VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Finite dimensional approximations to a Raman amplifier model

This thesis investigates the suitability of a finite difference approximation of a Raman amplifier model. A Raman amplifier is an optical fiber which uses a nonlinear optical effect to amplify the power of one optical wave (the signal) using the power of another optical wave (the pump). A system of partial differential equations (PDE) is used to model the power of the pump and signal waves over time and length of the amplifier fiber. Using the finite difference method, we approximate this model with a system of ordinary differential equations (ODE). In this thesis, we show that this ODE model is a valid approximation of the PDE model. In other words, the solutions of the ODE model approximate the solutions of the PDE model.
La transition de l'école secondaire de langue française `a l'université en Ontario: Perspectives étudiantes

La presente these examine l'experience de la transition de l'ecole secondaire a l'universite de la perspective de quinze eleves diplomes d'une ecole secondaire de langue francaise en milieu minoritaire en Ontario. Elle permet une meilleure comprehension des effets structurants de l'ecole sur le processus de demande d'admission ainsi qu'une meilleure connaissance des strategies d'adaptation une fois en milieu universitaire. Plusieurs phenomenes complexes et inter relies se manifestent durant cette periode critique, dont les aspirations professionnelles, les contraintes materielles, l'insertion sociale, les positionnements identitaires et les choix linguistiques. Une approche sociolinguistique critique qui emprunte les concepts de capital et d'habitus a Bourdieu (1982, 1985) est utilisee pour explorer au moyen de trois questions le processus de la transition au postsecondaire, ainsi que l'experience etudiante lors de la premiere annee en milieu universitaire: Comment ces eleves arrivent-ils a choisir l'institution ou le programme universitaire? Comment, du point de vue de ces etudiants, se vit la transition au postsecondaire? Les questions linguistiques ont-elles une place dans le processus tel que vecu par les 15 participants au projet?L'ethnographie reflexive a petite echelle a servi a recueillir des donnees sur une periode de 18 mois au moyen d'entretiens, d'observations, de journaux electroniques et de groupes de discussion. L'analyse des donnees discursives privilegie la comprehension des "discours dans leurs espaces de production, [de] leurs contraintes de production et [de] leur historicite" (Duchene, 2006, p. 123). Les analyses amenent a conclure que: (1) les eleves effectuent leurs choix d'abord et avant tout en fonction de la nature et de la qualite des programmes, tout en tenant compte de l'eloignement geographique; (2) la transition debute lors de leur derniere annee d'etudes secondaires et les choix faits en fonction des ressources disponibles ont un impact sur la suite de la transition; (3) une integration sociale reussie au milieu universitaire sert de fondement a la reussite academique; (4) pour ces jeunes bilingues scolarises dans des ecoles de langue francaise en milieu minoritaire, le passage au postsecondaire suppose un repositionnement sur le plan linguistique.
Challenging prepositions: the effectiveness of interrelating rules for teaching por and para in Spanish as a second language

This study hypothesizes that showing learners the general concepts that interrelate the meanings of the Spanish prepositions por and para (IR) results in more accurate performance than presenting the meanings as individual, unrelated items (UR). IR is more linguistically accurate than UR because it clarifies that prepositions are polysemous, with related meanings, and not homonymous, with unrelated meanings. IR also highlights the internal organization of the meanings, which psychological research has shown to facilitate recall. Moreover, IR helps learners to better understand the rationale behind the uses of por and para, thereby facilitating the application of classroom material to novel contexts. A quasi-experimental study was carried out with three second-year university Spanish classes in Canada. The learners were tested before the treatment, immediately afterwards, and again four weeks later. The results indicate that IR was not significantly different from UR in terms of accuracy of performance, certainty levels, number of errors made in free writing, self-ratings of knowledge and confidence, nor in the learners' evaluation of the treatment. However, IR seemed to show a larger substantial gain and longer durability for comprehension. IR also led to a faster increase in the learners' certainty levels about their answers, and the IR learners were more accurate in assessing the correctness of their answers. The lack of statistical significance may be due to the learners' unfamiliarity with the IR approach, which presents the rules as flexible rather than discrete and focuses on the process of arriving at the answer rather than on the answer itself. The unfamiliarity of IR, coupled with the short duration of the treatment (45 minutes), may have made learners more hesitant, thus negating any potential benefits. Nonetheless, the findings, as they stand, indicate that IR and UR are equally effective in improving learner performance on por and para. It is possible that as long as there is instruction that calls learners' attention to form-meaning connections, the exact operationalization of this instruction is not relevant for acquisition. The choice of instructional method may thus come down to the preferences of the learners and of the teacher.
Religious minorities, the postcolonial state and the politics of non-domination

The question I address in this dissertation is whether it is possible to define a relationship between the state and religious groups that does not entrench relations of domination. I respond to the postcolonial critique by drawing a distinction between state power and neocolonial power. I argue that the democratic alternatives to counter statist domination advanced by postcolonial theorists themselves require the presence of an institutional framework for securing a regime of non-domination, one that the agencies of the state can uniquely and efficiently provide. I further de-link the connection between state power and colonial power through a study of social reform processes in late-nineteenth century colonial India whereby I demonstrate that the deployment of state power to counter intragroup domination was perceived as indispensable by Indian social reformers and members of vulnerable groups even at time when state power was vested in a colonial regime. I note that even the best liberal multicultural institutional arrangements for accommodating the claims of non-hegemonic minorities in ways that counter both intragroup and inter-group domination can reinforce the power of the state to regulate and discipline marginalized group identities in a manner that echoes the civilizational logic of colonialism, and result in the imposition of neocolonial relations of domination between the state and groups. In the final chapter I consider ways by which the state can discriminatingly intervene in the affairs of non-hegemonic groups without generating neocolonial practices of government. Following in the footsteps of contemporary democratic theorists, I affirm that a statist politics grounded in a support of civil society movements, guided by an expansive understanding of autonomy/agency, and supported by consultative and representative decision making processes can mitigate the tendency toward neocolonial domination. However, I also indicate that it is important not to conflate the potential for statist domination with a claim about its inevitability. The latter claim forms the basis for the postcolonial critique of the state, which equates state power with (neo)colonial power. This fuels the rejection of the state as a relevant actor for engaging and accommodating the claims of non-hegemonic religious groups in a non-dominating manner.
Differential receiver design for the Offset-QPSK modulation scheme: ISI-free and non-ISI-free receiver algorithms

Modulation formats for mobile communications need to support non-linear amplifiers and allow for fast acquisition. A communication system using Offset-QPSK (OQPSK) and differential demodulation satisfies these requirements. Thus, in this thesis, we present two classes of differential receivers for OQPSK. The first class of receivers deals with ISI-free transmission and are attractive solutions because of their simple design. However, the ISI-free transmission assumption strictly requires a pulse shape with maximum excess bandwidth. The second class of receivers are able to deal with ISI by using trellis decoding and the Viterbi algorithm and are, thus, more computationally complex. In this case, efficient use of the bandwidth can be achieved, by optimizing the pulse shapes used, while maintaining the decoder's good performance. The pulse shapes derived include the Modified Raised Cosine (MRC), the Truncated Raised Cosine (TRC) and the Raised Cosine 2 (RC2).
Ethnocultural justice for the Roma in Slovakia

The thesis aims to contribute to the scholarly effort that scrutinizes national minority rights standards in Central and Eastern Europe from an ethnocultural justice perspective. I approach this task through a case study of the Roma in Slovakia. By interrogating what ethnocultural justice for this minority means, I critique both, the current practices in the accommodation of national minorities, and Western theories of minority rights. Drawing on several fields of study, including international law, Slovak constitutional law, political theories of liberal pluralism, feminism, and Romani studies, the thesis frames the question of Roma rights within the larger discourse on accommodation of national minorities. I advance an account of ethnocultural justice based on the concept of equality that takes into consideration the issues of context. Rather than applying a uniform framework to each group, the thesis proposes a method of devising minority protection based on reliance of the three core 'objectives' or 'justifications' of existing national minority rights; namely peace and security, human dignity, and culture. Guided by the three justifications, I put forward an interpretation of ethnocultural justice for the Roma. It is founded on a substantive equality dimension in relation to the dominant majority and to other national minorities. Equal treatment acknowledges the specific circumstances of the Roma, including socio-economic disparities, distinct culture, and territorial dispersion. Ethnocultural justice is equally sensitive to gender and other forms of inequalities within the group. In contrast to existing policies, fair treatment of the Roma reaches beyond their mere 'integration' into dominant societal institutions, but equally falls short of promoting parallel minority institutions across the whole range of political, social, and economic spaces. In its final part, the thesis offers a variant of the personal cultural autonomy, combined with aspects of a model of joint governance called 'transformative accommodation', as an institutional expression of my normative proposal. While sanctioning the existence of some minority specific spaces, the model promises to facilitate the transformation of mainstream institutions in a way that promotes Roma inclusion in these critical in advancing both the socio-economic and the cultural structures, which is in turn critical in advancing both the socio-economic and the cultural empowerment of this group.
Altered sensation associated with mandibular implant placement: a prospective clinical pilot study

Despite potential risks of nerve morbidity during implant surgery, data on altered sensations (AS) are sparse. To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of AS following mandibular implant surgery, self-administered questionnaires and psychophysical testing results were assessed in 16 patients pre-operatively and 1-week, 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-operatively (po). All patients experienced AS 1-week po and 87.5% 6-months po. The order of recovery was: tactile discrimination, grating orientation discrimination, cold/heat pain, cold sensation, 2-point discrimination, and warm detection. 13% of the patients still reported feeling “numb”, “tender”, “tingling”, “crawling”, “twitching”, and “wet” at 6-months po. Although activities of speaking, eating, and drinking were affected in 81% at 1-week and in 19% 6-month po, all patients felt the advantages of implant placement outweighed the disadvantages of AS. These results suggest that AS and their effects on patients' quality of life can persist at least up to 6 months after mandibular implant surgery.
Investigating the structure and aggregation of dissolved organic matter using NMR spectroscopy

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) represents one of the largest and least understood pools of organic carbon on Earth. Despite its importance in many environmental processes, fundamental aspects, such as the structure and associations of DOM, still remain ambiguous. This thesis provides findings on aspects of DOM research that are necessary for a greater understanding of DOM reactivity and interactions in the environment, including structural components and self-associations (i.e. aggregation). A new passive isolation technique is described, which combines a selectively-permeable membrane and an ion-exchange resin to filter and concentrate DOM. The passive sampler removes the need for active sampling (i.e. pumping of large volumes of water) and isolates material similar to traditional methods. A newly-developed NMR water suppression technique permits the analysis of DOM at natural abundance, and validates that isolation techniques yield similar material to DOM from the environment. This new water suppression technique also permits characterization of DOM without concentration or pretreatment, allowing the analysis of limited or precious samples (e.g. pore water, ice cores).

Keywords: Chemistry, Analytic
Environmental sciences
Spectral dependence of optical nonlinearity in bulk GaAs, CdSe nanocrystals, and PbS nanocrystals

In this thesis we report, for the first time, measurements of the nonlinear refraction and absorption from the bandgap to half-bandgap region of bulk GaAs, CdSe nanocrystals and PbS nanocrystals using a tunable picosecond laser system. A good understanding of the spectral dependence of such coefficients is required to design all-optical switching components. The measured third-order refraction and two-photon absorption coefficients of GaAs match theoretical predictions well. Experimental values of the free-carrier refraction coefficient are also presented for the first time over a wide wavelength range. We validate previous conclusions that the two-photon absorption coefficient of semiconductor nanocrystals is comparable to that of bulk in the picosecond regime. Further, we present evidence that the same holds for the nonlinear refraction coefficient. Figure of merit calculations indicate that nanocrystals are usable over a wider portion of the bandgap to half-bandgap region than bulk.
Ice, through Inuit eyes: Characterizing the importance of sea ice processes, use, and change around three Nunavut communities

Sea ice is an integral component of life in Inuit communities. It has complex influences on economic, social, cultural, and subsistence activities. Also, due to its influential role in regulating energy exchanges between the ocean and the atmosphere, sea ice is often used as an indicator of climate change in arctic regions. Significant scientific research effort has been focused on determining the potential impacts of global climate change on arctic ice seasonal patterns. Recently, interest in the impacts of climate change on arctic communities, and resulting societal adaptations, has emerged. Sea ice is thus an essential component to include in vulnerability assessments designed to evaluate community-specific implications of climate change. However, in order to undertake such an assessment, we must first understand Inuit characterizations of sea ice and the attributes of ice that most affect their livelihoods and lifestyles. Inuit have developed an intimate relationship with the sea ice and marine ecosystem through generations of observation and experience. While they have long been able to harvest wildlife and forecast changes linked to ice conditions, little of this detailed knowledge has been documented to appropriately represent this expertise. Therefore, working with Inuit sea ice experts in Cape Dorset, Igloolik, and Pangnirtung, Nunavut, this thesis characterizes the local importance of sea ice processes, use, and change. Employing a collaborative research approach, a combination of participatory methods (i.e. semi-directed interviews, experiential sea ice trips, focus groups) were undertaken in four field seasons between 2003 and 2005. Results from each community include descriptions of: (i) freezing and melting processes; (ii) the influences of winds and currents on sea ice; (iii) sea ice uses for travel, hunting, and wildlife habitat; and, (iv) observations of sea ice change. These results facilitate a comparative regional analysis, with an emphasis on Inuktitut terminology and implications of a changing sea ice environment. Experiences in a cross-cultural, community-based, collaborative research setting also enable an evaluation of the effectiveness of the research approach. This thesis lays the foundation for knowledge-sharing between Inuit and scientists. It is a starting point for attempts to link local and scientific knowledge in a complementary manner.
The relationship between paper properties and fuser oil uptake in high-speed digital xerographic printing

The fuser roll in high-speed xerographic printers is typically coated with oil, so as to facilitate clean splitting of the fused image and paper as it exits the fusing nip. If oil uptake by paper is excessive, a fuser oil depletion problem can develop and the roll will become insufficiently coated. As a result, both image quality and fuser roll life will be negatively impacted. After testing a wide range of commercial papers, key paper properties correlated with oil uptake were identified using a partial least squares regression model. Surface energy of paper was found to have the strongest correlation with oil uptake. A contact area index (CI), based on contact mechanic theories, was used to describe the degree of contact between paper and the fuser roll at the nip. A positive correlation between oil uptake and CI suggests that roughness and stiffness also have significant influences on oil uptake.
An exploratory study of professional managers' informal and formal learning in the job or career change process

This paper is an exploratory study of how professional managers use employment-related informal and formal learning to change jobs or careers. Quantitative data, from national surveys, were combined with qualitative data, derived from interviewing ten professional managers, to discover what role employment-related informal and formal learning played in their job or career change process. The majority of the professional managers in this study had learning, both informal and formal, as a high priority in designing their move to and becoming established in a new place of work. This study illustrates the importance that these professional managers place on both employment-related informal and formal learning in the job or career change process.

Keywords: Executives, Training of
Employees, Training of
Non-formal education
Learning
Characterization of washoff from urban impervious surfaces

Total accumulation and subsequent washoff of surface films derived from gas- and particle-phase atmospheric deposition on seven different impervious surface types (glass, galvanized steel, PVC, PTFE, asphalt, brick, concrete) was investigated. Total accumulation (SigmaPAH 515--31 715 ng/m2; SigmaPCBs 9--86 ng/m2), washoff yields and proportions removed varied among surface types. PAH washoff yields were related to antecedent dry days and static electrification, particularly for PVC and PTFE. PAH and PCB washoff profiles were similar among surface types, with enrichment of particle-phase PAH relative to air. PAH and PCBs from film on all surfaces were washed off independently of aqueous solubility. As surface films concentrate and subsequently release atmospherically-derived PAH and PCBs with washoff, the importance of film washoff as a contributor of contaminants to urban surface waters should be considered.
Assessing a vector parameter by higher order likelihood

In this thesis we test a vector parameter in the context of a general continuous model using a high order likelihood approach. For this assessment the first order p-values using the score measure or the log-likelihood ratio quantity as kernel and the chi-square distribution are widely used but can be misleading. The Bartlett correction to the log-likelihood ratio produces significant improvement to approximation accuracy but the correction is typically not available in many contexts. Other higher order p-values for some specific model types are available but more detailed likelihood characteristics are required; these can be difficult to obtain in many cases, and the calculations may be complicated which may reduce their accuracy. A formula developed by Fraser Reid (2005) that has second order accuracy greatly overcomes the mentioned difficulties. This formula uses a high order adjustment factor to improve the first order p-value so that it is more like an exact assessment measure. It is developed for assessing a, vector parameter for a general continuous model and its computation involves routine calculations with the log-likelihood and its sample space gradient. The method however uses the score quantity as kernel and this frequently does not provide approximations as accurate as those with the log-likelihood ratio. We follow the same approach as in the development of the Fraser Reid formula but work with the log-likelihood ratio or the corrected ratio as kernel and obtain two key results. Also we develop a correction factor to use with the log-likelihood ratio. Simulations are used to assess the results and a range of examples are discussed.
Between fire and ice: Studies in Jewish and Christian centrism in the 19th century

This thesis is concerned with the emergence and development of what I am calling "centrist religion" in Judaism and Christianity from the middle of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the First World War. My thesis will argue that what will become Conservative Judaism, on the one hand, and Victorian Anglicanism, on the other, self-consciously placed themselves in the middle position of their respective traditions. Although the direct points of contact between the two were few, they were accessing common concepts.

Keywords: Religion, History
Jews, Study and teaching
Use of chlorine dioxide for biofilm control in sedimentation basins and impacts on treatment processes

Application of chlorine dioxide was investigated to control biofouling in sedimentation basins and to determine impacts on downstream drinking water processes, (settling and ozonation). Bench scale tests were conducted to simulate each treatment process. Suspended and attached heterotrophic plate counts and acridine orange direct counts were used to quantify biofilm formation; no significant difference (99% confidence level), was observed between disinfected reactors (1.0 mg/L) and the control reactor. However, a 1.0 mg/L chlorine dioxide dose produced 86% less adsorbable organic halides than water treated using chlorine at the same dose. Ferrous was observed to reduce 100% of chlorite to chloride at a ferrous to chlorite ratio of 3.3 to 1.0 by mass, at pH 7. Both chlorine dioxide and chlorine at 1.0 mg/L were observed to lower bromate formation and ozone demand when compared to a control; the extent of bromate inhibition depended on the applied ozone dose.