VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Social Change in World Politics: Secondary Rules and Institutional Politics
Keywords: International Relations
Constructivism
International Institutions
International Law
Diplomacy

This study fills what has long been recognized as a major gap in the field of International Relations (IR): an account of when and how change occurs in the structure of the international system. Attempts to create social change, to create or to alter intersubjectivity, are relatively common; the crucial question is why some attempts succeed while most fail. I argue that social change is itself a rule-governed social activity, which I term institutional politics, and that attempts to create social change are more likely to succeed if they are pursued in a manner consistent with what H.L.A. Hart called secondary rules, or rules about rules. This central hypothesis is investigated in three cases: the emergence of great power management following the Napoleonic war, attempts to ban war as an instrument of state policy in the inter-war period,and the period of institutional contestation instigated by the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Available evidence in all three cases provides strong overall support for the central hypothesis and for the other core expectations of my theory. In addition to achieving important descriptive and explanatory advances with respect to the dynamics and morphology of the international system, the study makes significant contributions to the constructivist literature in IR; namely, it suggests a basis on which to improve conceptual consolidation and comparability, and it moves beyond a primary focus on norm promoters to include explicit theorization of the evaluative acts of their audiences. The most important policy implication of the study is the need for explicit renovation of the contemporary international system’s stock of secondary rules, to counter a decline in their legitimacy among a much more heterogenous set of members.
Canada Reaching Out? A Study of Collaboration between Canada and the Emerging Economies in Health Biotechnology
Keywords: systems of innovation
north-south collaboration
research capacity

This dissertation discusses research on Canada’s collaboration with emerging economies, specifically Brazil and India, in the field of health biotechnology. In recent years Canada has shown interest in engaging with emerging economies including Brazil and India in S&T fields. However, little is known about the levels and characteristics of such collaboration. Without greater understanding of this phenomenon it is difficult to inform public policy on how to best encourage collaboration. In this dissertation, the levels of Canada-emerging economies research and entrepreneurial collaboration are gauged. The motivations driving Canada-emerging economies research as well as entrepreneurial collaboration, its challenges and outcomes are examined. The roles of wider institutional actors – funding agencies, intellectual property experts, regulators, etc – in both Canada and the two emerging economies that support international collaboration are analyzed. The research reveals that north-south collaboration in health biotechnology has the potential to lead to a wide range of scientific and commercial benefits for both partners. They include access to expertise, technologies, biodiversity, as well as increasing potential to publish in high impact journals. The benefits are mutual. Northern academics and entrepreneurs are not necessarily in a dominant position in the partnerships, thus contradicting stereotypical notions of partners in north-south relationships. The systems of innovation conceptual framework is useful to uncover how institutions in both the north and the south shape S&T collaboration, and also to develop multi-pronged policy approaches to promote such partnerships and mitigate risks. The framework enables moving away from a donor-recipient, linear model of S&T interactions between the north and the south, and towards conceptualizing north-south collaboration as complex interplay of two innovation systems.
Orthography-induced Transfer in the Production of Novice Adult English-speaking Learners of Spanish
Keywords: language
acquisition
Spanish
orthography
phonology

This study provides a thorough examination of the role of orthography in promoting first language-based phonological transfer. Specifically, it analyzes the role of auditory-orthographic condition, type of grapheme-to-phoneme correspondence and aspects of phonological memory on shaping transfer. Although, there has been previous work on the role of orthography in the acquisition of second language phonology, not much is known about the factors that shape orthography-induced transfer. In addition, the role of orthography remains to be formalized in the future models of the acquisition of second language phonology. In this experiment, data was elicited via a primary Spanish-based picture-naming task and a secondary Farsi-based non-word repetition phonological memory task. In the picture-naming task, participants were divided into four groups and assigned to four conditions, three with different degrees of exposure to orthography and one auditory condition. The data based on the productions of 40 novice adult English-speaking learners of Spanish, reveal a robust effect of orthography on phonological transfer leading to non-target-like productions at the very beginning stages of second language acquisition. There is also strong evidence that individual grapheme-to-phoneme correspondences differ in the extent to which they trigger phonological transfer. In addition, the findings show that while the presence of orthography at learning or at production induces transfer, the presence of orthography at learning has a stronger effect. The results also indicate some effect for the different aspects of phonological memory, namely, primacy and repetition effects. However, there was no correlation between individual phonological memory and the quantity of transfer. Based on the findings, I argue that when a shared grapheme corresponds to two different phonemes in the learners’ first language and the second language, the less salient the acoustic/phonetic difference between the target language and the first language phonemes, the higher the probability of first language transfer. I also argue for an effect of first language grapheme-to-phoneme frequency on transfer, suggesting that when there is variability in the realization of a particular grapheme in the first language, transfer will be based on the most frequent first language realization. Moreover, based on the findings in this study and previous research on the effect of orthography on second language production, I propose that exposure to orthography may interfere with the establishment of second language phonological categories.
Between Activism and Restraint: Institutional Legitimacy, Strategic Decision Making and the Supreme Court of Canada
Keywords: Supreme Court of Canada
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
institutional legitimacy
legitimacy
strategic behaviour
jurisprudence
public law
judicial politics
constitutional litigation
legislative-judicial relations
judicial review
political institutions
legal institutions
judicialization of politics

Over the last couple of decades or so, comparative public law scholars have been reporting a dramatic increase in the power and influence of judicial institutions worldwide. One obvious effect of this “judicialization of politics” is to highlight legitimacy concerns associated with the exercise of judicial power. Indeed, how do courts attain and retain their legitimacy particularly in the context of their increasing political relevance? To answer this question I develop a novel theory of strategic legitimacy cultivation. The theory is developed through an application of the institutionalist branch of the rational choice theory which suggests that institutional structures, rules, and imperatives provide behavioural incentives and disincentives for relevant actors who respond by acting strategically in order to attain favourable outcomes. The theory shows that courts cultivate legitimacy by exhibiting strategic sensitivities to factors operating in the external, political environment. In particular, legitimacy cultivation requires courts to devise decisions that are sensitive to the state of public opinion, that avoid overt clashes and entanglements with key political actors, that do not overextend the outreach of judicial activism, and that employ politically sensitive jurisprudence. The theory is tested in the context of the Supreme Court of Canada through a mixed-method research design that combines a quantitative analysis of a large number of cases, case-study approaches, and cross-policy comparisons. One of the central findings of the dissertation is that understanding judicial institutions and judicial policymaking influence requires taking close accounts of external contexts within which courts operate.
Democracy by Association: A Comparative Exploration of the Effects of Inequality and the State on Civic Engagement
Keywords: civic engagement
welfare regime
social capital
gender
citizenship

The dominant civic engagement literature has focused on the many positive outcomes that stem from leading an active associational life, linking it to lower crime rates, economic growth and a healthy democracy. However, it has been less effective at recognizing how much of a dependent variable civic engagement actually is, exploring what shapes it and how. Yet, in light of its centrality to the democratic process and the benefits that accrue from strong, active communities, it is important to understand what shapes civic engagement to establish who is in a better position to participate and why. Drawing on personal interviews with single mothers, policy analyses, and World Values and ISSP survey data, this dissertation explores how inequality and the state shape civic engagement. The findings underscore the impact of class- and status-based inequalities on civic engagement, focusing on women as a case study. Women’s dual roles as caregivers in the home and paid workers in the labour market contribute to the gender gap in participation. However, the presence of children is linked to higher levels of participation for women, and parent-, child- and care-related groups are found to build trust, foster a sense of community, and act as a catalyst for civic involvement. The thesis also highlights the extent to which the state structures citizenship and participation, focusing on welfare regimes as case studies. It develops theories that test the effect of interventionism, egalitarianism and statism on the civic engagement levels of welfare regime-types. The findings suggest that while egalitarian policies may help reduce the impact of inequality on civic life, comprehensive social policies alone do not necessarily lead to more active societies. The way political authority is structured can have a deep impact on civic habits, and creating openings and opportunities for citizens to participate can inspire collective action.
Ethical Leadership in the Employment Relationship: Evidence from Three Canadian Surveys
Keywords: leadership
ethics

The purpose of this program of research was to investigate ethical leadership as an antecedent, mediator, and outcome of variables of pragmatic importance to the workplace. Three interrelated studies examined the ethical imperative of the employment relationship using three independent datasets. Ethical leadership, as explained by social cognitive theory, was the central concept modeled in each study. Sample sizes of approximately 1,500 military members of the Canadian military were randomly selected for each study to participate in single-source, cross-sectional surveys conducted in a field setting. Correlation and Multiple Regression analyses were used to test relationships at the individual level of analysis. Key results and measures were replicated utilizing confirmatory factor analytic techniques. These studies contribute to ethical leadership research in three ways. First, findings indicated that a follower’s rank was positively associated with perceptions of ethical leadership of the immediate supervisor. Second, perceptions of ethical leadership were moderated by the type and level of follower ethical predispositions in boundary-spanning positions. Third, ethical leadership functioned as a partial mediator transmitting the effect of follower rank onto the workplace outcomes of follower affective commitment, organizational fairness climate, and career satisfaction. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. As a whole results suggest that organizations can effectively address the ethical imperative of the employment relationship through the clear lens of the individual being led – the ubiquitous follower.
The Experience of Choosing Nursing as a Career: Narratives from Millennial Nurses
Keywords: Career Choice
Millennial Nurses
Nursing Recruitment
Nursing Retention

The critical and growing shortage of nurses is a global concern. The growth and sustainability of the nursing profession depends on the ability to recruit and retain the upcoming generation of professionals. Understanding the career choice experiences of Millennial nurses is a critical component of recruitment and retention strategies. An interpretive, narrative methodology, was used to understand how Millennial explain, account for, and make sense of their choice of nursing as a career. Individual, face to face interviews were conducted with 12 Millennial Nursing students (born 1980 or after), for whom nursing was their preferred career choice. Participants were interviewed twice and chronicled their career choice experiences within reflective journals. Data was analyzed using Polkinghorne’s method of narrative configuration and emplotment. The participants’ narratives present a shift from understanding career choice within a virtuous plot to one of social positioning. Career choice was initially emplotted around a traditional and stereotypical understanding of nursing as a virtuous profession: altruistic, noble, caring, and compassionate. The narrative scripts evolved from positioning nursing as virtuous towards understanding the meaning of career choice in relation to one’s position in the social world. The narratives position career choice in relation to the participants’ desire for autonomy, respect and quality of life. Pragmatic considerations such as lifestyle, job security, salary and social status were also emphasized. The narratives represent career choice as a complex consideration of social positioning, fraught with hopes, dreams, doubts and tensions. The participants’ perceptions and expectations in relation to their future nursing careers were influenced by a historical and stereotypical understanding of nursing; an image that remains prevalent in society. Insight gained from this inquiry can inform recruitment, education, socialization and retention strategies for the upcoming and future generations of nurses.
Structural and Functional Studies of the Human Saposin Proteins
Keywords: saposin
X-ray crystallography

The human saposins are four homologous activator proteins that are essential for the lysosomal degradation of sphingolipids (SLs) with small headgroups. They function in part to increase the solvent accessibility of these SLs to specific acid hydrolases by two proposed modes of action. In the solubilizer model, saposins extract SLs into soluble saposin-lipid complexes, and in the liftase model, the saposins reorganize lipids within membranes. The four saposins, called saposins A, B, C and D, have dual characters and exist as soluble proteins and in membrane-associated states. In this thesis, I first present the crystal structure of saposin D in a lipid-free state. The structure exhibits a closed, monomeric fold as previously described for saposins A and C. Next, I examine the lipid interaction properties of saposin A and determine a crystal structure of SapA in a lipid-bound complex. The complex forms a discoidal lipoprotein particle composed of highly ordered bilayer-like hydrophobic core surrounded by a protein belt consisting of two copies of saposin A in an open conformation. The saposin A-lipid discs are most likely the effective substrate-presenting particles in galactosylceramide hydrolysis. Finally, I compare the lipid interaction properties of the four saposins and address membrane perturbation, liposome binding, lipid solubilization and lipoprotein particle formation for each protein. Each saposin displays a unique behavior in the presence of liposomes under conditions that mimic the lysosomal environment. In particular, saposin D reveals simultaneous formation of different sized protein-lipid complexes, which appear to be primarily dependent on the lipid to protein molar ratio. A comparison of the available structures of saposins A, B and C in the “closed” and “open” conformations reveals structural hinge regions that likely shape the different types of saposin self-association. These states are directly related to the protein-lipid solubilization and/or membrane association properties of the saposins. Collectively, these findings present a more complete understanding of the lipid interaction properties of the saposin proteins and provide new insights into their role as activator proteins.
Identification and Characterization of Novel Components in UNC-6/Netrin Signaling
Keywords: C.elegans
axon guidance

UNC-6/Netrin guides circumferential migrations along the dorso-ventral axis in C.elegans. Its receptors, UNC-40/DCC and UNC-5, mediate both attraction and repulsion of migrating cells or growth cones from sources of UNC-6. seu-2(ev523)and seu-3(ev555) (suppressor of ectopic unc-5) were identified as suppressors of ectopic UNC-5 in the touch receptor neurons(Colavita and Culotii, 1998). Like other components of UNC-6 signaling, seu-2 and seu-3 have roles not just in the migration of axon growth cones, but also in the repulsive migration of other cell types, specifically the distal tip cells (DTCs). Similar to observations in the touch receptor neurons, both seu-2 and seu-3 are able to suppress ectopic expression of the UNC-5 receptor in the DTCs. Genetic analysis of seu-2; seu-3 double mutants reveals that these genes function within the same signaling pathway for repulsive unc-6 guidance. seu-2 also appears to act in attractive unc-6 guidance. Mutations in seu-2 result in ventral to dorsal axon guidance defects in the HSN and ray 1 neurons. Double mutant analyses of seu-2 with either unc-40 or unc-6 null mutations exhibited HSN and ray 1 axon guidance defects at similar penetrance to either single mutant. These results suggest that seu-2 functions in the attractive unc-6-unc-40 dependent signaling pathway for HSN and ray 1 axon guidance. seu-2 was found to encode a G protein coupled receptor. Whole genome sequencing was used to identiy that seu-3 encodes the novel protein K09C6.9. K09C6.9 is predicted secreted protein that is expressed throughout development. Taken together, the phenotypes, method of isolation and genetic interactions of seu-2 and seu-3 make them interesting candidate mediators of UNC-6 signaling. I utilized genes, such as seu-2 and seu-3, to further elucidate other signaling components governing cell migration and axon guidance.
Epigenetic rRgulation in the Placenta and its Role in Fetal Growth
Keywords: Epigenetics
DNA methylation
Placenta
Fetal growth

Fetal growth potential reflects a complex regulatory system delivered by genetic and environmental factors acting directly on the fetus or through the placenta. Compromise of this potential, as seen in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), is associated with increased perinatal mortality and short and long term morbidity. The expression of several genes has been shown to be disturbed in placentas of fetuses with growth restriction. However, the primary causes for these changes have not yet been elucidated. I proposed that epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, may be involved in placental development leading to modulation of the expression of specific genes, and that their altered regulation will impact fetal development and growth. My primary objective was to identify DNA methylation variation in placenta, in association with variation of gene expression and with poor fetal growth. I used a global genomic screening approach, with 24 selected placental samples, from newborns considered IUGR or normal controls, to identify candidate target genomic regions carrying epigenetic alterations. Candidate regions were followed up, by expression analysis of corresponding regulated genes, for associations with altered expression and by targeted methylation analysis in an expanded cohort of 170 samples, for associations with birthweight percentile. I analyzed methylation variation at imprinting centers (IC), gene promoters and CpG islands. In two genome-wide case control screening studies using distinct commercial microarray platforms I identified approximately 68 differentially methylated autosomal candidate genomic regions overlapping gene promoters. Hypomethylated CpGs mapping to gene promoters were found to be more abundant in placentas of growth restricted newborns than in controls. One of the most interesting candidates, WNT2, was analyzed in an extended sample cohort and showed an association of high promoter methylation to low expression as well as low birthweight percentile. This gene is involved in a pathway that diverts cells from programmed apoptosis. It is highly expressed in placenta, and in mice, targeted biallelic inactivation of Wnt2 has been shown to cause poor growth and perinatal death in 50% of the affected pups. These findings support the hypothesis that dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms are involved in abnormal placental development and can impact fetal growth.