This study aims to examine teachers’ experiences when working with novels to discuss gender related questions in their EFL-classrooms. The research questions this study aims to answer are which prerequisites and limitations affect teachers when working with novels and gender in the EFL-classroom and what are the benefits and negatives when working with novels and gender in the EFL-classroom. The data was gathered through seven semi-structured interviews with teachers from both upper- and lower secondary school. The theoretical approach that was used to analyse the answers received from the interviews were gender studies, with a focus on ‘overing’, and critical literacy.  The results from this study show that teachers have an interest in working with novels and gender related questions. The study also shows that there are both prerequisites and limitations that affect how teachers can work with gender and novels in their classroom, a few of the examples brought up in the results are: meeting resistance from the students in the classroom regarding these issues, which class sets of novels are available, the teacher’s personal interest in the subject, and if there is sufficient support to teach about novels and gender. Finally, it can be discerned that a teacher’s own commitment affects how much gender related questions are incorporated when working with novels.

Much work has been published regarding discharge coefficients for various weir structures. What has not been published to the same extent are the effects of model scale associated with the weirs being studied. If laboratory weirs are too small, scale effects can affect the magnitude of the discharge coefficient. These errors may be significant if the weir serves as a control structure for an emergency spillway. It is imperative that discharge be accurately predicted to enable safe design and operation. Numerical and physical means were employed to analyze the effects of scale associated with Froude Modeling of weirs with sharp and flat crests. An inverse formulation for the ideal flow of water over a weir was developed. The formulation appeared to be sound; however, the numerical method failed because the boundary condition on the free surface had multiple roots, which were almost equal in magnitude and sign. Laboratory data were collected and analyzed to determine the existence of scale effects and the flow conditions under which they were manifested. Results indicate that scale effects are present even with relatively large model sizes (12 inches high with a crest thickness of 24 inches). The scale effects appear to be associated with the size of the weir-wall and the viscosity. Although the viscosity was not altered, the results show a characteristic Reynolds Number for a given crest thickness-to-height ratio where scale effects cease to exist for increasing total head. Several graphs defining the conditions where scale effects exist for a given weir size were developed. Use of the graphs allows one to determine the minimum total head (piezometric plus velocity head) that one may operate a given size of weir or size a weir given the minimum total head to be tested to avoid scale effects. A design curve for discharge coefficients was developed to be used for determining the capacity of prototype weirs. The curve can be used to determine the discharge coefficient for new or existing hydraulic control structures.

No description available.

Functional limitation, postural stability, and muscle recruitment of different categories of obesity were evaluated while performing an assembly workstation task. Three workstations, those designed for the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile workers based on anthropometric data tables, were included in the study. Functional limitation was measured using electro-goniometers and the maximum frontal functional reach (MFFR) evaluation to measure the difference in joint angles, forces plates were used to study the differences in postural stability, and EMG was used to evaluate the muscle recruitment of the soleus, frontal deltoid, and trapezius muscles. Also, a regression analysis was performed to evaluate if production efficiency rate could be predicted based on body mass index (BMI) group, gender, pace type, workstation configuration and 13 body dimensions. The results revealed that the body joint angles and muscle activation parameters were not significantly different based on the main factor BMI groups; however, significant differences were found in the two-way interactions of the BMI groups and the other factors. In regard to postural stability, the results indicated that the obese class 2 and obese class 3 groups anterior posterior sway was significantly larger than the normal weight groups. The results also revealed differences based on gender for the joint angles and muscle activation when performing the small part assemblies; however, postural sway was not affected by gender differences. Pace type (self –paced or timed-paced) significantly affected the postural stability and muscle activation when performing the work task. These differences in pace type were most prevalent when comparing the 95th percentile workstation configuration against the 5th percentile workstation configuration. In regards to productivity, gender, weight, waist-to-hip ratio and pace type seem to have a large role in the production efficiency rate. Even though an individual's BMI and the workstation layout were found to impact the body functional limitation and stability, the results showed that it doesn't affect production efficiency rate performance.

No description available.

No description available.

Background: Firefighters (FFs) are exposed to life-threatening conditions while carrying out their tasks. These strenuous conditions predispose them to a high rate of disability, morbidity and mortality. These hazardous conditions put them at risk for work limitations, but the literature is scarce in this matter. Objective: The overarching objective of this thesis is to determine the role of FFs health as predictors of work limitations in fire service. Specifically, the first objective is to determine whether work limitations differ among FFs based on the location or number of painful sites. The secondary objective is to determine whether non-musculoskeletal comorbid health condition predict work limitations among FFs. Participants: A convenience sample of FFs between the age of 18-60 years working in the province of Ontario, Canada. Methods: Participants completed either an online or paper-based survey including a work limitation questionnaire(WLQ-26) and a self-reported comorbidity questionnaire. For the first objective, a one-way ANOVA and post hoc test was used to determine the differences in work limitations among FFs based on the number or location of painful sites. For the secondary objective, a univariate linear regression was used to evaluate whether non-MSK comorbid health condition predict work limitations among FFs. Results: FFs with three or more painful sites had more physical limitations than FFs without pain, (Mean difference=1.03/10; 95% CI: 0.16-1.62; p=0.02). FFs with pain at the region of the spine experienced more physical limitations compared to FFs with no pain (Mean difference=0.89/10; 95% CI: 0.17-1.62; p=0.007). For the secondary objective, univariate analysis showed that having at least one comorbidity(p=0.04) had a small, but significant association with greater mental work limitations (F2,316=2.94; p=0.05; R2=0.02). Separate univariate analysis showed that women FFs having one comorbidity had a small but significant association with physical (R2=0.07; F2,97=3.92, p=0.02) and mental work limitations (R2=0.04; F2,101=1.89, p=0.15) than women without non-MSK comorbidity. Conclusion: Having multiple painful sites or pain at the spinal region influenced work limitations among FFs. Also, non-MSK comorbidity impacted mental limitations among FFs; especially among women FFs. Therefore, managing MSK and on-MSK comorbidities is a necessary health care goal to prevent work limitations. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The volume reduction in power converters over the past several decades can chiefly be attributed to increases in switching frequency. It is to be expected that the trends towards miniaturization will maintain steady pressure to keep this pace of increasing switching frequencies of power converters. However certain fundamental limits in high frequency power conversion are being reached as frequencies are being pushed deeper into the megahertz range, inhibiting substantial further increases. The work reported in this dissertation is intended to systematically investigate the fundamental frequency limitations, identify some of the solutions for HF/VHF power conversion and to provide guidelines and tools to optimize the performance of power converters by maximizing frequency. A number of multi-megahertz power converters are examined to evaluate the present status and future trend of HF/VHF power conversion. An interesting trend between power level and frequency is observed. A general limitation about the power level and frequency, independent of design details, is derived from the physics of the semiconductor devices, which determines the upper bound of the power levels as frequency increases. A 250 MHz DC-DC power converter (derived from the Class E power amplifier) is analyzed and demonstrated with discrete components, which again verifies the trend between power level and frequency. The power losses in the semiconductor devices are discussed, and optimization criteria for minimizing the power losses of the devices, are discussed. By relating the power losses to the semiconductor materials' properties, a methodology for selecting proper materials is identified for high frequency and high efficiency power conversion. The frequency scaling effects of passive components, still dominating the volume of the modern power converter, is analyzed. A generic multi-disciplinary methodology is developed to analyze and maximize frequency and performance of passive components in terms of power density and efficiency. It is demonstrated how the optimum frequency can be identified, and how power conversion efficiency deteriorates beyond this optimum under a fixed maximum temperature. Power loss measurement is becoming more challenging as higher frequency and higher efficiency power conversion. To achieve an accurate power loss measurement in a high frequency, high efficiency power electronics system or component, limitations of electrical measurement are identified, and various calorimetric methods are surveyed. Calorimetric methods are more accurate due to the direct heat loss measurement. An advanced calorimetric system is proposed, analyzed, and tested, demonstrating about 5% error in total losses up to 25W. / Ph. D.

Elderly Black and Hispanic adults have poorer overall health, higher disability rates, and lower life expectancies than elderly Whites and other racial and ethnic minority group members. There are also sex differences in health, with women more likely to suffer from non-life threatening chronic conditions and men more likely to suffer from acute conditions. Health pathways, or the processes to good or poor health, are shaped by race, SES, and sex. This study focuses on the race and SES literature, framing race and SES inequalities within a cumulative advantage lens. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling techniques to examine data from the Health and Retirement Survey, this study finds that there are racial differences in health through health problems, health insurance, and health care treatment, and that Black, Hispanic, and other racial and ethnic minority group members have worse self-reported health than Whites in old age. This study also finds evidence of cumulative advantage through friends in the neighborhood, and finds evidence of cumulative disadvantage through health problems and hospital and nursing home treatment. There are also cumulative disadvantages for women, who have more functional limitations in old age than their male counterparts, and these disadvantages grow over time. This study adds support to the race literature, by furthering understandings of race and SES as interconnected but not interchangeable systems of inequality. In lieu of the findings, this study provides implications for future research and ways to reduce racial health disparities in old age. / Ph. D.

Assessment in patients with NMD consists principally of measures of motor impairment since they are well known by clinicians and their measures do not require much equipment. The conventional treatments in patients with NMD are above-all focused on the diminution of motor impairments by maintaining or improving joint mobility, muscle strength and endurance. Nevertheless, a reduction of motor impairments does not directly lead to a higher ability in performing daily activities. Therefore, activity limitations should be measured specifically. A new scale of activity limitations was first developed in children and adults with NMD. The use of the Rasch model provided a scale to assess the fundamental psychometric qualities. Secondly, relationships between motor impairments and activity limitations were investigated to verify the assumption that reduced motor impairments do not necessarily lead to higher activity levels. Finally, to complete the investigation of psychometric qualities, a longitudinal study of the developed questionnaire was carried out to evaluate its sensitivity to change. Chapter 1 presents the development of ACTIVLIM, a Rasch-built measure of activity limitations and its validation in children and adults with NMD. ACTIVLIM is a self-reported questionnaire that assesses the difficulties adult patients and parents of affected children perceive when they or their children perform daily activities. This questionnaire originally included 126 daily activities and was submitted to 369 patients. The Rasch model selected 22 daily activities to define a linear and unidimensional measure of activity limitations in patients with NMD. The validity and the reproducibility of the results were also studied. A second section of Chapter 1 demonstrates why the measure of activity limitations in children with NMD as assessed using the ACTIVLIM questionnaire is based upon the perception of their parents. A third section of Chapter 1 compares the difficulties self-perceived by the patients with the difficulties observed by external examiners. The agreement between both measures is very good, indicating that the use of ACTIVLIM as a self-reporting questionnaire is a valid method to assess activity limitations in patients with NMD. Chapter 2 investigates the relationships between motor impairments and activity limitations as measured with the ACTIVLIM questionnaire. As the anatomical basis and pathophysiology are different from one NMD to another, the relationships between impairments and activity limitations were investigated in six main diagnostic groups and in the whole sample without diagnostic distinction. Gait speed and muscle weakness in proximal and flexor muscle groups were significantly but moderately correlated to the activity limitations, indicating that the latter cannot simply be inferred from motor impairments but should be independently measured and treated. Chapter 3 investigates the sensitivity to change of the ACTIVLIM questionnaire. As NMD are progressive disorders, it is important that the ACTIVLIM questionnaire be able to assess the change over time in the activity level of patients with NMD in order to characterize the disease course and to quantify the effects of new treatments on activity limitations in these patients. Finally, the last section discusses the results of the different chapters and presents perspectives for future research.