in children. It was also predicted that perfectionism would be predictive of poorer treatment outcomes. For both studies, participants (n = 80) were drawn from a larger study examining the efficacy of a school-based intervention program for children in grades 3 to 6 reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results from study one indicated that Self-Oriented Perfectionism (SOP) was related to maladaptive outcomes while Socially Prescribed Perfectionism (SPP) was not. Both self-worth and SOP predicted depression, as predicted, yet for social anxiety, SOP explained unique variance over and above self- esteem. Results from study two indicated that participation in a structured group reduced Self-Oriented Perfectionism (SOP) and that SOP at time 1 predicted depression at time 2, yet, the same relationship was not found for anxiety. Results were discussed in terms of (1) the role of development for the differentiation of the dimensions of perfectionism (2) the differences between depression and anxiety in children (3) the benefits of structured groups and (4) perfectionism as a challenge for the treatment of depression in children. Applications, limitations, and future directions were suggested. The objective of the first study was to examine the relationship between perfectionism and maladaptive outcomes in children. Based on past research done with both adults and children, it was predicted that perfectionism would relate to low self- worth, depression, and anxiety. Research done with adults has demonstrated that low self-esteem is important in understanding the relationship between perfectionism and maladaptive outcomes, yet this has not been examined in children. Given that children are in the process of developing both personality and sense of self, it was predicted that both perfectionism and low self-worth would predict symptoms of depression and anxiety.