VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Comparative Cases in Long-Distance Nationalism:Explaining the Émigré, Exile, Diaspora and Transnational Movements of the Crimean Tatars
Keywords: Diaspora
Crimean Tatar
Nationalism
Social Movements
Crimea
Turkey
Dobruja
USSR
Deportation
Transnationalism

This dissertation is an attempt to explore the unexpected mobilization of the Crimean Tatar diaspora in the recent decades. Why and how did the Crimean Tatar communities, all of which resided outside their homeland, develop a political identity and engage in nationalist mobilization in the 1990s? How did the communities, living apart from each other, in some cases for more than a century, mobilize simultaneously? What explains the variation in forms of mobilization among these communities? Does the transnational mobilization of the Crimean Tatars amount to an emergence of a transnational nation? I explore these questions by comparing the cases of the Crimean Tatar diaspora communities, located in the former USSR, Romania, Turkey, and the United States across space and time. This dissertation attempts to develop a dynamic theory of diaspora by demonstrating how recent unexpected mobilization was a consequence of the interaction of movement framing processes with discursive and political opportunity structures. I emphasize the unique set of political and discursive opportunities that emerged in the transnational political space due to new technologies of communication and ease of transportation that precipitated simultaneous mobilization of communities as well as the attempt for constructing a transnational nation. The thesis also introduces a typology long-distance nationalism which includes newly developed concepts of émigré, exile, diaspora and transnational nationalism to explain the variation in identities and mobilization of these communities. The theoretical framework developed in this study will be useful for studying and comparing other cases of diasporas.
Glucocorticoid Regulation of the Placental System A Amino Acid Transporter
Keywords: Placenta
System A
Glucocorticoids

The system A transporter transfers small neutral amino acids across the placenta and is essential for normal fetal growth. Synthetic glucocorticoids (sGCs) are routinely given to women with threatened preterm labour (PTL) and have been linked to fetal growth restriction. sGCs differentially regulate the system A amino acid transporter depending on organ and cell type, but there are no comparable data in the placenta. Since ~30% of women who receive sGCs carry to term, our objective was to examine the short and longer-term consequences of antenatal sGCs on placental system A transport using human in vitro model, mouse in vivo and human placenta ex vivo. We hypothesized that sGCs would inhibit system A activity, thereby adversely affecting placental function by reducing nutrient transport. Additionally, we hypothesized that the system A transport would be regulated based on timing from sGC exposure. Contrary to our hypothesis, acute sGC treatment (48 h) stimulated, rather than inhibited, system A activity in human placental explants in vitro. Increased system A activity was not mediated by changes in mRNA expression; however, it was associated with increased syncytial differentiation and maturation. In the mouse, there were no short-term effects of mid-gestation sGC treatment on murine placental system A transport in vivo. However, a substantial reduction in system A mediated transport occurred at term. When examining the effects of sGC treatment given to women at risk of PTL, reductions in system A transport were found in placentae delivered at term following treatment compared to placentae that were delivered less than 14 days and between 14 days and term following treatment and term controls. Taken together, these findings strongly demonstrate that sGC treatment regulates placental system A activity. As such, prenatal use of sGC therapy may lead to a reduction in availability of neutral amino acids if gestation persists until term.
Les figures de la répétition intratextuelle chez Nathalie Sarraute : Leitmotive, clichés, lieux communs, topoï et stéréotypes
Keywords: Nathalie Sarraute
répétition intratextuelle
Leitmotiv
cliché
lieu commun
topos
stéréotype

En partant de l’hypothèse qu’il existe un réseau intratextuel parcourant toute l’œuvre de Nathalie Sarraute – une toile qui se compose de Leitmotive, de clichés, de lieux communs, de topoï et de stéréotypes –, notre thèse examine les rôles de ces figures de la répétition et de la banalité dans le corpus choisi. Plus précisément, cette recherche nous a permis de définir ces figures intratextuelles, d’identifier plusieurs instances textuelles de celles-ci, d’étudier comment elles sont enchâssées au texte, d’analyser les emplois similaires et différents de celles-ci et de réfléchir sur leur signification dans le texte même ainsi que sur leur transformation à travers l’œuvre, notamment en tant qu’agents structuraux et thématiques. De nature théorique, le premier chapitre de ce travail fait d’abord un résumé de plusieurs écrits incontournables de l’intertextualité (Bakhtine, Kristeva, Angenot, Genette, Jenny et Riffaterre), de l’intratextualité (Ricardou, Genette, Dällenbach et Fitch) et des figures de la banalité et de la répétition (Amossy, Rosen et Riffaterre). Au sein de ce même chapitre, on trouve également des discussions portant sur l’historique et l’acception actuelle de chacune des figures à l’étude, ainsi que des exemples de celles-ci, puisés de textes ne faisant pas partie du corpus principal, de sorte à refléter l’ampleur que peut avoir notre propos. L’analyse textuelle fait l’objet des quatre autres chapitres de la thèse; les trois premiers portant sur les figures du Leitmotiv, du cliché et du stéréotype respectivement et le dernier regroupant des études sur le lieu commun et le topos. En examinant des reprises intramonotextuelles et intrapluritextuelles de chacune de ces cinq figures, les entrelacements complexes entre les textes révèlent que ce réseau participe au développement de la thématique de la mise en relief des platitudes langagières et idéologiques et de la poétique de l’inter, tout en contribuant à l’effet de tension qui balise l’œuvre sarrautienne.
The First Time and the Mourning After: On Love, Loss, and Virginity
Keywords: Comparative Literature, Love, Loss, Virginity, First Time

In “The First Time and the Mourning After: On Love, Loss, and Virginity,” I consider the question, mythology, and importance of the first time. My study opens theoretically and polemically with a concern for the meanings of the first time, why we reify the first time, why we mythologise the first time, and why we narrate the first time. In this opening, I also develop an argument for, what I call, “the flirtatious method,” a method, which pays little attention to commitment, but instead finds productive comfort in flirting with various theoretical postures, textual examples, and varying belief systems. The goal, thus, of the flirtatious method is to consider a problem, like the first time, from a variety of, and at times, competing discourses. In the chapters that follow, I begin to theorise one of the most important first times: the loss of virginity, and more specifically, male virginity. I argue that all first times must include paranoia, jouissance, hysteria, and mourning. In the next chapter, “On the First Love and First Loss,” I begin to theorise the first time in Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time and J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. In this chapter, I further establish the theoretical framework that was presented in the opening chapter by demonstrating the ways in which the first time is theorised and experienced within the text; additionally, I also develop Jane Gallop’s notion of “anecdotal theory.” In the following chapter “Popular Romance and Virginity,” I begin to study the popular romance novel. My theorisation of the first time is dependent upon it being true in a variety of “literatures”; accordingly, I move to the most optimistic treatment of love to consider the place of mourning. If my theorisations of the first time and the mourning after are true then surely they must also appear in the most optimistic, hopeful, and utopian manifestations of love. I begin initially by providing a reading of Last Virgin in California by Maureen Child, which narrates the first time of its heroine. Once this first time has been considered and explored, I move to the specific site of interest: narratives about male virginity. In “His First Time, His Mourning After, His Virginity,” I provide readings of popular romance novels and how the male exhibits each of these tendencies and experiences his first time. Finally, after concluding these readings, I move to the perhaps obvious question that has been lurking in the background: what about the second time? In my closing chapter, “The Second Time and the Morning After,” I consider the question of how we experience the second time in relation to the process of the first time and the mourning after.
Electronic Prayer Rug: Design and Evaluation
Keywords: HCI eRug

For more than a thousand years, the prayer rug has been used by Muslims, around the world, to conduct the five daily prayer rituals. The rug has undergone very little modification since it was first used – mainly aesthetics in the form of adding motifs and patterns. This dissertation constitutes the first major enhancement to the prayer rug: an electronic version that neither compromises the traditional form nor the simple interaction associated with the passive device. This modern version of the prayer rug enhances the spiritual experience of Muslims during prayer. The electronic version also supports the display of Quran verses – enabling Muslims, for the first time, to read un-memorized parts of the Quran during prayer. This dissertation makes a number of key contributions; first, a study of the challenges facing Muslims in fulfilling prayer requirements. Second, the design and implementation of the electronic prayer rug – the first of a kind device – to support Muslims during prayer rituals. Third contribution is using Electroencephalography to evaluate the impact of a newly designed digital device (electronic prayer rug) to support religious rituals – the first of a kind study. Fourth, conducting a four month longitudinal study to evaluate the long term impact of a newly designed digital device (electronic prayer rug) to support religious rituals – also the first of a kind study. The fifth contribution is an HCI-centered reviews and taxonomies of rituals and related tools, from several religions. These studies are the first to be performed within the area of digital tools for religious rituals.
Discharge Planning with Older Adults: The Influence of Social and Political Systems and Contexts
Keywords: Discharge planning
older adults
relational autonomy
autonomy

Discharge planning is a complex process in which intersections of competing norms, demands and expectations often beget ethical challenges. Returning home or moving to a more supportive setting can have tremendous personal, social and financial implications for older adults and families. Institutional concerns with patient safety and expedience can overshadow healthcare professionals’ commitments to client-centred approaches. In light of many competing demands and agendas, it can be unclear what is driving discharge-planning processes and outcomes. The research purposes were to 1) explore perspectives of older adults, family members, and healthcare professionals engaged in discharge planning from inpatient rehabilitation; 2) examine the influence of underlying beliefs, valued approaches and conventional processes on participants’ perspectives, behaviours and practices, and on discharge-planning outcomes. Using a microethnographic case study method, observations and interview data were generated from five case studies, each consisting of an older adult, involved family members and healthcare professionals. Taking a critical bioethics perspective and using relational autonomy theory, this research examined how social and political contexts shaped discharge-planning processes and outcomes. Discourses of aging-as-decline, beliefs privileging healthcare professionals’ expertise and conventions guiding discharge planning marginalized older adults. The prioritization of safety and focus on discharge superseded approaches to maximize function: the stated aim of rehabilitation. A profession-centric approach and the focus on safety and discharge from the time of admission intersected to promote 24-hour care recommendations in all cases. Taking a critical bioethics perspective informed by relational autonomy revealed that discharge planning was driven by paternalistic norms and that the ‘best interests’ of older adults were aligned with ‘protecting physical safety’ at the expense of any other considerations, thereby marginalizing older adults and impeding client-centred practice. These findings suggest that adopting a relational approach could promote practices that uphold older adults’ agency and align professional responsibilities with intended program aims.
Understanding the Etiology of Inflammatory Complications Following Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis
Keywords: Microbiome
Inflammatory bowel disease
Genetics
ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

Introduction: Inflammatory pouch complications, including pouchitis, chronic pouchitis (CP) and a Crohn’s disease-like phenotype (CDL) of the pouch following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), are relatively common, and arise via unknown mechanisms. The phenotypic similarities between pouch inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suggest there may be common pathways involved in both disorders. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the serological, genetic and microbial factors contributing to the development of pouch inflammation in a large, well characterized patient cohort. Methods: Subjects with IPAA were recruited, and clinical and demographic information was obtained through medical chart review and patient questionnaire, allowing patients to be grouped based on post-surgical phenotype. Blood and tissue was collected for genetic, serological and microbial analyses. Anti-microbial antibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), genotyping was carried out using the Illumina Goldengate custom SNP assay and Sequenome iPLEX platform, and tissue-associated microbial communities were assessed using 454 pyrosequencing. Results: Among our cohort, smoking was associated with CDL (P=0.003) and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage with CP (P<0.008). NOD2insC (rs2066847) (P=7.4x10-5), anti-CBir1 (P<0.0001) and ASCA (IgG) (P=0.03) were significantly associated with inflammatory pouch outcomes. Additional SNPs in NOX3, DAGLB, and NCF4 were also marginally associated with pouch outcome. A multi-variable risk model combining clinical, serologic and genetic markers was constructed and could differentiate between chronic pouch inflammatory phenotypes and no pouchitis. Genus level microbial analysis demonstrated that several organisms (Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Blautia and Moryella) were detected less frequently among the inflammatory outcome groups (P<0.05). These associations remained significant even following adjustment for antibiotic use, smoking, country of birth and gender. Conclusions: CD-associated anti-microbial antibodies and genetic markers are associated with chronic inflammatory pouch phenotypes. Additionally, changes in the composition of the pouch associated microbiome are associated with inflammation. These observations suggest that similar mechanisms may be involved in non-surgical IBD and pouchitis.
Fluidized Bed Selective Oxidation and Sulfation Roasting of Nickel Sulfide Concentrate
Keywords: Fluidized bed
Roasting
Sulfation roasting
Nickel concentrate
Pentlandite
Leaching
TGA
DTA
Reduction
Hematite
Nickel ferrite
Kinetics

Selective oxidation and sulfation roasting of nickel concentrate followed by leaching was investigated as a novel route for nickel production. In the oxidation roasting stage, the iron species in the nickel concentrate was preferentially oxidized to form iron oxides, leaving non-ferrous metals (Ni, Cu, Co) as sulfides. The roasted product was then sulfation roasted to convert the sulfides of the latter metals into water-soluble sulfates. The sulfates were then leached into solution for further recovery and separation from iron oxides. The oxidation of nickel concentrate was firstly studied by means of thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis over a wide temperature range. A reaction scheme was deduced, in which preferential oxidation of iron sulfide species occurred over a wide temperature range up to about 700 ºC, forming a Ni1-xS core with iron oxide shell. A batch fluidized bed roaster was then constructed to study the oxidation and sulfation roasting of nickel sulfide concentrate. Oxidation roasting tests were carried out at temperatures between 650 °C and 775 °C. It was found that low temperatures (e.g. 650 °C) are favorable for the preferential oxidation of iron sulfide species while minimizing the formation of nickeliferous oxides, i.e. trevorite and NiO. Several parameters were varied in the sulfation roasting experiments, including the sulfation gas flowrate, sulfation roasting temperature, the addition of Na2SO4, sulfation roasting time, and the oxidation roasting temperature. Under optimized conditions of sulfation gas composition (95% air, 5% SO2), temperature (700 °C), Na2SO4 addition (10 wt%) and time (150 min), the conversions to sulfates were 79% Ni, 91% Cu, and 91% Co. Only 5% Fe forms water-soluble sulfate. The residue from the leaching of calcine in water contained 49% Fe and 10% Ni, which is a suitable feedstock for the production of ferronickel alloys. Therefore, further studies were also conducted to evaluate the reduction behavior of the residue with CO, H2 and graphite.
A Narrative Inquiry into the Lived Experiences of Chinese-White Heterosexual Couples within a Canadian Context
Keywords: Interethnic couples
Interracial couples
Mixed race couples
Multiracial couples

This study explores the lived experiences of six Canadian Chinese-White heterosexual couples throughout their relationship lifespans. Interethnic coupling of this ethnic/racial configuration is on a steady rise, and mental health professionals can expect to find themselves working with this population in increasing numbers. In light of Canada’s unique history, ethnic distribution, and official policy of multiculturalism, it adds a much needed perspective to the vast majority of studies that focus on Black-White couples in an American context. Grounded in a constructivist-interpretive paradigm, this study uses narrative inquiry to arrive at six distinctive narratives, each with their central themes and a relationship life map to situate lived experiences in time, place, and forms of interaction. An across-narratives analysis was subsequently performed to identify overarching themes and subthemes across the six narratives. The findings suggest that couples shared similar experiences around their families; feelings of compatibility; and cultural differences around religion, food, and language. Further, they shared their insights on relationship maintenance processes with respect to the maintenance of family cohesion and management of differences. Overall findings in this study were consolidated to generate a co-constructive, contextualized, and strength-based model to understanding the lived experiences of Canadian Chinese-White heterosexual couples. This conceptual model is a response to the traditionally problem-focused literature on interethnic couple relationships, situates lived experiences in the multilayered contexts in which they are embedded, and highlights couples’ innate abilities to co-construct a relational narrative that embodies their shared realities and insights and sense of “we-ness.” Clinical applications of the conceptual model are discussed, along with limitations associated with this study and recommendations for future research.
Image Quality of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Optimization in Image Acquisition and Reconstruction
Keywords: Breast Tomosynthesis
Image reconstruction
Denoising
Noise Power Spectrum

Breast cancer continues to be the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canadian women. Currently, mammography is the clinically accepted best modality for breast cancer detection and the regular use of screening has been shown to contribute to the reduced mortality. However, mammography suffers from several drawbacks which limit its sensitivity and specificity. As a potential solution, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) uses a limited number (typically 10-20) of low-dose x-ray projections to produce a three-dimensional tomographic representation of the breast. The reconstruction of DBT images is challenged by such incomplete sampling. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of image acquisition parameters on image quality of DBT for various reconstruction techniques and to optimize these, with three specific goals: A) Develop a better power spectrum estimator for detectability calculation as a task-based image quality index; B) Develop a paired-view algorithm for artifact removal in DBT reconstruction; and C) Increase dose efficiency in DBT by reducing random noise. A better power spectrum estimator was developed using a multitaper technique, which yields reduced bias and variance in estimation compared to the conventional moving average method. This gives us an improved detectability measurement with finer frequency steps. The paired-view scheme in DBT reconstruction provides better image quality than the commonly used sequential method. A simple ordering like the “side-to-side” method can achieve less artifact and higher image quality in reconstructed slices. The new denoising algorithm developed was applied to the projection views acquired in DBT before reconstruction. The random noise was markedly removed while the anatomic details were maintained. With the help of this artifact-removal technique used in reconstruction and the denoising method employed on the projection views, the image quality of DBT is enhanced and lesions should be more readily detectable.