VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The impact of motivation of sexual offenders' progress in treatment

Motivation is often presented as a major contributor to treatment outcome; however, empirical study demonstrating its specific influence on treatment is uncommon, even more rare is the examination of it among offender populations. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of offender motivation on progress in community-based, sex offender programming in order to validate it as a significant responsivity variable in correctional treatment. One hundred and three adult male offenders undergoing treatment in the community completed the Attitudes Toward Correctional Treatment Scale (Baxter, Marion & Goguen, 1995), University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (McConnaughy, DiClemente, Prochaska & Velicer, 1989), Relapse Prevention Knowledge Questionnaire (Beckett, Fisher, Mann & Thornton, 1996), Goal Attainment Scale (Hogue, 1993), and the Sex Offence Information Questionnaire (Hogue, 1993) on two occasions. The definition of motivation was based on client engagement factors and framed within the transtheoretical model of change. The results supported that stage of change generally functioned as predicted in the theoretical model and was related to variance in attitudes toward correctional treatment. Motivation also influenced the offenders' self-evaluation; the concordance with treatment providers' appraisals was greater with higher motivation. Level of motivation was associated with suspensions but not with revocations and technical violations. In sum, motivation was substantiated as a significant client variable that influenced treatment. It is therefore recommended that motivation, as a facet of the therapeutic alliance, be considered a responsivity variable and that future research focus on the clarification of its role in the treatment process with the objective of enhancing the efficacy of correctional interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords: Sex offenders, Rehabilitation
Sex offenders, Canada
Sex offenders, Treatment
Psychosexual disorders, Treatment
Sex crimes
Issues of corporate governance in Russia

In this paper, the issues of corporate governance in Russia are addressed. The study aims to shed light on corporate governance problems in Russia and analyze their roots. The paper confirms the fact that objective external criteria such as fast insider privatization in Russia, corruption, weak judicial system and ineffective court system as well as undeveloped external instruments of corporate governance have a detrimental effect on corporate governance quality in Russia. As a consequence, it leads to the wide-spread violation of shareholder rights. The recommendations provided in this work will definitely give positive results upon their implementation. So it is necessary for Russia to continue the process of developing the external instruments of corporate governance as well as improving the overall economic and legal situation. This would enhance efficiency of single companies as well as the national economy as a whole, thereby enhancing the economic growth and attracting foreign investment.

Keywords: Corporate governance
Strategies of repetition from Titian to Padovanino: producing and reproducing Venetian style in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century painting

Trapped between the death of Tintoretto and the birth of Tiepolo is what one scholar referred to as the “most barren period in the history of Venetian painting since the Dark Ages”. Another art historian looked upon the Venetian Seicento as one of “eclectic slumber” whose dreamers were latecomers at best. In the shadow of their formidable Renaissance forefathers, these artists, it is said, became forlorn victims of an anxiety of influence. The repetitiveness of seventeenth-century Venetian painting led scholars to conclude that painters in this period lacked Originality. This point of view argues that, nostalgic for a faded Golden Age, artists obsessively recycled forms from the past. As a result, their art fell into a state of decadence. Against this standard line of censure, this dissertation considers repetition as an intentional aesthetic strategy in both Renaissance and Baroque painting. The underlying thesis maintains that creative repetition (as seriality and citation and as imitation and emulation) plays an important role in the internal logic of artistic production in both centuries. Denis Mahon warned several decades ago that scholars of the Seicento must be attentive to the rift between theory and practice and must be careful not to over-generalize particulars. This dissertation, therefore, focuses upon II Padovanino (Alessandro Varotari, b. 1588, Padua–d. 1649, Venice) as a specific case study and compares him with other Baroque artists in an attempt to illustrate how certain seventeenth-century artists inherited their Renaissance legacy. This is accomplished in five chapters roughly divided in two parts. First, I begin with an examination of serial or mass production as a critical component in the Renaissance practices of Titian's workshop. Second, I outline an aesthetic position, which was specific to Baroque culture that was based upon repetition as insight, pleasure, and play, rather than decadence, failure, and emptiness.
The relationship of self-compassion and self-esteem to empathy, shame, and social functioning in adolescents who offend sexually

The aim of this thesis was to explore the influence of self-compassion and self-esteem on empathy, shame, and social functioning in male adolescent sexual offenders. Male offenders (n=53), aged 12 to 18, were from six specialized treatment/residential programs. Data were also collected from a comparison group of nonoffenders (n=49). All participants completed a battery of psychological inventories assessing self-compassion (SCS-A; SC Cartoons), self-esteem (BSCI-Y), empathy (IRI), shame (TOSCA-A), and social functioning (MESSY). Separate mediation models were computed to determine the relationship of empathy (comprised of perspective taking, empathic concern, personal distress) and shame to social functioning, with either self-compassion or self-esteem as a mediator. Results indicated that self-compassion fully mediated the relationship of both empathy and shame to social functioning in adolescent sexual offenders, but not in nonoffenders; by contrast, self-esteem was not a significant mediator for either group. Self-compassion was also a stronger predictor than self-esteem for personal distress, shame, and social functioning in offenders; however, these effects were mixed for nonoffenders. Sexual offending status was differentiated based on perspective-taking ability, level of self-esteem, and social functioning. These results suggest that a self- compassionate attitude underlies the effect of empathy and shame on social functioning in adolescent sexual offenders, whereas self-esteem does not; rather, self-esteem seems to be merely an indicator of underlying psychological problems. Therefore, self-compassion is a more promising means than self-esteem to foster interpersonal connectedness, minimize cognitive distortions, and decrease moral disengagement in adolescent sexual offenders.
Waveform diversity and detection in distributed radar apertures

The field of distributed apertures is leading a resurgence of research into radar signal processing. A recent theme has been the notion of waveform diversity that is tailored to the nature of the distributed array. In this thesis, the use of waveform diversity in the detection of weak targets buried in interference is investigated. Two diversity schemes studied are varying pulse FM rates at each transmitter and frequency diversity via Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), a concept borrowed from wireless communications. The use of OFDM eliminates problems with previously proposed frequency diversity schemes. The thesis also investigates the implementation of efficient adaptive processing schemes such as Joint Domain Localized (JDL) processing.
From business models to service-oriented design: A reference catalog approach

The service-oriented architecture (SOA) has been emerging as one of the most popular system architectures in both the business and IT communities because of its capability in achieving flexibility, agility, and responsiveness to changing business needs. However, these values can only be delivered if the business needs and strategic concepts are properly analyzed and met by the technical solution. The study of business models, stimulated by innovations in e-business, has become an important step to support such analysis leading to technical system design. This thesis examines the business modeling and analysis needs arising from the business models literature, and considers the potential of the i* modeling framework [Yu97] in addressing those needs. A reference catalog approach is proposed to capture recurring business models and provide design rationales for service-oriented design. A sample reference catalog is provided. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is evaluated using a real-world case study.
Teaching styles and faculty attitudes towards computer technology in teaching and learning at a college in Ontario

This study examined faculty teaching styles and attitudes towards the cognitive effects of computers in instruction. A survey instrument (demographic questions, a teaching style inventory (TSI), three computer attitude scales, a behavioral control, and an instructional computer use scale) was administered to full-time post-secondary faculty. The response rate was 40% with 158 useable surveys received. The demographic data analysis showed that the sample was highly representative of the population. Significant evidence (problematic reliability values and clustering results for the teaching styles) suggested that the TSI was of questionable value for this population. Faculty had significantly higher mean scores on every teaching style than the norming population. Faculty had positive attitudes towards the cognitive effects of computers in instruction but were more positive about the cognitive effects of computer technology on themselves and their students than the learning environment. Faculty felt confident about using computers and were using computers in instruction in significant numbers; however advanced users of computers in teaching were still the exception with faculty practicing ‘just enough’ learning of instructional computer use. Significant relationships were discovered among the various scales and the demographics. Women were more learner-centered but less likely to believe that instructional computer use affected them positively, and were less confident than men. Technical program faculty were more teacher-centered and confident while arts, music and theater faculty were more learner-centered. Faculty with significant computer experience but fewer years of teaching experience were more confident and faculty with significant computer experience in technical programs were more advanced users of computers in instruction. Support for the conceptual framework (the Theory of Planned Behavior) was not found as expected in the relationships between teaching style and computer attitudes. However relationships, supporting the framework, were found between instructional computer use and the computer attitude and behavior control scales. It is theorized that traditional teaching style inventories are lacking and a new conceptualization of teaching behaviors related to the use of computers in instruction is needed. In a predictive model, the learning environment and the behavioral control scales accounted for 36% of the variation in the use of computers in instruction.

Keywords: Universities and colleges, Ontario
Teachers
Teaching, Ontario
Education, Higher, Study and teaching
Education, Higher, Ontario
Education, Higher, Effects of technological innovations on
Education, Higher, Ontario
Education, Higher, Data processing
Reading the science centre: an interdisciplinary feminist analysis of museum communication

Science centres are concerned with developing the public understanding of science, and are institutions through which scientific claims about sex and gender are generated and communicated. This interdisciplinary dissertation looks at the process of communicating gender representations in the Ontario Science Centre permanent exhibition A Question of Truth (AQT), in an effort to better understand museums as settings for informal (and potentially transformative) adult learning. AQT is an unusual exhibition that raises questions about scientific objectivity and social discrimination in Western science. The development process used to create AQT was likewise innovative. Exhibit development is rarely documented and published, so my treatment of the five-year development of AQT is also a contribution to the museology literature. This study draws on prior museum learning research, communication theory, feminist standpoint epistemology, and transformative learning theory, and develops a cultural model of museum communication that considers both museum and visitor meaning-making. Data collection techniques included: (1) interpretive content analysis of the exhibition, (2) document analysis on exhibit development files and visitor comment sheets, (3) “intercept” interviews with 18 visitors (and more extensive visitor observations), and (4) long-interviews with five exhibit development team and one advisory panel members. Document analysis and interview findings demonstrate exhibit developers included consideration of gender discrimination as a minor theme throughout the exhibit development process. My reading of the installed exhibition found attention was paid to offer sex-balanced images and voices in the displays. The treatment of sex-based discrimination, however, was largely overlooked in favour of a focus on scientific racism. While most visitors did recognize the main point, describing the exhibition in terms of its social discrimination theme, most failed to connect the concepts of discrimination and scientific bias, and very few recognized any gender content. A few visitors provided evidence of potential transformative learning. However, the staff involved in developing the exhibition experienced the most significant learning; it required painful reflection on institutional practices and personal identities, and resulted in transformative learning for many of the staff involved. I conclude with some suggestions for future exhibit development strategies, applying my reflexive model of museum and visitor meaning-making.

Keywords: Science museums, Environmental aspects
Museum exhibits, Moral and ethical aspects
Science museums, Ontario
Women, Legal status, laws, etc
Feminist criticism
Sex discrimination against women
Museum exhibits, Social aspects
IGF-1 transfection enhances cardiac smooth muscle cell engraftment

Results. IGF-I gene transfection increase IGF-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs) as compared to plasmid transfected and unmodified SMCs. IGF-1 induced greater cell proliferation and more vascular structures from endothelial cells and decreased caspase-3 activity after ischemia-reperfusion. Transplantation of IGF-1-transfected SMCs into damaged myocardium increased IGF-1 and VEGF levels and vessel density. Fewer apoptotic cells and higher survival rate were in the IGF-1 group than the controls. Congestive heart failure is a major medical problem. Cell transplantation is a promising approach to repair the "broken heart" by replacing scar tissue with muscle cells. However, cell loss after implantation diminishes the functional benefit of cell transplantation. Conclusions. IGF-1 gene improved SMC engraftment in the damaged myocardium, which fulfills the promise of cardiac restoration by cell transplantation. Hypothesis. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene could enhance cell survival and improve cell engraftment after transplantation.
Enzyme microencapsulation and its application for overcoming multidrug resistance in breast cancer treatment

Cancer chemotherapy is largely hampered by the lack of selectivity of therapeutic agents, the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) and insufficient drug concentration available in solid tumors. In order to overcome these barriers for solid tumor chemotherapy, a novel strategy of using a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating enzyme, glucose oxidase (GOX), encapsulated in hydrogel microspheres formulation was developed and investigated. In summary, the results from this Thesis demonstrate that the ACMS and the fabrication methods are suitable for microencapsulation of proteins like GOX. The enzymatic activity of GOX was maintained by encapsulation into ACMS. ACMS-GOX is effective in circumventing P-gp mediated MDR mechanism in the studied breast cancer cells. The combination treatment of ACMS-GOX with intracellular antioxidant inhibitors enhanced the cytotoxicity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of GOX encapsulated in ACMS (ACMS-GOX) was evaluated using murine breast cancer EMT6/AR1.0 cells, which overexpress P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and wild type EMT6/WT parent cells. The mechanism of the cytotoxicity of ACMS-GOX was investigated by using various extracellular and intracellular ROS inhibitors. ACMS-GOX exhibited similar cytotoxicity to EMT6/AR1.0 cells as to EMT6/WT cells, in effect by-passing the MDR phenotype of EMT6/AR1.0 cells. Extracellular H2O2 and intracellular hydroxyl radicals were found to play a critical role in the cytotoxicity of ACMS-GOX towards EMT6/AR1.0 cells. GOX was encapsulated in alginate/chitosan microspheres (ACMS) using an emulsification-internal gelation, followed by GOX adsorption and polyelectrolyte coating method. High GOX loading and encapsulation efficiency were achieved when the pH of the adsorption medium was lower than the isoelectric point (pI) of GOX. The activity of GOX in ACMS was maintained and showed sustained production of H2O2 compared to free GOX (FR-GOX). The distribution of GOX within ACMS was inhomogeneous with higher concentrations near the surface of ACMS as detected by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). GOX was loaded into calcium alginate (CaAlg) gel beads via electrostatic interactions between GOX and CaAlg. GOX retained its integrity after adsorption to CaAlg and coating of the CaAlg gel beads with chitosan. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results indicated the formation of a CaAlg-GOX-chitosan complex, which stabilized GOX.
Using Gaussian process regression to denoise images and remove artefacts from microarray data

Natural image denoising is a well-studied problem of computer vision, but still eludes sufficiently good solutions. Removing spatial artefacts from DNA microarray data is of significant practical importance to biologists, but overly simple methods are commonly used. We show that the two seemingly disparate problems of image denoising and spatial artefact removal from DNA microarrays can be solved using similar algorithms when the problems are viewed as a decomposition of the data into spatially-independent and spatially-dependent components. We discuss previously used methods and how Gaussian processes for regression (GPR) may be used to solve both problems. We present a new method employing a novel covariance function for use in GPR in the special case of twodimensional grid data. Finally, we show that our new method compares well with popular previous methods in both image denoising and microarray artefact removal applications.
Study of the kinetics of carbon reduction of matte/oxysulfide/slag in nickel/copper flash smelting

A new operating concept for the Inco flash furnace was investigated. A supernatant coke layer would be added onto the surface of the molten bath to establish a reducing barrier between the slag and the freeboard. The partially oxidized sulfide mineral particles would thus be reduced while percolating through the coke layer to yield sulfur deficient (partially metallized) matte. The iron activity of sulfur deficient mattes is higher than that of regular mattes, and this coke barrier should lead to higher nickel and cobalt recoveries. The main challenge for the success of the new operating concept is to create conditions that optimize the rate of reduction without affecting furnace throughput and without requiring changes in furnace geometry. To achieve this objective it is necessary to develop an in depth understanding of the mechanism and basic chemistry of coke reduction of the flash flame products. Experiments were conducted in a miniplant flash furnace to investigate the feasibility and merits of this process scheme. The miniplant flash furnace test work also ties the results of graphite reduction tests with flash smelting operation. The test work suggests that coke reduction of partially oxidized sulfide mineral particles takes advantage of the fast reduction rate of matte, thus resulting in magnetite-coke reduction, with the production of metallic iron prior to the formation of slag. As a result, the reduction rate is optimized, sulfur deficient (metallized) matte is produced, and a significant improvement in matte/slag cobalt partition is achieved. All these objectives were met in the miniplant tests while flash smelting at a throughput per unit area of molten bath similar to that of the commercial Inco flash furnace. A complete investigation of the reduction mechanism was conducted utilizing all of the test results, thermodynamic calculation, samples of burner flame particles, samples of the matte and slag, SEM and XRD analysis, multiphase CFD modeling and TGA test work. Coke reduction of the flash flame products, i.e. partially oxidized sulfide mineral particles, was simulated by graphite-oxysulfide and graphite-matte reduction test work in this study. Graphite-slag reduction was also conducted for comparison. The graphite reduction tests were divided into two separate parts, X-ray visualization tests and crucible graphite reduction tests. The X-ray visualization tests confirmed that (1) oxysulfide and matte have much better wettability of graphite than slag; (2) the slag reduction product gas is discharged through a gas film on the surface of graphite; (3) the rate of reduction of oxysulfide and matte is visually faster than that of slag. The crucible graphite reduction tests measured the rate of graphite reduction of oxysulfide, matte, slag and a mixture of matte + slag at various temperatures utilizing an on-line gas analyzer. The results clearly show that the rates of reduction of matte and oxysulfide are several times faster than that of slag.
The effects of doxycycline regulation on fibrillar collagen production in long term smooth muscle cell culture

Collagen remodeling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases including atherosclerosis and aneurysm. In this study I investigate the effect of doxycycline, a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, on collagen accumulation by smooth muscle cells (SMCs). A long-term in vitro ascorbate supplemented SMC-extracellular matrix model system was established. After 2 and 4 weeks, doxycycline increased collagen content (from 3.6 to 5.7 and 7.8 to 10.9 ug/cm2), but did not affect MMP-2 secretion in A10 (a rat embryonic SMC line) and primary rat thoracic aortic SMC cultures. In doxycycline treated primary SMCs, there was an immediate and sustained increase in procollagen alpha 1(I) mRNA level (from 115% to 190% of GAPDH expression). However, the proportion of fibrillar versus non-fibrillar collagen was reduced. Under transmission electron microscopy, the collagen fibers were associated with amorphous aggregates, appeared to be nonassembled collagen monomers. In conclusion, doxycycline is a direct regulator of collagen synthesis by SMCs.