VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Serotonergic neuromodulation of hypoglossal motor output to genioglossus muscle studied by in-vivo microdialysis

Breathing, in addition to being regulated by metabolism and CO2 production, is thought to be stimulated in the awake state by as yet undefined neural mechanisms, referred to as the "wakefulness stimulus". The studies in this thesis investigate the potential role of serotonin and medullary raphe neurons, the latter being the source of serotonergic afferents to respiratory premotor and motor neurons, as possible neural substrates for the "wakefulness stimulus" to breathing. Studies focus primarily on the role of serotonin at the hypoglossal motor nucleus which innervates the genioglossus muscle of the tongue. Understanding the control of this muscle is important as decreased genioglossus muscle activity in sleep can predispose to the common and serious condition of obstructive sleep apnea. The first objective was to develop an animal model to quantify the impact of chronic manipulation of neurotransmitters at the hypoglossal motor nucleus on genioglossus muscle activity across natural sleep and awake states. Additional studies were performed in anesthetized rats to complement the studies in conscious rats. The novel findings include: (1) Serotonin at the hypoglossal motor nucleus results in tonic and persistent enhancement of genioglossus muscle activity but responses are modulated by the prevailing sleep and awake states. (2) The effects of serotonin at the hypoglossal motor nucleus on tonic versus respiratory-related genioglossus activity depend on the concentration of applied serotonin. (3) Endogenous serotonin at the hypoglossal motor nucleus is required for full expression of genioglossus muscle responses to hypercapnia. (4) Endogenous serotonin at the hypoglossal motor nucleus plays a minimal role in the modulation of genioglossus muscle activity in freely behaving rats unless augmented by stimuli such as hypercapnia. (5) Serotonergic drive to the respiratory motor neurons is augmented by vagotomy in anesthetized rats. (6) Serotonergic neurons of the nucleus raphe obscurus impact genioglossus and diaphragm activities and diaphragm responses to hypercapnia in anesthetized, vagotomized rats but not across natural sleep and awake states. Previous studies in reduced animal preparations may have overestimated the role of serotonin in respiratory motor control as studies were performed in de-afferented (in-vitro) and vagotomized conditions in-vivo.
Parshin's symbols and residues, and Newton polyhedra

We introduce a new approach to the study of systems of algebraic equations whose Newton polyhedra have sufficiently general relative locations, based on the theory of tame symbols and residues due to Parshin. We give a new explicit description of combinatorial coefficients, which are geometric invariants that reflect the relative location of a collection of n convex compact polyhedra in [special characters omitted]. Combinatorial coefficients are one of the main ingredients in Khovanskii's recent result on the product of the roots of a system of n algebraic equations in ([special characters omitted])n whose Newton polyhedra have sufficiently general relative locations, and in the Gelfond-Khovanskii formula for the sum of the Grothendieck residues over the roots of such systems. Our description puts the combinatorial coefficient into the framework of Parshin's theory. We consider Parshin's theory of residues and tame symbols on toroidal varieties. It turns out to be more explicit than the general theory, and it is enriched with the combinatorics inherited from toroidal varieties. Our description of the combinatorial coefficients is essential for the proof of our main results on residues and symbols on toroidal varieties. They provide a uniform explanation of both the Khovanskii and Gelfond-Khovanskii formulae in terms of the theory of symbols and residues on toroidal varieties, and extend them to the case of an algebraically closed field of arbitrary characteristic.
Invisible acts: performing violence against women in Early Modern and contemporary drama in English

This thesis develops a theory and practice for the critical representation of violence against women in performance based on the premise that such violence---be it rape violence or what I define as non-sexual "punitive" violence---has historically been elided, translated into a matter between and about men. Taking "effacement" as the representational norm for women's violence in the drama as well as in the culture of early modern England, I posit a theory of representation that stages elision with difference. I focus on acts of violence left "offstage" or otherwise unrepresented in texts both Early Modern and contemporary, and explore in turn their potential to stage the very process and consequences of effacement itself. The "invisible act" of my title is the theatrical gesture that confronts audiences with the image of violence missed, with their failure to see; it argues that the deliberate refusal of representation is the condition of possibility of a critical, historicized performance of violence against women on the stage. Theoretically, I build this argument in a gap within feminist performance theory. This body of scholarship has been essential in furthering our understanding of the gendered dynamics of performance, but it has curiously never turned its attention to the vexed problem of the woman's body in violence on stage. I break into this critical lacuna with a new reading of Freud's work on femininity, arguing that Freud's always-already castrated female implies a prior, brutal, and utterly disavowed act of sexualized physical violence against women's bodies. Because feminist performance theory is deeply indebted to---though also productively critical of---Freud's philosophy of subjectivity, it is unable fully to recognize or successfully to countermand the unseen violence at its theoretical core. I then bring Jacques Lacan's writings on vision into this equation, arguing that we may articulate on stage the philosophical and cultural problem of violence's effacement by exploring the performative value of "anamorphosis"--That moment when we realize we operate within an incomplete visual field, when we confront the unsettling feeling that something has been missed, is missing.
Circumnavigating the Great Lakes by land and writing towards an aesthetics and ethics of nature and sociality

This thesis explores the extent to which natural geography affectively orients sociality and subjectivity through the site of the Great Lakes region. It delineates this discrete space and potential through initially questioning the fixing of nature in Henri Lefebvre's legacy and geographic and ecological discourses. Based on a another project conducted in summer 2007 circumnavigating the Great Lakes by land and writing - poetry, prose and images of which are presented, this thesis conceives an aesthetics of approaching and living with natural space on its own terms. These are articulated through an inquiry of the sublime and disinterestedness in the films Werner Herzog and Terrence Malick. These ideas finally challenge a body of Great Lakes literature and theories of representationality and 'the gaze' in tourism studies through an emerging ethics of affect, attentiveness, and difference in nature and its imperatives, which is the central contribution of this thesis.
Behavioural characterization of mannoside acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5 (Mgat5) deficient mice

Mgat5 (mannoside acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5)-modified N-glycans, formed in the medial Golgi, promote structural heterogeneity in glycoproteins that regulate cellular interactions by binding to galectins. To study the role of these specific carbohydrates in the Central Nervous System (CNS) in an in vivo model, Mgat5 knockout (Mgat5-/- ) mice were tested in a battery of tests consisting of different behavioural paradigms. Mgat5-/- mice were normal in physical exam, startle reactivity, sensori-motor gating, motor activity and spatial learning but showed a mild gender-dependent difference in anxiety level. Male and female Mgat5-/- mice showed a robust decrease in immobility time in the forced swim test and the tail suspension test. After the chronic mild stress test, Mgat5-/- mice decreased their immobility further, which implies they are resistant to depression-like phenotype. Our results suggest a role of complex carbohydrates in the pathogenesis of depression.
A randomized controlled trial of liposomal lidocaine versus placebo for intravenous cannulation of children in the emergency department

Objectives. To compare the effectiveness, success rate of cannulation and rate of adverse events for liposomal lidocaine versus placebo during IV cannulation. Introduction. This study investigated the analgesic efficacy of liposomal lidocaine 4% cream versus placebo for IV cannulation of children 1 month to 17 years old presenting to the Emergency Department. Methods. 142 children receiving an IV were randomized to liposomal lidocaine cream or placebo. The graduate student, parent, and child (5 to 17 years old) rated pain before and immediately following the first IV insertion attempt using the Faces Pain Scale - Revised (FPS-R). Conclusion. Liposomal lidocaine reduced pain, improved cannulation success rate, and was not associated with clinically significant adverse events. Results. Patients who received liposomal lidocaine had lower pain scores (p = 0.01 for child FPS-R, p
Group rights in culture --- A universal claim for communal cultural property

Part of the debate about protection of cultural diversity is constructed around the term cultural property (CP). CP employs the application of property rights as they relate to culture, whereas particularly in the context of Indigenous cultures the claim for group rights is made. This thesis examines the debate about group rights in culture and, by applying the analytical metaphor of property as a bundle of rights, it will distinguish the element of the right holder. Based on the communal nature of culture, this thesis will present the argument that rights in culture shall be held by the group in the context of both Indigenous and western cultures. Furthermore, it refers to the increasing recognition of groups in primary sources of international law. Finally, it revisits philosophical theories of property and by adding a subjective element to these theories tries to open them towards the idea of communal ownership.

Keywords: Cultural property
Right of property
Characterization of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response in bipolar-I disorder

Considerable evidence suggests dysregulation in intracellular calcium signaling and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function plays a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Perturbed intracellular Ca2+ dynamics can result in misfolded and unfolded protein accumulation in the ER lumen, activating a rescuing pathway named the ER stress response. We examined whether ER stress response is altered in BD-I patients and the relationship with basal intracellular Ca2+ levels in B lymphoblast cell lines (BLCLs) from BD-I patients. ER stress induction of XBP1, CHOP, and GRP78 was determined by real time quantitative PCR in BLCLs from BD-I patients with high basal calcium levels ([Ca2+]B) compared to those with normal [Ca 2+]B, and controls. Compared with controls, XBP1 and CHOP, but not GRP78, induction was significantly louver in BD-I patients, all independent of [Ca2+]B levels. The results suggest that ER stress response disturbances occur in BD-I disorder, irrespective of altered intracellular Ca2+ dynamics.
Gene expression profiling of microsatellite unstable and microsatellite stable colon cancers: the use of microarrays to study colon cancer

The global gene expression profiles of 26 colon cancer cell lines was examined by cDNA microarrays spotted with 19,200 genes and expressed sequenced tags (ESTs). Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed two major subgroupings, which corresponded to MSI status. Statistical analysis of microarrays (SAM) analysis identified a list of 123 unique genes and ESTs showing significant differential expression between microsatellite stable (MSS) and microsatellite unstable (MSI) colon cancer cell lines, with a false discovery rate (FDR) of 7.66%. Four of these genes, RAB21, JAK1, CC5 and smgGDS were validated at the RNA level with real time PCR. Of the 123 unique genes and ESTs differentially expressed between the two groups, many genes have been previously implicated in cancer, including some specifically implicated in colon cancer. The microarray analysis also identified genes that have not been previously associated with cancer. Some of the genes may be candidate targets for new therapies and diagnostic/prognostic markers.
Modular domain interactions with linear motifs impart specificity and control to cell signalling networks

Signalling proteins are typically composed of distinct, independently folded domains that possess enzymatic activity or mediate selective interactions, and thereby influence cell signalling pathways. Modular interaction domains commonly bind short, linear amino acid motifs in a manner that may be regulated by post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. As the interactions mediated by these domains can play important roles in shaping the cellular response to changing environments, characterizing the affinity and specificity with which individual domains bind to their cognate ligands is an essential step towards understanding cell signalling. I describe the binding properties of the FF domains from CA150, a protein involved in transcription of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genes, using a mass spectrometry-based analysis coupled with a peptide array approach. These domains recognize multiple [--] 2/5)O[--]2/5 motifs ([--]=negatively charged residue, O=aromatic residue) with low affinity, and in a non-cooperative manner. FF domains in proteins like CA150 may influence transcription and splicing by alternating binding between acidic motifs and those induced by serine phosphorylation. I also explore the specificity of phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains for NPxY motifs in a variety of human receptors, using peptide arrays. This approach provided valuable data on individual domain selectivity, and was able to predict specific associations between PTB domain-containing adaptor proteins and receptors at the cell surface. Finally, I use a proteomics-based analysis to identify and characterize a novel interaction between the scaffolding protein IQGAP1 and ShcA, an adaptor protein distinguished by two phosphotyrosine interaction modules, an N-terminal PTB domain and a C-terminal Src homology 2 domain. This latter work highlights the physiological outcome of specific domain interactions by defining their effects on the subcellular localization of signalling proteins and regulation of the Ras/ERK signalling cascade. In summary, novel data on the specific binding properties of both FF and PTB domains are described, along with information on the physiological significance of a recently discovered interaction between ShcA and IQGAP1. These data further our understanding of several signalling pathways mediated by modular domains and their associated proteins.
Delay modeling and controller design for networked control systems

This thesis discusses modeling and control issues for Networked Control Systems (NCS). NCS is a feedback control system wherein the control loops are closed through a real-time network. Such systems offer advantages such as lower installation costs, increased flexibility, and rapid installation. However, communication delay is a general problem in NCS, and it could destabilize the closed loop system. In the first half of this thesis, we model the delay for three popular networks for control applications: Controller Area Network (CAN), Process Field Bus (Profibus), and fully-switched Ethernet. In the second half, control strategies are provided for control systems with constant or random delay. Systems with constant delay can be controlled by modified Smith predictor; systems with random delay can be controlled by dynamic controller. The results of the thesis can be used to provide guidance on the choice of network and controller design in a networked control system environment.
The perceptual restoration of music

Overall, these experiments show that the perceptual restoration of music is possible, and reflects a domain-general phenomenon. The importance of extraneous noise level highlights the role of the potential masking. These results are discussed in terms of potential perceptual organizations and processes involved in perceptual restoration. Listeners have a remarkable ability to make sense of sounds in noisy situations. A dramatic example of this ability is the perceptual restoration of sounds that are missing altogether on the basis of contextual information and listeners' knowledge and expectations. Perceptual restoration was examined here in musical contexts using a procedure in which listeners were asked to discriminate between the presence and absence of the critical tone within an extraneous noise burst. Restoration leads listeners to mistake the absence for the presence of the critical tone, thereby decreasing discrimination within familiar contexts. Experiments 1 and 2 replicated and extended an earlier study (DeWitt Samuel, 1990) that failed to find perceptual restoration of familiar melodies. Of the two experimental factors examined (extraneous noise level and critical-tone duration) increasing the extraneous noise level (+6 dB) beyond that of the critical tone was found to successfully bring about the perceptual restoration of the critical tone. Experiment 5 examined whether the effects of familiarity established through repeated listening generalized to otherwise identical melodies transposed up or down in pitch to different degrees. Listeners' discrimination for transposed "familiar" melodies increased in the same way as for "unfamiliar" melodies, suggesting that the acquired familiarity captures fairly specific aspects of the melody, rather than the melody's abstract form or contour. Experiments 3 and 4 examined the perceptual restoration of novel random melodies. After a novel melody was made familiar to listeners through repeated listening, listeners' discrimination for this "familiar" melody but increased for an "unfamiliar" control melody. The increase in discrimination was found to be due to the effect of practice with the discrimination task. However, the decrease in discrimination reflected the counteracting effects of restoration. Furthermore, the restoration effect was only found when the extraneous noise level exceeded (+6 to +18 dB) that of the critical tone.
Realms of beginning teachers' emotional work

Learning to teach demands greater attention to the emotional domain than has previously been granted. The purpose of this study is to explore the emotional experiences of beginning teachers as they learn to teach. The focus is to understand the complexities of emotions experienced by beginning teachers and the relationship between emotions and the process of learning to teach. Findings from this study represent a conceptual shift in how we understand the process of learning to teach. The findings from this study suggest that emotional knowledge is an important dimension of teacher development. A taxonomy of emotions experienced by beginning teachers is presented as it relates to specific contexts of the beginning teacher's work. Findings suggest that the characteristics of beginning teachers and the conditions of their work influence the relationship between context and emotions. Both negative and positive emotions can have positive effects on teacher learning. Through the construction of emotional conditions in the classroom, engagement in emotionally symbiotic interactions, and regulation of emotions, beginning teachers develop emotional knowledge that is essential in learning to teach. The implications of this study can inform future teacher education and teacher induction practices. Case study is the research methodology utilized in this qualitative study. A multiple case study was conducted with six second-year teachers over a five-month period in a rural Southwestern Ontario secondary school during the 2001--2002 school year. An in-depth investigation of the cases was gathered through interviews, observations, and field notes within the various contexts of the teachers' work. Frequent member checks confirmed findings and informed subsequent data collection. Data were collected and analyzed simultaneously in an emergent theme research design. As themes developed, data were sorted and re-sorted into patterns and themes and the content of subsequent data collection were restructured. A limiting condition of this study is that the research was conducted within a single secondary school.

Keywords: Teaching, Psychological aspects
Emotions
First tear teachers, Psychology
Emotional intelligence
Exploration of riffle scale influences of biotic and abiotic variables on microbial communities of the hyporheic zone

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) was optimized for use in the comparison of bacterial communities within various depths and subsurface flow regimes (“zones”) of the hyporheic zone at a riffle scale. The parameters that required optimization included DNA extraction, purification and PCR. The final method developed allowed extraction of sufficient quality and quantity of DNA, and successful amplification of all samples collected. The T-RFLP analysis revealed that microbial communities were heterogeneously distributed throughout the riffle, with more similarity occurring among depths than zones. The physicochemical variables that appeared to have influence on bacteria were primarily depth and sediment particles sizes. No interaction between the composition of bacterial and meiofaunal communities was observed. There was, however, a strong interaction between invertebrates and total microbial density. Hyporheic flows on a riffle were also manipulated to determine the influence of vertical flow patterns on hyporheic communities.
Centre-of-gravity control for a Mars Rover chassis with multiple degrees of freedom

The CoG controller presented here is particularly effective for step climbing rovers whose wheels all maintain contact with the ground at all times. Implementing the CoG controller in simulation showed dramatic improvements in step-climbing ability. The CoG controller was able to increase the height of obstacle surmountable from hard ground by a factor of 2 to 3 (to heights as much as 30 cm), and increase the height surmountable from soil by 30% to 40%. To improve step-climbing results on soil further, traction control would be needed in addition to the CoG controller. This work presents a centre-of-gravity (CoG) controller which aims to increase rover mobility over step obstacles. The controller is based on a new concept presented here, the Contact-Angle Adjusted Support Pattern (or CAASP). The CAASP utilizes wheel-ground contact angles to place the CoG such that weight acting on wheels encountering difficult local terrain is reduced.

Keywords: Roving vehicles (Astronautics), Automatic control