VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Exploring the establishment of scoring criteria for writing ability in a second language, the influence of background factors on variability in the decision-making processes of four experienced raters of ESL compositions

I examined the verbal protocols 4 raters of ESL compositions provided while rating 60 TOEFL essays in an experimental context, where they were instructed not to rely on the usual scoring rubric for this test. I subsequently interviewed the raters to discover how they constructed scoring criteria and how background factors influenced this process. The data revealed that all 4 attempted to infer proficiency from performance by placing writers on a developmental trajectory they established for language learners, based largely on their teaching experiences. To establish specific rating criteria, raters combined their ideas of learners' development with information regarding scoring guidelines, test use and test takers, and relied on assessment experience to develop reading and rating strategies. Differences in scoring criteria emerged through differences in raters' backgrounds, particularly in their teaching experiences, which led them to differ in identifying the key competencies learners mastered at various levels of development.
The effects of processing of oat grain cereals on glycemic response and satiety

To test the hypothesis that processing of oat grain breakfast cereals influences glycemic response and satiety, two studies were conducted. In study 1, five oat cereals of two particle sizes and three levels of cooking were assessed in 11 normal males. In study 2, seven oat cereals varying in gelatinization were investigated in 16 males. In addition, the relationship between blood glucose and satiety was examined in both studies. In study 1, increased particle size and reduced processing lowered glycemic response, but showed no consistent effect on satiety. In study 2, there was no relationship between gelatinization and glycemic response, but increased gelatinization enhanced satiety. However, there were no differences in food intake at a lunchtime meal served 120 minutes after treatments. There was no definitive relationship between blood glucose and satiety in either study. It is concluded that glycemic and satiety responses to oat cereals are modulated by processing.
Leptin demonstrates no significant effect on basal or insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and C¹§4-labelled glucose incorporation into glycogen in L6 myotubes

Hyperleptinemia is often accompanied by a marked degree of insulin resistance, particularly in those individuals who also exhibit obesity. Whether this relationship is due to the effect of leptin on insulin-mediated events in the periphery, or due to leptin induced centrally mediated changes in energy balance is not fully ascertained. This study examined the effect of leptin on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in L6 myotubes. Since the cell culture model lacks nervous input it provides an excellent model to examine any direct effect that leptin might have on these events. Myotubes were incubated for 18, 3 or 1 hour(s) in various concentrations (1-500 ng/ml) of leptin. Insulin (1nM-1000nM) was added to the medium during the final 30 minutes. Leptin had no significant effect on basal or insulin-stimulated glucose uptake or glycogen synthesis, suggesting that leptin has no direct effect on insulin-mediated events in skeletal muscle.
Polymer-bound ketenes and allenes, preparation and applications

The main scope of the research presented in this thesis is the investigation of the viability of polymer-bound ketenes and allenes, and of their reactions. These studies represent a continuation both of the current developments in polymer-bound synthesis, and of the recent progresses in cumulene chemistry. Attempts were made to use 1,3-dioxin-4-ones as precursors of polymer-bound acylketenes. Using both insoluble and soluble polymeric supports, three different polymer-bound dioxinones were prepared. These were thermally converted to the parent ketenes, but attempts to trap these showed that the main products came from competing hydration. This was countered by reversing the procedure, namely by adding the ketene to the support. Soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEGOH) of average MW of 5000 g mol-1 was reacted with 2,2,6-trimethyl-1,3-dioxin-4-one, an acetylketene precursor, to give a polymer-bound acetoacetate. Condensation of this with primary amines under dehydrating conditions gave polymer-bound enamines. These were then treated with the acetylketene precursor again, and gave 4-pyridones, which were liberated from the support by methanolysis. Using MPEGOH, the Wang resin, and a spacer modified Wang resin, stable polymer-bound silyl ketenes were prepared by the reaction of the hydroxy groups on these polymers with 2,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadien-1,4-dione, a persistent and stable bisketene. The soluble polymer-bound silyl ketene was converted to amides via reaction with amines. Following fluorodesilylation, the amides were cleaved from the support either via methanolysis, to give succinimides or mixed ester amides of succinic acid, or via reaction with butylamine to give unsymmetrical succinamides. The solid supported silyl ketenes were subjected to the same process, with the exception that hydrolysis was used for the cleavage, to form succinamic acids and esters. The Wang resin supported ketene was also converted to its parent esters under catalysis with base, yielding succinic acid monoesters, after cleavage. Using MPEGOH, polymer-supported allenecarboxylates and an allenylketene were prepared. The allenecarboxylates were treated with amines, to give enamines and, following treatment with acetylketene and methanolysis, 4-pyridones were obtained from these allenes. The same enamines were treated with acryloyl imidazole, to give, after methanolysis, [delta]-lactams. The treatment of the allenylketene with amines, followed by the same reaction with acryloyl imidazole and methanolysis, also gave [delta]-lactams.
Bamboo in the wind, United States foreign policy and Thailand during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, 1961-1969

This dissertation examines relations between the United States and Thailand from 1961 to 1969. During the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson the United States deepened its involvement in Southeast Asia, becoming embroiled in the Laotian and Vietnamese conflicts. At the time the spectre of communist expansion in the region seemed very real, and believing in the so-called "domino theory", Washington sought to contain this threat by increasing its military and economic support of states in proximity to Laos and Vietnam where a vulnerability was perceived. Chief among these states was Thailand, which since the late 1940's had gradually become a major American ally. Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been colonised, in part due to the traditional flexibility of Thai diplomacy. After World War II, developments in Thailand led to the entrenchment of military government, which the U.S. reinforced to gain anticommunist support in the region. This relationship intensified as the situations in Laos and Vietnam worsened, and by the mid-1960's Thailand was a vital centre of American military operations in Southeast Asia. Using material from archives in the U.S., Britain, and Canada, including recently declassified American government documents, this study traces the dynamics of American policy towards Thailand during the 1960s. The factors affecting the formulation and implementation of American policy and the consequences of that policy are the principal focus of analysis. However, attention is also given to the nature of Thai political culture and foreign policy. Although never Washington's focal point, and frequently lacking co-ordination between various government agencies, U.S. policy towards Thailand during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations was ultimately successful. Thailand was a "domino" that did not fall, and while this owed more to the nature of Thai society itself than American actions, the connection to the U.S. was undeniably an important factor. Whereas U.S. policy in Indochina met with failure, Thailand remained out of communist hands, even after the withdrawal of American forces by 1975. The relationship between the U.S. and Thailand in the 1960s, while far from being ideal, proved to be mutually beneficial.
Analysis of the familial aggregation of hypertension among patients with different types of kidney stone disease

Background. Past studies identified an association between kidney stone (KS) disease and hypertension (HTN). The aims of the present thesis are to determine whether there is a specific biochemical abnormality that is responsible for the association and whether the association has familial determinants. Methods. Two hundred and twelve KS patients (age 18-50 years) were classified into six diagnostic categories on the basis of their most prominent urinary metabolic abnormality, and were interviewed about the occurrence of HTN among their first-degree relatives. Familial aggregation of HTN was assessed by the comparison of the prevalence of strong family history (FHx) of HTN among the categories and by the comparison of prevalence of HTN among the fathers, mothers and siblings of the patients from the different diagnostic groups. Results. The prevalence of positive FHx of HTN was significantly higher in patients with hyperuricosuric KS disease (OR = 3.8 (1.22-11.66)), and the prevalence of HTN was significantly higher in siblings of the hyperuricosuric patients compared to the siblings of all other patients (OR = 3.8 (2.12-6.67)). The association was independent of the presence of HTN in the probands. Sub-group analysis among the hyperuricosuric patients revealed that it was those patients who had hypercalciuria in addition to hyperuricosuria that had positive FHx of HTN (OR = 9.0 (1.74-46.6)) and siblings of only these patients had significantly more HTN (OR = 5.5 (2.02-15.15)). These combined hyperuricosuric/hypercalciuric patients had higher serum levels of uric acid and higher urinary excretion of sodium and phosphorus besides the hyperuricosuria and hypercalciuria. Conclusion. That there is familial aggregation of HTN among KS patients who have high urinary excretion of uric acid especially when combined with hypercalciuria.
Mantle xenoliths from the Attawapiskat kimberlite field, James Bay Lowlands, Ontario

A chemical investigation of coarse textured, garnet-bearing peridotite xenoliths and xenocrysts from the Attawapiskat kimberlite field was undertaken. The kimberlites occur in the James Bay Lowlands, in the Sachigo subprovince of the Superior Craton. Fragments of coarse textured lherzolite, harzburgite and eclogite occur as microxenoliths (<=1.5 cm diameter). Most of the xenoliths occur as one or two phase assemblages (olivine ± orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, garnet, spinel). Garnet-bearing assemblages were investigated for the purposes of geothermobarometry. Calculated pressures and temperatures of equilibration indicate that garnet harzburgites equilibrated at depths within the diamond stability field, and garnet lherzolites at depths within the graphite stability field. All the xenoliths equilibrated near a 40mWm-2 subcratonic steady-state geothermal gradient. Extensive modal metasomatism occurred in the mantle prior to xenoliths being incorporated into the kimberlite magma. This metasomatism extended to great depths below the Superior Craton in the Attawapiskat region.
Performance of the line-intercept transect in the coral reef habitat, accuracy, precision, errors and their control

The dominant coral reef survey method, the line intercept transect (LIT), was imported from terrestrial plant ecology in 1971 to solve survey problems, especially on the reef slope. Results of the few field tests conducted are mixed and vaguely described methods cannot be replicated. This thesis aims to: define the most commonly used LIT protocols; elucidate problems and possible correctives; explore error sources and their control. Methods: authors of works testing or applying the LIT were surveyed; the dominant LIT protocol and an alternative were field tested. Accuracy was assessed using digitized and geometric model area estimates of every coral on one site. The thesis argues that: Parallax effects, and attempts to overcome them, constitute the major threats to LIT validity. The problem increases as topographic relief increases and is greatest on the reef slope. The dominant protocol produces data of very low precision and uncertain meaning. The alternative allows lower cost, high precision estimates of vertically projected cover, repeatable for particular colonies, and can therefore provide some insight into mosaic recycling as well as community change. Variation in reef topographic relief remains a major obstacle and must be carefully factored into all inter-site comparisons. Topographic character as a stratifying criterion in sampling programs may mitigate the problem for comparisons across similar strata depending on information needs and budgetary constraints.
Cognitive-behaviour therapy and problem drinking, a meta-analysis

Cognitive-behavioural theories have been proposed to explain why, where, and how much people drink, and why most remain social drinkers while others experience problem drinking. Cognitive-behavioural treatment strategies focus on the cognitively mediated variables believed to be involved in the development and maintenance of problem drinking. The aim of this quantitative review is to determine the overall effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of problem drinking according to the literature to date. An English-language computerised literature search was used to locate studies (n = 12) reporting the results of controlled trials. The results from the original studies were statistically pooled to establish the overall effect of CBT in the treatment of problem drinking. CBT was found to be effective in reducing the alcohol intake of problem drinkers, at least in the short term (mean within-group effect size = .50), but there is little evidence to suggest that it is superior to other forms of treatment. Specific recommendations are made with respect to design methodology in future research.
Synthetic approaches to coniochaetones A and B

Several routes to the synthesis of coniochaetones A and B, two natural products isolated from a liquid culture of 'Coniochaeta saccardoi', were explored. Two different pathways which we believe will eventually lead to the synthesis of coniochaetones A and B have been focused upon. Utilizing a model series, key intermediates for each synthetic route have been synthesized and characterized. The synthesis of 4a-bromo-1a-methoxycyclopenta-[b]-chromone 81 has been accomplished by the reaction of cyclopenta-[b]-chromone 14 with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in methanol. Methyl 5-chloro-6-(2 '-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxohexanoate 96 has been synthesized by the bromination of 6-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-oxohexanoic acid followed by an esterification reaction involving HCl in methanol.
CyberEye, an Internet-enabled collaborative design environment

This thesis presents an Internet-enabled, platform-independent, distributed collaborative design environment by applying cutting-edge Java3D technologies and Internet technologies (such as ASP and Java Servlet). The proposed environment integrates the Product Visualization Module (the 3D CAD browser), the Product Information Management Module and the Team Management Module to support the execution of multidisciplinary team design on the Internet. A novel approach adopting Java3D API and Java servlet technology is proposed to implement the 3D CAD browser. The Product Information Management Module is used to achieve 'shared understanding' of product data and provides the facilities to control access to shared information and two-way information exchange between clients and server. The Team Management Module not only manages the activities of team participants, but also supports both asynchronous and synchronous distributed interactions amongst them.
The effect of jet mixing on the combustion efficiency of a hot, fuel-rich cross-flow

Many combustion systems inject air into a hot fuel-rich cross-flow to minimize carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions. Examples include staged air injection in fluidized bed combustors, gas turbine engines, and electric arc furnace exhaust afterburners. Low CO and unburnt hydrocarbon emissions are important design objectives. Efforts in modeling combustion have failed in accurately predicting the levels of these emissions. The main aim of this study is to improve our understanding of the relationship between mixing, chemical kinetics, and combustion efficiency for air jets in a hot reacting cross-flow. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen concentration measurements have been made for six different round jet configurations issuing air into a hot reacting cross-flow. The study of the performance of four different 9 round jets modules having different jet diameters indicated that the overall equivalence ratio has a significant effect on the maximum combustion efficiency. An equivalence ratio of approximately 0.8 leads to the best combustion efficiency for all of the 9 round jet modules. This result is similar to what is observed in premixed combustion. The predominance of the effect of the equivalence ratio suggests that some premixing between the jets and the cross-flow takes place prior to combustion. The rest of the experiments were run such that the optimum mixing (according to cold flow theory) occurs at [Phi] = 0.8. The experiments also showed that, although the equivalence ratio does not control the location of the optimum point, it does affect the level of emissions. In fact, at constant equivalence ratio, low momentum flux ratios yield higher emissions. The number of jets affects the level of emissions. Larger number of jets provided better combustion efficiency. The unmixedness was measured for the 18 round jets module. This measurement showed the momentum flux ratio is a driving factor affecting mixing. The comparison of the combustion efficiency of H2 and CO suggest that the reaction rate affect the level of combustion efficiency without affecting the location of the optimum.
Temporal expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase type 2 and prostaglandin receptors at birth

Parturition in the sheep is preceded by increased levels of prostaglandins (PGs) in intrauterine tissues as well as maternal and fetal plasma, reflecting an important role for PGs in the processes leading to the initiation of ovine labour. In order to elucidate the importance of PGs in the mechanisms regulating parturition in the sheep, we examined the pattern of expression of prostaglandin H synthase type 2 (PGHS-2) and prostaglandin receptors for PGE$\sb2$ and PGF$\sb{\alpha 2}$, in ovine intrauterine tissues with the onset of labour. We found that PGHS-2 mRNA and protein expression displayed a temporal and tissue specific pattern of regulation, increasing initially in the fetal placental trophoblasts followed by an increase in its expression in the maternal endometrial epithelium and myometrium. On the contrary, receptors for PGE$\sb2$ (EP-1, EP-2, EP-3, EP-4) and for PGF$\sb{2\alpha}$ (FP) did not display any change in mRNA expression in placentomes or the myometrium, although they were present in these tissues during the initiation of parturition. These results suggest that an increase in intrauterine prostaglandin synthetic capacity, rather than an increase in the upregulation of prostaglandin receptor gene expression, is important in the causal role of PGs in the processes leading to the initiation of ovine parturition.
Testing for cement-admixture incompatibility

Although chemical admixtures are not an essential component in the production of concrete they do prove to be invaluable ingredients when producing a high quality concrete. Chemical admixtures are incorporated into concrete to yield both economic and physical benefits. However, it is important that an understanding of their compatibility with certain cements, or with other admixtures, be established before they are used in practical applications. The aim of this project is to determine the compatibility of commercially available water reducers, superplasticizers, and air entraining agents. The compatibility of admixtures is determined by the loss of workability of cement pastes and concretes with respect to time. This project utilises small scale laboratory tests, including Kantro's Miniature Slump test and the Foam Index test as proposed by V. H. Dodson.
C*-algebras associated with homeomorphisms of the unit circle

A complete conjugacy invariant is given for homeomorphisms of the unit circle possessing cyclic points. The irreducible *-representations are given for the C*-algebra that is generated by a universal pair of unitaries (<math> <f> <sc>A<rm>,<sc>B</sc></rm></sc></f> </math>) satisfying <math> <f> <sc>BAB<sup><rm>*</rm></sup></sc>=<g>4</g><fen lp="par"><sc>A </sc><rp post="par"></fen></f> </math>, where <math> <f> <g>4</g></f> </math> is a homeomorphism of the unit circle possessing cyclic points. When non-cyclic points are also present, the topological structure of the homeomorphism and its inverse are recovered from the C*-algebra. This is then used to give a complete *-isomorphism invariant for these C*-algebras. It is shown that for any two homeomorphisms with cyclic and non-cyclic points, the corresponding C*-algebras are *-isomorphic if and only if one homeomorphism is topologically equivalent to the other or its inverse.
Knot theory on bipartite graphs

The two main approaches to knot theory, via local moves (Reidemeister moves) and via polynomial invariants, are studied on a new structure, a labelled bipartite graph which may be derived from any knot or link. We show how to compute the Jones Polynomial of a knot from the graphs and prove that the graphs factor out information irrelevant to the computation of the Jones Polynomial. As the complexity of the Jones Polynomial bounds the complexity of the Polynomial Hierarchy in Computer Science we sketch how this approach may apply outside knot theory. We give an elementary extension of a result of Oxley and Welsh by showing that on "series parallel" knot diagrams the Jones Polynomial may be calculated in 'O'('n'4) steps. We also derive a new computational identity for the Jones Polynomial based on the graphs. In the second part of this thesis we establish theorems that allow us to treat the bipartite graphs themselves as a new kind of knot invariant. A "mutation" is defined (roughly) as follows: cut out two strands of a knot which are entangled, rotate them 180° and rejoin them to the knot. We show that two links may have the same bipartite graph iff one link may be derived from the other by a sequence of mutations. We also show that two knots or links are topologically equivalent up to mutation (i.e., one can be transformed into the other by a sequence of "Reidemeister" moves plus mutations) iff the bipartite graph of one knot can be constructed from the graph of the other by a sequence of graphical "Reidemeister" moves (these moves have a very simple form). Hence, up to mutation, the problem of knot equivalence is reduced to the problem of building bipartite graphs by elementary moves. Because an unknot remains unknotted under mutations, this result has the following corollary: a knot is trivial iff its bipartite graph can be built from the null graph by a sequence of graphical Reidemeister moves.