VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with self-reported arthritis 7 to 24 years after a traumatic brain injury: An exploratory study

Arthritis is one of the common chronic conditions that occurs in survivors many years after their traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, little is known regarding the factors associated with aging with a TBI and arthritis. The main purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the factors associated with self-reported arthritis after a TBI. Pre-injury sociodemographic factors, injury-related factors and post-injury factors were examined in a retrospective study of 274 participants with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that older age at the time of injury and shorter length of loss of consciousness predicted self-reported arthritis after a TBI. Individuals who self-reported arthritis experienced significantly more sleep disturbances, had lower self-rated health, lower mental health and physical function scores, and decreased productivity during follow-up. These results guide future research, and increase awareness of the impact of arthritis among aging TBI survivors.
Work-related asthma symptoms among professional cleaners

Cleaners have been reported to have increased risk for work-related asthma symptoms (WRAS). This study examines whether cleaners have more WRAS compared to other building workers (OBW) and if this can be attributed to frequency of task performances. School board and racetrack workers in Ontario, Canada completed a questionnaire to establish the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma (PDA), new-onset asthma (NOA), respiratory symptoms, and WRAS. Among both genders cleaners and OBW had a similar prevalence of PDA, NOA, respiratory symptoms, and WRAS. Female cleaners reported significantly more WRAS. Male cleaners who waxed, and wax stripped floors, spot cleaned carpets, and cleaned tile and grout with a high frequency, reported more WRAS. Time spent performing these tasks was associated with WRAS when they took 4 or more hours. MSDSs for the cleaning chemicals indicate that agents associated with asthma were present suggesting a relationship between task performance and WRAS among male cleaners.
Tight-bend structures in AlGaAs microring resonators

Microring resonators are promising devices for all-optical signal processing. Small rings are required to increase the free-spectral range of the devices, however radiation loss during bending places a lower limit on the minimum ring radius. This thesis investigates improved tight-bending structures for microring resonators. Two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations were used to compare the performance of tight bends with double mirror, resonant cavity and circular geometries. Although for some cases tight bends of non-circular shape provided higher transmission at 1.55 mum, microrings incorporating circular bends generally had the most uniform transmission across the spectrum. In collaboration with the University of Glasgow, tight bends and microring resonators were fabricated in AlGaAs. These microrings are the smallest demonstrated to date in a III-V semiconductor.
An essential endeavour: Canada and West Germany, 1946--1957

During the early years of the Cold War, Germany was not only a central problem of international collective security, but it also became a main focus of Canadian foreign policy. This thesis examines the development of the diplomatic, economic and military relationship between Canada and West Germany from 1946 to 1957 with a focus on the years after the establishment of the Federal Republic. The analysis of the statements by Canadian and German diplomats and politicians allows to delineate the factors that accompanied the swift transformation process from world war enemies to Cold War allies. Having little input in the post-war peace settlement, the Canadian government approached European matters in the late 1940s with hesitancy, as the abstention from the Berlin airlift illustrated. After the outbreak of the Korean War, however, Canada became increasingly more involved in Germany. Despite lingering fears and suspicions of Germany, Canadian officials accepted and supported the Federal Republic's rearmament and considered its association with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to be an essential endeavour. NATO provided the framework in which this normalization process could take place. The Canadian NATO contribution of one infantry brigade and two Air Force wings to West Germany represented a significant policy change for a nation that had never before sent troops abroad in peace-time. The Royal Canadian Air Force not only made a military difference by assisting the build-up of the West German Air Force, but had also a significant impact on the economic bilateral relationship. Furthermore, the troop commitment allowed Canada to be invited to the London Conference in 1954. The bilateral relationship between Canada and West Germany reached a 'golden age' within a decade after the end of World War II. However, once the Federal Republic had achieved its sovereignty, the dynamic changed quickly and continental realities became too dominant on either side of the Atlantic.
Stigma as experienced by family members of people with severe mental illness: the impact of participation in self-help/mutual aid support groups

Methods. This study used a cross-sectional mixed method design to understand family members' experiences of stigma and to develop and test a conceptual model which hypothesized the potential ways in which participation in SHMA groups may promote effective strategies for coping with stigma. The quantitative sample consisted of 197 family members from two SHMA organizations. A qualitative purposive sub-sample of 15 people was recruited for in-depth qualitative interviews. Analysis of the quantitative data used structural equation modeling, a comprehensive, flexible approach to modeling relations among variables that tests and modifies theories. The semi-structured qualitative interviews, designed to explore the nature of stigma as experienced by families, were analyzed using a modified grounded theory and constant comparative approach. Background rationale. The recent restructuring of the mental health care system has led to an increased emphasis on the importance of family caregivers. Research has indicated that families of persons with mental illness bear enormous emotional, social and financial hardships when they assume caregiving responsibilities of their mentally ill family members. In particular, families have been adversely affected by experiences of stigma through interactions with the general public and with a mental health care system that has failed to consider their needs a priority. Stigma and discrimination related to mental illness have led family members to organize into valuable self-help/mutual aid (SHMA) groups. Results. The hypothesized theoretical model proposing a set of relations between the variables of social support, empowerment, coping, caregiver burden and stigma demonstrated an excellent fit to the sample data. Analysis of the qualitative interviews led to the development of four major thematic categories, including the complex ways that families understand, suffer, survive and combat stigma. The results of this study led to a number of important clinical practice, research and policy recommendations.
The impact of therapeutic modality on outcomes following repair of ruptured intracranial aneurysms: An administrative data analysis

Using provincial administrative data from Ontario, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients undergoing aneurysm repair, comparing open surgical clipping and endovascular coiling of the ruptured aneurysm. Between January 1, 1995 and September 30, 2004, 2342 aneurysms were clipped and 778 were coiled in Ontario. The proportion of aneurysms treated by coiling increased steadily over time. In analysis of the primary outcome, endovascular coiling was associated with a significantly increased hazard of death or SAH readmission (HR 1.25, p
Unlocking the many 'voices' of subject English: a historical and theoretical analysis of English curricular change in Newfoundland and Labrador

This thesis is a critical and effective historical analysis of subject English in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Another recent massive policy shift in subject English in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the fact that nothing had been put in print regarding this topic, provided the impetus for an investigation of the ways in which curriculum comes to be construed and often justified around competing conceptions of epistemology. Through a problematized notion of knowledge, I analyzed senior English curricular documents from three distinct periods in the province's history, providing a glimpse of a pre, post and present day Confederation English classroom. Through a close, "symptomatic reading" of the patterns and import of carefully selected episodes within subject English's history in the province, I was able to cast new light on the interactions between past epistemological and pedagogical discourses and consider how these voices might still speak to us today.

Keywords: Language arts, Newfoundland and Labrador
Curriculum change, Newfoundland and Labrador
Education, Curricula
Education, Newfoundland and Labrador
English literature, Study and teaching
English literature, Newfoundland and Labrador
English language, Study and teaching
English language, Newfoundland and Labrador
Disability in the context of HIV: Building a foundation for an instrument to describe disability experienced by adults living with HIV

Since the advent of new medication therapies, in developed countries individuals are living longer with the health-related consequences of HIV and the potentially adverse effects of treatment. An initial working term that may be used to label these health-related consequences is disability . Adequately measuring disability can help determine its prevalence and impact and evaluate interventions to improve care and support. Understanding the experience of disability is first necessary to know how to approach measuring this concept. The overall purpose of this thesis was to determine what disability means from the perspective of adults living with HIV in order to facilitate the identification, modification or development of an instrument that describes disability experienced by this population. Specific objectives were to (1) determine how disability is conceptualized by adults living with HIV, and (2) evaluate how well existing HIV-specific health status instruments describe disability experienced by adults living with MTV.

Keywords: Physical therapy
Epidemiology
Validation of the IMPACT questionnaire for measuring health-related quality of life in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: sensibility, validity and reliability testing in a paediatric cohort

IMPACT, a disease-specific measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The goals of this thesis were to assess IMPACT's sensibility, validity and reliability. Using Feinstein's principles a qualitative and 'quantitative' assessment of sensibility was conducted. The patient and physician participants strongly endorsed the sensibility of IMPACT. The IMPACT total score showed excellent test-retest reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.90. The internal consistency rating was also excellent with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.96. Construct validity testing was conducted because of the lack of a gold standard with which to assess HRQOL. All constructs supported the validity of the questionnaire for measuring HRQOL in paediatric IBD patients. No significant influence of patient diagnosis (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) or age was noted. A patient's assessment of their HRQOL appears to be most influenced by their current status, rather their disease course over the past year.
Development of an injection and moulding subsystem for a microcellular plastic manufacturing process

The injection and moulding subsystem of a two-stage microcellular plastic manufacturing process, using an existing decoupled extrusion technology and a low tonnage injection moulding machine, was developed. Mechanisms to enable the solution accumulation, microcell nucleation and growth, and part shaping functions were designed, constructed, and experimentally verified. Specifically, a simple solution conveying channel, accumulation mechanism, flow control system, and modular mould were developed. In addition, the machine's injection nozzle was substantially modified to suit the unique processing requirements of foam, and a recovery device was designed to reduce material consumption. True microcellular plastic parts (i.e., with a cell density >1 × 109 cells/cm3) could not be produced. Fine-celled foam parts, with a cell density up to 3 × 107 cells/cm3, an average cell size of 30 to 50 microns, and a relatively wide cell size distribution, were achieved. Average cell size was similar to that obtained by Trexel Inc. and Shimbo et al.
Navigating two worlds: experiences of Canadian mental health professionals who integrate aboriginal traditional healing practices

The purpose of this study was to explore how Aboriginal traditional healing practices are being integrated with mainstream Canadian mental healthcare. This was accomplished by interviewing mental health professionals who integrate these practices into their clinical work. Data were analyzed via the Grounded Theory approach and four core themes were identified. 'Becoming a helper' described how participants came to practice both traditional healing and counselling. 'Deciding when to integrate' addressed the assessment process pertaining to integration. 'Describing integrative efforts' outlined participants' interventions and identified three areas of integrative work: incorporating traditional elements, using a specific approach, and referral/collaboration. 'Experience with integration' addressed participants' perception of their work. A model is proposed that brings together these themes and illustrates participants' integrative efforts. Findings highlight the complex constellation of diverse influences that informed participants' practice. A central implication is that integration cannot be removed from and appropriated outside its intricate context.

Keywords: Indians of North America, Medicine
Indians of North America, Canada
Indians of North America, Mental health services
Indians of North America, Canada
Psychotherapists, Canada
Traditional medicine, Canada
A knowledge-enabled system for routing urban utility infrastructure

In the field of urban infrastructure, there is a lack of models that can support knowledge management. Most efforts in the domain have focused on the creation of data models that are more suitable for the organization of static data than the creation and maintenance of dynamic domain-knowledge. In this regard, ontologies have emerged as a promising tool for interoperability and knowledge management. This research aims to establish a knowledge-enabled system to support the collaborative routing of buried urban infrastructure utilities. The routing problem is addressed at both the street level (micro) and city level (macro). The routing problem considers aspects of life cycle costing, sustainability, and community impacts. The ontologies were created by integrating and streamlining several data models currently used in the utilities sector and embedding knowledge from the design of eight major infrastructure projects in Ontario. The ontologies were implemented using the Web Ontology Language (OWL). Knowledge pertaining to micro-level routing was represented using a spatial constraint model embedded within the ontology. The model was populated with knowledge from experienced infrastructure designers. At the macro-level, knowledge was represented using a fuzzy inference system linked to the ontology. A data wrapping approach was used to bridge the gap between existing database driven systems and the knowledgebase structure of the ontology. The ontologies and decision-support systems were subsequently evaluated through (1) Validation by domain experts, (2) Creating an application ontology to model the knowledge involved in trenchless technology selection, and (3) Testing on two watermain replacement projects in the City of Toronto. The objectives of this research are; (1) Creation of a domain ontology for urban infrastructure products and related concepts, (2) Creation of an application ontology for design coordination of co-located urban infrastructure, (3) Creation of a decision-support system to support the collaborative routing of buried urban infrastructure at the micro- and macro levels, (4) Implementation of a prototype web-based GIS portai based on the ontologies and decision-support system.
Imagining witchcraft in early modern Poland

This dissertation draws on two sets of sources. First, a database of 179 trials and 355 accused witches, drawn from all over the territory of early modern Poland (excluding Lithuania), and dating from 1511 to c. 1770. Second, literary sources including anti-demonological polemic, legal treatises, guidebooks to rural economy, sermon collections, humanist and Jesuit poetry, and popular ribald literature. Part 2 examines the ways that ordinary peasant magic, directed against imagined witches, provided the conceptual building blocks for the alleged crimes of witches. The accused inverted or exaggerated their own practices to create the confessions of malefice, night flight, and the meeting at Bald Mountain. In this part I also examine the use of Christian sacraments in witchcraft; the Tridentine context of intense Eucharistic devotion promoted accusations and confessions about the desecrated Body of Christ. Part 3 examines the figure of the Devil in the Polish witch-trials. The devil bore strong resemblance to folkloristic house-spirits, and to the untimely dead, especially unbaptized children. Polish witches imagined themselves making pacts not with the Prince of Darkness but with a nature-spirit or imp. Accused witches "indigenized" elite motifs of demon-sex; turning them into stories of the nurture provided to house-spirits. Witchcraft is an imaginary crime, but witches are real people: they are people who have come to be imagined by others in their community, and often by themselves, as practitioners of the imagined crime of witchcraft. This dissertation explores the various ways by which witchcraft was imagined in early modern Poland. In particular, it pays close attention to the self-representations of accused witches, as they attempted, in their confessions under torture, to preserve the integrity of their imagined selves. Part 1 puts the witch-trials into their social, economic, and legal context. It attempts a characterisation of the social position of accused witches: they were usually married peasant-women, poor but not destitute. It traces increasing number of witch-trials in the late 17th century in response to the economic and demographic crises of the mid-century. It also shows how legal practice tended to encourage high execution rates but to discourage the spread of witch-trials through chain-accusation.
Challenging the contemporary health paradigm: evaluating its application in health education

Health spans the physical, psychological and social realms. There is a disparity between this holistic notion of health and its conventionally application. The lack of application of health's spiritual realm into health-related activities influences the disparity, particularly in health education. A survey was administered to ninety-six (n=96) pre-service student teachers from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Participants were asked about personal factors influencing exercise adherence and how they would counsel others regarding exercise behaviour. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed including measures of central tendency, confidence intervals and analysis of variance. Content analysis was utilized for written data. The results revealed that participants feel that spirituality is a significant factor influencing their exercise behaviour. However, they did not address spirituality when educating others about exercise behaviour. The results confirmed the lack of application of the spiritual realm into health education activities.

Keywords: Medical care
Medical care, Psychological aspects
Spirituality
Holistic medicine
Insidiously 'cute': Kawaii cultural production and ideology in Japan

This thesis examines the ideologies and cultural norms that can be carried within the seemingly harmless images of kawaii culture in contemporary Japan and seeks to explicate what vestigial messages of pre-war identity formation it continues to circulate. The first three chapters examine the anime and manga of Doraemon and Anpanman and the commercial mascot Peko-chan, revealing that kawaii production continues to perpetuate identity constructions tied to gendered power relationships, divine ancestry and colonialism. The following chapters then examine, through the short flash film Kikkoman, the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party's logo Shishiro and the paintings by Yoshitomo Nara, how kawaii production can be intentionally applied to make social and political statements. By gaining an understanding of how kawaii cultural products are conceptualized, produced and applied, we can see that seemingly simplistic imagery and narrative are complicit in the formation and re-production of normative social roles and identities.
Self-assembled elastin-like polypeptide particles

In this work, the self-assembly of a recombinant elastin-based block copolymer was investigated. The particle formation and dynamic behavior were characterized using inverted microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The morphology and stability were evaluated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Above a critical temperature the molecules self-assembled into a bimodal distribution of nano and micron-sized particles. The larger particles increased in size through coalescence. Micron-sized particle formation appeared largely reversible, although a self-assembly/disassembly hysteresis was observed. At high polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations particle coalescence and settling were reduced, particle stability seemed enhanced, and PEG coated the particles. Particle stabilization was also achieved through covalent crosslinking using glutaraldehyde. The particles captured a hydrophobic fluorescent probe with high efficiency and the data suggested a gradual release. This study laid the foundation for further particle size and stability optimization, and showed promise for particulate drug carriers using this family of elastin-based block copolymers.
Development and testing of the power and software subsystems for the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment

The Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment (CanX) at the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) is an ambitious program that aims to push the boundaries of nanosatellite research and development. The CanX-2 nanosatellite, which is currently in the pre-launch preparation stages, will demonstrate several technologies required for formation flying in addition to multiple science experiments. The next generation of CanX nanosatellites will utilize the Generic Nanosatellite Bus (GNB) and includes CanX-3 (BRITE) which is a stellar photometry mission and CanX-4 5 which will demonstrate precise autonomous formation flying. This thesis describes the design of the GNB power subsystem and development of the flight application software for CanX-2. The GNB power subsystem features a peak power tracking architecture with body mounted Triple Junction solar cells and Lithium Ion batteries. The CanX-2 application software encompasses the software required to achieve the mission objectives such as attitude determination and control, and execution of experiments.