Orientador: Luiz Carlos de Freitas, Dalton Francisco de Andrade / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T21:12:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Stevao_ChristianeBellorioGennarideAndrade_M.pdf: 5247957 bytes, checksum: 947de91bb797b7b1b693ceab7297dd14 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Este trabalho teve como problema pesquisa mostrar os resultados obtidos aplicando a Teoria da Resposta ao Item aos dados do Projeto GERES Campinas, o qual utiliza todos itens de um teste como âncora para a criação da escala de proficiência, e assim comparar os resultados com a forma clássica de se elaborar escalas, o qual usa critérios específicos para aceitação de um item como item âncora. Para isso trabalhamos com os dados da pesquisa GERES, um estudo longitudinal com alunos de 1ª a 4ª série do ensino fundamental na cidade de Campinas, que teve seu início em março de 2005, nas três redes de ensino, Estadual, Municipal e Particular. Apresentamos o desempenho dos alunos nas três primeiras aplicações, no teste de matemática, e mostramos que há divergência entre as duas técnicas / Abstract: This work had as a research issue to show the results obtained by applying the Theory of the Response to the item to the database from the GERES' Project of Campinas. This Project utilizes all the items of a test as an anchor to make the scale of proficiency, and then to compare the obtained results with the classical way to elaborate scales. The latter uses specific criteria for the approval of an item as an anchor item. Therefore, we have analyzed the data from GERES' Project, which consists of a longitudinal study with 1st to 4th grade students of Elementary School of Campinas City (State, Municipal and Private School System) that started in March, 2005. We present the performance of the students in the Mathematic Test considering the first three applications of GERES Project and as a conclusion we found a divergence between the two methods / Mestrado / Ensino, Avaliação e Formação de Professores / Mestre em Educação

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar como ocorre e se desenvolve a construção dos conceitos acerca da estrutura da matéria e quais as dificuldades envolvidas nesse processo de aprendizagem. Para esta finalidade foi realizado um estudo longitudinal com um grupo de alunos ao longo do ensino médio. O estudo apresenta a análise do desenvolvimento conceitual desses estudantes, ao manifestarem explicações sobre fenômenos do seu cotidiano, utilizando ideias sobre a estrutura da matéria. Foram empregadas três dimensões de análise: natureza corpuscular da matéria (1ª dimensão), natureza elétrica da matéria (2ª dimensão) e interações intra e interpartículas (3ª dimensão). O estudo foi dividido em duas etapas. Na primeira etapa, participaram 91 alunos de 1ª a 3ª séries de uma escola de Ensino Médio de São Paulo, cujo ensino esteve a cargo de uma mesma professora. A compreensão dos conceitos acerca da estrutura da matéria foi extraída de suas respostas a um questionário contendo questões abertas e fechadas. O conhecimento dos alunos foi avaliado considerando suas respostas em níveis de adequação e compreensão elaborados a partir de uma comparação com respostas de professores especialistas na área de química e de ensino ao mesmo questionário. Verificou-se que as respostas dos alunos se apresentaram entre os níveis de inadequação e parcial adequação com vaga à alguma compreensão na 1ª dimensão de análise para todas as séries. Na 2ª dimensão de análise as respostas foram inadequadas com insuficiente compreensão, entre os alunos da 1ª série, inadequadas com vaga compreensão entre os alunos da 2ª e 3ª séries. Na 3ª dimensão, as respostas foram inadequadas, com insuficiente compreensão entre os alunos das 1ª e 3ª séries, o que implica em avanços e retrocessos do conhecimento dos conceitos e, para a 2ª série, as respostas foram inadequadas com vaga compreensão. Na segunda etapa do estudo, foram acompanhados quatro alunos (A, B, C e D) durante os três anos do Ensino Médio. O conhecimento individual de cada aluno foi extraído de suas respostas a questionários, entrevistas e representações pictóricas. O desenvolvimento conceitual de cada aluno foi avaliado por meio da elaboração de mapas cognitivos a partir de suas manifestações verbais e escritas. Os resultados indicaram que dois dos estudantes desenvolveram uma compreensão gradual dos conceitos acerca da estrutura da matéria, um deles finalizou o ensino com vaga compreensão (A), outro com alguma compreensão (D) e dois deles alcançaram bom nível de compreensão (B e C), estes últimos parecem ter integrado de maneira mais coesa seus conhecimentos, o que indicou que reestruturaram e reorganizaram suas estruturas de conhecimento. O estudo sugere que é necessária uma retomada constante dos conceitos sobre estrutura da matéria, possibilitando ao aluno estabelecer inter-relações conceituais na explicação de fenômenos, de maneira a facilitar uma reestruturação das concepções dos estudantes, tornando a aprendizagem mais significativa. / This study aims to investigate how High School students understand and develop concepts related to structure of matter and how they apply these concepts to explain everyday phenomena related to Chemistry. For this purpose, we conducted a longitudinal study with 91 High School students from 2012 to 2014. The conceptual development of these students was investigated by analyzing their answers to a questionnaire applied in the beginning of the 1st and 2nd grades and in the end of the 3rd grade of High School. In addition, four students were chosen to answer to five interviews conducted over the three years of High School. The students had the same Chemistry teacher in these three years. Students\' answers were categorized in three dimensions of analysis elaborated by the researcher: particle model of matter (1st dimension), electrical nature of matter (2nd dimension) and intra- and inter-particle interactions (3rd dimension). The analyses were conducted in two steps. In the first step, the concepts expressed by the 91 students were analyzed according to the three dimensions. Adequacy and comprehension levels were created to categorize students\' responses. These levels were elaborated by comparing students\' answers to Chemistry experts\' answers. The second step consisted of analysis of each of four students (A, B, C, D) during learning process on 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades of High School. The concept development of each student was evaluated through cognitive maps elaborated by the researcher from student\'s verbal and written manifestations. On the first step, concerning to the 1st dimension of analysis, the students on the three grades showed answers classified in inadequacy and partial adequacy levels, and low comprehension level. For the 2nd dimension, 1st graders\' ideas were classified as inadequate with insufficient understanding, the students of 2nd and 3rd grades showed a low level of understanding. On the 3rd dimension, the answers given by students of the 1st and 3rd grades were classified as inadequate, with insufficient understanding. The responses of 2nd grade students were also inadequate but with a little better level of understanding. On the second step, results indicated that students A and D developed a gradual understanding of the concepts concerning the structure of matter. Although, student A has achieved a low level of comprehension, student D has achieved the level of some comprehension. Students B and C achieved good level of understanding and their concepts seem to be closely integrated, which indicates that they have restructured and reorganized their knowledge structures. In conclusion, this study suggests that concepts related to structure of matter should be frequently reviewed in order to enable the student to establish conceptual interrelationships to explain phenomena at sub-microscope level, promote students\' conceptions restructuration, and provide meaningful learning during the teaching-learning process.

A irregularidade longitudinal dos pavimentos prejudica a qualidade de rolamento, aumenta os Custos Operacionais dos Veículos (COV) e reduz a vida útil do pavimento. Vários instrumentos têm sido desenvolvidos com o propósito de medir a irregularidade longitudinal dos pavimentos, no entanto, existem conflitos que envolvem as diferentes classes de equipamentos, com relação à acurácia, custos e produtividade, o que dificulta a coleta contínua de dados, importante para a alimentação de um Sistema de Gerência de Pavimentos (SGP). Recentemente, algumas pesquisas começaram a relacionar a irregularidade longitudinal dos pavimentos aos sinais fornecidos pelos sensores de movimento (acelerômetros) e GPS (Global Positioning System) pré-instalados em smartphones, devido ao seu baixo custo, fácil operação e alta produtividade. Entretanto, ainda existem dúvidas sobre a qualidade e a forma de aplicação desses dados. Neste estudo, foram realizados testes de vibração e levantamentos de campo com smartphones, em três trechos de pavimentos com diferentes níveis de irregularidade (baixo, médio e alto), nos quais foram medidos sinais de aceleração vertical por meio de um smartphone fixado ao painel de um veículo, trafegando em diferentes velocidades. Com esses dados, calcularam-se valores de RMSVA (Root Mean Square Vertical Acceleration), que foram confrontados com a irregularidade longitudinal dos pavimentos, medida em IRI (International Roughness Index), por meio do método de Nível e Mira. Os testes mostraram ser a taxa de aquisição de dados dos smartphones o principal fator a afetar sua aplicação para a avaliação da irregularidade longitudinal dos pavimentos. Ao considerar todas as faixas de irregularidade medidas, os valores de RMSVA apresentaram correlação positiva com o IRI, com coeficientes de correlação (R) entre 0,97 e 0,99 e repetitividade aceitável para levantamentos em nível de rede, com coeficientes de variação médios de 3 a 6%. Assim como indicado em pesquisas correlatas, conclui-se que os smartphones são uma alternativa viável para a avaliação da irregularidade longitudinal dos pavimentos, especialmente em países com restrições de investimentos no setor rodoviário, desde que sejam tomados os devidos cuidados na coleta e aplicação dos dados medidos por esses dispositivos. / The longitudinal pavement roughness affects the rolling quality, increases Vehicle Operating Costs (VOC) and reduces the pavement life. Several instruments have been developed for measuring longitudinal pavement roughness. However, there are conflicts involving different classes of equipment with respect to accuracy, costs and productivity, which complicate the continuous data collection, important for the Pavement Management Systems (PMS). Recently, some studies started to link longitudinal pavements roughness to the signals provided by motion sensors (accelerometers) and GPS (Global Positioning System) pre-installed on smartphones, due to its low cost, simple operation and high productivity. However, there are still doubts about the quality and the form of application of such data. In this study, vibration and field tests were performed with smartphones, in three pavement sections with different levels of roughness (low, medium and high), in which vertical acceleration signals were measured by a smartphone attached to a vehicle dashboard, traveling at different speeds. With these data, RMSVA values (Root Mean Square Vertical Acceleration) were calculated, which were compared with longitudinal pavement roughness, measured in IRI (International Roughness Index) through the Level and Rod method. The tests showed to be the data acquisition rate of smartphones the main factor affecting its application for the evaluation of longitudinal roughness of pavements. When considering all roughness ranges measured, RMSVA statistics showed a positive correlation with IRI, with correlation coefficients (R) between 0.97 and 0.99 and acceptable repeatability for network-level surveys, with average coefficient of variation of 3 to 6%. As indicated in related research, it was concluded that smartphones are a viable alternative for the evaluation of longitudinal pavements roughness, especially in countries with investment restrictions in the highway segment, if the data are collected and explained properly.

Introdução: Mudanças na composição corporal de indivíduos podem fornecer indícios importantes sobre a saúde individual e coletiva. Objetivo: Identificar mudanças na estatura e gordura corporal em crianças de 7 a 10 anos. Métodos: Foram utilizados dados de três coortes de nascimento de escolares da Escola de Aplicação da USP, mensurados duas vezes ao ano, no período de 2005 a 2008. Foram avaliados a estatura, o peso e pregas cutâneas (tricipital, bicipital, suprailíaca e subescapular). Resultados: O estudo teve início com 161 escolares com 7, 8 e 9 anos e terminou com 37 escolares com 10 anos. Neste estudo, não foi verificada existência de efeito de coorte. Agregando-se os participantes nas idades de 7, 8, 9 e 10 anos, tem-se que foram acompanhados no período de 4 anos, 457 escolares. Observou-se aumento da estatura com a idade, seguindo um padrão linear, com taxas diferentes de crescimento médio para meninos e meninas (em média 5,4 cm e 6,4 cm ao ano, respectivamente); Observou-se ganho médio de peso igual a 4,4 kg ao ano e diferenças entre os sexos, com meninos apresentado 2,4 kg a mais que meninas para cada idade; Observou-se aumento do tecido adiposo tanto pela soma das pregas cutâneas como pela prega cutânea tricipital com aumento médio de 7,0 mm e 2,3 mm ao ano, respectivamente. Conclusão: Conclui-se que, crianças de coortes mais recentes alcançam estatura, peso e soma de pregas cutâneas de crianças de coortes anteriores, não indicando efeito de coorte. Crianças de 7 a 10 anos apresentam crescimento linear na faixa etária, com valores médios maiores para meninas. O ganho de peso vem acompanhado do acúmulo de tecido adiposo, indicando ganho de gordura corporal / Introduction: Changes in body composition of individuals may provide important clues about individual and collective health. Objective: To identify changes in height and body fat in 7-10 year-old children. Methods: Data from three cohorts of students from Escola de Aplicação, University of São Paulo. Height, weight and skinfolds (triceps, biceps, suprailiac and subscapular) were measured twice a year and assessed. Results: At baseline 161 students aged 7, 8 and 9 years were enrolled. At the end, there were 37 10-year-old students. In this study, there was no cohort effect. Altogether, 457 students were followed for 4 years (7, 8, 9 and 10-year-old participants), who contributed with more than one measurement of each variable. Height increased with age following a linear pattern, with different growth rates when boys and girls are compared (on average 5.4 cm and 6.4 cm per year, respectively). Mean weight gain was 4.4 kg per year, with significant differences between genders (boys were 2.4 kg heavier than girls at each age). Adipose tissue increased when assessed through sum of skinfolds and tricipital skinfold, with mean increases of 7.0mm and 2.3mm per year. Conclusion: Given the results, it seems that 7 to 10 yearold schoolchildren of both sexes exhibit linear physical growth as regards to height, weight and body fat accumulation

Orientadores: Ricardo Barini, Cleisson Fábio Andrioli Peralta / Dissertação (Mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T20:27:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tavares_NelsileneMotaCarvalho_M.pdf: 1623700 bytes, checksum: 57e06ff429364aff34689dd52216eeb9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Objetivos: Determinar intervalos de referência condicionais (longitudinais) para os valores de índices de pulsatilidade (IP) nos fluxos da artéria umbilical (AU), cerebral média (ACM), ducto venoso (DV) e IP médio das artérias uterinas (AUT), por meio da avaliação de gestantes de baixo risco de uma amostra da população brasileira. Métodos: Estudo observacional descritivo longitudinal realizado de fevereiro de 2010 a maio de 2012, no Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti, Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (CAISM-UNICAMP). Exames ultrassonográficos quinzenais foram realizados para obtenção dos IP das AU, AUT, ACM e IP venoso do DV em gestantes de baixo risco da 18ª a 40ª semana de gravidez. Análise estatística: Modelos lineares mistos foram usados para elaboração de intervalos de referência longitudinais (percentis 5, 50 e 95) dos IP dos vasos mencionados. Variáveis maternas e perinatais foram descritas com o uso de medianas e limites (variáveis contínuas), frequências absolutas e relativas (variáveis categóricas). Os IP das porções placentária e abdominal do cordão umbilical foram comparados por meio do teste T para amostras independentes. Valores de p menores do que 0,05 foram considerados significativos. Resultados: Duzentas e três gestantes de baixo risco foram incluídas no estudo. Cento e sessenta e quatro gestantes concluíram o estudo, sendo realizados 1242 exames ultrassonográficos, com mediana de oito exames por paciente (limites de 4 a 12). Houve redução significativa dos IP de todos os vasos estudados com a idade gestacional (IG). As equações obtidas para predição das medianas foram: IP-AU = 1,5602786 - (0,020623 x IG); Logaritmo do IP-ACM = 0,8149111 - (0,004168 x IG) - [0,002543 x (IG - 28,7756)2]; Logaritmo do IP-DV = 0,26691- (0,015414 x IG); IP-AUt = 1,2362403 - (0,014392 x IG). Houve diferença significativa entre os IP-AU obtidos nas extremidades placentária e abdominal fetal (p < 0,001). Conclusões: Foram estabelecidos intervalos de referência condicionais (longitudinais) dos principais parâmetros dopplervelocimétricos gestacionais em uma amostra da população brasileira. Estes podem ser mais adequados para o acompanhamento das modificações hemodinâmicas maternofetais em gestações normais ou não, a partir de uma validação / Abstract: Purpose: To determine longitudinal reference intervals of pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), uterine arteries (UTA) and ductus venosus (DV) in low risk pregnancies of the a Brazilian cohort. Methods: Longitudinal observational study performed from February 2010 to May 2012. Obstetric scans were performed fortnightly for the measurements of the PI of the UA, UTA, MCA, DV in low-risk pregnant women between 18-40 weeks of gestation. Statistical analysis: Linear mixed models were used for the elaboration of longitudinal reference intervals (5th, 50th and 95th centiles) of these measurements. Maternal and perinatal variables were described using median and range (continuous variables), absolute and relative frequencies (categorical variables). The PI obtained at the placental and abdominal portions of the umbilical artery were compared using independent samples T test. P values of less than 0,05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and three low-risk pregnancies were included in the study. One hundred sixty four pregnant women completed the study and underwent 1242 scans. There was a significant decrease in the PI values of all studied vessels with gestational age (GA). The equations obtained for the prediction of the medians were as follows: PI-AU = 1,5602786 - (0,020623 x GA); Logarithm of the PI-MCA = 0,8149111 - (0,004168 x GA) - [0,002543 x (GA - 28,7756)2]; Logarithm of the PI-DV = - 0,26691- (0,015414 x GA); PI-UtA = 1,2362403 - (0,014392 x GA). There was a significant difference between the PI-UA obtained at the abdominal and placental ends of the umbilical cord (p < 0,001). Conclusions: Longitudinal reference intervals for the main gestational Doppler parameters were obtained from a Brazilian cohort. These intervals could be more adequate for the follow-up of materno-fetal haemodynamic modifications in normal and abnormal pregnancies, which still requires further validation / Mestrado / Saúde Materna e Perinatal / Mestre em Ciências da Saúde

Dans le cadre de l’utilisation de plus en plus courante des BFUP dans des structures techniquement ou architecturalement complexes et de la recherche d’optimisation de la quantité de matériau mis en œuvre, cette thèse s’intéresse au fonctionnement des jonctions en BFUP. Son objectif principal est de mettre en évidence les phénomènes physiques qui interviennent dans la jonction et de mieux les retranscrire dans les méthodes de calcul afin de mieux en maîtriser la sécurité et d’optimiser la matière mise en oeuvre.Le travail de thèse s’articule en quatre étapes :- Une étude bibliographique a permis d’établir les bases de connaissances permettant de dimensionner les campagnes expérimentales et de proposer une structure de modélisation des jonctions âme-membrure.- Le développement d’un modèle analytique avancé permettant de prédire le comportement d’une poutre en Té soumise à une sollicitation combinée de flexion longitudinale (et donc de cisaillement longitudinal dans la table) et de flexion transversale.- L’étude expérimentale, à l’échelle du matériau, du comportement des BFUP sous sollicitation de cisaillement pur. Cette étude permet d’enrichir les connaissances sur le comportement des BFUP (données encore indisponibles dans la carte d’identité des différents matériaux) et constitue également une donnée d’entrée pour la compréhension quantitative des phénomènes qui interviennent dans la jonction, à l’échelle de la structure, lorsqu’elle est sollicitée en cisaillement longitudinal.- Enfin, l’essai à rupture de 6 poutres en Té à l’échelle 1 a permis d’étudier le comportement expérimental des jonctions soumises à des sollicitations de cisaillement longitudinal. Les résultats expérimentaux de cette étude ont été comparés aux différentes prédictions analytiques possibles, y compris le modèle proposé.Ces travaux de thèse ont permis d’apporter de nouveaux outils de dimensionnement (notamment dans le cadre de l’étude de la résistance des jonctions en BFUP sous sollicitation de cisaillement pur). Ils mériteraient d’être complétés par des essais de poutres soumis à une sollicitation concomitante de flexion longitudinale et de flexion transversale, pour mieux conforter les méhodes d’analyse proposées / Ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) are increasingly used for technically or architecturally complex structures and research is going on to optimize design and save implemented material quantities. In this context, this thesis focuses on the mechanical behavior of junctions in UHPFRC structures. The main goal is to highlight physical phenomena occurring in the junctions in order to optimally transpose them into calculation methods. In this way, both safety and cost-efficience should be better controlled.This thesis is divided in four steps :- A literature review enabled to establish the background knowledge allowing to design the experimental campaigns and to suggest a modeling for web-flange junctions.- An advanced analytical model was developed in order to predict the behavior of a T-beam subjected to combined longitudinal bending (and therefore longitudinal shear in the table) and transverse bending.- The expérimental study, at the material scale, of UHPFRC behavior under pure shear stress, allowed enriching the knowledge in this field (data still unavailable in the identity card of current UHPFRC mixes). It also constituted an input for the quantitative understanding of the phenomena occuring in the junction, at the structure scale, when it is loaded in longitudinal shear.- Finally, the test of 6 full scale T-beams up to failure made it possible to study the experimental behavior of the junctions subjected to longitudinal shear stresses. The experimental results were compared with the various analytical predictions, including the proposed model.A new approch has thus been proposed to design junctions under longitudinal shear. It should be completed with experiments on T-beams under combined longitudinal and transverse bending to further validate the proposed analysis methods

M.A. / In accordance with literature indications that have established the need for psychotherapeutic outcome assessment instruments to determine the effects of psychotherapy, an exploratory and comparative study was conducted with anxiety disorder clients in private practice settings. The purpose of the study was to verify the recommendations made in the literature for the use of an idiographic method of outcome assessment (the Dyad Grid), as opposed to typically applied normative methods (the IPAT Anxiety Scale). The nature of the suggestions concerning the application of an idiographic method of outcome assessment, required the development of a theoretical framework which integrated the assessment procedure in an explanatory manner. To this end, the personal construct psychology view of anxiety was discussed in relation to repertory grid technique and prior outcome assessment research conducted with the Dyad Grid. On the basis of the personal construct approach to anxiety, a pre-test post-test research design was used to establish the utility of the Dyad Grid to discriminate between beneficial and nonbeneficial psychotherapy outcomes with anxiety disorder clients. The outcome results of the Dyad Grid assessments were compared with the results obtained from the IPAT Anxiety Scale, in conjunction with qualitative post-therapeutic ratings of benefit, or a lack of benefit, made by the client and therapist. The findings obtained on the basis of 14 case-studies are encouraging. The Dyad Grid displayed a statistically significant level of agreement with the client and therapist ratings of therapeutic outcome (onetailed, p = 0,05), whereas the IPAT Anxiety Scale did not. Though limited to a sample of convenience, and subject to an idiographic methodological bias, the discussion of the results indicated that the study provides support for the use of idiographic procedures as an alternative to nomothetic methods of outcome assessment. It is concluded that the initial success of the Dyad Grid in assessing psychotherapy outcome as beneficial or non-beneficial warrants further investigation with a large sample research design.

With the influx of high-dimensional data there is an immediate need for statistical methods that are able to handle situations when the number of predictors greatly exceeds the number of samples. One such area of growth is in examining how environmental exposures to toxins impact the body long term. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay can measure the genotoxic effect of exposure as a count outcome. To investigate potential biomarkers, high-throughput assays that assess gene expression and methylation have been developed. It is of interest to identify biomarkers or molecular features that are associated with elevated micronuclei (MN) or nuclear bud (Nbud) frequency, measures of exposure to environmental toxins. Given our desire to model a count outcome (MN and Nbud frequency) using high-throughput genomic features as predictors, novel methods that can handle over-parameterized models need development. Overdispersion, when the variance of a count outcome is larger than its mean, is frequently observed with count response data. For situations where overdispersion is present, the negative binomial distribution is more appropriate. Furthermore, we expand the method to the longitudinal Poisson and longitudinal negative binomial settings for modeling a longitudinal or clustered outcome both when there is equidispersion and overdispersion. The method we have chosen to expand is the Generalized Monotone Incremental Forward Stagewise (GMIFS) method. We extend the GMIFS to the negative binomial distribution so it may be used to analyze a count outcome when both a high-dimensional predictor space and overdispersion are present. Our methods were compared to glmpath. We also extend the GMIFS to the longitudinal Poisson and longitudinal negative binomial distribution for analyzing a longitudinal outcome. Our methods were compared to glmmLasso and GLMMLasso. The developed methods were used to analyze two datasets, one from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study and one from the breast cancer epigenomic study conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University. In both studies a count outcome measured exposure to potential genotoxins and either gene expression or high-throughput methylation data formed a high dimensional predictor space. Further, the breast cancer study was longitudinal such that outcomes and high-dimensional genomic features were collected at multiple time points during the study for each patient. Our goal is to identify biomarkers that are associated with elevated MN or NBud frequency. From the development of these methods, we hope to make available more comprehensive statistical models for analyzing count outcomes with high dimensional predictor spaces and either cross-sectional or longitudinal study designs.

The purpose of this thesis is to identify typical patterns of career destinations for young women and men in relation to their high school science preparedness. This is an empirical structural study that documents the way high school academic capital is turned (or not) into human capital for science and engineering professions. The study uses ten years of longitudinal data on educational and career paths of British Columbia high school graduates of the Class of '88. Correspondence analysis and other descriptive statistics provide a picture of students' participation in mathematics and science senior high school courses and post-secondary academic programs. School course choices, post-secondary educational attainment, specialization fields are correlated to respondents' high school science preparedness, parental education and gender. A major finding of this study is that high school science preparedness opens greater opportunity for students to attend and succeed along abroad range of post-secondary pathways. Still, thesis findings confirm the existence of a "leaking" phenomenon along the physical sciences and engineering post-secondary pipeline, especially for women as well as men with non-university educated parents. Equity in access and outcomes is discussed in relation to respondents' possession of cultural and academic capital, and in relation to gender inequality that persists within school and post-secondary institutions, the science community and society at large. Implications for further research emerge from the literature review and the interpretation of thesis findings. Longitudinal research needs to explore more directly the reasons why many young women and men who excelled in science at the high school level depart from the science pipeline sooner or later. A major conclusion is that the "critical mass" approach that directs attention toward creating a large supply pool to feed the science pipeline by encouraging more young women to enter the field of science is still a unilateral numerical strategy, and more has to be done to improve the retention and advancement of talented women interested in science. This thesis reinforces the need for an analysis of the culture of the science community and a revision of the leaking science pipeline concept that should be replaced by a more open non-linear model of science careers. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

Longitudinal methods have become an improved and essential means of measuring intra-individual change over time. Yet one of the greatest and most hazardous drawbacks studying participants over multiple sessions can be the loss of participants over time. This study attempts to illuminate the problem of attrition in longitudinal research by estimating the mean effect sizes for participant loss across 57 studies published in 13 prestigious journals which regularly use older participants. Results estimate overall attrition to be around 34% of the original sample. The subsequent break down of attrition into its subtypes yield mean effect sizes for attrition due to Refusal (8%), Loss of contact (10%), Illness (6%), and Death (14%) in studies sampling from adults 50 years or older. Analyses were then conducted via meta-analytic one-way ANOVA and weighted regression to identify possible moderators of overall attrition and their four subtypes.