In finding ways to help students achieve their goals and become productive members of society, mere categorization of students as successful or unsuccessful is insufficient. Hence, in this report, I explore the literature to understand the connections between the construct of underachievement and other such aspects as motivation, anxiety, attitude, cognitive ability, self-efficacy, and learning strategies that are also related to underachievement and may play a crucial role in its reversal. I propose an organization of a lesson plan based on the use of the mother tongue in order to reverse low achievement while specifically delving into the Indian context when learning English as a second language. / text

The quality of life of children with Tourette Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by chronic tics, is impacted greatly by both the symptoms themselves and their social consequences. Habit Reversal Therapy, a behavioural therapy for tic management, has substantial empirical support in its individual form, but this approach has never been investigated in a group format. Group based delivery of Habit Reversal Therapy could increase access to therapy, improve the cost-effectiveness of treatments and potentially offer additional therapeutic benefits. This randomised controlled pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of Habit Reversal Therapy compared to psycho-educational groups for 33 children aged 9 to 13 years with Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorders. Outcomes of the groups were evaluated in terms of reductions in tic severity and improvements in quality of life. Good attendance rates in both groups suggested feasibility and acceptability of the interventions. Improvements in tic severity and quality of life were found in both groups, although to a lesser extent compared to previous studies of individual behavioural therapy for tics. Motor tic severity showed greater improvements in the Habit Reversal Therapy group on the main outcome measure (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale) but not on a direct observational measure of tic frequency. Given the potential for such groups to provide additional treatment options for families, further research is warranted. Clinical implications and suggestions for improvements to the current design for a larger study are outlined as well as indications for wider reaching future research.

The temporomandibular disorders (TMD) diminish quality of life and can be costly for both individuals and the health care system. Stress from a variety of factors, including daily hassles and maladaptive thought patterns, has been commonly cited as a contributing factor in TMD. Support for this hypothesis comes from research demonstrating masseter muscle hyperactivity in response to experimental stressors, such as painful or frustrating stimuli. Many believe the link between stress and increased masseter muscle pain is parafunctional oral habits, including teeth clenching, grinding, and lip biting. Habit reversal has been used effectively to treat parafunctional oral behaviors and facial pain. Treatment entails teaching individuals to detect, interrupt, and reverse maladaptive oral behaviors. Positive results have been achieved in a group treatment format. Problems with prior research suggest that high attrition resulted from scheduling demands of the group treatment format. To address these problems, this study modified the habit reversal protocol used by Gramling, et al. (1996, 1999) into a minimal contact therapy (MCT) format. MCT has been applied effectively with many problem behaviors, including chronic headaches. Twenty individuals (10-treatment and 10-waitlist control) participated in the seven-lesson, manualized treatment. Participants completed a pre- and post-treatment assessment and an 18-month follow-up. Individuals met with the therapist one time and received weekly feedback via telephone or e-mail. Participants submitted homework and quizzes for each lesson. Those in the control condition spoke with the therapist on a weekly basis as an attention control. Treatment lasted a mean of about 20 weeks. Significant improvement in pain severity including mean pain levels, highest weekly pain levels, and number of pain free days was noted in the treatment group relative to controls. The number and frequency of maladaptive oral habits revealed a strong trend towards lower levels from pre- to post-treatment for individuals in the treatment condition relative to controls. Additional measures of pain symptomotology and personality functioning also revealed significant improvements in the treatment group. Results suggest that a standardized treatment for facial pain is well suited for adaptation to a MCT format. Minimal contact therapy is flexible and as effective as similar group treatments.

This thesis investigates the development of ultrasonic Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems, based on guided waves propagation, for the localization of low-velocity impacts and the detection of damage mechanisms in isotropic and anisotropic structures. For the identi- cation of the impact point, two main passive techniques were developed, an algorithm-based and an imaging-based method. The former approach is based on the dierences of the stress waves measured by a network of piezoelectric transducers surface bonded on plate-like structures. In particular, four piezoelectric sensors were used to measure the antisymmetrical A0 Lamb mode in isotropic materials, whilst six acoustic emission sensors were employed to record the wave packets in composite laminates. A joint time-frequency analysis based on the magnitude of the Continuous Wavelet Transform was used to determine the time of arrivals of the wave packets. Then, a combination of unconstrained optimization technique associated to a local Newton's iterative method was employed to solve a system of non linear equations, in order to assess the impact location coordinates and the wave group speeds. The main advantages of the proposed algorithms are that they do not require an a-priori estimation of the group velocity and the mechanical properties of the isotropic and anisotropic structures. Moreover, these algorithms proved to be very robust since they were able to converge from almost any guess point and required little computational time. In addition, this research provided a comparison between the theoretical and experimental results, showing that the impact source location and the wave velocity were predicted with reasonable accuracy. The passive imaging-based method was developed to detect in realtime the impact source in reverberant complex composite structures using only one passive sensor. This technique is based on the re- ciprocal time reversal approach, applied to a number of waveforms stored in a database containing the impulse responses of the structure. The proposed method allows achieving the optimal focalization of the acoustic emission source (impact event) as it overcomes the limitations of other ultrasonic impact localization techniques. Compared to a simple time reversal process, the robustness of this approach is experimentally demonstrated on a stiened composite plate. This thesis also extended active ultrasonic guided wave methods to the specic case of dissipative structures showing non-classical nonlinear behaviour. Indeed, an imaging method of the nonlinear signature due to impact damage in a reverberant complex anisotropic medium was developed. A novel technique called phase symmetry analysis, together with frequency modulated excitation signals, was used to characterize the third order nonlinearity of the structure by exploiting its invariant properties with the phase angle of the input waveforms. Then, a \virtual" reciprocal time reversal imaging process was employed to focus the elastic waves on the defect, by taking advantage of multiple linear scattering. Finally, the main characteristics of this technique were experimentally validated.

DNA repair is not a single mechanism found within cells. There exists numerous different DNA repair mechanisms that function within every type of cell. The majority of these mechanisms risk accumulating mutations. However, there are a few repair mechanisms that are known to be error-free and one of these is direct reversal repair. This study focused on two proteins highly involved in direct reversal DNA repair--ALKBH2 and ALKBH3. Previous studies have shown that in mice, these two proteins play a significant role in preventing and repairing DNA damage due to methylation as well as decreasing the frequency of mutagenic alkyl adducts. The goal of this study was to characterize the roles of the direct reversal repair proteins in human cells. We expected to see a similar phenotype to that of the Alkbh2 and Alkbh3-deficient mice. Telomerase immortalized human skin fibroblasts were targeted for the ALKBH2 and ALKBH3 alleles using a RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas9 construct that was designed to induce double stranded DNA breaks within the exons and disrupt the open reading frame, eliminating protein activity. Isolated clones were analyzed using fragment analysis and DNA sequencing to characterize any alterations in the open reading frame of the genes. Through sequencing analysis, results showed that one clone was successfully targeted for one of the ALKBH3 alleles with a single nucleotide insertion in its sequence, causing a disruption of the open reading frame. Though the ultimate goal of the experiment was not attained, we concluded that HTERTG fibroblasts can be expanded to serve as a model in which to construct targeted human cell lines that have near normal karyotypes.

Cette thèse s'inscrit dans le domaine de l'imagerie non-destructive en électromagnétisme. L'originalité du travail réside, tout d'abord, dans sa forte connotation expérimentale. Celle-ci a abouti à la construction d'un prototype RADAR capable d'acquérir des données multisources-multistatiques dans la gamme de fréquence [2-4] GHz. De plus, ce système implémente la formation de voies au moyen d'un réseau d'atténuateurs/déphaseurs commandé numériquement.Les expériences menées relèvent, d'une part, de l'imagerie qualitative. Le Retournement Temporel, ainsi que les méthodes DORT et TR-MUSIC, ont été appliqués afin de détecter et localiser des cibles diffractantes. Le cas des milieux réverbérants a notamment été abordé.D'autre part, le prototype a été utilisé dans le cadre de la diffraction inverse quantitative sur des données très limitées en ouverture. Un algorithme itératif non-linéarisé prenant en compte l'aspect multi-fréquentiel des données a été adapté à la configuration expérimentale notamment grâce à une procédure de calibration performante.Enfin, la possibilité de greffer les avantages du Retournement Temporel sur ces techniques quantitatives a été étudiée. L'objectif est l'amélioration des résultats dans des milieux aléatoires proches de ceux rencontrés notamment en imagerie médicale (détection de tumeurs) ou en sondage du sous-sol (détection de mines, de nappes de pétrole). / This thesis deals with non-destructive electromagnetic imaging. Its originality lies, primarily, in a marked experimental approach, which has led to the realization of a RADAR prototype able to acquire multisource-multistatic data within the [2-4] GHz frequency band. Furthermore, the system implements beamforming through a numerically-controlled attenuator/phase shifter array.On the one hand, qualitative imaging experiments have been performed. Time Reversal, as well as DORT and TR-MUSIC methods, have been applied to detect and localize scattering objects. In particular, the case of reverberating media has been dealt with.On the other hand, the prototype has been used for quantitative inverse scattering with very aspect-limited data. A non-linearized iterative algorithm taking into account the multi-frequency nature of the data has been adapted to the experimental configuration through a performing calibration procedure.Finally, the possibility of exploiting the features of Time Reversal within the quantitative frame has been studied. The goal is the improvement of the results in random media mimicking those typical of medical imaging (tumor detection) or sub-surface probing (land mine or oil detection) applications.

My work explores domesticity, the role reversal happening in the family dynamics, the banality of home life, and the common escapism that occurs in parents. Men play a larger role in the home and women play a larger role outside the home blurring the lines of responsibility and changing expectations. This emasculating process often creates a power struggle within the home. These common issues are the fodder for my artistic practice. Domestic pattern, utility, sexual frustration, chaos and contentment all play a part.

Research on components of habit reversal suggests that awareness training alone may be an effective and efficient intervention for reducing nervous habits. This study evaluated the effectiveness of awareness training for the reduction of three nervous habits that manifest in public speaking: filled pauses, tongue clicks, and inappropriate use of the word "like." Four university students delivered short speeches during baseline and assessment sessions. Awareness training consisted of response description and response detection. Awareness training resulted in meaningful reductions in target behaviors for all participants. Booster awareness training sessions were necessary for all participants to achieve further reductions in target behaviors. Generalization probes conducted in front of a small audience indicated that treatment effects generally maintained at low levels. Social validity scores indicated that the treatment was acceptable, and participants indicated not only decreased use of verbal fillers, but also improved overall public speaking ability post-treatment. Although awareness training was effective, it was not more efficient than simplified habit reversal.

Executive functions are important cognitive processes critical for survival. Damage to the prefrontal cortex impairs executive functions, such as working memory, decision making and set-shifting. Interestingly, patients diagnosed with different psychiatric disorders are also impaired in executive functions, especially in the set-shift domain, often measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST). Set-shifting is an essential cognitive process, in that it allows the individual to suppress non-reinforcing strategies and engage in new rewarding strategies. To date, little is known about the etiology of executive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. However, some epidemiological and serological experiments have shown strong correlations between prenatal infection and the increased risk to develop psychiatric disorders in the adult offspring. One study found that schizophrenic patients pre-exposed to a prenatal infection perseverated more during the WCST, than non-pre-exposed patients. Despite these findings, there are still numerous limitations (e.g., ethical concerns) when conducting these studies. Thus, animal models are important and can further elucidate the etiology of executive dysfunctions in psychiatric disorders. Prenatal infection animal models have consistently shown that inflammation during gestation in rodents induces behavioural, anatomical and cognitive changes in the adult offspring similar to psychiatric patients. However, no studies have investigated the effects of prenatal infection on set-shifting in the adult offspring. Therefore, the present thesis examined whether prenatal treatment with PolyI:C (a viral mimetic) during middle/late gestation of the rat would induce cognitive inflexibilities (i.e., set-shifting and reversal learning in an operant based task analogous to the WCST) in the adult male and female offspring. The results showed PolyI:C male offspring perseverated during the set-shift but had fewer regressive errors during the reversal learning day. PolyI:C treated female offspring were not impaired during any of the test days; however, females were slower to respond to the lever and required more training when compared the male rats. Taken together, these results give support for prenatal infection in inducing cognitive inflexibility, by potentially altering the PFC in the adult offspring. MS-based thesis: Zhang, Y., Cazakoff, B. N., Thai, C. A., & Howland, J. G. (2011). Prenatal exposure to a viral mimetic alters behavioural flexibility in male, but not female, rats. Neuropharmacology, [epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.02.022

Executive functions are important cognitive processes critical for survival. Damage to the prefrontal cortex impairs executive functions, such as working memory, decision making and set-shifting. Interestingly, patients diagnosed with different psychiatric disorders are also impaired in executive functions, especially in the set-shift domain, often measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST). Set-shifting is an essential cognitive process, in that it allows the individual to suppress non-reinforcing strategies and engage in new rewarding strategies. To date, little is known about the etiology of executive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. However, some epidemiological and serological experiments have shown strong correlations between prenatal infection and the increased risk to develop psychiatric disorders in the adult offspring. One study found that schizophrenic patients pre-exposed to a prenatal infection perseverated more during the WCST, than non-pre-exposed patients. Despite these findings, there are still numerous limitations (e.g., ethical concerns) when conducting these studies. Thus, animal models are important and can further elucidate the etiology of executive dysfunctions in psychiatric disorders. Prenatal infection animal models have consistently shown that inflammation during gestation in rodents induces behavioural, anatomical and cognitive changes in the adult offspring similar to psychiatric patients. However, no studies have investigated the effects of prenatal infection on set-shifting in the adult offspring. Therefore, the present thesis examined whether prenatal treatment with PolyI:C (a viral mimetic) during middle/late gestation of the rat would induce cognitive inflexibilities (i.e., set-shifting and reversal learning in an operant based task analogous to the WCST) in the adult male and female offspring. The results showed PolyI:C male offspring perseverated during the set-shift but had fewer regressive errors during the reversal learning day. PolyI:C treated female offspring were not impaired during any of the test days; however, females were slower to respond to the lever and required more training when compared the male rats. Taken together, these results give support for prenatal infection in inducing cognitive inflexibility, by potentially altering the PFC in the adult offspring. MS-based thesis: Zhang, Y., Cazakoff, B. N., Thai, C. A., & Howland, J. G. (2011). Prenatal exposure to a viral mimetic alters behavioural flexibility in male, but not female, rats. Neuropharmacology, [epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.02.022