VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Putting men in their place: young men and anti-violence against women work

This study of how young male peer educators in anti-violence against women work in Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children [METRAC], a Toronto-based not-for profit agency, conceptualize their identities and work in relation to privilege, power and oppression. The focus of this research centres the male participants and their work as peer educators and how their work impacts their political identities and vice versa. Through an anti-oppressive pedagogical theoretical framework, and a feminist critical discourse analysis I examine the ways privilege, power and identity plays upon each other in peer education. This study also reflects upon the methodological challenges and issues in seemingly collaborative research and poses integral questions in such work with young men.
"Us poor Devils.": prison life and culture in Ontario: 1874-1914

What was life like in the prisons of early Ontario? What kind of people were the inmates, these “poor devils?” The goal of this thesis is to answer these questions. The three prisons in Ontario, the provincial Central Prison for men and the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for women as well as the federal Kingston Penitentiary, all embraced, with varying success, contemporary criminological theories. Brutal and strange, grim and yet sometimes hilarious, the intensity of the prison regime could not fail to transform the perspectives of all who were touched by it. Twentieth century sociologists have studied the unique environment of the prison and have suggested several theories to explain the behaviours of inmates. At the heart of every analysis was one question: who was the inmate? This was a question that Ontario inmates also asked themselves. From the moment they first entered the prison, inmates' identities were called into question. They were made to wear uniforms, told how to cut their hair, how to speak, how to eat and what to eat. And yet while convicts were forced to make personal adaptations to imprisonment, prisoners and staff alike struggled to move beyond their predetermined roles and interact as human beings. The enmity between prisoners and staff produced much violence and brutality on both sides. It also nourished the solidarity of convicts and their secretive “code” of conduct, with its contraband merchandise and premeditated acts of escape and revolt. Nevertheless, many guards were enthusiastic participants in the convict-led contraband trade, and some formed genuine friendships with prisoners. The prison was a far less formal place than it seemed and convicts, wardens, guards, guests and even visiting children intermingled and related to each other on a personal, rather than completely professional basis. When it came time to leave prison, convicts again began asking themselves, “Who am I?” For those who made it back to the outside world, reintegration was often a time for new beginnings. Many convicts moved to new cities and started new careers and reflected on their freedom with a new perspective and a heightened appreciation.
Fundamental studies on the reactivity of strained organometallic rings - a guide to the development of highly metallized polymers

The first bora[1]ferrocenophanes were synthesized via the reaction of Fe(η-C5H4Li)2·nTMEDA with bulky aminodichloroboranes. Fe(η-C5H4) 2BN(SiMe3)2 was shown to possess the largest tilt angle reported to date for an [n]ferrocenophane (32.4(2)°). In an unprecedented reaction, metal carbonyl fragments were found to readily insert into an Fe-Cp bond of the bora[1]ferrocenophanes at 25°C. Reaction of Co2(CO)8 with Fe(η-C5H 4)2Si(Me)(H) was found to form (η-C5H 5)Fe(η-C5H4)Si[μ-Co2(CO) 7](Me). The first sila[1]ferrocenophane with a direct Si-M bond, Fe(η-C 5H4)2Si[Co(CO)4](Me), was isolated when the reaction between Fe(η-C5H4)2Si(Me)(H) and Co2(CO)8 was conducted in NEt3. Insertion of an Fe(CO)4 fragment into an Sn-Cp bond of Fe(η-C 5H4)2Sn(tBu)2 was observed on treatment of the latter with Fe2(CO)9, forming a ferrostanna[2]ferrocenophane. In the case of the reaction with Co2(CO)8, a highly unusual rearrangement/transfer of CO occurred forming a ketone-bridged dimer. Sila[1]ferrocenophanes with acetylenic substituents Fe(η-C5 H4)2Si(Me)C≡CR (R = Ph, nBu), Fe(η-C5H4)2Si(C≡CPh) 2 were synthesized via the reaction of LiC≡CR with Fe(η-C 5H4)2SiR′R″ (R′ = Me, R″ = Cl or R ′ = R″ = Cl). Metal-catalyzed ROP of these monomers gave polyferrocenylsilanes (Mw > 105). Cyclic dimer [Fe(η-C5H4)2Si(Me)C≡CPh] 2 was isolated from the polymerization mixture derived from Fe(η-C 5H4)2Si(Me)C≡CPh. Reaction of dicobalt octacarbonyl with Fe(η-C5H4 )2Si(Me)C≡CR (R = Ph, nBu) formed Fe(η-C5H4)2Si(Me)C≡C(Co2(CO) 6)R (R = Ph, R = nBu). The reaction of Pt(PEt 3)3 with Fe(η-C5H4)2Si(Me)C≡CPh was also carried out, and a Pt(PEt2)2 fragment was found to insert selectively into an Si-Cp giving a platinasila[2]ferrocenophane. Reaction of acetylene-functionalized polyferrocenylsilanes with Co2(CO) 8 resulted in the synthesis of highly metallized polymers [Fe(η-C 5H4)2Si(Me)C≡C(Co2(CO)6 )R]n (R = Ph, R = nBu). Lightweight magnetic ceramics containing bimetallic (Co-Fe) nanoparticles in an essentially amorphous C/SiC matrix were prepared from the pyrolysis of [Fe(η-C5H4)2Si(Me)C≡C(Co 2(CO)6)Ph]n at 600°C and 900°C under N 2. The ceramic material was characterized by PXRD, TEM, ESI, and SQUID magnetometry. The metal nanoparticle size and magnetic properties were found to be dependent on the pyrolysis temperature. Studies on polyferrocenylsilanes [Fe(η-C5H4) 2SiMePh]n and [Fe(η-C5H4) 2SiMe2]n utilizing low and high-energy electrons indicated that these materials are effective at dissipating charge. This charge dissipation was found to arise primarily from a conduction mechanism, however it may also involve electron scattering. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Blind channel estimation for orthogonal space-time block codes in MISO systems

This thesis presents a closed-form, blind channel estimation scheme for Alamouti's and other orthogonal STBC. Unlike other blind channel estimation algorithms used in such systems, the scheme is able to estimate the channels, to within a phase constant, in multiple-input single-output systems, i.e. systems that employ only one receive antenna. The channel matrix is estimated from the eigenvalue decomposition of the fourth order cumulant matrix of the output signal. The performance of the scheme depends partly upon the accuracy of the estimated cumulants, and thus a scheme to improve the cumulant matrix estimate is suggested. Using these improved cumulants, the algorithm performs very well in slowly changing channel conditions. A single pilot-tuple is required to correctly assign the estimated to the actual channels and to resolve the phase ambiguity common to all blind estimators. The main disadvantage of the scheme is its higher complexity related to the estimation of higher order cumulants; this complexity can be reduced by exploiting the symmetry inherent in the cumulant matrix. Furthermore, it is shown that to achieve good performance in terms of bit error rate, 1000 sample points are sufficient to estimate the cumulant matrix.
Cladistics of the tryphoninae (Hymenoptera: ichneumonidae) with a discussion of host use and the evolution of parasitism in the ichneumonidae

A cladistic revision of the world genera of the Tryphoninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) was performed using morphological and life history characters from adult, egg and larval stages. Previous studies recognized eight tribes and 52 extant genera. The present study classified the Tryphoninae into seven tribes and 55 genera. Exenterini syn.n. was synonymized with Tryphonini because Exenterini syn.n. rendered Tryphonini paraphyletic. The Idiogrammatini were sister taxon of all other tryphonines. Two new genera were recognized (to be described in subsequent publications). In addition, Otoblastus was divided into Otoblastus s.s. and Cerda gen.reinst. Cteniscus (Japanicola) was raised to generic status forming Japanicola stat.n. Cosmoconus (Otitoconus) was moved to Tryphon as a subgenus. Brevitubulus aequilatus syn.n. was synonymized with Netelia (Bessobates). Eclytus (Zapedias) was re-synonymized with E. (Eclytus). Cosmoconus ( Alpicosmus) syn.n. was synonymized with C. (Cosmoconus). The fossil Eubaeus leiponeura was removed to the Neorhacodinae. Tribal and generic keys and descriptions are provided for adults. The final larval instar of Acrotomus and Orthomiscus are described for the first time. The preferred cladogram was used to examine hypotheses regarding evolution of host use in tryphonines. Evidence supported the hypothesis that koinobiosis arose from idiobiosis and that lepidopteran parasitism arose from hymenopteran parasitism. Furthermore, the ancestral trypbonine most likely parasitized concealed hosts because this is the predominant host type in outgroup taxa and the ancestor of all tryphonines other than the Idiogrammatini switched directly from parasitizing concealed hosts to exposed hosts, contrary to the predicted transformation: concealed to semi-concealed to exposed hosts. The preferred cladogram was also used to predict host ranges. The hypothesis that Ankylophon parasitizes hymenopterans was not upheld by the phylogenetic analysis because Ankylophon was resolved in a lepidopteran-parasitizing clade. Finally, the phylogeny was used to investigate why Netelia is so speciose. A switch to parasitizing exposed hosts or a switch to lepidopteran parasitism cannot be used to explain the species richness of Netelia because these traits evolved earlier than in the ancestor of Netelia. A switch to nocturnal behaviour correlates with an increase in species richness of Netelia ; however, an increase in species richness is not evident in other nocturnal tryphonines.
Soot formation in propane-air laminar diffusion flames at elevated pressures

Laminar axisymmetric propane air diffusion flames were studied at pressures 0.1 to 0.725 MPa (1 to 7.25 atm). To investigate the effect of pressure on soot formation, radially resolved soot temperatures and soot volume fractions were deduced from soot radiation emission scans collected at various pressures using spectral soot emission (SSE). Overall flame stability was quite good as judged by the naked eye. Flame heights varied by 15% and flame axial diameters decreased by 30% over the entire pressure range. Analysis of temperature sensitivity to variations in E lambda(m) revealed that a change in E lambda(m) of +/-20% produced a change in local temperature values of about 75 to 100 K or about 5%. Temperatures decreased and soot concentration increased with increased pressure. More specifically, the peak soot volume fraction showed a power law dependence, fv prop; Pn where n = 2.0 over the entire pressure range. The maximum integrated soot volume fraction also showed a power law relationship with pressure, f-v prop; Pn where n = 3.4 for 1 le; P le; 2 atm and n = 1.4 for 2 le; P le; 7.25 atm. The percentage of fuel carbon converted to soot increased with pressure at a rate, etas prop; Pn where n = 3.3 and n = 1.1 for 1 le; P le; 2 atm and 2 le; P le; 7.25 atm respectively.

Keywords: Combustion
Soot
Role of physiology and environmental factors on food intake control in boys

To examine the hypothesis that physiologic regulation of short-term food intake (FI) in boys is affected by the interaction between physiological and environmental factors, four studies were conducted. The primary objectives were (1) to compare the effect of glucose and whey-protein (50 g) preloads on satiety and FI as affected by time to the next meal and body composition in normal weight (NW) and obese (OB) boys, (2) to examine the role of short-duration physical activity on subjective appetite and to identify the role of and associations between fitness and FI at a pizza lunch 30 min after glucose and whey protein drinks in NW boys, (3) to determine the effect of television viewing (TVV) on FI of boys at a meal and its effect on caloric compensation at the test meal after a premeal glucose drink, and (4) to determine the reproducibility of short-term food intake (FI) and subjective appetite after a glucose preload, ventilation threshold (VeT), and body composition assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Obese boys responded less than NW boys to whey protein, with time (30 vs. 60 min) to the next meal the response decreasing to glucose but increasing to protein. Subjective appetite was increased by short-duration physical activity and FI following glucose and whey protein preloads was positively associated with ventilation threshold in boys. TVV while eating a meal contributed to increased energy intake by delaying normal mealtime satiation and reducing satiety signals from previously consumed foods. Short-term FI after a glucose preload, subjective appetite after glucose and physical activity, VeT, and body composition assessed by BIA were reproducible in boys. In conclusion, physiologic regulation of short-term FI in boys was affected by the interaction between physiological and environmental factors. Macronutrient source, body weight and composition, time to the next meal, short-duration physical activity and fitness, and TVV at mealtime impacted on FI regulation in boys.
Enclosing the pristine myth: the case of Madhav National Park, India

Indian conservation policy excludes local people from residing in or utilizing National Parks. This paper, using historical, interview and focus group data, seeks to demystify contemporary exclusion-induced antagonisms amongst people living adjacent to Madhav National Park. It presents these antagonisms as the product of a "double fetishization" of nature. First, it connects present exclusionary policy to long-standing traditions of the exercise of elite power over territorial claims and the "production" of nature, challenging the apparent dichotomy between nature as a commodity and as a symbol, and grounding contemporary conflict in older struggles over access rights. Second, it links exclusion to late 20th century, western, environmentalist, ideological and de-contextualized pre-occupations with biodiversity and pristine wilderness preservation within third world spaces. It provides an example of deep-seated, persistent human intervention in an "untouched" nature and indicates a widespread need to re-evaluate strict exclusion and similar policies that falsely detach nature from culture.
Phonological processing skills: early predictors of English word identification for Punjabi and Cantonese ESL learners

This longitudinal study looks at predictors of English word identification in grades 1 and 2 for children whose first language is either English (N = 71), Punjabi (N = 83), or Cantonese (N = 30). Correlation and regression analysis were conducted to determine if phonological awareness (PA), phonological memory (PM), and rapid automatized naming (RAN) are universal predictors of word identification or if they are language specific predictors. Results indicate that across grades RAN was the strongest predictor for the English group and PA was the strongest predictor of word identification for the Punjabi group. RAN was the strongest predictor in grade one and PM was the strongest predictor in grade two for the Cantonese group. However, results show that when combined together PA, PM, and RAN are universal predictors of word identification across language groups.

Keywords: English language, Study and teaching
English language, Phonetics
Reading, Phonetic method
Word recognition
Reading, Psychology of
Differential long-term cognitive, functional, and behavioral effects of cholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease

Despite widespread use of second-generation cholinesterase inhibitors for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), surprisingly little is known about possible long-term effects in different cognitive, functional and behavioral domains. This observational cohort study assessed detailed cognitive, functional and behavioral performance in 65 treated mild to moderate AD patients well-matched to 65 untreated AD patients within the same longitudinal study over one and two years. Results add to the body of evidence from double blind, placebo-controlled and open label trials in mild to moderate AD, suggesting that treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors may continue to show beneficial effects in overall cognition and selective cognitive functions and activities of daily living for up to two years. Specifically, functions mediated by the frontal regions may be particularly responsive to treatment benefits with cholinergic therapy. It is important to note that selective cognitive benefits were paralleled with functional benefits, which are more likely to be considered clinically relevant. The concept of strategic location of cerebrovascular disease was extended to cholinergic pathways in the treated subjects. Possible modulatory effects on responsivity to cholinergic therapy of cholinergic pathway subcortical hyperintensities were investigated in comparison to total white matter lesion burden. Patients with more subcortical hyperintensities in the cholinergic projections, but no greater overall white matter disease burden, showed less decline in some executive tasks compared to those with little involvement, suggesting that cerebrovascular compromise of the cholinergic pathways may contribute additively to the cognitive deficit in AD and be more amenable to cholinergic enhancement of frontal/executive tasks. The overall study results illustrate the importance of including executive function tasks as well as ADL inventories as outcome measures in evaluating pharmacotherapies in AD.
Are you better?: Decribing and explaining changes in health status in persons with upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders

"Are you better?" is a fundamental question for both clinical practice and clinical research. Measuring changes in health status questionnaire scores is one way we attempt to answer the question in a standardized way, but how do we know if they do it well? The ability of a questionnaire to accurately detect change when it has occurred is called responsiveness. This is tested by examining change score in patients deemed to be improved by some reasonable indicator of true change. This thesis shows that the description of an instruments responsiveness is dependent on the indicator used. Measures are not "responsive" but are "responsive to". A taxonomy is developed describing different types of change (i.e., important change) and different perspectives that can be taken (patient, clinician). Each category is a different kind of responsiveness. One perspective, the patient's, is examined in detail in a qualitative study. The results show that being "better" is highly individualized, and may have little to do with a change in health state. This perspective is operationalized in a cohort study evaluating if different categories of change (cells in the taxonomy) result in different descriptions of an instruments responsiveness. The results show a high degree of variability. "Are you better?" is challenging to measure, but it is usually the question we are trying to answer when health status questionnaires are used in evaluative manners. Responsiveness studies need to be designed with attention to the indicator being used for change, which should reflect the target application. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Assessment of porous calcium polyphosphate block implants in a murine model of heterotopic bone formation

Background. The in vitro section was undertaken to determine the kinetics of native bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) loaded onto a porous calcium polyphosphate material (PCPP). The in vivo segment was conducted to determine the effectiveness of this material as a delivery system for BMPs. Conclusions. The results indicate that microcrystalline PCPP offers promise as a delivery system for BMPs. Results. In vitro: Approximately 30% of the loading dose was retained on both PCPP structures and released over a 7 day period. In vivo: Histomorphometrically, significantly more bone was present in the PCPP + BMP compared with the PCPP alone. Methods. In vitro: Nanocrystalline and microcrystalline structures of PCPP were loaded with bovine BMPs. Retention of BMPs and their release kinetics was assessed. In vivo: A muscle pouch was made bilaterally in mice muscles and implanted either with a PCPP block, a carrier-BMP combination or BMPs only. Histologic and histomorphometric assessments were performed.
Identification of a functionally essential amino acid for an Arabidopsis cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel

The cpr22 Arabidopsis mutant shows constitutive activation of pathogen resistance responses and has spontaneous lesions. cpr22 was identified to encode for a novel chimeric gene, ATCNGC11/12, created by a fusion between ATCNGC11 and 12. Previous analyses suggested that ATCNGC 11/12 forms a functional cAMP-activated CNGC in yeast and that the phenotype conferred by cpr22 is attributable to the expression Of ATCNGC11/12. To identify downstream components of the cpr22 -mediated signal transduction pathway or identify functionally important residues of this channel, a genetic screen for mutants that suppress cpr22-related phenotypes was conducted. One suppressor, #73 was identified to have an intragenic mutation in ATCNGC11/12. In this project, I have characterized the #73 mutant and analyzed the mechanism to suppress the cpr22 phenotypes by this mutation. This mutation, E519K, is located in the cyclic nucleotide binding domain. Our computational modeling suggests that this mutation alters an important amino acid necessary for channel activity and intra/inter subunit interactions that stabilize the tertiary channel structure.