Esta dissertação é composta por dois estudos conduzidos a fim de compreender de maneira integrada os fatores cognitivos/neuropsicológicos e ambientais relacionados ao desempenho em leitura (precisão e fluência) de crianças. A amostra foi composta por 185 alunos, 78 (42,2%) meninos e 107 (57,8%) meninas, do 4º ano do Ensino Fundamental de escolas públicas de Porto Alegre e Belo Horizonte. No primeiro estudo, foram investigadas as variáveis cognitivas/neuropsicológicas e ambientais que melhor explicam o desempenho de leitura (precisão e fluência). Nas análises de regressão linear observou-se a consciência fonológica e a nomeação seriada rápida (NSR) como melhores preditores na precisão de leitura, apoiando a hipótese de que o processamento fonológico é um contribuinte fundamental para a leitura no nível lexical. As variáveis ambientais importantes para leitura de palavras irregulares e fluência em leitura foram o nível socioeconômico (NSE) e o índice de desempenho (IDEB) da escola de origem. No segundo estudo, comparou-se o desempenho neuropsicológico, características comportamentais e ambientais de 3 grupos de crianças provenientes do estudo 1: com dificuldades de leitura/escrita (DLE); com dificuldade combinada de leitura/escrita e aritmética (DC) e sem dificuldades de aprendizagem (SD). Os grupos DLE e DC apresentaram desempenho estatisticamente inferior ao das crianças sem dificuldades de aprendizagem em consciência fonológica, NSR e memória de trabalho fonológica. O grupo DC apresentou desempenho inferior ao do grupo com DLE apenas em fluência verbal ortográfica. As crianças com dificuldades acadêmicas (DLE e DC) apresentaram maior escore no questionário de características de desatenção e hiperatividade e menor NSE. Os resultados contribuem para a compreensão de modelos multifatoriais (cognitivo/neuropsicológico, comportamental e ambiental) no desempenho da leitura e nas dificuldades de aprendizagem. Ambos os estudos mostram que a leitura no nível da palavra está mais relacionada às habilidades de processamento fonológico do que as habilidades visuoespaciais ou funções executivas, nas crianças avaliadas no quarto ano. É importante considerar a inserção de atividades para promover estas habilidades no currículo no Ensino Infantil e Ensino Fundamental como medida preventiva (primária e secundária) de dificuldades de leitura. / This dissertation consists of two studies conducted to understand cognitive, neuropsychological and environmental factors related to children’s reading performance (accuracy and fluency) in an integrated way. The sample consisted of 185 4th grade students, 78 (42.2%) boys and 107 (57.8%) girls, from public elementary schools from Porto Alegre city and Belo Horizonte city. In the first study, we investigated the cognitive and environmental variables that best explain the reading performance (accuracy and fluency). In linear regression analyzes observed phonological awareness and rapid serial nomination as best predictors of the accuracy, supporting the hypothesis that phonological processing is a key contributor to the reading on the lexical level. Important environmental variables for reading irregular words and fluency in reading were the socioeconomic status (SES) and the index of Brazilian education. In the second study, we compared the neuropsychological performance, behavioral and environmental characteristics of 3 groups of children from the study 1: difficulties with reading / writing (DLE); combined with reading / writing and arithmetic (DC) and without difficulty (SD). DLE and DC groups had statistically lower performance than children without learning difficulties in phonological awareness, NSR and phonological working memory. The DC group had underperformed the group with DLE only orthographic verbal fluency. Children with academic difficulties (DLE and DC) had higher scores on the questionnaire of inattention and hyperactivity characteristics and were from lower SES families. The results contribute to the understanding of multifactorial models for reading performance and learning difficulties, given the performance results from the interaction among different factors (cognitive/neuropsychological, behavioral and environmental). Both studies showed that the word reading level is more consistent related to phonological processing skills than visuospatial abilities and executive functions in this 4th grade sample. It is important to consider the inclusion of these skills in the curriculum in Infant and Primary Education as a preventive measure (primary and secondary) of reading difficulties.

The manner in which socioeconomic forces direct environmentally unsustainable behaviour is largely unseen and unappreciated. North American cultural beliefs, norms and values reinforce the economic system and constitute significant barriers to large-scale societal ecological behaviour change. Overlooked in the degrowth literature, even by researchers who have examined the importance of socioeconomic barriers (materialism and consumption), is the role occupation plays in dictating the ecological footprint and forming our socioeconomic identities. We have gained some understanding of the motivation of those individuals who have chosen to pursue a low-carbon lifestyle, but are lacking information about those who go one step further and adopt a low-carbon livelihood. Fifteen individuals who successfully adopted low-carbon livelihoods were interviewed to examine socioeconomic barriers they may have experienced and learn how those challenges were met. To assume a low-carbon livelihood at present is likely to require forming a new social status identity, adopting new metrics for judging oneself, and creating a new social network supportive of that identity and its values. A four-quadrant framework was used to examine the systemic nature of emergent themes regarding socioeconomic barriers and how those were overcome. Themes that emerged revealed many similarities to individuals committed to a low-carbon lifestyle with some critical differences in terms of both inhibiting and enabling factors. A core finding was that motivational and personality characteristics of the low-carbon livelihood individuals mimic the attributes of moral exemplars that drive a deep sense of ethical obligation to create a pro- social occupation that can function in a low-carbon manner. Clear values, coupled with a strong sense of personal responsibility, overpowered the socioeconomic barriers participants encountered. Implications regarding interventions for fostering the adoption of low-carbon livelihoods and fortifying the Degrowth movement are examined. / Graduate

Syftet med denna studie var att analysera sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitet och betyg i idrott och hälsa, samt mellan ett viktat betyg i matematik, svenska, engelska och idrott och hälsa och fysisk aktivitet. Studien undersöker vidare om det finns något samband mellan socioekonomisk status och fysisk aktivitet och med ett viktat betyg. Studien utfördes på gymnasieelever från två gymnasieskolor i Örebro och Värmlands län. 158 elever (92 flickor, 66 pojkar) deltog i studien. Det internationella aktivitetsformuläret, IPAQ, användes för skattning av fysisk aktivitet. Eleverna fick uppge sitt senaste betyg i svenska, engelska, matematik och idrott och hälsa samt svara på frågor kopplade till socioekonomiska bakgrundsfaktorer. Resultaten visade att det fanns ett måttligt linjärt samband mellan betyg i idrott och hälsa och fysisk aktivitet (r=0.48); och ett svagt linjärt samband mellan det viktade betyget och fysisk aktivitet (r=0.30). Resultatet visade att de starkaste sambanden återfanns för det socioekonomiska indexet (SEI), både för fysisk aktivitet och (p<0.001, r=0.35) respektive för det viktade betyget (p<0.001, r=0.332). Dock fanns tendenser att sambandet blev starkare vid modelleringen att vid en ökad fysisk aktivitet ökade betygen för att därefter minska när den fysiska aktiviteten ökade ännu mer.  Ytterligare forskning bör därmed fokusera på huruvida ett för stort fokus på fysisk aktivitet kan hindra skolarbetet. / The aim of this study was to analyse the correlation between physical activity and the grade in physical education, but also the correlation with a weighted grade (Mathematics, Swedish, English and Physical Education) and physical activity (metabolic index). The study further investigates whether there is any correlation between socioeconomic status and physical activity and socioeconomic status with a weighted grade. The study was carried out on high school students from two upper secondary schools in Sweden. 158 students (92 girls, 66 boys) participated in the study. The international activity form, IPAQ, was used to estimate physical activity. The students were asked to give their latest grades in swedish, english, mathematics and physical education, and answer questions related to socioeconomic background factors. The results showed that there was a moderately linear relationship between grades in physical education and physical activity (r = 0.48); and a weak linear relationship between the weighted grade and physical activity (r = 0.30). The result showed that the strongest correlations were found for the socioeconomic index (SEI), both for physical activity and (p <0.001, r = 0.35) and for the weighted grade (p <0.001, r = 0.33). However, there were tendencies that the correlation became stronger when modelling that with increased physical activity the grades would increase, in order to subsequently decrease when the physical activity increased even more. Further research should focus on whether too much focus on physical activity can impede school work.

Estudos têm demonstrado que homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH) têm estilos de vida diferenciados e ocupam diferentes espaços sociais e culturais. Mapeando as redes sociométricas e as subculturas homoeróticas, é possível entender a disseminação do HIV e os fatores de vulnerabilidade. O objetivo desse trabalho é descrever como subculturas sexuais de homens que fazem sexo com homens que freqüentavam bares e boates em duas regiões de São Paulo ocupavam diferentes territórios, descrever suas subculturas e práticas sexuais. Foi realizado um mapeamento etnográfico em dois bairros de São Paulo, onde se localizam 58 bares e boates gays. Foram aplicados questionários em 500 homens (Centro e Jardins), sobre: dados sócio-demográficos, percepção de risco, práticas sexuais, prevenção de aids e uso de drogas. Durante 12 meses foram realizadas intervenções, com distribuição de preservativos, lubrificantes e folhetos informativos. Durante o mapeamento etnográfico observamos que a região do Centro tem bares mais antigos e tradicionais, com a presença mais explícita de travestis e garotos de programa, com imagens identitárias baseadas na divisão de papéis de gênero. O Jardins tem bares requintados, com a presença mais acentuada de imagens identitárias baseadas na identidade gay. A análise dos questionários mostrou que 52% tiveram prática sexual de risco com parceiros fixos e 42% com parceiros casuais. 71% fizeram o teste HIV, sendo que 5% afirmaram que eram soropositivos. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas respostas obtidas nas duas regiões, observando que maior proporção de homens que freqüentavam o Centro: eram pobres, menos escolarizados, negros; tinham uma menor percepção de risco e menos confiança nos métodos preventivos para aids; tinham mais práticas de risco; concordavam que não usavam preservativo porque estavam apaixonados e porque existiam medicamentos para tratar a aids. Observamos que diferentes subculturas sexuais de HSH, redes sociométricas, imagens identitárias e performances de papéis ocupam diferentes espaços na cidade de São Paulo, configurando territórios diferentes de vulnerabilidade ao HIV. O conceito de territórios de vulnerabilidade enfatiza a importância de intervenções para prevenção da aids com foco comunitário, atuando nos componentes individuais, sociais e programáticos. Pensando em termos de desenvolvimento de estratégias de prevenção que têm como horizonte a emancipação psicossocial além do incremento do uso de camisinha, devemos levar em consideração essas redes sociométricas, que ocupam territórios dentro da cidade, criando territórios de atualização/realização de desejos e vulnerabilidade. / Studies demonstrated that men who have sex with men (MSM) have different lifestyles and occupied different cultural and social spaces. It is possible to understand the HIV transmission and vulnerabilities’ factors through mapping sociometric networks and their subcultures. The main goal of this thesis is to describe how sexual subcultures of men that have sex with men, that attended bars and discos in two different districts of São Paulo, occupied different landscapes, and describe subcultures and sexual practices. An ethnographic mapping of two districts of São Paulo, with 58 gay bars and discos was done. Questionnaires were applied in 500 men (Centro and Jardins) about: demographic data, risk perception, sexual practices, aids prevention, and drug use. Interventions were applied during 12 months, with distribution of condom, lubricants, and informative material. Evidences on ethnographic mapping showed that Centro district has traditional and oldest bars, more hustlers’ men and travesties, with identity images based on gender roles. Jardins district has refined bars, with image identity based on gay identity. The questionnaire demonstrated that 52% had risk sexual practices with regular partners, and 42% with casual partners. 71% did the antibody test, and 5% were positive for HIV. We found significant differences between districts. Men who go to bars and discos at Centro: were poor, less educated, black; had lower risk perception; they where less confident of preventive methods for aids; they have more sexual risk practices; agree more that they don’t use condom because passion and because there are medicines to aids. Different sexual subcultures of MSM, sociometric networks, identity images and role performances occupy different spaces at São Paulo city, formatting different landscapes of HIV vulnerability. The concept of vulnerability landscapes emphasizes importance of interventions for aids prevention with community focus, acting on individual, social and programmatic components. Thinking in terms of developing prevention strategies that has the psychosocial emancipation how horizon, beyond the condom use increment, we need consider sociometric networks that occupy landscapes at the city, creating landscapes of actualization/realization of desires and vulnerabilities.

The purpose of this study was to examine the variables that are associated with the percentage of students who pass Tennessee's Gateway exams in high school. Associations were examined between the Gateway exams and variables such as: socioeconomic status, ethnicity, dropout rate, graduation rate, attendance, average daily membership, per-pupil expenditure, teachers' salary, and elementary-school reading scores. Pearson correlations between school characteristics and pass rates of three Gateway exams were calculated. Schools were divided into quartiles based upon socioeconomic status and ethnicity in order to examine pass rates of the Gateway exams among different quartiles. Independent samples t tests were performed to determine if differences were statistically significant. Variables that exhibited strong association with pass rates of Gateway exams were used as predictor variables and pass rates of Gateway exams were used as dependent variables in multivariable linear regressions. The findings indicated that the graduation rate and percentage of Caucasian students were most positively associated with Gateway pass rates. Dropout rates and percentage of students who qualified for free/reduced-priced meals were most negatively associated with Gateway pass rates. It was discovered that the Algebra I Gateway exam was by far the most difficult for students to pass. Almost half of the students in high schools serving poor, minority students failed the Algebra I Gateway exam in 2004.

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the factors that contribute to positive educational outcomes as measured by the EXPLORE test for eighth grade males who qualify for free or reduced price lunch. In addition, this study was conducted for the purpose of improving the educational program at a Northeast Tennessee middle school. Archival EXPLORE data, as well as free and reduced price lunch data, were used to identify high school graduates, 6 males and 6 females, who had performed at or above expectation on the eighth grade EXPLORE test. Females were included in this study for the purpose of determining if the factors vary with respect to gender. The participants were interviewed for the purpose of gaining a rich understanding of the factors that enabled them to experience success, while the majority of their socioeconomically disadvantaged peers did not, as well as to determine if these factors varied with respect to gender. Two overarching themes emerged as a result of the interview data analysis: connection to school and support and motivation. Each of the participants reported a sense of connection to the school via of one or more of the following 5 subcategories: teachers, peers, other adults, extracurricular activities, and school structure, culture, and supports. Also, all of the participants spoke of support and motivation via 1 or more of the following 4 subcategories: parents, other adults, preparation, and ability and talent. Two factors emerged that seemed to be most important to their success: connection through relationships and outside support. Each participant was able to establish meaningful relationships during middle school, with 11 of 12 sharing accounts of their connections with school adults, and 12 of 12 discussing their peer relationships. Additionally, each spoke of feeling supported or motivated by a parent or other outside adult. There was little difference with respect to gender. Boys indicated a slightly higher proclivity towards extracurricular activities, while girls seemed to place slightly more importance upon peer relationships. However, establishing meaningful connections within school was of paramount importance for both genders.

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) is an ongoing public health issue across the globe, and in the United States. The estimated number of babies born each year in the United States with cleft palate (CP) is about 2,650, while CLP affects approximately 4,440 babies. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to determine if there is a relationship between CLP and maternal characteristics such as reproductive history (advanced maternal age, maternal obesity, prenatal visits, month prenatal care began, number of pregnancies, gestational age at birth, assisted reproductive technology used, gestational diabetes, and hypertension), socioeconomic status of the mother (marital status, education, mother's race, payment source for delivery, and place where birth occurred), and admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in U.S. hospitals from January 2016 to December 2016. The epidemiological triad theory served as the study's framework. A secondary dataset from the National Vital Statistics System was used for this study. Logistic regression was used to test the hypothesized associations. Results indicated that many maternal characteristics such as mother's age (p = .000), maternal obesity (p = .020), number of prenatal visits (p = .001), total birth order (p = .001), gestational age at birth (p = .000), gestational diabetes (p = .002), and gestational hypertension (p = .032), mother's education (p = .000), marital status (p = .018), race (p = .000), and admission to NICU (p = .000) were significantly associated with CLP. Results of this study may help health care professionals identify the determinants of the risk of CLP so as to design and implement effective CLP preventive measures among United States populations that are disproportionately affected by this condition.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation, represents a significant childhood chronic disease. In this thesis, a case ascertainment definition of paediatric-onset IBD was validated using administrative data and developed the Ontario Crohn’s and Colitis Cohort (OCCC). The epidemiology of paediatric IBD in Ontario was described, demonstrating that Ontario has one of the highest worldwide incidence rates. Statistically significant increases in incidence were noted in 0-4 year olds (5.0%/year, p=0.03) and 5-9 year olds (7.6%/year, p<0.0001), but not in other age groups. Lower income children were more likely to be hospitalized at least once (hazard ratio (HR) 1.17, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.05-1.30) or visit the ED (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.09-1.35) and had more IBD-related physician visits (odds ratio (OR) 3.73, 95% CI 1.05-13.27). Lower income children with Crohn's disease (CD) (not ulcerative colitis [UC]) were more likely to undergo intra-abdominal surgery within 3 years of diagnosis (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01-1.49), especially if diagnosed after 2000 (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.27-2.53). Finally, changes in health services utilization and surgical rates were described, as were changes in specialist care provision and immunomodulator use in children with IBD between 1994-2007. The changes to care included increased outpatient care provided by paediatric gastroenterologists, and increased immunomodulator use. Children diagnosed with CD, but not UC, in recent years had lower surgical rates. In CD patients, intra-abdominal surgical rates within three years of diagnosis decreased from 18.8% in children diagnosed in 1994-1997 to 13.6% in those diagnosed in 2001-2004 (P = 0.035). When stratified by age at diagnosis, this decrease was significant in children diagnosed ≥10 years old (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.93). The OCCC will continue to be used to investigate the epidemiology and burden of paediatric IBD and to improve the care received by children with IBD in Ontario.

This thesis presents the results of an exploratory study aimed at developing an understanding of Canadian Forces demographics and linking those demographics to current bodies of sociological theory. The background and literature review provide a starting point for sociological analysis; the study begins with a detailed review of existing literature in Canadian and United States military sociology, utilizing an exploratory approach that incorporates key elements from Bourdieus concepts of field and habitus, Habermass lifeworld and structure, and Giddenss notion of structuration. Once the key sociological theories are isolated, research methods and methodologies are developed. Data are collected from the 2006 Canada Census and the demographics of Canadian Forces members are explored through a logistic regression model. Data are interpreted within a sociological framework based on an integration of select theories from Bourdieu, Habermas and Giddens. This research identifies weak relationships between demographic characteristics and CF membership, along with socioeconomic factors and Canadian Forces membership. The completed research provides a starting point for future analyses in Canadian military sociology. Given that demographic and socioeconomic factors demonstrate weak correlation with Canadian Forces membership, future studies can focus on the motivations of Canadian Forces members knowing that background characteristics do not predetermine service. Although the Canadian Forces is primarily composed of Caucasian males, this accounts for only a small portion of variance in the Canadian Forces membership variable.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation, represents a significant childhood chronic disease. In this thesis, a case ascertainment definition of paediatric-onset IBD was validated using administrative data and developed the Ontario Crohn’s and Colitis Cohort (OCCC). The epidemiology of paediatric IBD in Ontario was described, demonstrating that Ontario has one of the highest worldwide incidence rates. Statistically significant increases in incidence were noted in 0-4 year olds (5.0%/year, p=0.03) and 5-9 year olds (7.6%/year, p<0.0001), but not in other age groups. Lower income children were more likely to be hospitalized at least once (hazard ratio (HR) 1.17, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.05-1.30) or visit the ED (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.09-1.35) and had more IBD-related physician visits (odds ratio (OR) 3.73, 95% CI 1.05-13.27). Lower income children with Crohn's disease (CD) (not ulcerative colitis [UC]) were more likely to undergo intra-abdominal surgery within 3 years of diagnosis (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01-1.49), especially if diagnosed after 2000 (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.27-2.53). Finally, changes in health services utilization and surgical rates were described, as were changes in specialist care provision and immunomodulator use in children with IBD between 1994-2007. The changes to care included increased outpatient care provided by paediatric gastroenterologists, and increased immunomodulator use. Children diagnosed with CD, but not UC, in recent years had lower surgical rates. In CD patients, intra-abdominal surgical rates within three years of diagnosis decreased from 18.8% in children diagnosed in 1994-1997 to 13.6% in those diagnosed in 2001-2004 (P = 0.035). When stratified by age at diagnosis, this decrease was significant in children diagnosed ≥10 years old (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.93). The OCCC will continue to be used to investigate the epidemiology and burden of paediatric IBD and to improve the care received by children with IBD in Ontario.