VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Spielraum, Helmholtz's Manifold theory of perception and the logical space of Wittgenstein's Tractatus

The dissertation analyzes the theory of "logical space" developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein in his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, I show how this idea represents a development of arguments first put forward by Hermann von Helmholtz, the physicist and physiologist. Helmholtz--instead of honouring Kant's distinction between on the one hand time and space, and, on the other, empirical qualia (colour, taste, hardness, tone)--stretched the Kantian spatial manifold to cover the other qualia as well: the qualia are also organized in manifolds; and this new, extended manifold is the "space" of all possible human experience. He explained this a priori mesh as being a consequence of the physiological constitution of our bodies, and the physical constitution of the world in which they are situated. The subject is enclosed in an inner world whose structure is the network of possible sensation; outside of her is a world of unknown complexity; and separating the two is what Heinrich Hertz called the "no-man's-land" of sense-physiology, a border zone regulating all traffic between the two realms, common to both, yet proper to neither. Wittgenstein, in his Tractatus, adapted the picture-theories of Helmholtz and Hertz to his analysis of logic. He too was confronted with the problem of defining a field of possible experience, of possible facts: his analysis of Russell's and Frege's logical theories had led him to the conclusion that the fundamental properties of logic could not be accounted for without assuming such an a priori space. Thus he assimilated Russell's types to the dimensions of a manifold, the elements of which were his Sachverhalte, or elementary facts. The truth-functions of our logic are defined on top of this space: it is the basis on which all symbolic systems, including those of the natural sciences, are erected.
Flow modifying screens in turbulent flows, an application to pulverized coal-fired boilers

Boiler tube failure occurs in pulverized coal-fired boilers due to particle impact erosion resulting in costly outages. Erosion is accelerated by localized high velocity flow conditions. Expanded metal screens are installed to control erosion by modifying the flow velocity, reducing excessive gas velocities and redistributing the ash load. The objective of this study was to develop a fundamental understanding of the turbulent flow through expanded metal screens by an experimental and numerical parametric study of the flow through screens in a wind tunnel, develop analytical models describing the screen interaction with the turbulent flow, and incorporate the developed screen models into numerical simulations of boiler flow. Expanded metal screens turn the flow with a complex array of vaned elements. Measurements of the turbulent flow through three screen types with varying strand thickness and widths using cross-wire anemometry were carried out in a specially constructed low-turbulence wind tunnel. The mean velocity, pressure drop and turbulence distributions of expanded metal screens are presented as a database for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) validation. The flow turning was found to vary with the dimensions of the strands that make up the screen. The turbulence generated by the screens was found to approach isotropy in the far-field and decays at a rate proportional to distance downstream to the power $-$5/7. The turbulence was found to scale with the thickness of the screen strands. A screen deflection model was developed based on the inertial losses due to the presence of the screen and the flow turning characteristics of the screen due to the vane structure of the screen. This model, incorporated into a CFD solver, was used to approximate the influence of the screens on the flow in full boiler simulations where it would be computationally expensive, due to large differences in scale, to grid the geometry of the expanded metal screens. The screen model successfully predicted the flow fields patterns in the wind tunnel for the various screen configurations and was successfully implemented in the simulation of the flow modification by expanded metal screens in the economizer section of a utility boiler. The turbulent flow through a single screen element was modelled numerically. The governing equations are described through a control-volume finite element method on an unstructured tetrahedral mesh. Two turbulence models were compared: the standard $\kappa$-$\varepsilon$ and the Renormalized Group (RNG) method $\kappa$-$\varepsilon$. The RNG $\kappa$-$\varepsilon$ gave a better prediction of the velocity and turbulence distributions behind the screen element. The numerical simulations of the flow field behind the screen elucidated important characteristics of the flow for future modelling of particulate flow through expanded metal screens.
Federation and fullness, a history of the early years of federation at the University of Toronto from the viewpoint of the three denominational colleges

The central purpose of this thesis is to recount the historical movement towards a federated provincial university in Ontario from the perspectives of the three Christian denominations whose university colleges federated with the provincial university under the Federation Act of 1887 to constitute what is today the University of Toronto. The history of higher education in nineteenth century Ontario is, in essence, the history of a number of denominational colleges which would, or would not, seek to federate or affiliate with the government-supported provincial university to form what today we would refer to as a system of provincial higher education. All of these denominational colleges were founded in isolation from the provincial university, and were founded in order to provide a suitable environment for the higher education of the students of their particular Christian denominations. Three of these Colleges--Victoria, St. Michael's, and Trinity, representing the Methodist, Roman Catholic, and Anglican denominations, respectively--eventually federated with the provincial university in Toronto. The history of these three denominational colleges, and the history of the provincial university in Toronto, is the concern of this thesis. The methodology employed in the thesis is relatively consistent in chapters two through six--the main body of the thesis. In general--chapter six is an exception--each chapter contains four thematic headings: the religious and social background that is necessary to situate the particular institution in question (King's College--the precursor to the University of Toronto, Victoria College, St. Michael's College, Trinity College) in its proper context; the founding of the particular institution; the period in each institution's early history when it operated in isolation from other colleges, and from the ideas of federation or affiliation; and the role that each institution played in the "University Question." In chapter six, after examining the influences that were external to higher education in Ontario, but which contributed to the movement towards federation, we return to the three colleges to trace their progress, and eventual acceptance of the terms of the 1887 Federation Act, by which they all federated with the University of Toronto. Chapter six concludes the thesis, with special reference to the University Act of 1906, by which the federation was to be enshrined at the University of Toronto.
The United States and decolonization in West Africa, 1950-1960

The 1950s was a decade of momentous political change in (West) Africa which led to independence. More often than not, independence is used interchangeably with decolonization. But the working premise here is that decolonization involved not just independence, but a redefinition of center-periphery relations to allow for the integration of the African political elite into the colonial network. The redistribution of power at the global level after World War II meant that this redefinition was occurring within an American-dominated world system. On this score, America's involvement in Africa in the period beginning from 1948 was an integral part of its post-1945 striving for "a preponderance of power" in the international arena. This ensured that, as elsewhere, Washington's major objective in Africa was to be the arbiter--or, at least, to influence the process--of political change. This broad rubric included ensuring a pro-Western orientation by Africans, and therefore warding off countervailing influences such as "Communism" and nonalignment. Of greater importance, however, was Washington's interest in raw materials extraction. These were needed to help in the rehabilitation of Western Europe and for the United States' strategic stockpiling program. Closely related to this, was the goal of securing access to markets and investment opportunities for American private capital. But given the expansive nature of its global responsibilities and given that Africa was peripheral to the "national security" dimension of those interests, the U.S. devoted rather slim resources in Africa. In effect, this meant that Washington opted for an essentially symbolic, augmentative role and relied on the Europeans to project its hegemonic interests in Africa.
Effects of hypocaloric feeding and high carbohydrate refeeding on in situ muscle function, glycolysis and body composition in adult rats

Traditionally, the effects of hypocaloric intake and refeeding have been defined in terms of the amount of wasting and restoration of total lean body mass. However, changes in muscle performance appear to occur earlier, and correlate better with the risk of postoperative complications than changes in body composition. The studies in thesis, in contrast to many studies on muscle and malnutrition, have been controlled for muscle wasting, muscle-type and electrolyte-micronutrient intakes during hypocaloric feeding and refeeding. In addition, glycogen levels, net glycogenolysis and glycolysis have been considered in this study. The hypothesis of this research was that during malnutrition and the very early refeeding period, changes in muscle performance are: (i) independent of muscle size; (ii) muscle type-specific; (iii) related to altered glycolytic and glycogenolytic pathways; (iv) independent of substrate availability. Isolated slow-twitch soleus (oxidative) and fast-twitch EDL (glycolytic) muscles were studied in situ, in adult, male, Wistar rats. Following one week of hypocaloric (HYPO) feeding and after being refed for 4 consecutive days, the muscles of each group were measured for fatiguability (% force loss over 40 tetani), maximal relaxation rate (MRR--% force loss/10 ms) and single tetanus Po(N). The MRR and the Po(N) of both muscles were altered by HYPO feeding. However, the Po(N) and MRR of only the soleus normalized after four days of refeeding, despite an unresponsive muscle mass, yet serum glucose and muscle glycogen were not critical in avoiding fatigue. In the HYPO rats, a fall in net glycogenolysis was associated with an increased fatiguability of the soleus. In the EDL, by contrast, net glycogenolysis increased and fatigue was unchanged (p $<$ 0.01). With refeeding, fatigue increased in the EDL over 4 days despite normal glycogen levels, net glycogenolysis and glycolysis by day 4. Refeeding did not normalize soleus fatigue; glycogen levels and net glycolytic flux were sub-optimal, but net glycogenolysis had normalized. In conclusion, malnutrition caused abnormal net glycogenolysis in both muscle types and subnormal glycolysis in the slow-twitch muscles only, confirming the third hypothesis. The performances of the muscles were dissimilar and changed independently from mass, protein and glycogen, confirming the first, second and fourth hypotheses.
The Piramalai Kallar of Valantur Natu, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, village women in local politics and the non-traditional work force

This dissertation falls within South Asian political anthropology. The ethno-historical method is utilized to situate the case study and facilitate an analysis of gender relations. Interviews on the topics of traditional institutions of local government, Panchayati Raj, and women's participation in non-traditional activities are analysed. The Piramalai Kallar of Ariyapatti Panchayat of Cellampatti Panchayat Union of Ucilampatti Taluk, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu constitutes the case study for the problem of village women's participation in local politics and the non-traditional work force. The Piramalai Kallar are a sub-caste of the South Indian Mukkulattar (Kallar, Maravar, Akampatiyar), a group of endogamous martial communities. Valantar Natu, the territory and temple community within which the case study area lies, is described and its ethno-history is discussed. The Piramalai Kallar world view configured by patriarchy, hierarchy and reciprocity is seen to inform all intra-caste and inter-caste social and economic relations. The villages of Piramalai Kallar country, inter-connected by affinal ties, emerge as settlements of ranked lineages, who inherited their lands and authority from their ancestor-heroes who had earned them through the skillful use of force, diplomacy, audacity and guile. Distinguishing cultural practices are described. Gender relations are seen as based on the paradigmatic pair of "brothers" and "affines." Public matters are the brothers' domain as males inherited land and authority. Women, as affines, are facilitators for and assist the brothers in the domestic domain. Traditional Piramalai Kallar panchayats (courts and assemblies) and the statutory panchayats are discussed in detail. It is argued that women will not be able to participate in Panchayati Raj and the extra-village non-traditional work force without reservations (quotas); their participation will not affect the status of ordinary village women or gender relations. Traditional panchayats which are coherent in terms of their world view will continue to be relevant, thus their jurisdictions and leadership should be recognized. The government can realize its commitment to equality and social justice through reservations and achieve its administrative and development goals without interfering with the traditional panchayats.
Self-efficacy in adults with and without learning disabilities

Academic self-efficacy of post-secondary students with learning disabilities (LD) and of normally-achieving (NA) students was studied using ability and achievement tasks. Predicted and obtained scores were gathered on nine subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) and on all three subtests of the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R). Self-efficacy was measured by students' predictions of their relative performance on these subtests. Based upon Bandura's (1977) self-efficacy theory, I predicted that: (a) the NA group would tend to overestimate its performance whereas the group with LD would tend to underestimate or have realistic expectations in areas where the latter group perceived failure, and (b) the group with LD, in its perceived nondeficit areas, would tend to respond in a similar manner to the NA group. Overestimation, underestimation, and realistic estimation were measured by the difference between predicted and obtained subtest scores. Initial analyses compared the NA group and the total group with LD. Supplementary analyses were then performed using groups with LD that were high and low in severity as measured by three factor scores: Decoding, Reading Comprehension, and Arithmetic. Significant interactions among Groups by Predicted/Observed scores by Tests were found on the WRAT-R and WAIS-R. As expected, in areas of perceived disability for the group with LD, the NA group tended to overestimate its ability relative to the group with LD, and on the WAIS-R performance subtests, estimations of the group with LD generally resembled those of the NA group. Implications are discussed for self-efficacy research, subtyping of groups with LD, and remediation in educational and counselling contexts.
Investigation of the potential for noise reduction in piping systems using finite-length flexible segments

In this work, the effect on propagating acoustical energy of finite flexible segments installed in piping systems is explored. A mathematical model describing the relevant parameters is developed, and implemented in the form of a computer program. To verify the model, experimental work is undertaken using rubber hoses as flexible segments and air as the contained fluid. The effect of the segment on propagating acoustical energy is studied in terms of its insertion loss. In addition, the coupling to the internal acoustic field of a force externally applied to the flexible section is explored, as such forces can be used as part of a structural-acoustic control methodology. The effect of such forces is incorporated into the model, and the sound power transmitted downstream of the flexible section calculated. To verify this part of the model, experimentation is performed using a strip of PVDF bonded to the centre of the flexible section and driven with an applied voltage. Both theoretical and experimental results indicate that, for light fluid loading, the flexibility of the segment is only important when significant axial shell resonances exist, or when one or both acoustical termination impedances at the ends of the segment are much larger or smaller than the characteristic impedance of the medium. Further, the model indicates that for heavier fluid loading (i.e. when the compressibility of the flexible section is significant in relation to the bulk compliance of the fluid), in addition to higher associated insertion losses and actuator transmitted sound powers, the finite length resonances associated with the shell and the contained cavity become more pronounced, and performance is less sensitive to small variations in the termination impedances. Finally, the viability of using the PVDF actuator as a secondary control force is illustrated using a rudimentary control algorithm.
Statics and dynamics of pulp fibres

Flexible pulp fibres produce paper of higher quality than their stiff counterparts. The pulp and paper industry has a keen interest to measure fibre flexibility and to fractionate fibres based on flexibility. The objective of this thesis is to theoretically study the static and dynamic behaviour of pulp fibres with direct applications to fibre flexibility measurement devices and fibre screening. Governing equations, which represent the deflection and motion of pulp fibres, are developed and numerical methods are utilized to solve the mathematical formulations. Static large deflection beam theory is applied to the geometry of four existing fibre flexibility measurement devices to determine the advantages and shortcomings of each method. It is shown that the small deflection analysis predicts flexibility with an error of less than 10% when compared to the large deflection analysis for fibre deflections of less than 20% of the span length. Furthermore, it is concluded that a better estimate of the hydrodynamic forces acting on the pulp fibres is required. To study the behaviour of flexible fibres in pulp screening applications, non-linear equations representing the motion of a flexible fibre are developed. Two methods to represent the dynamic interaction of a fibre with the flow domain walls are proposed. Together with a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, the motion of fibres in a channel flow with a slot are studied and the effect of fibre flexibility on the ability of the fibres to pass through the slot is examined. For the first time, a theoretical model has been used to show that screening based on fibre flexibility does occur. However, it is shown that the predominant property which governs the fractionation of fibres is the fibre length. To propose a direct method to model the flow of a flexible fibre for future applications and a method to predict the hydrodynamic forces acting on a fibre, an automatic three-dimensional finite element mesh generating algorithm, based on the Delaunay triangulation, is developed for use with CFD software. A unique method of mesh refinement is defined and it is shown that the method is extremely efficient for typical fibre geometries.
The psychiatric nurse's experience and meaning of caring in hospitals, a grounded theory of protective empowering

This study explored with psychiatric nurses their experience and meaning of "caring" with patients in the hospitals. Seventeen registered nurses were interviewed from three general acute care psychiatric units, in two general hospitals and one psychiatric hospital. Using grounded theory qualitative methodology, it was discovered that "caring" occurred through a process called protective empowering, and a grounded theory of protective empowering was formulated. The nurses accomplished protective empowering of patients through six categories as evidenced through: (1) keeping the patient safe; (2) encouraging the patient's health; (3) authentic relating; (4) interactive teaching; (5) respecting the patient; and (6) not taking the patient's behaviour personally. Each of the six main categories of protective empowering were defined by specific subcategories. All six main categories appeared throughout the process of protective empowering, except that each category represented a different feature of protective empowering. The two main categories of respecting the patient and not taking the patient's behaviour personally were the antecedent and sustaining conditions of protective empowering. The other four categories keeping the patient safe, encouraging the patient's health, authentic relating, and interactive teaching represented the actions and contexts through which protective empowering changed. The consequence of protective empowering was manifested by the patient's ability to access their ability to act or accomplish their activities of daily living. The results suggest a practical and grass-roots theory of protective empowering that could be used as a valuable guide for articulating and reflecting on what psychiatric nurses do in their caring with patients on general psychiatric units; and, could be useful for both the clinical and political purposes of affirming and/or challenging the way in which psychiatric nurse "caring" with patients is articulated and allocated in hospitals.