VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Social comparisons within romantic relationships

In three studies, I examined the frequency, direction, and impact of social comparisons between romantic partners. Such comparisons were expected to occur frequently, due to daily interactions between partners. To the extent that one empathizes with one's partner and shares outcomes with one's partner, one might respond more positively to upward than downward comparisons in romantic relationships. Study 1 a was an experience-sampling study in which participants were married couples who reported the social comparisons that they made to their spouse over two weeks. Data were collected using a personal digital assistant; participants responded to brief questionnaires six times per day on the device. These brief questionnaires assessed the frequency, direction, domain, and affective response to social comparisons. Study lb examined reactions to the most significant comparisons participants made during the experience-sampling study. Participants reported making frequent social comparisons to their spouse across several domains, and made more upward comparisons than either downward or lateral comparisons. Furthermore, participants experienced more positive responses to upward than downward comparisons, a result in direct contrast to past research on social comparisons in daily life. Study 2 explored whether there were age differences in responses to comparisons between romantic partners, and whether evaluative variables (e.g., self-evaluations, partner evaluations), and relevance of the comparison domain moderated responses to comparisons. Participants in Study 2 were individuals in romantic relationships who reported the social comparisons that they made to their romantic partner over two weeks. The study employed an event-contingent methodology; data were collected via pencil-and-paper questionnaires that participants completed each time they made a comparison to their romantic partner. Age differences were found in the domains and overall affective impact of comparisons. Furthermore, in contrast to Studies 1 a and 1 b, participants made more downward comparisons than either upward or lateral comparisons. However, results confirmed that participants responded more positively to upward than downward comparisons even for domains high in self-relevance, and even when the comparison had negative self-evaluative implications. These results suggest that responses to comparisons in romantic relationships function differently than in other relationships, due to the empathy and shared outcomes inherent in romantic relationships.
Giving patients a louder voice in the health care system?: a critical evaluation of the Ontario Health Services Appeal and Review Board

The Romanow Report concluded that Canadians are pleased with the health care system, but dissatisfied with the government's management of it. This dissatisfaction is partly caused by a lack of public participation at the policy-making level, and is exacerbated by the limits of what legal mechanisms there are to challenge resulting government decisions. It is against this backdrop that this thesis seeks to determine whether a specialized appeal mechanism, the Ontario Health Services Appeal and Review Board, can provide patients with an accessible and effective way to challenge government decisions about the availability of health care services. It evaluates the Board's practices through an examination of relevant statutes and regulations, as well as the Board's Rules of Practice and Procedure, Annual Reports and unreported decisions. As it concludes, the Board has the potential to provide patients with a louder voice in the health care system, but to fulfill this potential it must be made more accessible and, especially, more responsive to patients and their complaints.

Keywords: Patients, Legal status, laws, etc
Patients, Ontario
Medical care, Law and legislation
Medical care, Ontario
The discourse on immigrant integration among teachers in two settlement programs: a comparative study

This study compares the immigrant integration discourses of nine English as a Second Language (ESL) language settlement teachers in the Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) program in Toronto-area schools and nine French as a Second Language (FSL) language settlement teachers in the Programme d'integration linguistique pour immigrants (PILI) [Linguistic Integration Program for Immigrants] in Montreal-area schools. The teaching of English and French to immigrants can be understood to be part of the hegemonic projects of nation-building in Canada and Quebec, respectively. This study provides an historical overview of Canadian and Quebec immigration and integration policies and language settlement programs. This provides a context for how both the contemporary manifestations of the Canadian immigrant integration ideology of multiculturalism and the Quebec ideology of interculturalism are communicated through government policy documents and (re)transmitted in LINC and PILI program documents. Finally, this work seeks to understand how these two ideologies, or official discourses, are reproduced or resisted in the discourses of these eighteen participants, as well as how their lived experiences influence these teachers' discourses.
Mental health benefits of therapeutic riding programs

This study investigated the psychological benefits of therapeutic riding programs. Participants (N=35) consisted of individuals in therapeutic riding and therapeutic skiing programs. Participants completed a questionnaire package assessing their self-esteem, symptoms of anxiety and depression and locus of control prior to treatment and again, approximately three months later, when the session of riding or the season of skiing had ended. Results indicated that both groups of participants showed significant improvements in self-esteem and locus of control as well as a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression after treatment. Twenty participants took part in post-treatment interviews, which looked more specifically at program benefits. Both groups revealed that the therapeutic program increased their self-esteem, made them feel better about themselves and provided social benefits. However, participants in the therapeutic riding program additionally experienced a connection to the therapeutic animal, a sense of community within the equestrian environment and a feeling of prestige and specialness that was associated with being able to ride a horse. Interactions with the therapeutic horse also increased motivation to engage in and remain in treatment. These results demonstrate that therapeutic riding programs can have a beneficial effect on mental health functioning and can provide additional, unique benefits not available in other therapeutic programs. The relationship that is developed with the horse and the intrinsic sense of community that is experienced appears to be particularly important treatment components of the program.
Perpetrators of sexual violence within intimate relationships: sexual offenders or male batterers?

Contrary to traditional belief, sexual violence toward women is more likely to be committed by known men, in particular, intimate partners, than by strangers. However, most research on spousal sexual violence has focused on the victim's experience to the neglect of conducting research with the actual perpetrators. The present study explored adult attachment patterns, intimacy deficits, substance abuse, and psychopathy variables related to interpersonal violence, among 32 Spousal sexual offenders. "These offenders were compared to 35 Unrelated sexual offenders, 38 Male batterers with no documented history of sexual violence, and 44 Violent/non-sexual offenders. Data was collected via questionnaire, file review and semi-structured interview. The results revealed that compared with the Violent-nonsexual offender comparison group, the Spousal sexual offenders experienced more social intimacy deficits, more affective/interpersonal features, and fewer of the antisocial lifestyle traits associated with psychopathy; and that the batterers were less secure in their adult attachment patterns. Correlations for the total group revealed that the more secure one was in his adult attachment style, the less severe was his alcohol abuse; and that the more fearful or dismissing one was in his adult attachment style, the more severe was his alcohol abuse. Lastly, it was found that the more preoccupied one was in his attachment pattern, the fewer psychopathic traits he endorsed. Further research is a worthwhile endeavor as results will aid in the development of appropriate treatment programs, in the allocation of appropriate resources, and ultimately in the reduction of further victimization of women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
Reframing dialogues: toward a multidimensional approach to Charter dialogue

The thesis' primary objective is to develop a richer and more satisfying framework for understanding the development of rights found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It uses as a starting point the notion of "Charter dialogue" developed in recent Canadian constitutional scholarship as a springboard into a socio-legal and critical investigation of the process by which Charter rights are given effect. Existing dialogic theories of the Charter focus largely on the work of courts and legislatures in relation to the Charter. Their focus is almost exclusively on the development of Charter rights through judicial decision-making and legislative law-making. A more comprehensive and socio-legal approach to Charter dialogue would pay attention to the different actors involved in Charter dialogues, the various dimensions of these dialogues, as well as the different sites in which they occur. This thesis unpacks many of the broader dimensions of the dialogic process by which Charter rights are given meaning through an examination of ongoing debates around the issue of same-sex relationship recognition in Canada. It provides a critical assessment of both the participation of social movements in the dialogic processes taking place under the Charter as well as the constraining effects of these processes on social movements and their efforts to seek social justice. In addition, it provides a multi-layered examination of the role of Charter litigation in spurring debate within the legislative sphere, as well as the role of Charter litigation in drawing attention to values and interests that often may be neglected within legislative deliberations. Finally, the thesis provides a critical analysis of public sphere debates spurred by the process of Charter litigation. It examines both the emancipatory potential of public sphere debates as well as the various ways in which this potential may be contained in practice. Overall, greater attention to the different non-state social actors involved in Charter dialogues as well as the different dimensions of this process and the different contexts in which it unfolds contributes to a more grounded and multi-layered understanding of the process through which Charter rights are given meaning and effect in Canada.

Keywords: Civil rights, Canada
Investigations of a fibre-reinforced composite used for an ankle-foot orthosis

An Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFO) provides mediolateral support to the ankle and foot for individuals with abnormal gait patterns. New manufacturing methods using light-curable composite laminate materials are under development for improved AFOs. A comprehensive approach must be applied to the AFO design, because of the effect of weave patterns and matrix adhesions in composite laminate structures. In this study, fibres were tested with a light-curable vinylester resin to investigate the interface behavior using the Microbond Test. From the preliminary Microbond Testing, Kevlar fibres and the vinylester displayed the highest interfacial shear strength and energy absorption capabilities. The Four-Point Bend test was used to determine the flexural properties of the composite. Both the Microbond and Four-Point Bend test samples were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy to confirm interface properties and failure mechanisms. After investigation of the results, E-glass and S-glass fibres were selected for future AFO experiments with the matrix.
Myofibroblast differentiation of porcine cardiac valve interstitial cells

We examined myofibroblast differentiation in VICs from porcine aortic valves. In normal valves, cells positive for a-SMA were rare, but spatially abundant in sclerotic valves. Hoechst 33342 dye identified 0.5% of VICs that are side population cells, none stained for SMA. Upon culture, sorted side population cells generated ∼85% SMA positive cells, indicating that some myofibroblasts originate from a rare population. Formation of myofibroblast is observed after 5 days in culture on rigid substrate, in contrast to compliant substrate. Exogenous tensile force also significantly increased SMA expression in VICs. ICAT and mass spectrometry identified cofilin as being differentially expressed in myofibroblast. Knockdown of cofilin with siRNA inhibited collagen gel contraction and reduced myofibroblast differentiation. Compared to normal valves, diseased valves showed strong immunostaining for cofilin that co-localized with SMA. Thus, in VICs, cofilin is a marker for myofibroblasts that arise from a rare population of stem cells and require a rigid matrix for formation.
Testing Rasmussen's risk management framework through case study: BSE in the UK

In 1986, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was identified in the UK. Millions of BSE-infected cows were slaughtered and over 150 people contracted variant-Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), an inevitably fatal human form of BSE. The purpose of this thesis was to test the ability of Rasmussen's (1997) risk management framework to explain how and why food production accidents happen. Using the BSE epidemic in the UK as a case study, an AcciMap and Conflict Map were constructed to represent contributing factors of the epidemic according to the structure of Rasmussen's framework. These tools facilitated a test of the seven predictions made by the framework. All seven predictions were supported by the evidence, indicating that Rasmussen's risk management framework shows promise as a theoretically-driven explanation of how and why accidents happen in complex socio-technical systems, particularly in the food production domain.
Accurate two-dimensional histograms for fast approximate answers to queries on real data

It is highly desirable to be able to obtain quick, yet accurate, approximate answers to queries on large databases. Although one-dimensional histograms are widely used as a form of data summarization, they fail to capture correlations between pairs of attributes, and this may result in highly erroneous approximations. In this thesis, we experimentally study the accuracy of approximation of two-dimensional histogram types in the context of real data. We investigate the issues of histogram structure choices, including the number of frequent values recorded in a histogram, the attribute partitioning priority order and the dimension structure. We further suggest heuristics that can select reasonably good histogram structure choices for different partitioning techniques and various types of data distributions. We comparatively evaluate previously proposed histogram types and we propose the density-based histogram partitioning technique that leads to more accurate approximations than prior histogram types for real data.
Identification and characterization of CNrasGEF and other Nedd4-interacting proteins

Nedd4 is a Hect domain-containing ubiquitin protein ligase, a third enzyme in the ubiquitination cascade (E3). Nedd4 belongs to a family of proteins which has a conserved domain architecture: a variable N-terminal region, a C2 domain, two to four tandem WW domains, and a ubiquitin ligase (Hect) domain. Nedd4-WW domains, small protein-protein interaction modules which bind to PY motifs, play an important role by providing substrate recognition. In the search for novel substrates for Nedd4, I performed an expression screen of a mouse d-16 embryonic library using the second WW domain of rat Nedd4 as a bait. I identified numerous PY motif-containing proteins, one of which is a novel guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the small GTPase Ras (and Rap) subfamily, and is named cyclic-nucleotide Ras GEF (CNrasGEF). Here we show that CNrasGEF represents a novel class of Ras activators, as well as a new direct target for intracellular cAMP/cGMP. CNrasGEF contains numerous domains and motifs, including CDC25, REM, RA, PDZ domain, and a cNMP-BD (cAMP/cGMP binding domain), 2 PY motifs and a C-terminal SxV sequence. In vitro, full-length CNrasGEF can activate Ras, a process that requires its CDC25 domain. As well, CNrasGEF binds cAMP directly via its cNMPBD. In cells, CNrasGEF activates Ras in response to an elevation of intracellular cAMP/cGMP, independent of PKA/PKG. The cAMP/cGMP-mediated activation of CNrasGEF is most likely mediated by a direct binding of cAMP/cGMP to CNrasGEF, because this activation is prevented in CNrasGEF lacking its CDC25 domain or its cNMP-BD. CNrasGEF can also activate Rap1, a Ras-related protein, but this activation is constitutive and independent of cAMP. The PY motifs of CNrasGEF mediate its association with Nedd4, and CNrasGEF is ubiquitinated by Nedd4. Ubiquitinated CNrasGEF is targeted for degradation by the proteasome. Interestingly, the CNrasGEF-CDC25 domain plays an important role in its ubiquitination, because the loss of Ras binding to CNrasGEF impairs CNrasGEF ubiquitination. Finally, CNrasGEF coimmunoprecipitates with 14-3-3 and Raf-1 proteins, known components of Ras downstream signaling. We proposed a model in which CNrasGEF mediates the cross-talk between cAMP-generating (i.e. GPCRs) and Ras signaling pathway, coordinates Ras downstream signaling and utilizes Nedd4-mediated ubiquitination to downregulate Ras signaling.
From hutong to high rise: An investigation of China's new property law

This paper discusses the March 2007 enactment of the PRC's The Real Rights Law or New Private Property Law: (1) 30 years of legal reform; (2) significant aspects of the new law; and, (3) the potential response to the new law. In the first chapter, I argue that the fear of another Cultural Revolution combined with economic reforms led the CCP to develop a legal system which gradually supports the 'rule of law' and private property rights. In the second chapter, I point out three significant areas of the new law---equalization of state, collective, and individual rights; extended land use rights; and, a national property registration system. The third chapter attempts to predict the social impact of the new law. I conclude that citizens will respond positively to the law and essentially want greater rights; however, due to the structure of the government this may not be immediately possible.
A knowledge-level approach for effective acting, sensing, and planning

In this thesis we investigate a "knowledge-level" approach to the problem of modelling an agent's incomplete knowledge, for the purpose of planning or high-level agent control. We investigate two formal accounts of knowledge, action, and sensing in the situation calculus: the Scherl and Levesque ( SL) approach that is based on "possible worlds," and the Demolombe and Pozos Parra (DP) approach that utilizes a set of "knowledge fluents." While the SL approach is expressive, reasoning is computationally more expensive; the DP account treats knowledge change as ordinary fluent change, but restricts its representation to primitive knowledge-level assertions. To relate these two accounts we construct "combined action theories," and prove that a set of primitive knowledge assertions remains identical in both accounts after any sequence of actions. We also extend this equivalence to more complex formulae. These results allow us to compile an expressive class of SL theories into equivalent DP theories that avoid the computational drawbacks of possible world reasoning. Moreover, this correspondence gives us a correctness result for the DP treatment of knowledge and action, in terms of possible worlds. We also describe a new conditional planner called PKS (Planning with Knowledge and Sensing), that works directly at the knowledge level to construct plans with incomplete information and sensing actions. PKS represents it knowledge by using a collection of databases, each of which models a particular type of knowledge. The contents of each database have a fixed, formal translation to a modal logic of knowledge that defines the planner's knowledge state. Actions are modelled as updates to the databases (i.e., the knowledge state), rather than the world state, which differs from other planners. This representation supports features, like functions, that world-level planners often have difficulty working with. We also describe a preliminary procedure for automatically converting DP actions into PKS actions. Together with our SL equivalence results, this transformation provides an important first step towards the goal of compiling world-level actions into equivalent knowledge-level actions usable by PKS. Finally, we demonstrate PKS's expressiveness and efficiency with a series of planning problems that also illustrate the potential of the knowledge-based approach.
Development of a method for inactivation of cerebellar flocculus region neurons using the AMPA-kainate antagonist CNQX and the effects of inactivation on motor memory in the vestibulo-ocular reflex

Purpose. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) permits focus during head movements. The cerebellar flocculus region (FLR) plays a role in VOR motor learning, and cancellation, a reduction in VOR gain when objects move with the head. Aims: (1) develop a method for reversible FLR inactivation; (2) apply this to test motor learning hypotheses. Method. A headholder and scleral eyecoil were implanted in cats. Current pulses through a cylinder devised with precisely drilled holes identified FLR by characteristic eye movements. Mapping was repeated with CNQX (AMPA antagonist) to find a site that inactivated FLR, identified by cancellation inhibition. VOR gain modification using spectacles and rotation preceded CNQX or control. Results. Current pulses elicited ipsilateral eye movements. Only CNQX reduced cancellation, and returned adapted gains significantly toward baseline. Conclusion. This study showed for the first time that cancellation is asymmetric when FLR is inactivated unilaterally. Unilateral FLR activation significantly inhibited motor memory expression.
Design and process optimization of reinforced natural fibre mat (NMT) composities

Consumer awareness and stringent environmental legislation has initiated a renewed interest in using plant fibres as reinforcement in thermoplastics. The main objective of this research project is to develop high performance sheet moulded natural fibre thermoplastic composites by understanding and implementing new design concepts of fibre morphology. We have determined important design parameters such as critical fibre length, interfacial shear stress (ISS) and used them in comprehensive modeling to predict composite strength. The model was validated using experimental results. The study also indicated a significant improvement of 15–20% in mechanical properties by using maleated coupling agents and organo-silanes. A unique one-step method of utilizing hybrid natural fibres in random orientation has enhanced the impact energy absorbing behaviour of composite products by almost one hundred percent compared to non-woven mat-reinforced thermoplastics. Environmental performance of natural fibre composites compared to glass fibre plastics in terms of energy consumption is also studied.