VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Self-liking and self-competence separate self-esteem from self-deception using self-report

Two studies examined the relations between self-esteem and self-deceptive enhancement, using profiles of personality. Study 1 demonstrated that the most popular measure of self-esteem (the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale [RSES]; Rosenberg,1965) is very similar to Paulhus's Self-Deceptive Enhancement (SDE) questionnaire (1991), using correlation and regression techniques. Tafarodi & Swann's (1995) two-dimensional model of self-esteem revealed that self-liking, and not self-competence, also resembles SDE. Furthermore, a bias toward assessing self-liking rather than self-competence characteristic of the RSES appeared to be responsible for its association with SDE. Study 2 confirmed the findings of Study 1, using a larger sample and more comprehensive measures of personality. Various measures of academic and creative achievement as well as intelligence were also included. Only creative achievement was uniquely associated with any of the scales (self-competence). These findings illustrate that use of the RSES results in the conflation of self-esteem and self-enhancement. Self-competence measures may solve this problem.
Effect of almonds in diets to reduce coronary heart disease risk factors

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved cholesterol-lowering health claims on plant sterols, viscous fibers, and soy protein and is now considering nuts. We therefore assessed almonds in two studies of hyperlipidemic subjects: (1) at two doses (37g and 73g) compared to control whole-wheat muffins in a randomized crossover trial, with both supplements providing 22.2% energy (n = 27); and (2) combined with other cholesterol-lowering components (plant sterols (1 g/1,000 kcal), soy protein (23g/1,000 kcal), and viscous fibers (9g/1,000 kcal)) in a one month very low saturated fat diet (n = 13). Almonds reduced blood lipids in a numerical dose-dependent manner. Seventy-three grams almonds reduced LDL-cholesterol and oxidized LDL by 9.4 ± 1.9% (P < 0.001) and 14.0 ± 3.8% (P < 0.001), respectively. The combination of almonds with other FDA-approved components, lowered LDL-cholesterol by 29.0 ± 2.7% (P < 0.001) with no significant change in oxidized LDL. Almonds provided as snacks or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering components can improve risk factors for CHD.
Cloning and developmental expression of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) thyroid hormone and retinoid X receptors

Sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus), members of the ancient class Agnatha, have as part of their life cycle a metamorphosis when sedentary, filter-feeding larvae transform into free-swimming, parasitic juveniles. As in other vertebrates with a metamorphosis, a change in serum thyroid hormone (TH) levels is found at the time of initiation of lamprey metamorphosis, although the mechanisms involved have yet to be determined. The present study was designed to first provide some information on how THs exert their effects by cloning nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) and then retinoid X receptors (RXRs). Since the expression of these receptors is correlated with changes in serum TH and morphogenesis during the metamorphoses of anuran amphibians and some fish species, the second phase of the study was to examine their expression patterns in specific tissues and organs in larvae, during lamprey metamorphosis, and in adults using Northern blotting and relative quantitative RT-PCR. Two TR (PmTR1 and PmTR2) and three RXR cDNAs were cloned from sea lampreys whose deduced amino acid sequences were well conserved with those of other vertebrates, particularly in important functional regions. Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences indicated that these lamprey receptors diverged from the vertebrate lineage prior to the gene duplication event that is thought to have occurred in the gnathostomes. Expression data indicated that PmTR1 levels fluctuated over the life cycle in an organ-specific manner, while the expression of PmTR2 and the RXRs was generally constant. The differential expression patterns of these lamprey receptors suggest that their availability might be a component of the peripheral regulation system that mediates TH action during sea lamprey metamorphosis.
Spatio-temporal regulation and activity of segmentation genes in Drosophila melanogaster

The segmentation genes of Drosophila melanogaster function in a spatial and temporal regulatory hierarchy to control pattern formation during development. The precise spatial distribution of segmentation genes is an important aspect of their activity. Therefore, it has been the focus of this dissertation to analyze the spatio-temporal regulation of these genes during development. Three different classes of segmentation genes are examined. The role of the “pair-rule” class is examined in the regulation of the “segment polarity” class. Aspects of “homeotic” gene regulation are also analyzed. The first part of the thesis primarily deals with the regulation of the engrailed (en) segment polarity gene by the pair-rule genes. Use has been made of two different transgenes: (1) The pair-rule gene even-skipped (eve) under the control of the heat-shock promoter (hsp70). (2) The pair-rule gene runt (run) under the control of hsp70. Using these transgenes, various properties of the eve and run proteins and their role(s) in the process of en stripe regulation has been examined in embryos. As a result of these studies, a new model is proposed to explain the regulation of en stripes by the pair-rule genes. This model suggests that in contrast to the previous view, en is primarily regulated by negative and double negative mechanisms. The bithorax (bx) mutations in the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) cause homeotic transformations of anterior third thoracic structures (T3a) towards anterior second thoracic structures (T2a) in the adult. A corresponding loss of Ubx protein expression in T3a of bx imaginal discs accompanies these transformations. In the final part of this thesis, two genetic loci which modify the bx1-induced transformation are described. A locus which is mapped very close to the pink peach gene suppresses the bx1 phenotype. In contrast, mutations in the suppressor of sable gene enhance the bx 1 phenotype. A correlation was observed between patterns of Ubx protein expression and phenotypic transformations.
Development and evaluation of a perturbation-based balance-training program for older adults

Falls are a major health concern for older adults. A fall occurs when an individual fails to recover from a balance loss, so programs that improve balance recovery ability should prevent falls. Change-in-support (CIS) reactions, involving rapid stepping and grasping movements, can prevent a fall following a postural perturbation. Age-related impairments in CIS reactions are associated with increased falls risk. This work aims to develop and evaluate a training program involving repeated exposure to unpredictable balance perturbations to train specific age-related impairments in CIS reactions. Older adults (64--80 years) with a history of falls or instability were randomly assigned to either a 6-week perturbation-based training program (PERT) or a stretching and flexibility control group (CON). During training, PERT subjects stood on a platform that translated unpredictably 30cm forward, backward, left or right. Stepping and grasping reactions were trained separately during each session; handrails were removed for step training, and foam blocks were used to prevent stepping during grasp training. Concurrent cognitive and movement tasks were included to simulate 'real world' balance-loss situations. Perturbation magnitude was progressively increased throughout the program. CIS reactions were evaluated before and after training using surface-translation and waist-pull perturbations, allowing for examination of training-specific and generalizable adaptations, respectively. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA with group-by-time interaction was used to assess the training effects on reaction features targeted during PERT training: (a) frequency of multi-step responses, (b) frequency of antero-posterior trials in which extra lateral steps occurred, (c) frequency of lateral trials in which collisions between the swing and stance limb occurred, (d) grasping reaction time, and (e) handrail grasp time.Compared to CON subjects, PERT subjects showed greater reductions in multi-step reactions and frequency of foot collisions; these effects were only statistically significant for surface translation trials (p
Values as incremental predictors of organizational citizenship behaviour

This field study (n=107) examined ethnic differences in organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB), between co-workers and more specifically examined Schwartz's (1992) values as incremental predictors of OCB. Both self and peer reports of OCB were collected. The correlation between them was low. Significant differences in OCB between different ethnic groups were found for peer assessments. In addition, significant differences in values were found between ethnic groups, adding further support that ethnicity can be captured by measuring cultural values at the individual level. Multiple regression analyses revealed that values were not significant predictors of OCB and did not add incremental validity over other predictors of OCB, namely conscientiousness, job satisfaction and affective commitment. However, when values were moderated by job autonomy, the amount of additional variance accounted for was significant. In addition, a person's value for power was found to be significantly moderated by job autonomy, such that individuals that value power and are in jobs with a high level of autonomy are less likely to exhibit OCB. Understanding cultural values is of increasing interest given the rise in the ethnically diverse workforce in heterogeneous nations such as Canada and the U.S. The implications of these findings as well as the differences in self versus peer ratings of OCB are discussed.
Mothers' practices and opinions regarding analgesic use for pain during routine immunization

Introduction. Methods exist for minimizing pain during routine immunization. The frequency of utilization of interventions by mothers has not been investigated. Objectives. To assess mothers' practices and opinions regarding analgesia in preventing pain associated with childhood immunization, and predictable factors. Methods. Prospective interviewer-administered questionnaire asked 200 mothers questions about their practices and opinions regarding use of analgesia for immunization pain. Conclusion. Mothers agreed that analgesia should be used for immunization pain; however, most did not utilize this option. Strategies to increase flow of information are suggested. Results. Seventy-five percent and 68% of mothers reported not to use analgesia prior to or after immunization, respectively. Fifty percent and 81% of mothers reported that analgesia should be used prior to and after immunization, respectively. Mothers' use of analgesia before and after immunization was predicted by doctors providing information [(OR=28.3, 95% CI 9.3, 86.0) and (OR=6.3, 95% CI 2.5, 16.1) respectively].
Children's detection and use of cues to infer object displacement

Previous research on toddler search using a ramp apparatus revealed that children under 36 months have great difficulty searching for the hidden toy. The object-directed attention account posits that attention spreads from proximal to distal within an object, which means that a cue is most useful if it is both directly connected to and attached closer to the centre of the target object. This study investigated 24-, 30-, and 36-month olds' search for a hidden car under short- vs. long-cue conditions with an obliquely aligned cue. Results revealed that children performed better under short-cue conditions, but the cue's orientation relative to the target object affected children's overall performance, especially for the youngest group. Implications for the object-directed attention account are discussed.

Keywords: Inference
Searching behavior in children
Visual perception in children
From fish weirs to casino: Negotiating neoliberalism at Mnjikaning

The results suggest that the casino is contiguous with initiatives such as Land Treaties and the Fur Trade in that the economic arrangements appear equitable, but the results reflect an unequal power relationship. This has been accomplished by a unilateral casino agreement imposed by the Province despite the objections of all Ontario First Nations. Furthermore, Casino Rama is marketed as an "Aboriginal casino," but in reality the Province regulates it, and it is managed by an American casino management company. The success of US Indigenous casinos prompted the Chiefs of Ontario (an Ontario Indigenous political organization) to explore the possibility of creating one First Nations casino to benefit all Ontario First Nations. These discussions and subsequent negotiations with the Province of Ontario led to the creation of Casino Rama located on the Mnjikaning First Nation in south-central Ontario on July 31, 1996. The following study explores the social and cultural impacts of Casino Rama. More specifically, I am concerned with: how the casino relates to historical events such as the Fur Trade and Land Treaties; the problematic of gambling as an economic option; the community's negotiation of neoliberal structures introduced as a result of the casino; and the problematic of the casino agreement that includes the Mnjikaning First Nation, Ontario First Nations and the Province of Ontario. The methodology incorporated in this study includes historical research, life history interviews and participant observation. In the past, Indigenous people engaged in gambling as a group social leisure activity. The casino differs from Indigenous gambling since it operates on an economic model. Individual gambling problems are not significant in Mnjikaning. On the other hand, the neoliberal structures associated with the casino are a significant problem. Such structures include: desired casino expansion, individualization of social relations, and legal policy designed to protect capital. These structures are in opposition to the community's collective identity known as bimaadiziwin, generally defined as a "holistic way of life." Bimaadiziwin functions as a community habitus that negotiates a continued space in the community in spite of the new neoliberal order.

Keywords: Indians of North America, Gambling
Indians of North America, Canada
Gambling on Indian reservations, Canada
Gambling, Government policy
Gambling, Canada
Indian business enterprises, Canada
Sun exposure, vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and risk of melanoma

The nature of sunlight's role in melanoma pathogenesis is unclear. Sunlight potentiates synthesis of vitamin D, which inhibits melanoma growth. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) genetic variants occur in melanoma patients. We performed a population-based multinational study comparing 825 patients with multiple primary melanoma (MPM) to 1301 patients with single primary melanoma (SPM) to investigate the interaction between VDR polymorphisms and sun exposure. Sun exposure data was collected via questionnaire and interview, and genotyping for FokI and BsmI VDR variants and testing for interactions was performed. Recent daily sun exposure was inversely associated with risk of MPM with the BB genotype (OR = 0.39, CI: 0.18-0.81) with greater protection with increasing sun exposure (p=0.01). Increased risk of MPM with occupational exposure was seen with the ff genotype (OR = 2.33, CI: 1.16-4.74). These results suggest that VDR variants modify the effect of sun exposure and contribute to variation in melanoma susceptibility.
Express bus modelling for the GTA

EMME/2 software is extensively used in the planning of urban roads and transit networks. But unfortunately, current EMME/2-based models are not capable of properly representing express bus services in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This study focuses on finding a solution to this problem. Three approaches are investigated. First, different combinations of user adjustable parameters of EMME/2 are explored to see if they result in improved express bus assignments. Second, adjustments to the representation of the express bus attributes (artificially decreasing speeds and increasing headways for the express bus routes) are investigated. Finally, a sub-mode split model is developed in which original demand matrix is split into two demand matrices (one for express bus and other for local bus) and assigned separately to the GTA transit network in EMME/2. For this purpose logit mode choice models are developed and estimated to predict express bus and local bus demand.
To understand and interpret the realms of reflective practice by an expert nurse

This thesis explores and discusses the experience of an expert nurse with reflective practice. Both reflection-in-action and on-action are investigated. The main finding shows that technical reflection is the reflective process most utilized in the workplace. Workplace culture and social dynamics restrict the progression of this reflective process beyond technical reflection. It is also evident from the study that the process of reflection involves personal knowledge, tacit knowledge and empirical knowledge. My conclusions recommend that a shift in the reflective practice paradigm take place. This shift is a presence of a different reflective practice paradigm that integrates both critical reflection and evidence-based practice. Embedded in this married concept is the transformational power that can facilitate change within nursing practice. However, the shifts in reflective practice also need to address the shifts in management, practice, research and education. Without these shifts in the pillars of nursing, the drive towards critical reflection and evidence-based practice as a reflective practice paradigm remains limited. The married concept of critical reflection and evidence-based practice can bridge the theory-practice gap and provide nurses with the transformational power they need to change and impact their practice.

Keywords: Nurses
Nursing
Nursing, Study and teaching
Nursing, Psychological aspects
Self-knowledge, Theory of
Climate change: can oil companies move beyond petroleum?

Major oil companies' climate change strategies are not as different as they may appear; seemingly distinct strategies mask similarities that result from the underlying logic of investment markets. The obligation to deliver shareholder value prevents oil companies from moving away from the production of fossil fuels, while the prudent management of regulatory risk produces limited efforts to mitigate emissions among all oil companies. An examination of the positions of BP and ExxonMobil reveals that in the absence of mitigation policies that are strong enough to compel investors to abandon the fossil fuel industry, the strategies of oil companies will remain focused on maintaining production despite claims of ‘moving beyond’ petroleum.
Volume tracking with adaptive refinement

A novel piecewise-linear interface calculation (PLIC) volume tracking method is implemented on an adaptively-refined structured mesh, to accurately simulate the behavior of interfacial flow phenomena when the length scales and local curvatures of the interfaces vary significantly. The PLIC volume tracking method is a robust and widely-used technique for tracking interfaces, but previous PLIC implementations have been on uniform grids. This is a limitation; because fine resolution is needed to resolve the multiscale features of interfacial flows. Adaptive refinement can be used to resolve the multiscale features of the flow by using adaptive hierarchical grids consisting of quadtrees, which are recursively subdivided on a cartesian mesh. The criteria for refinement and coarsening are related to the local curvature of the interface and to a measure of well-resolvedness. Results are presented of the scheme and compared with corresponding simulations on fixed meshes. In terms of computational expense, to reach an error norm; this approach is faster vis-a-vis a fixed mesh, but as the interface moves, the grid must be updated at every time step. Some new test cases have also been developed, and their features explored, to assess the capabilities of the algorithrn.
Direct conversion detectors for digital mammography

Breast cancer is the most common cancer occuring in women. Early detection has been shown to contribute to reduced mortality. In some cases, with screen-film mammography, cancer signs can be missed because of limitations in image quality. Digital mammography can help overcome these limitations. A novel direct conversion x-ray imaging detector has been proposed for use in a slot-scanned digital mammography system. This hybrid device consists of a CCD operating in time-delay integration (TDI) mode that is bonded to an x-ray sensitive photoconductor array with a detector element pitch of 50 μm. A novel CCD design was used that consists of multiple sections to accommodate the large charge signal expected with a direct conversion device. Two important measures of performance of an imaging device are its modulation transfer function (MTF) and its detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Recent developments in signal transfer theory have facilitated modeling of the MTF and DQE for x-ray imaging systems. A model for the prototype was developed to help evaluate the performance and to identify key limitations to image quality. New theory was developed to help explain a particular DQE degradation mechanism due to incomplete charge collection. A cascaded systems approach was developed which relies on a depth-dependent model. The DQE was determined from the weighted integral (or expectation) of the depth-dependent signal and noise terms. It was shown that incomplete charge collection could cause the DQE to be reduced by as much as 50%. The first prototype detector consisted of a 1.0 mm thick silicon photodiode array bonded to the CCD. As predicted by the model, scanning motion effects reduced the MTF(f) and DQE( f) along the direction of motion. Image quality was good, and the DQE at 0 mm−1 was measured to be 0.75 ± 0.02 at 26kVp and 50 mR. A second device was constructed using a CdZnTe photoconductor array. The high atomic number, density and conversion efficiency of CdZnTe makes it attractive for x-ray imaging. However, CdZnTe suffers from reduced charge transport properties, which causes incomplete charge collection. Despite this, a DQE(0) as high as 0.70 ± 0.02 at 26 kVp and 27 mR was measured.